USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York > Part 27
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The people of that day did not know, as we know from experience, how perfectly our system of government (devised by their wisdom) seenres the objects for which it was established. They did not then know, that which we have since learned, that all classes of our citizens, however much they differ respecting details, are intensely devoted to our popular system of gov- ernment ; that all are equally opposed to anarchy on the one hand, and arbi- trary authority on the other. When the war was commenced, and for some period previous, party spirit ran very high. The Republicans charged the Federalists with want of patriotism, called them " Tories," and sympa- thizers with the enemies of their country. The Federalists asserted that the war might have been averted by negotiation, that the nation was not prepared for it, that France had given greater provocation for war than Great Britain. Prior to the organization of the county its citizens had been satis- fied to vindicate their political opinions by simply casting their votes on election day. The Federalists, now that the country had acquired an indi- pendent existence, stimulated by the prevailing party spirit, resolved to organize their party in Chantanqna county, as did the Republicans a little later. The names of those citizens who hereafter appear as members of committees or otherwise in connection with party organizations, will give us some idea how the people of the county were then divided upon the political questions of the day and the parties to which they respectively belonged, and it will be seen that neither party had the advantage over the other in respect to the worth and prominence of its representative men.
April 14, 1812, the Federalists, or " Federal Republicans " as they called themselves met at Buffalo to nominate a member of assembly for this assem- bly district, then composed of the present counties of Niagara, Erie, Cattarangus and Chantanqua. Abel M. Grosvenor of Buffalo was nominated. At this meeting a large committee was appointed of men residing in different parts of the district, that it is presumed were then the influential members of that party. These are the names of those appointed as members of that commit- tee from Chantanqua county, then consisting of but two towns : Pomfret,
.
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Jacob Houghton, John E. Howard, Ozias Hart, Orsamus Holmes, James Hale, Daniel Warren, Samuel Sinclear, Foster Young and Isaac Barnes. Chautauqua, James McMahan, Anselin Potter, Dennis Brackett, William Berry, Thomas Prendergast and Thomas Mcclintock.
Jonas Williams of Erie county was the Republican candidate for member of assembly, and was elected at the election held May 12th, 1812. Samuel M. Hopkins and Nathaniel Howell, the successful Federal candidates for congress, received in Chautauqua county 47 majority. In September of this year a convention was held at Albany which denounced the war, and, November 3d, a meeting of the friends of " Peace, Liberty and Commerce," as the anti-war men called themselves, was held at " Pomeroy's Long Hall" in Buffalo. Jacob Honghton was the chairman, Ansehn Potter, secretary. Resolutions were introduced disapproving of the administrations of Jefferson and Madison. A committee of correspondence was appointed consisting of Orsamns Holmes, Samuel Sinclear, Ansehn Potter, James Montgomery, Jacob Houghton, James McMahan, and Foster Young. The meeting approved of a convention to be held at Albany. On the 23d of December following, the Republicans of Chautauqua county held a meeting at John Scott's in May- ville. Matthew Prendergast was chosen chairman and John Dexter secre- tary. Resolutions were adopted sustaining the war.
At a caucus of the members of the legislature held in February, 1813, Daniel D. Tompkins was again nominated as a candidate for governor by the Republicans, and Stephen VanRensselaer by the Federalists. March 17, 1813, another meeting of the delegates of the friends of " Liberty, Peace and Commerce" was held in Pomfret. Thomas Martin was chairman and Isaac Pierce was secretary. Jacob Houghton was nominated to the assembly. This campaign committee was appointed, and we may see by this list who were probably active Federalists in the different towns. Chautauqua, Thomas Prendergast, Jabez Hurlburt, Elisha Wallis, James Montgomery, David Eaton, Asa Hall, Henry Sartwell. Ellicott, James Prendergast. Gerry, Samuel Sinclear, Robert W. Seaver, William Devine, Abraham Win- sor. Pomfret, Orsamus Hohes, Elijah Risley, Jr., Ozias Hart, Isaac Pierce, Thomas Martin, Andrew Bates, Rodolphus Loomis. Hanover, John E. Howard, John Mack, Bethial Willoughby, Guy Webster, Cushing Brownell, Abel Flint.
The Republicans of this assembly district met in Buffalo previous to the April election and nominated Jonas Williams for the assembly. David Eddy was the chairman of this convention, and John Root, secretary. The Repub- lican committee for Chautauqua county was, Pomfret, Zattu Cushing, Philo Orton, Jehial Moore, Eliphalet Day. Chautauqua, David Eason, William Peacock, M. Prendergast, John E. Marshall and John Scott. The election was severely contested, and resulted in the election of Tompkins by 3,606
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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.
majority in the state over VanRensselaer. The Republican majority in the western part of the state was large ; much greater than in any other portion. The whole number of votes polled in Chautauqua county was 553, of which Tompkins received a majority of 57. It may be interesting to know the political complexion of the different towns of the county at the time of the first governor election after its organization. The town of Chautauqua gave 68 votes for VanRensselaer and 119 for Tompkins. Pomfret 100 for Van- Rensselaer and 81 for Tompkins. Ellicott, 31 for Van Rensselaer and 25 for Tompkins. Gerry, 10 for VanRensselaer and 17 votes for Tompkins. Han- over, 39 votes for VanRensselaer and 63 for Tompkins.
CHAPTER XXV.
THE WAR CONTINUED.
War, War is still the cry, 'War even to the knife.' -Childe Harold
A 'T a caucus of the members of the legislature held in February, 1813, Daniel D. Tompkins was again nominated as a candidate for gover- nor by the Republicans and Stephen VanRensselaer by the Federa- lists. March 17th, 1813, another meeting of the delegates of the friends of " Liberty, Peace and Commerce" was held in Pomfret of which Thomas Martin was chairman and Isaac Pierce secretary. Jacob Houghton was nominated to the assembly. This campaign committee was appointed, and we may see by this list who were probably active Federalists in the different towns. Chautauqua, Thomas Prendergast, Jabez Hurlburt, Elisha Wallis, James Montgomery, David Eaton, Asa Hall, Henry Sartwell. Ellicott, James Prendergast. Gerry, Samuel Sinclear, Robert W. Seaver, William Devine, Abraham Winsor. Pomfret, Orsamus Holmes, Elijah Risley, Jr., Ozias Hart, Isaac Pierce, Thomas Martin, Andrew Bates, Rodolphus Loomis. Hanover, John E. Howard, John Mack, Bethial Willoughby, Guy Webster, Cushing Brownell, Abel Flint. The Republicans of this assembly district met in Buffalo previous to the April election and nominated Jonas Williams for the assembly. David Eddy was chairman of this convention, and John Root secretary. The Republican committee for Chautauqua county was, Pom- fret, Zattu Cushing, Philo Orton, Jehial Moore, Eliphalet Day. Chautauqua, David Eason, William Peacock, M. Prendergast, John E. Marshall and John Scott. The election was severely contested, and resulted in the election of
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THE WAR CONTINUED.
Tompkins by 3,606 majority in the state over VanRensselaer. The Repub- lican majority in the western part of the state was large ; much greater than in any other portion. The whole number of votes polled in Chautauqua county was 553, of which Tompkins received a majority of 57. It may be interesting to know the political complexion of the different towns of the county at the time of the first governor election after its organization. The town of Chautauqua gave 68 votes for VanRensselaer and 119 for Tompkins. Pomfret, 100 for VanRensselaer and SI for Tompkins. Ellicott, 31 for Van- Rensselaer and 25 for Tompkins. Gerry, 10 votes for VanRensselaer and 17 votes for Tompkins. Hanover, 39 votes for VanRensselaer and 63 for Tompkins.
The campaign of 1813 commenced very early. The people of the west . were anxious to regain possession of Detroit and Michigan, and a large army under General Harrison early in 1813 was assembled at Sandusky with that object. It was evident however early in the war, that the defense of the northern border of the United States, and successful operations in Canada, depended upon the armed force that should control the great lakes. Com- modore Chauncey with great exertions had built and equipped a squadron early in 1813 upon Lake Ontario sufficient to compete with the naval force of the enemy. This enabled General Dearborn to lead a successful expedition against York, the capital of Upper Canada, in which Gen. Pike was killed, and afterwards to capture Fort George.
Although the soldiers of the western army under Harrison conducted themselves with bravery, particularly in the defence of Fort Stephenson under Major Croghan, the disaster at the river Raisin, and the unfortunate attempt to raise the siege of Fort Meiggs, prevented the accomplishment of the purpose for which they were called into the field. These reverses made still more apparent the necessity of having an armed force upon Lake Erie sufficient to control that lake and cooperate with General Harrison. Capt. O. H. Perry was sent to Erie early in 1813 to build a fleet and organize a force for that purpose. On his way he stopped at Capt. John Mack's tavern at Cattaraugus. He was accompanied only by a small colored boy, and Cap- tain Mack drove them to Erie in his sleigh. They went on the lake which was frozen over. They were obliged to drive well out from the shore the edge of the ice-sheet was so thin. When they stopped on their way to feed and refresh their horses the colored boy broke a place in the ice for them to drink. Opposite Erie they were obliged to abandon their sleigh and walked to shore. Captain Mack returned to Cattaraugus on horseback. Perry set about his work with great diligence and energy. In June, successfully evad- ing the vigilance of the enemy, he brought into Erie harbor from the outlet of Lake Erie five small vessels to make part of his fleet. The only armed vessels that the Americans had before on Lake Erie was the Adams, a brig
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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.
of 150 tons, later captured by the enemy. The British had the Queen Char- lotte, a ship of 300 or 400 tons with 17 guns, Captain Finnis, the Lady Prov- ost, a schooner of 200 tons with 13 guns, the brig Hunter of 10 guns, and several smaller vessels.
Chautauqua was now sufficiently near the scene of military operations that sounds and even sights of war were not unfamiliar to the people of the northern portion of the county. Peacock wrote to Ellicott from Mayville, May 28, 1813 : "We have heard a tremendous cannonading some where last night and this morning, and judge it must have been at Buffalo or in that quarter from the cireinstance of the wind blowing from the north. We could hear the report of the guns distinctly and counted upwards of 60. They launched one of the brigs at Erie last Monday, and the other one will be launched next Monday. In three weeks from that time they will be fit for the sea. (Yesterday three British vessels passed down the lake in sight of Portland, and from their sailing down should judge they have raised the siege of Fort Meigg's.)" July 2, 300 soldiers passed the Cross Roads on their way to Buffalo. They were good looking men, all in uniform and com- pletely equipped. During the summer British vessels were cruising the lake, occasionally looking into Erie harbor where Perry was building his fleet, chasing or capturing such small craft as ventured upon the lake, and com- mitting depredations along the American shore. The Queen Charlotte was the most familiar and the most dreaded of these vessels. She was a scourge to the American inhabitants of the eastern borders of the lake. She moved along the counties of Erie and Chautauqua, making frequent descents to plun- der the inhabitants. The boat of Captain Harman was driven into the mouth of Cattaraugus creek by the Queen Charlotte and Hunter. They fired upon his boat but did no damage. They also sent a boat armed with a howitzer a short distance up the creek in pursuit of Capt. Harmon's transport which returned after firing a few rounds which compelled the removal of Capt. Mack and his family from the tavern. Several of the canon balls were found upon the shore. . The Indians of the Cattarangus reservation promptly came well armed in response to the call for their assistance. They posted themselves on both sides of the creek to dispute the landing of the British. No further attempt to land was made, to the great disappointment of the Indians.
The Indians of the Cattaraugus reservation had now demonstrated in a practical manner their friendship to the United States. July 25th of this year a council was held by Erastus Granger, the Indian agent, with the Indians of western New York at Buffalo. It was attended by the most famous chiefs of the Six Nations. Farmer's Brother, or Ho-na-ye-wa-so opened the council in a speech in which he said it was a question of war or peace. Red Jacket followed, and spoke in behalf of the Senecas, and said that they
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THE WAR CONTINUED.
would adhere to the United States, and that the Indians of Buffalo would furnish 162 warriors. A Cattaraugus chief spoke thus for the Indians of Cattaraugus.
" BROTHER :- You will hear what the Senecas and Delawares from Cat- taraugus have to say. We have always been ready to assist in defending your boats upon the lake. We are not deceitful. We hope you will not sus- pect us of any want of friendship to you. We of Cattaraugus under Captain Half-Town have been for some time in your service watching at the mouth of Cattaraugus creek. You will hear how many we have turned out from our village including Delawares. The number is 21. If we hear you are in danger we will rise from our seats and come forward to your defence. We expect to add to our numbers when we return home and let our young men know. We shall continue to protect your boats as they go up the lake, and we wish to know if we shall be paid for this."
John Sky also addressed the council. Captain Shongo promised II war- riors from his village on the Genesee. Cornplanter spoke for the Indians of the Allegany. There were 7 men from his village to join the American forces. These he addressed in the Indian language. He then turned to Gran- ger and said that in case of danger his village would turn out more. He said "do not let your taverns supply our warriors with spirituous liquor," and expressed solicitude that some compensation should be paid to the fall- ilies of those who should fall in the war. Red Jacket again followed, saying that he hoped that if any of the Canadian branch of their people except the Mohawks should fall into the hands of the Americans that they would treat them well, and deliver them up to his Indians. Farmer's Brother, then over So years of age, led the Indians that volunteered against the English. They fought well. They showed no disposition to commit cruelties on the field of battle, and offered no abuse to the prisoners captured during the war.
The Queen Charlotte continued to hover along the coast of the county during the summer. She most frequently plundered the inhabitants of Erie county, at or near Eighteen-mile creek. Lay's tavern, a well known house of entertainment near the lake shore, was at one time rifled. The American commander remonstrated, and the British ordered the goods to be restored. They were placed in boxes, and put on board that vessel which first put in at the mouth of the Cattaraugus creek but landed no goods. She then came to the Canadaway, and sent a boat ashore manned by 13 men commanded by a lieutenant, with a flag of truce, under pretence of returning the goods, but probably with the sole purpose of taking such property as should be found. Judge Cushing and one of his neighbors was at the mouth of the creek with liis ox team for a load of salt, which he had stored in an old log house. He had loaded his salt when the British landed. He immediately sent his compan- ion to notify the inhabitants, and managed to entertain and detain the lieu- tenant until the people rallied. They fired upon the red coats and wounded
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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.
one of the sailors. The men all deserted with the exception of the wounded Frenchman. One account says 7 men deserted, and that an old negro was left behind with the lieutenant. Judge Cushing offered to help row the officer back to the ship, if he would pledge his honor as a British officer that he should safely return. This the lieutenant declined to do, and rowed him- self back to the ship as best he could. The deserters " took to the woods," but were apprehended the next day and taken to Erie. After this affair the Queen Charlotte moved up the lake.
Perry during the spring and summer of 1813 had been building and pre- paring his fleet for service in Erie harbor ; collecting stores, and recruiting men, of which there was a great deficiency. By great exertion he got his fleet ready to sail August ist, and it passed over the bar at the entrance of the harbor August 4th. Hearing that Lieutenant Elliott was at Cattarau- gus with about 90 sailors, he despatched a vessel there and having received this reinforcement, he set sail to offer battle to the enemy. September 10th he gained a decisive victory over the British fleet, and his victorious pennon now floated over Lake Erie, giving the Americans its absolute control during the remainder of the war, opening the way for the recovery of all that they had lost in the West by the surrender of Hull. This victory was promptly followed up by General Harrison, and resulted in the complete overthrow of the British and Indians in the battle of the Thames and the death of Tecuill- seh. Chautauqua county responded to Perry's request for help, and some of its citizens participated in the battle. Abner Williams of Fredonia, son of Richard Williams, was a volunteer on board of the Lawrence, and was killed. His body was thrown into the lake during the battle, as were all others who were killed. A young man named Goodrich, residing in Sinclairville, read Perry's call for men, at night and started the next morning to enlist. He participated in the battle, served creditably, and was honorably discharged soon after, with his hearing impaired by the cannonading, and was rewarded with a medal for his good conduct.
A part of the force captured by Perry were sent by land under guard from Erie to Buffalo. In passing through Chautauqua county they were sometimes halted on their march for refreshment or a night's rest. The lieutenant, who a few months before had landed with a flag of truce at Can- adaway creek, was kept as a prisoner of war over night at Richard William's log tavern on the West Hill at Fredonia. "He inquired for the man who was with the ox-team on that occasion and was told it was Judge Cushing. He said that Mr. Cushing was too long-headed for him ; that he intended to have taken him a prisoner and to have seized the salt of which they were in great need, but that the Judge delayed them by his pleasant conversation and by various devices until his forces arrived."-(O. W. Johnson.)
Word was sent in advance to Captain Mack that the American officers
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THE WAR CONTINUED.
and their prisoners would dine at his tavern on their march eastward. Great preparations were made to receive them. "The dining room was trimmed with pine and evergreen boughs from the surrounding forest, the tables were loaded with steaming leaves of brown bread and haunches of venison. Cap- tain Mack carved the meat at the head of the long table, and the principal American officer was seated at the opposite end. The other American and British officers were seated around it. Among the handy and comely maid- ens who had been summoned from all the back woods around to assist on this occasion, was Sophronia Gates, who lived alone with her father in a little loghouse upon the shore of the lake near the mouth of the Big-sister creek a few miles from Angola. A few months before an officer and boat's crew of two men, sent ashore from the Queen Charlotte, landed near the old man's loghouse, and, as a poor revenge for some disrespectful and bitter language used by her when they were ransacking the cabin, forcibly carried the old man to the boat notwithstanding a spirited resistance on her part. The old gentleman was taken on board the Queen Charlotte and was put ashore at Chadwick's Bay (Dunkirk.) The next day at dusk he arrived at Mack's tay- ern, ragged, weary and footsore, and there found Sophronia who had sought an asyhun there.
While the dinner was in progress at Captain Mack's tavern, and all were enjoying the banquet, the prisoners as merry as their captors, the sharp eyes of Sophironia discovered the British officer who had abducted her father. As his eyes met hers in recognition a crimson flush suffused his face, and Sophronia saw that her hour of triumph had come. "So the tables are turned Mr. Officer," she said in a high and penetrating tone, pointing her finger scornfully at him. The talking ceased, and she proceeded to relate to the surprised and interested audience in caustic and contemptuous language the story of the abduction of her father. She praised the officer for his bravery in kidnapping a feeble old man, and mockingly called him "a hero," and told him " a petticoat would become him better than brass buttons and gold · braid." Great applause greeted her speech, and the room rung with laugh- ter. The officer made a feeble attempt to be amused at her sally, but it was a failure. His crimson face too plainly showed his discomfiture. The jokes of his American entertainers and the merriment of his British friends were too much for him. He gave a longing, lingering look at his plate of savory venison, rose from the table and quietly "tiptoed " out amidst shouts of laughter from his brother officers, and Yankee captors .*
Perry's victory over the British fleet allayed all fears of the people of further incursions of the enemy from the lake. Hardly had the rejoicing ceased over the brilliant achievement however, when a new peril threatened the county. Fort George, at the mouth of Niagara river on the Canada side,
*An authentic incident, from a sketch by Gertrude E. Allen, of Buffalo, a decendant of Capt. John Mack.
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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.
early in the year 1813 had been captured by General Dearborn. During the fall the principal part of the army of the center had been withdrawn, and placed under the command of General Wilkenson to take part in an expedi- tion against Montreal in Lower Canada, leaving an inadequate force to defend the Niagara frontier. Gen. George McClure of Steuben county, who was in command there, being deprived of the greater part of his force by the expiration of the term of service, and being unable to obtain volunteers, was left with only a handful of regulars. The greatly superior number of the enemy compelled him about the Ioth of December to evacuate Fort George, the only foothold the Americans possessed in this part of Canada. Previous to doing so, with the alleged purpose of depriving the armed forces of the enemy of shelter during the winter, he burned every house in the neighboring Cana- dian village of Newark, now Niagara village, turning 400 people houseless into the snow. This rash and wanton act met unqualified disapproval every- where, and was the cause of a more serious calamity than had yet befallen the people of the Holland Purchase. It incited retaliatory acts, which, by · reason of the defenceless condition of the frontier, the large force of British and Indians assembled there were enabled fully to carry out. McClure left a garrison of 160 men at Fort Niagara and a few troops at Lewiston and Schlosser, and hastened to gather a force to defend the magazines at Black Rock and Buffalo.
Before the break of day on the 19th of December a force of British and Indians under Colonel Murray crossed the river between Fort Niagara and Lewiston. The main body proceeded down the river, surprised and captured Fort Niagara, and put about So of the garrison to the sword. They also burned the village of Youngstown near the fort. The remainder of the British forces proceeded south to Lewiston which they surprised. They shot down fleeing inhabitants and burned and plundered the town. Being rein- forced they commenced their advance up the river towards Niagara Falls ; but were bravely opposed by a handful of men under Major Mallory who was stationed at Schlosser. He slowly retreated up the river, occasionally turn- . ing upon his pursuers, and fighting their advanced guard. At Niagara Falls the enemy burned the town of Manchester. The Indians continued the advance, burning and pillaging as far south as the Tonawanda creek, nine or ten miles north of Buffalo, where they gave up the pursuit in that direction. In the mean time the inhabitants along the Niagara river below the Tona- wanda creek were fleeing from the torch and tomahawk of the Indian in the greatest confusion. The ridge road leading east from Lewiston was crowded with fugitives, men, women and children seeking an asylum eastward. The village of the Tuscarora Indians was destroyed by fire, and a few days later, the habitations along the southern shore of Lake Ontario for 18 miles were burned by the enemy. Many defenceless people of Niagara county were .
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