Battle of Lake George

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Date	September 8, 1755
Location	South end of Lake George, New York
Result	British victory

Combatants

Britain

France

Commanders

William Johnson

Jean Erdman, Baron Dieskau

Strength

1,500 militia and 200 Mohawks

3,500 regulars, militia, and natives

Casualties

200 dead or wounded

800 dead or wounded

Seven Years' War in North America: The French and Indian War
Jumonville Glen – Great Meadows – Fort Beauséjour – Monongahela – Lake George – Fort Bull – Fort Oswego – Fort William Henry – Louisbourg - Fort Carillon – Fort Frontenac - Fort Duquesne – Fort Ligonier – Ticonderoga – Fort Niagara – Beauport – Quebec – Sainte-Foy – Restigouche - Thousand Islands – Montréal - Signal Hill

The Battle of Lake George was fought on 8 September 1755 in the north of the Province of New York.

On one side were 3,500 French and Indian troops under the command of the German Baron Dieskau. They were defeated by 1,500 British and colonial troops under Sir William Johnson. Included in the British force was a group of 200 Mohawks, led by their famous war chief, King Hendrick.

The battle was the result of a campaign by the British to rid North America of the French. Sir William had arrived in the area on 28 August 1755 and had re-named Lac Saint Sacrement Lake George, after his sovereign, George II. He built another fortress which he named Fort William Henry after the King’s son.

The battle started with a French and Indian ambush of a Colonial column made up of Col. Ephraim Williams' Massachusetts Regiment and Col. Nathan Whiting's Connecticut Regiment on the road between Lake George and Fort Edward 14 miles away. The British force was pushed back to Sir Williams camp on the lake. The Colonial troops were able to hold off the French assaults on the camp. Col. Joseph Blanchard who had command at Fort Edward sent out Nathaniel Folsom's company of the New Hampshire Provincial Regiment and some New York Provincials to reinforce Sir William when he saw the smoke from the battle in the distance. These men were able to capture the French bagage train and Baron Dieskau along with drawing French troops away from the main attack. After this series of skirmishes and engagements the British forces prevailed, giving the colonial troops their first important victory over the French. The British loses are estimated to be about 200 while the French may have been as high as 800.