Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-02-09
THE BATTLE OF SACKETT'S
HARBOR.

The battle Of Sackett's Harbor, fought
on the 29th of May, 1918, does not APP
pear to have attracted the notice Of the
public, to degree proportioned to the a
bilities displayed on that occasion by the
American leaders, or the valor exhibited
by the regular troops under their COM
mand. 1t was in this battle that Gene
qualities, which enabled him on other s.
more celebrated fields, with so much glo-
nv to himself, to vindicate his country's
onor;-and though the defence of Sack
ett's Harbor had no immediate influence
on the succeeding events of the war, the
record Of that achievement deserves a
high place in the annals of our country,
as a brilliant illustration of the bravery &
military talent capable Of being cxerted
by American citizens.
During the spring of 1918, the imPor-
tant post of Sackett's Harbor was left in
very weak and ll-defended state, in con-
sequence Of the removal of almost all It's
garrison to cooperate in the attack on
Fort George. The enemy at Kingston
was not ignorant of its exposed situation,
and the idea very naturally occurred to
him to sieze the opportunity thus pre-
sented of striking a blow, which might
be productive of important results IN his
favor. The British were besides more
strongly tempted to attack Sackett's Har-
Dor on account Of its being our principal
military depot on the lakes, and the place
where all the property captured at York
was stored We had also vessel ofwar
then on the stocks, called the PIKE, to
have destroyed which, with the naval
stores and armament that had been col
lected with great labor and expense,
would have given to the British the SUI
premacy on Lake Ontario, and decided
advantage throughout the subsequent
campaign. The whole force left to guard
so important position, consisted Of part
of regiment of Dragons in number a
bout 900 men, under the command of
Col. Backus, detachment of 40 or 90
Artillersts under It. Ketcham, and an
other of 10 or 80 Infantry, consisting
principally of invalids, recruits, and frac-
tions of companies, which had been left
when the main body Of troops were trans
ported to Fort George. These, in the
event of an attack, might be assisted by
such of the militia Of the neighboring
country as could be called in at a mo-
ment's warning.
AT the period of which we are speak
ing, Gen. Brown had been for some time
residing on his farm at Brownville, seven
miles distant from Sackett's Harbor, ,hav-
ing finished the six months term of SER
vice for which the militia Of his district
had been called into the field at the COM
mencement Of the war When Commo.
dore Chauncey came down the lake a
short time previous, with orders to trans
port to Fort Niagara all the troops in
Sackett's Harbor except the few just emu
merated, he brought letter from Gen
Dearborn to Gen. Brown, requesting him
TO assume the command at tho latter
place, and make what provision he could
for its defence. Gen. Brown delayed
his compliance with this request, from a
sense of delcacy towards Col. Backus,
for whom he entertained high regard,
and whom he did not wish prematurely
to supercede; he accordingly waited until
some positive intelligence should be re-
ceived ofthe enemy's intentions. Every
precaution was however adopted In the
mean while, which the circumstances OF
the case seemed to require, the grounds
about the Harbor were accurately exam
ined, the most probable point of attack
designated, and the plan of defence di-
gested; measures were also taken for cal
ling out the neighboring militia at the
shortest warning, and the troops were
kept diligently employed in Telling trees,
and otherwise obstructing all the ave-
nues of approach of which an enemy could
possibly avail himself In making all
these arrangements, Col. Backus acted
in conjunction with Gen. Brown, who
frequently visited the IIarbor to consult
as to the measures most proper to be a.
dopted in the emergency. IL was under
stood between them, that the moment the
enemy indicated his intention to attack,