The Battle of Sackets Harbor

About half-way from Oswego, NY to Watertown, NY we had a water stop in the town of Sackets Harbor, NY.  Our water jugs were set up next to the historic battlefield and information center right next to the harbor.   I had a real historical treat and spent about an hour on the battle field before moving on to a nice coffee shop and pulling myself back on my bike to finish the ride into Watertown.

Here is the story -- all of which I learned today at the information center and battlefield between about noon and 1 p.m.    It is all about the events that occured on May 29, 1813 during the War of 1812.   But first you need to know that battlefields on the whole are classified by somebody (according to the young guide at the information center) on a scale from A- C.  For example, Gettysburg and Vicksburg are Class A battlefields.  They are rated not just in terms of size but also to their degrees of strategic importance.  They were very proud to say this was a Class A battlefield.  Had we lost this battle we would all be saying "Eh" at the end of everything we say as good Canadians.

The British and the French were fighting along between 1793 - 1812 and the USA was trying to stay neutral.  Problem was, the British kept seizing US merchant ships and impresssing American sailors into service aboard British warships.   This didn't go over so well and tensions arose.    The U.S. began building big ships to protect Lake Ontario and this Sackets Harbor is one of the few areas deep enough to hold and receive large ships.   So the British attacked the area, landing on "Horse Island" and then moved to attack the fort on land while American squadrons were fighting on the other side of the lake.  

A huge battle occured and things got so intense that the US soldiers let out a 32 inch cannon full of grape shot and wiped out 30 percent of the attacking forces (roughly about 1000 red coats).   All this is a bit rough and the battle went back and forth for sometime but in the end the British retreated.  It was great fun to visit and learn all this along the way.    So often we have seen some huge natural wonders that to see some cool historic spots like this are a special treat.  I loved every minute of it.