7$ NATURAL AND CIVIL 



but to make as expeditious a retreat as possible.' 

 The kings forces having assembled at Trois 

 Rivieres, proceeded by land and water to Sorel, 

 where they arrived June the fourteenth, in the 

 evening ; a few hours after the rear of the A- 

 mericans had left the place. A considerable 

 body was landed, and the command of the column 

 was given to general Burgoyne ; with instruc- 

 tions to pursue the American troops up the riv- 

 er to St. Jolms, but not to hazard any thing till he 

 should be joined by another column. On June 

 the fifteenth geueral Arnold with his troops left 

 Montreal, and having crossed the river St. Law- 

 rence at Longuil, marched for Chambly. A 

 large part of the British fleet and army had sail- 

 ed for Montreal, and had not the winds prevent- 

 ed, would have arrived at the city about the time 

 that Arnold If ft it. The American troops hav- 

 ing assembled at Chambly, engaged with much 

 spirit and resolution to save their artillery and 

 stores. Many of the men were still under the; 

 operation of the small pox, but they readily 

 plunged into the water to drag their baiteaux, 

 loaded with' cannon and baggage, up the rapids. 

 This service was attended with much difficulty 

 and danger, and could not be effected otherwise 

 than by the bodily strength of men, who were 

 >2p to their rniddle in water. In this way, with 

 much resolution ^nd expedition they drew more 

 ^an one hundred batteaux, heavily loaded, over 

 the fc'.lls and r:.])ids of the river Sorel. Having 

 thus saved their artillery and stores, they set fire 

 to the tia\y mills, to three vessels and three gon- 

 dolas, and to all the boats which they could 

 not bring off j and so closely vvere they pursued, 



