1690.] SKIRMISHING. 271 



ing-place. The French on the rock could see the 

 troops through telescopes, looking in the distance 

 like a swarm of black ants, as they waded through 

 mud and water, and formed in companies along the 

 strand. They were some thirteen hundred in num- 

 ber, and were commanded by Major Walley. 1 Fron- 

 tenac had sent three hundred sharpshooters, under 

 Sainte-Helene, to meet them and hold them in 

 check. A battalion of troops followed; but, long 

 before they could reach the spot, Sainte-Helene's 

 men, with a few militia from the neighboring par- 

 ishes, and a band of Huron warriors from Lorette, 

 threw themselves into the thickets along the front 

 of the English, and opened a distant but galling 

 fire upon the compact bodies of the enemy. Wal- 

 ley ordered a charge. The New England men 

 rushed, in a disorderly manner, but with great im- 

 petuosity, up the rising ground ; received two vol- 

 leys, which failed to check them ; and drove back 

 the assailants in some confusion. They turned, 

 however, and fought in Indian fashion with courage 

 and address, leaping and dodging among trees, 

 rocks, and bushes, firing as they retreated, and 

 inflicting more harm than they received. Towards 

 evening they disappeared ; and Walley, whose men 

 had been much scattered in the desultory fight, 

 drew them together as well as he could, and advanced 

 towards the St. Charles, in order to meet the ves- 

 sels which were to aid him in passing the ford. 



1 " Between 12 and 1,300 men." Walley, Journal. " About 1,200 men." 

 Savage, Account of the Late Action. Savage was second in command of 

 the militia. Mather says, 1,400. Most of the French accounts say, 1,500. 

 Some say, 2,000 ; and La Hontan raises the number to 3,000. 



