210 TRAVELS THROUGH LOWER CANADA : 
it in consequence of the summons he sent, was 
so imprudent, and departed so much from the 
dignity of the general and the character of the 
soldier, as to ride up to the fort, and to use 
the most gross and illiberal language to the 
British soldiers on duty in it. His object in 
doing so was, I should suppose, to provoke the 
garrison to fire upon him, in which case he 
would have had a pretext for storming the 
fort. 
Owing to the great prudence, however, of 
Colonel Campbell, who had issued the strictest 
orders to his men and officers to remain silent, 
notwithstanding any insults that were offered 
to them, and not to attempt to fire, unless in¬ 
deed ah actual attack were made on the place, 
Wayne's plan was frustrated, much bloodshed 
certainly saved, and a second war between 
Great Britain and America perhaps averted. 
General Wayne gained no great personal 
honour by his conduct on this occasion ; but 
this circumstance of his having appeared before 
the British fort in the manner he did, operated 
strongly in his favour in respect to his pro- 
ceedings against the Indians. These people 
had been taught to believe by the young Ca¬ 
nadians that were amongst them, that if any 
part of the American army appeared before 
the fort, it would certainly be fired upon; tor 
they bad no idea that the Americans would 
