light brigade, under colonel M'Carty, was in a like manner checked in its progress on the south side of the river, by the gallant and spirited advance of the flank company second battalion embodied militia, under captain Daly, supported by captain Bruyer's company of sedentary militia. Captains Daly and Bruyers being both wounded, and their having sustained some loss, their position was immediately taken up by a flank company of the first battalion embodied militia. The enemy rallied and repeatedly returned to the attack, which terminated only with the day, in his complete disgrace and defeat, being foiled by a handful of men, not amounting to a twentieth part of the force opposed to them, but which, nevertheless, by their determined bravery maintained their position, and effectually protected the working parties, who continued their labours unmolested. Lieutenant-colonel De Salisberry reports having experienced the most able support from captain Ferguson in command of the light company Canadian fencibles, and also from captain Jean Baptiste Duchesnay, and captain Juchereau Duchesnay of the two companies of voltigeurs; from captain Lamotte, and adjutants Hebden and O'Sullivan, and from every officer and soldier engaged, whose gallantry and steadiness were conspicuous and praiseworthy in the highest degree.

His excellency the governor in chief and commander of the forces having had the satisfaction of himself witnessing the conduct of the troops on this brilliant occasion, feels it a gratifying duty to render them that praise which is so justly their due; to major-general De Watteville, for the admirable arrangement established by him for the defence of his post; to lieutenant-colonel De Salisberry, for his judicious and officerlike conduct displayed in the choice of position and arrangement of his force; to the officers and men engaged with the enemy, the warmest acknowledgments of his excellency are due for their gallantry and steadiness, and to all the troops at the station the highest praise belongs, for their zeal, steadiness, and discipline, and for the patient endurance of hardship and privation which they have evinced. A determined perseverance in this honourable conduct cannot fail crowning the brave and loyal Canadians with victory, and hurling disgrace and confusion on the head of the enemy that would pollute their happy soil.

By the report of prisoners, the enemy's force is stated at 7,500 infantry, 400 cavalry, and 10 field-pieces. The British advanced force actually engaged did not exceed 300. The enemy suffered severely from our fire, as well as from their

own; some detached corps having fired upon each other by mistake in the woods.

List of the killed, wounded, and missing.

Killed, 5; wounded, 16; missing 4.

(Signed)

EDWARD BAYNES, Adj.-Gen.

OPERATIONS OF THE ARMY UNDER GENERAL WILKINSON.

From General Wilkinson to the Secretary of War, Head-Quarters, French Mills, adjoining the Province of Lower Canada, November 16, 1813.

Sir, I beg leave to refer you to the journal which accompanies this letter, for the particulars of the movement of the corps under my command, down the St. Lawrence, and will endeavour to exert my enfeebled mind to detail to you the more striking and important incidents which have ensued since my departure from Grenadier island, at the foot of Lake Ontario, on the 3d instant.

The corps of the enemy from Kingston, which followed me, hung on my rear, and in concert with a heavy galley and a few gun-boats, seemed determined to retard my progress. I was strongly tempted to halt, turn about, and put an end to his teazing; but alas! I was confined to my bed; major-general Lewis was too ill for any active exertion; and above all, I did not dare to suffer myself to be diverted a single day from the prosecution of the views of government. I had written major-general Hampton on the 6th instant, by his adjutant-general, colonel King, and had ordered him to form a junction with me on the St. Lawrence, which I expected would take place on the 9th or 10th. It would have been unpardonable had I lost sight of this object a moment, as I deemed it of vital importance to the issue of the campaign.

The enemy deserve credit for their zeal and intelligence, which the active universal hostility of the male inhabitants of the country enabled them to employ to the greatest advantage. Thus, while menaced by a respectable force in rear, the coast was lined by musketry in front, at every critical pass of the river, which obliged me to march a detachment, and this impeded my progress.

On the evening of the 9th instant the army halted a few miles from the head of the Long Bar. In the morning of the 10th the enclosed order was issued. General Brown marched agreeably to order, and about noon we were appri

sed, by the report of his artillery, that he was engaged some distance below us. At the same time the enemy were observed in our rear, and their galley and gun-boats approached our flotilla, and opened a fire upon us, which obliged me to order a battery of 18-pounders to be planted, and a shot from it compelled the vessels of the enemy to retire, together with their troops, after some firing between the advanced parties. But by this time, in consequence of disembarking and re-embarking the heavy guns, the day was so far spent that our pilots did not dare to enter the Saut (eight miles a continued rapid) and therefore we fell down about two miles and came to for the night. Early the next morning every thing was ready for motion; but having received no intelligence from general Brown, I was still delayed, as sound caution prescribed I should learn the result of his affair before I committed the flotilla to the Saut. At 10 o'clock, A. M., an officer of dragoons arrived with a letter, in which the general informed me he had forced the enemy, and would reach the foot of the Saut early in the day. Orders were immediately given for the flotilla to sail, at which instant the enemy's gun-boats appeared, and began to throw shot among us. Information was brought me at the same time from brigadier-general Boyd, that the enemy's troops were advancing in column.

I immediately sent orders to him to attack them; this report was soon contradicted. Their gun-boats, however, continued to scratch us, and a variety of reports of their movements and counter-movements were brought to me in succession, which convinced me of their determination to hazard an attack, when it could be done to the greatest advantage, and therefore I resolved to anticipate them. Directions were accordingly sent, by that distinguished officer, colonel Swift of the engineers, to brigadier-general Boyd, to throw the detachments of his command, assigned to him in the order of the preceding day, and composed of men of his own, Covington's, and Swartwout's brigades, into three columns, to march upon the enemy, outflank them, if possible, and take their artillery. The action soon commenced with the advanced body of the enemy, and became extremely sharp and galling, and with great vivacity, in open space and fair combat, for upwards of two and a half hours, the adverse lines alternately yielding and advancing. It is impossible to say with accuracy what was our number on the field, because it consisted of indefinite detachments taken from the boats to render safe the passage of the Saut. Generals Covington and Swartwout voluntarily took part in the action, at the head of detachments

from their respective brigades, and exhibited the same courage that was displayed by brigadier-general Boyd, who happened to be the senior officer on the ground. Our force engaged might have reached 1600 or 1700 men. That of the enemy was estimated from 1200 to 2000,-consisting, as I am informed, of detachments from the 49th, 84th, and 101st regiments of the line, with three companies of the Votigeur and Glengary corps, and the militia of the country, who are not included in the estimate.

It would be presumptuous in me to attempt to give you a detailed account of this affair, which certainly reflects high honour on the valour of the American soldier, as no examples can be produced of undisciplined men, with inexperienced officers, braving a fire of two hours and a half, without quitting the field or yielding to their antagonists. But, sir, the information I now give you, is derived from officers of my confidence, who took active parts in this conflict; for though I was enabled to order the attack, it was my hard fortune not to be able to lead the troops I commanded: the disease with which I was assailed on the 2d of September, on my journey to Fort George, having, with a few short intervals of convalescence, preyed on me ever since, and at the moment of this action I was confined to my bed, and emaciated almost to a skeleton, unable to sit on my horse, or to move ten paces without assistance.

I must, however, be pardoned for trespassing on your time a few remarks in relation to the affair. The objects of the British and American commanders were precisely opposedthe last being bound by the instructions of his government, and the most solemn obligations of duty, to precipitate his descent of the St. Lawrence by every practicable means; because this being effected, one of the greatest difficulties opposed to the American arms would be surmounted; and the first, by duties equally imperious, to retard and if possible prevent such descent. He is to be accounted victorious who effected his purpose. The British commander, having failed to gain either of his objects, can lay no claim to the honours of the day. The battle fluctuated, and triumph seemed at different times inclined to the contending corps. The front of the enemy were at first forced back more than a mile, and, though they never regained the ground they lost, their stand was permanent, and their charges resolute. Amidst these charges, and near the close of the contest, we lost a field-piece, by the fall of the officer who was serving it with the same

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coolness as if he had been at a parade or review. This was lieutenant Smith of the light artillery, who, in point of merit, stood at the head of his grade. The enemy having halted, and our troops being again formed in battalion front to front, and the firing having ceased on both sides, we resumed our position on the bank of the river, and the infantry, being much fatigued, the whole were re-embarked and proceeded down the river without further annoyance from the enemy or their gun-boats, while the dragoons with five pieces of light artillery marched down the Canada shore without molestation.

It is due to his rank, to his worth, and his services that I should make particular mention of brigadier-general Covington, who received a mortal wound directly through the body, while amimating his men and leading them to the charge. He fell, where he fought, at the head of his men, and survived but two days.

The next morning the flotilla passed through the Saut, and joined that excellent officer brigadier-general Brown, at Barnhart's near Cornwall, where he had been instructed to take post and wait my arrival, and where I confidently expected to hear of major-general Hampton's arrival on the opposite shore. But immediately after I halted, colonel Atkinson, the inspector-general of the division under major-general Hampton, waited on me with a letter from that officer, in which, to my unspeakable mortification and surprise, he declined the junction ordered, and informed me he was marching towards Lake Champlain by way of co-operating in the proposed attack on Montreal. This letter, together with a copy of that to which it is an answer, were immediately submitted to a council of war, composed of my general officers and the colonel commanding the elite, the chief engineer, and the adjutant-general, who unanimously gave it as their opinion, that "the attack on Montreal should be abandoned for the present season, and the army near Cornwall should be immediately crossed to the American shore, for taking up winter quarters, and that this place afforded an eligible position for such quarters.

I acquiesced in these opinions, not from the shortness of the stock of provisions (which had been reduced by the acts of God), because that of our meat had been increased five days and our bread had been reduced only two days, and because we could, in case of extremity, have lived on the enemy; but because the loss of the division under major-general Hampton, weakened my force too sensibly to justify the attempt. In all my measures and movements of moment,