Battle of Fort William Henry

Fort William Henry, a British fort at the southern end of Lake

George, was constructed in 1755 during the French and Indian Wars. Before the revolution and when most of America was under the control of the British, the French and Indian War pitted the colonists against French in the Americas.  The local Indians helped on both side. 

In August of 1757 British General Montcalm and 8000 French Troops aided by Huron Indians and Canadian Volunteers attacked the fort. The fort's walls were breached, its guns were overused, and the many casualties, caused General Monro to surrender on August 9. Today it is remembered as a massacre. There still remains much speculation as to how many people were killed (including women, children, and slaves who

were not part of military records). The massacre was later dramatized in James Fenimore Cooper's book, The Last of the Mohicans, and its numerous film adaptations. Imagine if you lived in that area and what the terror must have been like.  When I hear people claim that we live in disastrous time I suggest they recall their local history. 
Not many people were living in Western New York at that time but Fort Oswego, not to be confused with Fort Ontario, was constructed in 1727 at the mouth of the Oswego River on the southeast shore to protect the area.  Only a stone monument remains. 

During the week of August 10, 1756, a force of regulars and Canadian militia under General Montcalm captured and occupied the British fortifications at Fort Oswego. There were not many people living in the area but it must have been frightening for those who did.

During the French and Indian War and again during the Revolution

many areas of New York were under siege. Within the fort besides the soldier there were women and children. That is not to mention the many Indian raids. 

The Battle of Fort Niagara was a siege late in the French and Indian War. The British siege of Fort Niagara in July 1759 was part of a campaign to remove French control of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley regions, making

possible a western invasion of the French province of Canada in conjunction with General James Wolfe's invasion to the east. The French had about one hundred Iroquois allies at the Fort who deserted when the British arrived. British Captain Pouchot directed a vigorous defense. British General Prideaux was killed when a shell fragment from one of his own guns hit him, and command of the British forces fell to Sir William Johnson. The French capitulated on 26 July. 

I can’t imagine living in such times.  Not counting 9/11 and President Kennedy assassination I think 1968 was the scariest time.  It seemed that it was one thing after another: Martin Luther King assassination followed by riots in most major cities, Robert Kennedy assassinated, North Korea captured the US Pueblo, Tet Offensive and ongoing protest to the Vietnam War, and the debacle at the Democratic Convention. The year of 1968 is considered one of the most violent years in American History but the country survived. 

“May you live in interesting times” is purported to be a Chinese curse. Hopefully, not too interesting. We will survive the current situation and so will the country. “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”