Léry's men capture twelve British men near…
March 1756 CE
Léry's men capture twelve British men near Fort Bull early on March 27, while others escape capture and run toward Fort Williams.
Learning from the prisoners of Bull's minimal defenses, he decides to attack immediately.
As he has no field pieces, the only possibility is to attempt storming the fort by surprise.
The fort's defenders manage to close its gates just before the French force arrives.
The attackers managed to fire through loopholes in the fort's walls to distract the garrison, which responds by throwing rocks and grenades over the walls.
After Bull refuses several calls to surrender, the gate is taken down by the use of axes, and the attackers storm into the fort.
Nearly all of the small garrison is killed and scalped, according to a report by Sir William Johnson, who inspected the carnage when he eventually arrived at the head of a relief column.
Léry's men set fire to the works, which include forty-five thousand pounds of gunpowder.
The resulting conflagration destroys the wooden fort.
Léry will be promoted to captain for his successful command.
The loss of the supplies at Fort Bull effectively ruins any British plans for military campaigns against French forts on Lake Ontario, including Shirley's plan to attempt the expedition against Fort Niagara, and may be a contributing factor to the French capture of Fort Oswego in August 1756.
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