276 Naval War of 1812 



tack York, which was garrisoned by about 700 

 British regulars and Canadian militia under Major- 

 General Sheafe. The new 24-gun ship was almost 

 completed, and the Gloucester logun brig was in 

 port; the guns of both vessels were used in defence 

 of the port. The fleet arrived before York early 

 on April 27th, and the debarkation began at about 

 8 A.M. The schooners beat up to the fort under a 

 heavy cannonade, and opened a spirited fire from 

 their long guns; while the troops went ashore un- 

 der the command of Brigadier-General Pike. The 

 boats were blown to leeward by the strong east 

 wind, and were exposed to a galling fire, but landed 

 the troops under cover of the grape thrown by the 

 vessels. The schooners now beat up to within a 

 quarter of a mile from the principal work, and 

 opened heavily upon it, while at the same time 

 General Pike and the main body of the troops on 

 shore moved forward to the assault, using their 

 bayonets only. The British regulars and Canadian 

 militia, outnumbered three to one (including the 

 American sailors) and with no very good defensive 

 works, of course had to give way, having lost heav- 

 ily, especially from the fire of the vessels. An ex- 

 plosion immediately afterward killed or wounded 

 250 of the victors, including General Pike. The 

 Americans lost, on board the fleet, 4 killed, includ- 

 ing midshipmen Hatfield and Thompson, and 8 

 wounded; 3 and of the army, 4 14 killed and 32 



3 Letter of Commodore Chauncy, April 28, 1813. 



4 James, "Military Occurrences" (London, 1818) i, p. 151. 



