PREFACE.

         The present volume continues the correspondence of Governor

        Sharpe during the years 1757—1 761.

         The English government, in their choice of Lord Loudoun to replace

        the rash and over-confident Braddock, seem to have erred in precisely

        the opposite direction, the new commander being vacillating, slow, and

        cautious to timidity.

         The strongholds of the French at this time were Louisbourg (Cape

        Breton), Montreal and Quebec, Crown Point at the southern end of

        Lake Champlain, Ticonderoga at the northern end of Lake George,

        Frontenac on the north side of Lake Ontario above the Thousand

        Islands, and Fort Niagara at the angle formed by that lake with the

        Niagara river. Fort Du Quesne was held by oniy a small garrison.

         The English posts were at Oswego and Fort Ontario on the southern

        shore of that lake, Fort Frederick at Albany, Fort William Henry at

        the southern end of Lake George, and Fort Edward on the Hudson

        near that lake.

         Loudoun fixed his headquarters at Albany, and slowly proceeded to

        organize his command. Generals Abercromby and Webb hadpreceded

        him with a large force of regulars, and Loudoun disgusted the Provincial

        troops and Assemblies by making a major of the regular forces outrank

        a Provincial major-general.

         War had been formally declared between England and France in

        1756, and the chief command given to the Marquis de Montcalm, a

        commander as prompt as Loudoun was dilatory. While the latter was

        wasting time at Albany, Montcalm suddenly appeared before Oswego,

        and that place with Fort Ontario fell after a brief resistance, the French

        retiring after destroying the fortifications. For the rest of the year

        Loudoun seemed paralyzed.

         By the following spring the English commander had matured his

        plans for an attack upon Louisbourg, and gathered a strong force at

        Halifax for that purpose, but the plan proved abortive, and he returned

        discomfited to Albany. Montcalm, however, had seized the opportunity,

        and descending Lake George with a force of French and Indians,

        appeared before Fort William Henry, which capitulated, General Webb,

        who was in command at Fort Edward, giving no assistance beyond the

        advice to make the best terms they could. The fort was then destroyed

        by the French.

         Secretary Pitt now took matters in hand. He recalled Loudoun, and