The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-06-19


upon the approach of the enemy the
Americans sprang their broadsides to
bear. Then came the calm before the
storm. Then the smoke and shock uf bat
tie, the cries of the wounded, and all the
horrors of war.
The first shot was fired from the Eagle
by the gallant Captain Henley upon the
British sloop, The Club, which was man.
oeuvering near the head of the Americana
lines. This with another shot from the
Saratoga fired by Marlborough himself,
crippled her severely, killing or wound
ing one-half her people, so that she had
to be towed into Plattsburgh Bay One,
hour later the British ship The Finch was
driven from her position by the Tieon-
deroga, and being badly injured drifted
upon Grab Island shoal of rocks and
grounded The British ship Linnet as she
was Passing to attack the Eagle, gave the
Saratoga broadside, but without serious
effect. One of her shots demolished a
hen-coop on the Saratoga, in which was
young game-cock which some of the sea-
men had lately brought aboard The re-
leased fowl, startled by the noise of the
cannon, flew upon gunslde and, clap
| ping his wings, crowed Justify and de-
| family The sailors eheered, and the in
eident appeared to them as sign of vic
tory for the Americans, strengthening the
courage of all.
The British gunboats now entered Wig.
orously into action and soon compelled the
| Preble (under Lieut.. Budd) to cut her
cables and fee to a place of safety. This
J, success SO emboldened the British galleys
! that they made a combined and furious
attack on the Ticonderoga and several
/ times came near boarding her, but she
maintained her position. About this time
our ship the Eagle lost the springs of her
cable and became exposed to the combined
fire of the Linnet and Conhance. Capt
Henley at once dropped her between and
a little astern of the Saratoga and II
I eonderoga, and anchoring her there
opened his larboard afresh on the Con-
vance and the British galleys.
i The fagships ON both sides Welt becom-
4 ing disabled and the Saratoga had not a
single serviceable starboard gun left. Now
was the moment Commodore Macdonough
exhibited his splendid seamanship, he did
so quickly and efficiently. With the aid
of his skillful sailing master, Philip Brum,
he wound the ship about so that he
4 brought the guns Of his larboard to bear
on the British ship Confance, which vainly
attempted to initiate his movement, and
under the direction of Acting Lieutenant
! Lavaette poured such destructive fire
upon the British flagship that she soon
surrendered The British galleys, seeing
the colors of the larger ships go down
dropped their ensigns and a little past
noon, not one Of the national flags that
! Aoated over the British sn"ndron When
it rounded Cumberland Head in the
; morning could be seen.
During the action. Commodore Mac
donough sighted his favonte gun. ane
while doing so and bending his body, q
shot from the enemy cut the spanker
boom in two. 1t. feE upon his bach
II with such force as to PROSTATE and stun
! him. He soon recovered, however, bu
! another shot drove the head of the cap
tain of his favorite gun upon him knocked
him senseless into the scuppers, and IN
> death was reported. But no. the sturd,
= commander was soon at his post again
: Lieut.. Lavalette had box on which h
: was standing driven from under him b,
a shot from the enemy, and he wa
! knocked down by the flying head of on
il Of the seaman.
!, Meanwhile the British ship, The Con
:, fanee, made no reply to the Saratoga
l24-pounder until she had secured a dc
!. sirable position, notwithstanding that til
. whole American feet had become engage
.. in the combat. Then when ready she e2
hibited a sheet of fame. The effect wa
r. terrible. Our ship, the Saratoga. shivere
"a from round top to hull as with the agu
in and almost one-tifth of her people wei
10 disabled Almost Immediately Ma
"a donough resumed the conflict and tn
d. fire OF the Saratoga was steadily and ga
IA lantly conducted, notwithstanding the lo'
of her frstlieutenant, who was on h
knees sighting a bow-gun when a she
split the quoin, driving part of
=. against his breast, and laid him dea
+: without breaking the skin. Fifteen mil
=: utes later an American ball struck tt
!: muzzle of 24-pounder on board the Coz
!: fiance and, dismounting it, sent 1t bodl
:: inboard against the groin of Capt. Doy
8: ME, killing him also without breakir
:: the skin
I: The Saratoga's fire was then directe
4: upon the Linnet and in. the course
:: tiften minutes she, too, struck her color
Z: BY this time the British galleys had drive
= the Ticonderoga half a mile to the req
Z: of their stately associates, who lay tc
:: scattered and feeble to aid them. Findir
:: that they were not likely to be pursued, tt
:: British galleys bent their sweeps with e.
=: ergy and escaped down the lake.
!: Sir George Provost, who always playe
:: the coward according to British historian
4: had become terribly alarmed and ex
Z: perienced extreme modification on hea
!: ing SHOUTS of victory from til
s; American works when the feet SUI
I: rendered on the lake. He had assume
!: the position of cooperation with the Bri
): ish fleet rather than principal. leavin
s: the brave Downie the brunt of the Sc
+: vice. Thus the British lost the lake al
s: solutely.
:! Governor Chittenden issued a patriot
8: address at the beginning of the invasion
+: calling upon the militia of his state t
{: hasten to the aid of their brethren acro'
!: the lake It was heartily responded t.
s: and not less then $500 Green Mountai
): Boys were on the Saranac under MaiC
(: General Strong. For two hours an
!: twenty minutes this severe naval batt
s: RACED while the thunder Of the cannon. til