[cruikshank] FROM ISLE AUX NOIX TO CHATEAUGUAY 63 



Wilkinson, who barely outranked him, had once before superseded 

 him while in command at New Orleans. There had been a fierce 

 quarrel on that occasion which Hampton had not forgotten. Born 

 in South Carolina in 1754, Hampton had served with some credit 

 under Sumter and Marion in the partisan warfare waged by those 

 leaders in the Revolution. After the Federal Government was organ- 

 ized, he sat for two terms in Congress and was appointed a colonel 

 in the regular army during Jefferson's first administration. He was 

 promoted to be a brigadier-general in 1809 and given command of a 

 military district. He owned great estates in South Carolina and 

 Louisiana with thousands of slaves and it was but reasonable to believe 

 that only a desire to serve his country and gain personal distinction, 

 induced him to accept his present command. Extremely proud, 

 hasty tempered and stubborn, it was scarcely possible for him to get 

 on smoothly with superiors or subordinates. He regarded Wilkinson 

 with the utmost aversion and contempt. It would be the depth of 

 humiliation to serve under him. Armstrong succeeded in pacifying 

 him for the time being by drawing a distinction between a separate 

 and an independent command and the assurance that he would 

 continue to receive his orders direct from the War Department. 1 



Wilkinson learned on his arrival at Sackett's Harbour that the 

 superiority on Lake Ontario still rested with the British squadron, 

 which had gained a considerable advantage in a recent action by the 

 capture of two small vessels and the accidental loss of two other Ameri- 

 can schooners. The latest intelligence from Kingston led him to 

 believe that Prévost was still there. The Secretary of War was re- 

 quested to delay any movement by Hampton until his own plans had 

 matured and he was able to attack Kingston or interrupt the communi- 

 cation between that place and Montreal. This might be effected by 

 September 26. Meanwhile Hampton ought to occupy Plattsburg 

 and be ready to begin an energetic advance by that date. He expected 

 to begin his movement down the lake from Niagara at least five days 

 earlier. Any premature demonstration by Hampton might draw 

 Prévost to Montreal at once and induce him to make preparations 

 for defence which otherwise would be neglected. The assembly of a 

 considerable body of New York militia on the frontier of which he had 

 already received notice "would increase the alarm and put all Canada 

 in commotion." The Governor was accordingly requested to defer it. 2 



A flag of truce came over that day from Kingston on some trivial 

 pretext and had, he surmised, been sent for the purpose of ascertaining 



1 Armstrong to Hampton, Aug. 25. 



2 Wilkinson to Armstrong, Aug. 21; Wilkinson to Tompkins, Aug. 21 : Tompkins 

 Papers Vol. VIII, pp. 577-8. 



