small detachment of frontier light infantry, under captain Ritter; the whole not exceeding 180 rank and file. At Whitman's, on the left bank of the Richelieu, distant about two miles from the mill, and communicating with Isle aux Noix, was the remaining battalion-company of the 13th. The grenadier-company of the Canadian fencibles, under captain Cartwright, and a battalion-company of voltigeurs, were stationed at Burtonville, distant two miles up La Colle river, and where there had been a bridge, by which the direct road into the province passed. Thus the whole British force stationed within 22 miles of La Colle mill, and 30 of general Wilkinson's headquarters, amounted, in regulars, to about 1000, and, in militia, to about 430, rank and file. Yet the general's detailed estimate, upon which that presented to the council was founded, places, at Isle aux Noix and La Colle mill, exclusively, 2550 men, and designates the whole, excepting two companies, as regular troops; including, among the "regiments," the voltigeurs, 49th, and De Meuron's,* although not one of these corps, except a company of the first, was stationed to the southward of St. John's.

The mill at La Colle was built of stone, with walls about 18 inches thick, having a wooden, or shingled roof, and consisting of two stories. It was in size about 36 feet by 50, and situate on *Wilkinson's Mem. Vol. III. p. 226.

the south bank of La Colle river; which was frozen over nearly to its mouth, or junction with the Richelieu, from which the mill was about three-quarters of a mile distant. The mill had been placed in a state of defence, by filling up the windows with logs, leaving horizontal intervals to fire through. On the north-bank of the river, a little to the right of the mill, and with which it communicated by a wooden bridge, was a small house, not originally intended for, but, on this occasion, converted into, a blockhouse, by being surrounded with a breast work of logs. In the rear of this temporary blockhouse was a large barn, to which nothing had been done, and which was not even musketproof. The breadth of the cleared ground, to the southward of the mill, was about 200, and that to the northward, about 100 yards; but, on the flanks, the woods were much nearer. There was, at this time, about a foot of snow on the ground, and that rapidly dissolving.

(

The American troops, owing to the blunder of their guide, took the road to Burtonville, and did not discover their mistake till they had fired upon, and driven in, a small piquet of captain Cartwright's. They then counter-marched; and, after a second mistake of the road, entered the main road near Odell-town, distant about three miles from the mill. This road had been purposely obstructed by felled trees; whick,

before the army could proceed, the American axemen were obliged to cut up or remove.

In

the course of the march, colonel Bissell's brigade, consisting of the 14th, 20th, and 23d infantry regiments, encountered a piquet, composed of a subaltern and 20 men, sent forward by major Handcock. This piquet was reinforced, and opened a smart fire upon the Americans; in which they killed and wounded one officer and 12 men of colonel Bissell's brigade.* The first intelligence of the enemy's advance reached the garrison at about half-past 10 in the forenoon ; but, owing to the delay they had experienced, the American troops did not arrive before the mill, till half-past one o'clock in the afternoon.

The general, in a very masterly manner, now drew up his 4000 Americans, so as completely to invest this great mill-fortress, garrisoned by 180 British. As it was naturally expected, that the latter would soon try to effect their escape, 600 men, under colonel Miller, were detached across the river, to the rear of the mill, in order to cut them off. The firing commenced on the part of the little garrison; and was directed against that part of the enemy's column, which was stationed at the verge of the wood in front of the mill. This continued for about half an hour, when the Americans, after breaking the carriage of an 18, and being compelled to leave on the

* Wilkinson's Mem. Vol. III. p. 244.

road a 12-pounder, succeeded in bringing to a good position, within about 250 yards of the front of the mill, a 12 and 6-pounder, also a 5 inch howitzer. An incessant cannonade was now kept up from the artillery, and returned by the musketry of the besieged. The firing from the howitzer, was, however, presently discontinued, chiefly on account of the thickness of the wood.* Soon after the attack had commenced, a message from major Handcock, brought to the block-house, from Isle aux Noix, the two flank companies of the 13th, commanded by captains Ellard and Holgate. The sudden rise of water, occasioned by the melting of the snow, had compelled the men to wade nearly up to their waists in mud and water. Major Handcock, not being apprized of the whole amount of the force opposed to him, ordered these two companies to charge the enemy's guns. This was instantly done, in the most resolute manner; but the overpowering numbers of the enemy, and the destruction caused by the flanking fire of his infantry and riflemen stationed in the woods, rendered the efforts of the gallant fellows unavailing, and they retired across the river to their block-house. About this time captain Cartwright's company of the Canadian fencibles, and the company of voltigeurs, eluded the enemy, and came down from Burtonville, Wilkinson's Mem. Vol. III. p. 322.

through the woods bordering on the river. The grenadiers of the Canadian fencibles were now joined to the remnant of the two 13th flankcompanies, and a second charge was ordered to be made upon the guns. Captain Ellard, of the 13th, having been severely wounded in the first, captain Blake volunteered to head the grenadiers in the second charge. This charge was made and persisted in, with even more gallantry and resolution than the first. The men advanced within a very few yards of the guns; which, in consequence of the vigorous assaults made upon them, were abandoned by the artillerymen, and only rescued from capture by the repeated volleys of the American infantry.

The Americans were, in a manner, astounded at the valor of their opponents on this occasion. Lieutenant-colonel M Pherson, who commanded the American artillery before the mill, deposed, at general Wilkinson's court-martial, as follows: "The ground was disputed inch by inch, in our advance to the mill; and the conduct of the enemy, that day, was distinguished by desperate bravery. As an instance, one company made a charge on our artillery, and, at the same instant, received its fire, and that of two brigades of infantry."* Lieutenant-colonel Totten, of the American engineers, present in the same action, also deposes thus :-" Judging from the * Wilkinson's Mem. Vol. III. p. 328.