" If he had better known the English commander, Levis would
have seen that he was not the man to leave a post of the enemy in his
rear under any circumstances; and Amherst had also another reason for
wishing to get the garrison into his hands, for he expected to
find among them the pilots whom he needed to guide his boats down the
rapids. He therefore invested the fort, and, on the twenty-third,
cannonaded it from his vessels, the mainland, and the neighboring
islands. It was commanded by Pouchot, the late commandant of Niagara,
made prisoner in the last campaign, and since exchanged. As the rocky
islet had but little earth, the defences, though thick and
strong, were chiefly of logs, which flew in splinters under the
bombardment. The French, however, made a brave resistance.
The firing lasted all day, was resumed in the morning, and
continued two days more; when Pouchot, whose works were
in ruins, surrendered himself and his garrison. On this, Johnson's
Indians prepared to kill the prisoners; and, being compelled
to desist, three fourths of them went home in a rage.[847]
[Footnote 847: On the capture of Fort Levis, _Amherst to Pitt, 26 Aug.
1760. Amherst to Monckton, same date_. Pouchot, II. 264-282. Knox,
II. 405-413. Mante, 303-306. _All Canada in the Hands of the
English_ (Boston, 1760). _Journal of Colonel Nathaniel Woodhull_.]
Now began the critical part of the expedition, the descent
of the rapids.
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