Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-06
CELEBRATES
ANNIVERSARY OF BATTLE
Commentaries Macdonoughs Vic
tory Over British in Lake Cham
plain This Week.

pLATTSBURG. n. Y, September D.
The centennial of the decisive battle
of Plattsburg. in which Commodore
Thomas Marlborough and his American
squadron, September II, 1914, defeated
superior British foe after one OF
the most holly contested naval bat
ties in history, is to be celebrated here
during the coming week.
The battle was the last important
naval contest of the war of 1872,
preceding the signing of the treaty
of Client, and just one day before the
famous defense of Baltimore, which Is
to be commemorated in the Maryland
city next week.
The battle of Plattsburg has been
called by some historians the greatest
naval contest of the war. A British
army of $4,000 men had undertaken
the invasion of New York by advanc-
ing along the western bank of Lake
Champlain. while both the British and
American naval forces in the lake
itself were Strengthening themselves to
assist and defeat the land forces. re-
spectively.
Story of Big Fight.
The British fleet, under Capt. George
Downie. consisted of sixteen vessels
and 937 men, while Macdonough had
fourteen vessels and $50 men. The
flagship Saratoga of the American fleet
had been built in a hurry at Vergennes,
and the British had also hurriedly
built the big frigate Confiance of 1920
tons.
The morning of September II the
British men-of-war sailed into Platts-
burg bay and engaged Macdonoughs
ships At the same time the land forces
began their attack on the Piattsburg
forts, defended by Gen. McComb and
less than 1000 effective American
a little more than two hours and
half after the first gun of the naval
battle had been fired the British ships
hauled down their colors Their COM
mander had been killed and the ves-
sells were in sinking condition. The
young American commodore had dis
tinguished himself by working like
common sailor in pointing and handling
favorite gun, while the hull OF
his flagship was repeatedly set on fire
from hot shot, and ffty-five holes were
cut through her side. The number of
killed and wounded was estimated at 200
on the American side and more than 300
on the British. Upon the surrender
of the British naval forces the army
attacking Plattsburg withdrew.
Monument TO be ErecteQ.
For the purpose of celebrating these
historic events a total of S25O,OOO has
been appropriated by the state and fed
eral governments. Part of this sum will
be used to erect a monument commemo-
rating the battle. The program, which
begins tomorrow with religious exercises,
will include Labor day celebration
Monday, with parades and addresses by
Samuel Gompers and John Mitchell. Tues
day will be "Vergennes day." commence
rating the building of Macdonoughs ships
at Vergennes, VT.
During the latter part of the week
feature will be made of an historical
pageant, in which 1900 persons will par
ticipate. Secretary of the Navy Daniels,
Assistant Secretary Franklin D. Roose-
welt, Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood, Sir
Charles P. Davidson, chief justice of the
Dominion of Canada, and other Cana
dian dignitaries and the governors of
New York, verEont and Connecticut are
expected to be present. DR.. John NJ.
Thomas. president of Middlebury College.
will deliver the historical address of the
occasion. Percy Mackaye will read a
special poem.
Military display will be furnished by
over 5000 men from the regular army
stationed in New York state, 100 cavalry
men from Fort Ethan Allen, VT. and
company of field artillery from Toby
hanna, Pa, as well as picked company
of New York National Guardsmen.