USA > New York > Genesee County > History of the Genesee country (western New York) comprising the counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates, Volume I > Part 31
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On the 22d day of June, 1807, the United States frigate Chesapeake commanded by Commodore Barron, under orders, sailed out from Hampton Roads. When a few knots off the coast she was hailed by the British warship Leopard, and boarded by a British officer representing Vice Admiral Berkley. The Ameri- can commodore was ordered to muster his crew and to produce three British seamen, who were alleged to have deserted a British ship. As a matter of fact, three American born seamen, who had been captured and impressed upon the British ship Melampus, and had escaped, were on board. Commodore Barron refused to give them up, and, upon the return of the boarding officer, the Chesapeake was suddenly fired on by the British man-of-war, re- ceiving broadsides for thirty minutes. Three Americans were
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killed and eighteen wounded. Commodore Barron struck his colors, was boarded and four of his men were removed. In the excitement that followed the publication of these facts, Commo- dore Barron was tried for surrendering his frigate and suspended for five years. It was five years before the British made repara- tions for firing upon the Chesapeake, but they would not promise even then to give up the right of search. It is not difficult to understand, it would seem, why liberty-loving America, long suf- fering as she was, began to find accumulating insults and injuries beyond endurance. It would have been the same with the British, if America had boarded British ships to seize Britishers who had been American born.
Further forbearance on the part of the United States was im- possible. It meant an invitation to repeat the insults and acts of disrespect that Great Britain was heaping up. Attempts to bring about an adjustment only met with failure, or drew the answer that the situation would be arranged, if possible, on another basis, which might fully meet the needs of the British Empire. The President, therefore, laid before the committee of foreign rela- tions of congress a recommendation that the United States should be placed in the attitude of defence. Congress responded by vot- ing to enlarge the army to 35,000 men, to provide for an increased navy, and enacted a law making possible the borrowing of eleven million dollars. The revenue was to come from doubled duties and increased taxation (November, 1811).
Enmity was directed principally at Great Britain and British agents, and like a thunder clap came the disclosure that Sir James Craig, governor of Canada, had employed John Henry as a secret agent, sending him to the United States for the purpose of effect- ing a disunion. Henry was to persuade the leaders of the Federal party that disunion was a measure to be promoted. The specific plan was to cause the secession of New England, and the assertion of its independence as a nation. It was then to become a province dependent upon Great Britain. Henry knew that Americans were dissatisfied with the condition of the country and that there was much criticism leveled at the President. Mistaking the com- mon American characteristic of discussing public affairs on the platform and in print as an indication of disloyalty to the govern- ment, Henry proceeded to foment further discord. He did not get
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very far once his real purposes were known. His mission was a failure and so was his effort to secure his pay from Great Britain. Henry now turned to the authorities of the United States and laid bare the whole foul scheme. Upon sufficient proof the United States government paid Henry $50,000. The knowledge of what England was trying to do to a country with which it was at peace was worth the sum, large as it was in those days. On June 18, 1812, war was declared. President Madison had sent a message to congress, in which the events leading up to the crisis were re- viewed. It was a notable document, and one which every student of American history should read. Congress responded in a dec- laration of war, brief and to the point.
Congress and the President had chosen a poor time for war. There was no flaming desire to fight. That desire had been dulled during nine years of insults patiently endured. The spirit of 1776 slumbered and most of the great military leaders of the Revolutionary war were sleeping in honored graves. There were only a few old men at arms, experienced in battle, and thirty years of peace had not bred the fighters that a new nation needs for its protection. True, there were officers of the militia, but many of these had been appointed for political reasons and not because they could plan campaigns of war.
The country, since the days of Jefferson, had been ruled by a policy of strict economy, one which historians are apt to term, "penny wise and pound foolish," for good government can never be cheap. We had no navy worthy of the name and no army, save a nucleus of a few thousand men ; in 1808 only 3,000 all told. As a result, we had been insulted, our seamen shanghaied, our peaceful shipping molested, our citizens killed with impunity and our commerce paralyzed. We had not the means of enforcing respect and our national spirit was at low ebb. It was a pitiful situation for the nation which the sacrifice of heroes had brought forth as the land of liberty, opportunity and progress.
It was proposed to form an army of 100,000 men by calling upon the militia of the several states, and to augment this force by accepting 50,000 volunteers. The army was mustered, but it was not of the size contemplated and the soldiers were mostly raw recruits without training or discipline. The navy drew together a more efficient force and, from private ships and government
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boats, a navy of ten frigates, ten sloops, and 165 gun boats1 was formed as the force upon the seas that should oppose and whip the mistress of the seas.2
The country was unprepared for war. It not only had an in- sufficient army and navy, but there was a spirit of bitter party discord prevailing. New England rang with the bitterest de- nunciation of the war manifesto. Boston hung its flags at half mast when the news came, and public speakers in legislative halls and in churches rang out their protests. "It is a war unexampled in history," said one New England divine. "Proclaimed on the most frivolous and groundless pretences, let no consideration whatever deter my brethren at all times and in all places, from execrating the present war. Mr. Madison has declared it; let Mr. Madison carry it on."" Under such influences as these, New Eng- land stood against the war and did everything in her power to oppose and harass the administration.+ New England, fortu- nately, did not command the following of the heart of the country, and the middle Atlantic states, the south and the great northwest awakened and shouldered arms.
The country looked itself over. The seat of the enemy was across the Atlantic but her frigates swarmed the sea, command- ing all sea-coasts. Where should America strike to cripple the foe? Where would the foe strike to injure America? Military strategists on both sides of the line looked toward the Great Lakes and toward Champlain. These waterways were open for the fray. The contest should rage between the Canadian provinces, British-owned, and the United States. There were few places that might be assailed by land forces, and yet these few were of large importance in the New World. America, therefore, prepared to strike Canada, ere Great Britain with her Canadian legions should invade America.
As the first military step, the President appointed Henry Dearborn commander-in-chief. Dearborn was an elderly man,
1 There is some variance in the statistics of authorities but these figures are approximately right.
2 The naval force of Great Britain, according to Cooper's Nautical History, con- tained 1,060 sail, of which between 700 and 800 were efficient cruising vessels. Of these all that were necessary might be sent against the United States, which country, Cooper says, had but 17 ocean cruising vessels, only nine of which were of the frigate class.
3 History of the United States, Buchannan, 154.
4 Ibid. 154. Vide, History of the Hartford Convention, 269.
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had long been a political favorite and was a veteran officer of the Revolution. His residence was in Massachusetts and his appoint- ment was expected to swing that hostile and wavering state into line, but the expectation was not realized. His appointment was typical, and leads to the reflection that war is not won by men who have political reputations and look well in gold lace, but by trained fighters who know and can teach the art of war, and who can then wage it.
This truth was ignored and as one writer has lately described the state of affairs " * a lot of fossilized old gentlemen having some long by-gone and obsolete military experience, more on dress parade than on gory fields, were made generals, and assigned to important commands."" James Wilkinson, of the "Conway Cabal" connection, next called to the front, is described as a decaying veteran with a smirched reputation. James Arm- strong, who wrote the infamous "Newburg Letter" to the army, was appointed secretary of war and a major-general. Though Armstrong and Wilkinson had been Revolutionary comrades and were now cronies in Washington, they soon grew to despise each other, when the plans of the Canadian invasion drawn up by each were compared.
Wade Hampton, a fiery warrior from South Carolina, was ap- pointed under Wilkinson as second in command. Hating Wilkin- son and distrusting him, he spared no words of scorn in expres- sing his opinion to the secretary of war. Imperious and haughty, a financier and slave owner, he would brook no orders from those he deemed incompetent.
Governor William Hull, of Michigan Territory, received a gen- eral's commission and was charged with a most important mis- sion. He was another soldier whose qualifications were more political than military, but, worse than this, he was vacillating and without a soldier's courage. Other leaders were Stephen Van Rensselaer, the patroon of Albany and Rensselaer ; William Wads- worth of the Genesee Country and Peter B. Porter of the Niagara region. George McClure was aided by Jacob Brown and George Izard, men who became as famous for their ability as their leader was execrated for his incapacity. One of Izard's lieutenant-col- onels was Winfield Scott, destined to fame of the first magnitude.
5 Near, Irving W., Vol. III, New York Historical Society, p. 94.
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His first post was at Black Rock in charge of the navy yard there. The Genesee Country was, through its men and its location, to play an important part in the events which grew out of the condi- tion of affairs described. We shall see.
The army headquarters were established at Greenbush, a set- tlement on the Hudson opposite Albany. Here General Dearborn, commander-in-chief, had his base in a safe and comfortable lo- cation.
General William Hull was stationed in the northwest, the first post being at Dayton, Ohio, where the army of invasion was mus- tered. Traversing a wild and uncultivated region, Hull led his men to a base near Detroit, where he awaited orders from the na- tion's capital. He had no definite information that war had been declared when he moved his troops, and only when a delayed let- ter, sent through the regular channels of the uncertain mails, reached him did Hull know, on July 2d, a fortnight late, that war had been officially announced. His British opponents on the op- posite shore already had the information and were making the most of it. The plans of the campaign included a simultaneous attack on Detroit and Niagara, the successful armies to march to Plattsburg, where reinforcements would await them for a march against Montreal, which should be stormed and taken. It was Hull's time to strike. Facing Hull across the Detroit River were British garrisons, Indian villages and hostile civilians. Hull's forces were brave men, but untrained; opposing him was a real soldier, General Isaac Brock.
Hull began the invasion with disaster. When Brock invested his fortifications at Detroit, Hull surrendered to the British, giv- ing up the whole of Michigan Territory (August 16, 1812).
Let us now observe the naval forces on the lakes. We had three naval centers on the inland waters, one on Lake Ontario, where there was one man-of-war brig of 240 tons, the Oneida. This boat was commanded by Lieutenant M. T. Wool and a crew of experienced seamen. The Oneida carried sixteen 24-pound carronades. Opposed to this one boat were the British Royal George, 22 guns; Prince Regent, 16; Earl of Moira, 14; Glouces- ter, 10; Seneca, 8, and Simcoe, 8, all under the command of Com- modore Earle. On Lake Erie we had no boats at all, while the British had the Queen Charlotte, 17 guns; Lady Prevost, 13; Hunter, 10; Caledonia, 2, and Chippewa, 2. On Champlain the
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United States had an ample naval force but the British none. North of the Genesee Country, therefore, was a British interland navy that controlled the waters and menaced our shores. The only near naval base that we possessed was at Sackett's Harbor. Thus, the Genesee Country lay between a naval base at Sackett's Harbor and a military base at Niagara. Had the country been thickly populated then, it might have suffered the ravages of invasion; as it was, there was only an unexecuted threat that did no harm, but which did stimulate greater interest throughout the Genesee region.
That the lakes would have an important place in the war both sides recognized, and thus each set to work to build ships and to train sailors. Though Great Britain might easily have com- manded Lake Erie, she built but one additional ship, and allowed the Americans to build a little navy, which later, under Perry, was destined to win a decisive victory.
On Lake Ontario, our one ship, Oneida, had her base at Sack- ett's Harbor, which was protected only by one long 32-pounder. Opposing us, with a base at Kingston, was Commodore Earle's squadron of six ships and 80 guns. Even with this force com- manding the eastern end of the lake the Yankee commodore, with characteristic dash, raided the enemy's merchant vessels and was safely back in his harbor before he could be pursued.
The surrender of Detroit was a heavy blow to American pride, but three days later Captain Hull, a nephew of General Hull, commanding the Constitution, 44, fought the British frigate Guerriere, 38, in a half hour battle that reduced the British ship to a battered wreck (August 19, 1812). The British lost over 100 men in killed and wounded before they struck their colors, the Constitution losing 7 killed and 7 wounded. This victory supple- mented the victory off the Grand Banks, in which Captain Porter, commanding the Essex, 32, captured the British sloop of war Alert, 20, in an eight minute fight. Captain Hull's victory was of such importance, that congress not only voted a resolution of thanks but presented him and his men with an award of $50,000. This victory restored the confidence of the country and did much to demonstrate that the British were not invincible on the sea.
The militia of the State of New York had by September been mustered to the number of 5,000, half of the troops being concen- trated along the Niagara frontier, under the command of General
29-Vol. 1
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Van Rensselaer, whose headquarters were at Lewiston. Here was a fine body of men, flattered by speeches and the orations of demagogues; of soldierly training they had only the barest rudi- ments.
Across the river at Fort Erie were two British brigs. Captain Elliott of the navy saw an opportunity to capture these vessels, and Colonel Scott and Captain Towson and his troops were as- signed to Elliott. Launching a sudden attack, the coup was suc- cessful, the British boat Adams being taken by Captain Elliott in person, aided by Lieutenant Isaac Roach. The Caledonia was captured by Captain Towson, and swung to the American side, afterwards contributing effectively to Perry's victory. The Adams was unfortunate, and in her trip down stream became un- manageable, drifting aground on Squaw Island directly under the guns of the enemy. Captain Elliott secured his prisoners and made off under the heavy fire of the British troops. An attempt was made to recapture her but Scott's resistance was so effective that the British abandoned the fight, and the boat later was drawn to the American shore, only to be burned by order of General Smythe, who later took command at Lewiston.
The spirits of the troops now rose until nothing could restrain them, many units of volunteers threatening to return home unless action started at once. Van Rensselaer, therefore, determined to launch an attack on Queenstown, across the Niagara and to the north of Lewiston.
Information available led Van Rensselaer to believe that the British troops had been drawn off for the defense of Malden. The possession of Queenstown meant comfortable winter quarters and a base in Canada.
In the midst of a raging northeast storm, the American troops were roused before dawn, and at four o'clock an attempt was made to cross the river, but a heavy downpour of rain, the dark- ness and many distressing accidents prevented the success of the movement (October 11). The failure of this attempt caused great confusion, and orders were sent to General Smyth at Buffalo to advance with his corps to participate in another attempt on the 13th. The expedition was divided into two columns, one under Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer with 300 militiamen, and one under Colonel Christie with 300 regulars. There were the usual blunders and it was found that there were not enough boats
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to transport the force in one unified body, it being necessary to recross with empty boats and bring over the men in detachments. Aiding the two columns, Colonel Fenwick with artillery was to follow and after him the rest of the troops. The confusion and delay incident to the crossing awakened the suspicion of the Brit- ish who, anticipating an attack, sent for reinforcements from Fort George, the stronghold near the mouth of the river.
At dawn the enemy opened musket fire upon the Americans and followed it with grape, making the landing of our troops ex- tremely hazardous. Indeed, General Van Rensselaer was among the first to be wounded, his command passing for the moment to Captain Wool. The landing of the American troops was covered by Colonel Winfield Scott, who, under forced march, arrived at Lewiston too late to be included in the plan of invasion. The opposing British force was small, there being only two flank com- panies of the York and Forty-ninth Militia. The landing party consisted of about one hundred men, but, notwithstanding the size of the first detachment, it formed and began its march forward, relying upon other troops to follow as reinforcements.
"Move up the hill and storm the batteries!" commanded Van Rensselaer, as he retired to have his wounds dressed. With Cap- tains Ogilvie, Malcolm, and Armstrong, and Lieutenant Randolph, Captain Wool obeyed the order.
Up the hill they marched, storming the heights and taking the batteries. The enemy was ousted, scattered and driven down hill where they rallied and took refuge behind a large store house. Captain Wool, though dangerously wounded, held the command, ordering 160 men to charge the enemy, now reinforced by General Brock and 600 men of the Forty-ninth Regiment. The charge was repulsed and again resumed, but the Americans were gradually pushed back to the verge of the precipice, when one of the men, believing the situation desperate, held out a white rag on the end of a bayonet, observing which Wool thrust away this token of de- feat, rallied his men and drove the British back. It was in this charge that General Brock fell mortally wounded, leaving great confusion in the British lines, and there was a pause in the ac- tion of the day.
At this point General Wadsworth of the New York militia, Colonel Scott and Colonel Mulaney crossed the Niagara, and Cap- tain Wool was ordered to retire to have his wounds dressed. The
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field belonged to the Americans, the Forty-ninth had been re- pulsed and their gallant commander mortally wounded.
Scott had been assigned as commander of the troops, but on arriving upon the field and finding Brigadier-General William Wadsworth there, though without orders, Scott proposed to limit his command to the regulars and place the volunteers in charge of General Wadsworth. With a fine spirit of patriotism, Wads- worth refused, yielding the entire command to Scott. "You, Sir," he said, "know best professionally what ought to be done. I am here for the honor of my country and that of the New York militia !" Scott took command and was gallantly aided by Wads- worth, who braved every danger throughout the entire expedition. Though they had met for the first time, Wadsworth became deeply attached to young Colonel Scott, repeatedly interposing his body - between Scott and the enemy's bullets, for Scott was a tall and conspicuous person, and a shining mark for the Indians.
Reinforcements continued to come until there were 350 regu- lars and 250 volunteers. The latter were under Wadsworth and Colonel Stranahan, and, under the advice of Captain Totten, were placed in a commanding position, to cover the ferry, in order that the whole of the militia at Lewiston might cross over under pro- tection of guns. Such was the state of affairs when the British began to arouse themselves. The British garrison at Fort George, eight miles below, now began to send forth its troops. Five hun- dred Indians, who had been concentrated in the vicinity, support- ing the infantry, began to get into action. A new battle ensued, in which the American troops drove the enemy to a total rout at the point of the bayonet. This was the third victory. A new difficulty now had to be faced. General Van Rensselaer, wishing to hasten the embarkation of supporting troops, crossed the Niagara hoping to expedite their passage. But neither entreaties nor threats could move them. A British battery below Queenston had not been silenced, and it enfiladed the ferry. The troops had seen the Indians and shuddered; they had seen the dead and wounded and witnessed the perilous passage of the transports. Thereupon 1,500 able-bodied men, a few hours ago swelling with pride and anxious to fight, now put upon themselves the plea of "constitutional objections" to invading the enemy's territory. Historians of the day were not sparing of their opinion of the militia, cne stating that the recalcitrants "put on the mask of law- fulness to hide their cowardice." Other writers with greater
British Reserve
coming up Us Road
Lockport Rd.
Pearces
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Cross Road
E
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THATU
Manchester
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British Battery and lines Lady's Lane lending to head of Land
Amery
Falls
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Island
Chinada Falls
BATTLE of LUNDY'S LANE, or NIAGARA,
just before the British Battery was carried.
American Beserve coming up au
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+ + + + Towson's Artillery Scotts Brigade
PLAN of the
Falls
Queenston and
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caution have pointed out that our boats were far too few in num- ber, there being only 13 capable of transporting men. This was the crying error of the expedition and the cause of our failure. Little wonder that the militia objected to being slowly rowed across under constant fire.
By four o'clock the British were reinforced by 800 men from Fort George, under the command of General Sheaffe. The Brit- ish troops now numbered some 1,300 effective fighting men, while the Americans had only about 300. The Americans resisted this force as best they could, and when they were all but exhausted, General Van Rensselaer communicated the unpleasant news that no more reinforcements would come from the other side. Wads- worth could neither resist nor retreat. Surrender was all that remained, and with difficulty a flag of truce was sent forward under Colonel Scott, who, plowing through the Chippewa Indians, found that his flag commanded no respect. The Indians attempted to grasp it, and were upon the point of using their knives, when a British officer with a small detachment rushed forward and prevented further violence.
Colonel Scott with Captains Totten and Gibson were conducted to the headquarters of General Sheaffe and terms of capitulation were agreed upon, Scott surrendering his entire force with the honors of war; those who had actually been in the fight numbered 293 men, 139 regulars and 154 militia, but to Scott's surprise and chagrin, several hundred men had crossed the river and concealed themselves under a shelter of rocks, and were therefore to swell the number of prisoners, of whom there were about 900; 100 men were killed. After the surrender the prisoners were escorted to Niagara Village, at the mouth of the river, where the officers were lodged in an inn, under guard. Though orders had been given to allow no one to pass out, a message shortly came request- ing "the tall American" to come to the entry. Scott passed through several doors and found himself confronted by two Indians, hid- eously painted. They were the same men who had grasped his flag of truce. With signs and broken English they told him how many times they had fired point blank at him, and the elder In- dian, wishing to see his back, flung Scott around, probably looking for evidences of wounds or shot marks. It is quite possible that these Indians believed Scott to be one of "the mysterious stone coated giants whom no bullets could penetrate." Scott resented
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