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Heister, the commanding general of the Hessian troops, with the rank of major in America. This proposition Holland accepted and in May embarked with the troops.

Great Britain employed many German mercenary troops in her effort to suppress the American revolution. The Duchy of Brunswick furnished about 5,700 troops; Hesse-CaSSel, 17,000; and other petty German states an additional 7,000. By the Americans they were indiscriminately known as the Hessian troops. Lieutenant-General Philipp von Heister, who was in command, was a veteran of the Seven Years War in Europe. The first division of .this force, 8,000 strong, landed at Staten Island on August 15, 1776. There can be no doubt that Holland was with this division, as he states in a memorial dated May 14, 1789, that he served in different capacities under Sir William Howe, Sir Henry Clinton and General Tryon, all of whom were stationed at New York.

The German mercenaries did their duty bravely and faithfully, and few deserted to the enemy, notwithstanding the constant inducements that were held out to them by the rebels. About sixty per cent. of these troops returned to Germany, and about thirty per cent. remained in British North America,

where they were granted lands or obtained official positions.

As early as February, 1775, the address to the throne in the British House of Parliament declared that a state of actual rebellion existed in Massachusetts, and in April an armed conflict took place at Lexington. In May an unsuspecting small guard at Ticonderoga was captured and the post at Crown Point was occupied by the rebels. These were acts of rebellion on the part of Massa- chusetts alone. New York and Connecticut, and the Continental Congress, had not instigated the attacks, and at the time were spectators only. The militia of Massachusetts besieged General Gage in Boston, and the British at all points were harassed.

General Guy Carleton was then in command at Quebec, with a very small force of regular troops. The attitude of the French-Canadians was that of a conquered people; they would resist an attack upon their lives and property but were not disposed to take up arms in behalf of their rulers. Carleton obtained the support of the Roman Catholic clergy, proclaimed martial law, and enrolled the militia, but the response was disappointing. Emissaries from the American colonists were also busy in endeavouring to persuade the Canadians to throw off the British yoke, but few responded to their blandis‘iments.

In August, the Continental Congress decided to send an army down Lake Champlain and the Richelieu to capture Montreal, beli's'ing that a show of force would convince the inhabitants that they were their friends. General Schuyler and Ethan Allen, the hero of Ticonderoga, were in command of the - expedition, comprising about 2,000 men. Allen was captured near Montreal and sent to England a prisoner. General Montgomery continued negotiations with the Canadians, but they declined to take any active part in the struggle between the two British factions, both of whom were responsible for their loss of Louisburg and Quebec. The great majority remained neutral and apathetic, awaiting some decisive action. On October 18th the Americans captured the fort at Chambly, although they had failed to capture St. Johns; but after a vigorous attack on November 3rd, this latter post surrendered.