USA > New York > Jefferson County > A history of Jefferson County in the state of New York, from the earliest period to the present time > Part 49
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armed men, with many sleighs from Kingston. Some idea of the facility with which smuggling might be performed, may be gain- ed from the following extract of a letter from the collector at Sackets Harbor, to the head of department, dated March 14, 1809:
"Nature has furnished the smugglers with the firmest ice that was ever known on this frontier. There is scarcely a place from the Oswegatchie to Sandy Creek, a distance of 110 miles, but that the ice is good. Sleighs pass at Sackets Harbor ten miles from shore, and all the force I can raise is not sufficient to stop them. They appear determined to evade the laws at the risk of their lives. More particularly at Oswegatchie, I am informed, they have entered into a combination, not to entertain, nor even suffer any other force to be stationed in that vicinity, and their threats are handed out, that, if I, or any other officer should come there again, they will take a raw hide to them, which they declare they have prepared for that purpose. These threats don't terrify me. I only mention them to let you know their unprincipled determination. The regular troops, and the inhabitants at that station, have a mutual understanding. If the troops that are there, are not called away, it will be in vain to send any more, without sending enough to over-
power them and the inhabitants. * The militia, stationed on the Oswegatchie, are thirty miles this way from the post, at the place where the roads branch off to various parts of St. Lawrence County .* The people in the vicinity of their station are hostile, and refuse to accommodate them with any thing, even to admit them into their houses. They are in a suffering condition, and the snow is three feet deep. I shall go to their assistance soon, and furnish them with such things as they are in want of, to keep them from suffering. They are poorly armed, without blankets or cooking utensils, or even without shelter, except hemlock boughs, but, notwithstanding their distressed situation, they stop the illicit trade on that road. It is with difficulty, that I get any assistance for the conveyance of property to the public store. If I have not armed men with me, the inhabitants will assemble in the night, and take the property from me. There are some who wish to support the laws, but they are so unpopular that they shrink from their duty. My life and the lives of my deputies are threatened daily; what will be the fate of us, God only knows."
This open and bold defiance of laws, was not entirely due to a mercenary spirit, but to political rancor and a practical opposi- tion to a law which they declared unconstitutional and void. An open defiance to the law was attempted at Oswego, in the summer of 1808, it is said, in part, by citizens of this county, which was boldly planned but badly executed.
One morning, about ten boats, with sixty armed men, entered that harbor, and from an intimation that was given by one of their number, it was learned that they designed to forcibly seize a quantity of flour that had been detained by the collector, Mr. Burt, or to use their own language, "to clear out the place or burn it." A message was at once sent to hasten on a company of dragoons at Onondaga, who arrived within half a dozen miles
* In the town of Antwerp, one mile north of the village.
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and encamped. Learning that the hour of 11 P. M. was agreed upon for " a scrape," the detachment was hastened forward, and arrived a few minutes before the signal was given. Hearing the music of the approaching company, the insolent marauders instantly fled to the woods, leaving their boats in charge of the collector. The great price to which ashes arose led for a short time to extensive clearings for this object as labor was far better rewarded in this, than in the ordinary pursuits of husbandry. On the 1st of March, 1809, the embargo gave place to a non- intercourse law, which expired in May, 1810. On the 4th of April, 1812, an embargo was again laid, which rendered renewed vigilance necessary; but this time, a more efficient system of means was at hand.
In May, 1812, the Lord Nelson, a British schooner, bound for Niagara, and laden with flour and merchandise from Kingston, being found in American waters, in the lake, was captured by Woolsey, brought into Sackets Harbor, and condemned as a law- ful prize. Among the goods taken and offered at auction, was a quantity of plate, jewelry, wearing apparel, and household articles of rich materials, belonging to a lady of Queenstown, newly married, but not on board; and these articles, although of great intrinsic value, were inestimably precious to the owner, as family relics and keepsakes. These, Commodore Woolsey, with true courtesy, proposed to restore, and the suggestion was seconded by the hearty acclamation of his gallant sailors, who offered to relinquish their claim; but others, from sordid and illiberal motives, insisted that the sale should go on, and under- took to compete in the bids, which gradually arose to three, four, and five hundred dollars. At this moment, the gallant Woolsey, determined not to be baffled in his design, suddenly raised his bid to five thousand, which at once ended the contest, amid the cheers of his men, and to the discomfit of his opponents. The property, he promptly forwarded to the owner, and the govern- ment sanctioned his course by discharging him from the obliga- tion .* The vessel was owned by Crooks, of Niagara, who afterwards got a reversal of the adjudication. The Lord Nelson was changed to the Scourge, and was afterwards recaptured by the enemy.
On the, 14th day of June, the schooner Ontario, Capt. Charles Sweet, was seized at Cape Vincent for an alleged violation of the revenue laws, but discharged on the 22d. The schooner Ni- agara, was seized at about the same time, and afterwards sold for a like cause.
* A different version of this anecdote is given by Cooper, in his Lives of Distinguished Naval Officers, vol. ii, p. 136. We give the account as related to us by Captain Augustus Ford, of Sackets Harbor; who, since 1795, has been familiar with whatever is connected with the navigation of lake Ontario.
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The state legislature, acting on the spirit which led the gene- ral government to take the steps above related, on the 12th of February, 1808, directed that 500 stand of arms should be de- posited at Champion. Governor Tompkins, in a letter to Noa- diah Hubbard, of Champion, of February 27, 1809, announced that of the above 350 sets of accoutrements, 7500 rounds of fixed ammunition, &c., had been for some time at Utica, awaiting some place of deposit, which was not however provided, and their destination was, by an act of March 27, 1809, changed to Watertown, where an arsenal was built that year, under the di- rection of Hart Massey. The street on which it was located was called Columbia Street, previous to this time, when its name was changed to Arsenal Street. It was maintained as a state arsenal, until sold under the act of April 19, 1850.
By an act of Congress, passed April 10, 1812, the president was authorized to raise a body of 100,000 minute men, of which proportion New York was to furnish 13,500.
Colonel Christopher P. Bellinger, from Montgomery County, was stationed at the harbor in May, with a regiment drafted under the act just mentioned, and remained three months. A portion of his command was stationed at Cape Vincent, and was very efficient in enforcing the embargo.
War having been for years anticipated, was declared June 18, 1812, by a vote of 79 to 49, in the house, and of 19 to 15 in the senate; Silas Stow then representing this district and voting in the negative. The event was first announced in a letter from Governor Tompkins to Brigadier General Jacob Brown, of the militia, dated June 23, in which he was empowered to reënforce Colonel Bellinger, with the militia of Lewis, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence counties, and to arm and equip them at the state arsenals at Russell and Watertown, if occasion required. Colonel Benedict, of De Kalb, St. Lawrence Co., was ordered to turn out immedi- ately, to guard the frontiers from Ogdensburgh to St. Regis. In reply, General Brown urged the speedy forwarding of arms and munitions, and that a force should be posted at Cape Vincent and Ogdensburgh, which could be concentrated at a few hours notice, should decisive measures be necessary. This letter con- tained the following sentiments. "Your Excellency will bear in mind, that this is a very new country; that the population is light, and generally poor, though very respectable for so new a country, and that, if any more men are called from their homes, the crops which now promise a very abundant harvest must perish on the ground. I mention this to your Excellency, as the county expects it at my hands, and much more than my feeble abilities can accomplish; but no considerations of this nature shall deter me, for a moment, from calling out every man in the
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county, if its defence requires it, though, for the present, I must hope that the force coming on, will render such a measure unne- cessary. I pray God that our government will act with that decision and energy which becomes a gallant people."
On the first announcement of war, some families hastily pre- pared to leave the country, to which they were impelled in part by fugitives of the same class from St. Lawrence, but to the credit of the county the number of these timid ones was com- paratively small, and several who had removed returned. The fear of Indian massacre, which the memories of the revolution suggested, was in general the impelling cause, although they could scarcely define the source from whence these dreaded mau- rauders would come, or adduce a consistent argument to justify their apprehension. The news of the war had scarcely reached this frontier, when hostilities were begun in a small way, by Abner Hubbard, a revolutionary soldier, who, without authority, and with only the aid of a man and a boy, made a descent upon Fort Carleton, near Cape Vincent, and, without firing a gun, took the garrison, consisting of three invalid men and two women, prisoners. The next day a boat was sent to the island for the stores, and the buildings were afterwards burned. This proceeding being known at Kingston, an attempt was made to detain a citizen from Brownville, who was in town on commercial busi- ness, but being forewarned by a friend, he escaped. On the 29th of April, a fleet of trading vessels, that had been caught at Og- densburgh, and were attempting to ascend the river to the lake, were pursued by a party of provincial militia. Two of the vessels, The Sophia and Island Packet, were burned, and the remainder returned in great confusion to Ogdensburgh, where they created the greatest alarm. This occurred near the foot of the Thousand Islands. On the 2d of July, the scouts of General Brown brought in a man, found between Indian River and the St. Lawrence, who was taken for a spy, but proved to be an American, and con- firmed the account of the burning of the vessels, stating that there were about thirty persons aboard, mostly families moving; and that the most of their effects were burned. It was appre- hended that the enemy were about to fortify the islands, and thus command the river. A few days before the news of war was received, a large quantity of small arms was forwarded by the governor to this frontier, consisting of two thousand muskets, and a corresponding quantity of munitions, which were mostly sent on to the Russell Arsenal, in Lawrence County, escorted by the detachment from Lewis County. A considerable body of militia from Jefferson County, was assembled at Cape Vincent, together with a portion of the force of Colonel Bellinger, as it was con- sidered advisable to keep Kingston in as great a state of alarm
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as possible. At this point was the great naval station of the enemy, where for one or two years armed vessels had been building, and from whence alone an attack could be reasonably expected. It was apprehended that an attempt would be made by the British, to destroy or take our vessels at Ogdensburgh, and the Oneida, Lord Nelson, and other vessels at Sackets Harbor. To be in readiness for any attack, the governor was importuned to forward cannon from the state arsenals, and the assurance was given, that a good account would be rendered of the enemy, should they attempt any expedition to our shores. On the 11th of July a rumor was spread, that Lieutenant Woolsey, with the brig Oneida, had been taken by the enemy, which brought General Brown to the Harbor, but the report proved groundless. There had arrived two brass nine pounders, but no nine-pound shot.
On Sunday, the 19th of July, 1812, Captain Woolesy, of the Oneida, discovered from the mast head of his brig, five sail of the enemy beating up the harbor, viz: the Royal George, 24 guns; the Seneca, 18; Prince Regent, 22; Earl of Moira, 20; and Simcoe. The Oneida attempted to gain the lake, but fail- ing, returned, and was moored outside of the point, where the ship-house now is, with one broadside of nine guns to the enemy, while the others were take out and hastily placed on a breast- work on the shore, near which, on the day previous, a 32 pounder (intended for the Oneida, but found too heavy) had been mount- ed on a pivot, upon a mound about six feet high. Alarm guns were fired, and expresses sent to call in the neighboring militia, who did not, however, arrive in time to render assistance, but who, in the course of the day, came in to the number of 3000. The British had, early in the morning, captured a boat laden with flour from Cape Vincent, and the crew were set on shore, and sent with the message " that all they wanted was the brig Oneida, and the Lord Nelson (a vessel taken a little before for a violation of the revenue), and that they would burn the village if there was a single shot fired at them." The enemy had been misinformed about the defences of the place, and especially of the 32 pounder, and supposed there was nothing to be feared in the way of ordnance. The force at that time in town was, be- sides the crew of the Oneida, the regiment of Colonel Bellinger, a volunteer company of artillery under Captain Camp, and a few militia. Captain Woolsey, leaving his brig in charge of a lieutenant, took the general command on shore, the 32 pounder being in charge of Mr. William Vaughan, sailing master, and the other guns under that of Captain Camp. There were no shot in town larger than 24 pound balls, which were used ( with the aid of patches formed of carpets), in the 32 pounder. By the time these arrangements were made, the enemy had arrived within
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gun shot, nearly in front of the battery, when the action was begun, the first shot being from the 32 pounder on the mound; upon which a shout of laughter was heard from the fleet, at the supposed imbecile attempt at resistance. The fire was returned briskly, and continued for two hours, all of the enemy's balls but one or two, falling against the rocks at the foot of the bluff, where our force was stationed. One ball fell near by, and plowed up the ground for some distance. It was caught up just as it had spent its force, by a man who came running in and shouting that he had " caught them out;" and so it proved, for from its commanding position, it was seen that our big gun had every advantage, and that several of its shots told with effect. Towards the close of the action, as the Royal George, the flag ship, was wearing to give another broadside, a 24 pound shot struck her stern, and raked her whole length, killing eight men, and doing much damage. Upon this the signal of retreat was given, and the whole fleet bore away for Kingston without cere- mony. At this, the band on shore struck up the national tune of Yankee Doodle, and the troops, who had through the whole affair behaved like veterans, sent up three cheers of victory. The shots from our battery had broken their chest of medicines, their fore top gallant mast, and their vessels, in a dozen places, while the enemy broke nothing but-the Sabbath. In a letter to the governor, of July 24th, General Brown attributed the success of the day to the gallant spirit of Woolsey, Bellinger and Camp, in their respective capacities, and especially to the nice shots of the 32 pounder. Mr. Vaughan, who pointed and fired this piece, claims the honor of having fired the first hostile gun in the war. One of the men at this gun, named Julius Torry, a negro, better known as Black Julius, and a great favorite in the camp, served at his post with remarkable activity and courage. As there was no opportunity for the use of small arms, the greater part of the troops who were drawn up, were passive spectators of the en- gagement.
It has been intimated that a fleet of eight trading vessels was detained at Ogdensburgh, which occasioned great anxiety among our citizens,* and to both belligerents. If they could be got to the lake, and armed, they would give us the supremacy there; and if they could be destroyed, the enemy were sure of the as- cendancy for a considerable time. To prevent any attempt at escape, the Earl of Moira, of fourteen guns, and the Duke of Gloucester, of ten guns, had been sent to Prescott. This did not prevent a bold attempt from being made, to relieve the vessels; which, although it failed to effect all that was intended, was carried out with great firmness, and deserves honorable notice.
*See History of St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties; page 621.
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In a letter, of July 30, to the Governor, General Brown said; " The expedition for Ogdensburgh is fitted out. The Julia,* with the long thirty-two pounder, two long sixes, and about sixty volunteers under the command of Lieutenant Wells, from the Oneida, seconded by Captains Vaughan and Dixon, now lies off the harbor, ready to sail with the first favorable wind. We count upon her being under way in the course of this day, and we pray God, she may do something towards saving the honor of the country. Perhaps your Excellency may suppose we have been led astray by our ardor, dazzled by the object, and forgot our humble means. Our means are humble, but with the blessing of Heaven, this republican gun boat may give a good account of the Duke and the Earl; and a successful termination of this enterprise will give us an equal chance for the command of the lake." The result of this expedition is detailed in the following letter from General Brown to the Governor, dated Sackets Har- bor, August 4, 1812:
" DEAR SIR: The Julia engaged the Earl and Duke on the St. Law- rence, about twelve miles above Ogdensburgh. They closely hugged the Canada shore, as the wind at the time was down the river, and it was impossible for them to beat to windward. The fire was continued for full three hours, when night, and a dark night, was coming on, and Lieut. Wells very prudently made his way to Ogdensburgh. The Julia was very little injured, had few balls struck her; there was neither killed nor wounded on our side, and we have not been able to learn what injury the enemy suffered. We expect to hear from Wells again in a day or two.
However easy it may be to conquer Canada, I must assure your Ex- cellency, that without ordnance to a much greater extent than has yet been supplied, we are completely at the mercy of the enemy, whenever they may deem it an object to unite their force and make a serious attack upon us; for, though we have as gallant a people as the Lord ever created, we must not expect them to resist heavy ordnance with small arms. We shall have our works at this place completed in the course of the week; and then, if our government will only furnish us with can- non, I humbly trust that we shall give a good account of the enemy if they should again venture their squadron here. The men, belonging to Lieutenant Colonel Bellinger's regiment, one and all, expect to be dis- charged at the expiration of three months from the time of their assem- bling at Rome. They also expect $6.66 per month, and a reasonable amount of clothing. Will your Excellency please to give me explicit orders on this subject? I will obey them to the best of my abilities; but it will be a knotty business, if these men are retained in the service for a longer term than they understood they were drafted for. The Major General [Van Rensselaer] left this place yesterday, for Oswego, in good health, and that he may long remain so, is the prayer of
Yours, respectfully,
JACOB BROWN, Brigadier General.
* A schooner built by Matthew McNair, of Oswego, and named from his daughter.
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The Julia was moored in the stream before Ogdensburgh until September 5, in charge of Sailing Master Vaughan, when, avail- ing herself of the armistice in September, she returned to the lake in company with the vessels at that port. Bellinger's regiment was disbanded on the 20th of August, before being paid; the officers remained and the soldiers returned home. The delays of payment which these men experienced, occasioned murmurs, and their claims were repeatedly made the subject of representation to the governor by General Brown, who awarded them much credit for the services rendered, but insisted that the interests of the service, and the honor of the country alike required their discharge at the end of their enlistment. In a letter of August 10, General Brown remarked:
This regiment being disbanded, as I do trust it will be, and paid off on or before that day, or your Excellency will see that I shall have very few men under my command. I will however try to do the best I can with these few, say 600 men from Oswego to St. Regis. It would however be very desirable to be well supplied with the necessary munitions of war. A few more cannon and ball would be very acceptable and particularly so as we have with great labor erected works for their reception. I have nothing new or interesting to communicate to your Excellency but as a squadron of a gallant nation is cruising not many miles from this place, and as it is of some importance to that nation to get possession of the Oneida and destroy our other vessels here, I think it very possible that the attempt will be made before many days. If they do come in force as they doubtless will if they come again, I trust in the Almighty and my fellow soldiers that we shall not be disgraced, whatever may be the issue.
On the 30th of July, a fine company of riflemen under Cap- tain Benjamin Forsyth had been ordered to join General Brown at Sackets Harbor which was the first regular force on this fron- tier since the declaration of war. He was encouraged by Gene- ral Brown to enlist as many men into his company as possible, and it was hoped that he would be able to have men enough for two companies in the course of the fall. On the 17th of Sep- tember, General Brown addressed the following letter to the go- vernor:
DEAR SIR: The first and only official notice that I have received from my government of the renewal of offensive operations against Great Bri- tain came to hand yesterday by the way of Ogdensburgh .* Would it not be advisable to establish a line of post horses by the way of Johnstown to Lowville and from thence to this place and Ogdensburgh? Were I permitted it should be done forthwith. General Dodge advised me last week that he counted upon having 900 men embodied at Utica last Sat- urday: that these men would move to the frontiers with as little delay as possible ; but I am yet to learn that they have marched or moved. I humbly trust that what it was in my power to do with the means at my command has been done, and that I am disposed to do what in me lies to prosecute this just and honorable war.
Referring to an armistice that had been agreed upon.
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But I must say to your Excellency that, unless more vigor and energy is infused into the national council, it is not in human nature that this war can be brought to a conclusion worthy of the American people. Excuse me, sir. Of vessels we have on this lake ten, besides The Oneida, and vessels they are of the first class for their burthen ; six of them are here, viz: the Genesee Packet,* Experiment,t Collector,; Lord Nelson,§ Niagara, and the Julia. At Oswego, Charles and Ann, || Diana, T Fair American, and Ontario. These vessels are from 70 to 100 tons burthen, and, if armed with long 32 pounders, and manned with such men as this nation could furnish, would at once command the lake and the St. Lawrence to the rapids; and may I ask your Excellency, in the name of all that is holy, why this has not been done? Besides these vessels, we have a number of slip keel boats, of from 10 to 12 tons burthen, and many other boats of from 6 to 8 tons burthen. These boats should be armed with swivels and light guns, of from 4 to 6 pound calibre. Let this be done, and we will soon see these waters ours, and then Upper Canada will not be of so difficult acquirement. Any thing like a respect- able army will then be enabled to look down all opposition. I hope it will be recollected that our movements must be rapid to effect any thing, before the snow falls so deep as to prevent the march of armies. I have devoted some attention to this point, and have caused works to be erected here of some little consequence; and I do most earnestly solicit your Excellency, that I may not be ordered from this place, to make room for another. Whenever we may be ordered into Canada, I will not be hindmost. What is to become of our quartermaster department? Will there ever be any money here to pay up arrears, and make barracks for men to live in? This will be handed to you by Captain Camp, who deserves well of his country, and I recommend him to the particular notice of your Excellency. Respectfully yours, JACOB BROWN."
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