These latter had with them two small pieces of artillery, and two blunderbusses, and at the narrows, albout eight miles north of Whitehall, they crossed over from Lake George, and succeeded in sinking several of the enemy's boats, and killing several of the oarsmen. A heavy south wind favored the escape of the remainder." ^ During this summer several bloody affrays took place between Fort Edward and Lake George, and the French accounts are full of successful raids and surprises. In 1757 Col. James Montresor* was sent to America as head of the Engineer corps of His Majesty's forces. He drew the plans for and constructed several fortifications in New York Province. In his journal under date of Monday, July 25th, he says: " Set out from Ft. Edward at 6 o'clock in the morning and arrived in the afternoon. Stop't at the Half Way Run, agreed on 'Wm. Cutter's Life of Israel Putnam, p. 60; Dr. Asa Fitch in Trans N. Y. S. Agri. Soc'y, 1848, pp. 916-917; Spark's Am. Biog., Vol. 8, p. 119.

THE HALF-WAY BROOK IN HISTORY. 1 73

a post there on the south side of the Run on the east of the Road about 50 Yards." Under date of Friday, July 29th, he writes : '' Set out for Fort Wm. Henry at 12 o'clock with Gen'l Webb &c, arrived at the Half-Way at 3, met the carpenter going up that I had sent for, to carry on the work there." It does not appear, however, that anything was done with this fortification on account ■of Montcalm's victory a few weeks later. The Campaign of 1757 teemed with scenes of bloodshed along the frontier, and the history of the Fort Edward and Lake George trail abounds with sad tales of atrocity and savagery, culminating in the successful attack of Montcalm on Fort William Henry, and followed by the terrible massacre which, whether rightfully or wrongfully, tarnished forever the reputation of that noted and able commander.