practically closed, yet there was one post of great importance which had not been wrested from the English. That post was at the head of the lakes and was virtually the key of the West. Active steps were soon taken to dispossess the English of this stronghold and drive them wholly from the American soil. Immediately after the battle of the Thames, an expedition to the upper lakes was contemplated, but, unfortunately, it was prevented by the non-arrival of two schooners-the Chippeway and Ohio-which had been sent to Cleveland and Bass Islands for provisions. These vessels had arrived off Malden, but a storm from the west drove them to the lower end of the lake, where they were stranded.

Early in the following April, 1814, this expedition up Lake Huron was again proposed, the object being twofoldthe capture of Fort Mackinac and the destruction of certain vessels which it was said the English were building in Gloucester, or Matchadash Bay, at the south-east extremity of the lake. But this plan was also abandoned, partly from a want of men, partly from the belief that Great Britain did not, as had been supposed, intend to make an effort to regain the command of the upper lakes, and partly also from a misunderstanding between General Harrison and Colonel Croghan, who commanded at Detroit, on the one hand, and the Secretary of War, on the other. No sooner, however, had the plan of April been abandoned that it was revived again, in consequence of new information of the establishment at Matchadash Bay.

In obedience to orders issued upon the second day of June, ample preparations were soon made. A squadron was fitted out, consisting of the United States sloops of war Niagara and Lawrence, carrying twenty guns each, with the smaller schooners Caledonia, Scorpion, Tigress, Detroit, and others, and a land force of seven hundred and fifty men placed on board. Commodore Sinclair was the naval commander, and Lieut. Col. Croghan, a young man who had gallantly and successfully defended Sandusky during the early part of the war, had

charge of the militia. Ambrose R. Davenport who, two years before had been sent away from Mackinac on account of his loyalty, was chosen to accompany the expedition as quartermaster and guide. On the third day of July, when all was ready and fair winds had proffered their needed assistance, the sails were spread and the fleet sped joyfully on its course. Difficulties encountered on the flats of Lake St. Clair, and the rapid current of the river prevented the squadron from reaching Lake Huron till the 12th. High hopes of success and bright anticipations of glory, cheered the hearts of officers and men as that fleet of sloops and schooners, the largest that had ever ventured .out upon the bosom of Lake Huron, proudly shaped its course for Matchadash Bay. Disappointment, however, awaited them. Every possible effort was made to gain the desired bay and destroy the imaginary vessels there building, but in vain. No pilot could be found for that unfrequented part of the lake. Islands and sunken rocks were numerous and threatened destruction to the fleet. The lake was almost continually covered with an impenetrable fog and from the time already consumed in the fruitless attempt, the provisions of the army were growing short, hence that part of the work was abandoned and the squadron pushed on toward the head waters of Huron.

When nearing the place of destination, a council was called to decide whether they should proceed at once to the capture of Fort Mackinac, or first repair to St. Joseph's and destroy the enemy's works at that point. It was urged that an immediate attack upon the fort was policy, inasmuch as the English, having had no intimation of their approach, were probably without Indian allies, and unprepared to defend the island; that, should they first proceed to St. Joseph's, time would thus be given the English to call in these savage auxiliaries, and so strengthen themselves that, upon their return, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to take the place. But Sinclair thought that, by leaving a part of the squadron to cruise round the island during his absence, this could be pre

vented; hence, in spite of salutary advice from those who knew the Indian character far better than themselves, it was agreed between the naval and military commanders to proceed at once to St. Joseph's. This was a fatal error. As well attempt to prevent insects from flying through the air by holding up the hand as to think of hindering Indians in their approach to the island with two or three gun boats anchored in as many different places about it.

On the 20th of July, they arrived at St. Joseph's and found the British establishment at that point deserted. This they burned, but left untouched the town and North-West Company's storehouses. While windbound at this point, Sinclair captured the North-West Company's schooner Mink, from Mackinac to St. Mary's with a cargo of flour, and by this means received intelligence that the schooner Perseverance was lying above the Falls of St. Mary, at the foot of Lake Superior, in waiting to transport the Mink's cargo to Fort Williams.

Upon the receipt of this information, he dispatched Lieut. Turner, an active and enterprising officer, to capture her, and, if possible, get her down the falls. Col. Croghan attached Major Holmes with a party of regulars to coöperate in the expedition, in which the capture of St. Mary's was included. The following official report of Lieut. Turner to Sinclair will give the reader a clear idea of what was effected by this movement. It is dated U. S. Schooner Scorpion, off Michilimackinac, July 28th, 1814:

"SIR: I have the honor to inform you, that agreeable to your orders of the 22d instant, I proceeded on the expedition to Lake Superior with the launches. I rowed night and day; but having a distance of of sixty miles, against a strong current, information had reached the enemy at St. Mary's of our approach about two hours before I arrived at that place, carried by Indians in their light canoes; several of whom I chased, and by firing on them and killing some, prevented

their purposes; some I captured and kept prisoners until my arrival, others escaped. The force under Major Holmes prevented anything like resistance at the fort, the enemy with their Indians carrying with them all the light valuable articles, peltry, clothes, &c. I proceeded across the strait of Lake Superior without a moment's delay; and on my appearance, the enemy finding they could not get off with the vessel I was in quest of, set fire to her in several places, scuttled, and left her. I succeeded in boarding her, and by considerable exertions extinguished the flames, and secured her from sinking. I then stripped her and prepared for getting her down the falls. Adverse winds prevented my attempting the falls until the 26th, when every possible effort was used, but I am sorry to say without success, to get her over in safety. The fall in three-quarters of a mile is forty-five feet, and the channel very rocky; the current runs from twenty to thirty knots, and in one place there is a perpendicular leap of ten feet between three rocks; here she bilged, but was brought down so rapidly that we succeeded in running her on shore below the rapids before she filled, and burned her. She was a fine new schooner, upwards of 100 tons, called the Perseverance, and will be a severe loss to the North-West Company. Had I succeeded in getting her safe, I could have loaded her to advantage from the enemy's storehouses. I have, however, brought down four captured boats loaded with Indian goods to a considerable amount; the balance contained in four large and two small storehouses were destroyed, amounting in value from fifty to one hundred thousand dollars. All private property was, according to your orders, respected. The officers and men under my command behaved with great activity and zeal, particularly midshipman Swartwout.

"I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,

"DANIEL TURNER." On the return of the launches to St. Joseph's, the squadron proceeded to Mackinac, where it arrived on the 26th. During

the time that had now elapsed since the first appearance of the fleet off light-house point, Colonel McDonall, British commander at Mackinac, had not been disinclined to make the most of the opportunity thus afforded him for strengthening his position. Everything had been put in the most perfect order; weak points in the fortifications had been strengthened and such aid as the country afforded had been summoned to his assistance. Nor was this aid inconsiderable. Under the unfortunate circumstances attending the attack, more efficient auxiliaries could not have been found than those very savages who, during that brief period of delay, had gathered in large numbers upon the island. Batteries had been planted at various places on the heights which best commanded the approaches to the island. One was situated on the height overlooking the old distillery, another upon the high point just west of the fort, and others along the ridge back of the present town from the fort to Robinson's Folly. Thus that officer, though he had but few men comparatively in command, and must have surrendered at once had an immediate attack been made upon him, was able, with the advantage he had now gained, to withstand a strong force.

Various feelings agitated the inhabitants of the place as the squadron neared the island. Some had two years before parted with friends with whom they now hoped to be re-united, while others, who had turned traitor to the American flag, justly feared the gallows should the approaching expedition succeed in taking the fort.

Sinclair pushed up as near to the channel between Round and Mackinac islands as he dared on account of the batteries of the enemy, and as close to the eastern extremity of Round Island as safety would permit, and anchored. Scarcely, however, had the anchors reached the bottom when the English opened a brisk fire upon him, and though he imagined himself beyond the reach of harm from that source, the balls that were falling around him and whizzing over his head told him that he must take a more respectful distance or be destroyed.