Naval Action: War of 1812-- Part 2: Battle of Lake Champlain

The Battle of Lake Champlain, fought a year later, September 10, 1814, was fought for a body of water that historically had been a path of invasion. It was a joint army-navy operation for the British whose success depended upon keeping Lake Champlain open for supplies.

The British had a slight firepower advantage but the American ships were  moored in a position so as to protect General Alexander Macomb's army. The American Navy commander, Master Commandant Thomas Macdonough, in his flagship USS Saratoga, was able to bring both his port and starboard guns to bear on the British ships who tried in vain to compensate.

As a result of the American victory, Britain was forced to reconsider their military and diplomatic objectives which led to the Dec. 24, 1814 Treaty of Ghent, ending the war.

-- Brock-Perry