APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE. 



219 



diately got under weigh, with a 

 strong breeze from the south-west; 

 which has, I most devoutly pray, 

 enabled them, before this, to over- 

 take the American fleet, and, by a 

 successful general action, to efface 

 the misfortune of our Lake Erie 

 marine. 



From the London Gazette, Dec, 21. 



COLONIAt DEPARTMENT. 



Doxuning-street, Dec, 21. 

 Dispatches, of which the follow- 

 ing are copies and extracts, have 

 been this day received by earl 

 Bathurst from lieut.-general sir 

 George Prevost, bart. 



Head-quarters, Montreal, 

 Oct. 30. 

 My Lord ; — On the 8th instant, 

 I had the honour to report to your 

 lordship that major-general Hamp- 

 ton had occupied, with a consider- 

 able force of regulars and militia, a 

 position on the Chateauguay river, 

 near the settlement of the Four 

 Corners. 



Early on the 21st, the American 

 army crossed the line of separation 

 between Lower Canada and the 

 United States, surprised a small 

 party of Indian warriors, and drove 

 in a picquct of sedentary militia, 

 posted at the junction of the 

 Outard and Chateauguay rivers, 

 where it encamped, and proceed- 

 ed in establishing a road of com- 

 munication with its last position, 

 for the purpose of bringing for- 

 ward its artillery. 



Major-general Hampton, hav- 

 ing completed his arrangements on 

 the 24rth, commenced on the fol- 

 lowing day hia operations against 



my advanced posts: at about eleven 

 o'clock in the forenoon of the 26th, 

 his cavalry and light troops were 

 discovered advancing on both banks 

 of the Chateauguay, by a detach- 

 ment covering a working party of 

 habitans employed in felling tim- 

 ber, for the purpose of construct- 

 ing abbatis. Lieut.-colonel De 

 Salaberry, who had the command 

 of the advanced picquets, composed 

 of the light infantry company of 

 the Canadian fencibles, and two 

 companies of voltigeurs, on the 

 north side of the river, made so 

 excellent a disposition of his little 

 band, that he checked the advance 

 of the enemy's principal column, 

 led by major-general Hampton in 

 person, and accompanied by bri- 

 gadier-general Izard ; whilst the 

 American light brigade, under 

 colonel M'Carty, was in like man- 

 ner repulsed in its progress on the 

 south side of the river, by the 

 spirited advance of the right flank 

 company of the ihird battalion of 

 the embodied militia, under capt. 

 Daly, supported by capt. Bruyer'a 

 company of Chateauguaychasseurs. 

 Captains Daly and Bruyers being 

 both wounded, and their companies 

 having sustained some loss, their 

 position was immediately taken up 

 by a flank company of the first 

 battalion of embodied militia; the 

 tnemy rallied, and repeatedly re- 

 turncil to the attack, which ter- 

 minated only with the day, in hia 

 complete disgrace and defeat ; 

 being foiled at all points by a 

 handful of men, who by their de- 

 termined bravery maintained their 

 position, and screened from insult 

 the working parties, who continued 

 their labours unconcerned. 



Having fortunately arrived at the 

 scene of action shortly after its 



