History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

288 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1756.
of ammunition, brought a speedy surrender of the post.
This disaster seemed to paralyze the movements of the
English general, and nothing was accomplished during the
year. Lord Loudon countermanded the expedition against
Crown Point, and Gen. Winslow's army was disbanded,
except such soldiers as were required to garrison the fron-
tier forts, which were placed under the command of Lieut.
John Hawks. The fourteen forts and stockades extending
from Stockbridge to Greenfield were garrisoned by one
hundred sixty-two men, many of whom were citizens of
the valley towns.
Position of Affairs.
Tlic liistory of eveuts in 1756 was but a rep-
etition of that of the preceding years of
anxiety, toil and hardship for the settlers of this section.
In all the towns the enlistment or impressment of men for
service in the various expeditions was vigorously enforced.
The same arduous struggle for a bare subsistence continued,
and the farmers on the hills or in the valleys of Western
Massachusetts were still compelled to labor under the
guardianship of soldiers, snatching their scanty crops from
a reluctant soil almost beneath the very guns of their savage
foes. The most exacting as well as the most dangerous
duty of the troops was that of scouting. Men were scarce,
the territory to be covered extensive, and it is hardly to be
wondered at that the stealthy foe should come suddenly
upon detached and careless squads of men, dealing out to
them death or captivity.
Casualties Durin