Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-11-02
MCDON0NGH's VICTORY, on LAKE
CHAMPLAIN


/ Extracted from Professor Frosfs {" Book lie N,
~"
! The destruction of the American naval force m
Lake Champlaln was supposed by Sir Georr,
Iresosl, to be essential 10 the success of has nan
/ OF operation; and Captain Downc, who was al
the head OF The British squadron, was directed
10 attack the American naval force which had
been Tor time under the command of NJ Donuurb
then only lieutenant at the same time that Sir
George stormed the intrenchmeuls at plat,sburgh
Aware OF their intentions, and knowing of their
approach, Nj Donough decided 10 wait the attack
at anchor At eight in the morning of tho nm
ofSeptcnber 1914, the Iookou, boat annouccd the
approach oil the cnemy's squadron The hostile
ships were soon IN action and we cannot do better
than describe the battle in Captain NJ Donoughs
own words.
Al nine says the Captain, the enemy anchor.
cd IN line ahead, at about three hundred wards
distant from my line; his ship opposed to he Sar.
atoga his brig to the Eagle Captain Robert
Henley galleys, thirteen in number, 10 the
schooner, sloop aud division of our galeys-
one Of his sloops assisting their ship and brig the
other assisting their gallcys. Our remaining gal.
lcys were with the Saratoga and EAGLE
In this situation, the whole force on both sides
became engaged, the Saratoga suffering much
from the heavy fire Of the Confanee | could
conceive at the same time however, that our fire
was very dcstruc"c 10 her The Tconderoga.
lleutena commandant Cossin, CALAMITY sustained
her full share ofthe action At half past ten, the
Eagle, not being able to bring her guns to bear,
cut her cable and anchored in more eligible po
ston btween my ship and the Tconderoga
where she very much annoyed the enemy, but un-
fortunately leaving me exposed to a CALLING fire
from the enemys brig
Our guns on the sarboard side being nearly
all dismounted, or unmanageablc, a stern anchor
which soon after surrendered Our broadside was
then sprung to bear on the brig which struck about,
fifteen minutes afterwards. The sloop which was
opposed to the Eagle, had struck some time te-
fore, and driied down the line. The soop that
was with thei" gacys had also struck. Three OF
their galleys were said to be sunk the others pull
led of, Our galleys were about obcyng With
alacri,y the signal to follow them, when all the
vessels were reported to me 10 be in sinking
state tthen became necessary TO annul the sig
nal to the oalIcys, aud order their men 10 pump
| could only look at the encmys gallcys going
off in shattered condition for there was not mast
in either squadron that could stand 10 make sail on
The lower rigging, being nearly all sbo, away,
hung down as though it had just been placed over
the mast heads
The Saratoga had flty-nine round shot in hen
hull: the Con6ance one hundred and five, The
enemys shot passed principally Just over oui
heads. as there was not twenty whole hammock
in the MEETINGS at the close Of The action, whlcl
lasted. without inlelmisston, two hours and twenty
minutes.
sThe absence and sickness Of lieutenant Ray
mond Perry left me without the assistance OF tina
cxcellen, officer. Mach ought fairly TO be aitribu
ted to him for hs care and attention in discipinini
the ships crew, as her first lieutenant His plac
was filled with gallant young officer, lleuienar
Peter Gamble, who ! regret 10 inform you, wa
killed early in the action
Cartain NJ Donough concludes his letter b
stating that the Saratoga was twice sat on tire OF
ring the engagement by hot shot from the enemy
shin; and expressions Of gratitude for the adj
support he received from every officer and man !
the squandrom
The loss of the Americans, in this hard-augl
c battle was ffylwo killed and hfy-oight wounded
s that of The BRUSH. eighly-iour killed and enc hu
Y dred and ten wounded Among the killed on Il
Il American side was licuenaD, Peter Camille,
pallan, Young officer one oflhrce gallant bro,he
,ybo had devoted themselves 10 the service Of The
G country The other two brothers survived. J
r Who FIJI on the memorable llth Of September
9, inseperably connected with an event, which "
never be forgotten 10 this nation and Will we trt
bear with II the recollectoDs Is w'li OF The Iva
&c as the dead. who were instrument, al N ga
D. ing one NJ the most important victories OF Y
r war The American slnanifon carried Is
IS thousand and twenty three pounds weight oil m
" al and one thousand aud fhy men.
ID Il was in this action that The flr-iaimrd man
y vre Of coming down head first upon the cner
=, was frs tricd against the Americans and The
ii suit was what we win venture i always w.
Mt be-. when tried against force any way 'qual
Or number and courage The British vessels ~
h, cni 10 pieces before they were 10 station 70 bri
d their guns IN bar against the Americans; a
- nothing carrie. stranger conviction 10 our mir
sc of,bo wan, Of proper shll and selfposscssion
DO the Officers and men ofthose fleets ih2i have b.
es aiken or defeated nv this manGyre, than the a
an effects which resulted from The at,emP IN tbs
VI sfanee
a. The an,iei, of the public Rad long drawn the
OF ,,,,,,, ~ IN y,bo we're caosh)s 81 reasoning
va on the effect of Sir Geofgs Piovosfs operations
80 who feh ar interest," in lie fave on country