78 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



home. Three companies of infantry with some dragoons were sent 

 in pursuit without result. 1 



The depredations committed at Philipsburg and Caldwell's 

 Manor afforded an excellent pretext for the despatch of a flag of 

 truce to General Hampton's headquarters to make a complaint. 

 Accordingly a letter from the Adjutant General was placed in the hands 

 of Lieut. Colonel Pierre de Boucherville, a provincial aide-de-camp to 

 the Governor-General, with particular instructions to deliver it to him 

 personally. Accompanied by Captain Archambeault he started 

 from Piper's Road early on the morning of October 15. On arriving 

 at the last settlement in Canada they made every effort to find a 

 bye-path by which they might avoid the enemy's outposts but without 

 success. They learned from the inhabitants that Captain Reuben 

 Sherwood of the corps of guides had been scouting in the neighbour- 

 hood, having crossed from Cornwall, but had returned three days 

 before. An American party had recently come over and carried off 

 the two brothers, David and John Manning, living near by, whom 

 they justly suspected of being British spies. On advancing by the 

 main road they were halted near Smith's house by a double sentry 

 post of regular soldiers. The commandant came to see them but 

 positively refused to allow them to pass, saying that he would deliver 

 their letters. De Boucherville declined to give them up as his instruc- 

 tions were to present them to General Hampton in person. A message 

 was them sent away to the general's headquarters. While waiting for 

 a reply, it was noticed that de Boucherville was gazing inquisitively 

 in the direction of their encampment and he was politely requested to 

 walk into the house with all his companions and they were thenceforth 

 closely watched by several officers who stayed with them. Two 

 hours later General Hampton rode up accompanied by a staff of 

 eight officers and an escort of dragoons. He received and read the 

 letter and promised a reply in the morning. After he had gone away 

 six sentries were posted around the house and the two officers were 

 kept so closely under surveillance that it was impossible for them to 

 converse without being overheard. Next morning Archambeault 

 was able to obtain some information respecting their artillery from an 

 inhabitant, but their conversation was interrupted by the sudden 

 appearance of an American officer. These extraordinary precautions 

 were naturally interpreted to mean that some important movement 

 was soon contemplated. 2 



1 Archambeault to Stovin, Oct. 14; J. S. van Rensselaer to S. van Rensselaer, 

 Oct. 15. 



2 De Boucherville to Prévost, Oct. 17. 



