The Virginia Gazette

Oct. 13, 1755.

Receiving intelligence of the French Army's being on their March to attack Fort Lyman, commanded by Col. Blanchard, one Adams, a Waggoner, boldly and resolutely undertook to carry a Letter to the Fort. After Adams had been gone sometime, about 8 Waggoners that had deserted, returned and reported, That they had heard two Guns fired, and One cry out, Heavens! have Mercy! which they supposed to be Adams. Upon this the General ordered Col. Williams with a Command of Men, to march and reinforce the Garrison, or attack the Men Opportunity offered. Sometime after they marched, they heard a very heavy firing about 4 Miles Distance from the Camp, which by Degrees grew nearer and nearer, by which they judged their People were retreating. They beat immediately to Arms, put every Thing in as good Order as Time and Circumstances would permit. Col. Whiting conducted the Retreat with great Judgement, to the Admiration of the French General, who is pleased to say, that he believes a Retreat was never better conducted. The French marched up in great Order, with 250 Grenadiers, chosen Men, in the Front, well armed, with their Bayonets fixed on their Muskets, bright and glittering which at first daunted our Men; but after the first and second Fire, (the French Regulars firing in Platoons) and our Cannon beginning to play, and well managed, raised their Spirits; and as the French General is pleased to say, "They fought not like Men, but like Devils."

It is probable, if what Monf. Dieskau says be true, to wit, that there was near 700 killed when he was taken, which was some Time before the Engagement ended: about 50 of our Men are killed and wounded.

Among our Indians there were killed only eleven Mohawks, one Oneyda, and one Tuscarora.

Baron Dieskau, is an elderly Man, and of great Account in France, and well experienced in military Affairs, as appears by his three different and regular Attacks in Order to break in upon our Army; but Thanks be to God he engaged with One as experienced in those Affairs as himself, if not more So, viz. The Hon. WILLIAM JOHNSON, Esq; Major General and Commander in Chief of all the Provincial Troops designed against Crown-Point, and one of the Members of his Majesty's Council for the Province of New-York. The French attacked him first on the Front, where they engaged him two Hours: They then attacked his Right Wing, which was commanded by Col. Titcomb, for two Hours likewise; where being vigorously repulsed, they again returned to the Front, from thence to the Right and Left, and at last attempted to come in on the Rear of the Army being our General, perceiving Danger, ordered Mr. Eyre, his Gunner, to throw some Shells, which he accordingly did, together with a few 32 Pounders, which soon made them shift their Quarters, and retreat in great Disorder.

Almost all the Officers from France are Gentlemen of Distinction, and of great Families.

General Johnson's Letter, sent by Adams to Col. Blanchard, was found in the Aid de Camp's Pocket. Amongst other Papers, is found a new and correct Map of Hudson's River, and all the Eastern Parts of North-America, which had been Four Years making and correcting.

It is reported, that the French General said, when he left Quebec, he intended to go to Niagara; but on Intelligence received when he was at Montreal, of a numerous Army being designed against Crown-Point, it was resolved he should march that Way.

It is also reported of an Indian, one Cornelius (who Governor De Lancy made a Sachem) that a white Man, standing near him, had his Gun split to Pieces, and calling out "What shall I do, I have no Gun," the Indian gave him his, jumped over the Breast-work, run up and wrung a Gun out of an Enemy's Hand, turned the Gun, and shot the Man he took it from, and returned to his Post.

Capt. McGinnis, with 250 Men, forced his Way through a very numerous Body of the Enemy, with the Loss of two Men killed, eleven wounded, and Five missing; and though his Wounds proved mortal, his Men brought him alive to the Camp. Van Schaack, Capt. Philip Schuyler's Lieutenant, distinguished himself in that Action.

We are told, that soon after Monsieur Dieskau, the French General, was taken Prisoner, he acquainted Major General Johnson, that but a few Hours before, he had dispatched an Express to the Governor of Canada, to inform him, that he had drove the English before him, like a Flock of Sheep, and that he expected that Night to lodge in General Johnson's Tent. (The latter Part of this Information proved true.)

BOSTON, September 22.

Camp at Lake George, Sept. 9, 1755.

To the Governors of the Several Colonies who raised the Troops on the present Expedition.

GENTLEMEN,

SUNDAY Evening the 7th Instant, I received Intelligence from Some Indian Scouts I had Sent out, that they had discovered three large Roads about the South-Bay, and were confident a very considerable Number of the Enemy were marched or on their March towards our Encampment at the Carrying-Place, where were posted about 250 of the New-Hampshire Troops, and five Companies of the New-York Regiment. I got one Adams, a Waggoner, who voluntarily and bravely consented to ride Express with my Orders to Col. Blanchard of the New-Hampshire Regiment, commanding Officer there. I acquainted him with my Intelligence, and directed him to withdraw all the Troops there within the Works thrown up. About Half an Hour, or near an Hour after this, I got two Indians and two Soldiers to go on Foot with another Letter to the same Purpose.

About 12 o'Clock that Night, the Indians and Soldiers returned, with the Waggoner who had stole from the Camp, with 8 others, their Waggons and Horses, without Orders. This Waggoner says, they heard and saw the Enemy about four Miles from this Side the Carrying-Place. They heard a Gun fire, and a Man call upon Heaven for Mercy, which he judged to be Adams. The next Morning I called a Council of War, who gave it as their Opinion, and in which the Indians were extremely urgent, that 1000 Men should be detached, and a Number of their People would go with them, in order to catch the Enemy in their Retreat from the other Camp, either as Victors, or defeated in their Design. The 1000 Men were detached under the Command of Colonel Williams, of one of the Boston Regiments, with upwards of 200 Indians. They marched between 8 and 9 o'Clock. In about an Hour and an Half afterwards we heard heavy firing, and all the Marks of a warm Engagement, which we judged was about 3 or 4 Miles from us: We beat to Arms, and got our Men all in Readiness. The Fire approached nearer, upon which I judged our People were retreating, and detached Lieut. Col. Cole, with about 300 Men to cover their Retreat. About 10 o'Clock some of our Men in the Rear, and Some Indians of the said Party, came running into the Camp, and acquainted us that our Men were retreating, that the Enemy were too strong for them: The whole Party that escaped returned to us in large Bodies.

As we had thrown up a Breast Work of Trees round our Encampment, and planted Some Field-Pieces to defend the same, we immediately hauled some heavy Cannon up these to Strengthen our Front, took Possession of Some Eminences on our left Flank, and got one Field-Piece there in a very advantageous Situation; the Breast-Work was manned throughout by our People, and the best Disposition made through our whole Encampment which Time and Circumstances would permit. About half an Hour after 11 the Enemy appeared in Sight, and marched along the Road in very regular Order directly upon our Center: They made a halt about 150 Yards from our Breast Work, when the regular Troops (whom we judged to be such by their bright and fixed Bayonets) made the grand and center Attack, the Canadians and Indians squatted and dispersed on our Flanks. The Enemy's Fire we received first from their Regulars in Platoons, but it did no great Execution, being at too great a Distance, and our Men defended by the Breast-Work. Our Artillery then began to play on them, and was served under the Direction of Capt. Eyre during the whole Engagement, in a Manner very advantageous to his Character, and those concerned in the Management of it.

The Engagement now became general on both Sides. The French Regulars kept their Ground and Order for some Time, with great Resolution and good Conduct, but the warm and constant Fire from our Artillery and Troops put them into Disorder, their Fire became more scattered and unequal, and the Enemy's Fire on our Left grew very faint: They moved then to the Right of our Encampment, and attacked Col. Ruggles, Col. Williams, and Col. Titcomb's Regiments, where they maintained a very warm Fire for near an Hour, still keeping up their Fire in the other Parts of our Line, tho' not very strong; the three Regiments on the Right supported the Attack very resolutely, and kept a constant and strong Fire upon the Enemy; this Attack failing, and the Artillery still playing along the Line, we found their Fire very weak, with considerable Intervals: This was about 4 o'Clock, when our Men and the Indians jumped over the Breast-Work; pursued the Enemy, slaughtered Numbers and took several Prisoners, amongst whom was the Baron de Dieskau, the French General of all the regular Forces lately arrived from Europe; who was brought to my Tent about 6 o'Clock, just as a Wound I had received was dressed. The whole Engagement and Pursuit ended about 7 o'Clock.

I don't know whether I can get the Returns of the slain and wounded on our Side to transmit herewith; but more of that by and by.

The greatest Loss we have sustained, was in the Party commanded by Col. Williams, in the Morning; who was attacked, and the Men gave Way, before Colonel Whiting, who brought up the Rear, could come to his Assistance: The Enemy, who were more numerous, endeavoured to surround them; upon which the Officers found they had no Way to save the Troops, but by retreating, which they did as fast as they could. In this Engagement we suffered our greatest Loss; Col. Williams, Major Ashley, Capt. Ingersol, and Capt. Potter, of the same Regiment, Capt. Ferrall, Brother in Law to the General, who commanded a Party of Indians. Capt. Stoddert, Capt. McGinn, and Capt. Stevens, all Indian Officers; and, the Indians say, near 100 of their People, who fought like Lions, were all slain: Old Hendrick, their great Sachem, was killed. We have abundant Reason to think we killed a great Number of the Enemy amongst whom is Monsieur St. Pierre, who commanded all the Indians: The exact Number on either Side, I cannot obtain, for tho' I sent a Party to bury our Dead this Afternoon, it being a running scattered Engagement, we can neither find all our Dead, nor give an exact Account. As fast as these Troops joined us, they formed with the Rest in the main Battle of the Day, so that the killed and wounded in both Engagements, Officers excepted must stand upon the same Return.

About 8 o'Clock last Night a Party of 120 of the New-Hampshire Regiment, and 50 of the New-York Regiment, who were detached to our Assistance under the Command of Capt. McGinnis, from the Camp at the Carrying-Place, to reinforce us, were attacked by a Party of Indians and Canadians, at the Place where Col. Williams was attacked in the Morning; their Engagement began between 4 and 5 o'Clock; this Party, who our People say were between 3 and 400, had fled from the Engagement here, and gone to scalp our People killed in the Morning. Our brave Men fought them for near two Hours, and made a considerable Slaughter amongst them: of this brave Party two were killed, and eleven wounded, and 5 missing. Capt. McGinnis, who behaved with the utmost Calmness and Resolution, was brought on a Horse here, and I fear his Wounds will prove mortal. Ensign Salman of the New-Hampshire Regiment wounded through the Shoulder.

I have this Morning called a Council of War, a Copy of the Minutes of which I send you herewith.

Monsieur Le Baron Dieskau the French General, is badly wounded in the Leg, and thro' both his Hips, and the Surgeon very much fears his Life. He is an elderly Gentleman, an experienced Officer and a Man of high Consideration in France. From his Papers I find he brought under his Command to Canada, in the Men of War lately arrived at Quebec; 3170 regular Troops, who were partly in Garrison at Crown-Point, and encamped at Ticonderoga, and other advantageous Passes between this and Crown-Point. He tells me he had with him Yesterday Morning, 200 Grenadiers, 800 Canadians, and 600 Indians of different Nations. His Aid de Camp says (they being separately asked) their whole Force was about 2000. Several of the Prisoners say about 2300. The Baron says, his Major General was killed, his Aid de Camp says, the greater Part of their Chief Officers also: He thinks by the Morning and Afternoon Actions, they have lost near 1000 Men, but I can get no regular Accounts. Most of our People think from 500 to 600. We have about 30 Prisoners, most of them badly wounded; the Indians scalped of their dead already near 70, and were employed after the Battle last Night, and all this Afternoon in bringing in Scalps, and great Numbers of French and Indians yet left unscalped: They carried off Numbers of their dead, and secreted them. Our Men have suffered so much Fatigue for 3 Days past, and are constantly standing upon their Arms by Day; half the whole upon Guard every Night, and the rest lay down armed and accoutred, that both Officers and Men, are almost wore out. The Enemy may rally, and we judge they have considerable Reinforcements near at Hand; so that I think it necessary we be upon our Guard, and be watchful to maintain the Advantages we have gained: For these Reasons, I do not think it either prudent or safe to be sending out Parties in Search of the Dead.

I do not hear of any Officers killed at our Camp, but Col. Titcomb, and none wounded but myself and Major Nichols of Col. Titcomb's. I cannot yet get certain Returns of our dead and wounded; but from the best Accounts I can obtain, we have lost about 130, who are killed, about 60 wounded, and Several missing from the Morning and Afternoon's Engagements.

I think we may expect very shortly, another and more formidable Attack; and that the Enemy will then come with Artillery. The late Col. Williams had the Ground cleared for building a stockaded Fort. Our Men are so harassed and obliged to be so constantly upon watchful Duty, that I think it would be both unreasonable, and I fear in vain, to set them at Work upon the designed Fort.

Some of the designed Reinforcements will be with us in a few Days. When these fresh Troops arrive, I shall immediately set about building a Fort, I design to order the New-Hampshire Regiment up here to reinforce us, and I hope be got out, by which Means I am, to my Mortification, confined to my Tent. My Wound, which is in my Thigh, is very painful; the Ball is lodged and cannot
This Letter was begun, and would have been dispatched Yesterday; but we had two Alarms, and neither Time nor Prudence would permit it. I hope, Gentlemen, you will place the Incorrectness hereof, to the Account of our Situation,

I am, most respectfully,
Gentlemen,
Your most obedient Servant,
Wm. JOHNSON.

New York, September 19.

Yesterday at 11 A.M. arrived a Sloop from Albany, which left that City on Monday last, at Twelve o'Clock; the Skipper whereof reports, That Numbers of the Indians in Alliance with the English had come in there from the late Engagement, and every one brought in more or less Number of Scalps fixed upon Poles, (it's said, upwards of 50;) and that the Indians gave out, that when they left the Camp, General Johnson was bravely recovered from the Weakness occasioned by his Wound, insomuch as to be able to walk about, and regulate the Army in Order to follow up the Defeat: That the whole Body of our Indians were prodigiously inveterate against the French and their Indians, occasioned more particularly by the Death of the famous Hendrick, a renowned Indian Warrior among the Mohawks; and one of their Sachems (or Kings) who was slain in the Battle, and whose Son, upon being told that his Father was killed, giving the usual Indian Groan upon such Occasions, and suddenly putting his Hand on his left Breast, swore his Father was still alive in that Place, and that there stood his Son:

That it was with the utmost Difficulty General Johnson prevented the Fury of their Resentment taking Place on the Body of the French General Mons. Dieskau, who they would have sacrificed without Ceremony, but for the Interposition of Mr. Johnson:

That Numbers of the French Regulars, being disordered in the Defeat, unacquainted with the Country, and afraid of our Indians, had come into our Camp; and others, Stragglers of them, taken Prisoners: That it was rumored throughout the Camp, that the Balls made use of by the French, were chewed, and when extracted from a Wound, appeared surprisingly green: But upon the French General's being questioned about it, he declared, he gave no such Orders: and that if such Bullets were fired, they must have come from the Irregulars of Canada only, and not from the European Soldiers.

His Excellency Governor Hardy just before he embarked for Albany, on Sunday last, issued a Proclamation, appointing Thursday the second Day of October next, to be observed as a Day of public Thanksgiving throughout this Province, for the late Victory obtained over the French Army and their Indians.

From Elizabeth Town we learn, That an Association was to take Place there Yesterday with the Inhabitants of that Borough, in Order to complete a Company of Volunteers of 100 Men to go to the Assistance of General Johnson.

And for these several Days past Subscription Papers have been handed about this City and County, to raise Money for the purchasing of Wine, Spices, &c. and all other Necessaries comfortable and nourishing to the sick and wounded now on the Frontiers of this Province, and that have been in the late Engagement near Lake George; for which Purpose, we are told, some Hundreds of Pounds have been already raised.

Sept. 28. Since our last Sir John St. Clair, Quarter Master General of the British Forces, arrived here from Virginia.

His Excellency Sir Charles Hardy, Knight, our Governor, arrived safe at Albany from hence on Saturday Morning last was Se'nnight in good Health, as did likewise his Honor our late Lieutenant Governor, and the other Gentlemen that accompanied them:

They were received on their Landing by the Mayor, and Gentlemen of that Corporation; and near one Thousand of the New-England Forces, that happened to be there on their March towards Lake George, who being drawn up regularly, made as handsome an Appearance as the Situation of Affairs would permit.

Impress Warrants were issued Soon after his Excellency's Arrival there; and dispatched with proper Officers, about the Country for Waggons and Horses, of the former of which, Hundreds have been already secured and Numbers of others daily sent in Order directly to convey Provisions and all other Necessaries to the Camp.

Monsieur Dieskau, General of the French Forces in America, lies dangerously ill of his Wounds at Albany. And, His most Christian Majesty's Attorney General at Montreal, his Son died of his Wounds, a few Days ago, in Confinement at Albany, a little before Intelligence was brought thither of his being the Attorney's Son.

It is whispered about Town, as if a certain Set of People in this and the Neighbouring Provinces, (and particularly One to the Westward) designed to follow the Example of their Brethren in England, in the late Rebellion, by generously giving a sufficient Number of woollen Waistcoats to the Soldiers on our Frontiers, the better to keep their Bodies warm during the ensuing cold Season, and to enable them to perform their Duty with the greater Comfort and Satisfaction. This we presume, Should it be accomplished, will largely compensate for their religious Backwardness, in not encouraging the Exercise of the Musket.

Even the Ladies in this City, we are told, seem to be anxious how to demonstrate their Loyalty in a particular Manner, on the present Occasion; some propose the making of the aforesaid Waistcoats themselves, whilst others wait for the Stuff.

Friday last arrived here Capt. Van Schaick from Albany, and brought down with him 19 French Prisoners, and a Captain, taken in the late Engagement.

For some Days a Report prevailed in Town, said to come from New-London, That the Gentlemen in Barbados had given a Hundred Hogsheads of Rum, for the Use of the Army in America: A Sloop arrived here since our last, from Bridgetown, deep loaded with that Commodity, which, by most People in the City, was expected to be the generous Gift: -- But upon Enquiry, it was found, that not one Drop of it was destined to comfort the Hearts of our poor Soldiers in so liberal a Manner; the Rum being consigned to a Gentleman in Town to be sold to the best Advantage.

The Gentlemen of that Island, not having as yet, entertained such a noble and generous Way of Thinking.

By the Eastern Post we have an Account, that a Whaleman was arrived at Rhode-Island, who reported, that about Three Weeks ago, he fell in with a French Man of War of 60 Guns, to the Eastward of Newfoundland, who brought him to, and ordered him on Board, where he was detained Six or eight Hours. (in which Time he saw three more, full of Men) and was asked several Questions, what News, &c. he told them he knew of none besides Chignecto being taken; and by what he could learn, thought they had the News before. He asked them where bound, and received no Answer; but thinks to Louisburg or Canada, and cannot tell which.

RETURN of the Dead, Wounded, and Missing, in the late Action between the Provincial Forces under the Command of General JOHNSON, and the French and Indians under the Command of Le Baron de Dieskau, on the 8th of September 1755.

General Johnson, wounded,

In General Lvux's Regiment.	Dead.	Wounded.	Missing
Lieutenant Jones.	1
Non-Commission Officers and Soldiers,	10
Private,	5
Colonel Goodrich's Regiment.
Lieutenant Bartram,	1
Non-Commission Officers and Soldiers,	28	16
Colonel Ruggles's Regiment,
One Captain, 2 Lieutenants, and 2 Ensigns,	5
One Lieutenant,
Non-Commission and Private.			18
Colonel Titcomb's Regiment.
The Colonel himself, and Private,	0
The Major, 2 Lieutenants, 1 Ensign, 23 Private	07
Missing----Private,			25
Colonel Williams's Regiment.
The Colonel, Major, 2 Captains, 3 Lieutenants, 2 Ensigns, and 32 Private,	41
Two Captains, 1 Ensign, 26 Private,			19
Colonel Harris's Regiment.
Private,	21	6
Colonel Cockcroft's Regiment.
One Captain, 7 Private,	8	1	2
Colonel Blanchard's Regiment.
Private,	2	11	5
The Whole amount to	126	94	51