Chapter IV
1812 ON THE LAKES
PRELIMINARY.--The combatants starting nearly on an equality--Difficulties of creating a naval force--Difficulty of comparing the force of the rival squadrons--Meagreness of the published accounts--Unreliability of authorities, especially James.--ONTARIO--Extraordinary nature of the American squadron--Canadian squadron a kind of water militia--Sackett's Harbor feebly attacked by Commodore Earle--Commodore Chauncy attacks the Royal George--And bombards York.--ERIE--Lieutenant Elliot captures the _Detroit_ and _Caledonia_--Lieutenant Angus' unsuccessful attack on Red House barracks