We had a fairly good idea, however, when, with such horses as could most readily be procured, we four—meaning Captain Perry, my father, Alec, and I—set out by land, riding during that day and part of the next night until we were come to Lewiston, when we made a halt.
Then a council was held, in which we had no part, but I heard Captain Perry say to my father at the close of it:—
“You will ride back to Schlosser, and there make ready boats in which to transport laborers who will hasten the work upon our squadron at Presque Isle, if it so be we are successful in the venture.”
Whereupon my father asked:—
“But if it so be that you fail in the enterprise?”
“To my mind there is no such possibility. Fort George must be taken within four and twenty hours after our arrival, and from that point we will detach as many men as are needed for the movement which we contemplate upon the lake.”
Thus it was that Alec and I gained an inkling of the whole scheme.
Fort George, on the Canadian shore, just south of Newark, was to be attacked by our forces, most likely under command of Commodore Chauncey, and we lads, who burned to distinguish ourselves, would be given the opportunity within a few hours.
My father turned back agreeably to the commands he had received, and we three continued on until we arrived at the shore of Lake Ontario, near-by Fort Niagara, off which was lying the American fleet, consisting of such vessels as the Madison, Oneida, Lady of the Lake, Ontario, and five or six others whose names shall appear as this narrative progresses.
It was a hearty reception with which we met when, having come to the shore, signals were made to our vessels in the offing, and a boat put out from the Madison, which for the time was flying Commodore Chauncey’s flag.