io8 Naval War of 1812 



/ 



ERIE AND THE UPPER LAKES 



Hitherto the vessels on these lakes (as well as on 

 Ontario) had been under the command of Commo 

 dore Chauncy; but they were now formed into a 

 separate department, under Captain Arthur Sinclair. 

 The Americans had, of course, complete supremacy, 

 and no attempt was seriously made to contest it with 

 them ; but they received a couple of stinging if not 

 very important defeats. It is rather singular that 

 here the British, who began with a large force, while 

 there was none whatever to oppose it, should have 

 had it by degrees completely annihilated ; and should 

 have then, and not till then, when apparently ren 

 dered harmless, have turned round arid partially re- 

 avenged themselves by two cutting-out expeditions 

 which were as boldly executed as they were skilfully 

 planned. 



Captain Sinclair sailed into Lake Huron with the 

 Niagara, Caledonia, Ariel, Scorpion, and Tigress, 

 and on July 2Oth burnt the fort and barracks of 

 St. Joseph, which were abandoned by their gar 

 rison. On Aug. 4th he arrived off the fort of 

 Machilimacinac (Mackinaw), which was situated 

 on such an eminence that the guns of the vessels 

 could not reach it. Accordingly, the troops under 

 Col. Croghan were landed, covered by the fire of the 

 schooners, very successfully ; but when they tried to 

 carry the fort they were driven back with the loss 



