In A Gale Of Wind

Report from Isaac Chauncey to the Hon. Paul Hamilton, Secretary of the Navy, Washington:

Source

Sackett's Harbor, November 13th, 1812
"I arrived here last evening in a gale of wind....".

The cover page and Jackson to Cocke from the same source.

Bunnell Joined The Navy

Source

David Bunnell of Livingston County, New York

Service:  U.S.S. Macedonian

The "Worthless Mother" post  also referenced the Macedonian.

The travels and adventures of David C. Bunnell: during twenty-three years of ...
 By David C. Bunnell [Page 185]:

On Commodore Chauncey's Ship

Representative Ship From Teddy Roosevelt's Book

Source

Rear-Admiral Joshua R. Sands, U.S.N....served on board Commodore Chauncey's ship Oneida in the attack on Kingston, Lake Ontario, November, 1812; also at capture of Little York (Toronto) April 27, 1813; present and took part in capture of Fort George, Niagara River, town of Newark and its dependencies; May 27, 1813, took part in various engagements with British squadron, particularly that of September 25, when serving on board the General Pike.

Source

The Cause Of Many Errors

Source - Chauncey Was Not The Cause Of Many Errors

See another post from his journal here.

From the Journal of Major Isaac Roach, 1812-1824, published in The Pennsylvania magazine of history and biography, Volume 17:

We had now assembled about 6000 men, aided by Commodore [Isaac] Chauncey's fleet, and they were about 3000, and their fleet not on the Lake. We now had the experiment to repeat, of sending superannuated men of the Revolution to command. As the failure of the aged Patroon, General Van Rensselaer, lost us everything in 1812, so was the age and infirmity of General Dearborn the cause of many errors.

American Naval Officers

Source

Chauncey At The Clements Library

A brief biography of Commodore Chauncey here.

"Isaac Chauncey was born 20 February 1772 in Black Rock, Fairfield County, Connecticut. A citizen of and appointed from the state of New York."

From the Clements Library:

Creator: Chauncey, Isaac, 1772-1840

Abstract: This collection holds official letters, letterbooks, and documents of the American naval commander Isaac Chauncey, who served during the Franco-American War, the War of 1812, and both Barbary Wars. The material largely concerns naval administration during Chauncey's command of the American navy in Lake Ontario and naval operations in the Mediterranean during the Second Barbary War.


See the Portrait of Commodore Chauncey and also Perry and Chauncey.

Hang On Sloop Of War "Gen. Pike"

Source

A Scene On Lake Ontario

U.S. Sloop Of War "Gen. Pike," Commodore Chauncey 

British Sloop Of War "Wolfe," Sir James Yeo 

Preparing For Action 

September 28th, 1813

U.S.S. General Pike

Source of U.S.S. General Pike Drawing

Commodore Arthur Sinclair commanded the U.S.S. General Pike.

From the (Canadian) War of 1812 website:

 "...Commander William Mulcaster used HMS Royal George to cover his commodore, preventing Chauncey’s General Pike from making its killing strike and allowing Yeo time to recover and begin his mad dash toward the head of the lake."

A View Of Kingston

Source

See the battle of Kingston Harbor here, and a re-enactment page here.

Perry And Chauncey And Then Erie

Short version:  A distracted Chauncey didn't supply Perry with enough quality men.  Perry submitted a transfer request which wasn't acted upon until after his (Perry's) victory on Lake Erie.  Perry's bold moves carried the day; all forgiven.

Read a more detailed description taken from The Fight For A Free Sea: A Chronicle of the War of 1812 below (for even more detail, go to the link):

Of these a hundred were soldiers sent him only nine days before he sailed, and most of them trod a deck for the first time. Chauncey was so absorbed in his own affairs and hazards on Lake Ontario that he was not likely to give Perry any more men than could be spared. This reluctance caused Perry to send a spirited protest... .  As the superior officer, Chauncey resented the criticism... .

The quick temper of Perry flared at this.   ...and he had rightly looked to Chauncey to supply the deficiency. Impulsively he asked to be relieved of his command and gave expression to his sense of grievance in a letter to the Secretary of the Navy in which he said, among other things: "I cannot serve under an officer who has been so totally regardless of my feelings. . . . 

Most fortunately Perry's request for transfer could not be granted until after the battle of Lake Erie had been fought and won. 

Perry's indignation seems excusable. Perry had not enough sailors to defend his ships, and the regiment of Pennsylvania militia stationed at Erie to guard the naval base refused to do duty on shipboard after dark. "I told the boys to go, Captain Perry," explained their worthless colonel, "but the boys won't go."

On Lake Ontario, Chauncey dragged his naval campaign through two seasons and then left the enemy in control. Perry, by opening the way for Harrison, re-won the Northwest for the United States because he sagaciously upheld the doctrine of Napoleon that "war cannot be waged without running risks." Behind his daring, however, lay tireless, painstaking preparation and a thorough knowledge of his trade.

Portrait Of Commodore Chauncey

ISAAC CHAUNCEY

Painting in the Comptroller's Office, City Hall, New York, owned by the Corporation.

It was not until the lesson of Hull's surrender had aroused the civil authorities that Captain Chauncey of the navy yard at New York received orders in September, 1812, "to assume command of the naval force on Lakes Erie and Ontario and to use every exertion to obtain control of them this fall." Chauncey was an experienced officer, forty years old, who had not rusted from inactivity like the elderly generals who had been given command of armies.

 From The Fight For A Free Sea: A Chronicle of the War of 1812.