A Dutiful Fight: The Battle of Chateauguay, October 26, 1813

“…that now they had fulfilled their duty to their God, they would fulfil that to their King.”—Remark by British Captain Longtin, Commander of the Beauharnais Militia, after leading his men in prayer before the Battle of Chateauguay. The US capture of Canada was assumed in Washington, DC “to be a mere matter of marching”. However, the fight for the British colony was severe and prolonged. The US mounted a double-pronged offensive from New York to take Canadian capital city of Montreal in the fall of 1813 planned by US Secretary of War, John Armstrong, Jr. However, the two US forces were commanded by Generals James Wilkenson, who had a particularly dubious and corrupt history, and Major General Wade Hampton, who loathed and despised Wilkenson. With little to no cooperation between the US forces, their British and Canadian opponents were able to deal with each US force separately. With most of the British regular forces devoted to dealing with Wilkenson, it was left to Canadian militia and First Nation warriors, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles de Salabarry, to stop Hampton. The combined Canadian and First Nation force skirmished repeatedly with the Americans as soon as they crossed the St. Lawrence River, frustrating Hampton’s hopes that he could beat his rival to Montreal. The weather and sparsely settled region meant that the few trails were muddy quagmires that frequently mired the American supply wagons and artillery caissons, slowing the American’s advance even more. Along the Chateauguay River Hampton learned that the enemy had built a substantial defensive position along the main route to Montreal, and he divided his force in two. One would pin the Canadians and First Nation warriors in place, while the other crossed the river to flank the enemy and capture fords that were to the rear of their defensive works. If successful, the enemy would be trapped and the way to Montreal open to the Americans. However, dividing one’s force in the face of an undefeated and determined enemy is a very dangerous gambit in warfare. Can you do as well, or better, than your historical counterparts? —description from the publisher