Chapter 2

CAMPAIGN OF 1813 ON THE LAKE FRONTIER, TO THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE

The British naval service on the lakes under Warren's supervision 28

Sir James Yeo appointed to the local command 29

Appoints Captain Barclay to take charge of British vessels on Lake Erie 29

The Americans now superior on Ontario 29

Montreal the true American objective 29

Dearborn ordered to concentrate effort upon Lake Ontario 30

Chauncey's first plan, to capture Kingston 30

Dearborn and Chauncey ordered to proceed first against Kingston, then Toronto, then Niagara 31

Dearborn's objections 32

His reports obtain change of plan from the Government 33

Chauncey's new plan 33

The expedition leaves Sackett's Harbor 36

Capture of Toronto 36

Chauncey's anxiety for Sackett's Harbor 37

Capture of Fort George, and British retreat from Niagara 38

Effects of the American occupation of the Niagara peninsula 40

American naval vessels escape from Black Rock to Erie 41

British attack upon Sackett's Harbor 42

Premature firing of the naval yard and vessels 45

Consequent delay in Chauncey's preparations 45

Yeo takes the lake with his squadron 46

American reverse at Stony Creek 46

The army retreats upon Fort George 47

The British re-occupy the peninsula, except Fort George 47

Dearborn is relieved from command 48

Paralysis of the American forces at Niagara 48

Yeo in temporary control of Lake Ontario 49

Chauncey sails to contest control 51

Characteristics of the ensuing naval campaign 52

Predominant idea of Chauncey and Yeo 52

Relative powers of the two squadrons 53

Their encounter of August 10, 1813 56

Chauncey's extreme caution 59

The engagement of September 11 60

Expediency of a "general chase" under the conditions 61