Military history of Wayne County, N.Y. : the County in the Civil War, Part 15

Author: Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.)
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Sodus, NY : Lewis H. Clark, Hulett & Gaylord
Number of Pages: 944


USA > New York > Wayne County > Military history of Wayne County, N.Y. : the County in the Civil War > Part 15


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July 30, 1839-William H. Sisson, Inspector, Lyons. Lath- rop S. Bristol, Hospital Surgeon, Newark. Henry L. Chad- wick, Quartermaster, Newark. Horace H. Morse, Aide-de- Camp, Newark. Richard V. Groat, Aide-de-Camp, Newark.


SEVENTY-FIRST INFANTRY.


June 23, 1838-George Probasco, Ensign, Arcadia. August 30, 1838-Simon V. W. Stout, Major, Lyons. September 22, 1838-Lucas W. Larue, Captain, Lyons. John Layton, Lieutenant, Lyons. John Penoyer, Ensign, Lyons.


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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.


SEVENTY-FIRST INFANTRY.


July 28, 1838-George Carr, Jr., Lieutenant, Lyons. Israel H. Lovejoy, Ensign, Lyons. Simon V. W. Stout, Lieutenant-Colonel, Lyons.


January 5, 1839-Joel H. Prescott, Major, Arcadia.


January 19, 1839-Ira Ford, Captain, Galen. George B. Ferguson, Lieutenant, Galen. Manley Hanchett, Ensign, Galen.


October 28, 1838-Samuel T. W. Sanford, Surgeon, Lyons.


January 13, 1838-Enoch Carl, Captain, Arcadia. David G. Holdridge, Lieutenant, Lyons. Samuel Carl, Ensign, Arcadia.


January 19, 1839 -- Ira Ford, Captain, Galen. George B. Ferguson, Lieutenant, Galen. Manly Hanchett, Ensign, Galen.


Sept. 9, 1839 -- David F. Cole, Adjutant, Lyons.


June 3, 1840-Leonard Newkirk, Captain, Lyons. John


Westfall, Lieutenant, Lyons.


August 8, 1840-Johu Layton, Captain, Lyons. John Penoyer, Lieutenant, Lyons. John N. Dewitt, Ensign, Lyons.


August 7, 1841-Thomas Bourne, Captain, Lyons. Will- iam Soggs, Ensign, Lyons.


November 1, 1841-Sylvanus Bailey, Lieutenant, Lyons.


February 11, 1842-Henry Teachout, Quartermaster, Lyons. Miles N. Rogers, Assistant Surgeon, Lyons.


March 1I, 1842-William J. Nott, Captain, Lyons. Albert Smith, Ensign, Lyons. Samuel Carl, Lieutenant, Arcadia.


June 22, 1842-Jefferson Sparks, Quartermaster, Phelps.


August 11, 1842-Jeremiah E. Niles, Ensign (Artillery,) Newark.


April 28, 1843-Albert Smith, Lieutenant, Lyons. Cor- nelius T. Cuer, Ensign, Lyons.


May 10, 1843-Timothy S. Brink, Lieutenant, Galen. Orrin Beadle, Ensign, Galen.


December 30, 1843 -- Elias Cost, Captain, Galen.


July 22, 1843-John N. Dewitt, First Lieutenant, Lyons, John Vanderbilt, Second Lieutenant, Lyons. William Bur- nett, Ensign, Lyons.


July 15, 1843-John L. Scott, Captain, Arcadia. Jere- miah E. Niles, Lieutenant, Phelps. George Garlock, Ensign, Arcadia.


May 31, 1845-John Vanderbilt, Captain, Lyons. William Burnet, Lieutenant, Lyons.


March II, 1845-Cornelius T. Cuer, Captain, Lyons. Elisha Barton, Ensign, Lyons.


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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.


SEVENTH INFANTRY.


December 17, 1840-William J. Nott, Lieutenant, Lyons.


FIFTH HORSE ARTILLERY.


August 1, 1839-Allen W. Horton, Paymaster, Palmyra. Sept. 22, 1839 -- Ansel A. Cornwell, Cornet, Pultneyville.


May 23, 1840-Henry H. Tabor, Captain, Palmyra. Gil- bert Howell, First Lieutenant, Palmyra. Franklin Lakey, Second Lieutenant, Palmyra. Daniel Wells, Cornet, Man- chester.


June 1, 1840-Abram Hagerman, Adjutant, Palmyra. Charles H. Thompson, Quartermaster, Palmyra.


May 2, 1840-Nathan W. Thomas, Captain, Rose. David Brinkerhoff, First Lieutenant, Wolcott. Samuel DeWitt, Second Lieutenant, Wolcott. David I. Lester, Cornet, Wolcott.


October 1, 1840- Henry I. Mesick, Surgeon's Mate, Newark. James P. VanDusen, Surgeon, Newark.


NINETEENTH ARTILLERY.


May 5, 1840-Allen Robinson, Captain, Arcadia. John L. Lott, First Lieutenant, Newark.


TWENTY-SECOND DIVISION OF INFANTRY.


January 8, 1838-William H. Hecox, Judge Advocate, Lyons. William M. Myers, Quartermaster, Palmyra.


TWENTY-FOURTH BRIGADE OF INFANTRY.


August 17, 1839-Lyman Sanford, Brigadier-General, Marion.


Sept. 17, 1839-Samuel W. Wilson, Hospital Surgeon, Palmyra.


July 13, 1838-Samuel B. Randall, Brigade Inspector, Palmyra.


July 30,1838-Nathan Hall, Paymaster, Palmyra. Lester O. Godard, Quartermaster, Macedon.


THIRTY-NINTH INFANTRY.


Nov. 2, 1839-Lyman Reeves, Colonel.


February 1, 1840-Thomas F. Wilbur, Captain, Walworth. Nathan Palmer, Jr., Lieutenant, Walworth. Anson F. Boyn- ton, Ensign, Walworth. Silas H. Culver, Captain, Arcadia. Volney Brown, Lieutenant, Palmyra. Luther Sanford, 2d, Ensign, Palmyra.


April 16, 1840-John A. Whitbeck, Captain, Fairville. Caleb A. Robinson, Lieutenant, Fairville. James H. Roys, Ensign, Fairville.


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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNI Y.


THIRTY-NINTH INFANTRY.


May 2, 1840-William Foster, Captain, Palmyra. Erastus Hazen, Lieutenant, Palmyra.


July 8, 1840-Roland S. Lewis, Surgeon, Arcadia. Fred- erick D. Rogers, Adjutant, Macedon. Pliny C. Hudson, Quartermaster, Palmyra. Thomas Burbank, Surgeon's Mate, Palmyra.


August 15, 1840- George C. Hogeboom, Lieutenant, Marion.


August 25, 1840-John D. McComb, Captain, Palmyra. Asa T. Chase, Lieutenant, Manchester. John C. Russell, Ensign, Palmyra.


August 26, 1840-Ira H. Eddy, Ensign, Macedon.


October 3, 1840-Henry Post, Captain, Port Gibson. William P. Johnson, Lieutenant, Palmyra. William R. Johnson, Ensign, Palmyra.


June 10, 1841-Nathan Palmer, Jr., Captain, Walworth. Anson F. Boynton, Lieutenant, Walworth. Ormond O. Mason, Ensign, Walworth.


July 12, 1841-Chauncey Cummings, Captain, Palmyra. Asa T. Chase, First Lieutenant, Palmyra. John C. Russell, Second Lieutenant, Palmyra.


January 19, 1842-Abel T. Blackmar, Captain, Newark. Demosthenes Smith, Ensign, Newark.


January 22, 1842-George C. Hogeboom, Captain, Lyons. William Vandusen, Lieutenant, Marion. David M. Eddy, Ensign, Marion.


May 26, 1842-George Cook, Captain, Macedon. Ezekiel Barnhardt, Lieutenant, Macedon.


June 6, 1842-John R. Cummings, Quartermaster, Pal- myra. Isaac Hudson, Paymaster, Palmyra. Benjamin Throop, Assistant Surgeon, Palmyra.


June 25, 1842-Luther Sanford, Jr., Captain, East Pal- myra. Marshall Sherman, Lieutenant, East Palmyra. Elisha W. Hudson, Ensign East Palmyra.


June 25, 1842-Erastus Hazen, Captain, Palmyra. Hiram M. Higby, Lieutenant, Palmyra.


August 29, 1842-Samuel S. Barker, Quartermaster, Palmyra.


July 5, 1843-Anson F. Boynton, Captain, Walworth. Ormond O. Mason, Lieutenant, Walworth. James M. Upton, Ensign, Walworth.


July 15, 1843-William VanDuzen, Captain, Marion. Alfred W. Skinner, Lieutenant, Marion. Charles Reed, Ensign, Marion.


July 15, 1843-Demosthenes Smith, Captain, Arcadia. Erastus Dickinson, Ensign, Arcadia.


13


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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.


THIRTY-NINTH INFANTRY.


June 28, 1843-Isaac G. Hudson, Quartermaster, Palmyra. Jeremiah Hilmer, Paymaster, Newark.


August 12, 1843-Hiram Schult, Lieutenant, Palmyra.


September 1, 1843-Jacob P. Stupplebean, Ensign, Pal- myra.


April 20, 1844 -- Marshall B. Sherwin, Captain, Palmyra. Elisha N. Hudson, Lieutenant, Palmyra. Allen T. Gold- smith, Ensign, Palmyra.


ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SIXTH INFANTRY.


August 22, 1840-Henry Van Auken, Captain, Savannah.


June 12, 1841-Cornelius Jeffers, Lieutenant, Rose. Riley Abiner, Ensign, Rose.


September 6, 1841-Thomas Johnson, Lieutenant, Butler. Abram Gibbs, Ensign, Butler.


December 4, 1841-Daniel Van Auken, Lieutenant, Savan- nah.


June 6, 1842-Ashbel Burnham, Paymaster, Savannah.


July 23, 1842-Edward Sears, Captain, Wolcott.


September 3, 1842-Oliver Stratton, Captain, Clyde. Alex- ander Harper, Lieutenant, Clyde. William Becker, Ensign, Clyde. Royal Matthews, Captain, Butler. Clark West- cott, Lieutenant, Butler. Allen Armstrong, Ensign, Butler.


September 5, 1842-Oliver Locke, Captain, Rose. Theo- dore McWharf, Ensign, Rose. John J. Dickson, Surgeon, Rose.


May 12, 1843-George P. Smith, Adjutant, Clyde.


March 3, 1845-David Howe, Lieutenant, Savannah.


TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY-SECOND INFANTRY.


June 3, 1840-Joseph Middleton, Captain, Ontario. Sam- uel W. Hodges, Ensign, Ontario.


June 20, 1840-Remington Kinyon, Lieutenant, William- son. Barnabas B. Adams, Ensign, Williamson.


July 18, 1840-Samuel W. Hodges, Lieutenant, Ontario. John Millet, Ensign, Ontario.


July 22, 1840-Seth H. Tillottson, Adjutant, Sodus. An- drew Holling, Paymaster, Williamson.


August 8, 1840-Egbert Brant, First Lieutenant, Sodus.


February 6, 1841-Uriah Lamoree, Lieutenant, Alton. Alfred Collier, Ensign, Alton.


June 22, 1841-Sanford P. Moody, Adjutant, Williamson. Andrew Holling, Quartermaster, Williamson. William Fowler, Paymaster, Alton. Levi McCarty, Captain, Sodus. Absalom Taylor, Lieutenant, Sodus. William H. Nichols, Ensign, Sodus.


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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.


TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY-SECOND INFANTRY.


July 3, 1841-Allan D. Chappell, Captain, Williamson.


September 4, 1841-Stephen Miller, Ensign, Sodus.


September 4, 1841-Joseph C. Young, Captain, Sodus. Eli H. Hopkins, Lieutenant, Sodus.


May 21, 1842-William Tillotson, Captain, Sodus. George L. Tinklepaugh, Lieutenant, Sodus.


June 18, 1842-William Fowler, Adjutant, Sodus. Aldice P. Warren, Paymaster, Sodus.


July 16, 1842-John M. Dilling, Captain, Sodus. Adam Tinklepaugh, 2d, Lieutenant, Sodus.


September 2, 1843-David Bloomer, Ensign, South Sodus.


ยท April 20, 1844-Daniel Bloomer, Captain, Sodus. Myron Alden, Ensign, Sodus.


September 2, 1843-Abijah White, Lieutenant, Will- iamson.


Aug. 17, 1844-Orville Chittenden, Ensign, Sodus.


September 3, 1844-Seymour Covell, Lieutenant, Huron.


August 20, 1845-John Hise, Adjutant, Sodus Point. B. B. Emerson, Surgeon, Williamson. Jacob Vinother, Cap- tain, Williamson. Egbert Brant, Quartermaster, Sodus.


Subsequent to the general mustering-out of all the old Militia organizations, about 1845-'46, there were practically no military bodies in existence in Wayne county for a few years.


For a time Wayne county was known on the books at Albany, as belonging to the Fifty-Sixth Regiment of the Twenty-Sixth Brigade, Seventh Division, and there is the following record of officers :


William H. Sisson, Colonel, rank dating July 8, 1853 ; John Knowles, Jr., Major, rank dating September 10, 1853; Wm. W. Wormwood, Captain, rank dating August 31, 1854; Nel- son R. Merrick, First Lieutenant, rank dating August 31, 1854; Charles E. Marshall, Second Lieutenant, rank dating August 31, 1854; Luther Sanford, Lieutenant-Colonel, rank dating July 14, 1854.


The Lyons Light Guard, and also Company E, of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment at Palmyra, will be mentioned else- where in connection with the opening of the civil war.


We have little space to dwell upon the old-fashinoned general trainings. They were a grand attraction in the earlier days, and large crowds were always on hand.


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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.


The refreshment stands were noted for gingerbread. It seems to have been abolished with the trainings themselves ; nobody appears to make any such gingerbread at the pres- ent time. The writer recalls the last general training in northern Wayne, held at Sodus village, in the fall of 1845. It was an unique affair -- the corps-du-esprit was all gone. Nevertheless, the line was formed, and " we" trained in a field where Mr. Shaver's present residence stands, or a little farther north.


Some of the officers were in uniform, others not. Towards night the line marched back to main street, and was drawn up for dismissal. Lieutenant-Colonel Charles P. Moody, in "glittering uniform," mounted upon his " gaily caparisoned " steed, thanked them for their "gentlemanly conduct and soldier-like appearance upon the field of parade." Thus ended the old militia system.


We give the annual notice of the year 1844.


By a copy of Brigade orders, dated July 8, 1844, the fol- lowing drills and general trainings were ordered for this county :


The officers, commissioned and non-commissioned, with the musicians of the Two Hundred and Forty-Second Regi- ment, were required to meet under command of Colonel E. W. Sentell, at Williamson Corners, at the house of Mr. Nichols, on Monday and Tuesday, the 19th and 20th days of August next.


Those of the Thirty-Ninth Regiment, commanded by Colonel Nathan Palmer, at Palmyra, on Monday and Tues- day, August 26th and 27th.


General trainings were ordered as follows :


Of the Seventy-First Regiment, Lieutenant -Colonel Edwin Warner, at the house of John Borradaile, in Lyons, on Tuesday, September 17th.


Of the Two Hundred and Forty-Second, Colonel Edward W. Sentell, at Sodus, on Wednesday, September 18th.


Of the Thirty-Ninth, Colonel Nathan Palmer, Jr., at Pal- myra, on Thursday, September 19th.


CHAPTER VIII.


WAR OF 1812-'15-THE BRITISH FLEET AT SODUS POINT -BOMBARDMENT OF PULTNEYVILLE -AFFIDAVITS OF EARLY CITIZENS-EYE - WITNESSES OF THESE EVENTS -LISTS OF SOLDIERS FROM THIS COUNTY -VOLUNTEERS - MILITIA COMPANIES.


A T the opening of the " last war with England," the settlement of western New York generally, and of the territory now constituting Wayne county, had pro- gressed to a considerable extent. The assessment-roll of Sodus, for 1811, the year before the war, contained about one hundred and fifty resident tax-payers, and the town had then been reduced to its present dimensions, except that it included the narrow strip on the west, which was subse- quently set off to Williamson.


The population was, therefore, nearly one-sixth of that at the present time ; and that was doubtless about the average for the other towns of the county, as compared with the present time .*


Militia regiments existed in this section of the State, as is fully shown in the previous chapter devoted especially to those organizations. The Seventy-first regiment of infantry was commanded by Colonel Philetus Swift. The Thirty- ninth was under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Gil- bert Howell. Major William Rogers commanded a battal- ion, and the companies of which it was composed were enrolled principally in Marion, Williamson, Ontario and Sodus.


There were also militia organizations in the county of Seneca, which included what is now the territory of the six eastern towns of Wayne county. The officers of these vari- ous organizations are very fully given in the previous chapter.


* In the Ontario Messenger, of 1814, we find the following memorandum : " Population of Sodus, 965 ; of Williamson, 1.560 ; Palmyra, 2,995 ; Ontario, 1,391; Lyons, 2,102.


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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.


The causes which led to the war can only be given a brief mention in this local work. In consequence of the protracted wars between England and France the commerce of the United States suffered severely. France declared the Eng- lish ports in a state of blockade, and thus rendered liable to capture every American vessel attempting to enter those ports or sailing for them. England declared French ports in a state of blockade and thus rendered equally liable to capture every American vessel destined to those ports. Between these two sets of hostile orders American commerce was destroyed. These orders constituted what is known among writers upon international law as a "paper blockade." A true blockade must be maintained by an adequate naval force stationed in front of or cruising near the blockaded harbor. Yet this blockade by " orders " was made so effect- ual against American merchant vessels that English cruisers had actually seized and condemned nine hundred American vessels during the ten years preceding the declaration of war. Bonaparte repealed this French decree, but Great Britain even then refused to rescind her orders though her government had previously expressed a willingness to do so whenever France should repeal her decree.


But England also claimed the right to stop any American vessel on the ocean, and send an armed force aboard under pretense of searching for deserters from her service. This power if it rightfully existed at all towards the vessels of a neutral nation during a state of war, was yet one so arbitrary and oppressive that no free people could patiently submit to it. This power was exercised in so haughty and insolent a man- ner that the grievances were greatly aggravated. Not sat. isfied with seizing actual deserters, which they seldom found, Americans were often forcibly taken from the decks of their own vessels and impressed into the British service. If this was a state of peace, certainly war could not be much worse. Meanwhile the Indian wars in Ohio and the West were believed to be promoted by British influence. Settlers were ruthlessly murdered and the horrors that accompany a savage war rendered desolate many homes and settlements. Even before war was declared the insolence of British


191


MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.


demands was met in a becoming spirit by at least one Amer- ican vessel. Hale's history relates the incident.


Commodore Rogers sailing in the frigate President, met in the evening a vessel on the coast of Virginia. He hailed but instead of receiving an answer he was hailed in return, and a shot struck the mainmast of the President. The fire was instantly returned by the Commodore and continued for a few minutes, when finding that his antagonist was of inferior force, and that her guns were almost silenced, he desisted.


On hailing again, the British Commander had found his voice and replied that his ship was the British sloop of war " Little Belt," of eighteen guns; that thirty-two of her men were killed or wounded and the ship greatly disabled. In the darkness the British Commander had mistaken a frigate for an unarmed merchant vessel.


In view of all these grievances, for which no redress could be obtained, there seemed to be no remedy but war; and Congress passed an act "declaring war to exist between the United States and Great Britain" on the 17th day of June, 1812. On the 19th the President issued a Proclamation form- ally declaring war against Great Britain.


That this state of war would seriously affect Western New York and all the country bordering the Great Lakes was evident from the first. These counties were in an exposed condition. To defend the smaller places there were no for- tifications, and few or no troops from the regular army could be spared to occupy such points.


Lake Ontario was largely surrounded then as now by British territory. At various ports the British had conven- iences for fitting out war vessels and safe harbors to which in case of pursuit they could retreat and be protected under the guns of strong forts. England with her system of stand- ing armies had veteran troops with which to garrison these forts, while the United States were compelled to rely largely upon the militia or upon volunteers. In the summer of 1812 the British had a naval force upon Lake Ontario consisting of six vessels and mounting more than a hundred guns. Commodore Chauncey, in the fall of that year, equipped a small fleet in opposition. He had six vessels mounting only


-


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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.


thirty guns, a force hardly fit to dispute the supremacy of the Lake with the British Commander. Yet Chauncey attacked the English squadron near Kingston early in November, damaged them considerably, captured one schooner and took it into Sackett's Harbor. He afterwards captured another British vessel, having on board $12,000 of specie and General Brocks private baggage.


It may be well to notice here that the war of 1812 was not an unexpected outbreak. The following orders show that there was an anticipation of hostilities as early as 1809 :


THE ALARM OF 1809.


" STATE OF NEW YORK -GENERAL ORDERS.


HEADQUARTERS, ALBANY, 17th of April, 1809.


" In pursuance of orders from the President of the United States, bearing date on the Second day of November last and in conformity with general orders of the 15th day of the same month and year, such companies of the militia of the State as have volunteered their services under the act of Congress passed the 24th day of February 1809, entitled ' An act authorizing the President of the United States to accept the service of a number of volunteer companies not exceeding 30,000 men,' are hereby organized into one Brig- ade to be commanded by Brigadier-General Dering, and will consist of one regiment of Infantry, one regiment of Riflemen, one battalion of Artillery, and one squadron of Cavalry, to be officered in the following manner :


Among the appointments made there were the following : Peter B. Porter of the County of Ontario, Lieutenant- Colonel in command of the regiment of Infantry.


One of the companies of Infantry was in the County of Cayuga, John Knittles, Captain; Israel Ozman, Lieutenant and Isaac Ozmon, Ensign.


One of the companies in the regiment of Riflemen was in the County of Cayuga. Abraham Bloom, Captain. Luther Gere, Lieutenant and Arnold Rogers, Ensign.


Another of the companies in the regiment of Riflemen was in the County of Seneca. William Ireland, Captain. John Alexander Lieutenant and Joseph S. Barnard, Ensign.


In the Battalion of Artillery, Tompkins C. Delevan of the County of Seneca, was appointed Surgeon.


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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.


" The officers hereby appointed are to hold themselves in readiness to take the field.


" The Commander-in-Chief avails himself of this opportu- nity to repeat to the officers, non-commissioned officers and privates of the corps hereby organized, an assurance of his high estimation of their laudable and patriotic tender of services, and his entire confidence that by their discipline, intelligence and bravery, they will support the reputation and honor of the State of New York.


By order of the Commander-in-Chief, DANIEL D. TOMPKINS. " WM. PAULDING, Adjutant General."


ACTUAL WAR 1812-1815.


From a periodical published during the struggle in New York entitled " The War," the following items are taken as showing the general state of matters upon Lake Ontario soon after the declaration of war.


Under date of July 11, 1812, we find the following :


" The British have taken a vessel on Lake Ontario laden with produce owned by Mr. Abraham Dox of Geneva.


" They have also captured another vessel on Lake Erie belonging principally to Mr. Peter H. Colt, who was on board.


" A PRIZE .- The Ontario, a fine new schooner was taken by Captain Tarrar, Deputy Collector, and brought into the port of St. Vincent last week."


The Governor of Canada, under date of June 20, two days after the declaration of war, issued a proclamation warning all American citizens to depart from Canada within 14 days.


Under date of July 5, 1812, we find the following :


" At Ogdensburgh, eleven batteaux with arms and ammuni- tion belonging to the British were captured on the St. Law- rence by the inhabitants of the contiguous country."


Under date of July 25, 1812 :


" The British naval force on Lake Ontario is said to con- sist of the Royal George, carrying 22 guns, Earl of Moira carrying 16 guns, Prince Regent carrying 14 guns, and Duke of Gloucester carrying 8 guns and several smaller vessels."


At this time Congress had resolved to call out one hun- dred thousand men, and the quota of the State of New York was thirteen thousand.


Under date of August 8, 1812, there are the following paragraphs :


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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.


" A few days since the inhabitants of Geneva, collected by subscription, about one hundred and thirty dollars, for the purchase of camp equipage for a company of volunteers, which had been raised in that village, and marched to the lines under command of Captain A. Dox.


" The County of Onondaga filled its quota, without a draft, and two companies of riflemen, under Captains Kel- logg and Briston, marched to Oswego."


July 19, 1812-The British attacked Sacketts Harbor ; their Lake Ontario fleet being before that port in force. The place was defended by the troops stationed there, and by the surrounding people, who turned out to the number of three thousand. The British were repulsed.


Colonel Philetus Swift's regiment was on the frontier, at Lewiston, during the fall of 1812.


The battle of Queenstown occurred October 13, 1812.


Under date of November 29, 1812, we find the following:


" There was launched at Sackett's Harbor, an American ship of war, to be called the Madison, and having the follow- ing dimensions : 112 feet keel, 332 feet beam, 112 feet hold ; 580 tons burden, and intended to mount twenty-four guns."


In January, 1813, the British were engaged in building two ships of war at Kingston. They had drawn three hundred carpenters from the lower province to work upon them.


February 23, 1813, the British captured Ogdensburgh.


April 28, 1813, Commodore Chauncey, with the American squadron effected a brilliant achievement in the capture of Little York, Canada.


May 8, 1813, Sir Jamas Lucas Yeo reached Montreal with four hundred and fifty able bodied seamen, to take com- mand of the British fleet on Lake Ontario.


The military movements for the defence of the lake and frontier, commenced early in April, 1812, although the dec- laration of war did not occur until the 19th of June. We give a few orders from the records in the Adjutant-General's office.


April 2, 1812, in an order calling out troops for defence of Oswego and Niagara, there is found the following para- graph :


" Major General Hall will forthwith detach from the Seventh Division of Infantry under his command, six hun-


195


MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.


dred men, including officers, and will organize them into eight companies, and assign captains and subalterns to com- mand the companies.


" The detachment from his Division will be directed to rendezvous in such parcels and at such places as he shall designate and will from thence proceed to the Post of Niagara.




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