This essay was originally published in the 1948 OCHS Yearbook. Please note that this essay was published over 80 years ago. While still useful for general education, language may be outdated and at times offensive. The Oswego County Historical Society does not stand by the language used in this essay. All photos were added in 2026 when this article was uploaded to the web. To view the original document, please visit NYHeritage.org
Paper Read Before Oswego County Historical Society at Oswego, May 18, 1948, by Fred Winn of the Social Studies Department of Oswego State Teachers College.
The fall of Montreal in 1760,as the result of General Jeffrey Amherst’s campaign, based out of Oswego, was the climax of over a century of conflict between the French and British Empires. It was the climax, if you exclude the American Revolutionary war as being a part of this struggle. From the first permanent English settlement in 1607 to the fall of Montreal in 1760, leading to the Treaty of Paris Feb. 10, 1763, Oswego was to be one of the key strategic areas. These wars, known in the American colonies as the French and Indian wars, were only a segment of the greater world struggle between the French and the English. As we are particularly concerned with the contributions of the Oswego area to these conflicts, we are constantly reminded that local history at this time set the stage for the entrance of World Empires. Its strategic position on Lake Ontario made Oswego and its forts of particular importance to the contending parties.
Amherst Seasoned Commander
The man to be in charge of the conquest of Montreal had achieved great military success against the continental enemies of England. At the time of the Oswego operation, he was 43 years of age—at the height of his military career. At Riverhead, in the county of Kent in Southern England, Jeffrey Amherst was born on Jan. 29, 1717 into a family that had held important positions in the Empire for five centuries. Here had lived the succession of lawyers and clergymen that brought respect to the Amherst name. In the country house near Riverhead had lived Jeffrey Amherst, a member of Parliament and great great grandfather of the soldier Jeffrey. His brother Sackville, was nine years older, and his sister Elizabeth six years his senior. John was born a year later and William, who was to be with him in Oswego, fifteen years afterwards. Born into this family of comfortable circumstances and without the prod of imagination or the prickling spur of ambition,Jeffrey could have looked forward to the pleasing prospect of the life of a country gentleman. At the age of twelve, his ambition was to be aided by being appointed a page in the household of the Duke of Dorset. The Duke maintained a friendly interest in the young boy and encouraged him to enter the British forces as an ensign.
Interested In Troops’ Welfare
Gainsborough’s portrait of Amherst painted in the later years of his life reveals him as shrewd, precise and coolly sophisticated. His diaries and letters, however, indicate his intense personal interest in the welfare of his troops, the comfort of his allies and solicitude for the conquered French population. The following quotation from his diary is typical of this attitude:
“I entered the inhabited country with all the savages and I have not hurt the head of a peasant, his wife or child, not a house burnt or a disorder committed. The country people amazed, won’t believe what they see; the notions they had of our cruelty from the exercise of their own savages drove them into the woods; I have fetched them out and put them quiet in their habitations and they are vastly happy.” Such was the indication of the character of the man to be in charge of the Oswego expedition against Montreal.
Quebec Had Fallen
With the capitulation of the strong fortress of Quebec in September 1759, the French were placed in a weakened military position on the North American continent. It remained only for the British Armies to achieve final annihilation of French power in Canada through the capture or surrender of the last remaining French forts in New France lying along the St. Lawrence River between Oswego and Montreal, and the forts at Montreal itself.
The military strategy to force the surrender of Montreal was, in general, divided into the three following campaigns: one army was to move up the St. Lawrence from Quebec to Montreal; a second military force was to move through Lake Champlain from Albany to Montreal, and the third, largest and strongest group, was to be based at Oswego from which it would move in time to effect a juncture near Montreal with the other two armies.
General Amherst was in command of the entire three pronged expedition, but his specific responsibility was with the forces gathering at Oswego for the final blow against the French. The three armies by converging on Montreal, would place that city under the threat of an encircling movement. The obvious danger that could befall the three pronged military attack was the fact that the French might split them into three groups and deal with them individually. The success of the invasion was dependent on the correct military timing of the movements of the three groups. As communications were hazardous, one can well imagine the obstacles to be overcome were great.
Army Numbered 12,000
During the spring of 1760 General Amherst was in Albany awaiting the arrival troops from the many colonies that were to form his main invasion force. The colonies were to contribute 6,000 men. These were to be supported by 4,000 British regulars combined with 800 Six Nation Indians under the command of Sir Walliam Johnson. The provincial force assembled at Schenectady. It was from here on June 12th General Amherst was to lead the group to Oswego. The Army which was to gather at Oswego was to be the largest ever formed up to 1760 in North America. The foregoing mentioned classifications of troops were to be joined in Oswego by 700 French Iroquois Indians commonly referred to as”Christian Indians.” Their habitat had been along the St. Lawrence where they had come under the influence of French Christian civilization. On the journey fromSchenectady, the Army stopped at Three Rivers before making its final march into Oswego. The Amherst Expedition now totalled 12,000 men.
Naturally extensive preparations were necessary in Oswego to accommodate this large army. Boats had to be constructed to transport the troops down the St.Lawrence, supplies ferried from Albany and probably the most important factor—adjusting the British regular troops to the new type of warfare as understood by the colonial troops and their Indian allies.
One can well imagine what a colorful scene must have been presented at Fort Ontario during the time of the Amherst Expedition. The various uniforms of the colonial troops plus the brilliant dress uniforms of the British regulars. Certainly the new song “Yankee Doodle” must have been heard over the historic parade ground with the more traditional rendering of “God Save the King” to the accompaniment of regimental bands.
Boat Christening Ceremony
Interspersed in this colorful scene was the more practical one of ship’s carpenters building boats for the voyage through Lake Ontario, the Thousand Islands and down the St. Lawrence. Amherst decided to christen one of the boats the “Onondaga” in honor of one of the Iroquois tribes. This was done according to his journal with great ceremony. He had a large flag made with an Onondaga Indian painted on it. This was hoisted just as he christened the boat by breaking a bottle over its prow. A regiment fired a volley. Fort Ontario fired a gun. Then another regiment fired a volley and the ship answered with nine guns. Amherst addressed to the Indians a speech, interpreted by Sir William Johnson and the ceremonies were concluded with glasses of punch being provided for all. Quoting from Amherst’s diary: “The Indians were greatly delighted with the whole proceedings and promised to be fast friends
“Fort Ontario was also the host at this time to many well known military figures namely: Sir William Johnson, superintendent of all Indians for the colonies; General John Bradstreet, quartermaster of the British forces at Bunker Hill fifteen years later; and Lt. Col. Israel Putnam who would become renowned for his exploits at Bunker Hill on the side of the Revolutionists.
Scouting Party Sent Out
Sometime during the latter part of July, a scouting party was sent ahead of the main Oswego invasion force to prepare future camping sites for the army along the lake and St. Lawrence River and to warn the army of any possibility of a French attack. At this time heavy guns were loaded on the larger boats and sent forward with many smaller boats containing food and medical supplies. By the end of July, Amherst was at last ready for the three-way thrust at Montreal. Everything must be synchronized. He dispatched a messenger to Colonel Haviland ordering him to start from Crown Point on the 10th of August. Another courier was sent to direct Murray to sail up the St. Lawrence from Quebec on the same date.
Amherst’s army, with the general’s brother, William, in charge of the light infantry, likewise left Oswego on August 10, embarking on Lake Ontario ready for its hazardous sail to the head of the St. Lawrence. The “Onondaga” flying the Union Jack and the Indian flag, was in the forefront, its nineblocked muzzled cannon offering a formidable defense against any attacking party. The Indians coasted alongside the main army in canoes, brilliant in their war feathers and whooping in anticipation of plunder.
In approximately five days the army advanced as far as theThousand Islands. The sight of the islands impressed Amherst for he noted in his journal: “We passed islands innumerable and a most romantic prospect.” They finally came into contact with the French fort on the Isle Royale near LaGalette which, events proved, was to delay them for five days.
Bombard Island Fort
To bombard the fort, it was necessary for the British to anchor their boats against the current , maneuvering their square-rigged sloops as best they could and setting up cannon in the large row galley. On the 25th the fort surrendered after an intensive bombardment. Amherst prevented the Indians from taking possession of the island but found to his horror that “the Indians scratched up the dead bodies and scalped them as if it had been a feast to them.” Several days had to be spent in repairing the boats. Amherst remarks in his diary: “I want to get away but I must see the vessels safe or nothing will be done and I shall have nothing to send for provisions.” While the vessels were being repaired Amherst’s trouble with the Indians increased. As there seemed to be no opportunity for plunder their enthusiasm for the expedition diminished. The diplomacy of SirWilliam Johnson made every possible attempt to pacify the Indians’ dissatisfaction at the lack of plunder and scalps. In spite of these attempts more than two hundred of the Indians stole a number of rowboats and deserted to Oswego.
Pointe Au Baril Falls
August 17, General Amherst captured Pointe au Baril. Following this seizure he crossed the river and brought under British control, La Presentation which stood on the present site of Ogdensburg.
On August 23rd, Amherst attacked Ft. de Levis. Captain Francois Pouchot’s fort at DeLevis was placed under almost continuous bombardment for two days. Pouchot had been at Oswego as a member of the forces of the Marquis de Montcalm in1756 when Montcalm destroyed all three English forts at Oswego. A tablet commemorating the capture of Ft. de Levis stands on the Toronto Montreal highway. It reads as follows: “Fort de Levison Isle Royal (Chimney Island) was built by Captain Francois Pouchot in the spring and early summer of 1760. The garrison surrendered after a gallant defense on the 25th of August, 1760 to the British Army commanded by Sir Jeffrey Amherst. Siege batteries were established on point and adjacent islands.”
About the first of September the strange assortment of boats reached the first series of rapids in the St. Lawrence. Amherst sent scouts along each bank of the river to guard against any ambuscade and ordered the sloops, the row galleys, the small boats and canoes to file ahead one by one. The first attempt proved to be easy, but the cascades were still ahead of them.
When Amherst arrived at the point of the cascades, he became alarmed at the extreme danger to the entire expedition. According to his diary, “the water boiled and churned in thousands of eddies and cross currents.” The pilots assured him that it was very unusual to find so much water in the river and this would minimize the danger from the rocks. Taking every precaution, he ordered the boats to be made lighter by having the men march to a point beyond the cascades where they could reembark.
Eighty Lost Lives At Cascades
The dangerous journey through the cascades started. Pulled, twisted and rolled by the currents, the boats rushed pellmell down the cascades, out of the control of their crews. Many were capsized and crushed against the rocks. Driftwood from the broken boats, boxes of supplies, and three cornered hats were part of the churning water, while men were seen swimming desperately to save themselves. After a tragic three hours, the main bulk of the fleet was safe in the quiet of the lower river. Out of twelve thousand men, but eightyfour had been lost, twentynine canoes had been destroyed, thirtyfour rowboats sunk and a great quantity of artillery and ammunition washed overboard.
After the Amherst Expedition was successful in navigating the cascades, the final converging movement to capture Montreal was in progress. Murray was in charge of the force coming down from Quebec. With three frigates, escorting his flotilla he pushed steadily on disarming the inhabitants of the riverside parishes as he advanced and causing Levis’s militiamen to desert in large numbers by threatening to burn their farms unless they returned home. Encountering only small opposition because Levis was greatly handicapped by the lack of ammunition, Murray reached Sorel at the mouth of the Richelieu River by the 13th of August, and four days later two battalions from Louisbourg reinforced him, whereupon he advanced again, arriving near Montreal August 27th, ten days before Amherst appeared.
Haviland Reaches Montreal
Murray’s operations had greatly facilitated the advance of the central column under Havilandby taking its opponents in the flank. The chief obstacle in Haviland’s route in advancing from Albany over the Lake Champlain route was the Heaux Noix; once it had been taken August 27th, seizure of St. John’s and Chamby quickly followed and he pushed on to Montreal.
Word came to Amherst that Haviland was within a few days’ march of Montreal, and that Murray was on the way up the river. After a few days’ rest, on the morning of September 6th, Amherst’s main army took to the boats and rowed on towards Montreal moving in four columns and landing on the island of Montreal “without any other opposition than some volunteers and a sort of cavalry which ran into Montreal after a very few shots”.
Amherst’s Tactics Successful
Amherst’s tactics had been well conceived. The island was fortyfive miles long and nine across with the eastern fortress and town several miles inland toward the eastern end. No major attack had been expected from the West. Amherst marched his troops through the country to a point within view of the town, where the regiment spent the night. Amherst continued to ride horseback all night saying in his diary, “to view the ground as much as the night would permit me”. At sunrise the whole army prepared to attack and Amherst to coordinate the attack dispatched couriers to Murray and Haviland to make their landings and advance toward the objective as soon as possible As Amherst was inspecting his regiments advancing across the open field, a messenger informed him that two French officers had come with a proposal from the Marquis deVaudreuil, Governor of New France.
De Vaudreuil Seeks Armistice
The Governor’s emissary proved to be Colonel Bougainville. Here on the open plains before the city of Montreal the white-cloaked French officer and the auburn-haired British General discussed the fate of the British and French Empires in North America. The gist of Colonel Bougainville’s proposal from the Governor of New France was as follows: peace was expected in Europe. Would General Amherst agree to a cessation of hostilities until couriers arrived from their respective governments advising them of the conditions of peace?
“Tell Monsieur de Vaudreuil,”Amherst replied, “I have come to take Canada and I will take nothing else”.
Colonel Bougainville sought an armistice until proposals could be made, suggestions advanced for exchanges of property, disposition of troops could be arranged satisfactorily between the contending parties. General Amherst agreed to the armistice, providing it would not interfere with movements of Murray and Haviland’s Armies. At noon came de Vaudreuil’s proposals. He sought to retain full honor, a capitulation with many conditions attached. Amherst insisted that the French Army must surrender as prisoners, accept transportation to France, and agree not to serve again during the present war. Even as de Vaudreuil’s written proposal had arrived at Amherst’s headquarters, Murray had landed on the eastern shore of the island of Montreal, and the following day Haviland’s troops poured in from the South.
Montreal Surrendered
Within a period of fortyeight hours, Amherst had correctly estimated the arrival of his three armies, overcoming the difficulties of transportation and communication. Montreal was completely surrounded. De Vaudreuil, in despair, agreed to the articles of capitulation as proposed by Amherst. On Sept. 8th, 1760, Canada passed without condition to the British crown. Amherst could not refrain from a note of triumph in his diary, “I believe never three Armys setting out from different and very distant parts from each other, Joyned in the Center as was intended better than we did and it could not fail of having the effect of which we have just now seen the consequences.”
Lt. Col. F. E. Whitton in “Wolfe and North America” expresses the following opinion: “Wolfe has often been hailed as the conqueror of Canada, a description so unwarranted by fact as to call for no serious discussion. If to but one aspect of the struggle—the military or landone—our attention is to be turned, and if to one man alone the palm is to be awarded, then that man is Jeffrey Amherst. It should never be forgotten—although as a matter of fact no military item is more persistently overlooked—that Wolfe thought acting in temporary independence upon orders received direct from the king was still a subordinate. In 1759 and 1760 Amherst was Commander in chief in NorthAmerica.”
Fortescue’s Tribute
Fortescue, historian to George V, described Amherst as “the greatest military administrator produced by England since the death of Marlborough, and he remained the greatest until Wellington”.
Amherst was to continue in his capacity as a soldier of the British Empire by attempting to quell the Pontiac conspiracy in 1762. This campaign, however, has frequently been judged a failure, as the British regiments were unable to adapt themselves to Indian fighting. An army commanded by Bradstreet and Sir William Johnson which moved through Oswego in 1763 succeeded in breaking up the conspiracy and in restoring an approximate peace.
From 1763 – 1768, Amherst was the governor-general of Virginia. In 1783 he was made commander in chief of all the British armies. In 1776 he was raised to the peerage. On Aug. 31, 1797, he died at his estate “Montreal” in Kent, England. The terms of the Treaty of Paris Feb. 10, 1763, which wrote the final chapter to Oswego campaign, surrendering Canada and all French possessions east of the Mississippi, indicates the enormity of his triumph.
Amherst’s prisoners of war taken during the advance on Montreal were sent back to Fort Ontario whence they were later transferred to New York. After the surrender, Amherst’s army returned to Albany by moving through the Champlain Valley from Montreal. Amherst sent a regiment of British regulars to strengthen the garrison at Fort Ontario, however, which remained on duty at Oswego for several years.