a party of
British, under Major Carletox. He collected in that vicinity
thirt\'-nine prisoners, men and boys. They were put on board a,
vessel in the lake and carried prisoners to Canada. They reached
Quebec December 6, and were kept in prison sixteen months and
nineteen days. In the spring of 1780, after two dreary v/inters,
in Avhich several of the party died, the prisoners had liberty to
remove thirty leagues down the llivcr St. Lawrence, to Avork.
About forty went, among whom were the two Smiths and Ward.
They landed the first of May, on the south side, where the river
was twenty-seven miles wide. In the night of the 13th, eight of
the prisoners took a batteau and crossed the river and* landed in v.
perfect wilderness. They here separated into two parties, Justus
Stuudevant. of Weybridge joining thethree Bridport men. They ^
traveled by night, and when in the neighborhood of settlements,
secreted themselves in the woods by day. They occasionally met
Frenchmen, who appeared friendly ; but on the 20th, vrhen nearly
opposite Quebec, they called on tvrq Frenchmen for aid in crossing
a swollen river. One of them stated that he was an officer, and
dared not let them pass. lie seized his gun a,nd declared them
prisoners. The other took up an axe, and both stood against the
door to prevent their escape. Nathan Smith said to his comrades,
"wo must go," and seized the man with the gun, and the other
prisoners laid hold of the other Frenchman, and they thrust them
aside, and all escaped except Sturdevant, who remained a prisoner
until the close of the war. Some days after, four Indians,