On the Lakes 109 



of 70 men. Thence Sinclair sailed to the Nattaga- 

 wassa Creek, attacked and destroyed a block-house 

 three miles up it, which mounted three light guns, 

 and also a schooner called the Nancy; but the com 

 mander of the schooner, Lieutenant Worsely, with 

 his crew, escaped up the river. Captain Sinclair 

 then departed for Lake Erie, leaving the Scorpion, 

 Lieutenant Turner, and Tigress, Sailing-master 

 Champlin, to blockade the Nattagawassa. News 

 was received by the British from a party of Indians 

 that the two American vessels were five leagues 

 apart, and it was at once resolved to attempt their 

 capture. On the first of September, in the evening, 

 four boats started out, one manned by 20 seamen, 

 under Lieutenant Worsely, the three other by 72 

 soldiers under Lieutenants Bulger, Armstrong, and 

 Raderhurst of the army in all 92 men and two 

 guns, a 6 and a 3-pounder. A number of Indians 

 accompanied the expedition but took no part in the 

 fighting. At sunset on the 2d the boats arrived at 

 St. Mary's Strait, and spent 24 hours in finding out 

 where the American schooners were. At 6 P.M. 

 on the ^d, the nearest vessel, the Tigress, was made 

 out, six miles off, and they pulled for her. It was 

 very dark, and they were not discovered till they 

 had come within fifty yards, when Champlin at 

 once fired his long 24 at them ; before it could be re 

 loaded the four boats had dashed up, those of Lieu- 



