Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-08-07

PLATTsaURoH, July 80, 1860.
Mn. LRADER;--Leaving Saratoga at 60 P.
Mq we passed north by way of Forts Ed
wards and Ann, places ofiaterost in the old
French and Revolutionary Wars, and arrived
at White Hail. tWhilone skeensboropgh) at
the head Of Lake Chanplaiu, in time to take
the evening boat for this place, arriving at 8
P. N. the next morning. The boats upon
this Lake, though less gaudily finished than
some of ours, are perfect models in the line
of good fare, good accommodations, and neat
ness. Being weary and good deal indis-
posed, we found in Capt Anderson, of the
United States, one of the most kind and gem
tlemanly officers we have ever met WITH
Those so much accustomed to command are
too often found sinking the gentleman in the
officer, and tread the deck as the tragedian
does the stage, unconscious of the fact that
while a distant haataT and an assumed no.
bility may give selat 10 the one, they sadly
reverse the picture in the other. It is rela-
ted Of former Captain on this Lake, Who
having treated quiet unpretending passen-
ger rudely, being informed that it was Judge
Cowan, went back to apologize, and received
fitting rebuke, not for the personal indig-
nifty offered, but by being given to under
stand that all passengers were entitled to
civil treatment The Captain retired, and
probably for the first time in long while,
"saw himself as others saw him, like one
in the distance, looking very small Pas
sengers are guests for the time being, and it
is courteous conduct and strict attention to
10 their wants that win, and give character
to the officers and the boat
Plattsburgh is a quiet little village, situ-
ated ou both sides of the Saranac, where it
emptes into Lake Champlain, containing
about three thousand inhabitants, more noted
for historic events that have taken place in
and around it in times past than for any
present pecuharity. 1t was near here, be-
tween Belcore Island and the mainland that
Benedict Arnold, while retreating in the
Spring OF l776 with the remnant of that ar
my which made the unsuccessful attack upon
Quebec the preceding winter, being closely
pursued by the British General Carleton, was
obliged to sink one vessel and burn the other,
and take to the woods narrowly escaping
with his little band the ambuscade of the In
dians on his way through the wilderness to
Crown Point and TiconderOga. Early in the
late war with England, Commodore Sidney
Smith sailed with the two principal war YES
sells of the Lake out of this harbOr, and
against the advice of his pilot, entering the
narrows near the Isle Of Aux Noe, containing
a strong British fortress and lost both yes
sels. Himself and crew were taken prison.
ers, conveyed to Quebec, thence to Halifax,
where they remained prisoners during most
of the war.
In 1873 Col. Murray entered the harbor
with fifteen hundred regulars, took the place,
burned the Government buildings and prop
erty, without any opposition, there being at
the time only two or three hundred militia
present.
In 1914 the memorable defeat Of the
British, by land and by water, took place
here. That on the water was on Sunday
morning, Sept. iIth, Commodore Downie
surrendering with his whole feet. Two of
the vessels were those taken by the British
the year before from the adventurous, but
foOl-hardy Smith. The engagement was in
the harboT, in full view of the village The
brave tars who fell in that sanguinary con-
fict were buried in one common grave upon
a little spot of green earth near the scene of
their Slaughter, called Crab Island, there to
rest individually unknown forever. The
winds and the waves still chant their requium,
but they heed them not The gay steamer
moves over the scenes of their anguish and
death, and as the passenger looks out upon
the waters, be hears not now the booming of
cannon, the Ishrieks Of the dying, the quick
tone Of command, the hurried tread upon the
slippery and CORY deck. No smoke cloud
obscures the horizon, no hostile banners
wave over embattled hosts upon the land, no
palpitatfng hearts tremulously await the re-
suit through the surrounding country, no
blood crimsOns the waves. Commodore
DOwnie was buried in the village cemetery,
and plain marble slab resting upon a brick
foundation, placed there ''by his afecionate
sister-in-laW," marks his resting place
A short distance is the grave of that other
gifted Davidson daughter, Lucretia, who,
like her sister, died in the early prime
of her girlhood, embalmed in the rich
melody Of her own inspiring music, in
which the world recognizes appetite genius
of high order. A small, plain marGie
monument was erected by her father, and the
wild rose blooms above the dust that covers
her mortal remains. The hardy soldier,
eused to wars alarms" and the tender girl
welded to the harp Of song, sleep near each
other. He fell upon the battle deck; she
died in her fathers arms. Death came rush
ing upon him, in fire and blood, while brave
" fighting for the honor and glory ofhis com
try; to her, in the slow, but sure approaches
of consumption, in the silent chamber, cling
ing to the harp, whose latest tones vibl ated
love for her kindred, and her race, and recon
Citation to God
The residence Of DR.. Davidson, the father
ofLucretia and Margaret, was on an elevated
point of land, where "the little Saranac still
sparling meets her lake" overlooking the
harbor, the bay, the islands, and the blue
waters while the Green Mountains loom
up in the distance. The location was well
calculated to draw out the poetic element
that was born with them. The old home
stead has long since given place to another,
and no kin or kindred treads its halls.
Plattsburgh is not on any great thorough
fare of travel, and has no surroundings calcu-
lated to greatly increase its size or business.
1t has Rail Road, running to Montreal, but
it does little business, and has nearly ruined
some Of its principal stockholders. R.F.