The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-02-21
VOL. VIII.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Battle Of 2jlattsburgfl.
BY AMAsA C. MOORE, ESQ.
THE BATTLE ON SHORE.


In the history of communities, as well as
of individuals, there is usually some particu-
lar event, or period, that colOrs their after ca
reer, and is justly regarded as the most i'm
portant and decisive of any portion of their
existence.
Such an era is the 18th of September, 1914
the day we have assembled to commence
rate, 10 this particular community. A day
which, after the elapse of nearly thirty years,
is indelibly impressed on the memory of all
who were then On the stage of existence, and
which the generation which has since arisen,
has been taught TO regard with the deepest
interest. A day, not only deeply affecting
this community, but also the great and gIori-
Gus republic TO which we belong. Allow me
On this occasion to call your attention to
some of the facts and circumstances which
characterized that eventful period -
Great Britain in her philanthropic efforts
to fight the battles Of mankind" and save
the world from the universal empire of Ma
poleon, had monopolized the trade and COM
merce and colonies of every Ocean. In her
desperate struggle for pre-eminence and self
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, she trampled on the rights of
all civilized nations, and it was felt as well as
sung, that with despotic sway, britannia
ruled the wave" The intervening Atlantic
did not save us from hostile aggression. Our
commerce was swept from the Ocean, our
seamen were impressed, our flag insulted and
we driven for redress TO the last resort of ma
tons.
Disastrous indeed TO the honor OF the
American name was the commencement of
the war. Scarcely had our little army gath
cred on the western frontier and our expecta-
lions of an evasion of Canada been excited,
before the news Of the capture of MACKINAw
and the surrender Of Hull, filed our breasts
with shame and Indignation. Then followed
the loss of the GRoWLER and The EAGLE on
our own lakes, and defeat and disaster. gloom
and despondenby brooded over the land at
the close of the first campaign.
Our enemies exuIted in their temporary
success, held possession of Michigan, and
dreamed and boosted Of further conquest
They little understood the people with whom
the had to do.
With our peaceful policy and excellent,
open and free Institutions, requiring previous
public discussion of every important measure,
we must ever be unpreparcd and consequent
ly unsuccessful in the commencement of Il
war; but with resources that gather strength
obstacles to be surm0unted, with an ingenuity
and perseverance, and valOr that treats moth
inc as impossible; the American people must
ever also be successful in the end. Our
troops when properly brought into action
soon Showed the indominable energy Of our
national character. The immortal Harrison
and Perry, supported by the gallant johnson,
Cass, Selby and Groughan, drove the enc
| 81. /.
heights of Quecnston, and the capture of Lit
tie York, and our brilliant naval victories
seemed to restore in measure, the nations
confidence in the vaiOr of her troops. As the
war progressed, large armies supposed TO be
adequate to the conquest Of Canada, were
collected on our frontier and the public an
ticipatcd some permanent achievement. But
whether it was owing TO really insurmounta-
bic obstacles or TO gross mis- management, or
to a secret design on the part of some high in
Office, 10 prevent any northern conquest GER
tain il is that nothing decisive was accomplish
ed, and the brave men who fought with des-
perate valor whenever al opportunity was pre-
scented, were mortified and disheartened at
their own ineificiency. Meanwhile, serious
views of conquest began TO be entertained by
our enemy. GreatBritain having overthrow
Napoleon, who had retired to Elba, turned
her liberated armies and immense resources
TO the prosecution of the American war
About this period Mr.. Colquhoun, celehra-
ted statistical writer of London, calculated
that peace would throw out of employ %, 900
British officers, military and naval, 1900
Clerks, and 230, 900 Nome commissioned off
GERS and privates kept by the English govern
ment engaged in the work of human butche-
ry, besides an immense number employed in
the manufacture of arms and munitions of
war.
Three points of our extensive country ap-
peared to the English TO be fatally vulnerable.
First, the outlet of the Mississippi, against
which Packenham was TO lead an army of
veterans Second, Washington, the seat of
government, where, in August, 1914, Gen.
Ross at the head of his victorious legions
spread fire and sword-and lastly Lake Cham
plain, the great highway Of invasion, 10 the
most densely populated portion of the Union,
where Sir George Provost, renowned for
skill and valor on many battle field, was to
lead The largest division of the formidable
troops of Wellington.
And, certainly, when on the 4th of Septem-
Der. ll,000 of these troops, with their splen-
did uniform, & faultless discipline, q admira-
BILE bands and waving banners, and formidable
trains oil artillery, having crossed the lines,
and marshalled at Champlain, and enquiring
the distance to Burlington, Whitehall and
Albany, with inefiable effrontery; took up
their line of march for Plattsburgh: any sue
cessiul opposition to them, might well be re-
garded as hopeless. There was one regiment
of these veterans, in which there was scarce
ly man who did not bear a wound. and their
disfgured faces and ferocious and determined
aspect, reminded one of the hundred desner-
ate charges and sanguinary conflicts of the
Peninsular war.
And now let us look for moment at the
preparations made for defence. A change
had come over the spirit and conduct of the
American forces. The old Generals, who,
by means of family or political influence at
the commencement of the war, had been
placed in command and were guilty of such
egregious blunders, had been succeeded by
men who had risen by merit and bravery dis
played upon the field. The gallant Jackson,
Scott, Brown and McComb, now occupied
prominent positions in our army. Strict dis