ed, an armed fleet was in the harbour, which it was
impossible to drive out, even had the fort been standing, or had there
been great guns, with which earth batteries could have been formed. It
had not occurred to the public of Lower Canada that if York had been
burned, Sheaffe's retreat to Kingston, would have been no less
imperative than it was. He was, however, superseded in the command in
chief of Upper Canada by Major General De Rottenburgh.

The American fleet landed the troops at Niagara after this success, and
then sailed for Sackett's Harbour for reinforcements. The Commodore, an
energetic, clearheaded sailor, sent two of his vessels to cruise off
the harbour of Kingston, vigilantly, and then sent vessel after vessel,
at his convenience, with troops, up the lake to Michigan. There he
concentrated the whole of his ships, including his Kingston cruisers,
for an attack upon Fort George, in combination with the land force
under General Dearborn. The British were under the command of General
Vincent, who could not muster above nine hundred soldiers. It was early
on the morning of the 27th of May, that the enemy began the attack. The
fort was briskly cannonaded, and during the fire, Colonel Scott, with a
body of eight hundred American riflemen, effected a landing. But they
were promptly met by the British and compelled to give way, in
disorder. The Americans retreated to the beach and crept under cover of
the bank, from whence they kept up a galling fire, the British troops
being unable to dislodge them, on account of the heavy broadsides of
the American fleet, formed in Crescent shape, to protect their
soldiers. Indeed, under cover of this fire from the fleet, another body
of the enemy, numbering ten thousand men, effected a landing, and the
British were reluctantly compelled to retire. General Vincent blew up
the fort and fell back upon Burlington Heights, every inch of ground
being stoutly contested. Flushed with success, Dearborn, the American
General-in-Chief, now confidently anticipated the conquest of the whole
of Upper Canada, and pushed forward a body of three thousand infantry,
two hundred and fifty horse, and nine guns. But General Vincent having
learned of the enemy's advance, sent Colonel Harvey, with eight hundred
men, to impede their progress. Harvey, an experienced and brave
officer, was not long in discovering that the enemy kept a bad look
out. He resolved upon surprising them. Accordingly, he waited