The New Hampshire Gazette

[As the following Letter from Major General Abercromby to the Right Hon. Mr. Secretary Pitt, contains an impartial and true Account of the Proceedings of our Army at Ticonderoga, We imagine it cannot be disagreeable to our Readers.]

From the London Gazette Extraordinary.

Whitehall, August 22.

Extract of a Letter from Major General Abercromby to the Right Hon. Mr. Secretary Pitt, dated at Camp at Lake George, July 12, 1758.

The Embarkation of the Artillery, Stores and Provisions, being completed on the Evening of the 5th Instant, next Morning, at Break of Day, the Tents were struck, and all the Troops, amounting to 6367 Regulars, and 9024 Provincials, including Officers, Light Infantry, Rangers and Batteau Men, embarked in about 900 Batteaux and 135 Whale Boats, the Artillery, to cover our Landing, being mounted on Rafts.

At Five in the Evening, reached Sabbath Day Point (21 Miles down the Lake) where we halted till Ten, then got under Way again, and proceeded to the Landing Place (a Cove leading to the French advanced Guard) which we reached early next Morning the 6th.

Upon our Arrival, sent out a reconnoitring Party: and having met with no Opposition, landed the Troops, formed them in four Columns, Regulars in the Centre, and Provincials on the Flanks, and marched towards the Enemy's advanced Guard, composed of One Battalion, posted in a logged Camp, which upon our Approach, they deserted, first setting Fire to their Tents, and destroying every Thing they could; but as their Retreat was very precipitate, they left several Things behind, which they had not Time either to burn or carry off. In this Camp we likewise found one prisoner and a dead Man.

The Army in the foregoing Order continued their March through the Wood, on the West side with a Design to invest Ticonderoga; but the Wood being very thick, impassable with any Regularity to such a Body of Men, and the Guides unskillful, the Troops were bewildered, and the Columns broke, falling in one upon another.

Lord Howe, at the Head of the Right Centre Column, supported by the Light Infantry, being advanced, fell in with a French party, supposed to consist of about 400 Regulars, and a few Indians, who had likewise lost themselves in their Retreat from the advanced Guard; of these our Flankers killed a great many, and took 148 prisoners, among whom were five Officers and three Cadets.

But this small success cost us very dear, not as to the Loss of Numbers, for we had only two Officers killed, but as to consequence, his Lordship being the first Man that fell in this skirmish; and as he was, very deservedly, universally beloved and respected throughout the whole Army, it is easy to conceive the Grief and Consternation his untimely Fall occasioned; for my part, I cannot help owning that I felt it most heavily, and lament him as sincerely...

The 7th, the Troops being greatly fatigued, by having been one whole Night on the Water, the following Day constantly on Foot, and the next Night under Arms, added to their being in Want of provision, having dropped what they had brought with them, in order to lighten themselves, it was thought most advisable to return to the Landing place, which we accordingly did about Eight that Morning.

About Eleven in the Forenoon, sent off Lieut. Colonel Bradstreet, with the 44th Regiment, six Companies of the first Battalion of Royal Americans, the Batteau Men, and a Body of Rangers and Provincials, to take Possession of the Saw Mill, within two Miles of Ticonderoga, which he soon effected: as the Enemy who were posted there, after destroying the Mill, and breaking down their Bridge, had retired some Time before.

Lieut. Colonel Bradstreet having laid another Bridge across, and having sent me Notice of his being in possession of that Ground, I accordingly marched thither with the Troops, and we took up our Quarters there that Night.

The Prisoners we had taken being unanimous in their Reports, that the French had 8 Battalions, some Canadians and Colony Troops, in all about 6000, encamped before their Fort, who were intrenching themselves, and throwing up a Breast-work, and that they expected a Reinforcement of 3000 Canadians, besides Indians, who had been detached under the Command of Monsieur de Levy, to make a Diversion on the Side of the Mohawk River, but upon Intelligence of our Preparations and near Approach, had been repeatedly recalled, and was hourly expected; it was thought most advisable to lose no Time in making the Attack; wherefore early in the Morning of the 8th, sent Mr. Clerk, the Engineer, across the River on the opposite Side of the Fort, in order to reconnoitre the Enemy's Intrenchments.

Upon his Return, and favourable Report of a Practicability of carrying those Works, if attacked before they were finished, it was agreed to form them that very Day: Accordingly the Rangers, Light Infantry, and the Right Wing of Provincials, were order'd immediately to march, and post themselves in a Line out of a Cannon Shot of the Intrenchments; the Right extending to Lake George, and their Left to Lake Champlain, in order that the Regular Troops, destined for the Attack of the Intrenchments, might form on their Rear.

The Picquets were to begin the Attack, sustained by the Grenadiers, and they by the Battalions: The Whole were order'd to march up briskly, rush upon the Enemy's Fire, and not to give theirs, until they were within the Enemy's Breast work.

After these Orders issued, the whole Army, except what had been left at the Landing Place to cover and guard the Batteaux and Whale Boats, and a Provincial Regiment at the Saw Mill, were put into Motion, and advanced to Ticonderoga, where unfortunately they found the Intrenchments, not only much stronger than had been represented, and the Breast work at least eight or nine Feet high; but likewise the Ground before it covered with felled Trees, and Branches pointed outwards, which so fatigued and retarded the Advancing of the Troops, that notwithstanding all their Intrepidity and Bravery, which I cannot sufficiently commend, we sustained so considerable a Loss, without any Prospect of better success, that it was no longer prudent to remain before it; and it was therefore judged necessary, for the Preservation of the Remainder of so many brave Men, and to prevent a total Defeat, that we should make the best Retreat possible: Accordingly, after Several repeated Attacks, which lasted upwards of four Hours, under the most disadvantageous Circumstances, and with the Loss of 64 Regulars killed, 29 missing, 1117 wounded; and 87 Provincials killed, 8 missing, and 239 wounded, Officers of both included, I retired to the Camp we occupied the Night before, with the broken Remains of Several Corps, sending away all the Wounded to the Batteaux, about three Miles Distance; and early the next Morning we arrived there ourselves, embarked, and reached this in the Evening of the 9th. Immediately after my Return here, I sent the wounded Officers and Men that could be moved, to Fort Edward and Albany.

[The Remainder of this Letter contains a List of the Wounded.]