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Indians; and tliis road was taken without calling a new council. Nine days more elapsed beforethey arrived, having experienced inconceivable difficulties, and having been obliged to march up totheir knees in water, and to break the ice with their feet in order to find a solid footing.
They arrived within two leagues of Corlear about four o’clock in the evening, and were haranguedby the great Mohawk chief of the Iroquois from the Sault. He urged on all to perform their duty,and to lose all recollections of their fatigue, in the hope of taking ample revenge for the injuries theyhad received from the Iroquois at the solicitation of the English , and of washing them out in theblood of the traitors. This savage was without contradiction the most considerable of his tribe—anhonest man—as full of spirit, prudence and generosity as it was possible, and capable at the sametime of the grandest undertakings. Shortly after four Squaws were discovered in a wigwam whogave every information necessary for the attack on the town. The fire found in their hut served towarm those who were benumbed, and they continued their route, having previously detachedGiguieres, a Canadian , with nine Indians, on the look out. They discovered no one, and returnedto join the main body within one league of Corlear.
At eleven of the clock that night, they came within sight of the town, resolved to defer theassault until two o’clock of the morning. But the excessive cold admitted of no further delay.
The town of Corlear forms a sort of oblong with only two gates—one opposite the road w r e hadtaken ■ the other leading to Orange, which is only six leagues distant. Messieurs de Sainte Heleneand de Mantet were to enter at the first which the squaws pointed out, and which in fact was foundwide open. Messieurs d’Iberville and de Montesson took the left with another detachment, in orderto make themselves masters of that leading to Orange. But they could not discover it, and returnedto join the remainder of the party. A profound silence was every where observed, until the twocommanders, who separated, at their entrance into the town for the purpose of encircling it, had metat the other extremity.
The signal of attack was given Indian fashion, and the entire force rushed on simultaneously.M. de Mantet placed himself at the head of a detachment, and reached a small fort where the garri-son was under arms. The gate was burst in after a good deal of difficulty, the whole set on fire,and all who defended the place slaughtered.
The sack of the town began a moment before the attack on the fort. Few houses made anyresistance. M. de Montigny discovered some which he attempted to carry sword in hand, havingtried the musket in vain. He received two thrusts of a spear—one in the body and the other in thearm. But M. de Sainte Helene having come to his aid, effected an entrance, and put every one whodefended the place to the sword. The Massacre lasted two hours. The remainder of the night wasspent in placing sentinels, and in taking some repose.
The house belonging to the Minister was ordered to be saved, so as to take him alive to obtaininformation from him; but as it was not known it was not spared any more than the others. Hewas slain and his papers burnt before he could be recognized.
At daybreak some men were sent to the dwelling of Mr. Coudre [Sander], who was Major of theplace, and who lived at the other side of the river. He was not willing to surrender, and began toput himself on the defensive with his servants and some Indians; but as it was resolved not to dohim any harm, in consequence of the good treatment that the French had formerly experienced athis hands, M. d’Iberville and the great Mohawk proceeded thither alone, promised him quarter forbimself, his people, and his property, whereupon he laid down his'arms,on parole, entertaining themin his fort, and returned with them to see the commandants of the town.
In order to occupy the savages, who would otherwise have taken to drink and thus rendered them-selves unable for defence, the houses had already been set on fire. None were spared in the townbut one house belonging to Coudre, and that of a widow who had six children, whither M. de Mon*