If the bridge had not been broken down, they could have marched to a point much nearer to Ticonderoga upon a well-trodden road; but the bridge being gone, it was necessary to march the army along the west bank of this river-like waterway which connected Lake George with Lake Champlain, for there were too many dangerous rapids for navigation to be possible; and upon the tongue of land jutting out into Lake Champlain, and washed by the waters of this river on its other side, stood the fortress of Ticonderoga, their goal.
Rogers was their leader.

He knew the forest well; yet even he found it a somewhat difficult matter to pick his way through the dense summer foliage.

The columns following found the forest tracks extraordinarily difficult to follow.

They were many of them unused to such rough walking, and fell into inevitable confusion.
Rogers, together with Lord Howe and some of his hardier soldiers and the Rangers, pushed boldly on.

Whilst they walked they talked of what lay before them.