Could 1775 thing could exceed the astonishment of the inhabitants. They CHAP. V. would almost as soon as have expected to see an army descending from the clouds, as emerging from the hideous wilderness through which this hardy detachment had made its way. Arnold have immediately crossed the St. Lawrence, and availed himself of their first consternation it is believed to be certain that he might have entered the place without opposition; but a very high wind, and the want of boats rendered the passage of the river impossible. One of his Indian messengers, dispatched with letters to General Schuyler, had either betrayed him, or been intercepted; whereby intelligence of his approach was communicated to Colonel M'Lean, then at the mouth of the Sorel; and that experienced officer, trembling for the capital of the province, immediately determined to throw himself into it, and endeavour to defend it. In the mean time, the winds, for several nights, continued so high as to render the passage of the river in the canoes collected from the people of the country, and found on the southern bank, too hazardous to be attempted; and it was only in the night that the Americans could hope to cross, because the Lizard frigate had anchored opposite the town, and three other armed vessels of smaller size, were distributed in different stations, so as to guard the river for some distance above Wolfe's Cove. Armed boats were also employed to ply around the ships, and thus the passage of the river, even in the night had become a very critical operation. Whilst the Americans were thus unavoidably detained, Colonel M'Lean, with his corps of emigrants, entered the city. At CHAP. V. 1775 fore Quebec. At length the wind moderated, and Arnold, leaving behind him about a hundred and fifty men to make ladders, determined The armies be- to attempt the river. Eluding the armed vessels, and conquering a very rapid current, he, with infinite difficulty and danger, crossed over in the night, and landed the van of his little army about a mile and a half above the place, which is rendered so very memorable by the debarkation of General Wolfe in the year 1759. The rugged cliffs which continue on the northern bank of the St. Lawrence, for some distance above Quebec, being at this place absolutely impracticable, he marched down on the shore, to Wolfe's Cove; and ascending with his band of hardy followers, the same precipice which had opposed such obstacles to the British hero, he too formed his small corps on the heights near the plains of Abraham. The dangerous and difficult operations of crossing the river in canoes, while the passage was so vigilantly guarded by ships of war, and gaining the almost perpendicular heights of the opposite shore, were completed by the advanced party, consisting of the rifle companies, soon after midnight. It was necessary to wait for the residue of the detachment, and, in the mean time, a council of all the officers was held for the purpose of determining on their future measures. Lieutenants Humphries and Keith of Morgan's company of Virginia rifle-men, who had been detached towards the town for the purpose of reconnoitring the enemy, reported that they had perceived the centinels, who seemed alert at their posts, and who challenged them on their approach. Neither this intelligence, nor the circumstance of their having while on the river shore, fired into a barge making from the harbour to the Lizard sloop of war, nor the situation of his troops, who were neither properly supplied with bayonets, spears, or ammunition, deterred Arnold from proposing in council, to march immediately against Quebec. He counted on surprising. the place and finding the gates open. But this opinion, which was not very earnestly pressed, was overruled. After having shewn themselves on point Levi, and having fired from the northern shore, into a barge which immediately returned towards the harbour; and after the report of their reconnoitring party; the expectation of finding the garrison entirely off its guard, was deemed too much against every probability to be in any degree calculated on. Yet subsequent information assured them that, notwithstanding these appearances, the gate called St. John's, was then open, at which the town might undoubtedly have been entered. From some unaccountable negligence, no report was made to the governor, by the crew of the boat which had been fired into, till the next day; and no suspicion was entertained that Arnold had crossed the river. Though disappointed in the expectation of surprising Quebec, Arnold did not immediately relinquish the hope of obtaining possession of that important place. Not superior to the enemy in point of numbers, and without a single piece of artillery, or other implements for a siege, he was obviously incapable of acting offensively; but he flattered himself that a defection in the garrison, might yet put the capital of Canada into his hands. With this view, he paraded on the heights, near the town, for some days; and sent two flags to summon it to surrender. But the VOL. II. Tt 1775 CHAP. V. 1775 . the presence of Colonel M'Lean, an experienced and vigilant officer, and who was indefatigable in making arrangements for the defence of the town, restrained those measures which the fears of the inhabitants dictated. Deeming it unsafe to admit of any communication with the assailants, he refused to receive the flag, and fired on the officer who bore it. Intelligence too was soon obtained that the first alarm was visibly wearing off, and giving place to other sentiments unfavourable to the hopes of the assailants. Fears for the vast property contained in the town soon united the disaffected; and they were, at their own request, embodied and armed. The sailors too were landed, and placed at the batteries; and by these means the garrison had become more numerous than the American army. In his la Arnold, whose numbers, after collecting those he had left on the south side of the St. Lawrence, did not now exceed seven hundred men, was in no condition to risk an action. borious, and almost unparalelled march through the wilderness, nearly one third of his muskets had been rendered useless; and his ammunition was found upon examination, to have sustained such damage, that his riflemen had not more than ten, nor his other troops more than six pounds per man. In this hazardous situation he was informed, that a body of two hundred men who had escaped from Montreal, were descending the river; and that M'Lean intended making a sortie from the town, at the head Arnold retires of his garrison attended by some field pieces. Under these cir to Point Aux Trembles. cumstances, he thought it most advisable to retire with his small party to Point Aux Trembles, twenty miles above Quebec, there to await the arrival of Montgomery. On their march they saw the vessel on board which was General Carlton, and afterwards found found that he had been on shore at Point Aux Trembles, a very few hours before they reached that place. In war, the success of the most judicious plans often depends on accidents not to be foreseen or controuled. Seldom has the truth of this position been more clearly demonstrated, than in the issue of the expedition conducted by Colonel Arnold. The situation of the enemy conformed exactly to the expectations of the commander in chief. Not suspecting that so bold and difficult an enterprize could possibly be meditated, Quebec had been left entirely defenceless, and all the strength of the province had been collected towards the lakes. Could Arnold have reached that place but a few days sooner; could he even have crossed the river on his first arrival at Point Levi, before the town was entered by M'Lean; had Colonel Enos been able to follow the main body with his division of the detachment; or had the first moments after passing the St. Lawrence been seized; every probability favours the opinion, that this hardy, and well-judged expedition, would have been crowned with the most brilliant sucHad Arnold even been careful to relieve the inhabitants of the town from all fears respecting their property, there is much reason to believe, they would have refused to defend it. But although this bold enterprize was planned with judgment, and executed with vigour; although the means employed were adequate to the object; yet the concurrence of several minute and unfavourable incidents, entirely defeated it, and deprived it of that eclat to which it was justly entitled. cess. General Montgomery having clothed his almost naked troops at Montreal, which he garrisoned, and provided clothes also, for CHAP. V. 1775. |