ton, and were doing something in
the way of preparing for service the few, vessels at Kingston, by
courtesy called a fleet. Sir George Prevost and Sir James L. Yeo lost
little time in reaching Kingston together. The American fleet was off
Niagara, bombarding Fort George. It occurred to the two commanders that
an attack upon their naval station at Sackett's Harbour would not be
amiss, and it was resolved upon. About a thousand men were embarked on
board of the _Wolfe_, of 24 guns, the _Royal George_, of 24 guns, the
_Earl of Moira_, of 18 guns, and four armed schooners, each carrying
from ten to twelve guns, with a number of batteaux. The weather was
very fine. Everything was got in readiness for an expeditious landing.
The soldiers were transferred from the armed vessels to the batteaux,
so that no time might be lost in the debarkation. Two gun-boats were
placed in readiness, as a landing escort, The boats were under the
direction of Captain Mulcaster, of the Royal Navy, and the landing
under the immediate supervision of Sir George Prevost and Sir James L.
Yeo. It was expected that, in the absence of the American fleet and
army, the growing and formidable naval establishment of the enemy would
be temporarily rendered worthless. And the expectation was not an
unnatural one. It was, indeed, in a trifling degree, realised. There
was some injury done to Sackett's Harbor, but not of such a nature as
to produce a strong effect upon either Canadian minds or American
nerves. A number of boats, containing troops, from Oswego, were
dispersed, while doubling Stoney Point, and twelve of them, with 150
men on board, captured. But the loss to the British was the delay
caused by such an unlucky acquisition. The landing was deferred by it.
General Brown was put on the alert. He had time to make arrangements
and to collect troops. He planted 500 militia on the peninsula of Horse
Island, which is a sort of protection wall for the harbour. He ordered
them to be still and close, keep their powder dry, and reserve their
fire. And they did their best, in accordance with these instructions,
until the fleet opened a heavy cannonade to cover the landing of the
invaders, when General Brown's militiamen quaked exceedingly. When the
troops had landed, and the American militia had lost, by death, their
immediate commander, Colonel Mills, they fled with the utmost
precipitation. But it was the conduct of these very cowards that
afterwards alarmed, th