Napier quickly made preparations to occupy the salient points of this important territory.

The Welland Canal, connecting Lake Erie with Lake Ontario, runs from Port Colborne on the former lake to Port Dalhousie on the latter (a distance of 26 miles), and lies at an average distance of about 13 miles inland from the Niagara River.

The Welland Railway also connected these two points, running nearly parallel with the canal.

To protect these two arteries of commerce from destruction was a desideratum to the General commanding, and his plan of campaign was framed on these lines.

Port Colborne lies about 19 miles west of Fort Erie, and Gen.