386 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE, [Vor VI. 
~ 
number, including those dangerously wounded, was twenty-seven, and 
the slight cases not reported must have amounted to six or eight more 
—that five were killed during the action and a few died soon after.” 
The chances of war had throughout favoured the American squadron. 
There was first the sudden change of wind which gave it the weather 
gage, then the death of Captain Finnis, and finally the fouling of the 
Detrott and Queen Charlotte. Even Mr. Roosevelt feels bound to admit 
that “if the victory had not been so complete it might have been said 
that the length of the combat and the trifling disparity in loss reflected 
more credit on the British.” 
The results of the battle were of the highest importance. The control 
of the upper lakes passed over to the victors. General Procter was 
forced to retreat from Amherstburg and owing to his indecision and un-— 
pardonable negligence was overtaken and routed. 
But considerable as these advantages were, much greater were confi- 
dently expected. “Mackinac passes into our hands of course,” said a 
writer in Neles' Weekly Register. “St. Joseph’s,too remote for intelligence 
or succour from the enemy, is given into our possession. All the places 
of deposit for Indian supplies will be broken up, and the savages em- 
ployed in the éuszmess of the British during the summer and cut off at 
this critical season from their accustomed resources must perish by 
thousands for want of food and clothing. The trade of the North-West 
Company, a mighty mercantile establishment of vital importance to 
Canada and of great consideration to the Mother Country, is done. In 
less than four weeks we may have the reality of the things here antici- 
pated.” 
But these expectations were all doomed to remain unfulfilled. Most 
of the Indians with Procter joined the Centre Division of the British 
army at Burlington and took part in General Drummond’s winter cam- 
paign. Others having already returned westward arrayed themselves 
again under Dickson’s leadership next year. On the lakes misfortune 
attended every movement of the Americans: Four of their vessels, the 
Ariel, Chippewa, Trippe and Little Belt were destroyed at the capture of 
Buffalo (December 3Ist, 1813). An expedition against Mackinac was 
repulsed with severe loss (August 4th, 1814). Two schooners, the 
Porcupine and Somers, were captured, by boats off Fort Erie (August 
11th, 1814), and two others, the Scorpion and Tigress, left to blockade 
Mackinac were taken in a similar manner on September 3rd and 4th. 
Practically the only service of much consequence performed by the 
American squadron was the conveyance of a body of troops to Long 
Point (May 14th, 1814), and covering the landing of a division of their 
army at Fort Erie (July 3rd, 1814). 
77) 
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