1813.

NAVAL ARMAMENT PREPARING AT ERIE.

901

on their side is said to he far below that above stated. There were, they say, only four hundred regulars of the forty-first regiment, aud three hundred Indians, with two six-pound cannon. There were ninety to ninety-three killed at the fort, and in all about one hundred men lost.

The ship building going forward at Erie during this time had not been unknown to, or disregarded by the English, who proposed all in good time to destroy the vessels upon which so much depended, and to appropriate the stores of the republicans: "The ordnance and naval stores you require," said Sir George Prevostto General Proctor, " must be taken from the enemy, whose resources on Lake Erie must become yours. I am much mistaken if you do not find Captain Barclay disposed to play that game." Captain Barclay was an experienced, brave, and able seaman, and was waiting anxiously for a sufficient body of troops to be spared him, in order to attack Erie with success. A sufficient force was promised him against July, at which time the British fleet went down the lake to reconuoiter, and if it were wise, to make the proposed attempt upon the Americans at Erie.

Perry, and his gallant officers and men were prepared to make some resistance, even before the vessels were built; but his main protection was from the north-western Pennsylvania militia, which was constantly held in readiness to repel auy attack that might be made: the county of Eric militia particularly, who were called nearly every week during Juue and July.

Notwithstanding all this watchfulness, by a very extraordinary and happy coincidence, the British had disappeared from the vicinity of the harbor at the very time when Perry was ready to take his new fleet over the bar. What was the cause of their absence has never been satisfactorily ascertained. This, and the unusual navigation of the Allegheny river, may be considered as among the first circumstances iu the war, after a series of reverses, that were favorable to the Americans.

On the 2d of August, the fleet was equipped, but there being difficulty in getting some of the vessels over the bar, it required two days, (until the 4th,) to get them all clear. For this purpose it was necessary to dismount most of the guns, and to protect the fleet at this time, when it was in a most helpless condition, and might otherwise have become a prey to the enemy, had he been on the spot, as anticipated, a very large force of militia was collected in the vicinity, whose services, however, were fortunately not needed.