For five days in September of 1814, the American and British were engaged in a bloody battle that killed 115 American regulars and an unknown number of New York state militia. Despite the large number of casualties, the battle was an important success for America. It repulsed a part of the renewed effort by the British to launch more aggressive offensives into American territory. For much of 1814, the British were engaged in the Peninsular war, but in April, Napoleon was defeated and forced to give up the throne of France. Many British troops were now freed up, and under Lieutenant-General Sir George Prévost, the Commander-in-Chief in Canada were sent to attack Sackett's Harbor on Lake Ontario. In response, Secretary of War John Armstrong ordered Major General George Izard to move the majority of his force (about 4000 men) from Plattsburgh, New York to Sackett's Habor. This left General Macomb at Plattsburgh with only about 1,500 American regulars. Most of these men were either recent recruits, invalids or other sorted detachments. With so few men, Macomb called up 2,000 New York militia men. Most of these men were untrained and unfit for duty, so they were put to work building trenches and other fortifications. Then, on August 31st, General Prévost began a march South towards Plattsburgh. The townspeople of Plattsburgh had so little faith in the defenses of Macomb's men that the 3,000 inhabitants all fled.
As Prévost and his men approached Plattsburgh, Macomb sent out 450 regulars, 110 riflemen, 700 New York Militia, and two 6-pounder guns to delay the British. The Americans setup road blocks, burned bridges and even mislabeled some of the streets in an attempt to delay the British. Yet, Prévost continued his march and arrived in Plattsburgh on September 6th. Prévost's attack was to coincide with a naval engagement and orders were not issued until late in the morning after the battle on Lake Champlaign was already underway. Shortly after the land battle began, a messenger arrived to notify Prévost that the British ship had been defeated and that without the Royal Navy to supply and support his advance any military advantage gained would be worthless. Prévost considered his options and chose to retreat. The bugle calls were sent out, but it was too late. The British company that had been sent ahead of the main body was already engaged in a skirmish with an overwhelming number of American militia. In the confusion and rush to retreat, large quantities of ammunition were left intact. The British lost 37 men, 150 wounded and 57 were missing.
Alexander Macomb, the Brigadier general in in command at Plattsburgh was promoted to Major General after the battle and in 1828 would become the commanding general of the United States army. President James Madison shared the successful defense of Plattsburgh with Congress in his 1814 address:
"In another recent attack by a powerful force on our troops at Plattsburg, of which regulars made a part only, the enemy, after a perseverance for many hours, was finally compelled to seek safety in a hasty retreat, with our gallant bands pressing upon them."The repulse at Plattsburgh paired with a great Naval battle on Lake Champlain allowed America to demand exclusive rights on Lake Champlain and put an end to British plans to seize more American territory.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Plattsburgh
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h2608.html
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Battle_of_Plattsburgh.jpg
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