 During the bombardment , the land force under Walley remained inactive , suffering from cold and complaining of shortage of rum . After a couple of miserable days , they decided to carry the shore positions and try to overcome the French earthworks . They set out on 20 October " in the best European tradition , with drums beating and colors unfurled , " but there was a skirmish at the edge of the woods . The New Englanders could not cope with the maintained heavy Canadian fire , and the brass field guns fired into the woods had no effect . Although Sainte @-@ Hélène was mortally wounded , 150 of the attackers had been killed in action , and were utterly discouraged . They made a retreat in a state of near panic on 22 October , even abandoning five field guns on the shore . 
