To be Delivered to:
John Duncan MacLachlan
Castle Street,
Dundee
From:
John Duncan MacLachlan
The Narrows,
Upper Canada
October 9, 1814
Dear father,
I try to write as often as I can and, as the winter season here is long and prohibits water activities, I find much time for more sedate and peaceful pursuits rather than that for the facility of War.
Still, while it is currently quiet here in the Interior, most of the news will be of that of our Struggle with the young Republic and my unique role here on the inland lakes.
The Great Lakes of America are vast expanses of fresh water that resemble the salt seas that we both have traversed during our lives and it would astound you to see the very size of the warships plying these waters.
Our Commodore recently hoisted his broad pendant aboard HMS St. Lawrence, a ship of the First rate with over an Hundred guns on three decks. As her upper deck is equipped with mostly 32 pdr Carronades, it gives her a Broadside greater than that of Nelson’s Victory and she is 8 feet longer on the gun deck! I saw her being constructed in the spring and was amazed (although she has almost no sheer).
His previous Pendant vessel, launched in the spring is no less impressive in its sheer size. HMS Prince Regent is a large double banked Frigate of dimensions similar to that of Endymion and like her, with 24 pdrs on the main deck.
Add to that, a further frigate of dimensions similar to our 32s but with 24 pdrs and, two ship-sloops. A third frigate is currently being built (of dimensions similar to our 38s) and should launch soon. I can think of several stations at our many colonies where a squadron of this size would be highly desired by the local Commander-in-Chief, making do with an old 64 and some schooners.
However, despite the contrary evidence of this “Armada” on Lake Ontario, there are significant difficulties in constructing large vessels in the Interior as most supply routes are via rivers and lakes, some not easily transferable by even the most Rudimentary of boats. Roads, but for a few, for the most part, are non-existent. Therefore, owing to the communications problems, and the vast distances. You should know that I am as far from the nearest reaches of the Atlantic at Montreal as you are from London town and too much of that must be traversed on foot.
The issue of the great falls at Niagara means that none of the vessels on the Lake Ontario can go to the Upper Lakes directly and all supplies must be unloaded and hauled overland to the next lake, that of Erie. It too shares a coast with the Americans and the flotilla built there fell victim to the US Navy last year. As such, being unable to construct a rival squadron on the Upper Lakes to the Americans (now much larger due to captures), an alternative supply route was necessary to maintain our efforts there.
The route consists of a military road from the Provincial Capital of York directly north to a depot at Gwillimbury at a boat landing on the Holland River that empties into Cook’s Bay on Lake Simcoe (another sizable body of water that could support vessels of significant size and named after the late Lieutenant-Governor’s father). The relative easy passage of about 8 miles on the river and 30 miles on the lake brings you to the head of Kempenfelt Bay and the most difficult part of the journey across 9 miles of mostly firm and elevated ground to another depot, that on Willow Creek. Here, what goods you are transporting are loaded into “bateaux” a utilitarian flat bottomed vessel similar in appearance to a fishing dory, but significantly larger.
Willow Creek passes through a vast swamp and then communicates with a sizable river known as the Nottawasaga which empties into Gloucester Bay (sometimes called Georgian Bay) at Schooner Town. Here, the last of the British vessels on Lake Huron (which communicates directly with Lakes Erie and Michigan) would transport supplies to the captured outpost at Michilimacinac and from there further to our campaigning army on the upper reaches of the Mississippi. However, the vessel was destroyed this summer and, for a while, supplies were moved by bateaux and canoe until that enterprising fellow Miller Worsley captured two American schooners by in a surprise boarding action just last month.
The terminuses of the route have been attacked, twice at York and once at Schooner Town. However, without boats, an invader would need to construct them at Kempenfelt if coming from the upper terminus, or Cook’s Bay if from York.
Lake Simcoe is the midpoint of the transport route and one where the defense of it lends itself to seafarers best.
The demand for skilled seamen in this theatre is enormous and the demand on them, equally so, as the conditions are quite extreme. When I was transferred here after Acasta paid off, I was concerned about where I would land in this complex and varied command but think my place is one of promise.
I command a small armed flotilla based on Lake Simcoe that I refer to as “The Lake Simcoe Squadron” when senior officers are not present. This Flotilla is charged with the security of this part of the supply route and the interception of any enemy forces on the lake.
Owing to the generosity of various ship commanders, we have several whaleboats, a jolly boat and a small gig with which to conduct our policing of the area. The boats themselves are small enough that they can be hauled overland on carts if necessary but large enough to carry some ordnance to fight.
As they are not associated with ships, or require they be portable enough to be hauled aboard, I have given them taller rigs than would normally be seen on vessels this size as they are the “cruisers” of this tiny sea.
Occasionally, we have been called upon to support the Commodore’s actions on the major lakes and have responded as we are able, never forgetting our main responsibility in keeping this part of the Empire secure.
We make our anchorage on Carthew Bay at the north end of the lake. It is sheltered by a long point on the eastern side, and the mainland on the west. In addition, there is a beach of sand where our vessels can be hauled up, should the weather worsen.
I doubt that the Enemy will venture this far this year, but we are ready should that happen. I am reminded that he made his attempt on Montreal in November of last year and pleasant autumn weather may encourage a late season effort.
It is unlikely I shall make a name for myself in the service on this remote station. Still, I will have done my duty and that successfully. What more could be asked for?
Please remember me to Mother and relate to her my affections.
Sincerely,
Your most dutiful son,
Jack.
C-in-C
“Lake Simcoe Squadron”
John Duncan MacLachlan (better known as Thomas Hurlbut, of Orillia, Ontario) leads the Lake Simcoe Squadron, a collection of Naval re-enactors that cover the colonial periods in North America with members having traveled as far as St. Augustine, Florida, Halifax, Nova Scotia and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island to take part in historic re-enactments and commemorations for North America’s rich maritime history. The squadron operate traditionally rigged boats including three Montague whalers, a small cutter and a skiff when they do major events. All are sailed and/or rowed in the traditional manner.
The main area of operations is Southern Ontario and they can be seen at most historic events that have a water element.
Email hurlbut8646@rogers.com for more information.
