1812: The Navy's War (64 page)
In June, Yeo had dispatched Fisher from Kingston to assume command on Lake Champlain from Commander Pring, who was to be his second. Then, a few weeks later, Yeo changed his mind and sent Downie to replace Fisher, who returned to Kingston. Although these sudden shifts would have a serious impact on Prevost’s invasion plans, they were not coordinated with him. Downie did not appear at Isle aux Noix to replace Fisher until September 3—after Prevost began the invasion. Even worse, neither the crew nor the equipment for the
Confiance
was anywhere near ready. Commander Pring wrote later that “only sixteen days before [August 25], she had been on the stocks, with an unorganized crew, comprised of several drafts of men, who had recently arrived from different ships at Quebec, many of whom had joined the
Confiance
the day before, and were unknown to the officers or to each other, with the want of gun locks as well as other necessary appointments not found in this country.” Apparently unaware of these naval problems, Prevost proceeded with the invasion.
Confiance
was anywhere near ready. Commander Pring wrote later that “only sixteen days before [August 25], she had been on the stocks, with an unorganized crew, comprised of several drafts of men, who had recently arrived from different ships at Quebec, many of whom had joined the
Confiance
the day before, and were unknown to the officers or to each other, with the want of gun locks as well as other necessary appointments not found in this country.” Apparently unaware of these naval problems, Prevost proceeded with the invasion.
After the battle, Admiral Yeo wanted to know what all the rush had been about. Why had Prevost pushed Downie to fight when he clearly wasn’t ready? Macdonough’s squadron was anchored in Plattsburgh Bay, midway between the city and Cumberland Head, a mile from shore. Admiral Yeo wanted to know why Prevost, instead of waiting for Downie to attack Macdonough, didn’t take Plattsburgh and turn Macomb’s batteries on Macdonough? Yeo maintained that Macdonough would have been forced to quit the bay and fight Downie in open water, which Downie much preferred and where he would have had a big advantage.
Yeo’s argument was persuasive. By delaying the assault on Plattsburgh and prodding Downie to attack before his ship and crew were ready, Prevost was helping Macdonough immeasurably.
On September 7, the day after Prevost arrived at Plattsburgh, the
Confiance
left the dock at Isle aux Noix and was towed south, workmen still working furiously on her. They kept at it until two hours before the first shots were exchanged in Plattsburgh Bay, when they had to stop and get off. But the
Confiance
was still unfinished. Not only was the ship not ready, but the men had had almost no time to exercise at the guns. Prevost, who normally was ultracautious, blithely assumed the Royal Navy would prevail.
Confiance
left the dock at Isle aux Noix and was towed south, workmen still working furiously on her. They kept at it until two hours before the first shots were exchanged in Plattsburgh Bay, when they had to stop and get off. But the
Confiance
was still unfinished. Not only was the ship not ready, but the men had had almost no time to exercise at the guns. Prevost, who normally was ultracautious, blithely assumed the Royal Navy would prevail.
Even though the
Confiance
had problems, she was still powerful, and combined with the other vessels in the squadron, Downie’s fleet was strong enough to destroy Macdonough. In addition to the
Confiance
(three hundred men), Downie had the 16-gun
Linnet
(one hundred men), under Captain Pring; the 11-gun sloops
Chub
and
Finch
(forty men each); five galleys with two guns each; and seven gunboats with one gun each. No accurate number of men from the British galleys and gunboats exists. Macdonough thought there were on average fifty to a boat, and that is probably the best estimate. The
Chub
and
Finch
were the former sloops
Growler
and
Eagle
captured from Macdonough’s squadron on June 3, 1813.
Confiance
had problems, she was still powerful, and combined with the other vessels in the squadron, Downie’s fleet was strong enough to destroy Macdonough. In addition to the
Confiance
(three hundred men), Downie had the 16-gun
Linnet
(one hundred men), under Captain Pring; the 11-gun sloops
Chub
and
Finch
(forty men each); five galleys with two guns each; and seven gunboats with one gun each. No accurate number of men from the British galleys and gunboats exists. Macdonough thought there were on average fifty to a boat, and that is probably the best estimate. The
Chub
and
Finch
were the former sloops
Growler
and
Eagle
captured from Macdonough’s squadron on June 3, 1813.
While the British were scrambling to get the
Confiance
ready to fight, Macdonough was carefully positioning his squadron. He decided to anchor and wait for Downie to attack. The prevailing winds on Lake Champlain were from the north or the south. Lake ships were poor sailers close-hauled because of their flat bottoms and shallow draught. Macdonough reasoned that Downie would be forced to come down the lake with a northerly wind and then have to beat back against it in order to get into Plattsburgh Bay. When he did, he would be caught in the lee of Cumberland Head, where the wind would be light and erratic.
Confiance
ready to fight, Macdonough was carefully positioning his squadron. He decided to anchor and wait for Downie to attack. The prevailing winds on Lake Champlain were from the north or the south. Lake ships were poor sailers close-hauled because of their flat bottoms and shallow draught. Macdonough reasoned that Downie would be forced to come down the lake with a northerly wind and then have to beat back against it in order to get into Plattsburgh Bay. When he did, he would be caught in the lee of Cumberland Head, where the wind would be light and erratic.
Macdonough situated his ships in a line north to south, one mile east of Plattsburgh’s waterfront and parallel to it. The
Eagle
, under Master Commandant Robert Henley, was farthest north, followed by the
Saratoga
, the
Ticonderoga
, under Lieutenant Stephen Cassin, and the
Preble
, under Lieutenant Charles Budd. The
Eagle
was considerably south of the Saranac River, and the
Preble
was a mile and a half from Crab Island. The gunboats were in a line abreast, forty yards west of the four larger ships.
Eagle
, under Master Commandant Robert Henley, was farthest north, followed by the
Saratoga
, the
Ticonderoga
, under Lieutenant Stephen Cassin, and the
Preble
, under Lieutenant Charles Budd. The
Eagle
was considerably south of the Saranac River, and the
Preble
was a mile and a half from Crab Island. The gunboats were in a line abreast, forty yards west of the four larger ships.
The
Saratoga
had eight long twenty-four-pounders, six forty-two-pound carronades, and twelve thirty-two-pound carronades. The
Eagle
had eight long eighteen-pounders and twelve thirty-two-pound carronades. The schooner
Ticonderoga
had four long eighteen-pounders, eight long twelve-pounders, and five thirty-two-pound carronades. The sloop
Preble
had seven long nine-pounders. The six galleys were seventy-five feet long with forty oars and had one long twenty-four-pounder and one eighteen-pound columbiad. The four gunboats had one long twelve-pounder each. The larger ships had springs on their cables that allowed them to turn without using their sails. They also had stern anchors. In addition, the
Saratoga
had a kedge anchor off each bow with a hawser attached to the quarter on that side, enabling Macdonough to turn the
Saratoga
and bring both the starboard and larboard batteries to bear. Being able to wind the ship in this fashion was an enormous advantage.
Saratoga
had eight long twenty-four-pounders, six forty-two-pound carronades, and twelve thirty-two-pound carronades. The
Eagle
had eight long eighteen-pounders and twelve thirty-two-pound carronades. The schooner
Ticonderoga
had four long eighteen-pounders, eight long twelve-pounders, and five thirty-two-pound carronades. The sloop
Preble
had seven long nine-pounders. The six galleys were seventy-five feet long with forty oars and had one long twenty-four-pounder and one eighteen-pound columbiad. The four gunboats had one long twelve-pounder each. The larger ships had springs on their cables that allowed them to turn without using their sails. They also had stern anchors. In addition, the
Saratoga
had a kedge anchor off each bow with a hawser attached to the quarter on that side, enabling Macdonough to turn the
Saratoga
and bring both the starboard and larboard batteries to bear. Being able to wind the ship in this fashion was an enormous advantage.
On September 10, the British fleet gathered at Isle la Motte, a tiny island at the mouth of the Chazy River, twelve miles north of Plattsburgh. At daylight on the eleventh Downie got under way with a northeast breeze. By five o’clock he was off Cumberland Head, where he signaled Prevost by scaling his guns (firing cartridges alone). Downie then stepped into his gig and slipped around Cumberland Head to get a look at Macdonough’s arrangements. When he returned to the
Confiance
, he held a meeting of officers and presented his plan of attack. He decided to sail into the bay, run up north of Macdonough’s line, then turn south and give the
Eagle
a broadside before laying across the bows of the
Saratoga
and raking her
.
Commander Pring in the
Linnet
would follow and engage the
Eagle
. Lieutenant James McGhie and the
Chub
would assist him. At the same time, Acting Lieutenant William Hicks would attack the
Preble
and the
Ticonderoga
with the brig
Finch
and the flotilla of gunboats. Downie expected the powerful
Confiance
to easily crush the
Saratoga
. Once that happened, he thought, the rest of the American squadron would quickly strike their colors.
Confiance
, he held a meeting of officers and presented his plan of attack. He decided to sail into the bay, run up north of Macdonough’s line, then turn south and give the
Eagle
a broadside before laying across the bows of the
Saratoga
and raking her
.
Commander Pring in the
Linnet
would follow and engage the
Eagle
. Lieutenant James McGhie and the
Chub
would assist him. At the same time, Acting Lieutenant William Hicks would attack the
Preble
and the
Ticonderoga
with the brig
Finch
and the flotilla of gunboats. Downie expected the powerful
Confiance
to easily crush the
Saratoga
. Once that happened, he thought, the rest of the American squadron would quickly strike their colors.
At eight o’clock Macdonough’s lookout boat signaled the approach of the British squadron, and when Downie hove into sight off Cumberland Head, Macdonough made the signal “Impressed seamen call on every man to do his duty.” As the enemy approached, the deeply religious Macdonough knelt with his officers on the
Saratoga
’s deck and said a solemn prayer.
Saratoga
’s deck and said a solemn prayer.
When the
Confiance
, the lead ship, came under the lee of Cumberland Head, the wind became light and fitful, just as Macdonough had predicted. As the
Confiance
pulled within range, Macdonough sighted and fired a long twenty-four-pounder himself, before ordering “close action.” Fire from the American squadron concentrated on the
Confiance
, which was struggling to get into position. Her small bower anchor and the cable on her spare anchor were shot away, as well as the spring on her best bower.
Confiance
, the lead ship, came under the lee of Cumberland Head, the wind became light and fitful, just as Macdonough had predicted. As the
Confiance
pulled within range, Macdonough sighted and fired a long twenty-four-pounder himself, before ordering “close action.” Fire from the American squadron concentrated on the
Confiance
, which was struggling to get into position. Her small bower anchor and the cable on her spare anchor were shot away, as well as the spring on her best bower.
At nine o’clock the contrary winds forced Downie to anchor two cable lengths from the American line and return fire—not where he had planned to be. But his ship was still potent. His first broadside from fourteen, double-shotted twenty-four-pound long guns smashed into the
Saratoga
and killed 20 percent of her crew. One of the dead was Macdonough’s first officer, Lieutenant Peter Gamble, the brother of Marine Lieutenant John M. Gamble, who had served under Commodore David Porter on the
Essex
. Peter Gamble had taken over when Lieutenant Raymond Perry (Oliver’s brother) fell sick just before the battle. Even though Perry wasn’t there, Macdonough credited him with training the crew and had high praise for his efforts. Needless to say, Perry was depressed about not being aboard during the fight.
Saratoga
and killed 20 percent of her crew. One of the dead was Macdonough’s first officer, Lieutenant Peter Gamble, the brother of Marine Lieutenant John M. Gamble, who had served under Commodore David Porter on the
Essex
. Peter Gamble had taken over when Lieutenant Raymond Perry (Oliver’s brother) fell sick just before the battle. Even though Perry wasn’t there, Macdonough credited him with training the crew and had high praise for his efforts. Needless to say, Perry was depressed about not being aboard during the fight.
The first devastating broadside from the
Confiance
did not stop Macdonough or his men. They resumed firing, and a general battle raged. Fifteen minutes into the action, Captain Downie was standing in back of a gun when a ball from the
Saratoga
knocked the cannon off its carriage onto him, killing him instantly. Losing a leader at such a critical moment was devastating. Lieutenant James Robertson assumed command.
Confiance
did not stop Macdonough or his men. They resumed firing, and a general battle raged. Fifteen minutes into the action, Captain Downie was standing in back of a gun when a ball from the
Saratoga
knocked the cannon off its carriage onto him, killing him instantly. Losing a leader at such a critical moment was devastating. Lieutenant James Robertson assumed command.
Macdonough was in constant danger himself. He personally worked some of the guns and was in the act of sighting one when a ball struck the spanker boom and sent a piece of wood slicing into him. For a few moments he was unconscious. He recovered quickly, however, and resumed the fight. A while later, a head from a decapitated seaman smacked into his face and knocked him out again. When he regained his senses, he struggled to his feet and carried on.
The
Linnet
and the
Chub
had taken up stations near the
Eagle
and were firing at close range. The larger warships on both sides were now grouped together. The
Saratoga
and
Eagle
, supported by seven gunboats, were fighting the
Confiance
,
Linnet
, and
Chub
. The
Ticonderoga
, the
Preble
, and three gunboats engaged the
Finch
and four gunboats. The other seven British gunboats, under Lieutenant Rayot, stayed clear of the action and ran away. Shortly, Lieutenant McGhee in the
Chub
had his cables, bowsprit, and main boom shot away. He drifted within Macdonough’s line and was forced to surrender. Midshipman Charles T. Platt, who had fought with David Porter on the Potomac River just days before, took possession and brought her inshore, where he anchored.
Linnet
and the
Chub
had taken up stations near the
Eagle
and were firing at close range. The larger warships on both sides were now grouped together. The
Saratoga
and
Eagle
, supported by seven gunboats, were fighting the
Confiance
,
Linnet
, and
Chub
. The
Ticonderoga
, the
Preble
, and three gunboats engaged the
Finch
and four gunboats. The other seven British gunboats, under Lieutenant Rayot, stayed clear of the action and ran away. Shortly, Lieutenant McGhee in the
Chub
had his cables, bowsprit, and main boom shot away. He drifted within Macdonough’s line and was forced to surrender. Midshipman Charles T. Platt, who had fought with David Porter on the Potomac River just days before, took possession and brought her inshore, where he anchored.
The
Ticonderoga
and the
Preble
pressed the
Finch
and four gunboats hard. Lieutenant Budd was forced to cut his cable and run the
Preble
inshore, firing his broadside to keep the
Finch
and the four gunboats at bay. While he did, Lieutenant Cassin in the
Ticonderoga
kept firing at the
Finch
. After being pounded for an hour, the
Finch
was pulverized. She drifted onto the rocks near Crab Island, where some of the men in the hospital there fired a six-pounder at her, and she struck her colors. The
Ticonderoga
continued battling the four active gunboats. Midshipman Hiram Paulding used his pistol to fire the guns when it was found that the slow match didn’t work. Three of the gunboats were sunk and the other badly damaged.
Ticonderoga
and the
Preble
pressed the
Finch
and four gunboats hard. Lieutenant Budd was forced to cut his cable and run the
Preble
inshore, firing his broadside to keep the
Finch
and the four gunboats at bay. While he did, Lieutenant Cassin in the
Ticonderoga
kept firing at the
Finch
. After being pounded for an hour, the
Finch
was pulverized. She drifted onto the rocks near Crab Island, where some of the men in the hospital there fired a six-pounder at her, and she struck her colors. The
Ticonderoga
continued battling the four active gunboats. Midshipman Hiram Paulding used his pistol to fire the guns when it was found that the slow match didn’t work. Three of the gunboats were sunk and the other badly damaged.
By 10:30 Lieutenant Henley was having trouble aboard the
Eagle
. The
Linnet
and one-third of the
Confiance
’s guns had been pounding him for well over an hour, and he could no longer bring his guns to bear. In desperation, he cut the
Eagle
’s cable, sheeted home the topsails, and ran down and anchored by the stern between
Saratoga
and
Ticonderoga
, and a little inshore of them, which allowed him to fire his port guns at the
Confiance
without being hit by her. That was fine for the
Eagle
, but Henley left the
Saratoga
exposed to the deadly fire of both the
Confiance
and the
Linnet
, which Commander Pring was handling superbly.
Eagle
. The
Linnet
and one-third of the
Confiance
’s guns had been pounding him for well over an hour, and he could no longer bring his guns to bear. In desperation, he cut the
Eagle
’s cable, sheeted home the topsails, and ran down and anchored by the stern between
Saratoga
and
Ticonderoga
, and a little inshore of them, which allowed him to fire his port guns at the
Confiance
without being hit by her. That was fine for the
Eagle
, but Henley left the
Saratoga
exposed to the deadly fire of both the
Confiance
and the
Linnet
, which Commander Pring was handling superbly.
Henley’s ill-timed, unauthorized maneuver nearly caused Macdonough’s defeat.
By this time, all thirteen of Macdonough’s starboard guns were either dismounted or unmanageable. He had to bring his port guns to bear or strike his colors. Fortunately, he had planned for just such an event. He let go the stern anchor, cut the bow cable, and, using his kedges, wound the ship and brought his larboard guns to bear, firing a fresh broadside into the
Confiance
.
Confiance
.
The big British frigate was in desperate condition from the pounding she had taken and from Macdonough’s new assault. On the side facing the
Saratoga
, Lieutenant Robertson had nine long guns disabled. Only two carronades and the pivot gun were serviceable. Three long guns and two carronades were dismantled on the other side, but if he did not bring the rest of the guns on that side to bear, he would be forced to surrender. He managed to get a spring on the cable and tried to turn the ship as Macdonough had, but his battered crew “declared they would no longer stand to their quarters, nor could the officers with their utmost exertions rally them.” With the ship making water fast, the rigging, spars, masts, and hull shattered, upwards of forty men killed, and the wind not admitting the slightest prospect of escaping, Robertson struck his colors. It was eleven o’clock.
Saratoga
, Lieutenant Robertson had nine long guns disabled. Only two carronades and the pivot gun were serviceable. Three long guns and two carronades were dismantled on the other side, but if he did not bring the rest of the guns on that side to bear, he would be forced to surrender. He managed to get a spring on the cable and tried to turn the ship as Macdonough had, but his battered crew “declared they would no longer stand to their quarters, nor could the officers with their utmost exertions rally them.” With the ship making water fast, the rigging, spars, masts, and hull shattered, upwards of forty men killed, and the wind not admitting the slightest prospect of escaping, Robertson struck his colors. It was eleven o’clock.
The redoubtable Pring kept fighting for another twenty minutes. Macdonough had to wind his ship by hauling on the starboard kedge hawser. He brought his broadside to bear in this fashion, and around 11:20, Pring was forced to strike his colors as well. The battle lasted two hours and twenty minutes. Fifty-two Americans were killed and fifty-eight wounded, while the British had eighty-four killed and one hundred and ten wounded.
Macdonough wrote to Secretary Jones, “The Almighty has been pleased to grant us a signal victory on Lake Champlain.” The surviving British officers came aboard the blood-soaked
Saratoga
and presented their swords to Macdonough, but he refused to take them, saying, “Gentlemen, return your swords into your scabbards and wear them. You are worthy of them.”
Saratoga
and presented their swords to Macdonough, but he refused to take them, saying, “Gentlemen, return your swords into your scabbards and wear them. You are worthy of them.”
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