Half-Way Brook & The French & Indian War

In choosing as its first subject for a memorial marker “The Half-Way Brook,” the (now defunct) New York State Historical Association made a dignified and wise selection.

For it may be truly said that no stream in Northern New York is more noted in history and the annals of the border, than this, whose appellation “Half-Way” comes from the fact that it was nearly equidistant from Fort Edward on the south (on the Hudson River] and Fort William Henry on the north (on Lake George).

Rising in the branch of the Palmertown Range known as the Luzerne Mountains, in Warren County west of Glens Falls, it runs a crooked but generally easterly and northerly course, now expanding into small lakes or basins, now receiving the waters of numerous small tributaries, ponds and rivulets.

It divides the town of Queensbury into two parts, passes the Kingsbury line, turns in a northerly direction, and empties into Wood Creek at a point about three-quarters of a mile south from Battle Hill at Fort Ann in Washington County, the site of the 1777 Battle of Fort Anne.

Strategic Importance

In the days before American history began, the region traversed by this stream was a favorite hunting ground for Indigenous people, and this water course, even to-day [in 1906] famous for its speckled trout, was one of their chosen pleasuring places.

For thousands of years the great deep-worn warpaths or traveling trails of the Indian Nations ran to and from its banks.

Whether going westward over the Sacandaga trail to the big bend of the Hudson River [west of Glens Falls near the Spier Falls/Corinth area in the southern Adirondacks] to the Iroquois strongholds in the Mohawk Valley; or reaching the “Great Carrying Place” at what is now Fort Edward, through Lake Champlain and Wood Creek; or traveling through Lake St. Sacrament (now Lake George) past the site of the future Glens Falls, down toward Albany, all were required to cross this stream.

After the defeat of General Jean-Armand de Dieskau in 1755 at the Battle of Lake George and the building of Fort William Henry at Lake George, and Fort Edward at the Great Carrying Place, Half-Way Brook became a point of strategic importance.

Equally so as a halting place and rendezvous for the passing troops and the convoys of supplies between the two forts, it was noted throughout the northern colonies, through the end of the French and Indian War (1754-1763).

Fork’s Creek, Bloody Brook, Half-Way Run

It was variously denominated by the military authorities during that time. On an old manuscript map without date in the New York State Library, it is noted as “Schoone Creek” while the Earl of Loudoun’s map in 1757 has it marked as “Fork’s Creek.”

[General John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun (1705–1782) was the British Commander-in-Chief of North America from 1756 to 1757.]

The name “Fork Creek” was probably derived from the name given it by Major General Fitz John Winthrop, who headed an unsuccessful expedition against the Canadians and their Indian allies in the summer of 1690.

On August 6th, he states that “he encamped at a branch of Wood Creek, called the fork.” This is the place where the “Half-Way” enters Wood Creek near Fort Ann. Here, while his command was in camp, smallpox broke out, and a Lieutenant Hubbell died from this disease and was buried at that spot.

Robert Rogers (1731-1795), the famous scout and ranger, called it “Bloody Brook.” In Col. James Montresor’s journals in 1757 it is styled “Half-Way Run.”

[Colonel James Montresor (1709–1776) served as the British Chief Engineer in America during the French and Indian War. The Montresor Journals, edited and annotated by G.D. Scull, was published in 1882 by the New York Historical Society.]

On the Robert Harpur (1731-1825) map it is called “Scoune Creek,” while Henry Knox‘s journal designated it as “Seven Mile Creek,” because it was seven miles from the head of the lake.

In Wilson’s orderly book of Jeffery Amherst’s expedition in 1759, it is laid down as “Shone Creek.”

[The author surmised that Schone Creek was a corruption of Skene, from the founder of Skenesborough (now Whitehall) Philip Skene. He did not arrive in the American Colonies until 1756 however, so Scoune, Schone, and Schoone must have another source, perhaps related to the Schroon River, about 15 miles to the northwest.]

On a powder horn map made by Taylor at “Swago” (Oswego) in 1765, there is a block house clearly defined at “Helf Br” between Fort Edward and Lake George.

(The New York World of February 2d, 1090, had a sketch of this powder horn, which, at that time, was in the museum of Major Frank A. Betts, Washington, DC. A rudely engraved map shows the various forts and settlements along the Mohawk and Hudson valleys, and depicts the trails to Lakes George and Champlain on the one side and to Lake Ontario on the other.)

[Powder horn maps were quite common during the French and Indian War. For example, the Library of Congress holds eight in its collections.]

On later maps such as the Sauthier map, published about 1778, and reproduced in the Seventh Volume of the Governor Clinton Papers, it bears the popular name of “Half-Way Brook.”

Crisfield Johnson’s History of Washington County (1878) states that the ” Half-Way Brook” was also known as “Clear River.”

Block House on the Road to Lake George

In 1755, Sir William Johnson had constructed a corduroy road from Fort Edward to Lake George. In order to protect the road, as well as afford a resting place for soldiers and teamsters, and to supply a needed depot for military stores and provisions a block house was built that same year.

In order to protect the road, as well as afford a resting place for soldiers and teamsters, and to supply a needed depot for military stores and provisions, the late Dr. A. W. Holden in his History of Queensbury, says:

“At an early period in the French War, a block house and stockaded enclosure, in which were also several store houses, had been erected at the Half-Way Brook.

“The date of its construction would seem to have been in 1755 for in that year the French scouts and runners, reported to their chief that the English had erected posts every two leagues from the head of Lake George to Albany.

“It was situated on the north side of the brook, and to the west of the plank road leading to the head of Lake George. The old military road led across the brook about four rods above the present (Route 9) crossing. A part of the old abutments, timbers and causeway were visible up to the seventies [1770s or 1870s?].

“It was capable of accommodating upwards of eight hundred men, and was protected by redoubts, rifle pits, earthworks, and a palisade of hewn timbers.”

The walls of the fort were pierced for cannon as well as for rifles, or muskets. In passing it may be said that from time to time, this, like all similar frontier forts of the time, was enlarged, strengthened, abandoned, destroyed, rebuilt, as the exigencies of military service made it necessary, but the site remained the same.

This was near the rear, and to the westward of the brick residence later occupied by William H. Parker.

1756 Attacks

Continuing Dr. Holden says: “During the summer of 1756, a force of six hundred Canadians and Indians attacked a baggage and provision train at the Half-Way Brook, while on its way from Fort Edward to the garrison at Fort William Henry.

“The oxen were slaughtered, the convoy mostly killed and scalped, and the wagons plundered of their goods and stores. Heavily laden with booty, the marauding party commenced its retreat towards South Bay on Lake Champlain.

“Embarking in batteaux ťhey were proceeding leisurely down the lake when they were overtaken by a party of one hundred rangers under the command of Captains Israel Putnam and Robert Rogers.

“These latter had with them two small pieces of artillery, and two blunderbusses, and at the narrows, about eight miles north of Whitehall, ťhey crossed over from Lake George, and succeeded in sinking several of the enemy’s boats, and killing several of the oarsmen. A heavy south wind favored the escape of the remainder.”

During this summer [of 1756] several bloody affrays took place between Fort Edward and Lake George, and the French accounts are full of successful raids and surprises.

In 1757 Colonel James Montresor was sent to America as head of the Engineer corps of His Majesty’s forces. He drew the plans for and constructed several fortifications in New York Province.

In his journal under date of Monday, July 25th, he says: “Set out from Ft. Edward at 6 o’clock in the morning and arrived in the afternoon. Stop’t at the Half Way Run, agreed on a post there on the south side of the Run on the east of the Road about 50 Yards.”

Under date of Friday, July 29th, he writes: “Set out for Fort Wm. Henry at 12 o’clock with Gen’l Webb &c, arrived at the Half-Way at 3, met the carpenter going up that I had sent for, to carry on the work there.”

It does not appear, however, that anything was done with this fortification on account of Montcalm’s victory a few weeks later.

1757 Fort William Henry Siege & Massacre

The campaign of 1757 teemed with scenes of bloodshed along the frontier, and the history of the Fort Edward and Lake George trail abounds with sad tales of atrocity and savagery, culminating in the successful attack of Montcalm on Fort William Henry, and followed by the terrible massacre.

Of the few who escaped it is on record that Colonel (afterwards General) Jacob Bayley of New Hampshire, ran the gauntlet and escaped by fleeing bare-footed for seven miles through the woods to the “Half-Way Brook.”

“Six days afterwards,” Dr. Holden says, “Captain de Poulharies of the Royal Rousillon regiment, with an escort of two hundred and fifty soldiers, accompanied the survivors of the massacre, upwards of four hundred, with the one piece of cannon, a six pounder, granted by the ninth article of capitulation, as a token of the Marquis de Montcalm‘s esteem for Lieutenant Colonel George Monro and his garrison, on account of their honorable defense, to the post at the Half-Way Brook, where they met a like detachment from the garrison at Fort Edward, sent by General Webb to receive them.”

[The Régiment Royal-Roussillon was a famous French line infantry regiment formed in 1657 that later became the French Army’s 54th Infantry Regiment.]

From records kept by officers and other documents, we learn that the “Half-Way” was usually designated through this war as the meeting place for white flag parties and exchange of prisoners.

After the fall of Fort William Henry, the northern outposts of the British were abandoned, and the frontier left open to the ravages and raids of the Canadians and their allies.

1758 Abercrombie’s Garrison Grounds

March 10th, 1758, Major Robert Rogers, the Ranger, with about one hundred and eighty rangers, officers and privates, camped at the “Half-Way,” the first considerable body of men to occupy it in the campaign of that year. From here he proceeded down Lake George, meeting with disaster and defeat at the hands of seven hundred of the enemy, three days afterward.

June 8th, 1758, Lord George Viscount Howe, the pride and idol of ťhe army and his nation, a nobleman by birth and nature, took command of the forces, which for weeks had been gathering at Ford Edward.

On June 20th we find him at the “Half-Way Brook” with three thousand men. It is supposed that this body of soldiers camped on what is still known as the “Garrison Grounds,” situated on the south bank of the Brook, and about midway between the old Champlin place and DeLong’s brickyard.

A branch road led from the Garrison Grounds to the block house (back of the Parker residence in 1906) and crossed the brook a little way below the present highway bridge. This was the spot selected for a “post” by Col. Montresor the year before, and partially laid out at that time.

For two days Lord Howe remained here until he received reports from Major Rogers and his scouts of the disposition of the enemy’s forces. Here no doubt he met John Stark, Putnam and other Colonials who later were to be leaders in the war for liberty.

On the 22nd this part of the army moved to the lake, and was shortly joined by British Maj. Gen. James Abercrombie and the rest of the troops, making a grand army of fifteen thousand, which was soon to go to disaster and defeat before the rude earth breastworks and felled trees at Ticonderoga.

Abercrombie’s defeat occurred July 8th, 1758, and he quickly returned to the head of Lake George and strongly entrenched his forces for the balance of the season.

Diaries Illuminate Life at Half-Way Brook

A number of diaries and journals of the New Englanders in this campaign have been preserved and published, and from these, although brief and illiterate in form, we gain an excellent idea of the events of that period.

[These include the journals of Rufus Putnam, cousin of Israel Putnam, and afterwards a Revolutionary General; the “Diary ofLieut. Samuel Thompson, of Woburn, Mass.” (owned by Dr. Sherman Williams, of Glens Falls in 1906); the Journal of an Unknown Provincial Officer in Col. Preble’s Regiment of Massachusetts; the memoirs of John Stark and Robert Rogers’ journals.]

The Colonial soldiery, looked down upon by the British officers, were forced to perform the drudgery and manual labor necessary in building and fortifying the camp, constructing its ditches and breastworks, and throwing up its defenses. When not doing this work they were compelled to act as wagoners, drivers, carpenters, road makers, and the like.

These various diaries speak in many places of work of this menial character (for which these men had not enlisted, and apparently did not care for), at and about “Half-Way Brook.” General Putnam in his journal says, “During our stay
at the lake, after our return from Ticonderoga, we were employed in almost everything.”

The journal of an unknown provincial officer says, under date of July 15th: “Nothing worth notice this day but working and duty came on harder by orders from head-quarters.” Both these journals mention a “Sunday off” from work as a great treat and a rarity.

From the 25th of May until the 22nd of October, when the fortifications were dismantled and abandoned by General Abercrombie at the head of the lake, Lieutenant Thompson, according to his diary, was on constant duty, either at the “Half-Way Brook” with a picket guard, or at ťhe lake.

The daily life and work of the soldiers is given in his diary in detail. It also gives the names of a number of people who died from disease and were buried at the “Half-Way Brook.”

He describes the return of the English and Colonials from Ticonderoga, and under date of July 8th, being at the head of the lake that day, there is the following entry in his book:

“Saturday, Post came from the Narrows; and they brought Lord How to ye Fort, who was slain at their landing; and in ye afternoon there came in 100 and odd men, French prisoners into the Fort.”

These were Langy’s men captured at the fatal Trout Brook skirmish in which Lord Howe was killed.

This testimony by an eye witness would go far to disprove the theory of recent times, that Lord Howe’s remains had been discovered at Trout Brook; and it tends to confirm the statements of older historians, that his remains were probably taken to Albany for burial.

[Jean-Baptiste Levrault de Langis Montgeron (commonly known as Langy) was a French colonial ensign who served as a scout/ranger leader. Montcalm relied on him heavily for reconnaissance.]

[The “100 and odd men, French prisoners” belonged to a reconnaissance patrol of about 350 French regulars, militia, and allied Indians co-commanded by Langy and Captain Sieur de Trepezec. On July 6, 1758 — two days before the main Battle of Carillon – they inadvertently collided with the advancing British vanguard.]

[The front of the British column was led by Lord George Howe and Major Israel Putnam. When the two scouting parties clashed at Trout Brook, the first French volley killed Lord Howe.]

[The British moved quickly to cut off the French rear, surrounding Langy’s men, about 50 of whom managed to escape by swimming across the La Chute River. About 150 were captured by the and another 150 were killed, including Trepezec who was mortally wounded.]

Read More About Half-Way Brook

This essay was drawn from James Austin Holden’s “The Half-Way Brook in History” published in the Proceedings of the New York State Historical Association, Volume 6 (1906). It was edited for clarity and annotated by John Warren.

Illustrations, from above: The New York State Historical Association’s Half-Way Brook Monument at Hovey Pond in Queensbury; “Map of the northern parts of New York,” ca. 1758 showing the road from Fort Edward to Fort William Henry (Norman B. Leventhal Map and Education Center), a larger version is available here; detail from Earl Loudoun’s map “The Country between Crown Point and Albany being the Great Pass from the English to the French Settlements in North America” (ca. 1758) with Half Way brook shown as “The Forks Creek”; the environs of Fort William Henry, 1759 (Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance); detail of “Plan of the Environs of Fort Edward,” (1756); period map of the siege of Fort William Henry in 1757; Abercromby’s flotilla launching up Lake George from Fort William Henry, diorama detail (Adirondack Experience – Lake George Battlefield Park Visitors Center); a blockhouse and palisaded enclosure similar to what the station at Half Way Brook in Queensbury might have looked like; and “Death of Lord Howe” historical marker along the La Chute River in Ticonderoga.