In the meantime, the measures adopted by the English government, to counteract the tyrannical decrees of Napoleon, designed for the destruction of the commerce of Great Britain, had involved England in war with the United States of America, and the frontiers of Canada had become the theatre of conflict, to which the THIRTEENTH foot were directed to repair. The regiment accordingly embarked from Fort Royal, Martinique, on the 2nd of May, 1813, arrived on the 28th of June at Quebec, and proceeded from thence in steam-boats and bateaux to Montreal. At this period, a numerous American force had penetrated Upper Canada; and a small expedition was fitted out on Lake Champlain, with the view of calling the attention of the Americans to the defence of their own settlements on the borders of that sheet of water. To engage in this service, nine officers and one hundred and eighty-one soldiers of the THIRTEENTH foot crossed the river St. Lawrence in boats, on the 24th and 25th of July, and proceeded to the Isle aux Noix, where an expedition was assembled under Lieut.-Colonel J. Murray; Lieut.-Colonel William Williams, of the THIRTEENTH, being second in command. Sailing from the Isle aux Noix in boats, the expedition navigated the lake, and as it approached the enemy’s post at _Plattsburg_, the American militia abandoned the place. The British landed, destroyed the arsenal, block-house, commissary’s buildings and stores, with the barracks at Saranac, capable of containing four thousand men. The flotilla afterwards returned to Isle aux Noix. In concluding his public despatch, Lieut.-Colonel Murray expressed his sense of the conduct of Lieut.-Colonel Williams, of the THIRTEENTH foot, in terms of commendation; and added, ‘I have to report in the highest terms of approbation, the discipline, regularity, and cheerful conduct of the whole of the troops; and feel fully confident, that, had an opportunity offered, their courage would have been equally conspicuous.’ [Sidenote: 1814] Active operations were continued during the winter, when the weather permitted; and in the spring of 1814, Lieut.-Colonel Williams, of the THIRTEENTH foot, had charge of the advance-posts on the river Richelieu. The American commander, Major-General Wilkinson, concentrated a considerable force for the invasion of Lower Canada; the THIRTEENTH and forty-ninth regiments, the Canadian voltigeurs, a troop of the nineteenth light dragoons, and a field train, were assembled at St. John’s, and its vicinity, to oppose the invaders. This force was placed under the orders of Colonel Sir Sidney Beckwith, and it was ordered to dislodge a body of Americans, who had taken post at Philipsburg, in the seigniory of St. Armand; but the enemy made a precipitate retreat across the ice on Lake Champlain.