Note K — JOURNAL OF THE CAMPAIGN, &c. &c.
Reading edition
Col. Proctor had informed Gen. Winchester he would afford him an opportunity of surrendering his troops, and if not accepted he would let loose the Indians on us, who would burn the town, and he would not be accountable for their conduct. Gen. Winchester, not knowing how we had resisted their efforts, thought probably it would be the case.
But why did not Col. Proctor make this proposition before he had exerted all his skill in trying to burn the town and to set the Indians on us? Proctor knew very well he had done all that was in his power with the force he had then, and he was then less able to rout us from the town than he was at first.
The British informed us afterwards that Col. Proctor had ordered a general retreat to Malden, and that they had spiked four pieces of their cannon! but he thought he would demand a surrender, according to custom.
Our officers, knowing that we had but little ammunition, and the troops being still exposed to the fire of the cannon, thought proper to surrender.