Stranica 51 [51]
tricate channel of the river, than the light boats
and batteaux of his opponent Wilkinson, and it was
not until the evening of the eighth that the sgua¬
dron reached Prescott. The troops were immedi¬
ately transferred to smaller crafts, and being rein¬
forced by detachments of the Canadian Fencibles
and Voltigeur Corps, under Lieutenant Colonel
Pearson, and accompanied by the gun boats, under
Captain Mulcaster, amounting in all to 850 men,
left Prescott at sundown on the goth instant, in pur¬
suit of the enemy. They landed at Saver’s, in
Matilda, and halted there for the night, where intel¬
ligence reached them that the enemy had halted a
short distaace down the river. Early next morning
Morrison marched to Point Iroquois, from whence
the American army, nearly two miles distant, was
distinctly visible. He continued to advance until
having ascertained his numbers and position, de¬
cided that he would not there hazard an engage¬
ment, and returned to Point Iroqnois.
had he done so,- than the Americans took to
their boats, and were off again.
embarked, and cautiously followed, well aware that
No sooner
Morrison likewise
Wilkinson must land again ere he ran the rapids of
the Long Sault, and he hoped to meet him on more
favorable ground than that which they had aban¬
doned. In the evening, having learned that the
Americans were Cook’s,
dropped down to Munroe’s Bay, and there landed
his troops, at a distance of about two miles from
landing at Morrison
the enemy. That very evening, the British piquet
driven back. Crysler’s house was made the head¬
quarters of the gallant little army, and a council of
war decided to give the enemy battle.
All that Morrison asked for his troops was a fair
field and no favor; he felt perfectly confident that
their raw recruits must eventually yield to the
steady and resolute charge of the British bayones.
In the open fields of the old Crysler farm, he saw at
a glance, just such a battle-ground as he desired.
If he could only entice the Americans to meet him
there, he had no fears for the result.
_ Early on the morning of the rith of November,
1813, Wilkinson was preparing to take his depar¬
a ture for Montrerl, but Morrison was determined
a (that he mould not do so, mati he had first paid for
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98 ol the gun-boats was the öltek intimation
Ds pee effect.
portly after daybreak, the British troops were
i; fornia on the nine-mile road leading to the woods,
ver resting on the King’s road, under the
comn nmand of Lieutenant-Colonel Pearson, consisting
of a skeleton of the Forty-ninth Regiment, under
Captain Nairn; a company of Canadian Fencibles,
under Lieutenant De Lorimer, and a part of a troop
of Provincial Dragoons, under Captain R. D. Fraser,
with the Companies of the Voltigeurs, extended a
little in advance, under Major Herriott. The left
wing was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Mor¬
rison, consisting of the Eighty-ninth Regiment of
the line and a party of Militia under Lieutenant
Samuel Adams, with about thirty Indian warriors,
posted along the skirts of the woods, under Lieu¬
tenant Anderson.
The American army was quickly drawn up in line
of battle on Cook’s farm, distant one mile and a
quarter, the command being given to General Boyd
—Wilkinson, through intemperance, being confined
to his barge. With the view of bringing the Amer¬
icans to the ground he had selected, Morrison,
about noon, detatched a small force to proceed
within range, and open fire upon the enemy. They
were met bya similar party of Americans, before
whom they retired, their pursuers following them
up to within a few yards of the nine-mile road,
where the main body was concealed by the fence.
The first intimation they had of their presence was
a well-directed volley of musketry. They immedi¬
ately took to their heels, leaving, however, three or
four of their party dead on the field. A strong body
of the enemy’s cavalry made a rapid advance, and
gallantly dashed up the side of the ravine, but met
with such a warm reception, that they were forced
to retire. A strong reinforcement of infantry com¬
ing up to their support, they rallied, and made
another desperate charge. This time they suc¬
ceeded in gaining the level ground, where a
sanguinary contest was maintained, till the British
drove them, at the point of the bayonet, once more
into the ravine, but not until Captain Nairn and
Ensign Clause, of the Forty-ninth, and Lieutenant
De Lorimer, of the Canadian Fencibles, were
killed.
About the same time, the enemy's columns,
under General Covington, were advancing on the
right and centre of the British line, in double quick
time, with a view of turning their flank. Colonel
Morrison, observing this, formed the Eighty-ninth
in echelon. The enemy then gave a cheer, and com¬
menced a determined and very destructive fire,
which the British returned with deadly effect. This
checked his advance, and, at the same time, a con¬
siderable number of the enemy were captured by
the Militia, under Lieutenant Adams. They were
also thrown into some confusion by the fall of
General Covington, who was at this time mortally
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