Lt.-Colonel MacLean's Letter-1776

 

by Allan MacLean

 

[Originally published by the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec in Historical Documents, Series 8 (1906)]

 

Quebec, 28 July, 1776.

 

Sir,—As I am, in a few days, going to England with despatches from the Commander-in-Chief, I should be glad to know if I could be of any service to you. Power to do you any material service I have none; but your conduct during the siege of Quebec, last winter and spring, makes it a duty on my part to give you my testimony and appreciation of every part of your con­duct.

 

Truth must always have some weight with His Majesty and his Ministers, who, I am certain, wish to reward deserving men like you. To your resolution and watchfulness on the morning of Dec. 31st, 1775, in keeping the guard at the Pres-de-Ville under arms, waiting for the attack which you expected; the great coolness with which you allowed the rebels to ap­proach; the spirit which your example kept up among the men, and the very critical instant in which you directed Capt. Barnsfare's fire against Montgomery and his troops,—to those circumstances alone do I ascribe the repulsing the rebels from that important post, where, with their leader, they lost all heart.

 

The resolutions you entered into, and the arrange­ments you made to maintain that post, when told you were to be attacked from another quarter, were worthy of a good subject, and would have done honor to an experienced officer. I thought it incumbent upon me to leave with you this honorable testimony of your ser­vices, as matters that were well known to myself in particular; and I should be happy, at any time, to have it in my power to be useful to you, and I do assure you that I am, with truth and regard, Sir, your most obe­dient and most humble servant,

 

ALLAN MacLEAN. "Mr. Coffin"

 

This letter is endorsed:

From Col. Allan MacLean, 84th Regt., commanding the garrison at the siege of Quebec, 1775-76, to John Coffin, Esq.