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ants, called " public store-houses," were next entered; and "several hundred barrels of flour and provisions" taken therefrom. About 11 o'clock on the same evening, the Americans, with their booty, returned to their vessels. On the next morning, Sunday, they again landed; and three armed boats went a short way up the Don in search of public stores. By evening, having captured or destroyed "five pieces of cannon, eleven boats, and a quantity of shot, shells, and other stores," the American troops and marines re-embarked; and the fleet made sail for Niagara.

Breaking parole is a serious charge to prefer against a national officer; one, especially, so high in rank as a lieutenant-colonel. All lists of prisoners, made, paroled, or exchanged, must necessarily be transmitted to the commanderin-chief; and sir George had, on the 13th of November, 1812, by one of his aides de camp, entered into an agreement with major-general Dearborn, relative to prisoners of war: in which agreement it was particularly stipulated,"That prisoners on parole, of either party, should perform no military service whatever."‡ Even without this agreement, every officer, before he receives his parole, engages his honor, not to bear arms directly or indirectly, until

+ Ibid.

* Hist. of the War, p. 111.
+ Wilkinson's Mem. Vol. III. p. 197.

regularly exchanged. The following is a copy of the parole signed by lieutenant George Reab, along with some other American officers, on the 19th of November, 1812.

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"We promise, on honor, not to bear arms, directly or indirectly, against his Britannic majesty, or his allies, during the present war, until we are regularly exchanged. We, likewise, engage, that the undermentioned noncommissioners and privates, soldiers in the service of the United States, who are permitted to accompany us, shall conform to the same conditions."*

To the doughty quarrel between Mr. President Madison and general James Wilkinson of the American army, we are indebted for some most important disclosures relative to paroled prisoners. The general very candidly tells us, that lieutenant George Reab, a witness examined on the part of the prosecution at the general's court-martial, held at Troy in the state of New York, in February, 1814, deposed on oath, "That on the 24th of December, 1813, while a prisoner on parole, he received from colonel Larned, an order to repair to Greenbush, in the following words:

"I am directed by the secretary of war, to Wilkinson's Mem. Vol. III. p. 197.

call in all the American prisoners of war, on parole, at or near this vicinity, to their post, and that the officers join them for drilling, &c. You will, therefore, repair to the cantonments at Greenbush, without loss of time."

Lieutenant Reab further deposed, that he repaired to Greenbush in pursuance of the order, and made no objections to doing duty: that on general Wilkinson's arrival at Waterford, in the ensuing January, lieutenant Reab called upon him, and exhibited the order received from lieutenant-colonel Larned: that general Wilkinson thought the order very improper, and afterwards issued the following order, dated Waterford, January 18th, 1814:

"A military officer is bound to obey promptly, and without hesitation, every order he may receive, which does not affect his honor; but this precious inheritance must never be voluntarily forfeited, nor should any earthly power wrest it from him. It follows that, when an officer is made prisoner, and released on his parole of honor, not to bear arms against the enemy, no professional duties can be imposed on him, while he continues in that condition; and, under such circumstances, every military man will justify him for disobedience."*

Such are the principles upon which Mr. Madison conducted the late war!-Lieutenant-colonel

* Wilkinson's Memoirs, Vol. III. p. 93.

Scott, although, perhaps, not one of those American officers who, like lieutenant Reab, "made no objections to doing duty," in compliance with the shameful order of his government, did certainly give his parole at Queenstown, and yet subsequently appeared in arms, both at FortGeorge and at York. It has, by British officers, been stated, that it was done in the belief that he had been virtually exchanged. Colonel (now major-general) Scott has been represented as a brave officer. To merit that character, he must be an honorable man; and would not, surely, have again unsheathed his sword, had he not felt himself justified in doing so. We take pleasure in mentioning, that lieutenant Carr, of the United States' army, also a prisoner at Queenstown, "declined obeying the order to perform duty, on the ground, that it was contrary to his parole."

This meritorious act being, as it would appear, an excepted case, enhances its value; and it ought to operate as a lesson to that government, which could thus stab the reputation of its officers, to faciltate the means of conquest.

* Wilkinson's Mem. Vol. III. p. 93.

CHAPTER VIII.

Description of Lake Champlain-Gross error in the boundary line-Garrison at Isle aux NoixWant of a naval force-Early naval preparations of the Americans-Capture of two American armed cutters-Expedition to Plattsburg, Swanton, and Champlain-town-American calumnies refuted-Appearance of the British off Burlington-Commodore Macdonough's cautious behaviour-Sudden reduction of the British naval force on this lake-Immediate advance of the American flotilla-Capture of a gun-boat and batteaux on the St. Lawrence-Rival fleets on Lake Ontario-Sickness of the British and American troops on the Niagara-frontier-Demonstration upon Fort-George-Contemplated expedition against Montreal-Preparations for it-Alarm of the garrison at Fort-GeorgeAmerican settlers-Departure of the expedition from Fort-George-Its difficulties, and arrival at the point of rendezvous-Contemporary movément of the British at the head of the lake.

NEW scenes of border-warfare carry us to one of the North-American lakes, of which we have hitherto given no description. Lake Champlain

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