CHATEAUGUAY, RIVER, Lower Canada : operations on in the War of 1812; and battle of 25 Oct. 1813. (For the pre vious operations in the campaign against Mon treal, see CHRYSTLER'S FARM). Gen. Wade Hampton had been for some months in com mand at Burlington, Vt. when Wilkinson ordered him to advance on Montreal; ostensibly to co-operate with himself, though he had not yet started down the Saint Lawrence. Hamp ton moved to the Canada:line; then, finding that a drought had impaired the water supply on the straight road, marched westward to Cha teauguay, N. Y., some 50 miles from the mouth of the Chateauguay River, an affluent of the Saint Lawrence. He remained there three weeks, menacing the British communications and opening up his own, building roads, getting up supplies and artillery, etc. On 16 October Armstrong ordered him to approach the river mouth for convenient junction with Wilkinson; and on the 22(1-24th he established himself at Spear's, about 15 miles from the mouth. He had some 4,000 raw troops and 200 dragoons. Prevost had about 15,000 around Montreal, and the river lined with gunboats and batteries, while Hampton had not even transports, and was in the heart of a hostile country. Prevost could have captured his whole army without much trouble; but he was really alarmed that Hampton was excellently posted to threaten the communications and supplies on the river.
When Hampton advanced to Spear's, the British militia there retired; but Lieutenant-Colonei de Salaberry with 800 regulars intrenched him self in front on the road to the Saint Lawrence, and filled the road with abattis. Hampton felt it needful to restore his communication with the river, and on the night of the 25th sent a strong flanking party around, while he himself attacked Salaberry in front. The former lost his way, and on this account he did not press his own attack. He lost 50 men, the British 25. Just then he received a message to prepare winter quarters; and feeling sure the campaign was to be abandoned, fell slowly back to Chateauguay, unmolested by Prevost. A week later he re ceived a request from Wilkinson to send sup plies forward and march down the river: he replied that he had none to send, and as Wilk inson evidently had not enough to sustain a forward movement, he should fall back to Plattsburg. Wilkinson received the message the day after his defeat at Chrystler's, and at once went into winter quarters.