[CRUIKSHANK] COMMAND OF LAKE ONTARIO, 1812-1813 205 
Twelve Mile Creek to give him the latest information. These men 
were responsible for a false report, which seems to have been current 
in their camp, that Chauncey had been placed under arrest and super- 
seded in his command by Commodore Hull. 
“The deserters say they are beating up for volunteers,’’ Yeo 
wrote, “I have no objection to their taking every man at Fort George, 
the more the better. I have very little doubt that a new commander 
will produce new measures, and that as soon as he comes, we shall 
have a general action, which, as I consider it the first and great object, 
I shall remain in this quarter, (as long as my provisions last), to watch 
their motions and give countenance to the Centre Division.’’! 
After his arrival Chauncey increased the armament of the Sy/ph 
by exchanging some of her light guns for others of larger calibre and 
took on board about two hundred soldiers as marines. His presence 
in the river placed the blockading force in a position of much peril 
and uncertainty. 
“Sir James will continue here,” de Rottenburg informed Prevost, 
“and it will rest with Your Excellency, should the enemy not be in- 
clined to come out, whether he is to remain for the protection of the 
army under my command or proceed to Kingston for the purpose of 
escorting supplies. This manoeuvre of the enemy places me in a di- 
lemma, for should the fleet leave me, I cannot possibly hold this 
position long while so powerful a fleet is in the river which may at 
any time come out and act in my rear.’” 
Early on the morning of September 7, the British squadron was 
lying close into the mouth of the river when a fresh breeze sprang up 
from the southward giving Chauncey the opportunity for which he 
had been waiting so patiently. He got under way at once but Yeo 
then made sail northward intending to avoid an action and draw 
his adversary into the lake when a sudden change of wind might 
give him the weather gage and enable him to come quickly to close 
quarters. For the next four days the opposing squadrons continued 
to manoeuvre for most of the time within sight of the forts and in- 
vesting force and usually from four to eight miles apart, endeavouring 
to gain or keep the weather gage, without firing a shot. They were 
constantly watched by thousands of anxious eyes as the fate of both 
armies seemed then to depend on the result of an action which was 
thought to be inevitable. The prevalence of light winds and calms 
gave Chauncey a decided advantage which was, however, counter- 
balanced by the necessity of taking his dull-sailing schooners in tow 

1 Harvey to Yeo, Sept. 4; depositions of William Quin and Francis Brown; 
Yeo to Prevost, Sept. 5. 
2 De Rottenburg to Prevost, Four Mile Creek, Sept. 6. 
