eutenant-Colonel Pearson, commanding
at Prescott, proposed to him an attack upon Ogdensburgh, which was then
slightly fortified, and was a rallying point for the enemy. Indeed, an
attack had some days previously been made upon Brockville, by General
Brown, at the head of some militia from Ogdensburgh, and Colonel
Pearson thought that the sooner an enemy was dislodged from a position
exactly opposite his own and only separated by a frozen river, three
quarters of a mile in width, the more secure he would have felt himself
to be, and the less danger would there have been of the communication
between the Upper and Lower provinces of Canada, being interrupted.
General Prevost would not consent to an attack, but he allowed a
demonstration to be made by Colonel McDonnell, the second in command at
Prescott, so that the enemy might exhibit his strength, and his
attention be so much engaged that no attempt would be made to waylay
the Governor General, on the information of two deserters from
Prescott, who would, doubtless, have informed the commandant, at
Ogdensburgh, of Sir George's arrival and of his chief errand. Colonel
McDonell moved rapidly across the river, and on landing, was met by
Captain Forsyth and the American forces under him. A movement designed
for a feint, was now converted into a real attack. Colonel McDonell, as
he perceived the enemy, still more rapidly pushed forward, and, in a
few minutes, was hotly engaged. The Americans were driven from the
village, leaving behind them twenty killed and a considerable number
wounded. On the side of the British, the loss of Colonel McDonell,
seven other officers and seven rank and file had to be deplored, while
forty-one men were wounded. The attack was most successful however.
Eleven cannons, several hundred stands of arms, and a considerable
quantity of stores fell into the hands of the victors, while two small
schooners and two gun-boats were destroyed in winter quarters.

Recruiting and drilling were being briskly carried on about Quebec and
Montreal. Some troops began to arrive, about the beginning of March,
from the Lower Provinces. The 104th regiment had arrived overland from
Fredericton, in New Brunswick, by the valley of the St. Johns River,
through an impenetrable forest, for hundreds of miles, to Lake
Temiscouata, and from thence to River-du-Loup, proceeding upwards along
the south shore of the St. Lawrence.

A month later and the Americans were ready to resume