that part of their army retired in confusion.  The attack upon the other extremity of the low Town was made with six hundred men.  At first they had success though that turned out at last to their ruin.  They forced our advanced post where we had four pieces of cannon, afterward got possession of another barrier and forced their way through a narrow street to the last barrier, which if they had gained they would have been in the low Town.  At the same time the Governor ordered a sally out at a Gate they had passed to follow their track in the snow (that was then deep) and fall upon them behind.  That we should open a Gate and attack them when attacked ourselves was a thing very unexpected so that finding they were stopped at the last barrier and thus attacked behind they were obliged to take shelter in the houses of the narrow street and at last gave themselves up prisoners to the number of about four hundred and fifty amongst whom were thirty-two officers of all ranks from Colonels to Ensigns.  The morning of the attack I happened to have the Piquet and guessing by the flashes in the air (in the dark) that it was musketry at the other side of the town, tho’ we heard no report, had the Piquet drawn out upon the Ramparts at our alarm post, before the firing came round that length, which it soon did and we fired away upon these people as they passed along that way, which they were obliged to do to get to the low Town.  About break of day Major Caldwell came round with some men, and took me with part of the Piquet along with him to the low Town.  When we got there the enemy had got on as far as the inner Barrier and [had] a Ladder on both sides of it.  There the Battle raged till the Enemy falling back got into Houses.  Some time after the Sorti coming behind them put an end to the affair.  It was the first time I ever happened to be so closely engaged as we were obliged to push our bayonets.  It is certainly a disagreeable necessity to be obliged to put one another to death especially those speaking the same language and dressed in the same manner with ourselves.  Only these mad people had a large piece of white linen or paper upon their foreheads with the words “Liberty or Death” wrote upon it.  The Garrison in general behaved remarkably well consisting in all of about 1400 men, mostly the town Militia and sailors with 200 of Maclean’s corps which were only raised last summer.  They certainly did their duty with much patience during a severe winter of six months.  In the day time we wrought a great deal at the fortifications and shovelling the snow and in the night even those not upon duty durst not sleep but with Clothes and accoutrements on and by whole Companys in one House to be the more ready, for, upon our vigilance, everything depended.  For the last month the Enemy had two Batterys of four Guns each, playing on the Town with red hot Balls, in hope to set it on fire but luckily did very little harm.  They also made use of a fire ship in order to burn our shipping in the Harbour,