History From America's Most Famous Valleys
Frontiersmen of New York
by Jeptha R. Simms
Albany, NY 1883
Volume I, Page 222. Arrival of a new Governor and the Battle of Lake George. A plan for attacking the Canadian French at Crown Point and other localities having matured in the summer of 1755, we find Gen. Johnson in command of 3,000 or 4,ooo provincial troops from New England and New York, and some 300 Indians, in the forest of Northern New York. The colony received a new Governor in the person of Sir Charles Handy, who arrived at New York, September 2, 1755. September 8, Johnson met in battle near Lake George, the enemy under Baron Dieskau, and defeated him, making him a wounded prisoner and killing de St. Pierre, ( This officer was among those who met Gen. Braddock in Ohio, and his words bore the following tribute to the present American commander: "Fight on my boys, Johnson commands here and not Braddock." --Brod. Papers, vol. 6, 1005.) one of his bravest commanders. Gen. Johnson was also severely wounded by a musket ball in the hip, which limping he carried to his grave, and had to leave the command to Gen. Lyman, a brave Connecticut officer, who continued the engagement to a successful termination. Among the brave officers who fell on that eventful day was King Hendrick, the ever faithful and true friend of Gen. Johnson. He was mounted on the occasion, and at the head of his red warriors his horse was shot under him, and in falling he could not disengage himself, and was stabbed with a bayonet. (Pownall's letter to Lords of Trade. --Brod. Papers, vol. 6 p. 1008). He fell greatly lamented.
Although Crown Point had not been captured, a victory had been won which the British Parliament viewed as of such signal importance, that it voted Gen. Johnson a gift of 5,000 pounds sterling; and, indeed, as it turned out, this victory was one of a series that ended French rule in America. The King further honored Gen. Johnson by creating him an English Baron, this favor bearing date November 27, 1755; and now was the name and fame of Sir William Johnson firmly established. He had chafed under the insinuations of Gov. Shirley that he owed his appointment as Indian agent to him, and by an appeal to the Lords of Trade, to whom he hinted that he would resign that position if he could not discharge its duties independent of all colonial authority, they sent him, under date of July, 1756, a commission appointing him "Colonel and Sole Superintendent of all the affairs of the Six Nations and other Northern Indians," with a salary, to make it set easy, of 600 pounds sterling per annum. He was to be responsible for this agency only to the home government.
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