82 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Brigadier General George Izard, a young officer of ability, who had 

 received his professional training in Europe, and from whom much 

 was accordingly expected. It advanced by Smith's road on the left 

 bank of the Outard, the shortest but not the best route. Izard was 

 directed to protect the right flank and gain the open country beyond 

 the forest. It was also anticipated that his advance would create 

 an alarm at St. Pierre. It was already known that the bridges over 

 the English river had been destroyed and all roads and trails leading 

 in that direction had been obstructed in apprehension of an attack. 



The main body, headed by the First Infantry Brigade, under 

 Colonel Robert Purdy of the 4th United States Infantry, advanced by 

 the road along the left bank of the Chateauguay to the Long Rapids 

 below the junction of Trout river, where it crossed the stream. It 

 was the main travelled route in times of peace, but all bridges had been 

 destroyed and it was everywhere obstructed by felled timber. Every 

 building in the vicinity had been burned or pulled down to deprive the 

 invaders of any possible shelter. Before reaching the international 

 boundary this road passed through a dense forest and the movement 

 was not detected by the hostile scouts until the column had actually 

 entered Canada. Small parties of light infantry preceding it were 

 able to make their way through the woods by paths but the labour of 

 clearing a practicable road for carriages was very great. Izard's 

 advance guard succeeded in surprising a party of Indians of whom one 

 was killed. Before dark it opened communication with the head of 

 Purdy's column, near Spear's house at the confluence of the Outard 

 and Chateauguay where Smith's road crossed the former stream. 

 Next day the light infantry pushed on as far as Piper's road and drove 

 back a detachment of the Beauharnois militia, who rather precipitately 

 abandoned a position there which had been prepared for defence. 

 The invaders had then reached a region of comparatively open country 

 within nineteen miles of Caughnawaga, with a fairly good road leading 

 straight to that place, in front. 



The movement of the main body, encumbered as it was with 

 artillery and a long train of loaded waggons, was infinitely more 

 difficult and tedious. It was closely observed by David Manning 

 who reported the result to the commandant at St. Philippe. He 

 counted the guns and waggons and omitted no detail that seemed 

 important. Large working parties were constantly employed but 

 progress was slow. The road had been so effectively obstructed that 

 it was considered easier to cut another in a straight line through the 

 woods than to attempt to remove the felled timber from the old one. 

 This new route was soft and soon cut up by the train. Hampton 

 himself started from the Four Corners on the morning of the 22nd 



