The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-10-06
THE LATE WAR.

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THE LATE WAR.
BATTLE OF LAKE cHAMpLAiN AND PLATTs-
BURG: MAcomB AND MACDoNouGn.
As Macomb, Ike marlborough, is now
numbered with the dead. those who take
iporper interest in the American Army and
Navy may be gratifed with brief notice
of the brilliant services rendered to their
country by the forces under their com
mand, at the battles of rlattsburg and
Lake Champ!ain. In uoticing the events
.oflsl4. Hale refers to the drafts of the
troops taken from the Chainplain frontiers
for the purpose of reinforcing the troops
under Brown and Scott, engaged, along
the Niagara frontiers. He adds ;,
!. The march of the troops from Platts-
burg having left that post almost defence
less, the enemy determined to attack it by
land at the same time to attempt the des-
truction of the American fotilia on Lake
Champlain On the Sd of September,
Sir George Provost, the Governor General
of Canada, with an army of14,o0O men,
most of whom had served in the wars of
Europe, entered the territories of the Uni
ted States. AS soon as his object was
asccrtained, Brigadier Gen. MacoH,b,
the commander Of pIatlsburg, called to his
aid The militia ofNew York and Yermoat,
who, with alacrity and without distinction
Of party, obcyed the call.
On tic 9th, the, ,eucmy arrived at Patts-
burg, which is situated near Lake Cham
plain, on the northerly bank of the small
river Saranac. On their approach the
American troops who were posted on the
opposite bank, tore up the .pIanks of the
bridges, with which they formed slight
breastworks, and prepared to dispute the
passage Of the stream. Several attempts
to cross it were made by the enemy, but
they were uniformly defeated. From this
time until the llth the British army, were
employed in erecting batteries, while the
American forces were every hour aug
mented by the arrival of volunteers and
militia.
Early in the morning of that day, the
British squadron, commanded by the
Commodore Downie, appeared off the
harbor of Plattsburg. where that Of the
United States, commanded bycommodore
Macdonough, lay at anchor prepared for
battle. The former carried .inety-fve
guns, and was manned with upwards of
1000 men; the latter carried eighty six
guns. and was manned with $50 men.
At nine o'clock the battle commenced.
has the ocean witnessed a more
furious encounter than now took place on
the bosom ofthis transparent and peaceful
lake. AT the same moment, the enemy
on land began a heavy cannonade.upon
the American lines, and attempted at DIFF
fercnt places, to cross the Saranac. At
ford above the village the. strife was hot
and daadiy. As often as the enemy ad-
vanced into the water, they received
destructive fire from the militia. and dead
bodies noated down the stream literally
cr'msoned with blood.
AT half past eleven, the shout of victory,
heard along the American lines, announc-
ed the result of the battle on the Lake.
A second British squadron,had yicldel to
the powers of the American seamer.-
The cry animated to braver deeds their
bretheren on land Fainter become the
efforts ofthe enemy.-In the afternoon
they withdrew their intrenchmrnts. In
the night they. began precipitate retreat.
anI had fled eight miles before their de-
parture was known, in the American
camp.
Upon the. lake, the American loss. was
ITO; the British 1914, besides prisoners
On land, the American loss was II 10; that
of the British was estimated at $500. In
thelatter number. however. were inclndrd|
more than five hundred British soldiers.
who, preferring America to their native
country, deserted fromthe retreating ar