[CRUIKSHANK] COMMAND OF LAKE ONTARIO, 1812-1813 193 
by 254 oars and required crews of 285 men, only a few able seaman 
could be allotted to each boat, the remainder of the crew being com- 
posed of soldiers who were regularly relieved at the end,of each cruise 
or voyage. 
The necessity for such precautions was soon demonstrated. 
At daybreak on July 18, two large armed boats from Sackett’s Harbour, 
duly commissioned as privateers and manned by volunteers from the 
regular army and militia, after lurking for nearly two days among 
the islands, awaiting an opportunity, surprised and captured the small 
gunboat Spitfire and a brigade of fifteen heavily loaded bateaux at 
Simmond’s Landing, without firing a shot. The prizes were soon 
taken into Cranberry or Goose Creek on the American shore, which 
was obstructed by felled trees to prevent pursuit and a stockade 
hastily built for their protection. This event was reported at Kingston 
on the morning of the 20th when three gunboats under the command 
of Lieut. John Scott, R.N., were ordered to search for them. During 
the afternoon the position of the enemy was ascertained but as it 
was growing dark, it was considered advisable to defer an attack 
until next day. On entering the creek it was found that the boats 
had been taken several miles farther up and a breastwork built for 
their defence with logs and captured barrels of provisions and biscuit 
boxes. While struggling to remove the obstructions in the channel 
the working parties were assailed by musketry from the woods and 
gunfire from the sloops and stockade. The troops then effected a 
landing with much difficulty owing to the marshy nature of the banks 
of the creek and finally drove the opposing riflemen into their defensive 
works. These were found to be difficult of approach owing to obstacles 
and strongly occupied. A reinforcement of several hundred troops 
was reported near at hand and the landing party was withdrawn, 
having suffered a loss of four men killed and two officers and sixteen 
men wounded among whom were one midshipman and four seamen. 
Captain Milnes, an aide-de-camp to the Governor-General, and an 
officer of much promise, was mortally wounded. The American loss 
was reported to be small but not definitely stated. The captured 
gunboat and some of the bateaux were scuttled during the action 
and much of the captured stores damaged by wet and rough handling. 
A few days later the privateers with their remaining prizes made their 
escape into Sackett’s Harbour although chased by the Moira and dam- 
aged to some extent by her distant gunfire. 
The new brig was launched on July 20 and named the Melville. 
‘She could only be manned by taking the requisite number of seamen 
from the other vessels. 
