Chapter XXXI: Letter XV: Roxbury, December 30, 1775 (3)

Colonel Allen being upon his return, with a guard of about eighty men, from a tour upon which he had been sent by the general, was desired to halt by major Brown, who proposed that colonel Allen should return to Longuil, procure canoes and cross the river St. Lawrence a little north of Montreal; while he crossed a little to the south of the town with near 200 men, as he had boats sufficient. The plan was approved of, and colonel Allen crossed in the night. Major Brown by some means failed on his part; and colonel Allen found himself, the next morning, in a critical situation; but concluded upon maintaining his grounds. [Sept. 25.] General Carleton learning how weak colonel Allen was, marched out against him with about forty regulars, together with Canadians, English and Indians, amounting to some hundreds. The colonel defended himself with much bravery; but being deserted by several, chiefly Canadians, and having had fifteen of his men killed, was under the necessity of surrendering with thirty-one effectives and seven wounded. He was directly put into irons. Had the plan been executed according to major Brown’s proposal, Montreal would probably have been surprised and taken. Success would have prevented the censures, which are now passed upon the one for proposing, and the other for adopting a plan of operation to which the general was an entire stranger. [Oct. 4.] A party of Canadians, who had joined and greatly assisted the besiegers, intrenched themselves on the east side of the lake, on which the enemy sent an armed sloop with troops to drive them away; but the Canadians attacked the sloop with vigor, killed a number of the men, and obliged her to return to St. Johns in a shattered condition. The main body of the army decamped from the south, [Oct. 7.] and marched to the north side of the fort: and in the evening began to throw up a breast work, in order to erect a battery of cannon and mortars. The continental troops brought such a spirit of liberty into the field, and thought so freely for themselves, that they would not bear either subordination or discipline. The general could not in truth direct their operations, and would not have stayed an hour at their head, had he not feared that the example would be too generally followed and so the public service suffer. There was a great want of powder, which with the disorderly behavior of the troops was a damp to the hope of terminating the siege successfully.

[Oct. 18.] The prospect was much brightened. The Canadians planned an attack upon Chamblee, and carried down in batteaux the artillery, past the fort of St. John’s. After a short demur it surrendered to major Brown and major Livingston.—The greatest acquisition was about six tons of powder, which enabled the general to accomplish his wishes. The other particulars you have below,[136] except the colours of the 7th regiment, which were immediately transmitted to congress—the first present of the kind they ever received. The garrison became prisoners of war, but were allowed all their baggage, the quantity of which was astonishing. Their women and children, whose number was equally astonishing, were permitted to go with them and to take their effects. The besiegers having obtained a full supply of ammunition, went to work in earnest, compleated a battery within 250 yards of the fort, and mounted in it [Oct. 30.] four guns and six mortars, in defiance of the continual fire of the enemy. While the army was busily engaged in preparing for a cannonade, and an assault if necessary, they received the agreeable news of governor Carleton’s being repulsed. [Oct. 31.] The governor, with a view of raising the siege, collected a body of about 800 forces, consisting of the militia of Montreal, a number of Canadians, whom he had maintained for some time, a few troops, not a hundred, and some Indians. They left Montreal in high spirits, and attempted to cross the river St. Lawrence and land at Longeuil; but colonel Warner, with 300 Green Mountain boys, and a four pounder which kept pouring grape-shot into the boats, prevented their making good a landing. They were suffered to come very near the shore, and then the fire was so hot and distructive, that they were thrown into great confusion, and retired with the utmost precipitation. [Nov. 1.] The batteries kept an incessant fire all day on the garrison of St. John, which returned a very brisk one.—In the evening general Montgomery sent a flag, with a letter to major Preston, the commander, by one of the prisoners taken by colonel Warner, informing him of governor Carleton’s defeat, and recommending to him the surrender of the fort, as he could now have no longer reason to expect relief from that quarter. Major Preston in return sent an officer to the camp, proposing to answer the letter fully in the morning, and that in the mean time hostilities should cease on both sides. Two officers came into the camp [Nov. 2.] with an answer from major Preston, who requested the general to wait four days, to see whether no relief would come in that time, if not, they would make proposals for a surrender. The advanced season of the year did not allow of the general’s complying. He required them immediately to surrender prisoners of war; but referred them for the truth of the governor’s defeat to another prisoner. It was at length agreed that the garrison should march out with the honors of war, as what was due to their fortitude and perseverance. The non-commissioned officers and privates were to ground their arms on the plain; the officers were to keep their side arms, and their fire arms were to be reserved for them. The effects of the garrison were not to be withheld from them. The Canadian gentlemen and others, at St. John’s, were considered as part of the garrison, which amounted to about 500 regulars, and better than 100 Canadian volunteers. The next morning they marched out [Nov. 31.] and the continental troops took possession of the fort, in which were 17 brass ordnance, from 2 to 24 pounders, 2 eight inch howitzers, seven mortars, and 22 iron ordnance, from 3 to 9 pounders, a considerable quantity of shot and small shells, and about 800 stand of small arms, beside a small quantity of naval stores. The ammunition and provision was trifling, these having been nearly expended.

General Montgomery pressed on to Montreal. It being capable of making no defence, governor Carleton quitted it in one day; the general entered it the next [Nov. 12.] He treated the inhabitants with becoming liberality, engaging upon his honor to maintain the individuals and religious communities of the city in the peaceable enjoyment of their property of every kind; and the inhabitants, whether English, French, or others, in the free exercise of their religion. The general, in all his transactions, wrote, spake, and behaved with that attention, regard, and politeness to both privates and officers, soldiers and citizens, which might be expected from the gentleman. He was careful to push forward in time, a number of continental troops under colonel Easton, to the point of Sorel River, which they guarded so with cannon, an armed gondola, and their fire arms, that the fleet which had fallen down below Montreal, would not venture to attempt passing it. General Prescot, who was on board, with about 120 privates and several officers, was reduced to the necessity of surrendering by capitulation. [Nov. 17] 11 sail of vessels, with all their contents, consisting of, beside sailors and soldiers, 760 barrels of flour, 675 ditto of beef, 376 firkins of butter, 3 barrels of powder, 4 nine and six pounders, cannon cartridges and ball, 2380 musket cartridges, 8 chests of arms, 200 pair of shoes, and a quantity of entrenching tools; all of which proved very acceptable to the continental troops, who had no redundency of any articles whatever. In the preceding midnight, governor Carleton was conveyed, in a boat, with muffled paddles, by a secret way, to the Three Rivers, and arrived safe at Quebec the Sunday following.

Notwithstanding the advanced and severe season, general Montgomery marched on for the capital, expecting to be joined by colonel Arnold and his detachment in its neighbourhood, and designing to complete the reduction of Canada before the arrival of any British reinforcement. But while he was advancing, numbers were returning. An unhappy home sickness prevailed, and no specific was so efficacious as a discharge. No sooner was it administered, but the cure of nine out of ten was perfected; who, refusing to wait for boats to go by the way of Fort George, upon their arrival at Tyconderoga, flung their heavy packs over their shoulders, crossed the lake at that place, and undertook a march of two hundred miles with the greatest good will and alacrity. Three hundred of the continentals passed by Tyconderoga on their way home, by the end of the month. The ruin of the cause was further hazarded by the turbulent and mutinous spirit of several officers.

Colonel Arnold’s arrival with his detachment, at Point Levi, was not known at Quebec for twenty-four hours; and was at length discovered by his ordering out some men to secure the midshipman of the Hunter sloop of war, who was just landed on that side the river; the boat returned, and carried the intelligence to Quebec; on which two ships of war were stationed, one above and the other below Wolfe’s Cove, to prevent the Americans crossing over. A council was called, and by a majority of one it was agreed _not_ to proceed immediately to attack the town. The contrary resolution, backed by vigorous exertion, would probably have put him into the possession of it. On the fifth of November it was really in a defenceless state, without a single soldier. Had the detachment crossed, the gates would, it is thought, have been opened by the disaffected and faint-hearted. The colonel however declared, that he would certainly make the attack when he had crossed, in case they were not discovered to be over. In the mean time the troops were employed in preparing scaling ladders. Before they were ready with these, colonel Maclean, the deputy governor, arrived at Quebec from Sorel [Nov. 12.] with about 170 men of his new raised regiment of emigrants; of this colonel Arnold had advice the next day, when, in the evening at nine o’clock, he began to embark his forces on board thirty-five canoes, leaving the ladders behind, and by four the next morning, got over and landed 500 men, wholly undiscovered. They landed in the small cove where the brave and enterprising general Wolfe did, now called Wolfe’s Cove. The Lizard’s barge rowing up the river, the colonel ordered her to be hailed, and fired upon for refusing to come in shore; on which she pushed off, and carried the account of the detachment’s having crossed over. But before this discovery, the men paraded on the Heights of Abraham. From thence they sent out a reconnoitering party toward the city, marched across the plain, and took possession of a large house, formerly owned by general Murray, and other adjacent houses, which afforded fine accommodations for the troops. Guards were placed on the different roads, to cut off the communication between the city and country. The main body, about noon, marched fairly in view of the enemy, and gave them three huzzas, which were returned by a few shot from the ramparts. In the evening the colonel sent a flag of truce with a demand of the garrison, in the name and on hehalf of the united colonies, which was fired upon as it approached the walls. The colonel was certainly overseen; he should have taken the scaling ladders along with him, have concealed his being over, and attempted a coup-de-main the next night, which might have been done with a prospect of success, as his Canadian friends, English and French, were in the city to second his operations, and as the sailors were then scattered on board the ships, some about Quebec, and others up the river. [Nov 16.] A company of men were sent to take possession of the general hospital. The Canadians were continually coming in to express their satisfaction at the continental forces having entered the country. The next day a certain account was received of the capture of Montreal. Early in the morning [Nov. 19.] the troops decamped, and marched up to Point-au-Trembles, about seven leagues from Quebec, through a thick settled country, where you meet every few miles with a handsome little chapel. This was the day on which governor Carleton arrived at Quebec; and the first thing he did was to turn out the suspected, and all who would not assist in the defence of the city. [Nov. 23.] By express from Montreal, the forces were informed that Montgomery was upon his march, and had sent down clothing for them. The general finding plenty of woollens at Montreal, at a reasonable price, gave his soldiers new clothes, after their having suffered much by the severity of the climate, to which they submitted with patience and resolution, particularly in marching from St. John’s to Montreal, the road being half leg deep in mire. He was also mindful of colonel Arnold’s detachment, which had suffered still greater hardships. General Montgomery arrived at one o’clock [Dec. 1.] with three armed schooners, men, ammunition, and provision, to the great joy of the colonel’s forces, who toward evening turned out and marched to the general’s quarters, and were there received and complimented by him upon their appearance. The next day the batteaux were sent to Point Levi for the scaling ladders. The general appeared before Quebec [Dec. 5.] which is the last we have heard of his movements.

[Dec. 14.] General Howe issued orders for taking down the old north meeting-house, a large wooden building, containing a great deal of timber; and a hundred old wooden dwelling-houses and other buildings, to be used for fuel. The scarcity of this article, now that the usual supplies from the country are cut off, will reduce the inhabitants to an entreme difficutly.

[Dec. 30.] P. S. Admiral Shuldham is just arrived from Great-Britain in the Chatham man of war of 50 guns, to supersede admiral Greaves.

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

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Footnote 1:

Townshend’s Historical Collections, p. 76.

Footnote 2:

Prince’s New-England Chronology, part I.

Footnote 3:

Wood’s New-England’s Prospect, ed. 1764, p. 5.

Footnote 4:

See the Charter in Hutchinson’s Collection of papers, p 1.–23.

Footnote 5:

Neale’s History of the Puritans. 4to. Vol. 1. p. 543.

Footnote 6:

Hutchinson’s History of the Massachusetts Bay. Vol. II. p. 3.

Footnote 7:

Suffolk Records.

Footnote 8:

Suffolk Records.

Footnote 9:

Hutchinson’s History, Vol. I p. 487.

Footnote 10:

Prince’s Chronology, p. 238.

Footnote 11:

Governor Winthrop’s MS. History.

Footnote 12:

Hutchinson’s Letter of December 7. 1762.

Footnote 13:

Hutchinson’s History, Vol. I p. 251 and 252.

Footnote 14:

Extract from Governor Winthrop’s MS. History sent me by Gov. Trumbull
from Connecticut.

Footnote 15:

Massachusetts Records, Vol. I.

Footnote 16:

Hutchinson’s History. Vol I. p. 424.

Footnote 17:

Massachusetts Records, in many places.

Footnote 18:

Mr. John Calender’s Century Sermon.

Footnote 19:

Massachusetts Records for the 4th of November, 1646, Vol. I.

Footnote 20:

Hutchinson’s History, Vol. II. p. 2 and 4.

Footnote 21:

ibid. Vol. I. p. 115.

Footnote 22:

Hutchinson’s Collection, p. 420.

Footnote 23:

Chalmer’s Political Annals, under Connecticut and Rhode-Island.

Footnote 24:

Neal’s History of _New-England_, Vol. I. p. 214–217.

Footnote 25:

Hutchinson’s History. Vol. I. p. 268.

Footnote 26:

Ibid. p. 328.

Footnote 27:

See Hutchinson’s collection of papers, p. 477–506. The Massachusetts
assembly in their answer to Gov. Hutchinson in 1773, quoted the above
passages in such a manner and to such a purpose, as expresses their
opinion of the truth of what Randolph declared.

Footnote 28:

Chalmer’s Political Annals, p. 313.

Footnote 29:

Smith’s History of New Jersey, p. 513.

Footnote 30:

Smith’s History of New-Jersey, p. 517.

Footnote 31:

ibid. p. 528–529.

Footnote 32:

ibid. 536.

Footnote 33:

Corrupted by time into Whore-Kill. The name of many rivers, in
New-York particularly terminate with kill, which means both river and
rivulet.

Footnote 34:

The manuscript copy contains a number of authorities from Bracton,
Fortesque, the petition of right, &c. See Smith, p. 129, the note.

Footnote 35:

Smith, p. 117–123.

Footnote 36:

See Chalmer’s Political Annals under the head of Virginia, for many of
the preceding and subsequent articles respecting that colony.

Footnote 37:

Bland’s Inquiry into the rights of the British colonies.

Footnote 38:

Bland’s Inquiry into the rights of the British colonies.

Footnote 39:

Chalmer’s Political Annals, under Virginia.

Footnote 40:

Locke’s Works, Vol. IV, p. 519, &^c. 1779.

Footnote 41:

Chalmers’s Political Annals, B. I. p. 537, 538.

Footnote 42:

Most of what is said upon Carolina is taken from Chalmers’s Political
Annals, under the head of that province.

Footnote 43:

A defence of the American Constitution of Government, by John Adams,
Esq. p. 365.

Footnote 44:

The Modern Universal History, Vol. xl., 1763.

Footnote 45:

Chalmers’s Political Annals, under the head of Pennsylvania.

Footnote 46:

Chalmers’s Annals.

Footnote 47:

Chalmers’s Annals, p. 654.

Footnote 48:

The Modern Universal History, vol. xli. p. 19. 1764.

Footnote 49:

Ibid. p. 20.

Footnote 50:

Modern Universal History’ vol. xl. p. 453–463. 1763.

Footnote 51:

William Smith’s History of New-York, p. 75.

Footnote 52:

Chalmers’s Political Annals.

Footnote 53:

Lord Camden’s Speech in April 1766.

Footnote 54:

Hutchinson’s History, Vol. II. p. 74.

Footnote 55:

Hutchinson’s History, Vol. II. p. 271, 290, 294, 321. and governor
Burnet’s Speech to the Massachusetts general court, in the
Massachusetts Records for 1728.

Footnote 56:

Massachusetts Records for 1729 and 1731. Hutchinson’s History, Vol.
II. p. 355, 360, 363.

Footnote 57:

The present lieutenant governor. [1772.]

Footnote 58:

The present governor. (1772.)

Footnote 59:

Grand father of the present Sir William Pepperrell. (1787.)

Footnote 60:

Governor Shirley’s letter of February 16, 1744.

Footnote 61:

Hutchinson’s History, Vol. II. p. 407–420. The above account varies
from Hutchinson’s, being corrected in some instances, from a
manuscript copy of the History of the Reduction of Louisburg, sent by
Mr. Shirley, to the duke of Newcastle; and improved in others from
information given me,

Footnote 62:

See the postscript of Dean Tucker’s Humble Address.

Footnote 63:

The Dean’s Letter to Edmund Burke, esq. p. 27.

Footnote 64:

Hutchinson’s History, Vol. II. p. 424.

Footnote 65:

See a collection of letters and essays in favour of public liberty, in
three Vols. printed for Wilkie. Vol. III. p. 34. 42.

Footnote 66:

See a short account of the proceedings of the deputation. p. 9.

Footnote 67:

Dr. Chauncey’s thanksgiving sermon for the repeal of the stamp act in
a note.

Footnote 68:

Dr. Langdon told it me in conversation: and afterward mentioned it in
his sermon preached before the convention of the ministers.

Footnote 69:

Now president of Yale College in Connecticut.

Footnote 70:

From Brooke Woodcock, Esq. of Saffron Waldon, who served at the taking
of Bellisle, Martinico, and the Havannah.

Footnote 71:

Mr. Burke’s speech on American taxation, April 19, 1774.

Footnote 72:

Otis’s Rights of the British Colonies, p. 57.

Footnote 73:

Ibid, p. 59.

Footnote 74:

Otis’s Vindication of the British Colonies, p. 57.

Footnote 75:

Ibid. p. 59.

Footnote 76:

His Rights of the British Colonies, p. 63.

Footnote 77:

Mr. Hutchinson’s letter of March 8, 1766.

Footnote 78:

Mr. Agent Bollan’s letters of that date to the Massachusetts general
court.

Footnote 79:

Mr. Sayre’s letter to Captain Sears, of New-York, dated London, 7th of
Febuary, 1764.

Footnote 80:

Mr. Jackson’s letter to lieutenant-governor Hutchinson, Dec. 26, 1765.

Footnote 81:

Mr. Ingersoll’s letter of March 6, 1765.

Footnote 82:

The present secretary of congress.

Footnote 83:

Late governor Trumbull of Connecticut.

Footnote 84:

Mr. Hughes’s letters of October and November, 1765.

Footnote 85:

See the Gentleman’s Magazine, Vol. XXXV. p. 538.

Footnote 86:

Ibid. Vol. XXXVI. p. 94.

Footnote 87:

Ibid. Vol. XXXVI. p. 94 and 95.

Footnote 88:

Mr. Edmund Burke’s speech; April 19, 1774.

Footnote 89:

Political Memoirs, printed 1783.

Footnote 90:

Mr. Burke’s speech.

Footnote 91:

The London merchants letter to John Hancock, Esq. and others, dated
February 28.

Footnote 92:

The lords protest against the repeal of the stamp act.

Footnote 93:

Mr. Hutchinson’s loss was 2396l. 3s. 1d. 1–2. Mr. Oliver’s 129l. 3s.
Mr. Hallowell’s 289l. 0s. 1d. 1–2. Mr. Story’s 50l. 11s. 6d. 3–4, all
sterling.

Footnote 94:

Mr. Hartley’s letters.

Footnote 95:

January 21, 1768.

Footnote 96:

January 30.

Footnote 97:

February 2.

Footnote 98:

Mr. Bollan’s letter to Mr. Hutchinson, August 11, 1767.

Footnote 99:

The Lanceston of 40 guns, the Mermaid of 28, Glasgow 20, Beaver 14,
Senegal 14, Bonetta 10, and several armed schooners, besides the
Romney of 60 guns, and other ships which had been some time in the
harbour.

Footnote 100:

Mr. M. H’s letter to Mr. Hutchinson.

Footnote 101:

Mr. Otis afterward prosecuted Mr. Robinson for the assault, and the
law gave heavy damages against him; but Mr. Otis generously forgave
him upon an acknowledgment of the offence.

Footnote 102:

The date of the committee’s letter to the Philadelphians after taking
the sense of the inhabitants a second time.

Footnote 103:

The doctor’s account to me, when discoursing upon what is called the
massacre.

Footnote 104:

The trial of the soldiers, p. 52.

Footnote 105:

Samuel Gray, Samuel Maverick, James Caldwell, and Crispus Attucks.
Samuel Gray was a journeyman, and wrought in the rope-walks belonging
to Mr. John Gray, the rope-maker.

Footnote 106:

Lieutenant-governor Hutchinson’s letter of December 10, 1770.

Footnote 107:

The Rev. Mr. Whitney’s discourse on the public fast.

Footnote 108:

M. Hartley.

Footnote 109:

The word _caucus_, and its derivative caucusing, are often used in
Boston. The last answers much to what we stile parliamenteering or
electioneering. All my repeated applications to different gentlemen
have not furnished me with a satisfactory account of the origin of
_caucus_. It seems to mean a number of persons, whether more or less,
met together to consult upon adopting and prosecuting some scheme of
policy, for carrying a favorite point. The word is not of novel
invention. More than 50 years ago, Mr. S. Adam’s father, and 20
others, one or two from the north end of the town, where all the ship
business is carried on, used to meet, make a caucus, and lay their
plan for introducing certain persons into places of trust and power.
When they had settled it, they separated, and used each their
particular influence within his own circle. He and his friends would
furnish themselves with ballots, including the names of the parties
fixed upon, which they distributed on the days of election. By acting
in concert together, with a careful and extensive distribution of
ballots, they generally carried the elections to their own mind. In
like manner it was, that Mr. Samuel Adams first became a
representative for Boston.

Footnote 110:

The Rev. Mr. Whitney’s Discourse.

Footnote 111:

The lords protest against the act for the better regulating of the
government.

Footnote 112:

Parliamentary Debates relative to general Howe. Mr. Galloway’s
answers.

Footnote 113:

Lords who signed the protest—Richmond, Portland, Rockingham, Stamford,
Stanhope, Torrington, Ponsonby, Wycombe, Camden.

Footnote 114:

See the Remembrancer, Part II. p. 227, the note.

Footnote 115:

See the Spectator, No. 509.

Footnote 116:

See general Gage’s account of the behavior of the troops, in the
London Gazette.

Footnote 117:

This was practised.

Footnote 118:

Afterward a lieutenant-colonel in Shelden’s light horse.

Footnote 119:

So Tyconderoga is frequently called for the sake of brevity,
especially by the people dwelling in its neighborhood.

Footnote 120:

The territory has now the name of Vermont.

Footnote 121:

Between 112 and 120 iron cannon from 6 to 24 pounders; 50 swivels of
different sizes; 2 ten inch mortars; 1 howitzer; 1 cohorn; 10 tons of
musket balls; 3 cart load of flints 30 new carriages; a considerable
quantity of shells; a warehouse full of meterials to carry on boat
building; 100 stand of small arms; 10 casks of very indifferent
powder; a brass cannon; 30 barrels of flour; 18 barrels of pork, and
some beans and pease.

The prisoners were the captain, lieutenant, a gunner, 2 serjeants, and
44 rank and file, beside women and children.

Footnote 122:

Since collector of imposts and excise for the county of Suffolk in
Massachusetts.

Footnote 123:

General Burgoyne’s Letter.

Footnote 124:

This resolution was assigned by a near female relation of the general,
to a gentlewoman with whom she had been acquainted at school, as a
reason why the other, upon obtaining a pass to quit Boston, should not
tarry at her father’s (Mr. Cary’s) house in Charlestown.

Footnote 125:

Mr. afterward major Winslow, of the American artillery (who was
personally acquainted with the general, and crossed over from Boston
to the place of action after the battle, and narrowly surveyed the
body) related his being so shot, and the hand’s being bloody as if by
the wound.

Footnote 126:

Entick’s History of the War, from 1755, Vol. IV. p. 20. printed for
Mr. Dilly.

Footnote 127:

Dr. Price’s two tracts on civil liberty, Part II. p. 111 and 112,
1788. The first restraining act was passed March the 30th, the second
April the 13th. The news of them was undoubtedly carried by the
vessels from London, which arrived at Philadelphia the evening of June
the 7th, and had on board major Skeen.

Footnote 128:

A shilling a day.

Footnote 129:

Governor Martin went not on board the Cruiser sloop till the middle of
July.

Footnote 130:

The bishop of St. Asaph.

Footnote 131:

Lord Camden.

Footnote 132:

Lord Chatham.

Footnote 133:

General Washington’s Private Letter.

Footnote 134:

Mr. Thomas Gamble’s letter to general Gage.

Footnote 135:

See the copy in Mr. Smith’s History of New-York.

Footnote 136:

Eighty barrels of flour, 11 ditto rice, 7 ditto pease, 6 furkins of
butter, 134 barrels of pork, 7 ditto damaged, 124 barrels of
gun-powder, 300 swivel shot, 1 box of musket shot, 6564 musket
cartridges, 150 stand of French arms, 3 royal mortars, 61 shells, 500
hand-granades, Royal fusileers muskets 83, accoutrements 83, rigging
for three vessels at least, 1 major, 2 captains, 3 lieutenants, the
captain of the schooner which is sunk, a commissary and surgeon,
soldiers 83.

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TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

● No typos were fixed. ● Used numbers for footnotes, placing them all at the end of the last chapter. ● Enclosed italics font in _underscores_. ● The caret (^) serves as a superscript indicator, applicable to individual characters (like 2^d) and even entire phrases (like 1^{st}).