At daybreak, all was bustle at Fort Henry.  Parties of men went out to drive in the cattle, others to destroy buildings which would interfere with the fire from the fort.  The English position was now more defensible than it had been when it was attacked in the spring.  The forest had been cleared for a considerable distance round, and the buildings which had served as a screen to the enemy had, for the most part, been removed.  The fort itself lay close down by the edge of the water.  One side and the rear were protected by the marsh, so that it could only be attacked from one side.  Beyond the marsh lay the rough ground where Johnson had encamped two years before; while, on a flat hill behind this was an entrenched camp, beyond which, again, was another marsh.

As soon as the sun rose, the column of Levis moved through the forest towards the fort, followed by Montcalm with the main body, while the artillery boats put out from behind the point which had hid them from the sight of the English, and, surrounded by hundreds of Indian canoes, moved slowly forward, opening fire as they went.  Soon the sound of firing broke out near the edge of the forest, all round the fort, as the Indians, with Levis, opened fire upon the soldiers who were endeavouring to drive in the cattle.

Hitherto James Walsham, with Edwards and his two scouts, was standing quietly, watching the approaching fleet of boats and canoes; Nat expressing, in no measured terms, his utter disgust at the confusion which reigned in and around the fort.

“It looks more like a frontier settlement suddenly surprised,” he said, “than a place filled with soldiers who have been, for weeks, expecting an attack.  Nothing done, nothing ready.  The cattle all over the place.  The tents on that open ground there still standing.  Stores all about in the open.  Of all the pig-headed, obstinate, ignorant old gentlemen I ever see, the colonel beats them all.  One might as well have an old woman in command.  Indeed, I know scores of old women, on the frontier, who would have been a deal better here than him.”

But if Monro was obstinate and prejudiced, he was brave, cool, and determined, and, now that the danger had come, he felt secure of his ground, and took the proper measures for defence, moving calmly about, and abating the disposition to panic by the calm manner in which he gave his orders.  Nat had scarcely finished his grumbling, when the colonel approached.

“Captain Walsham,” he said, “you will take your company at once, and cover the parties driving in the cattle.  You will fall back with them, and, when you see all in safety, retire into the intrenched camp.”

The company were already under arms, waiting for orders and, at the double, James led them up the sloping ground towards the forest, whence the war whoops of the Indians, and the sharp cracks of the rifles, were now ringing out on all sides.  James made for the spot where a score of soldiers were driving a number of cattle before them, some hurrying the beasts on across the rough ground, others firing at the Indians, who, as their numbers increased, were boldly showing themselves behind the trees, and advancing in pursuit.