noon
In the course of the night Levis , with 400 of his men , arrived , and the French were in readiness for the attack . The battalions of La Sarre and Languedoc were posted on the left under Bourlamaque , Berry and Royal Roussillon in the centre under Montcalm , La Reine , Beam , and Guienne on the right under Levis . A detachment of volunteers occupied the low ground between the breastwork and the outlet of Lake George , while 450 Canadian troops held an abattis on the side towards Lake Champlain , where they were covered by the guns of the fort . Until noon , the French worked unceasingly to strengthen their position , then a heavy fire broke out in front , as the rangers and light infantry drove in their pickets . As soon as the English issued from the wood , they opened fire , and then the regulars , formed in columns of attack , pushed forward across the rough ground with its maze of fallen trees . They could see the top of the breastwork , but not the men behind it , and as soon as they were fairly entangled in the trees , a terrific fire opened upon them . The English pushed up close to the breastwork , but they could not pass the bristling mass of sharpened branches , which were swept by a terrific crossfire from the intrenchment .