Fort Oswego

On May 5, 1814, a British flotilla attempted an attack on the Village of Oswego and destroy American naval armaments.  Unfavorable winds and American artillery prevented the British from landing.  The British were successful in landing a force east of Fort Ontario the next day and overcame the American defenses.  The outnumbered Americans retreated leaving Fort Ontario and the Village of Oswego to the British.

Although the British were able to force the Americans to retreat, capture the fort, and seize a quantity of military stores, the battle of Oswego can perceived as an American victory. In fact, Lt. Col. George E. Mitchell had defeated the British even before the first shots were fired on 5 May 1814. Sir James Yeo's main objective was to capture the armament intended for the American ships, the Jefferson, the Jones, and the Superior laying up at Sackett's Harbor. Mitchell had moved these inland to Oswego Falls before the British vessels were in sight, preventing them from falling into British hands in the likely event that Fort Ontario was captured.