Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-02-09
the General should assume the command

IN person.
The schooner "Lady Of the Lake."
which had been for some time cruising
in the vicinity Of Kingston, to observe
the enemy 5 motions, came into Sackett 5
llarbor on the evening Of the 9th of
May, and reported that he had put to sea
in great force, having strengthened his
fleet by the addition Of the WOLF, new
vessel of "a guns, at that time one of the
largest on the Lake. This Intelligence
was promptly communicated by Col
Backus to Gen Brown, who after having
dispatched his expresses in every dlrec-
ton for assembling the militia, proceeded
Immediately to Sacketts Haroor, where
he arrived before day on the 28th. He
directed alarm guns to be fired, and dis
patched dragoons in every direction, to
hasten the approach of succors. The
militia from the country soon began to
make their appearance, and during the
whole day they continued to assemble in
considerable numbers. AS fast as they
arrived, they were armed and sent to
Horse Island, the point where the enc
my was expected to land. The enemy's
fleet appeared in sight early in the day,
but he employed himself for some time in
endeavoring to cut off an American force
that was approaching from the westward.
This was part of regiment OF Infantry,
under Col. Aspinwall, who was on his
way from Oswego to Sacketts Harbor by
water, and who in rounding Six-Town
Point, very Unexpectedly found himself
in the vicinity ofthe English fleet. The
enemy Immediately pursued him, and
succeeded in capturing part of his force,
the remainder escaped to the shore where
they landed, and prosecuted their march
towards their place of destination, which
they reached at about nine in the even
ing.
In the course of the 28th, about GOO
militia men had assembled, fresh from
their homes, entirely without discipline,
and almost without organization. These,
with about 800 effective Regulars, be-
sides the remnant of Col. Aspinwall 5
command, (about 100 more, who were
greatly fatigued with their days march,
constituted the whole disposable force
with which the defence was to be con-
Quoted. BY night all the arrangements
for the reception ofthe enemy were COM
pleted, and Gen. Brown took his post at
Horse Island. The American Com
mander perfectly understood the ground
upon which he was to act, and he did
not fail to perceive, and make his dispo-
sitions to profit by the advantages that Of
fered themselves to the defending party.
Sackett's Harbor lies OH the South side
of Black River Bay, which is at that
point about mile and half wide, the
general direction of the coast in the inn
mediate vicinity of the town, being lit
tie North of East, and South of West.-
The entrance to the Harbor was defend
ed on the East side by Fort Volunteer,
and on the West by Fort Tompkins.-I
These works rendered it difficult for an
enemy to land directly at the town, and
made it necessary that the troops Cestln-
ed for the attack, should be put ashore to
the Eastward or Westward ofthe village,
out of the reach of their guns Many
reasons existed why the East side OF the
town should not be chosen by the enemy
for his landing His vessels or boats to.
have reached that quarter, would have.
been obliged to pass before the Forts at
the mouth of the Harbor, q consequent
ly exposed to their fire. In case OF re-.
verse, likewise, he might have been har-
rassed or cut otf in his retreat; and be-
sides, by landing on the East side OF the
town, the assalants would have found
themselves too far removed from the
store-houses and the Navy-Y ard the
main objects of their expedition. Gen.
Brown accordingly contcntcd himself
with posting in Fort Volunteer, the In
fantry ubo had been left under Col.
Backus' command, to guard against sur
prise from the East, rcscrving his prlnci-
pal strength to oppose the enemy on the
opposite side of the Harbor. About one
and half miles Westward of the town,
is Horse Island, lying but short dis
tance from the main shore, ,and separated
from it only by narrow channel which
is at all times very shallow, and was at
this period quite dry. Opposite the end
of the Island towards SaCkett's Harbor,
there was a cleared field of about four a
cres, the front of which afforded a fine
landing place for boats. This clearing
was surrounded on all sides except to-
wards the Bay, by thick woods, which
covered the whole ground between it and
Sackett's Harbor. The passage through
these woods had been as much obstruct-
ed as possible, by Telling trees IN every
direction, some days before the battle
An enemy might either land on the out
side of Horse Island and march across
the isthmus which connected It with the