ADDITIONAL FACTS CONCERNING CARLETON ISLAND. The romantic interest pertaining to the silent ruins of the Fort upon this Island, justifies the addition of some further facts concerning its evacuation as a naval station, the withdrawal of its garrison, removal of its stores and final transfer of its cannon to another Fort on the northern shore of Lake Ontario. On the 29th of May, 1788, Capt. Mann, Commanding Engineer, was ordered to examine both Carleton Island and Kingston, and report as to " which was most eligible as a station for the King's ships and the protection of lake navigation, and what works were necessary for that purpose." He reported in favor of the latter, and from this date, the place is mentioned as one that "used to be of note." On the 13th of October, 1789, there were found eighteen gun-carriages, all but one un-repairable, of which two were for eighteen pounders, three for twelves, three for nines, six for sixes, and four for fours. They would probably in this climate become in this condition in ten or twelve years On the next day his Majesty's Scow Seneca was ordered to be sent around to Carleton Island from the Ordnance and Stores at that place." There can be no doubt but that the stores were removed in October, 1789, but for some reason the cannon were not then removed. In an official report of the condition of the public works at Kingston dated May 15, 1791, an Indian store-house is mentioned "which formerly served as a hospital on Carleton Island, which had been removed, and had served the same purpose till within the last three years." On the 10th of June, 1793, nineteen guns, of which ten were eighteens, five twelves, two nines, and two sixes were minutely described as still on the works. As the iron work of the rotten carriages was being stolen, Capt. Porter ordered them to be burned, and the irons stored, and finally, in August of that year, the Missessagua was sent by Capt. Geo. Glasgow, of the Royal Artillery, to remove these guns, and some others from Kingston to Toronto. Extract of a Letter from Lieut.-Gov. J. G. Simcoe, of Upper Canada, to Lieut.-Gov. Alured Clarke, of Lower Canada.1 NAVY HALL, June 17th, 1793. "I enclose a return of the Cannon at Carleton Island. Those 18-pounders reported to be sunk, are nowhere to be found. The guns are all marked as unservicable, and the carriages are so rotten, that, agreeable to the Ordinance Instructions, as people are stealing the iron, Capt. Porter has ordered them to be burnt, and the iron conveyed into the store; but as Capt. Glasgow is of opinion that many of these heavy cannon may be so mounted at Toronto, as to be useful in that post, and as I wish to avail myself of the experience of this valuable officer, whilst I have the good fortune to possess him in this Province, I must request that your Excellency will permit me to transfer so many of them as shall be expedient to that place." (1) Simcoe Papers, ii, 136. Gen. Alured Clarke to Lieut. Governor Simcoe.1 QUEBEC, July 8, 1793. The report you enclosed of the guns at Carleton Island, has been submitted to the consideration of Lieut. Colonel Walker, commanding the Royal Artillery, who declines recommending the putting in use ordnance which has been so long looked upon as unserviceable, lest some accident might be the result of their being employed. However, if you are upon further consideration of this matter still desirous for having some of them removed for the purpose you mention, I do acquiesce in your ordering it to be done. I must here take notice that though I am persuaded Capt. Porter's motives were good, for ordering the rotten gun-carriages to be destroyed, and the iron brought into store, yet this step was rather premature, as it would have been more regular and conformable to the Board of Ordnance, to have applied for a survey, and their destruction delayed till orders were sent him for that purpose. Lieut. Governor Simcoe to General Clarke. 2 NAVY HALL, July 24, 1793. I shall immediately proceed to Toronto, (York), whither I hope the whole of the Queen's Rangers will be encamped in a few days, when I shall do myself the honor of making a more specific report on the subject of fortifying that harbor. Its extent, and the difficulty that any enemy must have of bringing heavy cannon or howitzers into the Province, necessarily points out the advantages that must result from a few guns of the largest calibre. The caronades meant for the shipping, I have always purposed to make use of, and my intention has been to select some of the best guns from Carleton Island that at the least expense we make the most formidable resistance. Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe to General Clarke.8 YORK, August 2, 1793. "I apprehend Captain Porter must have executed some former order, as it is merely from the Artillery through (1) Simcoe Paper, ii, 158. (2) Simcoe Papers, ii, 149. Captain Glasgow, that I have as yet received any accounts of his having destroyed the carriages at Carleton Island, and which has been rather unseasonable to my view." Letter from Captain George Glasgow. YORK, August 6, 1793. SIR-His Excellency Colonel Simcoe, having directed the Missessagua to proceed rom hence to Kingston and Carleton Island, in order to return here with the utmost expedition after receiving on board the cannon, carronades, carriages, etc., together with a non-commissioned officer and eight gunners, concerning which Captain Glasgow, commanding the Royal Artillery, has given the necessary orders to the corporal in charge of stores or that corps at that port, I am to desire that this arrangement may take place as soon as possible, for which purpose I enclose to you a copy of the memorandum of guns and carronades, which Captain Glasgow with His Excellency's approbation, has ordered to be transported to York. N. B. The carronade carriages with the 18 and 12 pd. shot at Kingston, to be sent at the same time, and likewise the party must bring with them three tents, a camp kettle and a month's provisions. GEORGE GLASGOW, Captain commanding the Royal Artillery. TORONTO, (now York) 6th August, 1793. E. B. LITTLEHALES. Dr. Canniff's Accounts of Carleton Island. This author1 mentions this Island as a military and naval station in the American Rebellion, at which Govern (1) History of the Settlement of Upper Canada, with Special Reference to the Bay of Quinte. By Wm. Canniff, M. D. Toronto, 1869. pp. 402. ment vessels were built for navigating the Lake, and as possessing fortifications. "This Military Post afforded a retreat for the refugees who fled from the Mohawk Valley. Says the Rev. Wm. Macauley: 'Jay's Treaty of Peace, as it was called, in 1783,1 found Carleton Island occupied by the 84th Regiment, a body of Highlanders levied in the Carolinas, and subsequently adopted into the line. Upon the erection of the northern line of the United States, Carleton Island came within the boundary of the State of New York; but it continued, in common with other military posts, in possession of the British, until 1796.' Indeed, according to the gentleman whose words we have quoted above, it remained in possession of the British until 1812, when the Americans crossed and seized a Sergeant's guard there. It would seem that parties entering Canada were required to procure a passport here. A copy of one extracted from the History of Dundas, is as follows, directed to whom concerned: "Permit the boat going from this to pass to Kingston, with their provisions, family clothing, bedding, household furniture, and farming utensils, they having cleared out of this port, as appears by their names in the margin. (John Loucks, two men, two women, three children.) C. MCDONNELL, P. O. [Signed], "Among the refugees here during the war, was Mr. Macauley. In 1776 [1786?], Sergeant-Major [James] Clark of the 8th, or King's Own Regiment, was appointed Clerk and Naval Storekeeper at Carleton Island, where he remained until 1790. This was the father of the late Col. Clark, of Dalhousie." Again, in speaking of the early history of Kingston, Dr. Canniff says:2 "The Rebellion led to the establishment of a Military Post at the Island of Chevreaux, or Goat Island, subse (1) An error, the treaty mentioned having been signed in 1794. Perhaps the Treaty of Peace signed in 1783 was intended. (2) Page 420. |