[cruikshank] FROM ISLE AUX NOIX TO CHATEAUGUAY 95 



Early on the morning of the 12th, the day after the hard-fought 

 action at Chrysler's Farm, Wilkinson's flotilla again got under way, 

 passed down the Longue Sault and came up with their advanced 

 guard, which had halted at Barnhart's, within a few miles of Cornwall. 

 Colonel Atkinson arrived and delivered Hampton's letter. A perusal 

 of this in conjunction with Atkinson's verbal account of the demoral- 

 ized state of that division completed Wilkinson's discomfiture. He 

 resorted to the usual expedient of assembling a council of war com- 

 posed of the general officers and the colonel in command of the élite, 

 which found little difficulty in arriving at the unanimous opinion 

 that "the attack of Montreal should be abandoned for the present 

 season and the army should be immediately crossed to the American 

 shore for taking up winter quarters and that this place afforded an 

 eligible position for such quarters." 1 



At noon on November 14, Prévost was informed of the favourable 

 result of the action and that the American force had crossed the river 

 on the evening of the 13th to the vicinity of St. Regis. He also knew 

 that Hampton was moving in the direction of Champlain. Lieut. 

 Colonel Morrison was at once ordered to advance with his column and 

 join Colonel Scott at Coteau du Lac while Captain Mulcaster was 

 directed to unite with Popham, take command of the whole squadron 

 of gunboats and lose no opportunity of harassing and damaging the 

 hostile flotilla, but as it was soon learned that it had taken refuge 

 several miles up the Salmon River, nothing beyond a close blockade 

 seemed practicable. 



Hampton received official notice of Wilkinson's arrival at French 

 Mills and his decision to abandon a further advance, on the afternoon 

 of November 14. He lost no time in countermanding his orders for 

 the movement of troops from Plattsburg and began his march into 

 winter quarters at that place early next morning but encountered a 

 storm of wet and drifting snow which added much to the wretchedness 

 and demoralization of his unfortunate troops. 



Reports from officers engaged in reconnaissance combined with 

 those of secret agents were so definite and agreed so thoroughly in 

 the opinion that both divisions of the enemy's force were moving 

 into winter quarters that Prévost at once decided to make a funda- 

 mental redistruibtion of his own troops for their health and comfort. 



The 2nd Battalion of Royal Marines and the company of Royal 

 Marine Artillery were sent to strengthen the garrison of Prescott 

 while the 2nd Battalion of the 89th with a detachment of De Watte- 

 ville's moved by easy marches to Kingston. Four companies of the 

 Canadian Fencibles were stationed at Cornwall to protect the line 

 1 Wilkinson to the Secretary of War, Nov. 16. 



