stationed at the 12-pounder, only two remained to work it. 66 The reader is, no doubt, anxious to see how the American editors have handled a subject which, undoubtedly, gives the finest scope to their well-known talents. Mr. Thomson, after stating that the enemy was condensing a force of 2500 men at La Colle mill;" that general Wilkinson determined on attacking, and “forced back a part of the enemy" in his approach to it, says: "He then resumed his march to La Colle mill, a large and lofty fortified stone-house, measuring 60 feet by 40, and, at that time, in command of major Hancock, and a strong corps of British regulars,-"* or 180 rank and file. After having nearly committed himself, by enumerating nine regiments as composing the American infantry, Mr. Thomson recovers himself thus: "All these regiments were mere skeletons consolidated."* Nor does he Nor does he any where divulge the actual force of general Wilkinson's army; although, in the published proceedings of that officer's trial, lieutenant-colonel Totten refers to the statement made to the council of war," for the "effective force at La Colle." + Consequently, the whole force present must have exceeded" 3999 combatants."+ Doctor Smith gives no numbers on either side; and makes his + App. No. 1. Sketches of the War, p. 257. account as brief, as if he were writing a chronological table instead of a "History." Mr. O'Connor it is, to whom general Wilkinson owes such obligations. We must give his account nearly at length: "The issue of this expedition," says Mr. O'Connor, "was unfortunate, although in its progress, it did honor to the Americans engaged. The enemy claimed a victory, only because he was not vanquished; and pretended to gather laurels, while circumstances concurred to render it nearly impossible to attack or drive him from his cowardly strong holds. General Wilkinson, at the head of his division, marched from Champlain, with the intention of reducing the enemy's fortress at the river La Colle. About 11 o'clock he fell in with the enemy at Odell-town, three miles from La Colle, and six* from St. John's. An attack was commenced by the enemy on the advance of the army under colonel Clerk and major Forsyth. Colonel Bissel came up with spirit, and the enemy was forced to retire with loss. General Wilkinson took part in this action, and bravely advanced into the most dangerous position, declining frequently the advice of his officers, to retire from imminent danger. The enemy having used his Congreve rockets, without producing any effect, retired to La Colle, whither he was pursued. At this *It ought to be 26 place an action was expected; but the enemy, whose force when increased by a reinforcement from the Isle aux Noix, amounted to at least 2500 men, mostly regulars, declined meeting the American force, although much inferior in numbers and means of warfare." -"Several sorties were made by the enemy, but they were resisted with bravery and success."—"The conduct of every individual attached to the American command, was marked by that patriotism and prowess, which has so often conquered the boasted discipline, long experience, and military tactics of an enemy, who dared not to expose his invincibles' to the disgrace of being defeated by a less numerous force of Yankee, woodsmen."* That general Wilkinson himself does not consider that Mr. O'Connor has, by his remarks, conferred any additional ridicule upon the business of La Colle mill, we gather, not only from the general's official account, but from his efforts, long subsequently, though vainly made, save his character from reproach. The glaring impracticability of cramming “2500 men" in a building "60 feet by 40," as well as the positive testimony of one of his own officers, that "400 men" only" could act with * History of the War. p. 219. + Not published in this work, but the substance fully giv en in the last quotation. effect within the mill," induced the general, in his address to the court-martial, to state that the building was "defended by a garrison of," not " 1800 regulars, and 500 militia,-"† but 600 veteran troops." When, however, lieutenant-colonel M'Pherson, in answer to a question from the court, gave it as his opinion, "that the army should have attempted to force a passage into the mill, and employed the bayonet at every sacrifice; or have renewed the, attack with heavier ordnance, at daylight the next morning,"§ general Wilkinson, in a note, adds: “To take such a post, with smallarms, has often been attempted, but never succeeded, from the time of Xenophon, who failed in such an attempt, down to the present day." "Xenophon himself," says the general " was baffled in an attempt against a castle, in the plain of Caycus, and also in his attack of the metropolis of the Drylans, and, in times modern as well as ancient, we have abundant examples of the failure of military enterprises, by the most distinguished chiefs."|| General James Wilkinson, of the United States' army, then has the effrontery to compare his disgraceful discomfiture before this Canadian grist-mill, with what occurred to "lord Wellington at Burgos, *Wilkinson's Mem. Vol. III. p. 328. Ibid. p. 454. § Ibid. 329. Ibid. 455. + App. No. 17. Bonaparte at St. Jean d'Acre, and general Gra ham at Antwerp." Presuming that the reader is as sick of this Bobadil general as we are ourselves, we shall hasten to place him within that sphere of obscurity, for which his talents have best fitted him. After having, with "4000 combatants,"-men who were" to return victorious, or not at all," and who, against "double force," were not to "give ground,”-been completely repulsed by 340 British, 180 of whom had stationed themselves in a strong stone building, and the remainder in a wooden block-house, general Wilkinson counter-marched his troops of "hardihood and resolution," not only to Champlain, but, for fear the men of the mill should travel after him,-30 miles further, to Plattsburg; and that, while the roads, owing to the prevailing thaw, were in the worst possible condition. How he could console himself, we know not; unless it was by saying, with his brother knighterrant of old, after his equally unsuccessful return from attacking a "fortress," of the same use, and (in part*) denomination, too, as La Colle grist-mill,— "Prithee, hold thy peace, friend Sancho; the affairs of war are, more than any thing, subject to change." Soon after this incursion into Lower Canada, *Wind for water. |