of wall pieces fixed, and which was well lined
in the inside with small arms. But the difficult access to their
lines was what gave them the fatal advantage over us. They took care
to cut down monstrous large oak trees, which covered all the ground
from the foot of their breastwork about the distance of a cannon shot
every way in their front. This not only broke our ranks, and made it
impossible for us to keep our order, but put it entirely out of our
power to advance till we cut our way through. I have seen men behave
with courage and resolution before now, but so much determined
bravery can hardly be equalled in any part of the history of ancient
Rome. Even those that were mortally wounded cried aloud to their
companions, not to mind or lose a thought upon them, but to follow
their officers, and to mind the honor of their country. Nay, their
ardor was such, that it was difficult to bring them off. They paid
dearly for their intrepidity. The remains of the regiment had the
honor to cover the retreat of the army, and brought off the wounded,
as we did at Fontenoy. When shall we have so fine a regiment again? I
hope we shall be allowed to recruit."

The English outnumbered the French four-fold, and with their artillery,
which was near at hand, could have forced a passage. "Had I to besiege
Ticonderoga," said Montcalm, "I would ask for but six mortars and two
pieces of artillery." But Abercrombie, that evening, hurried the army to
the landing place, with such precipitancy, that but for the alertness of
Colonel Bradstreet, it would at once have rushed in a mass into the
boats. On the morning of the 9th the army embarked and Abercrombie did
not rest until he had placed the lake between himself and Montcalm, and
even then he sent the artillery and ammunition to Albany for safety.

The expedition against Louisburg, under Major-General Jeffrey Amherst,
set sail from Halifax on May 28, 1758. It was joined by the fleet under
Admiral Boscawen. The formidable armament consisted of twenty-five sail
of the line, eighteen frigates, and a number of bomb and fire ships,
with the Royals, 15th, 17th, 22nd, 28th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 47th, 48th,
58th, the 2d and 3d battalions of the 60th, 78th Highlanders, and New
England Rangers,--in all, thirteen thousand and nine men. On June 2nd
the vessels anchored in Garbarus Bay, seven miles from Louisburg. The
garrison, under the Chevalier Ducour, c