pt him ever busy
bearing despatches. The road to Sackett's Harbour and thence to
Ogdensburg and Covington, and back to Plattsburg he knew thoroughly, and
in his canoe he had visited every port on Lakes Champlain and George.

He was absent at Albany in the latter half of October and first of
November, but the ill news travelled fast. Hampton requested MacDonough
to "swoop down on Isle au Noix"--an insane request, compliance with
which would have meant certain destruction to the American fleet.
MacDonough's general instructions were: "Cooperate with the army, but
at any price retain supremacy of the lake," and he declined to receive
Hampton's order.

Threatening court-martials and vengeance on his return, Hampton now set
out by land; but at Chateaugay he was met by a much smaller force of
Canadians who resisted him so successfully that he ordered a retreat and
his army retired to Plattsburg.

Meanwhile General Wilkinson had done even worse. His army numbered 8000.
Of these the rear guard were 2500. A body of 800 Canadians harassed
their line of march. Turning to brush away this annoyance, the Americans
were wholly defeated at Chrystler's farm and, giving up the attack on
Montreal, Wilkinson crossed the St. Lawrence and settled for the winter
at Chateaugay.

In December, America scored an important advance by relieving Hampton of
his command.

As the spring drew near, it was clearly Wilkinson's first play to
capture La Colle Mill, which had been turned into a fortress of
considerable strength and a base for attack on the American border, some
five miles away.

Of all the scouts Rolf best knew that region, yet he was the one left
out of consideration and despatched with papers to Plattsburg. The
attack was bungled from first to last, and when Wilkinson was finally
repulsed, it was due to Macomb that the retreat was not a rout.

But good came out of this evil, for Wilkinson was recalled and the law
was nearly fulfilled--the incompetents were gone. General Macomb was in
command of the land force and MacDonough of the Lake.

Chapter 78. Rumours and Papers

MacDonough's orders were to hold control of the Lake. How he did it will
be seen. The British fleet at Isle au Noix was slightly stronger than
his own, therefore he established a navy yard at Vergennes, in Vermont,
seven miles up the Otter River, and at the mouth erected earthworks
and batteries. He sent for Brown (of the firm of Adam and Noah Brown)
a famous