72 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



having directed Lieut. Colonel George Macdonell to follow him with 

 the light battalion of flank companies of the Embodied Militia of 

 Lower Canada, which had been stationed there for several months 

 under his command. Sheaffe had already called out three thousand 

 sedentary militia residing on the right bank of the St. Lawrence and 

 made preliminary arrangements for the occupation of a new line of 

 resistance to oppose any advance into the province from the direction 

 of the Four Corners. Prévost considered the situation sufficiently 

 serious to justify a call for five thousand more. Major General Stovin 

 was then appointed to command the advanced line which extended 

 from the Chateauguay river through the townships of Sherrington 

 and Hemmingford, a distance of more than forty miles. 1 



The fortifications at St. Jean and Isle aux Noix were garrisoned 

 by the battalion companies of the 13th Regiment, one company of 

 the 10th Battalion of Royal Veterans, and the Fourth Battalion of 

 Embodied Militia less its flank companies. The reserve under the 

 immediate command of Major General Sir Roger Sheaffe consisted 

 of the car brigade of field artillery, one squadron of the 19th Light 

 Dragoons, the company of guides, a provisional battalion formed of 

 the flank companies of the regiments of the line, four companies of 

 the Regiment de Meuron, eight companies of the 3rd Battalion 

 of Embodied Militia and the whole of the sedentary militia of the dis- 

 tricts of Longueuil, Boucherville and Vercheres. The right of this 

 force occupied Laprairie and the line of defence extended through 

 St. Pierre, St. Philippe and L'Acadie to St. Jean. The Montreal Vol- 

 unteers and three battalions of Montreal Town Militia were organized 

 into a provisional brigade under Colonel, the Honourable James 

 McGill, for garrison duty. 2 



It was soon ascertained that Hampton had formed a semi-per- 

 manent camp at the Four Corners but it was still quite uncertain 

 what line he intended to adopt for his further advance as roads or 

 practicable trails led from that place to St. Pierre, Caughnawaga, 



1 Composition of Stovin's force. 



Two three pounders with a detachment of Royal Artillery. 

 One troop of the 19th Light Dragoons. 

 Captain Watson's troop (Dorchester Provincial Cavalry). 

 Canadian Fenciblc Light Infantry (four companies). 

 Canadian Voltigeurs (four companies). 

 Frontier Light Infantry (two companies). 

 1st Battalion Embodied Militia. 

 2nd Battalion Embodied Militia. 



The Chasseurs and Sedentary Militia of Beauharnois and Chateauguay 

 and the First and Fourth Battalions of the Eastern Townships. 



2 General Order, Sept. 27. 



