USA > Vermont > Addison County > Middlebury > History of the town of Middlebury, in the county of Addison, Vermont > Part 38
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In every town in this section the standard was raised and the cit- izens gathered around it. The volunteers in the several towns were not generally organized, and did not meet together until they met at Burlington, where they were detained for a passage across the lake, or on the battle-field. When a smaller or larger squad had collected, they started forward, leaving the more dilatory to follow. In this town, Gen. Warren made the first direct effort to raise volunteers. As early as Tuesday or Wednesday-the 6th or 7th of Sept., -. he came on to the village common, followed by martial music, and in- vited all who were so disposed, to join him as volunteers. After marching once or twice around the common, forty or fifty men had fallen into the ranks, and the number was afterwards increased. When a dozen or two were ready to start with him, they marched for the field of battle, and others, as fast as they were ready, followed.
The patriotism on the occasion was not confined to the volunteers. The panic was universal. Those who were left behind exhibited their zeal by liberal contributions. The volunteers wanted ammunition, provisions and teams to transport them to Burlington, where vessels were engaged to convey them to the scene of conflict. A subscrip-
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
tion was accordingly circulated, in the hand-writing of Hon. Horatio Seymour, in the following words, and subscribed by the persons whose names follow :
Middlebury, September, 1814.
" We, the subscribers, promise to pay Daniel Chipman, Ira Stew- art and Jonathan Hagar the sums annexed to our names respectively, to be appropriated by the said Daniel, Ira and Jonathan, as a com- mittee, in providing those who shall turn out to defend the country against the invasion, at the present alarm, with ammunition, arms, and other necessaries, and in their discretion to give pecuniary aid to such as shall turn out, who are needy, or their families.
Horatio Seymour $30,00 Joel Doolittle $10,00 Haskall & Brooks $10,00
Eben W. Judd
20,00 Peter Starr 10,00
Thomas Hagar 10,00
Milo Cook 10,00 W. G. Hooker 10,00 Lavius Fillmore 10,00
Jonathan Hagar 30,00 Elisha Brewster 5,00 Luther Hagar 5,00
Ira Stewart
30,00
Samuel Mattocks 5,00
Moses Leonard 5,00
Daniel Chipman
30.00
David Page, Jr. 35,00
William Slade, Jr. 5,00
S. S. Phelps . 5,00
$275,00
The money thus provided was paid out for powder, bullets, bread and other provisions, and teams to convey the volunteers on their way. And one of the charges to this fund was-" One quarter cask of pow- der, which was used on Monday, 12th September, for rejoicing, $11." The whole sum expended, however, was only $203,50 ; and the pay- ments on the subscriptions were reduced in proportion.
Other men, and the boys had also an opportunity to exhibit their patriotism. While the volunteers were making their preparations to start for the field of battle,-including the night before the detach- ment commenced their march,-the men and boys were engaged, at the office of Mr. Seymour, in making the powder into cartridges for the volunteers. Fearing to have a light in the room during the night, the floor, where the powder was, had became literally blackened by the powder which scattered over it in filling the cartridges. After there was sufficient morning light to discern the situation of the room, .some one present said, -- " We have certainly been in more danger here to-night than any of our volunteers will be in at Plattsburgh."
When a sufficient number of volunteers had met together, they or- ganized as they could, in a summary and unceremonious way, by
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
putting forward such prominent men as were willing, to be officers. And when new recruits came on, they took their places as they could in the ranks. Gen. Warren and his men, and many others, did not reach the camp-ground until the evening of Saturday, the day before the battle, and some not until the next morning; and others wholly lost their chance in the battle by arriving after it was over.
To General Samuel Strong, of Vergennes, father of the present Samuel P. Strong, was assigned the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Vermont Volunteers. Major Lyman, of Vergennes, was his right hand man, and was appointed Colonel. He had had some ex- perience in the Revolutionary War. Gen. Warren was first chosen Captain of the Middlebury volunteers, but was afterwards advanced
to the rank of Major .* Capt. Silas Wright, of Weybridge, as cap- tain, commanded the volunteers of that town and Cornwall ; and af- ter the promotion of Gen. Warren, the Middlebury men fell into his and other companies, as they were most needed. Jehial Saxton, of Bristol, was Captain, and Daniel Collins, of Monkton, Lieutenant of the troops from those towns ; and John Morton, of Salisbury, was Captain of the troops of that town. Dr. Zaccheus Bass, of Middle- bury, went on with Gen. Warren as surgeon of the volunteers of Middlebury and neighboring towns; and was employed in the hos- pital on Crab Island, in the care of the wounded, after the battle.
In this extemporaneous gathering and organization, it is difficult, at this late day, to ascertain who were present, or how a great major- ity of them were employed. Mr. Daniel Wright, of Weybridge, who was serving in the battle as orderly sergeant, states that James Ri- ley, of that town, in the rear of his right hand man, was wounded in the neck by a musket ball, and died of the wound after he returned
*We have spoken, in its proper place, of General Hastings Warren only as an early settler and man of business, and having an important connection with our history. We take occasion of the mention of the patriotic part he bore, as a volun- teer, in the defence of his country, to add that he was, in addition to his distin- guished military position, a respectable, useful and influential citizen for many years. Of a very interesting family of children, only two survive,-Mrs. Jane Ripley, wife of William Y. Ripley, Esq., of Rutland, and Edward S. Warren. Esq., of Buffalo, who was graduated at Middlebury College in 1833. Gen. Warren died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Ripley, in May, 1845.
1. Groschers Lith Boston.
Hastings Warzen
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
home. He was also near Bethuel Goodrich, of Middlebury, who was wounded in his foot, and saw Dr. Bullard, of Weybridge,-who was in the battle, surgeon as well as soldier, and equipped for either service,-extract the ball. The wound was not serious. We are not aware that any others of the Vermont volunteers suffered seri- ously in the battle. Major Lyman, after his return, was seized with a violent fever, contracted in the service, and died greatly lamented. And we believe there were others attacked with similar fevers.
The volunteers were more accustomed to hunting wild animals than fighting men ; and while they secured themselves as they could behind trees and other protecting objects, they were careful to take aim at individuals of the enemy, and killed and wounded many of them. After the battle, a number of British prisoners taken by the volunteers were collected together, and the man, who appeared to be most prominent among them, was inquired of as to his experience in war. He mentioned, in reply, several battles in which he had been engaged, and said that he had never been in one half equal to this ; that these green-sprig men,-the Vermont Volunteers, who wore green sprigs in their hats,-would hide themselves behind the trees, aim at individuals, and hit every man aimed at; and that their ar- my called it murder.
We are not able to state the number of Volunteers from the sev- eral towns. The number from Middlebury, we judge, from the es- timate of different persons, to be from 150 to 200.
In the midst of the excitement, we were compelled to follow the example of other patriotic citizens,-not to fight, for we had no tal- ent for that. We reached Burlington on the afternoon of Thursday the 8th of June. There we found Hon. Martin Chittenden, Gov- ernor of Vermont, and General Samuel Strong, Commander in Chief of the Vermont volunteers, in consultation on the approach- ing cirisis. The writer then held the position of Secretary to the Governor and Council. In that capacity, we were admitted to a . familiar intercourse with both these important personages. The volunteers were flocking in and filling up the town ; but there were no means of conveying them, that night, to the field of their antic- ipated exploits. But a vossel was to be ready the next morning,
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
the 9th, to convey over the General and such of the troops as the vessel could carry. We, of course, were to accompany the General in the same vessel, with the Governor's military aid. To bring us into more immediate communication with the Commander of the army at Plattsburgh, and the better to ascertain the condition, perils and necessities of the small body of the American troops there, the General sent by us the following letter addressed to Gen. Macomb. " Burlington, September 11, (a misprint for 9,) 1814.
Sir :- The bearers, Amos W. Barnum Esq., my military Aid, and Samuel Swift Esq., Secretary to the Governor and Council of this State, will go to Plattsburgh, for the purpose, if practicable, of communicating with you, and of receiving any information you may please to communicate, that we may know how to govern ourselves, in endeavoring to furnish assistance. They will communicate to me any necessary information you may give them for this purpose. I am with high consideration your humble servant,
General Macomb.
MARTIN CHITTENDEN."
The next morning all hands were early awake, and soon we were making our way to the wharf, where the vessel lay. The Governor accompanied us, with as much apparent enthusiasm, as the most patriotic Green Mountain Boy, and said to us, as we were leaving, with emphasis,-"I wish my position would allow me to go with you."
We reached Plattsburgh the same afternoon, and accompanied Gen. Strong to the fort, and were introduced to Gen. Macomb, who received us courteously, and we remained some time, in examining the fortifications, and looking, for the first time, upon the array of a hostile army, in full view, and within cannon shot. But as the evening approached, Gen. Macomb advised us to retreat and get a shelter elsewhere, as he thought they might be attacked before morning. We understood the British, during the darkness of the nights, were arranging their batteries nearer the fort.
We were not present, nor very near the battle of the 11th of September, but were not out of hearing of the great guns. On Friday night, after we left the fort, we crawled into the large tent of Gen. Thomas, on Crab Island, which was already well filled, and laid ourselves down on a wet board, with hemlock boughs for a pil-
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
low, and remained until the dawning light of the next morning. The night of Saturday we lodged in a log cabin, inhabited by a kind old man and woman, high up on one of the New York hills; which shuts down to the west bank of the lake, where our hunger was appeased, and our fatigue relieved, with the best the house af- forded. In the afternoon of the next day,-the day of the battle,- we reached, in such way as we could,-the west side of the Island of North Hero, in full view of the shattered fleets, and the battle field on the land. Not being able to find a passage that night, we oocupied the neighboring hay-mows for our lodging. The next morn- ing we found boats to take us to the fleet, and were very courteously received by Commodore McDonough, with whom we were well ac- quainted. He had married a Miss Shaler of Middletown, Connec- ticut. While he was in the neighborhood of the lake, building and preparing his fleet at Vergennes for the conflict, and superintending its operations, his wife, a most interesting women, spent her time in Middlebury, in the family of Mrs. Latimer, with whom she had been acquainted while Middletown was the residence of both. And of course the Commodore spent his leisure time here, and became intimate in the society of Middlebury. It is not too much to say that every body admired him as a gentleman, and singularly quali- fied for his responsible position. We also visited the vessel, in which Commodore Downey was killed, and in which we saw his corpse, and the fort, where we saw several acquaintances, belonging to the regular army.
Of the state of the troops, before and after the battle, and of the success, which attended the contest, in the battle, Gen. Strong made regular communications to Gov. Chittenden. On the 10th, the day before the battle, he wrote-" I have been up the river this morning five or six miles, which was lined with the enemy on the north side. They have made several attempts to cross, but without success. This is the line that is to be defended. I have ascertained, to a certainty, . the number of militia from Vermont, now on the ground well armed, is 1812 ; from New York, 700; Regular troops under General Ma- comb, he says, 2000. He treated me very friendly." "We have strong expectations of 2000 detached militia, ordered out by Gen.
F
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
Mooers, arriving soon." " I hope you and our friends will send four or five thousand to our assistance as soon as possible." Sep- tember 11, Sunday, 7 o'clock, P. M., he wrote again, -" We are now encamped, with 2500 Vermont Volunteers, on the south side of the Saranac, opposite the enemy's right wing, which is commanded by General Brisbane. We have had the satisfaction to see the Brit- ish fleet strike to our brave Commodore, McDonough. The fort was attacked at the same time, the enemy attempting to cross the river at every place fordable, for four miles up the river. But they were foiled at every attempt, except at Pike's encampment, where we now are. The New York militia were posted at the place, under Gens. Mooers and Wright. They were forced to give back a few miles, until they were reinforced by their artillery. The General informed me of his situation, and wished for our assistance, which was readily afforded. We met the enemy and drove him across the river, under cover of his artillery. Our loss is trifting. We took 20 or 30 pris- oners. Their number of killed is not known. We have been skir- mishing all day on the banks of the river. This is the only place he crossed, and he has paid dear for that. I presume the enemy's force exceeds the number I wrote you. What will be our fate to-morrow I know not; but I am willing to risk the consequence attending it, being convinced of the bravery and skill of my officers and men."
Gen. Strong had no occasion for alarm for what was to take place " to-morrow." As soon as the British fleet had acknowledged their defeat by the bravery of McDonough and his men, Gov. Provost or- dered a retreat, and the whole British army were on their way to Canada the same night.
There was a recruiting station continued here during the whole war; and it is said that as many as two hundred and fifty, from this and the neighboring towns, were enlisted for the regular army.
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