St Johns and Chambly part 1 (Quebec 1775)

The plan approved by Congress involved a two-pronged attack to make Carleton disperse his forces. The left wing, 3,000 men under Schuyler, would head for Montreal, via Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River. The right wing, 1,050 men led by Arnold, would head up the Kennebec River, over Height of Land, and down the Chaudiere River to Quebec. This "second front" was not Arnold's idea, but he quickly became a supporter once denied command of the main force. Montgomery set out from Crown Point with 1,500 men on 30 August and by 2 September was at Ile-aux-Noix, where Schuyler joined him two days later. Despite poor health, Schuyler was determined to lead his men into Canada, which he did on 5 September. As his boats approached St Johns, British guns opened fire but did little damage, and the troops landed in a swamp about a mile from the fort. As they advanced on the fort they were ambushed by 100 Indians under Lorimier. Overcoming the initial shock, Schuyler's men fought back, with Lorimier losing four dead and five wounded. Disgruntled at the lack of support from the garrison, the Indians withdrew. By evening the Americans had built a breastwork beside the river, but later had to pull back as the British gunners found the range. That night, Moses Hazen (posing as a friend of Congress) informed Schuyler that the fort had plenty of troops and supplies, a heavily armed schooner - Royal Savage - was heading his way, and there was little support for the invasion among the habitants. The last point was of particular concern, as Schuyler had believed it was the one element he could count on. After a council of war, Schuyler pulled back to Ile-aux-Noix the next day. Scarcely had he arrived and informed Congress indicating that he was considering withdrawing to Crown Point, when James Livingston - an American living near Chambly and a distant relative of Montgomery's wife - arrived and presented an entirely different picture. Urging one more effort against St Johns, Livingston promised that the Canadians would join Schuyler. Schuyler now had 1,900 men, but only 1,000 fit for action. They re-embarked and headed back to St Johns, this time under Montgomery. Early on 10 September they reoccupied the works built during the previous attack and a group from the 1st New York entered the woods west of the fort, with the aim of cutting the supply line to Chambly. The earlier experience with the Indians had made the men jumpy, and a chance encounter in the dark woods led two groups to fire on each other. Eventually, the problem was sorted out, but then Ritzema's men faced a real ambush and fled to the river. As Montgomery rallied them in person, a rumor began that Royal Savage was about to bombard them and he was forced to shepherd them back onto the bateaux and return to Ile-aux-Noix.