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untutored savage, felt a secret dread of him, and as for those who had
come less in contact with him, the stories of the Red Indian's ruthless
barbarity, blended as it was with traits of generous magnanimity, of
his stoical indifference to physical suffering, and of his incredible
sagacity in following up the trail of his enemies, seemed to invest him
with a strange and almost supernatural power. Against such a foe mere
bravery, or even the common prudence of ordinary warfare, was utterly
insufficient, and the knowledge that there were a hundred red men in
the ranks of the enemy entailed an amount of harassing precautions and
fatigue that even the alliance of a thousand friendly Indians could do
little to relieve. In the present struggle, which indeed may be said
to have originated mainly in the jealous rivalry of Canada and New
England to obtain monopolies of the trade with the red man, both
parties were aided by many tribes of Indians. The powerful Iroquois,
otherwise called the "Five Nations," with the Outagamis, the Fox
Indians, and others, were for the most part allies of the English;
whilst the Hurons, the Outamacs, the Morian Indians, and others, were
generally found fighting on the French side.

The campaign of 1756 was opened with some inconsiderable advantages
obtained by the French along the line of forts that lay between
Montreal and Oswego. The erection of this latter fort, where the
Onondaga river falls into Lake Ontario, had been amongst the first
causes of serious enmity between the French Canadians and their New
England neighbours, the latter having boldly planted this outpost right
in the teeth of their rivals, for the better prosecution of their trade
with the Indians--the great and ever-recurring subject of dispute. The
reduction of this small stronghold was accordingly the first object of
the Marquis de Montcalm, who this year took the command in Canada of
the French forces, which had been largely increased by drafts from
home. Fort Ontario, situated on the right bank of the river opposite
to Oswego, was first attacked, and, running short of ammunition, owing
to some unaccountable neglect on the part of the British, was carried
in little more than twelve hours. The French artillery, and such guns
as were found available in the captured fort, were then turned upon the
more important stronghold of Oswego. The English commandant and many
more of its brave defenders were soon killed, and on t