[cruikshank] FROM ISLE AUX NOIX TO CHATEAUGUAY 87 



de Salaberry gave the signal to begin by discharging his own rifle. 

 This shot brought a mounted officer to the ground and was hailed by 

 shouts from his men as a good omen. The bugle call to commence fire 

 was then sounded. The American column quickly deployed into line 

 to its left and fired two or three volleys into the woods. This caused a 

 piquet of Voltigeurs which had remained outside to run rapidly inside 

 the works. Supposing this movement to be the precursor of a general 

 retreat, the Americans cheered lustily. The Fencibles and Voltigeurs 

 replied in the same manner and their shouts were repeated by the 

 companies in rear while the shrill yells of the Indians rose from their 

 coverts in the forest. Every bugle from front to rear was sounded re- 

 peatedly with the intention of giving the enemy an exaggerated idea 

 of the force opposed to them. These sounds were wonderfully multi- 

 plied by the echoes of the woods. Both sides kept up a brisk fire with 

 little effect for nearly an hour but no real effort was made to penetrate 

 the abatis or turn the position by entering the woods on its flank. 

 The musketry gradually ceased and it became apparent that the as- 

 sailants were waiting the result of their operations on the other bank. 

 Some movement which seemed to portend an assault caused de Sala- 

 berry to sound the call to advance and Macdonell responded at once 

 by coming forward with two companies of militia. 



It was then two o'clock. Hampton had abandoned all hope of 

 success and sent orders for Purdy to rejoin him. At this moment the 

 sounds of conflict suddenly rose from the other side of the river. The 

 advanced guard of Purdy's column had at length succeeded in finding 

 the right path and approached the ford. It was surprised and thrown 

 into confusion by a heavy volley from the companies of Daly and 

 Brugière followed by a series of exultant yells and war-whoops, which 

 were naturally assumed to proceed from a large body of Indians. 

 Being assailed at the same time by a steady fire from riflemen con- 

 cealed in thickets on the left bank, a rapid retreat began. 



On hearing this burst of fire from the rear, de Salaberry handed 

 over the command of the first line to Macdonell and hurried to the 

 vicinity of the ford where he climbed a tree and shouted orders to 

 Daly whom he instructed to reply in the same language to prevent 

 the enemy from understanding them. Daly advanced some distance in 

 pursuit until he encountered a formed body of troops who met him with 

 a steady fire. He was wounded but continued to animate his men 

 until a second and more serious wound brought him to the ground. 

 Brugière was also disabled. Several men were killed or wounded and 

 the rest retreated leaving a few prisoners in the enemy's hands. The 

 path leading to the ford was left open but there was no pursuit for 

 Purdy had received orders to fall back to a point four miles up the river 



