The Battle of Plattsburg, September 1814 - Research

The Battle of Plattsburg Wargame

As we are about to finally wargame this battle on Saturday 31st July, so I thought I would populate this portion of the blog with a, historical background, bibliography, Orders of Battle research and other errata documents.

The following is bibliography of some the books and articles that I have consulted to augment my research.

The U.S. Army Campaigns of The War of 1812 published by the U.S. Center of Military History

Research

The following Orders of Battle are also the embodiment of the research that I have conducted so far. Most of the details is contained in the footnotes.

Battle of Plattsburg August 1814 Research (Ver 3) British Order of Battle and Strength Officer Commanding– Lt-Gen. Prevost (P) Left Division Commander – Maj-Gen De Rottenburg (A) Quartermaster General: Maj-Gen Sir Sidney Beckwith, Chief Engineer – Lt-Col Hughes, Artillery – Maj Sinclair
Brigade	Regiment	M	F		Strength	Ratio	Uniform Details
1st   Brigade – Major-General F.P. Robinson[i] (E) 1221 (-100 (gunners = 1121 - 160 (Lt Coys) = 961 / 2Bns =
3/27th Foot	Inniskillin (light company)	E	E		80[ii]	4	Main battalion at Chazy protecting LoC Lt Col John Wardlaw[iii]
76th Foot	(formerly Hindoostan EEC)	V	V		80[iv]	4	+ Red facings (use 41st) Main battalion at Chazy to Odeltown protecting LoC
1/39th Foot	Dorsetshire	V[v]	V		703[vi]	36	TA figures marching pose  (completed)
1/88th Foot	Connaught Rangers[vii]	E	E		717[viii]	36+4=40	TA completed LtCol R.B. MacPherson[ix]
1st Bde Art	Maj W. Gordon	E	E		5x6p 1xH	2x6p+1H[x]	In collection.
2nd Brigade – Major-General T. Brisbane[xi] (E) 2952
2/8th Foot	King’s	E	E		545[xii]	28	PY+ALB use 1st Foot as they have 28 figs vice 20.
13th Foot	Somersetshire	L[xiii]	L		624[xiv]	32	WL P&M+Yellow (use 44th) 13th Ft Flag complete Lt. Col. Sir William Williams,
49th Foot	Hertfordshire	V	V		623[xv]	32	VP+ (complete) LtCol Charles Charles Plenderleath
De Meuron	Swiss in British Service	V	V		906[xvi]	46-6=40	FR  (complete)
Voltigeurs	Canadian Volitgeurs[xvii]	L	L		350	18+2=20	16 BG & 9 OG completed LtCol Fredrick G. Heriot
Indians[xviii]	Mohawks (attached to Volt.)	L	L		300	15	completed
Chasseurs	Canadian Chasseurs[xix]	L	L			24	OG (completed)
2nd Bde Art	Capt. W. Green	E		E	5x6p 1xH	2x6p+1H	WL completed
3rd Brigade - Major-General M. Power[xx] (E) 3094 (3094 – 100 (gunners) = 2994 / 4 = 748.5
1/3rd Foot	East Kent The Buffs	E	E		801[xxi]	40	FR figures (completed)  Lt. Col. William Stewart
1/5th Foot	Northumberland	V	V		879[xxii]	44	FR Gosling Green (completed) Lt. Col. Charles Pratt
1/27th Foot	Inniskilling	V		V	942[xxiii]	48	WL (completed )Buff facings
1/58th Foot	Rutlandshire[xxiv]	L	L		734[xxv]	36	PYP (completed ) Black -
3rd Bde Art	Capt. H. Jackson	E	E		5x6p 1xH	2x6p+1H	(completed)
Division Artillery - Maj Sinclair
	24pdr Field guns				2	1	(completed)
	8” Heavy Howitzer,				1	1	(completed)
	24pdr Carronades carriages				3[xxvi]	1	completed
RMA	Rockets				?	1	WL (completed)
19th L.D.	Two Squadrons				266	14	PY (completed)
							2 x12pdr & 3 x 18pdr iron guns[xxvii] + 2 x 8” mortars[xxviii] (augmented later)

---

[i] A very experienced Peninsular veteran serving a Second Brigade commander in the Fifth Division at Vittoria. As subaltern he served in the AWI, then in the West Indies, followed by a recruiting and training commands in London and Bedford in the ranks of major and LtCol. Colonel Robinson’s request to join Wellington’s army was granted in September 1812 and was promoted to Brigadier-General. On the 4 June 1813 he became a Major-General and finally saw his first action as a general at the Battle of Osona on 18 June 1813. On 21 July 1813, General Robinson took part in the first assault of St. Sebastian, and on 31 August he commanded the attacking column at the second and successful assault and was severely wounded. On 7 October following, the Major-General was at the head of the leading column at the passage of the Bidassoa; on 9 November was at the attack of Secoa and the Heights of Cibour; on 10 December, at the battle of the Nive, was again severely wounded. He recovered to take part in the operations at the blockade of Bayonne and the repulse of the sortie on 14 April 1814, when he succeeded to the command of the fifth division. Ref: Wikipedia Biography.

[ii] Full strength = 552 + 10% = 607. Ref. British Army Individual Unit Strengths: 1808-1815, Andrew Bamford, Napoleon Series. Most importantly, the figures provided are for the rank-and-file strengths only, with no details of officers, sergeants, or musicians. Unfortunately, this means that the closest one can come to knowing the full all-ranks strength of a unit is to follow Oman’s formula and add ten per cent to the figures given here. So, in the case of the 76^th it is 703 (Aug 1814) + 10% = 773. All OR returns are for August ,1814. On further reflection the addition of 10% does make some battalions huge, so instead, where the battalions are already huge, I have used adjusted the OR totals and rounded up slightly. 

[iii] British Infantry Regiments and the Men Who Led Them 1793-1815 By Steve Brown (Napoleon Series).

[iv] Full strength = 556 = 10% = 611. British Army Individual Unit Strengths: 1808-1815.

[v] July 1809 to January 1812 (Peninsula – 31 months); British Army Individual Unit Strengths: 1808-1815.

[vi] British Army Individual Unit Strengths: 1808-1815.

[vii] The 88^th were actually protecting the lines of communication at Chazy. However, rather than having two battalions of the 27^th in the OOB, I have swapped one of the 27^th battalions for the 88^th.

[viii] British Army Individual Unit Strengths: 1808-1815; 717 + 10% = 788.

[ix] British Infantry Regiments and the Men Who Led Them 1793-1815 By Steve Brown (Napoleon Series).

[x] Before game start, the British Commander may group all howitzers into a single battery.

[xi] Brisbane was an experienced peninsular veteran commanding the First Brigade of Picton’s Third division at Vittoria and Orthez, Toilouse,

[xii] British Army Individual Unit Strengths: 1808-1815; 545 + 10% = 599.

[xiii] July 1813 to May 1815 (Canada – 23 months). Total coverage, 23 months; British Army Individual Unit Strengths: 1808-1815

[xiv] British Army Individual Unit Strengths: 1808-1815; 624 + 10% = 686.

[xv] British Army Individual Unit Strengths: 1808-1815; 623 + 10% = 685.

[xvi] British Army Individual Unit Strengths: 1808-1815; 906 + 10% = 996.

[xvii] Established for 670 in the spring of 1812 it managed to consistently man 350 with a company of sixty Indians and six chiefs attached to it (probably Caughnawaga Mohawks south of Montreal). The War in the Champlain Valley, A.S. Everest, p 36. Also, in June of 1814 they were augmented by the former Frontier Light Companies, becoming the 9^th and 10^th companies. So, conceivably the Voltigeurs may have been at full strength…. needs further research.

[xviii] 200 Indians accompanied the British/Canadian army. Ref; Everest, The War in the Champlain Valley, p. 168.

[xix] The 5^th battalion S.E.M. was reformed as a light infantry unit of six companies. DoC, App., B, p 255, note 6. The Canadian Chasseurs was a battalion size unit and composed from members of the 5th Battalion (SEM) of the embodied militia of Lower Canada. In order to conform to its fellow LC light infantry brethren, it abandoned its red uniform for the light infantry grey. They were dressed the same as the Voltigeurs except that they wore a stove pipe shako.  See also Defenders of Lower Canada: The Canadian Voltigeurs, p. 83.

[xx] Power was a very experience peninsular veteran commanding the 8^th Portuguese Brigade at Salamanca 1812, Third Brigade in Picton’s Third Division at Toulouse 1814.

[xxi] British Army Individual Unit Strengths: 1808-1815; 801 + 10% = 881.

[xxii] British Army Individual Unit Strengths: 1808-1815; 879 + 10% = 967.

[xxiii] British Army Individual Unit Strengths: 1808-1815; 942 + 10% = 1036.

[xxiv] Very limited combat experience on the east coast of Spain from April to July 1813. British Army Individual Unit Strengths: 1808-1815.

[xxv] British Army Individual Unit Strengths: 1808-1815; 734 + 10% = 807.

[xxvi] The extra 24-pdr carronade offsets the eight-inch howitzer.

[xxvii] Three 18 pdrs were located at Chazy Landing, Defender of Canada, p. 173. A d6 roll to determine if they become available to the British.

[xxviii] From Isle aux Noix

 British Infantry Regiments and the Men Who Led Them 1793-1815 By Steve Brown (Napoleon Series)

Battle of Plattsburg, 1814 (research V2) US Order of Battle and Strength Commander at Plattsburg -Brigadier General Alexander Macomb Acting Adj Gen: Lieutenant William R. Duncan: Senior Engineer: Major Totten[i]
Brigade	Regiment	M	F	Strength	Ratio	COs and Uniform Details
Forts[ii]
Ft Moreau[iii]	6th Inf[iv],	V	V	(300)[v]		Col M. Smith 12 guns various calibers[vi]
	29th Inf.[vii]	L	L	(300)
	24 pdr. naval guns[viii]			4	2
	18 pdr. naval guns			4	2
	18 pdr. Field guns			6	3
Ft Brown[ix]	30th Inf.,	L	L	(300)	15+1=16	LCol Storrs 8 guns various calibers[x]
	31st Inf.	L	L	(300)	15+1=16
	Corps of Artillery[xi]					Captain Brooks
Ft Scott[xii]	33rd Inf.,	L	L	(300)	15+1=16	Major Thomas Vinson 8 guns various calibers[xiii]
	34th Inf.	L	L	(271)	14+2=16
Platts. Militia	Capt. Aikens Rifle Coy	C	C		4	Near Waites Mill
Platts. Militia	Capt. Vaughn’s Coy.[xiv]	C	C		4	Near upper bridge
Salmon R. M.	Capt. Sherry’s Coy.[xv]	C	C		4	Near upper bridge
Vermont M.	Capt. Farnsworth Rifles[xvi]	C	C	96	4	Near Upper at forts
Lower lake area which includes block house near the bridge and the blockhouse near the river/lake. Major Sprowl
Infantry	1st Rifles - 1 Coy,	E	E		4	Maj D. Appling Capt. John Smyth (B.H. near bridge)
	29th Inf. - 1 Coy	L	L		4	Lt Coy?
	13th Inf.[xvii]	V	V	200	10
Artillery	Light Artillery Coy	V	V			Captain Leonard
	Light Artillery Coy	V	V
	2nd Artillery	V	V			Lt Fowler lakeside B.H.[xviii] guns?
Militia Division[xix] – Commander - Major-General Benjamin Mooers
	New York Militia Brigade Major-General Benjamin Mooers (700)[xx]
9th Inf +	Sandford’s Ind Battalion	C	C	350[xxi]	18+2=20
36th & 37th Inf		C	C	350	18+2=20
Cavalry	7th N.Y. Dragoons[xxii]	2L	2L	50[xxiii]	3	OG A troop of the 3rd (Clinton County) Squadron of 7th Regiment
	Vermont Militia Brigade[xxiv] – Major-General Samuel P. Strong 2,500[xxv]
1st Regiment	11 companies[xxvi]	C	C	1018	50-2=48
2nd Regiment	6 companies	C	C	555	28
3rd Regiment	5 companies	C	C	463	24
4th Regiment	5 companies	C	C	463	24

---

[i] The Battle of Lake Champlain, John H. Schroeder, p55. See also Defender of Canada, Appendix B.

[ii] Description: “They consisted of three redoubts, two small blockhouses, and a battery of heavy guns toward the lake. The redoubts were not finished, and the guns of the principal one were all ‘en barbette’, and consequently might be easily silenced during an assault.” Lieutenant Lang of the 19^th Light Dragoons reported that works were not built “within established rules”; they were sand berms faced with wood board, the interior being open without shelters and the bastions arranged to sweep the trenches surrounding them.

[iii] Quimby p. 609. This was largest of the forts was ‘….two hundred feet square.’ [must be yds] The Final Invasion, p121. Fort Moreau was still not complete as of 8^th September—the southern side was open; The Battles At Plattsburg, Herkalo, p. 98. Also, it was reported that the forts …they were sand berms faced with wood board, the interior being open without shelters and the bastions arranged to sweep the trenches surrounding them.

[iv] The 6^th and the 13^th were ‘sound regiments, raised in New York, and had a good record.’ And All Their Glory Past, p. 152

[v] There is general agreement among the sources that Macomb had about 1800 regulars manning or protecting the forts behind the abattis; War In The Champlain Valley, p. 164. Defender of Canada, p.175. In Macomb’s words –our regular force did not exceed 1500 for duty---“; The Battles At Plattsburg, Herkalo, p. 98.

[vi] Defender of Canada, Grodzinski, p.176; “…artillery fire from three redoubts occupied by 1,800 regulars and armed with twenty-eight guns of various calibers, the largest of which was a 42-pounder carronade.” P. 188.  The Final Invasion, p120-121; “Fort Moreau …was armed with heavy artillery” 24pdrs on naval carriages and six of the 18pdrs on field carriages.

[vii] The 6^th and the 13^th were “sound regiments, raised in New York, and had a good record.” “The remaining infantry regiments…. were fairly green in the late summer of 1814.” And All Their Glory Past, p. 152. I have generously given those ‘remaining regiments’ line status.

[viii] The only book or document I could find on the types of heavy guns used in Fort Moreau is The Final Invasion by Fit-Enz, which is not footnoted; p. 121. He states that the heavy artillery was “eighteen and twenty-four-pounders mounted on naval gun carriages, with six of the eighteens, mounted on field-carriages.”

[ix] Quimby, p. 609.

[x] Defender of Canada, Grodzinski, p.176.

[xi] “The Corps of Artillery was represented at Plattsburg, September 6-11, 1814, by several companies including Alexander Brook’s command, which occupied Fort Brown and lost three dead and one injured.” The United States Army in the War of 1812, Fredriksen, p. 171.

[xii] Quimby, p. 609.

[xiii] Defender of Canada, Grodzinski, p.176.

[xiv] The Battles at Plattsburg, p.95.

[xv] The Battles at Plattsburg, p.95.

[xvi] The Battles at Plattsburg, p.96.

[xvii] The 6^th and the 13^th were ‘sound regiments, raised in New York, and had a good record.’ And All Their Glory Past, p. 152.

[xviii] Quimby, p. 609.

[xix] The militia numbers are based on the numbers that became available for the Battle of Plattsburg. It is reasonable to assume that similar numbers would have been available to Izard had he remained in the area. We know that the New York militia was ready, but it took time to convince Vermont to send their militia across Lake Champlain to New York to support the defence of Plattsburg.

[xx] And All Their Glory Past, Graves, p 168 and 368.

[xxi] For the N.Y. Regiments individual regimental numbers are not given, so 700 by 4 regts + 175. Regiments too small so combined to form a unit of 350.

[xxii] Military Uniforms In America: Years of Growth 1796 – 1851; p 56. Uniform Plate P 57.

[xxiii] Unofficial sources state 50. Need more research. The above note indicates that they were a troop, so 50 troopers is probably accurate.

[xxiv] The Vermont militia led by Strong arrived at Pike’s cantonment area on 10^th September; The Battles at Plattsburg, Herkalo, p. 100.

[xxv] And All Their Glory Past, Graves, p 169 and 368.

[xxvi] 2,500 divided by 27 companies + 92.6 so each regiments number of companies x 92.6.

Historical Summary of the Battle of Plattsburg

I intended to write a brief summary of the land and naval battle as context for the game but remembered that a very good synopsis was already available. The U.S. Army Campaigns of The War of 1812 published by the U.S. Center of Military History neatly summarizes the Plattsburg campaign in less than five pages. So I scanned those pages 240 to 244, and here they are.

Research Documents

The following are a number of maps and topographical paintings that will give a good representation of the battle and area topography.

This map covers the historical invasion route up the Champlain Valley from Hudson New York through lake Champlain, continuing up then down the Richelieu River to Montreal. This region was also the British Left Division's area of responsibility. Ref: "And All Their Glory Past", p. 142.

This map clearly shows the staging posts for the army's advance including its advance logistic base at Iles Aux Noix, which was also the naval base. Of note is that two battalions of veteran infantry were used to man the several staging posts. I think a company at each staging point would have been more than sufficient to discourage any militia attacks. In fact al along the steady advance of Prevost's army many American militia deserted the main retreating body of N.Y. militia, refused to fight and dispersed to their homes. So, the threat to line of communications was minimal.
Ref: "And All Their Glory Past", p. 157.

A good overview of the land and naval tactical area of operations.
Ref: "And All Their Glory Past", p. 180.

Another tactical map of Plattsburg and the Bay. This map was used for the table top map below.
Ref: "The Defender of Canada: Sir George Prevost and The War of 1812", p.177.

I cropped this area from the previous tactical map taken from "The Defender of Canada", p177. I then enlarged the map and cropped some more until the scale (approximately 1" = 20 yds.) fit my 15ft x 6 ft table top plus the 27" x 4ft. extension to represent the road from Pike's Ford. Note the distance markings in inches to aid my positioning of significant topographical features. 

Plan of the Siege of Plattsburg, and Capture of the British Fleet on Lake Champlain ([Philadelphia, 1814]).  Copperplate engraving.  Map Division, Small Maps 1814. (from U of Michigan War of 1812 Collection)

This is a good rendition of the Plattsburg area in 3D effect that gives a very appreciation of the battlefield topography. Taken from the Battle of Plattsburg Museum web site.

This map shows the delaying action of militia and some regulars around Halsey's Corners and the American gun boat attack on Dead Creek Bridge. 

American regular artillery attempt to delay the steady advance of the British. The British did not even bother to deploy into line to engage the Americans but remained in column and relied on flanking skirmishers to return fire..

U.S. Regulars of the 13^th & 29^th Regiments, along with New York Militia attempt to delay the steady onslaught of the British advance.

Orders of battle Research to follow.

A Long Operational Pause

It has been quite awhile since I last posted partly because I was trying to build more American battalions for a 'What If' Plattsburg battle. Also, the COVID plague has disrupted most things except for painting figures, which is a good thing. Regrettably, we can't game together so my motivation to push on with gaming Plattsburg has been very low. As I am finishing the last units for Plattsburg I am somewhat energized to update this blog with the hope that gathering restrictions will lifted in phase three of opening up Ontario and we can game again.

The Prologue

In the following preamble it assumed that the reader has a basic understanding of the battle as it not my intention to regurgitate a historical narrative. Rather, it is to comment on the salient issues and missed opportunities in the context of an after action analysis.

The rationale for a what if battle is my belief that the historical representation of the Plattsburg battle would certainly be an easy gaming victory for the British and Canadian troops (as it should have been in the real campaign). These troops of the crown outnumbered Brigadier-General Macomb's rear echelon soldiers  by about four to one. Further a substantial portion of the invading army were seasoned Peninsular veterans. It is my opinion that LtGen. Prevost did not need to wait for the Royal Navy to battle with the American fleet when he arrived at Plattsburg. Notwithstanding, the absence of good topographical intelligence of the area (failure of the QMG) for which one of the brigade commanders MajGen Robinson complained. All of the brigade commanders were used to dealing with professional combat proven divisional staff as reliable support. The latter was sadly lacking in Prevost's staff. Nonetheless, the QMG did ensure that the army was well supplied with rations and ammunition for a sustained campaign. The British/Canadian lines of communications and logistic were well defended from any unlikely American interdiction. 

When Prevost's army arrived on 7th September, the American's abandoned the northern portion of Plattsburg and continued to finish the last of three forts on the south side of the Saranac River where they expected to conduct battle with the British. On their approach to Plattsburg the New York Milita retreated across the Saranac River bridge towards Salmon River. Only the the regulars including quite a few invalids remained on the Plattsbug peninsula. 

The Naval Battle

As to how the naval component of the game will be featured I have purchased the Old Dominion's Post Captain rules to game the naval action separately. Nonetheless, it is my opinion that the Crown's forces could have easily won the investment of Plattsburg and beyond with a more assertive leader with or without the naval component. More of this naval gazing later in the Plattsburg game scenario development. 

In the foreground the American ships left to right are USS Eagle (brig) and USS Saratoga (brig) under Commodore Macdonough with Commodore Downie's  HMS Linnet (brig) and  HMS Confiance (frigate) broadside to the Americans.

The table set for an engagement that did not happen.

The ship's log sheets, dice (12 siders) boarding markers and QRS all ready.

The 'What If ' Plattsburg Redux

So, this what if battle represents a plausible scenario where Izard throws away his cautious nature and uses his own initiative to act on the operational imperative rather than an outdated directive from the Secretary of War. Armstrong ordered Izard (not knowing of the British build up south of Montreal) to move his army to Sackett's harbor and then on to the Niagara region to assist the American Left Division. This new imperative was based on recent and good intelligence that the British had gathered a large army in the Richelieu Valley and surrounding area with the objective of attacking Plattsburg.  Izard, realizing that Armstrong's directive is now superseded by recent events, moves his army to the border area to confront the British/Canadian army. More of this scenario in a future blog. 

The Historical Battle of Plattsburg

Even though I had underestimated the number of American regular battalions needed for Izard's redux army, I managed to eventually to paint and base the additional units. So, I am ready to game the what if redux game. I originally decided not to game game the historical Battle of Plattsburg as my research indicated that it should be a British/Canadian walkover and not worth gaming. However,  I had a change of heart. As I had more time for preparation re COVID 19 I decided to recreate the table topography for the historical version of the Plattsburg battle. Who knows may one of the American players could change the course of history. 

The Topography of Plattsburg

A work in progress. More to follow.