And how am I to know it wasn't a raid by thieves? The cabin was attacked by a war party...

Colonel Munro: And how am I to know it wasn't a raid by thieves? Hawkeye: The cabin was attacked by a war party fighting with the French. They're sweeping south along the frontier attacking farms and Mohawk villages, all the men are stuck here. Colonel Munro: I need proof more convincing than this man's opinion before I weaken the fort's defenses by releasing the militia. Jack Winthrop: Chingachgook had the same opinion about the raid; taken together that's gospel. Your fort will stand or fall depending on Webb's reinforcements, not the presence of the Colonials. Colonel Munro: I judge military matters here, not you. Hawkeye: Your judgment is not more important than their right under agreement with Webb to defend their farms and families. Major Hayward was there, he was at John Cameron's, he saw what it was. Colonel Munro: What exactly did you see Major? Duncan: [glancing at Cora] I saw nothing that would lead me to the conclusion that it was other than a raid by savages bent on thievery. Hawkeye: You're a liar. Colonel Munro: [as Duncan lunges for Hawkeye] Major! [to Hawkeye] Colonel Munro: Montcalm is a soldier and a gentleman, not a butcher. Hawkeye: Easy for you to suppose, it's their women and children on the farms, not yours! Colonel Munro: You forget yourself, sir. Jack Winthrop: We're not forgetting Webb's promise. Colonel Munro: British promises are honored. And the militia will not be released, because I need more definite proof than this man's word. Jack Winthrop: Nathaniel's word's been good on thie frontier a long time before you got here. Colonel Munro: This meeting is over, the militia stays. Jack Winthrop: Does the rule of English law no longer govern? Has it been replaced by absolutism? Hawkeye: If English law cannot be trusted maybe these people would do better making their own peace with the French. Duncan: That is sedition! Hawkeye: That is the truth. Duncan: I'll have you beaten from this fort! Hawkeye: Someday, I think you and I are going to have a serious disagreement. Colonel Munro: Anyone fomenting or advocating the leaving of Fort William Henry will be hung for sedition. Anyone actually CAUGHT leaving will be shot for desertion. Now my decision is final. Get out!

And how am I to know it wasn't a raid by common thieves? The cabin was attacked by a war party fighting with the French. They're sweeping south down the frontier... ...attacking farms and Mohawk villages. All the men are stuck here. I need proof more convincing than this man's opinion, before I weaken the fort's defenses by releasing the militia. Chingachgook's of the same opinion about the raid. Taken together, that's gospel. Your fort will stand or fall depending on Webb's reinforcements, not the presence of the colonials. I judge military matters here, not you. Your judgment is not more important than their right, under agreement with Webb to defend their farms and families. Major Heyward was there. He was at John Cameron's. Ha saw what it was. What exactly did you see, Major? I saw nothing that would lead me... ...to the conclusion it was other than a raid... ...by savages bent on thievery. You're a liar. Major. Montcalm is a soldier and a gentleman, not a butcher. Easy for you to suppose. It's their women and children alone on the farms, not yours. You forget yourself, sir. We're not forgetting Webb's promise. British promises are honored, and the militia will not be released, because I need more definite proof than this man's word. Nathaniel's word's been good on this frontier... ...a long time before you got here. This meeting is over. The militia stays. Does the rule of English law no longer govern? Has it been replaced by absolutism? If English law cannot be trusted, maybe these people would do better... ...making their own peace with the French. That is sedition I That is the truth. I'll have you beaten from this fort. Someday I think you and I are gonna have a serious disagreement. Anyone fomenting on advocating the leaving of Fort William Henry... ...will be hung for sedition. Anyone actually caught leaving will be shot for desertion. My decision is final. Get out. Cora? I wanted to talk to you. Talk with Duncan, Cora. I must manage. I cannot be an invalid schoolgirl. Alice. I'll see if Mr. Phelps needs anything. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... Cora, when we come together back in England... ...and are married and away from this place, what had to be done and said here will matter not at all. I'm certain of that. Duncan, I promised you an answer. You've complimented me with your persistence and patience. But the decision I have come to... ...is that I'd rather make the gravest of mistakes... ...than to surrender my own judgment. Please take this as my final answer. It must be no. I see. Yeah, Nathaniel, but you weren't ever for being here. That's right. I saw it that way than and I see it that way now. Ian, if I had kin in the settlements, hell be damn sure I'd be long gone. What do we do about being under Crown law? I believe if they set aside their law as and when they wish, their law no longer has rightful authority over us. All they have over us then is tyranny. And I will not live under that yoke. So I will stay here no longer. Anyone caught leaving the fort could be shot, so each man make your own decision. Those who are going, be back in an hour. Out the northern sally port. Strike for the east side of the swamp... ...till you clear the French picket line. Head north over the ridge, than come about southeast. Fork left in Little Meadow and you're free of the outpost and skirmishes. Should've gotten out of this long ago. Got no families, Captain. Figured we'd stay and give a hand. I'll cover you from the top of the bastion. You're not coming with us? I got a reason to stay. That reason wear a striped skirt and work in the surgery? It does. No offense, but it's a better-looking reason than you, Jack Winthrop. Push hard, 'cause you got to clear the French outpost by dawn. Good luck, Jack. Ongewasgone, are you staying? Yes. There's too many French. And so few of us to fight. Not too many to die. But we've given our word to our English fathers.