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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 sguadron reached Prescott. The troops were immediately transferred to smaller crafts, and being reinforced 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 pursuit of the enemy. They landed at Saver’s, in Matilda, and halted there for the night, where intelligence 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, decided that he would not there hazard an engagement, 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 abandoned. 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 headquarters 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 depara ture for Montrerl, but Morrison was determined a (that he mould not do so, mati he had first paid for 4 d me” a melt q am | i 7 1 > 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 Morrison, 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 Lieutenant 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 Americans 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 immediately 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 coming up to their support, they rallied, and made another desperate charge. This time they succeeded 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 commenced a determined and very destructive fire, which the British returned with deadly effect. This checked his advance, and, at the same time, a considerable 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 F Pia
