Great Britain, although twice captured by the
enemy. After the stimulus of these causes was
withdrawn, it languished for a time; but it is now
thriving again, under the more healthful auspices
of peace. The Saranac affords a valuable water
power, having a succession of falls, in and near
the village, amounting in the entire descent to
about 40 feet. These privileges are partially
improved for cotton and woollen factories, flour-
ing mills, saw mills, and other works.

Plattsburg has been selected by the govern-
ment as a military post; and extensive stone
barracks have been erected along the lake shore,
a little S. of the village. The United States
have also erected a breakwater here for the pro-
tection of the harbor.

On the 11th of September, 1814, Plattsburg
was the scene of an important conflict between
the Americans and British forces, both on the
land and on the water, in which the Americans
were victorious. The land forces of the enemy,
consisting of about 14,000 men, were led on to
the attack by Sir George Prevost, and were suc-
cessfully repulsed by about 3000 men, under the
command of General Macomb. The engage-
ment on the lake was between Commodore Mc-
Donough, of the American, and Commodore
Downie, of the British navy. The fleet under
McDonough carried 86 guns and 820 men, and
the British fleet 95 guns and 1050 men. The
action lasted, without any cessation, on a smooth
sea, at close quarters, 2 hours and 20 minutes, in
full view of both the armies fighting on land. The
fortune of the day was in a great measure decid-
ed by the issue on the lake. When the British
army saw their fleet completely conquered, they
were at once dispirited, and commenced their re-
treat. Their loss, in the mean time, had been more
than six times as great as that of the Americans.
Among the slain in the naval engagement was
the British commandant, Commodore Downie,
who was a brave and skilful officer. The fact
is stated as showing the frame of mind in which
the brave McDonough entered the battle, and in
whom he put his trust for success, that, “ after the
enemy's fleet hove in sight, the men of his ship were
assembled on the quarter deck, when he kneeled
down, and, in humble and fervent prayer, com-
mended himself, his men, and the cause in which
they were engaged, to the God of battles.'' This
favorable issue of the battle of Plattsburg was of
great importance to this part of the country.

Pleasant Valley, N. Y., Dutchess co. Watered
by Wappinger's Creek. Surface diversified ; soil
clay and sandy loam. 7 miles N. E. from Pough-
keepsie, and 82 S. from Albany.

Plumb, Pa., Alleghany co. Bounded N. by the
Alleghany Iiiver, and drained by Plumb and
Turtle Creeks and Thompson's Run. Surface
hilly; soil loam. 14 miles E. from Pittsburg.

Plumslead, Pa., Bucks co. Surface hilly, and
drained by Toliiekon and Neshaminy Creeks;
soil sandy loam. 106 miles E. from Harris-
burg.

Plymouth, Ct., Litchfield co. The surface of
the town is rough and hilly, with a strong grav-
elly soil, well adapted for grazing. The Nauga-
tuck affords an ample water power.

The manufacture of small wooden clocks, it is
believed, originated with Mr. Terry, of this town,
about 30 years ago ; since that period, the man-
ufacture of wooden clocks has been widely ex-
tended, and forms a very important branch of the
67
manufactures in this part of the state. 22 miles
W. S. W. from Hartford.

Plymouth. Ia., c. h. Marshall co. 115 miles N.
from Indianapolis.

Plymouth, Me., Penobscot co. This is a fine
township of land, watered by beautiful ponds,
and a valuable branch of Sebasticook River. 45
miles N. E. from Augusta.

Plymouth County, Ms., c. h. at Plymouth. The
soil of this county is not so productive as that of
many others in Massachusetts; yet there is con-
siderable good land within its limits. It has a
great water power, and an abundant supply of
fine iron ore. This county has a sea-coast on
Massachusetts Bay, of between 30 and 40 miles,
and many ships are built in its numerous ports,
of native white oak. This county has consider-
able foreign commerce, but its shipping is princi-
pally engaged in the fishing business and coast-
ing trade. It is bounded N. E. and E. by Massa-
chusetts Bay, N. by Norfolk co. and Boston Har-
bor, N. W. by Norfolk co., AV. by Bristol co., and
S. E. and S. by Buzzard's Bay and Barnstable
co. The North River and numerous branches of
the Taunton are its chief rivers.

Plymouth, Ms., c. h. Plymouth co. The town-
ship of Plymouth, though once much larger than
at present, is still one of the largest in the state.
It extends on the coast 11 miles from N. to S.
The land is generally hilly, sandy, and barren, ex-
cept a small strip of rich, loamy soil on the sea-
board.

The harbor of Plymouth is extensive, but not
deep enough for vessels of the largest class. It
is formed partly by a narrow spit of sand, extend-
ing 3 miles northerly from the mouth of Eel
River, S. of the principal village, where is a
pleasant village, called Chiltonville, about 2 miles
distant from the main village. This beach, ex-
posed to all the fury of the Atlantic, has been in
danger of being broken through, to the destruc-
tion of the harbor, and large expenditures have
been necessary, as well on the part of the town and
state, as by the general government, for its repair
and preservation. Considerable shipping is owned
in Plymouth, and the inhabitants are largely con-
cerned in navigation and the fisheries. There is
considerable water power, and some manufactures.

The village is in the N. part of the town, com-
pactly built, and 37 miles S. E. from Boston by
railroad. Not a dwelling house of ancient date
or antique form now remains in the town. Those
recently erected are in the style of modern archi-
tecture, and the largest proportion of the build-
ings are painted of a light color, and exhibit an
air of neatness and elegance. Among the build-
ings most worthy of note are Pilgrim Hall, the
Court House, and a Gothic structure for the
church of the First Society. See Plymouth Rock,
under Fashionable Resorts.

Plymouth, N. II., Grafton co. Plymouth is one
of the shire towns. Besides numerous smaller
streams, there are two rivers in the town, Pemi-
gewasset and Baker's; both are of importance.
Baker's is 30 miles in length. It takes its name
from Captain Baker, who attacked the Indians
at its mouth. In consequence of the great water
power in this town, and the passage of the Con-
cord and Montreal Railroad through it, it bids
fair to become an important place of trade and
manufacture. The soil is tolerably good. Holmes's
Academy is in this town. First settlers, Zachariah
Parker and James Hobart, in 1764. From Con-