Apologies for not posting this when it happened, 12 days ago- Today, two hundred years ago in the war of 1812: The land-based prong of the two-pronged American invasion of Canada aimed towards Montreal meet with defeat at the Battle of the Chateauguay. General Wade Hampton had left Burlington Vermont on September 19th. He had waited at Four Corners, NY, for the other prong, a flotilla led by General Wilkinson, to head down the St. Lawrence. On Oct 18 he moved, but at the border 1,400 New York militia refused to enter into Canada. Making slow progress down the Chateauguay, Hampton and his remaining 2,600 troops met up with British army Colonel Charles de Salaberry and his 1,530 men on October 26. The British were behind a ravine on the north bank, screened by felled trees. Hampton sent half his force across the river and down, to cross back behind the British and participate in a combined attack. However, they got lost in the dark and were meet by tough British resistance. They retreated, as did the main frontal attack, which was unable to breech the British line and was spooked by fake bugle calls and native war cries into believing they faced a much larger force. Hampton gave up and withdrew, losing 80 casualties to the British 20. He returned to NY, abandoned his part of the plan, and was effectively done with his military career. The Canadians are particularly proud of the battle. It was not quite the lopsided victory the immediate reports claimed, but it was notable that the British forces were composed entirely of troops recruited in Canada. The victory, followed soon after by the Battle of Crylser’s Farm, decisively repelled the largest American invasion of the war.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 18:57:43 +0000
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