This book details the French and Indian War massacre by Iroquois of British and colonial troops in the Hudson River Valley that was fictionalized in The Last of the Mohicans.After the British garrison of Fort William Henry in the colony of New York surrendered to the besieging army of the French commander the Marquis de Montcalm in August 1757; it appeared that this particular episode of the French and Indian War was over. The spirited defence by Lt. Col. Munro of the 35th Regiment secured the British and Colonial troops the full honours of war; allowing them to march away with colours flying. What happened next became the most infamous incident of the war - the 'massacre' of Fort William Henry. As the garrison prepared to march for Fort Edward a flood of enraged Native Americans swept over the column; unleashing an unstoppable tide of slaughter. The incident forms an integral part of James Fenimore Cooper's classic novel The Last of the Mohicans. It is this version; later dramatically reconstructed in the film versions of the story; that has coloured our view of the incident to this day. But what really happened? As part of a wide-ranging British strategy; Colonial troops were dispatched to the southern end of Lake George in 1755. At the subsequent battle of Lake George; these troops repulsed a French attack before commencing construction of a fort close by: Fort William Henry. Developments on other fronts in 1756 meant little occurred at the fort that year; but in 1757 it became a focal point for French ambition. Its garrison withstood an initial siege in March; but the French returned in August with a large army; and; following a siege conducted along formal European lines; the British garrison surrendered and marched away - only to be swept up in the most infamous incident of the French and Indian War.Much new research on this campaign - including some fascinating archaeological work - has taken place over the last 20 years and yet; for many; it is still the image created by Cooper's novel that colours our understanding of what happened at Fort William Henry. This new study will update that view.
#2450516 in Books 2015-09-22Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .50 x 6.00l; .65 #File Name: 163450268X208 pages
Review
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. A Tribute to One Mans' EffortBy ntpilotLike to read about real people and their actions during WW2. Always wonder how I would have acted in the same situation. Easy to assume courageous but one never really knows until put to the test. Thankfully there were people who were willing to assist those in desperate need. People such as this gentleman are truly heroes. It enforces the belief that just one person can make a difference.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. One Man Who; with his wife; Saved Thousands -By Loyd EskildsonThe horror of the Holocaust is very difficult to understand; it is also very difficult to fully believe that fellow humans would do such to each other; especially at the scale involved. As a result; periodically I read credible reports of the horrors involved. On the other hand; I also very much enjoy reading about exceptional individuals who risked their lives to save others from the Holocaust. 'Reign of Terror' is one of those books - documenting first a tiny bit of Raoul Wallenberg's extreme bravery to help save fellow humans. Raoul Wallenberg; in the last months of WWII saved the lives of tens of thousands of Jews - for that we became the second man awarded honorary U.S. citizenship. Another valiant savior of many was another Swede; Valdemar Langlet; born 12/17/1872; which this book is about.Langlet and his wife moved to Budapest in 1931 and stayed there until the end of WWII while teaching Swedish at a local university. From 1941 on; Hungary fought against the Soviet Union as an ally of Nazi Germany. They refused; however; to deport their approximately 800;000 Jews. Then Germany occupied Hungary; and with the assistance of Hungarian authorities; rounded up opponents to the war. The Hungarian Regent; Admiral Horthy; stopped deportations 7/6/1944 following strong international pressure - including a very harsh letter from the King of Sweden. Then on 20/15/1944; Horthy announced an armistice with the Soviets - an was arrested by the Germans who then installed the Hungarian Fascist party as the new government. Deportations and massacres of Jews was renewed.Valdemar Langlet was now age 72; and with his wife began frantic work to save persecuted Hungarians. By April 1944; they had accepted so many escapees who now hid in their residence that Valdemar had to sleep in a friend's house. In May; Laglet started producing 'letters of protection' containing texts in Swedish; Hungarian and German that constituted a kind of identity card; imitating normal passports with a photograph; personal data; and a Swedish Red Cross stamp; and signed by him. Efforts by the Swedish Red Cross to dismiss Langlet were blocked by the Swedish minister. A range of apartments; houses; castles; estates; and convents were place at the disposal of Langlet and his Red Cross - total capacity of 3;000; possibly more.These 'letters of protection' had no real legal status at all; simply a bluff. Estimates of the number of 'letters of protection' issued range from 2;000 (Hungarian government) up to 25;000 (Langlet's wife). On 12/11/1944; Langlet was forced to stop these activities have a series of threats and an ultimatum from the Fascist government. By mid-January 1945 the Soviet army liberated the part of the city where Langlet lived.Langlet and his wife finally were able to return to Sweden on 12/2/1945; totally destitute. He was awarded the Swedish Red Cross Medal in 1946 and became a Knight of the Swedish North Star in 1949. In 1965 he was also recognized; along with his wife; by an Israeli group.15 of 16 people found the following review helpful. To bad; that he didd not het the same Media ...By mobile womanDuring the whole time; I was reading that book; I felt symphacy to this noble man and his Humitarian cause. To get Jewish people into hiding from the Nazis ; was a huge and dangerous mission. To bad; that he didd not het the same Media coverage; as the more flashier and younger Wallenberg had. Both came from the same background and town in Sweden. He was forced to fund it all himself; as he was not able to get the funds from his office. The way; how he wrote about it; is rather dry.But what he and his wife acomplshed; will never be forgotton!
