Historical documents
American Revolutionary War
Maj. Gen. Schuyler tells Washington that attempt to take Quebec City has failed, Brig. Gen. Montgomery is dead and reinforcements required in Canada[2]
Maryland delegate to Congress recommends Catholic fellow delegate and himself to go to Canada to rally support and raise troops for rebel cause[3]
Commander in occupied Montreal on "many Enemies in this province" (especially clergy), locals commissioned to his forces, and need of heavy arms[4]
Washington emphasizes to Arnold importance of victory in Canada to "crown our virtuous struggles" and "Render the freedom of [our] Country secure"[5]
"Jean Baptist or Ogaghsagighte" and others chiefs, sent by Kahnawake and other First Nations, tell Washington they can send fighters to Schuyler[6]
Montrealer Preudhome La Jeunesse wants Congress to send agents to explain to clergy and gentry their goals in war and their friendship toward Canada[7]
Arnold says his army struggles with smallpox, poor clothing and worse pay, attractions of deserting, and "Trouble of Reconceleing [with] Inhabitants"[8]
Benjamin Franklin, Chase and Carroll sent to form executive commission in Canada and urge Canadians to unite with and adopt American democracy[9]
Logistical, strategic and political challenges "for our little Army and for the Poor Canadians who have taken part with the United Colonies"[10]
John Adams admits "we have been a little tardy in providing for Canada[;] however We have been roused at last, and I hope have done pretty well"[11]
Commissioners in Montreal find Continental money worthless, their people no longer trusted and Congress thought bankrupt and its cause desperate[12]
With newly arrived reinforcements, Gov. Carleton routs rebel force that has besieged Quebec City for five months and seizes their blockade ships[13]
British plans were to include sending Burgoyne with 10,000 troops (Hessians, Hanoverians and British) to Canada to join up with Gage on Hudson River[14]
John Adams says simply, "Our affairs in Canada are in a confused and disastrous situation. But I hope they will not be worse."[15]
Brig. Gen. Sullivan reports "men Women & Children Leaping & Clapping their hands" as he arrives at Sorel to meet British thrust up St. Lawrence River[16]
Maj. Gen. Schuyler receives word that army's attack on British at Trois-Rivières has been defeated, and it must retreat to St.-Jean for return home[17]
Believing "there has been very gross Misconduct in the Management of our Affairs in Canada," Congress orders general inquiry into officers involved[18]
Sullivan reports from upper Richelieu River that his retreat to Lake Champlain is threatened by smallpox pandemic in his troops (Note: "savages" used)[19]
"How happy for us" - Montreal residents congratulate Gov. Carleton and "the brave and loyal Citizens of Quebec" for victory over rebels[20]
"Extraordinary efforts of resolution" - With larger naval force, Carleton defeats Brig. Gen. Arnold to regain control of Lake Champlain[21]
Congress sends home Canadians captured unarmed, but makes Luc de la Corne and another agree not to take up arms against U.S. or aid its enemies[22]
Map spanning regions from Lac St.-Pierre to Cape May, including Montreal, Lake Champlain and eastern Six Nations territories[23]
"A Declaration would have influenced our Affairs in Canada" - John Adams says his pro-reconciliation and anti-independence colleagues lost Canada[24]
Canada
Governor, lieutenant governor, chief justice and Council (or any five of them) make up Quebec's new court of appeal[25]
In dispute with governor, Peter Livius accuses Carleton of bypassing Council (by August 8, 1776 order), with five favourites making major decisions[26]
Praise for Carleton's humanity "towards our deluded Countrymen who have been either bullied or betrayed into the present unnatural Rebellion"[27]
With end of U.S. occupation, Gazette printer William Brown happily renews ties with subscribers to "The Most Innocent Gazette in the British Dominions"[28]
Grain in storage and big current crop allow reopening of general wheat exportation, but restrictions remain on shipping flour, biscuits and livestock[29]
"A Citizen of Quebec" requests effective market regulation and prevention of "Huxtering, Engrossing, Forestalling, &c.[...]at a great Height in this City"[30]
Carleton finds nothing to fear from Canadians during prosperity and nothing to hope from them (besides honourable few) during times of distress[31]
Instruction offered "Young Gentlemen[...]in various Literature," including "Locke on the human Understanding,[...]Milton, Shakespeare, Pope, Gay, &c."[32]
Peter Fitzgerald disclaims marriage to (and debts of) "a Woman lately arrived from Halifax, in Nova-Scotia, who calls herself Mary FitzGerald"[33]
Nova Scotia
"I hate the Climate where Rebellion + Fanaticism are ingendred" - Loyalist disowns revolutionary Massachusetts in letter to Edward Winslow[34]
Cumberland County, Nova Scotia resident tells Washington that many there support Colonies and all Acadians do, but troops must be sent to help them[35]
"The rebels[...]obliged Gen. Howe to quit Boston" - British troops and loyalists leave Boston for Halifax[36]
Lt. Gov. Arbuthnot, noting inflation despite departure of fleet and army, declares anyone charging more than set prices for food to be "Extortioners"[37]
Report from Halifax that "a considerable body of rebels" are besieging Fort Cumberland and "people in Halifax are in great consternation"[38]
Arguing how low-cost pre-war governments in North America were, Adam Smith points to Nova Scotia's £7,000 "a year towards the publick expences"[39]
Nova Scotia law allows local court to fine ("amerce") township residents who neglect to vote funds to support local poor people[40]
Haligonian seeks "a Negro Woman named Florimell [who] wears a Handkerchief round her Head, has Scars in her Face[...]and is not very black"[41]
Rev. John Breynton of Halifax sells "Negro Woman Called Dinah about twenty five years of age" to Peter Shey of Falmouth for £23/6/8[42]
Labrador
"I have learned sorcery, and I have practised it, but that is the road to the greatest darkness" - Inuk named Kingminguse is baptised at Nain[43]
George Cartwright's instructions for building foot bridge, one of his many practical projects for living in Labrador[44]
"Mountaineer" (Innu) way of hunting deer with musket allows them to fire shots more quickly, but "they generally over-charge" with too much gunpowder[45]
Getting "burnt" by touching cold metal, Cartwright recalls lines from "Hudibras": "And many dangers shall environ, The man who meddles with cold iron"[46]
Indigenous nations
At their meeting, Six Nations and "seven Tribes" from Canada agree to remain neutral, though some (Senecas, Mohawks) are ready "to act against Us"[47]
Maj. Gen. Schuyler's early June correspondence on "Attack of the upper Indians against our Western Frontiers" in New York (Note: "savages" used)[48]
Massachusetts General Court signs treaty with Mi'kmaq and "St John's Indians" to recruit fighters for "Service of the United States" (Note: see footnotes)[49]
Thomas Jefferson tells fellow Virginian that Congress has so strongly warned Six Nations against attacking that they "keep their people in quiet"[50]
Letter from Albany says Kanien’kéhà:ka sachems objected to Schuyler's expedition against John Johnson, but admitted it was allowed under their treaty[51]
Henry on Prairies: "The country was[...]a continued level, without a single eminence; a frozen sea, of which the little coppices were the islands"[52]
Henry listens to Assiniboine players of drums, gourds etc. with women singing - "the sweetness of their voices exceeded whatever I had heard before"[53]
"When they move, the sounds keep time, and make a fantastic harmony" - Assiniboine and Cree women put small bells and deer hooves on skirt hems[54]
Chipewyans from Lake Athabasca canoe down to Henry's post on upper Churchill River to trade 12,000 beaver skins (plus slaves) over three days[55]
Continental Congress agent at French court to acquire (along with uniforms and weapons) £40,000 worth of "goods for presents to the Indians"[56]
"I can see thee, My Father; can talk with thee and can invoke thy mercy" - "Sioux chief" shares pipe with Carleton (Note: "savages" and "squaw" used)[57]
Etc.
Illustration: "Key for Benjamin West's 'Death of General Wolfe'" has detail of figures in painting, including Brig. Gen. Monckton and surgeon Mr. Adair[58]
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