HMS Prince Regent-- Part 2: Flagship of British Lake Erie Fleet

It became the flagship of Commodore Sir James Lucas Yeo and gave him the edge in the naval race so he immediately used it.  The British squadron departed Kingston 4 May 1814 to attack Fort Oswego, New York, which involved a landing operation.  The fort and town of Oswego were captured May 6.

On May 19, they set up a blockade of the US Navy at Sackets Harbor, New York.  After the defeat at Sandy Creek, they abandoned the blockade June 5 and returned to Kingston.

With the launch of the first rate ship-of-the-line HMS St. Lawrence, Yeo transferred his flag to that ship and once again he had naval superiority

--Brock-Perry

Battle of Big Sandy Creek, New York-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

I mentioned this battle in the timeline on the previous post.

Fought in northwestern New York May 29-30, 1814.  A force of American militia and Oneida Indians surprised a force of British sailors and marines.

After their successful attack on Fort Oswego May 5-6, 1814, the British withdrew from Oswego to the Galloo Islands in Lake Ontario to keep watch on supplies going to Sackets Harbor where three American ships (the brigs Jefferson and Jones and frigate Superior) were waiting for cannons and rigging.

Unfortunately for them, they had missed these when they attacked Fort Oswego as they were nearby, but further up the Oswego River.

these supplies had been sent from the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York City, up the Hudson River to Albany, NY, and then on the Mohawk River to Wood Creek and Oneida Lake before arriving at the Oswego River.  Here, they stopped while the British took Fort Oswego at the mouth of the river by Lake Ontario.  This was quite an accomplishment in itself, going all that distance, but thankfully water routes were available.

Commodore Isaac Chauncey at Sackets Harbor ordered an expedition under Melancton Taylor Woolsey to get the supplies.  The British found out about the supplies and sent their own expedition to intercept.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Timeline: May 1814

MAY 30TH, 1814, 200 years ago.

A British force under the command of Captain Stephen Popham, consisting of two gunboats, three cutters and 160 sailors and marines is soundly defeated and captured in Sandy Creek, New York, having ventured inland in pursuit of American bateaux (boats) carrying cannons and munitions for Sackets Harbor..

--Brock-Perry

Battle of Fort Oswego-- Part 2

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