Je Me Souviens Too
Montcalm descendant* will show up and play his ancestor’s role in the re-enanctment of the massacre and mutilation of the garrison and camp followers at Fort William Henry in 1757, followed by lengthy captivity for the survivors, at the hands of French troops and Indians. The Baron Georges Savarin de Marestan’s hosts will dress him up in breaches and a wig for the role but don’t want to mention any of the messy details:
“I don’t want to embarrass the guy, quite frankly,” said Nesbitt, a 56-year-old land surveyor and colonial history buff. “I don’t know where he stands on the whole thing.”
Who cares? Nothing stopping me, anyway. English and French rivalry and outrages had been going on for decades, as they vied for control of North America and extended their European wars to their new properties. Often nasty, often involving Indian proxies, such as the Mohawks who raided into New England. All-out war between France and England, French Canada and English America had been underway for several years, mainly in the Ohio valley, by the time Montcalm’s superior force landed at Fort William Henry in the summer of 1757. The British and American forces there were ill-prepared, poorly-led and poorly deployed, leading shortly to a capitulation under terms. Reports of a massacre of thousands as they marched away are said to be English and colonial propaganda, since somewhat debunked by historians. The British and American forces were ill-prepared and outnumbered at Fort William Henry and …
… just after dawn on the 9th of August, following a conference of the fort’s officers, a flag of truce was visible flying over Fort William Henry. Montcalm offered generous terms, even for the typically gentlemanly terms of the day … the entire garrison would be allowed to march off in military parade, colors flying, to Fort Edward. A cannon would even be allowed to accompany the procession. In return, the English would not bear arms against France for the next 18 months. No ammunition would be granted, and the sick and wounded would be returned when well. One British officer would remain as hostage, until the French escort attached to the retreating column, returned safely from Fort Edward. In European terms, all was well. The paid French soldiers had earned their victory. Once burned, there would no longer be a British post on the shores of Lake George. The British, though defeated, had retained their honor. The siege of Fort William Henry was over.
The British evacuated the fort, leaving about 70 sick and wounded to the care of the French. Almost immediately, Indians entered to plunder - their form of payment - what baggage the British had left behind. Cries and screams for help were heard outside the fort. A missionary, Pere Roubaud says of one particular warrior, “[he] carried in his hand a human head, from which trickled streams of blood, and which he displayed as the most splendid prize that he could have secured.” Accounts vary, but somewhere between four and seventeen were killed within the fort. In light of upcoming events, it is reasonable to assume that they perhaps resisted. French troops soon restored order.
The tribes were restless. They wanted booty. It was their only reward. Clothing, arms, ammunition, supplies, rum … many felt deprived. They lingered. Tensions mounted. A proposed march from the entrenched camp to Fort Edward was postponed, at Montcalm’s suggestion, until the following morning, as hostile Indians gathered in the vicinity. They pestered the soldiers, wanting their baggage. Montcalm posted French guards. It was a long, tension-filled day and night. Two-thirds of the Indians were not in their camps.
At dawn’s light on August 10th, the English assembled by companies, Monro on horseback, and attempted to leave from the entrenched camp. A French escort of 200 was on the scene. When the last British regiment had left, Indians fell upon 17 helpless wounded left behind in huts. They were scalped and killed. At the rear of the column was a Massachusetts regiment, some New Hampshire militia, and camp followers. The Indians next fell upon them. “… than the savages fell upon the rear killing and scalping.” A “hell whoop” was heard. “ … the Indians pursued tearing the Children from their Mothers Bosoms and their mothers from their Husbands, then Singling out the men and Carrying them in the woods and killing a great many whom we say lying on the road side.” Not surprisingly, despite a halt being ordered, many fled, these images indelibly stamped upon their minds. Hundreds, up to 1500, were reported killed by those panic-stricken souls arriving at Fort Edward. It is easy to imagine it as so. The column was unarmed. The Indians fully armed. Eyewitnesses claimed this “slaughter” went on for “three hours“. Accounts were typified by this:
this Day when they Came to march the Savage Indiens Came upon them and Stript them of their Packs and Cloths and the most of their Arms then they Pickt out the negrows Melatows and Indiens and Dragd them Away and we Know not what is Become of them then they fell to killing of our men At A most Dredfull manner they Ravesht the women and then Put them to the Slaughter young Children of the Regular forces had their Brains Dasht out Against the Stones and trees
It is easy to visualize nearly the entire column being slaughtered under these circumstances, much like what one sees in the movie, The Last of the Mohicans. How could it be otherwise? 1600 armed, frenzied warriors falling upon a defenseless, panicked column of some 2400 (including women & children) for nearly three hours. It certainly is very easy to imagine. In reality, however, it just didn’t happen. Col. Monro, speaking of his regular troops, gave 129 killed and wounded - including the siege - as his estimates. Regarding the militia, he says, “No Regular Accot Could be got from the Provincials but their Numbers Kill’d Could not be Less than Four Officers & about 40 Men. And very near as many Men Wounded.” Roubard stated killed could number “hardly more than forty or fifty.” Another man stated, “Near Thirty Carcasses, however, were actually seen …” There is no doubt some killing occurred, but, by and large, the picture was one of Indians taking, from terrified soldiers, baggage and clothing they felt was due them. It was a scene of pawing, grabbing, poking & touching. When a soldier resisted stiffly, he may have been knocked down, beaten, scalped or killed. Indians had learned from Oswego that a soldier was worth more alive than dead. The French would pay handsomely for the return of prisoners. So, as the soldiers broke and ran, the Indians pursued. They gathered booty, and collected prisoners. It was undoubtedly a scene of utter pandemonium and terror, but the “massacre” as film and some historians have presented it, just never did occur. At some point, the French did help restore some semblance of order. Though hundreds streamed in well before, the remnants of the column, including Col. George Monro, did arrive at Fort Edward, under French guard, on August 14.
According to Ian K. Steele’s Betrayals, the most recent and exhaustive study on the subject, of the 2308 soldiers who left Fort William Henry on August 9, 1783 had shown up at Fort Edward by August 31, an additional 217 appearing by year’s end. Considering the fact that only 500, including “wives, servants, & sutlers” arrived with Monro, it is obvious that many fled into the woods to make their way alone or in parties over the next weeks. Among those captured, most were paroled at some point. By the new year, only 308 were considered killed or missing. It seems reasonable to assume that of these, many were those who fled but never, for one reason or another, went to Fort Edward. Again, according to Steele’s study, the maximum number killed on August 10 “including those who happily or unhappily lived the rest of their lives in the villages and forests of New France’s Indian allies, could not have numbered more than 184.” His minimum figure is 69.
He posits that 184 dead or taken into perpetual captivity is not a massacre, primarily a matter of avaricious Indians “pawing, grabbing, poking and touching” in pursuit of what was their due. Sounds like someone who wasn’t among those being pawed, grabbed, poked or touched, killed or destined to happily or unhappily live the rest of his life in the villages and forests of New France’s Indian allies.
Meanwhile, Montcalm was on a tear, and continued to win several major victories. A couple of years later, thing weren’t going so well. Montcalm was holed up at Quebec, up some cliffs, heavily fortified. The English had a secret weapon, however. Men who wear skirts, who scaled the cliffs to the Plains of Abraham and surprised the French. Both Montcalm and Wolfe bought the farm that day, Sept. 13, 1759.
Anyway, bygones. Britain with the Quebec Act of 1774 began a long history of making concessions her French subjects. They’re all Canadians now, the Brits and French long gone. We’re Americans, it’s none of our business anymore.** To show what great brotherhood now exists, in all of Canada one is obliged to conduct official business in both English and French. Except one part. Guess where, and guess which language all the signs are in.
And if you go to Quebec today, you’ll find painted wooden statues of each of them in the Citadel’s old magazine. Montcalm’s, nice and clean. Wolfe’s, covered with decades of soot. At least it was when I was there 20 years ago. That’s not nice, but out on the parade ground you may enjoy the spectacle of Canada’s Francophone 22nd Regiment performing its changing of the guard in red British coats and busbies, marching around with the regimental goat.
* He’s a great-nephew times however many generations.
** Except for the fact that we have been indirectly and massively subsidizing their defense, ever since they figured out what a great thing that Monroe Doctrine/NATO combo is. Those policies have been challenged in Canada, and Canadians are now fighting and dying with Americans in Afghanistan.
Topics: Britain, Canada, France, history
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 3:17 pm on Friday, August 10, 2007
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