[CRUIKSHANK] COMMAND OF LAKE ONTARIO, 1812-1813 213 
ment were under orders to proceed to Sackett’s Harbour for the pur- 
pose of attacking Kingston. Two flank companies of de Watteville’s 
regiment which had just arrived at York were in consequence ordered 
to return to Kingston and arrangements made for removing many of 
his sick and wounded to the same place by the transports. An officer 
who came in from Burlington that day reported that all damage to 
the squadron had been repaired. ‘The enemy’s squadron had the 
wind all yesterday and to-day but never presumed to molest our fleet,”’ 
he wrote. ‘‘What this can mean I am at a loss to account for, except 
that it blew very hard and they were afraid of coming on a lee shore. 
The American squadron is now off our coast here, apparently endeavor- 
ing to get into the River Niagara. The Madison seems to have lost 
her maintop gallant mast and one of the schooners her topmasts. 
I trust we shall see Sir James to-morrow, as there is every appearance 
of the wind changing in his favor.”1 
On October 2, he knew that the movement of troops toward 
Sackett’s Harbour was well under way and he decided to despatch a 
strong detachment of three battalions to Kingston in bateaux at once 
and go there himself to take command. “I had a communication 
with Sir James yesterday,” he wrote. ‘The damages sustained by 
his squadron have all been repaired and he is now fully determined, 
for the sake of saving Kingston, to perish with his whole fleet or destroy 
that of the enemy.’” 
The opposing squadrons came in sight again that morning off 
Niagara but as Chauncey succeeded in getting the wind, Yeo stood 
away toward Burlington. At sundown he was off the Twenty Mile 
Creek and came to anchor for the night as the breeze was light and 
variable. Next day the wind rose and blew in gusts from the south 
and south-west and Yeo ran toward the head of the lake, increasing 
his distance until sunset. The night was very dark with occasional 
squalls of rain and he shaped his course for Kingston, passing his 
adversary quite unseen, and arriving there on the 6th. 
The morning of the 4th was hazy and Chauncey continued 
working up toward Burlington Bay. The Lady of the Lake was sent 
in advance to reconnoitre and late in the evening reported that none 
of the enemy’s squadron were to be discovered at the head of the lake. 
All sail was then made in the direction of the Ducks for the protection 
of the boats transporting troops toward Sackett’s Harbour. The 
wind blowing steadily from the north-west, increased to a gale, and a 
speedy run was made. In the afternoon of the 5th, seven sail of 
schooners and sloops were discovered near the False Ducks. The 

1 De Rottenburg to Prevost, Four Mile Creek, Sept. 30. 
? De Rottenburg to Prevost, Four Mile Creek, Oct. 3. 
