y, with anticipation of a
speedy and victorious return thither; a rapid and well-arranged
march to Fort Edward and Lake George, where they were gladdened by
the sight of the hardy Rogers and the remnant of his gallant band,
embarked in whaleboats, and ready to lead the van or perform any
daring service asked of them; a cheerful embarking upon the lake in
the great multitude of boats and bateaux; bright sunshine overhead,
the sound of military music in their ears, flags waving, men
cheering and shouting--what expedition could have started under
happier and more joyous auspices?

There were regulars from England--the foremost being the
Fifty-fifth, commanded by Lord Howe. There were American and
Highland regiments, and the provincials from numbers of the
provinces, each in its own uniform and colours. The lake was alive
with above one thousand craft for the transport of this great army
with its heavy artillery, and Rogers declared that Ticonderoga was
as good as their own: for it had only provision to last eight or
nine days; and if not at once battered down by the enemy's guns, it
could easily be starved out by a judicious disposition of the
troops.

One night was spent camped halfway down the lake. Lord Howe, with
Stark and Rogers and Fritz for companions, lay upon his bearskin
overlooking Fritz's diagrams of the fort, taken in past days,
listening to what all the three men had to tell of the fortress,
both inside and out, and making many plans for the attack upon the
morrow.

General Abercromby was with the army; yet it was well known that
Lord Howe was the leading spirit, and to him it was that all the
men instinctively looked. It was he who upon the morrow, when they
had reached and passed the Narrows and were drawing near to the
fort, reconnoitred the landing place in whaleboats, drove off a
small party of French soldiers who were watching them, but were
unable to oppose them, and superintended the landing of the whole
army.

The lake here had narrowed down to the dimensions of a river, and
it made a considerable bend something like a horseshoe. If the
bridge had not been broken down, they could have marched to a point
much nearer to Ticonderoga upon a well-trodden road; but the bridge
being gone, it was necessary to march the army along the west bank
of this river-like waterway which connected Lake George with Lake
Champlain, for there were too many dangerous rapids for navigation
to be possible; and upon t