During the French and Indian War, Fort William Henry was under siege. After 6 long days the British troops surrendered, and were attacked by the French allied Indians. This historic battle inspired "The Last of the Mohicans".

This video recounts the events at Fort William Henry, through historic journals and letters written by the men who were there.

During the siege of Fort William Henry, the French army bombarded the fort with their artillery, while their Indian allies attacked the British soldiers in the adjacent encampment. On August 9, 1757 the men in Fort William Henry raised the white flag, and asked to capitulate.

The French negotiated the terms of surrender, without consulting their Indian allies. As part of the agreement, the British would be allowed to keep their belongings, and march south to nearby Fort Edward.

The Indians were angered by this agreement. They had been promised the spoils of war if they fought on the side of the French. As soon as the surrender was signed, the Indians entered the fort and began taking what they were promised. Eventually the French were able to restrain their allies.

The following day, August 10, 1757 was the day the British began their march to Fort Edward. As they began to leave fort William Henry, on Lake George, the Native Americans resumed taking their belongings. Panic struck the British, and fueled the confusion.

British soldiers, and provincials ran in all directions as the Indians pursued them. Some sought refuge with the French, while others fled into the woods.

It is this scene of chaos that inspired James Fenimore Cooper to write, "The Last of the Mohicans." Initial reports of the massacre gave casualty numbers as high as 1,000 people killed. More modern estimates, are much lower.