He knew what he needed and how to get it.
Having to begin with almost nothing, he busied himself to such excellent purpose that he was able to report within three weeks that he had forwarded to Sackett's Harbor on Lake Ontario, "one hundred and forty ship carpenters, seven hundred seamen and marines, more than one hundred pieces of cannon, the greater part of large caliber, with musket, shot, carriages, etc.

The carriages have nearly all been made and the shot cast in that time.

Nay, I may say that nearly every article that has been forwarded has been made." It was found impossible to divert part of this ordnance to Buffalo because of the excessively bad roads, which were passable for heavy traffic only by means of sleds during the snows of winter.

This obstacle spoiled the hope of putting a fighting force afloat on Lake Erie during the latter part of 1812.

Chauncey consequently established his main base at Sackett's Harbor and lost no time in building and buying vessels.