44 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



attacked by a party of Indians, who killed three» 

 and wounded eight of the party ; but the Indi^ 

 ans were soon repulsed with the loss of five 

 killed, and four badly wounded. In this situa- 

 tion, finding that the fort was- completely forti- 

 fied and garrisoned, and could not be taken 

 without artillery and a regular siege, it was 

 concluded the next morning-, to return to 

 the Isle aux Noix, and defer the operations till 

 the arrival of the artillery and reinforcements 

 which were daily expected. 



ScHU'iLER returned to Albany to conclude 

 a treaty with the Indians, which had for some 

 time been negotiating, leaving the command to 

 Montgomery. On September the seventeenth, 

 having received an addition of men and artillery, 

 that general poceeded again to St. Johns, and 

 began the siege. The garrison consisted of the 

 greater part of two British regiments, and 

 contained nearly all the regular troops in Canada, 

 and was well supplied with stores, ammunition, 

 and artillery. The first measure of Montgomery 

 was an attempt to detach the Indians who had 

 joined gen. Carleton, in which he met with good 

 success. Provincial parties were dispersed over 

 the adjacent country, and every where met with 

 a favorable reception from the Canadians. It no 

 longer remained doubtful whether they chose ra- 

 ther to join with the Americans, than to arm, 

 against them ; considerable numbersjoined Mont- 

 gomery's troops, and many of the French suppli- 

 ed them wit^h provisions, military stores, and 

 other kinds of necessaries for carrying on the 

 siege. The progress of Montgomery however 

 was much retarded by a deficiency in the es= 



