The Democratic advocate., 1878-07-06
For the Democratic Advocate.
A Historical Correction.
MANCHESTER. July Isl. Is

MANCHESTER, July 1st, 1878.
Messrs. Editors 1t is to be regretted
that many persons undertaking to present
historical events, pay so little regard to the
correctness of their statements. Several
days ago, read in the Baltimore San the
announcement of the death of Zachariah
McDonough Roberts, the great peach
grower of Delaware. | also read it in the
Democratic Adrocate of last Saturday
Presuming that both papers copied from
Delaware paper, | was astonished at the
display of the ignorance, or culpable care
lessness of the author Of that article in
making a correct statement. By giving
credit by inuendo to a departed native of
that State, to which he was not entitled,
the writer covered the true merits Of the
latter. He says that Mr. Roberts ''was n
nephew of Commodore McDonough of
Revolutionary fame" The Commodore
has no more title to Revolutionary fam"
than you or | have and for the same rea-
son, namely, that neither of us three (if L
dare connect myself with you, was born
at that period. He was born in New Cas-
tie County, Delaware, some time in De-
cember, 1888, more than two years after
the Revolutionary peace was declared. He
entered the Navy some time in the year
1898, under midshipman's warrant, and
afterwards became one of the great naval
heroes of the war of 1912. He was ordered
to the Mediterranean and there performed
many meritorious acts. | viii only name
one, and to show in what estimation he
was held by his superiors. He was one of
the few young officers selected by Commo
dore Decatur, to perform the daring act
of the burning of the frigate Philadelphia
after she was captured. During the war
of 1912 he was ordered to the lakes, and,
after performing many minor services, he
commanded the American squadron on
Lake Champlain, and on the 11th Sept.
1914, fought before the town Of Platts-
burg, the celebrated naval battle Of Lake
Champlain, aRd, with the exception of
few gun boats which made their escape
during the confusion of the battle, captur-
ed the entire British feet, commanded by
Capt Downie, although the enemy were
superior both in men and guns. They had
1850 men and % euns-the Americans
had $50 men and SO guns.
In this engagement brave Marylander
was killed. Lieut. John Stansbury,a u son
of the late Gen. Tobias E. Stansbury, of
Baltimore county, was shot whilst mount
ing the netting of the Tieonderoga to dis
cover in what manner the guns of his di-
vision might be brought to bear more eff
fectually on one of the enemy's vessels.
As the battle of Plattsburg, or properly
the battle of the Saranac, is closely con
nected with that of the Lake, they having
both been fought on the same day and partly
in sight Of each other, / would correct
few of the egregious errors contained in
history of that battle published by you
several years ago, and supply few of the
omissions. Your publication, as well as |
now recollect, was taken from an eastern
paper. Your historian placed Gen. Woll
in command of the American troops and
accorded to him the honor of that fight.
Gen. Woll was at that time a recently
commissioned Captain, and was probably
not within 800 miles of the scene of the
battle. He was serving at that time near
Niagara Falls or Buffalo, if memory serves
right, as Aid to General Scott 1t is true
that Col. Wool, of the 29th Regiment reg
ulars did meritorious skirmishing services.
The American troops, about $500 strong,
the greater part militia, were commanded
by Gen. Alexander McComb, and it was
he who fought that battle with General
Provost, commanding an army of 1000
men, and Gen. McComb was entitled to
whatever credit was due to the comman-
der of that engagement.
JACOB SHOWER.