250 
MINUTES OP PKOCEEDINGS OP 
“ Though every part of the artillery” we are told “ performed almost 
wonders in this action the brave Captain Jones (who was unfortunately 
though gloriously, killed) with his brigade, were particularly distinguished.”* * 
It is not the purpose of this introduction to trace the American campaign 
of 1777, but only to supply what is requisite to make the circumstances 
under which the following orders were issued intelligible. The brevity of 
the extracts is to be regretted, but it can be readily imagined that at such 
a time the brigade-major had something else to" do than make notes. 
Captain Blomefield himself was severely wounded with a musket ball 
through the front part of his head, at Stillwater, and was left for some time 
on the field of battle, but his life was providentially spared, and in the spring 
of 1779 he returned to England. With this event the record closes, but it 
is hoped that the publication of an imperfect account may have the effect of 
inducing parties in whose possession there may be further particulars to 
communicate them for future use. 
Extracts from the Brigade Orders of Major-General Bhillijps , R.A. } 
in Canada , 1776—7. 
Note .—The italics are all in the original. 
1776 . 
Lieut Twiss is to proceed to Three Rivers and give his directions 
for constructing of boats; the description of one of these boats 
is a common flat bottom, called a “ king’s boat,” or “ royal boat,” calculated 
to carry from 30 to 40 men with stores and provisions, with this only 
difference, that the bow of each boat is to be made square resembling an 
English punt, for the convenience of disembarking the troops by means of a 
kind of broad gang-board with loop-holes made in it for musketry, and 
which may serve as a mantelet when advancing towards an enemy, sCnd must 
be made strong accordingly. 
1777, whence the above extract is taken. It is a somewhat unusual phrase for hinting that the 
army was nearly lost; but as was recently pointed out by a writer in the United Service Magazine 
of September, 1864, it is one that misleads. The victory was a barren one but it remained with 
the royal troops. When the same writer proceeds to say that Phillips never served under Clinton 
and died a prisoner of war in Virginia he is at variance with the contemporary accounts. The 
official record of his services distinctly states that he was attached to the army under Lieut.-Gen. 
Sir H. Clinton at New York in 1781, and the Annual Kegister for that year states that a convoy 
arrived at New York in March 1781, with Major-Gen. Phillips and 2000 men on board, adding, 
“ The long durance which that distinguished officer with his fellows of the Convention Army had 
undergone, having been happily terminated by a new cartel, which had been some months before 
concluded, he was now appointed to take the chief command in Virginia.” He died on that 
command on the 13th May following. 
* The public papers having been much occupied recently with discussions on longevity, it may 
be interesting to state that the widow of this gallant officer survived him 69 years, and died in 1846, 
in her 103rd year. She enjoyed for that long period the provision of the Eoyal Artillery Marriage 
Society, and the testimony as to her age is unquestionable. 
