The intelligence received during the evening, determined them to return to the Isle Aux Noix, and wait for their remaining troops and artillery.
The Isle Aux Noix lies at the junction of the Sorel with lake Champlain; and to prevent the armed vessels at St.John's from entering the latter, a boom was drawn across the narrow channel, at the point of union between those waters.
While at that place, General Schuyler became so ill as to be confined to his bed; and the command devolved on Montgomery.
{September 25.} [Sidenote: Siege of St.Johns.] {October.} [Sidenote: Capture of Fort Chamblee.] Late in September the artillery was brought up; and reinforcements arrived, which augmented the army to nearly two thousand men;--upon which Montgomery again proceeded to the investment of St.John's.

This place was garrisoned by five or six hundred regulars, with about two hundred Canadian militia, and was well provided with artillery and military stores.

The army of Canada, as well as the other armies of the United Colonies, was almost entirely without powder; and, of consequence, the siege advanced slowly.

Its necessities in this respect were fortunately relieved by the capture of fort Chamblee, which being supposed to be covered by St.John's, was not in a defensible condition.

In this place, about one hundred and twenty barrels of gunpowder were taken, after which the siege of St.John's was prosecuted with vigour; but the garrison made a resolute defence, and for some time indulged the hope of being relieved.[19] [Footnote 19: Annual Register.] [Sidenote: Carleton defeated at Longueisle.] Colonel M'Clean, a veteran officer, with his regiment of royal highland emigrants, and a few hundred Canadians, was posted near the junction of the Sorel with the St.Lawrence.General Carleton was at Montreal, where he had collected about a thousand men, chiefly Canadians.