Four Years on the Great Lakes, 1813-1816. Don Bamford
the difficulties that hourly present themselves to view. Thus, it can be no wonder that the Americans generally had the superiority upon the Lakes, when it is considered
Map 4: Kingston Harbour and Naval Installations. The position of the town site, the old Fort Frontenac, and the newly constructed (1812) Fort Henry are shown.
Kingston is situated on the border of Lake Ontario, just at the head of River St. Lawrence, and previous to the war, was a place of no great importance. But a large naval establishment being formed, and York having lost its former advantages, principally that of forming a kind of central depot for all kinds of merchandise, to supply the inland settlements, from its lying so open to the incursions of the enemy, all the trade followed to this place, and York was nearly deserted, though [remaining] the seat of government for the Upper Province. Consequently, building became the rage, and at the conclusion of the war Kingston had risen into a large town, with many handsome, and substantial houses, forming several streets. It has a commodious church, likewise a Roman Catholic chapel, but there are few of that persuasion here, also a stone gaol, and council chamber, in which causes are tried.
In Kingston bay are a few wharfs for the convenience of loading and unloading small vessels, but there is not sufficient water for large ships to enter. The harbour for the men of war, called Navy Bay, is about a quarter of a mile from the town, and is formed by a long point of land, called Navy Point, and two small islands, making good shelter, and forming a breakwater to prevent the ice from injuring the ships, when it breaks up in the spring. On Navy Point is our dockyard, none [having been] established previous to our arrival in the country. The port, selected by Sir James Yeo, was ridiculed by the old Provincial naval officers, who deemed it impracticable to lay down ways for building ships, and launching them, particularly on this spot, but those who* openly condemned the whole arrangement lived long enough to see a ship launched, pierced for 98 guns. Their confusion must not have been a little, as they considered the Wolfe of 23 guns, quite a prodigy.
The whole is commanded by a high ground, little more than a mus-quet shot off, upon which is built, since the commencement of the war, a large and strong fort, for that part of the world. It likewise commands the town, and all the outworks, and could, if required, level the whole with the ground.
[In] the latter part of November, or early in December, all navigation ceases on the Lakes, and the ships come into port for the winter, when they are dismantled to their lower masts, the rigging being placed in a loft in the dockyard built for its reception, called the rigging loft, where each ship’s furniture is carefully made up, and placed by itself. The hulls of the ships are covered over closely with planks to keep off the snow and preserve the decks; they remain in this situation till March, sometimes till the middle of April, perfectly fixed in ice, six or eight feet thick, and [protected] from the excessive rigour of the season. As no work can be done, the winter is passed in one continuous round of pleasure, which makes it fly away imperceptibly.
In the midst of the amusements, which took place during the first winter, it may be supposed that some real or imaginary offence might create duelling, if only for variety, and so it happened; two officers wishing to amuse themselves in this manner. It came to the knowledge of Sir James Yeo; he ordered two watch boxes, which are considerably larger than our sentry boxes in England, to be placed on the ice at about 80 yards distance and immediately facing each other. The belligerents were then supplied with two musquets, and 60 rounds of ball cartridges; [he] ordered them at the same time to take themselves in respective positions, and when they had amused themselves in expending their ammunition, if no mortal wound occurred, they were to send for more. It is almost needless to say that one night, and that passed in jollity with some of their brother officers, was sufficient to reconcile the parties without the loss of powder and ball, which might be applied to better purposes. It is but justice to say that neither of these gentlemen were possessed with that kind of valour which “oozes out of their finger ends” but both behaved gallantly during the war, and were promoted for their brave conduct. By the judicious conduct of Sir James Yeo, in placing duelling in so ludicrous a light, a complete stop was put on that kind of amusement during his command.
Map 5: East end of Lake Ontario, including Sackets Harbor. This area was a significant site during the activities of the War of 1812.
The ships were ready for sea by the latter part of May, and a* strong body of troops were assembled at Kingston to make an attack upon the enemy’s works at Sacketts Harbour, which, if once in our possession, would have been an end to the naval war on Lake Ontario and saved some millions of pounds, and thousands of lives, as the Americans had no other harbour along the coast fit for a naval depot. An excellent opportunity [was] likewise offered for putting the plan into execution, the [American] fleet having sailed about 100 miles up the lake to attack one of our forts on the bank of the River Niagara, and not believing that our ships could be prepared for sea so early, they had left the place nearly defenceless. In the afternoon we weighed and stood out of the harbour, anchoring about six miles off Kingston to await the troops who were embarked in batteaux and gun boats; the latter had 24 pound-ers mounted in circular platforms. The troops did not join the fleet till late in the evening, when it being quite calm, the boats were made fast to the ships.
British Attack on Sackett’s Harbour, 1813.
At daybreak a light breeze sprung up and we got under way, the boats occasionally laying on their oars to keep company. Having but light breezes and frequent calms we made but little progress. About noon, on rounding a point, we came in full view of the enemy about 10 miles distant, who, immediately they perceived us, commenced firing alarm guns to call in the surrounding militia, [and] at 2 pm we were totally becalmed within six miles of the town of Sacketts. Sir James Yeo had gone in shore in his gig some time before to reconnoitre, and perceiving several shots fired at the boat, a gun vessel was ordered to cover her retreat, if necessary. On her return we received orders to prepare for disembarking the troops, the ships [were] cleared for action, and nothing was wanting but a good breeze to take them close enough in shore to cover the landing. About 6 pm a fresh breeze sprang up dead on the land; the ships bore up and took in their small sails; the guns were prepared in the gun boats; and soldiers, who were not employed at the oars, in place of the seamen who had to fight the gun, had their musquets in their hands, and lay down at the bottom of the boat to prevent confusion. Every heart now beat high with eagerness and expectation, but when nearly within gunshot of the shore, the ships suddenly hauled their wind and stood out to sea, making a signal for the boats to follow. As soon as they got a good offing, they hove to, and the boats assembled round the Commodore’s ship, where we learned that the attack was suspended till the following morning. This order emanated from the Governor General of the two Provinces,4 who was on board the flag ship, and, of course, commander in chief. The officers being in the Provincial Service, and [its] pay, Sir James was obliged to* obey, though much against his will. This caused some altercation between the two Commanders on board, Sir James urging the expediency of an immediate attack, and the Governor alleging the decline of the day to defer it. This delay, however, put a great damp upon our spirits, as we plainly saw by our glasses several boats, well manned, enter the harbour to reinforce the garrison, and well knew they would be receiving reinforcements all the night, as they kept up an incessant firing of minute guns. Whereas, if we had made a bold dash at once, it is most probable but few, if any, guns would have been fired upon us and the troops would have been landed immediately under their batteries, and in the town, under cover of the shipping who would have run right into Sacketts Harbour. We soon after learned that the Americans were not above 300 strong when we first hove in sight, and had made every preparation for destroying the public buildings and stores, particularly a large ship upon the stocks, well knowing it would be the utmost folly to attempt