When, on the evening of the 26th, the final arrangements were made for an attack upon the British fort, and the leaders of the expedition had come on board the _Madison_, General Dearborn accompanying them despite his illness, Alec’s brother explained to us, in a tone which admitted of no discussion, what part we were to take in the action of the morrow. “You will stay quietly aboard the _Madison_, and under no circumstances make any attempt at accompanying the troops when they land. I have allowed you lads to remain with me thus far; but with the promise to Captain Dobbins that you should have no further share in the attack, than that of spectators.” A bitter disappointment it was, indeed, to see our people prepared for a battle which we firmly believed would result in a victory for the Americans, and yet remain idly by while glory, and perhaps fame, was to be won. Because Alec stood silent when his brother had thus spoken, I understood that it would be useless to make any effort at persuading the captain into recalling the command given, and swallowed my disappointment as best I might. Therefore it is that I am all the more willing to pass over the capture of Fort George with the fewest possible words. Late in the afternoon the boats, which I have said had been built at Five-Mile Meadow, were pulled around to Four-Mile Creek, and this work brought on a general fire between the forts and batteries in the immediate vicinity; but, save for the destruction of several houses along the river bank, no injury was inflicted on either side. From sunset until midnight the heavy artillery and a portion of the troops were embarked on the _Madison_, the _Oneida_, and the _Lady of the Lake_, while the remainder of the force, including the horses, were taken on board the newly constructed boats. It can well be supposed that no heed was given to sleep after the work of embarkation had been concluded; all awaited the signal for the advance, knowing it must speedily come. It was near to daybreak when our squadron got under way, and Alec and I stood on the after part of the _Madison_ vainly trying to see, in the darkness and the fog, what was being done. We could hear on every hand the murmur of voices, the creaking of oars in rowlocks, the neighing of horses, and the flapping of sails; but could see nothing. It gave one a most singular sensation to be shut in by the dense, gray vapor, and yet to know from the various noises that on all sides were men making ready to take the lives of others, or to sacrifice their own. The officers of the expedition, and among them as a matter of course was Captain Perry, remained by themselves, as was proper, and we two lads would have given much just then could we have had speech with Alec’s brother, in order that he might explain certain movements which to us were mystifying.