Talk:James DeLancey (soldier)/@comment-24.213.212.18-20190703160756

DeLancey did not lead a bayonet charge against the French defenders of Fort Niagara. Here is what he did do. During the siege of Fort Niagara in July 1759, DeLancey commanded a party of 150 light infantry who were dispatched to block the road leading to the fort from the south. Word had reached Sir William Johnson, commander of British forces besieging the fort, that a French relief force was on its way from Fort Machault (Franklin, PA) to reinforce the fort's defenders. DeLancey's men spent the night of July 23-24 about a mile south of Fort Niagara at a place called La belle Famille. About 6:00 am on the 24th, DeLancey dispatched a small contingent to cross the Niagara River and bring back a six pounder gun from the opposite shore. These men were attacked by French-allied Natives. Some were killed and others taken prisoner. This firing alerted DeLancey, who sent for reinforcements from the main British camp, about a mile to the north. They arrived just prior to the oncoming French. By 8:00 am, the British force blocking the road consisted of 464 men - British regulars and New York Provincial soldiers. The French marched in column up the road toward Fort Niagara. As they neared the British position, the French "gave a horrible yell," fired at the British and attempted to deploy into line of battle. British troops under Lt. Col. Eyre Massey lay prone in line of battle. As the French approached, Massey ordered his troops to spring up and fire volleys into the tightly packed French ranks. In very short order, the French column was destroyed, suffering perhaps 250 casualties. As French survivors retreated toward Niagara Falls, Haudenosaunee warriors and DeLancey's light infantry pursued them. The relief force was defeated, sealing the fate of French Fort Niagara, which surrendered the next day.