On February 22, 1813, British Lieutenant Colonel “Red” George Macdonnell led about 650 soldiers and artillery across the ice from Prescott to attack the American garrison at Ogdensburg, commanded by Captain Benjamin Forsyth, in an effort to end American raids across the river. Two columns advanced on the town, with artillery hauled on sleighs; Macdonnell’s column made a frontal assault near the unfinished Fort Oswegatchie while Captain Jenkins of the Royal Artillery led another column toward Fort Presentation and the gun positions on the point. Snow drifts on the St. Lawrence and American musket and artillery fire hampered the attackers, but British regulars and Canadian militia fought through the settlement, captured American artillery, overran the guns, and drove the defenders through the streets. American artillery forced Jenkins’ force back to Prescott, from where it later joined Macdonnell’s advance, and the larger main column from Canada reached the east bank of the Oswegatchie, crossed the river, and entered Fort Presentation as Forsyth’s troops retreated toward Sackets Harbor. The victors burned several schooners and gunboats frozen in the harbor, captured 11 artillery pieces along with arms, ammunition, and military supplies, and destroyed what they could not remove. Fort Presentation was then abandoned, and no American forces garrisoned Ogdensburg for the rest of the war, while the town thrived on contraband trade with Canada. The clash followed escalating cross-river actions, including a British capture of civilians and troops on February 4, Forsyth’s retaliatory raid from Morristown on February 7, Macdonnell’s demand on February 19 for the return of civilian goods and an end to American raids, and earlier fighting tied to the 1812 raid on Gananoque and Colonel Robert Lethbridge’s failed assault on Ogdensburg.