On September 1, 1814, Sir George Prévost crossed from Quebec into New York with 12,000 British soldiers. Royal Navy Captain George Downie trailed behind him on Lake Champlain with several warships. Prévost approached American fortifications at Plattsburgh, which were held by 5,100 Americans, mostly militia, under General Alexander Macomb. Offshore, several an American fleet under Commodore Thomas Macdonough guarded the entrance to the Cumberland Bay.
On September 11, Macdonough defeated Downie on the lake. Prévost, reflecting on the experience of Burgoyne in 1777 in the same region, decided not to continue the campaign into New York with an American fleet operating in his rear. So he retreated back to Canada, even though he probably could have stormed the American positions around Plattsburgh.
Many of Prévost's officers objected to his decision, which was also ill-received in London. The British government recalled him from Canada.
Let's say that Prévost had attacked the American fortifications and continued south according to his original plan, but without naval support. What would have been the likely consequences?
On September 11, Macdonough defeated Downie on the lake. Prévost, reflecting on the experience of Burgoyne in 1777 in the same region, decided not to continue the campaign into New York with an American fleet operating in his rear. So he retreated back to Canada, even though he probably could have stormed the American positions around Plattsburgh.
Many of Prévost's officers objected to his decision, which was also ill-received in London. The British government recalled him from Canada.
Let's say that Prévost had attacked the American fortifications and continued south according to his original plan, but without naval support. What would have been the likely consequences?