The enemy's shot cut away the _Eagle's_ springs--ropes fastened either to the anchor or to the cable, and passed to the quarter, in order to sway the ship {266}to one side or the other and bring the guns to bear on any desired point. Her commander, Lieutenant Henley, then cut his cable, sheeted home the topsails, ran down behind the _Saratoga_, and took a position between her and the _Ticonderoga_, anchoring by the stern, which brought the fresh guns of his larboard battery to bear on the enemy, when they were served with good effect. The _Preble_ was attacked by the enemy's gunboats, and driven from her position; but they were stopped by the next in line, which they vainly tried to board. Every gun of the starboard battery---the side nearest the enemy--on the American flag-ship was disabled. Then Macdonough proceeded to "wind ship," that is, to turn the vessel completely round by winding at the hawsers attached to the kedges. This was accomplished without accident, and his gunners, springing to the larboard battery, poured out fresh broadsides that made dreadful havoc with the _Confiance_. The commander of that vessel attempted to copy Macdonough's manoeuvre, for her battery on the side presented to the enemy was also nearly used up, but failed, and two hours and a quarter after the fight began her colors came down. The remaining British vessels also surrendered, and the victory was complete. When the tremendous cheer that burst from the {267}sailors of the American fleet announced this news, to friend and foe on shore, Sir George Prevost--who from the first had relied more upon the fleet than upon his army--gave up his whole plan, and made all haste to return to Canada. In this bloody battle--which defeated what is known as the second invasion of New York, and preserved our territory intact--the American fleet suffered a loss of fifty two men killed and fifty-eight wounded. The British, according to their official report, lost fifty-seven killed, including Commodore Downie, and seventy-two wounded; Macdonough reported their loss at eighty-four killed and a hundred and ten wounded. The British galleys, before the Americans could take possession of them, drifted out into the lake, and escaped. CHAPTER XVI. OPERATIONS ALONG THE COAST. {268} _Capture of Eastport and Castine--Occupation of Territory in Maine--Destruction of the Frigate Adams--Bombardment of Stonington--Affairs at Wareham, Scituate, and Boothbay._ |The close of the war in Europe had not only enabled the English to strengthen their land forces in America, but had also liberated many of their warships, and the result was felt all along our coast. The enemy's purpose to conquer territory which might be retained after the war, apparent enough before, was now definitely proclaimed.