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84 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.
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Letter Bk. III
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Montcalm thought it contained nothing that would encourage
the Garrison to make an obstinate Defence he sent it to Colo
Monro with a Flag of Truce. I should have observed to you
that General Webb & Mr Montresieur his principal Engineer
had visited Fort William Henry two Days before the Enemy
landed & that we are told it was their opinion that it could
not hold out against a Train of Artillery four hours. The
Garrison however made a vigorous Defence till the 9th of
Augst when having bursted their two 32 Lbrs, the two 18
Lbrs, one 12 Lbr, the 6 Lbr, & the two Mortars by incessant
Firing having expended all their Ammunition except seven or
eight Rounds & despairing of Relief they surrendered the
Fort on the Terms mentioned in the inclosed Gazette. It is
said that our Officers are much pleased with the Behaviour of
the French General towards them but it is I beleive certain
that notwithstanding the Articles of Capitulation many of our
Officers & Men were plundered & stripped by the Indians, &
that they scalped many of the sick & wounded before our
Garrison marched out of the Fort. What Loss the Enemy
suffered during the Siege is not known, of the English about
120 were killed among whom was no Officer of higher Rank
than a Lieutenant. Soon after the Garrison had marched off
to Fort Edward, the French returned to Ticonderoga having
first utterly destroyed the Fort that they had reduced but it is
generally thought that their General intended to come back &
attempt the Reduction of Fort Edward also after the Indians
have according to their Custom rejoiced on their Victory &
the Canadians secured their Harvest. You will see by the
Philaa Gazette that the French have a very strong Fleet in the
Harbour of Louisburg & also a great Number of Troops in
Garrison there. This Account together with the Intelligence
that the Earl of Loudoun received from General Webb
determined His Ldp to return to N York with ten of the
Regiments that were at Hallifax & I am told by a Gentleman
who is just come from N York that His Ldp is gone with
those Troops to Albany. Admiral Holborne is I understand
cruizing off Louisburg with fifteen Ships of the Line in hopes
that the Enemy will come out & give him Battle but it is the
general opinion that they will decline coming to an Action
notwithstanding their Superiority & that it will not be in our
Power to act offensively either by Land or Sea in America
this Summer We learn from Carlyle that Colo Stanwix has
lost Abundance of Men particularly Germans by Desertion
since he has been encamped near that place. These People
go off in Parties of 9 or 10 at a time & as none of them have
been apprehended or seen among the Inhabitants it is pre-
sumed that they all desert to the Enemy. In a Letter that I
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