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: ,t:

L E G

Author >

StTU LK
KTC

/i/^

-"t"'

MAiM.K LEAVES:

A BUDGET OF

LEGENDAIU, HISTORICAL, CRITICAL,

AND SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

(Secoj]0 SeHea.)

By J. M. LeMoine, Esq.,

Author of " L'Ormthologie du Canada;" '■ Lew Pecheriks du Oanaua ;" •• Etude

suR LK3 Explorations Arctiques nE McClure, de McCunto(;k, xiT de Kanb,"

ETC'.; Member up the Literary and Hisiori. ai. Society oi" Canai>a.

(Copyright Secured.)

QUEBEC:

PRINTED, FOR THE AUTHOR, BY HUNTKR, ROSE k CO.

I ^, ^f PS

K.vr.^.nEii, according,' to Act of the Provincial Parliament, in tlie year one thousand
eight hundred and sixty-four, by J. M. Lr-MoiNf;, in the office of the Uogiatrar of
the Province of Canada.

This

" Maple

. prowess

earliest c

That Tvc

investigci

yet amo:

ments ir

I thuiigb

into Coil

puttiug

text of ]

form his

of luy o\v

of the .si

George I

George C

1 have

country,

Quebec a

In a tl'ir(

to furnisl

iog intill

SrENC.

%3^

TO THE READER.

This scries cuuLuins, properly speaking, tlie liistorical portion of the
*' Mapio liCaves," viz. : — Skotclio!' of the origin, ancestry and military
. prowess of our forefathers in p]astern and Western Canada, from the
earliest days down to the close of the last American invasion of Canada.
That wc have had plenty of fighting in this country, few who choose to
investigate the subject will be inclined to deny; and as there are
yet amongst us some who profess to consider as skirmishes, engage-
ments in which several thousands of corpses strewed the ground,
I thought it would not be out of place to undeceive them by bringing
into Court the record of history. Not wishing to bo charged with
putting my own construction on past events, I have produced the very
text of Bancroft, Christie, Garucau, and others, allowing the reader to
form his opinion; in such cases, scarcely ever obtruding any comments
of my own. Two documents I shall specially commend to the attention
of the student of Canadian history— one, the narrative of the Fort
George Massacre, by an eyewitness; the ether, a sketch furnished by
George Coventry, Esq., of Cobourg, of the United Empire Loyalists,

1 have also devoted considerable space to the l-'ish and Game of the
country, and to setting forth amendments in the laws advocated by the
Quebec and Montreal Fish and Game Protection Clubs, and by others.
In a third series, I hope yet to redeem a promise I made in the first, and
to furnish to the patrons of " 3Iaple Leaves" a deal of new and interest-
ing inttlligence on literary and other subjects connected with Canada.

, SJ'EXCLR GllANME, NKAR QuEBEC,

20/A Mt>/, 18G4.

" r a;

•*• ca

Mild of

llucnt i
the ihxy
ti few c
busincs
thing t(
the Bri
thither,
Oatarac
tiblc pi'
I'itics, t
aud nc<.
ted us a
dietine,
our cok
would t
uow stc
irora wl
Canada

^.VE ^J^A y

-*•-

llkSTOliV AND SPORT.

I^ugiistiis .$ahi on Cairni;!,

" r AM bold enough to diiuk that about niuc-teuths even of my edu-
A cated countrymen have about as definite an idea of Montreal, Toronto,
and of Quebec, as they have of Owyhee or of Antannarivo. Is it imper-
tinent in inc to assume that my friends at liomearc as i^^norant as I was
the day before yesterday ? It seems to me that, abating a few merchants,
a few engineers, and a few military men, it has hitherto ])een nobou^ s
business in England to know what the Canadians arc like. It is not tlu-
thing to go to Canada. One can '' do " Niagara witlioutpenetrating into
the British Province. Englisli artists don't make sketching excursions
thither. The Alpine Club ignore it. Why does not some one start a
Cataract Club >' We let these magnificent provinces, with their inexhaus-
tible productiveness— for asperity of climate is no sterility— their noble
^.■ities, their hardy and loyal population, go by. We pass them in silence
and neglect. Wo listen approvingly while some college pedant, as bigot-
ted as a Dominican, but without his shrewdness, as conceited as a Bcme-
dietine, but without his learning, prates of the expediency of abandoning
our colonies. If we meanly and tamely surrender these, into whose hands
would they fall V What hatred and ill-will would spring up among those
now steady and ati'ectionate people in their attachment to our rule, but
from whom mi had withdrawn our countenance and protection ! 15ut
Canada has been voted a ' b..nv :in.l (o be < only a n.lni.jar would ap.

AUGUSTUS BALA ON CANADA.

iw.

ply, it would seem, to a province as well as to a bishop. I have not the
slightest desire to talk guidebook, or even to institute odious comparisons,
by dwelling on the strength and solidity, the cleanliness and comeliness,
the regard for authority, the clieery but self-respecting and self-exacting
tone which prevails in society ; the hearty, pleasant, obliging manners of
the people one sees at every moment in this far-offeity (Montreal) of a hun-
dred thousand souls, with its cathedrals, its palaces, its schools, its convcntsj
its hospitals, its wharves, its warehouses, its marvelous tubular bridge, its
constantly growing commerce, its hourly-increasing prosperity, its popu-
lation of vivacious and chivalrous Frenchmen, who, somehow, do not hate
their English and Scottish fellow-subjects, but livo in peace and amity
with them, and who are assuredly not in love with the Yankees. But it
really does make a travelling Englishman ' kinder mad,' as they would
say south of the forty-fifth parallel, when he has just quitted a city wliich,
in industry, in energy, and in public spirit, is certainly second to none on
the European continent, and which, in the cleanliness of its streets, the
beauty of its public buildings, and the tone of its society, surpasses many
of them — to know that u majority of his countrymen are under the im-
pression that the Canadian towns are mere assemblages of log-huts, in-
habited by half-savage backwoodsmen in blanket coats and moccassins,
and that a few mischievous or demented persons are advocating the
policy of giving up the Cauadas altogether. Happily there is a gentle-
man in Pali-Mall who has been to Canada — who lias seen Quebec, and
Toronto, and Montreal. The name of that gentleman — the first in our
realm — is Albert-Edward, Prince of Wales ; and he knows what Canada
is like, and of what great things it is capable." — So says the late editor
of the Cornliill Mcvjatuir.

( ••)

e not the
parisouH,
iiiclincss,
cxactin*;'
utmersof
of ahun-
;onvcnts>
ridge, its
its popu-
not hate
id amity
But it
3y would
y wliicli,
I none on
eets, the
ics many
the im-
Imts, in-
ceassins,
jnj

the

gentlc-
)cc, and
it in our

Canada
;o editor

C^mmplaiii

No name in Canadian history is surrounded with more lustre and deeper
veneration than that of the founder of Quebec, As a statesman, —
a discoverer, — a hrave and successful commander, Samuel do Cham-
plain's far.: J will bo handed down from generation to generation. The
late Dr. J. C. Fisher thus describes *= his career : —

" On the loth April, IGOS, T»outgrave having been already despatched
in a vessel to Tadoussac, Champlain, who had obtained the commission
of Lieutenant, under Dc Monts, in New France, set sail from Ilonfleur,
with tlie express intention of establishing a settlement on the St.
Lawrence, above Tadoussac, at which post he arrived on the 3rd June.
After a short stay, he ascended the river, carefully examining the
shores; and on the onl .luly, reached the spot called Stadacona, now
Quebec, rendered so remarkable by the first visit of Jacques Cartier in
L5J55. Champlain, whose ambition was not limited to mere commer-
cial speculations — actuated by the patriotism and pride of a French
gentleman, a faithful servant to his king, and warmly attached to the
glory of his country, — thought more of founding a future empire than
of a trading post for peltry. After examining the position, he selected
the elevated promontory which commands the narrowest part of the
great river of Canada, the extensive basin between it and the Isle of
Orleans, together with the mouth of the little lliver St. Charles, as a
fit and proper seat for the future metropolis of New France, and there
laid the foundation of Quebec, on the 3rd July, 1G08. His judgment
has never been called in question, or his taste disputed in this selection.
Its commanding position, natural strength, and aptitude both for pur-
poses of offence and defence, are evident on the first view — while the
unequalled beauty, grandeur, and sublimity of the scene mark it as
worthy of extended empire : —

* In Hawkins's Picture of Quebec.

CIIAMI'LAIN.

lior rrp;tiiim p«'nlil)ii.-- fs-io,

Si qiiii Oitfi siimnt, jam turn trii(lili|i)"' tovoliiuc

This iidlilo site, proTO fate liorcnfior kiml,
Tlio sent of laatinj; empire he desi^'iicil.

iTiu'liiti- IVum tlio irrand liiittory to tlio Castle of St. Lewis, lie coni-
nieneed liis labors jiy iVlliiii; tlie walnut trees, and vootiiij; up the wild
vinos with whieh the vir^'in soil was covered, in order to make room for
the projeeted settlement. Tints were eretited, some lands were cleared,
and a lew gardens made, (or the purpose of proving' the soil, whi(di was
found to be excellent. The first pertnanent buildini; which tlie h'reneh
erected was a storc-liouse, or magazine for the security of their pro-
visions, (^hiimplain thus <lescribes his first proceedings, whi(di will
be read with interest by the inha})itant at the present day : — ' I reached
(^)uebec (in the Ilrd duly, ^vlierc T sou,i!;ht out a proper place for our
dwcllinu; Imt T could not find one better adapted for it than the pro-
montory, or Point of Quebec, which was covered with walnuts and vines.
,\s soon as possible, T set to work some of our laborers to level them, in

order to build our habitation The first thing which wc did was to

build a stor(vhousc to secure our provisions under shelter, which was

quickly done Near this spot is an agreeable river, where formerly

wintered Jacques Cartier.' A temporary ])arrack for the men and
officers was subsequently erected on the higlier part of the position, near
where the (Castle of St. TiCwis now stands. It must be remembered that
at the time of the landing' of Champlain, the tide usually rose nearly
to the base of the rock, or cofc f- and that the first buildings were ef
necessity on the high grounds. Afterwards, and during the time of
(Miamplain, a space was redeemed from tlie water, and elevated above
the inundation oF the tide^ on whieh store-houses, and also a battery
level with the water were erected, having a passage of steps between it
and the fort, on the site of the present .Mountain street, which was first
used in llii:].

it wa

Mixie>

Hcttlcu

■• Ul(l resi.lcnts still rcuiembcr a red bridge which formerly existed at the end of !St.
Peter Street, opposite the Montreal ]]ank : and vessels were moored, some si.\ty years
ago, to tho IniiUlings which .4ood on the site on which the Quebec tank was erected
histycar.— (J. M. L.'l

< IIAMI'LAIN.

lie coiu-
flu- wild
room for
cloarod,
Mcli was
(^ I'^'cndi
icir pro-
liicli will
1 reaclic'.]
! for our
ihc pro-
iiid vines,
tlioiii, in
id was to
hich was
I'onncrly
men and
iion, near
crcd tliat
<c nearly
s were of
time of
cd above
a l)attcry
ctwecD it
was first

end of fit.
ixty years
!is erected

*' riianiplaiii li.id now. liinnMc as tlicy wrw, siKM'Ossfiilly hid flit
foundations oftlic fiol l-'tctirli ('..juny in North America. One hundred
and sixteiii years had elapsed since the discovery of the New W(»rld ; and
it wa.^ J in the v'-'iir previous that, nn (he whole continent, north of
?.Ii'xieo, a l*;uropran nation had nt Icnpjlh tuieceedcd in cstahlishinu an\
settleniciit. 'fliis was cllccli'd hy the l'lnL,'lish under Captain (Miristophcr
Newport, who laid Ihr I'nuiidatinn i)\' a scttlcnicni at .lanicstown, \'ii
1,'inia, on (ht> J.'Jih .^lay, HlUT, two hundrcMJ and liftyseven years a,t;(".
The iliivali'oiis rharactcr ami adventures of (';'pfain dolm Smith, ami
the iiitere.-linu; story of iV'eahontas, have coiiferred a ])eculiar interest
on the early liislnry of ihis colony. It may Ik? noteil, as a sin^Milar con-
trast will) the growth of the Kn;j;lish colonies afterwards, (hat at the
death of (Jnern j'llizaheth, in l;>('o, t!iere was not a Mnropean family in
all (he northern eoiitiiUMit : at present the great State itf \'irt;ini;i alone,
-of wlii( h the germ was a colony u\' on(! hundred <ou!<, of whom fifty
died during' tlo* first year ; and wliicli, as described by Chalmers in his
political annals, 'feeble in imnd)ers ami enterprise, was planted in dis-
cord, and 1,'rew up in misery,' — numlters upon its soil no less (ban
twelve bundled thousand inhabitants I The disappearance iuid eradica-
ti(ni of till! Indians has been still more extraordinary. Of (In- coiintlos
tribes who filled up the back country of Virginia at ilic time t>\' the lirst
settlement by the l^bii^lisb, it appears by the census of js.io that there
existed on]y /"rfj/scrt n Indians in the wlnde state I

" 'fhe <umni(n' was passed in tinishing the necessary buildinf:;s ; when
rlearanees were made around them, and the n'round prepared for sowin-'
wheat and rye, which W'as :iccumi»lisbed by tiie 15tli October. IToar
frosts commenced aliout the 'Jrd October, and on the loth the trees shed
their leafy honors. The first snow fell ou the 18th November, Imt dis-
appeared al'ter two days. Chaniplain deserilies the snow as lying on
the ground from December until near the end of April, so that the
favorite theory of those who maintain the progressive improvement of
the ciimate, as lands are cleared in new countries, is not borne out by
the evidence of Canada. From several facts it might be shown that the
wintry climate was not more inhospitable in the early days of Jacfjucs
Cartier and Champlaiu than iu the present. The winter' of .1 Gil and
1612 was extremely mild, and the river was not frozen before Quebec.

CllAMPLAIN.

" From the j-ilonoo of Chaiupliiin rospectiiig the hanilot or town of
St.'ulacona whioli bad boon visited by (Jartier so often in Ifil}"), it would
sconi probabio that it had dwindled, owing to the migratory predilections
of tlio Indians, to a plaoo ©f no monicut. lie certainly mentions a num-
ber of Indians who were " c<thanves/' or hutted near his settlement?
but the ancient name of Stadacona never once occurs. It will be recol-
lected that (^artier spoko of tlio liouscs of the natives as being amply
provided with food against the winter. From the evidence of Cham-
plain, the Indians of th" '>'ioInIty appear to have degonerated In this
particular. 'Plioy are represented as having experienced the greatest
oxtrcralties for want of food during the winter of 1008 ; and some who
canu^ over from the Pointo Levi side of the river were in such a state of
wretchedness as hardly to bo able to drag their limbs to the upper part
of the settlement. They were relieved and treated with the greatest
kindnef<s by the I'rcneh.

" The Ice having disappeared in the spring of 1()09, so early as the 8th
April, riiamplain was enabled to leave tlic infant settlement of Quebec
arid to ascend the river on the 18th, for the purpose of further exploring
tlie country. He resolved to penetrate Into the Interior; and his min-
gled emotions of delight and astonishment may easily be conceived, as
ho proceeded (o exanunc the magnitioent country of which he liad taken
possession. During this summer, lie discovered the beautiful lake which
now bears bis nam?; and having returned to Queliec In tlic autumn, lie
sailed for IVanoc in September, 1000, leaving the settlement under the
command of (\aptaln Pierre Chauvin, an officer of great experience.

'' nhamplain was well received on his arrival by Henry IA^, who
iavltod him to an interview at Foutainebleau, and received from him an
exact account of all that had been done In New France, with a statement
of the advantages to be expected from the new establishment on the 8t.
Lawrence, — at which recital the king expressed great satisfaction. I)c
Monts, however, by whose moans tiie settlement of Quebec had been
formed, cou^d not obtain a renewal of his privilege, which had now ex-
pired : notwithstanding which, he was once more enabled by the as-
sistance of the company of merchants, to fit out two vessels in the spring
of IGIO, under the command of Champlaln and Pontgrav(5. Tho latter
was instructed to continue the fur trade with the Indians at Tadoussac,

CHAMPLAIN.

or town of
•">, it would
rodilcctious
ions a num-
jcttlcmont ;
ill be reool-
iing amply
of Cham-
tod in this

10 gfOiltcSt

some who
1 a state of
upper part
10 greatest

as the Sth
of Quebce
' exploring
I his niin-
iceivod, as
had taken
lake which
utumu, he
under the
enee.
IA^, who
)ni hi:n an
statement
m the St.
tion. J)c
liad been
i now ex-
y the as-
he spring
ho latter
adousaae,

while Champlain, having with him a reinforcement of artisans and
laborers, was to proceed to Quebec. He sailed from Honfleur on the Sth
April, and arrived atTadoussac in the singularly short passage of eighteen
days. Thence ascending the river to Quebec, lis had the gratification
of iinding the colonists in good health, and content with their situation.
The crops of the previous year had been abundant, and everything was
in as good order and condition as could be expected.
' " To pursue further the Dvoceedings of (Mianiplain; and his discoveries
in the interior, does not ])roperly fall within the scope of this work, but
belongs to the History of Canada. It may be well, however, to observe
in this place, that owing to the political error committed by this other-
wise sagacious chief, when he taught the natives the use of fire-arms, and
joined them in an olFensive league against the lro(j[Uois, who were at first
supported by the Dutch, and afterwards by the English colonists of New
York, Champlain not only laid the foundation of that predatory and
cruel warl;ire which subsisted with little intermission between his couri
trymcn and the five nations, notwithstanding the conciliatory efforts of
the Jesuits; but he may with reason be coDoidered as the remote,
although innocent, cause of the animosity afterwards engendered between
the Provincialisls and the French, owing to the excesses ol' the Indians
in the interest of the latter, and of a war which terminated only with the
subjugation of Canada ])y the British arms in I TOO.

" Champlain, who made fre(|uent voyages to France in order to pro-
mote the interests of the rising etjlony, and who identified himself with
its prospects by bringing out his family to reside with him, was wisely
continued, with occasional intermission, in tlie cliie!" command until his
death, hi 1(J20, he erected a temporary fort on the site ot (he Castle oi'
St. Lewis, which he rebuilt of stone, and fortified in JG24. At that
time, however, the colony numbered only fifty souls. It appears from
the Parisli ilegister then conimcnccd to be regularly kept, that the first
child liorn'' in Quebec of rreneh parents was christened Kustachc ou the
24th October, IG-I, being the son of Abraham Martin y and Margiiret

* The first marriuf o in tlio colony took itlaco botweuu Guillaunie Couilliinl and Uuill-
nietto Uebert. Two n. i,- ths iirevioutily tlio lirst. marriage in tlio New England States Wiis
celebrated on the I2(ii May, 1021, at I'lyniouth, between Kd. Winglow unil 8uHanniili
White. Couillard's house, the firat l)uilt in tin- eily, nptiears to have .^tood on (In?
Jiattery, close to the old .suinll-po.x cemetery. (J. ^I. L. )

I" Altraham Martin Jit L'Keos-s.iii?, <t/>it--, Mniirt Af'/u/nin:, Ivin;;,'; j'ilot, aller wln/m
the plain ■< wcro called

CIIAMPLAIN.

L'Anglois, lu 1629, Champlain had to undergo the mortification of
surrendering Quebec to an armament from England under Louis Kcrtk,
whc, on ihe 22nd July, planted the English standard on the walls, just
one hundred and thirty years before the battle of the Plains of Abraham,
Champlain was taken as a prisoner of war to England, whence ho
returned to France, and subsequently to Canada in lGo3. The inhabi-
tants were well treated by Kertk, who was hin..self a French Huguenot
refugee, and none of the settlers] left the country ; which was restored
to France by the treaty of St. Germain-en-Laye, on the 29th March, 1G32.

'' Champlain, who combined with superior talents and singular pru-
dence a temperament of high courage and resolution, after a residence in
New France of nearly thirty years, died full of honors, and rich in
public respect and esteem, in the bosom of the settlement of which lie
was the founder, about the end of December, 1G35. His memoirs are
written in a pleasing and unaffected style, and show that he was deficient
in none of the quulitiea which are so essential in the leader of difficult
enterprises, and the discoverer of new countries. His obsequies were
performed with all the pomp which the colony could command ; and his
remains were followed to the grave with real sorrow by the clergy, offi-
cers, and the civil and military inliabitants, h'atlier JjC Joune pronounc-
ing an a]>propriate funeral oration.

''At the death oi' Cliamplain, the French possessions in Canada con-
sisted ol' the fort of Quebec, surrounded ])y ^ome inconsiderable houses,
and barracks for the soldiers, a few huts on the Island of Montreal, as
n\any at Tadoussac, and at other places on the St. Lawrence, used as
trading and fishing posts. A settlement had just been commenced at
Three llivers; and in these tvilliug aeiiuisitions were comprised all that
resulted from the discoveries of \'crazzano, Jac(||ues Oartier, Koberval,
Chamj)iain, and i lie v;ist outlay oJ" i)e la ItochO). Do Monts, and other
French adventurers. At the time we are writing, (ISoi,) the Colony or
Province ol' J -owcr Canada contains nearly six hund';ed thousand inh'd>i-
tants — Quebec posseses over three thousand houses, and a i)opulation of
near thirty thousand houls (now some >^ixtyfive thousand souls). 'J'hat
of Montreal is as iiiini(>rous; ami Tluee llivers is ))Vogressively im-
proving ill wealtli and resources. Tlie sncial and conimercial inter-
course lM't\v((ii t'msc t!(.iirisliif»Li' lowiis is iiiai;itaiiit'd I

• V means

• HAM PLAIN.

ication of
is Kertk,
rails, just
Abraham,
tiencc be
3 inbabi-
[uguenot

restored
ch, 1G32.
liar pru-
idcDCC iu

ricli ill
vbicli bu
loirs arc
deficient

difficult
ies were

and bis
•gy, offi-

•OUOUIJC-

ada con-
i bouses,
treal, as
used as
euccd at

all tbat
obcrval,
id otbor
ulony or

inb'»bi-
lation of
L 'J'bat
ely ini-
il iiitor-
eans of

magnificent steamboats ol' unrivalled safety and expedition — tbosc
Hoatinp; palaces In wbich a tbousnnd bunian beings arc often trans-
ported from city to city. Tbo trade of tbe province, instead of being
limited to a few small craft engaged iu the fisheries or the fur trade,
employs more than a thousand vessels of burthen, enriching the pro-
vince with an annual immigration of from twenty-five to tifty thou-
sand souls, the aggregate of whose capital is immense ; and conveying
in return the native produce of the Canadas to almost every part of the
cmplie. Pitt must have b^en prophetically inspired when he gave iu
the great seal of Canada its beautiful legend, I'or nothing could be more
applicable to the double advantages uConc extensive branch ol" its com-
merce — tlic Timber trade —

AH Il'sO

DUCIT Ol'ICS ANIMUUCJUE I'KttnO —

Gaius power ami riches by tlio self-same steel.

fnstead of a few huts on the river's side, the country on each bank of
the St. Lawrence has been lung divided into rich seigniories, and tbe
i'ertilc soil cultivated by an industrious, a virtuous and contented ])opu-
lation — by a people to whom foreign dominidn, instead of deteriorating
their i'ormer condition, lias been the herald of all that can render \\i\)
precious. It has given to them the unrestricted enjoyment of their
rights, language and religion — protection against external foes, together
with the full security of their )mestie usages, customs, laws and pio-
perty — porteet exemption from tbe burthens of taxation, ;ind a state <>l"
rational iiappiuess and political freedom unequalled on the lace of tbe.
globe. The lollowing beautii'ul lin(;s from Virgil will strike every
one, as singularly ap]tlicable to the condition (»f the Canadian fanner, or
liiibitant :

" U fortunatos niraium, sua si bona uoriut,
Agricolud! quibus Ipsa, i)rocuI discordibus armii,
Fundit liiimo fiiciloni victtmi justis.sima tellu,^."

Let u^ now see tbe same ^ubJeet treated by toiu of our mo:4

(HI

ClIAMPIiAIN.

eloquent statesmen. The speech* is iu reply to the following .sen-
timent : —

"T/ie memory of Sieur dc Champlain, the fearless navigator and ac-
complished statesman ; the first to explore and designate these shores ;
whose plans of empire^ more vast and sagacious than any of his time,
failed of success, only through the short-sightedness of his sovereign, in
allowing the Atlantic shores of New England to fall into the hands of
his rivals, thereby changing the history of the New World."

The lion. Thos. D'Arcy McGeo, President of the Executive Council
of Canadn, addressed the assemblage in response to this sentiment. IIo
said : I beg to assure you, Mr. President, and the gentlemen of the
Maine Historical Society, who have done me the honor to invite me liero,
that T feel it a very great privilege to be a spectator and a participant in
the instructive, retributive ceremonial of this day. This peninsula of
Sabino must become, if it is not already, classic ground, and this 29th
of August, the true era of the establishment of our language and race on
this continent, one of the chief /as^t of the English speaking people of
North America. It is, on general grounds, an occasion hardly less in-
teresting to the colonies still English, than to the citizens of Maine, and,
therefore I beg to repeat in your presence, the gratification I feel in
being allowed to join in the first of what I trust will prove but the first,
of an interminable series of such celebrations. I would be very insen-
sible, sir, to the character in which I have been so cordially presented
to this assembly, if I dil not personally acknowledge it; and I should
be, I conceive, unworthy of the position I happen to occupy as a mem-
ber of the Canadian Government, if I did not feel more the honor you
have paid to Canada, in the remembrance you have made of her first
Governor and Captain General, the Sieur do Champlain. That cele-
brated person was in truth, not only in point of time, but in the compre-
hension of his views, the audacity of his projects, and the celebrity of
his individual career, the first statesman of Canada ; and no one pretend-
ing to the character of a Canadian statesman could feel otherwise than
honored and gratified when Champlain's name is invoked, publicly or

'* This report of tho Ilou. Mr. McGee .^ speocli wt tlio Fort I'ui'luim (State of
Maino) cehbrfttion, iu 1862, wo cojij from the Povtlnnd Adf^ithfr.

CaiAMPLAiN,

icn-

ac-
res ;
ne,
in
of

privately in his presence. \Vc have no fear that the reputation of our
j^rcat founder will not stand the severest test of historical research; we
have no fear that his true greatness will dwindle by comparison with the
rest of the Atlantic leaders — the chiefs of the renowned sea — chivalry,
of whom we have already heard such eloquent mention. We Canadians
ardently desire that he should be better known — be well known — and,
perhaps, you, Mr. l*resident, will permit me to indicate some of the
events in the career, to point out some of the traits in the character,
which hallow for us, forever, the name and memory of the Sicur de
Ohamplaiii.

" What we esteem most of all other features in the life of our founder,
is that chief virtue of all eminent men — his indomitable fortitude; and
next to that we revere the amazing versatility and resources of the man.
Originally a naval officer, ho had voyaged to the West Indies and to
Mexico, and had written a memoir, lately discovered at Dieppe, and
edited both in France and England, advocating among other things the
artificial connexion of the Atlantic and l*acifie oceans. From the quar-
ter-deck we trace him to the counting rooms of the merchants of Rouen
and Saint Malo, who first entrusted him, in 1()03, with the command of
a commercial enterprise of which Canada was the field. From the ser-
vice of the merchants of llouen, Dieppe and Saint Malo, we trace him
to the service of his sovereign — Henry IV. Fcr several successive year 5
we find his flag glancing at all points along this rock-bound coast on
which we arc now assembled, from Port lloyal to Massachusetts Bay.
Whenever we do not find it here, we may be certain it has advanced into
the interior, that it is unfurled at Quebec, at Montreal, or towards the
sources of the Hudson and the Mohawk. We will find that this versa-
tile sailor has become in time a founder of cities, a negotiator of treaties
with barbarous tribes, an author, a discoverer. As a discoverer, he was
the first European to ascend the Richelieu, which he named after the
patron of his latter years — the all-powerful Cardinal. He was the first
to traverse that beautiful lake, now altogetlier your own, which make^
his name so familiar to Americans ; ho was the first to ascend our great
central river, the Ottawa, as far north as Nippissing, and he was the first
to discover what he very justly calls " the fresh water sea" of lake Ontario.
His place as an American discoverer is, therefore, amongst tho first;

: d

, ,^ -N. 'J

V •■'■■]

CHAMPLAIN.

whilo liis rlaiin? as a cnlonizor rest ou tlio firm foundation of Montreal
anil Quebec, amlliis prujeet— extraordinary for the age — of uniting tlic
Atlantic with the Pacific by artificial channels of connnuuieation. As a
legislator, we have not yet recovered, if we ever shall, the ordinances he
is koowu t:^ have piouiulgutcd ; but as an author we have his narrative
of transactions in New France, his voyage to Mexico, his treatise on
navigation, and sonic other papers. As a diplomatist; we have the Franco-
liidinn alliances, whicli lie loundcd, and which lasted a hundred and
fifty years on this continent, and which exercised so powerful an in-
lluence, nnt only on American but on J'iUrtiycan aH'airs. To him also it
was mainly owing that (^anada, Acadia, and Cape Breton were reclaimed
l^y, and restored to France, under the treaty of Saint German-cn-Laye,
in hV-V2. As to the moral «iualities, oui founder was brave almost to
rashness, lie v.'ould east himself with a single European follower in the
midst of savage I'liemies, and more than once his life was endangered bv
the excesses of his confidence and his courage. lie was eminently social
in his haliits — as witness his order of /r hnn f(nij).'< — in which every man
of his associates was for one day host to his comrades, and command-
ed in turn in those agreeable encounters of which we have just
had a sliglif, skirmish here, lie was sanguine as became an advcn-
turei, and ."jjf-dcnying as became a hero. Tie served under He
Mout:-, wib) fur a time succeeded to his honors and ollice, as cheer-
fully as he had ever acted for himself, and in the end he made
•'• tViend df his j'ival. lie encountered, as Columbus antl many
I'lhers had dune, mutiny and assassination in his own disaftected fol-
lowers, but he triumphed over the bad passions of men as completely as
he triumplied over the occmi and the wilderness.

" lie touched the extremes of human experience among diverse charac-
ters and nations. Atone time he sketched plans of civilized aggrandise-
iiient for Henry IV, and Richelieu ; at another he planned schemes of
wild warfare with Huron chiefs and Algonquin braves. He united, in
a most rare degree, the faculties of action and reflection, and like all
highly reflective minds, his thoughts, long cherished in secret, ran often
into the mould of maxims, and some of them would now form the fittest
possible inscrii>tion to engrave upon ]u& monument.

CllAMl'LAIN.

" Wiieii llio mcrcliniits of (,^)u('bcc ,m'uiiil)l(!(l ;it tho cost ol'lbrtifvij)!-- tlmt
j)laoo, he siiid : — • It is ])ost not to ohcy llie passions of men ; ihcy iwc
l)ut for a season ; ic is our duty to regard the future' "With all liis love
of c;ood fellowship and society, he was, \vhat sccnis to some inconsistent
with it, sincerely and enthusiastically relieciouf? ; amoni^ his maxims arc
these two — that ' the salvation of one soul is of more value than the
conquest of an empire,' and, that ' kings ought not to think of extend-
ing their authority over idolatrous nations, except I'or tlie purpose of
subjecting thcui to Jesus Christ.'

" Such, iMr. President, arc, in brief, the attributes of the man ymi have
fliosen ro lionor, and J leave it for this company to y:\y, whether in all
that constitutes true greatness the lirst riovernorand Captain (Jeneral of
Canada need fear comparison with any of the illustrious l»rotlierhoo<l
who projected and founded our North American States. (Jount over
all flieir honored names; enumerate their chief actions ; h't eat-h ('(im-
munity assign to its own his meed of elo(|ueut and revoretit remembrance ;
l)ut among them J'rotn the south to the north, tlicrc will be no secondary
place assigned to the vSicur dc Chatuplain.

" 3[r. President, your Excelleuey has added to tbe sontiuu nt in hoiun'
of Champlain, an allusion and an inference as to the diflerent results of
the I'rcuch and l']nghish Colonial policy, on which you wil probably cx-
l)cct mc to olt'er an observation or two boforc resuming my seat. Cham-
jdain's project originally was, no doubt, to make this Atlantic coast the
basis of h'rench power in the New World. His government claimed
the continent down tc the 40tli parallcd, which as you knovr intersects
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois, wliile the l-higlish claimed up to the
l.")th, wiiich intersects Nova Scotia and Canada.

" Within these five dcL'recs of latitude the pretentions of France were
long zealously maintaiucd in diplomacy, but were never practically as
serted, except in the 44th and 45th. by colonization. 1 am not prepared
to dispute tho inference that the practical abandonment, by France, of
the coast discoveries of her early iiavigators, south of 45, may have
changed, as you say, ' the destiny of the New World.' It may be so;
it may b?, also, that wc have not reached the point of time in which to
speak positively as to the permanent result ; for Divine Providence moves
iu Ills orbit by long and iuscusiblc curves, of which even the clearest-

(JIIAMPLAIN.

si"-hted men can iliscoru, in their tinio, but a very limitoJ section. Uut
we know, as of the past, that the French power, in the reign of Louis
XIII. and XIV., was ])raetically based on the St. Jjawrcncc, with a
southern aspect, rather than on the Atlantic with a western aspect.
All the coMHcquences of that j;rcat change of plan and policy, J am not
prepared here so much as to allude to, fur that would carry mo where J
liave no wish to go — into international issues, not yet exhausted.

" I may bo permitted, however, to question tiiat French influence, as
developed in its JloTuan Catholic religion, its lloman law and its his-
torical fascinations, was ever really circumscribed (o Canada, or was
really extinguished, as has been usually assumed, by the fixll of Quebec.
It is amazing to (ind in the colonial records of the period between the
death of Champlaiu and the death of Montcalm, a century and a quarter,
how important a part that handful of secluded French colonists played
in North American aftairs. In 1620, Champlaiu could have carried oiF
all his colonists iu 'a single sliip;' more than a hundred years later,
they were estimated at some G5,000 souls; in the Seven Years' War
they were, according to IMr. Bancroft, but as 'one to fourteen' of the
English colonists. The part played by the Canadians in v/ar, under the
French kings, was out of all proportion to their numbers ; it was a
glorious but prodigal part; it left their country exposed to periodical
scarcity, without wealth, without commerce, without political liberty.
They were ruled by a policy strictly martial to the very last, and though
IJiehelieu, Colbert^ de ia (Jallissioucrc, and other supreme minds, saw in
their ' New France ' great commercial capabilities, the prevailing
policy, especially under Louis XIV. and XV., was to make and keep
Canada a mere military colony. It is instructive to find a man of such
high intelligence as Montcalm justifying that policy in his despatches
to tho President de Mole on the very evo of the surrender of Quebec.
The Canadians, iu his opinion, ought not to be allowed to manufacture,
lest they should become unmanageable, like the English colonists, but,
on the contrary, they should be kept to martial exercises, that they
might subserve the interests of France in her transatlantic wars with
England. Such was the policy which fell at Quebec with its last
French Governor and Captain General, and it is a policy, I need hardly
bay, which no intelligent Canadian now looks back to with any other

feelings tl
elapsed si
mated at
of her fo
progress,
by our pr
speaking
100,000,
a wildern
exceedin
of the c
ancient
newly r(
strong yi
the grea
1 repres'
hour sac
liis way
<' Inc
listened
address
tlie sent
will go
can peo
entire j
nothin}
memor;
myself
—but
tween
meut c
and 11
Wc hi
Court
grarc!
violcii

CIIAMPLAIX.

But

lith a

[pcct.
Ill not
n-o J.

•e, as
liis-
wa.s

bcc.
the

rtor,

aycd

i olF
atcr,
War

the

the
^as a
iica]
}rty.

I'ueliugs than those oi* regret and disapprobation. A hundred j'ears have
elapsed since the international contest to which you refer was cousuni'
mated at Quebec, and Canada to-day, under the mild and equitable sway
of her fourth English sovereign, has to point to trophies of peaceful
progress, not less glorious, and far more serviceable, than any achieved
by our predecessors who were subject to the French kings. The French
speaking population, which, froni 1G08 till 1700, had not reached
100,000, from 17G0 to 18G0 lias multiplied to S80,O0O. tapper Canada,
a wilderness as Chainplain found it and Montcalm left it, has a population
exceeding IMassachusetts, of as fine a yeomanry as ever stirred the soil
of the earth. If French Canada points with justifiable pride to its
ancient battle-tields, English Canada points with no less pleasure to its
newly reclaimed harvst-tields; if the old retjime is typified by the
strong walls of Quebec, the monument of the new era may be seen in
the great bridge which spans the >St. Lawrence within view of the city
I represent, and whose four and twenty piers may each stand for one
hour sacred to every traveller who steams through its sounding tube on
liis way from the Atlantic to the Far West.

" In conclusion, Mr. President, allow me again to assure you that 1 have
listened with great pleasure to the speeches of this day — especially to the
address of my old and long-esteemed friend (lion. Mr. Poor). I trust
the sentiments uttered here, at the mouth of the Kennebec^ in 3Iaino,
will go home to England, and show our English relatives that the Ameri-
can people, unmoved by any selfish motive, arc capable of doing full and
(entire justice to the best qualities of the English character. I am sure
nothing was further from your minds than to turn this historical com-
memoration to any political account — and certainly 1 could not have done
myself the pleasure o^ being here, if I had imagined any puch intention
— but after all the angry taunts which have been lately exchanged be-
tween England and America, T cannot I'Ut think this solemn acknowledg-
ment of national affiliation, made on sc memorable a spot as Fort Popham,
and made in so cordial a spirit, must have a healing and a happy cflbet.
We have been sitting under your authority, BIr. President, in the High
Court of Posterity— we have summoned our ancestors from their ancient
grares — we have dealt out praise and blame among them — T trust without
violcuco to truth or injustice to the dead : for the dctid have their rights

T'h

■V.'ill

ili

CllAMrLAIN'.

as the liviu-;' have: injustice to them is one of the worst forms of all
injustice — and undue praise to tlio uudcr.sorvin*,' is the worst injustici;
to the virtuous aud nicritoriuus actors in tlie great events of former ages.
" Whcu we leave this place, we shall descend from the meditative world
of the Past to mingle iu the active world of the Present, where each
uan must bear hia part aud defend his post. Let me say for myself,
Mr. President, and 1 think 1 may add I speak in this respect the gcneial
settled sentiment of iiiy eouutryuuiu of Canada, when 1 say that iu the
extraordinary circumstances which have arisen for you, and for us also,
in North America, there is no other feeling in Canada thau a feeling of
deep and sincere sympathy and I'riendliness towards the (suited 8tat(is.
As men loyal to our own institutions, wo honor loyalty, everywhere; as
I'reemeu we are interested in all free States ; as neighbors wc are especially
interested in your peace, prosperity and welfare. We are all anxious to
exchange everything with you except injustice aud misrepresentation ;
that is a species of commerce whieh — even when followed by the fourth
estate (pointing to the reporters at his right) — L trust we will alike dis-
courage, even to the verge; of prohil)ition. Not only as a (-anadian, but
as one who was originally an emigrant to these shores ;is an Irishman,
witli so many of my original countrymen resident among you, I shall
never cease to pray that this hindered people nuiy alway.s find in the
future, as they always have found in the past, brave meu to lead them
in battle, wise meu to guide them in council, and cloriuent men like my
h()nora]>le i'riend yonder (Hon. John A. Poor) to (-("lebrate their ox))loits
and tli.'ir wisdom frnm I'oneration to ijeiirration."

(1*^;

' of* all
Jjustieo

J world
e cacli
uy«clf,
ciicial
in tiio
« also,
n- of
fates.

'",

% '' iretn-batk" of Ifee last dtwkxi

« A LITERARY gentleman of this city, well known for lii.s anticjuarian
ii- researches in connection with the early history ol" Canada, showed
U8,^ yesterday, a slip of once negotiable/ paper,' wliicli may not inapti)
be termed a ' shinplaster ' of the last century. It was one of the
Inteudant ]Jigot's famous bills on J'aris, which he drew so liberally
when the fate of the colony of New France was imminent, and the
approaching fall ol' French power in America ^ave to the avaricious a
capital chance of making money while a state of war and confusion
lasted — an opportunity which, if history speaks true, they did not neg-
lect. The bill is in an excellent state of preservation, and is printed
on a quarter-sheet of rough foolscap." On next page appears a /ar simile
of it.

This was a Treasury note when a Bourbon reigned in France, and the
North American colonies were still faithi'ul to King George. It wa.»«
worth fully as much in 17G4 as Mr. Chase's " kites" are worth in ISOI.

.ti'

The following words appear on the back of the note: —

I'aye h I'ordre de Mons. Perrault valeur reeile comptant k
Quebec, le 7e aeptembre 176o.

LoFFICIALE.

Payt' :i I'ordre de Monsieur 1). Vialars valeur accompte h
(ju<!?bec, lo 20e septembre 1703.

I^ERllAULT.

* Qutbe<i Mitriiiny Chioitii.U

'^2**

No. 17.

18 A OREEN-DACK OF

A COMFrK UKS Dlii'ENSES C,KNl':KALLi:S.

rroisimi'. A ^ti'bcc, le jc Octobre 1758.

Pour 774 Ivs.

ExKKcicK 1758. Monsieur, aiKiuatrcjuillet mil sept

- ^^^^^ foixantc-un, il vous plaira payer

par cette troisiemc de Change, ma
premiere on feconde ne I'etant, a
I'ordre de M. Lofficiale, k Ibmme
de lept cent Ibixaiite-quatorze livres
valeiir re(;ue en acquits. De laquelle
fomme je vous rendrai compte fur
les depenles de la Marine de cette
Colonic. Je lliis,
Monsieur,

Vu par 710US Intendant

lie la muvdk France.

Bigot.

Votre tres-humhle &; trds-
obeillant ierviteur,
A Monsieur Imbkrt.

iVionsieur Prrichon,
Trelorier general des Colonies,
Rue Neuve St. Euilache,
A Paris.

bo as w

fifty F
' |>;ini<'
been :i
ahly-wi
Mons.
liowcr
on whi

Tlioiii
tonnag
Ot-ru'ri
suite, i
St. Fo;
Froncl
Protcs
bctwec
(Ic roli
that li
an'l til
the El
and 11
the pr
the E

'' KITE-FLYING" ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

Uuder the above captiou "L" adds the ibllowing interosiiug note
(says the same paper), apropos of the luteudant Bigot's " suinplater" : —

" In order to complete, for the benefit of the curious, the particulars
re:spcctiug' Bigot's bill k>[' cxcdiauge, mentioned in your last issue, it may

TifK LAST CEN'ffKY

r
a

a
c

;s
e
r
e

be afl well to fitatc that this l)ill ;iii(l scvoiiil othors wore nt'i:ot!at<(l at
fifty per cent, diseount l)y Tiondon brokers, nhdut the your I7<'>l
' I>;iniel \'i;ilar.s,' to whom the present bill Wiis oiidorsrd, jippcarn to have
hccM an extensive JiOnd(-u ni(>rchant. With the l)ill there was a h»Mi;and
aldy-writtcn letter, in wliieli he proposes a kind of h!iMineMrt partncrshij) t(»
Mons, I'errault, of Quebee. iMr. I'errault was in those days a very extensive
Ijower Town merchant ; his business store seems to have oeeupied tlie spot
on whieli now stands, in St. Peter-street, .Mr. Daniel IMetiie's and the
l^xpress oflico. Amongst other stranj^e pieces Dl'inlorniation contained in
the letter referred to, is a request to Mr. I'errault to call on Mr. /aehary
Thompson, 'Capitainc du Port a (Quebec,' to procure a tertifioate of the
tonnage of the sliip La Man'r^ ('apt. Cornillard — ' qui i'ut Irette par le
General Amherst pour transporter en France le Chevalier de Levis et sa
suite, apres la capitulation de JMontreal.' This is tl>o hero (if the battle of
St. Foy. Daniel Vialars' letter covers eight pa-^cs. Ft is written in el, gaut
French. lie begins by expressing the hope that the fact of his being n
Protestant won't interfere in the mercantile connection likely to ensue
between liim and Mr. Perrault, as ' la probite so trouve dans toutes sortcs
de religions.' On the 12th February, 1703, Mr. "\''ialars writes to say
that he trusts peace will soon be proclaimed between England and France,
and that the final treaty respecting Canada was deferred merely to aiford
the English time to withdraw their funds from Martinique, Guadeloupe,
and Havana. ' According to private advices,' says he, 'from Holland,
the preliminaries between the Queen of Hungary, the King of Prussia and
tlie Elector of Saxe, are signed ; if so, we shall soon have a general
peace.'

"This odd document was found many years ago, with several others, in
the garret of the Jiower Town house which Mr. Perrault had occupied A
number were used by a merciless old cook to singe chickens. Tliis fact
reminds one of some manuscripts of priceless value for the history of
Canada, discovered at Quebec in the wood-box of Mr. llyland's office,
some years back. Unfortunately a portion had already been consigned
to the flames.'*

\ ■■*'

(2n)

(^i-Couiicillor €stcb( on dUlonial Matters

24Tn FfinRi'AUT, 1T60.

fiurii

in tl

Loui|

Quel

the

witli

rpiIE reader htis ju.st seen ii/ac siniif<' of a Tanadian " i^recnback" of
the last (cntury. The kindnoss of a friend — David A. lloss,

Ksquirc — enables mc to submit another document of this period. It is
a letter from Estcbe, a leading man in the last days of French rule in the
colony.

Monsieur Estebe was a nnmber of the Superior Council, at Quebec,
one of the advisers of the notorious Bigot, as such condemned, justly or
unjustly, three years after the date of this letter, to restore to the King of
France some 300,000 livres. This communication, recently discovered,
and which has never yet been published, is also addressed to Monsieur Pcr-
rault, I'ain^'', an eminent Lower Town merchant of that day. It is im.
porlant as throwing additional light on an eventful period of the history
of Canada 5 having been written four months after (iic battle of the Plains
of Abraham, two montiis before that of Ste. Foy, and nt a time when war
was r'ill raging in the colony. The English held the territory enclosed
in the walls of Quebec and some forts, but Montreal and the rest of Can-
ada, defended by a celebrated commander and by a numerous army, stil'
belonged to France; and after the brilliant victory of Ste. Foy in April
following, as Captain John Knox says, *' the fate of Quebec depended
on whether it were English or French frigates which entered the harb(»r
lirst" — defeat, famine and disease (scurvy) had so thinned the ranks of
General Murray's brave legions. This old document, indited by an
educated gentleman, will also be read witii interest, as furnishing a
vivid picture of the extreme misery at thu*- time existing in France J
still this stat'} of things was iloonicd to endure some twenty-nine years
longer before culminating in the horrors of the French llcvolution of '89.
Canada had ceased to be prized by Frmcc as fat" back as 1735; disappoint-
raeur at not finding gold mines 1 'inn- one uf the chi^if causes : the

men
Canf
the
thi

EX-COrNCILLOR ESTEBE ON rOLONIAL MATTEKS.

K068,

It is

in the

auriferous Cbaudierc region and its fabulous wealth were not talked of
in those days. The eyes of the French were then turned towards
liouisiaoa, whoso fate was dceided a few years after the surrender of
Quebec. Louisiana was, in 17G8, handed over to the tender norcies of
the Spaniards, who, under General O'llcilly, inaugurated their rule
Avith exploits which throw in the shade those of General Butler in the
Orescent City, at the head of Federal soldiers. Twelve of the principal
men in the colony, including tlie Attorney-General, Lafreniere, a French
Canadian, were, without trial, seized and loaded with chains : six of
them were shot. Compared with the rule of Spain in Louisiana, even
the arbitrary measures of a Haldimand and a Craig, and tiiO civil and
religious persecutions of the old Family Compact in Canada, ought to
have appeared to the old French colonists mildness itself.

•^f.

[TRANbl ATION.]

TiORDEAUX, 24/// Fdnin >i/^ ITHO.

To Monsieur Perrault, Quebec:

Sir, — It Avas with heartfelt pleasure I received your favor of 7th
Nov. last, since, ia spite of your misfortunes, it ap^jrizcd mc of the fact
tbat both you and your lady were well.

I feel grateful for the .sympathy you express in our troubles, during
our passage from Quebec to Bordeaux. I wish I could as easily forget
the misfortunes of Canada as T do the annoyances wc suffered on the
voyage.

We Icarne<l, ria England, by the end of Oct. last, the unfortunate
fate of Quebec. You can imagine liow wc felt on hearing such dreadful
news I could contain neither my tears nor my regrets, on learning
the loss of a city and a country, to vhich I owe everything, and to
which T am as sincerely attached as any of the natives. "\Vc flattered
ourselves tliat the silence the English had kept during all last summer
on their operations, was of good omen for us, and that they would be
ignominiously compelled to raise the siege; we had even an indistinct
knowledge of the repulse they had met with at Montmorency; wc knew

EX-CrX'XCILLOR EFTr.RK

that our troops followed them closely wherever they attei *cd to land.
We have erred like you in the iiopes wo cherished. ,. nat fatality,
wha*. ealaiuitic-, and how many eveut.s unknown to u.s, have led to your
downfall]:'

Yc'U do not yet kuow, my dear sir, of the extent of your misfortunes;
you imagine that the loss of the remainder of the eolony is close at hand ;
you are right. This cannot be otherwise, since the relief which is sent
to you from France cannot prevent tliat. The small help which Cana-
dians expected from the payment of some Treasury notes is taken away
from them; none arc paid since the 15th of October last. This, this is
tlie overwhelming blow to all our hopes I The Treasury notes of the
other colonies arc generally in tlic same predicament: the King pays
none, and the nation groans under taxation. No credit, no confidence
anywhere. No commerce, nor shipments — a general bankruptcy in all
the cities of France. The kingdom is in the greatest desolation possible
— our armies have been beaten everywhere — our navy, no more exists —
oar ships have been cither captured or burnt on the coasts, where the
enemy has driven thera ashore, Admiral de Conflans having been de-
feated on getting out of the harbor of Brest. In one word, we arc in a
state of misery and humiliation without precedent. The finances of the
King arc in fearful disorder. lie has had to send his plate to the mint.
The yc'i/iicH/s have followed his example, and private individuals arc
compelled to sell their valuables, in order to live and to pay the onerous
taxes which weigh on them. At the present puoment, by royal order,
an inventory is being takeu of the silver in all the churches of the
kingdom. No doubt, it will have to be scut to the mint, and payment
will be made wlicn that of the Treasury notes takes place, that is, ivhen
It plca&cf, God. 8uch is a summary of what now occurs here. IIow I
regret, my dear sir, the merry days I spent in Canada ! I would l:kc to
be there still, if matters were ns formerly. I could own a turn-out there,
whereas I go on foot, like a dog, through the mud of Uor'^caux, where
T certainly do not live in the style I did in Quebec. Please God this
iron age may soon end ! We flattered ourselves this winter that peace
would soon be proclaimed. It is much talked of, but I sec no signs of
it. It will, it is said, require another campaign to complete the ruin,
and ro postpone more and more the payment, of the Treasury notes.

^'■m

ON COLONIAL MATTERS.

■ • 1]

land.

alitj,

your

WHiat will be the ultimate fate of these bills, is very hard to say. It in
unlikely any settlement of them will be made before peace i.s concluded.
My opinion is, that nothing will be lost on the bills which are regis-
tered, but I cannot say the same of the exchange which is not registered,
since payment has been stopped. The Government has refused to re-
gister any bills, even some which had been sent to me, and which were
payable in 17i»S. I negotiated some registered ones, here and in I'aris-
at 50 per cent, discount — non-registered ones are valueless — and you gel
few purchasers even for registered bills. J-'our richly laden vessels be-
longing to the West India Company {(Jompaynie dcti Iiulci) have
arrived lately. This was very opportune, as the company was rather
shaky. However, it never failed to puy the " Heaver " bills, and h:is
even accepted those which had not yet fallen due. Our affairs on the
coast of (Joromandel are like the rest — in a bad way. Fears are enter-
tained for Pondicherry. I'he English are arming a large expedition for
Martini(|ue. That island will have the same fate as Guadeloupe.

The succor sent out to you, if ever it reaches, of which I doubt,
consists in six merchant ships, laden with 1,600 tons of provisions,
some munitions of war, and 400 soldiers from Isle lloyal. I believe this
relief is sent to you, more through a sense of honor than from any
desire (as none exists) to help you. Many flatter themselves you will
jctake Quebec this winter. I wish you may, but I do not believe you
will. This would require to be undertaken by experienced and deter-
Miined men, and even then such attempts tail. Heineiiiber me to your
dear wife. Kiss my little friend (your boy) for me; 1 reserve him,
vhen ho comts to France, a gilt horse and a silver earriage. My wife
and family beg to bo remembered.

Vours, &c.,

(Si'ined) Estebe.

P.S. — Your brother is always at La llochelle. »Siuce 1 am at Bor-
deaux, out of 80 vessels which left South America, one only has arrived
here. You can ftmey how trade stagnates. A singular distrust exists

everywhere. The Exchange of and other good houses is refused.

Those who want to remit to Paris have to get their specie carried.

Gth iMarch.

Tlie liospital of Toulouse is just sjiort of nine milliond Huukrupts
everywhere, mereliants and others.

...fi

.- A

:■■.:•?'/

t- ■ :\

■ m

(24)

BOASTED THAT CANADA CONTAINED MORE OF illS OLD NOBILITY
TITAN THE REST OF THE FRENCH COLONIES PUT TOGETHER.

OF the numerous colonial possessions of France and England, few have
had tho privilege in the same degree as Canada, of associating with
the fortunes of the colony, tho names of several of the leading spirits in
both kingdoms. Amongst those who, under French dominion, were con-
nected with New Franco, by titles, honors, civil or military, were
several noble dukes, a Montmorency, a Cardinal Duke of ilichelieu, a
Vondome, a Prince of Conde, a Ventadour, a L6vis, a Daimville ; proud
Marquises such as DeFeuqui^res, l)c Menneville, Do Tracy, DeVau-
dreuil, De Ucauharnois, Du(^uesne, DeMontcalm, DeVillerai, DeRepen-
tigny ; great sea captains such as the Count I)'Estr6o, DeUougainville,
V' ice-Admiral JJcdout, De Vo(i[Ucliu, Count de la Galissonniere, the victor
of Admiral Byng in the Mediterranean, Count de Tilly; engineer officers
of great merit, such as the Delerys, one of whom fortified Quebec, whilst
another was created ]?aron de TEmpirc, under the first Napoleon, for his
services in the Imperial armies, and Viscount by Louis XVIII. Several
of these and others were born in the colony and annohlis in the mother
country. When we find these historical names heading the galaxy of
young noblemen, who alone, in the days oi p^'uilege, could claim as a
right, commissions in the French regiments serving in Canada, we can
understand why, as Charlevoix relates, the great monarch Louis XIV.
boasted that Canada contained move of his old nobility than the rest of
the French colonies put together.

This is not at all to be wondered at, considering the kind of colonists
sent to Canada from France as soon as it became a Crown colony, that is,
in 1GG3. " Measures were adopted," we are told, " to infuse a more liberal
spirit into the colony, to raise the quality and character of tho settlers,
and to givo a liii^lier tuiio to society Tlio King took a most judicious

TELEBRATED CANADIANS.

method to accomplish tliis, lie resolved to confer upon the (rovernnient
a degree of comparative splendor, wortliy of the great nation of which it
was a dependency. In 1061, he sent out to Quebec the nio>t brilliant
emigration that had ever .sailed from Franco for tlie New >\'orId. It
consisted of a Viceroy, a Clovcrnor riencr;!, an In^cndant, and orlicr
necessary oificcrs of the civil government — the regiment of Carignan,
comandod by Colonel de Salieres, and officered by sixty or seventy I'reneli
gentlemen, raost of whom were connected with the uob/esxr. Nfany of
these gentlemen settled in the provinci', and having obtained concoi^sions
of the waste lands, became tlic noUrssr of the colony, and were the
ancestors of the best French I'aniilios of the present day. The beneficial
manner in which this infusion of superior blood, education and accom-
plishments nuist liave operated, as regards the social and domestic
manners of the colonists, previously devoted to the humblest occupations
of trade, may be easily imagined. Lil)' ral tastes were encouraged —
sentiments of honor and generosity pervaded the highest rank in
society, the influence of which was speedily felt through every class of
the inhabitants. The Marquis dc Tracy, wlio had the comniission of
Viceroy, staid little more than a year in the province. He ma* a
successful expedition against the Iroquois, and returning to France,
carried with him the affections of all the inhabitants. He maintained a
state which had never before been seen in ('anada, rightly jud'jfing that
in a colony at so great a distance from the mother country, the royal
authority should be maintained before the public eye in all its external
dignity and observances. ]}esides the regiujciit of Carignan, he was
allowed to maintain a body guard, wearing the same uniform as the
Garde Romaic of Frauce. He always appeared on state occasions with
these guards, twenty-four in number, who picccded bini. Four pages
immediately accompanied hiuj, followed by six valets,— the whole sur-
rounded by the officers of the Carignan regiiueut, and of the civil depart-
ments, M. Dc Courcellos, the Crovernor <«cneral, and M, Dc Talon,
the Intoudaut, had each a splendid equipage. It is mentioned in an
interesting French manuscript, from which we have taken much valuable
information never before published, that as both these gentlemen were
men of birth, education, handsome ligure and accomplished manners,
they gave a most favorable impression of the royal authority, then first
5

'? H

■ li

,• r-»H

• ' si

■u

r'ELEnKATEl) PANADIANS.

personally ri'prc>i'iit('il in Now i'^rancc.'"''' Nor <1»» titled luon s-cciu tn have
been sen rco in tlie colony since it has bt'conic a l^ritish (lopcndcney — the
brightest jewel in "N'ictoria's (^'rown. Without (hvcllin;:- on the several
instances in which British noblemen have been idontifiod with the colony,
either by marrinac, residence, real estate, or otherwise ; v/ithout describ-
ing the visits paid to Canad'i by members of the lloyal iamil\', peers oT
the realm and others — as eirly as the T4th August, 1 ^l, the royal ban-
ner of England streamed from the quarter-deck (n" the r< gdsua i'r'v^ixir.
snugly moored in the port of Quebec, when the future sovereign of England
( ^Villiam LA'.) was on a friendly visit to his august lather's new subjects.
The 10,000 T"". I']. Loyalists, who had crowded into ("anada, insisted on this
occasion on his leaving his name to Sorel, one of their strongholds.

The subject of the ioUowing notice — wdiich we find in the Montreal
(lar.cttc — was known in the upper circles of society in this city. One
would fancy that the Norman and the Sa.^;on have ])ecome one on the
bunks of the 8t. Lawrence, as well as on those of the Thames. The
Puke of i'ichmond w;is one of our best governors; the ('lievalier de
La(.'orne, ime o\ our greatest warriors:

" Tlu> [Kirisli church bells tolled yesterd;iy in cnmnienioratioii id" th(,>
death of Ml.-rS .Mary Ann Marg.u'er Ler.nox, daughter of Major the Earl
(if L'/nnox, wl'.o dic^d last 31onday morning. Mis.-' Lennox, ])y her
la.lur, was ;'. granddaughter of the i)iike of J.eiino.'c and Kiclnuond, in
the peerage of Clreat Britain, i>uko of Aubigny in that of Fniuce, and
Marl of Martdi in that of the Cuited Kingdom. By her motluu' she was
a descendant of the ]ju('orne t'lmi'y. a r.aco w'aieh is eminent in the early
history of Canada Ibr its services to th.- Sta;e, uoii as susdi was related to
the DeBouc'hervilles, DeLanaudieres, Duchesnays. an i otlier ancient
(Canadian I'amiiie.^. lier sister, .^!i,■-s ( 'liarlof re Ll nnox, diel about tvio
months ago. Th(> funeral .-rrviecs were held yesterday, when her
remains were ])laeed in (he vaults ..I' the church of Notre- Hame-de-
Tcutes (i races, at Coteau->'t.-Luc "'

CAl'TAJX ItKDOlT.

A corvesiiendent. over the signatun^ of " Querv," writes us (Qtnl-n-
Mi>r)>i)}(/ '"// /n J /c/c';, ;is follows :
" We read in ]\Ic( lee's llisrorv -:' Ireland, volume l', page 001, that on

.\'..f .///.s.'..m'. ../ I'i.iti., ,.{ l;~,T,K

CELEBRATED CANADIANS.

1 lie

'liul

ilu! liUIi Dcceinber, 171)0, :i l''rcnc'h Hoct, carryiiij^ a ronnidubh! army
under Iloclie and (xroucliy, sailed I'roiu Hrost to invade Ivoland. It wa.s
composed of 17 sail ol tlie line, KJ lVi!j;atos and I'i smaller ships, one oi'
the lar"'<^st, the Jn:loniji(ailt; carrying- SO i^uns, was commanded by a
Citnadian n.iuiod Bedout. Who was this Capt. I^odout, whoso merit
and nautical science could procure him from the French (iovcrnmerit
(never too prone to recognize talent in colonists) such an i^xalted post us
comnuindcv ot* a line-oi'-battle ship'/ (.'an im oin' tell':'''

A correspondent, ovt^r the sii^nature of* ]]. (J.," semis tiie roilowin;.;
reply to the query published in yesterday's issue :

" The Kear- Admiral IJedout mentioned in IMctiCo's History of ircland
wa? born in Quebec, in 1751. Mis f;:th<r w;!.s a seiguiu' and a iiKJinber
of the Conscil Supcrirur. Th(! whole lamily removed to France at the
time of the cession, in 17<->''5, and Jacques, the subject, of tliis notice,
entered the French navy, Avhere he distinguished himself on several oc-
casions, and was promoted by Napoleon to ihe rank of Jvear-Adminil,
and al'terwards decorated with the Cioi.r i/r A/ Leni'in </" //oimrKr. lie
died in 181(5. Our histornns, i'>ibaud and (Jarinniu, iiave recorded
liodout's name as well as those of oilKu- French celebrities whose early
years had been passed on the borders of the St. Lawrence." lie was one
of the ancestors of tin; Pai.et family.

uniTUAiiv.
I'hc parish of St. Frang-ois de la ]3eauce, siys the JountaLlr- (Jnebrc^wni,
on the 11 til inst., the scene of a solemn liud tMiching ceremony. Almost
tJ,500 persons, congregated IVom tho dilforent; parishes of the county,
and even from this city, rhronged tlie choir, nr.vc an! ualieries ni' tin-
spacious and magniii^ent local cliurdi. This mullitudii bad gathered
together to pay the last tribute ol' resj-,ect in a man regretteii by all who
had the pleasure of his acquaintance, by all who had an opportunity of
appreciating the generosity and benevolence of bis hcavt,

Charks Joseph Ohaussegros do Lery, Fs([., one of the seigneurs of
Ivigaud-Vaudreuil and other places, eldest son uf the Honorable Charles
Etienuo Chausscgros de Ler}', member of the Kxecuiive (,'ouncil, and of
the late iMarie Josephte Fraser, and nephew of the late Viscount de
Ldry, Lieuteuaut-Generul In the service ol" France, was born at Quebec

.»'i(

-r; ■■■■ .

V'^v • '1^^

•V vfa

' if

CKLEBRATED CANADIANS.

on the "-'nJ September, 1800. Descended t'roQi one of the oldest I'amilies
of the proviuee, wliose members, both under French rule and the pre-
sent "overniiicut, filled, with approbation, the mo.st important offices of
trust in the colony ; allied to the best Canadian families, and ))y the
mothers side, to one of the most illustrious houses of Scotland, Mr.de I/'ry
nobly bore his honorable name. After havinj,', with honor and success,
devoted tlic fust and iin-atest portion of his lift! to the service of his
country, in tlie e.-ireov folliwed by his father before him, he abandoned
— now some lil'teen years ><iiice — ])ublic life to devote himself exclusively
to the advancement and eolonization of his sei<:;niory. Under his
mana>;ement, and that of an able and worthy friend, the respected cure
of the parish, St. Francois, now noted for its gold mines, progressed
rapidly and soon ])ecnme the most important parish in the county. IMr.
do Lery w:is freijuontly solicited to re-enter the arena of politics, but
always persistently refused; he preferred to devote his leisure hours to
the intercsls of his cr7isi(ntn'.'<, who all respected him as a father, and
often submitted their mutual putty disagreements to his arbitration.
His wealth, social rank, knowledge, and a;)Ove all, his urbanity, ren-
dered the task to him an uasy and an agreeable one, and all who came to
consult hiiu and lay before him their liftl.) differences, invariably
returned home satisfied with his decisions.

COMTE T)E DOUOLAS,

Born at Montreal in 1747; died at Paris in 1842. Louis Arehambault,
Comte de Douglas, it appears, had obtained rank in the peerage of France
with that title. lie had succeeded, in 1770, his uncle, Charles Joseph
de Douglas, Comte et Seignieur de .Alontiea!, in France, who, with one
of his brothers, had accompanied Charles Edward la his chivalrous at-
tempt to recover the throne of his ancestors, and was taken prisoner at
the brittle of Culloden. Thus the F'rench Canadian Comte de Douglas,
is said to have sprung from one of the most illustrious families in Europe ;
and it is stated that his maternal grandfather was governor of Montreal,
when Canada was a French colony. f

■\ Au Earl of Douglas was luadrt Z^hc; do Touraine, aud a Duko of Hainiltou becamo
JJhv de Clmtelherault in France, about 1425. { Lnv Ecos^ai^ cii France, imxv Francesquo
Michel.

(29)

U. 6. ioimlists.

*' Outline of a few coNspicLoirs u. i:. loyalists, who flkd to

NOVA SCOTIA AND IJITEU CANADA AlTEllTIIK AMKUK.'AN REVOLU-
TION (ITylj), WITH PERSONAL REMINISCENCES 01' EARLY SET-
TLERS." — Padiamentari/ Miauisr, ijitscof/^cleii l>j/ (r. Covetitrj/, Esq. —
(RKVIEWED RV J, M. L.)

rpiIVi forc<i;oing is a .'ubject about wliicli, in our opinion, the bulii ul
' Lower Canadiaus, notwithstandiuf^ their knowledge of Canadian
history, know very little; in fact, those who have the courage to
be candid, will promptly admit that in their minds a haze of uncertainty
has hovered for a long time as to the exact meaning of the word "U. F,.
Loyalists," and that they do not clearly understand what is meant
by " Nova Scotia Knights." They can readily tell you how many
trips Jacques Cartier or (Mianiplain made to New France ; of the
thrashing General Levis gave tJencral Murray on the Ste. Foy heights
in 1700 ; of the harrowing tale of the shipwrecked French refugees
on Capo Breton in 1701; of the arbitrary banishment of the Aca-
dians : but bo cautious how you parade before their eyes the mystic
combination "U. E. Loyalists," else many will fancy you are attempt-
ing to e?ilist their sympathy in favor of some new Masonic order,
mayhap an Uiange lodge, or perchance some secret political organization
jiossibly like the Knights of the Golden Circle, or the D. M.D.'( With all
due deference to their historical lore, I see no cogent reason why thr 10,000
English refugees who, Mr. Coventry tolls us, '• were the founders of
the })rt:sent prosperity of Upper Canada," should be more ignored in
the annals of this, our common country, than were the French relugecs
who returned to the parent state a century back. At (heir removal,
honors were lavished on both classes by their respective sovereigns, and
several of them have left their mark in history.

■i

vil^'- )W

t Defenders of the Monroe Doctrine.

:iO

i;. i;. LUYALISX.^.

I ;

nelbrif procoodiuf^- I'urthcr in tlil.s in.iuiry, l«t us awnvd our mocd ii<'
praise to the (Mili^'htcjiod stiitcsinon who li:ivc boon instruuiontal in
rescuing iVuni oblivion llie nieniorios ol'tlu; bnive and honorable men
who, at the close uf tlie Anioricun revolutionary ytruj.';j,le, made the
western portion of Canada their home. To the late Hon. William Ifamil-
ton Merritt and to the lion. James Morris, the de.^cendiints ot these
worthies owe a debt of gratitude for haviii;:; procured tlie support and
sanction ol' tlie legislature to the measures they devised in ovdvT to eompile
the important parliamentary papers and m,niiis(ii])ts now styled " The
Simeoe Papers and Manuscripts relating to the I . }•]. Ijoyalisis;" atul il'
I should venture to s;iy thut wliat has lieeti eoUecrcd can only be eoiisid-
ered as a first instalment, it is not with tlie vi(!\Y ofdispa raying the labours
ci' Mr. Coventry, tlu» gentleman emploV'MJ b} Parliament to transcribe
these documents. T merely wir-ii to rc^cord my oi)iiiion, that compared to
the ricli mines of historical lacts and data procured at government expense
in France, iii the I uitcd J5tat( •^ and els(!where, relating chiefly to Lower
Canada, the Coventry Manuscrijits appear but the forerunners of a com-
prehensive! com[dlation necessary for a full history of tliat progressive
western porti"?>. of the Canadas. Any one viewing what niaterial the
Ari-hivfs da Ui. iJwrre, the A/r/iire:> th- In Marine^ the AH.^iiij State
Docuniciifs, and the old census tables nf France liave furnished to Mr.
Faribault, Mr. (larneau, Mr. IJibaud and others, for the history of Lower
Canada, will confess that our portion of the country lias been dealt with
UH I liberally. It is not every day, bo it reniumbered, tliat a Lower
Canadian is warranted in .stating that Lower Canada has in one respect
had a larger portion of the loaves and lishes than its hister province I

To prevent disappointment, let us, at tlu' onset state, ibr the benefit of
the 20,000 de.scnidants of the famous lO,OiK) •• founders of western pros-
perity," that it is not in this sin.rfc ,>krt<di. p,'nned by a Frencdi C;inadian in
a leisnre hour, that tiicy arc to look i'nv this whole pedigree and tlomestic
history of their worthy grandfathers.

Should the i.ophows oi' 1'. iv Loyalists be as kindly treated by the
government of the day, iclun Canwiu viii or rcrcived m, a Soverci(jn
Stidi', ,n ffi.i </rcat HrpuhUr^ ^ome tiiw: nL-tnit titn .-/ffrr lOlU, as liunr
fathers were by th.; liou-^i' of ILinover in tlo' last eentury, they will,
indeci], be at-cnuntiMl a t'Otunatc rai-e.

I>i

viou?

that

V. K. LOYALISTS,

Lot us !iow heiir Mr. Covonlry, witlnuit mldjiiinn all liis •"•nticlusions :

" rpp<r (';iii;k1;i inny Im' ?;:iiil (u h:\\v liccii toumlcd Itj Aiiicricaii
Tioyalists, wlm wrvo. driven Iroui tliiir cuiitry ;it tlio Kovilntiittiary War.
Tho wliolc ruiintry was a wiI(!orri(s<<, as tli(> Fi-rocli, v/ho wcr : the |irc-
vious ot'cupiors, lunl takoii no p'lins id floar ur coloiiizii ii.'*' 'Tistnu.'
that at Dt'truit, whiTo they had a I'nt, I hoy indiicod a few individuals in
si'tthi arnund, and al^o on tht- Canadian shore, th':* dc^-condants (d' wlioni
remain (hm'i! to the present day. Alter the liritisli na;^' (liuinphol,
tliey remained unmulcsted, as well as tliosc who ehose to remain in tho
Lower Province.

" Tile ureat, wi'rk, therefore, ol'sulidninj; tlie Ibrests and of bringing; the
rieh tracts cflatid under eultivation, was loft to tho indomitM])lo ooura;;e,
enoriry, and perseverance of tlie settlers, protected and enciurai^ed ))y
the mother countiy.

" Tho jirincipal olgeet of the line of divisioti of Canada, as e>!ahlislied
hy Mr. l*itt's Act, was to place them, as a body, hy thoinsolves, and to
allow them to be governed by laws more coiigonial than those which
were deemed renuisite for tiie French, on the St. iiawrencc.

"This doeisiou arose iVuin the tenor of the Treal'y of (.'apitiil:itio;i at.
Montreal, whii.di was on .^o lil'cral a scale that when finally ratifi'd at
Fontaineldeau, the l-'ri'iicli [the Canadians, ]Mr. Coventry niean>] were
to enjoy, unmoiested, their own roligion, their own laws, their civil
riLdits, to retire wdicn they pleased, and to dispose of their estates to
Hritish subieets.

'' Of course tht'y came under the general rnies laid down by the ]>ritish
('■overnnsont and (lovernor ; nor weic thev entitled to grants of land,
which were .-io i'reely i:iven to hoyalist.-! and soldiers who had so bravely
lonirht under the Briti-h Jlau-. They continued to jur.-ue their old-
fashioned way oflivinL;, and ibr many years L:-ave no political tronl.d.'.

" Previous to .Mr. Pitt's .Act comin^j,' into operation in ITiU, many lari:o
Liiants of land \vere made, but tlie name* of the parties wore not re.tiistered
ill the (.'rown Land DopartUKMit, nor were the locations known, as it fre-
([ueutly happened that such grants were sold and not taken up until many

rt is t'lily nei'cs.-'iiry to refer to tbc rlirmiii.'los of the i^iv.st t'.> a^eertain whether or
uoi ilio Freiu-h i.Kik ('ains to ffilnnij'.c Now I'nuice.— J. M. A.

^ n

(r. n. r.oi'ALisTS.

years nftcrwaifl.". Consoquontly our infurniation ia very niojqro rcl.itivo
to the progress of the colony ^vhilst utidor military rule.

" There were no ofTiciiil surveys of hincls uotii 1702, when about 20,000
arrcs wore s^urveyod in York, Scarboro' antl ('ranialie. (JlJ settlers, from
till- takinf» of Volt Niagara in 17r)!> tn the above period, located whcro
they pleased, wUh tl;»> grant nf" iiunil Wanants," which held good in
alter years by proof of possession and clearance.

" Some of tho old settlers in tlu' '«iagara district have told r.ic that the
|ir(»pcrty they now hold has not been registered to this day;— they hold
possession by prescriptive right, having been on their farms for up;,ardt<
of eighty years.
I " As our enquiry is confined to Tapper ('anada, wc need not enter

upon the surveys of the fiower Province; suifico it to say, that after the
Treaty of Fontaineblcau, in 1703, the Crown was desirous to establish the
boundary of the Eoman Catholic grants. Consequently 5,000 acres were
i awarded to the f'eminary Domain, and the outskirt.s of the City of Quo-

bee parcelled out to the JJritish settlers who remained with the govern-
ment. Up to the year 1780, about 80,000 acres were surveyed by order
vi' the IJritish governors, part of wdiich the govermnent retained, and
the remainder was given to the military. The rise and progress of
a newly-settled country is at all times an interesting topic. Nothing
affords so much entertaing information to young people as the adventures
of llobiuson Crusoe, the result of Do Foe's fruitful imagination ; aud
I he pleasing picture of Paul and Virginia, by Eernardin de 8t. Pierre,
in the Mauritius, will be handed down to succeeding generations; the
result, however, of such utopcan lives is of no practical use to lamilics
in the present organized state of socic'y.

" Settlers in a Canadian wilderness haU to boar the burthen and heat
of the day ; had to exist by the sweat of their brow ; to undergo wonder-
ful privations and t.i pass through realities which would scarcely bo
credited in a work of lictiou. Still a century has passed and proved
the truth of the assertions of Mucaulay, that the liritish Colonics have
become lar mightier and wealthier than the realms which Cortcz and
Pizarro had added to the dominions of Charles the Fifth.

*' The history of the country, therefore, during the last century, is
eminently the history of physical, of moral aud intellectual improvement.

■Ml

V. P.. L0YALIf<TS.

* ', i

■A

*' The history of the .settlors; the progrcsM of agriculture, of horti-
culture, uf the useful mid oruamental ; the change irr the habits ami
iiumners of the people; the exehatige ol' the .spiiinitig wheel for iiii-
|>ortt'd tinery ; the daily luxury and comforts of the inhabitants, con-
trasted with the privations of their ancestors, will all I'orni subjects ul
interesting inoiucnt in the results of our inquiries.

" The people having their daily duties to perform, with a constant
•tueeession of work from sunrise to sunset, were cut off from all inter-
course witli tlie world, and for mouths together never saw a white man's
footstep around their dwellings. A solitary In<li;in occasionally ero'^sed
their grounds with whom they traded for skins and deer. They might
almost literally be said to have existed in a state of nature — old nsso
eiatiou.s were their thoughts and the reflection that they were layinL' the
foundation of prosperity for their children. The liible they carried
with them formed their prinei|>al solace and consolation — and their en
iloavors were blessed, 'flu; su|)crstition so characteristic of the abori-
ginies seemed to form no part of their existe'ict!. 'fheir minds were
constantly occupied with some useful work, and as the shades ol' evenini!;
drew arouud them they r(!tircd, and in such sound sleep that a monartdi
would hav(! envied. At that period ther*! was but one road through the
country, a sort of military highway leading from 'foronto (o Montreal,
and.an Indian path leading to Fmictanguishine, whore a fort was ereeteil
and garrisoned by a few soldiers. |>etw,;eii these two points messa'4;es
were sent backwards and forwards with unerring certainty by Indian
guides, similar to Havid and Solomon's runningfootincn.

" There was no money except that which uovernmcut distributed lor
the pay of the troops

" Those who were fortunate enough to have located in the vicinity of
an encampment, or a fort, were liberally paid for their produce, and tht;
cash was speedily put away in an old stocking, or looked up for posterity
to gloat the eye upon.

" Thieves were unknown, and crime of any description was a rare oc-
currence.

" The Government was as liberal as the most fastidious could desire .
It gave them laud, tools, materials for bunding, and the means of sub-
sisting for two or threeyears, and to each of their children, ai they be-

':''n

I-' i

IT. E. LOYALISTS.

came of age, two hundred acres of laud . Families at the present day
speak with pride, pleasure and thankfulness of the lihcrality of the
British Government in nlTordinjj,- them aosistance in the wilderness —
they continued staunch and loyal to their sovereign, ever ready in any
emergency to preserve untarnished the iionor of the country. 'Thank
God T am a true TJriton' was instilled into the mind from infancy.
Intimately coimoctod with the rise and progress of Upper Canada, there
is an important class of settlers who demands our especial attention. I
allude to the U. E. Loyalists.

'■ Tl'osc extraordinary men underwent the severest trials and priva-
tions for their determined loyalty to the House of Hanover.

"No one can have the slightest conception of the misery that civil
war entails until after the perusal of Mr. Sabine's History ; every re-
fined cruelty of which the humm mind is susceptible was practised on
those upholders of the cause of a limited monarchy.

'' Doubtless, retaliation was, in a measure, the order of the day ; so
that scenes were <laily witiiessed as harrowing to a philanthropist as
during the reign of ("rror in I'ranec! under Kobcspierre and Panton.

" The lives tli;it W(>re sacrificed during the seven years' struggle I'or
indepondenco can never be ascertained ; so that, rather than prolong the
war, and to spare the further elFiislon oi' blood, the jMinister adopted
the humane principle of completing a treaty that was by no means satis-
factory to the greater portion of enlightened politicians.

"Those who arc interested in the history of nations should, by all
means, obtain Mr. Sabine's useful and interesting work • but as it is now
scarce, I shall subjoin a few notices of extraordinary characters who
figured in the revolutionary struggle, who afterwards took refuge in
Canada and Nova Scotia, and who acted as pioneers in clearing the wil
derness, and by perseverance and industry reared families whose des-
cendants have since shone conspicious in the annals of the country. As
Upper Canada had few actual settlers previous to the termination of
American hostilities, nor any accommodation for the reception of re-
fugees, we have to trace the stream of loyalists who made their escape to
the shores of New ])runswick and Nova Scotia, where they arrived in
British ships ])y thousands, and afterwards branched out in various
directions as they obtninod grants of land in various sections of the colony.

U. E. LOYALISTS.

no; the

"kSuiur IV'W e.imi; over by way oC Niagara, uuder the iiiispices of Sir
>\'illiain Johnson, and afterwards under tlio administration of (^leueral
8iiucoe. Their liistory is extremely interestintr, shewin<r the wonderful
vicissitudes ol' huuian lil'e, and may lie liehl up as beacons to those
tzrumblers of tlie present day, who liave not the same manliness, forti-
tude and presence of mind to meet tlic easualities incidental to the
changes that at times take [dace under every form of irovernment.

" The loyalist ofiicers at the close of the war retired on half-pay.

" This stipend they received during life, and they also received ^rauta
of land according to their rank.

" Many were appointed to responsible and lucrative civil ollices, and
some even administered the (Jovernmcnt of the colony in which they
resided: General Simcoe, for instance, who commanded the Queen's
Uangers in the llevolutionary war. Nothing in the history of those cx-
liaordinary men is so remarkable as their longevity. Several lived to
enjoy tlieir pay ibr upwards of half a century, and so common among
them were the ages of eiglity and eighty-five, ninety and even ninety-
tive, that- the saying became proverbial — ' Loyalist half- pay officers never
die.' So courteous and liberal was the Biitish Government, that even
after the death of those old officers, many widows and orphans were re-
cipients of various sums, amounting to between X20/J00 and X30,0U0
per annum, (aye and as much as £50,000.)

" We have previously remarked that those who arc curijus to know
the fate of from 7,000 to 10,000 loyalists should consult Mr. Sabine's
valuable work

" In our selection we shall notice a few conspicuous families who
lied from the States at a very early period of Upper Canadian liistory."

It is with those prefatory remarks that Mr. Coventry usliers in the
bright gala: ; of loyal men whose allegiance to the House of Hanover
was so substantially rewarded, -vhose orphans and widows received as
much as X50,000 per annum from the British Kxche(iuer. Good olden
time, iMr. Coventry I Happy age this was ! TiCt us not, however,
dwell on the suuuy picture too long, lest it should call forth an invidious
comparison between the treatment experienced by Governor Simcoc'sand
Sir William Johnston's friends, and that meted out to the successful re-
formers of abuses in ISo^-D, in Eastern and Western Canada. They, too,

3fi

V. H. loyalist;:!.

were the sous of mcti who had stood up for Britain's flag in 1775 and
1812; but 'Met the past bury its dead." The U, E. Loyalists were
brave, let u.s honor them ; they flacrifiecd their comforts, their worldly
II. cans, to the shrine of consistency, and consistency is a jewel ; let us
cliorish their memory I

Hut liow shall we becominijcly recount the odysscy of their sufrerin;:f
in the wilds of Western Canada? h m shall we depict their valor
in war? Let Chrysler's Farm, let Lundy's Lane, let Quecuston
Heights, let the battle fields of 1812-13-M unfold their honored records.

The Coventry manuscripts contain sketches of the following V. E.
Loyalists and early settlers of Upper Canada :

The Smiths, CI ambles, Andersons, Jones, Lymaus, llobinsons, Bald-
wins, Sir rlamos McCaulay, Hon. John Wilson, John Strachan, Capt.
James Dittrick, Roger l?atcs, Mr?. White, Joseph Brant, Thomas
ITorncr, Hon. ^l. DeBouohcrvillc,''^ Hon. John Stewart, Hon. W. IVForris,
.>lohawk Chief Martin, ILm. Samuel Crane, Nicholas Browse, Jacob He
Witt, Hon. (George Crookshank, Sir Joseph Brook, IL)n, James Crooks,
C.eorge Brousc, M.P.P. ; Dr. Schoeficld, Hon. John Molson, Hon. John
McDonald, Thomas Merritt, Jacol) Bowman, Hon. Henry lluttan, Hon.
John EluLsley, Chief dustico*; Hon. Deter Russell, Administrator ; Hon.
Henry Allcock, Chief Justice; W. Weeks, ]NLP.D. ; John WHute, At-
torney-Crcneral ; ^Ivs. Secord, of Chippewa ; Col Clark, Port Dalhousie ;
Hon. W. Hamilton Merritt, Philemon Wright, the Hrst settlor on the
Ottawa; Rev. .lolin Stuart, Krontenac ; Tecumseh ; iMrs. Clench, oi"
Niagara; Mrs. .John (libson, of Orantham; John Kilburn ; James Uich-
nrdsoii, of Clover Hill ; also a statement of the sufTerings of the clergy
at the Americiin revolution. This paper is particularly interesting.

Oui of surli a rich casket of historical geni^. who will dart; to select ?
Here is a lively sketch of an rnd'uui warrior, Tecumseh — igenuine product
of ;ui American forest : as such I shall add it to the Jfup/c LxiieK and
insert it possibly in a subscfiueut paper. And hercare traits of devotion and
disinterestedness, scraps of family history, feats of personal prowess, inci-

*H(in. Jfr. DeBouchevvillu is a liiioal lU'rocndant of the old Governor of Thres
Kiv«rs. aiid fouu'lcr of tbo villnge of DcU"iuliurvillc.

V. E. LOYALISTS.

dents of the battlefield ; how shall I crowd them all in the narrow limit*!
of this record of Canadian worth and ('auadian gallantry ? Yes, how ? T
acknowledge the idea di.stres5es mo much ; enough at any rate i'or to-day.
I5ut before closing listen to the quaint gof-sipof a very worthy and ancient
dame of some 71) summers, Mrs. "White. t »• The Piay of Quinte was covered
with ducks, of which we could (ibtain any quantity from the Indians.
As to fish, they could be had by fishing with a scoup. I have often
speared large salmon with a pitch fork." Only fancy, spearing salmon
with a pitch fork I " Now and then provisions ran very scanty, but
there being plenty of bull frogs, we fared sumptuously." (rood
gracious I to think that the U. K. Jioyalists were veritable frog-
eaters. " PJating bull frogs a sumptuous fare \" Oh, 3Irs. White I 3Irs.
White I However, there was just as excellent areason fnr enting bull frogs
ill Upper (Janaila in 1788, as there was for eating Lorsc flcsht in Lower
('anadasonie thirty years previously : there was nothhuj rlxc to att. l^ot
us continue. " f his," says IMrs. "White, '' was the time of the famine, T
iliiiik, in 17SS; we wore obliged to dig up our potatoes, after planting
iliem. to eat, \Vc never tliought of those privations, but wi.'rc Jihviiys
ha])py and cheerful. Xo unsettled minds ; no political siri I'l' aliout (•hurch
government, or s(][uabbling municipal councils. We left everything to
oi!.f faitlif'ul Governor. § T have often heard ray father and my mother say

K-.

Thre*

t Ueuiinisi'ciicoi* ut' .Mrs-'. Wliito. of White's Mill.'^, Jiuar Cohourg.

1 Montcalm had hud 1500 horses slaughtered for the inliabilanls of Oaiuuni in
1758.

'^" Let u;; di) jiK«tiec to the ineiuory ol'a really gioiit inaii ; tliat tinsi (idvcnior (Siiiiooel
wa.-i II' uicro joiUlior. Whilo lii.-^ luilitiiry designs entitled him to rank \vith Wolfe and
lirock. as tli«.' ])rosoiver of Canivhi to tho Crown of (iroat Britain, his large views of
'ivil {loiicy wont \';ir beyond nil the men — civilians by professiou — who have been cn-
tiu.«ti!tl with the supremo direction of afi'airs in this eountry. I was glad to see that at
the great pioneer festival held at London a few weeks ago, tho name of (ieneral .Sini-
loe was not forgotten, for it is a name that must always remain inscribed on the corner
Mone of tlie history of Western Canada. I do not know a more interesting or instrne
live pi.;ture of any Canadian (iorornor, not even that which I'etcr Kalm gave, in 174."',
"f the renowned Mar'luis ile la (Jallissoniere, tlum is given by the Duke de la Koche-
I'lucault Liencourf, of Lieut. ■ (Jovernor Simcoe, in his travels in Xorlli Ameiii'a in the
vear IT'J.'). The French Duke ('uiniil I'pper Canada 'a new country, "r rather.' he
says, ' a country about to be formed :' aiid its Governor, "a man of independent for-
tune,' whose only ineitemenr to accept tiie ottico was the hope of thereby rendering »
great service to his native land. ' Oovernor Simcoe,' he says, ' was of oj)inion thai
u »t, on!-.' would rpp.'r Canada be f'nind quite abio to sustain all her own inhabitants.
I'UI (hat slie might becn.ue a granary to England' — a statesman's liope which has been
lully roiili/v' t ! I> • la liochefoueauU describes an incident of his rule, wliich cani'-
iiiiii'-r Ills own iioti>M'. • \V.' met.' b" sav" (speaking of an exeursimi be mad'; with tiie

■•'■.H

;^8

U. ]•:. LOYALIST,-

that tlioy liad no ciiu.so of cuinplaint in any shape, and .voro alvvay.- thuuk
hi! to thi' (Jovoriiiuont lor its kind assistance in the hour of need. Of

an evcnm;

j'y

itlier won

Id u;:>k'"^liocs of deerskin for the ehihlren, and

my mother, make homo-spun uresse s

We h;id no (h)ctors, uo lawyers, m

stated eleriiy. We had prayers at homo, and put our trust in Provideiife
Anohl woman in the next eharaneo was chief physician to the surround
ing country as it gradually settleil. A tree fell one day and hurt moth, i-'s
back very nmcli ; we sent for the old woman, who came, stooped sonn
wheat, made lye and applied it very I ot in alhinnol ; in a very short tinu-
she was as well as ever. Flax was cultivated in those halcyon days. One
year wo grew 700 cwt,; wo spun and wove it into wearing ajiparcl and
table linen. It last-nl a long time. A handy fellow came along and
made us our cdiand»cr looms, so that wo might work away. Wo had nn
occasion (or imported iinory, nor, if we had, wo could not have procured
any. As the girls grow up and settlors came round, a wedding occasion
ally took place. There was but one mini.stor, a i'resbytcrian, name 1
llol)ert McPonald, a kind, warmdioartod man, who came on horseback
through the woods fron; Kingston, and when ho saw smoke I'rom a house
lie straight made up to the residence, wlicrc he was always welcome. lie
had a must powerful voice, when ho became excited ; ho could bo heard a
mile oil'. All who were inclined to marry he spliced, with many a kind
word to the young folks — ' that they wore sure to prosper by indu.stry
and perseverance' Tfc married Mr. White and myself.

" AVhen the other girls would smirk and look pleasant at liini, and
think him a great benefactor, he would chuck them under the chin and
say — ' 't will soon be your turn.' "

1
crrefi
win
■pinl
dresL
boot I

iial,

(Jovermiv lioyonJ Niajcur;.). 'an Auiorioiin fjimily, who, \vitii siino oxen, cows nn.l
sliccp. were coming to (.'anu'la. ' AVo cone, saiil they to the (ioveruor — whom they >iil
not know — ' to s^ec wlielhcr hi; will p;ivc us land.' 'Aye, aye,' the tJovernor reiiliel.
'you have tireil of the Federal government: you like no longer to have so many lun; -.
you wiih again for your old father;' (it i.s thus the (.Jovernor call.-^ the Driti.-h m m.ire'i
when ho speaks with Americans) ; ' you are perfectly right : come along, we love .'inh
good royalists as you are ; wc will give you land.' Sueli, sir, was the spirit of ili"
founder of I'piier Cinaila— such was the hcnelieicnt policy which hreathed into (h.il
soulless wilderness the hreath of life: and lo ! your country hocaiuo a living sjiirif.
'Come along! we like such good royalist.s a,^ y<ju are ; w- will give you land I' Tlr
was the policy of Governor Siiue le, tlireo-iiuarters of a century ago — a p<>liey which re-
hukes and puts to -^hamc the narrow, illusory and vexatious (juackery which obstruct. <
the settleaicnt of our remaining lands at this moment, and stands sentry for harharisni
in the North-Wost."— .l/f'r'M''.'« Lrtla- tn Dr. Parlcr !n'i>^iy.\.

•'N<|-

' ■'{,

;iys tliaiik
leed. Of
lilroii, and

'ovitloiifo
surruund
tinotlx !•',-<
peJ soiiK
sliurttiiuf
ay.s. One
1 parol and
along and
"^e liad iKi

prociirrd
;• occasion
III, name 1
lioi>cback
)ui a liouf^c
onie. He
JO hoard a
ny a kind

Industry

lini, and
Lin and

cows iUM

1 lln'y (iil
(ir i\'|)lit'ii,
;in_v Iviti}.'.-.

1 111 iii.ire!i

lovo Slli-il

irit 'jI' til"
nto tliMt
iiiiT .'iji'u'it.
,1 !' Th-
which ri:-
oljstriu't .<
arhuriii!'.

iMUlv

■m

U. E. LOYALISTS.

Further on Mrs. White speaks oi' steamboats and railroads, with id uch
greater respect, however, than the late Mr. Marehildou, M.P.l\, and
winds up this picture of a Canadian arcadia, by saying — " Give me the
spinning wheel days, when girl^ were proud tu wear a home-spun
dress of their own spinning and wcavintr, not dreaming of high-licelcd
boots, thin shoes, hoo])s and crinoline, and salt-collar ))onnets."

So n)otc it be.

THE " [[. K." J.OYALISTS.

" A Volunteer " writes u.sf as follows, viz : —

" Among the many communications which Imvo graced your jour-
nal, and j'br which we are indebted to the facile pen of our respected
townsman, J. ^I. LeMoinc, there are few who po.ssess so groat an
interest for us Anglo-Saxons, born on the soil, as the subject matter of
Mr. LoMoine's letter of yostordny. Our fathers, through good and through
(•\il report, stood firm in their allogianco to the IJritish flag, and shod
Ihoir blood in many a wcU-fouglit field. Is there no history of the Pio-
vincial corps, raised in the diflerent revolted states, which fought by the
sido of tlio ]5ritish regulars y Arc there no returns on file in the "War
Otllce, showing when and where those dilt'erent corps were raised; how
tiioy wore commanded and olliccred, and what battles they fought ? What
ofiicer.^ survived Ihc; war, and chose Lower Canada as their home? Have
we no Napier to write in full the histdry id' the L'. K. Loyalists?

• . »/'

» V

-■'!.

j Qidhic MihlliliiJ C/iiOviclr.

(40)

%ht Wilt iitlh of Cimabii,

N attempt Is here made to siipply a gap which no jinidc-book as yet
has filled. That a brief narrative of the chief encounters which

have taken place on Canadif

il and ou its bordt

betwt

oraor; ^
will prove acceptable, many firmly hclits e. J iiose accounts will bo collated
irom reliable sources : Charlevoix, Bancroft, (Jarneau, Christie, Bibaud,
John Gilraary Shea, the New Vork Historical Miujaziw', the New
Historical Picture of Qachrc, compiled by the late Dr. John C. Fisher
and the late Andrew Stuart. :non distinguished alike for their vast crudi-
tion and high authority as writers, in these iightiug days, when oui
American neighbours iiavc on foot larger armies than the old world
can boast of, a glance at battle fields is not out of place. Although
the narratives of our batiles, in many cases, have been made up from
letters and reports written by ilie leaders of regulars, and are calcu-
lated ti> exhibit in bright I'olors ti'cir superiority over vtdunteers or
militia, enough oecasionally transpires to show that the regulars met with
hearty co-operation from the militia, and that in some hard fights, east and
west, the militia can justly lay claim to the greater portion of the suc-
cess. It may be neither an unpleasant nor an unprofitable task to en(juirc
how die bone and sinew of the country repelled aggression : the enquiry
will give us no occasion i<) be ashamed of our fathers. Tf, when the time
c nnes, we can meet the invader as stonily as they did during the seven
years' war, and during the two Americm invasions ; if we are then for-
tunate enough to entwine our banner with wreaths as redolent of heroism
as that of Carillon, Ste. Foy, Chateauguaj, Queenston, Lundy's Lane, we
need not fear the verdict — eitlier of posterity or of new masters, should
" manifest destiny" ever hand us over to republican rule. We may then
have a right to expect to bo treated a- men, liaving acted as such, in
fulfdling ono ol' the most sarred laws of nature fighting lor our hearths —
our homes — t,ur euuntry.

'Hia..

THE SIEGES OF QUEBEC.

^\)£ !3ii'C|cs of iDaicba, l(j29/'=

book as yot
iters which
ivul armies,
ho. collateil
ic, BibauJ,
the i\V(6-
C. Fi.shf.
vast erudi-
, when our
old world
Althougli
lo up from
arc calcu-
intecrs or
mot with
.ojistand
the .sue-
> oiH|uir('
enquiry
the time
ho seven
then for-
herois!!!!
riuo, We
, should
lay then
uch, in
arths —

Onk who is eoaversant only with the petty and broken lines of
Kuropeau geography, cannot form any adequate conception of the
political importance of our impregnable fortress. Placed, as if by the
most consummate art, at the very lowest point that effectually commands
the navigation of the largest body of fresh water in the world, Cape
Diamond holds, and must forever hold, the keys not only of all the vast
and fertile regions drained by our magnifieent river, but of the almost
untrodden world between Lake Superior and the llocky Mountains.
On one side the icy barriers of the north, on the other, the dangers,
delays and distempers of the jMississippi will for ever secure an almost
exclusive preferenco to the great highway of the St. Lawrence. In
Quebec and Montreal, respectively, must centre the dominion and the
wealth of half a continent.

Quebec has been styled the Gibraltar of America — a comparison that
conveys a more correct idea of its military strength than of its commer-
cial and political importance. Let the European reader complete the
comparison by closing the Baltic, the Elbe, and the Khine — turning the
Danube westward into the English channel, and placing Gibraltar so as
to command that noble stream's navi^ration of two thousand miles.

Quebec, moreover, derives a vast degree of relative importance from
its being almost the only fortified spot in North America. Over the
whole continent nature has not planted a single rival; while art, in Hie
more level districts of the south, was in a great measure suspended by
swamps and forests.

The spirit of the French system oi' American colonization appreciated
fully the unrivalled advantages of Quebec, and made Cape Diamond the
iulcrum uf a lever that w;is to shake the English colonies from their
inundations. Every page of the earlier history of these rt^^ions forces
on the reflecting: mind a fundamental distinction between the Eniilish
and the French colonics in North America. The former were planted
by an intelligent people ; the h: ttcr were founded by an ambitious gov-
ernment.

''^ From IIuwkhiH'a Picture of Quebec.

-'<

( -

If; 53

' ■ ■ ,1

•'1

^■-l

■'3

42 IJATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

The English settlomcnt.s, I'onninii;, as it were, so mauy neutrally inJc-
pi'iuleiit States, divectod tlicir uulcUrroJ energies into the natural chan-
nels of agriculture and commerce. The French ones, entangled in the
meshes of a net of uni»arallellcd extent, were but the inert parts of a
political machine, powerful indeed, but unwieldy, expensive and unpro-
ductive. The Trench sought dominion in military power — the English
cherished the spirit and enjoyed the blessings of freedom. Their fun-
damental destruction, while it gave France a temporary preponderance,
could not fail to secure the ultimate triumph of her more enlightened,
though less crafty, rival. •

From the struggles between the hereditary rivals sprung most of tho
eventful scenes which I'orm the subject of thin chapter ; and one cannot
but wonder that Quebec, the source of all the evils that afflicted ''le
English settlfuient, was not more frequeutl}' the main object of alack.

Sieges are from various causes, such as the vicissitudes of fortune, the
concentration of interest, tlie pre-eminent display of valor and gerero-
sity, and other popular virtues, the most spirit-stirring occurences in
warfare; but one oi' the sieges of Quebec is peculiarly interesting and
important, from its cutting off the contending commanders in the decisive
hour of victory, changing the civil and political condition of vast and
fertile regions, and bringing to a close the I'uropean warfare which had
rendered the basins of the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi one vast
iicld of blood and battle.

Many years, however, before the political jealousies of France and
England rendered Quebec the object of unremitting and vigorous con-
tention, several Indian tribes, iiifluenced partly by a natural dislike of
foreign intruders, and partly by h(>rcditary hostility towards the nati'vc
allies of the .-strangers, had attempted to sweep aw.iy the scarcely-formed
germs of our rijte and rich metropolis. In tin; year 10:^ I, when the
whole i)opulation of Quebec fell .-^hort of throe score souls, the Five
Nations, or, as they are often termed, the Iroquois, surrounded a (brtitied
post on the shore of the River St. Charles, but fearing the consequences
of an actual assault, turned tin ir murderous wrath on the chief objects
of their vengeance, the Indian allies of the colony. It is but just here
to offer tac tribute of applause to the superiority of the French over the
English i*n «0D.ciliating the aboriginal savages of the North American
continent.

» ;

THE SIEGES OF QUEBEC.

While the English fought their wny by inches in almost every settle-
ment, the French generally lived on i'ratornal terms with tludr immediate
neighbors, and engaged in hostilities with distant tribe,'-- ■ -thcr as allies
than principals. The Indian wars of the English were generally civil
ones; those of tlie French were almost universally foreign. In the in-
cursions, of which wo have instanced one, the aim of the Iroquois was
not so much the French as the llurons and tiic Algonquins. After a
lapse of eight years of dubious security, Quebec, as if in anticipation of
its final and permanent destiny, fell into the hands of tl'.o hereditary
enemies of France.

In the preceding year, that is in 1G28, Sir David Kertk, accompanied
by William do Caen, a traitor to his country, penetrated as far as Tadou-
sac with a powerful squadron, '^nd thence summoned the Governor oi'
Quebec to an immediate sur aer. Champlain, who had founacd the
colony, and whose name will live forever in a lake rich in historic re-
collections, had at that time the command of Quebec. The gallant
commander, relying perhaps as much on a bold front as on the strength
of the defences or the prowess of the garrison, saved the .settlement from
Kertk's irresistible force by the spirited reply of himself and his com-
panions.

In July following, an English fleet under two brothers of Sir J)avid
Kertk, who remained himself at Tadousac, inehored unexpectedly before
the town. Those who know the difficulty, even in the present day, ot
conveying intelligence between Quebec and the lower parts of the river.
will not be surprised that the fleet should have almost literally brought
the first intelligence of its own approach.

The brothers immediately sent, under the protection of :i white flag,
the i'bllowing summons, Avhich breathes at once a consciousness of strength

and a feeling of generosity : —

^'./»/y 10///, 1G2!>.

i' Sir,— Our brother having last y var informed you that s.ioner or later
he would take Quebec, he desires us to offer you his friendship and re-
spects, as we also do on our part ; and, knowing the wretched state of
your garrison, we order you to surrender the fort and settlement of
Quebec into our hands, off"eriug you terms that you will consider reason-
able, and which shall be granted on your surrender.

;v,.v'^

■V'4-

,»•>

,4( ■, ,t.

UATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

CIIAMI'I/AIN .S ANSWER.

"Gentlemex, — It U true th;it,o\viuL; to the want of succour fill J as.sist-
ance Ironi i'raucc, our distres.s is very great, aud that wc arc incapable
of resistance : I ♦in'rolore desire tliat you will not fire on the town, nor
land your troops until the articles of capitulation can be drawn up."

Arllrlni <i/ (\tjntiilation proposed hij ('hampialu.

*' That Messieurs Kcrtk shall produce the King- of England's commis-
sion, by virtue of which they Fummou the place to surrender, as an
evidence that war had been declared between France and England. That
they should al«o produce authority by which they were empowered by
their brother, David Kertk, admiral of the fleet. That a vessel should
be furnished for transporting to France all the French, without excepting
two Indian women. That the soldiers should march out with their arms
and baggage.

" That the vessel to be provided to carry the garrison to France shall be
well victualled, to be paid for iu peltries. That no violence or insult
shall be offered to any person. That the vessel to be procured shall bo
ready for departure three days after their arrival at Tadoussac, and that
they shall be transported."

ANSWER OF THE KERTK.S.

" That thev had not the commission from the Kin": of England, but
that their brother had it at Tadoussac ; that they were empowered by
their brother to_treat with Mr. Champlain.

"That a vessel would be provided, and if not suificicntly large, they
would be put on board the ships of the fleet of England, and from thence
sent to France.

"That the Indian women could not be given up, for reasons to bo ex-
plained when they met.

"That the officers and soldiers should march out with their arms, bag-
gage and other effects."

Champlain's own proposals of capitulation satisfactorily demonstrate
that, down to IG20, France had hardly any permanent footing in the
country. By stipulating for the removal of " all the French" in Quebec,
Champlain seems to have considered that the })rovince was virtually lost
to France ; and the single vc«sel which was to furnish the means of a

■' »•«<

THE SIEOES OF QUEBEC.

removal, reduces "all the French" in (Quebec to a very paltry number.
The humanity of the victors, however, had the cftect of inducin;^ most
vi' the colonists to remain under the Enj^iisli <z;overnniont.

With Quebec foil, of course, the whole of Canada into the power of
Knf^lami.

Chaniplain, with the partiality of a father for his child, strove by the
most pressing entreaties, and by the most natural exat^gerations, to make
his country wrest Quebec from l']ngland by negotiation or by arms. His
cuuntrynien, however, did not unanimously second the unsuccessful
commander's blended aspirations of patriotism and ambition. With the
exception of a few placemen, and of a few zealots fur commercial inter-
course and maritime enterprise, most of the leading men of I'Vance
considered Canada merely as an expensive toy. The Government,
therefore, permitted three years to elapse without employing any active
means of recovering the lost colony, and at last adopted the alternative
of negotiation, its cheapest and most powerful weapon against the gene-
rous prowess of England.

Fn 1032, France recovered, by treaty of St. Germain-en-Laye, Canada,
along with the Acadian l*cninsula and the Island of Cape Breton.

Connected with this point of our interesting subject, a few obser-
vations on the colonial supremacy of Britain may not be deemed imper-
tinent by the intelligent reader.

Before the decay of the feudal system, and the establishment of
standing armies had consolidated the gigantic kingdoms of Spain and
France, England was more than a match, in a fair tield, for either of
her more populous and more extensive rivals. Subsequently, however,
to the introduction of those political and military innovations, England
was induced, as well by necessity as by inclination, to cherish her navy
as the safest and most efficient means oi maintaining her high position
among the powers of Europe. Not only has her navy secured to her
uninterrupted blessings o national independence, and the proud rank
of arbitrcss of Europe, but it has enabled lier to reap the rich fruits of
the colonial enterprizc of France, Portugal and ITollanu. Sic vos no)i
I'ubis .' would have been the appropriate, though a haughty inscription
of her omnipresent and omnipotent banner. As if by the unerring hand
of destiny, colony after colony, from Gauge's banks to Erin's side, has

't .'^

BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

been made to hubmit, notwllhstantling rcpeuted restitutions, to the
poruiancnt (.lominioii of the liriti.sh name; and a nation separated Ironi
all other nations, owes cliiefly to that very separation tlic mastery of a
workl far more exttmsivc tlian the "whole Avorld " '■' of tlic Roman bard.
l>ut,liowcvcr liumiliating to rivals may have been the eolonial conquests
of Kngland, the conquered colonies have found, in the l>lcssin;.,^s of
political liberty and comparatively unrestricted commerce, an ample
recompense for their share ol national liumiiiation, and have j^'cnerally
acquiesced, with a feelini:^ ol' peaceful pralitude, in the milder and
happier order of thincrs.

Champlain was reinstated in the government of the recovered colony,
and during the remaining years of his hor>" Ic life was exempted
from the troubles, at least, of foreign inva ';; Quebec seems to have
enjoyed a kind of dubious tranquility unt jout twenty years after
(Ihamplain's death, the Five Nations, to the unusually large number of
seven hundred warriors, after having massacred the natives and the
colonists in the open country, and committed the most cruel devastations,
blockaded Quebec for several successive months. .Such a siege may
occupy a very small share of our consideration, but the recollections of
the tomahawk and the knife|' of the yelling children of the forest are still
vivid enough in Canada to rouse our definite sympathies for the dangers
and the distresses of the unhappy citizens. The scene must have teemed
with picturesque horrors, and many bold and thrilling achievements,
doubtless, deepened its terrible interest. This siege, although ulti-
mately bafiled, was very prejudicial to the wellare of Quebec : its dangers
and terrors drove many of the settlers lo France in despair, and almost
led to the ruiu of the colony.

•• IIow .sinpiiliirly these words pcnnod in I'^.'l,') by 0110 of tlio most j^il'ted Ciinadiiin?.
lunv sound in 18(J1, when the debates in tin- Iniperiiil riiriiauieiit anent tho rejection ol'
the Lyson's militiiihili are still (Vosh inil,,' memory ot all : " Sliip.«, colonies and coui-
inerce," was a grand idea then, not now.—./. J/. L.

t That the Indians were danj^'erous allies, the fullowinK incident, related in l\[oore'.-'
fnd'inn M'few of the. Unltcil Stuim. clearly ^hows: — " ]\rr .Tones, an olHccr of the British
army, had sained the allections of Mis.s Alacrea, a lovely young lady of amiable cha-
racter and spotless reputation, (laughter of a gentleman attacheil to"the Iloynl cause,
residing near I'ort Kdward, and they had agreed to he married. In the'coursc of
scrviie, the ollieer was removed to Some distance from his hride, and became anxious
for her safety and desinuis of her company. Jle engaged some Indians, of two different
tribes, to bring her U, camp, and promised a keg »i' rum to the person who should deliver
hcM- sate to him. ."^he dressed to meet her bridegroom, and accompanied her Indian
conductors; hut, hy tho wiiy, the two chiefs, e.u^h being desirous of receiving the
promised ri'ward, disputed which of them should deliver her to her lover. The dispute
arose to a quarrel, and according to their usual method of disposing of a disputed
pnsoiK"-, one of them instantly cleft the head of tho lady with a tomnliawk."

PIIIPPS r.EFOlli: QUEBEC.

■■ -m

yi)ipp3 before (Tiiicbcc in HjOO.f

Al'TKll a laji.so vl' aliout thirty

Quel)

[i.so ui atiout tinny years, i^iieDoc, uiiUi-r iiu! cuiimiaiK
ol' the t^allaut (Jonnt de Kroiitciiac, inado a vi^umus and lionorablc
dc'ft'iicc in ll)!)0, aj^^ainsfc the forces of* Sir William riiip^is, (iovcruor of
Massaehiisctt.s.

As this sci,!j;o, in addition^to its intrinsic interest, was the Iruit of the
colonial system ul' l''ranco previously noticed, it demands a I'uUcr and
more circumstantial detail in any historical sketch of Quebec.

For some years before the date of this sei^c, the French had vigorously
availed themselves of their geographical position not merely to harass,
but to circumscribe the colonies in New KnL'jand and New York. The
jjussession of Acadia, which had been restored by lOngland, in dcliance
of the remonstrance of the neighboring provinces, enabled France to
command and eriiiple the connucrce and the fisheries of the eastern
colonies; while the discovery of the iMississippi, in the year KiTo, and
the subsequent atteiapts of France to colonize its banks, excited serious
alarms for the security of the more westerly settlements,

The JOnglish colonies, roused to a sense of the impending dangers,
made unpuralleled exertions, both by land and sea, to deliver themselves
from their crafty and restless neighbors.

In KIDO, they took Fort Koyal, in Acadia, with u small force of seven
hundred men ; and, in the same year, made a judiciously planned attempt
on Quebec, the true centre ol' the h'rench power in Ameiica. The im-
mediate cause of thi^ atteniDt was the cruel invasion of the State of New

York by the I'^ench in the beginning of the year. The French h.id
concerted an attack on the City of Now York, to be made simultaneously
by sea and land; but, though their niaiu"] design was disappointed by
unforeseen circumstances, they sent forth marauding parties to the
south, that laid wast(> the country with fire and sword, and murdered in
cold blood the unresisting inhabitants of Schenectady with more than
barbarian ferocity.

'J he I'jiiglish colonists, provoked by an attack so cowardly, so atrocious
and so uncommon eveu in the auuala of American warfare, and haunted

t From Hawkins's Picture of (Jncbcc.

,»'

■'4

BATTLE riELDS OP CANADA.

by uodefincd terrors of future cucroat-bmcnts and cruelty, determined,
by means of their commissioners assembled at New York, to carry the
war into Canada with all possible diligence. Having in vain requested
from the mother country a supply of ships and ammunition, the colonists
gallantly resolved to bear the whole burden of the invasion, and to ex-
tricate themselves, at all hazards, from the rapidly closing net of the
French. It is more than probable that had their invasion of Canada
been successful, they would have resisted, by something more than
remonstrances, the restitution of the province to their inveterate and
implacable enemies, and have anticipated by a permanent conquest the
triumphs of the immortal Wolfe.

The invading forces consisted of an army, that was to cross the country
under General Wiuthrop, and a naval squadron under the command of
Governor Phipps. Of the army nothing more needs be said, than thai
like evc?T other array on a similar errand, it was completely unsucccss-
i'ul ; to the squadron, which conducted the siege of Quebec, our last
attention must be given.

As soon as the Count de Frontenac, who had turned his earlist atten-
tion to the operations of the land army, was apprised of its retreat, ho
led back his troops with all possible diligence to reinforce the garrison
of Quebec, having ordered the governors of Montreal and Three River.s
to follow hiiu witii all their disposable forces of militia and regulars.

]Jy extraordinary exertions, the gallant count put the city in a state
at least of temporary defence before the arrival of the hostile squadron,
and seems to have infused into his soldiers his own heroic confidence of
success.

Sir William Phipps appeared before the town on the 5th October, oM
style. Charlevoix, who uses -he new style adopted by the French as
early as 1582, calls it the 10th. Although he was certainly neither a
traitor nor a coward, the delay and irresolution of the general were after-
wards complained of, probably owing to the great disappointment of the
English colonists, at the failure of the expedition and the fruitless ex-
pense which had been incurred. On the 6th October "it was con-
cluded," says Major Walley in his narrative, " that a summons should
be sent ashore, of which the following is a copy :

PHIPPS BKFOKE QUEBEC.

tcvmined,
carry the
requested
3 colonists
mJ to ex-
ict of the
>f Canada
lore than
crate and
jucst the

e country
imand of
than thai
msucccss-
our hist

list attcn-

ctreat, ho
garrison

cc Rivers

[liars,
n a stale
quadron,
dcncc of

;obor, old
encli as
icither a
ere after-
ut of the
tless ox-
ivas foii-
s should

" To Count Froutenuc, Lieutenant General, and Governor for the French
King, at Canada, oi in his absence, to his deputy, or liiin or them in

'hicf

,d.

comman(

"The war between the two crowns of England and France does not
nuly sufficiently warrant, but the destruction made by the French and
Indians under your command and cncouragcmcni, upon the persons and
estates of their Majesties' subjects of New England, without provoca-
tion on their part, hath put them under the necessity of this expedition,
for their security and satisfaction, and although the cruelties and bar-
barities used agair.ct them by the French and the Indians, might upon
the present occasions prompt to a severe revenge; yet being desirous to
avoid all inhumanity and unchristian-like actions, and to prevent the
shedding of blood as much as may be, T, William Phipps, Knight, do
hereby and in the name and on behalf of their most excellent Majesties,
William and Mary, King and Queen of England, Scotland, France and
Ireland, defenders of the faith, and by order of their Majesties said
government of the Massachusetts colony in New EnglAnd, demand a
surrender of your forts and castles and the things and other storos, un-
eiubezzled, with a seasonable delivery of all captives, together with a
surrender of all your persons and estates to my disposal.

" Upon (ho doing whereof you may expect mercy from me, as a
christian, according to what shall be I'ound for their Maj:^sties' service
and the subjects' security, which if you refuse forduvith to do, I come
provided, and am resolved, by the help of God, on whom I trust, by
force of arms, to revenge all wrongs and injuries offered, and bring you
under subjection to the Crown of England ; and, when too late, make
you wish you had accepted the favor tendered.

*' Your answer positive in an hour — returned with your owu trumpet,
\\ith the return of mine, is required, upon the peril that will ensue."

'H :■' :;: ;K :f; j^: :{< >|: rf: ^}; :f^

l''inding the place prepared for defence, Sir William, after a fruit-
less attempt to capture it on (lie laud side, by an attack on the River Ht.
Ciuirles, contented himself with a bombardment of the city, and retired
after staying a week in the harbor. All the English naratives of the siege
plausibly enough ascribed the defeat to Sir William's procrastinating
disposition, but he seems on this occasion, at least, to have had sufficient

■4

■■■4

BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

justification in tlie obvious impropriety of attacking a city alruo.st im-
pregnable by nature, and swarming with zealous defenders.

Cliarlevoi.x mentions that he was delayed by head winds and by bad
pilots. But Sir William's delay, from whatever circumstances it sprung,
was indubitably the sole cause of the subsequent disgrace and disaster.
Had the English forces arrived but three days sooner, they could not
have failed to achieve an easy and almost bloodless conquest ; but during
that period, time for defence was afforded, and M. do Calliercs, Governor
of Montreal, liad reinforced the garrison with the troops of the upper
country, and rendered the bcseiged numerically superior to the besiegers.
But even in this apparently untoward circumstance Thipps might have
discerned the gleams of certain victory, for the increased consumption of
supplies, originally scanty, would soon have enlisted on his side the
powerful aid of famine.

Our French manuscript clearly shows that even before Sir AVilliani'.-
hasty departure, the garrison had deeply tasted the horrors of famine.
The nuns restricted themselves to a daily morsel of bread ; ami the
loaves which they furnished to (he soldiers were impatiently devoured in
the shape of dough — terror and distress reigned in the city, '' for," in
the simple but affecting language ol' the writer, '' every thing diminishcil
excepting hunger." 'J'o add to the general confusion, the English squa-
dron kept up a tremendous cannonade more to the alarm than to tlio
injury of the inhabitants. 3Iajor ^Valley's Journal, besides being too
prolix for our limits, is less likely to interest the sympaties of the reader
than the narrative of one of the bcseiged. We therefore take the
following extracts from our French manuscript :

"• It is easy to imagine how our alarms redoubled, when wo heard the
noise of the cannon we were more dead than alive, every time that the
combat was renewed. The bullets iVIl on our pvemises in such number^;,
that in one day we sent twenty-six of them to our artillerymen to be sent
back to the English. Several of us thought that w.; were killed by
them ; the danger Avas so evident that the brave.-;t olfieers regarded the
capture of Quebec as inevitable. In spite of all our I'ears we prepared
dillerent places for the reception of the wounded, because the combat
had commenced with an air to make us believe our ho.^pital would n(jt bo
capable of containing those who might have need of our assistance : but

OoJ

fev'il

ver

Moi]

••Tl

they|

ihiui

into

well

tainsl

]>oint|

sliot

ABORTIVE EXPEDITION.

ilmo.st ini-

nd by bad

1 it sprung-,

i disaster.

could uot

)ut durint;-

, Governor

the upper

besiegers.

lij^ht have

iiuptiou ol

i side the

Williani',<
)f' fimiinc.
and tbc
jvoured in
" for," it!
iuiinishcil
lish squa-
an to tlie
3cing too

10 reader
take tiio

loard I lie
tliat tlh>
lumber.-;,
1 be sent

11 led by
rded tlic
iropared

combat.
I not be
00 : but

Si*

God spared the blood of the French ; there were few wounded and
ferer killed. Quebec was very badly fortified for a siege ; it contained
very few arms and no provisions ; and the troops that had come from
Montreal had consumed the little food that there was iu the city."
" Tlic fruits and vegetables of our garden were pillaged ly the soldiers ;
they warmed themselves at our expense and burned our wood." " Every
thing appeared sweet to us, provided we could be preserved from falling
into the hands of tho?e whom we considered as the enemies of God, as
well as of ourselves. We had not any professed artillerymen. Two c:ip-
tains M. Do Maricourt* and l)e Lorimier, took charge of tiie batteries and
pointed the ca noii so accurately as hardly ever to miss. M. l)c .Maricourt
sliot down the flag of the admiral, and, as soon as it fell, our Tanadian.s
boldly ventured out in a canoe to pick it up, and brought it ashore
under the very ]»eard of the English."

?ibovt'uie (gvpcMtlou in 171 l.f

The defeat of Sir William Phipps was sensibly felt by the people of
New England, who indeed were called upon to defray the expen.se,
amounting to one hundred and fifty thousand pounds. They frequently
represented to the British Ministry tb.e commercial advantages, which
would result from the total expulsion of the Freneli from North America.
At last, in 1707, during the military glories of the reign of Queen Anne,
illstiniiuished by a Marlboroiiiih, sis this aao has been bv a WelliuLiton- -
tlic Earl of Sunderland, Secretary of State, determind to make another
attempt to dislodge the French from their almost impregnable position
at (jiieboe. The armament intended lor this objeet, under the command
oi" (i(.>neral JMacartne}, was, however, diverted from its destination, and
ordt'ied to I'ortugal, in eonse(pienee of the disastrous condition to whicli

■" One of the Ilaron do Longuoil'd bcroic brolliors. — Sec chapter on •' Caiiailien
Noblesf^o," in lirst series oi Maple Lenten.

t From Hat9Jy!na'$ Picture of Quebec.

• \

■ V.

•

UATTLl:: FIELDS OF CANADA.

the affairs of the Queen',^ ally, Chiirlos III., ^Ciug of Spain, had been
reduced by the defeat of the allied forces at Almanza.

In 1711, the project was resumed, only to result in a signal and
mortifying failure. The plan of tliis expedition was suggested by a
provincial oiliccr, (icnerul Nicholson, who had just taken possession of
Nova Scotia, on wiiich occasion he had given tlic name of Annapolis to
lV>rt lloyal. This oflicer had brought to London four Indian Chiefs,
and had the adJress (<> persuade the ministry to enter into the views of
the New Kngland States. The expedition consisted of five thousand
troops from England, and two thousand provincials, under l>rigadier
General Hill, brother to the Queen's favorite, Mrs. Masham. The naval
force was very strong, and was placed under the command of Sir Ilovcn-
(len Walker. The fleet met with constant fogs in the Gulf of St.
Lawrence, and was nearly destroyed on the Egg Islands, on the 22nd
August. Despairing of success, the admiral c .lied a council of war,
and it was determined to return to England without making any
furtlier attempt. Eight transports* were lost on this disastrous day, with
eight hundred and tighty-iour officers, soldiers and seamen. The pro-
vincial land forces under General Nicholson, which had advanced as far
as Albany, and had been ji/incd by six hundred Iroquois, returned to
their respective quarters on hearing oi tlie failure of the naval expedi-
tion. It is remarkabb that during the hi.'tit of the factions of that day,
the Whigs affected to consider this attempt on Quebec so perfectly
desperate an undertaking, that it wa>' nuido one of the articles of
impeachment against Ilarlcy, Earl of Oxford, that he had suffered it to
go on.

The Marquis De Vaudreuil, then Governor General of Canada, omitted
no duty of a brave and prudent cflicer on this occasion. The rejoicings
at Quebec were naturally great at so signal a deliverance ; and the
Ghureh q{ Autre Dame dc la Victoirf\' spoke the pious gratitude of the
religious inhabitants, by assuming the title of Xutn' Danv dci Vicfoires.

* It is supposed that the old bull of a wreck, still extant, on Ctipo Despair, Uaspf".
belonged to thi:j ill-fated expedition.— (c^. J/. L.)

t It i-s the iam» church standing, to this day, opiKiHite iJlanchfird's Hotel in the
Lower Towu Market.— (./. M. LA

DEFEAT or WASHINGTON AT FORT NECESSITY.

IDefcat of lllasljiiiQtou at Jort N'tresaitij/

Jlt,v, 1754.

Amidst these prepavatioiis, M. de Coutrecoeur received iiitelligenco
that a large corps of Ikitish was advanelug against him, led by
Colonel Washington, llo forthwith charged M. do Jumonville to meet
the latter, and admonish him to retire from what was French territory,
•lumonvillc set out with an escort of thirty men ; his orders were to be
un his guard against a surprise, the country being in a state of commo-
tion, and the aborigines looking forward for war; accordingly his night
campaigns were attended by great precaution. jNIay 17, at evening-tide,
lie had reti/ed into a deep and obscure valley, when some savages, prow-
ling about, discovered his little troop, and informed Washington ot Its
being near to his line of route. The latter marched all night, in order
to come unawares upon the French. At day-break, ho attacked them
suddenly; Jumonville was killed along with nine of his men. French
reporters of what passed on the occasion declared that a trumpeter made
a siii;n to the British that he bore a letter addressed to them by his com-
mandant ; that the firing ceased, and it was only after he began to read
tlio missive which ho bore that the firing recommenced. Washington
atfirmod, on the contrary, that he was at the head of his column; that
at sight of him the French ran to take up arms, and that it was false to
say Jumonville announced himself to bo a messenger. Tt is probable
there may bo truth in both versions of the story ; for the collision being
))recipitate, groat confusion ensued. Washington resumed his march,
liut tremblingly, from a besetting fear of fulling into an ambuscade.
'I'he death of Jumonville did not cause the war which ensued, for that
was already resolved on, but only hastened it. Washington proceeded
on his march; but staid by the way to erect a palisaded fastness, which
he called Fort JV^r.cessifj/, on a bank of the Monongahola, a river tri^Mi-
tary to the Ohio, and there waited for the arrival of more troops to enable
him to attack Fort Duquesne (Pittsburg), when he was himself assailed.

ft!

•v:\

Oarneau's Hiifory of Ctinada, Bell's translation.

■'^(

.'.'•US

/A*

BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA,

Contrecoeur,upon learuiugtho traj^'ic euil oIMumonvillc, resolved to avenge
liijj de.ith at ouce. lie put .six hurulretl Canadians and one hundred Sava}j,o.s
under the orders of the victim's brother, M. do Villiors, who set out directly.
Villiers Ibuud, on his arrival at the scene of the late skirmish, the corpses
of several Frenehmcn ; and near by, in a plain, the JJritish drawn up in
battle order, and ready io receive the shock. At Villiers' first movement
to attack them they fell back upon some intrenchments which they liad
formed, and, armed with nine pieces of attiilery, Villiers had to combat
forces under shelter, while his own were uncovered. Tlie issue of the
battle was doubtful for some time; but the Canadians l'ou;;ht with so
much ardor that they silenced the IJritish cannon with their musketry
alone; and, after a strugL'le of ten hours' duration, they obliged the
enemy lo capitulate, to be spared an assault. The discomfited ]>ritish
engaged to return the w^ay they came; but they did not return in like
order, for their retrograde march was so precipitate that they abandoned
all, even their flag. Such were tiie unglorions exploits of the early
military career of the ('on({ucror of American lndej)cndenee. The
victors having razed the fort and broken up its guns, withdrew. War
now appeared to be more imminent than ever, although words of peace
were still spoken. \'illicrs' victory was the first act in a great drama of
twenty-nine years' duration, in which (Jreat IJritnin and Franco were
destined to snfler terrible checks in America.

.lUMOW ILLi; AND WASHINGTON.*

It is feomewhat curious to have, at this day, an examination of Wasli-
ington's culpabilities in the rlumonville affair from a member of the
French officer's family. In the rei*eiit!y published work, L'^s Aneiens
('a)i(idiens, of JMiilippe Aubert do tla-pe, p. r>ll(», is the following:

(yolouel ^[aleolm Fraser, during ^\'oIfe's invasion of (\anada, was in a
detachment which burnt the houses of the (Canadians from Kiviero
Ouellc to the Kiviero d(.s Irois Sunnions. Having become, after the
conquest, the intimate friend of Tny family, he replied to my grandfather's
complaints about this act of vandalism : " How could we help it, my
dear friend : ,i i.i >iii( rro cummc a la (/nf> rr. ^'our Frenchmen, in am-
bush in the woods, killed two of our men when we landed at Riviere

III '

lo\
ad

Isil
lIKll

nui
(Ik

From tlio y.ir Y„>1- inito^nal \Utfi

ya.inc.

JUMONVILLE AND WASHINGTON.

as in a

livierc

er Ili.>

ither's

t, my

II nm-

ivi^ro

Out'llc." " Vou should, at least," .saiil luy grandfather, '• have spared
my flour-mill ; my poor tenants would not then have been reduced so
low as to eat their corn in savamity like Indians," " In war as in war,"
added my grandmother ; " T admit your max! i, hut was it fair war to
kill my brother, A'illiers de Jumonville, as Washington, your country-
man, did at l-'ort N- jssity ?" "Ah, ma !am I" replied (!(d. Frascr, '' for
mercy's sake do not, for the honor of the i'^nglish, ever again mention
that atrocious murder."

I once slightly reproached our celebrated historian, Mr. (Jarneau. witli
passing lightly over that Injrrilde assassination. He replied that it was
a delicate Pubjeet, that the groat ^hade i,>f Washington hov» red ov<'i tin'
writer, or something of the kin<l.

'I'his may be, but it is incumbent on luo, to clear tlto memory of my
great uncle, whom Washington in his works sought to blacken in order
to justify his assassiimtioti.

The tradition in my family is that .himonvillc procnttd hiniscil a.-.
btarer of a summons re([uiring INFajor Washington, (.'ommandant ..
fort Xccessify, to evacuate that post erected on French territory, that
lie raised a flaiv of truce^ showed his despatches, and that, nevertheless,
tin- l]ngli>h commander ordered his men to lire on him an<l his small
esc()rt, and that dumonville fell dead with a j'art of those who accom-
panied him.

There is a discrepancy, easily explained, between the tradition of my
family and the truth of history. Moreover, this discrepancy has no
bearing on the murder of the Ijcarer of tlic flag of truce, whose mission
was lo summon tlx; j'>ni:lish to evacuate the J'^reiich possession and not
I'ort .Vccessiiy, which was not thrown n\) till after the event. (After
citing ('outrc(i'U>''s instructions to Coulou do Villiers, an! the capitulation
signed by Washington, he proceeds): .Vow no one is more disposed
iliaii myself to render jusiice to the great fjualities of tlu^ American
Inro ; when in my family tli(> conversation turned on the cruel and pre-
mature death td' our n<,»blo kinsman, assassinated in the onset of what
pro;niscd to !;e a brilliant career, I used t(j seek lo excuse AVashington
on account id' youth, as ho was th^n but twenty. 1 expatiated on his
virtues, his humanity, when twenty-two years afterwards he directed the
cause of liis countrymen and created a great and independent nation.

■^5l

'.■....-'$

■ # :

■A

.5r>

LATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

I never, iudoed, sboul 1 have thou^'ht of dniwing from ohlivion this
deplorable evcut, had not Washington himself made it necessary by
seeking, in order to clear liimself, to blacken the reputation of my great
uncle Jumonvillo in the memoir which he published several years after
the catastrophe.

''We were inibrmed," said he, " that Jumonvillc, disguised as an
Indian, was prowling Jbr several days around our posts, and I had to
consider him as a spy."

This excuse has no probability, becau-e Washington could not but
know that not only the soldiers, but also the ufficcrs of the French army,
when fighting in the woods, adopted the Indian dress, a short coat, leg-
gings, breech-cloth, and moccasins. This light and easy dress gave them
a great advantage over enemies always dressed in European style. Nor
could Jumonvillc, without culpable temerity, proceed directly to the
English posts without taking great precautions, the wood being infested
with hostile Indians, who, acting on a first impulse, would show no great
respect to a flag of truce.

After disposing of this accusadou of liis being a .spy, of which W^asii
ington did not think till years after the murder vyhcn writing his memoir,
let us see what he says in justification in his despatches to liis govern-
ment immediately after the aifair. It is necessary to observe hero that
the crowns of France and England were then at peace j that war was
declared by Louis XV. only after that event ; that the only hostilities
committed wore the invasion of French territory by the English, and
that it was against this very act that Jumonvillc was sent to protest.

But let us return to Washington's justification in his despatches, llo
says that " he regarded the frontier of New England as invaded by tin-
French ; tha^. war seemed to him to exist, &c. ; that the French in his
sight ran to arms, and then he ordered his men to fire; that the action
lasted a quarter of an hour, in which the French had ten men killed,
and one wounded, and twenty-one prisoners; and the English one killeil
and three wounded; ^hat it was false that Jumonvillo read a summons,
&c. ; that there 'i..,d been no ambush, but surprise and skirmish, wliieli
is lawful war.''

Lawful war indeed for a strong detachment to attack suddenly a hand-
ful of men in full peace. It was not getting badly out of it for a Major

DEAUJEU, THE VICTOR OF WASUINGTON AND BRADDOCK. 57

ul' twenty ; .some [^;oncrtils oi' the Nortliern Aincricuu army, who piquo
ihouisclvcs on address, would not do better to-day. The plirases " that
war seemed to him to exist," " that the l*'rench in his sii^ht ran to arms ."
,irc ot'admiiablc .simplicity. These French doii;s forgot, apparently, that
it was more christian to allow themselves to be killed like sheep.

If wo accept Waslunjjjton's assertion, how can we explain the cry of
horror and indignation that resounded tlirough all Canada and (!ven
I'liirope'!' Yet the French have never been reproached with bewailing
like women the loss of even their best generals or a signal dcl'eat ; why
then their indignation, their fury at the tidings of the death of that
young man, who was, so to speak, making his lirst apprenticeship in
arms, if he perished in an action i'ought according to the rules of civilized
nations y All the French prisoners, a'ld even Manccaii, who alone
escaped the massacre, the very Indian allies of the Fnglish declare that
dumonvillc waved his handkerchief over his head, invited the Kngl'sh,
by an interpreter, to stop, having something to read them, that the firing
ceased, and that while an interpreter was reading it, he was shot through
the head, and that but for the interposition of the Indians the whole
l)arty would have been massacred. * * * Washington should never
have signed a capitulation where the words assassin and assassination are
thrown in his face.

The reader must judge whether I have rescued my grand uncle's
memory from the accusation of being a spy Had Jumonville acted the
vile part his enemy attributes to him, to justify a sliameful assassination,
the French would never have shed so many tears on the victim's gravf
So writes the author of '* Les Aneic.is Canadiens," M. Do CJaspe.

.»'

v^,/,'

Bcauicu, tl)e Dictor of lllasl)inc\ton an^ Uvabiio

CK.^

'Jtii July, 1755.

The battle of the Monongahela, as the French more properly style the
action I'oi ;ht betvrcen the Englisli and I^Vcnch near Fort Duiiuesno
on the 9th July, 1755, has alwa3*s been, and probably always will stand in
our annals as I3raddock'.^ defeat. Tlu; victory to which that general

From tho A'<(" Yo k lUvtoricnl Ma<j«r.hi'

:'■ W

■: .? y

DAITLU J'lELDS OF OANAltA.

went so coulidoiitly, the extent and tMiuipiuont of his anny, the Gnest
ever sent by Kngland to AuieriiM ; the haui>ht> superiority ,.t' the rc<iu-
lars over tlie provineiiils, all made the terrible and sudden disaster :i
thin;' to link forever with tlir name of Iho haples;H ^'encral rather th:m
a battU'; and nari..n il \>\\'U'- wa • fhittered by an epithet that perj.etually
punish 'd the iruilty e .niinaiider. paraded on the seaiVohl ofpublie opinion
as liynii' had been uu a r<'al oiic.

The battle tieM still •:.m.h by the uiv.no ol' IJraddoek's tield, and with
tJerm:inti)Wn and (iettysfmig, makes the three ^^rcat battlo-tields nl' the

Keystone State.

It is somewhat reniarkal)le that, tliougli Hraddock's expedition ha-*
within a few years been made the sid)ject of a monograph eonstitutinj;
a statHy octavo, so littln has hern done to investigate the French ae-
eounts, or the lilo an.l eareer of the petty officer who, with a handful of
0".- dian militia and Indians, n uted the finest FiU^dish army ever seen
beyond the Atlantii: to astonish the provineials and annihilate the
French.

A little volume in .Mr. Shea's eramoisy scries contains all the French
accounts of the battle, witli a brief memoir of the French commander,
whose family still exi.- 1 in I' ujada, holding prominent positions in the
government of a proviiice divided from Pennsylvania by an imaginary
Hue.

The goner.ii 'jv>. .t; are well known. As part of the scheme for the
conquest of Canada, Br.".ddork was to advance with a considerable army
from Yirgiuiaou Fort Duijucsne, which, dilapidated, almost ungarrisoned,
seemed a c^-rtain prire, and every preparation was made to celebrate wifli
due exuberance of joy the triumj)h of i3ritannic power.

M. de ('ontrecteur, a ('auadian oiHcer, had for some time commanded
(he fort, but had been relieved by haniel iryacintho .Marie Lionard de
Heaujeu, a captain in the marines, all the land troops in Canada being
of this arm, as Canada and other transatlantic possessions of France de-
pended on the naval department, causing incongruities not without their
parallel in our day and country.

As Captain Beuujeu fell in the action, no official report w.is apparently
made, and the accounts which reached Quebec, and which, forwarded to
France, formed the basis of the account printed at the liouvre, speak in-

. ^

' >■!

, the finest
f the re^ii-
disa.sier :i
;ither th:tii
lerjiotually
lie opinion

nnd with
(Ids oi' thi'

dition ha^
)n,stitutinj;
'pencil ac
handful of
ever .st^en
liihite the

iio Freneli

uituander,

s in tlte

nairinarv

for the
iblc army
rrisoneil.
it<' witli

iniiauded
Murd do
da being
aucc de-
lut their

[):irenllv
irded to
beak in-

itKALMi: I , TiiK vrrroii of washingtcv and bkaddopk. 50

rorreetly of ('ontree(jourus romniander of Kort Dutjuesne ; bin the rc<:;istcr
Ivt'pt by the chaplain of llic for^ Friar Denis Bamn, a Franeisr-an, who
was (ino of tho Hr.st to chant, the service of Uonie in 'h«; " Chajiel of Our
Lady's Assumption on the I'cautiful River," and a journal of Mr. (lode-
iVoy, an otficer in the iort^ and -m account of the War Department, cor.-
.111' in calling Mr. de Jieaujru commandant of the fort and of the forces
thcrci

Heaujeu beloni;«i to the family of the naval ofhcer whose disagreeiiient
with ha Salle contributed to the unhappy result of that explorer's attempt
to reach the mouth of the Mississippi, a^id was born at Montreal, Aui:^Mst
'•. 1711 : his father, also a captain, liavini; been for a time Kiuj^'s i4ieu-
touant at Three Hi vers.

His son Daniel had won the cross of a Knight of St. Louis, and for
,1 time commanded at Niagara. When placed temporarily in Fort Du-
.|iiesne, he saw that it couM not stand the siege. Fxtravagance and
corruption, such as wi; know too well, had made the fort a costly affair to
thf Fvinch king, without rendering it a formidable work to an l*higlish
torce.

To await IJraddock's approach was therefore madness ; but Heaujeu,
full of the pride of a Freu'di otHcor, resolved to attack the l']nglish
general on the way, and if possible ambuseailc tht! line of his march.
From the influence which, during a long service on the frontiers, he had
acfjuired over the Indian tribes, he had little doubt of his ability to
gather a considerabl.) number around him ior the attempt. On the
lifth of June they had learned of Hraddock's departure fr()m Will's
Creek, and a.s the month advanced, small parties brought tidings of his
approa(di. On the eighth of 'July the two brothers de Normanville came
in with tidings that the enemy were only eighteen miles off.

While Hraddock thus, almost at the end of his march, tnceting no
opposition, was doubtless congratulating himsclt on a bloodless victory
and a successful campaign, Beaujeu was forming his list plan for an
attack on the invader, resolved to die on the field rather than surrender
the fort, lie now (tailed the war cliiefs to a council. Despite the in-
fluence which he had acfjuired by long years sp'^nt in service with them,
iie found them reluctant. The notes of English preparation, the reports
"f scouts and runners, the oxpcriencj of a party sent out under T/i

.»•

(ii»

KATTLi; FIKMiS uV CaNAKA.

IV-rjnlo, :ill liail impi'CSHcd tliii savajiv. iiiim!. " What, Father," they
«fu'»l, " would ytiii kill ami saerill«!o us.'' 'IMit.' Kiiirli.sh an; over (bur
ihousaiul iitrong and wo only ci^'lit huuJrod, and you talk of uttackin-
tlii'iii. You see well tluit you are mid. We must have til! to-uiorro\s
fo deeide.'

Thus deserted hy his dusky allies, IJoaujeu doubtless passed a (gloomy
iii^ht, prepared to die as boeanie a (Mievalier ol' St. Louis and a Kreneh
otHcer ooniniaudiiij;' an advanced post. At an early hour in the morning,'
he, with prohahly all his eounuand, assembleil in tlie little ehajtel of the
I'ort, where the grey-robed friar said mass I'or the warriors, and in the
I'lmeral entry in his re.!j;istcr ho noted Iho I'act that JJeaujeu then ap
proaehed the tribunal ol' penance and received the Holy Kucharist, pr<'-
paring for the death which seemed so eertain to bo iiis portion belbre
the close ol' the day. Afterlingcriu^a short time before the altar, l>e.iu-
jeu I'ormed his command, and tlie smdl sijuad ot'oiie hundred and I'orty-
six (^madiaus and seventy-two re_i;ulars tiled IVom the I'ort, IJoaujeu at
their head, arrayed in his huntin;; shirt, the silver iA'or;j;ot suspended from
his nock uloni; showiui^ his rank. As ho passed the Indian camp he
asked the result of their couucil. " We cannot march," was the reply.
" r am determioed to meet the enemy," retorted 13eaujeu j " will you
let your father j^o alone i* " If is cool, almost contemptuous manner,
seems to liave decided the matter. The Indians encamped under the
Bourbon lilies by the waters of the Allc['jhany, were llurous, Iroquois,
Siiawnees. l.*ontiac, Auastase, Oornplanter, were amou::; them ; men in-
sensible to i'ear, warriors who had achieved renown in many a foray.
To sit by and sec two hundred Frenchmen !j;o to meet the ^ju,^lish host
of twice as many thousands would be a perpetual dis;j;race. They silently
took up their arms and followed the I'reneh line.

Heaujcu had selected as the point at which to assail the Knlish line a
ravine beyond the Mono<j;ahcla where the army would certainly cross
The delay had however been so ;j;rcat that the van had crossed the
stream before he could reach the spot. As he came to the crest of a
hill over which the trail passed, i:e came full in view of the l']n;^li-^h
line comiui!; proudly on, the sunim(;r sun fzlitterin;;' from the bayonet-!
<ind musket.s'of the jnon, and the brilliant scarlet uniforms coutrastinji;
with tho grccu foliuj^o of the woods. They, too, marked with a-itouiah-

Iicr," thc^
over (bur
uttackiiiu

to-morrow

;i .'gloomy
;i i''rt;iic!i
5 moniin^'
pel of t!i(j

1(1 ill tilt;

thou aj)-

iri«t, f-r<i-

)ii hclbic

iiir, ]>e.iu-

n<l I'orty-

'aujeu at

ilo'l IVdiii

camp 111.'

10 roply

will ymi

niaiiucr,

idor the

I'oquois,

mcu iii-

.1 foray.

sli host

siloutly

line a
y cross,
ed the
.-^t of a
■:u-li<h
yonct-!
rastin;!,-
tt'uiah-

l!l..\l',n;U, TIFK VICTOR f»F WASIIIN(JTON ANl> l!U.\l>r»0('K. (il

iiuiit I 111! suilth'ii apparition ol' (he I''rfncli Ufaujiu was in tlu; IVonl
houmliii;.,' on, hraiidishiiiu; his oarhino ami cheering' his luoii to a mad
attack on the very front of the well appointed army bcl'ore liim, with
artillery enough to sweep his whole eommand from the earth.

As the ruttliiii;- lire of the l<'rciudi and Indians told on the raiik.s of
IJiaddock's men, th(>y formed and opened with their cannon, pouiitu;
i;rape into the I'^rcnch party, which s)on, in hackwoods fashion, took to
the tree;*, an<l stealing towards the lOn-lish Hank, kept np a steady and
deadly (ire. At the third diMchari;e of cannon Beanjcu fell dead, and
Captain l>umas, his second in command, succeeded, and insjdrcd et|Ual
eiu'riry.

.\s we all know, the lU'eat error ot Hruddoek was that ho kept hi.<
men in solid column, and supposiiiL: that the l''rcneli, who were attackiiiLr
him aloiiij,- his whole van, were as nuuicrous as his own men, kept push-
ing; columns forward to drive buck uu imaginary corps in front, at every
step exposini;' his (lank to a sm. il but concealed ho>\y of sharpshooters,
who cut them down without mercy. The Indians, who were at (irst
startled by the eannon, at last, tired of musketry, seized their tomahawks
.Old rushed out on the Kn,glish, who, already deprived of many of their
oflicers, and demoralized by the unwonted system of war, ,L;ave way in
utter rout<'.

Washinj^ton had in vain eudoavorcd to induce IJraddock to adopt the
backwoods stylo of fightinLT, and to him was due the safety of the rem-
nant of the army, his Virginia troops alone remaining cool and mocfing
the enemy as they had done in iVirmer struggles.

'lhi> route was a massacre. The Indians cut down all, many peri.shing
in the river; over a thousand dead were strewn over the bloody liold
amid cannon, caissons, mortars, stuall-arm-', tents, wagons, cattle. 'J'ho
plunder tempted the Indians from the pursuit, or the Knglish could
scarcely have borne from the ticld their dying general.

The French lost three otlicers killed in the action. Captain Beaujeu,
Lieutenant do Curquevilie, and Knsign do la Perade, and had several
wounded. Their whole killed amounted to thirty, three-quarters of
whom were Indians, the savages avenging their death by burning the
few prisoners that lell into their hands.

The victors Look up the body of their fulleu oommuudcr and bore it

•^■•■o..^

:•)

i;.\TrLJi FILLD.S OF CANADA.

(ii

back to tlir fort wliitli If coniiiuuitlod. aixl hy his diuiu;.;" had .so cffect-
uallv i)t\'.st'rvc'(l. (t api'iirontly lay in ^latc, for it, was not ititcrrcd
till till' tu't'Il'tii. 'I'lir j'olluvving is (h>' entry o!' Fatiicr HaviMi in his

rcgi>t>'i' :

" I5urial ol' Mr. dr. JJoaujcux, Commandant ol" I'ort Dikjuosik'.

'• In the year nuv thcusand seven hundred and lit'ty-iivc, tlu; ninth of
July, was kilL'd in the hattle fought, with tlie I'inglish, the same day a.-
abovc, Mr. Lienard ])aniel, Msijuire, Sicur dr JLieaujftu, Captain in tlie
Infantry, Oomman(Uint; of Fort hiKjUcsne ana cd tlie army, who had been
io eonl\'s.-'ion and made liis devotions the same day, his body was interred
1 the 12th oi'thi! same month in the ceuietry of Fort IHicjuesnc, under
the titlr v)i' the Assiimj.iiini of the IMessed Virtr^n by the l>oautiful Iliver,
and that with the ordinary ceremouies by us ihe undersigned Kccol!et
priest, Iviuu's ('haplaiu in said tort, in te;v iuu My whereof we have s'gtied,

" VniMi i>F;\vs 15\nn.\, V. U ,

(,'haplain."

Some have ailompte 1 to ni.ike ]»eaujeu merely wounded in battle, but
tlie word is ///(■, kilKd, in this entry, and in every aeeouiit of the li^jht,
and the word would inner be used to mean wounded. The burial notiecs
of those who died of wounds are given w.di precision, atid all note the
administration of tlie saerement of extreme iinetion which would not have
been omitted it: he ease of licaujcu, had he survived ihc battle.

1'he entries be •rm m the battle are, 1st, Pierre Simar, scalped near
the fort on the fili.i of ^ uly, of wliom l'\ IJaron notes that lu' had .satisfied
his Faster duty (/ r, Ih'CU to confession and reoi'ived eomniunion\ :L

liimoL!;es, killed in the battle and buried on the tield.

Jean li. Tal-

lion, wounded in the battle on the ;)th, and buried at tlie Ibrt on the I'>[h

after confessinu; and receivi

U''' extreme unction.

t. Mr. Derichervill

Hs(juire,Sieurde (^anpievilhs killed^on rheHth, al't.;r having- been to con.
fession the same day, buried on the l()(!i in t!ie fort. .">. Joan B. de l.i
Ferade, Esquire, Sieur de I'arieux, v,'ounded on the !tth, died on the lOth
after receivini; the sacrements of penance and extreme unction, buried in
the fort. (',. Reaujeu. V. J. ]{. Diipuis, wounded the !)th, died the L*',)th,
after reeeivin.ij; sacrements of penance, the holy ou'diarist, and extreme
unction, S. Joseph^ Sieur de Ste. Therese (wounded on the Dth), died,
July IK), alter recciviuc:- the sacrcmcuts of penance, the cucliarist, and
extreme unction.

DEFEAT OF WAS]IIN<}TOX AT MONONGAIIELA.

ffoct-
■rrt'd

1 lli:>

:li uf

There can, therefore, be no Oou])t on the point, liefore starting; from
the I'ort, ('ariiuevillc went to eonfession ; Bcaujeu not only ^'liJ this, l»ut
received coniniunion, and botli were killed (in IheOth, Canjiievillo l)cin^'
interred on the KHh and Ik^uijeii on the r2tii.

Captain IJeanjeu, who thus died aeliifvin^- duc oftliegrenteht victoriei*
in French annals, left, it is said, by his wife, Michelle Kliznbeth de Fou-
eault, a son who went to France at the conf|uest of f'anadn, and a daught^n-
who married Carles de Noyan, (lovernor of Guiana ; luif further nothinj^
has yet reached me (.'(incevninfi- tluiii.

(V>llateral brandies vemaincMi in (\inada ami iiave ^.in(•o b'-in disfiu
i;uished.

if vi

Dcfral 01 llla!.il)in(\tou at fHouonoialjela,

'.irn JcLV, Il'>^>.

1) HAT II OF niJADDOCK.

" Wo have been licateu, slirtnicf'iilly lii'ateii, l>y a Iiaii'lfiil of Froncli.'' — ]\'<ishitiif
/..//'.< /(■//(■/• I'll' r tin- hattb'.

Tlu' liistdrian, (larneau^ ll'u> do (•ribcs tlio same en^auenient : —
'• M. i>f: C<iNTRr,ra:uu comniamled at l)uquL-snc( Fittsburiz). Oneof his
scouts infonued him (-July 8) that the IJriti.-^h were but six leagues oif.
Il(^ resolved to attack them on tlio way, and proceeded himself to mark a
place of andmscaile. Next day, two hundred and lifly-three Canadians and
.-ix liundit'd siwaues, led by M. de Deanjeu, left the fnt, ab«mt S a.m., to
take post in tho ravines and thickets bordering; the road along which tho
IJritish were about to pays. This trooii was in the act of dcsecndini;- the
-liijie bordeilni; the plain above noted, just as Colonel (Ja,ij,e be^/in to as-
cend it. The two masses soon met in mid-career, and Itefore the rrentdi
uer • alili- to reach thc^ ground they had been directed U) take up. Then'
wa.s now nothini; for ii but for each party to try its strength in driving its
adversary olf tlu' line ol' road. 'J'he iJritish, taken by sur[)risc, liad U) sus-
tain a hot lire, galled by which their ranks gave wa} somewhat, and (jiagc
was fain to tall back upon the main body of Hraddock's force. The
jtath being thus cleared, the !'ren<*h W(;re enabled to complete the opera-
tion planned beloreliand, and nu)stly en.^conced thems(dves in every covcit
<'f brushwood and btdiiml eaidi rock wiiich could be turned to ^iielteritiu

IIATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

account, while the mounted Canadians took post on the river, as if it
were only tliey who meant to dispute the passage, whereas the foot sol-
diers and savages, posted at intervals, right and left, formed a half circle,
the horns of which curved outwards so as to enclose the approaching
enemy.

"The Uritish van, its ranks reformed and closely .supported by the
main body, were advancing con -idently, Avhen asemi-con^Mitrie (ire, from
unseen gun-muzzles, was opened upon them, seemingly from every side,
under which they first staggered, were then brought to a halt, and linully
threw their ranks into confusion. IJraddock, however, by great exertion
VGstoring order, they opened lire on as many of their foes as they could
see, and the artillery coming up, began to play upon the French central
corps. One of the lirst cannon balls shot killed M. do IJeaujeu. M.
Dumas, second in command, placed himself at the head of the Fiench
not undercover, and, well sustained by M. de Ligneris and other officers,
dashed forward on the British : a desperate struggle ensued. The
savages, who had been scared by the cannonade, observing that the Ca-
nadians did not flinch under it, with yells resumed the sheltering-places
they luid left. The British long put a good face uu the matter, and
even made a forward movement, tlie men being impelled onward by their
ollicers, sword in hand; but fairly confounded by the murderous Are
kept up, and which ever thinned their ranks the more they further ad-
vanced, the whole body of regulars loll into hopeless disorder ; so per-
plexed were some fusileers, th it, firing at random, <hoy killed several of
their officers and some of their own comrades. The colonial militia alone
seemed to preserve their presence of mind on this occasion, but even they
were in the end borne backward by the panic-stricken regulars. Mean-
while Braddock did his best to reform his men, and lead them back to
the chaige, but all in vain. The balls flew roumi him like hail, two horses
he rode were killed ; he mounted a third, but only to receive a mortal
wound, for the most of the l-'rcnch and savai-cs from under shelter were
able to single out at their leisure all those whom they chose to hit.
After three hours' struggle the IJritish eoliunn gave way entirely, aban-
tloiiiii,' their c'.ininn. The ('a-, .ili.ina now advanced, hatchet in liuiid,
iiikI tlf snvag.s (jiiiliini,; their lurking places simultaneously, l)oth lei
upon the rear ofliie refrcaliiiM Uritish and .Americans, and made Iriuhf-

if It

)t HOI-

lirclo,
.'hiug

)y tlu'
from
.side,
inally
irtioii
could
sntral
3J.

L»E1EAT UF WA;SlilN(iTON AT MO.NO^JUAJiiaA.

I'lil luivoc ; those whose swiftucss of foot did not exceed that of their
pursuers were cut down or drowued in the Mouonguhehi, in a fruitless
attempt to -ain the opposite bank/'- M. Dumas, kuowin-' that Colonel
nunbar's corps was still intact and would serve as a rallying' body for
.such fugitives as had gained the advance, pursued them no longer ; and
called a halt the rather, as the savages had betaken themselves to
l>illaging, and it would have been a hard matter to get them off their
prey.

" The carnage thus concluded had scarcely an example in the annals of
modern war.j- Nearly 800 out of the 1200 men led to battle by JJraddock
were killed or wounded; out of SO ofliccrs, liij were slain and o2 hurt;
lur ihcy made heroic attempts to rally and inspirit their baffled men ;
several officers killed themselves in despair, Washington excepted,
all the mounted officers received wounds, mortal or other. The luckless
general was carried to Fort Necessity, where he died July 13, and was
Imried at the roadside near that paltry post, lie was a brave and expe-
rienced officer, but an arrogant man ; contemning his enemy, despising
alike militia and savages ; yet liad he the mortification to see his regulars
madly flee, while the Virginians stood firmly and fought bravely to the
last.

''The beaten soldiers, when they reached those of Durham, infested
them also with their own panic, and in an instant the corps broke up.
The cannon were spiked, the ammunition destroyed, and most of the bag-
gage burnt; by whose direction no one knew. There was noBcmblancc
uf order had till the fugitive rout attained Fort Cumberland, in the Alle-
ghanic8.| Washington wrote thcnee : " We have been beaten, shame-
fully beaten by a handful of French, who only expected to obstruct our
advance, Shortly before the action we thouuht our forces were C(|ual to
all the enemies in Canada ; we have lieen most unexpectedly defeated,
tud now all is lost."

" The French gained a great booty. The baggage of the vautiuished,
flieir provisions, fifteen cannon, many small arms, and much munitions of
w;\r, the chest, Hraddock's papers — in fine, all became fairjspoil for the

if^i

* Mr. Puucbot, " Momoirrf on the lute War iu Americiv."
t Mr. Jurcd Spark '3 " Lifa of "Wftghinglou'"
i Lifo, Correspomleucc. A<^., of Wn.';hiD/?ton.

• 4

■V v?^;

'Mm

UAXTiii; i'ii:li)s of canada.

Vlf

i-jvy. 'rin.s_- ilociii'.M'iits revealed till' pidjeits ol the IJiitish Ministry,
and served to ju^tii'y the indignant sentiments oxin-c.'^sed against it,s
polity in a memorial aildrossed by the |)uke do Choi,seul to the dilierent
European cuurts. There were taken, after the battle, from amidst the
dismounted and broken vehicles left on the field, from 400 to 500 I'orscs,
includir.g those whieh had been killed or hurt. The victory cost the
French about forty men. M. dcBeaujcu was much regretted by tlio C'ana
ilians, bis compatriots, and by the ..idian tribes, Avho held him in great
respect. This ended the combat of Monongahela, one of the most mem
orable battles known to American history. 'IMie news o\' this diHConi
lituro spread universal consternation throughout the whole of liritisli
America,'"

(!ll)e fort (i3coiCiC iUassiurv,

Arui'ST '.'I'll, l'iT)V.

" Kill iiic, ' I licil Mdiitcalui, iisiii;:' iirayors aiul uiciiaei-'S iuul pioiul,->(,',5, '' but
spau' the Knj^li.li wlio are uiulormy prolcclion."' — Bmirroft'f Uuilcd Stutcx, Vol. /(',

Of the many stirring ineident'5 which marked the " seven years war"
culminating in the eonque.-t of Canada^ few have l)een more loudly
denounecd than the deed of Idood periietrated by the aborigines on the
garrison and inmate.- of Foit George, ealled liy the l>riti!<ih Fort William
Ifenry, subse(iuent to its capitulation; fow occurrences of that day b.ave
left, between the militias of Now France and New Kngland, more liittei
memories. Neither <' 2,(100" nor 1,000, nor j'iOO, not even 200 indi
viduals W'.MH' slaughtered on this occasion; tlier(> were enough, bow
ever, to exhibit in its true features Indian warfare in former times.
The barbarities to which British soldiers and New England colonists
were subjected, in direct violation of the articles signed by (leneral
Montcalm and accepted by the thirty-six Indian tribes present, liave
furnished thot^c inclined to make capital out of national wrongs a wcl-

TUE FORT (iEOROE MASSACRE.

instiy,
list i(„
i lie rout
(1st the

I'OVSCS,

3.st the
c (!;ina

11 ^mil

Lui

cauie pretext to charge tlic French commaudcr with being, in some
degree, accessory to the commission ol' these horrors. Cooper's attractive
novel " Hhc Last of l/ic J/oJiauais," ini'l other works,"'' have also helped to
lender current a belief to which the whole of Montcahn's career, as wel 1
as history, gives the lie. True, Ihc American novelist does not go so far
as to accuse the Manjuis with counselling the deed, but ho asserts that,
(hiring its execution, the French showed '-' an apathy which has never
heen explained." Here is a grave accusation levelled at the lair
name of the chivalrous rival of ^V''ol^o; fortunately for his posthumous
lame, there is such a thing as historical truth ; there are also honorable
men, whose nature spurns tho cheap popularity acquired by circulating a
He calculated to ruin or vilily a national onemy. To this class belongs
(icorgc Bancroft, the gifted historiographer of Mie Tnited States. liCt
u< now quote from his beautiful writings :

" How peacefully rest the Taters of Lake (jcorge between their ram-
parts of highlands I In their pellucid depths, the cliffs and the hills,
and the trees trace their image, and- the beautiful region speaks to tho
heart, teaching affection for Nature. As yet (1757), not a hamlet rose
on its margin ; not a straggler had thatched a log-hut in its neighb(»r-
hood; only at its head, near the centre of a wider opening between its
mountains, Fort "William Henry stood on its banks, almost on a level
with the lake. Lofty hills overhung and commanded the wild scene ;
but heavy artillery had not, as yet, accom]ianicd war-parties into the
wilderness.

" Some of the Six Nations proscrv-,'' ihoir neutrality, Imt the Oneidas
'lanced the war-dance with Vaudrcuii. '\V(! will try the hatchet of our
I'lther on the English, to sec if it cuts well,' .said the Senecas of Niagara ;
and, when Johnson complained of depredatit)ns on his cattle, ' Vou be-
gin crying quite early,' they answered, ' you will soon see other things.' j

" ' The English have built a fort on ' e lands of Onontio,' spoke Vixu-
dreuil, governor of New France, to a congress, at Montreal, of the war
VMirs of three-and-thirty nations, who had come together, some I'rom the

^■■:^''

* "Thi.-i treaty ul' cftiiituktioii w;!** yioliited I'.v Ar.iute.'iliii in n luimncr wha-li lixo'
(•((.■rnal ilL^Kraco yn hii? lavmory."— .^/oon'ti IikH-hi WUrs hi thr rnKnl ^''ti'", />. I '.'I.

(tornal Ui.-Jgraco yn lu:? meiuory.

t Vauilrpuil to tbo Minister, I'MU .'uly. 1707,

•■^i^

ti ■ ■ ■ ' '■

BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

rivers of Maine tuul Acadia, some from tlic wilderness of Lake Huron
and Lake Supcrioi. ' 1 am ordered,' he continued, 'to destroy it. (Jo,
witness wliat I sliall do, tliat, when you return to your mats, you may
recount wliat you have seen.' They took his belt of wampum, and an
BWered — ' l-'ather, wo are cunie to do your will.' Day after day, at
^^ontr('al, iNIontealm nur.-ed tlioir enthusiasm l)y sin^inii; the war-soni;
with the several trib(>s. They cluiii;' to him with affection, and would
march to ))attle only with ]iii)i. They rallied at Fort St. Julin, on tlie
Sorcl, their missionaries with them, and Jiynins were sung in almost as
many dialects as there were nations. On the sixtli day, as they discerned
the battlements of Ticonderoga, the fleet arrayed itself in order, and two
hundred canoes, fdlcd witli braves, eacli nation with its own pennon, in
imposing rcgulai ity, swept over the smootii waters of Champlain, to the
landing place of the fortress. Ticonderoga rung witli the voices of thou-
sands ; and the martial airs of France, and shouts in tlie many tongues
of the red men, resounded among the rocks and forests and mountains
The Christian mass, too, was chaunted solemnly ; and to the A))cnaki
converts, seated reverently, in decorous silence, on the ground, the priest
urged the duty of honoring Christianity l)y their example, in tlie pres-
ence of so many infidel braves.

'' It was a season of scarcity in Canada. None liad been left unmol
CBtcd to plough and plant. The miserable inhabitants had no l)rcad.
33ut small stores were collected f)r the aruiy. They must eomjuor
speedily, or di.4)and. ' On such an expedition,' said I^Iontcalm to liis
officers, 'a blanket and a bearskin are the warrior's couch. Do like me,
with cheerful good-will. The soldier's allowance is enough for us.'d)

" During the short period of preparation, the partisans were active
Marin brought back his two hundred men from the skirts of Fort K<1
ward, with the pomp of a triumphant warrior. ' lie did not amuse him-
self with making prisoners,' said Montcalm, on soingbut one captive (§) ;
and the red men yelled with joy as they counted in the canoes two-and-
forty scalps of Englishmen.

■' The Ottawas resolved to humble the arrogance of the American
boatmen; and they lay liid in ambuscades all the twenty-third oC .fuly,

I MonU'iilm'rt Circuliir In IiIm .illi.M'rs, 2;>th July. U'l
^ Montciilio {>' Vnii.lr.'iiil, L'Ttli .liily, I7.'«7.

THE FORT (iEORCE MASSACRE.

;in(I ull the fullowiu^Li,' niglit. At day-ln'oak ul' tlic twnnty-fourtli, rainier
was seen on the lake, in coniniantl ul two-and-twonty liaricos. The In.
diuns rushud on liis jtarty suddenly, tcrrilied thoni by their yells, and
.ifter killing many, took one; liundrod and sixty ])risnji jrs. < TD-inorrow,
nr next day/ said the captives, MJencral Weld) will hv . ' the fort with
(Vesh troops.' ' No matter/ said Montcalni ; ' in less than tw(dve days, I
will hav(! ii j!;iiod story to tell ahont thcni.'('_) l"'roni the timid Webh
there was nothing to fear.' TTe wont, it is I me, to l-'ort William Henry,
|)nt took care to leave again witli a large escort, just in season to avoid
its siege.

[t is tlie custom of the red men, al'tor success, to avoid the farthei
chances ol'war, and hurry home.

" ' To remain now/ said the Ottowas, 'would ho to tempt the Master of
life.' Hut Montcalm, after the boat« and canoes had, without oxen
and horses, by main strcngtli, been borne up to Lake (ieorge, lield on
the plain above the portage one general council of union. All the tribes,
from the banks of Michigan and ISuperiiu'to the borders of 7\cadia, were
present, seated on the ground according to their rank ; and, in the nann!
of (jonis the h'iftecnth, Montcalm produced the mighty belt of six thou-
sand shells, which, being solemnly ueceptcd, bound all, by the holiest
tics, to remain together till the end of the expedition. The belt was
given to the rro((uois, as the most numerous; but they courteously
transferred it to the upper nations, who came, though strangers, to their
aid. In the scarcity of boats, the Imquoi;'. agreed to guide |)(> Levi,
with twenty-livi^ hundred men, by laiul, through the ru'^geil country
which they called their own.

"The Christian .savages employed their short hisurc at the eonfes-
;donal ; the tribes fron\ above, restlessly weary, dreamed dreams, con-
sulted the great medicine m(Mi, and, hanging u{' the eonijilrtt' ei|Mipment
of a war-chief as an offering to their Manitou, embarked (ni the la^( (l;iy
of July.

" The next day, two hours after noon, Montcalm followed with the
main l)ody of the army, in two hundred and lifty boats. The Indians
whom he overtook, preceded hira in their deeoruted canoes. Main fell
in torrents; yet they rowed nearly all night, till they cmiiic in si-ht of

:■■*■■!

' iMliyiigainvillf i<> t'le Mini^ilvr, lUtli August. l7o7-

liATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

the three triangular lircH that, from u mountain ridi^e, pointed to the
encanjpuient ol' i>e Levi. There, in (Jauousky, or, as some eall it,
Northwest ]Jay, they liclJ a eouneil ul' war, and then, with the artillery,
they moved «lowly tu a bay, of whieh the point eould not be turned
without exjiusure to the enemy. An hour before midnight, two I'lnglish
boats were deseried on tlie lake, when some of the upper Indians piiddled
(wo canoes to attack theni^ and witli sueli celerity that one of tin; boats
was seized and overpowered, two prisoners beir.i; reserved; tlie rest were
massacred. The Indians lost but om^ warrior, a great ehieftaiii of the
nation of the Ncpissings.

" On the morning of the second day of August, tlie savages dashed
openly < , n ' water, and forming across the lake a chain of their
bark can •. u* made the bay resound with their war-cry. The
English we: ikou a'most by surprise. Their tents covered the plains.
Montcalm disembarked without interruption, about :i mile and a lialf
below the ibrt, and advanced in three columns. The Indians hurried
to burn the barracks of the J'higiish, to ehuse their cattle and horses,
and to scalp tlieir stragglers. During the day, tiiey occupied, with the
Canadians under La (!orne, the road leading to the Hudson, and cut oil'
the communication. At the north was the encain])ment of Do Levi,
with regulars and Canadians, while Montcalm, with the main body of
the army, occupied the skirt of the wood on the west side of the lake.
His whole force consisted of six thousand I'Veneh and Canadian.s, and
about seventeen hundred Lidians, Fort William Henry was defended
by Lieutenant-Colonel William Munro,' of the ooth regiment, ii brave
ofiicer ar.d a man of strict honor, with les-! than 500 men, while 17<>0
men lay entrenched near his side, on an eiiiiii(Mie(> to the south-east,
now marked ])y the ruins of l''ort George.

*' Meantime, the braves of the Nepi;:sings, fuithful to the rites of
their fiithers, celebrated tlie funereal honors of their departed brother.
The liteless frame, dressed as became a war-chief, glittered with belts
and ear-rint'.', and the brilliant vermilion; ;i riband, liery red, supported
a gorget on his brefisl ; the tomahawk was in his girdle, th(> pipe at his
lips, the lunee in his hand, at his side the well tilled bowl. And thus
the diparted wavrinr sat nin'ight on the green turf, whicli was l\is death

drum

jiOStU

("ajitair C'liri-lic Im (M.\criinr rnwn.ill, UHli Aii<rii>-'l, I7.'i7.

TiiM I'oivr <ii:oM"-i: ma.^jjackl'.

to the
call i(,
rtillory,

tunicil
I'lni^lisli

I' ljo;ils

'st wore

ol'tl...

nn:\i. Tlie >|i»i'ili I'tir ilio {Umi wa.-) jiitiiiolllKt;tl ; lln tlciitli ilaiiii.s and

•liaiits lui:;m ; the niunuur.H (iniiiiinii v

IMCIS lIllll'.^U'il willl I III' .^ulllli

l(.f

ilriims aixl tlio liiikliii;^- (»r lidli; Itcll.-. Ami iliiis aria^cd, In a >itiiii,:;
|n)s(iirt', he wi'H eoiisij^iiod to llu- «'mlli, will ]iiitvi(lnl with IiumI, ami
Mintiiiii(l((l Iiy the ^^Illt'lll^(l^.s wliicli doli^htod him \\Ii('ii .ilixc

" (.)m the fourth of Auj4U.->l, the {''ri-iich siiniiimncil Muiiru in hiirivinkr,
hut the i;allaiit oM soldiir sent an answer ol' doliaiiee. Montealii;
hastened his works; the tro(»[ts dra;_'i:;e(l tin.' artillery over roeks aii!
throui^h ihresls. and with ahwrity hnmuht lascities and ;^ahioi:s. Tiiv

reil men, unused lo a sieire, were eaticr to Iiear the bi:

run;

. -I toll

III

lirst battery uJ' nine eunnoii and two mortars was lin'slied; and amidst
the loud sercam id' the savages, ii be,L'an to phiy, while a thousand eehoes
were returned by tlie mountains. In two dtiy.s more ;i s'eoiid was
established, and iby means of the zij^-za^s, the fmliaiis euuld stand
within irun-sliot ol' the I'urtress. Just tlien arrived Ictdrs iVuin l-'ra

ulernu'' on iMoutcalin tlie red riband, witi. ra as Kui:;ht (

nee,

om-

'vor done vu

by tl

et 111 v'ou tlie moi'i> lor

h. ai

inander ot the Order id' St. Louis.'

" ' Wc are 'j;\'>h\,' said the red men, ' ol' '
:;reai Ononthio, l)ut we neither love you, v.uc
it; we love the man, and not what liar oii Iiis milsldi
I'ort Mdward, had an army ol" lour thousanu,aiid miiilit have Mimmoned
the militia I'rom all the near villages to the resene. IIi> sent nothing
but a letter, with an exa^'^erated account ol the I'reneh I'oree, and his
adviei' tu capitulate. Montcalm intercepted the lelter, which lie imme-
diately lurwai'ded to Munro. Vet, not till the eve ul' the I'estival of St.
liawrenee, wdien half his uuns were burst, and his ammunition was
iliuost exhausted, did the dauntless veteran haiii!,' out a Hag- uf truei'.

" With a view to make the capitulation unviolably bindini;' on the
Indians, .Moniealm summoned their war chiefs to council. The J'Liglisli
were to depart with the honors (d' war, on a idcdi^e not to serve a^iainst
ili»! l''rcncli fur eii^hteen months; they were to abandon all but their
private clfects ; an escort was to attend them on their dej-arture ; every
t'aiuidiuii or h'rcnch Indian made captive during!; the war was to be
liberated. The Indians applauded ; the capitulation was signed. J/it';
on the ninth of August the h^'cnch entered the I'uvt, and the Engli.sh
retired to their eutrenelicd camp.

.' v'^/^i|

., ■ ■■ • 'I

>••/■-

«• I-

tv-. ?'

liATXLi: J'lliLDS Ul' CANADA.

«* iM(»iilc;ilm lia<l ktpt iVoiu (lie .saviii;,vs all intuxicaliii.^ thiukf^, l»ut
(lu7 Miliciti'il ami <ti»taiuo<l tlu-m of the l']ni;lisli, ami all Jii^lit long tlu'\
wore wiM with ilatu'os aii«l .-oii-s ami revelry. Tho Abcuakis ol' AfuJi:i
oxcitiiil till' aiiv'ry passions ul' other trihe.s, hy rv'calliiig the .sorrows tlu-y
had sulleriil from llii^lish jKrliJy and Kiii^ii.sh power. At day-breal.
ihey gathered round the enlreii(dimeiit, and, as the Kugli.sh hi)ldiers (lied
oil", began to plunder them, and incited one another to .swing the toma-
hawk reckles.ily. Twenty, perhapii even thirty, per.son.s were massacred,
while very man} were made prisoners. Ollieers and soldier.s, stripped
of everything, fled Iv) the woods, to the fort, and to the tents of the
I'leneh. To arrest the disorder, De Levi jdunged into the tumult,
daring tleath a thousand times. I''reneh ofliccr.s received wounds in
rescuing the cantives, aud stood at their tents as sentries over those they
reeovcrcd. ' Kill me,' eried jMontealm, using prayers, and nicnaees and
promises ; ' but spare the English, who are under my protection ;' '■''
aud he urged the troops to defend themselves. The march to Fort
Edward was a flight ; not more than six hundred reached there iu a
body. I'rom the Prendi camp Montcalm collected together more than
lour Juindred, who were dismissed with a great escort, and he seui JJc
Vaudreuil to ransimi those whom the Indians had carried away.

" After the .surrender of Fort William Henry, the savngcs retired.
Twelve hundred xw'M were employed to demolisli the fort, and nearly a
thousand to lade 'iie vast stores that had been given up. As Montcalm
withdrew, iio prascd his happy fortune that his victory was, on his own
side, almo.st bloollc^s, his loss iu killed and wounded being but tifty-
thrce. The Caiadian pea.sants returned to gather their harvests, and
the lake resumed its solitude. Nothing told that civilised nu\n had reposed
upon its margin but the charred rafters of ruins, and, here aud th«re, on
the sidediill, a erucilix among the pines to mark a grave,"

In perusing Bancroft's narrative, wo fmd nothing to support the alleg-
ation of IJritish aud of somo American writers, " that the Fronch'at
Fort AVilliam Henry acted as fiends." We cannot, lither, detect any
circumstance calculated to warrant Cooper's charge against Montcalm, of
"extraordinary apathy" during the massacre. The reverse iu fact is

appn^

the

wholl

neaul

whicl

in Fj

.Mom

Urnh

isltj
text

'•• Jloiitculm to tbc Minuter. Sth .September. 11^1.

THE FORT UEOUUE MASSACliE.

jippnrent in every liac. I am indchted to tlic kindness ol'our old liistorian,
the Abbe Fcrhind, Jbr a most iuteiesting letter, from au e}e-witne.ss of the
whole proceedings. It not only eorroburatos entirely liuneroft's and Gar-
iicau'? version of the Fort William surr jnder, but discloses cireumstanees
which I have not yet read in any Kiiglisli work. J'his letter ^vas written
in French by the Abenakis mis.sionavy of the St. Franyois villairo, near
M(mtreal, and bears date 21st October, IT')? ; it is to be luund in tli.-
lin-ucil <h Lcttrea Edlfitintcs ct diwiaiHca, roj»rInted at Toulouse it"
IVIO, vol. (). It is referred to by IJancrol't and other historians, but its

text in Fndish is not iiiveu.

( Tntnshdion.) " St. FiiANCors, near Montreal,

2lsl (Molnr, nni.

On the r2tli July, I left St. Franeois, chief villaj^-e of the Abenakis
mission, for Montreal, to present to M. iJe V'audreuil a dei.ufatiuii of
twenty Abenakis who accompany Father Virot in his undertaking to
found a new mission; amongst the Wolfe Indians of the Kiver Oyo, or
/idle llivihrc.

We soon received orders to join the French army, which was camped
one league higher up, towards the portaijc, close to a spot where a water-
fall compelled us to convey overland to Lake St. Saeremcnt ((jieorge)
the implements necessary for the siege. Preparations were being made
ibr a start, when an occurrence took place which rivc'tted the general
attention. A small fleet of canoes was seen in the dist-'uce, coming u|>
an arm of the river, decked out with trophies, heralding a victory. It
was M. Marin, a Canadian officer of much merit, returning triiimphaiilly
from the expedition confided to his charge. About liOO savages had
been placed under his orders to go towards Fort J^ydis ; lie had. with a
small Hying camp, the courage to attack and the good fortune to take
possession of — a large portion of the outer works of the fort. His savages
had just suilieient time to remove the scalps from the two hundrcMl dead
warriors left on the spot, without losing a single one of their own ]>arty.
The enemy, three thousand strong, in vain sought to wreak vengeance in
the pursuit they made of the savages. It was whilst we were engaged
in counting the number of Knglish scalps displayed about the canoes,
11

,«

• 'I

■'. 1

BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

II '

that wo observed a French boat bearin-4 towards us five Englishmen,
lied and escorted by Outaouackf, whoso prisoners they were.

The sight ol these unfortunate captives caused great rejoicings
amongst the savages present : I liese barbarous feelings they gave vent to,
by horrible yells and by conduct distressing to humanity. More than one
thotisand savag( s, lukin I'mni thirty six difl'crent tribes, under the banner
(tf France, were at that moment lining the shores of the lake. At one
instant, and f-ccmiiigly without any preconcerted plan, they all ran in liot
haste towards tlie adjoining woods. 1 knew not at lirst how to oxplain
this iincxpected niovcnient. I was not long in sus})ense. The barbarians
in a minute returned with clubs ready to inflict on the unfortunate
Knglish the most dreadful treatment. At sight of these cruel prepara-
tions, my heart sank in me; I felt my eyes bathed with tears ; my sor-
row did not however render i.ie inactive. Without a moment for thought,
I flow towards those wild beasts, in hopes of restraining them; alas! of
what avail was my feeble voieo, but to articulate a few sounds, which
the tumult, the diversity of languages, the surrounding ferocity rendered
inaudible. At least T made bitter reproaches to some Abcna(j[uis who were
near me; my determination awoke humane sentiments in their breasts.
Ashanu'd, they slaiik off from the murderous crowd, throwing away their
(;lubs. IJjit what was a few less in a mass of li,()(>(t, bent on giving no
(luartery Seeing the futility of my intcrl'erenee, 1 was in tho act of
withdrawing in order not to witness the b! .ody tragody which would
soou eum'.iicnce, I liad seiircely gone a few steps when a feeling of
compassion brought me back to ihu bank, from which I cast my eyes on
the victims doomed to certain death. Their present state caused me
a new paig. Terror had so overpowered them that their strength failed
them completely — they could barely stand up ; death was written on
their downcast and convulsed features. They were doomed ; they
seemed certain of being battered to death, when, lo and behold ! their
salvation sprung from the very acts of their murderers. The French
oilieer who had charge of the boat had noticed what had taken place on
the shore. Moved by that feeling of commiseration which misfortune
rings from a brave man, he undertook to create a similar sentiment in
the heart of the Outaouacks, masters of the prisoners. He played his
part so well that he succeeded tn inspire in them compassion for tin-

vi-
I

Tin: roKT <iE«nit;]: massacuk.

lOICIIlfifS

raptivo.x. Til 7 iiiimc<liatcly adoptod :i plan ivliicli siit'ooetliMl to its
I'allost L'Xtoiit. As Hoon as llu; lioat was within liailinu;' distance iVoni
iho shore, one of its inmates, an Oiitaouaik, [)r(tudly utturod tho follow-
in:;; tlircat : ^^Tfusc priaouci's <trr iin'nr; mi/pri>i>^rti/»halllnrrAprct-
(if; l')iirh thrm, nuj/ of i/ou, and i/dh fonrh nirl" One liundrcd l''rcncli
olllccrs mi^dit have spokon thus ; they would cuily have bocn lau;^liod
at, and have hl•ou^ht on tho captives an Inoreaso of cruelty ; but asavaj^e
fears his follow, and liini only ; the most trillini,' insult, may have to he
atoned lor by death only: this make^ them cautious. The will of the Outa-
ouaek was respected, as soon as iiiade known ; the prisoners were dis:m-
harkcd v>'itliout any tumult, and lodged in tho fort, free from insult.
They were then separat(>(l and elosidy (lueiitioncd, and soon revealed all
we wanted to know. Terror made them communicative to a deirree. I
visited one who was placed in a room in which one of my friends was.
I tried to inspire him with lutpe, and procured him refreshments, for
whi(di he scemetl grateful.

ITaving ^ivcn pent to my feelings ol' compassion, and ha via;:; soUu.'ed
an unfortunate, [ hastened to t;'et my own little party ou board of the
boats, which was done instantly. The distance was short : two hours
were sutriclcnt^to get to the end of our journey. 'IMic tent of the Cheva-
lier do Levi stood at the entrance to the camp. L took the liberty to pay
my respects to this personnage, whose name is synonymous with merit, and
wlio is still better than his name. The conversation turned on tho circura-
stance which had saved the life of the five English prisoners, whose
pcrilloua adventure F have just related. I was far from knowing the
details, which are indeed startling, viz. : IM. Do Corliesse, a {''rench
colonial officer, had boon ordered the night previous to cruize on Lake
St. Saerement. Jlis detachment consisted td' about fifty I'rencli and
a little over three hundred savages. At dawn of day, lie discovered
in boats a detachment of three hundred English. These boats being
more lofty and stronger in build than birch canoes, more than compeu-
'atcd the superiority we had over them in nnnd)ors. Our men did not
hesitate to attack them, and the enemy at first seemed ready to fight, but
this resolve did not last. The French and savages, whose only chance
of victory rested in their boarding the boats, and who fought at a disad-
vantage, being at a distance, closed in, in spite of the heavy fire poured on

•'.'I

7fi

BATri-K T'IKI,1)S OF CANADA.

ilii.Mii. Tlic lliiti.^li m>;-noLHT.s;iw thoiii drawing iK-ar, than ti-rror (li.sariiu'tl
tlioin. It wasiiittaliglit: 'twasarout. Ol'all alternatives, the most danger-
ous, tliough the less honorable, was for theEnglisli to seek to land : they
elioose it. They made llicir way tow.ivd.s the shore aecordingly. Sonu«
Juuiped ill the water to swim ashore, in hopes ol" hiding in the woods:
a bail plan, the lolly ol'whieli brought sorrow on them. However swift
their boats mij^'ht be, etmld they expect to beat the bireb cMnocs which
tly througb the liquid element with the swiftnc.«s of an arrow '( Soon did
tlie Freueli and savages eateh up to them. In the lirst heat of the light
all were massacri-d without quarter — torn to pieces. Those who took to
the woods did not fare better. .\n Indian in the woods is in his own
I'h'ment; he can run through tluMii as nimbly as u deer. The enemy was
hacked lo pieces. At last the ( Kitaouaeks, seeing that they had to deal,
not with lighting men, but with beings who allowed themselves to b(>
?laughtered without resisting, set to making prisoners. There were 157
j)risoners taken and I;>1 killed; twelve only escaped captivity and ilcath.
The boats, ef|uipments, provisions, all was taken and ])!utulered. Xo
doubt you fancy that such a victory cost u.s dear, 'flu; light took plac"
on water, tiiat i • in an open place, where no andiush could be laid. The
enemy had time to prepare; he had the advantage of attacking IVoni
boats with lofty .sides, IVail bark canoes which a little skill or coolness
would have ^unk with their crews, ^\'ell, this is all true, and still this
success only cost us one Indian, disabled by a shot in the wrist.

Such was the fate if iln' T>iitish und(>r the unfortunate Mr. (!opperel,
who, it was thought, \va> drowiu^d. The English speak of this engage-
ment ill terms denoting as much sorrow as surprisj at its r(\sults. They
frankly admit the exteiu of iluir lo>^ts ; it would, iruleed, be dillicult to
deny the sliiihte,>t detail : the eoriises of their iren fliiatiiiir on the waters
ol' the lake or strewing its bea(die.-. ivW the i\arful tale. .\s to thosi'
made prisoners, the gre;>ter portion are still in the dungeons oI'M. Le
Chevalier de Li'vi. I saw them I'ylinLi' otV in detachments escorted by
the vicnirs, who, barbarously occupied with their triumph, thought little
of softening the pangs of a d.l'eat. In the space of a Ie;igne which I
had to walk before joining my Abenaquis Indians, j met several small
sijtiadti of these prisoners. .Alore than one Indian stopped to exhibit
to im^, with pride, his capture, expecting I would applaud his success.

,.1' SUlI

ruui,
incre;|
,>f thi
and (1
sorrov
1 hadl

THE FUKT <;EOK(iK MASSA<'KK

Iroiii
Iru's.s
1 this

The love of cniiiilry certainly dill not in.ikt' mc iii.sciisiblo dt a t»iuin)»li
lavorablo to our nation. IJut misfortiino ('(jniniamls rcspoct, not only on
lu'hall'of rolii:;ion, but even from niituro. Moreover, these prisoners seemed
ill such a plight; their eyes nwiniining in tears, their laces covered with
[(respiration and blood, and a halter round their necks : in presence
.tl'such a spectacle, compassion nd liumanity asserted their rights. The
rum, which the savages had freely imbibed, had gon(! to their lu^ads and
increased their natural ferocity. I feared to witness every minute, some
ef the prisoners slaughtered anil falling at my fi'ct, victims of cruelty
and drunkcnn«ss; I scarcely dared to look up for fe;ir of meetings the
.sorrowl'ul glance of some captive. A sp(!ctayle more horrible than what
I had yet seen was soon to take place.

My tent had been pitched in tlu; centre of the Ouiaouaek ;'amp.
The lirst thing F noticed on arriving there' was a largo fire : wooden
s(a!:es, stuck in tlic eartli, announced a lea-;, it was one, but, good
heavens ! what a fV'ast : thr remains ol' an I'^iiL-lishman's corpse cut
lip and half eaten. 1 .saw the.^c fiends a slnjrt time after greedily devour-
ing a human creature : llu'y were helping themselves from the pot witli
Urge hulles to the reeking ilesli an if they could never swallow enough. 1
lieard that tl.oy hud prepared themselves to this feeil, by drinkin;';
brimful, out of the skulls, human blood j their smeared faces and gory lips
rniilirmed the statement. "What was still more awful, they had placed,
dose by, ten Knglish prisoners to witness the abominable repast 1 The
Outaouack's nation resembles that ( •' the Abenacpiis ; 1 thought that by
-iiitly rebuking them lor (his act, ! might make some impression on
llieir mind. I erred: a young warrior said, " ^^JU speak and .n-t like
a frenchman, but I am an Indian, human ilesh is gooil for me." He
I lien handed i-je a 1)aked fragment cut from the I'liglish corpse. To his
v.Mi-ds I maili' no reply, but liis oiler I rejected with visible horror. <\)n-
vincod, by what I had just witne.ssed, that 1 could do nothing to alter the
st.ite i.f things in respect to tlie dead, I thought I would se > wha could
do fur those still living, whose fate was much more to be pitied. I walked
lip til tin i-iiiglish, one of whom attracted my notice; by his uniform 1
n;iw he was an olli'jcr ; I resolved to purchasi; him, and thereby save his
life and liberty. I made up, with this object Jn view, to an old Outa-
ouack, thinking that the ioc of age would have tempered his ferocity,

'-fV

liATTLi: KlEM>:j ('l' <'ANA1>.\.

Jill 1 that lu' WdiiM 1)f iiKM-o inana-oiililc ; I cxti'inlcil m_y liaiid to liin:,
bowiii"- (.ivilly :i! t!ie sanu' iiiuimMit. Il wa* imt a iiiiin !. liad to deal

itli ; il. was a licui'j even more loroc'nu.s ilian a wiia Itca

I I.

ij-t, as wi

1(1

mil

mals ot'ton yiuKl to kliuli:

t'S.-

** x'Vf^" l»o tluuulcrod uut, in ai'cciit.s whic

i-_dit liavf awrd nu\ had iii>' lu'art. in iliat tnoiiiciit , Llm;!! .suscopti

or,

nil'
vr, '

to harbour any othor locliiiLC ImU that of i;ompaPsion and liorr

I il,) Hi. I irtiiif i/nui- frlaKhhiji ; ardioit .'" I did not'wait for a repetition

cil

of the threat. 1 withdrew to my tent, to hrood over th.' thoughts whi
reli^Mon and huuiauity e:;n in.-pire on sueh anoceasion. It did not oeeur
to nie as neeessary to dissuade my Abenacjuis Indians from eoinuiit-
ting sueli horrible excesses. However pov/erfnl example may be with all
men in matters of cu>tonis and habits, they were ineapable of pcrj)etrat-
ihl;- sutdi acts ; even ])eforc they wen; ehristianized, they never were can
nibals. Their hunuuie and tc- able disposition, at thai period, di.-tiii
;.:;nislKd them from tlic uieutest portion of tlie Indians of this coniincnt.
Thuao thoughts k'ept nic awake a considerable portion of the nii:,ht.

Next morninu', on lisiiii;, T li;id hoped no V(^sti;^e would remain round
my tent of the repast of the preceding:; day. F flattered myself lleit
the fumes of rum and tin; licu'ce feedings they cn'i;ender, h;iving beeudis
sipated, calmness and humanity would attain return, f knew not the
(,)ut:u)uack's character and disposition. Tt was as a luxury, a fxjiine hovcJf ,
that tln^y had banquetted on human tlc-^h. At the dawn of day, their exe-
crable repast had been resumed ; they were only waiting for the moment
to set to and devour the last remains of the l']n;i;lish corpse. J have al-
ready said that we were thrcie missionaries attaelied to thi.s mission,
Durinii: the entire campaign, we lodged, thought, and acted together on
all points; this community ol' feL'lings rcndereil ourdulie.; more bearable
during liu-' fatigues of warfare. AVe came to the conelusion that it
would not )>e proper to ctdebiate our holy mysteries in the head-(junr-
ters of barl)ari.sm, inasmuch as these superstitious tribes might use the
holy vases to assiist them in, and to decorate tlicir, jug-lerie.s. Kor this
reason wc left n spot polluted l>y so many abominations, and dived into
the depths of flie forest. This could not be ellected, however, without
Hoparating myself a little from my Abenaipiis. It liad, however, to be
done. This step was iu the end productive of regret, as you will ?ee by
the sequel. I had not been long in my new abode before I witnessed

itli \\

licir

avo

ately

•ursc

oilluci

iii\

fh
iht-l

attac

111(1 l<) lljll>,
had to (|(mI
a.s wild aiii
.'oiits wliici,
suseoptiMi'
ror, " A^o !

I repetition
,^■Ilts wliicli
d not occur

II coriiniit-
bc with all
pcrpotrat-

■ were can
od, distill
CDiitiiicnt,
i-ht.

i;iiii iMiiiid
y.solt' I hat
;; beciidis

V !l(»t the
ne fioiic/h ,
their exc-

moiiieiil

1 have a I
luissiiiii.

^'ethcr on
lu'uralilc
1 fhat ii
cad-quar-
t use the
For this
ived iiitii
, without
or, to be
ill see I)}
yidicssod

THE FOUT UEORUE MASsACRE. 79

with what new fervor my neophytes drew towards the tribunal ef repen-

(ouce.

ul.st many ot my Abnaquis

Vbi

.out,dit the succour of religion, others strived to irritate ireaven, and by
their acts to call down punishment from above. Ardent spirit.^ arc the
liivorite driuk, the universal passion of the savai;;c tribes, and unlortn
nately, despite of laws human and divine, too many funiish them with tl;is
(;urse. Unquestionably however the missionary, by bis character, by tln'
iiilUience he exerts, prcsvcnts much disordindy conduct. 1 lived close {<>
III) flock, a small woml alone intervening. I could nwt, however, ai'lcr
night-lall visit the encanipnient, without running the risk »>!' hostile
attacks not: only on the part of the alliens ol' the l-^nglish, the lroquoi>, who
liail, a few days previously, scalped one of our grenadiers, but also at the
liamls of the idolatrous portion of our own savages, to whom experience
had taught mo not to trust. Some young Abnaquis, together with In
(Hans of several tribes, took advantage of my absence and i)f rlarkness, to
-M and steal some ardent spirits from the French tents, whilst the in
iiiates were asleep. (Jnee in possession of the li(jUor, they used il l\\'v\\
and so(jn felt its iniiuence. l.)runki;nne.-;s among>sl Indians makes itself
l.uown seldom by silence, generally by noise. They commenced to sing,
to dance, to cry out, and then set to lighting. .\t the dawn of day, dis-
order was at its height; 1 then learned (d'it and hastened to where
(rouble existed; alarm and confusion everywhere; — caused by i iloxiea
;iiin. 3Iy Indians soon were calmed. I took each of them by the h;ind
ni .^-ucce.ssion and eoniluelcd them to their rent-, bidding them lo lie down
This seandalons scene seemed ended, when a "^Ljraigan Indi-Mi, iiatu
r.dizcd amongst the Abnaquis and ad(»pted by the tribe, re-enacted i( i.i
a ,^till more serious manner. Alter having Inul words with a drunken
t'DUirade, an Inxpiois, they came to blows. The lir,-t, a more powerful
uiau, having thrown his ojiponenf, was belaboring him unuiertifully, and
what was worse, lacerating his shoulder with his teeth. The combat
was at its height when 1 drew near them. I could niily u-e my
o\vn strength to separaio them. Indian," iVar (Jiie another l'>o much to
interfere, no matt(!r for what reason, inti; one another's (iuarrel-. I was
luiable to eippe with Ihenj, and tin; victor was loo inl'uriiited to (piit hi
victim so readily. I was templed to leave th(>se dennuis eliasli,-e one
.ouitlier lor lli.ir own excesses, !ui( I fi arcd (li('(lcath (ir.nic oriheni

8§

BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

would be iliQjinak. I increased my efforts; by dint of pullin<; at tlic
Abnaquis, lie felt some one .shakini; liiui ; turuiug hia licad rouml :
lie had trouble in rccognizini; mc; be was .still excited, but gradunlly
bccamo calm, when he allowed the Troquois liberty to escape, of which
the lat.cr was not slow to avail himself. ''' "''

[I'urther on the !i;ood missionary relates the trouble he experienced in
preventing his fndians from blowing up the boats containing the powder,
a feat they had undertaken for mere amusement sake.]

The forced inactivity of our Christian Indians, together with the [)rc
sencc of so many idolatrous nations, made me tremble, not for the sakool
religion itself, but on account of their future conduct. I longed for tin-
day when the preparations for the expedition would allow us to start.
When the mind is engaged the heart is less liable to err. That day at
last came, and on the 20th of July the Chevalier de Levis, with 3,000
men, marched overland to protect the arrival of the arm^ which was ti;
proceed by water conveyance. His march was not accompanied with any
of those facilities which high roads in Kurope, built with princely mag
niliccnee, offer, impenetrable forests, rugged mountains, slimy bogs,
such was the route composed of. Three leagues a u:iy %^ s a good per-
Ibrmance ; we took five days to travel twelve leagues. These ()bstaclc>
had been foreseen, and hence why this detachment iiiid, in marching,
started a few days before the othev. On tin; Sunday v. e embarked witli
the Indians, only about 1,-00 at >hat time, the rcsthuvin.; gone by land.

We had scarcely made four or five leagues u'< the lake before wi:
noticed evident traces of our last victory in the shape of abandoned Eng-
lish boats which, after beiag b'^'. cd a long while with the winds and
tide, had floated ashc^t; on the hcwl. The most striking spectacle was a
tolerable large quantity of English corpses strewing the shore or scattereil
here and there in the woods. Some were hacked to picices, and mostly all
were mutilated in a most horrible way. What an awful visitation wai'
then seemed to me I It would have been liighly agreeable to me to have
the remains of our enemies buried, but we had only landed by accident in
this cove. J^uty and necessity compelled us to journey on, in conformity
with orders; we had to lose no time. It was night when we reached the
spot marked out as a camping ground — a locality overrun with wild tliorns
and alive with rattlesnakes; mir Indians lirought us several they had

hit

is
pr-i

ff^l

THE FORT (JEOROE MASSACRE.

illing at tin.
lead round .
ut gradunlly
>c, of wliich

perieiiccd in
tlio powder,

til the |ii'o
I' the sakodi
igedfbr flic
us to start,
•hat day ;i(
ivitli a/lOO
iich was ii)
3d with ;iny
nccly man;
liuiy bo^^<,
good per-
obstacle^
niarcliiim',
kod witli
by land,
oibre Wi'
)ucd Kiiu'
nd^! and
iclo was ;i
.scattorcd
uostly ;ill
tioii war
to linvc
cidont ill
ilbnnit}
■lit'd the
1 thorns
cy had

luch

caught. This venomous reptile, if ever there was one, has a hoa
too small iu proportion to its body; the skin is sometimes regularly spot-
ted with a dark black and a pale yellow Colour. lie has no sting, but
very sharp teeth, a bright sparkling eye ; he carries under his tail
several small scales which he can inflate prodigiously, and which he
rattles violently one against the other when irritated : hence his name.
His virus after being exposed to smoke is a specific against toothache ;
his flesh when smoked and pulverised is also a good cure for fever. Salt
is applied as a cure on the part affected by his bite, which otherwise
proves fatal in less than an hour.

The next day about 4 p.m., M. do Montcalm arrived with the remain-
der of the forces ; we had to start in spite of the rain which Cell iu tor-
rents ; we marched on the greater portion of the night until we discover-
ed 31. de Levis' camp, by throe fires lighted in a triangle on the crest of
the mountain. We halted there ; a general council was held ; and then
started for Lake George, distant twelve miles. At twelve o'clock, noon,
we took to the canoes to ascend, paddling slowly in order to allow the boats
bearing our artillery to come up, but they could not do it, and at night they
were more than three miles astern. Having arrived at an indenture, the
point of which we could not pass without revealing ourselves to the enemy,
we resolved, until wo received fresh orders, to pass the night there, It
was marked by a small incident which was the prelude to the siege.

About eleven, two boats from the fort appeared on the lake; 'hey
soon had reason to alter their calm and measured movements. A ncigh
l>or of mine, wh3 kept watch for the benefit of all, noticed them :r •! i.iir
distance. All the Indians were apprised of the fact, and preji ations
made to receive them, in haste but in silence. I was ordered io .' ock
safety by going ashore and concealing myself in • woods. It wa.^ not
through mistaken bravery, un.-^uited to a miuistr d' religion, that I di?:-
regarded the mandate. I thought the order was not serious, having rea.son
to doubt the statement about the boats. Itw.s not likely that our lynr-
eycd enemies had failed to notice the prcseu' e, since two days, on the
waters of the lake, of our four hundred bo.its ; on this hyi)othcsls I
could scarcely persuade myself that two boats vould have the foolhardi-
ncss to appear in our presence, much less to engag(^ iu combat forces so
much superior. A friend of mine who had seen all, reprimanded me
12

■I-'.
I,.-

.FM

RATTLE Fri->IJ».^ (F CANAPA.

ill stionu trnu.' lor "i I ''imii;:; wluif I («ii;;Iil !•■ lie: lie was ii;;lit ; a |in;i(
ttloraltly lai^'o liold all tlu' missionario"; ; a Ictit was sjtroad over it to piv-
tcct tlicJii against tlir iiiclcnicncy ut' the wcalhcr tliiriiit; the cool iii^ht.'^;
This whifr ))avillioii, uiuK'r wliicli we took slioll<r, was visible at a ilistanci!
l>y iiioonlij^iit, and tlio Eiij^lisli woro curious to find out wliat it was. To
niiuo towards w.i or to run straii^ht to destruction was ono and tho same
tliinir. I''''w cduld liavo escajied, il', fortunately lor tluMii, a small iin.-i-
dcnt had not warned them a few minutes too soon I'oy the sueecss o', our
plans. ( )nt' of the sheoj) Corminu part of tlu- army >npplies het^au to hh^ft ;
I his Miniid, V, liii'h presauod an amhuscade, caused the enemy to stop short ,
laci" al>ou^ and nvjii' on their hoats doulde tjuitlv, in order to eseapi,
I'avorrd I'V darlxtic'ss and the woods.

What then rcuiaiui d to In; donr 'f 'i'welvc hiiudrcd savages pnr.'^nc I
ill.' t'n-itiv.'s, with y. II,- :is hmd as they were incessant. Hoth partir,-.
scMiii'd to liesiiatr ; not a .-hot was lircil. The a;-sailants not havin;; had
time to lorm rc;^Milarly, wt'rc afraid to lire lest they should hit one
another: mcvover they wished to make )»risoners. The luiiitivesstrui;-
};led hard t.) Liet av.ay. and were in the act oC doini: so, when the Indians
tired. The Hritish. heinu too close to the first canoes, returned the lire,
ami ,soon an oininou< silence succeeded to all this noise. We were hopin-^
for vi. tory, when a pseudo-hravc, ^ho was not in ih,. „i<'/r, , shouted
that the .\hna(|ui.s Indians h.id in. ' with .severe loss I uimediately. sei/
in-; hold f the r-li-ions va.se.s wherewith to administer the last rites, I
hurriedly jumped in^) a canoe t,, -rt to wlu'r. the li-ht had taken place.
I was how. VI r not wanted. as I learned from another fiulian who had t.een
in (he thick el" it ; moiu' of our forces had hcen struck except a Nipis-
siuf^uc who \>as killed, and e.noth.u- helian wan-ior w(Uinded, whilst
hoardin- fh. enemy. 1 ,!id not wait lor th, ,.,„1 ,,r |,is narrative, hut has-
tened hack •(. our peoph>, leavin.i? fhc marie; i,, the hamls u\' the .N'ipis-
Hin-ue misssionary, Mr. .Mathaveh I arrived ly water and met M Av
Mrmtc.-dm, who, on hearini^ ih-- lirinu:. ha.l landed lower down and
m8iohisw..y .hrou.;l. the woods ; an .\hna,,nis hi.lian, at my rcpiest.
relured io him w! t had taken plac.« in ;, very few words The .larkne-s
ofihe:i;uhM>;'-veuie.| the Mund.erol' dead hein- known: the enemi.v/
boats hud l.N-M eapuired aud al.so three prisoners ; the remain.ler strayed
through the Dreht. M, de Montcalm, pleased with tho success, then

will

ni''

Tlll'l lOllT OEURWE MASSACRE.

S.1

;lit ; a ho.it

r if to prc-

ool nij^'hf.s.

."> <listiin<'<'

w;is. To

Ifio same

small iiici-

;css o; our

!i to hi o(.'t ;

^toj) xliori,

to ('scaj)c,

■< I'lir.-iii' 1

1 1 |>iirtic>

aviii;4;Iia(l

il liit one

vosjstrui;-

10 Iiidiaiis

Hie fin'.

c liopiiiM;

^Iioiitfd

- rites, I
'1 jtlaco.

Ii;ni jc'cti
a \i|)is-

I, whi'sf
I'lit lias-
• N'ipis.
t M. .1.

'(•((Mcsr.

.iilcnc-s
iit'inics'

stray< .1
^, then

witlitlrew to pouJor over, with liis usuul .sugucity, thu oi»cratiou.s ol'tlie
morrow.

|)ay had s-oart^cly Jawmnl, when tin- warriors of tlie Nipissimiuo natiou
pri'scnt, profocdi'J Avitli tin.' I'mu'rul ol' tlu-ir dfail warrior (a pai^ati,)
killi'il in tluM'ni:;a,t;cmi'iit oltlu! previous uii-lit.

The riiiicral was accompaiiicil with all the pomp ami show custoin u \
with Mavaj^es. The hoily was diM-kcd out, or rather i-omplttely covered,
with all the j^rotesquc nrnameiits whi»di vanity could devis<' i'or such .»
iiielaneholy oeeasiou ; poieclaiii iiecklaei', silver bracelets, rings in the

ill

us and nose, sumptuous drcs>es, all was lnon'lit into ie<iuisitioii ; paint

Old vermilion was re^-oi

fed t

o III old."- In replace, hy rreshiU's,-> and an

appearand! of lile, the palor oi' death, The Wearing apparel oCan Indian
warrior was also us hI ; — a tier} red rihhon tied upon his broa'=;t ; a
^or^'ot ; his j^un rested on his arm ; a tomahawk in his i^irdh'; his pipe
ill his mouth; his lanee in his hand; a well-lilh'd can at his sidi-.
Tims j^'audily attired as a warrior, lu' was seated on a L'rassy mound as
nil a (!oU(di l(aiij:;ed in a eircde i- mud this corpse, the Indians observed
a solenm .silence, as il' ojijiresscd with griei'. The ora'or iiiieiruptcid it hy
proiiouiieing the funeral oration on the dead , to this succeeded w:tr soui^s
Old dances, with the noise id' tambourines and hells loi iiui^ie : a death
like solemnity, in keepini;' with tlu,' occasion, reiuned throiiLihout. Th"
pai^'cant t!uded hy the burial ol" the Indian warrior with a lar^e fjuantit)
of eatables deposited in the i^rave, no doubt i • prevent ilu' po>sibility ol'
his dying a second time lor want td' I'ooil, I lannoi, as t j this ei-reuumy.
-.peak as an eye witness; the presenct; of a misNionary woiiM indeed be
out of place at a paireant dictated by siipitrstition and adop'ed by >tupi'l
ereilulity. 1 had these facts from spectators. '■' * "•■• *

Fort (}eor,ir<! was a s(|uarc, Hanked by four bastions with outer works
and ditches eighteen to twenty feef dee'ji ; the ^*carp and counter scarp
were slopeil with iiioviiiL:; sand ; the walls cijiisistcd 'i\' larL-e pine
trunks supported by massive stakes, about lifteeii to ii.:hteen fe<>t high,
tin interstices lilled up solidly with sind. I''uiir or five hundred men,
with nineteen cannon, defended it. Two or three ol'the-e were thirty-six
pounders, the otlusr.s were of smaller caliber ; there were al.-^o four or live
mortars, 'flu; place was proti'eted by no other ext-'rnal worki than a
lortitied rock, surrounded by i palisade and jiiles of -^tone, (heL'arrisou ol

r!'

•f'

r .;•:•.'

I'.ATTLt: riELDS OF CANADA.

wliic'li consisted of 1700 men which constantly scut rciuforccment.s to th.-
fort itself. The chief stren<,'th of this eutrcnchment consisted in its pe-
culiar position, which eonnnanded all surrounding objects, and which, on
account of the mountains and .swanips in its ueighborhood, could only he
attacked with artillery from the furt. Such was Fort (Jeorge from wlmt
I saw and hoard of it after its capitulation. It was impossible to invest
and attack it on all sides. 0,000 French orCaua<lians and 1700 savaj>es,
our whole strength, were not enough to compass its surrender with any
degree of success. 20,000 men would scarcely have suilieed. The enemy
had always a kind of back door, whereby they could retreat to the I'orost
— a t!;ood plan — had they to evade enemies whicli were not Indians;
but from such escape under cover of the woods is more than hazardous.
The Indian warriors were encamped on the Lydis road, so close to the
woods and in such numbers that thi.-i plan of evasion could scarcely avail
them. Ou the licights of the land close by and within hail, were located
the Canadians. Lastly, the I'reuch regulars — to whom, pn)perly speakint-^
were confided the siege operations — were disposed on the cdtieofthe
wood, close to where the trem-h would ojicn ; then came the reserve
camp, sufHeiently strong 'o ward oil" assault.

These preliminaries settled, M. de Montcalm sent proposals to the
enemy, which, had they been accepted, would have saved a great deal
of blood and sorrow. The following are very nearly the terms uf tlir
letter sent to M. Moieau (Col. INIunro), the British ofliccr in charge:

"Sir, — I come at the head of iorees larij;e enough to take possession
of th place under your command, and to interci'pt any succour which
might come to you from elsewhere. Among my followers is a crowd of
savage tribes, whom any blood spilt might render deaf to any sentiments
of uicrcy and moderation. My love of humanity induces me to ask from
you a surrender, now that I may yet obtain from them terms of cajiitula-
tion honorable to yourselves, and useful to all. — I remain, &c.

(Signed) " Montcalm.''

M. de L<''vis' aide-de-caniit, M. Fontbrane, was the bearer of this
letter. The Knglish olhcers, .several of whom he knew, received M.
Fontbraue with that courtesy customary between honorable men in times
of war iJut no surrender was granted. The reply ran thns :

mil

■ I

TUB FOUT »;eor<;k ma.<saciie.

ucuts to 111...
J ill itspe-
I wliicli, on
uld oiil^flii'
' I'runi wliiit
lu to invest

r with any
I'lic ononi y
tlio forest
' Indians;
lazardous.
).so to the
'coly avail
re located
spcakinp

iiC of till'

' r(>Si.i-y,.

' to th,^
•oat doal
s of fl,,.

tri^o

sse.ssion

r wliicli

uwd of

fi men ts

^ from

Jtihila-

.M."

•f this
ltd M.
timo.s

"Monsieur lo (I('nc'ral, 1 fool obli^aMl to you in partioular fur the
^^aoiolH offers you nuikc. I Itar not barbarous trcatmonl. My men,
liko myself, are detornunod to ('on(]ucr or die. — I am, i.\.e .

(Si;:;nod) " MoUKAi; (Munro.)"

This proud reply was aeooiu])aniod with a >:dvo <>[' L,ains. Wo were far
from boin^ able tuan.swor. Hd'orc establi.siiiii^a battery, we had to carry
our <,'uus tliroui^h woods and over rooks, fully a mile :iiid ;i hall". Thanks
(ii the voraeity of our Indian allies, we were deprived of the use ol' our
liorses for this duty. Tired of salt moat, they had not hesitated to seize
hold of them some days previously, killin*^ and eatint; them, without tak-
iMj4 counsel of any one except their stomachs. In the absence of boasts
ol liurtlicn, so many strong' arms and loyal men set to work that the task
was soon completed. During all this, I was lodged close to the hospital,
a spot from wheuoe I could easily .airord to lend the help of my ininistry
to the dyinijj and wounded. 1 remained there some tinu; without haviiii;
•my news about m^' imlian,-;. This , silence caused me uneasiness. .1 \\:\^
very desirous oCassendilinj;' them once more, to inspire them with sm-
liments b(H;omin<^ reliiiicm, in tlit> perilous p(»sitioii in which tlioy won'.
1 determined on <ioing to soi'k tliom. The trip, over and above its leiiLrth,
was beset with perils. I had to pas.s by the trench where a soldier, close;
liy me, had met Iiis death, whilst oxaminini^ tlie curious indenture a bullet
had made on u tree. (Jn iiiy road, I must confess 1 was struck with the
way the French and the Canadians performed the dan^crous duties de-
volvinj.;; on them. On seeing the jny with wliieli they carried to the
scone of danger felled trees andotlior siege implements, one would have
imagined they considered themselves invulnerable against the incessant
lire of the enemy. JSuch acts denote pluck and love of country, and this
is the true character of the nation, I went all round without tinding
any one except u few stray sejuads of Abuaiiuis, so that my journey re-
sulted in nothing except in shewing my good will. At that distance
from my people I could be of but very little use to them; still I rendered
some service to a prisoner, a JMoraigan, whose tribe is favorable to, and
iiioslly entirely under, the dominion of IJritain. 'I'his man's face was
quite repulsive ; an enormous head with small eyes, a heavy body and
diminutive stature, thick and short legs: these traits and many othois
elassilied him amon<«jstdolbrmod men ; neverthcle.ss he was a human being.

•;• -v

tin

liAiTLi; riELus or canaka.

iind as such eutitloil to the oflicos ol' christian i;h:iiity, bcin^ still luort.* the
victiui of liid looks than oC misfortuue. lie wa.s bouiul to the trunk ol'
a tree, where his grotesque face attracted the curiosity of passer.s-hy ;
jeers auil tauut.s were his lot at lirst, then oaine blows : ho was Mtrnck sn
violently as nearly to cause hinitlu- loss ol" an t'yc Such eontlnct ri'volicd
mo; I ran to the relit'l'ol" this unlortunate, and pained by his niisliirtune,
I authoritatively expelled iVoin the sjiol idle spectators. I nittuutcd
iiuard near him a portion tif the day, and played my part so well that I
enlisted in hi* belialt' his masters' (the Jiavai;es) sympatliie>, so (hat the
persecutions ceased without my remaining; there. I do not know whether
he Iclt grateful; he j.^ave nn- only a wild glance; but independently ol
religion, I was ukuc than compensated by tlie})leasuro I had experii'ucetl
in saving an unhai)}»y bein;:. Tluri; were plenty of other unfortunates.
Everyday Indian skill and bravery added to their number.-, in tiic shape
of prisoners. 1'hetncmy could not stir out of the fort without meeting
captivity or deatii. The following will show : an iMiglisb woman took
into her head to -ro in ^uest of v<\getables, in ;• cultivatiMl patch close fo
the iliteli of the i'ortress ; her daring eo.^t liei dear. A savage, secreted
in a I'abbage brd. --iw lur and shot lui' dead. The enemy tried in vain
to remove her boily ; the victor stood sentry all day long, and linally
scralped her.

In (he meantime, (he savages got very desponding at not hearing any
shots lired from the /wy ^/nns, as tiny calleil our cannon. They grew im-
patient ut not being allowed to carry on the war alone. To satisfy them, we
had to hasten to be^'in the siege and to mount oiir lirst ba'ti-ry. When i(
openol for the tir.^t time, the; wh.»le mountains resounded with their yelU
and joyous cries. We were dispenseil during (lie operations from taking
much troulde (o iuseertain tin' i'lb'(;t til' our liring; the wild 3'clls of the
Indians soon carried 'his information in every direction. 1 .seriously
thought of elianging my ijuart is ; die distance which intervened b<'
tween them and where my neo[diytes were, lelt me no duties to perform,
but before this cdiange took placi.' an alarming incident occurred. Tlie
fre<|uent trips whi<di the enemy made during tli<^ day to'^urds their boat<
made us j-u-piH-t soiih,- gr.ind move wa^ in eontemplation. A rune'r
got al'roud ihat tiny iiitended t ■ Inirii oiir war and eommissaiiat
><upplie-;. M lie Lauuiy, captain of a i'rciich c^iment of Lirenailiers

iiii

ral
pri

JKl
lO!

THE i<»KT (;loiu.i: massacke.

ill liKtr.' the
lie flunk ul'
passLT.s-by ;
;.s struck mi
let ri'volft'il
luisfurtuiif,

I lllulllltni

v.ll tliut I

so (ll.lt till*

w whcthci
rulci.tly ul
tperii'iiecil
ortuiiates.

tiio «haj)i!
it mectiu;-
'man took
h close to
3, sccntid

il ill vain
Jcl filially

uin-^ any
,'rew iiJi-
icni, w.'
^\'lu■rl i(

•ir yell,
takiii-
s oC the

L'riuu>ly

II (m1 |»(»-

erCoriii,

iil)Oat»

issai i;i(
ladicr-

\v;i> instruftod to watrli over tlic Ixiats wliiili (iiiitiiitiod tliriii
skilful nuasurcs he had devised rt'n<l»Mod it almost a suhjeet of rej^ret to
t|9 that the enemy did not show himsoir. I, ,.ulise(|ucntly to tliix, joined
;iy Ahiiacjuis and remained with tin in duriiiir the remainde>- of the
e;inipait;ti. Nothinir oT n^te took place for some days, exeept the
promptitude with whieli the sie^'e operations pro^Tisseil. Our second
liattery was erected in two days. This was for the Indians the (»rcasi<m
lor a new holiday, which they eelehrafcMl in a style In-fitting wurrinrs.
'["h<y were constantly hovering around our j^uniiers. whose skill they
admired. Nor win their admiration barren in results They wi've re
stdved to inak(> themselvis us( I'ul in every way ; nnderiakiny. l'» ai-t
as ^jiinners, and 'Hie in particular ^o^ very expert A xavaiji liavinLr
liimsell' pointed a _uuh, struek exactly a retreating' atiL'le, on wliidi \\r
had . ...d to take aim. He however deelined tiyin..:; a semnd -I'iii,al
le;^in;j; that as he had at the onset attained to perl'^-fic.ii, he on^ht not to
risk h's rei)Utation on u second attempt, lUit v. li.i' . nied to astonish the
savatre.s most in our siege operations was the several zl^/.ags ul' a trench
which, like subterranean passages, are s) useful in p!(»teeiiii;: the be-
siegers from the fire of the besieged. They witnes.-od wlili uiibonnded
curio.ity the finish and perfection which the Freneli grenadiers be.>towed
on their works. The force of example soon iiuhieed them to .-et t",
with pi«*k and hoe, to open a trench toward^ the fortified ro^k, a task
confided to them, 'i'hey soon had extended the trench so far that the\
got within gun shot. .M. do Villier.s, brother to .^I. di! .)umotivil!(>, an
otUccr whoso name alone iutlicated merit, took advantage df t!ii> trench
to march up with a detachment of ('anadiuus in order to o\)v\\ lire on
the outer defences of the enemy. The action was sharp, long and
bloody for the enemy, who abandoned these outer works ; — the chief en-
trenchments would also have been carried that day if their capture
could have en.sured the fall of the place. Ivieh day was signalised by
some brilliant feat of arms, eith'M' by the h'reneh, the Cunadians or the
savages. In the meantime the enemy held out rc.^iolutcly, buoyed up
with the hopes of a prompt relief. .V trivial occurreiuv; which hap-
l»ened then ought to liavc greatly decreased these hopes. ( )ur scouts met
ill the woods three messengers, who had left Fort Jiydis (Ivlwarih : they
killed the first, captured the second, and the third escaped by swiftness
of foot. A letter was discovered in a hollow bullet concealed on the

. ■' \i

>wi

m I

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

(/ \'^'^\

(/.

1.0

I.I

1.25

IfriM llM
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WEBSTER, N.y. 14580

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BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

Ill-

body of the dead mcs;scuger with so luueh art, that uono aavc a soldier
experienced in these matters could have detected it. This letter was
signed by the cominandcr oF Fort Lydis; and addressed to the com-
mander of Fort George. It contained tlie summary of the confession
extorted from a Canadian, made prisoner on the first night of our
arrival. lie had stated that our array consisted of 11,000 men, and our
Indian allies of 2,000, with most formidable artillery. This was er-
roneous, and our forces were considerably over-estimated. But the error
did not proceed from fraud, which, however useful it can be to any country,
cannot bo pardoned l)y an honorable man, bo ho ever so patriotic.
Fntil this campaign, the largest armies from Canada had rarely exceeded
SCO men ; surprise and wonder magnified ours to those unaccustomed to see
considerable ones. T have often, during the campaign, witnessed greater
illusions in this way. The commander of Fort Lydis concluded his
letter by informing his colleague that the interest of the king, his
master, did not permit him to send any soldiers from the tort : that it
was his duty to capitulate and make the best of terms.

The best use Montcalm fancied this letter could be applied, was to
have it delivered to is address by the surviving despatch-bearer, who
had been captured. Ti.c JOnglish officer (Munro) thanked him, and hoped
he would continue to act with the same courtesy. This act cither
indicated that he was joking, or else a prolonged resistance. The actual
state of the place did not presage the latter : one-half of its batteries
dismounted and rendered useless by our guns ; terror amongst the be-
sieged, whose courage was only kept up by rum; finally, frequent
desertions — all combined to show ihat surrender was close at hand.
iSuch was the opinion of deserters, who would have come in crowds had
not our Indian allies increased the perils attending such a feat.

Amongst those who sought refuge in our ranks, there was an indivi-
dual belonging to a neighboring republic, our faithful ally, who enabled
me to claim liim soon, as a returned son of the church. I visited him
soon at the hospital, where he lay wounded. On my return, 1 noticed
a general movement in all quarters of the camp — French, Canadians and
Indians, all ran to arms. The rumor of the arrival of succor to the
enemy had caused this commotion. Amidst alarm, M. de IMontcalm,
with that coolness which marks a master mind, made arrango-

m-.

1*1'

THE FORT (JEOKCtE MASSACRE.

ments for the safety of our trenches, of our batteries and boats, and then
left to head the army. I was ({uietly seated at the door of my tent,
Irom which I could see our troops go by, when an Abuaquis put an end
to my contemplative mood, by unceremoniously saying to me : " Father,
you i^ledged yourself that no damjcr would dctrr i/mi from coming to
iidministcr to us the rites o/t/our religion ; do you think our wounded men
<:ould come to you from, the battle-field, across these mountains ? We
noio start to fight, and look to you to fdfil your promise.'' This fitrong
appeal made me forget my fatigues. I took my position with alacrity
in front of our regulars. After a forced march, I arrived at a spot
where my people, in front of all the troops, were waiting for the battle
to begin. I deputed, on the spot, messengers to bring them all
together, and gave them a general absolution before meeting the enemy;
but no enemy came. M. do Montcalm, in order not to lose the advan-
tage of his preparations, sought to bring them out by the following
Htratagera. He proposed that the French and Canadians should simulate
a fight, whilst the Indians, secreted in the woods, should lie in wait for
the enemy, who would assuredly make a sortie. Our Iroquois approved
of the plan, but alleged that the day was too far gone. The other savages
were in favor of the ruse de guerre, but the excuse of the Froquois prevailed ;
so that all had to withdraw without seeing anything more than the pre-
parations for a fight. At last, the next day being the eve of t\\(ifcte of
Saint Lawrence and the seventh after our arrival, the trenches having
been pushed as far as the gardens, we were j ist going to mount our
third and last battery. The closeness of the fort led us to hope that in
three or four days it might be assaulted by all our forces, and breached;
but the enemy saved us the trouble and danger : they hung out the
white flag, and asked to surrender.

We are now drawing near to the capitulation of the fort, and to the
bloody catastrophe which ensued. No doubt that every corner of Europe
has echoed with the news of this melancholy event, whoso odious cha-
racter (unexplained) is calculated to cast a stigma on Franco. Your
etiuity will soon be in a position to decide whether this horrible charge rests,
or not, on malignity or on ignorance of the nicts. I shall merely adduce
circumstances so public and so incontrovertible, that I can even, without
feai of contradiction, appeal to the testimony of the English officers who

. si

t-'' i

-■■'■'A

.' ■ ■ /

BATTLE IMELDS oF (WNADA.

i !■ 'I'

|l >

saw them and huffcrcd Iroin them. The Marquis of Montcahii, beforo
granting any capitulation, had thought proper, in order to liave the capitu-
lation respected, to consult all the Indian tribes present. lie asscmblcl
all their chiefs, and laid heibrc them the terms of the surrender; it
granted to the garrison the right to march out of the fort with all tlu'
honors of war, imposing on them the obligation not to serve for eighteen
months against the King of France, and to release all the Canadian,-^
made prisoners during this war. These terms r-^ ccived general asscTil
and approbation, and were signed by the generals of both armies. Con-
sequently, the French army, drawn up in line of battle, advanced towards
the fort, to take possession of it in the name of His Most Christian Ma-
jesty, whilst the English troops, in good order, left it to go and post them-
selves, until the next day, in the retrenchments. Their march was not
interrupted by a violation of the rights of nations. But soon the savage,-^
gave good cause of complaint. Whilst the French wero entering the
fort, the savages had crowded in numbers, in its interior, by the port-holes,
in order to plunder, as plunder had been promised to them, but plunder
did not suffice. Several sick, being too ill to follow their friends in their
honorable capitulation, had remiiined in the casemates ; these fell victims
to the unmerciful cruelty of the savages : they were butchered in my
presence. I saw one of those fiends issue from one of those pcstifcrou-
casemates, which thirst of blood alone could have induced him to enter,
oearing triumphantly in his hand a human head all bloody ; he
would not have been more proud of the richest trophy imaginable.

This was but the prelude to the tragedy to be enacted on the morrow.
At daybreak, the Indians crowded round the defences. They began b}'
asking the English for all the effects, provisions and valuables which
their covetous eyes could detect; but tlieir demand was made in terms
indicating that a refusal would be attended with a thrust from a lauce.
Everything was given up instantly, even to the wearing apparel in actual
use. This condescension was calculated to s )ftcn the mind, but an
Indian's heart is not like tlie heart of ordinary men ; you would fancy
that Nature itself has intended it as the seat of inhumanity. The
savages were disposed to commit the greatest excesses. A detachment
of 400 French regulars arrived to protect the retreat of the British.
The English filed off. Alas for those who could not follow, or lagged behind

i-I '

THE FORT GEORGE MASSACRE.

bcforo
capitu-
[cmblcd
ider; it
all tln'
lig'htccii
inadian.s
|1 assciil
Coil.
toward>
lian Ma-
st tlicni-
was not
savages
itig the
rt-holcs,
pluiulci-
in their
1 victiiDs

I iu mv
stifcrou.-
to cuter,
dy; lir
Ic.

morrow,
icgan bv
s whicli
in terms
a laaco.

II actual
but an

d fancy
•. The
cinncnt
[Jrltish.
behind

iVom tlie main body ! Th<;ir corpses strewed the soil and the interior of the
works. This butchery, which at iirst had been attempted by a few
Indians only, was the signal on which all the rest became like so many
infuriated wild beasts. They struck right and left with their war-axes
;it those within their reach. The massacre, however, was not so great,
nor did it last as long, as their fury wou)d make one fancy ; it attained
to some forty or fifty cases. The patience of the British, who contented
themselves with bowing their heads under the hatchets of their execu-
tioners, appeased it all at ^uce, without bringing back reason and justice
amongst them. Amidst incessant yells, the savages continued to make
prisoners.

1 arrived at that moment. Tt is more than man can do to possess
insensibility in such heartrending scenes. The son wrested from a
father's arms, the daughter violently separated from a mother's embrace,
the husband dragged from his wife's bosom, officers despoiled of every
garment except their shirt, without regard to their rank or to common
decency : crowds of unfortunate beings rushing wildly, some towards the
French tents, some towards the fort, — in fact filling up any place likely
to afi'ord shelter ; such was the doleful spectacle which broke on my
sight. In the meantime the French were neither idle nor indiflFerent
spectators of the catastrophe. The Chevalier dc Levis hurried wher-
ever the tumult was the greatest, with, a courage dictated by clemency
and natural to so illustrious a name. A thousand times he braved
certain death, from which he would not liuvo escaped, notwithstanding
his rank and merit, without the interposition of a special Providence,
which withheld the arm ready to strike. The French officers and the
Canadians followed his example, with a zeal worthy of the humane
treatment which has always characterized this nation, but the bulk of
our forces, employed in guarding our batteries and the fort, was pre-
vented by the distance from helping in this work. Of what avail could
400 men be against 1,500 infuriated savages v*'ho confounded us with
the enemy ? One of our sergeants who had actively resisted their
cruelty, received a lance thrust which prostrated him. One of our
I'rench officers, in recompense of similar devotion, received a. large
wound which brought him to death's door : moreover, in those moments
1)1' alarm, no one knew which way to run. The measures seemingly the

' "■ -k

tW r 1 ■

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'■''■i 1

". . 't

BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

most judicious ended in a miserable failure. M. do Montcalm^ who
heard of these doings late, on account of the distance between his tent
and the sp' ♦^j as soon as informed of them, used such dpeed in coming
there as proved the goodness and generosity of his heart. lie seamed
to be everywhere at once : prayers, threats, promises, — he tried every-
thing ; at last he resorted to force. The position and merit of Colonel
Youn (Young) induced him to exert his authority and use violence to
tear from the hands of a savage, (Colonel) Young's nephew. But, alas I
the deliverance of this young man cost the life to some prisoners, who
were butchered on the spot, lest they too should be rescued alive.
The tumult still continued, when some one thought of telling the
British to march oif " to the double quick." This plan succeeded. The
savages, finding pursuit useless and having made some prisoners, desisted.
The British continued unmolested their retreat on Fort Lydis, where they
arrived, at first only three or four hundred strong. I cannot state the
number of those who, having taken to the woods, succeeded in getting
to the fort, guided by the report of the guns, which were, during several
days, fired for their guidance.

The rest of the garrison had not, however, met with death, nor was
it detained in captivity j several had saved themselves by retreating to
the fort or to the French tents. Ft was at the latter place I went as
soon as the tumult was over. A crowd of forlorn women bemoaning
their Lte, surrounded me ; they threw themselves at my feet, kissed
the skirt of my garment, uttering lamentations which were heartrending.
Nor had I the power to remove the cause of their grief. They
called aloud for their sous, their daughters and husbands, torn from them
forever, as if I could restore them. An opportunity presented of les-
sening at least the number of these unfortunates. 1 eagerly avail-
ed myself of it. A French officer informed me that in his camp
there was a Huron who had in his possession a child, six months' old,
whom the savage would certainly put to death, unless I hastened to
rescue it. I hurried to the savage's tent, and found him holding in his
arms the innocent victim, who was covering with kisses the hands of its
executioner, and playing with some porcelain ornaments which hung
about his person. This spectacle inflamed me with a new ardor.
I commenced by awarding to the savage all the praise which was due to
the bravery of his tribe. He saw through me at once.

iiuurii:
Ue
(rliild

TUB FORT GEORGE MASSACRE.

" //ere," said he, civilly, to me ; " ilo yon sec this child ;' / have not
stolen him; I found hint stowed away in a hcdijr. You want him, but
i/oii shall not get him."

In vain [ tried to convince him how useless it would be for him to
attempt to retain the infant as his prisoner, us, [nnn the want of ])roper
nourishment, it was sure to die.

lie produced some tallow to feed it with, adding : '' That even if the
(;hild did die, he could tdwtiys liud a (corner to bury it in ; and tliat then,
I might, if I choose, give it my blessing."

T replied by oficring him for his little ctiptive a tolerably largo
sum of money. He declined ; but consented in the end, if I would
give him in exchange another JJritish prisoner. L had made up my
iniud to seeing the negotiation end by the deiith oi' the child, when I
noticed the Huron converse in the Fndlan dialect with another savage.
Our dialogue liad heretofore been carried on in French. This gave
me fresh hope : nor was 1 disappointed. The result was that the child
would be mine, if J gave in exchange the scalp of an enemy.

^^ You shall have it very shortly," said 1, ^' ij' yaii. vu'll keej) to your
bair/ain." T ran to the Abnacjuis camp and asked the first savage I
met, if he owned any scalps, and if so, that 1 would consider it a favor
to be presented with one. He immediately, with much kindness, untied
his wallet and allowed me the pick of scalps. Possessed with one of
these barbarous trophies, I carried it triumphantly, followed by a crowd
of French and Canadians, who were curious to see the end of this
singular adventure.

Joy lent me wings : I ran in an instant to my Huron friend : ''Here,"
said I ; " here is your 2>ay."

" You arc right," said he^ " it is rc(dly a British scalp; the hair is
,'ed !"'■''■ (Red hair often distinguished the British colonists.) " Takr
tin hoy ; he is yours."

I did not allow him time for a second thought, and seized hold of the
child, who was mostly naked, wrapping him up in the folds of my robe.
The little fellow was not accustomed to be so roughly handled, and uttered
cries, which indicated as much awkwardness in me as pain with him.

s:^ ^

* Probably it belonged to a Scotcbmau, its ii larKu uumbor ol' Seolcb sevvud in tbe
British armies in America bel'oro and at the time I't' the cuiKiucst <>t CmhuiIh.

' f

BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

II u

I consoled mysulf with the hope that ho would soou be confided to more
experienced hands. I arrived ut the fort. The infant's wailings caused
all the women to rush towards mo ; all hoped to find a lost child. Thoy
examined him eagerly, but neither their hearts nor their eyes could
discover a son. They withdrew to vent again their grief in loud lamen-
tations. My embarrassment was great to find myself with my charge,
some forty or fifty leagues from any French settlement. Tfow could I
provide for so 3'oung an infan

I was overwhelmed with my thoughts, when I happened to see passin,^
by a Jiritish officer who spoke French fluently. '' Sir," said I, " I have
just rescued this child from captivity, but he is certainly doomed to die,
unless you order some of these women to nurse it, until I find means to
provide for it. The French officers present backed my prayer.

The British officer then spoke to the women. One oftered to nurse
the child if I would guarantee her life and that of her husband, and
have them conducted safe to Boston vid Montreal. I accepted these
term.s, and asked Mr. do Bourlamarquc to allow me three grenadiers to
escort the English to the camp of the Canadians, where T hoped to find
means to fulfil my engagements. This worthy officer acceded to my
proposal.

t was Justin the act of leaving the fort, when the child's father turned
up : he had been struck by a shell, and lay quite helpless ; he entirely
co^.aTcd in what had been planned to save the life of his child. 1
stai .>ou with my English friends,* escorted by the three grenadiers. After
a fatigueiug but successful march of two hours, we arrived at the quarters
of the Canadians. I shall not pretend to pourtray the crowning feat of
my undertaking : there arc some things >vhich are beyond the power of
words. We had scarcely arrived in the neighborhood of the camp, when
a loud exclamation caught my ears. Was it from grief? was it from
joyy It proceeded from all this, and from more. It was the voice of a
mother. From afar, the piercing eye of the parent had recognized her
darling boy ; who can deceive a mother? She rushed wildly towards
the English lady who held the child, tearing it from her arms frantically,
as if she feared to lose it a second time. One can imagine her transports

* Tbo Englisli woman who luiil i-'iusentcd to take chiiryc <il' the iufaut, and hor
husliiinil.

THE FOHT r.EOKQK MAf«>SA( KK.

:. 1. 1

They

coiiM

[anicn-

lliargc,

buld I

^assjn.L;

1 have

Ito dio,

bans to

on finding,' agaia her ehild, and on being told thai, her husband — to whom
she thought she liad said adieu for the last time — was still iiiive. One
thing was still wanting to my entire happiness, that is, re-uniting the
lather and the mother of the ehild.

f. again retraced my steps towards the fort. I felt very weak ; it was
later than one o'clock p.m., and I had had yet nothing to oat. On my
arrival I mostly fainted. The kind offices of the French oflicers soon
allowed me to finish my good work, l had the fort searched for the
Englishman J was looking for, but the search for a long time was
unavailing. The pain caused by his wound had made liim seek for rest
in the most solitary part of the fort, ilc was found at last; and I was
just going to conduct liim back to his wife, wlicn the mother and lur
son mado their appearance. Orders had been issued to assemble together
all the English dispersed in difFercnt directions, numbering about 500,
and to conduct tlieiii to tlio fort, where their subsistence might be
provided for more easily, until they could be scut to Orange; this was
happily done a few days after. I was cordially thanked, — not only by
those I had saved, but also by the English officers, — and that repeatedly.
As to the oilers to serve me, tliey merely flattered me, as springing
from a sense of gratitude. A missionary like mo has no recompense to
look for except from the Almighty.

1 cannot help noticing the recompense which the Engli.sh woman met
with, who had consented to nurse the child in the absence of its real
mother. Providence, through the instrumentality of my colleague, M.
Picquet, restored to her her missing child, I remained a few days
longer in the neighborhood of the fort, and my ministry was crowned
with more success, 'in rescuing more prisoners, and in saving the lives of
some French officers, jeopardized by the acts of some drunken savages

Such arc the circumstances of the unfortunate expedition which has
tiirown dishonor on the bravery evinced by the Indians during all the
siege operations, and which has rendered burthensomc to ourselves even
their good offices. They pretend to justify their conduct, The Abnaquis
in particular allege their right to wreak vengeance for the treatment
experienced by their warriors no later than last winter, when, during
peace or pending a truce, they ^Ycrc betrayed and slaughtered by the
British of the Acadian forts. For my part, I do not pretend to placo on

.r';'

;^-'iy

. V ft!

B/TTLfi nULi)^ ni' CANA1»A.

i'-

its trial a iiatiuii, wlio, although it may bo our cneiiiy, has uot the less
many titles to our respect. 1 have not siilViciont knowledge of facts to do so.
1 am notav/are that ( have mixed up with this n.'irrative a single eircum-
stanco which could ho gainsaid, nor do I see that malignity can
discover any fact calculated to affix on the French the odiousness of
this event. We had got the Indians to agree to the conditions of surren-
der ; what could bo more calculated to prevent any infraction of its
terms y

A guard of four hundred men had l)eeti assigned to the enemy, as an
(!scort, to protect their retreat: some of the escort fell, in their zeal to
prevent the tumult : could any stronger means have been devised to ensure
the observance of the treaty V Finally, largo sums wero expended to re-
purchase the English prisoners from the savages, so that nearly four huu-
ilred arc at Quebec, ready to embark for ]5oston. Could the violation of
the treaty be more elVicaciously repaired ? These queries seem to me
unanswerable. The savages arc thou alone responsible for this violation
of the rights of nations; with their unquenchable ferocity, with their utter
disregard of all control, lies the cause. The news of this carnage, spread
in the English colonies, has struck such universal terror, that a single
Indian dared io go and make prisoners at the very doors of Orange
(Albany), without being opposed or molested in his retreat.

The enemy did nothing to oppose us in the interval which followed
the capture of the fort, and still the situation of the French army was
most critical. The savages, except the Abnaquis and Nipistingucs, had
disappeared on the day of the massacre. Twelve hundred men were occu-
pied in destroying the fort; about one thousand were busy conveying away
the immense military stores and provisions which had fallen into our hands.
There was a mere handful of soldiers remaining to meet the enemy, had he
shown himself. This inactivity gave us the means of completing our work.
I'\>rt ricorge has been completely destroyed, and the remains consumed
by fire. Tt was only when it was burnt, that we understood the extent
of the enemy's losses. There were casemates and subterranejir> recesses
filled with corpses, which, during some days, furnished material to the
flames. Our loss was merely 21 killed (of which three were Indians)
and 25 wounded. I then returned to Montreal on Assumption Day.

iJATTLB OF CAKILL'^N.

«7

lio less
to do .so.
cirouin-

ty can

iUOS.S of

■surrcn-
ot" its

lJi?nU ot Pavilion,*

8tii July, 175:3.

July 1. — Moutculm made a inovcuK.'nt iu advaucc, fchfloniiuj] hii
troops from Fort Carillon to the loot ol' l.uko Uoorge, to curb tlu-
enemy, und obstruct tiieir hindin,^.

July 5. — The liriti.^^h t'mburked, ut the lake head, in ''M\) biir^e.-, and l:iU
bateaux, while on numerous rafts eannou were mounted, constituting so
many floating batteri<>s. <' The sky was serene," .says Mr. Dwight, '■ and
the weather superlj : our tlotii'a sjied its way in measured time, in accord
with inspiriting marti:il music. The .standards' folds floated gaily in the
."junshine ; and joyijus anticipations of a coming triumph beamed in every
eye. The lirmament above, the e.vrth below, and all things around u:j,
formed together a glorious spectacle. The sun, since his course in the
heavens began, rarely ever lighted up a .scene of greater beauty or
urandeur."

The British van, (5000 strong, led by Lord Howe, reached the lake
loot early on the Gth, and landed at Camp IJrfile. .\s it approached
Hourlamaque fell back on La Chute, where Montcalm was posted, after
waiting, but in vain, the return of M. de Tv{-'\)H(:e, whom he had sent on
a reconnaissance to Mont Pelec, with oOO men. The lattjr, at sight of
the enemy, meant to rejoiu IJourlamaijuc, but lost his way in the wotjd-,;
thereby, through the delay ensuing, just as he reached the spot wlience
he had set out, his corps was surrounded by t!ie enemy, and two-thirds
of the men were killed, or drowned in attempted flight. The rest, who
formed his rear-guard and had taken another route, arrived safely at Ija
(Jhute, whither Tr6pez6e and another officer wore borne uiortally
wounded. It was also in this fortuitous skirmi.sh that liord Howe lost
his life. lie was a young man, but ati oflicer of much promise, whose
death was greatly mourned over by his compatriots.

The amount of the enemy's force, and his intents, wore now alike dis-

* Garnoau'a nUtory of Canada, Bell'a translation.

t Echelon, Fr., ia a stepping-bar or rouii'l iu a ladder; liunoe the military term
ichehnner, di.sp»se parties of soldiers en ickelon (ladder-fashion) ; i. <•■ range them iu
detanhmenti on a line, with interspace* at determinate intervals. — B.

i'r]

K ••■

: -vV' A

IIATTLI^ ilELUS OF CANADA.

ccrniblc. Montcalm broko up liia camp :'t ]ja Chute ; while, supported
by the culoiual regulars and tOO to 500 Canadians, just come up, ho
doliled towards the height;^ ol' Carillon, where he proposed to do battle ;
for it had been determined that, whatever mi;ji;ht be the disparity in the
numbers ol' the two armies, the entry to Canada should not be j^ivcn up
witliout a strui;'.:le. iMoutcahn at (irst elected to make his stand at Fort
St. Frederic (Crown-Poini.) ; but M. do Lotbiniere, who know th(!
country well, counselled hii.i to prefer the heights of ('arillun : the
enemy, he said, could not pass that way, iC it were (judiciously) occu-
pied ; and it would be easy to strengthen the pass by entrenching, under
the cannon of the fort ; whereas, he observed, the works needful to cover
St. Frederic would take two months to execute : not to mention tliat
Carillon, once cleared, the enemy could safely descend Lake Champlain,
leaving the former stronghold unassailcd, in his rear. ^lontcalm, feeling
the cogency of this reasoning, halted the troops as soon as they reached
Carillon in their retrograde march; then he gave thorn orders to take uj»
a position in advance of the fort, and tlicro outrencli tlicuisclves, as
proposed.

The heights of Carillon are situated within a triangle formed by the
discharge of the superflux waters of Lake (rcorge, named La Chute
River, and Lake Champlain, into which they here flow. Some bluffs
(bnttes), whicli are not lofty, and rise highest at the summit of the tri-
angle, terminate, by an easy rdopc, towards the lake, but present a stce]>
frontage {cscarijemtiit) to the river, the latter having a strand alongside
it about 50 yards broad. At the extremity of the triangle, on the edge
of the frontage aforesaid, was a small redoubt, the fire from which radiated
on the river and lake; enfilading, too, the sloping ground along the
course of the stream. This redoubt was connected by a parapet with
Fort Carillon (the ruins of which may still bo seen). The fort, which
could contain oOO to 100 men, lay in the hip of the triangle, :ind com-
manded the centre and right side of the plateau, as well as the plain
below, in the direction of Lake Champlain and the River St. Frederic.
The enemy in our front bivouacked during the night of July (J-T. The
glare of their numerous fires indicated that they were in great numbers
near the portage. The French entrenchments, of zigzag outline, were
begun in the evening of the Oth, and carried on most actively on the

15ATTLli oi' CAUIIif,ON.

7th. Thoy began at tlio fort, (iillowt'tl lor somu lon;^'tli tlir crest uf tho
litights, In the direction of L;i (Jhuto lliver, and then turned to the
right, ill order to t»'""'n*t>o the triatiiile jit its base, following t\u\ sinuos-
ities* ol' a gorge of i.n-.'. ucpth, running across tin* platoau, and tinally
descended to the hollow (Jxix-Jnnd) wliieli extends to the lako. The lines
of cntrenchnicut might have about IJOD yards of development, nnd a
height of live feet: they wore formed of felled trees, placed each on
others, and all disposed in such sort, that the larger l)ranchos, stripped
of their leaves and ]iointed, turned outwards and formed a rude kind of
.hevaux-de-frise. J']aeh battalion as it arrived, first taking the place it
was to occupy in action, constructed its part of the defences intended to
(•over all. Evcu-y man worked with ardour at his separate task, The
Canadians, who did not obtain hatcliets till noon on the Gtb, began their*
assigned portion of the abattis, in tlio hollow towards Lake (Ihamplain,
and linishud it just as the advancing British camo into vifw. As the
intermediate country between the troops and the enemy was thickly
wooded, Montcalm liad caused the nearest parts of it to ])0 clenred, so
that the latter should bo the sooner seen, and have no covert w])en
within gun-range.

jMean while, Abercromby was completing the disembarkation of his
army. Homo prisoners he took misinformed liim that tlic French had
entrenched themselves merely to gain time, expecting the arrival of 1^000
additional men, under De Levis, said to be on the way. Tlie v:!li/
Abercromby determined to fall on at once, before tlie (imaginary)
succour could come up. An engineer, sent by Abercromby to recon-
noitre, returned and reported that the Freneli works were incomplete ;
upon which lie (boldly) put his army in motion. The vanguard, led by
Colonel Uradstrcet, did not halt till it came within a short mile of the
l^'rench entrenchments, late on 7th July. Here the enemy's advanced
corps passed the night ; the line of adversaries on each side of tlie narrow
interspace making ready fur next day's action.

The ]>ritish army, deducting a few hundred men left at \i'x Chute
(probably for guarding the boats at the foot of the lake), consisted of
]r),000 prime soldiers, under experienced otBcers — all full of confidence
in their superior numbers proving irresistible; while the French forces
were only 3600 strong, including 450 Canadians and marines ; thert^

•:*|

< ■■'■ .

100

BATTLE FIELDS OF PANADA.

11 fi

being no armerl savages present. Montcalm put Fort Carillon in
charge of .SCO men ; the rest liu-jd the entrenchments, three men deep
Order was given to each battalion to keep in reserve a grenadier company
and a piquet of soldiers, to take post behind, and repair, on accasion, to
any overpressed part of the line. De Ldvis, who arrived just that
morning (the 8th}, commanded the right wing ; under him were the
Canadians and their chief, M. T)e Raymond ; Bourlamaque commanded
the left wing, Montcalm the centre. Such was tho French order of
battle.

About half-p.'ist 12, noon, the outposts re-entered the abattis, after
fikirmishing with those of the British. A cannon-shot, fired from the
fort, gave the signal to tho men within *o .stand to their arms, and bp
ready to ojien tire.

Abercromby divided his army into four cohimns, the heads of
which were ordered to attack simultaneously. The grenadier companies,
posted in front of all, had directions to force tho entrenchments at tho
bayonet's point, but not to iire till they had fairly cleared the barricade.
At the same time, an alloted number of gun-barges were to fall down
La Chute River, and menace the French right flank. By one o'clock
P.M. the British columns were moving onwarl ; they were intermingled
with light troops and savages. The latter, as they advanced under
tree-covert, kept up a gulling tire en the French. The enemy's four
columns, leaving the uucle<;rcd woods behind, descended into the gorge
in front of our entrenchments, advancing upon them with great boldness
and in admirable order; two of the four columns being directed against
the French left wing, one agninst the centre, and the fourth against the
right, following the sinuosities in tiie slope of the hollow where tho
Canadians were posted, Tho tiring was commenced by the marksmen
(tirailleurs) of the column opposed to the French right wing, and
extended gradually from that point to the French left, Ik; column facing
which, composed of llighlandcr.s and grenadiers, tried to penetrate th(!
barrier 0!i M. T>e Ldvis' si c. That ofiicer. discerninir tho danircr,
ordered tlie Canadians to make a sortie and assail the flank of this
column. The mancouvre succeeded ; for the Canadians' fire, and that of
the two battalions on the sloping ground or hillock (coteau), forced this
column to incline towards the next, in order to avoid a cross flankiog-fire.

l-'i '

BATTLE or CARILLON.

101

'illon in
eu deep
company
sasion, to
ust that
were the
nmandod
order of

tis, after

rom the

i, and be

heads of
>mpanios,
its at the
)arricade.
■all down
e o'clock
rniinglod
;d under
ny's four
he gorge
boldness
d against
ainst the
here the
larksmcn
ing, and
I a facing
trato the
dantrcr,
of this
i that of
ced this
:iag-fire.

The four columns, obliged to converge a Utile in advancing, either to
protect their flanks or the better to attain select points of attack, became
massed in debouching near the heights. At that instant, 80 barges
appear'jd ou La Chute, sent to iuquiet the French flank. A few shots
from the fort, which sank two of thcra, and an assault upon tho others,
from the banks, by a i'ew men, caused their crews to retreat.

Montcalm had given an order that the enemy should be allowed to
come u.iresisted within twenty paces uf the entrenchments, and it was
punctually obeyed. Arrived ut the marked line, the musketry which
assailed their compact masses told so promptly and terribly, that they
were first staggered, and then fell into disorder. Forced to fall back an
instant, the broken forward ranks were re-formed, and returned to the
attack ; but forgetting their consign (not to fire, themselves, till they had
surmounted the barricade with fixed bayonets), they began to exchange
shots, at a great disadvantage, with the ensconced Fioucli. The firing on
both sides, along the whole line, became very hot, and was Icrig con-
tinued; but, after the greatest efforts, the surviving assailants were
obliged to give way a second time, leaving the ground behind them
strewed with dead. (.)nce again, however, they rallied at a little distance,
re-formed their columns, and, after a few moments' halt, throw them-
selves r.new upon the entrenchments, despite the hottest opposing fire
imaginable.

Our generalissimo (Montcalm) exposed himself as much as tho
meanest of his soldiers. From his station in the centra, he hastened
towards every point where there was most danger, giving orders and
bringing up succour. Finally, thej British, after unexampled efforts,
were again repulsed.

Astonished more than ever at so obstinate a resistance, Abcrcromby,
who thought nothing would withstand his forces, could not yet believe
that they would ultimately fail before enemies so much inferior in
number.'^; he thought, that let his adversaries' courage bo ever so great,
they would at last renounce a contest which, the more violent and
prolonged it were, would end all the more fatally for them. lie resolved,
therefore, to continue his tssaults with added energy till lie should
n'.^hieve a triumph. Accordingly, between 1 and 5 o'clock v. si. (four
hours), he ordered up his troops six times, to be as often driven back,

^i»

. ■■■•

■

■f^-

■]

1 1- .

102

BATTLK FIELDS OF CANADA.

ii:,

t.i

each succeeding time with increasing loss. Tlic fire kept up against
them by the French wus so hot and ch^sc, that part of the iragilr
ramparts which protected Lh<' assailed ignited more than one '.

The enemies' columns, not succeeding in their lirst attacks HKidc
simultaneously hut independently against the whole French line, now
con;'/ined their strengths, and in a solid body tried to force, -ometimes
the centre of the Froucli, at other times their right, and again their left
wing — all in vain. ]>ui it was the right of the Frcncli works that wa^
longest and most obstinately assailed ; in that quarter, the combat was
mo.^t sanguinary. The British grenadiers and Highlanders there per-
severed in the attack for three hours, without flinching or breaking rank.
Tlie Highlanders above all, under ]i0rd Johu Murray, covered themselves
with glory. They formed the head of the troops confronting the (Jana
dians, their light and picturesque costume distinguishing them from
all other soldiers amid the ilamca aad smoke. This corps lost the hull'
of its men, and 25 of its officers were killed or severely wounded.'- At
length this mode of attack failed, a«? the preccdiug had done, owing to
the cool intrepidity of our troops; who, as they fought, shouted Vive Ir
rol ! and cried '• Our general for ever I" During the different charges
of the enemy, the Canadians made several sorties, turned their flanks,
and took a number of them prisoners, j

At half-past five, Abercromby, losing hopes of success for a moment,
withdrew his columns into the woods beyond, to allow the moi\ to recover
their ]»reath ; yet he resolved to make one last attempt before (juite
giving up his enterprise. Au hour having elapsed, his army retwrnod to
the charge, and with its massed strength, ouce agaia assaulted tlie v>fl mIc
French line. This final attack failed even as the others. Thus iV.ivly
baffled, the British liad perforce to retreat, leaving the French masters
of the field ; Vmi rear of the former being protected by a swarm ol"

* Soareely any of tho w^mudo 1 lli^^hlanders ever recovered, ovou llioso .'■out homo as
invaliil.*; their soros cankered, owiuj^ to tho l)rokou ^-lass, ra;4g'jd bits of me i, 'J Ac
ll^L•ll liy t.io Caiuuliaus, instead of hontnt shot. — Hell.

t So-.uo Ili;rhlandcrs taken prisoners by the French an J Cai.a liaufi. hiuMlc I to.;LMhjr
on tho baitlo-licld. and cxiiectina; to bo cruelly treiited, looked im in inou'-nful siloni'c.
Presently a "ii,'antic French othecr walked \i\) lo tl-.e.u, and whilst cxchan>;in',^ in a
f-cvevo to-.o .<t)ino remarks in French with i^onie of his men, saddenly addrossoil tiieni in
(i;vlic, iMirpriso in the Hii,'hlander3 soon turned to posiiivo horror. Firmly HoUeviii;^
no Froi\chnian could ever spealc Gaelic, thoy concluded that his Satanic majesty v.;
person was before them— it was a Jacobite serving in the French army.

i '1.
-

right

BATTLE OF t AFJLLON.

loa

' iVagiJr:

Ics i;i:t(]c
fut;, iiuw
iiiietimcs
their left
thaf ^va>
abat wa.s
icre pcr-
ug rank,
einsclves
ui Cana
cm iroMi
the hair
d^ At
owiug to
l'V(.v.; l<'
. charges
Ir flanks,

mouicut,
) recover
re quite
"'rnod to
le v/1 -jle
IS la illy
masters
»arm u!'

riflemen, who skirmished with the Canadians .sent in pursuit till uight-

;h,

HI) as

to.jjctlur
1 silenoc.
;in:^ in ,i

1 tll'MIl iu

bolieviu^
ajosty ii:

fall.

'ere exhausted
1^ accompanic(

uitoxicatei
! Levis, an(

By this time, the French
with joy. General Montcalm, accompanica Dy tiievaiier
the stafl"-ofiicors, passed along the ranks and thanked the victors, in the
king's name, for their good conduct during this glorious day, one of the
most memorr^de iu the annals cf i'rcnch valour. Scarcely believing,
however, that the present retreat of the British army would bo deflnitive,
and fully expecting that they would renew the combat next day, he
issued orders to prepare for their receptiou as before. The troops
therefore had to pass the night in their position ; they cleaned their
arms, and when daylight dawned next morning, set to work to complete
and add to the entrenchments; constructing two batteries, one to the
right with four eannou mounted, and another on the left, with six.
After a pause of some hours and no enemy appearing, Montcalm sent out
some detachments to reconnoitre, cue of which, pushing on beyond La
Chute, destroyed an iutrenchment which the British had formed there,
but abandoned. Next day (July 10), De Levis advanced to the foot of
l-iakc George with his grenadiers, volunceers, and Canadians, and there
found many evidences of the precipitation of Abercrond)y's retreat.
During the night following the battle, hi; continued his retreat, without
sti)pping, to the lake; and this retrograde movement must have become
a veritable flight. His soldiers left by the way their field implements
(o'Htils'), portions of the baggage, and many wounded men (who were all
picked up by De Levis); their general havin_, re-embarked his remain-
ing troops by the first morning light, after throwing all his provisions,
etc., into the lake.

Such was the battle of Carillon, wherein ;],000 men struggled success-
Inlly, for six liours, against 15,000 picked soldiers. The victory gained
on this memorable day (July S, 1757) greatly raisoil the reputation of
^lontcalm, whom good fortune attended ever since he came to America,
making him the idol of the soldiers. In his army but •>77 nien were
killed or wounded, including o8 ofilcers. Amongst those hurt was ^I.
lie l^ourlamaque, who was severely wounded in the shoulder; M. de
Bougainville, who had just been promoted to the grade of assistant-
quarter-master (^(u'lh'. mnrh'hal (h loijiti), was wounded likewise. De

"'^A

/■ ■.■■■ 'H

■M ■■'■

' c ■

104

BATTLE FIELDS OP CANADA.

i 'I

L6vis' clothes aud hat were ball-pierced iu several places. The British
owned to a loss of 2,000 killed or wouuded, including 12G officers; but
the contemporary French accounts estimated the British loss at from
four to live thousand.

'^Montcalm/' said M. Dussieux, "stopped invasion by his brilliant
victory of Carillon ; certes, that was a deed to be proud of. But Mont-
calm spoke modestly of what he had done : ' The only credit 1 can lay
claim to/ wrote he next day to M. de Vaudieuil, ' is the glory accruing

to me ol commanding troops so valorous The success of the affair is

due to the incredible bravery manifested both by officers and soldiers.'

" During the evening of the battle-day, the fortunate and illustrious
general wrote, upon the battle-field itself, this simple and touching letter
to his friend M. de Doreil : * The army, the too small army of the king,
has just beaten his enemies. What a day for (the honour of) France !
Had I had two hundred savages to serve for the van of a detachment of
a thousand chosen troops, h;d by De L6vis, not many of the fleeing
enemies would have escaped. Ah ! .wuch troops as ours, my dear Doreil
— I never saw their match.' "

(S'ngagcment at IJmupovt Jlata,*

3 1st July, 175y.

As the left bank of the Montmorency, just beyond its embouchure
is higher than the right, Wolfe strengthened the batteries he already
had there, the guu-range of which enfiladed, abcve that river, the
French entrenchments. The number of his cannon and pieces for
shelling was raised to .sixty. lie caused to sink, on the rocks level with
the flood below, two transports, placing on each when in position fourteen
guns. One vessel lay to the right, the other to the left, of a small
redoubt which the French had erected on the strand, at the foot of the
Courville road, in order to defend, not only the entry of that road,
which led to heights ocoupied by the French reserve, but also the ford

*■ (iwne&M'i Hhtoiii cf L'cAada, Bell's translation.

KNUAUEMENT AT BEAUPORT FLATS

10.")

er, tho

wl' ilic Moutiuuroucy below the I'all^;. Cauuon-shots from the trausports
c-i'o,s.sotl each other in the direction of the redoubt. It became needful,
therefore, to silence the iire of the latter, and cover the march of tho
assailants, on this accessible point of our line ; therefore the Ctnturio/i,
a GO-guu ship, was sent afterwards to anchor opposite the falls, and as
near as might be to the shore, to protect the ford which the IJritisli
Ibrloru-liope was to cross, as soon as the attacking force should descend
troui their camp of rAnge-Gardien, Tiuis 118 pieces of ordnance were
about to play upon Montcalm's left wing.

Towards noon, Jul/ 81, all this artillery began U) play; and, at the
same time, Wolfe formed his columns of attack. More than 1,500 barges
were in motion in the basin of (Quebec. A part of 31onkton's brigade,
:ind 1,200 grenadiers, embarked at Pointe-Levi, with intent to re-land
between the site of the Centurion and the sunken transports. The
second column, composed of Townshend's and Murray's brigades, de-
scended the heights of I'Ange-Crardien, in order to take the ford and
join their forces to the first column at the foot of the Ccurvilie road,
which was ordered to be ready posted, and only waiting for the signal to
advance against the adjoining French entrenchments. These two
I'olumns numbered 0,000 men. A third corps of 2,000 soldiers, charged
10 ascend the left bank of the 3Iontmorency, was to pass that river at a
ford about a league above the falls, but which was guarded (as already
intimated) by a detachment, under 31. dc Kepentigny. At 1 ]\m, the
iluec British columns were on foot to execute the concerted plan of
attack, which would have been far too complicated for troops less disci-
plined than Wolfe's.

^lontcalm, for some time doubtful about the point the enemy would
assail, had sent orders along his whole Hue for the men to be ready
everywhere to oppose the l^ritisli wlu-rever they came forward. As soon
as the latter neared their destination, Dc Levis sent 500 men to succour
licpentigny (at the upper ford), also a small detachment to espy tho
manoeuvres of the Uritish when about to cross the lower ford ; while he
sent to Montcalm for some battalions of regulars, to sustain himself in
case of need. The general came up, at 2 r.M , to examine the posture
of matters at the left. ITc proceeded along the lines, approved of the
<lispositions of Dc ]jevis, gave fresh orders, and returned to the centre,
15

:>i

•V, -y

10()

liATTLE riELDS OF CANADA.

in order to br in a position to observe all that should pass. Throe
battali(nis and souic (^anadians, tVoiu Trois-Ilivieres, came in opportuncl^y
to rcinfbreo the I'Vcneh left. The greatest part of these troops to(.ik
post, as a reserve, on the liij^hway, and the rest were directed on the ford
defended by M. de Ilepcntigny. The latter had been already hotly
attacked by a British column, but he forced it to ^ive way, after some
loss of men. The retreat of this corps permitted that sent to succour
Ucpcntigny to hasten back to the arena of the chiol' attack.

Meanwhile, the barges bearing the Pointe-Levi column, led by Wolfe
in person, after making several evolutions, meant to deceive the l-'rench
as to the veal place for landing, were directed towards the sunken trans
ports. The tide was now ebbing; thus part of the barges v.ere grounded
on a ridge of rock and gravelly matter, which stopped their progress
and caused some disorder; but at last all obstacles were surmounted, and
I, -00 grenadiers, supported by other soldiers, landed on the St. Law-
rence strand. They were to advance in four divisions; and Monkton's
lirigade, which was to embark later, had orders to follow, and, as soon a.-,
landed, to sustain them. From some misunderstanding these orders
were not punctually executed. The enemy formed in columns, indeed;
but Mouktou's men did not arrive to time. vStill the van moved, music
playing, up to the (Jourville road redoubt, which the I'rench at once
evacuated. The enemy's grenadiers took possession of it, and prepared
to assail the entrenchments beyond, which were within musket-shot
distance. Wolfe's batteries had been pouring, ever since mid-day, on
the Canadians who dci'endcd this part of the line, a shower of bombs and
bullets, which they sustained without flinching. Having re-formed, the
British advanced, with fixed bayonets, to attack the entrenchments ;
their showy costume contrasting strangely with thai of their adversaries,
wrapped as these were in light capotes and girt rouml the loins. 'J'ht
Canadians, who compensated their delicient discipline only by their
native courage and the great accuracy oi their aim, waited patiently till
the enemies were a few yards distant from their line, meaning to lire at
them point-blank. The proper time come, they discharged their pieces
so rapidly and with such destrufstivc effect/*' that the two British columns,

* " Their (men of) small-iirms, in the trenches, lay cool till they wcro sure of their
mark; (hoy then poured their shnt like showers of hail, which oau?etl our brave
grouadiers to fall very List/'—Jotini'd of a Britinh officer.

ENOAOSiMENT AT DKAUPORT FLATS.

10-

despite all tlicir uiliccr.s' cudoiivours, were broken and took flight. They
souglit shelter at first against their lues' lire behind the redoubt; but
not being allowed to re-form ranks, they continued to retreat to the
main body ol' tlic army, which had deployed a little further back. At
tills critical time, a violent thunderstorm supervened, which hid the
view of the combatants on botli sides from each other, while the rever-
berations of successive peals roso far above the din of battle. When the
rain-mist cleared off, (ho Canadians beheld the ]]ritlsh re-embarking
with their wounded,''' after f^etting lire to the sunken tiansports. Tluir
army liually drew off, as it had advanced, some corps in the barges ;
others marched landsvard, after re-cro.-;sing the Montmorency ford. Tin"
lire of their Jiumerous cannon, however, continued till night set in ; and
it was estimated that the British discharged o,000 cannon-balls during

* " As our company of Krcnndiors npproiichcil, I (li«tin<>Uy saw Montcalm on liorsf-
back riding bacliwards and I'orwurils. Jiu socmud very busy giving diroction-s to lii.s
men, and I beard hiiu give tho word to ilro. Immediately they opened upon us,
and killed a good many of our men, I don't recollect how many. Wo did not fire, for
it would have In^eu of no use, as they wcro completely entrenched, and wo ci.uM only

.see the crown of their heals." " Wo were now ordered to retreat to our boats,

that, had been left afloat to receive us ; and liy this time it was low water, so that we
hail a long way to wade though the mud. A Serjeant Allan Cameron, of our company,
seeing a small battery on our left with two guns mounted, and apparently no person
ucsar it, thought he would jircvcnt it doing us any mischief on our retreat, .so he pi;kcd
up a couple of bayonets that lay on the beach, and went alone to the battery, when ho
drove tho jioints of them into the vents as hard i -^ he could, and then snapiud them off
.Miort.

'* When the French saw us fur enough on our retreat, they sent their .s.-iv.ages tr scMlp
.Tud tomahawk our po.ir fellows that lay woun-lc 1 on Mie Keacl'. Among tin; ntimbei
was Lieutenant Peyton, of the Itoyal Americi'-n I'altalion, who was severely woumled.
and had crawled away as far as the jiains ho endured would allow. After the savages
had done their business with the poor fellows that lay nearest to the French batteries,
tli(!y went back, except two, who spied Lieutenant Peyt m, a. id thought to make a good
prize of him. Tie happened to have a doublc-ban-eUed fusil, rea'ly loaddl, and as he
had seen how tho savages had treated sill the otluv.; that came into llieir elutehes, he
was sure that if they got the b(!ttcr of hini they woulil butcher liiin also. Fortunately,
his presence of mind did not fors.ake him, and ho waitetl until the lirst savage came
near enough, when ho levelled his fusil, tiud brought hiur to the ground : the olhei
sitvage, thinking that the Lieutenant would not have lime to reload, rushed in upon
him boldly, witli his tomahawk ready to strike, wheu Lieutenant Peyton diseiiarged
his fusil right into his chest, and befell dead at his feet. V.'e s:!W no more of the
savages after that, at least on that occasion : but we saw enough of tiiem afterwards.

"While poor Lieutenant Peyton lay upon tlte ground, iiiniost exhausted from tii-
evertions and loss of blood, be was accosted by Serjeant; Caiueroii, who had no other
means of helping him than carrying him aw.iy ; nml he was well aMe to do it, for be
was a stout, strong, tall fellow". He slung the Lieutenant's fusil over bis shoulder
along with his own, and took him on his back, telling him to hold last round his neek,
As he had a long way to carry him, he was obliLrcd every now aud then to lay liiiu
down in order to take breath, and give the lienteuaiit some ease, as his wound was
oxceodingly painful. lu this way he got him at last to one of the boats, tind hiving
him down, said, 'Now, sit, I havo done as much for you i\^ lay in niy jiower, and 1
wish you may recover.' '' — I/itwkiim'a Plrturf of (Jiitlici.-.

"•>;•

■■1

1 1

: «
>

^'^f']

■" ^.' . ■ <■

Liiiliif*!.

M-

108

BATTLE FIELL3 OF CANADA.

ii..

tlio day niul cveniug; whilo the French had only a dozen pieces of cannon
in action, but these were very serviceable in haradsing t,1ie disembarking
British. The hi^s of the French, which was duo almost entirely to
artillery firo, was inconsiderable, if we remember that they were for more
than six hours exposed to it. The enemy lost about r)00 men, killed and
wounded, including many ofheers.

The victory gained ;i1 3Iontmorcncy was due chiefly to the judiciou'i
dispositions made by Do [jt'vis, who, with fewer troops in hand than
Wolfe, contrived to unite a greater number tlian ho did at every point
of attack. Supposing tlus British grenadiers liad surmounted the en
trcnchmcnt), it is very doubtful whether they would have prevailed,
even had they been sustained by the rest of their army. The ground
from the strand to the Beauport road rises into slopes, broken by ravines,
amongst which meanders the (.'ourvillo road; the locality, therefore, wa^
fiivorable to our marksmen, liesides, the regulars in reserve were close
behind, ever ready to succour the militiamen.

General Wolfe returned to his camp, in groat chagrin at the clieck In-
had just received. Emagination depicted to his apprehensive mind's eye
the unfavorable inipression this defeat would make in Britain; and he
figured to himself the malevolent jibes which would be cast at him for
undertaking a task which he had proved himself to be incompetent to
perform I He saw vanish^ in a moment, all his proud illusions of glory ;
and Fortune, in whom he had trusted so much, as wc have seen, seenicd
about to abandon him at the very outset of his career as a commander-
in-chief. It seemed as if his military perceptions had lost somewhat of
their usual lucidity, when, after losing all hope of forcing the camp of
his adversary, he afterwards sent Murray, with 1,200 men, to destrov
the French flotilla at Trois-llivi6res, and to open a communication with
deneral Amherst at Lake Champlain. r>Iurray set out with 300 barges,
but did not go far up the country. Repulsed twice at Pointc-aux-
Trembles by De Bougainville, who, with 1,000 men, followed his move-
ments, he lauded at Sainte-Croix, which place he burnt, as has been
already noticed. Thence departing, ho fell upon Dcschaml)ault, where
he pillaged the French ofheers' baggage. [!] lie then retired preci-
pitately, without fulQlling his mission. His incursion, nevertheless,
much disquieted Montcalm at first; for he set out hicoi/nifo for the

the
;iud
:iddr

I i

DATTIiE OF Tills PLAINS OF ABRAHAM.

100

Jacques Cartier, as leariog loat tlu; Jkitiali mij^ht take porfscssiou of its
lower course, gain a firm foothold there, and cut off hi.s comniuuications
with ■western Canada ; but Icarninp,' that the hitter were in full retreat
when Jig arrived at Pointo-aux-Treniblcs, iMontcalni r.nraced his steps.

AfliT this new repulse, a malady, the perm of which was present in
the bodily frauie of Wolfe lont^ before, now suddenly developed itself
and brought him almost to death's-door. Ais soon as ho convalesced, he
iiddresscd a lon<^ despatch to Secretary Pitt, recounting the obstacles
against which he had to struggle, and expressing the bitterness of his
regret at the failure of all his past endeavours. This letter (if it did
little else) expressed the noble devotednos^; to his country's weal which
inspired the soul of the illustrious w "rior; and thus the British people
were more affected at the sorrow of the youthful captain than at the;
i-hecks his soldiers had received.

The spirit of Wolfe, no less than his bodily powers, sank before a
situation which left him " only a choice of difficulties ;" tlius he ex-
pressed himself. (Jailing those lieutenants in aid, whose character ami
talents we liave spoken of, he invited them to declare what might be
their opinions as to the best plan to follow for attacking Montcalm with
any chance of success; intimating his own belief, also, which was, that
another attack should bo made on the left wing of the Ueauport cam]>.
He was also clear for devastating the country as much as it was possible
to do, without prejudicing the principal operation of the campaign.

' '1
* , if

■>

CEhc Ijattli* of tl)C Ipiains of ^liraliaiu/

l.'TIl SUPTEMBEF!, I Tf)'.'.

Any one who visits the celebrated Plains of Abraham, the scene of
this glorious tight — equally rich in natural beauty and historic;
recollections — will admit that no site could be I'ound better adapted for
displaying the evolutions of military skill and discipline, or the exertion
of physical force and determined va'-^^-. The battle-ground presents

■* VroVH Ifriiil-'vi': Pirlur,. ,,/' lliir/ifr.

110

liATTLE IIELDS OF CANADA.

;iliuo3t ti lovol biu-raco Iroui the brink oi' the St. Lawrence to tlic Stc
Foy road. The (/rdm/c-Al/cr, or road to Cape llouj^o, vunnin<^' parallel
to that of 8to. Foy, passed through its centre, — and was commanded hy :»
field redoubt, in ; !1 probability the Ibur-gun battery on the English
left, which was captured by the lii^lit iuft utry, as mentioned in (leneral
Townshend's letter. The remains of this battery are distinctly seen
near to the present race-stand. There were also two other redoubt.-t,
one upon the rising ground, in tlic rear of Mr. C. Campbell's bouse"'' —
the death scene of \VoIfe — and the oth'jr towards the Stc. I''i)y roail
which it was intended to command. On the site of the country sent
called JMarclimont, the property of the Honorable J. Stewart, and :it
present residence of ^Mr. Daly, Secretary ol'tlic Province,'}' there was also
a small redoubt, couimanding the intrenched path leading to the Cove.
This was taken possession of by the advanced guard of tlie light infantry,
immediately on tisccnding the heights. At the period of tlie battle, the
Plains were without fences or enclosures, and extended to the walls to
the St. Lewis side. The 'surface was dotted over Avitli bushes, and the
woods on either ilank were more dense than at present, aftbrding shelter
to the French and Indian marksmen.

In order to understand tlie relative position of the two armies, if a
lino be drawn to ihe St. Ijawrcnco fiom the General Hospital, it will
give nearly tlic front of the French army at ten o'clock, after Montcalm
had deployed into line. His right reached beyond the Ste. I'\)y read,
where he made dis])Ositions to turn the left of the English. Anuthar
parallel line somewhat in advance of Mr. C. (Irey Stewart's house on tbc
Ste. I'^oy road, will give the I'ront of the Jiritish army, ])efore Woll''
charged at the head of the gvciiiuliers of 22nd, 40th, and li'itli regimenrs,
who had acquired the honoral)lo title of tin; Lonisbourg (ironadiers,
from hnving )>een distinguished nt the e.ipture of that place, under his
own command, in 17-")8. To moot tlie attempt of Montcalm to turn the
British left, General Townshend formed the l-'»th regiment en potencr,
or presenting a double front. The lirrht in fan try were in rear of the left,
and till! reserve was placiMl in rciu" ol tlu' right, formed in eight sub-
divisions, a good distance apart.

'■ Oooupicd this yc:n' liy dA. Alox. Bell.

J .\t proiont tho family iniMi-ni.n i>r.lolin (jilmniir, K-i|.

I5ATTLK ol' Tl[j; PLAINS Ul-' AliKAllAM.

lie Sto
parallel
c'd l)y ;i

hJoneral
(tly soon
piloubts,
• •use''- —
>y roiul
try scat
and ;it
was also
Cove,
n fan try,
ttle, the
walls to
and the
shelter

ies, it'll
it will
on teal III
jy road,
^nothar

.^ on tile

Wolf."
imenrs,
ladiers,
Icr Ills
ini till'

Otcnrr.

le lefr.

t Sul)-

The Knglisli hud been about lour huurs in posscft.«<ioii nf iln' |.Maiu>, ami
wilt! completely i)re[iared to receive theui, when the French advanced with
i^'reat resolution. They ajtproaehed obli((iiely by the left, haviiiu' inarehed
IVoiii IJeanport that llloruinJ,^ (>ii beinj;' fur::.cd, they coumienceil the
attack with ;^reat vivacity and aiiiinatin'i, lirini,' by platoons. Il was
(iliserved, however, that their fire was irroi^'ular and inclVeetive, whereas
iliat of the Knulish was so well directed and maintained, as tn throw the
l''reneli into immediate eoid'usion. It must be stated, that aUhouirh the
I'Veneh army was more numerous, it was principally composed of ciduiiial
iroops, who did not sujiport the regular forces as lirinly as was expected
nt' them — (some nl them had not even bayonet^'.) INIonti.'alm, i-ii his
death l>ed, expressed hinjself bitterly in tliis respect. Tin- Knitlisli
troops, on the contrary, were ric^irly all re^ulius. of apjiroved ■•oura.,'c,
well otlieered and under perfect discipline, 'j'he urenadiers burned to
revcmre their defeat at ^fontmorency ; and it was at tlieir head that
Wolfe, with great niilitary tact, placed himsidf at the e"mmeneement of
llie action.

About cii:;ht o'clock, some sailors had succeeded in dra^gin;:; up the
precipice a liirht six-pounder, wliieh, althoujih the only mm used by the
I'hij^lish in the action, being remarkably well served, played with great
success on the centre column as it advanced, and more than oiu.'C com
pelled the enemy to change the disposition of his forces The Frencli
hud two held pieces in the action. The despatches mention a remark-
able proof of coolness and presence of miud, on the part of troops wdio
had no hopes but in victory, no chance of safety but in beating the
^,,<yll,y — lor had they been defeated, re-crabarkation would have been
impracticable. The Finglish were ordered to reserve their lire until the
I'Veiich were within forty yards. They observed these orders most
strictly, bearing with patience the incessant lire of the Canadians and
[ndians. It is also stated that Wolfe ordered the men to load with un
additional bullet, which did great execution.

The two generals, animated with equal spifit, met each other at the
head of their respective troops, where the battle was most severe. 3Iont-
calm was on the lelt of the h'rench, at the head of the regiments of
!j<tii<jite<h'r^ liuii-nr and (liiu'itvt — AVoli'e on the right of the English, at
the head of the 2Sth, and the Louisbourg Grenadiers. Here the greatest

;♦"

•V ■■■■ ■• 11

V *■ r-i:

' . '(■■

112

HATTLK IIt:Ll>S oK CANADA.

!
<

fxci'tiuii.-* wt'ic; iii.itlf umlt'i* fhe oycs ol' the leaders — the actiuii in the
rcntio uud lul't WIS couipanitivoly u .skirmish. Tho sovertst lighting
louk place botwccn tho rlj^ht ol' tho race-staud and the INIartcllo towers.
The rapdity and oiFoct ui' tho I'inglish fire haviii;^ thrown tho I'roneh
info (;uui'usion, orders were j>;iven, even before tho smoke cleared away,
((» eharj^e with the bayonet. Woli'o exjiusini,' himself at tho head of the
battalion.*!, was sinj^led out by some Canadian marksmen, ou the enemy*.-;
left, and had already received a slight wound in the wrist. Ue;j;ardless
of this, and unvvillin,t,' tu disjiirit his troops, ho folded a handkereliiel'
round his arm, and putting himself at the head of the grenadiers, led
I hem on to the eliarge, which was completely successful. It was boughl ,
however, with iho life of their heroic leader. Ho was struck with a
second ball in tho groin ; but still pressed on, and just as tho enemy
were about to give way, ho received a third ball in the breast, and fell
mortally wounded. Hear, indeed, was the jirice of a victory purchased
by the death of "Wolfe — of a hero whoso uncommon merit was scarcely
known and appreciated by lii.s country, before a premature late removed
him for ever from her scrvlco. It might have been said of him, as of
Marcellu.s,

OsiciiiUnI, tcrri.s Iiuiic tautuin fiita^ uoijue ultra
Esse sincnt. Niiuiuin vobi.s Romnn.a ])ropago
Visa potens, supori, i)ropna Ikpc si doiia I'uissuni.

lie met, however, a glorious death iu the moment of victory — a victory
which, in deciding the fate of ('anada, commanded the applause n[' the
world, and classed AVolfe among the most celebrated generals of ancient
and moderu times. Happily, lie survived his wound long enough t •
learn the success of the day. When the i'atal ball took eifect, his piii!
cipal care was, that he should not bo seen to lUll. — "Support me," —
said ho to an officer near him, — '' let not my bravo soldiers see me drop
The day is ours, keep it 1" He was then carried a little way to the rear,
where he requested water to be brought from a neighboring well to
([uench his thirst. The charge still continued, when the oiKecr— un
whose shoulder,* as he sat down for the purpose, tlic dying liero leaned —
exclaimed, '< They run ! they run I"— "Who runs?" asked the gallant

•■•'• TIic position ..f the <lyiii,i; licio is l;iiihtiiilv given in We«t'.s colohrated picture.

■n

HAXTLK OF Tin; t'l,.MN» <>I' AHRAHAM.

Il::

W'olfo, with j'omc emotion. 'J'hc dflicor rcplioil, — "The enemy, nir :
I hoy givo way every where I" — " What?" said he, "ilo tliey run already ^
I'ray, one of you j,'o to (Colonel JJurtnn, ami tell him to march Webh's
regiment, with all .speed, down to St. Charles River, to out off the retreat
of the fugitives from the hridgo. — Now, CJod bo praised, [ nin hapi'Y '.'
So saying, the youthful hero breathed hi.s la.st. llo reiUctcd that he had
done his duty, aud he knew that he .should live for ever in the memory
of a grcatful country. His expiring moments were cheered with the
Hritish shout of victory,

— — pulcUrumiiuo mori suocurrit ia nriuis.

Such was the death of Wolfo upon the Plains of Abraham, at the early
;igc of thirty-two years I It lias been well observed; that "a death more
glorious attended witli circumstances more picturesque and interesting
is no where to be found in the annals of liistory.'' His extraordinary
ijualitie.s, and singular };ite, have afforded a fruitful themo of panegyric
to the historian and the poet, to the present day. How they were ap-
preciated by liis gallant companions in arm?;, may Ite learned by tin'
subjoined extract from a letter written after the battle by Crencral, after-
wards Marquis Townshend, to one of his friends in England : — 'M am
not ashamed to own to you, that my heart does not exult in the midst of
this success. I have lost but a friend in <!encral Wolfe. Our country
has lost a sure support, and a perpetual honor. If the world were
sensible at how dear a price we have purchased (Quebec in his death, it
would damp the public joy. Our best consolatian is, that I'rovidence
seemed not to promise that he should remain long among us. lie was
himself sensible of the weakness of his constitution, aud determined to
crowd into a few years actions that would have adorned a lengthy life."
Thcfecling and affecting manner in which Wolfe is spoken of in this letter,
and its elegance of expression, confer e(iual honor upon the head and
heart of the accomplished writer. The cla.s.iieal reader will agree with
us in thinking, that he had in his mind at the time tlio eulogy of Mar-
collus which we have quoted above.

The spot consecrated by the fall of (General Wolfe, in the charge
made by the grenadiers upon the left of the French line, will to the
latest day bo visited with deep interest and emotion. On the highest

(jr

ound

visitc
consid

i-.>r'\

ably in advance of the Martello tower.s, commanding a

■■ '/i

114

RATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

■i
I

complete view of the ticld of battle — not far from the fence which divides
the race-ground fron) the enclosures on the cast, and opposite to the
ri'-'ht of the English — are the remain.s of a redoubt against which the
attack was directed which Wolfe so gallantly urged on by his personal
example. A few years ago a rock was pointed out, as marking the spot
where he actually breathed his lastj and in one of the enclosures nearer
to the road is the well whcjce they brought him >;vater. It is mentioned
in the statistical work of Colonel Bouchette, that one of the four meridian
stones, iplaced in 1790 by Major Holland, then Surveyor General of
(;!anada, "stood in the angle of a field redoubt where General AVolfe is
said to have breathed his last." As he had been conveyed a short dis-
tance to the rear after being struck with the fatal ball, it must be pre-
sumed that this redoubt had been captured ; and that the grenadiers
were pressing on, when he received his mortal wound. This is cor-
roborated by a letter which we have met with, written after the battle by
an officer of the 2Sth llogiment, serving at the time as a volunteer with
the Louisbourg Grenadiers under Colonel Murray. He speaks of the
redoubt in question as " a rising ground," and shows that Wolfe was ir.
possession of it previously to his last wound : " Upon the genernl viewing
the pos^itiou of the two armies, ho took notice of a small rising ground
between our right and the enemy's left, which concealed their motions
from us i'l that quarter, upon which the general did me the honor to
detach me with a few grenadiers to take possession of that ground, and
maintain it to the last extremity, which I did until both armies were;
engaged, and then the general ca)ne to nic ; but that great, that ever
memorable man, whose loss can never ))e enough regretted, was scarce a
moment with mo till he reciMved his I'utal ^vound."

Tlie placu is now, hov>^c\'cr, about to be marked to posterity by the
erection of a jtcrmanciit meuiorial. Permission has been given to the
writer of this account, to announce t'lo intention of His Excellency the
Lord Aylmer to erect a small column on the spot where Welfe expired.
This act of soldier-like generosity will 1)0 duly appreciated : :.'nd posterity
will have at last amply red(!eined their long neglect, and wiped away a
reproach ci' jnore than seventy years' duration. The ^Toi,ument in
Quebec, common to Wolfe and jMontcalm — the stone plrced in the
Ursuline Convent in honor of the latter — and the smaller column on the

n:..

DEATH OF MONTCALM.

115

ch divides
te to the
;vhich the
s personal
^ the spot
res nearer
ncntioned
r meridian
general of
1 Wolfe is
short dis-
st be pre-
^renadicrs
is is cor-
battlo by
itcer with
IcH of the
Ife was in
il viewiiiL'
g ground
.' motions
honor to
)uud, and
nies wor(!
that ever
s f.carcc a

y hy tlu'
en to the
lency the
expired,
posterity
d away a
imeiit in
i in the
in on the

Plains, dyed with the blood cf Wolfe, will form a complete series of
testimonials— honorable to the spirit of the age, f.nd worthy of the
distinguished individuals under whoso auspices they have been cxecnfed
Thv» memorial on the Plains now bears the following inscription :

.■s=>;'r<=»!;«-^-«»^=»?<, >

IJ ERE DIE 1>

AVOLFE : ^

!« \ 1 C J' O U I u .s .

H
B

^' SiSeSSSSJ iO; iSil^S^^iS; SS

IllcatI) of flloutcalm.

A DEATH no less glorious closed the career of the brave Marquis de
Montcalm, who commanded the French army. He was several years
older than Wolfe, and had served his king with lienor and success in
[taly, Germany and Bohemia. In the earlier campaigns of this war he
had given signal proofs of zeal, consummate prudence aiid undaunted
valor. At the capture of Oswego, he had with his own hand wrcsled
a color from the hand of an English oili(.-er, and sent it to be hung up
in the Cathedral of Quebec. lie had deprived the English of fort
William Henry; and had defeated Geueial Abercrouiby at Ticonderdga
(Carillon). He had even foiled Wolfe himself at Muutniui-eney ; and
had erected lines which it was impossible to force. When, therefore,
ho entered the Plains of Abraham at the head of a vi(?torious army,
lie was in all respects an antao;onist worthv of the British general.

The intelligence of the unexpected landing of Wolfe above the town
was first conveyed to the Marquis de Vaudreuil, the Governor (jcneral,
about day-break. By him it was communicated without delay to ,Mon(-
ealm. Nothing could exceed the astonishment of the latter at tlu;
intelligence; he refused at first to give credence to it, ubserving : " It is
only Mr. Wolfe with a small party, come to burn a few houses, look

■y-.:M

•4- '■

* From Haichlni'i Pi'tun: of Qnehcc.

116

BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

lii!

[hr

about him aud return." On being informed, nowevcr, that Wolfe wa^3
at that moment in possession of the Plains of Abraham, — " Then," said
ho, ^' ihcy have at last got to the weak side of this miserable garrison.
Therefore we must endoavor to crush them by our numbers, and scalp
ihem all before twelve o'clock." lie issued immediate orders to break
up the camji, and led a considerable portion of tho army across the
River St. Charles, in order to place them between the city and tho
English. Yaudrcull, on quitting the lines at Beauport, gave orders to
the rest of the troops to follow him. On his arrival at the Plaiu.-s,
however, he met the French army in full flight towards the bridge of
boats ; and learned that Montcalm had been dangerously wounded. In
vain he attempted to rally them — the route was general — and all hopes
of retrieving the day and of saving the honor of France were aban-
doned.

Montcalm was lirst wounded by a musket shot, fighting in the front
rank of the French left, — and afterwards by a discharge from the only
gun in the possession of the English. He was then on horseback,
directing the retreat — nor did he dismount until he had taken every
measure forthos. fety of the remains of his army. Such was the impetu-
osity with whi(di the IlighluDders, supported by the 5Stli Ilegiment,
pressed the rear of the fugitives — having thrown away their muskets
and taken to their broad swords — that had the distance been greater
from the field of battle to the walls, tho whole French army would
inevitably have been destroyed. As it was, tho troops of the line had
been almost cut to pieces, when their pursuers were forced to retire by
the fire from the ramparts. Great numbers were killed in the retreat,
which was made obliquely from the River St. Lawrence to tlie St-
Charles. Some severe fighting took place in the field in front of tho
Martello Tower, No. -. We are informed by an officer of the garrison,
that, on digging there eome years ago, a number of skeletons were found
with parts of soldiers' dress, military buttons, buckles, and other re-
mains.

It is reported of Montcalm, when his wounds were dressed, that he
requested the surgeons in attendance to declare at once whether they
were mortal. On being told that they wore so — " I am glad of it,"
said he. He then enquired how long ho might survive r* He was

DEATH or MONTCALM.

117

olfe wan
in," said
;'arrisoD.
nd scalp
to break
ross the
and tho
rders to
Plaiurt,
ridge of
od. In
ill hopes
e aban-

10 front
he only
rseback,
in every
impetu-
giment,
muskets
greater
J would
iue had
itire by
retreat,
the St.
of the
arrison,
e found
tlicr re-

answered, •' Ten or twelve hour.s, perhaps les.s." '^ So much the better,"
replied he ; " then I shall not live to see the surrender of Quebec."
On being afterwards visited by M. do Ramcsay, who commanded the
garrison, with the title of Lieutenant du Roi, and by the Commandant
(le Roussillou, he said to iliem : " Gentlemen, I commend to your keep-
ing the honor of France. Endeavor to secure the retreat of my army
to-night beyond Cape Rouge : for my.solf, I shall pass the night with
God, and prepare m3'self for death." On M. de Ramesay pressing to
receive his commands respecting the defence of Quebec, Montcalm ex-
claimed with emotion : " I will neither give orders, nor interfere any
further ; I have much business that must be attended to, of greater
moment than your ruined garrison, and this wretched country. My
time is very short — so pray leave me. I wish you all comfort, and to
bo happily extricated from your present perplexities." lie then
addressed himself to his religious duties, and passed the night with the
bishop and his own confessor. Refore he died, he paid the victorious
army this magnanimous compliment : " Since it was my misfortune to
be discomfited and mortally wounded, it is a great consolation to me to
be vanquished by so brave and generous an enemy. If I could survive
this wound, I would engage to beat three times the number of such
forces* as T commanded this morning, with a third of British troops."

Almost his last act was to write a letter, recommending the French
prisoners to the generosity of the victors. He died at five o'clock in
the morning of the Itth September; and was buried in an excavation
made by the bursting of a shell witbin the precincts of the Ursulinc
('onvent — a fit resting place for the remains of a m;in who died fighting
for the honor and defence of his country.

^■^.:^'\

'vr':;

' . ■ J

that he
ir they
of it,"
lo was

* Great jealousy existed in those days between the rog;ulars and ttie jiiilitia — the mili-
tia was badly ftrmod, not having even bnyonctn.

'\[

».' \i

118

BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

ull|e Battle of Ste. 5ot),

2 7th and 28th Aphil, 1760.

" Militiamen were seen to crouch on the ground to load their pieces ; rise up
after the cannon shot passed oyer them, and dash forward to shoot the British
gunners."

The events of the 27th and 28th of April, 1760, in this country, afford
us, if nothing else, :i subject uf reflection, concerning the manner in
which the militia of Canada deported itself on the occasion. In the
endless and bloody warfare which raged for so many years between
the colonists of New England and those of New France, our mili-
tia had previously established ils efficiency as an auxiliary to reg-
ulars. In the defeat of Abercromby, at Carillon ; of Wolfe, on the
Beauport Flats ; of Murray, at Ste. Foy, it had left its mark. Its onset
was less fierce than that of the other auxiliaries in those days, the Red-
skins. It was less handy than them at scalping, but more manageable,
more docile, The New Eaglanders and British troops left this bloody
work to the Iroquois, who, it must be confessed, grew very expert at it.
The French enlisted, for the nonce, the services of the Ilurons, Abena-
quis, Algonquins, &c. Occasionally the FiUropean soldiers ♦'-'cd their
hand at it. Capt. John Knox, Wolfe's companion, and one who has never
been charged with underrating British successes, relates in his journal
that the British did a trifle in the scalping line on the 23rd of August,
1759, at St. Joachim, whose palish priest, with thirty followers, were
'^scalped and killed," as Knox ingeniously states, " for having disguiseu
themselves like Indians." Kuox does not say they were taken for In-
dians. The grave charges of atrocities freely bandied round by English
and French historians, against the rival commanders might be, in
nine cases out of ten, traced to tbe savages they employed as
auxiliaries. An Indian under the influence of intoxicating liquor is

BATTLE OF STE. fOV

lift

9 ; rise up
tho British

ry, afford

mnner in

In the

between
our raili-
to reg-
!, on the
Its onsof
the Red-
nageabk*,
s bloody
>ert at it.
i, Abena-
?cd their
!ias never
i journal

August,
srs, were
iisguisea
1 for In-

English
t be, in
oyed as
iquor is

more like a wild beast than a human being — ready, at tho first impulse
of the demon lurking in his veins, to slaughter friend or foe. Scalp-
irig, although a dangerous experiment, was not always followed by loss
of life : a wcU-authcnticatcd instance is on record of a seal pod Mou-
trcaler who lived fourteen years afterwards. IIo appears to liave been
mostly as hardy as the celebrated St. Denis, who has the credit of having
walked about Paris with his head in his hands after decapitation.

There are so many accounts of the Ste. Foy battle, that it seems super-
fluous to dwell at length on the subject. We have the story of eye-wit-
nesses, such as Mante, Knox, Fraser t also of Chevalier Johnstone, a
Scotchman, fighting in Canada for the cause of France. AVe also have
Smith's account, not over-correct; and Garncau's narrative, probably the
most complete, and collated from documents, many of which had never
seen the light before.

He computes the English force at 7,714, exclusive of officers. The
French force were more numerous : there were amongst them ;j,000
Montreal and Three Rivers militia, and '^00 savages ; the Quebec district
militia having been compelled by General Murray to swear allegiance to
the English monarch during the preceding winter. As a set-off, the
English general had twenty to twenty-two field pieces, and De L6vis had
been able to bring through the slush of the Suede Swamp at Ste. Foy only
three small pieces. The battle of the 28th lasted, according to General
Murray, one hour and three-quarters. lie acknowledges, in his despatch
of the 25th M:iy, 17G0, to Pitt, having lost one-third of his men, and
the French 2,500 ; this would make some 1,000 corpses strewing the
environs of the spot where the monument now stands. This ought to be
a sufficient answer to those who fancy it was merely a skirmish. "We
read in Garneau's history of Canada :

" The s^.vages, who were nearly all in the wood behind during the
fight, spread over the battle-field, when the French were pursuing the
enemy, and felled many of the wounded British, whose scalps were after-
wards found upon the neighbouring bushes. As soon as De Levis was
apprised of this massacre, he took vigorous measures for putting a stop
to it. Within a comparatively narrow space, nearly 2,500 men had been
struck by bullets; the patches of snow and icy puddles on the ground
were so reddened with the blood shed that the frozen ground refused to

■'f

120

BATTLJ:: FIELDS UF CANADA.

absorb; and the wouuded suivivors of the battle, and of the savages,
were immersed in pools of gore and filth ankle deep." — (J. M. L.)

STE. FOY MONUMENT FESTIVAL.

THE INAUGURATION TEREMONY, IOtH OcTOBER, I860.

I'i

Our ancient city witnessed, on Monday, the rare apeetacle of a pul)
lie festival.

"Before entering upon our report of the proceedings, it in right that
we should place in concise form before our readers some details of the
battle in memory of which the Ste. Foy Monument was raised. The
battle of Ste. Foy, sanguinary and fiercely contested, when we consider
the number of men engaged, was fought upon the plains bordering the
Ste. Foy road, on the 28th April, 1700, and the fiercest struggle took
place on the very spot now occupied by the pillar. The circumstances
under which it was fought were of a peculiar nature. It was the first
and only action which was fought in the course of the De L6vis' bold
attempt to take the Fortress City from the British. It was also the
last victory won by French arms on Canadian soil. It must be admitted
that the occasion was most auspicious for the Frencli, and the consumma-
tion of their brightest hopes seemed at hand. Quebec was held in the
winter of 1759-60 by a handful of British troops. The daring young
soldier who had led them to victory was no more. They were three
thousand miles from the mother country, and completely cut oflf from all
jirospcct of aid or succour throughout the winter mouths. Reinforce-
ments from England were out of the question until the spring of 1700
burst the icy bonds of the St. Lawrence. Reinforcements fro'u the
then friendly Provinces of Boston and New York were equally impossible,

* Abridged from Quebec Morniini niromch

c savages,
. L.)

UATTLE OF STE. TOY

121

);3.

3 of a pub-

riglit thai
;ails of the
sed. The
^c consick-r
Jcring the
iggle took
umstancos
as the first
j6vis' bold
IS also the

admitted
onsumma-
eld in the
iui; vouuir
r^crc three
ff from all
[leinforce-
g of 17G0

fro'u the
n possible,

because of the dense forests, and the other ini]»as><ablc natural barriers
which extended south of the St. Lawrence from the (!ulf to the great
lakes. On the other baud the French were still in considerable strength
throughout Canada. The hearts of the people were with King lioris
and French connexion, whatever oppression they might have suffered
IVoni tyrannical governors and speculating intendants. Moiitr(\il.
Three Rivers, and all other posts throughout Canada — except Quebec —
were held by French garrisons and the Canadian militia and Indian
auxiliaries."

[Here the editor has inserted extracts from Smitlts IHaforij of Cn-
nada, and, in order that the other side may be heard, an account cl'
the battle, which, strange to say, was written in English by Chevalier
.rohostone, a Scottish .Tacobite, who served in the Frencli army in Ca
nada. We substitute for these narratives M. (Jarncau's account in his
llUlor}/ of Canada, which was written from both I'reueh and English
records. We copy from Mr. Bell's translation] :

" The wood whence the French were issuing was 400 yards distant
IVom the enemy's front : now, as the forest soil was marshy, the French
could debouch only upon the highway. The space between the wond
and the ]kitish was not wide enough to :dlow De Levis to form his mc!)
and lead them on without disadvantage. His situation thus became dil'-
licult, for tlie lull of Sainte-Cencvievo and the IXivcr St. (^harles alike
barred his way, if he elected to marcli on (Quebec cither by the road oi*
St. Ambroise or that of Charlesbourg ; and the enemv might reach th.'
above eminence before the French, having only the cord of the arc to
pass along ; he therefore resolved to atttiin the Ste. Foy rond by a
Hanking march. Nightfall come, lie ordered his troops to defile, on tlii>
right, along tlie skirts of the wood, till they would have got beyond th-'
British front, aiid turn round their left flank. This mauoMivi'e, if sue-
eossful, gave him both a good position and a chance for cutting off the
corps of observation posted at the lied lliver outlet on the St. ]jawrenee ;
but the stormy weather, and the dflicnlty of countermarching at that
season with wearied men, prevented the operation being essayed with du(>
celerity. Next day Murray, who liasteuod to the imperilled spot, had
leisure to extricate his troops with the loss only of their baggage, &e.
Becoming pressed in his own retreat, lu! took shelter in the church of
17

1 ,. . f,i

122

BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

Ste. Foy, which lie lircd as he left it; and he was finally able to re-

his

i-cli to Quebec, k

DcL

ster of a field of batth

sume uis niarcii lo i^ueuec, leaving ±;c Jjovis mast

which he would otherwise have had much difficulty to conquer.

" The French horsemen doiiged INFurray's retrograde steps, and skir-
mished with his ri'ur-gnard as far as l^umont's mill. Murray posted a
strong guard within the mill, witli orders to hold it (if attacked) till
night. The French troops took lodging in the liouscs between tli.
church and the mill. The rain fell, meanAvhile, in torrents, and the
weather was frightful.

" During the night the British left the mill, fell back on the Buttcs-
:i-Neveu, and began to entrench themselves there. When the day broke,
De Levis took po.ssession of the mill and the whole plain of Abraham
as far as the flood, in order to cover the Ansc-du-h'oulon ("Wolfc'e Cove),
whither the French vessels, laden with provisions, artillery and baggage,
which had not effected their discharge at ►^t. Augustin, liad received
orders to repair. "While this was effecting on the 28th, our army was
to take repose, so as to be ready next day to assail the British at the
Buttes, and drive them into the city,

"No sooner, however, was Murray within the walls, than he deter-
mined to make a sortie with all his troops; intending either to give
bat tie if anoccasion presented, or else to fortify himself at the Buttcs-:i-
Neveu, should Dc Levis' force appear to be too considerable to resist in
open field ; for the report of a French cannoneer (who fell in while dis-
embarking, was floated down the flood, and rescued by some ]]ritish sol
diers on guard) left no further doubt io liis mind that the force so long
spoken of had now arrived. He left the city in the morning of April
28, at the head of his whole garrison, the regulars in which, not includ
ing officers, alone numbered 7714 combatants. Excepting some hun-
dred sick in hospital, Murray left in the place only soldiers enough to
mount guard, and, with a force from 0,000 to 7,000 strong, advanced in
two columns, with 22 cannon.

" Do Ldvis, who rode out, with his staff officers, far in advance of his
men to reconnoitre the position of the British on the Buttes-ii-Neveu, no
sooner perceived f.his forward movement than he sent orders to his main
army to quicken its march towards the Plains of Abraham. Murray,
seeing only the French van as yet, resolved to attack it before the sol-

15ATTL1; OF STE. I'OV

123

(liurj could tuko breath after tlioir march ; but ho had to deal with an
adversary of mark, and cool teniperaiucnt withal. The former raugcd
hi.s troops in advance of the IJuttes, his ri^ht resting on the hill (cotcau)
of Saintc-Gcnevievc, and his left touching the cliff (/a^a/'sc) bordering
the St. Lawrence; his entire line extended about six furlongs. Four
regiments, under Colonel liurton, formed his right, placed astraddle
{a. cheval) on the road of Ste, Foy. Four regiments^ and the Scotch
Highlanders, under Colonel Fraser, forming the left, were similarly
ranged on the road of St. Louis. Two battalions wore kept as a reserve:
and besides these last, the right flank of the British army was covered
by a corps of light infantry under Major Dalling ; the left flank by Cap-
tain Ilui^zen's company of Hangers and 100 volunteers, led by Capt.
Macdouald. All being arranged iu the form described. General Mur-
ray gave orders to advance.

" The French van, composed of six companies of grenadiers, set in
battle order, part on the right, in a redoubt erected by the British, t .c
year preceding, to the eastward of the Ansc-du-Foulou ; part on the left,
in Dumont's mill, the miller's house, the tannery, and other buildings
close by, on the road to Ste. Foy. The rest of the army, on learning
what was toward, hastened its march, the men closing r.-inks as they
came near ; but the three brigades were hardly formed, when the British
bey,an the attack vigorously.

" Murray felt the importance of getting hold of Dumont's mill, which
covered the passage (issue J by which the I'rench were debouching, and
he assailed it with superior numbers. lie hoped that, by overpowering
the grenadiers who defended it, he should be able to fall afterwards upon
the centre of the force still on its way, push them far off the line of oper-
ation, and cut off the French right wing, hemmed in, as it were, on the
road of St. Louis.

"Levis, to prevent this design, withdrew his right to the entry of the
wood which was in its rear, and caused the grenadiers to evacuate the
mill, and fall back, in order to lessen the distance for the arriving bri-
gades. At this turn, Bourlamaque was severally wounded by a cannon-
shot, which also killed his horse. Ilis soldiers, left without orders,
seeing the grenadiers hotly engaged and overmatched, simultaneously
flew to their support, and formed in line just as the enemies bore down on

. I

'!, 'I

124

JiATTLE FIELD?! 01-' CANADA.

this point in mass with nil Lhoii- artillory ; tlicir lieUl-piccos and huwitzons,
loiu.lcd with ball and i^rapo, plyinij; upon tiic spaco oi-cupiod by thlswinir,
which sta<j;gorod under .so deadly a tire. The Frencli ,:;icnadicrs advanced
((tiick step, rc-took the mill after an obstinate ntruj,'ji;le, and kept it.-''
'These brave .«oldiers, commanded by Captain Aij;ucbelles, almost all
perished this day. While those evcuta were passing ou the left, De
Levis caiiscjd tlic soldiers to re -capture tlie redoubt they had evacuated
in Older to fall back. The Canadians of the Queen's brigade, who occupied
that petty redoubt and the pine wood on the margin ol'thc cupc, regained
(heir ground and soon charged in turn, supported by IM. Jja Cornede 8t.
Luc and some savi\ges. The combat was not less hot on this line than ai
the left. All the troops were now in action, and tlie lire was heavy on
both parts. Militiamen were seen to crouch on the ground to load tlu'ir
pieces, rise up after tlie cannon-shot passed over tliem, and dash forward
to shoot the Hritish gunners. TMiosc of Montreal fought with great cou-
rage, especially the battalion led by the brave Colonel llheauii:e, who was
killed. This brigade posted in the centre, and commanded by ^l. de
llepentigny, itself arrested on open ground (^rusc (-(impaf/ne) the TJritish
centre, when advancing at quick step, and with the advantage of high
ground. It also repulsed several charges, and slackened, by its tirmncss
and rapid firing, the enemy when pressing the grenadiers of the left ;
thereby facilitating heir after-march onward : in line, this was the only
brigadi! that maintained its ground during the whole time the obstinate
struggle lasted.

" By this time, the attack which gave the British the mastery, for a
moment, over the positions occupied by the French van when uhe light
began, was everywhere repulsd.!, and our people in re-possession of all
the ground they temporarily lost; thu,! .'i.urray's otFcnsivc movement by
the road of I^aiute-Foy had Jailed, and that check enabled the French
to attack him in their turn.

" De Levis, observing that the British (Jeueral had over-weakened his
left to strengthen his right, ri.'-^olve'l to profit by it. lie ordered his

trot
the
irU
the
reti

••■■ AVilli ttiis old wiiuiiuill i:< iii^Eociatetl uiio of tlio iuo.st ihiilliiipf cpitiodes of tlio con-
flict. Some of (ho ricudi (}reiiinlii:i.s and soino of rrii.^.T's lii;i;liliin(.lor.s took, lo.-r,
and ro-took the mill live limes, llieir respective ofiicers looking? on in luiito astonislimcnt
jind admiration : Avhile a Scutch piper, a-ho Jnid been coiyincd /vr bad conduct cvtr '~iiv:c
IZth Sep!., 17Jt', Kua piping away luithiii hearing,- -so says an old chronicle. — J.M.L.

15 ATT I, K OK STF. FUY

UWltZCl'.s,

this will u,
advanced
kept it.=*
ImoHfc all

left, Do
ivacuatod
occupied
reiiaiiicd
•node iSt.
le tlum at
lieavy on
uad their
I r()r\v;ir(j
;i'eat cou-
who was
»y M. do
! Britisii

of hi;j;h

tirniiKSri

;he left ;

the only

•bstinate

•y, for a
he Q^liL
n of all
nient by
! Fieucli

oncd hi,s
n'cd his

f tlio con-
(iiik, lo.-i,
jaisliincnt

J.M.L.

troupe to ehai'i^e the enemy's left win,i< with the hayonct, :in<i l.) thrust
I he lJritif<h ulF the St. Ijoui.s road on to the Ste. Foy. IJy this nian-
u'uvre he took in flank the whole of Murry's aiiny, drove the corps off
the height of 8ainte-CJencvieve, and cut oil' the enemy from the lino ol"
retreat to the city, (^olonel Toulardier dashed forward at the head of the
IJoyal Roussillon brigade, attacked the IJritish impetuously, transpierced
their whole mass and put them to flight. At the same time their li'Jii
troops gave way, and the fugitives, throwing themselves in front and in
loar of tlie enemy's centre, caused his fire to be suspended, he lii'vis
profited by this disorder to cause his own left to charge the Hritish right
wing, which the former completely routed.

" Then the whole French army advanced in pursuit of the lieaten
be ; but as his flight was rapid, the short distance they had to run did
not allow of throwing them towards the river St. (>harles. !)(• Levis,
nevertheless, might have been able to effect this object, but for an ordei'
ill-delivered by an ofHcer whom he charged to (j,;ll upon the Queen's
brigade to sustain the charge of the lloyal Roussillon brigade at the right ;
and who, instead of causing it to execute the prescribed movement, thus
made it take place behind the left wing.

" The enemy left in their victors' hands their wlu)le artillery, ammu-
nition, and the intrenching tools they brought with them, besides a por-
tion of the wounded, 'i'heir loss was considerable ; ne.a'ly a fourth (d'
their soldiers being killed or wounded. Had tb.e French been less
fatigued than they were, and ass.iilcd the city without allowing the enemy
•time to recover themselves, it would probably have fallen again under the
domination of its former masters, says Knox ; for suoliwas the confusion
that the JJritisli neglected to re-man the ramparts ; tlio sentinels wore
absent from their posts when the fugitives sought shelter in the lower-
t:>wu ; even the city gates stood open lor some time. ]>ut it was impossible
to exact further service from the conquerors. They had to oppose to the
lire of the enemy's 22 cannon, that of three small pieces, which they pain-
iuUy dragged across the marsh of La Su6dc. They, too, experienced
great loss, having been obliged to form rank and remain long immoveable
under the enemy's fire. A brigadier, six colonels or majoi's ((Jirfs do,
battaiUoit) and 07 other officers, with a savage chief, were killed or
wounded.

'\:h\

12«;

BATTLi; FIELDS 01- CANADA.

" Tlio nuiiibi'i's (it t ho two oontoudinji; arinics were uoarly co-cijual,
lor Do Li'vis left sovoial ik'taclimont.s to protect liifi artillery, barj:;i'.s,
and the bridge of Jacquc.; (.artier river, iu order to assure himself a wiiy
uf retreat, in ease lie were worsted. The cavalry took no part in lli.
action.

*' The savages, who were nearly all in the wood behind during (lie
tight, spread over tho vacated battle-iiold, when the French were pursu-
ing the enemy, and felled many of the wounded ]]ritish, whose sculps
were afterwards found upon tlie neighboring buslics. Aa soon a.s J)i'
L(5vi.s was apprised of this massacre, he tjok vigorous measures for put
ting a stop to it. Within a comparatively narrow space, nearly 2,500
men had been struck by bullets: the patches of snow and icy puddles on
the ground were reddened with the bloodshed that the frozen grouml
refused to absorb ; and tlie wounded survivors of the battle and of tlu'
butclicry of the savages A/erc immersed in pools of gore and filth, ankle

deep.

" Tho transport of the wounded, which took up much time, fornnMl
the concluding act of the sanguinary d)'ama performed this day. Tli.'
wounded were borne to the (iencral Hospital, the distance to which wa;^
much increased by tlic deviations from the straight way to it tliat had to
be made. ' It wants another kind of pen than mine,' wrote a rfli(/iciis<
from the house of sufi'ering, ' to depict the horrors we have had to see and
hear, during the twenty-four hours that tlic transit hither lasted, the cries
of the dying and the lamentations of those interested iu their fjite. A
.strength more than human is needful at such a tim ■. to save those en-
gaged in tending such sufferers from sinking under their task.

'* ' After having dressed more than 500 patients, phiced on beds ob-
tained from the king's magazines, there still remained others unprovid'il
with resting-places. Our granges and cattle-sheds were full of them.
•'"' * * We had in our infirmaries 72 officers, of whom 33 died
Amputations of legs and arms were going on everywhere. To add to our
affliction, linen for dressing ran out, and wo were fain to have recourse
to our sheets and chemises. ''' •■' -^ '■' '^ ^'

" ' It was not with us now as after the first battle, when we co.ild havo
recourse, for aid, to the /io.s;29iVa//'(!yT6" of Quebec "' * * the British
having taken possession of their house, as well as those of the Ursulincs

:tnd

uffir

\Vt'

i <

the
will
piv

IJATTLE OF STE. FOY.

1^1

y C()-i;(jii;il,
ry, bar-i'.s,
usclf a \v;i^
l»art ill the

ilurilli;- I lie
voi'c j)ur.su-
loso .scaljis
Hoon as J)i'
res fur pul
ally 2,5(10
puddles on
ou grouml
and of till'
Itli, anklc-

10, loniiod

lay. I lie
wliicli wa.s
liat had in

rrliyiciifii

to see and

I, the cries

r late. A

those en-

u bed.s o])-
nprovidc'd
. of them.
1 :]3 died,
idd to our
s recourse

Jdhl have
le British
Ursulincs

:ind private d\vcHint>s, for the rcceptiouof their wounded, who were even
in ;.,'reater number than ours. There wer»« brought to us twenty Hritish
iillicers, whotn their own peo])le ha<l not time to carry away, and whom
we had to take charj^c of." ■•• '*' '" * "' * "

*' After the action, which lasted three hours, the Front h took post on
llic Ijuttcs-iVNevcu, and cf-tablislud flu^ir camp o;i the same plainn
where they had Just 80 filoriously avcnt^ed their defeat thereupon in the

|)r

'ocdinj

year.

l)e Ji6vis' triumph did not last \o\v^. On the cvenini; of the battle ho
broke ground within GOO or 700 yards of the walls, and next day com-
menced to bombard the town, but without producing' much effect. On
the night of the l.'jth May, news was received of the approach of the
I'ln^lish squadron from Halifax, and Do Levis abandoned the siege with
great precipitation, leaving his whole battering train, camp and cninjt
I'urniturc, entrenching tools, &c., behind him. lie was pursued and
several prisoners taken, and thus ended the French attempt to retake
t^uebec. The brave garrison pent up amid a hostile population, and
worn down by service and sickness, welcomed the succor with tli;it
grateful joy which might be expected from men in their position

THE MONUMENT — ITS irioIOUY.

" The idea of erecting a mouument to the slain of 17(30 was conceived
many years ago. For a long time the plough of the farmer ;ind tlu^
shovel and pick-axe of the workman, as he labored at the foundation of
new buildings along the Ste. Foy road, turned up human remains — evi-
dently the relics of those who were slain. llu>ty, half decayed arms,
accoutrements and buttons, bearing the arms or rogimental numbers of
i'^rench and JJritish regiments, found in close proximity to those remains,
told to whom they belonged. In 1850-54, an unusual number of these
bleached fragments of humanity — sad memorials of a by-gone struggle —
were found, and the St. Jean Baptists Society conceived the idea of having
them all interred in one spot. They were accordingly collected, «o far
as possible, and the Christian intention of the society was carried out on
the 5th June, 1854, The ceremony is doubtless fresh in the minds of
the great majority of our citizens. A splendid procession was organ-
ized, and the national socitics, public bodies, troops, volunteers, &c.,

■■'^ . i

128

BATTLE FIELD,? OF CANADA.

il-

ibilov/od a magailiccut I'uneral car, eontainiug the bones of the slaiii
Frcuc i and English soldiers, to the French (jathedral, where a solemn
Requiem was sung. The remains were thou conveyed in the same statr
to the field on tlie 8te. Foy road, adjoining the mansion of the late Mr.
Julien Chouinard, where the deatli-struggle had taken place between the
78th Highlanders, (Fraser's) and the French " (ircnadiersde la Heine,"
where they were deposited in a common grave. An elocjuent funeral
oration was delivered by Col. Sir Etienne Pascal Tache. The project (»!
an appropriate monument was started about the same time, and appearei)
to meet with general approval. It was, however, the French Canadian
national society which took the lead, as it had done on the previous oc-
casion, and as it has done since. ArraLgements had progressed to sucli
an extent that it was intended to laj'' the corner-stone of the monument
on the 24th June, 1855, but it was thought desirable to postpone it until
the 19th June following, when the presence of His Imperial Majesty'^';
corvette La Capn'cieuse in the harbor of Quebec added new solemnity
to the occasion. A procession, exceeding in magnitude that of the pre-
vious year, was organized; and the presence in its ranks of the British
garrison of Quebec, and the crew of a French war vessel, was indicative
of the cordial alliance then as uov»' existing between these two great
powers, and formed an auspicious spectacle for their decendants in the
new world. On that occasion, the Hon. P. J. O, Chauveau was the
orator of the day. His speech was a most Jirilliant effort, worthy of his
reputation as a public speaker, replete with brilliant imagery, couched
in the mcst eloquent language, governed throughout uy sound judgment,
and good taste. During the following year, the St. Jean l>aptiste So
ciety labored earnestly and unceasingly for the purpose 'j' collecting
subscriptions to complete the monument. Theirs was^ indeed, no ea-sv
task, as may be well supposed, for the excitement of the thing had all
passed away with the public display, and those who would have willingl)
contributed before the laying of the corner-stone, took but little interest
in it afterwards. Success was, however, attained, and in lour or live
years the base wtiscrowned by the noble'pilhn' which now rears its fine ])t;>
portions on tlie historic heighis of Ste. Foy. Without being invidious in
the least, we may say that to Dr. I*. iM. IJardy belongs in a great degree
the credit of this ^uecess ; indeed, his fellow members of the St. .Jeati

BATTLE UE STE. TdY.

129

the slaiii

a solemn
same statr
! late Mr.
ctween the
la Reiuo,"
nt funeral

project of
I appeared

Canadian
cvious oc-
"!'! to sucli
monument
lue it until
Majesty's
solemnity
f the pro-
British
iudieatlvo
two great
!itg in tlio

was till'
hy of his

touched
iudgnieiit
itisto Sii
3olIectinti

no ca-^v
; had all
willingly
! interest
I' or live
fine pro
idious in
it degree
St. Jean

Baptistc Society are the first to concede to him tlie merit of his exer-
tions. Baron (jauldrce Boilleau, the Consul General oi' France in
(Canada, obtained from His Highness Prince Napoleon the beautiful
statue of Jkllona, which forms such an appropriate ornament on the
summit of the monument. The memorial to the slain of 17()0 having
been thus completed, the plan of an inauguration ccrcmouy was pro-
jected, and was consummated yesterday in presence of If is Excellency
the Governor General, Lord Monck, the garrison, the public bodies, the
national societies, and at least twenty-five thousand persons, citizens of
Quebec and residents of the adjacent villages. The Ste. Foy monument
is decidedly the handsomest public monument we have in this city or its
vicinity. Of bronzed metal, standing on a stone base, and surmounted
by a bronze statue, it is a most prominent object in the landscape. The
face of the pedestal fronting Ste. Foy road has the simple inscription,
surrounded by a laurel wreath, ' Aux Biiavks in. 1760, Eiiusi par
LA SocifiT^j St. Jean Bai'TIste de Quebec, 18<)0.'* Ou the face
looking towards the city is the name ' Murray,' on an oval shield
surmounted by the arms of (}reat Britain and Ireland, and supported
by British insignia. On the other side is a shield bearing the name
' Levis,' surmounted by the arms of France under the Bourbons, the
crown and lilies, with appropriate supporters at each side. Tn rear
looking towards the valley, there is a representation of a wind-mill in
bas-relief— in allusion, we suppose, to the wind-mill which was an object
of alternate attack and defence to both armies on the occasion of the
battle. This portion of the column also bears the national arms of
Canada. The site of the monument is beautiful in the extreme. You
reach it from the Ste. Foy toll-gate 'after five or six minutes' walk
through an avenue bordered on either side by handsome villas, and fine
gardens, and half shaded by over-arching trees. It stands on an open
field on the brow of the cliff over-hanging the v-.'.ley of the St. Charles.
As you turn towards the monumental pillar, you have before you the
valley of the St. Charles, along which the populous suburbs of St. lloch
and St. Sauveur are gradually making their way. Beyond the limit of

W I < I

' • '(I

* It has oeourroJ to many that tho inoription '• Erig^' par Ici' citoycns do Qufboo
nouM l.avo been more appropriate, considering that many citizous, certainly not
"Jeau 15 iptiHte^". subscribed liberally to tho Muuument fund, amonjjst others the Hon.
rrancis Ilinck^ (!eo. B. Hymen. E.-<i., C-l. Uhodcs. and a host ol nthor?.— J. 31. L-
18

. I *

. 4 \\

v\o

RATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

the level ^ruuiul; the hills rise up tciTacc-likc, bright, even in the late
autumo with the verdure of gardens, and rendered still more attractive
hy the endless succession of villas, farm-liouses and villages which dot
the rising ground at intervals until tliey are lost in the distance, far away
in the rear, behind Lorettc, Charlesbourg and Beauport, wliere the blue
summits of the Laurcntian range rise to the skies. On the left, at one
end of the valley, the prospect is rendered still more grand by tlie moun-
tain heights and thickly-wooded skirts of the valley, bright with the
orange, crimson, and russet hues of autumn. Along the whole landscape
}ou can trace the winding of the St. Charles, from the foot of the moun-
tains on the one side until it mingles with the broad St, Lawrence on the
other. In fact it is impossible, within the narrow limits of our lepori,
to describe the scene. It contains every variety of physical feature
which can add to beauty of landscape ; and viewed as it was yesterday,
under the warm sun of the Indian summer, it was indeed rarely beauti-
I'ui. It is needless to say that the attraction was heightened by the
movijg crowd, the bright uniforms, the glistening arms, and waving
banners of the thousands who thronged the held ot Ste, Foy during the
sunny afternoon.''

A NOr.LC .SENTIMKNT.

The Montreal Tntusvrljit terminates an article about the Ste. I'cy
Monument celebration with the following sentiment: —

" Thus teiininatcd a ceremony which fitly opens the second century
of British rule in La Nouvello I'raiice ; in tlie first, French, British and
Indians meet as deadly enemies U) shed each other's blood, and conteiiil
for domination over Canada; ia (lie secotid, the descendants and repre-
sentatives of the same races assemble to bury their hostility with tlio
bones of the victims of that century's old contest beneath a monument in
their common valour, which is a memorial also that the three races are
blendiiig into one people. Let us hope that before a third century
dawns the fusion will be coujplete, and as Briton, Iloman, Saxon. Dane,
and Norman blended to form the English people, so all the races that
iind in Camidaa home may by forbearance, mutual respect, strict justice,
and ail enlarged view of their nationality, bury in a common grave the
dead bones of their militant prejudices, whether of faith or origin, and

lo
bi
lit

ARNOLD'S EXPEDITION,

131

tlio late
attractive
I'liich dot
, far awa_y
I the blue
sft, at one
;licinoun-
witli tlic
lundHcapc
lie iiioun-
ee on tlic
r I'cpori,
1 feature
cstcrday,
y beaut i-
cd by the
1 wavin;.;'
riu^' tliv

century
tish niul
contend
I re pre -
vitli the
nieiit in
ices are
I'ctitury
Dane,
•es that
justice,
avc the
in, and

look smiling down on them as a united Canadian nation, not ignoring,
but recognizing and drawing wisdom from past struggles and oonten-
lions, making past war the mother of present and future peace."

2lruolii*s (!!ipcMtiou in 1773.

TrrE invasion of Canada by the troops of the American Congress,
rendered the year 1775 remarkable in the annals of the T»rovince. The
principal points which will demand our attention arc the expedition of
Arnold, the storming of Quebec, and the deatli of Montgomery.

Canada, supposed to be perfectly secure, had been left almost destitute
of regular troops, nearly all of which had been removed to Boston. The
whole force of this description consisted of only two regiments of in-
lantry, the 7th Fusileers, and the 2Gth, amounting to no more than eight
hundred men. Of these the greater part were in garrison at St. John's,
the rest dispersed through the various posts. The province was, however,
(!xtrcmely fortunate in the character, talents and resources of the gov-
ernor, (Jeneral Carleton.

On the 17th September, 1775, Brigadier Ceneral Ilichard .Mont
gomery, who had formerly been in the British service, appeared at the
head of an army, before the fort of St. John's; which, after a galianl
defence, surrendered on the 3rd November, the garrison marching out
with the honors of war. Montreal, which was entirely defenceless,
capitulated on the 12th November; and General ('arleton, conceiving
it of the utmost importance to reach Quebec, the only place capal)le of
defence, passed through the American force stationed at Sore), durinu
ihe night, in a canoe with mullled paddles:!" and arrived in (,)uebee on
tiie 19th, to the great joy ol' the garrison and loyal inhabitants, wlh'
placed every confidence in his well known courage and ability.

While the province was thus threatened with subjugation on thosidi;
of Montreal, a new danger presented itself from a quarter so entirely

:> ■ :.

'I I

: i

* From Jrawkins's Picture of Quebec.

j Piloted liy Captain IJouehcttf, the auoostor of our reelected town.--ineii, 11 S. M.
lioiidictto, .To«ciih Bmiehotto, hlsqrs., Captain Jean Bouobettc, itc.

132

BATTLE FIELDS Of CANADA.

unexpccterl, that, until the particulars were ascertained, the fears and
superstitions of the inhabitants of the country parishes had amplo
subject for employment and exaggeration. An expedition of a singular
and daring character had been successfully prosecuted against Quebec
from the New England StateS; by a route which was little known and
generally considered impractic:d)lo. This expedition was headed by
Colonel Arnold, an officer in the service of the Congress, who with
two regiments, amounting to about eleven hundred men, left Boston
about the middle of September, and undertook to penetrate through the
wilderDCSs to Point Levi, by the means of the rivers Kennebec and
Chauditlsre.

The spirit of enterprise evinced in this bold design, and the patience,
hardihood and perseverance of the new raised forces employed in the
execution, will forever distinguisli this expedition in the history ol'
offensive operations. A handful of men ascending the course of a rapid
river, and conveying arms, ammuniticn, baggage, and provisions through
an almost trackless wild — bent upon a most uncevtain purpose — can
scarcely be considered, however, a regular operation of war. Tt was
rather a desperate attempt, suited to the temper of the fearless men
en£!;a!i;cd in it, the character of the times, and of the scenes which were
about to be acted on the American continent. The project, however, o!'
Arnold was by no means an original thought. It had been suggested by
Governor Pownall, in his " Idea of the service of America," as early as
the year 1758. He sayf5, — ''The people of Massachusetts, in the coun-
ties of Hampshire, Worcester and Vork arc the best wood-hunters in
America. * "*'• * I should think if about a hundred thorouuh wood-
hunters, pvoperly officered, could be obtained in the County of York, a
scout of such might make an attempt upon the settlements by way ol'
Chaudierc river."

On the ^2nd September, Arnold embarked on the Kennebec river iu
two hundred batteaux ; and notwithstanding all natural impediments —
the ascent of a rapid stream — interrupted by frequent j)or/tf^/(?s through
thick woods and swamps — in spite of frequent accidents — the desertion
of one-third of their number — they at length arrived at the head of the
river Chaudierc, having crossed the ridge of laud which separates I lie
waters falling into the St. Lawrence from (hose which run into the .<ea

ARNOLD'S EXPEDITION.

-too

fears and
had amplo
a singular
ist Quebec
known and
headed by

who witli
eft Boston
irough the
ricbcc and

3 patience,
j^ed in the
history of
of a rapid
3S through
pose — can
\ Tt wn>-
rlcss niei!
hicli were
owcver, o!'
^'gested by
s early as
the conn-
luntcrs ill
ugh wood
if York, a
by way ol'

c river in
limentfl —
s through
desertion
}ad oT the
irates tlio
«) the .s(>a.

They now reached Lake Megantic, and following the course of the
Chaudierc river, their difficulties and privations, which had been so
great as on one occasion to compel them to kill their dogs for sustenance,
were speedily at an end. After passing thirty-two days in the wilder-
ness, they arrived on the 4th November at the first settlement, called
Sertigau, twcuty-five leagues from Quebec, where they obtained all kinds
(if provisions. On the Oth, Colonel Arnold arrived at PointLcvi, where
he remained t^^enty-fomr hours before it was known at Quebec; and
wlience it was extremely fortunate that all the small craft and canoes had
been removed by order of the officer commanding the garrison. On the
I3th, hitc in the evening, they embarked in thirty-four canoes, and very
early in the morning of tlie 1 kh, he succeeded in landing five hundred
men at Wolfe's Cove, without being discovered, from the Lhard and
Hunter, ships of war. The first operation was to take possession of what
had been General Murray's house, on the Ste. Foy road, and of the Gen-
eral Hospital. They also placed guards upon all the roads, in order to
prevent the garrison from obtaining supplies from the country.

The small force of Arnold prevented any attempt being made towards
the reduction of the fortress, until after the arrival of Montgomery from
Montreal, who took the command on the 1st December, and established his
head-quarters at Holland Ilouse.'^' Arnold is said to have occupied the
house near Scott's Bridge, lately inhabited by the Honorable Mr.
Justice Kerr, (and since owned by Mr. Langlois.)

The arrival of the governor ou the 19th November, had infused
the best spirit among the inhabitants of Quebec. Ou the 1st December,
the motley garrison amounted to eighteen hundred men, all, however, full
of zeal in the cause of their king and country, and well supplied with
provisions for eight montlis. They were under the immediate coniman i
of Colonel Allan Maclean, of the 84th llegiment or Ivoyal Immigrants,
composed principally of those of the gallant Fraser's Ilighlandov^, who
had settled in Canada,

STATEMENT OF THE OARRISGN, IST DECEMBER, ITTi)

70 Royal Fusileers, or 7th llegiment.
230 Eoyal Emigrants, or 84th llegiment.
22 lloyal Artillery.

•f'

Now nconpic'il liy Fred. Woods, F.'^q., umuogcr Bank of !!■ N- Amcfioa.

184

I3ATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

^30 British Miilitia, under Lt. Col. Caldwell.

5-13 Canadians, under Colonel Dupre.

400 Seamen under Captains ITauiilton and Mackenzie.

50 Masters and ?''itts-

o5 Marines.

120 Artificers.

1800 Total bearing arms.

The .'-ioj^'e, or rather the blockade, was maintained during the whole
month of December, although the incidents were few and of little
interest. The Americans were established in every house near the walls,
more particularly in the suburbs of St. lloch, near the Intendant's
palace. Their riflemen, secure in their excellent cover, kept up an
unremitting fire upon the British sentries, wherever they could obtain a
glimpse of them. As the Intendant's palace was found to afford thoni
a convenient shelter, fvom the cupola of which they constantly annoyed
the sentries, a nine-pounder was brought to bear upon the building; and
this onct) splendid and distinguished edifice was reduced to ruin, and
has never been rebuilt. The enemy ilso thrcAV from thirty to forty
shells every night into the city, which fortunately did little or no injury
either to the lives or the property of the inhabitants. So accustonied
did the latter become to the occunences of a siege, that at last they
ceased to regard the bombardment with alarm. In the meantime, the
fire from the garrison was maintained in a very eftectivo manner upon
every point where the enemy were seen. On o)ie occasion, as
Montgomery was reconnoiteriug near the town, the horse which drew
his cariole was killed by a cannon shot.

During this anxious ])criod the gentry and iiiliabitants of the city
bore arms, and cheerfully performed the duties of soldiers. The British
militia were conspicuous for zeal and loyalty, under the command ol"
IMajor Tlenry Caldwell, who had the provincial rank of LieutenauL
(yoloncl. Tie had served as Deputy Quartcrma.vter General with the
army, under (!eneral A\^dfe, and had settled in the province after the
conquest. The (Canadian militia, within the town, was commanded by
Colonel Lc Comtc Dupro, an ofticer of [■;reat zeal and ability, who ren-
dered jireat services durini;' the wlio1'> siccre.

(Jeneral Montgomery, des])airiMg to reduce the place by a regular

ARNOLD S EXPEDITION.

135

he whoK'
of littlo
the walls,
tendant's
pt up an
I obtain a
brd tlioni
' annoyed
ing; and
I'uin, and
■ to fortv

QO iniurv

customed

last thoy

time, tlu'

or upon

sion, a.s

ch drew

tlio city
British
nand of
cutenanL
vith the
fter the
nded by
vho ren-

regulav

i^iege, resolved on u night attack, in the hope of titlior taking it by
storm, or of linding the garrison unprepared at some point. \n this
design he was encouraged by Arnold, whose local knowledge of Quebee
was accurate, having been acquired in his frequent visits for the purpose
of buying up Canadian horses. The intention of Montgomery soon
became known to the garrison, and Oencral Carletou made every prepa-
ration to prevent surprise, and to defeat tlio assault of the enemy, h'or
several days, the governor, with the officers and gentlemen off duty, had
taken up their quarters in the R6collet (!onvent, where they slept in
their clotlies. At last, early in the morning of the '>lst December, and
during a violent snow storm, Montgomery, at the head of the New York
troops, advanced to the attack of tlie Lower Town, from its western
c.vtremity, along a road between the base of ("Jape Diamond and (he
river. Arnold, at the same time, advanced from the General Hospital
liy way of St. Charles street. The two parties were to meet at the
lower end of Mountain street, and when united were to force Prescott
date. Two feint attacks in the meantime on the side towards the west,
were to distract the attention of tlie garrison. Such is the outline of
tills daring plan, the obstacles to the accomplishment of wliich do not
.-oem to have entered into the contemplation of tlic American officers,
who reckoned too much upon their own fortune and the weakness of the
uarrisou.

When, at the head of seven huudred men, .Montgomery had advanced
a short distance beyond the spot where the inclined plane has since been
constructed, he came to a narrow defile, with a precipice towards the
river on the one side, and the scarped rock above him on the other.
This place is known by the name of Pres-de-Ville. Here, all further
approach to the Lower Town Avas intercepted, and commanded by a
battery of three-pounders placed in a hanrjard to the south of the pass.
The post was entrusted to a captain of Canadian militia, whose force
lousisted of thirty Canadian and eight British militiamen, with nine
I'ritish seamen to work the guns, as artillerymen, under Captain liarns-
tarc, master of a transport, laid up in harbor during the winter. At
day-break, some of the gu'.rd being on the lock out, discovered, through
I he imperfect light, a body of troops in full march Irom Wolfe's
i ove upon the post. The men had been under arms waiting with the
utmost steadiness for the attack, which they had reason to expect, from

■ i

136

liATTLE FIELDS 01- OANADA.

Ill

the reports ol'dcscrters; aud in pursuance of judicious tirriin^ements \vliii;li
had been previously concerted, the enemy was allowed to approach un-
molested within a small distance. They halted at about fifty yards I'roiu
the barrier; and as the guard remained perfectly still, it was probably
concluded that they were not on the alert. To ascertain this, an office r
was seen to approach quite near to the barrier. After listening a
moment or two, he returned to the body; and they instantly dashed
forward at double quick time to the attack of the post. This was what,
tlie gu?rd expected : the artillerymen stood by with lighted matches, and
Captain Barnsfarc at the critical moment giving the word, the fire of the
guns and musketry was directed with deadly precision against the head
of the advancing column. The consequence was a precipitate retreat —
the enemy was scattered in every direction — the groans of the wounded
aud of the dying were heard, but nothing certain being known, the pass
continued to be swept by the cannon and musketry for the space of ten
minutes.

The enemy having retired, thirteen bodies were found in the snow,
and Montgomery's orderly sergeant desperately wounded, but yet alive,
was brought into the guard room. On being asked if the general him-
self had been killed, the sergeant evaded the question by replying that
he had not seen him for some time, although ho could not but have
known the fact. This faithful sergeant died in about an hour afterwards.
It was not ascertained that the American general had been killed, until
some hours afterwards, when General Carleton, being anxious to
ascertain the truth, sent an aide-de-camp to the Seminary, to inquire if
any of the American officers, then prisoners, would identify the body.
A field officer of Arnold's division, who had been made prisoner near
*Sault-au-Matelot barrier, consenting, accompanied the aide-de-camp to
the Pres-de-Ville guard, and pointed It out among the other bodies,
at the same time pronouncing, in accents of grief, a glov/ing eulogium of
Montgomery's bravery and worth. Besides that of the general, the
bodies of his two aides-de-camp were recognized among the slain.
The defeat of Montgomery's force was complete. Colonel Campbell,
the second in command, immediately relinquished the undertaking, and
led back his men with the utmost precipitation.

*■ Sault-an-Matelot street, until 1S30, was tlio fashionable quarter of the city. The
elite resided there. It was bad tasf^ to live in tho Upi)er Town.

AIINOLD H EXPEDITION.

137

ioiitswliiuli
iproacli uii-
yards from
IS probably
s, an ofllccr
listening a
tly dashcJ
s was what
latches, and
c lire of the
it the head
3 retreat —

wounded
n, the pass
pace of ten

the .snow,

1 yet alive,
neral hini-
ilyinj^ that

but have

ifterwards.

illcd, until

mxious to

inquire if

the body.
)0ner near
le-canip to
er bodies,
ilogium of
neral, the
tho slain.
Campbell,
iking, and

city. Tho

The exact spot where the barrier was erected beJbrc which Mont,
pioiucry fell, may be described as crossing the narrow road under tho
mountain, immediately opposite to the west cud of a buildiug which
stands on the south, and was formerly occupied by IMr. Kaccy as a
brewery. It is now numbered 5S. At the time of the soige this; was*
called the Potash. The battery extended to the south, and nearly to tho
liver. An inscription commemorating the event might properly be
placed upon the opposite rock.

^oon after the repulse of the enemy before the post at Pr6s-de-Villej
information was given to the officer in command there, that Arnold's
party, from the (Jencral Hospital, advancing along the St. Charles, had
raptured tlic barrier at the 8iult-au-Matclot, and tliat ho intended an
attack upon that of rr6s-dc-\'illc, by taking it in the rear. Immediate
puparations were made for the defence of the post n inst such an attack,
liy turning some of the guns of an inner barrier, no a from the old Custom
tlouse, towards the town j and although tho intelligence proved false, —
Arnold having been wounded and his division captured, — yet tho inci.
dent deserves to be commemorated as affording a satisfactory contradic-
tion to some accounts which have appeared in print, representing the
guard at Pres-de-Villc as having been paralysed by fear, — the post and
barrier " deserted," — and the fire which killed 3Iontgomcry merely
" accidental." On the contrary, the circumstances which we have
related, being authentic, proved that the conduct of tho Pros de-Villc
guard was firm and collected in the hour of danger ; and that ])y their
coolness and steadiness they mainly contributed to the safety of the city.
Both Colonel Maclean and General Carleton rendered every justice to
their meritorious behaviour on the occasion.

In the meantime the attack by Arnold, on the north-eastern side of the
Lower Town, was made with desperate resolution. It was, fortunately,
equally unsuccessful, although the contest was more protracted ; and at
one time the city was in no small danger. Arnold le<l his men by files
along the river St. Charles, until ho camo to tho Sailt-au-Matelot,
where there was a barrier with two guns mounted. It must be under-
stood that St. Paul street did not then exist, the tide coming up nearly
to the base of the rock, and the only path between the rock and the
beach was the narrow alley which now exists in rear of St. Paul street

under the precipice itself. Here the curious visitor will find a jutting
10

.■ ■ ! I

1 1

.v'r\

1^58

J5ATTLE IIlvLDS OF CANADA.

rock, wlicro was the first barrier. The whole of the street wont hy the
iianic of the Sault-au-Matelot from the most ancient times. ArooM
took the command of the " forlorn hope," am.1 was leadint^ the attack
upon this barrier, when he received a ..msket wound in tlic knee which
disabled him, and he was carried bac'v to the (lencral Hospital. His
troops, however, persevered, and ha.inu; soon made themselves masters
of the barrier, pressed on through the narrow street to the attack of the
second, near the eastern extremity of Hault-au-Matelot street. This
wa" a battery which protected the ends of the two streets called St. looter
street and Sault-au-Matelot, extending, by means of hanr/arJs mounted
with cannon, from the rock 'o the river. The 3Iontreal Bank,''- then a
private house, had cannon projecting from the end windows, as had a
house at the end of 8ault-au 31atelot street. The enemy tcok shelter in
the houses on each side, and in the narrow pass leading round the base
of the clilf towards Hope-Gate, where they were secured by the angle oi'
the rock from the fire of the guns at the barrier. Here the enemy met
with a determined resistance, which it was impossible to overcome ; and
(Jencral Carleton having ordered a sortie from Palace Gate under Cap-
t:iin Laws, in order to take them in the rear — and their rear guard, under
Captain Dearborn, having already surrendered — the division of Arnold
demanded quarter, and were brought prisoners to the Upper Town. The
officers were conlined in the Seminary. The eoiitest continued for
upwards of two hours, and the bravery of the assailants was indisputable.
Through the freezing cold, and the pelting of the storm, they maintained
the attack until all hope of success was lost, when they surrendered to a
generous enemy, who treated the wounded and prisoners with humanity.
The Americans lost in the attack about one hundred killed and
wounded, and six officers of Arnold's party, exclusive of the Iosl; at Pros.
de-\'ille. The British lost one officer. Lieutenant Anderson of the
lloyal Navy, and seventeen killed and wounded. The following is a
statement of the force which surrendered :

1 Lieutenant Colonel,") -

2 i^Iajols, •
8 Captains, (

15 Lieutenants, j

Not wounded.

■■■ This bank formerly occupied the building >Ybich stood last year, whcro the uew
Quebec Bank has since been built.

ARNOLD .S EXrEDtTlON,

130

I Adjutant,

1 Quarfor-Ma.stcr, .^ ^

. „ , ^ iSut wouiuloM.

4 Volunteers,

o50 liank and file,

44 Officers and soldiers, woundtMl.

42G Total surrendered.

My the death of jMontj,'oniery the ccnimand devolved upon Arnold,
who had received the rank of Ih-i^L^adicr General. In a letter, dated
14th January, 177G, l»c complains of the great difficulty he had in keop-
'\n<^ his remaining troops together, .vo disheartened were they by tlu-ir
<lisastcrs on the 8lst December. The ;>iego now resumed its former
character of a blockade, without any event of importance, until the
month of March, when the enemy received reinforcements that increased
their numbers to near two thousand men. In the beginning of April,
Arnold took the command at Montreal, and was relieved before Quebec
by Brigadier General Wooster. The Diockading army, which had all
the winter remained at three miles distance from the city, now
approached nearer the ramparts, and re-oitened their lire upon tlic I'ortiii-
cations, with no better success than before. In the night of the :]ril
M.iy, they made an unsuccessful attempt to dcstioy tlio ships of war and
vessels laid up in the Cul-de-Sac, by sendin--; in a fire ship, with tlu^
intention of profiting by the confusion, and of making another attack
upon the works by escalade. At this time they had reason to except
that considerable reinforcements, which they had no means of jjrevcnt-
ing from reaching the garrison, would shortly arrive from Knghnul ; and
giving up all hope of success, they became impatient to return to their
own country. A council of war was called on the 5tli, by General
Thomas, who had succeeded AVoostcr j and it was determined to raise
the siege at once, and to retire to Montreal. They immediately began
their preparation, and in the course of the next forenoon broke up their
camp, and commenced a precipitate retreat.

In the means time the gallant Carleton and his intrepid garrison were
rejoiced by the arrival, early in the morning of the Gth 3Iay, of the
Surprise frigate, Captain Linzce, followed soon after by the Isis, of
iifty guns, and Martin .sloop of war, with a reinforcement of troops and

■A

140

BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

supplies. Nothing;' couKl exceed the deliglit of the IJritlsh at this foasoii-
able relief. After the toil and privation of a six months' seige, it may
be imaiiined with whiit feelings the inhabitants beheld the frigate
rounding Pointo Jii'vi, and how sincerely they welcomed her arrival in
the basin. The /s/s was eoni'iianded by Captain, afterwards Admir.-ii,
Sir Charles Douglas, IJaronet, i'ather of Major (ioneral Sir Howard
Douglas, the late popular liieutenant Governor of New ]^runswiek.
Captain Douglas had made uncommon exertions to force his ship through
fields of ice, — having by skilful management and a press of sail carried
lier, for the space of iifty leagues, through obstacles which would Im
deterred an otficcr less animated by the zeal which the critical service
which he was employed re([uired. The troops on board the vessels, con-
sisting of two companies of the 'J9th llegiraeut, with a party of marines,
amounting in all to two hundred men, were immediately landed, under
the command of Ca^)tain Viscount J'etcrsham, afterwards General the
Earl of Harrington. No soon had they arrived in tlic Upper Town, than
General Carleton, who had learned the retreat of the enemy, determined
to make s sortie and to harass their rear. lie accordingly marched out
at the head of eight hundred men ; l)ut so rapid was the flight of the
enemy, that a few shots only were exehanged, when they abandoned their
stores, artillery, scaling ladders, leaving also their sick, of whom they
had a great many, to the care of the British. The humanity with which
they were treatcJ was afterwards commemorated by Chief flustice
Marshall in his life of Washington.

The conduct of Generaly Carleton throughout the siege was beyond
all praise. He always wore the same countenance, and as his looks wen^
watched, his conduct infused courage into those of the inhabitants, who
unused to a siege, sometimes gave way to despondency. Ho was,
indeed, a man of true bravery, guided by discrimination, conduct and
experience. During the attack of the 31st December, he had taken
post at Preseott Gate, where he knew would be made the combined
attack of Montgomery and Arnold, had they succeeded in passing the
barrier at Pres-de-Ville and the Sault-au-Matelot. Here he took his
stand, and there is every reason to believe that ho would have defended
the post even to death. He had been heard to say, that he would never
grace the triumph of the enemy, or survive the loss of the town.

ARNOLD'S EXPEDITION.

141

lu.s pcasou-
gc, it ma)
iio frigate
arrival in
I Admiral,
r ITowanl
Iruiiswick.
p througli
lil carried
QuId lia
survico '
iscls, con
f mariues,
3d, under
ncral the
own, tliaii
cterraincd
rchcd out
ht of the
ned tlieir
lom they
itli wliicli
flustieo

i beyond

oks v/erv

nts, wlio

11 was,

uct and

id taken

onibined

sinf^ the

ook his

lefended

Id never

The despatches announcing the retreat of the American forces from
before Quebec were taken home by Colonel Caldwell, who received
the usual present on the occasion. Ills iMajesty immediately bestowed
the Knighthood o*" the IJath upon (Jeneral Carleton. 'i'he following
extract from his deapatehcs to Jiord (ieorgo Cicrmaino, Secretary of State,
shows his own sense of the general conduct of the ofiieers antl men under
his command. Among the Canadian ollieers who particularly distin-
guished thcniselves, were Culonel I)upr6, Major JOcuyer, and Captains
Mouehettc, Lafovce and ('habot, oC tlu- marine.

'' Thus," says (jlencral Carleton, ''ended our siege and blockade, during
which the mixed garrison ol' soldiers, sailors, IJritish and (Canadian
militia, with the artilicers, Irom Ilalil'ax and Newfoundland, showed
great zeal and patience, under very severe duty, and uncommon vigilance,
indispensable in a place liable to be stormed, besides great labor neces-
sary to render such attempts less practicable.

"' I cannot conclude this letter without doing justice to Lieutenant
('oloncl 3Iaclean, wdio has been indefatigably zealous in the king's
service, and to his regiment, wherein ho has collected a number of ex-
perienced good officers, who have boon very usel'ul. Colonel Hamilton
captain of lUs Majesty's ship 'Li::ar'l, who commanded the battalion ol
seamen, his officers and men, discharged their duty with great alacrit)
and spirit. The same thing must bo acknowledged of the nuisters, in-
ferior officers and seamen, belonging to His Majesty's transports, and
merchantmen, detained here last fall : only one seaman deserted tlu;
whole time. The malitia, IJritish and Canadian, behaved with a steadi-
ness and resolution that could hardly have been expected (Vom men
unused to arms. Judges, and other officers of government, as well as
merchants, cheerfully submitted to every inconvenience to preserve the
town: the whole, indeed, upon the occasion, showed a spirit and i)er-
sevcrancc that do them great honor.

"Major Caldwell, who commanded the ]>ritish militia all winter, as
Lieutenant Colonel Commandant, and is bearer of those despatches to
your Lordship, has proved himself a faithl'ul subject to His Majtjsty,
and an active and diligent officer. Ho, and, indeed, almost every loyal
subject are very considerable sufferers by the present hostile invasion."

•• • :}

'f'

.:.■'• 3

''^f'!- '■

142

BATTLE FIELDS OP CANADA.

BattU of (DuefiistoU;

ISia October, 1812.

" Ox\ tlic moruin- of the lltli October, 1S12," says Chn'stt'e;- " tho
Araericun forces were concentrated ut Lewistown opposite that place,
with a view of making;; an attack upon the hitter; but through the
neglect ur cowardice of the officer entrusted with preparing and con-
ducting the boats to the place of embarkation, the attack miscarried.
Early in the morning of the IBtli, their forces were again eoncentrn-
tcd at Lewiston, and the troops embarked under cover of a battery oi'
two eighteen and two six pounders. This movement being soon dis-
covered, a brisk lire was opened upon them from the British shore b}
the troops, and from three bitteries. The Americana commenced a
cannonade to sweep the shore, but with little effect. The first di-
vifiion, under Colonel \'an IJausalaer, effected their landing unob-
served under the heights a littlo above (jueenstou, and, moantiiig
ho ascent, attacked and carried an eighteen pounder battery, and dis
lodged the light company of the 49th Eegimcnt, The enemy were in
t'lc meantime pu'^hing over in boats, and notwithstanding the current
and eddies, here rapid and numerous, and a tremendous discharge oi'
artillery which shattered many of their boats, persevered with dauntless
resolution, and ctFected a lauding close upon Queenston, where they
were o]i])osed by the grenadiers of the 4!Uli llegiment and the "\'ork
volunteer militia, with a determination verging upon desperation. The
carnage became terrible. The l>ritish being overwhelmed with numbers,
were compelled to retire sonic distance into a hollow. General Brock,
who was ;it Niagara, a short distance below, having heard the cannonade,
arriving at that moment, the grey of the moniing, witli his provinciiii
aid-de-car::p, ]jt.-(^l. McDonnell, from that place, and having rallied the
grenadiers of his lavorite 19th, was leading them on to the charge,
when he received a mu,-kot ball in Ins breast, which almost imme-

■'■ Ilistiiill llf '^((lldll'l-

V -I'

BATTLE OF (^UEENSTON.

^'^l

die;'-' " tho
that place,
rough the
^ and con-
miHcarricil,
eoucentra-
battcry ol'
J soon dis
I shore b}
nicnccd a
first di-
ini; uuob-
inoautiiii;
, and dis
were in
currout
jliarge oi'
dauntless
I ere thoy
le "^'ork
. Th-
numbers,
:il ]3roek.
iiirionadc,
)rovincial
tilled tin-
ehargc,
t inmu'-

diately terminated liis existence. In the interim, tiie lip;ht company,
supported by a party of the Yorkers, rallied, and reasoendcd to dislodge
tho enemy from the heights. They formed and advanced to the charge,
exposed to a smart fire, but finding the enemy posted behind trees, so
that a charge could have little effect, they desisted, and separating,
posted themselves in like manner, and kept up a sharp fire for some
lime. Lieut. -Col. McDonnell, who had joined them -while forming for
the charge, and was encouraging the men, received a ball in his back,
IS his horse, which had been wounded, Avas in the act of wheeling. Tie
•survived his wound but twent^^-four hcu.\'s, in the most excruciating ptiin.
The Americans having effected their landing with an overwhelming
force, the British were obliged to give way, and suspend the fight until
tho arrival of reinforcements, leaving the Americans in possession of the
heights. General Shcafie soon after came up with a reinforcement of
three hundred men of the 41st Regiment, two companies of militia, and
lWO liundrcd and fifty Indians. Rcinforcemciits Lavitig also arrived
iVom Chippawa, the general collected his whole force, amounting to
upwards of eight hundred men, and leaving two field pieces, with about
thirty men under Lieutenant llolcroft of the Iloyal Artillery, in front of
(^uceuston, as a check to prevent the enemy from occupying the village,
jtrocccded by a ciicuitous rout(> to gain the rear of the heights upon
which the enemy were posted. The Indians, being more alert than the
troops, first surmounted the hill, and commenced tho attack, but were
repulscid and fell back upon the main body, who ftirnied with celerity,
and upon the worJ, advanced to the charge under a heavy shower of
uiusketry. The ]]ritish set up a shout, accompanied with the war-whoop
ot the Indians, and advanced at the double quick pace, when the Ameri-
cans, struck with terror, gave way and fled in all directions, some con-
cealing themselves in the bushes, others precipitating themselves down
(he precipice and being either killed by the fall or drowned in the at-
tempt to swim the rivor. A terrible slaughter ensued by the Indians,"'-
whose vengeance it was impossible to restrain, until a white flag was
observed ascending the hill Avith offers of an unconditional surrender,
which were accepted. An armistice of three days was propose.! by the

Fi ' • I
./I

'■ Shall wo al.-»o say, '• Ob ! tho Eii;^Ush and their ?avngc?. they were ficucli? I '■

144

BATTLE I'lELDS 0¥ CANADA.

:i ■'

Ameiican tuid granted by tlic Britisli goucval, iu order to take care ol
their wounded and bury their dead, on condition of destroying thtir
batteaux, which was immediately complied with. One general ollicer
(^\''adsworth), two lieutenant-colonels, five majors, a multitude ol' cap-
tains and subalterns, with nine liundrcd men, one field piece, and a
stand of colors, were the fruits of this important victory; the enemy
having lest in killed, wounded, missing, and prisoners, upwards of fifteen
hundred men. (leneral Van llansalacr, before the arrival of the rein-
forcements from Niagara, under General Sheaft'e, finding the fate of tlic
day still undetermined, his troops almost exhausted with fatigue, and
falling short of ammunition, had returned to the American shore, to
urge across reiuforcenicnts from the embodied militia ; but they, not-
withstanding every menace and entreaty on his part, unanimously
refused. In this dilemma, he wrote a note to General AVadsworth, who
remained with the Americans on the (Juecnston heights, informing him
of the situation of thing.s, and leaving the course to be pursued much to
his own judgment, assuring him that if he thought best to retreat, he
would send as many boats as he could command, and cover his reJreat by
every fire he could make. But before the latter had time to resolve upon
any mode of security or retreat, the spirited advance of the British had
decided the fate of the day.

" Thus ended, in their total discomfiture, the second attempt of the
Americans to invade Upper Canada. The loss of the British is said to
have been about twenty killed, including Indians, and between fifty and
sixty wounded. The fall of General Brock, the idol of the army, and
of the people of Upper Canada, was an irreparable loss, and cast a shade
over the glory of this dear-bought victory. He was a native of Guern-
sey, of an ancient reputable family, distinguished in the profession of
arms. He had served for sumo years in Canada, and in some of the
principal campaigns in Europe. He commamled a detachment of his
favorite 49th Begiment, on the expedition to Copenhagen with Lord
Nelson. Tic v\'as one of those men who seem born to influence mankind,
and mark the age in which they live. As a soldier he was brave to ;i
fault, and not less judicious than decisive in liis measures. The energy
of his character was expressed in his robust and manly person. As a
civil governor, he was firm, prudent and equitable. In fine, whether

BATTLE OF JiEECJI WOODS.

145

care ot

n<jj tliiir

al olliocr

c ol' car)-

:-c, and a

ic enemy

of fifteeu

the reiii-

atc of tlie

iguc, and

sliorc, to

licy, not-

inimously

orth, who

ining hi 111

1 much to

Dtrcat, he

reJreat by

iolvc upon

I'itish had

npt of the
L is said to
1 fifty and
irmy, and
ist a shade
of Gucru-
jfcssion of
nc of the
nt of his
with Lord
mankind,
bravo to a
ho energy
on. As a
whether

viewed as a man, a statesman, or a soldier, ho eijually deserve the
esteem and respect of his contemporaries and of posterity. The Indians,
who flocked to his standard, were enthusiastically attached to him. lie
foil at the early age of forty-two years. The remains of this gallant
officer wore, during the funeral service, honored v/ith a discharge of
minute guns from the American, as well as British, batteries, and with
those of his aid-de-camp, Lieuteuanc-Oolonel M'Donucll, interred in the
same grave at Fort George, on the 16th of October, amidst the tears of
an aftcctionatc soldiery and a grateful people, who will revere his
memory, and hold up to their posterity the imperishable name of Brock."

liattlc ot Bml) ll)oat)i5, 1813.

TlIOIvOLD, Julij UtJl, ISlo.

Aftku the brilliant attair ul' Htoney (Jrcck, tlu; force under I lie ciuii-
mand of Gen. Vincent, at Uurlington Heights — regular militia and
Indians — quietly advanced to Grimsby (40 Mile Oeck), ;ind totk up
their position on the west baiik of that creek, their left extending to
the lakeside; the (Irook's I [ou-io bidng their head-quarters. When iti
this position a reinforcement of 100 warriors of the Caughnawagians
arrived from Lower Canada, with their officers and chiefs.

Those people and the Six Nation warriors wore, in appearance, more
eivilized than our western allies, but in no instance better v.'arrior.'-!.

Those, our vigilant aids, were permitted to perambulate tlie country
between our position and Uiat of the enemy on the Niagara river, and
wore thereby instrumental in being usel'ul by keeping the enemy in
(lose quarters.

The gallant and indefatigable Captain Fitzgerald (recently one of the
Knights of Windsor, England), was permitted to organiz'; ;i scouting
party of 100 men from the 40th Ucginient of Foot, the <!lcii;.:;uies and
(he militia, which were on all occasions a corps in advam.;:! to watch the
movements of the enemy.

* Coventry Manuscript?.

.. . ':

n1>

liATTLE FIELD!* OF CANADA.

ft was (»n Olio fine morning in 'Uily, 1813, tliat Colonel Boostler, of
the r'iiif:e(l States army, sailed forth from I'^rt George, Miagara, with a
foree of oOO pieked men in quest of Fitzgibbon's seouting party, and to
lay them low. No doubt led by some of the tame ones ui' fortunately
among us at that time, he pursued his course directly to the rendezvous
of Fitzgibbon, and his allies in the Beech Woods, on arriving in an
open field near the ^oods, commenced to prepare for action without the
enemy in view j when after some straggling shots were fired from the
woods, whereby the enemy felt and discovered its deadly effect without
a possibility of making a defence against the foe.

The brave and honijvable I'^itzgibbon, deprecating such a warfarr,
issued orders for the firing to cease, which was partially done; still u
desultory fire was kept up on the enemy,

)Vhen Fitzgibbon, with a flng in hand, rushed from the ambuscade,
and said to Colonel JJoestler that he would not be accountable for his
ronimand if tliey did not surrender; which, after some consultation, Wiis
agreed npon.

3Iajor J>elulii, coming up at this time with a reinforcement of Glen-
gary men, disinissed the prisoners and escorted them to head quarters,
(Jrimsby, where they were disposed of as prisoners of war— -being sent
to Toronto.

(Signed) CoJi. John Clark,

Port Dalhousic.

ull)c Battle of mi)atcauijuav),

2GTII OCTOBKIt, 181J.

Tiiifs celebrated battle field I'urnishes us an opportunity for intro
dueing to the reader's notice a L'anadian, who has deserved well from
the British crown and from his fellow countrymen. We quote from
Mr. Morgan's liioiirtiphiad Dktionarij, p. 197 to end:

'' The family of De Salaberry is descended i'rom a noble family of the

f'll

BATTLE OP CIIATEAUOUAY,

147

oo.stler, of
•a, with a
ty, and tu
)rtunatoly
cndezvou.s
zing iu an
ithout ihu
I from the
3t witliout

:i warfari',
e; still a

tubuseado,
blu for hi.s
atioii, w;is

of (jlcii-
[1 quartcf.-;,
■being sent

NARKj

alhousic.

y lor intro

well from

[iiote 1 Vol 11

nily of the

l*ay,« dcs Iksques (Navarro). The father of the subject of this notice
was a legislative councillor, and devotedly attached to his sovereign, so
much so indeed, that he placed his lour sons in the army. The one
hero noticed rose to groat distinction, as will be scon ; one of the others
was killod at IJadajos, and the other two died in the East Indies, em-
ployed in active warfare.

"The Honorable Charles lMic''el d'lrumbeviy de Salaboriy, C. 13.,
Seigneur do Ohambly et de Beaulac, member of the Legislative ('ouncil,
surnameu the Canadian Leonidas, was born at the Manor IToiise of
JJeauport, November 10, 1778. Tfe married Demoisolle Ilertel de Ilou-
villc, and continued, as is before stated, to serve in the Jinny, as well as
his brothers. He served also, daring the spnc^ of eleven years, in the
West Indies, under General Prescott. At the seige of fort Matilda,
under I'rescott, and at the evrcuation thereof, ho commanded the gren-
adier company of the 4th battalion, GOth Ilegimcnt, which covered the
retreat with credit to themselves. In 1795, he served at the concjuest
of Martinique; became aid-de-camp to Major-CJeneral de Rottenburg
and accompanied him in the Walchercn expedition. Circumstances
recalled him to this country, wlijre he, in a very short time, formed the
V^oltigeurs, the organization of which reflected great honor upon him;
lieutenant-colonel commanding and superintendent of this line corps, he
was also selected as one of the chiefs of the staff of the militia. At-
tacked at Lacolle, at the end of 1812, together with M. D'lOscham-
bault's advance guard, by one thousand four hundred Americans of
(Jencral Dearborn's army, he fought them until night; in attempting
to surround him, they lired against each other, which soon terminated
in their retreat ; thus resulted the first victory of De Salalierry and the
Voltigeurs. Part of this corps participated in the defeat, no less luimi-
liating to the American army, at Chrysler's Parm. Dearborn and Wil-
kinson thus baffled in their project of invasion, there only remained
Ceneral Hampton to contend with. i)c Salaberry, in proceeding to
discover his whereabouts, obstructed the ro:id from Odeltown to L'Aca-
dia, by cutting down a great many trees. After several skirmishes, the
Americans, not daring to hazard a general action in the woods, retired
t) a place called Pour Corners. His adversary made an incursion
into his camp, at the head of liOO Voltigeurs and 150 Indian war-

•f 'I

148

BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

riors of the tiibos ui' Lower Canada, tiud thvcw ihe enemy iuto disorder,
without any loss on his own «ide. Hampton being repulsed on the
Odcltown route, resolved wisely io cfl'ecL a junction with his chii!l
general, in taking the route leading ttt Chateauguay, which he was
approaching, believing the vnud to be op}M; but access thereto was
everywhere prevented by being blockaded by field works. J^e Salaberry
was too sagacious not to discover that this strategic point was the roa<l
which Hampton would be sure to take in order to join Dearborn. Tin.'
tbrnier, in the meantime, swept awuy tlie English pickets ; and Major
Henry with difficulty resisted them ; when De Salaberry ably shifted
his position, and threw himself on the route to lace that general. Th(!
Canadian liero, vrho had the advantage of being acquainted with tlie
whole of the country above Chateauguay, during an excursion on the
American frontier some weeks before, then ascended to the left oi' the
bank of the river Chateauguay, to reach the other extremity of a wotd,
where he knew there was an excellent position in a swamp, intercepted
by deep rivulets. On four of these he established lines of defenet' in
•succession. The fourth was about half a mile in the rear, and com
manded a ibrd on the right shore, which was a very important point o!
defence, with a view to the protect'on of the left bank. He causeil to
be erected on each of these lines a sort of breastwork, which was ex
tended to some distance in the woods, to protect his right. The breast-
work on his first line formed an obtuse angle on the right of the road.
Tlie whole of the day was taken up with fortifying this position, ,so as
to force the enemy, in case he should I'eel disposed to make an attack,
t'j cross a largo space of settled country, and removing himself to a great
distance from his supplies ; whereas, on the ciontrary, the Voltigeur.-;
had everything at hand, and were well supplied; more especially, as on
the second line after the Voltigeurs anil Indians, came the Wattovillo
regiment. Sir Crcorge Trevost was on the third line, at Caughiuiwaga,
with some troops and militia, from the Mcmtreal district, having brouglii
them down with him from Kingston, to oppose the junction of the
American army. De Salaberry did not confine himself to the foregoing
arrangements. He ordered a party of thirty axemen of the division oi
Beauharnois to proceed in front of the first line of defence, for the pur-
pose of destroying the bridges and obstructing the roads. Ail the

lijt,'

DATTLE OF CllATEAUUUAY.

I4I»

disorder,
1 on the

lis clii(!l
I ha was
ircto WMS
Salaborry

the road
Yu. The
lid Miijor
y shifted
al. The

with the
on on (he
'St Oi" the

»f a wotd,
itcrceptt'd

cf'enee in

and eoiii
p point (tl

caused tti
li was ex
lie brtiast-

the road.
,ion, so ;is
an attack,
' to a great
I'^olti^^onrs
dly, as oil
iVattcvillo
jhnawaga,
g )jroui,dit
on of tlie

forego in;;

livision ul

r the j)ur-

AH the

bridges within a league and a half were destroyed ; and a I'ormidable
obstruetion was lornied on the road to the extent oi' a mile in advance
of the first line oi' defence, which extended to the edgt; of the river, and
continued to a distance oi' three or four acres tiirougli (he woods, joined
by a swamp on the right, almost impufsible. The tnur lines el' del uco
were thus completely sheltered, even JV-'u the lire oi' artillery. To this
Ibrtifiea position so well selected, and to the heroism disjdayed, is mainly
due the victory which succeeded. The talents and abilities of a com-
mander are distinguished, no doubt, as well in the selection of a position,
as in leading an army into and out of tlu: lield of battle. iMajoi-( Jencral
do Watteville, who visited Do Salivbei'ry's camp, approved of all his
arrang'Mneuts. ^J'here was "^ome skirmishing, whieh led to the retreat
of the workmen and their escort to the camp, at about tv/o leagues above
the confluence oi' the waters, between a little river indunging to the
liritish, aiid that of (Jhatt;auguuy, supported on the left by the river
(Miateauguay, and in front and on the right, by (ihaUia and a species of
t/i*V(iu.c t/e /ri.-^r. On the 2 Ith C)c(ober, having made a large opening
on the road through the v/oods and swaMi))S, within a distance of live
miles of the ('anadian encampment, in wliiidi De Salaberry was at the
head of three hundred Voltigeurs, Fencibks and Indian ) arriors, who
had just received reinlorccmeuts in a few compar/u'S of sedentary militia;
the American general advanced at the head of seven thousand infantry
and four hundriid horse, with twelve pieces of artillery, sending, during
the night, Colonel I'urdy to take possession of the ford, but this oHicer
lost his way in the woods. The nest day, Hampton made an advance
in person towards the a/j(it(is, with three thousand live hundred men,
and placed Purdy at the liead of one thousand live hundred men, to
attempt ag.iin io turn the ('anadians, leaving in reserve the remainder
of his troops. D^' Salaberry, warned oi' this movement liy the tire
directed on his advanced pickets, now seeit)g beftu'c i>ini an enemy
whom he had on two former occasions brought to tlu; charge, advanced
in front; and giving the signal, placed himself in tin; centre of the first
line of defence, leaving the second in charge of IjieudMiant-Coloiifl Mc-
Donnell, the same who had taken Ogdensbiirg. The firing <'o!:inicnced
smartly on both sid(!s, but badly directed Ity the Americans. They Bred
better afterwards ; meanwhile, the circumstance of hearing incessantly

150

IJATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

the report from the corps at difterent intervals, led them to believe that
the Canadians were advancing in j^rcat numbers, and their ardor began
to weaken. Purdy's column arrived at the Cord during the engagcniciit,
but was repulsed and thrown into disorder by Do Salabcrry, who had
directed his attention to that particular spot. Seeing his plan disoon
oerted by the defeat of that division, the American commander ordered
a retreat, which he eU'ected with considerable loss. Di; Salaberry «lept
on the field of battle, and on the following day at daybreak, he was
joined by (laptain de llouvillc, his brother-in-law, with his company (»!'
Voltigeurs, the Watteville grenadiers, together with a few of the native
warriors. On the 2yth, he sent Captain Dueharme, the hero of Beaver
Dam, together with one hundred and fifty warrior,<, to reconnoitre, and
they assured him that the American army had abandoned their camp on
Piper's road, and had returne«l to Plattsburg. AVilkinson, who was at
Cornwall, hearing of the defeat of his colleague, retired to Salmon river,
and fortified himself. The victory at Chateauguay permitted the IJarori
de llotteuburg, and afterwards Sir Gordon Drummcnd, his successor in
command, to resume the offensive in Tpper Canada. (Jreat Britain
commemorated the victory by causing a gold medal to be struck ; the
Voltigeurs were presented with colors, ornamented with devices ; and
De Salaberry, besides the gold medal, had the order of* the Bath con-
ferred upon him, transmitted with an autogra[»li letter from his Royal
Highness the Prince llcgent. The two houses of the provincial legis-
lature passed a vote of thanks to him. The \'oltigeurs took part in the
second victory, obtained at Lucolle, in I^larch, ISI 1. De Salaberry laid
down the sword for the pen. Fie became a senator; being called to tlio
Legislative Council in ISIS, at the same time as Monseigneur lMe.-;sis.
He died at Chambly, on the 2Gth February, 18"i9, aged 51 jcars; and
was buried in the new church of that place, wiiich v/as erected in tlif
foom of the one destroyed by lire in ISOti. 'flie late commander, Niger,
possesscv' his likeness, painted by Dickinson, and engraved by Durand.
De Salaberry is represented attiret. in the uniform worn by tlu; Volti-
geurs, decorated with the Chateauguay medal, and the cross of th(» Hath,
with his sword under Isis arm. His family crivst is also seen. The
escutcheon of our compatriot bears the motto beeonking to tin; par/aif
chevalier : <' Fon-r. d siijxrhe ; mnci/ d falhlc.'" A medallion repre-

CATTLF OF CIIATEAKCUAY.

161

ievc that
or began
igomciit,
who lind
I (lis('i>ri-
ni'dofc'il
Yvy «Io})t
, lie was
Jipniiy (iT
le native
' l^eavor
itro, and
camp (HI
10 was a I
on river,
le IJaron
I'CcsHor in
Britain
uck ; tlio
ecs ; atid
lath eon-
lis Royal
ial leyis-
irt in tin.'
orry laid
od to the
Plessis,
ars ; ami
'd in the
r, \'i,nor,
Durand
u; V'ohi-
lic liatli,
n. The
ptir/'aif
\ repre-

sonting a battle in the woods. On the trunk of a tree, reversed is writ-
fen: " Chatean-nny, 'JOth October, lSl;{." A serpent bi(;n^' his tail,
symbol of immortality, encircles the nietlal. With respect to the Eng-
lish medal of (Miateau^uay, l^rltatinia is s<:en bearing; a palm in hand,
crowning a lion lying at her feet. On the reverse is engraved Ciia-
teauguay, De Salaberry would have become a great officer ol light
troops, and even in the armies of ]iouaparto would certainly have attained
the first rank."

The Montreal ( >\i:.ct (r oi"-ird November, I8l;>, contains an interesting
account of this battle, furnished by an eye-witness (Adjutant iMichacl
►Sullivan, afterwards /Judge Sullivan). The want of space permits us
merely to clip the following extract : —

" It is highly gratitying to add, that the ."KM) men engaged, together
with their brave commander, were all Canadians, with th i exception of
the gallant Captain I'^erguson, three of his company and three i>f1iccrs
belonging toother corps. Let this be told wherever mentioti is made of
the battle of (!!hatcauguay, and prejudice must hiile its head, atid the
murmurs of malevolence will be liushed into confusion.

'* To the oHicers and troops engaged on tb.is menioraliK* day the
the highest credit is certainly due. (laptain Ferguson, of tin; Canadian
liight Jnfantry, and the two Captains I)uchesnay, of the Voltigeurs,
highly distinguished themselves in the command of their respective
companies, and by their skill and coolness in executing several dillicult
movements with as much precision as at a Held day. Nothing could
exceed the gallantry of ('aptain Daly, of the militia flank brigade, who
literally led his company into the midst of the cncaiy. Equally conspi-
cuous for tlio spirit and bravery throughout this arduous contest were
Captains Lamothe, of the Indian departnvent, Lieut, Pinguet, of the
('auadian Light Inl'antiy, Lieut, and Adjutant Tlcbdcn, of the \'oltigeurs,
and liicut. Schiller, of Captain Daly's company, Lieut, (iuy and Ijieut.
Wm. Johnson, of the V^oltigeurs, who formed their retiring picqucst
in the line of defence, and behaved with great spirit during the engage-
ment. Captain Kcuyer, of the Voltigeurs, and Lieut. Powell, of Captain
Levesquc's company, deserve (rrcat credit for their exertions in securing
the prisoners in the wood at an imminent risk. Captains Langtin and
Ilunan of the Beauharnois militia behaved remarkably well. The former

152

BATTLE i'lELUrf Oi' CANADA.

knelt down with hU men at tlu! boLiuniu^ of the actiou, jsaul a short
prayer in iii.s own j^'ooil way, and told them that uow thaj hud done thcii
dnitf fi> their God, ha (\vpccted thc>/ icoiud also do their duti/ to their Icinj.

'Hiouis Lanjj^hide, Noel Auuancc and Bartlet jjyon.s of the Fndian De-
jiartnieut were in the action of the 'JGth and the affair of the liSth.
Their conduct throughout was hij',hly meritorious. Nor shall I omit the
names of privates Vincent, Pellctior, Vervais, Dubois and Carron of the
Voltigcurs, some of whom actually swam across the river and made
prisoners those who refused to surrender.

"With respect to Lieut.-Ool. De Salaberry, the most selfish must admit
that liis important services entitle him to the thanks and j^ratitude of
Jiis country.

" It io dillicult which to iidmire the more, his personal courage as an
individual, or his skill and talents as a commander. We lind him loni;
before the buttle displ )ing tiie greatest judgment in the choice of liis
position, and strengthening it when chosen, witu every means within the
reach of his ingenuity. We see him in the heat of action embracing
every object with a comprehensive view, defending every point, and pro-
viding for every contingency; but his merit and tluit of his little army
become more conspicuous when we rellect upon the critical nature of the
times at the eve of this splendid victory. Affairs in our sister province
had assumed a gloomy aspect; despondency had already begun to spread
its baneful effects. W^e had been even told from high authority, that
'the period was in all probability last approaching when it was to be
Jina/h/ determined whether the arrogant expectations of the enemy were
to be realized, by his successful invasion of thi.^ province, or whether he
was to meet with defeat and disgrace in the attempt.' That period is
now past; the friends of their country will look back to it with grat-jful
recollection ; the face of things is changed. The enemy, to use a favorite
phrase, did indeed 'pollute our soil;' but he was repulsed oy Canadians
not the one-twentieth part of his force, led on by a Canadian com-
mander."*

* For this interesting extract, and other valuablo documents', I ain indoblcd to Lieut.-
(.-(.1. tlio llun, Jiuhorcan Duchcsnay, L.C., whoso f';ither and uncle played such an
honorable part in this engagement. — (J. M- L.)

\^i

REMINISCENCES — CLOSE OF THE 'VAR.

158

id H sliorr
(lo»r their
'hrir Icuiij.
M<li:in Do-
thc 28th.
\ omit the
roll of the
lud made

lust admit
atitude ol'

•age as ail

him lout;

if'C of Ills

kvithiu the

.'mbracing

;, and pvo-

ttlc army

ure of the

• province

to spread

jriiy, that

ras to be

cmy wore

h ether he

period is

li grateful

a favorite

O'auadians

lian corn-

id to Liuut.
od such an

liUmimscciucs of 1812 aiib l$i:i— ^lose of tl)e iDai,'

The great disturber of Europe, Napoleon the 1st, having been scut a
prisoner to the Esland of Elba, European nations enjoyed a briol' period
of tranquility, which enabled (ircat Britain to send a portion of her
veteran army, under the illui^trious Wellington, to prosecute the war
with America — the brunt of wliich had, for two years, been nobly sus-
laincd by tlie militia of ('anada, assii^tcd by the mere handful of regulars
which had been loft in the country.

The Americans soon perceived lliat they had nothing to gain, but
everything to lose, by prolonging the struggle, and lield out the olive
branch, the very name of Wellington having filled their llcart^• with
terror.

Tcacc waw accordingly concluded, wliieh we fervently l.ope may never
il^ain bo interrupted by the unhallowed jimbitiou and tliirst of territory
of our " American Cousins."

My purpose being now gained, tliat of subtaiuing the character of our
militia in the day of trial, T will therefovo dismiss them to their homes,
though they were found present for duly at Chippawa, at Lundy's Lane,
and at Fort Erie, which actions I may have an opportunity of detailing to
you hereafter. In corroboration of the account 1 have written of tlie
character of our militia in 1812, 1 would beg leave to ofler the words of
({eneral IJrock to tlie magistrates of the Niagara district, after the
capture of Detroit, and also the resolutions of the lion. W. II. Mcrritt,
which passed the Legislature unanimously for awarding the medals to
the militia of 1812.

When General Brock returned to the Ningara frontier, after the capture
of Detroit, the magistrates of this district presented him with a com-
plimentary address.
The gallant general replied most emphatically, " That had not Western

* Coventry Manusuripts.

.«■ ' 'I

■>ui

.\V

T5ATTLK FTK!.b>^ oF rANAT)A.

Caiiad.'i roM' a- -oik man in (lotbiici: dl' tlicir rij:,ht8, and in .suppoit (tf the
(lon.stitiilioii of Hrituiu, his hamls wouM havo been m if tied, bein^'
without the aid of Ikiti.sh troopt^, who were ueaily all engaged at this
rime in the European war."

The following rosolutioii.s were projiosed by the lion. Mr. Morritt in
the House of Assembly, on Weduesday, September Sth, lsr)2: —

"That an humble Address be presented to Her I\Iajesty, represent inu
the disappointment of many of the iidiabitnnts of this provinee, when
they discovered that the hardest fought battles in Canada were not in-
1 laded in the General Order of the first of June, 1817, which awarded
medals for certain actions.

"That the said General Order confined the distribution of medals tt»
those actions only where the general or superior officers of the several
armies or corps engaged had already received that distinction ; cunse-
(juently, many of the battles of this country do not come under the rule
thus laid down ; and this House has reason to believe it will not be de-
parted IVom in behalf of the Canadian IMilitia, without a strong repre-
sentation from this House.

'• That Her Majesty's attention be accordingly called to the dis-
tinguished services of the (Canadian Militia during the late war with tlie
i'nited States, with the view of removing the inviduous distinctions
caused by the distribution of these medals — the Canadian Militia having
acquired, in common with the]>ritish troops, a reputation for loyalty and
gallantry of which their posterity may feel justly proud.

'•That Her Majesty be therefore prayed to confer a similar medal to
that awaided i'ov the battles of Detroit, of Chrysler's Farm and Chateau-
guay, on the now few survivors who successfully defended their country
in the various other battles fought during the war,

"That His Majesty King George tlie Thiid ordered that the word
' Nia(;aiia' should be inscribed on the colors of the Glengary J.ight
[nfautry and the incovporatcd miliiia of Canada, i\n' their gallant conduct
on that frontier; and if they deserved such marked distinction, they
'iurely deserve a medal to coni'iicmoratc it."

REMINlSCENCEf? — CLOSE OF TIIK WAR.

ir,5

)i t of the
(1 at this

ilorritt ill

ri'rionlint;
ICC, whoM
e not in-
i awai'dcil

iiiedals to
10 several
II ; conse-
r tlio rul«'
lot be do-
ng rcj»ro-

tlic di.s-

with till'

stiuotions

;ia having

•yalty and

modal to

(Jhatrau-

i' country

An Addrc88, embodying tlic foregoing resolutions, was accordingly
jirescnted and read, when the Hon. Mr. Matliioson said ho had much
jdcasurc in seconding this Address, and lio sincerely hojiod that tin-
Imperial Government, at this late period, would acknowledge the scrvice^»
rendered by the Militia, by granting some allowance to the very few re-
maining otiicers of tlie war of IS 12.

These men shared the tiaiigors and privations of that period.

IFe had no pecuniary inhsrest in this Aildnss, as ho then belonged to
the regular army, and still enjoyed half-pay ; but when he remombeied
that these men left their farms and profession to defend the country
against foreign agression, and risk thcur lives to continue the connection
with the mother country, lie did liope they would merit consideration
and liave some remuneration made to them.

When he remembered that the population of I'pper CJanada in \x\'Jl
was only between 70,000 and 7.3,000 souls, ol' which there were ab<jut
15,000 men for actual service, and these, in addition to two or three
weak regiments, to defend a frontier of nearly a thousand miles I

kSuch an extent of country to be defended, and successfully defoiuled,
against the whole force of the United States, he should say such de-
fenders should be amply rewarded.

In those days he had seen women ploughing tlie liclds, and their
daughters harrowing after them, when their husbands and l)rothers
were on the frontier defending the country.

The men of those days were not annexationists; they opposed it to
the death ; nor had they any desire to (juote what was done in the .State
of New York, or any other State of the American f^nion.

They had the privilege of making their own law.>^, and were con-
ten tctl.

(Signed) A Lincoln Militia Fla.nkkk of ISI-'.

the word
iry J.ight
it conduct
ion, thi'V

15«

UATTI.I'] FIELDH OF CANADA.

Battle o: (jll)ippauia,'

July, 1814.

" The camprJi^n of ISM was opened on the Niagara frontier by Gea.
Brown of tlie Anierio.au annv, who crossed from Black Rock to Fort
Erie, July .'ird, with twit division.s of his army, computed at not le.«H
than 500U men.

After driving in a picket of the j/arrison of Fort Erie, and that fort
being in a defenceless .state, both from tlic nature of the fortification
and smallness of its jrarrison, under Major Buck of the King's, it ^as at
once surrendered

General .llyaH's despatch to General l)rummond,of July, '81 ". states:
" I was made acquainted with the lauding of the American army at
Fort Erie, on the morning of the Mrd instant, at S o'clock, aiid orders
were given lor thi; inuutidiuto advance on ('hippawa of five comjctnies of
the Iloyal .Scots, under G 'iioral (iordon, to reinforce the garrison ol'
that place.

" Colonel Pearson had moved ftjrward from thence wi . tlu^ light
company of the 100th ilegiment, some militia and Indians.

" The I'oUowing morning, a bodv ol" Mie enemy's troops were reported
to be advaju-ing by the river.

'' I moved to reconnoitre, and fui,.i(l them in a considerable forci
with cavalry, artillery and riilemen.

" Having been joined by the King's on the inurning (»!' tliii '"tth, 1
made my dispositions ibr an attack at 4 o'clock in the alternoon.

" The light companies of the Iloyal 8cots and 100th Regiment, with
the 2nd Lincoln Militia, under (^olonel Tliomas Dickson, formed the
advance, under Colonel Pearson.

** The Indian warriors were posted on our right flank, in the woodi ;
the troops ijioved in three columns, the King's regiment being in ad
van CO.

" The enemy had taken up a position with his right resting on some
building.s and orchards, close on tha Niagara river, and strongly sup-

* Coventry M!inuscriiit.«.

f^^

CATTLE OF CIIIPPAWA.

157

ir by Gen.,
k to Fort
t not IcsH

that fort
ivtiticatiou
, it nas ill

I '.states:
1 army at
iul orders
iijcitiies of
iirrison ol'

tlu! lipiit

-' reported

\)\ii f'nrec

li(^ Sth, I

lent, with
irnuMl the

10 wood J ;
nv: in ad-

on SUUK!

n-ly ,su})-

ported by hi.s artillery; bin left towardd the woods, haviuu; a considerable
number of riflemen and Indians in front of it.

" Our militia and Indians were shortly engaged with them.

" The euemy'.s riflemen and Indians ut lirst chocked their advance,
but the light troops being brought to their support, they succeeded,
after a short contest, in destroying them in handsome style.

" I immediately moved up the King's Kcgimcnt to the right, when
the Ro3'al Scots and lOOth were directed to charge the enemy, and they
advanced in the most gallant manner under a destruetivc Are.

'' \ am sorry to say, however, that in this attempt they sufiVred st>
severely, 1 was obliged to withdraw them, linding their I'urtiicr efl'orts
against the superior numbers of the enemy would be unavailing.

" Colonel (iordon of the Royal Scots, and most of tlic oflicers of the
100th, were wounded.

" r directed a retreat to be made upon Chippawa, which was conducted
with great order and regularity, covered by the King's uiidi'r 31aj. Kvans,
and the light troop under Colonel iN^arson, and \ havi^ the pleasure ul'
saying not a single prisoner fell into tli(5 hands of our eiiomy, excepting
those disabled from wounds.

" Some of the prisoners taken report the enemy's lorci.' to have been
G,000, with a numerous train of artillery; our force, ii» rogdiar troops,
not more than l,r)0O, exclusive of tin; militia and Indians, of which last
description there was not above oOO.

"Our forces retired to Fort (Jeorgc, and General Urowii cro-s-sed the
Chippawa and advanced to i^iieenston, where he remained without
striking a blow, from the 8th to the 23rd "July, unless an occasional de-
monstration before Fort Ceorge and the unprovoked conflagration cf the
village of St. David's.

"The gallant General llyall, on learning that General Hrown had
retreated across the Chippawa, immediately pushed forward his forces
to Lundy's Lane, being reinforced by the 10;}rd llegimcnt, under
Colonel Scott, within two and a half miles of the enenjy's pi»,-«ition, and
tlnn-e await to be reinforced by General Drumnumd.

" In the battle of (.^hippawa, Captains J ihu Howe and <j!corge Turney,
and Privates Stephen Perr and Timothy Skinner, of tlu; lind l..incoln
Militia, were killed; and ('olonel Dickson, commanding the 2nd Lincoln,
Captain J^ewis Clement, and several otiiers, wen; wuundtid."

■f4

158

BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

Uattlc of £unbij'0 Cane,*

25Tn Jri.Y. 1814.

No sooner had General Drununond heard llic result ol' the l^attle <«!'
Chippawa, than lie hastened from Kingston to Toronto, which plain; he
left on the evening ol' the liath July, and arrived at Niagara the next
morning.

The greatest energy seems to have characterized (General Drummond's
movements, and we immediately find him advancing with about v<0(J men
to the support of dencral Kyall.

As soon as he arrived at l^iundy's jiane, he I'ound the whole iu position,
and was soon after attacked by the enemy.

In the commencement of the action, the intrepid Ryall was severely
wounded, and was intercepted iu passing to the r(!ar by a party of the
enemy's cavalry, and taken prisoner.

Thiis Ccucral Drummond was deprived of an officer whose liravory,
zea and activity had always been conspicuous.

In the centre, repeated and determined attacks were made by the
49th, and detachments of the King's Royals and light com))anies of the
41st with the most perfect steadiness and bravery : and thereby the
enemy was constantly repulsed with very heavy loss.

In so determined a manner was their attacks directed against our guns,
that our artillerymen were bayonetted by the enemy in the act of wadding,
and the mu/.zles of the enemy's guns were sometimes within a few yards
of ours.

Our troops .having been pushed back for a few moments, iti tlw dark-
ness of the night, some of our guns remained a few minutes ii the
enemy's hand ; they were, however, not only (iiiiokly recovered, but two
|)ieces — a si.x-pounder and ari]-inch I[owit/.(!r, which the enemy had had
brought up, were ciptured, together with several tum))rels.

About nine o'clock — the action having eommeneed at six o'clock— theri;
was u short intermission of firing, during whieh it appears the enemy

* Coventry Mrmiseriias.

■'-f

BATTLE op LUNDY S LANE.

l.V.>

battle mI'
jilacc lit-
flio next

uuinoud's
800 men

1 pnsitiou,

.so very 1^'
\y of the

Iji'averv,

ii.' by the
ies of the
ereby tht;

our ^uns,
wadding',
few yards

the dark-
es u the
I, but two
(' had had

ck— there
M' itiieiii)

were employed iu bringing up thciir whole foree, ami shortly after renewed
the attack with fresh troopt;, but were repulsed with equal gallantry and
success.

The enemy's efforts to carry the hill were determined, and continued
till about midnight, wlicn, findinu; that he had sutTered severely from the
superior discipline and steadiness of J I is Majesty's troojis, lie gave up
the contest, and retired with great precipitation to his camp beyond the
(!!bippawa.

On the following day the Americans burnt the bridge, water mill, and
also the bridge at the mouth of tlie Chippawa, ali.iiidoiiing their camp,
throwing tlie greater part of their baggage, ("inqi c((uipage and jiovi-
-■iions into the rapids of the Niagara, and retreated in great disorder by
the river roud towards Fort Erie,

Our light troops, cavalry and Indian allies, wrw sent in pursuit to
harrass the retreat, which was continued until the cnnny icichcd their
own shores.

The loss sustained by the encniy in this severe; action was about 1500
men, including several hundred prisoners. Their two principal comman-
ders, Scott and IJrown, were wounded.

The number of trooj)s under General l>rummoiid, lor the first three
hours, did not exceed IGOO, and the addition during the action of the
lOJJrd regiment did not increase it beyond 280(1 men of every descrip-
tions, including militia and Indians.

Of the battles that were fought during the war, none ean eomparo
with that of Lundy's Lane for the obstinacy aial courage exhibited on
both sides.

At Chippawa, the contest was decided principally by musketry, but it
was at Lundy's Jjane the Americans lirst crossed bayonets with Ih'itish
troops, and the issue of that contest taught them, what-'ver tlu'ir nioral
courage, their physical inferiority to British disciplined troops.

If any army was ever fairly beaten by another, tlu; batth; of Luiidy's
Lane furnishes such an instance, if remaining in possession of the Held
of battle, whilst the enemy retreats precipitately, is to lie eonsid(u'ed a
proof of victory.

The writer was made a Dvisoner during the night of the engagement,
but regaiiuHl the British lines by finding his way through the enemy's
nmsses belbre they retreated.

>-f '1

160

BATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

SicQc of fort (^rie, 181^.

]■(.'

Geneual Drummonu's despatch to His Excellency the Governor
General, Sir Geo. Prevost, dated Camp before Fort Erie, August 15th,
IS 14, contains the followinj.', : —

Having reason to believe that a sufficient inipres&i. .: had been pro-
duced on the works betbro Fort Eric, by the firing of the battery T open
cd on the morning of the 14th inst., and by which the stooe buildings
were much injured and tlic outside of the parapets and embrasures much
shattered, T determined on assaulting the place, and accordingly made
the necessary arrangements for attacking by a heavy - ulunm, dircctcij
to the entrenchments on the side of Snake Hill, and by two columns to
advance from the battery to assault the fort and intrenchments on this
side.

The tioops destined tu attack by Snake Hill marched at five o'clock
yesterday afternoon, in order to gain the vicinity of that place of attack
in sufficient time.

It is with the deej)est rogiet I have to report the failure of both at-
tacks, which were nrde two hours before daylight this morning.

A copy of Col. Fischer's report is licrewith enclosed, which will en-
able Your Excellency to form a pretty correct judgment of the cause of
the failure of his attack. Had the head of the column, which entered
the place without difficulty, been supported, the enemy must liave fled
Crom their works, whicli were all taken, as contemplated in the iustruc-
tions, or have surrendered.

The attack on the fort and entrenchments leading from it to the lake,
was made at the same moment by two coluiuu^', one under Col. Drum-
mond of the 104th Regiment, consisting of the fl-ink companies of the
list and 104th, and a body of seamen under Capt, Pobbs, of the Royal
Navy; the other under Col. Scott of the lOord Regiment, and two com-
panies of the Royals.

These coluriins advanced to the attack as soon as the fire from Colonel
Fischer's column was heard, and succeeded, after a desperate resistance,
in making a lodgement in the fort through the embrasures of the bastion,

Governor
ust 15th,

)ecn pro-
y 1 opcu
buildings
res much
itily made
, (liroctoil
lumns to
ts on tliis

jc o'clock
of attack

f both at-

1 will en-
cause ui'
■iitcrcd

lave fled
iu.struc-

thc lake,
Druni-
s of the
le Royal
two coui-

Colonel

si stance,

bastion,

SIEGE OF FORT ERIE.

IGl

and captured the guns, which they had actually turned against the
enemy, who still maintained the stone building, when, most unfortu-
nately, some ammunition which had been placed under the platform
caught fire from the firing of the guns in the rear, and a most tremen-
duous explosion followed, by which almost all the troops that hud enter-
ed the place were dreadfully mangled.

Panic instantly communicated to the troops, who could not be per-
suaded that the explosion was accidental, and the enemy at the sani •
time pushing forward and commencing a heavy fire of musketry, the
fort was abandoned, and our forces retreated towards the battery.

I immediately pushed forward the first battalion of Royals to su[)[)or(
and cover the retreat, a service which that valuable corps executed wiih
perfect steadiness. Our loss has been severe in killed and wounded ;
and, I regret to say, all those returned " missing" )nay be considered
wounded or killed by the explosion, and left in the hands of the enemy.

The failure of these most important attacks had been occasioned by
circumstances which may be considered as almosi: justifying the mo-
mentary panic they produced, and which introduced a degree of confusion
in the extreme darkness of the night that the utmost elforts of Ihe olii
cers were inefficient in removing.

The officers appear to have behaved with the most perfect coolness
and bravery, nor could anything exceed the steadiness and good order
when the advance of Col. Fischer's brigade was made, until emerging
from a thick cover, it found itself stopped suddenly l)y an al^atti^ and
within a heavy fire of musketry and guns behind a lorn; ...ble entrencli-

ment.

With reo-ard to the centre and left columns under Colonels Scott and
Drummond, the determined gallantry of both officers and men, until tlw
unfortunate explosion took place, could not bo surpassed.

i\A. Scott and Colonel Drummond were unfortunately l.'lle<l ; evers
ulfieer of those two columns were either killed or wounded ]>y the enemy's
lire or the explosion.

The result of the attack on Fort Erie wms even more disastrous in its
-oiisequences to the British, iIumi had hcou the atliiek on Toronto t.. the

AnuM'icanH.

hi this atVair '.KM) meti were killrd ;ind \V(Uindr.l .oi Ww I'.ritish side ;

r 'W

.< I

162

CATTLE FIELDS OF CANADA.

and so severe was the blow that had a less e;?ergetic commander than
Drummond been in Upper Canada, or hnd a more able than General Brown
commanded the Americans, the issue miglit have been of a most disas-
trous character.

As it was, whether from Brown's wounds or incapacity, the blow was
not followed up, and sufticiont time w:is aflorded to (ien. Drummond to
recover from the loss he had sustained.

(Siy-iHid)

A TiTxroLN Klavkeu of JSrj.

(ill)c (Uapturc of fort NiaQ.ua

BY ONE WHO SERVED IX 1814.

This ibrt was one of much importance to the Americans in the war of
1812 ; as, standing on the right bank of the river where it falls into
Ijake Ontario, it commanded the entrance to the river, and served as a
depot to supply tlie army.

It was very strong for a fort in that part of the country ; for, its
niceinte, besides being of regular construction, and mounting many guns,
including three stone towers at the west, south-west, and south angles of
the fort, in addition to a long and strong stone barrack on the north
face, — the whole having flat roofs, mounted with cannon.

It was accordingly, in December, 1814, determined to attempt its
capture, and the attempt was made on the night of the IDth of that
month.

'I'he force destined for that purpose was composed of the lOOth re^t.,
the Grenadier company of the 1st, the flank companies of the 41st, and
some artillerymen ; the whole under comiaand of Colonel Murray, of
the 100th, — a better man than whom could not have been chosen.

IJateaux having been secrctely conveyed overland from Burlington
to a point about four miles up the British side of the river, the troops
silently left their cantonments about 10 o'clock at night, concealed (heir
march under cdvor ol tlic iidjaceiit wnod, ('nd);irk<'d witinnit noisf, and

del" than
al Brown
ost disas-

blow was
nnond to

l.Sll>.

CAl'TriiK OK ruilT NiAtJAUA.

inn

lie war of
'alls into
'vcd as a

; for, its
,ny guns,
[luglos of
ic north

einpt its
1 of that

th ro.^t.,

Ust, and
array, of
;n.

irlington
le troops
led (hi'ir
>is(i, and

landed iindisfovcrca on the opposite side, wlionco tlioy descended
eautiously towards tlie fort.

There lay, between them and their de.stination, a small hamlet, called
(^if 1 recollect aright) Yoingston, about two miles, or sommvliat let:-^
from tlie fort, to which it served as an outpost, where it was known lay
a detachment from the garrison.

It was necessary to surprise it, without alarming the ibrt.

A chosen body was therefore sent in advance, while tli(^ main l»udy
Ibllowed at a conveiuent distance.

AVhen arrived near it, some of the former crept up stealthily to a
window and pee})ed in.

They saw a party of ulheers at cards. " What aiv frumps r" asked
one of them. " Jiayonets are trumj)sl" answered one of the peepers,
breaking in the window and entering with his companions, while the
remainder of the detachment rapidly surrounded the house, rushed into
it, and bayouettod the whole of its inmates, that none might escape to
alarm the fort.

Not a shot was lired on either side; American sentries having retired
from their posts into the building, to shelter themselves from the cold
there was no time for resistance.

The assailants performed their work of human destruction in grim
silence, — a lamentable but necessary act.

llesuming their march, they drew near the fort; not a word is spoken ;
the muskets are carried squarely, that the bayonets may not clash ; the
ice crackles audibly under their tread, but the sound is ])orne to their
ear on the continuous gusts of a north-east wind — when lo I the charger
of Colonel Hamilton (which, having lost a log in Holland, could not
march and would not stay behind) neighs loudly, and is answered by a
horse in a stable not far from the front gate.

What a moment ! The force instantly halts, expecting to hear tlio
alarm suddenly given — the sound of drums and bugle, and oi' the
garrison rushing to their posts. But all remains quiet. The sentries,
crouching in their boxes, take the neigh of the charger for that of some
horse strayed from its farm house or from the neighboring hamlet ; they
feel no inclination — leaving their shelter — to explore, shiveringlyj the
thick darkness of a aiQOtjless wintry night.

r';'

V\[

UATl'LE l'Ii:i.l>;> OF (.'ANAKA.

It cjiii 1)0 iiolhiii^'. The approaching Ibrcc, drawing' rreci breath, puts
itseU' ill n:otion, tluilUcs hastily auil .siloutly iorward, aud the crisis is

near

The " ii^jlurn hope" is cDimiiaiiclcil by Jiicut. Dawson, ami led by
Sci\i:;c'ant Andrew Spearman.

U halts at about tlie distance of twenty-live yard.s from the '^nU'
I'vcr whicli the scr,';eant (a tall, stalwart man) strides, and, straiiLiie to
,-ay, linds tin; wicket open I

The sentry, hearing some one approaeh, issues IVoni liis box, protrudes
the upper part ol' his body through the doorway, and asks : " Who eomes
I here?"

SpciiUKiii, imitating the m ' ' 'ig of the Americans, answers:

'• 1 guess, Mr., [ come from Vo;;n:..-i, "," (juietly introducing, at the
same time, his left shoulder through the h/ 'opened wiekct.

The sentry stares at bim — jierceives, by hi.? aecoutrcments and by his
.ictiiin, that he is an inemy — turns rouiul and runs inwards, exclaiming :
" The l>rit — I " ]{•: says no mi>re : S[>carmau's bayonet is in bis side !

The sergeant reluiiis and calls, in a subdued tone, the *' i'orhtrn hope,"
which swiftly outers, Ibllowod by tlic column. The light company ol'
I he HtOtli makes a rapi<I circuit and escalades. The whole attacking
I'orci' has entered.

Had till- assailants been discreetly silent, they might liave cireetcd the
•apture v.ithout loss to themselves or to the enemy; but their blood
I'cing up, llu>y uttered a terrific yell, which roused the sleeping garrison
and occasioned some resistance.

A cannon, turned iuv.'ards, was lired from the roof of the south-western
tower, I'dllowcd by a slight ]>attering of musketry. To prevent repetition
of the fi.rmor, I/ieut. Xolan, of the 100th, a man of great personal
strength and ardent courage, rushed into the lower part of the tower,
regardless of what ibes he might liiid there, aud by wliat frieuds he
might be f dlowed.

In est morning his body was I'ound, the breast pierced by a deep bay-
onet wound, at the bottom of which were a musket ball aud three buck-
shot.

l>ut he had not died unavnu-cd.

CAI'TUKK «.!•' rOllT NlAdAUA.

16.

Olio Aint'iUMii l;iy at his loot, whom ho killod hy a iii>tol hhot ; while
tho clovon .'^kulls of two others attcstod his trcmeiiJous strciij;;th ol" arm
and dosporato vahir.

Somo of his laou, ho'vcvor, had soon liiiii jiluiij^o into Hu- darkness,
t'olKiwcd hiui, aud althouL^h too hitc to savo him, had taken tho tower,
>h»yinj; tho del'endors to a man.

This rosistanoo exasperated our men, who rushed wiMly ahout into
every buihlin<^', bayonettiii^' every Amerieaii (hey met.

The carnaj;e, indeed, would liave amounted to exterminatiitii, if the
IJritish olHcorji had not zealously exerted themselves in the eausc of
tiierey.

liieut. Murray, ol' the IdOth, particularly distinuuishe<l hiniseif l.y
liis humtine endeavors; for lindiniz; that tho tide of fugitives set towards
the southern anj^le, where a sally-port liad boon hurst in, he made thorn
lie down, protected them, and thus saved many, in half an hou Ju
fort was iully eaptured : all was quiet, aud the panting vietor.s sou' ''t t'
drown their exoitemcut iu sloop.

Thus fell i"'ort Nia!.:;ar;>, with such uuoxpooted i'ueility as i^av; li. io
a re[iort that treason had oontributcd to its capture.

Indeed, it was said that its eommaudcr, Capt. lioonard, had i u lyed
it by j^ivini;' to the British general on that part of the frontier the
necessary infornuitiou and instructions aud the eountersigu, by moans of
which countersign, and not in the manner above stated, Spearman, it
was said, had obtained admission.

t'ertain it is, that Jiconard, on the night of the assault, hail left tho
lort and slept at his farm about four miles distant, and that next morn-
ing, he rode into the fort in apparent ignorance of its capture, — an
ignorance not easily reconciloable with the tiring, ospooially of the
cannon, on the preceding night. The short contest cost the British
(he gallant Nolan and five men killed, aud two oflicers and three men
wounded.

The Americans lost 05 men and two officers killed and twelve men
wounded.

In the fort were found several pieces of ordnance, of which twenty-
seven were mounted on the works, besides small ariU'^, anjmunition,
clothing and commissariat stores in abundance.

ifir;

HATTLK FIELDS OK CANAltA.

It \v;i.s known tli.-it :i hw^o sum in spcc-io was in the fort ut tlio. time ol'
the assault ; but, when matters had somewhat cahncd down, and exami-
nation of the eaptured stores was Ibrmally made, no specie was to be
Ibund !

It was said in a whisper, which indiuuiilion al'tcrwards swelled itito
bttlil and loud assertion, that after the resistance had been subdued,
three officers of the 100th had made their way into tlie maj^azine, where
the specie lay in kcjj;s, ^ot it rolled out of the building and of the fort
down to the water's, edge, had it put on board a bateau and conveyed
to the opposite shore, \vhcre it was conveyed inland and secreted in a
friend's liousc, saying to the men employed tliat it was amnuiuition.

The meu, however, were not so credulous as to believe that, at such a
moment, officers, detaching themselves from the force to which they
belonged, would secure ammunition that would not lit the IJritisli
musket.

It was ever afterwards coulidcutly believed that those officers had
embezzled tlie specie : ar imputation that their increased expenditure
seemed in some degree to justify.

No iuijuiry, liowever, was made (which led to further suspicions), and
the prize money, which had been expected to be large, was disappoint-
ingly small.

The next morning, the ground within tha fort was strewed with arms
rr.d elotliing, and with pieces ul harness that had been stored for the
American artillery.

A rifle was to be had for a trifle, and a greatcoat for little or nothing.
As to the pieces of leather, two utilitarian officers of the 100th had it
carried into their rooms, where they set some saddlers to work, and
made them manufacture sets of harness, which they sold to Canadian
farmers at a very handsome profit.

On the departure of the snow, the fort assumed a new appearance,
our bricklayers facing the ramparts, within and without, with sods of
the size of bricks, giving them a very neat and regular aspect, which
brightened when the ensuing spring covered with verdure.

Lieutenant Dawson was deservedly promoted to a company, while
Spearman remained a serjeant, and never, as far as we knov, received
any reward for his gallantry but the esteem of his officers and comrades.

CAPTURE OF FORT NIAGARA.

1G7

tlio. tiiiu' ul'
and cxaiui-
) was ^o bo

wcUocl into
1 suliduod,
«iac, whero
of the tort
J conveyed
icretcd iu u
luition.
;, at such a
vliich tlicy
ho Ih'itihh

If ho bo still alive, he lives in Richmond, U.C., where the 100th,
after ilH disbandmcnt in 1818, rei .v^ed lands and settled.

Last suiumer, being upwards of seventy years of age, he walked fort
miles to where he supposed me to be, to obtain my certiacato as to his
services, to support his petition to the Commander-in-Chief for a small
l-onsion which mij^ht enable him to exist, now that he i-^ past labour.

I was not there, but my son was, who gave him a cordial reception,
rest and refreshmout, and promised to procure from me the certificate.

I have given it, conscientiously declaring that Andrew Hpearmau,
then Serjeant in the 100th Regiment and leading the forlorn-hope, was
the person to whose tact and daring was principally due the success oi"
the Jiritish force in " the capture of Tort Niagara."

(Signed)

.1<»IIN Cl.AHK.'

(iKcers had
xpcudituro

cions), and
lisappoint-

with arms
ed for the

)r nothing.

)th had it

work, and

Canadian

ppearauco,
th sods of
eet, which

iny, while

I', received

comrades.

* Tlio accounts of tlicso lato battlos are taken from tlio I'lirliiimentHrjr Marmsoiipt.'
oiilleeted by Mr. (J. Coventry. (!olonel John Clark, who lately died, was well and favor
ably known all over C'aniula, for his iitaunch (upiiort of Briti^iU inslitiilioii;*.

(168)

list of ,$!iliu(iii aiib Stroiit |Ui)trs.'

rpTIE foUowinp; is a list of' tlie principal Hrilmon and trout rivers (»l
■^ Canada and Now JJriinswick, with tlie distances of tlio f'ormor from
Quebec, and such information as could Ijo obtained concerning their
character and condition. Those marked in ifalics have been leased to
private individuals, but the others arc open to all comers.

The Jacques Carlicr ia the only j" rivor near (iucboe which, at the
present time, afibrds any salmon.

I'rom Quebec to Murray liay is 78 miles.

Here there is u river that furnishes a few sahuon and many line trout.

I'Vom ]Murray ]Jay to the Saguenay is M — 120

There is excellent sea trout fishing in the Saguenny, and its tributary,
tho ;SV. Marguerite, is a superior salmon river,

llivcr Escoumain 21]

]Jetwecn it and the Saguenay are tho two Ti<'r<jei'ounr)i,^\v\ both fiirnisli
a few salmon and many trout.

Portueuf : 2(i

Plenty of trout and salmon.

Sanlt au Cochon .... . !)

rmpassable for salmon, but allbrding excellont trout fi.^^hing at its mouth

La Vol 2

Superior salmon and trout river.

liersemis miles 24 — S4

Affording in its tributaries many fine salmon ; b<>tween it and the \,\
Val are the Colombia, Plover and Blanche, all poor salmon streams.

* Troui '• 'J'he (iuine Finh of the Aorlli," by Uiirinvell.

I TliiTi; i:-' n]^'> tlu- :-!c. Anno. :i few milos from (incLi-c. a good .sultnoii str":im. Tlio
.Tac(|ues Curlier i.s owm-il by .J. K. HoMwell, Esq., of (iuclicc, ami Wiii. 11. Kerr, r-arris
tcr, of iMuiilre.il, two ki-eii .<iiorl.>iiiit'ii. tpwartln of 200 .salmon were oaiiKlit ln^'t >«"''
in the .fai'iiufs CarlitT. Sini'i; llio aliovo li.sl was i>n'i>an'(], <lio rnsli of .siirjrlsmcn
to Canada lias miicli iiicrcascil : ami iii'r.>'ons now wisliin;^ to Ica.-o salnion rivers have
to a|i]ily eiivlv in the '■(•.i-'ui to tin- < 'ninmi-^ioncr of Crown Tianil-' tor Canada. - [./. .!/• AJ

LIST OF SALMON ANI> TKOl'T UIVEUS.

109

lit rivers ol

oriuor from

rninir tlwir

lea.Hcil hi

k'li, at. tlie

les.

line trout.
120

(ribiilii';^,

0'>

111 I'lirnisli
it.s nioutii

..J

1 tllC lill

niiis.

am. Th.'
•rr, l?ariis
I hiHt, yeur

."^Iiort.-iiiu'ii
•ivL'r.4 liiive
[./..I/. A.J

Outurdcs , 11

iMaiiieouuijjaa Hi

Mistassiui 12

IJetscic :>

01' those rivciH I can olttaiii no satisractory inronnation.

(jodhmit 15—57—201

A colobratccl salmon river, one of the best in the province.

Trinittf 1')

(Jood salmon and trout lishin:^.

Little Trinity 10

Calumet .'}

Pentecost 14

Not a salmon river.

Ht. Margaret 3B

One of ti.'o best salmon and trout rivers.

Moisie 23—103—304

Pino large salmon are taken in this river, and it is widely celebrated.

Trout 7

Manitou ^5

fiood trout fishing; the salmon are obstructed by falls.

Sheldrake 10

Magpie 22

Furnishes a few salmon.

St. John T)

An admirable salmon stream.

Mingan 10—101 — 105

Probably the best river in the province lor salmon, and excellent for
trout.

llomaine *

An excellent stream for both salmon and trout.

"NVascheeshoo ^. 53

Pashasheboo 18

A few salmon.

Nabcsippi 7

Agwanus 5

A fair supply of salmon.
23

I M

f%^

170

i,IST OF SALMON AND TRoUT lUVKKS.

NatashqiiaP 11— 106— o7J

Salmon line an^l abundant.

Kcjrat'iika 23

Salmon impeded by falls.

iMusquano \->

AUnrd.s good ;<aln)on (i-sliini^.

"Washcccootai Vl

Oloinanosliccbo 11

Coacoacl)0 1^

Contains some salmon.

Etamamu -1

I'inc salmon lishcry.

Notaganiu 1 ^»

A lino trout stream.

Mccatfina.. 1

(!ood salmon fishing.

Ila! Ifa!

St. Au^ustini! <>

Allords many salmon.

Esquimaux l.l — MO— TUd

All cxeelloiit sidmon river, somewhat run down.

hi New Diuii-wick there arc salmon in tin; St. John and its tributari{S,
liuL tlu! bi'st of (In; lattiM', (ho Xashw.ialc. has been (dosed with an iiii-
[•i'ssable dam. I'rum St. Jnjin it is easy to take the ears to Shediae, and
n'nss til Friiiee lldward's Island, where tlu re is maj.:;nilieent trout fishing,
especially near Chailotte, and toleralde aecommodation ; or one can take
[lie Quebec steamer to J)alliur>t and lish llie Mpi.siquit, which is admit-
U'd til be tjio best river in the province, nr tliM llestigouehe and its tri-
butaries, an I'xeellcnt stream, but iiiiKJi iiijuii;d by spearing ; or the
('aseapediaes, which furnish snme .-^almon and innumerable grilse. The
.^liramiehi, between Shediae and Uathurst, is a line large stream.

The streanid in (!anada emptying into the St, liawrenec from the south
siiore, are hardly v.orth meiiiioiiiiig as salmon rivers, having been ruined
by mill-(lams, with the exception of those that empty into (laspi' JJasin,
but tliey all afford .'.uiierior trout fishing. I woidd here remark, that
>vhcrc the name trout is mentioned in couueetion witli the IJritish I'ro-

.7J
23

11
IS

'21

2<»

LIST OF SALMON AND TROUT RIVERS.

171

■^1

vinccs, the Sdlmo Truttn M<iri„n, or sea trout, is always intondod; ami
the salmon fisliiii-; spokoii of is tiy lishiriir. The riwrs that t-mpty into
(Jasp6 Basin, such as tlie Dartmouth, York ami St. John, arc loa'^.'.!, ;im
also the JJoiiavcnturc, that flows into the IJay of Chalours.

As explicit directions for travclliiii; throu-h the beni-htod r.'j^Mon^
called the JJritish rroviiieos the foUowiii'^' are '/iwu from ;, som.'wlnt
unwillinj^'ly extended experience :

Take the night train or any ri)u((> that will l.riii:3'yoii to \UMim h-^for.'
half-past seven a.m., for at that hour th(> I.D.it leave-* for St. .Ii.hii. m.i
St. J(djns, which id in Newfoundland, [(' you arc too late, you may
still, hy means of the ears, intercept the .sanio vesstl at Portland. This
hoat does not leave daily, but ^^'iierally advertises in the New VorL and
always in the Boston papers. It touidu-s at I'ortland, wh.'re you mav
take a steamboat on its arrival to ('alais, and proeccil thrncc by railroad
to the Seoodie lliver, where tlure is line white, not sea, trout fishing, or
stop at St. Andrew.s, wlnmee there is a railroad in proizress to Wooilstock.
on the St. John Kiver. The lioston boat reaijics St. .loiin in about
thirty-two hours, in- at. three o'doi-k ; ! he fare is d.x dollars ; the uie:ds
extra, and, conscciuently, extra good

ributarit?,
th an lin-
ed iae, and
ut lishing,
3 can take
I is adniit-
d its tri-
^ ; or the
I.SC. Th.
m.

the ?!outh
len ruined
ip6 JJasin,
lark, that
tish Pro-

(172)

.Salmon ,ifisj)ing in Canak.*

llj^K hiive much i)lciisuro in laying ])o('ore onr rouJers the lollowiuf;

' » account of tlie fi.shiiij; this season (IbOii), in some ol'therivors the pro-

}terty of the province, whicii incontostibly proves two things. J'^irst, thai

there is letter sport to be obtained, by amateur lishcrmeu, in Canada than

in any of the far-lamed rivers in Kurope ; and se( ondly, that the system of
protection adopted by tlie (Commissioner ol Crown Lands is not only in
creasinj^ th(> number ofthe sahiion, but enabling them lu attain to a huger
size. Never were our markets so abundantly ami so i-Iieaply furnished
with this iiolile ii^h as durin^■ the past summi'r :

HIVKIl ST. JOHN.

Salmon taken in the rivei- St. John, with the fly, durim; duly, iSi;:',,
by two rods — duly 1st, eleven lish wcr(' caught at 'I'rent Kapid and
Camp l*ool ; 2iul, sixteen at Tn.'nt and Caii.p ; .'Jrd, twenty-three, at
Seal and Trent; dth, sixtecui at Stal, Trent, and Kail; r>th, Sunday ;
ftth, twenty-two, at Seal, Trent, and Camp ; 7th, thirteen, at Seal and
I'all ; Sth, sixteen, at Trent, Seal, and Fall ; !tth, no fishing' ; lUth nine
teen, at Seal, Trent, and Camp; 1 1th, ei.^ht, at Trent and Seal ; lUlh,
Sunday; l.'Uli, fifteen, at Trent and Seal; 14th, six at Trent; Ifjth,
four, at 'I'rent and Seal; lOth, river very small; ITlh, {^owv. rod) two
lish, at Trent ; 18th, little fishing ; lOth, Sunday; 20th, three at Seal,
one rod, river risings 21st, three, at Seal, one rod, river rising ; 22nd
and 2r»rd, no fishing; 24th, ten, nt Falls and Trent; 2r)th, seven at
l-'alls and Seal ; 2Cth, Sunday ; 2r)tli, five, at Seal and Camp. Total
nundjor of fi.sb, 190; total weight, IV-^a) lbs,; average weight, 10 lb.

lUVER CiODHOUT.

Salmon taken with the fly by three rods, in the river (Jodbout, during
dune and duly, ISGd : — dune f<th, one fish was caught at Cayley's Stone ;

• Fi'im tlu' Qtirlrr ^/^ri iny (OiiycrnmtMil orf^nn.)

SALMON FISHING IN CANADA.

17:3

I'ollowiujr
s the j)ro-
''irst, tlia<
Kida than
system of
only in
) a hu';:,('r
lUrnisluMl

ly, ISC.:;,

apid and
til TOO, at
Sunday ;
Seal and
Utii nine
d; ll'lli,
t ; inth,
•od) (\V(i
at Seal,
-J 22nd
seven at
. T.^lal
lb.

', durinj^
H Stone ;

nth, one at Sandbank; 10th, two, at Bear and Camp ; llth, one, at
Camp; ISth, three, at Bear and (Jlassy ; Kith, two, at Fall, Bear ; 17th,
four, at Eddy, Belle, Cayley; 18th, ei-ht, at Classy, Belle; I'.ith, two,
ut Camp, Glassy; 20th, three, at Camp, Cayley ; 21st, Sunday; 22nd
six, at Kate, Belle, Upper, B^ar; 2:5rd, five, at Belle, Classy, Kate,
Tppcr, Cayloy ; 21th, six, at Fall, Belle, Cpper; 2rjth, seven, at Cay-
ley, Shea, Upper; 2Gth, eleven, at Doctor, Indian, Kate, Bear, ('ayley,
Upper; 27th, seventeen, at Kato, Belle, four in llaworth. Upper; 2Sth,
Sunday; 21)th, twelve, at Upper, Shea, {[aworth; :)')tli, eight, at Belle,
Upper, Indian, Haworth ; July 1st, nine, at Shea, Upper; 2nd, eight,
at Indian, Upper; ;}rd, seven, at Fall, Upper, Haworth ; 4th, twelve, at
Upper, Belle, Shea; r)th, Sunday; Gth, five, at Upper; 7th, two, at
llaworth, [Ipper; Sth, thunder and rain, fish down ; Uth, live, at l^pper.
Shea; 10th, three at fndian, Upper; llth, nine, at Upper; 12th, Sun-
day; Ulth, seven, at Upper, llaworth ; llth, four, at Upper, llaworth,
Indian, Shea; 15th, four, at llaworth, Indian, I'pjier; HJth, three, at
Upper, Belle ; 17th, one, at U])per; lS(h,two, at Indian, Ujiper ; l!>th,
Sunday; 20th, three, at Upjter ; 21st, two, at I'pper; 22nd, two, at
Upp(!r ; 2ord, one, at Shea; 21th, live, at I'all, I'-ddy, llaworth, Upper ;
2r)th, none! ; 2r(th, Sunday; 27th, one, at Shea; 2Sth, one, ut, rpp.r.
Total number of fish, IIU; total weight, 2ir»"< lbs; average weight, 1 U
lbs.

iiiVi:Fi Moisii:.

Messrs. C. «Jt <i. Bacon, and Mr. U. \\''il!iaM)s, of BoMton, lessees oi'
the fly-Gshing division of the river Moisio, returmid from their expedi-
tion last Saturday, and left the same night for llu'ir liomes, They
started from (juebee on the Uth .hine, in the steamer Xopolcini III ,
with the other parties for dodbout, Mingan, A:*'. Their fishing beu'an
on the 21st .June, and the last fish was killed nn the Hth olMuly, when
a sudden fall of the river, o'-easioned by the eontinued dry weather,
brought their sport to a close. Taking into consideration the sh(U-tne.-«H
of time — a fortnight — the fishing was good. Tliey caught Ull) salmon,
of which thirty weighed 110 lb., and lesi ever oO ib. 'I'lie largest fish
caught wtiighs 30 lb. They caught in (he sa ne rivi'r he^t year :!|S fish,
the largest weighing 12 lb.

174

SALMON FISHINa IN CANADA.

i-/

.( •

IIIVER NIPISSIGUIT.

The following record of el.'vcn Jays' salinou-fishiog on the river Xipi.s-
siguit, Bay of Chalcurs, New Brunswick, by Messrs. Adsheatl k llintoul,
shows wliat|exccllent sport these gentlemen obtained during their trip : —
Killed by Mr. J. Iv Adshcad, July G, one salmon; Sth, s(!ven ; '.Hh,
six; 10th, seven and one grilse; 11th, two; l->tli, four; Itth, two;
IGth, two; 17th, one; 18th, two; 20th, four and two grilse — total,
thirty-eight .salmon and three grilse; weight, .'J."<4 ' Hi. Killed by Mr.
llintoul, July 0, one salmon; 7th, two; 8th, lour; 9th, eight; K'th,
live; 11th, one; loth, one; 1 kh, one ; 15th, throe; IGth, two; 17tli.
three; ISth, five; 20th, two— total, 38 lish ; weight, JUl ll».

ItrVRR.S MINGAN AND jMANITOU

Salmon killed in the rivers .Mingan and Manitou by ihrce rods during
the season of ISG-'j : .lune I'jth, four fish ; IGth, 17th, and iStJi, flood ;
l!)th, two; 20th, six; 22ud, eight; 2;;rd, four; 2kh, two; 2r)th,
eleven; 2Gth, two; 27th, two; 20th, lifteen ; :50tli, nine; .luly 1st,
(»ne ; 2nd, four; 3r(l, seven; 1th, seven; Gth, twelve; 7th, fourteen ,
Sth, nine; Uth, two; 10th, live; 11th, two; loth, lifteen; llth, four:
I fith, thirteen ; IGth, live; 17th, two; l^tli, six; 20tli, nineteen ; 21.si.
•deven ; 22nd, two ; 2;>rd, ten ; 2 1th, three. Total Muuiber of lish, 21^' :
total weight, 2,22G lb. ; average weight, 10 1-5 W).

To this wo may add that we arc eredibly informed that four gent ; ■tneii
from New Brunswiek, who leased the river Nata.sln(uhuu, killed over
000 line fish, and that one of the party look ,.'/•/,/ ,^<7' ot them in one
(lay, with his own rod, a feat whieh wo believe '-■ 1;. iuiparalleled in an\
river in Great Britain or Norway.

We have much pleasure in stating that there is every probal)ility
that a line seaworthy steamer will make a Ibrtniglitly trip during tlii'
months of dune and July, 18G1, to the princiital stream.5 belonging to
the Government, affording an opportunity to the tourist, the invalid, ami
the fisherman to visit the most interesting localities, to invigorate their
health, ,iiul to enjoy their sport, thus tending to increase the revenue
already orviv"! from these rivers, and enabling thtiir valuabh^ lishernN
to bt' more fi ly appreciated.

( 175 )

lor Xipi.s-

Rintoul,

|r trin : —

Ion

l»tl

|tli, two;
—total,
\d by Mr.

If; T'tl,.

; ITtli,

Is iluriiiL',

I, floud ;

; 2r)fl..
liny ls(.
loiirtooii ;
ill, lour ;
on; 21 si.
ish, 21S:

ont; 'KUMi
led ov<'r

illl ill Olir

ed in aii\

obiiliilitv
iriiig- till'
•iiiririt;- til
;ili(l, aiiil
ato flicir
rov<.;nui'
li.sliorios

'|rofcssor ^)iiib ch lj)c iisljaits of \k S>1 1'atovciuc,

rnilE Labrjulor roninsula, with tl

ic coa.>st and i.sland.^ ol" the (.lull'
of St. Lawronoo, pos;sc,ss ;i colonial and imperial interest whioh
can scarcely be ovor-cstimatod in contemplating the possible future cf
British North America.

The annual value of the fisheries in British American waters
exceeds four millions sterling, bcside.s being the best nursery for seamen
" the world ever saw."

The li;dieries on the Atlantic coast of Labrador alone yield a yei'rly
return of at least one million sterling; uud yet, since the destruction of
the town of IJrest, at the gulf entrance of the Straits of IJelle Tslo, more
than two hundred years ago, no attempts have l)ecn made to I'onu settle
nicnts on ;iu extensive scale on or near the coast.

Tn the great interior valleys, some ten or lil'ti'cn iiiilos iVniii the
• oast, timber, lit ior ])uilding purposes and fuel, exists in abundance,
and the climate and soil admit of the successful cultivation ul" ail common
culinary vegetablos.

West of the Mingan Islands large areas exist suitable I'lr ,>i,'ttUni('iii.
liimestonos and sandstones occupy the coast, and extend about ten miles
)»ack over a space of eighty miles on the Straits of I>elle isle, and urt'at
I'ai'ilities exist in many otiier plact!s for the establishmonts, by wli : an
annual .>aving id" more than a (|uarter of a million sterling w I be
secured at the oursot, with the prospect of an intlelinite increase. liOcal
establishments lor the supply of salt, food, and all the roquirem nts of a
vast fishing trade, are particularly demaudod on the (!ulf an ! Atlantic
coast.

•''I

lixiiloratiuns in Liibriulor.

I7«i

piiornssoR iiinh on tiik rrsTiERiEs.

Tilt' Hritisli Amoriciiu li.shcrics will cvontiuilly act'iuiro :i wholly
unlookcd I'or importance l)y direct trade with tlie Southern Stat«\s lor
cured fish, upon the return oC the peace, and with the j;reat valley of
the Mississippi for fresh f-alt-water fish, convened in ice. The connection
of the present terminus of the Cirand Trunk Railway of (Canada at
Uivicre du Loup with the IJay of Chaleurs would bring the rich livin;,'
treasures of the Gulf within easy reach of the cities of the Western
States.

As a nursery for seamen, the great North American fisheries have
no equal, and the day will yet arrive when the hitherto desolate shores
of Labrador, north, east and west, will possess a resident population
capable of contributing largely to the comfort and prosperity of more
favored countries.

( iH )

whdlly
l;it(\s for
viillcy of
iiin'ctiiiii
maila at
I li villi,'
)Vi'.stcni

ios have
shores
lulation
of more

.tlccii-^fu Jhsljcrics af (f auaia.

" Juiiit ioii.i liiwa li:i\c litoii l>ajj<i'.| aiiil \vill he riilonctl li.\ ilic ('anadiaii
(Ji)vcriiiiiciil, iuitl i\u' American (islioiiiian iiui} liinl in mij^Iildniii;^ wali-iv, \\li;it,
Im will iioviT a.miin in lii.s own, lliosc i\a\iU: lidli (tli« sainiuii) ilwclliii;j; ia aJiiiii.l-
aiico, and piolccteil frouj Will lIilc.'S, wanton niitl iiiirpasoiialil(> (Icstnioiiiiu

" In r.'inada tlio |i('oiili' liavc iliscovcri'd, fdi Iniiiili'ly («jr tlniii, nni too lalc, tin-
iniiiorlancf of .slrin'^'cnt protrctivc law .;."/'/(. duiih l-'i Ji nj ilu ^'orlll, liv

lJAUNWi;i,l..

I J

• 'f

I V, nil oik: haiitl, i( i- ;t )iioiiil hna-t I'or r;iii;i(|;i j,i \h- ill ;ii|vaii(c iil'lht'
* I'fsl of (he cniliin'iil li^ Imt wise h•!L;•i^^hltillll tiiiicliiii'_: tlh' naliiral
rosouroes in her rivcr>', — il' cvcii an inHt:;1iti'no(l Anu'rican is coinpcllod
(o admit tliat it wouhl ho well lur tlir (ircat llcpulilic {<* hormw a leal'
IVom our bonK, it is also .siniinlarly ^Iranuc that liirnn;-!! the; rectMit
h'iijj;(hy iicwspapor discussion aiicnt this same suhjeet, scarcely a wmd
hits boon written, or even mention made of iIu nm.-l valnalije |Hrti(.ii oi
our fislieries, I mean Ihodoep-soa (isjii ries. Whatever loai.-; • ilie Hritish
Provinces may he entitled to Cor what they liavt' done tn [irolecl and
loster this prolific source of wealth, let, us not, howev»'r, run away with
the idea that our loLiislation is iierfeet, especially the portion relatim:; t(»
tho dcep-8ea tinheries. IMuch has nndouhtedl) heen performed; some-
lliini^ yet remains to he dom'. The Ahhe Sieyes hoastitiuly asserted ni'
the lei^al reforms he had introduced, that he had perfected t! «' Im-cik h
(N)iistitution ; pvay, how many new con-^tilut ions have iieen since his slay
adopted and discarded in Franci;'/ In a-sninin:: that our le'^'islatinii
respeetini; deep-sea lisheries recjuires ametidment, a- well as that relatini;
to the salmon lisheries, I am tnerely repeatim;- a trit«! observation, which
doubtless lias l)ceu often made by those conversant with the subject.

liCt us look, for the present, into the bounty ((ucstioii, as ccmnectcd with
the pecuniary outlay of tlio lishery organization. Several rjuestions v;ill
naturally arise in the course of tins iMtjuiry lloeeipl and expenditure are
24

178

IU:LI'-SEA 1-1:^11EK1E;; OE CANADA.

i-arJiiKil points c itlicr in novormuoiitor iuin'ivato uinkrUikiii^rtj it may li
veasouably :i,'lvoil wlicllur, with the present outlay diircitutly ap[toi-
tioneJ, m-cator tilicioiay in oulorcin^ the hiw, icbultH (»!' luoio niajj;iii
tudc lov the public weal might not I'ullow i* The law plaeen ^1I,0()0
annually at the dispc.-al of the ,i;OYernment to pay bounties; by many
it iri (jucstionod whether thi.s amount might not be more advantageou.^ly
bestowed. I'roteetion to tlie lislierie.s has only become an established
fact in Canada siucu 1^58; it is, therelbre, still in its inlUney, and
vcquires an artilieial stimulus before it c:m be expected to brini; forth tbe
matured fruits of age. To all'ord this artilieial impulse, the bounty system
in this country, as elsewhere, has received its legal existence. It cannot
bo considered w pcrmanDici/ ; it is merely intended to arouse the energy
of those cugu ,od in the prosecution of the iislieries : no industry which
Cuuld not pvt)i;[ter unk'^^s siieli a stimulus were made ix niuinntt \sk)\\.\\
be worth having for any people. This i»iiiiei]fle is W(dl understood liy
I lie nations who have granted the largest bounties. ]\li<it Is ird/t/,,/
on flic Giupc iiiid Ldljradur cutists /s, A^.-; Louuticn (u jhhcnncuj l/itai
t<))H2»lt/c tiiul I Jj'cclaal i>rutcctlon and fccuii/jj to jicrsons and pruptrtij.
T"), the opinion of many, the operation of the clause of the Act awarding
bounties might be, for a tiuui, suspended, and the granting ol' bounl'es
made contingent on the huilicieucy of revenue derived iVoui the Iislieries.
Another point about the bounty system which invites consideration is,
the principle on which the bounty is given. 1 n my opinion, the whole, or
nearly the whole, ougl\t to be ;vwarded, not to the lazy drone called the
outlittcr, but to tho ^acccssl'ul Jiiul intelligent lisherman hiniseli"; the
outlittcr, without prohibiting the bounty, might be just as much bene-
titted, only it would be in an indirect way; instead of calculating on a
catch of 100 cwts. fia- iin.lit, lu; v.-uuld have loO or 'JOO cwts. for expor-
tation, and llie (idierman's skill or industry would receive its iitting
reward. Another iuipoitant feature would be, punctuality in the payment
of bounties, llow can a poor (Jaspe fisherman be expected to le-ive his
home and wait in (Quebec six months, as was the ease formerly, until it
suits the government, or the eoUeetin' of ih.' p'»rt, to pay him his bounty y
On reference to 3Io,ses JI. iVrley's Report — a masterpiece of praeticid
inforinatiim, we find, tlial in 1851, cue <ir tin; sister provinces voted
also •'^2ll0(> to form s(K'icties on the principle of the agricultural societies,

aLs

I may Li
y apiJUi-

^ll,U(Ml
by iiKiiiy
a^i^cou.-ly
tablislit'd
icy, and
Ibrlh the
y sy«tciii
[t caiiiiut
cMiei'uy
ry wlilcli
nl wijul I
'.stuod ]»y

S tiHtnlnl
(('//, ///((/(

Itropci'tij.
awardiii;.:
bouutic.s
liHlioi'ios,
ration in,
whole, or
lallotl the
.sell"; th(-
ich beiic-

iiii:,' oil a

or oxpor-
its iittinti;
! payment,

lu'ivc his
)'y until it
H bounty y

Iira(.*ti(';il
CCS vtjtcd

Hocictii','^,

DEEP-SEA FISIIEIIIES OF CANADA. ITt)

(Icstined Irj award pri/cs, not only to those who cm-ht the most lish, but
also to the nshcriucn who prepared the liue.st, the most marketable article.
In many Kuro]>can marts, none l»ut hsli of first tiuality (ind a purchaser.
Doubtless, the bounty question will be thorou-lily sifted by the Parlia-
mentary Committee appointed to report on tli;'! fisheries; it luiiy be
<|Uc.stioiied, however, whether a'Jc((u:itc ;-iourccs of ialornntioii can b<^
open to it. Tht; European governments send intelli-^oni- ;ucu abvo.id to
vide, as it were, the brains of other nations; in our country', >vc [latcb
up and tinlv(M* up, mf iiijlnihnn, luir home iije.is Mini in<li!,jcnous jA'^touis.

d >!. I-

• f 'i

(180)

'iiabifs of ^paluiuiig ,.f isj).

TMIIK lollowiiiL; intcrcsdiii; lottor npiio.ircil in tlic i'ltlil now'i>:ip(>i-
JL cif tlio -iJnl l''(;))ruary, ISO;!, imMisliod in Ijondcui : —

" |)iiriii}^ tlirco seaKons pa.sl I Iiavo (ib.scrved salmon wliilst ))rocJin^ in
Olio of lli(> Jribiitarii's of tlu- Satiiicnay. The locuti in i/iio is a slioal ami
rapid spot, with shcltcrini; houldi-rs, and htiii;- spits of pchhiy bottom.
The currenl is lively, but imt heavy or stronir- Auluiiui loaves cannot
lod^'c ill i(, and branches or small diil't-wood sticks hurry i»ast upon its
lippliiij,' surlace, as il' eonscious that their presence mi^ht inconvenieiiee
the I'amiiy j.-iiiic;* already in possession ol" the shallow homestead. iMaiiy
proconeeivod and some favorite notions about the habits of this fish
were rudely shaken. Hi»oks had taught me pe(!uliarities sucdi as at, no
time eould I then actually observe. The most, [»rominent. of eontrailie
tioii> were, that thi' iish did not. root with snouts amon'j;Ht the irravel to
niak(! trout:hs for the (»va; nor did tlu; pairs work by turns j neither was
llu; male aecusl(»med to pi iloiiii aloiu; his miUinj; in the furrow wlu-re
her l:id\shi[) had just left those delieat(dy-eolor(;d ei^i^s, of tin; ' pale
pearly pink ol sea shells.' I saw nothing; of suoli ascribiul Iialdts. Tin
female alom; was industrious ; the male liereo and pui;'naeious. She.
filled with the eari's of her maternity, seemed diligently absorbc'd in the
success of h r feminine instincts; he, sexual, maseuliiu', sellish, aii.l
bullying — a very 'fancy man:' ever and anon jostlinu, her; now runnim
bis beak into little ridi^es of sand or <^ravel in some furious rush al'ln
rival salmon or marauderiiiL:; trout, and kiekini; uji a most unbeeomini
dust: then, ai^ain, nulely overturning.:; lu>v in the awkward conllict, and
tumbling into the nest a new pile of j/riivel, to her intense di.«j;ust. The
way this active :ind tidy fishwife does liei* busy duty is curious. She
wrii^i/les herself amont^ the sm:dl stones, and with rapid motions ol lln'
• audal and anal fnis, ;ind a winnowinu,- action < '" tln^ tail a?id body (I'lrn

TIATITS OF RPAWNTNC FTPTI.

181

?udiii;j, in
lo.'il and
hot loin.
M caniini
iilion \t>
ivciiiciict'
1. Many
this (isli
an ut III)
'ontratlic
uravc'l 111
ithor ^va^
uw wlu-rr
tli(! ' pali^
.itH. Tlu
us. Slic,
)0(1 in llic
iiisli, an>l
V runnin;
rush al'trr
boconiini
iiJlict, anil
;usl. TI..-
aus. Sill'

)US ol' ill''
mIv ( I urn

iu;4 over alternately upon onu side and aiiothor), she keeps (|uantiti(.v-) of
Liavel in sui'ponse, almost alloat in the cldini; hollow. Sand and liuhtor
particles trail down the curretit behind her. It seemed to me a.s il'thi!
power exercised by her motions in the wafir had almost, if n.:t ([uite>
a; much to do wiili the displacing ol" uravel and ^and as the bodily
movement against them. Tlie same thini: may be seen where the screw
of a steamer stiis and draws up mud and dirt IVoni tlic boltom ol' water
several feet beneath the kci'l. The bi.-d once made to ln^r satisfac-
tion, she settles down into it, as if resting from lur labors; and :hould
her attendant lord be not near and ready, sln^ turns over upon her side
as if to signal and invite him. The bully of tin; throng then scttlea
alonjj;side her ; and, as nearly as 1 could perceive, their mill, and ova are
thus expresse(l in actual contact, both lyin'j; almost upon their sides
ilurini:; a stroma; ((uiveri"" '- ure. This fuiu'tion performed, she slinks
lazily away. Sin; rem, ..is for a few moments quiet, as if to let thintrs
settle; an«l soon recommences her prt^vious winnowing aloijn- eitlur side
of the furrow, but this time advancing' a little, and stirrini,^ down .-ome
gravel from above. 1 was nuich interested, and not a little surprised,
with what I saw. Vou may depeuil upon it, sir, aU!iouL;h the salmon is
a line, pjenteel and noble lish, he is not half so platonic a breeder as some
amateur and theoretic naturalisl.s have reported him lobe, lie is a
creature tif like passions with all others — cold-blooded, it' you please,
but not thereforo insensate, A trout can be tickled; why should not
the higher and ri»dier-fed member of that respectable family — Salmnni-
d;r — feel occasi(jnally a trifle ticklish '! Oh, no I Mr. Salar is not a
sentimental and ultra-domestic Chinaman. lie does not lie a-bed and
sympathise, pain Ibr pain, with his laborin,-; nii'te. He has more of the
Indian nature, and if ho had 'portages' to make, would leave his S(|uaw
to bear th(> heaviest burdens. My native gallantry for]»i<ls iiu' to Ihink
so highly as before of this king of freshwater fish. IJold, agile,
powerful, sagacious (though sometimes suicidally bi-nt on poking his
head into meshes, and darting into apertures that he i'-»ii'f again come
out through), often, too, wide-awake for anxious anglers, and too fertile
in combative resources for the hand and tackle el" isirvous lly-lishers, —
withal I pul. down this lord id" salmondom as a sellish water-type of thai,
terrestrial lord of creation sung about in the old .<ong.

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

<;.

:/.

u..

1.0

i.i

H 1^ i^

■i: 1^ III 22

S lit ""
£ MS III 2.0

1.8

11.25 11.4 III 1.6

Ss^ ' :»

Photographic

Sdences

Corporation

33 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 872-4503

182

HABITS OF SrAWNIN(} FISH.

1 +

" There is one point upon wliich my experience differs from that of
Walsh. He says the cartilaginous appendage disappears after the breed-
ing season. I have seen it of great prominence in several specimens
taken during May and June. In one male salmon of C31b. weight, the
gristly substances, hard as bone, measured 5] inches long. The fish had
(3aught himself by this hook at the outside net meshes, and twisting and
struggling around to get free had drowned in the slack of the net. Tiuil
this extra jaw is not much used, and is most probably a natural weapon,
appears likeliest from the fact of its being longer while the fish is foul
than when fresh. The nasty condition of the fish at breeding time may
account somewhat for its being then uglier and more conspicuous. Con
sidcr how much larger appears the head, and how coarse is every point
of the fish, during and after spawning season."

W F. -WrTTTnTTEF

Quebec, Canada East, lSG-1.

i ,)

( 183 )

ik fisljitics oi (lluiuiba."

iUlv, Tiiuwc wlio aic (K'.siroii.-; to sec the lichcs of tin; vmiiili^ n|;ciKil up

will liavo felt '^nitilicd by the a.ssunmcert containoil in your i^nuc uf tl:--
lUth April iu.st., oC the earnest uuuuicr in whieh the le:;i.<lativi" wisdom
of Canada tiro prosecuting the enquiry into one of its most inexhaustible
resources. I mean the fisheries. Lest any desirable amendment in tlic
law should escape attention, permit mo agaiu to place before the public
a summary of tlic reforms I advocated last year in the work 1 published
in French, l^ES Pecueuies du Canada; which relbrnis 1 had occasion
to urge in tho 3L-rcur^ of the 10th duly last, in the curse of a lively
newspaper discussion respecting the abuses and frauds of our Bounty
system.

A careful investigation of the river and deep sea lishorles (d
Canada, in my opinion, embraces the consideration of t''J following,
among other points:

l._Tho present mode of catching codfisli, maekci el, herring, nalmon :

what improvements could take place therein '!

2,_Whcn ought these fishes to be caught ? Is it a fact that herring
u caught out of season, when it is unwholesome and consequently of

little value ?

3._Thc method of salting, curing and l)arrciring fish intended for
foreign markets — what improvements can be here introduced .''

4,_0ught we to have, as they have in England ami in some of the
United States, a compulsory law for the inspection of lish and oil ? Has
the free port of Gaspe fulfilled its object :'

5.— The evil of seining herring on its spawning <: round, merely as

manure for the land '/

■i:- Letter to the Eaitor of tlic (,/«(.icc Afcrcury.

^^.- !l

181

THE J'MSIIEKIES OF CxlNADA.

Ii't

<>. — Wluii i,s the (jUUQtity ul' llsh oxi>urtcd uiiiiiially '( Is it :i iiu-L tluii
luivu',!! erul'tri trc-^pass witliiu the limits tissii;noil by tlic Ucciprocity
Treaty for fishini^' })Ui'poscs 'r*

7. — Is tlicrc any other fish ui iiuiiLHlcj whicli in Liiiic;? ul' dourlli^ cuuM
be substituted toherriug, eapliu aud squid lur bait i'

S. — AVhat new legislation is required on the bounty (luestioiri' Arc
bounties of any use to us?

9. — Would it not inure t(j our ultinitite ;u!vaiitage and to that ol' the
lessee to grant long leases of the k^alnion llivers, as sViort leases induce
the lessee to derive the largest possible return in lish in a comparatively
short period — that is, to ruin the river by over-Ilshing it?

10. — The wholesome system of control exercised in other departments
of the public service, \h: — The appointment of a visiting inspector, an
outsider, unconnected in any way with this branch, to report to tin,"
government, on the internal management of it. There are inspectors of
railroads, inspectors of registry oflices, inspectors of ports, inspectors of
customs, inspectors of prisons, of warehouses, iVc. — Why should there
not be an inspector of the fishery revenue ? Let us have a cheap but an
efficient supervision.

11. — The existing necessity of renewing correspondence with New
Hrunswick in order to secure her joint co-operation in new legislation to
regulate the fisheries on the boundaries of both provinces, the llisti-
gouch river, for instance, and also oth'; r places.

12. — That a more efficient law should be passed to prevent the pea-
santry in the rural parts from indulging any longer in the wholesale
destruction of young fish who are caught each tide by the thousand in
the stake fisheries and other engines of destruction, without being able to
make their escape, aud are left to rot and decay in the fishery, such as
young white fish, sturgeon, shad, herring, salmon smoult, &c.

13. — That it would be highly useful to have a map of each salmon
estuary and river, to iurnish reliable information to persons who are
prepared to pay high rents, if they can ascertain beforehand full par-
ticulars about the fishing location; that this can now be done at a trifiiug
expense.

14.-— Expediency of republishing and circulating amongst the fisher-
men of Gaspe those admirable and eminently practical directions to be

THE FISHERIES OF CANADA.

XSb

itut tllllt

jiprocity
,li; cuulil

w'f Arc

it ol' the
QS induce
larutivcly

lavtuieiils
)cclor, ;ui
ivt t«.» tilt;
pcctoi's oi'
pcctors ol'
uld there
ap but an

,vith New
;islaticn to
the llisti-

found in Mr. Perley's Ucports, page 'JG4, prepared by tlie hnperial
Hoard of Commissioners of the Fisheries of the Tnitcd Kingdom.

15. — That the time to catch trout .should })e altered, so as to make it
legal to do so from 1st January to 2(»th of September, but no later, as in
some places trout is known to spawn early in September.

10, — The capture of salmon iVy ought also to be strictly prohibited :
all such taken to be returned instanter, alive, to their native elemijnt.

17. — The necessity of substituting a small screw steamer and fast-
sailing revenue cutter.-*', drawing but little water, to the present coast ing
service ? Would Kngllsh gunboats answer or not^ Query.

18.— Kcorganization of the judiciary system of the Magdalen Islands.

19._neclaratory clause to explain some of the obscure provisions of
the Fisheries Act; and certain discretion left with the Judge to tem-
per, in some cases of fine or imprisonment, the severity of the law.

Such are some of the amendments 1 si-t forth in the iu-ench press of
this city last winter, and which were inquired into by a Parliamentary

(Jommittce.

Vours, kc,

J. M LeMotne.

Quebec, Gth April, 1801.

1-1!

nil ■

t the pca-
wliolcsale
lousand iu
ing able to
'y, sucli as

./-.'^--^'■V*--

ell salmon
3 wlio are
I full par-
it a trifling

the fishcr-
:,lonB to be

OK
liiO

■t:

(186)

%\t §irh af Canaba,

ARRANGED BY J. M. LeMOINE,

According to 'jlasniflcitioii and iioiiiciiclntiirc of th'' Smithsouiun InetUutlon.

(Tlio figures rcfor to those of the catologin'
the Institution in ISiift.)

<if North American VwAa publlnhtiil by

OR PER 1

. — BIRDS OF PREY.

Duck Hawk,

f).

(i olden Eagle; Ring-tailod Rag

le,39.

Pigeon Hawk,

i .

Northern Sea Eagle,

40.

Jer Falcon,

11.

(J ray Sea Eagle,

Sparrow Hawk,

18.

Bald Eagle,

43.

Goshawk,

14.

I'ish Hawk,

44.

(Joopcr's Hawk,

15.

Oreat Horned Owl,

48.

Sharp-shinned Hawk,

17.

Mottled Owl,

49.

Swainson's Hawk,

IS.

Long-eared Owl,

51.

Brown, or Canada Hawk,

21.

Short-eared Owl,

52.

Red-tailed Hawk,

23.

Great Gray Owl,

53.

Western Red-tail,

24.

Barred Owl,

54.

Red-shouldered Hawk,

25.

Sparrow Owl,

.55.

Broad -win^;'^d Hawk,

27.

*Kirtland'8 Owl,

50.

Sharp-winged Hawk,

28.

Saw- whet Oa'1,

57.

Rough-legged Hawk,
Black Hawk,

30.
31.

Snowy Owl,
Hawk Owl,

•n.

02.

Marsh Hawk,

38.

. ORDER TI.-

-CLIMBERS.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo,

69.

Yellow-bellied Woodpecker,

85.

Black-billed Cuckoo,
Hairy Woodpecker,
Downy Woodpecker,
Three-toed Woodpecker,

70.
74.
70.

82.

Black Woodpecker,
Red-bellied Woodpecker,
Red-headed Woodpecker,
Yellow-shafted Flicker,

90.
91.
94.
97.

Banded three-toed Woodpecker

, 83.

* This raro owl, lo.st .^is^lit of for fifty years in the fauna of tho United States, is
mentioned by Professor Arch. Hall, of Montreal — there is one specimen in tho Museum
«f Natural Ilistory, of Montreal; Thoma.s Mcllwraith, E.^q., of Hamilton, owns one,
and I have had the good fortune to capture one alive, which ia still in my possession.

all
til

\lton.

ll?jlit;il by

aQle,39.
40.
42.

43.
44.
4S.
40.
.51.
52.
53.
54.
.55.
56.
57.
111.
02.

85.
90.
01.
04.
07.

THE KIRPS OF CANADA.

DKDKIl III.
101.

100.
112.
114.
117.
121.
135.
139.
143.

187

states, U
Musemii
[iwns one,

Humuiing Binl,
Cliimncy Swallow,
Whip-poor-will,
Night l-lawk,
Belted Ki'i-^-'isher,
King Bird ; lice 13ird,
Powco,
Wood Pewcc,
(jrreen-cre.stod Flycatcher.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (y), 144.

Wood Thrush, MS.

Hermit Thrush, l40.

Wilson's Thrush, 151.

01ivo-''jackcd Thrush (?), 153.

Kobii;, 155.

Varied Thrush, 156.

'"Stone Chat, 157.

Blue Bird, 158.

lluby-crowned Wren, 101.

Golden-crested Wren, 162.

Tit-lark, 165.

Long-billed Creeper, 167a,

Prothonotary Warbler, IGO.

MaryLand Vellow-throai, 170.

Mourning AVarbler, 17-.

(•onuecticut Warbler, 174.

Kentucky AVarbler, 175.

(i olden-winged Warbler, 181.

Nashville Warbler, 183.

(rolden-crowued Thrush, 186.
Black-throated Blue Warbler, 193.

Vellow-rump Warbler, 194.

Blackburnian Warbler, 196.

Bay-breasted "Warbler, 197.

Pine creeping Warbler, 198.

Chestnut-sided AVarbler, 200.

Blue AVarbler, 201.

Ijlack Poll Warbler, 202.

Yellow ^Varbler, 203.

Black and Yellow Warbler, 204.

* I iu.sert the !>toucchat and tin; evening grosbeak uii the authorit.v of .Mr. William
Cuiijier, of this city, — who was pi-eseuted with a specimen of each, shot in Canada — I am
also indebted to him for several sugj^estious in preparing this list.

f Care ought to bo taken not to confound this bird with its small summer congener —
the c'acrry or cedar bud — the wjix-wing is altogether a winter visitor-

— rERCEIJ:HS.

Cape iMay Warbler,

206.

IToodod Warbkr,

211.

Snialbhcadcd Flycatcher,

212.

Canada l-'lycatcher.

214.

Redstart,

217.

ocarlet Tanagor,

220.

Summer Kcd Bird,

221.

]?arn Swillow,

225.

Cliir Swallow,

22G.

White-bellied Swallow,

227.

Bank Swallow,

220.

Purple 3Iartin,

231.

tWax Wing,

232.

Cedar Bird,

233.

Great Northern Shrike,

236.

White-rumped Shrike,

238.

lled-eyed Flycatcher,

240.

Yellow-green Virco,

241.

'Cat Jiird,

254.

BroAvn Thrash,

261.

Jjong-billed 31arsh ^Vren,

268.

House AVreu,

270.

^V'ood Wren,

272.

Winter AVren,

273.

American Crei-per,

275.

R2d-bellied Nuthatch,

279.

Black-cap Titmouse,

290.

Hudsonian Titmouse,

296.

Sky Lark,

302.

Evening Grosbeak,

303.

Pine Grosbeak,

304.

Purple Finch,

305.

Yellow Bird,

313.

i*inc Finch,

317.

l{ed Crossbill,

318.

White-winged Crossbill,

310.

Lesser lied Poll,

320.

.Mealy Bed Poir CO,

321.

Snow Bunting,

325.

Jjapland Longspur,

326.

•'.'

■' I

188

THE BIRDS OF CANADA.

■':h.,

White-crowned Sparrow, 345.

White-tliroatcd Sparrow, 1)49.

Black Snow Bird, :i54.

Tree Sparrow, S57.

Field Sparrow, 858.

Chipping Sparrow, USD.

Song Sparrow, 303.

Fox-colored Sparrow, o74.

Black-throated Bunting, 878,

Ho.se-brcaf.ted (Jro.shcak, 880.

Indigo Bird, 887.

Boblink ; Reed Bird, 81)9.

Cow Bird,

Bed-winged Blackbird,
Meadow Lark,
Orchard Oriole,
Baltimore Oriole,
Busty Blackbird,
Crow Blackbird,
American Itaven,
Common Crow,
Magpie,
Blue Jay,
Canada -lay,

ORDER IV. — CALLINACEOOS.

Wild i'igcon, 448.

(common Dove, 451.

Wild Turkey, 457,

Spruce Partridge, 400.

JJuffed Grouse, 465.

0H1>E11 V.

Great Blue lieron, 4S7,

Least Bittern, 1!>J.

Bittern ; Stake Driver, 41)2.

Night Heron, 41)5.

N ' .v,f,y Ibis, 600.

i.oiOan Plover, 508.

.' 'lldccr, 504.

Wilson's l^Invcr, 500.
SemipaL ;if; ! Plover; liing
Plover, 50

Bock Grout-e,
American Ptarmigan,
Partridge; Quail,
Sand-hill Crane (?),

— WAKERS.

]3Iack-bellicd Plover,
Turnstone,
"i American Avoset,
Northern Phalaropc,
American AV^oodcock,
English Snipe,
Eed-breasted Snipe,
Gray-back ; Knot,

i .

.lack Snipe,
Least Sandpiper,
Sanderling,

Semipahuated Sandpipci
Tell-tale; Stone Snipe,
Yellow Legs,
Solitary Sandpiper,
Spotted Sandpiper,

OllDEll Vf. — I'AL.MATEl).

53 L Field Plover,

532.
534.
535.
53!).
540.

BuiF-breasted San(Jpii>er,
Marbled Godwit,
lludso'.i Ciodwit,
Long-billed Curlew,
Iludsoniau Curlew,

o4L • Jlsquimaux Curlew,

543. I Clapper B^til,

400.
U)l.

too.

414.
4 If..
417.
421.
423.
420.
482.
434.
448.

4GS;

470,
471
471).

510.
515.
517.
520.
522.
523.
524.
520.

04;).
540.
547.
548.
549.
550.
55] .
553.

■'' A beautirul .specimen of tbis rare bird was shot at Grondincf, on the 28tli of April.
lSfi4, and contributed to my collection by P.J. Charlton, Esq. of Queliec. I.i wlmni I lun
also indebted for a wood duck and a largo ))luc heron.

f Three avoscts were shot in the bay opposite Toronto, in October, 1S(5.';.

i^ Temminck calls this Crane Canadensis. Charlcvoi.x also mentions cranes in Canada,
and f^till many assort the crane docs not stop here i". 'is migrations wc.- vard.

BIRD?! OF r\NAiM.

189

•100

101.

I0(i.

414.

41 r..

117.
121.

4 ■_';;.

12(1.
4^2.
434.
44.'].

4GS;

470.
471
'47it.

510.
515.
517.
520.
522.
52,'].
524.
52().

545.
54().
547.
548.
549.
550.
55] .
558.

of April.

nun T mil

I Canada,

554.

! Ilill};-lirckt'd I>Ut,'k,

5;»o,

557.

;Uctl-ho:ul,

591.

55<>.

(';inva.-i-));ick,

502.

rAWit.

<!i)!4eii I'lyc.

5o:;.

Harrow'.s (ioldt-ii Kyr.

51)4 .

HiUtor iJall,

505.

.\'

5(;7.

llarlr(juiii Duck,

50(1.

i^, <■*

5(i!».

Sdutli Soiitlitjily.

507.

m '

570.

Labradnr huck,

(UIO.

570.

Velvet Duck.

r.oi.

577.

tSuil' Duck.

(i02.

• y

578,

S<-ofci-,

<;(M.

57'J.

Mider Duck,

♦ iOO.

581.

Kiiiii: Eider,

()08.

r)X:^.

Uiuidy Duck.

»>00.

5S1.

Sheldrake,

oil.

585.

l»('d-l)roasted iMeruanscr,

012.

587.

Hooded Mer-j^-anser,

(;i:;.

588.

Suiew.

014.

580.

'*' American Pelican.

CI 5

Virj,'itiia Hail,
Yellow Kiiil,

Coot,

American Swan,

8now (loose,

White-fronted (roosc ('.').

Canada (loose,

llutehin's (loose,

15rant,

.Mallard,

Hhiek Duck,

Sprig-tail; Pin-tail,

CTlrcen-\vin<;ed 1'eal,

Ulue-wint^ed Teal,

Shoveller,

(ladwall,

Baldpate,

Summer Duck,

(Ireatcr IJlaek-hcad,

Little Black -head.

■■' Mr. iMcJhvriiitli, llic wi 11 kiinwn ii.-itiirnli.-i I'l' [IjiiiiiltKii, in a kiicr in nu; mi. lor
iliitc Cith May, I^Oi. ihiis (li\-;cii'ii'> the i'''i'ciit iqiiicarancc of a Wm-k ol'iicliraii.^ : -

H.wiir.Tov. .i/iii/ i'lili. iStil
J. .M. lA'Moiiit', Jv-i]., <iu('lHH', V. \].

l->i;.\u ,'^iit, — <)n tlio evening' "f Fiiil.iy, liic I.'mIi .Ai'i'll last, a Hook ul' oi;,'lit |itlir:iii^
wa.s (ib.-<erveil to ali:xlit on JJurlingtoii Ijay, wIilto tlioy .soon attracted nttcntiin liy tiiuir
iimisiial I'liaiic and motion. They .-^it mucb li.i^hter on the water than swan or goet-o,
and, on rir^i"!; to lly, oan do so wilh Ks.^ eVLTtiuti, while the loll and j)ouch t'oiin
ilistiii^^ui^hin;; ;uiirk> not to lie inl.-takcii. ]!y dayliL^hl on f^aturday .nornin^j; the ;;wn-
n'r.'^ were early a;tir, and lindini^ the ficlicans still tlii;re, started in imrsui!, th(! lird''
.>^iH!)ned nnwillini; to rise iVoni the water, hnt not at all vl'spo.-cd to admit (d" a i loi-o
ins[uetiiin, and so vii:;oroi!sly did they jdy their lar;^e and powerful jiaddles that ihiiiifili
the wind was /(///A and /«•■/•, it wa^ only after a ehaso of about two miles that the .skifl'.s
;;;>t sufliciently near to risk ii lon.i,' .>hot, which crippled two of the miinher: one was
winj^-hroken and could not rise, another. thonL;h evi(.'ently hit. kept sairnvj; round <ti!l
rising-, till on making .t sudden turn agiinst the wind lo join his cotupani'Oi.-;, the (rac-
lured jiinion gave way. and he fell IVoui a great height into the water, where he was soon
M'cureii. The remainder of the ll')ck returned in the evening, and wer(! seen t'u- two or
three days afterwards evidently seeking their companions, hut were e.xtremely w.iry and
could not again be apiu'oached within gunshot. .UmUt liftecn years ago a -small iloek
spent a da}' or two iiheut the hay. aiid one was sihot, whi<di is all I have liearil of being
nbservcd here, though there is* no doubt that like other migratory birds which breed in
ilie fur countries, they must ]iass llibs w.iy ev(Ty s]irhig and Ikll, the probable rea.son
why we <lo U'lt see them ofiener is ihat when migrating they (ly at an immense heighl,
and may p(;rforui the whole jouin''}' without sli)p]iagc. The individuals procurel wer*'
both males in adult plumag*; : one i- vnv .Mutfed and in my possession, the .-kin of the
other has been sent to England.

On the 2.")th o( April while paddling ainug the bay shore. I ob.served some strange
looking birds sitting on a submerged ttump about lUO yards from shore opposite a point
of Woods which runs out into the bay : creeping in under shadow of the trees, I found
the group consisted of live coruiorauts, tlireo large and brownish in color, and two

n l

100

THE BIKDS OP CANADA.

CiuinK't,

(Jominoii ('(inuoraut,
tLcach's J'otrelCO,
Motlicr Cary's C'liickcii,
Sooty tSlioarwatei',
I'oniarino Skua,
Arctic Skua,
White-winded (J all,
(Jreat Black-backed Gull,
lleiTint:; (lull,
King-billed (iull,
IJouapai'tc's Gull,
Kittiwake Gull,
Ivory Gull,

017.

Fork-tailed Gull,

680

&dO.

3Iarsh 'lorn,

681

<UL'.

Wilson'siTern,

(js(»

• ;4y.

Loon,

61)8

048.

lled-throated Diver,

7»il

iVoll

liod-neekcd (Jrebe,

7<IL'

or)4.

llorue*! (irebo,

70(;

l)5S.

llii/.or-bille<l Auk,

711

GOO.

Arctic PutVm,

7lo

001.

Least Auk,

12-A

004.

IJlack Guillemot,

12{\

670.

^lurre,

7.'iO

072.

Sea i'ove,

7:]8.

07G.

'I 111. i'tiiiudiuH Joxrjial i\>i' tiuuuaiyf JbOl, coutains an excelleut paper
on 'The Birds of (Jauada West,'' by Thomas iMcUwraith, Esquire, of
llauiiltou, au accurate observer aud keen udmiror of the feathered tribe.
The fauua of Lower Canada is greatly .similar to that of AVcstern Canada ;
birds, indigeuous to warm climates, are not, however, so numerous down
here. Wo have neither the wild turkey, (juail, meadow lark, nor pelican j
but our severe winters bviuLr us, occasiouallv, several feathered denizens
of the extreme north.

" Following," says he, " the arrangement referred to (Audubon's), we
find liighest on the list the faiuily /(dconldcv, which includes all our
diurnal birds of prey, such as oaglcs, hawks, buziiards, «S:c. These ai'c
disitiuguished by their short and powerful beaks, strong hooked talons, and

smaller ami diirkcr. I watched them for some time, their mution^ were graceful in the
oxtrerac, ns tliey fat pruning their plumage, their long slender necks curv''ng in every
cnnceivaljle direction, while every now and then one of tlie number \'.'onld dart oil' into
the water and prcHcntly return with a lish, which was swalloned with no ceremony
.-avo turning the head downwards. At length they seemed aware ol' my jn'oximity, aud
that the distance bctv.'een lis was diminisliing. I ivas anxious to .•-ccure ore oi" each
kind, and just as they got up made use of the means in my po^ver to acconplish that
idijcct, but was only partially successful, as the larger of the two, though evidently struck
'■y the shot, managed to get away, the other was a fine specimen, aud agrees in every
l^articular Avitli Trofesf-or I'aird's description of the Florida cormorant, though I would
.-carcely have expected to lind that bird so far north. It may be that being in eomjiany
with the larger si)ecies which breeds in the nortli, they have been led away from their
usual haunts.

Ilcgarding the glossy Ibis, I may mention that a pair of these birds were shot hero
i.'i 18J7, and are now in my possession. I have a specimen of Kirtland's owl, and have
also obtained recently a fine specimen of the great cinereous owl.

I These birds have bc^n mostly all described in my Ornitholo'jic du Canada.

Tin: BIRDS OF CANADA.

lyi

[•.8(1.

fiSl

liillS.

70L'.

tik;.

711.
71o.

72;^.

72(;.

7oO.

paper
lire, di'

tribe,
anada ;

}licf

an:

tho'grcat leugth and breadth ul' their muiin ; thi.s class is well represented
in our woods, and along the ( iJurlington) bay shore ; the most conspicu-
ous icembcr of it being the hidd caijlr^ whose grand circling flight nuikes
him an object of interest wherever ' e appears. With us this species is
seldom scon during sunniicr ; but iit the approach ul' winter, when the
lish-hawk has gone south, and game gets scarce in the W(»ods, :i IV-w pairs
are u.suidly ob.scrved alutut l/unl'.; Kudi, and ahmg (he beaeh, where
they pi'ey on musk-rat.s, anil Ired on such animal maltei- a.s m;iy be
thrown up by the waters of the lake. During the two past winters, th(f
llshernien residing on the beaeh havi; been clVcred ;i. liberal price (or a
mature specimen of this bird ; but so rliflicult are they of :i].j»roaeh, tiiat
iilthough individuals iiave been ,• ,;>n m.-arly every day during two mouths
in each season, yet all the exertions of the iiunters havc^ been (piilf
unsuccessful. ()ccasi(jnally, after the report of some heavily-laden pieces
a, single broken leather has been seen \vinnowing its way downward, bnl
:is yet no mature .•;poeimen (d" the eagle has been procured. J^atterly,
the huuters being foiled in the chase, have resorted to stratagetn, anil
lu.ve tried to poison the birds by putting strychnine into tlu; body of a
small animal, anu leaving it near their usual haunts, lly this means
two or three individuals were obtained, bui ali of them have bf.'en .young
birds, which arc of a brownish color, more or less blotched witli white.
The only iustauco 1 have heard of the capture of the mature; bald eag'e,
in this vicinity occurred some years ago, but ujay be worth repeating,
as tending to illustrate the habits of the bird. A laboring man, residin'j
in the outskirts of the city, f(jund tl'.at some depredator was levying
black niail upon bis chickens, and resolved to put a stop to it. At
midnight he visited the roosts with his musket, l)ut <dl was (juiet, anil
no trace of mink or fox visible; about day-break, however, there was a
disturbance among the fowls, when, jumping up, he was just in time (o
take a hurried aim at a large eagle, which was gliding olf with a plump
chicken clutched flrndy in his talons. The shot took ellfect in the outer
joint of the wing, which brought the spoil-encumbered marauder to the
ground; pursuit and struggle then ensued, the eagle, according to cus-
tom, throwing himself on his back, and fighting fiercely with his feet.
In this curious engagement the gunner, for a time, had the worst id' it,
m, owing to the hurried way in whi(di he had bi^en cnllcd into the field,

102

THE milDS OF CANADA.

]

lie was ill-propiirod to oontciid with the sharp chiws of his powerful
ailvorsary. Ou furtlicr assistance arriving from the house, the oai^lc was
secured alive and broujj,ht into the city (Hamilton) hy his oajitor, who
happened to he at work at the {^aol and court-house, then in course of
erection. Here ho wns put for convenience into one of the cells, where
he wns visited hy many oi our citizens, some of wliom ;:ave expression
to their wit over the circumstance of the first prisoner confined in tlir
«:,aol boin^' th(i rapacious syml)ol of American frecd(»m.'"

" The young of this species diflers from tlii> adult so much in !ii)pear-
anco that, till within the last few years, they were considered as distinct
species, the ftUMuer bcin^ described as the //m/ srii-('in//c ; Wilson, wlm
closely observed their hnbits, had suspicions that they wore identicnl,
but the fact was not proved till after his time.

'' The same; mistake was made with the yahlcn caijle of IJritain, the
young of which was described as the rinfj-iailvil ra[//c, till they have now
been ]}roved beyond doubt to bo the same. This species is also Amer-
can, several specimens having during tlio past winter been found near
Toronto, llesides the foregoing, there arc various other species of eagle
said to be found on this part of the continent, one of which was discov-
ered by Audubon, and named by him after Washington ; but from the
real scarcity of the species, and the diHerenee which exists among birds
of diiFerent ag(;s, wo cannot at present speak of them with any degree of
certainty.

" The most interesting genus of the faleonid;c is that which includes
the true falcons : these arc distinguished from the other members of the
family b}^ their comparatively short and hooked beak, long and pointed
wing--. 1 y a tooth-like process near the tip of the upper mandible^ and by
the dash and courage they exhibit whon striking their prey on the wing ;
there is probably no other bird so uimired by the sportsman, or feared
by the water-fowl, as the percip-ine foJmn. We have often heard those
who ])eriodically visit .liong Point or IJaptiste Creek, to practise duck
shooting, speak with cnthusiasiim' the exploits of the bullet hawk, as \w.
is termed by tlie gunners; he is described as Hying at considerable height
above the marshes, which arc dotted with flocks of geese, ducks, teal and

* Whilo the above was iu type tlio writer x>rocured a line .speeimon of the lulult
animal, measuring three feet by six I'oet *ix inchcf?-- -January,. ISGl.

THE BIRDS OF CANADA,

li):

widgeon, Ills quick eye niarkiii:;' every movonieni that is inaiJo lelow.
While the.se keep the water, they uro coiujtaratively saio, :i> thi>y oaii
chvle their pursuer by diviii.t,' ; )mt if, in the cxcitoinent caused ly the
prcHoncc of so dreaded jnemy, I hey should attempt to escape 1»\

Hi^t;ht, thou is tlio time to wit les^stlie swoop of the faldui, v.lu). ;-iiiiilirji'
from the nllViglited llyin^ flock the victim he lias destined fur liis pr^ \ ,
tleseeuds with a rush, whieh the eye cau scarcely follow, and >trikes it to
the earth in an instaut. »So suddenly does the bird full on beinj: struck,
that it was Ion:.' supposed the blow was j^iven by the brcast-bon'> ol' tlie
hawk. This opinion has, by close observation, been proved iiuiivrect, —
and specimens so prostrated, when picked up, are found to be so lacer.ited
on the back as to leave no doul)t that the stroke is given by the leel.
'f his noble bird is well known to the residents on JJurlin'jton beach, where

jbsc

in Tiuest of his fav(

ho has frequently been ooservea coursing along m rjuest. oi nis \{v
prey; but from the uncertain nature of his visits, and the rapidity of his
flight, no specimen has yet been procured. A recent writer professes to
have found specific distinctions between this and the J3ritish bird of tlw'
same name, but these do not seem to be clearly made out, and the general
opinion is that it is identical with the peregrine falcon, so much in favor
when hawking was a princely amusement in JOurope ; with us he follows
the full bent of his own wild nature, and unencumbered by hood or bell,
roams the wholo Atlantic coast, from (.irecnland to Cuba, and inland
to the llocky Mountains, and is known in the dilTereut districts he vi^it--
by the various names of peregrine falcon, bullet hawk, duck hawk, and
wandering falcon.

'^ Following falcons In order come the on-?:<. Birds of this family are
easily distinguished by the largeness of the head and eyes, and the I'ov
ward direction of the vision ; of this class I have noticed ci^ht dWferent
species near the cit}', none of which are ]ilenfilul, yet, from their slri( tly
nocturnal habits, they may be more so than wo are aware of. 'fliey aiv
all migratory, and, from sometimes meeting Avith two or three individnals
in a single excursion, and again not i^ccing ;' 'y during that sea.-o;i, we
infer that they pass along in bauds, keeping up the eomnmnication by
their loud hooting, which is frequently heard ai night during spring an. I
fall. The.sv«>jt70?'.7,styled by Wilson the^great northern hunter,' isdnrin,;:
some winters (juIle common around the shores of the bay, tln-uvh in

2<;

• t

194

THE BIRDS OF CANADA.

I.- ■ '

I •

t| • .;

others only a vei y iuw arc seen ; during the winter of 1858-59, 1 am
aware of seventeen specimens having ^ceu brought to the market by
ii.shornicn and others, while during the last winter, only two individuals
have been killed. All the birds of this class have the plumage remark-
ably full and s.ii'i. v.-liich (Miables them to skim noiselessly on their prey,
and clutcdi it eve ir is awnio of the danger. "'^

"Passing the i/outsurkcrs, of which we have two species, the whip-
poor-will and the night hawk, we come to (he .sical/ows, of which we
have five; in this group we have an instance of the v,..y in which birds
sometimes adapt their habits to suit particular circumstances. The re-
publican or cliff swallow, which is but a recent addition to the favnaoi'
the continent, in its original ciiaracter, builds its nest in caves, and under
the overhanging I dges ol' perpendicular rocks ; when lured to this dis-
trict probably by the abundance of their favorite insect food, wliich is
found along our marshy lands, and not iinding rocks suitable for their
purpose in the breeding season, they frequently'- choose, as a substitute,
the end of a barn or other outhouse. I have seen such a republic in the
country, where the upper part ol' tlic end of a barn was literally covered
vrith claj', and perforated with numerous circular holes, out of which the
lull dark eyes and gaping bills of the callow inmates were fre({uentlY
seen protruding; there must have been from two to three tons of day
used in the work, an;] the constant visits of the parent birds at this
interesting weapon give the buildii'g, at a short distance, mucli the
appearance of a great bee-hive.

"In the habits of the .oriff or cinmnci/ avnllon' is another deviation
from the established custom. When we see these birds circling roun<l
in the air and dropping perpendicularly into our chimneys to roost and
rera' their young, the question very naturally arises, where did they build
before the invention of chimneys ? Naturalists tell us that their nesting
place then was in hollow trees, broken off midway and open at the top,
but that now, even where these can be had, the chimney is preferred.
We can easily understand that in scled parts of the country, when their
favorite trees are all cleared away, they must either leave the district or

* It ig worth noting, us an instance of adaptation to circiuMstaaccs', that tlio
eyes of the snowy owl and the hawk owl, wiiich nii;;rate to the arctic regions,
are so constructed, as to enable them to procure tlieir pioy by day as well as by
night — an evident neccssitv where there ia no night for six we(>ks.

THE BIRDS OF CANADA.

195

am
it by
duals
nark-

prcy,

cluiui^o their abode, but why they should, in places whore they have their
cliuiee, leave the open tree for the open chimney, is still, I believe, an
unanswered (juestiou.

"Next in order eume Wxa jiijcatrlirrx, birds ot jsmall size, but in their
liabits much resembling the birds of ]irey. These have the upper man
dible overhanging and notched at the tip, and the voice, iu must cases,
harsh and discordant. The mode of caking their prey varies iu ditFercnt
species, some, taking up a station on a post or limb of a tree, dart after
•the passing insect., making the snapping of the bill distinctly heard;
others, more expert of wing, keej) skipping about among the bushes, and
take by surprise anything suitable which comes in the way. A promi-
nent member of this group is the kliuj />/Vr^', or tyrant flycatcher, well
known on account of his depredations aiuun:.:; hive ))ces ; he is also
remarkable for the courage he displays when guarding his nest and
young, being known to drive even the bald eagle from his vicinity.

" Nearly allied to the llycatchers, but diifering from them \\\ form and
habits, are the irood-icarllcr,^ There is no class oi' small hirds so mach
souglit after by collectors as these ; they are a nuuuu'ous fauiily.gcaerally
graceful in form, spriglitly in manner, aud brilliant in color; they arrive
here about the beginning of May, a month which, ab^A'c all others, is
enjoyed by those who are fond of rambling in tlie woods. Their i'ood
seems to consist chiefly of insects, which they tind lurking ivniong the
opening buds aud blossoms of the trees. A I'cvf species remain with us
during summer and rear their young, but the great body pass on farther
north to breed, returning again in 8eptembor, though from the trees
being more full iu leaf at that season, and the birds silent, they are not
much observed. I have noticed twenty-two species belonging to this
family, in our woods, some of them of rather rare occurrence, among
which I may mention ,\t/(ria mariilma or ('(//)'. /)/"// a-uoil-n-orbli-i-. W ilson
met with this species ouly once, and Auda].)ou mentions it as being
exceedingly rare. 1 found it in the spring of 1'n")7 along with others of
the same family, while on their •nnual journey northward.

"The family oi' c/trpcrs includ .s, besides tiio tree creeper (the typo of
the class), the genus vim, of v. liich we have three species, viz.: the
marsk v.-nn, which builds in all the marshes round the bay; the icinUr
wren, which is identical with the common wren of ]3ritain ; aud the

19B

THE 131KI).'« or CANADA.

/toiisc ii-i-cii, wlii<'li !-i'ciu,s to liiivo discovered llamiitou only within
the hist two or three yeai ;. 'i'his little bird is strongly attached
to the dwellini;H of mail; and in the IT aitcd States is frequently accomo-
dated with a hous<; lixcd to a post or tree in the orchard, which is taken
possession of ;'.s soon as the birds arrive from their winter quarters.
{Hiring the past two summers several pairs of liousc wrens have raisc<!
their brood in our city gardens, though previous to that date 1 have not
heard of their being observed.

"Of ////'/^s7ifs wo have five species, among which is an instance ol' the
ditlercncc of habii which is frequently noticed even among birds which
in many respects are closely allied to each other. The red-breasted
thrnsh or fohiii is well known for his familiarity, frequently rearing his
voung close to our dwellings, yet his near relation, the v.'ood-tlirv.ah, is
iMie of our most retiring songsters, and is seen only in the most secluded
parts of the woods; perched on the highest twig of a tall tree, his full
sweet notes are frequently heard, but the moment he is aware of being
observed he drops under the tree tops and glides off in silence.

" This group includes our best songsters, some of which make the very
Avouds ring with their thrilling notes. V have frc(|uently heard the re
mark that our \';uiadian birds, though gaudy in plumaj.c, are iquite
deiicieut in song. My opinion of this matter is, that comparing tho birds
of Xorth ]>ritain with those of Canadn, we have only to strike from tlio
tbrmer list the British skylark, to be able to compete successfully, ejtlier
as regards the number of performers or the variety and sweetness of theii'
notes, 1 have ot'ten imagined (but it may be only a fancy) that their iS
a strange harmony existing betv;cen the voices of birds and their
particular places of resort; T have noticed this in winter in tho
short, sharp note of the nuthaich, which as he Imrries about seems ever
to say that ho mu'^t bestir Iiimself as the days are short. The lively
t vittering of the ^'orblcr seems to blend with the first fluttering of the
young leaves , the shrill piping of the plover is quite in unison with tho
whistling of tho sea-breeze, which comes up over the treeless barren
which they usu;iliy frequent, and surely if we iuid sought through tho
whole feathered race for a tenant to our gloomy cedar swamps, we could
not have ibund one more suitable than tho great horned owl, the
solemn aspect and singular voice of wh'ch makes the solitude of such
places still more intense.

Ivithiii

luchcd

bomo-

tukon

iniisot!

ol' tlic
whicli
castcd
Uix his
•I'sJi, is
eluded
lis full
t' bciuu

THE HII!J»S or CANADA.

19'

onsi

esoiuo plants as tin
sunuuer resident

'riio I'aniily oi' Juirhc^ is one id' (Uir most eouiprolicusivo lii'oups; it
lias beeu divided l>y Audubon into 18 ilittVretil genera, and eoutains,
aeeording to that author, ;")") speeies. 01' these a lair proportion are
found ill our iields and gardens, where tluy render considerable serviee
by ridding the ground of the seeds of such troubl
dandelion and the thistle. The greater number ;ir
only; a few ren>''ln all the year round, and one or two speeies visit us
from the north only in scveie winters; of the latter elass a rare species
has during the past wlutt-r been observed in considcralde numbers rnuhd
the city. I refer to the pine grosbeak, which was first observed about
the oth or (ith of January, in a garden in Merrick street, feeding on tin;
berries of the mountain a:^h. They attracted attention ])y the unsus-
picious way in which tliey followed their occupation, almost within reach
of the people who were passing on the side-walk, shewing clearly that
they were little accustomorl to the f^oclety of man. In small flocks, tlu-y
continued to IVccjucnt the gardens where tlieir favorii,; i ciries were to
be obtained, till about the 'l-]vi\ l-'cbruary, when a strong west wiml,
ticeompanied l)y \\ann rain }U'evailcd for a day and night, after which
they were no more seen. In the winter-^ of ISod-lSoT they paid a
similar visit, but have not. been observed in any other year. Nearly all
those which visited this part of the country were either young males nr
females. The adult male was much sought after on account oi' his
showy crimson plumage, but only a few of them were procured. It is
worthy of remark, that the grost)eaks arc frequeutly, if not always,
:;ccompanied by true Bohemian chatterers; w^uch latter feed on the
stem and pulp of the berries of the mountain ash, rojccied and thrown
doAvn by their hard-billed fellow travellers.

''The small fa.iiily o^ marsh hlackhirds i.s next in order, two species
of which are well-known on account of their gaudy colours. One is the
red-winged blackbird so common in our marshes during summer, and
t! other is the Balfimorc oriole, whoso pcusile nest we sometimes see
suspended from the drooping twigs of our willow shade trees. The
former of the.'?e enjoys the unenviable reputation of being a notorious
corn thief, and thoucch s^'veral writers have endeavored to clear his
character from this imputation, yet if brought to the bar on such a
charge, we might expect to hear very strong condemnatory evidence

. %

198

THE BIRDS OF CANADA.

J' ! ;

•5

_i;iveu against liiiu by the tanner, and unle.>^.s lie eould sueeeed in getting
upon the jury a majority of his friends, llic croio hlackuin/s, which had
themselves tasted the corn, the chanees are that the case would gi»
against him. Admitting, however, that he does oecasionally take what,
was intended for others, he amply eompensates foi- it by the destruction
of innumerable grubs and caterpillars, whose ravages among the corn
would have far exceeded his own. A more remarkable species tliaii
either of these is the row-biuitin(j, which, like the British cuckoo, builds
no nest, but dropping its egg into that of another bird, leaves the care
of its offspring to those not related to it even by family ties. With u,:,
tiie cow-birds arc summer residents only, usually making their appear-
ance about the beginning of April, and retiring to tlie south about the
end uf October. It is possible that a few individuals may si)end the
winter with us, in sheltered situations ; as when visiting a farm house
near Dundas, early in March (1857), I was surprised to see half a dozen
of these birds nestling close together on a beam just above the cattle in
the eow-liousc. On enquiry, I found they had been there all winter,
eoming out for a few hours about mid-day, and gleaning seeds from
among the fodder of the cattle. They were all males, and seemed in
excellent condition.

"' it was long a subject of remark among those who were fond of observ-
ing the habits of birds, that the nest of the cow-bunting was seldom, it'
ever, found, and suspicions were entertained that some irregularity
existed in their mode of perpetuating their race, but Wilson was the
first to establish the fact that they not only shirk the duties of incu-
bation, but that the whole tribe live in a state of the most unrestrained
polygamy. Their conduct, in this respect, forms a striking contrast to
that of all our other summer birds : these, as soon as they arrive from
their winter quarters, lay aside the instinct which has kept them in
flocks during their migratory course, and scattering about in pairs,
each pair makes choice of a particular tree or bush, \vhich is to be
their home for the season. To this spot they are devotedly attached,
and near it the male may be constantly seen, either cheering his niaie
with a song, or fighting bitter battles of disputed boundary with ni-
troublesome neighbours. I'ivcn the woodpeckers, which, some writers
say, have the smallest slif.rc of enjoyment of all the feathered tribes.

i;,.

THE LIRD^; OF CANADA.

109

ic'h liad

)ukl l;i)

ic vvluil

Iti'uctioii

lie corn

OH tliaii

, builds

li'j c;iro

Vith us

appear-

JOUt the

CMld till-

ui houso

a, dozer)

attle ill

winter,

;ds from

cuicd iu

li'obsorv-
ildoui, ii'
3-uIarity
was tlio
of iucu-
:\straincd
Qtrast to
ive from
them ill
a pair.s,
i.s to bo
ttached,
lis iniiio
r'lth n'lA
writers
. tribcfj,

may at this season be seen chattering and chasing cacli other round
the favorite decayed tree, wiiope hollow recess is to be the cradle for
their young. During all tliis excitement, the cowbinls remain in a
state of callous indifference, and iu small flocks, keep roaming about
the clearings like bands of vjigrants, with no song save a few splutter-
ing notes, holding no intercourse with otlicr bird-;, and witli no attach-
ment to any locality, save tliat whore iood is most abundant.

" As the season of inculiation advances, tlie female cow-bird leaves
the flock, and having made clioice of a nest to suit licr purpose, deposits
therein one egg, and leaves it, not only without hesitation, ])ut, judging
from lier manner, with evident satisiaction. The nest so selected is
usually that of a fly-catcher or warbler, in which th'^ owner has made
;i similar deposit. AV'ilson, who spent much time in investigating this
matter, tells us, that the egg of the cow-bird is hatched in less time
tlian the otliers, and that the female being obliged to leave the nest to
provide for the wants of tlie youngster, tlio unhatched eggs are exposed
to the weather, and do not oonie to maturity, but, in a few days,
disappear altogctlxcr, lc;;ving the intruder in undisputed possession of
the ne^t. Tt has ever been a puzzle to naturalists^ to account for this
singular habit, and as it m,".y be interesting to hear what lias l)een '•aid
on the subject, 1 will here make one or two short extracts.

'• Wilson, after devoti;.g more space to the description of this than any
other bird he met with, says, 'what reason nature may liavc for this
extraordinary deviation from the general practice, is, [ confess, altogether
beyond my comprehension. i\rany conjectures, indeed, may bo formed
as to the probable cause, l)ut all o( tliem, which liave occurred to me,
are unsatisfactory and inconsistent. Future and more numerous observa-
tions may throw some light on the matter, till then, we can only rest
sati,>fied Avith the fact.' 3Ir. Selby, the eminent ]']nglish naturalist,
susTii'csts, rcii'ardinc; this habit in the cuckoo that the old birds retir.'
to the south before the young are able io accompany them, and /Jirir
/ore they have to be conlided to (lie c-uv; oi' others. The writer of an
article on this subject, in the Jirltii'h (\i/(loj):i,(h'(i of J^^afnrol IL'sfniy,
says regarding 31 r. Seiby's theory, Mb is is perhaps abouc as good ;in
explanation of the cuckoo's peculiarities as has yt lieen offered, but
it fails, like all tlie others, in beinu (jiiite inapplicable to the Norlli

200

THE BIRDS OF CANADA.

•■V

American cow-bunting. The true cause, whatever that may bo, of
this extraordinary deviation, must, we are persuaded, be the same in
both, nor can we at present accept of any explanation as satisfactory,
which will not alike apply to either.'

" I liave been particular in making these extracts, because ic ocouvs
to me that an important cjufdderation connected with the subject has
been overlooked, it is one which applies alike to the cuckoo and the
cowbird, and will, I think, if carefully followed up, go far to explain thi!
seemingly unnatural conduct of both species. We recognize in it, as in
accordance with the all-wise laws which regulate animated nature, that
over each class there h imposed a salutary check, to prevent excess in
production ; this is specially observable among the feathered tribes,
some of which have their eggs carried away by the ship-load from the
breeding places ; others, such as the grouse and waterfowl, are greatly
reduced in number by sportsmen, or those who make a business of
sending them to market, while the linches and blackbirds contribute
largely to the support of the birds of prey, and in the southern part
of the continent, are, duriug the winter, taken in numbers >', ith the net
and sold for the table. None of these causes, however, in any way aftect
the class which embraces the tiy-catchcrs and warblers, as from their
small size and the nature of their food, they arc not sought after for
those purposes. The check which applies to this class must therefore
be of a dilFereut description from those referred to, and lioding no way
in which their numbers are reduced to any extent, except by the sacrifice
made of their own young while rearing that of the cowbird, leads me to
conclude, that the habit has been given for the special purpose ol'
keeping within proper bounds a class of birds which might otherwise
iiave exceeded their due proportion in the economy of nature. If we
suppose the liabit to be the result of any physical defect in the cowbird,
we might naturally expect that it would confide the care of its young to
a bird nearly allied to its own species, but in nine cases out of ten, the
I'oster parents belong to a gvoup which are different both in size, habit
and the nature of their food; it is evident, therefore, that the /v.s//// of
the peculiarity is intended Jty nature to bear specially on the class to
which the foster parents jjolong, and any one who has noticed the flocks
of eowbivds wliiili pnss ;ilong on tlo'lr niigr;ilovy cniirsf* in spring and

THE BIRDS OF CANADA.

L»01

[o, of

(no ill

3torv,

icouvs
It hns
Id tlio
n tli(!
;is ill
I, that.
;s,s in
vibes,
u the

fall, and estimated that for cacli bird in tliose Hocks, from three to five
of a different class have been prevented from coming to maturity, must
admit that it is no small influence which the cowbird exercises ili main-
taining the balance of power which so admirably prevails among the
feathered tribes.

"If we could imagine such a thing in nature, whose movomonts aiv
all so well ordered as that the cow-buntings should at any time got in
excess of the other class referred to, it would be curious to estimate the
results; the flycatchers would then be fully occupied in rearing foster
children, and not being permitted to perpetuate their own species, must
soon die out, when the cowbirds, finding tliemselves without a substitute
in the rearing of their young, would either be driven by necessity to
make the attempt themselves, or they too would soon be added to the
list of extinct species.

" Passing ilic/aj/s and the crows (both of which are well deserving
of notice did our limits permit), we come to a species which, in our
vicinity, is the sole representative of his family/'' This is the Americint
shrike, or hutcJier hird, so called from his habit of impaling his prey
on thorns. With us this species appears about the end of ►September,
and a few adults remain over the winter. Tlie niale frequently makes
choice of a particular district as his hunting ground during his stay,
and, I am inclined to think, returns to it, year after year. His aspect
bespeaks both strength and courage; the short neck, broad head, and
notched beak, giving him much the appearance of a bird of proy. His
favorite food consists of grasshoppers and other insects, ])ut in winter
when these cannot be procured, he docs not hesitate to hunt dnu'ii tin;
smaller finches, killing them with a blow of his p.jwerful beak. In
October last, when passing through an open field west of the race course,
[ noticed one of these birds, whose motions led me to suspect he was
engaged in the occupation which has gained his name ; he was too shy
to allow a close inspection of his operations, but on examining the thorn
bush I found too of his victims still in life on the spikes. I did not
observe anything which could lead to an explanation of this singular
habit, except that it seemed to take great delight in the pastinu^ skip

•* Since writing tho above, T haro fouml ;i s,^,-onil spe.Me-' nem- Mil- city, wliioli niipoar-
to be the Lnnim E.vouhit(}ruid>» of l!:iinl.

202

THE BIRDS OF CANADA.

ping about between tbc ground and the bush, and warbling a few rather
musical notes in evident token of satisfaction.

" To those who have occaieion to be in the woods in winter, there is
no bird so familiar as the white hrcastcJ nuthatcJi ; it is one of the few
which remain with us all the year round, and is remarkable for its rest-
less, inquisitive habits ; as a climber it has no equal, and may often be
seen running downward on the smooth bark of a perpendicular tree, a
feat which no other Canadian bird ever attempts. An examination of
its feet shows a remarkable adaptation for this peculiar habit. It is
furnished with a long and strongly-hooked hind claw which enables it
to hang firmly in that position. It is said to roost head downward, and
T have often seen it when shot, hanging in this position after death.
The red-breasted nuthatch is another species of the same genus ; it re-
sembles the other, but is more migratory in its habits, less in size, and
slightly diflercnt in colour.

" The family of woodpeckers is well represented in our woods, seven
different species being observed. Of these the most common are the two
spotted varieties, which resemble each other in colour, but difiFcr con-
siderably in size; they are partially migratory, only a few remaining
during the winter, in the fall, when passing along to the south, they
arc frequently seen on the shade trees of the city, jerking themselves
round to the offside of the branch when observed, or again startling the
inmates of our frame dwellings, by rattling loudly on ihc decaying
boards.

" A very beautiful species of this family is the red-headed woodpecker,
which has been remarked by those who are observant of our native
birds, to be less common in this district than formerly. This can only
be accounted for by the removal of the heavy decaying timber which
forms the nursery of its favorite insect food, and as the country gets
more under cultivation, we may look forward to the time when it will
only pay us a passing visit on its way to and from the woody regions to
the north of us.

The least common species of this class which I have observed is the Arc-
tic three-toed woodpecker. Wilson does not appear to have met with it
at all, and Audubon mentions the northern part of the state of New York,
as the southern limit of its migration ; it resembles the spotted wood-

tin

}^\

w
of
av
ki
hi
to

TIIK HIUDS OF (ANAIU.

203

[ther

Ire is

few

rcat-

bi l»c

rce, a

ion of

It is

>les it

[1, and

peckor.s iu .size and nianncrs, hut differs from them in oolor, 'itid in
wanting the hind toe. Why one class of these birds should have four
toes, and another, similar to it in habits, should have only throe, we are
at a loss to determine. J may remark, however, that the three-toed
species belongs exclusively to the north, being seldom found anioDg
deciduous trees, and I have no doubt that a careful examination of the
feet of this bird, and their mode of application to the bark of the pine,
would give a satisftictory explanation of the seeming defect.

Passing the pidgeons and the grouse, wliich are equally interesting to
the sportsman and the naturalist, we come to the waders and dwimmers.
Here my remarks will be general, as the haunts of these birds being
beyond the reach of morning excursions I cannot say much from per-
sonal observation.

Of the first division of this group, whic. includes the plovers, sand-
pipers, curlew, &c., little can be said, except that tliey visit the sandy
shores of Burlington beach in considerable numbers every spring and
fall, when on their migratory course to and from their .summer rcsidenco
in the north. In spring these visits arc usually made during the month
of May, occasionally the flocks remain for a day or two, but more frc-
<{uently they move off after a rest of only a few hours, and arc succeeded
by others bound on the same journey. By the first of June they have
all disappeared except the little spotted sand-piper, which stays with us
during the summer, rearing its young on the shores of the bay.

Of the heron family, we have four species : viz., the great blue heron,
the black crowned night heron, and the greater and lesser bitterns.
Mu(di information has yet to be gained regarding the birds of this class.
Being all more or less night feeders, the study of their habits is attended
with peculiar difficulty. On the breast of the great blue heron, covered
by the 'ong plumage of the neck, is a tuft of soft tumid feathers, which,
when exposed in the dark; emit a pale phosphorescent light. The use
of this '^does not appear to be fully understood, though me fishermen
aver that when the heron retires at night to his feeding ground, he wades
knee deep in the water, and shewing this light attracts the fish within
his reach, much in the same way as the Indian does when fixing the
torch of pitch-pine on the bow of his canoe.

" Of the flocks of the larger water-fowl which periodically pass along

' fl:

204

THE IJIIIDS OF CANAHA.

on their mij^nitory c(»iir,sc', ouly a very few now visit us; occawionully,
ill thick or storiDy weather a few stniprglers alight on the bay to rest
ami recruit themselves, though the;y gcuerrJly forfeit thoir lives by so
doing. Last i'all three specimens of the American swan were thus
procured, and a singh; individual of what has hitherto been considered
the young td' the snow goose was also obtained ; doubts still exist as to
the identity of the latter bird, some writers maintaining that it is a
separate and distinct species, while others declare it to be the young of
the snow goose in immatuve plumage. There arc good arguments on
both sides, but conclusive information on the subject can only be
obtained from their breeding grounds in the far north.

" Of ducks 1 have noticed, in the market and clj-ewhcre, twenty dif-
ferent species, the gayest of which is the wood-duclc^ so called from its
habit of building its nest in the hollow of a decayed tree. A few pairs
of this species annually raise their broods near the shores of the Dundas
marsh; i\\g teal rxwiX Diallanl have also been observed leading out their
young from the ready inlets of the bay, but there are exceptional cases,
as the great body pass farther to the nortii, paying us a short visit going
and returning.''

" Nearly allied to the ducks is the small i'amily of merganstrs, which
coutaius only three speciesy peculiar to the American continent, all of
which are, at certain seasons of the year, found round the shores of the
bay. The birds of this class subsist chictly by fishing, and have the bill
compressed and deeply serrated, to enable them to hold their slippery
prey. They are also furnished with a crest, the use of which has been
a matter of conjecture among naturalists, one of whom suggests that the
elongated feathers of the head being acted on by the water, serve to give
precision to the blow when striking the lish, nmch in the same way as
a leather acts on the shaft of an arrow. The most beautiful of this

«■..

* It has beLMi remarked by tisbermeu and others, who have had occasion to bo on the
waters of the bay during the fummcr months, that there are usually about a dozen
ducks which keep toi^ether in a .sni.all flock, and do not seem to take any share in the
duties of tiio breedin,!? season. Tlic floi^k is comiioscd of both sexes, and frcnuently of
different specitis. \'iirii»us conjectures have been formed as to the cause of this singular
cjnduct, but the proljubility is, tliat they are birds which, from being wounded or
otherwise in ill health, have been unable to perform the journey northwards, and prefer
gponding the j^ummcr in retirement, joining their comrades on their return in the fall.

I The smew, or white nun, is mentioned in some works as an American bird, but it"
occurronc; is very rare and considered accidental.

ill

TIIK BIIIDS OF rANAI>A.

20:1

iionully,
y <o rest

OS by so

IV Hi us
nsidort'd

iiSt as to
t it is a

,'tillll<>' ol'

iients on
ouly 1)0

Jiity dil-
iVoin its
ew pairs
J>undas
»ut their
al cases,
iit goili;;'

s, which
at, all of
's of the

the bill
slippery
las been
that the

to give
I way as

of this

bo ou the

a ddzcn
re in tlio
uently oC

singuliir
inded nr
nd prefer
lie fal).

i, but its

class is the hooded mcr;j,aiisi'r, wIiom; line erectile crest extends from the
bill right over to the hind head. "With \is this .Npccies is never abun
dant, but a few pairs are seen every sjtring as soon as the ico begins to
shove from the sides of the bay. Their stay at this season is short, a>
they soon pass on to the north to breed ; in the fall they again pay us a
visit accompanied by their young, and f(.»llow their avocation vouud tin
bay till they are frozen out, when they move olf to the south to spend
the winter.

"Two species of tern visit the bay in spring, and during winter thrti:
spcf.'ics of gull have been observed at the beach. Of the latter class thl^
most conspicuous is the great black-ba<.-ked gull, which arrives from tlu-
north at the approach of winter, and leaves again on the lirst appearance
of spring. The woid //»//, as applied to the human species, is often used
to denote dullness or stupidity, but sm h a meaning could no^ be sug-
gested by the character of the birds to which it belongs, as there is not.
among all other water-fowl, a more vigilant species than that which we
have just referred to ; it never comes within gun-shot, and the only
specimen ever procured at the beach, met liis death by following the
example of an eagle in tasting a poisoned carcase, a few minutes aft( r
which, both were stretched dead upon the ice.

'' Lowest on the list as being least perfect in their organization, art-
the grebes, a class of birds which frequent the borders of our smaliei'
lakes and ponds, iiuding their sustenance chiefly in thr shallow waters,
which abound with water-plants. Three different species of this genus
are found in the bay, all of which arc known to the gunners by the
somewhat susscstive name of ' helldivci'.' An examination of those
birds shows the most wonderful adaptation to their ])eculiar mode of
life. Their food beini;' obtained cutirelv under water, and their nest
being ouly a few inches above its level, they have little occasion to be
on land. When surprised in that situation, they seem mof:t helpless,
their lega being placed so far aft, they are unable to keep the body in
anything like a horizontal position, and so make poor progress in walk-
ing, but the moment they reach the water they disappear under the
surface, and are not again seen while the cause of alarm remains. The
plumage of this species is of the most compact and silky texture, and is
never penetrated by water while the bird is in life. The legs are placed

'J
'I

■} .

2on

TirE urRDS OF CANADA.

fur buliiml tin- ««'iitie of gravity, to givo it gieutor power iu Mwiiiimiug,
and arc mucli compressed so as to offer the least po3Bil)lo re.sistanee to
water, while the toes, iu place of being connected with a web as in the
tluck, arc each furnished with a .separate inem})rane, which enables tho
bird to pass with case and celerity through the tangled masses of water-
plants, among which its favorito food is found. In some part of the
European continent the skin of the grebe is much prized as trimming for
ladies' dresses ; and in olden time, when the fo\vling-p-iec(! was a less
perfect instrument than at present, consiilerable diiliculty was found in
s»ip[)lying tho demand, as the grebe being a most expert diver, disappeared
at the tirst Hash of tho gun, and was under water ere the shot could,
leach it. Since the invention of the percussion cap, however, they are
more readily killed, and were any of our Hamilton ladies desirous of
having a dozen or two of grebe's skins ibr trimmings, I have no doubt
the birds would be forthcoming. At present, there being no demand
for the skins and the flesh being unsuitable for the table, they are not
much disturbed.

" Of the three species alluded to, one is a winter visitor, the other two
remain during the summer, and rear their young in Dundas marsh and
the reedy inlets of the bay. They are well protected with feathers, yet
seem very sensitive to the cold, moving off to tho south at the first touch
of frost; returning again about the ' tter end of April.

" 1 have thus alluded to only a few of our more remarkable birds.
Tho total number of species observed in the near vicinity of the city,
from May, 185(5, to the present time, amounts to 20(5, each of which has
a separate and distinct history of its own, though in many cases it is very
imperfectly known to us. If sportsmen and others, who have oppor-
tunity of observing the birds in their native haunts, could be induced to
make notes of their observations, and communicate them to public bodies
having the means of making them known, much new information would
no doubt be gained, and we could with tolerable certainty ascertain the
the geographical distribution of many species, a point at present
undetermined."

«■:

FAUNA AND ILORA,

20 r

iiiiiiiij^;,
.ilic'c to
ill tlu;
Irs tlio
wator-
(>r till.

Jamiii anb J;lon of tljc ivtrcinc Hortli-tast.

•I

At a recent ineoting of tlu! Chicii.i^o Acuilciiiy of Scioncc.-^, Hr.
Ketuiicott gave some intcrcptiii^ particulars of a lari:;o tract of laiul
called the IJarren Ground, in the occup!\tiou of the Hudson's liny Coni-
])any, being the extreme north-east portion of North America, east o\'
Hudson's JJay, whither he liad been under the auspices of the AndulxDi
and other learn(>d societies, to make collections and observations in
natural history. The speaker described the Barren Land a.s of \n>-i
»'xtent, eoverinir thousands of scjuare nii'.es which had never yet Ixu'n
trodden by the foot ol' whitt man, and probably was unknown to the
Indian. Nothing but lichens and mosses ;:'row oti this vast territorv,
and the animal and /lorn which art' found on it an; very marked aiul
peculiar. lie said that the immense tract of land bore about the s:im(>
relation to the prairie as the prairie l)ear.« to the wooded country. With
very few cxceptionH, there; was nothing to be seen but the lowest kind
of //■;/■«. llis visit there was in the winter, and he had felt tlu, weather
quite warm. The si>eaker spok«' nf tin; migration of birds northward,
across the tract during spring. In high winds, when they ll(>\v low, he
had shot several of them; and i'ound, upon examination of the seed?!
they had eaten, that they were such as could have eome oidy from the
State of California or the neighbourhood oi'Oreixon. TFe stated that he
had observed several speeimen.s of granite and very fine eopjier, tin-
latter so pure that the Indians liad had no dilUeulty in niaking i( into
spear-hcads ; and he had lit his pipe at a lire caused by llu' spontaneo\>s
eombustion of a peculiar kind of eoal whie'i had ]<ovn burning for
thousands of years. The artitlcial heat produced by these firos was verv
considerable, and where the heat existed, (juite a peculiar (uluiir of
plants was produced. The country abounded with lakes, luit the
'geographical description of them, whieli had been generally furnislied
by Indians, could not be relied upon. The lecturer spoke of tiie a((uatie
habits of the Ksquinuiux to bo found on (Jopper river, and made -nme
interesting allusions to the magiu^tic pole and the discoveries of .^ir duhn

208

FAUNA AND FLORA.

Ross and his nepliew iu connection tlierewitli. In reply to Professor
Andrews, the lecturer said that he had not observed any description of
funr/i growing on the Barren Ground. The color of the lichens and
mosses was from a grayish white to a dull brown. He had seen trees
thirty feet high growing on the rock with not more than a peck of earth
for their roots. They offered very little resistance to the wind, and were
freo<uently blown down. The Indians made their bows from the roots.
He spoke at length upon the indigenous animals to be found on tlu!
Barren Ground, and their peculiaritios, mentioning the musk ox, tin.'
barren ground reindeer, the barren ground bear, and the polar bear.

IS,

(209)

APPENDIX.

(irl)e (Quebec f isi) anii (Pamc Jpvotcttiou ^Uiib li^povt.

At the iimiual gcucnil meeting of the Fish aud ( Jamo Protection Club,
tlie undcrmciitioucd gentlemen were elected to ibvm a (Jommittoe t(jv the

ensuing year : —

Col. Hhodes, President.

J. GiL?!OlJR, Es(j., ]'irc-l'/-csi<hnf.

v. W. C . Austin, Esq., JSeci/.- Treas.
The following report of the retiring Committee, for the past year, was
then read, and unanimously adopted:

J. B. FousYTii,Es([.

W..'MAilSUEN,Es(i.>M.l).

P. V. Robin, Esq.

(J.VME.

The wasteful practice of the Indians in slaying the moose, tor tho
purpose of obtaining skius alone, is still persevering ly earned on during
the close season in many of the districts irequentoci by this gam., which
is in consequence, rapidly diminishing from year to year ; other results
cannot possibly be andcipated, as no steps are taken by_ the government
of the JountiT, by the municipal or other local authonties m the u w
and distant settlements, to arrest these wanton Pr''«'-^^'^l^"f " ^"^"^ ^f,
existino' state of tbe law, it is the conscientious sportsman alone who is
prcclu(fed from enjoying a brief excursion during winter, in pursuit ot
these monarchs of the Canadian forest ,.,,•,, ,i;ft\v fr .m the

The caribou have increased in numbers ; tboir liabits f '^ :^ J^^ "^.^ ^

habits of tho moose; they are more ^^-^!«^ ^^^ ^f 7^ , ^^^^^^^
their spreading hools aud light action u^ist t^ie^r ^l'^''^ I ;^ ^^^^
snows when lollowod by the huntsman ; their hides, as objects ot tiatiic,
arc not of such value to the Indians as tbe skins ot l^lTf'.^ -^
An experienced craftsman, a member of this Club, k. lied ic.ently, n
a sh "r bray, nu h.<< than ten caribou, together with a great quan ty
of hei gan. of which ptar.nigan formed the largest P'^oportion^ These
lrds,mAwith in numbers, were generally found ^" glades and op^^^^^
spaces in the coverts, where their food-.«wild fruits and buds of particular
trees aud shrubs— was plentiful.
28

210

APPENDIX.

Jhircs autl Ciiiku1;i ;.;roUfC v/ere ;ilr:o iiict "itli iu unusually lariio
quautitics.

(^ol. Kliodos, as well as oilier s})ortsiueu, obsei'voil ihat the licrds (tf
carilxni were lari:c,ainl juiitaiucd a jtromisiiig nuiiibor of youii^ auiiuuls.

The eliase of this wary and swil't-i'totcd game is hiiilily appreciated by
(lie true Cauadiau sportsman, who, to hunt it successfully, must possess
the staunch (jualifications of the deer stalker and cliaaiois hunter com-
bined, as these animals arc usually found in herds roaming over tbc
bleak mountain-sides and frozen lakes of our northernmost districts.
AVhcL! the surface of the snow is soft and yielding, and a suitable wind
prevails, the caribou may be approached by careful stalking; but during
calm weather, or when the snow is crusted, the only chance of o/btainiag
a shot is I'or the sportsman to hide himself to the Iccwanl of his game,
an attendant is then ordered to make a distant circuit and <A\c the
caribou hi;i wind. ^\'hen these kccn-scented animals tliscovcr the
presence of an enemy, they become alarmed, and uiive away in the
direction opposed to that iVom which they imagine the danger to pro-
ceed, ami thus en(;ouutcr a real lot; in the person <.)f tin* coucoaled hunter.
An unusual number of caribou have been disposed oi' in the markets v)f
this city.

llel doer (locally so called,) were also last season altundant, and were
disposed of at reasonable prices.

A sportsman, who, during a short excursion in the Ottawa District
killed some of ^hesc line animals, on his return reported that about tl'.irty
head of this g.imc were last autumn shot by two gentlemen in that
iw'i'jhb'>rlioo(|.

(Jreat numbers of re<l deer are annu;illy killed during the fence time
by tho operatives engaged in the niunufacturc of timber, in the same
locality.

The mode usually adojited by sportsmen of hunting these animals is
to drive the woods Avith hounds, wdien the startled deer fly at once to
the water, where the hunter, in a light skiiT or birch canoe, awaits the
approach of his game, which plunges in, and tries to escape by swini-
niing ; at this crisis, an exciting a(|uatic conte.it sv)niotimes ensues.
Jjater in tho season, wdu'u the river.s and lakes are ice bound, the deer
;ire shot in the " runs;" they are also sonietiniL's '•' still-hunted" — a good
many, too, arc shot at night with the aid of a torch.

.\. good nuuiber of bears wore killed diu'ir.g the ] ast summer and
autumn in the ncighljorho-jd of this city — these animals made some bold
attacks u[ion a few of the sheep-folds in this district.

I'^athercd game generally was abundant, tracts deserted for may year-
were again resorted to, ami grounds usually tenanted were frcquenti-d
by inci'cased numb,.n's of the dilfercnt speeics. The country around
('hicago. also, where eilicicnt game laws exist, swarmed with i)rairie lowl
and <[uail ; one J^xprcss company ahnie, at that [dace, forwarded to New
Vork no less than ten tons of these birds.

Wild ducks of various kinds were also plentiful in difl'ercnt sections,

APPENDIX.

•211

[ally laruo

10 herds (»r
|ig auimal.-.
reciatcd by
lust, po.sso.'vs
untcr coni-
^ over the
t districts,
tuhlo wiud
|biit diiriuu;
>i' o/btainijg
liis iiaiJic,
[id ,u;ivc' the
i.scovcr the
way ill the
rj;ei to pro-
ilcil hunter,
markets >d'

It, and were

awa District

about tl'.irty

mcu in that

10 ieiico time
in the same

ic animals is
y at oiico to
,}, aAvaits tho
]>e by swim-
mes ensues,
md, the deer
od" — a good

summer nnd
Ic some bold

'or UKiy years
(! iVeqiientt'd
iitrv around
])rairie fowl
rded to New

ent sections,

] and the markets were well su[>plied with them, ft is, however, much

I to be deplored thr.t tlie Act docs not entirely prohibit the kijlinn- of

water-fowl of different species in the coupling season, and that no prov

sion of law is yet made to prevent the shooting of woodeoci
congregated on their leedint;' grounds betwoei\ sunset and

whih
b

-sunrise ; hy

ensivi'lv

suffering this wholesale method of destruction, which is ext
Ibllowod in this district, many coverts become entirely denuded of thi-
excellent game.

Rumors prevailed last spring tint the shooting oJ' suipo was a ;>ood
deal indulged in during the breeding timi^, and it was not only to tl
lower orders that illegal practices in tins respect were imputed

Information of infringements of tlie (iame Act v.'a-

sent to yuur

(Jommittec in three instances during the ]iast year, and ])n)secutions
were brought accordingly, wliieli resulted in two convielions. Owin^:,
however, to the paradoxical cpiniuns expressed in relation to the protec-
tion of fish and gaim; by the magistrate who fiappene I to preside, the
third case was withdrawn by the Club.

Vour Committee regret that no Icgislaiiou lias yet been adopted
towards arresting tho practice of shooting tlio singing and small Ijinls o\'
the country. It is generally on a Sunday that tho dissolute emerae'
with their guns and other engines to carry on a warfare against tlie
pretty songsters, whose bodies, when dead, are useless, but whose
cheerful notes, while living, awaken pleasure and delight. L''rom the
fact that the existence of the small birds confers gre;:t benefits upon
agriculture, by destroying insects hurtlul to vegetation, it is surprising
tliat no philanthropic legislator lias yet introduced a law to save them
from destruction. The Ifumane Society, recently organi/ed in this city,
within whoso province the repression of heedless acts of cruelty naturally
lies, will no doubt consider whether if would not l)ecom(> that body to
arrest this wanton destruction of life.

This Club is deeply indebted to J. }.I. liO^Foine, Es^ , for several
excellent communications publislied by that gentleman, onnected with
the objects of this association.

Vour Committee cannot close this part of their report without congra
tulating their fellow members upon tho marked increase apparent last
season in some of those objects of human food, which their Society
desires to promote, and they also believe that the humble elibrts of this
Club, aided by similar associations now establi'-hed in ditferent parts nf
the province, as well as la Nov:i Scotia, have not been altogether
uninteresting to those who really ;;opreeiale ar, inere.asr in the game n|*
Canada as a desirable obiect.

S.VLAION AXn .S.M,:\IOX JMSIIKLIIES.

The restoration of our salmon and trout lislu rics, whicii lias boon
attempted by the government, is a subject wiiich interests the i)ublic as
deeply as it does every member of this assotiiation.

212

APPENDIX.

l-i'

The coast:^, rivers and lakes of Canada, which nature and nature alone
had stocked with a rich provision of wholesome food, requiring ncit)ic»
expense to maintain nor labor to cultivate, in numerous instances jrom
the improvidence of the Indian, the greed of the whitL' man, and the
long-coutiuuod in iin'i'rence of the government, had become entirely
barren — and in ot'iicr cases the supply Iiad so diminished as to render
ever}' exertion twwaids the ]n'eser\'ation and increase of these fisheries
an object of })araniount in.'poriaiice. 'IMiis Chib, therefore, has never
failed !o regard with great interest the late efforts of the Executive to
rescue these fisheries from the state of depression to which years of reck-
lessness and inattention had reduced them. These struggles have been
attended with much benefit in promoting the increase of salmon in some
of the rivers* of the Lower St. Lawrence — other rivers would, no doubt,
have equally profitted had the well-intended efforts of the government
been fully seconded by an elhcient and laborious staff.

The system of leasing salmon ii«;liing stations and fishing rights,
although at one time regarded as a somewhat speculative measure, has
succcssfullv coMtributcd to;v'ards promoting an incrca.-^e of these valuable
fish.

The 3Ioisie, which sent so large a supply of excellent salmon to this
market during the jjasl summer, and which river has been managed for
the past two (*r three years by an experienced tacksman, affords an apt
iliustration of the results to be obtained by careful and prudent fishing;
the boon eonicrred by placing ^o large a quantity of wholesome food
within reach of all class:s (d' the community was fully appreciated.

The incredible rapidity willi which ihe young salmon increase in
development and gain ilesh has been recently ascertained with great
accuracy, twenty months sufficing from the deposition of the ova to
prodiM^e marketable fish; each fortnight of tlicir stay in the salt water,
after their lirat descent of their native river, adds over a pound to their
weight.

From the rapid increase in size and weight of these fish, in the sea,
it is interesting to know what compo.-.es their naiural food wiiile there.
I'rofessor Qucckett thinks they live upon the ova of the sea-urchin ;
Professor Huxley considers that their ibod consists of small eiustacia^.
This question admits of no difiiculty with regard to the fish fre({uenting
the Gulf of St. Jjawreuce and its coasts, as the operatives engaged in
splitting and curing salmon inv:iria])ly find their stomachs gorged with
caplin and young herrings.

The advantages resulting from the artificial propagation of salmon
over the natural way, are also remarkable ; it is estimated that not more
than one ovum in a thousand naturally deposited in a rive- becomes a
marketable fish, while one in each liuudred placed in a hatching-box be-

l li

- Since the Jiicques dirtier has fallen into the hands (if private individvials, the catch
of palmon, in ISl'^J, attained the unprecedented fl<;i:ro of tu-o luuidrod fish. The pools
of the Ste. Anno were , swarming witli tish last y jar, and lio,-li salmon on th<, Quebec
market was, from its abundance, as l'>w ns two pence half-penny per pound, one seaf^on.
-~{J. M. L.)

;ure alone
; ncit^.c.
cos jroiii
and the
entire)}'
to render
fisheries
las never
cutive to
s ot reck-
lave been
1 in some
uo doubt,
verniuent

g i-ig-lits,
nsure, has
e valuiiblf!

on to this
inagcd fol-
ds an apt
it fisliiiiy ;
some lltod
iated.

n crease in
witli "reat
he ova to
salt water,
id to their

the sea,
lile there,
a-urehin ;
Luustaci;e.
j((iienting
agaj2;ed in
rged with

)f salmon

not more

)ecomes a

g-box be-

s, the catch

1'ho pools

thv, Quebec

one season.

APPENDIX.

2ia

comes a perfect salmon. The superiority', therefore, of artilloial breeding,
in re-stocking rivers which have becoin.' barren, is obvious, and it is not
by any uhkuis an expensive oi)cration ; the orlgiuiil o.-t ol' the pimds at
iStormoiitficUl, which annually send tD sea 200,001.) s;il»i )n, was only
.tdOO, and the yearly ex])ciise does not exceed .CoO.

Ite(.'ont dIscovcri(\< In th" natnr d lilstury of tlio Sdnio S'lfur have
also served to elucidate many p ijuts wliirh were sul>jeets of controversy
among naturalists, as well as piisctical li-hermon. It is now ascertained
that the ova oi' salmon are only feeuiiilited afier leaving the lish, and
the fecundation may be eifocted not only by the milt of the full-grown
male, but also })y that of the grilso and tli<^ parr.-''

About onedialf the ova hatched become siuoults, whieh descends to the
sea during the first year of tlu'ir hatehing, the remainder continuing in
their native river till the following senson, und in a few instances some
of the latter remain in thi'ir nui'sery until \hr. third year, b lore ihoy nre
rca<ly to migrate. Salmon ova are uvvw h.itclied in the sea, nor can
parr live in the s;dt water before assuming the smoult rcales. All the
smoults that have miirrated to the sea do not the sarLC vear return to
their nntive river as grilse, (me-h;df returning the next year ;is small
salmon. It appears to Ik; a l;nv of these li-li, to descend to and return
I'roni the sea by dtnible or divided migrations. "j'

:V fev,' l.ireediug salmon di.t not su^iice to rest jek an exhausted river,
or to auu'inent the sui'iilv in a nruductive oac, ns the Wiist(; which occurs
in the ova is enormou-. ; much is lost from not coming in eontac^t vvdth
the vitall/inir milt of tJi:; male — from not having ])een properly covered
with gravel i^y the fish. The ova also are di'voiired by the larva> of
anuatiu insects and water fowl ; tlii; vi>ui)2' frv. too. ;tre. destroved in
great uumber.s by other tish.

None ol' our exhausted rivers have yet been re-stocked, nor has any
determined eftbrt been made by the gnvemiui nt staff to restore any of
them; twenty month- sufhcing to pr<nluej marketable salmon from tlie
ova, several of those barren rivers, liad fhe\ lieen subject(Ml to active
inanagement, would now teem with i!>h.

No marked increase of trout aiTectIng the -mailer rivers and inlami
lakes has yet been observed, as the law aifonls no protection to thes(!
fi.sh during the spawning time nature assigned to them. The proper
close season for trout ought to commence on the first of September anil
terivdnate on the first of January.

In August, 18.58, it was by 'law enacted that a fidi-way ^ill0uId be
attached and maintained to every dam or slide where lish might ascend.
The present Act enjoins the same thing, and directs the Superintendent
of Fisheries to see that such lisii-way is maintained.

Your Committee regret to add that, notwithstanding that more than
four vcars liavo now elapsed since the parsing of the first law, there are
vet salmon rivers in Lower Canada barred !iy mill-dams ami slides, which

* IJron'n'<i Natnrnl History of the Sahnoiu f ^*'"'^'

21-1

APPENDIX.

Ii:t'

liavG no fish-ways attached to them. Tlicro arc also mill-dams having'
suitable fish-stairs, which, durinj; the run of the salmon, are suffered to
remain so encumbered by drift and mill rubbish as to h? perfectly useless.

Mr. Fennell, the Irish Fisheries Commissioner, in liis evidence given
before the committee of the House of Lords in 1800, states that salmon
can ascend any height by means of these stairs. A fish-way lias been
recently constructed in Ireland two miles long.

Authentic information from different sources rc;ic;lied your Committee
last season, that the si)eariug of breeding salmon v,'ns indulged in as
usual by the Indians, This practice, so long as it is persevered in, mu^t
neutralize all the efforts of the government to inereise those fish. Ff it
be deemed a hardship to deprive the Indians of this privilege, it would
be an act of wisdom to substitute, in the autumn, such a n:oilerato supply
of other food as would aid in their support, while engaged during tln^
!*■ ,. winter at tlieir hunting-grounds, as spearing the salmon destroys the

seed, and devastates the seed-ground of these fisheries.

No provision is yet made lor communicating by steam with the fish-
eries (tf the Lower St. Ijawrence ; until this be effected, the rovenu(!
from them must ever remain inconsiderable.

The Act now in force does not protect the fry oi' the salmon daring
. their stay in their native rivers. The young fish are destroyed in great

numbers in waters flowing through ]>opulous districts. To capture or
have in possession at any time young salmon, under a certain weight,
should be prohibited, 'i'ho young of trout ought also to bo protected.
The practice of setting fixed or stationery lines in the inland lakes ought
also to be forbidden.

!■. W. (1. AT'STIN,

>S'/vvv^r/ry- TV'-as/r/v/v

Quebec. L%/,7 /<v/;/-;(a/^, IS*;.;;.

t I.

^nminl Ucpovt oT tl)e iUontieal JisI) anii (f^amc JJrateilion

Ullub, for IBlv'i.

Tin; Annual iAfoeting was held at " Dolly's," on the f.th March. iSiJL

IfEN'RY McKay, I*rr.-<iifr,if.

A. Mtrrav, Srrri /■(,// -Awl Tn'd.-.in-rr.

(■OMMITTKK.

A. llOWAiiD,

Georui; Horni;,
l. m. duvernay,

Mr. Henry .McKay, the President, in the chair.

Frederick Hay,

yVLFUED JvIMMER,

L. Betournay.

'irm

II to

Ies8.

ivoii

piiou

tlec
|i as

lU'-t

f if

til

APPENWX. 215

The Secretary read the folluwiu- Auuual llepott . —
The Committee of the 3loiitrc:il Fish and (jariic l^rotection (Muh havi'
to report that duriirj; the past year every eflbrt has hccn made to securr
the enrorccniMit ol" the law, in ,<(i Car as it provides a^rainst tlie imjiropei
destruetiuu of ti;di aiK^ <j;aiiu'.

A reward of ten doli.a'rf oll'ered to an\ ouo seiairin^a ennviciioii, was
extensively advertised throuihout the city and in country plaee-;, and the jj
markets here liav<; ))i'eii -^o earel'ul'.y watehetl that it has heeome a man
of move dan^ut-r than prulit to buy or sell ai the prohihiied seas

\s lar.Lce fiuantities of hlack. hass and dt

n-c wore (J

penly

ons.

exposoi

I 1

sale as late in the s*'ason as April last, the ^eeretary proscented one of
the dealers, but iailed to scctire a eouviction, as (evidence was Itrou^ht to
bhow that the fish in (juestiou had been taken before the I5th ( ^' Mareii.
Tlie {O'oseeutiun had a <;ood eifect, however, as the sale was at once put
a sto[) to. Vour Committee would reeommerid, that ou th(^ l.">th instant,
notice be jj:ivcn to all dealers that ten days will be allowed them to dis
[tose of the stock on liarnl, but that alter that time an i: foimation v.il!
be laid against any one havin;^ them in his possession,

A well-known trailer I'rom Vercheres, who has been in tlie haliit of
supplying the markets and hotels with game, both in ami on! of season,
was detected on one of tin; market boats in May la.>t. IJi- hag of gome
was eoniiscated, and himself convicted in ten dollars and ci.'st.s. hi tins
case, the Club reward was divided ))etween the informer and the police
constable who eiVected the capture.

On the loth of .hine last, the reward was elaimed for the conviction
of one Ives, of the 'i'ownship of Jlolton, for having shot three partridges
on the 25th April. A cortilicd copy of the conviction before 11. S.
Foster, lllsq., J. I*, for ijedford, having been received, as also a letter
from that gentleman, stating that the penalty awarded (sixteen dollars)
had been liuforceii, the sum often dollars was I'cmitted to the party who
]irosecuted.

it having I'ouie to the knowiedti'c oi' die Committee, that fish and
game, out of season, had been served at the .St. James Club House,
this was at once brought before the managers, aii'l a letter was received
<Vom the secretary slating that the matter had b.^en one of inadvertence,
and that instructions had })een issued that any lish or game which may
lie out of season should not atrain enter the Club.

The attention of the po-ineipal hotel and restaurant keepers has ])eeii,
from time to time, called to these law.«, and their observarce of them,
:inii co-operation \virh the Club generally, asked and promised.

The Con^mittee are sanguine that by a -teady perseverance in the
coarse followed duriiig the past year, one great object of the Club will
be atlaiiuMl i-i the closing ol' all markets, here at till events, for the
prtdiibite'l nviieliv-. It is really iu the markets of large cities that the
battle has to lu iuu-ht, ibr it is almost impossible, for many reaitons, to
reach the lirst oil'euder in country places. Stop the sale fd' his illicit
wares, however, and you will do mu'^h to cure the evil.

216

APPENDIX.

} -'\-

For tlii.s reiii'-oi), tliu (loinmittoc would express an euruest hope that
organizations t-iniilar to this iuul the (jjucboc Club, will soon bo found in
every town in Canada. The obir-ct appeals not alone to the interests ol'
sportsmen. In a eouiitry like ours, so reeently wrested from the hands
of nature, and blessed by I'rovidenee with sueh magnificent preserves
i'or the linest of lish and _i:ame — ])reserves that, by proper mana<rement,
eould be made almost iiu^xh;:ustiblc, and from whieli miiiht be drawn a
large and valuable portion of the food of the people, — it is sur^dy lament^
able to see a war of utter extermination so ignorantly and '•eeklessly
carried on, — to see that while other countries are, at great expense,
carefully fostering both ibreign and iiomo fisheries — that while the people
of Australia, fir instance, arc bringing the ova of salmon and trout
twelve thou^^and miles to stock their barren streams, we, whose every
inland ere>.'k onee abounded with llicse lish up to the very foot oi'
Niagara, have nearly succeeded in destroying all v/ithin uur reach.

Mill dauis and uiill oft'il, stake nets, and the villanous spear upon the
s[)awuing grouiul, htive all but doue their work ; and unless the elVorts
now being made are successiul, and both government and peo[)le give
themselves to the simple Avork of .seeing that the/ryvr iia/nnr get common
fair jday, a few years more and we shall indeed have killed our goose
for the sake of its goldeu rggs.

As the Club are aware, Mr. .Price, M.P.P., has had beiore rarliament
l«ir several sessions bills to amend the Fishery and (JamcActs. Your
Committee have been in eommunicatiou with that gentleman ou the
subject, and have pleasure in acknowledging the prompt attention which
these suggestions received at his hands.

The Committee have recommended the following amendments to the
[tresent laws : —

<;a:me act.

Sc(t. o. — This clause declares it unlawful to kill t'ertain game by
snaring, but it i-3 del'cctive in not providing again.vfc the buying, selling
or having iu possession game that has manifestly been killed ])y snaring.
It is only by the enforcement of such a i-lause as this that the evil can
practically be reached.

l):ccf. i. — lleferring to the killing of wild geese, ducks, kc, should be
amended so as to prohibit their destruction between the 1st April and
the -Uth August, in every year. It would be better : till to prohibit
spring shooting altogether.

Serf. 11. — That it is highly desirable to prohibit altcg(;ther, and at
all seasons, the destruction, carrying avray, &c., of the eggs of wild fowl
in all parts of Canada, or at least Avest of the Kiver f^aguenny — incal-
culible injury being done in this way every spring, especially on the
Lakes St. Fjaucis and 8t. Peter, and the marshes adjacent.

JScct. lo. — That in the opinion of the Club it has become of im-
portance to consider how far it is right or necessary any longer to draw
the marked distinction now existing between the Indians and all other

APIPBNDTX.

217

that
d ill

s of
md.s

•V(.'S

cut,
n\ a

(Ult-

'',

•uuf;

•crv

ni'

of Her Majesty's subjects, cspocially in parts of Cauada where the former
have CO a great extent adopted the habits and pursuits of civilized life,
and vfhere the practices cuniplainod of are carried on, not for sustenance,
but pecuniary gain. There can be no doubt, for instance, that the great
destruction of the eggs of game fowl ])erpetrated every year in the
neighborhood of Lake 8t. Francis, is principally the work ef the St.
Regis Indians, and that there, and in other parts of (.'annda, the injurious
consequences of the peculiar privileges granted to this class are becoming
every day the more manifest.

FISHERY ACT.

One eftect of the amended Act now before Parliament will be, if i*
passes, to shorten the present fence time for trout and lunge, substitut-
ing the 2Uth of September and 10th of December for the present dates.
This the Committee regret, and have represented their desire that these
fish should ho kept out of market till at least the 1st January, and later
if possible.

Your Committee also recommended that clauses similar to sections 10
and 15 of the Game Act should be inserted in the Fishery Act, provid-
ing that it shall be the duty of clerks of markets. Sec, to seize and con-
fiscate all fish exposed for sale, or otherwise, in contravention of the Act;
and, also, that Custom-hcnise officers should be invested with similar
authority, as much of the fish killed at improper seasons, or in an imprope.
manner, is carried for sale into the United States.

Your Committee have also recommended that a clause be introduced
into the Act prohibiting mill offul, saw-dust, or tan bark, from being
thrown into the rivers and streams. It is true the Agricultural Act
provides for this to a certain extent, but saw-dust is not specified in the
clause; and, in any case, it would be well to have tliis matter, which
so particularly aff'ects the fisheries, provided for in the Fishery Act.

The above suggestions have, with but few exceptions and alterations,
been adopted by Mr. Price, and either have, or will be introduced into
the bills which he has before Parliament. Whether they will become
law or not, or if so, when, it is of course impossible to say. They have
already been before the house for two sessions ; perhaps during the
present one a little time may be spared for the business of the country.

Among other suggestions which your Committee felt it their duty to
press on the Legislature of the country, was one urging for the protec-
tion of the smaller insectivorous birds.

It is now well understood that the wanton destruction of these birds,
which too commonly prevails, especially in tlie neighborhood of large
cities, does mucli injury to the agrieultural and hortieultural interests of
the country ; and your Committee obtained from a gentleman of this city,
who has devoted much attention to these subjects, a very complete list
of the ornithology of Canada, discriminating between the birds injurious
and those useful to the most important interests. This list was sent
through the Hon. 3Ir. Ho.>-c to Mr. Joly, M.P.P., and the latter gentle-

218

APl'ENDrX.

raan has introduced :i bill which fiubracos the sii;,'ge.«it,ions of your Com-
mittco, and which they trust may become law. This bill prohibits
the destruction of the birds protected, except at certain seasons. It
woul ! be better to prohibit it altogether. There in no use in shooting
them at any season ; on the contrary, nuicli evil.

Your Committee had in view the publishing in both languages of a
full synopsis of the Fishery and Game Acts, accompanied ])y an appeal
to the community in general for countenance and aid. Tliis they in-
tended to circulate widely throughout country places especially, and they
hoped thus to be able to interest the influential and enlightciicd in their
favor. They have delayed doing so, however, until it be known if any
amendments to these acts arc to be made. This will probably be ascer-
tained in a few months, when the Committee would recommend to their
riiecessors to carry out the proposed pul)lication.

Notwithstanding all the penalties that can be attached to the improper
destruction of game, the practice will bo carried on so long ^s the evil
eonse<iueuccs are not evident to the people, and while, therefore, no
general opprobrium attaches to the olfence. Interest the multitude,
however, in the matter, — create an enlightened public opinion as to the
propriety and necessity of these laws for the general good, — and their
infringement to an injurious degree, in any settled part of the country,
would soon be an impossibility.

The Committee have been in eommunicatiou, durim;- tin; v<':ir, with a
gentleman residing in Chateauguay county, who had taken a warm in-
terest in the removal of the numerous obstructions to the ascent of
salmon which exist in the river Chateauguay. The required orders for
the erection of fishways on the dams have been given by the proper
authorities, and if these orders are complied with — if eilging slal)s, saw
dust and other injurious rubbish be kept out of the stream, and especially
if the inhabitants on the oanks of the of the river can only be induced
to give the fir^h fiir play, your Committee would strongly reeoramend
that the attempt be made to stock it again with salmon.

This will liot cost a large sum, as even under all the present dis-
advantages several were killed there last season. Doubtless a number
of the public-spirited among the inhabitants of the county will contri'^uto
to pay the expense, and if successtul, and theve is no reason why i(
should not be so, salmon may in a few years be nearly as numerous in
that river as was the case thirty or forty years ago.

Salmon lliver too, which fluw'! into Lake St. Francis, and which
derived its name from the abundance of that noble fish once found in its
waters, might, were proper care observed, be re-stocked without muclt
difficulty.

Your Committee would recommend this matter to the attention of the
Club during the ensuing soasou. The re-establishment of several good
salmon streams in the neighborhood of Montreal would be an object
worthy of their efforts.

While on this subject they regret to have to say, that it is within thoiv

tich

in its

nniel»

APPENMX.

219

knowlodgo that over two huudrcd laluinn were killed of the scoop-not
last season at Broinptun Kails, Sr. Fnnc-is Ilivcr, near .Shcrbror«kc. It
ieenis that tlio fishway there is insnllieiont, and that the lish are eajUurcd
with case while atteuiptin;:,' to a^iM-nd the dam. This is known to altuoat
every man, woman and ehild in the neighborhood, and such things
happenin<j; in one (d'the few streams that the salmon yet frequv.'nt, au;.^ur»
ill lor the snceess of sueh experiments as have l)een recommended.

They have also to report that Lake Memphremagoj^ was ;^iven over in
toto to the torch and spear last fall. ])iiring the preceeding year, some
good was done by the presence and exertions of Mr. Nettle, the Supor-
intendent of Fisheries; but during hnf ( >etobcr every lungo found on
the spawning grounds, l)0came s])ort and prodr in tlie l)avbarians of the
the spear. Many of the respectable aiuoog the inhabitants on its shores
deeply regret this, and would do all in their power to prevent it, short
of running the risk of havintr their houses and burns burned by the
vagabonds who fcdlow this ncl'.u'ious trade, and who do not he-itate to
threaten this as the result of taking any steps against them. It would
be well did the law providi} for the taking of the most notorious nf such
depredators to some distance, sny to Sherl)rooke, for trial ; and your
Committee would strongly rcconimend to their successors to urge upon
the Crown Lands Department the necessity of sending to that locality
a force of three or four special constables during the next spawning
season. The laws are openly defled tliere, the local authorities quitu
inadequate; and the preservation of the black trout or lunge, io that
noble lake, is well worth the small expense it would entail on the
government.

With regard to general sporting interests during the past year,
your Committee would observe that game of nearly all kinds has been
somewhat more plentiful. Ducks of the different varieties were numer-
ous. The partridge, or Canada grouse, appear to be incn asing in
number, the destruction by snaring seems to have been somewhat
lessened of late years, and if the amendment to the bill asked for
were passed, and snared game could be seized in the market, there ii
no doubt that this practice would soon cease, and this fine bird become
exceedingly abundant.

Snipe have visited us in great numbers during thu past year,
and woodcock were very abundant during the breeding season ; about
the beginning of August, however, and earlier than usual, thev took
their accustomed flight to parts unknown, and did not return in
►September in numbers, by any means, as large as usual.

Deer appear to have been abundant, especially in Canada West,
but the Committee is credibly informed that gre.it numbers wer--
wantonly slaughtered last spring, in the vicinity of (jttawa, at a tim*-
when neither carcase nor hide is of any valui>. The angler has had
less reason to congratulate hims(;ll'. There can be no doubt but
that the black bass, the game fish jjar fsrelkace of the waters in our
immediate vicinity, are year by year diminishing in numbers. A few

220

APPENDIX.

, • ■>

yecrs ago they could be taken in plenty with the rod very near Lachino,
now they are gettinp; scuroc even at 8t. Anns and the Cascades.
Whatever the reason of this, — deficient protection at the spawning
season, netting in the St. Lawrence and Ottawa, or the constantly
increasing disturbance of the waters by our constantly increasing trade,
all but th(i last reason is to be regretted; I'or whether as sport to the
disciples of [suae Walton, or food to the hungry, there arc few finer
fish in our waters than the bold and agile bass.

Your Coniujiltoe have, in conclusion, to cungratulato the Club on
the large accession to its number since the beginning of the last year
and the interest which has been taken in its objects.

Success, say we, to a cause so ably advocated and in whoso favor we
lee enlisted many of the leading men of the great connuercial metro-
polis of the Canadas.

MEMBERS OF THE MONTREAL FISH AND GAME PROTECTION CLUB.

Henry McKay,
Geo. Horne,
Alex. Hamsay,
Danl. Wylie,
Walter Macfarlaxe,
J. Thomson,
Wm. M. Freer,
Andrew Law,
Don. Ross,
Alex. Murray,

E. At WATER,

Jas. Baillie,
R. A. Brooke,

J. J). CRAWrORDj

r. d. collis,
Wm. Edmonstonk,
Jas. Gordon,
Benj. Hutchins,
John Hope,
Jas. Button,
J. H. Joseph,
B. Lyman,
Wm. Mocdie,
Dayid Mair;

Chas. Geddes,
Jes.sie Joseph,
J. M. Miller,
H. L. Macdougall,
M. McCullocii,
Tiios. Ogilvy,
John Ooilvy,
Alfred Rimmer,
W. W^ Ramsay,

F. H. SiMMS,

S. H. Thompson,
D. A. P. Watt,
Thos. Wilson,
c. j. coursol,
Gordon McKenzik,
J. J. Brady,
J. E. Malhiott.
L. W. Marohand,

G. F. Prowse,
Duncan Robertson,
M. McCulloch,

Lewis S. Black,
L. A. Duvernay,
H. H. Merrill,

APFENDIX.

221

chino,
icades.

jtantly

trade,

to the

V finer

lub on
st year

'or we
raetro-

D. L. Macuouoali.,
Ed. Mac KAY,
W. S. Maofarlane,
W. Philiji's.
K. A. Prentice,
Jackson Hae,
GiLBEi'T Scott,
(1. W. Warner,
Augustus Uewaud,
Jas. Walker,
Henry Bulden,
Jas. Esdaile,
John Scott,
J. E. Caillet,
Tugs. McDuff,

K. NiCOLSON,

Hy. Chai'man,
A. MoK. Forbe-s,

J. Kerhiiaw,

W. C. WlLIAR,

P. Leslie,

Cai't. McFarlane, M T ,

Louis Uetournay,

And. Uorertson,

.\lex. Cross,

Fredk. W. Kay,

Henry Starxes,

11. II. liuLLER, t)Oth Rifles,

Alphonse Boyer,

Major (Iordon, 00th Rillo.s,

IIy. Thomas,

Adoli'iie Uoy,

Tiios. 0. IIOOERS,

Alex. Mglsgn,

Capt. Miller, GOth Riflo.i.

CLUB.

I ■ '•

ERRATA

P'.«6 13, 1

118,

133,

136;

13S,

131,

188-

190-

214-

line 8-.Read "la" instead of " le "

line 19— Leave out «' the."

notft at foot of pajo-^-Read '• Wood " instead of " Woods."

—Read "tho elite in tho oommereial world " in itead of
" tho elite."

—Road " until last yoar " iu3tead of " last vaar."
line 2— Read " eddying " instead of '• edding."

-The Sand-hill Crane is erroneously in.serted amonggt the Galliaacious, ujsvead

of amongst tho Waders.
-The note at foot of page applies to all tho birds.
-Thp Jvlontroal Game Club Pwcport is for ISO."?— uot 1864.

M A r» T^ K T. K A V K S

CONTENTS OF FIRST SERIES.

Page.
T. The G ravfi nf Cudieux . i

II. Chateau Bigot — The Hermitage P.

III. Crumbs of Comfort for Lawyers 19

J^r A Q1.-,,i,.lT ,,f Ssiicnpf-i- W.ind 2i.

Page 189.-Wader« include all the birds to No. r,59 inolu!

sive.

XIII. De IJrebtruf and Lalemant— Lake 3iracoc £6

XIV. Fin and Feather in Canada 00

XV. Acclimitization of Birds and Animals 100

XV]. A Parting Word 104

CONTENTS OF SECOND SERIES.

A\jguatBS Sala on Canada I

Champlain's Career rcv'ewcd by McGee 3

A " Green-back" of the last Century 17

Ex-Councillor Estebe on Colonial Matters 20

What was the old Noblesse composed of? 24

tJ. E. Loyalists 2'.'

U "-'

. . „

ERRATA.

Page

u
it

01 amongst tno waders.
ISO—The note at foot of pago applies to all the birds.
214^The Montreal Game Club Report is for 1SC3— uot 186J.

■

M A I^ T. K X. K A V E 8 .

CONTENTS OF FIRST SERIES.

Page.

T. The Gravo of Cadieu.x.. 1

II. Chateau Bigot — The Ilormitage s

HI. Crumbs of Comfort for Lawyers 19

IV. A Sketch of Spencer Wood 24

V. The Golden Dog-— Le Chien D'or 29

VI. Canadian JSJames and Surnames , ;;,'!

VII. The Legend of Holland Tree 41

VIII. A Chapter on Canadian Noblesst' 4;S

IX. The Loss of the " Augusts '' — French Refugees 54

X. On some peculiar Feudal In.stitutinns 62

XI. La Corriveau — The Iron Cage , 6P

XII. An Episode of the War of the Conr][uest . T-l

XIII. Do Ijrebauf and Lalemant—- Lake; Siracoe .... So

XIV. Fin and Feather in Canada 90

XV. Acclirailization of Birds and Animals 100

CONTENTS OF SECOND SERIES.

Augustus Sala on Canada 1

Champlain's Career reviewed by McGee. 3

A " Green-back" of the last Century . 17

Ex-Councillor Estebe on Colonial Matters. 20

What was the old Noblesse composed of?. 24

IJ. E. LoyaliRts 29

224

CONTENTS.

Page.

The Battle Fields of Canada 40

The Sieges of Quebec, . 629 41

Phipps before Qviebec, 1G90 47

Abortive Expedition of 1711 51

Defeat of Washington at Fort Necessity, July, 1 754 53

l).'3 Beaujeu's Victory over Washington and Braddock, 0th July., 1755. 57

The Fort Geo] go Massacre, 9th Aug., 1 757 G6

Battle of Carillon, 8th July, 175S ^7

Engagement at Beauport Flats, 31st July, 1759 104

The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, 13lh Sept., 1759 109

The Baltic of Ste. Foy, 27th and 28th April, 1 700 118

Ste. Foy Monument Festival

Arnold's and Montgomery's Defeat — 1775.

Battle of Queenston Heights, 13th Oct., 1812.. .

Battle of Beech Woods— 1813 ■ ■

Battle of Chateauguay, 26th Oct., 1813

Reminiscences of 1812 and ISU!

Battle of Chippewa— 1814

Battle of Lundy's Lane, 25th July, 1814

Siege of Fort Erie— 1814

Capture of Fort Niagara— 1814

Salmon and Trout Rivers of Canada

Salmon Fishing in Canada

Professor Hind on the Fisheries of the St. Lawrence.

Deep-Sea Fisheries of Canada

Whitcher on the Spawning of Salmon

Amendments to Fishery Legislation

The Birds of Canada

Fauna and Flora of the extreme North-East ■

120
131
142
145
146
153
156
158
160
162
16P
172
175
177
180
183
186
207

Appendix—

Report of the Quebec Fish and Game Protection Club, for lb6^

Report of the Montreal " " '' ^o^' ^^'^^ ^14

List of Members of Montreal '^

209

220

Page.

July., 1755. 57

104

109

118

120

131

142

..... .... 145

146

153

. .. 156

158

160

162

16P

172

1T5

177

180

183

186

207

• 1862 209

1863 214

- 220