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This " Maple . prowess earliest c That Tvc investigci yet amo: ments ir I thuiigb into Coil puttiug text of ] form his of luy o\v of the .si George I George C 1 have country, Quebec a In a tl'ir( to furnisl iog intill SrENC. %3^ TO THE READER. This scries cuuLuins, properly speaking, tlie liistorical portion of the *' Mapio liCaves," viz. : — Skotclio!' of the origin, ancestry and military . prowess of our forefathers in p]astern and Western Canada, from the earliest days down to the close of the last American invasion of Canada. That wc have had plenty of fighting in this country, few who choose to investigate the subject will be inclined to deny; and as there are yet amongst us some who profess to consider as skirmishes, engage- ments in which several thousands of corpses strewed the ground, I thought it would not be out of place to undeceive them by bringing into Court the record of history. Not wishing to bo charged with putting my own construction on past events, I have produced the very text of Bancroft, Christie, Garucau, and others, allowing the reader to form his opinion; in such cases, scarcely ever obtruding any comments of my own. Two documents I shall specially commend to the attention of the student of Canadian history— one, the narrative of the Fort George Massacre, by an eyewitness; the ether, a sketch furnished by George Coventry, Esq., of Cobourg, of the United Empire Loyalists, 1 have also devoted considerable space to the l-'ish and Game of the country, and to setting forth amendments in the laws advocated by the Quebec and Montreal Fish and Game Protection Clubs, and by others. In a third series, I hope yet to redeem a promise I made in the first, and to furnish to the patrons of " 3Iaple Leaves" a deal of new and interest- ing inttlligence on literary and other subjects connected with Canada. , SJ'EXCLR GllANME, NKAR QuEBEC, 20/A Mt>/, 18G4. ^ " r a; •*• ca Mild of llucnt i the ihxy ti few c busincs thing t( the Bri thither, Oatarac tiblc pi' I'itics, t aud nc<. ted us a dietine, our cok would t uow stc irora wl Canada ^ ^ ^.VE ^J^A y -*•- ^. L> llkSTOliV AND SPORT. I^ugiistiis .$ahi on Cairni;!, " r AM bold enough to diiuk that about niuc-teuths even of my edu- A cated countrymen have about as definite an idea of Montreal, Toronto, and of Quebec, as they have of Owyhee or of Antannarivo. Is it imper- tinent in inc to assume that my friends at liomearc as i^^norant as I was the day before yesterday ? It seems to me that, abating a few merchants, a few engineers, and a few military men, it has hitherto ])een nobou^ s business in England to know what the Canadians arc like. It is not tlu- thing to go to Canada. One can '' do " Niagara witlioutpenetrating into the British Province. Englisli artists don't make sketching excursions thither. The Alpine Club ignore it. Why does not some one start a Cataract Club >' We let these magnificent provinces, with their inexhaus- tible productiveness— for asperity of climate is no sterility— their noble ^.■ities, their hardy and loyal population, go by. We pass them in silence and neglect. Wo listen approvingly while some college pedant, as bigot- ted as a Dominican, but without his shrewdness, as conceited as a Bcme- dietine, but without his learning, prates of the expediency of abandoning our colonies. If we meanly and tamely surrender these, into whose hands would they fall V What hatred and ill-will would spring up among those now steady and ati'ectionate people in their attachment to our rule, but from whom mi had withdrawn our countenance and protection ! 15ut Canada has been voted a ' b..nv :in.l (o be < only a n.lni.jar would ap. o AUGUSTUS BALA ON CANADA. iw. ply, it would seem, to a province as well as to a bishop. I have not the slightest desire to talk guidebook, or even to institute odious comparisons, by dwelling on the strength and solidity, the cleanliness and comeliness, the regard for authority, the clieery but self-respecting and self-exacting tone which prevails in society ; the hearty, pleasant, obliging manners of the people one sees at every moment in this far-offeity (Montreal) of a hun- dred thousand souls, with its cathedrals, its palaces, its schools, its convcntsj its hospitals, its wharves, its warehouses, its marvelous tubular bridge, its constantly growing commerce, its hourly-increasing prosperity, its popu- lation of vivacious and chivalrous Frenchmen, who, somehow, do not hate their English and Scottish fellow-subjects, but livo in peace and amity with them, and who are assuredly not in love with the Yankees. But it really does make a travelling Englishman ' kinder mad,' as they would say south of the forty-fifth parallel, when he has just quitted a city wliich, in industry, in energy, and in public spirit, is certainly second to none on the European continent, and which, in the cleanliness of its streets, the beauty of its public buildings, and the tone of its society, surpasses many of them — to know that u majority of his countrymen are under the im- pression that the Canadian towns are mere assemblages of log-huts, in- habited by half-savage backwoodsmen in blanket coats and moccassins, and that a few mischievous or demented persons are advocating the policy of giving up the Cauadas altogether. Happily there is a gentle- man in Pali-Mall who has been to Canada — who lias seen Quebec, and Toronto, and Montreal. The name of that gentleman — the first in our realm — is Albert-Edward, Prince of Wales ; and he knows what Canada is like, and of what great things it is capable." — So says the late editor of the Cornliill Mcvjatuir. w ( ••) e not the parisouH, iiiclincss, cxactin*;' utmersof of ahun- ;onvcnts> ridge, its its popu- not hate id amity But it 3y would y wliicli, I none on eets, the ics many the im- Imts, in- ceassins, jnj the gentlc- )cc, and it in our Canada ;o editor C^mmplaiii No name in Canadian history is surrounded with more lustre and deeper veneration than that of the founder of Quebec, As a statesman, — a discoverer, — a hrave and successful commander, Samuel do Cham- plain's far.: J will bo handed down from generation to generation. The late Dr. J. C. Fisher thus describes *= his career : — " On the loth April, IGOS, T»outgrave having been already despatched in a vessel to Tadoussac, Champlain, who had obtained the commission of Lieutenant, under Dc Monts, in New France, set sail from Ilonfleur, with tlie express intention of establishing a settlement on the St. Lawrence, above Tadoussac, at which post he arrived on the 3rd June. After a short stay, he ascended the river, carefully examining the shores; and on the onl .luly, reached the spot called Stadacona, now Quebec, rendered so remarkable by the first visit of Jacques Cartier in L5J55. Champlain, whose ambition was not limited to mere commer- cial speculations — actuated by the patriotism and pride of a French gentleman, a faithful servant to his king, and warmly attached to the glory of his country, — thought more of founding a future empire than of a trading post for peltry. After examining the position, he selected the elevated promontory which commands the narrowest part of the great river of Canada, the extensive basin between it and the Isle of Orleans, together with the mouth of the little lliver St. Charles, as a fit and proper seat for the future metropolis of New France, and there laid the foundation of Quebec, on the 3rd July, 1G08. His judgment has never been called in question, or his taste disputed in this selection. Its commanding position, natural strength, and aptitude both for pur- poses of offence and defence, are evident on the first view — while the unequalled beauty, grandeur, and sublimity of the scene mark it as worthy of extended empire : — * In Hawkins's Picture of Quebec. 4 CIIAMI'LAIN. lior rrp;tiiim p«'nlil)ii.-- fs-io, Si qiiii Oitfi siimnt, jam turn trii(lili|i)"' tovoliiuc This iidlilo site, proTO fate liorcnfior kiml, Tlio sent of laatinj; empire he desi^'iicil. iTiu'liiti- IVum tlio irrand liiittory to tlio Castle of St. Lewis, lie coni- nieneed liis labors jiy iVlliiii; tlie walnut trees, and vootiiij; up the wild vinos with whieh the vir^'in soil was covered, in order to make room for the projeeted settlement. Tints were eretited, some lands were cleared, and a lew gardens made, (or the purpose of proving' the soil, whi(di was found to be excellent. The first pertnanent buildini; which tlie h'reneh erected was a storc-liouse, or magazine for the security of their pro- visions, (^hiimplain thus Hcttlcu Th ■• Ul(l resi.lcnts still rcuiembcr a red bridge which formerly existed at the end of !St. Peter Street, opposite the Montreal ]]ank : and vessels were moored, some si.\ty years ago, to tho IniiUlings which .4ood on the site on which the Quebec tank was erected histycar.— (J. M. L.'l I 'm < IIAMI'LAIN. lie coiu- flu- wild room for cloarod, Mcli was (^ I'^'cndi icir pro- liicli will 1 reaclic'.] ! for our ihc pro- iiid vines, tlioiii, in id was to hich was I'onncrly men and iion, near crcd tliat J.'Jih .^lay, HlUT, two hundrcMJ and liftyseven years a,t;(". The iliivali'oiis rharactcr ami adventures of (';'pfain dolm Smith, ami the iiitere.-linu; story of iV'eahontas, have coiiferred a ])eculiar interest on the early liislnry of ihis colony. It may Ik? noteil, as a sin^Milar con- trast will) the growth of the Kn;j;lish colonies afterwards, (hat at the death of (Jnern j'llizaheth, in l;>('o, t!iere was not a Mnropean family in all (he northern eoiitiiUMit : at present the great State itf \'irt;ini;i alone, -of wlii( h the germ was a colony u\' on(! hundred \' the lirst settlement by the l^bii^lisb, it appears by the census of js.io that there existed on]y /"rfj/scrt n Indians in the wlnde state I " 'fhe CllAMPLAIN. " From the j-ilonoo of Chaiupliiin rospectiiig the hanilot or town of St.'ulacona whioli bad boon visited by (Jartier so often in Ifil}"), it would sconi probabio that it had dwindled, owing to the migratory predilections of tlio Indians, to a plaoo ©f no monicut. lie certainly mentions a num- ber of Indians who were " c'ioInIty appear to have degonerated In this particular. 'Plioy are represented as having experienced the greatest oxtrcralties for want of food during the winter of 1008 ; and some who canu^ over from the Pointo Levi side of the river were in such a state of wretchedness as hardly to bo able to drag their limbs to the upper part of the settlement. They were relieved and treated with the greatest kindnef, it would rodilcctious ions a num- jcttlcmont ; ill be reool- iing amply of Cham- tod in this 10 gfOiltcSt some who 1 a state of upper part 10 greatest as the Sth of Quebce ' exploring I his niin- iceivod, as had taken lake which utumu, he under the enee. IA^, who )ni hi:n an statement m the St. tion. J)c liad been i now ex- y the as- he spring ho latter adousaae, while Champlain, having with him a reinforcement of artisans and laborers, was to proceed to Quebec. He sailed from Honfleur on the Sth April, and arrived atTadoussac in the singularly short passage of eighteen days. Thence ascending the river to Quebec, lis had the gratification of iinding the colonists in good health, and content with their situation. The crops of the previous year had been abundant, and everything was in as good order and condition as could be expected. ' " To pursue further the Dvoceedings of (Mianiplain; and his discoveries in the interior, does not ])roperly fall within the scope of this work, but belongs to the History of Canada. It may be well, however, to observe in this place, that owing to the political error committed by this other- wise sagacious chief, when he taught the natives the use of fire-arms, and joined them in an olFensive league against the lro(j[Uois, who were at first supported by the Dutch, and afterwards by the English colonists of New York, Champlain not only laid the foundation of that predatory and cruel warl;ire which subsisted with little intermission between his couri trymcn and the five nations, notwithstanding the conciliatory efforts of the Jesuits; but he may with reason be coDoidered as the remote, although innocent, cause of the animosity afterwards engendered between the Provincialisls and the French, owing to the excesses ol' the Indians in the interest of the latter, and of a war which terminated only with the subjugation of Canada ])y the British arms in I TOO. " Champlain, who made fre(|uent voyages to France in order to pro- mote the interests of the rising etjlony, and who identified himself with its prospects by bringing out his family to reside with him, was wisely continued, with occasional intermission, in tlie cliie!" command until his death, hi 1(J20, he erected a temporary fort on the site ot (he Castle oi' St. Lewis, which he rebuilt of stone, and fortified in JG24. At that time, however, the colony numbered only fifty souls. It appears from the Parisli ilegister then conimcnccd to be regularly kept, that the first child liorn'' in Quebec of rreneh parents was christened Kustachc ou the 24th October, IG-I, being the son of Abraham Martin y and Margiiret * The first marriuf o in tlio colony took itlaco botweuu Guillaunie Couilliinl and Uuill- nietto Uebert. Two n. i,- ths iirevioutily tlio lirst. marriage in tlio New England States Wiis celebrated on the I2(ii May, 1021, at I'lyniouth, between Kd. Winglow unil 8uHanniili White. Couillard's house, the firat l)uilt in tin- eily, nptiears to have .^tood on (In? Jiattery, close to the old .suinll-po.x cemetery. (J. ^I. L. ) I" Altraham Martin Jit L'Keos-s.iii?, it--, Mniirt Af'/u/nin:, Ivin;;,'; j'ilot, aller wln/m the plain ■< wcro called i CIIAMPLAIN. L'Anglois, lu 1629, Champlain had to undergo the mortification of surrendering Quebec to an armament from England under Louis Kcrtk, whc, on ihe 22nd July, planted the English standard on the walls, just one hundred and thirty years before the battle of the Plains of Abraham, Champlain was taken as a prisoner of war to England, whence ho returned to France, and subsequently to Canada in lGo3. The inhabi- tants were well treated by Kertk, who was hin..self a French Huguenot refugee, and none of the settlers] left the country ; which was restored to France by the treaty of St. Germain-en-Laye, on the 29th March, 1G32. '' Champlain, who combined with superior talents and singular pru- dence a temperament of high courage and resolution, after a residence in New France of nearly thirty years, died full of honors, and rich in public respect and esteem, in the bosom of the settlement of which lie was the founder, about the end of December, 1G35. His memoirs are written in a pleasing and unaffected style, and show that he was deficient in none of the quulitiea which are so essential in the leader of difficult enterprises, and the discoverer of new countries. His obsequies were performed with all the pomp which the colony could command ; and his remains were followed to the grave with real sorrow by the clergy, offi- cers, and the civil and military inliabitants, h'atlier JjC Joune pronounc- ing an a]>propriate funeral oration. ''At the death oi' Cliamplain, the French possessions in Canada con- sisted ol' the fort of Quebec, surrounded ])y ^ome inconsiderable houses, and barracks for the soldiers, a few huts on the Island of Montreal, as n\any at Tadoussac, and at other places on the St. Lawrence, used as trading and fishing posts. A settlement had just been commenced at Three llivers; and in these tvilliug aeiiuisitions were comprised all that resulted from the discoveries of \'crazzano, Jac(||ues Oartier, Koberval, Chamj)iain, and i lie v;ist outlay oJ" i)e la ItochO). Do Monts, and other French adventurers. At the time we are writing, (ISoi,) the Colony or Province ol' J -owcr Canada contains nearly six hund';ed thousand inh'd>i- tants — Quebec posseses over three thousand houses, and a i)opulation of near thirty thousand houls (now some >^ixtyfive thousand souls). 'J'hat of Montreal is as iiiini(>rous; ami Tluee llivers is ))Vogressively im- proving ill wealtli and resources. Tlie sncial and conimercial inter- course lM't\v((ii t'msc t!(.iirisliif»Li' lowiis is iiiai;itaiiit'd I • V means oi • HAM PLAIN. i) ication of is Kertk, rails, just Abraham, tiencc be 3 inbabi- [uguenot restored ch, 1G32. liar pru- idcDCC iu ricli ill vbicli bu loirs arc deficient difficult ies were and bis •gy, offi- •OUOUIJC- ada con- i bouses, treal, as used as euccd at all tbat obcrval, id otbor ulony or inb'»bi- lation of L 'J'bat ely ini- il iiitor- eans of magnificent steamboats ol' unrivalled safety and expedition — tbosc Hoatinp; palaces In wbich a tbousnnd bunian beings arc often trans- ported from city to city. Tbo trade of tbe province, instead of being limited to a few small craft engaged iu the fisheries or the fur trade, employs more than a thousand vessels of burthen, enriching the pro- vince with an annual immigration of from twenty-five to tifty thou- sand souls, the aggregate of whose capital is immense ; and conveying in return the native produce of the Canadas to almost every part of the cmplie. Pitt must have b^en prophetically inspired when he gave iu the great seal of Canada its beautiful legend, I'or nothing could be more applicable to the double advantages uConc extensive branch ol" its com- merce — tlic Timber trade — AH Il'sO DUCIT Ol'ICS ANIMUUCJUE I'KttnO — Gaius power ami riches by tlio self-same steel. fnstead of a few huts on the river's side, the country on each bank of the St. Lawrence has been lung divided into rich seigniories, and tbe i'ertilc soil cultivated by an industrious, a virtuous and contented ])opu- lation — by a people to whom foreign dominidn, instead of deteriorating their i'ormer condition, lias been the herald of all that can render \\i\) precious. It has given to them the unrestricted enjoyment of their rights, language and religion — protection against external foes, together with the full security of their )mestie usages, customs, laws and pio- perty — porteet exemption from tbe burthens of taxation, ;ind a state <>l" rational iiappiuess and political freedom unequalled on the lace of tbe. globe. The lollowing beautii'ul lin(;s from Virgil will strike every one, as singularly ap]tlicable to the condition (»f the Canadian fanner, or liiibitant : " U fortunatos niraium, sua si bona uoriut, Agricolud! quibus Ipsa, i)rocuI discordibus armii, Fundit liiimo fiiciloni victtmi justis.sima tellu,^." Let u^ now see tbe same ^ubJeet treated by toiu of our mo:4 >> 'J (HI f 10 ClIAMPIiAIN. eloquent statesmen. The speech* is iu reply to the following .sen- timent : — "T/ie memory of Sieur dc Champlain, the fearless navigator and ac- complished statesman ; the first to explore and designate these shores ; whose plans of empire^ more vast and sagacious than any of his time, failed of success, only through the short-sightedness of his sovereign, in allowing the Atlantic shores of New England to fall into the hands of his rivals, thereby changing the history of the New World." The lion. Thos. D'Arcy McGeo, President of the Executive Council of Canadn, addressed the assemblage in response to this sentiment. IIo said : I beg to assure you, Mr. President, and the gentlemen of the Maine Historical Society, who have done me the honor to invite me liero, that T feel it a very great privilege to be a spectator and a participant in the instructive, retributive ceremonial of this day. This peninsula of Sabino must become, if it is not already, classic ground, and this 29th of August, the true era of the establishment of our language and race on this continent, one of the chief /as^t of the English speaking people of North America. It is, on general grounds, an occasion hardly less in- teresting to the colonies still English, than to the citizens of Maine, and, therefore I beg to repeat in your presence, the gratification I feel in being allowed to join in the first of what I trust will prove but the first, of an interminable series of such celebrations. I would be very insen- sible, sir, to the character in which I have been so cordially presented to this assembly, if I dil not personally acknowledge it; and I should be, I conceive, unworthy of the position I happen to occupy as a mem- ber of the Canadian Government, if I did not feel more the honor you have paid to Canada, in the remembrance you have made of her first Governor and Captain General, the Sieur do Champlain. That cele- brated person was in truth, not only in point of time, but in the compre- hension of his views, the audacity of his projects, and the celebrity of his individual career, the first statesman of Canada ; and no one pretend- ing to the character of a Canadian statesman could feel otherwise than honored and gratified when Champlain's name is invoked, publicly or '* This report of tho Ilou. Mr. McGee .^ speocli wt tlio Fort I'ui'luim (State of Maino) cehbrfttion, iu 1862, wo cojij from the Povtlnnd Adf^ithfr. CaiAMPLAiN, 11 icn- ac- res ; ne, in of privately in his presence. \Vc have no fear that the reputation of our j^rcat founder will not stand the severest test of historical research; we have no fear that his true greatness will dwindle by comparison with the rest of the Atlantic leaders — the chiefs of the renowned sea — chivalry, of whom we have already heard such eloquent mention. We Canadians ardently desire that he should be better known — be well known — and, perhaps, you, Mr. l*resident, will permit me to indicate some of the events in the career, to point out some of the traits in the character, which hallow for us, forever, the name and memory of the Sicur de Ohamplaiii. " What we esteem most of all other features in the life of our founder, is that chief virtue of all eminent men — his indomitable fortitude; and next to that we revere the amazing versatility and resources of the man. Originally a naval officer, ho had voyaged to the West Indies and to Mexico, and had written a memoir, lately discovered at Dieppe, and edited both in France and England, advocating among other things the artificial connexion of the Atlantic and l*acifie oceans. From the quar- ter-deck we trace him to the counting rooms of the merchants of Rouen and Saint Malo, who first entrusted him, in 1()03, with the command of a commercial enterprise of which Canada was the field. From the ser- vice of the merchants of llouen, Dieppe and Saint Malo, we trace him to the service of his sovereign — Henry IV. Fcr several successive year 5 we find his flag glancing at all points along this rock-bound coast on which we arc now assembled, from Port lloyal to Massachusetts Bay. Whenever we do not find it here, we may be certain it has advanced into the interior, that it is unfurled at Quebec, at Montreal, or towards the sources of the Hudson and the Mohawk. We will find that this versa- tile sailor has become in time a founder of cities, a negotiator of treaties with barbarous tribes, an author, a discoverer. As a discoverer, he was the first European to ascend the Richelieu, which he named after the patron of his latter years — the all-powerful Cardinal. He was the first to traverse that beautiful lake, now altogetlier your own, which make^ his name so familiar to Americans ; ho was the first to ascend our great central river, the Ottawa, as far north as Nippissing, and he was the first to discover what he very justly calls " the fresh water sea" of lake Ontario. His place as an American discoverer is, therefore, amongst tho first; : d , ,^ -N. 'J V •■'■■] 12 CHAMPLAIN. whilo liis rlaiin? as a cnlonizor rest ou tlio firm foundation of Montreal anil Quebec, amlliis prujeet— extraordinary for the age — of uniting tlic Atlantic with the Pacific by artificial channels of connnuuieation. As a legislator, we have not yet recovered, if we ever shall, the ordinances he is koowu t:^ have piouiulgutcd ; but as an author we have his narrative of transactions in New France, his voyage to Mexico, his treatise on navigation, and sonic other papers. As a diplomatist; we have the Franco- liidinn alliances, whicli lie loundcd, and which lasted a hundred and fifty years on this continent, and which exercised so powerful an in- lluence, nnt only on American but on J'iUrtiycan aH'airs. To him also it was mainly owing that (^anada, Acadia, and Cape Breton were reclaimed l^y, and restored to France, under the treaty of Saint German-cn-Laye, in hV-V2. As to the moral «iualities, oui founder was brave almost to rashness, lie v.'ould east himself with a single European follower in the midst of savage I'liemies, and more than once his life was endangered bv the excesses of his confidence and his courage. lie was eminently social in his haliits — as witness his order of /r hnn f(nij).'< — in which every man of his associates was for one day host to his comrades, and command- ed in turn in those agreeable encounters of which we have just had a sliglif, skirmish here, lie was sanguine as became an advcn- turei, and ."jjf-dcnying as became a hero. Tie served under He Mout:-, wib) fur a time succeeded to his honors and ollice, as cheer- fully as he had ever acted for himself, and in the end he made •'• tViend df his j'ival. lie encountered, as Columbus antl many I'lhers had dune, mutiny and assassination in his own disaftected fol- lowers, but he triumphed over the bad passions of men as completely as he triumplied over the occmi and the wilderness. " lie touched the extremes of human experience among diverse charac- ters and nations. Atone time he sketched plans of civilized aggrandise- iiient for Henry IV, and Richelieu ; at another he planned schemes of wild warfare with Huron chiefs and Algonquin braves. He united, in a most rare degree, the faculties of action and reflection, and like all highly reflective minds, his thoughts, long cherished in secret, ran often into the mould of maxims, and some of them would now form the fittest possible inscrii>tion to engrave upon ]u& monument. mg CllAMl'LAIN. 13 " Wiieii llio mcrcliniits of (,^)u('bcc ,m'uiiil)l(!(l ;it tho cost ol'lbrtifvij)!-- tlmt j)laoo, he siiid : — • It is ])ost not to ohcy llie passions of men ; ihcy iwc l)ut for a season ; ic is our duty to regard the future' "With all liis love of c;ood fellowship and society, he was, \vhat sccnis to some inconsistent with it, sincerely and enthusiastically relieciouf? ; amoni^ his maxims arc these two — that ' the salvation of one soul is of more value than the conquest of an empire,' and, that ' kings ought not to think of extend- ing their authority over idolatrous nations, except I'or tlie purpose of subjecting thcui to Jesus Christ.' " Such, iMr. President, arc, in brief, the attributes of the man ymi have fliosen ro lionor, and J leave it for this company to y:\y, whether in all that constitutes true greatness the lirst riovernorand Captain (Jeneral of Canada need fear comparison with any of the illustrious l»rotlierhooSt. Lawrence within view of the city I represent, and whose four and twenty piers may each stand for one hour sacred to every traveller who steams through its sounding tube on liis way from the Atlantic to the Far West. " In conclusion, Mr. President, allow me again to assure you that 1 have listened with great pleasure to the speeches of this day — especially to the address of my old and long-esteemed friend (lion. Mr. Poor). I trust the sentiments uttered here, at the mouth of the Kennebec^ in 3Iaino, will go home to England, and show our English relatives that the Ameri- can people, unmoved by any selfish motive, arc capable of doing full and (entire justice to the best qualities of the English character. I am sure nothing was further from your minds than to turn this historical com- memoration to any political account — and certainly 1 could not have done myself the pleasure o^ being here, if I had imagined any puch intention — but after all the angry taunts which have been lately exchanged be- tween England and America, T cannot I'Ut think this solemn acknowledg- ment of national affiliation, made on sc memorable a spot as Fort Popham, and made in so cordial a spirit, must have a healing and a happy cflbet. We have been sitting under your authority, BIr. President, in the High Court of Posterity— we have summoned our ancestors from their ancient grares — we have dealt out praise and blame among them — T trust without violcuco to truth or injustice to the dead : for the dctid have their rights T'h m ■V.'ill ili CllAMrLAIN'. as the liviu-;' have: injustice to them is one of the worst forms of all injustice — and undue praise to tlio uudcr.sorvin*,' is the worst injustici; to the virtuous aud nicritoriuus actors in tlie great events of former ages. " Whcu we leave this place, we shall descend from the meditative world of the Past to mingle iu the active world of the Present, where each uan must bear hia part aud defend his post. Let me say for myself, Mr. President, and 1 think 1 may add I speak in this respect the gcneial settled sentiment of iiiy eouutryuuiu of Canada, when 1 say that iu the extraordinary circumstances which have arisen for you, and for us also, in North America, there is no other feeling in Canada thau a feeling of deep and sincere sympathy and I'riendliness towards the (suited 8tat(is. As men loyal to our own institutions, wo honor loyalty, everywhere; as I'reemeu we are interested in all free States ; as neighbors wc are especially interested in your peace, prosperity and welfare. We are all anxious to exchange everything with you except injustice aud misrepresentation ; that is a species of commerce whieh — even when followed by the fourth estate (pointing to the reporters at his right) — L trust we will alike dis- courage, even to the verge; of prohil)ition. Not only as a (-anadian, but as one who was originally an emigrant to these shores ;is an Irishman, witli so many of my original countrymen resident among you, I shall never cease to pray that this hindered people nuiy alway.s find in the future, as they always have found in the past, brave meu to lead them in battle, wise meu to guide them in council, and cloriuent men like my h()nora]>le i'riend yonder (Hon. John A. Poor) to (-("lebrate their ox))loits and tli.'ir wisdom frnm I'oneration to ijeiirration." i( '\ (1*^; ' of* all Jjustieo J world e cacli uy«clf, ciicial in tiio « also, n- of fates. '", % '' iretn-batk" of Ifee last dtwkxi « A LITERARY gentleman of this city, well known for lii.s anticjuarian ii- researches in connection with the early history ol" Canada, showed U8,^ yesterday, a slip of once negotiable/ paper,' wliicli may not inapti) be termed a ' shinplaster ' of the last century. It was one of the Inteudant ]Jigot's famous bills on J'aris, which he drew so liberally when the fate of the colony of New France was imminent, and the approaching fall ol' French power in America ^ave to the avaricious a capital chance of making money while a state of war and confusion lasted — an opportunity which, if history speaks true, they did not neg- lect. The bill is in an excellent state of preservation, and is printed on a quarter-sheet of rough foolscap." On next page appears a /ar simile of it. This was a Treasury note when a Bourbon reigned in France, and the North American colonies were still faithi'ul to King George. It wa.»« worth fully as much in 17G4 as Mr. Chase's " kites" are worth in ISOI. .ti' The following words appear on the back of the note: — I'aye h I'ordre de Mons. Perrault valeur reeile comptant k Quebec, le 7e aeptembre 176o. LoFFICIALE. Payt' :i I'ordre de Monsieur 1). Vialars valeur accompte h (ju;ini<' been :i ahly-wi Mons. liowcr on whi Tlioiii tonnag Ot-ru'ri suite, i St. Fo; Froncl Protcs bctwec (Ic roli that li an'l til the El and 11 the pr the E '' KITE-FLYING" ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO. Uuder the above captiou "L" adds the ibllowing interosiiug note (says the same paper), apropos of the luteudant Bigot's " suinplater" : — " In order to complete, for the benefit of the curious, the particulars re:spcctiug' Bigot's bill k>[' cxcdiauge, mentioned in your last issue, it may TifK LAST CEN'ffKY 19 r a a c ;s e r e be afl well to fitatc that this l)ill ;iii(l scvoiiil othors wore nt'i:ot!at<(l at fifty per cent, diseount l)y Tiondon brokers, nhdut the your I7<'>l ' I>;iniel \'i;ilar.s,' to whom the present bill Wiis oiidorsrd, jippcarn to have hccM an extensive JiOnd(-u ni(>rchant. With the l)ill there was a h»Mi;and aldy-writtcn letter, in wliieli he proposes a kind of h!iMineMrt partncrshij) t(» Mons, I'errault, of Quebee. iMr. I'errault was in those days a very extensive Ijower Town merchant ; his business store seems to have oeeupied tlie spot on whieli now stands, in St. Peter-street, .Mr. Daniel IMetiie's and the l^xpress oflico. Amongst other stranj^e pieces Dl'inlorniation contained in the letter referred to, is a request to Mr. I'errault to call on Mr. /aehary Thompson, 'Capitainc du Port a (Quebec,' to procure a tertifioate of the tonnage of the sliip La Man'r^ ('apt. Cornillard — ' qui i'ut Irette par le General Amherst pour transporter en France le Chevalier de Levis et sa suite, apres la capitulation de JMontreal.' This is tl>o hero (if the battle of St. Foy. Daniel Vialars' letter covers eight pa-^cs. Ft is written in el, gaut French. lie begins by expressing the hope that the fact of his being n Protestant won't interfere in the mercantile connection likely to ensue between liim and Mr. Perrault, as ' la probite so trouve dans toutes sortcs de religions.' On the 12th February, 1703, Mr. "\''ialars writes to say that he trusts peace will soon be proclaimed between England and France, and that the final treaty respecting Canada was deferred merely to aiford the English time to withdraw their funds from Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Havana. ' According to private advices,' says he, 'from Holland, the preliminaries between the Queen of Hungary, the King of Prussia and tlie Elector of Saxe, are signed ; if so, we shall soon have a general peace.' "This odd document was found many years ago, with several others, in the garret of the Jiower Town house which Mr. Perrault had occupied A number were used by a merciless old cook to singe chickens. Tliis fact reminds one of some manuscripts of priceless value for the history of Canada, discovered at Quebec in the wood-box of Mr. llyland's office, some years back. Unfortunately a portion had already been consigned to the flames.'* \ ■■*' (2n) (^i-Couiicillor €stcb( on dUlonial Matters 24Tn FfinRi'AUT, 1T60. fiurii in tl Loui| Quel the witli rpiIE reader htis ju.st seen ii/ac siniif<' of a Tanadian " i^recnback" of the last (cntury. The kindnoss of a friend — David A. lloss, I Ksquirc — enables mc to submit another document of this period. It is a letter from Estcbe, a leading man in the last days of French rule in the colony. Monsieur Estebe was a nnmber of the Superior Council, at Quebec, one of the advisers of the notorious Bigot, as such condemned, justly or unjustly, three years after the date of this letter, to restore to the King of France some 300,000 livres. This communication, recently discovered, and which has never yet been published, is also addressed to Monsieur Pcr- rault, I'ain^'', an eminent Lower Town merchant of that day. It is im. porlant as throwing additional light on an eventful period of the history of Canada 5 having been written four months after (iic battle of the Plains of Abraham, two montiis before that of Ste. Foy, and nt a time when war was r'ill raging in the colony. The English held the territory enclosed in the walls of Quebec and some forts, but Montreal and the rest of Can- ada, defended by a celebrated commander and by a numerous army, stil' belonged to France; and after the brilliant victory of Ste. Foy in April following, as Captain John Knox says, *' the fate of Quebec depended on whether it were English or French frigates which entered the harb(»r lirst" — defeat, famine and disease (scurvy) had so thinned the ranks of General Murray's brave legions. This old document, indited by an educated gentleman, will also be read witii interest, as furnishing a vivid picture of the extreme misery at thu*- time existing in France J still this stat'} of things was iloonicd to endure some twenty-nine years longer before culminating in the horrors of the French llcvolution of '89. Canada had ceased to be prized by Frmcc as fat" back as 1735; disappoint- raeur at not finding gold mines 1 'inn- one uf the chi^if causes : the 4 men Canf the thi EX-COrNCILLOR ESTEBE ON rOLONIAL MATTEKS. 21 oi K068, It is in the auriferous Cbaudierc region and its fabulous wealth were not talked of in those days. The eyes of the French were then turned towards liouisiaoa, whoso fate was dceided a few years after the surrender of Quebec. Louisiana was, in 17G8, handed over to the tender norcies of the Spaniards, who, under General O'llcilly, inaugurated their rule Avith exploits which throw in the shade those of General Butler in the Orescent City, at the head of Federal soldiers. Twelve of the principal men in the colony, including tlie Attorney-General, Lafreniere, a French Canadian, were, without trial, seized and loaded with chains : six of them were shot. Compared with the rule of Spain in Louisiana, even the arbitrary measures of a Haldimand and a Craig, and tiiO civil and religious persecutions of the old Family Compact in Canada, ought to have appeared to the old French colonists mildness itself. •^f. an [TRANbl ATION.] TiORDEAUX, 24/// Fdnin >i/^ ITHO. To Monsieur Perrault, Quebec: Sir, — It Avas with heartfelt pleasure I received your favor of 7th Nov. last, since, ia spite of your misfortunes, it ap^jrizcd mc of the fact tbat both you and your lady were well. I feel grateful for the .sympathy you express in our troubles, during our passage from Quebec to Bordeaux. I wish I could as easily forget the misfortunes of Canada as T do the annoyances wc suffered on the voyage. We Icarnet brilliant emigration that had ever .sailed from Franco for tlie New >\'orId. It consisted of a Viceroy, a Clovcrnor riencr;!, an In^cndant, and orlicr necessary oificcrs of the civil government — the regiment of Carignan, comandod by Colonel de Salieres, and officered by sixty or seventy I'reneli gentlemen, raost of whom were connected with the uob/esxr. Nfany of these gentlemen settled in the provinci', and having obtained concoi^sions of the waste lands, became tlic noUrssr of the colony, and were the ancestors of the best French I'aniilios of the present day. The beneficial manner in which this infusion of superior blood, education and accom- plishments nuist liave operated, as regards the social and domestic manners of the colonists, previously devoted to the humblest occupations of trade, may be easily imagined. Lil)' ral tastes were encouraged — sentiments of honor and generosity pervaded the highest rank in society, the influence of which was speedily felt through every class of the inhabitants. The Marquis dc Tracy, wlio had the comniission of Viceroy, staid little more than a year in the province. He ma* a successful expedition against the Iroquois, and returning to France, carried with him the affections of all the inhabitants. He maintained a state which had never before been seen in ('anada, rightly jud'jfing that in a colony at so great a distance from the mother country, the royal authority should be maintained before the public eye in all its external dignity and observances. ]}esides the regiujciit of Carignan, he was allowed to maintain a body guard, wearing the same uniform as the Garde Romaic of Frauce. He always appeared on state occasions with these guards, twenty-four in number, who picccded bini. Four pages immediately accompanied hiuj, followed by six valets,— the whole sur- rounded by the officers of the Carignan regiiueut, and of the civil depart- ments, M. Dc Courcellos, the Crovernor <«cneral, and M, Dc Talon, the Intoudaut, had each a splendid equipage. It is mentioned in an interesting French manuscript, from which we have taken much valuable information never before published, that as both these gentlemen were men of birth, education, handsome ligure and accomplished manners, they gave a most favorable impression of the royal authority, then first 5 '? H ■ li ,• r-»H m • ' si ■u 26 r'ELEnKATEl) PANADIANS. personally ri'prc>i'iit('il in Now i'^rancc.'"''' Nor <1»» titled luon s-cciu tn have been sen rco in tlie colony since it has bt'conic a l^ritish (lopcndcney — the brightest jewel in "N'ictoria's (^'rown. Without (hvcllin;:- on the several instances in which British noblemen have been idontifiod with the colony, either by marrinac, residence, real estate, or otherwise ; v/ithout describ- ing the visits paid to Canad'i by members of the lloyal iamil\', peers oT the realm and others — as eirly as the T4th August, 1 ^l, the royal ban- ner of England streamed from the quarter-deck (n" the r< gdsua i'r'v^ixir. snugly moored in the port of Quebec, when the future sovereign of England ( ^Villiam LA'.) was on a friendly visit to his august lather's new subjects. The 10,000 T"". I']. Loyalists, who had crowded into ("anada, insisted on this occasion on his leaving his name to Sorel, one of their strongholds. The subject of the ioUowing notice — wdiich we find in the Montreal (lar.cttc — was known in the upper circles of society in this city. One would fancy that the Norman and the Sa.^;on have ])ecome one on the bunks of the 8t. Lawrence, as well as on those of the Thames. The Puke of i'ichmond w;is one of our best governors; the ('lievalier de La(.'orne, ime o\ our greatest warriors: " Tlu> [Kirisli church bells tolled yesterd;iy in cnmnienioratioii id" th(,> death of Ml.-rS .Mary Ann Marg.u'er Ler.nox, daughter of Major the Earl (if L'/nnox, wl'.o dic^d last 31onday morning. Mis.-' Lennox, ])y her la.lur, was ;'. granddaughter of the i)iike of J.eiino.'c and Kiclnuond, in the peerage of Clreat Britain, i>uko of Aubigny in that of Fniuce, and Marl of Martdi in that of the Cuited Kingdom. By her motluu' she was a descendant of the ]ju('orne t'lmi'y. a r.aco w'aieh is eminent in the early history of Canada Ibr its services to th.- Sta;e, uoii as susdi was related to the DeBouc'hervilles, DeLanaudieres, Duchesnays. an i otlier ancient (Canadian I'amiiie.^. lier sister, .^!i,■-s ( 'liarlof re Ll nnox, diel about tvio months ago. Th(> funeral .-rrviecs were held yesterday, when her remains were ])laeed in (he vaults ..I' the church of Notre- Hame-de- Tcutes (i races, at Coteau->'t.-Luc "' CAl'TAJX ItKDOlT. A corvesiiendent. over the signatun^ of " Querv," writes us (Qtnl-n- Mi>r)>i)}(/ '"// /n J /c/c';, ;is follows : " We read in ]\Ic( lee's llisrorv -:' Ireland, volume l', page 001, that on .\'..f .///.s.'..m'. ../ I'i.iti., ,.{ l;~,T,K CELEBRATED CANADIANS. 27 1 lie 'liul ilu! liUIi Dcceinber, 171)0, :i l''rcnc'h Hoct, carryiiij^ a ronnidubh! army under Iloclie and (xroucliy, sailed I'roiu Hrost to invade Ivoland. It wa.s composed of 17 sail ol tlie line, KJ lVi!j;atos and I'i smaller ships, one oi' the lar"'<^st, the Jn:loniji(ailt; carrying- SO i^uns, was commanded by a Citnadian n.iuiod Bedout. Who was this Capt. I^odout, whoso merit and nautical science could procure him from the French (iovcrnmerit (never too prone to recognize talent in colonists) such an i^xalted post us comnuindcv ot* a line-oi'-battle ship'/ (.'an im oin' tell':''' A correspondent, ovt^r the sii^nature of* ]]. (J.," semis tiie roilowin;.; reply to the query published in yesterday's issue : " The Kear- Admiral IJedout mentioned in IMctiCo's History of ircland wa? born in Quebec, in 1751. Mis f;:th''5, and Jacques, the subject, of tliis notice, entered the French navy, Avhere he distinguished himself on several oc- casions, and was promoted by Napoleon to ihe rank of Jvear-Adminil, and al'terwards decorated with the Cioi.r i/r A/ Leni'in ibaud and (Jarinniu, iiave recorded liodout's name as well as those of oilKu- French celebrities whose early years had been passed on the borders of the St. Lawrence." lie was one of the ancestors of tin; Pai.et family. uniTUAiiv. I'hc parish of St. Frang-ois de la ]3eauce, siys the JountaLlr- (Jnebrc^wni, on the 11 til inst., the scene of a solemn liud tMiching ceremony. Almost tJ,500 persons, congregated IVom tho dilforent; parishes of the county, and even from this city, rhronged tlie choir, nr.vc an! ualieries ni' tin- spacious and magniii^ent local cliurdi. This mullitudii bad gathered together to pay the last tribute ol' resj-,ect in a man regretteii by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance, by all who had an opportunity of appreciating the generosity and benevolence of bis hcavt, Charks Joseph Ohaussegros do Lery, Fs([., one of the seigneurs of Ivigaud-Vaudreuil and other places, eldest son uf the Honorable Charles Etienuo Chausscgros de Ler}', member of the Kxecuiive (,'ouncil, and of the late iMarie Josephte Fraser, and nephew of the late Viscount de Ldry, Lieuteuaut-Generul In the service ol" France, was born at Quebec .»'i( -r; ■■■■ . V'^v • '1^^ •V vfa ' if 28 CKLEBRATED CANADIANS. 11 on the "-'nJ September, 1800. Descended t'roQi one of the oldest I'amilies of the proviuee, wliose members, both under French rule and the pre- sent "overniiicut, filled, with approbation, the mo.st important offices of trust in the colony ; allied to the best Canadian families, and ))y the mothers side, to one of the most illustrious houses of Scotland, Mr.de I/'ry nobly bore his honorable name. After havinj,', with honor and success, devoted tlic fust and iin-atest portion of his lift! to the service of his country, in tlie e.-ireov folliwed by his father before him, he abandoned — now some lil'teen years >;ement, and that of an able and worthy friend, the respected cure of the parish, St. Francois, now noted for its gold mines, progressed rapidly and soon ])ecnme the most important parish in the county. IMr. do Lery w:is freijuontly solicited to re-enter the arena of politics, but always persistently refused; he preferred to devote his leisure hours to the intercsls of his cr7isi(ntn'.'<, who all respected him as a father, and often submitted their mutual putty disagreements to his arbitration. His wealth, social rank, knowledge, and a;)Ove all, his urbanity, ren- dered the task to him an uasy and an agreeable one, and all who came to consult hiiu and lay before him their liftl.) differences, invariably returned home satisfied with his decisions. COMTE T)E DOUOLAS, Born at Montreal in 1747; died at Paris in 1842. Louis Arehambault, Comte de Douglas, it appears, had obtained rank in the peerage of France with that title. lie had succeeded, in 1770, his uncle, Charles Joseph de Douglas, Comte et Seignieur de .Alontiea!, in France, who, with one of his brothers, had accompanied Charles Edward la his chivalrous at- tempt to recover the throne of his ancestors, and was taken prisoner at the brittle of Culloden. Thus the F'rench Canadian Comte de Douglas, is said to have sprung from one of the most illustrious families in Europe ; and it is stated that his maternal grandfather was governor of Montreal, when Canada was a French colony. f ■\ Au Earl of Douglas was luadrt Z^hc; do Touraine, aud a Duko of Hainiltou becamo JJhv de Clmtelherault in France, about 1425. { Lnv Ecos^ai^ cii France, imxv Francesquo Michel. (29) U. 6. ioimlists. M *' Outline of a few coNspicLoirs u. i:. loyalists, who flkd to NOVA SCOTIA AND IJITEU CANADA AlTEllTIIK AMKUK.'AN REVOLU- TION (ITylj), WITH PERSONAL REMINISCENCES 01' EARLY SET- TLERS." — Padiamentari/ Miauisr, ijitscof/^cleii l>j/ (r. Covetitrj/, Esq. — (RKVIEWED RV J, M. L.) rpiIVi forc. of the Canadas. Any one viewing what niaterial the Ari-hivfs da Ui. iJwrre, the A/r/iire:> th- In Marine^ the AH.^iiij State Docuniciifs, and the old census tables nf France liave furnished to Mr. Faribault, Mr. (larneau, Mr. IJibaud and others, for the history of Lower Canada, will confess that our portion of the country lias been dealt with UH I liberally. It is not every day, bo it reniumbered, tliat a Lower Canadian is warranted in .stating that Lower Canada has in one respect had a larger portion of the loaves and lishes than its hister province I To prevent disappointment, let us, at tlu' onset state, ibr the benefit of the 20,000 de.scnidants of the famous lO,OiK) •• founders of western pros- perity," that it is not in this sin.rfc ,>krti I i I viou? that V. K. LOYALISTS, ni i I Lot us !iow heiir Mr. Covonlry, witlnuit mldjiiinn all liis •"•nticlusions : " rpp Fi-rocli, v/ho wcr : the |irc- vious ot'cupiors, lunl takoii no p'lins id floar ur coloiiizii ii.'*' 'Tistnu.' that at Dt'truit, whiTo they had a I'nt, I hoy indiicod a few individuals in si'tthi arnund, and al^o on tht- Canadian shore, th':* dc^-condants (d' wlioni remain (hm'i! to the present day. Alter the liritisli na;^' (liuinphol, tliey remained unmulcsted, as well as tliosc who ehose to remain in tho Lower Province. " Tile ureat, wi'rk, therefore, ol'sulidninj; tlie Ibrests and of bringing; the rieh tracts cflatid under eultivation, was loft to tho indomitM])lo ooura;;e, enoriry, and perseverance of tlie settlers, protected and enciurai^ed ))y the mother countiy. " Tho jirincipal olgeet of the line of divisioti of Canada, as e>!ahlislied hy Mr. l*itt's Act, was to place them, as a body, hy thoinsolves, and to allow them to be governed by laws more coiigonial than those which were deemed renuisite for tiie French, on the St. iiawrencc. "This doeisiou arose iVuin the tenor of the Treal'y of (.'apitiil:itio;i at. Montreal, whii.di was on .^o lil'cral a scale that when finally ratifi'd at Fontaineldeau, the l-'ri'iicli [the Canadians, ]Mr. Coventry niean>] were to enjoy, unmoiested, their own roligion, their own laws, their civil riLdits, to retire wdicn they pleased, and to dispose of their estates to Hritish subieets. '' Of course tht'y came under the general rnies laid down by the ]>ritish ('■overnnsont and (lovernor ; nor weic thev entitled to grants of land, which were .-io i'reely i:iven to hoyalist.-! and soldiers who had so bravely lonirht under the Briti-h Jlau-. They continued to jur.-ue their old- fashioned way oflivinL;, and ibr many years L:-ave no political tronl.d.'. " Previous to .Mr. Pitt's .Act comin^j,' into operation in ITiU, many lari:o Liiants of land \vere made, but tlie name* of the parties wore not re.tiistered ill the (.'rown Land DopartUKMit, nor were the locations known, as it fre- ([ueutly happened that such grants were sold and not taken up until many rt is t'lily nei'cs.-'iiry to refer to tbc rlirmiii.'los of the i^iv.st t'.> a^eertain whether or uoi ilio Freiu-h i.Kik ('ains to ffilnnij'.c Now I'nuice.— J. M. A. ^ n m 32 (r. n. r.oi'ALisTS. years nftcrwaifl.". Consoquontly our infurniation ia very niojqro rcl.itivo to the progress of the colony ^vhilst utidor military rule. " There were no ofTiciiil surveys of hincls uotii 1702, when about 20,000 arrcs wore s^urveyod in York, Scarboro' antl ('ranialie. (JlJ settlers, from till- takinf» of Volt Niagara in 17r)!> tn the above period, located whcro they pleased, wUh tl;»> grant nf" iiunil Wanants," which held good in alter years by proof of possession and clearance. " Some of tho old settlers in tlu' '«iagara district have told r.ic that the |ir(»pcrty they now hold has not been registered to this day;— they hold possession by prescriptive right, having been on their farms for up;,ardt< of eighty years. I " As our enquiry is confined to Tapper ('anada, wc need not enter upon the surveys of the fiower Province; suifico it to say, that after the Treaty of Fontaineblcau, in 1703, the Crown was desirous to establish the boundary of the Eoman Catholic grants. Consequently 5,000 acres were i awarded to the f'eminary Domain, and the outskirt.s of the City of Quo- bee parcelled out to the JJritish settlers who remained with the govern- ment. Up to the year 1780, about 80,000 acres were surveyed by order vi' the IJritish governors, part of wdiich the govermnent retained, and the remainder was given to the military. The rise and progress of a newly-settled country is at all times an interesting topic. Nothing affords so much entertaing information to young people as the adventures of llobiuson Crusoe, the result of Do Foe's fruitful imagination ; aud I he pleasing picture of Paul and Virginia, by Eernardin de 8t. Pierre, in the Mauritius, will be handed down to succeeding generations; the result, however, of such utopcan lives is of no practical use to lamilics in the present organized state of socic'y. " Settlers in a Canadian wilderness haU to boar the burthen and heat of the day ; had to exist by the sweat of their brow ; to undergo wonder- ful privations and t.i pass through realities which would scarcely bo credited in a work of lictiou. Still a century has passed and proved the truth of the assertions of Mucaulay, that the liritish Colonics have become lar mightier and wealthier than the realms which Cortcz and Pizarro had added to the dominions of Charles the Fifth. *' The history of the country, therefore, during the last century, is eminently the history of physical, of moral aud intellectual improvement. I wm Tt ■Ml f I V. P.. L0YALIfortt'd tinery ; the daily luxury and comforts of the inhabitants, con- trasted with the privations of their ancestors, will all I'orni subjects ul interesting inoiucnt in the results of our inquiries. " The people having their daily duties to perform, with a constant •tueeession of work from sunrise to sunset, were cut off from all inter- course witli tlie world, and for mouths together never saw a white man's footstep around their dwellings. A solitary Inal solace and consolation — and their en iloavors were blessed, 'flu; su|)crstition so characteristic of the abori- ginies seemed to form no part of their existe'ict!. 'fheir minds were constantly occupied with some useful work, and as the shades ol' evenini!; drew arouud them they r(!tircd, and in such sound sleep that a monartdi would hav(! envied. At that period ther*! was but one road through the country, a sort of military highway leading from 'foronto (o Montreal, and.an Indian path leading to Fmictanguishine, whore a fort was ereeteil and garrisoned by a few soldiers. |>etw,;eii these two points messa'4;es were sent backwards and forwards with unerring certainty by Indian guides, similar to Havid and Solomon's runningfootincn. " There was no money except that which uovernmcut distributed lor the pay of the troops " Those who were fortunate enough to have located in the vicinity of an encampment, or a fort, were liberally paid for their produce, and tht; cash was speedily put away in an old stocking, or looked up for posterity to gloat the eye upon. " Thieves were unknown, and crime of any description was a rare oc- currence. " The Government was as liberal as the most fastidious could desire . It gave them laud, tools, materials for bunding, and the means of sub- sisting for two or threeyears, and to each of their children, ai they be- m 4 ':''n I-' i 34 IT. E. LOYALISTS. came of age, two hundred acres of laud . Families at the present day speak with pride, pleasure and thankfulness of the lihcrality of the British Government in nlTordinjj,- them aosistance in the wilderness — they continued staunch and loyal to their sovereign, ever ready in any emergency to preserve untarnished the iionor of the country. 'Thank God T am a true TJriton' was instilled into the mind from infancy. Intimately coimoctod with the rise and progress of Upper Canada, there is an important class of settlers who demands our especial attention. I allude to the U. E. Loyalists. '■ Tl'osc extraordinary men underwent the severest trials and priva- tions for their determined loyalty to the House of Hanover. "No one can have the slightest conception of the misery that civil war entails until after the perusal of Mr. Sabine's History ; every re- fined cruelty of which the humm mind is susceptible was practised on those upholders of the cause of a limited monarchy. '' Doubtless, retaliation was, in a measure, the order of the day ; so that scenes were re sacrificed during the seven years' struggle I'or indepondenco can never be ascertained ; so that, rather than prolong the war, and to spare the further elFiislon oi' blood, the jMinister adopted the humane principle of completing a treaty that was by no means satis- factory to the greater portion of enlightened politicians. "Those who arc interested in the history of nations should, by all means, obtain Mr. Sabine's useful and interesting work • but as it is now scarce, I shall subjoin a few notices of extraordinary characters who figured in the revolutionary struggle, who afterwards took refuge in Canada and Nova Scotia, and who acted as pioneers in clearing the wil derness, and by perseverance and industry reared families whose des- cendants have since shone conspicious in the annals of the country. As Upper Canada had few actual settlers previous to the termination of American hostilities, nor any accommodation for the reception of re- fugees, we have to trace the stream of loyalists who made their escape to the shores of New ])runswick and Nova Scotia, where they arrived in British ships ])y thousands, and afterwards branched out in various directions as they obtninod grants of land in various sections of the colony. 'k I U. E. LOYALISTS. 85 so no; the i "kSuiur IV'W e.imi; over by way oC Niagara, uuder the iiiispices of Sir >\'illiain Johnson, and afterwards under tlio administration of (^leueral 8iiucoe. Their liistory is extremely interestintr, shewinlohawk Chief Martin, ILm. Samuel Crane, Nicholas Browse, Jacob He Witt, Hon. (George Crookshank, Sir Joseph Brook, IL)n, James Crooks, C.eorge Brousc, M.P.P. ; Dr. Schoeficld, Hon. John Molson, Hon. John McDonald, Thomas Merritt, Jacol) Bowman, Hon. Henry lluttan, Hon. John EluLsley, Chief dustico*; Hon. Deter Russell, Administrator ; Hon. Henry Allcock, Chief Justice; W. Weeks, ]NLP.D. ; John WHute, At- torney-Crcneral ; ^Ivs. Secord, of Chippewa ; Col Clark, Port Dalhousie ; Hon. W. Hamilton Merritt, Philemon Wright, the Hrst settlor on the Ottawa; Rev. .lolin Stuart, Krontenac ; Tecumseh ; iMrs. Clench, oi" Niagara; Mrs. .John (libson, of Orantham; John Kilburn ; James Uich- nrdsoii, of Clover Hill ; also a statement of the sufTerings of the clergy at the Americiin revolution. This paper is particularly interesting. Oui of surli a rich casket of historical geni^. who will dart; to select ? Here is a lively sketch of an rnd'uui warrior, Tecumseh — igenuine product of ;ui American forest : as such I shall add it to the Jfup/c LxiieK and insert it possibly in a subscfiueut paper. And hercare traits of devotion and disinterestedness, scraps of family history, feats of personal prowess, inci- I *H(in. Jfr. DeBouchevvillu is a liiioal lU'rocndant of the old Governor of Thres Kiv«rs. aiid fouu'lcr of tbo villnge of DcU"iuliurvillc. V. E. LOYALISTS. 37 dents of the battlefield ; how shall I crowd them all in the narrow limit*! of this record of Canadian worth and ('auadian gallantry ? Yes, how ? T acknowledge the idea di.stres5es mo much ; enough at any rate i'or to-day. I5ut before closing listen to the quaint gof-sipof a very worthy and ancient dame of some 71) summers, Mrs. "White. t »• The Piay of Quinte was covered with ducks, of which we could (ibtain any quantity from the Indians. As to fish, they could be had by fishing with a scoup. I have often speared large salmon with a pitch fork." Only fancy, spearing salmon with a pitch fork I " Now and then provisions ran very scanty, but there being plenty of bull frogs, we fared sumptuously." (rood gracious I to think that the U. K. Jioyalists were veritable frog- eaters. " PJating bull frogs a sumptuous fare \" Oh, 3Irs. White I 3Irs. White I However, there was just as excellent areason fnr enting bull frogs ill Upper (Janaila in 1788, as there was for eating Lorsc flcsht in Lower ('anadasonie thirty years previously : there was nothhuj rlxc to att. l^ot us continue. " f his," says IMrs. "White, '' was the time of the famine, T iliiiik, in 17SS; we wore obliged to dig up our potatoes, after planting iliem. to eat, \Vc never tliought of those privations, but wi.'rc Jihviiys ha])py and cheerful. Xo unsettled minds ; no political siri I'l' aliout (•hurch government, or s(][uabbling municipal councils. We left everything to oi!.f faitlif'ul Governor. § T have often heard ray father and my mother say K-. Thre* t Ueuiinisi'ciicoi* ut' .Mrs-'. Wliito. of White's Mill.'^, Jiuar Cohourg. 1 Montcalm had hud 1500 horses slaughtered for the inliabilanls of Oaiuuni in 1758. '^" Let u;; di) jiK«tiec to the ineiuory ol'a really gioiit inaii ; tliat tinsi (idvcnior (Siiiiooel wa.-i II' uicro joiUlior. Whilo lii.-^ luilitiiry designs entitled him to rank \vith Wolfe and lirock. as tli«.' ])rosoiver of Canivhi to tho Crown of (iroat Britain, his large views of 'ivil {loiicy wont \';ir beyond nil the men — civilians by professiou — who have been cn- tiu.«ti!tl with the supremo direction of afi'airs in this eountry. I was glad to see that at the great pioneer festival held at London a few weeks ago, tho name of (ieneral .Sini- loe was not forgotten, for it is a name that must always remain inscribed on the corner Mone of tlie history of Western Canada. I do not know a more interesting or instrne live pi.;ture of any Canadian (iorornor, not even that which I'etcr Kalm gave, in 174."', "f the renowned Mar'luis ile la (Jallissoniere, tlum is given by the Duke de la Koche- I'lucault Liencourf, of Lieut. ■ (Jovernor Simcoe, in his travels in Xorlli Ameiii'a in the vear IT'J.'). The French Duke ('uiniil I'pper Canada 'a new country, "r rather.' he says, ' a country about to be formed :' aiid its Governor, "a man of independent for- tune,' whose only ineitemenr to accept tiie ottico was the hope of thereby rendering » great service to his native land. ' Oovernor Simcoe,' he says, ' was of oj)inion thai u »t, on!-.' would rpp.'r Canada be f'nind quite abio to sustain all her own inhabitants. I'UI (hat slie might becn.ue a granary to England' — a statesman's liope which has been lully roiili/v' t ! I> • la liochefoueauU describes an incident of his rule, wliich cani'- iiiiii'-r Ills own iioti>M'. • \V.' met.' b" sav" (speaking of an exeursimi be mad'; with tiie ■•'■.H ;^8 U. ]•:. LOYALIST,- that tlioy liad no ciiu.so of cuinplaint in any shape, and .voro alvvay.- thuuk hi! to thi' (Jovoriiiuont lor its kind assistance in the hour of need. Of an evcnm; j'y itlier won Id u;:>k'"^liocs of deerskin for the ehihlren, and my mother, make homo-spun uresse s We h;id no (h)ctors, uo lawyers, m stated eleriiy. We had prayers at homo, and put our trust in Provideiife Anohl woman in the next eharaneo was chief physician to the surround ing country as it gradually settleil. A tree fell one day and hurt moth, i-'s back very nmcli ; we sent for the old woman, who came, stooped sonn wheat, made lye and applied it very I ot in alhinnol ; in a very short tinu- she was as well as ever. Flax was cultivated in those halcyon days. One year wo grew 700 cwt,; wo spun and wove it into wearing ajiparcl and table linen. It last-nl a long time. A handy fellow came along and made us our cdiand»cr looms, so that wo might work away. Wo had nn occasion (or imported iinory, nor, if we had, wo could not have procured any. As the girls grow up and settlors came round, a wedding occasion ally took place. There was but one mini.stor, a i'resbytcrian, name 1 llol)ert McPonald, a kind, warmdioartod man, who came on horseback through the woods fron; Kingston, and when ho saw smoke I'rom a house lie straight made up to the residence, wlicrc he was always welcome. lie had a must powerful voice, when ho became excited ; ho could bo heard a mile oil'. All who were inclined to marry he spliced, with many a kind word to the young folks — ' that they wore sure to prosper by indu.stry and perseverance' Tfc married Mr. White and myself. " AVhen the other girls would smirk and look pleasant at liini, and think him a great benefactor, he would chuck them under the chin and say — ' 't will soon be your turn.' " 1 crrefi win ■pinl dresL boot I si iial, (Jovermiv lioyonJ Niajcur;.). 'an Auiorioiin fjimily, who, \vitii siino oxen, cows nn.l sliccp. were coming to (.'anu'la. ' AVo cone, saiil they to the (ioveruor — whom they >iil not know — ' to s^ec wlielhcr hi; will p;ivc us land.' 'Aye, aye,' the tJovernor reiiliel. 'you have tireil of the Federal government: you like no longer to have so many lun; -. you wiih again for your old father;' (it i.s thus the (.Jovernor call.-^ the Driti.-h m m.ire'i when ho speaks with Americans) ; ' you are perfectly right : come along, we love .'inh good royalists as you are ; wc will give you land.' Sueli, sir, was the spirit of ili" founder of I'piier Cinaila— such was the hcnelieicnt policy which hreathed into (h.il soulless wilderness the hreath of life: and lo ! your country hocaiuo a living sjiirif. 'Come along! we like such good royalist.s a,^ yliey which re- hukes and puts to -^hamc the narrow, illusory and vexatious (juackery which obstruct. < the settleaicnt of our remaining lands at this moment, and stands sentry for harharisni in the North-Wost."— .l/f'r'M''.'« Lrtla- tn Dr. Parlcr !n'i>^iy.\. •'N<|- ' ■'{, ;iys tliaiik leed. Of lilroii, and 'ovitloiifo surruund tinotlx !•',-< peJ soiiK sliurttiiuf ay.s. One 1 parol and along and "^e liad iKi prociirrd ;• occasion III, name 1 lioi>cback )ui a liouf^c onie. He JO hoard a ny a kind Industry lini, and Lin and cl cows iUM 1 lln'y (iil (ir i\'|)lit'ii, ;in_v Iviti}.'.-. 1 111 iii.ire!i lovo Slli-il irit 'jI' til" nto tliMt iiiiT .'iji'u'it. ,1 !' Th- which ri:- oljstriu't .< arhuriii!'. iMUlv k I ■m i U. E. LOYALISTS. 39 Further on Mrs. White speaks oi' steamboats and railroads, with id uch greater respect, however, than the late Mr. Marehildou, M.P.l\, and winds up this picture of a Canadian arcadia, by saying — " Give me the spinning wheel days, when girl^ were proud tu wear a home-spun dress of their own spinning and wcavintr, not dreaming of high-licelcd boots, thin shoes, hoo])s and crinoline, and salt-collar ))onnets." So n)otc it be. THE " [[. K." J.OYALISTS. " A Volunteer " writes u.sf as follows, viz : — " Among the many communications which Imvo graced your jour- nal, and j'br which we are indebted to the facile pen of our respected townsman, J. ^I. LeMoinc, there are few who po.ssess so groat an interest for us Anglo-Saxons, born on the soil, as the subject matter of Mr. LoMoine's letter of yostordny. Our fathers, through good and through (•\il report, stood firm in their allogianco to the IJritish flag, and shod Ihoir blood in many a wcU-fouglit field. Is there no history of the Pio- vincial corps, raised in the diflerent revolted states, which fought by the sido of tlio ]5ritish regulars y Arc there no returns on file in the "War Otllce, showing when and where those dilt'erent corps were raised; how tiioy wore commanded and olliccred, and what battles they fought ? What ofiicer.^ survived Ihc; war, and chose Lower Canada as their home? Have we no Napier to write in full the histdry id' the L'. K. Loyalists? • . »/' » V -■'!. j Qidhic MihlliliiJ C/iiOviclr. II (40) %ht Wilt iitlh of Cimabii, 4 A N attempt Is here made to siipply a gap which no jinidc-book as yet has filled. That a brief narrative of the chief encounters which have taken place on Canadif il and ou its bordt betwt oraor; ^ will prove acceptable, many firmly hclits e. J iiose accounts will bo collated irom reliable sources : Charlevoix, Bancroft, (Jarneau, Christie, Bibaud, John Gilraary Shea, the New Vork Historical Miujaziw', the New Historical Picture of Qachrc, compiled by the late Dr. John C. Fisher and the late Andrew Stuart. :non distinguished alike for their vast crudi- tion and high authority as writers, in these iightiug days, when oui American neighbours iiavc on foot larger armies than the old world can boast of, a glance at battle fields is not out of place. Although the narratives of our batiles, in many cases, have been made up from letters and reports written by ilie leaders of regulars, and are calcu- lated ti> exhibit in bright I'olors ti'cir superiority over vtdunteers or militia, enough oecasionally transpires to show that the regulars met with hearty co-operation from the militia, and that in some hard fights, east and west, the militia can justly lay claim to the greater portion of the suc- cess. It may be neither an unpleasant nor an unprofitable task to en(juirc how die bone and sinew of the country repelled aggression : the enquiry will give us no occasion i<) be ashamed of our fathers. Tf, when the time c nnes, we can meet the invader as stonily as they did during the seven years' war, and during the two Americm invasions ; if we are then for- tunate enough to entwine our banner with wreaths as redolent of heroism as that of Carillon, Ste. Foy, Chateauguaj, Queenston, Lundy's Lane, we need not fear the verdict — eitlier of posterity or of new masters, should " manifest destiny" ever hand us over to republican rule. We may then have a right to expect to bo treated a- men, liaving acted as such, in fulfdling ono ol' the most sarred laws of nature fighting lor our hearths — our homes — t,ur euuntry. I 'Hia.. THE SIEGES OF QUEBEC. 41 ^\)£ !3ii'C|cs of iDaicba, l(j29/'= book as yot iters which ivul armies, ho. collateil ic, BibauJ, the i\V(6- C. Fi.shf. vast erudi- , when our old world Althougli lo up from arc calcu- intecrs or mot with .ojistand the .sue- > oiH|uir(' enquiry the time ho seven then for- herois!!!! riuo, We , should lay then uch, in arths — s Onk who is eoaversant only with the petty and broken lines of Kuropeau geography, cannot form any adequate conception of the political importance of our impregnable fortress. Placed, as if by the most consummate art, at the very lowest point that effectually commands the navigation of the largest body of fresh water in the world, Cape Diamond holds, and must forever hold, the keys not only of all the vast and fertile regions drained by our magnifieent river, but of the almost untrodden world between Lake Superior and the llocky Mountains. On one side the icy barriers of the north, on the other, the dangers, delays and distempers of the jMississippi will for ever secure an almost exclusive preferenco to the great highway of the St. Lawrence. In Quebec and Montreal, respectively, must centre the dominion and the wealth of half a continent. Quebec has been styled the Gibraltar of America — a comparison that conveys a more correct idea of its military strength than of its commer- cial and political importance. Let the European reader complete the comparison by closing the Baltic, the Elbe, and the Khine — turning the Danube westward into the English channel, and placing Gibraltar so as to command that noble stream's navi^ration of two thousand miles. Quebec, moreover, derives a vast degree of relative importance from its being almost the only fortified spot in North America. Over the whole continent nature has not planted a single rival; while art, in Hie more level districts of the south, was in a great measure suspended by swamps and forests. The spirit of the French system oi' American colonization appreciated fully the unrivalled advantages of Quebec, and made Cape Diamond the iulcrum uf a lever that w;is to shake the English colonies from their inundations. Every page of the earlier history of these rt^^ions forces on the reflecting: mind a fundamental distinction between the Eniilish and the French colonics in North America. The former were planted by an intelligent people ; the h: ttcr were founded by an ambitious gov- ernment. ''^ From IIuwkhiH'a Picture of Quebec. f -'< ( - If; 53 ' ■ ■ ,1 •'1 ^■-l ■'3 42 IJATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. The English settlomcnt.s, I'onninii;, as it were, so mauy neutrally inJc- pi'iuleiit States, divectod tlicir uulcUrroJ energies into the natural chan- nels of agriculture and commerce. The French ones, entangled in the meshes of a net of uni»arallellcd extent, were but the inert parts of a political machine, powerful indeed, but unwieldy, expensive and unpro- ductive. The Trench sought dominion in military power — the English cherished the spirit and enjoyed the blessings of freedom. Their fun- damental destruction, while it gave France a temporary preponderance, could not fail to secure the ultimate triumph of her more enlightened, though less crafty, rival. • From the struggles between the hereditary rivals sprung most of tho eventful scenes which I'orm the subject of thin chapter ; and one cannot but wonder that Quebec, the source of all the evils that afflicted ''le English settlfuient, was not more frequeutl}' the main object of alack. Sieges are from various causes, such as the vicissitudes of fortune, the concentration of interest, tlie pre-eminent display of valor and gerero- sity, and other popular virtues, the most spirit-stirring occurences in warfare; but one oi' the sieges of Quebec is peculiarly interesting and important, from its cutting off the contending commanders in the decisive hour of victory, changing the civil and political condition of vast and fertile regions, and bringing to a close the I'uropean warfare which had rendered the basins of the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi one vast iicld of blood and battle. Many years, however, before the political jealousies of France and England rendered Quebec the object of unremitting and vigorous con- tention, several Indian tribes, iiifluenced partly by a natural dislike of foreign intruders, and partly by h(>rcditary hostility towards the nati'vc allies of the .-strangers, had attempted to sweep aw.iy the scarcely-formed germs of our rijte and rich metropolis. In tin; year 10:^ I, when the whole i)opulation of Quebec fell .-^hort of throe score souls, the Five Nations, or, as they are often termed, the Iroquois, surrounded a (brtitied post on the shore of the River St. Charles, but fearing the consequences of an actual assault, turned tin ir murderous wrath on the chief objects of their vengeance, the Indian allies of the colony. It is but just here to offer tac tribute of applause to the superiority of the French over the English i*n «0D.ciliating the aboriginal savages of the North American continent. » ; THE SIEGES OF QUEBEC. 43 While the English fought their wny by inches in almost every settle- ment, the French generally lived on i'ratornal terms with tludr immediate neighbors, and engaged in hostilities with distant tribe,'-- ■ -thcr as allies than principals. The Indian wars of the English were generally civil ones; those of tlie French were almost universally foreign. In the in- cursions, of which wo have instanced one, the aim of the Iroquois was not so much the French as the llurons and tiic Algonquins. After a lapse of eight years of dubious security, Quebec, as if in anticipation of its final and permanent destiny, fell into the hands of tl'.o hereditary enemies of France. In the preceding year, that is in 1G28, Sir David Kertk, accompanied by William do Caen, a traitor to his country, penetrated as far as Tadou- sac with a powerful squadron, '^nd thence summoned the Governor oi' Quebec to an immediate sur aer. Champlain, who had founacd the colony, and whose name will live forever in a lake rich in historic re- collections, had at that time the command of Quebec. The gallant commander, relying perhaps as much on a bold front as on the strength of the defences or the prowess of the garrison, saved the .settlement from Kertk's irresistible force by the spirited reply of himself and his com- panions. In July following, an English fleet under two brothers of Sir J)avid Kertk, who remained himself at Tadousac, inehored unexpectedly before the town. Those who know the difficulty, even in the present day, ot conveying intelligence between Quebec and the lower parts of the river. will not be surprised that the fleet should have almost literally brought the first intelligence of its own approach. The brothers immediately sent, under the protection of :i white flag, the i'bllowing summons, Avhich breathes at once a consciousness of strength and a feeling of generosity : — ^'./»/y 10///, 1G2!>. i' Sir,— Our brother having last y var informed you that s.ioner or later he would take Quebec, he desires us to offer you his friendship and re- spects, as we also do on our part ; and, knowing the wretched state of your garrison, we order you to surrender the fort and settlement of Quebec into our hands, off"eriug you terms that you will consider reason- able, and which shall be granted on your surrender. ;v,.v'^ ■V'4- ,»•> 1 ,4( ■, ,t. 44 UATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. CIIAMI'I/AIN .S ANSWER. "Gentlemex, — It U true th;it,o\viuL; to the want of succour fill J as.sist- ance Ironi i'raucc, our distres.s is very great, aud that wc arc incapable of resistance : I ♦in'rolore desire tliat you will not fire on the town, nor land your troops until the articles of capitulation can be drawn up." Arllrlni ut,liowcvcr liumiliating to rivals may have been the eolonial conquests of Kngland, the conquered colonies have found, in the l>lcssin;.,^s of political liberty and comparatively unrestricted commerce, an ample recompense for their share ol national liumiiiation, and have j^'cnerally acquiesced, with a feelini:^ ol' peaceful pralitude, in the milder and happier order of thincrs. Champlain was reinstated in the government of the recovered colony, and during the remaining years of his hor>" Ic life was exempted from the troubles, at least, of foreign inva ';; Quebec seems to have enjoyed a kind of dubious tranquility unt jout twenty years after (Ihamplain's death, the Five Nations, to the unusually large number of seven hundred warriors, after having massacred the natives and the colonists in the open country, and committed the most cruel devastations, blockaded Quebec for several successive months. .Such a siege may occupy a very small share of our consideration, but the recollections of the tomahawk and the knife|' of the yelling children of the forest are still vivid enough in Canada to rouse our definite sympathies for the dangers and the distresses of the unhappy citizens. The scene must have teemed with picturesque horrors, and many bold and thrilling achievements, doubtless, deepened its terrible interest. This siege, although ulti- mately bafiled, was very prejudicial to the wellare of Quebec : its dangers and terrors drove many of the settlers lo France in despair, and almost led to the ruiu of the colony. •• IIow .sinpiiliirly these words pcnnod in I'^.'l,') by 0110 of tlio most j^il'ted Ciinadiiin?. lunv sound in 18(J1, when the debates in tin- Iniperiiil riiriiauieiit anent tho rejection ol' the Lyson's militiiihili are still (Vosh inil,,' memory ot all : " Sliip.«, colonies and coui- inerce," was a grand idea then, not now.—./. J/. L. t That the Indians were danj^'erous allies, the fullowinK incident, related in l\[oore'.-' fnd'inn M'few of the. Unltcil Stuim. clearly ^hows: — " ]\rr .Tones, an olHccr of the British army, had sained the allections of Mis.s Alacrea, a lovely young lady of amiable cha- racter and spotless reputation, (laughter of a gentleman attacheil to"the Iloynl cause, residing near I'ort Kdward, and they had agreed to he married. In the'coursc of scrviie, the ollieer was removed to Some distance from his hride, and became anxious for her safety and desinuis of her company. Jle engaged some Indians, of two different tribes, to bring her U, camp, and promised a keg »i' rum to the person who should deliver hcM- sate to him. ."^he dressed to meet her bridegroom, and accompanied her Indian conductors; hut, hy tho wiiy, the two chiefs, e.u^h being desirous of receiving the promised ri'ward, disputed which of them should deliver her to her lover. The dispute arose to a quarrel, and according to their usual method of disposing of a disputed pnsoiK"-, one of them instantly cleft the head of tho lady with a tomnliawk." PIIIPPS r.EFOlli: QUEBEC. 47 ■■ -m I I yi)ipp3 before (Tiiicbcc in HjOO.f Al'TKll a laji.so vl' aliout thirty Quel) th 1 [i.so ui atiout tinny years, i^iieDoc, uiiUi-r iiu! cuiimiaiK ol' the t^allaut (Jonnt de Kroiitciiac, inado a vi^umus and lionorablc dc'ft'iicc in ll)!)0, aj^^ainsfc the forces of* Sir William riiip^is, (iovcruor of Massaehiisctt.s. As this sci,!j;o, in addition^to its intrinsic interest, was the Iruit of the colonial system ul' l''ranco previously noticed, it demands a I'uUcr and more circumstantial detail in any historical sketch of Quebec. For some years before the date of this sei^c, the French had vigorously availed themselves of their geographical position not merely to harass, but to circumscribe the colonies in New KnL'jand and New York. The jjussession of Acadia, which had been restored by lOngland, in dcliance of the remonstrance of the neighboring provinces, enabled France to command and eriiiple the connucrce and the fisheries of the eastern colonies; while the discovery of the iMississippi, in the year KiTo, and the subsequent atteiapts of France to colonize its banks, excited serious alarms for the security of the more westerly settlements, The JOnglish colonies, roused to a sense of the impending dangers, made unpuralleled exertions, both by land and sea, to deliver themselves from their crafty and restless neighbors. In KIDO, they took Fort Koyal, in Acadia, with u small force of seven hundred men ; and, in the same year, made a judiciously planned attempt on Quebec, the true centre ol' the h'rench power in Ameiica. The im- mediate cause of thi^ atteniDt was the cruel invasion of the State of New i. York by the I'^ench in the beginning of the year. The French h.id concerted an attack on the City of Now York, to be made simultaneously by sea and land; but, though their niaiu"] design was disappointed by unforeseen circumstances, they sent forth marauding parties to the south, that laid wast(> the country with fire and sword, and murdered in cold blood the unresisting inhabitants of Schenectady with more than barbarian ferocity. 'J he I'jiiglish colonists, provoked by an attack so cowardly, so atrocious and so uncommon eveu in the auuala of American warfare, and haunted t From Hawkins's Picture of (Jncbcc. ,»' ■'4 48 BATTLE riELDS OP CANADA. by uodefincd terrors of future cucroat-bmcnts and cruelty, determined, by means of their commissioners assembled at New York, to carry the war into Canada with all possible diligence. Having in vain requested from the mother country a supply of ships and ammunition, the colonists gallantly resolved to bear the whole burden of the invasion, and to ex- tricate themselves, at all hazards, from the rapidly closing net of the French. It is more than probable that had their invasion of Canada been successful, they would have resisted, by something more than remonstrances, the restitution of the province to their inveterate and implacable enemies, and have anticipated by a permanent conquest the triumphs of the immortal Wolfe. The invading forces consisted of an army, that was to cross the country under General Wiuthrop, and a naval squadron under the command of Governor Phipps. Of the army nothing more needs be said, than thai like evc?T other array on a similar errand, it was completely unsucccss- i'ul ; to the squadron, which conducted the siege of Quebec, our last attention must be given. As soon as the Count de Frontenac, who had turned his earlist atten- tion to the operations of the land army, was apprised of its retreat, ho led back his troops with all possible diligence to reinforce the garrison of Quebec, having ordered the governors of Montreal and Three River.s to follow hiiu witii all their disposable forces of militia and regulars. ]Jy extraordinary exertions, the gallant count put the city in a state at least of temporary defence before the arrival of the hostile squadron, and seems to have infused into his soldiers his own heroic confidence of success. Sir William Phipps appeared before the town on the 5th October, oM style. Charlevoix, who uses -he new style adopted by the French as early as 1582, calls it the 10th. Although he was certainly neither a traitor nor a coward, the delay and irresolution of the general were after- wards complained of, probably owing to the great disappointment of the English colonists, at the failure of the expedition and the fruitless ex- pense which had been incurred. On the 6th October "it was con- cluded," says Major Walley in his narrative, " that a summons should be sent ashore, of which the following is a copy : PHIPPS BKFOKE QUEBEC. 49 tcvmined, carry the requested 3 colonists mJ to ex- ict of the >f Canada lore than crate and jucst the e country imand of than thai msucccss- our hist list attcn- ctreat, ho garrison cc Rivers [liars, n a stale quadron, dcncc of ;obor, old encli as icither a ere after- ut of the tless ox- ivas foii- s should " To Count Froutenuc, Lieutenant General, and Governor for the French King, at Canada, oi in his absence, to his deputy, or liiin or them in I 'hicf ,d. comman( "The war between the two crowns of England and France does not nuly sufficiently warrant, but the destruction made by the French and Indians under your command and cncouragcmcni, upon the persons and estates of their Majesties' subjects of New England, without provoca- tion on their part, hath put them under the necessity of this expedition, for their security and satisfaction, and although the cruelties and bar- barities used agair.ct them by the French and the Indians, might upon the present occasions prompt to a severe revenge; yet being desirous to avoid all inhumanity and unchristian-like actions, and to prevent the shedding of blood as much as may be, T, William Phipps, Knight, do hereby and in the name and on behalf of their most excellent Majesties, William and Mary, King and Queen of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, defenders of the faith, and by order of their Majesties said government of the Massachusetts colony in New EnglAnd, demand a surrender of your forts and castles and the things and other storos, un- eiubezzled, with a seasonable delivery of all captives, together with a surrender of all your persons and estates to my disposal. " Upon (ho doing whereof you may expect mercy from me, as a christian, according to what shall be I'ound for their Maj:^sties' service and the subjects' security, which if you refuse forduvith to do, I come provided, and am resolved, by the help of God, on whom I trust, by force of arms, to revenge all wrongs and injuries offered, and bring you under subjection to the Crown of England ; and, when too late, make you wish you had accepted the favor tendered. *' Your answer positive in an hour — returned with your owu trumpet, \\ith the return of mine, is required, upon the peril that will ensue." 'H :■' :;: ;K :f; j^: :{< >|: rf: ^}; :f^ l''inding the place prepared for defence, Sir William, after a fruit- less attempt to capture it on (lie laud side, by an attack on the River Ht. Ciuirles, contented himself with a bombardment of the city, and retired after staying a week in the harbor. All the English naratives of the siege plausibly enough ascribed the defeat to Sir William's procrastinating disposition, but he seems on this occasion, at least, to have had sufficient ■4 ■■■4 60 BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. justification in tlie obvious impropriety of attacking a city alruo.st im- pregnable by nature, and swarming with zealous defenders. Cliarlevoi.x mentions that he was delayed by head winds and by bad pilots. But Sir William's delay, from whatever circumstances it sprung, was indubitably the sole cause of the subsequent disgrace and disaster. Had the English forces arrived but three days sooner, they could not have failed to achieve an easy and almost bloodless conquest ; but during that period, time for defence was afforded, and M. do Calliercs, Governor of Montreal, liad reinforced the garrison with the troops of the upper country, and rendered the bcseiged numerically superior to the besiegers. But even in this apparently untoward circumstance Thipps might have discerned the gleams of certain victory, for the increased consumption of supplies, originally scanty, would soon have enlisted on his side the powerful aid of famine. Our French manuscript clearly shows that even before Sir AVilliani'.- hasty departure, the garrison had deeply tasted the horrors of famine. The nuns restricted themselves to a daily morsel of bread ; ami the loaves which they furnished to (he soldiers were impatiently devoured in the shape of dough — terror and distress reigned in the city, '' for," in the simple but affecting language ol' the writer, '' every thing diminishcil excepting hunger." 'J'o add to the general confusion, the English squa- dron kept up a tremendous cannonade more to the alarm than to tlio injury of the inhabitants. 3Iajor ^Valley's Journal, besides being too prolix for our limits, is less likely to interest the sympaties of the reader than the narrative of one of the bcseiged. We therefore take the following extracts from our French manuscript : "• It is easy to imagine how our alarms redoubled, when wo heard the noise of the cannon we were more dead than alive, every time that the combat was renewed. The bullets iVIl on our pvemises in such number^;, that in one day we sent twenty-six of them to our artillerymen to be sent back to the English. Several of us thought that w.; were killed by them ; the danger Avas so evident that the brave.-;t olfieers regarded the capture of Quebec as inevitable. In spite of all our I'ears we prepared dillerent places for the reception of the wounded, because the combat had commenced with an air to make us believe our ho.^pital would n(jt bo capable of containing those who might have need of our assistance : but OoJ fev'il ver Moi] ••Tl they| ihiui into well tainsl ]>oint| sliot ABORTIVE EXPEDITION. 51 ilmo.st ini- nd by bad 1 it sprung-, i disaster. could uot )ut durint;- , Governor the upper besiegers. lij^ht have iiuptiou ol i side the Williani',< )f' fimiinc. and tbc jvoured in " for," it! iuiinishcil lish squa- an to tlie 3cing too 10 reader take tiio loard I lie tliat tlh> lumber.-;, 1 be sent 11 led by rded tlic iropared combat. I not be 00 : but Si* f 'S God spared the blood of the French ; there were few wounded and ferer killed. Quebec was very badly fortified for a siege ; it contained very few arms and no provisions ; and the troops that had come from Montreal had consumed the little food that there was iu the city." " Tlic fruits and vegetables of our garden were pillaged ly the soldiers ; they warmed themselves at our expense and burned our wood." " Every thing appeared sweet to us, provided we could be preserved from falling into the hands of tho?e whom we considered as the enemies of God, as well as of ourselves. We had not any professed artillerymen. Two c:ip- tains M. Do Maricourt* and l)e Lorimier, took charge of tiie batteries and pointed the ca noii so accurately as hardly ever to miss. M. l)c .Maricourt sliot down the flag of the admiral, and, as soon as it fell, our Tanadian.s boldly ventured out in a canoe to pick it up, and brought it ashore under the very ]»eard of the English." ?ibovt'uie (gvpcMtlou in 171 l.f The defeat of Sir William Phipps was sensibly felt by the people of New England, who indeed were called upon to defray the expen.se, amounting to one hundred and fifty thousand pounds. They frequently represented to the British Ministry tb.e commercial advantages, which would result from the total expulsion of the Freneli from North America. At last, in 1707, during the military glories of the reign of Queen Anne, illstiniiuished by a Marlboroiiiih, sis this aao has been bv a WelliuLiton- - tlic Earl of Sunderland, Secretary of State, determind to make another attempt to dislodge the French from their almost impregnable position at (jiieboe. The armament intended lor this objeet, under the command oi" (i(.>neral JMacartne}, was, however, diverted from its destination, and ordt'ied to I'ortugal, in eonse(pienee of the disastrous condition to whicli ■" One of the Ilaron do Longuoil'd bcroic brolliors. — Sec chapter on •' Caiiailien Noblesf^o," in lirst series oi Maple Lenten. t From Hat9Jy!na'$ Picture of Quebec. • \ ■ V. • mm 52 UATTLl:: FIELDS OF CANADA. the affairs of the Queen',^ ally, Chiirlos III., ^Ciug of Spain, had been reduced by the defeat of the allied forces at Almanza. In 1711, the project was resumed, only to result in a signal and mortifying failure. The plan of tliis expedition was suggested by a provincial oiliccr, (icnerul Nicholson, who had just taken possession of Nova Scotia, on wiiich occasion he had given tlic name of Annapolis to lV>rt lloyal. This oflicer had brought to London four Indian Chiefs, and had the adJress (<> persuade the ministry to enter into the views of the New Kngland States. The expedition consisted of five thousand troops from England, and two thousand provincials, under l>rigadier General Hill, brother to the Queen's favorite, Mrs. Masham. The naval force was very strong, and was placed under the command of Sir Ilovcn- (len Walker. The fleet met with constant fogs in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and was nearly destroyed on the Egg Islands, on the 22nd August. Despairing of success, the admiral c .lied a council of war, and it was determined to return to England without making any furtlier attempt. Eight transports* were lost on this disastrous day, with eight hundred and tighty-iour officers, soldiers and seamen. The pro- vincial land forces under General Nicholson, which had advanced as far as Albany, and had been ji/incd by six hundred Iroquois, returned to their respective quarters on hearing oi tlie failure of the naval expedi- tion. It is remarkabb that during the hi.'tit of the factions of that day, the Whigs affected to consider this attempt on Quebec so perfectly desperate an undertaking, that it wa>' nuido one of the articles of impeachment against Ilarlcy, Earl of Oxford, that he had suffered it to go on. The Marquis De Vaudreuil, then Governor General of Canada, omitted no duty of a brave and prudent cflicer on this occasion. The rejoicings at Quebec were naturally great at so signal a deliverance ; and the Ghureh q{ Autre Dame dc la Victoirf\' spoke the pious gratitude of the religious inhabitants, by assuming the title of Xutn' Danv dci Vicfoires. * It is supposed that the old bull of a wreck, still extant, on Ctipo Despair, Uaspf". belonged to thi:j ill-fated expedition.— (c^. J/. L.) t It i-s the iam» church standing, to this day, opiKiHite iJlanchfird's Hotel in the Lower Towu Market.— (./. M. LA DEFEAT or WASHINGTON AT FORT NECESSITY. 53 IDefcat of lllasljiiiQtou at Jort N'tresaitij/ Jlt,v, 1754. Amidst these prepavatioiis, M. de Coutrecoeur received iiitelligenco that a large corps of Ikitish was advanelug against him, led by Colonel Washington, llo forthwith charged M. do Jumonville to meet the latter, and admonish him to retire from what was French territory, •lumonvillc set out with an escort of thirty men ; his orders were to be un his guard against a surprise, the country being in a state of commo- tion, and the aborigines looking forward for war; accordingly his night campaigns were attended by great precaution. jNIay 17, at evening-tide, lie had reti/ed into a deep and obscure valley, when some savages, prow- ling about, discovered his little troop, and informed Washington ot Its being near to his line of route. The latter marched all night, in order to come unawares upon the French. At day-break, ho attacked them suddenly; Jumonville was killed along with nine of his men. French reporters of what passed on the occasion declared that a trumpeter made a siii;n to the British that he bore a letter addressed to them by his com- mandant ; that the firing ceased, and it was only after he began to read tlio missive which ho bore that the firing recommenced. Washington atfirmod, on the contrary, that he was at the head of his column; that at sight of him the French ran to take up arms, and that it was false to say Jumonville announced himself to bo a messenger. Tt is probable there may bo truth in both versions of the story ; for the collision being ))recipitate, groat confusion ensued. Washington resumed his march, liut tremblingly, from a besetting fear of fulling into an ambuscade. 'I'he death of Jumonville did not cause the war which ensued, for that was already resolved on, but only hastened it. Washington proceeded on his march; but staid by the way to erect a palisaded fastness, which he called Fort JV^r.cessifj/, on a bank of the Monongahola, a river tri^Mi- tary to the Ohio, and there waited for the arrival of more troops to enable him to attack Fort Duquesne (Pittsburg), when he was himself assailed. ft! •v:\ Oarneau's Hiifory of Ctinada, Bell's translation. ■'^( .'.'•US /A* h 54 BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA, Contrecoeur,upon learuiugtho traj^'ic euil oIMumonvillc, resolved to avenge liijj de.ith at ouce. lie put .six hurulretl Canadians and one hundred Sava}j,o.s under the orders of the victim's brother, M. do Villiors, who set out directly. Villiers Ibuud, on his arrival at the scene of the late skirmish, the corpses of several Frenehmcn ; and near by, in a plain, the JJritish drawn up in battle order, and ready io receive the shock. At Villiers' first movement to attack them they fell back upon some intrenchments which they liad formed, and, armed with nine pieces of attiilery, Villiers had to combat forces under shelter, while his own were uncovered. Tlie issue of the battle was doubtful for some time; but the Canadians l'ou;;ht with so much ardor that they silenced the IJritish cannon with their musketry alone; and, after a strugL'le of ten hours' duration, they obliged the enemy lo capitulate, to be spared an assault. The discomfited ]>ritish engaged to return the w^ay they came; but they did not return in like order, for their retrograde march was so precipitate that they abandoned all, even their flag. Such were tiie unglorions exploits of the early military career of the ('on({ucror of American lndej)cndenee. The victors having razed the fort and broken up its guns, withdrew. War now appeared to be more imminent than ever, although words of peace were still spoken. \'illicrs' victory was the first act in a great drama of twenty-nine years' duration, in which (Jreat IJritnin and Franco were destined to snfler terrible checks in America. .lUMOW ILLi; AND WASHINGTON.* It is feomewhat curious to have, at this day, an examination of Wasli- ington's culpabilities in the rlumonville affair from a member of the French officer's family. In the rei*eiit!y published work, L'^s Aneiens ('a)i(idiens, of JMiilippe Aubert do tla-pe, p. r>ll(», is the following: (yolouel ^[aleolm Fraser, during ^\'oIfe's invasion of (\anada, was in a detachment which burnt the houses of the (Canadians from Kiviero Ouellc to the Kiviero d(.s Irois Sunnions. Having become, after the conquest, the intimate friend of Tny family, he replied to my grandfather's complaints about this act of vandalism : " How could we help it, my dear friend : ,i i.i >iii( rro cummc a la (/nf> rr. ^'our Frenchmen, in am- bush in the woods, killed two of our men when we landed at Riviere III ' lo\ ad Isil lIKll nui (Ik From tlio y.ir Y„>1- inito^nal \Utfi ya.inc. JUMONVILLE AND WASHINGTON. 55 as in a livierc er Ili.> ither's t, my II nm- ivi^ro Out'llc." " Vou should, at least," .saiil luy grandfather, '• have spared my flour-mill ; my poor tenants would not then have been reduced so low as to eat their corn in savamity like Indians," " In war as in war," added my grandmother ; " T admit your max! i, hut was it fair war to kill my brother, A'illiers de Jumonville, as Washington, your country- man, did at l-'ort N- jssity ?" "Ah, ma !am I" replied (!(d. Frascr, '' for mercy's sake do not, for the honor of the i'^nglish, ever again mention that atrocious murder." I once slightly reproached our celebrated historian, Mr. (Jarneau. witli passing lightly over that Injrrilde assassination. He replied that it was a delicate Pubjeet, that the groat ^hade i,>f Washington hov» red ov<'i tin' writer, or something of the kinh commander ordered his men to lire on him anni:lish to evacuate the J'^reiich possession and not I'ort .Vccessiiy, which was not thrown n\) till after the event. (After citing ('outrc(i'U>''s instructions to Coulou do Villiers, an! the capitulation signed by Washington, he proceeds): .Vow no one is more disposed iliaii myself to render jusiice to the great fjualities of tlu^ American Inro ; when in my family tli(> conversation turned on the cruel and pre- mature death td' our n<,»blo kinsman, assassinated in the onset of what pro;niscd to !;e a brilliant career, I used t(j seek lo excuse AVashington on account id' youth, as ho was th^n but twenty. 1 expatiated on his virtues, his humanity, when twenty-two years afterwards he directed the cause of liis countrymen and created a great and independent nation. ■^5l '.■....-'$ ■ # : ■A .5r> LATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. I never, iudoed, sboul 1 have thou^'ht of dniwing from ohlivion this deplorable evcut, had not Washington himself made it necessary by seeking, in order to clear liimself, to blacken the reputation of my great uncle Jumonvillo in the memoir which he published several years after the catastrophe. ''We were inibrmed," said he, " that Jumonvillc, disguised as an Indian, was prowling Jbr several days around our posts, and I had to consider him as a spy." This excuse has no probability, becau-e Washington could not but know that not only the soldiers, but also the ufficcrs of the French army, when fighting in the woods, adopted the Indian dress, a short coat, leg- gings, breech-cloth, and moccasins. This light and easy dress gave them a great advantage over enemies always dressed in European style. Nor could Jumonvillc, without culpable temerity, proceed directly to the English posts without taking great precautions, the wood being infested with hostile Indians, who, acting on a first impulse, would show no great respect to a flag of truce. After disposing of this accusadou of liis being a .spy, of which W^asii ington did not think till years after the murder vyhcn writing his memoir, let us see what he says in justification in his despatches to liis govern- ment immediately after the aifair. It is necessary to observe hero that the crowns of France and England were then at peace j that war was declared by Louis XV. only after that event ; that the only hostilities committed wore the invasion of French territory by the English, and that it was against this very act that Jumonvillc was sent to protest. But let us return to Washington's justification in his despatches, llo says that " he regarded the frontier of New England as invaded by tin- French ; tha^. war seemed to him to exist, &c. ; that the French in his sight ran to arms, and then he ordered his men to fire; that the action lasted a quarter of an hour, in which the French had ten men killed, and one wounded, and twenty-one prisoners; and the English one killeil and three wounded; ^hat it was false that Jumonvillo read a summons, &c. ; that there 'i..,d been no ambush, but surprise and skirmish, wliieli is lawful war.'' Lawful war indeed for a strong detachment to attack suddenly a hand- ful of men in full peace. It was not getting badly out of it for a Major DEAUJEU, THE VICTOR OF WASUINGTON AND BRADDOCK. 57 ul' twenty ; .some [^;oncrtils oi' the Nortliern Aincricuu army, who piquo ihouisclvcs on address, would not do better to-day. The plirases " that war seemed to him to exist," " that the l*'rench in his sii^ht ran to arms ." ,irc ot'admiiablc .simplicity. These French doii;s forgot, apparently, that it was more christian to allow themselves to be killed like sheep. If wo accept Waslunjjjton's assertion, how can we explain the cry of horror and indignation that resounded tlirough all Canada and (!ven I'liirope'!' Yet the French have never been reproached with bewailing like women the loss of even their best generals or a signal dcl'eat ; why then their indignation, their fury at the tidings of the death of that young man, who was, so to speak, making his lirst apprenticeship in arms, if he perished in an action i'ought according to the rules of civilized nations y All the French prisoners, a'ld even Manccaii, who alone escaped the massacre, the very Indian allies of the Fnglish declare that dumonvillc waved his handkerchief over his head, invited the Kngl'sh, by an interpreter, to stop, having something to read them, that the firing ceased, and that while an interpreter was reading it, he was shot through the head, and that but for the interposition of the Indians the whole l)arty would have been massacred. * * * Washington should never have signed a capitulation where the words assassin and assassination are thrown in his face. The reader must judge whether I have rescued my grand uncle's memory from the accusation of being a spy Had Jumonville acted the vile part his enemy attributes to him, to justify a sliameful assassination, the French would never have shed so many tears on the victim's gravf So writes the author of '* Les Aneic.is Canadiens," M. Do CJaspe. .»' v^,/,' Bcauicu, tl)e Dictor of lllasl)inc\ton an^ Uvabiio CK.^ 'Jtii July, 1755. The battle of the Monongahela, as the French more properly style the action I'oi ;ht betvrcen the Englisli and I^Vcnch near Fort Duiiuesno on the 9th July, 1755, has alwa3*s been, and probably always will stand in our annals as I3raddock'.^ defeat. Tlu; victory to which that general From tho A'<(" Yo k lUvtoricnl Maht> superiority ,.t' the rc\\'U'- wa • fhittered by an epithet that perj.etually punish 'd the iruilty e .niinaiider. paraded on the seaiVohl ofpublie opinion as liynii' had been uu a r<'al oiic. The battle tieM still •:.m.h by the uiv.no ol' IJraddoek's tield, and with tJerm:inti)Wn and (iettysfmig, makes the three ^^rcat battlo-tields nl' the Keystone State. It is somewhat reniarkal)le that, tliougli Hraddock's expedition ha-* within a few years been made the sid)ject of a monograph eonstitutinj; a statHy octavo, so littln has hern done to investigate the French ae- eounts, or the lilo an.l eareer of the petty officer who, with a handful of 0".- dian militia and Indians, n uted the finest FiU^dish army ever seen beyond the Atlantii: to astonish the provineials and annihilate the French. A little volume in .Mr. Shea's eramoisy scries contains all the French accounts of the battle, witli a brief memoir of the French commander, whose family still exi.- 1 in I' ujada, holding prominent positions in the government of a proviiice divided from Pennsylvania by an imaginary Hue. The goner.ii 'jv>. .t; are well known. As part of the scheme for the conquest of Canada, Br.".ddork was to advance with a considerable army from Yirgiuiaou Fort Duijucsne, which, dilapidated, almost ungarrisoned, seemed a c^-rtain prire, and every preparation was made to celebrate wifli due exuberance of joy the triumj)h of i3ritannic power. M. de ('ontrecteur, a ('auadian oiHcer, had for some time commanded (he fort, but had been relieved by haniel iryacintho .Marie Lionard de Heaujeu, a captain in the marines, all the land troops in Canada being of this arm, as Canada and other transatlantic possessions of France de- pended on the naval department, causing incongruities not without their parallel in our day and country. As Captain Beuujeu fell in the action, no official report w.is apparently made, and the accounts which reached Quebec, and which, forwarded to France, formed the basis of the account printed at the liouvre, speak in- . ^ ' >■! , the finest f the re^ii- disa.sier :i ;ither th:tii lerjiotually lie opinion nnd with (Ids oi' thi' dition ha^ )n,stitutinj; 'pencil ac handful of ever .st^en liihite the iio Freneli uituander, s in tlte nairinarv for the iblc army rrisoneil. it<' witli iniiauded Murd do da being aucc de- lut their [):irenllv irded to beak in- I itKALMi: I , TiiK vrrroii of washingtcv and bkaddopk. 50 rorreetly of ('ontree(jourus romniander of Kort Dutjuesne ; bin the rc<:;istcr Ivt'pt by the chaplain of llic for^ Friar Denis Bamn, a Franeisr-an, who was (ino of tho Hr.st to chant, the service of Uonie in 'h«; " Chajiel of Our Lady's Assumption on the I'cautiful River," and a journal of Mr. (lode- iVoy, an otficer in the iort^ and -m account of the War Department, cor.- .111' in calling Mr. de Jieaujru commandant of the fort and of the forces thcrci Heaujeu beloni;«i to the family of the naval ofhcer whose disagreeiiient with ha Salle contributed to the unhappy result of that explorer's attempt to reach the mouth of the Mississippi, a^id was born at Montreal, Aui:^Mst '•. 1711 : his father, also a captain, liavini; been for a time Kiuj^'s i4ieu- touant at Three Hi vers. His son Daniel had won the cross of a Knight of St. Louis, and for ,1 time commanded at Niagara. When placed temporarily in Fort Du- .|iiesne, he saw that it couM not stand the siege. Fxtravagance and corruption, such as wi; know too well, had made the fort a costly affair to thf Fvinch king, without rendering it a formidable work to an l*higlish torce. To await IJraddock's approach was therefore madness ; but Heaujeu, full of the pride of a Freu'di otHcor, resolved to attack the l']nglish general on the way, and if possible ambuseailc tht! line of his march. From the influence which, during a long service on the frontiers, he had acfjuired over the Indian tribes, he had little doubt of his ability to gather a considerabl.) number around him ior the attempt. On the lifth of June they had learned of Hraddock's departure fr()m Will's Creek, and a.s the month advanced, small parties brought tidings of his approa(di. On the eighth of 'July the two brothers de Normanville came in with tidings that the enemy were only eighteen miles off. While Hraddock thus, almost at the end of his march, tnceting no opposition, was doubtless congratulating himsclt on a bloodless victory and a successful campaign, Beaujeu was forming his list plan for an attack on the invader, resolved to die on the field rather than surrender the fort, lie now (tailed the war cliiefs to a council. Despite the in- fluence which he had acfjuired by long years sp'^nt in service with them, iie found them reluctant. The notes of English preparation, the reports "f scouts and runners, the oxpcriencj of a party sent out under T/i .»• (ii» KATTLi; FIKMiS uV CaNAKA. IV-rjnlo, :ill liail impi'CSHcd tliii savajiv. iiiim!. " What, Father," they «fu'»l, " would ytiii kill ami saerill«!o us.'' 'IMit.' Kiiirli.sh an; over (bur ihousaiul iitrong and wo only ci^'lit huuJrod, and you talk of uttackin- tlii'iii. You see well tluit you are mid. We must have til! to-uiorro\s fo deeide.' Thus deserted hy his dusky allies, IJoaujeu doubtless passed a (gloomy iii^ht, prepared to die as boeanie a (Mievalier ol' St. Louis and a Kreneh otHcer ooniniaudiiij;' an advanced post. At an early hour in the morning,' he, with prohahly all his eounuand, assembleil in tlie little ehajtel of the I'ort, where the grey-robed friar said mass I'or the warriors, and in the I'lmeral entry in his re.!j;istcr ho noted Iho I'act that JJeaujeu then ap proaehed the tribunal ol' penance and received the Holy Kucharist, pr<'- paring for the death which seemed so eertain to bo iiis portion belbre the close ol' the day. Afterlingcriu^a short time before the altar, l>e.iu- jeu I'ormed his command, and tlie smdl sijuad ot'oiie hundred and I'orty- six (^madiaus and seventy-two re_i;ulars tiled IVom the I'ort, IJoaujeu at their head, arrayed in his huntin;; shirt, the silver iA'or;j;ot suspended from his nock uloni; showiui^ his rank. As ho passed the Indian camp he asked the result of their couucil. " We cannot march," was the reply. " r am determioed to meet the enemy," retorted 13eaujeu j " will you let your father j^o alone i* " If is cool, almost contemptuous manner, seems to liave decided the matter. The Indians encamped under the Bourbon lilies by the waters of the Allc['jhany, were llurous, Iroquois, Siiawnees. l.*ontiac, Auastase, Oornplanter, were amou::; them ; men in- sensible to i'ear, warriors who had achieved renown in many a foray. To sit by and sec two hundred Frenchmen !j;o to meet the ^ju,^lish host of twice as many thousands would be a perpetual dis;j;race. They silently took up their arms and followed the I'reneh line. Heaujcu had selected as the point at which to assail the Knlish line a ravine beyond the Monoe.iu- n l!U.\l>r»0('K. (il iiuiit I 111! suilth'ii apparition ol' (he I''rfncli Ufaujiu was in tlu; IVonl houmliii;.,' on, hraiidishiiiu; his oarhino ami cheering' his luoii to a mad attack on the very front of the well appointed army bcl'ore liim, with artillery enough to sweep his whole eommand from the earth. As the ruttliiii;- lire of the l<'rciudi and Indians told on the raiik.s of IJiaddock's men, th(>y formed and opened with their cannon, pouiitu; i;rape into the I'^rcnch party, which s)on, in hackwoods fashion, took to the tree;*, anumas, his second in command, succeeded, and insjdrcd et|Ual eiu'riry. .\s we all know, the lU'eat error ot Hruddoek was that ho kept hi.< men in solid column, and supposiiiL: that the l''rcneli, who were attackiiiLr him aloiiij,- his whole van, were as nuuicrous as his own men, kept push- ing; columns forward to drive buck uu imaginary corps in front, at every step exposini;' his (lank to a sm. il but concealed ho>\y of sharpshooters, who cut them down without mercy. The Indians, who were at (irst startled by the eannon, at last, tired of musketry, seized their tomahawks .Old rushed out on the Kn,glish, who, already deprived of many of their oflicers, and demoralized by the unwonted system of war, ,L;ave way in utter rout<'. Washinj^ton had in vain eudoavorcd to induce IJraddock to adopt the backwoods stylo of fightinLT, and to him was due the safety of the rem- nant of the army, his Virginia troops alone remaining cool and mocfing the enemy as they had done in iVirmer struggles. 'lhi> route was a massacre. The Indians cut down all, many peri.shing in the river; over a thousand dead were strewn over the bloody liold amid cannon, caissons, mortars, stuall-arm-', tents, wagons, cattle. 'J'ho plunder tempted the Indians from the pursuit, or the Knglish could scarcely have borne from the ticld their dying general. The French lost three otlicers killed in the action. Captain Beaujeu, Lieutenant do Curquevilie, and Knsign do la Perade, and had several wounded. Their whole killed amounted to thirty, three-quarters of whom were Indians, the savages avenging their death by burning the few prisoners that lell into their hands. The victors Look up the body of their fulleu oommuudcr and bore it •^■•■o..^ I: :•) i;.\TrLJi FILLD.S OF CANADA. Mi (ii back to tlir fort wliitli If coniiiuuitlod. aixl hy his diuiu;.;" had .so cffect- uallv i)t\'.st'rvc'(l. (t api'iirontly lay in ^latc, for it, was not ititcrrcd till till' tu't'Il'tii. 'I'lir j'olluvving is (h>' entry o!' Fatiicr HaviMi in his rcgi>t>'i' : " I5urial ol' Mr. dr. JJoaujcux, Commandant ol" I'ort Dikjuosik'. '• In the year nuv thcusand seven hundred and lit'ty-iivc, tlu; ninth of July, was kilL'd in the hattle fought, with tlie I'inglish, the same day a.- abovc, Mr. Lienard ])aniel, Msijuire, Sicur dr JLieaujftu, Captain in tlie Infantry, Oomman(Uint; of Fort hiKjUcsne ana cd tlie army, who had been io eonl\'s.-'ion and made liis devotions the same day, his body was interred 1 the 12th oi'thi! same month in the ceuietry of Fort IHicjuesnc, under the titlr v)i' the Assiimj.iiini of the IMessed Virtr^n by the l>oautiful Iliver, and that with the ordinary ceremouies by us ihe undersigned Kccol!et priest, Iviuu's ('haplaiu in said tort, in te;v iuu My whereof we have s'gtied, " VniMi i>F;\vs 15\nn.\, V. U , (,'haplain." Some have ailompte 1 to ni.ike ]»eaujeu merely wounded in battle, but tlie word is ///(■, kilKd, in this entry, and in every aeeouiit of the li^jht, and the word would inner be used to mean wounded. The burial notiecs of those who died of wounds are given w.di precision, atid all note the administration of tlie saerement of extreme iinetion which would not have been omitted it: he ease of licaujcu, had he survived ihc battle. 1'he entries be •rm m the battle are, 1st, Pierre Simar, scalped near the fort on the fili.i of ^ uly, of wliom l'\ IJaron notes that lu' had .satisfied his Faster duty (/ r, Ih'CU to confession and reoi'ived eomniunion\ :L liimoL!;es, killed in the battle and buried on the tield. Jean li. Tal- lion, wounded in the battle on the ;)th, and buried at tlie Ibrt on the I'>[h after confessinu; and receivi U''' extreme unction. t. Mr. Derichervill Hs(juire,Sieurde (^anpievilhs killed^on rheHth, al't.;r having- been to con. fession the same day, buried on the l()(!i in t!ie fort. .">. Joan B. de l.i Ferade, Esquire, Sieur de I'arieux, v,'ounded on the !tth, died on the lOth after receivini; the sacrements of penance and extreme unction, buried in the fort. (',. Reaujeu. V. J. ]{. Diipuis, wounded the !)th, died the L*',)th, after reeeivin.ij; sacrements of penance, the holy ou'diarist, and extreme unction, S. Joseph^ Sieur de Ste. Therese (wounded on the Dth), died, July IK), alter recciviuc:- the sacrcmcuts of penance, the cucliarist, and extreme unction. DEFEAT OF WAS]IIN<}TOX AT MONONGAIIELA. ffoct- ■rrt'd 1 lli:> :li uf There can, therefore, be no Oou])t on the point, liefore starting; from the I'ort, ('ariiuevillc went to eonfession ; Bcaujeu not only ^'liJ this, l»ut received coniniunion, and botli were killed (in IheOth, Canjiievillo l)cin^' interred on the KHh and Ik^uijeii on the r2tii. Captain IJeanjeu, who thus died aeliifvin^- duc oftliegrenteht victoriei* in French annals, left, it is said, by his wife, Michelle Kliznbeth de Fou- eault, a son who went to France at the conf|uest of f'anadn, and a daught^n- who married Carles de Noyan, (lovernor of Guiana ; luif further nothinj^ has yet reached me (.'(incevninfi- tluiii. (V>llateral brandies vemaincMi in (\inada ami iiave ^.in(•o b'-in disfiu i;uished. if vi Dcfral 01 llla!.il)in(\tou at fHouonoialjela, '.irn JcLV, Il'>^>. 1) HAT II OF niJADDOCK. " Wo have been licateu, slirtnicf'iilly lii'ateii, l>y a Iiaii'lfiil of Froncli.'' — ]\' do (•ribcs tlio same en^auenient : — '• M. i>f: Cillaging, and it would have been a hard matter to get them off their prey. " The carnage thus concluded had scarcely an example in the annals of modern war.j- Nearly 800 out of the 1200 men led to battle by JJraddock were killed or wounded; out of SO ofliccrs, liij were slain and o2 hurt; lur ihcy made heroic attempts to rally and inspirit their baffled men ; several officers killed themselves in despair, Washington excepted, all the mounted officers received wounds, mortal or other. The luckless general was carried to Fort Necessity, where he died July 13, and was Imried at the roadside near that paltry post, lie was a brave and expe- rienced officer, but an arrogant man ; contemning his enemy, despising alike militia and savages ; yet liad he the mortification to see his regulars madly flee, while the Virginians stood firmly and fought bravely to the last. ''The beaten soldiers, when they reached those of Durham, infested them also with their own panic, and in an instant the corps broke up. The cannon were spiked, the ammunition destroyed, and most of the bag- gage burnt; by whose direction no one knew. There was noBcmblancc uf order had till the fugitive rout attained Fort Cumberland, in the Alle- ghanic8.| Washington wrote thcnee : " We have been beaten, shame- fully beaten by a handful of French, who only expected to obstruct our advance, Shortly before the action we thouuht our forces were C(|ual to all the enemies in Canada ; we have lieen most unexpectedly defeated, tud now all is lost." " The French gained a great booty. The baggage of the vautiuished, flieir provisions, fifteen cannon, many small arms, and much munitions of w;\r, the chest, Hraddock's papers — in fine, all became fairjspoil for the if^i * Mr. Puucbot, " Momoirrf on the lute War iu Americiv." t Mr. Jurcd Spark '3 " Lifa of "Wftghinglou'" i Lifo, Correspomleucc. A<^., of Wn.';hiD/?ton. 10 • 4 ■V v?^; 'Mm w OH UAXTiii; i'ii:li)s of canada. Vlf i-jvy. 'rin.s_- ilociii'.M'iits revealed till' pidjeits ol the IJiitish Ministry, and served to ju^tii'y the indignant sentiments oxin-c.'^sed against it,s polity in a memorial aildrossed by the |)uke do Choi,seul to the dilierent European cuurts. There were taken, after the battle, from amidst the dismounted and broken vehicles left on the field, from 400 to 500 I'orscs, includir.g those whieh had been killed or hurt. The victory cost the French about forty men. M. dcBeaujcu was much regretted by tlio C'ana ilians, bis compatriots, and by the ..idian tribes, Avho held him in great respect. This ended the combat of Monongahela, one of the most mem orable battles known to American history. 'IMie news o\' this diHConi lituro spread universal consternation throughout the whole of liritisli America,'" (!ll)e fort (i3coiCiC iUassiurv, Arui'ST '.'I'll, l'iT)V. " Kill iiic, ' I licil Mdiitcalui, iisiii;:' iirayors aiul uiciiaei-'S iuul pioiul,->(,',5, '' but spau' the Knj^li.li wlio are uiulormy prolcclion."' — Bmirroft'f Uuilcd Stutcx, Vol. /(', Of the many stirring ineident'5 which marked the " seven years war" culminating in the eonque.-t of Canada^ few have l)een more loudly denounecd than the deed of Idood periietrated by the aborigines on the garrison and inmate.- of Foit George, ealled liy the l>riti! were enough, bow ever, to exhibit in its true features Indian warfare in former times. The barbarities to which British soldiers and New England colonists were subjected, in direct violation of the articles signed by (leneral Montcalm and accepted by the thirty-six Indian tribes present, liave furnished thot^c inclined to make capital out of national wrongs a wcl- TUE FORT (iEOROE MASSACRE. 67 instiy, list i(„ i lie rout (1st the I'OVSCS, 3.st the c (!;ina 11 ^mil Lui cauie pretext to charge tlic French commaudcr with being, in some degree, accessory to the commission ol' these horrors. Cooper's attractive novel " Hhc Last of l/ic J/oJiauais," ini'l other works,"'' have also helped to lender current a belief to which the whole of Montcahn's career, as wel 1 as history, gives the lie. True, Ihc American novelist does not go so far as to accuse the Manjuis with counselling the deed, but ho asserts that, (hiring its execution, the French showed '-' an apathy which has never heen explained." Here is a grave accusation levelled at the lair name of the chivalrous rival of ^V''ol^o; fortunately for his posthumous lame, there is such a thing as historical truth ; there are also honorable men, whose nature spurns tho cheap popularity acquired by circulating a He calculated to ruin or vilily a national onemy. To this class belongs (icorgc Bancroft, the gifted historiographer of Mie Tnited States. liCt u< now quote from his beautiful writings : " How peacefully rest the Taters of Lake (jcorge between their ram- parts of highlands I In their pellucid depths, the cliffs and the hills, and the trees trace their image, and- the beautiful region speaks to tho heart, teaching affection for Nature. As yet (1757), not a hamlet rose on its margin ; not a straggler had thatched a log-hut in its neighb(»r- hood; only at its head, near the centre of a wider opening between its mountains, Fort "William Henry stood on its banks, almost on a level with the lake. Lofty hills overhung and commanded the wild scene ; but heavy artillery had not, as yet, accom]ianicd war-parties into the wilderness. " Some of the Six Nations proscrv-,'' ihoir neutrality, Imt the Oneidas 'lanced the war-dance with Vaudrcuii. '\V(! will try the hatchet of our I'lther on the English, to sec if it cuts well,' .said the Senecas of Niagara ; and, when Johnson complained of depredatit)ns on his cattle, ' Vou be- gin crying quite early,' they answered, ' you will soon see other things.' j " ' The English have built a fort on ' e lands of Onontio,' spoke Vixu- dreuil, governor of New France, to a congress, at Montreal, of the war VMirs of three-and-thirty nations, who had come together, some I'rom the ^■■:^'' * "Thi.-i treaty ul' cftiiituktioii w;!** yioliited I'.v Ar.iute.'iliii in n luimncr wha-li lixo' (•((.■rnal ilL^Kraco yn hii? lavmory."— .^/oon'ti IikH-hi WUrs hi thr rnKnl ^''ti'", />. I '.'I. (tornal Ui.-Jgraco yn lu:? meiuory. t Vauilrpuil to tbo Minister, I'MU .'uly. 1707, •■^i^ ti ■ ■ ■ ' '■ 08 BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. rivers of Maine tuul Acadia, some from tlic wilderness of Lake Huron and Lake Supcrioi. ' 1 am ordered,' he continued, 'to destroy it. (Jo, witness wliat I sliall do, tliat, when you return to your mats, you may recount wliat you have seen.' They took his belt of wampum, and an BWered — ' l-'ather, wo are cunie to do your will.' Day after day, at ^^ontr('al, iNIontealm nur.-ed tlioir enthusiasm l)y sin^inii; the war-soni; with the several trib(>s. They cluiii;' to him with affection, and would march to ))attle only with ]iii)i. They rallied at Fort St. Julin, on tlie Sorcl, their missionaries with them, and Jiynins were sung in almost as many dialects as there were nations. On the sixtli day, as they discerned the battlements of Ticonderoga, the fleet arrayed itself in order, and two hundred canoes, fdlcd witli braves, eacli nation with its own pennon, in imposing rcgulai ity, swept over the smootii waters of Champlain, to the landing place of the fortress. Ticonderoga rung witli the voices of thou- sands ; and the martial airs of France, and shouts in tlie many tongues of the red men, resounded among the rocks and forests and mountains The Christian mass, too, was chaunted solemnly ; and to the A))cnaki converts, seated reverently, in decorous silence, on the ground, the priest urged the duty of honoring Christianity l)y their example, in tlie pres- ence of so many infidel braves. '' It was a season of scarcity in Canada. None liad been left unmol CBtcd to plough and plant. The miserable inhabitants had no l)rcad. 33ut small stores were collected f)r the aruiy. They must eomjuor speedily, or di.4)and. ' On such an expedition,' said I^Iontcalm to liis officers, 'a blanket and a bearskin are the warrior's couch. Do like me, with cheerful good-will. The soldier's allowance is enough for us.'d) " During the short period of preparation, the partisans were active Marin brought back his two hundred men from the skirts of Fort K<1 ward, with the pomp of a triumphant warrior. ' lie did not amuse him- self with making prisoners,' said Montcalm, on soingbut one captive (§) ; and the red men yelled with joy as they counted in the canoes two-and- forty scalps of Englishmen. ■' The Ottawas resolved to humble the arrogance of the American boatmen; and they lay liid in ambuscades all the twenty-third oC .fuly, ^ I MonU'iilm'rt Circuliir In IiIm .illi.M'rs, 2;>th July. U'l ^ Montciilio {>' Vnii.lr.'iiil, L'Ttli .liily, I7.'«7. THE FORT (iEORCE MASSACRE. 69 ;in(I ull the fullowiu^Li,' niglit. At day-ln'oak ul' tlic twnnty-fourtli, rainier was seen on the lake, in coniniantl ul two-and-twonty liaricos. The In. diuns rushud on liis jtarty suddenly, tcrrilied thoni by their yells, and .ifter killing many, took one; liundrod and sixty ])risnji jrs. < TD-inorrow, nr next day/ said the captives, MJencral Weld) will hv . ' the fort with (Vesh troops.' ' No matter/ said Montcalni ; ' in less than tw(dve days, I will hav(! ii j!;iiod story to tell ahont thcni.'('_) l"'roni the timid Webh there was nothing to fear.' TTe wont, it is I me, to l-'ort William Henry, |)nt took care to leave again witli a large escort, just in season to avoid its siege. [t is tlie custom of the red men, al'tor success, to avoid the farthei chances ol'war, and hurry home. " ' To remain now/ said the Ottowas, 'would ho to tempt the Master of life.' Hut Montcalm, after the boat« and canoes had, without oxen and horses, by main strcngtli, been borne up to Lake (ieorge, lield on the plain above the portage one general council of union. All the tribes, from the banks of Michigan and ISuperiiu'to the borders of 7\cadia, were present, seated on the ground according to their rank ; and, in the nann! of (jonis the h'iftecnth, Montcalm produced the mighty belt of six thou- sand shells, which, being solemnly ueceptcd, bound all, by the holiest tics, to remain together till the end of the expedition. The belt was given to the rro((uois, as the most numerous; but they courteously transferred it to the upper nations, who came, though strangers, to their aid. In the scarcity of boats, the Imquoi;'. agreed to guide |)(> Levi, with twenty-livi^ hundred men, by laiul, through the ru'^geil country which they called their own. "The Christian .savages employed their short hisurc at the eonfes- ;donal ; the tribes fron\ above, restlessly weary, dreamed dreams, con- sulted the great medicine m(Mi, and, hanging u{' the eonijilrtt' ei|Mipment of a war-chief as an offering to their Manitou, embarked (ni the la^( (l;iy of July. " The next day, two hours after noon, Montcalm followed with the main l)ody of the army, in two hundred and lifty boats. The Indians whom he overtook, preceded hira in their deeoruted canoes. Main fell in torrents; yet they rowed nearly all night, till they cmiiic in si-ht of :■■*■■! ' iMliyiigainvillf i<> t'le Mini^ilvr, lUtli August. l7o7- 70 liATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. the three triangular lircH that, from u mountain ridi^e, pointed to the encanjpuient ol' i>e Levi. There, in (Jauousky, or, as some eall it, Northwest ]Jay, they liclJ a eouneil ul' war, and then, with the artillery, they moved «lowly tu a bay, of whieh the point eould not be turned without exjiusure to the enemy. An hour before midnight, two I'lnglish boats were deseried on tlie lake, when some of the upper Indians piiddled (wo canoes to attack theni^ and witli sueli celerity that one of tin; boats was seized and overpowered, two prisoners beir.i; reserved; tlie rest were massacred. The Indians lost but om^ warrior, a great ehieftaiii of the nation of the Ncpissings. " On the morning of the second day of August, tlie savages dashed openly < , n ' water, and forming across the lake a chain of their bark can •. u* made the bay resound with their war-cry. The English we: ikou a'most by surprise. Their tents covered the plains. Montcalm disembarked without interruption, about :i mile and a lialf below the ibrt, and advanced in three columns. The Indians hurried to burn the barracks of the J'higiish, to ehuse their cattle and horses, and to scalp tlieir stragglers. During the day, tiiey occupied, with the Canadians under La (!orne, the road leading to the Hudson, and cut oil' the communication. At the north was the encain])ment of Do Levi, with regulars and Canadians, while Montcalm, with the main body of the army, occupied the skirt of the wood on the west side of the lake. His whole force consisted of six thousand I'Veneh and Canadian.s, and about seventeen hundred Lidians, Fort William Henry was defended by Lieutenant-Colonel William Munro,' of the ooth regiment, ii brave ofiicer ar.d a man of strict honor, with les-! than 500 men, while 17<>0 men lay entrenched near his side, on an eiiiiii(Mie(> to the south-east, now marked ])y the ruins of l''ort George. *' Meantime, the braves of the Nepi;:sings, fuithful to the rites of their fiithers, celebrated tlie funereal honors of their departed brother. The liteless frame, dressed as became a war-chief, glittered with belts and ear-rint'.', and the brilliant vermilion; ;i riband, liery red, supported a gorget on his brefisl ; the tomahawk was in his girdle, th(> pipe at his lips, the lunee in his hand, at his side the well tilled bowl. And thus the diparted wavrinr sat nin'ight on the green turf, whicli was l\is death drum jiOStU ("ajitair C'liri-lic Im (M.\criinr rnwn.ill, UHli Aii-'l, I7.'i7. TiiM I'oivr |i»i'ili I'tir ilio {Umi wa.-) jiitiiiolllKt;tl ; lln tlciitli ilaiiii.s and •liaiits lui:;m ; the niunuur.H (iniiiiinii v IMCIS lIllll'.^U'il willl I III' .^ulllli l(.f ilriims aixl tlio liiikliii;^- (»r lidli; Itcll.-. Ami iliiis aria^cd, In a >itiiii,:; |n)s(iirt', he wi'H eoiisij^iiod to llu- «'mlli, will ]iiitvi(lnl with IiumI, ami Mintiiiii(l((l Iiy the ^^Illt'lll^(l^.s wliicli doli^htod him \\Ii('ii .ilixc " (.)m the fourth of Auj4U.->l, the {''ri-iich siiniiimncil Muiiru in hiirivinkr, hut the i;allaiit oM soldiir sent an answer ol' doliaiiee. Montealii; hastened his works; the tro(»[ts dra;_'i:;e(l tin.' artillery over roeks aii! throui^h ihresls. and with ahwrity hnmuht lascities and ;^ahioi:s. Tiiv reil men, unused lo a sieire, were eaticr to Iiear the bi: run; . -I toll III lirst battery uJ' nine eunnoii and two mortars was lin'slied; and amidst the loud sercam id' the savages, ii be,L'an to phiy, while a thousand eehoes were returned by tlie mountains. In two dtiy.s more ;i s'eoiid was established, and iby means of the zij^-za^s, the fmliaiis euuld stand within irun-sliot ol' the I'urtress. Just tlien arrived Ictdrs iVuin l-'ra CO ulernu'' on iMoutcalin tlie red riband, witi. ra as Kui:;ht ( nee, om- 'vor done vu by tl le tl et 111 v'ou tlie moi'i> lor W h. ai inander ot the Order id' St. Louis.' " ' Wc are 'j;\'>h\,' said the red men, ' ol' ' :;reai Ononthio, l)ut we neither love you, v.uc it; we love the man, and not what liar oii Iiis milsldi I'ort Mdward, had an army ol" lour thousanu,aiid miiilit have Mimmoned the militia I'rom all the near villages to the resene. IIi> sent nothing but a letter, with an exa^'^erated account ol the I'reneh I'oree, and his adviei' tu capitulate. Montcalm intercepted the lelter, which lie imme- diately lurwai'ded to Munro. Vet, not till the eve ul' the I'estival of St. liawrenee, wdien half his uuns were burst, and his ammunition was iliuost exhausted, did the dauntless veteran haiii!,' out a Hag- uf truei'. " With a view to make the capitulation unviolably bindini;' on the Indians, .Moniealm summoned their war chiefs to council. The J'Liglisli were to depart with the honors (d' war, on a idcdi^e not to serve a^iainst ili»! l''rcncli fur eii^hteen months; they were to abandon all but their private clfects ; an escort was to attend them on their dej-arture ; every t'aiuidiuii or h'rcnch Indian made captive during!; the war was to be liberated. The Indians applauded ; the capitulation was signed. J/it'; on the ninth of August the h^'cnch entered the I'uvt, and the Engli.sh retired to their eutrenelicd camp. .' v'^/^i| ., ■ ■■ • 'I >••/■- «• I- tv-. ?' 72 liATXLi: J'lliLDS Ul' CANADA. «* iM(»iilc;ilm lia an arm of the river, decked out with trophies, heralding a victory. It was M. Marin, a Canadian officer of much merit, returning triiimphaiilly from the expedition confided to his charge. About liOO savages had been placed under his orders to go towards Fort J^ydis ; lie had. with a small Hying camp, the courage to attack and the good fortune to take possession of — a large portion of the outer works of the fort. His savages had just suilieient time to remove the scalps from the two hundrcMl dead warriors left on the spot, without losing a single one of their own ]>arty. The enemy, three thousand strong, in vain sought to wreak vengeance in the pursuit they made of the savages. It was whilst we were engaged in counting the number of Knglish scalps displayed about the canoes, 11 ,« ^ • 'I ■'. 1 74 BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. II ' that wo observed a French boat bearin-4 towards us five Englishmen, lied and escorted by Outaouackf, whoso prisoners they were. The sight ol these unfortunate captives caused great rejoicings amongst the savages present : I liese barbarous feelings they gave vent to, by horrible yells and by conduct distressing to humanity. More than one thotisand savag( s, lukin I'mni thirty six difl'crent tribes, under the banner (tf France, were at that moment lining the shores of the lake. At one instant, and f-ccmiiigly without any preconcerted plan, they all ran in liot haste towards tlie adjoining woods. 1 knew not at lirst how to oxplain this iincxpected niovcnient. I was not long in sus})ense. The barbarians in a minute returned with clubs ready to inflict on the unfortunate Knglish the most dreadful treatment. At sight of these cruel prepara- tions, my heart sank in me; I felt my eyes bathed with tears ; my sor- row did not however render i.ie inactive. Without a moment for thought, I flow towards those wild beasts, in hopes of restraining them; alas! of what avail was my feeble voieo, but to articulate a few sounds, which the tumult, the diversity of languages, the surrounding ferocity rendered inaudible. At least T made bitter reproaches to some Abcna(j[uis who were near me; my determination awoke humane sentiments in their breasts. Ashanu'd, they slaiik off from the murderous crowd, throwing away their (;lubs. IJjit what was a few less in a mass of li,()(>(t, bent on giving no (luartery Seeing the futility of my intcrl'erenee, 1 was in tho act of withdrawing in order not to witness the b! .ody tragody which would soou eum'.iicnce, I liad seiircely gone a few steps when a feeling of compassion brought me back to ihu bank, from which I cast my eyes on the victims doomed to certain death. Their present state caused me a new paig. Terror had so overpowered them that their strength failed them completely — they could barely stand up ; death was written on their downcast and convulsed features. They were doomed ; they seemed certain of being battered to death, when, lo and behold ! their salvation sprung from the very acts of their murderers. The French oilieer who had charge of the boat had noticed what had taken place on the shore. Moved by that feeling of commiseration which misfortune rings from a brave man, he undertook to create a similar sentiment in the heart of the Outaouacks, masters of the prisoners. He played his part so well that he succeeded tn inspire in them compassion for tin- Wi vi- I w Tin: roKT i>^rti/»halllnrrAprct- (if; l')iirh thrm, nuj/ of i/ou, and i/dh fonrh nirl" One liundrcd l''rcncli olllccrs mi^dit have spokon thus ; they would cuily have bocn lau;^liod at, and have hl•ou^ht on tho captives an Inoreaso of cruelty ; but asavaj^e fears his follow, and liini only ; the most trillini,' insult, may have to he atoned lor by death only: this make^ them cautious. The will of the Outa- ouaek was respected, as soon as iiiade known ; the prisoners were dis:m- harkcd v>'itliout any tumult, and lodged in tho fort, free from insult. They were then separat(>(l and elosidy (lueiitioncd, and soon revealed all we wanted to know. Terror made them communicative to a deirree. I visited one who was placed in a room in which one of my friends was. I tried to inspire him with lutpe, and procured him refreshments, for whi(di he scemetl grateful. ITaving ^ivcn pent to my feelings ol' compassion, and ha via;:; soUu.'ed an unfortunate, [ hastened to t;'et my own little party ou board of the boats, which was done instantly. The distance was short : two hours were sutriclcnt^to get to the end of our journey. 'IMic tent of the Cheva- lier do Levi stood at the entrance to the camp. L took the liberty to pay my respects to this personnage, whose name is synonymous with merit, and wlio is still better than his name. The conversation turned on tho circura- stance which had saved the life of the five English prisoners, whose pcrilloua adventure F have just related. I was far from knowing the details, which are indeed startling, viz. : IM. Do Corliesse, a {''rench colonial officer, had boon ordered the night previous to cruize on Lake St. Saerement. Jlis detachment consisted td' about fifty I'rencli and a little over three hundred savages. At dawn of day, lie discovered in boats a detachment of three hundred English. These boats being more lofty and stronger in build than birch canoes, more than compeu- 'atcd the superiority we had over them in nnnd)ors. Our men did not hesitate to attack them, and the enemy at first seemed ready to fight, but this resolve did not last. The French and savages, whose only chance of victory rested in their boarding the boats, and who fought at a disad- vantage, being at a distance, closed in, in spite of the heavy fire poured on •'.'I 7fi BATri-K T'IKI,1)S OF CANADA. ilii.Mii. Tlic lliiti.^li m>;-noLHT.s;iw thoiii drawing iK-ar, than ti-rror (li.sariiu'tl tlioin. It wasiiittaliglit: 'twasarout. Ol'all alternatives, the most danger- ous, tliough the less honorable, was for theEnglisli to seek to land : they elioose it. They made llicir way tow.ivd.s the shore aecordingly. Sonu« Juuiped ill the water to swim ashore, in hopes ol" hiding in the woods: a bail plan, the lolly ol'whieli brought sorrow on them. However swift their boats mij^'ht be, etmld they expect to beat the bireb cMnocs which tly througb the liquid element with the swiftnc.«s of an arrow '( Soon did tlie Freueli and savages eateh up to them. In the lirst heat of the light all were massacri-d without quarter — torn to pieces. Those who took to the woods did not fare better. .\n Indian in the woods is in his own I'h'ment; he can run through tluMii as nimbly as u deer. The enemy was hacked lo pieces. At last the ( Kitaouaeks, seeing that they had to deal, not with lighting men, but with beings who allowed themselves to b(> ?laughtered without resisting, set to making prisoners. There were 157 j)risoners taken and I;>1 killed; twelve only escaped captivity and ilcath. The boats, ef|uipments, provisions, all was taken and ])!utulered. Xo doubt you fancy that such a victory cost u.s dear, 'flu; light took plac" on water, tiiat i • in an open place, where no andiush could be laid. The enemy had time to prepare; he had the advantage of attacking IVoni boats with lofty .sides, IVail bark canoes which a little skill or coolness would have ^unk with their crews, ^\'ell, this is all true, and still this success only cost us one Indian, disabled by a shot in the wrist. Such was the fate if iln' T>iitish und(>r the unfortunate Mr. (!opperel, who, it was thought, \va> drowiu^d. The English speak of this engage- ment ill terms denoting as much sorrow as surprisj at its r(\sults. They frankly admit the exteiu of iluir lo>^ts ; it would, iruleed, be dillicult to deny the sliiihte,>t detail : the eoriises of their iren fliiatiiiir on the waters ol' the lake or strewing its bea(die.-. ivW the i\arful tale. .\s to thosi' made prisoners, the gre;>ter portion are still in the dungeons oI'M. Le Chevalier de Li'vi. I saw them I'ylinLi' otV in detachments escorted by the vicnirs, who, barbarously occupied with their triumph, thought little of softening the pangs of a d.l'eat. In the space of a Ie;igne which I had to walk before joining my Abenaquis Indians, j met several small sijtiadti of these prisoners. .Alore than one Indian stopped to exhibit to im^, with pride, his capture, expecting I would applaud his success. 1 ,.1' SUlI ruui, incre;| ,>f thi and (1 sorrov 1 hadl THE FUKT <;EOK(iK MASSA<'KK 77 Iroiii Iru's.s 1 this The love of cniiiilry certainly dill not in.ikt' mc iii.sciisiblo dt a t»iuin)»li lavorablo to our nation. IJut misfortiino ('(jniniamls rcspoct, not only on lu'hall'of rolii:;ion, but even from niituro. Moreover, these prisoners seemed ill such a plight; their eyes nwiniining in tears, their laces covered with [(respiration and blood, and a halter round their necks : in presence .tl'such a spectacle, compassion nd liumanity asserted their rights. The rum, which the savages had freely imbibed, had gon(! to their lu^ads and increased their natural ferocity. I feared to witness every minute, some ef the prisoners slaughtered anil falling at my fi'ct, victims of cruelty and drunkcnn«ss; I scarcely dared to look up for fe;ir of meetings the .sorrowl'ul glance of some captive. A sp(!ctayle more horrible than what I had yet seen was soon to take place. My tent had been pitched in tlu; centre of the Ouiaouaek ;'amp. The lirst thing F noticed on arriving there' was a largo fire : wooden s(a!:es, stuck in tlic eartli, announced a lea-;, it was one, but, good heavens ! what a fV'ast : thr remains ol' an I'^iiL-lishman's corpse cut lip and half eaten. 1 .saw the.^c fiends a slnjrt time after greedily devour- ing a human creature : llu'y were helping themselves from the pot witli Urge hulles to the reeking ilesli an if they could never swallow enough. 1 lieard that tl.oy hud prepared themselves to this feeil, by drinkin;'; brimful, out of the skulls, human blood j their smeared faces and gory lips rniilirmed the statement. "What was still more awful, they had placed, dose by, ten Knglish prisoners to witness the abominable repast 1 The Outaouack's nation resembles that ( •' the Abenacpiis ; 1 thought that by -iiitly rebuking them lor (his act, ! might make some impression on llieir mind. I erred: a young warrior said, " ^^JU speak and .n-t like a frenchman, but I am an Indian, human ilesh is gooil for me." He I lien handed i-je a 1)aked fragment cut from the I'liglish corpse. To his v.Mi-ds I maili' no reply, but liis oiler I rejected with visible horror. <\)n- vincod, by what I had just witne.ssed, that 1 could do nothing to alter the st.ite i.f things in respect to tlie dead, I thought I would se > wha could do fur those still living, whose fate was much more to be pitied. I walked lip til tin i-iiiglish, one of whom attracted my notice; by his uniform 1 n;iw he was an olli'jcr ; I resolved to purchasi; him, and thereby save his life and liberty. I made up, with this object Jn view, to an old Outa- ouack, thinking that the ioc of age would have tempered his ferocity, '-fV 78 liATTLi: KlEM>:j ('l' <'ANA1>.\. Jill 1 that lu' WdiiM 1)f iiKM-o inana-oiililc ; I cxti'inlcil m_y liaiid to liin:, bowiii"- (.ivilly :i! t!ie sanu' iiiuimMit. Il wa* imt a iiiiin !. liad to deal itli ; il. was a licui'j even more loroc'nu.s ilian a wiia Itca I I. ij-t, as wi 1(1 mil mals ot'ton yiuKl to kliuli: t'S.- ** x'Vf^" l»o tluuulcrod uut, in ai'cciit.s whic in i-_dit liavf awrd nu\ had iii>' lu'art. in iliat tnoiiiciit , Llm;!! .suscopti or, nil' vr, ' to harbour any othor locliiiLC ImU that of i;ompaPsion and liorr I il,) Hi. I irtiiif i/nui- frlaKhhiji ; ardioit .'" I did not'wait for a repetition cil of the threat. 1 withdrew to my tent, to hrood over th.' thoughts whi reli^Mon and huuiauity e:;n in.-pire on sueh anoceasion. It did not oeeur to nie as neeessary to dissuade my Abenacjuis Indians from eoinuiit- ting sueli horrible excesses. However pov/erfnl example may be with all men in matters of cu>tonis and habits, they were ineapable of pcrj)etrat- ihl;- sutdi acts ; even ])eforc they wen; ehristianized, they never were can nibals. Their hunuuie and tc- able disposition, at thai period, di.-tiii ;.:;nislKd them from tlic uieutest portion of tlie Indians of this coniincnt. Thuao thoughts k'ept nic awake a considerable portion of the nii:,ht. Next morninu', on lisiiii;, T li;id hoped no V(^sti;^e would remain round my tent of the repast of the preceding:; day. F flattered myself lleit the fumes of rum and tin; licu'ce feedings they cn'i;ender, h;iving beeudis sipated, calmness and humanity would attain return, f knew not the (,)ut:u)uack's character and disposition. Tt was as a luxury, a fxjiine hovcJf , that tln^y had banquetted on human tlc-^h. At the dawn of day, their exe- crable repast had been resumed ; they were only waiting for the moment to set to and devour the last remains of the l']n;i;lish corpse. J have al- ready said that we were thrcie missionaries attaelied to thi.s mission, Durinii: the entire campaign, we lodged, thought, and acted together on all points; this community ol' feL'lings rcndereil ourdulie.; more bearable during liu-' fatigues of warfare. AVe came to the conelusion that it would not )>e proper to ctdebiate our holy mysteries in the head-(junr- ters of barl)ari.sm, inasmuch as these superstitious tribes might use the holy vases to assiist them in, and to decorate tlicir, jug-lerie.s. Kor this reason wc left n spot polluted l>y so many abominations, and dived into the depths of flie forest. This could not be ellected, however, without Hoparating myself a little from my Abenaipiis. It liad, however, to be done. This step was iu the end productive of regret, as you will ?ee by the sequel. I had not been long in my new abode before I witnessed itli \\ licir avo nl ately •ursc oilluci iii\ ni fh iht-l attac I 111(1 l<) lljll>, had to (|(mI a.s wild aiii .'oiits wliici, suseoptiMi' ror, " A^o ! I repetition ,^■Ilts wliicli d not occur II coriiniit- bc with all pcrpotrat- ■ were can od, distill CDiitiiicnt, i-ht. i;iiii iMiiiid y.solt' I hat ;; beciidis V !l(»t the ne fioiic/h , their exc- moiiieiil 1 have a I luissiiiii. ^'ethcr on lu'uralilc 1 fhat ii cad-quar- t use the For this ived iiitii , without or, to be ill see I)} yidicssod THE FOUT UEORUE MASsACRE. 79 with what new fervor my neophytes drew towards the tribunal ef repen- (ouce. \y ul.st many ot my Abnaquis Vbi .out,dit the succour of religion, others strived to irritate ireaven, and by their acts to call down punishment from above. Ardent spirit.^ arc the liivorite driuk, the universal passion of the savai;;c tribes, and unlortn nately, despite of laws human and divine, too many funiish them with tl;is (;urse. Unquestionably however the missionary, by bis character, by tln' iiilUience he exerts, prcsvcnts much disordindy conduct. 1 lived close {<> III) flock, a small woml alone intervening. I could nwt, however, ai'lcr night-lall visit the encanipnient, without running the risk »>!' hostile attacks not: only on the part of the alliens ol' the l-^nglish, the lroquoi>, who liail, a few days previously, scalped one of our grenadiers, but also at the liamls of the idolatrous portion of our own savages, to whom experience had taught mo not to trust. Some young Abnaquis, together with In (Hans of several tribes, took advantage of my absence and i)f rlarkness, to -M and steal some ardent spirits from the French tents, whilst the in iiiates were asleep. (Jnee in possession of the li(jUor, they used il l\\'v\\ and so(jn felt its iniiuence. l.)runki;nne.-;s among>sl Indians makes itself l.uown seldom by silence, generally by noise. They commenced to sing, to dance, to cry out, and then set to lighting. .\t the dawn of day, dis- order was at its height; 1 then learned (d'it and hastened to where (rouble existed; alarm and confusion everywhere; — caused by i iloxiea ;iiin. 3Iy Indians soon were calmed. I took each of them by the h;ind ni .^-ucce.ssion and eoniluelcd them to their rent-, bidding them lo lie down This seandalons scene seemed ended, when a "^Ljraigan Indi-Mi, iiatu r.dizcd amongst the Abnaquis and ad(»pted by the tribe, re-enacted i( i.i a ,^till more serious manner. Alter having Inul words with a drunken t'DUirade, an Inxpiois, they came to blows. The lir,-t, a more powerful uiau, having thrown his ojiponenf, was belaboring him unuiertifully, and what was worse, lacerating his shoulder with his teeth. The combat was at its height when 1 drew near them. I could niily u-e my o\vn strength to separaio them. Indian," iVar (Jiie another l'>o much to interfere, no matt(!r for what reason, inti; one another's (iuarrel-. I was luiable to eippe with Ihenj, and tin; victor was loo inl'uriiited to (piit hi victim so readily. I was templed to leave th(>se dennuis eliasli,-e one .ouitlier lor lli.ir own excesses, !ui( I fi arcd (li('(lcath (ir.nic oriheni 8§ BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. would be iliQjinak. I increased my efforts; by dint of pullin<; at tlic Abnaquis, lie felt some one .shakini; liiui ; turuiug hia licad rouml : lie had trouble in rccognizini; mc; be was .still excited, but gradunlly bccamo calm, when he allowed the Troquois liberty to escape, of which the lat.cr was not slow to avail himself. ''' "'' [I'urther on the !i;ood missionary relates the trouble he experienced in preventing his fndians from blowing up the boats containing the powder, a feat they had undertaken for mere amusement sake.] The forced inactivity of our Christian Indians, together with the [)rc sencc of so many idolatrous nations, made me tremble, not for the sakool religion itself, but on account of their future conduct. I longed for tin- day when the preparations for the expedition would allow us to start. When the mind is engaged the heart is less liable to err. That day at last came, and on the 20th of July the Chevalier de Levis, with 3,000 men, marched overland to protect the arrival of the arm^ which was ti; proceed by water conveyance. His march was not accompanied with any of those facilities which high roads in Kurope, built with princely mag niliccnee, offer, impenetrable forests, rugged mountains, slimy bogs, such was the route composed of. Three leagues a u:iy %^ s a good per- Ibrmance ; we took five days to travel twelve leagues. These ()bstaclc> had been foreseen, and hence why this detachment iiiid, in marching, started a few days before the othev. On tin; Sunday v. e embarked witli the Indians, only about 1,-00 at >hat time, the rcsthuvin.; gone by land. We had scarcely made four or five leagues u'< the lake before wi: noticed evident traces of our last victory in the shape of abandoned Eng- lish boats which, after beiag b'^'. cd a long while with the winds and tide, had floated ashc^t; on the hcwl. The most striking spectacle was a tolerable large quantity of English corpses strewing the shore or scattereil here and there in the woods. Some were hacked to picices, and mostly all were mutilated in a most horrible way. What an awful visitation wai' then seemed to me I It would have been liighly agreeable to me to have the remains of our enemies buried, but we had only landed by accident in this cove. J^uty and necessity compelled us to journey on, in conformity with orders; we had to lose no time. It was night when we reached the spot marked out as a camping ground — a locality overrun with wild tliorns and alive with rattlesnakes; mir Indians lirought us several they had hit is pr-i ff^l THE FORT (JEOROE MASSACRE. illing at tin. lead round . ut gradunlly >c, of wliich perieiiccd in tlio powder, til the |ii'o I' the sakodi igedfbr flic us to start, •hat day ;i( ivitli a/lOO iich was ii) 3d with ;iny nccly man; liuiy bo^^<, good per- obstacle^ niarcliiim', kod witli by land, oibre Wi' )ucd Kiiu' nd^! and iclo was ;i .scattorcd uostly ;ill tioii war to linvc cidont ill ilbnnit} ■lit'd the 1 thorns cy had 81 luch caught. This venomous reptile, if ever there was one, has a hoa too small iu proportion to its body; the skin is sometimes regularly spot- ted with a dark black and a pale yellow Colour. lie has no sting, but very sharp teeth, a bright sparkling eye ; he carries under his tail several small scales which he can inflate prodigiously, and which he rattles violently one against the other when irritated : hence his name. His virus after being exposed to smoke is a specific against toothache ; his flesh when smoked and pulverised is also a good cure for fever. Salt is applied as a cure on the part affected by his bite, which otherwise proves fatal in less than an hour. The next day about 4 p.m., M. do Montcalm arrived with the remain- der of the forces ; we had to start in spite of the rain which Cell iu tor- rents ; we marched on the greater portion of the night until we discover- ed 31. de Levis' camp, by throe fires lighted in a triangle on the crest of the mountain. We halted there ; a general council was held ; and then started for Lake George, distant twelve miles. At twelve o'clock, noon, we took to the canoes to ascend, paddling slowly in order to allow the boats bearing our artillery to come up, but they could not do it, and at night they were more than three miles astern. Having arrived at an indenture, the point of which we could not pass without revealing ourselves to the enemy, we resolved, until wo received fresh orders, to pass the night there, It was marked by a small incident which was the prelude to the siege. About eleven, two boats from the fort appeared on the lake; 'hey soon had reason to alter their calm and measured movements. A ncigh l>or of mine, wh3 kept watch for the benefit of all, noticed them :r •! i.iir distance. All the Indians were apprised of the fact, and preji ations made to receive them, in haste but in silence. I was ordered io .' ock safety by going ashore and concealing myself in • woods. It wa.^ not through mistaken bravery, un.-^uited to a miuistr d' religion, that I di?:- regarded the mandate. I thought the order was not serious, having rea.son to doubt the statement about the boats. Itw.s not likely that our lynr- eycd enemies had failed to notice the prcseu' e, since two days, on the waters of the lake, of our four hundred bo.its ; on this hyi)othcsls I could scarcely persuade myself that two boats vould have the foolhardi- ncss to appear in our presence, much less to engag(^ iu combat forces so much superior. A friend of mine who had seen all, reprimanded me 12 ■I-'. I,.- .FM 82 RATTLE Fri->IJ».^ (F CANAPA. ill stionu trnu.' lor "i I ''imii;:; wluif I («ii;;Iil !•■ lie: lie was ii;;lit ; a |in;i( ttloraltly lai^'o liold all tlu' missionario"; ; a Ictit was sjtroad over it to piv- tcct tlicJii against tlir iiiclcnicncy ut' the wcalhcr tliiriiit; the cool iii^ht.'^; This whifr ))avillioii, uiuK'r wliicli we took sliolly iiioonlij^iit, and tlio Eiij^lisli woro curious to find out wliat it was. To niiuo towards w.i or to run straii^ht to destruction was ono and tho same tliinir. I''''w cduld liavo escajied, il', fortunately lor tluMii, a small iin.-i- dcnt had not warned them a few minutes too soon I'oy the sueecss o', our plans. ( )nt' of the sheoj) Corminu part of tlu- army >npplies het^au to hh^ft ; I his Miniid, V, liii'h presauod an amhuscade, caused the enemy to stop short , laci" al>ou^ and nvjii' on their hoats doulde tjuitlv, in order to eseapi, I'avorrd I'V darlxtic'ss and the woods. What then rcuiaiui d to In; donr 'f 'i'welvc hiiudrcd savages pnr.'^nc I ill.' t'n-itiv.'s, with y. II,- :is hmd as they were incessant. Hoth partir,-. scMiii'd to liesiiatr ; not a .-hot was lircil. The a;-sailants not havin;; had time to lorm rc;^Milarly, wt'rc afraid to lire lest they should hit one another: mcvover they wished to make )»risoners. The luiiitivesstrui;- };led hard t.) Liet av.ay. and were in the act oC doini: so, when the Indians tired. The Hritish. heinu too close to the first canoes, returned the lire, ami ,soon an oininou< silence succeeded to all this noise. We were hopin-^ for vi. tory, when a pseudo-hravc, ^ho was not in ih,. „i<'/r, , shouted that the .\hna(|ui.s Indians h.id in. ' with .severe loss I uimediately. sei/ in-; hold f the r-li-ions va.se.s wherewith to administer the last rites, I hurriedly jumped in^) a canoe t,, -rt to wlu'r. the li-ht had taken place. I was how. VI r not wanted. as I learned from another fiulian who had t.een in (he thick el" it ; moiu' of our forces had hcen struck except a Nipis- siuf^uc who \>as killed, and e.noth.u- helian wan-ior w(Uinded, whilst hoardin- fh. enemy. 1 ,!id not wait lor th, ,.,„1 ,,r |,is narrative, hut has- tened hack •(. our peoph>, leavin.i? fhc marie; i,, the hamls u\' the .N'ipis- Hin-ue misssionary, Mr. .Mathaveh I arrived ly water and met M Av Mrmtc.-dm, who, on hearini^ ih-- lirinu:. ha.l landed lower down and m8iohisw..y .hrou.;l. the woods ; an .\hna,,nis hi.lian, at my rcpiest. relured io him w! t had taken plac.« in ;, very few words The .larkne-s ofihe:i;uhM>;'-veuie.| the Mund.erol' dead hein- known: the enemi.v/ boats hud l.N-M eapuired aud al.so three prisoners ; the remain.ler strayed through the Dreht. M, de Montcalm, pleased with tho success, then will ni'' I I Tlll'l lOllT OEURWE MASSACRE. S.1 ;lit ; a ho.it r if to prc- ool nij^'hf.s. ."> iirtic> aviii;4;Iia(l il liit one vosjstrui;- 10 Iiidiaiis Hie fin'. c liopiiiM; ^Iioiitfd - rites, I '1 jtlaco. Ii;ni jc'cti a \i|)is- I, whi'sf I'lit lias- • N'ipis. t M. .1. '(•((Mcsr. .iilcnc-s iit'inics' stray< .1 ^, then .1 witlitlrew to pouJor over, with liis usuul .sugucity, thu oi»cratiou.s ol'tlie morrow. |)ay had s-oart^cly Jawmnl, when tin- warriors of tlie Nipissimiuo natiou pri'scnt, profocdi'J Avitli tin.' I'mu'rul ol' tlu-ir dfail warrior (a pai^ati,) killi'il in tluM'ni:;a,t;cmi'iit oltlu! previous uii-lit. The riiiicral was accompaiiicil with all the pomp ami show custoin u \ with Mavaj^es. The hoily was diM-kcd out, or rather i-omplttely covered, with all the j^rotesquc nrnameiits whi»di vanity could devis<' i'or such .» iiielaneholy oeeasiou ; poieclaiii iiecklaei', silver bracelets, rings in the ill us and nose, sumptuous drcs>es, all was lnon'lit into ie and an appearand! of lile, the palor oi' death, The Wearing apparel oCan Indian warrior was also us hI ; — a tier} red rihhon tied upon his broa'=;t ; a ^or^'ot ; his j^un rested on his arm ; a tomahawk in his i^irdh'; his pipe ill his mouth; his lanee in his hand; a well-lilh'd can at his sidi-. Tims j^'audily attired as a warrior, lu' was seated on a L'rassy mound as nil a (!oU(di l(aiij:;ed in a eircde i- mud this corpse, the Indians observed a solenm .silence, as il' ojijiresscd with griei'. The ora'or iiiieiruptcid it hy proiiouiieing the funeral oration on the dead , to this succeeded w:tr soui^s Old dances, with the noise id' tambourines and hells loi iiui^ie : a death like solemnity, in keepini;' with tlu,' occasion, reiuned throiiLihout. Th" pai^'cant t!uded hy the burial ol" the Indian warrior with a lar^e fjuantit) of eatables deposited in the i^rave, no doubt i • prevent ilu' po>sibility ol' his dying a second time lor want td' I'ooil, I lannoi, as t j this ei-reuumy. -.peak as an eye witness; the presenct; of a misNionary woiiM indeed be out of place at a paireant dictated by siipitrstition and adop'ed by >tupi'l ereilulity. 1 had these facts from spectators. '■' * "•■• * Fort (}eor,irt high, tin interstices lilled up solidly with sind. I''uiir or five hundred men, with nineteen cannon, defended it. Two or three ol'the-e were thirty-six pounders, the otlusr.s were of smaller caliber ; there were al.-^o four or live mortars, 'flu; place was proti'eted by no other ext-'rnal worki than a lortitied rock, surrounded by i palisade and jiiles of -^tone, (heL'arrisou ol r!' m •f' m- r .;•:•.' 84 I'.ATTLt: riELDS OF CANADA. wliic'li consisted of 1700 men which constantly scut rciuforccment.s to th.- fort itself. The chief stren<,'th of this eutrcnchment consisted in its pe- culiar position, which eonnnanded all surrounding objects, and which, on account of the mountains and .swanips in its ueighborhood, could only he attacked with artillery from the furt. Such was Fort (Jeorge from wlmt I saw and hoard of it after its capitulation. It was impossible to invest and attack it on all sides. 0,000 French orCauaes, our whole strength, were not enough to compass its surrender with any degree of success. 20,000 men would scarcely have suilieed. The enemy had always a kind of back door, whereby they could retreat to the I'orost — a t!;ood plan — had they to evade enemies whicli were not Indians; but from such escape under cover of the woods is more than hazardous. The Indian warriors were encamped on the Lydis road, so close to the woods and in such numbers that thi.-i plan of evasion could scarcely avail them. Ou the licights of the land close by and within hail, were located the Canadians. Lastly, the I'reuch regulars — to whom, pn)perly speakint-^ were confided the siege operations — were disposed on the cdtieofthe wood, close to where the trem-h would ojicn ; then came the reserve camp, sufHeiently strong 'o ward oil" assault. These preliminaries settled, M. de Montcalm sent proposals to the enemy, which, had they been accepted, would have saved a great deal of blood and sorrow. The following are very nearly the terms uf tlir letter sent to M. Moieau (Col. INIunro), the British ofliccr in charge: "Sir, — I come at the head of iorees larij;e enough to take possession of th place under your command, and to interci'pt any succour which might come to you from elsewhere. Among my followers is a crowd of savage tribes, whom any blood spilt might render deaf to any sentiments of uicrcy and moderation. My love of humanity induces me to ask from you a surrender, now that I may yet obtain from them terms of cajiitula- tion honorable to yourselves, and useful to all. — I remain, &c. (Signed) " Montcalm.'' M. de L<''vis' aide-de-caniit, M. Fontbrane, was the bearer of this letter. The Knglish olhcers, .several of whom he knew, received M. Fontbraue with that courtesy customary between honorable men in times of war iJut no surrender was granted. The reply ran thns : mil to ■ I TUB FOUT »;eor<;k ma.Si.i-y,. ' to th,^ •oat doal s of fl,,. tri^o sse.ssion r wliicli uwd of fi men ts ^ from Jtihila- .M." •f this ltd M. timo.s "Monsieur lo (I('nc'ral, 1 fool obli^aMl to you in partioular fur the ^^aoiolH offers you nuikc. I Itar not barbarous trcatmonl. My men, liko myself, are detornunod to ('on(]ucr or die. — I am, i.\.e . (Si;:;nod) " MoUKAi; (Munro.)" This proud reply was aeooiu])aniod with a >:dvo <>[' L,ains. Wo were far from boin^ able tuan.swor. Hd'orc establi.siiiii^a battery, we had to carry our <,'uus tliroui^h woods and over rooks, fully a mile :iiid ;i hall". Thanks (ii the voraeity of our Indian allies, we were deprived of the use ol' our liorses for this duty. Tired of salt moat, they had not hesitated to seize hold of them some days previously, killin*^ and eatint; them, without tak- iMj4 counsel of any one except their stomachs. In the absence of boasts ol liurtlicn, so many strong' arms and loyal men set to work that the task was soon completed. During all this, I was lodged close to the hospital, a spot from wheuoe I could easily .airord to lend the help of my ininistry to the dyinijj and wounded. 1 remained there some tinu; without haviiii; •my news about m^' imlian,-;. This , silence caused me uneasiness. .1 \\:\^ very desirous oCassendilinj;' them once more, to inspire them with sm- liments b(H;omin<^ reliiiicm, in tlit> perilous p(»sitioii in which tlioy won'. 1 determined on , so (hat the persecutions ceased without my remaining; there. I do not know whether he Iclt grateful; he j.^ave nn- only a wild glance; but independently ol religion, I was ukuc than compensated by tlie})leasuro I had experii'ucetl in saving an unhai)}»y bein;:. Tluri; were plenty of other unfortunates. Everyday Indian skill and bravery added to their number.-, in tiic shape of prisoners. 1'hetncmy could not stir out of the fort without meeting captivity or deatii. The following will show : an iMiglisb woman took into her head to -ro in ^uest of v<\getables, in ;• cultivatiMl patch close fo the iliteli of the i'ortress ; her daring eo.^t liei dear. A savage, secreted in a I'abbage brd. --iw lur and shot lui' dead. The enemy tried in vain to remove her boily ; the victor stood sentry all day long, and linally scralped her. In (he meantime, (he savages got very desponding at not hearing any shots lired from the /wy ^/nns, as tiny calleil our cannon. They grew im- patient ut not being allowed to carry on the war alone. To satisfy them, we had to hasten to be^'in the siege and to mount oiir lirst ba'ti-ry. When i( openol for the tir.^t time, the; wh.»le mountains resounded with their yelU and joyous cries. We were dispenseil during (lie operations from taking much troulde (o iuseertain tin' i'lb'(;t til' our liring; the wild 3'clls of the Indians soon carried 'his information in every direction. 1 .seriously thought of elianging my ijuart is ; die distance which intervened b<' tween them and where my neo[diytes were, lelt me no duties to perform, but before this cdiange took placi.' an alarming incident occurred. Tlie fre<|uent trips whily II (m1 |»(»- erCoriii, Tl I* Th iil)Oat» issai i;i( ladicr- \v;i> instruftod to watrli over tlic Ixiats wliiili (iiiitiiitiod tliriii skilful nuasurcs he had devised rt'n- of the e;inipait;ti. Nothinir oT n^te took place for some days, exeept the promptitude with whieli the sie^'e operations pro^Tisseil. Our second liattery was erected in two days. This was for the Indians the (»rcasi themselvis us( I'ul in every way ; nnderiakiny. l'» ai-t as ^jiinners, and 'Hie in particular ^o^ very expert A xavaiji liavinLr liimsell' pointed a _uuh, struek exactly a retreating' atiL'le, on wliidi \\r had . ...d to take aim. He however deelined tiyin..:; a semnd -I'iii,al le;^in;j; that as he had at the onset attained to perl'^-fic.ii, he on^ht not to risk h's rei)Utation on u second attempt, lUit v. li.i' . nied to astonish the savatre.s most in our siege operations was the several zl^/.ags ul' a trench which, like subterranean passages, are s) useful in p!(»teeiiii;: the be- siegers from the fire of the besieged. They witnes.-od wlili uiibonnded curio.ity the finish and perfection which the Freneli grenadiers be.>towed on their works. The force of example soon iiuhieed them to .-et t", with pi«*k and hoe, to open a trench toward^ the fortified ro^k, a task confided to them, 'i'hey soon had extended the trench so far that the\ got within gun shot. .M. do Villier.s, brother to .^I. di! .)umotivil!(>, an otUccr whoso name alone iutlicated merit, took advantage df t!ii> trench to march up with a detachment of ('anadiuus in order to o\)v\\ lire on the outer defences of the enemy. The action was sharp, long and bloody for the enemy, who abandoned these outer works ; — the chief en- trenchments would also have been carried that day if their capture could have en.sured the fall of the place. Ivieh day was signalised by some brilliant feat of arms, eith'M' by the h'reneh, the Cunadians or the savages. In the meantime the enemy held out rc.^iolutcly, buoyed up with the hopes of a prompt relief. .V trivial occurreiuv; which hap- l»ened then ought to liavc greatly decreased these hopes. ( )ur scouts met ill the woods three messengers, who had left Fort Jiydis (Ivlwarih : they killed the first, captured the second, and the third escaped by swiftness of foot. A letter was discovered in a hollow bullet concealed on the . ■' \i >wi m I IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) V (/ \'^'^\ fe y. (/. /a 1.0 I.I 1.25 IfriM llM 'f '^ lllllJi Ims m*} , III E ,a 1^ — 1^ U 2.0 1.8 1.6 V] saw them and huffcrcd Iroin them. The Marquis of Montcahii, beforo granting any capitulation, had thought proper, in order to liave the capitu- lation respected, to consult all the Indian tribes present. lie asscmblcl all their chiefs, and laid heibrc them the terms of the surrender; it granted to the garrison the right to march out of the fort with all tlu' honors of war, imposing on them the obligation not to serve for eighteen months against the King of France, and to release all the Canadian,-^ made prisoners during this war. These terms r-^ ccived general asscTil and approbation, and were signed by the generals of both armies. Con- sequently, the French army, drawn up in line of battle, advanced towards the fort, to take possession of it in the name of His Most Christian Ma- jesty, whilst the English troops, in good order, left it to go and post them- selves, until the next day, in the retrenchments. Their march was not interrupted by a violation of the rights of nations. But soon the savage,-^ gave good cause of complaint. Whilst the French wero entering the fort, the savages had crowded in numbers, in its interior, by the port-holes, in order to plunder, as plunder had been promised to them, but plunder did not suffice. Several sick, being too ill to follow their friends in their honorable capitulation, had remiiined in the casemates ; these fell victims to the unmerciful cruelty of the savages : they were butchered in my presence. I saw one of those fiends issue from one of those pcstifcrou- casemates, which thirst of blood alone could have induced him to enter, oearing triumphantly in his hand a human head all bloody ; he would not have been more proud of the richest trophy imaginable. This was but the prelude to the tragedy to be enacted on the morrow. At daybreak, the Indians crowded round the defences. They began b}' asking the English for all the effects, provisions and valuables which their covetous eyes could detect; but tlieir demand was made in terms indicating that a refusal would be attended with a thrust from a lauce. Everything was given up instantly, even to the wearing apparel in actual use. This condescension was calculated to s )ftcn the mind, but an Indian's heart is not like tlie heart of ordinary men ; you would fancy that Nature itself has intended it as the seat of inhumanity. The savages were disposed to commit the greatest excesses. A detachment of 400 French regulars arrived to protect the retreat of the British. The English filed off. Alas for those who could not follow, or lagged behind i# i-I ' THE FORT GEORGE MASSACRE. 91 bcforo capitu- [cmblcd ider; it all tln' lig'htccii inadian.s |1 assciil Coil. toward> lian Ma- st tlicni- was not savages itig the rt-holcs, pluiulci- in their 1 victiiDs I iu mv stifcrou.- to cuter, dy; lir Ic. morrow, icgan bv s whicli in terms a laaco. II actual but an d fancy •. The cinncnt [Jrltish. behind i iVom tlie main body ! Th<;ir corpses strewed the soil and the interior of the works. This butchery, which at iirst had been attempted by a few Indians only, was the signal on which all the rest became like so many infuriated wild beasts. They struck right and left with their war-axes ;it those within their reach. The massacre, however, was not so great, nor did it last as long, as their fury wou)d make one fancy ; it attained to some forty or fifty cases. The patience of the British, who contented themselves with bowing their heads under the hatchets of their execu- tioners, appeased it all at ^uce, without bringing back reason and justice amongst them. Amidst incessant yells, the savages continued to make prisoners. 1 arrived at that moment. Tt is more than man can do to possess insensibility in such heartrending scenes. The son wrested from a father's arms, the daughter violently separated from a mother's embrace, the husband dragged from his wife's bosom, officers despoiled of every garment except their shirt, without regard to their rank or to common decency : crowds of unfortunate beings rushing wildly, some towards the French tents, some towards the fort, — in fact filling up any place likely to afi'ord shelter ; such was the doleful spectacle which broke on my sight. In the meantime the French were neither idle nor indiflFerent spectators of the catastrophe. The Chevalier dc Levis hurried wher- ever the tumult was the greatest, with, a courage dictated by clemency and natural to so illustrious a name. A thousand times he braved certain death, from which he would not liuvo escaped, notwithstanding his rank and merit, without the interposition of a special Providence, which withheld the arm ready to strike. The French officers and the Canadians followed his example, with a zeal worthy of the humane treatment which has always characterized this nation, but the bulk of our forces, employed in guarding our batteries and the fort, was pre- vented by the distance from helping in this work. Of what avail could 400 men be against 1,500 infuriated savages v*'ho confounded us with the enemy ? One of our sergeants who had actively resisted their cruelty, received a lance thrust which prostrated him. One of our I'rench officers, in recompense of similar devotion, received a. large wound which brought him to death's door : moreover, in those moments 1)1' alarm, no one knew which way to run. The measures seemingly the ' "■ -k tW r 1 ■ ;»• ./ '■''■i 1 ". . 't 92 BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. most judicious ended in a miserable failure. M. do Montcalm^ who heard of these doings late, on account of the distance between his tent and the sp' ♦^j as soon as informed of them, used such dpeed in coming there as proved the goodness and generosity of his heart. lie seamed to be everywhere at once : prayers, threats, promises, — he tried every- thing ; at last he resorted to force. The position and merit of Colonel Youn (Young) induced him to exert his authority and use violence to tear from the hands of a savage, (Colonel) Young's nephew. But, alas I the deliverance of this young man cost the life to some prisoners, who were butchered on the spot, lest they too should be rescued alive. The tumult still continued, when some one thought of telling the British to march oif " to the double quick." This plan succeeded. The savages, finding pursuit useless and having made some prisoners, desisted. The British continued unmolested their retreat on Fort Lydis, where they arrived, at first only three or four hundred strong. I cannot state the number of those who, having taken to the woods, succeeded in getting to the fort, guided by the report of the guns, which were, during several days, fired for their guidance. The rest of the garrison had not, however, met with death, nor was it detained in captivity j several had saved themselves by retreating to the fort or to the French tents. Ft was at the latter place I went as soon as the tumult was over. A crowd of forlorn women bemoaning their Lte, surrounded me ; they threw themselves at my feet, kissed the skirt of my garment, uttering lamentations which were heartrending. Nor had I the power to remove the cause of their grief. They called aloud for their sous, their daughters and husbands, torn from them forever, as if I could restore them. An opportunity presented of les- sening at least the number of these unfortunates. 1 eagerly avail- ed myself of it. A French officer informed me that in his camp there was a Huron who had in his possession a child, six months' old, whom the savage would certainly put to death, unless I hastened to rescue it. I hurried to the savage's tent, and found him holding in his arms the innocent victim, who was covering with kisses the hands of its executioner, and playing with some porcelain ornaments which hung about his person. This spectacle inflamed me with a new ardor. I commenced by awarding to the savage all the praise which was due to the bravery of his tribe. He saw through me at once. iiuurii: Ue (rliild "i TUB FORT GEORGE MASSACRE. 98 " //ere," said he, civilly, to me ; " ilo yon sec this child ;' / have not stolen him; I found hint stowed away in a hcdijr. You want him, but i/oii shall not get him." In vain [ tried to convince him how useless it would be for him to attempt to retain the infant as his prisoner, us, [nnn the want of ])roper nourishment, it was sure to die. lie produced some tallow to feed it with, adding : '' That even if the (;hild did die, he could tdwtiys liud a (corner to bury it in ; and tliat then, I might, if I choose, give it my blessing." T replied by oficring him for his little ctiptive a tolerably largo sum of money. He declined ; but consented in the end, if I would give him in exchange another JJritish prisoner. L had made up my iniud to seeing the negotiation end by the deiith oi' the child, when I noticed the Huron converse in the Fndlan dialect with another savage. Our dialogue liad heretofore been carried on in French. This gave me fresh hope : nor was 1 disappointed. The result was that the child would be mine, if J gave in exchange the scalp of an enemy. ^^ You shall have it very shortly," said 1, ^' ij' yaii. vu'll keej) to your bair/ain." T ran to the Abnacjuis camp and asked the first savage I met, if he owned any scalps, and if so, that 1 would consider it a favor to be presented with one. He immediately, with much kindness, untied his wallet and allowed me the pick of scalps. Possessed with one of these barbarous trophies, I carried it triumphantly, followed by a crowd of French and Canadians, who were curious to see the end of this singular adventure. Joy lent me wings : I ran in an instant to my Huron friend : ''Here," said I ; " here is your 2>ay." " You arc right," said he^ " it is rc(dly a British scalp; the hair is ,'ed !"'■''■ (Red hair often distinguished the British colonists.) " Takr tin hoy ; he is yours." I did not allow him time for a second thought, and seized hold of the child, who was mostly naked, wrapping him up in the folds of my robe. The little fellow was not accustomed to be so roughly handled, and uttered cries, which indicated as much awkwardness in me as pain with him. u s:^ ^ * Probably it belonged to a Scotcbmau, its ii larKu uumbor ol' Seolcb sevvud in tbe British armies in America bel'oro and at the time I't' the cuiKiucst <>t CmhuiIh. ' f 94 BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. II u I I consoled mysulf with the hope that ho would soou be confided to more experienced hands. I arrived ut the fort. The infant's wailings caused all the women to rush towards mo ; all hoped to find a lost child. Thoy examined him eagerly, but neither their hearts nor their eyes could discover a son. They withdrew to vent again their grief in loud lamen- tations. My embarrassment was great to find myself with my charge, some forty or fifty leagues from any French settlement. Tfow could I provide for so 3'oung an infan I was overwhelmed with my thoughts, when I happened to see passin,^ by a Jiritish officer who spoke French fluently. '' Sir," said I, " I have just rescued this child from captivity, but he is certainly doomed to die, unless you order some of these women to nurse it, until I find means to provide for it. The French officers present backed my prayer. The British officer then spoke to the women. One oftered to nurse the child if I would guarantee her life and that of her husband, and have them conducted safe to Boston vid Montreal. I accepted these term.s, and asked Mr. do Bourlamarquc to allow me three grenadiers to escort the English to the camp of the Canadians, where T hoped to find means to fulfil my engagements. This worthy officer acceded to my proposal. t was Justin the act of leaving the fort, when the child's father turned up : he had been struck by a shell, and lay quite helpless ; he entirely co^.aTcd in what had been planned to save the life of his child. 1 stai .>ou with my English friends,* escorted by the three grenadiers. After a fatigueiug but successful march of two hours, we arrived at the quarters of the Canadians. I shall not pretend to pourtray the crowning feat of my undertaking : there arc some things >vhich are beyond the power of words. We had scarcely arrived in the neighborhood of the camp, when a loud exclamation caught my ears. Was it from grief? was it from joyy It proceeded from all this, and from more. It was the voice of a mother. From afar, the piercing eye of the parent had recognized her darling boy ; who can deceive a mother? She rushed wildly towards the English lady who held the child, tearing it from her arms frantically, as if she feared to lose it a second time. One can imagine her transports I * Tbo Englisli woman who luiil i-'iusentcd to take chiiryc SA( KK. 95 :. 1. 1 more They coiiM [anicn- lliargc, buld I ^assjn.L; 1 have Ito dio, bans to on finding,' agaia her ehild, and on being told thai, her husband — to whom she thought she liad said adieu for the last time — was still iiiive. One thing was still wanting to my entire happiness, that is, re-uniting the lather and the mother of the ehild. f. again retraced my steps towards the fort. I felt very weak ; it was later than one o'clock p.m., and I had had yet nothing to oat. On my arrival I mostly fainted. The kind offices of the French oflicers soon allowed me to finish my good work, l had the fort searched for the Englishman J was looking for, but the search for a long time was unavailing. The pain caused by his wound had made liim seek for rest in the most solitary part of the fort, ilc was found at last; and I was just going to conduct liim back to his wife, wlicn the mother and lur son mado their appearance. Orders had been issued to assemble together all the English dispersed in difFercnt directions, numbering about 500, and to conduct tlieiii to tlio fort, where their subsistence might be provided for more easily, until they could be scut to Orange; this was happily done a few days after. I was cordially thanked, — not only by those I had saved, but also by the English officers, — and that repeatedly. As to the oilers to serve me, tliey merely flattered me, as springing from a sense of gratitude. A missionary like mo has no recompense to look for except from the Almighty. 1 cannot help noticing the recompense which the Engli.sh woman met with, who had consented to nurse the child in the absence of its real mother. Providence, through the instrumentality of my colleague, M. Picquet, restored to her her missing child, I remained a few days longer in the neighborhood of the fort, and my ministry was crowned with more success, 'in rescuing more prisoners, and in saving the lives of some French officers, jeopardized by the acts of some drunken savages Such arc the circumstances of the unfortunate expedition which has tiirown dishonor on the bravery evinced by the Indians during all the siege operations, and which has rendered burthensomc to ourselves even their good offices. They pretend to justify their conduct, The Abnaquis in particular allege their right to wreak vengeance for the treatment experienced by their warriors no later than last winter, when, during peace or pending a truce, they ^Ycrc betrayed and slaughtered by the British of the Acadian forts. For my part, I do not pretend to placo on I .r';' ;^-'iy . V ft! 96 B/TTLfi nULi)^ ni' CANA1»A. i'- its trial a iiatiuii, wlio, although it may bo our cneiiiy, has uot the less many titles to our respect. 1 have not siilViciont knowledge of facts to do so. 1 am notav/are that ( have mixed up with this n.'irrative a single eircum- stanco which could ho gainsaid, nor do I see that malignity can discover any fact calculated to affix on the French the odiousness of this event. We had got the Indians to agree to the conditions of surren- der ; what could bo more calculated to prevent any infraction of its terms y A guard of four hundred men had l)eeti assigned to the enemy, as an (!scort, to protect their retreat: some of the escort fell, in their zeal to prevent the tumult : could any stronger means have been devised to ensure the observance of the treaty V Finally, largo sums wero expended to re- purchase the English prisoners from the savages, so that nearly four huu- ilred arc at Quebec, ready to embark for ]5oston. Could the violation of the treaty be more elVicaciously repaired ? These queries seem to me unanswerable. The savages arc thou alone responsible for this violation of the rights of nations; with their unquenchable ferocity, with their utter disregard of all control, lies the cause. The news of this carnage, spread in the English colonies, has struck such universal terror, that a single Indian dared io go and make prisoners at the very doors of Orange (Albany), without being opposed or molested in his retreat. The enemy did nothing to oppose us in the interval which followed the capture of the fort, and still the situation of the French army was most critical. The savages, except the Abnaquis and Nipistingucs, had disappeared on the day of the massacre. Twelve hundred men were occu- pied in destroying the fort; about one thousand were busy conveying away the immense military stores and provisions which had fallen into our hands. There was a mere handful of soldiers remaining to meet the enemy, had he shown himself. This inactivity gave us the means of completing our work. I'\>rt ricorge has been completely destroyed, and the remains consumed by fire. Tt was only when it was burnt, that we understood the extent of the enemy's losses. There were casemates and subterranejir> recesses filled with corpses, which, during some days, furnished material to the flames. Our loss was merely 21 killed (of which three were Indians) and 25 wounded. I then returned to Montreal on Assumption Day. iJATTLB OF CAKILL'^N. «7 lio less to do .so. cirouin- ty can iUOS.S of ■surrcn- ot" its 1 lJi?nU ot Pavilion,* 8tii July, 175:3. July 1. — Moutculm made a inovcuK.'nt iu advaucc, fchfloniiuj] hii troops from Fort Carillon to the loot ol' l.uko Uoorge, to curb tlu- enemy, und obstruct tiieir hindin,^. July 5. — The liriti.^^h t'mburked, ut the lake head, in ''M\) biir^e.-, and l:iU bateaux, while on numerous rafts eannou were mounted, constituting so many floating batteri<>s. <' The sky was serene," .says Mr. Dwight, '■ and the weather superlj : our tlotii'a sjied its way in measured time, in accord with inspiriting marti:il music. The .standards' folds floated gaily in the ."junshine ; and joyijus anticipations of a coming triumph beamed in every eye. The lirmament above, the e.vrth below, and all things around u:j, formed together a glorious spectacle. The sun, since his course in the heavens began, rarely ever lighted up a .scene of greater beauty or urandeur." The British van, (5000 strong, led by Lord Howe, reached the lake loot early on the Gth, and landed at Camp IJrfile. .\s it approached Hourlamaque fell back on La Chute, where Montcalm was posted, after waiting, but in vain, the return of M. de Tv{-'\)H(:e, whom he had sent on a reconnaissance to Mont Pelec, with oOO men. The lattjr, at sight of the enemy, meant to rejoiu IJourlamaijuc, but lost his way in the wotjd-,; thereby, through the delay ensuing, just as he reached the spot wlience he had set out, his corps was surrounded by t!ie enemy, and two-thirds of the men were killed, or drowned in attempted flight. The rest, who formed his rear-guard and had taken another route, arrived safely at Ija (Jhute, whither Tr6pez6e and another officer wore borne uiortally wounded. It was also in this fortuitous skirmi.sh that liord Howe lost his life. lie was a young man, but ati oflicer of much promise, whose death was greatly mourned over by his compatriots. The amount of the enemy's force, and his intents, wore now alike dis- * Garnoau'a nUtory of Canada, Bell'a translation. t Echelon, Fr., ia a stepping-bar or rouii'l iu a ladder; liunoe the military term ichehnner, di.sp»se parties of soldiers en ickelon (ladder-fashion) ; i. <•■ range them iu detanhmenti on a line, with interspace* at determinate intervals. — B. 11 > i'r] K ••■ : -vV' A m IIATTLI^ ilELUS OF CANADA. ccrniblc. Montcalm broko up liia camp :'t ]ja Chute ; while, supported by the culoiual regulars and tOO to 500 Canadians, just come up, ho doliled towards the height;^ ol' Carillon, where he proposed to do battle ; for it had been determined that, whatever mi;ji;ht be the disparity in the numbers ol' the two armies, the entry to Canada should not be j^ivcn up witliout a strui;'.:le. iMoutcahn at (irst elected to make his stand at Fort St. Frederic (Crown-Poini.) ; but M. do Lotbiniere, who know th(! country well, counselled hii.i to prefer the heights of ('arillun : the enemy, he said, could not pass that way, iC it were (judiciously) occu- pied ; and it would be easy to strengthen the pass by entrenching, under the cannon of the fort ; whereas, he observed, the works needful to cover St. Frederic would take two months to execute : not to mention tliat Carillon, once cleared, the enemy could safely descend Lake Champlain, leaving the former stronghold unassailcd, in his rear. ^lontcalm, feeling the cogency of this reasoning, halted the troops as soon as they reached Carillon in their retrograde march; then he gave thorn orders to take uj» a position in advance of the fort, and tlicro outrencli tlicuisclves, as proposed. The heights of Carillon are situated within a triangle formed by the discharge of the superflux waters of Lake (rcorge, named La Chute River, and Lake Champlain, into which they here flow. Some bluffs (bnttes), whicli are not lofty, and rise highest at the summit of the tri- angle, terminate, by an easy rdopc, towards the lake, but present a stce]> frontage {cscarijemtiit) to the river, the latter having a strand alongside it about 50 yards broad. At the extremity of the triangle, on the edge of the frontage aforesaid, was a small redoubt, the fire from which radiated on the river and lake; enfilading, too, the sloping ground along the course of the stream. This redoubt was connected by a parapet with Fort Carillon (the ruins of which may still bo seen). The fort, which could contain oOO to 100 men, lay in the hip of the triangle, :ind com- manded the centre and right side of the plateau, as well as the plain below, in the direction of Lake Champlain and the River St. Frederic. The enemy in our front bivouacked during the night of July (J-T. The glare of their numerous fires indicated that they were in great numbers near the portage. The French entrenchments, of zigzag outline, were begun in the evening of the Oth, and carried on most actively on the 15ATTLli oi' CAUIIif,ON. 00 7th. Thoy began at tlio fort, (iillowt'tl lor somu lon;^'tli tlir crest uf tho litights, In the direction of L;i (Jhuto lliver, and then turned to the right, ill order to t»'""'n*t>o the triatiiile jit its base, following t\u\ sinuos- ities* ol' a gorge of i.n-.'. ucpth, running across tin* platoau, and tinally descended to the hollow (Jxix-Jnnd) wliieli extends to the lako. The lines of cntrenchnicut might have about IJOD yards of development, nnd a height of live feet: they wore formed of felled trees, placed each on others, and all disposed in such sort, that the larger l)ranchos, stripped of their leaves and ]iointed, turned outwards and formed a rude kind of .hevaux-de-frise. J']aeh battalion as it arrived, first taking the place it was to occupy in action, constructed its part of the defences intended to (•over all. Evcu-y man worked with ardour at his separate task, The Canadians, who did not obtain hatcliets till noon on the Gtb, began their* assigned portion of the abattis, in tlio hollow towards Lake (Ihamplain, and linishud it just as the advancing British camo into vifw. As the intermediate country between the troops and the enemy was thickly wooded, Montcalm liad caused the nearest parts of it to ])0 clenred, so that the latter should bo the sooner seen, and have no covert w])en within gun-range. jMean while, Abercromby was completing the disembarkation of his army. Homo prisoners he took misinformed liim that tlic French had entrenched themselves merely to gain time, expecting the arrival of 1^000 additional men, under De Levis, said to be on the way. Tlie v:!li/ Abercromby determined to fall on at once, before tlie (imaginary) succour could come up. An engineer, sent by Abercromby to recon- noitre, returned and reported that the Freneli works were incomplete ; upon which lie (boldly) put his army in motion. The vanguard, led by Colonel Uradstrcet, did not halt till it came within a short mile of the l^'rench entrenchments, late on 7th July. Here the enemy's advanced corps passed the night ; the line of adversaries on each side of tlie narrow interspace making ready fur next day's action. The ]>ritish army, deducting a few hundred men left at \i'x Chute (probably for guarding the boats at the foot of the lake), consisted of ]r),000 prime soldiers, under experienced otBcers — all full of confidence in their superior numbers proving irresistible; while the French forces were only 3600 strong, including 450 Canadians and marines ; thert^ •:*| < ■■'■ . t' 'i m 100 BATTLE FIELDS OF PANADA. 11 fi 'f being no armerl savages present. Montcalm put Fort Carillon in charge of .SCO men ; the rest liu-jd the entrenchments, three men deep Order was given to each battalion to keep in reserve a grenadier company and a piquet of soldiers, to take post behind, and repair, on accasion, to any overpressed part of the line. De Ldvis, who arrived just that morning (the 8th}, commanded the right wing ; under him were the Canadians and their chief, M. T)e Raymond ; Bourlamaque commanded the left wing, Montcalm the centre. Such was tho French order of battle. About half-p.'ist 12, noon, the outposts re-entered the abattis, after fikirmishing with those of the British. A cannon-shot, fired from the fort, gave the signal to tho men within *o .stand to their arms, and bp ready to ojien tire. Abercromby divided his army into four cohimns, the heads of which were ordered to attack simultaneously. The grenadier companies, posted in front of all, had directions to force tho entrenchments at tho bayonet's point, but not to iire till they had fairly cleared the barricade. At the same time, an alloted number of gun-barges were to fall down La Chute River, and menace the French right flank. By one o'clock P.M. the British columns were moving onwarl ; they were intermingled with light troops and savages. The latter, as they advanced under tree-covert, kept up a gulling tire en the French. The enemy's four columns, leaving the uucle<;rcd woods behind, descended into the gorge in front of our entrenchments, advancing upon them with great boldness and in admirable order; two of the four columns being directed against the French left wing, one agninst the centre, and the fourth against the right, following the sinuosities in tiie slope of the hollow where tho Canadians were posted, Tho tiring was commenced by the marksmen (tirailleurs) of the column opposed to the French right wing, and extended gradually from that point to the French left, Ik; column facing which, composed of llighlandcr.s and grenadiers, tried to penetrate th(! barrier 0!i M. T>e Ldvis' si c. That ofiicer. discerninir tho danircr, ordered tlie Canadians to make a sortie and assail the flank of this column. The mancouvre succeeded ; for the Canadians' fire, and that of the two battalions on the sloping ground or hillock (coteau), forced this column to incline towards the next, in order to avoid a cross flankiog-fire. l-'i ' BATTLE or CARILLON. 101 'illon in eu deep company sasion, to ust that were the nmandod order of tis, after rom the i, and be heads of >mpanios, its at the )arricade. ■all down e o'clock rniinglod ;d under ny's four he gorge boldness d against ainst the here the larksmcn ing, and I a facing trato the dantrcr, of this i that of ced this :iag-fire. The four columns, obliged to converge a Utile in advancing, either to protect their flanks or the better to attain select points of attack, became massed in debouching near the heights. At that instant, 80 barges appear'jd ou La Chute, sent to iuquiet the French flank. A few shots from the fort, which sank two of thcra, and an assault upon tho others, from the banks, by a i'ew men, caused their crews to retreat. Montcalm had given an order that the enemy should be allowed to come u.iresisted within twenty paces uf the entrenchments, and it was punctually obeyed. Arrived ut the marked line, the musketry which assailed their compact masses told so promptly and terribly, that they were first staggered, and then fell into disorder. Forced to fall back an instant, the broken forward ranks were re-formed, and returned to the attack ; but forgetting their consign (not to fire, themselves, till they had surmounted the barricade with fixed bayonets), they began to exchange shots, at a great disadvantage, with the ensconced Fioucli. The firing on both sides, along the whole line, became very hot, and was Icrig con- tinued; but, after the greatest efforts, the surviving assailants were obliged to give way a second time, leaving the ground behind them strewed with dead. (.)nce again, however, they rallied at a little distance, re-formed their columns, and, after a few moments' halt, throw them- selves r.new upon the entrenchments, despite the hottest opposing fire imaginable. Our generalissimo (Montcalm) exposed himself as much as tho meanest of his soldiers. From his station in the centra, he hastened towards every point where there was most danger, giving orders and bringing up succour. Finally, thej British, after unexampled efforts, were again repulsed. Astonished more than ever at so obstinate a resistance, Abcrcromby, who thought nothing would withstand his forces, could not yet believe that they would ultimately fail before enemies so much inferior in number.'^; he thought, that let his adversaries' courage bo ever so great, they would at last renounce a contest which, the more violent and prolonged it were, would end all the more fatally for them. lie resolved, therefore, to continue his tssaults with added energy till lie should n'.^hieve a triumph. Accordingly, between 1 and 5 o'clock v. si. (four hours), he ordered up his troops six times, to be as often driven back, ^i» . ■■■• ■ ■f^- ■] 1 1- . 102 BATTLK FIELDS OF CANADA. ii:, 1 t.i each succeeding time with increasing loss. Tlic fire kept up against them by the French wus so hot and ch^sc, that part of the iragilr ramparts which protected Lh<' assailed ignited more than one '. The enemies' columns, not succeeding in their lirst attacks HKidc simultaneously hut independently against the whole French line, now con;'/ined their strengths, and in a solid body tried to force, -ometimes the centre of the Froucli, at other times their right, and again their left wing — all in vain. ]>ui it was the right of the Frcncli works that wa^ longest and most obstinately assailed ; in that quarter, the combat was mo.^t sanguinary. The British grenadiers and Highlanders there per- severed in the attack for three hours, without flinching or breaking rank. Tlie Highlanders above all, under ]i0rd Johu Murray, covered themselves with glory. They formed the head of the troops confronting the (Jana dians, their light and picturesque costume distinguishing them from all other soldiers amid the ilamca aad smoke. This corps lost the hull' of its men, and 25 of its officers were killed or severely wounded.'- At length this mode of attack failed, a«? the preccdiug had done, owing to the cool intrepidity of our troops; who, as they fought, shouted Vive Ir rol ! and cried '• Our general for ever I" During the different charges of the enemy, the Canadians made several sorties, turned their flanks, and took a number of them prisoners, j At half-past five, Abercromby, losing hopes of success for a moment, withdrew his columns into the woods beyond, to allow the moi\ to recover their ]»reath ; yet he resolved to make one last attempt before (juite giving up his enterprise. Au hour having elapsed, his army retwrnod to the charge, and with its massed strength, ouce agaia assaulted tlie v>fl mIc French line. This final attack failed even as the others. Thus iV.ivly baffled, the British liad perforce to retreat, leaving the French masters of the field ; Vmi rear of the former being protected by a swarm ol" * Soareely any of tho w^mudo 1 lli^^hlanders ever recovered, ovou llioso .'■out homo as invaliil.*; their soros cankered, owiuj^ to tho l)rokou ^-lass, ra;4g'jd bits of me i, 'J Ac ll^L•ll liy t.io Caiuuliaus, instead of hontnt shot. — Hell. t So-.uo Ili;rhlandcrs taken prisoners by the French an J Cai.a liaufi. hiuMlc I to.;LMhjr on tho baitlo-licld. and cxiiectina; to bo cruelly treiited, looked im in inou'-nful siloni'c. Presently a "ii,'antic French othecr walked \i\) lo tl-.e.u, and whilst cxchan>;in',^ in a f-cvevo to-.o . abat wa.s icre pcr- ug rank, einsclves ui Cana cm iroMi the hair d^ At owiug to l'V(.v.; l<' . charges Ir flanks, mouicut, ) recover re quite "'rnod to le v/1 -jle IS la illy masters »arm u!' riflemen, who skirmished with the Canadians .sent in pursuit till uight- ;h, HI) as to.jjctlur 1 silenoc. ;in:^ in ,i 1 tll'MIl iu bolieviu^ ajosty ii: fall. 'ere exhausted 1^ accompanic( uitoxicatei ! Levis, an( By this time, the French with joy. General Montcalm, accompanica Dy tiievaiier the stafl"-ofiicors, passed along the ranks and thanked the victors, in the king's name, for their good conduct during this glorious day, one of the most memorr^de iu the annals cf i'rcnch valour. Scarcely believing, however, that the present retreat of the British army would bo deflnitive, and fully expecting that they would renew the combat next day, he issued orders to prepare for their receptiou as before. The troops therefore had to pass the night in their position ; they cleaned their arms, and when daylight dawned next morning, set to work to complete and add to the entrenchments; constructing two batteries, one to the right with four eannou mounted, and another on the left, with six. After a pause of some hours and no enemy appearing, Montcalm sent out some detachments to reconnoitre, cue of which, pushing on beyond La Chute, destroyed an iutrenchment which the British had formed there, but abandoned. Next day (July 10), De Levis advanced to the foot of l-iakc George with his grenadiers, volunceers, and Canadians, and there found many evidences of the precipitation of Abercrond)y's retreat. During the night following the battle, hi; continued his retreat, without sti)pping, to the lake; and this retrograde movement must have become a veritable flight. His soldiers left by the way their field implements (o'Htils'), portions of the baggage, and many wounded men (who were all picked up by De Levis); their general havin_, re-embarked his remain- ing troops by the first morning light, after throwing all his provisions, etc., into the lake. Such was the battle of Carillon, wherein ;],000 men struggled success- Inlly, for six liours, against 15,000 picked soldiers. The victory gained on this memorable day (July S, 1757) greatly raisoil the reputation of ^lontcalm, whom good fortune attended ever since he came to America, making him the idol of the soldiers. In his army but •>77 nien were killed or wounded, including o8 ofilcers. Amongst those hurt was ^I. lie l^ourlamaque, who was severely wounded in the shoulder; M. de Bougainville, who had just been promoted to the grade of assistant- quarter-master (^(u'lh'. mnrh'hal (h loijiti), was wounded likewise. De "'^A /■ ■.■■■ 'H t ■M ■■'■ ' c ■ 104 BATTLE FIELDS OP CANADA. i 'I I I L6vis' clothes aud hat were ball-pierced iu several places. The British owned to a loss of 2,000 killed or wouuded, including 12G officers; but the contemporary French accounts estimated the British loss at from four to live thousand. '^Montcalm/' said M. Dussieux, "stopped invasion by his brilliant victory of Carillon ; certes, that was a deed to be proud of. But Mont- calm spoke modestly of what he had done : ' The only credit 1 can lay claim to/ wrote he next day to M. de Vaudieuil, ' is the glory accruing to me ol commanding troops so valorous The success of the affair is due to the incredible bravery manifested both by officers and soldiers.' " During the evening of the battle-day, the fortunate and illustrious general wrote, upon the battle-field itself, this simple and touching letter to his friend M. de Doreil : * The army, the too small army of the king, has just beaten his enemies. What a day for (the honour of) France ! Had I had two hundred savages to serve for the van of a detachment of a thousand chosen troops, h;d by De L6vis, not many of the fleeing enemies would have escaped. Ah ! .wuch troops as ours, my dear Doreil — I never saw their match.' " (S'ngagcment at IJmupovt Jlata,* 3 1st July, 175y. As the left bank of the Montmorency, just beyond its embouchure is higher than the right, Wolfe strengthened the batteries he already had there, the guu-range of which enfiladed, abcve that river, the French entrenchments. The number of his cannon and pieces for shelling was raised to .sixty. lie caused to sink, on the rocks level with the flood below, two transports, placing on each when in position fourteen guns. One vessel lay to the right, the other to the left, of a small redoubt which the French had erected on the strand, at the foot of the Courville road, in order to defend, not only the entry of that road, which led to heights ocoupied by the French reserve, but also the ford *■ (iwne&M'i Hhtoiii cf L'cAada, Bell's translation. KNUAUEMENT AT BEAUPORT FLATS 10.") er, tho m wl' ilic Moutiuuroucy below the I'all^;. Cauuon-shots from the trausports c-i'o,s.sotl each other in the direction of the redoubt. It became needful, therefore, to silence the iire of the latter, and cover the march of tho assailants, on this accessible point of our line ; therefore the Ctnturio/i, a GO-guu ship, was sent afterwards to anchor opposite the falls, and as near as might be to the shore, to protect the ford which the IJritisli Ibrloru-liope was to cross, as soon as the attacking force should descend troui their camp of rAnge-Gardien, Tiuis 118 pieces of ordnance were about to play upon Montcalm's left wing. Towards noon, Jul/ 81, all this artillery began U) play; and, at the same time, Wolfe formed his columns of attack. More than 1,500 barges were in motion in the basin of (Quebec. A part of 31onkton's brigade, :ind 1,200 grenadiers, embarked at Pointe-Levi, with intent to re-land between the site of the Centurion and the sunken transports. The second column, composed of Townshend's and Murray's brigades, de- scended the heights of I'Ange-Crardien, in order to take the ford and join their forces to the first column at the foot of the Ccurvilie road, which was ordered to be ready posted, and only waiting for the signal to advance against the adjoining French entrenchments. These two I'olumns numbered 0,000 men. A third corps of 2,000 soldiers, charged 10 ascend the left bank of the 3Iontmorency, was to pass that river at a ford about a league above the falls, but which was guarded (as already intimated) by a detachment, under 31. dc Kepentigny. At 1 ]\m, the iluec British columns were on foot to execute the concerted plan of attack, which would have been far too complicated for troops less disci- plined than Wolfe's. ^lontcalm, for some time doubtful about the point the enemy would assail, had sent orders along his whole Hue for the men to be ready everywhere to oppose the l^ritisli wlu-rever they came forward. As soon as the latter neared their destination, Dc Levis sent 500 men to succour licpentigny (at the upper ford), also a small detachment to espy tho manoeuvres of the Uritish when about to cross the lower ford ; while he sent to Montcalm for some battalions of regulars, to sustain himself in case of need. The general came up, at 2 r.M , to examine the posture of matters at the left. ITc proceeded along the lines, approved of the i •V, -y 10() liATTLE riELDS OF CANADA. in order to br in a position to observe all that should pass. Throe battali(nis and souic (^anadians, tVoiu Trois-Ilivieres, came in opportuncl^y to rcinfbreo the I'Vcneh left. The greatest part of these troops to(.ik post, as a reserve, on the liij^hway, and the rest were directed on the ford defended by M. de Ilepcntigny. The latter had been already hotly attacked by a British column, but he forced it to ^ive way, after some loss of men. The retreat of this corps permitted that sent to succour Ucpcntigny to hasten back to the arena of the chiol' attack. Meanwhile, the barges bearing the Pointe-Levi column, led by Wolfe in person, after making several evolutions, meant to deceive the l-'rench as to the veal place for landing, were directed towards the sunken trans ports. The tide was now ebbing; thus part of the barges v.ere grounded on a ridge of rock and gravelly matter, which stopped their progress and caused some disorder; but at last all obstacles were surmounted, and I, -00 grenadiers, supported by other soldiers, landed on the St. Law- rence strand. They were to advance in four divisions; and Monkton's lirigade, which was to embark later, had orders to follow, and, as soon a.-, landed, to sustain them. From some misunderstanding these orders were not punctually executed. The enemy formed in columns, indeed; but Mouktou's men did not arrive to time. vStill the van moved, music playing, up to the (Jourville road redoubt, which the I'rench at once evacuated. The enemy's grenadiers took possession of it, and prepared to assail the entrenchments beyond, which were within musket-shot distance. Wolfe's batteries had been pouring, ever since mid-day, on the Canadians who dci'endcd this part of the line, a shower of bombs and bullets, which they sustained without flinching. Having re-formed, the British advanced, with fixed bayonets, to attack the entrenchments ; their showy costume contrasting strangely with thai of their adversaries, wrapped as these were in light capotes and girt rouml the loins. 'J'ht Canadians, who compensated their delicient discipline only by their native courage and the great accuracy oi their aim, waited patiently till the enemies were a few yards distant from their line, meaning to lire at them point-blank. The proper time come, they discharged their pieces so rapidly and with such destrufstivc effect/*' that the two British columns, * " Their (men of) small-iirms, in the trenches, lay cool till they wcro sure of their mark; (hoy then poured their shnt like showers of hail, which oau?etl our brave grouadiers to fall very List/'—Jotini'd of a Britinh officer. ENOAOSiMENT AT DKAUPORT FLATS. 10- despite all tlicir uiliccr.s' cudoiivours, were broken and took flight. They souglit shelter at first against their lues' lire behind the redoubt; but not being allowed to re-form ranks, they continued to retreat to the main body ol' tlic army, which had deployed a little further back. At tills critical time, a violent thunderstorm supervened, which hid the view of the combatants on botli sides from each other, while the rever- berations of successive peals roso far above the din of battle. When the rain-mist cleared off, (ho Canadians beheld the ]]ritlsh re-embarking with their wounded,''' after f^etting lire to the sunken tiansports. Tluir army liually drew off, as it had advanced, some corps in the barges ; others marched landsvard, after re-cro.-;sing the Montmorency ford. Tin" lire of their Jiumerous cannon, however, continued till night set in ; and it was estimated that the British discharged o,000 cannon-balls during * " As our company of Krcnndiors npproiichcil, I (li«tin<>Uy saw Montcalm on liorsf- back riding bacliwards and I'orwurils. Jiu socmud very busy giving diroction-s to lii.s men, and I beard hiiu give tho word to ilro. Immediately they opened upon us, and killed a good many of our men, I don't recollect how many. Wo did not fire, for it would have In^eu of no use, as they wcro completely entrenched, and wo ci.uM only .see the crown of their heals." " Wo were now ordered to retreat to our boats, that, had been left afloat to receive us ; and liy this time it was low water, so that we hail a long way to wade though the mud. A Serjeant Allan Cameron, of our company, seeing a small battery on our left with two guns mounted, and apparently no person ucsar it, thought he would jircvcnt it doing us any mischief on our retreat, .so he pi;kcd up a couple of bayonets that lay on the beach, and went alone to the battery, when ho drove tho jioints of them into the vents as hard i -^ he could, and then snapiud them off .Miort. '* When the French saw us fur enough on our retreat, they sent their .s.-iv.ages tr scMlp .Tud tomahawk our po.ir fellows that lay woun-lc 1 on Mie Keacl'. Among tin; ntimbei was Lieutenant Peyton, of the Itoyal Americi'-n I'altalion, who was severely woumled. and had crawled away as far as the jiains ho endured would allow. After the savages had done their business with the poor fellows that lay nearest to the French batteries, tli(!y went back, except two, who spied Lieutenant Peyt m, a. id thought to make a good prize of him. Tie happened to have a doublc-ban-eUed fusil, rea'ly loaddl, and as he had seen how tho savages had treated sill the otluv.; that came into llieir elutehes, he was sure that if they got the b(!ttcr of hini they woulil butcher liiin also. Fortunately, his presence of mind did not fors.ake him, and ho waitetl until the lirst savage came near enough, when ho levelled his fusil, tiud brought hiur to the ground : the olhei sitvage, thinking that the Lieutenant would not have lime to reload, rushed in upon him boldly, witli his tomahawk ready to strike, wheu Lieutenant Peyton diseiiarged his fusil right into his chest, and befell dead at his feet. V.'e s:!W no more of the savages after that, at least on that occasion : but we saw enough of tiiem afterwards. "While poor Lieutenant Peyton lay upon tlte ground, iiiniost exhausted from tii- evertions and loss of blood, be was accosted by Serjeant; Caiueroii, who had no other means of helping him than carrying him aw.iy ; nml he was well aMe to do it, for be was a stout, strong, tall fellow". He slung the Lieutenant's fusil over bis shoulder along with his own, and took him on his back, telling him to hold last round his neek, As he had a long way to carry him, he was obliLrcd every now aud then to lay liiiu down in order to take breath, and give the lienteuaiit some ease, as his wound was oxceodingly painful. lu this way he got him at last to one of the boats, tind hiving him down, said, 'Now, sit, I havo done as much for you i\^ lay in niy jiower, and 1 wish you may recover.' '' — I/itwkiim'a Plrturf of (Jiitlici.-. "•>;• ^. ■■1 1 1 : « > ^'^f'] ■" ^.' . ■ <■ Liiiliif*!. M- 108 BATTLE FIELL3 OF CANADA. hy ii.. s tlio day niul cveniug; whilo the French had only a dozen pieces of cannon in action, but these were very serviceable in haradsing t,1ie disembarking British. The hi^s of the French, which was duo almost entirely to artillery firo, was inconsiderable, if we remember that they were for more than six hours exposed to it. The enemy lost about r)00 men, killed and wounded, including many ofheers. The victory gained ;i1 3Iontmorcncy was due chiefly to the judiciou'i dispositions made by Do [jt'vis, who, with fewer troops in hand than Wolfe, contrived to unite a greater number tlian ho did at every point of attack. Supposing tlus British grenadiers liad surmounted the en trcnchmcnt), it is very doubtful whether they would have prevailed, even had they been sustained by the rest of their army. The ground from the strand to the Beauport road rises into slopes, broken by ravines, amongst which meanders the (.'ourvillo road; the locality, therefore, wa^ fiivorable to our marksmen, liesides, the regulars in reserve were close behind, ever ready to succour the militiamen. General Wolfe returned to his camp, in groat chagrin at the clieck In- had just received. Emagination depicted to his apprehensive mind's eye the unfavorable inipression this defeat would make in Britain; and he figured to himself the malevolent jibes which would be cast at him for undertaking a task which he had proved himself to be incompetent to perform I He saw vanish^ in a moment, all his proud illusions of glory ; and Fortune, in whom he had trusted so much, as wc have seen, seenicd about to abandon him at the very outset of his career as a commander- in-chief. It seemed as if his military perceptions had lost somewhat of their usual lucidity, when, after losing all hope of forcing the camp of his adversary, he afterwards sent Murray, with 1,200 men, to destrov the French flotilla at Trois-llivi6res, and to open a communication with deneral Amherst at Lake Champlain. r>Iurray set out with 300 barges, but did not go far up the country. Repulsed twice at Pointc-aux- Trembles by De Bougainville, who, with 1,000 men, followed his move- ments, he lauded at Sainte-Croix, which place he burnt, as has been already noticed. Thence departing, ho fell upon Dcschaml)ault, where he pillaged the French ofheers' baggage. [!] lie then retired preci- pitately, without fulQlling his mission. His incursion, nevertheless, much disquieted Montcalm at first; for he set out hicoi/nifo for the the ;iud :iddr I i DATTIiE OF Tills PLAINS OF ABRAHAM. 100 Jacques Cartier, as leariog loat tlu; Jkitiali mij^ht take porfscssiou of its lower course, gain a firm foothold there, and cut off hi.s comniuuications with ■western Canada ; but Icarninp,' that the hitter were in full retreat when Jig arrived at Pointo-aux-Treniblcs, iMontcalni r.nraced his steps. AfliT this new repulse, a malady, the perm of which was present in the bodily frauie of Wolfe lont^ before, now suddenly developed itself and brought him almost to death's-door. Ais soon as ho convalesced, he iiddresscd a lon<^ despatch to Secretary Pitt, recounting the obstacles against which he had to struggle, and expressing the bitterness of his regret at the failure of all his past endeavours. This letter (if it did little else) expressed the noble devotednos^; to his country's weal which inspired the soul of the illustrious w "rior; and thus the British people were more affected at the sorrow of the youthful captain than at the; i-hecks his soldiers had received. The spirit of Wolfe, no less than his bodily powers, sank before a situation which left him " only a choice of difficulties ;" tlius he ex- pressed himself. (Jailing those lieutenants in aid, whose character ami talents we liave spoken of, he invited them to declare what might be their opinions as to the best plan to follow for attacking Montcalm with any chance of success; intimating his own belief, also, which was, that another attack should bo made on the left wing of the Ueauport cam]>. He was also clear for devastating the country as much as it was possible to do, without prejudicing the principal operation of the campaign. ' '1 * , if ■> CEhc Ijattli* of tl)C Ipiains of ^liraliaiu/ l.'TIl SUPTEMBEF!, I Tf)'.'. Any one who visits the celebrated Plains of Abraham, the scene of this glorious tight — equally rich in natural beauty and historic; recollections — will admit that no site could be I'ound better adapted for displaying the evolutions of military skill and discipline, or the exertion of physical force and determined va'-^^-. The battle-ground presents ■* VroVH Ifriiil-'vi': Pirlur,. ,,/' lliir/ifr. m 110 liATTLE IIELDS OF CANADA. ;iliuo3t ti lovol biu-raco Iroui the brink oi' the St. Lawrence to tlic Stc Foy road. The (/rdm/c-Al/cr, or road to Cape llouj^o, vunnin<^' parallel to that of 8to. Foy, passed through its centre, — and was commanded hy :» field redoubt, in ; !1 probability the Ibur-gun battery on the English left, which was captured by the lii^lit iuft utry, as mentioned in (leneral Townshend's letter. The remains of this battery are distinctly seen near to the present race-stand. There were also two other redoubt.-t, one upon the rising ground, in tlic rear of Mr. C. Campbell's bouse"'' — the death scene of \VoIfe — and the oth'jr towards the Stc. I''i)y roail which it was intended to command. On the site of the country sent called JMarclimont, the property of the Honorable J. Stewart, and :it present residence of ^Mr. Daly, Secretary ol'tlic Province,'}' there was also a small redoubt, couimanding the intrenched path leading to the Cove. This was taken possession of by the advanced guard of tlie light infantry, immediately on tisccnding the heights. At the period of tlie battle, the Plains were without fences or enclosures, and extended to the walls to the St. Lewis side. The 'surface was dotted over Avitli bushes, and the woods on either ilank were more dense than at present, aftbrding shelter to the French and Indian marksmen. In order to understand tlie relative position of the two armies, if a lino be drawn to ihe St. Ijawrcnco fiom the General Hospital, it will give nearly tlic front of the French army at ten o'clock, after Montcalm had deployed into line. His right reached beyond the Ste. I'\)y read, where he made dis])Ositions to turn the left of the English. Anuthar parallel line somewhat in advance of Mr. C. (Irey Stewart's house on tbc Ste. I'^oy road, will give the I'ront of the Jiritish army, ])efore Woll'' charged at the head of the gvciiiuliers of 22nd, 40th, and li'itli regimenrs, who had acquired the honoral)lo title of tin; Lonisbourg (ironadiers, from hnving )>een distinguished nt the e.ipture of that place, under his own command, in 17-")8. To moot tlie attempt of Montcalm to turn the British left, General Townshend formed the l-'»th regiment en potencr, or presenting a double front. The lirrht in fan try were in rear of the left, and till! reserve was placiMl in rciu" ol tlu' right, formed in eight sub- divisions, a good distance apart. '■ Oooupicd this yc:n' liy dA. Alox. Bell. J .\t proiont tho family iniMi-ni.n i>r.lolin (jilmniir, K-i|. I5ATTLK ol' Tl[j; PLAINS Ul-' AliKAllAM. II lie Sto parallel c'd l)y ;i hJoneral (tly soon piloubts, • •use''- — >y roiul try scat and ;it was also Cove, n fan try, ttle, the walls to and the shelter ies, it'll it will on teal III jy road, ^nothar .^ on tile Wolf." imenrs, ladiers, Icr Ills ini till' Otcnrr. le lefr. t Sul)- J I The Knglisli hud been about lour huurs in posscft.«, ami wilt! completely i)re[iared to receive theui, when the French advanced with i^'reat resolution. They ajtproaehed obli((iiely by the left, haviiiu' inarehed IVoiii IJeanport that llloruinJ,^ (>ii beinj;' fur::.cd, they coumienceil the attack with ;^reat vivacity and aiiiinatin'i, lirini,' by platoons. Il was (iliserved, however, that their fire was irroi^'ular and inclVeetive, whereas iliat of the Knulish was so well directed and maintained, as tn throw the l''reneli into immediate eoid'usion. It must be stated, that aUhouirh the I'Veneh army was more numerous, it was principally composed of ciduiiial iroops, who did not sujiport the regular forces as lirinly as was expected nt' them — (some nl them had not even bayonet^'.) INIonti.'alm, i-ii his death l>ed, expressed hinjself bitterly in tliis respect. Tin- Knitlisli troops, on the contrary, were ric^irly all re^ulius. of apjiroved ■•oura.,'c, well otlieered and under perfect discipline, 'j'he urenadiers burned to revcmre their defeat at ^fontmorency ; and it was at tlieir head that Wolfe, with great niilitary tact, placed himsidf at the e"mmeneement of llie action. About cii:;ht o'clock, some sailors had succeeded in dra^gin;:; up the precipice a liirht six-pounder, wliieh, althoujih the only mm used by the I'hij^lish in the action, being remarkably well served, played with great success on the centre column as it advanced, and more than oiu.'C com pelled the enemy to change the disposition of his forces The Frencli hud two held pieces in the action. The despatches mention a remark- able proof of coolness and presence of miud, on the part of troops wdio had no hopes but in victory, no chance of safety but in beating the ^,, ;♦" •V ■■■■ ■• 11 V *■ r-i: ' . '(■■ 112 HATTLK IIt:Ll>S oK CANADA. ! < fxci'tiuii.-* wt'ic; iii.itlf umlt'i* fhe oycs ol' the leaders — the actiuii in the rcntio uud lul't WIS couipanitivoly u .skirmish. Tho sovertst lighting louk place botwccn tho rlj^ht ol' tho race-staud and the INIartcllo towers. The rapdity and oiFoct ui' tho I'inglish fire haviii;^ thrown tho I'roneh info (;uui'usion, orders were j>;iven, even before tho smoke cleared away, ((» eharj^e with the bayonet. Woli'o exjiusini,' himself at tho head of the battalion.*!, was sinj^led out by some Canadian marksmen, ou the enemy*.-; left, and had already received a slight wound in the wrist. Ue;j;ardless of this, and unvvillin,t,' tu disjiirit his troops, ho folded a handkereliiel' round his arm, and putting himself at the head of the grenadiers, led I hem on to the eliarge, which was completely successful. It was boughl , however, with iho life of their heroic leader. Ho was struck with a second ball in tho groin ; but still pressed on, and just as tho enemy were about to give way, ho received a third ball in the breast, and fell mortally wounded. Hear, indeed, was the jirice of a victory purchased by the death of "Wolfe — of a hero whoso uncommon merit was scarcely known and appreciated by lii.s country, before a premature late removed him for ever from her scrvlco. It might have been said of him, as of Marcellu.s, OsiciiiUnI, tcrri.s Iiuiic tautuin fiita^ uoijue ultra Esse sincnt. Niiuiuin vobi.s Romnn.a ])ropago Visa potens, supori, i)ropna Ikpc si doiia I'uissuni. lie met, however, a glorious death iu the moment of victory — a victory which, in deciding the fate of ('anada, commanded the applause n[' the world, and classed AVolfe among the most celebrated generals of ancient and moderu times. Happily, lie survived his wound long enough t • learn the success of the day. When the i'atal ball took eifect, his piii! cipal care was, that he should not bo seen to lUll. — "Support me," — said ho to an officer near him, — '' let not my bravo soldiers see me drop The day is ours, keep it 1" He was then carried a little way to the rear, where he requested water to be brought from a neighboring well to ([uench his thirst. The charge still continued, when the oiKecr— un whose shoulder,* as he sat down for the purpose, tlic dying liero leaned — exclaimed, '< They run ! they run I"— "Who runs?" asked the gallant •■•'• TIic position ..f the I' AHRAHAM. Il:: W'olfo, with j'omc emotion. 'J'hc dflicor rcplioil, — "The enemy, nir : I hoy givo way every where I" — " What?" said he, "ilo tliey run already ^ I'ray, one of you j,'o to (Colonel JJurtnn, ami tell him to march Webh's regiment, with all .speed, down to St. Charles River, to out off the retreat of the fugitives from the hridgo. — Now, CJod bo praised, [ nin hapi'Y '.' So saying, the youthful hero breathed hi.s la.st. llo reiUctcd that he had done his duty, aud he knew that he .should live for ever in the memory of a grcatful country. His expiring moments were cheered with the Hritish shout of victory, — — pulcUrumiiuo mori suocurrit ia nriuis. Such was the death of Wolfo upon the Plains of Abraham, at the early ;igc of thirty-two years I It lias been well observed; that "a death more glorious attended witli circumstances more picturesque and interesting is no where to be found in the annals of liistory.'' His extraordinary ijualitie.s, and singular };ite, have afforded a fruitful themo of panegyric to the historian and the poet, to the present day. How they were ap- preciated by liis gallant companions in arm?;, may Ite learned by tin' subjoined extract from a letter written after the battle by Crencral, after- wards Marquis Townshend, to one of his friends in England : — 'M am not ashamed to own to you, that my heart does not exult in the midst of this success. I have lost but a friend in r'\ 16 ably in advance of the Martello tower.s, commanding a ■■ '/i 114 RATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. I ■i I complete view of the ticld of battle — not far from the fence which divides the race-ground fron) the enclosures on the cast, and opposite to the ri'-'ht of the English — are the remain.s of a redoubt against which the attack was directed which Wolfe so gallantly urged on by his personal example. A few years ago a rock was pointed out, as marking the spot where he actually breathed his lastj and in one of the enclosures nearer to the road is the well whcjce they brought him >;vater. It is mentioned in the statistical work of Colonel Bouchette, that one of the four meridian stones, iplaced in 1790 by Major Holland, then Surveyor General of (;!anada, "stood in the angle of a field redoubt where General AVolfe is said to have breathed his last." As he had been conveyed a short dis- tance to the rear after being struck with the fatal ball, it must be pre- sumed that this redoubt had been captured ; and that the grenadiers were pressing on, when he received his mortal wound. This is cor- roborated by a letter which we have met with, written after the battle by an officer of the 2Sth llogiment, serving at the time as a volunteer with the Louisbourg Grenadiers under Colonel Murray. He speaks of the redoubt in question as " a rising ground," and shows that Wolfe was ir. possession of it previously to his last wound : " Upon the genernl viewing the pos^itiou of the two armies, ho took notice of a small rising ground between our right and the enemy's left, which concealed their motions from us i'l that quarter, upon which the general did me the honor to detach me with a few grenadiers to take possession of that ground, and maintain it to the last extremity, which I did until both armies were; engaged, and then the general ca)ne to nic ; but that great, that ever memorable man, whose loss can never ))e enough regretted, was scarce a moment with mo till he reciMved his I'utal ^vound." Tlie placu is now, hov>^c\'cr, about to be marked to posterity by the erection of a jtcrmanciit meuiorial. Permission has been given to the writer of this account, to announce t'lo intention of His Excellency the Lord Aylmer to erect a small column on the spot where Welfe expired. This act of soldier-like generosity will 1)0 duly appreciated : :.'nd posterity will have at last amply red(!eined their long neglect, and wiped away a reproach ci' jnore than seventy years' duration. The ^Toi,ument in Quebec, common to Wolfe and jMontcalm — the stone plrced in the Ursuline Convent in honor of the latter — and the smaller column on the n:.. DEATH OF MONTCALM. 115 ch divides te to the ;vhich the s personal ^ the spot res nearer ncntioned r meridian general of 1 Wolfe is short dis- st be pre- ^renadicrs is is cor- battlo by itcer with IcH of the Ife was in il viewiiiL' g ground .' motions honor to )uud, and nies wor(! that ever s f.carcc a y hy tlu' en to the lency the expired, posterity d away a imeiit in i in the in on the Plains, dyed with the blood cf Wolfe, will form a complete series of testimonials— honorable to the spirit of the age, f.nd worthy of the distinguished individuals under whoso auspices they have been cxecnfed Thv» memorial on the Plains now bears the following inscription : .■s=>;'r<=»!;«-^-«»^=»?<, > IJ ERE DIE 1> AVOLFE : ^ !« \ 1 C J' O U I u .s . H B a ^' SiSeSSSSJ iO; iSil^S^^iS; SS IllcatI) of flloutcalm. A DEATH no less glorious closed the career of the brave Marquis de Montcalm, who commanded the French army. He was several years older than Wolfe, and had served his king with lienor and success in [taly, Germany and Bohemia. In the earlier campaigns of this war he had given signal proofs of zeal, consummate prudence aiid undaunted valor. At the capture of Oswego, he had with his own hand wrcsled a color from the hand of an English oili(.-er, and sent it to be hung up in the Cathedral of Quebec. lie had deprived the English of fort William Henry; and had defeated Geueial Abercrouiby at Ticonderdga (Carillon). He had even foiled Wolfe himself at Muutniui-eney ; and had erected lines which it was impossible to force. When, therefore, ho entered the Plains of Abraham at the head of a vi(?torious army, lie was in all respects an antao;onist worthv of the British general. The intelligence of the unexpected landing of Wolfe above the town was first conveyed to the Marquis de Vaudreuil, the Governor (jcneral, about day-break. By him it was communicated without delay to ,Mon(- ealm. Nothing could exceed the astonishment of the latter at tlu; intelligence; he refused at first to give credence to it, ubserving : " It is only Mr. Wolfe with a small party, come to burn a few houses, look ■y-.:M •4- '■ * From Haichlni'i Pi'tun: of Qnehcc. 116 BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. lii! [hr it about him aud return." On being informed, nowevcr, that Wolfe wa^3 at that moment in possession of the Plains of Abraham, — " Then," said ho, ^' ihcy have at last got to the weak side of this miserable garrison. Therefore we must endoavor to crush them by our numbers, and scalp ihem all before twelve o'clock." lie issued immediate orders to break up the camji, and led a considerable portion of tho army across the River St. Charles, in order to place them between the city and tho English. Yaudrcull, on quitting the lines at Beauport, gave orders to the rest of the troops to follow him. On his arrival at the Plaiu.-s, however, he met the French army in full flight towards the bridge of boats ; and learned that Montcalm had been dangerously wounded. In vain he attempted to rally them — the route was general — and all hopes of retrieving the day and of saving the honor of France were aban- doned. Montcalm was lirst wounded by a musket shot, fighting in the front rank of the French left, — and afterwards by a discharge from the only gun in the possession of the English. He was then on horseback, directing the retreat — nor did he dismount until he had taken every measure forthos. fety of the remains of his army. Such was the impetu- osity with whi(di the IlighluDders, supported by the 5Stli Ilegiment, pressed the rear of the fugitives — having thrown away their muskets and taken to their broad swords — that had the distance been greater from the field of battle to the walls, tho whole French army would inevitably have been destroyed. As it was, tho troops of the line had been almost cut to pieces, when their pursuers were forced to retire by the fire from the ramparts. Great numbers were killed in the retreat, which was made obliquely from the River St. Lawrence to tlie St- Charles. Some severe fighting took place in the field in front of tho Martello Tower, No. -. We are informed by an officer of the garrison, that, on digging there eome years ago, a number of skeletons were found with parts of soldiers' dress, military buttons, buckles, and other re- mains. It is reported of Montcalm, when his wounds were dressed, that he requested the surgeons in attendance to declare at once whether they were mortal. On being told that they wore so — " I am glad of it," said he. He then enquired how long ho might survive r* He was DEATH or MONTCALM. 117 olfe wan in," said ;'arrisoD. nd scalp to break ross the and tho rders to Plaiurt, ridge of od. In ill hopes e aban- 10 front he only rseback, in every impetu- giment, muskets greater J would iue had itire by retreat, the St. of the arrison, e found tlicr re- answered, •' Ten or twelve hour.s, perhaps les.s." '^ So much the better," replied he ; " then I shall not live to see the surrender of Quebec." On being afterwards visited by M. do Ramcsay, who commanded the garrison, with the title of Lieutenant du Roi, and by the Commandant (le Roussillou, he said to iliem : " Gentlemen, I commend to your keep- ing the honor of France. Endeavor to secure the retreat of my army to-night beyond Cape Rouge : for my.solf, I shall pass the night with God, and prepare m3'self for death." On M. de Ramesay pressing to receive his commands respecting the defence of Quebec, Montcalm ex- claimed with emotion : " I will neither give orders, nor interfere any further ; I have much business that must be attended to, of greater moment than your ruined garrison, and this wretched country. My time is very short — so pray leave me. I wish you all comfort, and to bo happily extricated from your present perplexities." lie then addressed himself to his religious duties, and passed the night with the bishop and his own confessor. Refore he died, he paid the victorious army this magnanimous compliment : " Since it was my misfortune to be discomfited and mortally wounded, it is a great consolation to me to be vanquished by so brave and generous an enemy. If I could survive this wound, I would engage to beat three times the number of such forces* as T commanded this morning, with a third of British troops." Almost his last act was to write a letter, recommending the French prisoners to the generosity of the victors. He died at five o'clock in the morning of the Itth September; and was buried in an excavation made by the bursting of a shell witbin the precincts of the Ursulinc ('onvent — a fit resting place for the remains of a m;in who died fighting for the honor and defence of his country. ^■^.:^'\ 'vr':; ' . ■ J that he ir they of it," lo was * Great jealousy existed in those days between the rog;ulars and ttie jiiilitia — the mili- tia was badly ftrmod, not having even bnyonctn. '\[ ».' \i 118 BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. ull|e Battle of Ste. 5ot), 2 7th and 28th Aphil, 1760. " Militiamen were seen to crouch on the ground to load their pieces ; rise up after the cannon shot passed oyer them, and dash forward to shoot the British gunners." I' The events of the 27th and 28th of April, 1760, in this country, afford us, if nothing else, :i subject uf reflection, concerning the manner in which the militia of Canada deported itself on the occasion. In the endless and bloody warfare which raged for so many years between the colonists of New England and those of New France, our mili- tia had previously established ils efficiency as an auxiliary to reg- ulars. In the defeat of Abercromby, at Carillon ; of Wolfe, on the Beauport Flats ; of Murray, at Ste. Foy, it had left its mark. Its onset was less fierce than that of the other auxiliaries in those days, the Red- skins. It was less handy than them at scalping, but more manageable, more docile, The New Eaglanders and British troops left this bloody work to the Iroquois, who, it must be confessed, grew very expert at it. The French enlisted, for the nonce, the services of the Ilurons, Abena- quis, Algonquins, &c. Occasionally the FiUropean soldiers ♦'-'cd their hand at it. Capt. John Knox, Wolfe's companion, and one who has never been charged with underrating British successes, relates in his journal that the British did a trifle in the scalping line on the 23rd of August, 1759, at St. Joachim, whose palish priest, with thirty followers, were '^scalped and killed," as Knox ingeniously states, " for having disguiseu themselves like Indians." Kuox does not say they were taken for In- dians. The grave charges of atrocities freely bandied round by English and French historians, against the rival commanders might be, in nine cases out of ten, traced to tbe savages they employed as auxiliaries. An Indian under the influence of intoxicating liquor is BATTLE OF STE. fOV lift 9 ; rise up tho British ry, afford mnner in In the between our raili- to reg- !, on the Its onsof the Red- nageabk*, s bloody >ert at it. i, Abena- ?cd their !ias never i journal August, srs, were iisguisea 1 for In- English t be, in oyed as iquor is more like a wild beast than a human being — ready, at tho first impulse of the demon lurking in his veins, to slaughter friend or foe. Scalp- irig, although a dangerous experiment, was not always followed by loss of life : a wcU-authcnticatcd instance is on record of a seal pod Mou- trcaler who lived fourteen years afterwards. IIo appears to liave been mostly as hardy as the celebrated St. Denis, who has the credit of having walked about Paris with his head in his hands after decapitation. There are so many accounts of the Ste. Foy battle, that it seems super- fluous to dwell at length on the subject. We have the story of eye-wit- nesses, such as Mante, Knox, Fraser t also of Chevalier Johnstone, a Scotchman, fighting in Canada for the cause of France. AVe also have Smith's account, not over-correct; and Garncau's narrative, probably the most complete, and collated from documents, many of which had never seen the light before. He computes the English force at 7,714, exclusive of officers. The French force were more numerous : there were amongst them ;j,000 Montreal and Three Rivers militia, and '^00 savages ; the Quebec district militia having been compelled by General Murray to swear allegiance to the English monarch during the preceding winter. As a set-off, the English general had twenty to twenty-two field pieces, and De L6vis had been able to bring through the slush of the Suede Swamp at Ste. Foy only three small pieces. The battle of the 28th lasted, according to General Murray, one hour and three-quarters. lie acknowledges, in his despatch of the 25th M:iy, 17G0, to Pitt, having lost one-third of his men, and the French 2,500 ; this would make some 1,000 corpses strewing the environs of the spot where the monument now stands. This ought to be a sufficient answer to those who fancy it was merely a skirmish. "We read in Garneau's history of Canada : " The s^.vages, who were nearly all in the wood behind during the fight, spread over the battle-field, when the French were pursuing the enemy, and felled many of the wounded British, whose scalps were after- wards found upon the neighbouring bushes. As soon as De Levis was apprised of this massacre, he took vigorous measures for putting a stop to it. Within a comparatively narrow space, nearly 2,500 men had been struck by bullets; the patches of snow and icy puddles on the ground were so reddened with the blood shed that the frozen ground refused to ■'f 120 BATTLJ:: FIELDS UF CANADA. absorb; and the wouuded suivivors of the battle, and of the savages, were immersed in pools of gore and filth ankle deep." — (J. M. L.) STE. FOY MONUMENT FESTIVAL. THE INAUGURATION TEREMONY, IOtH OcTOBER, I860. u I'i ti Our ancient city witnessed, on Monday, the rare apeetacle of a pul) lie festival. "Before entering upon our report of the proceedings, it in right that we should place in concise form before our readers some details of the battle in memory of which the Ste. Foy Monument was raised. The battle of Ste. Foy, sanguinary and fiercely contested, when we consider the number of men engaged, was fought upon the plains bordering the Ste. Foy road, on the 28th April, 1700, and the fiercest struggle took place on the very spot now occupied by the pillar. The circumstances under which it was fought were of a peculiar nature. It was the first and only action which was fought in the course of the De L6vis' bold attempt to take the Fortress City from the British. It was also the last victory won by French arms on Canadian soil. It must be admitted that the occasion was most auspicious for the Frencli, and the consumma- tion of their brightest hopes seemed at hand. Quebec was held in the winter of 1759-60 by a handful of British troops. The daring young soldier who had led them to victory was no more. They were three thousand miles from the mother country, and completely cut oflf from all jirospcct of aid or succour throughout the winter mouths. Reinforce- ments from England were out of the question until the spring of 1700 burst the icy bonds of the St. Lawrence. Reinforcements fro'u the then friendly Provinces of Boston and New York were equally impossible, * Abridged from Quebec Morniini niromch c savages, . L.) UATTLE OF STE. TOY 121 );3. 3 of a pub- riglit thai ;ails of the sed. The ^c consick-r Jcring the iggle took umstancos as the first j6vis' bold IS also the admitted onsumma- eld in the iui; vouuir r^crc three ff from all [leinforce- g of 17G0 fro'u the n possible, because of the dense forests, and the other ini]»as> right, along tlie skirts of the wood, till they would have got beyond th-' British front, aiid turn round their left flank. This mauoMivi'e, if sue- eossful, gave him both a good position and a chance for cutting off the corps of observation posted at the lied lliver outlet on the St. ]jawrenee ; but the stormy weather, and the dflicnlty of countermarching at that season with wearied men, prevented the operation being essayed with du(> celerity. Next day Murray, who liasteuod to the imperilled spot, had leisure to extricate his troops with the loss only of their baggage, &e. Becoming pressed in his own retreat, lu! took shelter in the church of 17 1 ,. . f,i 122 BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. Ste. Foy, which lie lircd as he left it; and he was finally able to re- I his i-cli to Quebec, k DcL ster of a field of batth sume uis niarcii lo i^ueuec, leaving ±;c Jjovis mast which he would otherwise have had much difficulty to conquer. " The French horsemen doiiged INFurray's retrograde steps, and skir- mished with his ri'ur-gnard as far as l^umont's mill. Murray posted a strong guard within the mill, witli orders to hold it (if attacked) till night. The French troops took lodging in the liouscs between tli. church and the mill. The rain fell, meanAvhile, in torrents, and the weather was frightful. " During the night the British left the mill, fell back on the Buttcs- :i-Neveu, and began to entrench themselves there. When the day broke, De Levis took po.ssession of the mill and the whole plain of Abraham as far as the flood, in order to cover the Ansc-du-h'oulon ("Wolfc'e Cove), whither the French vessels, laden with provisions, artillery and baggage, which had not effected their discharge at ►^t. Augustin, liad received orders to repair. "While this was effecting on the 28th, our army was to take repose, so as to be ready next day to assail the British at the Buttes, and drive them into the city, "No sooner, however, was Murray within the walls, than he deter- mined to make a sortie with all his troops; intending either to give bat tie if anoccasion presented, or else to fortify himself at the Buttcs-:i- Neveu, should Dc Levis' force appear to be too considerable to resist in open field ; for the report of a French cannoneer (who fell in while dis- embarking, was floated down the flood, and rescued by some ]]ritish sol diers on guard) left no further doubt io liis mind that the force so long spoken of had now arrived. He left the city in the morning of April 28, at the head of his whole garrison, the regulars in which, not includ ing officers, alone numbered 7714 combatants. Excepting some hun- dred sick in hospital, Murray left in the place only soldiers enough to mount guard, and, with a force from 0,000 to 7,000 strong, advanced in two columns, with 22 cannon. " Do Ldvis, who rode out, with his staff officers, far in advance of his men to reconnoitre the position of the British on the Buttes-ii-Neveu, no sooner perceived f.his forward movement than he sent orders to his main army to quicken its march towards the Plains of Abraham. Murray, seeing only the French van as yet, resolved to attack it before the sol- 15ATTL1; OF STE. I'OV 123 (liurj could tuko breath after tlioir march ; but ho had to deal with an adversary of mark, and cool teniperaiucnt withal. The former raugcd hi.s troops in advance of the IJuttes, his ri^ht resting on the hill (cotcau) of Saintc-Gcnevievc, and his left touching the cliff (/a^a/'sc) bordering the St. Lawrence; his entire line extended about six furlongs. Four regiments, under Colonel liurton, formed his right, placed astraddle {a. cheval) on the road of Ste, Foy. Four regiments^ and the Scotch Highlanders, under Colonel Fraser, forming the left, were similarly ranged on the road of St. Louis. Two battalions wore kept as a reserve: and besides these last, the right flank of the British army was covered by a corps of light infantry under Major Dalling ; the left flank by Cap- tain Ilui^zen's company of Hangers and 100 volunteers, led by Capt. Macdouald. All being arranged iu the form described. General Mur- ray gave orders to advance. " The French van, composed of six companies of grenadiers, set in battle order, part on the right, in a redoubt erected by the British, t .c year preceding, to the eastward of the Ansc-du-Foulou ; part on the left, in Dumont's mill, the miller's house, the tannery, and other buildings close by, on the road to Ste. Foy. The rest of the army, on learning what was toward, hastened its march, the men closing r.-inks as they came near ; but the three brigades were hardly formed, when the British bey,an the attack vigorously. " Murray felt the importance of getting hold of Dumont's mill, which covered the passage (issue J by which the I'rench were debouching, and he assailed it with superior numbers. lie hoped that, by overpowering the grenadiers who defended it, he should be able to fall afterwards upon the centre of the force still on its way, push them far off the line of oper- ation, and cut off the French right wing, hemmed in, as it were, on the road of St. Louis. "Levis, to prevent this design, withdrew his right to the entry of the wood which was in its rear, and caused the grenadiers to evacuate the mill, and fall back, in order to lessen the distance for the arriving bri- gades. At this turn, Bourlamaque was severally wounded by a cannon- shot, which also killed his horse. Ilis soldiers, left without orders, seeing the grenadiers hotly engaged and overmatched, simultaneously flew to their support, and formed in line just as the enemies bore down on . I '!, 'I J 124 JiATTLE FIELD?! 01-' CANADA. this point in mass with nil Lhoii- artillory ; tlicir lieUl-piccos and huwitzons, loiu.lcd with ball and i^rapo, plyinij; upon tiic spaco oi-cupiod by thlswinir, which staharles. !)(• Levis, nevertheless, might have been able to effect this object, but for an ordei' ill-delivered by an ofHcer whom he charged to (j,;ll upon the Queen's brigade to sustain the charge of the lloyal Roussillon brigade at the right ; and who, instead of causing it to execute the prescribed movement, thus made it take place behind the left wing. " The enemy left in their victors' hands their wlu)le artillery, ammu- nition, and the intrenching tools they brought with them, besides a por- tion of the wounded, 'i'heir loss was considerable ; ne.a'ly a fourth (d' their soldiers being killed or wounded. Had tb.e French been less fatigued than they were, and ass.iilcd the city without allowing the enemy •time to recover themselves, it would probably have fallen again under the domination of its former masters, says Knox ; for suoliwas the confusion that the JJritisli neglected to re-man the ramparts ; tlio sentinels wore absent from their posts when the fugitives sought shelter in the lower- t:>wu ; even the city gates stood open lor some time. ]>ut it was impossible to exact further service from the conquerors. They had to oppose to the lire of the enemy's 22 cannon, that of three small pieces, which they pain- iuUy dragged across the marsh of La Su6dc. They, too, experienced great loss, having been obliged to form rank and remain long immoveable under the enemy's fire. A brigadier, six colonels or majoi's ((Jirfs do, battaiUoit) and 07 other officers, with a savage chief, were killed or wounded. il '\:h\ 12«; BATTLi; FIELDS 01- CANADA. " Tlio nuiiibi'i's (it t ho two oontoudinji; arinics were uoarly co-cijual, lor Do Li'vis left sovoial ik'taclimont.s to protect liifi artillery, barj:;i'.s, and the bridge of Jacquc.; (.artier river, iu order to assure himself a wiiy uf retreat, in ease lie were worsted. The cavalry took no part in lli. action. *' The savages, who were nearly all in the wood behind during (lie tight, spread over tho vacated battle-iiold, when the French were pursu- ing the enemy, and felled many of the wounded ]]ritish, whose sculps were afterwards found upon tlie neighboring buslics. Aa soon a.s J)i' L(5vi.s was apprised of this massacre, he tjok vigorous measures for put ting a stop to it. Within a comparatively narrow space, nearly 2,500 men had been struck by bullets: the patches of snow and icy puddles on the ground were reddened with the bloodshed that the frozen grouml refused to absorb ; and tlie wounded survivors of the battle and of tlu' butclicry of the savages A/erc immersed in pools of gore and filth, ankle deep. " Tho transport of the wounded, which took up much time, fornnMl the concluding act of the sanguinary d)'ama performed this day. Tli.' wounded were borne to the (iencral Hospital, the distance to which wa;^ much increased by tlic deviations from the straight way to it tliat had to be made. ' It wants another kind of pen than mine,' wrote a rfli(/iciis< from the house of sufi'ering, ' to depict the horrors we have had to see and hear, during the twenty-four hours that tlic transit hither lasted, the cries of the dying and the lamentations of those interested iu their fjite. A .strength more than human is needful at such a tim ■. to save those en- gaged in tending such sufferers from sinking under their task. '* ' After having dressed more than 500 patients, phiced on beds ob- tained from the king's magazines, there still remained others unprovid'il with resting-places. Our granges and cattle-sheds were full of them. •'"' * * We had in our infirmaries 72 officers, of whom 33 died Amputations of legs and arms were going on everywhere. To add to our affliction, linen for dressing ran out, and wo were fain to have recourse to our sheets and chemises. ''' •■' -^ '■' '^ ^' " ' It was not with us now as after the first battle, when we co.ild havo recourse, for aid, to the /io.s;29iVa//'(!yT6" of Quebec "' * * the British having taken possession of their house, as well as those of the Ursulincs :tnd in uffir \Vt' i < the will piv IJATTLE OF STE. FOY. 1^1 y C()-i;(jii;il, ry, bar-i'.s, usclf a \v;i^ l»art ill the ilurilli;- I lie voi'c j)ur.su- loso .scaljis Hoon as J)i' res fur pul ally 2,5(10 puddles on ou grouml and of till' Itli, anklc- 10, loniiod Th lay. I lie wliicli wa.s liat had in rrliyiciifii to see and I, the cries r late. A those en- u bed.s o])- nprovidc'd . of them. 1 :]3 died, idd to our s recourse Jdhl have le British Ursulincs :ind private d\vcHint>s, for the rcceptiouof their wounded, who were even in ;.,'reater number than ours. There wer»« brought to us twenty Hritish iillicers, whotn their own peo])le haty, half decayed arms, accoutrements and buttons, bearing the arms or rogimental numbers of i'^rench and JJritish regiments, found in close proximity to those remains, told to whom they belonged. In 1850-54, an unusual number of these bleached fragments of humanity — sad memorials of a by-gone struggle — were found, and the St. Jean Baptists Society conceived the idea of having them all interred in one spot. They were accordingly collected, «o far as possible, and the Christian intention of the society was carried out on the 5th June, 1854, The ceremony is doubtless fresh in the minds of the great majority of our citizens. A splendid procession was organ- ized, and the national socitics, public bodies, troops, volunteers, &c., ■■'^ . i 128 BATTLE FIELD,? OF CANADA. il- ibilov/od a magailiccut I'uneral car, eontainiug the bones of the slaiii Frcuc i and English soldiers, to the French (jathedral, where a solemn Requiem was sung. The remains were thou conveyed in the same statr to the field on tlie 8te. Foy road, adjoining the mansion of the late Mr. Julien Chouinard, where the deatli-struggle had taken place between the 78th Highlanders, (Fraser's) and the French " (ircnadiersde la Heine," where they were deposited in a common grave. An elocjuent funeral oration was delivered by Col. Sir Etienne Pascal Tache. The project (»! an appropriate monument was started about the same time, and appearei) to meet with general approval. It was, however, the French Canadian national society which took the lead, as it had done on the previous oc- casion, and as it has done since. ArraLgements had progressed to sucli an extent that it was intended to laj'' the corner-stone of the monument on the 24th June, 1855, but it was thought desirable to postpone it until the 19th June following, when the presence of His Imperial Majesty'^'; corvette La Capn'cieuse in the harbor of Quebec added new solemnity to the occasion. A procession, exceeding in magnitude that of the pre- vious year, was organized; and the presence in its ranks of the British garrison of Quebec, and the crew of a French war vessel, was indicative of the cordial alliance then as uov»' existing between these two great powers, and formed an auspicious spectacle for their decendants in the new world. On that occasion, the Hon. P. J. O, Chauveau was the orator of the day. His speech was a most Jirilliant effort, worthy of his reputation as a public speaker, replete with brilliant imagery, couched in the mcst eloquent language, governed throughout uy sound judgment, and good taste. During the following year, the St. Jean l>aptiste So ciety labored earnestly and unceasingly for the purpose 'j' collecting subscriptions to complete the monument. Theirs was^ indeed, no ea-sv task, as may be well supposed, for the excitement of the thing had all passed away with the public display, and those who would have willingl) contributed before the laying of the corner-stone, took but little interest in it afterwards. Success was, however, attained, and in lour or live years the base wtiscrowned by the noble'pilhn' which now rears its fine ])t;> portions on tlie historic heighis of Ste. Foy. Without being invidious in the least, we may say that to Dr. I*. iM. IJardy belongs in a great degree the credit of this ^uecess ; indeed, his fellow members of the St. .Jeati BATTLE UE STE. TdY. 129 the slaiii a solemn same statr ! late Mr. ctween the la Reiuo," nt funeral project of I appeared Canadian cvious oc- "!'! to sucli monument lue it until Majesty's solemnity f the pro- British iudieatlvo two great !itg in tlio was till' hy of his touched iudgnieiit itisto Sii 3olIectinti no ca-^v ; had all willingly ! interest I' or live fine pro idious in it degree St. Jean Baptistc Society are the first to concede to him tlie merit of his exer- tions. Baron (jauldrce Boilleau, the Consul General oi' France in (Canada, obtained from His Highness Prince Napoleon the beautiful statue of Jkllona, which forms such an appropriate ornament on the summit of the monument. The memorial to the slain of 17()0 having been thus completed, the plan of an inauguration ccrcmouy was pro- jected, and was consummated yesterday in presence of If is Excellency the Governor General, Lord Monck, the garrison, the public bodies, the national societies, and at least twenty-five thousand persons, citizens of Quebec and residents of the adjacent villages. The Ste. Foy monument is decidedly the handsomest public monument we have in this city or its vicinity. Of bronzed metal, standing on a stone base, and surmounted by a bronze statue, it is a most prominent object in the landscape. The face of the pedestal fronting Ste. Foy road has the simple inscription, surrounded by a laurel wreath, ' Aux Biiavks in. 1760, Eiiusi par LA SocifiT^j St. Jean Bai'TIste de Quebec, 18<)0.'* Ou the face looking towards the city is the name ' Murray,' on an oval shield surmounted by the arms of (}reat Britain and Ireland, and supported by British insignia. On the other side is a shield bearing the name ' Levis,' surmounted by the arms of France under the Bourbons, the crown and lilies, with appropriate supporters at each side. Tn rear looking towards the valley, there is a representation of a wind-mill in bas-relief— in allusion, we suppose, to the wind-mill which was an object of alternate attack and defence to both armies on the occasion of the battle. This portion of the column also bears the national arms of Canada. The site of the monument is beautiful in the extreme. You reach it from the Ste. Foy toll-gate 'after five or six minutes' walk through an avenue bordered on either side by handsome villas, and fine gardens, and half shaded by over-arching trees. It stands on an open field on the brow of the cliff over-hanging the v-.'.ley of the St. Charles. As you turn towards the monumental pillar, you have before you the valley of the St. Charles, along which the populous suburbs of St. lloch and St. Sauveur are gradually making their way. Beyond the limit of W I < I ' • '(I * It has oeourroJ to many that tho inoription '• Erig^' par Ici' citoycns do Qufboo nouM l.avo been more appropriate, considering that many citizous, certainly not "Jeau 15 iptiHte^". subscribed liberally to tho Muuument fund, amonjjst others the Hon. rrancis Ilinck^ (!eo. B. Hymen. E.- ■ :. 'I I : i n * From Jrawkins's Picture of Quebec. j Piloted liy Captain IJouehcttf, the auoostor of our reelected town.--ineii, 11 S. M. lioiidictto, .To«ciih Bmiehotto, hlsqrs., Captain Jean Bouobettc, itc. 132 BATTLE FIELDS Of CANADA. unexpccterl, that, until the particulars were ascertained, the fears and superstitions of the inhabitants of the country parishes had amplo subject for employment and exaggeration. An expedition of a singular and daring character had been successfully prosecuted against Quebec from the New England StateS; by a route which was little known and generally considered impractic:d)lo. This expedition was headed by Colonel Arnold, an officer in the service of the Congress, who with two regiments, amounting to about eleven hundred men, left Boston about the middle of September, and undertook to penetrate through the wilderDCSs to Point Levi, by the means of the rivers Kennebec and Chauditlsre. The spirit of enterprise evinced in this bold design, and the patience, hardihood and perseverance of the new raised forces employed in the execution, will forever distinguisli this expedition in the history ol' offensive operations. A handful of men ascending the course of a rapid river, and conveying arms, ammuniticn, baggage, and provisions through an almost trackless wild — bent upon a most uncevtain purpose — can scarcely be considered, however, a regular operation of war. Tt was rather a desperate attempt, suited to the temper of the fearless men en£!;a!i;cd in it, the character of the times, and of the scenes which were about to be acted on the American continent. The project, however, o!' Arnold was by no means an original thought. It had been suggested by Governor Pownall, in his " Idea of the service of America," as early as the year 1758. He sayf5, — ''The people of Massachusetts, in the coun- ties of Hampshire, Worcester and Vork arc the best wood-hunters in America. * "*'• * I should think if about a hundred thorouuh wood- hunters, pvoperly officered, could be obtained in the County of York, a scout of such might make an attempt upon the settlements by way ol' Chaudierc river." On the ^2nd September, Arnold embarked on the Kennebec river iu two hundred batteaux ; and notwithstanding all natural impediments — the ascent of a rapid stream — interrupted by frequent j)or/tf^/(?s through thick woods and swamps — in spite of frequent accidents — the desertion of one-third of their number — they at length arrived at the head of the river Chaudierc, having crossed the ridge of laud which separates I lie waters falling into the St. Lawrence from (hose which run into the .- rlcss niei! hicli were owcver, o!' ^'gested by s early as the conn- luntcrs ill ugh wood if York, a by way ol' c river in limentfl — s through desertion }ad oT the irates tlio «) the .s(>a. They now reached Lake Megantic, and following the course of the Chaudierc river, their difficulties and privations, which had been so great as on one occasion to compel them to kill their dogs for sustenance, were speedily at an end. After passing thirty-two days in the wilder- ness, they arrived on the 4th November at the first settlement, called Sertigau, twcuty-five leagues from Quebec, where they obtained all kinds (if provisions. On the Oth, Colonel Arnold arrived at PointLcvi, where he remained t^^enty-fomr hours before it was known at Quebec; and wlience it was extremely fortunate that all the small craft and canoes had been removed by order of the officer commanding the garrison. On the I3th, hitc in the evening, they embarked in thirty-four canoes, and very early in the morning of tlie 1 kh, he succeeded in landing five hundred men at Wolfe's Cove, without being discovered, from the Lhard and Hunter, ships of war. The first operation was to take possession of what had been General Murray's house, on the Ste. Foy road, and of the Gen- eral Hospital. They also placed guards upon all the roads, in order to prevent the garrison from obtaining supplies from the country. The small force of Arnold prevented any attempt being made towards the reduction of the fortress, until after the arrival of Montgomery from Montreal, who took the command on the 1st December, and established his head-quarters at Holland Ilouse.'^' Arnold is said to have occupied the house near Scott's Bridge, lately inhabited by the Honorable Mr. Justice Kerr, (and since owned by Mr. Langlois.) The arrival of the governor ou the 19th November, had infused the best spirit among the inhabitants of Quebec. Ou the 1st December, the motley garrison amounted to eighteen hundred men, all, however, full of zeal in the cause of their king and country, and well supplied with provisions for eight montlis. They were under the immediate coniman i of Colonel Allan Maclean, of the 84th llegiment or Ivoyal Immigrants, composed principally of those of the gallant Fraser's Ilighlandov^, who had settled in Canada, STATEMENT OF THE OARRISGN, IST DECEMBER, ITTi) 70 Royal Fusileers, or 7th llegiment. 230 Eoyal Emigrants, or 84th llegiment. 22 lloyal Artillery. •f' Now nconpic'il liy Fred. Woods, F.'^q., umuogcr Bank of !!■ N- Amcfioa. 184 I3ATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. ^30 British Miilitia, under Lt. Col. Caldwell. 5-13 Canadians, under Colonel Dupre. 400 Seamen under Captains ITauiilton and Mackenzie. 50 Masters and ?''itts- o5 Marines. 120 Artificers. 1800 Total bearing arms. The .'-ioj^'e, or rather the blockade, was maintained during the whole month of December, although the incidents were few and of little interest. The Americans were established in every house near the walls, more particularly in the suburbs of St. lloch, near the Intendant's palace. Their riflemen, secure in their excellent cover, kept up an unremitting fire upon the British sentries, wherever they could obtain a glimpse of them. As the Intendant's palace was found to afford thoni a convenient shelter, fvom the cupola of which they constantly annoyed the sentries, a nine-pounder was brought to bear upon the building; and this onct) splendid and distinguished edifice was reduced to ruin, and has never been rebuilt. The enemy ilso thrcAV from thirty to forty shells every night into the city, which fortunately did little or no injury either to the lives or the property of the inhabitants. So accustonied did the latter become to the occunences of a siege, that at last they ceased to regard the bombardment with alarm. In the meantime, the fire from the garrison was maintained in a very eftectivo manner upon every point where the enemy were seen. On o)ie occasion, as Montgomery was reconnoiteriug near the town, the horse which drew his cariole was killed by a cannon shot. During this anxious ])criod the gentry and iiiliabitants of the city bore arms, and cheerfully performed the duties of soldiers. The British militia were conspicuous for zeal and loyalty, under the command ol" IMajor Tlenry Caldwell, who had the provincial rank of LieutenauL (yoloncl. Tie had served as Deputy Quartcrma.vter General with the army, under (!eneral A\^dfe, and had settled in the province after the conquest. The (Canadian militia, within the town, was commanded by Colonel Lc Comtc Dupro, an ofticer of [■;reat zeal and ability, who ren- dered jireat services durini;' the wlio1'> siccre. (Jeneral Montgomery, des])airiMg to reduce the place by a regular ARNOLD S EXPEDITION. 135 he whoK' of littlo the walls, tendant's pt up an I obtain a brd tlioni ' annoyed ing; and I'uin, and ■ to fortv QO iniurv customed last thoy time, tlu' or upon sion, a.s ch drew tlio city British nand of cutenanL vith the fter the nded by vho ren- regulav i^iege, resolved on u night attack, in the hope of titlior taking it by storm, or of linding the garrison unprepared at some point. \n this design he was encouraged by Arnold, whose local knowledge of Quebee was accurate, having been acquired in his frequent visits for the purpose of buying up Canadian horses. The intention of Montgomery soon became known to the garrison, and Oencral Carletou made every prepa- ration to prevent surprise, and to defeat tlio assault of the enemy, h'or several days, the governor, with the officers and gentlemen off duty, had taken up their quarters in the R6collet (!onvent, where they slept in their clotlies. At last, early in the morning of the '>lst December, and during a violent snow storm, Montgomery, at the head of the New York troops, advanced to the attack of tlie Lower Town, from its western c.vtremity, along a road between the base of ("Jape Diamond and (he river. Arnold, at the same time, advanced from the General Hospital liy way of St. Charles street. The two parties were to meet at the lower end of Mountain street, and when united were to force Prescott date. Two feint attacks in the meantime on the side towards the west, were to distract the attention of tlie garrison. Such is the outline of tills daring plan, the obstacles to the accomplishment of wliich do not .-oem to have entered into the contemplation of tlic American officers, who reckoned too much upon their own fortune and the weakness of the uarrisou. When, at the head of seven huudred men, .Montgomery had advanced a short distance beyond the spot where the inclined plane has since been constructed, he came to a narrow defile, with a precipice towards the river on the one side, and the scarped rock above him on the other. This place is known by the name of Pres-de-Ville. Here, all further approach to the Lower Town Avas intercepted, and commanded by a battery of three-pounders placed in a hanrjard to the south of the pass. The post was entrusted to a captain of Canadian militia, whose force lousisted of thirty Canadian and eight British militiamen, with nine I'ritish seamen to work the guns, as artillerymen, under Captain liarns- tarc, master of a transport, laid up in harbor during the winter. At day-break, some of the gu'.rd being on the lock out, discovered, through I he imperfect light, a body of troops in full march Irom Wolfe's i ove upon the post. The men had been under arms waiting with the utmost steadiness for the attack, which they had reason to expect, from ■ i i) 136 liATTLE FIELDS 01- OANADA. Ill li the reports ol'dcscrters; aud in pursuance of judicious tirriin^ements \vliii;li had been previously concerted, the enemy was allowed to approach un- molested within a small distance. They halted at about fifty yards I'roiu the barrier; and as the guard remained perfectly still, it was probably concluded that they were not on the alert. To ascertain this, an office r was seen to approach quite near to the barrier. After listening a moment or two, he returned to the body; and they instantly dashed forward at double quick time to the attack of the post. This was what, tlie gu?rd expected : the artillerymen stood by with lighted matches, and Captain Barnsfarc at the critical moment giving the word, the fire of the guns and musketry was directed with deadly precision against the head of the advancing column. The consequence was a precipitate retreat — the enemy was scattered in every direction — the groans of the wounded aud of the dying were heard, but nothing certain being known, the pass continued to be swept by the cannon and musketry for the space of ten minutes. The enemy having retired, thirteen bodies were found in the snow, and Montgomery's orderly sergeant desperately wounded, but yet alive, was brought into the guard room. On being asked if the general him- self had been killed, the sergeant evaded the question by replying that he had not seen him for some time, although ho could not but have known the fact. This faithful sergeant died in about an hour afterwards. It was not ascertained that the American general had been killed, until some hours afterwards, when General Carleton, being anxious to ascertain the truth, sent an aide-de-camp to the Seminary, to inquire if any of the American officers, then prisoners, would identify the body. A field officer of Arnold's division, who had been made prisoner near *Sault-au-Matelot barrier, consenting, accompanied the aide-de-camp to the Pres-de-Ville guard, and pointed It out among the other bodies, at the same time pronouncing, in accents of grief, a glov/ing eulogium of Montgomery's bravery and worth. Besides that of the general, the bodies of his two aides-de-camp were recognized among the slain. The defeat of Montgomery's force was complete. Colonel Campbell, the second in command, immediately relinquished the undertaking, and led back his men with the utmost precipitation. t *■ Sault-an-Matelot street, until 1S30, was tlio fashionable quarter of the city. The elite resided there. It was bad tasf^ to live in tho Upi)er Town. AIINOLD H EXPEDITION. 137 ioiitswliiuli iproacli uii- yards from IS probably s, an ofllccr listening a tly dashcJ s was what latches, and c lire of the it the head 3 retreat — wounded n, the pass pace of ten the .snow, 1 yet alive, neral hini- ilyinj^ that but have ifterwards. illcd, until mxious to inquire if the body. )0ner near le-canip to er bodies, ilogium of neral, the tho slain. Campbell, iking, and city. Tho The exact spot where the barrier was erected beJbrc which Mont, pioiucry fell, may be described as crossing the narrow road under tho mountain, immediately opposite to the west cud of a buildiug which stands on the south, and was formerly occupied by IMr. Kaccy as a brewery. It is now numbered 5S. At the time of the soige this; was* called the Potash. The battery extended to the south, and nearly to tho liver. An inscription commemorating the event might properly be placed upon the opposite rock. ^oon after the repulse of the enemy before the post at Pr6s-de-Villej information was given to the officer in command there, that Arnold's party, from the (Jencral Hospital, advancing along the St. Charles, had raptured tlic barrier at the 8iult-au-Matclot, and tliat ho intended an attack upon that of rr6s-dc-\'illc, by taking it in the rear. Immediate puparations were made for the defence of the post n inst such an attack, liy turning some of the guns of an inner barrier, no a from the old Custom tlouse, towards the town j and although tho intelligence proved false, — Arnold having been wounded and his division captured, — yet tho inci. dent deserves to be commemorated as affording a satisfactory contradic- tion to some accounts which have appeared in print, representing the guard at Pres-de-Villc as having been paralysed by fear, — the post and barrier " deserted," — and the fire which killed 3Iontgomcry merely " accidental." On the contrary, the circumstances which we have related, being authentic, proved that the conduct of tho Pros de-Villc guard was firm and collected in the hour of danger ; and that ])y their coolness and steadiness they mainly contributed to the safety of the city. Both Colonel Maclean and General Carleton rendered every justice to their meritorious behaviour on the occasion. In the meantime the attack by Arnold, on the north-eastern side of the Lower Town, was made with desperate resolution. It was, fortunately, equally unsuccessful, although the contest was more protracted ; and at one time the city was in no small danger. Arnold leYbich stood last year, whcro the uew Quebec Bank has since been built. ARNOLD .S EXrEDtTlON, 130 I Adjutant, 1 Quarfor-Ma.stcr, .^ ^ . „ , ^ iSut wouiuloM. 4 Volunteers, o50 liank and file, 44 Officers and soldiers, woundtMl. 42G Total surrendered. My the death of jMontj,'oniery the ccnimand devolved upon Arnold, who had received the rank of Ih-i^L^adicr General. In a letter, dated 14th January, 177G, l»c complains of the great difficulty he had in keop- '\n<^ his remaining troops together, .vo disheartened were they by tlu-ir iego now resumed its former character of a blockade, without any event of importance, until the month of March, when the enemy received reinforcements that increased their numbers to near two thousand men. In the beginning of April, Arnold took the command at Montreal, and was relieved before Quebec by Brigadier General Wooster. The Diockading army, which had all the winter remained at three miles distance from the city, now approached nearer the ramparts, and re-oitened their lire upon tlic I'ortiii- cations, with no better success than before. In the night of the :]ril M.iy, they made an unsuccessful attempt to dcstioy tlio ships of war and vessels laid up in the Cul-de-Sac, by sendin--; in a fire ship, with tlu^ intention of profiting by the confusion, and of making another attack upon the works by escalade. At this time they had reason to except that considerable reinforcements, which they had no means of jjrevcnt- ing from reaching the garrison, would shortly arrive from Knghnul ; and giving up all hope of success, they became impatient to return to their own country. A council of war was called on the 5tli, by General Thomas, who had succeeded AVoostcr j and it was determined to raise the siege at once, and to retire to Montreal. They immediately began their preparation, and in the course of the next forenoon broke up their camp, and commenced a precipitate retreat. In the means time the gallant Carleton and his intrepid garrison were rejoiced by the arrival, early in the morning of the Gth 3Iay, of the Surprise frigate, Captain Linzce, followed soon after by the Isis, of iifty guns, and Martin .sloop of war, with a reinforcement of troops and ■A 140 BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. supplies. Nothing;' couKl exceed the deliglit of the IJritlsh at this foasoii- able relief. After the toil and privation of a six months' seige, it may be imaiiined with whiit feelings the inhabitants beheld the frigate rounding Pointo Jii'vi, and how sincerely they welcomed her arrival in the basin. The /s/s was eoni'iianded by Captain, afterwards Admir.-ii, Sir Charles Douglas, IJaronet, i'ather of Major (ioneral Sir Howard Douglas, the late popular liieutenant Governor of New ]^runswiek. Captain Douglas had made uncommon exertions to force his ship through fields of ice, — having by skilful management and a press of sail carried lier, for the space of iifty leagues, through obstacles which would Im deterred an otficcr less animated by the zeal which the critical service which he was employed re([uired. The troops on board the vessels, con- sisting of two companies of the 'J9th llegiraeut, with a party of marines, amounting in all to two hundred men, were immediately landed, under the command of Ca^)tain Viscount J'etcrsham, afterwards General the Earl of Harrington. No soon had they arrived in tlic Upper Town, than General Carleton, who had learned the retreat of the enemy, determined to make s sortie and to harass their rear. lie accordingly marched out at the head of eight hundred men ; l)ut so rapid was the flight of the enemy, that a few shots only were exehanged, when they abandoned their stores, artillery, scaling ladders, leaving also their sick, of whom they had a great many, to the care of the British. The humanity with which they were treatcJ was afterwards commemorated by Chief flustice Marshall in his life of Washington. The conduct of Generaly Carleton throughout the siege was beyond all praise. He always wore the same countenance, and as his looks wen^ watched, his conduct infused courage into those of the inhabitants, who unused to a siege, sometimes gave way to despondency. Ho was, indeed, a man of true bravery, guided by discrimination, conduct and experience. During the attack of the 31st December, he had taken post at Preseott Gate, where he knew would be made the combined attack of Montgomery and Arnold, had they succeeded in passing the barrier at Pres-de-Ville and the Sault-au-Matelot. Here he took his stand, and there is every reason to believe that ho would have defended the post even to death. He had been heard to say, that he would never grace the triumph of the enemy, or survive the loss of the town. ARNOLD'S EXPEDITION. 141 lu.s pcasou- gc, it ma) iio frigate arrival in I Admiral, r ITowanl Iruiiswick. p througli lil carried QuId lia survico ' iscls, con f mariues, 3d, under ncral the own, tliaii cterraincd rchcd out ht of the ned tlieir lom they itli wliicli flustieo i beyond oks v/erv nts, wlio 11 was, uct and id taken onibined sinf^ the ook his lefended Id never The despatches announcing the retreat of the American forces from before Quebec were taken home by Colonel Caldwell, who received the usual present on the occasion. Ills iMajesty immediately bestowed the Knighthood o*" the IJath upon (Jeneral Carleton. 'i'he following extract from his deapatehcs to Jiord (ieorgo Cicrmaino, Secretary of State, shows his own sense of the general conduct of the ofiieers antl men under his command. Among the Canadian ollieers who particularly distin- guished thcniselves, were Culonel I)upr6, Major JOcuyer, and Captains Mouehettc, Lafovce and ('habot, oC tlu- marine. '' Thus," says (jlencral Carleton, ''ended our siege and blockade, during which the mixed garrison ol' soldiers, sailors, IJritish and (Canadian militia, with the artilicers, Irom Ilalil'ax and Newfoundland, showed great zeal and patience, under very severe duty, and uncommon vigilance, indispensable in a place liable to be stormed, besides great labor neces- sary to render such attempts less practicable. "' I cannot conclude this letter without doing justice to Lieutenant ('oloncl 3Iaclean, wdio has been indefatigably zealous in the king's service, and to his regiment, wherein ho has collected a number of ex- perienced good officers, who have boon very usel'ul. Colonel Hamilton captain of lUs Majesty's ship 'Li::ar'l, who commanded the battalion ol seamen, his officers and men, discharged their duty with great alacrit) and spirit. The same thing must bo acknowledged of the nuisters, in- ferior officers and seamen, belonging to His Majesty's transports, and merchantmen, detained here last fall : only one seaman deserted tlu; whole time. The malitia, IJritish and Canadian, behaved with a steadi- ness and resolution that could hardly have been expected (Vom men unused to arms. Judges, and other officers of government, as well as merchants, cheerfully submitted to every inconvenience to preserve the town: the whole, indeed, upon the occasion, showed a spirit and i)er- sevcrancc that do them great honor. "Major Caldwell, who commanded the ]>ritish militia all winter, as Lieutenant Colonel Commandant, and is bearer of those despatches to your Lordship, has proved himself a faithl'ul subject to His Majtjsty, and an active and diligent officer. Ho, and, indeed, almost every loyal subject are very considerable sufferers by the present hostile invasion." •• • :} 'f' .:.■'• 3 ''^f'!- '■ 142 BATTLE FIELDS OP CANADA. BattU of (DuefiistoU; ISia October, 1812. " Ox\ tlic moruin- of the lltli October, 1S12," says Chn'stt'e;- " tho Araericun forces were concentrated ut Lewistown opposite that place, with a view of making;; an attack upon the hitter; but through the neglect ur cowardice of the officer entrusted with preparing and con- ducting the boats to the place of embarkation, the attack miscarried. Early in the morning of the IBtli, their forces were again eoncentrn- tcd at Lewiston, and the troops embarked under cover of a battery oi' two eighteen and two six pounders. This movement being soon dis- covered, a brisk lire was opened upon them from the British shore b} the troops, and from three bitteries. The Americana commenced a cannonade to sweep the shore, but with little effect. The first di- vifiion, under Colonel \'an IJausalaer, effected their landing unob- served under the heights a littlo above (jueenstou, and, moantiiig ho ascent, attacked and carried an eighteen pounder battery, and dis lodged the light company of the 49th Eegimcnt, The enemy were in t'lc meantime pu'^hing over in boats, and notwithstanding the current and eddies, here rapid and numerous, and a tremendous discharge oi' artillery which shattered many of their boats, persevered with dauntless resolution, and ctFected a lauding close upon Queenston, where they were o]i])osed by the grenadiers of the 4!Uli llegiment and the "\'ork volunteer militia, with a determination verging upon desperation. The carnage became terrible. The l>ritish being overwhelmed with numbers, were compelled to retire sonic distance into a hollow. General Brock, who was ;it Niagara, a short distance below, having heard the cannonade, arriving at that moment, the grey of the moniing, witli his provinciiii aid-de-car::p, ]jt.-(^l. McDonnell, from that place, and having rallied the grenadiers of his lavorite 19th, was leading them on to the charge, when he received a mu,-kot ball in Ins breast, which almost imme- ■'■ Ilistiiill llf '^((lldll'l- V -I' BATTLE OF (^UEENSTON. 14 t> ^'^l die;'-' " tho that place, rough the ^ and con- miHcarricil, eoucentra- battcry ol' J soon dis I shore b} nicnccd a first di- ini; uuob- inoautiiii; , and dis were in currout jliarge oi' dauntless I ere thoy le "^'ork . Th- numbers, :il ]3roek. iiirionadc, )rovincial tilled tin- ehargc, t inmu'- I diately terminated liis existence. In the interim, tiie lip;ht company, supported by a party of the Yorkers, rallied, and reasoendcd to dislodge tho enemy from the heights. They formed and advanced to the charge, exposed to a smart fire, but finding the enemy posted behind trees, so that a charge could have little effect, they desisted, and separating, posted themselves in like manner, and kept up a sharp fire for some lime. Lieut. -Col. McDonnell, who had joined them -while forming for the charge, and was encouraging the men, received a ball in his back, IS his horse, which had been wounded, Avas in the act of wheeling. Tie •survived his wound but twent^^-four hcu.\'s, in the most excruciating ptiin. The Americans having effected their landing with an overwhelming force, the British were obliged to give way, and suspend the fight until tho arrival of reinforcements, leaving the Americans in possession of the heights. General Shcafie soon after came up with a reinforcement of three hundred men of the 41st Regiment, two companies of militia, and lWO liundrcd and fifty Indians. Rcinforcemciits Lavitig also arrived iVom Chippawa, the general collected his whole force, amounting to upwards of eight hundred men, and leaving two field pieces, with about thirty men under Lieutenant llolcroft of the Iloyal Artillery, in front of (^uceuston, as a check to prevent the enemy from occupying the village, jtrocccded by a ciicuitous rout(> to gain the rear of the heights upon which the enemy were posted. The Indians, being more alert than the troops, first surmounted the hill, and commenced tho attack, but were repulscid and fell back upon the main body, who ftirnied with celerity, and upon the worJ, advanced to the charge under a heavy shower of uiusketry. The ]]ritish set up a shout, accompanied with the war-whoop ot the Indians, and advanced at the double quick pace, when the Ameri- cans, struck with terror, gave way and fled in all directions, some con- cealing themselves in the bushes, others precipitating themselves down (he precipice and being either killed by the fall or drowned in the at- tempt to swim the rivor. A terrible slaughter ensued by the Indians,"'- whose vengeance it was impossible to restrain, until a white flag was observed ascending the hill Avith offers of an unconditional surrender, which were accepted. An armistice of three days was propose.! by the I Fi ' • I ./I '■ Shall wo al.-»o say, '• Ob ! tho Eii;^Ush and their ?avngc?. they were ficucli? I '■ 144 BATTLE I'lELDS 0¥ CANADA. :i ■' Ameiican tuid granted by tlic Britisli goucval, iu order to take care ol their wounded and bury their dead, on condition of destroying thtir batteaux, which was immediately complied with. One general ollicer (^\''adsworth), two lieutenant-colonels, five majors, a multitude ol' cap- tains and subalterns, with nine liundrcd men, one field piece, and a stand of colors, were the fruits of this important victory; the enemy having lest in killed, wounded, missing, and prisoners, upwards of fifteen hundred men. (leneral Van llansalacr, before the arrival of the rein- forcements from Niagara, under General Sheaft'e, finding the fate of tlic day still undetermined, his troops almost exhausted with fatigue, and falling short of ammunition, had returned to the American shore, to urge across reiuforcenicnts from the embodied militia ; but they, not- withstanding every menace and entreaty on his part, unanimously refused. In this dilemma, he wrote a note to General AVadsworth, who remained with the Americans on the (Juecnston heights, informing him of the situation of thing.s, and leaving the course to be pursued much to his own judgment, assuring him that if he thought best to retreat, he would send as many boats as he could command, and cover his reJreat by every fire he could make. But before the latter had time to resolve upon any mode of security or retreat, the spirited advance of the British had decided the fate of the day. " Thus ended, in their total discomfiture, the second attempt of the Americans to invade Upper Canada. The loss of the British is said to have been about twenty killed, including Indians, and between fifty and sixty wounded. The fall of General Brock, the idol of the army, and of the people of Upper Canada, was an irreparable loss, and cast a shade over the glory of this dear-bought victory. He was a native of Guern- sey, of an ancient reputable family, distinguished in the profession of arms. He had served for sumo years in Canada, and in some of the principal campaigns in Europe. He commamled a detachment of his favorite 49th Begiment, on the expedition to Copenhagen with Lord Nelson. Tic v\'as one of those men who seem born to influence mankind, and mark the age in which they live. As a soldier he was brave to ;i fault, and not less judicious than decisive in liis measures. The energy of his character was expressed in his robust and manly person. As a civil governor, he was firm, prudent and equitable. In fine, whether BATTLE OF JiEECJI WOODS. 145 care ot n uo liATTLE FIELD!* OF CANADA. ft was (»n Olio fine morning in 'Uily, 1813, tliat Colonel Boostler, of the r'iiif:e(l States army, sailed forth from I'^rt George, Miagara, with a foree of oOO pieked men in quest of Fitzgibbon's seouting party, and to lay them low. No doubt led by some of the tame ones ui' fortunately among us at that time, he pursued his course directly to the rendezvous of Fitzgibbon, and his allies in the Beech Woods, on arriving in an open field near the ^oods, commenced to prepare for action without the enemy in view j when after some straggling shots were fired from the woods, whereby the enemy felt and discovered its deadly effect without a possibility of making a defence against the foe. The brave and honijvable I'^itzgibbon, deprecating such a warfarr, issued orders for the firing to cease, which was partially done; still u desultory fire was kept up on the enemy, )Vhen Fitzgibbon, with a flng in hand, rushed from the ambuscade, and said to Colonel JJoestler that he would not be accountable for his ronimand if tliey did not surrender; which, after some consultation, Wiis agreed npon. 3Iajor J>elulii, coming up at this time with a reinforcement of Glen- gary men, disinissed the prisoners and escorted them to head quarters, (Jrimsby, where they were disposed of as prisoners of war— -being sent to Toronto. (Signed) CoJi. John Clark, Port Dalhousic. ull)c Battle of mi)atcauijuav), 2GTII OCTOBKIt, 181J. Tiiifs celebrated battle field I'urnishes us an opportunity for intro dueing to the reader's notice a L'anadian, who has deserved well from the British crown and from his fellow countrymen. We quote from Mr. Morgan's liioiirtiphiad Dktionarij, p. 197 to end: '' The family of De Salaberry is descended i'rom a noble family of the f'll BATTLE OP CIIATEAUOUAY, 147 oo.stler, of •a, with a ty, and tu )rtunatoly cndezvou.s zing iu an ithout ihu I from the 3t witliout :i warfari', e; still a tubuseado, blu for hi.s atioii, w;is of (jlcii- [1 quartcf.-;, ■being sent NARKj alhousic. y lor intro well from [iiote 1 Vol 11 nily of the l*ay,« dcs Iksques (Navarro). The father of the subject of this notice was a legislative councillor, and devotedly attached to his sovereign, so much so indeed, that he placed his lour sons in the army. The one hero noticed rose to groat distinction, as will be scon ; one of the others was killod at IJadajos, and the other two died in the East Indies, em- ployed in active warfare. "The Honorable Charles lMic''el d'lrumbeviy de Salaboriy, C. 13., Seigneur do Ohambly et de Beaulac, member of the Legislative ('ouncil, surnameu the Canadian Leonidas, was born at the Manor IToiise of JJeauport, November 10, 1778. Tfe married Demoisolle Ilertel de Ilou- villc, and continued, as is before stated, to serve in the Jinny, as well as his brothers. He served also, daring the spnc^ of eleven years, in the West Indies, under General Prescott. At the seige of fort Matilda, under I'rescott, and at the evrcuation thereof, ho commanded the gren- adier company of the 4th battalion, GOth Ilegimcnt, which covered the retreat with credit to themselves. In 1795, he served at the concjuest of Martinique; became aid-de-camp to Major-CJeneral de Rottenburg and accompanied him in the Walchercn expedition. Circumstances recalled him to this country, wlijre he, in a very short time, formed the V^oltigeurs, the organization of which reflected great honor upon him; lieutenant-colonel commanding and superintendent of this line corps, he was also selected as one of the chiefs of the staff of the militia. At- tacked at Lacolle, at the end of 1812, together with M. D'lOscham- bault's advance guard, by one thousand four hundred Americans of (Jencral Dearborn's army, he fought them until night; in attempting to surround him, they lired against each other, which soon terminated in their retreat ; thus resulted the first victory of De Salalierry and the Voltigeurs. Part of this corps participated in the defeat, no less luimi- liating to the American army, at Chrysler's Parm. Dearborn and Wil- kinson thus baffled in their project of invasion, there only remained Ceneral Hampton to contend with. i)c Salaberry, in proceeding to discover his whereabouts, obstructed the ro:id from Odeltown to L'Aca- dia, by cutting down a great many trees. After several skirmishes, the Americans, not daring to hazard a general action in the woods, retired t) a place called Pour Corners. His adversary made an incursion into his camp, at the head of liOO Voltigeurs and 150 Indian war- •f 'I 148 BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. riors of the tiibos ui' Lower Canada, tiud thvcw ihe enemy iuto disorder, without any loss on his own «ide. Hampton being repulsed on the Odcltown route, resolved wisely io cfl'ecL a junction with his chii!l general, in taking the route leading ttt Chateauguay, which he was approaching, believing the vnud to be op}M; but access thereto was everywhere prevented by being blockaded by field works. J^e Salaberry was too sagacious not to discover that this strategic point was the roaini an enemy whom he had on two former occasions brought to tlu; charge, advanced in front; and giving the signal, placed himself in tin; centre of the first line of defence, leaving the second in charge of IjieudMiant-Coloiifl Mc- Donnell, the same who had taken Ogdensbiirg. The firing <'o!:inicnced smartly on both sid(!s, but badly directed Ity the Americans. They Bred better afterwards ; meanwhile, the circumstance of hearing incessantly 150 IJATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. the report from the corps at difterent intervals, led them to believe that the Canadians were advancing in j^rcat numbers, and their ardor began to weaken. Purdy's column arrived at the Cord during the engagcniciit, but was repulsed and thrown into disorder by Do Salabcrry, who had directed his attention to that particular spot. Seeing his plan disoon oerted by the defeat of that division, the American commander ordered a retreat, which he eU'ected with considerable loss. Di; Salaberry «lept on the field of battle, and on the following day at daybreak, he was joined by (laptain de llouvillc, his brother-in-law, with his company (»!' Voltigeurs, the Watteville grenadiers, together with a few of the native warriors. On the 2yth, he sent Captain Dueharme, the hero of Beaver Dam, together with one hundred and fifty warrior,<, to reconnoitre, and they assured him that the American army had abandoned their camp on Piper's road, and had returne«l to Plattsburg. AVilkinson, who was at Cornwall, hearing of the defeat of his colleague, retired to Salmon river, and fortified himself. The victory at Chateauguay permitted the IJarori de llotteuburg, and afterwards Sir Gordon Drummcnd, his successor in command, to resume the offensive in Tpper Canada. (Jreat Britain commemorated the victory by causing a gold medal to be struck ; the Voltigeurs were presented with colors, ornamented with devices ; and De Salaberry, besides the gold medal, had the order of* the Bath con- ferred upon him, transmitted with an autogra[»li letter from his Royal Highness the Prince llcgent. The two houses of the provincial legis- lature passed a vote of thanks to him. The \'oltigeurs took part in the second victory, obtained at Lucolle, in I^larch, ISI 1. De Salaberry laid down the sword for the pen. Fie became a senator; being called to tlio Legislative Council in ISIS, at the same time as Monseigneur lMe.-;sis. He died at Chambly, on the 2Gth February, 18"i9, aged 51 jcars; and was buried in the new church of that place, wiiich v/as erected in tlif foom of the one destroyed by lire in ISOti. 'flie late commander, Niger, possesscv' his likeness, painted by Dickinson, and engraved by Durand. De Salaberry is represented attiret. in the uniform worn by tlu; Volti- geurs, decorated with the Chateauguay medal, and the cross of th(» Hath, with his sword under Isis arm. His family crivst is also seen. The escutcheon of our compatriot bears the motto beeonking to tin; par/aif chevalier : <' Fon-r. d siijxrhe ; mnci/ d falhlc.'" A medallion repre- i CATTLF OF CIIATEAKCUAY. 161 ievc that or began igomciit, who lind I (lis('i>ri- ni'dofc'il Yvy «Io})t , lie was Jipniiy (iT le native ' l^eavor itro, and camp (HI 10 was a I on river, le IJaron I'CcsHor in Britain uck ; tlio ecs ; atid lath eon- lis Royal ial leyis- irt in tin.' orry laid od to the Plessis, ars ; ami 'd in the r, \'i,nor, Durand u; V'ohi- lic liatli, n. The ptir/'aif \ repre- sonting a battle in the woods. On the trunk of a tree, reversed is writ- fen: " Chatean-nny, 'JOth October, lSl;{." A serpent bi(;n^' his tail, symbol of immortality, encircles the nietlal. With respect to the Eng- lish medal of (Miateau^uay, l^rltatinia is s<:en bearing; a palm in hand, crowning a lion lying at her feet. On the reverse is engraved Ciia- teauguay, De Salaberry would have become a great officer ol light troops, and even in the armies of ]iouaparto would certainly have attained the first rank." The Montreal ( >\i:.ct (r oi"-ird November, I8l;>, contains an interesting account of this battle, furnished by an eye-witness (Adjutant iMichacl ►Sullivan, afterwards /Judge Sullivan). The want of space permits us merely to clip the following extract : — " It is highly gratitying to add, that the ."KM) men engaged, together with their brave commander, were all Canadians, with th i exception of the gallant Captain I'^erguson, three of his company and three i>f1iccrs belonging toother corps. Let this be told wherever mentioti is made of the battle of (!!hatcauguay, and prejudice must hiile its head, atid the murmurs of malevolence will be liushed into confusion. '* To the oHicers and troops engaged on tb.is menioraliK* day the the highest credit is certainly due. (laptain Ferguson, of tin; Canadian liight Jnfantry, and the two Captains I)uchesnay, of the Voltigeurs, highly distinguished themselves in the command of their respective companies, and by their skill and coolness in executing several dillicult movements with as much precision as at a Held day. Nothing could exceed the gallantry of ('aptain Daly, of the militia flank brigade, who literally led his company into the midst of the cncaiy. Equally conspi- cuous for tlio spirit and bravery throughout this arduous contest were Captains Lamothe, of the Indian departnvent, Lieut, Pinguet, of the ('auadian Light Inl'antiy, Lieut, and Adjutant Tlcbdcn, of the \'oltigeurs, and liicut. Schiller, of Captain Daly's company, Lieut, (iuy and Ijieut. Wm. Johnson, of the V^oltigeurs, who formed their retiring picqucst in the line of defence, and behaved with great spirit during the engage- ment. Captain Kcuyer, of the Voltigeurs, and Lieut. Powell, of Captain Levesquc's company, deserve (rrcat credit for their exertions in securing the prisoners in the wood at an imminent risk. Captains Langtin and Ilunan of the Beauharnois militia behaved remarkably well. The former 152 BATTLE i'lELUrf Oi' CANADA. knelt down with hU men at tlu! boLiuniu^ of the actiou, jsaul a short prayer in iii.s own j^'ooil way, and told them that uow thaj hud done thcii dnitf fi> their God, ha (\vpccted thc>/ icoiud also do their duti/ to their Icinj. 'Hiouis Lanjj^hide, Noel Auuancc and Bartlet jjyon.s of the Fndian De- jiartnieut were in the action of the 'JGth and the affair of the liSth. Their conduct throughout was hij',hly meritorious. Nor shall I omit the names of privates Vincent, Pellctior, Vervais, Dubois and Carron of the Voltigcurs, some of whom actually swam across the river and made prisoners those who refused to surrender. "With respect to Lieut.-Ool. De Salaberry, the most selfish must admit that liis important services entitle him to the thanks and j^ratitude of Jiis country. " It io dillicult which to iidmire the more, his personal courage as an individual, or his skill and talents as a commander. We lind him loni; before the buttle displ )ing tiie greatest judgment in the choice of liis position, and strengthening it when chosen, witu every means within the reach of his ingenuity. We see him in the heat of action embracing every object with a comprehensive view, defending every point, and pro- viding for every contingency; but his merit and tluit of his little army become more conspicuous when we rellect upon the critical nature of the times at the eve of this splendid victory. Affairs in our sister province had assumed a gloomy aspect; despondency had already begun to spread its baneful effects. W^e had been even told from high authority, that 'the period was in all probability last approaching when it was to be Jina/h/ determined whether the arrogant expectations of the enemy were to be realized, by his successful invasion of thi.^ province, or whether he was to meet with defeat and disgrace in the attempt.' That period is now past; the friends of their country will look back to it with grat-jful recollection ; the face of things is changed. The enemy, to use a favorite phrase, did indeed 'pollute our soil;' but he was repulsed oy Canadians not the one-twentieth part of his force, led on by a Canadian com- mander."* * For this interesting extract, and other valuablo documents', I ain indoblcd to Lieut.- (.-(.1. tlio llun, Jiuhorcan Duchcsnay, L.C., whoso f';ither and uncle played such an honorable part in this engagement. — (J. M- L.) \^i REMINISCENCES — CLOSE OF THE 'VAR. 158 id H sliorr (lo»r their 'hrir Icuiij. Mui .\V Ui T5ATTLK FTK!.b>^ oF rANAT)A. Caiiad.'i roM' a- -oik man in (lotbiici: dl' tlicir rij:,ht8, and in .suppoit (tf the (lon.stitiilioii of Hrituiu, his hamls wouM havo been m if tied, bein^' without the aid of Ikiti.sh troopt^, who were ueaily all engaged at this rime in the European war." The following rosolutioii.s were projiosed by the lion. Mr. Morritt in the House of Assembly, on Weduesday, September Sth, lsr)2: — "That an humble Address be presented to Her I\Iajesty, represent inu the disappointment of many of the iidiabitnnts of this provinee, when they discovered that the hardest fought battles in Canada were not in- 1 laded in the General Order of the first of June, 1817, which awarded medals for certain actions. "That the said General Order confined the distribution of medals tt» those actions only where the general or superior officers of the several armies or corps engaged had already received that distinction ; cunse- (juently, many of the battles of this country do not come under the rule thus laid down ; and this House has reason to believe it will not be de- parted IVom in behalf of the Canadian IMilitia, without a strong repre- sentation from this House. '• That Her Majesty's attention be accordingly called to the dis- tinguished services of the (Canadian Militia during the late war with tlie i'nited States, with the view of removing the inviduous distinctions caused by the distribution of these medals — the Canadian Militia having acquired, in common with the]>ritish troops, a reputation for loyalty and gallantry of which their posterity may feel justly proud. '•That Her Majesty be therefore prayed to confer a similar medal to that awaided i'ov the battles of Detroit, of Chrysler's Farm and Chateau- guay, on the now few survivors who successfully defended their country in the various other battles fought during the war, "That His Majesty King George tlie Thiid ordered that the word ' Nia(;aiia' should be inscribed on the colors of the Glengary J.ight [nfautry and the incovporatcd miliiia of Canada, i\n' their gallant conduct on that frontier; and if they deserved such marked distinction, they 'iurely deserve a medal to coni'iicmoratc it." REMINlSCENCEf? — CLOSE OF TIIK WAR. ir,5 )i t of the (1 at this ilorritt ill ri'rionlint; ICC, whoM e not in- i awai'dcil iiiedals to 10 several II ; conse- r tlio rul«' lot be do- ng rcj»ro- tlic di.s- with till' stiuotions ;ia having •yalty and modal to (Jhatrau- i' country An Addrc88, embodying tlic foregoing resolutions, was accordingly jirescnted and read, when the Hon. Mr. Matliioson said ho had much jdcasurc in seconding this Address, and lio sincerely hojiod that tin- Imperial Government, at this late period, would acknowledge the scrvice^» rendered by the Militia, by granting some allowance to the very few re- maining otiicers of tlie war of IS 12. These men shared the tiaiigors and privations of that period. IFe had no pecuniary inhsrest in this Aildnss, as ho then belonged to the regular army, and still enjoyed half-pay ; but when he remombeied that these men left their farms and profession to defend the country against foreign agression, and risk thcur lives to continue the connection with the mother country, lie did liope they would merit consideration and liave some remuneration made to them. When he remembered that the population of I'pper CJanada in \x\'Jl was only between 70,000 and 7.3,000 souls, ol' which there were ab^, and were con- ten tctl. (Signed) A Lincoln Militia Fla.nkkk of ISI-'. the word iry J.ight it conduct ion, thi'V 15« UATTI.I'] FIELDH OF CANADA. Battle o: (jll)ippauia,' July, 1814. " The camprJi^n of ISM was opened on the Niagara frontier by Gea. Brown of tlie Anierio.au annv, who crossed from Black Rock to Fort Erie, July .'ird, with twit division.s of his army, computed at not le.«H than 500U men. After driving in a picket of the j/arrison of Fort Erie, and that fort being in a defenceless .state, both from tlic nature of the fortification and smallness of its jrarrison, under Major Buck of the King's, it ^as at once surrendered General .llyaH's despatch to General l)rummond,of July, '81 ". states: " I was made acquainted with the lauding of the American army at Fort Erie, on the morning of the Mrd instant, at S o'clock, aiid orders were given lor thi; inuutidiuto advance on ('hippawa of five comjctnies of the Iloyal .Scots, under G 'iioral (iordon, to reinforce the garrison ol' that place. " Colonel Pearson had moved ftjrward from thence wi . tlu^ light company of the 100th ilegiment, some militia and Indians. " The I'oUowing morning, a bodv ol" Mie enemy's troops were reported to be advaju-ing by the river. '' I moved to reconnoitre, and fui,.i(l them in a considerable forci with cavalry, artillery and riilemen. " Having been joined by the King's on the inurning (»!' tliii '"tth, 1 made my dispositions ibr an attack at 4 o'clock in the alternoon. " The light companies of the Iloyal 8cots and 100th Regiment, with the 2nd Lincoln Militia, under (^olonel Tliomas Dickson, formed the advance, under Colonel Pearson. ** The Indian warriors were posted on our right flank, in the woodi ; the troops ijioved in three columns, the King's regiment being in ad van CO. " The enemy had taken up a position with his right resting on some building.s and orchards, close on tha Niagara river, and strongly sup- * Coventry M!inuscriiit.«. f^^ CATTLE OF CIIIPPAWA. 157 ir by Gen., k to Fort t not IcsH that fort ivtiticatiou , it nas ill I '.states: 1 army at iul orders iijcitiies of iirrison ol' tlu! lipiit -' reported \)\ii f'nrec li(^ Sth, I lent, with irnuMl the 10 wood J ; nv: in ad- on SUUK! n-ly ,su})- ported by hi.s artillery; bin left towardd the woods, haviuu; a considerable number of riflemen and Indians in front of it. " Our militia and Indians were shortly engaged with them. " The euemy'.s riflemen and Indians ut lirst chocked their advance, but the light troops being brought to their support, they succeeded, after a short contest, in destroying them in handsome style. " I immediately moved up the King's Kcgimcnt to the right, when the Ro3'al Scots and lOOth were directed to charge the enemy, and they advanced in the most gallant manner under a destruetivc Are. '' \ am sorry to say, however, that in this attempt they sufiVred st> severely, 1 was obliged to withdraw them, linding their I'urtiicr efl'orts against the superior numbers of the enemy would be unavailing. " Colonel (iordon of the Royal Scots, and most of tlic oflicers of the 100th, were wounded. " r directed a retreat to be made upon Chippawa, which was conducted with great order and regularity, covered by the King's uiidi'r 31aj. Kvans, and the light troop under Colonel iN^arson, and \ havi^ the pleasure ul' saying not a single prisoner fell into tli(5 hands of our eiiomy, excepting those disabled from wounds. " Some of the prisoners taken report the enemy's lorci.' to have been G,000, with a numerous train of artillery; our force, ii» rogdiar troops, not more than l,r)0O, exclusive of tin; militia and Indians, of which last description there was not above oOO. "Our forces retired to Fort (Jeorgc, and General Urowii cro-s-sed the Chippawa and advanced to i^iieenston, where he remained without striking a blow, from the 8th to the 23rd "July, unless an occasional de- monstration before Fort Ceorge and the unprovoked conflagration cf the village of St. David's. "The gallant General llyall, on learning that General Hrown had retreated across the Chippawa, immediately pushed forward his forces to Lundy's Lane, being reinforced by the 10;}rd llegimcnt, under Colonel Scott, within two and a half miles of the enenjy's pi»,-«ition, and tlnn-e await to be reinforced by General Drumnumd. " In the battle of (.^hippawa, Captains J ihu Howe and battle mI' jilacc lit- flio next uuinoud's 800 men 1 pnsitiou, .so very 1^' \y of the Iji'averv, ii.' by the ies of the ereby tht; our ^uns, wadding', few yards the dark- es u the I, but two (' had had ck— there M' itiieiii) were employed iu bringing up thciir whole foree, ami shortly after renewed the attack with fresh troopt;, but were repulsed with equal gallantry and success. The enemy's efforts to carry the hill were determined, and continued till about midnight, wlicn, findinu; that he had sutTered severely from the superior discipline and steadiness of J I is Majesty's troojis, lie gave up the contest, and retired with great precipitation to his camp beyond the (!!bippawa. On the following day the Americans burnt the bridge, water mill, and also the bridge at the mouth of tlie Chippawa, ali.iiidoiiing their camp, throwing tlie greater part of their baggage, ("inqi c((uipage and jiovi- -■iions into the rapids of the Niagara, and retreated in great disorder by the river roud towards Fort Erie, Our light troops, cavalry and Indian allies, wrw sent in pursuit to harrass the retreat, which was continued until the cnnny icichcd their own shores. The loss sustained by the encniy in this severe; action was about 1500 men, including several hundred prisoners. Their two principal comman- ders, Scott and IJrown, were wounded. The number of trooj)s under General l>rummoiid, lor the first three hours, did not exceed IGOO, and the addition during the action of the lOJJrd regiment did not increase it beyond 280(1 men of every descrip- tions, including militia and Indians. Of the battles that were fought during the war, none ean eomparo with that of Lundy's Lane for the obstinacy aial courage exhibited on both sides. At Chippawa, the contest was decided principally by musketry, but it was at Lundy's Jjane the Americans lirst crossed bayonets with Ih'itish troops, and the issue of that contest taught them, what-'ver tlu'ir nioral courage, their physical inferiority to British disciplined troops. If any army was ever fairly beaten by another, tlu; batth; of Luiidy's Lane furnishes such an instance, if remaining in possession of the Held of battle, whilst the enemy retreats precipitately, is to lie eonsid(u'ed a proof of victory. The writer was made a Dvisoner during the night of the engagement, but regaiiuHl the British lines by finding his way through the enemy's nmsses belbre they retreated. >-f '1 160 BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. SicQc of fort (^rie, 181^. 1: ]■(.' Hi Geneual Drummonu's despatch to His Excellency the Governor General, Sir Geo. Prevost, dated Camp before Fort Erie, August 15th, IS 14, contains the followinj.', : — Having reason to believe that a sufficient inipres&i. .: had been pro- duced on the works betbro Fort Eric, by the firing of the battery T open cd on the morning of the 14th inst., and by which the stooe buildings were much injured and tlic outside of the parapets and embrasures much shattered, T determined on assaulting the place, and accordingly made the necessary arrangements for attacking by a heavy - ulunm, dircctcij to the entrenchments on the side of Snake Hill, and by two columns to advance from the battery to assault the fort and intrenchments on this side. The tioops destined tu attack by Snake Hill marched at five o'clock yesterday afternoon, in order to gain the vicinity of that place of attack in sufficient time. It is with the deej)est rogiet I have to report the failure of both at- tacks, which were nrde two hours before daylight this morning. A copy of Col. Fischer's report is licrewith enclosed, which will en- able Your Excellency to form a pretty correct judgment of the cause of the failure of his attack. Had the head of the column, which entered the place without difficulty, been supported, the enemy must liave fled Crom their works, whicli were all taken, as contemplated in the iustruc- tions, or have surrendered. The attack on the fort and entrenchments leading from it to the lake, was made at the same moment by two coluiuu^', one under Col. Drum- mond of the 104th Regiment, consisting of the fl-ink companies of the list and 104th, and a body of seamen under Capt, Pobbs, of the Royal Navy; the other under Col. Scott of the lOord Regiment, and two com- panies of the Royals. These coluriins advanced to the attack as soon as the fire from Colonel Fischer's column was heard, and succeeded, after a desperate resistance, in making a lodgement in the fort through the embrasures of the bastion, i Governor ust 15th, )ecn pro- y 1 opcu buildings res much itily made , (liroctoil lumns to ts on tliis jc o'clock of attack f both at- 1 will en- cause ui' ■iitcrcd lave fled iu.struc- thc lake, Druni- s of the le Royal two coui- Colonel si stance, bastion, SIEGE OF FORT ERIE. IGl and captured the guns, which they had actually turned against the enemy, who still maintained the stone building, when, most unfortu- nately, some ammunition which had been placed under the platform caught fire from the firing of the guns in the rear, and a most tremen- duous explosion followed, by which almost all the troops that hud enter- ed the place were dreadfully mangled. Panic instantly communicated to the troops, who could not be per- suaded that the explosion was accidental, and the enemy at the sani • time pushing forward and commencing a heavy fire of musketry, the fort was abandoned, and our forces retreated towards the battery. I immediately pushed forward the first battalion of Royals to su[)[)or( and cover the retreat, a service which that valuable corps executed wiih perfect steadiness. Our loss has been severe in killed and wounded ; and, I regret to say, all those returned " missing" )nay be considered wounded or killed by the explosion, and left in the hands of the enemy. The failure of these most important attacks had been occasioned by circumstances which may be considered as almosi: justifying the mo- mentary panic they produced, and which introduced a degree of confusion in the extreme darkness of the night that the utmost elforts of Ihe olii cers were inefficient in removing. The officers appear to have behaved with the most perfect coolness and bravery, nor could anything exceed the steadiness and good order when the advance of Col. Fischer's brigade was made, until emerging from a thick cover, it found itself stopped suddenly l)y an al^atti^ and within a heavy fire of musketry and guns behind a lorn; ...ble entrencli- ment. With reo-ard to the centre and left columns under Colonels Scott and Drummond, the determined gallantry of both officers and men, until tlw unfortunate explosion took place, could not bo surpassed. i\A. Scott and Colonel Drummond were unfortunately l.'lley the enemy's lire or the explosion. The result of the attack on Fort Erie wms even more disastrous in its -oiisequences to the British, iIumi had hcou the atliiek on Toronto t.. the AnuM'icanH. hi this atVair '.KM) meti were killrd ;ind \V(Uindr.l .oi Ww I'.ritish side ; r 'W .< I r 162 CATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA. and so severe was the blow that had a less e;?ergetic commander than Drummond been in Upper Canada, or hnd a more able than General Brown commanded the Americans, the issue miglit have been of a most disas- trous character. As it was, whether from Brown's wounds or incapacity, the blow was not followed up, and sufticiont time w:is aflorded to (ien. Drummond to recover from the loss he had sustained. (Siy-iHid) A TiTxroLN Klavkeu of JSrj. (ill)c (Uapturc of fort NiaQ.ua BY ONE WHO SERVED IX 1814. This ibrt was one of much importance to the Americans in the war of 1812 ; as, standing on the right bank of the river where it falls into Ijake Ontario, it commanded the entrance to the river, and served as a depot to supply tlie army. It was very strong for a fort in that part of the country ; for, its niceinte, besides being of regular construction, and mounting many guns, including three stone towers at the west, south-west, and south angles of the fort, in addition to a long and strong stone barrack on the north face, — the whole having flat roofs, mounted with cannon. It was accordingly, in December, 1814, determined to attempt its capture, and the attempt was made on the night of the IDth of that month. 'I'he force destined for that purpose was composed of the lOOth re^t., the Grenadier company of the 1st, the flank companies of the 41st, and some artillerymen ; the whole under comiaand of Colonel Murray, of the 100th, — a better man than whom could not have been chosen. IJateaux having been secrctely conveyed overland from Burlington to a point about four miles up the British side of the river, the troops silently left their cantonments about 10 o'clock at night, concealed (heir march under cdvor ol tlic iidjaceiit wnod, ('nd);irk<'d witinnit noisf, and del" than al Brown ost disas- blow was nnond to l.Sll>. CAl'TriiK OK ruilT NiAtJAUA. inn lie war of 'alls into 'vcd as a ; for, its ,ny guns, [luglos of ic north einpt its 1 of that th ro.^t., Ust, and array, of ;n. irlington le troops led (hi'ir >is(i, and landed iindisfovcrca on the opposite side, wlionco tlioy descended eautiously towards tlie fort. There lay, between them and their de.stination, a small hamlet, called (^if 1 recollect aright) Yoingston, about two miles, or sommvliat let:-^ from tlie fort, to which it served as an outpost, where it was known lay a detachment from the garrison. It was necessary to surprise it, without alarming the ibrt. A chosen body was therefore sent in advance, while tli(^ main l»udy Ibllowed at a conveiuent distance. AVhen arrived near it, some of the former crept up stealthily to a window and pee})ed in. They saw a party of ulheers at cards. " What aiv frumps r" asked one of them. " Jiayonets are trumj)sl" answered one of the peepers, breaking in the window and entering with his companions, while the remainder of the detachment rapidly surrounded the house, rushed into it, and bayouettod the whole of its inmates, that none might escape to alarm the fort. Not a shot was lired on either side; American sentries having retired from their posts into the building, to shelter themselves from the cold there was no time for resistance. The assailants performed their work of human destruction in grim silence, — a lamentable but necessary act. llesuming their march, they drew near the fort; not a word is spoken ; the muskets are carried squarely, that the bayonets may not clash ; the ice crackles audibly under their tread, but the sound is ])orne to their ear on the continuous gusts of a north-east wind — when lo I the charger of Colonel Hamilton (which, having lost a log in Holland, could not march and would not stay behind) neighs loudly, and is answered by a horse in a stable not far from the front gate. What a moment ! The force instantly halts, expecting to hear tlio alarm suddenly given — the sound of drums and bugle, and oi' the garrison rushing to their posts. But all remains quiet. The sentries, crouching in their boxes, take the neigh of the charger for that of some horse strayed from its farm house or from the neighboring hamlet ; they feel no inclination — leaving their shelter — to explore, shiveringlyj the thick darkness of a aiQOtjless wintry night. r';' V\[ UATl'LE l'Ii:i.l>;> OF (.'ANAKA. It cjiii 1)0 iiolhiii^'. The approaching Ibrcc, drawing' rreci breath, puts itseU' ill n:otion, tluilUcs hastily auil .siloutly iorward, aud the crisis is near The " ii^jlurn hope" is cDimiiaiiclcil by Jiicut. Dawson, ami led by Sci\i:;c'ant Andrew Spearman. U halts at about tlie distance of twenty-live yard.s from the '^nU' I'vcr whicli the scr,';eant (a tall, stalwart man) strides, and, straiiLiie to ,-ay, linds tin; wicket open I The sentry, hearing some one approaeh, issues IVoni liis box, protrudes the upper part ol' his body through the doorway, and asks : " Who eomes I here?" SpciiUKiii, imitating the m ' ' 'ig of the Americans, answers: '• 1 guess, Mr., [ come from Vo;;n:..-i, "," (juietly introducing, at the same time, his left shoulder through the h/ 'opened wiekct. The sentry stares at bim — jierceives, by hi.? aecoutrcments and by his .ictiiin, that he is an inemy — turns rouiul and runs inwards, exclaiming : " The l>rit — I " ]{•: says no mi>re : S[>carmau's bayonet is in bis side ! The sergeant reluiiis and calls, in a subdued tone, the *' i'orhtrn hope," which swiftly outers, Ibllowod by tlic column. The light company ol' I he HtOtli makes a rapiy uttered a terrific yell, which roused the sleeping garrison and occasioned some resistance. A cannon, turned iuv.'ards, was lired from the roof of the south-western tower, I'dllowcd by a slight ]>attering of musketry. To prevent repetition of the fi.rmor, I/ieut. Xolan, of the 100th, a man of great personal strength and ardent courage, rushed into the lower part of the tower, regardless of what ibes he might liiid there, aud by wliat frieuds he might be f dlowed. In est morning his body was I'ound, the breast pierced by a deep bay- onet wound, at the bottom of which were a musket ball aud three buck- shot. l>ut he had not died unavnu-cd. *l CAI'TUKK «.!•' rOllT NlAdAUA. 16. Olio Aint'iUMii l;iy at his loot, whom ho killod hy a iii>tol hhot ; while tho clovon .'^kulls of two others attcstod his trcmeiiJous strciij;;th ol" arm and dosporato vahir. Somo of his laou, ho'vcvor, had soon liiiii jiluiij^o into Hu- darkness, t'olKiwcd hiui, aud althouL^h too hitc to savo him, had taken tho tower, >h»yinj; tho del'endors to a man. This rosistanoo exasperated our men, who rushed wiMly ahout into every buihlin<^', bayonettiii^' every Amerieaii (hey met. The carnaj;e, indeed, would liave amounted to exterminatiitii, if the IJritish olHcorji had not zealously exerted themselves in the eausc of tiierey. liieut. Murray, ol' the IdOth, particularly distinuuishe, with such uuoxpooted i'ueility as i^av; li. io a re[iort that treason had oontributcd to its capture. Indeed, it was said that its eommaudcr, Capt. lioonard, had i u lyed it by j^ivini;' to the British general on that part of the frontier the necessary infornuitiou and instructions aud the eountersigu, by moans of which countersign, and not in the manner above stated, Spearman, it was said, had obtained admission. t'ertain it is, that Jiconard, on the night of the assault, hail left tho lort and slept at his farm about four miles distant, and that next morn- ing, he rode into the fort in apparent ignorance of its capture, — an ignorance not easily reconciloable with the tiring, ospooially of the cannon, on the preceding night. The short contest cost the British (he gallant Nolan and five men killed, aud two oflicers and three men wounded. The Americans lost 05 men and two officers killed and twelve men wounded. In the fort were found several pieces of ordnance, of which twenty- seven were mounted on the works, besides small ariU'^, anjmunition, clothing and commissariat stores in abundance. ifir; HATTLK FIELDS OK CANAltA. It \v;i.s known tli.-it :i hw^o sum in spcc-io was in the fort ut tlio. time ol' the assault ; but, when matters had somewhat cahncd down, and exami- nation of the eaptured stores was Ibrmally made, no specie was to be Ibund ! It was said in a whisper, which indiuuiilion al'tcrwards swelled itito bttlil and loud assertion, that after the resistance had been subdued, three officers of the 100th had made their way into tlie maj^azine, where the specie lay in kcjj;s, ^ot it rolled out of the building and of the fort down to the water's, edge, had it put on board a bateau and conveyed to the opposite shore, \vhcre it was conveyed inland and secreted in a friend's liousc, saying to the men employed tliat it was amnuiuition. The meu, however, were not so credulous as to believe that, at such a moment, officers, detaching themselves from the force to which they belonged, would secure ammunition that would not lit the IJritisli musket. It was ever afterwards coulidcutly believed that those officers had embezzled tlie specie : ar imputation that their increased expenditure seemed in some degree to justify. No iuijuiry, liowever, was made (which led to further suspicions), and the prize money, which had been expected to be large, was disappoint- ingly small. The next morning, the ground within tha fort was strewed with arms rr.d elotliing, and with pieces ul harness that had been stored for the American artillery. A rifle was to be had for a trifle, and a greatcoat for little or nothing. As to the pieces of leather, two utilitarian officers of the 100th had it carried into their rooms, where they set some saddlers to work, and made them manufacture sets of harness, which they sold to Canadian farmers at a very handsome profit. On the departure of the snow, the fort assumed a new appearance, our bricklayers facing the ramparts, within and without, with sods of the size of bricks, giving them a very neat and regular aspect, which brightened when the ensuing spring covered with verdure. Lieutenant Dawson was deservedly promoted to a company, while Spearman remained a serjeant, and never, as far as we knov, received any reward for his gallantry but the esteem of his officers and comrades. CAPTURE OF FORT NIAGARA. 1G7 tlio. tiiiu' ul' and cxaiui- ) was ^o bo wcUocl into 1 suliduod, «iac, whero of the tort J conveyed icretcd iu u luition. ;, at such a vliich tlicy ho Ih'itihh If ho bo still alive, he lives in Richmond, U.C., where the 100th, after ilH disbandmcnt in 1818, rei .v^ed lands and settled. Last suiumer, being upwards of seventy years of age, he walked fort miles to where he supposed me to be, to obtain my certiacato as to his services, to support his petition to the Commander-in-Chief for a small l-onsion which mij^ht enable him to exist, now that he i-^ past labour. I was not there, but my son was, who gave him a cordial reception, rest and refreshmout, and promised to procure from me the certificate. I have given it, conscientiously declaring that Andrew Hpearmau, then Serjeant in the 100th Regiment and leading the forlorn-hope, was the person to whose tact and daring was principally due the success oi" the Jiritish force in " the capture of Tort Niagara." (Signed) .1<»IIN Cl.AHK.' 11 (iKcers had xpcudituro cions), and lisappoint- with arms ed for the )r nothing. )th had it work, and Canadian ppearauco, th sods of eet, which iny, while I', received comrades. * Tlio accounts of tlicso lato battlos are taken from tlio I'lirliiimentHrjr Marmsoiipt.' oiilleeted by Mr. (J. Coventry. (!olonel John Clark, who lately died, was well and favor ably known all over C'aniula, for his iitaunch (upiiort of Briti^iU inslitiilioii;*. (168) list of ,$!iliu(iii aiib Stroiit |Ui)trs.' rpTIE foUowinp; is a list of' tlie principal Hrilmon and trout rivers (»l ■^ Canada and Now JJriinswick, with tlie distances of tlio f'ormor from Quebec, and such information as could Ijo obtained concerning their character and condition. Those marked in ifalics have been leased to private individuals, but the others arc open to all comers. The Jacques Carlicr ia the only j" rivor near (iucboe which, at the present time, afibrds any salmon. I'rom Quebec to Murray liay is 78 miles. Here there is u river that furnishes a few sahuon and many line trout. I'Vom ]Murray ]Jay to the Saguenay is M — 120 There is excellent sea trout fishing in the Saguenny, and its tributary, tho ;SV. Marguerite, is a superior salmon river, llivcr Escoumain 21] ]Jetwecn it and the Saguenay are tho two Ti<'rtween it and the \,\ Val are the Colombia, Plover and Blanche, all poor salmon streams. * Troui '• 'J'he (iuine Finh of the Aorlli," by Uiirinvell. I TliiTi; i:-' n]^'> tlu- :-!c. Anno. :i few milos from (incLi-c. a good .sultnoii str":im. Tlio .Tac(|ues Curlier i.s owm-il by .J. K. HoMwell, Esq., of (iuclicc, ami Wiii. 11. Kerr, r-arris tcr, of iMuiilre.il, two ki-eii .iiiit'ii. tpwartln of 200 .salmon were oaiiKlit ln^'t >«"'' in the .fai'iiufs CarlitT. Sini'i; llio aliovo li.sl was i>n'i>an'(], 'ons now wisliin;^ to Ica.-o salnion rivers have to a|i]ily eiivlv in the '■(•.i-'ui to tin- < 'ninmi-^ioncr of Crown Tianil-' tor Canada. - [./. .!/• AJ LIST OF SALMON ANI> TKOl'T UIVEUS. 109 lit rivers ol oriuor from rninir tlwir lea.Hcil hi k'li, at. tlie les. line trout. 120 (ribiilii';^, 0'> 111 I'lirnisli it.s nioutii Q ..J hi 1 tllC lill niiis. am. Th.' •rr, l?ariis I hiHt, yeur ."^Iiort.-iiiu'ii •ivL'r.4 liiive [./..I/. A.J Outurdcs , 11 iMaiiieouuijjaa Hi Mistassiui 12 IJetscic :> 01' those rivciH I can olttaiii no satisractory inronnation. (jodhmit 15—57—201 A colobratccl salmon river, one of the best in the province. Trinittf 1') (Jood salmon and trout lishin:^. Little Trinity 10 Calumet .'} Pentecost 14 Not a salmon river. Ht. Margaret 3B One of ti.'o best salmon and trout rivers. Moisie 23—103—304 Pino large salmon are taken in this river, and it is widely celebrated. Trout 7 Manitou ^5 fiood trout fishing; the salmon are obstructed by falls. Sheldrake 10 Magpie 22 Furnishes a few salmon. St. John T) An admirable salmon stream. Mingan 10—101 — 105 Probably the best river in the province lor salmon, and excellent for trout. llomaine * An excellent stream for both salmon and trout. "NVascheeshoo ^. 53 Pashasheboo 18 A few salmon. Nabcsippi 7 Agwanus 5 A fair supply of salmon. 23 H I M f%^ 170 i,IST OF SALMON AND TRoUT lUVKKS. \r NatashqiiaP 11— 106— o7J Salmon line an^l abundant. Kcjrat'iika 23 Salmon impeded by falls. iMusquano \-> AUnrd.s good ; Allords many salmon. Esquimaux l.l — MO— TUd All cxeelloiit sidmon river, somewhat run down. hi New Diuii-wick there arc salmon in tin; St. John and its tributari{S, liuL tlu! bi'st of (In; lattiM', (ho Xashw.ialc. has been (dosed with an iiii- [•i'ssable dam. I'rum St. Jnjin it is easy to take the ears to Shediae, and n'nss til Friiiee lldward's Island, where tlu re is maj.:;nilieent trout fishing, especially near Chailotte, and toleralde aecommodation ; or one can take [lie Quebec steamer to J)alliur>t and lish llie Mpi.siquit, which is admit- U'd til be tjio best river in the province, nr tliM llestigouehe and its tri- butaries, an I'xeellcnt stream, but iiiiKJi iiijuii;d by spearing ; or the ('aseapediaes, which furnish snme .-^almon and innumerable grilse. The .^liramiehi, between Shediae and Uathurst, is a line large stream. The streanid in (!anada emptying into the St, liawrenec from the south siiore, are hardly v.orth meiiiioiiiiig as salmon rivers, having been ruined by mill-(lams, with the exception of those that empty into (laspi' JJasin, but tliey all afford .'.uiierior trout fishing. I woidd here remark, that >vhcrc the name trout is mentioned in couueetion witli the IJritish I'ro- .7J 23 1; 11 IS '21 in 4 (> 2<» LIST OF SALMON AND TROUT RIVERS. 171 ■^1 vinccs, the Sdlmo Truttn M that will l.riii:3'yoii to \UMim h-^for.' half-past seven a.m., for at that hour th(> I.D.it leave-* for St. .Ii.hii. m.i St. J(djns, which id in Newfoundland, [(' you arc too late, you may still, hy means of the ears, intercept the .sanio vesstl at Portland. This hoat does not leave daily, but ^^'iierally advertises in the New VorL and always in the Boston papers. It touidu-s at I'ortland, wh.'re you mav take a steamboat on its arrival to ('alais, and proeccil thrncc by railroad to the Seoodie lliver, where tlure is line white, not sea, trout fishing, or stop at St. Andrew.s, wlnmee there is a railroad in proizress to Wooilstock. on the St. John Kiver. The lioston boat reaijics St. .loiin in about thirty-two hours, in- at. three o'doi-k ; ! he fare is d.x dollars ; the uie:ds extra, and, conscciuently, extra good *i ributarit?, th an lin- ed iae, and ut lishing, 3 can take I is adniit- d its tri- ^ ; or the I.SC. Th. m. the ?!outh len ruined ip6 JJasin, lark, that tish Pro- (172) .Salmon ,ifisj)ing in Canak.* llj^K hiive much i)lciisuro in laying ])o('ore onr rouJers the lollowiuf; ' » account of tlie fi.shiiij; this season (IbOii), in some ol'therivors the pro- }terty of the province, whicii incontostibly proves two things. J'^irst, thai there is letter sport to be obtained, by amateur lishcrmeu, in Canada than in any of the far-lamed rivers in Kurope ; and se( ondly, that the system of protection adopted by tlie (Commissioner ol Crown Lands is not only in creasinj^ th(> number ofthe sahiion, but enabling them lu attain to a huger size. Never were our markets so abundantly ami so i-Iieaply furnished with this iiolile ii^h as durin^■ the past summi'r : HIVKIl ST. JOHN. Salmon taken in the rivei- St. John, with the fly, durim; duly, iSi;:',, by two rods — duly 1st, eleven lish wcr(' caught at 'I'rent Kapid and Camp l*ool ; 2iul, sixteen at Tn.'nt and Caii.p ; .'Jrd, twenty-three, at Seal and Trent; dth, sixtecui at Stal, Trent, and Kail; r>th, Sunday ; ftth, twenty-two, at Seal, Trent, and Camp ; 7th, thirteen, at Seal and I'all ; Sth, sixteen, at Trent, Seal, and Fall ; !tth, no fishing' ; lUth nine teen, at Seal, Trent, and Camp; 1 1th, ei.^ht, at Trent and Seal ; lUlh, Sunday; l.'Uli, fifteen, at Trent and Seal; 14th, six at Trent; Ifjth, four, at 'I'rent and Seal; lOth, river very small; ITlh, {^owv. rod) two lish, at Trent ; 18th, little fishing ; lOth, Sunday; 20th, three at Seal, one rod, river risings 21st, three, at Seal, one rod, river rising ; 22nd and 2r»rd, no fishing; 24th, ten, nt Falls and Trent; 2r)th, seven at l-'alls and Seal ; 2Cth, Sunday ; 2r)tli, five, at Seal and Camp. Total nundjor of fi.sb, 190; total weight, IV-^a) lbs,; average weight, 10 lb. lUVER CiODHOUT. Salmon taken with the fly by three rods, in the river (Jodbout, during dune and duly, ISGd : — dune fth, Sunday; 20th, three, at Upjter ; 21st, two, at I'pper; 22nd, two, at Upp(!r ; 2ord, one, at Shea; 21th, live, at I'all, I'-ddy, llaworth, Upper ; 2r)th, none! ; 2r(th, Sunday; 27th, one, at Shea; 2Sth, one, ut, rpp.r. Total number of fish, IIU; total weight, 2ir»"< lbs; average weight, 1 U lbs. iiiVi:Fi Moisii:. Messrs. C. «Jt tli, four; Itth, two; IGth, two; 17th, one; 18th, two; 20th, four and two grilse — total, thirty-eight .salmon and three grilse; weight, .'J."<4 ' Hi. Killed by Mr. llintoul, July 0, one salmon; 7th, two; 8th, lour; 9th, eight; K'th, live; 11th, one; loth, one; 1 kh, one ; 15th, throe; IGth, two; 17tli. three; ISth, five; 20th, two— total, 38 lish ; weight, JUl ll». ItrVRR.S MINGAN AND jMANITOU Salmon killed in the rivers .Mingan and Manitou by ihrce rods during the season of ISG-'j : .lune I'jth, four fish ; IGth, 17th, and iStJi, flood ; l!)th, two; 20th, six; 22ud, eight; 2;;rd, four; 2kh, two; 2r)th, eleven; 2Gth, two; 27th, two; 20th, lifteen ; :50tli, nine; .luly 1st, (»ne ; 2nd, four; 3r(l, seven; 1th, seven; Gth, twelve; 7th, fourteen , Sth, nine; Uth, two; 10th, live; 11th, two; loth, lifteen; llth, four: I fith, thirteen ; IGth, live; 17th, two; l^tli, six; 20tli, nineteen ; 21.si. •deven ; 22nd, two ; 2;>rd, ten ; 2 1th, three. Total Muuiber of lish, 21^' : total weight, 2,22G lb. ; average weight, 10 1-5 W). To this wo may add that we arc eredibly informed that four gent ; ■tneii from New Brunswiek, who leased the river Nata.sln(uhuu, killed over 000 line fish, and that one of the party look ,.'/•/,/ ,^<7' ot them in one (lay, with his own rod, a feat whieh wo believe '-■ 1;. iuiparalleled in an\ river in Great Britain or Norway. We have much pleasure in stating that there is every probal)ility that a line seaworthy steamer will make a Ibrtniglitly trip during tlii' months of dune and July, 18G1, to the princiital stream.5 belonging to the Government, affording an opportunity to the tourist, the invalid, ami the fisherman to visit the most interesting localities, to invigorate their health, ,iiul to enjoy their sport, thus tending to increase the revenue already orviv"! from these rivers, and enabling thtiir valuabh^ lishernN to bt' more fi ly appreciated. ( 175 ) lor Xipi.s- Rintoul, |r trin : — Ion l»tl |tli, two; —total, \d by Mr. If; T'tl,. ; ITtli, Is iluriiiL', I, floud ; ; 2r)fl.. liny ls(. loiirtooii ; ill, lour ; on; 21 si. ish, 21S: ont; 'KUMi led ov<'r illl ill Olir ed in aii\ obiiliilitv iriiig- till' •iiiririt;- til ;ili(l, aiiil ato flicir rov<.;nui' li.sliorios '|rofcssor ^)iiib ch lj)c iisljaits of \k S>1 1'atovciuc, rnilE Labrjulor roninsula, with tl T ic coa.>st and i.sland.^ ol" the (.lull' of St. Lawronoo, pos;sc,ss ;i colonial and imperial interest whioh can scarcely be ovor-cstimatod in contemplating the possible future cf British North America. The annual value of the fisheries in British American waters exceeds four millions sterling, bcside.s being the best nursery for seamen " the world ever saw." The li;dieries on the Atlantic coast of Labrador alone yield a yei'rly return of at least one million sterling; uud yet, since the destruction of the town of IJrest, at the gulf entrance of the Straits of IJelle Tslo, more than two hundred years ago, no attempts have l)ecn made to I'onu settle nicnts on ;iu extensive scale on or near the coast. Tn the great interior valleys, some ten or lil'ti'cn iiiilos iVniii the • oast, timber, lit ior ])uilding purposes and fuel, exists in abundance, and the climate and soil admit of the successful cultivation ul" ail common culinary vegetablos. West of the Mingan Islands large areas exist suitable I'lr ,>i,'ttUni('iii. liimestonos and sandstones occupy the coast, and extend about ten miles )»ack over a space of eighty miles on the Straits of I>elle isle, and urt'at I'ai'ilities exist in many otiier plact!s for the establishmonts, by wli : an annual .>aving id" more than a (|uarter of a million sterling w I be secured at the oursot, with the prospect of an intlelinite increase. liOcal establishments lor the supply of salt, food, and all the roquirem nts of a vast fishing trade, are particularly demaudod on the (!ulf an ! Atlantic coast. •''I lixiiloratiuns in Liibriulor. I7«i piiornssoR iiinh on tiik rrsTiERiEs. ii Tilt' Hritisli Amoriciiu li.shcrics will cvontiuilly act'iuiro :i wholly unlookcd I'or importance l)y direct trade with tlie Southern Stat«\s lor cured fish, upon the return oC the peace, and with the j;reat valley of the Mississippi for fresh f-alt-water fish, convened in ice. The connection of the present terminus of the Cirand Trunk Railway of (Canada at Uivicre du Loup with the IJay of Chaleurs would bring the rich livin;,' treasures of the Gulf within easy reach of the cities of the Western States. As a nursery for seamen, the great North American fisheries have no equal, and the day will yet arrive when the hitherto desolate shores of Labrador, north, east and west, will possess a resident population capable of contributing largely to the comfort and prosperity of more favored countries. ( iH ) whdlly l;it(\s for viillcy of iiin'ctiiiii maila at I li villi,' )Vi'.stcni ios have shores lulation of more .tlccii-^fu Jhsljcrics af (f auaia. " Juiiit ioii.i liiwa li:i\c litoii l>ajj (Icstnioiiiiu " In r.'inada tlio |i('oiili' liavc iliscovcri'd, fdi Iniiiili'ly («jr tlniii, nni too lalc, tin- iniiiorlancf of .slrin'^'cnt protrctivc law .;."/'/(. duiih l-'i Ji nj ilu ^'orlll, liv lJAUNWi;i,l.. I J • 'f I V, nil oik: haiitl, i( i- ;t )iioiiil hna-t I'or r;iii;i(|;i j,i \h- ill ;ii|vaii(c iil'lht' * I'fsl of (he cniliin'iil li^ Imt wise h•!L;•i^^hltillll tiiiicliiii'_: tlh' naliiral rosouroes in her rivcr>', — il' cvcii an inHt:;1iti'no(l Anu'rican is coinpcllod (o admit tliat it wouhl ho well lur tlir (ircat llcpulilic {<* hormw a leal' IVom our bonK, it is also .siniinlarly ^Iranuc that liirnn;-!! the; rectMit h'iijj;(hy iicwspapor discussion aiicnt this same suhjeet, scarcely a wmd hits boon written, or even mention made of iIu nm.-l valnalije |Hrti(.ii oi our fislieries, I mean Ihodoep-soa (isjii ries. Whatever loai.-; • ilie Hritish Provinces may he entitled to Cor what they liavt' done tn [irolecl and loster this prolific source of wealth, let, us not, howev»'r, run away with the idea that our loLiislation is iierfeet, especially the portion relatim:; t(» tho dcep-8ea tinheries. IMuch has nndouhtedl) heen performed; some- lliini^ yet remains to he dom'. The Ahhe Sieyes hoastitiuly asserted ni' the lei^al reforms he had introduced, that he had perfected t! «' Im-cik h (N)iistitution ; pvay, how many new con-^tilut ions have iieen since his slay adopted and discarded in Franci;'/ In a-sninin:: that our le'^'islatinii respeetini; deep-sea lisheries recjuires ametidment, a- well as that relatini; to the salmon lisheries, I am tnerely repeatim;- a trit«! observation, which doubtless lias l)ceu often made by those conversant with the subject. liCt us look, for the present, into the bounty ((ucstioii, as ccmnectcd with the pecuniary outlay of tlio lishery organization. Several rjuestions v;ill naturally arise in the course of tins iMtjuiry lloeeipl and expenditure are 24 178 IU:LI'-SEA 1-1:^11EK1E;; OE CANADA. i-arJiiKil points c itlicr in novormuoiitor iuin'ivato uinkrUikiii^rtj it may li veasouably :i,'lvoil wlicllur, with the present outlay diircitutly ap[toi- tioneJ, m-cator tilicioiay in oulorcin^ the hiw, icbultH (»!' luoio niajj;iii tudc lov the public weal might not I'ullow i* The law plaeen ^1I,0()0 annually at the dispc.-al of the ,i;OYernment to pay bounties; by many it iri (jucstionod whether thi.s amount might not be more advantageou.^ly bestowed. I'roteetion to tlie lislierie.s has only become an established fact in Canada siucu 1^58; it is, therelbre, still in its inlUney, and vcquires an artilieial stimulus before it c:m be expected to brini; forth tbe matured fruits of age. To all'ord this artilieial impulse, the bounty system in this country, as elsewhere, has received its legal existence. It cannot bo considered w pcrmanDici/ ; it is merely intended to arouse the energy of those cugu ,od in the prosecution of the iislieries : no industry which Cuuld not pvt)i;[ter unk'^^s siieli a stimulus were made ix niuinntt \sk)\\.\\ be worth having for any people. This i»iiiiei]fle is W(dl understood liy I lie nations who have granted the largest bounties. ]\lirutcctlon and fccuii/jj to jicrsons and pruptrtij. T"), the opinion of many, the operation of the clause of the Act awarding bounties might be, for a tiuui, suspended, and the granting ol' bounl'es made contingent on the huilicieucy of revenue derived iVoui the Iislieries. Another point about the bounty system which invites consideration is, the principle on which the bounty is given. 1 n my opinion, the whole, or nearly the whole, ougl\t to be ;vwarded, not to the lazy drone called the outlittcr, but to tho ^acccssl'ul Jiiul intelligent lisherman hiniseli"; the outlittcr, without prohibiting the bounty, might be just as much bene- titted, only it would be in an indirect way; instead of calculating on a catch of 100 cwts. fia- iin.lit, lu; v.-uuld have loO or 'JOO cwts. for expor- tation, and llie (idierman's skill or industry would receive its iitting reward. Another iuipoitant feature would be, punctuality in the payment of bounties, llow can a poor (Jaspe fisherman be expected to le-ive his home and wait in (Quebec six months, as was the ease formerly, until it suits the government, or the eoUeetin' of ih.' p'»rt, to pay him his bounty y On reference to 3Io,ses JI. iVrley's Report — a masterpiece of praeticid inforinatiim, we find, tlial in 1851, cue to form s(K'icties on the principle of the agricultural societies, aLs I may Li y apiJUi- ^ll,U(Ml by iiKiiiy a^i^cou.-ly tablislit'd icy, and Ibrlh the y sy«tciii [t caiiiiut cMiei'uy ry wlilcli nl wijul I '.stuod ]»y S tiHtnlnl (('//, ///((/( Itropci'tij. awardiii;.: bouutic.s liHlioi'ios, ration in, whole, or lallotl the .sell"; th(- ich beiic- iiii:,' oil a or oxpor- its iittinti; ! payment, lu'ivc his )'y until it H bounty y Iira(.*ti(';il CCS vtjtcd Hocictii','^, DEEP-SEA FISIIEIIIES OF CANADA. ITt) (Icstined Irj award pri/cs, not only to those who cm-ht the most lish, but also to the nshcriucn who prepared the liue.st, the most marketable article. In many Kuro]>can marts, none l»ut hsli of first tiuality (ind a purchaser. Doubtless, the bounty question will be thorou-lily sifted by the Parlia- mentary Committee appointed to report on tli;'! fisheries; it luiiy be <|Uc.stioiied, however, whether a'Jc((u:itc ;-iourccs of ialornntioii can b<^ open to it. Tht; European governments send intelli-^oni- ;ucu abvo.id to vide, as it were, the brains of other nations; in our country', >vc [latcb up and tinlv(M* up, mf iiijlnihnn, luir home iije.is Mini in!. I- • f 'i (180) 'iiabifs of ^paluiuiig ,.f isj). TMIIK lollowiiiL; intcrcsdiii; lottor npiio.ircil in tlic i'ltlil now'i>:ip(>i- JL cif tlio -iJnl l''(;))ruary, ISO;!, imMisliod in Ijondcui : — " |)iiriii}^ tlirco seaKons pa.sl I Iiavo (ib.scrved salmon wliilst ))rocJin^ in Olio of lli(> Jribiitarii's of tlu- Satiiicnay. The locuti in i/iio is a slioal ami rapid spot, with shcltcrini; houldi-rs, and htiii;- spits of pchhiy bottom. The currenl is lively, but imt heavy or stronir- Auluiiui loaves cannot lod^'c ill i(, and branches or small diil't-wood sticks hurry i»ast upon its lippliiij,' surlace, as il' eonscious that their presence mi^ht inconvenieiiee the I'amiiy j.-iiiic;* already in possession ol" the shallow homestead. iMaiiy proconeeivod and some favorite notions about the habits of this fish were rudely shaken. Hi»oks had taught me pe(!uliarities sucdi as at, no time eould I then actually observe. The most, [»rominent. of eontrailie tioii> were, that thi' iish did not. root with snouts amon'j;Ht the irravel to niak(! trout:hs for the (»va; nor did tlu; pairs work by turns j neither was llu; male aecusl(»med to pi iloiiii aloiu; his miUinj; in the furrow wlu-re her l:id\shi[) had just left those delieat(dy-eolor(;d ei^i^s, of tin; ' pale pearly pink ol sea shells.' I saw nothing; of suoli ascribiul Iialdts. Tin female alom; was industrious ; the male liereo and pui;'naeious. She. filled with the eari's of her maternity, seemed diligently absorbc'd in the success of h r feminine instincts; he, sexual, maseuliiu', sellish, aii.l bullying — a very 'fancy man:' ever and anon jostlinu, her; now runnim bis beak into little ridi^es of sand or <^ravel in some furious rush al'ln rival salmon or marauderiiiL:; trout, and kiekini; uji a most unbeeomini dust: then, ai^ain, nulely overturning.:; lu>v in the awkward conllict, and tumbling into the nest a new pile of j/riivel, to her intense di.«j;ust. The way this active :ind tidy fishwife does liei* busy duty is curious. She wrii^i/les herself amont^ the sm:dl stones, and with rapid motions ol lln' • audal and anal fnis, ;ind a winnowinu,- action < '" tln^ tail a?id body (I'lrn TIATITS OF RPAWNTNC FTPTI. 181 ?udiii;j, in lo.'il and hot loin. M caniini iilion \t> ivciiiciict' 1. Many this (isli an ut III) 'ontratlic uravc'l 111 ithor ^va^ uw wlu-rr tli(! ' pali^ .itH. Tlu us. Slic, )0(1 in llic iiisli, an>l V runnin; rush al'trr boconiini iiJlict, anil ;usl. TI..- aus. Sill' )US ol' ill'' mIv ( I urn iu;4 over alternately upon onu side and aiiothor), she keeps (|uantiti(.v-) of Liavel in sui'ponse, almost alloat in the cldini; hollow. Sand and liuhtor particles trail down the curretit behind her. It seemed to me a.s il'thi! power exercised by her motions in the wafir had almost, if n.:t ([uite> a; much to do wiili the displacing ol" uravel and ^and as the bodily movement against them. Tlie same thini: may be seen where the screw of a steamer stiis and draws up mud and dirt IVoni tlic boltom ol' water several feet beneath the kci'l. The bi.-d once made to ln^r satisfac- tion, she settles down into it, as if resting from lur labors; and :hould her attendant lord be not near and ready, sln^ turns over upon her side as if to signal and invite him. The bully of tin; throng then scttlea alonjj;side her ; and, as nearly as 1 could perceive, their mill, and ova are thus expresse(l in actual contact, both lyin'j; almost upon their sides ilurini:; a stroma; ((uiveri"" '- ure. This fuiu'tion performed, she slinks lazily away. Sin; rem, ..is for a few moments quiet, as if to let thintrs settle; an«l soon recommences her prt^vious winnowing aloijn- eitlur side of the furrow, but this time advancing' a little, and stirrini,^ down .-ome gravel from above. 1 was nuich interested, and not a little surprised, with what I saw. Vou may depeuil upon it, sir, aU!iouL;h the salmon is a line, pjenteel and noble lish, he is not half so platonic a breeder as some amateur and theoretic naturalisl.s have reported him lobe, lie is a creature tif like passions with all others — cold-blooded, it' you please, but not thereforo insensate, A trout can be tickled; why should not the higher and ri»dier-fed member of that respectable family — Salmnni- d;r — feel occasi(jnally a trifle ticklish '! Oh, no I Mr. Salar is not a sentimental and ultra-domestic Chinaman. lie does not lie a-bed and sympathise, pain Ibr pain, with his laborin,-; nii'te. He has more of the Indian nature, and if ho had 'portages' to make, would leave his S(|uaw to bear th(> heaviest burdens. My native gallantry for]»i. — Wluii i,s the (jUUQtity ul' llsh oxi>urtcd uiiiiiially '( Is it :i iiu-L tluii luivu',!! erul'tri trc-^pass witliiu the limits tissii;noil by tlic Ucciprocity Treaty for fishini^' })Ui'poscs 'r* 7. — Is tlicrc any other fish ui iiuiiLHlcj whicli in Liiiic;? ul' dourlli^ cuuM be substituted toherriug, eapliu aud squid lur bait i' S. — AVhat new legislation is required on the bounty (luestioiri' Arc bounties of any use to us? 9. — Would it not inure t(j our ultinitite ;u!vaiitage and to that ol' the lessee to grant long leases of the k^alnion llivers, as sViort leases induce the lessee to derive the largest possible return in lish in a comparatively short period — that is, to ruin the river by over-Ilshing it? 10. — The wholesome system of control exercised in other departments of the public service, \h: — The appointment of a visiting inspector, an outsider, unconnected in any way with this branch, to report to tin," government, on the internal management of it. There are inspectors of railroads, inspectors of registry oflices, inspectors of ports, inspectors of customs, inspectors of prisons, of warehouses, iVc. — Why should there not be an inspector of the fishery revenue ? Let us have a cheap but an efficient supervision. 11. — The existing necessity of renewing correspondence with New Hrunswick in order to secure her joint co-operation in new legislation to regulate the fisheries on the boundaries of both provinces, the llisti- gouch river, for instance, and also oth'; r places. 12. — That a more efficient law should be passed to prevent the pea- santry in the rural parts from indulging any longer in the wholesale destruction of young fish who are caught each tide by the thousand in the stake fisheries and other engines of destruction, without being able to make their escape, aud are left to rot and decay in the fishery, such as young white fish, sturgeon, shad, herring, salmon smoult, &c. 13. — That it would be highly useful to have a map of each salmon estuary and river, to iurnish reliable information to persons who are prepared to pay high rents, if they can ascertain beforehand full par- ticulars about the fishing location; that this can now be done at a trifiiug expense. 14.-— Expediency of republishing and circulating amongst the fisher- men of Gaspe those admirable and eminently practical directions to be THE FISHERIES OF CANADA. XSb itut tllllt jiprocity ,li; cuulil w'f Arc it ol' the QS induce larutivcly lavtuieiils )cclor, ;ui ivt t«.» tilt; pcctoi's oi' pcctors ol' uld there ap but an ,vith New ;islaticn to the llisti- found in Mr. Perley's Ucports, page 'JG4, prepared by tlie hnperial Hoard of Commissioners of the Fisheries of the Tnitcd Kingdom. 15. — That the time to catch trout .should })e altered, so as to make it legal to do so from 1st January to 2(»th of September, but no later, as in some places trout is known to spawn early in September. 10, — The capture of salmon iVy ought also to be strictly prohibited : all such taken to be returned instanter, alive, to their native elemijnt. 17. — The necessity of substituting a small screw steamer and fast- sailing revenue cutter.-*', drawing but little water, to the present coast ing service ? Would Kngllsh gunboats answer or not^ Query. 18.— Kcorganization of the judiciary system of the Magdalen Islands. 19._neclaratory clause to explain some of the obscure provisions of the Fisheries Act; and certain discretion left with the Judge to tem- per, in some cases of fine or imprisonment, the severity of the law. Such are some of the amendments 1 si-t forth in the iu-ench press of this city last winter, and which were inquired into by a Parliamentary (Jommittce. Vours, kc, J. M LeMotne. Quebec, Gth April, 1801. 1-1! nil ■ t the pca- wliolcsale lousand iu ing able to 'y, sucli as ./-.'^--^'■V*-- ell salmon 3 wlio are I full par- it a trifling the fishcr- :,lonB to be OK liiO ■t: (186) %\t §irh af Canaba, ARRANGED BY J. M. LeMOINE, According to 'jlasniflcitioii and iioiiiciiclntiirc of th'' Smithsouiun InetUutlon. (Tlio figures rcfor to those of the catologin' the Institution in ISiift.) toucchat and tin; evening grosbeak uii the authorit.v of .Mr. William Cuiijier, of this city, — who was pi-eseuted with a specimen of each, shot in Canada — I am also indebted to him for several sugj^estious in preparing this list. f Care ought to bo taken not to confound this bird with its small summer congener — the c'acrry or cedar bud — the wjix-wing is altogether a winter visitor- — rERCEIJ:HS. Cape iMay Warbler, 206. IToodod Warbkr, 211. Snialbhcadcd Flycatcher, 212. Canada l-'lycatcher. 214. Redstart, 217. ocarlet Tanagor, 220. Summer Kcd Bird, 221. ]?arn Swillow, 225. Cliir Swallow, 22G. White-bellied Swallow, 227. Bank Swallow, 220. Purple 3Iartin, 231. tWax Wing, 232. Cedar Bird, 233. Great Northern Shrike, 236. White-rumped Shrike, 238. lled-eyed Flycatcher, 240. Yellow-green Virco, 241. 'Cat Jiird, 254. BroAvn Thrash, 261. Jjong-billed 31arsh ^Vren, 268. House AVreu, 270. ^V'ood Wren, 272. Winter AVren, 273. American Crei-per, 275. R2d-bellied Nuthatch, 279. Black-cap Titmouse, 290. Hudsonian Titmouse, 296. Sky Lark, 302. Evening Grosbeak, 303. Pine Grosbeak, 304. Purple Finch, 305. Yellow Bird, 313. i*inc Finch, 317. l{ed Crossbill, 318. White-winged Crossbill, 310. Lesser lied Poll, 320. .Mealy Bed Poir CO, 321. Snow Bunting, 325. Jjapland Longspur, 326. •'.' ■' I ,1 \ 188 THE BIRDS OF CANADA. ■':h., White-crowned Sparrow, 345. White-tliroatcd Sparrow, 1)49. Black Snow Bird, :i54. Tree Sparrow, S57. Field Sparrow, 858. Chipping Sparrow, USD. Song Sparrow, 303. Fox-colored Sparrow, o74. Black-throated Bunting, 878, Ho.se-brcaf.ted (Jro.shcak, 880. Indigo Bird, 887. Boblink ; Reed Bird, 81)9. Cow Bird, Bed-winged Blackbird, Meadow Lark, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, Busty Blackbird, Crow Blackbird, American Itaven, Common Crow, Magpie, Blue Jay, Canada -lay, ORDER IV. — CALLINACEOOS. Wild i'igcon, 448. (common Dove, 451. Wild Turkey, 457, Spruce Partridge, 400. JJuffed Grouse, 465. 0H1>E11 V. Great Blue lieron, 4S7, Least Bittern, 1!>J. Bittern ; Stake Driver, 41)2. Night Heron, 41)5. N ' .v,f,y Ibis, 600. i.oiOan Plover, 508. .' 'lldccr, 504. Wilson's l^Invcr, 500. SemipaL ;if; ! Plover; liing Plover, 50 Bock Grout-e, American Ptarmigan, Partridge; Quail, Sand-hill Crane (?), — WAKERS. ]3Iack-bellicd Plover, Turnstone, "i American Avoset, Northern Phalaropc, American AV^oodcock, English Snipe, Eed-breasted Snipe, Gray-back ; Knot, i . .lack Snipe, Least Sandpiper, Sanderling, Semipahuated Sandpipci Tell-tale; Stone Snipe, Yellow Legs, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, OllDEll Vf. — I'AL.MATEl). 53 L Field Plover, 532. 534. 535. 53!). 540. BuiF-breasted San(Jpii>er, Marbled Godwit, lludso'.i Ciodwit, Long-billed Curlew, Iludsoniau Curlew, o4L • Jlsquimaux Curlew, 543. I Clapper B^til, 400. U)l. too. 414. 4 If.. 417. 421. 423. 420. 482. 434. 448. 4GS; 470, 471 471). 510. 515. 517. 520. 522. 523. 524. 520. 04;). 540. 547. 548. 549. 550. 55] . 553. ■'' A beautirul .specimen of tbis rare bird was shot at Grondincf, on the 28tli of April. lSfi4, and contributed to my collection by P.J. Charlton, Esq. of Queliec. I.i wlmni I lun also indebted for a wood duck and a largo ))luc heron. f Three avoscts were shot in the bay opposite Toronto, in October, 1S(5.';. i^ Temminck calls this Crane Canadensis. Charlcvoi.x also mentions cranes in Canada, and f^till many assort the crane docs not stop here i". 'is migrations wc.- vard. BIRD?! OF r\NAiM. 189 •100 101. I0(i. 414. 41 r.. 117. 121. 4 ■_';;. 12(1. 4^2. 434. 44.']. 4GS; 470. 471 '47it. 510. 515. 517. 520. 522. 52,']. 524. 52(). 545. 54(). 547. 548. 549. 550. 55] . 558. of April. nun T mil I Canada, i 1 554. ! Ilill};-lirckt'd I>Ut,'k, 5;»o, 557. ;Uctl-ho:ul, 591. 55<>. (';inva.-i-));ick, 502. rAWit. 00. 5S1. Sheldrake, oil. 585. l»('d-l)roasted iMeruanscr, 012. 587. Hooded Mer-j^-anser, (;i:;. 588. Suiew. 014. 580. '*' American Pelican. CI 5 Virj,'itiia Hail, Yellow Kiiil, Coot, American Swan, 8now (loose, White-fronted (roosc ('.'). Canada (loose, llutehin's (loose, 15rant, .Mallard, Hhiek Duck, Sprig-tail; Pin-tail, CTlrcen-\vin<;ed 1'eal, Ulue-wint^ed Teal, Shoveller, (ladwall, Baldpate, Summer Duck, (Ireatcr IJlaek-hcad, Little Black -head. ■■' Mr. iMcJhvriiitli, llic wi 11 kiinwn ii.-itiirnli.-i I'l' [IjiiiiiltKii, in a kiicr in nu; mi. lor iliitc Cith May, I^Oi. ihiis (li\-;cii'ii'> the i'''i'ciit iqiiicarancc of a Wm-k ol'iicliraii.^ : - H.wiir.Tov. .i/iii/ i'lili. iStil J. .M. lA'Moiiit', Jv-i]., i;.\u ,'^iit, — <)n tlio evening' "f Fiiil.iy, liic I.'mIi .Ai'i'll last, a Hook ul' oi;,'lit |itlir:iii^ wa.s (ib.- not to lie inl.-takcii. ]!y dayliL^hl on f^aturday .nornin^j; the ;;wn- n'r.'^ were early a;tir, and lindini^ the ficlicans still tlii;re, started in imrsui!, th(! lird'' .>^iH!)ned nnwillini; to rise iVoni the water, hnt not at all vl'spo.-cd to admit (d" a i loi-o ins[uetiiin, and so vii:;oroi!sly did they jdy their lar;^e and powerful jiaddles that ihiiiifili the wind was /(///A and /«•■/•, it wa^ only after a ehaso of about two miles that the .skifl'.s ;;;>t sufliciently near to risk ii lon.i,' .>hot, which crippled two of the miinher: one was winj^-hroken and could not rise, another. thonL;h evi(.'ently hit. kept sairnvj; round i' tiuuuaiyf JbOl, coutains an excelleut paper on 'The Birds of (Jauada West,'' by Thomas iMcUwraith, Esquire, of llauiiltou, au accurate observer aud keen udmiror of the feathered tribe. The fauua of Lower Canada is greatly .similar to that of AVcstern Canada ; birds, indigeuous to warm climates, are not, however, so numerous down here. Wo have neither the wild turkey, (juail, meadow lark, nor pelican j but our severe winters bviuLr us, occasiouallv, several feathered denizens of the extreme north. " Following," says he, " the arrangement referred to (Audubon's), we find liighest on the list the faiuily /(dconldcv, which includes all our diurnal birds of prey, such as oaglcs, hawks, buziiards, «S:c. These ai'c disitiuguished by their short and powerful beaks, strong hooked talons, and smaller ami diirkcr. I watched them for some time, their mution^ were graceful in the oxtrerac, ns tliey fat pruning their plumage, their long slender necks curv''ng in every cnnceivaljle direction, while every now and then one of tlie number \'.'onld dart oil' into the water and prcHcntly return with a lish, which was swalloned with no ceremony .-avo turning the head downwards. At length they seemed aware ol' my jn'oximity, aud that the distance bctv.'een lis was diminisliing. I ivas anxious to .•-ccure ore oi" each kind, and just as they got up made use of the means in my po^ver to acconplish that idijcct, but was only partially successful, as the larger of the two, though evidently struck '■y the shot, managed to get away, the other was a fine specimen, aud agrees in every l^articular Avitli Trofesf-or I'aird's description of the Florida cormorant, though I would .-carcely have expected to lind that bird so far north. It may be that being in eomjiany with the larger si)ecies which breeds in the nortli, they have been led away from their usual haunts. Ilcgarding the glossy Ibis, I may mention that a pair of these birds were shot hero i.'i 18J7, and are now in my possession. I have a specimen of Kirtland's owl, and have also obtained recently a fine specimen of the great cinereous owl. I These birds have bc^n mostly all described in my Ornitholo'jic du Canada. Tin: BIRDS OF CANADA. lyi [•.8(1. fiSl liillS. 70L'. tik;. 711. 71o. 72;^. 72(;. 7oO. paper lire, di' tribe, anada ; }licf an: tho'grcat leugth and breadth ul' their muiin ; thi.s class is well represented in our woods, and along the ( iJurlington) bay shore ; the most conspicu- ous icembcr of it being the hidd caijlr^ whose grand circling flight nuikes him an object of interest wherever ' e appears. With us this species is seldom scon during sunniicr ; but iit the approach ul' winter, when the lish-hawk has gone south, and game gets scarce in the W(»ods, :i IV-w pairs are u.suidly ob.scrved alutut l/unl'.; Kudi, and ahmg (he beaeh, where they pi'ey on musk-rat.s, anil Ired on such animal maltei- a.s m;iy be thrown up by the waters of the lake. During the two past winters, th(f llshernien residing on the beaeh havi; been clVcred ;i. liberal price (or a mature specimen of this bird ; but so rliflicult are they of :i].j»roaeh, tiiat iilthough individuals iiave been ,• ,;>n m.-arly every day during two mouths in each season, yet all the exertions of the iiunters havc^ been (piilf unsuccessful. ()ccasi(jnally, after the report of some heavily-laden pieces a, single broken leather has been seen \vinnowing its way downward, bnl :is yet no mature .•;poeimen (d" the eagle has been procured. J^atterly, the huuters being foiled in the chase, have resorted to stratagetn, anil lu.ve tried to poison the birds by putting strychnine into tlu; body of a small animal, anu leaving it near their usual haunts, lly this means two or three individuals were obtained, bui ali of them have bf.'en .young birds, which arc of a brownish color, more or less blotched witli white. The only iustauco 1 have heard of the capture of the mature; bald eag'e, in this vicinity occurred some years ago, but ujay be worth repeating, as tending to illustrate the habits of the bird. A laboring man, residin'j in the outskirts of the city, f(jund tl'.at some depredator was levying black niail upon bis chickens, and resolved to put a stop to it. At midnight he visited the roosts with his musket, l)ut
adult so much in !ii)pear- anco that, till within the last few years, they were considered as distinct species, the ftUMuer bcin^ described as the //m/ srii-('in//c ; Wilson, wlm closely observed their hnbits, had suspicions that they wore identicnl, but the fact was not proved till after his time. '' The same; mistake was made with the yahlcn caijle of IJritain, the young of which was described as the rinfj-iailvil ra[//c, till they have now been ]}roved beyond doubt to bo the same. This species is also Amer- can, several specimens having during tlio past winter been found near Toronto, llesides the foregoing, there arc various other species of eagle said to be found on this part of the continent, one of which was discov- ered by Audubon, and named by him after Washington ; but from the real scarcity of the species, and the diHerenee which exists among birds of diiFerent ag(;s, wo cannot at present speak of them with any degree of certainty. " The most interesting genus of the faleonid;c is that which includes the true falcons : these arc distinguished from the other members of the family b}^ their comparatively short and hooked beak, long and pointed wing--. 1 y a tooth-like process near the tip of the upper mandible^ and by the dash and courage they exhibit whon striking their prey on the wing ; there is probably no other bird so uimired by the sportsman, or feared by the water-fowl, as the percip-ine foJmn. We have often heard those who ])eriodically visit .liong Point or IJaptiste Creek, to practise duck shooting, speak with cnthusiasiim' the exploits of the bullet hawk, as \w. is termed by tlie gunners; he is described as Hying at considerable height above the marshes, which arc dotted with flocks of geese, ducks, teal and * Whilo the above was iu type tlio writer x>rocured a line .speeimon of the lulult animal, measuring three feet by six I'oet *ix inchcf?-- -January,. ISGl. h: THE BIRDS OF CANADA, li): widgeon, Ills quick eye niarkiii:;' every movonieni that is inaiJo lelow. While the.se keep the water, they uro coiujtaratively saio, :i> thi>y oaii chvle their pursuer by diviii.t,' ; )mt if, in the cxcitoinent caused ly the prcHoncc of so dreaded jnemy, I hey should attempt to escape 1»\ Hi^t;ht, thou is tlio time to wit les^stlie swoop of the faldui, v.lu). ;-iiiiilirji' from the nllViglited llyin^ flock the victim he lias destined fur liis pr^ \ , tleseeuds with a rush, whieh the eye cau scarcely follow, and >trikes it to the earth in an instaut. »So suddenly does the bird full on beinj: struck, that it was Ion:.' supposed the blow was j^iven by the brcast-bon'> ol' tlie hawk. This opinion has, by close observation, been proved iiuiivrect, — and specimens so prostrated, when picked up, are found to be so lacer.ited on the back as to leave no doul)t that the stroke is given by the leel. 'f his noble bird is well known to the residents on JJurlin'jton beach, where jbsc d in Tiuest of his fav( ho has frequently been ooservea coursing along m rjuest. oi nis \{v prey; but from the uncertain nature of his visits, and the rapidity of his flight, no specimen has yet been procured. A recent writer professes to have found specific distinctions between this and the J3ritish bird of tlw' same name, but these do not seem to be clearly made out, and the general opinion is that it is identical with the peregrine falcon, so much in favor when hawking was a princely amusement in JOurope ; with us he follows the full bent of his own wild nature, and unencumbered by hood or bell, roams the wholo Atlantic coast, from (.irecnland to Cuba, and inland to the llocky Mountains, and is known in the dilTereut districts he vi^it-- by the various names of peregrine falcon, bullet hawk, duck hawk, and wandering falcon. '^ Following falcons In order come the on-?:<. Birds of this family are easily distinguished by the largeness of the head and eyes, and the I'ov ward direction of the vision ; of this class I have noticed ci^ht dWferent species near the cit}', none of which are ]ilenfilul, yet, from their slri( tly nocturnal habits, they may be more so than wo are aware of. 'fliey aiv all migratory, and, from sometimes meeting Avith two or three individnals in a single excursion, and again not i^ccing ;' 'y during that sea.-o;i, we infer that they pass along in bauds, keeping up the eomnmnication by their loud hooting, which is frequently heard ai night during spring an. I fall. The.sv«>jt70?'.7,styled by Wilson the^great northern hunter,' isdnrin,;: some winters (juIle common around the shores of the bay, tln-uvh in 2<; • t 194 THE BIRDS OF CANADA. I.- ■ ' I • t| • .; others only a vei y iuw arc seen ; during the winter of 1858-59, 1 am aware of seventeen specimens having ^ceu brought to the market by ii.shornicn and others, while during the last winter, only two individuals have been killed. All the birds of this class have the plumage remark- ably full and s.ii'i. v.-liich (Miables them to skim noiselessly on their prey, and clutcdi it eve ir is awnio of the danger. "'^ "Passing the i/outsurkcrs, of which we have two species, the whip- poor-will and the night hawk, we come to (he .sical/ows, of which we have five; in this group we have an instance of the v,..y in which birds sometimes adapt their habits to suit particular circumstances. The re- publican or cliff swallow, which is but a recent addition to the favnaoi' the continent, in its original ciiaracter, builds its nest in caves, and under the overhanging I dges ol' perpendicular rocks ; when lured to this dis- trict probably by the abundance of their favorite insect food, wliich is found along our marshy lands, and not iinding rocks suitable for their purpose in the breeding season, they frequently'- choose, as a substitute, the end of a barn or other outhouse. I have seen such a republic in the country, where the upper part ol' tlic end of a barn was literally covered vrith claj', and perforated with numerous circular holes, out of which the lull dark eyes and gaping bills of the callow inmates were fre({uentlY seen protruding; there must have been from two to three tons of day used in the work, an;] the constant visits of the parent birds at this interesting weapon give the buildii'g, at a short distance, mucli the appearance of a great bee-hive. "In the habits of the .oriff or cinmnci/ avnllon' is another deviation from the established custom. When we see these birds circling rounks. THE BIRDS OF CANADA. 195 am it by duals nark- prcy, cluiui^o their abode, but why they should, in places whore they have their cliuiee, leave the open tree for the open chimney, is still, I believe, an unanswered (juestiou. "Next in order eume Wxa jiijcatrlirrx, birds ot jsmall size, but in their liabits much resembling the birds of ]irey. These have the upper man dible overhanging and notched at the tip, and the voice, iu must cases, harsh and discordant. The mode of caking their prey varies iu ditFercnt species, some, taking up a station on a post or limb of a tree, dart after •the passing insect., making the snapping of the bill distinctly heard; others, more expert of wing, keej) skipping about among the bushes, and take by surprise anything suitable which comes in the way. A promi- nent member of this group is the kliuj />/Vr^', or tyrant flycatcher, well known on account of his depredations aiuun:.:; hive ))ces ; he is also remarkable for the courage he displays when guarding his nest and young, being known to drive even the bald eagle from his vicinity. " Nearly allied to the llycatchers, but diifering from them \\\ form and habits, are the irood-icarllcr,^ There is no class oi' small hirds so mach souglit after by collectors as these ; they are a nuuuu'ous fauiily.gcaerally graceful in form, spriglitly in manner, aud brilliant in color; they arrive here about the beginning of May, a month which, ab^A'c all others, is enjoyed by those who are fond of rambling in tlie woods. Their i'ood seems to consist chiefly of insects, which they tind lurking ivniong the opening buds aud blossoms of the trees. A I'cvf species remain with us during summer and rear their young, but the great body pass on farther north to breed, returning again in 8eptembor, though from the trees being more full iu leaf at that season, and the birds silent, they are not much observed. I have noticed twenty-two species belonging to this family, in our woods, some of them of rather rare occurrence, among which I may mention ,\t/(ria mariilma or ('(//)'. /)/"// a-uoil-n-orbli-i-. W ilson met with this species ouly once, and Auda].)ou mentions it as being exceedingly rare. 1 found it in the spring of 1'n")7 along with others of the same family, while on their •nnual journey northward. "The family oi' c/trpcrs includ .s, besides tiio tree creeper (the typo of the class), the genus vim, of v. liich we have three species, viz.: the marsk v.-nn, which builds in all the marshes round the bay; the icinUr wren, which is identical with the common wren of ]3ritain ; aud the m 19B THE 131KI).'« or CANADA. /toiisc ii-i-cii, wlii<'li !-i'ciu,s to liiivo discovered llamiitou only within the hist two or three yeai ;. 'i'his little bird is strongly attached to the dwellini;H of mail; and in the IT aitcd States is frequently accomo- dated with a hous<; lixcd to a post or tree in the orchard, which is taken possession of ;'.s soon as the birds arrive from their winter quarters. {Hiring the past two summers several pairs of liousc wrens have raiscritain with those of Canadn, we have only to strike from tlio tbrmer list the British skylark, to be able to compete successfully, ejtlier as regards the number of performers or the variety and sweetness of theii' notes, 1 have ot'ten imagined (but it may be only a fancy) that their iS a strange harmony existing betv;cen the voices of birds and their particular places of resort; T have noticed this in winter in tho short, sharp note of the nuthaich, which as he Imrries about seems ever to say that ho mu'^t bestir Iiimself as the days are short. The lively t vittering of the ^'orblcr seems to blend with the first fluttering of the young leaves , the shrill piping of the plover is quite in unison with tho whistling of tho sea-breeze, which comes up over the treeless barren which they usu;iliy frequent, and surely if we iuid sought through tho whole feathered race for a tenant to our gloomy cedar swamps, we could not have ibund one more suitable than tho great horned owl, the solemn aspect and singular voice of wh'ch makes the solitude of such places still more intense. I Ivithiii luchcd bomo- tukon iniisot! ol' tlic whicli castcd Uix his •I'sJi, is eluded lis full t' bciuu THE HII!J»S or CANADA. 19' onsi esoiuo plants as tin sunuuer resident 'riio I'aniily oi' Juirhc^ is one id' (Uir most eouiprolicusivo lii'oups; it lias beeu divided l>y Audubon into 18 ilittVretil genera, and eoutains, aeeording to that author, ;")") speeies. 01' these a lair proportion are found ill our iields and gardens, where tluy render considerable serviee by ridding the ground of the seeds of such troubl dandelion and the thistle. The greater number ;ir only; a few ren>''ln all the year round, and one or two speeies visit us from the north only in scveie winters; of the latter elass a rare species has during the past wlutt-r been observed in considcralde numbers rnuhd the city. I refer to the pine grosbeak, which was first observed about the oth or (ith of January, in a garden in Merrick street, feeding on tin; berries of the mountain a:^h. They attracted attention ])y the unsus- picious way in which tliey followed their occupation, almost within reach of the people who were passing on the side-walk, shewing clearly that they were little accustomorl to the f^oclety of man. In small flocks, tlu-y continued to IVccjucnt the gardens where tlieir favorii,; i ciries were to be obtained, till about the 'l-]vi\ l-'cbruary, when a strong west wiml, ticeompanied l)y \\ann rain }U'evailcd for a day and night, after which they were no more seen. In the winter-^ of ISod-lSoT they paid a similar visit, but have not. been observed in any other year. Nearly all those which visited this part of the country were either young males nr females. The adult male was much sought after on account oi' his showy crimson plumage, but only a few of them were procured. It is worthy of remark, that the grost)eaks arc frequeutly, if not always, :;ccompanied by true Bohemian chatterers; w^uch latter feed on the stem and pulp of the berries of the mountain ash, rojccied and thrown doAvn by their hard-billed fellow travellers. ''The small fa.iiily o^ marsh hlackhirds i.s next in order, two species of which are well-known on account of their gaudy colours. One is the red-winged blackbird so common in our marshes during summer, and t! other is the Balfimorc oriole, whoso pcusile nest we sometimes see suspended from the drooping twigs of our willow shade trees. The former of the.'?e enjoys the unenviable reputation of being a notorious corn thief, and thoucch s^'veral writers have endeavored to clear his character from this imputation, yet if brought to the bar on such a charge, we might expect to hear very strong condemnatory evidence . % 198 THE BIRDS OF CANADA. J' ! ; •5 _i;iveu against liiiu by the tanner, and unle.>^.s lie eould sueeeed in getting upon the jury a majority of his friends, llic croio hlackuin/s, which had themselves tasted the corn, the chanees are that the case would gi» against him. Admitting, however, that he does oecasionally take what, was intended for others, he amply eompensates foi- it by the destruction of innumerable grubs and caterpillars, whose ravages among the corn would have far exceeded his own. A more remarkable species tliaii either of these is the row-biuitin(j, which, like the British cuckoo, builds no nest, but dropping its egg into that of another bird, leaves the care of its offspring to those not related to it even by family ties. With u,:, tiie cow-birds arc summer residents only, usually making their appear- ance about the beginning of April, and retiring to tlie south about the end uf October. It is possible that a few individuals may si)end the winter with us, in sheltered situations ; as when visiting a farm house near Dundas, early in March (1857), I was surprised to see half a dozen of these birds nestling close together on a beam just above the cattle in the eow-liousc. On enquiry, I found they had been there all winter, eoming out for a few hours about mid-day, and gleaning seeds from among the fodder of the cattle. They were all males, and seemed in excellent condition. "' it was long a subject of remark among those who were fond of observ- ing the habits of birds, that the nest of the cow-bunting was seldom, it' ever, found, and suspicions were entertained that some irregularity existed in their mode of perpetuating their race, but Wilson was the first to establish the fact that they not only shirk the duties of incu- bation, but that the whole tribe live in a state of the most unrestrained polygamy. Their conduct, in this respect, forms a striking contrast to that of all our other summer birds : these, as soon as they arrive from their winter quarters, lay aside the instinct which has kept them in flocks during their migratory course, and scattering about in pairs, each pair makes choice of a particular tree or bush, \vhich is to be their home for the season. To this spot they are devotedly attached, and near it the male may be constantly seen, either cheering his niaie with a song, or fighting bitter battles of disputed boundary with ni- troublesome neighbours. I'ivcn the woodpeckers, which, some writers say, have the smallest slif.rc of enjoyment of all the feathered tribes. i;,. THE LIRD^; OF CANADA. 109 ic'h liad )ukl l;i) ic vvluil Iti'uctioii lie corn OH tliaii , builds li'j c;iro Vith us appear- JOUt the CMld till- ui houso a, dozer) attle ill winter, ;ds from cuicd iu li'obsorv- ildoui, ii' 3-uIarity was tlio of iucu- :\straincd Qtrast to ive from them ill a pair.s, i.s to bo ttached, lis iniiio r'lth n'lA writers . tribcfj, may at this season be seen chattering and chasing cacli other round the favorite decayed tree, wiiope hollow recess is to be the cradle for their young. During all tliis excitement, the cowbinls remain in a state of callous indifference, and iu small flocks, keep roaming about the clearings like bands of vjigrants, with no song save a few splutter- ing notes, holding no intercourse with otlicr bird-;, and witli no attach- ment to any locality, save tliat whore iood is most abundant. " As the season of inculiation advances, tlie female cow-bird leaves the flock, and having made clioice of a nest to suit licr purpose, deposits therein one egg, and leaves it, not only without hesitation, ])ut, judging from lier manner, with evident satisiaction. The nest so selected is usually that of a fly-catcher or warbler, in which th'^ owner has made ;i similar deposit. AV'ilson, who spent much time in investigating this matter, tells us, that the egg of the cow-bird is hatched in less time tlian the otliers, and that the female being obliged to leave the nest to provide for the wants of tlie youngster, tlio unhatched eggs are exposed to the weather, and do not oonie to maturity, but, in a few days, disappear altogctlxcr, lc;;ving the intruder in undisputed possession of the ne^t. Tt has ever been a puzzle to naturalists^ to account for this singular habit, and as it m,".y be interesting to hear what lias l)een '•aid on the subject, 1 will here make one or two short extracts. '• Wilson, after devoti;.g more space to the description of this than any other bird he met with, says, 'what reason nature may liavc for this extraordinary deviation from the general practice, is, [ confess, altogether beyond my comprehension. i\rany conjectures, indeed, may bo formed as to the probable cause, l)ut all o( tliem, which liave occurred to me, are unsatisfactory and inconsistent. Future and more numerous observa- tions may throw some light on the matter, till then, we can only rest sati,>fied Avith the fact.' 3Ir. Selby, the eminent ]']nglish naturalist, susTii'csts, rcii'ardinc; this habit in the cuckoo that the old birds retir.' to the south before the young are able io accompany them, and /Jirir /ore they have to be conlided to (lie c-uv; oi' others. The writer of an article on this subject, in the Jirltii'h (\i/(loj):i,(h'(i of J^^afnrol IL'sfniy, says regarding 31 r. Seiby's theory, Mb is is perhaps abouc as good ;in explanation of the cuckoo's peculiarities as has yt lieen offered, but it fails, like all tlie others, in beinu (jiiite inapplicable to the Norlli 1 200 THE BIRDS OF CANADA. V 1 •■V American cow-bunting. The true cause, whatever that may bo, of this extraordinary deviation, must, we are persuaded, be the same in both, nor can we at present accept of any explanation as satisfactory, which will not alike apply to either.' " I liave been particular in making these extracts, because ic ocouvs to me that an important cjufdderation connected with the subject has been overlooked, it is one which applies alike to the cuckoo and the cowbird, and will, I think, if carefully followed up, go far to explain thi! seemingly unnatural conduct of both species. We recognize in it, as in accordance with the all-wise laws which regulate animated nature, that over each class there h imposed a salutary check, to prevent excess in production ; this is specially observable among the feathered tribes, some of which have their eggs carried away by the ship-load from the breeding places ; others, such as the grouse and waterfowl, are greatly reduced in number by sportsmen, or those who make a business of sending them to market, while the linches and blackbirds contribute largely to the support of the birds of prey, and in the southern part of the continent, are, duriug the winter, taken in numbers >', ith the net and sold for the table. None of these causes, however, in any way aftect the class which embraces the tiy-catchcrs and warblers, as from their small size and the nature of their food, they arc not sought after for those purposes. The check which applies to this class must therefore be of a dilFereut description from those referred to, and lioding no way in which their numbers are reduced to any extent, except by the sacrifice made of their own young while rearing that of the cowbird, leads me to conclude, that the habit has been given for the special purpose ol' keeping within proper bounds a class of birds which might otherwise iiave exceeded their due proportion in the economy of nature. If we suppose the liabit to be the result of any physical defect in the cowbird, we might naturally expect that it would confide the care of its young to a bird nearly allied to its own species, but in nine cases out of ten, the I'oster parents belong to a gvoup which are different both in size, habit and the nature of their food; it is evident, therefore, that the /v.s//// of the peculiarity is intended Jty nature to bear specially on the class to which the foster parents jjolong, and any one who has noticed the flocks of eowbivds wliiili pnss ;ilong on tlo'lr niigr;ilovy cniirsf* in spring and I THE BIRDS OF CANADA. L»01 [o, of (no ill 3torv, icouvs It hns Id tlio n tli(! ;is ill I, that. ;s,s in vibes, u the fall, and estimated that for cacli bird in tliose Hocks, from three to five of a different class have been prevented from coming to maturity, must admit that it is no small influence which the cowbird exercises ili main- taining the balance of power which so admirably prevails among the feathered tribes. "If we could imagine such a thing in nature, whose movomonts aiv all so well ordered as that the cow-buntings should at any time got in excess of the other class referred to, it would be curious to estimate the results; the flycatchers would then be fully occupied in rearing foster children, and not being permitted to perpetuate their own species, must soon die out, when the cowbirds, finding tliemselves without a substitute in the rearing of their young, would either be driven by necessity to make the attempt themselves, or they too would soon be added to the list of extinct species. " Passing ilic/aj/s and the crows (both of which are well deserving of notice did our limits permit), we come to a species which, in our vicinity, is the sole representative of his family/'' This is the Americint shrike, or hutcJier hird, so called from his habit of impaling his prey on thorns. With us this species appears about the end of ►September, and a few adults remain over the winter. Tlie niale frequently makes choice of a particular district as his hunting ground during his stay, and, I am inclined to think, returns to it, year after year. His aspect bespeaks both strength and courage; the short neck, broad head, and notched beak, giving him much the appearance of a bird of proy. His favorite food consists of grasshoppers and other insects, ])ut in winter when these cannot be procured, he docs not hesitate to hunt dnu'ii tin; smaller finches, killing them with a blow of his p.jwerful beak. In October last, when passing through an open field west of the race course, [ noticed one of these birds, whose motions led me to suspect he was engaged in the occupation which has gained his name ; he was too shy to allow a close inspection of his operations, but on examining the thorn bush I found too of his victims still in life on the spikes. I did not observe anything which could lead to an explanation of this singular habit, except that it seemed to take great delight in the pastinu^ skip •* Since writing tho above, T haro fouml ;i s,^,-onil spe.Me-' nem- Mil- city, wliioli niipoar- to be the Lnnim E.vouhit(}ruid>» of l!:iinl. 27 202 THE BIRDS OF CANADA. li t ping about between tbc ground and the bush, and warbling a few rather musical notes in evident token of satisfaction. " To those who have occaieion to be in the woods in winter, there is no bird so familiar as the white hrcastcJ nuthatcJi ; it is one of the few which remain with us all the year round, and is remarkable for its rest- less, inquisitive habits ; as a climber it has no equal, and may often be seen running downward on the smooth bark of a perpendicular tree, a feat which no other Canadian bird ever attempts. An examination of its feet shows a remarkable adaptation for this peculiar habit. It is furnished with a long and strongly-hooked hind claw which enables it to hang firmly in that position. It is said to roost head downward, and T have often seen it when shot, hanging in this position after death. The red-breasted nuthatch is another species of the same genus ; it re- sembles the other, but is more migratory in its habits, less in size, and slightly diflercnt in colour. " The family of woodpeckers is well represented in our woods, seven different species being observed. Of these the most common are the two spotted varieties, which resemble each other in colour, but difiFcr con- siderably in size; they are partially migratory, only a few remaining during the winter, in the fall, when passing along to the south, they arc frequently seen on the shade trees of the city, jerking themselves round to the offside of the branch when observed, or again startling the inmates of our frame dwellings, by rattling loudly on ihc decaying boards. " A very beautiful species of this family is the red-headed woodpecker, which has been remarked by those who are observant of our native birds, to be less common in this district than formerly. This can only be accounted for by the removal of the heavy decaying timber which forms the nursery of its favorite insect food, and as the country gets more under cultivation, we may look forward to the time when it will only pay us a passing visit on its way to and from the woody regions to the north of us. The least common species of this class which I have observed is the Arc- tic three-toed woodpecker. Wilson does not appear to have met with it at all, and Audubon mentions the northern part of the state of New York, as the southern limit of its migration ; it resembles the spotted wood- tin }^\ Be wi w of av ki hi to TIIK HIUDS OF (ANAIU. 203 [ther Ire is few rcat- bi l»c rce, a ion of It is >les it [1, and peckor.s iu .size and nianncrs, hut differs from them in oolor, 'itid in wanting the hind toe. Why one class of these birds should have four toes, and another, similar to it in habits, should have only throe, we are at a loss to determine. J may remark, however, that the three-toed species belongs exclusively to the north, being seldom found anioDg deciduous trees, and I have no doubt that a careful examination of the feet of this bird, and their mode of application to the bark of the pine, would give a satisftictory explanation of the seeming defect. Passing the pidgeons and the grouse, wliich are equally interesting to the sportsman and the naturalist, we come to the waders and dwimmers. Here my remarks will be general, as the haunts of these birds being beyond the reach of morning excursions I cannot say much from per- sonal observation. Of the first division of this group, whic. includes the plovers, sand- pipers, curlew, &c., little can be said, except that tliey visit the sandy shores of Burlington beach in considerable numbers every spring and fall, when on their migratory course to and from their .summer rcsidenco in the north. In spring these visits arc usually made during the month of May, occasionally the flocks remain for a day or two, but more frc- <{uently they move off after a rest of only a few hours, and arc succeeded by others bound on the same journey. By the first of June they have all disappeared except the little spotted sand-piper, which stays with us during the summer, rearing its young on the shores of the bay. Of the heron family, we have four species : viz., the great blue heron, the black crowned night heron, and the greater and lesser bitterns. Mu(di information has yet to be gained regarding the birds of this class. Being all more or less night feeders, the study of their habits is attended with peculiar difficulty. On the breast of the great blue heron, covered by the 'ong plumage of the neck, is a tuft of soft tumid feathers, which, when exposed in the dark; emit a pale phosphorescent light. The use of this '^does not appear to be fully understood, though me fishermen aver that when the heron retires at night to his feeding ground, he wades knee deep in the water, and shewing this light attracts the fish within his reach, much in the same way as the Indian does when fixing the torch of pitch-pine on the bow of his canoe. " Of the flocks of the larger water-fowl which periodically pass along ' fl: IT 204 THE IJIIIDS OF CANAHA. on their mij^nitory c(»iir,sc', ouly a very few now visit us; occawionully, ill thick or storiDy weather a few stniprglers alight on the bay to rest ami recruit themselves, though the;y gcuerrJly forfeit thoir lives by so doing. Last i'all three specimens of the American swan were thus procured, and a singh; individual of what has hitherto been considered the young td' the snow goose was also obtained ; doubts still exist as to the identity of the latter bird, some writers maintaining that it is a separate and distinct species, while others declare it to be the young of the snow goose in immatuve plumage. There arc good arguments on both sides, but conclusive information on the subject can only be obtained from their breeding grounds in the far north. " Of ducks 1 have noticed, in the market and clj-ewhcre, twenty dif- ferent species, the gayest of which is the wood-duclc^ so called from its habit of building its nest in the hollow of a decayed tree. A few pairs of this species annually raise their broods near the shores of the Dundas marsh; i\\g teal rxwiX Diallanl have also been observed leading out their young from the ready inlets of the bay, but there are exceptional cases, as the great body pass farther to the nortii, paying us a short visit going and returning.'' " Nearly allied to the ducks is the small i'amily of merganstrs, which coutaius only three speciesy peculiar to the American continent, all of which are, at certain seasons of the year, found round the shores of the bay. The birds of this class subsist chictly by fishing, and have the bill compressed and deeply serrated, to enable them to hold their slippery prey. They are also furnished with a crest, the use of which has been a matter of conjecture among naturalists, one of whom suggests that the elongated feathers of the head being acted on by the water, serve to give precision to the blow when striking the lish, nmch in the same way as a leather acts on the shaft of an arrow. The most beautiful of this L «■.. * It has beLMi remarked by tisbermeu and others, who have had occasion to bo on the waters of the bay during the fummcr months, that there are usually about a dozen ducks which keep toi^ether in a .sni.all flock, and do not seem to take any share in the duties of tiio breedin,!? season. Tlic floi^k is comiioscd of both sexes, and frcnuently of different specitis. \'iirii»us conjectures have been formed as to the cause of this singular cjnduct, but the proljubility is, tliat they are birds which, from being wounded or otherwise in ill health, have been unable to perform the journey northwards, and prefer gponding the j^ummcr in retirement, joining their comrades on their return in the fall. I The smew, or white nun, is mentioned in some works as an American bird, but it" occurronc; is very rare and considered accidental. ill TIIK BIIIDS OF rANAI>A. 20:1 iionully, y ' ol' iients on ouly 1)0 Jiity dil- iVoin its ew pairs J>undas »ut their al cases, iit goili;;' s, which at, all of 's of the the bill slippery las been that the to give I way as of this bo ou the a ddzcn re in tlio uently oC singuliir inded nr nd prefer lie fal). i, but its class is the hooded mcr;j,aiisi'r, wIiom; line erectile crest extends from the bill right over to the hind head. "With \is this .Npccies is never abun dant, but a few pairs are seen every sjtring as soon as the ico begins to shove from the sides of the bay. Their stay at this season is short, a> they soon pass on to the north to breed ; in the fall they again pay us a visit accompanied by their young, and f(.»llow their avocation vouud tin bay till they are frozen out, when they move olf to the south to spend the winter. "Two species of tern visit the bay in spring, and during winter thrti: spcf.'ics of gull have been observed at the beach. Of the latter class thl^ most conspicuous is the great black-ba<.-ked gull, which arrives from tlu- north at the approach of winter, and leaves again on the lirst appearance of spring. The woid //»//, as applied to the human species, is often used to denote dullness or stupidity, but sm h a meaning could no^ be sug- gested by the character of the birds to which it belongs, as there is not. among all other water-fowl, a more vigilant species than that which we have just referred to ; it never comes within gun-shot, and the only specimen ever procured at the beach, met liis death by following the example of an eagle in tasting a poisoned carcase, a few minutes aft( r which, both were stretched dead upon the ice. '' Lowest on the list as being least perfect in their organization, art- the grebes, a class of birds which frequent the borders of our smaliei' lakes and ponds, iiuding their sustenance chiefly in thr shallow waters, which abound with water-plants. Three different species of this genus are found in the bay, all of which arc known to the gunners by the somewhat susscstive name of ' helldivci'.' An examination of those birds shows the most wonderful adaptation to their ])eculiar mode of life. Their food beini;' obtained cutirelv under water, and their nest being ouly a few inches above its level, they have little occasion to be on land. When surprised in that situation, they seem mof:t helpless, their lega being placed so far aft, they are unable to keep the body in anything like a horizontal position, and so make poor progress in walk- ing, but the moment they reach the water they disappear under the surface, and are not again seen while the cause of alarm remains. The plumage of this species is of the most compact and silky texture, and is never penetrated by water while the bird is in life. The legs are placed 'J 'I ■} . 4 2on TirE urRDS OF CANADA. fur buliiml tin- ««'iitie of gravity, to givo it gieutor power iu Mwiiiimiug, and arc mucli compressed so as to offer the least po3Bil)lo re.sistanee to water, while the toes, iu place of being connected with a web as in the tluck, arc each furnished with a .separate inem})rane, which enables tho bird to pass with case and celerity through the tangled masses of water- plants, among which its favorito food is found. In some part of the European continent the skin of the grebe is much prized as trimming for ladies' dresses ; and in olden time, when the fo\vling-p-iec(! was a less perfect instrument than at present, consiilerable diiliculty was found in s»ip[)lying tho demand, as the grebe being a most expert diver, disappeared at the tirst Hash of tho gun, and was under water ere the shot could, leach it. Since the invention of the percussion cap, however, they are more readily killed, and were any of our Hamilton ladies desirous of having a dozen or two of grebe's skins ibr trimmings, I have no doubt the birds would be forthcoming. At present, there being no demand for the skins and the flesh being unsuitable for the table, they are not much disturbed. " Of the three species alluded to, one is a winter visitor, the other two remain during the summer, and rear their young in Dundas marsh and the reedy inlets of the bay. They are well protected with feathers, yet seem very sensitive to the cold, moving off to tho south at the first touch of frost; returning again about the ' tter end of April. " 1 have thus alluded to only a few of our more remarkable birds. Tho total number of species observed in the near vicinity of the city, from May, 185(5, to the present time, amounts to 20(5, each of which has a separate and distinct history of its own, though in many cases it is very imperfectly known to us. If sportsmen and others, who have oppor- tunity of observing the birds in their native haunts, could be induced to make notes of their observations, and communicate them to public bodies having the means of making them known, much new information would no doubt be gained, and we could with tolerable certainty ascertain the the geographical distribution of many species, a point at present undetermined." «■: 4 FAUNA AND ILORA, 20 r iiiiiiiij^;, .ilic'c to ill tlu; Irs tlio wator- (>r till. Jamiii anb J;lon of tljc ivtrcinc Hortli-tast. •I At a recent ineoting of tlu! Chicii.i^o Acuilciiiy of Scioncc.-^, Hr. Ketuiicott gave some intcrcptiii^ particulars of a lari:;o tract of laiul called the IJarren Ground, in the occup!\tiou of the Hudson's liny Coni- ])any, being the extreme north-east portion of North America, east o\' Hudson's JJay, whither he liad been under the auspices of the AndulxDi and other learn(>d societies, to make collections and observations in natural history. The speaker described the Barren Land a.s of \n>-i »'xtent, eoverinir thousands of scjuare nii'.es which had never yet Ixu'n trodden by the foot ol' whitt man, and probably was unknown to the Indian. Nothing but lichens and mosses ;:'row oti this vast territorv, and the animal and /lorn which art' found on it an; very marked aiul peculiar. lie said that the immense tract of land bore about the s:im(> relation to the prairie as the prairie l)ear.« to the wooded country. With very few cxceptionH, there; was nothing to be seen but the lowest kind of //■;/■«. llis visit there was in the winter, and he had felt tlu, weather quite warm. The si>eaker spok«' nf tin; migration of birds northward, across the tract during spring. In high winds, when they ll(>\v low, he had shot several of them; and i'ound, upon examination of the seed?! they had eaten, that they were such as could have eome oidy from the State of California or the neighbourhood oi'Oreixon. TFe stated that he had observed several speeimen.s of granite and very fine eopjier, tin- latter so pure that the Indians liad had no dilUeulty in niaking i( into spear-hcads ; and he had lit his pipe at a lire caused by llu' spontaneo\>s eombustion of a peculiar kind of eoal whie'i had ]M.l). P. V. Robin, Esq. (J.VME. The wasteful practice of the Indians in slaying the moose, tor tho purpose of obtaining skius alone, is still persevering ly earned on during the close season in many of the districts irequentoci by this gam., which is in consequence, rapidly diminishing from year to year ; other results cannot possibly be andcipated, as no steps are taken by_ the government of the JountiT, by the municipal or other local authonties m the u w and distant settlements, to arrest these wanton Pr''«'-^^'^l^"f " ^"^"^ ^f, existino' state of tbe law, it is the conscientious sportsman alone who is prcclu(fed from enjoying a brief excursion during winter, in pursuit ot these monarchs of the Canadian forest ,.,,•,, ,i;ft\v fr .m the The caribou have increased in numbers ; tboir liabits f '^ :^ J^^ "^.^ ^ habits of tho moose; they are more ^^-^!«^ ^^^ ^f 7^ , ^^^^^^^ their spreading hools aud light action u^ist t^ie^r ^l'^''^ I ;^ ^^^^ snows when lollowod by the huntsman ; their hides, as objects ot tiatiic, arc not of such value to the Indians as tbe skins ot l^lTf'.^ -^ An experienced craftsman, a member of this Club, k. lied ic.ently, n a sh "r bray, nu h.<< than ten caribou, together with a great quan ty of hei gan. of which ptar.nigan formed the largest P'^oportion^ These lrds,mAwith in numbers, were generally found ^" glades and op^^^^^ spaces in the coverts, where their food-.«wild fruits and buds of particular trees aud shrubs— was plentiful. 28 210 APPENDIX. Jhircs autl Ciiiku1;i ;.;roUfC v/ere ;ilr:o iiict "itli iu unusually lariio quautitics. (^ol. Kliodos, as well as oilier s})ortsiueu, obsei'voil ihat the licrds (tf carilxni were lari:c,ainl juiitaiucd a jtromisiiig nuiiibor of youii^ auiiuuls. The eliase of this wary and swil't-i'totcd game is hiiilily appreciated by (lie true Cauadiau sportsman, who, to hunt it successfully, must possess the staunch (jualifications of the deer stalker and cliaaiois hunter com- bined, as these animals arc usually found in herds roaming over tbc bleak mountain-sides and frozen lakes of our northernmost districts. AVhcL! the surface of the snow is soft and yielding, and a suitable wind prevails, the caribou may be approached by careful stalking; but during calm weather, or when the snow is crusted, the only chance of o/btainiag a shot is I'or the sportsman to hide himself to the Iccwanl of his game, an attendant is then ordered to make a distant circuit and rlioo(|. (Jreat numbers of rei' o/btainijg liis iiaiJic, [id ,u;ivc' the i.scovcr the way ill the rj;ei to pro- ilcil hunter, markets >d' It, and were awa District about tl'.irty mcu in that 10 ieiico time in the same ic animals is y at oiico to ,}, aAvaits tho ]>e by swim- mes ensues, md, the deer od" — a good summer nnd Ic some bold 'or UKiy years (! iVeqiientt'd iitrv around ])rairie fowl rded to New ent sections, ] and the markets were well su[>plied with them, ft is, however, much I to be deplored thr.t tlie Act docs not entirely prohibit the kijlinn- of water-fowl of different species in the coupling season, and that no prov sion of law is yet made to prevent the shooting of woodeoci congregated on their leedint;' grounds betwoei\ sunset and whih b -sunrise ; hy ensivi'lv suffering this wholesale method of destruction, which is ext Ibllowod in this district, many coverts become entirely denuded of thi- excellent game. Rumors prevailed last spring tint the shooting oJ' suipo was a ;>ood deal indulged in during the breeding timi^, and it was not only to tl lower orders that illegal practices in tins respect were imputed 10 Information of infringements of tlie (iame Act v.'a- sent to yuur (Jommittec in three instances during the ]iast year, and ])n)secutions were brought accordingly, wliieli resulted in two convielions. Owin^:, however, to the paradoxical cpiniuns expressed in relation to the protec- tion of fish and gaim; by the magistrate who fiappene I to preside, the third case was withdrawn by the Club. Vour Committee regret that no Icgislaiiou lias yet been adopted towards arresting tho practice of shooting tlio singing and small Ijinls o\' the country. It is generally on a Sunday that tho dissolute emerae' with their guns and other engines to carry on a warfare against tlie pretty songsters, whose bodies, when dead, are useless, but whose cheerful notes, while living, awaken pleasure and delight. L''rom the fact that the existence of the small birds confers gre;:t benefits upon agriculture, by destroying insects hurtlul to vegetation, it is surprising tliat no philanthropic legislator lias yet introduced a law to save them from destruction. The Ifumane Society, recently organi/ed in this city, within whoso province the repression of heedless acts of cruelty naturally lies, will no doubt consider whether if would not l)ecom(> that body to arrest this wanton destruction of life. This Club is deeply indebted to J. }.I. liO^Foine, Es^ , for several excellent communications publislied by that gentleman, onnected with the objects of this association. Vour Committee cannot close this part of their report without congra tulating their fellow members upon tho marked increase apparent last season in some of those objects of human food, which their Society desires to promote, and they also believe that the humble elibrts of this Club, aided by similar associations now establi'-hed in ditferent parts nf the province, as well as la Nov:i Scotia, have not been altogether uninteresting to those who really ;;opreeiale ar, inere.asr in the game n|* Canada as a desirable obiect. S.VLAION AXn .S.M,:\IOX JMSIIKLIIES. The restoration of our salmon and trout lislu rics, whicii lias boon attempted by the government, is a subject wiiich interests the i)ublic as deeply as it does every member of this assotiiation. 212 APPENDIX. l-i' The coast:^, rivers and lakes of Canada, which nature and nature alone had stocked with a rich provision of wholesome food, requiring ncit)ic» expense to maintain nor labor to cultivate, in numerous instances jrom the improvidence of the Indian, the greed of the whitL' man, and the long-coutiuuod in iin'i'rence of the government, had become entirely barren — and in ot'iicr cases the supply Iiad so diminished as to render ever}' exertion twwaids the ]n'eser\'ation and increase of these fisheries an object of })araniount in.'poriaiice. 'IMiis Chib, therefore, has never failed !o regard with great interest the late efforts of the Executive to rescue these fisheries from the state of depression to which years of reck- lessness and inattention had reduced them. These struggles have been attended with much benefit in promoting the increase of salmon in some of the rivers* of the Lower St. Lawrence — other rivers would, no doubt, have equally profitted had the well-intended efforts of the government been fully seconded by an elhcient and laborious staff. The system of leasing salmon ii«;liing stations and fishing rights, although at one time regarded as a somewhat speculative measure, has succcssfullv coMtributcd to;v'ards promoting an incrca.-^e of these valuable fish. The 3Ioisie, which sent so large a supply of excellent salmon to this market during the jjasl summer, and which river has been managed for the past two (*r three years by an experienced tacksman, affords an apt iliustration of the results to be obtained by careful and prudent fishing; the boon eonicrred by placing ^o large a quantity of wholesome food within reach of all class:s (d' the community was fully appreciated. The incredible rapidity willi which ihe young salmon increase in development and gain ilesh has been recently ascertained with great accuracy, twenty months sufficing from the deposition of the ova to prodiM^e marketable fish; each fortnight of tlicir stay in the salt water, after their lirat descent of their native river, adds over a pound to their weight. From the rapid increase in size and weight of these fish, in the sea, it is interesting to know what compo.-.es their naiural food wiiile there. I'rofessor Qucckett thinks they live upon the ova of the sea-urchin ; Professor Huxley considers that their ibod consists of small eiustacia^. This question admits of no difiiculty with regard to the fish fre({uenting the Gulf of St. Jjawreuce and its coasts, as the operatives engaged in splitting and curing salmon inv:iria])ly find their stomachs gorged with caplin and young herrings. The advantages resulting from the artificial propagation of salmon over the natural way, are also remarkable ; it is estimated that not more than one ovum in a thousand naturally deposited in a rive- becomes a marketable fish, while one in each liuudred placed in a hatching-box be- l li ^' - Since the Jiicques dirtier has fallen into the hands (if private individvials, the catch of palmon, in ISl'^J, attained the unprecedented fl<;i:ro of tu-o luuidrod fish. The pools of the Ste. Anno were , swarming witli tish last y jar, and lio,-li salmon on th<, Quebec market was, from its abundance, as l'>w ns two pence half-penny per pound, one seaf^on. -~{J. M. L.) ;ure alone ; ncit^.c. cos jroiii and the entire)}' to render fisheries las never cutive to s ot reck- lave been 1 in some uo doubt, verniuent g i-ig-lits, nsure, has e valuiiblf! on to this inagcd fol- ds an apt it fisliiiiy ; some lltod iated. n crease in witli "reat he ova to salt water, id to their the sea, lile there, a-urehin ; Luustaci;e. j((iienting agaj2;ed in rged with )f salmon not more )ecomes a g-box be- s, the catch 1'ho pools thv, Quebec one season. APPENDIX. 2ia comes a perfect salmon. The superiority', therefore, of artilloial breeding, in re-stocking rivers which have becoin.' barren, is obvious, and it is not by any uhkuis an expensive oi)cration ; the orlgiuiil o.-t ol' the pimds at iStormoiitficUl, which annually send tD sea 200,001.) s;il»i )n, was only .tdOO, and the yearly ex])ciise does not exceed .CoO. Ite(.'ont dIscovcri(\< In th" natnr d lilstury of tlio Sdnio S'lfur have also served to elucidate many p ijuts wliirh were sul>jeets of controversy among naturalists, as well as piisctical li-hermon. It is now ascertained that the ova oi' salmon are only feeuiiilited afier leaving the lish, and the fecundation may be eifocted not only by the milt of the full-grown male, but also })y that of the grilso and tli<^ parr.-'' About onedialf the ova hatched become siuoults, whieh descends to the sea during the first year of tlu'ir hatehing, the remainder continuing in their native river till the following senson, und in a few instances some of the latter remain in thi'ir nui'sery until \hr. third year, b lore ihoy nre rca of anuatiu insects and water fowl ; tlii; vi>ui)2' frv. too. ;tre. destroved in great uumber.s by other tish. None ol' our exhausted rivers have yet been re-stocked, nor has any determined eftbrt been made by the gnvemiui nt staff to restore any of them; twenty month- sufhcing to prh. No marked increase of trout aiTectIng the -mailer rivers and inlami lakes has yet been observed, as the law aifonls no protection to thes(! fi.sh during the spawning time nature assigned to them. The proper close season for trout ought to commence on the first of September anil terivdnate on the first of January. In August, 18.58, it was by 'law enacted that a fidi-way ^ill0uId be attached and maintained to every dam or slide where lish might ascend. The present Act enjoins the same thing, and directs the Superintendent of Fisheries to see that such lisii-way is maintained. Your Committee regret to add that, notwithstanding that more than four vcars liavo now elapsed since the parsing of the first law, there are vet salmon rivers in Lower Canada barred !iy mill-dams ami slides, which * IJron'n'opulous districts. To capture or have in possession at any time young salmon, under a certain weight, should be prohibited, 'i'ho young of trout ought also to bo protected. The practice of setting fixed or stationery lines in the inland lakes ought also to be forbidden. !■. W. (1. AT'STIN, >S'/vvv^r/ry- TV'-as/r/v/v Quebec. L%/,7 /th instant, notice be jj:ivcn to all dealers that ten days will be allowed them to dis [tose of the stock on liarnl, but that alter that time an i: foimation v.il! be laid against any one havin;^ them in his possession, A well-known trailer I'rom Vercheres, who has been in tlie haliit of supplying the markets and hotels with game, both in ami on! of season, was detected on one of tin; market boats in May la.>t. IJi- hag of gome was eoniiscated, and himself convicted in ten dollars and ci.'st.s. hi tins case, the Club reward was divided ))etween the informer and the police constable who eiVected the capture. On the loth of .hine last, the reward was elaimed for the conviction of one Ives, of the 'i'ownship of Jlolton, for having shot three partridges on the 25th April. A cortilicd copy of the conviction before 11. S. Foster, lllsq., J. I*, for ijedford, having been received, as also a letter from that gentleman, stating that the penalty awarded (sixteen dollars) had been liuforceii, the sum often dollars was I'cmitted to the party who ]irosecuted. it having I'ouie to the knowiedti'c oi' die Committee, that fish and game, out of season, had been served at the .St. James Club House, this was at once brought before the managers, aii'l a letter was received .'k onee abounded with llicse lish up to the very foot oi' Niagara, have nearly succeeded in destroying all v/ithin uur reach. Mill dauis and uiill oft'il, stake nets, and the villanous spear upon the s[)awuing grouiul, htive all but doue their work ; and unless the elVorts now being made are successiul, and both government and peo[)le give themselves to the simple Avork of .seeing that the/ryvr iia/nnr get common fair jday, a few years more and we shall indeed have killed our goose for the sake of its goldeu rggs. As the Club are aware, Mr. .Price, M.P.P., has had beiore rarliament l«ir several sessions bills to amend the Fishery and (JamcActs. Your Committee have been in eommunicatiou with that gentleman ou the subject, and have pleasure in acknowledging the prompt attention which these suggestions received at his hands. The Committee have recommended the following amendments to the [tresent laws : — <;a:me act. Sc(t. o. — This clause declares it unlawful to kill t'ertain game by snaring, but it i-3 del'cctive in not providing again.vfc the buying, selling or having iu possession game that has manifestly been killed ])y snaring. It is only by the enforcement of such a i-lause as this that the evil can practically be reached. l):ccf. i. — lleferring to the killing of wild geese, ducks, kc, should be amended so as to prohibit their destruction between the 1st April and the -Uth August, in every year. It would be better : till to prohibit spring shooting altogether. Serf. 11. — That it is highly desirable to prohibit altcg(;ther, and at all seasons, the destruction, carrying avray, &c., of the eggs of wild fowl in all parts of Canada, or at least Avest of the Kiver f^aguenny — incal- culible injury being done in this way every spring, especially on the Lakes St. Fjaucis and 8t. Peter, and the marshes adjacent. JScct. lo. — That in the opinion of the Club it has become of im- portance to consider how far it is right or necessary any longer to draw the marked distinction now existing between the Indians and all other \^ APIPBNDTX. 217 that d ill s of md.s •V(.'S cut, n\ a (Ult- '', •uuf; •crv ni' of Her Majesty's subjects, cspocially in parts of Cauada where the former have CO a great extent adopted the habits and pursuits of civilized life, and vfhere the practices cuniplainod of are carried on, not for sustenance, but pecuniary gain. There can be no doubt, for instance, that the great destruction of the eggs of game fowl ])erpetrated every year in the neighborhood of Lake 8t. Francis, is principally the work ef the St. Regis Indians, and that there, and in other parts of (.'annda, the injurious consequences of the peculiar privileges granted to this class are becoming every day the more manifest. FISHERY ACT. One eftect of the amended Act now before Parliament will be, if i* passes, to shorten the present fence time for trout and lunge, substitut- ing the 2Uth of September and 10th of December for the present dates. This the Committee regret, and have represented their desire that these fish should ho kept out of market till at least the 1st January, and later if possible. Your Committee also recommended that clauses similar to sections 10 and 15 of the Game Act should be inserted in the Fishery Act, provid- ing that it shall be the duty of clerks of markets. Sec, to seize and con- fiscate all fish exposed for sale, or otherwise, in contravention of the Act; and, also, that Custom-hcnise officers should be invested with similar authority, as much of the fish killed at improper seasons, or in an imprope. manner, is carried for sale into the United States. Your Committee have also recommended that a clause be introduced into the Act prohibiting mill offul, saw-dust, or tan bark, from being thrown into the rivers and streams. It is true the Agricultural Act provides for this to a certain extent, but saw-dust is not specified in the clause; and, in any case, it would be well to have tliis matter, which so particularly aff'ects the fisheries, provided for in the Fishery Act. The above suggestions have, with but few exceptions and alterations, been adopted by Mr. Price, and either have, or will be introduced into the bills which he has before Parliament. Whether they will become law or not, or if so, when, it is of course impossible to say. They have already been before the house for two sessions ; perhaps during the present one a little time may be spared for the business of the country. Among other suggestions which your Committee felt it their duty to press on the Legislature of the country, was one urging for the protec- tion of the smaller insectivorous birds. It is now well understood that the wanton destruction of these birds, which too commonly prevails, especially in tlie neighborhood of large cities, does mucli injury to the agrieultural and hortieultural interests of the country ; and your Committee obtained from a gentleman of this city, who has devoted much attention to these subjects, a very complete list of the ornithology of Canada, discriminating between the birds injurious and those useful to the most important interests. This list was sent through the Hon. 3Ir. Ho.>-c to Mr. Joly, M.P.P., and the latter gentle- 218 APl'ENDrX. raan has introduced :i bill which fiubracos the sii;,'ge.«it,ions of your Com- mittco, and which they trust may become law. This bill prohibits the destruction of the birds protected, except at certain seasons. It woul ! be better to prohibit it altogether. There in no use in shooting them at any season ; on the contrary, nuicli evil. Your Committee had in view the publishing in both languages of a full synopsis of the Fishery and Game Acts, accompanied ])y an appeal to the community in general for countenance and aid. Tliis they in- tended to circulate widely throughout country places especially, and they hoped thus to be able to interest the influential and enlightciicd in their favor. They have delayed doing so, however, until it be known if any amendments to these acts arc to be made. This will probably be ascer- tained in a few months, when the Committee would recommend to their riiecessors to carry out the proposed pul)lication. Notwithstanding all the penalties that can be attached to the improper destruction of game, the practice will bo carried on so long ^s the evil eonseetobcr every lungo found on the spawning grounds, l)0came s])ort and prodr in tlie l)avbarians of the the spear. Many of the respectable aiuoog the inhabitants on its shores deeply regret this, and would do all in their power to prevent it, short of running the risk of havintr their houses and burns burned by the vagabonds who fcdlow this ncl'.u'ious trade, and who do not he-itate to threaten this as the result of taking any steps against them. It would be well did the law providi} for the taking of the most notorious nf such depredators to some distance, sny to Sherl)rooke, for trial ; and your Committee would strongly rcconimend to their successors to urge upon the Crown Lands Department the necessity of sending to that locality a force of three or four special constables during the next spawning season. The laws are openly defled tliere, the local authorities quitu inadequate; and the preservation of the black trout or lunge, io that noble lake, is well worth the small expense it would entail on the government. With regard to general sporting interests during the past year, your Committee would observe that game of nearly all kinds has been somewhat more plentiful. Ducks of the different varieties were numer- ous. The partridge, or Canada grouse, appear to be incn asing in number, the destruction by snaring seems to have been somewhat lessened of late years, and if the amendment to the bill asked for were passed, and snared game could be seized in the market, there ii no doubt that this practice would soon cease, and this fine bird become exceedingly abundant. Snipe have visited us in great numbers during thu past year, and woodcock were very abundant during the breeding season ; about the beginning of August, however, and earlier than usual, thev took their accustomed flight to parts unknown, and did not return in ►September in numbers, by any means, as large as usual. Deer appear to have been abundant, especially in Canada West, but the Committee is credibly informed that gre.it numbers wer-- wantonly slaughtered last spring, in the vicinity of (jttawa, at a tim*- when neither carcase nor hide is of any valui>. The angler has had less reason to congratulate hims(;ll'. There can be no doubt but that the black bass, the game fish jjar fsrelkace of the waters in our immediate vicinity, are year by year diminishing in numbers. A few 220 APPENDIX. , • ■> yecrs ago they could be taken in plenty with the rod very near Lachino, now they are gettinp; scuroc even at 8t. Anns and the Cascades. Whatever the reason of this, — deficient protection at the spawning season, netting in the St. Lawrence and Ottawa, or the constantly increasing disturbance of the waters by our constantly increasing trade, all but th(i last reason is to be regretted; I'or whether as sport to the disciples of [suae Walton, or food to the hungry, there arc few finer fish in our waters than the bold and agile bass. Your Coniujiltoe have, in conclusion, to cungratulato the Club on the large accession to its number since the beginning of the last year and the interest which has been taken in its objects. Success, say we, to a cause so ably advocated and in whoso favor we lee enlisted many of the leading men of the great connuercial metro- polis of the Canadas. MEMBERS OF THE MONTREAL FISH AND GAME PROTECTION CLUB. Henry McKay, Geo. Horne, Alex. Hamsay, Danl. Wylie, Walter Macfarlaxe, J. Thomson, Wm. M. Freer, Andrew Law, Don. Ross, Alex. Murray, E. At WATER, Jas. Baillie, R. A. Brooke, J. J). CRAWrORDj r. d. collis, Wm. Edmonstonk, Jas. Gordon, Benj. Hutchins, John Hope, Jas. Button, J. H. Joseph, B. Lyman, Wm. Mocdie, Dayid Mair; Chas. Geddes, Jes.sie Joseph, J. M. Miller, H. L. Macdougall, M. McCullocii, Tiios. Ogilvy, John Ooilvy, Alfred Rimmer, W. W^ Ramsay, F. H. SiMMS, S. H. Thompson, D. A. P. Watt, Thos. Wilson, c. j. coursol, Gordon McKenzik, J. J. Brady, J. E. Malhiott. L. W. Marohand, G. F. Prowse, Duncan Robertson, M. McCulloch, Lewis S. Black, L. A. Duvernay, H. H. Merrill, APFENDIX. 221 chino, icades. jtantly trade, to the V finer lub on st year 'or we raetro- D. L. Macuouoali., Ed. Mac KAY, W. S. Maofarlane, W. Philiji's. K. A. Prentice, Jackson Hae, GiLBEi'T Scott, (1. W. Warner, Augustus Uewaud, Jas. Walker, Henry Bulden, Jas. Esdaile, John Scott, J. E. Caillet, Tugs. McDuff, K. NiCOLSON, Hy. Chai'man, A. MoK. Forbe-s, J. Kerhiiaw, W. C. WlLIAR, P. Leslie, Cai't. McFarlane, M T , Louis Uetournay, And. Uorertson, .\lex. Cross, Fredk. W. Kay, Henry Starxes, 11. II. liuLLER, t)Oth Rifles, Alphonse Boyer, Major (Iordon, 00th Rillo.s, IIy. Thomas, Adoli'iie Uoy, Tiios. 0. IIOOERS, Alex. Mglsgn, Capt. Miller, GOth Riflo.i. CLUB. I ■ '• ERRATA I' P'.«6 13, 1 « 118, .- 133,