128 Naval War of 1812 



erted. The British were laboring under this same 

 disadvantage, but neither side felt the want very 

 much, as the smooth water, stationary position of the 

 ships, and fair range, made the fire of both sides 

 very destructive. 



Plattsburg Bay is deep and opens to the south 

 ward ; so that a wind which would enable the British 

 to sail up the lake would force them to beat when 

 entering the bay. The east side of the mouth of the 

 bay is formed by Cumberland Head ; the entrance is 

 about a mile and a half across, and the other boun 

 dary, southwest from the Head, is an extensive 

 shoal, and a small, low island. This is called Crab 

 Island, and on it was a hospital and one six-pounder 

 gun, which was to be manned in case of necessity by 

 the strongest patients. Macdonough had anchored 

 in a north-and-south line a little to the south of the 

 outlet of the Saranac, and out of range of the shore 

 batteries, being two miles from the western shore. 

 The head of his line was so near Cumberland Head 

 that an attempt to turn it would place the opponent 

 under a very heavy fire, while to the south the shoal 

 prevented a flank attack. The Eagle lay to the 

 north, flanked on each side by a couple of gunboats ; 

 then came the Saratoga, with three gunboats be 

 tween her and the Ticonderoga, the next in line; 

 then came three gunboats and the Preble. The four 

 large vessels were at anchor ; the galleys being under 



