Massacre Fort William Henry

montcalm trying stop native americans attacking british soldiers , civilians leave fort william henry. wood engraving alfred bobbett after painting of felix octavius carr darley. published between 1870 , 1880.

what happened next has been described in historical , popular treatments massacre. horrific events took place, although in end, historian ian steele finds around 200 people (about 7.5% of captured population) killed or wounded.

the terms of surrender british , camp followers allowed withdraw, under french escort, fort edward, full honours of war, on condition refrain participation in war 18 months. allowed keep muskets no ammunition, , single symbolic cannon. in addition, british authorities release french prisoners within 3 months.

montcalm, before agreeing these terms, attempted make sure indian allies understood them, , chiefs undertake restrain men. british garrison evacuated fort entrenched camp, while monro quartered in french camp. indians entered fort , plundered it, butchering of wounded , sick whom british had left behind. french guards posted around entrenched camp unsuccessful @ keeping indians out of area, , took significant effort prevent plunder , scalping in camp. montcalm , monro planned march prisoners south following morning, after seeing indian bloodlust decided attempt march night. when indians became aware camp preparing move, large number of them massed around camp, causing leaders call off march.

the next morning, before british column began form march fort edward, indians renewed attacks on largely defenseless british. @ 5 am, indians entered huts in fort housing wounded british supposed under care of french doctors, , killed , scalped them. monro complained terms of capitulation had in essence been violated already, contingent forced surrender of baggage in order able begin march. marched off, harassed swarming indians, snatched @ them, grabbing weapons , clothing, , pulling away force resisted actions, including many of women, children, , black servants. last of men left encampment, war whoop sounded, , warriors seized number of men @ rear of column.

while montcalm , other french officers tried stop these attacks, others did not, , explicitly refused further protection british. @ point, column dissolved prisoners tried escape indian onslaught, while others actively tried defend themselves. massachusetts colonel joseph frye reported stripped of of clothing , repeatedly threatened. fled woods , did not reach fort edward until august 12, 3 days later.

estimates of numbers captured, wounded, or killed varied widely. ian steele has compiled estimates ranging 200 1,500. detailed reconstruction of action , aftermath indicates final tally of missing , dead ranges 69 184, @ 7.5% of 2,308 surrendered.

atrocities described in accounts of massacre include killing , scalping of sick , wounded individuals, , digging of graves take additional trophies had died of wounds or disease during siege. result, many indians participated in action may have contracted smallpox, carried communities. nester makes no such claim in book; neither steele.

after battle, french systematically destroyed fort before returning fort carillon.