[CRUIKSHANK] COMMAND OF LAKE ONTARIO, 1812-1813 165 
he contemplated a serious attack or that his ships suffered any loss 
or damage. 
Towards the end of the month two small schooners which had 
been armed and despatched by Woolsey to protect the vessels detained 
at Ogdensburg encountered the Moira and Gloucester ascending the 
river near Brockville. They succeeded in repelling a very feeble attack 
and reached Ogdensburg in safety, much to the disgust of the com- 
mandant at Prescott. 
Earle attempted no other offensive operation until the sixth of 
October when the boats of the Royal George entered the mouth of 
the Genesee and brought off two small schooners and some sails and 
cordage from a warehouse on shore. Several other vessels lay at the 
upper landing three miles up the river but no attempt was made to 
take them. The lack of energy and decision shown by officers of the 
provincial marine convinced friends and foes alike of their incapacity. 
Whatever merits Earle may have possessed as a seaman he had demon- 
strated beyond any doubt his incompetence to command a squadron. 
On the other hand Woolsey showed no inclination to venture out upon 
the lake but devoted all his attention to fortification of his base and the 
conversion of merchant craft into gunboats. As the schooners he had 
purchased were unprovided with bulwarks they were armed with heavy 
long guns to enable them to engage at a safe distance beyond range of 
the carronades of the British ships. In September he laid down the 
keel of a ship-rigged corvette considerably larger than the Royal 
George. This vessel was designed in the first instance to carry twenty- 
six thirty-two pounder carronades and was named the Madison in 
honour of the President. By that time the Secretary of the Navy 
had become convinced of the supreme importance of securing the com: 
mand of the lakes and Captain Isaac Chauncey, the superintendent 
of the navy-yard at New York, was appointed as commandant of the 
naval forces to be employed as it was considered that a practical 
knowledge of ship-building was quite as essential as nautical skill. 
Chauncey was believed to possess both these qualifications and was 
known to be a careful and prudent officer. His instructions were 
dated August 31 but he did not arrive at Sackett’s Harbour to take over 
the command until October 6. Before leaving New York he had sent 
forward one hundred and forty shipwrights, one hundred and seventy 
seamen, mainly volunteers, and more than one hundred cannon, 
generally of large calibre, with large quantities of round and grape 
shot, ammunition, small arms, gun-carriages and other necessary 
stores. Most of the carriages had been made and the shot cast since 
the date of his appointment.! 
1 Chauncey to the Secretary of the Navy, New York, Sept. 26, 1812. 

