186] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1813. 



ted August 1st, mentions that the 

 eneni)' still occupied the position of 

 Fort George and its immediate vi- 

 cinity, where they were straitened 

 by the advance of the British com- 

 mander, major-gen. De Rotten- 

 burg, to St. David's, within seven 

 miles of the fort. The enemy's 

 fleet, consisting of two ships, one 

 brig, and 1 1 schooners, had sailed 

 from Sackett's harbour some days 

 before, and the British squadron 

 had gone in search of it. With 

 a view of calling oiF the attention 

 of the Americans from this pro- 

 vince to the defence of their own 

 settlements, sir G. Prevost had 

 sent out an expedition of gun- 

 boats and other vessels, with 800 

 picked men, to make a movement 

 on Lake Champlain. 



Another dispatch from sir 

 George on August 8th, contains 

 the information, that the enemy's 

 fleet on Lake Ontario appeared on 

 July 31st off the town of York 

 (which the Americans had quitted 

 after their former occupation of it) 

 and making a landing under Com- 

 modore Chauncey, entered the 

 place, liberated the prisoners in the 

 gaol, and plundered the contents 

 of some private stores, all public 

 property having been previously 

 removed. They landed again on 

 the following day, burnt the small 

 barrack, wood-yard, and store- 

 house, and afterwards sailed away, 

 having done very little damage 

 except to individuals. The town 

 was totally defenceless, the princi- 

 pal persons having left it, and the 

 militia being still under parole. 



The result of the expedition to 

 Lake Champlain is related in other 

 letters. Lieut.-col. Murray states 

 that the land-forces proceeding to 

 Plattsburg destroyed there the ene- 



my's arsenal, blockhouse, com- 

 missary's buildings, and stores, to- 

 gether with the extensive barracks 

 of Saranac, capable of containing 

 4,000 troops. A quantity of naval 

 stores was brought off, particularly 

 equipments for a large number of 

 batteaux. The barracks and stores 

 at Swanton were also destroyed. 

 A detachment sent to destroy the 

 public buildings and storesatCham- 

 plain town effected their purpose 

 without opposition. The militia as- 

 sembled for the defence of Platts- 

 burg had disbanded on the ap- 

 pearance of the'armament. At 

 this time the American general 

 Hampton had concentrated his 

 forces, said to consist of about 

 4,500 regulars, with a large body 

 of militia, at Burlington. The na- 

 val part of the expedition on Lake 

 Champlain had captured and de- 

 stroyed four vessels, without any 

 attempt from the enemy's armed 

 vessels to rescue them. 



Sir James Yeo made frequent 

 attempts during the month of Au- 

 gust to bring the American squa- 

 dron on Lake Ontario to action, 

 but was frustrated by light and 

 baffling winds, and the enemy's 

 superiority in sailing. On the 

 night of the 10th, however, he was 

 able to get so close to them, that 

 it was necessary for them either 

 to engage, or to sacrifice two of 

 their schooners. They preferred 

 the latter ; and after firing a few 

 shots, sir James took possession of 

 two fine armed schooners, with a 

 crew of 40 men each. The Ame- 

 ricans lost two others of their larg- 

 est schooners by oversetting in car- 

 rying too much sail when chased 

 by the British squadron, and about 

 100 men perished with them. 



General Proctor, in compliance 



