[siebert] the AMERICAN LOYALISTS 23 



an opportunity to escape. On March 17, 1780, an appeal of loyalists 

 at Johnstown, New York, was forwarded to Haldimand, in which they 

 asked for a pilot to lead them into Canada. They declared that other- 

 wise they would be compelled to join the enemy, or, refusing, would 

 be sent to Albany in irons, whilst their property was confiscated and 

 their houses destroyed. The Governor communicated this to Sir John 

 Johnson at Montreal a few days later, saying that he would send a vessel 

 "to the lake" early in May to receive these unhappy people.* In reply 

 Sir John proposed an expedition by way of Lake Champlain to Gillis- 

 land, or Split Rock, and thence to his own estates in order ''to encourage 

 loyalists to come off and to distress the enemy." f The date fixed for 

 the departure of the expedition from St. Johns was about May third. % 

 The forces under Sir John's command numbered five hundred and twenty- 

 eight men, comprising some British soldiers, "a detachment of his own 

 regiment of Royal Greens, and about two hundred Indians and Tories."* 

 The invaders were carried by vessel to West Bay, where they landed on 

 May 11, thence to proceed through the woods to Johnstown. This 

 march they accomplished in ten days, moving with such secrecy that 

 they completely surprised the inhabitants, except the resident loyalists 

 at whose instance they had come.^ The expedition was entirely suc- 

 cessful, and by June 3, Sir John was back at St. Johns, having brought 

 off one hundred and fifty loyalists and many prisoners." He also brought 

 off eight negroes, whom he permitted the Indians to dispose of to ''in- 

 habitants of Montreal and others."^ Apparently, the entire body of 

 rescued loyalists accompanied their liberator on his return to Montreal, 

 and most of them promptly enlisted in his regiment.* But, according 

 to Brigadier General Allan Maclean, commandant at this place, about 

 forty of them declined to join any corps. He, therefore, suggested to 

 Haldimand's secretary the propriety of putting them in prison, on the 

 score that "such a number of loose, idle fellows" were a menace to the 

 community.^ This Haldimand refused to allow, saying that some em- 

 ployment would be found for them.^" But, according to Sir John's 

 report of June 12th, these unincorporated loyalists were already earning 



*Can. Arch., 1887, 347: (Maj. Carleton to Haldimand). Ibid., 1888, 663: 

 (Haldimand to Sir John Johnson.) 

 tCan. Arch., 1888, 648. 

 jlbid., 649. 



' Ibid, 1887, 493; Stone, Border Wars of the Am. Rev., II, 71. 

 « Stone, Border Wars of the Am. Rev., IL, 72. 

 «Can. Arch., 1887.474, 546. 

 ' Ibid., 1888, 649. 

 8 Ibid., 649. 



» Can. Arch., 1887, 300. 

 '"Ibid., 318. 



