ft unmolested by the British,
managed to have quite a flotilla in commission before winter set its
icy seal upon the lake. In September, Capt. Isaac Chauncey was
appointed commander-in-chief of the lake navy; and, on his arrival, he
proved himself the very man for the place. He rushed ahead the
building of new ships, arranged for the transportation of seamen from
the seacoast to man the vessels on the lakes, and then, not content
with attending only to the building of the ships, took command of the
squadron in commission, and fairly swept the lake clear of the enemy's
vessels. He met with little opposition as the British retired to their
naval station at Kingston, remaining there until all further naval
operations were checked by the ice.

Winter, which seriously impeded the work of the British by putting an
end to navigation upon the St. Lawrence, did away with many of the
difficulties of transportation which had so hampered the Americans.
The roads to the seacoast grew hard, and were soon covered with snow,
over which long teams of oxen plodded to and fro until the path was
well broken. Then began the hauling of supplies from the seaboard.
From his post at Sackett's Harbor, Chauncey sent out requisitions for
ship-timber, cordage, ordnance, and ship-carpenters. Long trains of
heavily laden wagons and sledges wound their way across the State from
New York or Albany to the station at Sackett's Harbor. Agents were
appointed in the seacoast towns to enlist seamen for service on the
lakes,--a work that required no small powers of persuasion; for the
true salt-water jack looks with great disfavor upon the "fish-ponds"
of fresh water. But, by dint of munificent offers of bounties and
prize-money, several hundred sailors were induced to leave their ships
on the ocean, and take service in the infant navy of the lakes.

Most of the sailors were sent across the State in the dead of winter.
The trip was made in huge sleds, drawn by several pairs of horses, and
carrying a score or more men each. The jackies enlivened the journey
with rollicking songs and stories as the sleds sped over the
well-packed roads through the sparsely settled country. One of the
largest parties was accompanied by a brass band, with the aid of which
the sailors made their entrance to the villages along the road in
truly royal style. The sleighs and horses were gayly decked with the
national colors. The band led in the first sleigh, closely followed by
thr