Wolfe carried out the orders of the general, to destroy the French settlements on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence—­a task most repugnant to his humane nature.  After this had been accomplished, he sailed for England.

When Amherst had sailed with his expedition to the attack of Louisbourg, he had not left the colonists in so unprotected a state as they had been in the preceding year.  They, on their part, responded nobly to the call, from England, that a large force should be put in the field.  The home government had promised to supply arms, ammunition, tents, and provisions, and to make a grant towards the pay and clothing of the soldiers.

Massachusetts, as usual, responded most freely and loyally to the demand.  She had already incurred a very heavy debt by her efforts in the war, and had supplied 2500 men—­a portion of whom had gone with Amherst—­but she now raised 7000 more, whom she paid, maintained, and clothed out of her own resources, thus placing in the field one-fourth of her able-bodied men.  Connecticut made equal sacrifices, although less exposed to danger of invasion; while New Hampshire sent out one-third of her able-bodied men.

In June the combined British and provincial force, under Abercromby, gathered on the site of Fort William Henry.  The force consisted of 6367 officers and soldiers of the regular army, and 9054 colonial troops.

Abercromby himself was an infirm and incapable man, who owed his position to political influence.  The real command was in the hands of Brigadier General Lord Howe—­a most energetic and able officer, who had, during the past year, thoroughly studied forest warfare, and had made several expeditions with the scouting parties of Rogers and other frontier leaders.  He was a strict disciplinarian, but threw aside all the trammels of the traditions of the service.  He made both officers and men dress in accordance with the work they had before them.  All had to cut their hair close, to wear leggings to protect them from the briars, and to carry in their knapsacks thirty pounds of meal, which each man had to cook for himself.  The coats, of both the Regulars and Provincials, were cut short at the waist, and no officer or private was allowed to carry more than one blanket and a bear skin.

Howe himself lived as simply and roughly as his men.  The soldiers were devoted to their young commander, and were ready to follow him to the death.

“That’s something like a man for a general,” Nat said enthusiastically, as he marched, with the Royal Scouts, past the spot where Lord Howe was sitting on the ground, eating his dinner with a pocket knife.

“I have never had much hope of doing anything, before, with the regulars in the forest, but I do think, this time, we have got a chance of licking the French.  What do you say, captain?”

“It looks more hopeful, Nat, certainly.  Under Loudon and Webb things did not look very bright, but this is a different sort of general altogether.”