Some Account of the Public Life of the Late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart Part 18

"I purpose remaining at Chazy until I find myself enabled to move, which I trust will be very shortly, it depending on my guns being ready.

"I have the honour to be, Sir,

"Your most obedient servant,

"GEO. DOWNIE."

"_His Excellency Sir Geo. Prevost, Bart. &c. &c. &c._"

"_Head-Quarters, Plattsburg, Friday, 9th Sept. 1814._

"Sir,

"In consequence of your communication of yesterday's date, I have postponed moving on the enemy's position, on the south bank of the Saranac, until your squadron is in a sufficient state of preparation to co-operate with this division of the army.

"I need not dwell, with you, on the evils resulting to both services from delay, as I am well convinced you have done every thing that was in your power to accelerate the armament and equipment of your squadron, and I am also satisfied nothing will prevent its coming off Plattsburg the moment it is ready.

"I am happy to inform you, that I find from deserters, who have come over from the enemy, that the American fleet is inefficiently manned, and that a few days ago, after the arrival of the new brig, they sent on sh.o.r.e for the prisoners of all descriptions, in charge of the Prevost, to make up a crew for that vessel.

"I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed) "G. PREVOST."

"P.S. Captain Watson, of the Provincial Cavalry, is desired to remain at Little Chazy until you are preparing to get under weigh, when he is instantly to return to this place with the intelligence."

"_H.M.S. Confiance, off Chazy, 9th Sept. 1814_.

"Sir,

"I have the honour to communicate to your Excellency, that it is my intention to weigh and proceed with the squadron, from this anchorage, about midnight, in the expectation of rounding into the bay of Plattsburg about dawn of day, and commencing an immediate attack on the enemy's squadron, if they shall be found anch.o.r.ed in a position that will afford any chance of success.

"I rely on any a.s.sistance it may be in your power to give.

"In manning the flotilla and s.h.i.+ps, we are many short. I have made application to the officer commanding at Chazy, for a company of the 39th regiment to make up.

"I have the honour to be, Sir,

"Your most obedient servant,

"GEO. DOWNIE."

"_His Excellency Sir Geo. Prevost, Bart. &c. &c. &c._"

"P. S. I have just this moment received your letter of this day, to which the preceding is, I think, a sufficient answer.

"G. D."

"_Head-Quarters, Plattsburg, Sat.u.r.day Morning, 10th Sept. 1814._

"Sir,

"I received, at twelve last night, your letter, acquainting me with your determination to get under weigh, about that time, in the expectation of rounding c.u.mberland Head at dawn of day; in consequence, the troops have been held in readiness, since six o'clock this morning, to storm the enemy's works at nearly the same moment as the naval action should commence in the bay. I ascribe the disappointment I have experienced to the unfortunate change of wind, and I shall rejoice to learn from you, that my expectations have been frustrated by no other cause.

"I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) "G. PREVOST."

"_To Capt. Downie, &c. &c. &c._"

No. x.x.xI.

_Extract from Vermont Paper, dated Burlington, Sept. 1814, p. 168._

"The articles in your paper of last week, republished from the Montreal papers, are interesting, as they evince the spirit of our Canada neighbours, and the high hopes they had entertained from their late expedition.

"That the result is not such as they could have wished we believe, but that its failure should be ascribed entirely to the misconduct of Gov. Prevost is wholly unaccountable. It is not our business or desire to s.h.i.+eld Gov.

Prevost from the censure of his subjects, but after the decision of the contest between the hostile fleets, we can perceive no object of national importance which could have justified the further operations of the army.

"It is possible that an army of 12,000 men might have carried the works at Plattsburg, but the positive a.s.sertions on this subject betray great ignorance of our resources, and the spirit of our people. Grant, that after much hard fighting, and the loss of many valuable lives, they had succeeded in taking the forts, do they suppose they could have retained them against all the forces we can bring against them? If they do, we can only say, that they are grossly mistaken.

"Do they suppose that an army of 12,000 men can march through a country, every county of which contains more than that number of souls; or do they suppose their progress would not be obstructed?

"A large proportion of our citizens are opposed to the present war, and from principles the most n.o.ble and virtuous. They will not, under existing circ.u.mstances, consent to aid in offensive operations against their neighbours. But let no one suppose their love of peace will destroy their love of country, and that they can make war upon us without danger. We will not willingly molest them, but they must not disturb us. He is unworthy any country who would not protect his own from invasion; and we are happy to know that this country is inhabited by men who need no additional inducement to protect their rights and privileges at every hazard.

"PEOPLE."

"_Messrs. Hinckley and Fish._"

No. x.x.xII.

_An Extract from the Address of the House of a.s.sembly, at the opening of the Session, 30th Jan. 1815, to His Excellency Sir George Prevost, p. 176._

"The operations contemplated on the sh.o.r.es of Lake Champlain, we are led to believe, by our confidence in your Excellency's judgment, were planned in consequence of wise combinations, and our proximity to the scene of action has enabled us to acquire a perfect conviction, that they were frustrated by causes beyond your Excellency's control. We are equally convinced that the failure of our naval means rendered necessary at the very onset, an immediate abandonment of the enterprize.

"The protecting hand of His Majesty's government has been agreeably felt in the reinforcements received by your Excellency, for the diminution of the pressure of the war on the inhabitants of this province. The testimony which your Excellency is pleased to bear to the zeal and alacrity with which their services have been rendered, cannot but be more flattering to their feelings and demands through their representatives, their warmest acknowledgments. It is under your Excellency's wise and just administration that their character and conduct have been justly appreciated; and whatever merit their services may be ent.i.tled to, a large portion of it is unquestionably due to your Excellency, whose well founded confidence in them, has enabled them, by those services, to testify their faithful, loyal, and patriotic adherence to His Majesty: of which, under your Excellency's administration, they hope many opportunities, during a long time to come, will be afforded them to give additional proofs."

_Extract from an Address from the House of a.s.sembly of Lower Canada, to Sir Geo. Prevost, 20th March, 1815._

"We take this opportunity of repeating the expression of our sentiments of grat.i.tude to your Excellency, for having, by your prudence, by the wisdom of your measures, and by your ability, preserved to the empire these important provinces, and for the paternal solicitude with which your Excellency has watched over the welfare of His Majesty's subjects, and to pray your Excellency to rest a.s.sured, that those benefits will ever remain deeply engraven on the hearts of the Canadians."