Surrender by capitulation-Remarks on the attack-Previous escape of a party from the fort-People killed in Deerfield meadow-Project for an attack on Canada--Fails--Massachusetts withdraws her garrisons from New Hampshire frontiers--Reoccupies the posts---Charlestown attacked by M. Debeline--Brave defence by captain Stevens-Enemy withdraws-Remarks on the defence-Further incursions-skirmish near fort Massachusetts--Capture of a French officer near Winchester--Various attacks in New Hampshire. Page 229.

CHAPTER XV.

Continuation of the War. Forces voted by Massachusetts--attack near the fort at Charlestown---Scout under captain Melvin attacked at West River-Ambuscade at Hinsdale---Death of colonel Stoddard-Succeeded by colonel Israel Williams-Gallant action of captain Hobbs-Second ambuscade at Hinsdale-Attack on fort Massachusetts-Further incursions--Peace of Aix la Chapelle and treaty with the Indians--Sketch of transactions in New York and Canada--Different mode of carrying on the war by the French and English---Policy of granting bounties on scalps examined-Colonel Hawks' tour to Canada-Singular conduct of a captive. Page 247.

CHAPTER XVI.

Remarks on the state of the country--Grants of townships by governor Wentworth---Project for a military settlement at Coos--Frustrated by the Indians---Commencement of hostilities at the eastward-Preparations for defence---Incursions in New Hampshire---Plan of a union of the colonies--Hostilities on the frontiers of Pennsylvania-Expedition up Kennebeck-Further incursions in New Hampshire-Destruction of Dutch Hoosac....Incursion at Stockbridge....Colonel Israel Williams again intrusted with the defence of the frontiers....His plan of defence....Frontier fortifications.... New settlements....Major Ephraim Williams commands the line of forts....Defences in the eastern quarter.....Arrival of troops under general Braddock-Plan of the campaign-Incursion at Charlemont -Additional forces raised---Lieut. governor Phipps' orders for raising rangers-Duty and hardships of these corps. Page 258.

CHAPTER XVII.

Routs of the St. Francis Indians--Inroads on Connecticut river-Capture of Bridgman's fort-Sketch of the adventures of Mrs. Howe--Massachusetts posts garrisons in New Hampshire-Army under general Johnson assembles at Albany---Advances to fort Edward and commences a fortification---Encamps at lake George-French force under baron Dieskau---His plan of operation-Advances towards Johnson's Camp-Ambuscade of a detachment under colonel E. Williams-Attack on Johnson---Details of the action-French defeated---Dieskau wounded and taken prisoner-Loss of the English-Notice of colonel Williams--Colonel Titcomb and baron Dieskau-Remarks on the battle-Affair of M'Ginnes and Fulsome--Efects of the victory at the lake--Shirley's and Braddock's expedition-Remarkable earthquake. Page 268.

CHAPTER XVIII.

French build a fort at Tinconderoga---Army under general Winslow in 1756-Takes post at lake George-Arrival of troops under lord Loudon-Massachusetts frontier garrisons-Incursions at Winchester, Charlestown, Greenfield and Northfield-Several attacks near fort Massachusetts-People killed at West Hoosac-Winslow's army remains inactive

--Loss of Oswego-Colonel Bradstreet's defence of a division of Batteaux-Project for building a fort on the highlands, between Black river and Otter creek-Surveys ordered by Massachusetts-Preparations for the capaign of 1757-Scouting parties on the frontiers--Forces posted at Charlestown. Attack on the mills at that place....Loudon's expedition against Louisburg--Montcalm besieges fort William Henry-Place surrenders-Horrid massacre of the garrison--Conduct of the chavelier la Corne....Exploits of Individuals-Putnam's rangers detached to the lake....Horrid scene presented on the route....Number killed....Consternation of the northern provinces--March of the militia-Sir William Pepperell takes post at Springfield....Frontier garrisons augmented....Activity of the garrison at Charlestown-Alarm subsides-Militia discharged....Gloomy prospects of the country. Page 282.

CHAPTER XIX.

Preparations for the campaign of 1758....Incursion of the Indians at Colrain....Garrisons at the frontier towns....Depredations at Hinsdale and Charlestown....Army assembles at lake George under general Abercrombie.... Passes the lake....Affair at the landing....Fall of lord Howe....Army advances to the mills....Attack on the French lines....Severe repulse---Army returns to the south end of lake George....Capture of FrontenacSurrender of Louisburg....General Forbe's expedition.... Inactivity of Abercrombie....General Amherst arrives with reinforcements.... Plan of the campaign of 1759....Garrison at Charlestown....Early incursion at Colrain....Army under general Amherst.... Invests Ticonderoga....French evacuate that place and Crown Poiut....Amherst resolves to destroy the village of St. Francis....His orders to major Rogers....Detachment procreeds down lake Champlain....Lands at Missisque bay....Nature of the country to be traversed....Loss of boats and provisions....Plan adopted for a supply of the latter....Embarrassments of the march....Attack on the village....Slaughter of the enemy....Flourishing state of the place.... Rogers commences his march for Coos intervals.... Provisions exhausted .....Separates into several parties....Attacks by the enemy....Rogers arrives at Coos.... Disappointed in meeting provisions....Substitute for food....Embarks on a raft and descends the Connecticut....Incidents of the voyage ....Arrives at Charlestown....Loss in the expedition....Operations of generals Wolf and Johnson....Forces on the frontiers of Massachusetts discharged.... Plan of the campaign of 1760....Conquest of Canada-Previous operations of colonel Goffe's regiment-Incursion at Charlestown--Peace of 1763--Joy of the colonies--Grants of towns by governor Wentworth--Enterprize of the planters of the New Hampshire grants--Dartmouth college-Disputes with New York-Hampshire grants declare themselves independent-Admitted into the union---Subsequent military events at Royalston-Militia marches--Retreat of the enemy--More recent events on Connecticut river---Concluding remarks. Page 295.

THE vignette on the engraved title page, is a sketch of the falls on Connecticut river, where captain Turner cut off the Indians in 1676. See page 129.

The plate facing page 190, presents a view of the old House in Deerfield, which esc ed the conflagration of that place, in 1704. See page 189.

ERRATA.

OWING to the absence of the author while part of the work was in press, and the indistinct hand in which the manuscript was delivered to the printer, the following typographical errors have occurred.

PAGE. LINE.

80 11 from bottom, for assemble

6 10 from bottom, for Chaurin, 191 12 for fleeing read flaying.

read Chauvin.

10 9 for 1808, read 1608.

1549.

200

5 of note from bottom, for there read they.

23 for Wallon read Walton, and for Whitney, Whiting. 222 the word inoculation is misspelt innoculation.

221 &

249

22 17 for impowered read empowred.

30 10 from bottom, for whence read where.

43 23 where had read where he had 51 Note 2d. for afterwards read father of

281

11 for entrusted read intrusted. 5 for setting read sitting.

284

5 for 1766, read 1756.

311 18 for 1763 read 1664.

Several instances of transposition and omission of letters and erroneous orthography, as well as incorrect punctuation, where the meaning is not distorted, are left for the correction of the reader, rather than to swell the list, which the author regrets is so large.

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INTRODUCTION.

THE discovery of the northern part of the Continent of America, by the Cabots, five years after the first voyage of Columbus had developed the existence of a new world in the west, gave rise to the claims of the English in North America. At that period it seems to have been a principle, at least by tacit consent, among the monarchs of Europe, that countries inhabited by savages, should become the property of the discoverer. A ship ranging along a new coast, without once entering a creek or haven, appears to have conferred a title, as complete, as those executed with all the formalities of modern times.

Bigotry and superstition, sanctioned these furtive claims. Soon after the first voyage of Columbus, Pope Alexander the sixth, a Spaniard by birth, then the spiritual head of Europe, under a claim no better founded, granted to Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, "all the countries inhabited by infidels, which they had discovered, or should discover, extending the grant to their heirs and successors, the Kings and Queens of Castile and Leon." A similar grant had been made to the Portuguese government, of the discoveries they were making in the east; and they claimed by the same right, the Azores. To prevent subsequent disputes between the two nations, His Holiness decreed, that a meridian line, passing through. a point one hundred leagues west of these islands, should be the boundary between the newly discovered countries; the Spaniards to hold all on the west, and the Portuguese, all on the east of the prescribed line, not then possessed by any Christian prince.

However well informed the pontiff might have been, in spiritual affairs, his infallibility seems not to have taught him the globular figure of the earth, nor the existence of the antipodes, to whom he was bound to extend his ecclesiastical aid. Conceiving the earth to be an extended plane, it did not occur to him that his prescribed boundary, was insufficient for the object intended, and that the two nations would, by extending their discoveries, the one east, and the other west, find themselves embarrassed with conflicting claims, in some remote part of the earth.

The papal partition was not satisfactory to the Portuguese: they afterwards agreed with the Spaniards, that the boundary line should be removed two hundred leagues further to the west, and the affair was settled by the formal signatures of the kings of Spain and Portugal, in 1494, after it had been submitted to six plenipotentaries, three from each nation. France and England, though maritime nations, did not share in the munificence of the pope; and when they afterwards sent out vessels, for the purpose of discovery in the west, the two favourite nations, considered the attempt as an invasion of their rights, and a gross departure from papal authority. The king of France was not intimidated at these complaints. When he saw his brethren of Spain and Portugal, quietly dividing the continent of America between them, without allowing him to come in for a share, as a

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brother, he facetiously said, "I should be glad to see the clause in Adam's will, which makes that continent their inheritance exclusively."*

Titles derived from prior discovery, have been considered valid in latter times; but it appears they are not always so complete, as to prevent disputes between monarchs, concerning their priority; and conflicting claims have often beeen set up, by different powers, not only on this ground, but from a want of different bounds. A most critical examination of the principles of these titles, has now taught us, that immemorable occupancy, is paramount to all other claims; and that the right of the aborigines, to the lands they occupied, when first discovered by Europe ans, is no longer doubtful.

As most of the wars with the Indians in North America, originated in the conflicting claims of the maritime nations of Europe, a brief history of the most important voyages of discovery in the west, seems to be necessary, as an introduction to the following work.

The discoveries by John Cabot, and his son Sebastian Cabot, were made under the patronage of Henry the 7th, king of England. In the early part of May, 1497, with two ships, and three hundred men, they sailed from England; and on the twenty fourth of June, discovered land which they named Prima Vista, supposed to be some part of the Island of Newfoundland; and a few days after they saw a small Island, which they named St. John. Continuing the voyage northerly, they discovered the coast of North America, and proceeded to the latitude of 67° 30' N. Changing their course, they sailed to the southward, along the coast as far as Florida, and thence returned to England, without attempting either settlement or conquest.t

Though the English had discovered this division of the continent, no attempts were immediately made by them to colonize it; and sometime elapsed before other nations visited the coast. In 1500 a Portuguese adventurer, Casper de Cortereal, in defiance of the restrictions of the pope, sailed from Lisbon, with two ships, at his own expense, for the purpose of exploring new countries in the west. Arriving at the Island of Newfoundland, he discovered and named Conception Bay, and afterwards explored the eastern coast of the island; sailed into the mouth of the great river of Canada, and saw several other parts of the continent. Cortereal returned to Lisbon; sailed on his second voyage, and was lost.

Vessels of various nations, soon began to hover on the coast of Newfoundland, for the purpose of taking fish, which were found in great abundance in the adjacent seas; and in 1508, Thomas Aubert, from Dieppe, in France, made a voyage to Newfoundland, and thence proceeded some distance up the great river of Canada. On his return, it is stated, he carried several of the natives to Paris.

Francis ist. king of France, now resolved to share with his brother monarchs, in the riches of the new world. In 1523, he sent out John Verazzani, a Florentine, with four ships, to prosecute discoveries in North America. In the course of the next year, Verazzani coasted the

Abbe Raynal, quoted in Sullivan's History of Maine.

+ Respecting the date of this voyage, historians are not agreed; some place it in 1494. Holmes, on whom we rely, fixes it in 1497. See Note. 1, Vol. 2.