Lake Champlain, late summer 1813
Lake Champlain, late summer 1813
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Note that Burlington was not very happy with the US troops there. The winter before, diarrhea, measles, smallpox and a particularly violent and contagious form of pneumonia had spread through the ranks. These killed at least one in 8 of the soldiers, and spread to the civilian population, where 1 in 20 died. Often communities welcome the military, liking both the protection and the extra money and commerce that result, but not here.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The British, too, realise that this is the only corridor left for the US to come north, and that they have a window of opportunity to block it. Prevost pulls rank and commandeers Captain Thomas Everard (whose ship Wasp was at Quebec City) with 80 men. Everard only wanted to go for 2 weeks, but is basically told 'shut up and follow orders'. Both send notes to Admiral Warren (explaining and complaining, respectively), but Prevost IS nominally in charge of ALL His Majesty's forces in North America, with a courtesy rank of Vice Admiral, even if he rarely uses it. He also redirects Commander Daniel Pring who was in transit to serve on Lake Ontario. Warren, while he might have done things differently, agrees this was a reasonable solution. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]On the land side, Brock pulls together the largest force he can, piecing together some of the permanent forces that hit Sackett's, calling up the new Upper and Lower Canada militias that formed in the winter and are now available. Obviously, most of the Sackett's Harbor troops are still busy dealing with the aftermath of the attack, which happened about the same time as Taylor captured the US boats and gained control over the lake. However, pulling together the number of bateaux necessary and calling up the militias, etc., takes some time, so by the time they're ready to move, many of the troops from Sackett's are available. In particular, Lieutenant Colonel Charles de Salaberry, having performed very well with his Voltigeurs Canadiens both during Dearborn's fiasco of an invasion attempt last November, and in this attack at Sackett's [both as OTL] is rewarded by promotion to full Colonel and given command of the “1[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]e[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] Regiment nouveaux de [/FONT]Carignan-Salières[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]”, consisting of his Voltigeurs and the Chasseurs Canadiens. [Unfortunately his promotion is only ATL.] And his major, Frederick Heriot is promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and command of the Voltigeurs.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Note, the Carignan-Salières regiment was a regular company in the days of New France. It had a famous reputation, and the resurrection of the name is part of Prevost and Brock's plan to encourage enlistment and pride among the Canadien population. [Thank you Foresterab for the suggestion.] Note that while the Voltigeurs were supposed to be militia, de Salaberry signed them up for the duration, and trained them as if they were regulars. The name Carignan-Salières will be reserved for units of this calibre. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Brock heads up the Richelieu with his force, some 5000 strong (some 2000 of these are militia that will go home after the campaign), arriving at Lake Champlain on July 14. [The OTL, Murray's Raid had rather less force, some sources say ~1400, some ~1900 men, and was under a Lieutenant Colonel.][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Arriving at Plattsburgh 2 days latter, they attacked it and took it, there being only a few hundred militia there. The force then heads down to Burlington Vermont. The defences are too strong for a naval attack, so the force lands north of town and advances on the battery overlooking the town and the bay. While General Hampton has 4000 men, they were in a state of chaos only 3 weeks before, and they are not all entirely healthy. The British manage to seize the battery before Hampton can get his men properly in position and are then able to turn the guns on Hampton's men who are also attacking uphill. Hampton might tactically have been better to stay on the defensive, but he could not politically afford to let the British keep a foothold above the town. After a hard day's fighting, with serious casualties on both sides, Hampton has to surrender. The British send a messenger to the mayor. Burlington is a very nice town. Does he really want it burnt to the ground/destroyed in fighting? Or will he and his people cooperate? While he is really not enthusiastic about being occupied by British troops, he wasn't terribly happy about being occupied by American ones either. The townsfolk help get the unfinished naval vessels in launchable state and all the naval supplies aboard the various boats. The Brits take these back to Plattsburgh, which they intend to use as their new base. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Note that the extra vessels in this Lake Champlain flotilla (once they are all repaired/finished), justify brevetting Everard as Commodore, which makes him a lot happier with being stuck on a LAKE. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Meanwhile, word has been sent to Montpelier, and the governor, Jonas Galusha, arrives with a body of militia. The British say that, yes, they could fight, but what would that do to the lovely little town of Burlington, here. The militia would lose anyway, and what would be the point. Let's all come to a friendly agreement, shall we? The British have just captured all the American warships on the lake, both finished and unfinished, and the shipbuilders who could build more. So they have absolute uncontested and uncontestable control over the lake. If Vermont undertakes to keep within her borders and leave the British alone, the British will return the favour. (This obviously includes not letting US troops attack through Vermont.) Otherwise, of course, the British would be forced (sigh!) to loot and rape/lay waste and burn and let loose their Indian allies all through this lovely countryside. It would be SUCH a pity to let that happen. [Cue crocodile tears.][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The governor is infuriated, offended and horrified, but presented with those options, isn't quite sure how to respond. He points out that states are constitutionally prohibited from entering into treaties or agreements with foreign powers. Brock points out a gentleman's agreement between the two men would do for starters – that Vermont can do what she wants thereafter, just be aware what the British response will be. This is partly a bluff, as he knows that a) his militia will have to return home soon, and b) some of his regulars may also be needed elsewhere. However, while the governor may suspect there is some bluffing, he doesn't know how much, and with the British removal of the troops, ships and cannon, it wouldn't take much to return and devastate the town. And subtle hints, without being crass about it, suggest how very profitable it would be for Vermont.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]So he agrees. He does point out that he may not be governor in 2 months time, and since this is 'a gentleman's agreement between two men', he can't bind his successor, but does allow as how his successor might see the same realities. Brock agrees, and the British forces pull out, leaving absolutely nothing of military value in the town, but leaving it completely undamaged (well, except for the common room of one tavern, but the soldiers involved paid for the damage.)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Brock leaves 2000 men in Plattsburgh, and rebuilds it as a British base, finishing off the incomplete ships and assuring total mastery of the lake for the foreseeable future. Note that this forward base means that the garrison in Montreal can be reduced as there is really no way to attack her except up through Lake Champlain (which is now blocked off) or up the Lake Ontario shore and down the St. Lawrence (which requires control of Lake Ontario, which the US has also lost). So Montreal is safe until one of those two facts change. [hint – they won't][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Slightly downriver (Richelieu) from Lake Champlain is the island Île aux Noix. The British had a base there, commanded by Major George Taylor (he came under DeRottenburg's command based at Montreal.) ITTL, they start building some ships to contest Lake Champlain [OTL, that didn't happen until later]. On May 26 [OTL 2 June], [/FONT]Lieut. Sidney Smith is ordered north with the Growler and the Eagle to investigate. Contrary to the advice and direction of Macdonough (the US naval commander on the lake), the sloops advance into Canada down the Richelieu chasing three British gunboats. By the time they had approached the British base at Isle aux Noix, the American vessels were in trouble, and in the narrow confines of the river, Taylor was able to ambush them with 3 gunboats and a swarm of rowboats. After fighting for 3 ½ [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]hours, the US boats surrendered. They were taken into British service, the Eagle as the Broke [OTL, later Finch], the Growler as the Shannon [OTL, later Chub][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Meanwhile, the US is bringing in reinforcements. During the month of June, f[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]ive companies of the Thirteenth U.S. Infantry arrive at [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Burlington[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] together with a detachment of artillery and two 24- pounders for emplacement at the battery there. Troops continue to arrive all month, by the end of June some 4,000 soldiers are stationed at Burlington, including some 800 militia. This brought the numbers back up to what they had been the previous winter. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]As news of the [ATL] defeat at Sackett's Harbor reaches Monroe at Albany [where he, like Dearborn had stationed himself to control the northern border], he searches for more troops to be sent to Burlington. With Sackett's Harbor gone, and the Great Lakes under British control, the Lake Champlain corridor is the only effective invasion route into eastern Canada left. However, it takes a while to find those extra troops, as reinforcements are also being sent to Oswego (with the intent of continuing to Sackett's Harbor). General Wade Hampton is expedited north so he arrives on 24 June 1813 [OTL 3 July] and found the place such a mess that he didn't even report his arrival for 10 days. Total chaos.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Note that Burlington was not very happy with the US troops there. The winter before, diarrhea, measles, smallpox and a particularly violent and contagious form of pneumonia had spread through the ranks. These killed at least one in 8 of the soldiers, and spread to the civilian population, where 1 in 20 died. Often communities welcome the military, liking both the protection and the extra money and commerce that result, but not here.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The British, too, realise that this is the only corridor left for the US to come north, and that they have a window of opportunity to block it. Prevost pulls rank and commandeers Captain Thomas Everard (whose ship Wasp was at Quebec City) with 80 men. Everard only wanted to go for 2 weeks, but is basically told 'shut up and follow orders'. Both send notes to Admiral Warren (explaining and complaining, respectively), but Prevost IS nominally in charge of ALL His Majesty's forces in North America, with a courtesy rank of Vice Admiral, even if he rarely uses it. He also redirects Commander Daniel Pring who was in transit to serve on Lake Ontario. Warren, while he might have done things differently, agrees this was a reasonable solution. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]On the land side, Brock pulls together the largest force he can, piecing together some of the permanent forces that hit Sackett's, calling up the new Upper and Lower Canada militias that formed in the winter and are now available. Obviously, most of the Sackett's Harbor troops are still busy dealing with the aftermath of the attack, which happened about the same time as Taylor captured the US boats and gained control over the lake. However, pulling together the number of bateaux necessary and calling up the militias, etc., takes some time, so by the time they're ready to move, many of the troops from Sackett's are available. In particular, Lieutenant Colonel Charles de Salaberry, having performed very well with his Voltigeurs Canadiens both during Dearborn's fiasco of an invasion attempt last November, and in this attack at Sackett's [both as OTL] is rewarded by promotion to full Colonel and given command of the “1[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]e[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] Regiment nouveaux de [/FONT]Carignan-Salières[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]”, consisting of his Voltigeurs and the Chasseurs Canadiens. [Unfortunately his promotion is only ATL.] And his major, Frederick Heriot is promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and command of the Voltigeurs.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Note, the Carignan-Salières regiment was a regular company in the days of New France. It had a famous reputation, and the resurrection of the name is part of Prevost and Brock's plan to encourage enlistment and pride among the Canadien population. [Thank you Foresterab for the suggestion.] Note that while the Voltigeurs were supposed to be militia, de Salaberry signed them up for the duration, and trained them as if they were regulars. The name Carignan-Salières will be reserved for units of this calibre. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Brock heads up the Richelieu with his force, some 5000 strong (some 2000 of these are militia that will go home after the campaign), arriving at Lake Champlain on July 14. [The OTL, Murray's Raid had rather less force, some sources say ~1400, some ~1900 men, and was under a Lieutenant Colonel.][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Arriving at Plattsburgh 2 days latter, they attacked it and took it, there being only a few hundred militia there. The force then heads down to Burlington Vermont. The defences are too strong for a naval attack, so the force lands north of town and advances on the battery overlooking the town and the bay. While General Hampton has 4000 men, they were in a state of chaos only 3 weeks before, and they are not all entirely healthy. The British manage to seize the battery before Hampton can get his men properly in position and are then able to turn the guns on Hampton's men who are also attacking uphill. Hampton might tactically have been better to stay on the defensive, but he could not politically afford to let the British keep a foothold above the town. After a hard day's fighting, with serious casualties on both sides, Hampton has to surrender. The British send a messenger to the mayor. Burlington is a very nice town. Does he really want it burnt to the ground/destroyed in fighting? Or will he and his people cooperate? While he is really not enthusiastic about being occupied by British troops, he wasn't terribly happy about being occupied by American ones either. The townsfolk help get the unfinished naval vessels in launchable state and all the naval supplies aboard the various boats. The Brits take these back to Plattsburgh, which they intend to use as their new base. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Note that the extra vessels in this Lake Champlain flotilla (once they are all repaired/finished), justify brevetting Everard as Commodore, which makes him a lot happier with being stuck on a LAKE. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Meanwhile, word has been sent to Montpelier, and the governor, Jonas Galusha, arrives with a body of militia. The British say that, yes, they could fight, but what would that do to the lovely little town of Burlington, here. The militia would lose anyway, and what would be the point. Let's all come to a friendly agreement, shall we? The British have just captured all the American warships on the lake, both finished and unfinished, and the shipbuilders who could build more. So they have absolute uncontested and uncontestable control over the lake. If Vermont undertakes to keep within her borders and leave the British alone, the British will return the favour. (This obviously includes not letting US troops attack through Vermont.) Otherwise, of course, the British would be forced (sigh!) to loot and rape/lay waste and burn and let loose their Indian allies all through this lovely countryside. It would be SUCH a pity to let that happen. [Cue crocodile tears.][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The governor is infuriated, offended and horrified, but presented with those options, isn't quite sure how to respond. He points out that states are constitutionally prohibited from entering into treaties or agreements with foreign powers. Brock points out a gentleman's agreement between the two men would do for starters – that Vermont can do what she wants thereafter, just be aware what the British response will be. This is partly a bluff, as he knows that a) his militia will have to return home soon, and b) some of his regulars may also be needed elsewhere. However, while the governor may suspect there is some bluffing, he doesn't know how much, and with the British removal of the troops, ships and cannon, it wouldn't take much to return and devastate the town. And subtle hints, without being crass about it, suggest how very profitable it would be for Vermont.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]So he agrees. He does point out that he may not be governor in 2 months time, and since this is 'a gentleman's agreement between two men', he can't bind his successor, but does allow as how his successor might see the same realities. Brock agrees, and the British forces pull out, leaving absolutely nothing of military value in the town, but leaving it completely undamaged (well, except for the common room of one tavern, but the soldiers involved paid for the damage.)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Brock leaves 2000 men in Plattsburgh, and rebuilds it as a British base, finishing off the incomplete ships and assuring total mastery of the lake for the foreseeable future. Note that this forward base means that the garrison in Montreal can be reduced as there is really no way to attack her except up through Lake Champlain (which is now blocked off) or up the Lake Ontario shore and down the St. Lawrence (which requires control of Lake Ontario, which the US has also lost). So Montreal is safe until one of those two facts change. [hint – they won't][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]By the time the situation has settled down, those militia freed for harvest that only signed up for a short stint, and so on, it is now into August. [/FONT]
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No one would want their town to become a battlefield after all. However can't see him openly threatening that his troops would lose control, let alone be encouraged to. Both because it would be counter productive and alien to the viewpoint of the army commanders at in that period. Even with British troops ran amoke at the storming of Badajoz, where it could be said they had what passed for military law on their side at the time Wellington restored order as soon as practical. It just needs a reference to the sheer destruction that can occur if the Americans decide on a battle in Burlington.