HISTORY

September 27, 1813
Burlington Races

By late September the British fleet on Lake Ontario was still in Burlington Bay on the west side of the lake, with the American fleet between it and its base at Kingston. For months the fleets had been avoiding combat, but after the American Victory on Lake Erie, Commodore Chauncey was uncharacteristically spoiling for a fight to capture some glory for himself. So on the 27th the American fleet went hunting.

At the same time, Yeo had decided it was time to return to his base at Kingston. The two fleets met just south of York (now Toronto). Combat began with the Wolfe and the General Pike exchanging broadsides, the Pike losing it topsail.

In the end, the Wolfe got the worst of it and was severely damaged. The Americans moved into finish off the British flagship, when the Royal George maneuvered between the two and hammered the American vessel with repeated broadsides.

After three hours Yeo escaped, moving the battered Wolfe back into Burlington Bay. Chauncey, unwilling to pursue the British, breaks and sails back east. This ends what has become known as the "Burlington Races."