Macdonough was just the man for the place; as in the case of Perry, he had a superb self-reliance and was eager to meet the enemy. Lake Champlain and the country that surrounds it were considered of great importance by the English, and, descending from Canada, large bodies of troops poured into New York State. But the American government had, long before the war was fairly started, recognized the advantage of keeping the water communications on the northern frontier. The English began to build vessels on the upper part of the lake, and the small force of ships belonging to the Americans was increased as fast as possible. It was a race to see which could prepare the better fleet in the shorter space of time. In the fall of the year 1814 the English had one fairly sized frigate, the _Confiance_, mounting thirty-nine guns; a brig, the _Linnet_; a sloop, _Chubb_, and the sloop _Finch_; besides which they possessed thirteen large galleys, aggregating eighteen guns. In all, therefore, the English fleet mounted ninety-five guns. The Americans had the _Saratoga_, sloop of war, twenty-six guns; the _Eagle_, twenty; the _Ticonderoga_, seventeen; the _Preble_, seven; and ten galleys carrying sixteen; their total armament was nine guns less than the British. By the first week in September Sir George Prevost had organized his forces and started at the head of fourteen thousand men to the southward. It was his intention to dislodge General Macomb, who was stationed at Plattsburg, where considerable fortifications had been erected. A great deal of the militia force had been drawn down the State to the city of New York, owing to the fears then entertained that the British intended making an attack upon the city from their fleet. It was Sir George’s plan to destroy forever the power of the Americans upon the lake, and for that reason it was necessary to capture the naval force which had been for some time under the command of Macdonough. The English leader arranged a plan with Captain Downie, who was at the head of the squadron, that simultaneous attacks should be made by water and land. At eight o’clock on the morning of September 11th news was brought to Lieutenant Macdonough that the enemy was approaching. As his own vessels were in a good position to repel an attack, he decided to remain at anchor and await the onslaught in a line formation. In about an hour the enemy had come within gunshot distance, and formed a line of his own parallel with that of the Americans. There was little or no breeze, and consequently small chance for manœuvring. The _Confiance_ evidently claimed the honor of exchanging broadsides with the _Saratoga_. The _Linnet_ stopped opposite the _Eagle_, and the galleys rowed in and began to fire at the _Ticonderoga_ and the _Preble_. [Illustration: PLAN OF THE NAVAL ACTION ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN] Macdonough wrote such a clear and concise account of the action that it is best to quote from it: