v^ .IV- o^ aO*.*:''. "> v'l ■'^. /& * *0 9^ xPr. u" ^^v^ ^^0^ ^^ *♦ *r^ *^ •rf^:^v^'. %j .1 .f'S LIBRARY EDITION. CAMPAIGN AGAINST QUEBEC: BEING ^' «,_ s»^. AN ACCURATE AND INTERESTING ACCOUNT ^VU/ OF THE HARDSHIPS AND SUFFERINGS OF THAT BAND OF HEEOES WHO TRAVERSED THE WILDERNESS, BY THE ROUTE OF THE KENNEBEC, AND CHAUDIERE RIVER, TO aUEBEG, IN THE YEAR 1775. By JOHN JOSEPH HENRY, Esq. Late President of the Second Judicial District in Pennsylvania. REVISED EDITION, WITH CORRECTIONS AND ALTERATIONS. W AT E RT WN, N. Y. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY KNOWLTON & RICE. 1844 Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1844, by Knowlton & Rice, in the Office of the Clerk of the Pistrict Court of the Northern District of New- York. >i N Advertisement to the First Edition, TO THE PUBLIC. THIS work is given to the world, as left b}'- Judo^e Hen- ry. Had he lived to superintend the printing of it him- self, many alteralions would, no doubt, liaye been made ; many passages which may at present appear obscure, would have been fully explained, and many differences of style corrected. As the work purports to be written by Judge Henry, it was thought improper to make any alterations or additions, trustmg that the world, when acquainted with the circumstances under which it was published, would be disposed to pardon trivial errors. As to the truth of the principal facts, the following letter from General Michael Simpson to Judge Henry, is ample testimony : Dear Sir, I have read your manuscript " of the Expedition through the Wilderness, in 1775." So far as I was concerned, in the transac- tions related in the work, they are truly stated. Tliat expedition, perhaps the most arduous during; tlie revolutionary war, is truly represented. The public may, in the general, be assured that the account is genuine. Your liumble servant, MICHAEL SIMPSON. To J. J. Henry, Esq,. Advertisement to the Second Edition. THE PUBLISHERS Of this ^'Revised Edition, with corrections,^^ deem it prop- er to state that the alterations or corrections extend no fur- \ ^her than to render what was in a degree obscure, more 1 • T • am. In many mstances the style is also thought to be nproved ; yet care has been taken to follow as nearly^ as wssible the author's phraseology, that the excitement of Tl TO THE PUBLIC. the narration may be preserved. The lengthy Notes of the original edition have been mainly omitted, as they relate to subjects mostly local, and of but little import to the general reader, or that are well understood at the pres- ent day from other sources. It is a fact no more to be regretted than true, that care enough has not been taken to preserve incidents of those days which " tried men's souls ;" and it is principally to snatch from oblivion a feat of the Revolutionary times, but slightly touched upon by historians, that the present Nar- rative is re- published. The actors, or their immediate successors, have little idea of the momentous interest which future generations "will attach to every deed that tended to free us as a peo- ple from foreign domination, and to the establishment of a government whose theory is in a measure new, and need- ing every patriotic incitement to preserve unimpaired m practice. In this particular, the example of our fathers may be more useful than the precepts of cotemporaries. The read- er can form his own estimate when he shall have read the following interesting pages. Furthermore, it is an important truth, that although now, 1844, seventy years have passed away since the " Cam- paign against Quebec" took place, and that the line of inarch was through what has been denominated the " Dis- puted Territory,'' the account given in this narrative of the face of the country, its natural productions, &c. is su- perior to any yet before the public. This alone contributes in no small measure to the usefulness of the work. LIFE OF THE AUTHOR, BY HIS DAUGHTKR. IT is an obsei-vation, trite, ti-ue, and universally admit- ted, that the lives of those who have not embraced a wide sphere of action, are miinteresting and perfectly- devoid of any incitements to attention. On the contra- ry, the biography of warriors and statesmen is perused with avidity — not merely on account of the incidents of their own history, but of those of the times in which they lived. In descending to the humbler walks of life, when we trace the history of a good and unfortu- nate man through all the varied evolutions that pecu- liarly mark his fate, and which prevent him from being enrolled in the list of those beings who have found their path divested of thorns, it is to some, still interesting ; and although the incidents may not be of a nature to excite wonder or astonishment, they may still possess the power to call forth the sympathy of minds that have been taught to feel for others' woes. John Joseph Henry, the author of the following- pages, was born November 4th, 1758, at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His father was William Henry, Esq. a man whose memory is still revered by those who pos- sessed any knowledge of him. His strict honesty and known probity, render it sacred to such as claimed him as their friend. He was possessed of a strong mechau- ical genius.* * He was the inventor of the well-known screw auger. Viil LIFE OP Warmly attached to this his favorite pursuit, he wish- ed to instil into the minds of his children a taste for mechanics. With some of them he succeeded. As soon as his son John Joseph had attained the age of 14, he bound him an apprentice to an uncle, who was a gunsmith, then a resident of Lancaster, but after some time removed to Detroit, taking his nephew with him. At that place his stay was but short, on account of scarcity of business. He returned on foot with a single guide, who died in the wilderness which lay be- tween Detroit and his home. It was here that those haidships and misfortunes first were felt, which were his future companions during a length of years devoted to God and his country. Young Henry returned to his parents and home, dissatisfied with the employment a judicious father had pointed out for him, as the means by which he w^ished him to gain a future subsistence. His arduous mind panted after military glory ; the troubles of his country, fomenting and producing vig- orous, and ultimately successful struggles for a total e- mancipation from slavery, wrought strongly upon one, the acme of whose hopes and washes was, to be one of those who contended most for freedom. In the fall of 1775 he clandestinely joined a regiment of men rais- ed in Lancaster county, for the purpose of joining Ar- nold, who at that time was stationed at Boston. His father was commissary to the troops, which office obli- ged him to attend them to Reading. It was at this time, under circumstances which rendered him most liable to detection from his parent, he left his home to wander at the age of 16, in a strange land. Thus a thirst for glory inflamed his youthful breast, and super- seded every other passion and affection of his heart. After enduring all the fatigues of a veteran soldier, the ai-my entered Canada on his birth-day — an eventful one to him. He endured hardships there which in his own simple style, he fully enumerates. It was in prison, where he lay for nine months, that he contracted a dis- THE AUTHOR. ix ease, (the scurvy,) which at that time did not make its appearance — but six weeks afterwards, on his return home, at a time when least expected, it made its ap- pearance under its most maUgnant form. It was at a time when it became a duty incumbent on him to con- tinue in the army. A captaincy had been procured for him in the Virginia Hue, and a Ueutenancy in that of Pennsylvania. He had designed to accept of the com- mand under the hero Morgan, which was that of cap- tain ; but the disposer of all events arrested his career, and instead of his fond expectations being accomplish- ed, all his hopes were blasted, and his high prospects rendered a dreary void, by the order of that Omnipo- tence who furaished him with that fortitude which en- abled him, through all his misery, to kiss the rod that chastised him. It was after two years' continuance on the couch of sickness, that his leg, which was the un- fortunate cause of all his illness, began to heal, and re- novated health, to give hopes that peace yet remained for him. As his lameness precluded all possibility of his again entering the army ; as he had, by a disregard of pa- rental authority, at least so far as concerned his trade, forfeited his claim to his father's exertions to place him in such a situation as would make him capable of ren- dering himself useful to society, a vigorous effort on his part was necessaiy. Resolution was not wanting. He bound himself as an apprentice to John Hubley, Esq. prothonotary of the county of Lancaster, as a clerk in the office, where for four years he pursued his business with the closest application, and discharged the duties of his office with unabated care and strictness ; and when the labors of the day were over, his nights were consumed in study, endeavoring to compensate himself in some measure for the neglect that his edu- cation had suffered by his becoming a soldier. His frame, still somewhat debilitated by his illness, was not capable of sustaining the fatigues of office j his health LIFE OF suffered miicli from labor so severe, and application so intense. The time of his indentures having expired, he commenced the study of the law under Stephen Chambers, Esq. Here he became acquainted with his future companion in life, the youngest sister of Mr. C. He practised law from the year 1785, until December, 1793. As his leo;"al knowledge was known to be exten- sive, his abilities and talents met their due reward, in an appointment, by his excellency Thomas Mifflin, gov- ernor, to the office of president of the second judicial district of Pennsylvania. A number of years had now elapsed, and his family was large. By an unfortunate removal to a country, at that period sickly, he was attacked by the gout, which, from inexperience, and owing to his having no knowledge as to the consequences that would necessa- rily ensue , did not take proper precautions, so as to render it a regular disease. Under that deceptive name, numerous disorders invaded his frame, and at times with so much severity, that he was compelled to continue at home, and thus prevented from executing his official duties as a judge. It was during seven long years of bodily suffering, that his mind and memory re- verted to those scenes, (more forcibly than ever,) which formed so eventful a period in a life of misfortune and vicissitude. The interesting narrative of the sufferings of that band of heroes, of which he was the youngest, is a simple tale of truth, which he undeviatingly through- out his book adheres to. He is supported in all his assertions by the testimo- ny of a number of his companions in that arduous cam- paign ; men of character and respectability. His rela- tion of incidents, his descriptive accounts of the coun- try they passed through, the situation of Quebec, and the disposition of the army, all mark him to have been a youth of accurate observation, and of a comprehen- sive and intelligent mhid. Possessing, as he must ne- cessarily have done, activity of spirit and contempt of iHE AUTHOR. XI fatigue, he gained the approbation and esteem of his seniors. The buoyant spirit of youth rose high over misfortune ; under the pressure of the severest distress, vivacity was still retained, and burst forth at intervals to cheer his hopeless companions. Disease had now made rapid progress on a constitu- tion weakened by repeated attacks, and accumulation of disorders, which no skill could counteract or reme- dy. The non-peformance of his duties caused petitions from the several counties to be presented to the legis- lature, for his removal ; nothing was alleged against him but absence. That honorable house, having exam- ined and considered the charges, acquitted him with hon- or. His commission he retained for the space of two years afterwards — but illness and debility increasing, and a knowledge that his infirmities were incurable, compelled him to resign that office which he had held with integrity for seventeen years. Four months af- terwards, his worn out frame was destined to feel the stroke of death, and his freed soul, to seek refuge in the bosom of his Father and his God. CAMPAIGN AGAINST QUEBEC. MY DEAR CHILDREN : THERE is an event in the history of the American Revolution hitherto little noticed ; as yet imperfectly described, and now at this late day almost forgotten ; which would deserve and require the talents and genius of a Xenophon, to do real justice. As your father in early life had a concern in that adventure, permit him to relate to you in the words of truth, a compendious detail of the sufferings of a small band of heroes, unused, to be sure, to military tactics and due subordination, but whose souls were fired by an enthusiastic love of country, and w^ith a spirit such as often inspired our ancestors, when determined to be free. In giving you this relation, knowing him as you do, you will scarcely call in question his ve- racity ; particularly when he assures you upon the honor of a gentleman and an honest man, that ev- ery word here related, to the best of his recollection and belief, is literally true. He could not be so un- just to your morals, your veracity, or integrity, as to state anything to you which he knew, or even sus- pected to be untrue. He has himself iDeen too much the victim of calumny, not to endeavor to eradicate so vile a principle from your minds. His own edu- cation, gained in waywardness, in avoidance of the bounteous and liberal designs of his good father, was aa incorrect one, yet the piety and real religious fer- 2 14 CAMPAIGN vor of his parents, never would tolerate a lie. This mental vice, to tiieni, was the greatest of ail aboini- nationp, as it is with your father : it is also his most fervent hope and prayer, that every one of you will not only contemn untruth, but hold in sovereign de- testation the utterer of falsehood. Persons at your age, and at this advanced stage of the improvement and amelioration of our soil, in a climate so far south as ours, of Pennsylvania, can scarcely form a correct conception, but from actual observation, of the sterility, the dreariness and the destitution of every comfort of life, which a wilder- ness in a high northern latitude exhibits. A confi- dence however in your good sense, encourages, and in fact animates him, to put that upon paper, which has a thousand times, in detached parcels, been the subject of amusing prattle around the fireside. In the autumn of 1775, our adorable Washing- ton thought it piudent to make a descent upon Can- ada. A detachment from the American grand army, then in the vicinity of Boston, was organized, to ful- fil this intention, by the route of the Kennebec, and Chaudiere river. It was intended as a co-operation with the army of General Montgomery, which had entered the same province, by the way of Champlain and Montreal, Colonel Benedict Arnold was ap- pointed the commander-in-chief of the whole divis- ion. The detachment consisted of eleven hundred men. Enos was second in command. Of this I knew nothing, except from report. Riflemen com- posed a part of the armament. These companies, from sixty-five to seventy-five strong, were from the southward ; that is. Captain Daniel Morgan's com- pany from Virginia; that of Captain William Hen- dricks, from Cumberland county in Pennsylvania ;. and Captain IMatthew Smith's company from the AGAINST QUEBEC. 15 county of Lancaster, in the latter province. The residue, and bulk of tliis corps, consisted of troops from Massachusetts, Rliode Island; and Connecticut. It has flown from m}^ memory whether we had any from New-Hampshire ; hut there is an impression on my mind that we had ; as General Dearborn, who was of the latter province, commanded a company in the expedition. All these men were of as rude and hardy a race as ourselves, and as unused to the discipline of a camp, and as fearless as we were. It fell to me to know many of tliem aftet wards inti- mately ; speaking- generally, without any allusion to particulars, they were an excellent body of men, formed by nature as the stamina of an army, fitted for the tough and tight defence of the liberties of their country. The principal distinction between us, was in our dialects, our arms, and our dress. Each man of the three companies bore a rifle-barreled gun, a tomahawk, or small axe, and a long knife, usual- ly called a ' scalping knife,' which served for all pur- poses, in the woods. His under-dress, by no means in a military style, was covered by a deep ash-color- ed hunting-shirt, leggins, and moccasins, if the latter could be procured. It was the silly fashion of those times for riflemen to ape the manners of savages. Our commander, Arnold, was of a remarkable character. He was brave, even to temerity, was be- loved by the soldiery, perhaps for that quality only ; he possessed great powers of persuasion, and was com- plaisant, but withal sordidly avaricious. Arnold was a short, handsome man, of a florid complexion, stout- ly made, and forty years old at least. On the other hand Morgan was a large, strong bodied personage, whose appearance gave the idea history has left us of Belisarius. His manners were of the severest cast* but where he became attached 16 CAMPAIGN he was kind and truly affectionate. This is said from experience of the most sensitive and pleasing nature. Activiiy, spirit, and courage in a soldier, procured his good will and esteem. Hendricks was tall, of a mild and beautiful coun- tenance. His soul was animated by a genuine spark of heroism. Smith was a good looking man, had the air of a soldier, was iUiierate, and outrageously talkative. The officers of the eastern troops were many of them men of sterling worth. Col. Christo- pher Green seemed too far advanced in life for such I]ard service, yet he was inspired by an ardor becom- ing a youth. He afterwards did the public good ser- vice at Redbank on the Delaware, in the autumn of 1777. Majors Meigs, Febiger and Bigelow, were excellent characters. As we acted in the advance, the latter gentlemen were not well known to us un- til sometime afterwards. Your father was too young to enjoy any other honor than that of exposing him- self in the character of a cadet, to every danger. This httle army, in high spirits, marched from Pros- pect hill, near Cambridge in Massachusetts, on the 11th of September, 1775, and arrived at Newbury- port, (which is formed by the waters of the Merri- mac river,) on the following day. This place ai that time was a small, but commercial town, near the eastern border of Massachusetts. Here we remain- ed encamped five days, providing ourselves with such articles of real necessity as our small means afford- ed. On the afternoon of the sixth day we embark- ed on board of ten transports ; sailed in the evening, and at dawn of day descried the mouth of the Ken- nebec river. The wind was strong but fair. The distance of this run was 150 miles. We ascended the river to Colonel Coburn's ship-yard ; here we left our vessels aud obtained batteaux, with which we AGAINST QUEBEC. 17 proceeded to Fort Western. At this place, on the day of our arrival, an arrangement was made hy the commander-in-chief, which in all probability sealed the destiny of your parent. It was concluded to des- patch an officer and seven men in advance, for the purpose of ascertaining' and marking the paths that were used by the [ndians at the numerous carrying places in the wilderness, towards the heads of the riv- er ; and also to ascertain the course of the river Chaucliere, which runs from the height of land, to- wards Quebec . To give some degree of certainty of success to so hazardous an enterprise, Arnold found it necessary to select an officer of activity and courage; the choice fell upon Archibald Steele of Smith's company, a man of an active, courageous, sprightly and hardy dispo- sition, who was complimented with the privilege of naming his companions. These consisted of Jesse Wheeler, George Merchant, and James Clifton, of Morgan's : and Robert (Cunningham, Thomas Boyd, John Tidd, and John M'Konkey, of Smith's compa- ny. Though a very youth, yet in a small degree accustomed to hardships, derived from long marches in the American woods, Steele's course of selection next fell upon your father, who was his messmate and friend. Two birch-bark canoes w^ere provided ; and two guides, celebrated for the management of such water ciaft, who knew the river as high up as the great carrying-place, were also found. These were Jeremiah Getcliel, a very respectable man, and John Home, an Irishman who had grown grey in this cold climate. This small party, unconscious of danger, and an- imated by a hope of applause from their country, set forw^ard from Fort Western in their light barks, at the rate of from fifteen to twenty, and in good wa- 2* 18 CAMPAIGN ter, twenty-five miles per day. Tliese canoes are so light that a person of common strength may carry one of the smaller kind, such as ours were, many hundred yards without halting. Yet they will bear a great burthen, and swim nearly gunwale deep; an admirable description of them is given by Hearne, in his journey to the Coppermine river. Steele's canoe bore five men with their arms and baggage, which last was indeed light in quality and quantity: one barrel of pork, one bag of meal, and 200 weight of biscuit. The other canoe carried seven men, their arms and baggage, and a due proportion of provis- ions. On the evening of the 23d of September, our par- ty arrived at Fort Halifax, situated on the point, form- ed by a junction of the Sabasticoog and the Kenebec river. Here our conmiander, Steele, was accosted by a Captain Harrison, or Huddh;stone, inviting him and the company to his house. The invitation was glad- ly accepted, as the accommodation at the Fort, which consisted of old block houses and a stoccade in a ru- inous state, did not admit of much comfort ; besides, it was inhabited, as our friend the Captain said, by a rank tonj. Here, for the first time, the application of the American term " tory" was defined to me by the Captain. Its European definition was well un- derstood before. Another interesting conversation, on the part of the captain, struck my mind as a great curiosity in natural history, and well deserving com- memoration ; he observed that he had emigrated to the place he then resided at, about thirty years be- fore, most probably with his parents, for he did not then appear to be much beyond forty. That at that period the common deer which now inhabit our more southern cHmate, were the only animals of the deer kind, which they knew, unless it was the elk ; and AGAINST QUEBEC. - 19 these but partially. In a short space of time the moose deer appeared in small numbers, but increas- ed annually afterwards, and as the one species be- came more numerous, the other diminished : so that the kind of deer first spoken of, at the time of this information, according to the captain, was totally driven from that quarter. The moose deer reigned the master of the forest. This anecdote, if true, might in such minds as those of Buflibn, or De Paw, give rise to theories in natural history, totally incon- sistent with the laws of nature. Still there may be something in it; brute animals, like human beings, whether forced by necessity or from choice, do emi- grate. Many instances might be given of this cir- cumstance of the animal economy, in various parts of the world. The above relation is the only in- stance which has come to my knowledge, where one species has expelled another of the same genus. If the fact be true, it is either effected by a species of warfare, or some peculiarity in the appearance of the one kind, and of horror or perhaps of disgust in the other. We know that the rock-goat, [steinbock, of the Germans, and boqucfin, of the French,) former- ly inhabited the low hills of southern France and of the Pyrenees; they have been driven thence by some peculiar cause, for they are now confined to the tops of the highest mountains in Europe. Jt is true, it has been frequently advanced by men of respectalDil- ity and information in Pennsylvania, that the grey fox, which is indigenous in the United States, and all North America, has. been driven from the Atlantic sea coast into the interior, by the introduction of the red fox from Europe. But we have no sufficient da- ta to warrant this assertion. The truth probably is, that as the grey fox is a dull and slow animal, com- pared with the sprightliness, rapidity, and cunning of 20 CAMPAIGN the red fox, that the first has been thinned by the huntsman, and gradually receded from the sea-coast to the forest, where, from his habits, he is more se- cure. The cunning- and prowess of the latter has enabled him to maintain his station among the farms, in despite of the swnftness and pow^erful scent of the dogs. But tliat \vhich puts this assertion out of view, is that the red fox is indigenous throughout North A- inerica. He and the grey fox are found in the high- est latitudes, but there their skins are changed into more beautiful furs than those of ours, by the effects of climate. Anotlier notion has been started within these twenty years past, that the fox squirrel is ex- pelling the large grey squirrel: but it is fallacious. Be these things as they may, we spent an agreea- ble and most sociable evening with this respectable man and his amiable family. On the following day our party rose early, and accompanied by our host, waited upon the tory, who then shewed himself to be an honest man, of independent principles, and who claimed the right of thinking for hiinself. He ex- changed a barrel of smoke-dried salmon for a barrel of pork, upon honest terms. We set out from this place, well pleased with our iiost, the old tory, and our bargain. In a very few days, without other ac- cident than the spraining of Lieutenant Steele's an- cle, by his slipping when carrying a canoe over the path, at one of the intermediate portages, we arrived safely at Norridgewoc falls. Coming to the landing place, the water being smooth and very deep, a rock, as we passed it, drew my attention very particularly ; it was standing in a conical form, five feet in perpen- dicular height, and ten or twelve feet in diameter at the base. 1 observed that next the water, the face of the rock, which was a bluish flint, was, as it were, scalloped out, down to the water's edge. Asking AGAINST QUEBEC. 21 Gelchel how this had occurred, his reply was that the Indians in former times had from thence obtain- ed their spear and arrow points. It seems unreason- able that without a knowledge of iron, they should have been capable of executing such a labor. How- ever, upon observation and reflection since Getchel's time, an inducement from experience and reasoning occurs, which influences me to believe that he might have been correct in his observation. The rock, no doubt, still remains, and there is leisure for others to pursue the inquiry and discussion. We were hurri- ed. The village within one hundred yards of the pitch of the fall was evidently a deserted Indian town. We saw no one there : it was without the vestige of inhabitants. Dressing our victuals here at mid-day, an occurrence happened which disgusted me in an extreme degree. On this day, an estimate of our food was made, and an allotment in quantity to each man, though no actual separation of shares took place, as that, it was agreed, should happen at the twelve-mile carrying place. By the estimate now made, it seemed that there was something of a sur- plus. As we had had hard work on that and some preceding days, and hLirder fare, our good comman- der was inclined to indulge us. The surplus was al- lotted for this day's fare.. It happened that M'Kon- key was, by routine, the cook. He boiled the meat, (vegetable food of any kind was not attainable,) and when saimtering towards the fall, he called us to din- ner. We came eagerly. He was seated on the earth, near the wooden bowl. The company reclined a- round in a like posture, intending to partake ; when M'Konkey, raising his vile and dirty hands, struck the meat, exclaimed, with an oath, " that'ihis was our last comfortable meal." The indelicacy of the act, and the grossness of expression, deprived the compa- 22 CAMPAIGN ny of appetite. On several subsequent occasions M'- Konkey showed himself as mean in spirit as he was devoid of decency. We soon rid ourselves of him. Many years afterwards at Lancaster, in Pennsylva- nia, he applied for and received a loan by way of charity from me, which he meanly solicited with the most abject sycophancy. So true it is, in general, that those who disregard the social decencies of life, are equally incapable of those virtues which make man respectable in society. On the afternoon of this day we crossed to tlie west side of the river below the fall : searched for, and wnth difficulty found the carrying place. Hav- ing marked it with precision, we rested awhile. On the w^est side of the river, not very distant from us, there was a considerable extent of natural meadow. One of our party, exploring the country for deer, met with two white men who had come from a distance, mowing the wild grass of the meadow. An agree- able barter ensued — w^e gave salted pork, and they returned two fiesh beaver tails, which, when boiled, renewed ideas imbibed with the May butter of our own country. Taste, however, is arbitrary, and of- ten the child of necessity. Two years before this, acorns had supplied me with a precarious sustenance, on a journey from Sandusky to Pittsburg. They momentarily sustained life and bodily labor, but the consequence was ill health. Your respectaljle kins- man, General Gibson, received me into his house at Logstown on the Ohio, and restored me sound to my parents. These minute jnatters are noted here, from an expectation, that knowing the privations men may suffer in respect to food, you will each of you remem- ber to receive the dispensations of Providence, of ev- ery kind, if not with thankfulness, at least with sub> mission. AGAINST QUEBEC. 23 We passed the portage of Norridgewoc falls. — Thence for several days the navigation for such ca- noes as ours was tolerable, and in the most part, con- venient. We ascended the river rapidly, marking every carrying-place. Having now seceded many miles from the last white inhabitants at Norridgewoc, it became necessary to proceed with caution. A cir- cumspection was adopted, which, though prudent in the predicament we were in, appeared rather harsh to the feelings; the firing of a gun was inhibited ; though the weather was chilhng, we dared scarcely make a snjoke at night. Angling for trout and chub in the morning and evening made up our stock of fresh food. We frequently saw ducks, 6cc. and many- moose deer, yet we discharged not a gun ; in truth we had been made to believe that this country had numerous Indians in it. Tiie party reached without molestation, except from natural rock and a swift current, the twelve mile carrying-place, on the 27th of September. Here a new scene opened. Our guides professed that nei- ther of them had ever been north of this place across the carrying-place ; but Getchel alleged that he had hunted to the east of the river. Now w^e assumed the responsibility of being our own guides, giving to Getchel due respect and attention for his information relative to the route north. He informed me that the course of the river which is in- judiciously called the "Dead River," tended 60 or 100 miles northerly, taking a short turn southward- ly, and was then within twelve miles of us. That this part was full of rapids, and impassable for boats, or even canoes. We seaiched for the carrying-place, and found a path tolerably distinct, which we made more so by marking the trees and snagging the bush- es with our tomahawks. Proceeding until evening, 24 CAMPAIGN the party encamped on the margin of a small lake, perhaps half a mile wide, where there were plenty of trout, which old CHfton, who was good at angling, caught in abundance. Here, in a conference on the subject, it was resolved that two persons of the party should remain, (with about one half of the provis- ions,) until the return of our main body, calculating the return would be in eight or ten days. It had been observed that Clifton, being the oldest of the company, yet brave and a good shot, from the fa- tigues we had endured had begun to flag. With the assent of our chief the younger part of us proposed to him to remain where we tl)en were with the bet- ter part of the provisions. After considerable alter- cation he assented, on condition of his having a com- panion. The youngest of the party nominated M'- Konkey, who could not restrain his joy at the propo- sal. It was advised for them to retire to the south end of the pond, perhaps a mile, and there, as in a per- fect recess, remain concealed. Knowing M'Konkey, the consequences were foreseen. After the accom- plishment of this affair Lieutenant Steele parted the provision appropriated for the marchers, not by pounds or ounces, my dear children, but by "whose shall be this." Some of you have been taugiu how this is done : if you have forgotten, it will be well now to tell you of it. The principal of the party, if he is a gentleman and man of honor, divides the whole portion equally into as many parts as there are men, including himself; this is done under the eyes of all concerned, and with their approbation ; the officer then directs some one of the company to turn his back upon him, and laying his hand on a particular portion, asks " whose shall be this ?" The answer is hap-hazard, A. B. ert Dixon, with myself, were here at the point of death. This you will find in the sequel. Carrying a few perches around this precipice, we got into good water, and then performed a severe day's labor. October 3d. The evening brought us to our en- campment, on the south side of the river. Angling was resorted to for food. vSergeant Boyd, observing low ground on the other side of the river, and an un- common coldness in the water, passed over, and in an hour returned with a dozen trout, of extraordinary appearance, long, broad, and thick. The skin was of a very dark hue, beautifully sprinkled with deep crimson spots. Boyd had caught these in a large and deep spring-head. Contrasting them with those wo caught in the river, they were evidently of a differ- ent species. The river trout were of a pale ground, with pink spots, and not so flat or broad. The next day, proceeding onward, we here and there met with re ugh water. In the evening we were told, that on the next day we probably should arrive at the camp of Natanis, an Indian, whom our commander was AGAINST QUEBEC. 81 instructed to capture or kill. Natanis waswell known to the white inhabitants of the lower country ; they knew hijn from the geographical position of his resi- NATANIS, IN SEMI-BARBARIAN COSTUME. dence. The uninstructed Indian, if he possesses good sense, necessaiily from his wanderings as a hun- ter, becomes a geographer. This good man, (as wa S2 CAMPAIGN subsequently knew him to be,) had been wrongfully accused to Araold, as a spy, stationed on this river to give notice to the Brilish government, of any party passing this way into Canada : hence that cruel or- der. Oct. 4th. We landed some miles below where we supposed his house was. Our canoes were brought upon the shore and committed to the care of two of the party. We arrived at the house of INatanis, af- ter a march, probably of three niiles, over a flatcown- try covered with pines, &.c. Approaching on all sides with the utmost circumspection, we ran quickly to tlie cabin, our rifl<^s prepared, and in full belief that we had caught Natanis. Some were persuaded, at the distance of 200 yards from (he place, that they saw the smoke of his fire. But the bird was flown. He was wiser and more adroit than his assailants, as you will afierwards learn. The iiouse was prettily placed on a bank twenty feet high, about 20 yards from tlie river, and a grass plat extended around, at more than shooting distance for a lifle, free from tim- ber and underwood. The house, for an Indian cab- in, was clean and tight, with two doors, one fronting the river, the other on the opposite side. We found as would not be totally abandoned by the owner — many articles of Indian fabrication, evidently such besides, it was remarked that the coals on the hearth, from their appearance, had been burning at least with- in a week past. '^Fhese notions did not allay our ap- prehensions of meeting with Indian enemies. The canoes, in the meantime having been brought up, we embarked and proceeded with alacrity. This af- ternoon, in a course of some miles, we came to a stream flowing from the west, or rather the north- west. As we were going along in uncertainty, part- ly inclined to take the westerly stream, one of the AGAINST QUEBEC. 83 paity fortunately saw a strong stake which had been driven down at the edge of the water, with a piece of neatly folded birch bark, inserted intoasplitat the top. The bark, as it was placed, pointed up the wes- terly stream, which, at its mouth, seemed to contaia more w^ater than our true cour:r;e. Our surprize and attention was much heightened, when opening the bark, we perceived a very perfect delineation of the streams above us, with several marks which must have denoted the hunting camps, or real abodes of the map-maker. There were some lines, in a direc- tion from the head of one branch to that of anoth- er, which we took to be the course of the paths that the Indians intended to take that season. This map we attributed to Natanis, or to his brother, Sabatis, who, as we afterwards knew, lived about seven miles up this westerly stream. For when our party, after returning to the twelve mile carrying-place, had again re-ascended the river, we w^ere told, by the crew of one of Morgan's boats, that they had mistaken the westerl}'^ stream as the due route, and had found deserted cabins at the distance already mentioned, and the property of the late inhabitant?, placed in a kind of close cage, made of birch bark in the forks of the trees ; these they most iniquitously plundered. Venison, corn, kettles, (fee. were the product. In- specting the map thus acquired, we pursued our jour- ney fearlessly. Now the river became narrower and i-liallower. The strength of each of us was exert- ed at poling or paddling the canoes. Some rapid wa- ter interfered, but in a few days we came to the first ))ond at tiie head of the Dead River. October 7th. This first pond, in the course of the traverse we made might be about a mile, or a little more, in diameter. Here, on a small island, scarcely containing a fourth of an acre, we discovered and ate a delicious species 64 CAMPAIGN of cranberry, entirely new to lis. It grew upon bush- es fron) ten to twelve feet liis^h. the stock of thethick- ness of the thumb, and the fruit was as large as a May-duke cherry. In the course of one or two miles, we reached a second pond. Between this pond and the third, we carried ; the communication, though not long, was too shallow for our canoes. The car- rying-place was excessively rugged, and in high wa- ter, formed a part of the Led of the stream. The country around us had now become very mountain- ous and rough. Several of these mountains seemed to stand on insulated bases, and one in particular, formed a most beautiful cone, of an immense height. We rested for the evening. October 8th. We arrived near the height of land which divides the waters of New-England from those of Canada, which run into the St. Lawrence. The weather, in consequence of the approaching winter, had hecome piercingly cold. My wardiobe was scan- ty and light. It consisted of a roundabout jacket, of woollen, a pair of half-worn buckskin hreeches, two pairs of woollen stockings, (bought at Newburyport,) a hat with a feather, a hunting-shirt, leggins, a pair of mockasins, and a pair of tolerably good shoes, which had been closely lioarded. We set out early, yet jovially. We entered a lake surrounded by high and craggy mountains, and per- pendicular rocks of very considerable altitude, which about 11 o'clock, A. M. cast us into a dusky shade. Pidling the paddle, as for life, to keep myself warm, some trifling observation, which fell from me, relative to the place we were in, such as its resemblance to the vale of death, drew the attention of the company. Getchel, in his dry way, turning toward me, said, " Johnny, you look like a blue leather whetstone." The simplicity and oddity of the expression, and the AGAINST QUEBEC. 89 gravity of his manner, caused great merriment at my expense : it was enjoyed on my part, certain that it was not an expression of disesteem, but affection, for the man Uked me. These minim tales and jejune occurrences are related to convey to your minds an idea how men of true spirit will beard death in every shape, even, at times, w^itii laughter, to effectuate a point of duty which is considered essential to the welfare of their country. Thus we went on, inces- santly laboring without sustenance, until we came, about 3 o'clock, to the extreme end of a fifth and the last lake. This day's voyage might amount to fif- teen or twenty miles. * On this lake we obtained a full view of those hillg which were then, and are now, called the " Height of Land." It made an impression upon us that was really more cliilling than the air v/hich surrounded us. We hurried ashore — drew out our canoes, and covered them with leaves and brush-wood. This done, with our aims in our hands, and our provisions in our pockets, w^e made a race across the mountain, by an Indian path, easily ascertainable, until we ar- rived on the bank of the Chaudiere river. The dis- tance is about five miles, counting the rising and de- scent of the hill as two. This was the acme of our desires. To discover and know^ the course of this river was the extent of our orders: beyond it we had nothing to do. Our chief, wishing to do every thing a good officer could to forward the service, asked if any one could climb a tree, around the foot of which we then stood. It was a pine of considerable height, without branches for forty feet. Robert Cunning- ham, a strong, athletic man, about twenty-five years old, presented himself In almost the twinkling of an eye, he chmbed the tree. He fully discerned the meandering course of the river, as upon a map, and 86 CAMPAIGN even descried the lake Chaudiere, at a distance of fourteen or fifteen miles. Tiie country around and between us and the lake, was flat. Looking west- ward, he observed a smoke ; intimating this to us, from the tree wliere he sat, we plainly perceived it. Cunningham came down ; the sun was setting ap- parently in a clear sk}^ Now our return commenced. It so occurred that I was in the rear, next to Getchel, who brought it up. We ran in single file, and while it was light, it was observed by me, as we tied to stride into the footsteps of the leader, that he covered the (rack with his feet ; this was no mean duty. It required the courage, the vigor, and the wisdom whichdesignates genuine man- hood. Our object was to be concealed from a knowl- edge of any one who might communicate our pres- ence there, to (he Canadian government. The race was urged, and became more rapid by the indications of a storm of rain : we had scarcely reached more than half way up the hill, when the shower came down in most tremendous torrents. The night be- came dark as pitch ; we groped the way across the ridge, and in descending, relying on the accuracy of our leader, w^e continued with speed. The piecipice was very steep; a root, a twig, perhaps, caught the buckle of my shoe ; I tripped, and came down head foremost, unconscious how far, but perhaps twenty or thirty feet. How my gun remained unbroken, it is impossible to say. When I recovered, it was in my hands. My companions had out-stripped me. Stun- ned by the fall, feeling for the path with my feet, my arrival at the canoe-place Avas delayed (ill ten at night, an hour and more later than my friends. An erection called a tent, but more correctly a wigwam, was made in the hurry with forks and cross-poles, covered with the bmnch«s of &i\ It rained iuces- AGAINST QUEBEC. 87 santly all that night. If the clothes we wore had heen dry, they would have become wet; so we laid down in all tliose we had on. Sleep came to my eyes, notwithstanding the peltings of the pitiless storm through the humble roof. October 9th. We arose before day. The canoes were urged suddenly into the water, it still raining" hard, and at day light we thought of breakfasting. Gracious God! what was our fare? What could we produce for such a feast ? Rummaging my pan- taloons pockets, I found a solitary biscuit and an inch of pork. Half of the bjscuit was devoted to the breakfast, and so also by each person ; and that was consumed in the canoes as we paddled over the lake. The rain had raised the lake, and consequently the outlets, about four feet. We slid glibly along, over passages where a few days previous, we had carried our canoes. At the outlet of the fourth lake, count- ing as we came up, a small duck appeared within shooting distance. It was a diver, well known in our country — a thing which we here contemn. Know- ing the value of animal food, in our predicament, sev- eral of us fired at the diver : Jesse Wheeler, how- ever, (whom all acknowledged an excellent shot,) struck it with his ball. A shout of joy arose — the little diver was safely deposited in our canoe. We went on quickly, without accident, till the evening, probably traversing a space of more than forty milea. At night-fall we halted, weary and without tasting food since morning. Boyd and Cunningham, who were right-hand-men on most occasions, soon kindled a fire against a fallen tree. An occurrence this eve- ning took place, which my dear children you will hardly credit, but which, (permit me to assure you,) is sacredly true. The company sat themselves gloom- ily around the fire; the cooks, according to routine, 4. 88 CAMPAIGN (whether our chief or others,) picked the cluck, and when picked and dressed, it was brought to the fiie- side. Here ii, becanje a (|ueslion, iiow lo make the most of our slock of provisions. Finally it was con- cluded to boil the duck in our camp-kettle, togeiiier with each man's bit of pork, distinct ly marked by running a small skewer of wood through it, w ith his particular and private designation. Tliat the broth thus formed, should be the supper, and the duck on the ensuing morning should be the breakfast, and which should be distributed by "whose shall be this. ' Strange as this tale may appear to you, in these times, the agreement was religiously performed. Being young, my appetite was ravenous as that of a wolf, but honor bound tlie stomach tight. We rose early, and eacli person selected his bit of pork, which made but a single mouthful — there was no controvers}^ The diver was parted most fairly, into ten shares, each one eyeing the integrity of the division. Lieutenant Steele causing (he "turning of the back," the lottery gave me a victory over my respectable friend Cunningham. His share was the head and the feet, mine one of the thighs. Hungry and miserable as we were, even this was sport to us. In fact, we were sustained by a flattering hope that we should soon meet our friends, " the army." Setting out early on the 10th of October, by the evening we made nearly fifty miles. The bit of pork and the rest of the biscuit became my supper. My colleagues were similarly situated. The morning sun saw us without any food. We did not despond. The consolatory idea that on that, or the next day, we should certainly join the army, infused energy in- to our minds and bodies. Yet being without food, though we loved each other, every endearment which binds man to man was, as it were, forgotten, in a pro- AGAINST QUEBEC. 89 found silence. After a long day's journey, still we were supperless. Tlie succeeding- morning. (11th,) starting early, we ran at a monstrous rate. The waters, by addi- tional rains above, had risen greatly. By ten or e- leven o'clock, A. M. we obseived a great smoke be- fore us, which from its extent, we could ascribe to nothing else than the encampujent, of the army, our friends and fellow-soldiers. After some time, the light canoo, several hundred yards before us, (with Steele and Getchel in it,) passed between the forks of a tree, which lay rooted in the middle of tlie stream, where most likely it had" lain for many years. All its branches had been worn away by the annual Mic- tion of the ice or waters, except those which formed the fork, and they stood directly against the current, nearly a foot out of water, and ten or more feet a- part. Seeing our hiends pass through safely, and be- ing unconscious that we were worse or less adventu- rous watermen than they were, we risked it. We ran with gieat velocity. My good Irishman steered. Bv an unlucky stroke of some one of our paddles, (for each of us had one,) but from his situation and power over the vessel it was fairly atiributable to the steersman, the canoe was thrown a little out of its true course, just as it was entering the prongs of the fork. Trifling as this may appear to you, to us it was the signal of death. One of the prongs took the right hand side of the canoe, within six inches of the bow, immediately below the gunwale. Q,uick as lightning that side of the canoe was laid open from sten) to stern, and water was gushing in upon us that would inevitably have sunk us in a second of time, but for that interference of Providence which isathe- isiically called presence of mind. Otherwise a host of men could not haye saved us from a watery grave. .40 CAMPAIGN Instinctively leaning to the left, we sunk the gun- wale of that side down to the water's edge, by which we raised the broken side an inch and more out of it. Calling loudly to our companions ahead, they Boon saw our distress, and put in at the great smoke. Carefully and steadily sitting, and gently paddling, many hundred yards, we landed safely. Here was no army, no friends, no food — only a fiiendly fire, kindled by ourselves as we ascended the river ; it had been our camp. The fire we had made had scarce- ly more I ban smoked, but now it had crept into the turfy soil, and among the roots of trees, and was spread over half an acre. Our situation was truly horrible. When we had examined the broken ca- noe, and had rummaged both, for the means of re- pairing it, every heart seemed dismayed. Our birch bark and pitch had been exhausted in former repairs — we were without food — perhaps one hundred miles from the army, or perhaps that army had returned to New England. That sensation of the mind call- ed " the horrors," seemed to prevail. Getchel alone was really sedate and reflective. He ordered the oth- er guide to search for birch bark, whilst he would look among the pines for turpentine. We followed the one or tiie other of these worthies, according to inclination, and soon returned with the desired mate- rials. The cedar root was in plenty under our feet. Now a difficulty occurred, which had been unfore- seen, and which w^as seemingly destructive of all hope. This was the w^ant of fat or oil of every kind, with which to make the turpentine into pitch. A lucky thought occurred to the youngest of the company, that the pork bag lay empty and neglected in one of the canoes. The thought and the act of bringing it were instantaneous. The bag was ripped, and as if it had beea so much gold dust, we scraped from it a- AGAINST QUEBEC. 41 bont a pint of dirty fat. Getchel now prepared an abundance of pitch. The cedar root gave uj^ twine. The canoe was brought up to the fire. We found every rib except a few at tlie extreme points, actual- ly torn from the gunwale. All hands set to work — two iiours afterwards, the canoe was borne to the wa- ter. We embarked, and proceeding cautiously, as we thouu^ht, along the shore, (for we dared not yet, with our craga;^y vessel, venture into deep water,) a snag, standing up stream, struck through the bottom of the canoe. This ac'ident happened about five hundred yards from the fire. We put back with heavy hearts and great difficulty — our friends followed. It took an hour to patch the gap. The cup of sorrow was not yet full. As the men were hearing the wounded ca- noe to the water, Sergeant Boyd who paddled in the small canoe, which was drawn up as usual, taking hold of the how, raised it waist high, (as was tight,) intending to slide it gently into the water — the bank was Sleep and slippery, and Oh ! my dearchildien, you cannot conceive the dread and honor the succeeding part of this scene produced in our minds. Mr. B<^yd's feet slipp. d — the canoe fell from his hands — its own weight falling upon the cavity formed by the decliv- ity of the bank and the water — broke it in the cen- tre into two pieces, which were held together by no- thing but the gunwale. Now absolute despair for the first time seized me. A thought came across my mind, that the Almighty had destined us to die of hunger in this inhospitable wilderness. The recol- lection of my parents, my brothers and sister, and the clandestine and cruel manner of my deserting them, drew from me some hidden, yet burning tears, and much mental contrition. This was unknown, unseen, and unheard by any but Him who is present 4* 43 CAMPAIGN every where, and sees our inmost thoughts. Getch- el, (comparing small things with great, who much resembled Homer's description of Ulysses, in his per- son, and whose staid and sober wisdom and foresight also bore a likeness to the talents of that hero,) re- signed, yet thouglitful and active, instantly went to work. The canoe was brought to the fire, and pla- ced in a proper posture for the operation. The la- cerated parts were neatly brought together, and sewed with cedar root. A large ridge of pitch, as is cus- tomary in the construction of this kind of water craft, was laid over the seam to make it water-tight. Over the seam a patch of strong bark a foot in width, and of a length sufficient to encircle the bottom, even to the gunwales, was sewed down at the edges and pitch- ed. Again over the whole of the work it was thought prudent to place our pork bag, \^ hich w as well satu- rated with liquid fat. It was a full yard wide, and was laid down in the same rnarmer. This work, which was laborious, nearly consumed the rest of the day. We set out notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, and would it is likely iiavegone all night, well knowing the water below to be good, but for an en- livening occurrence, Vvhich soon after happened. Hun- ger drove us along at a cautious but rapid rate. The sterility of the country above had afforded us no game, neither moose, bear, nor wolf: nothing in short but the diver and a red pine squirrel, which was too email and quick to be killed by a bullet. These squirrels did not much exceed in size our striped ground squirrel. About dusk the lieutenant's canoe, four hundred yards before us, had within view lurn- ed a sharp point ot land, when we heard the crack of a rifle, and presently another and a huzza. Ap- prehending an attack fiom an enemy, we pulled hard AGAINST QUEBEC. 4S to be enabled to support our friends. In a moment or two, observing them pulling for the north shore, which was steep, we looked up it for the enemy. Good Heavens ! what a sight ! We saw a moose- deer falling on the top of the bank. A cry of exul- tation seemed to burst the narrow valley of the riv- er. Steele had struck the deer in the flank, as it w^as leavina: the water, but it sprung up ihe bank with agility. Wheeler, wi(h better fortune for us all, pier- ced its heart as it arrived at the top. Seeing this, you can scarcely imagine the celerity or our move- ments. We were ashore in a moment. A fire was kindled — the secondary guide cut off the nose and upper lip of the animal, instantly, and had it on the fire. What a feast ! But we were prudent. We sat up all night, selecting the fat and tit-bits — frying, roasting, boiling and broiling. Towards morning we slept a few hours, absolutely careless of conse- quences. We knew that we had arrived in a land where game was plentiful, and where there were no foes superior to our number, to oppose us. Oct. 12. — W^e rose after sunrise, and began, accor- ding to practice, to examine and prepare our guns. Prepared, mine was placed against a tree ; my duty, in course, was of the culinary kind. George Tder- chant. my coadjutor, had gone to the river for water. He ran back, seized his own gun, and intimated that a bull moose was swimming acioss the river towards the camp. We jumped to our arms — it so happened that my station was rearward. The enormous ani- mal was coming towards us, and not more than fifty paces off, his head and horns only above water. The sight was animating. Wheeler and some others fir- ed at his head, but without eflfect. The extieme desire they had to possess so noble a prey, probably caused a tremor of the hand, or that part of his body 44 CAMPAIGN was impenetrable to our small balls, which is most likely. The moose turned and swam \o ihe oppo- site bank. Having got to ihe verge of the river, his eirierging was awaited. My ball struck precisely where it ought to kill. The huge animal rose the bank by several boggling leaps, but seemed unknow- ing which way to run. We thought he would fall. Wheeler, and some others, getting into the canoes, pursued him by liis blood half a mile. When Whee- ler returned he overloaded me wirh praises for the accuracy of the shot, and was confident thaM he deer was killed. We had no time to spare. We feasted till noon, and in the iniermediaie moments culled the entrails for the fat : we even broke the bones and extracted the marrow, under the full persuasion that food of an oily nature is one of the strongest main- stays of human life. Of this principle, if we had a doubt, we were shortly afterwards most irrefragably convinced. We departed from our camp joyously, untortured by the tear of starving: our canoe sunk deep by the weight of our venison. Running some, miles and suddenly doubling a point, we saw a large grey wolf sitting on his haunches — he was fired at, but the distance was too great. He escaped. Look- ing down the river we saw^ a moose swimming from the main to an island ; it was soon brought down. It proved to be young — of about 3U0 pounds weight. Its ears and flanks were much torn by the wolf. It constituted veal in our larder. The choice parts were deposited in the canoes — the residue was at the disposal of the wolf. The following morning, (October 13th,) embark- ed early. After noon we arrived at our first encamp- ing ground on the " Dead River," in good health and spirits, though pallid and weak for the want of sub- stantial food in due quantity. AGAINST QUEBEC. 46 By this time the fat and marrow of the animal we had killed, were exhausted, and our stock of salthad been long since expended. One who has never been deprived of bread and salt, nor known the absence of oleao^inous substances in his food, cannot make a true estimate of the invaluable benefits of such mgre- dients, in the sustenation of the bodily frame ; nor of the extremity of our corporeal debility. We ascended the bank, which is sleep, and about fourteen feet high, carrying our baggage, arms and venison, leisurely, by piecemeal. The canoes, be- ing too heavy for our strength, were secured below, in the water, by withes. Jtw^as immediately conclu- ded to preserve our provisions by jerking. This op- eration is done by slicing the meat into thin ships. Then driving four forks into the earth, in a square position, at the required distance perpendiculaily. and laying poles from fork to fork, and poles athwart from pole to pole. A rack is thus made, about four feet high, on which thesliced meat is laid, and snioke-fres aie made underneath. This duty was soon perform- ed. We now began to look about us, and discuss the subject of our return to the army, which we had, be- fore this time, persuaded ourselves we should meet at this place. The non-appearance of the artny, and our distress induced a conclu^^ion that we were desert- ed and abandoned to a diastrous fate, the inevitable result of wh;ch would be a sinking into eternity for want of food ; for though we might have killed more deer, the vigor of our bodies was so reduced that we were convinced that that kind of food could not re- store us to our wonted energy, and enable us to per- form so rugged and lotig a march as that to the fron- tiers of Maine. The notion of navigating the riv- er was scouted as a fallacy, because we did not pos- sess a sufficient degree of bodily force to bear the ca- 46 CAMPAIGN noes across the twelve-mile carrying-place. As, in the case of (he retreat of the army, we had deter- j mined to follow, it became necessary to finish the' jeiking, which would take six days, to make it the more portable for our feebleness, and preservable if we should have wet weatlier on the march. It was fur- ther cot)chided, "That Lieutenant Steele, Gefchel and Wheeler, should immediately proceed on foot a- cross the twelve mile carrying-place, to meet the ar- my. If they did meet it, that they should return to us with supplies by the end of three days, but in all events to return." Having no doubt of the honor of those gentlemen, the rest of the party remained, cheerfully jerking the meat. Now we experienced the full extent of a new species of starving. Hav- ing neither bread, nor salt, nor fat of any kind, ev- ery day we remained here we became more and more weak and emaciated. We had plenty of meat, both fresh and dried, of which we ate four, five and six times a day, in every shape we had the means of dressing it. Though we gorged the stomach, the ap- petite was unsatiated. Something like a diarrhoea ensued, which contributed to the imbecility of our bodies. Bear's oil would have made our venison sa- voury, but such an animal as a bear, we had not as yet seen in all our wanderings. On the evening of the fourth day, we looked out for our absent compan- ions with much heartfelt anxiety. They came not. On the morning of the next day, we consulted up- on the question whether we should follow the army. A majoiity voted for staying a few days longer to complete the jerking. To shew you the great bodi- ly weakness we were brought to, it may be proper to relate the following anecdote as more evincive of the fact than any other method which might be adopt- ed, to bring it fully to your minds. Sergeant Boyd, AGAINSt QU£BEC. 4T (the strongest and stoutest man of the party, and per- haps of the army.) and myself, taking our arms^ de- scended into a canoe, and passed the river, to the mouth of «he creek before mentioned, intending to go to the next pond on the carrying-place, there to nieetj as we hoped, the advance of the army. We stag- gered along through the plain, falling every nowand then, if our toes but touched a twig or tuft of grass. Thus going forward, we arrived at the e{]ge of the moss bog, which is mentioned as we ascend A laughable circumstance ensued on the morning of the 27th of October, near the first pond, at the head of ihe river. The Virginians, (though it is not probable that any of the oflficers, excepting one,) had taken up the idea that they were our superiors in ev- ery military qualification, and ought to lead. Hen- dricks, though the oldest counni^sioned oflficer of the rifle companies, was still the youngest man. For the sake of peace and good order, he h:id not assent- ed to, but merely acquiesced in Morgan's assumption of the command of oin* corp^, as the elder person. Those men, who were clever and bra\e, were just such in tliat behalf, as we were ourselves: but a Mr. Heath, who was blind of an eye, (a Lieutenant of Morgan's,) seemed to think that all others were infe- rior to those of the " ancient dominion." We had a hard morning's pushing, when, coming up to the first pond, at the head of the Dead River, we saw Heath before us. Observing to Simpson ^ push him,^ we went up with much force; poor Heath laboring like a slave to keep his place. Tidd and Dougherty felt my spirit as much as Simpson did. At the mo- AGAINST QUEBEC. 69 meni of our passing, (for we went up on the outside of him, towards the middle of the current,) his pole stuck, upon which he gave us a few hearty curses. Entering the lake, the boat, under my guidance and information, steered directly for the passage to the second lake. Humphreys, (Morgan's first Lieuten- ant,) a brave and most amiable man, whom we high- ly esteemed, was in a boat far to the left, searching for a passage. Simpson, at my instance, hailed him to come on. He answered there was no passage there — alluding to the place we steered for. Encour- aging my friend to go on, the deception Humphreys lay under was soon discovered. The creek was deep and serpentine, and the country around, for a consid- erable distance, a flat. A log, brought down by the late freshet, lay across the stream, so as to give to a stranger the idea that the mouth of the creek was merely a nook of the lake. Setting the log afloat, as was easily done, the boat proceeded. October 28. Continuing rapidly, for now we had no carrying nor marking of trees, there being plenty of water, the evening was spent at the foot of that mountain called the Height of Land. This was a day of severe labor. The navigrition of the Chau- diere was represented by us to Captains Hendricks and Smith, as very dangerous ; and. so far as our in- formation went, it was so. They, to save their men, concluded to carry over the hill but one boat for each of their companies. This resolution was easily ac- complished. Morgan, on the other hand, determin- ed to carry over all his boats. It vvould have made your heart ache to view the intolerable labors of his fine fellows. Some of theui, it was said, had the flesh worn from their shoulders, even to the bone. By this tiiTie an antipat hy had arisen against Morgan, as too strict a disciphnarian. 60 CAMPAIGN On the following day, (October 29th,) the army, disjointed as was our corps, at least Hendricks' and Smith's, encamped on the plain on the bank of the Chaudiere. Mori^an afterwards took his station near us. Here it first became generally known thatEnos had returned from the twelve-mile carrying-place with 500 men, a large stock of provisions, and the medi- cine chest.* It damped our spirits much, but our commander conceived it was better to proceed thaii' return. We were about a hundred miles from the frontier of Canada, but treble that distance from that of New-England. Our provisions were exhausted. We had no meat of any kind. The flour which re- mained, so far as I know, was divided fairly and e- qually amor»g the troops ; t he riflemen shared jive jnnts of flour j^er man. Duritig the night and the ensuing morning, the flour was baked itito fivecakes per man, under the ashes, in the way of Indian bread. On the 30th of October we set forward. The men were told by the officers " that order would not be re- quired in the march — each one nuist put the best foot foremost." The first day's march was closed by a charming sleep on fir-branches. The gentlemen of our mess lay toi^ether, each one covering himself with his blanket. My memory does not serve to say that * As soon as the army reached the source of Dead River, which is a branch of the Keniiehec, Colonel Enos received orders to ::end back all the sick, and all those to whom it was not possible to fur- nish provisions. But this officer, eird)racing; the occasion, return- ed with all his detachment to the camp at Boston. All the aimy, on seeing him appear, were transported with indignation against a man who had abandoned his own companions in the midst of dan- gers, and whose deserlifin might occasion the luiscarriage of the whole enterprize. He was brought before a court martial, but ac- quitted, in consequence of the acknowledged impossibility of pro- curing sustenance in these wild aad desert places. — Botta's Revo- lutionary War. AGAINST QUEBEC . 61 any stir was made by any one during the night. Happening to be the first that awakened in the morn- ing., the blanket was suddenly thrown from my head, but what was my surpri.se to find that we had lain under a cover of at least four inches of snow. We had scarcely risen and got our kettle on the fire, when our drummer, (we had no bugles,) John Shaeffer, came slipshod to our fire, complaining that his cakes had been stolen from him. A more wretched figure was scarcely ever beheld. He was purblind. This circumstance, though he was my townsman, and ac- quainted with me Irom my earliest infancy, was yet unknown to me until thi's last march, (ascending the Dead River,) began. My station in the line of march, which was in the single file, (or Indian, as it was then called,) was next to the Captain ; the drummer folloAved. Here his defect was most effectually seen. Smith was lithsorne and quick of foot, as we were all, except poor Shaeffer. In I he course of this toil- some march without a path, many deep ravines pre- sented themselves; over these lay many logs, fallen perhaps many years before. The captain took the log, preferring it to a descent of 20 or 30 feet into the gulph below, which at times was quite abrupt. Fol- lowing me, Shaeffer would frequently, drum and all, tumble headlong into the ab3^ss. His misfortunes in this w^ay, for he was a laughing stock, excited con- tempt in the soldiers, but in me compassion. He of- ten required my aid. On this latter occasion we were boiling a bleary, being nothing more than flour and water, and that without salt. At my solicitation, the mess gave him a tin cup full of it. He received from me my third cake. This man, blind, starving, and almost naked, bore his drum, unharmed by all its jostlings, safely to Quebec, while many hale men di- ed in the wilderness. 6 62 CAMPAIGN This morning, November 1st, breakfasting: on our bleary, we took up the hne of inarch tliroii^h a flat and boggy ground. About ten o'clock A. M. we ar- rived by a narrow^ neck of land at a marsh w^hich was appalling. It was three fourths of a mile over, and covered by a coat of ice half an inch thick. At this j)lace Sin»pson concluded to halt a short time for the stragglers or maimed of Hendricks' and Snjith'a companies to come up. '^Fhere w^ere two women at- tached to those companies, who arrived befoie we commenced the march. One was the wife of Ser- geant Gtier, a large, virtuous and respectable woman. The other was the wife of a private of our company, a man who lagged on every occasion. These wo- men having arrived, it was presumed that all our par- ty were up. We were on the point of entering the marsli, when some one cried out, 'Warner is not here.' Another said he had sat down, sick, under a tree, a few miles back. His wife begged us to wait a short time, and with tears of aifection in her eyes, ran back to her husband. We tarried an hour. They came not. Entering the pond, (Simpson foremost,) and breaking the ice heie and there wnth the buts of our guns and feet, as occasion required, we were soon waist deep in the mud and water. As is generally the case with youths, it came to my mind that a bet- ter path might be found than that of the more elder- ly guide. Attempting this, the water in a trice cool- ing my armpits, made me gladly return into the file. Now Mrs. Gner had got before me. My mind was humbled, yet astonished, at the exertions of this good woman. Her clothes more than waist high, she wa- ded before me to firm ground. No one, so long as she was known to us, dared to intimate a disrespect- ful idea of her. Her husband, an excellent soldier, was on duty in Hendricks' boat, that had proceeded AGAINST. QUEBEC. 63 to the outlet of the lake with Lieutenant M'Cleland. Arriving: at firm ground-, and waiting again for our companions, we then set off, and in a march of sev- eral miles, over a scrubby and Hat plain, arrived at a river flowing from the east into the Chaudiere lake. This we passed in a batteaux, whicli the prudence of Colonel Arnold had stationed here for our acconmio- dation ; otherwise we must have swam the stream, which was wide and deep. In a short time we came to another river flowing from the same quarter, still deeper and wider than the former. Here we found a batteaux under the supeiintendenceof Capt. Dear- born, in which we passed the river. We skirted the river to its mouth, then passed along the margin of the lake to the outlet of the Chaudiere, where we encamp- ed with a heterogenous mass of the army. It was soon perceived that the French term Chaudiere was most aprly applied to the river below us. Indeed ev- ery part of it that came under our view, until we ar- rived at the first house in Canada, might well be termed a cakhon or boiler, which is the import of its French name. It is remarkable of (his river, and which distinguished it from ail others I had seen, that for 60 or 7<) niiles, it is a continued rapid, with(#tany apparent gap or passage, even for a canoe. Every boat we put into the river was stove in one part or another. Captain Morgan lost all his boats, and the life of a much valued soldier. With difticulty he sa- ved his own life and the treasure committed to his care. Arnold, accompanied by Steele, John M. Taylor, and a few others, in a boat, were in advance of the ar- my ; but (hey were obliged to take to the land, as I subsequently heard. On the ii.orning of the 2d of November, we set off from the Chaudiere lake, and liungered, (as to my- self,) almost to death. What with the supplies to 64 CAMPAIGN ShaefTer, and my own ajDpedte, food of any kind had become a non-entiiy with me. My own sufferings, in the two succeeding marches, from particular cau- ses, were more than ordinarily severe. JM}^ mocka- sins had, many days since, been worn to shreds and cast aside : my shoes, though they had been well sewed and hitherto stuck together, now began to give way, and that in the very worst part, (the upright seam in the heel.) For one to save his life, he must keep his station in the rank. The moment hi- place was lost, as nature and reason dictate, the following soldier assumed his place. Thus, once thrown out of the file, the unfortunate wretch must await the passage of many men, until a place towards the rear happens to open for his admission. This explana- tion will answer some questions which you might nat- urally put. Why did you not sew it ? Why did you not tie the shoe to your foot? If there had been awl, thread, and strings at command, (which there were not, for the causes above stated,) one dared not have done either, as the probable consequence would ensue, " Death by hunger in a dreary wilderness." Man, when thrown out of society, is the most help- less of God's creatures. Hence you may form a con- ception of the intolerable labor of the march. Ev- ery step taken, the heel of the foot slipped out of the shoe ; to recover the position of the foot in the shoe, and at the same time to stride, was hard labor, and exhausted my strength to an unbearable degree. You must remember that this niarch was not per- formed on the level surface of the parade ground, but over precipitous hills, deep gullies, and even without the path of the vagrant savage to guide us. Thus we proceeded till towards mid-day, the pale and mea- gre looks of my companions, tottering on their limbs, corresponding with iny own. My friend Simpson, AGAINST QUEBEC. W seeing my enfeebled condiiion and the cause, prevail- ed with the men to rest themselves a few minules. Bark, the only succedaneum for twine or leather in this misetahle country, was immediately procured, and the shoe bound ti^^htly to the foot. Then march- ing hastily, in the course of an hour or more we came within view of a tremendous cataract in tlie river, from 12 to 20 feet high. Tiie horror this sight gave us, fearing for the safety of our friends in the boats, was aggravated, when, turning the point of a ste6p cragg, we met those very friends, having lost all but their lives, sitting aroimd a fire on the shore. Oh God ! what were our sensatious ! Poor M'Cleland, first Lieutenant of Hendricks,' and for whose accom- modation tlie boat was most paiticularly carried a- cross the mountain, was lying by the fire ; he beck- oned to us : his voice was not audible ; placing my ear close to his lips, he indistinctly articulated the ex- pression, ' Farev.^ell.' Simpson, who loved him, gave him half of the pittance of food winch he still pos- sessed ; all I could give was a — tear. The short but melancholy story of this gentleman, so far as it has come to my knowledge, may be detailed in a very few words. He had resided on the Juniata at the time he was commissioned. My knowledge of him conunenced in the camp near Boston. He was en- dowed with all those qualities which win the affec- tions of men. Open, brave, sincere, and a lover of truih. On the Dead River, the variable weather brought on a cold that affected his lungs. The ten- derness of his friends conducted him safely, though much reduced, to the foot of the mountain at the head of the Dead River. Thence he was borne in a lit- ter across the mountain by men. If you had seen the young, yet venerable Captain Hendricks, bearing his share of this beloved and patriotic burthen across 6* 06 CAMPAIGN the plain to our camp, it would have raised esteem, if not affection, towards l)im. M'Cleland was trans- ported fioin our camp in a boat to the place wliere we found him. The crew conducting the boat, al- though worthy men and well acquainted with such kind of navigation, knew nothing of this river. — They descended, imaware of the pitch before them, unlil ttiey had got nearly into the suck of the falls. Here, luckily, a rock presented itself, on which it was so contrived as to lodge the boat. Now the crew with great labor and danger bore their unfortunate Lieutenant to the shore, where we found him. We passed on, fearful for our own lives. Coming to a long, sandy beach of the Chaudiere, for we some- times had such, some of our company were observ- ed to dart from the file, and with their nails tear out of the sand, roots, which they esteetued eatable, and ate them raw, even without washing. Languid and woe-begone as your father was, it could not but cre- ate a smile to observe the whole line watching with Argus eyes the motions of a few men who knew the indications in the sands of those roots. The know- ing one sprung; half a dozen followed ; he who ob- tained it ate the root instantly. Though hunger ur- ged, it was far from me to contend in that way with so powerful men as these were. During this day's march, (about 10 or 11 A. M.) my shoe having given out again, we came to a fire, where were some of Captain Thayer's or Topham's men. Simpson was in front ; trudging after, slip- shod and tired, I sat down on the end of a long log, against which the fire was built, absolutely fainting from hunger and fatigue, my gun standing between my knees. Sealing myself, that very act gave a cast to the kettle, it being placed partly against the log, in such a way as to spill two-thirds of its contents. AGAINST QUEBEC. 9/1 At that moment a large man sprung^ to his gun, and pointing it towards me, he threatened to shoot. It created no fear ; his hfe was with much more cer- tainty in my power. Death would have been a wel- come visitor. Simpson soon made us friends. Com- ing to iheir fire, they gave me a cup of their broth. A table spoonful was all that was tasted. It had a greenish iiue, and they said it was made from the llesh of a bear. This was instantly known to be un- true, from the taste and smell. Ii was that of a dog. He w^as a large black Newfoundland dog, belonging to Thayer, and very fat. We left these merry fel- lows, for they were actuajly such, maugre all their wants, and marching quickly, tow^ards evening en- camped. We had a good fire, but no food. To me the world had lost its charms. Gladly would death have been received as an auspicious herald from the Divinity. My privations in every way were such as to produce a willingness to die. Without food, with- out clothing to keep me warm, without money, and in a deep and devious wilderness, the idea occurred, and the means were in my hands, of ending exis- tence. The God of all goodness inspired other and better thoughts. One principal cause of change, (un- der the fostering hand of Providence,) in my senti- mentSj was the jovial hilarity of my friend Simp- son. At night, warming our bodies at an immense fire, (our compatriots joined promiscuously around,) to animate the company, he would sing " Plato ;" his sonorous voice gave spirit to my heart, and the morality of the song, consolation to my mind. In truth the music, though not as correct as Handel, ad- ded strength and vigor to our nerves. This evening it was, that some of our companions, whose stomachs had not received food (he last forty-eight hours, adop- ted the notion that leather, though it had been man- j98 CAMPAIGN ufactured, might be made palatable food, and would gratify the appetite. Observing their discourse, to me the experiment became a matter of curiosity. — They washed their moose-skin moccasins in the first place in the river, scraping away the dirt and sand with great care. These were brought to the kettle and boiled a considerable time, under the vague, but consolatory hope that a mucilage would take place. The boiling over, the poor fellows chewed the leath- er ; but it v/as leather still, not to be macerated. My teeth, though young and good, succeeded no better. Disconsolate and weary, we passed the night. November 3d. — We arose early, hunger impelling, and maiched rapidly. After noon, on a point on the bank of the river, some one pretended he descried the ' first house,' ten miles off. Not long after, an- other discerned a boat coming towards us ; and turn- ing a point of land, presently all perceived cattle dri- ving up the shore. These circumstances gave occa- sion to a feeble huzza of joy from those who beheld these cheerful and enlivening sights. We were now treading a wide and stony beach of the river. Smith, our captain, who at this moment happened to be in company, elated with the prospect of a supply of food, in the joy of his heart, perhaps thoughtlessly, said to me, ''Take this, Henry." It was gladly received. Opening the paper, which had been neatly folded, there appeared a hand's breadth and length of bacon- fat, of an inch thick ; thoughtlessly, it .was eaten greedily, inattentive to all former rule, and thanks to God, did me no harm. Here it was that for the first time, Aaron Buir, a most amiable youth of twenty, came to my view. He then was a cadet. It will require a most cogent evidence to convince my mind that he ever intended any ill to his country in after years, by his various speculations. Though differ- ing in political opinion from him, no reason has as AGAINST QUEBEC. yet been laid before me to induce a belief that he waa traitorous to his country. However, take ibis as the wayward ideas of a person totally excluded from a knowledge of the secrets of the cabinet, who was somewhat attentive to its operations, so far as news- paper information can elucidate. We marched as hastily as our wearied and feeble limbs would admit, hoping soon to share in some- thing like an Abysinian feast. The curvatures of the river had deceived us m the calculation of dis- tance. It was many hours ere we came to the place of slaughter. We found a fire but no provision, ex- cept a small quantity of oaten meal, resembling ia grit our chopped rye. Simpson warmed some of this in water, and ate with gout. To me it was nause- ous; this may have been owing to the luncheon from Smith's hoard. The Frenchmen told us that those who preceded had devoured the very entrails of the cattle. One of the eastern men, as we came to the fire, was gorging the last bit of the colon, half rinsed — half broiled. It may be said he ate with pleasure, for he tore it as a hungry dog would tear a haunch of meat. We soon encamped for the night, cheered b}^ the hope of succor. November 4th. — About two o'clock, P. M. we ar- rived at a large stream coming from the east, which we ran through, though more than mid-deep. This was the most chilling bath we had hitherto received : the weather was raw and cold. It was my 17th birth day, and the hardest of them all. Within a few hun- dred yards of the river stood the 'first house' in Can- ada : we approached it in extacy, sure of being re- heved from a death occasioned by famine. Many of our compatriots were unaware of that death which arises from sudden repletion. The active spirit of Arnold, wkh such able assistants as John M. Taylor 70 CAMPAIGN and Steele, had laid in a great stock of provisions. The men were furious, voracious, and insatiable. — Three starvations had taught me wisdom. My friends took my advice; but, notwithstanding- the irrefraga- ble arguments the officers used to insure moderation, the men were outrageous upon the subject ; they had no comprehension of such reasoning. There was a Pennsylvania German of our company, a good and orderly soldier, who, from my affection towards him, I watched hke anoilier Doctor Pedro Positive. All of my reasoning and representation had no influence upon him. Boiled beef, hot bread, potatoes boiled and roasted, were gormandized without stint. He seemed to defy death for the mere enjoyment of pres- ent gratification, and died two days alter. Many of the men sickened. If not much mistaken, we lost three of our company by their imprudence on this occasion. The immediate distension of the stomach by food, after a lengthy fast, operates as a more sud- den extinction of life than the total absence of ali- ment. At this place we for the first time had the pleasure of seeing tlie worthy and respectable Indian, Nata- nis, and his brother Sabatis, with some others of their tribe, (the Abenaquis.) Lieutenant Steele told us that when he first arrived Natanis came to him in an abrupt but friendly manner, and gave him a cordial ehake by the hand, intimating a previous knowledge of him. When we came, he approached Cunning- ham, Boyd, and myself, and shook hands in the way of an old acquaintance. We now learned from him that on the evening when we first enamped on Dead River, (September 29th,) in our first ascension, he lay within view of our camp, and so continued day and night to attend our voyage, until the paih presented that led directly into Canada. This path he took. AGAINST QUEBEC. 71 To the question " Why did you not speak to your friends?" he readily answered and truly, "You would have killed me." This was most likely, as our pre^ judices against him had been most strongly excited, and we htid no limit in our orders as to this devoted person. He, his brother Sabatis, and seventeen oth- er Indians, the nepheAvs and friends of Natanis, marched with us to Quebec. In the attack on that place on the morning of the first of January follow- ing, Na anis received a musket ball through his wrist. He adopted a chirurgery that seemed extraordinary at the time, and quite nevt^, but which now seems to me to be that of nature itself. He drew a pledget of hnen quite though the wound, the ends of which hung down on each side of the arm. He was taken prisoner, but General Carlton discharged him imme- diately, with strong tokens of commiseration. This is the first instance in the course of our revolutiona- ry war, of the employment of Indians in actual war- fare agaiuBt our enemies. To be sure it w^as the act of a junior commander, unwarranted, so far as has come to my knowledge, by the orders of his superi- ors ; yet it seemed to authorize, in a small degree, upon the part of our opponents, that horrible system of aggression which in a short time ensued, and as- tonished and disgusted the civilized world. Nov. 5th. — Hunger, which neither knows govern- ance or restraint, being now gratified, we turned our attention towards our fi lends that were still in the wilderness. Smith and Simpson, (for recollection does not serve to say how my friends Hendricks and Nichols were employed, but most certainly in doing good.) always active, procured tw^o young Indians, nephews of Natanis, " sweet fellows," (as Simpson called them,) to proceed on the following morning to the great fall, for the person of the invaluable M'Cle- T2 CAMPAIGN land. Before we started, it gave me pleasure to see these youths, excited by the reward obtained, push- ing- their birch-bark canoe against the strict current of the river. It seemed hke an egg-shell to bound over the surface of the waves of every opposing rip- ple. To end at once this dolorous part of the story : the young men, in spite of every impediment from the waters, and the sohciiations of I fie starved wan- derers in the rear for food, hurried on to the fall, and on tlie evening of the third day brought our dying friend to tlie " first house." The following day he died, and his corpse received a due respect from the inhabitants of the vicinage. We were inf )rmed of this a month after. This real Catholicism towards the remains of one we loved, made a deep and wide breach upon my early prejudices, Avhich since that period has caused no regret, but has induced a more extended and paternal view of mankind, unbound- ed by sect or opinion. On the morning of the 6th Nov. we marched in straggling parties, through a flat and rich country, sprinkled, it might be said, decorated by n»any low houses, all white washed, which appeared to be the warm abodes of a contented people. Every now and then a chapel came in sight ; but more frequently the rude, yet pious imitations of the sufferings of our Sa- vior, and the image of ihe virgin. These things cre- ated surprise, at least, in my mind, for where I ex- pected there could be little other than barbarity, we found civilized men, in a comfoi table state, enjoying all the benefits arising from ihe institutions of civil society. The river, along which the road ran in this day's march, became in the most part our guide. It now flowed in a deep and almost sightless current : where my opportunities gave me a view. Our ab stemiousness still continued. About noon of the AGAINST QUEBEC. 73 next day we arrived at the quarters of Arnold, a sta- tion he had taken for the purpose of halting and em- bodying the whole of our emaciated and straggling troops. We were now perhaps thirty miles from Point Levi, which is on the St. Lawrence, and near- ly opposite to Quebec. Now our mess had " friends at court." Arnold, since we left the twelve-mile carrying-place the last time, had deservedly taken Steele as a guide into his mess, and he had become a kind of aid de-camp. He was, to say no more, a confidential man. John M. Taylor, keen and bold as an Irish grey-hound, was of our company. Being' a ready penman and excel- lent accountant, he was at once exalted by the shrewd and discerning eye of Arnold, to the offices of pur- veyor and commissary. We had no distinctions of office, scarcely any of rank, in those days. Our squad consequently came boldly up to head-quarters, though we did not go into the presence of the officers. Steele, who was in waiting, pointed to the slaughter-house, an hundred yards distant. Thither we went, deter- mined to indulge. Here we found our friend Tay- lor, worried almost to death in dealing out the suste- nance of life to others. Without hyperbole or cir- cumlocuiion, he gave us as many pounds of beef- steaks as we chose to carry. Proceeding to the next house, a mile below, some one of the party became cook. Good bread and potatoes, with the accompa- niment of beef-steak, produced a savory meal. Be- lieving myself out of danger from any extraordinary- indulgence of appetite, the due quantity was exceed- ed, and yet, believe me, it was not more than an an- chorite might religiously take. We soon became sensible of this act of imprudence. The march of the afternoon was a dull and heavy one. A fever at- tacked me. I became, according to my feelings, the 74 CAMPAIGN most miserable of human beings. Determined not to lag behind, my eyes, at times, could scarcely dis- cern the way, nor my legs do their office. We did not march far (his afternoon. In tl)is high latitude, a winter's day is very short arid fleeting. The eve- ning brought me no comfort, though we slept warm- ly in a farm house. November 7th. — The army now formed into more regular and compact order, in the morning pretty ear- ly, we proceeded. About noon my disorder had in- creased so intolerably, that I could not put a foot for- w^ard. Seating myself upon a log at tlie way-side, the troops passed on. In the rear came Arnold (^n horseback. He knew my name and character, and good-naturedly inquired after my health. Being in- formed, he dismounted, ran down to the river side, and hailed the owner of the house which sto(Kl op- posite across tfie water. The good Canadian, in his canoe, quickly arrived. Depositing my gun and ac- coutrements in the hands of one of our men, who attended upon me, and had been disarmed by losing his rifle in some one of the wrecking's above, and Arnold putting two silver dollars in my hands, the Frenchman carried me to his house. Going to bed with a high fever upon me, I lay all this and the fol- lowing day without tasting food. That had been the cause of the disease, its absence became the cine. The morning of the third day, (10th Nov.) brought me health. The mistress of the house, who had been very attentive and kind, asked me to breakfast. This humble, but generous meal, consisted of a bowl of milk for the guest, with excellent bread. The fare of the family was this same bread, garlic, and •alt. I had observed that this was the usual morn- M^'s dict^ far I lay in the stove-room, where the fam- AGAINST QUEBEC. Ti ily ate and slept. This worthy family was compo- sed of seven persons: the parents in tlie piimeolhfe, and five charming, ruddy cliildren, all neatly and warmly clothed in woollen, apparently of their own mannliictme. You might suppose, from their man- ner of living, tliat these persons were poor. No such thino^. They were in good circumstances. Their house, barn, slalihng. e heart; but he was a man not to be dispirited by slight matters. Friction soon restored liirn to his usual animation. The moon, now about three o'clock, shone brightly, and the tide run out rapidly, so that the passing of the rest of the troops, about ot»e hundred and fifty in nimi- ber, this rnght, was given up. This circumstance, of the absence of so large a part of our force, was known to but few. They joined us on the following night. It had been the intention of otu* chief to storm the town this night ; but the deficiency of our scaling ladders, many of which had been left beyond theriv- er, now repressed that design. November 14th. — The troops easily ascended the hill, by a good road cut in it slantingly. This was not the case in 1759, when the immortal Wolfe mounted here. It was then a steep declivity, enfila- ded by a host of savages, hut was surmounted by the eager and gallant spirits of our nation. 80 CAMPAIGN [A favorable opportunity here presenting itself for a fHgre«sion from Mr Heiirv 's fiersonal Nanalive, it is einbiaced to give an ac- count of the landing of the Briti-sition seldom fails to call forth and unfold the lib- eral virtues of the soul Brave above all estimation of danger, he was also generous, gentle, complacent, and humane ; the pattern of the ofHcer, the darling of the soldier ; there was a sublimity in his genius which soar- ed above the pitch of ordinary minds ; and had his fac- ulties been exercised to their full extent by opportuni- ty and action, had his judgment been fully matured by age and experience, he would without doubt have ri- valled in reputation the most celebrated captains of an- tiquity. Immediately after the battle of Quebec, Admiral Saunders, who, together with his subordinates Durrel and Holmes, had all along co-operated heartily with the land forces for the advantage of the service, sent up all 83 CAMPAIGN the boats of the fleet with artillery and ammunition : and on the seventeenth day of the month sailed up, with all the ships of war, in a disposition to attack the lower town, while the upper part should be assaulted by General Townshend. This gentleman had employ- ed the time from the day of action in securing the camp with redoubts, in forming a military road for the can- non, in drawing up the artillery, preparing batteries, and cutting off" the enemy's communication with the country. On the seventeenth, before any battery could be finished, a flag of truce was sent from the town with proposals of capitulation; which, being maturely con- sidered by the General and Admiral, were accepted, and signed at eight next morning. They granted the more favorable terms, as the enemy continued to as- semble in the rear of the British army ; as the season was become wet, stormy, and cold, threatening the troops with sickness, and the fleet with accident, and as a considerable advantage would result from taking possession of the town while the walls were in a state of defence. What rendered the capitulation still more fortunate for the British General, was the information he afterwards received from deserters, that the enemy had rallied, and were reinforced behind Cape Rogue, under the command of M. de Levy, arrived from Mont- real for that purpose, with two regular battalions ; and that M. de Bougainville, at the head of eight hundred men, with a convoy of provisions, was actually on his march to throw himself into the town on the eighteenth, that very morning on which it was suixendered. The place was not then completely invested, as the enemy had broke the bridge of boats, and posted detachments in very strong works on the other side of the river St. Charles. The capitulation was no sooner ratified, than the British forces took possession of Quebec on the land siJe; and guards were posted in different parts of the town, to preserve order and discipline ; at the same time Captain Palliser, with a body of seamen, entered AGAINST QUEBEC. g» the lower to^v^^, and took the same precautions. Next day about a thousand prisoners were embarked on board transports, which proceeded to France with the first opportunity. Meanwhile the inhabitants of the coun- try came in great numbers to deUver up their arms, and take the oath of fidehty to the EngHsh govern- ment. The death of Montcahn, which was indeed an irreparable loss to France, in all probability over- whelmed the enemy with consternation, and confound- ed all their councils ; otherwise we cannot account for the tame surrender of Quebec to a handful of troops, even after the victory they had obtained : for although the place was not regularly fortified on the land side, and most of the houses were in ruins, their walls and parapets had not yet sustained the least damage ; the besiegers were hardly sufficient to complete the inves- titure ; a fresh army was assembled in the neighbor- hood, with which their communication continued open; the season was so far advanced that the British forces in a little time must have been forced to desist by the severity of the weather, and even retire with their fleet before the approach of winter, which never fails to freeze up the river St. Lawrence." [Jfr. Henry's JVarr alive resumed.'] November 15ih. Ai riving on JJie brow of the precipi. e, we tbiind ourselves on the plains of Abra- ham, so deservedly famous in story. IMie morning was cold, and we were thinly clad. While an ad- venturous pajty despatched by Arnold, under i he com- mand of one of Morgan's Lieutenants, were exam- ining the .walls of the city, we were pacnig the plains to-and-fro, in silence, to keep ourselves warm. The winter had set in — a cold northwester blew with un- common keenness. By the time (he reconnoiteriiig party returned, daylight was not very distant. '1 he party found every ilung t w;uds the city in a state of perfect quietueto-s. This report was delivered, in my 8* 90 CAMPAIGN hearing, to Morgan, however the world may have since been made to believe. Not even the cry of " All's well" was uttered, was a part of their report ; yet we heard that cry from the walls, even where we were : but this, in a direct line, was nearer to us than the voices opposite to the party. This was the hap- py moment ; but with our small and disjointed force, what could be done ? There was scarcely more tlian thiee hundred and fifty men, willino^ and deterujifu^d to be sure, but too few to assail a fortress like Clue- bee. If that had been known this night which was evidenced in a liew days by tlie fugitives from the city, Arnold would most assuredly have hazardedan attack. St. John's gate, which opens on Abraham's plains, and is a most important station, was unbai- red, nay, unclosed : nothing but a single cannon un- der the care of a drowsy watch, was there as a de- fence ; we were not a mile distant, and might have entered unknown, and even unseen. These are un- certain opinions, resting on I lie vaj^ue reports of the moment,, which miglit have been true orunlrue. My memory is, however, fresh irj the recollection of the heart-burnings this failure caused among us. Prov- idence, for wise purposes, would have it otherwise. Near daylight, requiring rest and lefreshment, the troops moved a mile, lo a laim-house of Lieutenant Governor (Jaldwell. This was a great pile of wood- en buildings, with numerous out houses, which tes- tified the agricultural spirit and taste of the owner. He, good soul, was then sntig in Quebec. Those who came first fared well, aiul as luck would have it, w^e were of the number: every thing wiJiin and without the house, became a prey. Adversity had destroyed in our minds every decorous or delicate sen- sation. Guards were stationed next the city. Wrap- ped in my blanket, fearless of events, casting my AGAINST QUEBEC. 91 person on the floor of an elegant parlor, I slept sweet- ly and soundly till two in the afternoon, and then was roused solely by a cry that the enemy was ad- vancing. We flew to arras, and rather in a hurried manner, ran towards the city, which was nearly two miles from us. We saw no enemy. It lurned out (hat a Mr. Ogden, a cadet from Jersey, a laige and handsome young man, in favor wiih Arnold, had been authorized to place liie seniinels that day. He did place them, most stupidl}^ George Merchant, of Morgan's, a man who would at any time, give him fair-play, have sold his life dearly, he stationed in a thicket, within view of the enemy. At the time of placing him, when at his post, he was out of sight of the garrison ; but the mischief was, (though he could not be seen.) he could see no one approach ; he was taken absolutely unaware of danger. A ser- geant of the "seventh," who, from the manner of the thing, nmst have been clever, accompanied by a few privates, sliiy creeping through the stieets of the suburbs of St. John, and then under the cover of the bushes, sprung upon the devoted Mercliant, even be- fore he had time to cock his rifle. Merchant was a tall and handsome Virginian. In a few days, he, hunting-shirt and all, was sent to England, proba- bly as a finished specimen of the riflemen of tlie col- onies. The government there very liberally sent him liome in the following year. The capture of Merchant grieved us, and brought us within a few hundred \aids of the city. Arnold had the boldnes>', you might say the audacity, or still more correctly, the folly, to draw us up in a line in front and opposite to the wall of the city. The par- apet was lined by hundreds of gaping citizens and soldiers, whom our guns could not harm, because of tlie diaiance. They gave U3 a huzza ! We return- « CAJMPAIGN 6(1 it, and remained a considerable time huzzaing, and spending- our powder aijainst. the walls, for we harmed no one. Some of our men to tiie right, un- der cover of something like ancient ditches and hil- locks, crept forward within two liundred yards of the works, but their firing was disregarded by the enemy as farcical. Febiger, who was a real and well-in- strucled soldier and engineer, did advance singly within a hundred paces, and pored with the eye of an adept. During ail tbis. as my station in the line happened to be on a mound, a few feet higher than the common level of the plain, it was perceptible tlirough the embrasuies that tbere was a vast bustle within. After some minutes a tbirty-six pounder was let loose upon us ; but so ill was the gun pointed, that the ball fell short, or passed bigb over our heads. Another and another succeeded — totbese salutes, we gave them all we c(suld, anotlierand another buzza. It must be confessed tfiat ibis ridiculous affair gave me a contemptible opinion of Arnold. Tbis notion was by no means singular. Morgan, Febiger, and other oihcers, who had seen service, did net hesitate to speak of it in (hat point of view. However, Ar- nold bad a vain desire to gratify, of which we were then ignorant. He was well known at Quebec. Formerly be had tradt;d from tbis port to the West Indies, most particularly in the article of horses. — Hence he was despised by the principal people. The epithet of "Horse-jockey," was freely and universal- ly bestowed upon bim by the Biitish. Having now obtained power, he became anxious to display it in the faces of those who had formerly despised and conteinned bim. The venerable ('arleton, an Irish- man of a most amiable and mild character, Colonel Maclean, a Scotchman, old in waifare, would not, in any shape, communicale with him. If Montgomery AGAINST QUEBEC. 03 had originally been our commander, matters might have been more civilly conducted. This particulari- ty in relating a most trivial and disgussting occur- rence, arises from a desire to set before you a cau- tionary rule, which it will be prudent for you lo ob- serve in your historical reading. " Do not believe "an author unless the story he relates be probable, " accompanied by such circumstances as might rea- "sonably attend the transaction, unless he is corrob- " orated by others who speak on tl;at subject." Many of our wisest men within the colonies wrote and spoke of this bravading as a matter of moment, and with much applause. Some of our historianr^, (Gor- don,) have given it ceiebriiy. J^ut a more silly and boastful British historian, (Amwell,) says there was a dreadful cannonadf , by which many of the rebels were destroyed. The truth is, that this day not a drop of blood w^as shed but that of Gt)vernor Cald- well's horned cattle, hogs, and poidtry, which run plentifully. After this vict,ory in huzzaing, which was boy's play, and suited me to a hair, we return- ed to quarters to partake of the good things of this world. 'i he next day, (Nov. 15th,) a scene of a different kind opened, wl)ii h let us into the true character of Arnold. In the wilderr)ess the men had been stint- ed to a pint of flour by the day. This scanty allow- ance of flour had been continued since we had come into this pletitiful country. Morgan, Hendricks, and Smith, waited upon the commander-in-chief, to rep- resent the grievance and obtain redress. Altercation and warm language took place. Smith, with his u- sua! loquacity, told us that Moigan seemed at one time on the point of striking Arnold. We fared the better lor this interview. On the following day, (Nov. 16th,) the rifle-com- 04 CAMPAIGN panics removerl further from the city. About half a mile from Caldwell's house oui" company obtained ex- cellent quarter;?, in (he hoiibeof a French gcntlen»an, who seemed wealthy. He ^\a8 pleasing in his man- ners, but the rudeness our ungovernable men exhib- ited, created in him an apparefit disgust to\Aards us. Here we remained neai a week. During that time, we had constant and severe duty to pei foim. 'I'here was a large building on the low grounds, near the river St. Charles, \^hich was occupied as a tuuinery, by a most lespectable society of ladies. In front of this liouse, ai tlie distance of fifty yards, there \^asa spacious log building, witich seemed to be a school- house, occupied by the priesthood atler»dant on the nunnery. Thi- liouse ^^e took jjosses.-iori ol as a guard-house, under an idea, (as it stood directly be- tween the town and the nunnery, ^^hi(h contained some piecious deposites, that thty had not had time to remove,) that the enemy would not fire in this di- rection. The conjeclme was just. Nov. IGth. — In the afiermon a distressing occur- rence t»H)k place here, notwiihstandinii i-ur vicinity to this holy place. ''I'owards I he evening the guard \> as relieved. Lieutenant Simpson commajided it. 1'his guard was composed of two-and-twenty fine fellows of OUI company. When the relief-guard came, a Frenchman, of a must villainous appearance, both as to person and visage, came to our Lieutenant with a written order from Colonel Arnold, commanding him to accompany the bearer, who would be our guide a- cross the river St. C'harles, to obtain some cattle teed- ing beyond it, on the account of government. The order, in the first insiance, because of its preposter- ousness, was dotibted, but, upoii a little reflection, o- beyed. Knowing the danger, our worthy Lieuten- ant also knew the best and only means of executing AGAINST QUEBEC. 95 the enterpnze. The call " come on, lads." was ut- tered. We ran with speed from the guard-house some hundred.- of yards, over the plain toihc mouth of the St. Charles, where the ferry is. Near (he fer- ry there was a lars^e wind-mill, and near it stood a small house resembhng a cooper's shop. Two carts of a large size were passing, the ferry heavily laden with the household-stuff, women, and children of the townsmen flung from the subuihs of St. Roqtje, con- tiguous to palace-gate, to avoid the terrible and fatal effects of war. The carts were a heady in a large scow or flat-bottomed boat, and the ferrymen, seeing us coniinf]^, were tugging hard at the ferry-rope to get off the boat, whicli was aground, before we should arrive. It was no small matter, in exertion, to out- do people of our agility. Simpson, with his usual good humor, urged the race, from a hope that the gai rison would not fire upon us when in the boat with their flying townsmen. The weight of our bodies and arms put the boat au round in good earnest. — Simpson vociferously urging the men to free the boat, directed them to place their guns in my arms, stand- ing on the bow. He ordered me to watch th.e flash- es of the cannon* of the ciiy, near palace gate. — Jtnnping into the water mid-deep, all but Serjeant Dixon and myself, they were pushing, pulling, and with handspikes attempting to float the scow. One of the cans stood between Dixon and myself — he was tugging at the ferry rope. Presently ''a shot," was called ; it. went wide of llie boat, its mark. The exertions of the party were red()ul)led. Keeping an eye upon the town, the sun about siting in a clear *This was a ridirulon^- practice, universally a'ln|(ted in fhecamp near B.).-^fon, and wa-^ now ptirsutd at this jjlacp. It i?. a)erel> oe- signaiive of the raw soldier. Such iudicatiuns of fear »tiould now- a-daj-s be severely repritnantled. 96 CAMPAIGN sky, tlie view was beauriful indeed, but somewhat terrific. Battlements like these liad been unknown to me. Our boat lay like a rock in the water, and was a target at point blank shot about three-fourths of a mile from palace gate, which issues into Saint Roque. I would have adored all the saints in the calendar if honor and their worships would have per- mitted the transportation of my person a few perches from the spot where it then stood, by the austere com- mand of duty. It was plainly obseivable that many persons were engaged in preparing the guns for an- other discharge. Our brave men were straining ev- ery nerve to obtain success. " A shot," was all that could be said, when a thirty-six pound ball, touching the lower edge of the nob of the cart-wheel, descend- ing a little, took the leg of my patriotic friend below the knee, and carried away the bones of that part entirely. " Oh ! Simpson," he cried, " I am gone." Simpson, whose heart uas tender and kind, leaped into the boat : calling to the men, the person of Dix- on was borne to the wind-mill. Now a roar of tri- umph was heard from the city, accompanied by some tolerably well diiected shots. The unfoitunateman was borne at a slow and soIem:i pace to the guard- house — the enemy every now and then sending us his majesty's compliments, in the shape of a 24 or 36 pound ball. When tl.e procession came inio a line with the town, the guard-house, and nunnery, the firing ceased. At the time we were most busily engaged with Dixon, atthe wind-mill, the vile French- man, aghast and horror-stricken, fled from us to the city. If his desertion had been noticed in lime, his fate had been sealed ; but the rascal was unobserv- ed till he had run several hundred yards along the beach of the bay of St. Charles. He turned out to be a spy, puiposely sent by government to decoy and AGAINST QUEBEC. 97 entrap us, and he succeeded but too easily with the vigilant Arnold. Dixon was now carried on a litter to the house of an English gentleman, about a mile off. An amputation took place — a tetanus followed, which, about nine o'clock of the ensuing day, ended in the dissolution of this honorable citizen and sol- dier. There are many reasons for detailing this af- fair so minutely to you. Aniong these are, to impress upon your minds an idea of the manners and spirit of those times : our means and rude method of war- fare ; but more particularly for the purpose of intro- ducing to your observation an anecdote of Dixon, which is characteristic of the ideas and feelings tlien entertained by the generality of his countrymen. Be- fore we left our native homes, tea had, as it were, be- come an abomination even to the ladies. The taxa- tion of it by the Parliament of England, with de- sign to draw from us a trifling revenue, was made the pretence with the great body of the people, for our opposition to government. The true ground, however, with the politically wise, was, that that law annihilated our rights as Englishmen. It is an ax- iom of the common law of our glorious ancestors, that taxation and representation must go hand in hand. This rule was now violated. Hence it was, that no male or female, knowing their rights, if pos- sessed of the least spark of patriotism, would deign to taste of that delightful beverage. The lady of the house, though not one who approved of our principles of action, was very attentive to our wounded com- panion ; she presented him a bowl of tea : "No, madam," said he, "it is the ruin of my country." Uttering this noble sentiment, (Nov. I7ih,) this in- valuable citizen died, sincerely lamented by every one who had the opportunity of knowing his virtues. Dixoa was a gentlwnan of good property and edu- 9 08 CAMPAIGN cation, though no more than (he first sergeant of our company. His estate lay in West Hanover town- ship, in the county of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He was an agriculturist, which, in the vagueness and uncertainty of our language, is called " a farmer." In fact he was a freeholder, the possessor of an ex- cellent tract of land, accompanied by all those agree- ahles which render the cultivator of the earth, in Pennsylvania, the most independent, and, with pru- dent economy, the most happy of human beings. The following mornins-, Simpson was the first to give me an account of Dixon's death, which affect- ed us much. His corpse received tiie usual military honors. Duty compelled my absence elsewhere. The blood of bixon was the first oblation made up- on the altar of liberty at (Quebec, and Merchant was the first prisoner. The latter was a brave and de- termined soldier, fitted for subordinate station ; the former was intuitively a captain. The city and vi- cinity occupied the attention of the commander near- ly a week Nov. 18th. — Not being fully in the secret, it does not become me to recount the causes of our retreat to Point aux Tremble. We did, however, make this retrograde movement rather in a slovenly style, ac- companied, probably, by the maledictions of the cler- gy and nobility, but attended by the regrets of a host of well-wishers among the peasantry. Point aux Tremble is at the distance of twenty, or more, miles from Quebec. The route thiiher, though in a se- vere winter, was interesting. The woods were leaf- less, except as to those trees of the fir-kind ; but nu- merous neat and handsomely-situated farm-houses, and many beautiful landscap«3s were presented, and enhvened our march along this majestic stream. At De.troit, which is supposed to be little short of nine AGAINST QUEBEC. 09 hundred miles from duebec, even there it is no con- temptible river ; but here the immenrfe volimie of its waters, strikes the mind of the stranij^er with aston- ishmeni and rapture. Our Susqueiianna, which, from its grandeur, attracts the European eye, stands in a low grade when compared wiih the St. Law- rence. Ascending the river, at a distance of ten or fifteen miles we observed the rapid passage, down stream, of a boat, and soon afterwards of a ship, one or ihe other of whicli contained the person of Sir Guy Carleton. That it was tfie Governor of the province, flying from Montgomery, who had by this time captured Montreal, We were informeil by a spe- cial kind of messenger, which was no other than the report of the cannon, by way of feu-de-joie, upon his arrival at the capital. Water, in regard to the com- munication of sound, is nearly as good a conductor as metals are, for the transmission of the electric flu- id. Though near to the place of our destination, we could mark with precision the report of every gun. Point aux Tremble, ai this time, had assumed the appearance of a stiaggling village. There was a spacious chapel, where the ceremonies of the Roman Catholic religion were performed wiih a pomp not seen in our churches, hut by a fervency and zeal ap- parently very piijus, which became a severe and ad- ditional stroke at early prejudices. Quarters were obtained in the village and iarm houses, dispersed o- ver a space of some miles, up and down the river. We enjoyed as much comfort as light houses, warm fires, and our scantiness of clothing would admit. Provisions were in plenty, particularly beef, which, though small in bulk, was of an excellent flavor. Being in a few days domesticated, as it were, in a re- spectable farmer's house, we had leisure to observe the economy of the famil)^ Every ere vice through 100 CAMPAIGN which cold air could penetrate, was carefull}^ pasted with strips of paper of every color. To permit the cold air lo intrude is not the only evil which results ; hut the smallest interstice admits with the air an al- most impalpable snow, which is very inconvenient, particularly at night, when the winds blow most sharply. A stove of iron stood a small space from the wall of the kitchen chimney, but in such a way that it might be encompassed by the family or guests. This stove w^as kept continually hot, both by day and by night. Over the stove there is a rack so con- structed as to serve for the drying of wet clothes, moccasins, (fee. 6cc. When these people slaughter their beasts for winter use, they cut up the meat in- to small pieces, such as a half pound, two pounds, &c. according to the number in the family. In the evening before bediime, the females of the house pre- pare the dinner of the following day. It may be par- ticularly described, as it v^'as done in our view for a number of days together, and during the time was never varied. This was the manner : a piece of pork or beef, or a portion of each kind, together witli a suf- ficiency of cabbaije, potatoes, and turnips, seasoned with salt, and an adequate quantity of water, were put into a neat tin kettle \v\\h a close lid. The ket- tle, thus replenished, was placed on ihe stove in the room where we all slept, and there it simmered till the lime cf rising, when it was taken to a small fire in the kitchen, where a stewing continued till near noon, when they dined. The contents were turned into a large basin. Each person had a plate ; no knife was Uv-^ed, except one to cut the bread, but a five or six pronged fork answered the purposes of a spoon. Tlie meat required no culling, as it was re- duced to a nmcilage, or at least to shreds. This, you may say, is trifling information, and unworthy AGAINST QUEBEC. 101 of your notice ; but according to my mind, it is im- portant to all of us, to know the habits, manners, and means of existence of that class of society, which in all nations, compose the bulk and strength of the bodv politic. Our dinner followed in a few hours. The manner of our cookery excited astonishment in our hosts. As much beef was consumed at a single meal, as would have served this family for a week. Remember, however, that the mess consisted of per- sons who were entitled to double and treble rations. Two rosy cheeked daughters of the house, soon con- trived the means and obtained the surplus. This circumstance most probably made us agreeable to the family, for we had nothing else to bestow. The snow had now fallen in abundance, and en- livened the country. Sleighs and sleds were passing in every direction. The farmers began to supply themselves with a full stock of winter's fuel from the forest. No fowls were visible about the house ; a few were kept alive for breeding in tlie ensuing summer, in a close and warm coop in the upper sioiy of the barn. The rest of the fowls, intended for the market or winter's use, had been slaughtered early in au- tumn, at the setting in of the frost, and were hung up in the feathers in the garret. Thence they were taken as wanted. Towards March they become un- savory, but in no way tainted. We became acquain- ted with this kind of economy, but upon a much lar- ger scale afterwards, when in a state of affliction and sorrow. The roads in this part of Canada are kept in ex- cellent order. The corvee of European France is maintained by the Government in fulleifect, as to its principles, but far less rigid in its practice. The roads in low grounds were ditched on the sides and curved towards the centre. Every forty or fifty yards 9* IQi CAMPAIGN on each side of the road, throughout the extent of it, young pines were stuck in the ground, to mark the cential and safest passage. It is a law that the land- holder, whenever a snow falls, either by day or night, when ii ceases, shall, with his horses and cariole, re- trace the road formed on the preceding snow, through- out the extent of his grounds. This is a laborious duty, but it was discernible that it was peformed with punctuality, if not with pleasure. In December, January, and February, when the snow lays from three to five feet deep over the surface, there is no travelling in this country, but by ways thus formed, or upon snow shoes. On the 1st of December, General Montgomery, who was anxiously expected, arrived. Arnold's corps was paraded in front of tF>e chapel. It was lowering and cold, but the appearance of the General here, gave us warmth and animation. He was well-limb- ed, tall, and handson»e, though his face was much pock-marked. His air and manner designated the real soldier. He made us a short, but energetic and elegant speech, the burthen of which was, an ap- plause of our spirit in passing the wilderness ; a hope that our perseverance in the same spirit woidd con- tinue ; and a promi;?e of warm clothing. The lat- ter was a most comfortable assurance. A few huz- zas from our freezing bodies were returned to this ad- dress of the gallant hero. Now new life was infu- sed into the whole of the corps. The next day (December 2,) we retraced the route from Quebec. A snow had fallen during the night, and continued falling. To march on tliissnow wag a n>ost fatiguing business. By this timewe had gen- erally furnished ourselves with seal-skin moccasins, which are large, and according to the usage of the country, stuffol with hay or leaves, to keep the feet AGAINST QUEBEC. lOi dry and warm. Every step taken in the dry snow, the moccasin liaving no rai-^ed heel to support the position of the ioo(, it slipped back and produced great weariness. On this march the use of the snow-shoe was very obvious, but we were destitute of that ar- ticle. The evening brought up the riflemen at an extensive liouse in the parish of St. Foix, about three iTiiies from duebec. It was inhabited by tenants. We took possession of a front parlor on the left, Mor- gan upon the light, Hendricks a back apartment, and the soldiery in the upper parts of the housCjand some warm outbuikiings. The next day, (December 3d,) Morgan not find- ing himself comfortable, moved a short space near- er to the city. Here, in low and pretty country hou- ses, he and his men were neatly accommodated. It seemed to me that the Canadians in the vicinage of Quebec lived quite as conjfortably as the gener- ality of the Pennsylvanians did at that time in the county of Lancaster. It may readily occur to you that some restriction ought to cramp this latitude of expression : take it, however, as a description of our sensations, entertained in our minds bv the conve- niences we now enjoyed, in opposition to our laie pri- vations We had just arrived from a dreary and in- hospitable wild, half-starved and thinly clothed, in a land of plenty, where we had full rations and warm quarters; consequently our present feelings, contrast- ed with former sufferings, might have appreciated in too high a degree the happiness of the Canadian. — What is now said, ought not to be taken in anywise as an allusion to the political rights, but be confined solely to the apparent prosperity and economy of fam- ilies. December 12th. We remained about ten days at these quarters. The tours of duty, to Arnold's par- 106 CAMPAIGN ty, were peculiarly severe. The officers and men etill wore iioLhing else than the remains of the sum- mer clothing", which, being on their backs, had esca- ped destruction in the disasters of the wilderness. The snow lay three feet de< p over the face of the whole country, and there was an addition to it al- most daily. Many impedinicnts occurred to delay the transportation of the clothing which Gen. Mont- gomery had procured for us at Montreal. Our mis- erable state, contrary to our principles, excited an il- licit desire to be apparelled more comfortably. This desire would probal)ly have lain dormant, but for a scoundrel Canadian, who in all likelihood was an en- emy of Lieutenant Governor Croniie. One morn- ing, having returned from a cold night's duly near palace gate, the fellow addressed Sinipson, who was the only ( fficer in quarters, and conmiunicated the information, " That about two miles up the St. Law- rence, lay a country seat of Governor Cromie, stock- ed with many things we wanted, and he would be our guide." Carioles were immediately procured. The house, a neat box, was romantically situated on the steep bank of the river, not very distant from a chapel. Though in the midst of winter, the spot displayed the elegant taste and abundant wealth of the owner. It must be a most delightful summer residence, in the months of July and August, when the heat of this northern climate seems greater to sensation than that of our country in the same sea- son. The house was closed ; knocking, the hall door was opened to us by an Irishwoman, who, of the fair sex, was the largest and most brawny that ever came under my notice. She was the steward- ess of the house. 6in- questions were answered with an apparent affability and frankness. She introdu- ced us into the kitchen, a large apartment, well-fill- AGAINST QUEBEC. 107 ed with those articles which good livers think neces- sary to the happy enjoyment of life. Here we ob- served five or six Canadian servants huddled into a corner of the kitchen, trenibhng with feat. Our pry- ing eyes soon discovered a trap-door leading into the cellar. Tn the counhy houses of Canada, because of the frigidity of the climate, the cellars are usually under a warm room, and are principally intended for the preservation of vegetables, 'i'he cavity in this instance abounded with a great variety of eatables, of which we were not in the immediate want. The men entered it — fiikin after firkin of butter, lard, tal- low, beef, pork, fresh and salt — all became a prey. While the men were rummaging below, the Lieuten- ant descended to cause more despatch. My duty was to remain at the end of the trap-door, with my back to the wall, and rifle cocked as a sentry, keep- ing a strict eye on the servants. My good Irishwo- man frequently beckoned to me to descend : her drift was to catch us all in the trap. Luckily she was comprehended. The cellar and kitchen being thor- oughly rifled, and the spoil borne to the sleighs, the party dispersed into the other apartments. Here was elegance. The walls and partitions were beautiful- ly papered, and decorated with large engravings, maps, &c. &c. of the most celebrated artists. A no- ble view of the city of Philadelphia, upon a large scale, taken from the neighborhood of Cooper's ferry, drew my attention, and raised some compunctive i- deas; but war and the sciences always stand at arms length in the contests of niankind. Tlie lat- ter must succumb in the tumult. Our attention was much more attracted by thecostly feather beds, coun- terpanes, and charuiing rose-blankets, which the house aflbrded. Of these there was good store, and we left not a jot behind us. The nooks and cievi- 108 CAMPAIGN ces in the carioles were filled with smaller articles ; several dozen of admirably finished case-knives and forks — even a sett of desert knives obtained the no- tice of our cupidity. Articles of lesser moment, not a thousandth part as useful, did not escape the all- grasping hands of the soldiery. In a back apart- ment there stood a mahogany couch or settee, in a highly finished style, l^he woodwork of the couch was raised on all sides by cushioning, and lastly, covered by a richly figured silk. This, to us, was lumber, besides our carioles were full. However, we grabbed the matrass and pallets, all equally elegant as the couch. Having, as we thought, divested his Excellency of all the articles of prime necessity, we departed, ostensibly and even audibly accompanied by the pious blessings of the stewardess for our mod- eration. No doubt she had her mental reservations ; on such business as this, we regarded neither. Near the chapel, we met a party of Morgan's men coming to do that which we had already done. The officer seemed chagrined when he saw the extent of our plunder. He went on, and finally ransacked the house, and yet a little more, the stables. The joy of our men, among whom the plimder was distributed in nearly equal portions, was extravagant. Now an operation of the human mind, which often takes place in society, and is every day discernible by per- sons of observation, b;'came clearly obvious. " Let a man once with impunity desert the strict rule of right, all subsequent aggression is not only increased in a- trocity, but is done without qualm of conscience." Though our company was composed principally of freeholders, or the sons of such, bred at home under the strictures of religion and morality, yet when the reing of decorum were loosed, and the honorable feel- ing weakened, it became impossible to adiuinister re- AGAINST QUEBEC. 109 Strain t. The person of a lory, or his property, be- came fair game, and tiiis at the denunciation of some base domestic villain. On the morning following, (Dec. 13th,) the same audacious scoundrel again returned. By leading to the first affair, and his intercourse with the privates, he had so wormed himself into their good graces, that nothing would do but a system of marauding upon our supposed enemies^ the tories. In tliis new expe- dition, which was further than the former, the offi- cers thought it prudent to accompany the men, in truth to keep order and repress their ardency. We arrived at a farm said to^belong to Governor Cromie or some other inhabitant of Q,uebec. The farm- house, though low, being but one story, was capa- cious, and tolerably neat. The barn built of logs, with a threshing-floor in the centre, was from seven- ty to eighty feet in length. The tenant, his wife, and children, shuddered upon our approach. Assu- rances that they should be unharmed, relieved their fears. The tenant pointed out to us the horned-cat- tle, pigs, and poultry of his landlord. These we shot down without mercy, or drove before us to our quar- ters. Thus we obtained a tolerable load for our car- avan, which consisted of five or six carioles. With this disreputable exploit, marauding ceased. A returning sense of decency and order, emanating from ourselves, produced a species of contrition. It is a solemn truth, that we plundered none but those who were notoriously tories, and then within the wallg of Quebec. The clergy, the nobles, and the peas- antry, were respected and protected, especially the latter, with whom, to use a trite expression, %ve frat- ernized. The minuteness of this description of oc- currences of a trivial, yet disgraceful nature, is made the more strongly to impress your minds with the 10 no CAMPAIGN horrors attendant on civil wars. This species of war, more than any other, not only affects the great and the wealthy, but it intrudes itself into, and devastates the cottage. This the American people know, from the many melancholy scenes that succeeded the pe- riod spoken of. Gracious and Almighty God ! the shield and pro- tector of the good, as well as thou art the scourge of the base and wicked nation, avert from my country this, the most terrible of thy modes of temporal ven- geance. December I5th. — In a shwt time the rifle compa- nies moved and occupied good quarters on the low grounds, near St. Charles' river, and about two miles from (Quebec. Our clothing was still of the flimsy kind before noted, but our hearts were light, even to merriment. Individually, from our own funds, we supphed ourselves with arm-gloves, and renewed our moccasins. This was about the middle of Decem- ber. During all this time our daily duty was labori- ous in various ways, and every other night we moun- ted guard at St. Roque. A guard-house, ere this, had been established at this place, in a very large stone house, which, though strong, (being exposed to the enemy's fire,) was soon battered about our ears ; i the distance scarcely more than three hundred yards. That position was changed for one more secure. A house that had been a tavern was adopted in its stead. This house was peculiarly situated. It was compar- atively small with the former in its dimensions, but the walls were strong, and the ceilings bomb-proof. It stood under the hill, so as to be out of the range of the shot from the ramparts contiguous to Palace- gate, which were elevated far above us. Simpson would say, "Jack, let us have a shot at those fel- lows." Even at noon-day we w^oiild creep along close AGAINST QUEBEC. Ill to the bouses which ranged under the hill, but close in with it, till w^e came within forty yards of Palace gate. Here was a smith's shop, formed of logs, through the crevices of which we would fire, at an angle of 70, at the sentries above us. Many of them were killed, and it was said, several officers. This was dishonorable war, though authorized by the prac- tices of those times. The distance from this guard- house to Palace-gate, may be three hundred and fif- ty yards. The hill, at the back of the house, seem- ed to make an angle of 60 or 70 degrees. This ac- clivity continued from the walls of the city, and a- round it by the lower town, (where it is greatest,) for many miles up the St. Lawrence and St. Charles, and forms the basis of Abraham's Plains. It was about that time the York artillerists, under Captain Lamb, had constructed a battery on the Plains, at the distance of 600 or 700 hundred yards from the fortress. The earth was too difficult for the intrench- ing tools to pierce ; the only method left was to raise a battery composed of ice and snow. The snow Avas made into ice by the addition of water. The work was done in the night time. Five or six 9 pounders and a howitzer were placed in it. It w^as scarcely completed, and our guns had opened on the city, be- fore it was pierced through and through by the weigh- tier metal of the enemy. Several lives w^ere lost on the first and second day. Yet the experiment was persisted in, till a single ball, piercing the battery, kill- ed and wounded three persons. In the quarters last mentioned, we enjoyed some pleasant days. The winter in Canada, as with us, is the season of good humor and joy. December 18th, 19th. Upon a secession from the out-post, or other military employments, we Avere a- greeably received in the farm houses arou/id, Our 112 CAMPAIGN engagemeiitg near Palace gate still continued to be of the arduous kind : our numbers being few, every second watch was performed by the same persons who had made the guard the last but one. Between the guard house and the extreme end of the suburbs of St. Roque, which may be half a mile from the ramparts, there was a rising ground in the main Btreet, fairly in view of the enemy, and whilst we relieved in daylight, was raked, even by grape shot. Some good men were lost here. This circumstance changed the time of relief to nine o'clock in the eve- ning. The riflemen were principally employed as guards at this dangerous station. It is but fair and honest to relate to you an anecdote concerning my- eelf, which will convey to your minds some notion of that afTection of the head or heart which the milita- ry call a panic-terror. Being one of the guard and having been relieved as a sentry about twelve or one o'clock at night, upon returning to the guard house in a dozing state, I cast myself on a bench next the back wall. Young, my sleeps were deep and heavy ; my youth obtained this grace from Simpson, the of- ficer who commanded. About three o'clock I was roused by a horrible noise. The enemy, in casting their shells, usually began in the evening, and threw but a few ; towards morning they became more alert. Our station being out of sight, it v/as so managed as to throw the shells on the side of the hill, directly back of us, so as they would trundle down against the wall of the guard house. This had frequently occurred before, but was not minded. A thirteen- inch shell, thus thrown, came immediately opposite the place where my head lay ; to be sure, the three foot wall was between us. The bursting report was tremendous, but it was heard in a profound sleep. Starting instantly, though unconscious of the cause, AGAINST QUEBEC. 113 and running probably fifty yards, through untrod snow, three feet deep, to a coal house, a place quite unknown to me before, it was ten or fifteen minutes before the extreme cold restored that kind of sensi- bility which enabled me to know my real situation. Knowing nothing of the cause, the probable effect, nor any of the consequences which might follow from this involuntary exertion, it seemed to me to be a species of the panic which has been known to af- fect whole armies. The circumstance here related, caused a laugh against me ; but it was soon discov- ered that those of the soldiery, though wide awake, were as much panic-stricken as myself. The laugh rebounded upon them. During this period we had many bitter nights. To give you some idea of a Canada winter, allow me to relate an occurrence which is literally genuine. December 24Lh. One night, at the time of re- lief, a confidential person came from Colonel Arnold, accompanied by an Irish gentleman named Craig, directing the relieved guard to escort him to his own house, which stood between twenty and thirty paces from Palace gate. Craig was a merchant of consid- erable wealth, and what was more, an excellent whig. He was expelled from his habitation because of his whigism, and took refuge in Arnold's quarters. Montgomery by this time had furnished us with per- sonal clothing suitable to the cUmate, but there were a thousand other things wanting for comfortable ac- commodation. Many of these Mr. Craig possessed, and which Arnold's luxurious cupidity desired. — Craig's house was an extensive building, three sto- ries high, with back buildings of an equal height, running far in the rear along the foot of the hill. This last building consisted of stores, which, as well as the house, was of brick work. We came to the 10* 114 CAMPAIGN back part of the house Bilenlly, and with the utmost caution. Mr. Craig, by a slight knock, brought a trus- ty okl negro to the door, who was the sole guardian of the house. The objects of Mr. Craig were frying pans, skillets, and a great variety of other articles of ironmongery, together with cloths, flannels, linens, dec. dec. The party with Craig entered the house. As a person in whom it pleased the officers to place confidence, it became my business to watch the Pal- ace gate. There was a clear moonlight, but it was exceedingly bleak. My place of observation was un- der a brick arch, over which were stores of Mr. Craig, perhaps less than eighty feet from Palace gate. My gloves being good and well lined with fur, and my moccasins of the best kind, well stuffed, unseen I continually paced the width of the arch; my com- panions seemed to employ too much time. Some Frenchmen, of Colonel Livingston's regiment, with- out our knowledge, had been below Palace gate, ma- rauding. Repassing the house we were at, like so many emissaries from the pit, they set up a yelling and horrid din, which not only scared our party, but alarmed the garrison itself. My companions in the house, (apprehensive of a sally from Palace gate,) fled, carrying all they could. Though I heard the noise, the flight of my friends was unseen, as they emerg- ed from the cellars. The noise and bustle created by the Canadians, attracted the attention of the ene- my. Large and small shells were thrown in every direction wherever a noise was heard in St. Roque. Having on a fine white blanket coat, and turning my cap, or " bonnet rogue" inside out, the inside be- ing white, made me, as it were, invisible in the snow. Under the arch the conversation of the sentries, as it were, almost over my head, was very distinguishable. In this cold region many reasons operate to induce AGAINST QUEBEC. 116 the placing two sentries at the same post — they enli- ven each other by conversing, and it prevents the fa- tal effects which follow from standing still in one po- sition. Fifteen minutes, at this time, was the term of the sentries' standing. The time of my standing under the arch seemed to be several hours ; yet hon- or and duty required perseverence. At length, being wearied out— going to the back door of the house and knocking — no whisper could be lieard within : the old negro was soundly asleep in his bomb-proof shell. At this moment those Canadians ran past the gate- way again, with their usual noisy jabber : to me, in my deserted state, it se'emed a sally of the enemy. There was no outlet but by the way we came, which seemed hazardous. Running, gun in hand, into a large enclosure, which was a garden of Mr. Craig, here was a new dilemma. There was no escape but by returning to the house or climbing a palisade 20 feet high. The latter was preferred ; but my rifle was left within the enclosure, as no means could be fallen upon to get it over the stockade. The guard house was soon reached. One of the sergeants kind- ly returned with me to assist in bringing over my gun. It was grasped with ecstacy : alas ! the deter- mination never to part with it again, but with life, was futile. While in the enclosure, going from and returning to it, we were assailed with grape shot and shells, not by any means aimed at us, (for the enemy knew not that we were there,) but was intended to disperse those vociferous and vile Canadians, and it had the effect. They were as cowardly as noisy. The cohorn shells were handsomely managed. They usually burst at fifteen or twenty feet from the earth, so as to scatter their destructive effects more widely. Again coming to the guard house, my immediate friends all gone, I ran thence to our quarters, (about 116 CAMPAIGN two miles,) with great speed. This was about three o'clock in the morning. Coming to quarters, my feet and hands were numbed, without ever having, du- ring those many dreary hours, been sensible of the cold. It was soon discovered that they were frozen. PuUing off my leggins, fee. and immei'ging my feet and legs knee deep in the snow at the door, rubbing with my hands a few minutes, soon caused a re-cir- culation of the blood ; the hands were restored by the act. For fifteen, and even twenty years afterwards, the intolerable effects of that night's frost were most sensibly felt. The soles of my feet, particularly the prominences, were severely frost-bitten and much in- flamed : so it was as to my hands. But it was very ren]arkable that these subsequent annual painings, uniformly attacked me in the same month of the year in which the cause occurred. On the night of the 20th or 21st of December, a snow storm, driving fiercely from the north-east, in- duced the noble Montgomery to order an attack on the fortress. Our force altogether, did not amount to more than 1100 men, and many of these, by contri- vances of their own, were in the hospital, which, by this time, was transferred to the nunnery. The storm abated — the moon shone, and we retired, truly un- willing, to repose. We had caught our commander's spirit. He was anxious, after the capture of Cham- blee, St. Johns, and Montreal, to add (Quebec, as a crowning trophy to the laurels already won. Cap- tain Smith, the head of our mess, as Captain, had been invited to General Montgomery's council of of- ficers ; none under that grade having been called. Like most uninstructed men, he was talkative, and what is much worse in military affairs, very commu- nicative. I believe blushing followed the intelligence he gave me : the idea of impropriety of conduct in AGAINST QUEBEC. 117 him, deeply impressed my mind. The whole plan of the attack on the two following days was known to the meanest man in the army. How it was dis- closed, is uncertain, unless by the fatuity of the- cap- tains. One Singleton, a sergeant in the troops that accompanied Montgomery, deserted from the guard at the suburbs of St. John, and disclosed to our foes the purport of our schemes ; his desertion caused much anxiety. The General prudently gave out that it was by command, he would return soon with intelligence. This was believed generally. The latter information came to my knowledge some time afterwards, when a prisorier. The relation of Smith to me is perfect on my memory. Youths seldom for- get their juvenile impressions. It was this : '' That we, of Arnold's corps, accompanied by Capt. Lang's York Artillerists, should assail the lower town, on the side of St. Roque : General Montgomery was to attack the lower town by the way of Cape Diamond, which is on the margin of the St. Lawrence. A false attack was to be made easterly of St. John's gate. When Montgomery and Arnold conjoined in the lower town, then the priests, the women, and the children, were to be gathered and intermingled with the troops, and an assault be made on the upper town." Visionary as this mode of attack was, from what ensued, it is sincerely ray belief that SmitJi was correct in his information, as to the plan suggested by the General. In those turbulent times, men of gallantry, such as Montgomery, were imperiously ne- cessiated, to keep up their own fame and the spirits of the people, to propose and to hazard measures, e- ven to the confines of imprudence. There was an- other circumstance which induced our brave and worthy General to adopt active and dangerous means of conquest. Many of the New-England troops had 118 CAMPAIGN been engaged on very short enlistments, some of which were to expire on the first of January, 1776. The patriotism of the summer of seventy-five, seem- ed almost extinguished in the winter of seventy-six. The patriotic officers made every exertion to induce enlistments, but to no purpose. We, of the " rifle corps," readily assented to remain with the General, though he should be deserted by the eastern men ; yet this example had no manner of influence on the generality. The majority were either farmers or sail- ors, and some had wives and children at home. — These, and other reasons, perhaps the austerity of the winter, and the harshness of the service, caused an obstinacy of mind which would not submit to pa- triotic representation. Besides, the small pox, intro- duced into our cantonments by the indecorous, yet fascinating arts of the enemy, had already begun its ravages. This temper of the men was well known to the General. Great numbers of the soldieis in- oculated themselves for this disease, by laceration un- der the finger nails by means of pins or needles, ei- ther to obtain an avoidance of duty, or to get over that horrible disorder in an easy and speedy way. It was not until the night of the 3lst of Decem- ber, 1775, that such kind of weather ensued as was considered favorable for the assault. The forepart of the night was admirably enlightened by a luminous moon. Many of us, officers as well as privates, had dispersed in various directions among the farm and tippling houses of the vicinity. We well knew the signal for rallying. This was no other than a snow 6torm. About 12 o'clock P. M. the heavens were o- vercast. We repaired to quarters. By 2 o'clock we were accoutred and began our march. The storm was outrageous, and the cold wind extremely biting. Jn this northern country the snow is blown horizon- [Montgomery's attack on Quebec] AGAINST QUEBEC. i;2rl tally into the faces of travellers on most occasions— this was our case. January 1st. — When w6 came to Craig's house), near Palace gate, a horrible roar of cannon took place, and a ringing of all the bells of the city, which are very numerous, and of all sizes. Arnold, head- ing the forlorn hope, advanced perhaps one hundred yards before the main body. After these followed Lamb's artillerists. Morgan's company led in the secondary part of the column of infantry. Smith's followed, headed by Steele ; the captain, from partic- ular causes, being absent. Hendricks' company suc- ceeded, and the eastern ipen, so far as known to me, followed in due order. The snow was deeper than in the fields, because of the nature of the ground. The path made by Arnold, Lamb, and Morgan was almost imperceptible because of the falling snow. Covering the locks of our guns with the lappets of our coats, and holding down our heads, (for it was impossible to bear up our faces against the imperious storm of wind and snow,) we ran along the foot of the hill in single file. Along the first of our run from Palace gate, for several hundred yards, there stood a range of insulated buildings, which seemed to be store- houses — we passed these quickly in single file, pretty wide apart. Tjie interstices were from thirty to fifty yards. In these inteiTals we received a tremendous fire of musketry from the ramparts above us. Here Ave lost some brave men, when powerless to return the salutes we received, as the enemy was covered by his impregnable defences. They were even sightless to us — we could see nothing but the blaze from the muzzles of their muskets. A number of vessels of various sizes lay along the beach, moored by their hav/sers or cables to the houses. Pacing after my leader, Lieutenant Steele, 11 122 CAMPAIGN at a great rate, one of those ropes took me under the chin and cast me headlong down a declivity of at least fifteen feet. The place appeared to be either a dry dock or a saw pit. My descent was terrible ; gun and all was involved in a great depth of snow. One of my knees received a most violent contusion. On like occasions our intimates attend to no other than their own concerns. Mine went from me, re- regardless of my fate. Scrabbhng out of the cavity without assistance, divesting my person and gun of the snow, and limping into the line, it was attempt- ed to assume a station, and preserve it. These wer^ none of my friends — they knew me not. We had not gone twenty yards, in my hobbling gait, before I was thrown out and compelled to await the arrival of a chasm in the line, where a new place might be obtained. Men, in affairs such as this, seem in the main to lose the compassionate feeling, and are a- verse to being dislodged from their original stations. We proceeded rapidly, exposed to a long line of fire from the garrison, for now we were unprotected by any buildings. The fire had slackened in a small degree. The enemy had been partly called off to resist the General, and strengthen the party opposed to Arnold in our front. Now we saw Colonel Ar- nold returning, wounded in the leg, and supported by two gentlemen ; a parson Spring was one, and in my belief, a Mr. Ogden the other. Arnold called to the troops in a cheering voice as we passed, urging us forward ; yet it was observable among the sol- diery, with whom it was my misfortune to be now placed, that the Colonel's retiring damped their spir- its. A cant phrase, '' We are sold," was repeatedly heard in many parts throughout the line. Thus pro- ceeding, enfiladed by an animated but lessened fire, we came to the first barrier, where Arnold had been AGAINST QUEBEC. 123 wounded in the onset. Thig contest had lasted but a few minutesj and was somewhat severe; but the energy of our men prevailed. The embrasures were entered when the enemy were discharging their guns. The guard, consisting of thirty persons, were either taken, or fled, leaving their arms behind them. At this time it was discovered that our guns were use- less, because of the dampness. The snow, which lodged in our fleecy coats, was melted by the warmth of our bodies. Thence came that disaster. Many of the party, knowing the circumstance, threw aside their own, and seized the British arms. These were not only elegant, but were such as befitted the hand of a real soldier. It was said that 10,000 stand of such arms had been received from England in the previous summer for arming the Canadian militia. Those people were loth to bear them in opposition to our rights. From the first barrier to the second, there was a circular course along the sides of houses, and partly through a street, probably of three hun- dred yards, or more. This second barrier was erect- ed across, and near the mouth of a narrow street, ad- jacent to the foot of the hill, which opened into a larger, leadii.g soon into the main body of the lower town. Here it was that the most serious contention took place ; this became the bone of strife. The ad- mirable Montgomery by this time, (though it was un- known to us,) was no more ; yet we expected mo- mentarily to join him. The firing on that side of the fortress ceased ; his division fell under the com- mand of a Colonel Campbell, of the New York fine, a nerveless chief, who retreated without making an effort, in pursuance of the General's original plans. The inevitable consequence was, that the whole of the forces on that side of the city, and those who were opposed to the various detachments employed to 124 CAMPAIGN" make the false attacks, embodied and came down to oppose om* division. Here was sharp shooting;. We were on the disadvantageous side of the barrier for such a purpose. Confined in a narrow street, hardly more than twenty feet w^ide, and on the lower ground, scarcely a ball, well aimed or otherwise, but must take effect upon us. IMorgan, Hendricks, Steele, Humphreys, and a crowd of every class of the. ar- my, had gathered into the narrow pass, attempting to surmount the barrier, which was about twelve or more feet high, and so strongly constructed that noth- ing but artillery could effectuate its destruction. — There was a construction fifteen or twenty yards within the barrier, upon a rising ground, the cannon of which much overtopped the height of the barri- er ; hence we were assailed with grape shot in abun- dance. This erection was called the platform. A- gain, wdthin the barrier, and close in to it, were two ranges of musketeers, armed with musket and bay- onet, ready to receive those Avho might venture the dangerous leap. Add to all this that the enemy oc- cupied the upper chambers of the houses in the inte- rior of the barrier, on both sides of the street, from the windows of which we became fair marks. The enemy, having the advantage of the ground in front, a vast superiority of numbers, dry and better arms, gave them an irresistible power in so narrow a space. Humphreys, upon a mound which, w^as speedily e- rected, attended by many brav€ men, attempted to scale the barrier, but was compelled to retreat by the formidable phalanx of bayonets within, and the w^eight of fire from the platform and the buildings; Morgan, brave to temerity, stormed and raged. — Hendricks, Steele, Nichols, Humphreys, equally brave, were sedate, though under a tremendous fire. The platform, which w^as within our view, wa^ evacuated AOAINST QUEBEC. 125 by the accuracy of our fire, and few persons dared venture there again. Now it was that the necessity of the occupancy of the houses on our side of the barrier, became apparent. Orders were given by Mor- gan to that effect — we entered. This was near day- light. The houses were a shelter from which we could fire with much accuracy. Yet even here some valuable lives were lost. Hendricks, when aiming his rifle at some prominent person, died by a strag- gling ball through his heart. He staggered a few feet backwards and fell upon a bed, where he in- stantly expired. He was an ornament to our little society. The amiable Humphreys died by a like kind of wound, but it was in the street before we en- tered the buildings. Many other brave men fell at this place ; among these were Lieutenant Cooper, of Connecticut, and perhaps fifty or sixty non-commis- sioned ofiicers and privates. The wounded were nu- merous, and many dangerously wounded. Captain Lamb, of the York artillerists, had nearly one half of his face carried away by a grape or canister shot. My friend Steele lost three of his fingers as he was presenting his gun to fire ; Capt. Hubbard and Lieu- tenant Fisdle were also among the wounded. When we reflect upon the whole of the dangers at this bar- ricade, and the formidable force that came to annoy us, it is a matter of surprise that so many should es- cape death and wounding, as did. All hope of suc- cess having vanished, a retreat was contemplated ; but hesitation, uncertainty, and a lassitude of mind which generally takes place in the affairs of men, when they fail in a project upon which they have at- tached much expectation, now followed. That mo- ment was foolishly lost when such a movement might have been made with tolerable success. Capt. Laws, ftt the head of 200 men, issuing from Palace gate, ne CAMPAIGN most fairly and handsomely cooped us up. Many of the men, aware of the consequences, and all our In- dians and Canadians, (except Natanis and another,) escaped across the ice wliich covered the bay of St. Charles, before the arrival of Captain Laws. Tiiis was a dangerous and desperate adventure, but worth the undertaking^, in avoidance of our subsequent suf- ferings. Its desperateness consisted in running two miles across shoal ice, thrown up by the high tides of this latitude- — and its danger in the meeting with air holes, deceptively covered by the bed of snow. Speaking circumspectly, yet it must l>e admitted Gonjecturally, it seems to me that in the whole of the attack, of conuuissioned otiicers we had six killed, five wounded: and of non-commissioned and pri- vates at least one hundred and fifty killed, and fifty or sixty womided. Of the enemy, many were kill- ed and many more wounded, comparatively, than on our side, taking into view the disadvantages we la- bored under ; and that but two occasions happened \\'hcn we could return their fire — that is, at the first and second barriers. Neither the American account of this- affair, as published by Congress, nor that of Sir Guy Carleton, admit the loss of either side to be so great as it really was. in my estimation. It seems to be a universal practice among belligerents of all nations to lessen the number of the slain of the side of the party which reports the event, and to increase it on tile part of the enemy. Having had prett}^ good opportunities of forming a just opinion on the subject, it is hoped that gentlemen who have thought or writ- ten differently, will not disdain to listen tx).n»y argu- ment. As to the British, on the platform, they were fair objects to us. They were soon driven thence by the acuteness of our shooting, which, in our appre- hensionj must have destroyed many. Perhaps^there AGAINST QVEBEC. i27< never was a body of men associated, who better un- derstood the use and manner of employing a rifle, than our corps, which by this time of the attack, had their guns in good order. When we took possession of the houses, we had a greater range. Our oppor- tunities to kill were enlarged. Within one hundred yards every man must die. The British, however, were at home — they could easily drag their dead out of sight, and bear their wounded to the hospital. It was the rever:^e with us. Captain Prentiss, who com- manded the provost guards, while we were prisoners would tell me of seven or eight killed, and fifteen or twenty wounded. Opposed to this, the sentries, (who* were mostly Irishmen, that guarded us, with much simplicity, if not with honesty,) frequently admitted of forty or fifty killed, and many more wounded.-— The latter assertions accorded with my opinion. The reasons for this belief are these : When the dead, on the following days, were transported on the carioles, passed our habitation for deposition in the •' dead house," we observed many bodies of which none of us had any knowledge : and again, when our woun- ded were returned to us from the hospital, they uni- formly spoke of being surrounded there in its many chambers by many of the wounded of the enemy. To the great honor of General Carlton, they were all, whether friends or enemies, treated witfi like at- tention and humanity. The reason why the woun- ded of our side bore so small a proportion to the dead, seems to be this : In the long course we ran from Palace gate to the first barrier, we lost many men who were killed outright, but many rriofe died who were merely wounded, y6t in such a manner as in a milder region to makes the case a curable one. A blow from a ball so large as that of a musket, stag- gers a man, whether the wound be in the arm, legj 128 CAMPAIGN or elsewhere ; if in staggering, he falls, he comes down into a deep bed of snow, from which a hale man finds it very difficult to extricate himself. Five or ten minutes struggling in such a bed benumbs ihe strongest man, as frequent experience has taught me; if the party be wounded, though but slightly, twenty or thirty minutes will kill him — not because of the severity of the wound, but by the intensity of the frost. These are my opinions, grounded on a toler- ably distinct and accurate knowledge of particular cases, which occurred in the first part of the attack, and a variety of information obtained afterwards from individual sufferers, who Avere persons of credibility, rescued from death by the humane activity of Gen- eral Carleton. About 9 o'clock A. M. it was appa- rent to all of us that we must surrender ; and it was done. On this occasion my friend General F. Nich- ols, by his own native spirit, perseverance, and de- termined bravery, obtained an honorable distinction and acknowledgment from a brave and distinguish- ed enemy. It enhances his merit and the boon, when we reflect that that enemy was no other than General Carlton, an ornament such as would grace any nation, whether in the worst or best of times. Some privates came to Lieutenant Nichols and de- manded his sword ; the requisition was peremptorily denied, though there was great risk in the refiisal. He retained his sword till he met with Captain En- desly of the enemy, to whom it was surrendered ; but with the exaction of a promise that it should be re- turned when he, (the captive,) should be released. In the August following, before our embarkation for New- York, Captain Endesly waited on Lieutenant Nichols, aiid in the presence of all the American of- ficers, re-delivered the sword, under the assurance that it was by the permission and command of Gen- AGAINST QUEBEC. 12? eral Carlton. This trait in the character of Carlton adds to the celebrity of his derivation and manner of thinking, and casts into a dark ground the characters of most of the principal British officers, particularly the Scotch, who had much intluence in those days, and bore towards us an intemperate hatred. The commissioned officers and some of the cadets were conducted to the seminary, a respectable build- ing. It became my lot in one way or other to be lost in the crowd, and to be associated with the non-com- missioned officers, in the company of some of whom ardent and perilous duties had been undergone.— These men are by no means to be lessened in char- acter by contrasting them with the levies made in, Europe, or those made since that time in our own country. Many of our sergeants, and even of our privates, were men of good education, and substan- tial freeholders in our own country. Upon a former occasion you were told the story of the respectable Dixon. Repossessed, (if sordid wealth makes th© man,) two-fold the riches of his captain ; and if it be permitted me to decide upon the characters of men, five-fold his understanding, activity and spirit. Ami- able Dixon! Many of these men, in the progress of the bloody scenes which ensued, became props of our glorious cause in defence of our sacred liberties. Alt could be named. Let a few suffice. Thomas Boyd, so often spoken of in the wilderness for his good hu- moi", hi^ activity, and the intensity of his sufferings, struggled gloriously for his Hfe as a captain, and died a dreadful death by the hands of the savages in 1779, in the expedition conducted by General Sullivan a- gainst the Six Nation Indians. 130 CAMPAIGN [Another digression is here made in Mr. Henry's Narrative, both to relieve the tedium of a subject which treats of one unvaried round of hardship and suffering, and to contrast the recital of the same event as given by an eye witness, and as laid down by the general historian. The following account of Montgomery's at- tack on Quebec, is from " Botta's History of the War of the Revolution," a work reckoned by critics the most authentic of any yet published on that subject. The reader will find following the extract above alluded to, a por- tion of an Oration, illustrative of the Revolutionary warfare, de- livered on the occasion of the removal of the remains of Lieut. Thomas Boyd from the gravenear where he fell, to Mount Hope, in Rochester, August 20th, 1841, by Samuel Treat, of Geneseo. Lieut. Thomas Boyd and Thomas Boyd, mentioned by Mr. Henry, are identical. — Editor] [Jlccount of Montgomery's Jit tack on Quebec.'] " Montgomery, having determined to attempt the as- sault, convoked a council of war, and acquainted them with his project. Without denying that it was of diffi- cult execution, he maintained that it was possible, and that valor and prudence would triumph over all obsta- cles. All were in favor of his proposition. A few companies of Arnold, dissatisfied with their comman- der, alone testified repugnance. But Captain Morgan, a man of real merit, addressed them a persuasive dis- course, and their opposition ceased. The general had already arranged in his mind the plan of the attack, and thought of all the means proper to carry it into execution. He intended it should take place, at the * same time, against the upper and lower town. But understanding that a deserter had given notice of it to the governor, he resolved to divide his army into four corps, two of which, composed in great part of the Ca- nadians, under the command of Majors Livingston and Brown, were to occupy the attention of the enemy by two feigned attacks of the u})per town, towai'ds St. John and Cape Diamond. The two others, led, the first by Montgomery, the second by Arnold, were re- served to assault the lower part of the town from two opposite points. The general was perfectly aware, AGAINST QUEBEC. 131 that after he should have carried this part of Quebec, there would remain many difficulties to be surmounted in order to conquer the other. But he hoped that the inhabitants, on seeing so great a proportion of their property fallen into the power of the victors, would force the governor to capitulate. The last day of the year, 1775, between four and five o'clock in the morning, in the midst of a heavy storm of snow, the four columns put themselves in mo- tion, in the best order, each towards the point assigned. It is said that Captain Frazer, of the Irish emigrants, in going his round, perceived the fuzees which the A- mericans fired to give the signal ; and that, immediate- ly, without waiting further orders, he caused the drums to beat, and roused the garrison to arms. The columns of Livingston and of Brown, impeded by the snow and other obstacles, were not in time to execute their feints. But Montgomery, at the head of his, composed chiefly of New- York men, advanced upon the bank of the riv- er, marching by the way denominated Anse de mer, un- der Cape Diamond. Here was encountered a first barrier, at a place called Potasse, which was defended by a battery of a few pieces of cannon ; further on, at the distance of two hundred paces from this, stood a redoubt, furnished with a sufficient guard. The sol- diers that composed it, being the greater part Canadi- ans, on seeing the enemy approach, were seized with terror, threw down their arms, and fled. The battery itself was abandoned ; and if the Americans could have advanced with sufficient expedition, they would cer- tainly have been masters of it. But in turning Cape Di- amond, the foot of which is bathed by the waters of the river, they found the road interrupted by enormous masses of snow. Montgomery, with his own hands, endeavored to open a path for his troops, who followed him, man by man ; he was compelled to wait for them. At length, having assembled about two hundred, whom he encouraged with voice and example, he moved cour- 182 : CAMPAIGN agebusly and rapidly towards the barrier. But, in the mean time, a cannonier who had retreated from the battery, on seeing the enemy halt, returned to his post, and taking a match, which happened to be still burn- ing, fired a cannon charged with grape shot ; the A- mericans were within forty paces. This single explo- sion totally extinguished the hopes they had conceived. Montgomery, as well as Captains Macpherson and Cheeseman, both young men of singular merit, and dear to the general, were killed upon the spot. The soldiers shrunk back on seeing their general fall ; and Colonel Campbell, on whom the command devolved, was not a man capable of executing so perilous an en- terprize. The flight soon became universal ; so that this part of the garrison, no longer having enemies to combat, was at liberty to fly to the succor of that which was attacked by Arnold. This colonel, who was himself at the head of the forlorn hope, marched by the way of St. Roque, to- wards the place called Saut-au-Matelot. Capt. Lamb foUowed him with a company of artillery, and ono piece of cannon ; next came the main body, preceded by the riflemen under Captain Morgan. The besiged had erected, at the entrance of the avenue, a batteiy, which defended a barrier. The Americans found them- selves confined within a passage obstructed by deep snow, and so commanded by the works of the enemy, that his grape shot swept it in every direction. Mean- while, Arnold advanced rapidly under the fire of the beseiged, who manned the walls. He received a mus- ket ball in the leg, which wounded him severely, spHn- tering the bone. It was necessary to cany him to the hospital, almost by compulsion. Captain Morgan then took the command, and with all the impetuosity of his character, he launched himself against the battery, at die head of two companies. The ai-tillery of the ene- my continued to fire grape shot, but with little effect. The American riflemen, celebrated for their extreme AGAINST QUEBEC. 133 address, killed many of the British soldiers through the embrasures. They applied ladders to the parapet ; the besieged were daunted, and abandoned the battery to the assailants. Morgan, with his companies, and a few soldiers of the centre, who were come up to the van- guard, made many prisoners, English as well as Cana- dians ; but his situation became extremely cntical. — The main body had not yet been able to join him ; he had no guide, and he was unacquainted with the city ; he had no artillery, and the day was still far from dawn- in o-. He found himself constrained to halt ; his sol- diers began to reflect upon their position ; their ardor cooled rapidly. The ignorance in which they were of the fate of their columns, "the obscurity of the night, the snow which fell with redoubled violence, the firing of musketry, which was heard on every side, and even behind them, finally, the uncertainty of the future, fill- ed the boldest spirits with an involuntary terror. Mor- gan alone resisted the panic ; he rallied his riflemen, promising them certain victory. He ran to the barri- er, to spur on those who had remained behind. Lieu- tenant-Colonel Green, Majors Bigelowand Meigs, join- ed him with their companies. The morning began to dawn, when Morgan, with a terrible voice, summon- ed his troops to the assault ; he led on with fury a- gainst a second battery, which he knew to be only a few paces distant, though masked by an angle of the road ; on turning the corner, he encountered a detach- ment of English, who had sallied from the battery, un- der the command of Captain Anderson. The latter summoned the Americans to lay down arms. Morgan levelled a musket at his head, and laid him dead upon the ground. The English then retreated within the battery, and closed the barrier. A fierce combat ensu- ed, which cost many lives to the two parties, but most to the Americans, whose flanks were exjDosed to a de- structive fire of musketry from the windows of the houses. Meanwhile, some of the most adventurous, 12 134 CAMPAIGN having rested their ladders against the palisade, ap- peared disposed to leap it, but on seeing two files of soldiers prepared to receive them on the points of their bayonets, they renounced this project. Cut down by a continual fire, they now sought shelter in the houses. Morgan remained almost alone, near the barrier, en- deavoring in vain to recall his soldiers, and inspire them with fresh courage. Weai'iness, and the menacing countenance of the enemy, had disheartened the most audacious. Their arms, bathed by the snow, which continued to fall impetuously, were no longer of any use to them. Morgan then, seeing the expedition frus- trated, ordered the retreat to sound, to avoid being sur- rounded. But the soldiers who had taken refuge in the houses were afraid to expose themselves to the tem- pest of shot that must have been encountered, in gain- ing the corner of the avenue, where they would have been out of danger, and whence they might have re- tired behind the first barrier. The loss they had sus- tained, the fury of the storm, and the benumbing ef- fects of the cold, had deprived them of all courage. In the meantime, a detachment of the beseiged, sallied out from a gate of the palace, and Captain Dearborne, who, with his company of provincials, held himself in reserve near this gate, having surrendered, Morgan saw himself encircled by enemies. He proposed to his followers, to open, with arms, the way of retreat ; but they refused, in the hope that the assault given on the other part might have succeeded, and that Montgomery would soon come to their relief. They resolved to de- fend themselves, in the meantime ; but having at length perceived, by the continually increasing multitude of enemies, the true state of things, they yielded to des- tiny, and laid down arms. Such was the issue of the assault given by the Amer- icans to the city of Quebec, in the midst of the most rigorous season of the year; an enterprize, which, though at first view it may seem rash, was certainly AGAINST QUEBEC. 135 not impossiWe. The events themselves have proved it ; for if General Montgomery had not been slain at the first onset, it is more than j)rol)able that on his part he W(uild have carried the barrier, since even at the moment of his death the battery was abandoned, and only served by a few men ; by penetrating at this point, while Arnold and Moroan obtained the same advanta- ges in their attacks, all the lower city would have fall- en into the power of the Americans. However this may be, though victory escaped them, their heroic ef- forts will be the object of sincere admiration. The governor, using his advantages nobly, treated the piis- oners with much humanity. He caused the American general to be inteiTed with all military honors." [^Extract from an Oration, by Samuel Treaty Esq."] " Congress at length determined to execute the project pre- viously formed, of carrying the war into the Indian coun- try. Gen. Sullivan was ordered to ascend the Susque- hanna to Tioga Point ; and Gen. Clinton, to pass through the Mohawk Valley, to meet the former officer at that place of rendezvous. After various delays caused by the character of the country through which the march was di- rected, the combined forces, amounting to nearly 5000 men, were ready, on the 22d of August, 1779, to commence the campaign. Sullivan's orders were, to destroy the In- dian villages, cut down their crops, and inflict upon them every other mischief which time and circumstances would permit, and not to return until the cruelties of Wyoming, Cherry, and the border-settlements had been fully avenged. Permit me, before detailing the events of this campaign, to glance at the previous history of a few of those gallant men whose mournful fate we have this day met to deplore. After the battle of Monmouth, in 1778, Morgan's rifle- men were sent to protect the settlements near Schoharie. Among those whose term of service had expired before the autumn of '79, was the bold Virginian, Timothy Mur^ 136 CAMPAIGN phy. Instead of returning home, he enlisted in the nnili- tia, and continued to wage a desultory war against the sav- ages then hovering over the Mohawk settlements. By his fearless intrepidity, his swiftness of foot, his prompt- ness for every hazardous enterprize, he was, though a mere private, entrusted with the management of every scouting party sent out. He always carried a favorite double rifle, an object of the greatest terror to the Indians, who for a long time were awe-struck at its two successive disciiar- ges. In the hands of so skilful a marksman, the greatest' execution always followed its unerring aim. He had been several times surprised by small Indian parties ; but, with remarkable good fortune, had as often escaped. When the savages had learned the mystery of his double rifle, knowing that he must reload after the second discharge, they were careful not to expose themselves until he twice filed. Once, when separated from his troop, he was sud- denly surrounded by a large party of savages. Instantly he struck down the nearest foe, and fled at his utmost speed. Being hard pushed by one runner, whom alone he had not outstripped in the flight, he suddenly turned and shot him on the spot. Stopping to strip his fallen pur- suer, he saw another close upon him. He seized the rifle of the dead Indian, and again brought down his victim. The savages, supposing all danger now passed, rushed heedlessly on with yells of frantic rage. When nearly exhausted, he again turned, and, with the undischarged barrel, fired, and the third pursuerfell. With savage won- der, the other Indians were riveted to the spot ; and, ex- claiming that " he could fire all day without reloading," gave over the pursuit. From that hour. Murphy was re- garded by the savages as possessing a charmed life. When Clinton passed along the Mohawk, on his way to Tioga Point, he again jomed his rifle corps, to share the dangers of the march into the wilderness. A few of the Oneida warriors joined the expedition, and acted as guides. Cornelius and Honyerry had distin- guished themselves in the battle at Oiiskany ; and, from AGAINST QUEBEC. 187 the destructive fire of their rifles, been marked by their foes as objects of especial hatred. Murphy was placed in the company commanded by Capt. Simpson and Lieut. Thomas Boyd. This was also the company in which the late Mr. Salmon, who subse- quently resided in Groveland, and was known to many wlio hear me, served during this expedition. Lieut. Thomas Boyd was born in Northumberland, Pa. in the county of the same name, in the year 1757, His father and only sister died before the commencement of the Revolutionary struggle. When that contest begun, the noble-hearted widow proved herself a more than Spar- tan mother. She, too, had learned the great lesson of lib- erty, and was prepared to jnake any and every sacrifice in her country's cause. In the langnage of our venerable President — yours, gallant Sir !* — '* When fire and sword h.ad ravaged our frontiers, when the repose of the defence- less settlements was disturbed by the savage war-whoop, and the bloody tomahawk and scalping knife were doing their work of death, then this noble matron gaveher three sons to God and her country, with the parting injunction never to dishonor their swords by any act of cowardice, or disgrace them by a moment's fear or reluctance, when called to the defence of home and freedom." Lieut. Wil- liam, her second son, had fulfilled the mother's noble re- quest, and laid down his life at Brandywine, a willing sac- rifice at his country's call. The mouldering bones of the youngest, Lieutenant Thomas Boyd, now lie beneath that sable pall. All the necessary preparations being completed, Sulli- van's army left Tioga en the morning of the 26th of Au- gust. The Indians, when first informed of the contem- plated expedition, laughed at what they supposed the fol- ly of a regular army attempting to traverse the wilder- ness, to drive them from their fastnesses. When, howev- er, they had learned that the campaign was determined up- on, they resolved to make an early stand in defence of * Major Van Campen. 12* 13S CAMPAIGN their crops and their wigwams. Accordingly, a large force, variously estimated from 1,000 to 1,500 Indians and rangers, collected near Newtown, to risk a general en- gagement. History has fully recorded the particulars of this hard-fought action. The combined forces of British and savages at last fled precipitately across the river, leav- ing behind a large number of packs, tomahawks, and scalp- ing knives. The disasters of this terrible battle spread the utmost consternation through the Indian villages. — Many a brave warrior had fallen, and the death-song was heard in every town. Their warriors seemed struck with a panic that nothing could avert. The^^ left their defiles and the dangerous marshes open to the advances of their enemies, and fled at their approach. Sullivan hastened forward without interruption, destroying every thing in his route. At Honeoye he left a small force to guard the sick and provisions, and advanced, with the utmost caution, to the head of Lake Conesus. The principal villages of the Seneca tribe were situated along Genesee Valley. A few miles from this spot, at the fording place of the Canasaraga, was a small town and council-house, called Williamsburg. Little-Beard's Town, so named from the chief, was just beneath this hill, and stretched for nearly a mile from the bridge over the creek almost to the cluster of houses on the main road a- cross the valley. In the centre of the little village, just at the base of this hill, stood the council-house of this fierce warrior and his ferocious clan. Along these hillocks, and for a short distance upon the valley, were their largest corn fields and vegetable gardens. From these, their fa- vorite haunts, their warriors had oft, of yore, wandered to the far South, and brought back the scalps of the Cataw- bas, and ravaged the towns of their foes in the distant swamps of Mississippi and Alabama. The ruin they had oft carried into the wigwams of the red men and the huts of the white settlers, was now, for the first time, to fall upon their own loved homes. They resolved, however, once more to strike in defence of their firesides, and if AGAINST QUEBEC. 139 possible avert the impending blow. In pursuance of the resolution of their council, they lay in ambush at the head of Lake Conesus, near an Indian town on what is at present called Henderson's Flats. At the approach of the army, they rose suddenly upon the advance-guard, which, after a brisk skirmish, fell back upon the main body. Fearing a repetition of the destructive havoc which they had already suffered at Newtown, they waited not the"^attack of the whole army ; but, having seized two friendly Oneidas, fled with their prisoners into the adja- cent forest. One of these captives had been Sullivan's principal guide, and had rendered many important services to the Americans. He was, therefore, regarded by his captors as a prisoner of no little consequence. There is an incident connected with his fate, worthy of note, as presenting a striking contrast to the inhumanity of the to- ry brothers at Oriskany and Wyoming. *' This faithful Indian had an elder brother engaged with the enemy, who, at the beginning of the war, had exerted all his pow- er to persuade the younger into the British service also, but without success. At the close of this skirmish, the brothers met for the first time since their separation, when they had respectively chosen to travel different war-paths — the younger a prisoner to the elder. The latter had no sooner recognized his brother after the 7Jielee, than his eyes kindled with that fierce and peculiar lustre which lights up the eyes of a savage when meditating revenge. Ap- proaching him haughtily, he spoke thus : ''Brother! you have merited death. The hatchet or the war-club shall finish your career. When I begged of you to follow me in the fortunes of war, you were deaf to my entreaties. " Brother ! you have merited death, and shall have your deserts. When the rebels raised their hatchets to fight their good master, you sharpened your knife, you brightened your rifle, and led on our foes to the fields of our fathers. " Brother ! you have merited death, and shall die by 140 CAMPAIGN our hands. When those rebels had driven us from the fields of our fathers, to seek out new houses, it was you who could dare to step forth as their pilot, and conduct them even to the doors of our wigwams, to butcher our children and put us to death. No crime cim be greater. But though you have merited death, and shall die on tliis spot, my hands shall not be stained with the blood of a brother. Who will strike ?'' A pause of a moment ensued. The bright hatchet of Little Beard flashed in the air like lightning, and the young Oneida chief was dead at his feet. Thus did the red warrior of the wilderness prove himself nobler^' than his civilized associates. After the skirmish just alluded to, Sullivan encamped for the night at the Indian village, and was detained the next day to build a bridge over the inlet and marsh, for his artillery. Early on the evening of the encam.pment, Lieut. Boyd requested leave to advance with a small de- tachment, and reconnoitre the next town. The Indian guide, Honyerry, endeavored in vain to dissuade him from the attempt. The army was near the red men's strong- hold, and their warriors lurked behind every covert. But the gallant Boj^d, fearless of danger when he could be of service to his country, persisted in his request, until the consent of his commander was obtained. He set out up- on his perilous enterprise, about sunset, with a small band • — the brave Honyerry acting as his guide. Murphy, ev- er ready on a scout, joined the troop to share the dangers of the attempt, and to enjoy the excitement of fighting the savages in their own way. Near the summit of the hill, about one mile and a half from the camp, the path di- vided — one branch being in the direction of Williamsburg, the other of Little Beard's Town. Boyd advanced cau- tiously, and took the former path to the Cansaraga. A- ware of the dangers with which he was surrounded, he proceeded slowly, prepared for instant action. So great were the difficulties he encountered, that the night was far spent before he reached the first village. Here, all AGAINST QUEBEC. 141 was silent and deserted. The Indians had fled but a short time before, as their fires were still burning. His little troop was too much exhausted, and the night too far ad- vanced, for his immediate return. He determined to en- camp near the village, and at early dawn to despatch two messengers to the camp with the information that the ene- my Ijad not yet been discovered ; and then continue his search until he learned the position of the enemy. Sure- ly, a more hazardous enterprize was never undertaken: a- bout thirty men, seven miles from their camp, a dense for- est between them and the army, before them a trackless morass, the Indians lurking perhaps behind every tree, ready to fall upon their prey. But Boyd had offered his services for this perilous taSk, and he would not shrink from its performance. Whilst his comrades are yet buried in sleep, taking with him the dauntless Murphy, he creeps cautiously from the place of concealment, until he gains a view of the village. About its outskirts they perceive two savages stealing along the woods ; and in a moment their unerring rifles have laid their foes prostrate in death, and Murphy shakes in triumph the reeking scalp of his victim. Fearing that this occurrence would alarm the In- dians hovering near, Boyd now thought it prudent to re- tire. During that night the red warriors had not been idle. Little Beard had summoned his braves for the work of vengeance, and the messengers of Boyd never reached the camp. Brant, with five hundred warriors, and But- ler, with an equal number of rangers, at early dawn set forth from Beard's Town, to intercept Boyd and his party. They selected the spot where the two paths united, near the summit of the hill, for their ambuscade. Concealed in a deep ravine near the adjacent path, they were hid by the dense forest from the view of the army, and by the brush-wood from the path. Whether Boyd returned a- long the trail from Williamsburg or Beard's Town, they knew he must pass the spot where they lay concealed. — They had wisely conjectured that, if he were attacked far- 142 CAMPAIGN ther from the army, he would be prepared for a bloody re- sistance ; and that the first fire would hasten a large de- tachment to his relief. Whatever was done must be ac- complished in a moment ; and their success would be cer- tain, if, as they supposed, he should relax his vigilance when so near the camp. As soon as Boyd had decided to return, he arranged his little troop to avoid being thrown into confusion on a sud- den attack. With Honyerry in front and Murphy in the rear, their eagle-eyes fixed upon each moving leaf and wav- ing bough, they marched forward slowly and with the utmost caution. Five weary miles had they thus traversed the dangerous route, and were beginning to descend the hill at whose base the army lay encamped. With rapid march they hurry on, regarding all danger as now past. But just as they emerge from the thick wood into the main path, more than five hundred warriors, with brandished tomahawks, rise up before them. With horrid yells they close in upon their victims on every side. Boyd is not wanting in this fearful crisis. Quick as thought he perceives that against the fearful odds — the foe twenty times his own number — one chance of escape, and but one, remains — and that, the always doubtful step of striking at a given point, and cut- ting the way through the surrounding foe. At the word, his gallant band fire and rush to the onset. The charge tells fearfully upon the dusky warriors, and a ray of hope gleams upon their clouded iortunes. With unbroken ranks Hot one of his own comrades yet fallen, he renews the at- tack, and still the third time. With only eight now left, he braves the fierce encounter once again. The fearless Murphy indeed bears a charmed life. He turiibles in the dust the huge warrior in his path ; and, while the rude savages are shouting with laughter, he and two fortunate companions escape. True to his own dauntless nature, he turns to the foe, and, with clenched fist, hurls at them a bold defiance. Poor Honyerry, noted for the wonders that he had wrought at Oriskany, and for his unwavering at- tachment to the American cause, falls, literally hacked to AGAINST QUEBEC. 143 pieces. But the unhappy Boyd — he, the gallant and no- ble-hearted ! who never had known fear or shrunk from the most imminent peril — he and the equally wretched Parker, are prisoners in the hands of the merciless enemy. At this friiihtful moment, what are the emotions of these hapless captives ] Does not the stout heart of Boyd now beat slowly? Is not his cheek yet blanched with fear ? No ! Not such his spirit. His courage fails him not, e- ven now. "Red men," he exclaims, "where is your chief? Bring me before the brave warrior. Aye, bran- dish your hatchets, ye coward squaws, against the help- less : ye dare not strike. Your chief, I say." At this request the upraised tomahawk is turned aside,' and the In- dian chief. Brant, stands before him. At the mystic sig- nal, known only to those initiated into the secrets of the craft, the stern brow of the warrior is relaxed, and Boyd and Parker are safe. The approach of Hand's brigade causes the immediate flight of the Indian foe ; and, in mad haste, they hurry a- way with their prisoners, leaving behind their blankets and the rifles of their victims. But this friendly succor comes too late. The fearful strife is over, and the red men are done. Brant leaves the unfortunate Boyd and Parker in the charge of Butler, and withdraws to provide for the coming danger. With painful march, the captives pursue their cheerless route, amid the fierce exultation of the savage tribe, to the Indian village at our feet. Walter Butler, than whom not a more ruthless fiend ev- er cursed the human form, summons before him the two prisoners, to learn, if possible, the number, situation, and intentions of Sullivan's army. His questions remain un- answered. Boyd will not, even by a word, betray his country's cause. Peihapa, relying on the plighted faith and generous nature of the Indian chief, he has no fears for the result. Around him gather the painted forms of the grim savages ; and, with tomahawks cutting the air, and reeking knives thrust towards his unprotected breast, a- mid the most hideous yells and frantic gestures, demand 144 CAMPAIGN the life-blood of their prey. Still the dauntless Boyd trembles not. He disregards the threats of his base inter- rogator, and refuses to reply. Denunciations avail not : danjrer does not intimidate. He has been nurtured in a nobler school than to basely yield when he should be most firm. His country calls — his mother's parting charge is still fresh in his memory. He cannot falter. She had en- graven on his heart of hearts, deeper, far deeper, than all other sentiments, love of country ; and love of life cannot usurp supremacy in this direful hour. But surely it can- not be, that a man educated in all the refinements of civil- ized life — early nurtured in the merciful tenets of the Christian faith, against whom the noble prisoners have been guilty of no more heinous offence thsn fighting for liberty, will — nay, he can not execute his bloody threat. Do you doubt, ye hapless pair, that such a monster lives } Ah ! remember the bloody deeds of Cherry-Valley, and know that such a monster now threatens " to give you o- ver to the tender mercies of the savages" clamoring for your blood. Again the question is asked, and again Boyd shrinks not. The fate of the army and the success of the expedition hang upon his firmness. He prefers to die, if it were possible, a thousand deaths, rather than betray the lives of his country's soldiers and her holy cause. He well knows that their secret must remain unrevealed by bis lips — that on his decision now rests the safet}^ of the whole army ; and he nobly chooses, by his own fall, to preserve the dangerous secret locked in his own speechless and mangled breast. The bloody command is at length given. Little-Beard and his clan have seized their help- less victims. Stripped and bound to that sapling, Boyd hears the death-knell ringing in the air, and sees the de- moniac ravings of his ruthless tormentors, as madly they dance around him. The chief takes the deadly aim : his glittering hatchet speeds through the air. But no : this were too kind a fate. It quivers in frightful proximity, just above his uncovered head. Another and yet another follows— still they glance within but a hair's breadth of AGAINST QUEBEC. 14» bis throbbing temples. Their fury becomes too great for so bloodless sport. Now they tear out his nails — his eyes — his tongue — and — But the horrors of that awful hour are too agonizing for description. The ear is pained at the direful tale. The mind revolts at the cruel reality. Poor Parker, thine is a milder death. With one blow, your frightful suspense, as you lay a witness of your hero- ic leader's anguish, and expect a similar fate, is ended. — Noble men ! could we but conjure up the agonies of your last hour — could mortal tongue disclose the secret emo- tions of your souls, the fierce pain of your mangled limbs — every heart in this assembly would cease to pulsate, every cheek grow pale with horror.^ Gallant Boyd — thy widow- ed mother's sacred injunction has been — oh ! how sacred- ly — obeyed. Here, in the depths of the wilderness, you ceased not to cheiish the spirit of her own noble soul ; and at the immense price of the most lingering death, to show that your love of liberty was stronger than all ties of life and kindred. Far away in your native village, perhaps at that very hour, your mother's fervent prayer for her young- est and her darling son, was winging its course to the mer- cy seat. Little did she imagine with what pious devotion you were fulfilling your high duties to God and your coun- try. Oh ! what will be the fearful agony of her widow- ed soul, when she learns your cruel fate! Already has she mourned your elder brother's fall ; and now, in the bloom of early manhood, twenty-two summers scarcely passed over your devoted head, and your mangled corpse lies unburied in the remote wilderness. Talk not of Spartan daring nor Roman firmness, to il- lustrate his matchless heroism. In the excitement of bat- tle, under the eyes of those who will honor his bravery, the soldier may dare the chances of even the cannon's mouth, to win undying fame. But to die in the remote wilderness, by the most excruciating torture — to die, too, with the power of safety in your own hands, rather than fail in your duty, even by a w^ord — to die where no pity- ing eye can behold your fate, and the last solemn rites of 13 146 CAMPAIGN sepulture cannot be performed by Christian hands, with no one to bear your dyina words to your bereaved moth- er — to know and feel at that dread hour, that her scalding tears will flow in torrents, when, as the dreary months drag heavily by, she lingers to hear from some passing stranger, if perchance her youngest, her biave-hearted boy, yet lives — to die thus, for one's country — where, in the annals of the world, can 3'^ou find a parallel ? \_Mr. Hetiry's J\''an-ative resumed. ^ Charles Porterfield, who lost his life in the battle of Camden, when in the station of a colonel. Jo- seph Aston, of Lamb's, who served his country throughout the war, and was piomoted to a majori- ty. Doctor Thomas Gibson, of Hendricks', who di- ed in the performance of his duty at Valley Forge, in the winterof 1778. Robert Cunninghanj, a weal- thy freeholder, of Smith's, who here imbibed the seeds of that disorder which at loo early an age, hurried him to the grave. In short, many others might be mentioned in the general, as worthy and well Inform- ed as their superiors, wiiliout in anywiseimputing to the latter, in so saying, the slightest degree of disjjar- agement. This will always be the case when the S^reat body of a nation rises in its strength to defend Its rights. Those who understand the point in cjues- tion in a national dispute, and are most strongly im- pressed with its importance, will be the first to arm. This has been, and ever will be, the dispositions of men in all ages past or to coine, whenever their priv- ileges are invaded. Offices of priirie importance can- not be obtained by all. Men of talents, of genius, and courage, must step into subordinate stations. Socrates, Alcibiades, and Demosthenes, fought in the ranks. God in his great goodness grant, in the future vi- AGAINST QUEBEC. 147 ci^sitiides of the world, that onr countr3'men, when- ever their essential rights shall be attacked, will di- vest themselves of all party prejudice, and devote their lives and properties in defence of the sacred liberties of their country, without any view to emolument, but that which springs from glorious and honorable actions. Pardon me for frequent digression, upon this subject particularly, as my whole soul was bound up in our cause, you must forgive me. The leal apolo- gy is, we were all of us enthusiastic whigs. When under guard, in the morning of the first of January, Colonel M'Dougal, a Scotch gentleman, near noon came to review us : his person was known to me at Detroit, as an intimate of an uncle, three years before this time. The colonel was naturally pohte and kind-hearted. When it came iTiy turn to be examined, as to name, place of birth, (fee. be- sides making the proper answers to his inquiries, I was emboldened to declare that he was known to me. He seemed surprised, but not displeased : a lequest was immediately added, that he would order me to be transferred to the quarters of the officeis. "No, my dear boy," said he, " you had better remain where you are ; the officers, as you are in rebellion, may be sent to England and there tried for treason." The advice of this venerable veteran, made an im- pression on my mind, which was then agitated by a thousand vagrant thoughts, and involved in doubt and uncertainty as to our destination. We then well knew of the voyage of Colonel Ethan Allen to Eng- land, and the manner of it; and that of George Merchant, our fellow soldier — but the consequences were unknown. It became my determination to take the fatherly advice of Colonel M'Dougal, for it was really delivered in the parental style, and to adhere to it. He brought one of his sons, whom I had for- 148 CAMPAIGN merly known, to see me on the following day. A- bout mkl-day we were escorted to a ruinous monas- tery of the order of St. Francis, called the Rcguliers. It was an immense quadrangular building, contain- ing within its interior bounds half an acre or int)re, of an area, w-hich seemed to be like a garden or shrubbery. The monks, priests or w^hatnot, who in- habited the house, must have been few in number, , as, for my part, not more than half a dozen of dis- tinct faces came mto my view while we staid here. We entered by the ground floor, (that is, by the cel- lar,) the building on that side being built on the de- clination of the hill, which in this part of the city is very uneven. The apartments on our right, as we entered, seemed to be tilled with govern tnent stores, and with provisions of all kinds. They made us as- cend a large staircase into an upper story, where we were complimented with two sides, or rather a part of each of the sides of the quadrangle. The whole building would have accommodated four thousand men. Monkish spirit must have been in high vogue when so great a pile could be erected merely from the alms of the people, and that too, for so egregiously absurd a purpose. The ranges of the rooms, though extensive in the length of the galleries, were small in their size, being scarcely more than ten by twelve or fourteen feet. The galleries were about twelve feet wide; many rooms were comfortable, others were dilapidated. Ten or a dozen of our poor fellows were compressed into one of these small rooms. So much the better, as it served to keep them the warm- er. Boyd, Cunningham, and a few of our intinjates, took possession of a room near a large stove. The first week we slept most uncomfortably. Gracious God ! what did we not sutfer. It was now that we fully learnt the destinies of AGAINST QUEBEC. 149 our dear and revered general, and his companions in dcalh. But allow me before the detail of that sad story, to give you an anecdote. The merchants of Quebec, like those of England and our own coun- try, are a spirited and generous sect in society: they applied to Governor Carlton, and obtained leave, to make us a ''New-Year's gift." This turned out to be no other than a large butt of porter, attended by a proportionate quaniity of bread and cheese. It was a prer^ent which exhileiaterl our hearts, and drew from us much thankfulness. We shared more than a pint per man. General Montgomery Had marched at the precise time stipulated, and had arrived at his destined place of attack, nearly at the time we attacked the first barrier. He was not one that would loiter. Colonel Campbell, of the New-York troops, a large, good- looking man, who was second in command of that party, and was deemed a veteran, accompanied the army to the assault ; his station was rearward ; Gen- eral Montgomery, with his aids, were at the point of the column. It is impossible to give you a fair and complete i- dea of the nature and situation of the place, solely with the pen — (he pencil is required. As, (by the special permission of government, obtained by the good offices of Captain Prentiss in ihe summer fol- lowing.) Boyd, a few others, and myself, reviewed the causes of our disaster, it is therefore in my pow- er, so far as my abilities will permit, to give you a tol- erable notion of the spot. Cape Diamond nearly I'e- sembles the great jutting rock which is in the nar- rows at Hunter's falls, on the Susquehanna. The rock, at the latter place, shoots out as steep as that at Quebec, but by no means forms so great an an- gle on the margin of the river ; but is more craggy, 13* ISO CAMPAIGN There is a stronger and more obvious difference in the comparison. When you surmount tlie hill at St. Charles, or the St. Lawrence side, (which to the eye are equally high and steep,) you find yourself on Abraham's Plains, and upon an extensive champaign country. The bird's-eye view around Quebec bears a striking conformity to the sites of Northumberland and Pittsburg, in Pennsylvania ; but the furmer is on a more gigantic scale, and each of the latter want the steepness and cragginess of the back ground, and a depth of rivers. This detail is to instruct you in the geographical situation of duebec, and for the sole purpose of explaining the manner of General Mont- gomery's death, and the reasons of our failure. — From Wolfe's cove there is a good beach down to, and around Cape Diamond. The bulwarks of the city came to the edge of the hill, above that place. Thence down the side of the precipice, slantingly to the brink of the river, there was a stockade of strong posts, fifteen or twenty feet high, knit together by a stout railing, at bottom and (op with pins. This was no mean defence, and was at the distance of one hundred yards from the point of the rock. Within this palisade, and at a few yards from the very point itself, there was a like palisade, though it did not run so high up the hill. Again, within Cape Diamond, and probably at a distance of fifty yards, there stood a block house, which seemed to take up the space between the foot of the hill and the precipitous bank of the river, leaving a cart-way, or passage on each side of it. When heights and distances are spoken of, you must recollect that the description of Cape Diamond and its vicinity, is merely that of the eye, made, as it were, running, under the inspection of an officer. The review of the ground our army had acted upon, was accorded to ub as a particular favor. AGAINST QUEBEC. 151 l^ven to have stepped the paces in a formal manner, would have been dislionorable, if not a species of treason. A block house, if well constructed, is an admirable method of defence ; which in the process of the war, to our cost, was fully experienced. In the instance now before us, though the house was not built upon the most approved principles, yet it was a formidable object. It was a square of perhaps forty or fifty feet. Vhe large logs, neatly squared, were tightly bound together by dove-tail work. If not much mistaken, the lower story contained loop holes for musketry, so narrow that those within could not be harmed from without. The upper story had four or more port holes for cannon of a large calibre. These guns were charged with grape or cannister shot, and were pointed with exactness towards the avenue at Cape Diamond. The hero Montgomery came. The drowsy or drunken guard did not hear the sawing of the posts of the first palisade. Here, if not very erroneous, four posts were sawed and thrown aside, so as to admit four men abreast. The coluinn entered with a manly fortitude. Monts^om- ery, accompanied by his aids M'Pherson and ('heese- man, advanced in front. Arriving at the second pal- isade, the general, with his own hands, sawed down two of the pickets in such a manner as to admit two men abreast. These sawed pickets were close un- der the hill, and but a few yards from the very point of the rock, out of the view and fire of the enemy from the block house. Until our troops advanced to the point, no harm could ensue, but by stones thrown from above. Even now there had been but an im- perfect discovery of the advancing of an enemy, and that only by the intoxicated guard. The guard fled ; the general advanced a few paces. A drunken sail- or returned to his gun, swearing he would not for- 152 CAMPAIGN sake it while undischarged. This fact is related from the lestiinony of the guard on the morning of our capture, some of those sailors being our guard. Ap- plying the match, this single discharge deprived us of our excellent commander. Exanjing the spot, the officer who escorted us, (pro- fessing to be one of those who first came to the place after tlie death of the general,) showed the position in which the general's body was found. It lay two paces fiom the brink of the river, on the back, the arms extended. Cheeseman lay on the left, and M'- Pherson on the right, in a triangular position. Two other brave men lay near them. The ground a- bove described was visited by an inquisitive eye, so that you may rely with some implicitness on the truth of the picture. As all danger from without had vanished, the government had not only permitted the mutilated palisades to remain without renewing the enclosure, but the very sticks sawed by the hand of our conuTiander still lay strewed about the spot. Colonel Campbell, appalled by the death of the general, retreated a little way from Cape Diamond, out of the reach of the cannon of the block house, and pretendedly called a council of officers, who, it was said, justified his receding from the attack. If rushing on. as military duty required, and a brave man would have dune, the block house might have been occupied by a small number, and was unassail- able from without, but by cannon. From the block house to the centre oi the lower town, where we were, there was no obstacle to imj.ede a force so pow- eiful as that under Colonel Campbell. Cowardice, or a want of good will towards our cause, left us to pur miserable fate. A junction, al- though we might not conquer the fortress, would en- able us to make an honorable retreat, though with AGAINST QUEBEC. 153 the loss of many valuable lives. Campbell, who was ever after considered as a poltroon in grain, retreat- ed, leaving the bodies of the general, M'Pherson, and Cheeseman, to be devoured by the dogs. The dis- gust caused among us, as (o Campbell, was so great as to create the unchristian wnsh that he might be hanged. In that desultory period though he w^as tri- ed, he was acquitted ; that was also the case of Col- onel Enos, who deserted us on the Kennebec. On the 3d or 4th of January, being, as it were, domesticated in the sergeant's mess in the Reguliers^ a file of men headed by an officer, called to conduct me to the seminary. Adhering to the advice of Col. M'Dougal, the invitation was declined, though the hero Morgan had solicited this grace from Governor Carlton, and had sent me a kind and pressing mes- sage. My reasons, which were explained to Mor- gan, in addition to the one already given, opeiated forcibly on my mind. Having lost all my clothes in the wilderness, except those on my back, and those acquired by the provident and gratuitous spirit of General Montgomery, notliing remained fitting me to appear in company anywhere. Additionally, it had become a resolution, when leaving Lancaster, (as my absence would go near to break the hearts of my parents,) never to break upon my worthy father's purse. Dire necessity compelled me to rescind this resolution, in part, in the wilderness; but that cir- cumstance made me the more determined to adhere to the resolve afterwards : again, my intimate friends were not in the seminary. Steele was in the hospi- tal, and Simpson, (by previous command,) on the charming Isle of Orleans ; which, from its fruitful- ness, had become, as it were, our store-house. Add to all these reasons: it could not be said ol tlie gen- tlemen in the seminary " they are my intimates," 154 CAMPAIGN excepf as to Captain Morgan, and Lieut. P. Nichols of ! Ienflricks\ P ides, my leather sniall-cloilies, all in fritters, had been cuA away, and a savage cover- ing adopted until more auspicious times came. But even now an idea of escape and vengeance inflamed the breasts of many, and we were fiere in a much superior situation for such a purpose, than that of the seminary. More of tins hereafter. All these facts and circumstances induced an evasion of tlieiriendly solicitation of the kind-hearted Morgan. On (he third day of our captuie the generous Carl- ton despatched a flag to Arnold, to obtain what tri- fling baggage we had left at our quarters ; mine was either forgotten, or miserable as it was, had been plun- dered ; but as good luck would have it, the knap- sack of one Alexander Nelson of our company, who was killed when running to the first bariier, was dis- claimed by all of our men. Your father in conse- quence laid violent hands upon the spoil. It furnish- ed Boyd and myself with a large, but coarse blue blanket, called a " slroud," and a drununer's regi- mental coat. The blanket became a real comfort, the coat an article of Itarter. It Avas on this day that my heart was ready to burst with grief at view- ing the funeial of our beloved general. Carlton had in our former wars with the French, been the friend and fellow-soldier of Montgomery. Though politi- cal opinion, perhaps ambition or inteiest, had thrown these worthies on different sides of the great ques- tion, yet the former could not but honor the remains of his quondam friend. About noon the procession passed our quarters. It was most solemn. The cof- fin, covered with a pall, surmounted by transverse swords, was borne by men. The regular troops, with reversed arms, and scarfs on the left elbow, ac- companied the corpse to the grave. The funerals of AGAINST QUEBEC. 155 the other officers, both friends and enemies, were per- formed this day. Fiom many a" "is it diew tears of affection for the defunct, an .speaking for myself, tears of greeting and thankfuhiess towards General Carlton. The sokhery and inhabitants appeared af- fected by the loss of this valuable man, though he was their enemy. If sucfi men as Washington, Carl- ton, and Montgomery, had had the entire direction of the adverse war, the contention, in the event, might have happil}^ terminated to the advantage of both sections of the nation. M'Pherson, (Jheeseman, Hendricks, and Humphreys, were all digniiied by the same manner of burial. ' On the same, or the following day, we were com- pelled, (if we would look,) to behold a more disgust- ing and torturing sight. Many carioles repeatedly, one after the other, passed our dwelling loaded with the dead, whether of the assailants or of the garri- son, to a place emphatically called the 'dead house.' Here the bodies were heaped in monstrous piles. The horror of the tight, to us southern men, principally consisted in seeing our companions borne to inter- ment uncoflined, and in the very clothes tliey had worn in baule ; their limbs distorted in vaiious di- rections, such as would ensue in the momentof death. Many of our friends and acquaintances weie appa- rent. Poor Nelson lay on the top of half a dozen other bodies — his arms extended beyond his head, as if in the act of prayer, and one knee crooked and raised, seemingly when he last gasped in the agonies of death. Cmse on these civil wars, which extin- guish the sociabilities of mankind, and annihilate the strength of nations ! A flood of tears was conse- quent. Though Montgomery was beloved, because of his manliness of soul, heroic bravery, and suavity of manners, Hendricks and Humphreys, for the same ,>56 CAMPAIGN ' admirable qualities, and especially for the endurances we underwetit in conjunction, enforced many a tear Si ill my u,nhappy and lost brethren, though in hum- ble statior?^., wjth whom that dreadful wild was pene- trated, rmd om whom came many attentions to- wards n^ . ..ced melancholy sensations. From what is said . .lative to the "dead house," you might con- clude that General Carlton was inhuman or hard- hearted. No such thing. In tiiis northern latitude, at tins season of the year, according to my feehngs, (we had no thermometer,) the weather was so cold as usually to be many degrees below 0. A wound, if mortal, or even otherwise, casts the party wounded into the snow ; if death should follow it throws the sufferer into various attitudes, which are assumed in the extreme pain accompanying death. The mo- ment death takes place, the frost fixes the limbs in whatever situation they may happen to be. and which cannot be reduced to decent order until they are thawed. In this state the bodies of the slain are deposited in the "dead house," hard as ice. At this season of the year the earth is frozen from two to five feet deep, impenetrable to the best pick-axe, in the hands of the stoutest men. Hence you may per- ceive a justification of the " dead house." It is no new observation, " that climates form the manners and habits of the people." On the next day, (January 4th,) we were visit /" by Colonel Maclean, an old man. attended by oth(?r officers, for a peculiar purpose ; that is, to ascertain who among us were born in Europe. We had many Irishmen and some Englishmen. The question was put to each ; those who admitted a British birth were told they must serve his majesty in Col. Maclean's regiment, a new corps, called the ' Emigrants.' Our poor feilowsj under the fearful penalty of being car- AGAINST QUEBEC. : . riet] to Britain, there to be tried for treason, were compelled by necesc>ify, and many of them did en- list. Two of ihem, very brave men, Fdward Cave- nangh and Timothy Conner, deserve to be named, because of a particular occurrence w"' 'ch liappened shortly after. These two men, among others, called npon me for my advice how to act. Being, at that time, neither a lawyer nor a casuist, tliey had my o- pinion according to the dictates of nature, and some shght reading. Tl»at is, tliat they should enhst; for a constrained oatli, (as theirs would be,) could not be binding on the conscience — afid by all means to join =our army as soon as practii^able. They enlisted un- der the notion that the oath was non-obligatory , and a hope of a speedy return to tlieir friends and wives. Allow me here to recount, by anticipaiion, the resi- due of the adventures of "honest Ned." Towards the end of January, Cavenaugh and Conner hap- pened to compose a part of the same guard at Pal- ace gate, where the walls are from thirty to forty feet high, independently of the declivity of the hill. — Cavenaugh was stationed as a sentry in conjunction with one of the British party. Conner had procured a bottle of rum ; coming to the station, he drank, him- self, and presented the bottle to the British sentry. AVhile the latter was in the act of drinking, Cave- naugh gave him a push with the butt of his musket, >?'hich stunned and brought him to tlie earth. Ta- king his arms, they sprung over the wall into a bed of snow, perhaps twenty-five feet deep. This aver- ment concerning the depth of the snow, may appear problematical, as we know nothing like it in our cli- mate. Form no definite opinion until you have heard the reasons why it does happen. As you may- recollect several instances in this narrative, where the asperity of a Quebec winter is intimated, and a de- 14 158 CAMPAIGN scription of i(s effects atlempted ; such as frequent snow storms and fierce winds. In tlie month of January, particularly, when the snow has increased to a depth of seven feet over the face of the country, notwith- standing" the shining of the sun, the cold is so great that those winds drive the snow daily against the liigh ramparts of the city, where it forms a compact inasg — the last stratum heing hght and dry as the finest sand, which may he whirled by the wind. Cave naugh and Conner leaped into such a soft bed. Their disadvantage consisted in sinking too deep ; the height of the leap plunging them deeper than or- dinary v>^alking would do, made it difficult for them to extiicate themselves. The relief-guard came in time to give them a volley, as they w ere scampering away. Thanks to God, my worthy Irishmen esca- ped unharmed, though as they passed through St. Roque, they were complimented by several dischar- ges of cannister and grape shot. This was the first notice we had of the escape of our daring friends. We heard, next morning, all the minutiae from those who guarded us. i By the middle of January we were settled down i into a state of something like household order: those j vyho could economise fared tolerably well, though they could have used more. Our daily provisions consisted of a biscuit made of a coarse meal, from something like our chopped rye ; very often chaff or jii straw, halt an inch in length, was found in thisspe- "^ cies of bread. A biscuit of the size of a cake of gin- gerbread, now sold with us for a cent, was the daily allowance of this article : half a pound of pork, or three quarters of a pound of beef, though these were much salted, even so as to be uncomfortable — they I were of Irish preparation, perhaps for the sea-service ; a competent allowance of butter, originally fine, yet ^ I AGAINST QUEBEC. 159 now rancid : candles, molasses, and even vinegar-- tills lasl article, so long as it could be afforded us, was a preservative from the disorders wiiicli unwit- tingly we were imbibing daily. Knowing ihe diffi- culties und«'r which the garrison lay — loes at the gates, and an uncertainty of succor ; the governor was thous^ht of by me, with similar allowances, ihat ought to be made to our own generals, in circunisian- ces of such pinching necessity. From all intorma- tion attainable on our part, we were* as well treated as those of the garrison, who lived on thesame kinds of food, except as to liquor, which deprivation was more beneficial than injin"40us to our men. It is grateful to my heart now to remember and repeat the benevolent sensations this mildness and humani- ty created in my mind, towards the virtuous, the amiable and venerable Carlton. He w as a genuine representative of the gentility of tlie Irish nation, which is so deservedly famous for the production of real heioes, patriotic statesmen, and a generosity and suavity of manners. He was of great candor, up- rii^htness and honor, and full of the spirit of philan- thropy, whicli marks the real gentleman. He made us several visits, in all of which he seemed merely to ha\e a solicitude for our welfare, without any sinis- *er view, such as seduction from our principles, oy, who was one of 11.9. The cook was far be- low our notice. Friend M'Coy gave us every ad- vantage our melancholy situation afforded him. Coming to the Dauphin jail, escorted by the mili- tary, we found it well accommodated for our lodg- ment. There were four rooms below, and as many above stairs, all capacious and well supplied with births or bulks, in the common method of barracks. Our company taking the right our precedence in the pro- <:ession gave us, assumed the possession of a room in the third story, which was in truth the very best. Morgan's took a room immediately below us ; Hen- dricks' one adjoining: but reniember that at this time we were reduced most lamentably by killed, vcound- ed and missing. Many were in the hospital. Out of sixty-five who came on Abraham's plains in No- vember, we had scarcely more than thirty left with 164 CAMPAIGN US in prison, the fire of the enemy and disease had so thinned us. Morgan's gallant men fared worse. — Like (he eastern people, before, and at that period, they detested the intiofiuction of tlie small-pox into their country by iimoculaiion Now they were its victims. liCss than twenty-five of the privates oft hat company regained their native homes. They were originally as elegant a body of men as ever came in- to my view. I'o use the style of my friend Simp- son, '' they were beauiiuil boys, who knew how to handle and aim the rifle." Indeed, many of them, (adroit young men, courageous and thorough-going,) became the subjects of deaih by that virulent disease, both without and within the city. We, of Penn- sylvania, had no fears from that source. This dis- ease had visited us in youth, either naturally or by innoculation. ''l^his observation, whicli is a serious one, should convey to your minds the immensity of the discovery of the innoculation of the kine pox, by doctor Jenner. The dis overy of the causes of lightning, its dreadful effects, the means of avoiding its power, by the celebrated Franklin, our country- man, is, (as it concerns the happiness of man, speak- ing diffitieiuly.) perhaps inferior to that of Jenner. The Jeimerian discovery tends to save the lives of millions — the Franklinian, of hundreds. But all lovers of natural philosophy are compelled to adniit that the identity of theelectiic fiuid, obtained artific- ially, wiih that of the clouds, has given a wider scope to human thought than the recency of the Jenneri- an discovery, has as yet, afforded. There can be little doubt that in a succession of years, some gigan- tic genius of the uiedical profession will in)prove and extend the benefits of the happy disclosure. At the Dau{)liin jail, our notions of escape were strengthened. The prison may be 300 yards from AGAINST QUEBEC. 163 St. John'?? grate: the interval, at that time, was free from buildmgs. From without the building appear- ed formidable. The court-yard was very contracted for so large a house, and was cncontpassed by a strong stone wail, at least twenty feet high. The windows and doors were seemingly, by (heir bars, impenetra- ble. But what cannot men of true spirit effect when made the subjects of oppression. Opposite to the jail, across the street leading to Si. John's gate, at a distance of forty yanls, there stood a house, which became the station of the guard, who superintended lis. In the first of our imprisonment we were attend- ed by the regular troops, 6r sailors, who were embod- ied by government as soldiers ; but now the guard, {as our force without had made a firm stand,) was replaced by the militia, who were the most inert and detjpicable of military men. The sentries were sta- tioned on the outside of the jail — we had no witness- es of our conduct within, except the captain of the provost, who did not pry with a suspicious eye. He was a generous and open-hearted enemy — had no guile hinjself, nor imputed it to others. The princi- pal defence on this side of the city, as it regarded our attempt at evasion, lay at and near St. John's gate. The guard here was most usually composed of thirty men, of the regular troops or sailors. They would have given us a hustle, but of a certainty we should have overpowered them by tlie force of numbers, as stout and as able bodied men as themseh/es, whose courage was not to be questioned, though there was a great difference in the nature of our respective arms. Having examined the jail carefully, iis imbe- cility to restrain us was apparent. It was an old French building in the Bastile style. The walls of stone, and more than three (eet thick, were impene- trable by any of our means. Upon examining the 166 CAMPAIGN bars of the windows, which were originally ill-con- structed, inany were found so much corroded, as (o move up and down in (he sockets. These could be taken out. Tiie mildness of Governor Carlton's reign seemed not to require a strict inspection imo places of this kind. About tliis time a selected coun- cil was called, of which your father had the honor to be one, and was chiefly composed of the sergeants. Major Jo.-eph Aston, then a seigeant.-major, had the presidency. Our discoveries were debated — the means of escape considered, and a consultation of the men recommended, lliis was done, and there was not a dissentient voice. At the stair head there was a small room lighted by a small window ; the door was locked. Peeping through the key-hole, large i- ron hoops were discoveied : the spring of the lock kindh^ gave way to our efforts ; the room was ran- sacked, and as neatly closed. The room furnished us with a large number of strong iron hoops, two and three inches broad, and a considerable quantity of other iron, of different shapes and sizes, deposited there as lumber. From the first, of these ai tides we formed a rough but weighty species of sword, with a wooden handle; a blow frotn which, in the hands of one of our stout men, woidd have brought down one of tl)e stoutest of the enemy. The residue of the iron was applied to the formation of spear-heads. These were affixed to splits of fir-plank, about ten feet in length, wliich had formed in part the bottoms of the lower births. These weapons, it is true, were of the coarsest make, yet in the hands of men deter- mined to sacrifice their lives for freedom, they would have had a considerable sway. Our long knives, which many of us secreted when captured, also be- came spear points. These weapons were concealed under the lower range of births, which were raised a AGAINST QUEBEC. U1 foot from the tioor. The planks were neatly raised, the nails were extricated, and the nail head, with a part of its shank, placed in its former position. Over these lay our blankets and bundles. It was a stand- ing rule to have two sentries constantly on the watch, one at each end of the interior of the jail. Their duty consisted in giving a signal of the approach of the officers of the garrison, who were in the habit of visiting us daily : as there were shoe makers and tai- lors among us, wiio worked cheaper than those of the city, merely for the purpose of bettering their con- dition, there was policy in this watchfulness. — When the signal was given, the inner doors were thrown open ; those appointed for the purpose, laid upon the birth which hid our arms, as if in a diow- sy state. The officers were accosted wii h assumed confidence, and much complaisance. Tiie council met daily, sometimes in small squads, and when any thing of much consequence was to be considered, in larger ; but at all times secretly, or at least not obvi- ously as a council, from fear of traitors, or some in- discretion of the young men. Our arrangements, as far as my judgment could discern, were judicious. Aston was to act as general ; M'Coy and some oth- ers became colonels. Boyd and others of the most spirit, became majors, captains, lieutenants, &.c. That which cheered me much, was that the council assign- ed me a first lieutenancy under my friend Boyd, whose vigor and courage were unquestionable. The plan of the escape was thus : Ashton, who was an excellent engineer, was to have the particu- lar superintendence of Lamb's company, which, toa man, was well-informed in its duiy, active and spir- ited. These were to be increased to a band of one hundred and fifty men, whose duty it was to attack the guard at St. John's gate. The attack of the leS CAMPAIGN g-uard opposite the jail, was assigned to the discretion of Boyd, Cuimingham and myseil ; the council gen- erously giving us the authority of a first selection of twenty-two persons, from the whole body of our men. The residue of our force was so disposed of as to act as a body of reserve to Aston, under the command of M'Coy, and another smaller body was reserved to sup- port Boyd, particularly by way of setting tire to the jail, the guard-house, and the buildings in its neigh- borhood, to amuse or employ the enemy while w-e were tunning to St. John's gate. It was expected we could arrive there by the time Aston and fiis par- ty wou'd be victorious. Our particular duty was of the desperate kind, something of the natuie of the "forlorn hope." Nothing but the virtue and bravery of our comrades could ensmethe safety of our lives ; for if they should arrive at St. John's gate and dis- comfit tlie guard, and then seek safety by flight, they wouhl leave us to the mercy of an enraged enemy, who would sacrifice us to their fury. But there has been too much precipitation in the relation. Previ- ous to the last observations, besides being told of our force, our weapons, and our military plans, you should have been informed also of the real site of the jail — • of its internal structure, from which the sally was to be made. The Dauphin jail is built on a plain pret- ty much inclined to the street. It follows that the front of the lower story, (that is, the cellars,) was on a level with the street. The back ground was ten or twelve feet higher. In the cellar, near the foot of the stairway, there was a plenteous fountain of wa- ter, which supplied the house. The conduits lead- ing from the spring, by the severity of the weather, were impeded by the ice, so that the water, in great quantity, remained in the cellar, which, with the ad- ditional carelessness of our people, who cast the ria- AGAINST QUEBEC. 169 sing of their buckets on the floor of the apartment, formed a bed of ice a foot thick, and very firm and solid. This cellar had a door newly made, of strong pine plank, five feet in width, which opened inwards — the sill was level w^'h the street. The door was hung upon H hinges of a large size, fixed on the in- side, exposed to our view and operations. But what was still more absurd, the door was hasped within, and secured by a large pad lock. Close inspection and thoughifulness had made the members of the council, by the means that they enjoyed, periect mas- ters of those hinges and the lock ; they would not have stood a second of time. The principal obstacle was the ice, which was raised Adly a foot against the door. Even this would have given Avay to our inge- nuity. The whole of our plan was well laid, and thoroughly digested. That door was to be our sally port. Boyd preceding with our division — Aston and M'Coy following, they turning rapidly to the left for St. John's gate. The dislocation of (he iron bars of the window, was to ensue: all those which could be removed being known, were to become issues for our bravest men. Every man knew his station. It is an old and a trite observation, that it is a difficult thing to describe a battle so as to give a clear idea of all the causes and effects of each movement, with- out overloading and confusing the picture. The same may be said of a conspiracy such as ours. Going through the entry from the front door into the jail- yard, near the back door, hut still within the prison, there are two cavities opposite to each oiher, strongly walled and arched. We called them the black holes. On the outside of the building, in the yard, those cav- ities assumed the forms of banks, ten or eleven feet high, and as wide ; and well sodded. With some address and agility a sprightly man could surpass ei- 15 no CAMPAIGN ther of them. The wall above these banks was probably ten feet higher. In the daytime we often cUmbed up the wall, by means of its interstices, from which the mortar had fallen in the course of time, to take a peep at the city, merely putting our ej^es above the level of the top of it. A Mr. Martin, a hardy, daring and active young man of Lamb's company, I think a sergeant, propo- sed to bear intelligence of our projects to the Ameri- can commander, without the walls. His plan was approved. A time for irruption was named, though the day was not particularized The signals to in- vite the advance of our army to St. John's gate, were (he burning of the hou^^es, and the firing of the guns of the ramparts towards the city. As yet, we were unprepared to move. This expedition of Martin's was a profound secret among the council, from a fear that some bungler might attempt the same path, fail, and by his being taken, unveil our plots. Permit me a short episode on the escape of Martin. It was sin- gularly adventurous, and the neatness of its execu- tion renders it w^orthy of remark. I had the pleasure of hearing it recounted, in more happy times, at New York. Martin was dressed in warm clothing, with good gloves ; a white cap, shirt and over-alls were prepared for him. He appeared in the jail-yard a- mong the prisoners, in his daily dress. The time of locking up and calling the roll generally happened about sun-down. It was the business of the captain of the provost, who was accompanied by a file of men. The prisoners, instigated by those in the secret, em- ployed themselues out of doors until late in the eve- ning, in play, as if to keep their bodies warm. It was a blowing and dreary evening, which was pur- posely chosen. At locking up, those in the secret lagged behind, tardily, pushing the uninformed be- AGAINST QUEBEC. 171 fore, yet so slowly, as effectually to crowd the gang- way ; Martin remaining in the rear. The operation took place at the clanging of the lock of the great front door. This measure was imagined and effect- ed on purpose to procure to Martin a sufficiency of leisure to get to his hiding place, which was no oth- er than a nook formed by the projection of the door way, and on the lop of one of the banks before spo- ken of Here he had time to put on his cap, shirt, (fcc. The officer who examined the yard could not perceive him unless he went out of the door, several paces to the left, and most probably not even tlien, for Martin would be covered in the snow, and imper- ceptible. Hrippily the officer went no fuither than the threshold, and made but a slight survey of the yard. This account, so far, is derived from my own knowledge ; what follows, is from Martin himself. " Martin tarriefd there until seven or eight o'clock. The dilemma he was in could only be smpassed in imminence of danger, by his extreme activity, skdl and courage. There were four sentries stationed a- round the jail — two at each corner in front, and the like number at the corners of the yard in the rear. Those sentries, though relieved every quarter of an hour, were soon driven into the sentry boxes by the cold and keenness of the whistling winds. If they had paced the spaces allotted them by duty, the e- scape of Martin must have been impossible. Watch- ing the true time he slipped down the wall into the deep snow underneath unobserved. Hence he made a sudden excursion to the left of St. John's gate, at a part of the wail where he knew no sentry was pla- ced. Leaping the wall into the snow, he received the fire of a distant sentry. Martin was unharmed. The soldier fiied, as it were, at a phantom ; for when Martin's body came into contact with the snow 172 CAMPAIGN it was indiscernible ; the desired information was giv- en :" but of this we could ujerely make surmises un- til the May following. That which is very remark- able is that the absence of Martin was unknown to government until the explosion of our plot. Our next solicitude was the acquisition of powder. This aiticle could be obtained but by sheer address and shrewd management. But we had to do with men who were not of the military cast. We began fiist to enter int.o familiarity with the sentries, joking with them and pretending to learn French from them. The guard, usually of Canadians, consisted of many old men and young boys, who were very '•coming.^ A few small gun-carriages were constructed, not more than six inches in length, and mounted with cannon or howitzers, which were mcide of many folds of pa- per, at)d were bound tightly around with thread. — These were shown to the sentries from time to time, and a little powder was requested, with which to cliarge them. Our births formed an angle of the room, ^'he upper births, as well as the lower, had a ledge of several inches in height^ in which embra- sures were forrned with the knife. Two parties were raised in opposition to each other, each of which took possession of one side of the angle. The blaze and report, which was nearly as great and as loud as that of sirjall pistols, created much laughter and merri- ment. This sport, the child of a seeming folly, ser- ved us as a pretence and justification for soliciting powder. The apparent joy prevailing among us, pleased the Canadians, both old and young, and did not alarm the government. We obtained many car- tridges in the course of a few weeks, two-thirds of which came to the hands of Aston and hi.-? corps, for the purpose of manufacturing matches, &.c. (fee. — - Fire arms of any kind could not by any finesse be AGAINST QUEBEC. 173 procured. The commerce of cartridges, accompa- nied by a suavity and deference of manners towards our young friei-ds, procured us many quarters of pounds of powder, which they bought secreily out of lunds, some of which were procured in a ludicrous way. We had many sick in the hospital; for when any one appeared to be disordered in the least de- gree, lie was hurried to the infirmary ; when cured, lie was returned to us. Some of the men went so far as to feign sickness, to get to that place, where tliey lived in a more sumptuous style than that of the jail. The frequent removals caused the propa- gation of a report that the prison was unhealthy. — Many pious matrons came to see us, and never enip- ty handed. Some elderly nuns, of respectable fam- ilies, were of the number, and generally brought n»on- ey — truly not in great quantity, but not the less ac- ceptable to the sick and convalescent, as these alms procured them some slight comforts, such as tea, (fee. l^hese were the religious and humane collections of the sisteihood, and mostly consisted of the smallest change. There was a beautiful countenanced youth, Thomas Gibson, first sergeant of Hendricks, who had studied physic at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, allied to nie by affinity, who had, (probably fron»a knowl- edge he had of his profession,) sustained his health hitherto ; his cheeks were bloonnng as roses. He was one of the council. As young men, we cared lit- tle about the means, so that we obtaitied the end — which w^as powder. We lived above stairs, and nev- er shared in the gratuities of the ladies, which were rapaciously awaited at tlie entrance of the prison. Gibson and myself were standing at a window near the great door, and opposite to M'Coy's room, a neat little box, which had been constructed for his use. Looking into the street, a lady with a tliick veil was 16* 174 CAMPAIGN observed to take the path through (he snow to our habitation. " Zounds ! Gibson, there's a nun," was scarcely expressed, before he was hurried into M'Coy's apartment and put to bed, tfioug^h dressed. Several of us waited respectfully at the door, till the officer of the guard unlocked it. The nun entered — she ap- peared, from her manners, to be genteel and respec- table. We were most sedulous in our attentions to the lady, and so prevailed, as to induce her to come into M'Coy's room. Here lay Gibson, covered to the chin w^ith the bed clothes, nothing exposed but his beautiful hair and red cheeks, the latter indicating a high fever. It was w^ell the lady was no physician. The nun, crossing herself, and whispering a pater- noster, poured the contents of her little purse into the hand of the patient, which he held gently without the blanketing, and left us. What should the dona- tion be hut twenty-four coppers, equal at that time to two shillings of our money. The latter circumstance added much to the humor and extreme merriment of the transaction. This money was solely appro- priated for powder. Thus, careless of every thing but the means of escaping, we enjo3^ed many merry, and even happy hours. Aston, who was provident of time, by the middle of Marcli. (I have no note of the precise period,) had all his matters of arrangement in good order. The council assigned a day for the irruption. As we dar- ed not touch the door in the cellar, from a fear of dis- covery by inspection, (and it was examined almost daily,) it was determined to postpone the unloosing the hinges and lock, which were under our com- mand, until the moment of escape. It became a main question, how to remove the ice at the foot of the door. Here lay the great difficulty, as it was univer- eally agreed that the door must be dragged dowa AGAINST QUEBEC. 175 suddenly, so that we might march over it. Remem- ber also, that a sentry was posted not more than from fifteen to twenty feet from the outside of the door. Many propositions were made in council, how to ef- fect the removal of the body of ice withont exposure to detection. One was lightly to pick it away wirh hatchets, a few of which had been secretly retained by the prisoners, and brought into the jail. To this there were several insuperable objections : the softest stroke of the lightest tomahawk upon the ice, would be heard by a sentry so Jiear ; or an unlucky stroke might touch the door, wliich would resotmd and in- evitably cause a discovery^ Others proposed to wear away the ice by boiling water ; two most obvious ob- jections lay here : the steam would search for a vent through the crevices of the door and window, and develop our measures; besides, the extreme cold would have congealed the hot water the moment it fell, so as to add to our difficulties. Another idea was sug- gested : it was to cut the door across on the surface of the ice with knives ; to this plan there was a fatal exception — the ice had risen on the lower cross-piece of the door nearly an inch, so that we must cut ihro' the cross-piece lengthwise, and through the thick plank crosswise. Though this labor might have been accomplished by industry and perseverance, yet the time it would necessarily take would cause a dis- covery by the searchers. The last and only method to avoid discovery was adopted. This was to em- body sixteen or eighteen of the most prudent men, who knew the value of silence, who should, two and two, relieve each other, and with our long knivrs gently pare away the ice next the sill of the door, so as to make a groove of four or six inches wide, par- alell with, and deep as the sill. The persons were named and appointed to this service. Now the ca- 176 CAMPAIGN pability of the execution of our plot, infused comfort and joy into all hearts. It was intended immediate- ly after locking up, on the night of the irruption, that those prudent men should descend into i he vault by pairs, and by incessant labor have the work fin- ished by three o'clock in the morning, when the sal- ly should be made. We had carefully noticed from the walls of the jail and the ridge of the house, where there is a trap-door, the placing of the guards, the numbers and stationing of the sentries. We were safe, therefore, in the measures we had taken for the attack of the guard of St, John's gate. Our own guard was perfectly scrutinized. The opportunities were of the most commodious kind. 1 he guard- house was directly in our front, where we could see and be seen. Their windows had no shutters. They had lights all the night through: we, the belter to ob- serve thetu, kept none. This latter circumstance en- abled us distinctly to see that the arms with fixed bayonets were placed in the right hand corner of the room, as we would enter from the stairhead, and that the guard towards morning, to a man, were lying a- sleep on the floor. The sentries, as they were re- lieved, did the like. This guard, as was before said, in ordmary, consisted of thirty persons. Boyd's par- ty, from a perfect knowledge of their method of con- ducting, esteemed it no great hardship to undertake the overwhelming them. The nights weie piercing- ly cold — the sentries soon housed themselves in their boxes. As the sally, to succeed, must be most silent and quick, it was hoped to quiet all of them before any alarm could spread. Besides Boyd's division, (the first rank of wnich was to despatch the nearest sentry by the spear,) others of the succeeding corps were assigned to assail the rest of the sentries imme- diately around the prison. The getting up the stairs AGAINST QUEBEC. ITt of our guard-house, so quickly as to create no alarm, was not only feasible, but in my mind, (with the force delegated to us,) of absolute certainty of success. — The front door being open by night and day, we knew the precise number of steps the stairs contain- ed. An agile man would mount at three strides. A light was continually in the passage. Entering the room, and turning to the right, the arms in the corner were ours. The bayonet, from necessity, would become the lot of the guard. In this part of the enterprise, profound silence was all-important ; the section was to rely on the spear and tomahawk. Asion, on the other haifd, being victorious at St. John's gate, was instantly to (urn the cannon upon the city : his fuses, portfire, &c. were prepared and ready as substitutes for those of the eneuiy, if they were extinguished or taken from the guns. It was known to us that all the cannon of the ramparts were charged and primed, and boxes of ammunition and piles of balls in the vicinity of each gun ; it was calculated that the execution of the business of our section might be effected in at least fifteen minutes, together Avith the firing of the houses. Then run- ning to support Aston, and if he was victorious, to maintain our position on the walls, under a hope of the arrival of the American army from without. In that event St. John's gate, as a first measure, was to be opened. But if Aston should unfortunately be beaten, (which was most improbable,) then we were to fly in all directions, and make the adventurous leap. It was supposed that in the latter case, the hurry and bustle created by so sudden, unforeseen and daring an attack, would throw the garrison into consternation and disorder to so great a degree, as to admit the escape of many. Sluggards might expect to be massacred. 178 CAMPAIGN The particularity of the foregoing details are pur- posely made, to impress on your minds a single truth : " That the best imagined schemes and thoroughly " digested designs, whether in military or civil life, " may be defeated by a thoughtless bo}^, the interfe- " rence of an idiot, or a treacherous knave." Two lads from Connecticut or Massachusetts, whose names are now lost to my memory, prisoners with us, but who had no manner of connection or intercourse with the chiefs, nor knew the minute, yet essential parts of the measures of the council ; but probably having overheard a whisper of the time and manner of the evasion, without consultation, or without authority from their superiors, in the thoughtless ardor of their minds, on the eve of the sally descended into the cel- lar, and with hatchets, picked at the ice at the door- sill. The operation was heard. The sentry threat- ened to fire. The guard was instantly alarmed and immediately doubled, and all our long-labored schemes and well-digested plans annihilated in a moment. — You cannot form an adequate idea of the pangs we endured. My heart was nearly broken by the ex- cess of surprise and burning anger, to be thus fatu- itously depiived of the gladdening hope of a speedy return to our friends and country. It became us, however, to put the best face upon it. It was sud- denly resolved by the chiefs to kill the person who should disclose the general plot, and to wait upon the officers on the ensuing morning, with our usual at- tentions. When morning came, it found us afoot. About sunrise, the formidable inquisition took place. Major Murray, Captain Prentiss, the officer of the guard, and a dozen musketeers came — we awaited their approach undismayed. They accosted us very coolly. The cellar was visited, and the work of these fools was apparent. Re-ascending, we could assure AGAINST QUEBEC. 1T9 the ^^entlemen that this effort to escape was without the knowledge of any of us. This, to be sure, was said in the Jesuitical style, but those who made the assertion did not then know either ihe persons or the names of the silly adventurers. The officers and the guard were departing, fully persuaded that it was no more than the attempt of one or two persons to es- cape. Major Murray was the last to lecede. An Englishman, (of whom we knew not that he was a deserter from our enemies at Boston,) had posted him- self close to the right jamb of the door, which was more than half opened for the passage of the major. Those of us who were d'etermined to execute our last-night's resolution, armed with our long knives, had formed a half circle around the door, without ob- serving the intrusion and presence of the deserter. Major Murray was standing on the threshold, speak- ing in a kindly manner to us, when the villian sprung past the major, even jostling him. The spring he made was so sudden and so entirely unsus- pected, that he screened himself from our just ven- geance. Touching major Murray's shoulder, "Sir," says he, "I have something to disclose." The guards encompassed the traitor, and hurried him away to the Governor's palace. We instantaneously perceived the extent and consequence of this disaster. The prisoners iirmnediately destroyed such of the arms as were too bulky to hide, if destructible, and secreted the rest. In an hour an officer and file of men deman- ded Boyd, Cunningham and others, represented by the vile informer as prominent actors in the plot. They were escorted to the Governor's council. Here they found that the wretch had evidenced all our proceed- ings minutely, naming everyone who was prominent. Our worthy compatriots were examined on oath, and as men of honor could not conceal the truth. The 180 CAMPAIGN questions of tlie council, (furnished by the informer.) did not admit of equivocation or evasion, if the ex- aminants had been so inclined ; and besides, all ter- giversation, when the outline was marked, was nuga- tory. They boldly admitted and justified the at- tem(3t. We did not fare the worse in our provisions nor in the estimation of our enemy. Returning to the jail, my dear Boyd shed the tears of excruciating anguish in my bosotri, deploring our adverse fate. We had vowed to each other to be free or die, and to be thus foolishly baulked, caused the most heart- rending grief. Towards 2 o'clock, P. M. Ave saw several heavy cart-loads, consisting of long and weighty irons, such as bilboes, foot-hobbles, and hand cuffs, arrive. The prisoners were ordered to their rooms. The ironing began below staiis witii Morgan's company. Here the bilboes were expended. If not much mistaken, ten or twelve persons were secured, each by a foot to a bar twelve feet long, and two inches in diameter. The heavy bolts were exhausted in the story below us. When they came to our range of rooms, they turned to the left, instead of coming to the right where we were. By the time the officers came to us, even the hand-cuffs were nearly out. Each of us was obliged to take to his berth, which contained five men each. When they had shackled those of the lower births,' they commenced at one the most distant from ours. Slipping in the rear of my com- panions, bent down in apparent trepidation, the black sniith ironed my messmates, and then called to me to descend and submit to his office. Coming — ' Nev- er mind that lad,' said my friend captain Prentiss. They had but three or four pairs of hand-cuffs left, which were clapped on the elderly and robust. Be- sides M'Coy, our Boniface the cook, Doctor Gibson, AGAINST QUEBEC. 181 two others and myself, who were unhampered, all the rest were, in appearance, tightly and firmly secured. Though M'Coy and Boniface were adepts at insur- rection, yet their services were of too much impor- tance to government, to be dispensed with. The others of tlie unfettered remained so from the exhaus- tion of the shackles. A new species of interesting occurrences, mingled with much fun and sportive humoj now occurred, which was succeeded by a se- ries of horrible anguish. The doors were scarcely closed before we iDegan to essay the unshackling. Those who had small hands, by compressing the pahris, could easily slip the irons from their w rist. Of fl)e>^ there were r any. who became the yssisiants of their i\ eii.'is, wh(^>-e hand> weie l;ir;er. Keie there wa^ a n cessitv for mcrenuity. Knives n(»tched as saw- were the principal means. The liead of the rivei at the end of the bar was sawed off; it was lengthened and a screw formed upon it, to cap vvhich a false head was made, eiiher of iron or of lead, re- sembling as much as possible the true head. Again new rivets were formed from the iron we had pre- served in om" secret hoards from the vigilance of the searchi^rs. The^^e new rive's being made to be;!r a strong iikeness to ibe old, were then ctu into two par(< — one part was diiven into the bolt tightly, be- came stationary, the other part was moveable. It l)eh(.ved ihe weaierof the manacle to look to it that he did not lose the loose part, and when the search- ei:§ came to examine, that it should stand firm in the or.fice. Some poor fellows, perhap^^ fiom a defect of ifjgennity, the hardness of the iron, or the want of the requisite tools, could not discharge the bilboes. This was particularly the melancholy predicament of three of Morgan's men, w hose lieels were too long to slip ihiuugh the iigo; which encguipassed the 18 It2 CAMPAIGN small of the \o.^. It was truly painful to see tliree persons afiacliecl to a monstrous bar, the weight of wfjich was above their strength to carr}^ Ii added to the poisfnancy of their sufferings, in su<'h frigid weather, that their colleagfues at the bar, having shorter heels, could withdraw the foot and perambu- late the jail : where their companions left them, there they must remain seated on the floor, unless some kinfl hands assisted them to remove. There was a droll dog from theeastward, who was doubly unfortunate: in the attack on the city he had received a spent hall in the pit of the stomach, which had nearly ended him : now it became his lot to have arj immense foot -bolt fastened to his leg, with- out a companion to bear him company, and cheer his lonelv hours. This victim of persecution andsorrow would sometimes come among us in the yard, bear- iris: up his bob, slung by a cord hitched over his shoulder. Nothing could damp his spirits. He talked, laughed and sung incessantly. Some others, besides those, were similarly situated. Those who "were so lucky as to have light hand-cuffs, bore them about with them. The greatest danger of discovery arose from those who could free tiiemselves from th^ heavy irons. The usual visitations were increased from twice to thrice a day — in tlie first and last if smith searched the bolls of each person. But the were oiher intrusions, intermediately, by officers evi- dently despatched by the suspicions of government,, for the purpose oi discovery. To counteract these new measures of caution and jealousy, we were well prepared. Sentries, on our pan, were regularly sta- tioned at certain windows of the jail, to descry \hi approach of any one in the garb of an officer. The view from these windows wasa pretty extensive, do<\^n twb of the stre^t^, ^^cfelly th^t leading to the palacfe. AGAlx\ST QUEBEC. 188 Notwiihstancling every camion lo avoid detection, yet the clang of tiie lock of the great, door was on some occasions the only warning given us of the iinperid- ing danger. The pcaniperings at those times weie truly diverting, and having always escaped discov- ery, gave us much amusement. The clanking of the fetters followed, and was terrible ; such as the imagination forms in childhood of the condition of the soul- iu Taitarus ; even this was spon. Happi-; ly our real sittiation was never know i to any ol the, government officers ; unless the good blacksmith, (a worthy Irishman, of a feeling heart,) might be call- ed such, and he was silent.' Towards the middle of April, the scurvy, which we had been imbibing during ihe winter, niade its appearance in its most virulem and deadly forms, pie- ced'd and accompanied by a violent dia'rhoea. — Many of those who Avere first arte led were taken to the hospital ; but the disease soon became general a- mong us. We were attended several times by doc- tor May bin, the physician general, who, by his ten- der atif.ntions and amiable manners, won our alfec- tions : he reconunended a cleansing of the stomach, o'by ipecacuanna and mild cathaitics, such as rhu- barb, together with due exercise. Those who weie a.yotmg, active, and sensible of the doctor's salutary 3-^dvice, kept afoot, and practised every kind of aih- jletic sport we could devise. On the contrary, those )who were supinely indolent, and adhered to their blankets, became objects of real commiseration — I their limbs contracted, as one of mine is now : large -jblue, and even black blotches appeared on iheii bod- ies and limbs — the gums becanje black — the morbid , flesh fell away — the teeth loosened, and in several instances fell out. Our luiuds w- re now really de- pres=fed, '1 hat hilarity aud fyu which supported our 184 CAMPAIGN spirits in the greatest misfortunes, gave way towail- ings, groanings and deaih. I know, from dire expe- rience, lliat wlien the body suffers pain, the mind, for the time, is deprived of all its exhileratiorjs— in short, ahnost of the power of thmking. The elbow joints, the hips, the knees, and ancles were most severely pained. It was soon observed, (though the doctor's mate attended us almost daily, and very caiefully,) there was little or no mitigation of our diseases, ex- cept that the diairhoea, which was derived from an- other cause than that which pioduced ihe scurvy, was somew^hat abated ; and that our remedy lay elsewhere in the materia medica, which was beyond the grasp of the physician. The diarrhoea came from the nature of the water we useil daily. In the month of April the snows began to melt, not by the heat of the sun, but most probably by the warmth of the earth beneath the snows. The ground, satura- ted with snow-water, naturally increased the foun- tain head in the cellar. Literally, we drank the melted snow. Ti e scurvy had another oiigin. The diet — salt pork, infamous biscuit — damp, and close confinement in a narrow space, together with the se- verity of the climate, were the true causes of the scur- vy- . , There was no doubt in any reflective mmd among US, but that the virtuous and beneficent Carlton, ta- king into view his perilous predicament, did every thing for us which an honest man and a good Chris- tian could. An observation may be made in this place with propriety: that is, that in the climates of all high southern or northern regions, the soil is very rich and proHfic. This beneficial operation of nature, is, in all likelihood, attributable to the nitrous qualities that the snow deposites. Of the fact that nitre is the AGAINST QUEBEC. 18» principal ingredient which causes fertility in the earth, no man of observation can at this d 'y reasonably doubt. The earth is replete of it. Wherever earth and shade unite, it is engendered and becomes ap- parent. This idea is proved by the circumstance that nitre may be procuied from caves, the earth of cel- lar?:, outhouses, and even from common earth, if kept under cover. During the revolution, when powder was so necessary, we every where experienced the good effects of this di>xovery. The snows that usu- ally fall in Canada about the middle of Noveniber, and generally cover the ground until the end of A- pril, in my opinion l]ll tfi'e soil with those vegetative salts that forward the growth of [)lants. This idea was evinced to me by my vague and inconsiderate mind, froni observatiotjs then made, and which were more firndy established by assurances irom Captain Prentis, \hRl muck ov manure, which we employ in southern climates, is there never used. In that coun- try the moment the ground is free t'wm snow, the grass, and every species of plant, spring forward in the most luxuriant manner. Captain Prentis, be- sides the continuation of his care and friejidship to Gibson and myself, did not restrain his generosity to individuals, liut procured fi riis a permi.-^sion from gov- ernment to send out an old Irishman, of the JNevv- York line, an excellent Catholic, to • ollect lor us veg- etable food. The first specimen of this good old man's attention and industry, was the production of a large basket full of the ordinary blue giarss of our country ; this grass, by those who got it, w^as devour- ed ravenously at the basket, if so happy as to be a- ble to come near it. Scurvy grass, in many varie- ties, eschalots, small onions, onion tops,, and garlic, succeeded, and were wclconed by all of us for sev- eral months aft^-wajd^e. This voracioais appietwe fov 1^* 186 CAMPAIGN vegetables seems to bean incident alwaj'^s concurring in that terrible disease, tlie scurvy ; nature seems to instil into the patient a desire for such food, and of acids, which are the only specific, (with a due atten- tion to cleanliness,) hitherto discovered, that eradicate the stamina of the disease. About the time above spoken of, Gov. Carlton di- rected that we should be supplied with fresh beef. This was no other than that w^hich had been brought into the city when we lay at Point aux Tremble, in the foregoing autumn, and in aid of the stores of the garrison. It had lain in a frozen state during the winter without salting, but now as warm weather was approaching, it began to thaw, and was hberal- ly disposed of to tlie garrison and prisoners. The beef was sweet, though here and tliere a little blue- ish, (like the mould of stale bread,) very tender, but somewhat mawkish. It was palatable and nutritive to men afflicted as we were. This beef, connected with vegetables, soon animated us with an idea of returning liealth and vigor ; yet, though it mitigated the pains we endured, it did not totally expel the scurvy. The 7th of May arrived. Two ships came to the aid of the garrison, beating through a body of ice, which perhaps was impervious to any olherihan the intrepid sailor. This relief of men and stores crea- ted great joy in the town. Our army began their disorderly retreat. My friend Simpson, with his par- ty, was much misused, from a neglect of giving him information of the intended flight of our army. Some few of the men under his authority, straggled and were taken in the retreat. They came to inhabit our house. Now, for the first time, we heard an account of the occurrences during the winter's blockade, which, though of trivial import, was to us immense- AGAINST QUEBEC. 187 ly interesting. The sally of this clay prodiicecl to the prij^oners additional comfort ; thougii the troop? took a severe revenge upon our friends without, by burn- ing and destroying their property. The next day more ships and troops arrived: a pursuit took place, the effect of whicii was of no consequence, except so far as it tended to expel the col< nial troops from Can- ada. To the prisoners, this retreat hnd ()leasing con- sequences ; fresrh bread, beef newly slaughieied, and a superabundance of vegetables, was a salutary diet to our reduced and scorbjiitic bodies. Still, Ireedomj that greatest of blessings, and exercise, were requi- red to bring back to us genuine health. About, this time an incident occurred that threw us into extacy, as it relieved our minds and faculties from a most torturing piece of preservative duty : this was no oth- er than an authoritative diveslmerjt of the irons. — One day, peihaps the 15th or 18ih of May, Colonel Maclean, attended by ]\Iajor ('arlton, a younger broth- er of the General, Major Maibaum, a German offi- cer, both of whom had just ai rived tiom Europe, to- gether with Captain Prentis, and other officers, en- tered the jail about mitl-day. The prisoners paraded in the jail-yard, completely ironed. Captain Prentis, by the direction of Colonel Maclean, pointed out to the other officers: "This is General such-a-one — that is Colonel such-a-one," and in this maimer pro- ceeded to name all the leading characters. Happen- ing to be very near the amiable, it might be said, ad- mirable Major Carlton, he was overheard to say, 'Col- onel, an)bition is laudable ; cannot the irons of these men be struck off?' This the Colonel ordeied to be done injmediately. Our kind-hearted blacksmith was not distant : he came, and the officers remained to see some of the largest bolts dive-ted, and then left us. < Come, cunie, geotlemen,' said the blacksmith, 188 CAMPAIGN * you can put off your irons.' In a minute, the vast pile lay before him. Being- now at full bodily hber- ty, we completed a ball court which had been origin- ally formed, as it were, by stealth. Hrre a singular phenomenon that auends the scurvy, discovered it- self. Tlie venerable and respectable Maybiti had rec- onmiended to usexercise, not only as a means of cure, but as a preventive of the scorbutic humors operating. Four of the most active would engage at a game of *' fives." Having played some games in contiima- tion, if a party incautiously sat down, he w as seized by the most violent pains in the hips and knt^es, tliat incapacitated him fiom play for many hours, and from rising from the earth, where the patient had seated himself. These pains taught us to keep afoot all day, and even \o eat our food in an erect posture. Going to bed in the evening, after a hard day's play, those sensations of pain upon lying down, inmiedi- ately attacked us. The pain would continue half an hour, and often longer. My own experience w'ill authotise me to say two hours. In the morning we rose tree from pain, and the routine of play and fa- tijiue ensued, but always attended by the same ef- fects, particularly to thestul>b<»rn and incautious, %^ ho w«njld not adhere to the wholesome advice of doctor May bin. Those who were inactive retained those excruciating pains to the last, together with theirdis- torted, bloated, and blackened liujbs. Upon our re- turn from Canada, in the autumn of 1776, I saw fiveor sixof ujy crippled compatriots hobbling through the streets of Lancaster on their way hotue. It cost a tear — ail that could be given. By the month of August, the active were relieved from those pains. Towards the end of May Governor Carlton order- ed each of the prisoners a linen shirt. This gift, to me, was most agreeable, as linen next the ekin, for AGAINST QUEBEC. 189 some months pnst, was unfelt, and few persons wlio have not felt the extremity of such endurances as oursj can form a full conception ot the gratification we enjoyed. Having had but one shirt on at tlie time of our capture, it was soon destroyed by the wearing and the repeated washings it required. Del- icacy forbids a dilation upon the consequences. You would laugh at the description of one of our wash- ing parties. Rising early, the prime object was to make a strong lye of wood-ashes, of which we had plenty, into which the linen was plunged, and con- cocted for an hour or more, under a fjope of putting an end to certain vagranis, of a genus with which most of us are acquainted. During the boiling the votaries of cleanlinesi>, cloaked in a blanket, or blan- ket coat, watched the ebulitions of the kettle. The boiling done, the Hnen was borne to the yard, where each one washed his own, and watched it during the drying, almost in a state of nature, ("aptain Pren- lis, pitying my sad condition, presvsed upon me often to accept from him money to purchase a suit of clothe^', and he would trust to the honor and integri- ty of my father for payment, w4iose chaiacter he knew. Adhering to my first determination, this po- lite and generous proposal of my amiable and deser- ving friend, was as often, yet most thankfully declin- ed, maugre the advice of my bosom friends, Boyd and Cunningham, to the contrary. He, however, forced upon me half a johaimes. This small sum was applied to the solace of my heart. In the first place, to an article still more necessary than a shirt. The residue was expended upon matters whichcheer- ed the hearts of my messmates, whom I dearly lov- ed ; cheese, sugar, tea, coffee, &c. Spirits were de- tested, as we knew it to be a poison to scorbutic per- sons. What pleased me mucli more, and gave me IM CAMPAIGN pure delight, was tlie following occurrence : Of my own accoid, no one knowing of the inteniiun, tlie good old Irishman was delegated to purchase three or four pounds of tobacco. It was secreily bought, and as secretly borne to our room. A pound was produced and fairly parted among our lobaccochew- ers. You cannot conceive I heir joy. When the first paroxism was over, ihe remainder was disposed of in the same way. The thankfulness of those brave, but destitute men, arose towards me, neaily to ador- ation. You will ask why? Hear the reason; From your small knowledge of mankind, you can have little conception of the iorce habit has on the human race. One who chews, smokes or snuffs to- bacco, is as little able to abstain from that enjoyment as you would be if compelled to refrain from your usual meals. This particular is spoken of, to per- suade you by no means to use tobacco in any shape. It is a poison of the most inveterate kind, which like opium, arsenic, and several other medicaments, may be applied to healthful purposes, yet, if employed in an extreme degree, produces instantaneous death. These ideas are not visionary, but are suppoi table by the auihority of some of the best physicians. You are at lull liberty to put your own const rmtions up- on these observations. But to return to my fellow- prisoners. In the wilderness, where the army soon run out the article of tobacco, the men had many valuable succedaneums. The barks of the different kinds of firs, the cedar, the red willow, and the leaves of many astringent or bitter plants supplied the place ; but within the bare walls of our jail there was no substi- tute for this dear and inebriating vegetable, "^rhus was all my money expended, and much to my satis- faction, and to the heait-felt pleasure of my brave AGAINST QUEBEC. 101 and worthy companions, whose suffering's, in cer- tain points, were greater than my own. The tahie of the virtuous and generous Prentis had often fur- nished me hberally with wholesome viands. With convalescency, thous:h pennyless, we again became merry and hght-hearted. In the beginninjj' of August we were told by Cap- tain Prentis that tfie Governor had concluded to send us by sea to New York, upon parole, for the purpose of being exchanged ; that the transports, which had brought the late reinforcements from Europe, were cleansing and pieparing for the voyage. ]\ow there was exultation. On thd 7th of August we subscri- bed our written paroles. Captain Prentis procured me permission from government, with a few friends, to traverse the city. An officer of the garrison at- tended us. Our first desire was to see the grave of our Gt^neral and those of his Aids, as well as those of the beloved Hendricks and Humphreys. 'J'he graves were wilhiri a small place of internient.neat ly walled with stone. The coffins of Montgomery, Cheeseman and M'Pherson, were well arranged, side by side; those of Hendricks, Humphreys. Cooper,