of a temperament to remain
inactive. Seeing a small sloop of war lying at anchor, at St. John's,
at the north end of Lake Champlain, and feeling the importance of the
possession of this vessel, which was the only armed vessel the English
government then had in that water, he armed a little schooner, put some
of the guns he had captured upon large flat-bottomed boats, embarked his
men, and surprised and captured the sloop. Having begun his career with
such success, Arnold projected more extensive operations. In the month
of June he urged on congress the advantages of an expedition to
Canada, and offered with 2000 men to reduce the whole province. His
recommendations were adopted: 3000 men were sent, under the command of
General Schuyler and Montgomery, to Crown Point and Lake Champlain.

This force embarked in flat-bottomed boats to cross the lake and descend
the river Sorel, but when they landed they were attacked by a strong
body of Indians, who obliged them to steer their way back and return
to the Isle Aux Noix. Here Schuyler fell sick, and the command then
devolved on Montgomery, a man full of courage and enterprise, and whom
the Americans compare to Wolfe.

On the arrival of this invading force, General Carleton, governor of
Canada, had only two regiments of about four hundred men each, at his
disposal. These he ordered to Fort St. John, about twelve miles in
advance of Montreal, where they were augmented by a few officers sent
by General Gage. These officers arrived in July, and about the same time
Colonel Johnstone arrived at the same place with seven hundred Indians
of the Five Nations, all skilful in the use of the musket as well as the
tomahawk. These Indians were ancient enemies to the frontier Americans,
and they proposed an immediate attack on Ticonderoga and Crown Point.
Carleton, however, thought proper not only to reject their offer, but to
refuse their services in any shape. This was a sad oversight. Foregoing
their enmity to the Americans, these seven hundred Indian warriors
joined Montgomery, and he immediately resolved to lay siege to Fort
St. John, the only place that covered Montreal. At the same time, Ethan
Allen, who had now returned to the scene of action, conceived that
he could take Montreal by a _coup de main_ in an easier direction. He
attempted this with a hundred and fifty men in the dead of the night,
but the adventurous Presbyterian was not only defeated, but captured,
and put in irons