The Story of Macdonough's shipyard at Vergennes, Vermont by James P. Millard

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Praise for Jim Millard's LAKE PASSAGES: A Journey through the Centuries...
"...thank you for having produced such a wonderful book. The book has a haunting theme that thrills. One somehow feels as if being paddled on canoe trips, or steered on board sloops and other vessels alongside the ghostly figures of our heroes through those magnificent lakes and rivers of unequalled beauty. It gives the feeling of being there as no other book of its kind does. For those with a passion for the history of these waters, this book is a must...The many photos of the valley's landmarks, monuments, statues, forts and panoramic views, make all so worthwhile an additive to pleasant reading." Stanley W. Gomez- Gibraltar

Macdonough shipyard
Vergennes, Vermont

The birthplace of the American fleet that defeated the British at the Battle of Plattsburgh.

Marker at the waters edge. Photo by the author.

At the beginning of the War of 1812, the American navy had no ships to speak of on Lake Champlain. There were two vessels-the sloops Hunter and Bulldog. Tied up in shallow water, neither vessel was fit for any kind of service.

Yet, young Lieut. Thomas Macdonough had his orders. He was to build a Navy- at least one ship, and three or four gunboats, or 15 gunboats, as he saw fit. Macdonough had been told: "The object is to leave no doubt of your commanding the lake and the waters connected, and that in due time."

The place he chose to build this fleet was at the Falls in Vergennes, VT. Situated some 7 miles upstream from the lake, Vergennes is Vermont's only inland port. It may at first seem a curious choice. Why not Burlington, Shelburne, Plattsburgh or Essex? All were established shipbuilding towns.

Macdonough chose Vergennes because the other towns were too exposed to attack. He knew the British were feverishly building their fleet just up the Richelieu at Isle Aux Noix. To build the fleet on the open lake was just too risky. Furthermore, Vergennes was a thriving industrial center in 1814. Situated as it was on the only navigable river in the state, the town boasted everything the young Naval officer needed- easy access to raw materials, eight forges, a blast furnace, rolling mill, wire factory, gristmill, sawmill and fulling mill.

Here at the base of the falls, the American Navy on Lake Champlain was built.

Continued HERE.

(Clicking on the thumbnails will take you to a full size photo.)

These are photos taken at the site of Macdonough's shipyard. This bucolic scene makes it hard to imagine what it must have been like during those frantic weeks in 1814. Try to imagine the mighty ships sailing down the river to meet the British in battle.

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Macdonough shipyard Vergennes, Vermont

Macdonough shipyard
Vergennes, Vermont