First Battle of Sackett's Harbor

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=First Battle of Sackett's Harbor


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partof=War of 1812
date=July 19, 1812
place=Sackett's Harbor
result=American victory
combatant1=United Kingdom
combatant2=United States
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=
strength2=
defectings1=
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The First Battle of Sackett's Harbor was fought on July 19, 1812, between the United States and Great Britain. The American forces repelled a British naval assault.

Sacketts Harbor is located on the North West side of New York state on Lake Ontario. It was the chief shipbuilding yard for the Americans during the war of 1812. [http://www.rudyalicelighthouse.net/OntLts/HorseIs/HorseIs.htm]

The British had captured a merchant ship carrying flour nearby and sent the men to shore with their demands. Their demands were that the Americans give the Oneida (American ship) and the Lord Nelson, a ship that the Americans had captured from the British, to them and if a shot was fired at them they would burn the village. [http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/jefferson/hounsfield/1stbattle.html] The British side had five ships the Royal George (24 guns,) Seneca (18 guns), Prince Regent (22 guns), Earl of Moira (20 guns), and the Simcoe. They came up on the harbor and surprisingly met considerable resistance from the Oneida and the land based guns including a 32 pounder.

The American Captain Woolsey sighted the British ships and anchored the Oneida (16 24lb guns) close to shore. He then left the boat in the hands of a lieutenant while he went to shore to command the land defenses which consisted of one regiment and nearby militia. The battle that ensued between the two forces lasted for 2 hours. All but a few of the British cannonballs landed in front of the American land forces. But, the Americans led by their 32 pounder (which was too large for the Oneida and had to fire 24 pound balls with the aid of carpet patches [http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/jefferson/hounsfield/1stbattle.html] ) had many successful hits on the British. The most devastating shot came when towards the end of the 2 hours the British flagship The Royal George set up for another broadside when a 24 pound shot ripped through the stern severely damaging it and killing 8 men. Soon after the Royal George was hit the British retreated in defeat.