The Battle of Chrysler's Farm Ann Prevost, daughter of Canada's Govenor General

The Battle of Chrysler's Farm The American commander then launched his three brigades across the plowed fields at the British right. Morrison responded with another text-book maneuver, forming his soldiers in staggered platoons that each fired and then reloaded in turn, hitting the Americans with a continuous rolling volley. The effect was devastating. Boyd next sent a cavalry unit galloping down a road that ran between the river and the British right. If they had got past the British, they could have turned and charged from behind, but Morrison had yet another parade-ground maneuver to deal with such a threat. The 49th Regiment wheeled backwards to the left to face the cavalry and fired, and all but destroyed the entire American cavalry unit with a single shattering volley. By this time the entire American army was being moved back, by the relentadvancing British. The Americans were only saved from a rout by the proximity of their boats into which they piled up and rowed off to the safety of their own side of the river. The next day, Wilkinson called a council of war which decided to abandon the attack on Montreal. An American army had once again suffered defeat at the hands of a much smaller foe. And once more the defeat was due to poor leadership. By attacking first one side, and then another, rather than attacking all at once, Boyd had played into the hands of Morrison’s small but experienced force.