Loss of Flank Companies

The de Watteville Regiment suffered its first losses in the autumn of 1813. Its flank companies, skilled soldiers who were responsible for carrying out assaults and scouting the battlefield, were captured.

Duck Island (marked in red) in relation to Kingston, ON and Sacketts Harbor, NY. Google Maps.

On October 5, not far from Sackets Harbor in upstate New York, a ship carrying de Watteville flank companies made its way through the waters of Lake Ontario, bound for Kingston. The companies were detached from the regiment and sent to York (now Toronto). There were rumours of an American invasion. When they arrived, it was decided that the information was false. They immediately re-boarded the vessels to return to Kingston.

As their vessels drew close to Duck Island, only 30 kilometres south of Kingston, they encountered the American naval fleet. With no escort ships in sight, Commodore Isaac Chauncey quickly captured the ships carrying the de Wattevilles. The Americans seized all the ships except the Enterprise. While 44 men managed to escape, 190 were taken prisoner.

Among them were two Grand Duchy Lithuanians: Michel Dabuševičius and Michel Paulus.  Dabuševičius had been with the regiment for a little over four years. He was the handsomest man in the company, tall with blond hair and blue eyes. His comrade, Paulus was blue-eyed and dark haired. He had served in the regiment since 1811.

List of Prisoners of War Captured by the United States in the War of 1812. This particular entry is for Michael Paulus, captured near Duck Island by Commodore Chauncey’s fleet. Created by William Blagnon, compiled from records of the Commissary of Prisoners, Washington May 1818. National Archives (UK), ADM 103/466.

The capture of Michel Dabuševičius and Michel Paulus might have dampened morale among the de Wattevilles. However, their hearts would beat with victory some seven months later, when they played a key role in defeating American forces at Fort Oswego, near Sackets Harbor.