USA > New York > A geographical history of the state of New York: embracing its history, government, physical features, climate, geology, mineralogy, botany, zoology, education, internal improvements, &c., with a separate map of each county > Part 10
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On the 27th of April, 1813, General Dearborne made a suc- cessful attack upon York, now Toronto, (Canada West), aided by the squadron of Commodore Chauncey. After a short re- sistance, it was captured, together with a large quantity of mili- tary stores. The force detailed for this service, consisted of about 1700 troops, under the command of General Z. M. Pike.
The enemy, in their retreat, laid a train of combustibles to their magazine, with the fiendish design of thus destroying the invaders. The scheme was, in part, successful ; and the brave and noble hearted Pike was killed, by the explo- sion, at the head of his troops, in the moment of triumph. The troops faltered for a moment, but rallied instantly, and drove the foe from the field. The British lost in this action ,in killed, wounded, and prisoners, about 750. The Americans, about 300.
Early in May, 1813, the Americans evacuated the fort at York. They removed to Four mile creek, a short distance below Fort Niagara, and, in connection with a force of 100 men, who were landed from two armed schooners despatched to co- operate with them, took possession of some military stores, at that place, belonging to the enemy, and then proceeded in safety to Fort Niagara.
On the 27th of May, a descent was made, by Commodore Chauncey, upon Fort George, which surrendered, after a short contest. The American loss in killed and wounded, was 150 : the British, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, 386, beside 507 militia men, released on their parole.
On the 23d of June, General Dearborne sent Lieutenant Colonel Boerstler with 570 men, to Beaver Dam, to disperse a body of the enemy. When within about two miles of that place, he was attacked by the foe, who, in ambuscade, had awaited his approach. After a short contest, he succeeded in driving them into an open field, and sent an express to Gen- eral Dearborne for reinforcements ; but before they could arrive, he was surrounded by a superior force, and compelled to sur- render.
During the period occupied by these enterprises, the enemy were not idle. About the last of May, Commodore Chauncey's fleet having left Sackett's Harbor, for Fort George, Sir George Prevost made a descent upon the town, with 1000 troops, but was repulsed with considerable loss. On the 19th of June, the British landed and burned the village of Sodus, where some
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military stores were deposited. On the following day, they made an unsuccessful attempt to land at Oswego. On the 2d of July, they again attacked Sackett's Harbor, but with no bet- ter success than before. On the 11th, they crossed over to Black Rock, and succeeded in capturing some stores.
Meantime, both parties were seeking to secure the exclusive control of Lake Erie. Commodore Perry, by extraordinary exertion, had built and equipped an American squadron of nine vessels, carrying fifty-four guns; and Commodore Bar- clay had prepared a British squadron of six vessels, mounting sixty-three guns.
The two squadrons met on the 10th of September, 1813, near the western extremity of the lake. Owing to a calm at the commencement of the action, the Lawrence, Commodore Perry's flag-ship, was exposed to almost the whole fire of the enemy, and soon disabled.
At this juncture, when the foe were ready to triumph, Perry, with four of his men, leaped into a boat, flag in hand, and a gentle breeze springing up at the time, brought the Niagara, to which he had transferred his flag, into action. Through the exertions of Captain Elliot, her commander, the remainder of the vessels were brought up, and the Niagara led the way through the enemy's line, supported by the rest of the squadron, pouring successive broadsides into five of their vessels. In a short time, the entire fleet of the enemy surrendered.
Commodore Perry communicated to General Harrison the following intelligence of his victory : " We have met the enemy, and they are ours."
This victory resulted in the evacuation of Detroit, by the Brit- ish army, which was pursued and overtaken by General Harri- son, on the river Thames, about eighty miles from Detroit. At this point was fought, on the 5th of October, the battle of the Thames, one of the most brilliant of the campaign. At this bat- tle, Tecumseh was killed, and the Indian force dispersed.
Preparations were now made by the American army for an attack on Montreal; and for this purpose, the divisions, com- manded by Generals Wilkinson and Hampton, were ordered to form a junction on the St. Lawrence. General Wilkinson moved down the river with his troops, early in November, and on the 19th of that month, a severe, but indecisive action was fought at Williamsburgh. Both parties claimed the victory. The American loss in killed and wounded was about 300; the British, about 200. Owing to some misunderstanding, the junction of the two divisions was not effected, and soon after, they went into winter quarters.
In December, General McClure, commanding at Fort George, hearing of the approach of a large British force, dismantled
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and abandoned the fort, having previously burned the Canadian village of Newark, now called Niagara.
On the 19th of this month, the British crossed the river and carried Fort Niagara by storm; and to revenge the burning of Newark, they proceeded to burn Lewistown, Youngstown, Manchester, now called Niagara Falls' Village, and the Tus- carora Indian village. On the 30th, they crossed again, and burned Black Rock and Buffalo. These villages were only guarded by small bodies of militia, who could oppose no effectual resistance to the marauders.
On the 3d of July, 1814, Generals Scott and Ripley with about 3000 troops, crossed the Niagara river and took Fort Erie, without opposition. The next day, General Brown ad- vanced, with the main body of his forces to Chippeway, about two miles south of the Falls. Here, on the 5th, General Riall, at the head of the British army, advanced to give them battle. The contest was severe, but resulted in favor of the Americans. The enemy lost nearly 500 men ; our own troops, 338.
General Riall, after his defeat, withdrew to Queenstown, and afterwards to Burlington Heights. Here he was reinforced by General Drummond, who took the command. The enemy appeared before the camp, just before sunset, on the 25th of July. The American army immediately formed in the order of battle, at Lundy's Lane, about half a mile north west from the Falls ; and there, amid the eternal roar of Niagara, the two infuriated hosts continued in deadly conflict, till past mid- night.
This was the most hotly contested action of the war ; General Scott led the advance, and first engaged a body of the enemy, greatly his superior in numbers, for an hour. Both parties were then reinforced, and the action renewed with greater fury than before. The British artillery was so placed upon an eminence, as to rake every part of the American army ; and it became evident that the result of the battle depended on the capture of that battery.
General Scott rode up to Colonel Miller and inquired, "can you storm that battery ?" "I can try, Sir ;" was the laconic reply ; and in a few moments, he was seen at the head of his regiment, impetuously charging upon the artillery, his ranks thinned at every step by the cannon balls.
The enemy resisted bravely, but could not withstand the charge. Three times they returned to the attack, but their battery was turned against them with mur- derous force ; and no sooner did they come within its range, than the deadly rifle, wielded with unerring aim, mowed them down by platoons.
General Drummond was himself wounded, and the army driven from the field. The British force engaged in this battle, was nearly one third greater than the American. The loss of the enemy was 878 ; of the American troops, 858.
Generals Brown and Scott having both been wounded in the battle, the command devolved on General Ripley, who thought it prudent to retire to Fort Erie. Here, on the 4th of August,
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he was besieged by General Drummond, at the head of five thousand men. Meanwhile, General Gaines arrived at the fort and took the command, as senior officer. On the 15th, the British made an assault on the fort, but were repulsed with the loss of nearly 1000 men. On the 17th of September, General Brown having recovered and taken the command, a sortie was made from the fort, and the advanced troops of the besiegers de- feated.
Soon after, hearing that General Izard was on his way with reinforcements, the enemy raised the siege and returned to Fort George. In November, Fort Erie was abandoned and dis- mantled by the Americans, who, crossing the river, went into winter quarters, in the neighborhood of the Lakes.
Meantime, events were occurring in the eastern part of the state, which materially hastened the termination of the war. General Wilkinson went into winter quarters at French Mills, now Fort Covington. In the latter part of winter, he broke up his encampment and removed to Plattsburg. On the 30th of March, 1814, he penetrated into Canada, and attacked a body of the enemy at La Colle Mills, on the Sorel river, but was re- pulsed with some loss, and returned to Plattsburg, where he was soon after superseded in command by General Izard.
Early in September, Sir George Prevost advanced towards Plattsburg with an army of 14,000 men, mostly European vet- erans, who had served under Wellington. At the same time, Commodore Downie appeared on Lake Champlain with seven- teen sail, mounting ninety-five guns, and carrying 1020 men. To oppose this force, General Macomb had only 1500 regular troops, and about 2500 militia ; and Commodore McDonough, a squadron of fourteen sail, mounting eighty-six guns, and carry- ing 820 men.
The two armies engaged in battle on Sunday, the 11th of September. The action between the land forces and the squad- rons commenced simultaneously. The British made the great- est exertions to cross the Saranac, but were repulsed at every attempt, with severe loss ; and their squadron having been cap- tured, and mostly destroyed, they retreated precipitately, leav- ing behind them large quantities of military stores. The entire loss of the British, in this action, including killed, wounded, pris- oners, and deserters, was estimated at 2500. The remaining battles of the war were fought at the south.
On the 24th of December, 1814, the treaty of Ghent was sign- ed by the commissioners of the two countries, and on the 17th of February, 1815, this treaty was confirmed by the President and Senate.
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Of the events which have transpired in this state since the war, there are so many living witnesses, that we shall give but a brief notice.
The canal project, which, during the war, had been forgotten, or neglected, was soon revived. In 1816, some steps were taken for bringing it before the legislature ; and in 1817, the petition of more than 100,000 citizens of the state, asking that laws should be passed for its construction, was presented to that body, and action taken thereon. The same year, the Erie and Champlain canals were both commenced and vigorously pros- ecuted to their final completion, which occurred, the latter in 1823, and the former in 1825.
In 1817, Governor Tompkins was chosen Vice President of the United States, and De Witt Clinton, the ardent and zealous friend of the system of internal improvements, was elected his successor. Governor Clinton was re-elected to the same office, in 1820. In 1821, a convention was called by an act of the legis- lature, to revise the constitution. This convention met at Alba- ny on the third Tuesday of June, 1821. The result of their deliberations, was the constitution, under which the state has been governed up to the year 1846. This constitution was ratified by the people, in December, 1821, by a majority of more than 33,000.
In 1822, Mr. Clinton having declined the nomination, Joseph C. Yates, at that time Judge of the Supreme Court, was chosen Governor. Mr. Clinton was re-elected, however, to that office, in 1824; and again in 1826. In 1825, the completion of the Erie Canal, and the union of the waters of Lake Erie and the Hud- son, was celebrated with great rejoicings.
In 1826, the anti-masonic excitement commenced.
The circumstances which led to it were these .* William Morgan, a Royal Arch Mason, and a printer by trade, said to be a native of Virginia, had taken up his residence in the village of Batavia, Genesee county. Not having been suc- cessful in business, he, probably from pecuniary considerations, determined to publish a pamphlet, containing a disclosure of the secrets of Masonry. His in- tentions were discovered by some of his fellow Masons, who communicated them to others of their own and adjacent lodges.
On the 11th of September, 1826, Mr. Cheesebrough, master of a lodge of Ma- sons at Canandaigua, Ontario county, procured a warrant from Jeffrey Chipman, a justice of the peace in Canandaigua, to arrest Morgan on charge of stealing a shirt and cravat. He with others then proceeded to Batavia, arrested Morgan, and brought him to Canandaigua, before Justice Chipman, who forthwith dis- charged him, as not guilty.
He was then arrested, on a small debt due to one Aaron Ashley, which Cheesebrough alleged had been assigned to him. The justice rendered judgment against Morgan for two dollars, on which, upon the oath of Cheesebrough, he in-
* The account of Morgan's abduction is abridged from Judge Hammond's Po- litical History of New York.
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stantly issued execution, and Morgan was committed to close confinement in Canandaigua jail.
During the night of the 12th of September, he was clandestinely taken from jail. by a number of Masons, thrown into a covered carriage, gagged and conveyed, on the evening of the 14th, to the Canada side of the Niagara river, thence taken back to the American side, and left in confinement in the magazine of Fort Niagara. He remained there till the 29th of September, in charge of Colonel King, of Niagara county, and one Elisha Adams, at which time he disappeared, and has never since been heard of. The almost universal impression has pre- vailed that he was murdered at that time, by the direction of members of the Masonic fraternity.
Measures were instantly taken to investigate this outrage ; but the committees appointed for this purpose, found themselves constantly thwarted, by members of the Masonic order, at this time in its most flourishing condition in this state. This opposition to an act of justice, excited the most intense feeling, among those members of community not connected with the Masons; and the excite- ment, which, in communities less influenced by moral principle, would have prompted to deeds of violence, here found vent at the ballot box ; and for a num- ber of years the anti-masons of Western New York, constituted a formidable political party.
Ere this excitement had reached its highest intensity, Gov- ernor Clinton died, very suddenly, while conversing with some friends, on the 11th of February, 1828. This painful event caused a deep sensation throughout the community.
Governor Clinton, though possessing some faults, had been an able and zealous friend of his native state. No man ever did more to promote her best interests. Amid discouragements which would have appalled ordinary men, he steadily ad- vocated and accomplished measures which time has proved eminently conducive to her welfare. It is sufficient proof of his patriotic foresight, that amid the ridicule of his associates, he dared to stake his reputation, on the success of the system of internal improvements. He has left an enduring record of his fame in the hearts of the people, whom his enlightened measures have endowed with plenty and prosperity.
On the decease of Governor Clinton, General Nathaniel Pitcher, the Lieutenant Governor, officiated the remainder of the term. In November, 1828, Martin Van Buren was elected Governor, and Enos T. Throop, Lieutenant Governor. Mr. Van Buren being appointed Secretary of State, in March, 1829, resigned his office, and Mr. Throop became acting Gov- ernor.
During the session of the legislature, in the winter of 1828-9, on the recommendation of Governor Van Buren, the Safety Fund Banking Law was passed. The main features of this law were conceived and drawn up by Joshua Forman, Esq. and by him communicated to Governor Van Buren, who by the aid of Thomas Olcott, Esq. of Albany, matured and presented it to the legislature.
In the autumn of 1830, Mr. Throop was elected Governor of the state. During his administration, there were a great num- ber of applications to the legislature, for aid to construct canals in different sections of the state, involving very large expendi-
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tures, and of doubtful pecuniary profit. Some of these, Govern- or Throop opposed as premature and unwise ; and his opposi- tion to them, though probably judicious, materially affected his popularity and rendered his re-election improbable.
In 1832, William L. Marcy was chosen Governor, and John Tracy, Lieutenant Governor. During the session of 1833, the bill authorizing the construction of the Chenango canal, a work attended with great expenditures, and which was strongly op- posed, passed the legislature. Mr. Marcy and Mr. Tracy were re-elected to office in 1834, by a large majority.
A law was passed, in 1835, directing the enlargement and improvement of the Erie canal, and the construction of double locks. This law has involved the state in a debt of some mag- nitude, but when the proposed improvements are completed, they will unquestionably greatly increase its revenues.
At this session of the legislature, also, the bill to provide the schools of the state with libraries, was passed ; a bill which it is hoped, will be of incalculable service to its youth. Governor Marcy and Lieutenant Governor Tracy, were, for a third time, elected to their respective offices.
In 1838, the pecuniary depression of the country produced a change in the politics of the state, and William H. Seward of Orange county, was chosen Governor, and Luther Bradish of Franklin county, Lieutenant Governor.
In 1840, the same gentlemen were re-elected.
In 1842, William C. Bouck, of Schoharie county, was elected Governor.
In 1844, Silas Wright of St. Lawrence county, who for a number of years had represented the State in the United States Senate, was elected Governor, and Addison Gardiner of Suffolk county, Lieutenant Governor.
In June, 1846, a convention, elected by the people, to revise and amend the constitution of the state, commenced its session at Albany, and in October following, reported the constitution which is found in this work, for the action of the people in the ensuing month of November. It was adopted by the people by a majority of more than 20,000 votes.
In November, 1846, John Young of Livingston county, was elected Governor and Addison Gardiner of Suffolk county, Lieutenant Governor.
6*
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INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
THE system of Internal Improvement, in which New York has taken the lead, forms an important portion of her history It is interesting to trace the progress of the first of these mighty enterprises, which, in its completion; excited the astonishment and admiration of the whole confederacy, and even of the states of Europe.
In 1784, Christopher Colles proposed to the legislature to improve the navigation of the Mohawk. In 1785, he received $125, to make investigations relative to this enterprise. He again came before the legislature in 1786, but became discour- aged from want of success.
The subject was referred to by Governor Clinton, in his speech to the legislature, at the opening of the session of 1791; and an act passed concerning roads and inland navigation, di- recting the commissioners of the land office, to cause the lands between the Mohawk and Wood creek, in Herkimer county, and between the Hudson river and Wood creek, in Washington county, to be explored, and the probable expense of canals, be- tween these points, estimated.
The commissioners reported in 1792, and Governor Clinton communicated their report, by a message, in which he consid- ered the practicability of effecting the object of the legislature, at a moderate expense, as ascertained.
Mr. Adgate, Mr. Williams, Mr. Livingston and Mr. Barker, were the most efficient advocates of this measurc in the legisla- ture. Mr. Elkanah Watson also wrote a number of essays on the subject, and, this year, the Western and the Northern Inland Lock Navigation Companies were chartered. General Schuy- ler, Thomas Eddy, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, Barent Bleecker, Elkanah Watson, and Robert Bowne, were among their most efficient advocates.
In 1796, the Western Company completed a canal, two and three fourth miles long, at Little Falls, and another, one and one quarter miles long, at German Flats ; and, in 1797, a canal from the Mohawk to Wood creek, one and three-fourth miles long, in all, less than seven miles, with nine locks.
In 1796, finding a reconstruction of their work necessary, they employed Mr. Westen, an English engineer; and when their canal would admit a passage from Schenectady to the Oneida lake, they had expended nearly $450,000. The tolls, how- ever, were so high, that few used their canal. The Niagara
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company was incorporated in 1798, to make a navigable com- munication between Lakes Erie and Ontario. It, however, never went into operation.
The distinguished Governeur Morris seems first to have con- ceived the idea of' a continuous canal between the Hudson and Lake Erie. He alluded to it, in a letter to a friend, in 1800, and communicated it to the late Simeon De Witts, the surveyor general, in 1803. His plan, however, was, to have the canal constructed with a uniform declivity of six inches to a mile, and without locks, except on the slope of the Hudson. This plan afterwards proved impracticable.
In 1807-8, Jesse Hawley, Esq., wrote a series of essays, which were published in the Genesee Messenger, urging the impor- tance of such a canal, and its immediate construction.
In 180S, Joshua Forman presented to the legislature, his mem- orable resolution, in which, after reciting in the preamble the various reasons for such a step, he proposes the appointment of a joint committee, to take into consideration the propriety of exploring and causing to be surveyed, the most eligible and di- rect route for a canal, to connect the waters of the Hudson and Lake Erie, to the end that Congress may be enabled to appro- priate the necessary sum for the construction of such a work.
This resolution passed, but so little idea had the legislature of the sum requisite for such a survey, that they appropriated only $600 for the purpose. The committee appointed were, Thomas R. Gold, William W. Gilbert, Obadiah German, and James L. Hogeboom, on the part of the house, and John Tay- lor, John Nicholas, and Jonathan Ward, on the part of the senate. James Geddes, Esq., at that time a land surveyor, made the exploration and survey, under the direction of the surveyor general, and, in 1809, reported in favor of such a route.
In 1810, on motion of Jonas Platt, Esq., Governeur Morris, De Witt Clinton, Stephen Van Rensselaer, Simeon De Witt, William North, Thomas Eddy, and Peter B. Porter, were ap- pointed commissioners, to explore the whole route for inland navigation, from the Hudson river to Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.
De Witt Clinton, at that time a member of the senate, was induced to lend a favorable ear to this great project, by the representations of Mr. Platt and Mr. Eddy, the latter of whom appears first to have advised this plan of action.
The commissioners reported, in 1811, in favor of a canal, and estimated its cost at $5,000,000. They recommended that the construction of it should be offered to the national government.
The same year a bill was passed, giving power to the com-
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missioners, (to whom were added Robert Fulton and R. R. Livingston), to consider all matters relative to the inland navi- gation of the state ; to make application to the general govern- ment, and to any of the states or territories, for aid or coopera- tion ; to ascertain on what terms loans could be obtained, and at what price the rights of the Western Inland Lock Naviga- tion Company could be purchased.
The general government having declined to offer aid in the enterprise, and the adjacent states and territories affording only their good wishes, the commissioners in 1812, proposed that the state should construct the canal without foreign assistance ; and a bill was passed, directing them to procure loans and grants of land on the proposed route, but forbidding them to commence the canal.
During the period from 1812 to 1815, the war with Great Britain diverted all thoughts from this enterprise, to the more urgent one of defending their own firesides from ruthless inva- sion ; but, when peace returned, again this great undertaking engaged the hearts of community. The Holland Land Com- pany had granted to the commissioners more than 100,000 acres of land ; and individuals some 7000 or 8000 more, towards the completion of the work.
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