Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 83

they lost on this Expedition we know not but it is said that
our Loss was pretty considerable. It is rumoured that Ld
Loudoun finds himself unable to make an Attempt on Louis-
burg & that he is returning with several of the Regiments to
New York, I hope the Report is without Foundation but
there is an Article in the Gazette about the French Fleet that
makes me fear it is too true.
With the greatest Regard —

[Sharpe to Wm. Sharpe.]

8^th of Sept^r 1757.
Dear Brother
I presume you will have heard before this can be delivered
to you that we have lost Fort William Henry that was built
two years ago on Lake George. The Garrison that was
therein when the Enemy attacked it consisted as it is said of
about 800 Men some Regulars the Rest Provincials under the
Command of the Lieut⁽ Col^o of Otway's Regiment, & Lieut^t
Col^o Young of the Royal Americans lay intrenched with about
1400 at a small distance without the Fort. There were
mounted in the Ramparts two 32 Lbrs. two 18 Lbrs, two 12
Lbrs, one 9 Lbr, one 6 Lbr, two 4 Lbrs, one Howitzer & two
Mortars; Col^o Young had also with him six Pieces of Artil-
lery. The Army by which they were besieged was composed
of six Regiments of Regular Troops from Europe, 2500
Indians & the Rest Militia from Canada, the whole near
12,000 Men. They crossed Lake George from Ticonderoga
or Carillon in about 300 Boats & in the Morning of the 3^d of
Aug^st landed within sight of the Fort bringing with them a
Train of Artillery consisting of 20 Pieces of Cannon & 12
Mortars & Howitzers. As soon as they had invested the Fort
the Marquis of Montcalm who commanded on this Expedi-
tion sent a Summons to the Commandant requiring him to
surrender, this being disregarded he proceeded to open his
Trenches & before the next Morning the Besiegers had fin-
ished two Batteries of 8 Cannon & a Mortar each. On the
first Appearance of the Enemy an Express had been sent to
General Webb who remained with 1500 Men at Fort-Edward
advising him thereof & he had thereupon writ to the Gov-
ernors of the several Northern Colonies acquainting them
with the situation of Affairs & desiring them to order out the
Militia to his Aid, but as none joined him the next Day he
thought fit to communicate the same to the Commandant of
Fort William Henry & accordingly the General's Aid de Camp
writ him a Letter to that purport of which I inclose you a
Copy, this Letter fell into the Enemy's hands but as General