1814     BRITISH AND AMERICANS ON CANADIAN LAKES     335

M'Veagh. Captain Popham concludes his official letter on the subject with this paragraph: " The exertions of the American officers of the rifle corps, commanded by Major Appling, in saving the lives of many of the officers and men, whom their own men and the Indians were devoting to death, were conspicuous, and claim our warmest gratitude."

On the 11th of June, the Americans launched at Sackett's-Harbour the Mohawk, of about 1350 tons, mounting 28 long 24-pounders on the main deck, two long 24s and 18 carronades, 42-pounders, on the quarterdeck and forecastle, total 48 guns, with a complement of 460 men. This made the British and American forces in this lake stand, in relative broadside force at, British 2752 lbs., and American 4188 lbs., and in number of men at, British 1517, American 2321. In the latter end of July Sir James Yeo raised the blockade of Sackett's-Harbour, and returned to Kingston ; and on the 1st of August Commodore Chauncey sailed out of port, vexed at the unwillingness of the British to meet him on " equal terms."

Some operations on the upper lakes now demand our attention. The possession of Captain Barclay's fleet had not only given to the Americans the entire command of Lake Erie, and the large lakes, Huron and Superior, leading from it, but had restored to them the immense territory of Michigan, and gained over on their side the five nations of Indians, late the allies of the British. Had the spirit of the Americans, indeed, kept pace with the apathy and neglect, so conspicuous on the part of the British commander-in-chief, the province of Upper Canada could not have held out as it did.

After the capture of the British flotilla on this lake, Captain Perry retired to Lake Ontario, to serve under Commodore Chauncey, and the command on Lake Erie devolved upon Captain Arthur Sinclair. In the month of July, taking with him the two large brigs, Niagara and St.-Lawrence, and the Caledonia, Ariel, Scorpion, and Tigress, Captain Sinclair entered Lake Huron, and on the 4th of August failed in an attack upon the British port of Michilimacinac at the head of that lake. Having obtained intelligence that Lieutenant Miller Worsley of the British navy, with the north-west company's schooner Nancy, was at Nattawassaga, Captain Sinclair, first despatching the St.-Lawrence and Caledonia brigs, with a portion of the troops to co-operate with the American army at Fort Erie, proceeded with the remainder to attack a post deemed far less difficult of reduction, than the " Gibraltar" (Michilimacinac), from which he and Colonel Croghan had just been repulsed. The Nancy was lying about two miles up the Nattawassaga, under the protection of a block-house, situated on the south-east side of the river; which here runs parallel to, and forms a narrow peninsula, with, the shore of Gloucester bay. This enabled Captain Sinclair to anchor his vessels within good

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