ncture news arrived of the death of
Montgomery, and the critical situation of Arnold. This news urged
congress to renewed exertions. They did all they could to hasten their
reinforcements, and called upon the provincial conventions to collect
all the money they could for the use of the army in Canada. Men and
specie were, however, not easily procured; and, moreover, had the
troops been ready on the instant, they could not have marched during the
winter, as the ground was covered with snow, and the lakes all frozen
over. On the opening of spring, however, by the 1st of April, the force
in Canada was raised to 1,800 men. But coined money was not forthcoming
for their use, and Arnold issued a proclamation, making the paper-money
of congress current, under promise of redeeming it with specie in four
months, and threatening all who refused this paper in exchange for their
commodities or labour with destruction. The French Canadians had no
faith in the paper-money, or in the promises of Arnold, and the troops,
therefore, were under the necessity of helping themselves to what they
wanted. This was fatal to the American cause in Canada. The Canadians
were told that the troops were come to liberate them from tyranny and
oppression, but they concluded that they had only come to plunder
them. Added to this, the New Englanders laughed at the Catholic church
ceremonies, and insulted some of the priests, whence they insured
universal hatred and vengeance. The situation of Arnold was a critical
one, and it was rendered more so by the appearance of the small-pox
among his troops, which greatly thinned his ranks. Still Arnold resolved
to persevere. He again set up his battery before the walls of Quebec,
hoping to take it before it should be relieved by reinforcements from
England. Before, however, he could make any impression, General Wooster
arrived as his superior in command; and, taking offence, he retired to
Montreal, there to assume a separate command. Many of the Americans also
left the army and returned home, under the pretence that the period of
their engagement was expired. General Thomas arrived on the 1st of
May, and the force then amounted to 2000 men. Had these troops been
effective, and had the magazines been well stored, Thomas might have had
some chance of success, but such was not the case; and to complete his
dilemma, the river St. Lawrence began to open below, and intelligence
arrived that English ships of war were dail