HISTORY

May 29th 1813
Operation Market-Garden 1813: Sackett's Harbor

In September 1944 allied armies made the first attempt to cross the Rhine River, by seizing bridges in Holland. The operation came close to its objective, but failed due to the presence of unexpected German reinforcements. It was the first Allied operations to labeled mostly a success. In May of 1813 that operation was called the battle of Sackett's Harbor.

When British commanders at Kingston were informed of the withdrawal of troops from Sackett's Harbor for the expedition against York, they planned an attack. The capture of York delayed the attack, as the British feared the Americans would next turn their attention to Kingston; but when Dearborn attacked FT. George, Sir James L. Yeo resolved to attack Sackett's Harbor while the Americans were on the other end of the lake. Only 250 men of the 1st and 2nd Dragoons, 50 artillerists, and 100 untrained infantry under Col. Backus protected the port. The dragoons, dismounted, and the artillery manned Ft. Tompkins. On the east side of the Harbor, a small fort was manned by the infantry. Gen. Jacob Brown, of the New York Militia, was nominally in command but was actually residing at his home in Brownsville, a few miles from Sackett's Harbor.

On the evening of the 27th of May, the Lady of the Lake, which had been cruising off Kingston to watch British fleet movements, sailed into Sackett's Harbor with the new that a British squadron was on its way. Word got to Gen. Brown and he arrived at the port to attempt to organize the militia of the surrounding country who continually arrived at head-quarters. Some were armed, and some were not, and all were entirely without discipline, and without any organization. As fast as they appeared they were armed and sent to Horse Island, where it was assumed the enemy would attempt to land.

On the 28th, the British squadron, which left Kingston on the evening of the 27th, appeared off Sackett's Harbor. It consisted of about 11,000 regulars and Canadian militia, as well as a considerable body of Native Americans attached to the expedition, and who accompanied it in canoes.

The British forces experienced some confusion, first deploying in small boats to land and then being recalled. Yeo, always a man of caution, observed a flotilla of nineteen American gunboats approaching from the west. The Native Americans drove the gunboats off with their canoes. Twelve of these boats and 70 men were captured. Proving that fear of Native America attack was still a strong factor in combat.

Landing

On the morning of the 29th, 33 boats left the British squadron and made for Horse Island, where they landed under cover of two gun-boats of the royal navy. The British formed up on the island pressed rapidly towards the narrow neck connection the island to the mainland. The American Militia broke and fled, leaving a 6-pounder artillery piece behind. Col. Backus and his regulars and the Albany Volunteers, were able to delay the advance of the British with a rearguard action. The troops stopped falling back once the British were in rage of the guns at Fort Tompkins. This line held for an hour and then fell back, outnumbered by British attackers. The fight was still on going when the store-houses in the Harbor and the new ship General Pike were set afire by the naval staff officer in charge.

The Americans took refuge in some new log barracks in an open space near the town. But this time Gen. Brown was able to rally 300 of the militia who had fled from Horse Island and led an attack on the British landing site, which was now in the rear of the advancing British column. This attack caused the British to abandon their attack and withdraw to the boats to prevent be trapped on shore. The withdrawal soon became a disorderly flight.

After the British withdrew, they demanded the port's surrender, which was quickly denied. By noon the British were sailing for Kingston. Although unable to seize the port, the British did achieve one of their objectives, the destruction of ships and store in the harbor. This allowed the British to declare the operation mostly a success.