General Brown, with his brigade and the remainder of
the dragoons, at once crossed the river to join Colonel
Macomb, march down the Canadian side of the river and drive
away detachments of the enemy who would otherwise impede
the progress of the flotilla. Then came the news that a
British reinforcement of 1,000 men had come from Kingston
to Prescott, where they had been joined by a number of
provincial infantry and dragoons. The next morning this
force was close upon the American rear with the armed vessels
in which they had descended the river. Halting at Matilda,
most of these troops were debarked to pursue our forces on
the Canadian shore. To meet this contingency General Boyd
was sent with his brigade to reinforce General Brown. Dur-
ing the 9th the pursuing enemy, now swelled to a considerable
number, harassed our column on land and our flotilla on the
river.
In the morning of the 10th, as Wilkinson was approach-
ing the "Longue Saut," a rapid eight miles in length, he was
informed that a large body of the enemy had assembled at its
foot, erected a block-house, and was prepared to attack him
when he came down. General Brown was ordered to advance
and dislodge them. At noon cannonading was heard from that
direction and at the same time the British gunboats again
dropped down and opened fire. General Wilkinson landed his
artillery, which replied so effectively that the gunboats were
driven back up the river. It being inadvisable to enter the



46 HISTORY OF TWENTY-FIRST U. S. INFANTRY

rapids at night, the boats were moored near Chrystler's Island,
a few miles below Williamsburg, while General Boyd, with his
brigade, encamped near by.
Battle of Chrystler's Field.
