isfaction; no one of the expeditions had resulted as had been previously hoped and expected. And when Shirley met a convention of colonial governors at New York, he found little disposition on their part to respond to his wishes, in regard to new enterprises against Fort Duquesne, Niagara, and Crown Point. Johnson and Delancey, of New York, assailed his course in the late campaign, and presently afterwards Shirley was recalled.
Washington, on his return to his post, found the whole frontier in alarm from the Indians, who had been guilty of outrages of a very trying character. The whole soul of the youthful commander was engaged in his work; but harassed and perplexed by want of efficient support, and pained deeply by the scenes which he was compelled to witness, he exclaims, in a letter to Governor Dinwiddie: "The supplicating tears of the women, and moving petitions of the men, melt me into such deadly sorrow, that I solemnly declare, if I know my own mind, I could offer myself a willing sacrifice to the butchering enemy, provided that would contribute to the people's ease." Washington spared no effort to meet the emergency, and it was felt by every one that he was indeed a most devoted patriot, and an honor to his native Virginia.
In May, 1756, war was formally declared by England against France; the French court soon after issued a counter declaration. General Abercrombie, who had acquired some reputation on the continent, was shortly after sent out with an additional force, but the Earl of Loudon, the new commander-in-chief, did not arrive till near the end of July. A garrison having been left in Oswego, to reinforce this became the immediate object of solicitude. Lieutenant-Colonel Bradstreet was detached thither with a small body of forces, and succeeded in making his way in safety. A large body of French were sent to intercept him, but Bradstreet was too prompt and active for their movements. On his return up the river, the French and Indians waylaid his party; but Bradstreet repulsed them after a sharp conflict. Shortly after the fight was over, they were joined by a fresh body of troops, who descended the river to Oswego, which, by these successive reinforcements, was placed in a temporary posture of defence. Bradstreet, on joining Abercrombie, warned him of the intentions of the French to seize Oswego, and fresh troops were accordingly dispatched thither; but their departure having been delayed by the procrastination of Lord Loudon, and the refusal of Abercrombie to take the responsibility of active measures, the movement when made, in August, was found to be too late; the fort had already been surrendered to the French under Montcalm. Thus more than a thousand men. a hundred and thirty-five pieces of artillery, a great quantity of stores and provisions, and a fleet of boats and vessels, built for the Niagara expedition, fell into the hands of the enemy and the British troops on the march, under Webb, fell back with terror and precipitation to Albany.
This result was mainly due to the
