Editing Battle of Fort Oswego (section)

== Background ==
{{Main|French and Indian War}}

Following the beginning of open conflict between French and British colonists in 1754 with the [[Battle of Jumonville Glen]], the governments of Britain and France both sent [[regular army]] troops to [[North America]] to further contest the disputed territories of the [[Ohio Country]] and other border areas, including the frontier between the French province of [[Canada, New France|Canada]] and the British [[province of New York]], an area in present-day [[Upstate New York]] that was then largely controlled by the [[Iroquois]] nations. Part of the British plans for 1755 included an expedition to take [[Fort Niagara]] at the western end of [[Lake Ontario]].<ref>Lucas, pp. 232-235</ref> Under the direction of [[William Shirley]], the governor of the [[Province of Massachusetts Bay]], the original [[Fort Oswego]] was reinforced, and two additional forts, [[Fort George, New York|Fort George]] and [[Fort Ontario]], were built in 1755. The planned expedition to Fort Niagara never took place due to logistical difficulties, and the fortifications around Oswego were manned during the winter of 1755&ndash;56.<ref>Parkman, pp. 334-338</ref>

The French in 1755 had the only large naval vessels on Lake Ontario, and moved freely about the lake, between Fort Niagara in the west and [[Fort Frontenac]] at the head of the [[Saint Lawrence River]]. In March 1756 they launched a winter [[Battle of Fort Bull|attack on Fort Bull]] on [[Wood Creek]]. Fort Bull was a key depot on the supply line for the Oswego forts, which was the waterway leading up the [[Mohawk River]] and crossing over to the [[Oswego River (New York)|Oswego River]] watershed. In the successful attack, they destroyed many provisions intended for the Oswego garrison, and effectively ruined Shirley's plan to attempt the expedition against Fort Niagara in 1756.<ref>Parkman, p. 387</ref> Following orders of the Governor of [[New France]], [[Pierre François de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal]], in May 1756 French and Indian raiding parties under the command of [[Louis Coulon de Villiers]] began harassing the Oswego garrison from a camp on Henderson Bay (south of present-day [[Sackett's Harbor, New York|Sackett's Harbor]], New York).<ref>Parkman, p. 407</ref>

General [[Louis-Joseph de Montcalm]] arrived in [[Montreal]] in May 1756 to lead the French army troops. He and Governor Vaudreuil took an immediate dislike to one another, and disagreed over issues of command. Concerned over the massing of British troops at the southern end of [[Lake George (lake), New York|Lake George]], Montcalm first went to [[Fort Carillon]] on [[Lake Champlain]] to see to its defenses.<ref>Parkman, p. 390</ref> Vaudreuil meanwhile began massing troops at Fort Frontenac for a potential assault on Oswego. Following favorable reports from the raiding parties, Montcalm and Vaudreuil decided to make the attempt.<ref>Lucas, p. 255</ref>

[[File:Portrait of Montcalm.JPG|thumb|right|General [[Louis-Joseph de Montcalm]]]]
Governor Shirley received word in March 1756 that he was to be replaced by [[John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun]].<ref>Parkman, p. 396</ref> Loudoun's second in command, General [[James Abercrombie (British Army general)|James Abercrombie]], only arrived in Albany in late June, and Shirley spent the intervening time shoring up the supply line to Oswego in anticipation of leading an expedition against the French forts on Lake Ontario.<ref>Parkman, p. 397</ref> In June [[Sir William Johnson, 1st Baronet|William Johnson]] traveled to the Iroquois headquarters at Onondaga, and successfully negotiated support for the British side with the Iroquois, [[Shawnee]], and [[Lenape|Delaware]], forces that Shirley also hoped to use for his expedition. Shirley also hired 2,000 armed [[Bateau|"battoemen"]], men experienced in sailing and shipbuilding.<ref>Parkman, pp. 404-406</ref> Under the command of [[John Bradstreet]], these men successfully resupplied the forts at Oswego in July, although they were attacked by a French raiding party on their way back, suffering 60 to 70 casualties.<ref>Parkman, pp. 407-409</ref>

When Loudoun arrived in Albany in late July, he immediately cancelled Shirley's plans for an Oswego-based expedition.<ref name=N17>Nester, p. 17</ref>

=== Defenses at Oswego ===
The complex of defenses at Oswego consisted of three separate forts. On the east side of the Oswego River lay Fort Ontario, a log fortification which was constructed in 1755, was sited on a rise overlooking the mouth of the river. It was garrisoned by 370 men from [[Pepperrell's Regiment]], and was in fairly good repair. Fort Oswego was on the west side of the river, and had a central structure of stone and clay surrounded by earthworks to the south and west, but fully exposed to Fort Ontario, across the river. A recently constructed Fort George (called "Fort Rascal" by one of [[Shirley's Regiment]], which occupied Fort Oswego) consisted of an incomplete wooden palisade fort that lacked even loopholes through which defenders could fire, and was occupied by 150 New Jersey militiamen. The latter two forts did not have very much shelter for the occupying garrison, and there were only a few cannon for the entire complex of defenses.<ref name=N20_1>Nester, pp. 20-21</ref>

Significant elements of the two Massachusetts regiments, which were under the overall command of Colonel [[James Mercer (colonel)|James Mercer]] of Pepperrell's Regiment, had overwintered there, and suffered significantly due to the shortage of supplies, especially food. Many men died during the winter from diseases such as [[scurvy]], and there had been serious discussion of abandoning the position for want of supplies. While the garrison nominally approached 2,000 men in size, less than 1,200 men were fit for duty.<ref name=N21>Nester, p. 21</ref>

=== French approach ===
Montcalm left Carillon on July 16 under the command of the [[Chevalier de Levis]], reaching Montreal three days later. Two days later he left for Fort Frontenac, where French troops were gathering along with a large company of Indians. French forces included the battalions of [[Régiment La Sarre|La Sarre]], [[Régiment de Guyenne|Guyenne]], and [[Régiment de Béarn|Béarn]], [[troupes de la marine]], and colonial militia, while Indians, numbering about 250, came from all over the territories of New France. The total size of the force was reckoned to be 3,000 men. The governor's brother, [[François-Pierre de Rigaud de Vaudreuil|François-Pierre de Rigaud]], led an advance force of 700 to meet with Villiers' force at Sackett Harbor before the main force set out on August 4. Crossing at night to what is now called [[Wolfe Island (Ontario)|Wolfe Island]], the vanguard of the main body spent the day there before crossing at night to Sackett's Harbor. By August 8 the entire force was assembled there, and set out the next day for Oswego.<ref name=P421_2>Parkman, pp. 421-422</ref>

On August 9, troops under Rigaud and Villiers marched overland toward Oswego, while Montcalm and the remaining force moved close to the shore in [[bateau]]x, landing about {{convert|2|mi|km}} east of Fort Ontario early on August 10. Their stealth in movement was successful, and the British did not discover them until a small patrol boat spotted them the next morning. Larger boats sent by the British were driven away by the French field artillery.<ref name=P422_3>Parkman, pp. 422-423</ref>