Sbction IL, 190S. [61] Trans. K. S. C. 



II. — The Administration of Sir James Craig. — A Chapter in Canadian 



History. 



By LiEUT.-CoL. Cruikshank, 



(Read May 26th, 1908.) 



The lamentable atitack upon the frigate Chesapealce on Jiuie 21st, 

 1807, at once brought the United States and Great Britain to the verge 

 cf war. A portion of the militia of Lower Canada were immediately 

 embodied, and seem to have obeyed the call with great alacrity. A 

 6oldier of high reputation. Sir James Henry Craig, lately in command 

 of the British army tof occupation in Sicily, was appointed Grovernor- 

 General and Commander-in-Chief of the forces in British North 

 America, and a division of ten thousand regular troops was detailed for 

 the reinforcement of the garrisons in those provinces. This distin- 

 guished officer had a.ttained the rank of lieutenant-general through long 

 and meritorious service and laborious study of his profession, of which 

 he had acquired an intimate and practical knowledge in all its biranches. 

 Bom at Gibraltar in 1748, he had entered the army as ensign in 1763, 

 but obtained permission to pursue his education in the best military- 

 schools of the Continent, where he remained for several years and became 

 proficient in the French language. During the revolutionary struggle 

 he had served in America from tiie beginning of the war. He com- 

 manded a company of the 47^1 Regiment and was severely wounded in 

 the assault of the insurgents' position at Bunker's Hill, and next year 

 accompanied Lieut.-General Burgoyne to Canada. Hd took part in the 

 action at Three Elvers, and afterwards commanded the advance guard 

 of the force! engaged in the pursuit of the Americans until they were 

 finally expelled from the province. In the spring of 1777, he was put 

 in command of a considerable body of French-Canadian militia, which 

 was embodied to co-operate with the regular troops in their advance 

 upon Albany. He was wounded in the engagement at Hubbardton, and 

 again in that at Freeman's Farm. His ability and good conduct were 

 so conspicuous during the campaign that Burgoyne appointed him one 

 of the officers to whom w^as entrusted the painful duty of arranging the 

 terms of capitulation with General Gates. Being then sent to England 

 with despatches, he was promoted to be major without purchase and 

 returned to America with little delay. He next served under Brigadier- 

 General Allan Maclean during the defence of Penobscot, and joined 

 Lord Cornwallis in North Carolina in 1781,| under whose command he 

 displayed such readiness land good judgmetnt in the conduct of light 



