74 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



became entangled' ip swamps and bad grounds 

 and in that situation were attacked by general 

 Frazier's troops, and thrown into confusion* Ifi 

 the mean time general Nesbit was landing his 

 troops from the transports, directly ia the way 

 in which they must return, so as to cut off the 

 communication with their boats. In these des- 

 perate circumstances they were nearly surround- 

 ed by the enemy, and no way of safety remained 

 but to sun-ender to the British, or to disperse, 

 and let every man shift for himself. The latter 

 was preferred, and they made their way into the 

 woods, where they found a shelter from the pur- 

 suit of the enemy. The next day about ten 

 o'clock, the American troops began to collect, 

 and the day after, June the tenth, about sun set, 

 they arrived opposite to Sorel. In this ill judg- 

 ed and unfortunate expedition, the British suf- 

 fered but very little ; nor was the loss great on 

 the American side. General Thompson, colonel 

 Irwin, and some other officers, with a number 

 of men, fell into the enemy's hands ; but few- 

 were slain on either side. The person who had 

 the care of the boats removed them to a place 

 of security ; and nothing more was taken by 

 the enemy, than the prisoners which they pick- 

 ed up in different places ; these amounted, when 

 they were all collected, to about two hundred 

 men.* 



While the Americans were thus unfortu- 

 nate and retreating from every part of Canada, 

 general Carleton conducted with much humanity 

 and discretion. The American officers who were 



^* Gerdon. Vol. U, p, 6;. Murray. V«l. II, p. 69. Jwwllit. V^i, 



