Arnold's expedition. proceed on the expedition, availed nothing; and Montgomery, 1775 with the remnant of his force, consisting of but three hundred men, proceeded to Quebec, expecting there to meet a reinforcement from the army around Boston. Two months previously, Washington had despatched eleven hundred men under Colonel Arnold, with directions to march across the country against Quebec. The route had never been explored, and lay through the forests of Maine. After much suffering from the severity of the weather, and the want of provisions, they separated into several divisions. One of these, unable to advance, returned to the camp at Roxbury; the remainder pressed through every difficulty, toiling through the wilderness without meeting a human being, until, their provisions being exhausted, Arnold, with a few followers, advanced a distance of thirty miles, and obtained a supply from the nearest Canadian settlement. At length, after seven weeks of suffering, the party, much diminished, arrived before Quebec. By the imprudence of Arnold in intrusting a letter for General Schuyler to an Indian who was a stranger, the British had been made acquainted with the approach of the American forces. The boats had all been withdrawn, none could be procured for crossing the river, and in the mean time the city was placed in a posture of defence. In five days Arnold succeeded in crossing the river, with five hundred men in canoes, but could not immediately attack the town for want of the scaling ladders, which he had not as yet been able to convey across the river. Marching his troops in sight of the garrison, the British were fully on their guard, and fired upon his flag of truce. He then retired to Point Aux Trembles, about twenty miles up the river, where he was soon joined by Montgomery with his small remnant. 1775 Americans retreat from Quebec. On the 5th of Twelfth month, (Dec.,) having succeeded in conveying the scaling ladders across the river, the whole force, amounting to nine hundred men, appeared before Quebec. A flag of truce sent by Montgomery was fired upon. After erecting batteries, an attack was commenced, but no impression could be made on the walls. The cold was intense, the snow falling fast, and the sufferings of the troops were even greater than they had heretofore experienced. In the midst of this distress, the small-pox was introduced among the soldiers, and by lessening the number of those who were able to labor, increased the duties of the others. Many of the men had inoculated themselves, although orders to the contrary had been given, and such was the spread of the disease, that notwithstanding the arrival of reinforcements, but nine hundred men were fit for service, while medicines and the comforts and conveniences necessary for the sick were wanting. Montgomery perceived there was no time to be lost, and determined to storm the town. In order to divert attention, two feigned attacks were made on the upper town, while Montgomery and Arnold separately directed their forces in another quarter. The former was at first successful. The British had begun to retire, when one of them returned to the battery and discharged one of the guns; Montgomery, two captains, and two other men were killed on the spot. The rest of the division precipitately retreated. Arnold and his party maintained an obstinate conflict for a considerable time, when he was severely wounded and carried off the field. His party for three hours encountered a deadly fire, when, fatigued with exertion and benumbed with cold, they retreated, leaving many of the men in the hands of the British. In this desperate engagement, so large a number of the Americans had been killed or taken prisoners, that, from nin Death of Montgomery. British reinforced. hundred, the provincial army had been reduced to four hundred effective men. The loss of their commander was severe. ly felt; few men have fallen in battle more beloved and respected than Montgomery. The sick and wounded were treated with much humanity by Carleton, the British commander, who, as they recovered, permitted them to return to their homes. In the hope of receiving reinforcements, Arnold, who again had the command, decided to remain in the vicinity, and maintained a blockade of the place, cutting off supplies of provisions, so that the garrison was reduced to great distress. With the addition of a small force from Massachusetts, and all that could be spared from Montreal, the siege was resumed, but without effect. Meantime, the difficulties of obtaining provisions became 1776 greater, the small-pox continued its ravages, and the spirits of the soldiers became depressed. On a review of the army by General Thomas, who had been appointed to succeed Montgomery, he found it to consist of nearly two thousand men, of whoin, one-half were disqualified for service. In the expectation that the British would be reinforced, as soon as the ice left the river, a council of war decided to remove the army higher up the St. Lawrence. While engaged in removing the sick, several ships entered the harbor, and a multitude of British troops were added to the force in the city. Governor Carleton soon marched out to attack the Americans, who continued to retreat; most of the sick and all of the stores fell into his hands. The former were treated with the humanity characteristic of the governor, and when recovered, were allowed to return to their homes. The Americans withdrew to the mouth of the Sorel, where General Thomas died of the small-pox, which still prevailed. The Americans had established a military fort, called the Americans withdraw from Canada. 1776 Cedars, on the St. Lawrence, about forty miles above Montreal. Being attacked by a large body of British and Indians, the place was surrendered after a short resistance, the commander having received intimation that if any of the Indians should be killed, they could not be restrained from the massacre of the garrison. A body of Americans, sent from Montreal to the assistance of the force at the Cedars, not being aware of its surrender, was met by a large party of Indians. A bloody conflict ensued, in which many of the Americans were killed, and the rest made prisoners. The British sea and land forces had by this time been much increased, and it soon became evident that the Americans must abandon the province. An expedition to surprise the British in their head-quarters entirely failed. Arnold withdrew from Montreal and retired to Crown Point, at the head of Lake Champlain, with but little loss in the retreat. The forces stationed at the Sorel were pursued by Governor Carleton as far as St. Johns, but the retreating army continued their march to Crown Point. For nine months had Thus ended the invasion of Canada. the American army been in the province. many lives had been sacrificed, and much suffering endured, that never can be estimated; and enemies made of the Canadians, instead of friends. In the course of the autumn, General Carleton succeeded in once more gaining possession of Crown Point, which again gave him the command of Lake Champlain. CHAPTER XXI. CONTINUATION OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. Independence advocated. CONGRESS had not given up all hopes of reconciliation with 1776 England, when early in this year, information was received from the agent who had presented the last petition to the king, that no answer might be expected, and that additional preparations were making to subdue the colonists. All anticipations of this kind were crushed by such intelligence, and it became evident that the struggle must terminate in the entire independence of the colonies, or in their complete subjugation to the British crown. A law was soon after passed by Parliament, prohibiting all commerce with the colonies, and authorizing the capture of all vessels engaged in trade on the American coast, whether American or otherwise. Treaties had also been made with the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel and other German princes, hiring of them seventeen thousand men, to be employed in the British service in America. This act gave peculiar offence to the colonists, and strengthened their determination to resist. Independence became now more generally advocated. The most able writers demonstrated the necessity of such a step, and urged the establishment of colonial governments. The subject was fully discussed in the different provinces, and the members of Congress received instructions from their constituents. In Fifth month, (May,) they recommended to |