death, is of too extraordinary a nature to be passed over. A shot from the Saratoga struck one of the Confiance’s 24-pounders, and threw it completely off the carriage against him. He received the blow upon his right groin, and, although signs of life remained for a few minutes, never spoke afterwards. No part of his skin was broken: a black mark, about the circumference of a small plate, was the only visible injury. His watch was found flattened, with the hands pointing to the hour, minute, and second, at which the fatal blow had been given[1].” On the subsequent day, Captain Pring performed the painful duty of making Commodore Sir James L. Yeo acquainted with the disastrous result of the combat. The following are extracts of his official letter:
U.S. ship Saratoga, Plattsburg bay, Lake Champlain,
Sept. 12, 1814.
“At 40 minutes past 7, 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.
“At 8 the enemy’s gun-boats and small vessels commenced a heavy and galling fire on our line; and at 10 minutes after, 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 cables length of her adversary; the Linnet and Chubb soon afterwards took their allotted stations, something short of that distance, when the crews on both sides cheered, and commenced a spirited and close action; a short time, however, deprived me of the valuable services of Lieutenant M‘Ghie, who, from having his cables, bowsprit, and mainboom shot away, drifted within the enemy’s line, and was obliged to surrender.
“From the light airs and smoothness of the water, the fire on each side proved very destructive from the commencement of the engagement, and with the exception of the brig, that of the enemy appeared united against the Confiance. After two hours severe conflict with our opponent, she cut her cable, run down, and took shelter between the ship and schooner, which enabled us to direct our fire against the division of the enemy’s 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’s 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, endeavoured to effect the same- ↑ James, VI, 501 et seq.
