The Engagements on Lake Ontario encompass the prolonged naval contest for control of the lake during the War of 1812. Few actions were fought, none of which had decisive results, and the contest essentially became a naval building race. Combatants United States Native Americans Great Britain, Canadian provincial forces Native Americans First Nations Peoples Commanders James Madison Winfield Scott Andrew Jackson Sir Isaac Brock† George Prevost Tecumseh† Strength •U.S. Regular Army: 35,800 •Rangers: 3,049 •Militia: 458,463* •US Navy & US Marines: (at start of war): •Frigates... 1812 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Battle of New Orleans 1815 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Lake Ontario (French: lac 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. ... James Lucas Yeo (1782-1818) was a British Naval commander who served in the War of 1812. ... Isaac Chauncey (20 February 1779 – 27 January 1840) was an officer in the United States Navy. ... Combatants Britain United States Commanders Strength Casualties The First Battle of Sacketts Harbor was fought on July 19, 1812 between the United States and Great Britain. ... 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. ... Combatants Great Britain United States Commanders George MacDonnell Benjamin Forsyth Strength 520 about 250 Casualties 55 90 The Battle of Ogdensburg was a battle of the War of 1812. ... 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. ... The Battle of Sacketts Harbor was fought in northwestern New York on May 29, 1813 during the War of 1812. ... Combatants Britain United States Commanders Charles de Salaberry Wade Hampton Strength 500 militia and natives 4,000 regulars and militia Casualties 5 dead 16 wounded 50 dead 200 wounded or missing The Battle of Chateauguay was a battle of the War of 1812 on October 25, 1813. ... Combatants Britain United States Commanders William Mulcaster Joseph Morrison James Wilkinson John P. Boyd Strength 800 regulars and militia 8,000 regulars and militia (2500 present) Casualties 22 dead 148 wounded 102 dead 237 wounded 150 missing The Battle of Cryslers Farm was a battle of the War of... 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. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Battle of Big Sandy was fought in northwestern New York on May 29 –30, 1814 during the War of 1812. ... Combatants Britain United States Commanders George Prevost George Downie † Thomas Macdonough Alexander Macomb Strength 11,000 1,500 regulars 1,900 milita Casualties 300 200 {{{notes}}} The Battle of Plattsburgh also known as the Battle of Lake Champlain ended the final invasion of the Northern states during the War of... Combatants United States Native Americans Great Britain, Canadian provincial forces Native Americans First Nations Peoples Commanders James Madison Winfield Scott Andrew Jackson Sir Isaac Brock† George Prevost Tecumseh† Strength •U.S. Regular Army: 35,800 •Rangers: 3,049 •Militia: 458,463* •US Navy & US Marines: (at start of war): •Frigates...

Background

When war was first declared, the British had an early advantage on the Great Lakes in that they possessed a quasi-naval body, the Provincial Marine. Although not particularly well-manned or efficient, its ships were initially unopposed on Lake Erie and Lake Huron, and made possible the decisive early victories of Major General Isaac Brock. On Lake Ontario, the Americans possessed only one brig, the Oneida under Lieutenant Melancthon Taylor Woolsey, and a small navy yard at Sackets Harbor, New York. On July 19, five vessels of the Provincial Marine attacked Oneida outside Sackets Harbor but were beaten off. The Great Lakes from space The Great Lakes are a group of five large lakes in North America on or near the Canada-United States border. ... When the United States and Great Britain went to war against each other in 1812, the major land theatre of war was Canada, which was then divided for administrative purposes into Upper Canada (broadly the present day province of Ontario), Lower Canada (roughly present day Quebec) and the Atlantic Provinces... Lake Erie (pronounced ) is the eleventh largest lake on Earth[2] and, of the five Great Lakes of North America, it is the fourth largest by surface area, the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume. ... Lake Huron and the other Great Lakes Lake Huron, bounded on the west by Michigan and on the east by Ontario, is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. ... This article refers to the British general. ... The Brig Lady Washington For other uses, see Brig (disambiguation). ... Five ships in the United States Navy have been named USS Oneida. ... Portrait of Woolsey Melancthon Taylor Woolsey (1782-18 May 1838) was an officer in the United States Navy during the War of 1812. ... Sackets Harbor is a village located in Jefferson County, New York. ... July 19 is the 200th day (201st in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 165 days remaining. ...

To redress matters, the United States Navy appointed Commodore Isaac Chauncey, then commanding the navy yard in New York, to command on the lakes on September 3, 1812. Although Chauncey was nominally in charge of the forces on Lake Erie, he took no part in its construction or operations but concentrated his attention on Lake Ontario. His first ships were hastily purchased or commandeered trading vessels, but he despatched large numbers of carpenters, shipwrights and so on to Sacket's Harbor to construct proper fighting ships. The chief architects were Adam Brown, his brother Noah and Henry Eckford. They launched the first ship, the corvette Madison, on November 26. The trees from which it was constructed had still been standing in September. USN redirects here. ... Isaac Chauncey (20 February 1779 – 27 January 1840) was an officer in the United States Navy. ... New York, New York redirects here. ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1812 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Henry Eckford was born in Irvine, Scotland, March 12, 1775 and died in Constantinople, November 12, 1832. ... French steam corvette Dupleix (1856-1887) Canadian corvettes on antisubmarine convoy escort duty during World War II. A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, smaller than a frigate but larger than a coastal patrol craft. ... Three United States Navy ships have been named Madison, the first two in honor of James Madison, fourth President of the United States, and the third after Commander James Jonas Madison, who won the Medal of Honor in World War I. The first Madison was a 14-gun schooner launched... November 26 is the 330th day (331st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Chauncey hoisted his broad pendant on November 6 and pursued the British ship Royal George into Kingston, Ontario. He too was beaten off, partly by shore batteries and gunboats, and partly because a gun exploded aboard the schooner Pert. At this point winter closed in, immobilising the ships of both sides in port. November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... HMS Royal George was a 20-gun sloop of the Royal Navy that operating on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812. ... Murney Tower, Kingston. ... Two-masted fishing schooner A schooner (IPA: ) is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts. ...

Operations in 1813

Chauncey had gained an advantage over the winter with a rapid building program. He and General Henry Dearborn had the opportunity to strike a blow before the British could catch up. An attack on Kingston would have been decisive, but Chauncey and Dearborn persuaded themselves that it was defended by 5,000 British regulars (there were in fact only 600). They instead attacked York, looting the town and burning the ship Isaac Brock, which was being built there. They captured the brig Duke of Gloucester and also several cannon which were destined for the British squadron on Lake Erie, (which contributed to the later American victory at the Battle of Lake Erie). 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. ... 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. ... The HMS Isaac Brock was a British naval vessel which was under construction at York (presently Toronto). ... The Brig Lady Washington For other uses, see Brig (disambiguation). ... The HMS Duke of Gloucester was a frigate of the British Navy. ... Combatants United Kingdom United States Commanders Robert Heriot Barclay Oliver Hazard Perry Strength 6 warships 9 small warships Casualties 41 dead 94 wounded 6 ships captured 27 dead 96 wounded 1 ship lost The Battle of Lake Erie, sometimes referred to as the Battle of Put-in-Bay, was fought...

Chauncey and Dearborn then defeated the British army at the Battle of Fort George. At both York and Fort George, Chauncey's schooners and gunboats had proved very effective in supporting troops landing from boats. Dearborn and Chauncey had nevertheless left themselves vulnerable to a devastating counter-attack. While they were preoccupied at the western end of Lake Ontario, Commodore James Lucas Yeo had arrived in Kingston to take charge of the British squadron. Embarking troops under the British Commander-in-Chief in Canada, Lieutenant General Sir George Prevost, he almost immediately attacked the American base at the Battle of Sackett's Harbor. Both Yeo and Prevost attacked cautiously and called off the attack when they met with stiff resistance. The Americans had prematurely set fire to the captured Duke of Gloucester and a ship under construction, the General Pike, but managed to put out the fire when the British withdrew. The Gloucester and large quantities of stores were destroyed, but the Pike was saved. The Battle of Fort George was a battle fought during the War of 1812, in which the Americans captured the British fort on western Lake Ontario. ... James Lucas Yeo (1782-1818) was a British Naval commander who served in the War of 1812. ... George Prevost Sir George Prévost (Hackensack May 19, 1767 – January 5, 1816 London) was a British soldier and colonial administrator. ... The Battle of Sacketts Harbor was fought in northwestern New York on May 29, 1813 during the War of 1812. ... USS General Pike was a frigate in the United States Navy. ...

While Chauncey was in harbour awaiting the completion of the Pike, Yeo's squadron assisted in driving the American army on the Niagara peninsula back into Fort George, and captured or destroyed large quantities of stores.

Chauncey's full squadron put out on July 21. They encountered Yeo near Fort Niagara, but the two squadrons spent several days in cautious manoevres. Chauncey had an advantage in long guns and waited for calm conditions, while Yeo had the advantage in carronades and wanted to close in heavy weather. On August 8, two American schooners (the Hamilton and Scourge) capsized and sank in a sudden squall. On August 10, Chauncey was caught out by a shift in the wind, and two more American schooners, the Growler and Julia were captured. July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 163 days remaining. ... Historical recreation actors at Old Fort Niagara Fort Niagara is a three hundred-year-old fortification originally built to protect the interests of New France in northern North America. ... The carronade was a short smoothbore, cast iron cannon, similar to a mortar, developed for the Royal Navy by the Carron Company, an ironworks in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland. ... August 8 is the 220th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (221st in leap years), with 145 days remaining. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... August 10 is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The first USS Growler (1812), a 53-ton wooden sloop, was purchased as Experiment on Lake Ontario during 1812, and was first commanded by Sailing Master M.P. Mix. ...

Both squadrons withdrew to their bases for provision, and on August 28, they met again off the Genessee River at the western end of the lake. This time, the Pike's long guns came fully into action, partly demasting Yeo's flagship, the Wolfe. Yeo ran before the wind into Burlington Bay. Chauncey declined to follow over the sandbar at the entrance to the bay. He might have destroyed Yeo's squadron but feared that he himself would be trapped on a hostile lee shore and destroyed if the wind strengthened. August 28 is the 240th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (241st in leap years), with 125 days remaining. ... The Genesee Rivers name is derived from the Iroquois meaning good valley or pleasant valley. ... Burlington Bay, also known as Hamilton Harbour, is a branch of Lake Ontario bounded on the northwest by the City of Burlington, on the south by the City of Hamilton, and on the east by Hamilton Beach (south of the Skyway Bridge) and Burlington Beach (north of the channel). ... In geography, a bar is a linear shoaling landform feature within a body of water. ... Lee (red) and windward (green) shores, given wind from due east (blue arrows) The terms lee shore and weather or windward shore describe a stretch of shoreline with respect to the wind direction, and is of particular importance when sailing. ...

Nevertheless, Chauncey effectively controlled the lake. Over the next months, they captured five small British ships (including Growler and Julia) which were moving supplies or soldiers westward. Their control of the lake allowed the Americans to briefly capture York again, and move their troops from Fort George to Sacket's Harbour in preparation for their attack on Montreal late that year. Although Chauncey was supposed to blockade the British in Kingston and prevent them interfering, an effective blockade was difficult in the foul weather of late autumn, and amidst the many islets at the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River. This allowed a British force to pursue the American army of James Wilkinson and defeat them at the Battle of Crysler's Farm. Motto: Concordia Salus Coordinates: Country Canada Province Québec Founded 1642 Established 1832 Mayor Gérald Tremblay Area    - City 366. ... The Saint Lawrence River (French: fleuve Saint-Laurent) is a large west-to-east flowing river in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. ... General James Wilkinson James Wilkinson (1757 – December 28, 1825) was a U.S. soldier and statesman, who was associated with several scandals and controversies. ... Combatants Britain United States Commanders William Mulcaster Joseph Morrison James Wilkinson John P. Boyd Strength 800 regulars and militia 8,000 regulars and militia (2500 present) Casualties 22 dead 148 wounded 102 dead 237 wounded 150 missing The Battle of Cryslers Farm was a battle of the War of...

Vessels on Lake Ontario in 1813

The following table should not be treated as an authentic list of fighting vessels. Both sides (especially the British) renamed, re-rigged and re-armed their ships several times during the war. Both sides also possessed several unarmed schooners or other small vessels for use as transports or tenders.

USS General Pike was a frigate in the United States Navy. ... Three United States Navy ships have been named Madison, the first two in honor of James Madison, fourth President of the United States, and the third after Commander James Jonas Madison, who won the Medal of Honor in World War I. The first Madison was a 14-gun schooner launched... The carronade was a short smoothbore, cast iron cannon, similar to a mortar, developed for the Royal Navy by the Carron Company, an ironworks in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland. ... Five ships in the United States Navy have been named USS Oneida. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The first USS Growler (1812), a 53-ton wooden sloop, was purchased as Experiment on Lake Ontario during 1812, and was first commanded by Sailing Master M.P. Mix. ... The first USS Ontario was a lake schooner in the United States Navy during the War of 1812. ... HMS Royal George was a 20-gun sloop of the Royal Navy that operating on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812. ...

Operations in 1814

Over the winter of 1813-14, Yeo had been feverishly building two frigates (the Prince Regent and HMS Princess Charlotte), and held the initial advantage. He began the year with the Raid on Fort Oswego, to cut the supply line to Sacket's Harbor. The raid was partially successful, and the schooner Growler changed hands for the third time. HMS Princess Charlotte was a 44-gun Royal Navy frigate built during the War of 1812 at the Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard in Kingston, Ontario. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

A few weeks later, Lieutenant Woolsey tried to take several more boats loaded with cannon for Chauncey's new ships to Sacket's Harbor but was driven into a creek a few miles south of the base. Yeo sent a party of marines and sailors to "cut out" the American boats, but they were ambushed and wiped out at the Battle of Big Sandy Creek. The Battle of Big Sandy was fought in northwestern New York on May 29 –30, 1814 during the War of 1812. ...

Shortly after this, Chauncey received his guns and put out in two even larger frigates (the Superior and Mohawk), and Yeo retired into Kingston. The pattern for the year was set; whichever flotilla had a fleeting disadvantage in ships or guns stayed in harbour until they had built something bigger.

The Americans temporarily controlled the lake and succeeded in destroying a 14-gun brig under construction at Presque Isle being before it could be launched, and also the British brig Magnet (whose crew ran her aground and set fire to her to prevent her capture). However, Chauncey concentrated on "blockading" Kingston and was criticised by General Jacob Brown and other army commanders for his failure to prevent the British reinforcing and maintaining their troops in the Niagara peninsula, which contributed to the indecisive result of the campaign there. Aerial view from the northeast, showing Gull Point in the foreground Presque Isle Lighthouse Presque Isle State Park is a 3,200 acre state park located on a sandy peninsula in Lake Erie, near the city of Erie, Pennsylvania. ... Jacob Jennings Brown (May 9, 1775-February 24, 1828) was an American army officer in the War of 1812. ...

Eventually, Yeo put out in the three-decked ship of the line Saint Lawrence. This was the winning stroke; British construction over the winter of 1814-15 matched American attempts to regain the lead. (The Americans had earlier diverted some resources to Lake Champlain, which allowed them to win the decisive Battle of Plattsburgh.) Ships of the line were 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-rated ships in the rating system of the Royal Navy. ... HMS St. ... Landsat photo Lake Champlain (French: lac Champlain) is a large lake in North America, mostly within the borders of the United States (states of Vermont and New York) but partially situated across the US-Canada border in the province of Quebec. ... Combatants Britain United States Commanders George Prevost George Downie † Thomas Macdonough Alexander Macomb Strength 11,000 1,500 regulars 1,900 milita Casualties 300 200 {{{notes}}} The Battle of Plattsburgh also known as the Battle of Lake Champlain ended the final invasion of the Northern states during the War of...

Vessels on Lake Ontario in 1814

This list is not absolutely accurate because of changes in some ships, and propagandists exaggerating or discounting ships' capabilities. Most of the American schooners (which had been alarmingly unstable with their heavy armament) had been disarmed and were now used as transports only. The British had re-rigged their schooners as brigs and renamed most of their ships since many of them belonging to the Provincial Marine had names which duplicated those of Royal Navy ships in commission at sea.

USS General Pike was a frigate in the United States Navy. ... Three United States Navy ships have been named Madison, the first two in honor of James Madison, fourth President of the United States, and the third after Commander James Jonas Madison, who won the Medal of Honor in World War I. The first Madison was a 14-gun schooner launched... The first USS Jones was a brig in the United States Navy during the War of 1812. ... The second USS Jefferson was a brig in the United States Navy during the War of 1812. ... The first USS Sylph was a schooner in the United States Navy during the War of 1812. ... Five ships in the United States Navy have been named USS Oneida. ... HMS St. ... HMS Princess Charlotte was a 44-gun Royal Navy frigate built during the War of 1812 at the Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard in Kingston, Ontario. ... HMS Royal George was a 20-gun sloop of the Royal Navy that operating on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812. ...

Ships under construction in 1815

Results

Because neither side had been prepared to risk everything in a decisive attack on the enemy fleet or naval base, the result of all the construction effort on Lake Ontario was an indecisive draw. The great demands for men and materials made by both squadrons adversely affected other parts of the war effort.

The Americans had been based at Sacket's Harbor, and this small town was unable to cope with the great numbers of soldiers, sailors and shipwrights there. There were many deaths from cold, exposure and inadequate rations during the winter months, and from disease during the summer. On the British side, the effort required to ship all the ordnance and naval stores up the Saint Lawrence prevented them from deploying decisive numbers of troops in Upper Canada. Prevost once reported paying £1,000 to transport one monstrous cable for the battleship Saint Lawrence to Kingston. Map of Upper Canada (orange) Upper Canada was a British territory in what is now the Canadian province of Ontario. ...

Both Yeo and Chauncey have been criticised by historians for their unwillingness to act decisively, and for the long and rambling excuses they made in their despatches for their setbacks. Chauncey has come in for more abuse than Yeo, since he twice had sufficient troops and warships available to attack Kingston but failed to seize the opportunity. At all other times, he acted as a brake on other operations, stating that his ships were required to blockade Kingston.

References

• Theodore Roosevelt, The Naval War of 1812, Modern Library, New York, ISBN 0-375-75419-9
• John R. Elting, Amateurs to Arms, Da Capo Press, New York, ISBN 0-306-80653-3
• C.S. Forester, The Age of Fighting Sail, New English Library, ISBN 0-939218-06-2

External links

• Chauncey's action off the Genesee River