Watertown Post – May 29, 2025
Anniversary Feature: Remembering the Second Battle of Sackett’s Harbour – 212 Years Later
Today marks the 212th anniversary of the Second Battle of Sackett’s Harbour, fought on May 29, 1813, a pivotal conflict during the War of 1812 that turned the quiet lakeside village of Sackett’s Harbour into a crucible of American resistance and military ingenuity.
Sackett’s Harbour—with the original British spelling still proudly retained—was more than just a small town on the eastern edge of Lake Ontario. In 1813, it was the beating heart of the U.S. Navy’s operations on the Great Lakes and the key American shipyard in the northern theater of the war. It was also the target of a bold British assault meant to cripple American shipbuilding and seize control of the lake.
The British force, led by Sir George Prevost and supported by seasoned troops fresh from the Napoleonic Wars, launched an amphibious invasion across the lake from Kingston, Upper Canada. Their mission: destroy the shipyard, disrupt the growing American naval presence, and halt the construction of the massive warship General Pike.
American defenders—consisting of regular soldiers, New York militia, and naval personnel—rallied under the leadership of General Jacob Brown and Commodore Isaac Chauncey. Despite being outnumbered and caught off guard, they mounted a tenacious and ultimately successful defense. Fierce combat erupted along the shoreline and in the streets of the village, with American forces managing to repel the British and hold the harbour at great cost.
One of the most dramatic moments of the battle came when the Americans, fearing the British would capture their prized ship-in-construction and supplies, began torching their own shipyard. Chaos reigned until the tide turned in the defenders’ favor, driving the British back across the lake.
This battle was more than a skirmish—it was a statement. It confirmed Sackett’s Harbour’s vital role in the war effort and marked a turning point in American control of the Great Lakes. It also cemented the town’s legacy as a place where courage, sacrifice, and grit prevailed in defense of a young republic’s frontier.
Today, 212 years later, we honour those who stood their ground where forest met water, who fought for freedom in the face of a global empire. The scars of that day remain preserved in the soil, the bones beneath the cemetery stones, and the memory of a village that stood as a bulwark against British aggression.
Let this anniversary be more than a passing mention in a history book. Let it be a reminder that Northern New York—particularly Sackett’s Harbour—is not just a scenic dot on the map but a crucible of American resolve. And may we never forget the price paid on May 29, 1813, to protect what we hold dear.
— The Watertown Post
🇺🇸🦅 History Lives Here.
