290 June 1749. 



Indians, concealed themfelves one night in 

 a thicket near the fort. In the morning 

 fome of their Indians, as they had previoufly 

 refolved, went to have a nearer view of the 

 fort. The Fnglifh fired upon them, as foon 

 as they faw them at a difrance ; the Indians 

 pretended to be wounded, fell down, got up 

 again, ran a little way, and dropped again. A- 

 bove half the garrifon rufhed out to take them 

 priibners ; but as foon as they were come up 

 with them, the French and the remaining 

 Indians came out of the bullies, betwixt 

 the fortrefs and the Engl/jh, furrounded 

 them, and took them priibners. Thofe 

 who remained in the fort had hardly time 

 to fhut the gates, nor could they fire upon 

 the enemy, becaufe they equally expoled 

 their countrymen to danger, and they were 

 vexed to fee their enemies take and carry 

 them off in their light and under their 

 cannon. Such French artifices as thefe 

 made the Fnglijh weary of their ill-planned 

 fort. We law fome of the palifades ftill 

 in the ground. There was an ifland in the 

 river, near Saratoga, much better fituated 

 for a fortification. The country is fiat on 

 both fides of the river near Saratoga, and its 

 foil good. The wood round about was gene- 

 rally cut down. The fhores of the river are 

 high, fleep, and confift of earth. We faw fome 



hills 



