over it, and a Murray landed at all the towns upon its shores, undismayed, and unopposed, by the fourfold American force assembled in the neighbourhood.* Here was a reverse!-And yet no blame rested with captain Pring, nor with the officers commanding posts at which the British troops were stationed; and from which they ought to have been supplied.

The active operations going on upon Lake Ontario now claim our attention. Although, about the middle of January, not above 800 troops were at Sackett's Harbor, the reasonable supposition that, with the hourly increasing force of the British, the latter would make some attempt to destroy in the bud the immense naval armament there fitting out, to maintain, during the ensuing summer, the ascendancy on the lake, had, by the end of March, brought to the post 5500 troops, including 1500 to be employed as marines on board commodore Chauncey's squadron. The opportunity of destroying this important depôt a second time lost, sir George Prevost, early in May, was induced to consent to a proposition made by sir Gordon Drummond and sir James Lucas Yeo, to employ the new ships that had been so rapidly equipped, in a combined attack upon the fort and town of Oswego; at which *See Vol. I. p. 242.

place it was supposed, that a large quantity of naval stores for the new ships at Sackett's Harbor had been deposited.

Oswego is situate on the river of the same name, near its confluence with Lake Ontario; and is distant from Sackett's Harbor about 60 miles. At the mouth of the river there is a safe harbor, with two fathoms water; the channel to which is completely commanded by a wellbuilt fort, although not in the best repair, standing, along with the state-warehouses, barracks, and a few houses, upon the eastern shore of the river; having its front towards the lake. The fort is a three-sided figure, with bastions and ramparts; and contains, within its ditches, upwards of three acres of ground. The site is elevated about 50 feet above the level of the lake; thus rendering the position a very formidable one. On the western bank of the river stands the town, consisting of about 30 houses. This river affords the only water-communication between New York and Sackett's Harbor. The course is up the Hudson and Mohawk rivers; then across a short portage, to a small stream leading into Lake-Oneida; thence down the Oswego into (subject to a slight interruption by the Onondaga falls, distant about 13 miles from) Lake-Ontario. This readily accounts for the accumulation of naval stores in the warehouses

of Oswego; and gives to that post an importance which it would not otherwise possess.

On the evening of the 3d of May, a detachment of troops, consisting of six companies of De Watteville's regiment, including two newlyraised flank-companies, the light company of the Glengarry's, the whole of the second battalion of marines, a detachment of artillery, with two field-pieces; also small detachments of rocketeers, and sappers and miners: numbering, altogether, 1080 rank and file, embarked in the vessels of sir James Yeo's fleet, lying at Kingston. Early on the following morning lieutenantgeneral Drummond went on board the Prince Regent, as commander of the troops. The fleet immediately stood out of the harbor; but, on account of light and variable winds, did not arrive off Oswego till noon on the following day.t

Either suspicion, or direct information, of the attack had led to preparations on the part of the Americans. Since the 30th of April lieutenant-colonel Mitchell had arrived from Sackett's Harbor, with 300 heavy and light artillery, and several engineer and artillery officers. The batteries were repaired and fresh picketed, and new platforms laid for the guns; which were four in number, 24, 12, and 6-pounders; besides * See Vol. I. p. 261. + App. No. 20, 21, and 23.

a 12-pounder, planted en barbette close to the lake-shore. The United States' schooner Growler, of three guns, lieutenant Pierce, was lying in the harbor, preparing, under the superintendance of captain Woolsey, to conduct to Sackett's Harbor a division of batteaux, laden with stores, Arrangements had, also, been made for assembling the militia of the district, and no sooner did the fleet shew itself, at six o'clock on the morning of the 5th, than alarm-guns were fired; which soon brought to the post upwards of 200 militia: thus making a total force of, at least, 540 men. By way, also, of making this force appear treble what it was, in the hope, thereby, to daunt the British, and prevent them from attempting to land, the Americans pitched all their tents upon the opposite, or town-side of the river, while they themselves remained in their barracks,

The exact force in guns, men, and size, of every ship in the rival fleets upon this lake, not only at the attack on Oswego, but at several other important periods, during the continuance of hostilities, will be found clearly exhibited in our naval volume.* At three o'clock in the afternoon, the ships lay-to, within long range of the shore; and the gun-boats, 11 in number, were sent in, under the orders of captain Collier, to induce the enemy to shew the number and position of his guns. At four, by which time

* James's Naval Occurrences, p. 394–401.

the gun-boats had got within point-blank range, the Americans opened their fire; and a mutual cannonade was kept up till about half-past five, when captain Collier, having effected his object, stood back to the fleet. Preparations were now made for disembarking the troops on that evening; but, about sunset, a heavy gale from the north-west compelled the ships to gain an offing; in which effort, four of the boats, their crews being first taken out, were obliged to be cut adrift. As soon as the weather moderated, the fleet cast anchor, about 10 miles to the northward of the fort.

4

1. The direction and violence of the wind occasioned one of the four boats to drift on shore. This circumstance, added to the afternoon's cannonade, and the retiring of the British gunboats, became a fruitful subject in the hands of American historians. They all concur in declaring, that the British, on the afternoon of the 5th, were most gallantly repulsed; and one (Mr. O'Connor says, " "some") of their boats captured. Nor did the gun-boats only cannonade the fort: the "enemy's principal ship, and the other frigates and smaller vessels," opened a heavy fire upon it; and "15 large boats crowded with troops," approached the shore.* It is fortunate, that we have to oppose to all this the statements contained in an "extract from a letter of a United States' officer," (who

Sketches of the War, p. 262, and Hist. of the War, p. 220.