USA > New York > New York City > History of the city of New York : its origin, rise, and progress Vol. III > Part 30
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lars, and attack Fort George at a preconcerted moment.1 The embarka- tion took place just after midnight, but Smyth failed to perform either promise. The thirteen boats were not able to carry more than about one half of the troops, and three of the thirteen missed their destination. The watchful enemy discovered the approach of the Americans by the sound of their oars, and opened a fire upon them from the top of the bank. Lovett, Van Rensselaer's secretary, was in charge of the eighteen- gun battery on the heights of Lewiston, the balls of which were to pass over the heads of the assaulting party, and he promptly answered the first volley of musketry, which caused the enemy to turn. It being dark, he stooped close to the gun to observe his aim, and when it was suddenly discharged the concussion so injured his ears that he never recovered his hearing. Colonel Van Rensselaer was the first man to spring ashore, on a large rock at the foot of the rapids, and as soon as his troops had landed, the boats were sent back for the remainder of the six hundred and forty men detailed for the battle.
" Two hundred and twenty-five men," wrote General Wilkinson to the Secretary of War, " formed under a very warm fire, climbed the bank and routed the enemy at the point of the bayonet without firing a gun." Within a few moments after the landing, Colonel Van Rensselaer was riddled with balls and disabled, but with great presence of mind he ordered John Ellis Wool, then a young captain of twenty-four, already wounded and bleeding but eager for action, to pursue the enemy with all possible speed and storm the fort, explaining to him by what route he could avoid the fire of the British artillery. The daring object was gal- lantly accomplished, and the enemy driven down the hill in every direc- tion ; with the rising of the sun, the American flag was planted on the British works. In this remarkable combat not a single officer was engaged of higher rank than a captain. Chrystie, of the regular army, the second in command of the expedition, was in one of three boats that, missing their way on the river, were drifted by the eddies back to the New York shore and he had not yet arrived upon the field. Fenwick, com- mander of the flying artillery, was wounded on the passage. The valiant Lieutenants, Gansevoort and Randolph of the artillery, led the way up the mountain, and Major Stephen Lush, Van Rensselaer's aid, brought up the rear, with orders to shoot down the first man who offered to give way.
Sir Isaac Brock, at Fort George, was wakened by the cannonading, and, calling for his favorite horse, rode to Queenstown at full speed, performing the journey of seven miles in little more than half an hour. He was just in time to see the stars and stripes unfurled over his fallen fortress !
1 Mrs. Bonney's Legacy of Historical Gleanings, p. 252.
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DEATH OF GENERAL SIR ISAAC BROCK.
He quickly rallied his demoralized troops and led them in person, six hundred strong, to retake what they had lost. The battle was long, obsti- nate, and one of the most thrilling on record. Deeds of heroism and valor were displayed by young officers and men never before exposed to fire, which would have done everlasting honor to veterans in military science. Had the little band of heroes on the heights been promptly supported, according to the programme mapped out with consummate generalship by Solomon Van Rensselaer, who had full knowledge of the position of the British through his several official visits to their headquarters during the summer and had provided for every contingency, the result would undoubtedly have been a decisive victory. Captain Wool sent forward one hundred and fifty men to check the approach of Brock. They were driven back, then rein- forced and charged a second time, again pushed backward to the verge of the precipice which overlooked the deep chasm of the swift-flowing river, and in this critical position Captain Ogilvie raised a white handkerchief on the point of a bayonet in token of surrender; but Wool, springing for- ward, snatched it away indignantly with his own hand, then waving his sword led his comrades once more into the desperate and doubtful con- test with a greatly superior force commanded by the ablest general in the British service ; and with such impetuosity that the enemy broke and fled down the hill in dire dismay. Sir Isaac was amazed and chagrined. He shouted to his favorite grenadiers, " This is the first time I have seen the Forty-ninth turn their backs !" In attempting to rally them he re- ceived his death-wound, and fell from his horse at the foot of the slope. McDonnell, the brilliant and promising young attorney-general of Upper Canada, assumed command, and charged up the hill with fresh troops. He too was killed. After three distinct and bloody battles within the space of five hours, both parties fighting with marvelous bravery, the British fell back a mile in some confusion, leaving the intrepid Ameri- cans in possession of the heights.1
Meanwhile reinforcements and supplies were crossing the river slowly
1 John Ellis Wool, born at Newburg, Orange County, New York, in 1788, was the son of one of the brave soldiers of the Revolution who went up the hill with Wayne at the storming of Stony Point in 1779. He had raised a company in Troy during the summer of 1812, and in September his regiment, under Lieutenant-colonel Chrystie, was ordered to the Niagara frontier. His gallant conduct at the storming of Queenstown led to his promotion ; and he subsequently arose to great distinction. Among the noble young officers who participated in the morning battles, were Henry B. Armstrong, son of General John and Alida Livingston Armstrong, Richard M. Malcolm, Peter Ogilive, and Stephen Watts Kearny, grandson of Hon. John and Anne De Lancey Watts of New York City, afterwards conqueror and gov- ernor of California, to whom Chrystie presented his sword upon the field for coolness and gal- lantry. Lieutenant Rathbone, Ensign Robert Morris, and Lieutenant Valleau of New York were killed. Nearly all of the men led to the first assault were native New-Yorkers.
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and with much difficulty - owing to the constant fire of the enemy upon the boats. General Wadsworth, and shortly after him Lieutenant-colonel Winfield Scott, appeared upon the scene, the latter having hurried from his post to offer himself as a volunteer - and received permission from General Van Rensselaer to assume chief command in place of Colonel Van Rensse- laer, who had been carried bleeding to Lewiston. Meeting Wadsworth un- expectedly, Scott proposed to limit his own command to the regulars, but the high-minded brigadier objected ; "You, sir, know professionally what ought to be done," he said ; " I am here for the honor of my country and that of the New York militia."1 Chrystie also arrived about the same time and ordered Wool across the river to have his wounds dressed. An effort was made to fortify the position under the direction of Lieutenant Totten of the engineers. But the time was flying, and before much could be done, a cloud of dusky warriors swept along the brow of the mountain with a furious war-whoop; Scott, with the form of a giant and the voice of a trum- pet, inspired his men to raise a shout and fall upon them and with such fury that they fled in terror. Chief John Brant, a young, lithe, graceful son of the great Mohawk warrior, only eighteen, dressed, painted, and plumed in Indian style from head to foot, led the forest warriors, who were soon rallied and returned to the assault, but were again driven down the heights. All at once the roads as far as the eye could reach were aglow with scarlet. General Sheaffe, succeeding Brock in command, was coming from Fort George with extensive reinforcements. The patroon was himself upon Queenstown heights at this juncture, but hastened over the river accom- panied by Major Lovett, to urge forward his own reinforcements. To his surprise and deep mortification the militia, who had been so brave in speech and clamorous to be led against the enemy, refused to embark. They quailed before the sight of the wounded brought across the river, the groans of the dying, the fewness of the boats (several of the original thirteen having been lost), together with the new danger approaching ; and rather than be killed, or made cripples for life, they determined to forego their chances of military honors. They fell back upon their con- stitutional rights, denying Van Rensselaer's authority to march them out of their own State into Canada. He rode up and down among them in great excitement, alternately threatening and pleading; Lieutenant-colonel Henry Bloom who had returned wounded, mounted his horse and ex-
1 General William Wadsworth was a large land-owner on the Genesee River, in joint ownership with his brother, James Wadsworth ; the latter originated the first Normal School in New York in 1811. They were both natives of Durham, Connecticut, purchasing these wild lands in New York in 1790. James Wadsworth founded and endowed a library and institution for scientific lectures at Genesee. His philanthropic gifts to the cause of education in New York exceeded ninety thousand dollars.
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DEFEAT OF THE AMERICANS.
horted, swore and prayed -still the troops would not move; Judge Peck happening to be at Lewiston, " appeared," wrote Lovett, "from whence I know not, wearing a large cocked hat and long sword with a broad white belt, and preached and prayed, but all in vain." The men were positive in their refusal. At this moment many of the boatmen fled panic- stricken, and the remaining boats were dispersed. The battle opened at four o'clock and raged for half an hour with terrible effect. Scott was in full dress uniform, and being taller and more conspicuous than any officer present the Indians fired at him incessantly and wondered that they could not hit him. Without succor from any source, and ammunition failing, the Americans were finally compelled to surrender. Nearly a thousand prisoners were taken by the enemy, two thirds of whom were found concealed on British soil among the rocks and bushes below the banks, not having been in the action at all.
All Canada mourned for General Sir Isaac Brock. An armistice of three days enabled the belligerent conimanders to exchange humane cour- tesies. At the conclusion of the ceremonies at the funeral of Canada's beloved governor and commander, minute guns were fired by order of General Van Rensselaer from the American batteries at Lewiston, as a mark of respect to a brave enemy.
Governor Tompkins, accompanied by Robert Macomb and John W. Livingston, arrived at headquarters just after the battle, and General Van Rensselaer, disgusted with the jealousies of some of the officers and the recent conduct of the militia, solicited and obtained permission to leave the service. He was succeeded in the command of the Niagara frontier by General Smyth, who promised so much and performed so little that he became the target for satire and ridicule by all parties. Little was heard along the frontier for the next month except the sonorous cadences of his proclamations. He was going to invade Canada and conquer the whole British empire. He prepared with much noise, but it all came to nothing. General Peter B. Porter of the New York militia accused him of cowardice and a duel ensued. These two officers exchanged shots at twelve paces distance and both escaped unhurt, after which they were reconciled by their seconds. Smyth was soon dismissed from the service. Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer's life was in extreme peril for five days after the battle ; a cot was finally rigged with cross-bars and side-poles, upon which he was carried to Buffalo by a party of riflemen who, indeed, expressed their readiness to bear him on their shoulders from Buffalo to Albany. When late in November he reached his home near Albany, he was met in the suburbs by a cavalcade of citizens, and received with the honors of a victor.
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
In the month of September a convention of Federalists from all parts of the country assembled in New York City to decide upon the course the party should pursue in the coming Presidential election. 1812. They met privately with closed doors, and three days were con- sumed in spirited debates. It was agreed that New York, whose capital and frontiers were alike threatened by the enemy, deserved a President in whom she could trust, and one who would be able by his executive talents to make up for the want of forecast and capacity hitherto exhibited in the conduct of the war. Various speakers dwelt upon the impropriety of congressional nominations resulting, as they always did, in the selection of a Virginian for the highest office in the gift of the nation. De Witt Clinton, one of New York's most distinguished sons, was a can- didate for the Presidency, and he was an advocate of peace, the door of which now stood open in the repeal of the British orders in council. It was finally resolved to adopt Clinton as the Federal candidate. Jared Ingersoll, attorney-general of Pennsylvania, son of Jared Ingersoll of Con- necticut and Stamp Act fame, became the candidate for Vice-President. Thus the Presidential election, so disastrously utilized to bring on the war, promised an unusual amount of bitter wrangling.
The governors of Massachusetts and Connecticut, Caleb Strong and Roger Griswold,1 positively refused to accede to the President's call (in
1 Roger Griswold, governor of Connecticut in 1812 - born at Old Lyme in 1762 - was the son of Governor Matthew Griswold, grandson of Governor Roger Wolcott, nephew of the first Governor Oliver Wolcott, and first cousin of the second Oliver Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury, and necticut. The mother the famous Ursula Wol- Wolcott note on page 593) ; thus surrounded army, judicial lumina- tives, he was more lit- breeding a statesman, his time in the country. Griswold, the first mag- colony, descended from of Malvern Hall, near Coming to this country of the British noblemen found the great city of FOR ER mouth of the Connecti- ERI CE Wolcott, daughter of Wolcott ; their son, tled upon the fief or Griswold Arms. Griswolds, ever since known as Black Hall, and was one of the founders of Old Lyme in 1666. He had eleven children ; one daughter married Edmund Dorr, and among her descend-
also governor of Con- of Roger Griswold was cott, mentioned in the 358 (see also Vol. I. p. with a gubernatorial ries, and scholarly rela- erally by birth and than any other man of His ancestor, Matthew istrate of the Saybrook Sir Matthew Griswold Lyme Regis, England. in 1639, in the interests who were scheming to the New World at the cut, he married Anna the pioneer, Henry Matthew Griswold, set- feudal grant to the
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GOVERNOR ROGER GRISWOLD.
June) for detachments of militia to do garrison duty along the seaboard, in place of those drawn off for the invasion of Canada. They denied the constitutional validity of the articles of war enacted by Congress ; and complained of the irregularities attending the requisition of detached companies and battalions, without the regular quota of field officers. They denounced the punishment of a people three thousand miles away, over the innocent heads of our immediate neighbors in Canada of whom many were bound to us by ties of blood, but expressed entire willingness to adopt any measure which the safety of their own States might de- mand. Governor Strong had been one of the immortal number who framed the Constitution, and knew well the difficulties which arose about the partition between the States and the general government as to au- thority over the militia. He claimed to be a joint judge with the Presi- dent whether the emergency existed which would justify him in making a call. Governor Griswold was no less decided in his views and even more influential. He was a leading Federalist ; when called at the age of thirty-two from a valuable law practice into the national councils, he was pronounced one of the most finished scholars at the seat of govern- ment. He was in Congress ten years, and in 1801 declined the office of Secretary of State. Since 1807 he had been a judge of the Superior Court of Connecticut ; also lieutenant-governor a part of that period. He was
ants was the famous Rev. Dr. Edward Dorr Griffin ; of his sons, John, the father of Governor Matthew Griswold, was a judge of considerable renown ; and George - who married Hannah Lynde - was the revered pastor of the church at East Lyme for thirty-six years. The two grandsons of Rev. George Griswold were the great New York merchants, George Griswold and Nathaniel Lynde Griswold, brothers, who founded a mercantile house in New York City prior to the beginning of the present century, sending their numerous and costly ships all over the world. They were among the most prominent and public-spirited citizens of the growing metropolis -worthy representatives of a race grandly developed, physically and morally as well as intellectually. George Griswold was made a director, in 1812, of the Bank of America, and his name appears among those of the founders and benefactors of scores of humane and other institutions in New York. The Griswolds of New York have intermarried with many of the leading families - the daughter of one of the great merchants married Peter Lorillard ; and another daughter married Hon. Frederick Frelinghuysen of New Jersey. The mother of Robert H. McCurdy, the well-known New York importing merchant, was Ursula Wolcott Griswold, daughter of Judge John Griswold of Old Lyme, the brother of the governor. The children of Governor Roger Griswold were nine : 1. Harry, married in England : 2. Charles, married Ellen, daughter of Judge Elias Perkins of New London ; 3. Frances, married her cousin, Chief Justice Ebenezer Lane of Ohio ; 4. Matthew, mar- ried Phebe Ely, and resided in the mansion built by the governor at Black Hall ; 5. Roger, married Juliette Griswold ; 6. Elizabeth, married the philanthropist, Henry Boalt of Ohio, and among her children were Judge John Henry Boalt of California, and Mrs. J. O. Moss of Sandusky, Ohio ; 7. Mary Anne, married Thomas S. Perkins, son of Judge Elias Perkins ; 8. William, married Sarah Noyes ; 9. Captain Robert, married Helen Powers, of the same family as the celebrated Hiram Powers.
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personally one of the handsomest men of his time, with a bright, keen, flashing black eye; and his gifts and graces in conversation, and elegant manners were the delight of all who knew him. He was justly regarded as one of the first men in the nation for talents, political knowledge, force of eloquence, integrity, and profound legal ability. One of the earliest to propose that the Federalists should concentrate their strength upon the election of De Witt Clinton, in order effectually to defeat the spirit and policy of an administration which it was claimed had been under French influence and dictation for twelve years, Griswold exerted a singular power over the minds of those who naturally rebelled against voting for a Republican candidate. He said the leading object of the war advocates was to perpetuate power in the hands of a narrow Virginia clique, to the exclusion from office and influence of talented men of their own party not connected with that clique. Griswold's death occurred in October in the midst of the stormy scenes attending the re-election of Madison, and few men of America have been more deeply lamented.
New York City was electrified one morning in midsummer with the newspaper announcement of Aaron Burr's presence in the city, and that he was about to resume the practice of law. He had escaped from Eu- rope, returning as he went, with an empty pocket and a borrowed name ; and after concealment until assured that neither government nor creditors would molest him, he had finally nailed a small tin sign over a door in Nassau Street, and commenced business. The times were disjointed, so to speak, and nearly every member of the community was involved in some legal controversy ; hence clients swarmed about the man who never lost a case. During the first twelve days he received for opinions and retaining fees the sum of two thousand dollars. He was politically dead, however, and took no part in trying to prevent the election to the Presi- dency of his triumphant rival, De Witt Clinton. Presently he was bowed down with the sharpest anguish his soul had ever known. A letter came from his son-in-law, Governor Allston, bringing tidings of the death of Theodosia's eleven-year-old son, of whom Burr was passionately fond. The bereaved Theodosia longed to see her father ; and after droop- ing in her home at the South for some months, took passage for New York on the privateer Patriot, sailing from Charleston on the last day but one of December, 1812. Alas ! the vessel was never seen nor heard of more ! For days and weeks and months two grief-stricken men watched, agonized, conjectured, hoped and despaired. But the beautiful Theodosia had per- ished with all on board.
The pride of the war party was severely humbled by repeated failures and disasters, and its strength was fast diminishing under the stinging
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CAPTURE OF THE GUERRIERE.
ridicule of the Federal newspapers, when relief came through a series of unexpected naval achievements. Commodore Isaac Hull, of the frigate Constitution, encountered and chased the "tyrant of our coast," England's " famous Guerriere," one of the best frigates in the British navy, and in a close conflict of one half-hour's duration disabled and captured her. This thrilling event occurred August 19, off the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, just three days after the surrender of Detroit by the uncle of the heroic commodore. Within fifteen minutes after the fire was opened, the Guerriere had lost her miz- zen-mast, her mainyard was in the slings, and her hull, rigging, and sails were torn in pieces - and then her foremast fell, leaving her wallowing in the trough of the sea a help- less wreck. A jack which had been kept flying on the stump of her mizzen- mast was suddenly low- ered. Whereupon, Hull sent his third lieutenant, George Campbell Read, af- terwards rear-admiral, to receive the sword of the captain of the prize. "Com- modore Hull's compli- ments," said the young of- ficer bowing, "and wishes Commodore Isaac Hull. to know if you have struck your flag ?" Captain Dacres, looking up and down, dryly remarked, "Well, I don't know; our mizzen-mast is gone, and upon the whole, you may say we have struck our flag."
Read then inquired if a surgeon or surgeon's mate was needed upon the captive frigate. "I should suppose you had on board your own ship, business enough for all your medical officers," replied Dacres. " Oh, no," said Read, "we have but seven killed and seven wounded." The killed and wounded on the Guerriere numbered seventy-nine ; among the crew were ten impressed American seamen, who, declining to fight, were hu- manely sent below. It was discovered that the injured vessel was in danger of sinking, and as soon as the prisoners and their effects were transferred to the Constitution, the wreck was set on fire and blown up.
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A breakfast-plate of unique design from the decorated dinner service of the Guerriere was preserved by Commodore Hull, and is now in the pos- session of Mrs. Professor Edward E. Salisbury of New Haven.
Six days before the capture of the Guerriere, the Essex under Commo- dore David Porter was attacked by the Alert, a British sloop of twenty guns, and an action of eight minutes terminated in the surrender of the Alert with seven feet of water in her hold. This was the first ship of war taken in the contest. The news reached Boston almost simultane- ously with the return of the Constitution.
The whole country was in a wild tumult of delight. No such successes were supposed possible. For centuries the ocean had been the center of British triumph. Navy after navy had fallen before the disciplined valor of British seamen. The Americans had no confidence in their own little navy, and believed in the absolute omnipotence of that of the enemy. The newspapers teemed with tributes to British glory; indeed, England was credited with every species of superiority, whether physical or moral, which she claimed for herself. The administration at one time seriously contemplated an order for all the war-vessels to remain in New York harbor, and form a part of its defense - as a precautionary movement to secure them from destruction. Two naval officers, Bainbridge and Stewart, were at the seat of government when the subject was under dis- cussion, and remonstrated with such vigor against the narrow scheme that the President convened the Cabinet, which was finally induced to change its policy, " on the ground that our ships would soon be taken, and that the country would thus be rid of the cost of maintaining them, and at more liberty to direct its energies to the army." 1
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