The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 Part 56

Sir: The Almighty has been pleased to grant us a signal victory on Lake Champlain, in the capture of one frigate, one brig, and two sloops-of-war of the enemy.

I have the honor to be, &c.

T. MACDONOUGH.

_____

_Captain Macdonough to the Secretary of the Navy._

To the Honorable s.h.i.+p Saratoga, William JONES, Plattsburgh Bay, September 13th, 1814.

Secretary of the Navy, Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C.

Sir: I have the honour to give you the particulars of the action which took place on the 11th instant, on this lake.

For several days the enemy were on their way to Plattsburgh by land and water, and it being well understood that an attack would be made at the same time by their land and naval forces, I determined to await, at anchor, the approach of the latter.

At 8 A.M. the look-out boat announced the approach of the enemy.

At 9, he anch.o.r.ed in a line ahead, at about 300 yards distance from my line; his s.h.i.+p was opposed to the Saratoga, his brig to the Eagle, Captain Robert Henley, his gallies, thirteen in number, to the schooner, the sloop, and a division of our gallies, one of his sloops a.s.sisting their s.h.i.+p and brig, the other a.s.sisting their gallies. Our remaining gallies, with the Saratoga and Eagle.

In this situation, the whole force on both sides became engaged, the Saratoga suffering much, from the heavy fire of the Confiance. I could perceive at the same time, however, that our fire was very destructive to her. The Ticonderoga, Lieutenant Commandant Ca.s.sin, gallantly sustained her full share of the action. At half-past 10 o'clock, the Eagle not being able to bring her guns to bear, cut her cable, and anch.o.r.ed in a more (p. 192) eligible position, between my s.h.i.+p and the Ticonderoga, where she very much annoyed the enemy, but unfortunately, leaving me exposed to a galling fire from the enemy's brig. Our guns on the starboard side being nearly all dismounted, or not manageable, a stern anchor was let go, the bower cut, and the s.h.i.+p winded with a fresh broadside on the enemy's s.h.i.+p, which soon after surrendered. Our broadside was then sprung to bear on the brig, which surrendered in about 15 minutes after.

The sloop that was opposed to the Eagle had struck some time before, and drifted down the line; the sloop which was with their gallies having struck also. Three of their gallies are said to be sunk, the others pulled off. Our gallies were about obeying with alacrity the signal to follow them, when all the vessels were reported to me to be in a sinking state. It then became necessary to annul the signal to the gallies, and order their men to the pumps. I could only look at the enemy's gallies going off in a shattered condition, for there was not a mast in either squadron that could stand to make sail on; the lower rigging being nearly shot away, hung down as though it had been just placed over mast heads.

The Saratoga had 55 round shot in her hull, the Confiance 105.

The enemy's shot pa.s.sed princ.i.p.ally just over our heads, as there were not 20 whole hammocks in the nettings after the close of the action, which lasted, without intermission, two hours and twenty minutes.

The absence and sickness of Lieutenant Raymond Perry left me without the services of that excellent officer; much ought fairly to be attributed to him for his great care and attention in disciplining the s.h.i.+p's crew, as her first lieutenant. His place was filled by a gallant young officer, Lieutenant Peter Gamble, who, I regret to inform you, was killed early in the action.

Acting-lieutenant Vallette worked the first and second division of guns with able effect. Sailing-master Brum's attention to the springs, and in the execution of the order to wind the s.h.i.+p, and occasionally at the guns, met my entire approbation; also Captain Youngs, commanding the acting marines, who took his men to the guns. Mr. Beale, purser, was of great service at the guns, and in carrying my orders throughout the s.h.i.+p, with Mids.h.i.+pman Montgomery. Master's mate Joshua Justin had command of the third division; his conduct during the action was that of a brave officer. Mids.h.i.+pmen Monteath, Graham, Williamson, Platt, Thwing, and Acting-Mids.h.i.+pman Baldwin all behaved well, and gave evidence of their making valuable officers. The Saratoga was twice set on fire by hot shot from the enemy's s.h.i.+p.

I close, Sir, this communication with feelings of grat.i.tude for the able support I received from every officer and man attached to the squadron which I have the honour to command.

I have the honour to be, &c., T. MACDONOUGH.

No. 35. (p. 193) PLATE x.x.xVI.

_September 11, 1814._

Rob. Henley Eagle praefect. palma virtu per aeternit. florebit.

[Rx]. Uno latere percusso. alterum impavide vert.i.t.

CAPTAIN ROBERT HENLEY.

[_Victory of Lake Champlain._]

ROB. HENLEY EAGLE PRaeFECT. PALMA VIRTU. PER aeTERNIT. FLOREBIT.

(_Robertus Henley, Eagle praefectus; palma virtutis per aeternitatem florebit: Robert Henley, commander of the Eagle. The palm of bravery will flourish forever._) Bust of Captain Henley, in uniform, facing the right. FuRST. F. (_fecit_).

UNO LATERE PERCUSSO. ALTERUM IMPAVIDE VERt.i.t. (_Beaten on one side, he fearlessly turns the other._) Naval action on Lake Champlain, between the United States fleet, carrying eighty-six guns, under Captain Macdonough, and the British fleet, with ninety-five guns, commanded by Commodore Downie. To the right the city of Plattsburgh in flames.

Exergue: INTER CLa.s.s. AMERI. ET BRIT. DIE XI SEPT. MDCCCXIIII. (_Inter cla.s.sim Americanam et Britannicam, die 11 Septembris, 1814: Between the American and British fleets, September 11, 1814._) On the platform, FuRST. F. (_fecit_).[91]

[Footnote 91: The resolution of Congress voting this medal, and the official reports of the victory on Lake Champlain, are given under No. 34, page 189.]

ROBERT HENLEY was born in James City County, Virginia, January 5, (p. 194) 1783. He entered the navy as a mids.h.i.+pman in 1799, and was on board of the Constellation, under Captain Truxtun, during her combat with La Vengeance; he was a lieutenant in 1807; a commander August 12, 1814; obtained the Eagle, and was second in command to Macdonough in his victory on lake Champlain, September 11, 1814, receiving for his conduct on that occasion the thanks of Congress and a gold medal. He was appointed captain, March 3, 1825; served in the home squadron and in the West Indies, and died on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, October 7, 1828.

No. 36. (p. 195) PLATE x.x.xVII.

_September 11, 1814._

Step. Ca.s.sin Ticonderoga praefect. Quae regio in terris nos. non plena lab. [Rx]. Uno latere percusso. alterum impavide vert.i.t.

LIEUTENANT STEPHEN Ca.s.sIN.

[_Victory of Lake Champlain._]

STEP. Ca.s.sIN TICONDEROGA PRaeFECT. QUae REGIO IN TERRIS NOS. NON PLENA LAB.[92] (_Stepha.n.u.s Ca.s.sin, Ticonderoga praefectus. Quae regio in terris nostri non plena laboris: Stephen Ca.s.sin, commander of the Ticonderoga. What region of the earth is not full of our works._) Bust of Lieutenant Ca.s.sin, in uniform, facing the right. FuRST. F.

(_fecit_).

[Footnote 92: Virgil, aeneid, Book I, 464.]

UNO LATERE PERCUSSO. ALTERUM IMPAVIDE VERt.i.t. (_Beaten on one side, he fearlessly turns the other._) Naval action on Lake Champlain, between the United States fleet, carrying eighty-six guns, under the command of Captain Macdonough, and the British fleet, with ninety-five guns, commanded by Commodore Downie. To the right the city of Plattsburgh in flames. Exergue: INTER CLa.s.s. AMERI. ET BRIT. DIE XI SEPT. MDCCCXIIII.

(_Inter cla.s.sim Americanam et Britannicam, die 11 Septembris, 1814: Between the American and British fleets, September 11, 1814._) On the platform, FuRST. F. (_fecit_).[93]

[Footnote 93: The resolution of Congress voting this medal, and the official reports of the action on Lake Champlain, are given under No. 34, page 189.]

STEPHEN Ca.s.sIN was born in Philadelphia, February 16, 1783. He (p. 196) entered the navy as a mids.h.i.+pman in 1800, served in the Tripolitan campaign, and became a lieutenant in 1807. He commanded the Ticonderoga in Macdonough's victory on Lake Champlain, September 11, 1814, and for his conduct on that occasion was promoted to the rank of master, and received a vote of thanks and a gold medal from Congress.

He was made captain, March 3, 1825, commanded for some time the navy yard at Was.h.i.+ngton, District of Columbia, and died there, April 29, 1857.

No. 37. (p. 197) PLATE x.x.xVIII.

_March 29, 1814._

Ludovicus Warrington dux navalis Ameri. [Rx]. Pro patria paratus aut vincere aut mori.

CAPTAIN LEWIS WARRINGTON.

[_Capture of the epervier._]

LUDOVICUS WARRINGTON DUX NAVALIS AMERI. (_America.n.u.s_) (_Lewis Warrington, American naval commander._) Bust of Captain Warrington, in uniform, facing the right. FuRST. F. (_fecit_).