USA > New York > Erie County > Buffalo > An authentic and comprehensive history of Buffalo : with some account of its early inhabitants, both savage and civilized ; comprising historic notices of the Six Nations or Iroquois Indians, including a sketch of the life of Sir William Johnson, and of other prominent white men, long resident among the Senecas ; arranged in chronologial order > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
Gen. Smyth became the object of general ridicule. His grandiloquent proclamations were done into poetry and published in the Buffalo Gazette, and that paper contained several articles and communications, animad- verting, in the strongest terms of reproach, upon the character and conduct of Gen. Smyth. Dr. Chapin came out, over his own signature, in an article pub- lished in the Gazette, several columns in length, of great severity. Our limits do not allow its re-publica" tion ; a single paragraph will serve to show its character and spirit :
"The disgraceful attempt by Gen. Smyth to invade Canada has everywhere excited astonishment ; and, though much has been said and written respecting it, yet no statement has been laid before the public calcu- lated to make the impression which the public mind ought to feel. The official dispatch of Gen. S. is in many instances erroneous ; and, so far from being a
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dignified statement of facts, is but a pitiful attempt at personal abuse, containing little more than the sug- gestions of humbled arrogance and pride. From Gen. Porter a statement was expected that would enable the public to form an opinion of the shameful transaction of the 28th Nov. and the 1st inst .; but the affair of Grand Island has induced Gen. P. to deviate from his original intention, and he has merely given a detail of facts so far as they came within his knowledge, without once re- ferring to the causes of the extraordinary conduct of Gen. Smyth. The public have, therefore, a right to ex- pect a statement of somewhat different features from those of one whose pen has been shackled by an 'affair of honor.' Under this impression, the writer of the fol- lowing article feels that he need not further apologize to his fellow-citizens for thus intruding upon their at- tention." * *
Under date of Nov. 24th, the following article ap- peared in the Buffalo Gazette, showing the hopeful state of affairs at that time :
"The most active and indefatigable exertions are making to forward the enterprise on foot. Volunteers from different parts are coming in daily to join the American army. The town of Batavia has been patriot- ic; a subscription of seven hundred dollars, we under- stand, has been made for the purpose of paying volun- teers an extra price for coming forward and joining the army.
Capt. Stevens' "Greys," from Willink, and Capt. Bemus' "Greys," from Hamburgh, have arrived in this
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SMYTHI'S ARMY DISPERSE.
village. Gen. P. B. Porter, we learn, is to take com- mand of the volunteers. Doctor C. Chapin is appointed Major ; Samuel Pratt, Esq., Adjutant, and J. E. Chaplin, Quartermaster. The names of other officers are not in our possession. Brigadier Gen. Smyth has now the com- mand on the lines."
On the Sth of December, after the failure of Gen. Smyth's expedition, the Gazette says :
" The militia volunteers who came forward under the invitation of Gen. Smyth, have all returned home, curs- ing their stars because they have not "seen " or "felt " a battle. The Pennsylvania volunteers, consisting of nearly seventeen hundred men, have nearly all gone home for winter quarters. These troops were much dis- satisfied. Since their arrival here they have been ex- posed in tents ; we understand that last week they were ordered to build huts which they would not comply with. The United States twelve month's volunteers are to be stationed in this village with the exception of Swift's regiment. Several families in this village have relin- quished their houses for the comfort of the troops. The articles of forage and provisions are now very dear and scarce." **
On the 29th December, the following notice appears in the Buffalo Gazette :
" MESSRS. SALISBURY - I was desired yesterday evening to request you to insert in your paper an invitation to the good people of the County of Niagara, to meet on
*See Appendix No. 6.
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HISTORY OF BUFFALO.
Friday, next, at the house of R. Cook, in this village at 10 o'clock, A. M., to consult on measures of public safety, and if possible concert some means to avert the impend- ing dangers which are so visibly threatning our once peaceable and happy dwellings.
"Yours, &c., " RICHARD SMITH.
" Buffalo, December 25th, 1812."
The close of the year 1812 left the military situation of affairs on the Niagara frontier, particularly at Buffalo, in a very unpromising condition, and the few inhabitants remaining began to feel as if they were left with very little dependence except upon themselves. Early in January, 1813, the following appeared in the Buffalo Gazette :
" Arrangments are in great forwardness, we understand, for completely guarding the lake coast, since the lake has closed. During the last week several families have removed out of the country ; we think their fears are groundless. We have no doubt but weshall be effectually guarded ; however, it would not be inconsistent with principles of self preservation that every citizen have his arms in good order, with a supply of amunition."
Active measures had already been taken to organize a fleet of armed vessels on Lake Eric, and several had been purchased by the Government and during the win- ter several vessels had been in process of repair and con- struction at Erie. Hitherto very few American vessels of any size had been built on Lake Erie, while the Brit-
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1813-SUCCESSFUL OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN.
ish had both war and merchant vessels in considerable numbers. In March, 1813, the following notice appeared in the Buffalo Gazette :
" Last week, Capt. O. H. Perry, of the United States Navy, lately commanding at Newport, Rhode Island, arrived in this village, on his way to Erie, Penn., to su- perintend the completing and fitting ont a naval force at that place. The Captain, we understand, will command the naval force on Lake Erie, the ensuing summer."
The mortification of the country at the results of the first season of the war on the Niagara frontier, led to more strenuous efforts on the part of the Government to enter upon the campaign of 1813, under better auspices. Major Gen. Lewis and Brigadier Gen. Boyd were sent to the Niagara frontier, early in the spring. Their arrival at Buffalo is announced in the Gazette, April 20th, 1813 :
" On Saturday last, arrived in this village, Major Gen. Lewis, accompanied by Brigadier Gen. Boyd ; Capt. Gibson is one of Gen. Lewis's Aids. On their arrival, they were very handsomely saluted by the troops sta- tioned in this village-the flying artillery, under Capt. Leonard, the infantry under Col. Milton."
A force had been assembled at Sackett's Harbor under Gen. Dearborn, and embarked on the fleet of Commo- dore Chauncey, early this spring, crossed over to Little York, (now Toronto,) and captured that place ; after which the fleet returned and in May assisted at the cap- ture of Fort George, opposite Fort Niagara. In this
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affair Gen. Lewis had the immediate command, although Gen. Dearborn was on board the fleet disabled by sick- ness. Gen. Porter went as volunteer Aid to Gen. Lewis, and it is said in the published account that Doctor Cha- pin led the van-guard. The British army retreated be- fore our victorious forces, after the blowing up of their magazines and destroying all the public property, and were pursned towards the head of Lake Ontario. The following is from the Buffalo Gazette, of the same date :
"Abont four o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, (of the capture of Fort George,) an express arrived at Fort Erie from the British commander below. It is un- derstood the express brought orders for all the regulars to march immediately to join Gen. Vincent, on his retreat, and also for Major Warren, (of the militia) to open a fire upon Black Rock, and continue the same until next morning and then burst his guns, blow up the magazines, and dismiss his men. He executed his orders. The bat- teries below the fort immediately opened a fire upon Black Rock, which was returned and continued at inter- vals during the night. Early in the morning the destruc- tion of their military stores commenced ; all their mag- azines, all their barracks, public stores and store-houses from Chippewa to Point Abino have been blown up or burned. Not a person was injured at Black Rock, during the whole cannonade. The barracks received a few shot. In the evening of the following day Lieut. Col. J. P. Preston, commandant at Black Rock crossed over with his regiment and entered Fort Erie. From the hu- mane and salutary measures adopted by Col. Preston, on his entrance into the enemy's territory, in discrimina-
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BURNING OF NEWARK BY GEN. M'CLURE.
ting between friends and enemies, and securing those well disposed in their persons and property, we antici- pate that he will be very favorably received by the in- habitants of Canada."
The capture by the British of Gens. Winder and Chandler, at Stoney Creek, and other disasters, com- pelled our army to fall back upon Fort George, and ulti- mately to abandon that place. When Gen. McClure, then in command of the American forces, decided to abandon Fort George, he ordered the village of Newark (formerly Butlersbury) to be burned. This was con- sidered at the time to be a most wanton and unjustifiable act, and, as the result proved, was made the pretext for the burning of Buffalo. Under date of December 14th, 1813, the Buffalo Gazette thus speaks of the trans- action :
" Fort George was evacuated and Newark burned on Friday last. Gen. McClure evacuated Fort George, blew up the magazine, and burnt the fort. The village of Newark was ordered to be burnt, and in the evening it was fired, and, we understand, every house was consumed. We have no particulars of the above dis- tressing intelligence, but have our information from gel- tlemen who witnessed the awful conflagration. Newark was formerly a fine, flourishing village, and commanded the most beautiful prospect on any of our western waters. Before the war it contained above one hundred and fifty houses."
Early in July, symptoms of greater activity began to
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be exhibited by the enemy all along the Niagara River. They crossed in the night and captured a guard of twenty or thirty men at Schlosser, carrying off some public and private property, and soon after appeared in considerable force opposite Black Rock. Our forces having been sent to aid the invading army at Fort George, Buffalo was left in an exposed condition. A volunteer corps, under Capt. Joseph Bull, was enrolled for the defence of the place, and a battery was erected on the point of the terrace fronting the lake, mounting one long twelve, and one six pounder. Every man capable of bearing arms was enrolled and regularly drilled every day, under. Capt. Bull-Col. Chapin and many others being absent with the army in Canada. Col. Brady arrived very opportunely, with two hundred and fifty regulars and fifty horse, from Pennsylvania.
On Sunday morning, July 11th, just before daylight, the British, under Cols. Bishop and Warren, crossed the river a little below Squaw Island and landed a force of about two hundred and fifty regulars, and marched up to what was called the Navy Yard, near the head of the Island, before they were discovered. The few militia stationed at Black Rock, being surprised, retreated and left the enemy in undisturbed possession of the village. The alarm was immediately given, and all the force, regular and irregular, that could be mustered, marched down to Black Rock, met the enemy, and after a sharp engagement of about fifteen minutes, repulsed him, driving the enemy into their boats, and inflicting upon them severe punishment .*
* For a full account of this transaction, copied from the Buffalo Gazette, see Appendix No. 7.
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COM. PERRY'S VICTORY ON LAKE ERIE.
Although affairs on the Niagara frontier bore a dis- couraging aspect in the fall of 1813, yet the news of the victory of Com. Perry on Lake Erie was no where re- ceived with greater enthusiasm than by the citizens of Buffalo, and the event was celebrated in a suitable man- ner, as appears by the following record in the Buffalo Gazette of Sept. 28th :
"On Wednesday, at ten o'clock, Major Chapin fired a salute at the battery, in honor of the victory. In the evening the village was brilliantly illuminated. A large procession formed and marched through the streets, preceded by music."
Upon the arrival of Com. Perry and Gen. Harrison, in October, they were suitably honored by a public dinner. The following is a notice of the event, copied from the Gazette of Oct. 26th, 1813 :
" Yesterday the citizens of Buffalo, in conformity to some previous arrangements, gave a public dinner to Com. Perry and the naval officers in port, and Gen. Harrison and the officers of the army at this place. In our next, we shall give the outline of the proceedings."
At the meeting, Col. Chapin was chairman, and H. B. Potter secretary. At the dinner, Gen. P. B. Porter presided, assisted by Col. Chapin, Judge Townsend and Dr. J. Trowbridge, as Vice-Presidents.
It was well understood that preparations were making on the opposite side of the river to invade our territory, but as these preparations were carried on principally at Fort
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Erie it was very uncertain at what point the attack would be made, and when on the night of the 29th of December, a report was given that the British had landed down the river, below Squaw Island, it was suspected to be only a feint to draw off the force at Buffalo, where it was an- ticipated the principal attack would be made, conse- quently reinforcements from Buffalo were not immedi- ately sent in any numbers or strength.
As the enemy had landed under cover of an extremely dark night, his force could not be ascertained. The mounted parole or picket in that direction was soon dis- persed, or driven in, and the enemy slowly and cau- tiously, under cover of the darkness, advanced up the river. The company of Buffalo volunteers under Capt. Bull were ordered forward to reconoiter ; when it had advanced nearly to Conjockety Creek, a volley from about fifty muskets, drawn up in line, directly in front, gave the first warning of the whereabouts of the enemy. The company was thrown into utter confusion, and in spite of all that the officers could do by threats and per- suasion, most of them took to their heels. The darkness of the night, the close proximity of the enemy and the profound silence which reigned around was too much for raw recruits. Not a word was heard before or after the first fire which ran in a feu-de-joie from right to left of the enemy's line. All was uncertainty until the daylight revealed a large force embarking in boats higher up the river, and the whole American force was directed against this new invading party. As soon as this movement was observed by the force of the enemy that had landed down the river, it began to move up, and was not ob- served until it commenced an attack upon our forces in
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BURNING OF BUFFALO.
rear. This attack from an unexpected quarter caused our forces, mostly volunteers and militia to give way and it became impossible to rally them." After this the enemy had an almost unobstructed march to Buffalo, taking the direct road, now Niagara street, throwing out their Indians as skirmishers upon each flank under cover of the woods.
The adult male population of the village had gone down to Black Rock, early in the morning, leaving the women and children, under a strong belief that the en- emy would be repulsed as he had been upon a former occasion, and when the alarm was given that the Brit- ish and Indians were advancing in full force to Buffalo, a universal panic seized every breast, and self preserva- tion, the first law of our nature, became the ruling mo- tive of action. It is true there were many examples of self abnegation and sacrifice for the benefit of others ; one well authenticated instance deserves to be recorded. On the morning of the flight of the inhabitants from their burning dwellings, a farmer from one of the south towns, on his way to Buffalo with a load of cheese for market, met the retreating mass of women and children on the beach of the lake, a short distance out of town. He im- mediately threw his cheese out upon the ground, aban- doned it, and loaded his wagon with the most helpless of the women and children, and helped them on in their flight. Horsemen took up females behind them, and in some instances, children before them, and thus aided them in their escape. Families were thus separated and in some instances, did not re-unite for weeks. So sudden
* For official account, and other particulars, see Appendix No. 8.
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was the surprise, and so destitute were those who were left in the village of the means of escape, that very few saved anything except what they had upon their persons. A few families had taken the precaution to remove a day or two previous to the attack, but the great mass of the families remained. Some few took the old road to Bata- via ; some, took the Cayuga Creek road, as it was called ; some fled to the Indian village, but the greater number took the road across the Ferry, to the lake, and up the road on the beach, this being considered the safest route. A few men who were in the battle at Black Rock, in the morning, were able to reach the village, in advance of the enemy. Among these was Doctor Chapin, and when he arrived near the junction of Niagara with Main street, he found a small squad of men and boys, with a cannon procured from a vessel that had been beached near the mouth of the creek, mounted on a pair of cart or wagon wheels. He joined them, and a few shots were fired at the advancing foe, doing considerable execution ; but the gun becoming disabled, Doctor Chapin, with a white handkerchief on his cane, advanced to meet the enemy to obtain terms of capitulation, but his efforts only served to retard the advance a little, which gave more time for the people to escape. The torch was soon applied, in re- taliation it was said for the burning of Newark, and on the next day every building in Buffalo, with two excep- tions," was burned to the ground.
It would seem that the Buffalo Gazette office had been removed some days before the burning, as the last paper on file before that event was published the 14th of De- cember. The next paper on file is dated the 18th of Jan- uary, 1814, at " Harris' Tavern, near Williamsville."
*Mrs. St. John's dwelling and Reese's blacksmith shop.
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APPENDIX.
NARRATIVE OF COL. THOMAS PROCTOR.
[Concluded from Volume One. ]
The foregoing speech of Red Jacket, as done by the advice of the Young King and Fish Carrier, (for they sat one on either side of him and prompt- ed him. ) plainly demonstrates that most of the chiefs of the Six Nations are under the influence of the British, as no business of consequence will be undertaken, to the advantage of the United States, but what must first be sifted by British counsel. These suggestions, which were pressed on my mind at this time, gave me to fear that I should not meet the wished for assistance, that I had a right to expect from the Six Nations ; but fully determined to persevere in my endeavors, till I should gain the sum- mit of difficulty, which I saw arranged before me.
April 30th. No business to-day, but private counselling among them- selves. In the evening Captain Powell invited me to go with him to a store abont four miles distant, in which he was interested, and his part- ner who kept it, a Mr. Cornelius Winney of Fishkills. With the last named gentleman I staid till the Monday following, through a very press- ing, polite invitation, which at length I accepted of, being lame and much indisposed through fatigue and change of diet, such as from poor to exceeding poor indeed ; but with him there was plenty of every necessa- ry, and given with so good a grace that I shall seek occasion to return the compliment.
May 2. No further business with me, but the Indians still continue their councils, keeping their fire burning, waiting the arrival of Col. Butler, and by information which I received that leaked out of the cabinet of the sachems, the council were much divided upon my account. About two in the afternoon a messenger arrived from Niagara informing them that Col. Butler, &c., had set out from Niagara for this place. Among other circumstances in their private council, by the friends of the British in- Merest, that the place where I was desirous they should accompany me,
20
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was on the verge of the ocean ; that it would take them twelve months to reach the place of treaty ; but those falsaties were soon explained to my friends, and through which I plainly showed them, by my dranghts, that the distance rom thence to Fort Washington, did not exceed six hun- dred miles, and that half that distance we should go by the waters of Lake Erie, and that, when I was satisfied of their going with me, I would charter one of the trading vessels on the lake for that purpose.
May 3. Finding, upon inquiry, that there was no general council to be held this day, waiting the coming of Col. Butler, I sent the interpreter to invite the chiefs to my cabin, as I had some matters to communicate to them, previous to their going to general council. They soon attended me and I opened my map before them, and showed from our situation at Buffalo, the trace we should make into the Miami Nation ; from thence to Fort Washington on the Ohio ; the first by a transport on Lake Erie, to the Miami, which, with anything of a fair wind, could be completed in less than two days and two nights. From the mouth of the Miami to the Missasagoe Nation, situate on the same, and from thence to the Miami and Wabash tribes, at such place where they might generally be assem- bled ; plainly demonstrating to their satisfaction, that the whole tour could be performed in a short time ; and, therefore, enjoined them, under the friendship which they professed to bear to the thirteen fires, that they would, in their next council, promote and further my business, that I came to receive their assistance to perform ; so that I might go on my journey without further hesitation, as my orders were not to remain at any council longer than two or three days, if I could possibly do other- wise, so that it might be reasonably expected that my stay here could not be much longer, this being the seventh day since my arrival. I hoped therefore, they would be silent with me longer, as I plainly saw that they were not to exercise their own opinions, but the opinion of the British agent. These remarks I made, with intention that they should feel the force of my observations ; upon which Red Jacket desired that I should hear him speak, as I had been speaking a long time. "Tell him (said he to the Interpreter, ) that some of his language is soft, but that other parts of it are too strong ; for the danger that is before us is great, and our en- emies are drunk ; and they will not hear what we say, like a man that is sober, and we consider that whatever number of the Six Nations aecom- pany him, will be in the same danger with himself, and it is likely that we shall not live long, when the bad Indians shall see us. Therefore as it is a business of such weight to us, we must take counsel, in order to save ourselves and him, from falling by their hands. Moreover, the In-
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