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summer of 1756, five or six hundred French soldiers from Ticonderoga
descended upon some British baggage wagons at Halfway Brook, a spot
about midway between Fort Edward and Fort William Henry at Lake George,
and overcoming the escort, succeeded in getting away with a large
quantity of provisions. They retreated northward, in the direction of
their stronghold, by the Narrows of Lake Champlain, and in order to head
them off, if possible, Rogers and Putnam were ordered by their commander
to take one hundred Rangers, with "two wall-pieces and two
blunderbusses," and proceed by boat down Lake George to a point opposite
a certain part of the Narrows, where they were to cross overland and try
to intercept the enemy.

The orders were obeyed with such promptitude and exactness that the
pursuers reached the place appointed half an hour before the Frenchmen,
into whose boats, when they finally appeared, loaded down with their
plunder, they poured several deadly volleys, killing many of the oarsmen
and soldiers and throwing the party into confusion. Putnam had so placed
his men in ambush, behind bushes and trees, that they were entirely
concealed, while the enemy were exposed to their unexpected fire, which
was terribly effective. Had not a strong wind sprung up at this time,
few of the Frenchmen would have escaped; but several boatloads were
swept into South Bay, beyond musket-shot, and in a shattered condition
finally arrived at Ticonderoga.

As soon as it was made known that the Rangers were at the Narrows, and
full twenty miles from their boats, which they had left under guard at
Lake George, three hundred soldiers were sent post-haste in pursuit. It
was now the turn of the Provincials to retreat, and indeed they had lost
no time in setting out for their boats, as soon as the Frenchmen were
out of sight, being well aware of their perilous position. It was a
close race between them and their enemies, who, having passed them at
night, were discovered next day off Sabbath-Day Point, where they
offered battle. They allowed the French and Indians to approach within
pistol-shot without firing a gun, but at just the right moment they
discharged their wall-pieces and blunderbusses, followed by a
destructive fire from their muskets, so that the havoc and confusion
were great. Completely routed, the enemy made for the shore and
retreated without delay to Ticonderoga. Only one man was killed and two
men were wounded on the side of t