the War of 1812, Chap, xx., p.
430-432.

Mr. Lossing adds, in a note, that "General Smyth petitioned the House of
Representatives to reinstate him in the army. That body referred the
petition to the Secretary of War--the General's executioner. Of course,
its prayer was not answered. In that petition Smyth asked the privilege
of 'dying for his country.' This phrase was the subject of much
ridicule. At a public celebration of Washington's birthday, in 1814, at
Georgetown, in the District of Columbia, the following sentiment was
offered during the presentation of toasts: 'General Smyth's petition to
Congress to die for his country; may it be ordered that the prayer of
said petition be granted.'

"A wag wrote on a panel of one of the doors of the House of
Representatives:

"'All hail, great chief, who quailed before
A Bishop on Niag'ra's shore;
But looks on Death with dauntless eye,
And begs for leave to bleed and die,
"'Oh my!'"]

CHAPTER LV.

FOURTH AMERICAN INVASION--FIRST INVASION OF LOWER CANADA, COMPLETELY
DEFEATED BY THE COURAGE AND SKILL OF THE CANADIANS; AND GENERAL DEARBORN
RETIRES INTO WINTER QUARTERS AT PLATTSBURG.

But in addition to these three abortive invasions of Upper Canada in
1812, was one of _Lower Canada_, which will be narrated in the words of
Mr. Christie, illustrating as it does the ardent loyalty and noble
heroism of the French Canadians:

"The American forces, under General Dearborn, gradually approached the
frontier of Lower Canada; and early on the morning of the 17th of
November, 1812, Major (now Lieutenant-Colonel) De Salaberry,
Superintendent of the Canadian Voltigeurs, commanding the cordon of
advanced posts on the lines, received information at St. Philip's that
the enemy, to the number of ten thousand (10,000), were advancing to
Odletown. He immediately despatched two companies of the Voltigeurs,
under the command of Captain Perrault, of the same regiment, with 300
Indians under Captain Duchesne, of the Indian Department, to reinforce
Major Laforce, of the 1st Battalion embodied militia, who was posted
with the two flank companies of that battalion at the River La Cole.
This detachment, after a fatiguing march of thirty-six miles, chiefly
through _morasses_ and _abatis_, arrived early in the afternoon of the
same day at Burtonville, and took a position within the River La Cole, a
mile distant from it, in conjunction with a party of