188 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
At noon Yeo anchored off Burlington Bay and communicated 
with Vincent who assured him that he felt perfectly secure in that posi- 
tion as long as the lake remained under his control. Being informed 
that the enemy were breaking up their camp at the Forty Mile Creek, 
Yeo was requested to return there and co-operate with a small force 
advancing by land. Arriving off that place shortly before dark, 
the detachment of the 8th was landed and took possession of the de- 
serted camp with a considerable quantity of stores. Twenty large 
boats, including those driven ashore in the morning, were taken or 
destroyed. The great advantage to be derived from prompt and effec- 
tive co-operation from the squadron at this time was fully recognised 
and very clearly stated by Lieut. Colonel John Harvey, Vincent’s 
chief staff officer. 
“The principal objects General Vincent has had in view in making 
a forward movement with the greatest part of the troops to this place, 
(Forty Mile Creek), are to communicate and give every support and 
assistance in his power to Sir James Yeo and the fleet and to be at . 
hand to take advantage of the success which we sanguinely anticipate 
from his approaching encounter with Commodore Chauncey, to give 
encouragement to the militia and yeomanry of the country, who are 
everywhere rising upon the fugitive Americans and making them prison- 
ers, and withholding all supplies from them, and lastly, (and perhaps 
chiefly), for the purpose of sparing the resources of the country in 
our rear and drawing the supplies of the army as long as possible from 
the country in the enemy’s vicinity. Our position here secure all 
these important objects, and so long as our fleet is triumphant, it is 
a secure one. Should any disaster, (which God forbid), befall that, 
we have no business here or in this part of the country. We have 
just been, (Gen’l Vincent and myself), on board the Wolfe. She is a 
war vessel indeed, and, Sir James Yeo says, admirably manned, as 
are, I understand, the rest. We have given them, however, 60 volun- 
teers from the King’s to assist and a few gunners and bombardiers 
for the heavy carronades. Sir James, I am happy to observe, is fully 
impressed with the necessity of having a commanding breeze before he 
makes his attack. In a light one or calm the enemy’s flotilla of small 
vessels would have an incalculable advantage. There is scarce a 
breath of air at this moment. The moment there is wind he pro- 
poses sailing to attack. The anxiety with which we shall witness 
and await the result you may readily conceive.’”! 
On the other hand General Dearborn very justly attributed all 
his embarrassments to the temporary loss of the command of the lake.” 
1 Lieut. Colonel Harvey to Colonel Baynes, June 11, 1813. 
2 Dearborn to the Secretary of War, June 20. 
