e spring towards Lake Ontario and the
Niagara frontier, with a view of assuming offensive operations against
Upper Canada, as soon as the fleet in Sackett's Harbour (considerably
augmented during the winter) should be in a state to co-operate with the
land forces. The principal naval stores for the equipment of the fleet
were forwarded to Sackett's Harbour by the way of Oswego; and as the
British naval force at Kingston, strengthened by two additional ships,
the _Prince Regent_ and the _Princess Charlotte_, were ready to appear
on the lake early in the season, it became an object of importance to
intercept the enemy's supplies, and by that means retard his
preparations for invasion. An _expedition against Oswego_ was therefore
determined upon, and General Drummond having embarked a considerable
force, consisting of six companies of De Watteville's Regiment, the
Light Company of Glengarries, the 2nd Battalion of Royal Marines, with a
detachment of Royal Artillery, and two field-pieces, a detachment of the
Rocket Company, with a few Sappers and Miners, set sail from Kingston
the 4th of May, and at noon on the following day made the port of
Oswego, when a heavy gale from the north-west sprung up and obliged the
squadron to gain the offing. On the morning of the 6th, a landing was
effected by about 140 of the troops, under Lieutenant-Colonel Fisher,
and 200 seamen, armed with pikes, under the command of Captain
Mulcaster, R.N., in front of a heavy discharge of round and grape from
the battery, and of musketry from a detachment of about 300 men of the
American army, posted on the brow of the hill, and in the skirts of the
neighbouring wood. The British, on landing, pressed up the hill towards
the enemy's battery, which the Americans (upon finding the British
determined to carry it by storm) relinquished, leaving about sixty men,
principally wounded.

The land and naval commanders having taken possession of the stores
found in the fort and its neighbourhood, and having dismantled the
fortifications and destroyed the barracks, re-embarked on the 7th of
May, and returned to Kingston.

The loss of the British troops amounted to one captain (Holtaway, of the
Marines) and eighteen men killed, and two officers and sixty men
wounded. That of the navy amounted to three men killed, and four
officers and seven men wounded. Captain Mulcaster, while entering the
fort at the head of his men, received a very severe and dangerous
wound. C