i02 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



dependence, that an enemy might from thence 

 have counted the numbers, a:id enul: ded every 

 part of the ^\•o^ks, in either ol those places. 

 This circumstance was well known to the A- 

 merican officers, and they had a consultation a- 

 bout fortifying this mountain j but it was de- 

 clined because their works were already so ex- 

 tensive, that with the addition of what would be 

 proper on Sugar Hill,- they would require ten 

 or twelve thousand men for their defence ; a 

 greater number than could be spared for that 

 purpose, But the greatest difficulty that attend- 

 ed the defence of the place, was the smallness 

 of the garrison, Instead of a full compliment 

 of troops to man the extensive lines and defend 

 the numerous works, the whole force which St. 

 Clair had, consisted only of two thousand live 

 hundred and forty six continental troops ; aided 

 by nine Imndred militia, badiy equipped, worse 

 armed, and most of tliem without bayoncis. 

 St. Clair vvas in hopes t!:at Burgoyne's impetu- 

 osit\ would have led him to make a sudden as- 

 sault upon the place, which he expected to repel 

 with success ; but as soon as he was informed 

 of the numbers in his army, and that a regular 

 siege was intended, he was convinced that an 

 effectual defence could not be made by his 

 troops. 



The royal army advanced with great celerit}', 

 but with much caution and order on both sides 

 of the lake ; the naval force keeping its station 

 in the center^ the frigates and gun boats cast 

 anchor just out of cannon shot from the Ameri- 

 can works. On the near approach of the right 

 ■wing of the Bril;sh army on the I'iconderoga 



