HISTORY

Hampton at Chateauguay

The plan to capture Kingston in the spring of 1813 finally got rolling in late September. The right wing of the army, under Gen. Wade Hampton, was ordered to penetrate Canada toward Montreal to divert the attention of the enemy in that direction. Hampton's force consisted of 4,000 infantry, a squadron of cavalry and artillery moved forward with the infantry in boats, convoyed by Macdonough's flotilla, and the squadron of horse and artillery over land. On the same day this advance, Maj. Wool, Snelling, and McNeil, marched as far as Odell, just within the Canada border. A severe drought was prevailing over the region. Hampton was convinced that he would not be able to procure water on the route northward over that flat country for his horses and draught-cattle, and he returned to Champlain and took the road westward, which led to the Chateauguay River. At the "Four Corners," not far from the village of Chateauguay south of Montreal, he encamped and remained there waiting for orders for 26 days.

Hampton is now ordered to move forward on October 1.

When Hampton left his base he have supplies for 60 days, almost have of which were used up to no purpose.

In the west, Johnson and his mounted men crossed the river at Sandwich on the evening of the October 1, 1813. McArthur and his brigade were left to hold Detroit; Cass's brigade and Ball's regiment were left at Sandwich; and about 140 regulars, Johnson's and Shelby's Kentucky all 3,500, left Sandwich, and pressed on toward Chatham, on the Thames, where Proctor was encamped.