Middletown transcript., 1869-03-06

ihSt auu ciimpiHB ~ altet tne dSshsSiu
would have caught him, if he had moi
thrown himself from it, with the loss Of
his existence. In the latter part of his
life, Macdonough suffered much from ill
health but at the same time, he was one
of the most active and athletic officers Of
the navy, and was dexterous in the use Of
his sword.
Not many Of the ships of the American
navy were in commission from the close Of
the Tripolitan war, until the war of 1912.
Those few which visited the maratime
places of Europe, South America, and the
West Indies, were viewed with no ordinary
curiosity; were even thought by some to
have respectable appearance; but there
was not the slightest supicion that we were
so soon to take rank among those nations
which boast of naval exploits. But after
the declaration of war with England, our
navy was put into requisition, and every
officer painted for distinction. The elder
officers were mostly sent to the ocean.
Some of the high spirited juniors to the
lakes--among the latter lieutenant Mac
donough was ordered to lake Champlain
This was an important station; for
through this lake communication could
most readily be had with the most power
full portion of the Canadas. The main
armies of the British were to be always
near Montreal and Qnebec, but for the
first two years of the war, both sides were
busy in another direction, particularly on
the lakes, Ontario and Erie. The con-
tending powers watched each others move
ments, and kept near pari passu in the
augmentation of their naval forces; the
English always in advance, having in
many respects greater facilities; if not in
ship building, certainly in procuring mu-
nitions of war, sails, rigging, &c.
Towards the close of the summer of
of 1914, the extensive warlike prepara-
tions on lake Champlain and its vicinity,
seemed to portend some powerful shock.
Large bodies of troops, the veterans of
Wellington's army, to the amount, it was
said of sixteen thousand, had arrived in
Canada, and were preparing to strike a
severe blow on the frontiers, one that
would be felt to the very vitals of the
nation. lizard received orders to assist
Brown, and Macomb was left with hand
full Of troops at Plattsburgh. He put
himself into the best attitude of defence,
brave and intelligent officer could, and
called on the neighboripg militia to come
to his aid meanwhile the feet under
Maedonough was put in readiness for an
attack He had only four ships such as
they were the Saratoga, twenty-six guns !;
the Eagle, twenty guns the Ticonderaga,
seventeen guns; the Preble, seven guns,
and ten gallies carrying sixteen-in the
whole eighty-six guns. The British force
was larger the frigate Confance, thirty
nine guns; the Linnet. sixteen guns; the
Club, eleven guns the Finch, eleven
guns; and thirteen galleys, carrying eigh-
teen guns-making total of ninety-five
guns; a superiority over the American
feet of nine guns; their complement Of
men was much greater. That the Amer
ican feet was commanded by young Of
fcer, who ranked only as lieutenant,
and the British by an experienced one,
captain Downie, gave sir George Provost
no doubt of the issue of his naval prepa-
rations. On the land, too, with his vet
Grams and other troops, he was quite ce.-
tain of signal victory.
On the afternoon of the tenth of Sep
tember, it was evident, that the assault on
the lake, and on the land, was to be made
the next day, and Macdonough deemed it
best to await the attack at anchor. At
eight o'clock on the morning of the elev-
enth, the British fleet was seen approach
ing and in an hour the battle became gen.
eral The most accurate description of it,
| must he from his own men
eAt nine," says the captain, ''the enc
my anchored in line ahead, at about
three hundred yards distant from my line;
his ship opposed to the Saratoga, his brig
to the Eagle, captain Robert Hsnly; his
gallies thilteen in number, to the schoon-
er, sloop, and division of our gallies !;
ono of his sloops assisting their ship and
brig, and the other assisting their gallies !;
our remaining gallies were with the Sara
toga and Eagle. In this situation the
whole force on both sides, became engaged; /;
the Saratoga suffering much from the
heavy fire of the Con6ance. could,
perceive, however, that our fire. was very
destructive to her. At half past ten, the
Eagle, not being able to bring her guns
to bear, cut her cable and anchored in a
more eligible position between my ship
and the Ticonderoga, where she very
much annoyed the enemy, but unfor-
tunately leaving me very much exposed,
to a CALLING fire from the enemy'G brig.
I" Our guns on the starboard side being
nearly all dismounted, or unmanageable,
a stern anchor was let go, the lower cable
cut, and the ship winded with fresh
broadsiie on the enemy's ship, which soon
after surrendered. Our brnadside was
then sprung to bear on the brig, which
surrendered about fifteen minutes after
wards. The sloop which was opposed to
the Eagle, had struck sometime before
and dFifted down the line. The sioop
that was with the gallies had also struck.
Three of the gallies are said to be sunk !;
the others pulled off. Our gallies were