to a regiment. The honourable Phinehas Lyman, Esq. who had a general's command in 1755, Nathan Whiting, Esq. Eliphalet Dyar, Esq, and John Read, Esq. were appointed colonels, to command the respective regiments. The Rev. Messrs. George Beckwith, Joseph Fish, Benjamin Pomeroy, and Jonathan Ingersoll, were appointed chaplains.

To encourage the speedy enlistment of men for the service, the bounty was increased much beyond what it had been in former years. All proper measures were adopted to raise the troops with expedition, and to have thent seasonably in the field.

To provide for the expenses of such a number of troops, the assembly enacted that thirty thousand pounds, lawful money, in bills of credit, at five per cent. interest, should be immediately printed and that for a fund for the sinking of said bills, a tax of eight pence on the pound should be levied on the grand list of the colony, to be brought in Anno Domini 1760. It was provided, however, that such moneys as should arrive from Great Britain, for the reimbursement of the expenses of the war, should be applied, by the treasurer, for the purpose of sinking the said bills, and that if a sufficient sum should arrive before the time fixed for the payment of said tax, to sink the whole, that then said tax should not be levied, and that the act respecting it should be null and void.

That the treasurer might be able to pay the troops on their return from the public service, the assembly laid a tax of nine pence on the pound on the whole rateable estate of the colony, according to the list brought into the assembly in October last, and ordered that it should becollected by the last of December then following. And as it was uncertain whether money would arrive, sufficient to reimburse the expenses of the colony, in season, a committee was appointed to borrow the sum of twentyfive thousand pounds, to be paid before the 20th of May

1

* Each colonel was allowed forty pounds for his table, and the decent support of his chaplain. Their wages, as colonels, and captains for one company, was fifteen pounds per month. The bounty for each man who would equip himself for the field, was four pounds. The wages were the same as in the preceding year.

1761. For an ample fund to repay the sum to be borrowed, a tax of five pence on the pound was levied on the list which should be brought into the assembly in 1759, to be paid into the treasury by the last of December, 1760.

It was enacted also, that any of the notes given for the money borrowed, might be received in payment of said tax. But, as considerable sums of money were expected from England, for provisions, furnished for the troops under Lord Loudon, in 1756, it was enacted that said money, as fast as it should arrive, should be applied to discharge the notes given for the money borrowed; and that, if a sufficient sum should seasonably arrive to discharge all the notes, that then said tax should not be collected.

That nothing might be left undone, which could be attempted for his majesty's service, the commissioners appointed in October, to meet those from the other colonies, were now authorized to meet them at Hartford on the 19th of April, or as near that time as might be, to consult on measures for the general safety, and to excite the several colonies to the most vigorous and united exertions to carry his majesty's designs into execution.* As it appeared by Mr. Pitt's letter, that Major General Abercrombie was chief commander of the troops for the northern expedition, the governor was desired to give him the earliest information of the measures adopted by the colonies, and their vigorous preparations for an early and successful campaign.

While the colonies were employing the most vigorous exertions for an early campaign, such effectual measures had been pursued in England, that, in February, the armament designed for the reduction of Louisburg, was in readiness, and sailed for America. Admiral Boscawen commanded the naval, and General Amherst the land operations. Under General Amherst, was Brigadier General Wolfe. These were men of singular characters. General Amherst had the coolness and abilities of the Roman Fabius, while General Wolfe possessed the magnanimity and fire of the Scipios. From such men, great achieve

* Records of the Colony for March 8th, 1758.

ments might reasonably be expected; and their successes equalled the most sanguine expectations.

Admiral Boscawen, and General Amherst, with the armament under their command, arrived safely in America; and, on the 28th of May, the whole fleet, consisting of one hundred and fifty-seven sail, with about fourteen thousand troops on board, took its departure from Halifax, and, on the second of June, appeared before Louisburg.

For six days the landing of the troops was impracticable. The surf was so great, that no boat could live near the shore. On every part of the coast where a landing was judged practicable, the enemy had made entrenchments; and, in places most convenient for the purpose, they had erected batteries, and mounted cannon. During the whole time after the discovery of the fleet, until the landing of the troops, the enemy employed themselves in strengthening their lines. These they manned with numerous infantry. General Amherst, with a number of his officers, reconnoitered the shore.

On the eighth the weather became more favourable, though there was yet a great swell and surf. The General, determining not to a lose moment, seized the opportunity. Before the break of day, the troops were embarked in three divisions. The admiral and general made their dispositions with consummate judgment. To distract the enemy, and draw their attention to different parts, the dispositions were made in this manner:-The divisions on the right, and in the centre, were designed only for feints, while that on the left was appointed for the real attack. This was commanded by General Wolfe. Before the landing, five frigates, and some other ships of war, commenced a furious fire, not only on the centre, but on the right and left of the enemy, to rake them in their flanks. When these had fired about fifteen minutes, General Wolfe pressed to the shore. The enemy reserved his fire until the boats were nearly in shore, and then poured upon them the united blaze and thunder of their musketry and cannon. Many of the boats were overset, and others dashed in pieces. Some of the men were thrown, and others leaped into the water; and while some were killed, and others drowned, the main body,

supported and animated by the noble example and conduct of their commander, pushed to the land, and with such order and resolution rushed on the enemy, as soon put them into confusion, and drove them from their entrenchments. When General Wolfe had made good his landing, the centre division having moved to the left, and the right following the centre, the landing was completed in excellent order.

For many days the weather was so bad, and the swell and surf so great, that scarcely any of the artillery or stores could be landed. It was with great difficulty that even the tents, provisions, and implements for the siege, were got on shore. The weather was so bad at the time of landing, and during the siege, that a hundred boats were lost in the service. The enemy had five ships of the line, and one or more frigates, in the harbour, and could bring their guns to bear upon the troops, in their approaches. The ground was exceedingly bad; in some places rough, in others boggy, wet, and miry. These obstacles, with a brave resistance from the enemy, caused the seige for some time to proceed slowly.

But no discouragements were judged insurmountable, by such generals as Amherst and Wolfe. By the twelfth of June, General Wolfe had secured the point called the light-house battery, and all the posts in that quarter. On the twenty-fifth, he had silenced the island battery; but the shipping in the harbour kept up the fire upon him until the twenty-first of July. One of the ships then took fire and blew up. This set two others on fire, which burnt to the water's edge. This was to the enemy an irreparable loss.

By this time, Gen. Amherst had made his approaches near to the city; so that he was in good forwardness to make lodgements on the covered way. The town, in many places, was consumed to the ground, and in others, was much damaged. The fire of the enemy greatly languished, yet no proposals of capitulation were made. One bold action more was necessary to bring them to terms. That was to destroy, or bring off, the ships remaining in the harbour.

For this purpose, the admiral sent in a detachment of

six hundred men, under the command of two enterprising young captains, Laforey and Balfour. Between the 25th and 26th of the month, under the darkness of the night, they made their way through a terrible fire of cannon and musketry, and sword in hand, took the two ships. One ran aground, and was burnt; the other they rowed out of the harbour, in triumph.

The next morning, the governor proposed terms of capitulation. The garrison, consisting of five thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven men, surrendered prisoners of war. One hundred and twenty-one cannon, eighteen mortars, and large quantities of stores and ammunition, were taken. The enemy lost five ships of the line and four frigates, besides other vessels. St. Johns, with Louisburg, was given up, and the English became masters of the whole coast, from the St. Lawrence to NovaScotia. This was the most effectual blow to France, which she had received since the commencement of the war. It was a deep wound to her navy, and especially to her colonies and interests in America. It very much cut off her communication with Canada, and greatly facilitated the reduction of that country.

As the reduction of Ticonderoga and Crown Point was a favourite object with the northern colonies, they made early and great exertions for carrying it into effectual execution. Besides the assistance which they gave to the reduction of Louisburg, they furnished about ten thousand troops for the northern expedition. These, in conjunction with between six and seven thousand regular troops, had, by the beginning of July, got into Lake George more than a thousand boats and batteaux, a fine train of artillery, provisions, and every thing necessary for an attack on the fortresses of the enemy.

On the fifth of July, the army, consisting of fifteen thousand three hundred and ninety effective men, embarked in nine hundred batteaux, and one hundred and thirtyfive whale boats, for Ticonderoga. Besides, there were a number of rafts, on which cannon were mounted to cover the landing of the troops. Early next morning, they landed at the north end of Lake George, without opposition. The army formed in four columns, and began