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Sir William Johnson An Irishman by birth, William Johnson had held an extensive domain on the banks of the Mohawk River for a score of years, and grown powerful and rich by trading with the Indians of the Five Nations who found him far more honest and reliable than his Dutch rivals in the business, and over whom he came to acquire so profound an influence that the Government made him Indian Superintendent The British now decided to focus on the Champlain Valley in Iroquois country. Command of this was given to the colonial leader William Johnson, who had been ordered by Braddock to attack Fort Saint Frederic. .William Johnson was the most successful trader in the Mohawk region and had a great understanding of the Iroquoi and was even married to a Mohawk woman, named Molly Brant . He was named superintendent of Indian affairs in 1755 and in charge of defense of the Champlain Valley . Johnson was to erect forts to counterbalance the two French forts on Lake Champlain, Fort St.Frederic, built in 1731 and Fort Carillon, still under construction at Ticonderoga .
Maps of the Lake Champlain Valley
Johnson rushed to build a small fort at the southern end of Lake George, Fort Edward. The battle of the forts in the Champlain Valley depended more on hit and run wilderness fighting and knowledge of the terran .For this, ranger forces, such as 'Rogers' Rangers' led by Robert Rodgers (1731-95) of New Hampshire were important to report on French activity .They frequently undertook winter raids against French towns and military emplacements, traveling on crude snowshoes and across frozen rivers. He also trained British officers in irregular tactics.
The theory and technique of "Indian fighting," detailed by Rogers in his Journals, is now so widely accepted that Ranger companies are an integral part of modern military tactics. These were written down by Rogers in his "Rogers' Rules of Ranging" that are still quoted on the last page of the U.S. Army's Ranger handbook. The outbreak of the French and Indian war brought a call from New Hampshire early in 1755 for volunteers to drive the French from Grown Point The unemployed Rogers recruited more than fifty men and was made a captain. He was thrown into debtors prison in 1772. During the American Revolution as a pensioned British officer Rogers was suspect. He made a secret application to Congress for a commission, but was rejected and even thought to be a spy. His wife cast him out He then fled to the British lines and was commissioned a lieutenant colonel to raise a battalion, known as the Queen's Rangers, In 1782 he returned to England and soon was back in debtor's prison. He died in miserable exile on May 18, 1795. Rogers was forgotten until Francis Parkman retold the exploits of Rogers' Rangers in his popular Montcdm and Wolfe, 1884.
Roger's Rangers, led by Major Robert Rogers
Follow in the footsteps of Major Robert Rogers as Ray tells of their epic withdrawal through New England where Rogers' rangers fought off both the pursuing enemy and starvation
The Battle of Lake George Sept 8, 1755
French Governor Vaudreuil was eager to take advantage of his knowledge of the British plans .French reinforcements were sent to Crown Point under Baron Dieskau,tataling 1,500 men with the hopes of ambushing the colonial and Mohawk Indian forces William Johnson was assembling as Gen Braddock was ambushed . The French suddenly attacked, but were unable to take Johnson's small fort, manned by 1,500 men. Johnson convinced the French Mohawks not to join the attack, and the battle was fought to a standstill, with Dieskau being captured .Even though he had not captured the French fort at Crown Point, his defense against the surprise French attack made him a hero and Johnson was able to advance a considerable distance down the lake and consolidated his gains by building Fort William Henry.
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White Devil: A True Story of War, Savagery And Vengeance in Colonial America
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