November 3. 1814.

MAJOR-GENERAL ALEXANDER MACOMB.

[_Victory of Plattsburgh._]

MAJOR GENERAL ALEXANDER MACOMB. Bust of General Macomb, in uniform,
facing the right FUeRST. F. (_fecit_).

RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS NOVEMBER 3. 1814. The American army repulsing
the British troops, who are striving to cross the Saranac river. To
the left, Plattsburgh in flames; to the right, naval battle on Lake
Champlain; in the distance, Cumberland Head. Exergue: BATTLE OF
PLATTSBURGH SEPT. (_September_) 11. 1814. FUeRST. F. (_fecit_).[105]

[Footnote 105: The resolution of Congress voting
this medal is given under No. 39, page 203.]

ALEXANDER MACOMB was born in Detroit, April 3, 1782. He entered the
army as cornet of cavalry, 1799; was 2d lieutenant, 1801; 1st
lieutenant of engineers, 1802; captain, 1805; major, 1808;
lieutenant-colonel 1810; colonel 3d Artillery, 1812; and
brigadier-general, January, 1814. He gained the victory of Plattsburgh
over the British troops, commanded by the governor-general of the
Canadas, General Sir George Prevost, September 11, 1814, for which
important achievement Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold
medal, and he was breveted major-general. He was appointed chief of
the engineer corps, 1821, and became major-general and commander-in-chief
of the army, May 24, 1828. He died at the head-quarters of the army in
Washington, June 25, 1841.

_____

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. (p. 234)

_General Macomb to the Secretary of War._

To the Honourable Head-Quarters, Plattsburgh,
John ARMSTRONG, September 15th, 1814.
Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.

Sir: I have the honour to communicate for the information of the
war department, the particulars of the advance of the enemy into
the territory of the United States, the circumstances attending
the siege of Plattsburgh, and the defence of the posts entrusted
to my charge.

The governor-general of the Canadas, Sir George Prevost, having
collected all the disposable force of Lower Canada, with a view
of conquering the country as far as Crown Point and Ticonderoga,
entered the territories of the United States on the first of the
month, and occupied the village of Champlain, there avowed his
intentions, and issued orders and procla