Norwich bulletin., 1921-08-27
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERIcxs
 HISTORY
AMERICAN INVASION or CANADA

AMERICAN INVASION OF CANADA
 At the beginning of the revolt of the thirteen colonies, which subsequently formed. by their separation from Great Britain the United States of America. 1t was believed among them that Canada would join their movement if the Brit ish troops, which occupied the country, were driven out. Acting on this belief the Continental Congress at Philadel- phia in June, 1775, adopted a resolution instrueting Gen Schuyler to repair with out delay to Ticonderega (which had been surprised and taken few weeks be- fore by Etan Allen and his Green Noun tain boys) and-if he found 1t practic- able and It would not be disagreeable to the Canadians immediately to take pos session of St Johns and Montreal ar . pursue any. other measures In Canada which might have q tendency to promote the peace and security of these colonies.
 Gen. Schuyler found ir difficult to gath CT troops and supplies for the projected expedition, an 1t was the middle of. Au- gust before he was prefared to move. His chief subordinate officer was Gen Richard Montgomery an Irlshman former ! ly in the British service, but settled lat 1 terly in New York and he was to be sup ported by a cooperative movement plan ned and led by Benedict Arnold.
 | Gen. Montgomery with 5000 men would go down Lake Chamelain and attack Montreal; while Gen. Arnold with i,200 was to seek the headwaters of Kennebee river cross the height of land and oc- scend the ChaudieTe to the very gates of Quebec he brave Gen. Carleton who had been with Wolfe at Quebec, was now in command of the forces of Canada. Prf4 rI n militia might be so denominated
 No doubt Governor Carleton with his
 small army undertook too much. He sought to defend the way to Montreal by holding Fort St. John, and at Que
 bee by defending Chambly. Both these lplaces fell before the Americans. Gen. Montgomery pushed on down the River
 Richelieu and occupied Sorel, throwing forces across the St. Lawrence and erect.
 ed batteries on both sides to Ereyent
 free intercourse between Montreal and
 Quebec.
 Montreal now defenseless was com
 pelled to surredneF on the thirteenth oi
 November. and eleven British vessels
 were given up to the enemy It wal
 really a dark hour fer Canada. Gen
 Carleton has been severely criticized fol
 dividing his fercer The truth is the at
 tack was so unexpected and so soon af
 ter the outbreak of the rebellion that nc plan of defense for Canada had beer laid.
 Gen. Carletsn escaped from Montrea and in boat passed the Sorel batterie:
 with mut1ed oars under cover of night / The general had but reached Quebec 1T
 time The expedition of Arnold had al ready gained the St. Lawrence on th, 1 side opposite the Ancient Capital Tn,
 energy displayed by Arnold's men was re
 markable. The Kennebec Is a series O
 rapids Its swift current hurries ove l lands when reached, consist of swamp
 and rocky ridges covered with forest. Tn
 Chaudiere proved worse than the Ken nebec, and the current being with thu 5 boats dashed them to pieces on the rocks 9 Arnold's men on their six weeks marcl had run short of food and were compell : led to eat the dogs which had accompan f jed them
 2 Not much more than half of Arnold
 army reached the St. LafreHce. Ar holds force crossed the river, landed a { Wolfe's cove, and built huts fer them J selves on the Plains of Abraham In tn g 5th of December Montgomery joined tn l IKennebec men before Quebec. The unit l ed force was of some 300 men supporte . by about dozen light guns. Carleto
 had, for the defense of Quebec, only on 0 company of regularr and a few seamer r and marines of sloop of war at Quebec I The popularity of the governor was sue e that he easily prevailed upon the citizen e both French and English, to enroll them = selves in companies for the defense 2