Kentucky Irish American., 1914-09-05
Centennial of His Decisive Vic
tory Over the British
Fleet.
At the Age of Sixteen Was APP
pointed Midshipman i'm
Navy.
ROSE TO RANK OF COMMODORE

In the always interesting sundry
Icivil act, which this year was ap-
proved by President Wilson on Aug
Ust 1, the following provision and
appropriation is made:
For the erection of memorials at
or near Plattsburg, New York, in
commemoration of the victory of
Commodore Thomas Macdonough on
Lake Champlain, in September,
1914, in accordance with plans to
be approved by the Secretary of War
and commissions to be appointed by
the States of Vermont and New
York, respectively, to be expended
by the Secretary of War, SIS, 900 to-
ward the memorial of the State of
Vermont and $125,000 toward the
memorial of the State of New York;
in ALL $4,000: Provided, That no
part of the said appropriation shall
be paid out of the Treasury until
after the State of New York shall
have appropriated a sum not less
than $125,000 for its said memorial
and celebration
This celebration will be held at
Plattsburgh, N. Y, on September IL,
to commemorate the centennial of
Commodore Macdonough's decisive
victory over the British fleet under
Capt, Downie.
Macdonough lived in a romantic
| age of our naval history. He was
the contemporary of Hull, Decatur,
Lawrence, Porter, Stewart and 9TH
ers. The lives of many of these
have been written, their records pre-
served, their memory duly honored;
but who was this Macdonough, who,
down to the civil war, was the
greatest figure of them all?
His grandfather, James Mac
donough, came from Ireland to
America about 1890, and settled at
New Castle, Delaware, at a place
known as "The Trappe." Thomas
Macdonough, Sr., the father of the
Commodore, was born there in
1747, and there he studied and prac-
ticed medicine until the opeRing of
the Revolution. He rendered dis
tinguished services and for gallant
conduct in the battle of Long Island
he received the thanks of Gen.
Washington. He died in 1875.
Thomas Macdonough, Jr., the
Commodore, was born on December
81, 1888, and was one of four broth !
ers, the oldest of whom served in |
the navy of the United States, and |
lost leg in the battle between the |
Constellation (still afioat) and
LInsurgente on February 1S, 1899. |
At the age of sixteen Thomas was
appointed a midshipman in the navy
by President John Adams. From
1900 to 1914, he served on many |
ships of the United States navy, and |
in 1911, Paul Hamilton, then Secre- |
tary OF the Navy, suggested that |
Macdonough present his resignation, |
due to a request for a furlough, !
which was the cause of the differ |
ence. Young Macdonough was in
formed that in consideration of his |
good standing his request would. be |
granted
On September 12, 1912, Macdon-
ough was ordered to take command |
of the vessels on Lake ChampIain.
He was then stationed at Portland,
Maine. and he made the journey on
horseback, carrying only a bundle
and a valise. Upon his arrival at
the lake he commenced at once to
collect his men, ammunition and
supplies, but during the fall of
1912 and summer of 1913 little was
accomplished
On Sunday morning, September
IL, 1914, the British fleet hove
around Cumberland Head, while
Macdonough knelt in prayer on the
deck of the Saratoga. He waited
until the British ship Confiance
came within range and then fired the
FIRST gun himself, killing and wound
Ing several men and carrying away
her wheel. This was the signal for
general firing on the part OF the
Americans-and II was great
American victory; in fact Macdon-
ough alone, among all the Ameri-
can commanders, is distinguished in
having commanded the only smaller
fleet that ever defeated larger
cne. The loss of both sides in killed
and wounded was great, and when
the battle ceased hardly a mast was
standing In either fleet. An old sailor
who had been with Nelson at Trafal-
gar declared that that was "but a
flea bite to this"
Mr.. Roosevelt in his Naval War
OF 1912, says: Captain Perry's
name is more widely known than
that OF any other commander Every
school boy reads about him, II OF no
other sea captain; yet he stands on
lower grade than Macdonough.
And again. "But II will always be a
source OF surprise that the American
public should have so glorified
Perry's victory over an inferior
force, and have paid comparatively
little attention to Macdonough's vie
tory, which was really won against
decided odds In ships, men and
metal"
Macdonough was appointed a
Captain In the navy TO rank from
September IL. 1914. He was al
ways spoken OF as Commodore be-
cause he commanded feet. After