The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

AIT. 44.] LIFE OF WASHINGTON. 169
said he, "which have come upon us; could I have
known that such backwardness would have been discovered by the old soldiers to the service, all the generals
upon earth should not have convinced me of the propriety of delaying an attack upon Boston till this time."
He alludes here to the soldiers of the first army, who
had refused to enlist, and gone home, in much greater
numbers than he had anticipated.
The new regiments were increasing very tardily.
The time for which the five thousand militia engaged.
to serve had expired, and a few only could be prevailed
upon to stay longer. Another call for militia was indispensable. Seven regiments were apportioned to
Massachusetts, four to Connecticut, and two to New
Hampshire. By the time these should come in, it was
hoped the ice on the waters around Boston would be
frozen hard enough to facilitate an assault on the town.
Just at this moment arrived the news of the repulse
at Quebec, and the death of General Montgomery, with
an urgent request from General Schuyler, that three
thousand men should be immediately sent into Canada,
as the smallest force necessary to retrieve the loss, and
to sustain the cause in that colony. Such a detachment
from Washington's army was impossible, without ruin
to himself; but, ever prompt to provide for exigences
and to act for the general good, he instantly applied
to the governments of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and
New Hampshire to furnish each a regiment, which
should continue in service one year, and march forthwith to Canada. To relieve these colonies from an
increased burden, he allowed the three regiments to be
taken from his last requisition, reserving ten for the main
army. The proposal was well received, and the troops
were raised and marched to Canada during the winter.
Besides the want of powder, which had at no time
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