366 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [Vou. V1. 
of supplies, was much nearer than Montreal and conveyance by water 
was practicable nearly all the way. Large boats loaded with artillery 
and naval stores ascended the Alleghany river, French, Deadwater and 
Muddy Creeks to the site of Fort Le Boeuf, now Waterford. Thence 
there was a passable wagon road to Erie. The work of construction 
accordingly proceeded rapidly. There is a wide disagreement among 
American writers as to the size of the brigs. Mr. Bancroft states that 
they were 141 feet in length and measured 500 tons, while Captain 
Dobbins says that they were 110 feet in length between perpendiculars, 
thirty feet beam and measured 260 tons. The new Wasp is admitted 
to have measured more than 500 tons, and it seems probable that on 
this point Bancroft is nearly correct. They were pierced for twenty 
guns in broadside, besides two stern ports, and being intended to carry 
thirty-two pound carronades their frames and sides were made uncom- 
monly stout and thick. Redoubts were thrown up and guns mounted 
to command the harbour’s mouth. A body of two thousand volunteers 
and militia was assembled for the protection of the place. 
Early in May the schooners Arzel, Porcupine, Scorpion and Tigress 
were launched, and on the 24th of the same month the two brigs were 
put afloat. In addition to these vessels the prize brig Caledonza and five 
merchant schooners lying at the Black Rock ship-yard had been pur- 
chased and equipped for war, but were prevented from entering the lake 
by the batteries opposite. On May 28th, however, Fort Erie was 
evacuated and the whole line of the Niagara abandoned by the British 
forces. No time was then lost in removing the blockaded vessels but 
six days were consumed in towing them up the river and it was not 
until June 13th that they were enabled to sail from Buffalo, heavily 
freighted with naval stores. 
The two small gunboats whose construction had been authorized by 
the Governor-General, were built on the Thames near Chatham and 
launched early in April, but small progress was made on the new ship at 
Amherstburg owing both to the lack of workmen and materials. 
Lieutenants Frederick Rolette and Robert Irvine, Midshipmen Robert 
Richardson and Thomas Bawis, two petty officers and twenty-two sea- 
men of the Provincial Marine were engaged in the action on the River 
Raisin on January 22nd, 1813, when they were employed in working the 
field guns. One seaman: was killed, both lieutenants, midshipman 
Richardson, one gunner and twelve seamen were wounded, leaving only 
eleven persons unhurt in a party of twenty-eight. 
On April 23rd a flotilla composed of the Lady Prevost, General 
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