occurred, and by the end of the month we were all once more on
board our former ships. But our return was far from
triumphant. We, who only seven weeks ago had set out in the
surest confidence of glory, and I may add of emolument, were
brought back dispirited and dejected. Our ranks were wofully
thinned, our chiefs slain, our clothing tattered and filthy, and
even our discipline in some degree injured. A gloomy silence
reigned throughout the armament, except when it was broken by the
voice of lamentation over fallen friends; and the interior of
each ship presented a scene well calculated to prove the
short-sightedness of human hope and human prudence.

The accident to which I allude was the capture of a single boat
by the enemy. About thirty men of the 14th dragoons having
crowded into an unarmed barge, were proceeding slowly down the
lake, when a boat mounting a carronade in its bow suddenly darted
from a creek and made towards them. To escape was impossible,
for their barge was too heavily laden to move at a rate of even
moderate rapidity; and to fight was equally out of the question,
because of the superiority which their cannon gave to the Americans.
The whole party was accordingly compelled to surrender to six men
and an officer; and having thrown their arms into the lake, their
boat was taken in tow and they were carried away prisoners.

This, however, was the only misfortune which occurred. Warned by
the fate of their comrades, the rest kept together in little
squadrons, each attended by one or more armed launches; and thus
rowing steadily on, they gained the shipping without so much as
another attempt at surprisal being made.

On reaching the fleet, we found that a considerable reinforcement
of troops had arrived from England. It consisted of the 40th
foot, a fine regiment, containing nearly a thousand men, which,
ignorant of the fatal issue of our attack, had crossed the lakes
only to be sent back to the ships without so much as stepping on
shore. The circumstance, however, produced little satisfaction.
We felt that the coming of thrice the number could not recover
what was lost or recall past events; and therefore no rejoicing
was heard, nor the slightest regard paid to the occurrence. Nay,
so great was the despondency which had taken possession of men's
minds, that not even a rumour respecting the next point of attack
obtained circulation; whilst a sullen carelessness, a sort of
indifference