[cruikshank] from ISLE AUX NOIX TO CHATEAUGUAY 145 



mediate intention of invading Lower Canada. He ascertained be- 

 yond doubt that there were only four hundred militia at Plattsburg, 

 less than three hundred regulars at Burlington, and about double 

 that number at Albany, chiefly recruits. Having obtained permission 

 with some difficulty to return by way of Swanton, he observed that a 

 brigade of Vermont militia, numbering barely four hundred men, 

 had assembled there. In cavalry and artillery there was a marked 

 deficiency. Recruiting for the regular army was not making much 

 progress. The most efficient troops had marched to the Niaagra 

 frontier and to all appearances there was not a single officer or other 

 instructor attached to the militia who was capable of teaching them 

 the rudiments of drill. He had met but one officer who seemed to pos- 

 sess any degree of military knowledge or talent. Although, apparent- 

 ly, in excellent health. General Dearborn did not impress him as 

 having ''the energy of mind or activity of body" requisite for his 

 command. 



The arrival of the 103rd and some recruits for other corps had 

 already made it practicable to despatch a small reinforcement to Upper 

 Canada. On August 8, Major Ormsby with three companies of the 

 49th Regiment left Lachine with a brigade of boats conveying a con- 

 siderable supply of artillery and military stores with £5,000 in hard 

 cash. On the day after his return to Montreal Baynes informed 

 Brock that further reinforcements of the best quality would be 

 sent at an early date as it was most important, ''if we are 

 likely to arrange matters with the States that the balance of 

 military events should be unequivocally in our favour.* Two 

 days afterwards Major Heathcote set off with another com- 

 pany of the 49th, one hundred and twenty men of the Royal New- 

 foundland and fifty picked men from the 10th Veteran Battalion in 

 charge of a second brigade of boats with more stores and camp equip- 

 age for five hundred men. Ormsby was instructed to be in readiness 

 to leave Kingston for Niagara as soon as Heathcote arrived there, 

 with the four companies of the 49th. Major General Sheaffe was 

 detailed for staff duty in Upper Canada and Colonel Vincent with the 

 remainder of the 49th was placed under orders to proceed to Kings- 

 ton as soon as a sufficient number of boats for the movement could be 

 collected at Lachine. t 



On August 11, Provost had again returned to Montreal. De- 

 spatches announcing the surrender of Mackinac and the successful 



*Baynes to Prévost, August 13 with enclosed report; Baynes to Brock, August 

 13; Baynes to Brock, August 16. 



tPrevost to Brock, July 31 ; Prévost to Lethbridge, August 8; Prévost to Brock, 

 August, 12. 



