Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-05-28
From the New York Ledger.
BATTLE OF SANDY CREEK
BY DR.. s. COMPTON SMITH.

Among the historical events of cur last
war with England, l am not aware that any
record has ever been made of the Battle of
Sandy Creek, although that affair is fresh
in the memory Of the older residents of the
vicinity.
1t was frcm the lips of persons still living
and who particiE ated in the fight, that |
gathered the account Of it l give below.
Sandy Greek is formed by two beautiful
streams-the North Sandy and the South
Sandy. These rising in the western part
Of Lewis county, run through the south
western corner Of jefferson N0unty, in the
State of New York, and uniting two miles
from their mouth, empty into Lake Data
III about twenty miles south Of Sackets
1arbor.
After the capture, by the Americans, of
Toronto, then called Little York, and
while our troops were preparing to embark
from that place. on the expedition against
Fort George, ut the mouth of the Niagara,
tho British, Mt Kingston, having gained
intClli gence Of the unprotected situation If
! Sackets UQlbor, de ermined to make a
| sudden and unexpected attack upon that
/ town.
The reduction Of this post was of the ut.
most importance to the enemy, as it was
| our only naval depot on Lake Outario, and
the chief ore on the line of the great
! Lakes; for the gallant Perry had just com
I msnced that Of Lake Erie, at the little town
/ of Erie
/ At Sackets Harbor had Iecn collected
| valuable military stores and vessels of
| war, destined for service on the Lake, were
! in process Of construction-somea already
! 81, n Al
On the evening Of the 9th Of May, 1913
the same day or which Fort George was
! captured-the English made their appear
| auce cf the entrance of the harbor The
! fleet was under the command of Sir James
Yeo while the landing Of the troops, and
| the attack upon the town. was directed by
Sir George Proves. On the following day.
! (the 28th,) the debarkatian was expected
on the peninsula called Horse Island, a
short distance from the town.
The attack on this place, and the repulse
of the enemy, is well known to all familiar
with the history OF the war and / refer to
it only as it is connected with the affairs at
Sandy Greek.
But before leaving this portion Of the
subject, however, it may be we'll to state
that the force brought against Sackets Har
Dor consisted Of the Wolfe, the Royal
George, the Prince Regent, the Earl of
Mora, and one brig, two schoOners, and
two gun boats, with thirty three barges,
containing in all twelve hundred troops
Failing in his designs upon the place, Sir
James Yeo, somewhat crestfallen, that q
handful of raw militia should have given
his veterans so rough reception, lifted his
anchors, and directed his course up the
lake, intending to look into Oswego, and
along the American shore, on his way to
Fort George and Little York.
On arriving off the mouth of Sandy
Creek, he detached the two schooners from
the fleet, with orders to proceed up the
; creek to the point wher it was supposed the
Americans had accumulated supplies for
Chauncey's squadron; and after transfer
ring as many as these stores as possible to
the vessels, 10 destroy the remainder, and
the buildings, and otherwise modest the
Inhabitants and their property.
In obedience to these instructions the
echooners steered for the entrance to the
creek. But bar extending across the
mouth prevented the passage Of the largest
2 vessel. The other, however, had no diff
s Guilty and having entered, lay to, while
the lieutenant In command and other Off
GERS landed on the beach to reconnoitre.
At this point, which is a treeless sand
bank, with the waves of the lake breaking
in front, and deep, impenetrable marsh
in the rear, stood a solitary frame house
a sort of tavern for the accommodation oil
fishing parties, from the surrounding coun
try and in the upper window of which
was kept a light for the benefit of those
navigating the lake. This honse is still
standing, and occupied for the same pur-
pose.
At the time of the arrival of the British
vessels, this house was occupied by mar
named Lawrence. who to the business of q
tavern keeper, added that of a fisherman
and occasionally that of trapper.
Entering the house, the British officers
ordered the landlord to set before them the
choicests liquors he had and while seated
at the table, enjoying their drink, they
pied him with interrogations relating tC
the condition and amount of the stores uT
the creek.
Lawrence, who had been employed al
various times, at the landing, in assisting
In slowing away the supplies, was enabled
to answer their questions satisfactorily.
care there any soldiers there to guard