** The above picture is of Sir William Johnson sparing French commander Baron Dieskau's life, painted by Benjamin West**
The Battle of Lake George was fought on September 8, 1755 in the province of New York. The British army consisted of 1,500 regulars and 200 Iroquois Indians whereas the French side consisted of 1,500 regulars, militia, and natives. The British were to march 1,500 men and 200 Iroquois to take over Fort Edward, but French commander Dieskau got word of the British approach, so he blocked the road with French grenadiers and set up an ambush. The British marched right into the trap, also known as "The Bloody Mourning Scout", and were forced to fall back to Johnson's camp. Dieskau formed his 222 grenadiers into formation to attack Johnson's camp. As they got in sight, Sir William had already formed barricades with cannons. They fired grapeshot, which is a bag of small metal balls or slugs that expand after fired, and obliterated the French line. Dieskau was seriously wounded in this firefight, and the French retreated.
After the French fell back, the British found 20 Frenchmen lying in the field. These bodies, along with all of the causalities, were thrown into a pond, called the "Bloody Pond". This battle allowed Johnson to advance down Lake George and construct Fort William Henry at the southern end of the lake.
The Battle of Lake George was fought on September 8, 1755 in the province of New York. The British army consisted of 1,500 regulars and 200 Iroquois Indians whereas the French side consisted of 1,500 regulars, militia, and natives. The British were to march 1,500 men and 200 Iroquois to take over Fort Edward, but French commander Dieskau got word of the British approach, so he blocked the road with French grenadiers and set up an ambush. The British marched right into the trap, also known as "The Bloody Mourning Scout", and were forced to fall back to Johnson's camp. Dieskau formed his 222 grenadiers into formation to attack Johnson's camp. As they got in sight, Sir William had already formed barricades with cannons. They fired grapeshot, which is a bag of small metal balls or slugs that expand after fired, and obliterated the French line. Dieskau was seriously wounded in this firefight, and the French retreated.
After the French fell back, the British found 20 Frenchmen lying in the field. These bodies, along with all of the causalities, were thrown into a pond, called the "Bloody Pond". This battle allowed Johnson to advance down Lake George and construct Fort William Henry at the southern end of the lake.