in action, to prevent them being mistaken for Americans by excited warriors (or being taken for "blue-eyed Indians", renegades and rogue fur traders, by American soldiers). Indian Department officers were indeed often of mixed Native and European ancestry. Some claimed to speak little or no English. The most well known victory won by Natives fighting directly under British command was the Battle of Beaver Dams in 1813. Provincial Marine This had been responsible since the late 18th century for military transport and police duties on the Great Lakes. When war broke out, they possessed: Lake Ontario , ship, 510 tons, 22 guns Prince Regent, ship, tonnage unknown, 16 guns Earl of Moira, brig, 262 tons, 14 guns , brig, 165 tons, 10 guns Seneca, schooner, tonnage unknown (commandeered trading vessel) , schooner, 187 tons, 8 guns (commandeered trading vessel) Lake Erie , ship, 400 tons, 17 guns , schooner, 230 tons, 13 guns (under construction, joined a few weeks after the outbreak of war) , brig, 180 tons, 10 guns In 1812, the efficiency of the Provincial Marine was described as low, not least because its senior officer was over eighty years old. Nevertheless, the Americans initially had nothing to match it, and it played a major part in the victories of General Isaac Brock. It was expanded during the war, and its officers and sailors played valiant parts in the Battle of Lake Erie and the Battle of Plattsburgh. Full-time militia Various full-time units were formed from members of the Canadian militia. Although usually intended for garrison duty only, several units saw action. All such Militia units were disbanded very soon after the war ended, and their men returned to their former occupations. Particularly in Upper Canada, ordinary Militia contingents could not be kept in the field for long, especially around harvest time or the planting season when many militia would want to return to work on their farms. This was one reason for the formation of some of the full-time units. Lower Canada Canadian Chasseurs After the 5th battalion of Select Embodied Militia attracted unfavourable reports in 1814 (mainly because of the absence without leave of several of its officers), it was reorganised and reformed as a light infantry unit, the Canadian Chasseurs. Several of the flank companies of other Select Embodied Militia battalions which had already seen much service with the Light Battalions were consolidated into the