[cruikshank] FROM ISLE AUX NOIX TO CHATEAUGUAY 77 



must be done by hard blows and at some risk. The importance 

 of the object may, however, justify the means. In the other case, 

 (an immediate descent of the St. Lawrence), the army will make its 

 way to the Isle Pierrot whence we shall immediately open a communica- 

 tion with you . Under these circumstances you will approach the mouth 

 of the Chateauguay or other point which shall favour our junction 

 and hold the enemy in check. Your known vigilance and skill make 

 it unnecessary to suggest any measures of precaution against the enter- 

 prise of the enemy while you remain within stroke of him." 1 



A few deserters had come into Hampton's lines from whom he 

 ascertained that two lines of defence were being fortified on the left 

 bank of the Chateauguay, one six miles below the confluence of the 

 English river and the other about as much further down the stream. 

 One of these men, who had arrived that day, reported that the ad- 

 vanced position when he came away was occupied only by 350 seden- 

 tary militia under a militia officer, and the other by 650 regulars and 

 700 embodied militia. This information decided Hampton to begin 

 his advance at once as he thought that "there had arisen a condition 

 of things which as he understood the plan of campaign, permitted, 

 if it did not enjoin, an attack on Montreal." 2 



Meanwhile energetic and unremitting efforts had been made by 

 General Stovin and the officers under his command to secure reliable 

 and accurate information of all hostile designs and movements. On 

 October 13, three strong patrols had been sent out on different routes 

 by Captain Charles Archambeault of the Beauharnois militia from 

 the advanced post at Piper's Road near the junction of the Outard 

 and Chateauguay rivers, to approach and reconnoitre the American 

 Camp. They all succeeded in crossing the frontier unobserved. One 

 of them led by Lieut. John H. Powell of the 5th Battalion of Embodied 

 Militia obtained some valuable information which has not been re- 

 corded. The other two met by previous agreement near the Douglas 

 settlement. After dark they quietly surrounded the house of Major 

 Smith of the New York militia. Smith and a young laborer in his 

 employ were carried off as prisoners and questioned separately. 

 Smith talked freely and informed them that the troops who had until 

 then occupied Fort Hampton, had been relieved by militia. He 

 thought that an advance would soon be made in the direction of Hem- 

 mingford but admitted that no attempt had yet been made to remove 

 obstructions from the road. He was allowed to make his escape 

 after they had gone about five miles and raised an alarm on returning 



1 Armstrong to Hampton, Oct. 16. 



2 Major William King (Hampton's adjutant general), to Armstrong, undated. 



