On the Lakes 199 



destruction, most of her guns being taken over to 

 the American side. This was a very daring and 

 handsome exploit, reflecting great credit on Com 

 mander Elliott, and giving the Americans, in the 

 Caledonia, the nucleus of their navy on Lake Erie; 

 soon afterward Elliott returned to Lake Ontario, 

 a new detachment of seamen under Commander S. 

 Angus having arrived. 



On the 28th of November, the American general, 

 Smith, despatched two parties to make an attack 

 on some of the British batteries. One of these con 

 sisted of 10 boats, under the command of Captain 

 King of the I5th infantry, with 150 soldiers, and 

 with him went Mr. Angus with 82 sailors, including 

 officers. The expedition left at one o'clock in the 

 morning, but was discovered and greeted with a 

 warm fire from a field battery placed in front of 

 some British barracks known as the Red House. Six 

 of the boats put back ; but the other four, containing 

 about a hundred men, dashed on. While the soldiers 

 were forming line and firing, the seamen rushed in 

 with their pikes and axes, drove off the British, 

 captured their commander, Lieut. King, of the Royal 

 Army, spiked and threw into the river the guns, 

 and then took the barracks and burned them, after 

 a desperate fight. Great confusion now ensued, 

 which ended in Mr. Angus and some of the seamen 

 going off in the boats. Several had been killed ; 

 eight, among whom were Midshipmen Wragg, Dud 

 ley, and Holdup, all under 20 years old, remained 

 with the troops under Captain King, and having 



