Christmas Essay
A Christmas Conversation in 1814
By Grace Sayward
2013 Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration - Essay Contest
First Place Essay for area students in Grade 5
I was sitting at the dinner table on Christmas Day when I was struck with awe at how peaceful it was now. Just a few months ago my world was anything but peaceful. Christmas had always been a joyous holiday in my family because my cousins came to visit. But this year it was especially joyous because my father had come home safely after being called up to fight against the invading British.
I looked around the table at the bountiful food and I could not wait for the meal to begin. Two of my favorite dishes, the pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce, were just waiting to be eaten. I was usually not fond of the venison, but even it looked delicious. I was lost in thought when my cousin Sarah poked me in the ribs and asked, “What are you thinking about?”
I replied, “I was thinking how nice it was for Father to be home and for us to be together again.” She poked me again. She had heard there was a great victory in Plattsburgh and wanted to know more about it, but I told her to wait until after dinner. I wanted to eat and enjoy the nice food. My cousin always seemed a little odd to me, liking to talk about the topics that boys like. I preferred to talk about pretty clothes and play with my dolls. After dinner, while the boys threw snowballs outside, I talked with Sarah in the parlor.
“I really did not think much about the war until Father was called up. For the two years prior, I only knew about the war when Father talked about it and most of the time, he talked after I was in bed. He said it was not talk for little girls. Mother never said much other than to be worried about disease. Last winter Mother would not let us go into Plattsburgh. I really wanted to go to see my friend Katherine and her father’s shop in Plattsburgh. Mother heard that soldiers were dying every day from disease, and she was afraid that if we went, we would get sick. On the way to town we would have to pass the Cantonment and that was where the soldiers were getting sick. She did let us knit socks for the soldiers. The ladies of the church were collecting socks to help keep the soldier’s feet warm during the terrible winter weather. When we finished our socks, we would take them to church on Sunday and one of the men would take all the socks to the Cantonment.”
“In the spring things were different. In April I heard father talking about huts and furnaces being built at the mouth of the Saranac River. Father had to explain to me that the furnaces were where the shot for the soldier’s weapons were made. Father talked more often about the build-up of boats on the lake. I guess it was because he thought it was more interesting than talking about soldiers. He was really excited about the new American warship on the lake. He said it was to keep the British from harassing the boats and the ferry. We heard that the British sailed the length of the lake. Father thought that now we had our warship maybe the British might stay in Canada where they belonged.
“Father was busy with this work at the grist mill during the summer. There were rumors last summer of large numbers of British soldiers coming from England to the Canadian border. Father told us ahead of time that he might be needed in the militia, but he did not know when. I did not like the thought of my father going away from home to fight. I was worried that if he went, he might get sick or injured or even worse. He was a member of the small Peru militia led by Captain David Cochran who was the son of the grist mill owner. For awhile we thought maybe Father would not be called up as we heard that the Army was being sent west. I got busy with the garden and house chores and stopped thinking about the war. Mother let me help make the candles this year.”
“But then, on August 30th, General Mooers called for the militia of Essex County and Clinton County. I was greatly disappointed because my eleventh birthday was the next day. I did not want Father to miss it. Mother had promised ices for my party but with Father leaving, Mother said she did not have time for a party. Mother was not sure how long he would be gone so there were many preparations to be made on the farm. Father’s unit got called into action on September 6th.”
“With Father not at home, we did not know all that had happened until he returned. We did hear that the British had invaded and were heading south. Everyone was talking about it. There were so many British soldiers marching in columns and they kept on coming. My brothers heard at the store that Master Commandant Macdonough had started to move his ships up toward Plattsburgh with only a light wind. They said that Master Commandant had short, fat cannons with limited range on his ships and Captain George Downie’s ship had long range cannons. I was glad Father was not in a naval unit. It did not sound as if our ships would fare well.
“When Father’s unit joined the other 700 militia men, an embarrassing thing happened. A company of American Dragoons arrived to join with the militia. The militia men mistook the Dragoons for British because they were wearing red coats just like the British. Some of the militia retreated. Father never told us if he was in the group that retreated. I do not think Father would have been so silly as to retreat. John said I was a silly little sister and did not know anything about war.”
“Father said he hid behind trees and fences, only shooting when the British were in range of his gun. He heard of Americans taking planks off bridges to keep the British from crossing. It did not work. The British kept coming. Father said it rained the first few days of the fighting. When it cleared, there was a lot more fighting and he heard constant firing and fighting. He told us that more militia from Vermont joined the fighting.”
“On the day before the main battle, General Macomb marched some of the small militia through the woods, including Father’s unit. He kept having them change their directions going in and out of the woods, so it looked like there were many different groups of soldiers on our side. When my brothers heard this, they thought it was really funny and started to play war against each other in the woods.”
“On September 11th, we got news that Captain Downie’s British fleet had entered Plattsburgh Bay. He could have stayed in the deeper water and fired against Macdonough without any risk of Macdonough firing back because his guns would not have ben able to achieve the range. Instead Captain Downie’s ship came close to our ships. Father said the battle on the lake was soon over. Macdonough fired on Downie’s ships and when he could not fire any more, he turned his ship around and fired again. Within three hours the British had surrendered.”
“During this time Father’s unit shot at the British column from behind trees and rocks on the west side of the road. General Macomb had ordered the Militia to retreat to the Salmon River Settlement. The British must have thought they were winning easily but in fact Father’s group was drawing them into the Settlement where a cannon was waiting to fire on them. Suddenly there was silence on the lake. A message to the commander of the British Army said the British forces on the lake had surrendered. They were to retreat immediately. One of the British units did not retreat. The militia killed the commander and about ten of his men and took the rest prisoner. Father said he was ordered to follow the retreating British. He was supposed to take prisoners and collect the injured and sick but heavy rain that night made the roads nearly impassable. The British Army was several hours ahead of them and they were up to their knees in mud so General Macomb ordered them to stop. The battle was over, and we had won.”
It seems odd to retell this story. My brothers re-enact the battles daily, but I do not like to think about it. My father came home safe and that is all I cared about. We celebrated my birthday in October. We did not have ices, but we did have a nice cake and afterwards we went to the store in Plattsburgh to see my friend Katherine. She showed me some new pale blue material as she knows it is my favorite color. There was also a pretty, blue ribbon that would look elegant in my hair. We danced around the store pretending we were elegant ladies at a ball. Mother could not afford the blue material, but I did receive the blue ribbon for Christmas.
A word about the author
Grace Sayward wrote this essay when she was eleven years old and in the fifth grade at the Stonebeck Academy Homeschool in Schuyler Falls, New York.
Beginning in 2010, Grace and her family have participated in the Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration, the Children’s Old Time Village Fair, the Parade and the Plucky Rooster and Essay Contests. Grace is now eighteen years old and studying music performance with concentration in piano at the College of Saint Rose.
