Norwich bulletin., 1921-01-08
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
 . HISTORY
4 FORGOrrEN BATTLE oF 1sl

A FOhGOTTEN BATTLE OF 1872. There was a battle of considerable im- portance in determining the respective position of the British and American navies on Lake Ontario, in the second war with England, which seems to have escaped entirely the notice of later his- torians. history of the United States during the administration of Jefferson and Madison, written by Henry Adams, and which is in nine volumes, has not one word in regard to the Big Sandy battle, in which the percentage of the British loss was as great as in almost any contest in which the troops of that empire were engaged, being about 16 per cent. of the men on either side killed, and about 35 per cent killed and wounded
 In this battle every British soldier and sailor not killed was captured At noon on May 2S, 1874. line of rowboats en- tered the mouth of the Big Sandy creek from the lake. There were IS of them. and they contained munitions and arma- ment for two vessels. the Mohawk and the Jones. which were still in the stocks at S7cketts harbor, awaiting their neces- sary furnishings before being added to the little American fleet on the lake.
 The boats had left Oswego the day be- fore and including in their cargoes 21 long S2-pounders. 10 24-pounders, three 42-pounders, as well as shot. shell and rigging. A company of the First United states rifles, under command of Captain Appling. was scattered among the various boats, and party of Oneida Indians had been taken aboard a few miles back, so that the entire force in charge of the SUD- plies amounted to about 150 men,
 Seeing some sails in the distance as they were hugging the shore at this place, they ran into the creek with the hope of having their supplies despatched overland by wagons. Runners were accordingly sent out to invite the sparse farming pop ulation to bring teams for the rescue, and watch was set on one of the sand hills to keep the strange vessels in sight. Be- fore daylight the next morning it was discovered that the outside boats were really the enemy's and were making for the mouth of the creek. They captured three gunboats, three cutters and a gig. Messengers were immediately despatched to Ellis Village for militia support and preparations were made to give the Brit ish the warmest kind of reception.
 Fences were torn down and brush cut away to facilitate movements of cavalrJ and artillery, and the work of landing the marine stores was entered upon with spirit. The enemy brought their vessels into the mouth of the creek and speedily assisted in rousing the country by opening upon the Americans with six eight-pourd- CTS across the marsh
 Not the slightest damage was done bS this cannonade, and the British com mander soon ordered it's cessation and worked his boats further up the south branch of the creek. At a. m. a battery of two six-pounders and a squadron of cavalry arrived from Ellis Village and re- ported that infantry would soon follow. By this time the British were landing troops, to the joy of the Americans, who kne wthey would have to make their way through the marsh there, and therefore gave them a few cannon shot, while Cap tain Appling posted his soldiers in ambush among some bushes near the edge of the