The War Chief of the Six Nations | Page 4

allegiance
to the English as though with a silver chain. 'The ends of this silver
chain,' he added, 'are fixed in the immovable mountains, in so firm a
manner that the hands of no mortal enemy might be able to move it.'
Then as he bade them take the field, he held a war belt in his hands and

exclaimed with fervour:
'My war kettle is on the fire; my canoe is ready to put into the water;
my gun is loaded; my sword is by my side; and my axe is sharpened.'
Little Abraham, sachem of the lower Mohawk valley, took the belt
from him, Red Head, a chief of the Onondagas, made reply, telling him
that from every castle warriors would follow him to the north. A war
dance followed, and a large body of the Six Nations were ready for the
fray.
No doubt young Joseph Brant was in this great audience, listening to
the speeches of his elders. He was only thirteen years of age at the time,
but the spirit of the war-path was already upon him. The zealous
appeals of the major-general must have stirred him greatly, and it may
well be that this lad, with youthful frame and boyish features, here
received an impulse which often sustained him in later years during his
long career of active loyalty on behalf of the English cause. As it
happened, Joseph was soon to be in active service. On August 8, 1755,
Johnson's expedition left Albany, and a week later arrived at the great
carrying-place between the Hudson and Lac St Sacrement, as Lake
George was then called. At this point Fort Lyman [Footnote:
Afterwards named Fort Edward.] had been built the same summer.
Thence the major-general set out, with fifteen hundred provincials and
three hundred Indians, on his journey northward. King Hendrick, a
chief of the Mohawks, led the tribesmen, and under his direction a
number of braves were being tested for the first time. One of these--we
may imagine the boy's intense delight--was young Joseph Brant.
On reaching Lac St Sacrement Johnson made a halt and took up a
strong position on the shore. Soon reinforcements arrived under
General Phineas Lyman, his second in command. Johnson re-named
the lake. 'I have given it,' he says, 'the name of Lake George, not only
in honour of His Majesty, but to assert his undoubted dominion here.'
Meanwhile Baron Dieskau, the commander of the French forces,
having landed at South Bay, the southern extremity of the waters of
Lake Champlain, was moving down through the woods. His army was

made up of a large body of French Canadians, Indians, and regular
soldiers of the regiments of La Reine and Languedoc. He marched by
way of Wood Creek, and was bent on making a vigorous attack on Fort
Lyman. But when he arrived at a point about midway between Fort
Lyman and Johnson's camp on Lake George, his Indians became unruly,
declaring that they would march no farther south nor venture off the
soil that belonged to France. There was nothing for Dieskau to do but
to change his plans. Swerving in a north-westerly direction, he struck
the new road that Johnson had made to the lake. This he followed,
intending to fall upon the English forces wherever he should find them.
Johnson's scouts, prowling to the southward, detected this move. Back
to the encampment they brought the news of Dieskau's approach and
the English leader at once made ready to defend his position. Trees
were felled; the wagons and bateaux were brought up; a strong
breastwork was built across the new-cut roadway; cannon were put in
position to play upon the advancing enemy. Then discussion took place
as to the advisability of making a sortie against the foe. It was
suggested that five hundred men would be sufficient, but at the mention
of this number King Hendrick, the Indian leader, interposed. What,
indeed, could such a paltry handful do in the face of the oncoming
Frenchmen?
'If they are to fight,' he said, 'they are too few; if they are to be killed,
they are too many.'
In the early morning, September 8, 1755, a force of twelve hundred set
forth, only to learn the wisdom of Hendrick's advice. Dieskau was
proceeding cautiously, hoping to catch the English in a trap. He sent
out flying wings of Indians and Canadians, while his French regulars
formed the centre of his force. As the English advanced along the road,
they found themselves suddenly attacked on both sides by the enemy.
A stiff struggle then took place in which Johnson's men were badly
worsted. King Hendrick's horse was shot down, and before he could
free himself from his saddle he was slain by a bayonet thrust. Retreat
now became necessary, and by