Battle of Sackett's Harbor
The Battle of Sackett's Harbor was fought in norhtwestern New York on May 29, 1813 during the War of 1812. The battle was a decisive American victory in which a combined force of American militia, regulars and sailors repulsed a British invasion against Sackett's Harbor, New York, the main shipbuilding naval base on Lake Ontario.
Background
During the Spring of 1813, Commodore Isaac Chauncey had transported Henry Dearborn's army to western Lake Ontario were it was to attack York and Fort George, instead of invading Kingston as Secretary of War John Armstrong had wished. Knowing that Chauncey would be kept busy, Sir George Prevost and Commodore James Yeo decided to attack Chauncey's own naval base at Sackett's Harbor, New York on the opposite side of the lake.
The Battle
On May 28, 1813, Yeo arrived offshore and refused to move in closer because he was unfamiliar with water depths and wished to keep out of range of the Sackett's Harbor defenses. That morning Prevost's men began rowing ashore, but when Prevost thought he say Chauncey's fleet in the distance he called off the attack and returned to Yeo's ships (the boats he saw turned out not to be Chauncey's fleet, but instead just a few frigates manned by a few sailors from the naval base). Prevost decided not to attack until the next morning. Brigadier General Jacob Brown, commanded the Sackett's Harbor defenses. At the time Yeo arrived, he had under his command some 840 regulars, which garrisoned two forts gaurding the naval base, Fort Volunteer and Fort Tompkins. The British delay in attacking allowed Brown to call out the local militia units to strengthen the garrison. Then next morning, May 29, Prevost resumed the attack. Once the British landed they quickly routed the first line on defense, which was mostly militia units in a time of the war when the American militia units had not been turned into an effective fighting force like they were to become in 1814. The second line of defense proved to be more stubborn. Using several blockhouses as cover, the defenders held up the British for nearly two hours, before retiring within Fort Volunteer and Fort Tompkins. The British made a flanking maneuver and marched through the town of Sackett's Harbor, New York and past the naval yard. Fearing that the British may capture the base, the Americans set fire to some of the base and the newly built General Pike. Once inside the fortifications, the American defenders continued the battle and the British who were taking on casultied by this time could not breach the fort. Commodore Yeo still refused to bring his ship within range for support, insisting on staying out of range of the fort's artillery. With little hope against the defenses the British withdrew. The British withdrew back to the ships under fire, although the defenders made no pursuit.
Results
The British forces withdrew from Sackett's Harbor. Although the General Pike had been set on fire, since it was still green wood, it did not burn well and the Americans were able to salvage the ship. The part of the shipyard that was set on fire did cause the American navy some setbacks in the upcoming campaigns. Yet it did remain in American hands thanks in part to the capable leadership of Jacob Brown.
References http://members.tripod.com/~war1812/batsacket.html http://www.galafilm.com/1812/e/events/sackett.html
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