(exclusive of the Rowley part of Byfield Company,)

On the Alarm List,

165

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The following is a list of all the men belonging to the second regiment of militia in Essex County, John Greenleaf, Esq., Colonel. This regiment includes Newbury, Rowley, Salisbury, and Amesbury, (Newburyport was not incorporated,) viz.

The above is exclusive of officers.

In 1757, Jonathan Bailey, Joseph Poor, and Jedidiah Stickney, and probably others from Rowley, were in Fort William Henry, at the time of its surrender, (August 9,) and were in the massacre which took place on their leaving the Fort. Of this massacre, Captain Jonathan Carver, who was present and commanded a company of provincial troops, gives the following account in his travels, published in 1797, viz.

"General Webb, who commanded the English army

in North America, which was then encamped at Fort Edward, having intelligence that the French troops under Mons. Montcalm were making some movements toward Fort William Henry, detached a corps of about fifteen hundred men, consisting of English and provincials, to strengthen the garrison. In this party I [Carver] went as a volunteer among the latter.

"The apprehensions of the English General were not without foundation; for the day after our arrival, we saw Lake George, (formerly Lake Sacrament,) to which it lies contiguous, covered with an immense number of boats; and in a few hours we found our lines attacked by the French General, who had just landed with eleven thousand regulars and Canadians, and two thousand Indians. Colonel Monro, a brave officer, commanded in the Fort, and had no more than two thousand three hundred men with him, our detachment included.

"With these he made a gallant defence, and probably would have been able at last to preserve the Fort, had he been properly supported, and permitted to continue his efforts. On every summons to surrender sent by the French General, who offered the most honorable terms, his answer repeatedly was, that he yet found himself in a condition to repel the most vigorous attacks his besiegers were able to make; and if he thought his present force insufficient, he could soon be supplied with a greater number from the adjacent army.

"But the Colonel having acquainted General Webb with his situation, and desired he would send him some fresh troops, the General despatched a messenger to him with a letter, wherein he informed him that it was not in his power to assist him, and therefore gave him orders to surrender up the Fort on the best terms he could pro

cure. This packet fell into the hands of the French General, who immediately sent a flag of truce, desiring a conference with the governor.

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They accordingly met, attended only by a small guard in the centre between the lines; when Mons. Montcalm told the Colonel, that he was come in person to demand possession of the Fort, as it belonged to the King, his master. The Colonel replied, that he knew not how that could be, nor should he surrender it up whilst it was in his power to defend it. The French General rejoined, at the same time delivering the packet into the Colonel's hand, 'By this authority do I make the requisition.' The brave governor had no sooner read the contents of it, and was convinced that such were the orders of the commander-in-chief, and not to be disobeyed, than he hung his head in silence, and reluctantly entered into a negotiation.

"In consideration of the had made, they were to be

gallant defence the garrison permitted to march out with all the honors of war, to be allowed covered waggons to transport their baggage to Fort Edward, and a guard to protect them from the fury of the savages.

"The morning after the capitulation was signed, as soon as day, the whole garrison, now consisting of about two thousand men, besides women and children, were drawn up within the lines, and on the point of marching off, when great numbers of the Indians gathered about, and began to plunder. We were at first in hopes that this was their only view, and suffered them to proceed without opposition. Indeed it was not in our power to make any, had we been so inclined; for though we were permitted to carry off our arms, yet we were not allowed a single round of ammunition. In these hopes, however,

we were disappointed; for presently some of them began to attack the sick and wounded, when such as were not able to crawl into the ranks, notwithstanding they endeavoured to avert the fury of their enemies by their shrieks or groans, were soon despatched.

"Here we were fully in expectation the disturbance would have concluded, and our little army began to move; but in a short time we saw the front division driven back, and discovered that we were entirely encircled by the savages. We expected every moment that the guard, which the French, by the articles of capitulation, had agreed to allow us, would have arrived, and put an end to our apprehensions; but none appeared. The Indians now began to strip every one without exception of their arms and clothes, and those who made the least resistance, felt the weight of their tomahawks.

"I happened to be in the rear division, but it was not long before I shared the fate of my companions. Three or four of the savages laid hold of me, and whilst some held their weapons over my head, the others soon disrobed me of my coat, waistcoat, hat, and buckles, omitting not to take from me what money I had in pocket. As this was transacted close by the passage that led from the lines on to the plain, near which a French sentinel was posted, I ran to him and claimed his protection; but he only called me an English dog, and thrust me with violence back again into the midst of the Indians.

"I now endeavoured to join a body of our troops that were crowded together at some distance; but innumerable were the blows that were made at me with different weapons as I passed on; luckily, however, the savages were so close together, that they could not strike me without endangering each other. Notwithstanding which,

one of them found means to make a thrust at me with a spear, which grazed my side, and from another I received a wound, with the same kind of weapon, in my ankle. At length I gained the spot where my countrymen stood, and forced myself into the midst of them. But before I got thus far out of the hands of the Indians, the collar and wristbands of my shirt were all that remained of it, and my flesh was scratched and torn in many places, by their savage gripes.

"By this time the war-whoop was given, and the Indians began to murder those that were nearest to them without distinction. It is not in the power of words to give any tolerable idea of the horrid scene that now ensued; men, women, and children were despatched in the most wanton and cruel manner, and immediately scalped. Many of these savages drank the blood of their victims, as it flowed warm from the fatal wound.

"We now perceived, though too late to avail us, that we were to expect no relief from the French; and that, contrary to the agreement they had so lately signed, to allow us a sufficient force to protect us from these insults, they tacitly permitted them; for I could plainly perceive the French officers walking about at some distance, discoursing together with apparent unconcern. For the honor of human nature, I would hope that this flagrant breach of every sacred law, proceeded rather from the savage disposition of the Indians, which I acknowledge it is sometimes almost impossible to control, and which might now unexpectedly have arrived to a pitch not easily to be restrained, than to any premeditated design in the French commander. An unprejudiced observer would, however, be apt to conclude, that a body of ten thousand troops, mostly Christian troops, had it in their power to