and Carroll practically abolished rank in the disintegrating army by becoming an open court of appeal to every junior with a grievance or a plan.  There never was an occasion on which military rule was more essential in military matters.  Yet, though they candidly admitted that they had ’neither abilities nor inclination’ to command, these wretched misrulers tried to do their duty both to the Congress and the army by turning the camp into a sort of town meeting where the best orders had no chance whatever against the loudest ‘sentiments.’  They had themselves found the root of all evil in the retreat from Quebec.  Their army, like every impartial critic, found it in ’the Commissioners and the smallpox’—­with the commissioners easily first.  The smallpox had been bad enough at Quebec.  It became far worse at Sorel.  There were few doctors, fewer medicines, and not a single hospital.  The reinforcements melted away with the army they were meant to strengthen.  Famine threatened both, even in May.  Finally the commissioners left for home at the end of the month.  But even their departure could no longer make the army’s burden light enough to bear.

Thomas, the ex-apothecary, who did his best to stem the adverse tide of trouble, caught the smallpox, became blind, and died at the beginning of June.  Sullivan, the fourth commander in less than half a year, having determined that one more effort should be made, arrived at Sorel with new battalions after innumerable difficulties by the way.  He was led to believe that Carleton’s reinforcements had come from Nova Scotia, not from England; and this encouraged him to push on farther.  He was naturally of a very sanguine temper; and Thompson, his second-in-command, heartily approved of the dash.  The new troops cheered up and thought of taking Quebec itself.  But, after getting misled by their guide, floundering about in bottomless bogs, and losing a great deal of very precious time, they found Three Rivers defended by entrenchments, superior numbers, and the vanguard of the British fleet.  Nevertheless they attacked bravely on the 8th of June.  But, taken in front and flank by well-drilled regulars and well-handled men-of-war, they presently broke and fled.  Every avenue of escape was closed as they wandered about the woods and bogs.  But Carleton, who came up from Quebec after the battle was all over, purposely opened the way to Sorel.  He had done his best to win the hearts of his prisoners at Quebec and had succeeded so well that when they returned to Crown Point they were kept away from the rest of the American army lest their account of his kindness should affect its anti-British zeal.  Now that he was in overwhelming force he thought he saw an even better chance of earning gratitude from rebels and winning converts to the loyal side by a still greater act of clemency.