[cruikshank] FROM ISLE AUX NOIX TO CHATEAUGUAY 57 



Canada and the 103rd was removed to Quebec from Chambly to de- 

 crease the probability of desertions. These corps were replaced by 

 the 13th at Isle aux Noix and by de Meuron's at Chambly. 



Everard and Pring united in an urgent recommendation that 

 the construction of a brig to mount sixteen guns and two large gun- 

 boats should be commenced at once. Sufficient timber for this pur- 

 pose had already been collected at Isle aux Noix and a master builder, 

 who had arrived there reported these vessels might be launched in 

 two months if measures were taken to engage all the shipwrights 

 that could be hired in Montreal and Quebec. Prévost readily approved 

 of the immediate construction of the gunboats but unwisely withheld 

 his consent as to the brig until an estimate of cost could be obtained. 

 This caused so much delay that she was not completed until the 

 following spring. 1 



By this time General Hampton's arrangements for obtaining 

 intelligence had become fairly efficient. On the 1st of August, one 

 of his scouts, accompanied by a deserter from the Canadian Fencibles, 

 who said they had been instructed to ascertain in particular, whether 

 Indians were being employed by the British, were captured within 

 a few miles of Isle aux Noix. 2 The arrival of a party of shipwrights 

 at that post soon became known to Macdonough and caused him to 

 renew his. application for an adepuate reinforcement of officers and 

 seamen from New York. 3 Learning soon after, that Pring had increased 

 his flotilla to an aggregate of four sloops, three galleys and two gun- 

 boats by the addition of prizes taken in the recent expedition, he re- 

 sponded by the purchase of the sloop Frances, which he armed with 

 five guns, and by the conversion of two of his gunboats from sailing 

 craft into row-galleys which enabled them to carry heavier guns. 4 



The general plan of offensive operations against Canada, had 

 meanwhile been essentially modified. In January, 1813, Dr. Eustis 

 had been replaced by General John Armstrong as Secretary of War. 

 Six months before the declaration of war, Armstrong had advised 

 his predecessor that Montreal ought to be made the principal ob- 

 jective for an invading army. Craig, Prévost and Brock had also 

 agreed in the opinion that the frontier of that district was the most 

 accessible and vulnerable part of Canada. If the line of communica- 

 tion between Montreal and Kingston should be at any time permanently 

 interrupted, they frankly confessed that the fate of the troops de- 

 fending the upper province would be no longer in doubt. 



1 Sheaffe to Freer, Aug. 8. 



2 Sheaffe to Brenton ,Aug. 2. 



3 Macdonough to Evans, Aug. 8. 



4 Macdonough to the Secretary of the Navy, Aug. 16. 



Lj LIBRARY' 



