USA > New York > Erie County > Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1) > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102
In less than ten minutes I had the prisoners all seized, the topsails were sheeted home, and the vessels under way.
The wind being too light to enable the vessels to stem the rapid cur- rent and get out of reach of the guns of Fort Erie, the Detroit came to anchor and for a time kept up a lively artillery duel with the fort; but after the failure of various efforts to remove her from the fire of the enemy, Elliott, seeing that her destruction was probable, cut his cable and set her adrift; she grounded on the west side of Squaw Island, where, after the removal of the prisoners, she was boarded by a party of British from Fort Erie, who, in turn, were driven off by a few citizen soldiers of Buffalo, with the aid of a six-pounder and a few charges of canister shot. All day the contending parties fought over the prize, and finally on the approach of Sir Isaac Brock with the Lady Prevost and a strong crew, she was set on fire by a party of United States infantry and burned. The Caledonia was saved and after- wards did service under Perry on Lake Erie; she proved a rich prize, as her cargo was valued at $200,000 Elliott in his report specially com- mended for gallantry in this affair not only the officers under him, but
Digitized by Google
200
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Captain Chapin and Messrs. John Macomb, John Town, Thomas Dain, Peter Overstocks and James Sloan, citizens of Buffalo.
The first shot fired from the British batteries killed Maj. William Howe Cuyler, of Palmyra, who was on General Hall's staff, as he was riding along the river road in the early morning. This was the first death caused by the war within the limits of the present Erie county. Some of the British cannon balls passed through buildings in Black Rock and Mrs. Benjamin Bidwell' relates that herself and husband were driven from their own house that morning and started for her sister's residence to seek shelter in her cellar. While on their way a cannon ball passed so near them that the rush of the air prostrated a little girl they were leading. They then fled to the woods where they found other families. While Mrs. Bidwell was cooking a late break- fast in the forest, another cannon ball struck the fire and scattered the food in all directions. They now determined to get out of range of the British force and made their way to Cold Spring.
Elliott's daring move had an exhilarating effect throughout the States, and a correspondingly depressing one upon the British, Sir Isaac Brock expressing himself concerning it as follows:
The event is particularly unfortunate, and may reduce us to incalculable distress. The enemy is making every exertion to gain a naval superiority on both lakes, which, if they accomplish it, I do not see how we can possibly retain the country .:
In connection with the history of this event the Gazette of October 20 had the following :
On Monday of last week the British came over to Squaw Island and captured two American boats, one of which was loaded with cannon balls. On the same day while a boat was passing down the river from Black Rock to Schlosser, loaded with flour and whisky, the British opened their batteries upon the boat and fired upwards of thirty rounds of grape shot at her while passing from Squaw Island to the head of Grand Island, most of which struck the sails or some part of the boat. There were about thirty men on board the boat, and only one was wounded. This was Thomas Morgan. . On Tuesday last the British batteries below Fort Erie opened a very heavy fire upon the fortifications and village of Black Rock. . But few shots were returned from our batteries, having there no larger cali bre than field-sixes at the breastworks. Two shots, in the morning, pierced the house of Orange Dean, which did little damage besides bilging a barrel of old Pitts- burgh whisky in Dean's cellar, belonging to Peter H. Colt. Several cannon shot struck the battery, and two or three passed through the upper loft of the west bar- racks. A bomb thrown from a twenty-four pounder struck the east barracks and
1 Mrs. Bidwell's reminiscences in archives of the Buffalo Historical Society.
" Letter of. General Brock to Sir George Prevost, October 11, 1812.
Digitized by Google
201
WAR OF 1812.
destroyed them; it entered and burst near a cask of powder which blew up. Sev- eral stands of arms, two boxes of fixed ammunition, and some property of the sol- diers was destroyed; a quantity of skins, a part of the cargo of the Caledonia, were much injured. The event caused much shouting among the British. Several shots passed through Sills's store. A twenty four pounder struck the upper loft of the stone house of Gen. Porter, while the General and his friends were at dinner. . . Another ball passed through the roof. Several other houses were injured.
After bearing with the insolent and dictatorial conduct of General Smyth until the impatience of the troops gave signs of mutiny, Gen- eral Van Rensselaer, on the 10th of October, 1812, prepared to attack the enemy at Queenston. His force consisted of about 3, 650 regulars and 2,650 militia, divided between Niagara, Lewiston and Black Rock, while that of the enemy was in the neighborhood of 1,500, besides 250 Indians under John Brant. The British force was well disposed, and batteries were in position at every available point; on the heights south of Queenston were planted guns which commanded the landings at both Queenston and Lewiston. Col. Solomon Van Rensselaer was in command of the invading force, which, it was planned, was to make the assault on Queenston at three o'clock on the morning of the 11th of October. By midnight thirteen boats were in readiness to transport the attacking force, boatmen accustomed to the eddies and current of the river having been procured and placed under command of Lieu- tenant Sims. At the hour appointed the troops assembled at the place of embarkation under the lead of Van Rensselaer. Lieutenant Sims boarded the first boat and immediately rowed away in the darkness, preventing the other boats from starting, as all the oars for the expe- dition were stored in his boat. It was supposed that he would imme- diately discover this fact and return; on the contrary, he passed a long distance beyond the point selected for crossing, landed and fled from the scene at his utmost speed-a traitor or a coward. Of course this unexplainable action of Sims caused the abandonment of Van Rensse- laer's plans for the time being, but it so incensed the troops that they would hear of no delay and demanded to be led across the river. Van Rensselaer was cheered by the arrival of 350 regulars, and renewed his preparations for the attack.
At three o'clock on the morning of the 13th of October, the crossing of the river was effected, and the heights were stormed by the regulars under Capt. John E. Wool. Pushing gallantly up the hill he drove the British back to the plateau on which the village stands and finally gained possession of Queenston Heights. Col. Solomon Van Rensse-
26
Digitized by Google
202
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
laer followed with his command, but was soon so severely wounded that he was forced to return to Lewiston. In the mean time Wool received a bullet through the flesh of both his thighs, but he refused to give up his command until the arrival of his senior, Lieutenant-Colonel Chrys- tie, about 9 o'clock. When the firing began, Gen. Sir Isaac Brock was at Fort George, seven miles down the river. Accompanied by his staff he hastened to the battlefield, passed up the Heights to a redan battery, where they dismounted, when Wool and his men suddenly came upon them. Brock fled and the American flag soon waved over the battery. Brock now placed himself at the head of a body of troops to drive Wool from the Heights, and the Americans were pressed back by the superior force to the verge of the precipice which rises 200 feet above the river. At this critical moment, inspired by Wool's cheering words and per- sonal heroism, they turned with fury upon the British, who broke and fled down the hill. There they were rallied by Brock and were about to march on the reascent, when their commander was mortally wounded. Wool was now left in command of the Heights until the arrival of Gen. William Wadsworth, of the New York militia, who took command. General Roger Hale Sheaffe succeeded Brock and again rallied the British troops. Lieut .. Col. Scott had crossed the river and joined the Americans on the Heights as a volunteer, and at Wadsworth's request assumed active command. Success had thus far attended the Ameri. cans. Early in the afternoon a band of Indians led by John Brant (son of the great chief) fell upon the American pickets with savage fury. The militia turned to flee, when they were checked by the trumpet-tones and towering form of Scott. The whole body (about 600) under him heroically attacked the Indians and drove them into the forest.
General Van Rensselaer, who had crossed from Lewiston, now hast- ened back to forward militia reinforcements. Of the 1,000 (approxi- mately) who had crossed in the morning, only comparatively few had engaged in the battle; the others now refused to go, their puerile reason being that they were not compelled to leave the soil of their own country. They remained idle at Lewiston while their comrades were being slaughtered. In the mean time overwhelming numbers under General Sheaffe were thrown against the Americans and they were compelled to surrender. The loss of the Americans in killed and wounded was about 190, and 900 were made prisoners. The latter were marched to Newark. The militia, officers and privates, were there paroled and
Digitized by Google
.
203
WAR OF 1812.
sent across the river, but the regulars taken were detained for exchange, sent to Quebec and thence to Boston. The loss of the British in killed, wounded and prisoners was about 130.
Colonel Van Rensselaer was taken to Landon's Hotel in Buffalo, after receiving his wound, where he remained four weeks before he was able to proceed to Albany. He was honored on his departure by a salute from the " Chapin's Independent Buffalo Matross," which must have been an artillery company organized by the zealous Dr. Cyrenius Chapin.
Disgusted by the conduct of the militia and the petty jealousies of some of the regular officers, General Van Rensselaer resigned his com- mand on the frontier to the noisy General Smyth, who soon began the issue of a most remarkable series of proclamations and military orders that were characteristic of the man. The first one appeared November 12, dated "Camp near Buffalo," wherein he said :
One army has been disgracefully surrendered and lost. . In a few days the troops under my command will plant the American standard in Canada. They are men accustomed to obedience, silence and steadiness. They will conquer or they will die. Will you stand with your arms folded and look on this interesting struggle? . . Must I turn from you and ask men of the Six Nations to support the gov- ernment of the United States? Shall I imitate the officers of the British King, and suffer our ungathered laurels to be tarnished by ruthless deeds? Shame, where is thy blush? No. Where I command, the vanquished and the peaceful man, the child, the maid, and the matron, shall be secure from wrong. The present is the hour for renown. 1
Smyth immediately began the concentration of troops at Buffalo for the invasion of Canada. Boats were collected for transporting infantry and scows built for the artillery.' Nearly 1,000 regulars assembled
1 In another proclamation he said : "Companions in arms! the time is at hand when you will cross the stream of Niagara to conquer Canada, and to secure the peace of the American fron- tier. You will enter a country that is to be one of the United States. .
. Whatever is booty by the usages of war shall be yours." He offered two hundred dollars apiece for horses for artillery that might be captured. He then boasted of the superiority of the American soldier and weapons, and unnecessarily offended the Federalists, many of whom were in the ranks, by saying to the volunteers, " Disloyal and traitorous men have endeavored to dissuade you from doing your duty." In his address to "The Army of the Centre," as he called the little force under his command, he said : "Soldiers of every corps, it is in your power to retrieve the honor of your country and to cover yourselves with glory. Every man who performs a gallant action shall have his name made known to the nation. Rewards and honors await the brave, infamy and contempt are reserved for cowards. Companions in arms, you come to vanquish a valiant foe. I know the choice you will make. Come on, my heroes, and when you attack the enemy's batteries, let your rallying word be, 'The cannon lost at Detroit, or death.'" -Lossing's Field Book of the War of 1812, p. 411.
" Seventy public boats, capable of carrying forty men each ; five large private boats, in which
Digitized by Google
.
204
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
under Col. Moses Porter, Col. William H. Winder, Lieutenant-Colonel Boerstler, and other officers. A little later a brigade of militia, nearly 2,000 strong, arrived from Pennsylvania, and 300 or 400 New York volunteers reported, including the "Silver Greys" before mentioned. The latter were placed under command of Peter B. Porter, who was about that time appointed quartermaster-general of the State militia; he was thereafter known as General Porter. Under him was Colonel Swift, of Ontario county.
While these preparations were in progress the British began a vigor- ous cannonade upon Fort Niagara on November 21, from breastworks in front of Newark. From those batteries 2, 000 red-hot shot and many bomb shells were poured upon the American works. Some of the fort buildings were set on fire and were saved with difficulty. The fort was gallantly defended by the garrison, supported by what was called the "Salt Battery," a little south of the fort and in range of the British Fort George. The cannonade ceased with nightfall.
As early as November 25 General Smyth issued orders for "the whole army to be ready to march at a moment's warning," and followed with minute details for the formation of the troops after they reached the Canada shore. Everything was in readiness for the invasion on the 27th, and on that evening the wordy general issued his final instruc- tions for the movement of the next day. There were then assembled at Black Rock more than 4,000 men, most of whom could be expected to join in the invasion.
The first detachment from Winder's regiment under Lieutenant- Colonel Boerstler, was to cross at 3 A. M. and destroy a bridge five miles below Fort Erie, capture the guard and return with them to the Amer- ican shore, or, in his discretion, follow up the Canadian side to aid Captain King; the latter was to cross and storm the British batteries which had been placed at vulnerable points opposite Black Rock, and was accompanied by Lieut. Samuel Angus, of the navy, and fifty or sixty seamen. Colonel Winder was held on the American side, " to give di- rections," as Smyth's order said.
Having learned all that was desirable of the American operations thus far, through Smyth's useless manifestos, the British had ample opportunity to strengthen their position. The Americans landed on
one hundred men each could be borne ; and ten scows for artillery, with many small boats, were pressed into the service, so that three thousand troops, the whole number to be employed in the invasion, might cross at once .-- Lossing's Field Book of the War of 1812, p. 428.
Digitized by Google
- -
205
WAR OF 1812.
Canadian soil at 3 A. M., and Angus with his sailors and a few soldiers gallantly dispersed a body of the enemy at the "Red House," spiked two field pieces and threw them into the river. Nine of the twelve naval officers engaged and twenty-two men were killed or wounded in this operation. The sailors and a part of the soldiers, with the pris- oners, recrossed the river, but by some unfortunate mistake no boats were left for Captain King, who, with sixty men, remained on the other side. This little band now attacked and captured two batteries, spiked the guns and took thirty four prisoners. Two boats were then discovered, into which King placed his prisoners and thirty of his men and sent them across the river, bravely staying behind with the small remainder of his force. At about this juncture Colonel Winder, be- lieving that Boerstler was cut off, crossed the river with 250 men for his relief. Arriving at the Canadian shore he was immediately at- tacked by a superior force and compelled to return, after losing six killed and nineteen wounded. Boerstler's force returned later with- out loss.
Preparations for the general embarkation began in the morning and straggled slowly on during the forenoon. About 1 o'clock a force of nearly 2,000 regulars, twelve-months volunteers and some militia were waiting in the boats at the little navy yard at the mouth of the Scaj- aquada Creek. Smyth's reports of his operations were as astonishing as his proclamations. At this time he wrote: "The troops moved up the stream to Black Rock without loss." There he ordered them " to disembark and dine." The whole force, officers and troops, were by this time thoroughly disgusted. Smyth now held a council upon the situation, the decision of which was to postpone the invasion a day or two until more boats could be made ready. A part of his officers favored this course. In the mean time Captain King and his little band were left to their fate and were, of course, captured.
After a day spent in further preparations everything appeared to be in readiness for embarkation on the morning of the 31st. Meanwhile the vigilant enemy had replaced his batteries and stationed infantry and artillery below on the river bank, where the current is rapid. General Porter was averse to making an attempt to land there, and advised postponing the crossing until the succeeding night, when the movement could be made in the darkness just preceding daylight, the enemy passed without his knowledge, and a landing made five miles down the river, where the current and the banks were favorable.
Digitized by Google
1
206
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Colonel Winder favored this course and Smyth adopted it with the in- tention of attacking Chippewa, and if successful, marching on through Queenston to Fort George.
Again embarkation began at 3 A. M. of Tuesday, December 1, and 1,500 men entered the boats. General Porter was to lead and direct the landing and was accompanied in the foremost boat by Majors Chapin and McComb, Captain Mills, Adjutant Chase, Quartermaster Chaplin and about twenty-five Buffalo volunteers under Lieutenant Haynes. The embarkation progressed slowly and by the time the flotilla was ready to move daylight appeared. Now took place another astonishing military incident. Smyth called to his side four regular officers and after consultation it was decided to not make the in- vasion that season. The troops were ordered ashore, the militia and many of the volunteers went home and the regulars into their winter quarters.
A cry of indignation and disappointment went up on all sides. The volunteers begged of the commander that he would permit General Porter to lead them into Canada, promising the speedy capture of Fort Erie; but Smyth evaded the request. So great was the feeling against him that for some time his person was in danger, and he was more than once fired at when he left his tent. General Porter openly up. braided him with cowardice and a quarrel ensued, which resulted in a challenge from Smyth and Porter's acceptance. On the afternoon of the 14th of December the principals, their friends and surgeons met at Dayton's tavern, below Black Rock, and thence crossed to the head of Grand Island. There, on the ground selected, one shot was fired by each of the principals "in as intrepid and firm a manner as possi- ble," according to reports of the seconds, neither of the principals being injured. The two generals then withdrew their insulting charges and peace was restored between them. Major Cyrenius Chapin was even more bitter in his denunciations of Smyth than Porter. Smyth left the frontier soon afterward, resigning December 22, and was suc- ceeded by Col. Moses Porter, and subsequently published statements in vindication of his conduct.'
After the dismal failure of Smyth's operations the Pennsylvania volunteers returned home. The United States twelve months volun- teers, with the exception of Swift's Regiment, were stationed in Buf-
' The interested reader will find many documents of various kinds relating to the operations of November and December at Buffalo, in the Appendix to Vol. II of Ketcham's valuable work.
Digitized by y Google
207
WAR OF 1812.
falo, to accommodate whom several families gave up their dwellings. Provisions and forage were reported very high in price. On the 29th of December the following letter appeared in the Gazette:
Messrs. Salisbury-I was desired yesterday evening to request you to insert in your paper an invitation to the good people of Niagara County, to meet on Friday next, at the house of R. Cook, in this village at 10 o'clock, A. M., to consult on measures of public safety, and if possible concert some means to avert the impending dangers which are so visibly threatening our once peaceful and happy dwellings.
Yours, &c.,
Buffalo, December 25, 1812. RICHARD SMITH.
This letter isa clear indication of the sentiments of the inhabitants of Buffalo at that time; those sentiments were shared along the whole frontier. The calm consideration and foresight of the more intelli- gent citizens gave them assurance of coming disaster and suffering.
Soon after the ignominious failure of the invasion of Canada an event took place in Buffalo which for a time promised to result in riot and bloodshed. It grew out of ill-feeling between volunteers and militia, and the citizens, which was not confined to that village, but was prev- alent to some extent at all important points on the frontier. Many prominent citizens were Federals and strongly opposed to the war. Their opponents claimed that this was disloyalty and the soldiers claimed that they were ill-treated by those whom they were ordered to defend. Among the troops that had been commanded by Smyth were two com- panies of so-called "Federal Volunteers," under Lieut. - Col. F. Mc- Clure, including two or three companies of " Irish Greens" from Al- bany and New York, and one company of "Baltimore Blues " from Baltimore.
Ralph M. Pomeroy, it will be remembered, was keeping a hotel on the corner of Main and Seneca streets and on this occasion became in- volved in a dispute with the captain of an Albany company, which was said to have originated in a demand made by the officer for entertain- ment for his men. The argument became exciting and the officer drew his sword and drove Pomeroy down stairs, at which Pomeroy, who was forcible in delivering the King's English, swore that he wished that the British would come over and kill the whole crowd. Report of the dif- ficulty was carried to camp and soon an armed mass of the Baltimore and Irish soldiers marched down Main street. Dinner was in progress in the hotel and among the guests were several army officers. The mob began operations by hurling an axe through a window and directly
Digitized by Google
208
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
upon the dining table. This was immediately followed by a rush into the hotel; the guests were driven out, and the mob proceeded to de- molish the furniture and devour the food and drink. One of the hotel guests was Colonel McClure, commander of the very men who were engaged in the attack; but they were beyond his control, even while he rode his horse directly through the house and repeatedly ordered them to leave the premises. He then ordered two companies up in front of the hotel, but they refused to aid in quelling the disturbance. Pomeroy hid himself in the barn.
The mad passion of the mob increased, and piling bedding in the second story of the hotel, they set fire to it. The destruction of the house was averted by Hank Johnson, a white man who lived with the Cattaraugus Indians, who clambered up into a chamber window and threw the burning bedding into the street. A minor incident in the event was an attack made in the street upon Abel M. Grosvenor, as he was passing, the mob believing he was Pomeroy, whom he somewhat resembled. He was chased down the street till he fell, the mob shout- ing " kill the d-d tory." His identity was discovered in time to prevent the execution of the threat. Others threatened to destroy the Federal printing office, as they termed the Gazette. Finally Col. Moses Porter, the veteran soldier, and an artillery officer, took part in the affair. He ordered up a detachment of his men with a six-pounder gun from their camp (probably at Flint Hill, north of Scajaquada Creek). The can- non was hurriedly dragged down Main street, drawn up to bear on the hotel, and a lieutenant and a squad of men with swords drawn were ordered to clear the house. For a few moments there was a fierce struggle and several of the mob were killed or wounded, but the house was soon empty, many jumping from the upper windows in their haste to escape the sword cuts of the artillerymen. They left the village for their camp, threatening immediate vengeance on Colonel Porter. The veteran officer placed his cannon at the junction of Main and Ni- agara streets and awaited their coming; but better counsels prevailed, and what seemed to betoken a battle in the streets of Buffalo was averted. The rioters were never punished, except as they were roughly handled by Porter's men.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.