86 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



that Purdy was entangled in the woods several miles from his destina- 

 tion. All the mishaps usually incident to a march in the dark had 

 befallen him. Progress was very slow ; halts were frequent and lengthy. 

 By daybreak the column had not covered more than six miles. Then 

 the guides went astray and led the advanced guard into a dense cedar 

 swamp near the river bank, evidently thinking that they were ap- 

 proaching the ford. In fact they were almost opposite the first line 

 of intrenchments. Their presence was discovered and fire opened 

 from the other side, causing some confusion. The guides then seemed 

 to become utterly bewildered and incapable of finding the way. For 

 fully five hours they continued to wander vaguely about seeking a path 

 and making little progress in the right direction. 



The main body, headed by the Second Infantry Brigade under 

 Brigadier General Izard, was soon brought to a stand by coming upon 

 the first line of abatis where a party of axemen were at work, covered 

 by thirty men of the Canadian Fencibles commanded by Lieutenants 

 Guy and Johnson, who assailed the advanced guard with a brisk and 

 effective fire. This covering party was presently driven back with 

 some loss and a large force set at work removing the abatis and at the 

 expense of several hours' delay a passage was opened into the clearing. 

 The force which then debouched from the woods was roughly estimated 

 by de Salaberry at fifteen hundred infantry and two hundred and 

 fifty dragoons with a single field gun, while the road extending all 

 the way back to their camp was reported to be thronged with troops 

 and artillery. 



As soon as Purdy's movement on the opposite side of the river 

 was detected, de Salaberry became alarmed for his line of retreat 

 and hurried back to the third line. He ordered Captains Daly, 

 Brugiêre, and Tonnancour to cross the ford with their three companies 

 of militia and occupy the abatis beyond. Returning to his former 

 station at the first line in time to observe the retirement of the cover- 

 ing party, he took up a position near the centre, having Ferguson's 

 company of Fencibles on his right and J. B. Duchesnay's company 

 of Voltigeurs on his left. Twenty-two Indians commanded by Cap- 

 tain J. M. Lamothe lay hidden in the woods on the right flank, some 

 distance in advance. The second line was held by L'Ecuyer's company 

 of Voltigeurs and de Bartsch's company of the Fifth Battalion of 

 Embodied Militia, having their right flank protected by a larger party 

 of Indians. Each of the other lines was occupied by two companies, 

 making a total force of about 400 men on the left bank and 150 on the 

 right. 



Observing that the head of the hostile column had come within 

 range and would be exposed at once to fire from the front and flank, 



