Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1), Part 29

Author: Truman C. White
Publication date: 1898
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017

USA > New York > Erie County > Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1) > Part 29

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enemy and Scott's brigade, thereby disengaging the latter and holding it in readiness for a new conflict.

The enemy now falling back took a new position and rested his right flank on a height commanding the whole surface of the con- tiguous plains on which his own and the American forces were moving. Colonel McRee and Major Wood had, by order of General Brown, re- connoitered the enemy's position, and reported to him that this height must be carried or the engagement could not be prosecuted with any probability of success. McRee was ordered to detach Col. James Miller with the 21st Regiment for the duty, and to advance the re- mainder of the Second Brigade on the Queenston road to divert the enemy's attention from his right, on which the attack was to be made. General Brown rode in person to Colonel Miller, and ordered him to assail the heights and capture the artillery.' It was instantly and gal- lantly done. The enemy retired from the line of the bayonets, leav- ing his cannon and several prisoners in possession of the assailants. General Ripley's brigade had advanced and encountered the enemy on the right of Colonel Miller's operations, and a part of it under his own command was broken by the enemy's fire, but it was soon reformed and brought into action. It was at this moment that Major Jesup, who had been detached from Scott's brigade to act independently on the right of the American army, after capturing and sending to camp General Riall and several other British officers, made his way toward the height as far as Queenston road. Here he encountered a body of the enemy, which fled after receiving a single discharge. General Brown, who had removed to this part of the field, joined Major Jesup, and ordered him to advance up Lundy's Lane, and form on the right of Ripley's brigade, the left of which was resting upon the height de- fended by the captured cannon. General Porter had arrived with his command, and was formed on the left of Ripley. The enemy had now been reinforced by fresh troops from Fort George and Queenston, and advanced in strong force on the new line formed upon the ground .

1 Perceiving the key of the British position to be the battery upon the hill, he turned to Col. James Miller, of the 27th Regulars, and asked, "Can you storm that work and take it?" "I'll try," was the prompt reply. With 300 men he moved up the ascent steadily in the darkness, along a fence lined with thick bushes that hid his troops from the view of the gunners and their pro- tectors who lay near by. When within short musket range of the battery, they could see the gunners with their glowing linstocks, ready to act at the word, fire. Selecting good marksmen, Miller directed each to rest his rifle on the fence, select a gunner and fire at a given signal. Very soon every gunner fell, when Miller and his men rushed forward and captured the battery .-- Lossing.

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from which he had been driven. He was received with a fierce fire at a distance of about five rods, and fled in the utmost confusion. In twenty minutes he made a second attack, which he contested more obstinately, but was again driven down the height after two or three volleys.

During the second attack, General Brown rode to the left of the American line and ordered Scott to advance with his brigade, and take a position in the rear of the enemy's right flank in order to attack him in reverse. In executing it, Scott, after passing in front of the Ameri- can line, was attacked by a concealed body of the enemy, and his com- mand severed in two parts, one passing to the rear and the other immediately towards the main force of the American army. Both were again in action in a few minutes and participated in the repulse of the third and last desperate assault of the enemy. General Brown, at the moment of the attack on Scott's command, received a severe wound from a musket ball, but still kept his seat on his horse. The enemy had now closed with the main body of the Americans and a desperate conflict ensued. General Brown, in passing up the left of his own line, received a second wound in his side, but continued to direct the move- ments of the battle, though so enfeebled by loss of blood as to require to be occasionally supported on his horse. The hostile lines were sev- eral minutes at the point of the bayonet, struggling for victory, and the losses were heavy. The enemy at length gave way in great dis- order, leaving many prisoners, and reappearing no more.'

During this last attack from the enemy General Scott, animating his command by his own example, received a wound which utterly dis- abled him and was borne from the field. The British thus repulsed, the Americans fell back to Chippewa, with orders from Brown to Rip- ley (on whom the command devolved) to return after a brief rest and occupy the battlefield. He neglected to do so and remained at Chip- pewa. This so irritated General Brown that he sent a courier to Sackett's Harbor with orders for Gen Edmund P. Gaines to come and take the temporary command on the Niagara frontier. Ripley's delay deprived the Americans of the substantial advantages of victory, for

1 Both parties were reinforced during the struggle ; the British by Colonel Scott's command, and the Americans by a part of Porter's brigade, which took post on Ripley's left, and participated in the closing events of the battle. The enemy was beaten off by sheer hard blows given by the muscle of indomitable perseverance, but at the expense of precious blood .- Field Book of the War, p. 83.

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the enemy at once returned, recaptured the field and almost all the cannon.

Thus between 11 and 12 o'clock at night closed a battle memorable for gallant deeds, and decisive in its moral effects. It was fought wholly between sunset and midnight, under a serene summer sky and a placid moon, its later and most sanguinary incidents taking place amid clouds of smoke that were undisturbed by the slightest breeze.

Both armies claimed a victory. The Americans drove the enemy 'from the field against heavy odds, while the British reoccupied the field and artillery, justifying to some extent the conflicting claims. The losses of the Americans were 171 killed, 571 wounded and 110 missing. The British lost 84 killed, 559 wounded, 193 missing and 42 prisoners.

On the morning of the 26th (the next day after the battle) Generals Brown and Scott, with Major Jesup and other wounded officers were placed in boats for conveyance to Buffalo, leaving Ripley to hold his strong position at Chippewa until he could be reinforced. The wounded officers had scarcely disappeared on their voyage up the river, when Ripley destroyed the military works and stores, demolished the bridge and fled with his army to Black Rock ferry on the Canadian side.1 It was his intention to cross to Buffalo and abandon Canada; but when he sought the wounded General Brown to obtain orders for such a move, he was treated with scorn, and directed to lead his army to a good position just above Fort Erie on the lake shore and strengthen the old fort and construct new defenses in expectation of a siege. It was for- tunate that at this time General Drummond did not know the weakness of the Americans.

On the 29th of July, having been reinforced with 1,100 men, Drum- mond prepared to move up the river. By this time the works at and around the fort had been placed in much better defensive condition, while three armed schooners lay at anchor near by. On the 2d day of August the Americans discovered the approach of the enemy, who drove in the outposts and camped in the woods two miles from the fort. It had been the custom for the commandant of Fort Erie to send over

1 While the wounded were moving by water to Buffalo, the army abandoned its strong posi- tion behind the Chippewa, and, after destroying a part of its stores, fell back, or, rather, fled tothe ferry opposite Black Rock, but a short distance below Fort Erie ; and General Ripley, but for the opposition made by McRee, Wood, Towson, Porter and other officers, would have crossed to the American shore. Had the enemy availed himself of this blunder, not a man of our army could have escaped. . . . The American general could have maintained his position and have held General Drummond in check during the remainder of the campaign. - Jesup's Manuscript Me- moirs of the Niagara Campaign.

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every evening a detachment of riflemen to guard the bridge across Scaj- aquada Creek, who returned to the fort in the morning. Drummond saw the importance of capturing the batteries at Black Rock and de- stroying the armed schooners before mentioned, before beginning the siege of Fort Erie. Within a few days after he made his camp in the woods, he sent across before dawn a detachment in nine boats to attack the batteries. They landed half a mile below the Scajaquada and were promptly confronted by the riflemen, 240 in number, under Major Lodowick Morgan. Morgan had already seen the advance of the British on the Canadian side, and being an officer of resources, and, believing the capture of Buffalo was the ultimate purpose of the enemy, he hastened to Black Rock, destroyed the bridge over the creek and threw up an intrenchment of logs. A spirited engagement followed in which the Americans lost two privates killed and three officers and five privates wounded. The British were driven back across the river. This is locally known as the " Battle of Conjockety Creek."

While this event was taking place Drummond opened a cannonade on Fort Erie. This soon ceased and both contending forces labored assiduously several days in strengthening their respective positions. General Gaines arrived at Fort Erie on the 4th of August, assumed chief command and Ripley resumed command of his brigade. Gaines began operations by sending out a reconnoitering party, which found the ene- my and returned with a loss of five killed and four wounded. Early on the morning of the 7th the British began a heavy cannonade on the fort, which was gallantly returned. From that day to the 14th the siege progressed steadily, the garrison behaving with bravery. On the 13th Drummond increased his cannonade, renewed it on the morning of the 14th and continued it through the day. It made little impression on the American works; but early in the evening a shell went scream- ing through the air and fell directly into an empty American maga- zine, which caused a tremendous explosion. The enemy believed they had destroyed a principal magazine and sent up a loud cheer. General Drummond now had his preparations complete for a direct assault upon the fort. As the dark night of the 14th wore away an ominous silence prevailed.

At 2 A. M. an alarm came from a picket of 100 men under Lieut. William G. Belknap. The picket fired the alarm and fell steadily back. The enemy 1,500 strong dashed on and charged upon Towson's bat- tery and an abatis which had been constructed between that work and

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the lake shore. They were met with such determined resistance from the artillerymen and the 21st Regiment that they abandoned their purpose after a desperate struggle.

Meanwhile an assault was made on the right by about 500 infantry and artillery under Lieutenant Colonels Drummond and Scott upon what was called the Douglass battery (a strong stone work with two guns on our extreme right) and the connecting intrenchments. The latter force was soon repulsed, but the troops under Drummond carried scaling ladders and with great. gallantry attempted to force an entrance over the walls. He was twice repulsed, after which under cover of the thick clouds of smoke he went around the ditch and in the face of a hot fire and after repeated attempts he scaled the parapet with 100 of the Royal Artillery. Colonel Drummond was now crazed with en- thusiasm, and galled by the former repulses, he ordered no quarter for the Yankees, and posted a band of Indians where they could rush into the works at the first opportunity and aid in a massacre of the garrison. Now in possession of a part of the works he ordered a charge with the bayonet and many American officers were mortally wounded, among them Lieutenant McDonough, who was wantonly killed by Drummond himself, after asking for quarter. The latter soon afterward received a bullet through the heart. General Gaines ordered reinforcements from the left and center, commanded by Ripley and Porter, and a futile attempt was made to drive the enemy from the position. A second attempt with a large force was made and with a like result, and was followed by a third charge. The narrowness of the passage prevented effective assault by the Americans, but these repeated charges greatly lessened the number of the enemy at that point. Suddenly, and just as another desperate attempt was to be made to drive out the enemy, the earth trembled, a column of flame and smoke and débris shot heavenward, and a roar like thunder filled the air. Earth, timber, stone and mutilated bodies went up in that blast and fell upon a wide area.' The magazine had been blown up.

This was a decisive blow and was instantly followed by a cannonade from the batteries of Captains Biddle and Fanning. The British broke and fled to their intrenchments, leaving 221 killed, 174 wounded, and

' The cause of this explosion has never been officially explained. History ascribes it to ac- cident; and perhaps it would not be proper for me tostate what I learned at the time. Even if it was design, I think the end justified the means. It was that mysterious explosion which, through Providence, saved our gallant little army from the horrors of a general massacre .- Lossing.

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186 prisoners The Americans lost 17 killed, 56 wounded and 11 missing. During the succeeding four weeks to about the middle of September the contending forces strengthened their positions and reinforced their armies. By that time the Americans were behind twenty-seven guns, with over three thousand men. The British had also received reinforce- ments, and almost to the close of August they threw hot shot, shells and rockets into the fort. On the 28th a shell fell directly into General Gaines's quarters and so injured him that he was compelled to retire to Buffalo. Hearing of this, General Brown left Batavia, though wounded and ill, went to Buffalo and crossed over to the fort. He placed Ripley in command and returned to Buffalo and established quarters for the Army of the Niagara; but being informed of Ripley's unpopularity in the army, he again crossed the river and assumed per- sonal command.

Fort Erie was now in great danger. Providence interposed with heavy rains; the British encampment was marshy; fever broke out among their troops and for several days no offensive movement had been made. General Brown saw his opportunity and on the 9th called a council of his officers. Everybody was enjoined to secrecy and he proposed a sortie for the morning of the 17th in which he would "storm the batteries, destroy the cannon, and roughly handle the brigade upon duty before those in reserve could be brought into action."' While the opinions of many of the American officers were not in harmony with his, when he expressed his determination to haz- ard the bold move, all but General Ripley finally joined in hearty co- operation. Toward noon of the 17th Brown's forces were ready to move in three divisions-one under General Porter, composed of volun- teers and militia, was to move from the extreme left of the American camp by a circuitous route through the woods and attack the British right flank. The second division under Gen. James Miller was to move from the right and attack the center. The remainder of the 21st Regiment under Ripley was posted as a reserve out of sight of the enemy. The gallant Porter and his command reached a position within a few yards of the enemy before their movement was suspected, and an attack was at once begun. The startled British fell back, and two of their batteries were stormed and captured after half an hour of fierce fighting. This was promptly followed by the seizure of a block-

1 General Brown's letter to the secretary of war, September 29.

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house in the rear of another battery, the garrison were made prison- ers, cannon were destroyed and the magazine blown up. Porter had gained a complete victory, but at great cost; General Davis, Colonel Gibson and Lieutenant-Colonel Wood all fell mortally wounded.

In the mean time General Miller carried out his part of the plans. He penetrated between the first and the second of the enemy's bat- teries, carried both, and seized the blockhouses in the rear; within forty minutes after the attack began the whole British works were in possession of the Americans. Ripley's reserve was ordered up near the close of the action and he was severely wounded. The sortie was won, Fort Erie was saved and with it Buffalo, the valuable stores on the frontier and possibly the whole of Western New York. The Americans lost 79 killed and 214 wounded; very few were captured. Of the enemy 400 were captured, and nearly 500 were killed, wounded and missing.1 This memorable sortie has gone into history as more skillfully planned and gallantly executed than any other, and as one of the very few instances where a single sortie had compelled the raising of a siege. So completely was the enemy demoralized that on the night of the 21st Drummond broke up his encampment and returned to Riall's old intrenchments behind Chippewa Creek.

This victory, with that of Plattsburg, and the expulsion of the British from before Baltimore, dispelled much of the gloom which had over- spread the country. Brown, Porter and other officers received enthu- siastic commendation and were voted medals by Congress. General Porter in that sortie won undying military fame; and it is quite com- monly admitted that it was he who really planned and counseled the whole movement.

The raising of the siege of Fort Erie was the important closing event of the war on the Niagara frontier. Major-Gen. George Izard, then in command on Lake Champlain, moved to Sackett's Harbor early in September with about 4,000 troops, whence he could menace Kingston and the St. Lawrence and prevent the intended reinforcement of Drummond, and finally proceed to aid General Brown on the Niagara. Brown wrote Izard on the 10th of that month that the whole effective force on the frontier was not more than 2,000 and urged him to pro- ceed to Buffalo and join the army of the Niagara. Izard arrived at

1 " Thus 1,000 regulars, and an equal portion of militia, in one hour of close action, blasted the hopes of the enemy, destroyed the fruits of 30 days' labor, and diminished his effective force 1,000 men at least."-Brown's letter to the secretary of war.

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Sackett's Harbor on the day of the Fort Erie sortie, and resolved to proceed westward. He embarked with 2,500 infantry on Chauncey's fleet and sent his dragoons and light artillery overland. They arrived at Lewiston on October 5. After consultation with Generals Brown and Porter he moved up to Black Rock, crossed the ferry on the 10th and 11th and encamped two miles north of Fort Erie, where he assumed chief command, and General Brown retired to his old post at Sackett's Harbor.

Izard was soon in command of 8,000 troops and prepared to march upon Drummond. Leaving a garrison in Fort Erie, he moved down toward Chippewa and vainly endeavored to draw the British into an engagement. After some skirmishing and minor encounters, Drum - mond fell back to Fort George, and Izard to the Black Rock ferry, whence the whole army crossed to the American side, abandoning Canada. General Izard realized that the lateness of the season would prevent further successful operation against the enemy at that time.

During the assault on Fort Erie by the British on the 15th of August the most intense anxiety prevailed in Buffalo and throughout the county. It is probable that almost every human being who was in health was out along the river and lake, watching that event in the darkness. It was feared that the fort would be captured and that the enemy would then cross the river and again wreak vengeance on the unprotected settlements. Many packed their goods in preparation for another flight from their homes. With the coming of daylight, however, boats crossed the river from the fort and cheered the anxious community with news of American victory. A few days later the wounded prisoners passed through Buffalo to Williamsville, while those unhurt were taken to Albany.

The war of 1812 was now drawing towards its close. During the winter of 1814-1815 negotiations were in progress between commis- sioners of the two powers at Ghent, and there was general hopefulness that they would be successful in bringing peace. Especially was this true of the inhabitants of 'what are now Erie and Niagara counties, who had so severely felt the terrors and losses of the conflict. A treaty of peace was finally agreed upon on December 24, 1814, and ratifications were exchanged at Washington, February 17, 1815. The news of the victory won by Jackson at New Orleans, 8th January, 1815, was printed in an extra of the Buffalo Gazette of the 15th of January, and a week later came the news of the treaty at Ghent. General rejoicing suc-

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ceeded throughout the county, as well as elsewhere. The good tidings soon penetrated to the most remote districts, giving the anxious inhab- itants assurance that peace was restored. Away down in Sardinia "Father" Spencer preached a sermon early in January in the house of Gen. Ezra Nott, on which occasion he had a newspaper containing the news of the treaty. The preacher began his services by saying, " I bring you news of peace," and then read the announcement to the large gathering.

The Ghent treaty provided for mutual restoration of all conquered territory and for three commissions-one to settle the title to islands in Passamaquoddy Bay; one to lay out the northeastern boundary of the United States as far as the St. Lawrence; and the other to run the line through that river and the lakes to the Lake of the Woods. The set- tlement of many other minor matters was of course also embraced in the treaty.

Amid these exciting times the organization of the First Presbyterian church was effected on the 2d day of February, 1812, with twenty-nine members. For nearly four years after its formation the society bore the title, First Congregational and Presbyterian Church of Buffalo. It was then changed by unanimous vote of the society to its present name. Early meetings were held in the court house, but after the burning of the village they were interrupted for nearly three years. On May 3, 1816, Rev. Miles P. Squier, a young student from Andover, was installed pastor of this church, with a salary of $1,000. Services were held at least during a part of the period up to 1823 in a barn on the northeast corner of Main and Genesee streets. In May of that year a house of worship was finished at a cost of $874, on the site now oc- cupied by the Erie County Savings Bank.' A second Presbyterian church was not organized in Buffalo village until 1835, as described farther on.

! The history of this mother of all the Presbyterian societies in the city from the time of the erection of its first church may be briefly told. The first edifice was used only until 1828, when it was sold to the Methodist church and was removed to Niagara street; it was again sold to a Ger- man congregation and removed to Genesee street. It finally became an ice house for a brewery and was burned in 18M2. The new church of the Presbyterians was completed and dedicated on the 28th of March, 1827; its cost was $17,500. That old church was for sixty years a familiar object to all Buffalonians. After frequent periods of agitation of the subject of removal, the property was sold to the Savings Bank, and a site purchased on the corner of Pennsylvania and Wadsworth streets, and there the present beautiful edifice was completed within the past year, costing $225,000.

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CHAPTER XVIII.

1815-1820.

Erie County at the Close of the War-Its Deplorable Condition-Second News- paper in Buffalo-A Public Execution-The Cold Summer-Privation and Suffering -The First Bank in the County-A New Mail Route-Incorporation of Buffalo Village-Travel in Western New York-Road Improvements-Four New Towns Created-Local Politics-Military Affairs-Church Work in the County-Increasing Commercial Importance of Buffalo and Erie County-The Early Lake Marine-The First Steamboat-Its Loss and Building of the Superior-Strife Between Buffalo and Black Rock-Inception of the Erie Canal-A Struggle for the Western Ter- minus-Beginning of Harbor Improvement-Construction of the Erie Canal- Progress Throughout the County-Grand Island Affairs.

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Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1), Part 29

Author: Truman C. White Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1017

Author: Truman C. White
Publication date: 1898
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017