North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-04-08
APRIL. 5.
Original.
HISTORY OF CANADA.
(co.rfxrrml

Paine and Middleton, 10 enquire into iht
proprety and validity Of this cartel be.
tween Bfigadier General Arnold and The
British Captain, Foster. After having
perused a large quantity Of papers relating
10 this negociaiion, aud after having alsc
examined several witnesses, the committee
made iis report; which, after being again
recommilled, was GaaIly agreed to, on The
10Th Jelly following. This document is
conceived in the following language, and
exposes the infpitude and dishonorable
conduct NJ the BRUSH Captain, as well as
of the authorities which can allow and en-
courage the inhuman and uncivllzed mode
Of warfare carried on by the Indians a.
gainst people claimed by Britain az
her children; who, according TO her
own view Of the controversy, had only
swerved from their duty OF allegiance TO
the parent state. Yet they were for that
alleged crime allowed 10 be roasted aiire
by the merciless and unieeling Indians.
After reading attentively this report
OF the committee OF Congress, our readers
will have tolerable correct idea OF lac
harbarous treatment which the Americans
met al the hand. olthe British; they viii
also be able TO Judge Of the unmIitary con-
duct of capt. Foster, who, according TO the
rules of warfare Of all civilized nations,
had no right to expect his cartel woad
stand good.
"Thc committee, TO whom the cartel,
between gadier-general Arnold and
Foster, and the several papers thereto re-
lating, were recommitted, brought in their
report, which was read as follows:
That, having made diligeht enquiry in
TO the facts, they find that party of 800
continental troops, under the command OF
colonel Bedel, was posted at the Cedars,
about fortv-three miles above Montreal /;
that they had there formed some works OF
defence, the greater part OF them picketed
lines, the rest a brcast-work OF earth, with
two field pieces mounted:
That, on Wednesday 18th Of May, colo
mel Bedel received intelligence, that par
~ OF the enemy, consisting OF about 600
regulars, Canadians and Indians, were on
their way 10 attack his post and were then
within nine miles of IL: that colonel Bedel,
thereon, set out himself for Montreal, To
procure reinforcement; whereupon, the
command at the Cedars devolved on major
Butterfield:
That. on Thursday, a reinforcement, un-
TER the command of major SherbuTne,
marched from Montreal for the Cedars,
while larger detachment should be getting
ready TO proceed ihither with brigadier-
general Arnold:
That, on Friday the l7th, the enemy,
under the command OF captain Foster, in
vested the posts at the Cedars, and, for
two DAYS, kept up loose, scattering fire
that major Buiterfield proposed, from the
very FIRST, to surrender the post, and re-
fused repeated solicitations from his officers
and men, to permit them 10 sally out on
the enemy:
That, on Sunday afternoon. flag be-
ing sent in by the enemy, major Butter
field agreed TO surrender the fort and gar
rison to captain Foster, captivating with
him, whether verbally or in writing does
not appear, that the garrison should not
be nut into the hands Of the savages, and
that their baggage should not be plundered:
That at the time Of the surrender, the
enemy consisted OF about 40 regulars,
one hundred Canadians, and five hun
dred Indians and no cannon the garrison
has sustained no injury from their fire, but
they having one man wounded they had
twenty rounds Of cartridges man, thirty
rounds for one field piece, FIVE for another,
hall barrel of powder, fifteen pounds
of musket-ball, and provisions sufficient TO
have lasted them twenty or thirty days:
msior But,er6eld knew that a reinforcement
was on its way, ard, moreover, was so
near the main body of the army, that he
could not doubt of being supported by
them:
That, Immediately on the surrender, the !
garrison was put into the custody of the |
savaees, who plundered them of their bag |
gage, and even stripped them of their |
clothes
That major Sherburne having landed,
on Monday the 90lh, at Quinze Chiens,
ahout nine miles from the Cedars, and i
marched on with his party, consisting then
of one hundred men, to within four miles
thereof. was there attacked by about FIVE
hundred of the enemy that he maintained
IasD~