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of my trap； not one of them shall return alive；〃 and the general
dismissed his staff that he might fortify himself against a
threatened cold。
Another young man； Lieut。 Thomas MacDonough； the naval
commandant； now endeavoured to stir him by a sense of danger。
First he announced that his long boats； and gunboats were ready
and in six hours he could transfer three thousand troops from
Burlington to Plattsburg。 Then he ventured to urge the necessity
for action。
Champlain is a lake of two winds。 It had brown from the south for
two weeks； now a north wind was likely to begin any day。
MacDonough urged this point； but all in vain； and； shocked and
humiliated； the young man obeyed the order 〃to wait till his
advice was asked。〃
The next day Hampton ordered a review； not an embarkation； and
was not well enough to appear in person。
The whole army knew now of the situation of affairs； and the
militia in particular were not backward in expressing their minds。
Next day； July 30th； the wind changed。 Hampton did nothing。 On
the morning of July 3Ist they heard the booming of guns in the
north； and at night their scouts came with the news that the raid
was on。 Plattsburg was taken and pillaged by a force less than
one third of those held at Burlington。
There were bitter； burning words on the lips of the rank and
file； and perfunctory rebukes on the lips of the young officers
when they chanced to overhear。 The law was surely working out as
set forth by Si Sylvanne： 〃The fools in command； the leaders in
the ranks。〃
And now came news of fresh disasters the battles of Beaverdam；
Stony Creek； and Niagara River。 It was the same story in nearly
every case brave fighting men； ill…drilled； but dead shots；
led into traps by incompetent commanders。
In September Lieutenant Macomb was appointed to command at
Plattsburg。 This proved as happy an omen as it was a wise move。
Immediately after； in all this gloom； came the news of Perry's
famous victory on Lake Erie； marking a new era for the American
cause； followed by the destruction of Moraviantown and the
British army which held it。
Stirred at last to action General Wilkinson sent despatches to
Hampton to arrange an attack on Montreal。 There was no
possibility of failure； he said； for the sole defence of Montreal
was 600 marines。 His army consisted of 8000 men。 Hampton's
consisted of 4000。 By a union of these at the mouth of Chateaugay
River； they would form an invincible array。
So it seemed。 Rolf had not yet seen any actual fighting and began
to long for the front。 But his powers as a courier kept 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 New York shipbuilder。 Brown
agreed to launch a ship of twenty…four guns in sixty days。 The
trees were standing in the forest on March 2d the keel was laid
March 7th； and on April 11th the Saratoga was launched forty
days after the timbers were green standing trees on the hills。
Other vessels were begun and pushed as expeditiously。 And now
MacDonough's wisdom in choice of the navy yard was seen； for a
British squadron was sent to destroy his infant fleet； or at
least sink stone…boats across the exit so as to bottle it up。
But their attempts were baffled by the batteries which the
far…seeing American had placed at the river's mouth。
The American victory at Chippewa was followed by the defeat at
Lundy's Lane； and on August 25th the city of Washington was
captured by the British and its public buildings destroyed。 These
calamities； instead of dampening the spirits of the army； roused
the whole nation at last to a realization of the fact that they
were at war。 Fresh troops and plentiful supplies were voted； the
deadwood commanders were retired； and the real men revealed by
the two campaigns were given place and power。
At the same time； Great Britain； having crushed Napoleon； was in
a position to greatly reinforce her American army； and troops
seasoned in Continental campaigns were poured into Canada。
All summer Rolf was busied bearing despatches。 During the winter
he and Quonab had built a birch canoe on special lines for speed；
it would carry two men but no baggage。
With this he could make fully six miles an hour for a short time；
and average five on smooth water。 In this he had crossed and
recrossed Champlain； and paddled its length； till he knew every
bay and headland。 The overland way to Sackett's Harbour he had
traversed several times； the trail from Plattsburg to Covington