Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IV.djvu/258

 250 CHAMPLAIN In an hour the whole starboard battery of the Saratoga was disabled. She was then winded about by means of kedges which had been laid from the bows, and her fresh broadside was brought to bear upon the Confiance, which had also suffered severely. The British vessel at- tempted to perform the same evolution, but without success, and after fighting about 2 hours in all was forced to strike her flag. The fire of the Saratoga was then turned upon the brig Linnet of 16 guns, the second vessel of the enemy, which surrendered in a few minutes. The Chubb sloop of 11 guns had meanwhile struck to the Ticonderoga of 17 guns, and the Finch sloop of 11 guns had been crippled, and, drifting within reach of a single gun planted on a small island, also surrendered. These sloops had been captured from the Americans the year before. The 12 gunboats which made up the remainder of the British squadron also hauled down their flags, but presently made off and escaped, all the men on the American gunboats being required to keep the prizes afloat. The American loss in killed and wound- ed was 112 ; that of the British is estimated at from 173 to 204, exclusive of prisoners. Of the 95 guns which they brought into action, they lost all but 20. The American victory was mainly owing to the precaution of Mac- donough in throwing out kedges from the bows of the Saratoga, so that when the guns in one broadside were disabled, she could be turned round and present a fresh broadside to the ene- my. Her 26 guns were thus in this action practically equal to twice as many. In fact, with these, she actually outfought the Confi- ance and the Linnet, with 53 guns of fully equal calibre, having together twice as many men, but which could not, when one broad- side was disabled, turn round and fight with the other. The British army under Prevost had in the mean time advanced upon Macomb's position at Plattsburgh. A feint was made in front, while a column was sent to ford the riv- er above, and take it in the rear ; but the col- umn lost its way, and before the ford could be found the naval battle was over. The attack was at once abandoned, and under cover of night and a storm the British retreated in dis- order, leaving behind their sick and wounded, and a part of their baggage and stores. CHAM PL AIM, Samel de, a French navigator, founder of Quebec and first governor of New France, born atBrouage, inSaintonge, in 1567, died Dec. 25, 1 635. He was of a family long connected with the sea as fishers and mariners, his father being a ship captain. He evidently received a careful education as a navigator, but early in life entered the army and rose to the rank of quartermaster of cavalry in the army of Brittany against the league. His uncle was pilot general of the fleets of the Spanish king, and as such conducted back to Spain the troops who had served in France. Champlain went with him, and took command of the St. Julien, which sailed in January, 1599, for Mexico, as one of a Spanish fleet, re- turning to Spain in March, 1601. Of his voy- age he drew up a faithful report, with views and charts. This Bref discours was printed for the first time at Quebec in 1870, although a translation had appeared in the publications of the Hakluyt society. On his return he re- ceived a pension from Henry IV., and was urged by the commander De Chaste, governor of Dieppe, to explore and prepare to found a colony in territories in North America which had been granted to him by the king. He ac- cordingly sailed March 15, 1603, in the ship of Pontgrav6, an experienced navigator of St.. Malo. They anchored at Tadoussac, where the Saguenay enters the St. Lawrence, May 24. He then, with Pontgrav6 and a few men, ran. up the river in a light boat till they were stopped by the sault St. Louis rapids above Montreal. He then returned to Tadoussac, carefully examining both shores of the river. While the Indian trade was going on, he ex- plored the river St. Lawrence down to Gasp6 r preparing a map, and collecting information as to mines said to exist in Acadia. He then returned to France, where in 1603 appeared his first volume, Des sauvagea, giving an ac- count of his exploration. His patron, the com- mander De Chaste, had died meanwhile, and his privileges had been transferred to Du Guay, sieur de Monts. Champlain was too important to be overlooked. De Monts made an engage- ment with him, and resolving to form a settle- ment in Acadia, they sailed together, and reached Sable island May 1, 1604. They then ran along the coast of Nova Scotia, and finally began a settlement on the island of St. Croix r in a river of the same name, between what is now Maine and New Brunswick. Finding it inconvenient, after wintering there they re- moved to Port Royal, near the present Anna- polis. During the years 1604-'6 Champlain explored the coast as far as Cape Cod, making careful surveys and maps. In 1607 he return- ed to France. Having suggested to De Monts the greater security of a post on the St. Law- rence, and its greater importance from its commanding the trade of a large inland terri- tory he was sent out in 1608 with Pontgrav6. After reaching Tadoussac he ran up the St. Lawrence, and arriving on July 3 at the place called Quebec, or the Narrows, by the Algon- quins, he decided to make the settlement there. They had scarcely begun to clear the ground and build when a plot was formed by five wretches to assassinate Champlain and escape to a foreign ship at Tadoussac. This was hap- pily thwarted, and the ringleader punished on the spot. In 1609 Champlain, who had gained the good will of the Montagnais on the St. Lawrence, joined them in an expedition against the Iroquois. A party of Algonquins and Hu- rons met them, and the combined force as- cended the Sorel river to the Chambly rapids. Here Champlain sent back his boat and crew, and proceeding on in a canoe, entered and