The New Hampshire Gazette

All Canada is in the Portsmouth.

Copy of a Letter from His Excellency General Amherst, to His Excellency Governor Wentworth, dated at Camp of Montreal, September 9, 1760.

SIR,

In mine of the 26th ultimo, I acquainted you with the Progress of the Army after their Departure from Oswego; and with the Success of His Majesty's Arms against Fort Levis (now Fort William Augustus) where I remained no longer than was requisite to make such Preparations as I judged essentially necessary for the Passage of the Army down the River, which took me up till the 30th.

In the Morning of the following Day, I set out and proceeded from Station to Station, to our present Ground, where we arrived on the 6th in the Evening, after having in the Passage, sustained a Loss of eighty eight Men drowned; twenty nine Bateaux of Regiments; seventeen of Artillery, with some Artillery and Stores: seventeen Whale boats, and one Row Galley staved, occasioned by the Violence of the Current, and the Rapids being full of broken Waves.

The Inhabitants of the Settlements I passed through, in my Way hither, having abandoned their Houses, and run into the Woods. I sent after them. Some were taken, and others came in of their own Accord; I had them disarmed, and caused the Oath of Allegiance to be tendered to them, which they readily took; and I accordingly put them in quiet Possession of their Habitations, with which Treatment they seemed no less surprised than happy.

The Troops being formed, and the Light Artillery brought up, the Army lay on their Arms the Night of the 6th.

On the 7th in the Morning, two Officers came to an advanced Post, with a Letter from the Marquis de Vaudreuil, referring me to what one of them, Colonel Bougainville, had to say. The Conversation ended with a Cessation of Arms till twelve o'Clock, when the Proposals were brought in: Soon after I returned them with the Terms I was willing to grant, which both the Marquis de Vaudreuil, and Monsieur de Levis the French General, were very strenuous to have offered; this occasioned sundry Letters to pass between us, during the Day as well as the Night, (when the Army again lay on their Arms) but as I would not on any Account deviate in the least from my original Conditions, and insisted on an immediate and categorical Answer, Monsieur de Vaudreuil soon after Day-break, Notified to me, that he had determined to accept of them, and two Setts of them were accordingly signed by him and me, and exchanged Yesterday, when Colonel Haldiman, with the Grenadiers and Light Infantry of the Army took Possession of one of the Gates of the Town, and is this Day to proceed in fulfilling the Articles of the Capitulation, by which the French Troops are all to lay down their Arms; are not to serve during the Continuance of the present War, and are to be sent back to Old France, as are also the Governors, and principal Officers of the Legislature of the whole Country, which I have now the Satisfaction to inform you, is entirely yielded to the Dominion of his Majesty, on which interesting and happy Event, I most sincerely congratulate you.

Governor Murray with the Troops from Quebec, landed below the Town on Sunday last, and Colonel Haviland with his Corps (that took Possession of the Isle au Noix, abandoned by the Enemy on the 28th) now in the hands of the English, and arrived Yesterday at the South Shore opposite to my Camp.

I am, with great Regard,

SIR

Your Most Obedient

Humble Servant,

JEFF. AMHERST.

NEW YORK, September 22.

Saturday last Major M'Clean arrived here from Montreal, which Place he left the 13th Instant, in full Possession of General Amherst, and the Army under his Command.

Proceedings of the Army under General Amherst, from the Time they embarked at Oswego (on the 10th of August) to the happy Reduction of Montreal the 8th of September following.

What, arriving the first Night after they set off, at the River Sable, they continued there till Noon the next Day, when they push'd forward, and got to the River Assumption; thence they proceeded to Bay Niagara, from thence to Isle Couchon, Isle Cheverill, and on the 16th landed at Point Auberrie. At 11 this Night, (the French Brig laying about 15 Miles off) Col. Williamson, and the five Row Gallies, together with the Grenadiers, and Light Infantry, were dispatched to take her, which they did at 8 in the Morning of the 17th, after a smart Fire: In this Affair we lost a Sergeant of Artillery, and 2 private Men; the French had 3 killed and 12 wounded; and we took 100 Prisoners. The Brig mounted 12 Fourteen Pounders.—Embarking from this Point, we arrived at Oswegatchie, and encamped on a Hill to the Eastward of the Fort, where we remained till the 18th, when we rowed down towards Le Isle Royale. Here our new acquired Brig anchored within Cannon Shot of the Enemy's Battery, when a Cannonading began; and while they were thus employed, our Light Infantry and Grenadiers got below the Fort. On the 18th, at Noon, a Party was ordered to cut a Road to the Point on the Eastern Shore, which is about 700 Yards from the Fort. At 5 o'Clock this Day, Commodore Loring, and our two other Vessels, went down to aid the Brig, where they amused the Enemy, while our Works were going on, on the Western Side. 20th of August, at Day break, a Captain, 2 Subalterns, from each Regiment, and 160 Men, went to make Fascines. At Noon, Col. Murray, 6 Captains, 6 Subalterns, and 300 Privates, went to take Post on the East Side of the River, below the Fort; and the Fascines being got ready, a Battery was erected. The Enemy continuing their Cannonade, our Ships hauled off from their Battery, it blowed hard, and very rainy. At 12 on Friday the 22d, we marched below the Fort, and our Rear joined us in their Boats, between 12 and one in the Morning of Saturday. The 23d, at Day break our Batteries began to fire. At ten our Vessels were ordered down; Capt. Phips in the Mohawk, led, and run close along Side the Fort, where he brought to, with a Spring on his Cable, and kept up an incessant Fire of Great Guns and Small Arms, which silenced the Enemy much; but their Shot at length cut the Cable of the Mohawk, who drove down with the Stream and being much damaged, and in want of her Anchor, was forced to run aground. Our Men in this Affair behaved extremely well. Commodore Loring, in the Onondaga, and Capt. Sinclair, in the Williamson [the French Brig that was] bore down betwixt Ten and Eleven, but too late to aid the Mohawk: However, they ran close to the Fort, poured in their Broad sides, and Small Arms from the Tops; our Batteries going at the same Time, and the Enemy not idle with their Artillery and Musquetry, made very pretty Music. At 3 o'Clock Capt. Sinclair's Brig, being disabled, was obliged to fall below the Fort, and the Commodore getting aground close to it, was sunk by the Enemy, whose Fire raked him, and dismounted his Guns. In this Condition he was obliged to surrender, being wounded withal, and the French attempted several Times to go on board to hoist a White Flag, and carry our People on Shore; but they were as often disappointed, for our Battery Guns gave their Boats into the Air, while their Crews went to the Bottom. At 6 o'Clock Lieut. Penning, with a Party of Grenadiers, in two Whale-Boats, set off from the Grand Battery, and proceeding thro' a Fire of Grape Shot and small Arms, as thick as Hail, got safe on board the Onondaga, and hoisted the English Colours, but to his Misfortune, found her full of Water. In this Exploit he lost six Grenadiers, and had several wounded. Our Ships being entirely disabled, our Mortars and Haubitzers played all the Night following, every Shell falling within the Island, which tho' small, was extremely well fortified all round to the Water's Edge, and commanded by M. Pean. We have had Abundance of Rain lately.

Sunday, Aug. 24 All our Mortars continued playing very smart—No likelihood of recovering the Commodore's Ship— The Mohawk was most horribly torn.

Aug. 25. All Night our Mortars played. Another new Battery which was begun Yesterday, will be ready to open To night; and our two Vessels are getting ready with all Expedition, to go up and cover the Boats intended for a general Storm To morrow. The Enemy kept a brisk Fire Yesterday and this Morning. About 4 P. M. the French beat a Parley, and at 7 our Grenadiers took Possession. The Enemy had about 80 killed and wounded; and we had near 20 killed and wounded.

The 26th and 27th employed in destroying our Batteries, and repairing the Damages of the Fort.

28th, Still employed in repairing the Fort, and endeavouring to weigh the Onondaga, and moved our Camp to Abbey Picquet's Island.

29th, Employed as before.

30th, This Day arrived a Party of French Indians, who report General Murray's being near Montreal, with a large Fleet of Frigates.

31st, Set off from Abbey Picquet's Island, and proceeded down the River for Montreal.—The Stream this Day was pretty strong.—We landed at Eve, and waited till September 1st, when we put off again, and passed the Rapids, or Long Falls, and encamped three Leagues from Lake St. Francis.

Tuesday, Sept. 2. Received Orders, in case of an Attack, to land, and charge any Enemy that presented themselves to us, and the Party on landing to make an obstinate Resistance, as they might depend on being supported.

Sept. 3. Being bad Weather, lay by all Day.

Sept. 4. Set off, and crossed Lake St. Francis, and about Eleven o'Clock arrived at the Town of Gaspé. Here we passed large Falls, and lost an officer and 85 Men, at Bloody Point, and great Number of Boats. About 2 o'Clock we passed the Cedar Town, and at 11 at Night landed on Le Isle Perrot, close to Montreal Isle. The Country very thick settled. This Island has 500 Families on it.

Sept. 5. Lay by all Day to repair our Damages. Great Numbers of the Inhabitants took the Oaths of Allegiance, and are put in peaceable Possession of their Farms. —No Soldier to plunder under Pain of Death. The Indians Yesterday took near 400 Prisoners off the Island of Montreal; and the Indian Sachem who commanded the Party, told them, that tho' they were in their Power, they had Orders from the English General not to kill any of them, but carry them to their Farms, adding, that the French used to bid them kill all. On this Occasion the Indians killed but one Man, who attempted to run away.

About 5 o'Clock this Day (Sept. 5.) Lieut. Elliot arrived from Col. Haviland, with an Account of L'Isle Sorrel being taken; and at 7 o'Clock Lieut. Crofton arrived from General Murray, when Orders were given out to embark at Day break.

6th of Sept. the General beat at Day, and the General himself embarked half an Hour after, the Army rowing by the Right four Columns. At Eleven o'Clock, we landed on the Island of Montreal, (nine Miles from Town) fixed our Bayonets, and formed: We marched directly for the Town, along a most delightful Road; very thick inhabited.

About 4 o'Clock, we arrived before the Walls of the Town, where we formed in Battle Array, expecting General Lévis with his Army to come out. Some Skirmishes happened between the Enemy's Troop of Horse, and our Light Infantry. We lay on our Arms all Night, getting our Cannon up.

Sept. 7. Were posted in proper Columns. This Day we learned, that Mons. Lévis's Regulars were on an Island the other Side of the Town, to prevent Mr. Murray's Landing. About 8 o'Clock a Flag of Truce came from the City, demanding a Suspension of Arms till they should hear from France; but the Answer they got was, they should have till Twelve o'Clock to consider; and accordingly they began to capitulate. We lay upon our Arms all Night.

Sept. 8th, General Murray's Army landed, and the General, and several of his Officers, came to our Camp. About the same Time arrived at our Camp, Maj. Christie, from Col. Haviland's Army. The Capitulation being finished, the Grenadiers and Light Infantry marched into the Town, commanded by Col. Haldiman, in the following Order of Procession, viz.

1. A Twelve Pounder with a Flag; and a Detachment of Royal Artillery.

2. The Grenadiers of the Line, commanded by Col. Massey.

3. The Light Infantry of the Line, commanded by Col. Amherst, each with a Band of Music before them.

And the eldest Ensign in General Amherst's Army to take Possession of the Colours of the eight French Regiments.

September 9th, 1760, Camp before Montreal.

The Colours of Shirley's and Pepperrell's Regiments, lost at Oswego (in 1756) were marched out of Montreal by a Detachment of Grenadiers, and a Band of Music; and carried down the Right of our Line, to Head Quarters, where they were lodged.

General orders:—Camp before Montreal, Sept. 9. 1760. — Parole,—King GEORGE.—and CANADA.—

The General sees with infinite pleasure, the success that has crowned the indefatigable efforts of his Majesty's troops, and faithful subjects in America— The Marquis de Vaudreuil has capitulated; the troops of France in Canada, have laid down their arms, and are not to serve during the war; the whole Country submits to the dominion of Great Britain. The three armies are entitled to the General's thanks on this occasion, and he assures them, that he will take the first opportunity, of acquainting his Majesty with the zeal and bravery which has always been exerted by the officers and soldiers of the Regulars and Provincial troops, and also by his faithful Indian allies.

The General is confident, when the troops are informed that this country is the King's they will not disgrace themselves by the least appearance of inhumanity, or by unsoldierlike behaviour, in taking any
plunder, more especially as the Canadians become now British subjects. and will feel the good effects of his Majesty's Protection.

Besides the contents of the above Journal we can farther inform the public that as soon as the army commanded by General Amherst landed on the Island of Montreal, most of the Peasants laid down their arms, and left Mont Vaudreuil and Levy to obtain the best terms they could for them ; that our Indians under the command of Sir William Johnson, behaved so well, that they were looked upon to be under as much command as the regulars ; that they advanced near the town, and dismounted some Gentlemen that came out with Levy and Vaudreuil to reconnoitre our army, but killed none of them ; that the Indians formerly in the French interest, and who no doubt, have butchered many innocent English subjects in this, and the neighbouring provinces, were vastly complaisant, and hoisted a union flag in sight of Montreal some time before General Amherst arrived there ; that Major Barry was immediately sent home in the Diana frigate from Montreal, via St. Lawrence river, with the important news ; that the French regulars and others who would not swear allegiance, were sent down the river to be transported to Old France ; that the Canadians are to have the exercise of their religion under their own Priests, during good behaviour that Governor Murray is to command at Quebec, with 4000 soldiers ; General Gage appointed Governor of Montreal, to be left with 2500 men, at that place ; that it was Pedro Vaudreuil, the Governor's brother, with Mons. St. Pierre, who escaped out of town, and were supposed to be gone by the way of Ottawa river, thence to go thro' Lake Huron, passing Detroit, and crossing the west end of Lake Erie, to proceed to the Mississippi, a circuit greatly west of Niagara, Fort du Quesne, &c. and that Col. Schuyler, with 4000 men were returning by the way of Oswego.