USA > New York > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 135
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The general immediately ordered Capt. Walworth, of the 16th, with his company of grenadiers. to make the assault. Walworth gallantly ordered his men to trail arms, and advanced at the necelernted pace, but at the moment they were ordered to recorer, und charge the enemy, the enemy broke in the ut most confusion, leaving several men wounded on the ground, which they abandoned. They proceeded in admirable order on a gradual ascent, when a fire was opened upon them of round and canister, from the quarters of the British governor. The gen-
* The following cxtraet from the President's message of April 1, 1813, scts forth the condition of the country in the matter of defenses :
"The militia which had been drafted into service at Sacket's Ilarbor were also supplied with public arms. Previous to their discharge directions were given to the brigade quartermaster of militia to see to it that the State prop- erty was surrendered when the militia was discharged; and the superintendent of the arsenal at Watertown was notificd thereof, and required to attend at the Harbor in person to receive the said property and replace itin the arsenal. This duty was performed, as will appear by invoice and superintendent's re- ccipt, recently received by me, and herewith transmitted, marked 'B,' and by Quartermaster Conner's receipts, marked 'C.' Independent of the property so returned, threc companies of volunteers, still in service at Sacket's Harbor, are armed with State muskets. Muskets and annmunition have likewise been de- posited in the exposed towns of Ilenderson, Brownville, and Champion."
t The number of American troops that landed was abont eight hundred.
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
eral orderod the troops to lie close, while the artillery under Maj. Eustis was brought to the front, and silenced the enemy's hattery.
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The firing very soon ceased altogether, and the Americans were ex- pecting a flag of surrender, when a terrible explosion of the British magazine took place." The explosion was stupendous and awful, and at the instant the common supposition was a subterranean mine. The general had just aided in removing a wounded man with his own hands, and sat down on a stump with a British sergeant, who had been taken .prisoner, and whom the geucral was examining when the explosion took plaec. The general, Capt. Nicholson, and the British sergeant were all mortally wounded.
Brigade-Maj. Hunt, assisted hy Lieut .- Col. Mitehell, of the 3d Artil- lery, formed the troops, and were ready to give or receive a charge in five minutes after the explosion.
The wounds of Gen. Pike were of such a nature as to disqualify him from all further service, and the command devolved on Col. l'earce, of the 16th Infantry, as the senior offieer, who sent a flag demanding an immediate surrender at discretion. They made only one stipula- tion, which was granted without hesitation,-that private property should be respected. The British general made his eseape, and a body of regular troops with him.
When the surgeons werc carrying their wounded general and his aids from the field, our troops, which had just forined, gave a tremendous huzza ! The general turned his head anxiously to inquire what that was for ; a sergeant, who aceompauied him, said, The British union- jack is coming down, general ; the stars are going up! He heaved a heavy sigh of cestasy and smiled, even amidst the anguish which must have heen inseparable from the state of his wounds. He was carried on hoard the commodore's ship, accompanied by the commo- dore, who came to attend him, where his gallant spirit fled, another Montgomery in fate; not, indeed, perishing hy the valor of a gallant foe, but falling, even in the arms of victory, by the barbarous revenge of a baffled and defeated enemy.
As the general was breathing his last the British standard was brought te hiu. He made a sign to have it placed under his head, and died without a groan, though his sufferings must have heen ex- tremely severe. His hody was embalmed at York, and conveyed to Sacket's Harbor, where it was interred in the magazine of Fort Tomp- kins with all the stately pomp of military honor, amidst the regrets of every good man. Capt. Nicholson, of Maryland (an inestimahle young man, who was killed by his side), his beloved aid and pupil, was buried in the same grave, and at the same time, by order of the commuandiug general, in testimouy of his respeet for the deceased.
Gen. Sheaffe commanded the British troops, militia, and Indians. No resistauee was offered after the explosion.
The " Duko of Gloucester," in port undergoing repairs, twenty gun- hoats and 28 guns, with an immense quantity of provisions and uaval stores, were the fruits of this capture. A large ship on the stocks, and nearly planked up, aud a quantity of naval stores, were fired by the enemy upon their retreat. There uot being a sufficient number of transports to remove the prisouers, ahout 500 were released upon their parol. Gen. Sheaffe's baggage and papers fell into the hauds of Gen. Dearhorn, and a human scalp was found suspended, with the maee, over the chair of the speaker iu the legislative eouneil-ehamber.
The following aecount of killed and wounded was soon after pub- lished :
By the Americans in the hattle, 14 killed and 32 wounded ; by the explosion, 38 killed and 222 wounded; by the British, 200 killed and wounded ; 700 prisoners of militia and 50 regulars. Of the navy, 11 sailors were killed and 14 wounded.
Gen. Boyd was soon after assigned the command of the brigade of Gen. Pike. The government barraeks, etc., were destroyed.
Having taken on board all the naval stores that could he trans- ported, the place was evacuated, and the army was taken to Niagara. Chauncey returned to Sacket's Harbor on the 13th of May, and hav- ing taken on board 350 troops, sailed on the 22d for Niagara, where he arrived on the 25th.
The deseent upou York provoked the resentment of the enemy, who, knowing that Sacket's Harbor had beeu weakened hy the with- drawal of troops to the Niagara, planned an attack upon the for- mer, well knowing that the capture or destruction of the vessels there building, and the stores collected, would at once give them the supre-
macy in the campaign, and effectually suppress any further offensive operations of the Americans for some time.
Sacket's Harbor was at this time but poorly prepared for defense. Fort Tompkins, oeeupying the site for the present residence of the commanding officer of the station, was manned hy about 200 dis- muounted dragoons, under Col. Baekus, 50 artillerists, under Lieut. Ketchum, and 70 infantry invalids, recruits, and parts of companies. A little east of the village was Fort Volunteer, a slight work that had heen chiefly crceted by a company of exempts. Gen. Dearborn had written to Brig .- Gen. Browu to assume the command and make pro- visions for a defense.
Between the village and Horse Island, a mile distant, was a thin wood that had heen partly cut over, and was filled with brush, logs, and stumps. Opposite the island was a clearing of ahout four acres, and the island itself, which embraces twenty-nine acres, and lies at the entrance of the bay, was covered with a growth of timher, and at that time connected with the mainland hy a bar that afforded a crossing, nearly or quite dry. The beach opposite was composed, then as now, of a ridge of gravel, which at that time made a natural breastwork four or five feet high. A short distance back, and farther south on the shore, a strip of woods extended, which had been oh- structed as much as possible several days previous, by felling trees iu every direction.
The enemy having made preparations at Kingston for an attack, emharked 1200 men, under Sir George Prevost, on the evening of May 27, on board the ships " Wolfe," a new vessel of 24 guns ; the " Royal George," 24 guns; the hrig "Earl of Moira," 18 guns; and the sehooners "Prinee Regent," "Simcoe," and "Seneea," mounting cach several guns; two gun-boats, and about forty barges, under Sir James L. Yco; and on the following morning (Friday, May 28) ap- peared in the offing, having heen discovered by the sehooner " Lady of the Lake," that had been cruising on the lake to watch the motions of the enemy.
As this vessel came in, signal-guns were fired, and upon her arrival Col. Baekus dispatched an express to Gen. Brown, who, since the cx- piration of his six months' term, had been residing on his farm in Brownville, eight miles from the harhor. He immediately repaired to that place, and issued summary orders for rallying the neighhoring militia and preparing the place for defense. Alarm-guns were fired, and dragoons dispatched in every direction to hasten the arrival of succor, and especially that of Col. Tuttle, who was known to be ad- vaneing with several hundred regulars. No landing was attempted by the enemy on the 28th, their attention being drawn off by a fleet of American barges from Oswego, of which twelve were taken, their crews having fled to the woods, and seven, hy outsailing the enemy, got safely into port, thus increasing the disposable force of Gen. Brown.
The militia soon began to assemble, and as fast as they arrived were armed and sent to Horse Island, the point at which the enemy were expected to land. The foree hy which the enemy were to be op- posed comprised 400 infantry and about 600 militia, without disei- pline, experience, or organization.
The night was spent by Gen. Brown in making dispositions for the attack, which eireumstances rendered highly probable would he made where the militia had heen posted. During the night the enemy landed about forty Indians, under Lieut. Anderson, on the mainland in Henderson Bay, with the view of attacking the rear of the militia, and towards morning the militia were withdrawn fromu the island to the shore opposite.
About 400 militia, with a six-pounder, under Col. Mills, were sta- tioued near the shore opposite the island, with orders to reserve their fire until the enemy should approach within pistol-shot. The remain- der of the militia, under Col. Gershom Tuttle, were posted in the edge of the woods, hack of the clearing, and Col. Backus, with his dis- mounted dragoons, was stationed in the skirt of the woods near the village, with orders to advance through the woods towards Horse Island the moment it was kuown that the enemy had landed. Col. Aspinwall, with his men, was posted to the left of Backus, and the artillerists, under Lieut. Ketehuur, were stationed in Fort Tompkins, with no other armaurent than a 32-pounder, mounted on a pivot. The night was spent in making these arrangements, and all parties anxiously awaited the approach of day.
The morning of the 29th dawned beautifully clear and calm. Not a breath of air ruffled the plaeid surface of the lake, and there existed that peculiar state of density and uniformity iu the atmosphere in
* The magazine contained 500 barrels of powder, many cartloads of stone, and an immense quantity of iron shells and shot.
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
which sounds are propagated to a great distance, as is sometimes noticed hefore a stormn; and the report of small arms in the action which followed was heard with remarkable distinctness on the hills in Rutland, while the discharge of cannon cehoed clear and far over the country to distances since unparalleled, and was heard through Lewis, and even in Oncida county.
The calm prevented the enemy from hringing their vessels to co- operate in the attack, and was one of the causes that influenced their subsequent retreat. As soon as it was light the enemy wero seen approaching in thirty-three large hoats, under cover of gun-boats, directing their course to the outside of the island, where they landed and formed without oppositien; hut in crossing the bar that con- nected it with the mainland they encountered a galling fire, and lost several in killed and wounded, whom they subsequently carried off. As the landing was heing effected, the heavy gun in Fort Tompkins was brought to hear with considerable effect upon the enemy's column.
The fire of the militia was at first well directed and deadly, and was answered by discharges of musketry and hy two small cannon loaded with grape-shot; hut Col. Mills, who was stationed a short distanco towards the village with his cannon, fell early in the en- gagement, and his death, with the unaccustomed whistling of halls that cut down the branches of the trees around them, struek with terror the inexperienced militia, and without waiting to return the fire or recover from the panie, they turned and fled towards the town in the greatest confusion. Gen. Brown, finding himself nearly alone, with no support but this company, retired towards the village, directing those that could he rallied to annoy the advancing colunin of the enemy as much as possible. The enemy having gained the beach and dispersed the militia, formed in good order and marched towards the town. They were soon met by the troops of Col. Backus, who had advanced to dispute their progress, and who gallantly cn- countered and returned their fire, retiring slowly hefore them through the half-cleared woods. Gen. Brown had succeeded in rallying ahout 100 militia, with the aid of Caleb Westcott, a citizen, and others, and had joined the detachment of Backus; but at this juncture, happen- ing to look towards the ship-yard, he was surprised to sec huge vol- umes of smoke issuing from the store-houses that contained the spoils of York. Not knowing hut that the enemy might have gained his rear, he hastened to the spot and ascertained that the disastrous panic of the militia had been communicated to those in charge, and a re- port had reached Lieut. Chauncey, of the navy, tbat all was lost, and upon the faith of this rumor he had given orders to fire the buildings, an act which the most extreme and desperate issne of affairs could alone justify. Learning the cause of the conflagration, and some- what relieved hy the knowledge that the enemy were still hut on one side, he returned, giving directions to Licut. Ketehum, in Fort Tomp- kins, to maintain that post as long as the heat of the flames would permit. The regulars of Col. Backus felt their conrage renewed upon learning the nature of the accident that had given a natural alarm, and continued steadily to oppose the advance of the enemy, who had now gained the clearing next the village. Very soon aftor, Col. Backus fell mortally wounded.
The enemy had througheut evinced great courage and coolness, and wero under the immediate command of Capt. Gray, who was advan- cing in front of the ranks, and walking hackwards, waving his sword for his troops to follow, and shouting, "Come on, hoys; the day is ours ! Remember York !" when he suddenly fell, wounded, and im- mediately expired.
At this moment the signal for retreat was given from the fleet, and the enemy hastily retreated to their boats. This retreat is said to have been in part caused by hearing a report of small arms on the right, from the rallied militia, but which the enemy mistook for a reinforcement of regulars which they had learned was advancing under Col. Tuttle, and was then within a mile of the place. The enemy on their rotreat removed a part of their wounded, and, having re-embarked, at ahout 10 o'clock sent a flag demanding a surrender of the place which they had been unable to capture, and were of courso refused. They shortly after sent another flag requesting to send surgeons to their wounded, which was denied, as they still seemed not to have ahandoned the attack, and were laying by in their harges ; hut shortly after they put off to the fleet, which lay about five miles from the town, and made sail for Kingston. Both Sir George Prevost and Sir James Yeo are said to have landed during the en- gagement.
The loss of the British was 150 in killed and wounded, and 34
taken prisoners. Our loss was 150 killed, wounded, and missing. The enemy took a few prisoners, and one man was found killed and scalped in the woods hy the Indians.
The flames of the burning stores were suhdued as quickly as pos- sible, but not till they had consumed $500,000 worth of property. The ship " Pike," then on tbo stoeks, was saved. The prize schooner, the " Duke of Gloucester," was saved hy Lieut. Talman, of the army, who boarded it, extinguished the fire, and brought her from under the flames of the store-houses. This heroic conduct will be appreciated when it is known that a large quantity of gunpowder was on hoard. The schooners "Fair American" and " Pert" cut their cables and retreated up the river, and several of the guns on Navy Point were spiked. Had it not been for this disastrous mistake, our success would have been complete. Col. Backus survived eight days, and hopes of his recovery were entertained, but mortification supervened.
We will close our account of this battle by giving the official re- port of the general commanding of the American army :
"SACKET'S HARBOR, May 29, 1813.
" DEAR SIR,-We were attacked at the dawn of this day by a British regular force of at least 900 men, most probably 1200. They muade good their landing at IForse Island. The enemy's fleet consisted of two ships, four schooners, and thirty large open hoats. We are com- pletely victorious. The enemy lost a considerable number of killed and wounded on the field, and among the number several officers of distinction. After having re-embarked, they sent a flag, desiring us to have their killed und wounded attended to. I made them satisfied on that subject. Americans will be distinguished for humanity and bravery. Our loss is not numerous, but serious from the great worth of those who have fallen. Col. Mills was shot dead at the eominence- ment of the action, and Col. Backus, of the Ist regiment of light dragoons, nobly fell at the head of the regiment as victory was de- clariug for us. I will not presume to praise this regiment. Their gallant conduet of this day merits much more than praise. The new sbip, and Commodore Chauncey's prize, the ' Duke of Gloucester,' are yet safe in Saeket's Harhor. Sir George Prevost landed and com- manded in person. Sir James Yeo commanded the enemy's fleet.
" In haste, yours,
" JACOB BROWN.
" ILIs EXCELLENCY D. D. TOMPKINS."
Two days before the hattle of Sacket's Harhor occurred the capturo of Fort George; and, on the 1st of June, Com. Chauncey returned to Saeket's Harhor, where he remained two months, until the "Pike" was ready to sail, the enemy meanwhile lording it over the lake with a much superior naval force.
On June 14, Lieut. Woleott Chauncey received orders from Com. Chauncey to proceed on a cruise : and having reached the vicinity of Presque Isle, in the schooner " Lady of the Lake," the morning of the 16th fell in with and captured the English schooner " Lady Mur- ray," from Kingston bound for York, and laden with provisions, powder, shot, and fixed ammunition. One ensign and fifteen privates were taken. The prize was taken into Saeket's Harbor.
A secret expedition was fitted out, July 2, from Kingston, with the design of firing the " Pike" and the naval stores at Sacket's Harhor in the night. On arriving at the isthmus of Point Peninsula they drew their hoats out, and conecaled them in the bushes till eireum- stances might favor them, hut a deserter from their number having escaped to Sacket's Ifarbor, they returned hack. Upon receiving in- telligence of this, a force was sent to intercept the detachment, but without sueeess.
On July 2, Maj .- Gen. Morgan Lewis arrived at Sacket's Harbor, and took the command. On the 8th, Gen. Dearborn, whoso heulthi had been impaired, was succeeded by Maj .- Gen. James Wilkinson, the present command remaining with Gen. Lewis.
Wilkinson was assisted by Gens. Morgan Lewis, John P. Boyd, Jacob Brown, and Leonard Covington.
The owners, officers, and crews of these vessels were, by aet of Congress of July 2, 1836, allowed twenty-five dollars each for the sixty-nine prisoners, captured July 19, 1813, and delivered to the U. S. agent at Sacket's Harbor.
On July 14, 1813, the " Neptuno" and " Fox," tbo former a private armed boat, under Capt. Sammel Dixon, mounted with one six- pounder and one swivel, and manned by twenty-four volunteers ; and the latter a public armed hoat, under Capt. Dimoek, with a de- tachment of twenty-one men from the 21st Regiment of Infantry, under Lieuts. Burbank and Perry, sailed from Saeket's Harbor with letters of marque from the deputy collector of the district, for a cruise on the St. Lawrence. This privatcering expedition was fitted out by M. W. Gilbert and others, and had for its object the cutting off of a detachment of the enemy's boats, that were expected up the river
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
laden with stores. After touching at Cape Vincent and French Creek, they selected, on the morning of the 17th, a quiet nook, in a creek, among the Thousand Islands, where they landed for muster and review; and at 4 A.M. of the 18th saw a brigade of British bateaux, convoyed by his majesty's gun-boat, the "Spitfire," lying at Simmond's Landing, preparing to sail for Kingston. Upon this, they pushed in for shore, and so completely surprised them that very few of the enemy escaped. The fifteen bateaux and the gun- boat were at once scized, withont a shot being fired on either side. At 9 A.M. the fleet landed in Cranberry creek in Alexandria, and, at 11, sixty-nine prisoners were sent off to the harbor, under guard, in charge of Lieut. Burbank. At sunrise on the 21st the enemy, to the number of 250, with four gun-boats and one or two transports, were discovered in the creek ; these were met by thirty men, and attacked while landing, twenty more being stationed in different places to pre- vent their approach. A cannonade commenced, and was kept up some time ; two of the enemy's boats were so injured from our fire, that most of their crews were compelled to leave them, and to cut flags from the shore to stop the shot-holes. At 6 A.M. the enemy re- tired to their boats, and sent a flag with the demand of surrender to sare the effusion of blood, which was instantly rejected, and the firing recommenced. It appeared that this was but an expedient to gain time, as the enemy hastily retreated, carrying their dead and wounded. Their loss must have been considerable from the quantity of blood seen where they embarked. Our loss was three killed and wounded. On the afternoon of the next day reinforcements arrived, the boats which had been scuttled were repaired, and on the 23d they left for Sacket's Harbor, where they arrived on the 27th. While passing Tibbet's Point they encountered the "Earl of Moira," were pursued and hit several times by her shot, but not captured. The gun-boat and several bateaux were sunk without consulting Capts. Dimick or Dixon, and the owners ultimately lost most that was gained by the expedition.
The " Pike" having been equipped, thus giving our fleet an equal strength with the enemy, Chauncey sailed, and arrived at Niagara July 27. The British fleet was then in this quarter of the lake. On Aug. 7 the fleet had attempted to come to action without success, and the next night was overtaken by a gale, in which the schooners " Hamilton" and "Scourge" were overturned and sunk, and every soul on board except sixteen perished. Lieut. Winter and Sailiug- Master Osgood were lost, together with nineteen guns, by this dis- aster.
Ou the following days a considerable manoeuvring occurred with- out coming to decisive action, and on the 9th the schooners "Julia" and "Growler" were cut out of our flect by the enemy. Chauncey returned to Saeket's Harbor on the 13th, with the "Madison," "Oneida," "Gov. Tompkins," "Conquest," "Ontario," "Pert," and "Lady of the Lake," the " Asp" and "Fair American" being left at Niagara.
The "Sylph," carrying 20 guns, and schooner-rigged, was built and ready for service in thirty-three days from the time her timber was growing. She accompanied the commuodore's fleet in a cruise, which commenced Aug. 21.
A direct tax of $3,000,000 was laid by congress, in Aug., 1813, to sustain the war, of which Jefferson County paid $4610. Gen. Wil- kinson arrived Aug. 20 at Sacket's Harbor.
During the summer a plan of operations upon this lake was dis- cussed in the cabinet, the details and correspondence upon which are too voluminous for insertion. It was decided that Maj .- Gen. Wade Hampton, who was assembling a force at Burlington, should hold himself in readiness to make a diversiou in the direction of Montreal, or to hazard an attack, if circumstances favored, while a powerful armament should be fitted out at Sacket's Harbor; that after strengthening Fort George and reducing the military Indian estab- lishments on the peninsula, should fall upon Kingston, and having reduced that place, descend the St. Lawrence, and, in concert with Hampton, make a determined attack upon Montreal. Some difference of opinion was expressed upon the first point to he assailed, and Gen. Armstrong, the secretary of war, iu his letter of instructions, dated Aug. 3, advised the first principal attack to be made upon Kingston, but left the plan and mode of attack, whether direct or indirect, to be decided by Wilkinson, as he might dcem proper. On the 26th of August, Wilkinson indicated the necessity of first gaining the su- premacy of the lake, and his apprehensions that the enemy would protract the campaign till a late period in the year. The garrison at
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