St Johns and Chambly part 3 (Quebec 1775)

Allen sent men to find Brown (who was still at Laprairie) and to obtain help from Thomas Walker inside the city. Walker tried to talk several fellowcitizens into unlocking the city gates, but by now a local man had spotted Allen and informed Carleton. Carleton, until now in despair of relieving St Johns because of the lack of support from the populace, found that a threat to Montreal itself produced a different response. While a few took their families down to the docks in order to escape, 120 French and 80 English volunteers armed themselves and reported for duty. They were joined by 34 men of the 26th Foot, six Indians, and 20 Indian Department officers, one of whom - Major John Campbell - took command of the force. As the British emerged, the Americans took cover in woods and buildings. Campbell placed his Regulars in the center and sent the volunteers to attack Allen's flanks, at which Duggan's recruits (on the right) panicked and fled. The men on Allen's left did the same, leaving Allen alone; 36 of his men were captured, five were killed, and ten wounded. Campbell lost two officers (including Major John Carden of the Legislative Council) and one soldier killed; a French seigneur and a Regular were wounded. The victory saw over 1,200 militia flood in from the surrounding countryside, to add to the 600 in Montreal who, with Indians and Regulars, gave Carleton over 2,000 troops. Many now clamored to relieve St Johns. Instead, they remained in Montreal for four weeks until the militia drifted away for the harvest and to protect their homes from marauding bands of collaborators. The lack of action appeared culpable, but in truth Carleton had no firm intelligence on enemy numbers and location, and any of the American contingents roaming the countryside between Montreal and St Johns could easily have ambushed him. But if Carleton could not challenge Montgomery, he could improve security in Montreal and he issued a warrant for Walker's arrest. On 5 October, a detachment of Royal Highland Emigrants arrived at Walker's house. He fired on them, wounding two, and only surrendered when the soldiers set the house ablaze.