USA > New York > Genesee County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Genesee County, New York, v. 1 > Part 14
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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
In 180: Napoleon, in his attempt to compel the United States to be- come his ally as against Great Britain, issued a decree declaring all ves- sels which submitted to the right of search and impressment by Great Britain to be denationalized and subject to capture if caught going to or coming from a British port, or on the high seas. Spain and Hol- land, desirous of pleasing Napoleon, issued similar decrees. These acts placed the commerce of the United States in a dangerous position. The menace was all the greater by reason of the fact that our principal foe maintained a naval force along the American coast for the purpose of preying upon our commerce.
Early in 180: the British frigate Leopard fired upon the United States frigate Chesapeake upon the refusal of Commodore Barron, in com- mand of the latter vessel, to grant to the British commander the privi- lege of searching his vessel, killing and wounding twenty men. As soon as the American colors were hauled down the Chesapeake was boarded by officers of the Leopard. Commodore Barron tendered his vessel as a prize, but Captain Humphrey, the British commander, re- fused to accept her, knowing that such an act would give the Americans
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a valid claim against his government. The crew of the Chesapeake was then mustered. Three Americans who had once been impressed into the British service were placed in irons, and John Wilson, a British seaman who had deserted, was taken on board the Leopard. All four were sentenced to be hanged, and Wilson was executed, but the three Americans reprieved upon condition that they should enter the British naval service.
This act naturally aroused an intense feeling of resentment upon the part of the people of the United States. The British government dis- claimed the act and recalled Humphrey from service in the navy; but two of the captured Americans sailors were held in slavery on British ships for five years, while the third died in the service.
Up to this time the strife between the Federalist and Democratic parties in America had been so fierce that a great civil war was feared. Taking advantage of the situation, Great Britain endeavored to increase this antagonistic feeling by establishing a propaganda of anti-democ. racy. John Henry, an Irishman, who was a naturalized citizen of the United States, residing in the State of Vermont, contributed to the press some letters denouncing the federal officials for their incom- petency and declaring that the country was incapable of self-govern- ment. His letters were noticed by Sir James Craig, governor of Can- ada, who in 1806 sent the author an invitation to come to Montreal. In that city arrangements were made by which Henry was to devote his entire time to the propagation of popular discontent in the United States, Sir James promising him [30,000 if he should succeed in in- citing the Americans to civil war. He was granted authority to offer the Federalists the support of British influence, should such a promise be needed to encourage them. After five years of steady work this project failed, and Henry was refused compensation for his labors. Piqued at his treatment, he came to the United States and revealed the entire plot to President Madison. All knowledge of the plot was denied by the British ministry, but when it was proposed to submit to a court of inquiry all the correspondence in Henry's possession, the proposition was voted down by the House of Lords.
In 180: the United States Senate passed an embargo bill prohibiting all ships then in American ports from sailing for any foreign port, ex- cepting that foreign ships might sail in ballast. This act was a decla- ration to the world that the United States would voluntarily sever all connections with the rest of the world until Great Britain, France,
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Spain and Holland should end their obnoxious practices and allow American ships to sail the seas unmolested. The effect of this act was to annihilate the commerce of this country, and in 1809 it was repealed upon the urgent solicitation of the business men of the country. In its place was passed a non-intercourse act, which simply prohibited trade with Great Britain and France. A little more than a year later this act was also repealed. Madison now having succeeded Jefferson as president, upon the recommendation of the former another embargo act, to obtain for sixty days, was passed, and the country, the limit of its endurance having been reached, began preparations for war.1
War was formally declared June 19, 1812. At that time the British had in Upper Canada a force of fifteen hundred regulars, besides six thousand in the valley of the St. Lawrence. Canada had a British population of four hundred thousand and a militia of forty thousand to draw from. They also had formidable strongholds along the American frontier. Op- posite Buffalo stood Fort Erie; near the falls of Niagara was Port Chip. pewa, and at the mouth of the Niagara river stood Fort George. At sea they were simply overwhelming in strength, as compared with the United States. The only forts the Americans possessed in this vicinity were at the mouth of the Niagara river and at Oswego. To handicap us still further thirty five hundred American sailors were at that time practi- cailly held in slavery on board of British men-of-war, where they wonkl be compelled to fight against their own country.
The population of the entire region west of the Genesee at the begin- ning of the war probably was between twenty five and thirty thousand. The population principally centered upon the Buffalo road and in the few small villages. Away from this thoroughfare the population ex. isted in small neighborhoods and isolated families. The region was poorly prepared for war. There were no perfect military organiza- tions, although there were several small local militia companies, organ- ized more for parade than anything else. Their training, when it came to a question of actual warfare, amounted to practically nothing. But the American spirit was the same in 1s12 as in '76, and the peaceable pioneers were transformed as if by magic from raw and inexperienced soldiers into brave and effective fighting men. The spirit of patriotism, of liberty, became the father to the genius of warfare. The backwoods- men of Genesee county were among the bravest and hardiest soldiers who served in that crisis in the affairs of the American commonwealth.
I These events have been de! happy to explain the Fates leading up to the se ein events which took in
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The proclamation of President Madison, carried by couriers mounted on fleet-footed horses, traveling by relays, reached Fort Niagara June 24 and Black Rock, the headquarters of Colonel Swift, the same day. As these couriers passed through the country they spread the news as they rode, so that the entire community was informed of the advent of war almost as soon as the official intelligence had been received by the officers on the frontier. There was a general feeling of insecurity, almost of helplessness for the moment, as it was known that the enemy, close at hand, were fully prepared for a war, and even for invasion of our territory, while the preparations for defense upon our side were almost wholly lacking. Some of the more timid, magnifying the danger which menaced them, fled eastward across the Genesee. At the same time immigrants from New England and other eastern points, fearless and undismayed, continued their journey into the heart of the famed " Genesee county," willing and anxious to take up arms to repel the invader if necessary.
Unfortunately the news of the declaration of war reached Canada at least twelve hours before the officers on the American frontier had been informed. John Jacob Astor, who had immense fur interests in Canada, dispatched a messenger from New York to notify Thomas Clark, his representative at Queenston. This measure was adopted by Mr. Astor for the purpose of insuring, if possible, the safety of the immense cargoes of furs coming down the Great Lakes. As soon as the news had been received in Canada all Americans in that country were arrested, and preparations for hostile actions were immediately begun. The first intelligence the people of Buffalo had of the inaugu- ration of hostilities was when a small vessel, bound up Lake Erie from Black Rock with a cargo of salt, was captured and taken to Fort Erie.
May 21. 1812, the armed force upon the Canadian frontier of New York consisted of about six hundred men only. excepting the garrison at Fort Niagara. These men had been called out by the governor of the State in pursuance of an act of Congress. While the governor's requisition was for a draft of the militia, most of these soldiers were volunteers, under command of Colonel Swift. July 4, eight days after the news of the declaration of war was received, this force had been increased to about three thousand. General William Wadsworth first assumed general command, but he was soon succeeded by General Amos Hall, who in tarn was succeeded, August 11, by General Stephen V'an Rensselaer, who made his headquarters at Lewiston. The Cana-
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dian troops were in command of General Brock, the acting governor of the province.
"One of the most fruitful sources of apprehension and alarm in the earlier stages of the war was the fear that the Seneca Indians would revive their ancient predilections and be found allies of the British and Canadian Indians. Their position was at first enigmatical-undefined. Their chiefs, prominent among whom was Red Jacket, at that period, counseled and maintained neutrality; and neutrality was unfavorably construed by the border settlers. Their position of neutrality was, however, early secured by a talk in council. But when these appre- hensions were partially quieted, every breeze that came from Canada or from the west brought with it to the scattered border settlements of the Holland Purchase rumors rife with accounts of contemplated Indian leagues, and banded descents with the tomahawk and scalping knife. Judge Erastus Granger, the then government Agent of the Senecas, took an early opportunity to hold a council with them and get assur- ances of neutrality. In a letter from Mr. Ellicott to Mr. Busti, dated July 6, 1812, he assures him of the entire safety of the country from invasion-of comparative quiet, and adds :- 'I send by the mail that carries this letter our last newspaper, which contains a speech made by an Indian chief to the inhabitants of this village, and our reply, by which it will be seen that our Indians are disposed to be on good terms with us-and that they have declared the Mohawk Indians, residing in Canada, out of the confederation of the Six Nations, and of course. "enemies in war, in peace, friends."' This position of neutrality, partially preserved in the first stages of the war, was not long main- tained. The Senecas, rightly determining their true position and in- terests, soon became fast friends to the United States, -useful armed allies, in several contests." 1
At a council held by the Indians in the summer of 1812 a formal dec- laration of war was adopted and placed in writing by an interpreter. It read as follows:
We. the chiefs and counselors of the Six Nations of Indians, residing in the State of New York, do hereby proclaim to all war chiefs and warriors of the Six Nations that war is declared on our part against the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada. Therefore, we command and advise all the war chiefs and warriors of the Six Nations to call forth immediately the warriors under them, and put them in motion to pro- tect their rights and liberties.
1 Turner's I story " the Holland Purchase, pres ise and ist. " This is probably the only document of the 2 nd ever souled by an Indian salon et .
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Despite this formidable declaration, and through the influence of such of their chiefs as desired to maintain a strictly neutral attitude during the war of 1812. the Indian share in the work of the battlefield during that struggle was very small. Doubtless the early American disasters had something to do with causing this proclamation to remain practically a dead letter.
The hastily organized militia which began to hurry to the frontier was enthusiastic, but the organization of these bodies was imperfect and, for the most part, the discipline very poor. When this militia finally reached the field of actual hostilities and the smell of burning powder and the rattle of artillery and musketry reached its members, it is hardly remarkable that the trial was too much for most of them.
The plan for the campaign of 1812 embraced the invasion of Upper Canada, at Detroit and at Niagara, and the employment of regulars, volunteers and militia. Governor Hull of Michigan, who was in Wash- ington in the spring of this year, told the president that the British, anticipating war with this country, had sent throughout the northwest emissaries bearing arms and presents to the Indians and endeavoring to procure an alliance with them. For this reason Hall objected to the invasion of Canada from Detroit, as this would leave Michigan open to attacks from the savages. In pursuance of his advice, Commander Stewart was sent to Lake Erie with orders to construct a fleet. The president also called upon Governor Meigs of Ohio for twelve hundred militia, which, with a regiment of regulars, assembled at Dayton. May 25 Hull arrived and assumed command. When he arrived at Detroit on July 4 he found the British erceting fortifications at Sandwich, across the river. Hall's defense of Detroit was a complete and shame- ful failure, largely the result of his own incompetencey, and August 19 the fort and the troops, about two thousand, were surrendered to the enemy. Hall was afterward court-martialed, convicted of cowardice and sentenced to be shot. but his age and service in the Revolution caused the court to recommend mercy, and he was pardoned by the president.
Early in the campaign it became evident that American success on the northern and Niagara frontiers could be achieved only with abso- lute control of Lake Ontario. The Americans therefore built a small navy on Lake Ontario. During the summer important events occurred on the Niagara frontier, which was thinly settled at that time. August 13 Major-General Stephen Van Rensselaer, in command of the detached
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militia of New York State, arrived at Fort Niagara. At this time the condition of Niagara was pitiable. Five thousand men had been promised to General Van Rensselaer, but as late as September 1 his entire force on the Niagara frontier was but six hundred and ninety. Two weeks later he asked Governor Tompkins and General Dearborn, who was highest in command in the Lake region, for reinforcements. explaining in detail the precarious situation in which his army and the frontier then was. By October 1 detachments of regulars and bodies of militia began arriving, the former, under command of General Alex. ander Smyth, halting at Buffalo, and the latter, under General Amos Hall, being stationed at Lewiston. In the latter were numbers of men from Genesee county.
The plan to be carried out by Van Rensselaer, if possible, was to concentrate the regulars near Niagara, where they were to cross the river, and storm and take Fort George from the rear. At the same time the militia, under the personal command of Van Rensselaer, were to cross the river from Lewiston and take the heights of Queenston. But through the delay and disobedience of General Smyth, a proud Virginian attached to the regular army, who "could not bead to the necessity of obedience to a militia general,"! Van Rensselaer was greatly delayed in undertaking offensive operations.
In the meantime Lieutenant J. B. Elliott of the United States Navy had captured the Detroit and the Caledonia off Fort Erie. The former was originally the brig Adams, taken by the British at the surrender of Hull, and the latter was the property of the Northwestern Fur Com- pany, laden with a cargo valued at two hundred thousand dollars. Un- fortunately the captors were compelled to burn the Detroit and set her adrift to keep her from again falling into the hands of the forces of General Brock, but the Caledonia was saved and afterwards did service under Commodore Perry on Lake Erie. This daring exploit caused unbounded enthusiasm throughout the United States, and correspond- ingly depressed the enemy."
After tolerating the insolent conduct of Smyth until the American troops were on the verge of mutiny, October 10 General Van Rensselaer prepared to move upon Queenston Heights. The force under his com-
I Lossing.
2 General Brock, in a letter to Sir freorge Previs. October 11, 12, sa ! . The event is pir- teu way unfortunate, and may a duce moto modulable distress In my to making every wert no carnaval super my on both lakes, which, if they a compliant, I do not see how We can possibly ret ain the country. '
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mand comprised thirty-six hundred and fifty regulars and twenty-six hundred and fifty militia, stationed at Niagara, Lewiston and Black Rock, while the British force numbered seventeen hundred and fifty, including two hundred and fifty Indians under John Brant. The enemy had planted batteries at every formidable point, commanding the land- ings at both Lewiston and Queenston. It was decided to make the at. tack upon Queenston at three o'clock on the morning of October 11. the invading force to be under command of Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer. The attack was destined to be delayed, however. The troops assembled for embarkation at the hour designated, but Lieu- tenant Sims boarded the first boat and rowed away in the darkness, preventing the dispatching of the remaining boats, all the oars for the expedition having been stored in the boat taken by him. Passing a considerable distance beyond the point selected for landing, he stopped on shore and fled at his utmost speed. Whether this act was the result of cowardice or treachery will never be known. This incident neces- arily resulted in the temporary abandonment of the plans.
At three o'clock in the morning of October 13 the troops crossed the river, and the regulars, under command of Captain John E. Wool, charged gallantly up the heights, which were soon gained. The ap- proach of the Americans was soon noted by the enemy, and lively firing began, Colonel Van Rensselaer and Captain Wool both being wounded. When the battle began General Brock was at Fort George, seven miles down the river. He at once proceeded to the scene of the action at full speed, accompanied by his staff, but Wool and his men came upon them as soon as they had reached the heights. The entire company of officers fled in dismay, and the American flag was soon floating over the battery near which they stood. Brock's next step was to lead a body of his troops to drive Wool from the heights. The su- perior force of the British pressed the Americans back to the edge of the precipice, which rises perpendicularly two hundred feet above the Niagara; but at this critical moment, when they seemed to be lost, Wool's heroism and cheering words inspired the little band of Amer- icans, who turned furiously upon the enemy, driving them in utter rout down the hill.
A few moments later, as Brock was rallying his men at the foot of the hill preparatory to an attempt to take the position from which they had been forced, he fell, mortally wounded.
Until Gen. William Wadsworth of the New York militia arrived to
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take command, Wool was left in charge of the heights. In the mean- time General Sheathe assumed command of the forces of the enemy, which he again rallied. Lieut. - Col. Winfield Scott had crossed the river and joined the Americans on the heights as a volunteer, and at the request of General Wadsworth assumed active command. Early in the afternoon a band of Indians under the leadership of John Brant attacked the American pickets with great fury. The militia were about to flee, when the loud voice and towering form of Scott checked them. Then, an instant later the entire body under him, about six hundred, turned on the savages and drove them into the woods.
By this time General Van Rensselaer was endeavoring to forward re- inforcements from Lewiston ; but these refused to go, evidently through cowardice, announcing that they were not compelled to leave the soil of the United States. They therefore remained safely at Lewiston, while their fellow countrymen were being killed by the score. While Van Rensselaer was entreating these troops to accompany him across the river, the troops engaged in the action were fairly overwhelmed by the enemy, and soon were compelled to surrender. Their loss had been one hundred and ninety killed and wounded. Nine hundred were made prisoners, and sent to Newark. The loss of the enemy in killed, wounded and prisoners was only about one hundred and thirty.
Thoroughly disgusted by the unaccountable conduet of the militia and the jealousies of some of the regular officers, General Van Rensse- laer now resigned his command to the boastful and proud General Smyth, who at once began to concentrate troops at Buffalo preparatory to the invasion of Canada. While these preparations were being made, the enemy began the bombardment of Fort Niagara, on November 21. from breastworks in front of Newark. At nightfall the fort had been considerably damaged, but it was gallantly and successfully defended by its little garrison.
General Smyth had planned his invasion of Canada for the morning of the ?Sth. But before moving he had issued innumerable proclama- tions, which gave the enemy all the information they needed about the contemplated movements of the American army. The landing on Canadian soil was effected at three o'clock in the morning, but by a small force only. The general embarkation, for some mysterious rea- son, was postponed one day, while those who had reached the western shore of the river fell captives to the enemy. By this time the whole American force was thoroughly disgusted with the actions of the wordy
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Smyth. The general embarkation began at three v. M. on Tuesday, December 1, when 1,500 men entered the boats. General Porter was to lead and direct the landing. But by the time everything was in readiness to proceed Smyth astonished his officers by suggesting-in fact, ordering-that the invasion be not made at all that season. Con . sequently the troops were all ordered ashore, the militia and many of the volunteers were sent to their homes, and the regular army went into its winter quarters.
So great was the indignation against the incompetent Smyth for this act of tremendous folly that he was more than once fired upon when he left his tent. General Porter charged him with cowardice, and in the quarrel which ensued Smyth challenged his accuser to mortal combat. Porter accepted the challenge and a meeting was had. After each had fred, and neither had been injured, the two men apologized to each other and shook hands. Smyth resigned December 22, being suc. ceeded by Col. Moses Porter. Thus closed the campaign of 1912.
The campaign of 1813 opened almost at the same time on the shores of Lake Ontario, on the coast of Virginia and in the valley of the Maumee. General Harrison's operations in the West were successful, and he was able to protect the inhabitants on the borders of Lake Erie. But the spring was well advanced before much activity was seen on the Nagara frontier. At this time General Dearborn was in command of the entire northern frontier. April 25 he salted from Sackett's Harbor in Commodore Chauncey's fleet, with seventeen hundred troops under the immediate command of General Zebulon Pike. The plans of both the navy and army were to attack York (Toronto), Fort George. Fort Erie and Chippewa, and then proceed to Kingston. April of the fleet appeared before Toronto and began the attack ; but the British, in des- peration, blew up their powder magazine located on the lake shore. killing fifty-two Americans and wounding one hundred and eighty. General Pike and ten of his aids were among those mortally wounded. The British lost forty killed in the same explosion. The place soon after surrendered, but the Americans, deeming it of little strategic value, abandoned it.
On account of tempestuous weather the attack upon Fort George was delayed a week. Commodore Chauncey, General Dearborn and other officers of the fleet and army proceeded in advance of the main body and chose a landing place four miles cast of Fort Niagara. At that time the force of the enemy in and near Fort George, all under
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command of General Vincent, numbered about eighteen hundred. May S the American troops landed at the place designated, and Chaun- cey returned to Sackett's Harbor for reinforcements and supplies. May 22 he reached the American camp east of Fort Niagara. Oliver Haz- ard Perry reached that point the evening of the same day.
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