[cruikshank] FROM ISLE AUX NOIX TO CHATEAUGUAY 73 



and St. Regis as well as several intermediate points on the shores of 

 Lake St. Francis where he might join a force descending the St. Law- 

 rence. The strength of his division was very accurately reported 

 and it was known that a considerable reinforcement of regular infantry 

 was not far distant. 



He had scarcely reached his new base when he received a letter 

 from the Secretary of War stating that the departure of the American 

 fleet from Sackett's Harbour for Niagara had been unexpectedly 

 delayed and warning him not to advance beyond Malone or the Four 

 Corners until he knew that Wilkinson's corps were actually in motion. 

 A courier from Sackett's Harbour, travelling by the shortest route, 

 ought to deliver a despatch to him in thirty hours, after receiving 

 which, he would have ample time to force his way to Caughnawaga 

 before Wilkinson could arrive there by the water route. 1 



The brigade of New York militia which had been assembled at 

 Plattsburg was ordered forward to the Four Corners and its advanced 

 guard had arrived at Pomeroy's tavern when it was hastily recalled by 

 Brigadier General Parker in consequence of a false report that an 

 attack was contemplated on that town. It was then split up into 

 detachments which were stationed at Plattsburg, Champlain and 

 Mooerstown to guard the line of communication parallel with the 

 frontier. 2 



This alarm was probably caused by some demonstration by the 

 flotilla at Isle aux Noix under Captain Pring, who felt, however, that 

 his force was much too weak to risk an encounter with Macdonough as 

 he had only forty seamen, nine marines and "a boy to oppose at least 

 250, and he believed his adversary to be much superior in armament as 

 well. His row galleys gave him a certain advantage in the river and 

 the shallow waters of the lake which his wary opponent took immediate 

 measures to overcome by undertaking the construction of two galleys 

 at Plattsburg. Pring on the other hand had at length obtained the 

 necessary authority for building a brig to carry eighteen guns. 3 



Hampton did not long remain unmolested. On the very day of 

 his arrival at the Four Corners a small patrol was ambushed and dis- 

 persed with some loss by a party of Indians and militia led by Captain 

 Gamelin Gaucher. Five days later the same enterprising partisan 

 attacked an outlying piquet, killing Lieut. Nash and a private of the 

 33rd United States Infantry and wounding another man. He failed 

 to make any prisoners, although doubtless that means of gaining in- 



1 Armstrong to Hampton, Sept. 25. 



2 J. S. van Rensselaer to S. van Rensselaer, Oct. 5. 



3 Pring to Freer, Oct. 5; Pring to Prévost, Oct. 10; Freer to Pring, Oct. 15; 

 Macdonough to the Secretary of the Navy, Sept. 9 and Oct. 18. 



