“‘The absence and sickness of Lieutenant Raymond Perry, left me without the assistance 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.’
“The Saratoga was twice on fire during the action, by hot shot from the Confiance; but the flames were promptly extinguished. At the same time the land forces were engaged, both armies looking on the sea fight as in a measure the turning point with them.
“The loss of the Americans was fifty-two killed, and fifty-eight wounded; that of the British, eighty-four killed and one hundred and ten wounded. The prisoners taken far exceeded the whole number of Americans in the action. This victory was hailed by the whole nation with great joy. The state of New York, in justice and gratitude, gave the gallant captain a thousand acres of land, of no small value, and the state of Vermont made a grant of two hundred acres, within a short distance of the battle ground. The city of New York gave Macdonough a valuable lot of land, and the city of Albany did the same. Festive honors were offered him in all places where he chanced to pass through, which were generally declined.
“Congress presented a vote of thanks and a gold medal, (See [Plate XII.]) From the close of the war to the time of his decease, he shared the honors of the home and foreign service with his compeers.
“He was an excellent member of courts martial, for he brought to those tribunals a candid mind, ever ready to find matters that made in favor of the accused as well as against him. For several years before his death he made his home in Middletown, Connecticut, where he had married a Miss Shaler, a lady of a highly respectable family of that place. He died of consumption, on the 10th of November, 1825. His wife had paid the debt of nature only a few months before.”
The great charms of his character were the refinement of his taste, the purity of his principles, and the sincerity of his religion. These gave a perfume to his name which the partial page of history seldom can retain for departed warriors, however brilliant their deeds.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDAL.
Occasion.—Victory on Lake Champlain.
Device.—A bust of Captain Macdonough.
Legend.—Tho. Macdonough stagno Champlain class. Reg. Britan. superavit.