affiftance. Befides they were perfectly acquainted with, and therefore had every thing to dread, from the zeal, the fpirit of enter prife, and the military talents, of that able and refolute officer.

In these circumftances, confidering a war not only as inevitable, but as already begun, they deemed it inconfiftent with reafon and policy to wait to be attacked by a formidable force at their backs, in the very instant that their utmost exertions would be requifite, and probably infufficient, for the protection of their capital cities and coafts against the refentment of the mighty power whom they had fo grievously offended, and with whom they were entering into fo untried and arduous a conteft. They argued, that preventing the known hoftile intentions of an enemy, by foreftalling his defigns ere they could be carried into execution, was as much a matter of felfdefence, and lefs cruel, than waiting to be attacked by him under every difadvantage, and when he had arrived at his utmoft force. There was no natural law, nor convention among mankind, by which a perfon was bound to be a fimple and inactive lookèr-on, while his enemy was loading a gun for his deftruction; was he to wait till the execution took place, for fear he should be deemed an aggreffor? Queftions in cafuiftry, however edifying upon other occafions, have nothing to do in circumstances upon which the fate of nations depend. Were they only to feek a remedy, when the favages had penetrated into their country, and the fury of the flames which confumed their fettlements were only

retarded by the blood of their women and infants?

The congrefs were alfo fenfible, that they had already gone fuch lengths as could only be justified by arms. The fword was already drawn, and the appeal made. It was too late now to look back, and to waver would be certain deftruction. If a certain degree of fuccefs did not afford a fanction to their refiftance, and dispose the court of Great-Britain to an accommodation upon lenient terms, they would not only lofe thofe immunities for which they at prefent contended, but all others would lie at the mercy of a jealous and irritated government. In fuch a ftate, their moderation in the fingle instance of Canada, they thought, would be a poor plea for compaffion or indulgence.

The knowledge they had of the prefent ftate of affairs, and the temper of the people in Canada, alfo contributed much to encourage them in this enterprize. They knew that the French inhabitants, excepting the nobleffe and clergy, were in general as much difcontented at the overthrow of the English laws, and the introduction of the prefent fyftem of government, as even the British fettlers. It feemed therefore probable, that this difcontent, operating with the rooted averfion which they bore to their ancient proud and oppreffive tyrants, the nobleffe, or lords of the manors, and the mortal dread which they entertained of being again reduced to their former ftate of feudal and military vaffalage, would induce them to confider the Provincials rather as friends than invaders, and to embrace fo favourable [4] 2

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The Congrefs accordingly determined not to lose the prefent favourable opportunity, while the British arms were weak and cooped up in Boston, for attempting the reduction of that province. The Generals Schuyler and Montgomery, with two regiments of NewYork militia, a body of NewEngland men, and fome others, amounting in the whole to near 3000 men, were appointed to this fervice. A number of batteaux, or flat boats, were built at Ticonderoga and Crown-Point, to convey the forces along Lake Champlain to the river Sorel, which forms the entrance into Canada, and is compofed of the furplus waters of the lakes, which it difcharges into the river St. Lawrence, and would afford a happy communication between both, were it not for fome rapids that obftruct the navigation.

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Not above half the forces were yet arrived, when Montgomery, who was at Crown-Point, received fome intelligence which rendered him apprehenfive that a fchooner of confiderable force, with fome other armed veffels, which lay at the fort of St. John's, on the river Sorel, were preparing to enter the lake, and thereby effectually obftruct their paffage. He thereupon, in the latter end of Auguft, proceeded with fuch force as he had

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the entrance of the river, and took neceffary measures to guard against the paffage of thofe veffels into the lake. Schuyler, who at that time commanded in chief, having alfo arrived from Albany, they published a declaration to encourage the Canadians to join them, and with the fame hope or defign pushed on to the fort of St. John, which lies only about a dozen miles from the island. from the fort, as well as the frong appearSept. 6th. ances of force and refiftance which they obferved, occafioned their landing at a confiderable diflance, in a country compofed of thick woods, deep fwamps, and interfected with creeks and waters. this fituation they were vigorously attacked by a confiderable body of Indians, who did not neglect the advantages which they derived from it; along with which, finding that the fort was well garrifoned and provided, they found it neceffary the next day to return to their former ftation on the island, and to defer their operations until the arrival of the artillery and reinforcements which were expected.

In

the arrival of his reinforcements and artillery, he prepared to lay fiege to the fort of St. John. This fort was garrifoned by the greater part of the 7th and 26th regiments, being nearly all the regular troops then in Canada; and was well provided with stores, ammunition, and artillery.

The provincial parties were fpread over the adjacent country, and were every where received with open arms by the Canadians, who befides joining them in confiderable numbers, gave them every poffible affistance, whether in carrying on the fiege, removing their artillery, or fupplying them with provifions and neceffaries. In this ftate of things, the adventurer Ethan Allen, who, without any commiffion from the Congrefs, had a principal fhare in the original expedition to the lakes, and the capture of the forts, and who fince, under the title of colonel, feems rather to have acted as a partizan, than as obedient to any regular command, thought to fignalize, and raife himself into importance, by furprizing the town of Montreal. This rafh enterprize he undertook at the head of a fmall party of English provincials and Canadians, without the knowledge of the commander in chief, or the affitance, which he might have procure, from fome of the other detached parties. The event was fuitable to the temerity of the undertaking. Being met, at fome diftance from the town, by the militia, under the command of Englifh officers, and fupported by the few regulars who were in the place, he was deSept. 25th. feated and taken prifon, with near forty of his

party, the reft who furvived efcaping in the woods. Allen, with his fellow-prifoners, were by General Carleton's orders loaded with irons, and fent in that condition on board a man of war to England, from whence, however, they were in fome time remanded back to America.

The progress of Montgomery was for fome time retarded by a want of ammunition fufficient for carrying on a fiege, which of all operations demand the greatest fupply of powder and ball. The fort of St. John's, which commands the entrance into Canada, could not be reduced without a tolerable provifion of that kind. A fortunate event difengaged him from this difficulty. A little fort called Chamble lay deeper in the country, and feemed covered by St. John's. It was garrifoned by a fmall detachment of the 7th regiment, and was in no very defenfible condition. To this he turned his first thoughts, and, by pushing forward a party joined by fome Canadians, he eafily made himself mafter of that fort. Here he found confiderable ftores; but the article of greateft confequence to him was the gunpowder, which they were much diftreffed for, and of which they took above 120 barrels. This acquifition facilitated the fiege of St. John's, which had languifhed for want of ammunition.

The garrifon of St. John's, under the command of Major Preston, amounted to between 6 and 700 men, of which about 500 were regulars, and the reft Canadian volunteers. They endured the difficulties and hardships of a very long fiege, augmented by a fcarcity of provifions, with unabating conftan[4] 3

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