IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 m ^ LS, 12.0 \15 ■ 2.2 u& 1.25 III 1.4 1 [.6 < 6" - ► ScMices CarpoFEition 37 <^ ^^ ^\ ^r\\ 23 WIST MAIN STRin WnSTIi,N.Y. I4SM (71«)S72-4S03 A^ ^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVI/iCIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historicai IVIicroreproductions / institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notas/Notas tachniquas at bibliographiquas Tha Instituta has attamptad to obtain tha bast original copy availabia for filming. Faaturas of this copy which may ba bibliographically uniqua, which may altar any of tha imagas in tha raproduction, or which may significantly changa tha usual mathod of filming, ara chackad below. 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I -i-. t :^-v . y n V3 ; :ii.i hi It ^l/h 'ihiiY ifi .Yift Till ifii 11 A .. r .-'Rv E-.F,:....A G; ...IE:* 'O "■ ft' ji ! . < ^' - , -^ I ' .' / ; J: -■■ , • • ' • ; THE rfoUowkig Utters were -writteiT to . gi:^t4fy private ftietidihip,aiKl,wQuld never have , -been intruded upon the Public, but from the entaet^ties of Ibme of the liioft r^fpeftable Subfef ij^ers to the Work* who flattered the A^tjior, that ats they contained much autti^tic information* xelative to America, little known on this ^de of the Atlantic, they c^uld not fail -pf being interefting to the Public. Their t vi ] Their Ityle and manner will clearly evince, them to be the a£lu4 refult of a familiar correfpondence, and by no means void of thofe inaccuracies neceflarily arif- ing from the rapid efFutions of a confef- fcdly inexperienced Writer, which will fcarcely be wondered at, by thofe who confider how widely different are the qua- lifications necefTary' to form the Soldier and the Author. i ^ I Every thing tiie Reader may meet with will not appear dri^ly nouvellei hut this is a circumflante iitiavoidably atteiiding th^ writer of a toilf through a country, which has been alrelwiy the fubje^t of fo much difcuffiori} but there ^ are certainly many new circumftances related, which vvill ferve to point out the true charafter and banners of the Americans, ^ The I :f :,-'?*WB"'WfcnfcMsr(' ^ A- [ vU ] The fafts came within his own know- ledgcj or are fupported by fome honour- able authority; and iiis motto has ever been, N othing extenuate^ Nor fet down aught in Malice. They will ftrike every man with the greater force, after the evident partiality of a late Authdr, i;fhb has been led to rqprefent the iJ^a^prexs Qf Independence asi j^ofleffed of eveij^ amiablfe' qualification, and thefe who efpoufed the rights of the Mother Country, as d^eftitute of common feelings, and humanity itfelf. ■'■' . " - » ; .'[.,.'1 I„jaauii«o'.) i<. . ;• The Author, fennble how much thofe Subfcribers, whofe generofity has exceeded the limits of the fubfcription, would be hurt by a particular diftin6lion, co- jointly renders them thofe thanks. •' Which the tried heart that feels alone can give." ,■ 1- ». 1 I. I ... fl7/0 . -^ ^4 r -« • J > ' ;i. li,li'// fir- ; .*•,"•;',■: 'r-'^' OlRBCTldN6 >Oit ri.ACIM« THB ri.ATB9« » i . ■ < i ,. ' •' . i .1 - , J J. . J ' • . . . . , '' . .. ..- . .. .V O'^, U •,.;,. ■■■: Map oi Ameri^, oppo^te the Title Pag^, Facing Page Vic«r t^ St. John's, upok the River SdVrell * v «36 The Scdion aQ(l riao of » Blocklioufe, ,,- » /i.fi.^MiZ ladiaa Warrtor ... • • ^i LVidv bf the B10bkli(fulb iad S««r MIB 'Vi ntfv' nV» 1-^ j5orr; View of the Eocampment at Still Wator • • .431 , /- . :. ■• *^ ': ,■/■ 'f •"■•>ri"^/. V O L. II. • . ; f ^ . . ■ . . . . . J J . , i , 1 . ,. American Continental OoUan • • « • ^00 View of the Encampment of the Convention Army, at ) - ;*•,-,: . f, v i- .^, ' ■ ■■■..''' . .'t. ,' ■ .-■'1 ■'' .'".}]''' .. Charlottelville ■ J » V ' • ^ . •iijJi.i-i£q i. v^^ J.;.i* /'n*'5dj . t Ij^hj mh fbJii'V.: ■' ^« i SUBSCR IBERS T O THE WORK. HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS— THE DUKE OF YORK HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS — PRINCE W^ILLIAM HENRY JHIS ROYAL HIGHNESS— THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER mis royal; HlGHNESS^THf DUKE OF CUMBERLAND H IS Grace- The Right Hon.- The Right Hon.- The Hon. Lady- His Excellency -The Duke of Argyle —The Earl of Altamont —Lord Audley -Harriet Ackland •Baron D'Alvenfleben THE ROYAL RECZAjENT OF ARTILLERY: Lieut. Col. Walicer I J ohnfton SUBSCRIBERS, Major Williams Lemoine Blomefield Captain Houghton — — DylUrt ' ,. — — Willington •r— s Whitworth Collier — — -Remingtori — — r-Howarth •Hadilei) l^ieut Reed . Neville ■ Sutton burgeon Mr. Wild ^ajor Affleck,- -Portland-Street Capt. Armftrong, (8 Regt. of Foot) James Abel, Efq. -Cloak-Lane John A^ams, Efq. Alexander Adair, Efq.- -Pall Mall Mrs. Tpwers Allen^-T-Queen*s- Square Mr. A. C. Arnold,-^— LoweltofF Mr. Rd. Aldridge, -Briftol Mr. Wm. Auftin,—— Idol-Lane Ainfley's Library,— ——Edinburgh Andrews's Library,- — : — Worccltcy Mr. Axtell,* — -!— Cornhill James P. Andrews, Efq, JVaiical:)lc Society, — — -.Nofrfiampton B ' The Rt, Hon.— — --The Earl of Buckinghamijlire The Rt. Hon.^ The Earl of Barrymore •rhe Rt. Hon. r-The Earl of Balcarrcs The Rt, Hon. T he Counted of Ba|carfe$ The Rt. Hon.- The Earl of Breadalbanp The Rt. Hon. Vifcdunt Barrington The Rt. Hon.— — Vifcount Beauchamp ^he Rt. Hon* Lord Bro\vniow SUBSCRIBERS; 6r.idd)ll, Ffq. Mrs. Praddvll tSir Robert ijarker, Bart. 8ir William AugMltus Brown, Ezrti Richard Benyon, Efq; M. P. (Jencial Bur^oyne Dr. Brociclefby, -N6rfolJc -Street Lieut. Col. Bowyer, (66 Regt.) Capt. Bell, (igRegt.) Lieut. Col. Baillie, Edinburgfi Capt. Bowen, Independent Comp. Capt. Barrette,— ' Doncaller, (lOO Regf.) Lieut. Budworth,. (72 Regt.) Richard Barwell, Efq. M. P. ' ' ' Blomfield, El'q. John Bax, Efq^ ?refton, Kdnt John Benjafield, Efqii— ^ Parliament-Stfefst Thomas lieardmore, Efq. Temple Mr. John Berry, Canterbury-Square The Rev. Mr. Bowcher, Piccadilly George Biggins, Efq. ——Eflex- Street Ynyr Burgefs, Efq< — —EsSl India Houfe The Rev. Dr. Bate,— Walton Lieut. Bartlet, (Royal Engineers }-»-;-^Chathafrt Mr. Broughton, Treaftif-y Mr. John Breadhower, PortfmoutH Mr. Barnikle, — --.Plymouth Mr. Burtenlhaw'*s Libifary^ ^-Brighthelmftcf^e Thomas B6weS, Efq. Mr. Bull's Library, -^^ Bath Mr. Thomas Batchelor, Brlftol Mr. Beazeley,-^- — Blacic-Friars Road Mr. J. B. Beeket, Briftol John Bourchier, Efq. — -^Ipfwich Mr. Barrukel Rob. Bai;reft, Efq.— -^ Capt. Arthur Buttdl,- James Betts, Efq. — .- Wm. Butler, Efq. i-Londori - — Marines i:fi6x-Streef .Gr.:fil«-Scre(f Mr. Baker's Library, -.Southaii ptoii Mr, Barry's Librar)', fhliin^s SUBSCRIBERS. The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- Thc Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- 1 he Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.. The Earl of Chefterfidd ■TheEiirlofCarliflc The Earl of Cholmondeley >The Earl of Camden -The Earl of Cavan -Lord Craven ■Lord Clifford Lord Carberry Lord Cathcart Lord Fred. Campbell The Rt. Hon.- Sir Wm. Clerke, Bart. Sir Hy. Gough Calthorpe, , Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. General Chriftie,— Leicefter-Squarc Major Campbell, (24 Regt. of Foot) Capt. Cotter, (103 Regt.) Bryan Cooke, Efq. Mrs. Cooke Wm. Cowden, Efq.— -Meufe Ralph Clayton, Efq. Richard Crofts, Efq.— Pall Mall The Rev. Mr. Cove, Helftone Mrs. Cafement, ditto James Crowdy, Efq. Swindon, Wlhs Mr. Jos. Colborne, Surgeon, Brentwood Mr. Edm. Cotterell, Cold Bath Fields Mr. James Cooper,—— ^Swithin's-Lauc Dr. Cockall ^ Mr.- Thomas Conder, Alderfgate Street The Rev. Mr. Crutwell, — ^Oakingham James Cobb, Efq. Eaft India Houfe Mr. Crawford's Library, -Brighthelmftone Jos. Chew, JEfq. Sec. for India Affairs, ——North America William Curtis, Efq.— — London Lieut. Crichion, (31 Regt.)— — Gofport J. Croft, Efq. m 1^ SUBSCRIBERS. D (is Grace— —The Duke of Devon(hir« The Rt. Hon.- rhc Rt. Hon.- t"hc Rt. Hon.- ["he Rt. Hon.. rhe Rt. Hon.- "HcRt Hon.- ^he Rt. Hon.- Phe Rt. Hon.. -The Earl of Derby -The Earl of Dartmoiitli -The Earl of Donegal -The Countefs ot Darnlcy -Vifcount Duncannon -Vifcount Dalrymple -Lord Ducie -Lord DorchefteJ" a .^T V'- ...:>, ^olonel Dundas Lieut. Will, Dalton, (Royal Navy) ^Rotherfnthc ieut. Col. Delancey, Margaret- Street, CaV6iidi£h-Sqaart f^or Dalrymple, (49 Regt. of Foot) jipt. Duncan chard Dowding, Efq. ShadwfeM r. George Dixon,— -Wooburnc [r. John Dew,— — Shenfield jr. B. U. Dowfon,— — Geldefton \ •j> [he Rev. D. Davies, — —Macclesfield fulot and Owen's Library, Brightbdmftoflft teff. Downes and March, Yarmouth . — jhe Rev. H. Bate Dudley, Bradwell , / lich. Jles bimfdale, Efq. Lo.'^cndl i'jtiioj d \ : H 'i'-->if'l 'he Rt. Hon.— 'he Rt. Hon.- 'he Rt. Hon.- 'he Rt. Hon.- -TheEarIofEffi*^ih & -The Earl of EgUiiglbuneA —, -The Earl of E'ultoa i . . v •Lord Eiphinflrbne u .d:j lio ~~ ir James Erlkine, Bart.—- -Cavendiih-Squarc ';:.^- THE ROYAL ENGINEERS*;^ ,.^p ^^j.^jj [ajor General Sir William Greene, Bart. ' ' ' ' ' '^' ^ lieut. Col. Moncrief [apt, Twifs , SUBSCRIBER^' Cnpt. Rudyard Lieut. Beatfon I Courture — — Bartlett Mrs« Edgar,— Mrs. Edwards,- Ptrcy-Strecf Savage-Gardcrlft Mr. Thomas Evans,— Minories I' '', The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- TheRt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- -The Earl of Fauconberg •Vifcount Falmouth ■Vifcount Fielding •Charles James Fox -M. Fitzpatriclc tIRST (or king's) regiment of DRAGOON GUARDS, General Sir George Howard) K. B. > - Lieut. Col. Vyfe Capt. Trotter Lieut. Hawley — Syer • — — Beckford — Seijeantfon —— Need Cornet Hamilton FIRST REGIMENT OF FOOT GUARDS* Colonel Bertie ■ Strickland . Hon* Francis Needham ■ Hon. H. F. Stanhope ■ Sir Charles Afgill, Bart. FIFTEENTH REGIMENT OF FOOT* Lieut. Gen. Sir; Wm. Fawcctt • Li 7 homas Forfyth, Efq.— — New Bond-Street Cuthbert Fiflier, Efq.— Tower J. Flint, EVq.———Shrew£bury Mr. Fletcher, Liverpool 2 fets Mr. Forrefl, St. Martm*s-Lanc Rofe FuHer, Efq.— ~ Walter Farquhar, Efq. Mr. Firmin, Strand Thomas Fortune, Efq. Mr. Feiipo's Libiary,- VVigmore-Strect .Great Marlborough. Street —London -Colchefter The puke of Grafton The Duke of Gordon r-Earl Grofvenor His Grace<-p«-r His Grace—— The Rt. Hon. The Rt. Hon.^ Earl of Glafgow The Rt. Hon Lord Gage General (Jordon Capt. Gwynn Lieut. Gordon, Parliament -Street Grant, Efq. Richard Gray, Efq. Pall Mall Mrs. (jibfon, Hertford-Street Samuel Greaves. Efq.- Manchefter The Rev. Mr. G. ^1,- — -Helftonc Mr. T. Gryll, ' ditto 'i homas Glynn, Efq. 'I'he Rev. Mr. Gilbert, Helftonc Mr. Gardner,— ,— London SUBSCRIBERS. His Grace— The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- Tke Rt. Hon.' The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- H -The Duke of Hamilton •The Earl of Huntingdon -The Earl of Harrington •The Earl of Harcourt -The Earl of Hertford - -Lord Howard . -Lord Hawke -Lprd Hawkcfbury ' - -Loird Heathfield -Lord Hood -Lord ArchiJ>ald. Hamilton •Lord Spencer Hamilton Sir Watts Horton, Bart. The Hon. Mrs. Horton The Hon. Tiady Horton The Rev. Mr. Horton The Hon. Mr. Heneage Mr. Harman, Princes-Street, oppoilte the Manfion-Houfe THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF I^ORSE GUARDS. The Rt. Hon. General Conway Col. Balthwayt Capt. Milnes — Chaplin — — JefFerfon Col. Harnage,— Major Hawker,- Capt. Hancbett Capt. Hardy Major Haines, Hampfliire Mr. Hall, Surgeon, (51 Regt.) The Rev. Mr. Hornby Mrs. Hindes, Hertford-Street John Hawkins, Efq. Helftone James Watfon Hull, Efq. Belvedere, Ireland -Parliament-Street —ditto SUBSCRIBER St Mi M I ■Greek-Street Trevor Hull, Efq. Mr. Hinckes, Great Portland-Street Mr. John Harding, Strand Mr. Hollyoake, — — Red Lion-Square Mr. Harris, St, Mary Axe Anthony Highmojre, Efq. ditto Edward He)3in, Efq. Iflington Mr, Hope, Upper Seymour-Street, Cavendifh-Squafs Benj. Henfliaw, Efq — — Hodfdon Thomas Hodgfon, Efq Briftol ^AqS. Haydon ^nd Sons,- . -Plymouth The Gentlemens Book Club at Halftone Col. Hill, (late of the 9th Regt.) Helftone Capt. Richard Hjll, Helftone "William Hofte, Efq. Barwick Mr. George Hall," ■ Staf -Office, Exeter-Street I •The Earl of Jerfey The Rt. Hon. Lieut. Col. Jacques, (51 Regt, of Foot) Sir Johnjohnfon, Superintendant to the Indians in Canada Col. Jeflop,— — — Fludyer-Street Lieut. Jones, Lower Brook-Street Gen. Johnfon Ale. :. Irvine, Efq." Berner's- Street —Helftone Mr. Richard Johns,— Mr." Johnfon, -Piccadilly Mr. Samuel Johnfon, — -—Briftol K —Lord Kenfington The Rt. Hon.— Lieut. Col. Kingfton, (28 Regt. pf Foot) Capt. Kempthorne, 1 ■ Helftone Kellett, Efq. — —-Ruffel- Street, Covent-Garden^ John Keene, Efq. -Manfion Houfe Mr. James Kerby, — —London Mr. Charles Knight,— -Windfor Mr. Frederic Kanmacher dUdSCRtB£^3. L The Duke of Leeds —The Marquifs of Lanfdowri The Marquifs of Lothain The Earl Ludlow Lot'd Lovaine tfls drace— • The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon. The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- The Hon. Robert Lindfay The Hon."»— Capt* John Lindfay The Hon.—— Htigh Lindfay Sir Michael Le Fleming, Bart*— -Hertford. Street General Lambton,-——Harley- Street Paul Le Mefuricr, Efq. — M.P. — ^Walbrook Charter Layton, Efq.— — ^-Drayton Mr. Loxley,— -Poultry Mr. LofacK, — .-Wigmore-Street Mr. John Lee, ^Black-Friars Mr. Leigh*— —Thorndon Mr. Jdin Lees,-^— *Brentford M His Grace* His Grace- •The Duke of MarlbotoUgh -The Duke of Montrofe — Vifcount Mount Edgecumbe —Vifcount Molefworth —Vifcount Melbourne —Vifcount Mountftuaft —Lord Milford I-,': The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- Richard Matter, Efq MP —Charles -Street, BerkleyqSq. J. Madocks, Efq. (Cold ftream Regt. Gds.) Bedford- i:treet Major Money, — —Norwich Capt. Mc. Kinnon, (63 Regt.) Ireland Capt. Robert Mc. Crea,— — Guernfey Cuthbert Mafhiter, Efq,— — Romford Edward Mafon, Efq. Spital-Fields 'The Rev. Mr. Mingin,— Golden-Square Mr. Mackreth, Scotland -Yard Mr. Jofeph Mitchell, Hcmone J. Milbankc, Efq. SUBSCRIBERS. The Rev. Dr. Morgan,— St. James's- Square James Madden, Efq. ...St. Albans-Street Thomas Maude, Lfq. Temple Mr. Ale Leiih's Library, Edinburgh ' N . His Grace The Duke of Northumberland^ .,sr %. i<^ Lieut. Q(A. Campbell Major Ritchie Capt. Baillie ■ Hoey — — Buchannan — — Spencer I Vincent — — Timms — — Murray — — Piercy Rofe — — Mc Lean Lieut. Reynolds .-.^ Mitchell Fatio Enfigns James Rofe DufFe ■ « Dalziel - Burbridge ■ O'Connor THE NINTH REGIMENT OF FOOT* 1 ^ Lniv: ■ —'— noH • ■. 1 1 >i. ,■ Enfign Keightlcy Wolfe . Chaplain — 1 he Rev, Mr. Clewlow I J THE ROYAL NAVY, Admiral Montague Capt, Dacres SUBSCRIBERS. Hardy Schanks Aeut, Wm. Dalton Wm. Baniick ^Irs. Newberry, St. Paul's Church- Yard O Isir George Olborn, Bart. Charles-Street, Berkley-Square [James Orm(by,Efq.—— Dublin His Grace I Her Grace— The Rt. Hon. The Rt. Hon. The Rt. Hon. The Rt. Hon.. The Rt. Hon. The Hon. [The Hon. I The Hon.— I The Hon. Gen. Pitt, -The Duke of Portland -The Dutchefs of Portland The Earl of Plymouth -The Earl of Powis ^Vifcount Palmerftone ——Lord Pelham Lord Petre •Mr. Petre, Grofvenor-Square Mr. G. Petre, Somerfet-btreet Thomas Pelham, Stretton-Strcet; •General Parker -Tenterden-Street ^. Capt. Peacock, (17 Regt. of Foot) Mr. Pugh,— Poultry Mrs. Piozzi,— Hanover- Square Mr. Phillips, Somerfetfhire Mr. Thomas Powell, Tcrace, Buckingham-Street Mr. Parnell, Church-Street, Spital-Fields Capt. Walter Proffer, Ireland Palmer and Merrick's Library, Oxford . Mr. Powell,— —Newgate-Street Punchard and Jermyns's Library, Ipfwich * I Thomas Boothby Parkyns, Efq. I'homas Paulk, Efq. S U B S C It I B £ R 0. The Rt. Hon.. The Rt. Hon.. The Rt. Hon.. The Rt. Hon.- •The Earl of Radnor •Lord Rivers -Lord Rodney -Lord Rawdon -PortlsThd-PlacA Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bart. Capt. Reed, . (103 Regt.; Mr. Robfon,— -Princes- Street, Hanovcr-Squaffr ^ Mr. Alexander Roberts,- Red Lion-Square John Rogers, Efq. Helftone E. Read, Efq. Chefter George Rome, Efq. Mount-Street John Le Chevalier Roome, Efq.— Mr. Rufh, Fountain- Street Alexander Raby, Efq. Cobham London-Road Mrs. Raby Mr. Robinfon,- .Cornhill His Grace-— The Rt. Hon. The Rt. Hon. The Rt. Hon. r\^e Rt. Hon. The Rt. Hon. The Rt. Hon. The Rt. Hon. The Rt Hon. IheRt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.^ The Rt. Hon. - The Rt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon.- TheRt. Hon.- The Rt. Hon - The Hon.^ -TheDukeof St. Albans '^ -i^' •The Earl of Suffolk f^ - -Thp; Earl of Shaftefbury ' -The Countefs Dow. of Shaftcfbury -The Earl of Scafborous^h * t'«fja ..t; -The Earl of Stanhope -Earl Spencer -The Earl Stamford Vifcount Stofmbnt \ Lord Say and Scle Lord Stourton •Lord St. John Lord Scarfdale Lord Southampton Lord Robert Spencer •Lady Ann Simpfon -Mr. Sandilands Thomas Stanley, Eiq. M. P. Pall Mall R. B. Sheridan, Kfq. M.P. ■« Erjton Street :i n ,jqn SUBSCRIBERS. [COND (or royal K. BRJTISH) R£qT. OF pRAGpONS, ajor Ramfay - . ipt. Seaford Smith Boardrnan leut. Fortefcue jrnet Wigley Bothwell Leigh J[xteenth(or queen's) rect. of light dragoons. "he Hon. Major General flarcourt lajor Gardner 'Hon. H. Bennett , HowcU [apt. Boyce Carmichael lieut. Hawker -Smallett •Archer •Munro I ►ornet Afliton -Lee ' • •Pennyman > ' * hornet Anfon •Deering i SIXTY-SECOND REGIMENT OF FOOT. Tajor Gen. — Matthews |.ieut. Col. — Campbell lajor Howe Capt Banbury Sotheron Wybrants Blackall SUBSCRIBERS. — — > Matthias «■ Bromhead — Blacker — Vallancey Lieut. James I Brudenell I Gourlay — Batchelor Kerr Enfign Kent ■ Garden i '; Camberwell S tratford-Placc Major Skene^— — — Chelfea Lieut. Stuart Mr. Seddon, Alderfgatc-Street John Sawrey, P^fq— Lancaftiire Edw. Spike, Efq. Mrs. Spike Mifs Spike Mr. John Slade,— Daniel Seton, Efq. Mr. ShierclifFe, Briftol Mr* Charles Spitta, College-Hill John Scott, Elq. Wigmore-Street Capt. Scott, (53 Regtof Foot) Mr. Scott, Jun. Norwich ^lils Smiths, —Percy-Street James Simmonds, Efq. Banker,-— -—Canterbury Simmons and Kirby, Canterbury John Seleer, Efq. ■•■London. Mr. Stalker,— —London Mr. Solloi^,— — — Blandford The Rev. Mr, Salmon ?.^!r. J, F. Souel,' Guernfey John Seeker, Efq.— — — Windfor ijtell's Library, -Haftings I! ■:' l^ SUBSCltlBfeKS. T T)ie Rt» Hbn. The Rt. Hon.- The flon. -The Marauifs of Titchfield ■Lord "rorpnichen •Mr. 'rvvifletonThompfon Sir Charles I'hompfon, Bart. K.B. Bond-Street Sir John ThoroW, Bart* — — Cavendifh-Squarc THE tHlRD HEOIMEMT OF HORSE, OR CARBINSlRlb Colonel Longfidd ';. Major VVilford . WiUey ' Capt. Smith -^— Tifdale Rofs Lieut. Daniel French - ■ .Templeton ■■ Fitzgerald •Sir Thomas Chapman Cornet Cramer •— Gillefpie «- ' ■ ■ Longfidd Hon, Geo. Pomroy Duncombe Surgeon James Wallace THE THIRD (or PRINCE OF WALES^s) RBOlT. 6|C bRAtk% GUARDS. Major Gen« Phillipfon , Col. ManfeH Capt. Milbanke — — Charlton " , • Lieut. Charlton Cornet Dotten TWENtlETH REGIMENT OF FXIOT* XDolonel Lind Major Hon. S. D, Strangeways * Rollinfon I M fi'j V SUBSCRIBER 3, Capt. Winchcftcr — Norman Lieut. Bateman . " Brooke Enfign Wynyard ' TWEMTY-FIRST REGT.OF FOOT (OR RNB) FU^ItEtRS. Colonel HamiUon Major Lovell Capt. Petrie — Brodie I ieut. Grant Dalgleifh — — Congalton . i . Qr. M, Geo. Lauder TWENTY-FOURTH R2C1MHNT QF ?QQTf Lieut. Gen. Wm. Taylcr Lieut. Col.. England Major Pilmer • Campbell Capt, Blake — Stiel W. Doyle V . Lieut. Leybonrne Short -T— T»— HoUings Lnfign Meyrick ' General Trapaud, *-^-Berner*s-Strcct Col. Anftruther Thompfon, — (late of 62 Rcgt.) Edinburgh Samuel Toulmin, Efq . Walbrook Mr. James Turner, Jun. Milbank Thomas Tre win, Efq. Helftone John Trevener, Efq. -ditto Mr. Wiliiani Terwin,— -Haymarket Mr. Templcman,—— Size -Lane Edward Thornycroft, Efq. Chefter Mr. William Trufton, Brentwoock ' Mr. John Thomas Jiey.Mr.Hen. Hawkins Tr^inayne,A.M.HelIgan, Cornwall Mr. Leigh Thorndon, . Th*?"^'* Foi tune, Efq. London SUBSCRIBERS, [Mr. Thur20od,—.—Fcnchuroh Street Pavid Tliomas, Efq — Pay Mafter in America U -The Earl of Upper CKTory The Rt. Hon. (Mr. Benjamin Uphill,— Mount- Street, Grofvenor- Square (Corneliu!. Vaqderitop, Efq. Princcs-St. Hanovcr-bc|. W -The Earl of Weftmoreland -The Earl of Winchelfca —The Earl of WaldcgravQ ■^The Earl of Warwick •Vifcount Weymou^ Lord Willoughby de Broke The Rt. Hon.— The Rt. Hon.— The Rt. Hon,— The Rt. Hon.— The Rt. Hon.— The Rt. Hon.— . The Rt. Hon. Lord Walpole Sir Watkin Williams Wvnne, B?rt.— St. Tames's-Squafo Sir George Warren, K. B» — Qraf(on-Strce; Mifs Warburton General Warde Capt. Willoc, (8 Regt. of Foot> Wifeman,-! — (53 Regt. of Foot) Edward Wilford, Efq. — r-Chelfea — -— — Williamfon, Efq.— l^emple Richard Whatley, Efq.— —Parliament-Street Rev. A|r. Whatley,- ditto Rev. Mr. Wills, -Helftone Mr. John Whitehead, Bafingh^-Strect Mr. Thomas WagftafF,^ Highgate Mr. John Winpcnny, Briftol Robert WoodrifF, Efq. .Temple ' ' Mr. Matthew White, St. Swithin's-Lane Woodmafon and Page, Leadenhall-Streei; James Woodmalbn, Efq. Bond-Strec| V'd I ^>l an, Cornwall H ^^^P^. U'illiam Youn^ tRRAtJ. ■« VOL. J. Page Line 15 i» after thp word /» add /i*« a I 91 after Frigate iuUl lubo 56 7&8 for qui (tarriver read qu'arri«r I MV DEAR rUILNDj T5EFORE you have any account of this city and its environs, I fliall de- icribc to you the river Saint Laurence, which, upon their firft laiUng up it, is the aftonifhment and admiration of every Eu- ropean. In forming an idea of a river, people in general are apt to judge by com- parifon : thofe who have made the tour of Europe, inftantly call to mind the Rhine and the Danube ; thofe who have not, the Thames. What will you fay, when you are informed that thefe, though very noble and beautiful, are but mere rivulets, when , put THROUGH AMERICA. %J put in competition with that of Saint Laurence. This river ifTues from lake Ontario, taking its courfc north-caft, wafhing Mon- treal, where it receives the Outtuais, form- ing many fertile iflands, and a lake which is called St. Pierre. It continues the fame courfe, and meets the tide 400 miles from the fea, where it is navigable for large vefTels. After receiving in its progrefs in- numerable ftreams, this great river falls into the ocean at Cape Rofier; it is there 90 miles broad, where the cold in ge- neral is fevere, and the fea rather boif- terous. In its progrefs it forms variety of bays, harbours and iflands, many of the latter being extremely fi*uitful and plea- fant. The river Saint Laurence has ever been looked upon as a good defence to this pro- vince, for in the neighbourhood of Quebec, it 23 INTERIOR TRAVELS .' I; 1 , 1 it abounds with hidden rocks, with flrong currents in many places, which force the fhips to make various windings. From tJie time that Quebec was befieged by Sir Wiiham Phipps, in the year 1690, who was obliged to retire with a great lofs of (hipping, this river was very little* known to the Knglifh till the year 1759, when Sir Charles Saunders, with a fleet of 50 Englilh men of war, and near 300 fail of tranfports, arrived off Quebec, without the lofs of a fmgle fhip, which clearly proves thofe dangers were not fo great as had been reprcfented. Since that time it has been better known ; and though wq have not at prefent at this place fo many men of war, yet there arc near as many tranfports, notwithflanding the navigation up this river from the fea is rendered very dangerous, by the llrength of the ?5urrent and the number of fand-banks, which fre- q^uently arife in places where they never appeai'cd before j the fatal confcquences of which fe'- THROUGH AMERICA. 29 which fcvcral veiicls have experienced this wai*. There are abundance of porpoifes in tlic river St. Laurence, which arc moftly white, *ind when they rife to the furface of the water, have the appearance of Tin hog fwimming. At night, if I may be allowed the expreflion, without being accufed of an Iricifm, they caufe moil beautif il frt works in the water : for being in fuch abun- dance, and darting with amazing velocity, n continued ftrcam of light glides through the- water, and as fhoals of them frequently crofs each other, the luminous appearance is fo pi6lurefque, that no defcription caa reach it. On our enterhig the river St. Laurence, we faw, off the ifland of Anticofti, a great number of feals, one of which vv aught. This animal is generally ranked amongft the clafs of fifh, althoup-h produced on land, % I zo INTERIOR TRAVELS iS:'' I, hm 'i ' ■ :»i • ( •i 1^1 land, and living more there than in water. Its head rcfembles that of a maflifF, it has four pav^s which are very fhort, efpecially the hinder ones, ferving rather to crawl, than to walk upon, and refembling fins ; but the fore feet have claws ; the (kin is exceeding hard and covered with ftiort hair; they are firft white, but as they grow up turn to fandy or black, and fome of them are of three different colours. There are two forts, the larger weighing near two thoufand pounds, and have a Iharper fnout than the others. I have been told that the Indians have the art of taming thefe creatures, fo as to make them follow like a dog. I am led to imagine they couple and bring forth their young on the rocks, from tliis reafon, wherein the powerful inftinft of nature fhewed itfelf very predominant- ly : one day, feveral lai'ge ones that had got their THROUGH AMERICA. ?« their young on their backs, dropt them now and then into the water and took them up again, which no doubt, as being brought forth upon land, was to teach them to fwim ; it is not very furprizing, when it is confidered this animal is amplii- bious : but the mode is exa6lly the fame, only changing the element, with that of the feathered creation, whofe little ones flutter from fpray to fpray, before they venture to fly abroad. The eagle carries her young, to train them up to encounter boiflerovis winds. Thefe animals are caught on the coaft of Labrador. The Canadians go to this frozen and almofl: uninhabitable coaft, in the middle of October, and remain there till June ; their mode of catching them is by placing nets between the continent and a few fmall iflands, where coming in flioals from the eaft, in attempting to pafs thefe ftraights, they arc caught ; they then con- vey x« iNTERIOn TRAVELS > m vey them to land, where they remain frozen till the month of May ; the oil is then extraded from them, and it is faid that feven or eight of thefe animals will yield a.hogfhead. The ufe of its fkin is fo generally known, it needs no de- fcription ; its flefli is allowed to be veiy good, but if you had partaken of it, as I have done, you would coincide with me in opinion, that it turns to better account when converted into blubber. The tide goes a league beyond Trois Rivieres, which is thirty leagues higher up the river. The difference of the tide at this place is generally between forty-five and forty-eight feet, but at the new and full moon, from fifty-four to fifty-feven, which is very confiderable. *';' Ik m 4: The river is three quarters of a mile broad here, and as the fea water, though it does not tome up immediately to the town, THROUGH AMERICA, 33 town, renders it fomewhat brackifli, the inhabitants make ufe of it only for culi- nary purpofes. having fpring water for their beverage. In failing up the river St. Laurence, the firft plantations you meet with are about fifty leagues on the fouth, and twenty on the north fide of the river, below Quebec : they are but thinly fcattered, and their produce very indifferent. The fertile fields commence near the capital, which I am informed grow better, the nearer you ad- vance to Montreal. About half way up the river, we came to the IJles aux Oifeaux^ and pafled them about the diftance of a cannon Ihot ; they are two rocks that rife up in a conical form, about 60 feet above the furface of the water, the largefl of which appeared to be about two or three hundred feet in circum- ference J they are very near one another. Vol. I. D and 34 INTERIOR TRAVELS M and there does not appear a fulficient depth of water between them for a fmall fhallop. It is difficuh to fay what color thefe are of, as both furface and banks are entirely covered with the dung of the birds that refort thither; however, there \vere difcernable in places fome veins of a reddifh caft. One of th;i mates of the fliip fliid he had been on them, and had loaded a fmall fhal- lop with eggs, which were of different forts, and that the flench arifmg from the dung was almod: infupportable. Befides the fea-gulls, and other fowls from the neighbouring lands, there is found a fpecies that cannot fly. It appears to me wonderful, in fo prodigious a multi- tude of nefls, how eveiy one finds its own. At my requefl, the Captain of the fliip fired a cannon fhot, which fpread the alarm over all tliis feathered common- wealth, when there arofe over the two iflands THROUGH AMERICA. 35 iflands a thick cloud of fowl, at leaft two or three leagues in circuit. One material circumftance I forgot to mention to you, happened in our voyage to this place. In the middle of Auguft, after we had been incommoded for feveral days with excefTive heats, one morning, foon after we got up, we felt fuch an in- tenfe cold, that both the Captain and my- felf were obliged to put on our great coats. We could by no means imagine the caufe of this alteration, the weather being extremely fine, and particularly as the wind did not blow from tlie north. But on the third morning, juft before day-break, a failor called out with all his might, " luff, luff," which the man at the helm had fcarcely done, when an enormous piece of ice pafTed along-fide of the veflel, which infallibly muft have dafhed her to pieces, had fhe ftruck againft it. At day-break we faw it, when it appeared to be about fix times as D 3 ^ large 36 INTERIOR TRAVELS large as our fhip, and twice the heighth of its malls. You well know that only one third of ice, while fwimming, appears above water, and when that is confidered, I do not wonder that the ignorant fhould not readily allent to the relations given by travellers, of thele frozen productions of nature. y tf-w; I Having already fwelled this letter be- yond its intended limits, and wifhing to avoid, as much as poiTible, being too dif- fufe on trivial fubjecls, I fhall conclude it with my beft wifhes for your welfare and happinefs, ailliring you that I am, with friendiliip and efteem, , rl Yours, &c. ^H LET- THROUGH AMERICA* 37 LETTER V. DEAR SIR, C^elfCf Oi7. 2^th, 1776. j\ GREEABLE to my promife in a -^ ^ former letter, I iliall now proceed in the defcription of the river St. Laurence, with fome occurrences which befel us, previous to our arrival at Quebec. .1.1 i'i- ■ I V m I One of the fineft bays to be met with in going up the river, is that of St. Paul, and as we were under the neceffity of an- choring oppofite to it, till the return of tide, I prevailed on the Captain to go on fliore. D3 Upon mm 38 INTERIOR TRAVELS Upon our landing, the Prieft of the parifh came and invited us to his houfe, treating us with much hofpitaUty;. He was a man rather advanced in years, a native of France, and poflefTed of great learning; he had been recommended by the French Court to the Bifhop of Quebec, while this province was under their go- vernment, and, as I am afraid is the cafe with too many well deferving chara6lcrs, was poorly rewarded, by being made Prieft of this fmall parifh, for fome eflential fer- vices he had rendered the French, which, however, has many privileges annexed to it. .J* From the great veneration and refpe6l that was fhewn him, one would naturally conclude he was much beloved by his pa- rifliioners, and his converfation turned upon making them happy, by inftru^ling them both in religious and moral duties, encouraging indullry, and divefling them of THROUGH AMERICA. 39 of thofe innate favage difpofitions, which, he obferved, the lower fort of Canadians are but too prone to. It was impofRble to fay which fhould be moft admired, his fmile of welcome, the neatnefs of the repaft, or the hilarity of his converfation ; all of which gave me the greater pleafure, when put in contraft with the otlier French Priefts I have met with, who are auftere and contra6ted, and fo difgufting, that rather than fit down with them, I would eat hay with my horfe. This bay is about eighteen leagues be- low Quebec, containing only this fmall parifh, which is fome diflance from the Ihore of the bay, on a low plain, formed by tlie river. It is furrounded with ex- ceeding high mountains on every fide, ex- cepting one lai'ge gap, which runs parallel to the river. The fai'ms are at fome dif- lance from each other, and the church is D 4 reckoned m m 40 INTERIOR TRAVELS reckoned one of the moft ancient in Ca- nada, which feems confirmed by its bad ar- chitecture, and the want of ornaments ; the walls are formed of pieces of timber, erect- ed at two feet diftance, which fupport the roof, and between thefe timbers the fpace is filled up with a kind of lime-flate. The church has no fteeple, its roof is flat, and above this roof a bell is fixed in the open air. Moft of the country around this bay belongs to the Prieft, who lets it to the farmers. The inhabitants chiefly live by agri- culture, and the profits arifing from their commerce in tar, which they extract from the red pine, by making an incifion into the tree in the fpring of the year, when the fap is rifing, and before the tree has Hopped running, it will produce feveral gallons of turpentine, which they eafily manufacture into tar. It THROUGH AMERICA. 41 It may be conje6lured, that the country fituated upon the bay of this river being low, it was originally part of the bottom of the river, and was formed either by the decreafe of water, or increafe of earth, car- ried from the brooks, or throwr^ on it by ftorms, as a great part of the plants that grow here are marine. But in order fully to inform myfelf whether it was really as I apprehended, I enquired of feveral of the inhabitants, if ever they had found any fliells in digging, who anfwcred, that they had never met with any tiling but different kinds of earth and fand. »: There is one thing very remarkable, of which we had a proof: the wind is gene- rally different in the bay to what it is in the river, for upon failing into the bay wc had as favourable a wind as could blow, but in the moment of entrance, it was di- redly tlie reverfe, which is thus acounted for : the bay being furrounded on all fides, w except 4^ INTERIOR TRAVELS J.'' , ■ 1- except one, with high mountjuns, and" covered with tall woods, when the wind conges from the river, it ftrikes againft fome of thefe mountains, where it is re- pelled, and confequently takes an oppofite dircd^ion. The people who inhabit this bay, as likewife thofe fettled lower down the river, feem very poor; they have the neceflaries of life in abundance, but debar tliemfelves of the comforts that fhould arife from them, living chiefly upon bread and milk, and carrying their other provifions, fuch as butter, cheefe, flefli, poultry, eggs, &c. to market, where having difpofed of them, they purchafe cloatlis, brandy, and drefles for tlie women. Yet notwithftanding their pauvre manner of living, they arc always chearful and in high fpirits. i,/-i iv •.'• Our objeft on going on fhore was not fo much to gratify our curiofity, as to procure THROUGH AMERICA. 43 procure fome vegetables j and as the Cap- tain of the Ihip could not fpeak a word of French, as indifferent a Frenchman as you know me to be, I was obliged to be tJxe interpreter on this occafion. I however made the inhabitants underftand me very well, till I alked for fome potatoes, by the ufual fchool term of pommes de terre^ and by which I underftand they are called ia France; yet, notwithftanding the Cana- dians are allowed to fpeak as pure French as at Paris, I could not make them com- prehend what it was I wanted, the man continually faying, Motifmir, je fuis bien fdchi de ne pouvoir comprendre ce que vous fouhaitez'y at the fame time expreffing great uneafmefs, as I repeatedly afTurcd him, que jetoh bicnfur tfuil en avoit^ which feemed to vex him ftill more. How- ever, in walking over his plantation, 1 happened to fee a parcel in the corner of a fhed; pointing to them I faid. Vol la ce que je demandcy upon wliich, wiili great n*! 44 INTERIOR TRAVELS '4' 11' Ami :p great joy in his countenance, he ex- claimed, Ob ! Monjkur, ce font des putat^ putat \ adding, with great heartinefs, ^V/ ttoit bien aife d'etre en etat dc me fat is- faire. Upon my telling him, in Eng- land we called them pommes de tcrre^ he added, with a remark which I fhould not have expe6led, §Me ce mm leur conve- noit "micux que totU autre. As I paid him very liberally for the vegetables we had of him, he faid, with great exprefTion of gratitude, Ah I Monfieur^ je me fouvlen- drat toujours de vos. bontes ct des pommes de terre. ■I ,• Canada, from the fertility of its foil, and the falubrity of its chmatc, you would naturally imagine, contributed greatly to its own profperity j but thefe, as in moft other fituations, are counterbalanced by its. difadvaiitages. Canada has only one river for its exports and imports, and even this is fo blocked up with ice, as not to bo navi- gable TMROITGH AMERICA. 45 gable daring fix months, while heavy fogs render the navigation flow and difficult the remainder of the vear. And althonirh the produce of Canada is fuperior to that of the other provinces, ftill the latter, not havins: fimilar imnediments to encounter, will always have a decided advantage over this, in the convenience of almoU uninter- rupted navigation. ' The farm houfes are moftly built of timber, confiding of three or four rooms, and in one they have an iron Hove, which is rendered fo hot, as to communicate fuf- ficicnt warmth to the reft. The roofs are covered with boards, and the crevices and chinks of the timbers are filled with clay, and their out buildings are thatched with ft raw. Below the bay of Gafpey there is an ifland, called IJIe Percec j on your approach to it, it has the appearance of the frag- ment 46 INTERIOR TRAVELS ment of an old wall> being a fteep rock of about thirty fathoms in length, ten in heighth, and four in breadth, which the pilot told us was reported formerly to have joined Mont Jcli, which ftands oppofite to it upon the Continent. This rock has in tlie colter of it an opening, in the form of an arch (through which a fmall fchooner might pafs in full fail) ; from which cir- cumftance, you will eafily imagine, it de- rives its name of IJle Percee. 'i-m I JjH;-' ; i. , If'- The laft obje6l tl^at attra6ls your atten- tion before you enter the harbour of Que- bec, is the ifle of Orleans, a moft beauti- ful large ifland, fituated in the middle of the river St. Laurence. It is feven leagues and a half long, and two broad, in the wideft part, veiy high, with fhores ex- tremely fteep and woody, though in fome places there is a gradual defcent to the river, and where that is the cafe, it is en- tirely free from woods, and upon thefe fpots THROUGH AMERICA, 47 fpots there are farm houfes clofe to tlie Ihore. The ifle itfelf is well cultivated, and the eye is continually amufed with large flone houfes, corn fields, meadows, paftures and woods, with the addition of feveral good flone churches, fome of which ftand fo clofe to the river, and it being Sunday when we palfed the ifland, that we heard them at mafs. The river St. Laurence, till you come to this ifland, is moftly four or five leagues in breadth, but after you pafs it, fuddenly naiTows, fo as to be no more than a mile broad at Quebec, and from which circum- ftance this city derives its name, from tlie Indian word Quebcio, or Quebec, wliich fignifies a ftrait or narrowing. Shortly after we had pafled this ifland, and turned Point Levy ; we entered the harbour. i'\ If IN ' r n.- ill;' ill '■ 1^ M' 48 INTERIOR TRAVELS harbour, which has the appearance of a large bay, for Point Levy ftretches itfelf out towards the Ifle of Orleans, fo as to hide the fouth channel ; and that ifland projects fo as to conceal the north. ili wmv 'Hi "^' 'fi n On entrance, you are llruck with the grandeur and confufion and variety of objedls that prefent themfelves: fronting is the city j on the right is the beautiful fall of Montmorency, and a view up the river St. Charles ; on the left there is an extenhve view up the river St. Laurence, and over the falls of Montmorency ; a de- lightful profpe6i: of feveral leagues round the country, intcrfperfed with the villages of Beaupoit, Charlebourg, &c. a particular account of which I ihall give you in my next. I am, yours, &c. LET- f H R O U G li A M E R I C A. 49 LETTER VL ^uflec, 0:7ohr 2jt/j, 1776. MV DEAR FRitND, T N my defer iptlon of this province, you ^ muft not expe6l a tirefomc detail of Jiftances, or a romantic dcfcription of tlie country, hut a few general obferva- tions, as I Ihall pafs through the different pai ts of it, which are deferring notice. This city, the capital of Canada, from tlie iini alarity of its fituation, boafls of having that which no other city in tjie known world pofleircs, a frefli water har- bour, an hundred and twenty leagues from Vol. I. E the AM. ■ I r t I, '1, ■' * - 7-v . I.) 'm ^^ 50 INTERIOR TRAVELS ^^^K the fea, capable of containing an hundrccf fliips of the line> it is built in the form of an amphitheatre> on the declivity af a pe- ninfula, formed by the rivers St^ Laurence and St. Charles, and commands a profpeft over extenfive fields, which appears rich, lively and beautiful. :'M II :.'■ 'i ■' ■ 1 "'' ^.'1 '^t^ .^■■e; This city fuffered fo much during the long fiege, laft winter, that it will by no means an'fwcr the beautiful defcriptioii given by that elegant writer Mrs. Brookes, in her Emily Montague, for many houfes were deflroyed for fuel, otliers to prevent harbouring the enemy, and ihot and fhells continually defacing and burning the reft> you muft eafily imagine, greatly contribute to deftroy all ideas of regularity. The city is divided into two towns, dif- tinguifhed by the upper and the /owery which, during the fiege, were feparated by a flrong -rHRbUGH AMERICA, 51 ftrong ftockade, which proved extremely fortunate for us, as the enemy got into the lower town, but not being able to keep policfiion, they fet it on fire, and nearly deflroyed the whole of it. There are two communications from the lower to the upper town, the one for car- riages, by a Terpentine road up a very deep afcent, and the other for foot paffengers, up a flight of fteps cut out of the rock. The carriage road to the upper town, as well as the flreets in general, are almoft impaflabie for either man or beafl-, never having been paved fmce the fiege, when the pavement was entirely torn up, that the fhclls might bury themfelves in the ground before they burfl, whereby they were rendered lefs dangerous. ^ t The dillrcdes of the inhabitants in a bcfieged town, at all times are very great ; E 2 ' but 52 I5JTLRI0II TRAviiLg v. M' '" ' i m I! but here they were rendered particularly fo, from the extreme fcverity of the weather, being deprived of fuel, and com- pelled to refide in their cellais, as the only place that could afford tiiem the leaft fhelter. The Governor's hoiife ftands upon art high eminence, and being bomb-proof, the family thought themfelves in perfe6l fecurity: from its elevation too, it was imagined to be out of the reach of cannon ihot. One evening, however, they were rather unpleafantly coiivinccd of their error, by a fliot pafling through an ad-- joining room to that in which they, were' playing at cards j this threw them into no* little confufion, and obliged them to retire to that part of the houfe in which the other inhabitants were compelled to refide^ r You may remember, fome months be- fore my departure from England, that Mr. I THROUGH AMERICA. 5J ^v. W — , who is a bon vivantj jocularly remarked, if he were confined to any fingle room, it fliould be the cellar j he was then at the Governor's, enjoying his favourite wiQi, happy as good company and good wine could make him, the found of every pannon behig the fignal for a bumper. A Major who was here during the fiege, cxprelled his aftonifliment tp me that the place held out fo long, having an amazing feverity of weather, and numberlefs othei^ difficulties to encounter; and that its fafety was entirely owing to the great exertions of Geiieral Carleton, who con- tinually encouraged the inhabitants to a6lion, for they chiefly compofed the flrength of the garrifon. ( ■ The fuburb of St, Fauxbourg is entirely ^ellroyed, but that, as well as the lower town, is now rebuilding, and when cpm- j)leated, mull add greatly to the beauty o^ E ^ the ■A' 14 INTERIOR TRAVELS 'r:;.-'" iiff.'? the city. There are fevcral quays, and a convenient place for heaving down (hips to be repaired, called Ciil de Sac, where the King's (hips lay up during the winter, to preferve them from danger upon the freezing and breaking up of the ice, which is more hazardous than you can imagine j for unlefs the fhips are got into this Cul de Sac in proper time, they are very much damaged, and fometimes totally loft, by the amazing iflands of ice that float down the river. This city is at prefent badly accommo- dated as to taverns, there being but one in the upper, and another in the lower town, both of them in the worfV ftate imaginable ; for although they provide good dinners, the reft of the accommodations are fuch as would difgrace the meaneft public-houfe in London. No attendance whatever from fci'vantsj no feperate apartments, and fifteen or twenty people are obliged to fleep THROUGH AMERICA. 55 fleep in one room, about a yard apart from each other; ufually deprived of natural reft in fuch vile dormitories, one fcarcely feels refreflied the whole day, and let me afiure you, fince I have been here, I have not enjoyed a good night's repofe, from the fonorous muiic 1 am furrounded with, arifmg from that natural and almoft unj- verfal wind inftrumcnt, the nofe. The owners of thefe taverns imagi^'*, if they give good dinners and good wine, they perform wonders. Tliis, however, may be faid in their favour, as to accommodation, that this city has been for many months paft in a very deranged ftatc, owing to the }ate fiege. 4 I! ;t ' The Canadians of the higher cLii^ are very polite and attentive to ftrangers -, a few days fmce, I vyas invited to dine witl^ one of the principal merchants, chez Mon^ fteur Roberdeaw, the dinner was entirely after the French fafliion, and difplayed E 4 with IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 HO us lU 14.0 WUte IL25 HI 1.4 2.2 1^ Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STRUT WEBSTH.N.Y. MStO (716)t72-4S03 '^ 56 INTERIOR TRAVELS m- with much tafte, but fuch was the pei% verfenefs of my Englilli ftomach, that it could not relilli one of their made difhes j and although I endeavoured to eat, out of compliment, the mafter of the houfe per- ceived I did not do it with any guilo ; he tlien laid, y4l) ! Monjieur^ vgus ncfaites que d'arriver da?is ce pays ; qtiand votis aurez He avec nous un certain terns ^ vcus aitnerez beau- cctip notre cut fine, yefuis hkn f ache que dans ce moment il ne fe trouve rien a 'voire gouty tnais quand vous me ferez I'honneur de venir une autrefois chez moi, jauraifoin d'avoir du ROAST BEEF Ct du PLUMB PUDDING que ks Anglois aiment tant. When thg defert came, whichwas before the cloth was rempved,^ I made amends for my not being able to eat at dinner, which the mafter of the houfe obferving, faid, Ah ! Motffour, ce nejl pas que vous ne vous foucicz pas des viandes, mais c'eji que vous etes un peu comme ks cnfansy vous aimez les friandifes ; when, fearful left I ftiould be difpleaf^d at his raillery; with a polite- THROUGH AMERICA, 57 a politenefs truly French, he filled his glafs, and added, Allons, Monfieur, *verfez et vive k Rof d* Atigleterre, FearRil of lofing the opportunity that now prefents itfelf of conveying this to Ejigland, I have but juft time fubfcribe pyfelf, Yours, &c, >Sa#;> I n ( t V. LET- 4 ill ■n I* 1 1 1 "■','l#l* 1+ 1 - \ •53 INTERIOR TRAVELS >V *^ -* ' Murhm: '3 ■' . '^ .'ir:: ■ ' ".'■ LETTER VII. « -1 . ^tehee, O^loher fbth 1776, "', * *. i,i,*4*-» ' ■■• '■, .»«•''.» i:*'.' MY DEAR FRIEND, ' -.'v ,f,(..5^> *S ^T^HE hafly conclufion I was obliged to -*" put to my laft, having prevented me from entering fo fully into the defcriptioa. of this city as I had intended, Inowtranf-- mit to you fome further particulars rela- tive to its fiege, and the religion of its inn, < habitants. • The caufeway by which General Mont-« gomery made his attack, is not more than twenty-four feet wide; on one fide is a lofty perpendicular rock, and on the other a fleep precipice, without any fence, down to ^•^ THROUGH AMERICA. # K. to tlie river j this caufeway was defended by two ftrong barriers, and were I induced to give an opinion, nothing but a defperate effort could juftify the attack. Tlie event fatally proved it j for upon the advance of the enemy, the firft barrier was aban- doned, which, after they had broke down, flufhed with fuccefs, and the hopes of eafily gaining the upper town, they iiiilicd on (with ^n intrepidity that might expe6t every thing from their valor) to the fe- cond barrier, where two pieces of cannon were concealed, and upon their approach were immediately fired, when great num^ bers of them were killed and wounded, and in their retreat many fell down the precipice 5 this defeat greatly contributed to put an end to the fiege, the termi- nation of which, had nearly been fruf- trated, by the eager impetuofity of the failors, who were polled with thofe guns, as they could fcarcely be retrained from firing them when the enemy attacked the • - : , . . firfi: 6q INTER Ton TRAVELS m 1 1 Vf ■ . "4 IW firft barrier, which, if they had done, thp flaughter would not have been fo great, nor the enemy perhaps have loft their brave Commaiider. But by the threats of the officers upon duty at that pofl, the guns were not fired till the enemy were within a few yards of them -, and as they advanced abreaft, as many as the caufe way would admit of, you may eauly conceive what havoc there muft have been amoaigft them. In this daiing enterprizc fell a man, who lived long enough to eflablilli a reputation, Ncr poterit ferrum^ nee edax aholere vetti/iaSy quod nee Jovis ira nee ignis ^ as na doubt it will be handed down by the Americans to the lateft ages. He died too foQn for the fupport of that unnatural fa6liQn, to which, from miftaken principles, he was deeply attached j and being a man wor- thy of fome notice, you fhall know the little hifloiy I have been able to celled of him. ",'• - ' '.. -' ■., In THROUGH AMERICA. (Si In the laft war he was an officer in our fervice, and diftingiiifhed himfelf in feveral inftances. At the peace he came over to this country, and married an American lady, wh-cre by his condu6l and agreeable manners, he was refpedled as much as if he had been a native ; and being, from his marriage and long refidence in the country, confidered as a man fit to be trufled with'a command, he was appointed Brigadier Ge- neral by the Congrefs ; this commilTion he wifhed to decline, feeling a compunction, as a native of Great Britain, and once in tlie King's fcrviccj to bear arms againft his Sovereign * His wavering incHnation was unfortunately fubdued, by the over- perfuafion of a fond wife, whom he loved moft affectionately, and the importunate folicitation of his relations and friends. When he had taken a decided part, his condu6l fully correfponded with the high opinion that had been formed of his abi- lities and fidelity. No one who lived fo Hiort i Veiy fliortly after this rcpulfe, an American foldier, in attempting to ftep out of his battemix^ at Wolfe's Cove, fell into the water, and catching hold of a flake of ice that was floating down the river, he got upon it, and was carried down the ftream. As he pafTed Quebec clofe to the fliore, he was iQ^n by a cen- tinel, who obfei*ving a man in diflrefs^ called out for help, when numbers flew to his aflifl:ance, ..nd found him motionlefs i by the help of fpirituous liquors, with fome difficulty they brought him to life for ^ moment, and juft recovering fpeech enough to tejl them, that the city would not long be in our poflTeflion, he inftantly expired. ,ai. A mile from the city is a Convent, th; was once pofleffed of a beautiful garden, but this, as well as their chapel, witli the images and other ornaments of their reli- gion, are greatly injured. The enemy, . . after .t- 64 INTERIOR TRAVELS tv J ■fjm^ 1 t> after taking pofleflion of the Convent:, converted it into an hofpital, and com-^ pelled the nuns to attend upon their fick • and v^ounded ; and what vv^as ftill itiorc perfecuting to their religion than to their wiflies, feveral of the nuns, after they, had abandoned it, proved capable of iit fome meafure making up for the ravaged of war, by producing what may in future become the ftrength and fupport of theii' country. There are feveral churches in each towrt,- but thofe in the upper are the moft mag- nificent, and have fuftained the leaft da-* mage. The largeft of thefe churches, and what may be termed the cathedral, has nothing worthy of notice, except a hand- fome fteeplej it is entirely roofed with flate, and is the only building I obferved that has this advantage, they being all covered with fhingles. It is much orna- mented in. the infidej the gallery is bold, light, : 1^ THROUGH AMERICA. 65 light, and well wrought, fiirrounded with an iron balliiftradc, painted and gilt, of curious workmanfliip ; one thing, how- ever, appears very fingular, that the pulpit is likewife gilt, and feems to have had more labor bellowed upoUy than it is ever likely to have within it; there are three altars handlbmely defigned, and fome good pi6lures j it is without any dome or cu- pola, having only a flat ceiling, very curi- oufly ornamented j it is not as in rrioft Cathedrals, paved with ftone, but floored with planks, which makes this church the more fupportable in winter; in others you are generally flarved to death with cold* After the Romifli fervice is over, on a Sunday, the Governor, with the offi- cers and foldiers of the garrifon, and the Proteftant inhabitants of the city, re- fort thither to their worfliip. This little circumftance I mention to you, as the paffing of the Quebec bill madei fuch a noife in England; clearly to fliew there Vol. I. F is V .Pi S'': . 66 INTERIOR TRAVELS i '"'jIW ■''■'ii h N If Wt'^ -, 'i' ■■■' h •M .1. IS no anlmofity among the inliabitants, on the Icore of religion. Wivcre the Cana- dians, wlio conflitute the principal pait of the inhabitants of this province, did not interfere with our religion, I cannot but think it w^as a very neceflary and politic ftep in Government to tolerate theirs j as - at the time the bill pafled, it was judged proper to make this facrifice to them, in order to gain their afFe6lions, which feem- ed to be wavering, whether they fhould not join the other provinces in rebellion againft England. For my own part, I am led to imagine, from the converfation I have had with fe- veral of the principal inhabitants, they never were in the leaft apprehenfive of their religion being fupprefled, but that idea was inftilled into their minds by fome party at home, who, I am forry to obferve, are more dangerous than any enemy we ^an poflibly have abroad. With THROUGH AMERICA. 67 With all the advantages of the laws of our conftitution, the toleration of their religion, and the bleflings of liberty, the Canadians are by no means well afFe(5led to the Engliih Government, but have a ftrong propenfity to be under the protec- tion of the French j and, I am confident, would aflill the Americans, had we not fiich a powerful force in this province. The garrifon of this city, and a few inhabitants at Montreal, are ftaunch to the interelb of Government; for their fidelity and courage have been proved; upon the commencement of the fiege, the General ordered every one out of the city, that he could entertain the leaft fuf- picion of, none of whom have fince nifede their appearance. The army is now returning from the Lakes, and at prefent the garrifon confifts of Colonel Maclean's regiment, and the F a recruits k>\ m 68 INTERIOR TRAVELS recruits lately arrived from England ; the 34th regiment is daily expe6ted, as the army is getting into winter quarters . Ge- neral Carleton and General Burgoyne are both here, the latter of whom fails for England in a few days. f ft! . My friend Captain W — n, who is em- barking for that country where my fondell wilhes are placed, will deliver you this : he has juft called upon me for my letters. I muft therefore conclude. You Ihall hear from me by the lateft ihip that fails. "9 i Yoursj &c. LET- ^, \ il' THROUGH AMERICA. 69 4 f LETTER VIII. * S>uebecy Nov. \tht 1776. MY DEAR FRIEND, VISITING two or three of ^e vil- lages round this city, has enabled me to give you fome little defcription of the countiy and its inhabitants. About Charlebourg and Beauport it is rather champaign^ but becomes more woody towards Lorette. The farm houfes inter- fperfed about the country are veiy nu- merous, and being generally whitened on * the outfide, form a neat and pi6lurefque '" appearance,: their houfes moftly confift of one floor, very few having a flory to them, which gives rife to the idea, that the Ga- ^ F 3 4i> nadians >. . (1. •■; p if: I m # . 7P INTERIOR TR..VELS Wi^..\ '■.,W' <»J ••'i'Si §n J f ^ nadians will /r// a ftory well, though they nerier ;;;^y^^ one. You would be pleafed to find them extremely neat in their houfes, very at- tentive to their cattle, and careful of the flock on their farms. They are at pre- fent employed in cutting and getting in wood for the winter, for themfelves and the mfrket, for though it is fo early, there has been a fevere fall of fnow -, wood-cut- ting continues all this month, and in De- cember, when the winter is fet in, it is car- ried into the city upon fleighs over the fnow, being a much eafier conveyance than with carts, as the roads are fo intolerably bad. ^The Canadians in general are a fwarthy i people, and low in. iftature j their drefs *confiils of a kind of jacket, and when the weather is cold, a blanket coat, which they faften round them with a worfled fafti. They moftly wear a woollen cap, ' ♦ ft# ^ but *' ' I *.« «% THROUGH AMERICA. 71 but in the cold weather a fur one, and have amazing long queues, of which they are exceedingly proud. They are fel- dom or ever found without a pipe in their mouths, a habit which they acquire in their very infancy, I was much furprized upon going into one of their houfes, in which there was a large family, moflly boys, to find, thajt from the youngeft up to the father, they all fmoaked ; nay, one f of three years old had a pipe in his mouth. Their ufual mode of living being chiefly milk and vegetables, which, joined to the number of the fafl days impofed on them J)y their religion, - fenders them a very jTieagre and ilender people. The women are extremely Jively, good- natured and obliging, and very neat inj^^ their perfons, but have not the leaft pr6- . * tenfion to beauty. The men are far from * agi'eeable, for fmce they have enjoyed the bleflings of an Englifh Government, 'they F 4 ^ . are ^ .1 »» « * 4 *.;r »-• 72 INTERIOR TRAVELS ■ #1 I are become infolent and overbearing, eafily offended, and when they fancy themfelves fo, their cry is, Je vats k dire au General ^ Carleton ; and the General is of that good- natured, affable difpofition, that he always liflens to their complaints, and is contir nually plagued and tormented with fome of the mofl trivial nature, by thefe trouble- fome and tenacious people, for they con- f ceive their Governor is bound to hear them, efpecially their Seigneurs^ or Lords of the village ; it is a title you have not among you, but I affure you thofe who poflels it here, fancy themfelves of no little importance, and aiiufiie more confequence . . than the firfl peer in England. '4M JVhe,(t Seigneurs are defcendants of thofe *??orncers and gentlemen who firfl fettled, and had grants in this province, when Canada was only a vafl forefl ; who, not being pro- per perfons to cultivate it themfelves, nor Ik- poflefied of a fufHcient fund to pay labour- #« . , . ers, « .* # THROUGH AMERICA. 73 ers, let out the grounds at a very (lender quit rent ; fo that with the fines, which were here very fmall, and what is called the Droit du Moulin, & Metairie, a lord- fhip, which confifts of two leagues in front, and an unlimited depth, can yield them no great revenue; and there are many planters on their manors, who by their induftry have become wealthier than the owner himfelf ; notwithftanding which they ftand in great awe of thefe Seigneurs, as they are defcended from an- tient nobility in France, the forefathers of whom were permitted by Louis XIV. to exercife commerce as well by fea as land, without queftion, interruption, or dero- gating from their quality and rights ; and to you, who fo well know the French, I need not fay in what manner any one de- fcended from nobility condu6ls himlelf, and the hauteur he treats every one with. About * 1 »•■ W W "' fel'j ^Vk \k ''' kSI «!' ^p ft^ mt:^ 74 INTERIOR TRAVELS , l« i/i !■■ 'ili't Ui At ii ,;nf4 J, y f, ji*» f ^•'j 76 INTETIIOR TRAVEL^ manners, give me leave to make a few re- flexions upon thefe favages, as they are called, and civilized man. In regard to the former, their origin and antiquity is quite uncertain ; the only matter, therefore, to be conlidered is, whe- ther thefe untutored nations are more or lefs happy than us ? Whether they, who are in the condition of man left to mere animal inlT:in6l, pafTnig their lives in hunt- ing, feeding, producing their fpecies, and repofmg themfelves, do not pafs a life of more felicity than ours, who can enjoy eveiy luxury of life, and vary our indulg-.- ences and wants in a thoufand ways ? -*',iain III w 11 It is in our nature and difpofitions, that we mull look for the means of happinefs. Wherein then does it confift ? Prefent fub- fiflence, and (which I think there can be none fo hardened as not to have) a thought of futurity, and the hopes of enjoying every 4, THROUGH AMERICA. 77 blefTing that is attendant on it. The la- vage never is in want j he lays in no (lores, becaufe the earth and waters are refervoirs to fupply them. FiHi and game are to be had all the year. The favage lias no houfe to fecure him from the inclemency of the external air, or commodious fire places, his furs anfwering all thefe purpofes. His labor is but for his own benefit j he fleeps when he is weary, and is a ftranger to reft- lefs nights. Little does he experience wearinefs that arifcs from unfatisfied de- fires, or that uneafmefs of mind which fprings from prejudice or vanity. As far as I can perceive, the Indian is fubje6l to no evils but thofe inilided by nature. In what manner then do we enjoy a greater happinefs ? Our food may be more wholefome and delicate, our cloaths may be fofter, and our habitations fecure us better againfl the weather ; but then ob- fcrve the common people, who are the fup- port 'ViN 78 INTERIOR TRAVELS ft port of civil fociety ; the number of men who in all ftates bear the burthen of labor ; can they be faid to be happy, who, by the luxury and police of their governments, are reduced to a ftate of fervitude ? And to what outrages are thofe in a higher Iphere expofed to ? If you are pofTeiTed of any property, you know not how far it may be called your own, but muft, in all probability, divide the produce between the lawyer, in teaching you how to preferve it, and the colle6lor, who comes to levy un-^ limited taxes. If you have no property, how can you be affured of a permanent fubfiftence ? What induftry or invention is fecure againft the vicifTitudes of fortune, or the encroachment of others. In the forefls of America, if there is any fcarcity in the north, the favages bend their courfe to the fouth -, but in our civilized ftates, we are confined within certain li- mits, where if famine, or war, or peftilence, with THROUGH AMERICA. 79 with all their concomitant horrors, fliould befal us, all muft participate, It certainly is apparent to eveiy one, that injuftice prevails in the partial dis- tribution of fortunes and Nations, which muft be the eife^l and the caufe of oppref- fion. In vain does cuftom, prejudice, ignorance, or hard labor, ftupify thofe of the lower clafs, fo as to render them in- fenfible of their degradation j it is not in the power of religion or morality to hin- der them from feeing and feeling the ar- rangements of policy, in the diftribution of what we call good and evil j and, no doubt, you muft have often heard a poor man expoftulating with heaven, " What have I done, that I fliould deferve to be born in fuch an indigent and dependent fituation?" r:. !■!■ m i ■(fh p The reafon we prefer our condition to that of the favages is, becaufe civilization. has '/ - 2a lUrV.KlOR T K A V E L S v 1 11 I- has rendered us incapable of bearing fbm6 natural hardfliips, which they can endure j and fimply that we are attached to fome indulgence cuftom has made neceflary to us. As a proof* of this aflertion, and how u civilized man may habituate himfelf to the fociety of favages, and return to this ftate of nature, let me relate the fituation of a Scotchman, who was call away upon the Ifland of Fcnmmiezy where he lived alone ; his only enjoyments confifled in fupplying his wants, and to fuch a pitch had his ideas of happinefs raifed themfelves, that he for- got his country, his language, his name, and even the articulation of words. And after a banifhment of four years, from the burthens of focial life, he had loft all thougbit of the paft, or anxiety for the future. One of the firft principles we imbibe, one of the firft inftin6ls of man, is a confciouihefs of independence j and no doubt * THROUGH AMERICA. 8i fioubt but you muft have obfervcd, that the man who poflefles a competent fubfift- cncc is incomparably ha^ pier than the rich man, wlio is retrained by prejudges and fadiions, which inccilmtly are reminding him of the lofs of his Uberty, and which too frequently are the occafion of the rafli and fatal a6l of fuicide* In comparing the ftate of the favages to that of children, the queftion may eafdy be decided, which has been fo warmly in debate among the moft learned men, *' whe- ther the flate of nature has the advantage over that of focial life?" And you, no doubt, will readily allow, that your Hate ofchildhoodj notwithfcanding the reflraint of education, was the happieft period of your life. Nothing furely can more clearly indicate the happinefs that children feel, than that habitual chearfulnefs they de- monftrate, when not under the fchool- mafter's rod. Vol. L G After ♦ %} : rsv I - 82 INTERIOR TRAVELS After all, a fingle word may determine this great queftion. Let us alk the civil- ized man if he is happy j and the favage vs^hether he is unhappy? If they both anfwer in the negative, there is an end of the difpute. How mortifying muft this parallel be to civilized nations ? And the more painful the refle6tion, as it awakens the feelings to the caufe of their fufFerings ; no doubt but they will one time or other be con- vinced from whence it arifes— from the confufion of their opinions, from the de- fe6ls of their political conftitutions, and from the capricioufnefs of their laws, which ever are in continual oppofition to the laws of nature* But for fear you think I am growing too fententious, I fhall return to my defcription of this pro- vince. The tHkoUGH AMERICA* 83 The woods of Canada abound with a large kind of rabbits, which are of a brown color in the fammer, and turn while in the wiriter, one of the efFefts of the ex- treme cold or fnow that prevails in this climate j we found likewife vaft quantities of partridges, much larger than ours, which the Canadians call pheafants -, there are two forts of them, the fpruce and the pine : the meat of the former is very delicious, to thofe who are fond of the flavor of the fpruce. The market at this place is well fupplied with all kind of provifion, fifli and vegetables in abundance. . *" , - *. The place beft adapted to repay the la- bours of the hulbandman, are pointed out to him by the fpontaneous productions of nature i where the pine, the fir-tree, and the cedar grow folitarily, there he finds only watry and fandy grounds : but wherever the foil is covered with maple, oak, beech, yoke, elm, hickory, and fmall ' , ■,.v it vd'l Gz cherry- $4 INTERIOR TRAVELS V> ''i I cherry-trees, there he is certain to meet with a reward for his trouble of clearing away the woods, and may expe6l a great increafe, without the difficulty of ma- nuring. Being informed that the pacquet fails this afternoon, and having feveral other letters to write, a further account of this province muft be delayed till my next ; and in hopes you will pardon my breaking off fo abruptly, and leaving you in a ftate of fufpence, I remain. Yours, &c, L E T- THROUGH AMERICA. 85 J. E T T E R IX. ^ebee, November ^tb, 17760 MY DEAR FRIEND, i>. OB L I G E D to conclude my laft rather haftily, I ftiall refume my obferva- tions pn this province, without any app- iogy. Moft of the plantations in Canada are fufficient to fupply the wants of their re- fpeclive owners, and there are few of them that do not yield rye, maize, barley, flax, hemp, tobacco, pulfe and pot-herbs, in great abundance, and thofe of an excellent quality. G3 It .i I •-'a .*. ft, i * i^4 m ^\^* ■ ^i.' \mm^' 1 S6 INTERIOR T$IAVELS It is capable of furnifhing many articles for a trade with the Weil Indies, wliich was wholly negle6led, whilil this province was under the French Government ; but fnice in our pofTefiion, great quantities of flour, planks, and timber, proper for build- ing, have been exported to them : and as there is perhaps no country in the whole world which produces more forts of w^ood, or of a better quality, you may eafily judge what immenfe riches may be drawn from thence, it confiHing principally of woods. I know not whether giving you an ac- count of the extenfive forefts of Canada, will afford you any entertainment ; but when I inform you that they have the ap- pearance of being as ancient as the world itfelf, and were never planted by the hand of man, I think you wdll find fome amufe- nicut in the defcription of them. On THROUGH AMERICA. 87 On my firft arrival in this countiy , I was ftruck with the loftinefs of the pines, fir- trees, and cedars, which are of a fize per- fe6lly aflonifhing. There are two forts of pine, both of them yielding turpentine. The white pines produce, on their upper extremities a kind of mufliroom, which the Canadians adminifler in cafes of the dyfen- tery. The red pines contain mpre turpen- tine, are heavier, and do not grow to fuch a thicknefs ; but where they flourifh, the land is reckoned very good to raife corn, ^ There are feveral fpecies of fir-trees, which rife to a great height, are excellently calculated for mafls, as well as every fort of carpenter's work. • There are two forts of cedars too, the white and red, the former of which grows the thickeft, and the odour is in its leaves ; whereas, in the latter, the odour is in the G 4 wov^d, um m ■f 11' 11 1 ^9 xM -''# ii: ! 1 m Site '3 88 INTERIOR TRAVELS wood, and far more agreeable. Of thefe trees the Canadians make palings, but moftly fhingles for covering their houfes, from its extreme lightnefst All over Canada are two forts of oak; the white grows in low fwampy grounds, the red in dry fandy lands. There are three forts of walnuts; the hard, the foft, and another with a thin bark. The hard fort bear a fmall nut, very good to eat, but apt to occafion coftivenefs, the wood of which is only fit to burn. The tender bears a large fruit, with a hard fhell, tlie kernels of which are excellent: the wood of this tree is fmgularly curious, being almoft incorruptible in water or in the ground, and difficult to confume in the fire : of this wood the Canadians make their coffins. The third fort pro- duces a nut which is exceedingly bitter, but THROUGH AMERICA. 89 but yields an excellent oil, ufed by the in- habitants for their lamps. Beech and elm trees are in great abunr dance ; and in the thickeft woods are found yafl numbers of cheriy and plumb-trees. There are an infinite number of others, but as I am no Botanift, you will pardon my giving an account of what is here in fuch variety, that perfons who have taken the moft unremitting pdns to difcover them, have not been capable of defcribing half their number, I (hall conclude this heavy detail of trees, with that of the maple, which boafls of many excellent qualities. The maple tree yields in great quantities a liquor which is cool and refrefhing, with an agreeable flavor. The Canadians make a fugar of it, a very good pe6loral, and ufed for coughs. TJiere are many trees 1^ Pi ill j ^1' P It ! Moft of the farm houfes are built of ftone, confifting of three or four rooms, which are heated with a ftove, nearly upon the fame conftru6rion as thofe I defcribed to you. Some of them have orchards annexed, though in general they are without fuch an accommodation, but all have exceeding good kitchen gar- dens. l!»-^-^^>';vilf*i;:,> t. ? ■ -.', pi) .1; ■* '• Eveiy three leagues there is a church, with a kind of little village, confifting of the parfonage, the aubergey the fchool for' boys and girls, and a few houfes belong* ing to tradefmen, thofe but few indeed, and THROUGH AMERICA. lOI \ jind (o thinly fcattered, that it fcarcely gives you the idea of a village. Trade is confidered by any defcendant of the nobkjfe a difgrace, yet there are few inhabitants but what claim fome affinity to one Seig- neur or another, who, though they think it no derogation to plough, fow, and reap upon their plantations, deem it ignomi- nious in the extreme, to be a mechanic or tradefman. Nptwithftanding which, I was much furprized to fijid, that the principal inhabitant in each village, who generally belongs to fome nobkjfe^ was the poll-mafter, and kept the only Auherge in the place ; nay, did not think l>is nobility offended, with providing horfes and enter- taining travellers, which I remember to have heard you fay is the cafe in many parts of Italy. Between each church, or village, there are feveral croiles put up on the road-fide, parallel to the fliores of the river, and H 3 which \i * k\ > '4 iti. I 'I |;'S?li '' •'III m ■) ■ ! . ih: ii' 1 * i' ■■./ Hi; *P i*. 'Ii m m 102 INTERIOR TRAVELS I ^ . which are common throughout Canada, They are made of v/ood, about fifteen or twenty feet high, and proportionably broad : In that fide towards the road is a fquare hole, in which they place fome wax images, either of our Saviour on the crofs, or of the holy Virgin, with the child in her arms, and before that, a piece of glafs to prevent its being injured by the weather. Thefe crofTes are ornament^ ed with all the inflruments they think the Jews employed in crucifying our Saviour, fuch as the hammer, tongs, nails, a flafk of vinegar, with many more things than one would fuppofe were really made ufe of, or even invented ; and frequently the figure of a cock is placed at the top, which appeared to me rather fingular, as it could have not the leaft affinity to the crucifixion, and muft rather be fuppofed an allufion to the cock's crowing when St. Peter denied our Saviour. Thefe THROUGH AMERICA. 103 Thefe erolTes, however good the inten- tion of ere6thig them may be, are con- tinually the caufes of great delays in tra- velling, which to perfons not quite fo fuperftitioufly difpofed as the Canadians, are exceedingly unpleafant in cold weather j for whenever the drivers of the calafhes, which ai*e open, and nearly limilar to your one horfe chaifes, come to one of them, they alight, either from their horfes or carriage, fall on their knees, and re- peat a long prayer, let the weather be ^ver fo fevere. The ufual mode of travelling is in thefe jcalafhes : in the front of thofe which tra- vel poft, a man fits to drive, and who, let your bufinefs be of ever fo great import-r ance, will alight at thefe croifes, and pay )iis accuftomed homage. One day, on our march, being feiit for- yvard io procure quarters, w^th our friend II 4 Cap- tor ■ iff An m- *tj '' ' ■•■■ i- - m 1'/* it !:' M,.T- m.ji hmm 104 INTERIOR TRAVELS ■.* 1^. ' Captain Grattan, whofe pleafantry of man- ners you are well acquainted with ; for ex- pedition we went \n a poftr-calafli. The weather was fo excefiiyely fevere, that with the aiTiftance of fur coverings, we could fcarcely keep ourfelves warm. Not above a mile had been beguiled, before we came to one of thefe crofl'es, when the fellow who drove us ftopped ; upon adding him why he did fo, he replied, Ce neji que pour faire ime petite priere 5 which petite prih'c he was nearly five minutes iXi repeating, when he mounted his feat. We complained of being aim oft periilied with cold, v/hen he replied. Aliens^ alkns^ je vais me depecber^ and after taking two or three whiffs of his pipe, whipped up his horfes, and made amends for his flopping. We had not gone a mile. and a half further, before another crofs made its unwelcome appear- ance : here he muft alight, ^nA faire line autre petite priere^ which, upon our not confenting to, he begged we would let him juft .]' y THROU6h AMERICA. 105 juft ftop, le terns de faire un figne de croixy which he was not long about. We then jogged on again with great chear'fuhiefs, as he drove pretty faft ; foon after we per- ceived the village to which we were deftined . for quarters, when again he fuddenly ftopt, ' and upon our faying there was no crofs there, he immediately cried out, Mais en *voici line la, which, being at fome diilance from the road, we had not obferved, re- quefting us to let him halt but a moment : Ilfaut que je defcende id-, ceji mon 'village', we told liim he fhould not, and that he muft drive into the village as fall: as he c^uld. Upon this he growled inwardly, and complained openly, till he came op- pofite to it, where he flopped again ; before he could defcend, our friend Grat- tan laid hold of his long queue, of which I told you they are exceedingly proud, and declared, if he did not immediately drive on, he would inftantly cut it off. This being alierted with fome degree of warmth, 'IfHi 1: io6 INTERIOR TRAVELS M warmth, he thought fit to facrifice his reli- gion to his vanity, fojuft crofTing himfelf, muttered a fhprt prayer, and drove us as faft as he could to the end of our journey, facrant contre tlie E^iglifli officers \ and I do not doubt, if one could form any idea from his countenance, but he font us both into purgatory with fuch purfes, that all the malFes which could be offered would not be able to releafe us from it, for having treated his religion and his queue with fq UttlQ ceremony. Leaving you to make your own reflec-. tions on thefe Canadians and their reli|ion| I remain. Yours, &c. ^1 y, I ij LET^ THROUGH AMERICA. J 07 X, E T T E R XL Montreal t Nov. 20tb, 1 776. MY DEAR FRIEND, IS H A L L now proceed with my obfer- vations, and the remainder of the oc- currences which happened in our march from Quebec to this place. 1 i i \k i ;i^a| K TU mm ^m > , —H.K mi ^ ■■ a'l About half way between Quebec and Montreal, is a town called Trois Rivieres ; it takes its name from three rivers, whofe currents join here, and fall into the river St. Laurence. Previous to my giving you any defcription of this place, permit me to f elate a trifling circumftance that occurred, juft jo8 INTERIOR TRAVELS i\^-^-M:ii juft as we entered the town. About half a mile before we came to it, fo fudclen and naufcous a fcent aflailed our olfadloiy nerves, as nearly to fufFocate us, which lafted till we arrived at the outikirts. — Upon enquiry, we found it arofc from an animal, which the Canadians call the Enfant du Diabh\ or bete puantc\ a title which it derives from its ill fcent, occa- fioned by difcharging his urine whenever he is attacked, and which infe6ls the air for a great diftance. Laying afide this quality, it is in other refpe6ts a beautiful creature, being about the fize of a cat, with a fine fliining fur, of a dark grey color, {Ireaks of white gliilening from the head to the tail, which is bufhy, like that of a fox, and turned up as a fquirrel's : this had been purfued by fome dogs which the foldiers had with them, acrofs the road, but when it came near us, its ftench was almoft infupportable. Thefe THROUGH AMERICA. 109 Thcfc linfiint dii Di'aMe diffcv from your Enfant du Diable^ the London beaux, who have all their prettyifms perhaps, but arc eternally exhaling their peftiferous odours, fearful, if they referved them till ptirfued^ they would have no opportunity to " Taint the flying air, and flink in date." The country is pleafant, and there are leveral good houfes about the town, but they were greatly damaged by the Ameri- cans, upon abandoning it, after their de- feat this i'ummer, when their army was routed, and feveral of their Generals, with great numbers of their men, taken pri- foners. This place is the winter canton- ments of the German troops, who are commanded by General Reidefel ; he com- mands likewife the diftridl between Que- bec and Montreal. This town, by reafon of the three rivers, ufed to be much frequented by the feveral nations i'fiX, M iP h}' no INTERIOR TRAVELS 'V.l .■■•'. (11 i nations of Indians, and was built with a view of encouraging trade with the northern ones in particular. It had every profpe6l of being the fecond city in the province, but the fur trade was foon diverted from this market, and carried entirely to Montreal, it being fome leagues nearer to the In- dians 5 and though we have feveral trad- ing places with them upon the lakes On- tario and Superior, Montreal will always (upport its confequence, as being the neareft and moft convenient place for (hipping . the furs to England. Trots Rivieres has now loft all its traffic and is fupported chiefly by the travellers pafling between the two cities. There are feveral churches, and two convents, the nuns of which are reckoned the moft ingenious of any in Canada, in all kinds of fancy ornaments, needle work, and curious toys. Daring THROUGH AMERICA. Ill During my flay at Trois Rwieres, there came down from the Illinois^ feveral In- dians of that nation, with an interpreter, < to acquaint us, that they would be down in the fpring, and would take up the . ' : hatchet in favor of ^^ their good Brother who rejided beyond the great waters,'* Among the groupe I obferved one, who had hang- ing round his neck the image of the holy » Virgin, with our Saviour in her arms, which I thought veiy fmgular, as he was of a nation efteemed extremely ferocious in their manner, and whom the French Miflionaries could not convert ; but upon my enquiring of the interpreter if he knew the reafon, he gave me the following account: In fome fkimirfh, when the lUinois were at war with the Canadians, this image had fallen into their hands, amongft other plunder. Sometime afterwards as a Mif- fionary> of which the French had great ' * numbers 1'i J3.I' I' ■i I. 112 INTERIOR TRAVELS Hi .>i M h; •.' ii,;'- hi \v numbers travelling through the interior parts of Canada, to cultivate friendfhip, and eftablifh their religion among the In- dians ; by chance he met this perfon, and obferving the image, was very much aftonifhed; the manner in which he took notice of it, excited the curiofity of the poor favage, to knov^ what it reprefented, when the Miflionary, who no doubt was pleafed to have fuch an opportunity of dif- playing his religion, told him, that it re- prefented the mother of his God, and that the child fhe held in her arms reprefented God himfelf, who had made himfelf man for the falvation of the human fpecies, and explaining to him the myftery of our in- carnation, afluring him, that in all dan- gers the Chriflians addrefled themfelves to this holy mother, who feldom failed to extricate them. The Indian liftened with the utmoft attention to this difcourfe, and went away. d Some- THROUGH AMERICA^ 1^3' Being out a hunting, foon after this, jiift as he had difchafged his piece at a deer, one of the Oaitigami Indians, whofe nation was at variance with the Illinois, and who was lying in ambufh, prefented his piece at his head. In this fituation he recoUe6led what had been told him about the mother of God, and invoked her prote6lion. The Outagami endeavoured to difcharge his piecci but miffed ; he cocked a fecond time, and the fame thing hap- pened five times fuccefTively. In the inte- rim the Illinois had loaded his piece, and prefer/ ' it to the Outagami, v/ho chofe rather to furrender than be fliot. From that time the Illinois would never ftir from his village without his fafeguard, which he imagines renders him invulnerable. There can remain little doubt but this circumftance was the means of his convcr- fion to Chrifl-ianity, and the Romifli re- ligion : for he has certainly embraced that perfuafion, as I followed him to the Vol. I. great t« > ' '.1 ' 'ii ''U J 14 INTERIOR TRAVELS great church, where, upon his entrance, alter crofling himfelf with the holy water, he fell upon his knees, and feemed to wor- fhip with as much devotion as the moil devout of the Canadians. But to return to my defcription of this place. ^ The road from Quebec hither is the whole way within fight of the river, being moftly upon its banks, which renders it ' extremely pleafant to travellers, efpecially in the fummer, as there is a conllant breeze. i ii ■ > : The river from Quebec to frois Rivieres is veiy wide, and at tliat place it forms a very large lake, called St. Pierre, where the eye cannot reach acrofs ; you can only difcern a large body of water, with feveral illands, which, with the fmall vefTels fail- ing between them, form a very romantic profpe6t. The tide comej; no farther than this lake, terminating a few leagues beyond THROUGH AMERICA. 115 beyond I'rois Rivieres ^ when you meet with the river again, where it runs extremely rapid, at the rate of feven or eight miles an hour. At its firll appearance you can hardly fuppofe it the fame river, for where the tide has efFedl, it feldom runs more than four miles an hour ; it increafes in rapidity ?^ you advance to Montreal, and oppofite the city it runs almoft ten miles an hour, which renders its navigation ex- tremely difficult, as nothing but a very ftrong and favourable wind, with all the fails full fet, can enable vefTels to ftem the current. What with unfavourable winds and light breezes, fhips have been as long in getting up from I'rois Rivieres to Montreal, as they were on their palTagc from England to Quebec. The rapidity of the current makes crof- fmg not only difagreeable, but very dan- gerous, for unlefs you have a Ikilful pilot, the current will carry you a league below I 2 where ii6 INTERIOR TRAVELS where you want to land. And yet it is furprizing, how expert the Canadians ai'e with their wooden canoes > but the Indians far exeeed them in working theirs, as their canoes are of a much hghter conftnidbion. Both being much ufed in this country, I fhall endeavour to defcribe them, that you may be able to form fome idea of what they are. Thofe which tlie Canadians ufe, are called wooden ones, being hollowed out of the red elm, fome of which are fo large, as to contain twenty perfons. Thofe which the Indians ufe, are made of the bark of the birch tree, and diftin- guiflied by the name of birch canoes, the different parts of which they few together with the inner rind of the bark of the tree, and daub them over with a pitch, or rather a bituminous matter, refembling pitch, to prevent their leaking. They form the ribs from THROUGH AMERICA. 17 from the boughs of the hickory tree, and are conftrufted of different dimcnfions, fome being only large enough to contain two perfons, and others thirty. • !- Thefe canoes are eafily managed by the Indians with their paddles, and with the current go at a prodigious rate, for one lingle flroke with the paddle will force them twice the length of the canoe againft it. It was with one of thefe birch canoes that General Carleton, with an ^*id-de- Camp, made their efcape through the ene- my's fleet, when he quitted Montreal, foi the purpofe of putting Quebec in a better Hate of defence. Unwilling to lofe the opportunity of fending this by an officer who is going to Quebec, I am obliged to put a period to this letter : and, no doubt, upon the perufal of it, you will eafily difcover the young tra- 1 3 vellef. ii8 INTERIOR TRAVELS veller, who is diverted with every thing that prefents itfelf to his view. But in hopes that it may afford you hah' an hour's amufement,. I remain, Yours, &;c. m m i 1 ■ i LET- THROUGH AMERICA. 119 LETTER XIL Mon/real, Novemier iSt/j, ijj6, UY DEAR FRIEND, BEFORE I defcribe to you this city, let me give you fome account of the ifland on which it ftands, and from whence it derives its name^ This ifland, which meafures, ten leagues in length and about four in breadth, is formed by the river St. JLaurence, and in the center of it are two large mountains, which are the firfl you meet with on the north fide of St. Laurence, and were called ty the liril difcoverers of tliis province, 1 4 Monls n I ^20 INTERIOR TRAVELS Monis Royaux, which gave name to the ifland, afterwards Mofit Roya/y and at lafl, by a variety of corruptions of the language, Montreal, Of all the adjacent countries, there is no place where the climate is reckoned to be fo mild, fo pleafant, and the foil fp fruitful: with all thefe natural blefTnigs, is it not furprizing to fee it thinly inha- bited, and very ill fettled, for except two or three miles round the city, the country is moftly woods, inj:erfperfed v/ith a few fmali plantations. One thing not a little remarkable is, that this ifland contains a fmallcr one of about three miles in length, and two and a half in breadth, formed by two inlets of St. Laurence. This little ifland, which is called the IJle de JefuSy is almoft cleared from woods, and has a fmall church and a few houfes on it, rendering Mon- treal THROUGH AMERICA. 121 Ji-eal extremely plcafant ; being fo fituated, that you cannot go a great length in any diredion, before you come to it; and jurely, after travelling through woods and Iwamps, it affords a moil pleafmg relief. IP' ki ij I The fummit of the mountains I have defcribed to you are extjemely difficult to gain ', but having once accomplilhed it, the dehghtful profped that prefents itfelf, amply compenfates for the fatigue and dangers you encounter, being able to view the wl).0;le ifland, and feyeral leagues round it. You can plainly difcern the moun- tains that crofs Lake Champlain, called the Green Mountains, which are near 60 miles diftant. It appears generally a vaft forell, there being only three objedls to diverfify the fcene ; the view of the city of Mon- treal, the river St. Laurence, and the mountains of Chamblee, which are exceed-^ ingly beautiful, and the more remark- ;ible, being in a plain level country, and not ^■.!. tXt ;''f )(■ m m\ 122 INTERIOR TRAVELS not having a finglehill forftveral leagues round themj they are confiderably loftier than the mountains on this ifland. This city forms an oblong fquare, di- vided by regular, w^ell formed ftreets, and the houfes in general are well built; there are feveral churches, but thofe, as well as manv of the houfes have felt the effecla of, this war. m < ■>>,■ The city is furrounded by a wall and dry ditch, and at one end there is a citadel. Thefe fortifications were raifed many years pad, as a defence againft the Indians, and fince the war, great improvements have been made to them ; but the city is fo fituated, that no works can be raifed to enabled it to ftand a regular fiege, having many rifing grounds, that command it in more places than one. When ' THROUGH AMERICA. ^23 When wc gained pofTefllon of this pro- vince, Montreal was nearly as large as Que- bec, but fince that time it has fuftercd much by fire ; it is greatly to be wondered at, that it has not, one time or other, been totally deltroyed: for in the winter, when the inhabitants go to bed, they make great fires in their ftoves, and leave them burn- ing all night, by which means they arc frequently red hot before morning, ima- gine how very dangerous they mull have been, when their houfes were conflrucled of wood J few of thofe are now remaining, except in the outlkirts of the city, the greateft part of tliem being built of flone. The inhabitants here, as well as thofe of Quebec, having fo many times fnffeied by fire, conftruct their building*^ m fiich a manner, that they are not only pcrfeclly fecure againft that element, but even againfl: houfe-breakers, v/hlc'a being a little finiiular, :> Hi I m 13 i' ill • 'm. 1 124 l^'TERIOR TRAVELS fmgular, you will have no objedion to my defcribing them. The houfe confifts of one lofty floor, built with ftone, and the apartments are divided by fuch thick walls, that fhould a fire happen in one of them, it cannot com- municate to any pther : the top of the houfe being covered with a ftrong arch, if the roof which is over it fhould catch fire, it cannot damage the interior part of the houfe. At Quebec, that city having been fo often befieged, the inhabitants who are now building at that place, make this arcli bomb-proof. - ^'' . - - E?.th apartment has a double door, the inner one of wood, and the outer one of iron, which is only fhut when the family retire to reft ^ the windows have double Ihutters of the fame materials, and have not only taken this precaution with the doors that lead out of the houfe, bi|t added THROUGH AMERICA. 125 added an iron one, which is fixed on the infide. ' Thefe doors and fhutters are made of plate iron, near half an inch thick, which, perhaps, you will imagine, muft give tlie houfe a very difagreeable appearance, but it is far otherv/ife, for being moftly painted green, they afford a pleaiing contraft to the whitenefs of the houfe. This is the bufy time of the merchants belonging to this place, who are now ufing all poffible expedition in fending home their furs, before the winter fets in. The reafon affigned for deferring it till fo late in the feafon, is on account of the traders, feme of whom are but juft arrived from the upper countries, the merchants gene- rally waiting as long as there is a pofTibility of their return, and fometimes fo long in expe6tation of them, as to lofe their mar- kets entirely. "\ I 126 INTERIOR TRAVELS Thefe traders, in the courfe of then- voyages, are continually encountering hardihips and difficulties, and their lives are frequently in imminent danger: nothing can counterbalance the great perils that await them, but the certainty of ac- quiring an ample fortune in the courfe of tliree or four voyages. '.fi *1 ->WS> mi They fet out in the fpring of the year, in parties of about twenty or thirty per- fons, with perhaps eight or ten large birch canoes > they have no fixed courfe to take, but fleer that where it is imagined they can meet with a tribe of Indians; keeping moflly upon the upper lakes, fometimes carrying their goods and canoes acrofs rapids, which are parts of the river greatly quickened by the defcents, and over land to a river, up which they will proceed many leagues. If they do not meet with any Indians, it obliges them to return again to the lakc^ and proceed weltward. ^^^ The ■ I THROUGH AMERICA. 127 The goods they take with them to bar- ter for Ikins, confift chiefly of brandy, to- bacco, a fort of duffil blanket, guns, pow- der and balls, kc\:ti( s, hatchets and toma- hawks, as likewife looking-glafles, Ver- million and various other paints ; and according to any article that an Indian has a dcfire or an ufe for, he will give ten times its value in lldns. They are moil eager after powder, ball, paint, brandy and to- t^cco. . , Thcfe traders traverfc vaft lakes and rivers with incredible induftry and pa- tience, carrying their goods among na- tions in the remotcH parts of America, They are generally abfent from their fa- milies about three years, before their de- , parture make a will, and fettle all their affairs, many of them, with their whole ' party, having been put to death by the Indians, either for the flores they carry with them, or to revenge the death of fome h u- ' ^ . of 1^ ii ! Mi'.-'' i'm f. : {3 ::^ 128 INTERIOR TRAVELS of their nation, who has been killed by the burfting of a gun that has been fold to them, which is frequently the cafe, they being by no means proof. The Indians do not wait for thofe traders who fold the gun, but take their revenge upon the firft they meet with. Here I muft obferve to you, that the guns which are fold to the Indians are fitted up in a very neat man- ner, to attract the notice of thefe poor creatures, and frequently, after having been fired five or fix times, they burfl:, and the unfortunate purchafer is either killed, or lofes an hand or an arm. Thefe traders are certainly the beft judges, but I cannot help thinking it both cruel and impolitic. M' 1",'' It having been hinted, that a reward would be given to him who fliould difcover a north-weft pafTage, or whether the Con- tinent joins to India, two fuppofitions much credited by the Europeans in general ; feveral of the traders have cndeavoui'ed to find n; THROUGH AMERICA. 129 find which is the tme one : as there is every year fome frefti difcovery made, there re- mains but little doubt that in fome future time it will be cfFe6led. I believe the far- theft that any of them have yet reached was a Mr. Henry, who is reported to have travelled for ten days upon a large plain, on which grew only a rank-grafs, nearly as high as a man's breaft, and on this plzdn he frequently met with immenfe droves of buffaloes, and obferved the tracks of feveral others 5 that on the eleventh day he came to a vaft river, which ftopped his progrefs, as he did not chufe to venture crofling in a canoe ; that the water was quite fait, and run extremely rapid, from which circum- ftancc he concluded there muft be a north- weft paflage. . i Whether it is fo or not, it is to be hoped that when this unhappy conteft is ended. Government may think it a matter worthy their confideration, and fit out an expedi- VoL. I. V E tion mn ^:<,'-j ■' \ 130 INTERIOR TRAVELS tion for afcertaining it, as the difcovcry would not only be of gieat importance to England, but to all the world. As we have already made fuch great and wonder- ful difcoveries in the South Seas, furely tliis will be deemed of fufficient import- ance to juftify the expence of fitting out proper perfons from England to invefligate the fa6t, . * 'ii,ij .'•<' If after fo many fruitlefs attempts, fome one Ihould appear, whofe firm mind will rife fuperior to every fenfe of danger, en- countering variety of hardfliips, and whofe patience is not exhaulted by their duration ; if fuch a one, animated with a hope of glory, which alone teaches men to difre- gard life, rendering them equal to the greateil undertakings j who, being well informed, fo as to underfland what he fees, and of veracity enough to relate only what he has feen — if fuch a man fhould appear, and no doubt there are many who poflefs . . ^ thefe THROUGH AMERICA. 13 f thefe excellent and extraordinary qualifica- tions, his refearches will perhaps be crown- ed with better fuccefs. But, if after fuch an undertaking, this celebrated paflage fhould ftill remain concealed, it muft be concluded, either that it doth not exift, or is not given to man to difcover. I add nothing more to this letter, fearful of lofmg its conveyance, therefore remain Yours, &c, , 9i' f1 Hi,:, ■■K i *"•« 3> ■'■ Si' ^sB. 'i V- ': mh ill'. '?"'t!«. I' 'ii K2 LET- 132 INTERIOR TRAVELS LETTER XIII. Montreal, Nov. 30/^, i//^-. MY DEAR FRIENDy ' -1 hr If' fe A FEW days ago, I made a vifit to our '*' ^ friend Shlagell of the 21ft regiment, at St. John's, where he is ftationed for the winter. I cannot but fay I was much pleafed with the place, it having all the appearance of a dock-yard, and of being equally as bufy. The fleet that was upon the Lake is repairing, as likewife feveral of the veffels that we took from the Ameri- cans ; they ai*e laid up in docks, to prefei*ve them from the inclemencies of the winter, and by the enfuing fpring, what with the fliips THROUGH AMERICA. «33 (liips we had before, and thofe we have fince taken from the Americans, we (hall have a fleet far fuperior to any they can poflibly bring on the Lakes. There are two fchooners here, the Carle* ton and Maria, which were built in Eng- land upon a conftru6lion to take into pieces, in order to be tranfported acrofs a carry- ing-place of about two miles. After their failing from England to the mouth of the rapids, which prevented their proceeding up to St. John's, rather than lofe the time of taking them to pieces, and re-conftru6l- ing them, Lieutenant Schank, of the navy, an ingenious officer, informed General Carleton, that they might be conveyed upon a cradle over land to St. John*s, entire, provided there was a good road made for them. The General acquiefced in this gentleman's propofal, and the whole army were employed in making a road. One of the veflels was near half a mile on it, by K3 means « mm 4 H ■«' '.J'' ,,'ii 1';, ■I \ ,'i' 134 INTERIOR TRAVELS means of cables fixed to windlaircs every twenty yards j but the General perceiving this mode of conveyance would take up more time than the other, gave orders to have the fchooners taken to pieces and re- built, which was accomplifhed in as (liort a fpace of time as they had been creeping that fmall diftance upon land. '.H i"fi •^^• % it Vi] Our naval force being far inferior to what the Americans had this fummer upon the Lakes, it was deemed neceflary to en- creafe it. The fliip-wrights were inftantly employed to build a frigate, and the army in cutting the timber for it, which is now as complete a vefTel as any in the King's fervice. I am afraid you will think I ufurp the privilege of a traveller, when I tell you that this frigate was conftrucled in fo fhort a time, that in eight and twenty days after her keel was laid fhe was in a6lion j and what was ftill more wonderful, there were only fixteen fhip-wrights to build her, one THROUGH AMERICA. 135 of whom was, on the third day, fo badly wounded with an adze, as to be of little fervice. You may cafily imagine how great miifl: have been the aftonifhment of the Ameri- cans when flic came upon the Lakes, knowing we had no fuch fhip when they abandoned St. John's. Notwithftanding this, they fought their fleet bravely, and our new-built velFel, by the falling of the wind, bore but a partial part of the en- gagement, the ftrcfs laying upon the Carlc^ ton and Maria fchooners, which were both much fliattercd. On board the latter was General Car let on, who had a very narrow ei'cape, a cannon fhot pading clole by him as he was giving diredljons to an officer, and which the General with that coolnefs and intrepidity that fo much diflinguifhes his chara6lcr, took no notice of, but turn- ing round, gave his orders wilh as much ^ K 4 com- i *»■•■ ••i M \ '■ 13^ INTERIOR TRAVELS • ^1 *l i-n >*Mk mm m -I compofure as if he had been in the moil: perfcdl ftate of fecurity. This place, which is called the key to Canada, when the works are compleated, will be of great ftrength j there are tem- porary barracks at prefent, both for fol- diers and artificers. The old barracks, as well as the fort the Americans deftroyed when they abandoned the place, were for- merly quite furrounded with woods, but are now clear for fome diflance round. In order that you may form a juft idea of this important place, I have enclofed you a drawing of it, reprefenting the two redoubts, with the rope-walk, the fhip on the flocks, and the other velTels at anchor near the fort, and which 1 have taken from the block-houfe erefted on the oppofite fide of the river Sorejl, From ) f ■ WY^, 11 h^'fi ■it.: '■>:: 11^ ( / /u'//'\>, I IVf/r I'ot.l.p,,^,- /.it^J. \\\ ,A J #;i' k ■ti t *t, rt^ II m^ \*f:i^\ a... :m THROUGH AMERICA. ^37 From this place I went to the Ijle ati Noix^ which is the advanced poft of the army, on which the 20th regiment is ftation- ed. This, ifland is about a mile and a half in length, and three quarters of a mile in breadth ; it was entirely covered with wood, but at prefent greatly cleared, and before the winter is over, we imagine it will be entirely fo. Although fo late in the year, and in this fevere climate, the regiment ftationed there is encamped, and likely to continue fo till after Chriftmas, as it will be that time before the block-houfes in- tended for them arc finifhed. Block-houfes not being generally known in England, fliall be my apology for giving you a defcription of them. They are con- ilru6led of timbers, placed one on the other, of a fufficient thicknefs to refill: a mufquet (hot, and large enough to contain from ICO to 120 men; there arc two apartments in them, one above the other, in •A\ ■m ' I r>k/ '.(■\ ^iS INTERIOR TRAVELS. Ilk the upper of which is a divifion for the offtcesrs. In both the lower and upper apartments are two pieces of cannon and fottt port^holes, for the purpofe of point* ing thefe cannon on any fide of the block- hQ\ii& Qti which it may be attp^cked; and in jQ^e an ^ncniy (hould in the night en- deavour to fet fire to the houfe, there are loop-holes, through which the troops on the infide can level their pieces and fire upon the alTailants, They are reckoned to be a very ftrong defence, as it has been known that a fmall paity of men, in one of thele block-houfes, have repulfed treble their own number. But that you may more fully comprehend the conilmdion of thefe luiufual fortifications, I hav<, inclofed a drawing and fec^ion of one of them for your infpedion. The foldievs, not only at the J/Ie au Noi.^y but liktrwilc At St. John's, have been ver) fubje(?- to the icurvy, not having any other ^ Br/J. li , //i*' /*H>/f /to/*.t/of', //ff.tA'r^J, /J tj/if n /'r Ji /nrf.j . 'y) I.I' "f'f'T.J LET- ■I' ■'IfV i' MM: '^ ^m' '.:( lit': i 5*1 ^•■•t y li , f/i*' /<>>>// /to/f.> A>r. //ff.tAr/,) /) , J /if- A n- /t/firf,j . /. /?/■_ 'tu/fffr <>/ (oiH^nfti \,//fryt/ff//f>tfft ///o/ .>/"/rf.i /'}//. i. 'I'lio i'l-.ui of llif (li-miud I iooi Fi/^ Af^ro/or ^n . ^ ' y/w /f fY /t/rrrr . ( ' ' J/tf /rrr/f ^ftwr. {' ^/if ///fT//f>nn ff.i /// Mey \ff>tf'r/' f 'y/^/'/z/fr/f/. A' .//ff (W/rrr.t. '■Yiftr/oifM/ . /^'j/tfL/\ff>r ff'/u///t^ /o //. (r ,J/te /I //frntff. ''//off',) nt/r//' / // ///" //or /o // /Y ///fo/f ///f (fnr?fif/ // //iff/ t7ff/ /t ^ /in/,H'/,)/off o/'//fr /> ' m// r/f/tf/f / ''• f/>f/'r/' SciUe t>l' Feet =#. -1^ hRIh^b ' •kSa^l^^H ^ V 1 THROUGH AMERICA. ^2') Other than fait provifions, but bydnnkinc; plentifully of fprucc beer, they arc now all in pcrfecl health, which clearly proves tliat liquor to be a powerful antifcorbutic. It is fo much known in England, as to need no defcription ; the only difference between the fpruce there and here is, that here it is made with the branches of the tree iticlf, and there with the eiience. i As the feverity of the weather fhuts up all intercourfe by letters, this is the lail you may expe6l to receive from me till the froft breaks up. But though I cannot write to you, be aflured I fhall continually think of you, and remain, with the grcatcll exlecm and finceritv. ^ ->-. . Yours, 6cc. .^•V, ; LET- 140 INTERIOR TRAVLLS h U L E 1' T E R ,tKfJi .1. <- -jki f' . Wj'i XIV. ■ ^ Montreal, January \%th,\'j-] -J , ' .i»j »'» ' ■> •- * 1 -i - • r V - . MY DEAR FRIEND, t J t, j:> I I DID not expedl to have written fo foon, but an opportunity of a flag of truce, which is going by the way of Ticon- deroga to New -York, unexpe6ledly occur- ring, I am happy to embrace it, efpecially when it is impoflible for me to employ my leifure hours more fatisfadlory to myfelf, than in endeavouring to divert you . I fhall therefore proceed to give you fome ac- count of the winter amufements of this place, and among the principal ones is that of carioling upon the ice, the inhabitants , ...v^ making THROUGH AMERICA, 141 making large parties every day for that purpofej they generally go to Point ^ux Trembles y about three leagues from this city, at which place refides a Dutch woman, who makes moft excellent faufages, and at whofc houfe it is cuftomary to refrefh with thefe and bottled porter. As the north wind generally blows very fliarp, you ac- quire a pretty good appetite, and, for my own part, I enjoyed this petite refn^ \\\ pre- ference to my dinner, very few i^egi men- tal mefies being conduced with that pro- priety and decorum which fhould charac- terize the profcffion, as there are genei*aliy among them a fet of ungovernable young men. But to return to my defcription of carioling. . : - You will no doubt think it too much to go nine miles and back again for a jaunt before dinner ; but this mode of travelling is fo very expeditious, that moft of the Inhabitants defer their journey to Quebec . A . till '■:* 1 Hfc ^B '.^'^<- J y ! ^i -hi- > V : ^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 I.I 145 H! fig 28 |25 2.2 us ■it tM 11-25 III 1.4 ■ 2.0 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation /. ^ >i // .*v^ ^^ 23 WIST MAIN STRUT WliSTIR.N.Y. 14SM (716)173-4503 4^ c/. ^' t4a INTERIOR TRAVELS ^ I ii y ) till this fcafon of the year, as they can per^* form it with lefs difficulty, and much greater expedition* "f The carioles are fafliionfed after different devices, to imitate birds and beafts, but in general they are of one cohllru<5lion, with only this difference, that the common peo- ple have theirs clofe upon the ice or fnow, .while thofe of their fuperiors are raifed upon what are called runners, which elevate them about two feet. They paint them of various fantaflical colors ; many of them, as a contrail to this feafon of the year, are colored in imitation of thunder and light- ning. It is certainly a very eafy and expe- ditious method of travelling, for the horfes of the country will go with eafe fifteen miles an hour upon the ice. The inha- bitants think nothing of a journey of forty or fifty miles to fee a friend, and returning the fame day. Not- THROUGH AMERICA. H3 Kotwithflanding the river runs {o rapid as I have before defcribed, and is now en- tirely frozen over, yet there arc certain warm fprings that ne\''er will congeal j to caution travellers, every parilh, as foon as the river is frozen over, is obliged to fiX large pine ti*ees in the ice, diftant from each other about ten feet, which receiving tnoifture from the ice, and being an ever- green, continue fo the whole wiiiter, fa that when travelling, it appears as if you were going between an avenue of firs* On each fide of the river it is quite fmooth, but in the center, where the cur- rent runs fo rapid, the ice is thrown up in prodigious hills, through which the inha- bitants are obliged to cut a paflage to crofs ^ the river ; the fides are frozen io as to bear carriages, long before the center, and when that freezes, no thunder can equal the noife, the reafon of which you will eafily imagine, for where thefe rapids are, the If "■Wit $9 ,' f '■ k. ' f 11 t ! ,- ) 144 INTERIOR TRAVELS ice is thrown up in a continual fucccffion of hills; between thefe hills, you are furrounded with ice feveral yards high, and there it is inconceivably cold ; when upon the top of one of thefe hills, you cannot help flopping to view the many curious forms the ice is thrown into, fome of it being in that of a pyramid, other pieces that of a cone, others again in large (labs, and fome of it refembling the figures of men, birds and beaftsj in fhort, no defcriptioh can equal fo romantic a pro- lpe6l. . \ V The Canadians have a very fuigular cuf* tom among them, at the commencement of the year, the men go round the city and falute the ladies, who fit up in ftate for . three days for that purpofe, and as the in- habitants are acquainted with each other, the lady is generally faluted by the greateft part of the men ; the falutation is after the French fafliion, upon the cheek, when having THROUGH AMERICA, 145 having faluted one, the lady prefents the other. The European ladies who are fettled here, rather than appear fingular, adopt this cuftom, only varying the falutation after the Englilh fafhion ; not but what I think the French mode preferable on this occafion, where the lady is under the ne- ceflity of receiving the falute of every one. As I know you will make this obfei*vation, I dare fay he went his rounds ^ let me candidly acknowledge I did, and with another officer. We had a very great mortification in going to the houfe of an Englifli merchant, who has a beautiful wife : upon our entering, we difputed who fliould falute her firft ; you may fuppofe how eager we both were in our addrelies upon entering the room, and would have enjoyed our chagrin, when we faw General Phillips there, whofe de- parture mull be waited for, before we could falute the lady j perhaps you will Vol. I. L fay 1 mi i'f: ii 4 ii;' , S% % \A PI'-. hi , ■! !! y, > ' X «^ I I 146 INTERIOR TRAVELS fay the pleafure was heightened by con- templating her charms — Prajlat expeSiare. This being the firft Catholic country I ever was in, you muft fuppofe me particu- larly attentive to their religious ceremonies at Chriftmas. I had ever conceived, that moft authors had greatly exaggerated their accounts upon that head, and had I not met with convincing proofs^ my candor could not fuppofe that mankind were fo weak in their underftandings. That the lower clafs of people fhould be led away is not to be wondered at, but how men of learning, found fenfe and good underfland- ing fhould, is to me aftonifhing. It is allowable for eveiy man to worfhip any tiling fymbolically, but their doing it in reality never can be admitted. Thefe fuperftitious people implicitly believe, the waxen images that are fhewn them by their priefts, to be abfolutely the perfons they are intended to reprefent. -' " '^ On THROUGH AMERICA. H7 On Chriftmas Eve, I went to the great church, where there was a prodigious con- courfe of people, and got as near as I could to the altar, to obferve the ceremonies* About nine o'clock the fervice began with prayers and anthems, which lafted till ten, when the cradle was brought in, upon which there was a great fhoutj after this they continued fmging and pi:aying tilltlie clock ftruck twelve, when the high prieft brought in a wax figure of a child, fuperbly drefled, the mufic ftruck up, and there was a fecond great fhouting. The child being depofited in the cradle, it was rocked till about one o'clock, when the ceremony finifhed. 'iji 'II m ;|'1| ■ In fome of the convents they are ex- ceedingly curious in their wax images: there was a reprefentation of the Meffiah, which was daily varied in its fize, from the time of its fuppofed birth, till the time the Monks had fixed as necefTary for its L 2 being ■ ^. ( 148 INTERIOR TRAVELS g Y ) being fufficiently growA^ to reprefent our Saviour, at the age he was when he preach- ed in the Temple. When I firfl went to fee this wax-work, on the Chriflmas-day, there was a figure of Jofeph, dreiied in a fcarlet cloak, with a large tie wig, another to refemble the Virgin Mary with a little child, laying in a manger, and over it was the figure an ox and an afs's head, which are at the fame time emblematical of their own ftubbornefs and ftupidity. In a few days this reprefentation was changed, and there was another of the Wife Men making their offerings to the Salvafor Mundi ; fo continuing every remarkable event of his life, till the time of preaching in the Temple ; and whenever I went, there was always a vafl concourfe of people upon their knees praying to thefe figures. This mode of religion appears to me to be ex- tremely well calculated to infpire devotion in the lower clafs of people, yet it is great pity fome better method of paying adora- .. ' ' — tion \ ! THROUGH AMERICA. 149 tioii to the Divine Being cannot be adopt- ed to infpire a true fenfe of his exiftence, than means fo abfurd. Difference of opinion concerning religion ever will pre- vail, but left you think I am growing too \ lermonic, I fliall conclude this fubje6t with an obfervation of a Monfieur Blondeaux^ at whofe houfe I am quartered, and who is a very fenfible and intelligent man. Converfing with him, one day, on their worfhipping thefe waxen images, and other ridiculous ceremonies in their religion, Monfieur^ faid he, Mon avis eft que chacun doitfuivre la religion pour laquelle il fe font plus d' inclination ; etje fuis ajfure qu an jour du jugement^ on ne nous demandra pas quelle religion nous avons profeJfa\ mais que nous ferons tons recompenfes on piiuis felon nos ac*^ tions, .. As I informed you this goes by a flag of truce, it would be unpardonable to omit L3 Pi i ? w . i. m -hi 1*4 MX 1 men- If V, ) i. A (| J5O INTERIOR TRAVELS mentioning the humanity of General Carle- . ton, who has cloathed all thofe who were taken prifoners, they being almoft in a ftate of nakedncfs j many of them he fuf- fered to return to their homes upon their paroles of not bearing arms again during the war. Thofe who are here to be ex- changed are cloathed, and fare the fame as our own foldiers. Fate can only determine whether I fhall Experience the misfortune of being taken prifoner, but, if I fhould, it is my hope that I may not meet with worfe treatment than thcfe people have received; By the mode this will be conveyed, I attt not certain that it may reach you ; but if it fhould, it brings you my beft wifhes for your health and happinefs, and an alTurance that I am, with great fmcerity, , ' Yours, Sec. LET- THROUGH AMERICA. 151 LETTER 1. XV. Montreal, January z%th, 1777. MY DEAR FRIEND, 'U TH E winter is now fet in with great feverity, and you would naturally conclude that this country is the moft un- comfortable in the world, and its inhabi- tanjts the moft unhappy, but far from it : the city and the country people around, feem to be perfectly in their element; there is nothing but carioling, feafting, and other amufements. The Canadians perfe6lly refemble the French with refpedl to dancing, having meetings at each other's houfes for that purpofe almoft every night. L 4 Though u. ;ij.>;i 'M '.I . I 152 INTERIOR TRAVELS Though the weather is fo fevere, the in- habitants here never (lay in doors in the day, unlefs it fnows, which feldoni hap- pens, for the rnft fall is generally the only one they have, and that lafts for two or three days, after which the v/eathcr is fettled, and has been extremely plcafant for this month paft ; excepting one day, there has been quite an Italian Iky, not a cloud to be feen. V ) I I The air of Canada is reckoned the mofk falubrious and healthy of ^ny in the world ; yet notwithftanding this, the Canadians are very confumptive, and it is incredible what numbers of them die before they arrive at maturity; if tliey furvive that period, they moftly liye to ^ good old age. A very eminent phyfician. Dr. Kennedy, who is with our army, attributes this en- tirely to the ftoves they make ufe of in the winter, and that was any other mode of conveying 11 THROUGH AMERICA. »53 conveying warmth fubftituted, they would in all probability be a long lived people. For, fays he, the inhabitants moftly keep their floves heated, and in coming out of the frefli air to enter a room where there is one, you are almoft fuffocated. How pernicious this muft be to the conilitution, efpecially of the young children, who are continually going in and out of the heated rooms into the fnow and upon the ice 5 and when the lungs and pores are expanded by the heat of thefe floves, run without any addition of cloathing into the cold, where the blood receives fo fudden a change, that it generally leaves fome fatal diforder upon the lungs. It is very difficult to eradicate long efta- blifhed prejudices and cufloms, but if the Canadians were to adopt the mode of other northern climates, where the cold is nearly as intenfe as it is here, I think they would experience the benefits arifuig from it. In f^.. r> 154 INTERIOR TRAVELS I y> In Ruflia, Germany, and in all the northern parts upon the Continent in Europe, the inhabitants have ftoves fimilar to the Canadians, but fo conftru6ted, that when the room is of a fufficient warmth, the front opens with two folding doors, where there is a good fire in a grate, and the fulphureous air exhales up the funnel, by which means they enjoy an agreeable warmth j if they perceive it getting cold, they fhut the doors for a little while, till the room is fufficiently heated. The Ca- nadian ftoves are fo confl:ru6led, that the whole time you are in a room, you are almoft ftifled with the fulphureous vapoi:, which muft be extremely pernicious, and in all probability occafions the fallow com- plexion of the Canadians ; there cannot be a ftronger proof that it is fo, than its hav- ing the fame effeft on Europeans who have been fettled here any length of time. They .^ifV -. J THROUGH AMERICA. ^55 They put me in mind of Erafmus's Diverforia Germantca B. In hypocauflo exuis ocreas; induis calceos; miitas, Ji voles, Indujium, vejies pluvia madidas Jufpendis juxta hypocauftum-j ipfe te admoves^ ut Jicceris. Itaque frequenter in idem hypocaujlum con-' veniunt oBaginta aiit nonagintay pedites, equiteSy negotiatores^ nautce, aiirigay agricola, pueriyfamina^faniy eegroti, — Gu. IJiucver^ ccenobium eft, — Be. Alius ibi pedlit caput y alius ahftergit fudoreniy alius repurgat perones aut ocreas y alius eruSlat aliunt* §uid multisf Ibi linguarum ac perfonarum non minor eft confuftoy quam olim in turri BabeL Prodit famulus fenex barbd candy tojtfo capitCy vultu torvOy fordido veftitu. — G\j. Hales opportebat cardinalibus Romanis ejfe a poculis, — Be. Is circumaSiis oculis tacitus dinumeraty quot ftnt in hypocaufto; quo plures adefte videt, hoc ve^ hementius accenditur hypocavfium etiamft ali^ oquefol aftuftt moleftus. Hac apud illos prce- cipua pars eft bonce traSlionisyft fudore diftiuanf omnes. Si quis non ajfuetus vapori, aptriat rimam A. ':^' Al 1- j: '56 INTERIOR TRAVELS t> j^> u vV rimam fine/Ira, ne prcefocetur, protinus audita Claude. Si refpondeasy Non fero: audis^ Quaere igitur aliud diverforium. — Gv. At- que mihi nihil videtur periculojiusy qucim tarn multos haurire eimdem vaporem^ maxime refo- Into corporCy atque hie capere cihumy et horas complures commorari, T^iim enim omitto ruBus alliatcSy et ventris fiaturriy halitus putres : multi Junt qui morbis ocultis labor ant ^ nee ullus morbus non habet fuum eontagium, — Be. Sunt 'uiri fortes y ifiarident ae negligunt. — Gu. Sed interim multorvm perieido fortes Junt. — You will pardon me fuch a long quotation, but it is fo appofitc, that I could not refift it. Although the weather is intenfely cold, the mode of drefs in ufe here, and thefe ftoves, prevent your ever feeling any; there are none of thofe raw damp days, fo much the fubje6l of complaint in England, and from the bad effe6ls of which no cloathing will defend you. The THROUGH AMERICA. ^S7 The drefs of the natives is extremely- well calculated for the climate -, it confifts (in addition to the common habiliments worn in England) of a blanket coat, a pair of what are called leggings, with a kind of flap on the outfide of the leg, to pre- vent the fnow from clogging round them ; fur gloves, and a fur cap, which is made to pull over the ears, but this is feldom done, except when the ftrong north-wcfl winds blow. At that time it is very dan- gerous to go out, as you run a great rifque of being froft-bit, which happens in an infl-ant, fometimes in turning the cor- ner of a ftreet, without being fenfible of it at the time, as it occafions no fort of pain ; if the part afFefled is not immediately rubbed with fnow, and every precaution taken, it is fure to mortify, and fliould any one, thus circumftanced, be imprudent enough to go near the fire, mortification is inevitable. %1'm. m iii/f i'-'T-. » *-i . fit*'. m Kill "'1 m i'i I 'I Ito f.if To ! |(.:' 1 I > I,-- '^ 1*1' k 158 JNTERIOR TRAVELS To convince you how very inftantaneous it muft be, I ihall relate a ludicrous cir- cumftance, which however had nearly been produftive of a duel. An officer in the garrifon having a nofe remarkably large, was going to dinner at the mefs, when not four doors from his lodgings, turning round a corner, he met another officer, who immediately cried out, *' God blefs me, your nofe is froft-bit." From the fmall diftance he had gone, he thought it impoffible, and that his friend was bantering him -, high words arofe, and they parted with an appointment to meet the next morning, to refent the affront. He made hafte to his dinner, and upon his entering the room, the officers prevented his coming to the fire, telling him at the fame time his nofe was froft-bit. He then began to think it no joke, and was happy to apply the ufual remedy : it was no bad puniihment for his rafhnefs and incredu- lity, THROUGH AMERICA. 1 59 lity, that during the time the officers were at dinner, he was obliged to be in the cold, rubbing his nofe with fnow till the blood circulated, and though very iharp fet, obliged to nofe a meal he would have been happy to partake of. The prefent feafon of the year not per- mitting any military manoeuvres, and na- turally inclining us more to reflections of a ferious nature, than the gay appearance of the i^ring or fummer, I Ihall again trefpafs on your patience with fome few obfervations on the efFe6ls of the intenfc cold weather experienced in this country ; and as you have always appeared partial to my adding the remarks of others, where I thought them more jufl and'beautiful than my own, I Ihall allude to fome that ilruck me on the following phcenomena. I have already mentioned to you that the froft is fet in, and among the many incon- veniencies \M'l ,t '' ■Mm i M '*!. i6o INTERIOR TRAVELS venieneies which the inhabitants of this northern region fuiFer from it, none is more to be lamented than that of the ground being fo much frozen, as to make it impoffible to dig a grave for the inter- ment of thofe who die at this time ; their friends are obliged to keep them above ground till a thaw comes, when they re- turn the body to the dull from whence it came. i«* 11. You will eafily conceive, my dear friend, that the daily fight of fo mournful an ob- ject as the bier of a departed hufband, muft inevitably lengthen out the forrow of *• The new made Widow— Whilft bufy meddling Memory, In barbarous fucceflion, muilers up The paft endearments of their foftcr hours;^ Tenacious of its theme." To relatives, who often think it a reli- gious duty to mourn the departed, fuch fcenes. l^H ROUGH AMERICA. l6l •fcenes, by a protra6led forrow, often dra\y life to its utmoft verge, and at the funeral they are fcarce more alive than the corpfe they bury. To thofe who, without feeling a lofs, are yet led. to contemplate, it often fuggefts the idea of Arbuthnot, ** What am I ? how produc'd ? and for what end ? Whence drew I being ? to what period tend ? I think you v/ould hardly forgive me, were I not to relate to you the very ftrange manner in which thefe thoughts affeft the German foldiers of our army. I know ngt whether to call it fympathy, pr by .9,ny other name, but it jftrpngly evinces the connexion exifting between the body ai^d mind. The Germans, to the number of tvventy or thirty at a time, will in their converfa- tiqns relate to each other, that they ^re fure they (hall not live to fee home agdn, and are VoL.L M certain ''f'*f'. rTi. . ■ ti'Hf •3', ' ,^L ;, " i #■■')' ■ t(;*» • m r'i'l l62 INTERIOR TRAVELS certain that they (hall very foon die : would you believe it, after this they mope and pine about, haunted with the idea, that " Nor wives> nor children, fhall they more beholdji Nor friends* nor facredhome." V/) I*: ^ 1 1 , '.'i Nor can any medicine or advice you can give them divert this fettled fuperflition, which they as furely die martyrs to, as ever it infedls them. Thus it is that men, who have faced the dangers of battle and of fhipwreck without fear (for they are cert^nly as brave as any foldiers in the world), are taken off, a fcore at a time, by a mere phantom of tlieir own brain. This is a circumftance well known to every one in the army. # In cafe of any deceafe in the family of a Canadian, the cbrpfe is depofited in fome private chamber, but in our general hof- pital there^ is a long room appropriated for that THROUGH AMERICA. 163 '0 that purpofe. The fuperintendant of this room, an apothecary, being a man poffeflcd of whimfical ideas, and a turn for the ludicrous, had placed the dead bodies of thefe poor Germans in various poftures, fome kneeling with books in tlieir hands, others fitting down with pipes in their mouths, many (landing eredt againft the wall, and as they have their cloaths on, you fcarcely at firft imagine they are dead j but upon a nearer approach, what with their long muftaches, which are put in form, and their ghaftly countenance, you cannot pi6lure to yourfelf any thing fo horrible, yet at the fame time fo truly laughable and ridiculous. After what I have related, you will moft probably agree with me, that the conftitu- tion of England has not unwifely declared apothecaries, and furgeons incapable of cbmpofmg a jury upon trials for capital M 2 offences x'.> w 164 INTERIOR TRAVELS offences, though it excludes fome few of them who do honor to the profefTion, by their gentlenefs and humanity: yet I am fearful the major part of them would not join in the warmth that is fo frequently experienced, in the generous and noble burfls of joy that overwhelms the order of our courts of juftice, when unprotedted innocence efcapes the arbitrary and re- vengeful profecution of malice and power. I have heard furgeons, as an excufe for the ftrange want of feeling either brought on by the daily vifitation of ficknefs and pain, or which they poflefs from the apathy of their nature, fay, that were they to feel much on the occafion, it would difable them from doing their duty. Strange argument this! and as contradi6tory to •found fenfe as true philofophy, which might teach them gentlenefs in the manner, and firmnefs in the execution. For my own part, fuch is the lituation of my mind, when I am indifpofcd, that I have fancied the THROUGH AMERICA* 165- the afFe6lionate " how do ye" of the fur- geon and apothecary, has done me as much good as their drugs, or the performance of an operation in phlebotomy. Can any ohe conceive it proper, when a youth of fixteen has broke a leg, that the furgeon, while in doubt on the firft vifit, fhould, in the prefence of his patient, refufe to fearch whether a frafture had aftually happened, becaufe he would make fuch a roaring and a noife that he Jhould not get it out of his head for a fortnight^ and though the lad with fpirit afTured him, that thofe who were prefent had not feen him fhed a tear; the furgeon, however, did not make the expe- riment, though I believe for a much better reafon than he gave, which was that the leg was much fwelled. Thus did a furgeon, ' while I was in England, treat our coufm B — , lowering his fpirits, leaving him three or four days in fufpence, whether his leg was broken or not, merely to /hew how M 3 coolly i m. r' ''■ "- i-m'- ■■■. • vli'v ;■ J|f ', ■ ■:t' 1; i66 INTERIOR TRAVELS coolly he could talk on a fbbjedl like that before him. Had he, inftcad of this un* feeling excufe, but tenderly affured his patient, that it would put him to more pain to make the fearch then, than at a future time, I fhould have fuppofed it would have made his mind more eafy, and been the means of preventing the accefs of a fever, always to be feared on thefe occa- fions. V > li in <^^ :■■■■ In the hofpitals, perhaps the multiplir city of cafes may plead an excufe for little ceremony, but in private pra6tice, v/here they are well paid, thus wantonly to wound the feelings of thofe who are but in ill fpirits, cannot add either to their credit or pra£tice» You will long ere this wonder how I have flrayed from the wild fcenes that fur- round me, to I^fh the hardened profeflbrs of THROUGH AMERICA. 167 of the Efculapian art, but you too well know that fuch things do exift, not to par- don my deviation. I (hall therefore con- clude with my finrere wiflies that you may never have the misfortune to fall into their hands, and remain Yours, &c. i:fi'\ •^1 1 H M4 LET- H^inH W t f iW •> XNTEmoR TRAVELS • . I LETTER XVI. Motttrtal, February I'jth, 1777. MV DEAR FRIEND, I \0 A S my laft was liable to the infpedion ■^ ^ of the enemy, I been have reftrained from informing you of many things that it would otherwife have communicated. I embrace, therefore, the opportunity of an officer going to Quebec, in order that you may receive this by the firft fhip that fails for England. A, I i! li I Siilte my laft I have been again to St. John's, where, notwithftanding the feveri* ty of the weather, the artificers and fhip- wrights THROUGH AMERICA^ 169? Wrights are all bufily employed. We have raifed upon the Lakes, in addition to the force of laft fummer, a curious veffel, cal- led a Radeaux, which formerly belonged to the French, and was funk by the Ameri- cans near this place : it is a caftle of itfelf, of. a monftrous conftru6lure, and will hold a great number of men ; ihe is in- tended to convey the heavy artillery acrofs the Lakes. From the account, indeed, that we have received from fome deferters, the Arhericans do not intend to difpute them, but wait our arrival at Ticonderoga. m^ -^- m The garrifon at St. John's has been kept very alert moft of the winter, as feve- ral parties of the enemy have come acrofs the Lake upon lleighs, and having hovered about the woods, twice attacked the block- houfe on the oppofite fliore, their views, no doubt, were of deftroying our fleet j but to render the fhips more fecure, the ice has been cut away for fe\xral yards round t.f';- I/O INTElflOR TRAVELS round them, to prevent their being fet fire to. As I returned from St. John's along the river, my attention was fuddenly caught by an obje6l well calculated to have exer- cifed the feelings, and employed the pen of a Sterne. . k^ : When the river freezes over, the Cana- dians cut a fquare hole in thv^ ice, -for the cattle to drink out of. I faw a drove of Iheep furrounding one of thefe holes : the whole flock looked moft piteoufly, and bleated with fo mournful a lamentation, as would have pierced a heart of ftone; one of them feemed infinitely more agitated than the reft, and exhibited feelings that would have done honor to the moft tender fenfibility. Curiofity, concern, or what you will, led me inftantly to the mouth of the hole, where a poor little lamb, not four days old, urged by extreme thirft, had fallen THROUGH AMERICA. 171 fallen in ; it was flruggling for life, and fent forth fuch diftrefsful cries ! — my God, how my pulfe beat, and my breaft was full, even to burfting ! — how often did it get its little feet on flakes that feemed to promife it fupport, and as often it dipt back again into the water -, now it feemed by ineffec- tual exertions, anxious for life, and now hopelefs and defpairing, lay inanimate; — it was fome time before I could extricate it j do me juftice, and guefs my feelings till I had effe6lually faved its life. I took it up in my arms, and the whole flock followed me to the farm houfe. To defcribe the mother's folicitude, and the joy at finding itfafe, is impoffible; language can never betray what the imagination itfelf can fcarceiy paint. You who are pofTefled of fympathy, and a tender regard for the whole creation, which is perhaps the greatefl: or- nament of human nature, will eafily believe the infinite pleafure this little office of hu- manity afforded me. This Mm. ml 17- INTERIOR TRAVELS This is one of the many things in which the mind might be apt to arraign the wif- dom of Providence, v^hy nature fhould give birth to fuch tender creatures, at fo rigorous a feafon of the year, v^hen to all appeai-ance they require the utmofl w^armth to bring them to perfediion. ^ i I A few days fnicc I went to VercherCy to fee fome officers of the 24th regiment, which village is extremely pleafant, commanding a very extenfive view both ways of the river, with a profpe6b of this city. It derives its name from a circumftance, wherein it is proved that the fair fex, upon emer- gencies, pofTefs a courage equal, if not fu- perior to ours. In the year 1690, when this province was in a continual ftate of warfare with the Indians, and the inha- bitants v/erc obliged to refide in forts, it happened that a Madame de Verchere was left alone in the fort, whilft the reft of the people were at Vv'ork in the fields ; a fmall party THROUGH AMERICA. 173 party of Indians gaining this intelligence, were determined to enter the fort, plunder it, and take her prifoner ; Madame de Ver- cherCy however, perceiving them approach in a pofture for fcaling the palifado, fired fome mufquet ihot, and drove them to a diflance; they inftantly returned, and were again repulfed, aflonifhed, you may be fure, fince they could only difcover a woman, who appeared as undifmayed as -if flie had been furrounded with a nume- rous garrifon. The Indians knowing the place was unprovided with any other de- fence, made feveral attempts, and were always repulfed by the lady, who defended herfelf inthefortfor near four hours, with a valor and prefence of mind which would have -done honor to an old warrior : they were •at length compelled to retire entirely, as the inhabitants of the fort (who always went out to labor with their mufquets, in cafe of an attack) were returning, and greatly fuperior in number to the Indians. This was 174 INTERIOR TRAVELS If:'" m. 1*41. T) ii was not the only inftance of this lady's courage, for about two years after, a party of the fame Indians, but much more nu- merous, furprized and took prifoners the men, when at workj a little girl happened to make her efcape, who, nmning into the fort acquainted Madame de Verchere of what had happened. Shortly after the Indians appeared before the fort, leading the men captive. There was not a foul left in it, befides a young foldier and a number of women, who raifed moft lament- able cries at the fight of their hulbands being led prifoners. In the midft of this, Madame de Verchere loft neither her courage nor prefence of mind, for after locking up the women, that their groans and weeping might not infpire the Indians with addi- tional courage, and afluming the habili- ments of a foldier, fhe fired a piece of can- non and feveral mufquet (hot, fhewinglier- felf with her foldier, fometimes in one re- doubt and fometimes in another, always firing THROUGH AMERICA. ^7S firing upon the approach of the Indians to the bread- work, who did not make a fierce afiault, as by her ftratagem they fuppofed there were many men in the garrifon. For- tunately for the lady, fhe had not long to remain in this difagreeable flate, for the Chevalier de Crifafy who was Governor of a fmall fort at Cbambl^e, upon hearing the firing of cannon, came to the fuccour of the place, and that fo fuddenly, that the Indians were obliged to make a very preci- pitate retreat, leaving their prifoners be- hind them. 'Hf; This remarkable lady lived to a good old age, and died in Normandy, where there is a monument ere6led to her, with thefe two fmgular inftances of her fortitude and bravery. - On'eil^ould im^giW that this ip'Ot of Fer- chere was deftiiied for the trial of fortitude and bi-a^eiy in the fair fex,- to which I might ■ft ^V\ i v Ml l-A iy6 INTERIOR TRA^VEXa iirl might add conjugal affe£lion. At this time a lady refides here, noble by birth, in whom is united all the foftnefs and deli- cacy of her fex, ever accuftomed to thofe elegancies and refined enjoyments which are attendant upon high rank and fortune : Ihe has forfaken all the pleafures of the , gay and fafhionable world, to accompany her hufband to the wild forefts of Canadaj already travelled a vaft extent of country, in different extremities of feafon, and s^ith difficulties that an European will not eafily conceive. Such inflances of connubial at- tachment, in the levity of the prefent day, are rarely to be met with 5 but that fuch charafters do exift, and that the pleafures and gaieties of the beau monde have j^ot al- together vanquifhed the focial virtues, is to be inflanced in that pattern of her fex. Lady Harriet Ackland, who has not only encoun- tered the hardfhips already defcribed, but upon joining the army, in addition to her former fatigues, had to attend herl>u£band :. / upon k ._. THROUGH AMERICA. 177 Upon his fick bed, in a miferable hut at ChambUe, A mind like hers, animated by love and afFe6lion, is alone capable of encountering fuch hardfhips. General Phillips commands this garri- fon, and is much efteemed by the officers of the army ; he gives them as little trouble as poflible, but will have them perfonn their duty, and feldom mifles coming upon the parade in a morning. The following anecdote will give you a trait of his cha- ra6ler, and {hew you the method he has of gaining the efteem of the officers : One evening feveral young officers of the artillery having made a little too free with " the Tufcan grape, and being high in blood," went to the houfe of a Canadian, the father of three very pretty daughters : it happened the young ladies were at home, and as they had frequently given fome little encouragement to the officers, thefe young Vol. I. N men ■liii. , v* J:Hiv i 178 INTERIOR TRAVELS men thought themfelves warranted in tak- ing a few liberties with tliem ; but, as the wine had deprived them of all ideas of re- ftraint, they proceeded farther than the rules of decency or delicacy allow of, or than I chufe to relate. In the midft of this fcene the father arrived, whofe appearance added greatly to tlie confufion, and the old gentleman making a general alarm and outcry, the officers were obliged to de- camp. H:. m The next morning a formal complaint was made to General Phillips, by the father of the young ladies, who faid that if he was not immediately redrelled, he would fet off for Quebec, and lay his complaint before General Carleton, at the fame time informing him who had been the aggreflbrs, adding, with fome warmth, ^ui etoit hien certain que ce bon General lui rendroit jiif- tice. The THROtJGrt AMEk CA. xjg The General profefTed himfc If extre nely forry that fuch a difgrace fhould have fallen upon the officers of that garrifon, and that he fhould, for his own fake, render him all the juftice in his power, in order to wipe off fuch a ftigma from his own corps, which pacified the Canadian. The next day being the General's levee, thofe officers, who were now become con- fcious of their imprudent behaviour, did not abfent themfelves, leaft it fhould argue guilt. After the General had made his bow of retirement to the levee, he defired that the officers of the artillery would re- main, and the refl of the company being departed, he addrefTed them in the follow- ing manner : " Gentlemen, 1 have had a very heavy ** complaint made to me by one of the in- " habitants, of fome of the officers of the " artillery, and cannot but fay I feel it N 2 " more '&* Vi t) i8o INTERIOR TRAVELS ^ i THROUGH AMERICA. 1S3 liour, whatever kind of provilion is put in thaws, and becomes fit for ufe. The lower clafs of Canadians are exceed- ingly infolent, and infult the officers upon every occafion ; their behaviour would be JnfufFerable, did they not now and then get feverely chaftifed. Was I induced to hazard an opinion as to the caufe of this, 1 fhould attribute it to the very great in- dulgence fhewn to them by General Carle- ton ; they imagine it is only to lay their complaints, however abfurd, before him, and be redrefled, according to the ftory they tell him. The following is the bell fpecimen I can give you, in confirmation of my aflertion : - ?.- As Colonel Carleton was driving his cariole, with a lady in it, upon the ice, a Canadian drove his fleigh defignedly againfl the Colonel's cariole, by which it was overfet and much damaged : upon this the N4 Colonel 'i. :-.|: VI •* i. ..pv 1^4 INTERIOR TRAVELS II ''^ Y, > li i 1 Colonel gave him a moft fevere horfe- w^hipping, which the Canadian bore very patiently, faying, with a flight fhrug, Fouettez done Monjieur^ jufques a ce que vous foyez fatigue, mats je vous ajfure je me'n plaindrai au General Carleton. The Colo- nel then encreafed his flagellation, telUng him at the fame time, Et quand vous vous plaindrez au General, ayez la bonte de rin- former en meme terns, que ceft fin fr ere qui vous afouetti. The Canadian hearing this, and prefuming he ftiould then obtain no redrefs, began to afk pardon, became very fubmiflive, and was glad to make the beft of his efcape, b/ ilinking avvray and drawling out, S^efil eut fu que detoit lefrere du bon Geniral, il nauroit pas fait cela pour tout au monde. This little anecdote, while it convinces you what great lengths thefe plebeians go, when they imagine themfelves protefted, will afford you an example of that mean- nefs b 1 li THROUGH AMERICA. '8s nefs ever attendant upon vulgar and bafe minds, when a proper chaftifement is be- ftowed upon them, for fuch inflances of their audacity. I am juft informed there is an opportu- nity of fending letters to Quebec, from whence this will foon reach you, with my fincere wifhes for your health and happi- nefs. I remain. Yours, &CC** d /^ ■ ':'V/ 5: LET-' •li ' >> 't rilll; !• t ■S.V'il ^i 2S6 INTERIOR TRAVELS •I * » L. E T T E R XYIL 1^ f li III Ml L I I! 81 1 s f ^lil d Montreal, April tth, 17 77. MY DEAR FRIEND, fCii/imrn I t: A S we are. now in daily hopes of the •^ ^ f roll's breaking up, and every one is anxious and impatient to hear from his friends, do not let me meet with a difap- pointment. Being delirous to vifit every place worthy of notice, I went to Chamblce^ where are the remains of a fort, formerly built by by the French, for what purpofe they are the beft judges : it is faid their intention was to prevent an army entering Canada. It THROUGH AMERICA. 187 It is (o fituated, that an army can march by La Praire and La Chines talce Montrealy and then turn their whole force againft the fort, which would be thus cut off from any reUef. This has been clearly evinced this war, when General Prefcott, with fe- veral companies, were taken prifoners in it. The fort is built of ftone, of a regular fquare, with four baftions at each angle, without any out- works, and is fituated a few miles from the mountains which I have already defcribed ; from its fituation I can never fuppofe it otherv/ife than intended as a magazine for ftores and provifions to fupply St. John's. About three miles from the fort are the rapids, which prevent fhippmg going up to St. John's J there is a faw-mill tht.e, and it being the firft of the kind I ever faw, I was particular in my examination of it. After m til '■'■'■ r % m '■ • .' m %'. I , '1:1 i 1'. /■ I, •■ f;: (' Kf ^ i88 INTERIOR TRAVELS \f s? el iJi A, i| l'^ ■ I; After the owner had given me every necef- fary information, I alked him which Go- vernment he preferred, when he exclaimed, Obf Monjieur^ il riy a point de comparaifon^ VAnghh VAnglois! and then related a cir- cumftance, which no doubt you will fay carried a powerful reafon for the poor old man's giving us the preference, and affords another proof how much the Canadians were oppreffed by the French. There was a cuflom, which is continued forthe repair of roads, tranfporting pro- vifions, and other fervices for Government, called a corvee; it is in the breafl of the Captains of the Militia to nominate fuch a number of inhabitants to go with horfes and carts upon that duty. At the time Lord Amherfl was expe6led to enter Canada, acrofs Lake Champlaifty the French were continually fending fup- plies of ammunition and provifions to Cbam^ , THROUGH AMERICA. 189 Chamblk and St. John's, and the inhabi- tants, as well as their cattle, were almoft worked and harralFed to death, by the op- preflion and tyranny of the Captains of Militia. Before the campaign commenced, Gene- ral Montcalm went to St. John's and Chajntlee, to fee that thofe garrifons were in a perfedl ftate of defence, when the poor peafants aflembled in a body round him, and fell on their knees to tell their grievances. The man who owned the faw- mill told the General he was willing to ferve le Gi^and Monarqiie^ but he had been much opprefled; that his harveft and plan- tation had been neglected, and his family almoft ruined and ftarving ; and, to add to his misfortunes, que le deux feuls chevaux quiluirefoient etoient inorts defatigite la *veille\ to which the General, inftead of comfort- ing and redrefling the poor old man, with a very ftern look, and at the fame time ii \ f jgo INTERIOR TRAVELS ki ' 1] m ~ m time twirling his croix de St. Lcuis, replied, Mais vous en avez les peaux^ cejl beaucoup^ ceft beaucoup ! Among the various amufements we en- joyed while away this long winter, I forgot to mention that Ikating is one, which thofe who are fond of that diverfion are amply indulged in, there being fuch a conftancy and large extent of ice. There are feveral officers in the regiment, who being exceed- ing fond of it, have inftituted a fkating club, to promote diverfion and convivia- lity. The Canadians ikate in the manner of the Dutch, and exceedingly faft, but the Indians dart along like lightning. Some years fmce, for a confiderable wager, three Indians fet off from this place at day light, and before dark arrived at Quebec, which is 60 leagues ; their fatigue, however, was fo great, that two expired fhortly after their THROUGH AMERICA. 191 their airival, and the third did not furvive above a week. 'i»u In this country there is no fpring nor autumn, and as the froft is daily expe6led to break, the troops are kept in continual exercife. General Carleton is come to re- view the different regiments ; but the fnow is fo deep upon the ground, they are excr- cifed and to be reviewed on the ice, which you would naturally think extremely dan- gerous, and that the men would flip and do one another mifchief with their bayo- nets J but fuch is the power of the fun at this time, that during the day it thaws the farface, which freezing again at night, forms a kind of fmall ice, affording a fleady footing, added to which, all the ice oppofite the city is covered with loofe ftraws blown from the dung. The foil being fo extremely prolific, they have no occafion for manure, and therefore bring • It ''4 ♦ 'i if '^V^ i'V"M: m 192 INTERIOR TRAVELS M it in lleighs upon the ice, to be carried away when it breaks up. There are many unpleafant duties at- tending an officer, but none more fo than fitting upon a court-martial. A few days ago, being upon that duty, I felt myfelf much diftrefled, as being the junior officer, and of courfe the firft to pafs fentence, but was foon releafed from that painful talk, the culprit efcaping a punifhment, by his blunt oddity. The crime for which he was tried, and for which he had been twice puniflied before, was that of drunkennefs and diforderly behaviour, which being upon this occafion clearly proved, he was aiked by thePrefident what he had to fay in his defence. He replied, " Oh ! and plaife " your Honors, I have nothing to fay, but " to fave your Honors and the Court any " further trouble, you may fet me down two " hundred, I'm fure your Honors will think " that enough." The droll and fimple man- ner ^r< THROUGH AMERICA. 193 ner in which the fellow fpoke, accompanied with his diale6l, occafioned a fmile upon every one prefent. After he was ordered to withdraw, the Court were of opinion, that as the man was in other refpefts a good foldier, his whimfical manner fhould in this inftance fave him a punifhment ; when, being called in, and receiving a fevere reprimand from the Prefident, and his promifmg never to be guilty of the like again, he was difmifled. After thanking the Court for their lenity, he faid, " Since " as your Honors have been fo good to me, " I'll keg myfelf for fix months, dire6lly I " get home." As you will not eafily com- prehend the word keg^ or how it can be ap- plied in this inftance, I will explain it to you : it is a cant word that the foldiers have among them, when they wilh to re- frain from liquors, they take an oath that for fuch a limited time they will not touch any fpirits whatever, and if they are ftrongly addided to liquor, not hingcan Vol. I. ' O tempt ' * 1 T^~ ■ ■ ... I ■tiJ m if. I'M ■ .f |j 1:-: ^ ) ..' * i H 111' ■'t'^ fcil 194 INTERIOR T R A V E L ft tempt them to tafte any. Perhaps you will fay, it would not be amifs if the offi- cers fometimes followed their example. It is incredible to think what a difference a few days makes at this feafon of the year. About fix days after our regiment was re- viewed, the fnow began to thaw, and is now totally dilTolved, except where there has been great drifts, and the ice along the banks has fuch great chafms, that tlie river is now unfafe to pafs over. The center, where the rapids had thrown up the ice, every now and then brealcs, with a noife equal to thunder. It is aftonifliing hov\r quick vegetation is in this country, you can almofl perceive the grafs growj the fnow has not been gone many days, and the fields are en- tirely green, which can only be attributed to the ground's being continually covered with fnow, which nourifhes and preferves - • -^ . - the THROUGH AMERICA. 195 the blades with fuch a warmth, that when the fun, which even now is extremely powerful, can come at it, it brings i; for- ward fo very rapidly. The roads are almoft impaflable, but I ?m informed that in the courfe of a fort- night they will be as dry and dufty as in the midft of fumhier. In going out of the city towards Point aiix trembles, on the right hand, ftand as ftately old houfe, which was built by a perfon, who, after many difappointments and lofles in trade, with the moft unremit- ing and indefatigable induftry, had fcraped together a plentiful fortune, and as an allufion to the particulars of his life, had carved over his front door the figure of a dog gnawing a large flefliy bone, with this whimfical infcription : *Je fuii le chien qui rongi l*os Sans en pen/re unfcul morceau : Le temps 'viendra, qui n*eli pas 'venu Je mordrai cehti, tfi'aura mordu. O 2 The f]- :w\. •m XX- f ) . r I III 196 ' INTERIOR TRAVELS The great diverfion of caiioling is now over, and the inhabitants are getting ready their calalhes, for they are equally as fond of driving in them as in their carioles. .r I am told there is feldom a winter pafTes, but feveral people lofe their lives, both be- fore the river freezes over and when the ice breaks up, by being too adventurous in crolling it, a (liocking inftance of which happened three days ago. Acrofs the chafms made by the ice in breaking up, which fometimes are five or fix yards wide, a bridge of planks is thrown ; a cariole pafTmg over one of thefe, in which was two perfons, the horfe proving unruly, drew it over the fide, and they fell down the chafm near forty feet, where they remained a little time, it being narrow at the bottom, and though every aflTiftance was inllantly had, no relief could be afforded, as before the ladders and ropes could THROUGH AMERICA. 197 could be let down to them, the weight of the horfe and cariole broke the ice at the bottom, and they were all carried away by the current. 1 could not help thinking of the poor lamb in the fame fituation, and lamented the ftriking difference between the defpair of a whole anxious flock for the lofs of a young one, and that buftling coldnefs which difgraced humanity, at the fudden and unexpected death of a man. The cloathing for the ai*my not being fent out laft year, and as it will be too late to fit it to the men when it arrives, the commanding officers of the different regiments have received orders to reduce the men's coats into jackets, and their hats into caps, as it will be the means of repair- ing their prefent cloatliing, and be -more convenient for wood fervice, that when the army take the field, they will in a man- O 3 ner fi 1 ~ f K ^t ^1' ; .*■ :'1 iJi.'.'l M: 198 INTERIOR TRAVELS ner be all light infantry. The regiments have the hair that is affixed to their caps of different colors -, ours is red, and as the pureil white hair takes the beft color, feve- ral foldiers, ambitious to have theirs fupe- rior to the reft, occafioned a very ludicrous affray betwixt them and the inhabitants, in which the foldiers were worfled, and got a fevere beating. I ," They went into a field, to the num- ber of about twenty, and began to cut the hdr from the bottom of the cows tails : the owner obferving this, afTembled his neighbours and fell upon the foldiers with fticks, when a fcuffle enfued, and the foldiers returned home with broken heads. Two that had been feverely beaten, made a complaint to the Major of the regiment, who afked them if they had on their fide-arms, when replying in the ne- gative, THROUGH AMERICA. 199 ^ative, lie told them how glad he was ' they had got a beating ; that they fhould always be worn, being the fame to a fol- dier as a fword was to an officer. w^i' The inhabitants fay, that the winter has been quite mild to what the laft was, and if fo, their hard winters mull be terribly cold J that in general the froft feldom breaks till the end of this month, and fometimes Mayj and as a proof of its mildnefs, feveral nations of Indians have come fome hundred miles to join the army. It is a pity tlieir affiftance cannot be difpenfed with, as they will not be re- ftrained j they are abfolutely neceflary in this woody country, and efpecially as the enemy have them, they are a rcftraint upon each other, and I really believe fo much mifchief will not enfue, as if only one party had engaged them. Thofe on our O 4 fide f T rt'' ,ii } * ? ! '•?■ (% ;V.^-H t?s: 200 INTERIOR TRAVELS fide will be fuperior in numbers to the Americans, as they cannot furnifli them with neceflary fupplies. The attachment of the Indian lafts no longer than you heap prefents on him, and he fides with that party which will make the greateft. i.,, It is abfolutely neceflary to keep well with them, for though there is fuch an amazing traft of country in pofleffion of Europeans, it is nothing when put in coi^ipetition with the unknown traft that extends to the weftward. And though the Indians are much depopulated, ftill they are a very numerous race of people 5 it is altogether imknown where many na- tions are fettled, nor could it be afcer- tained any fuch exifted, were it not for draggling Indians belonging to them, that are cafually met with. Thefe THROUGH AMERICA. 201 Thefe people are under great fubjedlion to their chiefs, and pay implicit obedience to them : They come every year to Mon- treal, to what is called the fair, when feveral hundreds of them aflemble, and are exceedingly troublefome to the inha- bitants, they receive prefents to keep them peaceable, and in league of friend- fhip J it is incredible what immenfe fums it annually coils Government for that purpofe. General Carleton returns to-morrow to Quebec, and as I fend this by one of his Aid-de-Camps, who is going to England, and who has fent his fervant for my letters, I am obliged to conclude haftily, with affuring you, that you fliall hear from me by every opportunity, and remain, Yours, &c. LET- i:] it ill i'.\ . • .. . '.i • 1 ' r I , , ) 1 ' •• t f ft' J > il 'P^ Mi 202 INTERIOR TRAVELS ■ jii^L mxr LETTER XVIII. If "II J ill * I > ; » -hi i»' : I -1 Montreal i May zoth, 1777. •trrT... MV dear FRIENDi NOT having had a letter from you thefe fix months, it is impoifible to exprefs the pleafure yours gave me. J fm- cerely rejoice that your liealth is re-efla- bliflied, and hope it will alw^ays continue fo. ix^i.-ji.i\>^ .x?giiciv ' m: You hint in yours, that great events are cxpe6led in the courfe of the enfuing cam- paign, and that the operations of the two armies will nearly terminate this unfortu- nate contefl. As to our army, I can only , fay, THROUGH AMERICA. 207 fay, if good difcipUne, joined to health and great fpirit ainongft the men, with their being led on by General Burgoyne, who is univerfally efleemed and refpe6led, can enfure fuccefs, it may be expefled ; but, as I obfei*ved before, we have more dan- gerous enemies at home, than any we have to encounter abroad, for all tranfadlions that are to take place are publicly known, long before they are oincially given out in orders, and 1 make no doubt but you will be as much furprized "s the General was, when I tell you that the whole operations of the enfuing campaign were canvafTed for feveral days before he arrived, who no doubt fuppofed, that in giving out his orders he was communicating an entire fecret. m\ r|?| If, therefore, there are people in office, fo imprudent as to communicate any pub- lic intelligence, no doubt the numerous agents and well-wifiiers to the Americans will n^ ii? n :i ,1 t/B;||jr 204 INTERIOR TRAVELS will not be negligent in gaining continual and immediate information. As intelligence is the main fpring of every movement in an anny, the Americans will have a great advantage, and what will add confiderably to that advantage, is the great fecrecy they obferve, and the utter impoflibility to ob- tain the leaft intelligence of any of their defigns, while they are previoufly acquaint- ed with every one of ours. About three weeks ago the river broke np> which was accompanied with a moft ailonifhing noife : it happened in the night, and you muft judge how ftrange it muft appear, after being ufed to fee, for fuch a length of time, fo fpacious a body of ice, with horfes, carriages, and men travelling on it, changed to a beautiful river, with a number of fhips and boats failing and rowing upon it. « The THROUGH AMERICA. 205 The country wears quite a new face, and fummer is come all at once. The inhabi- tants are now bufily employed on their farms, and every thing appears a fcene of buftle and induflry, after fuch a length of time pafTed in dull inavSlivity. The army is now in movement to take the field; the advanced corps are aheady encamped at Bcuchcrvilky and were review- ed, by General Burgoyne a few days fmce. I accompanied feveral officers to fee them, who had never feen 1500 military men affembled together. As to the battalions of the light infantry and grenadiers, fuch a body of men could not be raifed in a twelvemonth, fearch England through. The line of the advanced corps extended a mile; they performed, exclufive of the common manoeuvres, feveral new ones, calculated for defence in this woody coun- try, and the General was pleafed to ex- prefs his approbation in the warmeft teims, wiili m •-,>, n-A 4h\ miMtm -^1- .i'rf- n v.: -J 206 IN TERIOR TRAVELS with regard to the high dilcipHnc of the men. They proceed in a few days to St. John's, and from thence they are to go upon the Lake, as far as the river La CoL'y where they are to encamp, till the main body of the army is put in motion. I was much pleafed at a little politefle and attention of that amiable woman. Lady Harriet Ackland — Exclufive of the excellent qualities that had already endear- ed her to the officers of the grenadiers (which corps Major Ackland commands) Jhe thought proper to exprefs a fenfe of their attention to her (and who could be inattentive ?) by fome little prefent ; fo a few days before the officers took the field, flie fent each of them, (thirty in number) half of a large Chefhire cheefe, which was no fuch fmall prefent as you may imagine, Englifh cheefe being then a dollar per pound ; and perhaps it may not occur to you, there is no prefent you can fend to an European M( THROUGH AMERICA. 207 European abroad, fo great as good Chefhire cheefe. If you Ihould be inclined to fend me one, and this is no fmall hint, let me dcfire you to enclofe it in lead, and then in horfe-hair, the former to preferve the moifture, and the latter as the only fafe- guard againft the amazing large rats that are in fuch great abundance in almofl all fliips. m 1. '. It much pleafed me to obfervc the manner in which the inhabitants kept Holy Thurf- day, which they term La Fete Dicu, On the evening preceding that day, I could not conceive the reafon that the people were bringing cart loads of fmall iirs into the city J but judge how great was my fur- prize in the morning, when I went to the parade, to find the ftreets fwept as clean as pofiible, thefe trees ftuck in the ground on each fide, and fo contrived that their tops united, that every ftreet had the appear- ance of a grove, and upon enquiry found It r 208 INTERIOR TRAVELS was intended for the celebration of tKs^ great fedival. ' I !r III "K About eleven o'clock the proceilion be- gan from the great Church, which extend- ed near half a mile in length. All the principal Clergy, the Friars of the different Convents, with a large band of mufic at- tending; in the center of the proceflion, under a canopy of crimfon velvet, fup- ported by fix Priefls, the High Prieft car- ried the Host, upon a Bible, covered with a white napkin, and before him two men bore a large bafket full of flowers, which were ftrewed by feveral little boys in fur- plices; four others, with filver chalices, were continually wafting the incenfe to- wards the Hoft, the people at the fame time fmging anthems. In this manner the pro- ceflion went through moft of the ftreets in the city, and thofe who met it fell in- ftantly on their knees j thofe who remain- ed in their houfes, came to the windows and - 1 THROUGH AMERICA. 209 and did the fame. I cannot but fay it was a pleafing fight, and could not help thinks ing but it mufl be magnificent indeed, in thofe countries where the Roman Catholic is the eftablilhed religion* We were apprized of fome proceflion, from an order given the day preceding by General Phillips, but had 10 idea of f eing fuch a fpe(5lacle. There having been feve^ ral difputes in Roman Catholic countri^Sj concerning the refpe6t that the nv^nacf fhould pay the Hoft, when paill r^; by, his Majefty, a few years ago, iffued out a gene-* ral order for that purpofe, which General Phillips gave out in orders as follows :— ' " As to*morrow there will be a great pro-» " ceilion through the city, I need not in- " form the officers of the refpe<5l and " attention his Majell)^ '■ .;5 required Ihould " be paid the Hoft, when pafling. The " non-commiflioned officers are defired to " be particular m informing the men, that Vol. I. P ({ when e 1 i*ri ft.: •H ■•1 K'i' if.v. t r ' *" ps I h T 1 ' !• T !1 '^U -y ■'1^^ i '' V ) * IB n\\ mi ■:tf\ m ■i-.'O j,-.(f.' ■ I !■ •1< •'■ \i i ■ ^ Vi.i ^:- 210 INTERIOR TRAVELS " when the Hofl is going by, they are ta " front it, and behave in a decent and re- " fpedlful manner, to pull off their hats, " and remain in tliat fituation till the pro- " ceffion has pafled. Any complaint that " is made to the General, v^ill be punifhed " with the utmoll feverity." ■IV To-morrow I leave this city, to join the advanced corps at tlie river La Cole. Situ- ated as I muft be, confined to the com- pany, which I am proud in laying is com- manded by Lord Peterlham, you cannot expe6l the whole detail of the manoeuvres of the different actions that may happen, or a particular account of tlic fiege of Ti- conderoga. I fhall however inform you of evei*y thing that comes under my own obfervation, and give you my opinion ol' events, not as an officer, biit merely as a fpe6lator. The THROUGH AMERICA. 211 The officers take the field under great difadvantages, in regard to horfes to tranf- port their baggage, when they quit the Lakes ; thofe for the ufe of Government are fent through the woods to Crown Point, but their arrival at that place is very uncertain, as they are liable to be taken by the enemy. It is quite a hazard, but ra- ther than be diftrefled when I get to Ti- conderoga, I have rifqued fending mine, with fome others, through the woods -, if they arrive fafe it will be a vaft conveni- ence ; if not, I (hall be compelled to fend back my baggage, and then, hey for cou- rage and a knapfack ! Should any misfortune attend the cattle intended for Government, it will greatly retard the army, provided the Americans fhould abandon Ticonderoga 5 at all events it will impede us in fomc meafure, as it will be feveral days after the army gets there before the horfes arrive, and you P 2 may H'-j: 1 ■ m 212 INTERIOR TRAVELS may eafily conceive an army cannot move without its artillery and provifions. Another great difadvantagc which we experience in the profecution of this wai*, and which the Americans avoid is, that we have to transport all our provifions with us, whereas they have magazines ftorcd with great abundance, every thirty or forty miles } where, in cafe any difafter attends their army, the lofs of their provifions is eafily recruited. But if any fuch event fliould happen with us, we fhould be obliged to make a Hand at fome Ihong poO, till provifions could be fent from Canada. Added to this, the Ameiicans are l)y much our fuperiors at wood - fighting, being habituated to the woods from their ijifancy. Our liiccefs in any engagement muft greatly reft on the bayonet, the great utility of which General Burgoync pointeil out in an order a few days fince, ftrongly recorn- THROUGH AMERICA. 213 1 ccommending the officers to inculcate that idea into the minds of the men. Aker I leave this city, you mufl: not ex- pe6l to hear from me fo regularly as you have lately. But you may reft affured, I Ihall embrace eveiy opportunity of letting you know I am not yet food for the crows. Yours, &c. P3 LET- 1 'I t :i »/■■' < '*: .. I *• Vw t;' 4 , ! .'.I 214 INTERIOR TRAVELS LETTER XIX. Montreal, May zSth, 1777. MY DEAR FRIEND, A FEW days fince I was invited to dine with Capt. Frazer, who is fu- perintendant over the Indians, and who gave us a dinner entirely of wild-meats. Moll of the difhes were only to fet off the table, there being fuch things there as very few of the company could partake of; we had the leg of a bear, indeed, which was falted, and far exceeded in flavor a leg of pork; another difh, which though deemed a great rarity with you, is not efleemed fuch here, a very fine hauncli of venifon. ^ To THROUGH AMERICA. 215 To tell you the truth, I really made my repall of what Monfmir Robcrdcau, of Que- bec, hinted to me, of the Friandifes. Juft as the cloth was removed, there came into the room a great number of hidians, (and amongfl them one very old) who not having much ceremony, and feeing the bottles and glalfes on the table, would drink with us, and began to be extremely troublefome, when Capt. Frazer interfered, and to fli€w you the controul he has over them, the inftant he fpokc, they quitted the room, but not without a prefent, for I did not underftand the Indian language, but as I thought, and as he afterwards told us he was obliged to order liis fervant to give them a bottle of rum- After we had got rid of thefe trouble- ibme gucfts, and the table reltored to order, Capt. Frazer faid, Gentlemen, I obferved you all took notice of that old Indian, P 4 which \':t' : P;. :i.;:„,. ;** «jv?i 2l6 INTERIOR TRAVELS r'^ f 'I' which the company acquiefcing in, he told the following very fingular hiftory re- lative to him : That Indian, faid he, is of the Algouqum nation, who are converted to Chriftianity, and who, being attached to the French, had excited the enmity of the Iroquois^ whofe hatred to Chriftians carried them to ;every excefs of fury, murdering and tormenting to death, without any regard to fex or age, every one that had the misfortune to fall into their hands. To efcape the fury of the Iroquois^ the whole nation of the Algoii^ quins were determined to fight their way to the French, in which flruggle the wo- men took no inconfiderable fhare, but nobly refilled their enemies on this occa- fion, when it fo happened, that the mother of that old Indian was taken prifoner. The Iroquois carried her to one of their villages, ftripped her naked, bound her ' ' ' hand THROUGH AMERICA. 217 hand and foot in one of their cabins, and in that ftate Ihe remained for ten days, the favages fleeping round every night. The I ith night, when they were all afleep, fhe difengaged herfelf from the ropes they had bound her with and fled into the foreft. The fecond day after her efcape, her footfteps were perceived by the Iroquois who were in fearch of her, and they purfued her with fuch expedition, that the third day fhe difcovered them clofe at her heels : fhe in- ftantly plunged into a pond of water that was near her, and diving amongfl fome weeds and bulrufhes, jufl kept her head above water, fo as to breathe, and by this flratagem efcaped from her purfuers, who, after making a mofl diligent fearch, went away the courfe they thought fhe would take. When night came on, fhe left her fituation, and took a different route to that fhe perceived the favages had taken, by which means this poor creature wan- dered through the woods for five and thirty ;il.^.. *'<5 "W I".'.. ! ?* - '(• Hz.'"' >v- 2l8 INTERIOR TRAVELS thirty days, without any other fuftenancc than roots and wild-berries. At length ihe came to the river St. Laurence, and not perceiving any canoe along the ihore, made a kind of wicker raft, on which fhe Q'ofled the river, and had paffed by Montreal, not knowing well in what part of the river fhe was, when, perceiving a canoe full of favages, and fearful left they might be Iroquois^ fhe again ran into the woods, and remained till fun-fet, when ihe dire^led her courfe to Montreal. — Within a mile of the city, fhe was difco- vered by a party whom fhe knew to be Algonqulm ; when they approached her, fhe fquatted down behind a buHi, calling out to them that fhe was not in a condition to be feen, as Ihe was naked; one of them then tlirew her a blanket, and conduced her into the fort. After Capt. Frazer had related this ftory, he told us this old In- dian took great pleafure in telling it to every one, at the fame time exprefling the utmofl THROUGH AMERICA. 219 iitmoft indignation, and vowing revenge againfl the Iroquois, We had fcarcely drank five glaflcs, after Captain Frazer had finifhed his narration, when the Indians returned, upon a pre- tence of bufinefs to him, which was no other than that of procuring more rum, which Captain Frazer refufmg them, they grew extremely troublefome, and what, with the liquor they had already drank, were much beyond any controul, for they paid no attention to Capt. Frazer, who, finding he could not pacify, or any way get rid of them, made us an apology, and the company broke up. On my return home, mentioning to my landlord what I had heard concerning the Iroquois y he faid, Monfieur, les Iroquois font le plus fauvage et frauduleux de tout^ and re- lated the fad cataflrophe of a Miflionary, one Faher Jogucsy who refided a little be- low «■■**■■' \ , ;.»■ I U:Mm A i\i 220 INTERIOR TRAVELS low Trois Rivieres : imagining he had made great progrefs in converting tliem to Chrif- tianity, during a lliort intei*val of peace, was willing to fpread his do6lrine amongfl: the remote of the Iroquois ; for that pur- pofe, he fet out with four Indians, and a young Frenchman as his fervant ; he had not pafled I'rois Rivieres above a league, when his four favage guides abandoned them: yet fuch was his enthufiafm and confidence of having wrought upon them fo far, that his perfon was in fafety, he would not return, but travelled on, and at the very firft Iroquois village he and his fervant came to, he was too fatally convinced of his error, for they were feized, iliipt, fcourged, bufteted, and treated as prifoners of war. At this fudden change the good Father was in great amazement, and began (for he could fpeak their lan- guage) to expoflulate with all the powers of elocution, which were of no avail, and tlic only favor that his eloquence could procure THROUGH AMERICA. 221 procure him was, that in (lead of burning him and his companion alive, they hu- manely condefcended to behead them with a hatchet. After my landlord had finilhed the (lory, he faid, with great warmth and indignation, Monfitur, les Iroquois font fr an- diileux comme Ic Dlahlt\ et en roycgcnt fat toujours crainte de le rencontre ; and, from the ftoiy he had related, you will no doubt fay he had veiy good foundation for his fears. I am, yours, ficc. for thofe few men who did inhabit thole deferts, not having any flocks or tame ani- mals, left more room and food for thofe that were wandering and free, like them- felves J and although there was no great variety, ftiil there were multitudes of eacli jpecies. But they, as every thing, fooner or later, in this terreilrial globe, paid tribute to the fovereignty of man j that cruel power that has been fo fatal to every living creature, and the few that the natives de- flroyed for their food and cloathing, were of little note in fuch a prodigious multi- tude. No fooner had our luxury led us to make ufe of their Ikins, than tlic natives waged a perpetual war againll them, which they carried on with great eagcrnefs, as in return 1 1 ihi THROUGH AMERICA. 229 return for the havoc and deftru6lion they made amongft them, they indulged in a plenty and variety of gratifications they were before unaccuftomed to j and to ren- der the war the more dcftruclive, we afiifled them with fire-arms, by the means of which great quantities of furs, and of a prodigious variety, were procured. Moil of thefe were known in Europe, which were the fame as thofe that came from the northern parts of ourhcmifph<2rc, but they were in too fmall quantities to fupply a great demand. ?r , ■ i< ■ Ml iy ,t li Caprice and novelty has made thefc furs more or lefs in fafhion, and England has found it to be for the intereft of Canada, that they fhould be valued at home ; and that they are fo with a witnefs, the enor- mous price your fifler gave for a muff and tippet, is a convincing proof : here I allure you they are very dear, the commoncfl fur cap Handing ycu in two guineas. Q^ 1 As ■^ J - ,11 >i.- 230 INTERIOR TRAVELS \h I u Having given you a little hiftory of furs, I fhall now defcribe to you fome of the beafts whofe Ikins are ftill in requeft, and firft begin with the Otter, which is fo generally known in England, as to need no defcription; there is no other difference than that it is much larger, and its hair blacker and finer than ours, a circumftance fatal to them, as expofing them more to the purfuit of the favages. ■'f! I ■• >'4 MS The Pole-cat, of which there are three fpecies, is in great eflimation among the Canadian hunters, as the hair is darker, more glofTy, and more filky than thofe in Europe. fit« ' f I ■ t-tfr Even the Rat of North- America is valu- able for its fkinj but the two principal ones that are in the article of trade is the OppofTum and the Muik ; many and ridi- culous are the flories which are propagated relative to the female of the former, fiich as, ■'» THROUGH AMERICA, 231 among othrs, that of the young ones gct- thig into the belly again through the teats, the fa6l is this, under its belly there is a loofe fkin, with a fmall aperture in the center, and this flie can expand or deprefs at will ; if purfued, and (lie thinks her young are in danger, (lie puts them . into this bag, and runs away with them up a tree. Another Angular inilance of faga- city in this animal, which is feldom men- tioned, is, that if purfued by other animals, , fuch as the Tiger, Mountain-cat, &c. that can mount trees, it goes to the extremity of a bough, and fufpcnds itfcif by its tail. The Ikin of the Mu(k-rat is employed for the fame purpofes as the Beaver, of which he feems to be a diminutive ; but its moft intrinfic value is for that predominant and powerful perfume it produces, and which , is called after this animal. w^ L^:i' ^ ''' ill . -if. f i ! The Ermine is about tbe fizeof afquirrel, but not fo long, has the fame lively eyes, Q^^ . keen I?' :* ■ '-n.m ^32 JMERIOR TRAVELS ^1 I i ! look, and his motions are fo quick, that the eye can fcarcely follow them, it has a long bufhy tail, which at the tip is as black as jet; what enables me to give you fo cxa6l a defcription of this little animal is, that the daughter of the gentleman at whofe houfe I lodge, has one in her poflcf- fion; indeed it is the fafliion for the young ladies to keep them, as ours do fquirrels. One thing not a little extraordinary of this animal is, that all the winter it was white as fnow, and the other day, when admir- ing it, I expreffed a furprize in perceiving it had a yellow tint, when the young lady faid. Ah! Monfieur^ an milieu de Ike cejl jaune comme d'or. This little animal is reckoned one of the beauties of Canada, for though the fable is fmaller, it is not fo » common. The Martin, whofe fkhi is the moft va- luable, is only to be met with in the center of the forefts, far from any habitation, and THROUGH AMERICA. 233 and although fo fmall an animal, is a bcail of prey, living entirely upon birds. It is but a foot and a half long, yet leaves a print in the fnow, which appears to be the footftep of a larger animal, occafioned by its jumping along and giving the marks of both feet together : their fur is much efteemed, but is inferior to that fpecies which are called fables, whofe Ikins are of a fhining black. Thofc of the Martin encreafe in value from the various dyes, the deeper the tint the more valuable, and they gradually encreafe from a light brown to the deep gloily black of the fable. The Martins feldom more than once in two or three years quit their recedes in thefe im- penetrable woods, and when they do, the Canadians take it as a fign of a good win- ter, imagining there will be great quanti- ties of fnow, and confequcntly good fport in deftroying them. ^ Tlic ,•«; » h fill 1 ,.1 4,, 'iy 1^' I ■ .? h's 1:1 m ^ K'' ■■ii fi' m -w * .. 234 INTERIOR r R A V E L S m The Wild-cat of Canada is reckoned much fmaller than thofe upon the northern continent of Europe, and is the fame kind of animal that was called by the ancients the Lynx, of which an erroneous opinion has ever prevailed amongft the vulgar, that it is poflefTed of the power of pierc- ing to death with its eyes whatever it def- tines for its prey, as nature had deprived it of the faculties of hearing and fmelling at a diftance, which miftaken notion mufl have arifen from this fimple caufe, that as this animal lives upon what game it can catch, it will purfue it to the very tops of the talleft trees, and nature having en- dowed it with a quicker fight than moft other animals, whatever it purfues, though of ever fo fmall a nature, it never lofes fight of, let the foliage of the trees be ever fo thick. The flefh of this animal is very white, and faid to be well flavored, but the Indians hunt it chiefly for its Ikin, the hair of it being long, and of a fine light i THROUGH AMERICA* 23s grey, but not fo valuable as that of the fox. This animal, like other natives of the frozen climates, where nature produces but few vegetables, is carniverous. Befides the fmall furs, Canada fupplies England with the fkins of the Stag, Deer, Roebuck, the C. ibou and the Elk, the latter of which is fuppofed to be the ori- ginal of all thefe fpecies. All thefe animals are hunted by the Canadians, but the chace of the Bear the favages have referved to themfelvcs, and which is their favorite fport ; it feems bell: adapted to their war- like manners, ftrength and bravery, and cfpecially as thofe animals fupply raoft of their wants. . Fearful left you may grow tired of this heavy detail of wild bcafts, I (hall conclude this, refer vhig to my next the defcription of 1. " '#^1 \: . ': ■ ; {• i^^'^-r ';l « ■ Pi ':* y ■ * '1 - iii pr^ '1 u M IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) k A ^/ ^ A ..V A L< '■'*\5^ z V 1^ 1.0 ^U£ U£ M 11.25 ■ 40 ^ 13.6 ■■■ lU Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRUT WnSTIR,N.Y. MSM (716)«72.4S03 4^ 236 INTERIOR TRAVELS of the only two that are worthy of notice, the Bear and the Beaver, the latter of which pofTefTes all the friendly difpofitions, divefted of all the -vices and misfortunes that await us, and which debars us from the true and real pleafures arifmg from the friendly and fweet intercourfe that fhould fubfift between man and man. 7 > If Yours, &c.. tj L E T- THROUGH AMERICA. 237 LETTER XXII. Montreal, June -jtht 1777. MY DEAR FRIEND, OPPORTUNITIES almoft daily occur- ing, I am happy to embrace them, during the little time I have to remain in this city ; when I quit it, you will think me very remifs in addrefling you. Let me fmcerely aflure you, although there will be no regular conveyance, I fnall embrace every opportunity that offers. f.if t^. 238 INTERIOR TRAVELS its flefh, rubbing thetnfelves with its greafe, and cloathing thcmfelves with its Ikin, it may not be amifs to give you fome little account of this animal, and the An- gular method they have of deftroying them. As no doubt you muft have feen many of them in England, I (hall only give you an account of fome of its particularities. This animal is rather (hy than fierce, and will feldom attack a man ; on the contrary, they will fly at the fight of him, and a dog will drive them a great way. The only time they are dangerous is after having been wounded, when they quit the hollow trees they have refided in all the winter, and at the time of rutting, which is in the month of July ; they are then fo fierce and ill-tem- pered, the efFeds^of jealoufy, that they are cxti'emely dangerous to meet with. At this feafon they grow vety lean, and theu* flefli has fo difagreeable a relifh, that the Indians, whofe THROUGH AMERICA. ^39 whofe ftomachs are none of the moft de- licate, will not touch it. Who could con- ceive that an animal, fo unlovely in its ap- pearance, Ihould in the fpace of one monUi grow leaner by the belle pajjioriy than after an abftinence of fix months. But the feafon over, he recovers his for- mer embonpoint^ which he is greatly affifted in regaining by the great quantity of fruits the woods abound with, and of which he is extremely greedy ; grapes he is particu- larly fond of, ' climbing after them up the moft lofty trees. After he has fed for fome time on fruits, his flefh becomes delicious, and continues fo till fpring. It is furprizing enough that this anima!, although provided with fo warm a fur, and not of the moft delicate appeai'an-ce, Ihould take more precautions than any other to preferve itfelf from tlie cold, (this may ferve as a leflbn from nature, not ''J ^''*' ■^ J J '» .1 1 <■ i 4 K 5,4 hi\ n «•-?. '■ i I, w ;^i ..V 'I I I I' X > A 240 INTERIOR TRAVELS not to form our judgment of things by appearance, fince every one is the bed judge of his own wants 5) for which pur- pofe, when the winter fets in, he climbs up the hollow rotten trunk of an old tree, flopping up the entrance with pine branches , by which means he is fheltered from all inclemencies of the weather, and when once lodged, he feldom or ever quits his apaitment during the winter, which is the more lingular, it being certain that he lays up no manner of provifion, and that he muft require fome nourifliment. That he requires little food is natural to fuppofe, as at the end of autumn he is very fat, takes no exercife, and almoft always fleeps, and, therefore, lofing little by perfpiration, has very feldom occafion to go abroad in queft of it, and when he does, haftens back to his retreat. A ridiculous notion is gone abroad into the world, that during the winter the fole nouriihment of the Bear -is licking its paws, which, no doubt, arofe from THROUGH AMERICA. 241 from the amazing long time thefe animals can, either through the uourifhment they receive from fleep, or idlenefs, go without food. Yet that fuch an idea fhould pre- vail, I am not furprized, as there has been an inftance of one that was chained for a whole winter without either food or drink, and at the end pf fix months was found as fat as when firfi caught. The feafon for hunting the bear is in winter, when the Indians force him from his habitation by fetting fire to the pine branches that he has drawn together at the bottom of the hollow tree, when the fmpke afcending up the trunk, drives him from his late comfortable habitation, from wluch he no fooner defcends, than they kill him. The Indians now only defhoy them to anfwer their own wants, as formaiy they ufed to do for the pur- pofe of difpoiing of their fkins to the tra^ ders; byt it was no fooner underflood that Vol. I. R Canada ml mm- -.-MtJi'n.i,- ■p •i;-i-- ^4 ^ -■*'■ V ■lift i '4'^i I'l m M ■ 242 INTERIOR TRAVELS T.)' ;. Canada was ftored with Beavers, ti\an the favages, urged on by a more lucrative in- tereft, direfted their war againft an animal the moft harmlefs, who molefts no living creature, and is neither camiverous nor fanguinary. This is, I am forry to obferve, become an objed of man*s moft e^neft purfuit, and the one that the favages hunt after with the greateft eagernefs and cltfelty ; a circumftance entirely owing to the un- merciful rapacioufnefs which luxury has made neceflaryin ikitt^ fiMJ ^11 the polifhed nations of Europe. ?i-- ir-> 1: . -/a ,jLii.d*>d uri I.-, -i 1 > : -This aninaal is by njltiir-e adap«idJk* focial life; "being^ihdqwed with an iuftiisft in the *pf efervatidn and pji^pa^tisfe of its fpecies^j^it is generdly s^ut three '^r^mt feet long, moftly wd^ing . fromi f from whom fo many . leflbns of induiby and morality may be drawn, till another opportunity, and con-' elude with afiiiring you of my beft wifhes for your happinefs and profperity, and that I remain Yours, &c. m i LET- '■ l-.r \1 'I > m •v%. zso INTERIOR TRAVELS rl f I ■ "ihm to eri l^ ij I' L E T T E R xktri. Montreal, yune %th, 1777. \y i MY DEAR FRIEND, 1SEND this by our friend Captain F. who is going poft to Quebec, from which place he will fail immediately, and as the navigation from this city to Quebec is much delayed by the various currents and other caufes in the river, he will be there as foon, if not fooner, than the fhip I fent my firft by, in which cafe you may receive this before the other, which may greatly bewilder you. I therefore fhall juft hint to you, this is the conclu- fion of the hiflory of the Beaver. If ' r*. THROUGH AMERICA. 251 If my recoUeftion docs not deceive me, I left off in my lafl at defcribing his love, that univerfal paflioii of nature, which the Beaver feems to enjoy in the conjugal flate, comparatively much happier than man- kind ; for when they couple and enter their huts, they never quit each other, confe- crating their whole time to love, from which neither labor nor any other obje6t can divert them. If by chance a fun-fhiny day fhould happen to enliven the gloomy melancholy of the feafon, the happy couple leave their huts to walk on the borders of the Lake, regaling themfelves with fome frefh bark, and breathing the falutary exhalations of the earth. At the conclufion of the win- ter, the mother brings forth the endearing pledges of their afFeftion, while the father ranges the woods, allured by the fweets of the fpring, leaving to his little family that portion of room which he took up in his f s m i^i i.i'"' i' mm 4 ill 252 INTERIOR TRAViELS m V. } his narrow cell. The Beaver generally produces two or three, which the mother fuckles, nurfes and trains up, for when the father is abfent, fhe takes out the young ones, in her excurfions for cray and other iilh, and green bark to recruit her own ftrength and to feed her young, till the feafon of labor returns ; for although thefe animals are fo induftrious as to build them- felves habitations that would laft them a century, they are obliged to rebuild them every year, as the firfl thing the traders do when they meet with any of their works, is to break down their cabins and the dam, together with their dyke. There are various methods of taking and deftroying thefe animals, by draining the water from their dykes, and fometimes by fnares ; they are very feldom fhot at, for unlefs killed on the fpot, they are loft to the huntfman, by plunging into the water wounded, when they fmk to the bottom and THROUGH AMERICA. 253 and never rife. The moft certain and ge- neral mode of catching them is by fetting traps in the woods, where they perceive them to have been eating the bark of the young trees J they bait thefe traps with frefli flips, of wood, which the Beaver no fooncr touches, than a great weight falls and crufhes its loins, when the huntfman,^ who lies concealed near the fpot, haftens to km it. Np doubt but by this time you are heartily tired with fo long a detail of this animal -, but if I have deviated from the Common path of defcription, I can only fay it hfs proceeded from thefe two caufes, that I cannot fufHciently admire the many virtues it poffeffes, divefted of all manner of viqe, and have been loft in the contem- plation of that Divine Being, who formed it with all thefe natural endowments. You if'.. -Pi ml 1 M ,i ! 254 INTERIOR TRAVELS I'M. ■ I Lf. >'i You muft pardon my making a compa- rifon between the fqcieties of thefe animals and thofe of a convenj. If happinefs may be faid to dwell in both communities, it muft be allowed to be by very oppofite means. The happinefs of one corififts in following the di^aftes of nature^ in the other, nature, the fweets^ of fociai Ibvc, and the laws of our creation, are totally de- ftroyed! The inftitution of the fociety of the Beaver, feems folely to propagate its Ipecies j the other to annihilate it. How many, who might have dignified nature under the chara6ber of a fond mother and an affeftionate wife, are loft to the world ^d to themfelves !—th^ cannot help feel- ing tender emotions, and, in the bittiitiefs of mifei*y, execrate that tyrant cuftctoii which has torn them.fr6m the en*t);-aces 6f happinefs and chained them in cells, «« prey to affe6fions hbpelefs and infatiable— ^the idea carries me beyond myfelf. What li II THROUGH AMERICA; ^S5 What will not the feelings of humanity exclaim, when it confiders that thefe gloomy and ferocious inftitutions are waft- ing away in all parts of Europe ! Inftitu- tions i^ot only kyurious but inhuman, which, under the abfurd and ridiculous notion of making men equal to angels, robs health of its vigor, and beauty of its reward. I am moft agreeably intermpted in my ferious reflections, by a vifit from our friend Sr-r^, who is juft arrived from New- York 5 he was taken prifoner in the courfe of laft fummer, by a notorious fellow of the name off Whitcomb, thie fame man who ftiot Brigadier General Gordon, the parti- culars of which rihall inform you in my nesct. I i *».. ■f/^v h ■ 4S i.' <> i nuA-. IS Yours, &c.. bo !.''■ LET- 256 INTERIOR TRAVELS LETTER XXIV. i(* r ', > ^i I'i Montreal, June I lib, 1777. MY DEAR FRIEND, T N iny lall I mentioned to you the name ^ of one Whitcomb, a native of Connec- ticut, and a great partizan of the Ameri- cans, who, after the defeat upon the Lakes, offered his fervice to venture through the woods, and bring in prifoner an Englifh officer, for which purpofe he ftationed him- felf among the thickeft copfes that aire be- tween La Prairi and St. John's. The firft officer who happened to pafs him was Brigadier General Gordon ; he was mount- ed on a ipirited horfe, and Whitcomb 7 thinking THROOOII AMERICA. 257 thinking there was little probability of feizing him, fired at and wounded him in the Ihoulder. The General immediately rode as fad as he could to the camp at St. John's, which he had but juft reached, when with lofs of blood and fatigue, he fell from his horfe; fome foldiers, took him up and carried him to the hofpital, where, after his wound was dreffed, and he was a little at eafe, he related the cir- cumflance, which being immediately made known to General Carleton, a party of Indians were fent out to fcour the woods, and fearch for Whitcomb, but in vain, as he haftened back to Ticonderoga. General Carleton, however, imagining he might be lurking about the woods, or fecreted in the houfe of fbme difaffedted Canadian, ifTued out a proclamation among the inha- bitants, offering a reward of fifty guineas to any one that would bring Whitcomb, alive or dead, to the camp. hAW Vol. I. A few ^11! X > I: 258 INTERIOR TRAVELS A few days after this General Gordon died of his wound, in whofe death we fin- cerely lamented the lofs of a brave and ex- perienced officer. When Whitcomb returned to Ticonde- roga, and informed the General who com- manded there, that although he could not take an officer prifoner, he believed he had mortally wounded one, the General ex- prefled his difapprobation in the highell terms, and was fo much difpleafed at the tranfaftion, that Whitcomb, in order to effis^l a reconciliation, offered his fervice to go again, profeffing he would forfeit his life, if he did not return with a prifoner. , r , He accordingly, with two other men, proceeded down Lake Champlain, in a canoe, to a fmall creek, where they fecreted it, and repaired to the woods, to the fame fpot where Whitcomb had flationed himfelf before 5 the two men lay concealed a little ^ way fil ! THROUGH AMERICA. 259 way in the wood, whilft he (kulked about the borders of it. H The regiment of which our friend S — is Quarter-mafter, having occafion for fome ftores from Montreal, he was going from the campt at St. John's to procure them J he was advifed not to go this road, but by way of ChambUe, on account of the late accident, but you know him to be a man of great bravery and perfonal cou- rage, joined with uncommon flrength; refolving not to go fo many miles out of his road for any Whitcomb whatever, he jocofely added, that he fhould be very glad to meet with him, as he was fure he fhould get the reward; in this, however, he was greatly miftaken, his reward being noother than that of being taken prifoner himfelf. .! U M'^ "V.f ' Previous to his fetting out he took every precaution, having not only loaded his fufee, but charged a brace of piftols J when S 2 he 26o INTERIOR TRAVELS I" t I ir i r% -li he came near to the woods I have already fcribed, he was very cautious, but in an inftant, Whitcomb and the two men he had with him fprung from behind a thick bufh, and feized him before he could make the leaft refiftance j they then took from him his fufee and piftols, tied his arms be- hind him with ropes, and blind-folded him. It was three days before they reached the canoe that had been concealed, during which time they had but very fcanty fare; a few hard bifcuits fei*ved to allay hunger, while the fruit of the woods was a luxury ! — When Whitcomb had marched him to fuch a diftance as he thought he could not make his efcape, were he at liberty, through fear of lofing himfelf, for the greater eafe on his own part, and to facilitate their march, they untied his hands, and took the cloth from his eyes. Only pi6ture to yourfelf what mull have been his feelings, at feeing himfelf in the midft of a thick wood, fur- rounded ^t THROUGH AMERICA. 261 rounded by three defperate fellows, and \incertain as to their intentions I At night, when they had partaken of their fcanty pittance, two out of the three ufed to fleep, whilft the other kept watch. The firft night he flept through fatigue j on the fecond, as you may naturally fup- pofe, from his great anxiety of mind, he could not clofe his eyes, in the middle of which an opportunity occurred whereby he could have effected his efcape, for the man whofe watch it was, fell faft afleep. He has fmce told me how his mind waver- ed for a length of time, what meafures to purfue ; he could not bear the idea of put- ting them to death, though juftified by the rules of war: if he efcaped from them, they might in all probability retake and ill-treat him. The great hazard of all, wl^ch determined him to abide by his fate was, that by being fo many miles in a tra£t of wood, where he could not tell what S3 direction 1 \ .' '"' H ■ f:: 1 1\ .■it Mil ]rW'W K Y: >i 1 1 262 INTERIOR TRAVELS dire6lion to take (having been blind-folded when he entered it) he might poffibly wan- der up and down till he perifhed with hun- ger. In this refllefs ftate, he remained till day-break, when they refumed their march, and in the evening came to the creek where the canoe was corteealed j they then fecured him again, put him in the canoe, and proceeded up the lake to Ti- eonderoga, where they^ arrived early the next morning. When- they landed him he was again blind-folded, that he might not fee their works, and thus conducted to the General, whofe only motive for en- deavouring to get an officer was, either by threats or intreaties, to gain information relative to our army. In this, however^ he was greatly difappointed, and as he could not obtain the leaft intelligence from our friend, he ordered him as prifoner of war upon his parole, to ibme of the interior towns, from which place, as I informed you in my laft, he is juft returned, as hearty THROUGH AMERICA. 263 hearty and well as ever. I fhould not have dwelt fo long on this fubje6l, but knowing you have his welfare fo much at heart, that you feel yourfelf interefted in whatever concerns him. ;^ t T I fhall now conclude, but before I do fo, let me congratulate you on the recovery of your health, after fo alarming an illnefs. Good health alone fweetens life, and that you may long enjoy it, both for your own fake and that of yoUf friends, is the ardent wilh of,J{J^^;,^ 4/ibHip? zmAf- i.jvi^oci'i I -i^ ..^u.^iinv. . ^ Yours^ &c. ^ :.r frfo.iln3t:t';nt 'k) won ^rrr ^im'jii :i^..>/ LET. 1 1 1 ^ lift S^^Hf^^^^^l^^^^^H ^:\.rK\ '^KSi^^^Km^^M if. mmwM !■■ hHia ^llflBIH " »!! ilH^^B^H ii'li'ill ^Mtf^B^RH^B •' &9n *ii mKM^^BK^H ^li mjHBjH 1 HHH ''■'m| Imlnill ^illppHHI iV is 'im\ ■ "mm ilH^^^^I ■^,:-i rA ^^K'^^H mm iPJ^^'iiill X m ^R 1 fv,£ lii ; 'wv^i ' 'M'H k| ^ ■, >■■■ . <■ 'C^'i ■■?* tt^k^i' jiM: * ;- ■ ■ wBR L » '■}\\^ w xt^ tlfi m- ''.'•■Sw Mi' isl' » 4*9 ,t-i ' *«' 'VR ^ f' t'l '■■•■ ,■ &'!**» 3 .ri '■•;: . ' ^'Bi nM '■^>--||rll| ■' ; ' J* !';/ ' ♦' ' i ' ■ ? :rf ' , « ' , '! .i ■ .''t'. ; HS>*i"' '! &: '.' ■ ''V jfH\\ " 1. - ' '. lii ■ m , .':'i,; ' ' B }• '''■,'■ •'•'.'I ■- 1 ■}vm. gp sil,i«1lm f;te« w¥^%^ < im ^iaifeai. 1 ^ m m ■ 264 INTERIOR TRAVELS ■ 0'/ LETTER XXV. ^-^i-J I; ,\ _. . •^•'- ,..^a *^ '' "MV DEAR ?R1E1^, CamfatSt,,yokn*s^ Junt 14//&, 4777. .u .^t v:.' . :"ifol Viatic il%Y I HAD fcarccly fkiifliefl my laft, when I received orders to march to this place, and am now entering upon the hurry and buftle of an a6live campaign. You muft not accufe me now of inattention, if you fhould not hear from me fo frequently. ^ As I obferved in a former letter, it was the general opinion the King's troops would not be prevented pafling Lake Cham- plain^ but wait our arrival at Ticonderoga ; in that cafe the operations of the campaign will THROUGH AMERICA. 265 will commence at Crown Point. It would be doing great injuftice to thofe who hav6 been ftationed at this garrifon during the winter, if I omitted to mention their great exertions in repairing, augmenting, and rendering fit for immediate fervice the batteaux^ gun»boats, and armed vefTels. The tother parts of the army have been equdly as indu^ftrious in eftabliOiing ma- gazines at Montread) Sorell and €ham^ hUe^ which mvift be effedled during the froft, not only as the 6bnveyance is ^afier at that time, but dtt aecouftt of the roads^ which, by the running and melting of tiie fnow, are gen«:aily impaffable for fome months. ^ By all the accounts that can be colle6led, the Americans are in great force at Ticon- deroga, nearly to tiie amount of 12,000, and a confiderabie number occupy Lake George, fuftained by a'grcat naval jpower, with a view, no doubt, of fccuring theii' retreat i W 266 INTERIOR TRAVELS in cafe they fhould be obliged to abandon Ticonderoga. t)>ftb;ir 2W''-' ■ ■ -oil?;)! :v.:,^. Should the navigation of Lake Champlain be fecured by the fuperiority of our naval force, the advanced corps, under the com- mand of General Frafer, with a la;^e body of favages and Canadians, for fcouts and out-worksj and the beft of our engineers and artificers, are to take poffeflion of Crown, Ppint, aiid to fortify it. The in- tentioni is with - a view; to prevent irifult from tb,e .enemy, during the time neceflary for coUefting ftores, forming magazines and fortifying pofts, all which muft be acr compliflied previous to our proceeding in force to lay iiege to Ticonderoga. This brigade being ftationed at Grown Point, as a check on the enemy, the reft of the army.are to be employed in forwarding the c^VQys and tranfports of provifions, removing artilleiy , preparing fafcines and 'n.'SUai Other THROUGH AMERICA. 267 Other neceffaries for artillery operations, and to* tommence the fiegej and that the enemy during that period may not reft in tranquillity, corps of favages, fupported by detachments of the light infantry, are to keep them in continual alarm within tlieir works, at the fame time to cover recon- noitering parties, both of general oificeri and engineers^ and to obtain the befV i^w telligence of thqir ftrength, pofition and defign./; From the great preparations that have been made during the winter, and by the vigorous exertion of the troops, who are in great health and fpirits, it may rea- fonably be expelled tthat the redu6tion of Ticonderoga will be early in the fummer, unlefs fome misfortune, human prudence cannot forefee, ftiould prevent it, although it is the general opinion it will be warmly contefted, and that there will be much blcxod-fhed. The Americans, when they drew the fword, muft have forefeen a bloody conteft, and expeded all the horrors of a ;■ '. •/ '"'I f 1, ' i?i i ilml war, 268 INTER lOR TRAVELS I li 1 s I 'oHIh ^v 1 1 IJaH^Hv mlt i Ef^^B^^R war, carried on as it were in their own bofoms,. laying wafle their fields of har- vefti deftroying every comfort, and intro- ducing, every mifery mankind is capable of devifing. But had certain perfbns, who were actuated by no other motives than a welfare and profperity to both countries, directed their refolves, they would have advifed ' a peaceable fabmiilion to the Mo- ther Country, And eafily prevented all the hcMTtcHS of a civil war. America, . from aliumber of aggregate fortunate circum-* ftances, by (low degrees, had arifen to a ftate of great profperity, and the power that {he had fixed by that profperity, bids jiiiT ta be of fome duration, yet, in my opinion, not to fuch a degree as to eftablifh her independence 5 ■ her prefcht diftreffed fituation, without fome other favorable circumttance, muft inevitably prevent the execution of ^t idea. I ami fully per* fuaded in my own 4nind, had they but referved their ideas of independency for /fBw . half THROUGH AMERICA. 269 half a century longer, from their increafe of population and wealth, they would have fixed it without much difficulty, or even the aflfiflance of any other power, and thus become the firft nation in the world. In the prefent day, if they attain their boafted end, it muft be by the arm of fome nation, to whom, for want of refources to defray the expences of their alliance, (he will be in continual broils and difputes, which may perhaps finally terminate in a total fubje6lion, and that abje6l flavery they fo ridiculouily pretend to dread from us. Should this be the cafe, (he will regret the lofs of that prote6tion from the Mother Country, (he is now treating with fo much ingratitude. Leaving you to your own re- marks, for no doubt you will fay, " a foldier and a politician 1" I fhall divert your atten- tion from the cabals of mankind, to the wonderful productions of nature, in de- fcribing to you a little animal that was brought me latelv, called a flying-fquirrel. This -It' Mill ml 270 INTERIOR TRAVELS X >! i f I 'I "f This animal takes its name from being provided with a (kin, or membrane, which adheres to each fide, about the breadth of three inches, extending from its hind to fore feet, where it is connedled by a bony ai'ticulation -, it expands this membrane like a fail, by which it is enabled to fly from one tree to another, at a great diftance. Moft fquirrels will jump from tree to tree, when contiguous, but this animal will fly an in- credible way. Its fkin is very foft, and of a beautiful dark grey, with eyes large, black, and very prominent; it fomewhat differs from the other fquirrels in its tafte, caring little for nuts, the chief and fa- vorite food being the frefti tops of the birch. This little animal makes its bed in a very curious manner, of the mofs of the fame tree, in which it lies as it were buried, feldom fl:irring from thence in the day time, unlefs difturbed. I came into pofieflion of it from a little drum-boy's going up a tree after a bird's nefl:, who perceiving THROUGH AMERICA. 271 perceiving it lay in that dormitory ftate, feized it and brought it to me, for he had heard that I was making a collec- tion of natural curiofities. By the bye, I beg you will inform me, in your next, if you received fafe the little colleftion I fent you from Montreal. I have added this curious animal, and one of another fpecies, called the ground fquirrel, which is a little larger than a moufe, and moft beautifully fpotted like a fawn, to the colle6lion I am now making, and hope they will be confi- dered as tokens of friendfhip from Yours, &c. W.n' i ;•■'<'*■ • ;( '■;«. V pv^-^ ,: !■ ', LET- ii:i^;^R(tl&?l Z7Z INTERIOR TRAVELS •JX0\ LETTER XXVI. ''^;ifei!S£S;J>--3,^777^ ii' v;> ii I ! MY DEAR FRIEND, "ITyTE have proceeded thus far, and, ^ ^ from all appearatice, Ihall traverfe the remainder of our v\ray on the Lake, without meeting any Of^fition from the enemy, their defign baling, as I before mentioned to you, todifputeTiconderogaj the intelligence from different fpies and deferters fully confirm us in tliis opi- nion, who report, that they have labored hard to ftrengthen, and mean to difpute it moft vigoroufly. They are now build- ing row-gallies at Fort Georg|, for the • defence mm. TUttOrtfOH AM&ItlCA. ^71 defence of that lake, and fortif) Ing the road to Skeneiborough. • J J.O It feems the Congrefs have configned to the four New England provinces, as they are excellent axe-men, and very expeditious hi felling of trees, the talk of fupplying men and provifiort to oppofe -the progrefs of our forces; which they havi^ undertaken, upon condition of being exempt from fup- plying General Wafliington's army. If that really is the cafe, we Ihall have bufi- nefs enough upon our hands, having four of the moft powerful and rebellious pro- vinces to deal with j they have this advan- tage too, that upon their frontiers, fhould any difafler befall them. It can be fo eafily recruited, both as to men and proviiions. Having proceeded thus far up the lake, I am enabled to give you fome account of it, efpecially as we have pafied the broadeft part. There aie many fmall iflands dif- VoL. I. T perfcd r ri t I 27+ INTSRIOR TRAVELS Ite* perfed ill different parU, and where it is wideft, you are not able to difcern the oppofite fliorej there are feveral planta- tions on each fide, but thsy are more numerous on the fouth, the north fide being lofty rocky mountains. It abounds witji gjffat quantities and vaiiety of filli; ftui'geon, feteck bafs^ mafquenongez, pike of an iijy^ri^dibl^ fi^, and many others, an;K>n§ y^liijcti is ^ cat-fifh, which is about eighteen ii>ches long, of a br^wnilh cafl, without fcdea, having a large round head, refembling ^hat of a cat's, from which it derives it§ name > they have cm their heads protuberances fimilar to the horns of a fiiail, and l^cje them can elevate and de- prefs them at pleafure, ajnd when fully extended, are^ about; tvyo inches long; if in liberating one of thefe fifh from the hook, it ftrikes you, with one pf its horns, it leaves an unaccountable and unpleafent fenfation onthe.part affeded for two or three days. Its fius are very bony and T . ftrong>. THROUGH AMERICA. 275 Arong, Hkethofeof ajierch, it commonly weighs about five or fix pounds; the ficfh is fat and lufcious, greatly refembl- ing the flavor of an eel. There are at this feafon of the year pro- digious flights cf pigeons crofling the lake, of a tnofl bi^autifal plumage^ and in aftonifliing quantities; ■l^ t« ) Thefe are hioft cs^cellent ea|ing, and that you may form fome id^a as to their number, at one of our encampments, the men for one day wholly fubfifted on them ; fatigued with their flight in crofling the lake, they alight upon the firflf branch they can reach to, many are fo weary as to drop in the water, and are eafily caught j thofe that alight upon a bough being unable to fly again, the foldielrs knock down with long poles. T2 During ■r: U:.i. ' •-. >^mI mi !1 r5'g^^ 276 INTERIOR TRAVELS I'-' I'ii V. During the flights of thefe pigeons, which crofs this lake into Canada, and are continually flying about in large flocks, the Canadians find, great amufement in (hooting them, which they do after a veiy Angular manner : in the day time they go into the woods, and make ladders by the lide of the tall pines, which the pigeons rooft on, and when it is dark they creep fbftly under and fire up this ladder, killing them in jpeat abundance ; they then fl:rike a light, and firing a knot of the pitch pine, pick up thofe they have killed, and the wounded ones that are unable to fly.-- •- During the flights of thefe pigeons, which generally laft three weeks or a month, the lower fort of Canadians moftly fubfift on them ^ J I Now I -am upon this fubjeft, it reminds me of what Monjieur Blondtaux was conti- nually telling me of, le grand plaijir que jaurai-quand rtc commencera en tiiant les toiirtes i THROUGH AMERICA. 277 ti>urtes', adding, at the fame time, with great pleafure, amufement que le Canadien aime beaiicoup. However, as to the num- bers he ufed always to join with this obfervation, I generally thought my good landlord was fetting off his country to great advantage by dealing in the marvellous, and fliould have been impreffedwith that idea, had I not been by ocular demonftra- tion convinced to the contrary. ■ Not only at this encampment, but like- wife at our former ones, we were under the neceflity of clearing the thick under- wood, and cutting down the finall trees before we could encamp, during which time you are almoft devoured with the mufquitos, thatfwarm in great abundance, and are continually peftering you till the . fires are lighted, when the fmoke imme- diately difperfes them. r'>f T3 In V . ( 1 mir •m 27» INTERIOR TRAVELS I i| In cjewing the woods fojr our enc2^^lp- laent at)this pjacev ^ v^ry favorite dog of 1-015^ gafcvres's* of the Newfoundland ht^yxh^ a inofi^ nnraculous efcape^ in itoe very inftant that a heavy pine tree was feHing, the dog run acrofs, the tree fell, and cruihed the poor creature into the earth 5 in this fttuation every alliftance was given, and when he was extricated, he came jumping and firi&ing up to his maf- ter, to the flirprize of every one, who najturally inajagined the creature muft have had. »H it*' bones broken, for when the tree fell, itfhook the earth fome diftance loundi .The prefei:vation of the dog is entirely attributed to the nature of the foil, wUchwas fandy and pliable. I need not, add, after this eveat, how much his Lord- fhip prizes his favcfritc dog Batteaux, ~ irrrJ'Tr Two miles up this river there is a faw- mill, and a fall of water, where there is mbft excellent troutrfitfhing. You who are THROUGH AM£RrCA. 279 are fo fond of the diverfion of angling, would find moft excellent fport in this country. How I could wifh you here, only for an hour, in that employment, that I might have the happinefs, for that little time, of converfing with you, to aik you a thoufand queftions, to hear of thofe who are dda^r to nie, to— — ^but 1 muft ftop my refledlion and my wilhes together. 'lil i II; $i^ i ',:< i ? .;'.i: :i> -Mn'««»^ - Yours, &G. ^ J ■i-J^'-M.'te T4 wi LET- •t;i Z$Q jNjTeriob. travels ■ I . io'^] • 11:11:3:;. i:,* I. r,, , X, E; T T E , R XXVII. !-;iii: >ii i MY DEAR FRIEND, THIS river derives its name from a Colonel Bouquet^ who commanded an expedition againft the Indians, whilft Canada was under the French Government, as at this place he had a converfation with them upon a treaty of peace. It fliould feem as if it was the deftined fpot to have intercourfe with Indians, for yefterday General Burgoyne had a con- ference with them j and as I am fenfilie how much our employing Indians in this war THROUGH AMERICA. 281 war is reprobated in England, I fhall give you the General's fpeech, and their anfwer, of which you may form your own opinion. When the aflembly were met, the General thus addreffed them, by means of an inter- preter: ** Chiefs and Warriors^ " The great King, our common father, and the patron of all who feek and de- ferve his prote6lion, has confidered with fatisfaclion the general conduct of the Indian tribes, from the be^^inning of the troubles in America. Too fagacious and too fguthful to be deluded or cor- rupted, they have obferved the violated rights of the parental power they love, and burned to vindicate them. A few individuals alone, the refufeof a fmall tribe, at the firfl were led aftray : anu the mifreprefentations, the fpecious al- lurements, the infidious promifes, and ** diverlified thers in the war j emulous in glory and in friendfhip, Wt will endeavor re- ciprocally to give and to receive ex- amples; we know how to value, and we will ftrive to imitate your prefever- ance in entcrprize and your conilancy, to refift hunger, wearinefs and pain. Be it our tafk, from the di6tates of our religion, the laws of our warfare, and the principles and intereft of our policy, to regulate your paflions when they over- bear, to point ou|: where it is nobler to fpare than to revenge, to difcriminate degrees of guilt, to fufpend the uplifted ftroke, to chaftife and not to deftroy. " This " Perfuaded that your magnanimity of " character, joined to your principles of ** affe6Hon to the King, will give me fuller " controul over your minds, than the mili- " tary rank with which I am invefled* I en- " join your moft ferious attention to the " rules which I hereby proclaim for your " invariable ,:^i. lir:.'' < P'i'L 286 INTERIOR TRAVELS " invariable obfervation during the cam- cc paign >i * .\i\ w il After anfwering, Etow! Etow /in their language fignifying approbation, they ap* peared to pay very great attention to the interpreter, eager to catch the General's inftru6tions. \ 'J t .If' ■< ^\ m V^.i 1 1 .1; I ■ I. m 288 INTERIOR TRAVELS ,.«*' F I V;)i cc rthy ity of • and nined your o the whom eftion THROUGH AMERICA. 22g ** courfe-— we receive you as our father, " becaufe when you fpcak we hear the voice ** of our great father beyond the great lake. " We rejoice in the approbation you have " exprclfed of our behaviour. " We have been tried and tempted by " the Boftonians ; but we have loved our ** father, and our hatchets have been " fharpened upon our afFedtions. " In proof of the fmcerity of our pro- " feffions, our whole villages, able to go " to war, are come forth. The old and " infirm, our infants and wives^ alone rc- " main at home. m ■ ■•'f\y \fxiy ■V'l 'r ii '■•'•ill . n le na- •, that lis dif^ brfe — " With one common affent, we promife " a conflant obedience to all you have " ordered, and all you ihall order, and " may the father of days give you many, " and fuccefs." Vol. I. U After ■i-ia ^^•, 290 INTERIOR TRAVELS After the Chief of the IroquHs hsid finifhed, they all as before cried out, Eteiv! Etow! Etow! and the meeting broke up. lit f ■; /.) f One of the GeneraVs Aid-de-Camps in- formed me, that the General was highly pleafed to find the Indians fo tra6lable, hoping the eifential fervice to be expe(5\:ed, would be obtained in employing them. It is through the friendftiip of Captain ****, who took the fpeeches down, that I am enabled to fend them to you.. Orders being given that the army is to embark to-morrow at day-break, to pro- ceed up the lake, and having many things to adjuft, I hope you will pardon my mak- ing a hafty conclufion, and remain, Yours, &G. LET- (i had EMvl Lcup. ips in- highly i6lable, pefted, ; them. ::aptain n, that ai '* [ly 15 to to pro- things y mak- &G. f • sW. w V\ \ m a ''fc ' if: mi LET- i ■ f '■■ Ml If' ■ ; {'/ 1 * j i W 1 Ml 1 ml m 'Sm m ' /V/. (>f>hy/n>i A/.> ''/(itrrr run (fff/t (f , /(itf/i. i//i TH&0UQ9 AM£RICA« 2gt LETTER XXVIII. Camp at Button -Mole' Bay, 7 777. MY DEAR FRIEND, AFTER the meeting of the Indians at river Bouquet y the General order- ed them fome liquor, and they had a war- dance, in which they throw themfelves in various poftures, every now and then mak- ing moft hideous yells j as to their appear- ance, nothing more horrid can you paint to your imagination, being dreffed in fuch an outre manner, fome with the Ikiris of bulls with the horns upon their heads, others with a great quantity of feathers, and many in a ftate of total nudity : there U 2 was mi h m 'A I \ i-i I : (■'I ( \ H t-^ ; i ! 1 1 ■.«.;■:; f :fei 292 INTERIOR TRAVELS IC'' v;ji was one among them at whofe modefty I could not help fmiling, and who, rather than be divefled of any covering, had tied a blackbird before him. Joined to thefe flrange drefles, and added to the grotefque appearance, they paint their faces of va- rious colors, with a view to infpire an ad- ditional horror. It is almoft incredible to think what a prodigious degree of conceit and foppery reigns amonglt the favages in decorating their perfons, perhaps not in- ferior to that by which alone fome of our pretty fellows of the prefent age fo confpi- cuoully diftinguifh themfelves. The fol- lowing flrikmg inftance of it, feveral other officers, as well asmyfelf, were eye-witnefles to, and it afforded us no fmall entertain- ment: In our way to their encampment, we obferved a yoimg Indian who wasprepaiing for the war-dance, feated under a ivigivam^ with a fmall looking-glafs placed before Inni, THROUGH AMERICA. 293 him, and furrounded with feveral papers, filled with different paints. At our flop- ping to obferve him, he was at firfj a little difconcerted, and appeared difpleafed, but foon after proceeded to adorn himfelf . He firft fmeared his face with a little bear's greafe, then rubbed in fome vermillion, then a little black, blue, and green paints, and having viewed himfelf for fome time in the glafs, in a rage he wiped it all off, and began again, but with no better fuc- cefs, ftill appearing diflatisfied. We went on to the council, which dafted near two hours, and on our return found the In- dian in the fame pofition, and at the fame employment, having nearly confumed all his ftock of colors ! What a pity it is the ladies in England, adepts in this art, have not fuch a variety of tints to exercife their genius with! — in my mind, if they mud paint, the more ridiculous they appear^ the better. h^^':. ill mi In'-^i U3 Bear's 294 INTERIOR TRAVELS Bear*s grcafc, indeed, would not be a very delicate perfume, but no matter if nature miift be patched up, it little fig- nifies with what !^ 1 could laugh at the ftreaks on an Indian, but am ftruck with contempt at the airs put on by your flirts, from a penny-worth of carmine, and touched with pity vfh&tijixty would afTume the glow oiffteen, through a falfe fhame^ or a chiMifh want of jfcdnu ration ! '^Bwy'i t fl mm s . ^H ■ H^B n t^^^B iB ^^^H ■ ^Bk^i^ m 1 An Indian's idea of war confifts in never fighting in an open field, but upon fome very extraordinary occafion, for they con- fider this method as unworthy an able warrior, and as an ai!air in which fortune governs, more than prudence or courage. They arc of effential fervice in either defending or invading a country, being extremely fkilful in the art of furprizing, and watching the motions of an enemy. On THROUGH AMERICA. 295 On a fecret expedition they light no fire to warm themfelves, nor prepare their victuals, but fubfift merely on the mifer- able pittance of fome of their meal mixed with water ; they lie clofe to the ground all day, and only march in the night 5 while halting to red and refrefh themfelves, fcouts are fent out on every fide to recon- noitre the country, and beat up every place where they fufpedl an enemy can lie concealed. Two of the principal things that enable them to find out their enemies, is the fmoke of their fires, which they fmell at a vaft diftance, and their tracks, in the difcoveiy and diftinguifhing of which they are poffefTed of a fagacity equally ailonifh- ing, for they will difcern by the footfteps, that to us would appear extremely con- fufed, nearly the number of men, and the length of time fince they paffed ; this latter circumftance was confirmed to me by an officer, who has the fuperintending of their tribes. Being out upon a fcout with them 1 ''V . ^ If . *' "t3 > I Vf'7« W: ^>.'- i V'.'y zgS INTERIOR TRAVELS Si ^ih them, they difcerned fome footfteps, when the Indians told him that feven or eight people had pafTed that way, and that only two or three days fince: they had not gone far, before tliey came to a plantation with a houfe upon it, and as is the cuftom with the Indians, ran up to it, and fur- prized a fcouting party of the Americans, confifting of feven, who had come there the over^night. In travelling through the woods, they carefully obferve the trees, efpecially the tall pines, which are for the moft part void of foliage, on the branches that are expof- ed to the north wind, the trunk on that fide having the bark extremely rugged, by which they afcertain the direction to be taken ; and for the more eafy difcovery of their way back again, their tomahawks are continually blazing the trees, which is cutting off a fmall piece of the bark, and as THROUGH AMERICA^ 297 as they march along they break down the underwood. they the void :pof- that i, by :o be [ry of :s are :h is and as Every Indian is a hunter, and their man- ner of making war is of the fame nature, only changing the objed, by fkulking, fur- prizing and killing thofe of their own fpecies, inftead of the brute creation. I '< There is an indifputable neceflity of hav- ing Indians, where Indians are employed agaihft you, unlefs we had men enough of our own trained up in that fort of military exercifc, as our European difcipline is of little avail in the woods againft favages. . The reafon of my dwelling fo much on the fiitgeft of Indians, is becaufe I am fen- fible how repugnant it is to the feelings of an Engliihman to employ them, and how much their cruelty and barbarity has been exaggerated. They P's ,1 -'^■■M ?i .^■ A mi 29S INTERIOR TRAVELS They fight, as thofe oppofed againftthem fight } we muft ufe the fame means as our enemies, to be but on an equal footing with them. I often refle6l on that laconic ipecch a great and gallant officer made to his men, in the laft war, previous to their going to battle, ** there, my brave lads, •* there's the enemy, and, by God, if you " do not kill them, they'll kill you." '■■i< ■. ■ There is a very great natural curiofity upon Lake Cbamplnin'y I am led to ima- gine that it was originally two lakes ^' About the center of it the land coTitra6ls to fuch a degree, that it appears as if the rock had been feparated by an earthquake ; tlie paflage between what are now two rocks, was but juft wide enough for our large (hips to pafs through, and that only with a fair wind, on account of the cur- rent. You'll allo^ die phc€ to be very juftly named Split-Rock. « » it This THROUGH AMERICA. 299 n\ This bay, where our prcfent encamp- ment is, lies on the fouth fide of the lake, and derives its name from the pebbles, of which great abundance are thrown up on the fhores, the exa6l form of a button- mould, and where thofe of wood or horn could not be procured, would be no bad fubftitute. Juft before we entered this bay, there came on a moft violent and unexpefted fquall, occafioned by the land winds blow- ing from the top of the high mount^ns on the north fide of the lake ; it was but of fhort duration, but very terrible while it lafted. You will form fome idea how powerful, and with what violence it blows from thefe mountains, from the following circumftance: A fmall brig belonging to the fleet, with very Uttle fail, was in an inftant laid flat on her fide, and tlie crew were obliged to cut away the mails, to make her rife again. The lake was vaflly agitated, : If^'i' 30O INTERIOR TRAVELS agitated, you may cafily judge how very dangerous it mull have been to the fmall batteauxy which are conftrudted with flat bottoms, and quite ungovernable when it blows hard. Though the men who rowed the batteaux in which I was were conti- nually relieved, it was with much difficulty they could bring her into this bay, their ftrength being almoft exhaufted. However, the whole brigade got fafe, except two batteaux that were fwamped juft as they got clofe in (hore, but as it was not out of a man's depth, no lives were loft. During this ftorm I dreaded much for the fate of the Indians in their birch ca- noes, whom I thought muft have inevitably been fufiks upon refle6tion, indeed, they did not feem to be in fuch perfonal dan- ger, as both male and female, above the ftate of infancy, are eternally in the water ; to the furprize of every one,,h6wev6r, their canoes rofe to every wave, and floated like a cork, THROUGH AMERICA. 301 rery nail flat ;n it )wed Dnti- culty their ^ever, ; two 1 they DUt of a cork, which muft be entirely owing to the lightnefs of their conftru6tion ; this lightnels obliged them to remain fome time upon the lake after we had landed, left the waves fliould dafh their canoes againft the fliore and deftroy them. I omitted to mention in my laft, that at the mouth of the river Bcuquet there is a fmall ifland, on which were fcund feveral young fawns, where the does had fwam acrofs to drop them, as if by a natu . 1 inftinft fenfible that the buck woiild de- ilroy her young. A foldier of tht com- pany, who had been on this ifland, got one, which he prel'ented to his Captain ; it was beautifully marked, and io young, that it could fcarcely walk ; we put it on board the batteauxy but during the florm it was wa(hed overboard, . nd every effort to lave it proved incfte6lual, without ha- zarding tlie lives of tI;ofe in the hatteaiix. yK W .1 ■y.v Every vm 302 INTEIILIOR TRAVELS Every day, as Ad4ifon fays, grows «< Big with the fate of Cato and of Rome." To-morrow we embark from this place to Crown Point, where our operations commence againfl the enemy. Reft aifured I (hall embrace every opportunity of fend- ing you the particulars of our proceeding. Yours, &c. LET- I ' THROUGH AMERICA. 30.^ LETTER XXIX. Camp at CrovJti Point, JuneiOt 1 7 77. MY DEAR FRIEND, WJ E are now within fight of the ^ ^ enemy, 'and their watch-boats are continually rowing about, but beyond the reach of cannon fhot. Before I proceed farther, let me juft relate in what manner the army pafled the lake, which was by brigades, generally advancing from feven- teen to twenty miles a day, and regulated in fuch a manner, that the fecond brigade fhould take the encampment of the firil, and fo on fucceffively, for each brigade to fiU - 3^4 INTERIOR TRAVELS fill the ground the other quitted 3 the time for departL::e was always at day-break. One thing appeared to me very fingular, which I am not philofopher enough to account for ; in failing up the lake, on all the iflands and points of land, the water feemed to feparate the trees from the land, and to pafs in a manner through them, having the appearance of fmall brufh wood, at a very little heighth from the water i nor do the trees appear to come in conta6l with the land, till you approach within two or three miles of the obje6l, when they fhow themfelves to be diftin6lly joined. I cannot forbear pi61:uring to your ima- gination one of the moft pleafmg fpe6lacles I ever beheld. When we were in the wideft part of the lake, whofe beauty and extent I have already defcribed, it was re- markably fine and clear, not a breeze {lining, THROUGH AMERICA. 305 ftirring, when the whole army appeared at one view in I'uch perfe6l regularity, as to f(^rir. the mod compleat and fplendid regatta you can poflibly conceive. A fight fo novel and pleafmg, could not fail of fixing the admiration and attention of every one prefent. . - ■ *1L In the front, the Indians went with their birch canoes, containing twenty or thirty in each, then the advanced corps in a regular line, with the gun-boats, then followed the Royal George and Inflexible, towing large booms, which are to be thrown acrofs two points of land, with the other brigs and floops following j after them the firfi: brigade in a regular line, then the Generals Burgoyne, Phillips, and Reidefel in their pinnaces j next to them were the fecond brigade, followed by the German brigades, and the rear was brought up with the futlers and followers of the army. Upon the appearance of fo Vol. I. X for- ^ :■■'<' • Hi. 3o6 •INTERIOR TRAVELS formidable a fleet, you may imagine they were not a little difmayed at Ticonderoga,. for they were apprized of our advance, as we every day could fee their watch-boats. . We had, it is certain, a very ftrong naval force, but yet it might have been greatly in the power of the Americans to have prevented our pafling the lake fo rapidly as we have done, efpecially as there are certain parts of it where a few armed vef- fels might have flopped us for fome time : but it is an invariable maxim with the Americans, of which there are numberlefs inftances in the laft campaign, never to face an enemy but with very fuperior ad- vantages, and the moft evident figns and profpecls of fuccefs. The army is now aflembling in order to commence the fiege, as foon as the artillery • ftores arrive from Canada, which are daily expelled. People in England, whofe ra- pidity of ideas keep pace with their good wifhes, THROUGH AMERICA. 307 wifhes, little imagine that the diftance from this place to Canada is ninety miles, therefore the time it takes to bring forward ftores is neceflarily confiderable. To the great praife of General Carleton, however, very little delay has yet occurred, for he forwards the (lores very expeditioufly, and hovvrever ill-treated many people fuppofe he is, or however he may conceive himfelf fo, in not having the command of this army, after being the commander in the laft campaign, he lets no pique or ill-will divert him from doing all the real fervice in his power to his King and country. In a former letter I mentioned, that we were to intrench at this pkce : but how- ever meafures may be concerted with the utmoft judgment and precaution for fuc- ceeding, yet when an army has advanced to the place they are to inveft, the General is often convinced, that neither the defcrip- tion of others, nor the delineation of maps X 2 and i'j'i »-' m 3o8 INTERIOR 1' R A V E L S and charts have been fo perfeft in eveiy particular, as not to make fome change in the intended difpofitions neceflary, which is exaftly our prefent fituation, as orders are given out for us to embark to-morrow. What will be the future operations of the army, after the reduftion of Ticonderoga, it is impoffible to fay, but fome vigorous meafures, no doubt, are to be p\irfued, as an extra6l from the GeneraFs orders will point out to you. It is generally believed, however, that the army is to force its way into Albany. The extract is as follows : " This army embarks to-morrow to ap- " proach the enemy. The fervices re- " quired of this particular expedition, are " critical and confpicuous. During our " progrefs occafions may occur, in which " nor difficulty, nor labor, nor life are to "be regarded. This army muft not re- " treat." From the laft fentence, it is a general and fixed opinion throughout the whole THROUGH AMERICA. 309 whole army, that vigorous exertions are to be made againft any oppofition, however fuperior, we may encounter. For fuch an expedition the army are in the beft condi- tion that can be expefted or wilhed, the troops in the higheft fpirits, admirably difciplined, and remarkably healthy. I omitted to mention, that fliortly after the confultation with the Indians at the river Bouquet, the General ifTued out a ma- nifefto, which was circulated in the fron- tiers and province of Connefticut, calcu- lated to fpread terror among the moft re- bellious, to enforce upon their minds an impreflion of fear, of the cruel operations of favages, whom he now could reftrain, and their eagernefs to be let loofe ; at the fame time, in the moft expreffive language, informing them, that powerful forces were co-operating, both by fca and land, to crufh this unnatural rebellion ; inveighing ftrongly on the conduct of the prefent X 3 Gover- 310 INTERIOR TRAVELS [^ r* I '• ,1 i y Ji Governors and Governments here as being the caufe of its continuance, and exhibit- ing, in the moft Uvely manner, their in- juftice, cruelty, perfecution and tyranny ; encouraging thofe whofe difpofition and abiUties would aflift in redeeming their country from flavery, and re-eftablifhing its former government > offering prote6lion and fecurity to thofe who continued peace- able in their habitations, and denouncing all the calamities and outrages of war to fuch as fhould perfevere in hoflilities. How far it may operate in this part of the continent, I have my fears, as the New- England Provinces are the moft violent in their principles of rebellion. m During our ftay at this place, which has been only three days, the rear of the army is come up, and the magazines and hof- pitals are eftablifhed, therefore the opera- tions againft Ticonderoga will immediately commence. I am THROUGH AMERICA. 3" I am truly fenfible how averfe you were to my entering the army, but when once immerged, it would be folly in the extreme to fay, that I wifhed to retract. Although I am not an enthufiaft in religion, ftill you know I ever held in the greateft veneration the fupremc Difpofer of Events, and am not infenfible of his prote6ling hand, a fol- dier has many hair-breadth efcapesj but fhould it be the fate of war, and the will of Providence that I fliould fall, I fhall die with the plea(ingrefle6lion of having ferved my King and country. If I furvive, you may reft aflured of my embracing every opportunity to inform you of my deftiny, and how truly I am, Yours, &c. M i ''?^ ,.,..f LET- I I ■M9 3^2 INTERIOR TRAVELS LETTER XXX. .tiS Camp he/ore Ticontferoga, July 5, 1777. MY DEAR FRIEND, T T TE are now arrived before a place ^ ^ that is not more talked of this war than the laft, on account of the memora- ble fiege that then happened, in which that gallant officer was flain, who, could his immortal fpirit rife from its cold manfion, would no doubt fee highly pleafed to fee his offspring, one placed at the head of ' naval line, and the other of the army, advancing the pleafmg tafk of reftoring peace to a deluded people, led on by a fet ' " of THROUGH AMERICA. 313 of faflious men, to a mod unnatural re- bellion. By the fcouting parties juft returned we learn, that there is a brigade which oc- cupies the old French lines on a height, to the north of the fort of Ticonderoga ; the lines are in good repair, with feveral in- trenchments behind them, fupported by a bloek-houfe ; they have another poft at the faw-mills, the foot of the cai*rying- place to Lake George, and a block-houfe upon an eminence above the mills, together with a block-houfe and hofpital at the en- trance of the lake. Upon the right of the lines, between them and the old fort, are two new block- houfes, and a confiderable battery clofe to the water's edge. But"it feems the Ame- ricans have employed their utmoft induftry where they are in the greatefl force, upon Mount Independence, which is extremely lofty I ^•n ■ i 3H INTERIOR TRAVELS lofty and circular. On the fummit of the mount tliey have a ftar fort made of pickets, well fupplicd with artillery, and a large fquare of barracks within it j that fide of the hill which prqje6ts into the lake is well intrenched, and has a ftrong abattis clofe to the water, which is lined with heavy artillery pointing down the lake, flanking the water battery, and fuftained by another about half way up the hill. Fortified as the enemy are, nothing but a regular fiege can difpoflefs them. There has been a ikirmilh with the In- dians and a fmall party of the enemy, who were reconnoitering, in which they were driven back into their lines j the Indians were fo rafli as to purfue them within reach of their cannon, when feveral were killed and wounded. Upon the firing of their artillery, the brigade were ordered under arms, and ftiortly after the Indians brought the killed and wounded upon lit- . . ters, THROUGH AMERICA. 15 ters, covered with leaves. It was tlwaght this would have been a clicck upon them, as the firft that fell was of their party, but it feems rather to ftimulatc their valor. As our friend M — was looking through a brafs refle6ling telefcope at the enemy's works, he cried out Ihot, and we had fcarcely dropt down, before we were co- vered with duft. He faw them run out the cannon of the embrafure, and what I ima- gine contributed to their pointing them, was the refledlion of the fun upon the telefcope. After they had difcovered our fituation, they fired feveral fliot, but with- out doing any mifchief. . A very Angular circumftance has occur- ed at this encampment. This morning, a little after day-break, the centinel of the picquet guard faw a man in the woods, reading a book, whom the centinel chal- lenged, but being fo very intent on his fludies, h y'l ;:^f I *ii i 3i6 INTERIOR TRAVELS I ..:• '1:1 ftudies, he made no reply, when the fol- dier ran up to, and feizcd him; upon waking from his reverie, he told the cen- tinel he was Chaplain to the 47th regiment, hut it being a fufpicious circumilance, he was detained till the foldier was relieved, who took him to the Captain of the pic- fjuet, from whence he was immediately fent to General Frafer's quarters. General Frafer fuppofmg it was a finefle, for the 47th regiment was ftationed two or three miles in the rear, and the General think- hig himfelf perfe6lly acquainted with every clergyman in the army, began to make feveral enquiries concerning the Amcri- ricans, at which he was more perplexed, and ftill perfifted in his firft ftory. What greatly contributed to thefe miftakes, the man's appearance was not altogether in his favor, being in difliabille. General Frafer not being able to make any thing of him, fent him with an officer to General Bur- goyne, who had no knowledge of him. To THROUGH AMERICA, 3»7 To clear up the matter, the Colonel of the 47th regiment was fent for, who informed the General that he was the gentleman who had delivered a letter from General Carle- ton, and had only joined the regiment from Canada the preceding evening. The ftu- dioiis gentleman little forefaw to what dangers he had expofed himfelf by his morning ramble, till he was ftopped by the centinel. You will naturally think he had enough to cure him from thefe peram- bulations in the woods. 1 A . About three days fmce a great fmoke was obferved towards Lake George, and the fcouts brought in a report, that the enemy had fet fire to the fartheft block- houfc, had abandoned the faw-mills, and that a confiderable body was advancing from the lines towards a bridge, upon a road which led from the faw-mills to the right of our encampment. A detachment from our corps, fupported by the fecon^ ! > brigade m ".tit t^- f '» li 'li 3i8 IN TERIOR TRAVELS brigade, and fome light artillery, under the command of General Phillips, were then ordered to proceed to Mount Hope, to reconnoitre the enemy's pofition, and to take advantage of any poll they might either abandon or be driven from. Ilk. The Indians under the command of Captain Frazer, fupported by his company of markfmen, (which were volunteer com- panies from each regiment of the Britifh) were dire6ted to make a circuit on the left of our encampment, to cut off the retreat of the enemy to their lines : this defign, however, was fruftrated by the impetuofity of the Indians, who attacked too foon, which enabled the enemy to retire with little lofs. General Phillips took Mount Hope, which cut off the enemy from any communication with Lake George j after which we quitted our former encampment, and occupied this pofl, which is now m •great force, there being the whole of Ge- ' neral THROUGH AMERICA. 3^9 neral Frafer's corps, the firft Britifh bri» gade, and two brigades of artillery. The enemy have cannonaded the camp, but without efFe6l, and continued the fame the next day, while the army were employed in getting up the artillery tents, baggage, and provifions, during which time we never fired a fmgle cannon. > This day Luitenant Twifs, tlie com- manding engineer, was ordered to recon- noitre Sugar-Hill, on the fouth fide of the communication from Lake George into Lake Champlain, part of which the light-infantry had taken polfefTion of lafl night J he reported this hill to have the entire command of the works and build- ings, both at Ticonderoga and Mount In- dependeuwc, of about 1400 yards from the former, and 1500 from the latter; that (lie ground might be levelled fo as to re- ceive caimon, and that the road to convey them, though extremely diflicult, n.igiit be ' accom- i:' hi 320 INTERIOR TRAVELS u -■A\ If'*" accompliflied in twenty-four hours. This hill alfo commanded the bridge of commu- nication, and from it they could fee the exa6l fituation of their veilels ; and what was another very great advantage, from the pofTeffion of this poft, the enemy, during the day, could not make any ma- terial movement or preparation, without being difcovered, and even their numbers counted. Upon this report of Lieutenant Twifs, it was determined a battery fliould be raifed on this poft, for light twenty- four pounders, medium twelves, and eight inch howitzers, which very arduous un- dertaking is now carrying on (o rapidly, that there is little doubt but it will be compleated and ready to open upon the enemy to-morrow morning. Great praife is due to the zeal and a6livity of General PhiUips, who has the direaion of this operation : he has as expeditioufly con- veyed cannon to the fummit of this hill, as he brought it up in that memorable battle i THROUGH AMERICA. 321 battle at Minden, where, it is faid, fuch was his anxioufnefs in expediting the artil- lery, that he fplit no lefs than fifteen canes in beating the horfes ; at which battle he fo gallantly diftinguifhed himfelf, by the management of his artillery, as totally to rout the French. I am happy to embrace tiie opportunity of fending this by a futler, who is return- ing down the lake to St. John's. Be afllred you fliall know every event of this import- ant fiege, by the firft conveyance that prc- fents itfelf. Adieu. h Yours, 6cc. i • \ •n'-! bMil n -» Vol. I. If LET- rrr- HJ 322 INTERIOR TRAVELS L E .T T L K XXXI. Camp at Skenejborought July 12, 1777. MY DEAR FRIEND, NO doubt, after fo much as I have repeatedly mentioned to you in my former letters relative to Ticonderoga, and the vigorous defence it was univerfally fuppofed the enemy would^, make, you will be greatly furprized to receive a letter from me, at fo great a di (lance beyond that important poft ; fully to explain to you the manner of the Americans abandoning it, and o\w progrcfs to this place, I mufl ]>rocej'.l a little methodically in my defcrip- tlon. After THROUGH AMERICA. 323 After we had gained pofTeflion of Sugar- Hill, on the 5th inftant, that very evening we obferved the enemy making great fires j it was then generally thought they were meditating an attack, or that they were retreating, which latter circumftance really was the cafe, for about day-break intelli- gence was brought to General Frafer, that the enemy were retiring, when the pic- quets were ordered to advance, which the brigades, as foon as they were accoutred, were to follow. #j?.i c,i They were foon ready, and marched down to the works ; when we came to the bridge of communication, we were obliged to halt till it was fufficiently repaired for the troops to pafs, as the enemy, in their abandoning the works, had deflroyed it, and had left four men, who were, upon the approach of our army, to have fired off the cannon of a large battery that defended it, Y 2 and ■am i 324 INTERIOR TRAVELS and retire as quick as poflible. No Aovibt this was their intention, as they left theii lighted matches clofe to the cannon. 1,1 r Had thefe men obeyed their inftru^lions, they would, fituatcd as our brigade was, have done great mifchief j but, allured by the fweets of plunder and liquor, inftcad of obeying their orders, we found them dead drunk by a cafk of Madeira. This battery, however, had, through the folly of an Indian, nearly been produdive of fatal confequences to the 9th regiment, for juft at the time it was paffing the bridge, as he was veiy curious in examining every thing that came in his way, he took up a match that lay on the ground, with fome fire ftill remaining in it, when a fpark dropping upon the priming of a cannon, it went off, loaded with all manner of com- buftibles, but it fortunately happened the gun was fo elevated, no mifchicf enfued. ^ . Shortly THROUGH AMERICA. 352 In a fliort time after the bridge was rendered paflable, our brigade crofled, and we advanced up to the picqueted fort, where the Britifh colours were inftantly hoifted. The Americans certainly had planned fome fcheme, which proved abor- tive, and which was left perhaps to the commilTion of thofe men who remained behind, for the ground was ftrewed all over with gunpowder, and there were likewife feveral cafks of it with the tops ftruck out. * ' r-'M i^M After we had remained fome little time in the fort, orders came for the advanced corps to march in purfuit of the enemy, who, we were informed, had gone to Hu- beiton, in order to harrafs their rear. We marched till one o'clock, in a very hot and fultry day, over a continued fucceifion of fteep and woody hills ; the diftance I can- not afcertain, but we were marching very Y 3 expc- i 326 INTERIOR TRAVLLS expeditioufly from four in the morning to that time. On our march we picked up feveral Aragglers, from whom General Frafer learnt that the rear-guard of the enemy was compofed of chofen men, commanded by a Colonel Francis, who was reckoned one of their beft officers. During the time the advanced corps halted to refrefh, General Reidefel came up, and after confulting with General Frafer;; and making arrangements for con- tinuing the purfuit, we marched forward again three miles nearer the enemy, to an advantageous fituation, where we lay that night on our arms. At three in the morning our march was renewed, and about five we came up with the enemy, who were bufily employed in cooking their provifions. Majo^ THROUGH AMERICA. 327 Major Grant, of the 24th regiment, who had the advanced guard, attacked their picquets, which were foon driven in to the main body. From this attack we lament the death of this very gallant and brave officer, who in all probability fell a victim to the great difadvantages we experience peculiai* to this unfortunate conteft, thofe oi the rifle-men. Upon his coming up with the enemy, he )t upon the flump of a tree to reconnoitie, and had hardly given the men orders to fire, when he was (truck by a rifle ball, fell ofl:' the tree, and never uttered another fy liable. ii "I, f I ./ I I -I H v\ K ■'rl tr^i^ IR l> I. The light infantry then formed, as well as the 24th regiment, the former of which fufFered very much from tl\e enemy's fire, particularly the companies of the 29th and 34th regiments. The grenadiers were or- dered to form to prevent the enemy's get- ting to the road that leads to Caftle-Town, which they were endeavouring to do, autl Y 4 were (1 t fl '■■ t '1 :i I' f ii ^».^'V, .0 "A^, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) k i^.^ / z. 1.0 I.I rii itt m •»». Ui^ Z US ■it IL25 III 1.4 1^ HiotQgraphic Sciences Corporation ^ \ V ^ •N? \ :\ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MStO (716) S72.4503 l/.A 328 INTERIOR TRAVELS were repulfed, upon which they attempted their retreat by a very fteep mountain to Pittsford. The grenadiers fcramblcd up an afcent which appeared almoft inaccef- fible, and gained the fummit of the moun- tain before them; tliis threw them into great confufion, and that you may form fome idea how ftecp the afcent muft have been, the men were obliged to fling their firelocks and climb lap the fide, fometimes refling their feet upon the branch of a tree, and fometimes on a piece of the rock ; had any been fo unfortunate as to have mifled his hold, he muil inevitably been dafhed to pieces. Although the grenadiers had gained the fummit of this mountain, and the Ameri- cans had loft great numbers of their men, with their brave commander Col. Francis, ftill they were far fuperior in numbers to the Britifh, and the conteft remained doubtful tin the arrival of the Germans, k i when THROUGH AMERICA. 329 when the Americans fled on all fides, whofe numbers amounted to ^000 ; they were oppofed only by 850 Britifh, as it was near two hours before the Germans made their appearance. :..-// siiii:>f,^vKiii 'Jib dylm s»(i ^nnnv.1 .'lOeneral Reidefel had come to the field of ^2u5tioa a confidcrable time before his troopis, . and in the.courfe of the a6liort paffing .b^ him, I <:ould not help feeling for his fituation, ' fpr the honor of a brave officer, who was pouring forth every imprecation againft his troops, for their not atriving at the place of a6lion time enough to earn the. glories of the day, r*ii;Upon th«r JarrivSrl, We were apprehen* five, by the noifewe heard, tliat a reinforce- ment had been fcnt back from the main body of the American army for the fup- port of their rear-guard, for they began finging pfalms on their advance, and at the fame time kept up an inccffant firing, *r*.rri ' which mm I, ■■ \ I*' ;3 ..tU % if i i't 33^ INTERIOJR TRAVELS '^jf^m- iOHHI ■imi^BB^M ■in -Mb '^H^H^^Di^HKSS ^ -wl I^^H pi ■v 1% which totally decided the fate of the day; but eveii after the aftion was over, there were lurking parties hovering about the woods.; £> Oiii t>'io-t'rJ n'lLxo. During the battle the Americans were guilty of fuch a breach of all military rules, as could not fail to exafperate our ibldiers.^ The action was chiefly in woods,, inter-4 fperfed with a few-open fields. Two com- panies of grenadiers, who were ftationed in the fkirts of the\v^ood, clofe to one of thefe fields, to watch that the enemy did not out-flank the 24th regiment, obferved a number of the Americans, to the amount of near fixty, coming acrofs the field, with their arms clubbed, which is always .con- fidered to be a furrender as prifoners of war. The grenadiers were refl:rained from firing, commanded to ftand with their armsi and fliew no intention of hoftility: when the Americans had got witliin ten yards^, they in an jnftant turned round ■ - ' their // THROUGHAMERICA. 331 their mufquets, fired upon the grenadiers, and run as faft as they could into the woods; their fire killed and wounded a great number of men, and thofe who efcaped immediately purfued them, and gave no quarter. c w . This war is very different to the laft: in Gerniany 5 in this the life of an indivi- dual is fought with as much avidity as the obtaining a vi6lory over an army of thoufands, of which the following is a melancholy inftance: '^^'*-^ 1- • » 1 ■ ' • - * After the a6lion was over, and all firing had ceafed for near two hours, upon the fummit of the mountain I have already defcribed, which had no ground any where that could command it, a number of offi- cers vvere colle6led to read the papers taken out of the pocket book of Colonel Fran- cis, when Captain Shrimpton, of the 6 2d regiment, who had the papers in his hand, jumped mM !* ' ' 33^ INTERIOR TRAVELS rl I', jumped up and fell, exclaimingv " he was <« feverely wounded;" wc all heard th^ ball whiz by us, and turning to the place frpm whence the repoi'tcaixie, faw the fmoke ; as there was every reafon tft ima^ gine the piece was fired from fome tree^ a party of men were inftantly detached, but cp^ld find no perfon, the fellow, no " doubti as fpon as he had firedj Jiad flipt dpwn.and niade his efcape. 3 About five o'clock in the afternoon, the grenadiers were ordered from the fum- mit of the mountain to join the light in- fantry a^d 24th regiment, on an advan- tageo»*s, fituatioti ; in our cpol moments, in defcending, evejy one was aftoniflied bow he had ever gained th^ fiftij;aaEiit.--.- For jny own part, it appeai*ed as if I fbould never reach the bottoms btit my dsfeont was greatly retarded by con^^utift- ing Major Ackland, who wgs wounded ui the-' thigh, Kpq '^ilf bmi cu. .■....>■. baqmiii In // , i THROUGH AMERICA. 333 ", in this a6lion I found all manual exer- cife is but an ornament, and the only obje6l of importance it can boaft of was that of loading, firing, and charging with bayonets: as to the former, the foldiers fhould be inftrufted in the beft and moft expeditious method. Here I cannot help obferving to you, whether it proceeded from an idea of felf prefervation, or natu- ral inflin6l, but the foldiers greatly im- proved the mode they were taught in, as to expedition, for as foon as they had primed their pieces, and put the cartridge into the barrel, inftead of ramming it down with their rods, they flruck the butt end of their piece upon the ground, and bringing it to the prefenty fired it off. The confufion of a man's ideas during the time of a6lion, brave as he may be, is undoubtedly great ; feveral of the men, upon examining their muikets, after all was over, found five or fix cartridges, v/hicli t'U' i\\\ ' I ' 'I \- I !'' ,' H, 334 INTERIOR TRAVELS which they were pofitive to the having difcharged. Deferring the remainder of the particu- lars of this afbion, with our march to this place, I remain Yours, &c. H m ^ ■ i 4 '-A LET- fl - THROUGH AMERICA. 335 LETTER XXXII. Camp at Skenejborough, July 14, 1777. MY DEAR FRIEND, TH E confufion of the enemy on their retreat was very great, as they were neither fenfible where they fled, nor by whom they were condu6led, after Colonel Francis was killed, when they took to the mountains. Exclufive of 200 men that wee killed, and near 600 wounded, many of whom died in endeavouring to get off, the lofs on our fide has been very inconfiderable. After the adion was over, a Colonel with the % I / '' »- , .ff. 4 ■ i' ^ 336 INTERIOR TRAVELS the remains of his regiment, to the amount of 230, came and ftirrcndered himfelf prifoner. i 4 - -if' '"'-fit - The advantages of the ground was wholly on the fide of the Americans, added to which the woods were fo thick, that little or no order could be obferved in ad- vancing upon the enemy, it being totally impofliblc to form a regular line j perfonal courage and intrepidity was therefore to fupply the place of military fkill and dif- cipline. The native bravery of our coun- trymen could not be more refolutely dif- played than in this a6lion, nor more effec- tually exerted. It was a trial of the a6li- vity, ftrength and valor of every man that fought. At the commencement of the a6lion the enemy were every where thrown into the greatelt confuiion, but being ral- lied by that brave officer. Colonel Francis, whofe death, though an enemy, will ever te regretted by thofe who can feel for the lofs THROUGH AMERICA. 337 lofs of a gallart and brave man, the fight was reacwed with the greateft degree of fiercenefs and obftinacy. Both parties en- gaged iii icpaiate detachments unconneded wi,th eacli other, and the numbers of the enemy empowered them to front flank and rear. Same of thefe detachments, notwith- ftanding an, inferiority, moft refolutely der fended themfelves, and the fate of the day was undecided till the arrival of the Ger* mans, who, though late, came in for a fhare of the glory, in difperfing the enemy in all quarters. , Having given you the particulai's of this engagement, permit me, as it is the firft I ever was in, to make my remarks in the time of confli6l. During the aclion, every apprehenfion and idea of danger forfakes the mind, which becomes more animated and determined the nearer the time of attack approaches. Vol. I. Z , Every / m Ir'^r ^.uj i'l:v1 u'' «■ " -'■ .. • •it ■.. f 33^ INTERIOR TRAVELS Every foldicr feels inrpired with an impa- tient ardor, as if he conceived the fate of the battle Would be decided by the level of his mulquct, or the point of his bayonet : but the conflift once over, the mind re- turns to its proper fenfe of feeling, and deeply moft its fenfibility be wounded, when the eye glances over the field of (laughter, where fo many brave fellows, \vho a few hours bef6i*e were in high fpirits and full of the vigor of life, are laid low in the duft, and the ear continually pierced with the deep fighs and groans of the wounded and dying. Even the joy rifmg in the bofom at the fight of furviving friends and brother officers, is faddened by the recollection of thofe who fell. Such, my dear friend, are the fenfations of the mind, before and after a battle. :*0*J ' That foldiers have many hair-breadth •efcapes, I am fure was never more fully verified h THROUGH AMERICA. 339 verified, than in regard to Lord Balcarres, who commands the light infantry ; he had near thirty balls ftiot through his jacket and trowfers, and yet only received a fmall graze on the hip. Others v/ere equally as unfortunate, for upon the very firfl attack of the light infantry, Lieutenant Haggit received a ball in each of his eyes, and Lieutenant Douglas, of the 29th regiment, as he was carried off the field wounded, received a ball dire6lly through his heait. Thefe extraordinaiy events may in fome meafure be accounted for, as the leaft refiftance of a mufquet ball will give it a diredlion almoft incredible : when the Surgeon came to examine the wound of a poor American, it appeared that the ball had entered on his left fide, and having travcrfed between the (kin and the back bone, came out on the oppofite lide. ^ '! :i i> W::\ ■? I i'^ Z2 When ;v!x1 •I'v^^feM 340 INTERIOR TRAVELS V/hen General Frafer had pofted the eor{)s in an advantageous ftate of defence, and made fome log works, as he expelled we fliould be attacked, . his next thoughts were, how to refrefh the men after the fa- tigues af the day, provifions being unable to be forwarded, on account of the coun^ tiy's beiftg vei7 hilly; a detachment was fent to flibot fome bullocks that were run- ning in tlie woods, thefe were diftributed in ratios to- the men, which they eat, drefled upon wood afhes, without either bread or fait. • Juft at this time chance fupplied the officers with a very acceptable, though lin- gular fubftitute for bread to their beef: an officer who was at Ticonderoga, by way of a joke, fent his brother a great quantity of gingerbread that was taken at that place, which he now diftributed among tlie officers, and as General Fraler fhared the V. fame THROUGH AMERICA. 341 fame as the men, he fent part of it to him as aprefent. We laid upon our arms all night, and tlie next morning fent back the prifoners to Ticonderoga, amounting to near 250. A very fmall detachment could be fpared to guard them, as General Frafer expe6led the enemy would have reinforcements from the main body of their army, and oppofe his crolling a wide creek, after we had pafTed Caftletown. He told the Colonel of the Americans, who had furrendered himfelf, to inform the reft of the prifoners, that if they attempted to efcape, no quarter would be Ihewn them, and that thofe who might elude the guard, the Indians would be fent in purfuit of, and fcalp them. Leaving the fick and wounded under the care of a fubaltern's guard, to protect them from the Indians, or fcouting parties of the enemy, the brigade marched to Z3 Caftle. ■ ;fr til 1|.! ■•r n I jiaj M- !' ■t)v'-.: . > 342 INTERIOR TRAVELS ti! Caftletown, where the men were recruited with fome frefh provifions and a gill of rum; after this they proceeded on their rnarch to the creek, to crofs over which the pioneers were obliged to fell fome trees -, only one man could pafs over at a time, fo that it was near dark before the whole of the brigade had crofied, when we had feven miles to march to this place. Major Shrimpton, who I told you was wounded upon the hill, rather than remain with the wounded at Hubeiton, preferred marching with the brigade, and on crofling this creek, having only one hand to aflift himfelf ^vith, was on the point of flip- ping in, had not an officer who was be- hind him caught hold of his cloaths, juft as he w^s falling. His wound was through his fhoulder, and as he could walk, he faid he would not remain to fall into the ene- my's hands, as it was univerfally thought the fick and wounded muft. Very fortu- nately. THROUGH AME^RK^A. 343 natcly, however, for them, they met with no moleflation, and three days after were conveyed in Utters to Ticonderoga, as the road was impafiable for any fort of car- After we had crofTed the creek. General Frafer was perfe6lly eafy in his mind con- cerning an attack, which he had been ap- prehenfive of the whole day, and gave orders to make the befl: of our way to this encampment, which was through a road where every ftep we took was nearly up to the knees. After a march of near thirty miles, in an excelTive woody and bad country, every moment in expeclation of being attacked, till we had croiTed the creek, you muft naturally fuppofc we underwent a moft fevere fatigue, both of mind and body. For, my own part, I readily own to you, that the exertions of the day had fo far Z4 wearied lliill 'III II 344 INTERIOR TRAVELS Ivearitfd me, that drinking heartily of rum and water, I laid down in my bear-flcin and blanket, and did not awake till twehe the next diy. But that I may not fatigue you as much as I then felt myfelf, or make you fall afleep, I fhall conclude with fubfcribing ., ; ' ' ■ •r>idw, i#^^|^f ^i^ grtiniso ^ :., , hitrr Yours, &C.r:>fb-|c| g-* e-f-<> > ii^Jim & ^ 13.1,1. •. • .V.7 ;i;j(;9 ,-Jli; Oi ,-:-iiu; .vi/Ou i>f-;.r. ' vr 1 LET- /lid . *r bRrf Yf;b ,Oii;r lo ?j}omri\ odl ..iBib ► V ir. J ' THROUGH AM ERIC Ak 345 i 1 v*«'>_^f j r^^ .i»ivv rri.. 2^^iOJL E-T T E R XXXIIl. C ■ il "31 i 1,1 s^ti i t!«ii; i«i^ h'\f- V (C ^hrnr^^a , ////<" , /u// ei > /^/f/tVi /u>t^<^/' u/tf>/t .^^r>r^ . 'y?im' :-T .J^^J«rfw., ) '■ u*/t ./'r>r/, 'y^t/t/' ^/y^/yA^hrf*^€^'^S^im/^4in^^ THROUGH AMERICA. 351 ing to comfort his fellow-fufFerers, in a blunt manner, exclaimed, " By heavens, <* my good lads, you need not think fo "much of being wounded, for by Jafus " God there's a bullet in the beam." ~r^^ As to the other part of the army, fome remaii^ed behind at Ticonderoga, fome em- ployed in bringing up th& i^atteaiix^ &c. but the whole are now affembled, and col- lected at this place. ■ •' From the various accounts we have been able to coilecl of the Americans^ rela- tive to their abandoning Ticonderoga, it feemed that upon our gaining polfeffion of Sugar-Hill, a poll which they were cer- tainly very negligent and imprudent in not fecuring, they were greatly difmayed, and feeing the preparations we were making to open a battery, which I before obferved had the command of all their works, they called a council of their principal officers, when ^ : ' , , ? ; li ^t>. I i '1 IP ■■' III ,IA,. "t !> 352 INTERIOR TRAVELS when it was pointed out to them) by Ge- neral Sinclair, wjio commanded the garri^ fon, that their force. was very deficient in numbers to man titeir worJks, and that it was impofiible . to make any efFeftual de- fence, obferving to them that places, how- ever ftrong, without a fufficient number of troops, mull furrender, and that in all pro- bability the place would be furrounded in lefs than four and twei^y howrs. In this fituation of affairs, the General f^w. the ruin of his army, and it was his opinion that the fort ought to be abandoned to fave the tropps ; that the baggage and artillery ftores were to be fent to Skenefborough by water, and the troops were to march by landj by the way of Huberton, to that place. Thefe propofals being fully approv- ed of by the council, was the reafon of their evacuating it that night, and hazard- ing the undertaking. General THROUGH AMERICA, 353 General Burgoyne forefeeing the great difficulties of conveying even provifions, fetting apart baggage, has iffued out the following orders ; " It is obferved, that the injun6lion given before the army took the field, re- lative to the baggage of officers, has not been^ complied with, and that the regi- ments in general are incumbered with much more baggage than they can pof- fibly be fupplied with means of convey- ing, when they quit the lake and rivers : warning is therefore given again to the officers, to convey by the batteaux which will foon return to Ticonderoga, the, baggage that is not indifpenfibly necef- fary to them, or upon the firft fudden movement, it muft inevitably be left on the ground. Such gentlemen as ferved in America laft war may remember, that the officers took up with foldiers tents, Vol. L a a " and \i ' * I ' i m\ \ \ i I III Ills. •• 354 INTERIOR TRAVELS ** and often confined their baggage to a " knapfack, for months together." Fortunately for me, my horfe has come fafe round the lakes, which will enable me to keep the little baggage I brought with me. W The Indians, animated with our fuc- cefs, hare acquired more confidence and courage, as great numbers have joined the army, and are daily continuing fo to do. Unexpe6led orders being juft given out, that Captain Gardner departs to-morrow for England, and having feveral more let- ters to write, I am obliged to leave you. Adieu. ^ Yours, &c. LET- THROUGH AMBRtCA. 35S LETTER XXXIV. Camp at $ketieJborough, July IJ, 1777 i MY DEAR FRIEND, YO U will no doubt be furprized, that in my account of the proceedings of the army, every circumftance of which feems to add glory and conqueft to the Britifh arms, that I never made mention of the favages, in our purfuit of the enemy from Ticonderoga ; they could not, in any refpe6l whatever, be drawn away from the plunder of that place, and I am afraid this is not the only inftance in which the Ge- neral has found their alliftance little more than a name. A a 2 Thofe ,ir r 1 '{' i 1. 'l' Mi f' ' ''I 1 . l..h { < vi\ I t *'%' 'H M',.' 35^ INTERIOR TRAVELS Thofewho have the management and condu6l of them are, from interefted mo- tives, obliged to indulge them in all their caprices and humors, and, like fpoiled children, are more unreafonable and im- portunate upon every new indulgence granted them: but there is no remedy; were they left to themfelves, they would be guilty of enormities too horrid to think of, for guilty and innocent, women and infants, would be their common prey. This is too much the cafe of the lower Canadian Indians, which are the only ones who have joined our army ; but we under- ftand, within two days march, the Outawal, and feme remoter nations, are on the road to join us, more brave, and more tra6table, who profefs war, and not pillage. They are under the direction of a Monjieur Sf, LuCy and one Langdale^ both of whom were great partizans of the French laft war ; . the latter was the perfon who planned and ^ executed. THROUGH AMERICA. 357 executed, with the nations he is now efcorting, the defeat of General Braddock. If thefe Indians correfpond with the chara(5ler given of them, fpme good may be derived from their afliftance ; little is to be expe6led from thofe with the army at prefent, but plundering. As I hinted to you in a former letter, the General's manifefto has not had the defired efFe6t, as intelligence is brought in that the committees are ufmg their utmofl endeavors to countera6b it, by watching and imprifoning all perfons they fufpe£l, com- pelling the people to take arms, to drive their cattle and burn their corn, under the penalty of immediate death ; and, forry am I to add, that numbers of well-difpofed perfons to the fuccefs of our arms, have already undergone that fate ! Hiflory, I think, cannot furnifh an inftance, where a war was ever carried on with fo much A a 3 rancor. ''•11 1 r'^-^^ I ' t' ;!'; ,4' •! 1 ■ ".:. !: '?*:.nft lAi ■ ' , 1 !" 358 INTERIOR TRAVELS rancor, not only with thofe who feem in- cUned to oppofc them, but equally to thofe who would remain neuter. Numbers h^ve joined the army fince we ^ have penetrated into thijs place, profefTmg themfelves loyalifts, wifhing to ferve, fame to the end of the war, fome only the cam^ paign, a third part of the number have aims, and till arms arrive for the remain- der, they are employed in clearing the roads and repairing the bridges, in which the Americans are very expert. We are obliged to wait fome time in our prefent pofition, till the roads are cleared of the trees which the Americans felled after their retreat. You would think it almoft imppflible, but every ten or twelve yards great trees are laid acrofs the road, exclufive of fmaller ones, efpecially when it is confidered what a hafty retreat they made of it. Repairing the bridges is a work Hffl THROUGH AMERICA. 359 work of fome labor, added to which, a flock of provifions muft be brought up previous to our inarching to Fort Edwaid. We lie under many difadvantages in profecuting this war, from the impediments I have ftated, and we cannot follow this great mi- litary maxim, " in good fuccefs pu(h the " advantage as far as you can." While this part of the army is thus em- ployed, the remainder ai'e conveying the gun-boats, batteaux and provifion vefTels into Lake George, to fcour that lake, and fecure the future route of our magazines ; when that force is ready to move down the lake, the army will proceed to pofTefs Fort Edward, by which means the enemy, if they do not abandon Fort George, muft inevitably be caught, as they will be en- clofed by the two armies,. During tliefe movements General Reidefel is to make a diverfion into Connecticut, and reconnoitre the country, and by that feint to draw the A a 4 attention I., .,'i|'l™ii It ■ i'A ^' : a. :-/-| '■.< .5i mm ii I ii 1 ) ■ : 1 ' I i i;mi .■ Mi t I iil'' ■m i!iitf.;x- 360 INTERIOR TRAVELS attention of the Americans to almoft every quarter. Our fuccelTes, no doubt, muft have ope- rated ftrongly on the minds of the enemy, and they will be equally as anxious to adopt meafures for flopping the progrefs of our army, as to prevent the imminent danger the northern colonies are expofed to. On Sunday laft a thankfgiving fermon was preached, for the fuccefs of our arms, after which there was 2ifeu de joie fired by the whole army, with artillery and fmall arms; the fermon was preached by the clergyman whom I have made mention of, and an exceeding good one it was, for a parifh church, but not in the leafl appli- cable to the occafion. By the beft intelligence that can be gain-^ ed, we are informed, that General Schuy*. ler is at Fort Edward, colle6ling the militia from THROUGH AMERICA. 361 from the adjacent countries, which, with the remains of their broken army, is to form a fufficient body for making a fland at this place. Their {battered army have fufFered incredible hardfhips from the want of provifions, and the neceflaries to cover them, from the incefTant rains that have fell of late, as they were compelled to make a week's circuit through the woods, before they could reach Fort Edward, in order to avoid the various ftrong detachments that we had in different parts, on the Connec- ticut fide. I omitted to mention to you, that your old friend Capt^n H — , was wounded at the battle of Huberton, early in the a6lion, when the grenadiers formed to fupport the light infantry. I could not pafs by him as he lay under a tree, where he had fcrambled upon his hands and knees, to prote6t him from the fcattering ihot, without going up to fee what afliftance could be afforded him, and ii' ! V •*(! :ii'-''):^ .1 ■*: In' if ) 'I ■" , 362 IKTERIOR TRAVELS and Icain if he was feverely wounded. You who know his ready turn for wit, will not be furpiized to hear, though in extreme agony, that with an arch look, and clap- ping his hand behind him, he told me, if I wanted to be fatisfied, I muft a(k that, as the ball had entered at his hip, and paf- fed through a certain part adjoining : he is now at Ticondcroga, and, from the laft ac- count, is recovering faft. We march to-morrow, and on our ar- rival at Fort Edward you may depend upon hearing from. Yours, &c. LET- THROUGH AMERICA. 363 LETTER XXXV. m m m m I I 7, Camp at Fort EJ-ward, Augujid, 1777. MY DEAR FRIEND, T T r E are arrived at this place, in which ^^ it was thought the enemy would have made a ftand, but upon intelligence of our advancing, they precipitately aban- doned it, as they did the garrifon of Ticon- deroga. Very fortunately for the garrifon of Fort George, they had paffed this place about an hour before our arrival j had they Deen that much later, they muft have been inevitably cut off. The i : It 564 INTERIOR TRAVELS The country between our late encamp- ment at Skenelborough and this place, was a continuation of woods and creeks, inter- iperfed with deep morafles ; and to add to thefe natural impediments, the enemy had veiy induftrioufly augmented them, by felling immenfe trees, and various other modes, that it was with the utmoll pains and fatigue we could work our way through them. Exclufive of thefe, the watery grounds and marflies were fo numerous, that we were under the neceflity of con- ftru6ling no lefs than forty bridges to pafs them, and over one morafs there was a bridge of near two miles in length. In our march through this w41dernefs, as it may with propriety be called, we met with very little difficulty from the Ame- ricans. They fometimes, when our people were removing the obftructions we had continually to encounter, would attack them, but as they were only ftraggling parties THROUGH AMERICA. 365 parties, they were eafily repulfed. The diftance from our late encampment to this place was fmall, but the many obftacles the enemy had thrown in our way, made it a matter of aftonifhment, confidering the laborious march we had undergone, that we Ihould arrive fo foon. On our way, we marched acrofs the Pine-plains, which derive their name from an extenfive fpace of level country, on which grows nothing but very lofty pine- trees. On thefe plains we frequently met with the enemy's encampment, and about the center of them, upon fome riling ground, there were exceeding ftrong works, defended by an immenfe abbatis, where it was thought they would wait our approach. But this polition was not fuited to the Americans, for if their lines were forced, their rear was an open extent of country. It is a general obfervation, that they never make a iland but upon an eminence, al- mofl i,- ■;i 1 ! 366 INTERIOR TRAVELS moil inacceflible, and a wood to cover their retreat. At this encampment the e^pe6led In- dians have joined us j they feem to poflefs more bravery, and much more humanity, than thofe who accompanied us acrofs Lake Champlain, as the following little anecdote will convince you : . A few days fince feveral of them fell in with a fcouting party of the Americans^ ahd after a little fkirmifti, the enemy fled to their batteaux^ and rowed acrofs the river. The Indians fired ?t, but could not reach them, and being greatly exafperated at their making their efcape, perceiving a hog-trough, they put their fire-arms into it, flripped and fwam acrofs the river, pufh- ing the hog-trough before them. The Indians gained the fhore lower down than the Americans, furprized and took them ' .^ prifonersi , 4 TH ROUGH AMERICA. 367 prifotiers, and brought them back in the batteaux acrofs the river ^iun mm t^ One of the Americans, a v^ry brave felloWi was wounded in the fkirmilh, and unable to walk, when the Indians brought him upon their backs for neat three miles, with as much care and attention as if he had been one of their own people* '-^-^ni -^ As the Indians approached the camp, we were all apprized of their brining in fome prifoners, by their fetting up the war hoop -, but every one was aftonifhed,^ and asf equally pleafed at their humanity, in beholding an Indian bringing on his back the chief of the party. He was taken before General Frafer, but would give no anfwer to any queftion, and be- haved in the moft undaunted manner. Th^ General imagining that by fliewing him attention he might gain fome information from him, ordered him fome refreshment^ and 1 ^'^ ■ ' 'i U', I 1 I'S ill I'll \h 368 INTERIOR TRAVELS and when the Surgeon had examined his wound, told him he muft immediately undergo an amputation, which being per- formed, he was requefted to keep himfelf ftill and quiet, or a locked jaw would ine- vitably enfue ; to this he replied with great firmnefs, " then Ifhall have the pleafure " of dying in a good caufe, that of gaining " independence to the American Colonies »'*' I mention this circumftance, to Ihew how chearfuUy fome of them will facrifice their lives in purfuit of this favorite idol. Such was the man*s reftlefs difpofition, that he a6lually died the next morning. This death was generally regretted, as one among the very few who a6l from prin- ciple ^ had he furvived, a different ftate- ment of the cafe might have rendered him as ftrenuous a loyalift, as great a hero, as he was a ftubborn rebel. To thofe who have been averfe to our employing Indians, a melancholy inftance was THROUGH AMERICA. 369 was lately afforded, that will affefh fharpen their arguments againft the maxim, and as the matterwill certainly be greatly exag- gerated, when the accounts of it arrive in England, I fhall relate to you the circum- fiance, as it really happened, and clearly point out the misfortune not to be the effect of their natural barbarity, but a difputed point of war. h '- '^f A young lady, whofe parents beiilg well affe6ted to Government, had abandoned their habitation to avoid the ill treat- ment of the Americans, and left their child alone in it, who, upon the approach of our army, was determined to leave her father's houfe and join it, as a young man, to whom fhe was on the point of being married, was an officer in the pro- vincial troops. Some Indians, who were out upon a fcout, by chance met with her in the woods -, they at firft treated her with every mark of civility they are capable of, » Vol. I. B b and , ;-h" . I ii"^ iNTERIOR TRAVELS and were conducing her into camp j when within a mile of it, a difpute arofe between the two Indians, whofe prifoner fhe was, and words growing very high, one of them, who w^ feai'ful of lofmg the reward for bringing her fafe into camp, moft inhu- manly ftruck his tomahawk into her Ikull, and ihe inftantly expired. The fituation of the General, whofe hu- manity was much fliocked at fuch an in- fiance of barbarity, was very diftrefling and critical 5 for however inclined he might be to puniQi the offender, ftill it was hazard- ing the revenge of the Indians, whofe friendfhip h€ had to court, rather than to feek their enmity. . The Chief of the tribe to which the In- dian belonged, readily eonfented to his being delivered up to the General, to a6t with him as he thought proper j but at the fame time ^id, it was the rules of their war^ THROUGH AMERICA. 37^ war, that iif two of them at the fame in- ftant feized a prifoner, and feemed to have an equal claimj in cafe any difpute arofe between them, they foon decided the con- teft, for the unhappy caufe was furc to become a vi6lini to their contention; Thus fell a pc5or unfortunate young lady, whofe death niuft be univerfally lamented. I am afraid you will accufc me of great apathy^ and conclude the fcenes of war to have hardened my feelings, wheri I fay, that this circumftance, put in com-^ petition with all the horrors attendant on this unfortunate contefl, and which, in all probability, arc likely to increafc hourly, is but of little momenti 1. f V^liiil! The General fnewed great refentment io the Indians upon this occafion, and laid reftraints upon their difpofitions to commit other enormities. He was the more exaf- B b 2 peratcd, n^ INTLRIOR TRAVELS perated, as they were Indians of the remoter tribes who had been guihy of this offence, and whom he had been taught to look upon as more warlike. I believe, however, he has found equal depravity of principle reigns throughout the whole of them, and the only pre-eminence of the remoter tribes confifts in their ferocity. From this time there was an apparent change in their tempers j their ill humor and mutinous difpofition ftrongly mani- fefted itfelf, when they found the plunder of the country was controuled; their inter- preters, who had a douceur in the rapacity, being likewife debarred from thofe emolu- ments, were profligate enough to promote diflention, defertion and revolt. In this inftance, however, Monficiir St, Luc is to be acquitted of thefe fia6lions, though I believe he was but too fenfible of their THROUGH AMERICA. 373 their pining after the accuftomed horrors, and that they were become as impatient of his controul as of all other: however, thro' the pride and iritereft of authority, and at the fame time the affedtionate love he bore to his old aflbciates, he was induced to Cover the real caufe under frivolous pre- tences of complaint. Mir''* 1.',' '\ 1. ''■'¥ IT I ¥ '!f^ On the 4th inftant, at the prefllng in- ftance of the above gentleman, a council was called, when, to the General's great aftonilhment, thofe nations he had the direction of, declared their intention of re- turning home, at the fame time demanding the General to concur with and aflift them. This event was extremely embarrafling, as it was giving up part of the force which had been obtained at a great expence to Government, and from whofe ailiftance fo much was looked for : on the other hand, if a cordial reconciliation was made with them, it muft be by an indulgence in all B b 3 their m 1 ,i 'i-' 74 INTERIOR TRAVELS their excefies of blood and rapine. Never- thelefs the General was to give an imme- diate anfw^cr ; he firmly refufed their pro- pofal, infilled upon their adherence to the reflraints that had been eftablifhed, and at the fame time, in a temperate manner, reprefcnted to them their ties of faith, of generofity and honor, adding many other perfuafive arguments, to encourage them in continuing their fervices. This anfwer feemed to have fome v^eight with them, as many of the tribes neareft home only begged, that fome pait of them might be permitted to return to their har- veft, which was granted. Some of the re- mote tribes feemed to retra6l from their propofal, profeiTmg great zeal for the fer- vice. Notwithftanding this, to the aftonifli- ment of the General, and every one be- longing to the army, the defertion took place THROUGH AMERICA. 375 place the next day, when they went away by fcores, loaded with fuch plunder as they had colle6led, and have continued to do fo daily, till fcarce one of thofe that joined us at Skenefborough is left. It is with great pleafure I acquaint you that Major Ackland is fo far recovered, as to afTume his command of the grenadiers 5 he arrived at the camp yefterday, accom- panied by the amiable Lady Harriet, who, in the opening of the campaign, was re- ftrained, by the pofitive injunftion of her hufband, from {haring the fatigue and hazard that was expedled before Ticonde- roga. But flie no fooner heard that the Major was wounded, than (he crofled Lake Champlain to join him, determined to fol- lov/ his fortunes tlie remainder of the cam- paign. That your partner in the connubial ftate, fliould you be induced to change B b 4 your '.It :■ i i. ii« i > 37^ IN TERIOR TRAVELS your fituation, may prove as affe6lionatc, and evince as tender an anxiety for your vvrelfare, as Lady Harriet, on all occafions fliews for that of the Major, is the ardent wifli of Yours, &c. LET- THROUGH AMERICA. 377 LETTER XXXVI. Camp at Fort Edward t Aug. 8, 1777. A MY DEAR FRIEND, ..'»•♦ s r»r»- "1 T fE ftill remain at this encampment, ^ ^ till provifions are brought up to • enable us to move forward, and notwith- - (landing thefe delays in our convoys and ftores, it will certainly be thought we remain too long for an army whofe bufmefs is to a6l ofFenfively, and whofe firft motion, ac- cording to the maxims of war, fhould con- tribute, as foon as poflible, to the execution of the intended expedition. kiWu I know ■'t 111 ii J ;li -i Ul J m i,r1'k:i i^ 378 .INTER lOll TRAVELS I know it will be the general obferv?tion in England, that we ought, after we had penetrated thus far, to have made our way to Albany by rapid marches, it being no more than fifty fniles diilant from this place. In this inflance it is to be confi- dered, how the troops are to pafs two great rivers, the Hudfon and the Mohawk, with- out batteaux'y to form a bridge, or water- raft, to convey large bodies at once, even admittuig the contrivance of a bridge of rafts to pafs the Hudfon, and truft to chance for the paliage of the Mohawk^ or in cafe of a dififppointment, recoarfe tb be had to the fords at Sck^necfady, which' ai*e fifteen miles from the mouth of the river, and are fordable, except after heavy rains : removing all thefe impediments, for a rapid march the foldier muil of courfe be exempted from all perfonal incumbrances, and reprefented as juil marching from a parade in England, for nothing can be more repugnant to the ideas of a rapid - . march. THROUGH AMERICA. 379 march, than the load a foldier generally carries during a campaign, confifting of a knapfack, a blanket, a haverfack that con- tains his provifion, a canteen for water, a hatchet, and a proportion of the equipage belonging to his tent 5 thefe articles, (and for fuch a march there cannot be lefs than four days provifion) added to his accoutre- ments, arms, and fixty rounds of ammu- nition, make an enorpious bulk, weighing about fixty pounds . As the Germans mufl: be included in this rapid march, let me point out the incumbrance they are loaded with, exclufive of what I have already de- fcribed, efpecially their grenadiers, who have, in addition, a cap with a very heavy brafs front, a fword of an enormous fize, a canteen that cannot hold lefs than a gal- lon, and their coats very long ikirted. Pic- ture to yourfelf a man in this fituation, and how extremely well calculated he is for a rapid march. »: ■ k I ■! f ill i' '4 38o INTERIOR TRAVELS It may be urged, that the men might be relieved from a confiderable part of this burthen, and that they might march free from knapfacks and camp equipage, being divelled of which, they might have carried more proviiion. Admitting this it would not remedy the evil, it being with great dif- ficulty you can prevail on a common foldier to hufband his provifion, in any exigency whatever. Even in a fettled camp, a young foldier has very ihort fare on the fourth day after he receives his provifion ; and on a march, in bad weather and bad roads, when theweary foot (lips back at every ftep, and a curfe is provoked by the enormous weight that retards him, it muft be a veiy patient veteran, who has experienced much fcarcity and hunger, that is not tempted to throw the whole contents of his haver- iack into the mire, inflances of which I iaw on feveral of our marches. When they thought they Ihould get frefli provi- fion THROUGH AMERICA. 38 I fion at the next encampment, and that only when they were loaded with four days pro- vilion : the foldiers reafon in this manner: the load is a grievous incumbrance — want but a little way off— and. I have often heard them exclaim, " Damn the provifions, we " fhall get more at the next ent:ampment ; " the General won't let his foldiers flarve." Confillent with the idea of rapidity, it is neceflary to carry forward more provi- fion than for bare fuftenance during the nia :h, or how were the men to fubfift w V they arrived at Albany, where the Americans will certainly make a (land ? but even fuppofmg they fhould not, they will of courfe drive off all the cattle, anddeflroy the corn and corn-mills ; this can only be effected by carts, which could not keep pace with the army, there being only one road from Albany for wheel-carriage, and in many places there are deep and wide gullies. % m '%m\ \-\ i ) 1 1 , i f vi 382 INTERIOR TRAVELS guliies, where the bridges are broken, and muft neceflarily be repaired. This road is bounded on one fide by the river, and on the other by perpendicular afcents, covered with wood, where the enemy might not only greatly annoy, but where, in one night, they could throw impediments in our way, that would take nearly the whole of the next day to removej therefore every idea of conveying more provifion than tjie men could carr}- on their backs muft ceafe^ as the time and labor in removing thefe obftrudions, and making new roads for the carts to pafs, before they could reach the army, would inevitably be the caufe of a famine, or the army muft retreat. All notion of aitillery is totally laid afide, as in the prefent ftate of the roads, not the fmalleft ammunition tumbril could be car- ried with the anuv4 There are many who may be led away witli the ideas ot" a rapid march, and fay that THROUGH AMERICAr 385 tliat aitilleiy is ufclefs y butithey can only form their opinion from? the warmth of their wiihes. It is impofllble to judge, or form an opinion, unlefs upon the fpot, for, fpeaking within compafs, there are not lefs than, a dozen ftrong paffes, fetting afide the palTage of the Mohawk -, where, if ftrengthened with abbatis, which the Americans are expert in making, as they never encamped a fmgle night without throwing up works of this fort in a few hours, five hundred of their miUtia would ilop, for a time, ten times their number of the braveft: troops in the world, who had not artillery to affift them. * Mil -V'f: ' ,t ii^S Having' ftatcd thefe objeflions to the principles and practicability of a rapid march, you cannot but be fully convinced how necefl'aiy it is to advance with a fuffi- cient fupply of ftores, both of artillery and provi^onsj and > in order to gain a great fupply il 1 i 1 ' .•"■ 1 ^ I i V'i in t 384 INTERIOR TRAVELS fupply of the latter, as well as to provide fome teams and oxen, a detachment is going to Bennington, to furprize a magazine of • the enemy's, which will enable the army tO|» proceed witliout delay, and its Commander to profecute the obje6l of his expedition. Certainly the fitiiation of the General is extremely tiying, however zealoufly he is inclined, and anxious in compleating the objedt of his command. For one hour that he can devote in contemplating how to fight his army, he mull allot twenty to contrive how to feed it ! This inconve- nience the enemy have not to encounter, as their army is fpeedily and regularly fup- plied witli every thing, by means of their navigable rivers, which communicate from province to province. An American Ge- neral has only to teach his men to fight, (that's a pretty difficult talk you'll fay) he is never at a lofs how to feed them. It THROUGH AMERICA. 385 It is, from the various circumftances I have ftated, greatly to be wifhed, that the minds of fome men were more open to convidion, to form their opinions with tlie greater UberaUty of fentiment. A few days fince I went from this to Fort George, relative to fome artillery Hores, at which place I had an opportu- nity of feeing Lake George, which, altho' confiderably fmaller than Lake Champlairij in my opinion exceeds it far in point of beauty and diverfity of fcene. About the center of the lake there are two iflands, on the largeft of which, called Diamond Ifland, are encamped two compa- nies of the 47th regiment, under the com- mand of Captain Aubrey, for the purpofe of forwarding the provifions acrofs the lake. This ifland, as well as the one that is clofe to it, formerly was fo over-run with rattle- fnakes, that perfons when they pafTed Vol. L C c the ; w ^ I i i i I 386 INTERIOR TRAVELS the lake feldom or ever ventured on them. A hatteaux in failing up it, overiet near Diamond Ifland, and among other things it contained feveral hogs, which fwam to the fhore, as did the Canadians who were rowing it up : the latter, in apprehenfion of the ratde-fnakes, climbed up trees for the night, and the next morning obferving a batte^uxy they hailed the people in it, who took them in and conveyed them to Fort George. Some time after the man who owned the hogs, being unwilling to lofe them, return- ed down the lake, and with fome comrades ventured a fearch. After traverfing the ifland a confiderable time, they at laft found them, but fo prodigioufly fat, that they could fcarcely move, and in their fearch only met with one rattle-fnake, which greatly furprized them, as the ifland was reported to abound. Their wonder, how ever, was not of long duration, for being Ihort THROUOH AMERICA. 387 fhort of proviKions, they killed one of the hogs, the flomach of which was filled with rattle-fnakes, and from this circumflance it was natural to conclude the hogs had de« voured them fmce their landing. This was related to me by a perfon on whofe veracity I can depend, and feveral of the inhabitants have informed me iince> that if a hog happens to meet a rattle- fnake, it will immediately attack and de« vourit. ". I As I am on the fubje6l of rattle-fnakes, and this country greatly abounding with them, permit me to defcribe to you thofe reptiles, which I am the better enabled to do, having feen one killed yefterday. It was about a yard long, and about three inches in circumference, in its thickeft part; it had feven rattles at the end of its tsdl, and according to the number of thefe C c 2 rattles. I I. ( ,;' i f \ i , • ' 1; u ;^' ii .'■■P.K '-^ i.i 388 INTERIOR TRAVELS rattles, its age is afcertained, every year producing an additional one, fixed by* a i'mall ligament within the other, and being JioUow, the quick motion of the tail occafions a noile fo peculiar to itfelf, that I cannot mention any thing fim'lar to it. The fcales of thefe rattle-fnakes are of vlariegated colors, arid extremely beautiful, the head i^ fmall, with a very quick and piercing eye; their flelh, notwithftanding the venom they are pollelied of, is very de- licious, far fuperior to that of an eel, and produces a very rich foup. The bite of thefe reptiles is certain death, unlefs proper remedies ai*e applied. Pro- vidence has been fo attentive to our prefer- vation (a pretty remark you'll fay this, to come from a foldier, who is contributing daily his afliftance to the deftroying and maiming hundreds), that near to where thefe reptiles refort, there grows a plant, with a large broad leaf, called plaintahiy which ni THROUGH AMERICA. 389 which being bruifed and applied to the wound, is a fure antidote to the ill efFeflti of its venom. The virtues of this plant werc difcovered by a negro in Virginia, for which he obtained hii liberty ^d a penfion for life. ■'■ This difcovcry, like many others equally furprizing, was the mere cfFc6t of chance. This poor negro having been bit by one of thefe fnakes, in the leg, it fwelled in an inftant to fuch a degree, that he was un- able to walk J lying down on the grafs in great anguifli, he gathered fome of this plant, and chewing it, applied it to the wound, imagining it would cool the in- flammation; this giving him inftant re- lief, he renewed the application feveral times, and the iWelling abated, fo as to enable him to walk home to his mafter's pljantationj after repeating the fame for the fpace of two or three days, he was perfectly recovered. Co 3 But ;l s% I 1 'i' 390 INTERIOR TRAVELS But however furrounded I may be with venomous reptiles, the clank of arms, and horrors of war, reft affured that neither diflance, time, nor place, can erafe the idea of friendfhip, nor the fweet thoughts of what is left behind ever be lefTened in the breaft of Yours, &c. ■ ■ • . I ! 1 LET- THROUGH AMERICA. 39^ LETTER XXXVII. Camp at Batten Kill, Anguji 24, 1 777. ■'J MY DEAR FRIEND, IT is with the utmofl: concern I tell you • the expedition to Bennington has fail- ed, and great numbers made prifoners: This no doubt will be a matter of great exultation to the Americans, and divefl: them of thofe fears they had entertained of the German troops, efpecially as they have been defeated by a fet of raw militia. In this enterprize the General left nothing for chance to do, but planned ^ti^ thing his wifdom could fuggefl to effeft it, and the projeft would have ailwered many C c 4 defirable i i M!i m^ I' II ..,( ' I'M ! :«••; , •''ilf: ill r 392 INTERIOR TRAVELS defirable ends, had the execution of it proved as fortunate as the plan was judi- cious. In fome former letter I laid much ftrefs againft a rapid movement, and endeavored to point out to you the total impradticabi- lity of it. I need only add another argu- ment to imprefs you fully with the fame fentiments. The army could no more proceed without hofpital ftores, than it could without provifions, for depend ujpon it, the General who carries troops into fire, without precautions to alleviate the certain confequences, is fure to alienate their af- fe6tions, and damp their ardor ; it is ex- a6ling more than human fpirit is able to fuftain. It is not neceflary for you to be accuflomed to fields of battle, to be con- vinced of truth J let your mind only refl for a moment on the objefls that prefent themfelves after an aftion, and then re- fle^l, there is not a mattrafs for broken . bones^ THROUGH AMERICA. 393 bones, nor a cordial for agony and faint- nefs. Thofe whofe ideas are continually marching with a much greater rapidity than ever an army did, fuppofe no oppo- iitiorii and no fuffering from wounds. The many helplefs and in agonies, who muft be cruelly abandoned (fuppofing the reft could be prevailed on to abandon thofc whofe cafe might the "next day be their dwn) make no corifideration with men of precipitate imagination. I fhall clofe this fubje^fc #ith 'obferving, that in my opi- nion ^^ a General is refponfible to God and his country for the armies he condu6ls, and that he cannot eafily overlook thefe obje6ls ; however anxious he may be, he muft be patient till a few hundred beds, and a proper proportion of medicine and chirurgical materials, can be brought up for troops that are to fight as well as march. iiliU- . jiJ^JtU u r i? .* . r > 1' Vi\ l- i I i n- 'if i 394 INTERIOR TRAVELS In order to take advantage of the fuc- cefs that was expe6bed from the expedition to Bennington, the army moved to the e^jft fide of Hudfon's river, and on the 14th, abridge of rafts was conftrufted, over which the advanced corps pafled, and encamped on the heights at Saratpga. I *, Whatever was the caufe of the failure ^ of the expedition to Bennington, of whicl^ many appear, the principal one feems to have been the delay of the reinforcement that was fent to fupport the firft detatch* ment, which was from eight o*clock in the morning to four o'clock in the after- noon of next day, marching two and twenty miles j the advanced corps, not only at the time the Germans were fent, but at the failure of it, felt themfelves much hurt, thinking it was a duty they ought to have been employed on, and it was not till after its failure, that impreflion was erafed i'l'fi' THROUGH AMERICA. 395 erafed from their minds, by being inform- ed they were referved for more important fervices J for in cafe that expedition had proved fuccefstul, the advanced corps were to have pu(he4 forward to ;the heights of Still -Water, and intrenched there till the army and provifions could have joined ; by this means tlie whole country on the weft fide of the river to the banks of the Mohawk^ would have been in our pofleffioiv " . i \;i, 7/ • ^M ufin i Afewd&ys after we had encampjcd atf the heights of Saratoga, the bridge of rafts was carried away by the torrents occafion-^ ed by the late heavy fall of rain, and our communication cut off from the mdn body. If the enemy after the late fuccefles, in our preient dtuation, had been induced to attack us, the General would have found himfelf in a very bad pofition, and un- able to take a better, as the advance4 corps could not be fupported by the lin,e \ the irf « 'A ■:• :p I ' . I i . If-' M ■f^ i 396 INTERIOR TRAVELS the only means of retreat would have been under the cover of our aitilleiry, therefore our corps were recalled, after the a^lion at Bennington, arid were obliged to -crofs the river in boats and feowls, and takfe \ip our old encampment at this place. - - • ' The Mohawk nation, which are^ called Sir William Johnfon's Indians; as having thdr village near his plantation, and who, in his life-time, was continually athbhgft tliem, were driven from their village by the Americans, and have joiried- our army: they have come with their Jquawsi'th^Adixxi, cattle, horfes and fhecp, and are encamped at the creek from whence this plade takes its name; when the anrty crbfe tire river/ the fquaws and children are tb go to Cia- nada, and the men to reniaiti.' •' ' ' ' •^ *» " t J.fii>'f''Vt Upon their arrival I vifited 4liism at their encampment^ and had ah o^portii- nity of obferving the mode they adopt in V - training THROUGH AMERICA* 397 training tip their children. They are in a manner amphibious 5 there were feveral of the men bathing in the creek j and a number of little children, the eldeft could not be more that fix years old, and thefe little creatures had got into the middle of the creek upon planks, which they pad- dled along, fometimes fitting, then (land- ing on them, and if they overbalance the plank, and flip off with a dexterity almoft incredible, they get on it again ; as to div- ing, they will keep a confiderable time under water, nearly two or three minutes. I!! (■ i -■i(! it The mode of confining their young infants, is by binding them flat on their backs to a board, and as they are fwad- dled up to their head, it makes them re- femble living mummies ; this method of binding their young, I am led to imagine, is the caufe of that perfe6l fymmetry among tlie men. A deformed Indian is rare to be met with j tlie women would Fpjfiw be I' II il M'-Ii li; i ill 39^ INTERIOR TRAVELa be equally as peffe6t, but as tbeygrow up, they acquire a habit, it being^eehied an ornament, of fo turning in the feet, that their toes almoft meet; the fqtM'uosi after the have fuckled their infants, if they fall afleep, lay them on the ground, if not they hang the board they are fwaddled to on the branch of a tree, and fwing them till they do 5 upon a march, they tie thefe boards, with their infants, on their backs* » . .!> •' As the river is fubjcft to continual tor- rents and increafe of water, a bridge of boats is now conftru6ling, to preferve a communication with both fides of the river, which when compleated, the advanced corps are to pafs over, and encamp at Saratoga. I am interrupted by the cries of fome Indians who are fetting up the war whoop, on their bringing in prifoners. - i When THROUGH AMERICA. 399 When they arrive, as they imagine, in hearing of the camp, they fet up the war whoop, as many times as they have htam- ber of prifoncrs. It is difficult to defcribe it to you, and the beft idea that I can con- vey is, that it confifts in the (bund of wboo, whooy whoop ! which is continued till the breath is almoft exhaufted, and then broke off with a fudden elevation of voice ; fome of them modulate it into notes, by placing the hand before the mouth, but both are heard at a great diftance. ,.ij ft -^ - - f Whenever they fcalp, they feize the head of the difabled or dead enemy, and placing one of their feet on the neck, twift their left hand in the hair, by which means they extend the Ikin that covers the top of the head, and with the other hand draw their fcalping knife from their breaft, which is always kept in good order, for this cruel purpofe, a few dextrous ftrokes of which takes off the part that is termed the fcalp; w M \ t ,H'' ' ll "18 ^1 A Ji 400 INTERIOR TRAVELS fcalp J they arc fo exceedingly expeditious in doing this, that it fcarcely exceeds a minute. If the hair is (hort, and they have no purchafe with their hand, they floop, and with their teeth ftrip it off; when they have performed this part of their martial virtue, as foon as time permits, they tie with bark or deer's fmews their fpeaking trophies of blood in a fmall hoop, to pre- ferve it from putrefadlion, painting part of the fcalp and the hoop all round with red. Thefe they preferve as monuments of their prowefs, and at the fame time as proofs of the vengeance they have inflicted on their enemies. At one of the Indian encampments, I faw feveral fcalps hanging upon poles, in front of their wigwams-, one of them had remaikably fine long hair hanging to it. An officer that was with me wanted to purchafe it, at which the Indian feemed highly offended, nor would he part with this THROUGH AMERICA. 401 tliis barbarous trophy, although he was offered fo flrong a temptation as a bottle of rum. The appearance of a dead body, you muft allow, is not a pleafing fpe6lacle, but when fcalped it is (hocking ; two, in this fituation, we met with, in our march from Skenefborough to Fort Edward. After fo cruel an operation, you could hardly fup- pofe any one could furvive, but when we took polTeflion of Trconderoga, we found two poor fellows who lay wounded, that had been fcalped in the Ikirmilh the day. before the Americans abandoned it, and who are in a fair way of recovery. I have feen a perfon who had been fcalped, and was as hearty as ever, but his hair never grew again. % Should I at any time be unfortunate enougli to get wounded, and the Indians come acrofs me, wi-th an intention to fcalp, Vol. I, Ud it . I' !llJi J' n / . ■;' I 402 IN TERIOR TRAVELS it would be my wifli to receive at once a coup de grace with their tomahawk, which in moft inftances they mercifully allow. This inftrument they make great ufe of in war, for in purfuing an enemy, if they find it impoflible to come up with them, they with the utmoft dexterity throw, and feldom fail ftriking it into the fkull or back of thofe they purfue, by that means ar- refting them in flight. The tomahawk is nothing more than a fmall hatchet, having either a (harp fpike, or a cup for tobacco, affixed oppofite to the pait that is intended for cutting, but they arc moftly made to anfwer two purpofes, that of a pipe and a hatchet. When they purchafe them of the traders, they take off the wooden handle, and fubflitute in its flead a hollow cane one, which they do in a curious manner. I make no doubt but it will afford you great pleafure, knowing how much you are THROUGH AMERICA. 40s I are interefted in my welfare, when I inform you that I have had fome promotion, and it is the more fatisfaftory to myfelf, as I am not removed out of the advanced corps, it being into the 24th regiment. If 1 cfcape this campaign, either through intereft or purchafe, there are hopes of obtaining a company. With my beft wifhes for your heahh and happinefs, I am Yours, &C4 » I j: '-w I ;lS ! ' 1 I Dd2 LET^ 'fiii ' 4 ■\ W. I / 404 tfi rtklOii TRAVELS •; r T r 'f .i s.'.J L E T T E & XXXVIIL lyi i: ^'^fP'M Fnemnn'sFamt Sf/>i.2^, 1777. MY DEAR FRIEND, ^T^liE bridge of boats was foon con- •** ftrufted, and thirty days provifion brought up for the whole army. On the 13th inftant, we paifed Hudfon's river, and encamped in the plains of Saratoga, at which place there is a handfome and comrpodious dwelling-houfe, with out- houfes, an exceeding fine faw and grifl- mill, and at a fmall diftance a very neat church, with feveral 'hqufes round it, all of which are the property of General Schuy- ler. This beautiful fpot was quite deferted, not V TffROUOH AMERICA. 405 not ^ living creature on it. On the grounds wei'o great quantities of fine wheat, as alfo Indian corn ; the former was inftantly cut down, threfhed, carried to the mill to be ground, and delivered to the men to fave our provifions ; the latter was cut for fo- rage for the horfcs.' f -\'.»»f'S •5' ■*»r.' Thus a plantation, with large crops of fevci*al forts of grain^ tiiriving and beauti- ful in the mormn^, was before night re- duced to a fcene of diftrefs and poverty ! What havoc and devaftation is attendant on war ! Youc cofFce^houfe acquaintance, who fight battles over a bottle of wine, and di6late what armies (hould do, were danger only to (hew itfelf upon your coaft, and threaten an invafion, would inftantly, like the poflefTors of this delightful fpot, be flying to the mod interior parts of the kingdon). ■' ^v ^0 1).. ■■ • ' > ' Ddj •^ ' On • %i{vl ' • 1 % I iii ii 'jn i. / J 4o6 INTERIOR TRAVELS On the 15th the whole army made a' movement forward, and encamped at a' ^I^CQ cdllcdDovacoU, . . .rUl I omitted to mention a fad accident that happened to that amiable woman, Lady^ Harriet Ackland, a little before we paffed HudfoD*s river> which neither has altered her refolution nor her chearfulnefs, but (he continues her prqgrefs, jpartaking the fatigues of the advanced corps. t .. 't'-y/nrr r^m ; ^vM- ^ ii « »••• M^m~.' -» j; Oj I)0?Lfhi Our fituation, as being the advanced poft of the army, was frequently fo vety alert, that we feldom fiept out of our cloaths. In one of thefe fituations a tent, in which Major Ackland and Lady Hairiet were afleep, fuddenly caught fire 5 the Major's orderly feijeant, with great danger of fuf- focaticn, dragged out the firft perfon he got hold of, which was the Major. It providentially happened, that in the fame inflant Lady Harriet, without knowing what THROUGH AMERICA. 407 I what fhe did, and perhaps not perfe6lly awake, made her efcape, by creeping under . the walls in the back part of the tent, and upon recovering her fenfes, conceive what her feelings muft be, when the firft obje6t (he beheld was the Major, in the midft of the flames, in fearch of her I The ferjeant again faved him, but the Major's face and body was burnt in a veiy fevere manner : every thing they had with them in the tent was cpnfumed. This accident: was occafioned by a favorite Newfoundland dog, who being very reftlefs, overfet a table on which a candle was burning, (the Mar jor always had a light in his tent during the night, when our fituation required it) .and it rolling to the walls of the tent, in- ftantly fet them on fijfe. b$im&Axm iv; ' '-^:>7fe^!T' ■ • ^> ■ '■til; r On the 17th the army renewed their march, repairing a great number of bridges, and encamped on a very advantageous ground, at the diftance of about four miles ti D d4 from f'M IPI '% < . . .• : II!? i ,1 ; 11 Mi I' '( :j m jij i 4 408 INTERIOR TRAVELS from tlie enemy, who are flrongly pofled at Still-Water. At our laft encampment a circumftance occurred, which though trifling in itfelf, marks how provident nature has been to the younger part of the brute creation. It is the cuftom in camp to picket the horfes in the rear of the tents : in the night I was awaked with a great ruftHng of my tent cords, and a fqueakiiig noife j on getting up, 1 found it was a little colt that my mare had foaled. When we refumed our march the next day, i was much embar- rafled what to do with the colt, fearful it would weaken my mare, and render her unable to convey my baggage, but I would not have it deftroyedj and, believe me, this little creature, only dropped the night be- fore, though in a journey of fuch a diftance as feVentcen miles, through thick woods and bad roads, was as gay and chearful, when we arrived at our encampment, as if ?7o:j J. D U THROUGH AMERICA. 469 it had i>een in a meadow, after which, you may be fure, I could not find in my heart to make away with it. * On the 1 8th, the enemy appeared in force, to obftruft the men who were re- pairing the bridges, and it was imagined they had a defign of drawing us to a6lion, in afpot where artillery could not he em- ployed; a fmall lofs was fuftained in fkir- mifhing, and the repair of the bridges was CiTectccl. ii*''*Cjii.i io *'«j»>wk,' •■■* '^/-^vni:'*! '^i^\\ «r. ; ^ At this encampment a number of men got into ja potatoe-lield, and whilft gather- ing them, a fcouting party of the enemy came acrofs: and fired on them, killing and wounding near thirty, when they might with cafe have furrounded the whole party» and taken them prifor rs. Such cruel and unjuflifiable condu6l can have no good ten- dJency, whils it ferves greatly to increafe hatixd, and a thirft for revenge, yjni *» :> •#fcQc! ' On I 5 1 i r I M, -h i i . ? i- ^ .:. r li 410 INTERIOR TRAVELS On the 19th, the anny marched to meet the enemy, in three divifions ; the German line flanked the artillery and baggage; pur- fuing the courfe of the river through the meadows ; the Britifh line marched parallel , to it at fome diftance, through the woods, forming the center divifion; whilft the advanced corps, with the grenadiers and light infantry of the Germans made a large > circuit through the woods, and compofed ! the right hand divifion ; on our right there were flanking parties of Indians, Cana- dians and Provincials. - The fignal guns for all the columns to advance were fired between one and two ' o'clock, and after an hour's march, the advanced party, confifting of the picqueta of the center column, under the command of Major Forbes, fell in with a confider- able body of the enemy, polled in a houfe and behind fences, which they attacked^ and after much firing, nearly drove in the i5'; body THROUGH AMERICA. 4H body of the Americans, but the woods being filled with men, much annoyed the picquets, who were very fortunately fup- ported by two companies of the 24th regi- ment, one of which happened to be our company, and a piece of artillery, which General Erafer had detached, on hearing the fire of Major Forbes's party, and we came up jufl as the enemy fled. J ^-M^r^vr ^A^i* ^J'>■ w ' • * «'< F In this fkirmifh, a bat-man of General Frafer's refcued from the Indians an officer of the Americans, one Captain Van Swear- ingham, of Colonel Morgan*s Virginia rifie-men ; they were on the point of flrip- ping him, which the man prevented, and recovered his pocket-book from them, con- taining all his papers of confequence and his commifTion. He offered the foldier all his paper dollars, and lamented he had no /jard ones to reward him with. "^ o ^^\ The -■' i, I ♦ ■ - i- -i b M v*^ "'13 All 4^Z INTERIOR TRAVEl li 4i6 INTERIOR TRAVELS Juft as the evening clofed in, the eneriiy gave way one all fides and left us mailers of the field, but darknefs prevented a purfuit. ' The troops lay that night upon their arms, and the next day took a pofition nearly within cannon-fhot of the enemy ; wc have fortified our right, and our left extends to the brow of the heights, fo as to cover the meadows, by the river fide, where the hattcaiix and hofpitals are placed. The 47th regiment, with the regiments of He£c Hanati, are encamped in the meadows, as a farther fecurity. -y t . The great valor difplayed by the Britiih troops encountering many obftru6tions, and fucli a powerful enemy, as, from the account of the prifoners, they had nearly treble our numbers in the field, and the great advantage of receiving inftant rein- forcements, muft, in the eyes of thoie f>u\ who '•\ THROUGH AMERICA. 41; who judge impartially, refie£t the highed; honor* Notwithftanding the glory of the day remains on our fide, I am fearful the real advantages refulting from this hard-fought battle, will reft on that of the Ameri- cans, our army being fo much weakened by this engagement, as not to be of fuffi- cient ftrength to venture forth and im- prove the viftory, which may, a the end, put a ftop to our intended expedition ; the only apparent benefit gained, is that we keep poflellion of the ground where the engagement began. This fevere-fought battle, and the con- fequences refulting from it> will fully con- firm the arguments 1 pointed out to you relative to a rapid march. The viftory muft inevitably have been on the fide of the Americans, without our artillery, and what a wretched ftate muft the many brave Vol. I. E e foldiers t", ill 111 IHi *'< IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // 1.0 1.1 2.0 11:25 IH 1.4 — A" lAO K& 1.6 Photograf^c ^Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STMIT WIBSTIII,N.Y. M5M (716)«73-4S03 \ ^ ''^% \\ •8^ i 4i8 I INTERIOR TRAVELS fol4iers be in, without any eomfort, or an hofpital to remove them to! The pourage and obftinacy with which the Aipericans fought, were the aftonifh- ment of every one, and we now become fujjy coQvinced, they are not that con- temptible enemy we had hitherto imagined th^m, incapable of {landing a regular en- gagement, and that they would only fight behind ftrong and powerful works ► We have loft many brave men, and among that number is to be lamented Captain Jones, of the artillery, who was killed at his brigade of guns: The artil- lery of the army diftinguifhed themffelves greatly, but this brigade in particular, the officers and men ftationed at thofe guns being all killed and wounded, except Lieu- tenant Hadden, who had a very narrow efcape, his cap being (hot away as he was fpiking up the cannon, » . . Having THROUGH AMERICAN 419 Having juft received orders to attend a working-party, to throw up a redoubt, I am obliged to defer a further account of this engagement till my next. It will no doubt afford you much pleafure to hear, that in this fevere a6tion I have efcaped unhurt. '> EC2 LET- ) i' ' - .;.! • ^iJ ■WW 420 fNTERlOR TRAVELS LETTER XXXIX. Camp at Freeman's Farm, Ocl.St 1777. I MX DEAR FRIEND, TTfE have gained little more by our ^ ^ vi6tory than honor, the Americans working with inceflant labor to ftrengthen their leftj their right is already iinattack- able, Inftead of a difheartened and flying enemy, we have to encounter a numerous, and, as we lately experienced, a refolute one, equally difpofed to maintain their ground as ourfelves, and commanded by Generals whofe aftivity leave no advan- tages unimproved. ■■»■*> The THR0U6H AMERICA. 421 . r* The day after our late engagement, I had as unpleafant a duty as can fall to the lot of an officer, the command of the party fent out to bury the dead and bring in the wounded, and as we encamped on the fpot where the three Britifti regiments had been engaged, they were very numerous. In a former letter I defcribed to you the fenfa- tions both before and after a battle, but in fuch an employment, as this the feelings are roufed to the utmoft pitch. You that ai*e pleafed to compliment me on my humanity, will think what I muft have felt, on feeing fifteen, fixteen, and twenty buried in one hole. I however obierved a little more de- cency than fome parties had done, who left heads, legs and arms above ground. No other diftinflion ?*' paid to officer or foldier, than that the officers are put in a hole by themfelves. Our army abounded with young officers, in the fubaltern line, and in the courfe of this unpleafant duty, three of the 20th regiment were interred together, E e 3 the y4 ■t ,1. t ! ¥ [ f .P] 422 INTERIOR TRAVELS the age of the eldefl not exceeding fcventeen. This friendly office to the dead, though it greatly affe6ls the feelings, was nothing to the fcene in bringing in the wounded -, the one were paft all pain, the other in the moft excruciating torments, fending forth dreadful groans. They had remained out ajl night, and from the lofs of blood and want of nourifhment; were upon the point of expiring with faintnefs : fome of them begged they might lay and die, others again were infenfible, fome upon the leaft move^ ment were put in the moft horrid tortures, and all had near a mile to be conveyed to the hofpitals ; others at their laft gafp, who for want of our timely alliftance muft have inevitably expired. Thefe poor crea- tures, perifhing with cold and weltering in their blood, difplayed fuch a fcene, it muft be a heart of adamant that could not be afFe6led at it, even to a degree of weak- nefs. nhfJOD-^dl In THROUGH AM E R I C A. 423 In the courfe of the laft action, Lieute-* nant Hervey, of the 62d, a youth of fixteen, and nephew to the Adjutant-General of the fame name, received feveral wounds, and was repeatedly ordered off the field by Colonel Anftruther; but his heroic ardor would not allow him to quit the battle, while he could ftand and fee his brave lads fighting befide him. A ball ftriking one of his legs, his removal became abfolutely neceffary, and while they were conveying him away, another wounded hitn mortally. In this fituation the Surgeon recommended him to take a powerful dofe of opium, to , avoid a feven or eight hours life of mofl exquifite torture : this he immediately con- ' fented to, and when the Colonel entered the tent with Major Harnage, who were both wounded, they alk'^d whether he had any affairs they could fettle for him ? his reply was, " that being a minor, every " thing was already adjuftedj" but he had one requeft, which he had jull life enough Ee4 to J > fit ■ -J I I ■; k\ i i Jl i^ 1!! -li; 424 INTERIOR TRAVELS to Utter, " Tell my uncle I died like a fol- " dierl" Where will you find in ancient ' Rome Jieroifm fyperior! Beyond the ground where we defeated Qur enemy, all is hoftile ^n4 dangerous in an alarming degree ; it fhould feem as if we had conquered only to preferve our repu- tation, for we h^vc reaped little advantage from our invincible efforts ; the only fatisr faction refulting on our part is, the con- fcioufnefs of having acquitted ourfelves like men, with a determination that the honor and renown of the Britilh arms fhould remain unfuUied. The nature of the country is peculiarly unfavorable in re-r ipeft tp military operations, it being diffir ?ult to reconnoitre the enemy, and to ob- tain any intelligence to be relied on : the roads, the fituation of the enemy, the grounds for procuring forage, of which the army is in great want, and all parties are in quefl of, are often attended with the utmofl » • * t THROUGH AMERICA. 425 iitmoft danger, and require great bodies to cover them. The expe6^ation of plunder which had induced the Indians that remained to ac- company us thus far, beginning now to fail, and feeing they have nothing but hard- fhips and warfare, they are daily decreafmg. They were of vaft fervice in foraging and fcouting parties, it being fuited to their manner 5 they will not ftand a regular en- gagement, either through the motives I formerly afligned, or from fear, but I am led to imagine the latter is the cafe, from the obfervation I have made of them in our late encounter with the enemy. The Indians were running from wood to wood, and juft as our regiment had formed in the fkirts of one, feveral of them came up, and by their figns were converfmg about the fevere fire on our right. Soon after the enemy attacked us, and the very firft fire the Indians run ofF):}irough the wood. As Vi \ • 1 '" 1 I! 1 1 426 INTERIOR TRAVELS' As to the Canadians, little was to be de- pended on their adherence, being eaiily difpirited, with an inclination to quit as foon as there was an appearance of danger ; nor was the fidelity of the Provincials to be relied on who had joined our army, as they withdrew on perceiving the refiftance of the Americans would be more formidable than had been expeded. The defertion of the Indians, Canadi- ans, and Provincials, at a time when their fervices were moil required, was exceedingly mortifying; and however it may prove, this inftance, will fliew future comman- ders what little dependence is to be placed on fuch auxiliaries. You will readily allow that it is the higheft teft of afFe6lion in a woman, to fliare with her hulband the toils and hardfhips of the campaign, efpecially fuch an one as the prefent. What a trial of fortitude THROUGH AMERICA. 427 fortitude the late a6lion mud have been, through a diftrefling interval of long fuf- / pence ! The ladies followed the route , of the artillery and baggage, and when the a6lion began, the Earonefs Reidefel, Lady Harriet Ackland, and the wives of Major Harnage and Lieutenant Reynell, of the 6 2d regiment, entered a fmall un- ' inhabited hut, but when the a6lion became general and bloody, the Surgeons took pofTeflion of it, being the moft convenient for the firft care of the wounded; in this fituation were thefe ladies four hours to- gether, when the comfort they afforded each other was broke in upon, by Major JIarnage being brought in to the Surgeons deeply wounded ! What a blow muft the next intelligence be, that informed them Lieutenant Reynell was killed ! Madame de Reideiel and Lady Harriet could afford but little confolation to their companions, through an anxioufnefs they knew not how to fmother, left it might be foon. h I ' i Hi'- \ \ ■••■*• il' I: i i 1, very 423 INTERIOR TRAVELS veiy foon, their own fituation. The fears of Lady Harriet were doubly increafed, having every apprehenfion, not only for her hulband but her brother. Surrounded by the dead and tlie dying for four long hours, the groans of the wounded, the difcharge of the mufquetry, and all the buflle of arms — ^my God!— what a ftate for women of fufceptibility ! — ^uncertain how the battle would termi- nate, and whether each (hould clafp again the obje6l of her deareft hopes, for whofc fake fhe had traverfed dreary regions, en- countered hunger and wearinefs, and wit- nefled all the carnage of a long-difputed field — ^unanimated by the tumult, and without fharing the glory. . A long war teaches the moft unwarlike nation the ufe of arms, and very frequent- ly puts them in a condition to repair in the end, tlie loflcs they fuflained in the , beginning. ■.• tt. 1*1 ■• ''nmt THROUGH AMERICA. 429 beginning. Such is the prefent ftate of the enemy, who not only now, but before the late a<5lion, were ftrongly recruited, as powerful armies of militia fpring up in every province. What a ftriking advan- tage there was on the fide of the Ameri- cans, in the lad engagement ; but the de- feat of numbers in our little army, was amply made up by the courage of the foldiers, the valor and condu6l of our Generab. Ill i ■'■■' M' The officers who have been killed and wounded in the late a6tion, are much greater in proportion than that of the foldiers, which muft be attributed to the great execution of the rifle-men, who dire6led their fire againft them in parti- cular; in every interval of fmoke, they were fureto take off fome, as the rifle-men had pofted themfelves in high trees. Some of the prifoners who were taken late in the day, faid, it was firmly believed in the enemy's j' V i !■ f ( Jl M »?' 43 o Interior travels enemy's camp, that General Burgoyne ya^ killed, which miftake was occaiiqaed by an Aid-de-Camp of General PhiUips, a Captain Green, who, having the furniture to his faddle laced and embroidered, • and being wounded, fell from his horfe, the rifle-man that wounded hiiji, from that circumftance, affirmed it to be General Burgoyne. , ,, ; ;■ - , ; ^ ,u .-o -io '''^- ■ ■ '•• ^'i-j^hk^ You would be led to imagine, . that th^ Indians and Canadians would have been of great utility againft this mode of fighting, but the few who remained of. the formei^ could >not be brought within; found of a rifi'^'fhot ; and the latter, who formerly were very expert in this fervice, either from a great change in their military cliara6ter< or a damp that was throv/n upon them by the lofs of their beft officers, who wer« under the ncceffity of expofmg themfelv«i more than was requifite^ in order to bring them at all into a6tion, were of little ufa. Some THROUGH AMERICA. l< « 431 Some of the Provincial tibops were fervice- able, but the only men we had really to oppofe them were the German chaflfeurs, but their number was very inferior to the rifle-men of the enemy. • ■ - . U i i^k I- Our prefent fituation is far from being an ina£live one, the armies being fo near, that not a night pafles but there is firing, and continual attacks upon the advanced picquets, efpecially thofe of the Germans. It feems to be the plan of the enemy to harrafs us by conftant attacks, which they are enabled to do,- without fatiguing their army, from tlic great fuperiority of their numbers. We are now become fo habituated to fire, that the foldiers feem to be indifferent to it, and eat and fleep when it is very near them ; the officers reft in their cloaths, and the field officers arc up frequently in the night. The enemy, in front of our quar- ter I Ml ): 't iM ;1 H n ifi '! 'J 432 INTERIOR TRAVELS ter-guard, within hearing, are cutting trees and making works, and when I have had this guard, I have been vifited by moft of the field officers, to liften to them. You would Icarcely believe it, but the enemy had the affurance to bring down a fmall piece of cannon, to fire as their morning gun, fo near to our quarter-guard, that the wadding rebounded againft the works. We have within thefe few evenings, ex- clufive of other alarms, been under arms moft of the night, as there has been a great noife, like the howling of dogs, upon the right of our encampment 5 it was imagin- ed the enemy fet it up to deceive us, while they were meditating fome attack. The two firft nights this noife was heard. General Frafer thought it to have been the dogs belonging to the officers, and an order was given for the dogs to be confined within the tents; any that were feen running about, the Prevoft had orders to hang them. The m J7?wyt/ie Weft BaMk o/fAf Mudfoos Kivw 3 .W//r^' ^7'ove S^// Itater, iipoja wMek the . ( S/uw///(f' General IVi '^n iipoiDLwMek^/? ^^m^^ under t/i/' rrmj^jj^n,^ ..mt n t ^ irm^ig- General Fra^ers Funeral) y ///• ■Surtm'^Ht^. # /■■ THROUoii America; 433 » The next lu^t the ndife was much greater, when a detachment of Canadians ?Jid Pro- vincials were fent out to reconnoitre, and it proved to have arifen from large droves of wolves th^t came after the dead bodies : they were fimilar to a pack of hounds, for one fetting up a cry, they all joined, and when they approached a cprpfe, their noife was hideous till they had fcratched it up. 4 I have fent you a view of the encamp- ment of our hofpital tents, park of artil- lery, &c. from a redoubt we have on the oppoiite fide of the river, by which you may be able to form fpme idea of the country we are at prefent encamped on. This view was taken by Sir Francis Gierke, one of General Burgoyne's Aid-de-Gamps, who has favored me with a copy. i\ 'tt n Yours, 5cc. Vol. I. Ff LET- 434 ' >MTfeRIOR TRAVELS LETTER XL. Camhridge, in New England, Nov, lo, 1777. MY DEAR FRIEND, ^TpHE difpatches fent by Lord Peter- '^ iham, relative to our misfortunes, will have reached England long before this comes to hand. Your furprize, then, will ceafe at receiving a letter dated from this place. As every little circumftancc relative to a campaign, cannot be given in an official account to be laid before the public, I fhall relate the tranfad:ions of the army till the convention took place. The THROUGH AMERICA. 435 The df\y after the date of my laft letter, a detachment of 1 500 regular troops, with two twelve-pounders, two howitzers, and fix fix-pounders, went out between eleven and twelve o'clock* The reafon, no doubt, for the General's marching at this time, rather than earlier in the morning, was, that in cafe we (hould not prove vidtorious, he had the night to favor his retreat* The intention of this detachment was to make a movement tp the enemy's left, not only to difcover whether there was a ppfli- bility of forcing a paflage, if neceflary to advance, or diflodge the enemy, in order to favor a retreat, but likewife to cover the forage of the army, through the fcarcity of which we were in great dillrefs. This being a proje6l of much importance. Ge- neral Burgoyne took with him Generak Phillips, Reidefel and Frafer, as officers beft qualified, and with whofe affiftance he had every hope the plan would fucceed. Ff2 The I'l fi f* I fi If: 436 INTERIOR TRAVELS The guard of the camp upon the heights was leift to the command of Brigadier Ge- nerals Hamilton and Specht, and the re- doubts and plain to Brigadier General Gall. This day having tlie quarter-guard of the regiment, I of courfe remained in camp, and therefore can give you no information as to the various pofitions that were taken ; after the detachment had been out fome time, we heard a very heavy firing with the artillery, and fome little fkirraifhing with fmall arms. At this time Major Campbell, of the 29th regiment, the Field-officer of the day, came to my guard, and defired me to go with a feijeant and fome men, to recon- noitre acrofs two ravines, in front of the guard, to liften if I could li^ar the enemy marching that way ^ all was quiet in that quarter, but as the firing began to be very heavy THROUGH AMERICA. 437 heavy on the left, I returned to the guard. In this little circuit I was convinced how much the Americans were pufhed in our late a6lion, on the 19th of September, for I met with feveral dead bodies belonging to the enemy, and amongft them were laying clofe to each other, two men and a woman, the latter of whom had her arms extended, and her hands grafping car- tridges. Soon after my return to the guard, the firing appeared to become general on both lides, and very heavy indeed. Much about this time the bat-men of the army, who went out for forage, came galloping into camp, having thrown off their forage to fave their own horfes and themfelves by flight. The gallant behaviour of an old foldier,' of the 20th regiment, deferves to be remembered 5 he had been wounded at the battle of Minden, and as he lay on the ground a French dragoon rode over him, F f 3 and 1.1.1. • i ! I li 43^ INTERIOR TRAVELS and the horfe's feet refted on his brcaft ; after having recovered from this accident, he thought himfelf invulnerable, and held the Americans in great contempt : when they attacked the foraging party, the hardy old veteran, fitting upon the forage which he had got on the horfe, kept load- ing and firing his piece at the enemy, and in thit manner he brought his forage into camp. Upon his arrival, his mailer re- primanded him for the danger he had ^xpofed both himfelf and his horfes to, (when he faid) " May it pleafe your honor, " I could not throw away my forage, I'd " fooner lofe my life, than my poor horfes «* ftiould ftarve." You muft allow this defeat of the bat- men, and a number of wounded men coming into camp, was no very favorable omen of fuccefs j nor can you conceive the forrow vifible on General Frafer's being brought THROUGH AMERICA. 439 brought ill wounded, your .old friends Campbell and Johnfton, of our regiment, on each fide of his horfe, fupporting hinii 1 csinnot defcribe to you the fcehe *, it was fuch that the imagination muft help to paint.-r — ^The officers, all anxious and eagerly enquiring as to hifc^ -wound— the down-caft look and melancholy that was vifible to every one, as to his fitaation, and all the anfwer he could make to the many enquiries, was a (hake of his head, ex> preffive that it was all over with him.— So much was he beloved, that not only officers and foldiers, but all the woitlen flocked round, folicitous for his fate. When he had reached his tent, and was recovered a little from the^faintnefs occa- fioned by lofs of blood, he told thofe around him, that he faw the man who (hot him, he was a rifle-man, and up in a tree 5 the ball entered a little below his Ff4 breaft. III] ^ ■ II 440 INTERIOR TRAVELS brcaft, and penetrated juft below the back bone. After the Surgeon had dreff- cd his wound, he faid to him very com- pofedly, ** Tell me, Sone, to the, beil *Vof your fkill and judgment, if you " think my wound is mortal." When he replied, " I am forry, Sir, to inform you^ ** that it is, and that you cannot poflibly •* live four and twenty hours." He then galled for pen and i^ik^ grid after makittg bis will, atiddiftributing g few little tokens of regard tp the officers of his fuite, de-* fijred that he might be removed to the ge- neral hofpitaj, ^ r, In camp, and not in perfonal danger, as the mind is left to refl€6tion, it is impof- fible to defcribe how much it is afFe6led in beholding the wounded continually coming in, amid an incefTant roar ot -^cnnpn and mufquetry, where perhaps many brave fel-. lows are dying for their country— perhaps . too . 1 • i THROUGH AMERICA. 441 too in an unfuccefsful battle 1 I can never confent to be left in camp again. « ' After many hours impatient anxiety, to- wards the clofe of the evening, the grand flroke came. I had little hope to become a partaker in the a6lion ; but about that time the troops came pouring into camp as faft as they could, and fhortly after Ge- nerals Burgoyne, Phillips and Reidefel. It is impofiible to defcribe the anxioufnefi depi6i:ed in the cotintenance of General Burgoyne, who immediately rode up to the quarter-guards, and when he came to that of our regiment, I was acrofs a ravine, pofting a ferjeant*s guard. Upon enquir- ing eagerly for the officer, I came to him, " Sir, faid the General, you muft defend " this ppft to the very laft man." You may eafily conceive, upon receiving thofe orders, I judged every thing to be in a dan- gerous fituation. There was not a mo- ment for thought, for the Americans ftormed 11 iir >m a ilM 442 INTERIOR TRAVELS ftormed with great fury the poft of the light-infantry, under the command of Lord Balcarres, rulhing clofe to the lines, under a fevere fire of grape-fhot and fmall arms. This poft was defended with great fpirit, and the enemy, led on by General Arnold, as gallantly aifaulted the works; but on the General's being wounded, the enemy were repulfed, which was not till ^fter dark. In this attack, I wad but an bbferver, as our quarter-guard was fome «li{tance from the lines, but not fufticiently €o as to be out of danger, as the balls were continually dropping down amongfl: us. In order that you niay form fome idea with what obftinacy the enemy affaulted the fines, from the commencement, at which time it was dark, till they were repulfed, thei*e was a continual Iheet of fite along the lines, and in this attack we were fully convinced of what effential fervice our ar- tillery was. During THROUGH AMERICA. 443 During the time the enemy were Co vigoroufly attacking our lines, a party aflaulted thofe of the Germans, com* manded by Colonel Breyman, but either for want of courage, or prefence of mind, they, upon the firft attack of the enemy, were ftruck with fuch a terror, that in- ftead of gallantly fuftaining their lines, they looked on all as loft, and after firing one volley, haftily abandoned them ; that brave officer, Colonel Breyman, in endeavouring to rally his foldiers, was unfortunately killed. By the enemy's obtaining pofleffion t)f the German lines, they gained an opening upon our right and rear. Iti:' I'i In this engagement we loft many brave officers, to add to the fate of General Frafcr, General Burgoyne's, Aid-de-Camp, Sir Francis Clerke, was killed. Colonel Ackland wounded and a prifoner. Major Williams, Captain Blomfield, and Lieu- tenant Howaith, of the artillery, were ' likewife 444 INTERIOR TRAVELS likewife prifoners, the latter wounded ; ' Major Blomfield's wound was very re» markable, a ftiot paffing through both cheeks, without hurting the infide of his mouthw Your friend Howarth*s wound I hear, is in his knee 5 it is very lingular, but he was prepofTefled with an idea of being wounded^ for when the orders came for the detachment's going out, he was playing picquet with me, and after reading the prdejcs, and that his brigade of guns were to go, he faid to me, " God blefs you ** A ». farewell, for I know not how it " is,^ but I have ftrange prefentiment that I " fhall either be killed or wounded." I was rather furprized atfuch an expreflion, as he is of a gay and chearful difpo- fition, and cannot but fay, that during the little time I could beftow in refledlion that day, I continually dwelt upon his remai'k, but he is now happily in a fair way of recovery, ^ After THROUGH AMERICA. 445 After M^ijor Ajckland was wounded, when he obferved the army were re- treating, he requefted Captain Simpfon, of the 31ft regiment, who was an intimate friend, to help him into camp, upon which, being a very ftout man, he conveyed the Major on his back a confiderable way, when the enemy purfuing fo rapidly, he was obliged to leave him behind to fave himfelf. As the Major lay on the ground, he cried out to the men who were running by him, that he would give fifty guineas to any foldier who would convey him into camp.^ A ftout grenadier inftantly took him on his back, and was haftening into camp, when they were overtaken by the enemy and made prifoners . Here you muft naturally conceive what were the feelings of Lady Harriet, who, after hearing the whole of the aftion, at laft received the fhock of her individual misfortune, mixed with the general calamity of the defeat. Mi- Whatever 446 INTERIOR TRAVEta Whatever favorable opinion the General had entertained of our late encampment, after this attack he thought our flank liable to be turned, and it would be impoinble to accompliih an honorable retreat, feaiing the only fecurity of the army would con- iift in an ignominious flight, as our works would by no means refift cannon-ihot. Before we quitted, them, we heard the enemy bringing up their artillery, no doubt with a view to attack us at day- break; therefore, laboring under thefe apparent difadvantages, we had orders to quit our prefent fituation during the night, and take poft upon the heights, above the hofpital; by this movement the whole of the army were now aftembled upon the heights and plain, of which you have a view in the drawing I fent you. Our late movement, which was effe6l- ed without any lofs, occafioned the enemy to make a new difpofition, and on the THROUGH AMERICA. 447 the 8th of Oftober, the baggage and incumbrances of the army being removed^ we offered battle, anxious for a conflift: in a plain, where we could difcern our enemy, as hitherto all our a6lions had been in the woods, where it is impoffible exadtly . to prefcribe to an army, or feparate body, how to govern itfelf ; every different mo- tion of the enemy, and the various ac- counts a General receives of them, ought to make him alter his meafures, and there is no laying down to a commanding offi- cer of any corps, other than general rules, the reft: depending on his own condu6l:, and the behaviour of his troops. t At one time we fully imagined it was the intention of the enemy to have at- tacked us, as a very large body, confifting of feveral brigades, drew up in line of battle, with artillery ; and began' to can- nonade us. In return, an howitzer was fired, and, as was intended, the fhell fell fhort, ii I « 44* INTERIOR TRAVELS Ihort, upon which the enemy fetting up a great fhout, were very much encouraged, and kept on cannonading. The next time the howitzer was fo elevated, that the (hell fell into the very center of a large column, and immediately burft, which fo difmayed them, that they fled off into the woods, and (hewed no other intentions of an attack ; indeed their cautious conduct dur- ing the whole day (trongly marked a dif- inclination to a general a6lion. Early on this morning General Frafer breathed his laft, and at his particulai* re- queft, was buried, without any parade, in the great redoubt, by the foldiers of his own corps. About fun-fet, the corpfe was carried up the hill; the procefTion was in view of both armies ; as it pafled by Generals Burgoyne, Phillips and Rei- defel, they were flruck at the plain fimpli- city of the parade, being only attended by the officers of his fuite; but left the army, not THROUOH AMERICA. 449 not being acquainted with the privacy that was dedred, and conftrue it into neglect, and urged by a natural wifh.to pay the laft honors to him, in the eyes of the whole army, they joined the proceflion. . The enemy, with an inhumanity pecu* liar to Americans, cannonaded the pro- cefTion as it pafTed, and during the fei-vice over the grave. The account given me by your friend Lieut. Freeman was, that there appeared an expreffive mixture of fenfibility and indignation upon every countenance— the fcene mufl have been afFedting. In the evening intelligence was brought that the enemy were marching to turn our right 5 we could prevent this by no other means than retreating towards Saratoga. A retreat is a matter of the higheft con- fequence, and requires the greateft condu<3: in a General, as well as refolution in both officers and foldiers, for the leaft mifma- VoL. !• G g nagement n If I «* ti>ttlt¥oti i-RAVfet* httgkUcdeifii puts di'intd c6\kMi^, A g^od retreat h looked on its the ^hef^*au^jre of il Gottihidrider. Every oixt bf the advanced fcoi^s ^t ^feyeriply "die lofs of General Fradfer, a^lie^ifed fireqilently to fay, that if the army had the misfortune to retreat, fee wptild cnfure, with Jthe advanced corps, to bring it xaff in fafcty ; this was a piece of CfenofaHhip he was not a little vain t)f, for diiring the wnr in Germany, he^ tnade rgdod ills retireat with five hundred Tchaicurs, in fight of the French army. •But as covering the retreat of the army was of the latmoft consequence, General Phillips took the command of the rear ♦ giiardj "which confifted of the advanced rorps.; : ! .. At nine o'clock at night the army began -to move. General Reidefel commanding the van-guard. Our retreat was made iwithin mufquet-fhot of the enemy, and •though greatly encumbered with baggage, ; ^. . without without a (ingle lofs. It was near eleven o'clock before the rear-guard marched, and for near an hour, ' we every moment ex- pelled to be attacked, for the enemy had formed on the fame fpot as in the morning; we could difcern this by the lanterns that the officers had in their hands, and their riding about in tlie front of their line, but though the Americans put their army in motion that night, they did not purfue us, in our retreat, 4:111 late the next day. Deferring the fcquel of our misfortunes till another opportunity, an4 willing \to embrace a very favorable one that now prefents itfelf of finding' thi^, I reijiain, Yours, &c. ! - •f ••) Gg 21 LET- 452 INTERIOR TRAVELS LETTER XLI. Camhridgt, in NtwEngltuulNov* \^, ITJ7' MY DEAR FRIEND, AFTER a march, in which we were liable to be attacked in front, flank and rear, the army, on the 9th, at day- break, reached an advantageous ground, and took a portion very defirable to have received the enemy ; we halted to re- frefli the troops, and to give time for the batteaux to come abreaft of the army. A few days provifion was delivered out, and it was apprehended it might be the laft, for though the movement of the army kept pace with the batteaux^ ftill there were many THROUGH AMERICA.^ *SJ many parts of the river where they might have been attacked to great advantage, and where the army could afford them little protection. After the troops had been refreihed, and the batteaux came up, the army proceeded forward, in very fevere weather, and thro* exceeding bad roads, and late at night ar- rived at Saratoga, in fuch a flate of fatigue, that the men had not ftrength or inclina- tion to cut wood ai^d make fires, but rather fought ileep in thdr wet cloaths and on the wet ground, under a heavy rain that flill continued, and which began to fall when we firft retreated, \ The incefTant rain during our retreat was rather a favorable circumflance, for though it impeded the army in their march, ^nd increafed its difficulties, it ferved at the lame time to retard, and in a great mea- fure prevented, the purfuit of the enemy ; G g 3 it 4^4 tNT^ftrbR TRAVfiLS it however dccailbiired bhe veiy Uiiha^py itecefiity, that of afiaiidohlh^ btir hbfpitals ivitft t^ke'rick^Wd'^biind^U': but great praife is due to the humanity <5f 'Gen'eral Gates, for upon the very firft intelligence if itrfe'htmiediatdf fetit fbrX^ard a few ftgKt hbrfe, t^ phJte6t - thfem frdfh mfult iijjiii: <^ •• f:\ ''"• This hea^ry raiA ^fFdWed anothtr i:tfn(6- Iktibh to tfie tnen 'Auti^ the march, stitch Hvks, in cafe tht'-rftfetny had attadk^ tts, thekte bfYh^^^aiMhkVe^i^d^^^^ tAw>.>. >> }:::/ji Wheti the army were ahbitt^'tb-tnoVe after >^e halted, tlie^car^s "^ff l&'xitttics with which the G'eneral, no doiibt, ititift have beefi furrbundeci, were gfeady ih- creafed T H %O.U G^H AMERICA* 455 ijfeafed b^ a cyxumftance of private 4j[fi^refs^, i^pj'.at tjiis time a meffage w^s cJ^Hywred, ^ hi^ fr?® th^jt aipkble wom^i. ^^ady^^; Ha^riist. 4d^and, expreffing an earneft define, if it did wot militajte againft the. General's wiflies,_,,of paflii>g tp. the camp of the enemy, and requefting General Gates's permiiTion to attend her hufband, at the fame time fvibmitting it entirely to. tjae General's opiniQji. . , i I I %■: »«! The General, aUhqu^ he had bpen fully convinced of the; patjence and fpi'titudg vvilh ^'bich fhe ha^ ajready encpv}ntei;ed the many trying fituations tl^at ]i^d be*: fallen her, cpuld not but exprefs Ijjs aftp; niiJiment at this groppfal, f s it ^jjp^ared an effort beyond human nature, that a wcv- mm- pf fuch a tender and delicke frapie a^ her's, QiQpld be capable of foch an undf-r- taking as that of delivering heifclf to thje ^jnemy— probaby in the night, and uncer- tain of what hands (lie might fall into-^ G g 4 efpecially 456 INTERIOR TRAVELS efpcdalljr after fo long an agitation of the fpirit's, not only exhaufted by want of reft, but abfolutely want of food, and drenched in rsdns for near twelve hours — and this at a time too, when far advanced in a ftate where every tender careand precaution be- comes abfolutely requisite ! In the bar- raffed and fatigued fituation fhe was in, it was -no little chagrin to the General, that he could afford her no affiftance to cheer up her fpirits for fuch an undertaking ; he had not «vcn a cup of wine to ofter her— but from a foldier's wife fhe obtained a little rum and dirty water ! With this poor refrefhment fhe fet out in an open boat, which was fumifhed by the General, with a few lines of recommendation to General Gates, for his protedlion. The Chaplain that officiated at General Frafer's funeral undertook to accompany her, and with her waiting-maid, and the Major's 'valet de chamhre (who then had a ball in his fhoul- der, which he received in the late a6lion, in Through America^ 457 in fearching for the Major after he was wounded) fhe rowed down the river to meet the enemy. But to return to the army. It was not till after day-light, on the morning of the loth, that the artilleiy and the laft of the troops paffed the Fifh-Kill, and took pofition upon the heights and" in the redoubts we had formerly conftru6led. On our arrival at Saratoga, a corps of the enemy, between five and fix hundred, were difcovered throwing up intrenchments on the heights, but upon our approach re- tired over the ford of the Hudfon's river, and joined a body pofted to oppofe our paflage there. A detachment of artificers, under a ftrong efcort, were fent to repair bridges, and open a road on the weft fide of the river to Fort Edward j but the enemy being ftrongly pofted on the heights of the Fifti- Kill, w iV.i 45l INTER'I-OK TSAVPfeSr KiUy >ahd making a difppfitiqn tQ IgW u^ battle, that cCcort was recallecL f The' Pro-^ vihd^l^" who w^e laft~te ccwcr ihffl airtifi- ccrs, upon a very flight attack ran away:, leaving them to efcape as they could, with- out a poffibillty of their perfocmiimg any Work.' '•'' •■■' -■*^' -•'': in 'gn'iir, V ^ » - Wliife' thefe iE^ife^ent movem[jsits iwere carrying on, the tattemx wfth-f^Ydvifiohs were frequently fed npbh froiil ^S.(5ppo- lite'fidfi €>f the riverv fome of diem; were %o^y and feveral' rilen kilkd aiii Wioiinde4 m tliofe that remaifie^^ . ■ . ■ ■ "It V •t''-o . CJ-A ioff :j :jni' r jy^ . .i On'flie nth the 'enemy continued the attacks upon the baiteaux^ fevepalcwer^ taken and retaken, but their fituation being nearer to the m^ force, .©f the enemy than to ours, it was judged necef.- lary to land the provifions, and iibn4 'them "Wp^tli^ liiH, as it was impoflible to ffecure them by any other means : this was effecS^ed undei: Through am£Ric^J 4^9 Hnder a heavy fire, an4 with the gneatcft diSkiilty. . . V- 'U-JUJ /'■ yj JJ, ■!e»f|-t/> ^ TlW ' irit€intions 6f the enemy ;be(3imc now very apparent, and no doubt General Gates thought he fliould be able to gain more advantage froiti the fituation and circuftiltances of oui^ iirmy, by cutting off otil- |)ix>vifions, ali^ otherWJfehfeirftfffing and dirtrefling w, by the g^iing fire of the Hflemen, who wtft'tvttj ^te^ plkced about in the woods, th&n by givrngrUs baftle, and runnings the chance of a vic^ iory; 7 -jii lb jiai/Ia* The pbfiible means of farther retreat wferc 'toniidered in a couhcii bff v;^atf,^ compofed of the General officers ; and the only one that feemed expedient, or in the leaft prac- ticable, was attended with fuch danger, as afFordcd'^'little hopes^ of fucCefs, but ncver- thelefs the^refolvewas itfhauldbeitterhpted. This was by ani^t march to ^ort'^Ed- ■ ward, It M !>^ ^* 4601 INTERIOR TRAVELS ward,. the troops carrying their provifions on their backs, leaving artillery, .baggage^ and other incumbrances behind, and to force.a paflage at the ford, either above or below that fort, -i iiiii. li While the army were preparing for this boldandrefolute undertaking, fome fcouts ^returned with intelligence, that the enemy were ftrongly intienched oppofite thofe fprdSi aud^pofleffed a camp in force on the high grounds, between Fort Edward and Port .George, with cannon ; exdufive of which, they had parties down the whole jQiore to watch our motions, and fome poils fo near us, on pvir fide of the water, that it was impofiiblethe army could makp the leaft motion without being difcpvered., Notwithftanding the number of the Americans, which was hourly increafing, Generd Gates a6ted with as much precau- tion as if the fuperiority was on our fide, as THROUGH AMERIC*A. ^.6l as the ground where he encamped was, from its nature and the works he had thrown up, inattackablc. Our march to Fort Edward being thus prevented, the army was pofled as well as the grouml would admit of, fortifying our camp, and preparing for any attempt that the enemy, from our reduced ftate, might be induced to make. The ftate and fituation of our army was truly calamitous ! — ^Worn down by a feries of inceflant toils and ftubbom aiEtions; abandoned in our utmoft diftrefs by the Indians; weakened by the defertion, and difappointed as to the efficacy of the Csma- dians and Provincials, by their timidity; the regular troops reduced, by the late heavy lofles of many of our beft men and dlftinguifhed officers, to only 35ooeffe6Hvc men, of which number there were not quite 2000 Britifh :— in this ftate of weak- nefs , 4^ INTERfOR TRAVEt'S nefi, jio poffibility of retreat, our provj- fiohs.iiearly exhaufted, and invpfted by an army of four tbwes our numbor, that almoft encircled us, who would not attack ns fuom a knowledge of our fituation, and whofc works could lyotbe^aflaulted in any part^ In this pcrr ilous fituation the men lay continually upon their arms, th^ ^nemy inceffantly cannonading us, and their rifle and cannon fhot reaching every part of our camp. ■-i True courage fubmits witli great dijSi- culty to defpair, and in the midft of all Xhok dangers and arduous trials, the 'valor and conftancy of the Britiih troops were aftohiihing : they ftiU retained their fpirits, in hopes that either the long- €Xpe6ted relief would arriye from J^ew- York^ which the army implicitly believed, from an order that had been given out at pur can^p at Still- Water, ftating that pow- erful armies were to a6l.in co-ppecation with 3rH ROUGH AMERICA. 4^3 With om's, or that .the bicmy wxjuld attart us, which was moft fervently wiihed for, a» it would have given us an opportunity of dying gallantly, or extricating ourfelvcs with honor! "- ItJn V) rtiJ ^: After waiting the whole ofthc 13th day of October, in anxious expedlation of what it wouid proiluce, and to which time it had been refolved to endure all extremities in maintaining our ground againft the enemy'— no profpe6l of aiTiftance appearing, and no rational ground of hope remaining, it was thought proper, in the evening, to take an exa6l account of the provifions left, which amounted to no more than tliree days fhort allowance. In this ilate of diftrefs, a council of war was called, to which all the Generals, Field- -officers, and commanding-officers of corps were fummoned, when it was unanimoufly agreed, that in the prefent circumftances we ', VI 464 INTERIOR TRAVELS we could do no other than treat with the enemy. Overtures were accordingly propofed to General Gates, who harfhly rejefted them> reminding us of our enervated flate, from a toilfome campaign, diminifhed numbers, fcanty fiibiiftence, and the impoffibility of frefh fupply. Thefe reafons were urged on the fpur of the moment, minute confidera- tion denied, and a decifive anfwer required. We felt their force, but compliance was never thought of, it would have too feverely wounded the dignity of our military cha- ra6i:er. The refufal of our overtures was morti- fying in the extreme, yet inftead of deprei^ fmg, it raifed our magnanimity -, the inter^ val of fufpence, indeed, difturbed our re- pofe; anxiety was awake to confequences — itill we adhered to our purpofe with manly fimmefs. A ftate of fufpence, to a refle6l- ing i; THROUGH AMERICA, 465 Ing tnind, is worfe than death ; that was our Hate till the convention was finally adjufled. 'i i The obftacles to the accomplifliment of the convention at firft appeared infur- mountablc, for General Gates conceived that our complicated embarraffments fuf- ficiently juftified him, according to the rules of war, in infifting on an uncondi- tional furrender of the army : they were difHainfuUy remedied, and he was peremp- torily informed, that notwithftanding our reduced numbers, if he ftill perfifted, our final appeal Ihoiild be to the fword, as the Britifh troops would rufh upon the enemy, determined to give no quarter. tick/ jiu ' , General Gates, from having been once in pur fervice, was fully convinced of what exertions Britilh troops were capable, in any dangerous emergency; he was there- fore quickly fenfible of the impolicy pj >VoL. I. Hh coercion. 466 INTERIOR TRAVELS f coercion, and with very great prudence declined hazarding a frdh confli^ with men who preferred death to a difgraceful fubmiffion. Awed by our firmnefs, he retra6led his demands, and honorable terms were granted; the particulars, as they are undoubtedly in the Gazette, I (hall of courfe pafs over. To a reverfe of fortune we yielded with becoming dignity, but our honor was fafe, and equanimity of temper marked our cha- rafter, even in adverfity. General Burgoyne has done every thing in this convention for the good of the troops, confiftent with the fervice of his King and country : all that wifdom, valor, and a ilrift fenfe of honor could fuggeft. Confident, no doubt, of having exerted himfeif with indefatigable fpirit in their fervice, he will defpife popular clamor, truly ^Icofible that no perfefl and unbiailed judge c of ofafti fon ha^ «< friend- ardent i fortuna imAm rwiijuaji^iiifWiiiiyfliji .n THROUGH AMERICA. 467 of aftual fervice can condemn him. Addi- fon has fomcwhetc obferved, y f* 'T18 not in mortali to command fuccefs !'* And as the populace, in this verfatilc age ftartle at untoward events, fo our Ge-. neral is liable to be expofed to public cen* fure. Ample juftice muft raife him in the mind of every liberal man who will judge with caution, acquit him with honor, and ■^take him to his heart as the foldier's friend — -as a man of cool judgment, but ardent for glory— --as courageous but un- fortunate! , . END OP THE FIRST VOLUME.