Battle of Fort Bull

Battle of Fort Bull
Part of the French and Indian War
Date27 March 1756
Location
present-day Rome, New York, then a frontier between Canada, New France and the Province of New York
43°13′27″N 75°30′9″W / 43.22417°N 75.50250°W / 43.22417; -75.50250
Result French victory
Belligerents

 France

 Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Chaussegros de Léry
Collière 
William Bull  
Strength
84 Troupes de la Marine
166 Canadian militia
90 Iroquois
20 Huron
111 regulars
Casualties and losses
1 dead
2 wounded
76 dead
35 taken prisoner

The Battle of Fort Bull was a French attack on the British-held Fort Bull on 27 March 1756, early in the French and Indian War. The fort was built to defend a portion of the waterway connecting Albany, New York to Lake Ontario via the Mohawk River.

Lt. Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry led his command consisting of forces from the Troupes de la Marine, Canadien militia, and Indian allies on an attack against Fort Bull on 27 March 1756. Shielded by trees they sneaked up to within 100 yards (91 m) of the fort. Léry ordered a charge at the fort with bayonets. They stuck their muskets into the narrow openings in the fort and shot the defenders. Léry repeatedly asked for their surrender. Finally, the gate was crashed in and the French and Indians swarmed in, killing everyone they saw. The French soldiers looted what they could and set the powder magazines on fire. The fort was burned to the ground.