n Commodore Chancey,
generously paroled him, and suffered him to retain the plate.

Unable to remain longer inactive, General Dearborn, in command of the
American army of the north, approached Lower Canada. On the 17th of
November, Major DeSalaberry, commanding the Canadian Cordon and
advanced posts, on the line, received intelligence of Lieutenant
Phillips, that the enemy, ten thousand strong, were rapidly advancing
upon Odelltown. There was no time to be lost and he set about
strengthening his position as speedily as he could. Two companies of
Canadian Voltigeurs, three hundred Indians, and a few militia
volunteers were obtained from the neighboring parishes, and there was
every disposition manifested to give the intruders a warm reception.
The enemy, however, halted at the town of Champlain, and nothing of
moment occurred until the 20th of November, when the Captain of the
day, or rather of the night, as it was only three in the morning,
noticed the enemy fording the river Lacolle. Retracing his steps, he
had only time to warn the piquet of their danger, when a volley was
fired by the Americans, who had surrounded the log guard-house, at so
inconsiderable a distance that the burning wads set fire to the birch
covering of the roof, until the guard-house was consumed. But long
before that happened, the militia and Indians had discharged their
guns, and dashed through the enemy's ranks. It was dark, and the
position which the Americans had taken, with the view of surrounding
the guard-house, contributed somewhat to their own destruction. In a
circle, face to face, they mistook each other in the darkness, and
fought gallantly and with undoubted obstinacy. Neither side of the
circle seemed willing to yield. For half an hour a brisk fire was kept
up, men fell, and groaned, and died; and the consequences might have
been yet more dreadful had not the moon, hidden until now by clouds,
revealed herself to the astonished combatants. The victors and the
vanquished returned together to Champlain, leaving behind four killed
and five wounded. From the wounded prisoners, whom, with the dead, the
Indians picked off the battle field, it was learned that the
unsuccessful invaders consisted of fourteen hundred men and a troop of
dragoons, commanded by Colonels Pyke and Clarke.

Unfortunate to the Americans as this night attack had been, it was
sufficient to lead the Governor General of Canada to the conclusion
that it would not be the