great numbers to circumvent them. The Colonel, while giving these
orders, is said to have done so facing his men, with his back against
a tree.[38] The noise of the engagement towards its end brought on
Colonel Purdy's division on the opposite side of the river, which,
having driven in the picquet of sixty Beauharnois Sedentary Militia
under Captain Bruyère, were pressing on for the ford, whereupon De
Salaberry ordered Lieut.-Colonel McDonell, who had returned to his
position to check the enemy there, and Captain Daly was chosen, with
the light company of the 3rd Battalion Embodied Militia, numbering
seventy men,[39] to cross and take up the ground abandoned by the
picket.

De Salaberry, then seeing that the action was about to become serious
on the right, left his position in the centre of the front and placed
himself on the left with the troops along the bank, where, standing on
a stump.[40] he could see, through his field-glass, Captain Daly with
his men crossing the ford. The latter took with him such of the
Beauharnois men as had rallied[41] up, and led by him, they advanced
along the river-bank and made, in the words of Purdy afterwards, "a
furious assault" upon the advanced guard of the Americans, whom they
drove back upon themselves. "The bravery of Captain Daly," wrote the
Temoin Oculaire--whose account, it is to be remembered, was published
a few days afterwards--"who literally led his company into the midst
of the enemy, could not be surpassed."

Purdy's main body finally recovered, and charged forward, however,
emerging in great force from the wood.

Captain Daly's men, as they had been taught by Lieut.-Colonel
McDonell, knelt and fired a volley kneeling. The return volley was