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

Of the Six Nations, the four lower ones, the Onondagas, Oneidas, Cayugas, and Mohawks, assembled in council, and sent thirty of their chiefs to Montreal to solicit neutrality. ‘Our young braves,’ they were answered, ‘seek their foes wherever they are to be found; but if you do not join the English, they shall do you no harm;’ and the envoys of the neutral tribes returned laden with presents.

Just then, the Field-Marshal Marquis de Montcalm arrived at Quebec; a man of a strong and well-stored memory; of a quick and highly cultivated mind; of small stature; rapid in conversation; and of restless mobility. He was accompanied by the Chevalier de Levis Leran, and by Bourlamarque, colonel of infantry. Travelling day and night, he hurried to Fort Carillon, at Ticonderoga; by two long marches on foot, he made himself familiar with the ground, and took measures for improving its defences.¹ He next resolved by secrecy and celerity to take Oswego. Collecting at Montreal three regiments from Quebec, and a large body of Canadians and Indians, on the fifth of August he was able to review his troops at Frontenac, and on the evening of the same day anchored in Sackett's Harbor.

Fort Oswego, on the right of the river, was a large stone building surrounded by a wall flanked with four small bastions, and was commanded from adjacent heights. For its defence, Shirley had crowned a summit on the opposite bank with Fort Ontario.