USA > New York > The natural, statistical, and civil history of the state of New-York, v. 3 > Part 12
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ing the garrison at liberty to turn their whole force against Arnold.
The party commanded by Arnold advanced along the street of St. Roques, towards the St. des Matelots. He led the ad- vance, followed by Captain Lamb. At the Saint des Matelots the enemy had constructed their first barrier, and had mounted two canuons. The path had been rendered very narrow by large masses of ice thrown up on the side of Charles river, and by the works erected by the enemy on the other. In this order Arnold marched along the St. Charles against the battery. The alarm was immediately given, and the fire on his flank conimenced. As he approached the barrier he received a mus- ket ball. in the leg, which shattered the bone, and he was car- ried off the field. Captain Morgan, at the head of his riflemen, rushed forward and carried the battery. He then formed his men, and a few others, and entered the town. Here they were joined by Colonel Greene and Majors Bigelow and Meigs, with portions of companies, constituting about two hundred men.
As the dawn of day began, they attempted to scale the second barrier, but in consequence of a tremendous fire from the ene- my, they were compelled to desist. They thien endeavoured to retreat, but a portion of the garrison, consisting of two hundred men, having made a sortie, and captured Captain Dearborne, and his company, who had been stationed near the palace gate, prevented them. Under these circumstances they were forced . to surrender.
In this bold and unsuccessful attack on Quebec, the Ameri- cans lost four hundred men, of whom sixty were killed. The whole of Arnold's division, with the exception of some officers who attended him to the hospital, fell into the hands of the ene- my. According to the account of Carleton, the enemy's loss was only eighteen killed and wounded. Captain Hendricks, of the Pennsylvania riflemen, and Lieutenant Humphries, of Morgan's company, and Lieutenant Cooper, of Connecticut, were among the slain.
Richard Montgomery, whose short but brilliant career was now finished, was a native of Ireland, and had served with re- 1
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putation in the late war. After its conclusion, he settled in the province of New York, where he married an American lady, and took a very decided part with the colonies in their contest with Great Britain. At the head of a small body of undisci- plined troops, in little more than two months he had made him- self master of Canada, from the lakes to Quebec.
The American army, after this disaster, was no longer in a situation to continue the siege. At first, they were so alarmed, that about one hundred set out for Montreal. With difficulty Arnold retained the others ; but they broke up their camp, and retired about three miles from the city ; where, though very in- ferior to the garrison, they kept it in a state of blockade, and in the course of the winter reduced it to great distress.
Governor Carleton, who acquired and deserved great repu -. tation by. the fortitude discovered in defending Quebec, and who only wished to preserve the place until the reinforcements he expected in the spring should arrive, and enable him to act offensively, very prudently determined not to hazard an attack ; and Arnold, on whom the command now devolved, remained undisturbed, except by occasional sorties made by small par- ties, which always retreated precipitately under their guns as soon as he advanced. Although severely wounded, he retained his courage and activity, and though deserted by those whose time of service had expired, so as to be reduced at one time to about five hundred effective men, and no longer supported by the Canadians, he discovered no disposition to sink under ad- verse fortune.
See Ramsey's History of the Revolution, Williams' History of Vermont, and Marshall's Life of Washington.
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CHAPTER V.
Congress evince a determination to continue the war in Canada - Troops levied to reinforce the army in Canada-General Arnold resumes the investment of Quebec-General Thomas succeeds Arnold-General Carleton receives reinforcements- Thomas raises the siege of Quebec, and retires to Three Rivers -Carleton leaves Quebec with the British army, and pursues the Americans-The Americans retire from Three Rivers to the Sorel-Upon the death of General Thomas the command devolves on General Sullivan-The Americans fall back on the Isle Aux Noix, and soon after upon Crown Point-Pro- ceedings in the southern states-The British make an attack on Charleston in South Carolina, and are repulsed-Wash- ington repairs to New- York-Preparations made to oppose the enemy, in case of their attempting any thing against that place-Declaration of Independence-General Howe and Ad- . . miral Howe arrive at Sandy Hook-The British take Staten Island-Battle of Long Island-The city of New-York evacuated by Washington-Fort Washington surrenders- Battle of White Plains-Fort . Lce abandoned-Washington retires across New-Jersey, after being abandoned by most of. his troops, and takes post on the west side of the Delaware- He recrosses that river, and surprises the Hessians at Trenton -The enemy defeated at Princeton-The campaign closes."
January, 1776 .- Congress determined to keep up in Canada nine battalions, for the ensuing campaign, including one to be raised in New-York. In pursuance of this, General Schuyler was ordered to have constructed at Ticonderoga, a number of batteaux, for the purpose of transporting the troops to Canada. To complete the nine battalions voted for this service, one from Pennsylvania and one from New-Jersey, were ordered to march forthwith to Albany ; two others were to be formed of the troops
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with Arnold, and the remaining number to be raised, one in Pennsylvania, and the others in New-York and New England.
February, 1776 .- The service in Canada was deemed of too much importance to be intrusted to Colonel, now Brigadier Arnold, or to General Wooster, and the health of General Schuyler would not admit of his proceeding to Quebec. Gene- ral Lee was therefore ordered to take command of the army. But before General Lee could enter on this service, the oppo- site extreme of the union was so menaced by the enemy, that the destination of that officer was changed, and he was ordered to take command in the southern department. Major-general Thomas was appointed to command in Canada.
In the hope of exciting in the province of Canada the senti- ments which prevailed throughout the United Colonies, and of persuading the inhabitants to join in the confederacy. Dr. Franklin, Mr. Chase, and Mr. Carrol were deputed as commis- sioners, to treat on this subject.
In the mean time, Arnold kept up the blockade of Quebec. In March reinforcements arrived, so that his army amounted to seventeen hundred men, but it was very inefficient. The Canadians became disaffected, and little pains were taken to conciliate them.
General Carleton, who was no stranger to the revolution which was taking place in the minds of the Canadians, enter- tained the hope of raising the siege by their assistance. A de- tachment of about sixty men, from the garrison, landed twelve leagues below the town on the south side of the river, and were joined by about two hundred and fifty Canadians, under the command of a Mr. Beaujieu, seized a provision convoy designed for the American camp. They were rapidly increasing, when they were suddenly attacked by a detachment sent by Arnold, of about eight hundred men, under Major Dubois, who dispers- ed thein.
General Arnold recommenced active operations in order to renew the siege. He caused batteries to be erected, but on the first day of April, as he was about opening them, General Wooster arrived from Montreal, and took the command. The
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next day he caused them to be opened, but without midt: effect.
The day after the arrival of Wooster, Arnold's horse fell with him, and so bruised his leg as to confine him for some time. Supposing himself to be neglected, he obtained leave of absence and assumed the command at Montreal.
Some fire ships had been prepared both at Orleans and Point Aux Trembles, to be used against the enemy's vessels in the harbour, so soon as the ice would permit. The attempt was afterwards made, but proved abortive, owing to the ignor- ance of the sailors.
About the middle of April, a considerable part of the army left the service, their time having expired.
General Thomas arrived on the first of May; the whole force only amounted to one thousand nine hundred men.
In consequence of this force being divided, and distributed at different posts, which it was necessary to maintain, he found it impossible to assemble at a single point over three hundred men. There were but one hundred and fifty barrels of powder and six days provisions, nor could supplies be had from the Ca- nadians. The river too was beginning to open below, and no doubts were entertained but the enemy would receive relief .- Amidst these circumstances, the hope of taking Quebec ap- peared to General Thomas utterly impossible, and a longer continuance before the town, dangerous. Thus circumstanc- ed, he called a council on the fifth of May, in which it was sunanimously determined to abandon the siege, and retire up the river to Three River Point, or some other intermediate place, and there make a stand.
On the next day, five British ships arrived with part of the in- tended supplies and reinforcements. At one o'clock on the same day, General Carlton made a sortie at the head of one thousand men. General Thomas resolved not to hazard an action, and therefore ordered a retreat. 'This was done with so much pre- cipitation, that many of the sick, with all the military stores, fell into the hands of the enemy. Two tons of powder and
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tive hundred stand of arms, just sent by General Schuyler, also fell into their hands.
Much to the honour of General Carlton, he treated the sick, wounded, and other prisoners that fell into his hands, with great kindness, gentleness and humanity.
The American army continued to retreat to de Chambeau, where, on the seventh, another council was called, in which it was agreed, that they should retire to the mouth of the Sorel. By this time the ships of the enemy had ascended as far up the river as Jacques Cartier, only three leagues from where the army then was. General Thomas, after removing his sick, it seems, determined to continue in his present position some longer. He:was induced to do this in consequence of informa- tion which he received, of large reinforcements being now on their way to join him. But the enemy advancing on him soon after, he was obliged to resume his retreat to the Sorel, where he shortly after died of the small-pox.
Whilst the power of the Americans in Canada was thus visably declining, and their troops forced to retire from the vicinity of Quebec by superior numbers, a calamity entirely unlooked for befel them, in a different quarter of that pro- vince.
As the English were still in possession of the posts on the upper St. Lawrence and on the lakes, it became necessary to station a body of troops above Montreal in order to prevent an attack from that quarter. A point of land called the Cedars, about forty miles above Montreal, was selected. This point projects deep into the St. Lawrence, and can only be approach- ed on one side. To this place General Arnold, who command- ed at Montreal, detached three hundred and ninety men, with two field pieces, under Colonel Bedel, with directions to con- struct works and fortify the position. An expedition against this post was planned by a Captain Forster, who commanded at Oswegatchie, at the mouth of the river of that name. He set out on this expedition with one company of regulars and some Indians, and having prevailed on the Caughnewagas. who inhabited some part of the intermediate country, to join
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him, he appeared before the works of the Americans with four or five hundred men .. Two days before his appearance, Colo- nel Bedel had received information of his approach, and having left the fort to be commanded by Major Butterfield, had pro- ceeded down the river to Montreal to solicit aid. Arnold im- mediately sent Major Sherburne to the Cedars, with one hun- dred men, while he made dispositions to go in person with a much greater force.
Captain Forster, on his first appearance, sent in a flag, re- quiring a surrender, and Major Butterfield proposed to capitu- late, and give up the place, provided he might be allowed to withdraw with his troops and baggage to Montreal. These terms were sternly refused, and the enemy being without can- non, made an attack with musketry. By this mode of attack no serious impression was made, and in the course of two days only one man was wounded. Yet, unaccountable as. it may appear, Major Butterfield, intimidated by the threat, that if auy Indians should be killed during the siege, it would be out of the power of Captain Forster to restrain them from mas- sacreing every individual of the garrison, consented to surren- der, by which he and his whole party were made prisoners of war.
The next day Major Sherburne approached, without having obtained any information of Butterfield's ignominious surren- der. Within four miles of the Cedars, he was suddenly attack- · ed by a body of Indians, and he, after a conflict of one hour, was compelled to surrender at discretion.
Upon intelligence of these events, General Arnold, at the Head of seven hundred men, marched from Montreal, against the enemy, then at Vaudreuil, in expectation of driving then back, and recovering the prisoners. When preparing for the engagement, he received a flag, accompanied by Major Sher- burne, giving him the most positive assurances, that if he attack- ed the enemy, it would be entirely out of the power of Captain Forster to prevent his savages from putting every American prisoner to death. Under the influence of this menace, which
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would have been carried into effect, had Arnold persisted, he desisted and agreed to an exchange of prisoners.
After the death of General Thomas, the American army, at the mouth of the Sorel, was speedily augmented by the expect- ed reinforcement, to four or five thousand men. On the fourth of June, General Sullivan arrived, and the command devolved on him.
General Sullivan, from the friendship evinced by the Cana- dians, imagined that great numbers of them would join the American standard, and that he should be able to recover the post of de Chambeau. But before this could be done, it was necessary to dislodge the enemy from the post which they occu- pied at Three Rivers.
Carleton, it will be seen, had not been able to follow the Americans after they had raised the siege of Quebec, and retired up the St. Lawrence. Towards the latter end of May, how- ever, he was joined by large reinforcements, and found himself at the head of thirteen thousand men. He immediately pre- pared to commence offensive operations. The general rendez- vous of his forces was at Three Rivers, a place situated nearly midway between Quebec and Montreal. His army was great- ly divided. General Frazer had reached this place with a considerable body. General Nesbit, with another body on board of transports lay near them, while General Carleton, with the main body, accompanied by the Generals Burgoyne, Philips and Reidesel, was on his way from Quebec.
General . Thompson, who had commanded the army after the illness of General Thomas, understanding that the party at Three Rivers consisted only of eight hundred men, under Colo- nel M.Clean, had detached Colonel St. Clair, with about seven hundred men, to attack his camp. This officer proceeded to Nicolet, where finding himself not strong enough to make the attack, encamped until he should receive succors or addi- tional instructions. At this time, General Sullivan came up, and learning that the enemy were very weak, ordered General Thompson to join St. Clair, with fourteen hundred men, and
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then march to Three Rivers, and attack the enemy, provide ! there was a prospect of success.
General Thompson, after having joined Colonel St. Clair imagining himself strong enough to drive the enemy from the' place, proceeded down the St. Lawrence in boats by night, and landed a little after daylight, which was later than he had in- tended. He was discovered at the landing, aud an alarm was given. His troops were fired on by the ships in the river, to avoid which, he endeavoured to lead them through what ap- peared to be a point of woods, but, was in reality, a deep mo- rass, three miles in extent. This occasioned considerable de- lay, and some confusion among his men. This gave Genera! Frazer an opportunity to prepare to meet them, while Genera! Nesbit, fell on their rear, and cut off their return to their boats. Having passed the morass, Thompson attacked the forces un- der Frazer, but was repulsed and forced to retreat. Thomp- son and Colonel Irwin, second in command, with about two hundred men, were made prisoners, and from twenty to thirty were killed. Colonel St. Clair, with great difficulty, effected a retreat with about eighteen hundred men.
The American army in Canada, about the middle of June, amounted to eight thousand men, but of these not above one- half were fit for duty. Considerable insubordination prevail- ed, and the troops were much dispirited by their late disasters. Under all these circumstances, General Sullivan formed the rash determination of defending the post at Sorel; and was only induced by the unanimous opinion of his officers to aband- . on it a few hours before the arrival of the enemy. He retreat- ed up the Sorel, first to Chamblee, then to St. Johns, and lastly to the Isle Aux Noix, where he resolved to remain till he should receive orders to retreat. In his retreat from the post at Sorel, he was joined by General Arnold from Montreal.
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The selection of the Isle Aux Noix by General Sullivan, was extremely injudicious, in consequence of its low, wet and unhealthy situation. The troops soon- after compelled him to remove to the Isle Lamotte, where he received orders to embark and return to Crown Point.
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The British army, during this whole retront, followed close in rear, and took possession of the different posts the Americans had evacuated.
As the Americans had the command of the lake, Carleton deemed it advisable to halt at St. Johns till he could build and equip a fleet sufficiently strong to give him the ascend- ency.
Meanwhile General Gates was ordered to take the command. Six thousand militia were detached by New-York and New England, to reinforce the army.
July, 1776-Whilst the war was going on in the north, the southern colonies were not exempted. In Virginia, Lord Dunmore, the governor, assembled a considerable force, con- sisting of the disaffected and negroes, and commenced a pre- datory warfare. For some time he was successful, in conse- quence of a naval force which he had.
He made an attempt to burn Hampton, but was repulsed. His lordship then proclaimed martial law. A body of militia collected to oppose him, were dispersed, and he flattered himself - that he should soon be able to subjugate the lower country.
Intelligence of these transactions being received at Williams- burgh, a regiment of continentals, and two hundred minute-men, were ordered down under the command of Colonel Woodford. Hearing of their approach, Lord Dunmore took a position on the north side, of Elizabeth river, at the Great Bridge, where it was necessary for the Americans to pass in order to reach Norfolk, where his lordship had his head-quarters. Here he erected a small fort on a piece of ground surrounded by a marsh, and only accessible by a causeway. The Americans, on arriving in its vicinity, took post within cannon shot at the south end of the causeway, where they constructed a breast- work.
Both parties remained inactive for some days. Lord Dun- more, who entertained the same contempt for the Americans that the rest of his countrymen did, ordered Captain Fordyce, the commanding officer at the Great Bridge, to storm the works erected by Colonel Woodford. About sunrise this officer, with VOL. III.
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an inferior force, advanced on the causeway to the breast-work, and eudeavoured to carry it, but he was repulsed and lost his life.
The next night. the fort was abandoned, and the Americans proceeded to Norfolk, when Lord Dunmore found it necessary to take refuge on board his vessels.
Irritated by the firing of some American soldiers into his vessels, which then lay in the harbour, and other causes; his lordship caused the town to be set on fire, by which about four- fifths were destroyed. Soon after this, Colonel Howe, who commanded at this place, was directed by the convention to burn the residue, which he did, and then abandoned it. Thus was destroyed the largest and most opulent town in Virginia. . After the burning of Norfolk, Lord Dunmore changed his position, and carried on his predatory warfare along the rivers, creeks, and bays in the lower country, robbing and firing houses. About this time, the military force of Virginia was augmented to nine regiments.
In North Carolina, Governor Martin, though obliged to take refuge on board a ship of war in Cape Fear river, still indulg- ed the hope of being able to reduce the colony.
A body of men on the frontiers, styling themselves regula- tors, who were enemies to all government, had attempted by arms. before the existing war, to stop the administration of justice, and having failed, they had now become as hostile to the colonial as they had before been to the royal government.
There were also in the province a large number of High- landers from Scotland, who adhered to the royal cause. From the union of these parties, who were bold and active, Governor Martin entertained an opinion that he should be able, with some aid from abroad, to reduce the colony. Sir Henry Clin- ton had orders to join him with a party. In addition to this, Lord Cornwallis was expected in South Carolina, with seven regiments. He sent several commissions to the leaders of the Highlanders, with directions to levy some regiments. He ap- pointed a Mr. M.Donald, their chief, a general. About the middle of February, M.Donald assembled fifteen hundred men at Cross Creek, where he erected the royal standard.
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Upon the first advice, General Moore marched at the head of a continental regiment and some militia, and took post at Rock Fish bridge, where he intrenched himself. General M.Donald, relying on superior numbers, advanced against him.' On his arrival, he sent a letter to him, requiring him to join the King's standard by the next day, under severe pen : Ities.
General Moore, knowing that the provincial forces were marching from all quarters to join bim, protracted the negotia- tion. . When at length the forces arrived, Moore gave him, for answer, that he should not accede, and ordered him to surren- der.
M'Donald, perceiving the danger, suddenly decamped, and endeavoured to form a junction with Governor Martin, Lord Campbell, and Sir Henry Clinton, but being closely pursued by the Americans, he was forced to an engagement, in which he was totally defeated, and his men dispersed.
This victory was of eminent service to the American cause in North Carolina, the royal party being entirely destroyed.
In the beginning of June, the British fleet appeared before Charleston, and came to anchor. President Rutledge imme- diately dispatched couriers to call in the militia of the colony.
The British experienced some difficulties in crossing the bar. This object being at length accomplished, operations were commenced against a fort on Sullivan's Island.
During the interval between crossing the bar and attacking this fort, General Lee arrived, with a considera o lebody of con- tinental troops, which, together with the militia constituted a force of between five and six thousand men.
After examining the post, General Lee was disinclined to hazard his army, by engaging it deeply in the defence of either the fort or town ; but in consequence of the great solicitude of the inhabitants, he was induced to sacrifice his own judg- ment.
The works of defence were of great extent. Forts Johnson and Moultrie were defended by two regiments, under the com- mand of Colonels Gadsden and Moultrie ; Colonel Thompson, with eight hundred men, was stationed on the north part of
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Sullivan's Island, where some works had been constructed : and the remaining forces were arranged on Hadrell's Point, and along the bay, in front of the town.
On the twenty-eighth of June, the British fleet attempted to pass Fort Moultrie, and enter the harbour, but was repulsed with great loss. Several of their ships were so much damaged, that they had to abandon them, after having set them on fire.
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