History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 9

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) 1n; Lewis, J.W., & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 922

USA > New York > Clinton County > History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 9
USA > New York > Franklin County > History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 9

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Learning that a large body of the British were advancing on a parallel road, leading from Beekmantown Corners, to gain his rear, Wool fell back as far as " Halsey's Corners," about one and a half miles from the village bridge. He was there joined, about eight o'clock in the morning, by Capt. Leonard, with two pieces of light artillery. Leonard plaeed his guns in battery at an angle in the road, masked by Wool's infantry and a small body of militia, and, as the British approached, opened a most galling fire upon the head of the column, the balls cutting a narrow and bloody lane through the moving mass. Three times were the guns dis- charged, but even this terrible fire did not cheek the prog- ress of the column, for the men, throwing aside their knap- sacks, pressed forward, the bugles sounding the charge, and forced Leonard hastily to withdraw towards the village. At this place a number of the British were killed or wounded. Among the latter was Lieut. Kingsbury, of the 3d Buffs, who was taken into the adjoining farm-house of Isaac C. Platt, Esq., where he soon afterwards died.t

Finding that the enemy's right column was steadily ap- proaching the village, Gen. Macomb ordered in the detach- ments at Dead Creek, at the same time directing Lieut .- Col. Appling to fall on the British flank. The rapid advance of the column on the Beekmantown road had reversed Appling's position, and he had barely time to save his re- treat, coming in a few rods ahead, as the British debouched from the woods a little north of the village. Here he poured in a destruetive fire from his riflemen at rest, and continued to annoy the enemy until he formed a junction with Wool, who was slowly retiring towards the lower bridge. The field-pieces were taken across the bridge and formed a battery for its protection, and to eover the retreat

Į He was buried in Mr. Platt's garden. Ilis remains were removed to the village cemetery on the 20th of May, 1844, by Cupt. C. A. Waite. then commander at Plattsburgh barracks.

HISTORY OF CLINTON AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

of Wool's, Appling's, and Sproul's men. These detach- ments retired alternately, keeping up a brisk fire until they got under cover of the works.

The left column of the British army did not arrive near the village until after Sproul's and Appling's detachments had been withdrawn, their march having been retarded by the obstructions placed in the road, and by the removal of the bridge at Dead Creek. As this column passed along the beach of the lake it was much annoyed by a brisk fire from several galleys, which Macdonough had ordered to the head of the bay. After this fire had continued for about two hours, the wind began to blow so heavy from the south as to endanger the safety of the galleys. Mr. Duncan, a mid- shipman of the "Saratoga," was therefore sent in a gig to order them to return. As that officer approached he received a severe wound from the enemy's fire, which for a few min- utes was concentrated upon his boat .* About this time one of the galleys drifted under the guns of the British and sustained some loss, but was eventually brought off.

As soon as the American troops had crossed the river, the planks were removed from the lower bridge, and were piled up at its east end, to form a breastwork for the in- fantry. A similar breastwork was made by the militia at the upper bridge. The British light troops made several at- tempts, in the course of the day, to cross at the village, but were repulsed by the guards at the bridge, and by the sharp fire of a company of volunteers, who had taken possession of a stone grist-millt near by .¿ An attempt was also made to cross at the upper bridge, which was gallantly resisted by the militia. The loss this day, on both sides, was greater than the whole loss during the rest of the siege, forty-five of the Americans and more than two hundred of the British having been killed or wounded.§

The configuration of the land on the north side of the river differs somewhat from that on the south side. The bank at the mouth of the river is abrupt and about thirty feet high. This bank, with a depression above the lower bridge, opposite the mill-pond, follows the margin of the stream until within about eighty rods of Fort Brown, when the hill recedes from the river and is less abrupt. The flat and hill opposite Fort Brown were covered with small trees and bushes. About one mile back from the river is an ele- vated ridge running to the north. At Allen's farm-house,

# On the 26th of May, 1826, Congress passed a resolution of thanks to Midshipman Silas Duncan for his gallant eonduct on this occasion. + This grist-mill stood on the site now occupied by the mills of Hartwells, Winslow & Co.

į This company was called " Aiken's Volunteers," and was com- . posed of the following young men,-none of whom were old enough to be liable to perform military duty : Martin J. Aiken, Azariah C. Flagg, Ira A. Wood, Gustavus A. Bird, James Trowbridge, Hazen Mooers, Henry K. Averill, St. John B. L. Skinner, Frederick P. Allen, Hiram Walworth, Ethan Everest, Amos Soper, James Patten, Barte- mus Brooks, Smith Bateman, Melancton W. Travis, and Flavius Wil- liams. They had been out on the Beekmantown road in the morning, where they behaved with great gallantry. In May, 1826, Congress authorized the President to be eaused to be delivered to each " One Rifle promised to them by Gen. Macomb, while commanding the Champlain Department, for their gallantry and patriotic services as a volunteer corps during the siege of Plattsburgh, in September, 1814."

¿ Gen. Macomb, in his general order of the 7th, estimates the British loss at from two to three hundred. The Burlington Sentinel of the 9th states it to have been about three hundred.

which stood upon this ridge, at the distance of about one and one-fourth miles from the American forts, Sir George Provost established his headquarters. The army were en- camped upon the ridge and on the high ground north of the village.

From the 7th to the 10th, Provost was busily engaged in bringing up his battering trains and supplies and in pre- paring his approaches. He erected a battery on the bank of the lake north of the mouth of the river ; another near the edge of the steep bank above the mill-pond ; another near the burial-ground, and one, supplied with rocket-works, on the hill opposite Fort Brown. Besides these, there were three smaller batteries erected at other points, within range of the American forts.

While Provost was thus engaged, the American troops were diligently at work, day and night, in strengthening their defenses. The barracks and hospitals in the vicinity of the forts were burned, and the sick removed to Crab Is- land, about two miles distant, where they were protected from the weather by tents. A small battery was erected on that island, mounting two six-pounders, which was manned by convalescents. The Americans also, during this time, fired hot shot into and burned some fifteen or sixteen build- ings on the north side of the river, which had afforded pro- tection to the British light troops.||

From the 7th to the 10th the pickets and militia were engaged in frequent skirmishes with the enemy at the two bridges, and at the different fords along the river. On the morning of the 7th, a party of British, under Capt. Noadie, attempted to cross the river at a ford about five miles west of the village. They were, however, met by a company of Col. Miller's regiment of militia, under command of Capt. Vaughan, and were repulsed with a loss of two killed and several wounded. The same day, Lieut. Runk, of the 6th, was mortally wounded, as he was passing in the street, near the dwelling of the late A. C. Moore, Esq.

On the night of the 9th, while the British were engaged in erecting their rocket battery near Fort Brown, Capt. McGlassin, of the 15th Infantry, obtained permission from Gen. Macomb to take a party of fifty men and attack a de- tachment of British troops at work upon the battery. The night was dark and stormy, and favored such an enterprise. Ordering his men to take the flints from their muskets, McGlassin crossed the river, and passing through a small clump of dwarf oaks, reached, unobserved, the foot of the hill upon which the enemy were at work. There lie divided his force into two parties, one of which was sent, by a cir- cuitous route, to the rear of the battery. As soon as this party had reached its position, McGlassin, in a loud voice, ordered his men to charge " on the front and rear," when they rushed forward with all the noise it was possible for them to make, and entered the work at both sides on the run. The working-party were taken by surprise, and sup- posing themselves attacked by overwhelming numbers, re-

| The Burlington Sentinel says that up to the evening of the 8th the following buildings had been burned : Jonathan Griffin's house and store; Roswell Wait's house and store; Mr. Savage's house; B. Buek's house; Mr. Powers' store; Widow Beaumont's house and store ; Charles Baekus' house and store; Joseph Thomas' two stores ; and Mr. Goldsmith's house. The court-house and jail were also burned.

THE WAR OF 1812.

treated precipitately towards the main camp. McGlassin spiked the guns and led his party back to the American fort without losing a man. The whole affair was boldly conceived and most gallantly executed. It was long before the British officers would believe that fifty men could make so much noise, or so badly frighten over three hundred of their veteran troops.

When the British army reached Plattsburgh, their gun- boats had advanced as far as the Isle La Motte, where they remained, under command of Capt. Pring. On the 8th, Capt. Downie reached that place with the rest of the fleet, and on the morning of the 11th the whole weighed an- chor and stood south to attack the Americans, who lay in the bay, off Plattsburgh.

As the British vessels rounded Cumberland Head, about eight o'clock in the morning, they found Macdonough at an- chor a little south of the mouth of the Saranac River, and abreast, but out of gun-shot, of the forts. His vessels lay in a line running north from Crab Island, and nearly par- allel with the west shore. The brig " Eagle," Capt. Hen- ley, lay at the head of the line, inside the point of the Head. This vessel mounted twenty guns, and had on board one hundred and fifty men. Next to her on the south lay Macdonough's flag-ship, the " Saratoga," mounting twenty- six guns, with two hundred and twelve men. Next south was the schooner " Ticonderoga," of seventeen guns, Lieut. Cassin, with one hundred and ten men; and next to her, and at the southern extremity of the line, lay the sloop " Preble," Lieut. Charles Budd. This vessel carried seven guns, and was manned by thirty men. She lay so near the shoal extending northeast from Crab Island as to prevent the enemy from turning that end of the line. To the rear of the line were ten gunboats, six of which mounted one long twenty-four pounder and one eighteen-pound columbiad each ; the other four carried one twelve-pounder. The gun- boats had, on an average, thirty-five men each. Two of the gunboats lay a little north and in rear of the " Eagle," to sustain the head of the line; the others were placed op- posite the intervals between the different vessels, and about forty rods to their rear. The larger vessels were at anchor, while the gunboats werc kept in position by their sweeps.

The British fleet was composed of the frigate " Confi- ance," carrying thirty-seven guns,* with over three hundred men, commanded by Capt. Downie ; the brig " Linnet," Capt. Pring, of sixteen guns and one hundred and twenty men ; the sloop "Chub," Lieut. McGhee, and the sloop " Finch," Lieut. Hicks, carrying eleven guns and about forty-five men cach. To these vessels were added twelve gunboats of about forty-five men each. Eight of them car- ried two guns, and four one gun each. Thus the force of the Americans consisted of one ship, one brig, one schooner, one sloop, and ten gunboats, manned by cight hundred and eighty-two men, and carrying in all eighty-six guns. The British had one frigate, one brig, two sloops, and twelve gunboats, manned by over one thousand men, and carrying in all ninety-five guns. The metal of the vessels on both sides was unusually heavy. Tlc ." Saratoga" mounted eight long twenty-fours, six forty-twos, and twelve thirty-twos,

while the " Confiance" had the gun-deck of a heavy frigate, with thirty long twenty-fours upon it. She also had a spacious top-gallant forecastle, and a poop that came no farther forward than the mizen-mast. On the first were a long twenty-four on a circle, and four heavy carronades ; two heavy carronades were mounted on the poop.}

When the British fleet appeared in sight the " Finch" led and kept in a course towards Crab Island, while the other vessels hove to opposite the point of Cumberland Head, to allow the gunboats to come up, and to receive final instructions as to the plan of attack. The vessels then filled and headed in towards the American fleet, pass- ing inside of the point of Cumberland Head; the " Chub" laying her course a little to windward of the " Eagle," in order to support the " Linnet," which stood directly towards that vessel. Capt. Downie had determined to lay the " Con- fiance" athwart the " Saratoga," but the wind baffling, he was obliged to anchor at about two cables' length from that ship. The "Finch," which had run about half-way to Crab Island, tacked and took her station, with the gunboats, opposite the " Ticonderoga" and " Preble."

As the British vessels approached they received the fire of the American fleet, the brig " Eagle" firing first, and being soon followed by the " Saratoga" and the sloop and schooner. The " Linnet" poured her broadside into the "Saratoga" as she passed that ship to take her position op- posite the " Eagle." Capt. Downie brought his vessel into action in the most gallant manner, and did not fire a gun un- til he was perfectly secured, although his vessel suffered se- verely from the fire of the Americans. As soon, however, as the " Confiance" had been brought into position, she dis- charged all her larboard guns at nearly the same instant. The effect of this broadside, thrown from long twenty-four pounders, double-shotted, in smooth water, was terrible. The "Saratoga" trembled to her very keel, about forty of her crew were disabled, including her first lieutenant, Mr. Gamble, who was killed while sighting the bow gun.

+ Cooper's Naval History. Mr. Alison (in his History of England, vol. iv.) says, "The relative strength of the squadron on this, as in every other naval action during the war where the British were de- feated, was decidedly in favor of the Americans,"-a statement un- warranted by the facts, and unnecessary to sustain the high reputa- tion of the British navy. The following are the number and size of the guns used on both fleets.

American.

British.

14 long 24-pounders.

31 long 24-pounders.

6 42-pound carronades.

18-

29 32- "

16 12-

12 long 18-pounders.

12 long 12-

12 32-pound carronades,

7 long 9-

6 24- "

17 18- 4

6 18-pound columbiads.

1 18- * columbiad.

86 guns.

95 g 95 guns.

į The first gun fired on board the "Saratoga" was a long twenty- four, which Macdonough himself sighted. The shot is said to have struek tho " Confianco" near the onter hawse-hole, and to have passed the length of hor deck, killing und wounding several men and carry- ing away the wheel. In clearing the decks of the "Saratoga," somo hen-coops were thrown overboard and tho poultry pormittod to run at large. Startled by the report of the opening gun of the " Eagle," a young cock flow upon u gun-slide, clapped his wings, and crowod. The men gave three cheers and considered the little incident as a happy omen .- Cooper's Nural History and Niles' Register.

# Thore wero thirty-nine guns on board tho "Confinnco," but two of thom were not mounted .- Cooper.

HISTORY OF CLINTON AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

Soon after the commencement of the engagement, the "Chub," while manoeuvring near the head of the American line, received a broadside from the " Eagle," which so crippled her that she drifted down between the opposing vessels and struck. She was taken possession of by Mr. Charles Platt, one of the "Saratoga's" midshipmen, and was towed in shore and anchored. The " Chub" had suf- fered severely, nearly half of her men having been killed or wounded. About an hour later the " Finch" was driven from her position by the " Ticonderoga," and, being badly injured, drifted upon the shoal near Crab Island, where she grounded. After being fired into from the small battery on the island, she struck, and was taken possession of by the invalids who manned the battery .*

After the loss of the " Finch" the British gunboats made several efforts to close, and succeeded in compelling the sloop " Preble" to cut her cables and to anchor in shore of the line, where she was of no more service during the engagement. The gunboats, emboldened by this success, now directed their efforts towards the "Ticonderoga," against which they made several very gallant assaults, bringing the boats, upon two or three occasions, within a few feet of the schooner's side. They were, however, as often beaten back, and the schooner, during the remainder of the day, completely cov- ered that extremity of the line.

While these changes were taking place at the lower end of the line, a change was also made at the other extremity. The " Eagle," having lost her springs, and finding herself exposed to the fire of both the "Linnet" and " Confiance," dropped down and anchored between the "Saratoga" and " Ticonderoga," and a little in shore of both. From this position she opened afresh on the " Confiance" and the Brit- ish gunboats with her larboard guns. This change relieved the brig, but left the "Saratoga" exposed to the whole fire of the "Linnet," which sprung her broadsides in such a manner as to rake the ship on her bows.

The fire from the " Saratoga" and " Confiance" now began materially to lessen, as gun after gun on both vessels became disabled, until at last the " Saratoga" had not a single available gun, and the " Confiance" was but little better off. It therefore became necessary that both vessels should wind to continue the action with any success. This the " Saratoga" did after considerable delay, but the " Confiance" was less fortunate, as the only effect of her efforts was to force the vessel ahead. As soon as the "Saratoga" came around she poured a fresh broadside from her larboard guns into the "Confiance," which stood the fire

for a few minutes and then struck. The ship then brought her guns to bear on the "Linnet," which surrendered in about fifteen minutes afterwards. At this time the British gunboats lay half a mile in the rear, where they had been driven by the sharp fire of the " Ticonderoga" and " Eagle." These boats lowered their colors as soon as they found the larger vessels had submitted, but not being pursued, for the American gunboats were sent to aid the "Confiance" and " Linnet," which were reported to be in a sinking condition, they escaped, together with a store-sloop which lay near the point of Cumberland Head during the battle.

The engagement continued for two hours and a half, and was the most severely fought naval battle of the war. The "Saratoga" had twenty-eight men killed and twenty-nine wounded; the " Eagle" thirteen killed and twenty wounded ; the " Ticonderoga" six killed and six wounded; and the " Preble" two killed. The loss on the gunboats was three killed and three wounded. Total killed and wounded, one hundred and ten, being equal to every eighth man in the fleet. Besides, the "Saratoga" had been hulled fifty-five times and was twice on fire ; the " Eagle" was hulled thirty- nine times. The carnage and destruction had been as great on the other side. The " Confiance" had forty-one men killed and eighty-three wounded ; the "Linnet" reported her casualties at ten killed and fourteen wounded, but the killed and wounded probably exceeded fifty ; the " Chub" was reported at six killed and ten wounded; and the " Finch" at two wounded. No account is given of the loss on the gunboats, but, from their close and severe contest with the " Ticonderoga," it must have been large. The total of killed and wounded on the British side was equal to at least one-fifth of the whole number of men in their fleet. The " Confiance" had been hulled one hundred and five times. So severe had been the contest, that at the close of the action there was not a mast in either fleet fit for use.t

Among those killed on the side of the British were Capt. Downie, who fell soon after the action commenced ; Capt. Alexander Anderson, of the marines ; Midshipman William Gunn, of the " Confiance"; and Lieut. William Paul and Boatswain Charles Jackson, of the " Linnet." Among the wounded were Midshipman Lee, of the " Confiance"; Mid- shipman John Sinclair, of the " Linnet"; and Lieut. James McGhee, of the " Chub." The American officers killed were Peter Gamble, first licutenant of the "Saratoga"; John Stansbury, first lieutenant of the "Ticonderoga"; and Sailing-Master Rogers Carter.} Referring to the death of these three officers, Mr. Cooper, in his History of the Navy, says, "Lieut. Gamble was on his knees, sighting

* Mr. Alison (History of England, vol. iv.), referring to this event, says, "The ' Finch,' a British brig, grounded out of shot and did not engage ;" and again, "The 'Finch' struck on a reef of rocks and could not get into action." Had Mr. Alison taken the trouble to read Capt. Pring's official account of the engagement, he would have found in it the following statement : "Lieut. Hicks, of the ' Finch,' had the mortification to strike on a reef of rocks, to the castward of Crab Island, about the middle of the engagement, which prevented his ren- dering that assistance to the squadron that might, from an officer of such ability, have been expected." It is very convenient for the English historian to convert a small sloop of eleven guns and forty men into a brig, and to keep that large vessel out of the action alto- gether; but, as I have before said, such statements are unnecessary to preserve the well-earned reputation of the British navy for bravery or gallantry in action.

+ " I could only look at the enemy's galleys going off, in a shattered condition ; for there was not a mast in either squadron that could stand to make sail on ; the lower rigging being nearly all shot away, hung down as though it had been just placed over the mast-heads." -- Me Donough's Report of the Battle.

"Our masts, yards, and sails were so shattered that one looked like so many bundles of matches, and the other like a bundle of rags."- Letter of Midshipman Lee of the " Confiance."

į Midshipman James M. Baldwin died in New York on the 23d of July, 1815, from wounds received in this action. In 1843 a monn- ment was erected to his memory in the cemetery at Plattsburgh, where it was erroneously supposed he had been buried.

THE WAR OF 1812.

the bow gun, when a shot entered the port, split the quoin, drove a portion of it against his breast, and laid him dead on the quarter-deck without breaking his skin. Fifteen minutes later one of the American shot struck the muzzle of a twenty-four on the ' Confiance,' dismounted it, sending it bodily inboard against the groin of Capt. Downie, killing him also without breaking the skin. Lieut. Stansbury sud- denly disappeared from the bulwark forward, while super- intending some duty with the springs of the 'Ticonderoga.' Two days after the action his body rose to the surface of the water, and it was found that it had been cut in two by a round shot."

It is said that scarcely an individual escaped on board of either the " Confiance" or " Saratoga" without some injury. Macdonough was twice knocked down,-once by the span- ker-boom, which was cut in two by a shot and fell upon his back as he was bending his body to sight a gun ; and again by the head of a gunner, which was driven against him and knocked him into the scuppers. Mr. Brum, the sailing-master of the Saratoga, had his clothes torn off by a splinter while winding the ship. Mr. Vallette, acting lieutenant, had a shot-box, on which he was standing, knocked from under his feet, and he too was once knocked down by the head of a seaman. Very few escaped without some accident, and it appears to have been agreed on both sides to call no man wounded who could keep out of the hospital .* Midshipman Lee, of the " Confiance," who was wounded in the action, thus describes the condition of that vessel : " The havoc on both sides is dreadful. I don't think there are more than five of our men, out of three hundred, but what are killed or wounded. Never was a shower of hail so thick as the shot whistling about our ears. Were you to see my jacket, waistcoat, and trowsers, you would be astonished how I escaped as I did, for they are literally torn all to rags with shot and splinters; the upper part of my hat was also shot away. There is one of our marines who was in the Trafalgar action with Lord Nelson, who says it was a mere flea-bite in comparison with this."t

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History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 9

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) 1n; Lewis, J.W., & Co., Philadelphia Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 922

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) 1n; Lewis, J.W., & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 922