Naval Tactics

At the Battle of Plattsburgh on September 11, 1814, Master Commandant Thomas Macdonough used spring lines to pivot his anchored ships and keep their broadsides bearing on the British squadron. The technique was not new, but Macdonough’s careful deployment on Lake Champlain demonstrated how springs could turn an anchored line into a flexible defensive weapon. The resulting American victory helped stop the British invasion of New York and shaped later assessments of naval tactics in the War of 1812.

Spring anchors—more precisely, springs, stern anchors, and kedge anchors—allowed Commodore Thomas Macdonough’s anchored squadron to pivot and present fresh broadsides at Plattsburgh Bay on 11 September 1814. This tactical preparation helped the Americans defeat a stronger British squadron and forced the British army to retreat during the War of 1812.

An overview of the tactics, technology, and command practices that defined naval combat in the Age of Sail, with specific attention to their application during the War of 1812.