Plattsburgh, Battle of

The Battle of Plattsburgh, also known as the Battle of Lake Champlain, ends the final invasion of the northern states during the War of 1812.

A British army under Lieutenant General Sir George Prévost and a naval squadron under Captain George Downie converges on the lakeside town of Plattsburgh, which is defended by American troops under Brigadier General Alexander Macomb and ships commanded by Master Commandant Thomas Macdonough.

Downie's squadron attacks shortly after dawn on 11 September 1814, but is defeated after a hard fight in which Downie is killed.

Prévost then abandons the attack by land against Macomb's defenses and retreats to Canada, stating that even if Plattsburgh were to be captured, it could not be supplied without control of the lake.The battle takes place shortly before the signing of the Treaty of Ghent that ends the war.

The American victory denies the British negotiators at Ghent leverage to demand any territorial claims against the United States on the basis of Uti possidetis, i.e.

retaining territory they hold at the end of hostilities.

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