There was Macdonough also, who gained that splendid victory over the British on Lake Champlain in the war of 1812-14.

Have you forgotten that just before the fight began, after he had put springs on his cables, had the decks cleared, and everything was ready for action, with his officers and men around him, he knelt down near one of his heaviest guns and in a few words asked God to help him in the coming struggle?
He might well do that, because, as you know of course, we were in the right, fighting against oppression and wrongs fit to rouse the indignation of the most patient and forbearing of mortals." "That's a fact!" interrupted Hunt.

"Americans have always been forbearing at the start; but let them get once thoroughly roused and they make things hot enough for the aggressors." "So they do," said Max, "and so I think they always will; I hope so, anyhow; for I don't believe it's right for any nation to allow any of its people to be so dreadfully wronged and ill-treated as thousands of our poor sailors were, by the English, before the war of 1812 taught them better.

I don't believe the mass of the English people approved, but they couldn't keep their aristocracy--who hated republicanism, and wanted always to continue superior in station and power to the mass of their countrymen and ours--from oppressing and abusing our poor sailors, impressing, flogging, and ill-treating them in various ways, and to such a degree that it makes one's blood boil in reading or thinking of it.
And I think it's right enough for one to be angry and indignant at such wrongs to others." "Of course it is," said Hunt; "and Americans always will resist oppression--of themselves or their weaker brethren--and I glory in the fact.

What a fight that was of Macdonough's! Do you remember the incident of the gamecock ?" "No; what was it ?" "It seems that one of the shots from the British vessel _Linnet_ demolished a hencoop on the deck of the _Saratoga_, releasing this gamecock, and that he flew to a gun-slide, where he alighted, then clapped his wings and crowed lustily.
"That delighted our sailors, who accepted the incident as an omen of the victory that crowned their arms before the fight was over.