Reinagle, Hugh “Macdonough’s Victory on Lake Champlain, And Defeat Of The British Army At Plattsburg By Genl. Macomb, Septr. 11th. 1814.”

Hugh Reinagle.  “Macdonough’s Victory on Lake Champlain, And Defeat Of The British Army At Plattsburg By Genl. Macomb, Septr. 11th. 1814.”.    

Philadelphia: Benjamin Tanner, July 4th, 1816.  17 1/8 x 24 3/4.  Engraving by B. Tanner.  Printed by Rogers & Esler.  Considerable repairs to many tears and filling of surface all expertly repaired.  Old stains.  Otherwise strong impression.  Reference:   Donald H. Mugridge: Album of American Battle Art; #44.  

A superb, rare image of one of the major land and sea battles of the War of 1812.  This separately issued print is based on a painting by Hugh Reinagle and was engraved and published by Benjamin Tanner two years after the event.   Reinagle, a Philadelphia native, was better known as a landscape and genre painter, but in this image he superbly captures the events of this important battle.

Reinagle’s image shows the naval battle from Macomb’s position on the bluffs.  The main engagement is in the center, with smaller ships fighting at the sides.  The burning of Plattsburgh is shown in the distance, while in the foreground are depicted several American officers and a number of spectators, including several boys and a dog.  Separately issued prints such as this, issued without the protection of a binding and in small numbers, are very rare today, and this is a superior example of this wonderful historic document.