The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-12

BATTLE OF PLATTsBURGH.

serve with regret the entire omission OF all auson 10 the
interesting Of that the northern frontier
While the battles Of Chippewa Niagara Lundys Lane,
and New Orleans mentioned in appropriate terms the
battle Of Plattsburgh and other incidents which
pred that frontier wholly overlooked This should
not have been occasion like this and willing
20 believe that il occurred from nadyerence rather than
design and therefore ask the Of your acknowledgement
paper give publicity remarks in regard TO few
incidents connected herewith
The first stand of British cooFs which fell into the hands
Of the American troops after the declaration OF was
AT St Regis on the capture Of bockhouse that place
by party OF New York militia OF which the eTroy Rife
Greens rmed part Attached to this corps young
man who had then lately emigraed from Massachusetts,
10 Troy and established himself in the profession OF the
law Fired with the zeal and patriotism which glowed in
the hearts all young Americans he wendell his way
to the frontier non-commssioned officer active
partcpator in the capture of the blockhouse with its gar
rison and by his hands the English colos hauled
down They were sent 10 the War Department
trophy where had the pleasure of seeing them many
years since After the expiration of his of service he
returned to his home and subsequently filed the offices of
recorder Of the city of Troy adutant general comptroller
justice Of the supreme court and of the State OF
New York has been senator of the United States
rotary of War; and is Secretary OF State of the United
States. need not TO write the of w lillian L. Marcy
to indicate the patriotic individual TO whom alude
The campaigns of 1912 and IL the northern frontier
ngorous and spread gloom the hearts of all
patriots but when preparations making for that of
1914 hope revived, IL believed that before the set
ting in of winter Montreal would be occupied by the Amer
lean troops and that all supplies would thereby be off
and the entire upper province of Canada virtually conquer
ed. large body of troops assembled during the
summer at Platsburgh and Burlington under the COM
mand of General lizard, and in the month of July adj
yanced northwardy, and occupied position the
Canada line-the advance brigade under General Smyhe
and the advance guard under the gallant Colonel
Forsyth who fell in of the Numerous sirmishes in
which he was frequently engaged.
In the latter part of August much to the surprise and
hagrn of every one the main army of the North under
lizard took up its line of march for the Niagara frontier
leaving the whole northern frontier and the unfinished
works at Plasburgh the mercy Of large force which
had been concentrating between the St Lawrence and
Lake Champlan, during the summer, under Sir George
Provost encouragement of Canada.
General Macomb was in command of the few sick and
disabled troops left behind and after collecting his scat
tered forces found himself sustained by about 1900 effect
i've men, and set himself vigorously to work in completing
and sreng hening the works Plasburgh The forts
doubts bockhouses &C. planned and erected under
the immediate supervision of the accomplished and talented
Major (now genera Totten and the result proved,
competent and energetic officer could not have been
selected for this service
On the of August the advance guard OF the British
army under the command of Gen. Brisbane crossed the
line and occupied the village OF Champain which was
soon followed by the main body consisting in all Of $4,000
of Weltngton's veteran troops and moved by easy
marches towards Pittsburgh without opposition until the
morning of the 9th of September when their advance
slightly checked at Culyers Hill the Beekmantown
road six miles north Of the forts by $50 regulars
manded by Major (now general Wool, and 700 militia
the whole under the command of Major General Mooers
of the New York militia From this point the river
Saranac the ground molly contested and although
this small force opposed by 1000 Of the flower of the
-:A:-l
that the time occupied in rcracng steps this six
miles from about daylight in the morning until IL
o'clock before retiring the Saranac which divides
portion of the village of Pattsburgh from the forts
From this time until the 18th the British were engaged
in bringing up their baering train and making ar
rangements for attacking the works, during which time
there was almost constant skrmishng kept up by the
light troops of both armies On the morning of the th
at the time the battle commenced the lake between the
American fleet, under Commodore McDonough and that
of the enemy under Commodore Downey Sir George Pro-
vost threw across the Saranac point three miles above
the forts large force with scaling ladders for the purpose
Of tornng the works the south side while at the same
time he opened his batteries the north and west and
perfect shower of iron falling in and about the works
for hours The fire bravely and promptly returned
and several of the enemys batteries seneed placed
hors de combat in short time while the troops thrown
the river met by the militia under General
Mooer and the Vermont volunteers under General Strong
who maintained spirited for several hours re-
firing before superior numbers in direction draw the
enemy from the forts Immediately after the surrender of
the British feet the troops recalled from the south
side Of the river and before morning the whole British
army was making hasty and rapid retreat towards the
Canada line leaving behind them their sick and wounded
and much Of their military stores
Thus ended the siege of Pittsburgh the result of which
shed much glory the of beloved country as
any other during the war, and had greater
influence in bringing about the treaty of peace than any
similar occurrence preceding it.
II is matter of history that all propositions emanating
from commissioners Mt Client were met by counter
propositions and conditions from the English commission
ers coupled with sne qua nom which could be- and
were not acceded to until after the of the defeat of
Sir George Provost ut Pittsburgh reached tcm when they
very readily good for signing the treaty pro-
posed by the American commissioners without Hsne qua
non
Although the battle of New Orleans closed the war in
a blaze Of glory the battle Of Pattsburgh produced the
peace and the of Macomb Mooers and Strong with
that of MeDonough win honored while
Americans remember the gallant deeds the heroes the
of 1912
Being modest man, forbear men nonng the services
rendered by the corps Of boys of which was member
although account Of it may be found in resolution
of Congress approved May 90 1926 authorizing the Pres
dent to present its members each with rife for their
galantry at the siege OF Pattsburgh in September Isl4