male narrator: 250 YEARS AGO, EUROPEAN EMPIRES CLASHED IN AN EPIC STRUGGLE FOR NORTH AMERICA.

BUT INDIAN NATIONS CONTROL THE OUTCOME IN A LAND WHERE INDIAN AND WHITE CULTURES CONNECT IN FORGOTTEN WAYS.

- WHAT WE FIND IS A REALLY INTERESTING AND REALLY MESSY MIX OF PEOPLE.

narrator: CULTURES CAUGHT UP IN A DEADLY COMPETITION FOR EMPIRE IN THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.

female announcer: MAJOR FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, INTRODUCING TRAVELERS TO THE STORIES OF LAKES TO LOCKS PASSAGE, THE GREAT NORTHEAST JOURNEY, AN ALL-AMERICAN ROAD IN THE COLLECTION OF AMERICA'S BYWAYS.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY FORT TICONDEROGA, AN AMERICAN LANDMARK PRESERVING AND SHARING THE HISTORY OF THE NATION SINCE 1909, AND BY THE ADIRONDACK REGIONAL TOURISM COUNCIL: 6 MILLION ACRES OF YEAR-ROUND OUTDOOR RECREATION IN NORTHERN NEW YORK.

[martial drum music] ♪ ♪ [church bells ringing] narrator: WHEN THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR BEGINS, A YOUNG FRONTIERSMAN NAMED ROBERT ROGERS DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A CANDIDATE FOR FAME.

HE'S IN PRISON FOR COUNTERFEITING.

- NOW, COUNTERFEITING WAS A VERY SERIOUS CRIME FOR WHICH YOU COULD BE HANGED, OR AT THE VERY LEAST, YOU COULD BE BRANDED AND HAVE YOUR EARS CLIPPED TO SHOW ANYONE THAT YOU'D ACTUALLY BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS KIND OF BUSINESS.

narrator: THE OUTBREAK OF WAR IS A LUCKY BREAK FOR ROGERS.

HE AVOIDS STANDING TRIAL BY ANSWERING THE CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS... - BAYONET.

narrator: THEN RAISES HIS OWN COMPANY.

- TO THE RIGHT ABOUT... FACE.

- SO HE WENT FROM BEING IN JAIL AWAITING TRIAL ON A COUNTERFEITING CHARGE TO ACTUALLY BECOMING CAPTAIN ROGERS WITH 50 MEN UNDER HIS OWN COMMAND.

WELL, I THINK THIS IS AN INDICATION OF THE KIND OF PERSONALITY HE HAD.

narrator: ROBERT ROGERS REPRESENTS A NEW KIND OF BRITISH SUBJECT: AMERICAN-BORN, WITH A VERY DIFFERENT BACKGROUND FROM THE TRADITIONAL BRITISH MILITARY.

HE GREW UP ON THE NEW HAMPSHIRE FRONTIER AMONG INDIANS.

- HE WOULD TRADE WITH INDIANS, LIVE WITH INDIANS, THINK AS INDIANS DID.

AND YOU HAVE A SENSE, REALLY, THAT ROGERS STARTED IN THIS VERY INTERESTING FRONTIER ENVIRONMENT, WHICH WASN'T LIKE A FENCE ON A LINE LIKE WE THINK NOW.

BUT IT WAS A WHOLE BUNCH OF IDEAS AND CULTURES GETTING ALONG TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT BEST WORKED IN THIS VERY DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT.

- HE KNEW OUR LANGUAGE.

HE KNEW OUR CULTURE.

HE KNEW HOW TO HUNT AND TRACK.

WHAT MADE HIM SUCCESSFUL, MILITARILY, IS THE KNOWLEDGE HE GAINED FROM CONTACT WITH NATIVE PEOPLE.

narrator: AT FIRST, THE BRITISH ARMY DOESN'T EMBRACE ROGERS' UNCONVENTIONAL FRONTIER STYLE.

BUT BEFORE LONG, THEY'LL REALIZE THEY'LL NEED ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET.

[thumping percussive music] ♪ ♪ THIS CONFLICT, WHICH BECOMES A WORLDWIDE STRUGGLE CALLED THE SEVEN YEARS WAR, WILL DETERMINE WHO CONTROLS THE VAST REACHES OF NORTH AMERICA: THE FRENCH, THE BRITISH, OR NATIVE PEOPLES WHO'VE LIVED HERE FOR GENERATIONS.

STRATEGICALLY, THE KEY TO CONTROLLING THESE REGIONS IS THE WATERWAYS, THE SUPERHIGHWAYS OF THE 1700s.

THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IS THE LONG CORRIDOR OF WATER BETWEEN NEW YORK AND MONTREAL.

- CONTROL OF THE WATERWAYS IS CRUCIAL.

THAT'S WHY BEFORE THE WAR STARTS, YOU SEE THE FRENCH AND THE BRITISH BOTH JOCKEYING FOR POSITION, SHIFTING THE BOUNDARIES OF WHERE THERE OWN ZONES OF INFLUENCE ACTUALLY STOP.

narrator: BUT FOR EITHER OF THE EUROPEAN POWERS TO SUCCEED, THEY WILL NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE THOUSANDS OF NATIVE PEOPLES WHO CALL THIS LAND THEIR HOME.

- WE OFTEN THINK THAT NATIVE PEOPLE WERE NOT AROUND IN GREAT NUMBERS, BUT IN FACT, DURING THE 18TH CENTURY, THEY WERE.

AND THOSE NUMBERS TRANSLATE INTO OPPORTUNITIES.

NATIVE PEOPLE ARE USEFUL TO EUROPEANS.

EUROPEANS ARE USEFUL IN CERTAIN WAYS TO NATIVE PEOPLE.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF FERTILE CULTURAL MIXING, INTERACTION, AND BOUNDARY CROSSING.

- IT'S VERY MUCH A HUMAN LANDSCAPE THAT'S DOMINATED BY THE NATIVE PEOPLE WHO LIVE BETWEEN THESE EMPIRES.

AND THE EUROPEANS ARE THERE, REALLY, ON SUFFERANCE.

narrator: BY SEPTEMBER 1755, A COLLISION IS MOUNTING IN THE NORTH COUNTRY.

[rapping drum beat] ON THE FRENCH SIDE, LONGTIME ALLIES THE ABENAKI HAVE JOINED THE FIGHT, ALONG WITH 700 IROQUOIS WARRIORS, INCLUDING NORTHERN MOHAWKS.

THE BRITISH, FOR THE FIRST TIME, HAVE ALSO MUSTERED IROQUOIS ALLIES, RECRUITED BY INDIAN AGENT AND TRADER WILLIAM JOHNSON, WHOSE LONG TIES TO THE IROQUOIS AND HIS MARRIAGE TO A MOHAWK WOMAN GIVES HIM KINSHIP AND INFLUENCE AMONG NATIVES.

- ONCE HE BEGAN TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE, HE BEGAN TO START THINKING A LITTLE BIT AS MOHAWK PEOPLE DO, AS HAUDENOSAUNEE PEOPLE DO.

HE REALLY GAINED A LOT OF ADMIRATION AND SUPPORT, AND HE WAS CONSIDERABLY GENEROUS.

narrator: JOHNSON BRINGS IROQUOIS ALLIES TO THE BRITISH UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF HIS MOHAWK FRIEND CHIEF HENDRICK, A VENERABLE CHARACTER WHO'S BEEN TO ENGLAND TWICE TO VISIT ROYALTY.

- FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE BATTLE BROKE OUT, THE IROQUOIS ALLIED WITH THE FRENCH AND THE IROQUOIS ALLIED WITH JOHNSON, BY A MUTUALLY AGREED SIGNAL OF THREE GUN SHOTS, MET PRIVATELY IN THE WOODS AND TRIED TO NEGOTIATE EACH OTHER'S WITHDRAWAL FROM THE CONFLICT.

NEITHER SIDE SUCCEEDS IN CONVINCING THE OTHER TO LEAVE.

narrator: IROQUOIS TRIBES ARE POISED TO FIGHT EACH OTHER, SETTING IN MOTION A BLOODY TEST OF KINSHIP AND ALLIANCES.

ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 8, 1755, A COLUMN OF BRITISH SOLDIERS AND AMERICAN PROVINCIALS SET OUT TO ATTACK FORT ST. FREDERIC, THE FRENCH FORT AT CROWN POINT.

CHIEF HENDRICK LEADS AN ADVANCE SCOUT OF 200 IROQUOIS ALLIES.

[metal clanking] [urgent drumming] - [speaking French] narrator: BUT THE FRENCH AND THEIR NATIVE ALLIES HAVE DISCOVERED THE BRITISH WAR PLANS AND HAVE SET AN AMBUSH.

- HENDRICK RIDES ON HORSEBACK OUT AT THE HEAD OF THE BRITISH TROOPS.

HE IS SPOTTED BY FRENCH ALLIED IROQUOIS WHO CALL OUT ONE LAST TIME TO HAVE HIM WITH WITHDRAW, BLOWING THE COVER OF THEIR FRENCH ALLIED WARRIORS.

[gunfire] [men screaming and yelling] - ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE ON THE SHORES OF LAKE GEORGE.

THEY CALL IT THE BLOODY MORNING SCOUT.

narrator: NATIVE WARRIORS FIRE ON EACH OTHER.

RELATIVE FIGHTS RELATIVE.

CASUALTIES ARE SIGNIFICANT ON BOTH SIDES.

CHIEF HENDRICK IS KILLED.

- HE IS BAYONETED AND BLEEDS TO DEATH, DIES AN INGLORIOUS DEATH ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

- I CONSIDER IT ONE OF THE DARKEST DAYS IN MOHAWK HISTORY, BECAUSE YOU HAD MOHAWKS FIGHTING MOHAWKS ON BEHALF OF EUROPEAN POWERS.

AND BY THE TIME THE SMOKE CLEARED, I THINK THERE WERE PROBABLY ABOUT 80 OR 90 DEAD MOHAWKS ON THE GROUND.

narrator: THE BATTLE OF LAKE GEORGE ENDS IN A DRAW FOR THE EUROPEANS AND A TRAGEDY FOR THE MOHAWKS.

- THAT WAS THE WAKEUP CALL.

THAT WAS, LIKE, THE FIRST BIG TASTE OF WAR.

narrator: WILLIAM JOHNSON LOSES HIS FRIEND CHIEF HENDRICK, AND THE BRITISH LOSE THEIR NATIVE ALLIES.

THE POWERFUL SIX NATIONS OF THE IROQUOIS DECIDE NEVER AGAIN TO KILL EACH OTHER IN A WHITE MAN'S WAR.

INSTEAD, THEY CHOOSE NEUTRALITY, A MAJOR BLOW TO THE BRITISH WAR EFFORT.

[fife and drum music] ♪ ♪ THE FRENCH RETREAT TO THE SOUTHERN TIP OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN AND DIG IN, BUILDING A FORT THEY CALL CARILLON AT A PLACE THE BRITISH CALL TICONDEROGA, AFTER IT'S MOHAWK NAME.

THE BRITISH STAY ON THE SOUTH SHORE OF LAKE GEORGE AND BUILD FORT WILLIAM HENRY.

THESE LAKES AND THEIR FORTRESSES WILL BECOME THE STAGE FOR EPIC BATTLES AND YET ANOTHER TRAGEDY.

SOME WILL CALL IT A MASSACRE.

AND IT WILL SEND SHOCKWAVES ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

AFTER THE CLASH AT LAKE GEORGE, IN A PATTERN THAT WILL CONTINUALLY FRUSTRATE BOTH FRENCH AND ENGLISH MILITARY LEADERS, INDIAN ALLIES ON BOTH SIDES GO HOME TO THEIR VILLAGES.

WITHOUT THEIR NATIVE ALLIES, THE BRITISH NEED SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO SCOUT THE DEEP WOODS TO GATHER INTELLIGENCE BEHIND ENEMY LINES.

THEY TURN TO ROBERT ROGERS.

BUT THE EUROPEANS KNOW THAT THE FINAL OUTCOME OF THIS WAR IS NOT GOING TO BE DECIDED SOLELY BY THE GENERALS AND THEIR HIGHLY TRAINED ARMIES.

- I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR AND REMEMBER THE WORD "INDIAN."

[drums thumping] IT WASN'T JUST A WAR BETWEEN TWO COLONIAL EXTENSIONS OF EUROPE.

IT WAS A WAR IN WHICH THERE WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PARTY, AND THAT WAS NATIVE GROUPS.

AND IT WAS IN THEIR INTEREST TO PREVENT THE EXTENSION OF THE 13 COLONIES BEYOND THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS.

narrator: THE SIX NATIONS OF THE IROQUOIS, ARGUABLY THE SINGLE MOST INFLUENTIAL GROUP, LIVE SPREAD ACROSS WHAT IS NOW NORTHERN NEW YORK STATE AND SOUTHERN CANADA, AND THEY DO NOT SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE.

TO THE EAST, ALONG THE OCEAN AND THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER, THE ABENAKI AND OTHER EASTERN WOODLAND PEOPLES HOLD SWAY.

TRAVEL AND TRADE AMONG NATIVES AND EUROPEANS TAKES PLACE ALONG THE WATERWAYS.

PEOPLE MOVE, INTERMARRY, SETTLE, AND FIGHT.

- WE FIND TRANSNATIONALISM, TRANSCULTURALISM, CROSS-CULTURALISM.

WE HAVE NATIVE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO SCHOOL AT YALE AND HARVARD.

THEY ARE FLUENT IN GREEK AND LATIN.

EUROPEAN CAPTIVES WHO WERE BORN WHITE COULD BE ADOPTED INTO AND BECOME NATIVE PEOPLE.

FOR EXAMPLE, JOSEPH-LOUIS GILL, HE'S THE SON OF TWO WHITE CAPTIVES WHO BECOMES ONE OF THE BEST-KNOWN AND BEST-LOVED ABENAKI CHIEFS TO THIS DAY.

SO IN TERMS OF ON-THE-GROUND, PERSON-TO-PERSON SOCIAL RELATIONS, THINGS ARE NOT THAT TIDY.

[plinking piano music] ♪ ♪ narrator: THE FRENCH HAVE BEEN IN THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER VALLEY FOR ALMOST 150 YEARS.

BUT THEIR COLONY IS GROWING SLOWLY.

- THE FRENCH COLONY WAS CONSIDERED A HARDSHIP POST.

AND THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO CAME TO IT OF THEIR OWN DESIRE WERE THE MILITARY WHO CAME TO DEFEND IT, FUR TRADERS WHO CAME TO ENGAGE IN THE FUR TRADE, AND MISSIONARIES, MAINLY JESUIT MISSIONARIES, WHO CAME TO CONVERT NATIVE PEOPLE TO CATHOLICISM.

- MONTREAL WAS SETTLED BY, REALLY, A GROUP OF RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS FROM FRANCE.

ONLY CATHOLICS WERE ALLOWED TO SETTLE IN NEW FRANCE.

PROTESTANTS WERE NOT ALLOWED.

- NEW FRANCE IS A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF COLONY FROM WHAT WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH IN THE AMERICAN WORLD.

THERE WASN'T THE GREAT PUSH FACTOR THAT DROVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THE ENGLISH COLONIES.

- THE FRENCH CONTROLLED THIS GREAT SWATH OF TERRITORY BY MAKING ALLIANCES WITH THE NATIVE PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN OCCUPYING THEM FOR MILLENNIA.

AND THAT'S HOW THEY KEPT CONTROL OF IT.

narrator: THE 13 BRITISH COLONIES TO THE SOUTH ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

[dramatic music] ♪ ♪ EVERY YEAR, THOUSANDS OF NEW SETTLERS ARRIVE IN THE PORTS BOSTON, NEW YORK, AND PHILADELPHIA THEN LEAVE THE CROWDED COAST TO MOVE INLAND AND ESTABLISH FARMS AND VILLAGES.

THEY STEADILY PUSH THE FRONTIER TOWARD THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS.

MANY ARE EAGER TO GO EVEN FARTHER.

- AS THEY BECAME MORE WEALTHY AND MORE PROSPEROUS AND MORE POPULOUS, THEY BEGAN TO PRESS ON THE WESTERN EDGES AND EXPAND.

- FROM THE NATIVE PERSPECTIVE, THERE WERE ATTEMPTS TO NEGOTIATE, BUILD ALLIANCE, FORM RESISTANCE IN VERY STRATEGIC WAYS.

BUT FROM THE EUROPEAN VIEWPOINT, IT WAS AS THOUGH IT WAS ALL UNPOPULATED TERRITORY TO BEGIN WITH.

narrator: ONE OF MANY PLACES WHERE COLONIAL SETTLERS CLASH WITH NATIVES IS THE NEW HAMPSHIRE FRONTIER, WHERE ROBERT ROGERS GREW UP.

THESE LANDS HAD BEEN HOME TO THE ABENAKIS FOR MANY THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

- THE NEW ENGLAND VILLAGES WERE BUILT IN A LARGE PART ON THE SITES OF FORMER ABENAKI VILLAGES.

SO WHEN THE ABENAKIS ATTACKED THESE VILLAGES, THEY WERE COMING BACK TO THEIR OWN HOME TERRITORY.

narrator: THE ABENAKIS CARRY ON A CONSTANT RETALIATORY CAMPAIGN OF RAIDS AND CAPTIVE-TAKING.

AND THEY TURN TO BRITAIN'S ENEMY FOR SUPPORT.

- ABENAKI PEOPLE BY THE MIDDLE OF THE 18TH CENTURY WERE FEELING VERY SEVERELY THE THRUST OF ENGLISH SETTLEMENT UP THE CONNECTICUT RIVER, WHICH LED THEM AND INDUCED THEM, OF COURSE, TO LOOK TO THE FRENCH AS ALLIES TO HELP BOLSTER THEIR RESISTANCE TO THE ENGLISH, AS THEY HAD BEEN DOING SINCE THE END OF THE 17TH CENTURY.

narrator: THIS LONG HISTORY OF FRONTIER VIOLENCE HAS LED MANY AMERICAN COLONISTS LIKE ROBERT ROGERS TO VIEW THE ABENAKI PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR AS BITTER ENEMIES.

- HE WASN'T THE KIND OF PERSON WHO WOULD SIMPLY SAY, "THE ONLY GOOD INDIAN IS A DEAD ONE," THE SORT OF CLASSIC INDIAN-HATING FRONTIERSMEN.

INSTEAD, HE KNOWS HOW TO FIGHT THEM.

HE KNOWS A GREAT DEAL ABOUT FIGHTING IN THE WOODS.

AND THAT MAKES HIM SORT OF A FORMIDABLY VALUABLE FIGURE FOR THE BRITISH IN THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR.

narrator: AS THE WAR ENTERS ITS SECOND YEAR, THE BRITISH HAVE NO FORMAL INDIAN ALLIES, THE KEY TO WAGING WAR AMONG THE WATERWAYS AND WOODS OF NORTH AMERICA.

[militaristic drumming] THE FRONTIER SKILLS AND COMMANDO FIGHTING STYLE OF ROBERT ROGERS WILL BE CRITICAL.

[booming gunshot] BUT IT WILL STILL BE SEVERAL LONG YEARS BEFORE THE BRITISH CAN MAKE ANY HEADWAY AGAINST THE SOLID ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE NATIVE PEOPLES AND THE FRENCH.

[all singing in French] [bagpipe music intermixing] ♪ ♪ [militaristic drumming] - [speaking French] narrator: AT THE VERY MOMENT THE FRENCH WIN ONE OF THEIR GREATEST BATTLES, A CLASH OF CULTURES BEGINS TO COST THEM THE WAR.

[cannon fire] IT HAPPENS AT THE BRITISH FORT WILLIAM HENRY ON LAKE GEORGE.

OUTNUMBERED FIVE TO ONE AND BATTERED FOR DAYS BY THE FRENCH ARTILLERY OF GENERAL LOUIS-JOSEPH DE MONTCALM, THE FORT'S BRITISH AND AMERICAN DEFENDERS FINALLY SURRENDER.

THEIR BRAVE STAND WINS THEM THE ADMIRATION OF THE FRENCH VICTORS.

FOLLOWING THE SURRENDER CEREMONIES, THE FRENCH INVITE THE DEFEATED BRITISH TO A LAVISH MEAL AND THEN ALLOW THE ENGLISH AND AMERICANS TO TAKE THEIR POSSESSIONS AND MARCH AWAY UNHARMED.

BUT MONTCALM'S INDIAN ALLIES ARE FURIOUS.

THEY HAD SUPPORTED THE FRENCH IN THIS BATTLE, AND THEY EXPECTED TO BE REWARDED WITH CAPTIVES AND PLUNDER, THE CUSTOMARY TROPHIES OF VICTORY.

- HERE, AFTER YOU SPEND ALL THIS TIME, ALL THIS ENERGY TAKING A FORT, THEN WHAT DO YOU DO?

YOU LET EVERYBODY GO.

THE ABENAKIS I DON'T THINK HAD EVER SEEN THIS.

- THE INDIAN ALLIES OF THE FRENCH ARE FIGHTING THIS WAR NOT FOR FRENCH PURPOSES, NOT FOR THE FRENCH AGENDA, BUT FOR THEIR OWN PURPOSES.

AND FOR THEM, THE TAKING OF PRISONERS, THE TAKING OF PLUNDER, THE TAKING OF SCALPS, WAS A NECESSARY PART OF THIS COMMITMENT.

narrator: SO THE INDIANS TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.

THEY ATTACK THE BRITISH AND AMERICANS WHO HAVE ALREADY SURRENDERED.

IN THE CHAOS, SOME ARE KILLED AND SCALPED.

OTHERS ARE TAKEN CAPTIVE.

MONTCALM HAS SEEN THIS BEHAVIOR BEFORE.

HE GAMBLED THAT HE COULD CONTROL THE INDIANS.

IT IS A GAMBLE HE LOSES.

THE FRENCH LEADER IS POWERLESS TO STOP THE SHOCKING BRUTALITY.

MANY OF THE CAPTIVES ARE MARCHED NORTH TO FRENCH CANADA, WHERE THEY WILL EVENTUALLY BE RANSOMED BY THE FRENCH.

THIS TRADE IN CAPTIVES IS A LONG-STANDING FACT OF FRONTIER LIFE.

BEING KIDNAPPED BY INDIANS IS A FATE THAT BEFELL HUNDREDS OF MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, BOTH EUROPEAN AND NATIVE.

NOT ALL THE CAPTIVES WILL BE RANSOMED.

SOME ARE KILLED, AND OTHERS ARE ADOPTED INTO INDIAN FAMILIES.

- [screams] - [speaking native language] narrator: THERE WAS ONE FATE THAT FEMALE CAPTIVES OF NATIVES DID NOT HAVE TO FEAR.

- [crying] - NATIVE MEN-- AND THIS WAS TRUE OF BOTH IROQUOIANS AND ALGONQUIAN SPEAKERS-- WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY WHILE ON THESE RAIDS OR ENGAGED IN WAR.

THEY WOULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE YOU COULD INADVERTENTLY, BY HAVING SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH A CAPTIVE, COMMIT INCEST.

BECAUSE THAT PERSON COULD END UP BEING A RELATIVE OF YOURS ONCE THEY HAD BEEN ADOPTED.

narrator: THE EVENTS AT FORT WILLIAM HENRY BECOME A VALUABLE PROPAGANDA TOOL FOR THE BRITISH.

NEWSPAPERS FAN THE FLAMES OF ANTI-FRENCH AND ANTI-INDIAN OUTRAGE AS THEY REPORT THE NEWS OF WHAT THEY CALL THE MASSACRE OF FORT WILLIAM HENRY.

- IT'S PROBABLY THE DARKEST PR DAY EVER FOR NATIVE PEOPLE ALL ACROSS NORTH AMERICA, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE EXACT KIND OF EVENT THAT EUROPEANS COULD LATCH ONTO AND EXPLODE AND WRITE ABOUT AND SPREAD WORD ABOUT THE TERRIBLE SAVAGES WHO DESCENDED ON THE SURRENDER SOLDIERS AND MURDERED THEM IN A MOST HORRIFIC WAY.

I'M NOT DENYING THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED.

BUT I THINK THAT THERE WERE PROMISES MADE THAT WEREN'T UPHELD.

AND BECAUSE THESE WARRIORS HAD INDIVIDUAL FREE WILL, THEY FOUGHT HARD WHEN THEY DECIDED TO AND WHEN THEY PROMISED TO.

AND WHEN THEY WERE PROMISED GOODS FOR DOING THAT, THEY WERE GONNA GET IT.

- I THINK THE SO-CALLED MASSACRE COULD BE LOOKED AT AS ACTUALLY A BETRAYAL OF THE INTERESTS OF THE NATIVE PEOPLE BY THE FRENCH.

GIVEN WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, THE SO-CALLED MASSACRE AT FORT WILLIAM HENRY WAS QUITE A BIT MORE BENIGN THAN IT COULD HAVE BEEN.

narrator: MEANWHILE, IN QUEBEC, THE CAPITAL OF NEW FRANCE, THE EVENTS AT FORT WILLIAM HENRY EXPOSE A DEEP DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE LEADERS OF THE FRENCH COLONY.

GENERAL MONTCALM IS A NOBLEMAN AND AN OLD-SCHOOL EUROPEAN SOLDIER WHO WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WAY HIS INDIAN ALLIES WAGE WAR.

BUT THE CIVILIAN GOVERNOR OF NEW FRANCE, THE MARQUIS DE VAUDREUIL, WAS BORN IN CANADA, AND HE KNOWS THAT THE SURVIVAL OF NEW FRANCE DEPENDS ON ITS NATIVE ALLIES.

THE LAST THING HE WANTS TO DO IS PUSH THEM AWAY.

- WITHOUT THE NATIVES, HE CAN'T IMAGINE HOW HE COULD CONTROL SUCH A HUGE TERRITORY OR INDEED HOW HE COULD INTIMIDATE THE BRITISH INTO RESTRAINING THEIR ATTACKS ON CANADA.

narrator: THE CONFLICT BETWEEN MONTCALM AND VAUDREUIL WILL TAKE A COSTLY TOLL ON NEW FRANCE.

[fife and drum music] - DIRECTION OF THE MILITARY EFFORT WAS SPLIT, AND THERE WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION AS TO HOW BEST TO FIGHT THE WAR.

- ♪ HEY-HO, AND AWAY WE GO ♪ ♪ ME BONNY LADDIE, ME HIELAND LADDIE ♪ ♪ HEY-HO, AND AWAY WE GO ♪ ♪ ME BONNY HIELAND LADDIE ♪ narrator: FOR THE BRITISH, 1756 AND MOST OF 1757 IS A FRUSTRATING PERIOD OF LOW-INTENSITY WARFARE ACROSS THE NORTH COUNTRY.

MUCH OF THE FIGHTING TAKES PLACE IN DEEP WOODS, WHICH PUTS THE BRITISH REGULARS AT A PARTICULAR DISADVANTAGE.

[marching drum music] THEIR HIGHLY DISCIPLINED MARCHING DOES THEM LITTLE GOOD IN WILDERNESS FIGHTING.

[muskets firing] ROBERT ROGERS AND HIS RANGERS PROVE TO BE A DIFFERENT BREED OF WARRIORS.

- HE WAS TAKING HARD-BITTEN YANKEES.

HE HAD FREED SLAVES.

HE HAD INDIANS THAT HE MADE OFFICERS IN HIS RANKS.

AND WHAT BECAME VERY CLEAR IMMEDIATELY WITH THE BRITISH SOLDIERS THAT WERE THERE WAS HOW DIFFERENT ROGERS' RANGERS WERE FROM THEM.

- FIRE!

[gunfire] narrator: ROGERS LEADS HIS MEN ON DARING SCOUTS BEHIND ENEMY LINES, EVEN TO THE GATES OF THE FRENCH FORTS.

HIS BRAVADO IS RAPIDLY MAKING HIM INTO A CELEBRITY AMONG THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING COLONIES, WHERE NEWSPAPERS ARE EAGER TO PICK UP THE STORY.

- INITIALLY, YOU HEAR "CAPTAIN ROGERS."

THEN IT IS "THE BRAVE CAPTAIN ROGERS."

THEN WE HAVE "THE BRAVE MAJOR ROGERS."

AND THEN WE HAVE "BRAVE MAJOR ROGERS" IN BOLD TYPE.

AND HIS NAME LITERALLY GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER AND BIGGER.

HE'S ALSO A SELF-PUBLICIST, IN A SENSE.

HE WRITES VERY ENGAGING, DRAMATIC POST-COMBAT REPORTS, WHICH SOMEHOW MAKE THEIR WAY FROM HEADQUARTERS BACK DOWN TO THE NEW YORK PAPERS.

AND THEY FIND THEIR WAY ACROSS THE ATLANTIC TO THE ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH NEWSPAPERS.

[hawk crying] - ROGERS WAS REALLY ONE OF THE ONLY BRIGHT SPOTS IN THE WAR.

[militaristic drumming] - [speaking French] narrator: BUT AMONG THE FRENCH, THERE'S ONE SOLDIER IN PARTICULAR WHO IS THE EQUAL TO ROGERS IN BACKWOODS FIGHTING.

CANADIAN-BORN MILITIA LEADER LANGIS DE MONTEGRON WILL BECOME ROGERS' NEMESIS FOR THE REST OF THE WAR.

HE IS ASSIGNED TO TRACK DOWN THE CELEBRATED RANGER AND NEUTRALIZE HIM.

- HE DRESSED AS AN INDIAN.

HE LEARNED THE WAYS OF THE WOODS AND SPOKE THE ABENAKI LANGUAGE AS WELL AS SPEAKING FRENCH AND, I BELIEVE, ALSO ENGLISH.

SO HE WAS A FORMIDABLE OPPONENT, A VERY STRONG INDIVIDUAL.

- THE FRENCH WENT INTO THE TRIBES ALL THE TIME.

THERE WAS A PROGRAM FOR THE OFFICERS TO BE EMBEDDED IN THE TRIBES WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG CADETS.

THIS WAY, THEY LEARNED INDIAN WAYS, THEY LEARNED THE LANGUAGES, AND SOME OF THEM BECAME QUITE FAMOUS EVEN WITH INDIANS AS MILITARY LEADERS.

narrator: WHEN LANGIS AND ROGERS FINALLY MEET IN BATTLE, THE BOASTFUL RANGER WILL LEARN THAT HE'S PROVOKED A POWERFUL ADVERSARY.

IN THE WAKE OF THE DEFEAT AT FORT WILLIAM HENRY, THE BRITISH ARMY MOVES FASTER TO ADOPT THE RANGERS' METHODS OF FIGHTING IN THE WILDERNESS.

THE BRITISH COMMANDER, LORD LOUDOUN, ORDERS ROGERS TO WRITE A TRAINING BOOK, THE RULES FOR RANGING, THAT EVOLVED INTO THE ARMY RANGERS MANUAL STILL IN USE TODAY.

AND LOUDOUN TELLS ROGERS TO ESTABLISH A TRAINING ACADEMY TO TEACH RANGER TECHNIQUES TO THE BRITISH REGULARS.

- OUT ON PATROL, FOR EXAMPLE, HE WOULD TELL THEM, "WHEN YOU'RE WALKING IN SINGLE FILE, "SPACE YOURSELF AND STAGGER YOURSELF AS WELL "SO THAT ONE BULLET FIRED DOWN THE LINE WON'T TAKE OUT THREE GUYS AT THE SAME TIME."

HE TEACHES THEM HOW TO CROSS A SWAMP: SPACE YOURSELF OUT AND GO ACROSS INDIVIDUALLY ABREAST OF ONE ANOTHER.

AND THAT WAY, NO ONE WILL EVEN KNOW THAT YOU'VE PASSED THAT WAY.

SO VERY INTERESTING INDIAN TACTICS THAT HE PASSED ALONG TO CONVENTIONAL SOLDIERS TO MAKE THEM STARTING THINKING ABOUT HOW TO OPERATE IN THE WILDERNESS.

narrator: THE FOLLOWING WINTER, ALL THOSE RANGER SKILLS WILL BE PUT TO THE TEST WHEN ROGERS AND LANGIS, HIS FRENCH-CANADIAN ENEMY, CONFRONT EACH OTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME.

IT'S MARCH 1758.

ROGERS' RANGERS ARE ON A SCOUTING MISSION TO PROBE THE FRENCH DEFENSES AT FORT CARILLON.

IT WAS CUSTOMARY FOR REGULAR SOLDIERS TO RETIRE FROM BATTLE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

BUT THE RANGERS HAVE ADOPTED INDIAN WAYS-- SNOWSHOES AND SLEDS-- TO WAGE WAR YEAR-ROUND.

- AND THEY WERE OUT IN WEATHER THAT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT JUST TO SURVIVE IN, LET ALONE TO FIGHT A WAR IN.

AND THEY, OF COURSE, HAD WORTHY ADVERSARIES ON THE FRENCH SIDE DOING THE SAME THING.

narrator: IT TURNS OUT, A CAPTIVE HAS TOLD THE FRENCH THAT ROGERS IS COMING.

THE TWO FORCES COLLIDE.

- FIRE.

[muskets fire] narrator: THE FRENCH FORCE IS SMALL: 96 CANADIAN MILITIA AND INDIAN ALLIES.

AT FIRST, THE RANGERS TAKE THE UPPER HAND.

[gunfire] CHASING THE ENEMY, THE RANGERS STOP TO SCALP THE DEAD AND THE WOUNDED.

BUT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, ROGERS AND HIS MEN ARE SURPRISED BY A MUCH LARGER FORCE OF FRENCH AND INDIANS LED BY LANGIS.

THE TIDE QUICKLY TURNS.

THE RANGERS TAKE DEVASTATING LOSSES IN BLOODY HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING.

- THE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND AN ENEMY CLOSE AT HAND IS HOW FAST YOU CAN LOAD.

SO IF YOU CAN LOAD IN 30 SECONDS, BUT SOMEBODY CAN GET ACROSS FROM YOU TO ME IN 30 SECONDS, THEN YOU'RE DOWN TO THAT TOMAHAWK.

IT IS EXTRAORDINARY HOW EXTREME THAT SITUATION IS.

narrator: HE ORDERS HIS TROOPS TO SPLIT UP AND RETREAT.

ROGERS BARELY ESCAPES WITH HIS LIFE, THOUGH THE EXACT METHOD OF HIS GETAWAY HAS BECOME A MATTER OF LEGEND RATHER THAN FACT.

NEAR THE SITE OF THE BATTLE IS A 400-FOOT DROP TO THE SURFACE OF LAKE GEORGE.

THE STORY GOES THAT ROGERS REACHED THE CLIFF AND SOMEHOW SLID DOWN IT ON HIS SNOWSHOES TO THE LAKE TO MAKE HIS ESCAPE.

TODAY THE SPOT IS CALLED ROGERS ROCK.

- WHETHER OR NOT HE ACTUALLY DID THIS OR NOT ISN'T REALLY THE POINT.

THE FACT THAT PEOPLE THOUGHT HE MIGHT EVEN HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DO IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH ROGERS WAS ACTUALLY SEEN AS THIS KIND OF ALMOST SUPERHUMAN FIGURE.

narrator: BACK AT FORT EDWARD, ROGERS FACES SEVERE CRITICISM FROM HIS SUPERIORS.

- THE BATTLE ON SNOWSHOES WAS, BY ANY STANDARDS, A CATASTROPHIC DEFEAT.

THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF CRITICISM OF ROGERS, PARTICULARLY IN ARMY CIRCLES.

- ASPERSIONS ARE MADE ABOUT HIS LEADERSHIP.

DOES HE STILL HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A FRONTIER LEADER?

narrator: BUT THEN A LETTER SUDDENLY APPEARS THAT DESCRIBES ROGERS' BRAVERY DURING THE BATTLE AND THE WAY HE RALLIED HIS MEN UNDER DESPERATE CIRCUMSTANCES.

- THEN HE WAS EXONERATED.

THE BATTLE OF SNOWSHOES ALMOST BECAME ANOTHER BADGE OF HONOR FOR ROGERS.

RATHER THAN A STIGMA, IT BECAME SOMETHING TO ADD TO HIS CV.

narrator: AMONG THE BRITISH HIGH COMMAND, THERE IS ONE OFFICER WHO NEVER DOUBTED THE WORTH OF ROGERS OR OF THE RANGING WAY OF WAR, A YOUNG ARISTOCRAT NAMED GEORGE AUGUSTUS LORD HOWE.

- EVERYTHING ABOUT HIS BACKGROUND SUGGESTED THAT LORD HOWE MIGHT BE ANOTHER ONE OF THE SNOBBISH BRITISH OFFICERS LOOKING DOWN UPON THE AMERICANS AS THESE ROUGH COLONIALS.

LORD HOWE PROVED HIMSELF TO BE ANYTHING BUT.

HE WAS VERY AMENABLE, VERY CHARMING, VERY DEBONAIR, BUT HE WAS ALSO SOMEONE WHO WAS PREPARED TO ROUGH IT.

HE WANTED TO LEARN EVERYTHING HE COULD FROM PEOPLE LIKE ROGERS.

narrator: IN JULY 1758, GENERAL JAMES ABERCROMBY, HOWE'S COMMANDER IN CHIEF, HAS ASSEMBLED THE LARGEST ARMY EVER SEEN IN NORTH AMERICA, 16,000 REGULARS AND PROVINCIALS.

THE HUGE BRITISH ARMY SETS OFF FROM THE RUINS OF FORT WILLIAM HENRY IN A FLEET OF BATEAU SAID TO COVER LAKE GEORGE FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER.

ABERCOMBY'S PLAN IS TO TAKE FORT CARILLON AND FROM THERE, MOVE NORTH, DRIVING THE FRENCH BACK INTO CANADA.

THIS CRITICAL CHOKEPOINT AT THE SOUTHERN END OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN HAS ONLY ABOUT 4,000 FRENCH DEFENDERS.

BUT BEFORE THE HUGE BRITISH ARMY GETS INTO PLACE, TRAGEDY STRIKES.

[gunfire] - LORD HOWE GETS KILLED AT A SKIRMISH NEAR THE FORT, ENDS UP IN A WILD FIRE FIGHT IN THE WOODS, BUT HOWE GETS KILLED BY LANGIS.

WHO ELSE?

- GENERAL ABERCROMBY IS PARALYZED BY THE LOSS OF HIS MOST TRUSTED AIDE.

- ROGERS, IN HIS JOURNALS, DESCRIBES HOW THE DEATH OF LORD HOWE HAD A MASSIVE IMPACT UPON THE MORALE OF THE BRITISH ARMY.

narrator: ABERCROMBY HALTS THE ADVANCE, AND THE ENORMOUS BRITISH ARMY SITS IDLE FOR MORE THAN A DAY.

AT FORT CARILLON, GENERAL MONTCALM SEIZES THE GIFT OF EXTRA TIME.

HE ORDERS HIS MEN TO FELL TREES AND CONSTRUCT AN ABATIS, AN OBSTACLE COURSE OF SHARPENED TIMBERS AND DENSE BRUSH, WITH A LOG BREASTWORK BEHIND IT.

THEN HE WAITS FOR THE BRITISH ASSAULT.

[men singing in French] - BASICALLY, THE WHOLE FRENCH ARMY IS THERE.

IT'S A GAMBLE, BECAUSE IF ABERCROMBIE PREVAILS, THE WHOLE ARMY IS LOST.

THE WAR ENDS.

narrator: ON JULY 8TH, GENERAL ABERCROMBY FINALLY MAKES HIS MOVE.

WAVE AFTER WAVE OF REDCOATS CHARGE INTO THE THICKET OF SHARPENED TREES UNDER THE BARRAGE OF FRENCH MUSKET FIRE.

THIS WILL BE A EUROPEAN-STYLE BATTLE.

VIRTUALLY NO NATIVES TAKE PART ON EITHER SIDE, THOUGH A GROUP OF IROQUOIS FRIENDLY TO THE BRITISH WATCH FROM A NEARBY MOUNTAINTOP.

- THEY'RE JUST KIND OF OBSERVING AND WATCHING WHAT'S GOING ON, WATCHING THE BRITISH CRASH THEIR TROOPS AGAINST THE RAMPARTS AND BREASTWORKS... [chuckles] TO NO AVAIL.

narrator: FOR A LONG, BLOODY DAY, THE BRITISH TRY TO STORM THE BREASTWORK AND GET NOWHERE.

CASUALTIES MOUNT BY THE HUNDREDS.

- THE SOLDIERS ARE DROPPING LIKE FLIES, THE HIGHEST CASUALTIES IN NORTH AMERICA FOR THE ENTIRE 18TH CENTURY.

ALMOST EVERY SINGLE OFFICER IS WOUNDED.

narrator: FINALLY, ABERCROMBY ORDERS HIS OFFICERS TO CEASE THE ASSAULT.

BUT THE LEGENDARY BLACK WATCH, A REGIMENT OF SCOTTISH HIGHLANDERS, KEEPS MOVING FORWARD.

THEY ARE THE ONLY TROOPS THAT DAY TO GET THROUGH THE FRENCH LINES.

- MONTCALM HIMSELF LEADS THE GRENADIERS THAT HE'S KEPT IN RESERVE FORWARD IN A COUNTERATTACK, AND THESE 25 OR 30 HIGHLANDERS ARE BOWLED OVER, BAYONETED.

ABOUT EIGHT OF THEM ARE TAKEN PRISONER.

THIS IS THE LAST GASP OF THE BRITISH ARMY BEFORE IT STARTS TO WITHDRAW.

narrator: THE MASSIVE BRITISH ARMY FLEES IN DISORDER FROM A FORCE A QUARTER OF ITS SIZE.

THIS TERRIFIC VICTORY SHOULD SWING THE TIDE FOR THE FRENCH IN NORTH AMERICA.

BUT MONTCALM DOESN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO FOLLOW UP WITH A DECISIVE BLOW TO THE BRITISH.

KING LOUIS XV AND HIS ADVISORS ARE STARVING THE NORTH AMERICAN WAR EFFORT.

- THE HARD TRUTH IS THAT CANADA PRODUCED RELATIVELY LITTLE FOR FRANCE, AND AS A RESULT, IT FIGURED IN ONLY THE SMALLEST POSSIBLE WAY IN THE PLANNING OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT.

- THE WEST INDIES AT THE TIME HAVE TO BE THOUGHT OF AS AN INCREDIBLE POT OF GOLD.

IT WAS THE MIDDLE EAST OF THE PERIOD.

THE MONEY THAT WAS THERE THAT COULD BE MADE WAS QUITE INCREDIBLE.

narrator: BUT IT'S NOT JUST LACK OF SUPPORT FROM VERSAILLES THAT BEGINS TO SWING THE TIDE AGAINST NEW FRANCE.

IN THE EAST, A MASSIVE FORTRESS CALLED LOUISBOURG STANDS GUARD AT THE MOUTH OF THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER, THE LIFELINE OF FRENCH CANADA.

IN THE SUMMER OF 1758, THE BRITISH PREPARE TO TAKE THE FORT.

AN UNTRIED YOUNG BRITISH GENERAL NAMED JAMES WOLFE LEADS THE ASSAULT ON LOUISBOURG.

HE ATTEMPTS AN AMPHIBIOUS LANDING, UNHEARD OF IN THE AGE OF MODERN ARTILLERY.

BUT HE PULLS IT OFF, AND BY SEPTEMBER OF 1758, THE FORTRESS THAT GUARDS ACCESS TO ALL OF NEW FRANCE IS IN BRITISH HANDS.

AT ALMOST THE SAME TIME, FAR TO THE WEST, A BRITISH AND AMERICAN FORCE TAKES FORT FRONTENAC ON LAKE ONTARIO.

THIS IS THE SUPPLY POINT USED BY THE FRENCH TO GIVE THEIR INDIAN ALLIES AMMUNITION, MUSKETS, AND OTHER NECESSITIES.

CUT OFF FROM THE MOTHER COUNTRY, LOSING THE SUPPORT OF THEIR NATIVE ALLIES, TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR GENERAL MONTCALM AND THE COLONY OF NEW FRANCE.

BY 1759, THE TIDE IS CLEARLY TURNING IN BRITAIN'S FAVOR.

WILLIAM PITT THE ELDER, THE FIRST ENGLISH STATESMAN TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WINNING NORTH AMERICA AND HOW TO FIGHT THIS WAR, BEGINS TO SEE VICTORY AFTER VICTORY.

HE ORDERS HIS COMMANDERS TO TAKE THE FIGHT INTO FRENCH CANADA AND ATTACK QUEBEC, THE CAPITAL OF THE COLONY.

BUT THE FORTIFIED CITY SITS AT THE TOP OF RIVERSIDE CLIFFS, OUT OF REACH.

THE AUDACIOUS AND IMPATIENT BRITISH GENERAL JAMES WOLFE, THE HERO OF LOUISBOURG, SPENDS THE SUMMER TRYING TO SHELL THE CITY INTO SUBMISSION... [cannon fire] AND TAKING HIS FRUSTRATION OUT ON THE RURAL POPULATION BY BURNING FARMS AND VILLAGES.

HIS TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

- AS IS USUALLY THE CASE IN CANADIAN HISTORY, THE WEATHER IS A BIG FACTOR.

THE RIVER IS GOING TO FREEZE OVER.

IT'S NOW OR NEVER.

- THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE ON WOLFE.

SO HE REALLY TAKES A CHANCE.

AND IT WORKS.

- HE FINDS A PLACE ALONG THE CLIFF JUST BELOW THE CITY.

TO HAVE HIS MEN CLIMB UP THIS ESCARPMENT AND SURPRISE THE FRENCH OUTSIDE THE CITY OF-- THE WALLED CITY OF QUEBEC.

narrator: THE FRENCH COMMANDER, GENERAL MONTCALM, HAS TO CHOOSE WHETHER TO LEAVE THE FORTIFIED CITY TO CONFRONT WOLFE'S ARMY OR STAY WITHIN THE WALLS AND TRY TO FIGHT OFF A SIEGE.

- I HAVE A FEELING THAT MONTCALM DECIDED, WE'VE GOT TO GET RID OF THESE GUYS RIGHT AWAY, AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT IS TO CHARGE THEM.

[gunfire] [men shouting] [cannon firing] UNFORTUNATELY FOR HIM, THE CHARGED DIDN'T WORK OUT.

narrator: IT TAKES ONLY 20 MINUTES FOR WOLFE'S FORCES TO POUND THE FRENCH INTO SUBMISSION.

MONTCALM IS WOUNDED; HE'LL DIE WITHIN HOURS.

AND THE YOUNG GENERAL WOLFE HAS ALSO SUFFERED A MORTAL WOUND.

HIS DEATH WAS MADE FAMOUS IN A HEROIC PAINTING BY BENJAMIN WEST, ONE OF THE FEW ICONIC IMAGES TO COME OUT OF THIS OFTEN OVERLOOKED WAR.

- AND IT'S NOT GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, A HUGE BATTLE IN TERMS OF NUMBERS.

BUT IT WILL BE A HUGE BATTLE IN TERMS OF HOW IT'S GOING TO SETTLE THE FUTURE OF NORTH AMERICA IN FAVOR OF THE BRITISH.

narrator: ON THAT SAME DAY, THE 13TH OF SEPTEMBER, 1759, A DIFFERENT DRAMA GETS UNDER WAY ON THE SHORES OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

LORD JEFFREY AMHERST, THE COMMANDER FOR BRITISH NORTH AMERICA, HAS DECIDED TO PUNISH THE ABENAKI SETTLEMENT CALLED ODANAK-ST.FRANCIS, NEAR THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER.

HE ORDERS ROBERT ROGERS AND HIS RANGERS TO MAKE THE RAID.

IT'S A MISSION THAT WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS A HUGE SUCCESS AND A PERSONAL TRIUMPH FOR ROGERS.

BUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY.

- THE RAID ON ODANAK ILLUSTRATES HOW A SINGLE EVENT CAN NOT ONLY HAVE DIFFERENT MEANINGS FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE BUT HOW THOSE DIFFERENT PEOPLES CAN REMEMBER IT DIFFERENTLY AND RECORD IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

narrator: AMHERST'S ORDERS ARE STRAIGHTFORWARD.

- "ATTACK THE ENEMY'S SETTLEMENTS IN SUCH A MANNER "AS YOU SHALL JUDGE MOST EFFECTUAL TO DISGRACE THE ENEMY AND FOR THE SUCCESS AND HONOR OF HIS MAJESTY'S ARMS."

narrator: AMHERST GOES ON TO SAY: "TAKE YOUR REVENGE, BUT DON'T FORGET "THAT THOUGH THESE VILLAINS HAVE DASTARDLY "AND PROMISCUOUSLY MURDERED "THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, IT IS MY ORDERS THAT NO WOMEN OR CHILDREN ARE KILLED OR HURT."

narrator: AMHERST HAS CHOSEN THE ABENAKI IN PARTICULAR, BUT HE WANTS HIS MESSAGE TO BE HEARD BY ALL THE NATIVE NATIONS: ALLIANCE WITH THE FRENCH IS A DANGEROUS CHOICE.

ROGERS IS A NATURAL CANDIDATE TO LEAD THE MISSION.

- HERE IS A MAN WHO, AS A CHILD, LEARNED THE ABENAKI LANGUAGE FLUENTLY, HAD ABENAKI FRIENDS.

HE WAS LIKE ONE OF US.

WHAT MADE HIM SUCCESSFUL MILITARILY IS THE KNOWLEDGE HE GAINED FROM CONTACT WITH NATIVE PEOPLE.

BUT HE TOOK THAT KNOWLEDGE AND TWISTED IT AROUND TO ATTACK A SAFE PLACE.

- THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT ROGERS HAD BEEN WANTING TO DO SINCE EARLY IN THE WAR.

[gunfire] REMEMBER THAT HE HAD GROWN UP ON THE FRONTIER.

HE HAD SUFFERED THE RAVAGES OF THE INDIAN RAIDS HIMSELF AND SEEN THEIR EFFECTS ON OTHER PEOPLE.

[people singing in native language] narrator: THE PEOPLE OF ODANAK ARE NOT JUST FIRM ALLIES OF THE FRENCH.

THEY'RE CATHOLIC CONVERTS, AND THE TOWN LOOKS AND FEELS FRENCH.

- IT'S NOT THIS VILLAGE OF WIGWAMS AND LONGHOUSES.

IT'S LAID OUT LIKE A FRENCH VILLAGE.

IT'S LAID OUT ON A RECTANGULAR FORMATION WITH WOODEN HOUSES, WITH A CHURCH.

- A BEAUTIFUL CHURCH, IN FACT.

IT HAD A STATUE THAT HAD COME ALL THE WAY FROM FRANCE OF THE VIRGIN.

AND IT WAS A COMMUNITY THAT I WOULD DESCRIBE AS QUITE SOPHISTICATED IN ITS WAY.

ROGERS HAS RECRUITED THE BEST OF HIS RANGERS FOR THIS LONG AND GRUELING MISSION: 220 HAND-PICKED MEN, INCLUDING STOCKBRIDGE INDIANS, WHO ARE TRADITIONAL ENEMIES OF THE ABENAKIS.

THE RANGERS SET OUT BY BOAT ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN, TRAVELING BY NIGHT TO AVOID DETECTION.

AT THE NORTHERN END OF THE LAKE THEY HIDE THEIR BOATS AND PROCEED ON FOOT ACROSS MORE THAN 100 MILES OF SWAMPS AND WOODS TOWARD ODANAK.

BUT ROGERS' CONSTANT FOE, THE FRENCH PARTISAN LANGIS, DISCOVERS THE HIDDEN BOATS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

- THE FRENCH AND INDIANS KNEW THERE WAS A RANGING PARTY OPERATING IN THEIR TERRITORY.

SO THEY SET OFF IN HOT PURSUIT.

[loud yelping] narrator: IT TAKES SEVERAL ARDUOUS DAYS FOR ROGERS AND HIS RANGERS TO REACH THE ST. FRANCIS RIVER NEAR THE VILLAGE, WHERE THEY CROSS THE CHEST-HIGH WATER.

THEY'VE RUN OUT OF RATIONS.

THEY'RE COLD, WET, AND EXHAUSTED.

ON THE EVENING OF OCTOBER 3RD, ROGERS ORDERS HIS MEN TO STAND BY WHILE HE SCOUTS THE SETTLEMENT.

[birds chirping] JUST BEFORE DAYBREAK, HE GIVES THE ORDER, AND THE RANGERS ATTACK.

[fire crackling] [gunshot] [children screaming] [gunfire] SOME ABENAKIS DEFEND THE VILLAGE; OTHERS ARE SHOT WHILE FLEEING.

MOST OF THE BUILDINGS, INCLUDING THE CHURCH, ARE BURNED TO THE GROUND.

[gunfire] - 22 WOMEN AND CHILDREN ACTUALLY DIED IN ROGERS' RAID, DESPITE THE ORDERS THAT AMHERST GAVE HIM.

narrator: THE RANGERS STUFF THEIR BAGS WITH FOOD AND PLUNDER, INCLUDING THE SILVER STATUE FROM FRANCE, AND QUICKLY SET OUT FOR THE LONG TRIP HOME.

ROGERS TAKES HOSTAGES, INCLUDING THE WIFE AND TWO SONS OF CHIEF JOSEPH-LOUIS GILL, THE WHITE MAN BORN OF CAPTIVE PARENTS, THE WHITE MAN WHO GREW UP TO LEAD THE INDIANS FEARED MOST IN THE NEW ENGLAND SETTLEMENTS.

ROGERS TELLS HIS MEN TO FLEE SOUTHEASTWARD TO AN OUTPOST CALLED FORT NUMBER 4 IN SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

- SO IF WE LOOK AT IT IN THE ROUND, LITERALLY, YOU HAVE A TRIP OF NEAR ENOUGH 200 MILES TO GET THERE AND ANOTHER COUPLE HUNDRED MILES TO GET BACK THROUGH VERY PUNISHING TERRAIN, STARVING, COLD, REALLY WITH VERY LITTLE IN YOUR FAVOR.

narrator: ON THE RETURN HOME, THE RANGERS HAVE NO BOATS.

WINTER IS SETTING IN.

THEY HAVE VIRTUALLY NO PROVISIONS.

THEY'RE ALSO BEING PURSUED BY CHIEF GILL, HIS WARRIORS, AND THE CANADIAN PARTISANS, ALL SEEKING VENGEANCE.

THE LONG TREK HOME BECOMES A STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL FOR THE STARVING AND EXHAUSTED RANGERS.

- THESE PARTIES ENCOUNTER VARIOUS FATES.

SOME OF THEM ARE KILLED OUT OF HAND.

SOME OF THEM ARE TAKEN BACK AS PRISONERS.

AND THE FOOD PROBLEM GETS SO DRASTIC THAT THE RANGERS, IF THE SOURCES CAN BE BELIEVED-- AND THERE ARE SUFFICIENTLY NUMEROUS AND CREDIBLE THAT THEY CAN BE BELIEVED-- THE RANGERS RESORT TO CANNIBALISM, EATING INDIAN CAPTIVES.

AND AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL, ONE OF THE INDIANS WHO WAS KILLED WAS THE WIFE OF CHIEF GILL OF ST. FRANCIS, ANOTHER WAS ONE OF HIS SONS.

[bell dings] narrator: ROGERS AND THREE OTHER SURVIVORS FINALLY STUMBLE INTO FORT NUMBER 4 21 DAYS AFTER THEY LEFT ST. FRANCIS.

- REGARDLESS OF HOW WE SEE THE ST. FRANCIS RAID AS AN ACT OF WAR, I THINK IT HAS TO BE SEEN AS QUITE A REMARKABLE EVENT BY ANY STANDARDS, WHICH IS WHY I THINK IT IS STILL STUDIED AS A CLASSIC SEEK-AND-DESTROY MISSION, IF YOU LIKE, A CLASSIC SPECIAL OPERATION.

narrator: BUT WHAT ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE DURING THE RAID?

THAT DEPENDS ON WHO'S TELLING THE STORY: ROGERS HIMSELF, THE FRENCH, OR THE ABENAKIS.

- THE ENGLISH VERSION OF IT, WHICH, OF COURSE, COMES PRIMARILY FROM ROBERT ROGERS, IS THAT HE ATTACKED IT AND EXECUTED JUST RETRIBUTION FOR ALL OF THE ATROCITIES AND THE RAIDS THAT THESE ABENAKI PEOPLE HAD COMMITTED, KILLING 200 PEOPLE, TAKING CAPTIVES, PUTTING THE PLACE TO THE TORCH.

THE FRENCH RECORDS GIVE QUITE A DIFFERENT STORY, MUCH SMALLER CASUALTIES, GIVE MUCH MORE INDICATION THAT THIS WAS REALLY A BOTCHED OPERATION.

AND ABENAKI ORAL TRADITION, WHAT WE KNOW OF IT, SUGGESTS SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT AGAIN.

- IN FACT, WHAT OCCURRED WAS THIS.

WHEN THE ATTACK TOOK PLACE, BY THAT TIME, MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY HAD SLIPPED OUT OF THAT DANCE HALL AND HAD GONE DOWN TO THE RIVER AND HAD CROSSED OVER AND HAD FOUND REFUGE ON THE OTHER SIDE.

THE BUILDINGS OF ST. FRANCIS WERE SET ON FIRE, AND THIS WAS THE REASON FOR THE LARGEST LOSS OF LIFE ON THE PART OF THE ST. FRANCIS ABENAKIS.

ROGERS WAS, IF NOTHING ELSE, A VERY CREATIVE WRITER.

narrator: IT WAS ROGERS HIMSELF WHO HAD TAKEN THE CHIEF'S WIFE AND SONS CAPTIVE, THOUGH NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE WHICH OF THE DESPERATELY HUNGRY RANGERS KILLED THEM.

- IT SOMETIMES MAKES YOU WONDER WHO WERE THE SAVAGES IN THIS CASE.

narrator: DID ROGERS' RAID SUCCEED IN TURNING THE ABENAKIS AGAINST THEIR FRENCH FRIENDS?

AGAIN, THERE'S DISAGREEMENT.

- I THINK THE ABENAKI RESPONSE TO THE ATTACK ON ODANAK IS TO RETALIATE, TO CARRY THE WAR TO THE ENGLISH AGAIN.

AND ABENAKI WAR PARTIES CONTINUED TO GO OUT AGAINST ENGLISH SETTLEMENTS.

narrator: BUT ELSEWHERE IN THE NORTH COUNTRY, NATIVE NATIONS DO TURN AGAINST THE FRENCH.

A DECISIVE MOMENT COMES IN THE SUMMER OF 1759, WHEN HUNDREDS OF IROQUOIS WARRIORS SUPPORT THE BRITISH IN THEIR SIEGE OF THE FRENCH FORT NIAGARA ON LAKE ONTARIO.

THE IROQUOIS HAVE BEEN WON OVER BY THE HONORARY MOHAWK WILLIAM JOHNSON, NOW SIR WILLIAM.

- HE WAS ABLE TO GET THESE NATIVE PEOPLE BY THAT POINT TO BE AT THE SIEGE.

AND I THINK THAT WITHOUT AN INDIVIDUAL LIKE SIR WILLIAM, THEY NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.

[cannon fire] narrator: THEN, NOVEMBER 1759, THE BRITISH ROYAL NAVY SCORES A STUNNING VICTORY AGAINST THE FRENCH FLEET OFF THE COAST OF SPAIN.

NOW BRITAIN CONTROLS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

THE EFFECTS ARE DEVASTATING FOR NEW FRANCE.

- IT MEANS THAT FRENCH REINFORCEMENTS ARE NOT COMING TO CANADA.

IT MEANS THAT FRENCH SUPPLIES ARE NOT COMING TO CANADA.

AND IT MEANS THAT FRENCH GIFTS, WHICH ARE THE LUBRICANT OF THEIR INDIAN ALLIANCES, ARE CUT OFF.

- WE FIND NATIVE PEOPLE NOW ONLY HAVE ONE POTENTIAL SOURCE OF EUROPEAN GOODS.

AND THAT TRANSLATES INTO A WHOLE HOST OF POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES.

NO LONGER IS THERE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPOSEDLY PLAY OFF ONE SIDE AGAINST THE OTHER.

- MANY INDIAN PEOPLES ARE THINKING THAT THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL AND THAT IT'S TIME TO BE MENDING FENCES WITH THE BRITISH.

narrator: SEPTEMBER 1760.

ONE YEAR AFTER THE FALL OF QUEBEC, AMHERST LEADS A THREE-PRONG OFFENSIVE AGAINST MONTREAL, THE LAST BASTION OF NEW FRANCE.

ONE OF HIS THREE ARMIES HAS TO REACH THE CITY VIA FAMOUS AND DEADLY RAPIDS ON THE ST. LAWRENCE.

BUT THE TIDE OF INDIAN DIPLOMACY HAS TURNED SO MUCH SINCE THE PREVIOUS YEAR THAT THE MOHAWKS WHO TRADITIONALLY SIDED WITH THE FRENCH NOW HELP AMHERST'S ARMY NAVIGATE THE TREACHEROUS WATERS.

THE FRENCH SURRENDER AT MONTREAL WITHOUT A SHOT BEING FIRED.

- IN THE END, THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR, OR THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR IN NORTH AMERICA, IS WRITTEN NOT IN BLOOD AND FIRE AND A CLIMATIC BATTLE BUT RATHER IN A DIPLOMATIC AGREEMENT FACILITATED BY AND MEDIATED BY NATIVE PEOPLE WHO WERE ACTING IN NATIVE INTERESTS.

narrator: THIS WAR OF MANY NAMES IS FINALLY OVER.

THE DETAILS ARE WRAPPED UP BY DIPLOMATS IN THE TREATY OF PARIS, SIGNED IN 1763.

BRITAIN TAKES FIRM CONTROL OF THE VAST TERRITORY OF CANADA BUT ALLOWS QUEBEC TO REMAIN FRENCH-SPEAKING AND CATHOLIC, CREATING THE CULTURAL MIX THAT IS STILL CANADA TODAY.

- FOLLOWING THE TREATY OF PARIS, OF COURSE, PEOPLE IN CANADA WERE MORTIFIED.

AND LET'S FACE IT; THEY WERE ALSO RUINED FINANCIALLY.

SO FRENCH CANADIANS KNOW THEY ARE VERY MUCH ON THEIR OWN.

AND IN A SENSE, THIS CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.

I THINK WE ARE ON OUR OWN, AND WE'LL ALWAYS BE ON OUR OWN.

narrator: IN THE 13 BRITISH COLONIES TO THE SOUTH, AMERICANS BELIEVE THEY CAN NOW SPREAD WESTWARD TO CLAIM MILLIONS OF ACRES STRETCHING TOWARD THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

IT COMES AS A RUDE SURPRISE TO LEARN THAT THEIR BRITISH RULERS HAVE MADE A TREATY WITH THE INDIANS THAT FORBIDS COLONISTS FROM CLAIMING INDIAN LANDS.

- FROM THE EYES OF COLONISTS, THIS WAS STUNNING.

THIS WAS SOMETHING THEY DID NOT EXPECT.

WHY AT THE MOMENT THAT THE FRENCH, THE ENEMY IN THEIR VIEW, HAS BEEN EJECTED FROM THE CONTINENT, WHY ARE WE SEEING THIS HAPPEN?

narrator: THAT TREATY WILL SOON BE BROKEN, AND SO WILL THE TRUST BETWEEN THE COLONISTS AND THE CROWN.

- I THINK THIS IS A DEEPLY UNDERRATED INCIDENT IN THE LEAD-UP TO THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

narrator: ROBERT ROGERS AND LANGIS HAVE ONE MORE ENCOUNTER BEFORE THE WAR ENDS.

ONCE AGAIN, MOST OF THE RANGERS ARE KILLED AND ROGERS SLIPS AWAY.

LANGIS DIES SOON AFTER, PLUNGING THROUGH THE ICE OF THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER.

ROGERS GOES TO LONDON AND BECOMES A MEDIA STAR, PUBLISHING HIS EXPLOITS AND EVEN WRITING A PLAY SYMPATHETIC TO INDIANS.

IN 1776, ROGERS WANTS TO JOIN THE REVOLUTION.

GEORGE WASHINGTON REJECTS THE OFFER, AND ROGERS IS EVEN THROWN IN JAIL AS A SUSPECTED TRAITOR.

HE LIVES OUT HIS LIFE IN LONDON PLAGUED BY CRUSHING DEBTS AND ALCOHOLISM.

HE NEVER RETURNS TO AMERICA.

BUT THE ABENAKI NATION HE TRIED TO SUBDUE LIVES ON.

- ABENAKI TERRITORY DOESN'T VANISH JUST BECAUSE OF ONE MILITARY ENCOUNTER.

narrator: CHIEF GILL CONTINUES TO LEAD THE ABENAKIS AND SIDES WITH T AMERICANS IN THE REVOLUTION TWO DECADES LATER.

GEORGE WASHINGTON RECOGNIZES GILL'S SUPPORT, MAKING HIM A MAJOR IN THE AMERICAN ARMY.

- I THINK WE NEED TO START PEELING AWAY THOSE LAYERS TO UNDERAND HOW IT ALL FITS TOGETHER.

IF WE FOCUS TOO MUCH ON THESE MILITARY ENCOUNTERS, WE MISS THE BROADER PICTURE AND THE BROADER PERSPECTIVE.

FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, LIFE IS NOT A LINEAR NARRATIVE, BUT LIFE IS A SERIES OF CONNECTING CIRCLES AND SPIRALS OVER TIME.

AND YOU CAN TAP INTO THE PAST AND BRING IT ALIVE IN THE PRESENT.

AND YOU CAN SET A RIPPLE THAT WILL RESONATE THROUGH TO THE FUTURE.

narrator: FOR THE POWERFUL IROQUOIS NATIONS, THE OUTCOME OF THIS WAR IS PROFOUND.

NEVER AGAIN WILL NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE THE OPTION OF PLAYING OFF TWO IMPERIAL POWERS AGAINST EACH OTHER.

- THE IROQUOIS CLEARLY DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT THE FRENCH WILL SIMPLY ABANDON NORTH AMERICA.

WHEN THEY DO, THE WAY OF LIFE AND THE WAY OF DIPLOMACY THAT NATIVE PEOPLE HAD COME TO DEPEND UPON IS GONE FOREVER.

IT WASN'T AN OUTCOME THAT ANY OF THEM HAD ANTICIPATED.

IT WASN'T AN OUTCOME THAT ANY OF THEM WOULD'VE WISHED.

AND ULTIMATELY, IT'S THE GREATEST IRONY OF ALL, I THINK, THAT THAT'S THE OUTCOME OF THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR IN AMERICA.

[dramatic marching music] ♪ ♪ [men shouting in French] all: HUZZAH!

HUZZAH!

[percussive instrumental music] ♪ ♪ Captioning by CaptionMax www.captionmax.com announcer: MAJOR FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, INTRODUCING TRAVELERS TO THE STORIES OF LAKES TO LOCKS PASSAGE, THE GREAT NORTHEAST JOURNEY, AN ALL-AMERICAN ROAD IN THE COLLECTION OF AMERICA'S BYWAYS.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY FORT TICONDEROGA, AN AMERICAN LANDMARK PRESERVING AND SHARING THE HISTORY OF THE NATION SINCE 1909, AND BY THE ADIRONDACK REGIONAL TOURISM COUNCIL: 6 MILLION ACRES OF YEAR-ROUND OUTDOOR RECREATION IN NORTHERN NEW YORK.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FORGOTTEN WAR, VISIT: THIS EDUCATIONAL WEBSITE FEATURES ADDITIONAL VIDEO, ESSAYS, AND LESSON PLANS THAT MEET TEACHING STANDARDS IN ALL 50 STATES.

FORGOTTEN WAR: THE STRUGGLE FOR NORTH AMERICA IS AVAILABLE ON HOME VIDEO FOR: TO ORDER, CALL: ONLINE AT: OR BY MAIL AT THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.