The War Chief of the Six Nations | Page 5

a steady movement the English fell
back upon their camp. There they determined to make a decisive stand.

Dieskau, emboldened by the success of his previous advance, led his
troops towards the lake in battle array. His progress, however, was
stopped by the rude barricade which had been piled across the road, and
by eleven o'clock the second engagement of the day was already being
fought.
Brant has described his feelings when, as a mere boy, he received his
baptism of fire upon this battle-ground. When the clatter of the
musketry fell upon his ears, his heart jumped and an indescribable fear
seemed to take possession of him. His limbs trembled, and in despair
he looked for something to steady him in the ordeal. Near by grew a
slender sapling, and he clutched at this and held on tenaciously while
the bullets went whizzing by. After a few volleys had been fired he
regained his natural poise and took his place beside the old fighters
who were holding their own against a savage attack. From this moment
he acquitted himself with valour in the battle, and, youth though he was,
he fulfilled his desire 'to support the character of a brave man of which
he was exceedingly ambitious.'
At length the French troops began to recoil before the sweep of the
English cannon. Dieskau received a severe wound and the ardour of his
followers was visibly cooled. At four o'clock the English general
thought the opportune moment had arrived to make a sortie, and his
men climbed over the rampart and drove the French to flight in every
direction. The wounded Dieskau was made prisoner and borne to the
camp of his enemy. Johnson's leg had been pierced by a bullet, and in
this condition he was carried to his tent.
As the two generals lay helpless on their litters, several redskins
entered the tent and scowled upon the recumbent Dieskau. 'These
fellows have been regarding me with a look not indicative of much
compassion,' said the French commander. 'Anything else!' answered
Johnson, 'for they wished to oblige me to deliver you into their hands in
order to burn you, in revenge for the death of their comrades and of
their chiefs who have been slain in the battle.' Then he added: 'Feel no
uneasiness; you are safe with me.'
This affair at Lake George was only an opening battle in the Seven

Years' War between France and England which was waged in three
continents and closed in America with the fall of Montreal in 1760. For
his victory over Dieskau William Johnson was made a baronet, and
thus became Sir William Johnson. He continued to offer his services
until the war ended; and during the memorable campaign of 1759,
while Wolfe and Amherst were operating in the east, he was sent with
Brigadier Prideaux to effect, if possible, the capture of Fort Niagara.
The expedition ascended the Mohawk in June, crossed over to Oswego,
and thence followed the south shore of Lake Ontario to its destination.
The French fort stood at the mouth of the Niagara where it enters Lake
Ontario, and was under the command of Captain Pouchot. No sooner
had this officer heard of the English approach than he sent to Presqu'Ile
and other points in the west asking that reinforcements should be
dispatched with all haste for his relief.
The English investing army consisted of twenty-three hundred regulars
and provincials, together with nine hundred Indians from the tribes of
the Six Nations. At the very outset Prideaux was accidentally killed by
the premature bursting of a shell from a coehorn and Johnson had to
take command. Acting with vigour he prosecuted the siege until July 24,
when firing in the distance told that help for the besieged would soon
be at hand. Straightway Johnson selected one-third of his men and
marched to meet the relieving force, which was led by Captain
D'Aubrey and comprised eleven hundred French and several hundred
redskins from the western tribes. The conflict which ensued was short
but desperate. The Six Nations, posted on the flanks of the English line,
fought valiantly, and, largely owing to their valour, the French were put
to rout. On the same day Pouchot capitulated. By this success the chain
of French forts stretching from the St Lawrence to Louisiana was
snapped near the middle. Although Brant's deeds have not been
recorded, it is stated on good authority that he was with Sir William
Johnson on this occasion and that he bore himself with marked
distinction.
CHAPTER III
SCHOOLDAYS AND AFTER

Through the storm and stress of these campaigns, the eyes of the
Mohawks were upon Joseph Brant. They expected much of him, and he
earnestly tried to fulfil their hopes. Still in his teens, he was already a
seasoned