Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-01
body of green and unframed militia
men, under drunken general
Proposed Attack on Montreal.

Benson !. Losing in his Field Book
of the War of 1872" says: In October,
1913, after much discussion. the Secre-
tary Of War ordered Gen. Wilkinson, III
command of the United States forces in
lower Canada. to make a descent upon
Montreal. At the same time Gen. Wade
Hampton, who had been hating on the
banks of the Chateaugay river lin what
is now New York state), was ordered to
move down toward the st. Lawrence for
the purpose of forming a junction with
Wilkinson. Lieut.. Col. de SalaDerry. with
about one hundred and fifty men, held a
ford against a thousand men. which II was
tain communication with the British
forces at Montreal Hampton determined
to dislodge de Salaberry. take possession
of his real stronghold, and keep it until
he should hear from Wilkinson, from
whom no tidings had been received for
several days. He detached Col Robert
Purdy of the 4th Infantry, and the light
troops of Boyds brigade, to force the
ford and fall upon the British rear at
dawn. The crack of Purdy's musketry
was to be the signal for the main body
of the Americans to attack the enenly's
front But the movement was foiled by
the ignorance Of the guides and the dark
ness of the night
"Purdy crossed the river near the camp.
lost his way in a hemlock swamp and
from which he started. His troops wan
dered about all night and different corps
would sometimes meet and excite mutual
alarm by the supposition that they had
encountered an enemy. In the morning
purdy extricated his command from the
swamp labyrinth and within half a mile
of the ford halted and gave them permits
sion to rest for they were excessively
fatigued.
"Purdy. who seems to have neglected
tod
by a small detachment of chasseurs and
Canadian militia. which gained his rear.
His troops utterly Disconnected. fed to
the river. Several officers and men swan
acroEs bearing to Gen. Hampton alarm
ing accounts of the great number of the
enemy on the other side OF the river.
That enemy, instead of being formidable,
had fled after his first fire, and the ludi-
crous scene was presented of frightened
beiIigerents running away from each
other. All was confusion. and detach-
ments of Purdy's frightened and scatter
ed men. mistaking each other for en-
emies in the dark swamp, had a spirited
engagement.
Success of Stratagem.
DE Salaberry had perceived that SUI
perior numbers might outflank him, and
he resorted to stratesem. He posted
buglers at some distance from each
other. and when some concealed provin-
cial militia opened fire almost upon
Hampton's flank these buglers simulta-
neousIy sounded a. charge. Hampton was
alarmed. From the seeming extent of
the British line as indicated by the hu-
glers he supposed heavy force was
about to fall upon his front and flank.
withdrew from tho field. Tho enemy in
body did not venture to follow. but
the Canadian militia harasscd the army
as it fell slowly back to its old quarters
at Chateaugay -Four Corners. where its
ingiorious campaign ended.
THE whole affair was disgrace to
the American arms. and. as Gen. John
r. Wool. one of the surviving actors IN
the scenes. now distinguished MAJOR
general In the United States Army. has
said: No officer who had any regard FOR
his reputation would voluntarily acknoWi-
edge himself as having been engaged in
it In this affair, which has been I'M
warrantably dignified with the charac
fifteen killed and twenty-three wounded.
The British lost five killed. sixteen
wounded and four missing
The conduct OF the Canadians in this
affair is certainly worthy OF the highest
commendation and every American ought
to be ashamed Of the action of our troops.
but we are too practical a people TO take
offense at any demonstration OF rejoicing
or manifestation Of standardization by our
Canadian neighbors over this little vic
tory. Indeed. IT is a genuine pleasure for
every American to congratulate them
upon having something to brag about
The appearance of the Chateaugay
float i'm the coronation procession will, of
course. remove every objection to the eel
ehration of the battle Of Lake Erie and
the erection of the Perry memorial as
proposed 1t will stand as a precedent
and we can say to our Canadian neigh
bors: Rejoice. and make merry and en-
joy whatever opportunity you have to
commemorate the bravery and the skill