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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


'<> 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliogrophiques 


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the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checki>d  below. 


D 


D 


D 


D 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  peliicul^e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations^ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
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along  interior  margin/ 

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Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
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mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
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L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  methods  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


n 
n 


u^ 


n 


\y 


D 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculdes 

Pages  r'iscoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
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Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varios/ 


Qualitd  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl6mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


The 
to  tl 


The 

POS! 
Of  tl 

film 


Orig 

begi 

the 

sion 

othc 

first 

sion 

or  11 


The 
shal 
TINI 
whii 

Map 
diffc 
entii 
begi 
righi 
requ 
metl 


^ages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissuer   etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
onsure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmies  d  nouveau  de  fa9on  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


C<kdditional  comments:/ 
'.ommentaires  suppldmentaires; 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

7 

12X                              16X 

20X                              24X                             28X                             32X 

ire 

details 
es  du 
modifier 
er  une 
fiimage 


\es 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanlcs 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  qua'ity 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  ^^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g^ndrositd  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


Les  images  suiva.-ites  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet^  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformite  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
pepier  est  imprimde  sont  film6s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comports  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  scit  par  le  second 
plat,  seion  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmds  on  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — *>  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  y  St  ^nifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  loft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
fiimds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  §tre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  film6  d  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n^cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


errata 
d  to 


e  pelure, 
son  d 


n 


1 

t 

1 — 

2 

3 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

:♦: 

:         ,t: 

6 

I 


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 


m 


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 


-*•- 


^. 


L> 


llkSTOliV   AND  SPORT. 


I^ugiistiis  .$ahi  on  Cairni;!, 


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


o 


AUGUSTUS  BALA  ON  CANADA. 


iw. 


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


w 


(     ••) 


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


the 


gentlc- 
)cc,  and 
it  in  our 

Canada 
;o  editor 


C^mmplaiii 


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

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


*  In  Hawkins's  Picture  of  Quebec. 


4 


CIIAMI'LAIN. 

lior  rrp;tiiim  p«'nlil)ii.--  fs-io, 

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

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


iTiu'liiti-  IVum  tlio  irrand  liiittory  to  tlio  Castle  of  St.  Lewis,  lie  coni- 
nieneed  liis  labors  jiy  iVlliiii;  tlie  walnut  trees,  and  vootiiij;  up  the  wild 
vinos  with  whieh  the  vir^'in  soil  was  covered,  in  order  to  make  room  for 
the  projeeted  settlement.  Tints  were  eretited,  some  lands  were  cleared, 
and  a  lew  gardens  made,  (or  the  purpose  of  proving'  the  soil,  whi(di  was 
found  to  be  excellent.  The  first  pertnanent  buildini;  which  tlie  h'reneh 
erected  was  a  storc-liouse,  or  magazine  for  the  security  of  their  pro- 
visions, (^hiimplain  thus  <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 


Th 


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


I 


'm 


<  IIAMI'LAIN. 


lie  coiu- 
flu-  wild 
room  for 
cloarod, 
Mcli  was 
(^  I'^'cndi 
icir  pro- 
liicli  will 
1  reaclic'.] 
!   for  our 
ihc  pro- 
iiid  vines, 
tlioiii,  in 
id  was  to 
hich  was 
I'onncrly 
men   and 
iion,  near 
crcd  tliat 
<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. 


4 


c> 


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 


i 


CIIAMPLAIN. 


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

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

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


•  V    means 


oi 


•  HAM  PLAIN. 


i) 


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

restored 
ch,  1G32. 
liar  pru- 
idcDCC  iu 

ricli  ill 
vbicli  bu 
loirs  arc 
deficient 

difficult 
ies  were 

and  bis 
•gy,  offi- 

•OUOUIJC- 

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

all  tbat 
obcrval, 
id  otbor 
ulony  or 

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


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

AH  Il'sO 

DUCIT  Ol'ICS  ANIMUUCJUE  I'KttnO — 

Gaius  power  ami  riches  by  tlio  self-same  steel. 

fnstead  of  a  few  huts  on  the  river's  side,  the  country  on  each  bank  of 
the  St.  Lawrence  has  been  lung  divided  into  rich  seigniories,  and  tbe 
i'ertilc  soil  cultivated  by  an  industrious,  a  virtuous  and  contented  ])opu- 
lation — by  a  people  to  whom  foreign  dominidn,  instead  of  deteriorating 
their  i'ormer  condition,  lias  been  the  herald  of  all  that  can  render  \\i\) 
precious.  It  has  given  to  them  the  unrestricted  enjoyment  of  their 
rights,  language  and  religion — protection  against  external  foes,  together 
with  the  full  security  of  their  0  )mestie  usages,  customs,  laws  and  pio- 
perty — porteet  exemption  from  tbe  burthens  of  taxation,  ;ind  a  state  <>l" 
rational  iiappiuess  and  political  freedom  unequalled  on  the  lace  of  tbe. 
globe.  The  lollowing  beautii'ul  lin(;s  from  Virgil  will  strike  every 
one,  as  singularly  ap]tlicable  to  the  condition  (»f  the  Canadian  fanner,  or 
liiibitant : 

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

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

>> 

'J 


(HI 


f 


10 


ClIAMPIiAIN. 


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

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

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


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


CaiAMPLAiN, 


11 


icn- 


ac- 
res; 
ne, 
in 
of 


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

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


:  d 


,  ,^   -N.    'J 


V    •■'■■] 


12 


CHAMPLAIN. 


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

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


mg 


CllAMl'LAIN. 


13 


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

"  Such,  iMr.  President,  arc,  in  brief,  the  attributes  of  the  man  ymi  have 
fliosen  ro  lionor,  and  J  leave  it  for  this  company  to  y:\y,  whether  in  all 
that  constitutes  true  greatness  the  lirst  riovernorand  Captain  (Jeneral  of 
Canada  need  fear  comparison  with  any  of  the  illustrious  l»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- 


14 


(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 


I 


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. 


lo 


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 


m 


■V.'ill 


ili 


CllAMrLAIN'. 


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


i( 


'\ 


(1*^; 


'  of*  all 
Jjustieo 

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


'", 


%  ''  iretn-batk"  of  Ifee  last  dtwkxi 


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

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


.ti' 


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

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

LoFFICIALE. 

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

I^ERllAULT. 


*  Qutbe<i  Mitriiiny  Chioitii.U 

4 


'^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. 


i 


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 


19 


r 
a 

a 
c 

;s 
e 
r 
e 


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

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


\  ■■*' 


(2n) 


(^i-Couiicillor  €stcb(  on  dUlonial  Matters 


24Tn  FfinRi'AUT,  1T60. 


fiurii 

in  tl 

Loui| 

Quel 

the 

witli 


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


I 


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

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


4 


men 
Canf 
the 
thi 


EX-COrNCILLOR    ESTEBE   ON   rOLONIAL    MATTEKS. 


21 


oi 

K068, 

It  is 

in  the 


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


•^f. 


an 


[TRANbl  ATION.] 

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

To  Monsieur  Perrault,  Quebec: 

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

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

We  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 


nA 


22 


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. 


I 


^'■m 


ON   COLONIAL    MATTERS. 


28 


■  •  1] 


land. 

alitj, 

your 


I 


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 


I 


TELEBRATED    CANADIANS. 


25 


I 


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 


m 


•  '  si 


■u 


26 


r'ELEnKATEl)   PANADIANS. 


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


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

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


CAl'TAJX    ItKDOlT. 

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

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


CELEBRATED   CANADIANS. 


27 


1  lie 


'liul 


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

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

"  The  Kear- Admiral  IJedout  mentioned  in  IMctiCo's  History  of  ircland 
wa?  born  in  Quebec,  in  1751.  Mis  f;:th<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 


28 


CKLEBRATED   CANADIANS. 


11 


on  the  "-'nJ  September,  1800.  Descended  t'roQi  one  of  the  oldest  I'amilies 
of  the  proviuee,  wliose  members,  both  under  French  rule  and  the  pre- 
sent "overniiicut,  filled,  with  approbation,  the  mo.st  important  offices  of 
trust  in  the  colony  ;  allied  to  the  best  Canadian  families,  and  ))y  the 
mothers  side,  to  one  of  the  most  illustrious  houses  of  Scotland,  Mr.de  I/'ry 
nobly  bore  his  honorable  name.  After  havinj,',  with  honor  and  success, 
devoted  tlic  fust  and  iin-atest  portion  of  his  lift!  to  the  service  of  his 
country,  in  tlie  e.-ireov  folliwed  by  his  father  before  him,  he  abandoned 
— now  some  lil'teen  years  ><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. 


M 


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

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

rpiIVi  forc<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 


I 


i 


I 


viou? 

that 


V.   K.  LOYALISTS, 


ni 


i 


I 


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 


m 


32 


(r.  n.   r.oi'ALisTS. 


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

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

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

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

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

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

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


I 


wm 


Tt 


■Ml 


f 


I 


V.    P..    L0YALIf<TS. 


:W 


*  ',  i 


■A 


f 


i 


1 


*' 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- 
0 


m 


4 


':''n 


I-'   i 


34 


IT.    E.   LOYALISTS. 


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

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

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

''  Doubtless,  retaliation  was,  in  a  measure,  the  order  of  the  day  ;  so 
that  scenes  were  <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. 


'k 


I 


U.    E.    LOYALISTS. 


85 


so 


no;  the 


i 


"kSuiur  IV'W  e.imi;  over  by  way  oC  Niagara,  uuder  the  iiiispices  of  Sir 
>\'illiain  Johnson,  and  afterwards  under  tlio  administration  of  (^leueral 
8iiucoe.  Their  liistory  is  extremely  interestintr,  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- 


I 


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


V.    E.    LOYALISTS. 


37 


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


K-. 


Thre* 


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

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

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


■•'■.H 


;^8 


U.    ]•:.    LOYALIST,- 


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


an  evcnm; 


j'y 


itlier  won 


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


my  mother,  make  homo-spun  uresse  s 


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


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

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


1 
crrefi 
win 
■pinl 
dresL 
boot  I 

si 


iial, 


(Jovermiv  lioyonJ  Niajcur;.).  'an  Auiorioiin  fjimily,  who,  \vitii  siino  oxen,  cows  nn.l 
sliccp.  were  coming  to  (.'anu'la.  '  AVo  cone,  saiil  they  to  the  (ioveruor — whom  they  >iil 
not  know — '  to  s^ec  wlielhcr  hi;  will  p;ivc  us  land.'  'Aye,  aye,'  the  tJovernor  reiiliel. 
'you  have  tireil  of  the  Federal  government:  you  like  no  longer  to  have  so  many  lun;  -. 
you  wiih  again  for  your  old  father;'  (it  i.s  thus  the  (.Jovernor  call.-^  the  Driti.-h  m  m.ire'i 
when  ho  speaks  with  Americans)  ;  '  you  are  perfectly  right :  come  along,  we  love  .'inh 
good  royalists  as  you  are  ;  wc  will  give  you  land.'  Sueli,  sir,  was  the  spirit  of  ili" 
founder  of  I'piier  Cinaila— such  was  the  hcnelieicnt  policy  which  hreathed  into  (h.il 
soulless  wilderness  the  hreath  of  life:  and  lo !  your  country  hocaiuo  a  living  sjiirif. 
'Come  along!  we  like  such  good  royalist.s  a,^  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 


cl 


cows    iUM 

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

1  111  iii.ire!i 

lovo  Slli-il 

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


iMUlv 


k 

I 

■m 

i 


U.   E.   LOYALISTS. 


39 


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

So  n)otc  it  be. 


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

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

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


•  . »/' 


»     V 


-■'!. 


j     Qidhic    MihlliliiJ    C/iiOviclr. 


II 


(40) 


%ht  Wilt  iitlh  of  Cimabii, 


4 


A 


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


have  taken  place  on  Canadif 


il  and  ou  its  bordt 


betwt 


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


I 


'Hia.. 


THE   SIEGES   OF   QUEBEC. 


41 


^\)£  !3ii'C|cs  of  iDaicba,  l(j29/'= 


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


s 


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

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

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

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


''^  From  IIuwkhiH'a  Picture  of  Quebec. 


f 

-'< 

(  - 

If;  53 

'  ■  ■  ,1 

•'1 

^■-l 

■'3 

42  IJATTLE   FIELDS   OF   CANADA. 

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

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

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

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


»  ; 


THE   SIEGES   OF  QUEBEC. 


43 


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

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

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

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

and  a  feeling  of  generosity  : — 

^'./»/y  10///,  1G2!>. 

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


;v,.v'^ 


■V'4- 


,»•> 


1 


,4(       ■,  ,t. 


44 


UATTLE   FIELDS  OF   CANADA. 


CIIAMI'I/AIN  .S    ANSWER. 

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

Arllrlni  <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. 


45 


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     .'^ 


40 


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. 


47 


■■  -m 


I 


I 


yi)ipp3  before  (Tiiicbcc  in  HjOO.f 


Al'TKll  a   laji.so  vl'  aliout  thirty 


Quel) 


th 


1 


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

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

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

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

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

i. 

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

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


t  From  Hawkins's  Picture  of  (Jncbcc. 


,»' 


■'4 


48 


BATTLE   riELDS   OP   CANADA. 


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

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

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

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

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


PHIPPS   BKFOKE   QUEBEC. 


49 


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

e  country 
imand  of 
than  thai 
msucccss- 
our  hist 

list  attcn- 

ctreat,  ho 
garrison 

cc  Rivers 

[liars, 
n  a  stale 
quadron, 
dcncc  of 

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


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


I 


'hicf 


,d. 


comman( 

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

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

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

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

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


■4 


■■■4 


60 


BATTLE  FIELDS   OF  CANADA. 


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

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

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

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


OoJ 

fev'il 

ver 

Moi] 

••Tl 

they| 

ihiui 

into 

well 

tainsl 

]>oint| 

sliot 


ABORTIVE  EXPEDITION. 


51 


ilmo.st  ini- 

nd   by  bad 

1  it  sprung-, 

i  disaster. 

could  uot 

)ut  durint;- 

,  Governor 

the  upper 

besiegers. 

lij^ht  have 

iiuptiou  ol 

i  side  the 

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

10  reader 
take   tiio 

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

11  led  by 
rded  tlic 
iropared 

combat. 
I  not  be 
00  :  but 


Si* 


f 


'S 


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


?ibovt'uie  (gvpcMtlou  in  171  l.f 


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


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

t  From  Hat9Jy!na'$  Picture  of  Quebec. 


•  \ 


■  V. 


• 


mm 


52 


UATTLl::   FIELDS   OF  CANADA. 


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

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

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


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

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


DEFEAT   or  WASHINGTON  AT   FORT  NECESSITY. 


53 


IDefcat  of  lllasljiiiQtou  at  Jort  N'tresaitij/ 


Jlt,v,   1754. 


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


ft! 


•v:\ 


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


■'^( 


.'.'•US 


/A* 


h 


54 


BATTLE   FIELDS   OF   CANADA, 


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


.lUMOW  ILLi;    AND    WASHINGTON.* 

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

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


III ' 

lo\ 
ad 

Isil 
lIKll 

nui 
(Ik 


From  tlio  y.ir    Y„>1-  inito^nal  \Utfi 


ya.inc. 


JUMONVILLE   AND   WASHINGTON. 


55 


as  in  a 

livierc 

er  Ili.> 

ither's 

t,  my 

II  nm- 

ivi^ro 

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

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

9 


:'■  W 


■: .?  y 


58 


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- 


I 


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

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

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

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

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

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


.»• 


(ii» 


KATTLi;    FIKMiS    uV    CaNAKA. 


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

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

Heaujcu  had  selected  as  the  point  at  which  to  assail  the  Knlish  line  a 
ravine  beyond  the  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- 


v: 


ml 

at 

ar 


th 


en 


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: 


:•) 


i;.\TrLJi   FILLD.S   OF    CANADA. 


Mi 


(ii 


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

rcgi>t>'i'  : 

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

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

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

(,'haplain." 

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

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


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


Jean   li.  Tal- 


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


after  confessinu;  and  receivi 


U'''  extreme  unction. 


t.  Mr.    Derichervill 


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


DEFEAT    OF   WAS]IIN<}TOX    AT   MONONGAIIELA. 


ffoct- 
■rrt'd 

1    lli:> 


:li   uf 


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

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

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


if  vi 


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


'.irn  JcLV,   Il'>^>. 


1) HAT II  OF  niJADDOCK. 

"  Wo  have  been  licateu,  slirtnicf'iilly  lii'ateii,  l>y  a  Iiaii'lfiil  of  Froncli.'' — ]\'<ishitiif 
/..//'.<  /(■//(■/•  0 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 


V 


G4 


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- 


:t 


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. 


es 


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. 

10 


•  4 


■V  v?^; 


'Mm 


w 


OH 


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


Vlf 


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


(!ll)e  fort  (i3coiCiC  iUassiurv, 


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


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


Of  the  many  stirring  ineident'5  which  marked  the  "  seven  years  war" 
culminating  in  the  eonque.-t  of  Canada^  few  have  l)een  more  loudly 
denounecd  than  the  deed  of  Idood  periietrated  by  the  aborigines  on  the 
garrison  and  inmate.-  of  Foit  George,  ealled  liy  the  l>riti!<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. 


67 


instiy, 
list  i(„ 
i  lie  rout 
(1st  the 

I'OVSCS, 

3.st  the 
c  (!;ina 


11  ^mil 


Lui 


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

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

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

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


^■■:^'' 


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


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

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


•■^i^ 


ti  ■  ■  ■ '  '■ 


08 


BATTLE  FIELDS    OF   CANADA. 


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

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

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

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


^ 


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


THE   FORT   (iEORCE   MASSACRE. 


69 


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

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

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

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

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


:■■*■■! 


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


70 


liATTLE  FIELDS   OF   CANADA. 


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

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

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


drum 

jiOStU 


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


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


71 


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 


CO 


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


nee, 


om- 


'vor   done   vu 


by  tl 


le 


tl 


et  111  v'ou  tlie  moi'i>  lor 


W 


h.  ai 


inander  ot  the  Order  id' St.  Louis.' 

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

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


.'    v'^/^i| 


.,  ■  ■■  •  'I 


>••/■- 


«•  I- 


tv-.  ?' 


72 


liATXLi:    J'lliLDS    Ul'   CANADA. 


«*  iM(»iilc;ilm  lia<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. 


rr 


THE   FORT   UEOUUE    MASSACliE. 


73 


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 


74 


BATTLE   FIELDS   OF  CANADA. 


II ' 


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

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


Wi 

vi- 
I 

w 


Tin:  roKT  <iE«nit;]:  massacuk. 


T6 


lOICIIlfifS 


of 


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 


,.1'  SUlI 

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


THE    FUKT    <;EOK(iK    MASSA<'KK 


77 


Iroiii 
Iru's.s 
1  this 


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

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


'-fV 


78 


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


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


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


I  I. 


ij-t,  as  wi 


1(1 


mil 


mals  ot'ton  yiuKl  to  kliuli: 


t'S.- 


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


in 


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


or, 


nil' 
vr,  ' 


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

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


cil 


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

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


itli  \\ 


licir 


avo 


nl 


ately 


•ursc 


oilluci 


iii\ 


ni 


fh 
iht-l 


attac 


I 


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

I  repetition 
,^■Ilts  wliicli 
d  not  occur 

II  coriiniit- 
bc  with  all 
pcrpotrat- 

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

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

V  !l(»t  the 
ne  fioiic/h , 
their  exc- 

0  moiiieiil 

1  have  a  I 
luissiiiii. 

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


THE   FOUT    UEORUE   MASsACRE.  79 

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


(ouce. 


\y 


ul.st  many  ot  my  Abnaquis 


Vbi 


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


8§ 


BATTLE   FIELDS   OF   CANADA. 


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

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

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

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


hit 

is 
pr-i 


ff^l 


THE   FORT   (JEOROE    MASSACRE. 


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

perieiiccd  in 
tlio  powder, 

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


81 


luch 


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

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

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


■I-'. 
I,.- 


.FM 


82 


RATTLE    Fri->IJ».^    (F    CANAPA. 


ill  stionu  trnu.'  lor  "i  I  ''imii;:;  wluif  I  («ii;;Iil  !•■  lie:  lie  was  ii;;lit  ;  a  |in;i( 
ttloraltly  lai^'o  liold  all  tlu'  missionario"; ;  a  Ictit  was  sjtroad  over  it  to  piv- 
tcct  tlicJii  against  tlir  iiiclcnicncy  ut'  the  wcalhcr  tliiriiit;  the  cool  iii^ht.'^; 
This  whifr  ))avillioii,  uiuK'r  wliicli  we  took  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'' 


I 


I 


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 


.1 


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

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

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


ill 


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


m 


•f' 


m- 


r  .;•:•.' 


84 


I'.ATTLt:   riELDS   OF    CANADA. 


wliic'li  consisted  of  1700  men  which  constantly  scut  rciuforccment.s  to  th.- 
fort  itself.  The  chief  stren<,'th  of  this  eutrcnchment  consisted  in  its  pe- 
culiar position,  which  eonnnanded  all  surrounding  objects,  and  which,  on 
account  of  the  mountains  and  .swanips  in  its  ueighborhood,  could  only  he 
attacked  with  artillery  from  the  furt.  Such  was  Fort  (Jeorge  from  wlmt 
I  saw  and  hoard  of  it  after  its  capitulation.  It  was  impossible  to  invest 
and  attack  it  on  all  sides.  0,000  French  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 

to 


■    I 


TUB  FOUT  »;eor<;k  ma.<saciie. 


85 


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 


in 

JKl 
lO! 


THE  i<»KT  (;loiu.i:  massacke. 


H7 


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, 


Tl 


I* 


Th 


iil)Oat» 

issai  i;i( 
ladicr- 


\v;i>  instruftod  to   watrli    over   tlic   Ixiats  wliiili   (iiiitiiitiod  tliriii 
skilful  nuasurcs  he  had  devised  rt'n<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 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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88 


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. 


89 


i 


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 

la 


.  si 


t-''  i 


-■■'■'A 


.'  ■  ■  / 


90 


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-I ' 


THE  FORT  GEORGE  MASSACRE. 


91 


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

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

morrow, 
icgan  bv 
s  whicli 
in  terms 
a  laaco. 

II  actual 
but  an 

d  fancy 
•.  The 
cinncnt 
[Jrltish. 
behind 


i 


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

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


'  "■  -k 


tW    r  1  ■ 


;»•    ./ 


'■''■i   1 


".  .     't 


92 


BATTLE  FIELDS  OF  CANADA. 


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

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


iiuurii: 
Ue 
(rliild 


"i 


TUB  FORT  GEORGE   MASSACRE. 


98 


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


u 


s:^  ^ 


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


'  f 


94 


BATTLE  FIELDS  OF  CANADA. 


II  u 


I 


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

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

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

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


I 


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


THE    FOHT    r.EOKQK    MAf«>SA(  KK. 


95 


:.  1. 1 


more 

They 

coiiM 

[anicn- 

lliargc, 

buld   I 


^assjn.L; 

1  have 

Ito  dio, 

bans  to 


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

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

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

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


I 


.r';' 


;^-'iy 


.  V  ft! 


96 


B/TTLfi   nULi)^   ni'    CANA1»A. 


i'- 


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

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

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


iJATTLB   OF   CAKILL'^N. 


«7 


lio  less 
to  do  .so. 
cirouin- 

ty    can 

iUOS.S    of 

■surrcn- 
ot"  its 


1 


lJi?nU  ot  Pavilion,* 

8tii  July,  175:3. 

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

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

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

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


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

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

11 


> 


i'r] 


K  ••■ 


:  -vV'  A 


m 


IIATTLI^   ilELUS  OF    CANADA. 


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

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


15ATTLli   oi'   CAUIIif,ON. 


00 


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

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

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


•:*| 


<  ■■'■  . 


t' 

'i 

m 


100 


BATTLE    FIELDS   OF   PANADA. 


11  fi 


'f 


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

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

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


l-'i ' 


BATTLE    or   CARILLON. 


101 


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

tis,  after 

rom  the 

i,  and  be 

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


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

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

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

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


^i» 

.  ■■■• 

■ 

■f^- 

■] 

1 1-  . 


102 


BATTLK   FIELDS   OF   CANADA. 


ii:, 


1 

t.i 


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

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

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


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

t  So-.uo  Ili;rhlandcrs  taken  prisoners  by  the  French  an  J  Cai.a  liaufi.  hiuMlc  I  to.;LMhjr 
on  tho  baitlo-licld.  and  cxiiectina;  to  bo  cruelly  treiited,  looked  im  in  inou'-nful  siloni'c. 
Presently  a  "ii,'antic  French  othecr  walked  \i\)  lo  tl-.e.u,  and  whilst  cxchan>;in',^  in  a 
f-cvevo  to-.o  .<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 


t 


■M  ■■'■ 


'  c  ■ 


104 


BATTLE   FIELDS   OP   CANADA. 


i    'I 


I 


I 


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

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

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

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

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


(S'ngagcment  at  IJmupovt  Jlata,* 


3  1st  July,  175y. 


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


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


KNUAUEMENT    AT    BEAUPORT    FLATS 


10.") 


er,   tho 


m 


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

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

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


hy 


ii.. 


s 


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

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

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


the 
;iud 
:iddr 


I    i 


DATTIiE   OF   Tills    PLAINS    OF    ABRAHAM. 


100 


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

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

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


'  '1 
* ,    if 


■> 


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


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


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


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


m 


110 


liATTLE   IIELDS   OF   CANADA. 


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

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


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

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


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


II 


lie  Sto 
parallel 
c'd  l)y  ;i 

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

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

.^  on  tile 

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

Otcnrr. 

le  lefr. 

t    Sul)- 


J 

I 


The  Knglisli  hud  been  about  lour  huurs  in  posscft.«<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. 


Si 


* 


r 


■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 


i-.>r'\ 


16 


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


■■  '/i 


114 


RATTLE   FIELDS   OF    CANADA. 


I 


■i 
I 


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

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


n:.. 


DEATH   OF   MONTCALM. 


115 


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

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


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


.■s=>;'r<=»!;«-^-«»^=»?<,  > 


IJ  ERE    DIE  1> 

AVOLFE :  ^ 

!«     \    1  C  J'  O  U  I  0  u  .s . 


H 
B 

a 


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


IllcatI)  of  flloutcalm. 


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

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


■y-.:M 


•4-   '■ 


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


116 


BATTLE    FIELDS   OF   CANADA. 


lii! 


[hr 


it 


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

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

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


DEATH    or   MONTCALM. 


117 


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

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


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

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


^■^.:^'\ 


'vr':; 


' .  ■  J 


that  he 
ir  they 
of  it," 
lo   was 


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


'\[ 


».'  \i 


118 


BATTLE  FIELDS   OF  CANADA. 


ull|e   Battle    of   Ste.   5ot), 

2  7th  and  28th  Aphil,  1760. 


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


I' 


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


BATTLE   OF    STE.    fOV 


lift 


9 ;  rise  up 
tho  British 


ry,  afford 

mnner  in 

In  the 

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

August, 
srs,  were 
iisguisea 
1  for  In- 

English 
t  be,  in 
oyed  as 
iquor  is 


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

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

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

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


■'f 


120 


BATTLJ::    FIELDS    UF    CANADA. 


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


STE.  FOY  MONUMENT  FESTIVAL. 


THE  INAUGURATION   TEREMONY,  IOtH  OcTOBER,  I860. 


u 


I'i 


ti 


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

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


*  Abridged  from  Quebec  Morniini  niromch 


c  savages, 
.  L.) 


UATTLE   OF  STE.  TOY 


121 


);3. 


3  of  a  pub- 

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

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

fro'u  the 
n possible, 


because  of  the  dense  forests,  and  the  other  ini]»as><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- 


I 


his 


i-cli  to  Quebec,  k 


DcL 


ster  of  a  field  of  batth 


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

which  he  would  otherwise  have  had  much  difficulty  to  conquer. 

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

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

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

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


15ATTL1;    OF    STE.    I'OV 


123 


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

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

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

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


.    I 


'!,         'I 


J 


124 


JiATTLE    FIELD?!    01-'   CANADA. 


this  point  in  mass  with  nil  Lhoii-  artillory  ;  tlicir  lieUl-piccos  and  huwitzons, 
loiu.lcd  with  ball  and  i^rapo,  plyinij;  upon  tiic  spaco  oi-cupiod  by  thlswinir, 
which  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 


12 


^A 


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. 


il 


'\:h\ 


12«; 


BATTLi;   FIELDS    01-    CANADA. 


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

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

deep. 

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

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

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


:tnd 

in 

uffir 

\Vt' 

i  < 

the 
will 
piv 


IJATTLE  OF  STE.  FOY. 


1^1 


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

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

10,  loniiod 


Th 


lay.  I  lie 
wliicli  wa.s 
liat  had  in 

rrliyiciifii 

to  see  and 

I,  the  cries 

r  late.     A 

those  en- 

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

Jdhl  have 
le  British 
Ursulincs 


:ind  private  d\vcHint>s,  for  the  rcceptiouof  their  wounded,  who  were  even 
in  ;.,'reater  number  than  ours.  There  wer»«  brought  to  us  twenty  Hritish 
iillicers,  whotn  their  own  peo])le  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- 
0  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. 


I 


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 


I 


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 


n 


*  From  Jrawkins's  Picture  of  Quebec. 

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


132 


BATTLE   FIELDS   Of   CANADA. 


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

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

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


ARNOLD'S   EXPEDITION. 


-too 


oo 


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 


i) 


136 


liATTLE    FIELDS    01-    OANADA. 


Ill 


li 


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

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


t 


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


AIINOLD  H   EXPEDITION. 


137 


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

0  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 


A\ 

'I 

.■    ■  !  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 0    was, 

uct   and 

id   taken 

onibined 

sinf^  the 

ook    his 

lefended 

Id  never 


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

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

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

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


••  • :} 


'f' 


.:.■'•  3 


''^f'!-  '■ 


142 


BATTLE  FIELDS   OP  CANADA. 


BattU   of   (DuefiistoU; 

ISia  October,  1812. 


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


■'■    Ilistiiill  llf  '^((lldll'l- 


V  -I' 


BATTLE   OF    (^UEENSTON. 


14 


t> 


^'^l 


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


I 


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


I 


Fi '  •  I 
./I 


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


144 


BATTLE   I'lELDS    0¥   CANADA. 


:i    ■' 


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

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


BATTLE    OF    JiEECJI   WOODS. 


145 


0  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?. 

20 


..  .     ': 


n1> 


uo 


liATTLE   FIELD!*    OF    CANADA. 


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

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

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

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

(Signed)  CoJi.  John  Clark, 

Port  Dalhousic. 


ull)c  Battle  of  mi)atcauijuav), 


2GTII    OCTOBKIt,     181J. 


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

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


f'll 


BATTLE   OP   CIIATEAUOUAY, 


147 


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

:i  warfari', 
e;   still   a 

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

of  (jlcii- 
[1  quartcf.-;, 
■being  sent 

NARKj 

alhousic. 


y  lor  intro 

well   from 

[iiote   1  Vol  11 

nily  of  the 


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

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


•f  'I 


148 


BATTLE   FIELDS   OF   CANADA. 


riors  of  the  tiibos  ui' Lower  Canada,  tiud  thvcw  ihe  enemy  iuto  disorder, 
without  any  loss  on  his  own  «ide.  Hampton  being  repulsed  on  the 
Odcltown  route,  resolved  wisely  io  cfl'ecL  a  junction  with  his  chii!l 
general,  in  taking  the  route  leading  ttt  Chateauguay,  which  he  was 
approaching,  believing  the  vnud  to  be  op}M;  but  access  thereto  was 
everywhere  prevented  by  being  blockaded  by  field  works.  J^e  Salaberry 
was  too  sagacious  not  to  discover  that  this  strategic  point  was  the  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- 


i 


CATTLF    OF   CIIATEAKCUAY. 


161 


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


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

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

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

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


152 


BATTLE   i'lELUrf    Oi'   CANADA. 


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

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

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

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


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


\^i 


REMINISCENCES — CLOSE   OF   THE   'VAR. 


158 


id  H  sliorr 
(lo»r  their 
'hrir  Icuiij. 
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. 

21 


.«■  '  'I 


■>ui 


.\V 


Ui 


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


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


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

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

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

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

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

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


REMINlSCENCEf? — CLOSE  OF  TIIK  WAR. 


ir,5 


)i  t  of  the 
(1  at  this 


ilorritt  ill 

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

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

tlic   di.s- 

with  till' 

stiuotions 

;ia  having 

•yalty  and 

modal  to 

(Jhatrau- 

i'  country 


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

These  men  shared  the  tiaiigors  and  privations  of  that  period. 

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

When  he  remembered  that  the  population  of  I'pper  CJanada  in  \x\'Jl 
was  only  between  70,000  and  7.3,000  souls,  ol'  which  there  were  ab<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^. 


1: 


]■(.' 


Hi 


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

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

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

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

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

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

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


i 


Governor 
ust  15th, 

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

jc  o'clock 
of   attack 

f  both  at- 

1  will  en- 
cause  ui' 
■iitcrcd 

lave  fled 
iu.struc- 

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

Colonel 

si  stance, 

bastion, 


SIEGE   OF    FORT    ERIE. 


IGl 


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

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

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

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

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

ment. 

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

i\A.  Scott  and  Colonel  Drummond  were  unfortunately  l.'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 


r 


162 


CATTLE   FIELDS   OF   CANADA. 


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

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


(Siy-iHid) 


A  TiTxroLN  Klavkeu  of  JSrj. 


(ill)c  (Uapturc  of  fort  NiaQ.ua 


BY  ONE  WHO   SERVED  IX    1814. 

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

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

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

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

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


del"  than 
al  Brown 
ost  disas- 

blow  was 
nnond  to 


l.Sll>. 


CAl'TriiK    OK    ruilT    NiAtJAUA. 


inn 


lie  war  of 
'alls  into 
'vcd  as  a 

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

einpt  its 
1  of  that 

th  ro.^t., 

Ust,  and 
array,  of 
;n. 

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What  a  moment !  The  force  instantly  halts,  expecting  to  hear  tlio 
alarm  suddenly  given — the  sound  of  drums  and  bugle,  and  oi'  the 
garrison  rushing  to  their  posts.  But  all  remains  quiet.  The  sentries, 
crouching  in  their  boxes,  take  the  neigh  of  the  charger  for  that  of  some 
horse  strayed  from  its  farm  house  or  from  the  neighboring  hamlet ;  they 
feel  no  inclination — leaving  their  shelter — to  explore,  shiveringlyj  the 
thick  darkness  of  a  aiQOtjless  wintry  night. 


r';' 


V\[ 


UATl'LE    l'Ii:i.l>;>    OF    (.'ANAKA. 


It  cjiii  1)0  iiolhiii^'.     The  approaching  Ibrcc,  drawing'  rreci  breath, puts 
itseU'  ill  n:otion,  tluilUcs   hastily   auil  .siloutly  iorward,  aud  the  crisis  is 


near 


The  "  ii^jlurn  hope"  is  cDimiiaiiclcil  by  Jiicut.  Dawson,  ami  led  by 
Sci\i:;c'ant  Andrew  Spearman. 

U  halts  at  about  tlie  distance  of  twenty-live  yard.s  from  the  '^nU' 
I'vcr  whicli  the  scr,';eant  (a  tall,  stalwart  man)  strides,  and,  straiiLiie  to 
,-ay,  linds  tin;  wicket  open  I 

The  sentry,  hearing  some  one  approaeh,  issues  IVoni  liis  box,  protrudes 
the  upper  part  ol'  his  body  through  the  doorway,  and  asks  :  "  Who  eomes 
I  here?" 

SpciiUKiii,   imitating  the  m  ' '  'ig  of  the    Americans,   answers: 

'•  1  guess,  Mr.,  [  come  from  Vo;;n:..-i,  ","  (juietly  introducing,  at  the 
same  time,  his  left  shoulder  through  the  h/   'opened  wiekct. 

The  sentry  stares  at  bim — jierceives,  by  hi.?  aecoutrcments  and  by  his 
.ictiiin,  that  he  is  an  inemy — turns  rouiul  and  runs  inwards,  exclaiming  : 
"  The  l>rit —  I "  ]{•:  says  no  mi>re  :  S[>carmau's  bayonet  is  in  bis  side  ! 

The  sergeant  reluiiis  and  calls,  in  a  subdued  tone,  the  *'  i'orhtrn  hope," 
which  swiftly  outers,  Ibllowod  by  tlic  column.  The  light  company  ol' 
I  he  HtOtli  makes  a  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. 


*l 


CAI'TUKK   «.!•'    rOllT    NlAdAUA. 


16. 


Olio  Aint'iUMii  l;iy  at  his  loot,  whom  ho  killod  hy  a  iii>tol  hhot  ;  while 
tho  clovon  .'^kulls  of  two  others  attcstod  his  trcmeiiJous  strciij;;th  ol"  arm 
and  dosporato  vahir. 

Somo  of  his  laou,  ho'vcvor,  had  soon  liiiii  jiluiij^o  into  Hu-  darkness, 
t'olKiwcd  hiui,  aud  althouL^h  too  hitc  to  savo  him,  had  taken  tho  tower, 
>h»yinj;  tho  del'endors  to  a  man. 

This  rosistanoo  exasperated  our  men,  who  rushed  wiMly  ahout  into 
every  buihlin<^',  bayonettiii^'  every  Amerieaii  (hey  met. 

The  carnaj;e,  indeed,  would  liave  amounted  to  exterminatiitii,  if  the 
IJritish  olHcorji  had  not  zealously  exerted  themselves  in  the  eausc  of 
tiierey. 

liieut.  Murray,  ol'  the  IdOth,  particularly  distinuuishe<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.' 


11 


(iKcers  had 
xpcudituro 

cions),  and 
lisappoint- 

with  arms 
ed  for  the 


)r  nothing. 

)th  had  it 

work,  and 

Canadian 


ppearauco, 
th  sods  of 
eet,  which 


iny,   while 

I',  received 

comrades. 


*  Tlio  accounts  of  tlicso  lato  battlos  are  taken  from  tlio  I'lirliiimentHrjr  Marmsoiipt.' 
oiilleeted  by  Mr.  (J.  Coventry.    (!olonel  John  Clark,  who  lately  died,  was  well  and  favor 
ably  known  all  over  C'aniula,  for  his  iitaunch  (upiiort  of  Briti^iU  inslitiilioii;*. 


(168) 


list  of  ,$!iliu(iii  aiib  Stroiit  |Ui)trs.' 


rpTIE  foUowinp;  is  a  list  of'  tlie  principal  Hrilmon  and  trout  rivers  (»l 
■^  Canada  and  Now  JJriinswick,  with  tlie  distances  of  tlio  f'ormor  from 
Quebec,  and  such  information  as  could  Ijo  obtained  concerning  their 
character  and  condition.  Those  marked  in  ifalics  have  been  leased  to 
private  individuals,  but  the  others  arc  open  to  all  comers. 

The  Jacques   Carlicr  ia  the  only  j"  rivor  near  (iucboe  which,  at  the 
present  time,  afibrds  any  salmon. 

I'rom  Quebec  to  Murray  liay  is 78  miles. 

Here  there  is  u  river  that  furnishes  a  few  sahuon  and  many  line  trout. 

I'Vom  ]Murray  ]Jay  to  the  Saguenay  is M — 120 

There  is  excellent  sea  trout  fishing  in  the  Saguenny, and  its  tributary, 
tho  ;SV.  Marguerite,  is  a  superior  salmon  river, 

llivcr  Escoumain 21] 

]Jetwecn  it  and  the  Saguenay  are  tho  two  Ti<'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 

Q 

..J 

hi 

1    tllC     lill 

niiis. 


am.     Th.' 
•rr,  l?ariis 
I  hiHt,  yeur 

."^Iiort.-iiiu'ii 
•ivL'r.4  liiive 
[./..I/.  A.J 


Outurdcs , 11 

iMaiiieouuijjaa  Hi 

Mistassiui 12 

IJetscic :> 

01'  those  rivciH  I  can  olttaiii  no  satisractory  inronnation. 

(jodhmit 15—57—201 

A  colobratccl  salmon  river,  one  of  the  best  in  the  province. 

Trinittf 1') 

(Jood  salmon  and  trout  lishin:^. 

Little  Trinity 10 

Calumet .'} 

Pentecost 14 

Not  a  salmon  river. 

Ht.  Margaret 3B 

One  of  ti.'o  best  salmon  and  trout  rivers. 

Moisie 23—103—304 

Pino  large  salmon  are  taken  in  this  river,  and  it  is  widely  celebrated. 

Trout 7 

Manitou ^5 

fiood  trout  fishing;  the  salmon  are  obstructed  by  falls. 

Sheldrake 10 

Magpie 22 

Furnishes  a  few  salmon. 

St.  John T) 

An  admirable  salmon  stream. 

Mingan 10—101 — 105 

Probably  the  best  river  in  the  province  lor  salmon,  and  excellent  for 
trout. 

llomaine * 0 

An  excellent  stream  for  both  salmon  and  trout. 

"NVascheeshoo  ^. 53 

Pashasheboo 18 

A  few  salmon. 

Nabcsippi 7 

Agwanus 5 

A  fair  supply  of  salmon. 
23 


H 


I  M 


f%^ 


170 


i,IST   OF  SALMON   AND  TRoUT  lUVKKS. 


\r 


NatashqiiaP 11— 106— o7J 

Salmon  line  an^l  abundant. 

Kcjrat'iika 23 

Salmon  impeded  by  falls. 

iMusquano \-> 

AUnrd.s  good  ;<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! 0 

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 


1; 


11 
IS 

'21 

in 

4 

0 

(> 

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 


*i 


ributarit?, 
th  an  lin- 
ed iae,  and 
ut  lishing, 
3  can  take 
I  is  adniit- 
d  its  tri- 
^  ;  or  the 
I.SC.  Th. 
m. 

the  ?!outh 
len  ruined 
ip6  JJasin, 
lark,  that 
tish    Pro- 


(172) 


.Salmon  ,ifisj)ing  in  Canak.* 


llj^K  hiive   much  i)lciisuro  in    laying  ])o('ore  onr  rouJers  the  lollowiuf; 

'  »  account  of  tlie  fi.shiiij;  this  season  (IbOii),  in  some  ol'therivors  the  pro- 

}terty  of  the  province,  whicii  incontostibly  proves  two  things.     J'^irst,  thai 

there  is  letter  sport  to  be  obtained,  by  amateur  lishcrmeu,  in  Canada  than 

in  any  of  the  far-lamed  rivers  in  Kurope  ;  and  se(  ondly,  that  the  system  of 
protection  adopted  by  tlie  (Commissioner  ol  Crown  Lands  is  not  only  in 
creasinj^  th(>  number  ofthe  sahiion,  but  enabling  them  lu  attain  to  a  huger 
size.     Never  were  our  markets  so  abundantly  ami  so  i-Iieaply  furnished 
with  this  iiolile  ii^h  as  durin^■  the  past  summi'r  : 

HIVKIl    ST.  JOHN. 

Salmon  taken  in  the  rivei-  St.  John,  with  the  fly,  durim;  duly,  iSi;:',, 
by  two  rods — duly  1st,  eleven  lish  wcr(' caught  at  'I'rent  Kapid  and 
Camp  l*ool  ;  2iul,  sixteen  at  Tn.'nt  and  Caii.p  ;  .'Jrd,  twenty-three,  at 
Seal  and  Trent;  dth,  sixtecui  at  Stal,  Trent,  and  Kail;  r>th,  Sunday  ; 
ftth,  twenty-two,  at  Seal,  Trent,  and  Camp  ;  7th,  thirteen,  at  Seal  and 
I'all  ;  Sth,  sixteen,  at  Trent,  Seal,  and  Fall ;  !tth,  no  fishing' ;  lUth  nine 
teen,  at  Seal,  Trent,  and  Camp;  1 1th,  ei.^ht,  at  Trent  and  Seal  ;  lUlh, 
Sunday;  l.'Uli,  fifteen,  at  Trent  and  Seal;  14th,  six  at  Trent;  Ifjth, 
four,  at 'I'rent  and  Seal;  lOth,  river  very  small;  ITlh,  {^owv.  rod)  two 
lish,  at  Trent  ;  18th,  little  fishing ;  lOth,  Sunday;  20th,  three  at  Seal, 
one  rod,  river  risings  21st,  three,  at  Seal,  one  rod,  river  rising ;  22nd 
and  2r»rd,  no  fishing;  24th,  ten,  nt  Falls  and  Trent;  2r)th,  seven  at 
l-'alls  and  Seal ;  2Cth,  Sunday ;  2r)tli,  five,  at  Seal  and  Camp.  Total 
nundjor  of  fi.sb,  190;  total  weight,  IV-^a)  lbs,;  average  weight,  10  lb. 

lUVER    CiODHOUT. 

Salmon  taken  with  the  fly  by  three  rods,  in  the  river  (Jodbout,  during 
dune  and  duly,  ISGd  : — dune  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 
0  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 


T 


ic  coa.>st  and  i.sland.^  ol"  the  (.lull' 
of  St.  Lawronoo,  pos;sc,ss  ;i  colonial  and  imperial  interest  whioh 
can  scarcely  be  ovor-cstimatod  in  contemplating  the  possible  future  cf 
British  North  America. 

The  annual  value  of  the  fisheries  in  British  American  waters 
exceeds  four  millions  sterling,  bcside.s  being  the  best  nursery  for  seamen 
"  the  world  ever  saw." 

The  li;dieries  on  the  Atlantic  coast  of  Labrador  alone  yield  a  yei'rly 
return  of  at  least  one  million  sterling;  uud  yet,  since  the  destruction  of 
the  town  of  IJrest,  at  the  gulf  entrance  of  the  Straits  of  IJelle  Tslo,  more 
than  two  hundred  years  ago,  no  attempts  have  l)ecn  made  to  I'onu  settle 
nicnts  on  ;iu  extensive  scale  on  or  near  the  coast. 

Tn  the  great  interior  valleys,  some  ten  or  lil'ti'cn  iiiilos  iVniii  the 
•  oast,  timber,  lit  ior  ])uilding  purposes  and  fuel,  exists  in  abundance, 
and  the  climate  and  soil  admit  of  the  successful  cultivation  ul"  ail  common 
culinary  vegetablos. 

West  of  the  Mingan  Islands  large  areas  exist  suitable  I'lr  ,>i,'ttUni('iii. 
liimestonos  and  sandstones  occupy  the  coast,  and  extend  about  ten  miles 
)»ack  over  a  space  of  eighty  miles  on  the  Straits  of  I>elle  isle,  and  urt'at 
I'ai'ilities  exist  in  many  otiier  plact!s  for  the  establishmonts,  by  wli  :  an 
annual  .>aving  id"  more  than  a  (|uarter  of  a  million  sterling  w  I  be 
secured  at  the  oursot,  with  the  prospect  of  an  intlelinite  increase.  liOcal 
establishments  lor  the  supply  of  salt,  food,  and  all  the  roquirem  nts  of  a 
vast  fishing  trade,  are  particularly  demaudod  on  the  (!ulf  an  !  Atlantic 
coast. 


•''I 


lixiiloratiuns  in  Liibriulor. 


I7«i 


piiornssoR  iiinh  on  tiik  rrsTiERiEs. 


ii 


Tilt'  Hritisli  Amoriciiu  li.shcrics  will  cvontiuilly  act'iuiro  :i  wholly 
unlookcd  I'or  importance  l)y  direct  trade  with  tlie  Southern  Stat«\s  lor 
cured  fish,  upon  the  return  oC  the  peace,  and  with  the  j;reat  valley  of 
the  Mississippi  for  fresh  f-alt-water  fish,  convened  in  ice.  The  connection 
of  the  present  terminus  of  the  Cirand  Trunk  Railway  of  (Canada  at 
Uivicre  du  Loup  with  the  IJay  of  Chaleurs  would  bring  the  rich  livin;,' 
treasures  of  the  Gulf  within  easy  reach  of  the  cities  of  the  Western 
States. 

As  a  nursery  for  seamen,  the  great  North  American  fisheries  have 
no  equal,  and  the  day  will  yet  arrive  when  the  hitherto  desolate  shores 
of  Labrador,  north,  east  and  west,  will  possess  a  resident  population 
capable  of  contributing  largely  to  the  comfort  and  prosperity  of  more 
favored  countries. 


(    iH    ) 


whdlly 
l;it(\s  for 
viillcy  of 
iiin'ctiiiii 
maila  at 
I  li villi,' 
)Vi'.stcni 

ios  have 
shores 
lulation 
of  more 


.tlccii-^fu  Jhsljcrics  af  (f auaia. 


"  Juiiit  ioii.i  liiwa  li:i\c  litoii  l>ajj<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 
0  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. 


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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, 

42 

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 
0  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 


,1 


\ 


188 


THE    BIRDS    OF   CANADA. 


■':h., 


White-crowned  Sparrow,  345. 

White-tliroatcd  Sparrow,  1)49. 

Black  Snow  Bird,  :i54. 

Tree  Sparrow,  S57. 

Field  Sparrow,  858. 

Chipping  Sparrow,  USD. 

Song  Sparrow,  303. 

Fox-colored  Sparrow,  o74. 

Black-throated  Bunting,  878, 

Ho.se-brcaf.ted  (Jro.shcak,  880. 

Indigo  Bird,  887. 

Boblink  ;  Reed  Bird,  81)9. 


Cow  Bird, 

Bed-winged  Blackbird, 
Meadow  Lark, 
Orchard  Oriole, 
Baltimore  Oriole, 
Busty  Blackbird, 
Crow  Blackbird, 
American  Itaven, 
Common  Crow, 
Magpie, 
Blue  Jay, 
Canada  -lay, 


ORDER   IV. — CALLINACEOOS. 


Wild  i'igcon,  448. 

(common  Dove,  451. 

Wild  Turkey,  457, 

Spruce  Partridge,  400. 

JJuffed  Grouse,  465. 

0H1>E11    V. 

Great  Blue  lieron,  4S7, 

Least  Bittern,  1!>J. 

Bittern  ;  Stake  Driver,  41)2. 

Night  Heron,  41)5. 

N  '  .v,f,y  Ibis,  600. 

i.oiOan  Plover,  508. 

.'  'lldccr,  504. 

Wilson's  l^Invcr,  500. 
SemipaL   ;if;  !  Plover;  liing 
Plover,                                   50 


Bock  Grout-e, 
American  Ptarmigan, 
Partridge;  Quail, 
Sand-hill  Crane  (?), 


— WAKERS. 

]3Iack-bellicd  Plover, 
Turnstone, 
"i  American  Avoset, 
Northern  Phalaropc, 
American  AV^oodcock, 
English  Snipe, 
Eed-breasted  Snipe, 
Gray-back  ;  Knot, 


i . 


.lack  Snipe, 
Least  Sandpiper, 
Sanderling, 

Semipahuated  Sandpipci 
Tell-tale;  Stone  Snipe, 
Yellow  Legs, 
Solitary  Sandpiper, 
Spotted  Sandpiper, 


OllDEll    Vf. —  I'AL.MATEl). 

53 L     Field  Plover, 


532. 
534. 
535. 
53!). 
540. 


BuiF-breasted   San(Jpii>er, 
Marbled  Godwit, 
lludso'.i  Ciodwit, 
Long-billed  Curlew, 
Iludsoniau  Curlew, 

o4L  •  Jlsquimaux  Curlew, 

543.   I  Clapper  B^til, 


400. 
U)l. 

too. 

414. 
4  If.. 
417. 
421. 
423. 
420. 
482. 
434. 
448. 


4GS; 

470, 
471 
471). 


510. 
515. 
517. 
520. 
522. 
523. 
524. 
520. 


04;). 
540. 
547. 
548. 
549. 
550. 
55] . 
553. 


■''  A  beautirul  .specimen  of  tbis  rare  bird  was  shot  at  Grondincf,  on  the  28tli  of  April. 
lSfi4,  and  contributed  to  my  collection  by  P.J.  Charlton,  Esq.  of  Queliec.  I.i  wlmni  I  lun 
also  indebted  for  a  wood  duck  and  a  largo  ))luc  heron. 

f  Three  avoscts  were  shot  in  the  bay  opposite  Toronto,  in  October,  1S(5.';. 

i^  Temminck  calls  this  Crane  Canadensis.  Charlcvoi.x  also  mentions  cranes  in  Canada, 
and  f^till  many  assort  the  crane  docs  not  stop  here  i".  'is  migrations  wc.-   vard. 


BIRD?!  OF  r\NAiM. 


189 


•100 

101. 

I0(i. 

414. 

41  r.. 

117. 
121. 

4  ■_';;. 

12(1. 
4^2. 
434. 
44.']. 


4GS; 

470. 
471 
'47it. 


510. 
515. 
517. 
520. 
522. 
52,']. 
524. 
52(). 


545. 
54(). 
547. 
548. 
549. 
550. 
55] . 
558. 


of  April. 

nun  T  mil 


I  Canada, 


i 


1 


554. 

!  Ilill};-lirckt'd   I>Ut,'k, 

5;»o, 

557. 

;Uctl-ho:ul, 

591. 

55<>. 

(';inva.-i-));ick, 

502. 

rAWit. 

<!i)!4eii  I'lyc. 

5o:;. 

1 

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. 

i 

577. 

tSuil'  Duck. 

(i02. 

•  y 

578, 

S<-ofci-, 

<;(M. 

i 

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 


i 


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. 


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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, 


t 

I. 


102 


THE   milDS   OF    CANADA. 


ID 


] 


r 


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. 


h: 


THE  BIRDS  OF   CANADA, 


li): 


widgeon,  Ills  quick  eye  niarkiii:;'  every  movonieni  that  is  inaiJo  lelow. 
While  the.se  keep  the  water,  they  uro  coiujtaratively  saio,  :i>  thi>y  oaii 
chvle  their  pursuer  by  diviii.t,'  ;  )mt  if,  in  the  cxcitoinent  caused  ly  the 
prcHoncc  of  so  dreaded  jnemy,  I  hey  should  attempt  to  escape  1»\ 

Hi^t;ht,  thou  is  tlio  time  to  wit  les^stlie  swoop  of  the  faldui,  v.lu).  ;-iiiiilirji' 
from  the  nllViglited  llyin^  flock  the  victim  he  lias  destined  fur  liis  pr^  \ , 
tleseeuds  with  a  rush,  whieh  the  eye  cau  scarcely  follow,  and  >trikes  it  to 
the  earth  in  an  instaut.  »So  suddenly  does  the  bird  full  on  beinj:  struck, 
that  it  was  Ion:.'  supposed  the  blow  was  j^iven  by  the  brcast-bon'>  ol'  tlie 
hawk.  This  opinion  has,  by  close  observation,  been  proved  iiuiivrect, — 
and  specimens  so  prostrated,  when  picked  up,  are  found  to  be  so  lacer.ited 
on  the  back  as  to  leave  no  doul)t  that  the  stroke  is  given  by  the  leel. 
'f  his  noble  bird  is  well  known  to  the  residents  on  JJurlin'jton  beach,  where 


jbsc 


d 


in  Tiuest  of  his  fav( 


ho  has  frequently  been  ooservea  coursing  along  m  rjuest.  oi  nis  \{v 
prey;  but  from  the  uncertain  nature  of  his  visits,  and  the  rapidity  of  his 
flight,  no  specimen  has  yet  been  procured.  A  recent  writer  professes  to 
have  found  specific  distinctions  between  this  and  the  J3ritish  bird  of  tlw' 
same  name,  but  these  do  not  seem  to  be  clearly  made  out,  and  the  general 
opinion  is  that  it  is  identical  with  the  peregrine  falcon,  so  much  in  favor 
when  hawking  was  a  princely  amusement  in  JOurope  ;  with  us  he  follows 
the  full  bent  of  his  own  wild  nature,  and  unencumbered  by  hood  or  bell, 
roams  the  wholo  Atlantic  coast,  from  (.irecnland  to  Cuba,  and  inland 
to  the  llocky  Mountains,  and  is  known  in  the  dilTereut  districts  he  vi^it-- 
by  the  various  names  of  peregrine  falcon,  bullet  hawk,  duck  hawk,  and 
wandering  falcon. 

'^  Following  falcons  In  order  come  the  on-?:<.  Birds  of  this  family  are 
easily  distinguished  by  the  largeness  of  the  head  and  eyes,  and  the  I'ov 
ward  direction  of  the  vision  ;  of  this  class  I  have  noticed  ci^ht  dWferent 
species  near  the  cit}',  none  of  which  are  ]ilenfilul,  yet,  from  their  slri(  tly 
nocturnal  habits,  they  may  be  more  so  than  wo  are  aware  of.  'fliey  aiv 
all  migratory,  and,  from  sometimes  meeting  Avith  two  or  three  individnals 
in  a  single  excursion,  and  again  not  i^ccing  ;' 'y  during  that  sea.-o;i,  we 
infer  that  they  pass  along  in  bauds,  keeping  up  the  eomnmnication  by 
their  loud  hooting,  which  is  frequently  heard  ai  night  during  spring  an. I 
fall.  The.sv«>jt70?'.7,styled  by  Wilson  the^great  northern  hunter,'  isdnrin,;: 
some  winters  (juIle  common  around    the  shores   of  the   bay,  tln-uvh    in 

2<; 


•  t 


194 


THE   BIRDS   OF   CANADA. 


I.-     ■   ' 


I  • 


t|  •  .; 


others  only  a  vei  y  iuw  arc  seen ;  during  the  winter  of  1858-59,  1  am 
aware  of  seventeen  specimens  having  ^ceu  brought  to  the  market  by 
ii.shornicn  and  others,  while  during  the  last  winter,  only  two  individuals 
have  been  killed.  All  the  birds  of  this  class  have  the  plumage  remark- 
ably full  and  s.ii'i.  v.-liich  (Miables  them  to  skim  noiselessly  on  their  prey, 
and  clutcdi  it  eve  ir  is  awnio  of  the  danger. "'^ 

"Passing  the  i/outsurkcrs,  of  which  we  have  two  species,  the  whip- 
poor-will  and  the  night  hawk,  we  come  to  (he  .sical/ows,  of  which  we 
have  five;  in  this  group  we  have  an  instance  of  the  v,..y  in  which  birds 
sometimes  adapt  their  habits  to  suit  particular  circumstances.  The  re- 
publican or  cliff  swallow,  which  is  but  a  recent  addition  to  the  favnaoi' 
the  continent,  in  its  original  ciiaracter,  builds  its  nest  in  caves,  and  under 
the  overhanging  I  dges  ol'  perpendicular  rocks  ;  when  lured  to  this  dis- 
trict probably  by  the  abundance  of  their  favorite  insect  food,  wliich  is 
found  along  our  marshy  lands,  and  not  iinding  rocks  suitable  for  their 
purpose  in  the  breeding  season,  they  frequently'-  choose,  as  a  substitute, 
the  end  of  a  barn  or  other  outhouse.  I  have  seen  such  a  republic  in  the 
country,  where  the  upper  part  ol'  tlic  end  of  a  barn  was  literally  covered 
vrith  claj',  and  perforated  with  numerous  circular  holes,  out  of  which  the 
lull  dark  eyes  and  gaping  bills  of  the  callow  inmates  were  fre({uentlY 
seen  protruding;  there  must  have  been  from  two  to  three  tons  of  day 
used  in  the  work,  an;]  the  constant  visits  of  the  parent  birds  at  this 
interesting  weapon  give  the  buildii'g,  at  a  short  distance,  mucli  the 
appearance  of  a  great  bee-hive. 

"In  the  habits  of  the  .oriff  or  cinmnci/  avnllon'  is  another  deviation 
from  the  established  custom.  When  we  see  these  birds  circling  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 


m 


19B 


THE   131KI).'«    or    CANADA. 


/toiisc  ii-i-cii,  wlii<'li  !-i'ciu,s  to  liiivo  discovered  llamiitou  only  within 
the  hist  two  or  three  yeai  ;.  'i'his  little  bird  is  strongly  attached 
to  the  dwellini;H  of  mail;  and  in  the  IT aitcd  States  is  frequently  accomo- 
dated with  a  hous<;  lixcd  to  a  post  or  tree  in  the  orchard,  which  is  taken 
possession  of  ;'.s  soon  as  the  birds  arrive  from  their  winter  quarters. 
{Hiring  the  past  two  summers  several  pairs  of  liousc  wrens  have  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. 


I 


Ivithiii 

luchcd 

bomo- 

tukon 

iniisot! 

ol'  tlic 
whicli 
castcd 
Uix  his 
•I'sJi,  is 
eluded 
lis  full 
t'  bciuu 


THE    HII!J»S    or   CANADA. 


19' 


onsi 

esoiuo  plants  as  tin 
sunuuer  resident 


'riio  I'aniily  oi'  Juirhc^  is  one  id'  (Uir  most  eouiprolicusivo  lii'oups;  it 
lias  beeu  divided  l>y  Audubon  into  18  ilittVretil  genera,  and  eoutains, 
aeeording  to  that  author,  ;")")  speeies.  01'  these  a  lair  proportion  are 
found  ill  our  iields  and  gardens,  where  tluy  render  considerable  serviee 
by  ridding  the  ground  of  the  seeds  of  such  troubl 
dandelion  and  the  thistle.  The  greater  number  ;ir 
only;  a  few  ren>''ln  all  the  year  round,  and  one  or  two  speeies  visit  us 
from  the  north  only  in  scveie  winters;  of  the  latter  elass  a  rare  species 
has  during  the  past  wlutt-r  been  observed  in  considcralde  numbers  rnuhd 
the  city.  I  refer  to  the  pine  grosbeak,  which  was  first  observed  about 
the  oth  or  (ith  of  January,  in  a  garden  in  Merrick  street,  feeding  on  tin; 
berries  of  the  mountain  a:^h.  They  attracted  attention  ])y  the  unsus- 
picious way  in  which  tliey  followed  their  occupation,  almost  within  reach 
of  the  people  who  were  passing  on  the  side-walk,  shewing  clearly  that 
they  were  little  accustomorl  to  the  f^oclety  of  man.  In  small  flocks,  tlu-y 
continued  to  IVccjucnt  the  gardens  where  tlieir  favorii,;  i  ciries  were  to 
be  obtained,  till  about  the  'l-]vi\  l-'cbruary,  when  a  strong  west  wiml, 
ticeompanied  l)y  \\ann  rain  }U'evailcd  for  a  day  and  night,  after  which 
they  were  no  more  seen.  In  the  winter-^  of  ISod-lSoT  they  paid  a 
similar  visit,  but  have  not.  been  observed  in  any  other  year.  Nearly  all 
those  which  visited  this  part  of  the  country  were  either  young  males  nr 
females.  The  adult  male  was  much  sought  after  on  account  oi'  his 
showy  crimson  plumage,  but  only  a  few  of  them  were  procured.  It  is 
worthy  of  remark,  that  the  grost)eaks  arc  frequeutly,  if  not  always, 
:;ccompanied  by  true  Bohemian  chatterers;  w^uch  latter  feed  on  the 
stem  and  pulp  of  the  berries  of  the  mountain  ash,  rojccied  and  thrown 
doAvn  by  their  hard-billed  fellow  travellers. 

''The  small  fa.iiily  o^  marsh  hlackhirds  i.s  next  in  order,  two  species 
of  which  are  well-known  on  account  of  their  gaudy  colours.  One  is  the 
red-winged  blackbird  so  common  in  our  marshes  during  summer,  and 
t!  0  other  is  the  Balfimorc  oriole,  whoso  pcusile  nest  we  sometimes  see 
suspended  from  the  drooping  twigs  of  our  willow  shade  trees.  The 
former  of  the.'?e  enjoys  the  unenviable  reputation  of  being  a  notorious 
corn  thief,  and  thoucch  s^'veral  writers  have  endeavored  to  clear  his 
character  from  this  imputation,  yet  if  brought  to  the  bar  on  such  a 
charge,  we  might  expect  to  hear  very  strong  condemnatory  evidence 


.   % 


198 


THE    BIRDS  OF   CANADA. 


J'  ! ; 


•5 


_i;iveu  against  liiiu  by  the  tanner,  and  unle.>^.s  lie  eould  sueeeed  in  getting 
upon  the  jury  a  majority  of  his  friends,  llic  croio  hlackuin/s,  which  had 
themselves  tasted  the  corn,  the  chanees  are  that  the  case  would  gi» 
against  him.  Admitting,  however,  that  he  does  oecasionally  take  what, 
was  intended  for  others,  he  amply  eompensates  foi-  it  by  the  destruction 
of  innumerable  grubs  and  caterpillars,  whose  ravages  among  the  corn 
would  have  far  exceeded  his  own.  A  more  remarkable  species  tliaii 
either  of  these  is  the  row-biuitin(j,  which,  like  the  British  cuckoo,  builds 
no  nest,  but  dropping  its  egg  into  that  of  another  bird,  leaves  the  care 
of  its  offspring  to  those  not  related  to  it  even  by  family  ties.  With  u,:, 
tiie  cow-birds  arc  summer  residents  only,  usually  making  their  appear- 
ance about  the  beginning  of  April,  and  retiring  to  tlie  south  about  the 
end  uf  October.  It  is  possible  that  a  few  individuals  may  si)end  the 
winter  with  us,  in  sheltered  situations  ;  as  when  visiting  a  farm  house 
near  Dundas,  early  in  March  (1857),  I  was  surprised  to  see  half  a  dozen 
of  these  birds  nestling  close  together  on  a  beam  just  above  the  cattle  in 
the  eow-liousc.  On  enquiry,  I  found  they  had  been  there  all  winter, 
eoming  out  for  a  few  hours  about  mid-day,  and  gleaning  seeds  from 
among  the  fodder  of  the  cattle.  They  were  all  males,  and  seemed  in 
excellent  condition. 

"'  it  was  long  a  subject  of  remark  among  those  who  were  fond  of  observ- 
ing the  habits  of  birds,  that  the  nest  of  the  cow-bunting  was  seldom,  it' 
ever,  found,  and  suspicions  were  entertained  that  some  irregularity 
existed  in  their  mode  of  perpetuating  their  race,  but  Wilson  was  the 
first  to  establish  the  fact  that  they  not  only  shirk  the  duties  of  incu- 
bation, but  that  the  whole  tribe  live  in  a  state  of  the  most  unrestrained 
polygamy.  Their  conduct,  in  this  respect,  forms  a  striking  contrast  to 
that  of  all  our  other  summer  birds :  these,  as  soon  as  they  arrive  from 
their  winter  quarters,  lay  aside  the  instinct  which  has  kept  them  in 
flocks  during  their  migratory  course,  and  scattering  about  in  pairs, 
each  pair  makes  choice  of  a  particular  tree  or  bush,  \vhich  is  to  be 
their  home  for  the  season.  To  this  spot  they  are  devotedly  attached, 
and  near  it  the  male  may  be  constantly  seen,  either  cheering  his  niaie 
with  a  song,  or  fighting  bitter  battles  of  disputed  boundary  with  ni- 
troublesome  neighbours.  I'ivcn  the  woodpeckers,  which,  some  writers 
say,  have  the  smallest  slif.rc  of  enjoyment  of  all  the  feathered  tribes. 


i;,. 


THE   LIRD^;   OF   CANADA. 


109 


ic'h  liad 

)ukl   l;i) 

ic  vvluil 

Iti'uctioii 

lie  corn 

OH   tliaii 

,  builds 

li'j   c;iro 

Vith  us 

appear- 

JOUt  the 

CMld   till- 

ui  houso 

a,  dozer) 

attle  ill 

winter, 

;ds   from 

cuicd   iu 

li'obsorv- 
ildoui,  ii' 
3-uIarity 
was  tlio 
of  iucu- 
:\straincd 
Qtrast  to 
ive  from 
them  ill 
a   pair.s, 
i.s   to  bo 
ttached, 
lis  iniiio 
r'lth    n'lA 
writers 
.  tribcfj, 


may  at  this  season  be  seen  chattering  and  chasing  cacli  other  round 
the  favorite  decayed  tree,  wiiope  hollow  recess  is  to  be  the  cradle  for 
their  young.  During  all  tliis  excitement,  the  cowbinls  remain  in  a 
state  of  callous  indifference,  and  iu  small  flocks,  keep  roaming  about 
the  clearings  like  bands  of  vjigrants,  with  no  song  save  a  few  splutter- 
ing notes,  holding  no  intercourse  with  otlicr  bird-;,  and  witli  no  attach- 
ment to  any  locality,  save  tliat  whore  iood  is  most  abundant. 

"  As  the  season  of  inculiation  advances,  tlie  female  cow-bird  leaves 
the  flock,  and  having  made  clioice  of  a  nest  to  suit  licr  purpose,  deposits 
therein  one  egg,  and  leaves  it,  not  only  without  hesitation,  ])ut,  judging 
from  lier  manner,  with  evident  satisiaction.  The  nest  so  selected  is 
usually  that  of  a  fly-catcher  or  warbler,  in  which  th'^  owner  has  made 
;i  similar  deposit.  AV'ilson,  who  spent  much  time  in  investigating  this 
matter,  tells  us,  that  the  egg  of  the  cow-bird  is  hatched  in  less  time 
tlian  the  otliers,  and  that  the  female  being  obliged  to  leave  the  nest  to 
provide  for  the  wants  of  tlie  youngster,  tlio  unhatched  eggs  are  exposed 
to  the  weather,  and  do  not  oonie  to  maturity,  but,  in  a  few  days, 
disappear  altogctlxcr,  lc;;ving  the  intruder  in  undisputed  possession  of 
the  ne^t.  Tt  has  ever  been  a  puzzle  to  naturalists^  to  account  for  this 
singular  habit,  and  as  it  m,".y  be  interesting  to  hear  what  lias  l)een  '•aid 
on  the  subject,  1  will  here  make  one  or  two  short  extracts. 

'•  Wilson,  after  devoti;.g  more  space  to  the  description  of  this  than  any 
other  bird  he  met  with,  says,  'what  reason  nature  may  liavc  for  this 
extraordinary  deviation  from  the  general  practice,  is,  [  confess,  altogether 
beyond  my  comprehension.  i\rany  conjectures,  indeed,  may  bo  formed 
as  to  the  probable  cause,  l)ut  all  o(  tliem,  which  liave  occurred  to  me, 
are  unsatisfactory  and  inconsistent.  Future  and  more  numerous  observa- 
tions may  throw  some  light  on  the  matter,  till  then,  we  can  only  rest 
sati,>fied  Avith  the  fact.'  3Ir.  Selby,  the  eminent  ]']nglish  naturalist, 
susTii'csts,  rcii'ardinc;  this  habit  in  the  cuckoo  that  the  old  birds  retir.' 
to  the  south  before  the  young  are  able  io  accompany  them,  and  /Jirir 
/ore  they  have  to  be  conlided  to  (lie  c-uv;  oi' others.  The  writer  of  an 
article  on  this  subject,  in  the  Jirltii'h  (\i/(loj):i,(h'(i  of  J^^afnrol  IL'sfniy, 
says  regarding  31  r.  Seiby's  theory,  Mb  is  is  perhaps  abouc  as  good  ;in 
explanation  of  the  cuckoo's  peculiarities  as  has  yt  lieen  offered,  but 
it  fails,  like  all    tlie  others,  in   beinu    (jiiite  inapplicable   to    the  Norlli 


1 


200 


THE  BIRDS  OF  CANADA. 


V 


1 


•■V 


American  cow-bunting.  The  true  cause,  whatever  that  may  bo,  of 
this  extraordinary  deviation,  must,  we  are  persuaded,  be  the  same  in 
both,  nor  can  we  at  present  accept  of  any  explanation  as  satisfactory, 
which  will  not  alike  apply  to  either.' 

"  I  liave  been  particular  in  making  these  extracts,  because  ic  ocouvs 
to  me  that  an  important  cjufdderation  connected  with  the  subject  has 
been  overlooked,  it  is  one  which  applies  alike  to  the  cuckoo  and  the 
cowbird,  and  will,  I  think,  if  carefully  followed  up,  go  far  to  explain  thi! 
seemingly  unnatural  conduct  of  both  species.  We  recognize  in  it,  as  in 
accordance  with  the  all-wise  laws  which  regulate  animated  nature,  that 
over  each  class  there  h  imposed  a  salutary  check,  to  prevent  excess  in 
production ;  this  is  specially  observable  among  the  feathered  tribes, 
some  of  which  have  their  eggs  carried  away  by  the  ship-load  from  the 
breeding  places ;  others,  such  as  the  grouse  and  waterfowl,  are  greatly 
reduced  in  number  by  sportsmen,  or  those  who  make  a  business  of 
sending  them  to  market,  while  the  linches  and  blackbirds  contribute 
largely  to  the  support  of  the  birds  of  prey,  and  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  continent,  are,  duriug  the  winter,  taken  in  numbers  >',  ith  the  net 
and  sold  for  the  table.  None  of  these  causes,  however,  in  any  way  aftect 
the  class  which  embraces  the  tiy-catchcrs  and  warblers,  as  from  their 
small  size  and  the  nature  of  their  food,  they  arc  not  sought  after  for 
those  purposes.  The  check  which  applies  to  this  class  must  therefore 
be  of  a  dilFereut  description  from  those  referred  to,  and  lioding  no  way 
in  which  their  numbers  are  reduced  to  any  extent,  except  by  the  sacrifice 
made  of  their  own  young  while  rearing  that  of  the  cowbird,  leads  me  to 
conclude,  that  the  habit  has  been  given  for  the  special  purpose  ol' 
keeping  within  proper  bounds  a  class  of  birds  which  might  otherwise 
iiave  exceeded  their  due  proportion  in  the  economy  of  nature.  If  we 
suppose  the  liabit  to  be  the  result  of  any  physical  defect  in  the  cowbird, 
we  might  naturally  expect  that  it  would  confide  the  care  of  its  young  to 
a  bird  nearly  allied  to  its  own  species,  but  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  the 
I'oster  parents  belong  to  a  gvoup  which  are  different  both  in  size,  habit 
and  the  nature  of  their  food;  it  is  evident,  therefore,  that  the  /v.s////  of 
the  peculiarity  is  intended  Jty  nature  to  bear  specially  on  the  class  to 
which  the  foster  parents  jjolong,  and  any  one  who  has  noticed  the  flocks 
of  eowbivds  wliiili  pnss  ;ilong  on   tlo'lr  niigr;ilovy  cniirsf*   in   spring  and 


I 


THE   BIRDS  OF  CANADA. 


L»01 


[o,   of 

(no  ill 

3torv, 

icouvs 
It  hns 
Id  tlio 
n  tli(! 
;is  ill 
I,  that. 
;s,s  in 
vibes, 
u  the 


fall,  and  estimated  that  for  cacli  bird  in  tliose  Hocks,  from  three  to  five 
of  a  different  class  have  been  prevented  from  coming  to  maturity,  must 
admit  that  it  is  no  small  influence  which  the  cowbird  exercises  ili  main- 
taining the  balance  of  power  which  so  admirably  prevails  among  the 
feathered  tribes. 

"If  we  could  imagine  such  a  thing  in  nature,  whose  movomonts  aiv 
all  so  well  ordered  as  that  the  cow-buntings  should  at  any  time  got  in 
excess  of  the  other  class  referred  to,  it  would  be  curious  to  estimate  the 
results;  the  flycatchers  would  then  be  fully  occupied  in  rearing  foster 
children,  and  not  being  permitted  to  perpetuate  their  own  species,  must 
soon  die  out,  when  the  cowbirds,  finding  tliemselves  without  a  substitute 
in  the  rearing  of  their  young,  would  either  be  driven  by  necessity  to 
make  the  attempt  themselves,  or  they  too  would  soon  be  added  to  the 
list  of  extinct  species. 

"  Passing  ilic/aj/s  and  the  crows  (both  of  which  are  well  deserving 
of  notice  did  our  limits  permit),  we  come  to  a  species  which,  in  our 
vicinity,  is  the  sole  representative  of  his  family/''  This  is  the  Americint 
shrike,  or  hutcJier  hird,  so  called  from  his  habit  of  impaling  his  prey 
on  thorns.  With  us  this  species  appears  about  the  end  of  ►September, 
and  a  few  adults  remain  over  the  winter.  Tlie  niale  frequently  makes 
choice  of  a  particular  district  as  his  hunting  ground  during  his  stay, 
and,  I  am  inclined  to  think,  returns  to  it,  year  after  year.  His  aspect 
bespeaks  both  strength  and  courage;  the  short  neck,  broad  head,  and 
notched  beak,  giving  him  much  the  appearance  of  a  bird  of  proy.  His 
favorite  food  consists  of  grasshoppers  and  other  insects,  ])ut  in  winter 
when  these  cannot  be  procured,  he  docs  not  hesitate  to  hunt  dnu'ii  tin; 
smaller  finches,  killing  them  with  a  blow  of  his  p.jwerful  beak.  In 
October  last,  when  passing  through  an  open  field  west  of  the  race  course, 
[  noticed  one  of  these  birds,  whose  motions  led  me  to  suspect  he  was 
engaged  in  the  occupation  which  has  gained  his  name ;  he  was  too  shy 
to  allow  a  close  inspection  of  his  operations,  but  on  examining  the  thorn 
bush  I  found  too  of  his  victims  still  in  life  on  the  spikes.  I  did  not 
observe  anything  which  could  lead  to  an  explanation  of  this  singular 
habit,  except   that  it  seemed  to  take  great  delight  in   the  pastinu^  skip 


•*  Since  writing  tho  above,  T  haro  fouml  ;i  s,^,-onil  spe.Me-'  nem-  Mil-  city,  wliioli  niipoar- 
to  be  the  Lnnim  E.vouhit(}ruid>»  of  l!:iinl. 

27 


202 


THE  BIRDS   OF   CANADA. 


li 


t 


ping  about  between  tbc  ground  and  the  bush,  and  warbling  a  few  rather 
musical  notes  in  evident  token  of  satisfaction. 

"  To  those  who  have  occaieion  to  be  in  the  woods  in  winter,  there  is 
no  bird  so  familiar  as  the  white  hrcastcJ  nuthatcJi  ;  it  is  one  of  the  few 
which  remain  with  us  all  the  year  round,  and  is  remarkable  for  its  rest- 
less, inquisitive  habits ;  as  a  climber  it  has  no  equal,  and  may  often  be 
seen  running  downward  on  the  smooth  bark  of  a  perpendicular  tree,  a 
feat  which  no  other  Canadian  bird  ever  attempts.  An  examination  of 
its  feet  shows  a  remarkable  adaptation  for  this  peculiar  habit.  It  is 
furnished  with  a  long  and  strongly-hooked  hind  claw  which  enables  it 
to  hang  firmly  in  that  position.  It  is  said  to  roost  head  downward,  and 
T  have  often  seen  it  when  shot,  hanging  in  this  position  after  death. 
The  red-breasted  nuthatch  is  another  species  of  the  same  genus  ;  it  re- 
sembles the  other,  but  is  more  migratory  in  its  habits,  less  in  size,  and 
slightly  diflercnt  in  colour. 

"  The  family  of  woodpeckers  is  well  represented  in  our  woods,  seven 
different  species  being  observed.  Of  these  the  most  common  are  the  two 
spotted  varieties,  which  resemble  each  other  in  colour,  but  difiFcr  con- 
siderably in  size;  they  are  partially  migratory,  only  a  few  remaining 
during  the  winter,  in  the  fall,  when  passing  along  to  the  south,  they 
arc  frequently  seen  on  the  shade  trees  of  the  city,  jerking  themselves 
round  to  the  offside  of  the  branch  when  observed,  or  again  startling  the 
inmates  of  our  frame  dwellings,  by  rattling  loudly  on  ihc  decaying 
boards. 

"  A  very  beautiful  species  of  this  family  is  the  red-headed  woodpecker, 
which  has  been  remarked  by  those  who  are  observant  of  our  native 
birds,  to  be  less  common  in  this  district  than  formerly.  This  can  only 
be  accounted  for  by  the  removal  of  the  heavy  decaying  timber  which 
forms  the  nursery  of  its  favorite  insect  food,  and  as  the  country  gets 
more  under  cultivation,  we  may  look  forward  to  the  time  when  it  will 
only  pay  us  a  passing  visit  on  its  way  to  and  from  the  woody  regions  to 
the  north  of  us. 

The  least  common  species  of  this  class  which  I  have  observed  is  the  Arc- 
tic three-toed  woodpecker.  Wilson  does  not  appear  to  have  met  with  it 
at  all,  and  Audubon  mentions  the  northern  part  of  the  state  of  New  York, 
as  the  southern  limit  of  its  migration  ;  it  resembles  the  spotted  wood- 


tin 

}^\ 

Be 

wi 

w 
of 
av 
ki 
hi 
to 


TIIK    HIUDS   OF   (ANAIU. 


203 


[ther 

Ire  is 

few 

rcat- 

bi  l»c 

rce,  a 

ion  of 

It  is 

>les  it 

[1,  and 


peckor.s  iu  .size  and  nianncrs,  hut  differs  from  them  in  oolor,  'itid  in 
wanting  the  hind  toe.  Why  one  class  of  these  birds  should  have  four 
toes,  and  another,  similar  to  it  in  habits,  should  have  only  throe,  we  are 
at  a  loss  to  determine.  J  may  remark,  however,  that  the  three-toed 
species  belongs  exclusively  to  the  north,  being  seldom  found  anioDg 
deciduous  trees,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  a  careful  examination  of  the 
feet  of  this  bird,  and  their  mode  of  application  to  the  bark  of  the  pine, 
would  give  a  satisftictory  explanation  of  the  seeming  defect. 

Passing  the  pidgeons  and  the  grouse,  wliich  are  equally  interesting  to 
the  sportsman  and  the  naturalist,  we  come  to  the  waders  and  dwimmers. 
Here  my  remarks  will  be  general,  as  the  haunts  of  these  birds  being 
beyond  the  reach  of  morning  excursions  I  cannot  say  much  from  per- 
sonal observation. 

Of  the  first  division  of  this  group,  whic.  includes  the  plovers,  sand- 
pipers, curlew,  &c.,  little  can  be  said,  except  that  tliey  visit  the  sandy 
shores  of  Burlington  beach  in  considerable  numbers  every  spring  and 
fall,  when  on  their  migratory  course  to  and  from  their  .summer  rcsidenco 
in  the  north.  In  spring  these  visits  arc  usually  made  during  the  month 
of  May,  occasionally  the  flocks  remain  for  a  day  or  two,  but  more  frc- 
<{uently  they  move  off  after  a  rest  of  only  a  few  hours,  and  arc  succeeded 
by  others  bound  on  the  same  journey.  By  the  first  of  June  they  have 
all  disappeared  except  the  little  spotted  sand-piper,  which  stays  with  us 
during  the  summer,  rearing  its  young  on  the  shores  of  the  bay. 

Of  the  heron  family,  we  have  four  species  :  viz.,  the  great  blue  heron, 
the  black  crowned  night  heron,  and  the  greater  and  lesser  bitterns. 
Mu(di  information  has  yet  to  be  gained  regarding  the  birds  of  this  class. 
Being  all  more  or  less  night  feeders,  the  study  of  their  habits  is  attended 
with  peculiar  difficulty.  On  the  breast  of  the  great  blue  heron,  covered 
by  the  'ong  plumage  of  the  neck,  is  a  tuft  of  soft  tumid  feathers,  which, 
when  exposed  in  the  dark;  emit  a  pale  phosphorescent  light.  The  use 
of  this  '^does  not  appear  to  be  fully  understood,  though  me  fishermen 
aver  that  when  the  heron  retires  at  night  to  his  feeding  ground,  he  wades 
knee  deep  in  the  water,  and  shewing  this  light  attracts  the  fish  within 
his  reach,  much  in  the  same  way  as  the  Indian  does  when  fixing  the 
torch  of  pitch-pine  on  the  bow  of  his  canoe. 

"  Of  the  flocks  of  the  larger  water-fowl  which  periodically  pass  along 


'  fl: 


IT 


204 


THE    IJIIIDS    OF   CANAHA. 


on  their  mij^nitory  c(»iir,sc',  ouly  a  very  few  now  visit  us;  occawionully, 
ill  thick  or  storiDy  weather  a  few  stniprglers  alight  on  the  bay  to  rest 
ami  recruit  themselves,  though  the;y  gcuerrJly  forfeit  thoir  lives  by  so 
doing.  Last  i'all  three  specimens  of  the  American  swan  were  thus 
procured,  and  a  singh;  individual  of  what  has  hitherto  been  considered 
the  young  td'  the  snow  goose  was  also  obtained  ;  doubts  still  exist  as  to 
the  identity  of  the  latter  bird,  some  writers  maintaining  that  it  is  a 
separate  and  distinct  species,  while  others  declare  it  to  be  the  young  of 
the  snow  goose  in  immatuve  plumage.  There  arc  good  arguments  on 
both  sides,  but  conclusive  information  on  the  subject  can  only  be 
obtained  from  their  breeding  grounds  in  the  far  north. 

"  Of  ducks  1  have  noticed,  in  the  market  and  clj-ewhcre,  twenty  dif- 
ferent species,  the  gayest  of  which  is  the  wood-duclc^  so  called  from  its 
habit  of  building  its  nest  in  the  hollow  of  a  decayed  tree.  A  few  pairs 
of  this  species  annually  raise  their  broods  near  the  shores  of  the  Dundas 
marsh;  i\\g  teal  rxwiX  Diallanl  have  also  been  observed  leading  out  their 
young  from  the  ready  inlets  of  the  bay,  but  there  are  exceptional  cases, 
as  the  great  body  pass  farther  to  the  nortii,  paying  us  a  short  visit  going 
and  returning.'' 

"  Nearly  allied  to  the  ducks  is  the  small  i'amily  of  merganstrs,  which 
coutaius  only  three  speciesy  peculiar  to  the  American  continent,  all  of 
which  are,  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  found  round  the  shores  of  the 
bay.  The  birds  of  this  class  subsist  chictly  by  fishing,  and  have  the  bill 
compressed  and  deeply  serrated,  to  enable  them  to  hold  their  slippery 
prey.  They  are  also  furnished  with  a  crest,  the  use  of  which  has  been 
a  matter  of  conjecture  among  naturalists,  one  of  whom  suggests  that  the 
elongated  feathers  of  the  head  being  acted  on  by  the  water,  serve  to  give 
precision  to  the  blow  when  striking  the  lish,  nmch  in  the  same  way  as 
a  leather  acts  on  the  shaft  of  an  arrow.     The   most  beautiful  of  this 


L 


«■.. 


*  It  has  beLMi  remarked  by  tisbermeu  and  others,  who  have  had  occasion  to  bo  on  the 
waters  of  the  bay  during  the  fummcr  months,  that  there  are  usually  about  a  dozen 
ducks  which  keep  toi^ether  in  a  .sni.all  flock,  and  do  not  seem  to  take  any  share  in  the 
duties  of  tiio  breedin,!?  season.  Tlic  floi^k  is  comiioscd  of  both  sexes,  and  frcnuently  of 
different  specitis.  \'iirii»us  conjectures  have  been  formed  as  to  the  cause  of  this  singular 
cjnduct,  but  the  proljubility  is,  tliat  they  are  birds  which,  from  being  wounded  or 
otherwise  in  ill  health,  have  been  unable  to  perform  the  journey  northwards,  and  prefer 
gponding  the  j^ummcr  in  retirement,  joining  their  comrades  on  their  return  in  the  fall. 

I  The  smew,  or  white  nun,  is  mentioned  in  some  works  as  an  American  bird,  but  it" 
occurronc;  is  very  rare  and  considered  accidental. 


ill 


TIIK    BIIIDS   OF   rANAI>A. 


20:1 


iionully, 
y  <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 

■}  . 

4 


2on 


TirE    urRDS    OF    CANADA. 


fur  buliiml  tin-  ««'iitie  of  gravity,  to  givo  it  gieutor  power  iu  Mwiiiimiug, 
and  arc  mucli  compressed  so  as  to  offer  the  least  po3Bil)lo  re.sistanee  to 
water,  while  the  toes,  iu  place  of  being  connected  with  a  web  as  in  the 
tluck,  arc  each  furnished  with  a  .separate  inem})rane,  which  enables  tho 
bird  to  pass  with  case  and  celerity  through  the  tangled  masses  of  water- 
plants,  among  which  its  favorito  food  is  found.  In  some  part  of  the 
European  continent  the  skin  of  the  grebe  is  much  prized  as  trimming  for 
ladies'  dresses  ;  and  in  olden  time,  when  the  fo\vling-p-iec(!  was  a  less 
perfect  instrument  than  at  present,  consiilerable  diiliculty  was  found  in 
s»ip[)lying  tho  demand,  as  the  grebe  being  a  most  expert  diver,  disappeared 
at  the  tirst  Hash  of  tho  gun,  and  was  under  water  ere  the  shot  could, 
leach  it.  Since  the  invention  of  the  percussion  cap,  however,  they  are 
more  readily  killed,  and  were  any  of  our  Hamilton  ladies  desirous  of 
having  a  dozen  or  two  of  grebe's  skins  ibr  trimmings,  I  have  no  doubt 
the  birds  would  be  forthcoming.  At  present,  there  being  no  demand 
for  the  skins  and  the  flesh  being  unsuitable  for  the  table,  they  are  not 
much  disturbed. 

"  Of  the  three  species  alluded  to,  one  is  a  winter  visitor,  the  other  two 
remain  during  the  summer,  and  rear  their  young  in  Dundas  marsh  and 
the  reedy  inlets  of  the  bay.  They  are  well  protected  with  feathers,  yet 
seem  very  sensitive  to  the  cold,  moving  off  to  tho  south  at  the  first  touch 
of  frost;  returning  again  about  the  '  tter  end  of  April. 

"  1  have  thus  alluded  to  only  a  few  of  our  more  remarkable  birds. 
Tho  total  number  of  species  observed  in  the  near  vicinity  of  the  city, 
from  May,  185(5,  to  the  present  time,  amounts  to  20(5,  each  of  which  has 
a  separate  and  distinct  history  of  its  own,  though  in  many  cases  it  is  very 
imperfectly  known  to  us.  If  sportsmen  and  others,  who  have  oppor- 
tunity of  observing  the  birds  in  their  native  haunts,  could  be  induced  to 
make  notes  of  their  observations,  and  communicate  them  to  public  bodies 
having  the  means  of  making  them  known,  much  new  information  would 
no  doubt  be  gained,  and  we  could  with  tolerable  certainty  ascertain  the 
the  geographical  distribution  of  many  species,  a  point  at  present 
undetermined." 


«■: 


4 


FAUNA  AND  ILORA, 


20  r 


iiiiiiiij^;, 
.ilic'c  to 
ill  tlu; 
Irs  tlio 
wator- 
(>r  till. 


Jamiii  anb  J;lon  of  tljc  ivtrcinc  Hortli-tast. 


•I 


At  a  recent  ineoting    of  tlu!    Chicii.i^o  Acuilciiiy    of    Scioncc.-^,   Hr. 
Ketuiicott  gave  some  intcrcptiii^  particulars  of  a  lari:;o  tract  of  laiul 
called  the  IJarren  Ground,  in  the  occup!\tiou  of  the  Hudson's  liny  Coni- 
])any,  being  the  extreme  north-east  portion  of  North  America,  east  o\' 
Hudson's  JJay,  whither  he  liad  been  under  the  auspices  of  the  AndulxDi 
and  other  learn(>d  societies,  to  make  collections  and  observations  in 
natural  history.      The  speaker  described  the  Barren  Land  a.s  of  \n>-i 
»'xtent,  eoverinir  thousands  of  scjuare  nii'.es  which  had  never  yet  Ixu'n 
trodden  by  the  foot  ol'  whitt    man,  and  probably  was  unknown  to  the 
Indian.     Nothing  but  lichens  and  mosses  ;:'row  oti  this  vast  territorv, 
and  the  animal  and  /lorn  which   art'  found  on  it  an;  very  marked  aiul 
peculiar.      lie  said  that  the  immense  tract  of  land  bore  about  the  s:im(> 
relation  to  the  prairie  as  the  prairie  l)ear.«  to  the  wooded  country.     With 
very  few  cxceptionH,  there;  was  nothing  to  be  seen  but   the  lowest  kind 
of //■;/■«.     llis  visit  there  was  in  the  winter,  and  he  had  felt  tlu,  weather 
quite  warm.     The  si>eaker  spok«'  nf  tin;  migration  of  birds  northward, 
across  the  tract  during  spring.      In   high  winds,  when  they  ll(>\v  low,  he 
had  shot  several  of  them;  and  i'ound,  upon  examination  of  the  seed?! 
they  had  eaten,  that  they  were  such  as  could  have  eome  oidy  from  the 
State  of  California  or  the  neighbourhood  oi'Oreixon.     TFe  stated  that  he 
had  observed  several  speeimen.s  of  granite  and  very  fine  eopjier,  tin- 
latter  so  pure  that  the  Indians  liad  had  no  dilUeulty  in  niaking  i(   into 
spear-hcads ;  and  he  had  lit  his  pipe  at  a  lire  caused  by  llu'  spontaneo\>s 
eombustion   of  a  peculiar   kind   of  eoal  whie'i    had   ]<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. 


r 


i 


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 


10 


Information    of  infringements  of  tlie  (iame   Act  v.'a- 


sent   to    yuur 


(Jommittec  in  three  instances  during  the  ]iast  year,  and  ])n)secutions 
were  brought  accordingly,  wliieli  resulted  in  two  convielions.  Owin^:, 
however,  to  the  paradoxical  cpiniuns  expressed  in  relation  to  the  protec- 
tion of  fish  and  gaim;  by  the  magistrate  who  fiappene  I  to  preside,  the 
third  case  was  withdrawn  by  the  Club. 

Vour  Committee  regret  that  no  Icgislaiiou  lias  yet  been  adopted 
towards  arresting  tho  practice  of  shooting  tlio  singing  and  small  Ijinls  o\' 
the  country.  It  is  generally  on  a  Sunday  that  tho  dissolute  emerae' 
with  their  guns  and  other  engines  to  carry  on  a  warfare  against  tlie 
pretty  songsters,  whose  bodies,  when  dead,  are  useless,  but  whose 
cheerful  notes,  while  living,  awaken  pleasure  and  delight.  L''rom  the 
fact  that  the  existence  of  the  small  birds  confers  gre;:t  benefits  upon 
agriculture,  by  destroying  insects  hurtlul  to  vegetation,  it  is  surprising 
tliat  no  philanthropic  legislator  lias  yet  introduced  a  law  to  save  them 
from  destruction.  The  Ifumane  Society,  recently  organi/ed  in  this  city, 
within  whoso  province  the  repression  of  heedless  acts  of  cruelty  naturally 
lies,  will  no  doubt  consider  whether  if  would  not  l)ecom(>  that  body  to 
arrest  this  wanton  destruction  of  life. 

This  Club  is  deeply  indebted  to  J.  }.I.  liO^Foine,  Es^ ,  for  several 
excellent  communications  publislied  by  that  gentleman,  onnected  with 
the  objects  of  this  association. 

Vour  Committee  cannot  close  this  part  of  their  report  without  congra 
tulating  their  fellow  members  upon  tho  marked  increase  apparent  last 
season  in  some  of  those  objects  of  human  food,  which  their  Society 
desires  to  promote,  and  they  also  believe  that  the  humble  elibrts  of  this 
Club,  aided  by  similar  associations  now  establi'-hed  in  ditferent  parts  nf 
the  province,  as  well  as  la  Nov:i  Scotia,  have  not  been  altogether 
uninteresting  to  those  who  really  ;;opreeiale  ar,  inere.asr  in  the  game  n|* 
Canada  as  a  desirable  obiect. 

S.VLAION    AXn    .S.M,:\IOX    JMSIIKLIIES. 

The  restoration  of  our  salmon  and  trout  lislu  rics,  whicii  lias  boon 
attempted  by  the  government,  is  a  subject  wiiich  interests  the  i)ublic  as 
deeply  as  it  does  every  member  of  this  assotiiation. 


212 


APPENDIX. 


l-i' 


The  coast:^,  rivers  and  lakes  of  Canada,  which  nature  and  nature  alone 
had  stocked  with  a  rich  provision  of  wholesome  food,  requiring  ncit)ic» 
expense  to  maintain  nor  labor  to  cultivate,  in  numerous  instances  jrom 
the  improvidence  of  the  Indian,  the  greed  of  the  whitL'  man,  and  the 
long-coutiuuod  in  iin'i'rence  of  the  government,  had  become  entirely 
barren — and  in  ot'iicr  cases  the  supply  Iiad  so  diminished  as  to  render 
ever}'  exertion  twwaids  the  ]n'eser\'ation  and  increase  of  these  fisheries 
an  object  of  })araniount  in.'poriaiice.  'IMiis  Chib,  therefore,  has  never 
failed  !o  regard  with  great  interest  the  late  efforts  of  the  Executive  to 
rescue  these  fisheries  from  the  state  of  depression  to  which  years  of  reck- 
lessness and  inattention  had  reduced  them.  These  struggles  have  been 
attended  with  much  benefit  in  promoting  the  increase  of  salmon  in  some 
of  the  rivers*  of  the  Lower  St.  Lawrence — other  rivers  would,  no  doubt, 
have  equally  profitted  had  the  well-intended  efforts  of  the  government 
been  fully  seconded  by  an  elhcient  and  laborious  staff. 

The  system  of  leasing  salmon  ii«;liing  stations  and  fishing  rights, 
although  at  one  time  regarded  as  a  somewhat  speculative  measure,  has 
succcssfullv  coMtributcd  to;v'ards  promoting  an  incrca.-^e  of  these  valuable 
fish. 

The  3Ioisie,  which  sent  so  large  a  supply  of  excellent  salmon  to  this 
market  during  the  jjasl  summer,  and  which  river  has  been  managed  for 
the  past  two  (*r  three  years  by  an  experienced  tacksman,  affords  an  apt 
iliustration  of  the  results  to  be  obtained  by  careful  and  prudent  fishing; 
the  boon  eonicrred  by  placing  ^o  large  a  quantity  of  wholesome  food 
within  reach  of  all  class:s  (d'  the  community  was  fully  appreciated. 

The  incredible  rapidity  willi  which  ihe  young  salmon  increase  in 
development  and  gain  ilesh  has  been  recently  ascertained  with  great 
accuracy,  twenty  months  sufficing  from  the  deposition  of  the  ova  to 
prodiM^e  marketable  fish;  each  fortnight  of  tlicir  stay  in  the  salt  water, 
after  their  lirat  descent  of  their  native  river,  adds  over  a  pound  to  their 
weight. 

From  the  rapid  increase  in  size  and  weight  of  these  fish,  in  the  sea, 
it  is  interesting  to  know  what  compo.-.es  their  naiural  food  wiiile  there. 
I'rofessor  Qucckett  thinks  they  live  upon  the  ova  of  the  sea-urchin  ; 
Professor  Huxley  considers  that  their  ibod  consists  of  small  eiustacia^. 
This  question  admits  of  no  difiiculty  with  regard  to  the  fish  fre({uenting 
the  Gulf  of  St.  Jjawreuce  and  its  coasts,  as  the  operatives  engaged  in 
splitting  and  curing  salmon  inv:iria])ly  find  their  stomachs  gorged  with 
caplin  and  young  herrings. 

The  advantages  resulting  from  the  artificial  propagation  of  salmon 
over  the  natural  way,  are  also  remarkable  ;  it  is  estimated  that  not  more 
than  one  ovum  in  a  thousand  naturally  deposited  in  a  rive-  becomes  a 
marketable  fish,  while  one  in  each  liuudred  placed  in  a  hatching-box  be- 


l  li 


^' 


-  Since  the  Jiicques  dirtier  has  fallen  into  the  hands  (if  private  individvials,  the  catch 
of  palmon,  in  ISl'^J,  attained  the  unprecedented  fl<;i:ro  of  tu-o  luuidrod  fish.  The  pools 
of  the  Ste.  Anno  were  , swarming  witli  tish  last  y  jar,  and  lio,-li  salmon  on  th<,  Quebec 
market  was,  from  its  abundance,  as  l'>w  ns  two  pence  half-penny  per  pound,  one  seaf^on. 
-~{J.  M.  L.) 


;ure  alone 
;  ncit^.c. 
cos  jroiii 
and  the 
entire)}' 
to  render 
fisheries 
las  never 
cutive  to 
s  ot  reck- 
lave  been 
1  in  some 
uo  doubt, 
verniuent 

g  i-ig-lits, 
nsure,  has 
e  valuiiblf! 

on  to  this 
inagcd  fol- 
ds an  apt 
it  fisliiiiy  ; 
some  lltod 
iated. 

n crease  in 
witli  "reat 
he  ova  to 
salt  water, 
id  to  their 

the  sea, 
lile  there, 
a-urehin  ; 
Luustaci;e. 
j((iienting 
agaj2;ed  in 
rged  with 

)f  salmon 

not  more 

)ecomes  a 

g-box  be- 


s,  the  catch 

1'ho  pools 

thv,   Quebec 

one  season. 


APPENDIX. 


2ia 


comes  a  perfect  salmon.  The  superiority',  therefore,  of  artilloial  breeding, 
in  re-stocking  rivers  which  have  becoin.'  barren,  is  obvious,  and  it  is  not 
by  any  uhkuis  an  expensive  oi)cration  ;  the  orlgiuiil  o.-t  ol'  the  pimds  at 
iStormoiitficUl,  which  annually  send  tD  sea  200,001.)  s;il»i  )n,  was  only 
.tdOO,  and  the  yearly  ex])ciise  does  not  exceed  .CoO. 

Ite(.'ont  dIscovcri(\<  In  th"  natnr  d  lilstury  of  tlio  Sdnio  S'lfur  have 
also  served  to  elucidate  many  p  ijuts  wliirh  were  sul>jeets  of  controversy 
among  naturalists,  as  well  as  piisctical  li-hermon.  It  is  now  ascertained 
that  the  ova  oi'  salmon  are  only  feeuiiilited  afier  leaving  the  lish,  and 
the  fecundation  may  be  eifocted  not  only  by  the  milt  of  the  full-grown 
male,  but  also  })y  that  of  the  grilso  and  tli<^  parr.-'' 

About  onedialf  the  ova  hatched  become  siuoults,  whieh  descends  to  the 
sea  during  the  first  year  of  tlu'ir  hatehing,  the  remainder  continuing  in 
their  native  river  till  the  following  senson,  und  in  a  few  instances  some 
of  the  latter  remain  in  thi'ir  nui'sery  until  \hr.  third  year,  b  lore  ihoy  nre 
rca<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 


er 


or 


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 


I' 


P'.«6  13,  1 

« 

118, 

.- 

133, 

<f 

136; 

n 

13S, 

II 

131, 

It 

188- 

*i 

190- 

l< 

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. 


7 

I 


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 


4( 

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. 


7 

I 


■ 


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. 


s 


i 


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     '^ 


u 


ii 


209 


220 


Page. 

40 

41 

47 

51 

53 

July.,  1755.  57 

G6 

97 

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