n order to clear the coast to the
head of the Long Sault, of the militia along the shore, from various
parts of the country. On the 18th this division was reinforced by
Brigadier-General Brown's Brigade, with a body of dragoons from the
American shore. On arriving at the head of the Long Sault, the whole of
the effective men, except such as were required to navigate the boats
down the Rapids, were landed under the orders of Brigadier-General Boyd,
who was to proceed down the land in the rear of General Brown's division
to the foot of the Long Sault.

On the 10th Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison, with his gun-boats, visited the
American post at Hamilton, where he landed and took possession of a
considerable quantity of provisions and stores belonging to the American
army, with two pieces of ordnance. Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey, in the
meantime, followed up the enemy, who in the evening were observed
advancing from the woods in considerable numbers, with a body of
cavalry; but upon receiving a few rounds from three field-pieces fell
back for the night. (Some smart cannonading took place in the meantime
between the British and American gun-boats.)

_Battle of Chrystler's Farm._--On the ensuing day, Lieutenant-Colonel
Morrison pressed so closely upon the rear of General Boyd's division as
to compel him to concentrate his forces and give battle. The enemy's
force, consisting of two brigades of infantry and a regiment of cavalry,
amounting to _between three and four thousand men_, moved forward about
two o'clock in the afternoon from Chrystler's Point, and attacked the
British advance, which gradually fell back to the position which had
been selected for the detachment to occupy--the right resting on the
river, and the left on a pine wood, between which there were about 700
yards of open ground, the troops on which were thus disposed:

The flank companies of the 49th Regiment, the detachment from the
Canadian regiment, with one field-piece, under Lieutenant-Colonel
Pearson, on the right, a little advanced on the road. Three companies of
the 89th Regiment, under Captain Barnes, with a gun, formed in echelon,
with the advance on its left supporting it. The 49th and the 89th,
thrown more to the rear, with a gun, formed the main body and reserve,
extending to the woods on the left, which were occupied by the
Voltigeurs under Major Herriot, and the Indians under Lieutenant
Anderson.

At about half past two the action became general,