Beschreibung:

FRENCH & INDIAN WAR, JOURNAL. BARNARD, Major SALAH. Autograph journal kept during the Lake George campaign, various places [Crown Point, Fort William Henry etc.], 26 June l758 - l0 September l760 [with many later entries up to 1793]. Together l9l pages, 8vo, as follows: 88 pages comprise Barnard's war journal, 98 pages of Barnard's payroll and financial transactions (l758-l793), 5 pages of "Memoranda" relating to Barnard by E. Hoyt (undated but probably c.l790), all written in ink in a blank book; bound in contemporary vellum, lower cover with small brass catch, worn, spine split, a few pages with small tears. MAJOR BARNARD'S FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF THE LAKE GEORGE CAMPAIGN, THE BATTLE OF FORT TICONDEROGA AND THE CROWN POINT EXPEDITION Any previously unpublished diary of the Ticonderoga-Crown Point campaigns is an important discovery, and we are aware of only two other officer's diary's from the French and Indian War. Salah Barnard was, as he notes on the inside back cover of the journal, a resident of "Deerfield in the County of Hampshire...Massachusetts Bay in New England." The l792 census shows him residing there, and he is absent from that of l880, probably indicating he died about l793, when the last entries appear. The journal's 59 pages of detailed payroll entries for the men of his company in themselves constitute an important record, but his detailed entries for the unsuccessful and very costly British-American attempt to capture Fort Ticonderoga and the later expedition commanded by General Jeffery Amherst to Crown Point are of especial interest. Barnard's diary commences with his narrative of the ambitious attempt by Generals Howe and Abercromby to seize Fort Ticonderoga from the French and their Indian allies, commanded by General Montcalm. The joint army included British regular troops, colonial militia or Provincials, like Barnard's men and companies of Rangers commanded by Major Robert Rogers. ( Rogers is mentioned a number of times in Barnard's account.) 5 July l758: "This day the whole army consisting of about 15,900 men sailed from from Fort Henry down the Lake [Lake George] toward Carralong [Fort Ticonderoga], sailed to Sunday Point went on shore the west side of the Lake Lay by till 12 oclock at night. 6th: Saild on still - by morning Light came within 4 miles of the first advancd guard. Lay by till the Battoes [canoes] of each regiment could come together then saild down within sight of the enemy guard. Discovered their tents and fires and quick after we saw the enemy on the shore we pushed the Boats & Battoes to land, engagd the Enemy drove them off took fire and kild two of their number....a large Party was sent in pursuit of the Enemy....Took about 188 of them prisoners and kild...many more." 8 July: "We advancd towards the Fort [Ticonderoga]. The Provincials [Americans] were orderd to form themselves into a Line at some distance before ye Enemy intrenchments. Ye Rangers in the front of our troops. The regulars [British Army] were ordrd to march through our troops and advance to theier Brestwork and force the same with their small arms & Bayonets. They advancd in good order to the Breastwork. A party of the Hilanders [Highlanders] forcd them selves within the first lines of the Enemy's Breasworks. But were soon obligd to to quit the same & retreat a few yards....where they stood and fought like brave Soldiers with as much likely hood of doing service as if they had dischargd so many rounds into the Lake. The fight became general about 12 oclock...and continud till near Sunset very smart. A great number of Regulars were slain the Rangers & Provincials shaird in the same fate but not to that degree..."[the British and Americans are reported to have suffered l,944 casualties in the repulse of their assault]. Some of the Provincial Regmts before the fight was over were order'd to retire back a little from ye Enemies line and throw up a Breastwork of Timbers....and then [we] were orderd off to our Last ni