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Canadian Historic Sites: Occasional Papers in Archaeology and History No. 11
by Robert S. Allen Appendix CQuestions proposed to the Officers of Artillery and Engineers Question 1 What is the present state of Fort George as regards its Works and means of Defence? Answer 1 Fort George is in a very bad state with regard to its Works and consequently with regard to its means of Defence. Question 2 How long is Fort George capable of making resistance against an Army computed by General Report and the most accurate information that can be obtained between 5 and 6,000 Men Aided as it probably will be by the Cooperation of a powerful Fleet? Answer 2 With reference to the Answer to the first Question. Fort George is capable of making little or no resistance against an Army as stated in the Question if provided with a due proportion of heavy Artillery, and the only thing to prevent its being taken by Assault is a back bad row of Pickets, etc. (Signed) Capt. Mackowachsi gave his opinion on the two first questions only, not having sufficient information on the other points.
Question 3 In the event of the fall of Fort George what resistance is Fort Niagara capable of making against an attack from thence and from other Positions which the fall of that Place would lay open to the Enemy both on this side the River and our own? Answer 3 If Fort George falls into the hands of the Enemy, he will be enabled to carry on a regular Attack against Fort Niagara on his own side the River which otherwise he will find it very difficult to do. As long as Fort George remains in our possession, it will be out of the power of the Enemy to annoy Fort Niagara from our own side of the River, but the fall of Fort George will enable the Enemy to erect Batteries on our side of the River which tho' they may considerably annoy Fort Niagara would be some time before they could oblige it to Surrender. Question 4 In the Event of the Fall of Forts George and Niagara, what resistance is Fort Mississauga capable of making, attacked as it probably would be both by Sea and Land? Answer 4 Forts George and Niagara having fallen into the hands of the Enemy, Mississauga will be very much weakened as all our Supplies without that Fort will be entirely cut-off. There is no secure Cover for the Garrison shut up in Mississauga and as they would be prevented from going out of the Fort it would soon fall if attacked only from the Land and its resistance would of course be considerably diminished by the Cooperation of an Enemy's fleet.
Question 5 In the event of the fall of Fort George, Niagara still being ours, what resistance is Fort Mississauga capable of, attacked as it would be by Sea and Land? Answer 5 The fall of Fort George would not effect the fall of Fort Mississauga, except as it leads to the fall of Fort Niagara — which in the former instance has been shown to be the protection of our Supplies without Fort Mississauga. Question 6 What is the state of Fort Mississauga, as regards its Works and Means of Defence? Answer 6 Fort Mississauga is in such a State as not to be easily taken by Assault, but its interior is so open that the Garrison will be incapable of holding out long after the Enemy may be enabled to commence a Bombardment against it. These answers have been given under the idea that the Force of the Enemy is between 5 or 6,000 Men with a due proposition of heavy Artillery on which everything must defend, and that their Troops are far superior to everything they have ever brought into this Country during the present war. (Signed) I. Yube Geo. Phillpott
Question 7 Have all the means we have had in our power been employed since the commencement of the Season in placing — those different Works in the best state of defence? Answer 7 The other officers who have signed the preceeding Question having refused to give an opinion on this subject in consequence of their not having been on the spot until the last Week. I have to state it as my Opinion that every means which have fallen within my Observation have been employed in putting the Works in the best state of defence possible. (Signed)
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