Naval War College Review Volume 69 Article 12 Number 2 Spring

2016 The aB ttle of Lake Champlain: A “Brilliant and Extraordinary Victory,” War in the Chesapeake: The British Campaigns to Control the Bay, 1813–14 John H. Schroeder

Charles Neimeyer

Richard V. Barbuto

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Recommended Citation Schroeder, John H.; Neimeyer, Charles; and Barbuto, Richard V. (2016) "The aB ttle of Lake Champlain: A “Brilliant and Extraordinary Victory,” War in the Chesapeake: The rB itish Campaigns to Control the Bay, 1813–14," Naval War College Review: Vol. 69 : No. 2 , Article 12. Available at: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol69/iss2/12

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power on the Atlantic was all but neu- tralized, and politically the nation was bitterly divided over continuing the war. The Battle of Lake Champlain: A “Brilliant and Extraordinary Victory,” by John H. Schroeder. Two new books reexamine this pe- Norman: Univ. of Oklahoma Press, 2015. 184 riod of national crisis. First, John H. pages. $26.95. Schroeder retells the dramatic story of War in the Chesapeake: The British Campaigns to turning back a powerful British inva- Control the Bay, 1813–14, by Charles Neimeyer. sion intended to clear Lake Champlain Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 2015. 256 of an American military presence. Lake pages. $44.95. Champlain makes up a large segment of In 1814, the United States faced a crisis the traditional invasion corridor linking of a magnitude not experienced since Montreal to New York City. In Septem- the Revolution and not to be exceeded ber 1814, ten thousand British soldiers, until the Civil War. Congress declared many of them veterans of Wellington’s war against the British Empire in 1812 victories in Spain, marched into New to stop the impressment of sailors on York State heading toward the American American ships, to maintain the rights base at Plattsburgh. A strong Royal Navy of neutral trade, and to stop perceived squadron accompanied this formidable British support for Native Ameri- army. Defending Plattsburgh were a cans then violently opposing western few thousand regulars and militiamen settlement. Congress and the Madison under Brigadier General Alexander administration expected a quick victory Macomb. Master Commandant Thomas by ending British control over Canada. Macdonough commanded the naval After all, Britain was locked in existen- squadron on the lake. Macomb and tial struggle with Napoleonic France Macdonough were determined to defend and could send little assistance to its Plattsburgh, and they prepared an forces in North America. However, the integrated defense. Macomb stationed British in Canada managed to turn back most of his soldiers in three earthen multiple American invasions. Even the fortifications across the narrow penin- stunning naval victory on Lake Erie in sula formed by the Saranac River and 1813 resulted only in local superiority. Plattsburgh Bay. Macdonough deployed The key cities of Montreal and Quebec his four major war vessels anchored in remained firmly in British hands. line across the bay. This arrangement exploited American advantages—yet With the abdication of Napoleon in there would be no escape for either force 1814, Britain deployed large land and if the British attacks were successful. naval forces to North America. Britain’s goals were to retaliate for American Sir George Prevost, governor general depredations in Canada, permanently of British North America, directed a eliminate American military power on less-well-coordinated offensive. He the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, urged Captain George Downie to attack establish a neutral Indian territory Macdonough’s squadron. However, north of the Ohio River, and seize New Prevost delayed the accompanying Orleans. The American treasury was land assault to await the results of the almost empty, the Atlantic coast was fight on the water. Downie intended under close blockade, American naval to lead a column of warships to pierce

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the American line, but the wind and succession and sent new instructions currents in the bay refused to cooperate. to its negotiators in Ghent. Britain Instead, the four British warships came dropped its objectionable demands, and into close range of their opposites and a treaty was signed on Christmas Eve. anchored to begin a cannonade. Barely The defense of Baltimore is the final fifteen minutes into the fight, an Ameri- chapter in Charles Neimeyer’s excellent can ball slammed into a British gun, narrative of the campaign in Chesapeake dismounting it—and crushing Downie. Bay. As early as the spring of 1813, a The next ranking officer on the flag- formidable Royal Navy force under Sir ship could not locate the signal book to George Cockburn entered the bay with inform Captain Daniel Pring that Pring the purpose of shutting down American was now in command. As a result, each commerce and persuading Madison British skipper fought his own battle. to withdraw regulars from the fight in Schroeder recounts the well-known Canada to defend the cities, villages, and story of Macdonough’s use of anchors plantations along the hundreds of miles and cables to rotate his big vessels of coast and along rivers that empty into to bring the maximum number of the bay. The Royal Navy raided with im- guns into action. Eventually, superior punity. Captains ordered crews to torch American gunnery prevailed, and one villages, seize food and tobacco, and British vessel after another struck its evacuate thousands of escaped slaves, colors. When Prevost learned that the sending them to freedom in British colo- Americans had shattered his naval force, nies. Yet Madison refused to redeploy his he called off the land attack and led his regulars from the northern campaigns, frustrated troops back to Montreal. even after the burning of Washington. While Schroeder adds little that is new Neimeyer relates this tale lucidly, to the oft-told battle narrative of this weaving events and policy change with improbable victory, his notable contri- insightful analysis. The Americans bution is the detailed analysis of how responded to British raids with Com- British defeat on this inland body of modore Joshua Barney’s famed flotilla water affected the peace negotiations. of gunboats. While Barney was ulti- The British ministry offered com- mately forced to destroy his squadron mand in North America to the Duke to avoid capture, he and his flotillamen of Wellington. The Iron Duke care- and accompanying Marines were the fully spelled out the requirements for only bright spot in what was otherwise military success. In his analysis, Britain a debacle at Bladensburg, Maryland. could not win a decisive victory until it Neither author tells a new story, yet controlled the water. Only this would both Schroeder and Neimeyer provide yield the operational and tactical mobil- a fresh look fortified with penetrating ity to take advantage of the troop surge. analysis. Their works are well-balanced, Failing to control key lakes and rivers, speaking perceptively to national policy, Wellington opined, the government strategy, diplomacy, and joint operations would be best served by ending the from both sides. These are scholarly war as rapidly as possible. The min- works written for a popular reader- istry received the news of the failures ship and are at the top of their genre. at Plattsburgh and Baltimore in rapid RICHARD V. BARBUTO

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