204 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
Pearson spent three days in making a thorough examination of 
the creeks and islands but was unable to discover any traces of an 
enemy. On the other hand his expedition caused at least a delay 
of a week in forwarding artillery and reinforcements. 
A reconnoissance in force of the American entrenched camp at 
Fort George convinced Prevost that it would be unwise to attempt 
an assault without the aid of heavy guns and it was deemed advisable 
to postpone any attack until the contest for the command of the lake 
had been decided. 
“To procrastinate the decision of naval superiority on the lake 
seems to be the policy which governs the conduct of the naval and 
military commanders of the United States forces in this quarter, 
Prevost wrote, “but, unless they mean by it ultimately to sacrifice 
their army at Fort George, exposed as it will be in the absence of their 
squadron, to a joint operation against it by our land and naval strength, 
an action on the lake, must, I think, ere long be unavoidable, as it 
was determined when Sir James last sailed to force the enemy to one 
tho’ under the guns of their forts.’” 
The American commanders held very similar views. ‘‘Chauncey 
will go out, he says, to-morrow or next day to seek Sir James,’ Wilkin- 
son said in an official letter, “I see the necessity of settling the point 
of naval superiority before we commit ourselves and therefore the 
decision cannot be had too soon............ I fear Yeo will avoid 
a contest to spin out the campaign and gain time for reinforcements 
and the organisation of the militia, but if he will not come out we must 
blockade him.’ 
The British squadron failed to get clear of the Ducks until August 
25 and did not reach Burlington Bay until the 27th. The guns and 
seamen for Lake Erie were landed there and Yeo sailed immediately 
for the mouth of the Twelve Mile Creek where a much needed-supply 
of stores for the Centre Division was put on shore. He continued to 
cruise in that part of the lake and on the last day of the month captured 
a schooner and several bateaux loaded with supplies for Fort Niagara. 
Returning thence to the head of the lake and taking the empty trans- 
ports under convoy, he arrived off York on the morning of the 4th 
September when the American squadron was seen in the direction 
of Niagara. Crossing the lake in the course of the afternoon nine 
vessels were observed to enter the river and join three already there. 
Two Irishmen who had recently deserted from the garrison of Fort 
George were sent on board his flagship when it came to anchor off 
1 Pearson to Baynes, Gananoqui, August 22. 
2 Prevost to Bathurst, St. Davids, Niagara Frontier, No. 88, August 25. 
5 Wilkinson to the Secretary of War, Sackett’s Harbour, August 26. 
