The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-01-25
From Me Nee Eork Obserrer.
pLATTsBURGH AND IT'S BATTLES.

More than seventy years ago NJ. Fou-
quet, whose father came from France with
La Fayette, built hotel in Plattsburgh,
and on the same site the family have CON
tinued the same business with reputation
constantly improving and extending. They
ought, by this time, to know how to keep
a hotel. The splendid brick structure has
successive piazzas, commanding views Of
Lake Champlain, the Green Mountains of
Vermont and the Adirondacks we have
just left. 1t stands in the midst of a large
flower and fruit garden, laid out in walks,
with summer houses and seats, so that the
hotel with its spacious rooms and bounti-
full table, furnishes delightful resting
place and residence for the traveller.
Emerging from this hotel under the es-
cort of my friend, the historian and phil
osopher, Hon. Winslow C. Watson, I made
n tour Of remarkable interest among the
sites and scenes which make Plattsburgh
justly famed in the annals of the State and
country. He is so familiar with the land
and water here that every event that has
happened within the last sixty years in
this region, is as part of his own history.
He went with me in carriage and boat, to
the field Of every battle, pointed out the
situation Of fleets and armies, and with his
fluent and graphic stories invested the clas-
sic scenes with living interest He told
me where, in 1913, Col Murray, of the
British army, entered with predatory
band, burning and plundering the exposed
village. And afterwards Sir George Pro-
vost, the Governor General of Canada, with
an army Of $4,000, came down upon it
and was met by Gen. Wool, and after a
gallant resistance, the British were re-
pulsed. This was September 5, 1914, and
six days afterwards, while the American
and the British forces on land were watch
ing one another, the famous battle of Lake
Champlain was fought between the Amer
lean feet under Commodore McDonough,
and the British commanded by Captain
Downie. Pattsburgh lies in long, deep
bay, made by the projection of a point
called Cumberland Head Crab Island is
little way south of Plattsburgh, and be-
tween this isle and the point is the arena.
From the village, from all the shores
around, the magnificent spectacle was as
plainly visible as on the stage of theatre,
and thousands, with anxious hearts, gath
cred to look upon the terrific scene on the
morning of beautiful Sabbath day, Sep
tember IL, 1914. The American feet
was in the bay, and Captain Downie came
around Cumberland Head, from the north,
and attempted to come into the bay to
pounce upon his prey. The American
brig, Eagle, Captain Henly, of twenty
guns, occupied the head line. The flag
ship Saratoga, twenty-six guns, lay next
then in succession the Ticonderoga, Lieu
tenant Cassin, seventeen guns, and the
sloop Preble, seven guns Ten gunboats
were stationed in second line. The
British feet consisted Of the Confance,
Captain Downie, thirty-seven guns; Linnet,
Captain Pring, sixteen guns; the sloop
Club, Lieutenant McGhee, seven guns,
and Finch, Lieutenant Hicks, seven guns,
and twelve gunboats. The American feet
mounted eighty-six guns, manned by eight
hundred and eighty-two men: the British
fleet carried ninety five guns, with an aggre-
gate crew of more than one thousand men.
Capt. Downie was killed early in the ac-
ton; McDonough was twice stricken down.
The engagement continued two hours and
a half, when the British ships successfully
struck their flags. The gunboats, after
having surrendered, effected their escape,
owing to the fact that not single mast in
either feet was able to bear canvas, and
the American gunboats were engaged in
rescuing the crews from the Gas il was
supposed,) sinking British vessels A
personal friend of McDonough informed
l
me, said Mr.. Watson, that he boarded the
Saratoga Immediately after the close Of the
battle, when the blood was yet unwashed
from the decks, and the horrid evidences
of the strife were not removed that he
found McDonough calmly pacing the main
deck without exhibiting any appearance Of
excitement or exultation.
The capture of the fleet changed the
entire aspect of the campaign, and render
ed the advance of Provost alike useless
and impracticable Crowds of volunteers
and militia from Vermont and all the
northern counties, infamed by noble en-
thusiasm, were rushing to the scene and
would soon envelope the British army
The cannonade was maintained by the Bri-
tish until night, when, under its mantle, Pro
vost hurried ON the retreat with his bag.
gage and artillery, which were hastily fol.
lowed by the army. Before morning the
rear guard had marched, abandoning a
vast quantity of stores and munitions, and
leaving the sick and wounded to be cared
for by the humanity of the American
General. Wild and extavagant tales long
excited the credulous in that region, Of
immense treasure buried, and gold and
silver hidden in wells and other recepta-
cles, by the flying enemy. The common
sailors and marines, slain in the action, Of
both fleets, were buried in one grave on
Crab Island. The bodies of the British
and American officers, received from theiI
respective ships, were borne in solemn