In the year 1745, very important and extensive ope rations were planned by the rival nations. The French had in view, the recovery of Cape Breton and Nova Scotia, together with the total devastation of the coast along the whole of the British possessions ; and Eng land, on her side, looked forward to the reduction of Canada, and the expulsion of the French from the American continent. It will soon appear, that the hopes of the English were better founded than those of their antagonists. The resources of the French, however, were by no means inconsiderable. They were in pos session of Canada, and had fortified Quebec ; their towns were numerous, their stations well chosen ; and by their intrigues with the Indians, they had secured the assist ance, or gained the neutrality, of many powerful tribes. Nor was this all : They had extended their discoveries along the banks of the Mississippi, and advanced to wards the great lakes ; they had occupied the country of Upper Louisiana, a fertile region, capable of sup porting an immense population, and gratifying the most ample views of conquest. The settlements of the French stretching from north to south, interfered with those of the English, which extended from east to west. The ffirmer nation meditated the union of Louisiana with Canada, by which they could more readily act in concert, and annoy the English, whose encroachments on the aboriginal tribes they had proposed to check. They had acquired the command of Lake Champlain, by erecting a fort at Crown Point ; and their posts ex tended up the river St Lawrence, and along the great lakes. It was now designed to connect these posts with the Mississippi. The white population of the French colonies amounted to 52,000 men. Their whole power was marshalled under one ruler. The temper of the people, as well as the genius of the government, was military. With the exception of the Six Nations, (for mer ly the Five Nations, a new tribe havi.,g entered the confederacy,) all the Indians Isere attac,ted to France ; they were trained to war after the Europe tn manner; the efficacy of their assistance had already been expe rienced, and their aid was the more important and va luable, as they were acquainted with the recesses of the country which was to become the theatre of war. In opposing the force, and defeating the plans of the French, the English colonies laboured under many dis advantages. They were separated into district govern ments and interests ; excepting those of New England, they were altogether unaccustomed to union; they w re not inured even to obedience, for they were jealous of the crown, and involved in frequent disputes with their immediate rulers. They were spread over a Iarge ter ritory, and in the central provinces, the people had lived in such tranquillity, and for so long a time, that they were wholly unacquainted with military operations. Their population, however, exceeded that of the French by one half, and was equal to a million of souls.
The execution of the plan for uniting Canada with Louisiana, was probably hastened by an act of the Eng lish legislature. The Ohio company was formed about this time ; and in the year 1750, they obtained a grant from the crown of 60,000 acres, in the country to which both nations pretended they had a right. Measures were instantly taken by the company, to secure all the advan tages which they expected from their new acquisitions; houses for carrying on a trade with the Indians of those parts were established, and surveyors were appointed to ascertain and to fix the lands which had been allotted to them. Though the survey was made as secretly as pos
sible, the intentions of the English in visiting the Ohio, became quickly and generally' known.
The English traders were seized. Major Washington, who afterwards, in a higher command, led the people of America to independence and to empire, was despatch ed by the governor of Virginia, with a letter, requiring the French general to quit the dominions of his Britan nic majesty. The French general having declined to comply with the requisition, Washington, after the gal lant defence of a small stockade, hastily erected a4.thc Little Meadows, was obliged to capitulate. Fort 'du Quesne was raised by the French on the disputed pro perty. It was perceived that a great struggle would ensue. Orders arrived from England, to cultivate the friendship of the S'x Nations, and, if possible, to dis lodge the French from the settlement on the Ohio. A conference with the Indians was held at Albany. A pro posal was made by governor Shirley, that the colonies should unite for their mutual defence ; and that a grand council should be formed, in order to secure the ready co-operation of all the English in America; but, not withstanding the magnitude and immediate pressure of the danger, the proposal was objected to, both in the colonies and in England. The ministry were acquainted with the refractory disposition of the Americans; and were afraid that the union might be detrimental to the interests of the parent state. The war continued with various success. The English possessed themselves of Nova Scotia, according to their own definition of its limits. General Braddock, the commander in chief, resolved to attack Fort du Quesne, but was surpri,ed on his march, by a party of Indians, with whose mode of fighting he was entirely unacquainted ; the van, under the orders of lieutenant colonel Gage, was thrown into confusion; and the main body advancing, the enemy were supposed to be dispersed ; but, in an instant, they rose from the ground where they had concealed them selves, and firing upon the English, compieted their disorder. The defeat was total; sixty-four officers out of eighty-five, and nearly the half of the privates, were killed or wounded. The army fled precipitately to the camp of major Dunbar, where general Braddock ex pired. The earl of Loudon was then appointed to the command of all the English forces in North America; and the marquis de .Montcalm, an able general, suc ceeded Dieskau in the government of Canada, and the French possessions. Oswego was taken and destroyed by the enemy. The small-pox, having broken out in Albany, wasted the provincials. A military council of the different governors was held at Boston under the direction of the earl of Loudon. Montcalm advanced against fort William Henry, and urged his approaches with so much vigour and skill, that the garrison found it necessary to capitulate, delivering up to the French all the ammunition and stores ; and agreeing not to serve against his most Christian majesty, or his allies, for the space of eighteen months. But the Indians in the French army, unacquainted with the maxims of honour which regulated the conduct of the Europeans, and disregard ing the articles of capitulation, fell upon the troops, after they had evacuated the place, dragged them from the ranks, and put them to death with their tomahawks. Montcalm exerted himself to prevent these outrages; but much injury was done before his interposition was effectual.