to 300; the most certain information fixed on the former. number. It was also believed that the enemy were determined to make a stand at that place, and would speedily increase their number. This determined me to make an immediate attempt to take out those already landed, before any reinforcement could arrive. I ordered the men to be furnished with two day's rations of provisions, with double rations of whiskey; and at 11 at night we marched with the utmost silence, that we might give as little alarm as possible. We took a circuitous route through the woods, and arrived at Gray's mills at half past 3, A. M. We found here a boat, a small canoe, and two cribs of boards. Captain Lyon's company crossed in a boat, captain M'Niel's in the canoe, and the remainder, with our horses, crossed on the cribs. We arrived within half a mile of the village at 4 o'clock, where being concealed from the enemy by a little rise of the ground, we halted to reconnoitre, refresh the men, and make our disposition for the attack, which was arranged in the following order:

Captain Lyon was detached from the right, with orders to take the road running along the bank of the St. Regis river, with directions to gain the rear of captain Mountaigny's house, in which, and Donally's, the enemy were said to be quartered. Captain Tildon was detached to the St. Lawrence, with the view of gaining the route of Donally's house, and also securing the enemy's boats (expected to have been stationed there) to prevent their retreat. With the remainder of the force I moved on in front, and arrived within 50 yards of Mountaigny's house, when I found by the firing that captain Lyon was engaged; at the same instant I discovered a person passing in front, and ordered him to stand; but not being obeyed, ordered captain Higbie's first platoon to fire, and the poor fellow soon fell. He proved to be the ensign named in the list of killed. The firing was at an end in an instant, and we soon found in our possession 40 prisoners, with their arms, equipments, &c.

[Here follows a list of killed, four in number, and one wounded, mortally. Equipments, one stand of colours, two batteaux, 38 guns, &c.]

After searching, in vain, for further military stores, we recrossed the river at the village, and returned to camp by the nearest route, where we arrived at 11, A. M. The batteaux with baggage, &c. arrived a few minutes before us. We had not a man hurt. I cannot close this letter without stating to your excellency, that the officers and soldiers, for their con

duct on this occasion, deserve the highest encomiums; for so strict was their attention to duty and orders, that we entered the place without being even heard by the Indians' dogs. The prisoners I have just sent off to Plattsburgh, to wait the disposition of your excellency. I am, &c.

G. P. YOUNG, Major, Commanding the Troops stationed at F. Mills. Brig.-Gen. Bloomfield, commanding advanced N. Army.

Sir,

CRUIZE OF THE SQUADRON ON LAKE ONTARIO.

Letter from Commodore Chauncey to the Secretary of the Navy. Sackett's Harbour, 6th November, 1812. As I have reason to believe that the Royal George, Prince Regent, and Duke of Gloucester, have gone up the lake with troops to reinforce Fort George: and as I have reason to believe that other troops are waiting at Kingston for their return, destined for the same port; I have determined to proceed with the force I have ready in quest of the enemy. My present intention is, to take a position on the Canada shore, near some small islands, called the " False Ducks," where the enemy are obliged to pass, and where I will wait their return to Kingston. If I should succeed in my enterprize (which I have little doubt of), I shall make an attack upon Kingston, for the purpose of destroying the guns and public stores at that station.

I shall proceed for my station this evening, or to-morrow morning, with the following vessels, to wit: brig Oneida, and schooners Hamilton, Governor Tompkins, Conquest, Growler, Julia, and Pert: mounting altogether 40 guns of different calibres, and 430 men, including mariners.

men.

With this force I hope to give a good account of the enemy, although he is more than double our force in guns and His consists of the following vessels, as near as I can ascertain, to wit: The ship Royal George, 26 guns, 260 men -ship Earl Moira, 18 guns, 200 men-schooners Prince Regent, 18 guns, 150 men-Duke of Gloucester, 14 guns, 80 men-Taranto, 14 guns, 80 men-Governor Simcoe, 12 guns, 70 men-Seneca, 4 guns, 40 men-making a grand to. tal of 108 guns and 890 men.

The officers and men, under my command are extremely anxious to meet the enemy. We cannot command success, but we will endeavour to deserve it.

I have the honour to be, very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,

The Hon. Paul Hamilton, &c.

ISAAC CHAUNCEY.

Letter from Mr. S. T. Anderson, enclosing one from Commodore Chauncey, to the Secretary of the Navy.

Sir,

Sackett's Harbour, 13th Nov. 1812-at night. Since the enclosed letter from the commodore was written, the Growler has returned with a prize, and in her captain Brock, brother to the late general of that name, with the baggage of the latter. By the prize we learned, that the Earl of Moria was off the False Ducks, and the commodore has put off in a snow storm in the hope of cutting her off from Kingston.

From information received from captain Brock, there is no question but Kingston is very strongly defended. He expressed surprise to find our vessels had got out of the harbour after having been in it; and says that the regiment to which he belongs is quartered there 500 strong, besides other regulars, and a well appointed militia. The resistance made. fully justifies this report. Be assured, sir, that in the action of which the commodore has given you an account, the national honour has been most ably supported.

In great haste, your most obedient servant,

SAML. T. ANDERSON. The Hon. Paul Hamilton, Secretary of the Navy.

Sir,

Sackett's Harbour, 13th Nov. 1812. I arrived here last evening in a gale of wind, the pilots having refused to keep the lake. On the 8th I fell in with the Royal George, and chased her into the bay of Quanti, where I lost sight of her in the night. In the morning of the 9th we again got sight of her, lying in Kingston channel. We gave chase, and followed her into the harbour of Kingston, where we engaged her and the batteries for one hour and 45 minutes. I had made up my mind to board her, but she was so well protected by the batteries, and the wind blowing directly in, it was deemed imprudent to make the attempt at this time; the pilots also refused to take charge of the vessels.

Under these circumstances, and it being after sun-down, I determined to haul off and renew the attack next morning. We beat up in good order under a heavy fire from the Royal George and batteries to Four-mile-point, where we anchored.

It blew heavy in squalls from the westward during the night, and there was every appearance of a gale of wind. The pilot became alarmed, and I thought it most prudent to get into a place of more safety. I therefore (very reluctantly) deferred renewing the attack upon the ships and forts until a more favourable opportunity.

At 7, A. M., on the 10th, I made the signal to weigh, and we beat out of a very narrow channel under a very heavy press of sail to the open lake. At 10 we fell in with the Governor Simcoe running for Kingston, and chased her into the harbour. She escaped by running over a reef of rocks, under a heavy fire from the Governor Tompkins, the Hamilton, and the Julia, which cut her very much. All her people ran below while under the fire of these vessels. The Hamilton, chased her into nine feet water before she hauled off. We tacked to the southward with an intention of running to our station at the Ducks, but it coming on to blow very heavy, the pilots told me it would be unsafe to keep the lake. I bore up for this place, where I arrived last night.

In our passage through the bay of Quanti, I discovered a schooner at the village of Armingstown, which we took possession of; but finding she would detain us (being then in chase of the Royal George), I ordered lieutenant Macpherson to take out her sails and rigging, and burn her, which he did. We also took the schooner Mary Hall from Niagara, at the mouth of Kingston harbour, and took her with us to our anchorage. The next morning, finding that she could not beat through the channel with us, I ordered the sailing master in the Growler to take her under convoy, and run down past Kingston, anchor on the east end of Long Island, and wait for a wind to come up on the east side. I was also in hopes that the Royal George might be induced to follow for the purpose of retaking our prize, but her commander was too well aware of the consequences to leave his moorings.

We lost in this affair one man killed, and three slightly wounded, with a few shot through our sails. The other vessels lost no men, and received but little injury in their hulls and sails, with the exception of the Pert, whose gun bursted in the early part of the action, and wounded her commander (sailing master Arundel) badly, and a midshipman and three men slightly. Mr. Arundel, who refused to quit the deck although wounded, was knocked overboard in beating up to our anchorage, and I am sorry to say was drowned.

The Royal George must have received very considerable injury in her hull and in men, as the gun vessels, with a long

32-pounder, were seen to strike her almost every shot, and • it was observed that she was reinforced with men four different times during the action.

I have great pleasure in saying that the officers and men on board of every vessel behaved with the utmost coolness, and are extremely anxious to meet the enemy on the open lake; and as long as I have the honour to command such officers and such men, I can have no doubt of the result.

I think I can say with great propriety, that we have now the command of the lakes, and that we can transport troops and stores to any part of it without any risk of an attack from the enemy; although the whole of his naval force was not collected at Kingston, yet the force at the different batteries would more than counterbalance the vessels that were absent. It was thought by all the officers in the squadron that the enemy had more than 30 guns mounted at Kingston, and from 1000 to 1500 men. The Royal George, protected by this force, was driven into the inner harbour, under the protection of the musketry, by the Oneida, and four small schooners fitted out as gun boats; the Governor Tompkins not having been able to join in the action until about sundown, owing to the lightness of the winds, and the Pert's gun having burst the second or third shot.

We are replacing all deficiencies, and I shall proceed up the lake the first wind, in the hopes to fall in with the Earl Moira and the Prince Regent; at any rate I shall endeavour to prevent them from forming a junction with the Royal George again this winter. I shall also visit Niagara river if practicable, in order to land some guns and stores that I have taken on board for that purpose. If the enemy are still in possession of Queenstown, I shall try to land them a few miles below. I shall have the honour of writing you more in detail upon this subject on my return, or perhaps before I leave here if the wind continue ahead.

I have the honour to be, very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,

ISAAC CHAUNCEY.

Hon. Paul Hamilton, Secretary of the Navy.