1812: The Navy's War (34 page)
The British position on Lake Ontario markedly improved on April 28, when they launched the 22-gun
Wolfe
at Kingston. A few days later, Commander Robert Barclay of the Royal Navy reached the town and brought with him a number of lieutenants to take control of the lakes from the Provincial Marine. On May 15, Yeo sailed into Kingston with 465 officers and men to assume command from Barclay, who then traveled to Amherstburg to take charge on Lake Erie. The Royal Navy was now, for the first time, fully engaged on both lakes Ontario and Erie.
Wolfe
at Kingston. A few days later, Commander Robert Barclay of the Royal Navy reached the town and brought with him a number of lieutenants to take control of the lakes from the Provincial Marine. On May 15, Yeo sailed into Kingston with 465 officers and men to assume command from Barclay, who then traveled to Amherstburg to take charge on Lake Erie. The Royal Navy was now, for the first time, fully engaged on both lakes Ontario and Erie.
Before Barclay and Yeo arrived at Kingston, the ice had broken up on Lake Ontario sufficient to allow Chauncey’s fleet of fourteen vessels to sail. He and Dearborn set out from Sackets Harbor on April 23, with General Pike and 1,700 troops to attack York. A ferocious storm temporarily forced them back into port, but two days later, they sailed again, arriving off York on the morning of the twenty-seventh. Chauncey’s fleet included the new 24-gun
Madison
(his flagship), the 18-gun
Oneida
, the 9-gun
Hamilton
, the 8-gun
Scourge
, the 6-gun
Governor Tompkins
, the 5-gun
Growler
, and eight other small armed schooners.
Madison
(his flagship), the 18-gun
Oneida
, the 9-gun
Hamilton
, the 8-gun
Scourge
, the 6-gun
Governor Tompkins
, the 5-gun
Growler
, and eight other small armed schooners.
At daybreak, while the
Madison
and the
Oneida
remained in deeper water offshore, Chauncey’s schooners bombarded the beach west of town. Fire from a few shore batteries returned the complement but with little effect. Dearborn began debarkation at eight o’clock. General Pike led the landing. Supported by continuing fire from the schooners, and outnumbering the defenders by at least two to one, his men landed with little difficulty. It took only two hours to get them all ashore.
Madison
and the
Oneida
remained in deeper water offshore, Chauncey’s schooners bombarded the beach west of town. Fire from a few shore batteries returned the complement but with little effect. Dearborn began debarkation at eight o’clock. General Pike led the landing. Supported by continuing fire from the schooners, and outnumbering the defenders by at least two to one, his men landed with little difficulty. It took only two hours to get them all ashore.
The British regulars in York were under the command of Major General Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe, the victor of Queenston, but they were no match for the Americans. After General Brock’s death, Sheaffe had become temporary governor-general of Upper Canada. Seeing that the Americans had overwhelming superiority, Sheaffe decided to retreat without putting up a fight for the capital, something Brock would never have done. The cold-blooded Sheaffe thought it more important to save his troops than to lose them in a hopeless battle. He did not seem to care what happened to the town and its people.
Before leaving, he destroyed the
Sir Isaac Brock
, which was under construction, and all naval stores to prevent them from falling into Chauncey’s hands. As a final measure, Sheaffe ordered the huge central magazine in the town’s garrison blown up. The explosion did not occur until General Pike and a large party were close by, and it was devastating. Pike and two hundred men were killed. The Americans were momentarily stunned, but Sheaffe did not take advantage of the situation; he continued to retreat, much to the chagrin of York loyalists like Reverend John Stahan, who naturally expected their provincial governor to fight for them.
Sir Isaac Brock
, which was under construction, and all naval stores to prevent them from falling into Chauncey’s hands. As a final measure, Sheaffe ordered the huge central magazine in the town’s garrison blown up. The explosion did not occur until General Pike and a large party were close by, and it was devastating. Pike and two hundred men were killed. The Americans were momentarily stunned, but Sheaffe did not take advantage of the situation; he continued to retreat, much to the chagrin of York loyalists like Reverend John Stahan, who naturally expected their provincial governor to fight for them.
Chauncey was pleased that the
Sir Isaac Brock
, which was far from completion, had been destroyed, but he was disappointed that the 12-gun schooner
Prince Regent
(later renamed
General Beresford
) escaped. She had departed for Kingston a few days before. Chauncey did manage to capture the
Duke of Gloucester
, but she was in such terrible shape that when he got her back to Sackets Harbor, she could only be used for storage. Chauncey was also disappointed that the naval stores had been destroyed, but while he was deprived of them, so too was Commodore Barclay, and he needed them far more than Chauncey did. Barclay could not replace them at Amherstburg, and it made a big difference in the arms race he was already involved in with Oliver Hazard Perry for command of Lake Erie.
Sir Isaac Brock
, which was far from completion, had been destroyed, but he was disappointed that the 12-gun schooner
Prince Regent
(later renamed
General Beresford
) escaped. She had departed for Kingston a few days before. Chauncey did manage to capture the
Duke of Gloucester
, but she was in such terrible shape that when he got her back to Sackets Harbor, she could only be used for storage. Chauncey was also disappointed that the naval stores had been destroyed, but while he was deprived of them, so too was Commodore Barclay, and he needed them far more than Chauncey did. Barclay could not replace them at Amherstburg, and it made a big difference in the arms race he was already involved in with Oliver Hazard Perry for command of Lake Erie.
In the aftermath of the short battle, looting occurred in York, and a few buildings were burned, but it is not clear who the culprits were. Some of Dearborn’s men were involved, but there may have been Canadians as well. It certainly was not the policy of either Dearborn or Chauncey to deliberately torch public, never mind private, buildings. And perhaps only three were actually destroyed. The damage in no way compared to what happened in Washington later in the war, when the British commanders ordered all public buildings in a much larger capital burned.
HAVING TAKEN YORK, the Americans now turned their attention to the Niagara region. A gale kept Chauncey’s fleet trapped in York until May 9. The wind was strong enough for the
Madison
to have two anchors ahead and her lower yards and topgallant masts down. When the storm abated, Chauncey ferried Dearborn and his troops to Fort Niagara, where they prepared to assault Fort George, on the opposite side of the Niagara River. While the attack was being organized, Chauncey returned to Sackets Harbor to see to its defenses. He was concerned the British might attack there while he was occupied at Fort George. Admiral Yeo was anxious to destroy the 26-gun
General Pike
, which was nearing completion and would give Chauncey unquestioned command of the lake. The ship would carry twenty-six twenty-four-pound long guns and a complement of 432 men. After satisfying himself that the defenses at Sackets Harbor were adequate, Chauncey left on May 22 and stood west for the Niagara with 350 of Colonel Macomb’s regiment to supplement Dearborn’s force.
Madison
to have two anchors ahead and her lower yards and topgallant masts down. When the storm abated, Chauncey ferried Dearborn and his troops to Fort Niagara, where they prepared to assault Fort George, on the opposite side of the Niagara River. While the attack was being organized, Chauncey returned to Sackets Harbor to see to its defenses. He was concerned the British might attack there while he was occupied at Fort George. Admiral Yeo was anxious to destroy the 26-gun
General Pike
, which was nearing completion and would give Chauncey unquestioned command of the lake. The ship would carry twenty-six twenty-four-pound long guns and a complement of 432 men. After satisfying himself that the defenses at Sackets Harbor were adequate, Chauncey left on May 22 and stood west for the Niagara with 350 of Colonel Macomb’s regiment to supplement Dearborn’s force.
When Chauncey arrived off Fort George three days later, Dearborn’s men at Fort Niagara were preparing for the attack. On the morning of May 27, Chauncey’s schooners began firing at the British batteries covering the landing areas on the river and at the beach, putting them out of action, and driving back the few defenders. The armed schooners
Julie
,
Growler
,
Ontario
,
Governor Tompkins
,
Hamilton
,
Asp
, and
Scourge
all took part in the action. When they completed their initial bombardment, Colonel Winfield Scott, who had been recently exchanged as a prisoner of war and promoted, led the invasion force of 4,000, which outnumbered the British by more than two to one. Major General Dearborn gave Scott command because he considered him abler than brigadier generals Morgan Lewis, John P. Boyd, John Chandler, or William A. Winder. They led units behind Scott’s assault troops.
Julie
,
Growler
,
Ontario
,
Governor Tompkins
,
Hamilton
,
Asp
, and
Scourge
all took part in the action. When they completed their initial bombardment, Colonel Winfield Scott, who had been recently exchanged as a prisoner of war and promoted, led the invasion force of 4,000, which outnumbered the British by more than two to one. Major General Dearborn gave Scott command because he considered him abler than brigadier generals Morgan Lewis, John P. Boyd, John Chandler, or William A. Winder. They led units behind Scott’s assault troops.
Oliver Hazard Perry helped debark Scott’s men. He had traveled all the way from Presque Isle to assist Chauncey, arriving on the twenty-fifth. Perry managed to get into the thick of things, coming under fire as he played a key role in the landing. Chauncey was favorably impressed, as he told Secretary Jones in a glowing report. With the schooners providing constant, well-directed fire, Scott was in possession of Fort George and the nearby town by noon.
WHILE SCOTT WAS taking Fort George, Prevost and Yeo were conducting a surprise attack on Sackets Harbor, hoping to destroy the entire base, particularly the
General Pike
, and to act as a diversion in favor of Fort George. They departed Kingston on May 27 with about 1,200 men, mostly regulars, and a fleet consisting of the
Wolfe
, the
Royal George
, the
General Beresford
, the
Earl of Moira
, two schooners, thirty large open boats, and a few gunboats. They arrived off Sackets Harbor the following afternoon, unaware that Fort George had already fallen.
General Pike
, and to act as a diversion in favor of Fort George. They departed Kingston on May 27 with about 1,200 men, mostly regulars, and a fleet consisting of the
Wolfe
, the
Royal George
, the
General Beresford
, the
Earl of Moira
, two schooners, thirty large open boats, and a few gunboats. They arrived off Sackets Harbor the following afternoon, unaware that Fort George had already fallen.
Thirty-eight-year-old Major General Jacob Brown of the New York militia was in charge of the harbor’s defense, along with Lieutenant Colonel Electus Backus of the regular army. Although Brown had little combat experience, he was a natural soldier. Back in October 1812, his men had repulsed an attack on Ogdensburg. As a young man, he had served as military secretary to Major General Alexander Hamilton during the Quasi-War with France.
Lieutenant Wolcott Chauncey (the commodore’s younger brother) alerted Brown to Yeo’s approach, ruining Prevost’s surprise. Lieutenant Chauncey was scouting with two schooners, the
Fair American
and the
Pert
. His brother had wisely left them behind to serve as General Brown’s eyes on the lake. After warning Brown, Lieutenant Chauncey sent an express to his brother, telling him the attack he most feared had begun.
Fair American
and the
Pert
. His brother had wisely left them behind to serve as General Brown’s eyes on the lake. After warning Brown, Lieutenant Chauncey sent an express to his brother, telling him the attack he most feared had begun.
Thanks to the younger Chauncey’s warning, when Prevost and Yeo suddenly appeared, Brown and Backus were not taken by surprise. The British had more men, however, and a fleet whose heavy guns could make quick work of Brown and the entire complex at Sackets Harbor. Backus had only four hundred regulars; the rest were militiamen, who kept arriving, responding to Brown’s call. By the time Prevost appeared, Brown had five hundred militiamen, and more were coming. Yeo wanted to attack immediately, and although Prevost thought it might be too late in the day to launch an assault, the landing went forward. By six o’clock in the evening, the landing parties were nearing shore, when Prevost changed his mind and decided a night attack would simply not succeed. He postponed the landing until the following morning, which infuriated Yeo and gave the defenders more time to prepare.
On the morning of the twenty-ninth, Prevost accompanied the troops ashore and remained the entire time, but Colonel Edward Baynes led the actual assault. His men landed on Horse Island, at the southern entrance to Sackets, where Brown’s militiamen fired on them, wounding and killing quite a few, and then fell back, as Brown expected them to. They waded through shallow water to the mainland and positioned themselves in a wooded area behind a line of Backus’s regulars. The British attackers pushed forward into the woods, where Backus and Brown put up a stout defense. They were so tenacious, the attackers had the impression they were outnumbered. Nonetheless, they kept pressing forward, and the Americans retreated to a blockhouse and four strategically located forts. Once there, only heavy guns from the fleet could dislodge them. But adverse winds made it impossible for Yeo to bring his ships into the fight to any great degree.
Seeing his ranks being decimated, the ever-cautious Prevost sounded retreat, which the beleaguered attackers instantly obeyed. Just at that moment, Colonel Backus was shot and killed. The British scrambled for their boats, and the fleet sailed back to Kingston without having attained any of its objectives. As the fleet disappeared, four hundred fifty more American regulars appeared to strengthen the harbor’s defenses. Yeo blamed Prevost’s timidity for the debacle. It created a permanent rift between them, which had important consequences for their future management of the war.
When Commodore Chauncey heard that Sackets Harbor had been struck, he raced back with his entire fleet. Even though General Brown had beaten off Prevost rather handily, Chauncey felt his fleet was necessary to protect the
General Pike
, which had been partially burned in the attack. To prevent her from falling into British hands, Lieutenant Chauncey, thinking the battle was lost, had started the fire. He quickly reversed himself, however, and no great damage had been done to the ship, but important naval supplies in nearby warehouses were lost. Commodore Chauncey’s priority now became finishing the
General Pike
. From June 1 to July 21, Chauncey remained at Sackets Harbor, single-mindedly devoting his energies to completing her. While he did, Admiral Yeo had effective command of the lake.
General Pike
, which had been partially burned in the attack. To prevent her from falling into British hands, Lieutenant Chauncey, thinking the battle was lost, had started the fire. He quickly reversed himself, however, and no great damage had been done to the ship, but important naval supplies in nearby warehouses were lost. Commodore Chauncey’s priority now became finishing the
General Pike
. From June 1 to July 21, Chauncey remained at Sackets Harbor, single-mindedly devoting his energies to completing her. While he did, Admiral Yeo had effective command of the lake.
ALTHOUGH COLONEL SCOTT had easily taken Fort George on May 27, he was not permitted to follow up his victory and crush the British. Brigadier General John Vincent’s small force escaped, withdrawing west in good order. Vincent instructed all his forces along the Niagara River—including the men stationed from Chippawa to Fort Erie—to abandon their fortifications and proceed with him to Burlington Heights at the head of Lake Ontario.
When the British troops withdrew, the five vessels at the American naval base at Black Rock could then be moved safely passed Fort Erie to Presque Isle and bolster the squadron Perry was building on Lake Erie. The schooners were:
Caledonia
(three guns),
Somers
(four guns),
Trippe
(one gun),
Ohio
(one gun), and
Amelia
(too far gone to be of use later). Chauncey had previously dispatched master shipbuilder Henry Eckford and thirty carpenters to prepare the schooners for moving, and when Perry arrived at Black Rock with fifty-five seamen to transport them, Eckford had the ships ready. It took a week for oxen to haul the schooners down the Niagara River against the strong current and contrary winds, past deserted Fort Erie to the lake. Once there, Perry sailed them to Presque Isle, hugging the shore as he went, narrowly missing a British squadron blinded by a lake fog.
Caledonia
(three guns),
Somers
(four guns),
Trippe
(one gun),
Ohio
(one gun), and
Amelia
(too far gone to be of use later). Chauncey had previously dispatched master shipbuilder Henry Eckford and thirty carpenters to prepare the schooners for moving, and when Perry arrived at Black Rock with fifty-five seamen to transport them, Eckford had the ships ready. It took a week for oxen to haul the schooners down the Niagara River against the strong current and contrary winds, past deserted Fort Erie to the lake. Once there, Perry sailed them to Presque Isle, hugging the shore as he went, narrowly missing a British squadron blinded by a lake fog.
Dearborn had now accomplished, rather easily, his initial objectives, but Vincent’s force was still intact, and he was moving toward Burlington Heights to prepare for Dearborn’s next attack. To support Vincent, Admiral Yeo left Kingston on June 3 with seven vessels, six gunboats, and a reinforcement of two hundred twenty regulars. He sailed west, planning to harass Dearborn’s men wherever he could. Chauncey was alerted to Yeo’s departure and considered going after him. But upon reflection, he decided it was more important to finish the
General Pike
, and he remained at Sackets Harbor. He told Secretary Jones that rather than engage Yeo’s slightly more powerful squadron, he would be better off finishing the
General Pike
and gaining a distinct advantage when he met Yeo later.
General Pike
, and he remained at Sackets Harbor. He told Secretary Jones that rather than engage Yeo’s slightly more powerful squadron, he would be better off finishing the
General Pike
and gaining a distinct advantage when he met Yeo later.
During the first week of June, Dearborn dispatched 2,000 men with four field guns and 150 cavalry, under Brigadier General William H. Winder of Maryland, to pursue Vincent. On June 5 Brigadier General John Chandler joined Winder at Stoney Creek and assumed overall command, with Winder as his second. Both men had considerable political influence but little military acumen. The night that Chandler arrived at the front, before he even had time to get his bearings, Vincent attacked him with 700 men during the wee hours of a very dark morning. At first, utter confusion reigned in the surprised American camp, but the light troops gathered themselves and fought back heroically. Vincent suffered heavy casualties, and just before daylight, he pulled back. He took both Chandler and Winder with him, however. They had been captured in the chaos and confusion of the early fighting.
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