CHAPTER II.

MOORE'S ENTRANCE INTO THE ARMY.-MINORCA. -PENOBSCOT.

BEFORE two short months had flown past, Ensign Moore quitted his mother and family at Glasgow, and hastened to Marseilles, where he embarked for Minorca, which he reached early in the year 1777.

In the fortress of Port Mahon, commanded by the veteran General Murray, he was taught the rudiments of military discipline; the drill, the manual exercise, regimental duties, the nightly watches, and all the military forms to prevent surprises, and secure the garrison. Murray was a man of high character, and a strict disciplinarian, but of a violent temper. Moore, however, acquired his good opinion by the exact performance of his duty. He was superior to the fopperies of many young officers, who deviate in dress as much as they

dare, from the precise uniform and love to display a false spirit by disobeying orders whenever they believe they will escape detection. In letters to his father, he commended highly his regiment and the officers. He was pleased with the island, and expressed surprise that some officers should think it dull; which irksome feeling, his cheerful temper, and the studies prosecuted by his father's admonitions, entirely prevented. In a letter to his mother, he observes, I am very intimate with two or three of the officers, and I am upon a bad footing with none of 'them. I never have had the misfortune to

have a quarrel with anybody since I

'joined the regiment; so never was I happier in my life, save those seven weeks I passed · with you, dear mother! in Glasgow.'

As there was no appearance that Minorca would be attacked, and as the American war was then raging, Moore cast a wistful eye to that scene, and wrote his wishes to his father. These were gratified in a manner he scarcely expected; for his friend the Duke of Hamilton

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became fired with a transitory passion for the army, and sent in proposals to government to raise a regiment for immediate service. Lord North, the prime minister, accepted the offer; the regiment was raised, and the Duke obtained the commission of captain; he also seized this opportunity of getting promotion for his young friend, who was immediately sent for, and advanced to the rank of lieutenant, and was also appointed paymaster. By this double appointment, which was then usual, a knowledge of regimental accounts, and of other military details, was attained.

The command of the Hamilton regiment was given to Brigadier-general MacLean, who for some years had held high rank in the Portuguese service. He was an officer of rare merit. As soon as six companies were raised and trained, they were embarked for Halifax in Nova Scotia, but the Duke of Hamilton did not accompany them. The passion of glory was superseded by that of love; his Grace married, and resigned his commission.

These young troops, among whom was

Lieutenant Moore, reached their destination in safety, where they continued in garrison, until more actively employed. Sir Henry Clinton, Commander-in-chief of the British army, thought it advisable to take possession of the Bay of Penobscot, and to build a fort, as a maritime station, to interrupt the trade of Boston. Brigadier MacLean was ordered to perform this service, who embarked with a few troops, among which were the six companies of the Hamilton regiment. In June, 1779, this detachment sailed with a favourable wind, and proceeded to the river Penobscot. The troops were landed on a woody and deserted coast, and the General, after examining the country, selected the proper spot upon which to erect a fort. The officer of engineers was ordered to draw out a plan; but the General detected numerous imperfections in his designs. It was not without difficulty, and after many alterations, that a tolerable one was procured. Then the felling of trees, and the construction of the fort commenced with alacrity. This operation excited a very

serious alarm among the citizens of Boston, ever jealous of their commerce; who, having intelligence that the British were few in num ber, resolved to overwhelm them with a superior force. The exertions made on this occasion by that city were extraordinary: for in a few weeks six large frigates, thirteen stout privateers, and twenty-four transports were equipped and filled with 3000 troops, and stores of every species requisite for a siege.

On the 25th of July, this fleet was descried steering to the mouth of the river Penobscot, when the walls of the fort were not yet breast high.

The General, experienced in resources, instantly reduced the plan of the works, and hastened their construction, to render them in some degree defensible.

During this bustle ashore, the American fleet sailed up the river, and anchored nearly opposite to the unfinished fort; but the intervening woods concealed the operations of the British. Next day, after a cautious examina