How One Naval Battle on Lake Champlain Saved New York from British Invasion

Battle of Plattsburgh, Lake Champlain

The largest British force of the entire War of 1812 wasn’t heading for Washington or Baltimore. It was marching toward tiny Plattsburgh, New York, with 14,000 troops ready to slice America in half.

But they didn’t account for the young naval commander they were about to meet. Here’s the David versus Goliath story, plus where to learn more about what happened.

Macdonough’s Path to Lake Champlain Command

Thomas Macdonough joined the Navy at age 16 in 1800. He gained fame fighting pirates in North Africa, joining Stephen Decatur’s raid to burn the captured USS Philadelphia in Tripoli harbor.

When war with Britain broke out in 1812, the Navy needed experienced officers on the Great Lakes. They sent Macdonough to Burlington, Vermont that October to take charge of American ships on Lake Champlain, which formed a natural border with British Canada.

When British Forces Seized Control of the Lake

American naval power on Lake Champlain collapsed in June 1813. Two American ships, Growler and Eagle, sailed too close to British territory and were captured in the narrow Richelieu River.

The British renamed these vessels and added them to their fleet. With control of the lake, British troops raided settlements on both shores throughout summer 1813.

These attacks burned military buildings, seized private boats, and cut supply lines to American forces preparing to attack Montreal.

The Race to Build a Fleet at Vergennes

Macdonough set up a shipyard at Vergennes, Vermont in December 1813. This site, seven miles up Otter Creek, stayed safe from British raids.

Vergennes offered everything needed for shipbuilding: forests for timber, waterfalls powering sawmills, and ironworks for metal parts. Workers quickly built several warships under naval architect Noah Brown.

They completed the 26-gun corvette Saratoga in just over a month. By summer 1814, they added the sloop Eagle, converted the schooner Ticonderoga, and built several smaller gunboats.

Britain’s Plan to Invade New York

Britain freed up thousands of battle-hardened troops when Napoleon surrendered in April 1814. Around 16,000 veterans who had fought under Wellington in Europe headed to North America.

Lieutenant General Sir George Prévost gathered 11,000 soldiers near Montreal. He planned to march south along Lake Champlain toward Albany, following the same route used during the Revolutionary War.

At the same time, British workers built a powerful 36-gun warship called HMS Confiance to control the lake and protect the invasion force.

How Americans Prepared Their Defensive Position

Brigadier General Alexander Macomb had only 1,500 regular soldiers and 2,500 militia to defend Plattsburgh. Most American troops had been sent to protect other areas.

Macomb’s men dug in along the Saranac River south of Plattsburgh. They destroyed bridges and blocked roads to slow the British advance while building defensive works.

Macdonough anchored his ships in Plattsburgh Bay, shielded by Cumberland Head peninsula. This position forced the British to fight at close range where their long-range guns lost their advantage.

Macdonough’s Brilliant Anchoring Strategy

Macdonough placed his four ships in a north-south line inside Plattsburgh Bay: Eagle, Saratoga, Ticonderoga, and Preble. Ten small gunboats supported them.

Each ship used bow and stern anchors with “springs” which were special ropes attached to anchor cables. These springs let ships turn while staying anchored, pointing different guns at the enemy without using sails.

Macdonough added extra anchors to his flagship Saratoga that would allow it to spin completely around if needed, a clever plan that would change the battle’s outcome.

The British Fleet Advances into Battle

Captain George Downie led his ships around Cumberland Head into Plattsburgh Bay at 9:00 AM on September 11, 1814. Light, shifting winds made it hard to steer precisely.

His fleet included the new frigate HMS Confiance with 36 guns, brig HMS Linnet with 16 guns, and two 11-gun sloops, HMS Chubb and HMS Finch. Twelve gunboats followed.

Downie wanted to position Confiance to fire down the length of the American line, but poor winds forced him to anchor directly across from Saratoga instead.

The Naval Engagement Begins

The battle started at 9:45 AM with roaring cannon fire that shook the ground. Thick smoke soon covered the ships as they hammered each other at close range.

Macdonough aimed one of Saratoga’s first shots himself. Early in the fight, an American cannonball hit one of Confiance’s guns, knocking it into Captain Downie and killing him instantly.

Despite losing their commander, British sailors fought on fiercely. Heavy cannon fire from both sides caused massive damage to the wooden ships and killed or wounded many sailors.

Macdonough’s Game-Changing Maneuver

After two hours of fighting, both flagships had their battle-facing guns knocked out – Saratoga’s starboard side and Confiance’s port side. The battle reached a critical moment.

Macdonough ordered his crew to use the prepared spring lines and anchors to turn Saratoga around. This brilliant move brought the ship’s unused port-side guns to bear on the damaged British flagship.

When Confiance tried the same maneuver, they found their spring lines had been cut by American fire. Unable to bring fresh guns into action, Confiance had no choice but to surrender.

The British Retreat from New York

The rest of the British fleet soon gave up or fled. HMS Linnet fought bravely but eventually surrendered.

HMS Finch ran aground, and most gunboats escaped back to Canadian waters. General Prévost watched the naval defeat from shore.

Without control of Lake Champlain, his invasion route remained vulnerable. He canceled his attack against the American land forces and ordered his army back to Canada the next day.

The battle cost Britain about 380 men killed or wounded and 300 captured. American forces suffered about 100 dead and 120 wounded – a high price for their important victory.

Visiting the Battle of Plattsburgh Interpretive Center

The Battle of Plattsburgh Interpretive Center is located at 31 Washington Road, Plattsburgh, NY 12903. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM.

You can walk the Macdonough Trail, a 1.5-mile path with markers showing where his ships anchored in Cumberland Bay. The annual commemoration happens the second weekend of September with naval reenactments on the lake.

Valcour Island, 15 miles south, features a small museum about Lake Champlain’s naval battles.

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