[CRUIKSHANK] COMMAND OF LAKE ONTARIO, 1812-1813 179 
lowed with the two remaining ships. He had then been informed 
that Sir George Prevost was on the way from Montreal to Kingston. 
The wind was light and he did not arrive off Niagara until the 25th. 
The bombardment of Fort George by the batteries on the opposite 
side of the river began at daylight and it was subjected to a cross-fire 
from numerous heavy guns employing hot shot by which in a few hours 
every wooden building within its walls was soon wrapped in flames. 
The garrison was driven out and the enemy’s fire was next directed 
on the town with destructive results. 
On the following day Chauncey made a careful reconnoissance 
of the Canadian shore from the mouth of the river to the Four Mile 
Creek in his barge. During the night soundings were taken and 
buoys placed to mark the stations to be occupied by his vessels 
in protecting the landing. The British batteries were silent while 
this was being done as it was considered necessary to economize 
ammunition. As there was every indication of fair weather orders 
were given to land a large body of troops about a mile west of the 
town at daylight on May 27. Dense fog and a dead calm obliged 
the schooners to sweep slowly into their positions. When this was 
accomplished and the fog lifted the two small batteries near the light- 
house were assailed by an overwhelming fire from the heavy long guns 
of five of these vessels which silenced them within a quarter of an hour. 
Three other schooners anchored close to the shore to cover the landing 
and search the plain and adjoining woods with their fire. The 
Madison and Oneida and 124 large rowboats were employed in trans- 
porting troops. Whenever a British party appeared to oppose the 
landing, it became the target for a steady and well directed fire of 
grape and canister which inflicted severe loss and eventually com- 
pelled it to retire in disorder. The marines of the squadron landed 
after the third brigade of infantry was on shore. The wind had then 
begun to blow so hard that the situation of the ships became dangerous. 
A signal was made to weigh anchor and enter the river which was 
obeyed about noon. Chauncey reported the loss of but one man 
killed and two wounded. His vessels had received no damage. Their 
effective fire was beyond a decisive factor in this operation as it not 
only wrecked and made the land batteries untenable and covered the 
landing but actually drove the enemy from the field with severe loss. 
On the following day, Captain O. H. Perry with fifty-five seamen 
was despatched in the schooner Hamilton with instructions to land at 
Lewiston and proceed to Black Rock and remove the vessels which 
had been blockaded there for several months to Erie where the squad- 
ron on that lake was to concentrate for future operations. Another 
officer accompanied him for the purpose of bringing down a supply 
