On the Lakes 293 



and Perry did in similar circumstances on Lake Erie 

 substitute all his long guns for some of the car- 

 ronades on the engaged side. Chauncy could place 

 in broadside 7 long 32*5, 18 long 24*5, 4 long I2's, 

 8 long 6's ; so he could oppose 37 long guns, throw- 

 ing 752 Ibs. of shot, to Yeo's 20 long guns, throwing 

 333 Ibs. of shot. The odds were thus more than two 

 to one against the British in any case ; and their com- 

 mander's lack of resource made them still greater. 

 But it proved a mere skirmish, with no decisive re- 

 sults. 



The two squadrons did not come in contact again 

 till on the 28th, in York Bay. The Americans had 

 the weather-gage, the wind being fresh from the 

 east. Yeo tacked and stretched out into the lake, 

 while Chauncy steered directly for his centre. When 

 the squadrons were still a league apart the British 

 formed on the port tack, with their heavy vessels 

 ahead; the Americans got on the same tack and 

 edged down toward them, the Pike ahead, towing 

 the Asp; the Tompkins, under Lieut. Bolton Finch, 

 next; the Madison next, being much retarded by 

 having a schooner in tow; then the Sylph, with an 

 other schooner in tow, the Oneida, and the two other 

 schooners. The British, fearing their stemmost ves- 

 sels would be cut off, at 12.10 came round on the 

 starboard tack, beginning with the Wolfe, Commo- 

 dore Yeo, and Royal George, Captain William 

 Howe Mulcaster, which composed the van of the 

 line. They opened with their starboard guns as 

 soon as they came round. When the Pike was 



