The Life and Times of Philip Schuyler (Revolutionary War)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1860. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXVII. General Montgomery found a large proportion of the troops indisposed to comply with his invitation to accompany him to Quebec; and many precious days--days composed of those golden moments of opportunity that might have secured victory--passed by, while he was engaged in futile endeavors to persuade the New Englanders, whose terms of service had expired, to reenlist. Even those who had yet a short time to serve became turbulent, and some absolutely refused to go another step forward. Home-sickness, a most natural malady under the circumstances, took possession of whole companies; and day after day they left the camp in groups, and made their way up Lake Champlain to Ticonderoga, to receive their discharge from General Schuyler. "I believe," wrote that officer to Montgomery, on the 18th of November, "that you have few of the New England troops left, as near three hundred have passed here within these few days, and so very impatient to get home that many have gone from here by land." To the Continental Congress Schuyler wrote, on the 20th, saying: "Our army in Canada is daily reducing--about three hundred of the troops raised in Connecticut having passed here within a few days--so that I believe not more than six hundred and fifty or seven hundred from that colony are left. From the different New York regiments about forty are also lately come away. An unhappy home-sickness prevails Those mentioned above all came down as invalids, not one willing to reengage for the winter service. Unable to get any work done by them, I discharged them in groups. Of nil the specifics ever invented for any, there is none so efficacious as a discharge for thii prevailing disorder. No sooner was it administered but it perfected the cure of nine out of ten, who...