y expected. Thomas therefore
resolved to make a precipitate retreat, and he began to remove the sick
to the Three Rivers, and to embark his artillery and stores in boats and
canoes. Before these operations were completed, however, three English
ships which had forced their way through the ice arrived before Quebec,
and these vessels instantly threw on shore two companies of the 29th
regiment, with some marines and sailors. Struck with consternation,
the Americans began to fly in all directions, and General Carleton then
sallied out in pursuit of them. Notwithstanding, the enemy retreated
so precipitately that Carleton could do nothing more than capture their
artillery and stores, about a hundred fugitives, and nearly all their
sick, who had been left behind. Many, however, were afterwards found
concealed and starving in the woods; and Carleton, as humane as he was
brave, treated the whole of the prisoners with great humanity. The
rest of the troops crossed the St. Lawrence, and formed at the forts of
Chamblee and St. John, on the Sorel, where General Thomas died of the
small-pox.

Thus successful, General Carleton dispatched Captain Forster to a strong
fort, called the Cedars, situate thirty miles west of Montreal, and
which was garrisoned by four hundred Americans. This fort surrendered,
on condition that the garrison should be preserved from the ferocity of
the Indians. In the attack on this fort one Indian, on the side of the
English, was slain, and this excited the passions of the red men to
revenge. On the day after the surrender of the Cedars Forster heard
that a party of the enemy were marching from another point to secure the
fort, and he ordered one hundred Indians to place themselves in ambush
on both sides of the road in a wood through which the enemy must
pass. This stratagem was completely successful. All the Americans were
captured, and when the Indians had brought them to the front of the fort
they prepared to put them to death, in atonement for the blood of their
tribe which had been shed. This was an ancient custom, and it was with
difficulty that Captain Forster induced them to dispense with it: it
was only effected by conciliating them with presents. From the Cedars,
Forster proceeded to Vaudreuil, about six miles northward. Arnold made
an attempt to dislodge him, but was obliged to retreat, and return to
St. Anne's, on the island of Montreal. Being encumbered with prisoners,
Forster judged it expedie