[Footnote 292:  Report of Conference between Major-General Johnson and the Indians, June, 1755.]

While the British colonists were preparing to attack Crown Point, the French of Canada were preparing to defend it.  Duquesne, recalled from his post, had resigned the government to the Marquis de Vaudreuil, who had at his disposal the battalions of regulars that had sailed in the spring from Brest under Baron Dieskau.  His first thought was to use them for the capture of Oswego; but the letters of Braddock, found on the battle-field, warned him of the design against Crown Point; while a reconnoitring party which had gone as far as the Hudson brought back news that Johnson’s forces were already in the field.  Therefore the plan was changed, and Dieskau was ordered to lead the main body of his troops, not to Lake Ontario, but to Lake Champlain.  He passed up the Richelieu, and embarked in boats and canoes for Crown Point.  The veteran knew that the foes with whom he had to deal were but a mob of countrymen.  He doubted not of putting them to rout, and meant never to hold his hand till he had chased them back to Albany.[293] “Make all haste,” Vaudreuil wrote to him; “for when you return we shall send you to Oswego to execute our first design."[294]

[Footnote 293:  Bigot au Ministre, 27 Aout, 1755.  Ibid., 5 Sept. 1755.]

[Footnote 294:  Memoire pour servir d’Instruction a M. le Baron de Dieskau, Marechal des Camps et Armees du Roy, 15 Aout, 1755.]

Johnson on his part was preparing to advance.  In July about three thousand provincials were encamped near Albany, some on the “Flats” above the town, and some on the meadows below.  Hither, too, came a swarm of Johnson’s Mohawks,—­warriors, squaws, and children.  They adorned the General’s face with war-paint, and he danced the war-dance; then with his sword he cut the first slice from the ox that had been roasted whole for their entertainment.  “I shall be glad,” wrote the surgeon of a New England regiment, “if they fight as eagerly as they ate their ox and drank their wine.”

Above all things the expedition needed promptness; yet everything moved slowly.  Five popular legislatures controlled the troops and the supplies.  Connecticut had refused to send her men till Shirley promised that her commanding officer should rank next to Johnson.  The whole movement was for some time at a deadlock because the five governments could not agree about their contributions of artillery and stores.[295] The New Hampshire regiment had taken a short cut for Crown Point across the wilderness of Vermont; but had been recalled in time to save them from probable destruction.  They were now with the rest in the camp at Albany, in such distress for provisions that a private subscription was proposed for their relief.[296]

[Footnote 295:  The Conduct of Major-General Shirley briefly stated (London, 1758).]

[Footnote 296:  Blanchard to Wentworth, 28 Aug. 1755, in Provincial Papers of New Hampshire, VI. 429.]