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. 30‘i*. The portage of all the batteaux, canoes and baggage commenced, it being impossible to passthe Palls otherwise. M. le Comte de Frontenac, who expected to pass on foot like the others, wasborne in his canoe by fifty savages singing and uttering yells of joy. The battalions who could notmake this Carrying place passed it the day following. Four leagues were travelled, the road beingbetter.
On the first of August, half the army was detached beyond the river which goes to Oneida (On-nejoust), and made more than five leagues in roads up to the knee. M. de Vaudreuil and the majorityof the officers were at their head. This precaution was the more necessary as at a place called LeRigols, the river is not more than half a pistol shot wide, to the mouth of Lake Ganenta. 1 NothingNothing was met during this day’s march except the description of our army drawn on bark, afterthe manner of the Savages, and two bundles of cut rushes which signified that 1434 men accompa-nied us. We passed the Lake in the order of battle Monsieur de Callieres who commanded thatday on the left, that being the side of the enemy, made a large circuit under pretence of debarkingon that side, whilst M. de Vaudreuil with the right wing hugged the shore to clear what he couldencounter all around of the enemy. The vigorous manner this landing was made, sword in hand,convinced us that had the enemy been met they would not have long stood their ground. M. deVaudreuil’s detachment made a circuit of half a league and anchored at the place where M. de Cal-ibres waited. The entire body landed.
The scouts did not cease marching; they reported having seen trails proceeding from the villageof the Onnontagues to Cayuga ( Oyogouis) and Oneida (Onejoust), which induced them to believe thatthe women and children withdrew thither, and that the Warriors of these two villages came toaid their brethren.
A strong light was seen the same night in the direction of the village, which caused the supposi-tion that they had burned it; it was even supposed that they fired cannon.
The Fort was completed next morning, the 3<*. An Ottawa Savage, named the Cat , returned fromscouting. He had gone some days previously with a Seneca taken last winter, whose life had beenspared. They at first discovered two women whom they had neglected to capture, and they subse-quently seized a man who was bathing with his wife. The Ottawa wished to bind him, but theSeneca opposed it, and released him under the pretext that he would bring in others, which beganto make the Outaouac distrust him, but he had still more reason to do so when the Seneca quit him,saying that he wished to eat some new corn, and having wandered aside for that purpose, he utteredthe ordinary warning cry to direct some young Onnontagues who pursued the Outaouacs, the swift-ness of whose legs saved him. Half a league was made that day.
Sieur Marquis de Crissaffy, captain, was left in the fort with Sieur Desbergeres, also captain, andsome other officers and 140 militia men and soldiers to guard the batteaux, canoes, provisions andother heavy baggage, which could not be transported; their loss would have absolutely caused thatof the whole army, and though every one wished to share the glory which M. le Compte was expectedto reap, he thought he could not leave too good officers at this post. The other Seneca, the comradeof him to whom we have just alluded, deserted the night of the same day to advise his nation of thedanger which menaced the Iroquois . Inconceivable difficulty was experienced in moving the cannonand the remainder of the artillery equipments over marshes and two pretty considerable rivers whichit was necessary to traverse, being obliged to carry them on their carriages and parapets, which occu-pied a very great number of the militia.
We camped at the place called The Salt Springs, which in truth they are. They produce enoughof salt to make us wish that they were near Quebec ; the cod fishery would be very easy then inCanada .
1 La Rigolle ia that part of the Oswego River between Lake Onondaga and the Mouth of the Seneca River.