He had received a message from the War Department that his troops were to prepare winter quarters and these orders confirmed his suspicions that no attempt against Montreal was intended.

"These papers sunk my hopes," he wrote in reply, "and raised serious doubts of that efficacious support that had been anticipated.

I would have recalled the column, but it was in motion and the darkness of the night rendered it impracticable." The last words refer to a collision with a small force of Canadian militia, led by Lieutenant Colonel de Salaberry, who had come forward to impede the American advance.

These Canadians had obstructed the road with fallen trees and abatis, falling back until they found favorable ground where they very pluckily intrenched themselves.

The intrepid party was comprised of a few Glengarry Fencibles and three hundred French-Canadian Voltigeurs.