England authorities had erected a chain of stockades and block houses along the frontier from Maine to the Connecticut river, and from thence across the Hoosic mountains to the territory of New York. Upon the Hoosic river, within the bounds of

what is now the town of Adams, one of these blockhouses, known as Fort Massachusetts, was attacked in August, 1746, by a force under Vaudreuil, consisting of French troops and The fort Indians numbering nine hundred and sixty-five men. had but eleven effective defenders, who were compelled to sur render after a few hours' active resistance.

The significance

of this result was not in the loss of the fort, but in the fact that the

enemy had

territory.

crossed the Westenhuck and invaded neutral

OF HUDSON'S RIPER. At

the time of this occurrence a conference was being held

Albany, with the Six Nations, who as yet had given no evi dence of intention to lift the hatchet. Governor Clinton had at

exhausted

persuasive

appeal ; had

told

them

that

the

king

expected and ordered them to join with their whole force in the "a contest, thereby giving them glorious opportunity of establish ing their fame and renown over all the Indian nations in America,' cc by the conquest of their inveterate enemies, the French, "who,

however much they might " dissemble and profess friendship," would never forget the slaughter which the Five Nations had

inflicted upon them

in former years, and who, for the purpose of their destruction, were "caressing the nations" who had been their " most inhuman enemies," and who desired " nothing