The Admiralty, London, 26
November 1814.
Letter from Commodore Sir
James Lucas Yeo, Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty`s Ships and
Vessels on the Lakes of Canada, to John Wilson Croker, Esq, dated on board HMS St.
LAWRENCE, at Kingston, 24 September 1814.
Sir,
I have the honour to transmit, for the information
of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of a letter from Capt, Pring, late
commander of his Majesty`s brig LINNET.
It appears to me, and I have good reason to
believe, that Capt. Downie was urged, and his ship hurried into action, before she was in
a fit state to meet the enemy.
I am also of the opinion that there was not the
least necessity for our squadron giving the enemy such decided advantages, by going into
their bay to engage them; even had they been successful, it would not in the least
assisted the troops in storming the batteries; whereas if our troops had taken their
batteries first, it would have obliged the enemy`s squadron to quit the bay, and given
ours a fair chance.
I have the honour to be, etc.
James Lucas Yeo
Letter from Capt. Daniel
Pring R.N. to Commodore Sir James Yeo.
United States Ship SARATOGA, Plattsburg-Bay
Lake Champlain, Sept 12 1814
Sir,
The painful task of making you
acquainted with the the circumstances attending the capture of his Majesty`s squadron
yesterday, by that of the Americans under Commodore M`Donough, it grieves me to state,
becomes my duty to perform, from the ever-to-be-lamented loss of that worthy and gallant
officer, Captain Downie, who unfortunately fell early in the action.
In consequence of the earnest solicitation of his
Excellency, Sir G. Prevost, for the co-operation of the naval force on this Lake to attack
that of the enemy, who were placed for support of their works at Plattsburg, which it was
proposed should be stormed by the troops, at the same moment the naval action should
commence in the bay; every possible exertion was used to accelerate the armament of the
new ship, that the military movements might not be postponed at such an advanced season of
the year, longer than was absolutely necessary.
On the 3rd inst. I was directed to proceed in
command of the flotilla of gun-boats to protect the left flank of our army advancing
towards Plattsburg, and, on the following day, after taking possession and patroling the
Isle La Motte, I caused a battery of three long 18-pdr guns to be constructed for the
support of our position abreast of Little Chazey, where the supplies for the army were
ordered to be landed.
The fleet came up on the 8th inst , but for the
want of stores for the equipment of the guns, could not move foreward until the 11th; at
daybreak we weighed, and at seven were in full view of the enemy`s fleet; consisting of a
ship, brig, schooner, and one sloop, moored in line abreast of their encampment, with a
division of five gun-boats on each flank; at forty minutes past seven, after the officers
commanding vessels and the flotilla had received their final instructions as to the plan
of attack, we made sail in order of battle. Capt. Downie had determined on laying his ship
athwart-hawse of the enemy`s directing Lieut. M`Ghee (M`Ghie is correct spelling)of the
CHUBB to support me in the LINNET, in engaging the brig to the right, and Lieut. Hicks, of
the FINCH, with the flotilla of gun-boats, to attack the schooner and the sloop on the
left of the enemy`s line.
At eight the enemy`s gunboats and smaller vessels
commenced a heavy and galling fire on our line; at ten minutes after eight, the CONFIANCE
having two anchors shot away from her larboard bow, and the wind baffling was obliged to
anchor (though not in the situation proposed), within two cable`s length of her adversary;
the LINNET and the CHUBB soon after took their alloted stations, something short of that
distance, when rthe crews on both sides cheered and commenced a spirited and close action;
a short time, however, deprived me of the valuable services of Lieut. M`Ghee, who, from
having his cables, bowsprit and main-boom shot away, drifted within the enemy line and was
obliged to surrender.
From the light airs and the smoothness of the
water, the fire aon both sides proved very destructive from the commencement of the
engagement, and with the exception of the brig, that of the enemy seemed united against
the CONFIANCE. After two hours severe conflict with our opponents she cut her cable, run
down and took shelter between the ship and the schooner, which enabled us to direct our
fire against the division of the enemy gun-boats and ship, which had so long annoyed us
during our close engagement with the brig without any return on our part; at this time the
fire of the enemy ship slackened considerably, having several of her guns dismounted, when
she cut her cable, and winded her larboard broadside to bear on the CONFIANCE, who, in
vain, eneavoured to effect the same operation; at thirty-three minutes after two, I was
much distressed to see that the CONFIANCE had struck her colours. The whole attention of
the enemy force then became directed towards the LINNET, the shattered and disabled state
of the masts, sails, rigging and yards, precluded the most distant hope of being able to
effect an escape by cutting the cable; the result of doing so must, in a few minutes, have
been her drifting alongside the enemy`s vessels, close under our lee; but in the hope that
the flotilla of gun-boats, who had abandoned the object assigned them, would perceive our
wants and and come to our assistance, which would afford a reasonable prospect of being
towed clear, I determined to resist the then destructive cannonading of the whole of the
enemy`s fleet, and at the same time, despatched Lieut. H. Drew to ascertain the state of
the CONFIANCE. At forty-five minutes after ten I was appraissed of the irreperable loss
she had sustained by the death of her brave commander ( whose merits it would be
presumption in me to extol), as well as the great slaughter which had taken place on
board, and observing from the manoeuvers of the flotilla, that I could enjoy no further
expection of relief, the situation of my noble comrades who had so nobly fought, and even
now fast falling by my side, demanded the surrender of his Majesty`s brig entrusted to my
command to prevent a useless waste of valuable lives, and at the request of the surviving
officers and men, I gave the painful orders for the colours to be struck.
Lieut. Hicks of the FINCH, had the mortification
to strike on a reef of rocks, to the eastward of Crab Island, about the middle of the
engagement, which prevented him rendering that assistance to the squadron, that might,
from an officer of such ability, have been expected................ when it is taken into
consideration that 16 days before the CONFIANCE was on the stocks, with an unorganized
crew, composed of several drafts of men who had recently arrived from different ships at
Quebec, many of whom only joined the day before and were totally unknown either to the
officers or to each other, with the want of gun-locks as well as other necessary
appointments not to be procured in this country, I trust you will feel satisfied of the
decided advantage that the enemy possessed, exclusive of their great superiority in point
of force ...............
The fine style in which Capt. Downie conducted the
squadron into action amidst a tremenous fire, without returning a shot until secured,
reflects the greatest credit to his memory as also on Lieuts. M`Ghee and Hicks, for so
strongly attending to his example and instructions. I cannot help noticing the individual
conduct of Lieut. Robertson, who succeeded to the command of the CONFIANCE, and
Lieuts.Cresswick and Hornby, and Mr Pryden, the master, for their particular exertion in
attempting to bring the CONFIANCE`s starboard side to bear on the enemy after most of
their guns were dismounted on the other.br My first lieutenant, Mr William Drew behaved in
a most exemplary manner. By the death of Mr Paul, acting second lieutenant, the service
has been deprived of a valuable and brave officer. Great credit is due to, to Mr Giles,
the purser, and Mr Mitchell, the surgeon. Mr Jackson, the boatswain was killed a few
moments before the action terminated. I recommend to your notice Mr Muckle, the gunner, Mr
Clarke, master`s mate, Messrs. Towke and Sinclair, midshipmen, the latter of whom was
wounded in the head, as well as the whole of my gallant little crew.
have much satisfaction in making you acquainted
with the humane treatment the wounded have received from Commodore M`Donough. They were
immediatel removed to his own hospital on Crab Island, and were furnished with every
requisite. His generous and polite attention also to myself, the officers and men, will
ever hereafter be gratefully remembered. Inclosed I beg leave to return you the return of
killed and wounded.
I have the honour to be,
DAN. PRING
Captain, late of H.M. Sloop LINNET
A Statement of the Enemy`s
Squadron engaged with his Majesty`s late Squadron on Lake Champlain, 11 September 1814
Ship SARATOGA, of 8 long 24-pounders, 12 32-pounder carronades, 6 42-pounder carronades.
Brig EAGLE, of 8 long 18-pounders, 12 32-pounder carronades.
Schooner TICONDERAGO, of 4 long 18-pounders, 10 12-pounders, 3 32-pounder carronades.
Cutter PREBLE, of 7 long 9-pounders.
Six gun boats of 1 long 24-pounder, 1 18-pounder carronade each.
Four gun boats of 1 long 12-pounder each.
Impossible to ascertain the number of men.
A Return of the Killed and
Wounded on board his Majesty`s late Squadron.
CONFIANCE - 3 officers, 38 seamen and marines
killed, 1 officer, 39 seamen and marines wounded.
LINNET - 2 officers, 8 seamen killed, 1 officer, 13 seamen and marines wounded.
CHUBB - 6 seamen and marines killed, 1 officer, 15 seamen and marines wounded
FINCH - 2 seamen and marines wounded.
-- TOTAL - 129
From the CONFIANCE`s crew having been landed after the action, no opportunity has offered
a muster.
Names of the Officers Killed And Wounded.
Killed - CONFIANCE - G. Downie, captain; A. Anderson, capt. RM; W. Gunn, midshipman.
LINNET - W. Paul, act. lieut.; C. Jackson, boatswain.
Wounded - CONFIANCE - Lee, midshipman
LINNET - J. Sinclair, midshipman.
CHUBB - J. M`Ghee, lieut.
Charges Preferred Against the
Governor General, Sir George Prevost by Commodore Sir James Yeo. (Sir George died before
the investigation could be started.)
For having, on or about the 11 September, 1814, by
holding out the expectation of a co-operation of the army under his command, induced Capt.
Downie to attack the American squadron on Lake Champlain, when it was highly imprudent to
make such an attack without the co-operation of the land forces, and for not having
afforded that co-operation.
For not having stormed the American works on shore at nearly the same time that the said
naval action commenced, as he had given Capt. Downie reason to expect.
For having disregarded the signal for co-operation which had been previously agreed upon,
and,for not having attacked the enemy on shore, either during the said naval action, or
after it was ended, whereby his Majesty`s squadron, under command of Capt. Downie might
have been saved.
Sentence of A Court Martial held at
Portsmouth on 28 August 1815 on Capt. Pring and the surviving officers and men of his
Majesty`s late Squadron on Lake Champlain.
The court having maturely weighed the
evidence, is of the opinion that the loss of HMS CONFIANCE, and the remainder of the
squadron, was principally caused by their having been urged into battle previous to her
being in a proper state to meet the enemy; by the promised co-operation of the land-forces
not being carried into effect; and by the pressing letters of the commander-in-chief,
whereby it appears that he had, on10 Sept. 1814, only waited for the naval attack to storm
the enemy`s works. That the signal of approach was made, by the scaling of the guns, as
settled between Capt. Downie and Major Coote; and the prommised co-operation was
communicated to the other officers and crews of the British squadron before the
commencement of the action. The Court is of the opinion, that the attack would would have
been attended with more effect if part of the gunboats had not withdrawn themselves from
the action, and others of the vessels had not been prevented by baffling winds, from
getting into their assigned stations. That Capt. Pring, of the LINNET, and Lieut.
Robertson. who succeeded to the command of the CONFIANCE, and Lieut. Christopher James
Bell, commanding the MURRAY, and Mr James Robertson, commanding the BERESFORD, gunboats,
who appeared to take their trial at this court martial, conducted themselves with great
zeal, bravery and ability, during the action; that Lieut. William Hicks, commanding FINCH,
also conducted himself with becoming bravery; that the other surviving officers and men,
except Lieut. M`Ghie of CHUBB, who has not appeared here to take his trial, also conducted
themselves with bravery and that they all ought to be most honourably acquitted; and they
are hereby most honourably acquitted.
On 18 Sept. 1815 Lieut. M`Ghie faced a court
martial. The court determined that the CHUBB was not properly carried into action, nor
anchored so as to do the most effectual service, by which she drifted into the line of the
enemy; that it did not appear that there was any want of courage in Lieut M`Ghie and,
therefore, the court did only adjudge him to be severely reprimanded.
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