You're listening to an airwave media podcast. Hello and thank you for joining the American Revolution.

Today, episode 9, the Fort William Henry Massacre and the rise of William Pitt.

Last week I talked about all the British setbacks in 1756.

Sadly, Britain was in for more setbacks in turmoil in 1757. Much of this had to do with the continued political

chaos in London and it also resulted from the lack of a properly supported military strategy

for North America.

The British military commander of North America, Lord Loudoun,

grew increasingly frustrated, not only with colonial politics and with his subordinate

officers bad-mouthing him to friends in London, but also because

London wanted to second-guess his strategic command decisions.

Louden planned to use his regular forces to reinforce the frontier from Pennsylvania to South Carolina

and recapture lost territory. In early 1757, newly appointed Secretary of State William Pitt, who I'm going to discuss in more detail in a few minutes,

sent instructions that he should focus on Canada, taking Louisburg, and proceed up the

St Lawrence River to take Quebec. To help him with this

task, Loudoun received another 8,000 regulars. In early June 1757, Loudoun took 6,000 soldiers to Halifax to

to besiege the French fort at Louisburg,

along with additional support from the Royal Navy.

Although Louden felt this plan opened up New York and the middle colonies to French attack,

he was a good enough officer to follow orders.

At this point, the frustrated Loudon was probably happy to let the colonies suffer.

He was sick and tired of dealing with

provincial and their political leaders who wanted to thwart him at every turn.

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