them, should they return before he died. By the light of the moon, they made the best of their way to the fort. This they found deserted, one man having fled at the beginning of the fatal battle, and carried the news of what had taken place. A few of the wounded perished in the woods. A generous provision was made for the support of the widows and children of those who had been killed. Col. Tying of Dunstable went to the spot, buried their bodies, and, in 1784, their names were to be seen carved on the trees on the spot, commemorative of one of the fiercest battles ever fought with the original natives.

The Marquis Vaudreuil fearing the relations of peace between England and France would be soon disturbed by encouraging further depredations; it being made to appear by his own letters now produced in evidence against him, what a secret and ungenerous part he himself had acted, he consented to treat of peace, and to restore the captives the savages had taken, which put an end, in 1725, to this cruel and bloody war.

Along peace.

CHAPTER X.

War in 1744. Louisburgh taken. Indian depredations. Exploits of Charles Stevens. Indians less ferocious in the war. Colonies unite. French plan of forts. Mrs. Johnson. Three expeditions, Mrs. Howe. Fort William Henry taken. William Pitt. English success. Quebec taken. Canada conquered by the English. St. Francis taken. Return from captivity, 1760.

A long peace with the Indians had succeeded. The diminution of their numbers by former wars, by retreat into the wilderness, by want, by despair and by sickness, greatly contributed to produce this effect. The judicious establishment of trading houses, though a kind of tribute by losses sustained in trade, yet was highly beneficial by preventing impositions upon the savages, and thus prolonging a state, which hed become so necessary to the eastern colonies.

The conflicts, however, of European states could not fail to affect the American colonies. In 1744, war was again proclaimed between England and France, which was certain to involve the English colonies in a war with their neighbors, the French, aided by the savages, who were still under their influence.

A plan was now adopted, which had been often tried before, to carry the war into the French territory, and to find the enemy full employment, without leisure to make any attecks upen the English frontiers. A vote was carried in Massachusetts, by a majority of one, to invade Louisburgh, which had been styled, "the Dunkirk of America." That fortress had employed French troops, at an immense expense, for 25 years. But in 1745, colonial troops of 3800 men gained a glorious victory, and by decoys took rich prizes to the amount of 3 millions of dollars. The next year, a powerful French fleet came to pour destruction on all New England. But misfortunes, multiplied, sickness wasted, and God blew with his wind, and they were scattered. In 1755, the French were driven from Nova Scotia, and vast numbers were transported to New-England, where they died, like exiles in despair.

In the mean time, the Indians had not only aided their French allies, but also had begun their usual work of death and depredation on the frontiers. Troops indeed had been sent for the defence of the inhabitants, forts erected and garrisons maintained; but all were incompetent for security against all the small parties of the enemy, whose assaults were more fatal, because unforeseen.

Minute accounts of these depredations would comprise many volumes. They bore a resemblance to one another in their general features. By a description of one war, we may obtain a very correct idea of all others. They are made up of terror and death, of waste and captivity, of individual sufferings and public losses. Houses were so many garrisons; dangers were in the fields; the fire side felt alarms; the nights were sleepless; property was no where secure, to step out of doors was to meet death.

and

In July, 1745, the savages took at Westmoreland William Phips, while hoeing his corn. Two savages carried him up a hill, when one returning back for new plunder, he killed his keeper with his hoe, and shot the other as he came back, but afterwards fell a victim to 3 others.

Small parties of savages were scattered in all the frontiers. Many persons were slain, and more were carried into Canada, and afterwards those who survived were redeemed, and sent to Boston.

After several attacks on Charlestown in New-Hampshire, they were bold enough to proceed to Rochester, 20 miles from Portsmouth, where they found 5 men armed in a field. They fired one gun in order to induce the English to discharge theirs, which stratagem succeeded. The white people then retreated to a deserted house, which they shut aagainst their pursuers. The savages then tore off the roof of the house, when with their guns and tomahawks they dispatched 4 and wounded the other, when they proceeded to new mischiefs.

On the 4th of April, 1747, a large party of French and Indians made a fierce attack on Charlestown, which was as bravely defended by Capt. Charles Stevens with 30 men. From this man's exploit the town, formerly called Number Four, received his christian name. The barking of dogs made an early discovery of the approach of the enemy, who fired upon the fort on all sides. With a high wind, a fire was set to the log houses and fences communicating with the

fort. By digging trenches under the walls, the fire was extinguished as it approached them. Flaming arrows shot against it were equally without effect. Accompanied with frightful yellings, this mode of attack continued two days and two nights. A new attempt was then made to communicate fire to the fort by advancing a cart with dried faggots against it. The enemy now offered terms of surrender, which were no milder than captivity in Montreal, and death in the event of having killed a man. To the question of M. Debeline, the French commander, whether his men dared to fight any longer, Capt. Stevens and his men unanimously agreed on an answer in the affirmative. Yells and firing continued the next day and night. The enemy then offered to withdraw. if Stevens would sell them provisions, which he refused, as being an act contrary to the laws of nations. After a few more shots, the enemy was seen no more. Not one was killed in the fort; and Capt. Stevens was complimented with an elegant sword, as a testimony of respect for his perseverance and bravery.

Captives began to be treated with more mildness; and the high price of redemption was about to make it a matter of interest to preserve life. At Keene, an Indian had taken a captive, and had granted him quarters. While the savage was binding him he seized the Indian's gun, and shot him in the arm. The savage took no other revenge than giving him a kick, asking, "you dog! how could you treat me so?

During several years, there was a cessation of direct hostilities resembling a peace. Advantage was taken of this quiet season to extend the settlements, and to increase the popu lation on the Northern frontiers, More encouragement was given by government and greater zeal exerted on account of the apprehensions that the French might be the first to take possession of the contested and vacant territory. Large settlements were soon effected on the rich intervales of the Coos country. The Indians saw these encroachments with a jealous eye. They did not content themselves longer with remonstrances and threats.

Among the multitudes carried into captivity to Canada was John Starks. As soon as they had taken him, the savages whipped him severely for the escape of his brother, to whom he had given a seasonable alarm. But no sooner had he arrived at their tribes than they put on him their best dress, and adopted him as a child. This, however, only prepared

him for being a distinguished officer in the future partisan wars against them.

By the treaty of Aix la Chapelle, the eastern conquests had been restored. Means were used to connect by forts their northern provinces to Louisiana by way of the lakes and the Mississippi, which would invest the English colonies. In order to prevent this great and dangerous plan, no time was lost in levying powerful armies, which might be able to set some bounds to the ambition of an artful rival. The compact, which united all the American colonies, was agreed to on the memorable 4th of July, 22 years before the declaration of the independence of the United States.

Indian depredations on the English frontiers were to the French a very cheap method of carrying on the war. The price for the reduction of captives and the booty taken were ample rewards to the savages. These now felt an interest in saving alive their prisoners; and their incursions of course became less bloody, as well as more captives were made.

Among the numerous assaults made to seize captives was that on Charlestown, before the people were awake in the morning. Among ten, who were carried away captive were Mrs. Johnson, who had a daughter, named "Captive," born on the 2d day of their journey. With great humanity, the savages halted one day on her account, and then carried her on a litter. Afterwards they set her on a horse, which they were soon compelled to eat for want of other provisions, sucking pieces of which principally supported the babe. It was after a long series of great trials, that they were exchanged.

In 1755, three expeditions were made against the French forts. That on the Ohio against Fort du Quesne met with a disastrous defeat, in which General Braddock was slain. That against Niagara by Shirley miscarried; and that against Crownspoint, although the French and Indians at Fort Edward had been defeated, did little more than exasperate the savages against the frontiers.

The Canadian Indians found an easy passage up the St. Francis river, on which resided a numerous tribe, whence by short carrying places they used to go down the Connecticut river. In one of these excursions, Mrs. Howe of Hindsale, now Vernon, was taken captive, who made a splendid figure in the narratives of those days. She was carried into Canada,