gun-boats, of
round and grape shot, completely decided the fate of the action, which
the enemy gallantly contested from half-past four to half-past eight in
the morning, and did not surrender until further resistance became
utterly unavailing--one of the vessels being run aground to prevent her
from sinking.

The whole force of the British in this affair was only 108. The men
killed on board the American vessels were thrown overboard by their
surviving comrades; the prisoners amounted to 100 men, of whom many were
wounded. Of the captors, not a man was killed, and only three severely
wounded. The naval force of the enemy on Lake Champlain was, by the
capture of these vessels, almost annihilated, while it afforded the
British immediate and effectual means for offensive operations on that
lake, and checked the invasion meditated on Lower Canada.

The American Government, with a view of conquering Lower Canada, had
been at considerable pains and expense in erecting barracks, hospitals,
and magazines at different points along Lake Champlain, particularly at
Burlington, Plattsburg, Champlain, and Swanton, in the neighbourhood of
the Canadian frontiers--all under the direction of the two American
generals, Moore and Hampton. To counteract these movements, the captured
vessels, _Growler_ and _Eagle_--re-named the _Shannon_ and _Brock_--were
speedily put in commission, and the three gun-boats being put in repair,
the small squadron was placed under the command of Captain Pring. Still
there were no sailors; but, fortunately, at this juncture the _Wasp_
sloop-of-war arrived from England at Quebec, and Captain Everard, her
commander, was ordered to transfer his crew to the _Shannon_ and other
vessels, and take command of the little fleet on Lake Champlain.

On the 29th of July the fleet took 900 regulars from the 13th, 100th,
and 103rd Regiments, with some artillery, and a number of Canadian
militia, who acted as batteaux men, and proceeded up the lake, landing
near Plattsburg on the 31st, without meeting any opposition--the
American general, Moore, with 1,500 men, having retreated at the
approach of the British. Colonel John Murray, who was in command of the
British, took possession of the arsenals, etc., and after having
embarked all the warlike stores, of which a considerable quantity was
found in the arsenal, and having destroyed such as he could not
conveniently take away, set fire to the enemy's arsenal, public
buildings,