After the capture of York, General Dearborn resolved to attempt the capture of Fort George. On the morning of the 27th of May, the light troops under Colonel Scott and Major Forsyth, supported by Colonel Porter’s light artillery and General Lewis’s division, crossed the Niagara river, and attacked the fort. Other brigades of troops followed. Commodore Chauncey had made judicious arrangements with his small ships, to silence the enemy’s batteries at the point of landing. The descent was warmly contested at the water’s edge, by the British; but they were soon compelled to give way, and the landing was completed. The American batteries soon succeeded in rendering the fort untenable. The British, retiring from the banks of the river, re-entered the fort, fired a few shot, set fire to the magazine, and then moved off in different directions. Of the British regular troops, ninety were killed, one hundred and sixty wounded, and one hundred captured. The Americans lost seventeen killed, and sixty wounded.
FORT GEORGE.
DEFENCE OF SACKETT’S HARBOR.
DEFENCE OF SACKETT’S HARBOR.
To retaliate for the capture of York, Sir George Prevost, the British general-in-chief, determined to make a descent on Sackett’s Harbor, the chief American depot for stores, on the lakes. Accordingly, on the 27th of May, 1813, Prevost, with nearly a thousand men, embarked in small boats, and proceeded, under convoy of the British fleet. The fleet being seen on the lake, preparations were made for the defence of the post. General Brown, with six hundred militia, came to the aid of the few regular troops, and made wise disposition for the reception of the enemy. Prevost arrived, and commenced the attack on the evening of the 28th. The first line of the militia fired, and then gave way. But Brown, with the rest of his troops, maintained his ground against the assault, and poured such a well aimed fire into the enemy, that they were checked. The success was followed up, and at length, the British were driven to their boats. Through some mistake the American stores were burned by the officer set to guard them. This victory brought the military talents of General Brown to light.
