The British were very anxious to obtain the command of Lake Champlain,
and the posts in the vicinity. The Americans had fitted out a small
squadron on the lake, and placed it under the command of Commodore
Macdonough. In 1814, a powerful British army advanced against
Plattsburgh, and a British squadron, commanded by Captain Downie,
sailed to meet the American squadron, then lying in Plattsburgh bay.
Early on the morning of the 11th of September, the fleets met, and the
battle commenced.
The Confiance, the flag-ship of the enemy, engaged the Saratoga, and
the contest was maintained for about two hours, when the Confiance
struck her colors. The chief vessel of the enemy being captured, the
brig surrendered in a few minutes; two sloops had been captured some
time before; three of the gallies were sunk, and the others escaped.
The killed on board the American squadron amounted to fifty-two,
the wounded to fifty-eight. Of the enemy, eighty-four were killed,
including Captain Downie, the commander of the squadron, one hundred
and ten wounded, and eight hundred and fifty-six remained prisoners, a
number exceeding the whole amount of the Americans engaged.
[Illustration: DEFENCE OF FORT M’HENRY.]