Q6, NATURAL AND CIVIL 



Americans might bring against Quebec during 

 the winter, or what further attacks might be 

 made upon the city before he could obtain any 

 succours, that sagacious commander did not 

 venture to run any risk, to make any attack on 

 the Americans, or to take a step which might 

 occasion the loss of a single man of his garrison. 

 While Carleton was pursuing such mea- 

 sures within the walls of Quebec, Arnold and 

 his men had their quarters about three miles 

 from the city ; and kept up a proper blockade, 

 preventing any supplies from being thrown in. 

 He had not more than four hundred men fit for 

 duty, and from their reduced numbers and situ- 

 ation they were in constant expectation of an 

 attack. Discouraging and desperate as their 

 circumstances seemed to be, instead of any 

 symptoms of fear, Arnold and his men discov- 

 ered amazing vigor of mind and perseverance 

 in their enterprise. An express v»^as sent to 

 general Wooster at Montreal, to come with a 

 reinforcement and take the command ; but as 

 that could not be done without considerable de- 

 lay, Arnold still persevered in the blockade, and 

 rendered the condition of Quebec still preca- 

 rious, by obstructing all supplies of provisions, 

 or other necessaries. It was not till the twenty 

 fifth of January that they received any assistance, 

 on that day a small reinforcement of twenty sev- 

 en men arrived from Massachusetts ; other 

 small detachments soon followed. All the 

 troops that could be spared from JVIontreal were 

 sent down, but it was not till late in the month 

 of February, that the troops before Quebec a- 

 5nounted to nine hundred and sixty men ; of 



