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the spirits of the colonists, and made them ready to dare any dangers. They believed that intrepidity, and dexterity in the use of fire arms, would supply their deficiency of discipline. But in this they were mistaken; and subsequent events convinced them of the error.

In July, General Washington took command of the troops intrenched round Boston, and proceeded to inspect and review them. He found the army, consisting of 14,000 men, animated with great zeal, and prepared to follow him in the most arduous undertakings; but he soon discovered that they were unacquainted with subordination, and strangers to military discipline. Their spirit and courage displayed itself in frequent skirmishes with the British, which were attended, however, with no important result. The Massachusetts troops elected their own officers, and regarded them nearly as equals; and the congressional and colonial authorities interfered with each other. The supply of arms and ammunition was scanty, the troops being without bayonets, and having but nine rounds apiece of cartridges.

These difficulties were in a great measure overcome by the superior talents and perseverance of Washington. He formed the soldiers into brigades and accustomed them to obedience. He requested congress to appoint a commissary general, a quartermaster general, and a paymaster general; a number of men were instructed in the management of artillery, and the army was soon completely organised and fit for service.

The troops were now regularly encamped round Boston; and occupied a space of ground nearly twelve miles in length. The English had strong intrenchments on Bunker's Hill and Roxbury Neck; and were defended by floating batteries in the Mystic river, and a ship of war lying between Boston and Charlestown. The respective forces being thus disposed, the siege of Boston continued until the succeeding spring.

In consequence of orders from the British ministry to estroy the sea-ports of the rebellious colonies, four ships, under the command of Captain Mowatt, were despatched to Falmouth, (now Portland,) in Maine, in the month of October; and, after offering disgraceful terms of submission to the inhabitants, which of course were rejected, he commenced a bombardment and speedily reduced the town to ashes. This

When did Washington join the
army?

In what condition did he find it?
How did he remedy its deficiencies ?

Where were the Americans encamped?

Where were the English forces?

Describe the affair of Falmouth.

BOSTON EVACUATED.

199

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Washington compelling the British to evacuate Boston.

unnecessary and cruel act of aggression only served still further to exasperate the colonies against the mother country. In March, 1776, General Washington determined on forcing the British to evacuate Boston. Having opened his batteries and commeneed a brisk cannonade on the opposite side of the city, he succeeded in occupying Dorchester Heights, on the evening of the 4th, and throwing up a fortification before morning. General Howe, who had succeeded General Gage in the chief command, on discovering that this position was occupied, saw the necessity of dislodging the Americans or instantly abandoning the place. He prepared for a vigorous attack on the works, but was prevented from landing his forces, which had embarked in boats, by the occurrence of a tremendous storm. Nothing remained, therefore, but to evacuate the place.

The British were not annoyed in their retreat, as they might thus have been provoked to burn the town; a loss which it would have required years of profitable industry to repair. For this, and some other reasons, they were allowed to embark at their leisure, and take with them as many of the adherents to the royal cause, with their effects, as chose to accompany them. On, the 17th of March, their fleet sailed for Halifax. The American army, under Washington, hastened towards New York, whither they supposed the English were gone.

What was determined by Washington | Why were the British permitted t in March, 1776 ?

What heights did he occupy?
What was done by General Howe ?

escape without loss?

Whither did the Americans proceed?

Why?

200

CAPTURE OF FORT ST. JOHN.

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CHAPTER XXV.

EXPEDITION AGAINST CANADA.

DURING these transactions in New England, events of some importance took place in other parts of America. Congress had early directed its attention towards Canada, and endeavoured either to gain the co-operation, or secure the neutrality of the inhabitants in its dispute with Britain. Addresses had been repeatedly sent to them in the French, as well as the English language, representing the tendency of the new measures of parliament, and these had not been without some effect. The Canadians generally were willing to remain neutral in the contest.

Congress believed them to be partial to their cause, and resolved to anticipate the British, by striking a decided blow in that quarter. In this purpose they were encouraged by the success of the expedition against Crown Point and Ticonderoga, as well as by the small number of troops then in Canada. They appointed General Schuyler commander of the expedition, with General Montgomery to act as second in command. Early in September, 1775, these officers, with about 1,000 men, made an ineffectual attack on Fort St. John, situated on the river Sorel; but found it expedient to retire to Isle-aux-Noix, at the entrance of the lake, about twelve miles above the fort, and wait for an increase of their effective force.

Meanwhile General Schuyler, being taken ill, and returning to Albany, the command devolved upon General Montgomery, who was instructed to prosecute the enterprise on receiving reinforcements. These reinforcements soon arrived; the attack on Fort St. John was renewed; and, after a vigorous defence, it surrendered, about the middle of November. The Americans found, in the fort, a considerable number of brass and iron cannon, howitzers, and mortars, a quantity of shot and small shells, about 800 stand of small arms, and some naval stores; but the powder and provisions were nearly exhausted.

How did congress endeavour to gain | What was done by them?

the Canadians?

What were they willing to do?
What did congress design?
Who was made commander ?
Who was second in command?

Who succeeded Schuyler in the command?

What fort did he take?

What supplies were found there?

ESCAPE OF GOVERNOR CARLETON.

201

During the siege of Fort St. John, Fort Chamblee had been taken, which furnished General Montgomery with a plentiful supply of provisions, of which his army stood much in need. General Carleton, on his way from Montreal, had been defeated and repulsed; and Colonel Ethan Allen, who had made an unauthorised and rash attack on Montreal, had been overcome, made prisoner, and sent in irons to England. On the fall of Fort St. John, General Montgomery advanced against Montreal, which was not in a condition to resist him. Governor Carleton, fully sensible of his inability to defend the town, quitted it. Next day General Montgomery entered Montreal. He treated the inhabitants with great lenity, respecting their religion, property, and rights; and gained their good will by the affability of his manners, and the nobleness and generosity of his disposition.

A body of provincials, under Colonel Easton, had been despatched by Montgomery, and took post at the mouth of the Sorel; and by means of an armed vessel and floating batteries, commanded the navigation of the St. Lawrence. The British force which had retreated down the river from Montreal, consisting of 120 soldiers under General Prescott, and accompanied by Governor Carleton, seeing it impracticable to force a passage, surrendered by capitulation. About midnight, the day before the capitulation, Governor Carleton escaped down the river, passing through the American squadron in a boat with muffled oars, and reached Quebec in safety.

It was now the 19th of November, and the season was very unfavourable to military operations. General Montgomery, a young officer of superior talent and high spirit, found himself placed in extremely unpleasant circumstances. He was at the head of a body of armed men, by no means deficient in courage and patriotism, but totally unaccustomed to military subordination. The term of service, for which many of them had enlisted, was near an end; and, heartily weary of the hardships of the campaign, they were loudly demanding their discharge. Nothing but devotion to the could have made the general continue the command. Hitherto his career had been marked with success; and he was ambitious of closing the campaign with some brilliant achievement,

What other fort was taken ?
What is said of Carleton?
Of Ethan Allen ?

Against what place did Montgomery
now advance?
Did he take the place?

cause

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202

ARNOLD BEFORE QUEBEC.

which should elevate the spirit of the Americans and humble the pride of the British ministry. With these views, notwithstanding the advanced season of the year, he hastened towards Quebec, although he had found it necessary to weaken his army, which had never exceeded 2,000 men, by discharging many of them whose terms of service had expired.

About the middle of September, a detachment of 1,100 men under Colonel Arnold, had been sent from the vicinity of Boston, with orders to march across the country against Quebec, by a route which had never been explored and was but little known. The party embarked at Newbury, steered for the Kennebec, and ascended that river, in order to reach Canada by penetrating the forests in the interior of Mainea most difficult and hazardous attempt. Their progress was impeded by rapids and by an almost impassable wilderness; and they suffered incredible hardships through the severity of the weather and the want of provisions. They separated into several divisions; and the last, under Colonel Enos, finding itself unable to proceed, returned to the camp at Roxbury. But the other divisions, under Arnold, pressed forward, and triumphed over every obstacle. For a month they toiled through a rough and barren wilderness, without seeing a human habitation, or the face of an individual except of their own party; and their provisions were exhausted; so that Arnold was obliged to push forward before the rest, with a few followers, and obtain a supply from the nearest Canadian settlement. At length, on the 9th of November, the party, with its force much diminished, arrived at Point Levi, opposite Quebec.

His appearance, says an English writer, was not unexpected; for the lieutenant governor had been for some time apprised of his march. In the early part of his progress, Arnold had met an Indian, to whom, although a stranger, he had imprudently trusted a letter to General Schuyler, under cover, to a friend in Quebec. The Indian, instead of faithfully delivering the letter, according to the directions which he had received, carried it to the lieutenant governor, who, in order to prevent the Americans from passing the river, immediately removed all the canoes from Point Levi, and began to

Towards what place did he march ? Describe Arnold's expedition through the wilderness.

When did he reach Point Levi?

How had Arnold's imprudence prevented him from surprising Quebec?

What was the consequence?

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