By Jerry Bates
This is the BIG ONE!
There is good reason for a big bash to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Plattsburgh. The outcome of that battle had enormous consequences for our nation and the circumstance of current residents being American rather than Canadian.
The War of 1812 had been going badly for the Americans. American invasions into Canada had disastrous endings. To make matters worse, Britain had just sent 16,000 tough battle hardened troops from their successful Napoleonic War in Europe to Canada. It was expected that this force could bring about America’s defeat.
Two-hundred years ago come August 31st; the largest army to ever invade American soil crossed our NY border. Their mission was to destroy the seat of American power on the Northern frontier and control Lake Champlain. If successful, they hoped to take a big swath of land including the Town of Plattsburgh and Northern New York across to Maine as part of Canada. It would be a buffer against further U.S. invasions…just part of the booty of war won by the victorious British Army.
But it didn’t turn out that way as many readers know.
At first, the 11,000 British veterans of the Napoleonic Wars crossing the border seemed to assure the conquest of Plattsburgh. A large naval fleet was being assembled to support the invasion. General Izzard, commander at Plattsburgh, had just marched 4,500 men out of Plattsburgh to defend Sackets Harbor on Lake Ontario as ordered by the war department. That left just 1,900 effective regulars commanded by General Thomas Macomb to defend Plattsburgh.
British General Prevost took several days to set up base camps as far south as Chazy while moving in troops and supplies, rounding up local horses and wagons. He also wanted assurance that construction of the largest warship to sail on Lake Champlain would be completed in time to support his invasion force. Finally marching out for Plattsburgh in two columns on September 6th, they overwhelmed small American forces sent out to delay them in Beekmantown and at the two entrances to Plattsburgh: one at the north end of Beekman Street (Halsey’s Corners) and the other at Dead Creek on the Lake Shore Road.
Prevost and his generals decided, for lack of intelligence of the Plattsburgh defense and geography, to delay an outright attack on Plattsburgh fortifications until naval forces arrived. They laid siege to American fortifications across the Saranac for the next five days.
Meanwhile, General Macomb called for militia reinforcements and strengthened fortifications. He paraded his troops in and out of the woods from several directions under the light of huge bonfires to confound the British into thinking there were large numbers of American troops in camp. Concerned that the British would likely try to launch an attack to his rear, Macomb ordered existing roads leading to the forts be masked or covered up. New roads were created with dead ends or that led further south toward Salmon River and South Plattsburgh away from the forts.
The British fleet finally sailed into Cumberland Bay on September 11th. Lt. Thomas Macdonough’s fleet was waiting. The British fleet, led by the powerful 37 gun Confiance, was defeated in a most bloody battle. Redcoats crossed the Saranac River (just west of where Plattsburgh International Airport is today) trying to reach Macomb’s fortifications from the rear. They had found the going difficult. They were confused by roads that led nowhere and harassed by more than a thousand militiamen. Without naval support from the Lake, Prevost decided that potential losses to his army while storming the fortifications were too great to continue. He ordered a ceasefire at 3:00 P.M. and the British Army to withdraw.
The news from Plattsburgh crushed British hopes for large concessions of American Territory. British and American negotiators meeting in Ghent, Belgium reflected on the futility of further war, costly to both sides. Both gave up territory won during the war. Borders were restored as before the war. A new, now peaceful, relationship had been won.
Signing of the Treaty of Ghent – John Quincy Adams, U.S. Ambassador to Russia, is depicted shaking hands with the British Admiral of the Fleet James Gambier. So that is cause for remembering that historic struggle for control of the Town of Plattsburgh and the Lake.
This year’s commemoration of the Battle of Plattsburgh will be the biggest and most comprehensive ever put together – sixteen days of events recalling the British invasion that threatened the Champlain Valley in 1814. Musical concerts will be featured each day. Land and Lake battle re-enactments, encampments, a Children’s Old Time Village Fair, historical tours, lectures and storytelling, an original musical play, dinners, balls, fireworks, and of course a parade with more marching bands will add to our commemoration.
Make your plans to be a part of this year’s commemoration. The next big one is likely to be 100 years later!
Town of Plattsburgh History Blog 
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