signed to them. The Indians shook hands with the
European officers, and rebel scalps were presented to
Generals Carleton, Burgoyne, and Phillips. What the
English gentlemen did with these charming presents
of their humane allies does not appear. At a later
conference, held by General Carleton with Indians from
farther west, one of them appeared wearing the
uniform of General Braddock, whom he himself claimed
to have killed.
Of Montreal Riedesel says: “This city is, indeed, somewhat finer than Quebec, and has about sixteen hundred houses. It is surrounded by nothing more than a wall, with loopholes for cannon and musketry, and what is called the citadel is a block-house in very bad condition. These works were begun in 1736. The whole island of Montreal, as well as the city, belongs to the seminary. . . . Near this seminary is the best garden in all Canada, but it is not better laid out than that of a private person at home. They have most sorts of European plants there.”
At last, on the 9th of September, the transports were ready for an advance up Lake Champlain. It was necessary, however, to wait a month longer for the war vessels. These, when completed, exceeded those of the Americans more than two to one, both in numbers and in the weight of metal carried. They were manned by picked English sailors, while the sloops and gondolas under Benedict Arnold were mostly sailed and commanded by landsmen. The result was what might have been expected. Arnold chose, on the 10th of October, 1776, a disadvantageous position between Valcour Island and the western shore of the lake.
