The British force for the expedition consisted of 550 soldiers, 400 Marines and 200 sailors along with eight ships, including the two frigates. Arranged against them were 242 regulars, 25 sailors and 200 New York militia commanded by Major George Mitchell (mentioned in an earlier post this week).
The British left the main British base on Lake Ontario at Kingston on May 3rd and arrived off Oswego on the 5th. Bad weather delayed landing the troops until the next day. Major Mitchell had his 200 militia at Fort Oswego and manned five small cannons. He was seriously outgunned.
The HMS Prince Regent, HMS Princess Charlotte and six sloops engaged the fort while the troops landed. A soon as they got to the fort's walls, the Americans hastily abandoned it. Casualties: BRITISH: 17-18 killed, 63 wounded. AMERICAN: 6-21 killed, 38 wounded and 69-119 captured.
The British captured a large amount of supplies and a few small schooners, including the USS Growler, which had been previously captured by the British in 1813 and then recaptured by the Americans. It was carrying seven badly-needed cannons for Chauncey's fleet at Sackets Harbor. The fort and anything of value that could not be carried off was destroyed the next day when the British withdrew.
Yeo, however, missed another 21 cannons which were just 12 miles away at the Oswego Falls as he sailed away to put Sackets Harbor under blockade. The Americans later tried to get the cannons to Sackets Harbor which led to the British defeat at the Battle of Sandy Creek May 29-30, 1814.
--GreGen
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
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