ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.
Resolutions of Congress Voting Medals to Captains Macdonough and Henley, Lieutenant Cassin, etc.
Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the thanks of Congress be, and the same are hereby, presented to Captain Thomas Macdonough, and through him to the officers, petty officers, seamen, marines, and infantry serving as marines, attached to the squadron under his command, for the decisive and splendid victory gained on Lake Champlain, on the eleventh of September, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, over a British squadron of superior force.
Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause gold medals to be struck, emblematical of the action between the two squadrons, and to present them to Captain Macdonough and Captain Robert Henley, and also to Lieutenant Stephen Cassin, in such a manner as may be most honourable to them; and that the President be further requested to present a silver medal,[90] with suitable emblems and devices, to each of the commissioned officers of the navy and army serving on board, and a sword to each of the midshipmen and sailing-masters, who so nobly distinguished themselves in that memorable conflict.
Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to present a silver medal, with like emblems and devices, to the nearest male relative of Lieutenant Peter Gamble, and of Lieutenant John Stansbury, and to communicate to them the deep regret which Congress feel for the loss of those gallant men, whose names ought to live in the recollection and affection of a grateful country.
Resolved, That three months' pay be allowed, exclusively of the common allowance, to all petty officers, seamen, marines, and infantry serving as marines, who so gloriously supported the honour of the American flag on that memorable day.
Approved October 20, 1814.
Resolution of Congress Complimentary to Lieutenant Silas Duncan.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled: That the provisions of the joint resolutions of Congress passed October twentieth, eighteen hundred and fourteen, entitled "Resolution expressive of the sense of Congress of the gallant conduct of Captain Thomas Macdonough, the officers, seamen and marines, and infantry serving as marines on board of the United States squadron on Lake Champlain," be so construed and extended as to include the names of Silas Duncan, a lieutenant in the Navy of the United States, in testimony of the sense which is entertained by both houses of Congress of the distinguished gallantry and good conduct of the said Lieutenant Duncan, in an action with the enemy's forces on the sixth of September, eighteen hundred and fourteen, on the same lake.
Approved May 13th, 1826.
Captain Macdonough to the Secretary of the Navy.
United States Ship Saratoga,
Off Plattsburgh, September 11th, 1814.
To the Honorable
William Jones,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.
Sir: The Almighty has been pleased to grant us a signal victory on Lake Champlain, in the capture of one frigate, one brig, and two sloops-of-war of the enemy.
I have the honor to be, &c.
T. Macdonough.
Captain Macdonough to the Secretary of the Navy.
Ship Saratoga,
Plattsburgh Bay, September 13th, 1814.
To the Honorable
William Jones,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.
Sir: I have the honour to give you the particulars of the action which took place on the 11th instant, on this lake.
For several days the enemy were on their way to Plattsburgh by land and water, and it being well understood that an attack would be made at the same time by their land and naval forces, I determined to await, at anchor, the approach of the latter.
At 8 a.m. the look-out boat announced the approach of the enemy. At 9, he anchored in a line ahead, at about 300 yards distance from my line; his ship was opposed to the Saratoga, his brig to the Eagle, Captain Robert Henley, his gallies, thirteen in number, to the schooner, the sloop, and a division of our gallies, one of his sloops assisting their ship and brig, the other assisting their gallies. Our remaining gallies, with the Saratoga and Eagle.
In this situation, the whole force on both sides became engaged, the Saratoga suffering much, from the heavy fire of the Confiance. I could perceive at the same time, however, that our fire was very destructive to her. The Ticonderoga, Lieutenant Commandant Cassin, gallantly sustained her full share of the action. At half-past 10 o'clock, the Eagle not being able to bring her guns to bear, cut her cable, and anchored in a more eligible position, between my ship and the Ticonderoga, where she very much annoyed the enemy, but unfortunately, leaving me exposed to a galling fire from the enemy's brig. Our guns on the starboard side being nearly all dismounted, or not manageable, a stern anchor was let go, the bower cut, and the ship winded with a fresh broadside on the enemy's ship, which soon after surrendered. Our broadside was then sprung to bear on the brig, which surrendered in about 15 minutes after.
The sloop that was opposed to the Eagle had struck some time before, and drifted down the line; the sloop which was with their gallies having struck also. Three of their gallies are said to be sunk, the others pulled off. Our gallies were about obeying with alacrity the signal to follow them, when all the vessels were reported to me to be in a sinking state. It then became necessary to annul the signal to the gallies, and order their men to the pumps. I could only look at the enemy's gallies going off in a shattered condition, for there was not a mast in either squadron that could stand to make sail on; the lower rigging being nearly shot away, hung down as though it had been just placed over mast heads.
The Saratoga had 55 round shot in her hull, the Confiance 105. The enemy's shot passed principally just over our heads, as there were not 20 whole hammocks in the nettings after the close of the action, which lasted, without intermission, two hours and twenty minutes.
The absence and sickness of Lieutenant Raymond Perry left me without the services of that excellent officer; much ought fairly to be attributed to him for his great care and attention in disciplining the ship's crew, as her first lieutenant. His place was filled by a gallant young officer, Lieutenant Peter Gamble, who, I regret to inform you, was killed early in the action. Acting-lieutenant Vallette worked the first and second division of guns with able effect. Sailing-master Brum's attention to the springs, and in the execution of the order to wind the ship, and occasionally at the guns, met my entire approbation; also Captain Youngs, commanding the acting marines, who took his men to the guns. Mr. Beale, purser, was of great service at the guns, and in carrying my orders throughout the ship, with Midshipman Montgomery. Master's mate Joshua Justin had command of the third division; his conduct during the action was that of a brave officer. Midshipmen Monteath, Graham, Williamson, Platt, Thwing, and Acting-Midshipman Baldwin all behaved well, and gave evidence of their making valuable officers. The Saratoga was twice set on fire by hot shot from the enemy's ship.
I close, Sir, this communication with feelings of gratitude for the able support I received from every officer and man attached to the squadron which I have the honour to command.
I have the honour to be, &c.,
T. Macdonough.
September 11, 1814.
Rob. Henley Eagle præfect. palma virtu per æternit. florebit. ℞. Uno latere percusso. alterum impavide vertit.