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In
the novel "Last of the Mohicans" and in the motion pictures based on the
book by James Fenimore
 Cooper, a
dramatic
battle is waged at Fort William Henry between the French under the Marquis de Montcalm and the English in the fortress under the command of Lt. Colonel George Monro. The battle did indeed take place and it was quite dramatic. Rather than a battle it would perhaps be more accurate to describe this contest as a siege, for the attack on Fort William Henry went on for days.
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It is important that this much better known battle not be confused with the Battle of Lake George, which occurred two years earlier, on September 8, 1755.
In late July, 1757 the French under the Marquis de Montcalm assembled a force of 3,081 regular troops, 2,946 Canadian militia, 188 artillery men and 1,806 Indians for an attack on Fort William Henry.
This massive force entrenched itself on the heights to the Northwest of the fortress and began digging steadily South, moving their batteries with them. While the heavy guns to the northwest pounded the log and earthen walls of the fort, another French force under the command of Brigadier Levis took up positions to the south and southwest of the main body of British, who contrary to popular belief, were encamped outside the walls of the fort.
 Steadily
each day, the French guns came closer to the fort. Each
day the damage was greater. Over 800 troops worked day and night
on the trenches- by daybreak on August 7, the French were close
enough to bring their powerful mortars to bear- lobbing explosive
rounds directly into the fort. Montcalm sent his emissary Bougainville
under a flag of truce with seemingly generous terms of surrender...
the rest is history.
Please read our
Open Letter to Lake George
Visitors...
Plan of Montcalm's Investment of Fort William Henry*
A) Artillery Cove
B) Road to trenches
C) First Battery, length 70 yds; breadth, 20 ft; height, 7 ft; embrasures, 9 ft.
C D) Line of trenches, 578 yards
D) Second Battery, length, 74 yds; breadth, 26 ft; height, 8 ft; embrasures, 10 ft.
E-G) Line of approach, 320 yds.
H) Line up the hill and at the crest of the Garden
I) Garden |
K) Fort William Henry
L) Morass
M) La Corne and Canadians
N) Fort George
O) Johnson's Encampment, Sept. 8, 1755
P) Docks |
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