The Pennsylvania Journal, Or, Weekly Advertiser

Extract of a letter from the camp at Sorel. June 13. 1776

After a long march by land and water, variegated with delightful as well as gloomy prospects, we arrived here the night of the 5th instant, and on the 7th in council it was determined to attack the enemy at Three Rivers, about 47 miles lower down the St. Lawrence, whose numbers was said to be about three or four hundred men, Gen. Thompson was to have the chief command, the disposition as follows, viz. four attacks to be made at one and the same time, the first under Col. Maxwell, the second Col. Wayne, the third St. Clair. and the fourth Irvine, Lieut. Col. Hartley to take the command of the reserve; on the 8th we all went in boats from Col. St. Clair's encampment to the number of 1500 men, mostly Pennsylvanians, and at two in the morning landed about nine miles above the town: day began to appear, our guide had mistook the road, the enemy discovered and cannonaded us from their ships—a surprise, as originally intended, was now out of the question—we therefore put on our best face. and continued our line of march through the most horrid swamp that ever man set foot in—and after four hours march arrived at a more open piece of bad ground—where we endeavoured to form; as a large body of Regulars under cover of their shipping. who kept up a constant fire on us, was advancing fast down immediately in front of us, we found it impossible to form in time without falling on some expedient to retard their march, we therefore without waiting the orders of the General, who had not yet come up, caused Capt. Church, with Col. Wayne's Light-Infantry, and Capt. Hay's company of Rifle-men, to advance and amuse them, they obeyed their orders punctually, and attacked with great spirit, until we advanced to support them, when they immediately wheeled to the right and left and flanked the enemy, whilst we poured a heavy and well aimed fire in front. Here the British courage failed, they attempted to retreat in order, but soon broke and run in the utmost confusion, although more than twice our number—about this time Gen. Thompson, with the other divisions were just gaining the edge of the clear ground, except Col. Maxwell, who with his was advanced in a thicket considerably to the left, in this situation we received a very heavy fire in flank from musquetry, field pieces, ship cannon,&c. &c. Our people stood it, we wheeled to the left, and advanced in columns up to their breast works, where their main body lay, which until then we had not discovered.We sustained their fire with fortitude, seeing the General, Cols. St. Clair and Irvine, with Lieut. Col. Hartley marching up in full view, Maxwell now began to engage to the left of Col.Wayne, the fire was so hot and he so flanked, that he could not maintain his post.—The other troops had also fled to the left Col.Wayne's small battalion consisting of about 200 men, including Major Ray with his party, who behaved like a hero, were left exposed to the whole fire of the ship. in flank, and full 3000 men in front, with a large train of field pieces under the command of Gen. Burgoyne—they were consequently forced from the field. indeed it was impossible for them to support it longer—whilst Col. Allen and Col. Wayne were rallying the troops, Lieut. Col. Hartley had advanced with the reserve, and made a heavy attack on the enemy from a thicket in the swamp, this hardiness of his was of the most happy consequence to us, we having rallied about 700 men from the different regiments. diverse to find the General, but could get no intelligence of him or any of the other field officers': When we advanced we were determined to flank the enemy, and if possible force them from their strong hold; in order to facilitate this, we had sent the Rifle men belonging to Cols. Wayne and Irvine to keep up a constant firing from behind trees.The swamp was so deep and thick with small double as to prevent a man's seeing 12 yards to front or rear, this was the cause of the Gen. St. Clair. Irvine, Maxwell, &c. missing us, or perhaps had taken it for granted that we were all cut off Col. Hartley, who lay near, separated by without a discovery on either side, until he crossed our line near our left, which caused our people to follow him. Allen and Wayne were now left on the field with only twenty men and five officers, the enemy still continuing their fire as hot as at first, not knowing but the whole body were still on the ground, they thought it prudent to keep them undeceived, and amuse them with a little fire on their left flank, in order to gain time for our people to make good their retreat, in consequence of which they continued an hour longer in the field, and then retreated back into the woods for one mile, when we fell into a good foot path: we followed this about two miles, when we sent from our small party to the place our people first entered the swamp, by which means we soon collected 600 men, with whom we retreated in good order, but without any kind of refreshment. The enemy had detached 500 men in two boats to cut off our retreat before the action began, under cover of the bank of the river. who again attacked us 5 miles from the field of action, they did us little damage, being afraid to venture far from under cover of their shipping—we continued our march, and the third day arrived here almost spent with fatigue, hunger and difficulties, scarcely to be equalled with about 1200 men. But Gen. Thompson, Col. Irvine, Mr. M'Calla, Mr. Rud, Mr. Currie, and several others are prisoners, all well used by Burgoyne. according to Gen. Thompson's letter. Col. St. Clair arrived alone last night, their separation from the army—which indeed appeared to be lost,was the cause of their misfortune.