First Battle of Sacket's Harbor

British Empire

United States

The First Battle of Sacket's Harbor was fought on July 19, 1812, between the United States and Great Britain. The American forces repelled a British naval attack on their town.

Background

Sackets 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. On Sunday, July 19, 1812, Captain Melancthon Taylor 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. 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 Oneida 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 which a 32 pound 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 militias. 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. 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 a few 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 formed 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 U.S. battery and continued for two hours. Most of the British shots were reportedly accurate. The Americans returned fire throughout the British bombardment with USS Oneida's broadsides and their 32 pounder which inflicted many hits or near hits on the Royal Navy vessels.

Towards the close of the action, as the Royal George, the flagship, was manuevering 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 U.K. 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.