100 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



formation of the enemy's doings as none but smugglers are permitted 

 to be in the vicinity of Isle aux Noix where they carry on their opera- 

 tions, and this smuggling is so systematised, I have reason to believe, 

 by the Government of Canada, that nothing is to be obtained from 

 them. On the contrary, their information is to be guarded against." 1 



Izard, who had then succeeded Hampton in command at Platts- 

 burg, advised that the squadron should be laid up for the winter in 

 Otter Creek, near the village of Vergennes, as the best place for pro- 

 curing the necessary materials for the construction of more ships 

 and Macdonough proceeded to that place about the middle of De- 

 cember with all his vessels. 2 



Wilkinson's troops had manifestly become unfit for active opera- 

 tions and were soon abandoned by him and most of the other generals, 

 who took an early opportunity to find more comfortable quarters or 

 to visit their homes. During the whole of October and the first two 

 weeks of November, the greater part of them had been subjected to 

 incessant fatigue and much of the time exposed in open boats to wind, 

 rain and snow. After arriving at the place selected for their winter 

 quarters, the weather turned very cold and stormy. Many of them 

 had lost their blankets and overcoats. Even the sick had no shelter 

 except tents until the beginning of January, as lumber for building 

 huts could not be procured. Provisions were scanty and of the worst 

 quality. Medicines and other hospital stores had been lost or destroyed. 

 The morning report of one corps showed seventy-five sick out of a 

 total of one hundred and sixty present. Other regiments reported 

 a proportionate number unfit for duty. The adjacent country was 

 almost an unbroken wilderness. Huts and warm hospital buildings 

 were absolutely necessary to save the wretched remnant of this force 

 from perishing. The construction of quarters in such a place was a 

 task of great labour and occupied many weeks. Hospital stores 

 of any description could not be obtained nearer than Albany, a dis- 

 tance of 250 miles. Provisions and forage had to be hauled over a 

 scarcely passable road from Plattsburg. The want of all kinds of 

 supplies was severely felt. Bread of a very inferior quality was 

 the principal article of food, issued for nearly seven weeks. The num- 

 ber of sick constantly increased. Eventually the arsenal, academy 

 and several dwellings at Malone, eighteen miles away, were converted 

 into temporary hospitals for 450 of the most serious cases. The sick- 

 ness and sufferings of this army, and the large number of deaths, 

 which were by no means understated in the accounts published by 

 Federalist newspapers, excited much alarm and indignation throughout 



1 Macdonough to the Secretary of War, Dec. 9. 



2 Macdonough to the Secretary of the Navy, Dec. 18, 21, and 28. 



