aberry's rear, while the main
body were to assail in front. Purdy's brigade lost themselves in the
woods. But Hampton himself appeared in front, with his brigadier,
Izzard, and about 3,500 men. A picquet of twenty-five was driven in,
but it only fell back upon a second picquet, when a most resolute stand
was made. Colonel DeSalaberry heard the firing and advanced to the
rescue. He had with him, Ferguson's company of Fencibles, and Chevalier
Duchesnay's and Juchereau Duchesnay's companies of Voltigeurs. He
posted the Fencibles, in extended order, every man being at an arm's
length from his neighbor, in the night, in front of the abattis, the
right touching the adjoining woods in which some Abenaquis Indians had
distributed themselves. Chevalier Duchesnay's company, in skirmishing
order, in line extended from the left of the Fencibles to Chateauguay,
and Juchereau Duchesnay's company, and thirty-five militia, under
Captain Longtain, were ranged, in close order, along the margin of the
river, to prevent a flank fire from the enemy. The Americans advanced
steadily, in sections, to within musket shot, and DeSalaberry commenced
the action by discharging his rifle. The greatest possible noise was
purposely made by buglers, stationed here and there,--on the wings, in
the centre, and in the rear. It was indeed difficult to say whether the
noise of the bugles or of the firing was the most terrific. The enemy
wheeled into line and began to fire in vollies, but threw away their
bullets, as the battalions were not fronting the Voltigeurs or
Fencibles, but firing needless vollies into the woods, much to their
right where they suspected men to be. So hot was the fire of the
Voltigeurs, however, that the enemy soon found out his mistake, and
brought his vollies to bear, as well as he could, in the right
direction. Now, some of the skirmishers, under DeSalaberry retreated,
and the enemy cheered and advanced. Again the buglers sounded the
advance, and the sound of martial music echoed through the woods, so
that it seemed as if 200,000 men were being marshalled for the fight.
It was at this crisis that Colonel McDonell arrived with
reinforcements, and the ardour of the enemy was checked. Purdy, long
lost in the woods, was now guided towards the ford by the firing and
the music. He drove in Captain Brugueire's picquet, which was on the
opposite side of the river, and was pushing for the ford. DeSalaberry
sent Captain Daly with the light com