USA > New York > Franklin County > A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time > Part 78
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 78
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lay aground, and soon after again returned. A demand was here made, from one on board to those on shore, for a longer hawser, which was promised from a neighboring store, and a quantity of bread and other provisions was conveyed aboard. On again leaving the dock, she went out into the channel, going between the grounded schooner and the British shore, and passed down the river nearly or quite to Wind Mill point, and was twice fired upon by the Experiment, but it is believed without effect. After arriving at Wind Mill point, she remained there some time, and about this time the Charlotte of Toronto, having re- mained opposite the wind mill till about the middle of the day, sailed up the river, and came to anchor near the American shore; not far from where the other schooner subsequently anchored, and remained till dark. The movements of the United States had consumed nearly half of the day, and she came up at about the same time with the Charlotte of To- ronto, and apparently with a view to cover her from the fire of the British steam boat. She again went down to Wind Mill point, at each tims of passing receiving a fire from the Experiment, which shot were cheered by those on board, who were assembled on the promenade deck ; but as she was coming up on her last trip, with great speed. and ap- parently under a great press of steam, a cannon shot from the British steamer, entered the wheel house, and instantly beheaded a young man by the name of Soloinon Foster, who stood as a pilot at the wheel. Upon arriving in port this time, the United States lay during the remainder of the day, near the wharf. During this time the boat was apparently under the orders of one Oliver B. Pierce, and had on board John W. Birge, of Cazenovia, Madison county, the reputed commander of the invading forces. Mr. Hiram Denio, who was personally acquainted with the former, was requested by the owners of the boat to go on board, and so- licit the peaceable surrender of the property, which, after some consult- ation, was done, and the parties who had taken possession, withdrew from it.
During the last trip which the steamer made, it was particularly ob- served that but a small part of those who went over returned. The others were, it is said, landed at or near the wind mill.
Mr. Nathaniel Garrow, of Auburn, the U. S. marshal for the northern district of New York, arrived from Sackett's Harbor between seven and eight o'clock on Monday evening, and between eight and nine made a formal seizure of the steamer United States. In the afternoon of Mon- day, the Paul Pry, a small steam ferry boat, went over to the stranded schooner, in charge of a company of the Patriots, and succeeded in haul- ing her off. Not long after being relieved, she passed down and took a position near the other schooner, and in performing this service en- countered a brisk fire from the steamer Experiment, which was returned with small arms. In the evening, she was also seized for a violation of the neutrality of the frontier. During the whole of Monday, there was frequent crossing of the river in small boats, and no attempt to prevent it was made or deemed practicable by the civil authorities. During the night, every thing remained quiet, and reports of cannon were heard at long intervals.
The unusual and very exciting state of things, however, which were evidently preparing for some crisis, kept the public mind awake, and every one anxious to learn what there might be known of the nature and progress of the expedition, its force, its chances of success, and the pro- babilities that they would be sustained by the Canadian population, or be reinforced by recruits from the states. Rumors of every kind floated through the town, and a meeting was held to concert measures for de-
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fense, but such was the novel and perilous crisis that had arrived, that nothing was effected. Some of the citizens warmly sympathized with the movement, and ardently wished it success, while another part, em- bracing most of those of influence and property, looked upon the pro- ceedings as tending to nothing but ruin, and as calling upon the patriot- ism of every good citizen, to lend his aid in discouraging the prosecution of the enterprise, and in protecting the national honor and the interests of the village. Such, however, was the influence of the armed strangers in the streets, that this sentiment could scarcely be found to operate in efficient exertions. Monday night was spent by the patriots at the wind mill, and adjacent premises, in fortifying it as they might be able, under the direction of Von Schoultz, upon whom, in the absence of the supe- rior officers, devolved the defence of a position, which it has been strongly insinuated and firmly believed, those who had incited and encouraged them to it, had not the courage to share with them.
It is difficult to estimate that moral baseness and utter depravity, that would, by the most solemn promises, engage to sustain the acts of others, and by means of these assurances, lead unsuspecting and inexperienced youths into a position in which utter ruin must inevitably await them, and having involved the destruction of their victims, meanly shrink from thein.
This remark is not intended as a justification of the conduct of those who occupied the wind mill, but as an illustration of the character of those who originated the expedition, and were most loud and confident in their declarations and assurances of its ultimate success. On the fol- lowing morning (November 13), the two schooners were seized at about ten o'clock, by the marshal. They at this time lay in the American waters, about thirty or forty rods from the pier or abutments of Creigh- ton's brewery.
The Charlotte of Oswego, at the time of her seizure, had on her deck two or three cannon, one properly mounted on wheels, and the other two on small plank trucks. There were also on board, boxes and small casks, which contained guns and munitions of war. There were about half a dozen men, who were the captain (Sprague), and crew. The other vessel had on board some barrels of apples, but most of the munitions had been removed from her, and landed at the wind mill. Her captain (Quick), and three or four men, supposed to be her crew, were on board. These were put in charge of Colonel W. J. Worth, of the 8th U. S. in- fantry, who had arrived in the steamer Telegraph on Monday evening, and subsequently sent to Sackett's Harbor for safe keeping.
This steamer had visited the place on Saturday, to bring Colonels Tot- ten and Thayer, of the engineer service, and was under the command of Capt. Hill, of the U. S. army. After the United States had been seized, her machinery was taken apart, so that she could not be used without the assent of the owners. The efforts of the military authorities were directed to the prevention of all further communication with the Patriots and the American shore, and the arrival of the troops afforded the first means that the authorities had possessed of enforcing the laws. The testimony that was taken in a case growing out of this affair, concurs in proving, that on Monday, the arm of the civil law was powerless, and that there did not exist the means of preventing the proceeding which ensued. Colonel Worth had under his command two companies of government troops. On Tuesday, the British armed steamers Coburg and Victoria, having arrived at Prescott with a reinforcement of troops, at about seven o'clock, they, together with the Experiment, opened a dis- charge of cannon, and commenced throwing bombs at the Patriots
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in the wind mill, who fired with field pieces from their batteries on shore, in return. These. exciting and novel proceedings, very na- turally drew a large crowd of spectators from Ogdensburgh and the ad- jacent country, to Mile point, the present site of the rail road depot, and the most eligible point from which to observe the doings of the British, in their attempt to dislodge the Patriots. On Tuesday morning, a detachment of forty men of the 83d regiment, under Lieut. Johnson, and thirty marines under Lt. Parker, were landed and joined by detachments of militia. At a quarter before seven the British advanced in two col- umns. The left under Col. D. Fraser, consisting of the marines, Capt. G. McDonnel's company of L. G. Highlanders, Capts. Jones's and Fraser's companies of 2d regiment Grenville militia, and 100 men of Col. Martle's regiment of Stormont militia. The right column was led by Col. Gowan, of the Queen's borderers, and 100 of Capt. Martle's regiment. Soon after, a line of fire blazed along the summit of the hill, in the rear of the mill, for about eighty or a hundred rods, and the report of small. arms made an incessant roar. The morning being dark and lowering, the gleam of the discharges became the more observable, and tended to heighten the horrors of the dramatic events that were transpiring. The Patriots were mostly protected by stone walls, and comparatively secure, while the British were fully exposed in the open field, and suffered greatly from the sharp shooters that were posted in the upper stories of the wind mill. The officers on horseback were seen distinctly to fall, here and there, on the field, and the ranks of the soldiers to waste away under the unequal contest. The British did not, at that time, have at Prescott guns of sufficient weight to make a sensible impression upon the massive walls of the tower, and their shot rebounded from the surface without producing effect.
After twenty or thirty minutes one party gave way, and retired out of sight over the hill, and at about nine o'clock the firing had ceased, ap- parently leaving the Patriots in possession of their strong hold, but with- out the ability to pursue, or to return to the American shore, or to main- tain their present position for any great length of time, from want of provisions and munitions. At the time when the action commenced, the patriot forces are supposed to have numbered about one hundred and eighty, but during the engagement, a party consisting of fifty-two, who had pursued the retreating militia over the hill, were separated from their comrades, scattered, pursued and captured, in detail. The Patriot loss on this occasion, is said to have been five killed and thirteen wounded, while that of the British was said at the time, to have been about a hundred killed, and as many wounded. The official return of Colonel Young, gave two officers, and eleven rank and file killed, and sixty-seven wounded. It has been generally believed that their loss ex- ceeded this number. Finding that the strong hold of the Patriots re- sisted any means of impression which they possessed, the British re- solved to await the arrival of heavier cannon, and took precautions, meanwhile to prevent any reinforcement of the invaders. From nine till three there was but little excitement. An irregular firing was kept up on the windmill, and a body of regulars fired an occasional volley at a stone house, in which a portion of the Patriots were established. At three o'clock in the afternoon, a barn was burnt by the Patriots, as sheltering the British. During this time the Patriots occupied the wind mill, and several of the houses adjoining, and the brow of the hill. On the evening of the 13th, a requision was sent to Sackett's Harbor, for more troops, to be ready, if necessary, to assist those already at Ogdens- burgh, in restraining any attempt at reinforcement. Lt. W. S. Johnson,
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of the British army, belonging to the 83d regiment, was among the killed. The dead and badly wounded, lay on the field till the morning of the 14th (Wednesday), when the British sent a flag of truce, for per- mission to bury the dead, and both parties were for a short time, en- gaged in collecting and carrying off from the field the slain. The night between the 13th and the 14th, was quiet, and the wind blew so rough that all attempt at crosing the river, had nothing else prevented, would have been hazardous. At half past nine, troops were again marched to Fort Wellington, but no engagement ensued. In the forenoon of Thursday, Colonel Worth sent for several of the prominent citizens of Ogdensburgh, to come on board the steamer, who accepted the invitation. His object in doing this was to ask their opinions and advice, on the pro- priety of a course which he proposed, of applying to Colonel Plomer Young, the British commander, to ask of him the privilege of staying the further effusion of blood, by being allowed to remove the Patriots, and becoming responsible that they should attempt no further disturb- ance on this frontier. The hunane intention of this measure, com- mended itself to the approbation of those to whom it was explained, and a citizen of high standing in the community, who was personally ac- quainted with Colonel Young, offered his services to procure an interview between Cols. Young and Worth, and accordingly visited Prescott, where he was politely received by the British officer, who accompanied him back to the steamer, and a private interview was held between the two colonels. The delicacy of the measure proposed, and the obvious charges that would be brought against the official character of an offi- cer, who would consent to the escape of an enemy, who was entirely within his power, rendered a compliance with the request, a thing to be not for a moment entertained. He pointedly denied the favor asked, but from an intimation that was dropped, either from inadvertence, or de- sign, that the machinery of the Experiment, 'the Colburg and Victoria having gone up the river the night previous), needed repairs, that would prevent her being used until two o'clock the next morning, it was very naturally inferred, that no means of annoyance would be in the possess- ion of the British during the early part of the night. This opportunity Colonel Worth wished to have improved, and having consulted some of the citizens on the subject, it was understood that early in the evening, the steamer Paul Pry, should be at the service of a party of volunteers, who might safely approach the wind mill, and rescue the inmates, if they could be induced to improve the opportunity. This delicate and re- sponsible service, was entrusted to Mr. Preston King, the post master of the village, who was selected as possessing the requisite qualifications for the duty.
A sufficient number of volunteers was raised for the occasion, and the steamer repaired to the vicinity of the wind mill. Among the volun- teers was a man connected with the Patriots, who was said to be an offi- cer of their organization, and to know their pass words; he was for these reasons, recommended as a suitable person to open the communi- cation with them; and was sent on shore in a small row boat, to com- municate the errand of the steamer, which as the shore was shoal, and there was no wharf, was compelled to lay off several rods from the shore to avoid grounding.
By subsequent information, it was ascertained, that some person who went ashore in the first boat, reported that a reinforcement of men and supplies might soon be expected by the Patriots, and they were advised to maintain their position.
After waiting a considerable time for a return from the row boat sen
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ashore, a small boat rowed by two men, brought to the steamer a wounded man from the wind mill, from whom and his companions, those remaining on board the steamer first heard of the report of rein- forcements that had been made on shore. Mr. King then took a small boat, with one man, and repaired himself to the wind mill, made known the nature of his errand, stated the folly of looking for reinforcements which there was no reason to expect, and earnestly requested them to avail themselves of the only chance of escape that would be offered. .
The delusive hope and divided councils arising from the report of re- inforcements, produced delay and uncertainity in the movements of the Patriots to avail themselves of the opportunity to retire from their posi- tion. The men on board the steamer became impatient at the delay, and insisted upon the return of the steamer to Ogdensburgh. Mr. King was thus reluctantly compelled to return, without having accomplished his purpose, further than to bring off six or seven men from the mill, one of whom had been wounded in the thigh by a musket ball. He had scarce returned to port, when the British armed steamer was seen going down the river, and all chance of passing between the American shore, and the mill was cut off. The persons first sent on shore to com- municate with the Patriots did not return to the steamer, but were left, and returned to the American shore in their row boat.
During the time the Paul Pry lay near the wind mill, firing along the line by the British piquet guards was kept up by musketry, which ren- dered the men on board the steamer impatient of inaction and delay. Had it not been for the false expectation of reinforcements, it is believed the patriots might at once have availed themselves of the opportunity . offered for escape, and the sad events which subsequently followed, have been avoided.
On Thursday evening, the steamer United States (Captain Van Cleve), in charge of Captain Vaughan, sailing master of the navy, with a party of troops under Captain Wright, started for Sackett's Harbor, having along side in tow, the two patriot schooners, and manned by a company of United States troops. The schooners had on their decks, the cannon which had formed a part of their armament. Apprehending that they should meet a British force, expected from Kingston, to complete the capture of the wind mill, and believing it to be prudent to be provided against any emergency that might arise, Capt. Wright had caused the cannon to be loaded, and the military to be held in readiness. When they had arrived at a point just above Oak point, they met the British steamer Brockville, having two gun boats in tow. The United States was hailed, and ordered to " lie to and send a boat aboard."
The peremptory and insulting tone in which this was expressed, for- bade compliance on the part of the officer, who had the flotilla in charge, and the reply was made, that they might " come aboard." The demand was again repeated, and answered with a coolness and pointedly laconic brevity, that did the highest credit to the courage and ability of Captain Wright. The parties having passed, the British steamer turned and fol- lowed for some distance, but no further notice being taken of her by the United States, the pursuer shortly resumed her original course.
On the morning of the 16th (Friday), the British having been rein- forced with a regiment of four hundred regulars, and by gun boats armed with ordnance sufficient for the reduction of the place, set them- selves at work systematically, for this purpose. An eighteen pounder was posted back of the mill, under Major McBane; a gun boat, was posted below the mill, and a heavily armed steamer above it, so that the shot from these three points might not interfere with each other, and
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still have the mill in their focus. They were beyond the range of rifle shot, and sufficient to accomplish ere long the demolition of the tower. During the whole of Thursday, a white flag had been displayed from the mill, but no attention being paid to it, it was finally fastened on the outside. Three or four flags were sent out, and the bearers shot down, as soon as seen, as the British appeared to be inclined to receive no terms. At length on Friday, in the forenoon, the firing 'ceased, and an unconditional surrender being made, the prisoners, (for as such they were received, and regarded,) were marched out between files of regulars, and conducted to Fort Wellington, from whence they were sent to Fort William Henry, at Kingston, for trial. Had it not been for the interposition of the regulars, the prisoners would have been torn in pieces by the enraged militia, who exhibited a vindictiveness and ani- mosity, that has scarcely found a parallel in the annals of French and Indian warfare. Every species of abuse and insult was heaped upon the unfortunate band. During the firing that ensued in celebrating the surrender, Captain Drummond, of the British army, was accidentally shot. The British burnt, at once, four dwellings and two barns, in the vicinity of the wind mill. Von Schoultz was said to be opposed to of- fering the enemy a flag of truce, and besought his men to rush upon the enemy, and die in the contest, but their ammunition and provisions were exhausted, and the fatigue of five days and nights incessant watching and labor, had made them indifferent to their fate.
British official return of killed and wounded in action with the Brigands, near Prescott, on the 13th November, 1838.
Killed .- 83d regiment, 1 lieutenant. L. Glengary Highlanders, 4 rank and file. 2d regiment, Dundas militia, 4 rank and file. 1st regiment, Grenville militia, 2 rank and file. 2d regiment, Grenville militia, 1 lieu- tenant. Captain Edmondson's Brockville Independent company, 1 rank and file. Total, 2 lieutenants, 11 rank and file.
Wounded -83d regiment, 4 rank and file. Royal marines, 1 lieutenant, 14 rank and file. L. Glengary Highlanders, 1 ensign, 7 rank and file. 9th provincial battalion, 1 lieutenant colonel, 8 rank and file. 2d regi- ment, Dundas militia, 1 lieutenant, 12 rank and file. 1st regiment, Gren- ville militia, 4 rank and file. Capt. Edmondson's Brockville Independent company, 3 rank and file. Captain Jessup's Prescott Independent com- pany, 1 sergeant, 4 rank and file. Gentlemen Volunteers, 2 rank and file. Total, 1 lieutenant colonel, 2 lieutenants, 1 ensign, 1 sergeant, 62 rank and file.
Names of Officers killed .- W. S. Johnson, lieutenant 83d regiment; - Dulmage, lieutenant Ist regiment Grenville militia.
Wounded .- Ogle R. Gowan, lieutenant colonel 9th provincial battalion, slightly ; Parker, Royal marines, slightly ; Pardow, lieu- tenant 2d regiment Dundas militia, severely; Angus MacDonnell, ensign L. G. Highlanders, slightly.
P. YOUNG.
The board of supervisors were in sessions at Canton at the time, and the cannonade of the battle was distinctly heard at that place. Some of the board were warm sympathizers in the movement, and the following resolutions which were brought forward for action repeatedly, but failed to pass, shows the strong feeling that was entertained in relation to the patriot war, and may be regarded as a curiosity worthy of record.
The resolution of Isaac Ellwood is called up in the words following,
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to wit: - Whereas the members of the board of supervisors of St. Law- rence county, having received information and believing the same to be authentic, that the patriots have made a noble stand at Windmill point, near Prescott, in Upper Canada, and have had a severe engagement with the advocates and minions of British tyranny and oppression on the 13th inst. and having every reason to believe from said information, unless the said patriots are reinforced in the perilous situation in which they are placed, that they will meet with defeat, and sacrifice their lives in contending against a merciless and cruel foe : and whereas, this board feel a deep interest and intense anxiety in the success of that patriotic struggle which would spread the light of liberty over our oppressed brethren in Canada, and for the preservation of the lives of those patriots who are contending for the rights of men born free, and for the republican principles for which our venerable forefathers shed their blood.
Resolved, that this board adjourn, to meet again at the court house in the said county, on the last Monday of the present month, at 1 o'clock, P. M., in order to enable the members thereof to rescue that Spartan band of patriotic friends, and preserve their lives from the hands of their enemies, the tyrants and advocates of the British crown. On motion by Mr. Buck, seconded by Mr. Doty :- Resolved that the above resolution lie on the table until the same shall be again drawn up." The resolution was never called up from the table.
Bill Johnston, the avowed leader of the gang that boarded and burned the Robert Peel, had been seen publicly in the streets of Ogdensburgh for several days, and no one ventured to arrest him, until on the 17th, shortly after the surrender of the band in the windmill, he was seen to enter a boat with his son, and leave the harbor; the collector of the dis- trict, seeing him depart, called the attention of a deputy marshall to his movements, and advised that an attempt should be made to arrest him. Failing in this, he entered a boat belonging to the office, hoisted the revenue flag, and pursued him, in company with several others. John. stop and his son landed about three miles above the village, was pursued, headed, and finally induced to surrender, on condition that his arms might be received by his son. He was armed with a Cochran rifle, (with twelve discharges) and two large rifle pistols, with several smaller ones and a bowie knife. The merit of arresting Johnston has been claimed by different parties, and the bounty offered for his apprehension is said to have been paid to C. T. Buswell and A. B. James, who pursued on horseback as soon as he had landed, and were present when he surren-
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