CHAPTER XV
CAMP DISCIPLINE—AMHERST'S ANGELS—A BRUSH WITH THE FRENCH,
AND THE LOSS OF CAPTAIN JACOB
In the spring the provincial troops began to meet at Albany. Some of our officers had been recruiting during the winter, and they returned with their men.
John Stark had gone home in the fall to get married, and he brought back one hundred men whom he had enlisted at Amoskeag Falls. Two companies of Stockbridge Indians also joined us. There were fifty men in each of these companies.
By the first of June Amherst arrived at Fort Edward with part of the army, and Gage came up the river with the rest in boats. He brought the artillery and provisions with him.
The river was so high that the men could not use setting poles, and it took them two weeks to row up against the swift current.
Most of the provincial troops were without uniforms, and, as I have said, were ignorant of military life and discipline. Their officers wore a uniform of blue faced with scarlet, with metal buttons, and had laced waistcoats and hats. They were sober, sensible men.