Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-12-14
GENERAL DEt,.9 )RN IN CA
NADA!i

~ =. " HI StAh JAsLN O&A
NADIA!
Eetracts Of letters from a gentleman
at PlaHsburgh. to his friend in
the ts,cn of Utica.
PLArTs Nov. IS, 1912,
81 have DELAYED writing to you
for several weeks past in order that
might give you n,ere correct &C.
count of our situation, and to find
cut what way our lite army OF the
north were to dispose Of themselves
for the winter. | can now inform
you that the encampment was brok
en- up on Monday morning last, the
18th inst. which consisted Of about
s5os infantry, companies of light
dragons, of, say 20 men, com
panies heavy artillery, do. light
artillery "a piece of a regiment
of militia artillery. commanded BY
col. Thorne. say SO or 90 men. and
about twenty riflcmen of the FRO,
volunteers, making in the whole
s040. all regulars except. say 10
eve have 4 or 500 men, principal,
of the regular troops yet here. most
ofthem sick.) They all marched eff
in high spirits, and really are fine
troops; the dragons were superbly
well equipped and made the most
martial appearance that | ever saw.
General Dearborn arrived here on
Sunday morning. and followed the
army yesterday afternoon he is now
at Champlain. where the troops
were to make a stop till he should
arrive: they will proceed across the
lines to morrow meruins most I'M
questionab!y. General Bloomfield
was TO have commanded the expedi-
ton, but was taken sick he is. how.
ever. recovering. but not able TO 20
out OF his room. General Chandler
has gone on. and whether he com.
maDds. or whether general Dearborn
goes himself. is net understood.
There arc abont 1900 militia at
Champlain how many will volun.
teer we cannot ascertain /; but my
impression is. that 1000 at least 60
and perhaps all. this Will make an
army ofabont 1900 besides officers.
have not had j, in my power. since
Gen. Ms command ceased. to
know the strength of the forces in
Canada but | feel great anxiety
that those who planned this sxpedi-
tiCn will forever regret it.
The plan Of operation is to pro-
woke battle at sI' events: to con.
Gu"r Lacadie. ST. Johns. Chamh,y
and i.aperarie, and then of course
the Isle Annex will be Of no use to
,hem. and will fall ofeourse.-Afier
all this is done. they intend to get
winter quarters in the most convent.
ent place they can. and remain quiet
till spring; when nothing will be in
The way to form junction with the
western armies and take possession
Of Montreal. All this looks we'll On
paper, | tell them: but l fear their
theory will fail when they attempt
to reduce it L. practice. We are
told that Sir George Provost com.
mands in person the Canada troops;
he has been at Montreal ever since
var was declarcd.-It is idle to
think tuat he has not made every ar
ransement to meet a greater nu,a. !
her than has now gone to pay him !
a visit-besides the season is 50 far
advanced, that our soldiers, many of |
whsm never knew cold, will feel un-
pleasantly situated, in a very cold |
day, on the bleak plains Of Laeadie. |
| have great confidence in the valor
ofthe officers commanding regiments
as we'll as the more subordinate of.
feers: they are too good and respec.
table. IN my opinion, to be hurried
away frsm US, end fear never
more to return unless with mor,i6.
cation; for | am sure they will net
disgrace themselves but will fight 50
org as hope remains. / offer up all
ny prayers that they may hsvictsri-