CHAPTER II 

 i 



1814 



ON THE LAKES 



ONTARIO The contest one of ship-building merely 

 Extreme caution of the commanders, verging on 

 timidity Yeo takes Oswego, and blockades Sackett's 

 Harbor British gunboats captured Chauncy block 

 ades Kingston ERIE Captain Sinclair's unsuccessful 

 expedition Daring and successful cutting-out expe 

 ditions of the British CHAMPLAIN Macdonough's 

 victory 



ONTARIO 



THE winter was spent by both parties in prepar 

 ing more formidable fleets for the ensuing sum 

 mer. All the American schooners had proved 

 themselves so unfit for service that they were con 

 verted into transports, except the Sylph, which was 

 brig-rigged and armed like the Oneida. Sackett's 

 Harbor possessed but slight fortifications, and the 

 Americans were kept constantly on the alert, through 

 fear lest the British should cross over. Commodore 

 Chauncy and Mr. Eckford were as unremitting in 

 their exertions as ever. In February two 22-gun 

 brigs, the Jefferson and Jones, and one large frigate 

 of 50 guns, the Superior, were laid; afterward a 

 deserter brought in news of the enormous size of 

 one of the new. British frigates, and the Superior 



(86) 



