The navy’s instructions for Macdonough were to increase the size of the fleet dramatically. Vergennes was chosen in anticipation of a major shipbuilding program scheduled to begin in early 1814. On December 21, 1813, Macdonough brought his fleet 7mi (11.3km) up Otter Creek to Vergennes, Vermont, for winter quarters. They also looted a number of private homes and captured or burned a number of privately owned vessels. The British raided Plattsburgh, Point au Roche, Swanton, Chazy, and Champlain and burned an arsenal, blockhouses, warehouses, barracks, and a hospital. On July 29, the British departed from Isle-aux-Noix for Plattsburgh with 1,000 men, Broke, Shannon, three gunboats, and more than 40 bateaux. On July 24 Macdonough was promoted to master commandant of the small but growing lake fleet.
He also rented the sloops Francis and Wasp. He purchased the Montgomery and the 50-ton merchant sloop Rising Sun, which was renamed Preble. In June 1813 Macdonough received permission to purchase the necessary vessels, men, material, and munitions to keep control of the lake. The American vessels were captured, repaired, and renamed Broke and Shannon. The American sloops Growler and Eagle, each with 11 guns, mistakenly sailed too far into the river channel and became trapped by three British gunboats and troops along the shore. The first actual engagement between the two opposing navies took place in the channel of the Richelieu River on July 3, 1813. The American fleet was then stationed in Shelburne Bay for the winter, where they made repairs and modifications to the vessels. The navy acted primarily as a transport for troops and supplies between the army bases in Plattsburgh and Burlington. As the army and navy began to assemble their forces in the Champlain Valley, the War Department acquired six sloops. This fleet already had two vessels the navy had built two 40-ton row galleys in 1808 to stop smuggling with Canada. To that end, Lieutenant Thomas Macdonough was charged with the organization of the U.S. Teen Expeditions & Kayak Building Menu ToggleĪmerican plans for the War of 1812 included gaining control of Lake Champlain and the Great Lakes.
0 kommentar(er)
