Battle of Lake Champlain 1814
This battle ended the final invasion of the northern states during the War of 1812.
Background:
Napoleon I had abducted the throne of France. This allowed Great Britain to send veteran troops to North America in the midst of peace negotiations between the U.S. and Great Britain. The British Commander-in-Cheif and Governor of Lower Canada, Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost launched an offensive into the U.S. under the command of General Sir Francis de Rottenburg (what a name!) in an attempt to permanently control the Great Lakes waterway.
However, Thomas MacDonough, who commanded the naval forces on Lake Champlain, had been ordered by Secretary of the Navy William Jones to build a fleet earlier that summer. By fall of 1814 (this battle occurred Sept. 6-11, 1814) MacDonough had about 10 gunboats ready for action. However, the nearlby city still did not have faith that these 10 gunboats and 3000 untrained militia could protect them, and they fled the city, all 3000 of them!
More to come……….have a great day!!!!!!!
Filed under: War of 1812 by Savannah Meade
Leave a Reply