[cruikshank] FROM ISLE AUX NOIX TO CHATEAUGUAY 81 



Nile's Weekly Register, of Baltimore, another widely read peri- 

 odical in full sympathy with the adninistration remarked: "We look 

 for a flood of glad tidings. Everything seems well." 



General Morgan Lewis writing to his wife from Grenadier Island, 

 said: "The prospect before us is an animating one, and, with the divine 

 blessing, we have an almost certainty of success. Consternation 

 prevails in the ranks of the enemy. He finds he has to contend with a 

 foe his superior in bravery and his equal in every other requisite of 

 a soldier. I should not be surprised if, after a feeble resistance, he 



were to retire to Quebec I hope soon to write to 



you from Montreal I do not believe we have much to appre- 

 hend beyond a few hardships." 1 



Hampton's preliminary arrangements were made with excellent 

 judgment. As he was in a great measure dependent on that form of 

 transport, a large number of farm waggons were hired or impressed. 

 Expert axemen were to move with the troops to clear the roads or open 

 new ones and rebuild bridges. Intelligent inhabitants who professed 

 to be well acquainted with all routes leading into Canada were em- 

 ployed as guides. A special line of communication by means of relays 

 of mounted messengers was established between his headquarters and 

 Ogdensburg, where Major Parker was stationed as his representative 

 to ensure the rapid transmission of orders and intelligence. All rein- 

 forcements that were expected had arrived. Much to his disappoint- 

 ment the New York militia, with a very few exceptions, had positively 

 declined to enter Canada. He became greatly enraged at this and 

 was reported to have declared that he would compel them to fight. 

 They resented in turn what they regarded as "the unreasonable sever- 

 ity and arbitrary conduct of the general and regular officers." 2 



Since his arrival at the Four Corners the number of sick had 

 considerably increased, and it does not appear that at any time the 

 effective force of regular troops available for an offensive movement 

 exceeded 4,500 of all ranks and arms. It was, however, considered 

 sufficient to perform its share in the combined operation. A con- 

 tinuous forest stretching eastward for more than ten miles, the roads 

 through which were known to be obstructed for their entire length 

 with felled trees, was generally considered as the most formidable 

 obstacle to be surmounted. 



The march began in two columns at daybreak on October 21. 

 That on the right composed of the élite corps of light infantry and 

 a regiment of the line, forming the second brigade was commanded by 



1 Morgan Lewis to Mrs. Lewis. 



2 Hampton to Armstrong, Nov. 1; J. S. van Rensselaer to S. van Rensselaer, 

 Oct. 5. 



Sec. I and II, 1914—6 



