by John Marshall

“ The total number of American officers and men was 981, the whole of the latter, excepting about 83 soldiers, acting as marines, were sailors belonging to the ships of war at New London and other blockaded ports on the Atlantic frontier.
The Saratoga, Eagle, Ticonderago, and Preble, were found moored in line, abreast of the American encampment, with a division of five gun-boats on each flank; and Captain Downie immediately determined on laying the Confiance athwart-hawse of the enemy’s ship; directing Captain Pring to engage the brig. ”

“ At 45 minutes after 10, I was apprised of the irreparable loss she had sustained by the death of her brave commander (whose merits it would be presumption in me to extol) , as well as the great slaughter which had taken place on board, and observing, from the manoeuvres of the flotilla, that I could enjoy no further expectation of relief, the situation of my gallant comrades who had so nobly fought, and even now were fast falling by my side, demanded the surrender of his Majesty’s brig entrusted to my command, to prevent a useless waste of valuable lives ”

“ The appearance of the flotilla, however, on Lake Champlain, is stated by Sir George Prevost, to have been “productive of great confusion and alarm at Burlington, and other places along its shores; and the whole of the population appeared to be turned out for their defence.”
In the early part of Aug. 1814, the British naval force on Lake Champlain consisted of the Linnet brig. Captain Pring; Chubb cutter, Lieutenant James M‘Ghie; Finch cutter. Lieutenant William Hicks; and ten sail of gun-boats. These vessels mounted between them 2 long 24-pounders, 5 long eighteens, 16 twelves, and 2 sixes ”

“ On this occasion, Lieutenants Creswick and Hicks, R.N. were most actively zealous in landing two guns, and forwarding them, with a quantity of stores, to the mill. In this affair, the British sustained a loss of 12 men killed, 48 including 2 officers, wounded, and 4 missing. ”