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

1757.] FOURTH FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 293
their wheels, ^ to drive away all the horses, and to destroy
all the supplies that could not be removed. But there was
no danger of further invasion. Montcalm, deserted by his
Indian allies after the massacre, contented himself with
destroying the fort, first securing a large amount of stores
collected there. In a short time he fell back upon Ticonderoga
and Crown Point, and in a few weeks was again in
Canada with a portion of his army. The panic subsided
and the militia were dismissed.
Patriotism in Hamp- News of tlic iuvasiou by Moutcalm and the
shire County. danger that threatened Fort William
Henry, stirred the patriotism of Hamp-
shire County to such a degree that in a short time the
country was almost entirely denuded of militia. Every
one pressed forward, eager to reinforce the army and prevent
the further advance of the foe. Between six hundred
and seven hundred men responded to the call for reinforcements
from the county, and most of them were on the
march before intelligence of the capitulation and mas-
sacre had been received. Some of them went only to
Springfield, some to Westfield, some to Sheffield, and some
to Kinderhook, while a few went to Fort Edward.
Service of some of
Capt. Bcujamiu Day of Springfield, with a
the Hampshire company of ovcr ninety men, was absent
ompanies.
about clevcu days and marched from fifty
to seventy miles. Capt. Stephen Wright of Southampton,
with his company of thirty-four men, went to Kinderhook.
They marched in all one hundred fifty-eight miles, and
were absent eleven days. Capt. James Merrick of Brimfield
had about forty men under him, who marched about
one hundred seventy-two miles, and were gone from eighteen
to twenty-five days. Capt. Samuel Smith of South
Hadley had upwards of sixty men in his company ; they
marched one hundred eighty miles in thirteen days. Capt.
Robert Lothridge of Pelham, with about thirty men, in
fourteen days marched two hundred miles. Capt. Nathaniel
Dwiglit of Belchertown, with nearly forty men, covered
1 By this order is intended all the wagons employed by the military ; wagons were
not then in such general use among the people as to warrant such an indisciiminate
order.