A half-century of conflict. France and England in North America. Part ...

1746.] MARCH OF RIGAUD. 239up the river." In fact, there seem to have been tworoads, one on each side of the Hoosac; for theFrench were formed into two brigades, one of which,under the Sieur de la Valterie, filed along the rightbank of the stream, and the other, under the Sieurde Sabrevois, along the left; while the Indiansmarched on the front, flanks, and rear. They passeddeserted houses and farms belonging to Dutch settlersfrom the Hudson ; for the Hoosac, in this part of itscourse, was in the province of New York.^ Theydid not stop to burn barns and houses, but theykilled poultry, hogs, a cow, and a horse, to supplythemselves with meat.Before night they had passedthe New York line, and they made their camp in ornear the valley where Williamstown and WilliamsCollege now stand.SieursHere they were joined by theBeaubassin and La Force, who had gone forward,with eight Indians, to reconnoitre.Beaubassinhad watched Fort Massachusetts from a distance,and had seen a man go up intocould discover no other sign of alarm.fugitivethe watch-tower, butApparently, theDutch farmers had not taken pains to warnthe English garrison of the coming danger, for therewas a coolness between theneighbors.Before breaking up camp in the morning, Rigaud1 These Dutch settlements on the Hoosac were made underwhat was called the " Hoosac Patent," granted by Governor Donganof New York in 1688. The settlements were not begun tillnearly forty years after the grant was made. For evidence onthis point I am indebted to Professor A. L. Perry, of WilliamsCollege.