94 Naval War of 1812 



squadron for Sackett's Harbor, where he appeared 

 on May ipth and began a strict blockade. This 

 was especially troublesome because most of the guns 

 and cables for the two frigates had not yet arrived, 

 and though the lighter pieces and stores could be 

 carried over land, the heavier ones could only go by 

 water, which route was now made dangerous by the 

 presence of the blockading squadron. The very im 

 portant duty of convoying these great guns was 

 entrusted to Captain Woolsey, an officer of tried 

 merit. He decided to take them by water to Stony 

 Creek, whence they might be carried by land to the 

 Harbor, which was but three miles distant; and on 

 the success of his enterprise depended Chauncy's 

 chances of regaining command of the lake. On the 

 28th of May, at sunset, Woolsey left Oswego, with 

 19 boats, carrying 21 long 32*8, 10 long 24*8, three 

 42-pound carronades and 10 cables one of the lat 

 ter, for the Superior, being a huge rope 22 inches 

 in circumference and weighing 9,600 pounds. The 

 boats rowed all through the night, and at sunrise 

 on the 29th 18 of them found themselves off the 

 Big Salmon River, and, as it was unsafe to travel 

 by daylight, Woolsey ran up into Big Sandy Creek, 

 8 miles from the Harbor. The other boat, contain 

 ing two long 24's and a cable, got out of line, ran 

 into the British squadron, and was captured. The 

 news she brought induced Sir James Yeo at once 



