As stated the terms agreed on during negotiations were particularly honourable. (This is often used by Montcalm's denigrators to prove culpability in what later transpired.) The garrison would be allowed to march the sixteen or so miles to Fort Edward with drums beating and flags flying. The retreating column would even be allowed to take one of the light six pound cannon with them as a mark of esteem Montcalm had for the defenders, in addition they would be provided with a detachment of French regulars as an escort. The sick or wounded, those unable to march, would be left under the personal protection of Montcalm.

In return for these generous terms the defeated soldiers were not to bear arms against France or her allies for eighteen months. All captive French soldiers, civilians or Indians were to be returned to French territory within three months. While for a short period, one British officer was to remain as hostage for the safe return of the columns escort.

This was all very fine, however during negotiations several acts by Montcalms indian allies convinced one British officer (Lieutenant Colonel Young) that the Indians may not have been in FULL agreement to the surrender document, and conveyed his worries to Montcalm.

Montcalm was well aware of the problem, knowing only too well that the Indian forces were ALLIES and not by any means under his command. He was also well aware that on a similar such occasion at OSWEGO the previous year, wounded from the surrendering garrison had been murdered. He therefore called a general council of the gathered chiefs to which Lieutenant Colonel Young was invited. Montcalm apparently went to some lengths to explain the "European" terms.

As to how much was fully comprehended let alone agreed to, (bearing in mind the communication difficulties putting such alien ideals over to the sixteen hundred different Indians drawn from thirty-three tribes) can only be surmised. However the assembled chiefs appeared to agree to the terms and even agreed to restrain their warriors, but they still insisted on their right to loot the fort as soon as it had been vacated.

At noon on the 9th of August a French detachment arrived, to take over formal command of the Fort itself and the stores it contained (Which Montcalm insisted belonged to the Canadian government) plus the seventy or so, sick and wounded. The British soldiers marched off towards the entrenched camp. As this was happening small groups of Indians infiltrated the Fort and soon cries for help and screams of  pain soon reached the ears of the departing redcoats.

One witness Pere Roubaud a French Jesuit missionary recounted that while many seriously wounded were protected several unfortunate English were attacked and killed. He even went so far as to tell of a warrior proudly displaying a human head as a treasured trophy. The French had some difficulty protecting the military stores which many Indians saw as theirs to loot. The whole situation was made even worse by the departure of wagons loaded with the British officers baggage.

There is no doubt that many Indians believed they had been at best deceived by if not lied to by Montcalm. Without a doubt, many by now within the Indian contingent were totally dissatisfied with their rewards for assistance in taking the fort. There was one other aspect that probably totally overlooked by the French, amongst their large "Indian" gathering cannibalism was taken as a matter of course by a number of assembled "tribes".

Following the murder of the sick Montcalm provided a temporary guard of 200 French regulars and picked men for the paroles at the entrenched camp. It was also agreed that the march to Fort Edward would begin at midnight however this had no sooner begun than countermanded, as Montcalm discovered his Indian allies were preparing to attack the column as it marched. It was agreed that the march would be delayed until morning at which time the French escort would be increased to Four Hundred and fifty men. But damage had been done, the abandoned march at midnight only serving as further proof that the French were trying to trick the Indians out of their rightful booty.

The following morning according to all accounts as the British march began to form, found the French Indian allies in a particularly warlike demeanour with most of the attention directed towards the thorny question of the British Officers baggage. The Royal Artillery with their cannon led the way followed by the 35th Regiment of Foot.  However Indians were already beginning to seize anything they could, packs swords muskets, drums and the horses pulling the cannon, while Indians allied to the British were also beginning to be dragged off along with a number of coloured slaves. The British regulars were soon flanked by the promised escort which despite its increase in size would be insufficient to guard all of the surrendered column (A shortfall that would noticeably effect the eventual losses suffered by the various contingents).

Within the entrenched camp things were deteriorating even further, seventeen wounded men from the Massachusetts militia were dragged out killed and scalped in full view of the regimental surgeon, fellow militiamen AND some French officers and soldiers who it must be added did nothing to save these unfortunates.

By now both loot and prisoners were beginning to appear in the Indian camp, prompting a large number of Indians to head for imagined pillage of the British entrenchment. The Indian camp it must be also added lay squarely across the road leading to Fort Edward and through which the already terrified marching columns personnel would soon have to pass.

The rear of the column consisting of the provincial Regiments, having already had some of its personnel dragged away while still in the entrenchment now tried to leave and almost immediately suffered a major attack. According to all accounts, factual and fictitious someone amongst the Indian contingent gave vent to the dreaded Indian war whoop and all sense of formal control of SOME of the Indian contingent evaporated.

The New Hampshire Regiment and their camp followers at the rear of the column were first to be hit followed by the Massachusetts Regiment many of whom took to the woods for survival. Others sought help from some French soldiers only to be taunted with what the Indians would no doubt do to them. Meanwhile the indiscriminate killing was already beginning to subside and a large scale loot and prisoner taking bout taking over which only added to the panic spreading towards the head of the column. According to some accounts even the regular soldiers broke and ran, which by turn spurred the Indians to increase their captive taking

Montcalm arrived and tried (at times ineffectually) to remedy the situation (his rescue of one unfortunate promoting the killing of three others). Other French Officers and some of the accompanying translators also tried to rescue "fellow" soldiers, women and some cases children (Estimates of those rescued by the French at this point run to five hundred).

A runner had already informed Webb at Fort Edward of the surrender of Fort William Henry and had arranged an escort of five hundred men to meet what he expected would be an orderly and protected column. Instead he was met by increasingly large groups of frightened individuals "mostly stripped to their Shirts and breeches" and "in the most distressing Situation".

Over the next few days this trickle of arrivals increased the total number of refugees to about six hundred with some one thousand seven hundred hiding in the woods, in the protection of the French, killed or taken prisoner by the Indians.

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On Monday 15th August 1757 about five hundred people, men women children and soldiers, including most of the Officers, of the defeated garrison who had been rescued by the French were returned to Fort Edward. This bought the total number from Fort William Henry to about eleven hundred and finally accounting for all the Officers from both regular and militia detachments however it still left approximately twelve hundred missing. Further refugees were to return on their own accord or by the French and their Indian allies.  By 31st  August the 35th had five hundred and twenty three men present out of an original total of five hundred and eighty six, a  further thirty six would return over the next few months leaving a total missing at the end of 1757, of twenty seven.  (By comparison the Massachusetts Regiment still had 127 missing at that time). The loss of equipment probably says even more about what actually occurred at Fort William Henry than the missing personnel. According to the eye witness account of Captain James  Furniss, when the 35th was assembled at Albany shortly after the "Massacre" the survivors had a mere 121 muskets, 26 bayonets and 54 cartridge boxes scattered amongst the five hundred and fifty plus men.

By now the story of the Massacre had spread like wildfire, the unexpected bonus for the British was a large influx of volunteers into the Militia Regiments. For the 35th the agony was to continue, for on the 3rd of November, Colonel Munroe died of a heart attack (at the time it is said of a broken heart at what had befallen his men). The task of commanding the 35th Regiment of Foot now became the responsibility of HENRY FLETCHER, (Who would retain command of the Regiment until his death on 17th March 1803). Also for a short period it looked as if the newly arrived Major General Amherst intended to disperse the Regiment amongst the various outposts. However after several representations of the 35th's Officers not only was this idea rejected but an order was issued stating that in consequence of the treatment of the regiment after its capitulation at Fort William Henry the terms of the parole were to be considered null and void (The treatment of the capitulated garrison of Fort william Henry would be cited as the reason for not giving Parole terms to the French garrison after the later surrender of Loisbourg).

   

The 35th Regiment of Foot numbering some six hundred and twenty seven men and under the command of Lieutenant Fletcher proceeded to re-equip. They were to prepare for an assault on the fortress of LOUISBOURG as part of the Second  Brigade (15th,35th 40th and 78th Regiments) under the command of Colonel Murry.