USA > New York > Franklin County > A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time > Part 76
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time > Part 76
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HISTORY OF ST LAWRENCE
Gen. Covington soon received a mortal wound by a rifle shot. Col. Preston next in command, was soon after wounded in the thigh by a ball, fractur- ing the bone. Major Cumins was next wounded, and was obliged to re- tire. Many platoon officers were wounded or killed, and within 30 minutes after, the whole brigade was in confusion and left the field. A few minutes previous, two six pounders were brought up by Lieut. Smith, and posted near some houses occupied by the enemy. Their position was favorable and their fire destructive to the enemy, but the lieutenant was soon killed, and most of his men wounded by musketry from the houses, and our piece taken. The enemy's fire was now turned upon Ripley and Coles flanking party retiring from their position. About this time a squadron of dragoons commanded by Maj. Woodferd, took a posi- tion in the rear, and suffered much from the enemy's fire. They were finally ordered to charge the enemy. This was made in the road upon the enemy in houses and behind board fences. The whole body soon returned with 30 horses without riders. The enemy's attention was so much diverted from Ripley and Coles retreating detachment, that by passing, partly covered by the forest, they made good their retreat. The guard left at the boats was ordered up commanded by Col. Upham. They occupied a position a few minutes in front of the enemy, who remained stationary in column, keeping up a steady fire from two six pounders upon every thing that appeared on the field to annoy them. Many of our wounded had been taken back to the boats; about 40 were left in a ravine and taken by the enemy. Gen. Boyd was the senior officer on the ground. Gen. Wilkinson was sick and confined to his boat and bed, and unable to muster forces without assistance. Gen. Lewis, next in command, was sick and unable to do duty.
The American troops were stationed on the margin of the river near the flotilla, and were reembarked with the wounded and sick, and pro- ceeded down the river without further annoyance from the enemy or their gun boats, while the dragoons with 15 pieces of artillery, marched down the Canada shore, without molestation. The flotilla arrived at the head of the saut at 9 o'clock P. M., and encamped on the American side of the river. The badly wounded were placed in barns and log houses, and made as comfortable as circumstances would permit. The weather was cold, with snow and sleet, with storm and wind. The next morning the flotilla passed the saut, and joined Gen. Brown at Barnharts, near Cornwall. A council of officers was called which soon unanimously gave their opinion that the attack on Montreal should be abandoned, and that the army should be immediately crossed to the American shore for taking up winter quarters. The dragoons were recrossed and marched for Utica the same day, and the flotilla proceeded directly to French Mills, where they arrived the same night at 3 o'clock A. M. On the arrival of the army at French Mills the weather become intensely severe and re- mained so till the 23d of January.' The soldiers have been subject to great fatigue ; many had lost their blankets and extra clothing. The sick and wounded had no covering or shelter except tents in the severe lati- tude of 45 degrees. In the vicinity of French Mills, the country was a wildnerness. Provisions were scarce and of bad quality. Medicine and hospital stores were not to be found, and a supply could not be obtained short of Albany, a distance of 250 miles. It was ascertained that these stores were abundantly provided at Sacketts Harbor, but were, in stead of being placed on board of separate boats, distributed throughout the boats of the flotilla for which no officer could be made accountable. The want of these necessaries for the sick and wounded was severely felt.
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Under these circumstances, sickness and mortality was very great, and excited general alarm."
On the 11th of November, Hampden wrote to Wilkinson that he would be unable to meet him at St. Regis, but would return to Lake Champlain, and cooperate by a descent from that place. "This reached Wilkinson at Barnhart's island. A council was convened and it was re- solved to cross to the American shore, and take up winter quarters at French Mills, and accordingly the flotilla entered Salmon river and took possession. There a frightful mortality occurred, which is described by Dr. Lovell, a surgeon, as follows: The weather soon became intensely cold, and remained so all winter. In addition to the great fatigue to which the soldiers had been exposed, especially the division from Fort George, most of them had lost their blankets and extra clothing on their march, or in the action of the 11th. Even the sick had no covering ex- cept tents, from the period they debarked at the Mills, until the Ist of January, in the severe latitute of 45°. Provisions were scarce and of a bad quality. Medicine and hospital stores were not to be found, having been lost or destroyed in the passage down the St. Lawrence. Under these circumstances sickness and mortality were very great. A morn- ing report now before me, gives 75 sick, out of a small corps of 160. The several regiments of the army, in their returns, exhibited a propor- tionate number unfit for duty. Of the 75 referred to, 39 were reported of diarrhoea and dysentery ; 18 of pneumonia; 6 of typhus; and 12 of para- lysis of all the extremities. Many of the paralytics, on their arrival at the Mills, were attended with mortification of the the toes and feet. In a few of these the pain was severe, wherein opium not only relieved the pain but checked the progress of the mortification.
Stimulants, both externally and internally, were beneficial, and when these remedies were assisted by a nutritious diet, warm lodging and clothing, a cure was effected. The last complaint generally seized those who previously had been extremely reduced by disease, and un- der our unavoidably bad situation, frequently in a few days proved fatal."*
" In the vicinity of the French Mills, the country was a wilderness. Huts and hospitals were necessary to render the army comfortable. The erection of these was a work of great labor, and required several weeks to complete it. A supply of hospital stores could not be ob- tained nearer than Albany, a distance of 250 miles. The want of these necessaries for the support of the very wretched and enfeebled soldier, was most severely felt. The poor subsistence which the bread of the first quality afforded, was almost the only support that could be had for nearly seven weeks. These accumulated evils the army encountered with much patience and heroic fortitude. Now it was the chief sur- geon, who was with the flotilla, found himself loaded with a weight of censure, of which he should be fairly exonerated, so far as he was blamed for the loss or waste of medicine and hospital stores on the St. Lawrence. It was abundantly demonstrated that no separate transporta- tion for these stores, although expressly ordered by the commander-in- chief, had been provided; but that they had been improvidentally dis- tributed throughout the boats of the flotilla, and for the security of which no officer had been, nor could have been made accountable.
The deaths, sickness and distress, at French Mills, excited general alarm. The great mortality had obvious causes for its existence. In all'
*Mann's Medical ketches, p. 119.
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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
such cases censure will fall on some department. And as each was disposed to exonerate itself, upon which was blame more probable to have alighted than the medical-than upon the surgeons of the army under whose immediate care the victims of disease were daily prostrated! There are to be found some, who ignorant of the effects of medicine on the human constitution, are too prone to believe its exhibi- tion may be equally efficacious, under every circumstance and condition to which the patient may be subjected. Hence it was incorrectly in- ferred, when men were beheld expiring under the prescriptions of the surgeons, the mortality was a consequence of injudicious management or neglect of duty. Predispositions to diseases, the effects of obvious causes, the comfortless conditions of men exposed to cold, wanting the common necessaries of life, to support them in their exhausted states, are seldom taken into consideration. Dr. Lovell, one of the most able and indefatigable surgeons of the army, emphatically observed, “ It was impossible for the sick to be restored, with nothing to subsist upon except damaged bread. "* * * *
At MALONE HOSPITAL on the Ist of February, 1814, the number of sick had increased to 450. For an additional number of 200, sent from French Mills, rooms were wanted, which were promptly provided by Capt. Dwight, A. Q. M. G., who continued to give me his assistance."
For supplying the army of Gen. Wilkinson, an immense quantity of stores had been forwarded from Plattsburgh and Sackett's Harbor, at great expense. A portion of the latter was deposited at Hopkinton, and Malone, and these were constantly arriving when the order to evacuate the place was received. On the week before leaving, about 1400 barrels of pork and beef, a 100 casks of whiskey, and other parts of rations, were sent by James Campbell, assistant store keeper at the Mills. About 60 tons of hard biscuit, being considered not worth removing un- der the circumstances, was sank in Salmon river, in a hole cut in the ice, besides which about ten tons were distributed among the inhabitants, to keep from the enemy, but much of this was soon after seized by the British. The troops on evacuating, burned their boats (328 in number), down to the level of the ice, together with their barracks. The ex- penses to government during the time that the army tarried at French Mills, is said to have been $800,000.
"On the 9th of February, 1814, orders were issued to leave the canton- ment. One division under Gen. Brown, moved up the St. Lawrence to Sackett's Harbor, the other under the immediate command of the com- mander-in-chief, directed its march to Plattsburgh. In consequence of the retrograde movement of the army from French Mills, the hospital at Malone, at this time under good regulations was broken up and the sick were ordered to proceed on routes destined for their respective regiments. * *
* The few accommodations on the routes were wretched.
The inhabitants although kind were not under circum- stances to furnish means to render the situation of the sick men even comfortable. Nothing was omitted within their abilities to meliorate their miserable condition. Knowing that so large a detachment of sick and invalids could not be covered at night, if they moved in a body ; the sleighs that transported them were successively put in motion in small divisions. Their line of movement, three days forming, extended the whole distance from Malone. The first division arrived at Platts- burgh, the place of their destination, about the time the last commenced its progress. About 20, very sick, who were left in the hospitals, under
*Mann,s Medical Sketches.
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the care of a citizen physician, were made prisoners of war, by the British, who immediately followed the retrograde march of the army, as far as Malone. Those left in the hospitals were not molested in their persons, but were only obliged to sign their paroles, the greater part of whom, after five or six weeks, joined the hospital at Burlington .* * *
The last of the American army had scarcely left French Mills, and a few teamsters were employed in removing what they might be able of the stores, when a detachment of British troops, marching in columns, and preceded by a hoard of savages, entered the village to plunder whatever of public property might be left.
An unlucky teamster, having lingered behind, and as the enemy ap- proached, was attempting to escape, was shot by the officer who com- manded the Indians. The ball lodged in the muscles of the neck, and still, it is said remains; the man, contrary, to all expectations, having survived. He still lives to relate the narrow and hazardous escape which he ran. An account of this incursion was published soon after, in the paper, from which we quote the following:
" On Saturday, the 19th, the enemy hearing that our troops had marched, ventured to cross the St. Lawrence, with a motely tribe of regu- lars, provincials, and a detachment of the devil's own,-sedentary militia, and their brethren, a band of savages. This martial body amused them- selves at French Mills until one o'clock, P. M., and then marched, with eight pieces of artillery and two cart loads of congreve rockets. At the fork af the roads, eleven miles from the mills, a detachment was sent off to Malone, and the main body passed on to Chateaugay, where it ar- rived about 4 o'clock in the morning of the 20th. There, it is reported, a scene of plunder began, which greatly distressed several of the in- habitants, and every particle of beef, pork or flour, with every drop of whiskey which could be found, was seized on as public property, and carried away. By this gleaning, without discrimination between the in- dividual and the public, it is believed the enemy carried off between 150 and 200 barrels of provisions of all sorts, good and bad-public and private."
During the winter some ten or fifteen teamsters had been hired in Lewis county, and many more from Jefferson, to convey flour from Sackett's Harbor to French Mills. They received each seven barrels, and were allowed nine days to perform the trip, at $4 per day and ra- tions. They arrived at Hopkinton towards the last of January, where their loads were left (some 300 barrels, under the care of a few soldiers), and thence they proceeded to French Mills, to aid in removing the sup- plies from that place to Plattsburgh. They performed one trip, and were returning, when they were pressed at Chateaugay, and again com- pelled to return to Plattsburgh, with loads of provisions and stores. This they accomplished, and had got as far as Chateaugay, where 32 teams had stopped at a tavern, in the village for the night. There was a report in circulation, that the enemy were over, and their horses were left in their harnesses, ready for instant retreat if necessary. Mean- while the party within, unmindful of danger, were singing and drinking to pass away the night, for sleep among such a crowd, was out of the question, when their gayety was suddenly arrested by the entrance of a British officer (Major Sherwood), who enquired of the landlord, who these gentlemen were, and on being told that they were Americau team- sters, he informed them that they were all prisoners of war. There were but 28 British soldiers, who were under the immediate command
*Mann,s Medical Sketches.
.
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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
of Captain Conklin. The night was spent in searching for military stores and provisions, which were placed in the sleighs, and in the moru- ing they commenced a retreat with whatever they could pick of public property .*
Gen. Hampden's movements have been alluded to. He had been ordered in September to proceed to Burlington, and raise recruits to join Gen. Wilkinson in his proposed operations. He advanced a short dis- tance into Canada, and returned to Chazy, from whence he proceeded to Chateaugay.
His artillery consisted of 8 six pounders, 1 twelve and 1 howitzer, but was deficient in military supplies and provisions. On the first of Octo- ber, an attack was made with 3 or 400 regulars and as many Indians, upon Col. Snelling, an outpost, but was repulsed. On the 21st of October, an incursion was made into Canada, but without accomplishing its object. An intervening forest of eleven or twelve miles existed before reaching the Canadian settlements on the Chateaugay, and the obscure road through this had been blocked up by fallen timber, and was defended by the Indians and light troops of the enemy. The following is an extract from the official account of Gen. Hampden:
"Brig. Gen. Izard, with the light troops and one regiment of the line, was detached early in the morning to turn these impediments in flank, and to seize the more open country below, while the army preceded by a strong working party, advanced on a more circuitous route for a road. The measure completely succeeded, and the main body of the army reached the advanced position on the evening of the 22d. The 23d and 24th were employed in completing the road, and getting up the artillery and stores. I had arranged at my departure under the direction of Maj. Parker, a line of communication as far up the St. Lawrence as Ogdensburgh, for the purpose of hastening to me the first notice of the progress of our army down. I had surmounted 24 miles of the more difficult part of the route, and had in advance of me seven miles of open country, but at the end of that distance commenced a wood of some miles in extent, which had been formed into an entire abatis, and filled by a succession of wooden breast-works, the rearmost of which was supplied with ordnance. In front of these defences were placed the Indian force and light corps of the enemy, and in the rear all his disposable force. As the extent of this force depended on his sense of danger on the St. Lawrence, it was a cause of regret that all communication from yourself or Major Parker, seemed to be at an end. As it was however believed that the enemy was hourly adding to his strength in this position if free from the apprehension of danger from above, an effort was judged necessary to dislodge him, and if we succeeded we should be in possession of a position which we could hold as long as any doubts remained of what was passing above, and of the real part to be assigned us. Our guides assured us of a shoal and practicable fording place opposite the lower flank of the enemy's de- fenses, and that the woods on the opposite side of the river, a distance of seven or eight miles, was practicable for the passage of the troops. Col. Purdy, with the light corps and a strong body of infantry of the line, was detached at an early hour of the night of the 25th, to gain this ford by the morning, and to commence his attack in the rear, and that was to be signal for the army to fall on in front, and it was believed the pass might be carried before the enemy's distant troops could be brought forward to its support. I had returned to my quarters from Purdy's column about 9
* Among other stores they took off a large cask, supposed to contain rum, but which when they reached French Mills, was found to hold nothing but water. The unfortunate cask was nstantly knocked in the head, much to the amusement of the teamsters.
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o'clock at night, when I found a Mr. Baldwin, of the quarter master general's dapartment, who put into my hands an open paper from the quarter master general, respecting the building of huts in the Chateaugay, below the line. This paper sunk my hopes, and raised serious doubts of receiving that efficient support which had been anticipated. I would have recalled the column but it was in motion, and the darkness of the night rendered it impracticable. I could only go forward. The army was put in motion on the morning of the 26th, leaving its baggage &c., on the ground of encampment. On advancing near the enemy it was found that the column on the opposite side was not as far advanced as had been anticipated. The guides had misled it, and finally failed in finding the ford. We could not communicate with it, but only waited the attack below. At 2 o'clock the firing commenced, and our troops advanced rapidly to the attack. 'The enemy's light troops commenced a sharp fire, but Brig. Gen. Izard, advanced with his brigade, drove him every where behind his defenses, and silenced the fire in the front. This brigade would have pushed forward as far as courage, skill and perse- verance could have carried it; but on advancing it was found that the firing had commenced on the opposite side, and the ford had not been gained. The enemy retired behind his defenses, but a renewal of his attack was expected, and their troops remained some time in their posi- tion to meet it. The troops on the opposite side were excessively fatigued. The enterprise had failed in its main point, and Colonel Purdy was ordered to withdraw his column to a shoal four or five miles above, and cross over. The day was spent, and Gen. Izard was ordered to with- draw his brigade to a position three miles in the rear, to which place the baggage had been ordered forward. The slowness and order with which Gen. Izard retired with his brigade, could but have inspired the enemy with respect. They presumed not to venture a shot at him during bis movement, but the unguardedness of some part of Purdy's command ex- posed him to a rear attack from the Indians, which was repeated after dark, and exposed him to some loss. These attacks were always re- pelled, and must have cost the enemy as many lives as we lost. Our en- tire loss of killed, wounded and missing, does not exceed fifty. In its new position within three miles of the enemy's post, the army encamped on the night of the 26th, and rernained until 12 o'clock of the 28th. All the deserters, of whom there were four, having concurred in the informa- tion that Sir George Provost, with three other general officers, had ar- rived with the whole of his disposable force, and lay in the rear of these defences, and a letter from Major Parker (by express received in the evening of the 26th), having informed me that no movement down the St. Lawrence had been heard of at Ogdensburgh, and for some distance above. The following questions were submitted to the commanding officers of the brigades, regiments and corps, and the heads of the general staff, in a council convened for the purpose: " It is advisable under ex- isting circumstances, to renew the attack on the enemy's position, and if not, what position is it advisable for the army to take, until it can receive advices of the advance of the grand army down the St. Lawrence?" The opinion of the council was expressed in the following words: "It is the unanimous opiniou of this council that it is necessary, for the pre- servation of this army and the fulfillment of the ostensible views of the government, that we immediately return by orderly marches to such a position (Chateaugay), as will serve our communications with the United States, eirher to retire into winter quarters, or to be ready to strike below." In pursuance of this opinion the army has returned by slow marches to this place, and now awaits the order of the government."
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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
As soon as news reached Plattsburgh that the enemy had followed, a body of troops was sent back to meet them, but they were soon informed that the invading party had retreated. In our accounts of Hopkinton, Malone and Fort Covington, are given the details of this affair.
The unsuccessful issue of the military operations of the northern army in the campaign of 1813, created much dissatisfaction throughout the Union, and the conduct of the generals who had conducted the enter- prises became the subject of severe censure, and both became the subject of investigation by courts martial. That of Gen. Wilkinson was by an order of the secretary of war, assembled at Utica, in January, 1815, and adjourned to Troy. He was charged, 1st, with neglect of duty and un- officer like conduct, stated in eight particulars; 2d, with drunkenness on duty, with two specifications; 3d, conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman, with six instances; and 4th, in countenancing and encourag- ing disobedience of orders. To all of these he plead not guilty, and after a protracted trial, during which his actions and motives were severely canvassed, he was discharged. The official correspondence of the cam- paign was published by order of Congress.
On the 25th of March, 1814, the citizens of Franklin county held a public meeting at Malone, to unite in a petition to the legislature for protection against the insults and ravages of the enemy. With glowing and expressive language they represented their miseries, and invoked aid to protect their property from ravage and themselves from insult. The following is an extract from this document.
We, the subscribers, being chairman and secretary of a general meet- ing of the inhabitants of Franklin county, do respectfully represent:
That we are peculiarly and dangerously situated, and as freemen of this state, and citizens of our common country, ready to shed our blood in its defense, we ask for protection.
Like our brethren of the Niagara frontiers, many of our good citizens have experienced the spoliation of their goods, clothing and provisions, the locks of our desks and trunks have been broken, and books sacred and profane, valuable papers and money have been taken from them. We have escaped massacre and conflagration, but we have witnessed that whoever run was stopped by the force of powder and lead, and whoever submitted was under the humiliating and mortifying situation of being an eye witness to the spoliation of his goods. But this whole country is exposed to daily depradations. The barbarous savage may be prowling about our dwellings, and in our weak state of defense we must tamely submit to every insult and injury. The father experiences, with tenfold increase, the anxious solicitude of a parent and a husband. The mother hugs her infant closer to her breast, contemplating with fear and horror the dangers that await her.
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