Arthur Sinclair

On 10 June 1807 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. On 13 December 1811, he was ordered to the command of Argus; and, between 12 October and 17 December 1812, cruised in Argus with the North Atlantic Squadron and took a number of prizes. During the cruise, he became separated from the squadron and was chased for three days and nights by an enemy squadron before his superior ship handling enabled him to escape.

For much of the War of 1812, Sinclair was assigned to the Great Lakes as part of Commodore Isaac Chauncey's squadron, where he commanded the warship General Pike in an engagement on Lake Ontario on 28 September 1813. For his valor during another engagement on Lake Erie in 1813, Sinclair received a presentation sword from the Commonwealth of Virginia (now in the Virginia Historical Society's collection). In 1814, he commanded Niagara on Lake Huron and Lake Superior and directed the naval squadron in the Battle of Mackinac Island and the Engagement on Lake Huron. Sinclair conducted a hit-and-run raid at St. Marys River, Upper Canada, capturing a small merchantman, the Mink. After capturing the merchantman in the raid, Arthur Sinclair withdrew back to American lines in Michilimackinac.[1]

In extension of his raid at St. Marys River. Sinclair sent Daniel Turner with a detachment of seamen alongside regulars under Andrew Holmes to penetrate deeper into enemy territory. Turner destroyed buildings, possessions, and burned a schooner. Turner withdrew back to American territory in Michilimackinac, reuniting with Sinclair.[2]

On July 12, 1814. Arthur Sinclair commanding 5 vessels transported 550 American regulars and 250 militia led by Lt. Colonel George Croghan who was the hero of Fort Stephenson. Sinclair sailed his force to St. Joseph Island where the British abandoned their outpost. Sinclair landed the American infantry force, and the Americans found a British vessel that had been set on fire by the British who evacuated. The Americans put the fire out to salvage the ship. But after examining the ship, the Americans restarted the fire and destroyed the ship. The Americans also burned the empty British post and also burned down the Canadian Northwest Company trading post. Then the Americans boarded the ships of Sinclair's fleet and departed to their next objective.[3]

On August 4, 1814. Arthur Sinclair moved his fleet to Mackinac Island that was under British occupation. The objective of the American fleet was to retake Mackinac Island. Sinclair steered his fleet to Mackinac. Sinclair lands the American infantry on the rear of the British post on the island. Lt. Col George Croghan advanced with his regulars and militia. But the British had set a position to resist the American advance. Croghan's regulars were ambushed by Indians allied to the British. The Americans engaged the British-Indian force. The Americans suffered 13 killed and 52 wounded. The British-Indian forces suffered maybe 1 killed and 1 wounded. The Americans gave up their objective after suffering heavy casualties and retreated to the ships of Sinclair's fleet. Arthur Sinclair's fleet withdrew from the Island.[4]

Arthur Sinclair steered his fleet to raid Nottawasaga. On August 13, 1814, Sinclair sent his two vessels Lawrence and Caledonia back to Detroit. Then Sinclair moved on with his 3 remaining vessels Niagara, Scorpion and Tigress to Nottawasaga to attack a British outpost. Sinclair arrived at the location and landed infantry troops with artillery. The American land artillery and Sinclair's cannons on his ships bombarded the British blockhouse. The British sailors and militia realizing they could not hold off the American assault any longer burned their schooner Nancy and blew up their blockhouse before retreating suffering 1 killed and 1 wounded. The Americans recovered the guns in the destroyed blockhouse and placed them on their ships. The American then felled trees across the river to block it. Sinclair left two gunboats to blockade the area under the command of Lieutenant Daniel Turner. Sinclair instructed Turner to intercept any British supply shipping and then return to Detroit when the weather turned bad. Arthur Sinclair withdrew back to Detroit in his vessel Niagara with the three newly captured British guns. Daniel Turner patrolled the area with his two gunboats. But the British sailors, militia, and Native American allies under Miller Worsley removed the tree abatis obstacles and stealthily snuck on the American gunboats and ambushed them. The Americans under Daniel Turner were all captured suffering 6 killed and 6 wounded. The victorious British suffered 3 killed and 9 wounded.[5][6]