1\ ·~ Ticonderoga commanded by Lt. Cassin. The sloop Preble brought ~"""'I, up the rear. Between the larger vessels, he distributed the galley (' gunboats. In case the British overran the shore batteries, Macdonough Ii Cumberland · placed his ships just beyond their range. Just as imporrantly, they Head were close enough to the eastern shore that attacking vessels would be w ithin carronade range. Macdonough's ships had mixed batteries, and he wanted to be sure all could be used. His anchorage was far enough up inside the bay that the British squadron, which would need a northerly wind to get out of the Richelieu River, would be forced hard on the wind to round Cumberland Head and sail into the bay. Even if they managed to fetch high enough to engage the American line, which they did (barely), they would not be able to use their broadsides until they got close. That would give the Americans some time to pummel the British squadron before it could return fire. Briti sh \ ... Gvnboafs On 11 September 1814, a yea r and a day after the Battle of Lake Erie, and two days before the bombardment of Ft. M cH enry, pF i nch Pr.bis' the British squadron approached in the pre-dawn darkness and hove-to on the east side of Cumberland H ead. After sunrise, Captain MILE Downie went in a gig to reconnoiter. By the time orders were passed and the ships were underway again it was mid-morning. Around 0900, the British sailed into the bay: Linnet leading, followed by ~-.-·. >. Chubb, then Confiance, and Finch, the galley gunboats under oars ' I! "11 fo llowing. Crab Island D ownie had hoped to have his vessels sail to windward of the American line and anchor in raking positions. They could not work 11 September1814, Battle ofPlattsburgh, 9:40AM far enough to windward to do so, but were able to get close enough to engage. Confiance had her port bower and sheet anchors struck lessly over the heads of their intended targets. Had Downie by shot from Saratoga, which broke the lashings and dropped the survived, this is the kind of detail an experienced officer would anchors. The British had to cut her cables with an axe, as they were certainly have quickly corrected. not yet in a position to return fire. Only Linnet, under Lt. Pring, This battle of attrition went on with great ferocity for more was able to anchor to windward of the American line. One of Lin- than two hours. Early on, the British gunboat Chubb had been net's 12 pounders scored an early hit on Saratoga. It was at this devas tated by two broadsides from Eagle; with halyards severed, moment that a gamecock onboard, escaping its shattered cage, the disabled sloop drifted to leeward the length of the American began crowing. Saratoga's men took it as a sign of defiance and line and soon struck her colors. American gunboats towed her responded with a laugh and a cheer, and stood to their guns to inshore to ground before she could sink. The second British reply in kind. gunboat, Finch, also soon came to grief-disabled by the heavy A few minutes later Downie decided he was as close as he was guns of Ticonderoga. She, too, drifted to leeward, eventually going to get and anchored on the starboard bower, about 400 yards running aground on a shoal to the south, which undoubtedly from Saratoga. Confiance was very powerfully armed, primarily saved her from sinking. This position was within range of an with 24-pound long guns. The first broadside poured into Sara- American shore battery, which took her under fire. Finch's gunners toga was devastatingly effective. Crashing through the bulwarks, managed to hit the American shore guns, but their position was it dismounted four guns and dismembered many men, inflicting nonetheless hopeless. On the American side, Preble, smallest and forry casualties, about 20% of the crew. Afrer a stunned moment, weakest in the line, cut her cables and was towed inshore by the Saratoga's crew rallied and returned fire. gunboats to keep from sinking. A quarrer of an hour into the battle, a ball from Saratoga struck Both sides had galley gunboats-ten American, and twelve one of Confiance's guns end-on at the muzzle, causing the gun to for the British. Macdonough assigned his boats to attack any leap backward off its carriage. It struck Captain Downie in the vessels penetrating his anchored line, a mobile reserve. Dow nie stomach, killing him. Losing Downie so early on was a severe- gave his the specific task of mounting a mass attack, to take Tipossibly decisive -blow to the British. Confiance's subsequent conderoga by boarding. The American boats remained inshore of broadsides into Saratoga proved not as effective. Inexperienced the anchored line, sheltering behind them rather than aggresBritish gunners failed to correct for the fact that the jump of recoil sively defending them. They did assist Ticonderoga when the tended to loosen and back out the elevating quoins under their British assault came, which was easily beaten back. The British guns' breeches . Unless reset, the subsequent shots would go high. gunboats were poorly led . H alf did not engage at all and fled, led While some of the British fire was accurate, many shots flew harm- by the officer in charge of them.
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SEA HISTORY 148, AUTUMN 2014