on the preceding evening, who were said to be followed by a large force. Monsieur de Lery whilst occupying himself in distributing among his detachment the provisions found in the sleighs, was informed that a Negro who accompanied the loads had escaped taking the 1 This Fort is referred to in a Report of a Committee appointed to explore the Western Waters in the State of NewYork. Albany, Barber and Southwick, 1792. It is laid down in Sauthier's Map, as fort Bute. Its situation was about two miles west of Rome. See Outline Map annexed.

2 He left on the 17th March on the ice, passed by La Presentation (Ogdensburgh) and proceeded across the country and along the mountains, by paths known only to the savages to within a short distance ot one of those Forts called Bull. Mem. mr lei off. du Canada dep. 1749 jusq. 1760. published by Hist. Soc. Quebec, 1838. 3 The necessity of fortifying this Pass was pointed out, for the first time, in Oct. 1736, by a number of Indian Traders who petitioned the Assembly to erect a fort at " the Carrying Place at the upper end of the Mohawk River." When Fort Williams was erected has not been ascertained. There was a Fort William in the Mohawk Country as early as 1745-6, but whether it be identical with Fort Williams is undetermined. The latter stood until 1756, when it was destroyed by Gen'^

Webb on his famous flight from Wood creek immediately after the fall of Oswego, wix, and finally by the present city of Rome, Oneida county. [Vol. 1.1