HISTORY OF THE NEW YORK IROQUOIS 247 



no prisoners. Some Iroquois were taken in Canada, and of these 

 four Onondagas were burned when the army reached Montreal, 

 llie force consisted of 1600 French and 460 Indians, occupying 

 400 boats, the Indians being mostly with the vanguard, which 

 changed every day. Frontenac was carried across the portage 

 at Oswego Falls in his canoe, and from the lake to Onondaga in 

 a chair. A horse had been brought for M. de Callieres on 

 account of his lameness, and the artillery consisted of two small 

 cannon and two light mortars. 



From Lake Ontario the army followed the east bank of the 

 Oswego river, crossing the Oneida river Aug. i, and landing on 

 the east side of Onondaga lake the same day. This was between 

 Liverpool and Syracuse on the old mission ground, where a fort 

 was built, the lines of which could be seen a century later. On 

 that day bundles containing 1434 rushes were found at the foot 

 of a tree, to show the force arrayed against them. The fort was 

 finished Aug. 3, and the army crossed the marsh and encamped 

 at the salt springs on the north limits of Syracuse, in readiness 

 for the next day's march. 



The town was 9 miles away, on the east side of Butternut 

 creek, and there was probably a good trail, but the road had 

 some great difficulties. Though the army started at sunrise, 

 it was sunset when it reached Onondaga, and the town was in 

 ashes. An old squaw was knocked on the head and an old man 

 tortured, whose fortitude elicited the admiration of the French. 

 It is fair to say that Father Lamberville's account differs widely 

 from the official statement and that of Charlevoix. The priest 

 saw the death of this man, whom he had baptized when last 

 there, and whom he described as a benevolent and devout old 

 man, who had been kind to the French. His Canadian relatives 

 asked a speedy death for him, but the French insisted on a 

 slow fire. 



The official account is different. The Indians were excited : 



It was not deemed prudent to dissuade them from the desire 

 they felt to burn him. He had, no doubt, prepared himself 

 during his long life to die with firmness, however cruel the tor- 



