[cruikshank] FROM ISLE AUX NOIX TO CHATEAUGUAY 79 



A letter from Colonel Pearson, received at Montreal on October 

 i4, stated that he had been informed by a secret agent who had 

 arrived at Prescott the day before, that six thousand men had been 

 ordered to embark at Sackett's Harbour on the 12th in a great fleet 

 of Durham boats and bateaux with the apparent intention of descend- 

 ing the St. Lawrence and forming a junction with Hampton's division 

 for a general attack upon Montreal. As Prévost considered this 

 a probable and practicable movement, de Rottenburg was at once 

 instructed to equip and hold in readiness at Kingston, a small mobile 

 column of picked troops to follow and operate on the enemy's rear 

 as soon as their destination could be definitely ascertained. He had 

 already written to Yeo that "it is possible General Wilkinson may 

 look to more vulnerable points (than Kingston) and attempt forcing 

 his way to Montreal by the St. Lawrence whilst General Hampton 

 penetrates into Lower Canada by the Chateauguay river or else 

 attempt carrying Prescott by a coup-de-main. In short any movement 

 the enemy may attempt in the narrow waters will afford you a good 

 opportunity of using your vessels and gunboats to the greatest advan- 

 tage and enable you to defeat and distress either of these operations 

 beyond measure." 1 



As an additional precaution the Seventh Battalion of Sedentary 

 Militia was moved forward to occupy an advanced position on the 

 Beauharnois channel from Longue Pointe to Pointe du Lac nearly 

 opposite the Cedars. The men were quartered upon the inhabitants. 

 A small squadron of gunboats was also sent into Lake St. Francis. 2 



James Perry, a reliable civilian agent, whose two brothers living 

 in the State of New York near the Four Corners constantly supplied 

 him with the latest information, reported the arrival of reinforcements 

 of infantry with several pieces of artillery and the impressment of 

 many waggons which had, however, been temporarily released after 

 the arrival of an express from Sackett's Harbour. Officers had been 

 overheard to say that they were waiting for Wilkinson's army coming 

 down and would not move until then. If boats could be obtained, 

 they expected that Wilkinson would come by water, otherwise, it 

 was anticipated that their forces would form a junction near the frontier 

 and advance by land together. In any event it was not thought 

 probable that any movement would take place before the 26th. Most 

 of the militia had refused to cross the line. 3 



There can be no doubt that the long-deferred advance against 

 Montreal was actually begun in the highest spirits and with sanguine 



1 Prévost to Yeo, Oct. 13; Prévost to de Rottenburg, Oct. 14. 



2 Stovin to Prévost, Oct. 15. 



3 Statement of James Perry, Oct. 14. 



