IGO THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



besides that he felt certain that a force of three thousand regulars and 

 six thousand militia ought to take Montreal with little difficulty in a 

 few days after advancing from Plattsburg. Dearborn was so much 

 elated by this information that he began to talk most confidently of 

 making this conquest before winter set in. Requisitions for the number 

 of militia considered necessary were passed to the Governois of New 

 York and Vermont and the movement of regulars from Greenbush to 

 Plattsburg began. But the militia as usual were extremely slow in 

 assem])ling and their numbers were much below what had been re- 

 quired. Efforts were then made to enlist a body of Indians and a call 

 was addressed to the Six Nations residing in the State of New York. 

 In reply the wily chiefs expressed their surprise and disappointment 

 that after having been repeatedly advised to remain neutral, that they 

 were now invited to take up arms, yet they were willing to comply, but 

 it was necessary that they should be distinctly informed what was re- 

 quired of them, otherwise "they were afraid that some of their young- 

 men might disperse among distant tribes and become hostile. " * 



By the beginning of October nearly eight thousand men had 

 been assembled in the vicinity of Plattsburg with a considerable train 

 of artillery. Five sloops had been purchased or hired as transpoits 

 and 150 bateaux constructed to assist in the movement of troops and 

 baggage. Bad weather then delayed the contemplated advance for 

 several weeks and indeed rendered it w^ell nigh impracticable.! 



As at that season of the year the Richelieu river and the road 

 following its course seemed to be the only possible routes for an invading 

 force of any considerable magnitude, the military post that had been 

 established on Isle aux Noix constituted a serious obstacle in its 

 path. The island was low and flat and not more than fifteen hundred 

 yards by four hundred in extreme width. The channel between the 

 island and the right bank of the river had been obstructed by a sliding 

 boom securely anchored. The other narrower channel had been 

 closed by chevaux de frise. The fortifications consisted of an ir- 



*Memo. from Colonel rhorne, dated August, 1812: "There are 300 militia and 

 60 regulars at St. John; 800 regulars at the Halfway House between Laprairic and 

 St. John, of the 49th and 100th Regiments; 16 pieces of artillery and 400 militia at 

 Laprairie; about 50 at L'Acadie and 20 at Odelltown, 2^ miles from the line as a 

 guard. Part of the 103rd, say 300 or 400 arrived Aug. 6 at Laprairie; the 1st Royals 

 have just landed at Quebec, very sickly, 300 strong only. There are three small 

 gunboats at Laprairie just brought from Quebec and thirty others at Queb'C and 

 they are hauling three up the rapids at Chambly for use on Lake Champlain. There 

 are 400 Glengaries and 200 voltigeurs and mihtia and a few regulars at Chambly. 

 On Aug. 5,400 regulars passed Montreal on their way to Upper Canada." 



Speech of deputies in Council at Onondaga, Signed by Canastote and fifteen 

 other chiefs. 



tAlbany Argus. 1812. 



