[CRUIKSHANK] COMMAND OF LAKE ONTARIO, 1812-1813 183 
and Pring on Lake Champlain. Their subordinate officers and petty 
officers went with them. 
An officer of the provincial marine taken at York and just 
released on parole, estimated that five thousand troops were then 
assembled at Sackett’s Harbour but their objective could only be 
conjectured. On May 24 Prevost informed Vincent at Niagara 
that in ten days the squadron would be ready “‘to go forth to dispute 
the ascendency on Lake Ontario with the enemy; a series of exertions 
have led to this state of forwardness in our naval preparations. 1! 
am much mistaken if Commodore Chauncey is not over-matched. 
Our little squadron will consist of the Wolfe carrying four sixty-eight 
Ib. carronades and fourteen eighteen lb. long guns. The Roval George, the 
Moira, the Regent and Sir Sidney Smith are all as well manned.’ 
Two days later in a despatch to the Secretary of the Admiralty Yeo 
stated that the Wolfe was armed with twenty guns collected from the 
forts or brought up from Quebec. Since their arrival all hands had 
been busily employed in fitting her out. ‘‘The enemy’s vessels,” he 
added gloomily, ‘“‘are very superior both in number and the complete 
way they are equipped, consisting of one ship of twenty thirty-two 
pounder carronades and six long twelve pounder guns, a brig with 
eighteen twenty-four pounders and sixteen smaller vessels, each carry- 
ing a long thirty-two pounder gun, some four and others six carron- 
ades, besides which they have also a ship of thirty and a brig of 
eighteen guns nearly ready for launching at Sackett’s Harbour. 
“They having the above advantages on the lake at present and 
the certainty of their being shortly reinforced by those building it 
will appear evident to their Lordships that the enemy, (now possessing 
a force which are equal if not superior), if not checked, will soon get 
too formidable for an attack to be made upon them which might prove 
advantageous, I am therefore about to proceed to sea to meet them, 
as the possession of Upper Canada must depend on whoever can main- 
tain the naval superiority on Lake Ontario.’” 
Information had been received that the American squadron had 
sailed from Sackett’s Harbour on the 20th and landed troops near 
Fort Niagara on the following day and was still lying at anchor 
there by the latest accounts. Prevost advised Yeo to sail at once 
with all the vessels that were ready to reconnoitre and decide on 
the practicability of transporting a small reinforcement of troops 
to the Niagara line. 
Shortly after noon on the 27th Yeo returned with information 
that the whole of the enemy’s ships were out of the harbour and 


1 Prevost to Vincent, May 24. 
2 Yeo to Croker, May 26. 
Sec. I & II, Sig. 5 
