Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 14

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1368

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York > Part 14

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Major M. M. Payne, 2d Art. ; Nov. 12, 1840-Aug. 31, 1841.

Major F. S. Belton, 4th Art. ; Ang. 13. 1841-June 24. 1942.

Major J. Plympton, 2d Inf. ; June 24, 1842-Dec. 4, 1844.

Capt. J. J. Kingsbury, 2d Inf. ; Dec. 4, 1844-Jan. 30, 1845.

Major J. Plympton, 2d Inf. ; Jan. 30, 1845 -Aug. 13, 1846.

Major T. Lee, 4th Inf. ; Nov. 13, 1848- Sept. 7, 1849.

Lieut .- Col. B. L. E. Bonneville, 4th Inf. ; Sept. 7, 1849-June 27, 1851.

Col. Wm. Whistler, 4th Inf. ; June 27, 1851-June 18, 1852.

Lieut, Geo. Ryan, 7th U. S. Inf. ; Dec. 22, 1861-April 29, 1862.

Capt. R. M. Stevenson, 7th Inf. ; April 29, 1862-died Oct. S. 1-62.

Gen. Bradley Winslow, 186th N. Y. Vol. Inf. ; organized and rendzvoused at the barracks, June 18-Sept. 28, 1864.

Lieut. Walter Clifford, 16th U. S. Inf ;. Nov. 8, 1864-Feb. 1865.

Capt. Pliney Moore, Frontier Cavalry : March 5-May 10, 1565.

May 10-June 20, 1865

Col. C. C. Sibley. 16th Inf. ; June 20, 1865 March 29, 1866.

Lieut .- Col. A. J. Slemmer, 4th Inf. ; March 29-Sept. 29. 1466.

Capt. Wm. H. Powell, 4th Inf. ; Sept. 29, 1866-March 25, 1867.

Second Lieut. A. C. Bayne, 42d Inf. ; March 25-April 15, 1867.

Major Tully MeCrea, 42d Inf. ; Apr. 15- 29, 1867.

Maj. Gen. J. B. Melntosh, 42d Inf. ; Apr. 29-Dec. 1867.

Maj. T. F. Rodenbough, 42d Inf. ; Dec. 12, 1467-May 26, 1868.

Bvt. Maj. C. T. Greene, 42d Inf. ; May 26-June 3, 1869.

Maj. T. F. Rodenbough, 42d Inf. ; June 7-Aug. 20, 1868.

Bvt. Maj. C. T. Greene, 42d Inf. ; Aug. 30-Oct. 5, 1868

Maj. T. F. Rodenbough, 42d Inf. ; Oct. 5. 18GS-Feb. 16, 1869.

Byt. Maj. C. T. Greene, 42d Inf. ; Feb. 16-March 5, 1869.

Bvt. Brig. Gen. T. F. Rodenbough, 42d Inf. ; March 5-Apr. 13, 1869.

Lieut. A. Miltmore, 1st Art., Apr. 13. 1869.

Lient .- Col. R. C. Duryea, 1st Art. ; Apr. 14, 1569-May 26, 1570,

Maj. C. L. Best, 1st. Art. ; May 26, 1870 -Nov. 1, 1872.

Lieut. Jno. L. Worden, Jr., 1st Inf. ; Nov. 1-Dec. 1, 1872.

Capt. Jno. G. Trumbull, 3d Art. ; Dec. 7-10, 1972.

Bvt. Brig .- Gen. R. B. Ayers, 3d Art. ; Dec. 10, 1872-1876.

Lieut. Abbott. 3d Art. ; 1876.

Byt. Brig .- Gen. James Robertson, 3d Art. , 1876-1879.

Byt. Maj. James R. Kelly. 3d Art. : 1879 -1880.

Byt. Brig .- Gen. W. M. Graham, 3d Art. ; 1880-Sept. 12, 1882.

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SACKETS HARBOR NAVAL STATION

Bvt. Maj .- Gen. O. B. Wilcox, 12th Inf. : Sept. 12, 1882-Oct. 13, 1886.

Capt. Henry E. Egbert, 12th Inf. ; Oct. 15-Dec. 2, 1886.

Col. Edwin F. Townsend, 12th Inf. ; Dec.

2, 1886-June 17, 1887.

Col. Richard I. Dodge, 11th Inf. ; Aug. 10, 1887-Oct. 9, 1891.

Col. Charles G. Bartlett, 9th Inf. ; Oct. 9. 1891-Feb. 1. 1896.

Lieut. Col. Jacob Kline, 9th Inf. . Feb. 1 June 3, 1896.

Col. Wm. J. Lyster, 9th Inf .; June 3 1896-retired June 28, 1897, d. Sept. 3. 1897.

Col. Ezra P. Ewers, 9th Inf. ; June 27 Ang. 25, 1897.

Col. Wm. H. Powell, 9th Inf. ; Aug. 28, 1897

Sackets Harbor Naval Station .- During the war of 1812-15, Sackets Harbor gained a prominence as a naval station fully equal to that acquired as a central point for military operations. Previous to the war a flourishing commerce had been built up on Lake Ontario and several vessels were constantly engaged in lake and river traffic. Nearly all of these regularly touched at the harbor, but it was not until the enforcement of the embargo laws necessitated an armed force at the harbor that the locality began to attract more than ordinary atten- tion. In May, 1812, the British schooner Lord Nelson was captured by Commodore Woolsey, and was brought to the harbor where both vessel and cargo were condemned and sold. Then followed the war with its multitude of events, all of which are detailed elsewhere. During the period, the authorities at Washington became convinced that this vicinity afforded the safest and best harbor on the lake. and after peace was restored the government acquired title to a tract of be- tween three and four acres of land, through the same means as the military reservation was secured. The traet lay almost directly west and across the bay from the barracks, and eastward from Fort Tomp- kins and the old battle ground and extended to the southeast extremity of Navy Point.

The old shipyard was a scene of busy activity throughout the period of the war, the principal work of construction being under the direction of llenry Eckford, who possessed the capacity to put upon the lake a 44 gun frigate (Mohawk) in the brief space of 34 days. This famous master builder was an important factor in the success the American navy achieved during the war, and his efforts were rewarded with a substantial fortune, which, however, he afterward lost through unfor- tunate investments. In another part of this chapter, and also in the chapter covering the events of 1812-15, will be found a record of the several vessels built at this station, hence the story needs no repetition in this place.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

The naval station at the harbor has been maintained by the govern- ment ever since it was established, but since the close of hostilities no strong marine force has been stationed here, except during the patriot disturbances of 1831-40. The buildings at the station comprised the old ship house on Navy Point, the commodore's and shipkeeper's houses, the docks and such other structures as occasion required. During the war, Commodore Chauncey of course had command of the naval fleet, but after the terms of peace had been arranged only one armed vessel was kept in service. The station then became unimpor- tant, and was placed in charge of a commanding officer, whose only subordinate was an appointed ship keeper.

The first officer in command was Lieut. Thomas Brownell, who had sailed under Perry, the hero of Lake Erie. He was followed (in the order named) by Captain Charles T. Platt, George Sawyer, James Mc- Intosh, Josiah Tatnall, 'George N. Hollins, Josiah Tatnall (?d appt. ), Com. E. A. F. Lavalette and Com. Theodore Bailey, the latter remain- ing until some time during 1863, when he was relieved by Henry Met- calf, who also held the position of ship-keeper. In July, 1866, Com. J. B. Montgomery succeeded to the station, and remained three years, being then promoted to the rank of rear-admiral. Next came Com. Francis B. Ellison, followed in 18t1 by Com. J. P. Mckinstry. After about three weeks he was relieved by Capt. Alexander C. Rhind, who, at the end of another two weeks, was succeeded by ship-keeper Albert H. Metcalf. Then these offices were virtually consolidated, the ship- keeper afterward performing all required duties of the station.

Among the commanders at this station were several officers who gained considerable notoriety in naval affairs, one of the most conspicu ous of whom was Capt. Tatnall. He was a Georgian by birth, and after having served in the command of the station went to Japan.1 He was promoted to commodore, and on returning to this country was again sent to the harbor to relieve Capt. Hollins. Soon after the out . break of the war of 1861-5, Com. Tatnall yielded to the persuasions of his southern friends and cast his fortunes with the confederate navy. where he acquired much notoriety. His property at the harbor was confiscated, but local memories of the brave officer are clear and pleasant. He caused to be built around the station grounds the iron fence, with posts surmounted with 24-pound shot. Capt. Hollins went

1 Tatnall was commander of the frigate Niagara which brought the Japanese en lassy to the United States about 14W.

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SACKETS HARBOR CUSTOMS DISTRICT.

from the harbor to the Mediterranean as commander of the U. S. frigate Susquehanna, but resigned his command to join the confederate navy. Com. Bailey, who served at the harbor one year, was afterward retired with the rank of rear-admiral. Commodore Montgomery re- ceived his commission as midshipman at Sackets Harbor during the war of 1832, and was afterward assigned to Com. Perry's fleet on Lake Erie, and served during the ever memorable battle of Sept. 10, 1813. Montgomery also received his commission as rear admiral at the har- bor, and was soon afterward placed on the retired list.'

The succession of ship keepers at the station, so near as can now be determined, has been as follows: Mr. Finn, Mr. Richardson (the christian names being unknown), Joseph Fields, David Stewart, Henry Metcalf, Charles Harlow. Frank Kane, George Jones, Thomas Lindsey, Henry Metcalf and Albert Metcalf, the latter having been in charge many years.

On May 30, 1826, congress passed an act appropriating $3,000 to be expended in clearing out and dredging Sackets Harbor, and on May 23, 1828, authorized a further expenditure of $3,000 for general harbor improvements." On May 3, 1831, the sum of $4,000 was appropriated "for a beacon," and the light house on Horse island was the result. Appropriations for improving the month of Black river were made as follows: July 1, 1836, $5,000; March 3, 1837, $10,000, and July :, 1838, $22,401. In dredging the harbor in 1897 there was brought up an old brass mortar, undoubtedly a relic of the war of 1812. It was placed on the " common " in the village.

Sackets Harbor Customs District. On March 2, 1799, congress passed an act relating to the collection of duties at Lake Ontario ports, and established therefor two customs districts; one being the Niagara dis- triet, including all the territory west of Genesee river, and the other the Oswego district, covering all the lake and river border cast of the river. On March 3, 1803, a supplemental act was passed, authorizing the president in his discretion to establish another port of entry and delivery on the lake, and to appoint a collector of customs therefor.

' Among the notable representatives of the U. S. navy at Sackets Harbor was Master Charles V. Morris, who came here about 1-72 or "73, and was then on the retired list. He was a grandson of Lewis Morris ione of the signers of the Declaration of Independence) and a son of Gen. Jacob Morris of revolutionary fame. Master Morris joined the navy in 1918, and was retired soon after the war of 18615, but served six years after his retirement. During the rebellion he served under Dahlgren and Farragut. He was also the intimate friend of President Lincoln It is not now understood that Master Morris was stationed at the harbor in any capacity representative of the government.

2 Under some of these appropriations an extensive ine of piers was bu It n the bay.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

In pursuance of this act the Sackets Harbor district was established in 1803, or the year following. Its territory was reduced by the forma- tion of the Oswegatchie district, March 2, 1811, and the Cape Vincent district, April 18, 1818, the latter including all the territory below Point Peninsula.

On March 3, 1863, an act was passed consolidating the Sackets Har- bor and Cape Vincent districts, and necessitating the removal of the principal office to the latter place. Since that time the Sackets Harbor custom house has been maintained subordinate to the main office and in charge of a deputy collector.

During the continuance of the district headquarters at the harbor. the collectors were as follows: Augustus Sacket, Hart Massey, Perley Keyes, John M. Canfield, Thomas Loomis, Danforth N. Barney, Leonard Dennison, John O. Dickey, Otis M. Cole. Daniel Mccullough, Abram Kromer, Thomas S. Hall and William Howland. The first deputy collector in charge after this became an auxiliary station was Cornelius W. Inglehart.

CHAPTER XII.

A Brief Chapter Relating to the More Prominent Events of the So-called Patriot War-Reminiscences of the War as Related by a Participant.

The years 1837-40 constituted a brief peried of excitement and dis- turbance in the history of Jefferson county, and in fact all along the boundary between the United States and Canada, growing out of an abortive and ill-advised attempt on the part of a few rebellious subjects in Canada to overthrow the British government in the province. This feeble movement, while it had numerous sympathizers on this side of the line, received no countenance from the great body of the people; but from the fact that certain refugees from Canada, and others, all plotters and conspirators whose aim was to destroy the Canadian gov- ernment, found this region a safe abiding place in which to develop their schemes, the opinion became current on the other side of the line that the United States was lending assistance to the patriot cause. This the Canadian press in certain quarters openly charged, with fre-

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THE "PATRIOT WAR."

quent unjust and unwarranted insinuations of such character and to such an extent that much sympathy was thereby created in favor of the rebellious subjects on the part of persons who otherwise would have scorned the idea of such revolutionary measures as were permitted to be devised in this state.

This embryo uprising has always been referred to in history as " the Patriot war," yet in its events, covering intervals of time during three years, there was not a single display of patriotism to suggest the title. The first overt act of hostility was the burning of the steamer Caroline, near Niagara Falls, on December 29, 1837, by a band of men from Canada, an act which aroused public indignation on both sides of the boundary, and particularly in the United States, where the insurgents sought to establish themselves and increase their following. On Jan- uary 30, 1838, Congress appropriated $625,000 to call out and support the militia in suppressing this contemptible uprising, and to guard the frontier against a repetition elsewhere of an offense like that at Niagara. However, an interim of quiet prevailed during the next few weeks, and while there were no open acts of lawlessness, all through the northern region of the state secret organizations known as " Hunter lodges " were formed, many of them in Jefferson county, where the plotters seem to have gained a strong following among susceptible and advent- ure-loving persons. Indeed, Watertown was a general headquarters for some of the leaders, and from this place circulars were sent out asking for money to provide clothing and subsistence "for certain political refugees within the county's borders." To a limited extent these various subterfuges were successful ; some money was contributed and quite a number of easily swayed persons rallied under the patriot standard, but under the promise that no fighting was to be indulged in by those who hoped to conquer the Canadas.

Late in the winter of 1837-38 preparations were made to cross the St. Lawrence on the ice and inaugurate a combined movement against Kingston ; and to properly equip the motley horde which proposed to do this work, on the night of February 19, 1838, the arsenal at Watertown was entered and 400 stand of arms were taken away. For the appre- hension of the thieves a reward of $250 was offered, and while part of the arms were afterward recovered the lawbreakers escaped punishment for the act. The arsenals at Elizabethtown and Batavia were likewise feloniously entered and robbed, and from the three arms and other munitions of war were taken to equip a considerable force of men.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, February 20, 1838, there began to arrive at Clayton, as if by preconcerted arrangement, men to the num- ber of several hundred, coming on sleighs and on foot, and at the same time there also arrived at this general rendezvous about 4,000 stand of arms, 20 barrels of cartridges, 500 long pikes, and a considerable sup- ply of provisions. However, no arrangement had been made for quarters for the men, who suffered many hardships and exposures, hence many of them deserted their standard. So far as this notable army possessed a commander, one styling himself " General Rensse- laer Van Rensselaer" assumed to stand in that relation, but his authority was disputed and general disorder prevailed. At the ap- pointed headquarters on Hickory island the followers of MeKenzie cre- ated great disturbance through the jealousy of their leader, and many more troops left camp in disgust and returned to their homes; and when the remnant of the embryo army was called to duty not enough remained to carry back the arms and supplies to the United States side of the channel.

Kingston was to have been attacked, captured and plundered by the patriot army, but the British military commander was well aware of the movement and prepared to defend the place. Indeed, he had assembled 1,600 Canadian militia and would have attacked the patriots on Hickory island had not the latter fled before the arrival of British troops; and when on the morning of February 24 a force did arrive they found only John Packard and George Hulsenberg, both of Clay- ton, whom they lodged in the Kingston jail.

This act of lawlessness prompted the authorities to station two com - panies of militia at Cape Vincent to prevent further depredations of like character, and congress specially authorized the federal customs and naval officers to seize and detain any vessel, arms or munitions of war suspected of being a part of a similar expedition. However, several weeks passed during which comparative quiet reigned all along the border, when unexpectedly, on the night of May 29 and 30, the British steamer, Sir Robert Peel, was boarded, plundered and burned at Wells island by a party of masked and armed men, led by William (commonly mentioned as "Bill") Johnston. He had once been a British subject and a merchant, whose property had been con- fiscated during the war of 1812-15 under a charge of insubordination, but escaped arrest and fled to the American camp at Sackets Harbor, where he was a spy in the American service and gave much valuable

1 20

THE PATRIOT WAR

assistance to the commanders at that post. His hatred of all things British had never abated and was manifested in the lawlessness of the patriot war.

On June 1, immediately after the affair at Wells island, Gov. Marcy visited Watertown and offered a reward of $500 for the capture of Johnston, $250 for each of his associates, David MeLeod, Samuel C. Frey and Robert Smith, and $100 each for the others engaged in the recent outrage. The United States and Canadian governments also acted in concert and with such energy that on June 2 William Ander- son, James Potts, Nathan Lee (an American), Chester and Seth Warner, William Smith, Marshall W. Forward, William S. Nichols and Henry llunter were arrested and imprisoned in the county jail at Watertown, charged with complicity in the outrage at Wells island. Great publie excitement followed and the feeling was heightened by a rumor that an attempt at rescue would be made.

The trial of the alleged offenders, which began June 23, was a notable event in local annals, but the verdict "not guilty" was neither sur- prising nor alarming, and only showed that the patriot cause had many strong sympathizers in that part of the state. At the trial Circuit Judge John P. Cushman presided, George C. Sherman was district attorney, and Abner Baker, sheriff. The verdict of acquittal bad the effect, however, to stimulate the action of the government. On December 13 seven men under indictment were released from jail on their personal recognizance, and when this news reached Washington Major-General Macomb was sent to Sackets Harbor charged with the duty of preventing further outrages. His first action was to invite the co operation of the Canadian military in a search for the patriots among the Thousand islands, resulting in the discovery of their retreat, . but the matter was so badly managed that all the leaders and all but two of the patriots escaped. Soon afterward Lieut .- Col. Cummings (who was succeeded by Col. Worth), assumed command of the U. S. frontier, and the steamer Telegraph was chartered by the United States, and equipped for patrol service on the river and lake ; but even all this vigilance did not prevent the patriots from invading Canada at Windmill Point, where a battle was fought with disastrous results to the invaders.

On this occasion, November 11, the steamer United States made her regular trip down the river, touching at the harbor, where it was dis- covered she had on board about 150 male passengers, whose appear-

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

ance was somewhat suspicions. At the landing here about thirty men went on board, and at Cape Vincent about ten or twelve. When at a point just below Millen's bay the steamer overtook and took in tow the schooners Charlotte of Oswego and Charlotte of Toronto, both of which proved to be laden with arms and munitions of war for the patriot force on the United States. The battle at Windmill Point soon fol- lowed, the patriot leaders became frightened and fled, leaving their poor, misguided followers at the mercy of a maddened foe from whom no mercy could be expected. The prisoners were taken to Fort Henry, at Kingston, and were tried by a court martial, beginning November 26, 1838.

Trial by British court martial has always been at best an unequal battle for life, in which the aceused is presumed to be guilty until the contrary is proven, but on this occasion it is believed the stringeney of military law was in a measure relaxed in favor of many of the American youth, who were foolishly led into the patriot ranks through the ma- chinations of unscrupulous leaders ; but this relaxation was chiefly due to the urgent appeals for merey coming from the American side, and also through the public meetings held in this country (at Cape Vincent. December 18, Sackets Harbor on the 21st, Depauville and Ellisburgh the 27th, and Le Fargville the 31st). In December of this year court was in session at Watertown, and a matter of such grave importance naturally came to the attention of the bench and other court officials. At the suggestion of the presiding judge, a public meeting was held at the court house to take action in the premises. Judge MeKnight pre. sided, and Daniel Wardwell, Eli Farwell, Thomas Loomis, Abner Baker and O. V. Brainard were vice-presidents, and Dr. Reuben Goodale and . and Joseph Mullin, secretaries. Addresses were made by Judge Grid- ley and Joshua A. Spencer, of Utica, and also Samuel Beardsley, At- torney-General Richard Hulbert, Thomas C. Crittenden, Elisha Camp, William Smith and Daniel Wardwell, each of whom urged a proper observance of the law on all occasions, but at the same time expressed the earnest hope that moderation and merey would temper the stern demands of Canadian justice. At an adjourned meeting on the follow- ing day a series of resolutions were adopted, which were speedily car- ried across the border to Kingston in the hands of earnest friends of the accused men. Of those on trial ten (chiefly leaders), were hanged; fifty-eight were pardoned; eighteen were released; sixty were trans- ported to Van Dieman's land; three were acquitted; four turned

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THE "PATRIOT WAR.

" queen's evidence," while of the whole number acensed, ten were not accounted for in the records.

The leader, Bill Johnston,' was captured in the states, November It, 1838, imprisoned at Auburn but escaped; was recaptured by William Vaughn and taken to prison at Albany, from whence he also escaped. After the excitement of the period had passed away he returned to Clayton, where he was appointed keeper of the Rock island light. On April 8, 1839, the British steamer Commodore brought twenty-two of the pardoned men and delivered them to the civil authorities at Saekets Harbor, where the liberated Americans expressed their appreciation of the British clemency shown them. On the 24th of the same month thirty seven more pardoned men were delivered at the harbor.

The last of the series of outrages committed by the Canadian refugees was an attempt to destroy the steamer Great Britain while in Oswego harbor by exploding on board a trunk filled with combustible chemicals. The perpetrators of this act were arrested and confessed their guill. This ended the nefarious business, but patrolling vessels were kept on the lake and river for a year or two, and a military force was also sta- tioned at Madison barracks ready for duty should an emergency arise. On September 5, 1841, President Tyler issued a proclamation for the suppression of such secret societies as had committed the unlawful acts of the period of 1836 40, and soon afterward their depredations stopped.

When the subject of an uprising against Canada was first seriously discussed in this vicinity, and the feelings of susceptible people began to be aroused, one Hill came from Buffalo and was actively engaged in organizing Hunter lodges throughout this section of the state; and in the course of a single week he rallied under his standard an aggregate of something like 1,800 men, young and old, and Nelson II. Truax, whom was then serving an apprenticeship at the harness trade with Jason Fairbanks, of Watertown, happened to be one of the number. The purpose of the movement, according to the expressions of Hill, and the understanding of his followers, was to organize a military force and " march to Canada to relieve the downtrodden and distressed

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Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 14

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed Publication date: 1898 Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co. Number of Pages: 1368

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1368