USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Peterborough > History of the town of Peterborough, Hillsborough county, New Hampshire > Part 43
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Elizabeth, b. Oct. 21, 1815 ; m., 1839, John Lozedder ; d., 1847, in Illinois.
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Mary, b. Aug. 14, 1819 ; m., Sept. 11, 1845, Chester T. Hills ; r. Medina, O.
THE MCALISTER FAMILY.
I
RANDALL MCALISTER lived in the east part of the town, on land north and embracing part of the William Field farm. We have no means of determining when he came to town, only that it was before the Revolution. He came from Scotland as a soldier in the British army, and deserted at Boston a short time before the battle of Bunker Hill. He was among the Americans in this memorable battle, and was badly wounded in the mouth and side of the neck, the ball having entered the mouth and come out, one half in the back of the neck, the other in the mouth. A comrade, who knew the circum- stances of his desertion, and the danger of his falling into the hands of the enemy, took him on his back and carried him over Charlestown Neck to a place of safety. He served all through the Revolutionary war. He was b. in Scotland, Sept. 21, 1744, and d. in Peterborough, May 23, 1819, æ. 75 yrs. He m. Mary Blair, dau. Will- iam Blair, Sen., b. March 4, 1749 ; d. Oct. 14, 1833, æ. 84 yrs.
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Mary, b. Nov. 26, 1785 ; m. William Field.
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THE McCOY FAMILY.
WILLIAM McCoy must have been an early settler, probably about 1752 or '53. He began the place after- wards owned and occupied by John Leathers. He d. there March 4, 1794, æ. 67 yrs. His wife, Mary, d. March 22, 1791, æ. 62 yrs.
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Andrew, b. July 2, 1753. (3) Elizabeth, b. May 13, 1755. Martha, b. Oct. 10, 1757 ; m. Dr. Gale, Dracut, Mass .; 2d hus., Col. Varnum ; r. Dracut, Mass.
141
HIRAM McCOY.
Mary, b. Aug. 10, 1759 ; unm. ; d. Dec. 27, 1839, æ. 81 yrs. t Charles, b. Feb. 17, 1761 ; m. Jane Templeton. Sarah, b. 1762 ; unm. ; d. June 29, 1834, æ. 72 yrs. Samuel, b. 1767 ; unm. ; d. June 29, 1801 ; killed by a horse.
William, b. 1768 ; unm. ; d. April 13, 1834, æ. 66 yrs. ; insane.
CHARLES McCOY. He lived on a farm adjoining his father's, which was afterwards occupied by his son, Will- iam McCoy. He m. Jane Templeton, dau. James Templeton. She d. Aug. 20, 1849, æ. 83 yrs. He d. Feb. 10, 1828, æ. 67 yrs. In the Revolution he served in Rhode Island, 1778, in Col. Enoch Hale's Reg. He also went to Bennington in 1777.
Mary, b. 1790 ; m. Nathan Leathers. Fane, b. 1791 ; unm. ; d. Aug. 5, 1863, æ. 72 yrs. Martha, b. 1794; m. Parker Varnum.
¡ Samuel, b. Sept. 11, 1797 ; m. Elizabeth Bailey. Sally, b. 1799 ; unm. ; d. June 25, 1861, æ. 62 yrs. t William, b. June 2, 1802 ; m. Mrs. Carrie Cudworth. James, b. 1808 ; unm. ; d. Nov. 3, 1875, æ. 67 yrs. Susan, b. 1810 ; m. Joseph True ; d. June 20, 1845, æ. 35 yrs.
SAMUEL McCOY. He settled on a farm directly north of his father's farm. He was a farmer. He m. Eliza- beth Bailey. He d. Sept. 4, 1871, æ. 75 yrs.
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Elizabeth, b. Jan. 16, 1823 ; d. May 28, 1864, æ. 41 yrs. ¡ Hiram, b. Nov. 16, 1825 ; m. Ruth Smiley. t Charles, b. Sept. 28, 1827 ; m. M. C. Hildreth, Lowell. John, b. Sept. 1, 1835 ; m. Harriet Davis ; r. Lowell. Then follow the births of four ch. ; all d. young.
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WILLIAM McCOY. He lived on the homestead. He m. Mrs. Carrie Cudworth. He d. May -.
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Albert, b. April 1, 1849 ; d. Aug. 25, 1854, æ. 5 yrs., 4 mos. Fane, b. May 1, 1854 ; d.
William Henry, b. March 2, 1859.
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HIRAM McCOY. He lives on the James Howe place. He m. Ruth Smiley, dau. Francis Smiley, April 7, 1864; b. Dec. 4, 1823.
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IO II I2 I3 I4 I5 I6 I7 6- 13
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142
WILLIE H. McCOY.
25 26
Willie H., b. Sept. 9, 1865. Perley S., b. March 6, 1868.
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CHARLES McCoy. He is a moulder by trade ; r. Lowell ; m. M. C. Hildreth, of Lowell, April 30, 1853.
27 28 29 30 32
Charles, b. Peterborough, 1853 ; d. at Lowell, 1854. Franklin, b. Nov. 20, 1855.
George, b. Oct. 20, 1859 ; d. November, 1874, æ. 15 yrs. Alvin, b. Sept. 4, 1861. (31) Edward C., b. March 4, 1863. Mary C., b. Sept. 4, 1866.
THE McCLOUD FAMILY.
I
THOMAS MCCLOUD m. Elizabeth --. We know little of this family, only that such a family lived in town, and the following record was entered on the town books.
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Charles, b. Sept. 2, 1769. (3) Margaret, b. May 9, 1772. Thomas, b. April 25, 1775. (5) William, b. Nov. 29, 1776. Elizabeth, b. June 1, 1779. (7) Esther, b. Feb. 7, 1781. Polly, b. June 23, 1783. (9) John, b. July 29, 1785.
THE MCCLOURGE FAMILY.
I
GEORGE MCCLOURGE, son of Charles and Esther Mc- Clourge, b. in Londonderry, May 18, 1728. He was one of the family with Robert, b. Aug. 18, 1726, Mary, b. June 5, 1730, and John, b. Sept. 5, 1734. He m. Ann In regard to his residence in town we know noth- ing. We find the names of George and Robert Mc- Cloud, which we think should be McClourge, were enlisted in the Revolution, 1776, to serve five mos. each, probably sons of George McClourge.
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Elizabeth, b. Aug. 22, 1752. (3) Fohn, b. --. Robert, b. Feb. 13, 1755. (5) Samuel, b. Sept. 13, 1757.
Sarah, b. March 29, 1759. (7) George, b. Jan. 10, 1760.
THE MCKEAN FAMILY.
I
JAMES MCKEAN began the David Blanchard place about 1765, and d. at an early age. He was b. in Londonderry, June 15, 1739, and d. in Peterborough, Feb. 26, 1776, æ. 37 yrs. He m. Mary Cuningham, dau. of Thomas Cuning- ham, b. in Townsend, Mass., Sept. 6, 1746. After his death she m. Samuel Treadwell, and d. Aug. 27, 1833, æ. 87 yrs. A son of Mckean's, when in his minority, sold the place to the Chubbucks, and they again to Elihu Penniman. Young Mckean sued Penniman for posses-
143
JOHN MILTON MEARS.
sion, on account of the illegality of the sale in his minority, but Penniman was sustained by the courts, and held the land.
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Levi, b. Oct. 22, 1768 ; re. to Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
THE MAYNARD FAMILY.
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SAMUEL MAYNARD m., Ist w., Nancy C. Gibbs, wid. of Abel Gibbs, and dau. James Porter. She d. April 2, 1849, æ. 62 yrs. ; m., 2d w., Mrs. - Hayden, of Tem- ple. He d. Nov. 18, 1863, æ. 67 yrs. He was chosen deacon in the Presbyterian church, June 8, 1836. He r. near Hunt's Corner, occupying, in part, the old Porter farm.
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Hannah Curtis, b. March 20, 1824 ; d. Oct. 15, 1850, æ. 26 yrs., 6 mos. Samuel F., b. April 14, 1827 ; d. in Iowa. Israel F., b. June 29, 1829.
Eliza, b. July 17, 1832 ; d. Jan. 17, 1862, æ. 29 yrs., 6 mos.
THE MEARS FAMILY.
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FRANKLIN MEARS, accompanied by his parents, Oliver and Eunice Perry Mears, came to Peterborough from Goffstown, in 1837, and purchased T. K. Ames' farm, originally the William Powers place, and a part of the Thomas Morison place. Oliver Mears was b. in Easton, Mass., Nov. 26, 1777, and d. in Peterborough, June 23, 1857, æ. 80 yrs. His w. was b. in Woburn, Mass., Nov. 26, 1780, and d. in Peterborough, May 31, 1851, æ. 70 yrs. They were m. in Greenfield, Dec. 10, 1801. Franklin Mears was b. in Greenfield, Oct. 31, 1802 ; m., Ist w., Eliza Haseltine, b. in Amherst, Feb. 16, 1808 ; d. Jan. 20, 1846, æ. 37 yrs., II mos .; m., 2d w., Sarah McCoy, b. in Sharon, March 4, 1810; Ist w., two ch .; 2d w., two ch. A farmer.
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t John Milton, b. in Goffstown, Sept. 10, 1833 ; m., Ist w., Betsey B. Buswell ; 2d w., S. Almeda Upton. Henry F., b. Oct. 4, 1845 ; m. Cyntha Frost, June, 1876. Sarah E., b. July 4, 1848 ; m. Charles Farmer, 1875. Eunice E., b. April 19, 1854.
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JOHN MILTON MEARS m., Ist w., Betsey B. Buswell, Nov. 2, 1854 ; she d. Jan. 1, 1865, a. 35 yrs. ; m., 2d w., S. Almeda Upton, dau. Thomas and Lydia Snow Upton ;
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144
ELLIE C. MEARS.
Ist w., three children. A carpenter by trade. He lives on the homestead.
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Ellie C., b. Dec. 27, 1856. George M., b. Nov. 19, 1858.
Frank Elmer, b. Sept. 4, 1862.
THE MELVIN FAMILY.
I
REUBEN MELVIN was the son of Reuben Melvin, of Pelham ; b. in Pelham, Feb. 27, 1768 ; re. to Peterbor- ough in 1805. He m. Sarah Marshall, b. Sept. 5, 1765 ; she d. March 18, 1841, a. 75 yrs. He d. June 6, 1835, æ. 67 yrs. He lived in the north part of the town.
Reuben, b. Oct. 29, 1794 ; d. September, 1818, æ. 24 yrs. Diocletian, b. Feb. 26, 1796 ; m. Frances Smith ; she d. Feb. 25, 1864, æ. 57 yrs. ; he d. July 26, 1862, æ. 66 yrs.
Sarah, b. July 10, 1797 ; m. Alexander Smith ; r. Lon- donderry.
Chloe, b. March 15, 1799 ; d. Nov. 25, 1815, æ. 16 yrs. Daniel, b. June 12, 1800 ; m. Harriet Gregg; r. Eden, Vt. ; d. Sept. 29, 1847, æ. 47 yrs.
Florenza, b. Feb. 25, 1802 ; m. Abram Smith ; r. Eden, Vt. ; d. Sept. 11, 1871, æ. 69 yrs.
Clarissa, b. Dec. 29, 1804 ; m. Thomas Laws ; d. May 16, 1855, æ. 51 yrs.
Mary, b. Oct. 22, 1806 ; m. Joseph H. Ames, Aug. 28, 1832.
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Nancy, b. Feb. 20, 1811 ; m. John Richey; r. Platts- mouth, Neb.
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THE MILLER FAMILY.
We have had great perplexity in tracing out the origin of this family. By a record made by * S. Smith, in his Manuscript Note, it would appear that a certain Dea. Miller, of Londonderry, purchased certain lots of land in the north-east part of the town for his sons. We are not able to determine that he was a deacon, but that his Christian name was Samuel, and that he was the son of Robert Miller, one of the first settlers of Londonderry. His name appears on a tax-list of Nov. 9, 1750, for £2, 13s. 5d. for the support of preaching .; His name also appears on the Association Test, with that of his son, Matthew, April, 1776. He is reported to have pur- chased four hundred acres of land in town for his sons,
* Manuscript Note by Hon. S. Smith.
¡ History Londonderry, pp. 328, 332, 335.
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WILLIAM MILLER.
Matthew, John, William, and James, which was bought with the proceeds of linen cloth, thread, etc., manufact- ured by his thrifty and industrious wife. He first pro- vided for Matthew by a lot embracing the Parker place and that next east of it, which was sold by him to Samuel Miller, a brother, and then to young Samuel, probably the son of James, and by him to Robert Clark and Timothy Ames. And then he gave William and James lots just east; James on the south side of the road, and William on the north side. These brothers carried on their farms in common till their families had grown up. And lastly, he provided for his son John by buying land situated east of the lots of William and James. Of the father, Samuel Miller, we know very little. It is uncertain whether he ever lived in town much. He probably continued his residence in London- derry, and d. there. His w. d. in New Boston, with her dau., Mrs. Patterson ; date unknown. Matthew withdrew from town on the sale of his farm, and settled in Pom- fret, Vt., late in life. The following are all the data we can obtain of Samuel Miller's family.
2
Matthew, b. June 15, 1730; m. Mary Morrison, b. Oct. 8, 1736. He d. in Pomfret, Vt., May 30, 1824, æ. 94 yrs.
3 i James, 1 &b. 1738; m. Jane Todd, dau. Col. Andrew Todd.
m. Catharine Gregg.
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t William,
(6) John, b. -.
Samuel, b. Susanna, b. -; m. Dea. Patterson ; r. New Bos- ton.
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MATTHEW MILLER. After selling his farm he returned to Londonderry, and remained there through the Revo- lution, and served frequently as a minute-man, and for short periods. His name is on the Association Test in Londonderry, in 1776. He subsequently re. to Pom- fret, Vt., where he d. May 30, 1824, æ. 94 yrs. He m. Mary Morrison, b. Oct. 8, 1736, who d. in Rockingham, Vt., May 21, 1815, æ. 78 yrs., 7 mos.
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Mary, b. in Peterborough, April 28, 1757; m. Burns ; d. Pomfret, March 31, 1824, æ. 74 yrs. Samuel, b. in Peterborough, Feb. 1, 1759 ; d. Rocking- ham, Vt., Feb. 16, 1819, æ. 60 yrs.
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Fames, b. in Peterborough, June 24, 1761 ; d. in Chester, Vt., Jan. 9, 1826, æ. 64 yrs., 6 mos.
II William, b. in Peterborough, Sept. 2, 1763 ; d. Merri- mack, Jan. 14, 1818, æ. 54 yrs., 4 mos. 19
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NANCY MILLER.
12 Nancy, b. in Peterborough, Dec. 29, 1765 ; m. - Campbell ; d. Acworth, Aug. 19, 1819, æ. 53 yrs., 7 mos.
13
Susanna, b. in Peterborough, April 2, 1768 ; m. Vickery ; d. in Chester, Vt., 1860, æ. 92 yrs.
14
John, b. in Peterborough, Sept. 15, 1770 ; d. in Pomfret, Jan. 31, 1856, æ. 85 yrs., 4 mos.
15 Matthew, b. Londonderry, Sept. 16, 1773 ; d. in Rock- ingham, Dec. 6, 1831, æ. 58 yrs.
16 Fane, b. Londonderry, August, 1776; m. - Johnson ; 2d hus., - Mead ; d. in Cavendish, Vt., Sept. 12, 1850, æ. 80 yrs.
17
Anna, b. Londonderry, May 5, 1779 ; m. - Ship- man ; d. Walpole, Jan. 8, 1821, æ. 41 yrs.
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; JAMES MILLER. He occupied the place given him by his father, and here reared up his large and important family. He m. Catharine Gregg, who d. May 23, 1833, æ. 89 yrs. Hed. Nov. 21, 1825, æ. 87 yrs. He came from Londonderry, but we are uncertain in regard to the time. It is supposed that he was quite young, and that he was a twin brother of James, as both are found to be born the same year, 1738.
¿Hugh, b. October, 1768 ; m. Anna Templeton.
18 19 Samuel, b. 1772 ; m. Sylvia Keep ; re. to Dummerstown, Vt.
20
Jenny, b. 1774; m. Samuel Templeton.
2I t Fames, b. April 25, 1776 ; m., Ist w., Martha Ferguson ; 2d w., Ruth Flint, Lincoln, Mass.
22
Polly, b. 1777 ; d. Dec. 28, 1796, æ. 19 yrs.
Catharine, b. -; m. Daniel McFarland; r. Antrim, and d. there.
23 24 25
Jacob, b. -; m. Jane Hopkins ; he d. in Arkansas, 1822. William, b. -.
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WILLIAM MILLER. He settled on the lot given him by his father, opposite to his brother James' farm, which was afterwards occupied by his son Andrew. It is probable that he came to town at the same time his brother did. He m. Jane Todd, dau. of Col. Andrew and Beatrix Todd, of Londonderry. Col. Todd came to Peterborough in 1776, and lived with his dau. till his death, 1777. She d. Nov. 5, 1796, æ. 60 yrs. He d. April 11, 1796, æ. 58 yrs.
Samuel, b. 1767 ; d. Oct. 15, 1793, æ. 26 yrs.
26 27 Betsey, b. 1769 ; m. David White.
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JAMES MILLER.
j Andrew, b. March 18, 1774 ; m. Jane Ames.
t William, b. March 18, 1774; m. Ruth Ames ; 2d w., Gracy Holmes. John, b. 1778 ; d. Aug. 6, 1796, æ. 18 yrs.
Sarah, b. -; m. - Duncan ; 2d hus., James Todd.
HUGH MILLER always resided in town, occupying a farm directly south of his father's farm. He m. Jane Templeton, dau. of Matthew Templeton, in 1795, who d. June 9, 1845, a. 71 yrs. He d. Dec. 10, 1847, æ. 79 yrs. He was always an influential man in town. In all those Sunday noon discussions under the beech trees on the meeting-house hill, he always held a conspicuous part. He was a man of ripe and sound judgment, and just views. He was honored by the town as hardly any other man ever was. He was chosen selectman for twenty- four years in succession after 1805, and also represented the town in the Legislature for ten years, from 1815 to 1832.
t Samuel, b. Jan. 5, 1796 ; m. Ruth Bowers, Aug. 9, 1831. James, b. March 15, 1798 ; d. at Fort Smith, Arkansas, Aug. 15, 1822, æ. 24 yrs. Fane, b. February, 1800 ; m. Moody Davis ; d. Sept. 27, 1856, æ. 56 yrs. One ch.
Rodney, b. June 14, 1802 ; d. in Maine, Feb. 4, 1854, æ. 52 yrs.
JAMES MILLER (Gen.) was a native of Peterborough, b. April 25, 1776, and son of James Miller, of this town, who was of Scotch-Irish descent, his ancestors having emigrated from the north of Ireland. They were among the first settlers of Londonderry. In early life, like all the descendants of our first settlers, he was made hardy by labor, and insured a strong, vigorous constitution by the hard discipline on the farm. While young, he received the common school education, which was exceedingly meagre at this time. He afterwards pur- sued his studies at the academy at Amherst, and for a time was a member of Williams College, Williamstown, Mass. He studied law with James Wilson, Sen., Esq., of Peterborough. Having finished his course of study, he was admitted to the bar of his native County of Hillsboro, in 1803. About this time he settled in the neighboring town of Greenfield, in the practice of his profession, where he was soon in command of the com- pany of artillery attached to the 26th Regiment of the New Hampshire Militia .* His military bearing, aptitude,
* Adjutant-General's Report New Hampshire, for 1868.
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32 33 34 35 3- 21
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JAMES MILLER.
and skill in manœuvering and drill, attracted the atten- tion of Gen. Benjamin Pierce, and at his earnest recom- mendation Capt. Miller was appointed Major of the 4th Regiment of United States Infantry, commanded by Col. John P. Boyd, and then stationed at Fort Independence, in the harbor of Boston. His commission bears date March 3, 1809, taking rank from 8th of July, 1808. This regiment contained many officers and men from New Hampshire, and after Major Miller's appointment to it, many more joined the regiment from the interior of the State.
He remained at Fort Independence till 1811, when the 4th Regiment was ordered to Vincennes, Ind., to join the army of Gen. Harrison in the war with the Indians. Col. Boyd was ordered on in advance of his regiment, and the command devolved on Col. Miller. He pro- ceeded to his destination by way of Philadelphia, Pitts- burg, and three hundred miles down the Ohio, and one hundred and seventy miles up the Wabash in boats, - a long journey, all before the days of steamboats or rail- road transportation. While at Fort Harrison, he was attacked by a fever, and was deterred thereby from tak- ing a part in the disastrous battle of Tippecanoe, occa- sioned by the treachery of the Indians, in which the troops were barely victors, after a hard struggle in which the 4th Regiment took a conspicuous part.
In May, 1812, the 4th Regiment, under Col. Miller's command, was ordered to join Gen. Hull's army, at Urbana, O., where they met Gen. Hull and his army, and marched together to Detroit. Soon after June 18, 1812, war was declared against Great Britain, and preparations were made to invade Canada. In a letter to his wife, July 14, 1812, he says that he had the com- mand in effecting a passage of the army over the river to Sandwich, Upper Canada, and also had the honor and gratification of planting with his own hands, assisted by Gen. Cass, the first United States standard on the pleasant banks of the Detroit River, in King George's dominion, Province of Upper Canada.
He was in Hull's army but a short time before it sur- rendered. On the 9th of August there was quite a severe encounter with the British and Indians, at Maguaga or Brownstown, his first battle, in which he had the command of six hundred men, which was quite suc- cessful. In this engagement a superior force of British and Indians was compelled to fly, and the famous Indian chief, Tecumseh, was wounded in the neck. In his letters he always expresses a confidence in the army's being able to sustain itself with proper management, and
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JAMES MILLER.
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was strongly opposed to a surrender which Gen. Hull made without any consultation of his officers. He did not know that Gen. Hull had any intention of surrender- ing till it was accomplished.
In a letter of Aug. 27, 1812, he says: "Only one week after, I with six hundred men completely con- quered almost the whole force which they then had. They came and took Fort Detroit, and made two thou- sand of us prisoners on Sunday, the 16th inst." He was soon patrolled and came home, but was not exchanged, so that he did no more military duty that year. He was exchanged for Lord Dacres early the next year, and he writes home from Sackett's Harbor as early as May I, 1813. He was constantly engaged through the unsuc- cessful campaign of 1813 without being in many battles. He took an active and perilous part in the battle of Fort George, which continued three hours, in which the Amer- ican arms were successful in capturing the fort and a large quantity of military stores. In his letter of May 27, he says : "I escaped unhurt, and hope to feel suit- ably thankful to that All-ruling Power who preserved me." In his letter of June 13, 1813, after speaking of the great neglect of the sick, and the want of everything to make them comfortable, he says: "I found thirty of my regiment wounded, at Sackett's Harbor, who had been brought in from the battle of York. They were as ragged as bears and lousy as cattle, and no clothing to change them. I ordered India cotton to be bought to make each a shirt, and hired them made." He says, June 24, 1813, that in consequence of the capture of Gens. Winder and Chandler the command of six regi- ments devolved on him, and that "Gen. Boyd is the only acting general we have." He felt great dissatisfac- tion through all the campaign with the management of the war. He was confident that with good generalship and persevering action, the Americans would not only be able to keep their ground, but even to drive the enemy out of the province. But the military operations of the year closed without having effected anything of importance.
In his letter, from French Mills, of Nov. 9, 1813, he says : "We have ended, in my opinion, another disgrace- ful campaign, much to the dishonor of the American arms. It appears to me that the termination of this campaign will have a worse effect on the public mind than even Hull's itself, and will shake the government to its centre ; and could this solemn lesson teach the government to make more judicious appointments of general officers, we might yet retrieve our reputation as
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JAMES MILLER.
soldiers." The campaign of 1814 was vastly more active and successful than those of the former years. It
took time to bring forward men qualified to conduct and still lacked competent generals, as in the Rebellion it
trained in service, at the great peril of the nation, before command our armies ; they had to be educated and
they acquired or deserved the confidence of the troops much fighting, and was in several memorable battles, or of the people. It was during this year that he saw
Brown, addressing Col. Miller, said, "Colonel, take your that a certain British battery should be carried, Gen. When, in the course of the battle, it was necessary coolness and intrepidity that has immortalized his name. Lundy's Lane, that occurred that memorable feat of escape unhurt. It was at the battle of Niagara, or and still, as heretofore, he had the good fortune to
regiment, storm that work and take it." "I'll try,
sir," responded the brave Miller promptly, and immedi-
ately moved forward to the perilous task .* The follow-
ing letter gives a graphic description of this adventure : " FORT ERIE, July 28, 1814.
25th inst., at the Falls of Niagara, we met the enemy, God for his continued mercies and protection. On the " My Beloved Ruth, -I have great reason to thank
actions ever experienced in America. It continued for and had, I believe, one of the most desperately fought
wounded and missing, one hundred and twenty-six. The wounded. I have lost from my regiment, in killed and strong position. Our loss was very severe in killed and o'clock at night we succeeded in driving them from their three hours, stubbornly on both sides, when about ten
Brown he could do no good until that height was carried advancing .. Maj. McRee, the chief engineer, told Gen. columns in any part of the field, and prevented their very commanding position, where they could rake our enemy had got their artillery posted on a height, in a
dred men with me, as my regiment had been much storm that work and take it.' I had short of three hun- to me and said, 'Col. Miller, take your regiment, and It was then night, but moonlight. Gen. Brown turned and those cannon taken or driven from their position.
weakened by the numerous details made from it during
was most favorable to approach, but happened to hit ing and ready. I did not know what side of the work We could see all their slow matches and port-fires burn- the day. I, however, immediately obeyed the order.
advanced upon the mouths of their cannon. It hap- upon a very favorable place, notwithstanding we
* Pictorial Field Book of War of 1812, p. 819.
151
JAMES MILLER.
pened that there was an old rail-fence on the side where we approached, with a small growth of shrubbery by the fence and within less than two rods of the cannon's mouth, undiscovered by the enemy. I then very cau- tiously ordered my men to rest across the fence, take good aim, fire, and rush, which was done in style. Not one man at the cannon was left to put fire to them. We got into the centre of their park before they had time to oppose us. A British line was formed, and lying in a strong position to protect their artillery. The moment we got to the centre, they opened a most destructive flank fire on us, killed a great many, and attempted to charge with their bayonets. We returned the fire so warmly they were compelled to stand ; we fought hand to hand for some time, so close that the blaze of our guns crossed each other ; but we compelled them to . abandon their whole artillery, ammunition-wagons and all, amounting to seven pieces of elegant brass cannon, one of which was a twenty-four-pounder, with eight horses and harness, though some of the horses were killed. The British made two more attempts to charge us at close quarters, both of which we repulsed before I was reinforced, after which the Ist and 23d Regs. came to my relief. And even after that, the British charged with their whole line there several times, and after getting within half pistol-shot of us were compelled to give way. I took, with my regiment, between thirty and forty pris- oners, while taking and defending the artillery. . . . After Generals Brown, Scott, and others were wounded, we were ordered to return back to our camp, about three miles, and preparations had not been made for taking off the cannon, as it was impossible for me to defend them and make preparations for that too, and they were all left on the ground except one beautiful six-pounder, which was presented to my regiment in testimony of their distin- guished gallantry. The officers of this army all say, who saw it, that it was one of the most desperate and gallant acts ever known; the British officers whom we have prisoners say it was the most desperate thing they ever saw or heard of. Gen. Brown told me, the moment he saw me, that I had immortalized myself. 'But,' said he, 'my dear fellow, my heart ached for you when I gave you the order, but I knew that it was the only thing that would save us.'"
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