Capture of USS Growler and USS Eagle

The capture of USS Growler and USS Eagle on the Richelieu River on 3 June 1813 was a significant British success that gave them temporary control of Lake Champlain and forced the Americans into the rebuilding programme that would eventually produce the squadron Macdonough commanded at Plattsburgh.

Lieutenant Sidney Smith had taken the two armed sloops — each mounting 11 guns — north from the lake into the Richelieu River, which connected Lake Champlain to the St. Lawrence. The river was narrow, and Smith had ventured further into British-controlled waters than was prudent. At Isle aux Noix, a fortified British position on an island in the river, Commander Thomas Everard was ready.

The British engaged the two American sloops from gunboats on the river and from batteries on the island. Militia and regulars lined the riverbanks and fired into the vessels as they attempted to retreat. The narrow river made manoeuvring impossible — the sloops could not bring their full broadsides to bear, and the current worked against their withdrawal.

After approximately three and a half hours of fighting, both vessels were captured. American casualties were approximately 50 killed and wounded from a combined crew of around 100. British losses were minimal. The sloops were taken into British service, renamed Shannon and Broke (after the famous frigate action), and operated on Lake Champlain for the remainder of the season.

The loss of Growler and Eagle temporarily gave the British control of Lake Champlain, allowing raids into northern New York and Vermont. British forces sacked Plattsburgh on 31 July 1813, burning barracks and military stores. They also raided Swanton and other communities along the lake shore.

The strategic consequence was that Macdonough had to rebuild his squadron almost from scratch before the decisive engagement of September 1814. The ships he would fight with at Plattsburgh — Saratoga, Eagle (a new vessel, not the captured one), Ticonderoga, and Preble — were all constructed or acquired after the loss of his original sloops. The intervening year of construction was a direct consequence of Smith’s ill-advised foray up the Richelieu and the British victory at Isle aux Noix.