North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-03-25


! to have his opinion whether any additional
troops were necessary Tor The reduction OF
Qnebec, and for the security of Canada !;
1 and in case The General should decide in
the affirmative, whether any more troops
could be spared with safety from the army
then in New York.
| On the cath April Congress ordered that
a sum OF 10000 dollars should be given 10
Mr.. Tfumbull, the commlssary general Of
the American army, TO enable him to send
Immediately 1000 barrels Of pork to gener-
al Schuyler for The use OF the army in Ca
NADIA. Messrs. Asop, Sherman and Lewis,
were also requested TO purchase and for
ward with all convenient dispatch, To gen
eral Schuyler, for the use Of the Canadian
army, 10000 pairs Of shoes, and also 10 :
600 pairs of stockings Tor this purpose a
sum OF $4,000 dollars was put into their
hands. A letter was also written TO gen
eral Schuyler, informing him Of the ten
additional baitalions which had been late
" ordered TO Canada the first four OF
which, as already mentioned, having been
asked by Congress from general Washing
ton by letter dated s5th March and the
last six, as we before said, by letter dat
ed the 2Sd of April. The letter also in.
formed general Schuyler of the supply Of
pork, shoes and stockings which had been
provided for the army in Canada wishing
him moreover, TO continue his exertions to
provide the best means for furnishing such
other necessary articles Of clothing and
food as might be wanted for the continen-
tails. General Schuyler was also asked to
inform Congress, at the earliest convent
ence, what quantity Of gun-powder he
had received for Canada since the first Of
January preceding. The secret committee
was in the mean time directed to forw ard
from Mr.. Wisner's and Mr.. Livingsion's
powder-mils, five tons Of powder, to gen
eral Schuyler, to be by him forwarded to
Canada.
1t will be recoIlected that general Pres
colt with his little feet had been captured
on the river St. Lawrence, near the mouth
of the Richeieu, by colonel Easton, who or
this occasion had displayed degree Of mil
itary skill highly honorable TO himself and
to the country which employed him. 1t
appears that general Montgomery who had
detached colonel Easton for the express
purpose OF surprising general Prescott, and
his squadron, had promised 70 the Ameri-
can colonel and TO his men, that they
should have all the public stores they
might chance TO take, except ann uni
ton and provisions. Nevertheless colonel
Easton and his men never received part-
Gle Of what they had taken, which, ii
seems, amounted TO heavy sum Of money;
but, on the contrary, the gallant colonel
as a reward for his noble and daring con-
duet in this difficult enterprise, was accus-
ed by brigadier-general Arnold Of having
! plundered the private property Of the pri-
soners who fell into his hands. Such an ac-
cusation was highly Notifying Cor an Off
Ger, who, on the 18th January preceding,
had been compiimented by Congress for his
important services, and for which that
body gave assurances that they would seize
the first opportunity OF rewarding hun. A
court of inquiry was ordered by Congress
TO take cognizance Of the accusations
brought forward against colonel Easton !;
but we have been unable TO find out from
the journals of Congress what was the re-
port Of the court upon the conduct Of Ie
accused. IL would seem that they were
unable to settle the question on whom the
blame was 10 rest. Congress on the 26lh
April entertaining high sense Of colonel
/ Easton's services, recommended the com
mandine officer then in Canada to appoint
proper persons to estimate the public stores
taken from general Prescott, so as to d.
vide the value Of them among those who
had won them so CALAMITY -
Congress then took into consideration
the report Of the committee, on the petition
Of colonel James Easton whereupon,