The Battle of Sackett's Harbor was fought in northwestern New York on May 29, 1813 during the War of 1812. The battle was a decisive American victory in which a combined force of American militia, regulars and sailors repulsed a British invasion against Sackett's Harbor, New York, the main shipbuilding naval base on Lake Ontario. The War of 1812 was a conflict fought in North America between the United States and Great Britain from 1812 to 1815. ... May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ... 1813 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Sackets Harbor is a village located in Jefferson County, New York. ... Sir George Prevost (1767-1816) was a British soldier and colonial administrator. ... James Lucas Yeo (1782-1818) was a British Naval commander who served in the War of 1812. ... Jacob Jennings Brown (May 9, 1775-February 24, 1828) was an American army officer in the War of 1812. ... In this relatively short and fast battle a very small garrison of British troops and Canadian volunteers, with the assistance of Kahnawake Mohawk warriors, defended a blockhouse of Lacolle Mills near the village of Champlain. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Battle of Chateauguay was a battle of the War of 1812 on October 25, 1813. ... The Battle of Cryslers Farm was a battle of the War of 1812 on November 11, 1813. ... In this battle, Major-General James Wilkonson planned another invasion of Canada to make up his huge loss to the British in the Battle of Cryslers Farm. ... The Battle of Plattsburgh also known as the Battle of Lake Champlain ended the final invasion of the Northern states during the War of 1812. ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ... 1813 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The War of 1812 was a conflict fought in North America between the United States and Great Britain from 1812 to 1815. ... Sackets Harbor is a village located in Jefferson County, New York. ... Lake Ontario seen from near Wolcott, New York Lake Ontario, bounded on the north by Ontario and on the south by Ontarios Niagara Peninsula and by New York State, is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. ...

Background

During the Spring of 1813, Commodore Isaac Chauncey had transported Henry Dearborn's army to western Lake Ontario were it was to attack York and Fort George, instead of invading Kingston as Secretary of War John Armstrong had wished. Knowing that Chauncey would be kept busy, Sir George Prevost and Commodore James Yeo decided to attack Chauncey's own naval base at Sackett's Harbor, New York on the opposite side of the lake. Isaac Chauncey (20 February 1779 - 27 January 1840) was an officer in the United States Navy. ... Henry Dearborn Henry Dearborn (February 23, 1751 – June 6, 1829) was an American physician, statesman and veteran of both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. ... Lake Ontario seen from near Wolcott, New York Lake Ontario, bounded on the north by Ontario and on the south by Ontarios Niagara Peninsula and by New York State, is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. ... The Battle of York was a battle of the War of 1812 on April 27, 1813, at York, Upper Canada, which was later to become Toronto, Ontario. ... There is also a massively fortified garrison at Fort George, Scotland, completed in 1769. ... John Armstrong, Jr. ... Sir George Prevost (1767-1816) was a British soldier and colonial administrator. ... James Lucas Yeo (1782-1818) was a British Naval commander who served in the War of 1812. ... Sackets Harbor is a village located in Jefferson County, New York. ...

The Battle

On May 28, 1813, Yeo arrived offshore and refused to move in closer because he was unfamiliar with water depths and wished to keep out of range of the Sackett's Harbor defenses. That morning Prevost's men began rowing ashore, but when Prevost thought he say Chauncey's fleet in the distance he called off the attack and returned to Yeo's ships (the boats he saw turned out not to be Chauncey's fleet, but instead just a few frigates manned by a few sailors from the naval base). Prevost decided not to attack until the next morning. May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). ... 1813 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Brigadier General Jacob Brown, commanded the Sackett's Harbor defenses. At the time Yeo arrived, he had under his command some 840 regulars, which garrisoned two forts gaurding the naval base, Fort Volunteer and Fort Tompkins. The British delay in attacking allowed Brown to call out the local militia units to strengthen the garrison. Then next morning, May 29, Prevost resumed the attack. Once the British landed they quickly routed the first line on defense, which was mostly militia units in a time of the war when the American militia units had not been turned into an effective fighting force like they were to become in 1814. The second line of defense proved to be more stubborn. Using several blockhouses as cover, the defenders held up the British for nearly two hours, before retiring within Fort Volunteer and Fort Tompkins. The British made a flanking maneuver and marched through the town of Sackett's Harbor, New York and past the naval yard. Fearing that the British may capture the base, the Americans set fire to some of the base and the newly built General Pike. Once inside the fortifications, the American defenders continued the battle and the British who were taking on casulties by this time could not breach the fort. Commodore Yeo still refused to bring his ship within range for support, insisting on staying out of range of the fort's artillery. With little hope against the defenses the British withdrew. The British withdrew back to the ships under fire, although the defenders made no pursuit. A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ... Jacob Jennings Brown (May 9, 1775-February 24, 1828) was an American army officer in the War of 1812. ... A militia is a group of citizens organized to provide paramilitary service. ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ... A 19th-century-era block house in Fort York, Toronto In military science, a blockhouse is a small, isolated fort in the form of a single building. ... Sackets Harbor is a village located in Jefferson County, New York. ...

Results

The British forces withdrew from Sackett's Harbor. Although the General Pike had been set on fire, since it was still green wood it did not burn well and the Americans were able to salvage the ship. The part of the shipyard that was set on fire did cause the American navy some setbacks in the upcoming campaigns. Yet it did remain in American hands thanks in part to the capable leadership of Jacob Brown. Jacob Jennings Brown (May 9, 1775-February 24, 1828) was an American army officer in the War of 1812. ...

References

• http://members.tripod.com/~war1812/batsacket.html
• http://www.galafilm.com/1812/e/events/sackett.html