Burial place of Col. George Munro
Col. Munro in fiction: Last of the Mohicans character
James Fenimore Cooper's 1826 historical romance novel, set during the French and Indian War in 1757, revolves around the siege of Fort William Henry in Lake George, NY. Col. George Munro was commander of that fort, and his two daughters -- Alice and Cora -- are major characters in the book. (Pictured at left is Maurice Roeves playing Munro in the 1992 film adaptation of the novel). Munro meets a grisly end in the book, dying as he seeks to rescue his daughters.
The real Col. Munro: Unsung Hero of Ft. Wm. Henry
In reality, Munro was commander of Ft. William Henry, although there is no clear mention of daughters in the pages of history. Munro's heroism, however, was real. He and his troops held out for nearly a week against French Gen. Louis-Joseph de Montcalm's much larger forces, spoiling the French timetable for further invasion.
After their surrender, hundreds of British soldiers were ambushed and killed in a massacre by native allies of the French who weren't being given the spoils of battle their European allies had promised. Munro survived the attack and returned to Albany, though suffering from the horrors he'd witnessed. He died suddenly just months later in Albany and was buried at St. Peter's.
At last, burial with honor
It is said that Munro, upon reaching Albany, was grieved because of what he perceived as his failure to rescue all of the colonial prisinoers who died in the massacre. His will included a request that his place of burial be secret, with no marker of honor.
Today, Munro is buried in peace alongside Lord Howe in the underground crypt at St. Peter's Church. Over the years, a few special prayer services have been held to honor his sacrifice and to commend him to the love and care of Almighty God, in whom Munro put his trust.