North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-01-22
HISTORY OF CANADA.
(cosTisuEp.)

We will for ment leave Gen. Mont
sonery before ST. Johns, busily engaged
n CARRYING on the siege OF that place, and
.nesk Of the mission OF Colonel Ethan Al
len and Major Brown, and of the subse-
auend events attached TO that mission,
which, as our readers may remember, was
70 distribute among the Canadian popua-
ion. south Of the ST. Lawrence, the pro-
,j,maton Of the Generals, SCHUYLER and
Montgomery, issued at Isle aux Noix. In
order to ensure our readers an accurate ac-
count Of this daring transaction, by which
the brave and immortal Allen was made
hero, we shall quote apart of the " Mar
r.ve OF his Captivity" written by him
s,f the third edition of which was pub
Eshed at Burlington, VT. by II. johnson
and Co. in 1888:
al was ordered by the General, TO 60
ia company with Major Brown, and certain
interpreters, through the woods into Cam
ada, with letters TO the Canadians, and to
le, Them know that the design Of the army
was only against the English garrisons,
and not the country, their liberties, or re-
Gpon /; and having, through much danger,
NEGOTIATED this business, | returned to the
Isle aux Noix early in September, when
General Schuyler returned TO Albany and
nconseauence the command devolved upon
General Montgomery, whom ! assisted in
ayinp line of decentralization round the
fortress of ST. Johns. After which | was
ordered. by the General, TO make a second
tour into Canada, upon nearly the same
design as before; and withal to observe the
disposition, designs and movements of the
inhabitants of the country. This recon-
noitre undertook with reluctance, choos-
ing rather 10 assist at the siege OF St.
Johns, which was then closely invested !;
but nv esteem for the generals person,
and opinion of him as a politician and
brave officer, induced me TO proceed.
Ipassed through all the parishes on the
river Sorel, TO a parish at the mouth OF
the same, which is called by the same
name, preaching politics and went from
thence across the Sorel to the river st.
Lawrence, and up the river through the
parishes to Longueuil, and so far met with
good success as an itinerant. In thts
round nlu guard acere Canadians, my in
ierpreter, and some few attendants except
ed. On the morning of the Oath of Sept
set ont with nv guard Of about eighty
men, from Longueuil, to go 10 Lapraire
from whence determined to go 10 Genera
Mon,gomery's camp but had not advan
eed two miles before | met with MajoI
Brown. who has since been advanced tC
the rank of colonel, who desired me &c
halt, saving that he had something OF i'm
pOftance 10 communicate To me and my
eon6danls upon which halted the party
and went into house, and took private
loom with him and several OF my associ
sies, where Colonel Brown proposed that
provided | would return TO Longueuil, s
procure some canoes, so as TO cross tn
rlyer 81. Lawrence little north OF Mon
teal, he would cross il a little TO the souii
OF The town, with near two hundred men
as be had boats sufficient and that WI
would make ourselves masters of Montreal.
This plan was readily approved by me an'
those in council and IN consequence o
which returned TO Longueuil, collected
Few canoes, aud added about thirty Eng
Ilsh Americans to my party, and crosses
The river in the night OF the Gath, agreca
be 10 the before proposed plan.
Ny whole party at this time, consiste
Of abou, one hundred and ten men, nea
aghiy of schom ecre Cdaodians. w
we're most of the night crossing the river
tswe had so few canoes that they had {
Pass aud re-pass three times, 10 carry IN
party across. Soon alter day-break, Sc
aguard between me and The town, wit
special orders TO let no person whateve
pass or re-pass them, and another guard 0
tie other end OF the road, with like direC
tons 10 the mean time, | reconnoitere
The best ground TO make a defence, expect
10 Colonel Browns party was landed o
The other side OF the town, he having, III
cay before, agreed to give three huzzs
With his men early in the morning, whic
signal was 10 return, that we might esc
k0ow that both parties were landed; bt
The sun, by this time, being near Two houl
high, and the sign failing, began to col
sesr myself to be in a premunire, an