Fort William Henry

The British Fort William Henry on the shores of Lake George, New York, was built during the French and Indian War (1754-1763) by Sir William Johnson as a staging ground for attacks against the French Fort Carillon (later renamed Fort Ticonderoga). It was part of a chain of British and French forts along the important inland waterway from New York City to Quebec. Fort William Henry was named for Prince William Henry, a grandson of King George II and a younger brother of King George III.

The Fort William Henry massacre

After the surrender to the French on very generous terms, the Indian allies of the French began to attack the British and colonial column leaving the fort. They had been expecting payment for their assistance in the form of loot, captives, and scalps and were severely disappointed at the lenient surrender terms. Many people were killed, captured, or stripped of belongings. The severity of the attack on the surrendered troops, called the Fort William Henry Massacre, was later exaggerated for propaganda purposes. Some contemporary reports claim as many as 1500 killed, but modern scholars put the number at 70-180 dead.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The victors also dug up the graves of people who had died during the siege, infecting themselves and others with Smallpox as they attempted to scalp the corpses and steal valuables. The French finally burned the fort and retreated to Fort Carillon.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~