The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-03-09

will approach the mouth IF the Caa,eones % 0sh-
er poinf which ,haN better favor jurc.ion FaI
hold the enemy an check Y,ur kuown vg'l>ues =
skill make II unnecessary to suggest any uS
preeauiion against the enterorises OF ihe. raegIy
while yon remain within stroke oil hisn. The dgs-
goons will Pass the st. Lawrence the Coiean.
de lac.
Yours, &c. ,o,, ,,.
Major Gen. Hampton.
Head Quarters, -Four Corners,
SIR, > 100
On the morning of the 2ist ult;mo the army
commenced its movement down the Chsteaugy Tor
the purpose Of placing itself 10 situation VIII eh
would enable It to faih, it's parts of the proposed
combined operations on the St. Lawrence
:. An extensive wood of eleven twelve miles in
front, blocked up with felied timber, ana covered by
rious innpedi,nent TO the arduous task OF ope~ngs
road for the artillery aud Brgadier seserai
lizard With the 'ght troops and ons regimen, IF the
line, waa detached early in the morning to turn
those impediments in Hank, and to seize on the
more open country below. while the srmy, preceded
BY a. strong working party, advanced on no.e cir
eu'toua but practicable route for road. TIE mea.
sure. as will be seep by the report Of hreadier ge-
neral lizard, which have the honor to nclose com.
pleteiy sueeeeded. and the main body of,he army
reached the advanced position on the even;ne OF
theaei The esd and cath were employed in aon-
pietins the road and getting up the artillery and
stores.
had arranged, at my departure, under he direc.
ton OF MAJOR Parker, line OF communication as fer
mp the ST. Lawrence as Ogdensburg tor the pur.
pose Of Fastening to the earliest notice Of the
progress Of orr army down. 4 had s,rmounied
twenty four miles of the most difficult part Of the
route, ard had in advance Of me seven miles of O.
pen country, but at the end of that distance com
menced wood of some miles in extent which had
been formed into entire bats and filled by a
succession Of wooden breastworks, the rsarmost q.
whish were supplied with ordnance. In front Of
these defences were placed the Indian force and
light corps of the enemy, and in the rear all of his
dispossb'e for.e. As the extent Of this force de-
pended npon his sense Of danger on the st. Law
renee, Il was cause of regret that all oommunea-
ton from yourself or major Parker seemed to be at
an end. As it was, however, believed that the en-.
envy was hourly adding to his strength in this posi-
ton, If free from the apprehension OF danger from
above, an effort was judged necessary to dslodee
him. and it it succeeded, we should be in POSSESSION
OF a position which we could hold long az any
doubts remained Of what passing above, and of
the real part to be assigned Us
Our guides assured US ola shoal and practicable
mys defenees, that the wood on the opposite side
81 the river, distance Of eight miles was
practicable tor the passage Of the troops Col Pur.
dy with the light corps, and strong body of infan
Try OF the line, was detached at an early hour of the
night of the 25th to gain this ford by the morning
and to commence his attack in rear and that was To
De the signal for the army to fall in front, and
was believed the pass might be carried before the
| forward
| its support. -
ihad returned to my quarters from PurdJ's CO.
,nmn about o'clock at night, when found Mr.
baldwin, OF the quarter. nnsster-seneraps depart
MEM, who put into my hands an open paper CON
tanning instrustionsto him from the quarter. aster
general. requesting The building Of huts for the ar
ny IN the Chateaugay, below the line. This paper
u. nay nopeA. ann raised 'er,o1s doubts of reeev.
pated. / would have recalled the coluI.n. but !,
vas in motion, and the darkness Of the night cen.
dsred II inPractieable. could only 20 forwar,iS-
The army was put in motion the " ornine of the
asth, leaving its baggage, &c. the ground of en-
lesmpment.
On advancing near the enemy, II was found thu,
the eoismn on the opposite side not as far adj
vaneed 81 had been anticipated The guide, had
misied It, and knally failed in fndiaK the ford
We could mos communicates with it, bat only wait.
ed tho attack below. About o'cioek the firing
commenced, and our troops advanced rapidly &c
the attack. The enemys light troops comm enc ed
a sharp FIRE, bat brig. gen. lizard advanced with
his brigade, drove him every where behind his de
fences, srenced the Ere Ia hisfrout This brieads
wouia have pushed forward as far as courage, skil
and perseverance could have carried it ; but on adj.
vaaeins, it was found that the firing had eommeno-
ed on the opposite side, and TIN ford had not been
gained.
The enemy retired behind his defene.s. bnt q
renewal Of his attack expected. and the troop,
remained soIae time in their position 10 meet it,
| The troops on the opposite tide were exce.s;yei,
| faugued. The enterprise had failed in its main
punt, anu COL furoy was ordered to withdraw hi,
| column TO shoai or miles above, and eros, o.
| yer. The day was spent 4 gen. lizard was ordered
| to withdraw his brigade to a position three miles II
the ress, to which place the baggage had been or
| aered forward
The slewness and order with which gen. lizard r.
tired with his brigade, could but have inspired the
enemy with respect. They presumed not tn ven
/ ture shot at him during his movement but the
ungsardedness OF some part of Purdy's com r.ahc
! exposed him to rear attack from the Indians
which was repeated after dark and exposed him 10
some los. These attacks were always repealed. q
| must have coat the enemy 80 msnv lives as ",
lost. Our entire loss of killed, wounded and mis-.
ing, does NOT exceed fifty IL its new position with
In three miles of the eneny's post, the army en-
| samred on the nigh, Of the Goth, and remained n;
IL oeock OF the 28th. All the deserter, of vbour
there four, having eoncurred in the inform
that SIT George Provost, with three other genera
onieers, had arrived with the whole Of his dspo,a
o'e iorce, aud lay in the of these defenees S
teUer from maj Parker (by express received on m,
| evening ct the 96th) having Informed me that M
movements OF our army down the ST. Lawrence ba,
osen heard OF at Ogdensbsrg, and for some distance
above the following questions were subrpittrS 4,
the commanding officers Of brieades. r-siment,.
sorPa and the heads Of the general staff, in coun
gu convened Ter the purpose "Is u advisable up
ger fAistnR circumstance, to renew the sttsck n,
| the eaemys position, and, If not, what position +, 4
a1Vseab'e for the army to take, until Il can re eey
sdviees OF he advance Of the grand army down N,
." Lawrence The opinion Of the council wa.
j expressed IN the following words:
"k 10 the unanimous opinion Of this eosnoiI that
for the preservation Of this army an,
the fu'flment OF the ostensible views Of the
ment That we Immediately return nv orderly I'M ar
shes, to such position (Chatesaoa, as will secur
our communication With the United States, eithei
70 seure INTO rlnter-qusrters, or To be ready e