An account of the Battle of Châteauguay: ...(published in Montreal):
Not reflecting--for he seems to have had the information--that the wood was only fifteen miles or so in depth, the Canadians few in number, and that a short press forward would have brought him into the open country of L'Acadie leading towards Montreal, the American General [Hampton] in two days withdrew along the border towards Châteauguay Four Corners, alleging the great drought of that year as a reason for wishing to descend by the River Châteauguay. At the Corners he rested his army for many days.
When Hampton moved to Four Corners, Lieut.-Colonel De Salaberry, with the Canadian Voltigeurs, moved in like manner westward to the region of the Châteauguay and English Rivers.
De Salaberry was now ordered by him [Sir George Prevost] on the Quixotic errand of attacking with about 200 Voltigeurs and some Indians the large camp of Hampton at Four Corners.
On the 1st of October he [De Salaberry] crept up with his force to the edge of the American camp. One of his Indians indiscreetly discharged his musket. The [American] camp was in alarm in an instant.
He...withdrew to Chateauguay... taking the precaution...to destroy and obstruct as much as possible in the path of the enemy.
Acquainting himself also with the ground over which Hampton was expected to make his way into the Province he [De Salaberry] finally stopped selected and took up the position where the battle afterwards took place.
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