The Battle of Lake George, fought on September 8, 1755, stands as a pivotal engagement in the early stages of the French and Indian War (1754-1763). This conflict, a theater of the larger Seven Years’ War, pitted the colonial ambitions of Great Britain against those of France for control of North America. The battle, though costly, ultimately represented one of the first significant victories for British colonial troops against their French counterparts and their Native American allies.
Seeds of Conflict: Trade, Land, and Alliances
The underlying causes of the French and Indian War were complex, rooted in competing claims over territory and resources. Primarily, the desire for lucrative trade with Native American tribes, especially in furs, and the insatiable hunger for land acquisition fueled the escalating tensions. As the French expanded their presence near the Great Lakes, establishing trading posts and asserting their dominion, the British, eager to cultivate tobacco and other crops, sought to expand their colonial holdings westward.
This westward expansion inevitably led to clashes with both the French and the various Native American tribes who inhabited these lands. Both European powers actively sought alliances with different Native American nations, drawing them into the escalating conflict. The Battle of Lake George exemplifies this dynamic, showcasing the intricate web of alliances and rivalries that characterized the war.
The Mohawk Nation: A Divided People
Central to understanding the complexities of the Battle of Lake George is the role of the Mohawk Nation. The Mohawks, a powerful and influential tribe of the Northeastern Woodlands, were a key member of the Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee. Revered as the "Keepers of the Eastern Door," they historically guarded the Confederacy against incursions from the east, maintaining a reputation for unity and strength.
However, this unity was tragically fractured in the years leading up to the French and Indian War. In 1666, following a French military campaign, Jesuit missionaries were permitted to proselytize among the Mohawk people. Over time, these missionaries successfully converted a significant portion of the Mohawk population to Christianity. In a move that would have lasting repercussions, a large contingent of these converted Mohawks were relocated to settlements near Montreal, Canada, under the auspices of the Jesuit missions.
This division within the Mohawk Nation had profound consequences. While the Mohawks who remained in the Mohawk River Valley of present-day New York maintained close ties with the British and ultimately allied with them during the French and Indian War, their brethren in Canada sided with the French. This resulted in the agonizing prospect of Mohawk warriors facing each other on the battlefield, a scenario deeply feared by Mohawk leaders.
This internal conflict was further exacerbated during the subsequent Revolutionary War, where differing views on freedom and allegiance led to further divisions within the Mohawk Nation, ultimately contributing to the erosion of their once-unshakeable unity. The Battle of Lake George was just the beginning of a long and painful period for the Mohawk people.
The Albany Congress: Securing Alliances
Recognizing the strategic importance of the Iroquois Confederacy, particularly the Mohawk, the British convened the Albany Congress of 1754. This meeting, held in Albany, New York, aimed to repair strained relations with the Iroquois and secure their allegiance in the impending conflict with France. The British sought to solidify their position by offering trade concessions, military support, and guarantees regarding land rights.
Prelude to Battle: Maneuvering for Position
In 1755, the British devised a three-pronged campaign against the French. In the northern theater, Sir William Johnson was tasked with leading a force north through Lakes George and Champlain, with the ultimate objective of capturing Fort St. Frédéric (later Fort Crown Point) on Lake Champlain, a crucial French stronghold.
In August 1755, Johnson departed Fort Lyman (renamed Fort Edward in 1756) with a force of approximately 1,500 British soldiers and 200 Mohawk warriors. Reaching Lac Saint Sacrement on August 28th, Johnson renamed it Lake George in honor of King George II. He pressed onward, determined to seize Fort St. Frédéric.
Meanwhile, the French commander, Jean Erdman, Baron Dieskau, learned of Johnson’s advance. Assembling a force of approximately 2,800 French regulars and 700 allied Native Americans, including Mohawks from Canada, Dieskau positioned himself at Carillon (Ticonderoga), preparing to intercept Johnson’s forces. He initially planned to attack Fort Lyman, aiming to disrupt Johnson’s supply lines.
After scouting Fort Lyman on September 7th and finding it heavily defended, Dieskau abandoned his plan to attack the fort. Instead, he began to withdraw towards South Bay on Lake Champlain.
The Bloody Morning Scout: An Ambush Unveiled
On September 8th, Johnson received intelligence that the French were operating in his rear. Halting his advance, Johnson began fortifying his encampment near Lake George. To reinforce Fort Lyman and address the perceived threat to his supply lines, he dispatched a contingent of 800 Massachusetts and New Hampshire militia, under the command of Colonel Ephraim Williams, and 200 Mohawk warriors, led by the esteemed King Hendrick Theyanoguin (also known as Tee Yee Ho Ga Row).
As Williams’s force marched south along the Lake George-Fort Lyman Road, Dieskau, alerted to their movement, saw an opportunity for an ambush. He redeployed his troops, positioning his grenadiers across the road and concealing his militia and Native American allies in the dense woods flanking the road.
Unaware of the impending danger, Williams’s men marched directly into the French trap. In the ensuing engagement, known as the "Bloody Morning Scout," the French unleashed a devastating volley of fire, inflicting heavy casualties on the unsuspecting British and Mohawk forces. Among those killed in the initial ambush were Colonel Ephraim Williams and the revered Mohawk leader, King Hendrick.
With Williams dead, Colonel Nathan Whiting assumed command. The remaining British and Mohawk warriors, caught in a deadly crossfire, began to retreat towards Johnson’s camp. Their retreat was covered by a determined rearguard action led by Whiting and Lieutenant Colonel Seth Pomeroy. The fierce resistance offered by this rearguard inflicted significant casualties on the pursuing French forces, including the death of Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre, the leader of the French Native American contingent.
Assault on the Camp: A Barricade of Defense
Emboldened by his initial victory, Dieskau pressed his attack, pursuing the retreating British forces towards Johnson’s fortified camp. Upon arriving at the camp, Dieskau found the British entrenched behind a makeshift barricade constructed from felled trees, wagons, and boats.
Despite the fortified position, Dieskau ordered an immediate assault. However, his Native American allies, shaken by the loss of Saint-Pierre and wary of attacking a fortified position, refused to advance.
In an attempt to shame his allies into action, Dieskau personally led his 222 grenadiers in a direct assault on the British barricade. Charging forward under heavy musket fire and grape shot from Johnson’s three cannons, Dieskau’s attack faltered. During the intense fighting, Sir William Johnson was wounded in the leg, and command of the British forces passed to Colonel Phineas Lyman.
After hours of fierce fighting, the French attack finally broke down in the late afternoon. The British, seizing the opportunity, surged over the barricade, driving the French from the field and capturing the wounded Baron Dieskau.
Bloody Pond: An Ambush Avenged
To the south, Colonel Joseph Blanchard, commanding Fort Lyman, observed the smoke from the battle and dispatched a force of 120 men under Captain Nathaniel Folsom to investigate. As Folsom’s men moved north, they encountered the French baggage train approximately two miles south of Lake George.
Concealing themselves in the surrounding woods, Folsom’s men ambushed a force of approximately 300 French soldiers guarding the baggage train. The surprise attack resulted in a decisive victory for the British, who drove the French from the area and secured the baggage train. The pond where the battle took place became known as "Bloody Pond" in remembrance of the fierce fighting and the casualties sustained.
Aftermath: A Pyrrhic Victory
The precise casualties of the Battle of Lake George remain uncertain, with varying estimates from different sources. However, it is generally accepted that the British suffered between 262 and 331 killed, wounded, and missing, while the French incurred between 228 and 600 casualties.
Despite the heavy losses on both sides, the Battle of Lake George was considered a strategic victory for the British. It marked one of the first instances in which American provincial troops had successfully defeated French forces and their Native American allies in a major engagement. Furthermore, the battle effectively secured the Hudson Valley for the British, preventing the French from advancing further south.
While fighting around Lake Champlain would continue to rage for years to come, the Battle of Lake George stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of the British colonial forces and their Native American allies in the face of French aggression.