War of 1812, Part 16: Battle of the Chateaugay
When Secretary of War John Armstrong moved General Henry Dearborn from his command of the northern army to a desk position in New York and replaced him with General James Wilkinson, Armstrong also needed to find a new Major General to take over the command at Plattsburgh and Lake Champlain. Armstrong's choice for this position was Wade Hampton I, an interesting choice in that Hampton was the avowed enemy of Wilkinson, and yet the two generals would have to work hand in hand for the campaign to be successful. The results of the campaign would prove the folly of Armstrong’s choice of commanders.