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but Mr. Thomson, the only editor who appears to have noticed the affair, claims, as usual, the whole for his countrymen.

The Upper Canada peninsula was intended to be the first point of serious attack, in the campaign of 1814. The object, as explained in Mr. Secretary Armstrong's letter, of date the 20th of January, was to compel us to abandon our frontier posts on that line, including FortNiagara; and to prevent our sending detachments westward, against Amherstburg and Detroit, or against the American shipping at Erie and Put-in bay. For this service, 2400 regulars, militia, and Indians, were to be placed under the command of colonel Scott. The recapture of Fort-Niagara, which was the principal object, was considered to be no difficult task, with 2400 men; because it was known to be “garrisoned with only from 250 to 300 men," and that the British " kept no guards outside the fort." But general Wilkinson, a portion of whose troops was to assist in making up this force, desirous to monopolize all the glory of invading the Canadas, threw obstacles in the way, and defeated the plan.

The Canadian snows were allowed to remain untrodden by hostile steps, except now and then a predatory incursion, for one

* Wilkinson's Mem. Vol. I. p. 614. Ibid. p. 618.

month longer;

+ Sée p. 236.

when the American secretary at war, under date of February 21st, says to major-general Brown, at Sackett's harbor:-" You will immediately consult with commodore Chauncey, about the readiness of the fleet for a descent on Kingston, the moment the ice leaves the lake. If he deems it practicable, and you think you have troops enough to carry it, you will attempt the expedition. In such an event, you will use the enclosed as a ruse de guerre." The" enclosed" was as follows:-" Public sentiment will no longer tolerate the possession of Fort-Niagara by the enemy. You will, therefore, move the division which you brought from French Mills, and invest that post. Governor Tompkins will co-operate with you with 5000 militia; and colonel Scott, who is to be made a brigadier, will join you. You will receive your instructions at Onondaga Hollow."*-Having to wait two months, at least, ere commodore Chauncey's fleet could move on the lake, general Brown was the more easily led to mistake the fictitious, for the real, point of attack; and accordingly marched, through snow and water, to Onondaga Hollow; a village so named, distant about 70 miles from Sackett's harbor. Immediately on his arrival, a brother-officer pointed out to him his error; and back to Sackett's harbor waded the general and his 2000 men: where we will * Wilkinson's Memoirs, Vol. I. p. 642.

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leave them to recover from their fatigue; while we take a view of operations going on in general Wilkinson's neighbourhood.

Captain Pring's two sloops and gun-boats, or, as Mr. Thomson prefers calling them, "the British fleet destined to operate upon Lake Champlain," had been laid up for the winter at St. John's, situate about 40 miles down the Richelieu. To prevent this " fleet" from practising the same annoyance which it had done in the preceding summer,* general Wilkinson, who, with his army, was still at Plattsburg, sent an officer of engineers, on the 4th of March, to reconnoitre, with the view of fortifying, Rouse's point, on the Richelieu, distant about 26 miles from St. John's; and close to which point is the ship-channel into the lake. Some delay occurred in commencing upon, and the early breaking up of the ice defeated altogether, this most eligible plan.

The uncommon forwardness of the season kept no pace with general Wilkinson's warlike spirit. He longed to be at the Canadians; if only to punish them for treating him so scurvily, on his way down the St. Lawrence. Thus bent on revenge, the general, on the 19th of March, advanced, with his army, from Plattsburg to Chazee, on the road to Champlain, a village, distant about three miles from the boundary-line; * See Vol. I. p. 242.

and then detached brigadier-general Macomb, with a corps of riflemen, and a brigade of infantry, in sleighs, across the ice, to Isle la Motte; and thence to Swanton, Vermont, near to Missisqui bay, on Lake Champlain. On the 22d this corps crossed the line of separation between the United States and Lower Canada, and took possession of Phillipsburg, a village of 60 or 70. houses, situate on the edge of the bay, about one mile within the lines. On the next day some cannon followed the detachment; but, on the 26th, to the great joy of the suffering inhabitants, the American troops, with their artillery, suddenly re-crossed the lake to Champlain; whither the general had since advanced, with the main body of the army. On the 29th of March, we find the general at the head of " 3999," or as, for the reader's ease, we shall say, 4000, "combatants, including 100 cavalry, and 304 artillerists, with 11 pieces of artillery."* Against 1800 British regulars, and 500 militia, which the general assures a council summoned on the occasion, are stationed at La Colle mill, distant eight miles from Champlain, and seven, in an opposite direction, from Isle aux Noix, it is determined that the army shall immediately proceed. The preparatory "general order"† is very full and explicit. It is there fixed, that the troops shall" return victorious;" nor are they to " give ground"

* App. No. 17.

VOL. II.

G

+ Ibid, No. 18.

against "double the force of the enemy." To provide, also, against any accidental defection; and, by way of operating as an additional stimulus to glory, on the part of the troops," a tried serjeant will form a supernumerary rank, and instantly put to death any man who goes back."*

The American army commenced its short march at 10 o'clock on the morning of the 30th; and, while the troops are trudging, ancle-deep in snow and water, to effect the fourth invasion of Canada, we will exhibit our account of the British force in the vicinity of the lines. At St. John's, distant about 14 miles from Isle aux Noix, and 21 from the mouth of La Colle river, were stationed, under the command of lieutenant-colonel Sir William Williams, of the 13th regiment, six battalion-companies of that regiment, and a battalion of Canadian militia; numbering, altogether, about 750 rank and file. At Isle aux Noix, where lieutenant-colonel Richard Williams, of the royal marines, commanded, were stationed the chief part of a battalion of that corps, and the two flank companies of the 13th regiment; in all about 550 rank and file. The garrison of La Colle mill, at which major Handcock, of the 13th regiment commanded, consisted of about 70 of the marine-corps, one corporal, and three marine-artillerymen, captain Blake's company of the 13th regiment, and a * App. No. 18.

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