Battle of New Orleans.

Friday, July 6, 2012

Vergennes, Vermont's Key Role in the War-- Part 1

From the May 7th Addison County (Vt) Independent "Museum will tell story of city's key tole in War of 1812" by John Flowers.

Vergennes is known as "The Little City."  It played a huge role in the US Navy victory that saved the Champlain Valley from British invasion and helped end the war.

There is a stone monument in the city park dedicated to the town's part in  it.

US Navy First Lt. Thomas Macdonough was hastily organizing a small fleet built in the Vergennes shipyard along Otter Creek.  The fleet beat a superior British fleet at the Battle of Plattsburgh (also called the Battle of Lake Champlain).

The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum will have an exhibit on the town's role.  Art Cohn, in charge of special projects for the museum, will lead a four-month tour aboard the canal schooner Lois McClure to tell the story.

Included will be War of 1812 artifacts found in Lake Champlain and its tributaries.  Many more will be from the museum's 4,000 artifact collection connected with the Battle of Plattsburgh, including the anchor from the HMS Confiance, a 36-gun British frigate and the main ship at the September 11, 1814, battle.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry

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