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in the surrender of the Avon, who lost her main-mast, and was actually in a sinking state at the time she struck, from the damages sustained in her hull by the Wasp's destructive fire. At this crisis the British sloop of war Castilian, Captain Bremer, hove in sight, who stood towards the American, but was diverted from a decisive contest by the guns of distress fired on board the Avon, and he had scarcely time to save her surviving crew with his boats, when she went down head foremost: Lieutenant Harvey was the last who left the Avon. The English lost in this action Mr. Pendergrast, the first lieutenant, and 9 seamen killed, with 33 wounded; total 43. The Americans had 2 killed, and 1 wounded; total 3. To sink their opponent in a heavy gale with a high sea running, presupposes admirable gunnery on the part of the crew of the Wasp.

Captain Blakeley's Letter.

September 1, 1814.

"At 7 in the evening the enemy commenced making signals with flags, which in the dark could not be distinguished; she afterwards burnt blue lights, and sent up rockets. Set the flying jib. At 20 minutes after 9 we got up with him, on his weather-quarter, when he hailed and inquired 'What ship is that?' Not answered, but asked What brig is that?' He replied,' His Majesty's brig.' Blowing fresh, the name was not distinctly understood. He again hailed, and asked, 'What ship is that?' when he was told to heave to, and he would be informed. He repeated his question, and was answered to the same effect. Mr. Carr was then sent forward to

order him to heave to, which he declined doing; at 9.25. the enemy set his fore-top-mast studding-sail; at 9.26. fired the 12-pound carronade, to make him heave-to, when the enemy commenced action by firing his larboard guns. We then kept away, ran under his lee, and at 9. 29. commenced the action. At 10 o'clock, believing the enemy to be silenced, orders were given to cease firing, when I hailed, and asked if he had surrendered. No answer being given to this, and his fire having recommenced, it was again returned. At 12 minutes after 10, the enemy having suffered greatly, and having made no return to our last two broadsides, I hailed him the second time, to know if he had surrendered, when he answered in the affirmative. We were on the eve of taking possession, when a sail was descried close on board of us: orders were then given to clear the ship again for action, which were promptly executed. We were then on the point of wearing, to engage the second, which we perceived to be a brig of war, when, at 10. 26. discovered two more sails, one a-stern, the other one point on our leequarter, standing for us; orders were then given to stand from the strange sails. The first continued to approach us, until she came close to our stern, when she hauled by the wind, fired her broadside, and retraced her steps to join her consorts, when we were necessitated to abandon the prize. He appeared, in every respect, a total wreck. He continued for some time firing guns of distress, until, probably, delivered by the two last vessels who made their appearance. The menacing brig could have engaged us, if he had thought proper, but contented himself with firing a broadside, and immediately returned to his

companions. Our loss is two killed, and one slightly wounded with a wad."

P. S.-I am told the enemy, after his surrender, asked for assistance, and said he was sinking. The probability of this is confirmed by his firing single guns for some time.

MACDONOUGH'S VICTORY

ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN,

AND THE

Retreat of a British Army from before Plattsburg.

Champlain is a lake the next in magnitude to Ontario, and forms the boundary between the states of New York and Vermont. On the west shore, at the mouth of the Saranac, stands the town of Plattsburg. In the bay before this town the American commodore M'Donough obtained a victory over the British fleet; while an army of 12,000 men, commanded by Sir George Prevost, (the flower of that army which under the greatest Captain of the age had exalted the reputation of their country in France and Spain,) without coming to a decisive action with General Macomb's army posted in the defence of the place, made a precipitate retreat back into Canada, abandoning immense quantities of stores and ammunition, and losing upwards of a thousand soldiers by desertion.*

*It was stated to be 2000 in the British parliament.

GENERAL MACOMB'S ACCOUNT.

"General Orders.

"Head-quarters, Plattsburg, Sept. 14, 1814.

"The Governor General of the Canadas, and Commander in Chief of the British forces in North America, having invaded the territories of the United States, with the avowed purpose of conquering the country as far as Crown Point and Tinconderoga, there to winter his forces with a view to farther conquest, brought with him a powerful army and flotilla. An army amounting to 14,000 men, completely equipped, and accompanied by a numerous train of artillery and all the engines of war— men who had conquered in France, Spain, Portugal, the Indies, and in other parts of the globe, and led by the most distinguished Generals in the British army. flotilla also superior to ours in vessels, men, and guns, had determined at once to crush us, both by land and water.

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"The Governor General, after boasting of what he would do, and endeavouring to dissuade the loyal inhabitants of the United States from their allegiance, by threats and promises, as set forth in his proclamation and order, fixed his head-quarters at the village of Champlain to organise his army, and to settle the government of his intended conquest. On the 2d day of the month he marched from Champlain, and on the 5th appeared before the village of Plattsburg with his whole army, and on the 11th, the day fixed for the general attack, the flotilla arrived.

The enemy's flotilla at eight in the morning passed Cumberland Head, and at nine engaged our flotilla at anchor in the bay of the town, fully confident of crushing in an instant the whole of our naval force; but the gallant Commodore M'Donough, in the short space of two hours, obliged the large vessels to strike their colours, whilst the gallies saved themselves by flight. This glorious achievement was in full view of the several forts, and the American forces had the satisfaction of witnessing the victory. The British army was also posted on the surrounding heights, that it could not but behold the interesting struggle for dominion on the Lake. At the same hour the fleets engaged, the enemy opened his batteries on our forts, throwing hundreds of shells, balls, and rockets, and attempted at the same time to cross the Saranac at three different points to assault the works. At the upper fort he was met by the militia and volunteers, and after repeated attempts, was driven back with considerable loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners. At the bridge near the village he was repulsed by the pickets and brave riflemen under Captain Grosvenor, and Lieutenants Hamilton and Riley, and at the bridge in town was foiled by the guards, block-houses, and the artillery of the forts, served by Captain Brooks, Captains Richards and Smith, and Lieutenants Mountford, Smith, and Cromwell. The enemy's fire was returned with effect from our batteries, and by sun-set we had the satisfaction to silence seven batteries which he had erected, and to see his column retiring to their camp beyond the reach of our guns.

Thus beaten by land and water, the Governor General withdrew his artillery and raised the siege. At nine at

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