Narrative and Critical History of America, Vol. 6 (of 8): The United States of North America, Part I
History
Narrative and Critical History of America, Vol. 6 (of 8): The United States of North America, Part I
America -- Discovery and exploration; America -- History; United States -- History
Connecticut had already sent forward troops to Ticonderoga to
hold that post till Congress should decide upon some definite action;
and at the end of June, 1775, orders reached Schuyler which he might
readily interpret as authorizing him, if the Canadians did not object,
to advance upon Canada.[476] He soon started to assume command, but
speedily found matters unpromising. The Johnsons were arming the
Indians up the Mohawk and beyond in a way that boded no good, and they
had entered into compacts with the British commanders in Canada. Arnold
had been at Ticonderoga, and had quarrelled with Hinman, the commander
of the Connecticut troops. Schuyler heard much of the Green Mountain
Boys, but he only knew them as the lawless people of the Grants, and
soon learned that Allen and Warner had themselves set to quarrelling.
Presently, however, Allen reported at Ticonderoga for special service,
as he had been cast off by his own people. Another volunteer, Major
John Brown, was sent by Schuyler into Canada for information.
Schuyler's position was a trying one. He had few troops of his own
province. The Connecticut troops were too lax in discipline to suit his
ideas of military propriety, and his temperament had little to induce
him to make concessions to the exigencies of the conditions.[477] With
the best heart he could, he tried to organize his force for an advance,
and assisted, in Indian conferences at Albany, to disarm, as far as he
might, the Mohawks of their hostility.
In August the news from Canada began to be alarming. Richard
Montgomery, an Irish officer who had some years before left the army
to settle on the Hudson and marry, was now one of the new brigadiers.
He urged Schuyler to advance and anticipate the movement now said to
be intended by Carleton, the English general commanding in Canada. At
this juncture Schuyler got word from Washington that a coöperating
expedition would be dispatched by way of the Kennebec, which, if
everything went well, might unite with Schuyler's before Quebec.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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