George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 4, 15th edition.

[304] presence was needed to rally the fugitives, was no-

chap. XIII.} 1758.

where to be found. The second in command gave no orders; while Montcalm, careful of every duty, distributed refreshments among his exhausted soldiers, cheered them by thanks to each regiment for their incredible valor, and employed the coming night in strengthening his lines.

The English still exceeded the French fourfold. Their artillery was near and could easily force a passage. The mountain over against Ticonderoga was in their possession. ‘Had I to besiege Fort Carillon,’ said Montcalm, ‘I would ask no more than six mortars and two pieces of artillery.’ But Abercrombie, a victim to the ‘extremest fright and consternation,’ hurried the army that same evening to the landingplace with such precipitancy, that but for Bradstreet's alertness, it would have rushed into the boats in a confused mass. On the morning of the ninth the British general embarked, and did not rest till he had placed the lake between himself and Montcalm. Even then he sent artillery and ammunition to Albany for safety.

The news overwhelmed Pitt with melancholy; but Bute, who insisted that ‘Abercrombie and the troops had done their duty,’ comforted himself in ‘the numbers lost’ as proof of ‘the greatest intrepidity,’ thinking it better to have cause for ‘tears’ than ‘blushes;’ and reserved all his sympathy for the ‘broken-hearted commander.’ Prince George expressed his hope one day by ‘superior help’ to ‘restore the love of virtue and religion.’

While Abercrombie wearied his army with lining out a useless fort, the partisans of Montcalm were present everywhere. Just after the retreat of the