On this 13th anniversary of the tragedy of 9-11, another event took place in American history which was indeed a turning-point. The Battle of Plattsburgh (Plattsburg) and Battle of Lake Champlain in New York.
Governor General Sir George Prevost's Lake Champlain Campaign, begun in late August 1814, culminated in a joint land and naval assault on Plattsburg, New York.
Complying with Prevost's orders, Captain George Downie sailed his squadron of ships into Lake Champlain to engage Captain Thomas Macdonough's fleet anchored in Plattsburg Bay. Adverse winds prevented Downie's ships from maneuvering into position and put them in close range of the damaging U.S. broadsides.
Downie was killed and after fierce fighting, the British fleet surrendered.
Meanwhile, Prevost, commanding 10,351 of the Duke of Wellington's veterans, made a brief attack on Brigadier General Alexander Macomb's force of roughly 3,000 men, but quickly withdrew his troops to Lwer Canada.
The humiliating and costly defeat for the British resulted in Prevost being recalled to England to explain his actions.
--Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
Showing posts with label Downie George. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Downie George. Show all posts
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Monday, August 25, 2014
HMS Confiance is Launched at Ile aux Noix, Lower Canada
AUGUST 25TH, 1814: Because of their ambitious 1813-1814 ship-building program, the Americans regained command of Lake Champlain. In a bid to wrest back control of this waterway, Britain began laying down a large frigate at Ile aux Noix, Lower Canada.
Construction was delayed by a lack of supplies and the vessel was scarcely equipped in time for the Battle of Plattsburg Bay.
Armed with 37 guns, the Confiance would become Captain George Downie's flagship and, together with a number of smaller vessels also constructed at the naval yard, including gunboats and the brig HMS Linnett, made up the British fleet that fought at Plattsburg in which Downie died and his ship was captured.
The HMS Confiance was the largest ship on either side to sail on Lake Champlain during the war.
--Brock-Perry
Construction was delayed by a lack of supplies and the vessel was scarcely equipped in time for the Battle of Plattsburg Bay.
Armed with 37 guns, the Confiance would become Captain George Downie's flagship and, together with a number of smaller vessels also constructed at the naval yard, including gunboats and the brig HMS Linnett, made up the British fleet that fought at Plattsburg in which Downie died and his ship was captured.
The HMS Confiance was the largest ship on either side to sail on Lake Champlain during the war.
--Brock-Perry
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
HMS Confiance: Lake Champlain's Largest-Ever Warship-- Part 1
From Wikipedia.
Was the largest warship ever to sail on Lake Champlain. It was 147-feet long, 831 tons and mounted thirty 24-pdrs, six 32-pdr. carronades and one 24-pdr. on pivot. Built very quickly, using green wood which proved to be a weakness.
Launched at Ile aux Noix on August 25, 1814, and gave the British Navy superiority on Lake Champlain. Served as Captain George Downie's flagship at the Battle of Plattsburgh on September 11, 1814. (As you can see, the Confiance did not have but a three-week trial period.)
The Confiance was built in response to Master Commandant Macdonough's high-powered shipbuilding program and was part of the naval race on the Great Lakes between Britain and the U.S..
More to Come. --Brock-Perry
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