[cruikshank] FROM ISLE AUX NOIX TO CHATEAUGUAY 99 



birth, offered to conduct a party to blow up the principal magazine 

 which he described as being carelessly guarded as it was situated 

 near the centre of the camp. Midshipmen Harvie and Hawkesworth 

 and seaman Barnet immediately volunteered for this desperate enter- 

 prise. They were supplied with combustibles and landed by night 

 on the American shore. After remaining for several days concealed 

 in the woods, waiting for a favourable opportunity to accomplish 

 their purpose, they learned that the magazine was being more closely 

 guarded than had been reported. Unwilling even then to abandon 

 the attempt, Harvie entered the camp in disguise and remained there 

 for two whole days, during which he obtained information which 

 might have enabled him to destroy the magazine, had he not been 

 betrayed by his guide. He was then in great danger of being taken 

 and executed as a spy. "The adroit manner in which he effected his 

 escape," Mulcaster wrote, "can only be equalled by his previous 

 determined resolution." He was immediately promoted to the rank 

 of lieutenant by Sir James Yeo, who, when announcing this to his 

 command in a special order, took the opportunity of informing his 

 officers that promotion would always depend "on their zeal and exer- 

 tions and good conduct." 1 



On December 4, Captain Pring again entered Lake Champlain 

 with six galleys. A lookout boat, which had been posted near the 

 mouth of the river, made off rapidly at his approach. Following in 

 pursuit to the neighbourhood of Plattsburg, a landing was made on 

 Cumberland Head, where a large public storehouse and some boats 

 were burned. A quantity of round shot and provisions was brought 

 off. The smoke gave the first warning to Macdonough of his move- 

 ment. Four galleys, followed at some distance by the same number 

 of sloops, got under way, all of them being propelled by oars as the 

 weather was dead calm. It had turned cold and ice was rapidly form- 

 ing in the shallow water. Pring decided to decline an action and re- 

 turn without delay to his station. He was eventually obliged to cut 

 a channel in the ice for several miles to permit the passage of his boats. 

 Macdonough pursued for some distance and expressed great surprise 

 because his adversary refused to fight as he believed him to be superior 

 in both guns and men. 2 



By this time a vague report had reached the American commander 

 on the lake that a brig to carry twenty-four guns had been laid down 

 at Isle aux Noix and in mentioning this, he threw some curious light 

 on his situation by remarking: "It is extremely difficult to get in- 



1 Mulcaster to Prévost, Dec. 4; Mulcaster to Yeo, Dec. 20; Yeo, General order, 

 January 1, 1814. 



2 Pring to Prévost, Dec. 5; Prévost to the Duke of York, Dec. 12; Macdonough 

 to the Secretary of the Navy, Dec. 5. 



