The British Withdrawal

The British Withdrawal. . As the fighting continued around the barracks, the British flanking column fought its way through the village and past the navy yard to the palisades surrounding Fort Tompkins, blocking the Americans' planned route of retreat to Fort Volunteer., However, a column of American reinforcements observed on the right flank of the British caused them to retreat with their wounded to the landing area. The Americans fired on the retreating British from Fort Tompkins. Unable to defend themselves from the grapeshot and wild rumors spreading through their ranks, the British broke and ran to their boats. The Americans did not follow., Sackets Summer Colony. , Before the War of 18 12, the landscape around the village of Sackets Harbor was heavily forested. However, its trees were cut down to build ships and supply firewood to the navy. Some of the land was developed for agriculture and for the village's expansion west toward Horse Island. A peaceful community of summer cottages now dots the land that once witnessed the British advance from Horse Island.