USA > New York > A history of the state of New York, from the first discovery of the country to the present time: with a geographical account of the country, and a view of its original inhabitants > Part 24
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In 1810, as before stated, the attention of the legislature was again called to the subject, and the resolution for causing the survey to be made passed unanimously. The whole route was again explored during the summer, and several more ac- curate surveys made the following year, the result of which was highly favorable to the prosecution of the enterprise. In the reports of the commissioners, the practicability of a canal navigation from the Hudson to lake Erie, and the immense advantages which would result from the accomplishment of this object, were fully demonstated. The public attention was aroused, and the importance of the work began to be in some measure appreciated.
In their report of 1812, the commissioners estimate the expense of the undertaking at $6,000,000, and affirm, as the result of their calculations, that, should the canal cost even $10,000,000, the revenue which would accrue from it would soon discharge the interest, and, very soon afterwards, by natural and necessary increase, discharge the principal.
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After adverting to the future importance of this work, they prophetically observe : "Even when, by the flow of that per- petual stream which bears all human institutions away, our constitution shall be dissolved, and our laws be lost, still the descendants of our children's children will remain .- The same mountains will stand, the same rivers run .- New moral combinations will be founded on the old physical foundations, and the extended line of remote posterity, after a lapse of 2000 years, and the ravage of repeated revolutions, when the records of history shall have been obliterated, and the tongue of tradition have converted (as in China) the shadowy re- membrance of ancient events into childish tales of miracle, this national work shall remain. It shall bear testimony to the genius, the learning, the industry and the intelligence of the present age."
Soon after this report was presented, an act was passed by the legislature, authorizing the commissioners, upon such terms and conditions as they should deem reasonable, to pur- chase, in behalf of the state, all the rights, interest and es- tate of the " Western Inland Navigation Company," and to take charge of the same. An act was also passed, authorizing the commissioners to borrow $5,000,000, in behalf of the state, for the prosecution of the canal. This act was, however, repealed in 1814.
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CHAP. XV.
WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN.
WVar declared. Preparation for the Invasion of 1 . Canada. Battle of Queenstown. Capture of York and Fort George. Operations on the Lakes. Battles of Bridgewater, Chippewa and Plattsburg. Termination of the War. Com- mencement and Completion of the Northern and Erie Canals.
SEC. I. 1812. The encroachment of the British upon the maritime rights of the Ameri- cans had, for some time, been a subject of con- troversy between the two countries. After repeated negotiations, in which no satisfactory concessions had been made by the British gov- ernment, the depredations on the American commerce were still continued. At this crisis, the committee on foreign relations made report in concurrence with the message of the presi- dent, recommending, as the last resort for the defence of their rights, an appeal to arms. A bill for the declaration of war with Great Britain was accordingly introduced,* and, after having passed both houses of congress, received the signature of the president on the 18th of June. Preparations were immediately made for the commencement of hostilities.
* The bill was passed by the house of representatives on the 4th, and by the senate on the 17th.
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" The grounds of the war, as set forth in the president's message to congress, were-The impressment of American seamen by the British ; the blockade of her enemies' ports, supported by no adequate forces, in consequence of which the American commerce had been plundered in every sea, and the great staples of the country cut off from their legiti- mate markets; and the British orders in council."
"The right of search" constituted an important point of . controversy. Great Britain claimed, among her prerogatives, to take her native born subjects for her navy, wherever found, and of searching American vessels for this purpose. Native born British subjects, who had voluntarily enlisted on board our vessels, were frequently seized by the officers of the British navy ; and, under color of seizing their own subjects, thousands of American seamen were impressed into the British service.
" Great Britain and France were, at this time, at war with each other, and had involved most of the European powers in their controversies. In 1806, the British government issued an order in council, declaring the ports and rivers from the Elbe to Brest to be in a state of blockade. By this order, all American vessels trading to these and intervening ports were liable to seizure and condemnation. The French soon after issued the 'Berlin Decree,' by which all the British islands were declared to be in a state of blockade, and all intercourse with them prohibited. In January, 1807, the British govern- ment issued an order in council, prohibiting all coasting trade with France ; and, in November, the celebrated British orders in council, prohibiting all commercial intercourse with France and her allies, all nations at war with Great Britain, and all places from which the British flag was excluded. This was retaliated, on the part of France, in December, by the ' Milan Decree,' declaring every vessel denationalized which shall have submitted to a search by a British ship, and every vessel a good prize which should sail to or from Great Britain, or any of its colonies, or countries occupied by British troops.'
While America was endeavoring to maintain a neutrality, and continue her commerce with the belligerents, they con- tinued to array against each other these violent commercial
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edicts, in direct violation of the law of nations, and the most solemn treaties. In consequence of these edicts, the British and French cruisers were let loose upon the American com- merce, by whom a large number of our merchantmen were captured, and an immense amount of American property scized and condemned.
In December, congress passed an act, laying an embargo on all vessels within the jurisdiction of the United States. This measure failing to coerce the belligerents into an ac- · knowledgment of our rights, an act was passed, March fol- lowing, by which all trade and intercourse with France and England were prohibited. This was retaliated, on the part of France, the following year, by the 'Rambouillet decree,' ordering all American vessels and cargoes, arriving in any of the ports of France, or countries occupied by French troops, to be seized and condemned.
Congress, May following, passed an act excluding British and French armed vessels from the waters of the United States; but providing that, in case either of these nations should modify its edicts before the 3d of March, 1811, so that they should cease to violate neutral commerce, commer- cial intercourse with such nation might be renewed. In consequence of this act, official intelligence was soon after received by the American government, that the French de- crees were revoked.
No concessions were, however, made on the part of Great Britain, and her orders in council were still rigidly enforced. While affairs were in this posture, an encounter took place, May, 1811, between the American frigate President, com- manded by captain Rogers, and the British sloop of war Little Belt, commanded by captain Bingham, in which the latter suffered severely in her men and rigging. The attac !: was commenced by the Little Belt, without previous provoca- tion or justifiable cause. War now appeared to be the only alternative; and congress, having been assembled by procla- mation in November, proceeded, in accordance with the recommendation of the president, to pass bills preparatory to a state of hostilities.
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The opinions of congress, and of the people of the United States, were much at variance on the policy and expediency of the war. By the friends of the existing administration, constituting the republican party, the measure was warmly supported, and the war declared to be unavoidable and just. By the federal party it was as warmly opposed, and declared to be impolitic, unnecessary and unjust. The federal party, at this time constituting the minority in congress, entered their solemn protest against it.
The commencement of the war was unfortunately signal- ized by the surrender of Detroit, with about 2500 men, to the enemy. General Hull, the commander, was charged with treason, cowardice, and unofficerlike conduct, and tried before a court-martial. On the first charge, the court declined giving an opinion ; on the two last, he was sentenced to death. The sentence was, however, remitted by the president.
SEC. II. The attention of the Americans was carly directed to the invasion of Canada, and troops, to the number of 8 or 10,000, werc collected along the line for this purpose. They were distributed into three divisions-the north- western army, under general Harrison ; the army of the centre, under general Stephen Van Rensselaer, at Lewistown ; and the army of the north, in the vicinity of Plattsburg, under gen- cral Dearborn, the commander-in-chief. Great exertions were also made for preparing a naval force upon the lakes, the command of which was intrusted to commodore Chauncey.
After the surrender of Detroit, the Americans had but one vessel of war on these waters, the Oncida, of 16 guns, on lake Ontario, commanded by lieutenant Woolsey. Commo- dore Chauncey, with a body of scamen, arrived at Sackett's Harbor about the first of October, and several schooners, which had been employed as traders on the lake, were imme- diately purchased and fitted out as vessels of war. Lieutenant
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Elliot was despatched to Black Rock to make arrangements there for building a naval force superior to that of the enemy on lake Erie. Soon after his arrival, an opportunity Bas offered for a display of the most determined heroism.
On the 8th of October, two British vessels, the Detroit, late the United States brig Adams, and the brig Caledonta, came down the lake from Malden, and anchored under the guns of fort Eric, situated nearly opposite Black Rock. Elli ot immediately determined to make an attack, and, if possible, get possession of them, and accordingly despatched an express to hasten the arrival of some sailors who were hourly expected. They arrived about noon, 50 in number, and were allowed only till midnight to refresh themselves, when, being reinforced by 50 of the regular land-forces, they put off from the mouth of Buffalo creek, in two boats, with lieutenant Elliot at their head.
Having rowed into the lake above the vessels, they drifted down with the current, till they were hailed by a sentinel on board one of them, when they instantly sprang to their oars, and, closing in upon the vessels, they jumped on board, drove the British below, and, in 10 minutes from their getting along side, the prisoners were all secured, and the vessels under way.
Unfortunately, the wind was not sufficiently strong to carry them up against the current into the lake, and both ran aground. The Caledonia, however, was beached- under the protection of one of the batteries at Black Rock, but the Detroit lay near the head of the island in the middle of the river, exposed to the batteries and flying artillery of the enemy. The Americans returned their fire from the Detroit ; but, finding they could not bring their guns to bear with advantage, the prisoners were all got on shore, and the brig deserted. During the day, several unsuccessful attempts were made by the British to board and destroy the military stores in the Detroit, but they were mostly secured by the Americans, after which she was set on fire and abandoned. The loss of the Americans, in this enterprise, was only two killed, and four wounded .*
* Historical Register.
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SEC. III. On the 13th of October, a detach- ment from the army of the centre, consisting of about 1000 men, crossed the Niagara river, and attacked the British on the heights of Queens- town. They succeeded in dislodging the enemy, but, not being reinforced from the American side, as was expected, were afterwards repulsed, and compelled to surrender.
The troops destined for this expedition, having been as- sembled at Lewistown the preceding evening, began to einbark, at the dawn of day, under cover of a battery mounting two eighteen pounders and two sixes. To accomplish their landing, they had only 12 boats, each capable of containing 20 men. Their movements were soon discovered by the ene- iny, and a brisk fire of musketry was poured from the whole line of the Canada shore, aided by three batteries. Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer effected the first landing in the face of this tremendous fire with only 100 men. Though severely wounded, the moment he leaped from the boat, he formed his men in a masterly manner, and commanded his officers to move on. They soon succeeded in gaining the heights, and, reinforcements arriving, the forts were stormed, and the enemy driven down the hill in every direction.
Both parties were now reinforced, the Americans by regu- lars and militia, the British by 600 regulars under general Brock. The contest was renewed, and, after a desperate en- gagement, the enemy were repulsed. General Brock and his aid, captain M'Donald, fell about the same instant. General Stephen Van Rensselaer now crossed over, for the purpose of fortifying the heights preparatory to another attack.
`At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the enemy, being reinforc- ed by several hundred Indians, again advanced, and were a third time repulsed. General Van Rensselaer now recrossed the river, and made an attempt to obtain the assistance of the militia, who were collecting on the opposite side, but .was unsuccessful. The militia, dismayed by the view of the con- test from the opposite side, absolutely refused to embark
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The British, in the meantime, were reinforced by 800 soldiers from fort George, and renewed the attack. Finding it im- practicable to obtain the necessary reinforcements, the general ordered a retreat ; but, unfortunately, the boats were dispers- ed, and many of the boatmen had fled. 'The Americans, for a time, continued to struggle against the superior force of the enemy, but were finally compelled to surrender themselves prisoners of war. The loss of the Americans in killed was about 60; in wounded and taken prisoners, about 700 ;- that of the enemy is unknown, but must have been severe.
General Van Rensselaer soon after resigned the command, which devolved on general Smyth, who, the last of Novem- ber, projected another expedition, which was to have sailed from Buffalo. This expedition, however, failed from the same cause which occasioned the misfortune at Queenstown-the refusal of the militia to cross the lines.
The operations of the war, the present year, were distin- guished by several splendid naval achievements. About the middle of August, the British frigate Guerriere, commanded by captain Dacres, was captured by the United States frigate Constitution, commanded by captain Isaac Hull. On the 17th of October, the enemy's brig Frolic was captured by the American sloop of war Wasp. Both of these vessels were. however, taken the same day by the Poictiers, a British 74. On the 25th, the frigate United States, of 44 guns, command- ed by commodore Decatur, captured the Macedonian, a frigate of 49 guns. On the 29th of December, the Constitu- tion, then commanded by commodore Bainbridge, captured the British frigate Java, commanded by captain Lambert. During the winter of 1813, an engagement took place, off' South America, between the Hornet, commanded by captain Lawrence, and the British sloop of war Peacock. After an action of but 15 minutes, the Peacock was compelled to sur- · render.
SEC. IV. 1813. In January, the Americans, un- der general Winchester, sustained a severe defeat from the British, under general Proctor, at the river Raisin. During the winter, the operations
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of the war on the New York frontier were most- ly suspended. Some skirmishing took place along the St. Lawrence ; but the opposing ene mies being divided by a barrier of ice, not suf- ficiently strong to admit of the transportation of artillery, no enterprise of any importance was attempted.
In February, intelligence was received at Ogdensburg, that several men, who had deserted from the opposite shore on the ice, had been taken on the American side by a party of the British, and carried off and confined, in the jail at Brockville. Captain Forsythe, the commander at Ogdensburg, crossed over with about 200 militia and riflemen, for the purpose of retaking the prisoners, and capturing the military stores at Brockville. On their arrival, they were fired upon by the sen- tinels, but, instead of returning it, they rushed through the main street to the jail, which was instantly carried, and the prisoners liberated. After capturing about 50 prisoners, and a small quantity of military stores, they returned without loss.
The following evening, a small party of Indians crossed over, and made an attack upon the guard belonging to For- sythe's company, but were repulsed. On the 22d. the enemy crossed over in considerable force, and succeeded in capturing Ogdensburg. Forsythe effected a safe retreat before a supc- rior force to Black Lake. Some alarm was excited for the safety of Sackett's Harbor, but immediate measures were taken for its defence. No attempts were, however, made at further conquest, and the British, shortly after, retired across the St. Lawrence.
·SEC. V. In April, general Dearborn made dispositions for a descent upon York, the capital of Upper Canada. A successful attack was made on the 27th, and the place, with large quantities of military stores, fell into the hands of the Americans.
The enterprise was committed to a detachment of 1700
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troops, under general Pike. The fleet, under commodore Chauncey, with the troops from Sackett's Harbor, moved down the lake, and, on the 27th, arrived one and a half miles from the enemy's works. The British, consisting of about 750 regulars, and 500 Indians, under general Sheaffe, attempt- ed to oppose the landing, but were thrown into confusion, and fled to their garrison.
The Americans advanced; but, on their approach to the barracks, an explosion of a magazine, previously prepared for that purpose, took place, which killed about 100 men, among whom was the gallant Pike. He lived, however, to direct his troops, thrown into a momentary confusion, "to move on." They advanced, under colonel Pearce, towards the town, and . took possession of the barracks, when they were met by the officers of the Canada militia, with offers of capitulation. At four o'clock, the troops entered the town.
The British lost in killed, wounded and prisoners, 750 men ; the Americans, in killed and wounded, about 300. Early in May, the place was evacuated, and the fleet moved to Four Mile Creek, below fort Niagara, where the troops were landed, and a detachment of 100 men, with two schooners, sent to the head of the lake to seize a quantity of public stores. The stores were guarded by about SO regulars, who were soon put to flight. The stores were brought away, the public buildings burnt, and the expedition returned, without loss, to fort Niagara. Commodore Chauncey soon after sailed for Sackett's IIarbor, to obtain reinforcements.
SEC. VI. Commodore Chauncey having re- turned with the fleet to fort Niagara, it was immediately resolved to make a descent upon fort George, situated on the opposite shore. An attack was made on the 27th of May, and, after a short contest, the place fell into the hands of the Americans.
The troops having been embarked, the fleet stood out carly in the morning, and took a favorable position for annoying the enemy's batteries, and to cover the landing of the troops. In
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10 minutes after the schooners opened upon the batteries, they were completely silenced and abandoned. The troops then landed near a fort which had been silenced at Two Mile Creek. Immediately on their landing, the enemy, who had been con- cealed in a ravine, advanced in great force to the edge of the bank, in order to charge them; but the schooners opened so heavy and well-directed a fire, that they were compelled to retreat. The troops, in the mean time, formed, and, ascending the bank, immediately charged the enemy, who were routed and put to flight in every direction. The British now reen- tered fort George, and, having set fire to their magazines, moved off rapidly towards Queenstown. They were pursued by the light troops for several miles, when, becoming exhaust- ed through fatigue, they returned to fort George.
The loss of the Americans in this enterprise was 39 killed, and 111 wounded; that of the enemy, 108 killed, and 278 taken prisoners, of whom 163 were wounded. The number of militia paroled by general Dearborn was 507. The British garrison at fort Erie, soon after, blew up their magazine, and retreated.
On the 23d of June, general Dearborn despatched lieuten- ant-colonel Boerstler, with 570 men, to Beaver Dam, to dis- perse a body of the enemy. When within about two miles of that place, he was attacked from an ambuscade, but soon drove the enemy some distance into the woods. He then retired into a clear field, and sent an express for a reinforce- ment. Three hundred men were immediately marched to his relief, but, before their arrival, Boerstler had surrendered.
SEC. VII. During these operations of the Americans, several enterprises were undertaken by the enemy. About the last of May, a detach- ment of 1000 of the British, under sir George Prevost, made an attack upon Sackett's Harbor, but were repulsed with considerable loss.
The American loss in this attack was 21 killed, 84 wound- ed, and 26 missing, of the regulars and volunteers; of the militia, 25 were killed, wounded and missing. The enemy
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had 29 killed, 22 wounded, 35 taken prisoners ; in addition, many were killed in the boats while effecting their landing, and a number carried off the field previous to the commence- ment of their retreat.
On the 19th of June, the British landed and burnt Sodus, where a quantity of provisions was deposited, and, on the following day, made an unsuccessful attempt to land at Oswe- go. On the 2d of July, another unsuccessful attempt was made at Sackett's Harbor. On the 11th, a party of the ene- my crossed over at Black Rock, and succeeded in carrying off a quantity of stores. Several enterprises were likewise con ducted by the enemy on lake Erie.
During the spring of the present year, New York was. blockaded by the enemy. At the south, Chesapeake Bay was blockaded, and some predatory excursions made on the coast. On the Ist of June, an action took place between the British frigate Shannon and the Chesapeake, commanded by captain Lawrence, in which the latter was compelled to surrender, her commander being mortally wounded. In August, the Argus, an American vessel, was captured by the Pelican. In Sep- tember, success again returned to the Americans, and the British brig Boxer was captured by the Enterprise after a short but obstinate engagement .*
SEC. VIII. On the 10th of September, an engagement took place between the American fleet, under commodore Perry, and that of the British, on lake Erie. After a long and desper- ate conflict, the Americans obtained a decisive victory.
The American squadron consisted of nine vessels, carrying 54 guns ; that of the British, of six vessels, and 63 guns. The line of battle was formed at eleven, and, a quarter before twelve, the enemy's flag-ship, Queen Charlotte, opened a tro- mendous fire upon the Lawrence, flag-ship of commodore Perry, which was sustained by the latter 10 minutes before she could bring her carronades to bear. At length she bore
* Historical Register.
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up, and engaged the enemy; but the wind was too light to permit the other vessels to support her, and she was compelled to contend for two hours with two ships of equal force. By this time, the brig became unmanageable, and, most of the crew being either killed or wounded, Perry abandoned her, and passed unhurt to the Niagara.
The wind now rose, and, spreading every canvass, he bore down upon the enemy. The remainder of the American squadron, one after another, arrived, closed in with the enemy, and the action became general. Three hours finished the . contest, and Perry announced the capture of the whole squad- ron to general Harrison in this laconic style : " We have met the enemy, and they are ours." The Americans had 27 killed and 96 wounded; the British lost, in killed, wounded and taken prisoners, about 800.
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