Comparing the bombastic language of general Smyth's proclamation, wherein he had invited his countrymen to partake with him in the plunder of the Canadas, with the desponding tone he assumed when he ordered his troops, just at the crisis of their hopes, to retire to their huts for the winter, we cannot be surprised at their contemptuous indignation, so fully expressed in the nick-name they gave him of, general Van Bladder; nor at the grief and perplexity of the Washington patriots, whose ardor for invasion a third discomfiture contributed nothing to allay.

6

We know not which to applaud most, the gallantry displayed by the few regulars and militia that defeated the enemy's plan of invasion, on the morning of the 28th of November; or the firmness of the field-officers of the line and of the militia, who, sitting in council, as they had been ordered, on the 1st of December, unanimously declared, that they did not consider a retreat to be at all necessary, nor a measure to be looked forward to; and that a small reinforcement would enable them to gain a most decisive advantage over any force which the bragging Mr. Smyth might have it in his power to send against them.

- Disappointed in the expectation of gaining the command of the lakes by the invasion of Upper Canada, the American goverment adopted immediate measures to provide on those in

land seas, a naval force superior to that of the British. As the first step, commodore Isaac Chauncey, one of the oldest captains in the American service, was appointed to the command. This officer arrived at Sackett's Harbor, in Oc tober, 1812; invested with full powers to buy, build, and equip, till his force should attain the requisite superiority. Some schooners were purchased; and a ship of 590 tons laid on the stocks. Previous to the end of the month, two detachments of seamen, one of 400, from the United States' frigate John Adams, (then about to be reduced to a corvette,) the other of 100, selected from the different ships on the seaboard, along with a number of active officers, arrived at Sackett's Harbor.

At this time, the British fleet consisted of the Royal George, a ship of 340 tons, and of three smaller vessels, that averaged about 150 tons; mounting, altogether, 50 guns; chiefly carronades and long sixes. These vessels were wholly manned by Canadians; and even commodore Earle, their commander, was not an officer of the royal navy. He had proved his incompetency, by not capturing the Oneida brig, lieutenant Woolsey, at the commencement of the war.

With so ample means in his power, commodore Chauncey had, by the 6th of November, equipped a fleet, composed of the brig Oneida, and six fine schooners, of the united burthen of

830 tons. The total number of guns in his fleet did not exceed 48; but several of these were long 32 and 24-pounders, and the greater part mounted upon traversing carriages, by which their effect was doubled.* When we consider that these seven vessels were manned with upwards of 500 experienced seamen, it will not be too much to say, that commodore Chauncey could appear on the lake with a force doubly superior to that of his adversary.

Accordingly, having ascertained that the Royal George and two of the schooners were hourly expected back from Fort-George, whither they had been carrying a small detachment of troops, the commodore sailed out upon the lake; and, on the afternoon of the 8th, to his great joy, fell in with the Royal George alone. Chase was given, but she was lost sight of in the night. On the next morning, however, she was discovered in Kingston channel, and again chased by the whole American squadron. "By the alternate prevalence of squalls and calms,” says an American naval editor, "the squadron was led in close pursuit into the harbor of the enemy at Kingston." A mutual cannonading took place, and the Royal George was compelled to run further up the bay. The American editors all concur in celebrating the event, as a presage of the commodore's future fame. One * Sce James's Naval Occurrences, p. 298.

of the American officers concludes a flaming account of the "bombardment of the town" thus: "Our sailors had no grog; they want no stimulus of that kind: they seem to have no fear of death." The reader's surprise will cease, when he learns that, during the whole of this two hours' appalling "cross-fire of five batteries of flying artillery, in all about 40 guns," so well. managed was the distance, that no one was hurt on shore, and only one man killed, and three wounded, on board the American squadron. It was not the "heavy showers of round and grape," but of snow, that compelled the commodore to haul off, and return to Sackett's Har.. bor. According to sir George Prevost's letter, the American squadron had sailed out "for the purpose of carrying the port of Kingston by surprise;" but no such intention was evinced on the part of the American commander. It is not improbable, however, that the latter's exaggerated account of his reception, tended, in no small degree, to the security of Kingston during the remainder of the war.

Our vicinity to the St. Lawrence reminds us, that we have to correct the mistatements of the Americans, respecting two otherwise unimportant operations in this quarter. In the autumn of 1812, about 600 American troops, under general Brown, of the New York militia, were garrisoned * Sketches of the War, p. 93.

at Ogdensburg, a village of about 70 houses and some very strong works, situate on the river-side, and distant about 60 miles from Sackett's Harbor.* The first of these operations was a "daring exploit" performed by the Americans, on the morning of the 21st of September. To understand the thing properly, the American account must precede ours. Captain Forsythe," says Mr. Thomson," of the rifle-regiment, being at the garrison of Ogdensburg, projected an expe dition against a small village in the town of Leeds, in Canada, called Gananoque. In this village was the king's store-house, containing immense quantities of arms and ammunition; and captain Forsythe was resolved on its destruction. In the night of the 20th instant, therefore, a number of boats being provided, he embarked with 70 of his own men, and 34 militia-men. Before day-light of the 21st, they reached the Canadian shore, and landed, unob. served, at a little distance from the village. The enemy soon after discovered them; and they were fired on by a party of 125 regulars and militia. Forsythe drew up his men, and returned their fire with such effect, that the British retreated in disorder; and were pursued to the village, where they rallied and resolved on making a stand, and disputing the passage of a bridge. An action took place here, which

*See Plate II.