mortar, which they kept in play to no purpose. The enemy kept up a heavy cannonade from the city, and once in a while would throw out a shell filled with molasses, or open a port and fire a pistol, by way of contempt.

Our army had no breastwork or fortification but what was built with snow. Their lines extended near thirty, miles distant, and a great part of them sick with the small-pox, haying lost a great number. As I was credibly informed, no less than thirty captains died with it, and not more than one in three lived through it that took it the natural way. They had gone through every hardship and fatigue that men could possibly live through, the winter past. The weather was most inclement, and the men almost starved, for sometimes they had no bread, and sometimes no meat.

On the arrival of General Thomas, he found the army in such a situation that a speedy retreat was necessary, which, by a council of war, was agreed to. Their lines being so extensive and their army so scattered, it could not suddenly be effected; and the enemy getting intelligence of it from an officer who deserted, immediately pursued them. In that situation, one may easily imagine the confusion they were in, every one making his escape as well as he could, leaving the sick to the mercy of the enemy. Yet many of them who had the small-pox out thick on them came off, and went through the greatest fatigue, and were exposed to wet and cold, without blankets or anything to cover them, and I afterwards saw them at Sorel. What ordnance stores they had were taken, and much of their baggage. The first stop they made was at Point de Chambly, forty-five miles from Quebeck. The General then sent an express to Sorel for provisions, boats, and assistance, to bring off what sick they had there, for they were continually taken down with the small-pox. Captain Bent and my first lieutenant, with two hundred and fifty men, were sent off with boats to their assistance. They then retreated to the Three Rivers, forty-five miles from that place, and from thence to Sorel.

The New-England forces now began to be very uneasy about the small-pox spreading among them, as but few of them had had it. It was death for any doctor who attempted inoculation. However, it was practised secretly, as they were willing to run any hazard rather than take it the natural way. Some inoculated themselves, and several officers and myself began it in our regiment at Sorel. We had been at Sorel but ten days, when our regiment was ordered up to Montreal, forty-five miles above, on the river St. Lawrence. Colonel Paterson's regiment, which arrived at St. John's in two days after ours, was directly ordered from thence to Montreal, by land, about twenty-seven miles across; and soon after Major Sherburne, with one hundred and twenty men, was detached to The Cedars, to the assistance of Colonel Bedel's party, and another party was left as a guard to La Prairie. Colonel Paterson's regiment was now so reduced by detachments, that it was expected the inhabitants of Montreal would rise, as it was easily perceived they were making preparations. Our regiment was now under the necessity of getting there as fast as possible. We rowed till after dark, when, it coming on to rain very hard, we went on shore. Some pitched their tents, and some got into a small house and barn where we landed. I got into the barn, which was shattered almost to pieces, and being much fatigued, I slept very well. I was now under a mercurial preparation for the small-pox. In the morning we set off for Montreal, the current running very strong. We were not like to get there that day, and about four o'clock P. M., we landed on the point of the Island. At five P. M., the regiment marched for the city, leaving myself and a sufficient number of men to carry up the boats and baggage. About eleven at night they arrived there, having marched fifteen miles. During this fatigue we had nothing to eat but flour and water, and lake water to drink, as we had no other since we came into Canada. As soon as they came into the city they were so fatigued as to lie immediately down under the walls to sleep, and some lay there until morning, it being impossible to move them. But happily they arrived as they did, for that night was appointed for the Tories to take possession of the place. Here we tarried about ten days, and soon after our arrival the regiment in general were inoculated for the small-pox. General Sullivan's brigade beginning to come in and a detachment sent up from Sorel, our regiment was ordered over to St. John's, to have the small-pox. Accordingly, we set off for La Prairie about four P. M., May 31, the current very strong, and in some places the falls being so great that we were obliged to unload the batteaus and haul them over by land. About dark we got up to Nun's Island, where we tarried all night. The next morning went over to La Prairie, the weather being very rainy all day, the men much exposed to it, most of them beginning to feel the effects of the disorder. The next day we marched to St. John's, eighteen miles. The small-pox was then turning on those who were first inoculated. When we came to St. John's, the most of us went into tents, except some of the worst, who went into a large house and a barn. Here we could get nothing to nourish us without hard money, except the allowance of flour and pork and a little molasses, which we drew for the use of the sick. The inhabitants would exchange milk for pork, but at the rate of two or three pounds for one quart.

I must now return to the Army below. General Thomas took the small-pox the natural way, came up to Chambly, and there died on Sunday, the 2d of June. His death was much lamented by the New-England troops. General Sullivan, with his brigade, is now at Sorel, and he takes command at that place. Immediately after his arrival there, he sent General Thompson, with two thousand men, towards the Three-Rivers; but before they got there, they were attacked by a large body of the enemy, who defeated them, and took the General, Colonel Irvine, and a large number of officers and men, prisoners; and it is supposed that two hundred more perished in the woods, as they retreated in the greatest confusion, the officers without men, and the men without officers. But it gives me pleasure to acquaint you, that none of the "damn'd Yankees" were there, as the southern troops are pleased to term us. We had been at St. John's but ten days, when we had orders for as many of the regiment as were able to go to Sorel. Accordingly, there was a petty surgeon's male sent to examine the men, (not trusting to our own doctor, who was a good physician,) who reported two hundred, who had been off duty but ten days for the small-pox, fit for the service. Although they had the disorder light, no one could think them fit "to go through so much fatigue. We were reduced very low by dieting, and had nothing to recruit with afterwards.

June 13. We set off for Sorel with heavy hearts, none of us expecting to come back again, for General Burgoyne and all his troops were come in, our. Army but small in comparison to his, and if we were defeated, there would be no retreat. We, got to Chambly the first day, and the next morning set off for Sorel, and before night met Colonel Greaton about twenty-three miles from the mouth of the river, who came directly from there. He informed us the Army were retreating as fast as possible, that the enemy's fleet was just below them, and he ordered us to go on shore and cook some victuals, and then return back to Chambly as fast as possible. After refreshing ourselves a little, we set off about dark, and rowed all night very hard, the current running rapidly. In the morning, about seven o'clock, we got up to Chambly, when, after refreshing ourselves with a little breakfast, we were obliged to assist in getting the batteaus, cannon, and other stores, above the lower Rapids; and then it is as much as twenty men can do to tow a loaded batteau up the river in many places. After our party had drawn over two batteaus, two pieces of cannon, and all their tents and baggage, and put them on board, we set off with three or four boats up the river. In some places, the men were obliged to wade up to their middle. At dark, having got about half-way up to St. John's, we pitched our tents, and lay down to rest. In the morning, we proceeded to St. John's. During this fatigue, the men had but little to eat but pork and flour, and lake water to drink. The Army at Sorel brought off all their artillery and other stores, and arrived safe at Chambly; and in eight hours after their departure, the enemy had come up with their fleet, and taken possession of Sorel. At Chambly, General Sullivan made all the despatch possible in getting over the artillery, stores, and boats, there being a large quantity of them, and not less than a hundred batteaus. We lost one or two pieces of cannon by staving the boats, and one or two more were left. The row galleys were burnt, and I think we left but little else, except four schooners that we burnt in: the river.

Our Army, consisting of about six thousand men, were