A Glimpse at History

The Naval Battle:

MacDonough, knowing his fleet was out manned and out gunned, withdrew into Plattsburgh Bay using the time to continue training his sailors. All ships were anchored by the bow and the stern until Downie’s fleet reached the Bay on September 11th. At approximately 9:00a.m. he opened fire on MacDonough’s fleet. From the land, British land batteries opened fire, but Macomb held off the attack. Every vessel was engaged in the attack during which Downie was killed and MacDonough was knocked unconscious. Because the British was inexperienced, both in crew and by their logistics,  they had trouble dealing with the winds in the bay, and after only two hours of fighting, the entire fleet had sustained serious damage. Both MacDonough’s flag ship the Saratoga, and the British flagship Confiance were among those sustaining serious damage.

MacDonough ordered the bow anchors cut and used other anchors to spin the Saratoga around. This action allowed him to present his undamaged ship sides, with new sets of cannons, against the badly damaged side of the British ships. He ordered portside guns to open fire, taking personal command of one of the cannons himself. The renewed fire was so devastating that Confiance was unable to return the fire, and soon lowered its colors. As most of the
British ships sat disabled or sinking in the bay, the British officers boarded the Saratoga and offered their swords to MacDonough. He did not take them, and instead, ordered them to return their swords to their scabbards (the sheath that holds the blade of the sword or dagger) at their side.

A very noble act? Some would consider it to be stupid or arrogant today, but then honor was a serious part of everyday life during this war, as was the concept of gentlemanly warfare.

Filed under: War of 1812 by Savannah Meade