North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-03-18

could travel only on snow shoes in the
siieeis Of Quebec, and many families had
10 dig themselves out, their houses being
nearly buried in snow. -
As we have already said, the American
army was not in sufficient numbers to pre-
vent The British from receiving supplies
from the surrounding country nor from
going in quest OF such articles as
they were most in need Of But still those
within the city suffered much from the
want Of fuel. Had Col Arnold had at his
command an army large enough to com-
pleiely surround the city, there is no
doubt that the English would have had
TO surrender; but under these circumstan-
ces he was obliged TO keep at a certain
distance from the walls, and the British Of
couf@ took advantage Of bis position
to bring within their walls all the neces-
sarles they so much needed. On the 18th
January, Palace gate was opened and a
f"'ty W." SNht 'h HuNol vi HIC-NObD WHICH
was brought 10 the city in large quantities.
The British were so destitute Of
-four that they were obliged to have
RECOURSE TO mill wrought by horses,
which they put in operation in the city,
and with which they ground three bushels
OF wheat an hour On the 10Th January,
captain Note Of the continental army, un-
der the protection Of flag of truce, escor-
ted TO pa'ace gate FIVE seghs loaded with
baggage belonging to the American phi
soneTs.
The English were almost daily obliged
make sortieS from their walls for The ex-
press purpose Of bringing in frewood Of
which they were in the greatest want
The Americans with the view Of increasing
the difficulties of their enemies, foreseeing
that they were compelled to resort to The
destruction OF buildings in the neighboring
suburbs to supply themselves with fuel
anticipated the movement aud set fire TO
these buildings. Every night almost W.T.
messed the burning OF several buildings to-
gether, either in St. Roch's or St. Johns
suburbs
On the 2lst JAM, fire was sci by the Ame-
ricans to small soop which laid within 500
yards of Palace gate. The British fearing
that the FIRE might very soon spread towards
Drummond's distilery, which was at the
Canoterie outside Of Palace gate, order
ed the next day that a party Of men
should be sent TO this GstiIIery to remove
10 the city al! the ram and moIasses which
were in il. This order was duly executed
and in the space of few days the Brlish
were masters of this new supply.
Meanwhile the Americans were not
idle in procuring all the provisions they
could lay their hands upon. The fall pre-
cedng a schooner laden with rum and mo-
asses had been shipwrecked onthe shores 81
the Island of Orleans. The cargo OF This
schooner was brought up 20 the American
camp and deposited in magazines for the
supper, of the American soldiers.
On the night of the 9Th Feb. three Of
the new recruits belonging to the famous
Col. Maclean'S corps, who, it viii be re-
memhrred, had been enlisted into that
corps after they had been made prisoners,
took leave Of their new masters. To ei-
feet their escape they dropped themselves
over The wall behind the artillery barracks
and safely reached ST.. Roch's suburbs,
where they rejoined their old friends. The
British were so incensed at this Yankee
trick, although played on them by Euro-
pedns, that they ordered three Of The new
recruits among those who had not yet de-
serted, TO be strictly confined.
Although The British wete the victpls,
vet they were almost every day deserted
bv their owh soldiers as well as by the
new recruits who had been taken from
their prisoners. II bespeaks but little for
The jos,ice Of cause, or FOR The sincerity
Of those who pretend TO support it, when
even at the height of its success, II IS de-
serted, as was the British cause in Quebec.