Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-10
SECRETARY OF
NAVY A SPEAKER
AT VERGENNES
Program OF Second Day of Marlborough Celebra-
ton Includes Drills by U. S. Cavalry and
National Guardsmen, Naval Parade, Exer-
cises at Fort Cassin and Fireworks.

tectlon OF lts guns. General lizard under
a strange command from the war de-
partment, had finally departed for Sche-
nectady, leaving Macomb with 1000 men.
mostly militia from Vermont and New
York. to meet 1900 troops under Gem
eral Provost The enemy reached Plstts-
bureh by the time that eight gunboe rs
reached Isle La Motto and by the 9Th
OF September Captain Downie had Joined
them with the rest of his fleet and by the
l1th stood south to deliver his attack
There with his vessels lined I'd perallel
to the shore and little south of the
Saranac, they found the American feet
at eight o'clock on the 18th. Downie an
chored his flagship, the Confance. at a
distance OF about two cables from the
Saratoga. whose first gun, a long q, was
sighted by Macdonough himself, and that
shot ripped into the causes Of history,
beginning an engagement which was de-
stlned TO become one Of the historic bat
ties of the world
In quick succession gun after gun on
both sides was rapidly disabled during the
two and ore-half hours OF red hot storm
which enveloped the fighting ships In
point of tonnage. number Of vessels. num-
Der of guns and men the British were SUI
perior. In experience there were men on
their ships who had seen service under
Nelson at Trafalgar but against them
was pitted an indomitable and thoughtful
commander who not only directed tho
men but had constructed the ships and
who with marvellous sagacity had chos-
on his position for the fight and thought
out the fight in advance. 1t did not mat
ter that the first broadside from the
Confance killed and wounded % men on
the Saratoga. Macdonough himself was
fclled senseless TO the deck by splinter
from the spankerboom and later was
knocked into the scuppers of the flying
head of his own gun-captain. He return
I'd again and again to the fight, fighting
his own guns. When disabled on one
idc, he wound his vessel around, while
ance, her ropes cut by shot and anchors
lost, could only force ahead and was
soon compelled to take fresh broad
side from larboard and Obliged to strike
her colors.
The enga cement was most severe One
out of every eight American sailors was
killed or wounded and one out Of every
five of the enemy. General Provost wrote
the Earl Of Bathurst that this victory
by an American sailor was an unlocked
for event and both agreed--the first as his
men were advancing upon the defences Of
Plattshurgh and the other afterwards in
the calm of his military library-that fur
Their prosecution of the service was be-
~ acti, Il
'css of no avail
There was nothing left. They buried
aptain Downie and the other officers in
he village cemetery and the sailors and
marines in a common grave on Crab Is
and. with Green Mountains and the Ad-
rondacks for their monument and the
song Of the lake as their final requiem.
MRcdonough began the engagement
'fter rising from prayer upon the decks
If his ship and, when the victory was
Non he reported 1t to his superior at
in this simple way: Sir:
The Almighty has been pleased to grant
Is signal victory on Lake Champlain
n the capture OF one frigate. one brig
md two sloops of war of the enemy.
lave the honor to he, very respectfully,
dr. T. Marlborough" addressed to Will
lam Jarvis).
And who was this fighting ship builder
rom old Vergennes? A farm boy from
Delaware, only IS years old appointed hy
resident Adams In 1900 from clerk in a
ountry store to he a midshipman in the
lavy Since that year he had seen much
ervice, had yellow fever in the West In
lies, had been captive in an English
var vessel off the Delaware capes, had
ought pirates In Tripoli had rescued an
merican sailor from an English vessel
inder the guns of Gibraltar had par
icipated In the destruction of the Phil
delphla, the most daring act of the age
ccording to Admiral Nelson himself, and
lad also served as a naval officer in the
u editerranean and in enforcing the en-
largo along the Atlantic coast. In what
YER capacity he served, including charge
# gunboats in Connecticut, Rhode Island !
md Maine waters he was always a con-
tructive officer, and an able sailor. 10y
Il to the God whom ne worshipped and |
o the United states which he served. He :
vas raised native to the soil and re- |
eived his experience from the commands !
atural ability and a stout heart. made
lin the hero of Lake Champlain.
1t Is not strange that McNayters the !
historian, should call him the greatest
ca captain before the Civil war or that
Governor Hughes should have SO desiC- ,
ated him before the Spanish war. Nor ,
: to to he rega rded marvellous thing 4
hat this country to-day should Join with !
'crmont and New York in honoring his !
memory and in giving praise to the vast |
alue of his victory to the United States. |
The second term of President jefferson !
ad developed the need of a powerful |
ANY to protect the growing international |
rade Of this country from British az |
ression and interference. The wars with |
napoleon, and more especially during the |
lockade of France. led England to re-
i've an old rule forbidding neutrals from.
rade. In it's claim of enforcing this
light British vessels began to seize and !
earch American ships. leading to the |
npressment of American sailors first
nd. next, to an embargo which was most
Unpopular in the North Meanwhile Sir
ohm Craig, the governor-general of Can
ia, had gone 10 Vermont Massachu
etts and New York to look for eW-
ences Of secession. but afterwards, hnd-
lg none, he sold President Madison his
apers In the case for gold. These at
ampts to foster disunion and the cap
are of many ships and thousands OF
lilors are assigned particularly as the
auses of the War of 1872 but the reasons
ere more profound than these.
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