These various diaries speak in many places of work of this menial character (for which these men had not enlisted, and apparently did not care for), at and about " Half- Way Brook." General Putnam in his Journal says, " During our stay at the lake, after our return from Ticonderoga, we were employed in almost everything." The Journal of an unknown Provincial Officer (see note), says, under date of July 15th, " Nothing worth notice this day but working and duty came on harder by orders from head-quarters." Both these journals mention a " Sunday off " from work as a great treat and a rarity. From the 25th of May until the 22nd of October, when the fortifications were dismantled and abandoned by General Abercrombie at the head of the lake, Lieut. Thompson, according to his diary, was on constant duty, either ait the " Half- Way Brook " with a picquet guard, or at the lake. The daily life and work of the soldiers is given in his diary in detail. It also gives the names of a number of people who died from disease and were buried at the " Half -Way Brook." He describes the leturn of the English and Colonials from Ticonderoga, and under date of July 8th, being at the head of the lake that day, there is the following entry in his book : " Saturday, Post came from the Narrows ; and they broug'ht Lord How to ye Fort, who was slain at their landing; and in ye afternoon there came in 100 and odd men, French prisoners into the Fort." These were Langy's men captured at the fatal Trout Brook skirmish. This testimony by an eye witness would go far to disprove the