parties of the
enemy--thus leading his Voltigeurs for the first time into action, and
acquiring a just confidence in the valour of his countrymen, which a few
days afterwards they nobly exemplified under their gallant leader at
Chateauguay. Finally he assumed a judicious position in a thick wood on
the left bank of the Chateauguay river, at a distance of two leagues
above the Turk, or confluence of the English and Chateauguay rivers,
where he threw up temporary breastworks of logs, covering his front and
right flank with extended abatis, while his left was covered by the
river. Here he resolved to await the enemy and maintain his ground with
a Spartan handful of Canadians against the whole strength of the
invading army. In his rear there was a small rapid where the river was
fordable; this he covered with a strong breastwork and guard; keeping at
the same time a strong picquet of the Beauharnois Militia in advance of
the right bank of the river, lest the enemy, approaching under cover of
the forest, might cross the ford and dislodge him from his ground.

The occupancy of this position General Hampton justly considered of the
first importance to the ulterior object of the campaign against
Montreal, as the country from thence to the mouth of the Chateauguay,
being principally open and cultivated, afforded no strong points to
check his progress to the St. Lawrence, and prevent his junction with
General Wilkinson's division; but which in fact was not yet in readiness
to move.

General Hampton, in the meantime, to distract and divide the attention
of the British, directed Colonel Clarke to carry on a petty warfare on
the eastern side of Lake Champlain; and that ruthless depredator
invested the settlements in Missisquoi Bay, where he plundered the
inhabitants in the most wanton manner.

On the 21st of October, General Hampton again entered Lower Canada,
having early in the morning of that day dispatched his light troops and
a regiment of the line, under Brigadier-General Izard, to dislodge a
small picquet of sedentary militia, at the junction of the Outarde and
Chateauguay rivers, where the main body arrived on the 22nd. On the
24th, having opened and completed a large and practicable road from his
position at Four Corners (a distance of twenty-four miles), through
woods and morasses, which Lieutenant-Colonel De Salaberry, on returning
from the Four Corners, had broken up and embarrassed with abatis,
General Hampton brough