Connie Molnar Sterner has recently completed extensive research on the War of 1812 in the North Country. "The document is much bigger than I anticipated when I began. I tried to keep it to events that happened along the St. Lawrence River without expanding to the Great Lakes or other parts of our country," she said. "I'd like to thank John Austin for the input he has provided over the years with his research on the War of 1812. Some of the following information came from records he has obtained from the National Archives."

By CONNIE MOLNAR STERNER
From data assembled from various sources

As New York City commemorates the War of 1812 this summer with tall ships to kick off Fleet Week, it's time to reflect on skirmishes and battles along the St. Lawrence River and northern New York 200 years ago.

In many ways the War of 1812 was a carry over of issues not quite resolved during the Revolutionary War and triggered in part by the England's needs during the Napoleonic War. Over the past couple years I have watched a couple specials on the War of 1812 on TV. They skip over the events of this war along the St. Lawrence River as skirmishes not amounting to much. That doesn't settle well with me. Sure the British burned the White House as Dolly Madison fled with George Washington's portrait and Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the Star Spangled Banner after watching the bombardment of Ft. McHenry, but I grew up in northern New York. Those skirmishes along the St. Lawrence River are much more interesting to me than what went on in other parts of the country.

Ogdensburg Military Post

A military post in Ogdensburg was occupied by the British from 1776 until 1796 when it was surrendered to Judge Nathan Ford as a result of the Jay's Treaty.

Between 1805 and 1807 a regiment was formed in St. Lawrence County under Alex J. Turner and in 1807 an Artillery company was formed. A battalion of four companies under Alric Man was formed in Franklin County by 1808. In 1807 Thomas Jefferson and United States Congress called for an embargo on all ships in US ports blocking trade with France and England.

This was a political disaster which backfired causing economic disaster at home as well as abroad. Major sea ports as well as towns along the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes counted on shipping and trade. Britain had been at war with France for many years and did not want the United State to trade with that country. France, of course, had backed our country during the Revolution.

Napoleon was not defeated at Waterloo by Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, until June18, 1815. In the years leading up to this victory Great Britain enforced a blockade along America's Atlantic Coast. Britain resented our country's growth in merchant shipping.

To further enrage Americans, Britain's Royal Navy captured and forced American Merchant Marines into service on the high seas. Troops were placed in Ogdensburg under Capt. Samuel Cherry and Captain Thomas Anderson to enforce the Embargo Act. On the last day of Thomas Jefferson's presidency, the embargo was revoked in 1909.

Lewis and Clark's expeditions in 1804 led the way to westward expansion. In St. Lawrence County there were very few towns established before 1800 - Ogdensburg was one.

However between 1800 and 1812 towns in northern New York were beginning to be settled. People moved out of the New England states westward in great numbers following the St. Lawrence River making their way through the center of the state and then north along the Black River. Britain tried to block US expansion westward by making a pact with the Indians.

To top it off there remained border disputes which were unresolved since the Revolutionary War between the United States and Canada. A failed objective of this country was to capture Canada. The Anglo American Convention or Treaty of 1818 resulted in drawing the border at the 49th parallel.

The relationship between Americans and Canadians along the St. Lawrence River was complicated by the War of 1812. Many people depended on trade along the river for their livelihoods. People on both sides of the river had friends and family on the other side of the river. Since there were very few roads in upstate NY at the time, the river was used for transportation. So any disruptions caused by the war caused economic hardships on both sides. During this period there was a fair amount of smuggling between the two countries.

Below are events in northern New York arranged by date. Information I have collected is sketchy and sometimes conflicting and comes from various sources that I identify below. I am not writing this paper. I am simply assembling information obtained from other people's work, putting it in chronological order and quoting my sources. I can't list all the battles and skirmishes but have selected a few that might have some meaning to people interested in north country history.

Before the War of 1812:

(from Hough's History of St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties as well as from History of St. Lawrence County, NY - Gates Curtis)

A New York State Militia regiment was formed by Morgan Lewis, Governor of NY State in April 1806 in St. Lawrence County naming Benjamin Stewart (Lisbon 1800 Census) as Captain of the company and Alexander J. Turner (Lisbon 1800 Census - town supervisor and land agent - moved to Lisbon from Salem, Washington County) became Lt.- Colonel. Members signing an oath to the allegiance of New York state, and not to any foreign King, Prince or Potentate. It was signed before Joseph Edsall , Esquire & first Major (from Madrid). It was signed by Isaac Bartholomew - Capt. (Potsdam) , Nathan Stone (Massena) , Abner Wright (Massena), Solomon Linsley Capt. (Madrid), Elisha Denison (Massena) , Seth Mathews/Mathers (d. 1811 Massena). On April 3rd, 1806 the following appointments were made in Turner's Regiment:

• Isaac Beach - adjutant

• John King - paymaster (Ogdensburg)

• Daniel W. Church - Quartermaster (Ogdensburg)

Daniel Whipple Church was born in Brattleboro, Vt. in 1772. His father Jonathan had been a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Daniel was a prolific builder, master carpenter, surveyor and millwright. He came to Canton, NY in 1801 to build a grist mill. Red Mills, a combined saw mill and grist mill was completed in Lisbon in 1804. During 1806 he built a dam in Waddington for David Ogden and Joshua Waddington. He completed a stone store which would become the US Customs House in 1809/10 for David Parish. He would work for him to settle Rossie in 1810 building a saw mill, a bridge over Indian River and constructing roads. Church built a three story tavern in Parishville in 1812 and served as their Town Supervisor. One wonders how he did that with so much action going on during the War. He also built a large house there for Parish during 1813/14. In Ogdensburg Church built the Parish Mansion, now the Remington Art Museum. Church moved to Morristown in 1818 where he died in 1858 and is buried in Pine Hill Cemetery.

• Joseph W. Smith - Surgeon (Ogdensburg)

• Powell Davis - Surgeon's mate (Morristown)

• Louis Hasbrouck - Capt. (Oswegatchie/Ogdensburg - attorney and politician - NY State Assembly & NY State Senate)

• Timothy Pope - Capt. (Oswegatchie/Macomb - Pope's Mills/Morristown)

• Timothy Crosset - Capt. (there was a David Crosset in Lisbon at this time)

• Nathan Stone - Capt. (b. Ma., lived in Louisville/Massena more: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Stone&GSiman=1&GSc...)

• William Perry - Capt. (Canton)

• Thomas B. Benedict - Capt. (De Kalb) - born 10/23/1783 in Woodbury Ct. He came to De Kalb, NY with Judge Cooper. In 1812 he was a Colonel and was in charge of military operations in Ogdensburg. During the war he was promoted to General. He died March 11. 1829 and is buried at the Old De Kalb Cemetery.

• Solomon Linsley Jr. - Capt. (Madrid)

• Isaac Bartholomew - Capt. (Rev War Soldier, b, Vt. lived in Waddington & Potsdam)

• Richard Flack - Capt. (Lisbon)

• Elisha Denison - Capt. (Massena)

• Benjamin Stewart - Capt. (Potsdam)

• Jehiel Dimmock/Dimock - Lt. (De Kalb - Carpenter - Cavalry at Sackets Harbor

April 3, 1806 - appointments to Alexander Turner's Regiment - on Militia rolls - Capt Jehiel Dimock, Co of Col Major Benjamin Forsyth, entered into service Sacket's Harbor . Says he died Sept 20, 1813. (provided by Bryan Thompson, De Kalb Historian)

• Kelsey Thurber - Lt. (Oswegatchie)

• Samuel Armstrong - Lt. (Lisbon)

• Martin Philips - Lt. Madrid? Reuben Phillips

• Medad Moody - Lt. (Canton; Father-in-Law of Silas Wright)

• Potter Goff - Lt. (De Kalb)

• Seth Gates - Lt.

• John Hawley - Lt. (Madrid)

• John W Lyttle/Lytle - Lt. - Lisbon

John Lytle's Obituary - New York Spectator, July 19, 1843:

"In Lisbon, St Lawrence C o on the 28th June, Captain JOHN LYTLE, age 63 years.

The subject of this notice was among the first settlers of Lisbon, having emigrated from Washington County in 1800. He held the rank of Captain in the militia and regular service during the last war, and took an active part in most of the exciting events of that contest. He entered the service here soon after the war commenced, and was engaged in most of those petty contests and collisions which harassed this frontier during the first year of hostilities. After the taking of Ogdensburg and its abandonment as a military post he was ordered to Sackets Harbor and formed a part of the expedition under Dearborn in the descent upon Canada in the spring of 1813. He was engaged in the capture of Fort George near Toronto, then York (Toronto) and Fort Erie, opposite Buffalo, and in other contests on that frontier. He had the reputation of being one of the best drill officers in the service." According to Franklin Hough's " The History of St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties" John Lytle held the office of Justice of the Peace in Lisbon for more than twenty years. His father Robert had been a soldier in the Revolutionary War and he also served in the War of 1812 along with John's brother William.

• Calvin Hubbard - Lt.

• Benjamin Bailey - Lt. (Potsdam)

• Jacob Arnold Jr. - Ensign

• Thomas Lee - Ensign (Oswegatchie)

• John A. Armstrong - Ensign (Lisbon)

• Abner Wright - Ensign (Lisbon)

• James Parkil Jr. - Ensign

• Joel Woodhouse - Ensign (William Woodhouse - De Kalb)

• Daniel Greene - Ensign (Madrid)

• Nicholas Reynolds - Ensign

• Robert Jackson - Ensign (De Kalb)

• Seth Matthews/Mather - Ensign (Seth Mather - d. in Massena NY 1811)

• David French - Ensign (Potsdam)

Artillery formed April 6, 1807:

• Alex Richards - Captain (Abie Richards - Madrid- related?)

• Amos Wells - 1st Lt. (Madrid)

• Joseph Freeman - 2nd Lt. (Madrid)

Over the past number of years I have compiled a list of names of north country men who participated in the War of 1812. There are over 750 names on that list to date:

http://www.northcountryny.com/War%20of%201812%20List%20of%20Names.htm

In 1808 a battalion of four companies was formed in Franklin County with Alric Mann, Major (from Constable) under General Benjamin Moore (Mooers - from Plattsburgh). Also that year Lt. Melancthon Taylor Woolsey, born close to Plattsburg, NY was stationed by the US Navy at Sacket's Harbor to supervise the construction of a large gun boat called the Oneida (built in Oswego). He was placed in command of this ship and the shore station there where boats were built.

In 1809, to enforce the Embargo restricting trade established in 1807, two companies were placed in Ogdensburg under Capt. Samuel Cherry (from Oswego, NY) and Capt. Thomas Anderson. Their presence was greatly resented by the citizens of Ogdensburg. Described in "The History of St. Lawrence County", "These two companies of troops are represented as the worse set of men that ever lived, and were charged with being needlessly officious in searching persons crossing the river, which led to jealousies that almost ripened in the citizens." When these troops finally left their departure was met with horn blowing, cowbell ringing and jeers from the crowd on onlookers.

War of 1812 events along the St. Lawrence River in chronological order:

• April 10, 1812:

Congress Requires 100,000 men to be raised for preparation for war.

• May 2, 1812:

General Jacob Brown (b. Pa. 1775 moved to upstate NY in 1798 to Brownsville - outside Watertown - claimed by some to be a potash smuggler. He was a land agent for the LeRay family) wrote to Col. Benedict to raise 43 men to be stationed in De Kalb. Colonel Stone of Herkimer (probably Old Madrid Cemetery - Col Ithiel Stone http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~stlawgen/CEMETERY/OldMadrid/CIMG_2945.JPG ) also raised about 37 men. Totaling 80 in all a company was raised with Darius Hawkins of Herkimer, Captain; John Polley of Massena and Elisha Griffin of De Kalb as Lieutenants. They arrived in Ogdensburg at the end of May.

Capt. John Polley's father, John Polley Sr. was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. They settled in Massena Springs in 1802. More on John Polly below.

• June 18, 1812 - Declaration of war against Great Britain:

Major Darby Noon from the Albany Volunteers, arrived in Ogdensburg to erect Barracks. Darby Noon would later become a Major of the 41st infantry and as Aid-de-Camp for General Robert Swartwout and would be wounded at the Battle of Crysler's Farm (across the river from Waddington and Massena).

• June 23, 1812:

Abner Hubbard (Brownville, NY Census 1810, Lyme, NY 1820 Census), a veteran of the Revolutionary War who lived at Millen's Bay and operated a Tavern at Cape Vincent, set out from Cape Vincent with another man and a boy and sailed to Carleton Island. When Hubbard landed, he found the fort occupied only by a single sergeant, three invalid soldiers, and two women. Without fighting Hubbard set fire to the buildings and departed with his prisoners taking them to Sacket's Harbor.

• June 29, 1812 - Ogdensburg:

Eight schooners from Ogdensburg harbor attempted to make it to the Great Lakes. D. Jones, a partisan, who lived in Maitland, Canada, took off after them and stopped them above Brockville. The Sophia and the Island Packet were boarded and the vessels were burned. The crew and emigrants who had been set on an island, were taken back to Ogdensburg.

• Early Summer 1812 - Massena:

"History of St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties: by Franklin Hough

"Early in the summer, 1812, an American Durham boat on its way up from Montreal, was stopped at Mille Roche, a corporal's guard was put on board, and it was ordered to Cornwall. The militia officer, Mr. Grant, being somewhat a stranger to the river and its channels, gave up to the captain and crew of the boat and its management, and the latter in running it down, steered across the foot of Barnhart's island (named for George Barnhart who died in Cornwall 1811 & his son William who settled on the island in 1804 - Barnhart's Island then part of Canada and after the Treaty of Ghent, became part of USA), and before the guard on board had time to realize their situation, they were moored to the shore, and taken prisoners by the inhabitants, who seeing the boat approaching, and comprehending the movement, had seized their arms and rushed to the water's edge, to await them. The boat's crew had moreover carelessly spattered water upon the guns of the guard, so as to render them entirely useless. A militia training was then in progress at Massena village, and thither a messenger was dispatched for help, but before they could arrive, the boat and the guard had been secured, and the latter were on their march to the village as prisoners. Their leader henceforth bore the title of Commodore Grant, and the thing was looked upon as a good Yankee trick. The boat was never recovered by the British and the guard having been handsomely treated, were dismissed on parole.

During the same summer, the inhabitants of Massena village, by voluntary labor,

undertook to enclose a portion of their premises with a stockade. This was built

of timber set into the ground, with two sides hewed to make the joints somewhat perfect, and the tops cut off about twelve feet from the ground and sharpened. A difference of opinion having arisen, in relation to where the line of pickets should run, and what premises should be included, the work was abandoned, and of course never afforded any protection, if indeed any was in reality required. Quite an amount of labor was expended on this work. During the months of July and August of the same year a barrack was erected near the center of the town, north of the Grass river, at the expense of the government, under the direction of Lieut. Emerson. It was a frame building, about one hundred feet in length , and occupied by militia of the county, under the command of Col. Fancher, of Madrid (first tavern in Madrid was kept by Gould Fancher....maybe same man or John Fancher is on the 1810 Madrid Census, or this is John Gould Fancher), for about three months. The numbers posted here were about 200 or 250. At the expiration of this period a part of these returned home and a part repaired to Ogdensburgh." (Ogdensburg originally had an "h" at the end of it which has since been dropped.)

Summer 1812 - A story too good not to be remembered:

Gouverneur Press 1871 - from Seth Alexander's Obituary:

"Mr. Alexander was a soldier in the war of 1812, and created quite an excitement in the military camp at Ogdensburg, on one occasion, when a new recruit, he was placed on guard with the usual order to allow no one to pass without the countersign, but the countersign was not given him. He obeyed the order so faithfully that he at length had a dozen men disarmed and seated on the ground, under guard of his loaded musket - his Captain and Sergeant being of that number. At last his musket was discharged, without effect, in the dark, at one who refused to obey his order, and his prisoners seized the opportunity to attempt to disarm him. The Captain and Sergeant were wounded by his bayonet, and the party fled, leaving their arms in his possession. A line of sentries was posted around him, to prevent others from falling in with him, and he stood his ground till morning, and till ordered off by the man who gave him his orders the evening before. "

Reminiscences of Ogdensburg:

Capt. Hawkins was officer of the day. a squad of volunteers had come in from the near towns, had come in on an alarm. I detailed one of the best of them, Seth Alexander, on guard that day. Seth Alexander of DeKalb with whom I was well acquainted. Ensign (Nathaniel) Holt (De Kalb - in Moses Burnnel/Thomas Benedict list) was officer of the guard and sergeant Barheyte (possibly Jacob Barhyte - Shodack, NY) was sergeant of the guard. I told the sergeant to look well to the guard and see the new recruits instructed in their duty. The Adjutant of a regiment never knows when his duty is done, he is liable to be called upon by every one for something and my duty kept me busy until near midnight, and as I was going to my quarters I met the officer of the day who wished me to turn and go the grand rounds with him. When we came to the guard house we found no sentinel at the door, we went in and found the guard all asleep on the floor. Hawkins mustered them up and inquired for the officer of the guard, they said he went with the sergeant, corporal and relief and had not returned. What said Hawkins have they deserted No I said Holt or Barheyte would not desert they are true men. something very strange has happened. We started on the grand rounds and at the first post we came to were hailed who comes there, who comes there, who comes there, without giving time for an answer between the hailing. Hawkins answered the Grand Rounds. I'll grand rounds you d — n ye. (Darius) Hawkins (from Herkimer) says, what does this mean. I expect it is some new recruit that don't know his duty, he ordered one of us to come along, one of the escort went up he ordered him to lay down his musket and sit down, then ordered another up. the other escort started but Hawkins stopped him and said he would go and reason the case with him. He went to him and began to speak but Alexander said damn you not a word out of your head sit down there, he sat down, now another came along. — the other soldier went up and was seated. I had reflected while all this was doing that I would rather risk his fire than go there and sit down, besides it was very dark — now darn ye do you come along — I'll see ye darned first ye darned fool. He fired and missed me and I went up and as I came up Hawkins had closed with him and fell back saying he has wounded me do you take him off his post. I took a pistol out of my belt to drop him but on reflection concluded I would not sacrifice a man I well knew and let him stand and took Hawkins to the guard house. I went to one of the companies and got volunteers in addition to the guard and set a line of sentinels around Alexander's post leaving him to stand there, in going to my quarters saw a light in a tavern. I went in some young officers were gambling, when I told them what had happened one of them ensign Emerson, pished at it and said he could get him off his post. I answered you may try. H e started off and I went to my quarters — the next morning Emerson was found there a prisoner. Alexander as soon as he came seated him and stood with his piece at a charge before him the remainder of the night, if he lifted his hand to brush off the moschetoes he would fly at him again darn ye sit still and would not let him say one word, sometimes the wind would stir the plume of his hat and Alexander would fly at him again — darn ye sit still — such is the way with new recruits. History tells us that Seth Alexander of De Kalb did not leave his post at daybreak until Capt. Hawkins had been carried near enough to order him off duty."

A little bit about Seth Alexander:

"Seth Alexander was born in Winchester, N.H. in 1779, and was within a few weeks of 95 years old at the time of his death. He came into this county in 1803, after which time, until his death, he always resided in the town of De Kalb, pursuing the avocation of farming. He was married in 1815, and had five children....The wife of Mr. Alexander died in 1839. Later in life he was married a second time, to Mrs. Barnes..... He was supervisor of his town for several years and held other town offices. "He was a trustee of the First Methodist Episcopal Church in De Kalb and gave sermons there from 1827 until his death in 1874. Seth is buried at the East De Kalb cemetery.

• July 19, 1812 - First Battle at Sackets Harbor:

Sacket's Harbor was a very small community in 1812. After M.T. Woolsey captured the British Schooner Lord Nelson on June 5th, a squadron of five British boats, the Royal George, the Prince Regent, the Elmira, the Seneca(or Simcoe) and the Earl of Moira, under the British command of Sir James Lucas Yeo were sited by Lt. Melancthon Taylor Woolsey (Plattsburgh)on July 19th approaching Sackets Harbor. Woolsey made an attempt to escape to Lake Ontario with his gunboat, the Oneida, but was stopped and moored off Shiphouse Point. Lt. Woolsey took part of his crew to shore, leaving the Oneida under command of one of his lieutenants. There was a 32 pound gun on shore that had been too large for the Oneida. She was referred to as the "Old Sow" and was manned by Captain William Vaughn (Oneida?). Meanwhile another gun ashore was under a volunteer company of artillery under the command of Captain Elisha Camp (Hounsfield), part of a Regiment under Colonel Christopher Bellinger (Lewis County - German Flats). Although the Americans had a 32 pound cannon at their disposal they only had 24 pound balls as ammunition. The women of Sackets Harbor wrapped the smaller balls with strips of carpet from their homes to fit the larger cannon. Shelling went on for about two hours when a 32 pound ball fired from the British flagship, the Royal George, was retrieved by Thomas D. Spicer (Hounsfield) after it plowed a deep furrow into the earth. It was then placed in the "Old Sow" and shot back boat that first sent it hitting the stern. 14 British were killed and 18 wounded.(Different document report different casualty numbers.) Having suffered other hits to various boats, the British retreated toward the lake, probably to Kingston for repairs, while the Americans on shore sang "Yankee Doodle". Many of these British boats would be met again later on in the war.

Plattsburgh Republican Aug 7, 1812:"A letter from H.L. Woolsey, dated Potsdam, July 25th, to his father in this town, states that "some travelers have arrived at Ogdensburgh from Kingston - they state that the British squadron on Monday following their repulse at the Harbor, came into Kingston, Colors half mast, and that the Commodore and fifteen others on board the Royal George were killed, with the three shots that hulled her. I know that the ball which went through her quarter must have come within a few feet of the Commodore's station. "I must believe the above account exaggerated but that some are killed there can be but very little doubt.""

• July 29 - Aug 1, 1812 - Morristown:

Many US merchant vessels were converted to gun boats. The schooner Julia , which had been built in Oswego was dispatched by General Brown and commanded by Lt. H. W. Wells accompanied by Captain Noadiah Hubbard (from Champion) of a rifle company along side in a Durham boat. The first night they made it to Cape Vincent. The next day they moved on toward Ogdensburg where they met the British Earl of Moria by Morristown. There they anchored and both sides commenced fighting. Injured badly, the Earl of Moria made it to Brockville where her guns were moved ashore. The Julia, only slightly injured, made it to Ogdensburg. There she was placed under the command of William Vaught, Sailing Master, Samuel Dixon (from Hounsfield - employee of David Parish) and Abram Shoemaker (Manlius & Oswego), volunteers. Lt. Wells returned to Sackets Harbor.

Just a note here on David Parish. He was a German born land speculator, owning over 200,000 acres of land in the St. Lawrence Valley. Parish lived in Ogdensburg, built a blast furnace in Rossie and the town of Parishville was named after him. Parish helped the US finance the War of 1812 by chartering the Second Bank of the United States and brokering a $7.5 million loan. Interestingly, he later drowned in the Danube River.

"Rise of the House of Rothschild" Egon Caesar Corti:

"Parish, David, Baron Von Senftenberg: Son of a Hamburg banker(John Parish). Set up on his own, and later became a partner of the Vienna Banking firm Fries and Co., in whose fall he was involved. Committed suicide at Vienna in April 1826"

• July 1812:

Historical Sketches of Franklin County and It's Several Towns" by Frederick Joel Seaver:

"General Mooers reported to Governor Tompkins in July, 1812 that of the men sent here from Essex County under Major Noble, a number had no blankets, some not a second shirt, and some were without shoes."

• September 5, 1812:

The Julia and her several charges were able to make their way from Ogdensburg up the St. Lawrence to Sacket's Harbor where they were converted into ships of war.

• September 16, 1812 - Prescott ONnt.- Toussaint's Island (across the St. Lawrence River from Lisbon, NY):

Canadian Version of the Raid: http://www.warof1812.ca/ambush.htm From "The History of St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties" by Franklin Hough:

"About the middle of September, it was learned, that a umber of bateaux were coming up the river laden with stores, and a party under Capt. (Elisha) Griffin (from De Kalb), in a Durham boat, accompanied with a gun boat, having eighteen men and a brass six pounder, under (Daniel) D. W. Church, left Ogdensburgh in the evening, and late at night landed on Toussaint Island opposite the town of Lisbon, and near the place where the enemy lay. The only family on the island was secured, but he man managed to escape by swimming and gave the alarm, and the provincial militia were hastily rallied. The bateaux lay under the north shore behind the island. The party under Capt. Griffin, took a position near its head, while Church was directed to station his gun boat near its foot. A sharp firing soon began and was continued for some time, when the boat was abandoned with the loss of one man, (Macomb's) and one wounded. It drifted down the channel, and was taken up by the enemy before it reached the foot of the island. The gun boat about sunrise came to anchor and was immediately fired upon: at the second discharge having five of the eighteen wounded, but before the third shot, the cannon was brought to bear, and very shortly after the regulars, who accompanied the enemy's boats, broke and ran. Failing in its object, the party returned by land, and the gun boat was sent to (Waddington). Adjutant James Fitzgibbons, (later was the officer who accepted the American surrender at Beaver Dams in 1813) was said to have charge of the British party, two of which at the time were reported killed and several wounded. We had but one man killed."

Background on some of these people:

Daniel Whipple Church - see bio above

Elisha Griffin -born in 1777 in Wyndham Ct. moved to De Kalb. He is buried at East De Kalb Cemetery - d 1855. An issue of the Canton Commercial Advertiser in 1937 indicates that Griffin established the first dairy in the vicinity of Canton in the Town of De Kalb and had 31 cows by 1831.

Reminiscences of Ogdensburg:

Although the attempt, in September of that year, to capture a number of British boats laden with supplies was unsuccessful, the bravery of the men ordered to the undertaking was remarkable. The account, taken from one of Mr. (Daniel W.) Church's letters, is most interesting.

" We got news of a number of boats coming up from Montreal and I was ordered down with a gun boat and 18 men to capture them and their boat a detachment of men was to accompany us, we landed about midnight on an island near the British shore, opposite Madrid and a scouting party sent out to reconnoiter reported the boats lying in the narrow run between the island and Canada. At daylight we

went around the island below while the other boat went around above in order to have the boats surrounded, when we came round the lower point of the island, we found the boats lying in a narrow run and a detachment of 150 redcoats of the 49 Regiment Paraded close by them we run up the narrow channel against the boats and came to an anchor, they fired a volley upon us and before we had brot the gun to bear upon them they fired another volley, the first did us no harm but the second wounded five out of the 18 one Sergeant (John) Clitz (also at battle of Crysler Farm: http://www.findagrave.com/cgibin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7316310) badly and others slightly. I fired the gun at their center, then to their right and then again to their left when they broke and all run helter skelter back into the field a mile off, we had no more trouble with the redcoats when I was leaning against the mast with my shoulder a rifle ball nicked a little notch out of the mast close by my ear I presume within an inch. After waiting four hours for the other boat (for I had only 10 men at the oars and six at the gun one of the best of them shot through the knee and entirely disabled) news came that the men had abandoned the boat. If the other boat had joined me nothing could have hindered the capture of the boats. I had kept the enemy at a respectful distance the space of four hours and nothing to do but shove off and go out but so it was. — We left them with regret. "

These brave men endured hardships and surmounted difficulties which would seem beyond human endurance. In writing of a trip to Madrid to guard some boats coming up the river, Mr. Church says:

" We left Ogdensburg after dark in a drizzling rain. We were accompanied by an escort of infantry under Capt. Lytle we had no horses to draw the six pounder it was extremely dark so much so that we could not see each other except one of the men who had a white frock, he was a bright active fellow and we constituted him leader. The roads were new and eight miles of woods between Lisbon and Madrid and a number of deep gulfs to pass, we got on well until we all had to help the horses at all the hills and deep mire, the drag ropes were rigged and the officers &

men were all in requisition at the bad places and a muddier set of fellows could not be found after the light of the morning came. Capt. Lytle and myself lifted at the wheels of the gun carriage until we were saturated with mud."

They stopped at Waddington at one the next morning and at daybreak afforded protection to the boats passing, pushing on later to a point opposite Iroquois for the same purpose.

• Sept 21, 1812 - Raid of Gananoque, ON (near Clayton, NY and Kingston, ON):

Captain Benjamin Forsyth (from Stokes County, North Carolina) with his company of riflemen and some New York militia attacked the village of Gananoque, near Clayton, NY(then called French Creek) and Kingston, On. The object of the raid, as Brown stated in a letter to Governor Tompkins, was to "capture some of the enemy's ammunition". Americans advanced on local Canadian Leeds militia who broke and fled. Gananoque’s military stores built by Col. Joel Stone were seized or burnt. After this raid British military officials in Quebec deployed trained professional soldiers to the upper St. Lawrence region.

Americans had one killed and one wounded. Canadians reported 4 wounded and 8 prisoners.

A little bit about Benjamin Forsyth:

Benjamin Forsyth was from Stokes County, North Carolina. Forsyth County was annexed from Stokes County in 1849 and was named for him. He led a company of Riflemen during the war. Forsyth was active in skirmishing along the St. Lawrence River and engaged in major battles around Lake Ontario. Towards the end of the war he was engaged in patrolling north of Lake Champlain and was killed in June 1814 in a clash at Odelltown. (near LaColle, Quebec - north of Rouses Point, NY along Lake Champlain)

Canton Free Library - Scrapbooks - Vol 1a - 1934:

"War of 1812, Captain Ben Forsyth, known as the Raider, was in command of the American forces in Ogdensburg, a company of riflemen and a few Albany volunteers. The British attacked from Prescott, crossing the river on the ice, drove Forsyth into the woods and plundered the village. Forsyth, a jaunty figure in riflemen's jacket of green and with feathered hat, had made quite a name for himself along the border by his raids on Gananoque and Brockville. Called by Governor Tompkins "that intrepid officer" and by one who served under him a "great big, good-looking damned fool." Forsyth had incensed the British by his raids and they proposed to administer a lesson to him."

A Canadian Historian, J. M. Hitsman described Forsyth as a "big, dashing daredevil from North Carolina".

Burlington Republican, October 30, 1812 - letter to Brig. Gen. Brown :

"Watertown, (Jefferson Co.) Sept 29, We are indebted to the politeness of Capt. Forsyth for an official statement of the Battle of Gananoque in Upper Canada. Pursuant tot he order of brig-general Jacob Brown, of the 5?th brigade of New York Militia - I embarked on the 18th Sept. 1812, with two-thirds of my rifle company, (say 80 exclusive of myself and 2nd Liet. Wm. C. Beard) for the purpose of taking the garrison of Gananoque, in Upper Canada, supposed to be about 100 strong, commanded by Capt Stone; which is about 40 miles distance from this place by water.

The wind being ahead we were only able to sail abut five miles when we went on shore and encamped. The 19th about sunrise proceeded on our voyage; the wind still ahead, was only able to made Cape Vincent by midnight, (the distance about 20 miles) went on shore and encamped - where Capt. M'Neil, Lieut. G. Brown, Ensigns Johnston and Hawkins of the New York Militia, and 19 privates volunteered their services in the expedition. From thence on the 20th about dark, sailed for our contemplated destination, wind still ahead - was only able to reach the shore about two miles above Gananoque between the break of day and sunrise, landed, took 1 prisoner and made a guide of him. In the interim we were discovered from the garrison of the enemy, who directed two horsemen to meet us, returned and reported, one of whom it is supposed we killed, as three riflemen fired at him, and he was seen to fall in the woods; the other we took prisoner. We proceeded to the garrison, formed in extended order with all possible expedition, where we found the enemy, about 100 strong, formed in order of battle. Their camp guard fired upon us at about 100 yards distance, and retreated into the garrison - immediately after, (say about sunrise, on the morning of the 21st) the enemy commenced a tremendous fire of musketry but much too high to do us any injury, which was immediately returned by us with a very rapid movement towards them, which caused them to retreat to the woods, and leave the garrison in about 15 minutes.

Our gain was 12 prisoners, (number of killed not precisely ascertained) about 30 barrels of flour and a quantity of beef, 41 muskets, 25 bayonets, 21 cartouch boxes, 9 bayonet belts and scabbards, 120 musket flints, 2047 ball-cartridges, one boat & sails.

Our means of transportation being insufficient to bring off the flour and beef, I ordered it to be burnt, together with the public store-house, which was accordingly done - the balance of property brought safe into camp.

Our loss was one killed, and one wounded - not dangerous.

Ten thousand dollars worth of private property was in our possession, which I ordered to be left with the individual owners.

Col. Stone the commandant was a Tory in the time of the revolutionary war, fled to Canada for refuge, where he has remained since a notorious enemy and opposer tot he government of the United States.

I lament that my 2d lieutenant, Wm. C. Beard, and 4 privates of my best riflemen lost their course, and did not get into action. I cannot close this report without expressing my entire approbation of the courage and conduct of the officers and soldiers under my command in this engagement. Benj. Forsyth, Captain US Riflemen Comm'dt."

• Rifle Regiments 1812: http://civilwarthosesurnames.blogspot.com/2009/01/united-states-rifle-re...

"Sword of the Border - Major General Jacob Jennings Brown 1775 - 1828" by John D Morris:

"....Brown fitted out an expedition against the Canadian river town of

Gananoque, twenty miles downstream from Kingston. Capt. Benjamin Forsyth traveled to French Creek (Clayton) with 110 men, including ninety of his own riflemen and twenty militiamen led by Capt. Samuel McNitt (b. 12 June 1789, d. 1882 - Buried in Dugway cemetery near Mexico, Oswego Co., NY http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=37878153), and crossed the St. Lawrence to land two miles above Gananoque. An American force drove off the local militia, took ten prisoners, and carried away about forty muskets, three thousand cartridges, a barrel of powder, and other equipment. Public stores that could not be carried away were burned. Forsyth lost only one man killed and one wounded in his raid."

• October 1, 1812:

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

"General Brown arrived at Ogdensburg on the 1st of October."

• October 2-4, 1812: Battle of Ogdensburg:

From the Plattsburgh Republican, Friday Oct 9, 1812:

"On Sunday(Oct 4) last, the British made an attack upon the Village of Ogdensburgh. The Friday and Saturday preceding, they cannonaded the town for several hours each day, from the fort at Prescott and on Sunday, having prepared 40 boats with from ten to 15 armed men in each, and six pieces of artillery, they advanced to storm the town. When they arrived within a short distance the American troops under Gen. Brown (from Brownville, by Watertown), commenced a warm fire upon them, which continued on both sides for about two hours, at which time, the British, having two of their boats so knocked to pieces as to render it necessary to abandon them, and one taken, on board of which was six men, were compelled to relinquish the unprofitable contest, and fled precipitately to Prescott. No damage was sustained on our side, except the injury of some buildings, by their cannonading."

Ogdensburg Advance 1886 - reprint of the Ogdensburg Palladium Nov 3,1812:

"About 40 British boats, escorted by two gunboats, were proceeding up the river towards Prescott, when a cannonade was commenced from the enemy's batteries upon the village (Ogdensburg) to cover the boats, which was returned a short time, until it was found that long shots had but very little effect. On the 3rd the firing was renewed but not answered. On Sunday morning, the 4th, an attack was made by 25 boats and two gunboats. They proceeded up the river about a mile and then turned their course towards the village. The morning parade had just been dismissed, but order to rally was instantly issued and a wooden battery near the stone warehouse...was manned with the brass six-pounder, under Adjutant Church (Daniel W. Church) and an iron twelve-pounder, under Joseph York, (Ogdensburg's Sheriff) a volunteer citizen. A regiment of soldiers under the orders of Gen. Brown, Forsyth's riflemen, and the militia, numbering in all 1200 men, were drawn up on the west side of the Oswegatchie. The British attempted to land but were kept off by the Americans. The firing lasted but two hours and resulted in a loss of two men killed and one boat disabled for the British, while not a drop of blood was lost on the side of the Americans, but some little injury was done to property by firing of the enemy."

Reminiscences of Ogdensburg:

" Gen. Brown came to the door and ordered me (Daniel W. Church) with

my piece down to the shore ready to receive the enemy and by this time the shot came into the village merrily they had fourteen guns playing on us nine in the fort and five gun boats, we had only two guns, one twelve and another a six- pounder except an old four-pounder with but one ball to fit it — when they came near enough we opened up on them the twelve pounder recoiled on descending ground and being manned by villagers under Sheriff York they could not bring it back. I sent some of my men to assist them. Gen. Brown was soon with us he asked me where my men were. I told him at the 12 pounder. Where is Cook he said pointing to him curled up under the net work. Why do you not assist at the 12 pounder. I am no Artilleryman. You're a darned coward was what passed between them. We hammered at them. I requested Capt. Dixon a sea Capt. to see where my shot struck, he leaped up and stood on the battery, he said you have raked them quartering. I have since heard that shot took off one man's head and another's legs

close to his body, poor fellows they had their work finished for this world. This is war they came on within musket distance, the 12 pounder under York began to use grape shot I had none and used only round shot but they were beaten back and that sufficed, the battle was reported next morning in the newspapers and no names mentioned of those that did the work but others who stood parade and ready and undoubtedly would have done well, however they were celebrated for what they would have if — this is the way puppies get Peoples food, by snatching — they were behind the stone store in a safe place while we with two guns against

fourteen were in the field there was but one shot and two or three pieces of broken iron fired from the four pounder — this has always operated in my mind when I read accounts of battles, there is always some puppy to run away with the credit."

Writing of spying on the enemy, Mr. Church says : " Our method was to tie a white handkerchief on our heads and a white blanket around us and walk as near as would answer and then creep as far as that we could hear and understand their conversation and lie still on the ice until morning or towards it so as to get away undiscovered."

• From the British Perspective:

A convoy of boats carrying supplies led by James Pentz of the Canadian Fancibles was arriving near Prescott October 2nd when the Americans opened fire on them from Ogdensburg. The gun emplacements of a shore battery at Prescott answered the cannonade from Ogdensburg by hurling waves of shot at US positions. Under the cover of Prescott’s guns, Pentz and Gilbert (Sibbley - from Nova Scotia) with the Canadian Fencibles slipped past the barrage headed to Kingston.

In response, Colonel (Robert) Lethbridge decided, without consulting his superiors, to attack Ogdensburg on October 4th. With the arrival of additional regular troops, Lethbridge loaded his force of six hundred men into small boats and headed across the river. Before reaching the other side the invaders were met with a barrage of grape shot from the US artillery forcing them back to Prescott. After this, Lethbridge was recalled to Montreal and replaced by Lt. Col. Thomas Pearson.

Read more about engagement from the Canadian perspective at: http://www.warof1812.ca/stlawrence1812.htm

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

"....about forty British bateaux, escorted by a gun-boat, were seen approaching Prescott from below, and as they neared the town a battery at that place opened upon Ogdensburg to cover the flotilla. ...William E Guest, Esq....says" The villagers came out in large numbers, and stood in Washington Street, near the residence of Mr. Parish. Among them were a number of ladies, who felt safe, as no balls had yet come into the village. While all were intently watching, with great excitement, the movements of the contending parties, a 12-pound shot, with it's clear, singing, humming sound, passed over out heads, in the line of State Street, as near as we could judge, and fell in the rear of the village. A sudden change came over the scene, it became an intimate matter to all, and the ladies beat a rapid retreat."....The heavy guns at the latter place consisted of a brass six-pounder under the charge of Adjutant Church, and an iron twelve-pounder managed by Joseph York, Sheriff of the county and a volunteer, citizen, These relied to the British battery for awhile. On the following day the firing from Prescott was renewed, but was not answered; and on Sunday morning, the 4th two gun-boats and twenty-five bateaux, filled with about seven hundred and fifty men, under Colonels Lethbridge and Breckinridge, went up the river almost a mile and then turned their prows towards Ogdensburg with the evident intention of attacking it. Forsyth's riflemen were encamped at the time near the old fort on the west side of the Oswegatchie, and General Brown, with regulars and militia, were stationed in town....The subordinate commanders on this occasion were Colonel (Thomas) Benedict, Major (Jehiel) Dimock, Adjutant Hoskin and Captains (Benjamin) Forsyth, (Elisha?) Griffin, (Noahdiah?)Hubbard, Benedict and M'Nitt (Samuel McNitt)..... The whole American force amounted to about twelve hundred effective men. These were immediately drawn up in battle order to receive the invaders. When the latter had approached to within a quarter of a mile of town, nearly in mid-channel, the Americans opened such a severe fire from their two cannon that the enemy retreated in confusion and precipitation, with the loss of three men killed and four wounded.....one account says that one of their gun-boats was disabled, and the another that two of their boats were so knocked to pieces as to render it necessary to abandon them... About thirty rounds were fired from each of the two cannon, and the action lasted two hours. Not one of the Americans was injured in the action, but some damage was done to the town by the cannon-shot of the British."

• From the Ogdensburg Palladium of October 6.

Attack on Ogdensburg.

On Friday last about 40 British boats came up the river St. Lawrence. They arrived at Johnston about sunset, escorted by two gun boats. On their leaving Johnstown for Prescott (opposite this place) a heavy cannonade was opened from the batteries at Prescott upon this village, which continued for two hours, in order to cover the boats, in proceeding to Prescott from Johnstown. The fire was returned in a very spirited manner from batteries, until it was perceived that long shots made but little effect. On Saturday morning the boats were discovered to be in the harbor at Prescott, and early in the morning the enemy commenced a heavy fire on this place from 12, 9 and 6 pounders, which General Brown thought proper to answer. The fire continued for about half an hour. The enemy were mostly engaged all day in preparing their botas for something more serious and at about 10 o’clock on Sunday morning, 25 boats, aided by two gun boats, mounted with nine pounders, moved up the river from Prescott about three fourths of a mile, and then tacked and made for this place. As soon as they altered their course, all the cannon on the batteries at Prescott opened a fire on this village, which was not answered until the boats had advanced about the middle of the river, when our batteries commenced a tremendous cannonade upon thm, which after about an hour caused the enemy to return to Prescott in great confusion.

From the judicious arrangements made by Col. Benedict, Capt Forsyth, Capt. Griffin, Major Bull, Major Demcock, Adjutant Horcakiss, Capt. Hubbard, Capt. Benedict, Capt. McNit, and others, of the troops under their command, as directed by general Brown, had the enemy attempted a landing, an immense slaughter most inevitably have ensued. No person could have been more zealous and attentive than General Brown, through the whole action. Praise is also due to his field, staff and commissioned officers.

By this action the British are taught that 400 Yankees will not decline a combat when attacked by 1000 of their troops. Colonels Lethbridge and Backenbridge led the British in person. Although several hundred twelve, nine and six pound shot were thrown into this village, we are happy to inform our readers that not a single person was either killed or wounded, and very little damage to our village. From several deserters we learn that a number were killed and several wounded on board the bias – that one of their batteries gave way, by which circumstance a 12 pounder was dismounted and that one of their iron 9’s burst and mortally wounded a number of those who were managing the piece. Messers, York, Parsons(could be Silas Parsons on 1810 Oswegatchi Census) and Tattle (could be Ichabod Tuttle on Oswegatchi 1810 census) of the artillery deserve praise for their bravery and good conduct through the action.

Reminiscences of Ogdensburg 1749 - 1907"

" Mr. Parish narrowly escaped being hit, just passed over his head, as he was walking from the red house to the store, it struck just beyond him and bounded against Le Groi's garden fence. "

• October 23, 1812 - French Mills (Ft. Covington):

Historical Dictionary of the War of 1812 by Robert Malcomson:

"A small company from the Corps of Canadian Voyageurs under Captain John Macdonell guarded Akwesasne. On Oct. 23, 200 New York State Militia under Major Guilford Dudley Young attacked and captured the post killing eight of the British and capturing about 40. Some of the Americans remained to occupy it."

Ft. Covington Sun - Sept 12, 1985 - "History of Fort Covington" by Olga A. Robinson written 1906-1907 - "Chapter 3, French Mills in War Time 1812 - 1815:

"When war was declared against England in June 1812, a blockade was begun at French Mills, east of the river. This blockhouse was never completed. A company of militia from Lieutenant Colonel Alric Mavis' (typo in the article - should be Alric Man from Vermont, then Essex, NY and then 1820 Constable, NY) regiment (66th Reg, 40th Brigade) were posted here commanded by Captain Rufus Tilden (early settler of Moira, NY). In the fall, other companies of the 8th regiment under Ransom Noble of Essex joined and afterwards others under Major Guilford Dudley Young.

More on Ransom Noble, Guilford Dudley Young: http://www.omdhs.syracusemasons.com/sites/default/files/history/War%20of...

As soon as it became known in Northern New York that war was declared, the people especially those in scattered settlements and on farms, thinking that the Indians would side with the British as in the previous war, lived in continual dread of Indian attacks and scalping parties. Many ridiculous panics occurred on account of false alarms, which probably did not seem so ridiculous at the time they occurred. In spite of many such delusions and awakenings there from, everyone fled at the sight of an Indian until the poor people were in danger of starvation as neither Americans or Canadians would sell them food. At last they appealed to Albany and found redress for their wrongs and a commissioner was sent to French Mills for sole purpose of selling rations to the Indians during the war. It had been agreed between an American and Canadian commissioner that the Indians at St. Regis remain neutral, but this agreement was broken by a British officer, Captain Montigny, (Jean-Baptiste-Pierre Testard Louvigny de Montigny) who posted a small company at St. Regis village.

When Major Young at French Mills heard this, he resolved to surprise the company and take them prisoners. The first attack made bout the first of October failed because he could not get his men across the St. Regis River; but after the general alarm in the village had subsided, he tried again and on the 21st of October with William Gray, the Indian Chief, for a guide, he crossed the St. Regis at Gray Mills, now Hogansburg, and gave the British a surprise party at 5:00 in the morning. The Americans were about as welcome as surprise parties usually are, but no resistance was offered and the garrison numbered about forty-four men were taken prisoners and sent to Plattsburgh." (note this can't be totally correct, about "no resistance was offered" as Montigny later dies of wounds from this surprise visit.)

• Background on some of these people:

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

"Guildford Dudley Young was born at Lebanon, Ct. in June 1776 and in 1798 married Miss Betsey Huntington of Norwich. In 1805 he settled in Troy, NY where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. He raised a corps of volunteers in the summer of 1812 and joined the service on the St. Lawrence Frontier under Colonel Benedict. Because of his exploit at St. Regis he was promoted to major in the 29th Regular Infantry in February 1813 and was raised to the rank of lieutenant colonel two months afterward. He was disbanded in 1815 and soon afterward joined Miranda's Mexican expedition. He left New York for that purpose July 1816. In August, the following year, he was in Fort Sombrero, with two hundred and sixty-nine men, when it was encircled by three thousand five hundred Royalists. While standing exposed on the ramparts on the 18th of August 1818, a cannon shot from the enemy took off his head."

• Jean-Baptiste-Pierre Testard Louvigny de Montigny:

Montigny served as an agent for the Indian Department of Lower Canada and was stationed at the Iroquois reserve of St Regis and was on the staff of the Lower Canadian militia. Following an American raid at St Regis, Louvigny de Montigny was captured on 23 Oct. 1812 and taken the next day to Plattsburgh, N.Y. He returned to Lower Canada on December 8, having been exchanged for an American colonel and died of his wounds on Feb. 24, 1813, at 62 years of age. Read more about him here: http://www.biographi.ca/EN/009004-119.01-e.php?id_nbr=2685

• Malone Farmer 1933:

The "Man Homestead (was) located between Westville Center and Constable village in the town of Westville. Occupied by Dr. Albon Man and Alric Man, brothers from Vermont (in) 1802. Both (were) officers in the War of 1812"

Ft. Covington Sun - Sept 12, 1985 - "History of Fort Covington" by Olga A. Robinson written 1906-1907 - "Chapter 2, The Beginning of French Mills:

"Fort Covington owes its beginning to William Gray, an Indian by adoption, whose life was one of long romance and adventure. He was born in Cambridge, NY of white parents. At the age of seventeen he joined the American Army in the War for Independence and was captured by the British and imprisoned in Quebec. When peace was declared, he was released but he lived at the Indian village of Caughnawaga and afterward at St. Regis. He won the hearts of the Indians by adopting their dress and manner of life so they took him into their tribe and he was finally made a chief. After he had won a wife from their number, and had lived of roaming the woods and rivers, he built a saw mill on the St. Regis River. The place became known as Gray Mills, now Hogansburg. When he grew tired of this he turned to new fields and this time hit the Salmon River. In 1793 he made a contract with his tribesmen by which he bound himself to build a saw mill and to give the Indians two hundred dollars; they in return were to give him the use of a tract of land one mile square around the mill. Gray built the mill and in three years assigned it to a Frenchman, Thomas Aroquente, and French Mills had begun its history."

• November 3, 1812:

"Historical Sketches of Franklin County and it's Several Towns" by Frederick Joel Seaver:

"Under date of November 8th Lieutenant (Charles) McNeil (Jr.) tells of "a wild goose chase" on the 3d inst., when Major young order our the battalion upon representation that there was a party of Indians within eight or ten miles, stealing and driving off cattle, hogs and sheep. A force of about one hundred and twenty soldiers took up the march, expecting to find a hundred plunderers. After proceeding four miles a swamp was struck and crossed, and then another longer one, in crossing which the men could not see two rods from each other, and in which many got mired. This second swamp was seven miles through. then, having advanced another mile or two, and having learned from the inhabitants that there were no plunderers in the vicinity, and also that the major had sent the pack horses to the very place where he had represented that the Indians were operating, the other officers became convinced that the major was in fact leading them to Baker's near Montreal., with the purpose of taking a fort there, not withstanding it was garrisoned by two hundred men, with five hundred more within easy call, and Captain Rufus Tilden, Captain Pliny Miller and Lieutenant McNeil, with ensigns, held a council, and determined to proceed no farther. being militia, these troops could not be ordered to service beyond the frontiers of the country. They accordingly went into camp for the night, without shelter of any kind, except a very few blankets, and with no food save a little pork and bread. "The next morning they started on their return to French Mills without appraising the other companies. These later followed some six hours later, and Major Young was furious at having been deserted. Lieutenant McNeil gives no further explanation of the affair. Soon afterward his company was transferred to Champlain where he died December 10, 1812."

More on Charles McNeil: http://www.omdhs.syracusemasons.com/sites/default/files/history/War%20of...

More on Plinny Miller (Saranac Lake, NY): http://hsl.wikispot.org/Pliny_Miller and http://hsl.wikispot.org/Pliny_Miller's_Sawmill_and_Gristmill

• November 9, 1812 - Battle of Kingston, ON Harbor:

Isaac Chauncey learned from spies in Kingston that Hugh Earl (Commodore Hugh Earle) would be taking three ships- the Royal George, the Prince Regent and the Duke of Gloucester - onto Lake Ontario to support Fort George. On Nov 6th Chauncey took his ship, the Oneida and six armed schooners including the Hamilton and gave chase. After losing them that day they found the British Ships again on November 7th where they captured two Schooners. On November 9th in Chauncey followed the other ships into Kingston Harbor and engaged in firing on the Royal George, killing one man and significantly damaging the ship.

• November 23, 1812 - Raid of French Mills (Ft. Covington):

Historical Dictionary of the War of 1812 by Robert Malcomson:

British "Captain Andrew Gray was proceeding up the St. Lawrence River in a convoy of bateaux with supplies during the third week of November when he was ordered to recapture the Akwesasne post and then attack the American post at French Mills, New York, on the Salmon River about nine miles east of Akwesasne. Gray gathered a detachment of troops under Major Alexander Clerk, 49th Foot, which included men from the Glengarry Light Infantry (under Major George MacDonell), the 1/49th Foot and the Royal Regiment of Artillery, and 250 of the Glengarry and Stormont Militias. Gray, though junior in rank, appears to have held command. The British crossed to the Salmon River in the predawn hours of 23 November. The Stormont Militia reoccupied Akwesasne without any apparent opposition, while the rest, joined by 30 native warriors, proceeded across country to attack French Mills. Here, they surprised and overwhelmed the NY Militia garrison, which had three men killed and 42 captured. The British withdrew after destroying arms, ammunition and bateaux.

Plattsburgh Republican Dec 4, 1812:

"Captain Tilden's company of militia, about fifty in number, have been taken prisoners by the enemy at the French Mills without firing on either side, we understand the enemy consists of two or three hundred, and that captain Tilden had several hours notice of their coming. The enemy killed one man (Thomas Fletcher - on 1800 Chateaugay census) who stood in his own door, and plundered two houses in the village."

After the Major Young's attack on October 23rd on the Canadians at St. Regis village, Young left French Mills in November.

Ft. Covington Sun - Sept 12, 1985 - "History of Fort Covington" by Olga A. Robinson written 1906-1907 - "Chapter 3, French Mills in War Time 1812 - 1815:

"The English under Lt. Colonel (Alexander) MacMillan planned a retaliatory attack. On the 22nd of November an alarm was brought to French Mills and the company under Captain Tilden was marched to the blockhouse for as this structure still lacked a roof the soldiers were quartered in a building on Water Street. The British marched in on the old St. Regis Road, crossed the river and paraded up and down Water Street. Captain Tilden surrendered his party prisoners to the number of forty-four. These were taken to Montreal and after three weeks, were exchanged for the prisoners taken at St. Regis."

• November 24, 1812 - Ogdensburg:

Plattsburgh Republican, Dec. 1, 1812:

"Ogdensburg, Dec.1. Skirmishing. Last Tuesday two or three British gun-boats attempted to intercept some boats that had been sent up the river by captain Forsyth, of the U.S. regiment, for the purpose of obtaining fuel; on observing which, Capt. Forsyth manned a boat with 12 men and went against the enemy, and, notwithstanding the fire of the gun-boats, one of which mounted a twelve pounder, he succeeded in getting within rifle shot of them, and forced them to sheer of(f). One rife man was slightly injured by a musket ball. The gun-boats on their return to Prescott Harbor were fired upon by our batteries. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, shots were fired from our batteries at the enemy's gun-boats, which have generally commenced a fire upon some of our small craft. The batteries at Prescott have not fired upon this village since the attack of the 4th October."

• Winter of 1812/1813:

History of St. Lawrence County - LH Everts:

"The following additional items were furnished by Mr. James W. Lytle (note William and James Lytle, from Lisbon, were part of Jehiel Dimick's group under Benjamin Forsyth and John Lytle was with Forsyth), a citizen of Ogdensburg, still living in his eighty-fourth year, who was a soldier and an actor in the events of those days. During the winter of 1812-13 a company of horse under command of Capt. Jehiel Dimick (from De Kalb) were stationed at Ogdensburg, and performed patrol duty for some time on the river-roads and on the ice. On one occasion two men J.W. Lytle and Joseph Brooks (Madrid 1820 census - in Dimick's group) were sent out on the regular patrol for the night. They proceeded up the river to Millis' tavern about four miles above Ogdensburg where they found two mounted men, one named Hanson (could be Joshua Hanson from Sanford, Maine who named one of his sons Benjamin Forsyth Hanson), an officer in Capt. Forsyth's company of regulars an the other named Drummond, who became afterwards quite distinguished (I could not find a Drummond on the rolls in Dimock's group but I did find a Stephen Grummon, cornet, on the Sackets Harbor roll of names). After a short time the four men mounted and crossed over to the Canada side, and rode for some distance down the river, where they struck on the ice and moved down towards Ogdensburg.

They had not proceeded far when they discovered a party of fifteen or twenty men approaching upon the ice from the opposite direction. The larger party hailed, "Who comes there?" "Friends!" replied one of the smaller party. "Friends to whom?" Fearing they were British, and hoping to conciliate or escape them, Hanson answered, "Friends to King George!" In an instant the whole party fired upon them, killing the horses of Hanson and Brooks, and wounding the former by a buck-shot to the leg. The horse of Lytle sprang into the air, as the old gentleman expressed it, "about four feet, and made the best time he ever knew away from the spot," while Drummond immediately rode forward towards the firing party, and, by timely explanation, prevented any additional damage...Hanson eventually recovered from his wound and did good service at Sacket's Harbor and other places though he remained ever after somewhat crippled by the shot.

Quite a number of veterans of the Revolution had assembled at Ogdensburg and were doing duty as volunteers somewhat independent of military restraint, and this party was composed of a portion of them.

Robert Lytle, the father of James W. Lytle, was a Revolutionary Soldier, and resided at the breakout of that war in Washington County, NY. He was engaged in the battle of Bennington, and served in the campaign which ended with the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga in October 1777. He was among those who turned out to do duty at Ogdensburg, where he contracted a cold which terminated in sickness that caused his death in January 1813 at the age of fifty-four years. The family were originally from Ireland, having emigrated to this country about the year 1768. At the time of the War of 1812 they resided in Lisbon."

• January 1, 1813:

Reminiscences of Ogdensburg 1749 - 1907:

"....11 p.m. " Today I have been very busy with Mr. Parish organizing our Ogdensburg Turnpike Company.

" General Brown has left us, as have most of the militia, their time of service being expired and I expect we shall be left with a very small force, only Forsyth's Riflemen, and a few three months volunteers.

" Colonel Benedict now commands again, until it is ascertained whether General Dearborn will send any troops.

" We understand that only a small force of three hundred men are at Prescott.

" A number of Yankees have crossed over this week ; permission is given to every person not willing to take the oath of allegiance to leave the province, and carry their property with them, and if found after the first of February, without having taken the oath, they are to be imprisoned."

• January 24, 1813

Henry Letcher from Militia Roll of Capt Giles Kellog in service at Sacket's Harbor "died at Ogdensburg Jan 24, 1813 (provided by Bryan Thompson - De Kalb Historian)

• February 7, 1813 - American Raid to free Prisoners at Brockville (Elizabethtown):

"History of St. Lawrence County" by Franklin Hough:

"On the 6th of February, 1813, about a fortnight before the attack upon Ogdensburg, Captain Forsyth being told, by spies and friends in Elizabethtown (Brockville), that a large number of Americans were confined there in jail, and pressing news being repeatedly received that they were treated with severity, that some were claimed as British deserters, although they had become citizens of the United States, and that some of these would be executed by the authority of the British court-martial, it was resolved to attempt their rescue. A party consisting of Capt. Forsyth's company, and citizen volunteers to the number of about two hundred, was organized and ready to start about nine o'clock in the evening, and leaving the town in the care of Capt. Kellog, of the Albany volunteers, and a few citizens, they proceeded on foot and in two or three sleighs (the latter in the rear) to Morristown. The expedition took along one light gun, but were obliged to leave it on account of great fissures in the ice. Having halted here a few moments and procured a guide (Arnold Smith who kept a public house) they crossed in two divisions, marching in open order on account of the weakness of the ice, Capt. Forsyth leading one division and Col. Benedict the other. Flank guards were dispatched to each side of the town, to arrest such as might: attempt to escape, while the main body marched into the village and stationed themselves in the square in front of the jail, which then occupied the same site as present. Adjutant Church was ordered to detach platoons from the main body and station them at the corners of the streets and those points best calculated to prevent resistance or a combination of forces. Lieut. Wells commanded the right flank guard, and Lieut. Johnson the left. Sergt. Foster, of the main guard who had been stationed with a few men on one of the corners, on hearing the approach of a company of men, hailed them with the challenge, "Who comes here?" He was answered by the reply, "Not friends of King George." Not hearing the first word in the reply he fired and wounded one man. The party proved to be the left flan of the Americans and an understanding was soon regained. Meanwhile Capt. Forsyth, with a few men, entered the jail and demanded the keys which were surrendered without resistance and every prisoner, with the exception of one confined for murder, was removed. He naturally begged hard to share the fortune of the others, but was left. Some of the more prominent citizens were taken prisoners and (with the exception of one physician, who was paroled at Morristown) taken to Ogdensburg, at which place the party arrived before daylight. The rescued prisoners and citizens brought back numbered about fifty-two, of whom six or seven were officers. One man was wounded by a shot from a window (Major Carley), with which exception no resistance was offered. The countersign of the party on this affair was Americans. Among the prisoners was Maj. Carley, three captains and two Lieutenants. Major Bartholomew Carley of the 1st Regiment, Leeds Militia, and several of his officers, were taken to Ogdensburg. Subsequently, Forsyth's prisoners were paroled, all except Carley, who had to wait to be exchanged for an American officer of equivalent rank. The following is a list of those taken except officers: Stephen Chipman (b. Ct. - Vt. - Brockville, d. Palmyra, NY), David Wheeler (could be Sgt. in General Brown's troops- under Elisha Allen, under Timothy Cornwell's Militia, Wheeler from Ellisburg,NY), Charles French, Benjamin Gould, Wm. Graves, Winthrop Tufts, Zea Castle, Ichabod Wing, George Allen, Henry Staats, Timothy Buel, Abram McCue, Thomas Daehnham, Alex. Campbell, John Davis, Daniel McMullen, Richard McBane, Joseph Trader, Isaac C____, Uri Stone, Archibald Ladd, David Wheeler, John W. Easton, Peter Whitman, Joseph Howard, Levi Stone, Thomas Thornton, Isaac Mather, Samuel Elliot, Joseph Woolley, James Smith, Horatio Bradshaw, Gamaliel Tuttle, John Green, Joseph Ryon, Norris Loverin, David Stevenson, Jehiel Smith, Thomas Rambley, Wm. Robinson, Richardson Cameron, Henry Smith, Cleveland Stafford, John Joy, John Whitlesy. They also seized and brought away one hundred and twenty muskets, twenty rifles, two casks of fixed ammunition and some other public stores, but no private property was either taken or destroyed...... Mr. James Lytle (Lisbon, NY) had been engaged in the affair at Brockville, where he captured a Col. (Adiel - captain in the Leeds Militia) Sherwood in a cellar, and notwithstanding his liberal offer of money, turned him over as a prisoner to the commander of the expedition."

Some reports I read say that Adiel's brother, Reuben, brokered a trade to get his brother out of prison by capturing American officers to trade for his brother. More about Reuben later in this paper.

More on the Sherwood Family: http://www.uelac.org/education/QuebecResource/Chapters/The_Sherwood_Fami... and http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=5262&&PHPSESSID=ychz...

• February 10, 1813

Cpl. James Brown (Sharon, NY) who died (epidemic)Wednesday, Ogdensburg, February 10, 1813 at 10 P. M. - Giles Kellog's troops (provided by Bryan Thompson - De Kalb Historian)

February 22, 1813 - Raid of Ogdensburg (George Washington's Birthday):

"The Field Book of the War of 1812"Benson J. Lossing and from "The History of St. Lawrence County, New York" by Franklin Hough:

"This exploit led to early retaliation on part of the British. At about that time Sir George Prevost, the Governor General of Canada, arrived at Prescott on his way to the capital of the upper province. Lt. Col. Pierson (Pearson), commanding at Prescott proposed an attack upon Ogdensburg. The governor was willing to have the attempt made; but on learning that some deserters had crossed the St. Lawrence, and would probably inform the Americans of the proximity of a prize so precious as his Excellency, he became alarmed for his personal safety, and ordered Pierson to accompany him on an immediate journey to Kingston with an escort. Lt. Col M'Donell (George Richard John MacDonell - "Red George" - wounded at Ogdensburg - would later face Wade Hampton I at Chateaugay - Oct 26, 1813), was charged with the business of assailing Ogdensburg, and was directed by the governor to first make a demonstration on the ice in front of the village, to engage the attention of the American troops....to draw out their forces, to ascertain the strength of the garrison.

British spies informed Forsyth of the intended attack, and he immediately dispatched a courier to Gen. Dearborn at Plattsburgh, on Lake Champlain, for re-enforcements. "I can afford you no help," replied Dearborn. "You must do as well as you are able, and if you can not hold the place you are at liberty to abandon it." He intimated that the sacrifice of Ogdensburg might be of public benefit in arousing the flagging energies of the Americans. On the receipt of this reply, Forsyth called a council of officers, when it was resolved to hold the place s long as possible. Its defenses were few and feeble yet stout hearts were there. Near the intersection of Ford and Euphemia (now State ) streets stood a trophy cannon taken from Burgoyne at Saratoga - an iron six-pounder, on a wheel carriage, commanded by Captain (Giles) Kellog, of the Albany Volunteers. On the west side of Ford Street, between State and Isabella Streets, was a store used as an arsenal, in front of which, likewise on a wheel carriage, was a brass six-pounder, manned by some volunteers and citizens, under Joseph York, Esq. then sheriff of the county and captain of a small company of volunteers. On the river bank a short distance from Parish's huge stone store house ...near the International Ferry was a rude wooden breastwork, on which was mounted, on a sled carriage, an iron twelve-pounder, also taken from Burgoyne. This battery was commanded by Capt. Joshua Conkey. On the point where the light house now stands, near the site of old Fort Presentation, was a brass nine-pounder on a sled carriage in charge of one of Capt. Kellog's Sergeants. Back of the old fort, mounted on sleds, were two old fashioned iron six-pounders, one of them commanded by Adjutant Daniel W. Church and the other by Lt. Baird, of Maj. Forsyth's company. In front of the huge gateway between the two buildings then remaining of the old fort was another brass six-pounder on a sled and about twenty feet tot he left of this was a six-pounder iron cannon on a sled. Several others were lying on the edge of the Oswegatchie fast bound in ice. Below the town, on the square bounded by Washington and Water, Elizabeth and Franklin streets, was an unfinished redoubt (fort)..quadrangular in form..., which was commenced the previous autumn by M. Ramee, a French engineer (who had been in the service of Bonaparte), by order of General Brown and named Ft. Oswegatchie. All the troops then available for the defense of the place were Forsyth's riflemen, a few volunteers and about a dozen raw recruits.

The drafted militia had long since returned home and Capt. Forsyth's company alone remained. Lt. Lytle had received orders for raising a company of volunteers, and Joshua Conkey, of Canton, had arrived a little bit before with thirteen men towards a company. On the evening previous to the attack, an arrangement had been made that, in this case, Adjutant Church was to have charge of the piece at the garrison and Sheriff Your the brass six-pounder near the arsenal.

On the morning of the 22nd of February, about eight hundred men, under Lt. Col. M'Donell, appeared on the ice, and approached Ogdensburg in two columns. It was a singular spectacle, for only once or twice before had the river been closed between Prescott and Ogdensburg. The right column (their right), three hundred strong, composed of a detachment from the Glengary Light Infantry Fencibles and a body of Canadian militia was commanded by Capt. John Jenkins (who lost an arm in the attack) . The left column (their left), five hundred strong, composed of a detachments of the King's Regiment and the Royal Newfoundland Corps, a body of Canadian local militia and some Indians, was commanded by Lt. Col M'Donell. These troops moved steadily toward the village, while some of the inhabitants were yet in bed and others were at breakfast. The right column proceeded to attack Forsyth and his command at the old fort....Forsyth formed his men behind the stone buildings and directed them to reserve their fire until he should give the word of command. Baird, with the brass six-pounder was on the right of his line and Church, with the iron six-pounder, was near the center. Just as the enemy reached the flat, snow-drifted shore, they fired, but without effect. Forsyth then gave the word and a full volley of musketry and a discharge of artillery swept down eight of the foe, and threw their line into utter confusion. They attempted to rally and charge upon the Americans, but the frightened militia failing to support the infantry, the movement was not executed, and the assailing party, after losing, besides the killed and wounded, a number of prisoners, fled out upon the frozen river, seriously annoyed by the nine-pounder on the point where the light house stands.

While these events were in progress on the upper side of the village beyond the Oswegatchie, Lt. Col. M'Donell had marched up into the town from a point below the battery, near the barracks, without Resistance. Capt. Conkey kept his twelve- pounder silent when he might have swept the enemy's ranks fearfully, and perhaps utterly checked their advance; and, without the least resistance, he surrendered himself, his gun and his men to the invaders. When this was accomplished they expected an easy conquest of the town, but they were soon confronted by the cannon under Capt. (Giles) Kellog and Sheriff (Joseph)York. The gun of the former was soon disabled by the breaking of its elevator screw, and he and his men fled across the Oswegatchie and joined Forsyth, leaving the indomitable York to maintain the fight alone. The sheriff continued to fire until two of his men were mortally wounded (Joseph Kneeland from De Kalb and Mr. Hyde), and himself and the remainder of his party were made prisoners.

The village was now in full possession of the enemy, and the citizens fled, mostly in the directions of Remington's (Rev. Jarius Remington - on 1820 Census) ...in Heuvelton. M'Donell proceeded at once to complete the conquest by dislodging Forsyth and his party. He paraded his troops on the northern shore of the Oswegatchie, and sent a flag to Forsyth summoning him to surrender instantly. "If you surrender, it shall be well; if not, every man shall be put to the bayonet," was a message sent with the summons. "Tell Col M'Donell," replied Forsyth, "there must be more fighting done first." The bearers of the flag (Duncan Frazer and Jonas Jones) had just reached their line on Ford Street, near Hasbrouck's, when Church and Baird fired the two six-pounders that stood before the gate of the fort, both charged with grape and canister. The effect was severe (disabling 8 men), but less frightful than it might have been had not Forsyth peremptorily ordered Church to elevate his piece a little higher. The discharge frightened the enemy, and they took shelter behind Parish's store-house and other buildings, and began picking off the Americans in detail(including two men by the names of Squires and Clark) while another party, overwhelming in numbers, were preparing to storm the old fort. Forsyth's quick eye and judgment comprehended the impending peril. It was heightened by the wounding of Church and Baird (Beard)(severely in the foot), and he gave orders for a retreat to Thurber's Tavern, (John and Olliy on 1810 Oswegatchie Census, Kelsey, 1800 Oswegatchie census - who is on the list of militia at the top of this paper & Joseph Thurber on 1800 census) on Black Lake eight or nine miles distance..... where they retreated to Depeyster's Corners (with Kellog). The British took prisoners of all men in the hospital, eight in number, and Sergt. Carr who had care of the arsenal. Lt. Baird was too badly wounded to retreat and was conveyed to the house of Judge Ford. Adjutant Church, with the assistance of two of Forsyth's men retreated. Five Americans were killed and eighteen wounded. As the enemy were marching down Ford Street some of the number, on entering the store room used as an arsenal were met by a lad at the door by the name of Jones,(note: there is an Elihu Jones on Oswegatchie 1810 census - could be related) from Canton, who discharged a musket and severely wounded one of their number, and was in the act of reloading his piece when the soldiers, enraged at this resistance fired a volley upon the courageous boy and finished their work with him by a thrust of a bayonet which pinned him to the counter. Further resistance not being offered, the enemy proceeded to ransack the town for public property and pillage, carrying off or wantonly destroying private property to a great amount. Fifty-two prisoners were taken over to Canada where citizens were mostly paroled and allowed to return home, excepting those who had been found under arms. Joshua Conkey and his men, Sergt. Rogers, Lt. Baird and a few others believed to be about twenty were sent prisoners of war to Montreal and then by water to Halifax until exchanged, except fourteen of whom Rogers was one who escaped from jail at Montreal and returned home. The citizen prisoners captured at this incursion were exchanged for those taken at Brockville.

The British official account of this engagement gives the losses as follows: 1 sergeant, 6 rank and file killed; 1 Lt-Col, 2 Capts. 4 subalterns, 8 Sergeants and 38 rank and file wounded. Officers wounded - Lt. Col. McDonnell, Capt. (John) Jenkins severely (lost an arm), Lt. McKay. Militia - Capt. J. Mc Donnell, Lt. Empy (Philip Empey from Cornwall), severely, Lt. M'Lean and Lt. M'Dermott. "

Forsyth's sword is on display today at Ft. Wellington in Prescott.

Canton Free Library - Scrapbooks - Vol. 1a - 1934:

Capt. Forsyth after waiting in vain for reinforcements, marched his riflemen through the woods to Sackets Harbor, arriving there just in time to join Pike's expedition against York (Toronto). It was Forsyth who led the American advance detachment in the assault."

The Capture of Ogdensburg from Canadian Reports - from http://www.napoleonseries.org/military/Warof1812/2011/Issue16/c_WaronIce...

"From the Literary Garland January 1849 - On the declaration of War, Major Genl. Isaac Brock then administrator of the Government in Upper Canada addressed the Colonels of Militia in the Eastern and other Districts calling upon them to assemble their regiments, and take the necessary steps to repel invasion. An Act was passed authorizing two companies of Each Battalion to be Embodied and to be styled the Flank Companies of the Battalion. The Stormont regiment furnished its two companies instantly; one was commanded by Captn. Philip Empy [Empey] of Cornwall. The others by Captn. William Morgan of Osnabruck. The strength of these companies was one hundred men each. When the regiment was assembled the entire battalion volunteered for six months service. As soon as it was known that two Companies only were to be formed, Every man manifested the strongest desire to be one of the "two hundred." The Selection was made from the young unmarried men and these companies were known as the "Stormont Flankers."

In the Autumn of 1812 they received orders to move to Prescott. Arriving at their post there was no barracks to Shelter them. Our cabins or Shanties were constructed by them of rough [stones or sods], roofs of plank being furnished by the Commissariat.

Lieutenant Col. Robert Lethbridge was commanding Field Officer at Prescott. When they arrived on the evening of the 3rd October, he announced to the Militia on Parade his intention to attack Ogdensburg next Morning at daylight - and accordingly on the morning of the 4th the whole force there Embarked in bateaux at the wharf and proceeded about a mile up the river before pulling across It was an ill managed business for the current carried them down in front of the Enemies batteries, whilst yet some hundred yards from the Shore and there exposed to the fire of grape and round shot, the bateaux chiefly pulled by the Militia got into confusion and rowed back to Prescott. This was not a cheering commencement but we lived on hopes of "better luck next time".

Shortly after this there seeming to be no immediate occasion for the services of the "Stormont Flankers" they were permitted to return home. Scarcely had they done so when Lieut. Col. Thomas Pearson inspecting field officer then on his way to Prescott from Montreal, ordered them back. They found the stone shanties they had erected in the possession of the Leeds Militia and put up with inferior quarters in a large stone house above the village. Col. Pearson succeeded Col. Lethbridge before the winter set in bringing with him as Staff Adjutant Lieut. George Ridge of the 8th [Foot] (or Kings Regt) a company of this regiment under Captain James Eustace, shortly after joined the garrison, which then consisted of a few Artillery men a detachment of the Royal Newfoundland Fencible Infantry Regt and Militia. Subsequently two companies of the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles reached the post from Montreal, under the command of Major Macdonell (late of the Kings) on their way up they had successfully attacked and captured Prisoners at Salmon River from a block house of the enemy in retaliation for a coup they [the Americans] had made at St. Regis, where fifty voyageurs had been surprised and made prisoners.

The Ogdensburg Garrison had frequently made raids on the Canadian Shore, annoying the inhabitants. This they had done at Brockville, Ganaoque [Gananoque] and other places. Ogdensburg had been a centre of annoyance, and our men were all anxious to give them a taste of "our quality." Our Militia too were subjected to hard drilling. The Garrison was under Arms Every morning before daylight and remained so until the pickets came in. Lieut Ridge the Staff Adjutant already referred to was a very active office and a capital drill. He selected fifty men from the "Stormont Flankers" and other militia from the Eastern District - these he joined to the detachment of the Newfoundland and had them all out on the ice in front of Prescott every day until they were perfect as light Infantry.

This Continued for some time, when on the 19th February Col. Pearson dispatched Major Macdonell with a flag of truce to Ogdensburg remonstrating with the Enemy's Commanding officer against sending merely predatory parties across the river; This officer (a Major Forsythe) [Major Benjamin Forsyth of the U.S. Rifle Regiment] in conversation expressed his desire to meet Col. Pearson with his force on the ice, Major Macdonell gave him to understand that the command at Prescott would shortly devolve upon him and he certainly would have no objection to gratify his wish.

On the 21st of February 1814 the command did devolve upon him. On that Evening Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost passed through Prescott on his way to Kingston. Being made acquainted with the wanton local aggressions of the Enemy instructed major Macdonell to "watch his opportunity" and retaliate. Sir George passed on to Kingston but the Major evidently thinking when fighting is the order of the day, no time like the present determined to gratify the Ogdensburg Major without delay but not a syllable was tittered on the Subject. On the night of the 22nd apropos the birthday of Washington everything was still in Prescott, all save the Guards and pickets - there warm under blankets, when about one o'clock a.m. the slumber of several officers was disturbed by an orderly to say they were wanted at the Commandants quarters on repairing thither, a few brief questions and instructions followed by the order to return to their quarters and have their men out before daylight "without beat of drum" was the result of the nocturnal visit. Accordingly about half past six, the garrison was under Arms.

The force disposable for attack was less than five hundred men. And was divided into two columns, one of these under the command of Captain John Jenkins consisted of his Company of Glengarry Light Infantry and two companies of Militia, one from the County of Glengarry commanding by Captain Alexander McMillan the other from the county of Dundas under Captain Michael Ault - a six pounder gun was attached to this column but there were only two Royal Artillery men with it. The other column consisted of about one hundred men of the 8th Regiment fifty of the Royal Newfoundland and two hundred Militia, the latter column at the at the hour named was formed in the main street of the village, the former on the road a short distance above the village.

At peep of day the major came to the Parade in the street and by this time Every man knew then intention was "a visit to Ogdensburg." But a short time elapsed after the Major Macdonell's appearance before the word was given "Forward" both Columns were in motion and soon on the ice, Jenkins had been directed to push over to the heights, above the old French fort and having established himself on the shore there to dispose his force to attack the enemy or cut off his retreat if he fled before the left column (which was the main body) under Macdonell himself, which moved towards the lower part of the village of Ogdensburg.

The story ran that the Enemies Sentries seeing so large a force on the ice, gave the alarm that the British were coming over; but the Yankee Major [Forsyth] did not believe the report, observing It is only that fellow Ridge drilling his men (as had been Ridge's daily practice) however a few minutes undeceived him as the columns advanced at a brisk pace, Jenkin's column got in motion first and had a shorter distance to go so that when the Enemy's fire opened he had the full benefit of the guns of the fort. Those on the Green Battery (on the point where the Lighthouse now is), being directed on the main body.

Almost the first cannon shot upset the six pounder Jenkins had with him, killing the only two royal Artillery men with it - this happened when half way over the river however on went the column and reached the shore, where an unforeseen obstacle presented itself, the snow drift on the shore had accumulated, to flounder through it - up to their middle was no easy task and Jenkins gave the Word to keep to the ice along the bank. Owing to this circumstance the men were much more exposed and the plan of operations to some extent defeated for it had been intended that the left column should get across at some distance from the Fort and attack it from above or not attacking intercept the retreat of the Enemy as circumstances might decide.

As it was Jenkins moved directly towards the fort. When within pistol shot of it he was knocked over by a grape shot which shattered his left arm on his legs again in a minute (seeing his men put out by his fall) he shouted never mind me, and ran on a few steps farther when down he went again, the right arm now shattered like its fellow. Rise again, he could not, what with this second mischance and long exposure on so open a surface, as the ice, the men in confusion began to turn back. Lieut. Macauley endeavored to restore confidence but was unsuccessful and the left column found its way back to the British shore all the time under fire of the Enemy's cannon. They carried their gallant young leader with them however.

When they reached their own shore there stood the late Bishop [Alexander] Macdonell whose courage was equal to his Loyalty - reforming them as they came in and sending them to join the main body by that time on the shore of the other side Jenkins more rapid advance had had the effect of calling most of the Enemy's attention to him, and Major Macdonell observing the left column had more than its share of the flying missiles sent forward. Lieut. Alexander MacLean (present M.P. for Stormont) of the militia to overtake Lieut. Ridge who was at the head of the column with his Newfoundlanders and Selected Militia Men - and direct him to hasten on with all speed to divert some of the Enemy's fire from the right column. The Newfoundlanders had no officer of their own corps with them being under the command of Ridge of the 8th or Kings Regiment. The officers of the half hundred Stormont and Dundas Militia attached to the Newfoundlanders were Lieuts. Daniel Burritt and Peter Fraser.

McLean came up with Ridge just as the advance approached the deep snow bank on the south side of the river And having delivered Major Macdonells orders the men pushed on with all speed but such was the depth of snow that before the men got to the road on shore they were all completely out of wind. It was necessary to call halt for a few minutes the men were got together behind a slaughter house; while in that position, two or three of the enemy's militia armed with rifles came round the corner and were made prisoners.

After taking breath, the advance was resumed. Along the river bank two a breast a fine young fellow of the Dundas Militia and McLean were the leading files. A man issued from a house ahead and taking deliberate aim fired and young Ondereack pitched forward dead, his slayer was soon rolled over in the snow well perforated and the death avenged.

On reaching the street leading to Parish's house, a number of men were seen collected at a corner and it was observed they had three pieces of artillery with them, these had been placed at that point to command different approaches. These they were endeavoring to wheel round upon the advancing British but the snow was so deep and the guns so heavy (two twelve, and one six pounder) they were slow in doing it.

Lieut. Ridge was now leading and perceiving their intentions shouted to increase speed, on they rushed like the wind for had the guns been fired they would have cleared the street - and every muscle was strained to reach them. The Enemy seemed daunted by the speed and ardor of the advance for only the six pounder was discharged its contents was only one round shot and its only damage was leaving its mark on McLean's left thigh, the guns were captured, and the one that had not been fired were turned on the retreating Enemy with effect. After which they were spiked by breaking the points of bayonets in the touch holes and hammering them down with the butts of fire locks.

The main body was by this time seen coming up rapidly along the main road and the advance having taken breath pursued the retreating Enemy towards the Black River over a hill near where the Post Office then was under the fire of the Fort and battery East of Parish's store. The Green Battery as one was styled directed its fire on the main body. The advance rushed on with the intention of storming the Battery East of Parish's Store when they observed a company of the Osnabruck Militia from the main body commanded by Capt. [William] Morgan advancing to storm it, which they did successfully. The enemy in the Green Battery, perceiving it had fallen into the hands of the British turned their guns upon it and compelled the Osnabruck people to abandon it. (Lieut. Philip P.) Empey (1st Stormont Militia - right leg amputated) and a private named Servos [Thomas Servis] has their legs carried away in the battery by round shot.

The main body by this time had come up with the field pieces, and a few shots directed at the Green Battery compelled the enemy to abandon it. Major Macdonell then dispatched an officer to summon the fort but ere he reached it, the enemy was in full retreat, over a distant eminence.

Thus fell Ogdensburg. The total British loss was eight killed and fifty two wounded. A large quantity of munitions of war fell into our hands, and eleven pieces of ordnance, among them two twelve pounders, inscribed, as having fallen into the hands of the rebels, at the surrender of General Burgoyne, in 1777. Four officers, and seventy men were made prisoners......

More than half our force engaged was militia and with the exception of about a hundred of the 8th or King's Regt were provincials, - the Glengarry Light Infantry having been raised by Bishop Macdonell, in and around Glengarry Upper Canada. As to the Royal Newfoundlanders, their name sufficiently denotes where they were raised. The Militia lost three privates killed and one Captain, three subalterns, and twenty frank and file wounded. The Officers wounded were Captain McDonell, Lieuts. Empey. MacLean and McDermid, Col. Wm. Fraser of Grenville commanded the Militia force, and the Captains, under him were McMillan, Duncan Macdonell (Greenfield), Morgan and Empey. Stormont: Jonas Jones, and William Jones, of the County of Leeds; Burritt and William Fraser, of the County of Grenville, George Merkle and John McDonell of the County of Dundas. Major Macdonell's dispatch gives an account varying somewhat from the preceding statement."

"Sketches illustrating the early settlement and history of Glengarry" By John Alexander MacDonell

"The return of killed and wounded shows: Royal Artillery, two rank and file killed; Eighth or King's Regiment, on sergeant killed, one subaltern, twelve rank and file wounded; Glengarry Light Infantry, two rank and file killed, one captain, one subalytern, three sergeants, nine rank and file wounded; Militia, nineteen wounded. The officers wounded were: King's Regiment, Ensign Powell, Glengarry Regiment Lt. Col Macdonell, Capt. Jenkins, Ensign McKay; Militia Capt. Macdonell and Lieutenants Impey, McLean and Macdonell.....The following men of the Glengarry Militia Regiments, who were wounded at the taking of Ogdensburg, received a pension of twenty pounds each: first Regiment Glengarry Militia - D McDermid, Donald Macdonell, John Macdonell, Thomas Ross."

Canadians who died from: http://www.1812heroes.ca/1/archives/03-2012/1.html

-Thomas Gordon, 22 February 1813, Ogdensburg

-Nathan Belcher, 22 February 1813, Ogdensburg

From: http://remembrance1812.org/book-of-remembrance-1813

- Nathan Bundage

- Daniel Cain

- David Gillman

Americans who I have found in records who died at Ogdensburg were:

-Jones boy - from Canton - ran through with a bayonet. Salmon Jones who was in Joshua Conkey's muster roll. Three Jones are on it, Philaster?, Harry?, and Salmon and it looks like " Died" is written next to Salmon. (Info. provided by John Austin, records at National Archives. John confirmed that Salmon was killed on the 200 block of Ford St where the arsenal was at the time.)

-Noadiah Shepard was killed at the Battle of Ogdensburg Feb. 22, 1813. He was a member of Joshua Conkey's company of artillery. His brother Nathan was there as well. They were the sons of Edward Sears Shepard and Susanna Miller Shepard. (Info. provided by John Austin, records at National Archives)

-Arnold Pratt - from Militia Roll of Capt Giles Kellog in service at Sacket's Harbor "killed in action at Ogdensburg Feb 22, 1813" (provided by Bryan Thompson - De Kalb Historian) - drummer/fifer & shoemaker from Cobleskill - musket ball through the head - was in Giles Kellog's troops.

-Mr. Hyde - see above - Militia (?no positive ID yet, there is an Ephraim Hyde early settler in Massena, also an Ephraim Hyde on 1820 census - possibly Sr & Jr? needs more research - also Hyde family in Lisbon, NY - possibly related...)

-Joseph Kneeland - from De Kalb/Richville- schoolmaster - see paragraph above - also on military rolls for Capt. Jehiel Dimock's/ Benj Forsyth's company- March 1812 - Sacket's Harbor.

From http://www.kelloggscompany1812.org/history.html

"On the 22d of February, 1813, the enemy stationed at Prescott, opposite Ogdensburg, made an attack, and during the engagement the company were defeated with a loss of every thing, except the clothing they had on and the arms they fought with. One drummer was killed, one fifer and one private were taken prisoners, one private killed and two wounded. (note from his 1813 Sacket Harbor rolls he has Arnold Pratt listed as killed at Ogdensburg Feb 23, 1813, Henry Letcher died at Ogdensburg Jan 24, 1812 and John Campbell taken prisoner Feb 23,William Elmondorf, Lt, was an officer discharged April 15, 1813) I infer that the Americans were forced to abandon the post and retreat to Sackett's Harbor, and that an officer of this company was placed under arrest. His resignation was tendered and accepted by Colonel Pike, April 15, 1813, through orders dated Sackett's Harbor, May 3, 1813.... Dr. John C. Herrick for attendance," and an itemized bill of $29.49 rendered by " Dr. W. Smith for Surgical attendance on...." Private William Youngs of the town of Carlisle. William Youngs was twenty years of age at the time of his enlistment on December 26th, 1812. The lad was stationed in Ogdensburg when that place was attacked by the enemy from Prescott. At his station during the engagement he "did perform his duty as a good and courageous soldier" until he was wounded by a musket ball in the bone of his left thigh. He was given first aid by his comrades and finally on March 3, 1813, a Dr. J. W. Smith was summoned "for chirugical attendance" William Youngs who lost his leg at Ogdensburg ". There is an itemized bill for daily visits and dressings at 50 cents per visit from March 3rd to March 7th. Evidently the wound became gangrenous for according to the bill rendered March 8th, 1813, the thigh was amputated. There were subsequent bills until March 26th for visits, dressings and medications among which were listed 1/2 quart of wine at $1.12. The total fee for the doctor's services amounted to $29.49.

Finally after being transferred to Sackett's Harbor, the Company felt that the lad was fully enough disabled to grant William Youngs a leave of absence for "the remainder part of the term of service" on July 11, 1813. He returned to his home in Carlisle, removed to Cobleskill and his last record comes from Cobleskill when he applied for a pension on April 29th, 1815.

Shortly after this engagement, February 23, 1813, the enemy stationed at Prescott across the river, made an attack. During the engagement the company was defeated with a loss of everything but clothing and the arms with which they fought. Of our men, one drummer was killed, one fifer and one private were taken prisoner, one private was killed and two were wounded. The company drummer who lost his life was young Arnold Pratt of Cobleskill. According to the inventory of his effects of March 22, 1813, he was "stationed at Ogdensburg, New York, ....... who was killed in the action at Ogdensburg the 22d of February 1813 by a musket ball through the head" ------ Among his effects are listed, 1 string Gold Beads, 1 pair Old Portmanteaux, 1 Watch......From an old account of Elijah Harlow, it appears that Ebenezer White, 1st Gunner of Sharon was one of the men killed or fatally wounded. The above Mr. Harlow of Watertown rendered a bill to Captain Kellogg for $3.50 for making a coffin and digging a grave for Ebenezer White....died (epidemic) at Watertown, May 10, 1813."

At the Battle of Ogdensburg, 52 prisoners were taken to Canada. Of these men, many were let go except for those found to be "under arms". 20 of them were taken to Montreal where 14 of them escaped. (Rogers being one) The rest were taken to Deadman's Island Prison at Halifax:

-Joshua Conkey - from Canton - went to Halifax prison, was released at the end of the war and went to Boston via ship, then he walked home to Canton. He died in 1840 and is buried at the Bridge Cemetery in Canton.

-Serg Rogers - escaped at Montreal. (There is a William Rogers in Ogdensburg, 1820 Census, could be him or relative)

-Lieut Baird (Beard)- wounded at Ogdensburg - taken prisoner to Halifax. He was wounded in the foot. See William C Beard, 2nd Lt from Md. who was mentioned above in Benjamin Forsyth's letter about the raid at Granouoque. William C. Beard, 2nd Lieutenant, 1st. Riflemen, Feb 22, 1813, Ogdensburg, NY wounded; 1st Lieutenant 1st Riflemen, June 6, 1813 Stony Creek Canada, prisoner. To be 1st. Lieutenant, 27th September, 1812 appointed Captain 1st Rifle, May 1, 1817

A Bill - FEBRUARY 16, 1836 - Granting a pension to William C. Beard, late a captain in the United States army. Be it enacted try the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby, directed to place the name of William C. Beard, late a captain in the United States army, on the invalid pension roll, at the rate of seventeen dollars per month, to commence on the first of January, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five. from: http://civilwarthosesurnames.blogspot.com/2009/12/men-who-fought-in-cana...

-Serg. Carr -Carr was taken prisoner to Halifax (there is a James Carr on Ogdensburg's 1820 census that could possibly be him.)

-Lewis Godard - Godard was from Lowville. His son was Harlow Godard who settled in Richville and his grandson was Civil War Col 60th NY Infantry Col., Abel Godard. Lewis was captured at the Battle of Ogdensburg and ended up at Deadman's Island Prison in Halifax. Note: there is also a Lewis Godard in the Provincial Light Dragoons: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~onleedsg/research-military-1812Payroll...

-Joseph York - Joseph settled with his father in Randolph Vt. At the age of 17 (1798 - he joined the Provisional Army under Lt. Nathaniel Leonard and served until the army was disbanded in 1800. He emigrated to Ogdensburg in 1805 and was deputy sheriff 3 years and sheriff 4 years. When made prisoner ....he was taken to Prescott & thence to the Johnstown jail where, through the active exertions of his wife, he was paroled. Mr. York's residence at that time was in the Ogdensburg court house, a frame building that stood on the corner of Knox & Euphemia (State) Sts."

-John Campbell - Information taken from Militia Roll of Capt. Giles Kellogg, Military Service for War 1812, service Feb 6, 1812 into service at Sacket's Harbor NY, John Campbell "Taken Prisoner at Ogdensburg Feb 22, 1813" (provided by Bryan Thompson - De Kalb Historian) -fifer - from Cobleskill

-From The History of Madrid - Gates Curtis: "George B. Allen (son of Samuel Allen), when a lad of eighteen years, enlisted in the war of 1812, under a call for troops to protect the frontier. He was enrolled at Madrid by John Blanchard on July 15, 1812, into a company under the command of Captain Castle, with headquarters at Waddington. He was in the brush with the British at the Red Mills, the details of which will be found in the history of Lisbon. The company was known as the "Floodwood," that is, a company of men each dressed in his own homespun suit or according to his own fancy, with no regular arms. He was in the battle at Ogdensburg, and when the American troops retreated he, with others, being in citizen's clothes, was ordered to remain and look after the wounded and scattered arms. He was taken prisoner three times that day and taken before the commanding officer, who, finding that he was not taken under arms, and having no evidence that he was a United States soldier, was discharged. The last time he was taken to the barracks he found them all drunk, when he managed to escape to Lisbon, and on the way collected several guns, when he took them to Heuvelton and turned them over to the quartermaster, who was there with a squad of soldiers. The next day they broke camp and started for Sackett's Harbor, and while there he enlisted in the cavalry service and was sent to Fort George. One day while out on picket duty he saw a small dog cross in front of him. He knew that meant Indians and Indians meant business, and that he or the Indian would get a sudden call to visit the happy hunting-ground. That instant he caught sight of a feather, then a head moving slowly out from behind a tree. A quick motion on his part decided the question as to who should be called, when Mr. Allen remained to tell the tale........ Mr. Allen was in the battle of Lundy's Lane, Fort George, Queenstown Heights, Fort Erie, Oswego, and many skirmishes leading up to these battles. On return of peace his company was sent down from Lewiston to Fort Covington, where they were discharged in the fall of 1815."

Letter written by Florinda Nye Huntoon - wife of Bemsley Huntoon:

Ogdensburg

Dear Brother (who lived in Berlin Vt.)

You are undoubtedly anxious to hear the particulars of the attack upon our village in addition to the four times I wrote you that day. I would inform you that I did not leave the house until the British were close to it and not till after they and shot a great number of balls into it. I took nothing with me but some money and some table spoons and ran as fast as possible with a number of other women. Our retreat was to the distance of about fifteen miles. The next day I returned and our house was plundered of almost everything and my husband a prisoner on the other side as you can easier imagine my feelings than I can describe them. They did not leave an article of clothing for myself or husband, not even a handkerchief. They took all my bedding but left the beds. They broke my looking glass and even my knives. Thus situated I determined to go over to Canada and accordingly went to a flag of truce that was in this village for permission which I obtained. I went to one of my acquaintance on the other side (whence) I was favorably received. I applied to the commanding officer for the purpose of ascertaining whether I could procure any of my clothing. He answered me that I could have them if he could find them but did not trouble himself to make any inquiry. My journey as not lost, I procured the release of my husband who was paroled and returned with me. Most of the houses in the village were plundered. There were but five men killed on our side but four taken prisoners except the inhabitants. I wish you to send me some cloth that will make a suit for my husband as well as a little calico for a gown for myself. You need not be particular my pride is at a low ebb. This request I should not make but there are no goods in the village nor even in the country. You will be astonished when I tell you that they were not content with what the Indians and soldiers could plunder during the battle, but after it was over the women on the other side cam on over and took what was left.

Note: This letter was sent to me 2/8/2011 by Michael B Fiske - Florinda and Bemsley were his 3rd great grand parents. He said:

"Florinda Nye Huntoon wrote this letter to an unnamed brother during the winter of 1812-1813, when the British troops over ran the village of Ogdensburgh, New York on the St. Lawrence River. Florinda was born 20 November 1793 in Berlin Vt., the daughter of Elkjah Nye (1768-1852) and Mary B Hubbard (1770 - ?). Beemsley was born 28 December 1787 in Unity, New Hampshire, the son of Josiah Huntoon (1758-1848) and Hannah Glidden (1763 - 1846). Florinda and Bemsley were married 5 May 1812 in Berlin, Vermont. They were married a little more than eight months when this letter was written. By 1832 Florinda and Bemsley had moved to Illinois where Bemsley established one of the first saw mills on the Chicago River, new what is now Division Street. In Chicago, he was known as Captain Bemsley, a rank he may have achieved in the NY Militia. Bemsley died Aug 22, 1864 in Green Bay Wisconsin."

Note: Bemsley Huntoon is on the 1820 Oswegatchie, NY census. His name is right next to Joseph York's on this census.

Letter written by Joseph York's wife (Lavania Foote York):

"Extract of letter, February 26, 1813:

" I did not leave the house until the British were close to it, and not till they had shot a great number of balls into it. I took nothing with me but some money, and my table spoons, and ran as fast as possible, with a number of other women; our retreat was to the distance of about 15 miles. The next day I returned; our house was plundered of almost everything, and my husband a prisoner on the other side. You can easier imagine my feelings than I can describe them. They did not leave any article of clothing, not even a handkerchief - they took all my bedding but left the beds; they broke my looking glasses and even my knives. Thus situated I determined to go over to Canada, and accordingly went to a flag of truce, which was then in this village, for permission, which I obtained. I went to one of my acquaintances on the other side (Mrs. Yates), where I was favorably received. I applied to the commanding officer for the purpose of ascertaining whether I could procure any of my clothes; he assured me that I should have them if I could find them, but did not trouble himself to make any inquiry. My journey was not lost; I procured the release of my husband, who was paroled and returned with me. Most of the houses in the village were plundered. You will be astonished when I tell you that they were not content with what the Indians and soldiers could plunder during the battle. but after it was over, the women on the other side came across and took what was left." The partisan spirit of Mr. York, which was well known to the enemy, may have rendered his house an object on which to extend their antipathies. It was reported that a company of women, under the protection of a guard, was sent over to plunder, but this rumor is scarcely credible. The following anecdote, however, is doubtless reliable. One of the provincial militia in crossing during the day, was met by a woman returning with a large mirror, which she said she had stolen from the Yankees. She had scarcely spoken, when her feet slipped on the ice, which threw her prostrate, and her ill gotten booty was lost, while boasting of her success in obtaining it."

 

Reminiscences of Ogdensburg 1749 - 1907: (Written March 26th about Ogdensburg Feb 22 attack)

"I arrived home today and proceeded to view the wreck of our village. I had heard on the road of the dreadful havoc, and which I found much exaggerated. It is true the village looks desolate and deserted, but does not bear marks of that violent outrage that I was led to anticipate.

" The windows of Mr. Parish's house, McCullom's, (Stephen - 1810 & 1820 Oswegatchie Census) Slosson's Tavern, and my house are the greatest sufferers.

" The lower force of the British entered the village near the Slaughter house, proceeded up the street to the rear of Mr.(Joseph 1820 Census) Rosseel's (attorney of George Parish) and then divided; part going up by the side of Mr. Parish's house, and the others going past Mr. Mayo's: the two met our forces (Lytle's) at Mac's corner, where the principal part of the engagement took place. When Lytle's men retreated, the enemy took our cannon, and placing it in the street, near our house, fired from there at Forsyth, breaking nearly all our windows.

" The party that attacked above the village did not exceed one hundred and fifty men and they were driven back by Forsyth: but when the village party retreated, they again rushed on them.

" Forsyth retreated up the St. Lawrence to Milye's(Millis?), and from there crossed to the Lake, and to Kelloggs, and next day proceeded to Sacketts Harbour, where he now is; and where Lytle's company are, who joined Forsyth just before his retreat.

" The loss on either side was small : we had three killed ; and they about twenty, with a good many wounded on their side, some of whom have since died: none of our citizens were killed or wounded: a soldier's child was killed in (Samuel) Tuthill's (or Tuttle?) house, by a ball which passed through. "

" Indeed so completely were our people taken by surprise that many of them were scarcely out of their beds; and the soldiers scarcely mustered before the British had possession of the place; their force did not exceed five hundred men,

from all I hear ; and ours was about the same. Mrs. Rosseel and her sister jumped out of bed, and half dressed, started in their sleigh, just as the British, who were coming up from the Slaughter house fired a charge of grape and canister shot,

which passed just over their heads : they thought they were dead enough, but proceeding, found themselves unhurt; they went as far as Kellogg' s and the second day returned home.

" Mrs. Scott remained in her house and saved her property.

Mrs. York fled and lost all. "

• February 25, 1813:

"The Documentary History of the Campaign Upon the Niagara Frontier" by Lundy's Lane Historical Society - Ernest Alexander Cruikshank

"General Dearborn to the Secretary of War - Headquarters, Albany, February 25, 1813 - Sir, - I this day received by express from Colonel Macomb the enclosed account from Major Forsyth. His known zeal for a small partisan warfare has induced me to give him repeated cautions against such measures as would probably produce such retaliating strokes as he would be unable to resist; but I fear my advice has not been fully attended to as could have been wished. He is an

excellent officer, and under suitable circumstances would be of important service.

I have requested the Governor to order General Brown out, with three or four hundred of such militia as he can soonest assemble, to join Forsyth, and I have ordered General Pike, with four hundred of his command, to proceed in sleighs by what is considered the shortest and best route to the neighborhood of Ogdensburg or Sacket's Harbor. On his arrival at Potsdam or Canton or Russia (Russia is by Herkimer. Could he have meant Russell?) he will be able to communicate with Brown or Forsyth or both, and act with them as circumstances may require.

The affair at Ogdensburg will be a fair excuse for moving troops in that direction, and by this movement it will be ascertained whether the same route will be best in future; the distance by that route from Plattsburg to Sacket's harbor is but little more than one-half of what it would be by the route proposed, and I am assured by gentlemen I can confide in that there will be no difficulty by that route.

Chauncy has not yet returned from New York. I am satisfied that if he had arrived as soon as I had expected him we might have made a stroke at Kingston, on the ice, but his presence was necessary for having the aid of seamen and marines.

From a letter received this day from Colonel Porter at Niagara, it appears that the enemy were preparing to strike at Black Rock. I can give him no assistance. American State Papers, Military Affairs, Vol. I."

• March 1, 1813:

NY Spectator:

"Extract of a letter dated Booneville, 36 miles north of Utica, March 1, 1813.

A person has just arrived from Sacket's Harbor which he left yesterday, stating that Sir George Provost with 7000 troops were in sight, on their march for that place. The whole of the militia of Jefferson and Lewis have been ordered out and we are all in confusion"

• April 13, 1813:

Reminiscences of Ogdensburg 1749 - 1907:

"April 13th, 1 81 3. "We are all quiet and peaceable at present, with the exception of an occurrence which has excited the interest of all our citizens: a few days since a detachment of fifty Dragoons and Riflemen passed through

the rear part of the county, and yesterday returned with eight of the inhabitants of Massena, as prisoners, on their way to the Harbour. Denison, Stedman, Seaton & Philips are among the number. It appears that Colonel Pike commanding at the

Harbour, issued a military warrant in blank, as to names, and sent it (by his detachment) to Richards, who was to insert the names of those to be arrested; this Richards did, and the persons were accordingly arrested.

" Their crime is stated to be ' unauthorized intercourse with the enemy/ or in other words, smuggling.

" This order of Colonel Pike is considered a high-handed outrage against the Liberty of the citizen, and a gross attempt at military despotism. They may as well proclaim martial law at once, and do away with all civic rights; no man is safe who will not do homage to the noble Colonel and his worthy coadjutor Richards.

" If these men had violated the laws, an appeal to them, would have punished them, and is the only tribunal to which they are subject; but it appears that the Colonel is determined to hang them by court martial. "

• April 15, 1813:

The village of Ogdensburg, named for Mr. Ogden, was incorporated April 15th, 1813.

• April 27, 1813: June 1813 - Battles of York (Toronto), Ft. George & Ft. Erie:

John Lytle's obituary said they were also at the Battle of York (Toronto - April 1813) and the battle of Ft. George (May 1813) and first battle of Ft. Erie (June 1813). They would be back for the Siege of Ft. Erie in 1814.

On April 27, 1813 Zebulon Pike was killed at the Battle of York.

• April 22, 1813:

Plattsburgh Republican May 7, 1813 - Albany Argus:

"From Sacket's Harbor - On the 22nd, or squadron sailed from Sacket's Harbor, under Com. Chauncey, about two thousand troops, consisting of the 15th and 16th Regiments infantry, the Albany and Baltimore Volunteers & some other companies of M'Clures Regt. and Forsyth's Riflemen. General Dearborn, Gen. Pike, Col. Pierce & c. embarked with the troops. Owing to the ice driving into the mouth of the harbor, the squadron put back on Friday and sailed again on Saturday. The destination of this force is unknown, but generally believed to be Little York, near the head of Lake Ontario, with a view to cooperate with Gen. (Morgan) Lewis on the Niagara river to destroy the enemy's marine force at York (Toronto)."

More on George McClures: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=28730506

More on Morgan Lewis: http://www.nndb.com/people/973/000051820/

• May 5, 1813:

The New York and Vermont militias were called out to provide border protection north of Champlain, NY while Dearborn's army was at Sackets Harbor on Lake Ontario. Captain Oliver Herrick arrived in Champlain on May 5 with a company of Vermont and New Hampshire volunteers. Herrick's men were in Champlain for less than one month.

A little more about Oliver Herrick (1782 - 1852) :

Capt. Oliver Herrick's Company from Lewiston, Maine. He and his men served on Lake Champlain during the war. After he was a Representative and Senator in the state legislature.

• May 29, 1813 - 2nd Battle of Sackets Harbor:

The Columbian - War 1812 Sacket's Harbor - Horse Island:

"Extract of a letter from Brigadier-General Jacob Brown to his Excellency Gov. Thompkins dated Sackets Harbor, May 29 (Daniel D. Thompkins was governor of New York from 1807-1817 and the vice president of the United States during the two terms of James Monroe from 1817-1825) -We were attacked at the dawn of this cay, by a British regular force, of at least nine hundred men, most probably 1200. They made good their landing at Horse Island. The enemy's fleet consisted of two ships and four schooners, and thirty large open boats. We are completely victorious. The enemy lost a considerable number of killed and wounded on the field, among the number, sever officers of distinction. After having re-embarked, they sent me a flag, desiring to have their killed and wounded attended to. I made them satisfied on that subject. Americans will be distinguished for humanity and bravery. Our loss is not numerous, but serious, from the great worth of those who have fallen. Colonel Mills was shot dead at the commencement of the action; Col Backus of the 1st Reg. light dragoons, notably fell at the head of his regiment as victory was declaring for us. I will not presume to praise this regiment; their gallant conduct on this day merits much more than praise. The hew ship and commodore Chauncey's prize, the Duke of Gloucester is yet safe in Sacket's Harbor. Sir George Prevost landed and commanded in Person. Sir Jame Yeo commanded the enemy's fleet. In haste Yours, Jacob Brown"

June 2- 3, 1813:

On June 2, the Growler and the Eagle led by Lt. Sidney Smith anchored near Rouse's Point. the following morning they pursued British gunboats into the Richelieu River (in Quebec at the north end of the Lake) were forced to surrender after the wind dropped and they were trapped. A fight kept up for four hours. the Eagle was hit below waterline and she went down. Then the Growler ran ashore. People on both vessels were made prisoners. Americans had one killed and 19 wounded. The British captured the sloops, refitted them and named them the Finch and the Chubb. Mcdonough then recaptured them at Plattsburgh the following year. The British captured the sloops and used them to raid settlements around Lake Champlain. All 41 soldiers of Herrick’s company became prisoners of war. (probably Smith and Herrick as well)

A little bit more about Sidney Smith:

Sidney Smith was ordered to Lake Champlain in 1810 where he commanded until the arrival of Macdonough who outranked him. He died in 1827.

• July 1, 1813:

"American State Papers: Documents, Legislative and Executive - Part 5, Volume 1" - US Congress:

"US Ship Madison, Sacket's Harbor, July 4, 1813 - To The Honorable William Jones, Secretary of the Navy, Washington - Sir: On the 1st instance I caused Mr. Samuel Stacey to be apprehended as a spy. Mr. Stacey lives upon the St. Lawrence, a few miles below Ogdensburg, and I have the most positive information that he has been in the habit of conveying information to the enemy for many months. He visited this place a few days before the British made the attack on the 29th of May, and I have o doubt but that he is the person that gave the information that most of the troops had been sent to Niagara. I had information from the person that I employ on the other side that this man would visit the Harbor about the last of June. He was accordingly watched. When he left Ogdensburg, he said he was going to Utica upon important business. He told others that he was going into the Western country to collect money, instead of which, he came to the Harbor, without any ostensible business, and made a great many inquiries respecting the fleet; when they should sail? and the force of the new ship? & .c &c. I therefore thought it my duty to detain this man for trial. I can prove his frequent intercourse with the enemy. At any rate I shall deprive the

enemy of the information which he could have conveyed to him, which is all important at this time.

It would be very desirable to hang this traitor to his country, as he is considered respectable in the country in which he lives; and I think that it is full time to make an example of some of our countrymen, who are so base and degenerate as to betray their country by becoming spies and informers of our enemy. I hope the steps which I have taken, with respect to Mr. Stacey, will meet with your approbation. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, Isaac Chauncey."

More on Samuel Stacey (Stacy) - 1810 Madrid Census, once owned Croil's Island in Louisville NY 1826-29

more on this case - use of "Writ of Habeas Corpus"...military did not have the right to try a civilian: http://books.google.com/books?id=Fos4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA267&lpg=PA267&dq=Samu...

• July 4, 1813:

Major General Wade Hampton took command of the American troops around Lake Champlain in July days before General Dearborn was relieved of command of the northern troops. Secretary of War, Armstrong was devising a new plan to invade Canada which you will read about below in which Hampton had misgivings. His troops were encamped at Burlington Vermont at the time and were ill prepared. Plattsburgh, NY was then a forward base.

A little bit about General Wade Hampton II (1791 - 1858):

Son of General Wade Hampton I, Father of Wade Hampton II who was with Jackson in New Orleans and Grand of Confederate Cavalry General Wade Hampton III, he was born wealthy southern plantation owner from Columbia, SC. Hampton despised Major General James Wilkinson who commanded the division from Sacket's Harbor and who had a reputation for corruption and treacherous dealings. The two men, where senior generals after the effective retirement of Dearborn, had been feuding with each other for years.

• July 8, 1813:

Maj. General Henry Dearborn was withdrawn from command of the northern army.

• July 29 - Aug 4, 1813:

On July 29 British forces based at Isle aux Noix with a force of 1400 men under Lt. Col. John Murry set out on a raid. They arrived at Chazy Landing on July 30th where stores were burned. On the 31st they reached Plattsburgh where they destroyed an arsenal, armory, bock house, hospital and private residences were looted. Word for help was sent to General Wade Hampton who was in Burlington at the time but he failed to help. Then the British turned their efforts to attacks on Vermont. Several vessels and one American ship was destroyed before the British turned back to the Isle aux Noix. American naval commander, Lieutenant Thomas Macdonough, was unable to construct a flotilla of gunboats to counter the British vessels until late August. At a shipyard in Otter Creek at Vergennes, Vt, Mcdonough had a corvette called the Saratoga and a new sloop also called the Eagle and sever gunboats constructed.

A little bit about Thomas Macdonough (1783-1825):

Thomas Macdonough's father was also named Thomas, a Revolutionary War soldier. Thomas Jr. was born in Middletown Delaware . He joined the US Navy at the age of 16 and served in the Barbary Wars as well as the War of 1812. On July 24th he was promoted to Master Commandant. He is best known for his victory at Plattsburgh.

• August 5, 1813

"The History of St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties" Franklin Hough:

A plan was put into place to bring two American forces to bare upon Canada. One to be led by General James Wilkinson who arrived at Sacket's Harbor during the end of August. The other by General Wade Hampton by way of Lake Champlain. This would be the beginning of a failed attempt by the United States to conquer Canada. The secretary of war, Armstrong, with Generals Wilkinson, Lewis and Brown decided not to make Kingston the first point of attack. They devised a plan to capture Montreal. Two divisions were involved. One would descend the St. Lawrence river from Sacket's Harbor. The other would advance north from Plattsburgh to Montreal along Lake Champlain with the two forces uniting for the final push on Montreal.

• Fall of 1813 - Lisbon:

"The History of St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties " by Franklin Hough:

"A company of some sixty dragoons had been stationed for some time in the fall of 1813, at the house of Peter Wells (on 1810 - 1840 Lisbon Census, buried at Red Mills Cemetery), four or five miles back from the river on the road to Canton. About thirteen of these had come to "the mills" and were stopping at an inn kept by one Scott. (Joseph Scott on Lisbon census 1810 - 1830, buried at Campbell Cemetery) A sufficient guard of sentries was stationed around the house, but during the night a party of two hundred men from Canada, having landed at Tibbets' (John and John Tibbets Jr. on Lisbon 1800 - 1810 Census) Point about midnight, surprised the sentinels and surrounded the house, where the dragoons were supposed to be, but not until several of them had escaped. One named Smith was shot, and another one, Mercer, was wounded. The latter was brutally stabbed several times after resistance ceased, and he was left for dead, but subsequently recovered. Two dragoons, Scott and his son, and all of the horses that could be found, were taken to Canada. It is said that these dragoons made a very gallant resistance, and that it was found impossible to take Smith and Mercer alive."

• September 6, 1813:

"The Memoires of Joseph Gardner Swift" (Sackets Harbor)

"On 6th September my assistants, Lieutenant James Gadsden and Lieutenant R. E. De Russy arrived, and commenced a reconnoitre of the waters of the bays and the approach to the St. Lawrence.

General Wilkinson's headquarters was the daily point of assembling the staff, and of conference on the duties that were opening the campaign at this time. On 5th September General Armstrong was escorted, as Secretary of War, into the cantonment, the interview at headquarters being too formal for that ease which is desirable for the interchange of opinion among chieftains. I was invited by the Secretary of War to accompany himself and General Brown, mounted, to the battle ground where Colonel Backus fell in the moment of victory, and where General Brown won the commission he now wears by his timely arrival in the action at the head of a band of militia. A line of our troops extending from the

block-house at the harbor toward the lake shore, south-east of Horse Island, the point where the British troops landed and made the assault, General Brown's militia arriving through the woods in the rear of Colonel (Electus) Backus' left flank and thus assailing the enemy on his right flank, which caused the halt and precipitate retreat of the enemy, and thus the winning of the day by Brown.

I was now joined by Brevet-Major (Joseph Gilbert) Totten as my first assistant engineer, and, with General R. (Robert) Swartwout, examined the stores of the quartermaster- general's department. At headquarters I observed an inactivity that, as it seemed to me, arose from some doubts as to who was in command. General Armstrong or General Wilkinson. In my occasional excursions with these gentlemen I observed that they did not ride at the same time. In my interviews with General Wilkinson his expressions implied a strong dislike of the interference of the War Department, and in fact the presence of the Secretary did lessen the influence of General Wilkinson. The contemplated junction with Hampton was a subject of discourse, and General Wilkinson indulged in a too public expression of his dislike to General Hampton, which, on one occasion gave me a fair opportunity of saying to General Wilkinson that his remarks tended to revive the feuds and party feelings of the army that had been described before the court martial at Fredericktown in 1811."

More on Electus Backus - http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15485124

More on Joseph Gilbert Trotten: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5840482

• September 19, 1813:

Wade Hampton moved by river from Burlington to Plattsburgh, escorted by Macdonough's gunboats. He also made a reconnaissance in force towards Odelltown, Quebec on the direct route north from Lake Champlain. He found that the British forces were too strong. The garrison of sloops and gunboats at Ile aux Noix numbered about 900 and there were other outposts and light troops in the area so Hampton's force marched west instead to Four Corners, (Chateaugay, NY) on the Chateauguay River.

"Historical Sketches of Franklin County and Several Towns" - Frederick Seavers:

"This block house was situate on the west side of the road, about three-quarters of a mile north of the Four Corners, and not far from Marble river. Captain David Erwin's company was stationed at it for a time. Afterward another block house, called Fort Hickory, was built in the northeastern part of the town, and in it Samuel Hollenbeek alone stood off a party of Canadians who attempted its capture. In the late summer of 1813 General Hampton arrived with an army of several thousand men, who camped on the ground now bounded by the railroad on the south and by Depot Street on the east; at a point on the Johnston farm, about forty rods north of the Catholic church; and in the vicinities of the two block houses. During this period there was a skirmish with British invaders or raiders on the Coonley farm, now almost in the heart of the village, in which the enemy was driven off. Six Americans are said to have been killed, while the British loss is unknown. Local tradition attributes the attack to a purpose to draw the Americans into an ambush in Canada. It was from Chateaugay that General Hampton invaded Canada, only to be humiliatingly defeated by a greatly inferior force, and shamefully driven back to his encampments. After his criminal withdrawal of his army from Chateaugay to Plattsburgh in the autumn of 1813, in practical desertion of General Wilkinson, with whom it had been planned that he should operate against Montreal, other smaller bodies of troops occupied Chateaugay from time to time (a detachment from General Wilkinson's army under Colonel Bissell comprising one of them) until evacuation in February, 1814, when the British poured in for a day or two - proceeding east as far as Marble river, and seizing a good deal of private property as well as military stores that had been abandoned by the Americans. Not a little of the private belongings so taken was rum. Sickness had prevailed to an alarming degree in General Hampton's army, something like fifty soldiers were buried near the lot on which Thomas Eaton now lives on Depot Street, and perhaps an equal or a larger number on the Johnston farm. The gruesome work of burial was performed by John Day. The block house near Marble river was burned at about the close of the war, supposedly set on fire by a Canadian."

• September 30/October 1, 1813:

First Skirmish at Odelltown, Quebec (north of Rouses Point, NY) - A small party of American militia attacked Odelltown and surprised a picket guard. Although a minor skirmish, Major General Wade Hampton abandoned his plan to invade Lower Canada along the Richelieu River and retreated to the village of Four Corners (Chateaugay, NY) on the Upper Chateaguay River in New York.

• October 1813:

The History of St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties" Franklin Hough and :

"In October, 1813 some six or eight bateau laden with merchandise, and owned in Kingston and Toronto, were passing along up the river, under the Canadian shore, and were moored for the night, not far from opposite the head of Ogden's Island, when they were surprised, while most of the crews were sleeping, and captured without resistance. This expedition was planned and executed mostly under the direction of Benjamin Richards, of Hamilton (Waddington) acting under a letter of marque and assisted by a volunteer party of citizens. A part of the captured goods were stored in a warehouse in the village, and the cloths and lighter articles were taken to Madrid (Columbia village) and in other parts of the town for greater security. Soon after Gen. Wilkinson with his army had passed, Col.(Joseph Wanton - led the British at Crysler's Farm) Morrison of the army which hung upon the rear of the Americans, stopped at the village, landed a part of his force and demanded surrender of the merchandise. No resistance could of course be offered or attempted, and he was proceeding to take what might be found of the property. While engaged in this, he heard a cannonade below, which made him impatient of delay, and he hastily spiked a 6 pound cannon which he found in the village, and ordered the goods and building in which they were to be set on fire. The day was beautifully dry and sunny, and the building, if burned, must have consumed a considerable part of the village. The principal citizens begged of the commanding officer of the enemy to consider this, and succeeded in getting the order countermanded under the stipulation that all the goods in the village which had been captured should be the next day landed on the Canada shore.

This agreement was fulfilled, but the portions which had been sent back to the Grass River were still in the hands of the captors. Some barracks belonging to the village of Hamilton, and which have been used by detachments of troops, were burned."

Note: I found an Alexander Richards in Waddington, NY buried at Brookside Cemetery http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~stlawgen/CEMETERY/Broo...

"History of Waddington: Gates Curtis:

"In the latter part of 1803 Alexander Richards became agent for the proprietors in place of Judge Edsall, and in 1803-4 a small grist mill and saw mill were built on the village site, the water being turned into a race by a wing dam."

• October 5, 1813:

Tecumseh, the Shawnee leader, was killed in the Battle of the Thames, also known as the Battle of Moraviantown, Chatham, Ontario. This battle was led by William Henry Harrison. Tecumseh was killed by the troops of Richard Mentor Johnson (also wounded), and perhaps at the hand of William Whitley.

• October 8, 1813:

"The Memoires of Joseph Gardner Swift"

"Whatever may have been the influence of General Armstrong's presence

there was no increase in the activity of preparation to move the army,

which condition of things continued until the 8th October, when a sudden

council of war was called and I was questioned as to my opinion of

attacking Kingston. My reply was that I would not attack that place at all

if the army was ready to move down the St. Lawrence, but if not ready,

that Kingston might be surprised and the public stores burned in a couple

of days by one thousand men, if my intelligence was to be relied on, as I

believed it was.

On the same day I presented Mr. D. B. Douglass with letters from the

War Department, informing him that the Secretary of War had acceded to

my request to appoint him second lieutenant of engineers, and that he

would repair to West Point for duty at the Military Academy, and by him I

sent supplies to my family at Brooklyn."

• October 11, 1813:

"The History of St. Lawrence County" L. H. Everts:

"In the fall of 1813, Col. Luckett, with regiment of dragoons, forming a part of the regular services was sent in advance of the army of General Wilkinson, to examine the country and report. He is believed to have been instructed to make a demonstration that would create alarm to the enemy or lead to an attack. On the day of his arrival, Oct. 11, 1813, the town (Ogdensburg) was filled with people, who had come to attend court, which was to commence its session on the following day. It was secretly reported the same evening.....that there would be a flurry next day, the meaning of which in due time became apparent. The court met and had begun business, Benjamin Raymond (Potsdam's founder) presiding as judge, assisted by Daniel W. Church (Morristown) and John Tibbits (Lisbon), assistant justices. The grand jury had received their charge and retired, and a case was being tried when a cannonade was heard from the fort at Prescott, which led to much uneasiness, and after a little discussion, the session of the court was interrupted for the day by the withdrawing of a juror, and the room was hastily evacuated. The grand jury also hearing the cannonade, adjourned for the day and left the house. Their room was above the court-room, in what ...(became) the Masonic Hall. In passing out the room was hardly cleared, and the last person of the number in the door, when a 24 pound shot entered the room, shattering an end beam and lodging in the partition beyond. Fortunately no one was injured by the cannonade, but some damage was done to houses. "

A little bit about General James Wilkinson:

He was born in Benedict, Md. in 1757 and died in 1825 in Mexico City. James Wilkinson served in the Revolutionary War. Later in the late 1700s he served in Indian Wars. During the War of 1812 Wilkinson engaged in two failed campaigns including the Battle of Crysler's Farm and the Battle of LaColle Mills, ON. Known to have a drinking problem, he faced a court marshal cleared by a military inquiry. Years after his death he was found to be a spy for the Spanish government. One wonders what his relationship might have been with the Bonapartes. Napoleon's elder brother Joseph was king of Naples and Sicily from 1806-1808 and King of Spain between 1808 and 1813. He lived in the United States from 1817 - 1832 in Philadelphia, New Jersey and Natural Bridge, NY. This could be another research project for another time.

 

From http://www.warof1812.ca/stlawrence1812.htm:

"This belief was further encouraged by the arrival of 180 troopers of the 1st US Dragoons in Ogdensburg on October 11th. Pearson’s response to the presence of dragoons across the river was a sharp cannonade of Ogdensburg. To avoid further alarming the enemy, Colonel Luckett and his dragoons retired from the town to the back country. The dragoons were then distributed in small parties along the river for the purpose of examining the country and preventing the British from obtaining information and supplies from that side of the river."

Note: Maybe Nelson Luckett with the 1st Light Dragoons.

• October 16, 1812:

From http://www.warof1812.ca/stlawrence1812.htm:

"Learning that one of these parties was stationed eight miles downriver at Red Mills, NY, Pearson ordered Major Cockburn and a detachment of Canadian Regiment to capture it. In a letter dated October 17th, Cockburn described the enterprise in detail:

I have the honor to inform you that in compliance with your instructions I left this place about ten o’clock last night and proceeded with a detachment of the Canadian Regiment to the Red Mills (Lisbon - across from Galop Island formerly called Isle au Gallaup ) where I succeeded in capturing a piquet of the enemy’s dragoons consisting of one lieutenant and seven privates. I also brought away with me nine horses with their bridles and saddles, &c. Owing to the folly of the enemy in firing upon us from the house in which he was posted one of his sergeants and one private was killed and one private was badly wounded."

The History of Madrid - Gates Curtis:

"George B. Allen (son of Samuel Allen), when a lad of eighteen years, enlisted in the war of 1812, under a call for troops to protect the frontier. He was enrolled at Madrid by John Blanchard on July 15, 1812, into a company under the command of Captain Castle, with headquarters at Waddington (Wm. Castle Madrid 1810 census). He was in the brush with the British at the Red Mills, the details of which will be found in the history of Lisbon..... ( During the fall of 1813 a company of about sixty dragoons were established at the house of Peter Wells, four or five miles back from the river on the Canton road. About a dozen of these rode out to Galloupville (Red Mills), stopped at Scott's hotel and placed several sentries around the house. During the night a party of 200 men from Canada landed on Tibbets's Point, came down and surprised the sentinels and surrounded the house. It is said that the dragoons made a very gallant resistance, but were over- powered by the unequal numbers. During the melee several escaped to the woods. One named Smith was shot and another named Mercer was wounded and brutally stabbed with bayonets several times after resistance ceased, and he was left for dead, but subsequently recovered; it was found impossible for the British to take Smith and Mercer alive. Two dragoons, Scott, the landlord, and his son, and all the horses that that could be found were taken to Canada......) The company was known as the "Floodwood," that is, a company of men each dressed in his own homespun suit or according to his own fancy, with no regular arms. He was in the battle at Ogdensburg, and when the American troops retreated he, with others, being in citizen's clothes, was ordered to remain and look after the wounded and scattered arms. He was taken prisoner three times that day and taken before the commanding officer, who, finding that he was not taken under arms, and having no evidence that he was a United States soldier, was discharged. The last time he was taken to the barracks he found them all drunk, when he managed to escape to Lisbon, and on the way collected several guns, when he took them to Heuvelton and turned them over to the quartermaster, who was there with a squad of soldiers. The next day they broke camp and started for Sacket's Harbor, and while there he enlisted in the cavalry service and was sent to Fort George. One day while out on picket duty he saw a small dog cross in front of him. He knew that meant Indians and Indians meant business, and that he or the Indian would get a sudden call to visit the happy hunting-ground. That instant he caught sight of a feather, then a head moving slowly out from behind a tree. A quick motion on his part decided the question as to who should be called, when Mr. Allen remained to tell the tale.......... Mr. Allen was in the battle of Lundy's Lane, Fort George, Queenstown Heights, Fort Erie, Oswego, and many skirmishes leading up to these battles. On return of peace his company was sent down from Lewiston to Fort Covington, where they were discharged in the fall of 1815."

Wikipedia:

"Hampton had already submitted his resignation the day before the battle of Chateauguay, in his reply to Armstrong's letter of 16 October. He was not employed again in the field."

If he resigned before the skirmishes at Chateaugay, that says much about the man. I don't know if this is a correct date or not as I have not been able to confirm October 16th.

Interesting in other web sites I see that he Resigned April 6, 1814. Here is a web site about his family: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~msissaq2/hampton.html

• October 18, 1813:

Wikipedia:

"Hampton's force waited at Four Corners (Chateaugay, NY) until 18 October. Hampton was concerned that the delay was depleting his supplies and giving the British time to muster forces against him. Hearing from Armstrong that Wilkinson's force was "almost" ready to set out, he began advancing down the Chateauguay River. A brigade of 1,400 New York militia refused to cross the frontier into Canada, leaving Hampton with two brigades of regulars numbering about 2,600 in total, 200 mounted troops and 10 field guns. Large numbers of loaded wagons accompanied the force. Hampton's advance was slowed because the bridges across every stream had been destroyed and trees had been felled across the roads (which themselves were little more than tracks)."

• October 19, 1813:

"The Memoires of Joseph Gardner Swift"

"Up to 19th October heard no more of an assault upon Kingston, on which day General Wilkinson directed me, with Brevet-Major Totten, to reconnoitre the St. Lawrence river in the vicinity of Prescott, and plan an attack upon that post, and to sound the river with a view to a rapid passage

down the river."

• October 20, 1813:

"The Memoires of Joseph Gardner Swift"

"On 20th Major Totten and myself were on our way as far as Brownsville, leaving my military cloak in the care of Lieutenant Beverly Randolph, aid-de-camp to General Lewis, and also some books." After deciding in earlier October at Sackets Harbor with Generals Armstrong, Wilkinson, Lewis and Brown not to invade Kingston as the first point of attack for the Canadian invasion, General Brown's brigade set out down the St. Lawrence River to begin the attempt to capture ontreal."History of St. Lawrence County, New York" Everts:" The following account of the progress of the expedition down the St. Lawrence is derived from the journal of Dr. Amasa Towbridge, of Watertown (who attended in a professional capacity), and occasionally from the published diary of Gen. Wilkinson:

"On the 20th Gen. Brown's brigade, with the light and heavy artillery, embarked and proceeded down the St. Lawrence, the entrance of which was about six miles from Bason Harbor and arrived at French Creek (Clayton) the same evening." see Oct 31..."

• October 21, 1813:

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

"In the mean time Hampton, pursuant to Wilkinson’s orders, moved down the Chateaugay toward the St. Lawrence for the purpose of forming a junction with Wilkinson from above. He found a forest ten or twelve miles in extent along the river in the line of his march, in which the vigilant and active De Salaberry had felled trees across the obscure road, and placed Indians and light troops to dispute the passage of the Americans. General George Izard (Hampton's second in command) was at once sent out with light troops to gain the rear of these woods, and seize the Canadian settlements on the Chateaugay in the open country beyond, while the remainder of the army made a circuit in an opposite direction, and avoided the obstructed forest altogether. The movement was successful, and on the following day..."

 

October 22, 1813:

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

.... a greater portion of the army encamped at Spear’s, near the confluence of the Outard Creek and the Chateaugay River. It was an eligible position, and there Hampton remained until the stores and artillery came up on the 24th."

Chateaugay Record 1938:

"....To the east of Chateaugay was assembled another American army under General Wade Hampton but Hampton promptly said that he would not serve under Wilkinson and there were further delays. Finally late in October a plan was devised satisfactory to all. General Wilkinson was to lead his 3,800 men Eastward from Sackets Harbor and General Hampton, satisfied that he had a separate command, was to come Westward along the St. Lawrence and meet Wilkinson at Isle Perrot. The two armies would move upon Montreal.

 

The plan itself was carefully enough devised and the Americans had a formidable force of men and arms. But General Wilkinson and General Hampton were overly cautious, far from alert and not too well schooled in campaigning in such forbidding land as the St. Lawrence and Franklin counties offered at that time. Hampton particularly handled his part of the campaign incompetently. Only a few miles from Chateaugay Four Corners he came face to face with a small band of French Canadian soldiers under the leadership of Colonel De La Salaberry. This was on October 22, 1813. From 10 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon they fought , and so savagely did De La Salaberry's 380 Canadians attack that they routed Hampton 4,000 American troops. The Americans fled disorderly back to Chateaugay and a week later retired to Plattsburgh.

In the meantime Wilkinson and his troops were slowly pushing down the St. Lawrence. They were blissfully ignorant of the misfortune that had befallen General Hampton and his men...."

• October 23, 1813:

"The Memoires of Joseph Gardner Swift"

"On 23d, near Oswagatchie, met Colonel Sackett of the United States dragoons at

the Bend, and with him arranged to be furnished with escort, and thence

we proceeded to Ogdensburg and Morristown, opposite Brockville, in

Canada. We here met Arnold Smith, who, with Mr. York of Ogdensburg,

gave us much assistance."

"Genealogical and Family History of Northern New York - Vol 2" by William Richard Cutter:

"Arnold Smith was born in Providence RI and died in 1850 in Hammond, New York.......came to New York state when a young man and became a hotelkeeper, having establishments at different times in Morristown, Rossie and Hammond..."

• October 25, 1813:

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

'Immediately in front of the army at Spear’s was an open country, seven miles along the river, to Johnson’s, where another extensive forest lay in the way. These woods had been formed into abatis, covering log breastworks and a log block-house. On the latter were some pieces of ordnance. In front of these defenses were Indians and a light corps of Beauharnais militia, and behind them, under the immediate command of Lieutenant Colonel De Salaberry, was the remainder of the disposable force of the enemy, charged with the duty of guarding a ford at a small rapid in the river, and keeping open communication with the St. Lawrence. De Salaberry’s force was almost a thousand strong, and Sir George Prevost and General De Wattville were within bugle call with more troops.

Hampton determined to dislodge De Salaberry, take possession of his really stronghold, and keep it until he should hear from Wilkinson, from whom no tidings had been received for several days. He was informed of the ford opposite the lower flank of the enemy, and on the evening of the 25th he detached Colonel (Robert James) Purdy, of the Fourth Infantry, and the light troops of Boyd’s brigade, to force the ford, (to cross to the south bank of the Chateauguay, circle round the British position and outflank it) by capturing the ford at dawn and fall upon the British rear at dawn. The crack of Purdy’s musketry was to be the signal for the main body of the Americans to attack the enemy’s front. But the whole movement was foiled by the ignorance of the guides and the darkness of the night. Purdy crossed the river near the camp, lost his way in a hemlock swamp, and could neither find the ford nor the place from which he started. His troops wandered about all night, and different corps would sometimes meet, and excite mutual alarm by the supposition that they had encountered an enemy. In the morning Purdy extricated his command from the swamp labyrinth, and, within half a mile of the ford, halted and gave them permission to rest, for they were excessively fatigued. In the mean time Hampton put three thousand five hundred of his army in motion, under General (George) Izard (his second brigade under Brigadier General George Izard attacked from the front) expecting every moment to hear Purdy’s guns; but they were silent. The forenoon wore away; meridian was past; and at two o’clock Izard was ordered to move forward to the attack. Firing immediately commenced, and the enemy’s pickets were driven in. The gallant De Salaberry came out with about three hundred Canadian fencibles and voltigeurs, and a few Abenake Indians, but Izard’s overwhelming numbers pressed him back to his entrenchments.

Firing was now heard on the other side of the river. Purdy, who seems to have neglected to post pickets or sentinels, had been surprised by a small detachment of chasseurs and Canadian militia, who gained his rear. His troops, utterly disconcerted, fled to the river. Several officers and men swam across, bearing to General Hampton alarming accounts of the great number of the enemy on the other side of the stream. That enemy, instead of being formidable, had fled after his first fire, and the ludicrous scene was presented of frightened belligerents running away from each other. All was confusion; and detachments of Purdy’s scattered men, mistaking each other for enemies in the dark swamp, had a spirited engagement. The only sad fruit of the blunder was the death of one man.

De Salaberry had perceived that superior numbers might easily outflank him, and he resorted to stratagem. He posted buglers at some distance from each other, and when some concealed provincial militia opened fire almost upon Hampton’s flank, these buglers simultaneously sounded a charge. Hampton was alarmed. From the seeming extent of the British line as indicated by the buglers, he supposed a heavy force was about to fall upon his front and flank. He immediately sounded a retreat, and withdrew from the field. The enemy in a body did not venture to follow, but the Canadian militia harassed the army as it fell slowly back to its old quarters at Chateaugay Four Corners, where its inglorious campaign ended...Americans lost about fifteen killed and twenty-three wounded. The British lost five killed, sixteen wounded, and four missing."

Wikipedia - Battle of Chateaugay:

" After Purdy set off, Hampton received a letter from Armstrong, dated 16 October, informing him that Armstrong himself was relinquishing overall command of the combined American forces, leaving Wilkinson in charge. Hampton was also ordered to construct winter quarters for 10,000 men on the Saint Lawrence. Hampton interpreted this instruction to mean that there would be no attack on Montreal that year and the entire campaign was pointless. He would probably have retreated immediately, except that Purdy would then have been left isolated." British marine scouts were out among the Thousand Islands; and when, on the afternoon of the 1st of November, they discovered Brown at French Creek, two brigs, two schooners, and eight gun-boats, filled with infantry, were out and ready to bear down upon him. They did so at about sunset of the same day. Fortunately Brown had planted a battery of three 18-pounders on Bartlett’s Point, a high wooded bluff on the western shore of French Creek, at its mouth, under the command of Captain M‘Pherson, of the light artillery. This battery, from its elevation, was very effective, and it was served so skillfully that the enemy were driven away after some cannonading. "

More about Charles-Michael D'Irumberry de Salaberry:

http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?id_nbr=2930&PHPSESSID=bsirvk...

• October 29, 1813:

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

"The troops remained encamped on Grenadier Island until the 1st of November, except General Brown’s brigade, some light troops, and heavy artillery, which went down the St. Lawrence on the 29th, and took post at French Creek (Clayton). ...Storm followed storm on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence. Snow fell to the depth of ten inches, and the troops collected by Wilkinson on Grenadier Island suffered much. The season was too far advanced – a Canadian winter was too near – to allow delays on account of weather, and General Brown and his division moved forward, in the face of the tempest and of great peril, on the 29th of October. They landed at French Creek, and took post in a thick wood about half a mile up from the present village of Clayton. Chauncey in the mean time attempted to blockade the enemy in Kingston Harbor, or at least to prevent his going down the river either to pursue the Americans or to take possession of and fortify the important old military post at the head of Carleton Island, just below Cape Vincent. But Chauncey’s blockade was ineffectual.”

• October 31, 1813:

"History of St. Lawrence County, New York" Everts

...continued.... "On October 31st orders were issued directing the remainder of the army to follow, but a severe storm prevented the embarkations...."

"The Memoires of Joseph Gardner Swift"

By 31st October I had procured a plan of Fort

Prescott and sounded the channel of the river, and sent my plan of attack

to General Wilkinson by express, whose reply was that he should enter the river with his force by 3d November.

• November 1, 1813:

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

British marine scouts were out among the Thousand Islands; and when, on the afternoon of the 1st of November, they discovered Brown at French Creek, two brigs, two schooners, and eight gun-boats, filled with infantry, were out and ready to bear down upon him. They did so at about sunset of the same day. Fortunately Brown had planted a battery of three 18-pounders on Bartlett’s Point, a high wooded bluff on the western shore of French Creek, at its mouth, under the command of Captain M‘Pherson, of the light artillery. This battery, from its elevation, was very effective, and it was served so skillfully that the enemy were driven away after some cannonading.

• November 2, 1813

"History of St. Lawrence County, New York" Everts

"The winds continued unfavorable until November 2, when the whole embarked and arrived at Cape Vincent, nine miles the same day and encamped. Gen. Brown with the van of the expedition had been attacked by the enemy's armed schooner and gun-boats, but were repulsed with loss, and were compelled to move up the river, and take a position eight miles below Cape Vincent. In the evening, about ten o'clock, Com. Chauncey came into the river from the lake, and anchored near the encampment. The army appeared much gratified at the appearance of the fleet.

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

"At dawn the next morning (Nov 2) the conflict was renewed, with the same result, the enemy in the two engagements having suffered much loss. That of the Americans was two killed and four wounded. It was with much difficulty that the British saved one of their brigs from capture."

• November 3, 1813:

"History of St. Lawrence County, New York" Everts:

"On the 3rd the fleet weighed anchor and stood down the river. At seven the troops embarked and followed with a favorable wind, and at nine passed or fleet at anchor at the junction of the British channel with that on the south, in such a position as to oppose the enemy should they attempt to annoy the army in descending. At three PM (Dr. Amasa Trowbridge) joined Gen. Brown at French Creek (Clayton)."

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

"Troops were coming down from Grenadier Island in the mean time, and landing upon the point on which Clayton now stands, and along the shore of French Creek as far as the lumber and rafting yard on what is still known as Wilkinson’s Point. Wilkinson arrived there on the 3rd."

• November 4, 1813:

"History of St. Lawrence County, New York" Everts:

"The 4th was spent in waiting for boats with provisions and troops from Sacket's Harbor, and making necessary arrangements for the expedition.

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

"....on the 4th he (Wilkinson) issued a general order preparatory to final embarkation, in which he exhorted his troops to sustain well the character of American citizens, and abstain from rapine and plunder. "The general is determined," he said, "to have the first person who shall be detected in plundering an inhabitant of Canada of the smallest amount of property made an example of."

"The Memoires of Joseph Gardner Swift"

"On 4th instructed Colonel Sackett and Major Woodford to collect the boats that were near Hamilton (Waddington) for the use of the army.

Our reconnoitering was much annoyed by a party of Glengary Fencibles

under Reuben Sherwood, a very active and shrewd refugee from Connecticut,

so that our movements had to be made at early dawn, and our passage from

place to place effected by night. At the close of this day (4th) Major Charles (Josephus) Nourse met me at Ogdensburg with advices from General Wilkinson, then at Grenadier Island, the army on the river."

More on the Sherwood Family: http://www.uelac.org/education/QuebecResource/Chapters/The_Sherwood_Fami...

Note: Reuben Sherwood was one of the three men who surveyed Canton in 1799: Gates Curtis - " History of Canton" - "The town was surveyed by Amos Lay (NY State map maker Cenus - 1790 Rutland, Vt;1810 Massena, NY; 1820 Albany, NY), assisted by Reuben Sherwood (surveyor - Canada) and Joseph Edsall (Madrid/Waddington - surveyor & land agent), in the summer of 1799."

• November 5, 1813:

"History of St. Lawrence County, New York" Everts:

"The 5th was a charming day, and in the morning orders were issued for sailing, and at six the whole army was underway, in about 300 small crafts and boats, and arrived the same evening at Morristown, a distance of forty miles; a favorable landing was selected, and the boats put in good order.

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

On the morning of the 5th, a clear, bright, crisp morning, just at dawn, the whole flotilla, comprising almost three hundred boats, moved down the river from French Creek with banners furled and music silent, for they wished to elude discovery by the British, who, until now, were uncertain whether the expedition was intended for Kingston, Prescott, or Montreal. The vigilant foe had immediately discovered their course, and, with a heavy armed galley and gun-boats filled with troops, started in pursuit. The flotilla arrived at Morristown early in the evening. It had been annoyed by the enemy all the way. Several times Wilkinson was disposed to turn upon them; and at one time, near Bald Island, about two miles below Alexandria Bay, he was compelled to engage, for the enemy’s gun-boats shot out of the British channel on the north, and attacked his rear. They were beaten off and Wilkinson determined to run by the formidable batteries at Prescott during the night. It was found to be impracticable, and his boats lay moored at Morristown until morning. A corps of land troops from Kingston had also followed Wilkinson along the northern shore of the river, and arrived at Prescott before the American flotilla reached Ogdensburg."

"The Memoires of Joseph Gardner Swift"

"On 5th I met General Wilkinson in his boat on the river near Morristown, and he determined to pass Prescott at night. We were here joined by Colonel W. (Winfield) Scott and Colonel E. P. (Edmund Pendleton) Gaines as volunteers."

"Tarnished Warrior" by James Ripley Jacobs

"....it was not until the 5th that their boats resumed floating down the St. Lawrence. About midnight they came straggling into Hoag's,(note there is a Mason Hoag on Jehiel Dimock's Militia role - might be related) forty miles from their starting point of the morning. The movement had been long and hard, the men were cold, and organizations were in confusion."

More about Winfield Scott:

Scott served in the War of 1812 where he was captured at Queenston Heights (Oct 13, 1812)and held for a year before being released in a prisoner exchange. When he resumed his duties he was promoted to brigadier general in March 1814, and played a major role at Lundy’s Lane - Niagara Falls July 25, 1814, where he was seriously wounded by a ball that shattered his shoulder. Commander-In- Chief of the United States Army, Scott resigned to Abraham Lincoln in November 1861.

It was said that Wilkinson was traveling with the main body in a boat piloted by a renegade Canadian, William "Bill" Johnston who was later to acquire the title of the "pirate of the St. Lawrence" or "Pirate of the Thousand Islands".

More : http://www.aandc.org/research/william_johnson.html and http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMCC1A_Pirate_Bill_Johnson and

http://www.thousandislandslife.com/BackIssues/Archive/tabid/393/articleT...

More About Edmund P. Gaines: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_P._Gaines

• November 6, 1813:

"History of St. Lawrence County, New York" Everts:

"On the 6th the expedition proceeded on to within three miles of Ogdensburg, and preparations were made for passing the fort at Prescott."

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

For the purpose of avoiding Fort Wellington and the other fortifications at Prescott, Wilkinson halted three miles above Ogdensburg, where he debarked his ammunition and all of his troops, except a sufficient number to man the boats. These were to be conveyed by land to the "Red Mill," four miles below Ogdensburg, on the American shore, and the boats were to run by the batteries that night. At the place of debarkation he issued a proclamation to the Canadians, intended to make them passive; and there, at noon, he was visited by Colonel King, Hampton’s adjutant general. By him he sent orders to Hampton to press forward to the St. Lawrence, to form a junction with the descending army at St. Regis.

By the skillful management of General Brown, the whole flotilla passed Prescott safely on the night of the 6th, with the exception of two large boats heavily laden with provisions, artillery, and ordnance stores, which ran aground at Ogdensburg.

"The Memoires of Joseph Gardner Swift"

"On 6th the main body of the army landed to march through Ogdensburg, and at night General Wilkinson directed me to conduct him in his boat past Prescott, which was done, the baggage following, the cannonade from the fort commencing as soon as our boat was under way. Little damage was sustained by the boats owing to the random fire from the fort, and, as I presume, from neglect of ranging their guns by daylight. Many of our officers and men, particularly the aged, were suffering from disordered bowels from the use of bad bread, especially General Wilkinson and General Lewis. The former sought relief in the use of opium, and soon after passing Prescott it was necessary to land, which was done at Sharp's farm, in whose house under the influence of laudanum the general became

very merry, and sung and repeated stories, the only evil of which was that it was not of the dignified deportment to be expected from the commander-in-chief."

"Tarnished Warrior by James Ripley Jacobs "

"In this neighborhood the army remained for the 6th. During the day Colonel William King arrived, bringing news of Hampton and his defeat near Spears, fifteen miles from the St. Lawrence and fifty from Montreal. Wilkinson could not resist damning the Carolinian's division and swearing that his own would do better. In a return letter by Colonel King, he expressed hope of taking Montreal and a desire that Hampton and his forces join him near St. Regis."

"John Armstrong - Notice of the War of 1812, Vol. 2":

On or about the 6th of November, 1813, (the night the American troops passed Ogdensburgh and Prescott) having received orders to muffle the oars, and leave men enough barely sufficient to man the boats, we marched the remainder

by land below Ogdensburgh. When we arrived, as we thought, near the place where we were to meet the boats, (say a mile below Ogdensburgh,) we halted at a small house near the river (D. Thorp's) ; and while there, discovered a boat approaching the shore. Major Forsyth hailed the crew, and on explanation was informed it was Gen. Wilkinson's boat. The major, myself, and others, met the General at the water's edge, and asked if he wished to come on shore. Indicating that he did, Forsyth and myself took him by the arms to assist him out of the boat, and up the bank. We found him most abominably intoxicated, and hurried him

into the house; during which time, he was muttering the most desperate imprecations against the enemy — saying, that if they did not cease firing, he would blow to dust the whole British garrison, and lay waste their country. After seating him on a chair near the fire, the major and myself retired to consult what was best to be done, under the present situation of the commander-in-chief; when we concluded to detail and post a guard near the door of the house, to keep out both citizens and soldiers. I made the detail and posted the sentinel, and soon afterward perceiving the General to nod, and apprehending that he would fall into the fire, I proposed laying him on something like a bedstead that was in the room,

and having done so, he was, in a very short lime, in a sound sleep. The time to the best of my recollection, at which we received the General, was about two o'clock in the morning. For some time after this occurrence, he was not very accessible; it was said that he was in bad health." — Major (Benjamin) Birdsal's statement.

Owin Chatfield deposeth and saith, that, on the night the American army passed Prescott, this deponent went to the house of Daniel Thorp. This deponent farther saith, that Gen. James Wilkinson was there, and in a state of intoxication; and that his deportment, and obscene and vulgar conversation, but too plainly manifested his being in that situation. This deponent farther saith, that the General sung several obscene and vulgar songs; and farther saith not.

(Signed) OWIN CHATFIELD.

Sworn before me at the village of Ogdensburgh, this 17th

of July, 1835. JOHN SCOTT, Justice of the Peace,.

Daniel Thorp (1820 Oswegatchie Census) deposeth and saith, that he lives about a

mile below the village of Ogdensburgh, and that, in the night the American army passed Prescott, Gen. James Wilkinson came to the house of deponent in a state of intoxication, as deponent verily believed at the time, and which he still believes ; and that soon after his arrival at deponent's house, the General was put to bed. This deponent farther saith, that the General remained at his house several hours, and that, during his stay there, his behavior was very unlike a gentleman, and his conversation very vulgar and obscene.

(Signed) DANIEL THORP.

Sworn before me, this 18th of July, 1819.

JOHN SCOTT, Justice of the Peace"

More on Major Benjamin Birdsall (4th Riflemen):

Trials (Murder) -- New York (State) -- Albany. According brief entry descriptions for an August 1818 story in the Detroit Gazette and for October and November

1818 stories in the Cherry Valley Gazette (Otsego County), Major Benjamin Birdsall died Sunday, July 14, 1818, having been shot by James Hamilton, "an Irishman." The major had been with the U.S. Rifle Corps and was survived by a wife and four children. Hamilton was convicted at a trial in Albany County Court of Oyer and Terminer in October and executed the next month....more http://www.napoleon-series.org/military/Warof1812/2006/Issue5/c_Hamilton...

More on Daniel Thorp:

Ogdensburg Journal Jan 2, 1977 - by Persis Boyesen - Oswegatchie and Heuvelton Historian:

"The second daughter and sixth child of John and Mary (Simons) Chapin was born in 1787 in Hartford, Washington County, Ny. the exact date of her marriage to Daniel Thorpe is unknown but it was before March 18, 1815 as deduced from the following evidence. David Ogden through Nathan Ford, as attorney, on Nov. 1, 1809 sold a lot to Levi Chapin who in turn conveyed it on Aug 29, 1812 to Daniel and Miriam Thorp. On March 18, 1815 Daniel and Miriam Thorp conveyed to Bela and Roswell Chapin. Daniel and Miriam Chapin Throp (Thorpe) were parents of three known children...... Daniel Thorp died Jan. 10, 1839 in his 61st year."

Note: These land records/deeds would tell us where this house stood in November 6, 1812

• November 7, 1813:

"The Documentary History of the Campaign Upon the Niagara Frontier" by Lundy's Lane Historical Society - Ernest Alexander Cruikshank

"Headquarters, St. Lawrence River, 7th November, 1813: Sir, I have received advice that the enemy occupies a strong post with several pieces of artillery at the Narrows, a few miles above Hamilton (Waddington), for the purpose of annoying the flotilla in its descent. You will proceed immediately with the reserve under your command, Forsyth's riflemen, Colonel Randolph's (Thomas Mann Randolph from Va. - son in law of Thomas Jefferson, buried at Monticello http://carolshouse.com/cemeteryrecords/monticello/) command and Major (John) Herkimer's (lawyer, politician) volunteers and drive him from his position. I think it would be most prudent for you to make the shore above him, and march to the attack by land, leaving a sufficient number of men to secure your boats in case you should find it necessary to retreat. If the enemy is in considerable force, you will not risk an action, but inform me of it immediately. If you succeed in executing this order, you will drop down to Hamilton and wait there until I join you. Wishing you a successful enterprise. From Wilkinson's Memoirs, Vol."

"The Documentary History of the Campaign Upon the Niagara Frontier" by Lundy's Lane Historical Society - Ernest Alexander Cruikshank

"From Wilkinson's Journal - November 7th - The General having been exposed to the open air all last night, in consequence found himself ill. In passing Prescott two of our largest vessels, loaded with provisions, artillery, and ordnance stores, either through cowardice or treachery, had been run into the river near Ogdensburg and opposite Prescott. The enemy kept up so constant a cannonade on them that we found it difficult and lost half a day to get them out. We perceived the militia in arms at Johnstown, directly opposite us and several pieces of field artillery in motion. Understanding that the coast below was lined with posts of musketry and artillery at every narrow pass of the river, Colonel Macomb was detached, about one o'clock, with the Elite Corps of about 1200 men, to remove these obstructions, and the General got under way about half-past three o'clock. Four or five miles below we entered the first rapids of the river, and soon after passing them two pieces of light artillery, which had not been observed by Colonel Macomb, opened a sharp fire upon the General's passage boat, but without any further effect than cutting away some of the rigging. Lieutenant-Colonel Eustis with a part of our light gun barges came within shot of the pieces of the enemy and a cannonade ensued without injury on either side. In the meantime Major Forsyth, who was in the rear of the Elite of Colonel Macomb, landed his riflemen, advanced upon the enemy's guns and had his fire drawn by a couple of videttes posted in his route, upon which his pieces were precipitately carried off. The General came to at dusk about six miles below the town of Hamilton, where he received a report from Colonel Macomb, who had routed a party at a blockhouse about two miles below and captured an officer."

"History of St. Lawrence County, New York" L.H. Everts:

"On the morning of the 7th information had been received that the enemy had taken a position of the river above Hamilton, at a narrow pass, and had fortified it to annoy the flotilla in passing. These were dislodged by Maj. Forsyth....(who drove) a body of 300 provincial militia...from a block house, with two 6-pound cannon which he burned......about noon, advice was received that two armed Schooners, and a body of the enemy in bateau, estimated at 1000 or 1500 men, had descended to the river from Kingston and landed at Prescott; that they had immediately sent a flag of truce across the river to Ogdensburg, and demanded the surrender of all pubic property there, under the penalty of burning the town. Not long after, information was received that the enemy had re-embarked at Prescott, in their bateaux, and were following with seven gun boats."

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

"(The) two large boats heavily laden with provisions, artillery, and ordnance stores, which ran aground at Ogdensburg... soon joined the others at the "Red Mill." Wilkinson was now informed that the Canada shore of the river was lined with posts of musketry and artillery at every eligible point, to dispute the passage of the flotilla. To meet and remove these impediments, Colonel Alexander Macomb was detached, with twelve hundred of the élite of the army, and on Sunday, the 7th, landed on the Canada shore. He was soon followed by Lieutenant Colonel Forsyth and his riflemen, who did excellent service in the rear of Macomb."

"The Memoires of Joseph Gardner Swift"

"At early dawn on 7th we reached the Indian village on the American shore, followed on the opposite bank of the river by light artillery from Prescott that annoyed our march somewhat. Our force, seven thousand rank and file. General Wilkinson here informed me that he expected soon to meet General Hampton and his four thousand troops. In the evening of 7th we arrived at the ......(see Nov 9th)"

Little bit more about Alexander Macomb (b. Detroit):

In the summer of 1813, General Wilkinson relieved General Dearborn in the command of the Northern army. Colonel Macomb accompanied him in the fruitless and unfortunate movement down the St. Lawrence, in the autumn of that year. He was placed at the head of the corps d' élite, which consisted of his own regiment, the 20th infantry, Forsyth's rifles, and Major Herkimer's New York volunteers, numbering, in all, about twelve hundred men. On the march over land, to avoid the fire of the British batteries at Prescott, he led the advance; and when the army resumed its progress down the river, he was detached with his corps, to remove obstructions from the stream, and drive the enemy's skirmishers and light troops from the line of the route. While on this service, several slight affairs occurred with the enemy, in which he and the officers and men of his command, displayed commendable zeal and gallantry. Being in the advance, Colonel Macomb had no Part in the action fought on the eleventh of November, near Williamsburg. After the death of General Covington, who fell on that occasion, Macomb succeeded to the command of his brigade, and conducted it to the winter quarters of the army, at French Mills, where he was placed in command of the artillery. Macomb would find his fame at the Battle of Plattsburgh.

• November 8, 1813:

"History of St. Lawrence County, New York" H.L. Everts:

"A body of dragoons had assembled here for crossing, and the whole of 8th and following night were devoted to transporting these. About noon, advice was received that two armed schooners, and a body of the enemy in bateau, estimated at 1000 or 1500 men, had descended the river from Kingston, and landed at Prescott; that they had immediately sent a flag of truce across the river to Ogdensburg and demanded the surrender of all public property there, under the penalty of burning the town. Not long after, information was received that the enemy had re-embarked at Prescott, in their bateaux and were following with seven gun boats. While the expedition lay at the narrows near Hamilton (Waddington) , on the 8th, a council of war was held - Gens. Wilkinson, Lewis, Boyd, Covington, Porter and Swartwout being present - in which the commander-in-chief stated that his force consisted of 7000 men, and that he expected to meet 4000 more, under Gen. Hampton at St Regis; that his provisions amounted to ten days' bread and twenty days' meat; that from the best of his information the enemy's force was 600 under Col. Murray troops of the line at Coteau de Lac, strongly fortified with artillery; 200 on the island opposite, with two pieces of artillery, and about the same number on the south shore with two pieces of artillery, 200 - 300 men of the British line of artillery, but without ammunition at the Cedars; at Montreal 200 sailors and 400 marines, with the militia, numbers unknown; no fortifications at that city or in advance of it; 2500 regular troops expected daily from Quebec, the militia on the line reported 20,000 Canadians chiefly. This information was procured by Col. Swift who employed a secret agent for the purpose. Under these circumstances Maj. Wilkinson submitted to the council the following proposition - Shall the army proceed with all possible rapidity to the attack of Montreal? The above information was given by a confidential agent of reputed integrity, who left Montreal on the 3rd instant; it was added that two British armed vessels, with sixty bateaux with troops had arrived at Prescott this morning and that 400 were the last evening at Cornwall, about thirty-three miles below this point. With these facts before them, the question was asked "Shall we proceed to attack Montreal?" to which, Lewis (Governor of New York - 1804, Chief Justice of New York Supreme Court

U.S. Quartermaster General - War of 1812), (John Parker)Boyd (from Massachusetts and Maine), Brown, and (Robert) Swartwout (b. Poughkeepsie, NY) decided in the affirmative, and (Leonard Wailes) Covington (b. Aquasco, Md.) and (Peter Buell) Porter (b. Ct, Quartermaster NY Militia), fought a bloodless duel with Gen Alexander Smyth) expressed strong apprehension from want of proper pilots, etc, but saw no other alternative....(This night) the passage of the cavalry to the north shore was accomplished. "

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

"The flotilla arrived at the "White House," (home of John Sharp? - 1800 & 1810 Madrid Census) opposite Matilda, about eighteen miles below Ogdensburg, on the 8th, and there Wilkinson called a council of his officers, consisting of Generals Lewis, Boyd, Brown, Porter, Covington, and Swartwout. After hearing a report from the active chief engineer, Colonel Swift, concerning the reported strength of the enemy, he questioned, "Shall the army proceed with all possible rapidity to the attack of Montreal?" was considered, and answered in the affirmative. General Brown was at once ordered to cross the river with his brigade and the dragoons, for the purpose of marching down the Canada side of the river in connection with Colonel (Alexander) Macomb, and the remainder of the day and night was consumed in the transportation. Meanwhile Wilkinson was informed that a British re-enforcement, full one thousand strong, had been sent down from Kingston to Prescott, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Morrison. They had come in the armed schooners Beresford and Sidney Smith, and several gun-boats and bateaux under Captain Mulcaster, which had eluded Chauncey’s inefficient blockading squadron...."

"The Documentary History of the Campaign Upon the Niagara Frontier" by Lundy's Lane Historical Society - Ernest Alexander Cruikshank

"November 8th - This morning the flotilla fell down to a contraction of the river at a point called the "White House," where dragoons were assembled to be crossed. Brigadier-General Brown was ordered this morning to reinforce Colonel Macomb with his brigade and to take the command and the whole day and following night were devoted to transporting the dragoons. About noon this day we received advice that two armed schooners and a body of enemy bateaux, estimated at one thousand or fifteen hundred men, had descended the river from Kingston and landed at Prescott, that they immediately sent a flag across the river to Ogdensburg and demanded the delivery of all public property there under penalty of burning the town. Not long after information was received that the enemy had re-embarked at Prescott in their bateaux and were following us with seven gunboats."

• November 9, 1813:

"History of St. Lawrence County, New York" Everts:

"On the 9th at six am, the 2nd brigade, with two companies of the 2nd artillery, the rifle corps and cavalry, commenced their march by land to Williamsburgh, (just north of Morrisburg, ON) and in the afternoon the flotilla moved down the river. Very early in the morning, the enemy in the rear had a slight skirmish with the riflemen, in which we had one man killed, and the enemy retired. The object of Gen Brown's being sent forward with a part of the army was to clear the shore of any annoyances which the enemy might have erected opposite the rapids and narrow defiles of the river. The flotilla passed down eleven miles, and anchored in the river, and the army encamped on ground selected by Gen. Boyd, guards were posted, and all remained quiet for the night. The enemy continued to follow up the rear, and on arriving at Hamilton (Waddington) sent to that village a preemptory demand for the restoration of some of the merchandise that had been captured (in October).

Redcoat Ploughboys: Battalion of Upper Incorporated Militia of the Volunteer Canada, 1813 - 1815" by Richard Feltoe:

...arrived in Prescott....."However, plans changed the next day, November 8, when Lieutenant Colonel Morrison's flotilla of boats from Kinston arrived with its complement of around eight hundred regular troops. Determined to participate in the upcoming action, Pearson made a proposal Morrison could not refuse, by offering to provide a substantial part of his garrison's force, as well as bateaux and crews for the pursuit. The two separate forces were merged under the overall command of Morrison and left Prescott early on the morning of November 9, taking with them Lieutenant Colonel Pearson and more than four hundred of the Prescott garrison. Left behind, ostensibly to protect the fort at Prescott, was the main body of the companies from the Incorporated Militia.

That is not to say, however, that no one from the Prescott Division of the Incorporated Militia had any part to play in the unfolding events on the St. Lawrence River. In addition to the aforementioned Captain Davy and his crew of militiamen, Private Thompson from the Kingston garrison and Captain Kerr and his gunboat detachment were ordered to re-man their boat. A number of other experienced boatmen and those from the regiment who had crewed boats between Prescott and Montreal (and thus familiar with the treacherous currents and rapids of this stretch of the river) were also included to assist in piloting the floatilla downriver after the Americans.

Over the next few days, this group of volunteers, as in the case of Captain Davy's unit, were involved in the raid on Hamilton (Waddington), New York and were engaged in firing on American forces on the banks of the St. Lawrence during the battle of Crysler's Farm. Following the end of the battle and the American retreat, Kerr's detachment was part of the force that shot the rapids and made harassing probes against the retiring rearguard at Grasse Creek. Here, they succeeded in attacking and capturing one of the American gunboats, which they towed back to Coteau-du-Lac as a prize, later assessed at being worth seventy-five pounds.

After being ordered to leave their boat at the post, Kerr and his men marched the eighty miles back to Prescott.

"The Documentary History of the Campaign Upon the Niagara Frontier" by Lundy's Lane Historical Society - Ernest Alexander Cruikshank

"New York Evening Post, 29th November, 1813 - Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Hamilton village, St. Lawrence County, to his friend in Canandaigua - November 14, 1813, About 2 o'clock pm, November 9, we had certain intelligence that a large detachment of the enemy at Kingston had arrived at Prescott, and soon after we heard that they had sent a flag to Ogdensburg demanding an instant surrender of all public property, threatening in case of refusal to send an armed force to take both public and private property. As no officer of the United States was there, the magistrates negotiated the business. They left a captain to receive the property, which was trifling, consisting only of two mortars, 30 barrels of pork, 20 barrels of whiskey and a few other inconsiderable articles. On the 10th a flag arrived in this village. The officer accompanying it demanded on behalf of His Majesty the surrender of all public property and prize goods. Of the former there was but little in the village but there was a considerable amount of prize goods which had been taken from boats as they were going up the river, mostly belonging to merchants in Kingston. They were deposited in a store in the central part of the village. The officer at first insisted on burning the store, but being told that in burning it most of the village would be consumed, he desisted on condition that the property would be sent to the other side of the river and delivered up, which was done. A detachment from the enemy's boats landed and fired the barracks here, which were consumed."

..... letter from George Provost to Earl Bathurst....

"I have also the honor of transmitting to Your Lordship a copy of a letter with the enclosure therein referred to, addressed to Major General De Rottenburg by Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison, in which you will see fresh proof of the vigilance and activity of that officer in executing the duty with which he had been entrusted, and I hae the further pleasure to report to Your Lordship that a 13-inch iron and a 10-inch brass mortar, with their stores and a large supply of provisions, deposited at Ogdensburg, have been brought away from thence by Captain Mulcaster of the Royal Navy and lande3d at Prescott."

Wilkinson's diary...

"November 9th - This morning very early the enemy menaced our rear, and a slight skirmish took place between our riflemen and a party of their militia and Indians, in which we had one man killed and the enemy were driven back. The cavalry, with four pieces of light artillery under the command of Captain McPherson, were attached to the command of Brigadier General Brown and he was ordered to clear the coat below us as far as a point near the head of the Longue Saut. The rapidity of the current obliged us to halt the flotilla several hours to enable General Brown to make good his march in time to cover our movement. During this period the enemy frequently threatened our rear but never indicated any intention to make a serious attack. About three o'clock pm the flotilla got under way and we cam to about five o'clock at the Yellow House, having floated nearly eleven miles in two hours, where we camped for the night."

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

"They were joined at Prescott by provincial infantry and dragoons under Lieutenant Colonel Pearson, and on the morning of the 9th they were close upon Wilkinson with the vessels in which they came down the river, and a large portion of the land troops were debarked near Matilda for the purpose of pursuing the Americans. General Boyd and his brigade were now detached to re-enforce Brown, with orders to cover his march, to attack the pursuing enemy if necessary, and to co-operate with the other commanders.

Wilkinson now found himself in a perilous position. The British armed vessels were following his flotilla, and a heavy British force was hanging upon the rear of his land troops, ready to co-operate with the water craft in an attack upon the Americans. They constantly harassed Brown and Boyd, and occasionally attacked the rear of the flotilla. The forces on the shore also encountered detachments coming up from below, and were compelled to make some long and tedious circuits in their march because of the destruction of bridges in the front."

"The Memoires of Joseph Gardner Swift"

"........Narrows and remained till 9th, sending Colonel Alexander Macomb in advance, and crossing the dragoons from the American shore, our videts informing us that twenty- three boats loaded with troops, protected by two gun boats, commanded by Captain Mulcaster, were following us at a distance of four miles. The evening of 9th we passed the Rapid Platte opposite Hamilton (Waddington), and put to at Williamsburgh near Chrysler's farm."

• November 10, 1813 - Cornwall, ON (across from Massena):

Jacob Brown fought and won at Hoople's Creek (South Stormont, ON). The Canadian position on this precursor to Crysler's Farm was they delayed the Americans from obtaining supplies held at Cornwall where they had time to evacuate the stores. The next day, Nov 10th, while the remainder of the army was being beaten at Crysler's Farm, Brown took Cornwall.

New England Palladium Nov 15, 1813 - written from Watertown NY, Nov 15:

"By a gentleman who left the army on Thursday the 11th inst. I have received the following particulars - The whole of our force crossed on the Canada shore, and were proceeding down the river, and a British force in the rear following - this was on Tuesday. On Wednesday, they continued their march, and were all day much annoyed by the enemy. At night, it was concluded by our troops to divide, and Gen. Brown with a large detachment was sent forward to destroy some block houses, and disperse some small parties of the enemy collected at a place called Cornwall. Gen. Covington with the rest of the party was to follow, partly in boats and partly by land."

"The History of St. Lawrence County, New York" Everts:

"On the morning of Nov 10 Information was received that the enemy had collected at or near the foot of the Long Sault, determined to oppose the passage of the flotilla.(that was moving along the river in October). To dislodge these, Gen. Brown was sent forward, and about noon was engaged by a party of the enemy near a block house on the Sault, erected to harass the flotilla in it's descent. At the same time the enemy were observed in the rear, who commenced a cannonade, which obliged the general to order two 18-pounders to be run on shore and formed a battery, which soon compelled them to retire up the river. These operations had so far wasted the day that the pilots were afraid to enter the Sault and they came to anchor opposite the premises of John Crystler, about nine miles above the head of the Long Sault rapids. At four PM a party of 50 men under Capt. Burbank (probably Clayton Sullivan Burbank) fell in with a party of the enemy in a grove about a mile in the rear of the camp who were dispersed by a few volleys losing one man and killing two. A few minutes after this, a small body of mounted men appeared in the road near the river, who were fired upon by our rear guard of gun boats and dispersed. At five o'clock a body of men appeared at the same place with two 6-pounders, and opened a fire o our gun boats which was returned and kept up for some minutes. Gen Boyd advanced against these who retired. As it was considered important to hear from Gen. Brown whether the passage was clear before committing himself to the Sault, from which there was no retreat, the American flotilla fell down a short distance and came to Cook's point about a mile below Crysler's.

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

On the morning of the 10th when Wilkinson was approaching the "Longue Saut," a perilous rapid in the St. Lawrence, eight miles in extent, he was informed that a considerable body of the enemy had collected near its foot, constructed a block-house, and were prepared to attack him when he should come down. General Brown was ordered to advance at once and dislodge them, and at noon cannonading was heard in that direction for some time. At the same hour the enemy came pressing upon Wilkinson’s rear, and commenced cannonading from his gun-boats. The American gun-barges were so slender that the eighteen-pounders could not be worked effectively, so they were landed, placed in battery, and brought to bear upon the enemy so skillfully that his vessels fled in haste up the river. In these operations the day was mostly consumed. The pilots were unwilling to enter the rapids at night. It was necessary to hear from Brown, for when the flotilla should once be committed to the swift current of the rapids there could be no retreat. These considerations caused Wilkinson to halt for the night, and his vessels were moored a little below Chrysler’s Island, nearly in front of the farm of John Chrysler (a British militia captain then in the service), a few miles below Williamsburg, while Boyd, with the rear of the land force, encamped near."

Wikipedia:

"Late on 10 November, after a day spent marching under intermittent fire from British gunboats and field guns, Wilkinson set up his headquarters in Cook's Tavern (Morrisburg, Ontario - Michael Cook, a loyalist of German descent from the Mohawk Valley, obtained his first license in 1804), with Boyd's troops bivouacked in the woods around."

"The Documentary History of the Campaign Upon the Niagara Frontier" by Lundy's Lane Historical Society - Ernest Alexander Cruikshank

"Capitulation: We do herby promise on our respective words of honor to deliver on the opposite side of the river at the house of Jacob Wager,(Jacob Waggoner - Cornwall Loyalist) if a flag of truce is permitted to land, all the public property belonging to the United States if any should be found here, also all property belonging to His Britannic majesty's Government and to the individuals thereof now deposited in the store Charles Richards. It being expressly understood that the property and persons of the inhabitants of the village have been spared in consideration of the preceding arrangement and we do hereby further pledge our honor that two boats shall also be delivered, which belong either to the Government of the United States or His Britannic Majesty's Government, and we do further admit that the non-compliance with these conditions the village shall be subject to be destroyed. David Ogden, Alex. Richards - dated Hamilton (Waddington) November 10, 1813"

More on David Ogden From 1873/4 Child's Gazetteer:

"David A. Ogden was born at Morristown, N. J. He, with his father, Abraham Ogden (At the evacuation of New York, and after his brother Isaac had lost his land in New Jersey and moved to Canada, Abraham remained in the United States, and was friendly with George Washington. Was Attorney General for the state of New Jersey. Abraham - Indian Commissioner - and his other brother Samuel purchased land in what became Ogdensburg), and brother, Thomas L. Ogden, all of whom then resided in Newark, N.J., purchased the town of Madrid from Wm. Constable in 1796. In 1803, after the death of the father, the two brothers, having become sole owners, sold one-third to Joshua Waddington of New York. David A.(Abraham) Ogden studied law in the office of his father, who was also otherwise interested in lands in this county, in connection with Josiah Ogden Hoffman, his brother-in-law. About the time of his father's death he removed to New York, where in company with his brother, (Thomas Ludlow) T. L. Ogden, he practiced his profession, and formed a business connection with Alex. Hamilton which was terminated by the memorable duel between that gentleman and Aaron Burr. He continued the practice of law in the metropolis until his attention was directed to the establishment of a homestead upon the island which bears his family name. The ready sympathy and assistance he extended toward the early settlers in the town is still remembered with the warmest gratitude. He was elected to the Assembly in 1814 and 1815, and was a Representative in Congress from this state from 1817 to 1819. He held the office of county judge eight years and resigned in consequence of declining health. He died at Montreal, at the age of sixty, June 9, 1829, and his remains were brought to Waddington (Brookside Cemetery - link to Anne Cady's site David Ogden, died 1829; Inscription over door ) and interred there." David Ogden had a large house on Ogden's Island.

More on Charles and Alexander Richards:

Became a land agent for David Ogden in 1803 after Joseph Edsall. Alexander (d. 1834 - link to Anne Cady's site Alexander Richards, died Oct 16, 1834 AE 69 yrs; Close-up ) and his wife, Sophia are buried at Brookside Cemetery, Waddington.

More on Jacob Waggoner - http://ancestrylibrary.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/ancestrylibrary.cfg/php/endu...

• November 11, 1813:

Battle of Crysler's Farm (Williamsburgh/Morrisburg Ontario - Upper Canada Village across the St. Lawrence River between Waddington and Massena) more: http://www.warof1812.ca/graves3.htm

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

"At ten o'clock in the morning on the 11th Wilkinson received a dispatch from Brown, addressed from "five miles above Cornwall," announcing his success in his attack upon the British post at the foot of the rapids, informing him of the wounding of Lieutenant Colonel Forsyth and one of his men, and urging him to come forward with the boats and supplies as quickly as possible, because his wearied troops were "without covering in the rain." This dispatch found Wilkinson extremely ill, and his reply, in which he told Brown of the presence of the enemy upon his rear, and his apprehensions that he intended to pass him with his gun-boats and strengthen the British force below, was addressed "from my bed." "It is now, he said, "that I feel the heavy hand of disease - enfeebled and confined to my bed while the safety of the army entrusted to my command, the honor of our armies, and the greatest interests of our country are at hazard."

Wilkinson now ordered the flotilla to proceed, and Boyd and his command to resume their march. At that moment information reached the commanding general that the enemy were advancing in column, and that firing from their gun-boats was heard. He immediately sent Colonel Swift with an order for (John Parker)Boyd (from Massachusetts and Maine) to form his detachment into three columns, advance upon the enemy, and endeavor to outflank him and capture his cannon. At the same time the flotilla was ordered to lie moored on the Canada shore, just below Weaver's Point, while his gun-boats lay off Cook Point.

The brave Boyd, anxious for battle, instantly obeyed. (Robert) Swartwout was detached with the fourth brigade to assail the vanguard of the enemy which was composed of light troops, and Covington was directed to take position at support distance from him with the third brigade.

Swartwout, on a large brown horse, dashed gallantly into woods of second growth, followed by the twenty-first Regiment, commanded by Colonel E. W. (Eleazar Wheelock) Ripley (b. NH, wounded at Sacket's Harbor, d. Louisiana), and with them drove the light troops of the enemy back upon their main line in open fields on Crysler's farm, below his house. That line was well posted, its right resting on the St. Lawrence, and covered by (British Capt. William Howe) Mulcaster's gun-boats, and the left on a black-oak swamp (top of the map), supported by Indians and gathering militia under Colonel Thomas Fraser. They were advantageously formed back of ravines that intersected the extensive plain and rendered the advance of the American artillery almost impossible, and a heavy rail-fence.

Swartwout's sudden and successful dash was quickly followed by an attack on the enemy's left by the whole of the fourth brigade, and a part of the first under Colonel Coles (Isaac A. Coles b Richmond Va., Personal Secretary for Thomas Jefferson 1805 - 1809 - Coles assumed command of Boyd's brigade when he replaced Wilkinson) who advanced across plowed fields, knee-deep in mud, in the face of a heavy shower of bullets and shrapnel-shells. At the same time General Covington, mounted on a fine white horse, gallantly led the third brigade against the enemy's left, near the river, and the battle became general. By charge after charge, in the midst of difficulties, the British were pushed back almost a mile, and the American cannon, placed in fair position by General Boyd, under the direction of Colonel Swift, did excellent execution for a few minutes. The squadron of the Second Regiment of Dragoons was early on the field, and much exposed to the enemy's fire, but, owing to the nature of the ground, was unable to accomplish much. (Under heavy fire from Pearson's group) At length Covington fell, severely wounded and the ammunition of the Americans began to fail. It was soon exhausted, and the fourth brigade, hard pushed, fell back, Followed by Colonel J.A. (typo in book, should be I. A.) Coles. This retrograde movement affected the third brigade, and it too fell back, in considerable disorder.

The British perceived this, and followed up the advantage gained with great vigor, and were endeavoring by a flank movement to capture Boyd's cannon, when a gallant charge of cavalry led by Adjutant General (John) Walbach (John Baptiste de Barth Walbach, Baron de Walbach - b. Germany, once aide-de-camp for Alexander Hamilton), who had obtained Armstrong's permission to accompany the expedition, drove them back and saved the pieces. The effort was renewed. Lieutenant (William W.) Smith(US Military Academy 1809), who commanded one of the cannon, was mortally wounded, and it fell into the enemy's hands.

The conflict had lasted about five hours, in the midst of cold, and snow, and sleet, when the Americans were compelled to fall back. During that time victory had swayed, like a pendulum, between the combatants, and would doubtless have rested with the Americans had their ammunition held out. Their retreat was promising to be a rout, when the flying troops were met by six hundred men under Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Upham (from New Hampshire)of the Twenty-First Regiment of Infantry, and Major (Alexander) Malcolm, whom Wilkinson had sent up to the support of Boyd. (Wikipedia - also supported by the 25th US Infantry under Colonel Edmund P. Gaines b. Culpepper, Virginia) These checked the disorderly flight, and, taking position on the ground from which Boyd's force had been driven, they gallantly attacked the enemy, seized the principle ravine, and, with a severe fire at short musket range, drove the British back and saved the day. Meanwhile Boyd had reformed his line in battle order on the edge of the wood from which Swartwout drove the foe at the beginning, and there awaited another attack. It was not made. Both parties seemed willing to make the excuse of oncoming darkness a warrant for suspending farther fighting. The Americans, under cover of night, retired unmolested to their boats, and the British remained upon the field."

"The Memoires of Joseph Gardner Swift"

"On the morning of the nth November detachments were debarked from Boyd's, Swartwout's and Covington's brigades to lighten the boats, and to pass the dangers of the Long Sault. As these detachments were about to move down the margin

of the river the enemy was seen advancing in column, their advance guard

opening a light fire on us. Orders were given to face about and advance on

the enemy in three columns, outflank them, and capture their artillery, each

of our columns five hundred men. The enemy retired and formed behind

a ravine at Chrysler's farm with their right wing forward, as our movement

was to turn the left flank, their force about one thousand six hundred, their

right supported by four pieces of artillery aided by eight gun boats in the

river, that maintained a constant fire, though ill-directed. Our columns

drove the enemy back across a ravine west of the first, and formed line on

the brink of the ravine opposite the enemy, our left supported by four pieces

of artillery and a reserve of one hundred and fifty dragoons. Both lines

opened a fire on each other, and no attempt was made by our generals to

charge until Colonel Walbach put the dragoons in motion. They were

arrested by the fire of grape from the gun boats, killing some eight men

and wounding many at the head of this charge. Both sides ceased firing

at the same moment for no apparent cause, as neither side made any

forward movement to charge further. Our columns, after having every fifth

man killed or wounded, (one hundred and two of the former and two

hundred and thirty-eight of the latter), leaving our dead on the field,

marched deliberately to our boats, pushed off and descended the river and the Long Sault."

American Forces:

Commander-in-Chief : Brig. Gen. John Boyd

1st Brigade: Commanded by Col. Issac Coles

(12th and 13th US Infantry)

Brig General Robert Swartwout (11th, 14th and 21st Infantry)

21st US Infantry - Colonel Eleazer Wheelock Ripley

Brig General Leonard Covington (9th, 16th, 25th Infantry)

Twenty-Fifth Infantry - Colonel Edmund P. Gaines

Adjutant General, Colonel John Walbach - United States Dragoons

 

Craig's Command (Maybe Henry Knox Craig?), U.S. Light Artillery Corps

Maj. William Cumins - Wounded

Lt. Col. Timothy Upham - Boat Guards

Lt. William Smith - killed

Joseph Gardner Swift (b. Nantucket Island, d Geneva NY - first graduate of US Military Academy at West Point, Chief Engineer and aid to Wilkinson, got a Citation for Gallantry at Crystler's Farm)

Check this web site for partial list of killed and wounded: http://civilwarthosesurnames.blogspot.com/2009/12/battle-at-williamsbugh...

List of Officers Killed: Lieut. Wm W Smith, light artillery; Lieut. David Hunter 12th Regiment of Infantry; Lieut. Edward Olmstead 15th

List of Officers Wounded: Brigadier-General Leonard Covington (mortally). Major Talbot Chambers, assistant Adjutant-General slightly, Major Darby Noon, aid-de-camp to Brigadier-General Swartwout, slightly; Colonel James P Preston, 23rd Regiment of Infantry, severely, his right thigh fractured; Major W. Cummings, 8th Regiment severely; Captain Edmund Foster, 9th slightly; Captain David S Townsend* do do severely, Captain Mordecai Myers 15th do severely; Captain John Campbell do slightly; Captain John B. Murdock, 25th do slightly; Lieut. Wm. S. Heaton, 11th do severely; Lieut. John Williams, 13th do slightly; Lt. John Lynch* 14th do severely; Lieut. Peter Pelham*, 21st do severely; Lieut. James D Brown; 25th slightly; Lieut. Archibald C. Crary, do.do, severely, in skirmishes the day before the action - written by J. B. Walbach, Adj. Gen

*Taken Prisoner

British, Canadian, and Indian forces:

Commander-in-Chief : Lt. Col. Joseph Wanton Morrison

L t. Col. John Harvey - 49th

Commanded by Lt. Col. Charles Plenderleath

 

Commanded by Lt. Col. Thomas Pearson

 

Maj. Frederick G. Heriot - Canadian Voltigeurs

Mohawk Indians - Lt. Charles Anderson

H. G. Jackson Royal Artillery

Kersteman, Royal Artillery

G. W. Barnes - 2/89th

William Howe Mulcaster - British Gun (lost a leg in 1814 at the Raid of Ft. Oswego)

From: http://www.warof1812.ca/stlawrence1812.htm British Officers who died: Lieutenant Guillaume De Lorimier and Ensign Henry Armstrong

Killed and Wounded (Officers): Captain Nairn, 49th Regiment, killed; Lt. Col Plenderleath, severe contusion, Lt. Jones dangerously, Lt. Bartley, severely but not dangerously, Lt. Claus left leg amputated, Lt Morton, severely but not dangerously, Lt Richmond, slightly. 89th Regiment Capt Brown severely but not dangerously, Ensign Leadam slightly; 49th Flank Compnies Lt Holland severely; Canadian Regiment Lt. de Lorimier, since dead; Ensign Armstrong, severely. - written by J Harvey, Lt. Col DAG"

 

"Franklin County in the War of 1812 - Malone Paper Recalls Some of the Chief Events" Courier Freeman, Sept 8, 1926:

"...It was in 1813 that Wilkinson came with his forces and Gen. Wade Hampton to Chateaugay, and then began the disastrous campaign for the capture of Montreal, which if carried forward would have been successful and might have changed the whole course of the war, but which proved a miserable failure. No advance was ever made, Wilkinson's forces, numbering nearly 8,000 came from Sackets Harbor and Hampton's from Plattsburgh. The forces were to unite near Lake St. Francis and proceed thence to the Canadian metropolis. Hampton had from 6,000 to 7,500 men and the encampment was on the Chateaugay river northwest of the village. He advanced down the river for something over 20 miles and came in touch with about 900 of the enemy entrenched behind log breastworks at the junction of the Chateaugay with the Outard. The Canadians fled at the sight of the Americans but de Salaberry in command sent buglers through the forest sounding the charge and giving the impression of many troops; one company of Americans lost its way and in the confusion two bodies of American troops are said to have fired on each other. They retreated to Chateaugay and to this fiasco and the battle at Chrysler's farm a fortnight later Canadian historians attribute the saving of Montreal and all Canada from conquest. Hampton instead of obeying orders started back for Plattsburgh the very day that his troops were needed at Crysler's farm to turn a draw at nightfall or a decisive defeat as British writers claim into a victory. It was in this fight that General Covington was mortally wounded. He was buried just outside the block house that Tilden's men started and the structure was thereafter known as Ft. Covington. In 1820 his remains were removed to Sacket's Harbor but the town has ever since retained the name. It was after this battle that Wilkinson's force went into winter quarters at Ft. Covington, instead of moving on to Montreal, and was decimated by sickness, many of the soldiers being hospitalized at Malone. On orders from Washington the troops were finally withdrawn to Sackets Harbor and Plattsburgh and the British took advantage of the evacuation to invade Malone and raid Chateaugay stores......"

The History of St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties" Franklin Hough:

On the 11th of November, Hampton wrote to Wilkinson that he would be unable to meet him at St. Regis, but would return to Lake Champlain, and cooperate by a descent from that place. "This reached Wilkinson at Barnhart's island. A council was convened and it was resolved to cross to the American shore, and take up winter quarters at French Mills, and accordingly the flotilla entered Salmon river and took possession. There a frightful mortality occurred, which is described by Dr. Lovell, a surgeon, as follows: The weather soon became intensely cold, and remained so all winter. In addition to the great fatigue to which the soldiers had been exposed, especially the division from Fort George, most of them had lost their blankets and extra clothing on their march, or in the action of the 11th. Even the sick had no covering except tents, from the period they debarked at the Mills, until the 1st of January, in the severe latitude of 45 degrees. Provisions were scarce and of a bad quality. Medicine and hospital stores were not to be found, having been lost or destroyed in the passage down the St. Lawrence. Under these circumstances sickness and mortality were very great."

• November 12, 1813:

Ft. Covington Sun 1968:

The engagement at Crysler's had taken place as we have seen on Nov 11, and on the following day Wilkinson's.....at Barnhart's Island a council of war was held. At this council it was decided to postpone the attack on Montreal and to go into winter quarters at French Mills . During the halt at Barnhart's Island General Leonard Covington died of wounds received the previous day.

Colonel H. Atkinson, General Hampton's inspector-general, arrived at Barnhard's Bay with a letter from his Hampton saying he would not meet Wilkinson for this battle.

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

"On the morning after the battle the flotilla and gun-boats passed safely down the Long Rapids without discovering any signs of an enemy, and the same time the land troops marched in the same direction unmolested. At Barnhart's three miles above Cornwall, they formed a junction with the forces under General Brown, and Wilkinson expected to hear of the arrival of Hampton at St. Regis, on the opposite shore of the St. Lawrence. But he was disappointed. General Brown had written to Hampton the day before informing him of rumors of a battle above and saying, "My own opinion is you can not be with us soon," and begging him to inform the writer by the bearer when he might be expected at St. Regis. Soon after Wilkinson's arrival, Colonel Atkinson, Hampton's inspector general, appeared as the bearer of a letter from his chief, dated the 11th, in which the commander of the left of the grand army of the North, who had fallen back to Chateaugay Four Corners, declared his intention not to join Wilkinson at all, but to co-operate in the attack on Montreal by returning to Champlain and making a descent from that place. Wilkinson was enraged, and declared that he would "arrest Hampton, and direct Izard to bring forward the division." He was too feeble in mind and body to execute his threat, or to do anything that requuired energy; and after uttering a few curses, he called a council of war, and left Hampton to do as he pleased. That council decided that the "conduct of Major General Hampton, in refusing to join his division to the troops descending the St. Lawrence, rendered it expedient to remove the army to French Mills, on the Salmon River. "The opinion of the younger members of the council was, "says General Swift, "that, with Brown as leader, no character would be lost in going to Montreal; but the majority said no...."

November 13, 1813:

Our army left Barnhard's Bay crossed the St. Lawrence and ascended the Salmon River six miles, to French Mills (Ft. Covington).

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

"....at noon, when information came that there was a considerable British force at Coteau du Lac, the foot soldiers and artillerymen were all embarked on the transports, under the direction of General Brown, and departed for the Salmon. The horses of the dragoons, excepting about forty, were made to swim across the cold and rapidly flowing river, there a thousand yards wide, and the squadron proceeded to Utica.

The Flotilla passed up the Big Salmon River about six miles to its confluence with the Little Salmon, near the French Mills, when it was announced that the boats were scuttled, and the army was to go into winter quarters in huts......On arriving at Salmon River the army was immediately debarked on the frozen shores, and set to work on the construction of huts for winter quarters. The first labor was the sad task of digging a grave for the remains of General Covington. He was shot through the body on the 11th, and died at Barnhart's on the morning of the 13th, just before the flotilla departed for French Mills.....Lewis and Boyd obtained leave of absence, and the command of the army devolved upon Brigadier General Brown who made his headquarters on the right bank of the river, in a house built by Spafford in 1811 (store of P.A. Mathews in 1860 corner of Water and Chateaugay Streets).

Hampton, in the mean time, had retired to Plattsburg with his four thousand men. by special orders, sent from Malone by the hand of Colonel Swift, (when on his way to Washington with dispatches), Wilkinson directed Hampton to join the army at French Mills. This like other orders, were utterly disregarded by Hampton. He had accomplished the defeat of efforts to take Canada, and leaving General Izard, of South Carolina, in command, he abandoned the service and returned to his immense sugar plantations in Louisiana.....

General Brown at once adopted measures for making the troops as comfortable as possible. Huts were constructed, but this was a work of much labor, and consumed several weeks. Meanwhile sever winter weather came. They were on the forty fifth parallel, and at the beginning of December the cold became intense. Most of the soldiers had lost their blankets and extra clothing i the disaster near Grenadier Island, or in the battle on Crystler's field. Even the sick had no shelter bt tents. The country in the vicinity was a wilderness, and provisions were not only scarce, but of inferior quality. A great quantity of medicines and hospital stors had been lost through mismanagmenet, and these could not be procured sort of Albany, a distance of two hundred and fifty miles. The mortality among the sick became frightful, and disease prostrated nearly one half of the little army before they were fairly housed in well-regulated contonments. Taking advantage of this distress, British emissaries tried, by the circulation of written and printed placards, to seduce the suffering soldiers from their allegiance."

US Army Medical Department - From: http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/rev/gillett1/ch8.html

"....the patients here had to endure shortages of hospital stores and medicines and a poor diet, as well as the rigors of the weather, since they were for a short time sheltered in tents, the two houses taken over for their use being too small to shelter all the sick and wounded. The shortage of bedding required that some patients lie upon straw on the floor. The available blankets were of an inferior quality, and by early December, shirts for the patients had not yet been received. The port wine was reportedly not pure, the chocolate was so poor as to be inedible,60and the flour was "so sour and damaged, as to prove unhealthy." The bread his men ate, according to General Wilkinson, contained lime, soap, "and other extraneous and even feculent ingredients." The water used in making the bread seems to have been at the root of the problem, since it was "impregnated with, and contains a diffusion of excrementitious matter."61 Sick and death rates were high in one instance; 75 men of a 160-man unit were ill, 39 with diarrhea and dysentery, 18 with pneumonia, 6 with typhus, and 12 with "paralysis of all the extremities."

Ft. Covington Sun 1968:

"Late at night on Nov 13, the first bateau carrying the sick and wounded rowed up the Salmon. One boat bore the body of General Covington."

 

General Leonard Covington's body was carried to Ware's tavern and was buried. (also said to have been buried by the block house that (Rufus)Tilden's men had started. In 1820 his remains were moved to Sacket's Harbor.)

"The History of Fort Covington, New York" by Frederick J Seaver:

"His funeral was held from the house, then a hotel, that is now occupied by Frank J. Bucklin, at the west end of the lower bridge, and interment was near the residence of the late T. T. Kimball, on what has since been known as Covington Hill, not far from the block-house. The remains were removed to Sacketfs Harbor in 1821."

"The Memoirs of Joseph Gardner Swift":

" He requested me to send his sword to his son, and to give his horses to his servant, both of which were done."

• November 16, 1813:

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

.... Wilkinson at once left for Malone (HQ at Richard Harison's mansion who was a law partner of Alexander Hamilton & US District Attorney of NY), after transferring the command of the army to General Lewis Nov 16 who, with General Boyd, made his head-quarters at a long low building, yet standing in 1860, a dingy red in color, on the left bank of the Salmon, near the present lower bridge over the river at French Mills or Fort Covington."

• November 17, 1813:

The Memoirs of Joseph Gardner Swift":

"French Mills, 17th November, 1813.

"Col. Swift: Sir, — You will please to proceed to General Hampton

with the general order now delivered to you under seal, and having

delivered it will communicate to me the result, to which you will be pleased

to add freely and confidentially every observation material to the service

which you may have made. You will employ an express to bear this communication to this place. You will then proceed to Washington, having

leave to call on your family, and deliver to the Secretary of War the letter

you have; and should he encourage it give him a detail of the affair of the

11th, and also of all our measures and movements. At Washington you

will be able to learn what may be my destiny. Any communication you

may make to me on this subject will be gratefully received. I shall also be

glad to hear from you on your route through the great towns.

With unfeigned friendship,

Your obliged and faithful

James Wilkinson."

• November 20, 1813:

The Memoirs of Joseph Gardner Swift":

"Plattsburgh, 20th November, 1813. Dear Sir: I enclose an official report of my progress. I found General Hampton in bed, who said he was ready to obey your orders, with an army out of spirits, not more than one thousand six hundred effectives. I learn from the general that it was not his intention to disobey any order of yours, and that his non-junction was in consequence of the opinion that he was required to act upon your letter of 6th; and from General Armstrong's letter to him, which he showed me, there was no intimation of joining you above Chataugay. General Hampton pledges his sacred honor to me that it was his desire to have formed a junction with you. The last letter of General Armstrong to General Hampton has this expression in it: The enemy have been able to overtake General Wilkinson and detain him as high up the river as Cornwall; it is evident that the movement below cannot safely be more than a feint.'

" On passing through Chateaugay Four Corners I find all consumed by fire. From General Hampton I learn that all below has been burned by the English. All your supplies, then, must come from this point, Plattsburgh, and unless a force be left here to guard this pass and depot the enemy can come upon General Hampton's rear and cut off future supply. I therefore think that General Hampton had better remain here. General Hampton is of opinion that the enemy cannot get up to you. He gives me a copy of his order for the march, (enclosed,) and entreats of you to allow a few days' delay. He furnishes relays of express horses to get my letter to you, in order that you may be acquainted with the nature of the country through

which the enemy must march to make an attack on you. The roads are so bad on the Chataugay that the English cannot transport their artillery and necessary provisions. Captain McDonough Is superior to the enemy on this lake in broad water with a working wind, and Inferior under all other circumstances. The enemy could be In this place In twelve hours after General Hampton moves for Chateaugay Four Corners. I am fully of the opinion that the government will make the best of our affairs, and I have been thinking of the plan, to wit: Sink all the boats In Salmon River, take sleds and move your army and stores to this place, ordering General Hampton to build huts for your troops. Make from this an attack over the ice upon Isle au Noix, carry it and St. Johns, and determine in the spring to transport boats overland fourteen miles and make a descent on Montreal, or wait, with the command of these passes till our army be renovated for an efficient assault. This plan may be varied. The main reasons that influence my mind in this are: the necessity of doing something before spring, and of being in the best possible position for action then. General Hampton has sent his sick and convalescent into quarters at Burlington, Vermont."

• November 23, 1813:

From: http://www.warof1812.ca/stlawrence1812.htm

"On November 23rd, Cockburn’s detachment of Canadian Regiment was ordered to Cornwall, replaced by Morrison’s 89th Regiment. With the 2nd Battalion of Royal Marines, 103rd Regiment, and detachments of the 89th and Canadian Regiments at Cornwall, Wilkinson’s bottled-up force remained inactive for the rest of the year. Upon hearing of Wilkinson’s withdrawal in early 1814, Cockburn’s Canadian Fencibles and parts of the 89th and 103rd Regiments crossed the river and up Salmon River just in time to capture one hundred sleighs of supplies and harass the rear guard of Wilkinson’s army as it retired overland to Plattsburg. Soon after this, Cockburn’s detachment was withdrawn to Lower Canada, thus ending their very active service along the St. Lawrence."

• November 25, 1813:

"The Memoirs of Joseph Gardner Swift":

"At the same time I wrote Sheriff T. J.(Thomas J) Davies(Oswegatchie 1820 census) on Black Lake that the Secretary of War had acceded to my request to send his son Charles (http://www.virtualology.com/charlesdavies/ ) to West Point as a cadet. I had given the Secretary an account of the /cal that this youth had exhibited in the campaign on the St. Lawrence, and also of the service that the father had rendered to the march of the army between Ogdensburgh and the rapids below, in foraging, etc. The same evening I wrote Mr. Arnold Smith, who had been a very able guide on the St. Lawrence, that the Secretary of War offered him the post of assistant deputy quartermaster-general."

A little bit more about the Davis Family:

Thomas John Davies was born in 1767 married Ruth Foote, 1792, daughter of Captain John Foote of Watertown, Connecticut. He moved from Ct. to the wilderness on the shores of Black Lake, nine miles from Ogdensburg, in 1800. Their four sons: John Foote; Charles (who went to West Point), a professor of mathematics and the first American author of a complete series of mathematical textbooks; Henry, a Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals of New York; and Thomas A., who (also)graduated from West Point in 1829 - served in the Civil War."

• December 21, 1813:

Redcoat Ploughboys: The Volunteer Battalion of Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada, 1813 - 1815" by Richard Feltoe:

"This episode began on December 21, when a combined detachment of twelve men from the Incorporated Militia and eighteen from the 89th Regiment were assigned the task of escorting a number of prisoners of war from Prescott to Cornwall in a convoy of sleighs. The Incorporated Militia's part of the detail, commanded by Captain Kerr, arrived with their prisoners, and like their regular counterparts, expected to return to Prescott forthwith. Instead, they were ordered by Lieutenant Colonel Pearson to remain at Cornwall to undertake duties in the quartermaster Warehouses related to the ship's rigging and other sailing gear stored from the gunboats beached there the previous November.

While working on this duty, it would appear that a complaint about the lack of sufficient winter clothing came up in the conversation between Kerr and an old associate of his, Captain Reuben Sherwood. Coincidently, Sherwood was the son of Kerr's commanding officer at Prescott, Lieutenant Colonel Sherwood, one of the few militia officers given Lieutenant Colonel Pearson's full approval. In a letter to Prevost, Pearson rated the young Sherwood as "of all the men I have met within this country the best qualified for an appointment....for superintending and organizing the procuring of secret intelligence."

Sherwood had indeed done some exceptional secret intelligence work on the American side of the St. Lawrence River, including reconnaissance of their storehouses and positions along the Grasse Creek all the way to the American main camp at French Mills. With this knowledge in hand, Sherwood informed Kerr about the existence of a large stash of clothing, blankets , accoutrements, food and drink that had been captured from a British bateau convoy during the previous summer. It was lying relatively unguarded at the village of Hamilton (Waddington), New York.

The two officers quickly created a plan and approached Pearson with a proposal that would see Captain Sherwood lead Kerr's men in a raiding party across the river to "reclaim" the captured supplies. This was just he sort of dynamic military initiative Pearson had been trying to instill in the Canadian Militia. Not only did he approve the mission, but he added a detachment of one subaltern, two sergeants, and twenty privates from the Royal Marines detachments wintering at the post to Sherwood's party.

Although the St. Lawrence River was frozen over, there would be thin spots to avoid, and if the raid worked, the recaptured goods would need to be carried away. It took time to prepare a number of beached bateaux for the cross-river journey and haul them to Point Iroquois, opposite Hamilton. But as soon as the sun had set and the darkness provided cover, they were ready.

The raiding party reached the American shore undetected and succeeded in surrounding the small village. After setting sentries to prevent anyone escaping to raise the alarm, they entered the main warehouse, only to find it empty of the desired goods. They questioned the community leaders and learned that the captured stores had only shortly before been transferred nearly fourteen miles farther inland to another storehouse in Madrid....Some rapid discussion among the leaders led to the decision, in the words of the old Maxim, "In for a penny, in for a pound."

The raiders rounded up the frightened residents of Hamilton, put them under tight guard, then harnessed up every sleigh they could find and drove through the night, guided by Reuben Sherwood, who knew the route intimately. Reaching Madrid, they stripped the warehouse of much of the desired goods without any opposition from the alarmed residents of that village.

According to Captain Sherwood's later report, the sleighs were loaded by around 4:30 am. However, they found so much materiel that even when all the sleighs were fully loaded, enough to fill twenty more had to be left behind. The convoy of sleighs returned to Hamilton in full daylight but the goods were loaded into waiting boats unmolested. Sherwood, however, referred to some of the local American militia at Madrid pursuing the raiders until they were dissuaded from continuing by being fired upon by the convoy's rearguard."

• January 1814 - Waddington:

The History of St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties" Franklin Hough:

"In January (following events of October 1813 in Waddington), Capt. Reuben Sherwood, an active loyalist, of daring courage, who was well acquainted with the country, having acted as a surveyor, and who often appeared without disguise or concealment on the south shore of the St. Lawrence, crossed the river near Point Iroquois, with the design of recovering the remainder of the merchandise. He arrived late in the evening with a company of provincial militia, posted guards in the village to prevent resistance, pressed a number of teams with their drivers, and proceeded to Columbia village, where he succeeded in recovering, without difficulty. the greater part of what had been deposited in that place, which had not been purloined. The party engaged in this incursion returned about day light, decked out with ribbons and streamers of brilliant colors, which formed a part of their capture, and re-crossed the St. Lawrence, without the loss of a man. Scandal relates that a party was hastily rallied to pursue and recover the goods, but that a quantity of shrub, a very agreeable mixed liquor, was left in a conspicuous place, which had its designed effect, and that the pursuing party were thus disarmed. This incursion, from the boldness with which it was conceived and executed, created a general feeling of insecurity among the inhabitants, and convinced them that the state of war was a reality; that they were at any moment liable to an unexpected and unwelcome visit from the enemy, and that their lives and property were alike at the mercy of the British."

• January 24, 1814:

"The History of Jefferson County" Franklin Hough:

"General Brown was promoted to the rank of Major General"

Colonel Macomb was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and was assigned to the command of Covington's brigade.

• February 1, 1814 - Leaving French Mills:

The History of St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties" Franklin Hough:

"At Malone Hospital on the 1st of February, 1814, the number of sick had increased to 450. For an additional number of 200, sent from French mills, rooms were wanted, which were promptly provided by Capt. Dwight A.Q.M.G., who continued to give me assistance.

For supplying the army of Gen. Wilkinson, an immense quantity of stores had been forwarded from Plattsburgh and Sacket's Harbor at great expense. A portion of the latter was deposited at Hopkinton, and Malone, and these were constantly arriving when the order to evacuate the place was received. On the week before leaving, about 1400 barrels of pork and beef, a 100 casks of whiskey, and other parts of rations were sent by James Campbell, assistant store keeper at the ills. About 60 tons of hard biscuit, being considered not worth removing under the circumstances was sank in Salmon River in a hole cut in the ice, besides which about ten tons were distributed among the inhabitants, to keep from the enemy, but much of this was soon seized by the British. The troops on evacuating, burned their boats (328 in number), down to the level of the ice, together with their barracks. The expense to government during the time that the army tarried at French Mills, is said to have been $800,000."

• February 9, 1814:

The History of St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties" Franklin Hough:

"On the 9th of February, 1814, orders were issued to leave the cantonment. One division under Maj. Gen. Brown, moved up the St. Lawrence to Sacket's Harbor, the other under the immediate command of the commander-in-chief, directed its march to Plattsburgh. In consequence of the retrograde movement of the army from French Mills, the hospital at Malone, at this time under good regulations was broken up and the sick were ordered to proceed on routes destined for their respective regiments. The few accommodations on the routes were wretched. The inhabitants although kind, were not under circumstances to furnish means to render the situation of the sick men even comfortable. Nothing was omitted within their abilities to meliorate their miserable conditions. Knowing that so large a detachment of sick and invalids could not be covered at night, if they moved in a body; the sleighs that transported them were successively put in motion in small divisions. Their line of movement, three days forming, extended the whole distance from Malone. The first division arrived at Plattsburgh the place of their destination, about the time the last commenced its progress. About 20 very sick where were left in the hospitals, under the care of a citizen physician, were made prisoners of war, by the British, who immediately followed the retrograde march of the army, as far as Malone. Those left in the hospitals were not molested in their persons, but were only obliged to sign their paroles, the greater part of whom, after five or six weeks, joined the hospital at Burlington.

The last of the American army had scarcely left French Mills, and a few teamsters were employed in removing what they might be able of the stores, when a detachment of British troops, marching in columns, and preceded by a hoard of savages, entered the village to plunder whatever of public property might be left.

An unlucky teamster, having lingered behind, and as the enemy approached, was attempting to escape, was shot by the officer who commanded the Indians. The ball lodged in the muscles of the neck, and still, it is said, remains' the man, contrary to all expectations, having survived....."

• February 11, 1814:

"The Pictoral Field Book of the War of 1812" by Benson John Lossing:

"Brown received his commission of Major General of the United States Army...."

• February 19 & 20, 1814:

The History of St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties" Franklin Hough:

"...An account of this incursion was published soon after, in the paper, from which we quote the following: - On Saturday, the 19th, the enemy hearing that our troops had marched, ventured to cross the St. Lawrence, with a motley tribe of regulars, provincials, and a detachment of the devil's own, - sedentary militia, and their brethren, a band of savages. This martial body amused themselves at French Mills until one o'clock, PM and then marched with eight pieces of artillery and two cart loads of Congreve rockets. At the fork at the roads, eleven miles from the mills, a detachment was sent off to Malone, and the main body passed on to Chateaugay, where it arrived about 4 o'clock in the morning of the 20th. There it is reported a scene of plunder began, which greatly distressed several of the inhabitants, and every particle of beef, pork or flour, with every drop of whiskey which could be found, was seized on as public property, and carried away. By this gleaning, without discrimination between the individual and the public, it is believed the enemy carried off between 150 and 200 barrels of provisions of all sorts, good and bad - public and private. During the winter some ten or fifteen teamsters had been hired in Lewis county, and many more from Jefferson, to convey flour from Sacket's Harbor to French Mills. They received each seven barrels and were allowed nine days to perform the trip at $4 per day and rations. They arrived at Hopkington towards the last of January, where their loads were left (some 300 barrels, under the care of a few soldiers), and thence they proceeded to French Mills, to aid in removing the supplies from that place to Plattsburgh. They performed one trip, and were returning, when they were pressed at Chateaugay, and again compelled to return to Plattsburgh, with loads of provisions and stores."

• February 28, 1814:

The History of St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties" Franklin Hough:

"On the last of February 1814, after the British party had returned from their incursion to Malone, and had arrived at French Mills, they earned from a citizen spy, who acted as their guide that a large amount of flour belonging to the United States army, was stored in a bar in the village of Hopkinton, and that there was no guard at that place to protect it. Upon this they dispatched Major De Heirne, of the British regular service, with Lieut. Charlton, the second in command, and about thirty soldiers, who proceeded in sleighs, by way of Moira corners, to Hopkinton, twenty seven miles from French Mills, and arrived at that place early in the morning, before the inhabitants were up. They first posted sentinels at the door of every house, and proceeded to search for arms in every place where they might be suspected to be found, and succeeded in obtaining about twenty stand, which had been distributed among the inhabitants. It is said that several muskets were saved, but being hastily laid in a bed, which had been occupied but a few moments previous, and thus eluded the search that was made for them Their case has been described by the poet - 'Tis odd, not one of all these seekers, thought, And seems to me almost a sort of blunder, of looking in the bed as well as under - They found some three hundred barrels of flour stored in a barn owned by Judge Hopkins, and occupied by Dr. Sprague, but having no teams for conveying away more than half of that quantity, they began to destroy the remainder, but being dissuaded by the inhabitants, they desisted, and distributed the remainder among the citizens. During the brief sojourn of this party, they conducted themselves with strict propriety, and sacredly respected private property of every kind using or receiving nothing for which they did not offer compensation. No parole was required of the inhabitants. Upon the passage of the detachment of the American army through Hopkinton, on their way from French Mills to Sacket's Harbor, but a very short time previously, the officers in command were importuned by Judge Hopkins and others, for the privilege of carrying the military supplies in their village further west, to a place of greater safety, dreading the very event which soon happened. They offered to take their pay from the flour, at such prices as would be just and equitable, but no one appeared to feel themselves authorized to order the removal, and it was not effectual. The surrounding country would have readily furnished volunteers sufficient for this duty, and gladly undertaken it, had then been allowed the privilege."

• March of 1814:

Major Benjamin Forsyth, under the command of General Wilkinson, along with 300 Riflemen and Dragoons, arrived in Champlain, NY to protect the border.

• March 8 - 10, 1814:

"Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont - Vol 6" EP Walton:

"Plattsburgh, March 12, 1814 - It is a pleasure we inform our readers that General Wilkinson seems determined to destroy the traitorous intercourse kept up by men who call themselves Americans, with our enemies in Canada. Small detachments have been tried without effect, and now strong ones are put in motion. Colonel Clark marched the 8th inst with Major Bailey, and a detachment of one thousand infantry and one hundred mounted riflemen, all Green Mountain Boys, to take possession of the frontier, from the lake east to Connecticut river; and on the 10th inst. another detachment of 300 prime riflemen and sixty dragoons marched under Major Forsyth, whose name carries terror to the enemy, to guard the lines west of the Lake.

We understand the orders of those officers are to make prisoners of every British subject detected within the limits of the United States, and to apprehend and deliver to the civil authority, for trial and punishment, every American citizen found in Canada."

"Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont - Vol 6" EP Walton:

• March 17, 1814:

"Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont - Vol 6" EP Walton:

"Burlington, March 25, 1814 - American Standard Planted at Missiquoi Bay - on Thursday of last week (March 17) Colonel Clark advanced with his detachment into the enemies' country as far as South River (with sixty (six?) miles of Isle-aux Noix) captured the enemies' picket or advance guard, took sixty stands of arms, four oxen and six horses, after which he returned to Missisquoi Bay, planted the American Standard and has there taken up his quarters. The Colonel has been joined by General Macomb with most of the Infantry from this post, and several detachments of artillery from Plattsburgh.

Previous to Col. Clark's invasion of the enemies' country, he gave positive orders to his detachment in all instances to respect private property, under the pains and penalties of the rules and articles of War.

Major Forsyth has advanced on the other side of the lake, within three miles of the Island, and has now made his quarters at Chazy or Champlain. We understand that a large reinforcement is to join him today from Plattsburgh."

• March 25, 1814:

"History of St. Lawrence County" L.H. Everts:

"The citizens of Franklin County held a public meeting at Malone, to unite in a petition to the legislature for protection against the insults and ravages of the enemy."

• March 29, 1814:

"Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont - Vol 6" EP Walton:

"Burlington, April 1, 1814 - We understand that the lake north of the lines is broken up, and that the enemy's fleet has been out south of Ash Island. Colonel (Isaac) Clark and his infantry, lately stationed at Missisquoi Bay, have crossed the lake and formed a junction with the forces on the western side, under the command of Major General Wilkinson. On Wednesday last (March 29) we learned that our army had advance within six miles of the enemy, who were posted and fortifying at the River La Cole. Colonel Clark and Major Forsyth were in the advance.

• March 30, 1814:

Burlington Republican April 2, 1814:

"We have been favored with the following Order, by an Officer from the frontier yesterday morning. Headquarters, Odle -Town (Odeltown, Quebec - just north of Rouses Point, NY), Province of Lower Canada, March 31st, 1814: General Order: The affair of yesterday is honorable to the Troops, and gives them a title to the thanks of the General and their Country. The constancy and courage exhibited under a tedious and galling fire of the enemy, was exemplary, and would have done credit to the oldest troops in the world. Where every officer and every man evinces the same firmness and intrepidity, the General feels, that it would be invidious to particularize. The advance, under Colonel Clark and Maj. Forsyth, the corps under Brigadier Generals (Thomas Adam) Smith and (Daniel) Bissel, beat the enemy at every point of attack, and repulsed several desperate charges on our Artillery. And the select corps under Brigadier General Macomb, who were panting for the combat, if there had been occasion for their services, would have displayed equal valor. Every man and officer, every member of the General Staff, manifested the utmost promptitude and decision. The conduct of Captain McPherson and his seconds, Lieutenants Larrabee (Laribee) and Sheldon, who commanded the battery was so conspicuously gallant, and the army will excuse the General for designating them. The first kept his post until brought to the ground by a second shot. The second until grievously wounded, and the third behaved with the utmost intrepidity and maintained his ground until ordered to bring off the pieces.

Let the meritorious dead be collected & buried with the honors of war in the same grave. Let the wounded be cherished with the utmost tenderness and removed to the Hospitals in the rear. And let the troops be immediately completed to sixty round of ammunition and held perfectly ready to meet the enemy, should he venture to advance."

"Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont - Vo.l 6" EP Walton: Battle at La Colle Mille, Burlington, April 4, 1814 - The following account of movements of our Army is received from a source which may be relied on. The army has been in motion on various parts of our frontier. Some time since, a detachment was moved towards Missisquoi Bay, under command of Colonel (Isaac) Clark of the 11th Regiment, with a view to cut up the roots and smuggling intercourse which had been carried on to a great extent; besides it was necessary to prevent the constant supply of provisions which were daily passing to the enemy from this state. This business was executed by Col. Clark with great zeal and promptness, and it is believed that the smuggling for the present is completely put down. The enemy having threatened Col. Clark's detachment, General Macomb was ordered by Major General Wilkinson to support him, and cut up any detachments of the enemy that might appear in our vicinity. The whole force of the American army on this side of the lake took post at St. Armands and remained there until it was ordered across the lake to join the main body under General Wilkinson at Champlain, where the Gen. had collected about 3000 men with a view of making a diversion in favor of the corps under Major Gen. Brown, who had marched for the Niagara Frontier. To give a more serious aspect to the movements of the army and to produce the contemplated diversion, an attack on the enemy's force at La Cole was contemplated, and on the 29th of last month the whole army moved on Odletown road, with a view of attacking at LaCole Mills/ The army unfortunately missed the road and proceeded about two miles beyond the small passage that led to the Mills, and after some trifling skirmishes with the enemy beyond Odletown, the army entered the proper route and drove the enemy's light troops before them and reached the Mills about half past three in the afternoon. General Wilkinson so disposed the troops as nearly to encircle the mill and brought up a howitzer and one 12 pounder to batter the walls, but after considerable time it was found little effect was produced. The enemy kept up a galling fire during the whole time our troops lay before the place from the loop holes cut in the Mill, and directed a great portion of his fire on the two pieces of artillery; our troops returned the fire with great coolness and with deliberate aim. The enemy made two sallies and charged Brig. General Smith's left in the first, but were repulsed with considerable loss. Towards the evening a British regiment arrived and made a charge on part of Brig. Gen. Bissell's brigade, but was so warmly received that they instantly fell back, leaving twelve men dead on the field, and suffered severely in wounded. The American troops behaved with the utmost coolness and suffered less than the enemy, notwithstanding the advantage he had in point of position. Our loss was six officers wounded, 8 men killed and 60 wounded. The officers wounded are Captain (Robert H.) McPherson and Lt. (Adam) Larabee of the Lt. Artillery, Lt (John B.) Carr (Kerr) of the Riflemen, Lt. Green of the 24th, Lt. (Philip Wagner 2nd lt. 12th Inf.*) & (Joshua B. Hartford 3 Lt. 33 Inf.*) of the 12th, and Ensign Parker of the 14th since dead. The enemy's force was not ascertained, but computed at 1500; our force was double that number, but not more than one half was brought into action. The whole of Brigadier Gen. Macomb's command was in the reserve and not at all engaged. Maj. Forsyth's Riflemen and Clark's detachments formed the line around the Mill. The American army returned to their camp late in the evening, without leaving a single man behind, or even a single article for the enemy to claim as a trophy."

* From Historical Register & Dictionary of the US Army: http://books.google.com/books?id=EtcgKhDJcZkC&pg=PA30&lpg=PA30&dq=Captai...

• March 31, 1814:

"Extract of a letter from an officer of the army at Odle-Town, to his friend in this place, dated March 31, 1814:

"Dear Friend, The enemy met us yesterday near Smith's with great spirit, but not in the force we expected. He amused us with Congreve Rockets, but was easily beaten at several points of attack from thence to La Cole Mill, into which he threw a strong detachment & which we found impenetrable to our cannon after three hours fair experiment, at the distance of 300 yards. The troops, under a galling fire during this period, stood as firm as rockets and repulsed with great coolness, several desperate charges against our battery; in the last the enemy suffered severely, after which they dared not shew their noses, and having waited on them until six o'clock, we marched off with our killed and wounded, before their eyes, and returned to this place. Captain M'Pherson is dangerously wounded, and his surtout(?) riddled by nine other different shot."

Written by General Wilkinson - Head Quarters, Odle Town, Province of Lower Canada, March 31st, 1814 - General Order: The affair of yesterday is honorable to the Troops, and gives them a title to the thanks of the General and their Country. The constancy and courage exhibited under a tedious and galling fire of the enemy was exemplary, and would have done credit to the oldest troops in the world. Where every officer and every man evinces the same firmness and intrepidity, the General feels that it would be invidious to particularize. The advance under Colonel Clark and Major Forsyth, the corps under Brig. Generals Smith and Bissell, beat the enemy at every point of the attack, and repulsed several desperate charges on our artillery. And the select corps under Brig. General Macomb, who were panting for the combat, if there had been occasion for their services, would have displayed equal valor. Every man and officer, every member of General's staff, manifested the utmost promptitude and decision. The conduct of Captain McPherson and his seconds, Lieuts. Laribee and (George B.) Sheldon, who commanded the battery, was so conspicuously gallant that the army will excuse the General for designating them. The first kept his post until brought to the ground by a second shot; the second until grievously wounded, and the third behaved with the utmost intrepidity and maintained his ground until ordered to bring off the pieces."

• May 5-6, 1814 Attack on Fort Ontario/Oswego

• May 30, 1814 - Oswego Falls - Battle of Sandy Creek:

• June 24 & 28, 1814:

"Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont - Vol 6" E.P. Walton - Death of Lieut. Col. Benjamin Fosyth:

The affair at La Colle Mill closed Wilkinson's career in the Lake Champlain valley, he having been recalled and subjected to a court of inquiry, by which he was honorably discharged. Major General Jacob Brown succeeded to the command of the ninth military district, and Maj. Gen. George Izard, (Who had been Wade Hampton's Second in Command - from South Carolina), was left in command of the right wing of the northern army. Both armies in the Champlain valley had been largely increased, the British concentrating at La Colle and other points near the line, and having their fleet at hand. From the 11th to the 31st June, our army in strong force advanced from Plattsburgh to Champlain and Chazy, the 30th and 31st US regiments with this army, in Brig. Gen. Daniel Bissell's brigade. Macdonough cooperated by anchoring his fleet in King's Bay, north of the mouth of the Big Chazy river. June 24th, Major Forsyth, then promoted to a Lieutenant Colonelcy, advanced to Odeltown with 70 riflemen, where he was attacked by a detachment of 200 light armed British troops. Forsyth repulsed them and returned to Champlain with a loss of one killed and five wounded, the British losing three killed and five wounded. On the 28th he was ordered to enter Canada again, for the purpose of drawing the British across the line into an ambuscade. This he accomplished, drawing out Capt. Mayhew with about one hundred and fifty Indians. As the enemy approached the ambuscade, Forsyth stepped upon a log to watch their movements, when he was shot through the breast by an Indian. The rifles immediately u8ncovered and fired upon the enemy, who retreated in great haste, leaving seventeen of their number dead upon the field.

Benjamin Forsyth was appointed to the army from North Carolina in 1808, and distinguished himself on various occasions in 1812, '13, and '14. Mr. Palmer says he was the best partisan officer in the army, and that his men declared they would avenge his death, and did so by killing Capt. Mayhew, who, with Forsyth, was buried at Champlain..... Col. (Isaac) Clark, having received intelligence of the death of ... Benjamin Forsyth, of the 26th Infantry, who bravely fell at Odletown on the 28th instant, fighting in defense of the rights and liberties of his country: The officers of the regiment will wear crape on the left arm thirty days, in testimony of their regret for the loss of that valuable and distinguished officer....Rendezvous 26th Infantry, Burlington, June 30, 1814."

• Summer of 1814:

"History of St. Lawrence County" L.H. Everts:

"...Capt. Thomas Frazer crossed the St. Lawrence at Hammond with sixty men and

proceeded to Rossie to apprehend some horse-thieves who were said to be lurking in the vicinity. Mr. James Howard (brother-in-law of Daniel W. Church - m. Eleanor Church - in charge of building Rossie's furnace for Parish) was at the time holding a justice's court, which was hastily dissolved, and the parties sought were not secured. They made inquiries into the operations of the furnace then building, and are said to have exacted a pledge that munitions of war should not be cast there. In returning, several persons volunteered to row them down the lake to the narrows, from whence they crossed to Canada. A plan was formed to attack them as they passed down the river, but this was discountenanced as only calculated to excite retaliation."

More about Capt. Thomas Frazer from Wikipedia:

"He was born in Stratherrick, Inverness, Scotland in 1749. His family came to North America in 1767 and settled on the estate of Sir William Johnson in Tryon County, New York. In 1777, he and his brother were captured while trying to escape to Quebec. They escaped and joined Major-General John Burgoyne at Fort Edward. After the fall of Saratoga, they escaped north to Quebec. In 1779, they served as border guards at the Yamaska River and later became part of Edward Jessup's Loyal Rangers.

In 1784, he settled in Edwardsburg Township, where he built a sawmill. In 1786, he became a justice of the peace and, in 1792, was appointed to the land board for Leeds and Grenville counties. He was also the first sheriff in the Johnstown District. He represented Dundas in the 2nd Parliament of Upper Canada and Glengarry in the 5th Parliament.

During the War of 1812, he commanded companies in the militia. After the war, he moved to Matilda Township in Dundas County. He was appointed to the Legislative Council for the province in 1815. He died in Matilda Township in 1821. "

• July and August of 1814:

In July of 1814, General George Izard was placed in command of about 4,500 troops in Champlain. His encampment was in the fields of Noadiah Moore on the hill overlooking St. Mary’s Church (today the site of Pine Street). That same month, Sir George Prevost, the Governor General of Canada, received secret instructions from Lord (Henry) Bathurst, Britain's Secretary of War of the Colonies to invade the United States including Sacket's Harbor and Plattsburgh and to destroy the US' naval forces on Lakes Champlain and Erie. Prevost started to mass his army at Isle-aux-Noix.

• August 19, 1814:

British troops landed at Benedict, Maryland, on the shores of the Patuxent River on August 19, 1814.

• August 24, 1814:

British burn the White House, the Capitol, which then housed the Library of Congress, the navy yard, and several American warships. in Washington

• August of 1814 – The British Occupation of Champlain

On August 27, Izard left his encampment in the village of Champlain. Several days would pass while Champlain was visited by the Indians and British. The main invasion of the British started on Monday, August 31, when the right wing under General Brisbane entered the village, marched down the Prospect Hill Road and camped in the orchards of Pliny Moore. That next day, on September 1, the left wing marched down the Odelltown, Quebec Road (Route 276) and camped in the field south of Dewey's Tavern. Sir George Prevost commanded this wing.

Because the British army was so large, the force was divided into two wings and three brigades. It consisted of 3,700 soldiers in the 1st Brigade, 5,600 in the 2nd Brigade, 3,100 in the 3rd Brigade, 2,800 in the Light Brigade, 300 in the Light Dragoons, 400 of the Royal Artillery, and 100 Rocketeers, Sappers and Miners. A total of 10,000 to 14,000 soldiers were now camped in the village.

The British army’s occupation of Champlain in August and September was mostly peaceful in nature. Their goal was not to plunder the village but to march to Plattsburgh and engage the Americans. However, Generals Prevost and Brisbane issued orders urging the Champlain townspeople to abandon their allegiance to the government and invited them to provide provisions to his army. When few villagers came forward, Prevost commandeered wagons and teams and loaded them with baggage and stores. Brigadier-General Alexander Macomb later wrote a letter to the Secretary of War about the Battle of Plattsburgh and noted Prevost’s occupation of Champlain. The letter was written on September 15, 1814.

"History of Jefferson County" - Franklin Hough:

"This inglorious issue of events on the northern frontier excited the murmurs of the nation, and Generals Hampton and Wilkinson were arraigned before courts martial, the latter being removed from command and succeeded by General Izard."

Wilkinson was cleared by a military inquiry. Wade Hampton I resigned.

Historian Robert Leckie characterized Wilkinson as "a general who never won a battle or lost a court-martial."

Re: Wilkinson being a spy - from Wikipedia: "Wilkinson's involvement with the Spanish (Agent 13), although widely suspected in his own day, was not proven until 1854, with Louisiana historian Charles Gayarré's publication of the American general's correspondence with Rodríguez Miró, the Spanish governor of Louisiana. Other historians would subsequently add to the catalog of Wilkinson's treasonous activities. According to recent Burr biography by David O. Stewart, Wilkinson was severely condemned in print by then-New York Governor Theodore Roosevelt, some 65 years after the general's misdeeds, with this judgment: "In all our history, there is no more despicable character."

• Sept 6-11, 1814 - Battle of Plattsburgh:

Details of the Battle of Plattsburgh:

http://www.kentdelordhouse.org/battle_of_plattsburgh_chrono.htm

 

and

http://www.historiclakes.org/Plattsburg/Plattsburg.html

"Franklin County in the War of 1812 - Malone Paper Recalls Some of the Chief Events" Courier Freeman, Sept 8, 1926:

"In the early fall of that year (1814) four companies of Franklin militia marched for Plattsburgh to reinforce the troops there against Gen. Prevost's army. They set out on the day of McDonough's victory on the lake which compelled Prevost's retirement after he had also been worsted on land, so the local men had no part in the fighting. It is said that the reports of the cannon could be heard in Malone. There were, however, 19 men of the regular army from Franklin county under Capt. Spencer of Ft. Covington who participated in the battle of Plattsburgh. They were Samuel Beman, James Baker, Zebulon Baxer, Zodack Martin and Nathaniel Ayers - Chateaugay; Thomas Burgess, Jeremiah Hubbard, Joseph Sweetzer, Francis Lamore, Ebenezer Moore, William Petteson, Robert Hamilton, Joseph Badrow, Samuel Wheaton, John H. Spring, Batese Baro, Samuel Drew and Samuel Moor of Constable and Jacob Gilman of Malone."

"Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont - Vol 6" EP Walton:

• September 10, 1814- Siege of Ft. Erie

I found an old newspaper account from the Massena Observer dated June 21, 1938 that Capt. John Polley Jr.(from Massena), who was in John Lytle's 4th US Rifle Regiment, was wounded by a shell explosion on Sept 10, 1814 at the Siege of Ft. Erie. Although this battle was not along the St. Lawrence River it is of interest that north country men were involved in that battle. John Polley Jr. was born in 1785. His father was one of the first settlers in Massena. John Jr. and I believe his father, built the first accommodations in Massena on the corner of S. Main and E. Hatfield for E.M. Smith known as the Smith House.

More on John Polley from Lossing:

"We left St. Regis toward the evening of a delightful day, and reached Massena just as the guests of the hotel were assembling at the supper table. At twilight I walked leisurely down to the springs on the margin of the swift flowing Racquette, and under the pavilion that covers the principal fountain of health I met a venerable man, who informed me that he was one of the first settlers i that region. He was in the War of 1812 as a soldier, and fought in some of the battles on the Niagara frontier. He was badly wounded at Black Rock by the explosion of a bomb-shell that came from a battery on the Canada side. "I was knocked down,: he said, "had my breastbone stove in, and three ribs broken." He was at Fort Erie at the time of the sanguinary sortie, but was unable to walk on account of his wounds. That veteran was Captain John Polley, already mentioned. He was then seventy-two years of age. He had seen all the country around him bloom out of the wilderness, and had outlived most of the companions of his youth."

• September 13, 1814:

The British bombardment of Fort McHenry inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner" on September 13, 1814.

• January 8, 1815:

Battle of New Orleans