neral
Izzard, from Sackett's Harbour, to re-inforce the troops at Fort Erie.
Prevost, who had with him Generals Power, Robinson, and Brisbane, in
command of divisions, men inured to fighting, and well accustomed to
command, met with so inconsiderable an opposition from the Americans,
that General Macomb admits that the invaders "did not deign to fire
upon them." His powerful army was before Plattsburgh, only defended by
three redoubts and two block-houses; he had been permitted, for three
days, to bring up his heavy artillery; he had a force with him ten
times greater than that which, under Colonel Murray, took possession of
it, in 1813; and yet Sir George Prevost hesitated to attack
Plattsburgh, until he could obtain the co-operation of Commodore
Downie, commanding the _Confiance_, of 36 guns, the _Linnet_, of 18
guns, the _Chubb_, of 10 guns, the _Finch_, of 10 guns, and 12
gun-boats, containing 16 guns! because the enemy had a squadron
consisting of the ship _Saratoga_, of 26 guns, the brig _Eagle_, of 20
guns, the schooner _Ticonderoga_, of 17 guns, and the cutter _Preble_,
of 7 guns. The British Commodore Downie was not quite ready for sea.
His largest vessel, the _Confiance_, had been recently launched, and
was not finished. He could not perceive either the necessity for such
excessive haste. He would have taken time and gone coolly into action,
but he had received a letter from the Commander of the Forces which
made the blood tingle in his cheeks. Sir George Prevost had been in
readiness for Commodore Downie's expected arrival all morning, and he
hoped that the wind only had delayed the approach of the squadron. The
anchors of the _Confiance_ were immediately raised, and with the
carpenters still on board, Commodore Downie made all sail. Nay, he
seemed to have forgotten that he had a fleet of brigs and boats to
manage, so terribly was he excited by Sir George's unfortunate
expression in connection with the wind. The _Confiance_ announced her
approach on rounding Cumberland Head, by discharging all her guns one
after the other. The other vessels were hardly visible in her wake, and
still Captain Downie bore down upon the enemy's line, to within two
cable's length, without firing a shot, when the _Confiance_ came to
anchor, and opened fire upon the enemy. General Prevost had promised to
attack the fort as soon as the fleet appeared, but instead of doing so,
Sir George very deliberately ordered the army to cook their