2005 Lake George Tactical main page | All Lake George Tactical Reports

New York, 9th October, 1758

Sir,

I continue to receive accounts from Col. Hart of our supply trains from Fort Edward being attacked by ye Enemy from Fort Carillon.  Men from Colonel Whitings regiment shall provide escort for the teams.  Captain Kennedy, Ye are this night to set out with the detachment as ordered yesterday with 50 men, which you will take under your command, and proceed to the Narrows, from whence you will spy upon the water and shore from there to Carillon. 

Remember the barbarities that have been committed by the enemy’s Indian scoundrels on every occasion, where they had an opportunity of shewing their infamous cruelties on the King’s subjects, which they have done without Mercy.

When you have executed your intended service, you will return with your detachment to camp, or join me wherever the army may be.

If you should fall upon Major Putnam, he is to discover their itinerary upon the mountain as you observe bellow. 

            Your humble servant,

       Jeff. Amherst

Crown Point , October 14, 1758

Sir,

I am heartily glad that your Excellency has been pleased to provide this opportunity for me to serve his Majesty.  In pursuance of your orders, I set out the same evening, October 9th, with scouts of the detachment, two men of Rogers’ company.  Ye rest of the detachment, 50 men total and drafted from Rogers’ Coy, the 55th and the 27th of Foot from Fort Edward, and volunteers from the militia, of which I chose those most fit, were all ordered to muster at the given spot Monday in the afternoon.  LT Siekonic, with the Hornet, was ordered to remain out of sight and to observe from the western shore until well past dark, when he would receive word by messenger of where to join the detachment Monday night.

Private Filkins and I traveled north by canoe towards Black Mountain Point, stopping along the way at several islands to spy upon the area ahead of us. Forward progress was difficult with the strong head winds, three-foot swells, and made worse by the rogue supply canoe we were attempting to tow.  Private Broach marched along the shore making much better time than we did. 

We cached the canoes and supplies near the meeting place and proceeded north on foot.  As darkness began to envelope us, as well as rain and cold, we chose to camp just north of the Perch.  With the rain and fog to conceal us, Filkins managed a fire and hot food for the evening while Broach and I managed a bit of a shelter.

Monday, October 10th, this morning by sunrise we were packed and marching North.

We moved with great ease past Black Mountain point, searched out the peninsula at Ranger Bay, and continued on to Floyd’s point.  From here we could see movement and at least one canoe on Floating Battery.  We continued north for another half mile and we could see at least one boat with sail on the north side of the island.  Being dressed as one of our Mohawk Indians, I conspired to draw out the enemy, which we could see included Mr. Chandler, the French commander.

I ordered the two Ranger privates to remain unseen, but ready to fire when ordered.  Hiding my musket, I stepped out to be visible to the enemy and shouted a salutation, waved several times, then retired back to the forest.  Private Filkins made use of this time to goodly devise and complete a Scary Tree (see NB at right).  After a bit of time, as if returning again from an Indian camp, I hailed the French once again.  Soon, Mr. Chandler and his man were underway to our position.  I continued to stand in the open with my musket at my feet until the boat was within 20 yards.  With the speed of a rabbit running for his hole, I retrieved my musket and discharged it into Mr. Chandler.  Simultaneously, he slumped over bleeding from the head while the two Rangers easily dispatched the oarsman.  I would later learn that Mr. Chandler actually survived his wound as it was a glancing blow off of his extraordinary thick skull.  With much haste, the three of us moved quickly back towards Floyd’s Point in case we were not alone on the eastern shore.

There, we made fire and boiled tea and soon observed more canoes approaching the area from the north.  Hoping to entice some more of the enemy into a similar trap, Pvts. Broach and Filkins remained hidden while I made myself very much visible to the nearing savages.  The incoming canoes were very cautious, trying to interrogate me and spent a great deal of time discussing what to do.  It being necessary to meet up with the rest of the detachment in a couple of hours, I sent Filkins as a runner to locate the rest of our party and lead them to the meeting place.  Finally, I determined that the leader of this group was the one they call Sadoques; however, he was dressed much like a ranger.  He remained unconvinced of my appearance and moved on around us to the south.

Knowing that if they were allowed to land they would at least cut off our return route and may actually come looking for us, the Rangers and I decided to try and shadow the canoes and hopefully attack them as they land rather than evade them up over the mountain.  As I crossed the boulder field at Ranger Bay, I realized it was too late, they were already on land and I literally ran into an ambush.  I was wounded but subsequently given care and released by Sodeques, but private Broach was not spared.

With some difficulty from my wound, I continued south and to my dismay, observerd three French boats and four canoes headed south.  I reached the meeting point were I expected to find the rest of the detachment, to find that although my canoe was still where I had hidden it the detachment was not anywhere to be seen.  Knowing that both my detachment and the enemy were in the same area and less than a mile away, I loaded the swivel gun into the bow, checked my musket, and pushed off to the south.  Rounding the point of Red Rock, I gazed upon a site to behold. 

LT Goodrich had led the Rangers in from the south, and, in a decisive strategic move, had, at the sight of the French heading towards them from the north, occupied Commission Point, thereby denying it to the French and also ensuring safe passage for our troops on land. This was also a devastating blow to the French, who put in to a small island just off the point.  Not only had they not reached their objective, but with the strong winds out of the north, their small boats were stuck on that island. I hugged the shore and easily made my way to Commission Point and joined the rest of the detachment. The French did make a half-hearted attempt to drive us off the point, but once we got the swivels set up and cooperating, the enemy quickly retreated to the small island and set up camp close enough that we could keep watch on them. LT Goodrich sent Sgt Whitcom (Steve "Weasel" Topliff) and Pvt Neely to Red Rock, so as to watch the passage from the north during the night.

Well after dark, LT Goodrich and I headed out to locate LT Siekonic and the Hornet.  Cautiously circling Big Burnt Island, we located a lantern on the southern shore, but it appeared unattended.  We approached cautiously and then continued on around to the western side.  Goodrich fired the swivel to signal our presence – no return.  Finally, I spotted another lantern on the next island to the north and we proceeded hence.  Approaching quietly and cautiously, we quickly determined this was a portion of our detachment, hidden as orderd.  After exchanging pleasantries, we made quick work of planning out the evening’s activities.  We headed back south and over to the eastern shore where the 55th were encampted about a quarter mile south of Commission Point.  I informed them of the plans for the evening and for the morning.  The Hornet was to allow us 15 minutes advantage then head north to Red Rock.  At that point they would come about and attack the French and their boats from the North.  Goodrich and I would wait in the canoe within the shadows on the eastern side of the island and simultaneously give fire from the swivel on our bow once the Hornet unleashed her attack.

This plan was accomplished with all expected precision at 10:00 that night, except possibly for a tense few moments as the Hornet approached Red Rock and the uninformed Ranger camp, which had been equipped with one of the larger swivels, to a degree closer than anticipated.  The number of French casualties wasn’t confirmed, but of ye Enemy’s boats all were sunk.  We offered a great round of "God Save the King" and "Huzzah" into the night sky.

Tuesday morning found the French stuck between a rock and a wet place.  The weather prevented them from returning north, yet they could not come ashore without first being killed.  LT Seikonic and the crew of the Hornet joined us that morning to discuss our next plans.  We felt a short parlay was necessary to discuss the situation and once terms were agreed to, the British abandoned Commission Point thereby to allow the French a saver haven in the event of stormy weather. 

Tuesday afternoon brought several small engagements as each side probed the other but was relatively uneventful. We lost one of the militia, LT Price, who with three of our Rangers had stayed near Commission Point to watch the French.  In retaliation, Sgt Whitcomb killed a French sentry.

The evening provided the breeding ground for a quite daunting plan.  Those on watch were to awaken the camp two hours before dawn and we would march south in the blackest of night. 

0400 Wednesday morning; once again, this was accomplished with all expected precision.  Ye guards made sure to awaken all and LT Goodrich saw everyone was quick to form up.  It was darker than you could ever imagine.  Our men formed up a single column and silently navigated by placing a hand on the man in front of them.  Sergeant Whitcom led us through the swamp, out to the road, and to the French camp where we were sure to find them in their beds.  Much to our surprise, the French were more than awake and very prepared to defend themselves, and the 55th along with John Bauer, a member Hezekiah Dunn's Company of New Jersey Rangers, were nowhere to be seen.  Unfortunately, even with the help of some of them shooting each other, we were unable to drive the enemy from the point.

Several scouting parties were sent out both by land and water to determine the whereabouts of the Indians and any additional French. 

A bit past noon, the entire British force was assembled and marched south to finally drive the French away.  Armed with a swivel, LT Goodrich and I went by canoe to support the effort from the water while Sergeant Whitcom lead the men along the shore.  Before Whitcom arrived, the French had already embarked and were starting to head north.  The Hornet, poised invisibly behind the island, was effective at firing upon each and all French boats as they rounded the point of the island. With two close shots from the onboard swivel, Goodrich quickly dispatched two canoes that had, apparently, avoided the Hornet. 

The British force regrouped.  The Regulars and one Ranger stayed at Commission Point in case any French should come there, and a party was sent north to determine where the French were going to land.  One French canoe was sent back to Black Mountain point to deliver a message that the French force, suffering great casualties, was retreating to Carillon.  Of their Indian allies, we had seen no sign and assumed they too were in hiding from the weather. The detachment spent the rest of Wed. conducting training and departed Thursday morning for Crown Point.

Your Excellency’s most obedient servant,

Q. Kennedy