[96] See this correspondence, more fully given in Irving’s Life of Washington, vol. i. Mount Vernon edition, p. 172, 173.
[97] “The order was countermanded while the prisoners were on the road to Northampton. ‘The General further requests,’ wrote his secretary Colonel Reed, ‘that every other indulgence, consistent with their security, may be shown to them. The general does not doubt that your conduct toward them will be such as to compel their grateful acknowledgments that Americans are as merciful as they are brave.’”—Sparks’ Life of Washington, p. 142.
[98] “In fact they (the British) never meditated an attack, unless reinforcements should arrive. General Gage wrote to Lord Dartmouth, that such an attempt, if successful, would be fruitless, as there were neither horses nor carriages for transportation, and no other end could be answered than to drive the Americans from one stronghold to another.”—Sparks’ Life of Washington, p. 146.
[99] “The enterprise,” Washington wrote, “was thought too dangerous. Perhaps it was. Perhaps the irksomeness of my situation led me to undertake more than could be warranted by prudence. I did not think so. And I am sure yet that the enterprise, if it had been undertaken with resolution, must have succeeded. Without it, any would fail.”—Sparks’ Life of Washington, p. 160.
[100] As Canada was originally settled by the French, the Roman Catholic religion almost universally prevailed there.
[101] General Schuyler wrote to Washington, “I wish I had no occasion to send my dear general this melancholy account. My amiable friend, the gallant Montgomery, is no more. The brave Arnold is wounded; and we have met with a severe check in our attack upon Quebec. May Heaven be graciously pleased that this misfortune terminate here. I tremble for our people in Canada.”
[102] “The British ministry have, in latter days, been exculpated from the charge of issuing such a desolating order as that said to have been reported by Lieutenant Mount. The orders, under which that officer acted, we are told, emanated from General Gage and Admiral Graves.”—Irving’s Life of Washington, vol. i. p. 188.
[103] Holmes’ Annals, vol. ii. p. 220.
[104] “American Archives,” vol. iii. p. 1145.
[105] “Poor Gage is to be the scapegoat, for what was a reason against employing him—incapacity.”—Horace Walpole.