The British Fort William Henry on the shores of Lake George, New York, was built during the French and Indian War (1754-1763) by Sir William Johnson as a staging ground for attacks against the French Fort Carillon (Fort Ticonderoga). It was part of a chain of British and French forts along the important inland waterway from New York City to Quebec.

Operations at the fort

Fort William Henry was commanded by British Army Lt. Colonel George Munro.

Contrary to popular belief, during the siege most of the soldiers of Fort William Henry were camped outside the fort at the eastern end behind hastily dug trenches. The fort held the garrison of regular British troops, the exterior camp was for colonial militiamen. Prior to its destruction Fort William Henry was also the staging point for Roger's Rangers.

The French attack on the fort

The fort was attacked by the French in August of 1757. Following a heavy bombardment and siege by French troops under the command of General Marquis de Montcalm, the garrison was forced to surrender when their relief columns from the south could not break through the attackers. French forces totaled some 8,000 consisting of about 3,000 regulars, 3,000 militia and nearly 2,000 Native Americans. British forces totaled only 2,200.

The Fort William Henry massacre

After the surrender to the French on very generous terms, the Indian allies of the French began to attack the British and colonial column leaving the fort. They had been expecting payment for their assistance in the form of loot, captives, and scalps and were severely disappointed at the lenient surrender terms. Many people were killed, captured, or stripped of belongings. The severity of the attack on the surrendered troops, called the Fort William Henry Massacre, was later exaggerated for propaganda purposes. Some contemporary reports claim as many as 1500 killed, but modern scholars put the number at 70-180 dead.

The victors also dug up the graves of people who had died during the siege, infecting themselves and others as they attempted to scalp the corpses and steal valuables. The French finally burned the fort and retreated to Fort Carillon.

The fort today

A replica of Fort William Henry now stands in its place, and is a popular tourist attraction in the village of Lake George, NY.

External links

• Fort William Henry massacre