The _Constellation_, of noble record, was a victim of the blockade, and, beyond aiding in the defence of Norfolk, had to remain passive. The _Adams_, after a successful cruise so far as affecting the enemy’s trade very seriously, had to be burned while careened in the Penobscot to escape capture by an overwhelming force. The _Peacock_, of 11 guns, captured the British brig _Epervier_, of 9, with $118,000 in specie aboard, on April 29, 1814. The _Wasp_, 22, in a daring and successful cruise of destruction in the English Channel, met and captured on June 28th the British _Reindeer_, 18, of considerably less force, in an action which was honorable to the captains and crews of both ships. On September 1st, after a brilliant night action, she captured the _Avon_, of 18 guns. The _Wasp_ was driven off by the approach of three new antagonists, who had to go to the assistance of the _Avon_, which sank after the removal of several of her crew. The _Wasp_, after taking a number of prizes, spoke on October 4th a Swedish brig and received from her Lieutenant McKnight and Master’s Mate Lyman, both on their way home from the _Essex_. This was the last ever heard of her and her brilliant and lamented captain. The last memento of her, besides that of October 9th in the journal of the Swedish brig, the _Adonis_, was a prize, the _Atlanta_, which reached Savannah November 4th under Midshipman Geisinger. CHAPTER XVIII There was to be one other battle on the lakes, that of Lake Champlain, which was to have momentous consequences quite equal to that of Lake Erie, and place the name of young Thomas MacDonough high on the list of benefactors of his country. MacDonough, on September 28, 1812, had been directed to proceed immediately and take command on the lake, the control having previously been under a young lieutenant, Sydney Smith. There was, however, little to command. The Americans had three armed sloops and a few small gunboats and galleys (the latter propelled only by oars). But this was larger than that of the British, until on June 3, 1813, two of the sloops, the _Growler_ and the _Eagle_, in pursuit of some of the British flotilla which had ventured into the American part of the lake, found themselves in the narrow reaches of the north end with a south wind against which it was impossible to work back. Here they were attacked both by gunboats and by troops on both shores of the narrow waters, and had to surrender. Thenceforward, until May, 1814, the British by the addition of the captured American sloops were in control. Manned temporarily by seamen from the sloop-of-war _Wasp_ at Quebec, the British flotilla raided Plattsburgh on June 30, 1813, destroyed the public buildings there and at Swanton in Vermont, and threatened the destruction of the new vessels building by MacDonough. On April 11, 1814, he launched the ship _Saratoga_. By the end of May he was afloat with the _Saratoga_, of 26 guns, 8 of which were long