Macdonough Monument in Plattsburgh, N.Y.-- Part 1

From HMdb  "THOMAS MACDONOUGH MEMORIAL MONUMENT"

Commemorates the American naval victory at the Battle of Plattsburgh in 1814 and was designed by John Pope.  It commands the park which is opposite of the Plattsburgh City Hall, which was also designed by John Pope.

Inscribed at the base are Macdonough's four primary vessels:  Ticonderoga, Saratoga, Eagle and Preble.

The monument is 14 feet square at its base.  The bronze eagle at the top has a twenty-foot wingspan.  Pope also designed the National Archives and Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C..  He used Indiana  limestone for the Macdonough Monument and City Hall.  Pope's firm, established in New York City in 1900, consistently produced  dignified architecture of classical inspiration.

The formal dedication of the monument took place on August 18, 1926, "an ideal summer day."  Secretary of State Frank Kellogg spoke to the vast throng.  It was reported that an estimated 7,000 people attended the ceremony in front of City Hall.

--Brock-Perry

The Battle of Plattsburgh/Lake Champlain-- Part 3: John Russell Pope

John Russell Pope (1874-1937) designed the obelisk in downtown Plattsburgh as well as the 1917 City Hall across the street from it.

But, he is better known for designing the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C.  The Jefferson memorial and City Hall share some stylistic similarities with the dome and columns.

The Plattsburgh obelisk was erected in 1926 and features the name of each of the major American ships in the battle on each side:  Eagle, Saratoga, Preble and Ticonderoga.  The names are accompanied by intricate reliefs and BOP-contemporary  uniforms.  (Not sure what BOP stands for.)

HOWEVER, in keeping with the current climate of destroying and defacing public monuments in the United States, the obelisk was recently vandalized on some of the reliefs.  The one for the Saratoga had anti-police sentiments painted on it, but since have been removed.

The eagle atop the monument has a twenty-foot wingspan is associated with local, college-town lore and nearly matches the length of the monument's base.

Even in Plattsburgh.  Hey, That Wasn't Even a Confederate Monument.  --Brock-Perry

USS Preble (1813)

From Wikipedia.

On Monday I wrote about Lt. Charles A. Budd commanding the USS Preble at the Battle of Lake Champlain.

The USS Preble, sometimes called the Commodore Preble, was the first U.S. ship named for Commodore Edward Preble.  It was purchased on Lake Champlain in 1813 and converted into a warship.

Commissioned 8 August 1813, with Lt. Charles Augustus Budd in command.

It had a crew of 30 and mounted seven 12-pdrs. and two 18-pdrs..

Fought at the Battle of Lake Champlain  11 September 1814.  After the battle it was laid up and sold at Whitehall, New York, in July 1815.

--Brock-Perry

Lt. Charles A. Budd, USN

Charles Budd was commissioned lieutenant on June 18, 1814, and sent to Lake Champlain.  He commanded the sloop USS Preble at the Battle of Lake Champlain.  The USS Preble was about 80 tons and mounted seven long 9 pounder cannon.

Thomas Macdonough, the hero of the Battle of Lake Champlain, took his fleet to Whitehall, New York, on November 18th and turned it over to Lt. Budd.

He may have had a brother who was also a lieutenant, George Budd, commissioned May 23, 1812, and furloughed May 29, 1815.

--Brock-Perry