Browsing: Papers of John Adams, Volume 4

5. No particulars have been found concerning the arrest of these militia officers, but it is highly likely that they were ordered imprisoned by Gen. Wooster, who soon gained a reputation for high-handed treatment of Canadians. Wooster wrote from Montreal to Gen. Schuyler on 27 Jan. 1776 as follows: “I have called in most of the commissions which Carleton had given to the officers of Militia in this part of the Province, . . . and given out new ones, under the Congress. Those who refuse to give up their commissions under Carleton, (and I expect some will,) I shall consider as enemies to us, and as such shall make prisoners of them.” {p. 10} Schuyler complained to the congress about Wooster's harsh treatment of those he viewed as dangerous to the American cause and forwarded to Hancock letters from Fraser detailing Wooster's behavior toward him (Force, Archives , 4th ser., 4:870, 990–993).