to be employed on this service should not be less than 6000, because, in this first enterprise of a second campaign, nothing must, if possible, be left to chance."*

We have here, from the fountain-head of authority, a clear view of the intended operations against the upper province; and shall see, as we proceed, to what extent these reduced expectations became realized. It is gratifying to receive from the mouth of our enemy, so accurate an account of the British regular force in this quarter; nor is it less so, to observe the respect paid to that regular force, in the high odds that are required, to place the issue of a struggle beyond the reach of "chance."

The river St. Lawrence is seldom open, for the purposes of navigation before the middle of May. Its frozen state, in the months of January and February, had enabled captain Forsythe, who still commanded a detachment of United States' riflemen at Ogdensburg, to send frequent parties across, not only to attack the few Canadian militia that occupied posts of communication along the British shore; but, as he had done in the preceding fall, to commit depredations upon the persons and properties of the unarmed inhabitants. A second of these nocturnal excursions † has been thought * Wilkinson's Mem. Vol. III. his App. No. 26. + See p. 124.

deserving a place among the brilliant achievements of the American troops. Mr. Thomson tells us that, on the night of the 6th of February, captain Forsythe, with " 200 men, besides colonel Benedict and several private gentlemen,"* crossed over upon the ice to Elizabethtown, or, as now called, Brockville, distant about 10 miles from Fort-Wellington. After wounding a militia-sentry, the gentlemen broke into the few houses in the village, not omitting the gaol, and carried off the male-inhabitants, to the num ber of 52. Some of these, like many blacksmiths and tavern-keepers in the United States, held commissions in the militia. Nothing could hap pen better. The American public was, a day or two afterwards, officially told of the capture, in a very gallant manner, of a British guard, consisting of 52 men, including two majors, three captains, and two lieutenants.-"Of the militia," was left out; also, that the " 120 muskets and 20 rifles"* were not taken, as the intended inference is, upon the men's shoulders, but (except about half a dozen) packed up in cases, arms were, indeed, the only "public property" at the place; although, under that denomination, the poor people's horses, pigs, and poultry, were carried off by the American regulars and pri vate gentlemen,

These

On the 19th of the same month, lieutenantSketches of the War, p. 118.

colonel Pearson, who commanded at Fort-Wellington, despatched major Macdonnell, of the Glengarry fencibles, a corps raised wholly in the Canadas, with a flag of truce, across to Ogdensburg, to remonstrate with the American commanding officer, about sending over parties to commit such depredations as that we have just recorded. The American officers were very insolent to major Macdonnell, notwithstanding his flag; and disgusted him with their taunts and boastings. One of captain Forsythe's lieutenants was recognized as a fellow who had been a menial servant on the Canadian side. The American commanding officer expressed a wish to meet lieutenant-colonel Pearson and his men upon the ice; and, what was rather extraordinary, wanted major Macdonnell to pledge himself to that effect. The latter replied, that, in two days, the command at Fort-Wellington would devolve upon him; when he would have no objection to indulge captain Forsythe in the manner he wished.

On the day mentioned major Macdonnell succeeded to the command; and, on the same evening, sir George Prevost arrived at the post, on his way to Kingston. Major Macdonnell informed his excellency of the recent proceedings of the American soldiery, and of many particulars respecting the state of the garrison at Ogdensburg. He further apprized sir George, of the facility with

which the Americans from Ogdensburg might cut him off in his route to Kingston; unless, by way of escort, a small party of the Newfoundland regiment should be sent a-head, in carriages, as well as a few Indian warriors to occupy the woods that skirted the road. This was immediately done; and then the major strongly urged sir George to allow him, in case the American troops should quit Ogdensburg for the purpose of seizing his person, to walk into the enemy's empty barracks. Sir George, however, would not listen to his making an attack; assigning as a reason, that he did not wish, by any offensive acts of the sort, to keep alive a spirit of hostility. At last, when getting into his sleigh, a little before day-light on the morning of the 22d, sir George most reluctantly consented, that major Macdonnell might, in order to discover if the garrison had abandoned Ogdensburg, make a demonstration before it, upon the ice; but, an no account, was a real attack to be made.

No sooner had sir George departed, than major Macdonnell commenced his arrangements for giving the promised meeting upon the ice, to his friend captain Forsythe. The militia nominally at the post amounted to about 700; but a muster would produce scarcely half of the number. These people ought, in fact, to be called armed peasantry; and, as such, were much more likely to be found earning

their bread at their homes, than idling away their time at the place of rendezvous. By seven o'clock, major Macdonnell had collected about 300 of his militia-forces. Leaving a part of these to man the honey-combed guns, in case of a retreat being necessary, the major commenced his march on the ice, at half-past seven in the morning, with about 230 militia, and 250 regulars; including 11 artillerymen, along with three field-pieces, one 6 and two 3-pounders. The distance across the river, in the direction of the point of attack, was about a mile and a half. Owing to the caution requisite in marching over ice with 480 men, and at a place, too, which had never before been crossed in the same manner, the troops and militia were divided into two columns, and formed in extended order. The right column, commanded by captain Jenkins, of the Glengarry's, and consisting of his own flank company, and about 70 militia, was ordered to check the enemy's left, and intercept his retreat; while the left column, under the command of major Macdonnell himself, and consisting of the remainder of the regulars and militia, marched towards the town of Ogdensburg, where some heavy field-artillery was posted.

The drift of snow, on the American side of the St. Lawrence, was much deeper than had been expected, and retarded the troops considerably. All this while they were sustaining, particularly the