Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

WATERTOWN, Nov. 15.

I at this moment received intelligence from the army and hasten to communicate the substance of it to you. Knowing you must be anxious to hear the result of the expedition to Montreal.

The army passed Prescott in safety and received very little injury from the batteries there. Then advanced in boats about eighty miles down the Canada shore, and proceeded, one part on the land, accompanied by the boats through the river. There, were soon overtaken by the British troops from Prescott, who pursued our boats.

Col. Covington who commanded the boats finding it difficult to proceed, in consequence of several British gun-boats which attacked his with much spirit and bore down the river, he accordingly made for the shore and advised an attack upon the pursuing enemy. Gen. Brown with his detachment was eight or nine miles in advance of the main army. They also found upon calculating their strength, that they had less than the main army to fight the battle, only fifteen hundred men. They nevertheless determined to have a battle, which commenced at musket shot distance, about nine miles above Cornwall; and was kept up with spirit, until the British army retreated, but in complete order.

Our army pursued, but in much disorder and confusion until they came to a brook and swamp, when they were again most vigorously attacked by the enemy and a dreadful slaughter ensued. The British had retreated to this spot, with all their force, both on the land and on the water, and by means of their gun-boats kept up a most galling, deadly and raking fire upon our army, which speedily retreated--and, as rapidly as possible, crossed the river with the loss, it is said, of about four hundred killed, and many badly wounded. Among the latter was Gen. Covington, (mortally, it is said;) one of the finest officers of the army. Gen. Brown is left in Canada with his detachment-and will I think, unless he escapes by a miracle, fall into the hands of the enemy, with his whole army. It is however ascertained that he succeeded in accomplishing the object for which he was sent forward. The campaign is now thought to be over.

Such is the result of the grand expedition which was planned by Armstrong in person on the spot-which he pronounced to be irresistible--and which was the result of 17 months continued exertion, at an immense and unprecedented expenditure of the public money. And thus ends the tremendous effort of the administration, to harass, distress, and conquer an unoffending and harmless province.

It is said, that the distresses of our army surpass all description, and that they are now, both officers and soldiers, extremely dispirited. The weather is excessively cold, which, joined to their exposed situation, sometimes on land, sometimes on water in open boats, with no covering but their blankets, and continually harassed by the enemy, must render them extremely uncomfortable and distressed. Our administration will probably abuse the climate as much as ever Bonaparte did.

It now appears, that the army will either be all killed or captured, or they will have to return to Sacket's Harbor, there to remain until spring. It is said the enemy are 5000 strong at Lake St. Francis.