USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Pittsfield > The history of Pittsfield (Berkshire County), Massachusetts, from the year 1800 to the year 1876 > Part 23
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A few weeks before the death of Dr. Allen, on the 23d of Sep- tember, his brother, Solomon L. Allen, was killed by falling from the roof of a college-building, which was unfinished, at Middle-
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bury, Vt. Professor Allen graduated at Middlebury, in 1815, and was elected professor of the ancient languages, a short time before his death.
Still another son of Rev. Mr. Allen, Samuel. L. Allen, died at Ogeechee, near Savannah, Georgia, August 10, 1816. He was born in 1784, entered the United States army at the commence- ment of the war of 1812, and served with fidelity and reputation ; being engaged in nearly all the hard-fought battles on what was then the western frontier.
Lieutenant William Browning, before entering the army, was a hatter. He is described by those who knew, as possessing unu- sual accomplishments, and a very laudable ambition.
Captain David Perry was a lawyer, who removed to Pittsfield from the east-from Boston, it is said ; but our information of him is scanty.
Captain, afterwards Major, Reynolds M. Kirby, was also a law- yer in Pittsfield, and married Harriet, daughter of Colonel Simon Larned. In the nullification-excitement of 1832, he was in com- mand of the guard stationed at the state-arsenal in Charleston, which was removed, at the request of the governor of South Caro- lina, to Fort Moultrie.
Eleazer Wheelock Ripley, born at Hanover, N. H., in 1782, was the son of Rev. Sylvanus Ripley, first professor of divinity at Dartmouth college, and grandson of Rev. Dr. Eleazer Wheel- ock, the founder and first president of that institution. He was also a lineal descendant of Miles Standish. He graduated at Dartmouth in 1800, and settled, in the practice of the law, at at Fryeburg in Maine. Being a member of the Massachusetts house of representatives, when, in January, 1812, Joseph Story resigned the speakership on his appointment as judge of the United States supreme court, Mr. Ripley was chosen to fill the vacancy. In 1811, he married Miss Love, daughter of Rev. Thomas Allen, a lady to whom tradition attributes unusual charms of mind and person ; with whose family that of her hus- band was already connected by the marriage of Rev. Dr. William Allen to the daughter of the second President Wheelock.
At the breaking out of the war, Mr. Ripley received a commis- sion as lieutenant-colonel in the 21st regiment : of which, Mr. Hildreth says : " A lieutenant-colonelcy was given to Eleazer W. Ripley, a young democrat from Maine, who had succeeded Story
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as speaker of the late democratic house of representatives. Rip- ley's subsequent conduct justified this appointment." Lieuten- ant-Colonel Ripley came back to Pittsfield, where he had married the previous year, at the head of a fine detachment of men which he had raised in Maine. His conduct in the field was so credita- ble that, in March, 1814, he was promoted brigadier-general in company with Scott, Gaines and Macomb. In the campaign of the following summer he served gallantly ; aud at the sortie of Fort Erie, on the 17th of September, while at the head of the 21st regiment, then engaged at close quarters with the enemy, received a very dangerous wound in the neck, from which a tedious and painful confinement resulted, during which he was faithfully attended by his young wife.
In November, congress voted to Generals Brown, Scott, Gaines, Miller, Porter and Ripley, the thanks of the nation; and, to each, a gold medal. That of General Ripley bore on one side, his bust, in profile, his name and military title; on the other, a figure of Victory, hanging upon the branches of a palm-tree a tablet inscribed with the names Chippewa, Niagara, Erie. New York, Massachusetts, South Carolina and Georgia, also voted thanks, and "visible tokens of approbation " to General Ripley.
When he returned to Pittsfield, in February, 1815, the citizens honored him with a public dinner "for the great services which he had rendered the country since the commencement of the war." Most of the prominent democrats of the town, with many from other parts of Berkshire, and from the army, were present. The venerable Dr. Timothy Childs presided at the table, assisted by Generals John B. Root and Nathan Willis. The dinner was upon the 20th of February. The news of the treaty of Ghent had been received two days before, and intelligence of its ratification reached Pittsfield the next morning. It was doubtless anticipated by all the guests; and one of the points which the proceedings brought out was the readiness of the democratic mind to turn at once to the old antagonism with British manufactures.
Among the toasts were the following :
Peace: We bid thee welcome; and, as the only means of preserving thee, may we be always prepared for war.
The bayonet and the shuttle : Let us learn to manage the latter in peace as well as we have the former in war, and we shall soon be rid of British goods and British influence.
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The 9th and 21st regiments: The dread of the enemy, they have achieved imperishable glory.
The memory of our heroes who have fallen in battle: Pike, Coving- ton, Backus, Lawrence, Ludlow, Allen, and other gallant spirits. They are embalmed in the hearts of their countrymen; and the sod which covers them shall ever be moistened with tears of American gratitude.
The first volunteer toast was by General Ripley :
Massachusetts : May her energies be combined in that course of pol- jey which shall give her an influence commensurate with the valor of her sons in war, and their enterprise in peace.1
The following volunteer toasts were given :
By Dr. Childs. Brigadier-General Ripley : He has bravely defended the injured rights of his country ; unfading laurels are his reward.
By Colonel Simon Larned. A soldier's honor; his all. His precious heritage must never be wrested from him by force, nor contaminated by the finger of malice or the tongue of duplicity.
By Lieutenant Browning. Brigadier-General Ripley: The hero of Massachusetts, and the savior of the army at Niagara Falls. May his glory never be tarnished by secret enemies.
The peculiar undertone of these sentiments arose from a quar- rel then existing between General Ripley and General Brown, his commander in the invasion of Canada ; where the latter, after having been severely wounded and carried from the field, claimed the right still to command ; which General Ripley, the officer next in rank, denied; and in violation of Brown's express orders, pru- dently recrossed the river.
Ripley was finally sustained by the government; and his friends emphasized their approbation by the various tokens we have enumerated.
Hildreth thus shrewdly explains the philosophy of the disagree- ment between Brown and Ripley :
Brown and Scott, inflamed with a strong passion for military distinc- tion, desired anxiously to show that there were officers and men in the American army with courage to face the enemy, and skill and determi-
] Notwithstanding the unpopularity of the war in thatregion, and especially in Massachusetts, that state furnished during the year 1814, over fourteen thousand troops Indeed, Massachusetts furnished more recruits than any single state ; and lukewarm New England more than all the hot slave-states, who were ever clamorous for war, put together. Lossing, War of 1812.
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nation enough to beat him in any equal battle. * * * Brown obtained leave to undertake a new invasion of Canada. Ripley, an able officer, but without any enthusiasm for mere fighting for the sake of it, thought the expedition Quixotic, the force much too small, and, should the enemy obtain the command of the lake, likely to be cut off and obliged to.surrender.
General Ripley was one of the four brigadiers retained in the reduction of the army to a peace-basis; the others being Scott, Gaines and Macomb. In 1816, he was assigned to the command of the military district whose head-quarters were at New Orleans. In 1820, he resigned, but remained in that city in the practice of the law ; and in 1836, was chosen representative in congress, which office he held until his death in 1839.
Maj. Benjamin Watson was born at Newport, R. I., in 1789, and entered the army, in 1812, as second lieutenant in the 24th infan- try, and in the following year was successively promoted first lieu- tenant and adjutant, with the rank of captain. In 1814, he was brev- eted major for gallant conduct at the battle of Niagara Falls. In the reduction of the army he was retained as major in the 6th infan- try. In August, 1820, being then in command of the post at Pitts- field, he married Miss Elizabeth Marsh of that town, a grand- daughter of Dea. Wm. Williams of Dalton. He died Oct. 4, 1827, in the house of his friend, Gen. E. P. Gaines, at Newport, Ky., and was buried in the private burying-ground of Gen. Zachary Taylor.
Captain Jared Ingersoll was the son of a well-known earnest democrat of the same name. His mother was, before her second marriage, the widow of Colonel John Brown, of revolutionary fame. Captain Ingersoll, the younger, was born in 1787. Like his father, a very ardent democrat, he entered the army at the commencement of the war, and served with conspicuous bravery. Even in the Bloody 9th, his gallantry was considered exceptional. His name and that of Major Kirby were frequently mentioned with the highest commendation in the dispatches of commanding officers. The citizens of Pittsfield recognized his merits by the presentation of a costly sword with a scabbard of solid silver. After the war he was for many years deputy-sheriff and coroner, holding the latter office at his death in 1871.1
1 It is extremely difficult to obtain information of the officers and soldiers of Pittsfield in the war of 1812. Even the fallen heroes, who were promised such lasting gratitude at the Ripley dinner, are so forgotten that we can learn the Christian name of only one : Hiram Backus.
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CHAPTER XI.
THE WAR OF 1812-POLITICAL EVENTS CONCERNING IT-THE MILITIA-PEACE.
[1812-1815.]
Opening of the war, and position of parties concerning it-Resolutions of Pittsfield in support of the national government-Washington Benevolent Society - Celebration of Washington's birthday - Election of John W. Hulbert to congress-Spies arrested and prisoners of war escape-Critical position of the country-Massachusetts militia called out-The question of their command-in-chief-Patriotic action of Pittsfield-The militia-system and Pittsfield militia - Berkshire militia marched to Boston - Chaplain Billy Hibbard's account-News of peace received with joyful demonstra- tions.
T THE establishment of a military post at Pittsfield could not fail to increase the number and ardor of the support- ers of the war; and therefore the violence of their antagonism to the friends of peace. This must have happened wherever, in any community politically divided upon the rightfulness of the con- flict, the Cantonment had been placed. But the sources of irrita- tion were multiplied by the location of the town in a state which openly set itself in opposition to the war, and threw all the obstacles it could, in the way of its successful prosecution by the general government.
The federalists of New England, with singular forgetfulness of the teachings of their fathers, and of the traditions from which they derived their name, refused any genuine acquiescence in the declaration of war, by the authority to whom the constitution entrusted the war-making power. If they did not, in arms or by furnishing supplies, afford aid and comfort to the enemy, they hung upon the rear of the armies of the republic with all their great moral force, and with all that could be effected through the state-governments in their control; who, for that purpose, made
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use of every power which they could wrest to themselves by any interpretation of the constitution.
In Massachusetts, especially, those who had emphatically pro- claimed their desire for a stronger government of the Union than was provided by the federal constitution, now avowed their belief in the extreme-doctrines of state-rights. The posi- tion of the commonwealth was almost that of Kentucky in the civil war of 1861. She was willing to aid, in her own way, in the defense of her own territory, if it should be invaded; and to labor, also in her own way, for the return of peace, without regard to its terms ; but not to join in the offensive operations of the national government, or in the defense of other states by her militia, or by encouraging recruiting within her borders. She even, at first, refused to place her militia under the command of the officer assigned to the department by the president, although it was to be employed within her own borders, and for her own defense : thus creating two rival military author- ities in the same territory. Passively, and by necessity, submit- ting to the establishment of recruiting-stations in her towns, she attempted to neutralize their effects; discouraging enlistments by the solemn declarations of her governor and resolutions of her legislature that the conflict, they were asked to engage in, was unnecessary, unjust and wicked. By petty acts of legislation, she did her best to embarrass the federal officers within her limits. Finally, in 1814. while a doubtful war was waging with a powerful enemy, she called a convention of other disappointed states, at Hartford, to change the constitution of the United States, which "had failed," she said, through her legislature, "under the administration of those now in power, to secure to Massachusetts and to New England generally, those equal rights and benefits, the great objects of its formation, and which cannot be relinquished without ruin." " The method of procuring amendments-the probable necessity of which had been foreseen -provided for in the constitution itself, was too slow of operation for the present crisis."1 And, therefore, she called together the delegates of neighboring states in secret convention, to radically change the fundamental law of the nation, hastily, and in violation of the method which had been agreed to by the great convention,
1 Hildreth's History of United States, vol. vi, p. 582.
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over which Washington presided. It can hardly be charged upon the opposition, as an excess of jealousy, that when a convention met and conducted its business in profound secrecy, with an object like that which had been declared in the above quotation they attributed to it, a design to destroy the Union, and even to form an alliance between Old and New England. Some indeed, even went so far as to charge upon the federal party a purpose to return to the original colonial state, or to erect a kingdom, with some scion of the house of Brunswick on the throne. Many defenses of the course of the commonwealth at this era have been published, and there were many pretexts for the acts cited. Her best excuse is the heat of party-passion, and the sense of wrong suffered, in the precipitation of the war, and in the anti-commer- cial measures by which it was preceded.
But whatever of defense or excuse there may have been for the federalists, the existence of a war with the old enemy, and the adhesion of what were left of the tories of the revolution to the peace-party, served to awaken all the old ultra-whig feeling in Pittsfield; and the democratic leaders spared no effort to fan the well-preserved embers. Nor did the violence of the enemy and the imprudence of the federal orators render this a hard task. The employment of Indian allies by the British commanders, the massacre of Frenchtown, the tales of suffering told by American soldiers, returning from British prisons, to those who daily wit- nessed the kindness with which those of the enemy at the Can- tonment were treated ; all sufficiently inflamed the popular mind against those politicians who in the slightest degree favored the enemies of the country. Governor Strong's unfortunate utter- ance that America was warring against "the Bulwark of the Protestant religion," was derisively quoted in connection with each new outrage of the British soldiery.
But the war-feeling in Pittsfield did not wait for these incite- ments before it unmistakably manifested itself in opposition to the peace-sentiments of eastern Massachusetts.
When the news of the declaration of war reached Boston, on the 23d of June, 1812, the legislature was in session ; and Gov- ernor Strong, who had just been elected by a small majority over his democratic predecessor, Elbridge Gerry, immediately trans- mitted to it the exciting document. The house of representa- tives, in which there was a decided federal majority-nearly two
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to one-promptly adopted an address, regretting the declaration, and expressing their sense of its inexpediency. The democrats, however, by means of the famous " Gerrymandering " process, had retained a majority in the senate ; and adopted an address of a precisely opposite tenor to that of the house. It set forth the long array of outrages committed upon American commerce and citizens, and declared that the constitutional authorities of the country had been driven by them to submit their cause to the God of battles. This address was a well-directed appeal to popu- lar sentiment, and especially calculated to inflame the passions of the partisans of its authors.
The action of the federalists in congress and the legislature, however injurious its effects may have been in checking the co-operation of the whole people in the support of the war, was in its tone calm and dignified, and suggested no overt acts in oppo- sition to the government. But many town-meetings in eastern Massachusetts were less cautious. Several held in Boston were particularly intemperate in their language. One held on the 6th of August, recommended a convention similar to that which actually met at Hartford as late as December, 1814. This reso- lution was earnestly opposed by Hon. Samuel Dexter, one of the most prominent members of the federal party, who said that such a convention as was proposed was unconstitutional, and that the government had the inherent power to put it down. Defining his own position and that of the other war-federalists, he declared that it was now too late to speculate upon the various causes which may have tended to produce the rupture with England; and, however he might deplore the existing state of things, he, nevertheless, considered it his duty, since war had been declared, to aid the government to the utmost of his power in maintaining it ; that, in his opinion, Great Britain had afforded sufficient ground to justify the declaration ; but that, at any rate, the pres- ident and congress of the United States were constitutionally the only competent judges upon that point ; and that, having sworn as a citizen to support the constitution and laws of the Union, he should consider himself nothing more nor less than a perjured traitor, were he now, since the question of war had been by them determined, to oppose, or hesitate to support, the measure.
The majority of the citizens of Pittsfield entertained views similar to those of Mr. Dexter, and expressed them in the old
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way; passing the following resolutions, by a very decided ma- jority, in a full town-meeting held for that purpose on the 27th of August, there having first been a very spirited discussion :
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas, the inhabitants of the town of Boston have, at sundry meetings of said inhabitants lately held, passed sundry resolutions, and recommended a system of measures to be adopted and pursued by such other disaffected towns or voluntary associations in this common- wealth as shall show a disposition to concur with them therein, which, under pretense of aiding the civil authorities of the state "in the suppres- sion of tumults, riots and unlawful assemblies," which have neither arisen or been threatened, have obviously in view the organization of an armed force within the bosom of the commonwealth, for some unavowed and illegitimate purpose-and have also appointed delegates to a convention of the state, unrecognized by the constitution and the laws-to be convened by no public or lawful authority-composed of persons deputed in no regular or authorized manner-and for the effecting of objects neither specified nor known to the good people of the commonwealth at large. And certain other towns and associations of disaffected individuals, having also adopted various measures of a similar import, tendency and design. And whereas, the aforesaid pro- ceedings, when taken in connection with the refusal of the governor of this commonwealth, and of the state of Connecticut, to order out such detachments of the militia of these states as are deemed necessary by the president of the United States, for the defense thereof against the invasions or depredations to which they are exposed on the part of a foreign nation with whom the United States are engaged in a just and necessary war. And whereas, the sentiments now openly propagated and avowed through the medium of the public newspapers printed in the town of Boston, and elsewhere, indicate an intention of withdrawing from the service of their country, at this most interesting crisis, the military force of the state, and arraying the people and civil authori- ties thereof against the authority of the United States, and against the just eause in which our country is now contending. And it is therefore deemed necessary, that the most prompt and efficient meas- ures should forthwith be adopted on the part of such of the inhabitants of this commonwealth as are resolved to stand or full with their coun- try, for the purpose of meeting all such events as may be brought upon them through the agency of such alarming and unjustifiable combina- tions, as well as for the upholding of the constituted authority of the Union in all lawful measures which they may adopt to vindicate the just rights of the nation abroad, and to maintain its authority at home. Therefore,
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Resolved, as the sense of this town, That we have all that confidence in our national government, which flows from an attachment to its princi- ples and an approbation of its measures. That we will obey its laws, execute to the utmost of our ability its constitutional requisitions, sup- press and defeat all unlawful combinations against its authority; and in despite of all open or insidious attempts to withdraw our allegiance from our country-will stand or fall in its common cause.
Resolved, That we have seen with mnuch regret, but entirely without dismay, sundry resolutions and proceedings of the town of Boston; which, under the pretense of suppressing tumultuous and unlawful assem- blies of the people, appear designed to arm one portion of them against the other, and to array the local and state authorities against that of the United States, instead of turning them to their proper and legiti- mate objects-the arrogance of its declared enemies.
Resolved, That the plan of organizing a state-convention, not recog- nized by the constitution or the laws of the commonwealth-called by no legitimate authority, and for effecting of no specified or avowed object, is either an idle and wanton attempt to alarm and vex the pub- lic mind with vain and nugatory projects; or to usurp unconstitutional and lawless powers, by a body having no regular title or claim to the exercise thereof-a procedure which, on the first supposition, merits our contempt, and the second demands, and shall receive, our unqualified resistance.
Resolved, That we will with equal promptitude, devote ourselves and substance to maintain the just rights of the nation against forcign aggression, and to put down domestic usurpations under whatever pre- tense they may be attempted, or under whatever local authorities they may be countenanced and supported.
Resolved, That although we have as sincere a detestation of all riotous and tumultuous proceedings as the town of Boston has, or would appear to have ; yet we will not affect terrors which we do not feel, nor will we exhaust that spirit and that indignation with which every American bosom ought, at this moment, to beat against our for- eign foes, in extravagant and passionate denunciations against our fel- low-citizens of other states, who, if guilty, are amenable to their own laws, and punishable by their own civil authorities.
Resolved, That it will conduce much to the quiet of the state, if the inhabitants of the town of Boston would attend more to their own concerns, and cease to harass the good people of the commonwealth with their impracticable " notions " and their ambitious and illusory projects.
Resolved, That the governor of the commonwealth having refused to call out those detachments of its militia, which were decmed necessary by the president of the United States to aid in the defense of its vulner-
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