Elliott had no ships ready for action, but he was not to be daunted by such an obstacle.

It so happened that ninety Yankee seamen had been sent across country from New York by Captain Isaac Chauncey.

These worthy tars had trudged the distance on foot, a matter of five hundred miles, with their canvas bags on their backs, and they rolled into port at noon, in the nick of time to serve Elliott's purpose.

They were indubitably tired, but he gave them not a moment for rest.

A ration of meat and bread and a stiff tot of grog, and they turned to and manned the boats which were to cut out the two British brigs when darkness fell.
Elliott scraped together fifty soldiers and, filling two cutters with his amphibious company, he stole out of Buffalo and pulled toward Fort Erie.