Yet, even Bancroft admits that he exposed himself to death to stop the savages infuriated by the rum given them by the English contrary to his orders. In connexion with a later triumph, the capture of Fort William Henry (9 Aug., 1757), Montcalm has been accused of tolerating the massacre by the Indians of the English prisoners.
The Victory of Montcalm’s Troops at Carillon. Attributing his success to God, he raised a cross with the inscription: “In hoc signo vincunt.” Overcoming all diffidence, Montcalm succeeded (14 Aug., 1756), thereby winning the region of Ontario to the domination of France, and with a few badly armed troops taking 1600 prisoners, 5 flags, 100 guns, at the cost of only 30 killed and wounded. First in order of time comes the capture of Chouaguen (Oswego), an undertaking wherein all the odds were against the besiegers. Yet it was only after a record of three brilliant victories that he was to end his glorious career on the Plains of Abraham. The disproportion in numbers and resources between the belligerent forces rendered more arduous the problem to be solved. He was ably seconded by the skilful, prudent and brave chevalier de Lévis. Intendant Bigot’s unscrupulous dishonesty, the apathy of the French court for the “few arpents of snow”, an impoverished colony, an ill-fed, ill-clad and badly provided army, all this enhances Montcalm’s heroic courage and faithfulness to duty. Unlike his superior, Montcalm was quick in conception, fearless, generous and impulsive, self-reliant and decisive in action. The dissonance of character between the two chiefs was to cause much friction during this trying period. In 1755 he succeeded the ill-fated Dieskau, in the command of the French army in Canada, under governor Vaudreuil. In 1736 he had married Angélique-Louise Talon de Boulay, grand-niece of the famous intendant of that name. He received five wounds at the battle of Piacenza. Louis (1741) after a campaign in Bohemia, and was appointed colonel of the Auxerrois regiment (1743). He served successively at the sieges of Kehl and Philipsbourg, and became a knight of St. A soldier at fifteen, he spent his leisures in camp reading Greek and German. Though less clever than a younger brother, a prodigy of learning at seven, Louis-Joseph was a classical scholar. Marquis Louis-Joseph de Montcalm trying to stop Indians from attacking British soldiers and civilians as they leave Fort William Henry at the Battle of Fort William Henry.
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