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Part 4

Journal of an American Prisoner At Fort Malden and Quebec in the War of 1812 · James Reynolds — chapter 4 of 8 · ~896 words · public domain

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3rd.--Thursday. Pleasant. We started nearly with the sun and stopped about 9 o'clock about half an hour. Proceeded to Cornwall where we stayed through the knight. We past several fine towns on both sides of the river. Hamleton is a fine town on the American side.

4th.--Friday. Clouday and cold--east wind. We stayed at Cornwall all this day as we had a head wind. The men remained in the gaol yard and fought several times and in fact played hell all day.

5th.--Saturday. Pleasant, head wind, however we proceeded on our journey and have about thirty sick. We stayed at Point Burdet.

6th.--Sunday. Pleasant. We started about 6 o'clcok and stopped at Lachein and the well men were marched to Montreal by land. The sick went in boats by water where we arrived about 7 in the evening and was marched to the Garrison.

7th.--Monday. Pleasant. We stayed at the Garrison through the day and four of the sick sent to the King's Hospital which reduced my number to about 30.

8th.--Tuesday. Pleasant. We left Montreal about 10 A.M. and descended the St. Lawrence. We had a pleasant prospect on both sides of the river handsome meadows and fine farms and several handsome towns. We stopped at Sorril (Sorel) and were marched from the boats to a room where we were all put into a room together and locked up and not a man allowed to get a drink of water nor allowed to leave the room on any occasion. The men were obliged to comply with natures requests in the room where we all lay, and we suffered verry much all knight.

9th.--Pleasant. The British officers that came with us when informed of our treatment was very much offended and told the officers of the 100th. regiment. We started about 9 o'clock A.M. with a fair wind and arrived late at St. Francis and stopped at Three Rivers about two hours and then went about two miles down the river and camped for the knight.

10th.--Thursday. Pleasant. Head winds we started the sun about one hour high. and spent the day pretty much in parading the boats. We stopped at the Three Sisters for the night.

11th.--Friday. Pleasant. We stayed for the tide to come in. Started about ten o'clock and descended the river rapidly with the tide and arrlved at Quebec about sunset and was put on bord one of the transports for the night.

12th.--Saturday. Cloudy and rainy in the afternoon. All in confusion, the prisoners very troublesome, however I hope this is not for life.

13th.--Sunday. Clouday. The proceedings verry much as yesterday, our officers in town and do not visit us, the reason why I know not why. We are guarded this day. Parroled prisoners from the States. Nothing extra.

14th.--Monday. Clouday. Our rations were bread that would crawl with worms, in fact our fare is hard and unwholesome, half the men sick with the diarrie. No news of any better times.

15th.--Tuesday. Pleasant. I gave five men emetic and 3 carthartic. Our provisions better than yesterday. No news, the men are something better.

16th.--Wensday. Pleasant. Our sick were taken from our vessel. We had several good things for our vituals, rice, oatmeal and this plenty. This is called banyan day. The surgeon came on board our vessel and ordered men and me on bord the brig 160 transport.

17th.--Thursday. Pleasant. I proceeded to give the men medicine and gave them gruel and they appeared verry much better at night. We had twelve women on board and some worse than the devil--they quarreled like cats and dogs and in fact I had to make use of rash (harsh) means in order for to live.

18th.--Friday. Pleasant. The men generally better with one or two exceptions. The women in better nature than yesterday. Nothing extra happened through the day.

19th.--Saterday. Pleasant, nothing particular through the day.

20th.--Sunday. Cold and windy. The men not so well.

21st.--Monday. Pleasant. The men no better and no Doct. to see them and no medicine, no phisition attended us, the time dubious and the men down hearted--not verry good accommodation.

22nd.--Tuesday. Clouday and some rain in the morning. Many of the men verry low, but verry little refreshment for the sick. Thirteen more sick came on board which augmented the sick to 54.

23rd.--Wensday. Pleasant. The men that came on board yesterday are better after being phisiced. Nothing new.

24th.--Thursday. Clouday. The men generally better 17 men were sent from our ship to those where the main Regt. lay. Nothing further worth attention.

25th.--Friday. Pleasant. Two sick men sent on board our ship which made our number 40. James Duffer died at 4 o'clock p.m. with Hectic fever. Many of the men are very low. Bellew and Collins were sent to our ship which augments our number to 42 men.

26th.--Saterday. Clouday. McDuff was buried at ten o'clock. Sergt. Traig and Corp. Wentworth, McIntosh went on shore to attend the funeril. He was decently intered. The English people here are decent, friendlay and humane

27th.--Sunday. Pleasant. The men are something better. Nothing happened through the day.

28th.--Monday. Pleasant but cold for the season. The men better, the women cross etc. The Surgeon came on bord.

29th.---Tuesday. Nothing worth recording.

30th.--Wensday. Pleasant. The Doct. came on bord. Nothing other worth recording. Good weather but cold for the season.

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