In November, 1813, an American army of some 8000 men under Major-General James Wilkinson moved down the St. Lawrence en route to Montreal, followed and harassed by a British corps of observation of about 800 regulars, militia, and Indians commanded by Lieut.-Col. Joseph Morrison. On November 11, Morrison’s force, established in a defensive position on John Crysler’s farm, was attacked by about 4000 American troops commanded by Brigadier-General J.P. Boyd. After a hard fought engagement, the Americans withdrew from the battlefield. This reverse, combined with the defeat of another invading army at Chateauguay on October 26, saved Canada from conquest in 1813.