Tyconderoga on their way home by the end of the 1775-1 month. The ruin of the caufe was further hazarded by the turbulent and mutinous fpirit of feveral officers. Colonel Arnold's arrival, with his detachment, ap. Point Levi, was not known at Quebec for twenty-four hours; and was at length discovered by his ordering out fome men to fecure the midshipman of the Hunter floop of war, who was juft landed on that fide the river; the boat returned and carried the intelligence to Quebec; on which two fhips of war were ftationed, one above and the other below Wolfe's cove, to prevent the Ame ricans croffing over. A council was called, and by a majority of one it was agreed not to proceed immediately to attack the town. The contrary resolution, backed by vigorous exertions, would probably have put him into the poffeffion of it. On the fifth of November it was really in a defencelefs ftate, without a fingle foldier. Had the detachment croffed, the gates would, it is thought, have been opened by the difaffected and faint-hearted. The colonel however declared, that he would certainly make the attack when he had crossed, in cafe they were not difcovered to be over. In the mean time, the troops were employed in preparing fcaling ladders. Before they were ready with thefe, colonel Maclean, the deputy governor, arrived at Quebec 12. from Sorel, with about 170 men of his new raised regiment of emigrants; of this colonel Arnold had advice the next day, when, in the evening at nine o'clock, he began to embark his forces on board thirty-five canoes, leaving the ladders behind, and by four the next morning got over and landed 500 men wholly undifcovered. 14. They landed in the fmall cove where the brave and en- $ •*7, 3a nôn, an armed gondola and their fire arms, that the - fleet which had fallen down below Montreal, would not venture to attempt paffing it. General Prefcot, who was on board with about 120 privates and feveral officers, was reduced to the neceffity of furrendering by Nor. capitulation, eleven fail of veffels with all their contents, 17. confifting of, befide failors and foldiers, 760 barrels of flour, 675 ditto of beef, 376 firkins of butter, 3 barrels of powder, 4 nine and fix pounders, cannon cartridges and ball, 2380 mufket cartridges, eight chefts of arms, 200 pair of fhoes, and a quantity of intrenching tools; all of which proved very acceptable to the continental troops, who had no redundancy of any articles whatever. In the preceding midnight, governor Carleton was conveyed, in a boat, with muffled paddles, by a fecret way to the Three Rivers, and arrived fafe at 19. Quebec the Sunday following. Notwithstanding the advanced and severe season, general Montgomery marched on for the capital, expecting to be joined by colonel Arnold and his detachment in its neighbourhood, and defigning to complete the reduction of Canada before the arrival of any British reinforcement. But while he was advancing, numbers were returning. An unhappy home ficknefs prevailed, and no fpecific was fo efficacious as a difcharge. No fooner was it adminiftered, but the cure of nine out of ten was perfected; who, refufing to wait for boats to go by the way of Fort George, upon their arrival at Tyconderoga, flung their heavy packs over their fhoulders, croffed the lake at that place, and undertook a march of two hundred miles, with the greateft good will and alacrity. Three hundred of the continentals paffed by Tyconderoga on their way home by the end of the 1775-1 month. The ruin of the caufe was further hazarded by the turbulent and mutinous fpirit of feveral officers. Colonel Arnold's arrival, with his detachment, at Point Levi, was not known at Quebec for twenty-four hours; and was at length difcovered by his ordering out some men to fecure the midfhipman of the Hunter floop of war, who was juft landed on that fide the river; the boat returned and carried the intelligence to Quebec; on which two fhips of war were ftationed, one above and the other below Wolfe's cove, to prevent the Ame ricans croffing over. A council was called, and by a majority of one it was agreed not to proceed immedi ately to attack the town. The contrary refolution, backed by vigorous exertions, would probably have put him into the poffeffion of it. On the fifth of November it was really in a defencelefs ftate, without a fingle foldier. Had the detachment croffed, the gates would, it is thought, have been opened by the difaffected and faint-hearted. The colonel however declared, that he would certainly make the attack when he had croffed, in case they were not discovered to be over. In the mean time, the troops were employed in preparing fcaling ladders. Before they were ready with thefe, colonel Maclean, the deputy governor, arrived at Quebec 12. from Sorel, with about 170 men of his new raised regiment of emigrants; of this colonel Arnold had advice the next day, when, in the evening at nine o'clock, he began to embark his forces on board thirty-five canoes, leaving the ladders behind, and by four the next morning got over and landed 500 men wholly undiscovered. They landed in the fmall cove where the brave and en 14. 1775. terprifing general Wolfe did, now called Wolfe's Cove. The Lizard's barge rowing up the river, the colonel ordered her to be hailed, and fired upon for refufing to come in shore; on which fhe pushed off, and carried the account of the detachment's having croffed over. But before this difcovery, the men paraded on the heights of Abraham. From thence they fent out a reconnoitring party toward the city, marched across the plain, and took poffeffion of a large houfe formerly owned by general Murray, and other adjacent houses, which afforded fine accommodations for the troops. Guards were placed on the different roads to cut off the communication between the city and country. The main body, about noon, marched fairly in view of the enemy, and gave them three huzzas, which were returned by a few fhot from the ramparts. In the evening the colonel fent a flag of truce with a demand of the garrifon, in the name and on behalf of the United Colonies, which was fired upon as it approached the walls. The colonel was certainly overfeen; he should have taken the fcaling ladders along with him; have concealed his being over, and attempted a coup de main the next night, which might have been done with a profpect of fuccefs, as his Canadian friends, English and French, were in the city to fecond his operations, and as the failors were then scattered on board the fhips, fome about Quebec and Nov. others up the river. A company of men were sent to 16. take poffeffion of the general hofpital. The Canadians $9. were continually coming in to exprefs their fatisfaction at the continental forces having entered the country. The next day a certain account was received of the сарture of Montreal, Early in the morning the troops de camped and marched up to Point au Trembles, about 1775. feven leagues from Quebec, through a thick fettled country, where you meet, every few miles, with a handfome little chapel. This was the day on which governor Carleton arrived at Quebec; and the first thing he did, was to turn out the fufpected, and all who would not affift in the defence of the city. By exprefs from 23. Montreal, the forces were informed that general Montgomery was upon his march, and had fent down clothing for them. The general finding plenty of woollens at Montreal, at a reasonable price, gave his foldiers new clothes, after their having fuffered much by the feverity of the climate, to which they fubmitted with patience and resolution, particularly in marching from St. John's to Montreal, the road being half leg deep in mire. He was alfo mindful of colonel Arnold's detachment, which had fuffered ftill greater handfhips. General Montgomery arrived at one o'clock, with three Dec. armed fchooners, men, ammunition and provifion, to the great joy of the colonel's forces, who toward evening turned out and marched to the general's quarters, and were there received and complimented by him upon their appearance. The next day the batteaus were fent to Point Levi for the fcaling ladders. The general appeared before Quebec, which is the laft we have heard of his movements. General Howe iffued orders for taking down the old North meeting houfe, a large wooden building, containing a great deal of timber; and a hundred old wooden - dwelling houfes and other buildings, to be used for fuel. The fcarcity of this article, now that the ufual fupplies 5. 140 |