, 1841-08-07

lDOlASis i auUCO ~ lIS EcputdkiOu I'll ILLS
case. Wilkinson was his friend, but Macomb
discharged his duty with military exact
ness.
At the breaking out of the war Of 1919,
he left the seat Of Government, where he
had discharged an arduous duty, in assisting
TO give form and regularity TO the army then
just raised by order of Congress. All sorts
OF confusion had prevailed, from the want Of
a uniform system of military tactics1hs wss
fortunate IN his exertions. When there was
honorable war, he could not be satisfied to re.
main, as i, were, a cabinet officer, and wear
4 sword only TO advise what should be done,
which seemed TO be the regulations Of the
Army In respect 10 engineers; he therefore
solicited Il command in the corps OF artillery
that was 10 be raised, and was gratiied by a
commission as colonel Of the third regiment.
dated July 6. 1912. The regiment was to
consist of twenty companies Of one hundred
and eighteen each. it was, in fact, the com.
mand oil a division, except in rank. His re-
puiation assisted in raising this body Of men,
and IN November of that year he marched
TO toe frontiers with his command. Macomb
and his troops spent the winter at Sackett's
Harbor. He contemplated an attack upon
Kingston, but was defeated in his plan by
the fears Of SOM and the lealousies Of others;
but he soon distinguished himself at Niagara
and Fort George: at the same time Commo-
dore Chancery was endeavoring to bring
the enemy's feet 10 battle on Lake Ontario.
The next service performed by Col. Macomb
was under Gen. Wilkinson, and if the cam
paign was not successful, Macomb was not
chargeable with any portion of the failure.
Ia January, 1914, he was appointed to tho
rank of brigadier general; and was appoint
ed to a command IN the east side of Lake
ChampIain. Nothing of importance in tho
history Of Gen. Macomb TRANSFERRED, although
he was constantly on the alert in the dis
charge of his duties, until the coronal of his
fame was won At the defence Of P~lattsburgh.
This defence, our limits will not permitlus to
describe with any minuteness, but suffice it
to say, flat, in the summer OF 1914, Sir Geo.
Provost, Governor General Of the Canadas,
had received a great augmentation of his
-csy.-. .s.GsS, dcslCsInents from the army
which had fought in Spain and Portugal un-
der the Duke of Wellington. These were
among the bes, troops in the world, and he
now determined to strike a blow Upon our
frontiers that should be decisive of the war,
and bring our nation 10 terms at once. His
fleet, on Lake Champaign, was considered su-
perior TO that of ours, and he was well infor-
med that We had not there any army of con-
sequence. Early in September he pushed
on towards Pla,tsburgh. and met, for several
days, with little opposition. His error was
delay; but he wished 10 move safely, and
saw nothing TO prevent his progress. Previ-
ous 10 the lIth, there had been some smart
sEirp,i-Iipr in ,rhi,b tho Rr;t,sb F,,nl ~o.
courage and efficiency than they expected.
from troops So hastily called out. Early on
the lilI the British gave battle by land and
water--fl;oen hundred Of the regular army.
and uncertain bodies of militia, made up
Macumb's army. The enemy was fourteen
thousand strong. The battle was a decisive
victory on tie part Of the American forces;
MacdoHough captured the British fleet and
Sir Geor-e returned to Canada the next
night. The victory was as brilliant a, un-
expected. lIonors were voted Macomb in
every part OF the country. New York and
Vermont were foremost in their tributes OF
respect. The President promoted him to the
rank OF MAJOR general, dating his commission
on the day o! his victory. The event had a
happy effect on the negotiations then going
on at Client, and unquestionably paved the
way for a treaty of peace.
After the close of the war he commanded
At Detroit, his birthplace. He was received
at this military post with distinguished hon.
OTIS; many remembered his person, and all
had kept MS reputation in view as rejecting
honor upon the territory in which he was
born. He continued at that post attentive
TO hisduty, and d~evising liberal things for the
people Of that region, without combining his
exertions TO any particular portion Of terrific
~, until, in 1921, he was called to Washing
ton TO take the office OF chief Of the engt.
neer department. On the receipt of this in.
formation, he was addressed by all classes of
the people Of Detroit in the most exalted lam
guAge of friendship and regard. On repair.
ing to Washington, he assumed the duties Of
the bureau he was called to, and discharged
them TO the satisfaction of the Government
and Army. On the death of General Brown,
commandment. chief of the Army, General
Macomb. was appointed TO that station,
which he has ever since held, and in which
died.-[Abriged from National Portrait Cal
lery.