#thomas macdonough

[ganymedian]

Some of my favorite nautical postcards I found today!!

[preblesboys]

I was looking for pictures of Thomas Macdonough that I never seen before. If this really is at the museum of Plattsburgh then I have to look at it with my own two eyes in person!

[clove-pinks]

Thinking about the Battle of Plattsburgh/Battle of Lake Champlain today: September 11, 1814.

A detail from Macdonough’s victory on Lake Champlain and defeat of the British Army at Plattsburg by Genl. Macomb, Sept. 11 1814, engraved by Benjamin Tanner in 1816 (Wikimedia Commons).

Captain Marryat called Lake Champlain "the scene of an American triumph" when he visited years later. It could have been an American disaster, but Sir George Prevost chose to abandon the attack by land against the inferior forces of the Americans after the naval battle.

To defend Plattsburgh, General Alexander Macomb had only 1,500 regulars, and most were convalescents and raw recruits. But on September 11, the American flotilla of Thomas Macdonough crushed the British naval attack by four warships led by Captain George Downie. Discouraged by Downie’s defeat and death, Prevost canceled his land attack, although his troops were poised to crush Macomb. Retreating in disorder, Prevost abandoned valuable military stores and lost three hundred deserters.

— Alan Taylor, The Civil War of 1812

US Navy Admiral Thomas Macdonough, at left, and Sir George Prevost, Commander in Chief of British North America during the War of 1812.

Writing in his 1830s travelogue Diary in America, the former Royal Navy officer Frederick Marryat discussed the Battle of Plattsburgh with an American veteran and concluded:

Much allowance must of course be made for ignorance of the country, and of the strength and disposition of the enemy’s force; but certainly there was no excuse for the indecision shewn by the British general, with such a force as he had under his command.

Now that the real facts are known, one hardly knows whether to laugh or feel indignant.

[nelliesbook]

Some of us choose to do more than the bare minimum, okay?

[preblesboys]

Don’t Lose Your Head

Happy birthday Thomas Macdonough.

To be honest, if a severed head knocked me out unconscious, I’d be a bit freaked. Dude got knocked out cold twice.

[preblesboys]

Science Crew

Learning experience editing a video so bear with me. I don’t expect to do these often though.

Got Stephen Decatur and Robert Fulton teaming up together in the name of science!

Secretary of the Navy selected David Porter to command Demologos after the loss of Essex. He didn’t care for it too much but later said “She promises to meet our most sanguine expectations, proving to be buoyant, shallow-drafted, and easily maneuverable.” (“Inside the US Navy of 1812-185”- William S. Dudley)

Thomas Macdonough replaced Commodore David Porter as potential commander of Demologos in late July 1814 till July 1815 while he was assigned to the Portsmouth Navy Yard. But Secretary Jones decided to send Demologos elsewhere.

Lewis Warrington is there just because he was always inquisitive and later in his career became head of the Bureau of Yards and Docks. He may or may not have had a hand in helping establishing the Naval Academy in Annapolis MD as temporarily Secretary of the Navy before changing over to Bureau of Ordnance. Again, behind the scenes. While holding that position, a John A. Dahlgren was doing experiments which revolutionized naval artillery so I’m sure Mr. Peacock-man was into that.

[preblesboys]

Since it’s taking me like 10 million years to draw Preble’s Boys as animals, here’s the list that I’ll eventually get to.

The Man himself Edward Preble: Polar bear Isaac Hull: Otter (originally Winnie the Pooh for cuddly reasons) Jacob Jones: Barn owl (he gives me the Owl from Winnie the Pooh vibes; intelligent and friendly but dude is literally in his own world) Stephen Decatur: American Water Spaniel (the goodest boi in the whole damn American Navy!) William Bainbridge: Persian cat (pathetic wet cat syndrome) James Lawrence: Sacrificial lamb from the Chesapeake lmao! Isaac Chauncey: Beaver (He’s a builder) David Porter: Wolverine (bro just wants to fight somebody!) William Burrows: Porcupine (he’s a bit touchy….) Lewis Warrington: Mr. Peacock Man James Biddle: Mink (don’t touch his mink fur coat people!) Charles Stewart: Fennce fox (I thought he was a redhead this whole time but guess not? Also he’s a bit sly) Thomas Macdonough: Northern Cardinal (absolutely for religious reasons) Daniel Todd Patterson: Chipmunk (adorable and resourceful)

Major side characters under cut

John Rodgers: Wild cat (Edward Preble’s rival)

James Barron: White tailed deer (Stephen Decatur’s complicated Virginian acquaintance. Look up the scientific name)

Oliver Hazard Perry: Osprey (let’s face it, a cool bird of prey)

Samuel Evans: Fruit bat (don’t believe them when they say Evans was bat shit crazy)

Johnston Blakeley: Magpie (I originally thought he was a “Preble’s Boy” but found out he never served with Preble but with Rodgers.)

William M. Crane: You guessed it (Lewis Warrington’s mildly annoying brother in law. A Preble’s Boy but for a crane symbolizing good fortune, bro has the opposite of that.)

Washington Irving: Coyote (David Porter’s smart ass bestie)

Charles Morris: Iguana (not a cold blooded reptile; just observant and no nonsense)

Richard Somers: Poodle (there was puppy love once upon a time)

John and Robert Henley: Eagles solely for “The Eagles” joke (Don Henley) “Preble’s Boys” and Martha Washington’s nephews. *I’m convinced they knew Lewis Warrington since all three grew up in Williamsburg VA. HC all three attended William and Mary together but the brothers aren’t exactly friends with Warrington; more like coldly polite. Lewis Warrington had somewhat of a rough time growing up since his mother wasn’t married when she had him and the townspeople looked down on her even before him.*

[nelliesbook]

See you tomorrow, monument.