152 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



On their backs. That it was impossible tb i^-- 

 J)air the roads and bridges, and to carry their 

 artillery and bag'^^ge in carriages, was too eti- 

 dent to become the subject even of conjecture, 

 it was proposed therefore as the only practicable 

 attempt, to march off by night, and force a pas- 

 sage at the fords, near fort Edward ; and pre- 

 parations were making to carry iato effect this; 

 desperate and forlorn resolve* But all hope of 

 effecting this maneuvre soon failed. Intelligence 

 Was received that the Americans were strongly 

 entrenched opposite to the fords at which the 

 British proposed to pass ; and that they had 

 a camp well fortified with artillery on the high 

 grounds between fort Edward and fort George ; 

 and that their parties were every where spread 

 over the opposite bank of tlie Hudson, waiting 

 and ready to oppose every motion of the royal 

 army. 



In this melancholy situation, the British ar- 

 Jny remained for some time, lying constantly 

 on their arms. Every hope seemed to fail. 

 Their numbers had be^n constantly decreasin.^ 

 for several weeks. Their spirits and strength 

 were worn down by ill success, and extreme 

 fatigue. A continued cannonade pervaded: 

 their camp^ and even rifle and grape shot feD. 

 into every part of their lines. The Indians,, 

 Canadians, and provincial loyalists, had mostly 

 deserted them. They had entertained hopes 

 that their friends at New York would attempt 

 to relieve them, or at least make a diversion in 

 their favor ; but no intelligence of this kind 

 Was received. Nothing was to be expected 

 from any rash measures or attempts of the A- 



