First Battle of Sacket ' s Harbor The First Battle of Sacket ' s Harbor ( also spelled as Sackett ' s ) was a naval battle fought on July 19 , 1812 , between the American and British naval forces that resulted in the American forces repelling the attack on their town and the shipbuilding yard located there . Background . Sacket ' s Harbor is located on Lake Ontario in Northern New York State . It was the chief shipbuilding yard for the United States during the War of 1812 . It had a good strategic position on the lake , with abundant resources , and an excellent natural harbor which became the center of military and naval operations for the war ' s northern theater . Following the first battle , the town and harbor became a large and centralized military complex , with a fortification served by thousands of troops . On Sunday , July 19 , 1812 , Captain Woolsey , of USS " Oneida " , discovered from the mast head of his brig five enemy vessels sailing up Sacket ' s Harbor . The British vessels were HMS " Royal George " ; of twenty - four guns ; HMS " Seneca " ; of eighteen guns ; HMS " Prince Regent " ; of twenty - two guns ; HMS " Earl of Moira " , of twenty guns and HMS " Simcoe " of ten guns . The British had captured a merchant ship carrying flour nearby and sent the men to shore with the demands that the Americans surrender the USS " Oneida " and the HMS " Lord Nelson " , a ship that the Americans had captured and that if a shot was fired at them they would burn the village of Sacket ' s Harbor . Battle . The first shots were fired by the British at the brig USS " Oneida " , under the command of Commodore Chauncey , which attempted to escape the incoming British vessels but failed and returned to the point . The British continued on and dropped anchor . Back at the point " Oneida " was moored with one broadside of nine guns to the enemy , while the others were taken out and hastily placed on a breastwork along the shoreline , near where a 32 - pounder cannon , intended for the " Oneida " , but found too heavy , had been mounted on a pivot . Below the cannon , a protective mound about six feet high had been constructed . Alarm guns were fired and expresses were sent to call in the neighboring militia s . Unfortunately for the Americans , most of the militia did not arrive in time to render assistance , but by the end of the day , some 3 , 000 local militia had assembled but they did not engage . The British had been misinformed about the defenses of the harbor and assumed there was nothing to be feared in the way of ordnance . The force at that time in town was , besides the crew of the " Oneida " , a regiment under Colonel Bellinger , a volunteer company of artillery under Captain Camp , and the militia . Captain Woolsey , leaving his brig in charge of a lieutenant , took command on shore , the 32 - pounder being in charge of William Vaughan a sailing master , and the other guns under that of Captain Camp . There was no shot in town larger than 24 - pound balls , which were used with the aid of patches made of carpet , in the 32 - pounder . By the time these arrangements were made , the enemy had arrived within range , nearly in front of the battery . The action was commenced , the first shot was fired from the 32 - pounder which failed to hit any of the British ships . A shout of laughter was heard from the fleet just after , indicating that the Americans first shot fell too short of target . The British returned a salvo briskly at the American battery and continued for two hours . Most of the British shots were reportedly accurate . The Americans returned fire throughout the bombardment , USS " Oneida " s broadsides and their 32 - pounder inflicted many hits or near hits on the Royal Navy vessels . Towards the close of the action , as the flagship " Royal George " was maneuvering to fire another broadside , a 24 - pound shot struck her stern and raked her whole length , killing eight men , and doing much damage . " Royal George " also had severe damage to her top mast and rigging . Other British warships were damaged but the extent is unknown . Upon this the signal of retreat was given and the British fleet bore away for Kingston , Ontario without ceremony . At this , the band struck up the national tune of Yankee Doodle , and the troops yelled three cheers of victory . Aftermath . On July 24 , 1812 , General Jacob Brown attributed the success of the day to the gallant spirit of officers Woolsey , Bellinger and Camp , in their respective capacities , and especially to the crew of the 32 pounder . William Vaughan , who had commanded the 32 pounder , claimed the honor of having fired the first hostile gun in the war . One of the men at this gun , named Julius Torry , an African - American , better known as Black Julius , and a great favorite in the camp , served at his post with remarkable activity and courage . As there was no opportunity for the use of small arms , the greater part of the troops who were drawn up , were spectators of the engagement .