MACDONOUGH AND LAKE CHAMPLAIN.
Once more our story goes back to the northern waters, this time to Lake
Champlain. Little had been done here by either side during the first two
years of the war. There was hardly a naval force on the lake worthy of
being mentioned, and the only operations that took place were mere raids
or forays. In June, 1813, Lieutenant Smith had been despatched with the
two sloops "Growler" and "Eagle," which were the only vessels then
possessed by the Americans, to annoy the British gunboats at the
northern end of the lake; and rashly pursuing them into the Sorel River,
from which he was unable to make his way out, he had been attacked by
the boats, and by the troops that lined the banks, and his whole force
had been captured.
This gave the enemy control of the lake, and they were not slow to use
their advantage. Four weeks later a body of troops were sent up from the
Canadian territory to Plattsburg, along with the captured sloops, which
had now been named the "Chubb" and the "Finch;" and the troops, landing,
wrought great havoc at the post by destroying the buildings, and the
supplies which had been stored there.
The American commander at this time on Lake Champlain was Capt. Thomas
Macdonough, of whom it may be truly said that no one in the old navy has
left behind him a more spotless reputation, either as an officer or as a
man. Brave and energetic, but prudent beyond his age,--for at this time
he was but twenty-eight years old,--he was also earnest and sincere,
grave but gentle, full of ardor, but of an even and kindly temper. He
had been one of Preble's gallant band of officers, and he had sailed
with Decatur in the "Intrepid" when the "Philadelphia" was burned; and
again he was at his brave leader's side when with nine men they boarded
and carried the Tripolitan gunboat in the first battle before Tripoli.
Formed in that school of chivalrous devotion, his own lofty spirit had
gathered in these later years added strength and judgment; and as events
were now to show, no better man could have been chosen to defend the
frontier at this its most vulnerable point.
During the second year of the war, Macdonough was engaged, as Perry had
been on Lake Erie, in building the vessels that were to form his fleet,
but under difficulties even greater, in the want of workmen and
materials. The British, too, were busily employed, and by the midsummer
of 1814 the work of building was so far advanced that they began to
think of taking the offensive, and to make the needful preparations for
a great combined movement by land and water. An army of invasion
numbering ten thousand men, many of them veterans, and commanded by Sir
George Prevost, was massed at Montreal to march up the shores of the
lake as soon as the fleet should be ready to support them in their
advance. Their commander, fortunately for us, was a most unfit officer,
else he would have made short work of the handful of troops under
General Macomb at Plattsburg, which was the only army to oppose him. The
naval force, under Com. George Downie, as yet consisted only of the brig
"Linnet" and the two captured sloops; but there was also on the stocks,
and nearly finished, the fine frigate "Confiance," which carried thirty
long 24-pounders,--a very heavy battery for this lake warfare. To oppose
this force Macdonough had one ship, the "Saratoga," mounting eight long
24's, and eighteen carronades of heavy calibre; but being carronades
they were by no means equal to long guns, and the "Saratoga" was
therefore far from a match for the "Confiance." He had also the schooner
"Ticonderoga" and the sloop "Preble;" and the "Eagle," a brig of fair
size and metal, was still under construction. In the latter part of
August both the "Confiance" and the "Eagle" were launched, so that by
September both sides had made up their complete numbers. The two fleets
had in addition a little flotilla of gunboats, numbering ten or perhaps
more upon each side.
The opposing squadrons, in the number of men and in the weight of
broadside, were as nearly matched as two naval squadrons well could be,
and what difference there was between them was in favor of the enemy.
But it amounted to so little that it is hardly worth while to consider
it at all. In all kinds of naval equipment the ships were poorly fitted
and supplied, but both sides shared equally in these deficiencies.
Macdonough had been informed of the enemy's intentions, and made his
plan to await their attack at Plattsburg, where the fleet and the army
might stand or fall together. The formation of the bay at Plattsburg
gave him a strong position. It lies on the western side of Lake
Champlain, and is enclosed in part by a long neck of land which juts
out into the lake, and curving like a hook or a bent finger, makes some
distance to the southward. The enemy in advancing up the lake from the
northern end must pass along this promontory on the outside, and then
double its extreme point in order to enter the bay, passing to the
northward again along its inner side. If they came up the lake with a
leading wind, as they would doubtless do, they must beat up against the
wind after they doubled the point; and thus during their slow advance,
while manoeuvring in a confined space, they would be exposed to the
broadsides of the ships that lay at anchor within.
[Illustration: "ON THE STOCKS, AND NEARLY FINISHED, THE FINE FRIGATE
'CONFIANCE.'"]
With this in view Macdonough decided on his order of battle. His line
was formed heading directly north and well inside the bay, the leading
vessel, the brig "Eagle," being so near the inner curve of the bight
that the enemy would not be able to turn the line by passing between her
and the shore. Next came the flagship "Saratoga," and astern of her the
schooner "Ticonderoga." The sloop "Preble" brought up the rear. In the
intervals of the line the gunboats had their stations; and these were to
check any attempt of the enemy to turn the rear by passing through the
narrow opening between the "Preble" and Crab Island shoal, which closed
the bay on the southern side. A small battery on Crab Island aided still
more in giving this protection. In these arrangements Commodore
Macdonough showed great foresight and judgment; but he was not satisfied
with this, and it was by the additional precautions that he took, which
few commanders would have thought of, that he evinced his greatest
skill, and indeed in the end saved the battle. Knowing that with his
battery of carronades his engaged broadside would in time become
disabled, he made the most careful preparations to wind his ship,--that
is, to turn her round,--so that she might bring a fresh broadside to
bear. This would be no easy matter for a ship at anchor in a narrow
space in a crowded bay, and under the enemy's fire; but he resolved that
it should be done. So besides the usual anchors, he planted kedges broad
off on his ship's bows, with hawsers hanging in bights under the water,
and leading to her quarters. The stream anchor was suspended astern. We
shall see presently how important these precautions became.
* * * * *
Soon after daybreak, on the 11th of September, 1814, just a year and a
day after the battle of Lake Erie, the picket boat of the American
squadron, lying outside the bay, descried the advancing enemy, and
falling back, announced to Commodore Macdonough their approach. The
ships were at once cleared for action. At eight o'clock the masts of the
enemy's vessels could be seen across the neck of Cumberland Head, and
soon they had rounded the point and were standing in, formed in line
ahead, the "Chubb" leading, toward the van of the American squadron. The
"Chubb" and "Linnet" were to engage the "Eagle." Next came the
"Confiance," with her powerful battery, marked out to engage the
"Saratoga," and the "Finch," with the greater part of the gunboats, to
attack the rear, and endeavor to turn the line.
The water in the bay was smooth, and the English squadron filled, and
came down on the starboard tack, without a sound to break the stillness.
On board the American ships the men awaited in silence and expectation
the order to fire. The "Eagle" was the first to open, discharging in
succession her 18-pounders, but the shot fell short. On board the
"Saratoga" a rooster which had been set free in clearing away the
hen-coops, startled by the report of the guns, flew upon a gun-slide,
and flapping his wings, crowed cheerily. This little incident relieved
the strain of waiting, and the blue-jackets, taking it as a good omen,
broke out in cheers and laughter. Commodore Macdonough stood on his
quarter-deck unmoved, watching the play of the "Eagle's" shot. As soon
as he saw them reach the mark, he walked to one of the 24-pounders, and
pointing it carefully himself at the bow of the "Confiance," touched the
match and fired. The shot entered near the hawse-hole of the enemy's
ship and passed the whole length of the deck, killing and wounding
several men in its passage, and ended its course by carrying away the
wheel. All the long guns of the "Saratoga" now began to play upon the
enemy's frigate, every shot telling with deadly effect. Still the
"Confiance" continued to advance without replying, with a stubborn
bravery that moved to admiration all who witnessed it. At last she swung
into position and came to anchor, not so near as Captain Downie could
have wished, but as near as he could venture under the galling fire. The
"Chubb" and "Linnet" took their places ahead of him, engaging the
"Eagle;" but not a gun was fired from the frigate until the anchoring
was complete and everything had been secured in true seamanlike manner.
Suddenly a sheet of flame seemed to burst from the side of the
"Confiance," as her whole broadside was fired. The guns, double-shotted
and aimed at point-blank range, in smooth water, sent flying their
volley of huge 24-pound shot; and under the shock the "Saratoga"
shivered as though a ram had struck her. Half the crew were thrown down
to the deck, and forty were killed or wounded by the cannon-balls or
flying splinters. The first lieutenant, Gamble, struck in the breast by
a split quoin or gun-wedge, fell dead without so much as a break in the
skin. For an instant the "Saratoga" ceased her fire, but the next moment
it was resumed with redoubled energy. Macdonough, pointing one of the
guns himself, was knocked senseless by a blow from a shattered spar, but
regaining consciousness he sprang to his feet and went back to his work
at the gun. A moment later a shot struck the gun-captain, taking his
head clean off, and the head struck Macdonough with such force that it
threw him across the deck into the scuppers. On board the other ship,
Downie, standing in the rear of the gun at a moment when a shot from the
"Saratoga" struck its muzzle, received a blow in the groin as the gun
was driven from its carriage, and fell to the deck; he never spoke
again.[2] After this the broadsides from both ships gradually became
less and less deadly. The British sailors, inexperienced in handling the
guns, loaded hurriedly, sometimes putting in the ball or wad before the
cartridge, and as the quoins were loosened, the breech of the gun fell
lower and lower, raising the muzzle, until the shot passed harmlessly
through the air. The "Saratoga's" carronades, too, were overloaded, and
what with that and with the enemy's fire, those on the engaged or
starboard side were disabled one by one, until at last only a single
carronade remained; and as the crew were taking a final shot with this,
the recoil broke the weakened bolt, and the gun jumped down the
hatchway.
[Footnote 2: This gun with its cracked muzzle is still preserved at the
Naval Academy.]
Ahead of the two flagships the battle had all this time been raging, but
with no more certain result. The little "Chubb," it is true, manoeuvring
at the head of the line, lost her bowsprit and main boom under the
"Eagle's" fire; and drifting down on the American line, a shot from the
"Saratoga" made her a prize, and a midshipman in the "Saratoga's" boat
towed her in shore. The fight at this end was now between the "Eagle"
and the "Linnet," and the enemy was getting the best of it. Indeed, the
"Eagle," having lost her springs, could not return the "Linnet's" fire
with advantage, so sheeting home her topsails, she cut her cable and ran
down the line, taking a new berth astern of the "Saratoga," and bringing
a fresh broadside to bear.
Meantime a separate battle was going on at the rear of the line. Here
the British had their strongest gunboats, and the Americans their
weakest. It was upon the "Preble" that the attack was first directed,
and after a time the gunboats succeeded in making her berth too warm,
and cutting her cable she drifted in to leeward. After this repulse she
was not again engaged. In a short time the "Finch," attempting to carry
the "Ticonderoga," was disabled by two well-aimed broadsides, and she
also drifted out of the fight, at last going ashore on Crab Island,
where she struck to the neighboring battery. The "Ticonderoga" was now
pressed hard by the English gunboats, which attacked her with great dash
and energy; but Lieutenant Cassin, who commanded her, defended her
valiantly, standing on the taffrail amid a shower of grape and canister,
and beating back the assailants as they crowded around his little sloop.
It was thus due to Cassin's vigorous efforts that the rear was held so
firmly on that trying day.
The fight had now been going on for an hour or more, and the critical
point in the battle had been reached, when the forces of both sides were
nearly exhausted, and the next move meant victory or defeat. The
"Ticonderoga" might still hold the rear, and the "Eagle" could make some
reply to the "Confiance;" but the "Saratoga" had not a gun left on her
starboard side, which was toward the enemy, and the "Linnet," unopposed,
had stationed herself off the American flagship's bow, and was raking
her without resistance. To remain where she was meant destruction to the
"Saratoga." Now, then, was the time to use the appliances which
MacDonough's careful forethought had provided. He resolved to wind the
ship, so that his port broadside could be brought to bear. It was a
difficult and dangerous process in the face of the enemy's fire, for if
once his men should be thrown into confusion all would be lost. But with
the captain standing on the quarter-deck, calm and collected, there was
no danger that any one would lose his head. The stream anchor was let go
astern, and the hawser, bent to the kedge on the starboard bow, which
had been carried to the starboard quarter, was hauled in until the ship
was half-way round. Then the men clapped on a line bent to the stream
anchor, and pulled and tugged, but with all their efforts they could
only swing her far enough to make one gun bear on the "Confiance."
Instantly this was manned and opened fire. But this was not enough. The
ship now hung with her stern exposed to the raking fire of the "Linnet."
Something must be done, and quickly. What should it be? There still
remained the other kedge, planted broad off the port bow. That alone
could accomplish the result. Its hawser, leading to the port quarter,
was carried forward, passed under the bow and then aft on the other
side, where the crew roused on it with a will. It seemed not much, but
it was enough, and in a few minutes more the "Saratoga" was heading
south, and firing at the "Confiance" from a clean, fresh, broadside
battery.
This ended the battle. The "Confiance" herself, attempting to wind, was
caught when half-way round, and after enduring a few moments of the
"Saratoga's" fresh fire, struck her colors and surrendered. The "Linnet"
held out a little longer, but it was a useless struggle, and she too
hauled down her flag.
It was a complete victory. The enemy were more than defeated,--they were
annihilated, their squadron wiped out of existence. Lake Champlain,
which till this point in the war had been almost a British lake, was now
delivered up without a possibility of recovery. Sir George Prevost,
seeing the issue of the battle in the bay, made only a feeble
demonstration against Plattsburg, and soon he was in full retreat to
Canada, and New York was saved from the threatened invasion.