thirty Algonquin
and Abenaki Indians, and a few Voyageurs under Captain McKay, a
gentleman of the North-West Company in the Voyageurs' corps. Major De
Salaberry arrived the day following, with the remainder of the
Voltigeurs and the Voyageurs, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel
McGillivray, and four companies of the volunteer Chasseurs from the
parishes of Chateauguay, St. Constant, St. Philip, and l'Acadie.

"In the meantime the enemy occupied Champlain Town, two or three miles
from the lines, and an earnest invasion was momentarily expected.
Nothing occurred of any consequence until the 20th, in the morning, when
Captain McKay, visiting the picquet between three and four o'clock,
perceived the enemy fording the River La Cole, and at the same instant
heard them cock their firelocks in the surrounding bushes. He had
scarcely time to apprise the picquet under Captain Bernard Panet, of
their danger, when the enemy, who had surrounded the guardhut on all
sides, discharged a volley of musketry so close that their wads set fire
to the roof and consumed the hut. The militia and Indians discharged
their pieces, and dashing through the ranks of the enemy, escaped
unhurt, while the Americans, who had forded the river in two places,
mistaking each other for the enemy in the darkness and confusion of the
night, kept up a brisk fire for near half an hour, in which they killed
and wounded several of their own people. After discovering their error
they retired back to Champlain Town, leaving five of their men wounded,
and three or four killed, who were found by the Indians on the same day.
The American party is said to have consisted of fourteen hundred (1,400)
men and a troop of dragoons, and was commanded by Colonels Pike and
Clarke.

"This movement of the enemy gave room to expect another more vigorous
attempt to invade Lower Canada; and on the 22nd, the Governor, by a
General Order, directed the whole of the militia of the province to
consider themselves commanded for active service, and to be prepared to
move forward to meet the enemy as soon as required.

"Lieut.-Colonel Deschambault was ordered to cross the St. Lawrence at
Lachine to Cahuaugo, with the Point Claire, Riviere du Chene, Vaudreuil,
and Longue Point Battalions, and to march upon l'Acadie. The volunteers
of the 1st Battalion of Montreal Militia, the flank companies of the 2nd
and 3rd Battalions, and a troop of Militia Dragoons, crossed the river
to Longueuil and La