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Digital file copyright by Cornell University
Library 1994.PAPERS RELATING TO THE WAR
OF 1812 on the Niagara Frontier
I. FIRING THE FIRST SHOT.
\AS TOLD BY THE MAN WHO FIRED IT.
REMINISCENCES OF ARCHER GALLOWAY.
. The following reminiscences were written, about 1850,
by Archer Galloway, a veteran of the War of 1812, The
manuscript has since been preserved unpublished by his
family. For its present use acknowledgment is made to Mr.
Milford Galloway, of Palmyra, New York.
Archer Galloway was born in Newtown, now Elmira, in
1790. In that year the family moved to the vicinity of what
is now Palmyra, N. Y., where Archer spent his youth on a
frontier farms He enlisted at 22. After the war he bought
and drove cattle to the Philadelphia market, kept a store,
and engaged in various occupations. He married, and in
1838 moved to Reading, Mich., where he built the first frame
house in the neighborhood, and continued for many years
as surveyor and farmer. He died in 1864. The following
narrative is given as far as possible in his own language,
though parts of it are abridged and condensed:
I know of but two men now living, besides myself, who
were engaged in the war of 1812 [on the Niagara]. They
are Maj. Gen. Scott, and Lewis Kent, now living in Ingham22	PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
Co., this State [Mich.]. War was declared June 18, 1812,
but as early as April of that year Gov. Tompkins, of New
York ordered two companies of volunteers to be raised in
Seneca and Ontario Counties, and to proceed immediately to
Fort Niagara. We volunteered for one year; and on the
18th of May the two companies, one commanded by Capt.
Elias Hall, the other by Capt. Samuel Jennings, left Canan-
daigua for the frontier. The most frequent incident on the
march out was that we had very frequently to lift our bag-
gage wagons out of the mire, for the country was entirely
new and muddy. I think we were eleven days in getting to
Fort Niagara.
From this time on until the news of the declaration of
war was received, our time was spent in preparations for
the coming struggle. Batteries were erected at Lewiston
and other points, guns mounted, etc.; but, oh, how memor-
able was the day on which the news of the declaration of
war arrived—and strange to say the British received it two
hours before we did, and what a commotion and kicking up
of dust by them! It was a caution to young soldiers like
ourselves, and it appeared to us that they were literally run-
ning crazy.
By and by an express came cantering along for our post,
which explained to us the trouble our enemies were in. The
country on both sides of the river was clear, with nothing to
prevent our seeing each other’s movements. Each was ex-
pecting a visit from the other, and much figuring and ma-
neuvering by each were practised with a view to deceive
as to numbers and strength.
Well, now war was literally begun, but not a gun was
fired, for each had all they could do to keep up appearances,
neither party being very well prepared. Soon after, the
United States soldiers arrived to take care of the fort, and
the volunteers moved up the river, stopping a while at
Lewiston, then on to Tonawanda, and finally we brought up
at Black Rock, three miles below Buffalo, and opposite a
place called Waterloo oh the Canadian side. There we
erected our mole batteries, 25 rods long; sods and fascines
were its construction of composition, five feet high andFIRING THE FIRST SHOT.
23
12 feet deep; and after mounting our guns we were ready
for operations. At this time the British had their heavy
guns mounted, facing ours, and they looked rather saucy.
I was an officer and commanded the gun that threw the
first ball at the enemy, at the commencement of hostilities.
Until now, we had not been permitted by our superiors to
get up any quarrel with our neighbors, and were not allowed
to fire a gun except with blank cartridges for the purpose
of practice, and we were tired of lounging and doing noth-
ing. So accordingly the British came near the river and
commenced building a battery, some 30 or 40 men. Now
the question was, should we permit them to do it? We
could do nothing unless slyly done, orders being against
us. However, it seemed most too much to allow our enemies
to erect machines immediately under our noses to kill us
with. We accordingly consulted as to whether we were able
to get a ball in the gun unknown to our officers. One of the
soldiers, Mr. Kent, before spoken of, believed it could be
done, and with permission he would undertake to do it. He
was allowed to try his skill.
After waiting for a favorable opportunity, the ball went
in, unknown to any except those engaged in it. Our next
business was to gauge the gun with the view to have the ball
fall short of them, as we did not desire to kill them but
merely to drive them away.
All things being ready, the match was applied. Bang!
went the gun. The ball struck where we intended. The
British were so completely enveloped in smoke and dust
that not one of them could be seen, but as soon as they could
be we found them running in every direction, some falling
down, others over them. To complete the mortification on
their part, but gratification on our part, we took off our
chapeaux and gave them three cheers.
When our officers made inquiries, who had disobeyed
orders, no one knew anything about it. They did not try
very hard to find out.
Now as each party was waiting for the other, the re-
straint was removed. The next morning the British opened
upon us with long guns. The balls that went over our bat-24
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
teries would take our barracks, which were in the rear.
They were built of poles, and before night not one pole was
left on another; but we paid them in their own coin, and
silenced one gun and knocked down two or three houses, so
they got little or no advantage of us.
Most of our forces being stationed at this time at Lewis-
ton under Gen. Stephen Van Rensselaer, they soon began to
make preparations for invading Canada from that place.
Accordingly, after collecting the forces at the different
points on the river, as many as could be spared, and all
things seeming to be ready, thirteen boats filled with men
armed and equipped according to law appeared on the 13th
of October, 1812, on the Canada shore near Queenston,
all commanded by Col. Solomon Van Rensselaer.* Other
field officers were Gen. W. Wadsworth, and Col. Scott. The
commander being wounded in the ankle before leaving the
boat, he soon after forming the men gave command to Gen.
Wadsworth, and he soon gave it to Col. Scott, who imme-
diately ordered two companies, in one of which I was, to
storm the two forts that were observed on the side of the
mountain, the remainder to form at the foot parallel with it.
Within twenty minutes after forming we had full possession
of all the British works, with their own guns turned on
them; and in 20 minutes more not an enemy was to be seen.
At this time we had 15 men killed and 25 wounded, the Brit-
ish not as many, they having the advantage of us. Within
a short time the British made their appearance again, com-
manded by Brock, formed in line parallel to ours, and when
they came in reach of the guns in the fort we made great
havoc among them, and as they came nearer we gave them
grape and cannister. About this time Gen. Brock and his
aids were killed and their men broke and fled.
We saw no more of the enemy until about three o’clock
in the afternoon, when they made their appearance again,
1600 strong, under Gen. Sheaffe, and so far outnumbered us
* Mr. Galloway calls him “Col.” He had been Adjutant General of New
York since January, 1801. He held that office when the war broke out, but at
the request of his uncle, Major General Stephen Van Rensselaer, he took a
position on the latter’s staff, in which capacity he served at Queenston.FIRING THE FIRST SHOT.
25
that after an hour and a half of hard fighting we were
obliged to surrender. At this time the plain was well strewn
with red-coats. According to official returns our losses
were, killed 78, and 109 wounded; the British had, killed
127, and 191 wounded. Most of the losses occurred in the
second and last battle. Col. Scott displayed great military
tactics with a view to keeping possession of the field, and I
am happy in contemplating the fact that I have served my
country under so brave a soldier and as good a man as Gen.
Scott. I received a bayonet wound at the storming of the
fort.
Early in April the next year the British appeared off
Sodus on Lake Ontario. Consequently all who were able
to bear'arms, for many miles around, were ordered out, I
among the rest, to defend the military stores at that place.
The enemy landed 500 or 600 men, with a view to carry
off the said stores, but by a well-appointed force under
Captain Hull, [we] soon convinced them that they could not
have them, and that they had better go on board of their
boats, which they did in such haste that they by accident or
design threw overboard some 20 muskets which we secured
after they had retreated.
About two weeks after this we had a similar contest with
them at Pultneyville, higher up on the lake..............II. MILITIA SERVICE OF 1813-1814.
AS SHOWN BY THE CORRESPONDENCE AND
GENERAL ORDERS OF
MAJOR GENERAL AMOS HALL.
The following letters and orders, now first published,
are drawn from the original manuscript order book of Major
General Amos Hall, kindly placed at the service of the Buf-
falo Historical Society by his granddaughter, Mrs. Samuel
Johnson of Dowagiac, Mich.
Amos Hall, of English lineage, was born at Guilford,
Conn., Nov. 21, 1761. At the age of 14, as fifer, he joined
a company commanded by his father, Capt. Stephen Hall,
and served until the close of the Revolution, being a ser-
geant when the war ended. In 1788-89 he was connected
with a surveying corps, engaged in surveying lands of the
Phelps and Gorham Purchase in Western New York. In
April, 1790, he bought over 3000 acres in Township Ten,
Range Five, now West Bloomfield, and twro lots in Canan-
daigua village. He settled on his Bloomfield purchase in
1790, where he “kept bachelor’s hall” until, Dec. 11, 1791,
he married Phebe Coe of Granville, Mass., and brought her
to his western home.
In July, 1790, having been appointed United States Mar-
shal, he took the first census of Western New York, em-28	PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
bracing all the territory in the state west of the eastern line
of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase. His returns showed a
total of 1084 persons. There were 205 families, of which
number but 24 lived west of the Genesee River. Sixteen
blacks were reported, of whom seven were free and nine
were slaves.
At the first town meeting of the town or district of Gene-
seo—which included all that portion of the state west of
Canandaigua—held at Canawagas in April, 1791, he was
chosen one of its five assessors, which office he appears to
have held for two years. He was supervisor in ’93, ’94, and
'95; becoming supervisor of Bloomfield on the organization
of the town in 1796. He was surrogate of Ontario County,
i796-’98; member of assembly from Ontario and Steuben,
i798-’99; from Genesee and Ontario in i8o4-’o5, and was
re-elected for 1808, but resigned. He was state senator from
the Western District from 1809 to 1813. He was one of the
corporate trustees of the Canandaigua Academy, 1795, and
held various other posts in the years prior to the outbreak
of the War of 1812.
In 1800, Mr. Hall was appointed Brigadier General of
Militia of Ontario and Steuben counties ; and in 1810 was
made Major General of the Seventh Division. He served
on the Niagara Frontier in the War of 1812, and for a short
time in the opening year of the war was in command of the
forces there. In December, 1813, he was in command of
hastily gathered troops, when, before organization could be
effected,, occurred the battle of Black Rock.
After the close of the war, Gen. Hall was occupied on
commissions for the distribution of landed estates and di-
. vision of lands, a notable instance being the partition of a
100,000 acre tract between an English claimant and the State
of Connecticut, being associated in this work with Gen.
Israel Chapin. He died Dec. 28, 1827, at his home at West
Bloomfield.
The chief value of the documents which follow lies in
the light they shed on the difficulties and embarrassments of
the militia service in the Niagara operations, and of methods
of discipline then employed. Gen. Hall's journal opens with29
MILITIA SERVICE OF 1813-1814.
the following entry, the date in part torn from the manu-
script, but obviously Dec. 24, 1813 :
“Brig. Genl. McClure commanding, by a polite note to
Gen. Hall, assigned the command pro tempore.
“10 o’clock p. m. A letter was rec’d from Capt. N.
Marvin, dated Dec. 24th, morning, stating the enemy’s'
forces at about 300 Indians and 1000 regulars. Reconnais-
sances have been made as far as Beaches fields.”*
• Gen. Hall’s headquarters at this date were at Batavia.
Division orders, issued by him Dec. 24, 1813, directed Lieut.
Col. Lawrence to “take the command of all the militia which
have marched, or are to march to Lewiston from Batavia,
and also of the troops now there under the command of
Lieut. Col. Atchenson [Atkinson], who will be second in
command.” On the 24th and succeeding days numerous
appointments were made; among, others, Dr. Justin Smith
to be surgeon to the detachment of volunteer militia on the
Niagara, under Lt. Col. Lawrence. On Christmas day, that
officer was ordered to join the detachment on the Ridge
Road, march to Lewiston, and if possible to advance to Man-
chester [Niagara Falls] and Black Rock. The volunteer
companies under command of Cols. Blakeslie and Gardiner,
Capts. Hamlin, Rowley and Morehouse and Lieut. Kellogg
were ordered, Dec. 25th, to “be inspected at this place [Ba-
tavia] by Major Mathew Marvin, and march forthwith to
Buffalo, and report themselves to the Major General at that
place.” Following these orders is this memorandum, under
date of Dec. 26th:
“At 12 o’clock took up our march from Batavia to Buf-
falo ; arrived at Harris’s in the evening. Heard a can-
nonading in the direction of Black Rock; it was ascertained
to proceed from a firing commenced on the Canadian side
upon a small vessel which was attempted to be got up the
rapids. Vessel was stopped, no injury.
“Arrived in the morning at Buffalo. Dispatched a mes-
senger to Black Rock, to appraise Gen. Hopkins of arrival;
* I have not succeeded in identifying this point.80
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
requested his attendance for purpose of organizing plan of
operations.’’
On the same day Maj. Gen. Hall issued general orders
from his Buffalo headquarters, to the several corps of troops
on the Niagara frontier, “that by the assent of Brig. Gen.
McClure (to whose command the said Frontier has been
assigned by the Commander-in-chief), he has assumed the
command on said frontier for a short time,” and calling for
full returns of the number and equipment of all the troops.
That evening the General wrote the following letter to the
Commander-in-chief:
Buffalo, Dec. 26, 1813.
Evening.
His Excellency Gov. Tompkins,
Sir :—On my receiving information of the enemy’s cross-
ing the Niagara river, and taking the fort, I imme-
diately set off for that frontier. On my arrival at Batavia I
found a number of volunteers assembled. I tarried one day
to forward them on to the frontier and make arrangements
for those who should follow.
I this day arrived at Buffalo and assumed command of
the troops (being all volunteers) now on this station. The
whole number here and at Lewiston, etc., may amount to
2000 of all descriptions. The enemy have made their ap-
pearance opposite B. Rock, and an invasion is to be ex-
pected.
The troops now out can be kept but a few days—the
troops called out on your Excellency’s last requisition can-
not all arrive at this place until the middle or last of this
week. The order did not reach me until the evening of
the 16th inst.	,
Our loss in the capture of Fort Niagara has been im-
mense. What number of brave men have been sacrificed,
we have not yet been able to learn, it must have been great.
Several inhabitants have been killed at Lewiston, among
whom it is not ascertained there are any women or children.
I have the honor to be, Your Excellency’s most Humble
Servant	AMOS HALL.31
MILITIA SERVICE OF 1813-1814.
The returns made the next day to Gen. Hall showed
forces as follows:	At Black Rock, under Gen. Hopkins,
militia infantry, 389; Indians under Col. Granger, 83;
Capt. Ransom’s cavalry, 37. At Buffalo, under Col. Chapin,
136; under Col. Boughton, cavalry and mounted infantry,
129 ; under Maj. Adams, infantry, 382; under Col. Mallory,
97 ; and Capt. Stannard’s light artillery, 25 ; a total of 1278.
The volunteer corps under Cols. Blakeslie, and Gardiner,
Capts. Hamlin, Morehouse and Rowley and Lt. Kellogg,
were organized into a battalion to the command of which
Col. Blakeslie was assigned. Col. Chapin was directed to
post “a guard of 24 men under command of a subaltern at
the lower part of the village, a guard of six men under com-
mand of a corporal at the guide-post, also a guard of six
men under the command of a corporal at the avenue leading
to the Indian village, to be taken from any corps in the vil-
lage of Buffalo. Eight men under Lieut. Col. S. Boughton
were detached as patrols at Black Rock.
The next day, Dec. 28th, Lt. Farnum was given com-
mand of the batteries at Black Rock, and directed to raise a
volunteer corps to serve under him, not exceeding 60
men. At 10 in the morning all the troops in Buffalo were
paraded and reviewed by Gen. Hall; at 3 in the afternoon,
those at Black Rock were similarly reviewed. The follow-
ing communication, addressed to Gen. McClure, was re-
ceived by Gen. Hall:
Headquarters of Upper Canada,
Niagara Frontier, 27 Dec., 1813.
Sir:—I am directed [by] Lieut. General Drummond to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter addressed to Major
General Vincent on the subject of the excesses said to have
been committed by the Indians at Lewiston. That some
excesses were committed the Lieut. General admits and sin-
cerely laments, at the same time he has the satisfaction of
knowing that every effort was made and every exertion used
by Major General Riall, and the officers and soldiers of the
British force under his command to restrain those excesses.
You sir cannot but be aware of the difficulty or rather the
^ \
132
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
impossibility of effectually controlling an infuriated band
of savages. Major General Riall and the officers under his
orders did however afford effectual protection to all who
remained in their houses. A British soldier, a sentinel, lost
his life in defending a female, an inhabitant of Lewiston,
and no less than nine women and eighteen children saved by
the intrepidity of the Major General and the troops from
the savage fury of the Indians, and now in safety on our
frontier sufficiently attest the anxious [ ? anxiety] of the
British troops and their commander to alleviate as much
as possible to the peaceful inhabitants the dreadful evils of
a mode of warfare, to which the example of the American
Government had compelled us to have recourse. I allude as
well to the employment of Indians by the American Generals
beyond their own frontier as to the burning in which a
number of old and infirm persons and children were left to
perish in the snow, an act which, the season of the year
and all other circumstances considered, is unexampled in
barbarity.
I have the honor to be, Sir, with respect, Your Humble
Servant,	J. HARVEY,
Lt. C., D. A. G., British Troops.
[To] Brigadier General McClure,
Commanding U. States troops, Niagara Frontier.
P. S.—I am instructed to say that immediate inquiry
shall be made for the papers of Capt. Camp and Lieut.
Fraser and if received they shall be sent to them. J. H.
I am directed to take this occasion of enclosing a printed
General Order by his Excellencie the Commander of the
British forces in North America.	J. H., D. A. G.
In forwarding this letter Gen. Hall wrote:
Buffalo, Dec. 29th, 1813.
Brigadier Gen. McClure:
Sir :—Enclosed is a letter received yesterday by flag..
Not knowing but there might have been something that
would have been important to be immediately known by
the commanding officer I took the liberty to open it. I38
MILITIA SERVICE OF 1813-1814.
found it contained an answer to your letter to Gen. Vincent,
and a printed General Order of the Commander in Chief
of the Canadas.
We have now on the frontier, including Lewiston, etc.,
about 2,000 volunteers. I had an inspection and review
yesterday in Buffalo. The troops appeared extremely well
^and all equipped. We have been able to bring a little order
out of confusion, which to be sure was very great when we
arrived. I this day review the troops at the Rock.
I have ascertained that no women or female children
have been butchered in the late affair at N[iagara] and
Lewiston.
The detachment you will please to order on as ex-
peditiously as possible for it will be absolutely necessary
to keep at least 2,000 men on the frontier. The enemy make
considerable movements on the opposite shore, and keep
strict watch by night, by centinels and patrols. I however
do not believe they will attempt to cross unless they find our
force is wasting, which will of course be the case in a few
days, unless the detachment should supply their places.
I have the honor to be .
A. HALL.
An order was given Capt. Kellogg to detach so many
men from any troops in Buffalo as the quartermaster can
employ in the laboratory in the making of cartridges, etc.
(haste prevented a copy.)
On the next day the following letter was dispatched by
one of Gen. Hall’s aids-de-camp:
Buffalo 29th Deer. 1813.
His Excellency Daniel D. Tompkins,
Sir:—I am instructed by Maj. Gen. Hall to enclose you
a return from the Asst. D. Q. M. Genl at this station, of the
ordnance and ordnance stores on hand. I am further in-
structed to state to your excellency that the forces now on
the frontier are mostly composed of Volunteers who have
left their homes under the impression that the tour would be
short, and cannot be retained, consistently for a long period.
The force of the enemy, in regulars and Indians, are from34
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
correct sources ascertained to be about 2,000 of which 800
are Indians. No doubt can exist in the mind of the Major
Genl. of the determination of the enemy to retain possession
of Ft. Niagara, that they are equally determined on the
destruction of this part of the frontier, is derived from re-
cent information direct from the other side.
The militia of the enemy are ordered out and are now
collecting, and their boats have been removed up to Chip-
peway. Under these circumstances, with only 1500 troops
at this station, and those poorly supplied with ammunition,
the Major Genl. feels confident that no time will be lost by
your excellency in forwarding succors of every description.
The troops however I believe will meet the enemy with
spirit should they invade our territory.
The troops of the enemy are commanded by Lieut. Genl.
Drummond. The expedition against Ft. Niagara was under
the command of Major Genl. Riall. No officer killed on the
side of U. S. A.
In Haste your Excellency’s very Obt Servt
HEM AN NORTON, A. D. C.
The following General Orders were promulgated from
the Headquarters, Buffalo, Dec. 29, 1813:
“The Major General returns his thanks to the several
corps of militia under his command on the Niagara frontier,
as well for their civil deportment and soldier-like conduct
since arriving on the frontier, as for their patriotism in
leaving their homes at this inclement season, to meet an
invading enemy and repel a violence [that] threatened the
lives, property and safety of their fellow-citizens. Their
alacrity in flying to arms at the first alarm of danger merits
and will no doubt receive the thanks of their country. At
least they will have the consolation of reflecting that they
have done their duty, although others may have forgotten
theirs.
“The Major Genl. cannot too much applaud the martial
appearance and good conduct of the troops in Buffalo dur-
ing the review of yesterday, and flatters himself with theMILITIA SERVICE OF 1813-1814.
35
conviction that, should opportunity present, they will prove
that their bravery is not exceeded by their patriotism.
“The General is aware that the troops now on this fron-
tier, having left their homes at a moment’s call, are not
prepared to remain any considerable length of time. It can-
not reasonably be expected of them. It is hoped that the
necessity for their absence from their homes and families
will be short. A few days will determine it. Detachments
are making and marching to the frontier. Notice has been
given to the Governor of our situation, and it is confidently
expected that adequate provision will in a few days be made,
to guard our frontier, when the patriotic citizens now in
service, can return to their families and repose themselves
in the confidence of safety.
“The General will not delay for a moment to make
known to his fellow-soldiers, the period when they may re-
turn to their homes in safety, until which time he entreats
their patient endurance of those privations incidental to their
situation.
“The General gives it in strict orders to the several com-
mandants of corps to restrain all irregular firing. He re-
quests his fellow-soldiers to bear in mind that Powder and
Ball are the means of attack and defense, if they waste them
in.idle sport, their continuance on the frontier is worse than
useless.
“The several commandants of distinct corps will cause
this order to be read at the head of their several corps.
“By order of	MAJOR GENL. HALL.
“Geo. Hosmer, A-de-C.”
On this same date, Dec. 29th, we find Aid-de-camp
Norton writing to Capt. Nathan Marvin, conveying Gen.
Hall’s permission for a furlough to his troops until Jan.
10th, and thanking him for his diligence and zeal in the
service. Oa the same day, presumably at a later hour, an-
other message was sent to Capt. Marvin:—“to inform you
that by reason of information this moment received, it has
become necessary to request you will repair without loss
of time to this place with the company under your com-36
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
mand.” Lieut. Lawrence was also summoned to Buffalo in
haste, with his force,, leaving Atkinson to keep guard near
Lewiston. Boughton with twelve men was to patrol the fol-
lowing night from the mouth of Buffalo Creek to eight
miles below Black Rock; and a messenger was sent post
haste through the woods to Batavia with a request to Isaac
Spencer, superintendent of the arsenal, “to forward on to
this place, to the care of Capt. Camp, A. D. Q. M. General,
who will pay the expense of transportation, 2000 lb. of
powder and one ton of lead, or such less quantity as you may
have on hand, together with 3000 flints,” adding, “you will
be sensible to the importance of this requisition.” Even at
this strenuous hour, orders emanating from the Buffalo
headquarters were softened by the word “request.” The
uncertain volunteer militiaman, never very docile under “or-
ders,” was “requested,” praised, and cajoled to do his duty.
There is no record, in the old manuscripts we are fol-
lowing, and for obvious reasons, of the disastrous events
of the next few days. It is matter of familiar record that
011 the evening of the 29th, the British left wing, some 800
regulars and militia and 200 Indians, crossed the Niagara,
landed below Scajaquada Creek, and took possession of the
“Sailors’ battery.” The militia who were ordered by Gen.
Hall to dislodge them, were thrown into disorder by the first
fire of the enemy. The forces under Adams and Chapin
being ordered to carry the battery, they in turn lost heart
after the first exchange of shots, and ignominiously- fled in
the darkness. At daybreak of the fateful 30th, Gen. Hall,
noting the strengthened force of the British and the new
points occupied by them, attempted a defense on a new
plan. Col. Blakeslie’s Ontario men were to attack the En-
glish center; Col. Granger with his Indians, and a small
force of Canadian volunteers under Col. Mallory, were to
attack the enemy’s left wing; while Col. McMahon’s regi-
ment was held in reserve. But so weakened by desertion in
the night were all the American militia, and so lacking in
soldierly spirit were many of those who still stood their
ground, that but a feeble resistance was anywhere made.
Col. McMahon’s corps scattered and cravenly fled, beforeMILITIA SERVICE OF 1813-1814,
37
ever it came under fire. Blakeslie and his men made a gal-
lant stand, but the odds were too great, and they had to fall
back. By this time most of the American forces were flying
through the woods, in company with or even ahead of the
terrified villagers, along the road to Williamsville and Ba-
tavia.
No reproach has ever been put upon Gen. Hall for this
flight. He had done all possible to hold the invaders in
check, had shown courage and readiness, but he found the
raw recruits of the militia a broken reed.
In the Hall documents, there is nothing bearing date
after Dec. 29, 1813, until the following:
Headquarters, Batavia, Jan. 6. 1814.
The A. D. Q. Master Genl. is directed to cause forty
thousand rations of bread and meat to be transported from
Batavia and deposited at or near Forsyth’s on the ridge
road for the use of the troops in that quarter.,
By order of	A. HALL, M. Genl.
The work of reorganization was promptly taken up by
Gen. Hall. On the 5th January, a detachment of 1900 men
was ordered into service. By an order of the 8th these were
to be formed into two regiments; a detachment from the
7th and 24th brigades to form one regiment, under Col. John
Harris; a detachment from the 38th, 39th, 1st and 6th
brigades to form another regiment under Col. Hugh W.
Dobbin; the whole to form one brigade under Brig. Gen.
Burnett. The field and staff officers were ordered to report
at once to Gen. Hall, at Batavia. For some days thereafter,
Gen. Hall’s headquarters were indeterminate. Among his
early dispatches is the following:
Head Quarters, Niagara Frontier, Jany. 7, 1814.
A flag is ordered to proceed by the way of the new state
road south of Batavia to Buffalo and Black Rock, and there
to cross over to the Canada shore, for the purpose of land-
ing in Canada William Dickson [Dixon] Esquire, Barrister
at law, Joseph Edwards Esquire, Justice of the Peace, Will-
iam Ross of the Commissariat department, John Baldwin,38
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
merchant, and John Crooks, merchant, prisoners under safe
conduct on their parole. Lieut. Col. Walter Greeve of the
N. Y. S. Artillery and Major James Ganson are assigned to
bear the flag.
By order of	MAJOR GENERAL HALL.
Geo. Hosmer, A. D. C.
At the same time a letter was dispatched to Lieut. Gen.
Drummond of the British forces, in which Gen. Hall wrote:
“The fortune of war has placed in your power a number of
our fellow citizens as prisoners of war, these are all citizens
called into service on the emergency of the moment. Being
desirous of mitigating as far as is practicable the calamities
of war—and not doubting but you are influenced by similar
desires—I have the honor to request, that you will find it in
conformity with your interests and the claims of humanity,
to discharge on parole the prisoners in your hands.” Three
days later, Gen. Hall having reestablished his headquarters
at Batavia, countermanded the order for sending Wm.
Dixon and his companions back to Canada; they were
however “permitted at their pleasure to return to Cheshire
in the State of Massachusetts, where they will report them-
selves to the agent for prisoners at that place”; Dixon- was
given a passport to visit Washington.
From the Batavia headquarters, Gen. Hall undertook to
dispose his depleted forces as efficiently as possible. Wil-
son’s cavalry were sent out on the Lewiston road. A house
was taken at Williamsville and the army contractor or-
dered to deposit there 100,000 complete rations, to keep good
that deposit, and to issue daily 1500 rations at that place.
Capt. Ridgeway, at the Canandaigua arsenal, was called on
for 100,000 fixed cartridges for muskets, and 2000 flints.
Among the dispatches sent on the 10th was the following,
signed by Aid-de-camp Hosmer:
Headquarters Batavia, Jany. 10, 1814.
[To Lt. Col. Hopkins:]
Sir:—Yours of instant date rec’d and I am instructed
by the Major General to offer you his thanks for your in-
trepidity and bravery displayed in a successful attack on theMILITIA SERVICE OF 1813-1814.	39"
enemies picket on the 8th inst. The General approves of
your sending the prisoners to Canandaigua, at the same time
he would caution you against rashness of enterprise in the
present weak state of your forces. A detachment of 1900
men is ordered out, but cannot be expected on the frontier
under 10 or 12 days at shortest. A supply of arms and am-
munition has arrived and [ ? at] Canandaigua, and have been
ordered on to this place, and he flatters himself that our situ-
ation will in a few days be such as to enable* you to present
an imposing front to the enemy and justify bolder move-
ments.
I have the honor, etc.,
G. H., A. D. C.
On the 10th, a number of Canadian prisoners who had
been held at the rendezvous at Canandaigua were dispatched
in wagons for the cantonment at Greenbush. They were
members of the First Royal and 100th regiments, and the
Canadian militia.
Batavia, Jany. 11, 1814.
Lieut. Col. Swift, Lt. Col. Hopkins,
Gent'm :—Your letter advising me of the approach of the
enemy on your lines I have this moment received. Esquire
Edy [ ?] to whom you referred me for further particulars re-
specting the enemy's forces has not arrived, but I have only
to direct that should you not be able to meet the enemy in
fair fight, that you give him every annoyance in your power,
covering your retreat in the best manner your force will
warrant.
A company of cavalry left this [place] yesterday morn-
ing to join your corps. The detached troops that have ar-
rived at this place have been marched to Williams Ville.
But a large reinforcement is ordered out, and will very
soon be in arms, when we shall be able to meet any force the
enemy can command.
You will [ ? send] me the earliest information of the
enemies movements, and of your situation. I shall give you
every assistance in my power.
Yours respectfully,
A. HALL, M. Gen’l.40
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
N. B.—I shall come out to your cantonment as soon as I
return from Williams Ville. It may be two or three days.
Headquarters Batavia, Jany. 13, 1814.
His Excellency D. D. Tompkins, Governor,
Sir :—Since my last communication there has not any-
thing of importance transpired on this frontier, materially
affecting us.' On the 8th inst., a detachment under the com-
mand of General John Swift (a volunteer) and Lieut. Col.
C. Hopkins with a party of about 70 men' surprised a party
of the British who were procuring wood about mile from
the fort, fired upon them killed 4 of the enemy, lost one of
their own men, and took 8 prisoners; subsequent to which a
large force of the enemy were observed to be in motion,
which induced our troops on that station to fall back 4 or 5
miles to a more defencible position. The affair ended here,
all is quiet.
In consideration of our feeble force, I have cautioned
the commandant on that station against indulging too much
in rash enterprises until our reinforcements shall have ar-
rived, which may be expected here in about 7 or 8 days. I
have ordered on to the arsenal at this place a sufficient sup-
ply of arms and ammunition for the forces now on the fron-
tier, and of those expected soon to arrive, so that I flatter
myself that within a few days I may be able to pronounce
this frontier safe against any encroachments of the enemy.
I regret to add that our loss in killed on the 30th ult.
proves to be greater than I had supposed. On repossessing
the ground, we found that our dead were yet unburied.
There have been already collected about 50 bodies, and
probably there are some yet undiscovered in the woods.
The cannon were not moved by the enemy (excepting the
6-pounder), nor are they materially injured. The enemy
admit their loss in killed and wounded to be 300,
A practice, for which I am at a loss for precedent has
prevailed on this frontier. Officers without any regular
commission at all have been erected majors and colonels by
brevet commission, filled up from blanks by the command-41
MILITIA SERVICE OF 1813-1814.
ing general, and in some instances by a Brigadier of Militia
under which they claim rank in the regular service. I can-
not reconcile it to my sense of propriety or legality to con-
sider such commissions, otherwise than void, and as not con-
ferring any rank. I should be happy to be advised in what
light I am to consider such appointments, as under present
impressions I cannot recognise them, nor certify their ac-
counts to the paymaster.
Brig. Genl. Cass will be in Albany. I have conversed
with him on the subject, and he unites with me in opinion as
to the inefficacy of such appointments.
I have the honor to remain, etc.
A. HALL, M. Genl.
P. S.—Messrs. Dixon, Ross, Edwards, Baldwin and
Crooks, citizens of U. Canada, prisoners of war, have rec’d
passports from the commissary of prisoners to proceed to
Canada, their passports were granted anterior to the late
disturbances and changes on this frontier, I have detained
them a few days, until our reinforcements shall have got on.
I should be happy to learn your Excellencies opinion
whether they should be permitted to pass over at this place.
I do not myself perceive any serious objection to their being
permitted to pass. Gen. Dearborn will know the men.
A. H, M. Genl.
Head Quarters Batavia, Jan. 14, 1814.
Major Riddle,
Sir :—You are directed to march the regular troops under
your command towards Buffalo; you will station yourself
at or near Major Millars, wherever you can find convenient
quarters for your forces. You will keep a patroll from your
camp to Buffalo and Black Rock, and will report yourself to
Brig. Gen. Plopkins, commanding at Williamsville, whose
orders you will respect. In your march you will keep your
. men embodied and subject to orders. Circumstances require
that your march be commenced very early tomorrow morn-
ing and conducted with expedition. Should you discover42	PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
any movements of the enemy causing an alarm, you will
communicate the intelligence to Gen. Hopkins.
By order, etc.
G. H., A. D. C.
Batavia, Jan. 14, 1814.
His Ex. Gov. Tompkins :
Sir :—I have nothing to communicate worth remark since
my letter of yesterday of a general nature. Everything re-
mains quiet at present on this frontier.
There is one thing I omitted to mention (I believe) in
my last, which is of much consequence. There is no camp
equipage, or next to none, for the troops already in service,
and the Q. Master's department give but little encourage-
ment of any being provided. It will be impossible for the
troops to continue service without something to [ ? live] on.
The detachment now making of 1900 men, will want at
least 300 camp kettles. I know not how they are to be ob-
tained—they are not in the country. I am in hopes there
have been some found provided and will arrive. Col.
Lambe will be able to give you the particulars of our situa-
tion more fully than I can write.
I have the honor to be, etc.,	A. HALL.
Head Quarters, Batavia, Jan. 15, 1814.
Sir:—I am directed to reply to your communication, to
say that the Major General cannot recognise Col. Mallory
as an officer in the U. State service his brevet not having
eminated from a legitimate source, nor being predicated
upon any prior regular commission. The case has been
communicated to his Exc’y the commander in chief, for his
direction and advice. At present you are considered the
senior commanding officer of that corps. It Is not a little
singular that two, and these all, the commissioned officers
in the regular service on this frontier, should be stationed
at one recruiting rendezvous, and no oiie should be left to
command the troop on detachment, it is desirable that you
will adjust the difficulty with Capt. Scott, so that some oneMILITIA SERVICE OF 1813-1814.
48
may take command of the troops, and that in the mean time
there be no delay in marching the troops to the station as-
signed them where they can alone, be of any service to the
Government.
I am, sir, etc.,
GEO. HOSMER, A. D. C.
On Jan. 18th, among other orders, was one dismissing
from further service the cavalry and mounted infantry, with
the exception of Capts. Marvin’s and Wilson’s company, and
a guard under Lieut. Abby. Gen. Hall returned his thanks
to officers and privates alike, “for their alacrity in turning
out at this inclement season at the call of their country,
their prompt obedience of orders, their general good con-
duct in camp and bravery evinced in the field.” The same
day the following letter was dispatched. ' It bears no ad-
dress, but was apparently sent to Major General David
Mead, commanding the militia at Erie :
Headquarters, Batavia, Jan. 18, 1814.
Sir :—-Yours of the nth inst., enclosed in a letter from Lt.
Elliott of the 14th was rec’d on the 17th at evening. I am
happy to learn that you are on your guard against supposed
movements of the enemy threatening Erie and the fleet sta-
tioned in that harbor, and at the same time regret that it will
not be in my power to lend you any material aid in the event
of an attack. The forces under my command are small, and
barely sufficient for covering the frontier, and quieting the
apprehensions of the inhabitants. Large detachments, and
these frequent, have been made from my division, and the
militia in the quarter are now exceedingly harrassed with
duty. I shall take care to appraise you by express of any
information that may be in my possession relative to the
enemies movements, which may be material for you to know.
As at present advised I think there is some reason to appre-
hend an attack on your post, should the ice become suf-
ficiently strong, and your post not be strongly guarded.
I presume you have through your executive, or directly,
communicated to the Sec’y at War your situation and that
thereby the Government are possessed of a knowledge of the44	PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
critical situation in which you are placed. It would give me
great pleasure to have such a force under my command as
would enable me to cooperate with you in the meditated plan
of defense and attack, without at the same time exposing the
frontier to further devastation.
I beg you will show this to Lieut. Elliott, who will see
in it an answer to his communication, and that you will at
the same time assure him of my respect and esteem.
I have the honor, etc.,
A. HALL, M. Genl.,
Com’g on Niagara Frontier.
GENERAL ORDERS.
Head Quarters, Batavia, Jan’y 20, 1814.
The detachment of militia from the 7th, 38th and 6th
Brigades will be organized into companies of 100 men each,
officers inclusive. Brig. Gen. will cause them to be mustered
by Major Riddle, who is appointed to that duty. As soon
as the muster is completed, the men will be furnished with
arms, etc., and camp equipage. They will.march under the
direction of the officers of companies to the cantonment
quarters of Gen. J. Swift on the Ridge Road near Lewiston,
where they will report themselves to the commanding of-
ficer on that station.
The officers commanding companies will be held re-
sponsible for damages done by their soldiers on the march,
and they are strictly charged to keep their men in order, and
not suffer any of them to leave their places in the ranks
without permission. Every attention will be paid by the
officers to the men, they will see that their quarters are the
best that can be provided while on the march. The practice
of disorder by firing, which has been a subject of much
complaint and is seriously to be regretted, by militia here-
tofore called into service from the good conduct and or-
derly appearance of the present detachment the Major Gen-
eral flatters himself will in no instance happen. One com-
pany of the detachment from the 24th and 39th Brigades will♦
MILITIA SERVICE OF 1813-1814.	45
be supplied with arms, etc., and commence as soon as they
have been mustered for Williams Ville under the direction
of the commanding officer of the company who will be ac-
countable for the orderly and good conduct of the men, they
will not be suffered to stroll, but will* march in order. The
captain will report himself and company at the command-
ing officer at Williams Ville on his arrival.
A. HALL, Maj. Gen.,
Comm’dg Niagara Frontier.
Headquarters, Batavia, Jan. 21st, 1814.
By permission of the High Sheriff of Genesee County,
a room in the Gaol of said county is to be the provost
Guard House at this station, and Capt. »N. Marvin will fur-
'nish a corporal and four men for provost Guards. The
provost guard will take into custody ---—— Burgess,
charged with holding correspondence with the enemy, and
keep him safely until further orders.
, By order of	MAJ. GEN. A. HALL.
William H. Adams, Acting A. D. C.
Batavia, Jan. 21st, 1814.
Major GenT Mead :
Sir:—This will accompany my letter in answer to yours
of the nth inst. I was not informed until last evening that
the express who brought your letter was waiting for an
answer. I was at that time on the northern part of the fron-
tier and your express came no further than Williams ville. I
had ordered an express to go through to Erie to start this
morning but shall send this by your express.
I have nothing new to inform you of respecting the
movements of the enemy nor 'can I ascertain to my satis-
faction whether their main force is gone on any secret ex-
pedition or not. The following is the latest and I believe
the most correct account to be obtained [a break in the
MS.] except the forces said to be above Chippewa com’d’g
the navy at Erie stating their apprehensions of an attack at46
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
the latter place as soon as the ice becomes sufficiently strong
to pass over which generally happens by the 10th of Feby.
They have requested me to co-operate with them by station-
ing my force at Chatauque. In answer I have been obliged
to state that my force on this station will be small and
hardly sufficient to guard the frontier and quiet the fears
of the Inhabitants. My force may be calculated as follows:
First detachment of 1,000 men at 600; second detachment
of 1900 say 1000, possibly 1200, making at most 1800 men;
this force will be stationed at Williams Vi-lle and near
Lewistown, and nearly equally divided. There are about
150 regulars (such as they are) on this frontier without of-
ficers except a Lieut. Riddle, who I am informed by himself
is ordered to superintend.the recruiting service at this place.
Major Malcomb arrived this evening with orders from Genl.
Wilkinson for those troops to join their several regiments
at French Mills,* etc. The second detachment of militia is
coming in daily and as fast as they can be organized march
on to W. Ville and the cantonment near Lewistown. There
being neither axes nor camp kettles in the Q. Master’s de-
partment I have been obliged to order a partial supply to
be purchased by the A. D. Q. M. Gen. at this place until a
supply shall arrive from Albany which I hope may be soon
or the troops will suffer exceedingly.f
Head Quarters, Batavia, Jan. 23, 1814.
Lt. Col. Jno. Harris will proceed to Hard ScrabbleJ to
the cantonment now occupied by the troops under the com-
mand of Col. Swift, and take charge of the detachment to
the command of which he was assigned by Division Orders
of the 8th inst. Marched and marching to there [their]
* On the Salmon River, near what is now Fort Covington, Franklin Co., N. Y.
f This letter is printed as it is in the manuscript. It Has no signature and
is obviously incomplete. There is also, it would seem, a considerable loss at
the point where a break is indicated, the part before it being on one sheet, that
which follows on another. It is even possible that the two portions are parts
of different letters.
X A camp on the Ridge Road about midway between Williamsville and
Lewiston.MILITIA SERVICE OF 1813-1814.	47
1
station the troops under the command of Lt. Col. Harris
will be quartered in as compact a manner 31s the nature of
the ground and the present barracks will admit, and Col.
Harris will make the proper provision for quarters by build-
ing huts as soon as may be.. Lt. Col. Harris being on the
exterior post will be vigilant in providing against surprise
by sending patrols to Lewiston, by keeping a picquet at
Hustlers and such other place and places as his discretion
shall direct, and by causing patrols to Schlosser, Manchester,
and as near the enemy as he may deem practicable. The
strictest attention will be paid to the comfort and conveni-
ence of the men, to the preservation of their arms, etc. No
parties will be allowed to sally out or stroll from the camp,
nor will any scouts be suffered but by the particular order of
the commanding officer. The commanding officers of com-
panies will be held responsible for the safe keeping of the
arms, accoutrements and ammunition and see that no waste
be committed. Morning reports will be required. Some
house in the rear must be assigned as a hospital and par-
ticular attention paid to the sick. The commanding officer
will pay attention to provision returns and see that they cor-
respond with morning reports.
From the talents and experience of Col. Harris the
Major General has the strongest confidence that the im-
portant post to the command of which he is assigned will
be well secured and that the regulation and discipline of the
troops will be such as to reflect honor on the officers and
soldiers.
By order, etc. WILLIAM H. ADAMS, A. D. C.
Head Quarters, Batavia, Jan. 23, 1814.
Brigr. Genl. Burnett will repair to the cantonment at
Williams Ville (Eleven Mile Creek) and take command of
the troops on that station and in the vicinity. . Genl. Burnett
will cause the detachment under his command to be quar-
tered in the barracks already existing at that cantonment as
far as those barracks will accommodate them, and as near
as may be. Should there not be a sufficient number of huts48
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
to accommodate the whole detachment no time is to be lost
in building, taking care that the troops are quartered in a
compact and regular manner. Genl. Burnett will be vigilant
in providing against surprise by causing picquets, patrols,
etc., at such places and in such directions as his discretion
shall direct. No troops are to be stationed in advance of the
cantonment but by detachment, and the countersign, etc.,
will emanate from cantonment quarters. No men will be al-
lowed to stroll from camp nor any scouts be suffered but
by particular orders of the commanding officer. The com-
mandants of companies will be responsible for the arms,
accoutrements and ammunition of the men and see that no
waste be committed.
The zeal of Brigr. Genl. Burnett in the defence of our
common country as well as the promptitude and decision
which has characterized him in the detachment and organi-
zation of the troops are a sure pledge to the Major General
that the cantonment committed to his charge and the troops
under his command will be in such a state of regularity and
efficiency as to answer the expectations of an anxious and
exposed country.
By order, etc.,
WILLIAM H. ADAMS, Acting A. D. C.
Batavia, Jan. 24, 1814.
General Swift,
Sir :—I have this moment received your letter of 8
o’clock last evening. I regret very much that you have not
a force equal not only to meet but to hunt the enemy back
to the fort. There are four companies of 100 men each on
the way to your relief, one of which must undoubtedly ar-
rive this morning, another in the course of this day, prob-
ably two. That will give you a handsome reinforcement.
One other company will march today and Col. Harris will
move this morning. They are all well equipped. I have no
doubt you will do every thing to repel the enemy should they
attempt to attack you that your force would justify. Your
judgment will direct your immediate operations. I haveMILITIA SERVICE OF 1813-1814.
49
to request that you would stay with Capt. Harris a few days
after his arrival if possible, you will be of great service to
him.
Wishing you success I conclude and am, Sir, your most
humble Svt.,	A. HALL, M. Genl.
James Fox, of the 8th King’s Regiment, a deserter from
Fort Niagara, was examined, apparently at Gen. Hall’s
headquarters at Batavia, on Jan. 26, 1814. He said, he had
left Fort Niagara on the 20th, and that when he came away
there were 700 effective men in the fort, besides 70 or 80
artillerists. “They have wood for three months; Col.
Youngs commands, Col. Hamilton is expected to relieve
him. An expedition to Erie is commonly talked of, in the
army, among the officers. Watteville’s German legion are
expected up.” Fox gave the British force as follows: The
King’s Regiment [the 8th], 500 ; 41st, 600; 1st Royal Scots,
700; 100th Regt., 500; one company of the 89th, 80; of
the marine artillery, 80 ; one company negroes, 100; artil-
lery, 80; dragoons, ioo-; in all, 2740. “No Indians at pres-
ent to be seen.”
On Jan. 31st, Gen. Hall’s headquarters were established
at Williamsville. The next day he sent his special thanks
to Brig. Gen. Burnett, Lt. Cols. Davis and Colt and the of-
ficers generally “for their exertions in regulating the canton-
ment, building and repairing huts, and their indefatigable
exertions to render the situation of the soldiers as comfort-
able as possible.” After extending his commendations to
the soldiers generally for their good conduct and fine appear-
ance on parade, he added:	“There are however some who
lost to every sense of duty and the honor of soldiers, have
deserted the service to which their country had called them.
Such merit the contempt of all good soldiers, and will meet
the punishment due to their crimes.” And he concluded
with the oft-repeated regret that he had not been able to fur-
nish necessary camp equipage, etc.
Two days later he wrote as follows to the Chief Execu-
tive of the State:50
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
Williams Ville, Feby. 2d, 1814.
His Exy. Governor Tompkins,
Sir:—The detachment of Militia from my Division has
been organized into companies of 100 men each and are
now at this place and near Lewiston, amounting to 1100
only. The requisition was for 1900. This statement will
show your Excellency the impossibility of filling a requisi-
tion, and at the present time it is more difficult than usual on
account of the harassed state of the western part of mv
division. I have not been able to discover any late move-
ments of the enemy, but believe a part of their force is gone
on a secret expedition. I have been apprehensive for De-
troit but an officer who arrived this day from Gen. Mead’s
army at Erie assures me that our strength at that place is
sufficient to repel any force the enemy can bring against it.
I sincerely hope he may not be deceived. The troops under
my command are healthy though badly furnished with camp
equipage, there is not a camp kettle, not [a] tin pan to
twenty men. I have been anxiously expecting the arrival of
those necessary articles for the use of the troops, but have as
yet been disappointed. I have this day rec’d letters from
Maj. Gen. Mead stationed at Erie, who states that his force
is now very respectable. He is of opinion that he could give
a good account of the Enemy should he attempt to disturb
him, tho’ he still wishes a cooperation of my force in case of
;an attack. I have written your Excy several letters since I
have had the honor of receiving any from you. I trust your
letters must have been detained or that your other engage-
ments have engrossed so much of your time that you have
not had leisure to answer mine.
I have the honor to be Yr Excy’s most obt. humble sev’t,
A. HALL.
On the same day [Feb. 2] in a letter which bears no ad-
dress, but was, it may be presumed, addressed to Gen. Mead,
he wrote:	“I shall immediately establish my line of ex-
presses to meet and cooperate with yours agreeable to my
former proposal. .	... It gives me great pleasure to
be informed of the improvement of your militia, and shouldMILITIA SERVICE OF 1813-1814.
51
the enemy have the temerity to visit your post I will not
permit myself to doubt but it will end in his total overthrow.
Permit me to give you a sketch of the British force from
the recent information:	Present force, 8th King’s, 500;
41st King’s, 600; 1st Royals, 700; 100th, 500; 1st light
company, 80; marine artillery, 80; 1 company black corps,
100; 1 Co. H[eavy] artillery, 80; 1 Co. dragoons, 80;
[total] 2740. Watteville’s legion German troops are ex-
pected up soon. Indian force, Six Nations, 400; Western
Indians 1000 — 1400. I refer you to Capt. Atkinson for
further particulars.”
Wms Ville, Feby. 6th, 1814.
Capt. Chase,
Sir:—I was not a little surprised on receiving your let-
ler (dated Geneva Febry. 3d by the hand of Mr. Gallaway)
stating that you could get no men to volunteer, and come on
to the frontier with you—the more especially after the state-
ment you made to me at Batavia. I am now however satis-
fied that I was deceived, and by your own statement I am
not to expect any assistance through you. I have to regret
that the public money should have been so misapplied. At
the same time you will permit me to observe, that you will
be required to acct. ior the monies you reed from the Qr
Master’s department.
I have no further orders to give, But find I shall be
necessitated to call on some other company.
Yours respectfully,
A. HALL, M. Gent. Comdg.
Head Quarters, Williams Ville, Feby. 17th, 1814.
The companies of Volunteers under the command of
Capts. Hull & S[t]one in public service will be consolidated
and placed under the command of Capt. William Hull, to
whom is attached Lieut. James Chapin and Ensign Harris
Hibbard. Captn Hull will march with all convenient dis-
patch to Lerches [ ?] Ferry on the Buffalo Creek and keep52	PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
such a guard from thence toward Buffalo as the number
of his corps will warrant, subject to the orders of the officer
of the day. He will make returns to the commanding officer
on the Niagara Frontier.
By order, etc.,
WILLIAM H. ADAMS, Actg. A. D. C.
A communication from Gen. Hall to Capt. Stone, written
the same day as the above, informed him that his company
was consolidated with Capt. Hulks for “the public good.”
“The Major General,” Hall wrote, “has no power to place
any in command but such as are regularly in commission
in the Militia, of this State. The Volunteers heretofore under
your command will be assured their rations and pay, in case
they place themselves under the command of the officers
selected to command the consolidated company.”
Head Quarters, Williamsville, Feby. 17, 1814.
To His Excellency the Governor,
Sir :—I feel it my duty to communicate for the informa-
tion of your Excellency some circumstances necessary to be
known, and which it is thought will require your early at-
tention, and probably the cooperating aid of the Legislature.
In the first moment of alarm on this frontier; for the
purpose of defense, and to supply present deficiencies, arms
and ammunition were provided by any means, wherever they
were to be had, of individuals or otherwise. The ammuni-
tion has in part been paid for on a requisition, by the
Q. Masters department of the U. States, but the arms pur-
chased have not been, nor is there any probability that they
will be paid for by the U. States. Those arms have been
appropriated to the use of the State, and have been turned
into the public arsenals, the individuals of whom they were
purchased, remain to be paid, and are men who cannot with-
out inconvenience remain unremunerated. These purchases
were chiefly made on the authority of Lt. Colo. Davis, and
although the proceeding was not strictly warranted by law
or usage, yet it is presumed your excellency will perceive
in the correctness of the motive a fair claim on the State au-MILITIA SERVICE OF 1813-1814.	53
thority for an assumption of such contracts. The sum
requisite to cover such purchases will probably amount to
10 or 1200 Dollars.
Your Excellency will recollect that immediately after my
assuming the command on this frontier a representation
was made of the destitute situation of our troops as to arms
and military stores—an event naturally resulting from the
loss of the great depot of the munitions of war, Fort Niag-
ara; as well as the other contingent losses of war. This
representation received prompt attention, and a supply it is
understood was ordered on to the frontier. It would have
relieved me from much embarrassment, had there have ac-
companied the arms, etc., a bill of them. But learning that
they had arrived at Canandaigua, and were placed under
the care of Captain Ridgeway a U. S. officer, an order was
given to remove them to Batavia. The arms have chiefly
been delivered out, it is matter of regret that there should
have been so great deficiency of cartouch boxes—a very con-
siderable number of the arms were unsupplied in this par-
ticular. The importance will readily be perceived of sup-
plying this deficiency. Of ammunition and flints there is a
sufficiency for the present.	♦
The camp kettles and pans so much desired have been
received and distributed by the O. M. of Brigade, under the
supposition that it was the property of the State.
I flatter myself that your Excellency will lose no time in
ordering detachments of troops from other divisions into
service to relieve those at present here. On this so mo-
mentous a subject it is earnestly hoped that there may be
no delay, the whole number now on this frontier do not ex-
ceed 1800 men, and the terms of the militia of the 1st de-
tachment called for on the requisition of the War Depart-
ment will expire as soon as new troops can be got out.
Those of the 2d detachment having been ordered out under
the State authority it cannot be thought reasonable should be
much longer detained. The harassing duties of the 7th
division, call loudly for consideration, and it is hoped that
those citizens more happily situated will commiserate and
relieve them.54	PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
From recent information the enemy are undoubtedly in
considerable force near this frontier, and adequate security
cannot be afforded without considerable addition to the num-
bers now in service.
There is another subject I am constrained to press upon
your Excellencies attention ; the troops which have been and
are now in service under the State authority have only the
promise of pay expressed on the Statute book, but it is not
known that any appropriations are made by law for their
pay, nor is it known that the District Pay-master of the
armies of the U. States will feel authorized to pay such
troops without express orders from the War Department.
Some uneasiness has already been manifested on this sub-
ject, and it would afford me much satisfaction to be in-
formed by your Excellency as to what answer I can give to
those who may inquire of me respecting their pay and the
means which may be provided. A satisfactory assurance on
this subject may be of important service.
I have the honor to be your Excellencies most obedient
and humble servt.	A. HALL.'
Head Quarters, Williamsville, Feby. 19, 1814.
Lieut. Colo. Mallory,
Sir :—I have the honor to inform you by direction of M.
General Hall, that an answer from his Excellency the Gov-
ernor has just been rec’d to the letter of the General request-
ing to be informed “in what light he should consider ap-
pointments circumstanced as is yours and the officers of
your corps,” to which His Excellency has been pleased to
reply in the following words:
“With respect to the brevet commissions of which you
spoke in a former letter, I have written to Genl. Wilkinson
and he returns for answer that they were given for a tem-
porary purpose and are not now to be regarded as giving
their possessors rank or pay.”
The General deemed it due to you and the officers of
your corps to communicate thus early the opinion which hisMILITIA SERVICE OF 1813-1814.	55
Excellency the commander in chief entertains of your rank
and claims.
I have the honor to be, etc.,
GEO. HOSMER, A. D. C.
A curious feature of the Williamsville camp was .the
courts-martial. It is evident that the men were hard to re-
strain and keep up to service requirements. Corporal Will-
iam Smith, for firing his gun without orders, and for direct-
ing others to do so, by which a false alarm was occasioned,
was put in the- guard-house on half rations. Peter Brown,
private, found guilty of desertion, was sentenced to the loss
of half a month's pay. The loss of a month's or half a
month's pay was the most frequent punishment inflicted for
the most frequent of offenses, desertion; but the leniency
was no doubt in many cases due to youth. Thus Private
John Lockwood was docked only half a month's pay,
he being under the age of 18 years. The same of-
fense however, committed by Private John Bowerman
brought forth an order for stoppage of half a month's pay,
and that he should sit in stocks two hours on the public
parade; but Major Gen. Plall, “considering the severity of
the weather, orders the execution of that part of the sentence
which requires the prisoner to sit in the stocks suspended
during his good behaviour." For being drunk, while on
guard, Private Cyrus Angell was deprived of half a month's
rations of whiskey, and ordered “to march from right to
left in front of the Brigade, having his arms extended and
lashed to a five-feet pole, with a bottle in each hand, one of
which is to be empty and the other filled." This sentence
was carried out at the evening roll-call, while the Major
General reminded his soldiers that “the law martial makes
the crime of drunkenness in a centry punishable with death
or such other punishment as a general court martial shall
inflict. The ignominious punishment," he added, “now to be
inflicted in presence of the whole brigade the Major General
flatters himself will be a sufficient admonition to others, and
trusts that the crime will not again be committed during this56	PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
campaign.” For disorderly conduct, Private Richard F.
Read was required “to march from right to left of the regi-
ment with his hat under his arm, to kneel to his captain
and ask his forgiveness.” Benjamin Wilber, for desertion,
was sentenced “to suffer the stoppage of half a month’s pay,
to stand in the stocks in front of the regiment two hours
upon the public parade ground for two days in succession
one hour in each day, and to undergo five days’ hard labor
wearing at the same time a clog of four pounds weight fas-
tened to one leg.” And once more the Major General “re-
grets that any soldier should be found capable of the in-
famous crime of desertion, especially when the present situa-
tion of his country and every motive that should actuate a
good citizen form so strong a claim to the faithful and zeal-
ous performance of his duty”; and once more he “flatters
himself that the examples made of those who have deserted
will prevent others from committing this crime, and thereby
preclude the necessity of resorting to the punishment of
death; a punishment which though it is severe is no more
than equal to the enormity of this offense.” Another de-
serter was punished by the stoppage of a month’s pay and
the requirement “to cut up two stumps close by the roots on
the public parade ground, such as the Col. shall designate.”
This was better than the sentence meted out a few days later
to another deserter, who was deprived of all pay, and made
“to march from right to left through the ranks of the Brig-
ade and then from left to right in front of the same with his
hat off and hands tied behind him, followed by music play-
ing the Rogues’ March; to sit an hour straddle of one of the
cannons when the same is mounted with a label posted on his
hat crown in front with this inscription in large letters, viz.,
T became a Substitute for Speculation and am now punished
for desertion,’ and at the expiration of the hour to be
drummed out of camp,” This was done, March 31st at 11
o’clock, and was the most ignominious punishment inflicted
at all of the many courts-martial in that winter’s camp on
the Eleven-Mile Creek. It is probable that desertion had be-
come such an evil that Gen. Flail was constrained to resort
to a harsher punishment than was his wont, notwithstandingMILITIA SERVICE OF 1813-1814.
57
that the term of enlistment of most of the men was just ex-
piring.
The following General Order was promulgated at the
Williamsville Headquarters, Feb. 21, 1814:
“The different members of the late corps of Upper Can-
ada Volunteers will deliver the arms and equipments in their
possession belonging to the public to the Brigade Quarter
Master Maj. Staunton. They will be entitled to draw ra-
tions as Canadian sufferers or refugees from U. Canada.
They together with all Canadian citizens are required to fall
back of the Cantonment at Williams Ville unless the able-
bodied men shall choose to attach themselves to the company
of Volunteer militia under the command of Capt. Hull.”
The winter wore away, with but little to disturb the
camp, and no actual fighting. There was routine duty, as
strictly maintained as possible; undoubted diversion in the
•execution of the court-martial sentences; and both sickness
and desertion to worry the devoted general. On March
20th, their term of service being about to expire, Gen. Hall
directed the discharge of the regiment of detached militia
under Lt. Col. Davis, in the following order: Capt. Kelsey’s
company to be discharged on the 21st, Capt. Matteson’s on
the 22d, and the remaining companies on the 24th inst., the
Major General giving them all a cordial farewell, with
thanks for their service and good wishes for their future.
On the 22d, Lt. Williams was sent across the Niagara with
a flag of truce, to receive some wounded prisoners of war,
who were to be delivered up at the ferry house. On the
25th, certain guards that had been regularly posted “at the
north, east and south openings,” were ordered discontinued.
On the 28th, Brig.-Gen. Burnett was directed to consolidate
several parts of companies belonging to the regiment of de-
tached militia under the command of Lt. Col. Avery .Smith,
to be consolidated into companies of 100 men each, dis-
charging the supernumerary and non-commissioned officers.
On April 6th a general review and inspection were held.
Two days later orders were issued for the discharge from
service of the regiments commanded by Lt. Col. Harris and58	PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
Lt. Col. Dobbins. In the latter’s regiment, the men were to*
be dismissed as follows: On Saturday, Apr. 9th, the com-
panies commanded by Capts. Campbell and Bronson; on
Sunday the 10th, those commanded by Capts. Spencer and
Dunn; and on Monday the nth, Those commanded by
Capts. Woodworth and Swan. In the general orders direct-
ing this disbandment Gen. Hall wrote:
“It is a subject of much regret that those who have left
their employments and the endearments of domestic life for
the defense of the State in the most inclement season of the
year should not meet that pecuniary reward which the laws-
of our country allow them and which they had every reason
to expect from the Government. The Major General assures
the officers and men that he has not omitted to give season-
able information respecting the situation and demands of
the troops under his command, and to request an early at-
tention to their just claims with as much earnestness and
plainness as was consistent with the respect due to superiors.
His exertions shall be continued to procure justice for his
fellow citizens who established so good claims to his respect
and the gratitude of their country. A consciousness of hav-
ing discharged their duty as good citizens and the best
wishes of the Major General for their future prosperity and
happiness accompany each officer and soldier of these meri-
torious corps to their homes.”
On the 10th, Lt. Whitaker was ordered to march his de-
tachment of cavalry to the Williamsville cantonment, to be
mustered preliminary to immediate discharge, and the com-
mandants of companies were ordered to turn over the arms,
accoutrements, camp equipage, etc., to the quarter-master
general. The following, “after General Orders,” issued at
the Williamsville headquarters, Apr. 10th, is the last of the
Amos Hall MSS. in the collection under notice relating to
the militia service on the Niagara:
“The arrival of some battalions of United States troops
enables the Major General to discharge the regiment of de-
tached militia commanded by Lt. Col. Smith on Monday the
nth inst. Col. Smith will cause the several companies to be
mustered preparatory to their discharge, as well as the fieldMILITIA SERVICE OF 1813-1814.
59
and staff officers of his regiment. The Major General re-
quests the officers and men composing this regiment to ac-
cept his thanks for the promptitude with which they left
their homes for the defense of their state, and for their zeal
and good conduct since their arrival. He regrets that they
are obliged to return to their homes without their wages,
and assures them his best exertions shall be used to secure
to them the reward of their patriotism.”
Note.—A long letter from Maj.-Gen. Hall to Gov. Tompkins, dated
“Headquarters, Niagara Frontier, Jan. 6th, 1814,” is printed in Ketchum’s
History of Buffalo, Vol. II., Appendix, pp. 392-396. This letter, not included
in the foregoing collection, gives an account of the principal occurrences on
the frontier from Dec. 22A to 30th, 1813. Of prime importance, it is as there
printed easy of access and need not be reprinted here. In Cruikshank’s Docu-
mentary History of the Campaign on the Niagara Frontier in 1814 are reprinted
from the Buffalo Gazette of Aug. 30, 1814, Division Orders issued by Gen.
Hall at Bloomfield, Aug. 22A. Cruikshank’s Documentary History, Part III.,
relating to the campaign of- 1812, contains several of Gen. Hall’s letters and
reports of that year. Others are perhaps preserved with the MSS. of Governor
Tompkins at Albany; though the volume (Public Papers of Daniel D. Tompkins
.	.	. Military, Vol. I.) edited by Hugh Hastings, State Historian, and
published by the State in 1898, contains no letters from Gen. Hall. Its record
of orders sent to him, and numerous incidental references, will, however, be
found useful to the student.III. TWO DRAMATIC INCIDENTS.
DRAWN FROM AN UNPUBLISHED MS. HISTORY OF
PIONEER DAYS IN THE TOWN OF EDEN, ERIE CO.,
N. Y., IN POSSESSION OF THE BUFFALO HIS-
TORICAL SOCIETY. WRITTEN IN 1864,
BY GEN. ASA WARREN.
I was a sergeant in a militia company in the autumn of
1812 and stationed on Niagara River. On the night of the
capture of the two British vessels, the brig Hunter and the
schooner Caledonia,* I was on my way to Buffalo, and spent
the night at the Dayton farm, three miles below Black Rock.
The flash of the guns were distinctly seen. I started at early
dawn in great haste to ascertain the cause of the firing. As
I came up opposite the British batteries and at the house, I
think, of Mr. Sibley, I saw several men in care of an officer.
I at once recognized Major William Howe Cuyler, aide to
Maj.-Gen. Hall, commanding officer at Buffalo.
At the sound of the firing he had mounted his horse and
rode down the river with a lighted lantern in his hand, as I
was told, an4 when in range of their guns was shot through
the body, and his wrist was broken by grape shot. Thus
* Oct. 9, 1812. Lossing says Maj. Cuyler was killed by the first shot from
the flying artillery, after the capture of the vessels. See Field Book of the
War of 1812, p. 387.62
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
fell the accomplished gentleman, the brave and valiant of-
ficer.
For two months, from July 25, 1814, I was a subaltern
officer and stationed at Buffalo and Black Rock. During
this time I was passing one day, near night, from Black
Rock to Aurora. ,As I came into Main Street I saw a crowd
gathered, and on coming to it I saw a number of Indian
chiefs of the Seneca nation whom I knew—Farmer's
Brother, Pollard, Young King, Major Berry, and others
whom I do not now recall.
They appeared to be in earnest conversation, and I en-
quired of a bystander the cause. He pointed me to an In-
dian who was on trial* as a spy from Canada, and who had
been boasting during the day in the village of Buffalo how
many scalps he had taken from our people and Indians.
The man lay near the wall of one of the burned build-
ings, on his right side, and his left arm covering his face and
eyes. Soon a gun was handed to Farmer's Brother, who de-
liberately walked to him, and putting the muzzle of the gun
near the region of the heart, shot him dead. The young
men of the nation soon took him from the place.
Note.—A brief report of the above execution is contained in the Buffalo
Gazette of Aug. 2, 1814, which says, that the Indian spy was shot on Sunday.
There are several versions of the affair, but Gen. Warren’s, given above, is the
only one known to be by an eye-witness. Ketchum says the execution “took
place upon the east side of Main Street, a little below Swan Street. The build-
ings having been burned, most of the lots remained vacant.”—History of
Buffalo, Vol. II., p. 117.IV. A HERO OF FORT ERIE.
DID HE CAUSE THE EXPLOSION OF THE BASTION, AUG. 15, 1814?
TETTERS RELATING TO THE MILITARY SERVICE, CHIEFLY ON
THE NIAGARA FRONTIER, OF
LIEUTENANT PATRICK McDONOGH.
The following letters were written by Patrick McDonogh,
lieutenant in the Second Artillery, United States Army,
whose service on the Niagara frontier during the War of
1812 was brilliant and effective. A peculiar interest has al-
ways attached to McDonogh’s memory because of his gal-
lantry at Fort Erie in repelling the assault of the British,
August 15, 1814, and because of the oft-repeated assertion
that it was he who, though mortally wounded, blew up the
northeast bastion, and by this sudden slaughter of the at-
tacking force, saved the day for the Americans, or at any
rate hastened the abandonment of the assault by the British.
The evidence bearing on Lieutenant McDonogh’s part in
the affair is by no means conclusive; though his latest and
perhaps most painstaking biographer, Miss Isabel M.
O’Reilly, having brought together all available data on the
subject, shows that the story is in a high degree probable.*
* Miss O’Reilly, a corresponding member of the Buffalo Historical Society,
^contributed to the Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of
Philadelphia, an article entitled One of Philadelphia's Soldiers in the War
.of 1812, in which she sketched the career of Lieut. McDonogh, so far as
known, quoted from various documentary and published sources, statements
bearing on his part at Fort Erie, and published for the first time, in the
Society’s Quarterly for December, 1901, and March, 1902, the McDonogh let-
ters which, by kind permission of Miss O’Reilly and the American Catholic
Historical Society, are reprinted in the present volume. Our introductory notes
-are in part summarized from Miss O’Reilly’s article.64
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
Patrick McDonogh was born in Dublin, about the year
1786. It was, apparently, in 1793 that his parents with their
four children, came to America, where after short sojourns
in New York and Baltimore they removed to Philadelphia,
which became the permanent home of the family. When
war with England was declared in June, 1812, young
McDonogh, with several companions from Philadelphia,
very promptly hastened to Washington and procured com-
missions in the regular army. Nearly all that is known of
his life during the next year and a half is what is contained
in the letters that follow, preserved by his sister Anne, to
whom some of them were addressed. The earliest of the
letters is dated at the rendezvous, Trenton, June 26, 1812—
only eight days after President Madison signed the declara-
tion of war—and the latest document in the collection, an
order addressed to Lieut. McDonogh at Ft. Miflin, is dated
Jan. 19, 1814. Nothing has yet been found, after that date,
either in letters, official papers or the family annals, to tell of
his subsequent movements until the following August. The
presumption is that shortly after the order of Jan. 19th, re-
lieving him from duty as recruiting officer at Philadelphia,
he rejoined his regiment on the Niagara. The brigade to
which he was attached shared in the battles of Chippewa
and Lundy’s Lane (or Bridgewater), and in the reports,
receives frequent mention for gallantry, but no individual
mention is made of McDonogh. The English garrison at
Fort Erie capitulated on July 3d. Major-Gen. Jacob Brown
placed Lieut. McDonogh and a small garrison in charge of
the fort, which McDonogh did much to strengthen, deepen-
ing the ditches and raising the bastions. “He also took out
the line of pickets on the west flank and began the con-
struction of a redoubt to protect the bastions.” * Without
going at length into the familiar story of the British assault
and siege, it is well to call attention to the part which, ac-
cording to official and other reports, Lieut. McDonogh bore-
in the events culminating in the explosion. The assault took
place at two o’clock on the morning of the 15th of August..
* Babcock’s The Siege of Fort Erie, pp. 25, 26.A HERO OF FORT ERIE.
65
Some account of Lieut. McDonogh's participation in the
early part of the action is found in a pamphlet published
some years after to advance the political interests of John
G. Watmough, who, like McDonogh, was a lieutenant in a
company commanded by Capt. Alexander J. Williams. The
Watmough pamphlet says:
“The night of the 15th of August was fixed by the
British for their final attack. It was dark and rainy and
every way calculated to promote the success of the assail-
ants. .	.	. The attack was made at various points by
three heavy columns of choice troops, led by most dis-
tinguished officers and sustained by a heavy reserve and a
body of 700 or 800 Indians. .	.	. The American of-
ficer who commanded the picket guards in our front was
young and entirely inexperienced—he had joined the army
but a few days beforehand knew nothing of war. His or-
ders were to hold on firmly until the attack began and then
retreat slowly within our lines:	He entirely mistook their
object, and upon the report of the first gun from the Ameri-
can left he commenced his own retreat without waiting to
be attacked and in spite of the entreaties of his brave vet-
erans. The error sprang from ignorance, not from want
of patriotism or courage; it had, however, nearly proved
fatal to the American army. The officers of artillery sta-
tioned in the advance battery ... were at their posts,
and keenly on the alert, .	.	. when suddenly, with-
out the previous notice of a single shot, the trampling of
feet and the sound of voices were heard under the muzzle
of their guns. The brave McDonogh was the first to leap
upon the parapet and demand, in a voice of thunder, ‘Who
goes there?' The watch-word was instantly returned, and
the officer of the picket attempted to excuse his conduct.
McDonogh replied, ‘Return, sir, instantly, and die upon your
post—'one moment's delay and I'll blow you and your com-
mand into ten thousand atoms.' The young man obeyed,
but scarcely had he advanced two hundred yards before
he encountered the enemy. .	.	. Our gallant band re-
ceived them with a tremendous fire of artillery and mus-66
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
ketry, and the British were repulsed at every point. The un-
remitting and destructive fire of our brave artillerists pro-
duced a scene of most appalling grandeur. Every avenue
of sense conveyed some idea of horror. The thick gloom of
the night, only broken here and there by the glare of the
lightning and the bright flash of the guns; the alternate
roar of the cannonade and the death-like stillness of those
solemn intervals of silence which interrupt the tumult of
war; the lurid smoke which hung like a mournful curtain
over the field of carnage; the shrieks of the wounded and
dying and the yells of the hostile Indians—all combined to
produce a spectacle of sublime reality. They [the British]
returned five times to the attack, determined to conquer or
perish in the attempt. The sixth assault was attended with
better success. Colonel Drummond, who attacked Wat-
mough’s battery [ ?■Williams’s] with a column of one
thousand men, effected a footing on the bastion and charged
the defenders while in the very act of reloading their guns.
The Colonel himself led the forlorn hope. .	. .A per-
sonal conflict of great violence ensued and continued for
some time with alternate success. In a desperate resolve to
repel the foe, the brave, the intrepid Williams and
McDonogh fell. .	.	. The incident related above suf-
ficiently indicates the character of McDonogh/’
The report of Brigadier-General Gaines to the Secretary
of War, dated Fort Erie, August 23, 1814, contains the fol-
lowing :
“Sir:—I have the. honor to communicate .	.	. the
particulars of the battle fought at this place on the 15th
inst., .	.	. which terminated in a signal victory in
favor of the United States arms. ... Fort Erie
[was defended] by Captain Williams, with Major Trimble’s
command of the Nineteenth Infantry. .	.	. The night
was dark and the early part of it raining, but the
faithful sentinel slept not. One third of the troops were
up at their posts. At half-past two o’clock the right column
of the enemy approached, and though enveloped in darkness
was distinctly heard on our left and promptlyA HERO OF FORT ERIE.
67
marked by our musketry. ... My attention was now
called to the right, where our batteries and lines were soon
lighted by a most brilliant fire of cannon and musketry.
It announced the approach of the center and left columns of
the enemy, under Colonels Drummond and Scott.
That of the center, led by Colonel Drummond, was not long
kept in check. It approached at once every assailable point
of the fort, and with scaling ladders ascended the parapet,
but was repulsed with dreadful carnage. The assault was
twice repeated and as often checked, but the enemy having
moved round in the ditch, covered by darkness added to the
heavy cloud of smoke which had rolled from our cannon
and musquetry enveloping surrounding objects, repeated
the charge, reascended the ladders, and with their pikes,
bayonets, and spears fell upon our gallant artillerists. The
gallant spirits of our favorite Captain Williams and Lieu-
tenants McDonogh and Watmough, with their brave men,
were overcome; the two former and several of their men
received deadly wounds. Our bastion was lost. Lieutenant
McDonogh, being severely wounded, demanded quarter; it
was refused by Colonel Drummond. The Lieutenant then
seized a handspike and nobly defended himself until he was
shot down with.a pistol by the monster who had refused him
quarter, who often reiterated the order, /Give the damned
Yankees no quarter.’ This officer, whose bravery if it had
been seasoned with virtue should have entitled him to the ad-
miration of every soldier—this hardened murderer—soon
met his fate. He was shot through the breast by-----------
of the ---------regiment while repeating the order to give
no quarter. .	.	. Major Hindman’s efforts, aided by
Major Trimble, having failed to drive the enemy from the
bastion with the remaining artillery and infantry in the fort,
Captain Birdsall, of the Fourth Rifle Regiment, gallantly
rushed in through the gate-way to their assistance, and with
some infantry charged the enemy, but was repulsed and the
captain severely wounded. A detachment from the
Eleventh, Nineteenth, and Twenty-second Infantry, under
Captain Foster, of the Eleventh, were introduced over the
interior bastion for the purpose of charging the enemy;68
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
Major Hall, Assistant Inspector-General, very handsomely
tendered his services to lead the charge. The charge was
gallantly made by Captain Foster and Major Hall, but
owing to the narrowness of the passage up the bastion, ad-
mitting only two or three men abreast, it failed. It was
often repeated and as often checked. The enemy’s force in
the bastion was, however, much cut to pieces and diminished
by our artillery and small-arms.
“At this moment every operation was arrested by the ex-
plosion of some cartridges deposited in the end of the stone
building adjoining the contested bastion; the explosion was
tremendous; it was decisive; the bastion was restored
[ ? destroyed].
“Major Hindman, and the whole of the artillery under
the command of that excellent officer, displayed a degree of
gallantry and good conduct not to be surpassed. The par-
ticular situation of Captain Towson and the much lamented
Captain Williams and Lieutenant McDonogh and that of
Lieutenant Watmough as already described, with their re-
spective commands, rendered them most conspicuous.”
Miss O’Reilly writes that “according to the unques-
tioned traditions of Lieut. McDonogh’s family, this ex-
plosion [in the bastion], so momentous in its consequences,
was attributable to his act. Wounded, not killed, by
the shot from Col. Drummond’s pistol, he saw his brave
comrades overwhelmed by the superior numbers of the
British, the nobly-defended bastion lost, the fort in danger
of capture. Forgetful of himself and the pain of his
wounds, he thought only of his country and of the honor
of her gallant army; he was heard to order back his men,
to exclaim, ‘May God have mercy on my soul,’ and then
with a supreme effort he mustered his fast ebbing strength
and threw a ‘lighted fuse or match into the ammunition
chest which was under the platform of the demi-bastion.”
She supports this “family tradition” with a variety of cor-
roborative evidence. “This version of the affair, it is said,
was given to McDonogh’s parents by his soldiers and fellow-
officers who had been with him during the assault, when69
A HERO OF FORT ERIE.
.they returned to Philadelphia.” She cites several early pub-
lications which give substantially the same version.
The student of the episode is reminded, however, that
several other explanations of the explosion have been given.
Lossing, in his Field Book of the War of 1812, quotes
from a letter written to him by one Jabez Fisk, then [1867]
living near Adrian, Mich. This veteran, who was in the
fight, wrote to the historian: “Three or four hundred of the
enemy had got into the bastion. At this time an American
officer came running up and said, 'General Gaines, the bas-
tion is full. I can blow them all to hell in a minute/ They
both passed back through a stone building, and in a short
time the bastion and the British were high in the air.
General Gaines soon returned, swinging his hat and shout-
ing 'Hurrah for Little York!’ This in allusion to the blow-
ing up of the British magazine at Little York [Toronto],
where General Pike was killed.” Only by assuming that
this reckless soldier was Lieut. McDonogh, can one recon-
cile this story with the McDonogh family tradition; an
achievement made the more difficult by the fact that Lieut.
McDonogh was mortally wounded, before the explosion oc-
curred. Another account attributes the explosion to a cor-
poral of American artillery, who disguised himself in the
red coat and cap of a British deserter, and pretending to be
busy in working a gun, applied a slow match to the am-
munition under the platform, making his escape before the
explosion occurred. Gen. Drummond’s official report states
that the ammunition under the platform caught fire from
guns that were fired to the rear. Numerous other explana-
tions, attributing it to accident in one form or another, are
to be found in the reports and correspondence of the time.
It will probably always remain an unsettled question.
It is not known where Lieutenant McDonogh was buried,
if, indeed, his remains were recognizable and were buried
at all. A member of the family visited Buffalo some years
ago, and wrote [in 1887 or 1889] :
“I tried to find McDonogh’s grave while I was at Buf-
falo. Those killed at Fort Erie were buried at Black Rock,70
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
and the cemetery there was abandoned some years ago,
the remains of the Fort Erie victims being removed to the
present cemetery and buried in a ■soldiers’ lot, along with a
number of those who were killed in or died during the re-
bellion. The graves of the latter are marked, but there are
seven unmarked belonging to those removed from Black
Rock, and among them is probably McDonogh, though
there is no record of his name and no means of identifica-
tion so far as I got.”
. The letters of Lieut. McDonogh, so far as preserved,
relating to his service in the War of 1812, follow in chrono-
logical order. It may be noted that his own signature cor-
rects the usual spelling of his name, which in most of the
histories appears erroneously as “McDonough.” Various
family and personal matters are omitted, as of no historic
import.
COPY OF LETTERS WRITTEN BY PATRICK
Mc.DONOGH, OF PHILADELPHIA, LIEUTEN-
ANT IN THE SECOND REGIMENT, U. S. ARTIL-
LERY, DURING THE WAR OF 1812.
District Rendezvous, Trenton, June 26th, 1812.
Dear Father & Mother:—I arrived here safe on
Wednesday and immediately took charge of the men en-
trusted to my care which I am very much pleased with. I
am likewise pleased with the situation.
Dennis* was waiting for me on the wharf when. I ar-
rived. I saw him this morning but was engaged in taking
the men down to the river so that I could but salute him. I
don’t think he is as well as when he left Philadelphia, and
he says himself that he expects to die about October next.
The sergeant could not find Richards to get my mattress
so that I have been sleeping these two nights past in a tent
* Supposed to be a brother of John O’lBrien, the lieutenant’s brother-in-law,
husband to his sister Anne. He died of consumption not very long afterwards.
He had been in the English army before he came to America.71
A HERO OF FORT ERIE.
on straw, as the Garrison Rules are that no officer or private
shall sleep out. I wish you could have them (my mat-
tresses) put on board of the Trenton Packet for me. She
lies at Arch Street Wharf. Direct to Lieut. McDonogh,
Trenton Depot. I forgot my clarionet which I would wish
to have also.
Capt. Connelly passed through here the day after I ar-
rived, I am told for Philada. I saw Mr. Andrews on his
way to Phila. yesterday. Deveraux is here acting as Quar-
termaster’s Sergeant. He made himself known to me the
day after I arrived here.
I have seen Adjutant General’s orders issued to the of-
ficers of the army requesting them to send in their claims
if they have any on account of former services either in the
army or volunteers so that they may be enabled to rank the
officers on correct principles. I shall write to-morrow to
the Adjutant. .	.	. I shall know by the middle of
next week whether I will be allowed to remain here or not.
If I do not you may expect to see me the week after. I am
with affection & esteem, Your dutiful Son
PATK. McDONOGH.
New York, Septm. 7th, 1812.
Dear Father & Mother :—I would have written to you
from Brunswick but my orders to proceed to this place were
so short that I had not time. I arrived here yesterday after-
noon in the stage. .	.	. I expect we shall sail for Al-
bany tomorrow morning where I shall write on my arrival.
Give my love to my sisters & all. ... Your affection-
ate Son	PATK. McDONOGH.
Camp near Green Bush, Septm. 13th, 1812.
Dear Parents :—I arrived here on Friday last, after a
very pleasant sail of four days up the Hudson, which made
up in some measure for the disagreeableness of the first part
of our journey; after leaving Philad. on the 3d inst. we
did not arrive in Trenton until late in the afternoon of the72
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
4th, and had then to encamp on the wet ground, it pouring
rain, which continued until the morning of the 6th. On
the 5th the men made a march of 25^ miles (to Bruns-
wick) notwithstanding the rain and the badness of the
roads; from thence they were transported in boats to New
York; and then to Greenbush opposite to Albany, & within
iy2 miles of our present encampment.
We are now under marching orders; will strike our
tents and take up our line of march for Plattsburg or Niag-
ara on the 15th inst. I was not as much gratified on my ar-
rival as I expected to have been with the sight of 3000 men
encamped, as they are not encamped in line, but in Regi-
ments. The ground they occupy is about three miles in cir-
cumference and is very uneven. Each Col. has the ex-
clusive command of his own Regt. General Dearborn does
not quarter in camp with us. He is a fine old gentleman
and makes a very soldierly appearance. We were all in-
troduced to him on our arrival. He was much pleased with
our appearance and could not be persuaded our men were
recruits. You have no idea of the number of Troops that
daily enter and leave our camp. There have been abopt
3000 marched from this already; on the day we arrived
there were one company of light artillery from New
England, & two of heavy from Governor’s Island that
landed with us this morning a very handsome company of
artillery left here for Niagara; tomorrow the 5th Regt of
Infty goes; the day after it will be our turn with another
company of the same Regt. & on the 20th and 25th there
will be a Regtn. or two more.
Plattsburg is about 107 or 8 miles from here; Colo. Scot
does not yet know our place of destination, if I have time
after I hear, I will write, & let you know before we march.
I am very much pleased with the Col. (he does everything
to make us happy and comfortable) and with the officers
generally. I write this on my trunk; we have so little
time & our stay is so short that we have had no camp' fur-
niture made. .	.	.1 am affectionately yours
P. McDONOGH.A HERO OF FORT ERIE.
73
P. S.-^-Tell the Major* there are large barracks building
here. They will be finished by the time the drafted militia
are sent on; but he is not to be expected to be quartered in
a mansion house or a masonic hall; they are frame build-
ings, and well sheltered from the Norwesters by a range of
hills in their rear. General Smyth, the Inspector General,
quarters in a part of them that is finished. He goes with the
5th Regiment of Infantry to-morrow. I forgot to mention
that there is a man to be shot to-morrow afternoon for de-
serting his post while on guard. He is one of the finest
looking soldiers in camp and had but ten months to stay.
He belongs to the Light Artillery.
Septm. 15th, 1812, 10 o’clock at night.
I could not get over to Albany to put this letter in the
post-office, we were so busy preparing for the march; nor
could we get off to-day as was contemplated, on account of
the difficulty we found in procuring our ordnance and am-
munition; but we are now ready and will positively start
at daylight for Niagara where I expect we shall have plenty
to do.
The man that was to be shot has been pardoned by the
General with a promise that it would be the last (pardon).
All the troops were paraded and the criminal was blind-
folded when the pardon was read.
I wish you would write to Niagara so that I may hear
from you before I march again.
P.; McDONOGH.
Camp Geneva, Septm. 27th, 1812.
State of New York.
Dear Father & Mother I take every opportunity of
letting you know where I am, for I assure you the only-
uneasiness I have is on your account fearing that you should
be unhappy or anxious to hear the result of our campaign.
* A little pleasantry at the expense of John Maitland, his brother-in-law,
who held a major’s commission in the Ninety-third Regiment, Pennsylvania
Volunteers, and took the field with it for the defence of Philadelphia during
the war.74
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
We are now 187 miles from Albany and 447 from Phila-
delphia, by the route we have come. We left Greenbush on
the 16th inst. & arrived in Albany; on the 17th we marched;
passed through Schenectady, a handsome city, crossed the
Mohawk River and encamped on its banks; the 18th, pro-
ceeded on our march up the Mohawk turnpike 75 miles, re-
crossed the Mohawk and entered Utica on the 25th. Utica
surpasses for beauty and size any city that I have seen since
I left Albany. The road so far has been a road of villages,
generally handsome, laid out with a great deal of taste and
containing more elegance and fashion than you would ex-
pect. The churches and public buildings in them might
occupy a distinguished place in Philadelphia.
After writing my last letter we marched but half a mile
that afternoon, and the following morning we passed
through the Oneida tribe. We were much pleased with the
reception they gave us: the Indian men were paraded on
one side of the road saluting us, and the squaws on the other
with baskets filled with fruit which they distributed among'
our men.
We are now between the lakes,—having crossed the
Skaneateles and the Cayuga are now on the banks of Sen-
eca. The next will be Canandaigua, sixteen miles from here.
I never thought I could become so accustomed to marching;
after measuring twenty miles I can rise the following morn-
ing as cheerful and light for twenty more as if I had not
marched a mile, and as to eating and sleeping, we dare not
think of such a thing out of camp. We often halt and sit
down in the middle of a field after marching from ten to
fourteen miles to dine on crackers and milk. But you are
not to suppose that we have to put up with this always,—
we sometimes have better. The men stand it very well; we
have no trouble with them; in all the different changes—
wet or dry, warm or cold, they are in good spirits.
We are but 130 miles from Niagara. I expect we shall
move shortly after we get there, as. there will be a sufficient
force collected at three different points to enter Canada (at
Niagara, Plattsburgh & Detroit), but you may be sure you
will hear from me before we leave there.A HERO OF FORT ERIE.
Give my love to Anne, Mary and all the family. I shall
charge my memory with all that occurs, to recount next
winter—this time next year—in old Philadelphia, when we
will be all happy and comfortable (I hope in God) round
a good fire,—which, dear Father and Mother, is the first
wish of your
Affectionate and dutiful son
PATRICK McDONOGH.
When you write you will direct to Lt. McDonogh, 2nd
Regmt., U. S. Artillery, Niagara.
Camp Lewiston, October 16th, 1812.
My dear Sister :—I cannot conceive what can be the
cause of my father or mother not writing to me. I have
written four letters and received no answer. My last was
on the night of the 12th inst.* previous to our marching for
this place where we arrived the following morning before
day when an unfortunate action commenced. I say unfor-
tunate for it was truly so for us. Half an hour before day
the troops crossed (composed principally of militia and
about 600 regulars) under a very heavy fire from the
enemy’s batteries of red-hot shell, grape and round shot. In
less than two hours the two batteries were taken and their
troops retreated in all directions leaving us in complete pos-
session of the hill and landing. A skirmishing ensued which
lasted until two o’clock, the Englishmen dropping in all
quarters; but after collecting their forces for seven miles
around, they brought a strong reinforcement of English and
Indians, and from that moment the scene began to change,
although obstinately contested by our men who fought like
heroes but without regularity or order, being entirely con-
ducted by militia officers. Major General Vanrenselaer—
who ordered the attack, for certainly there was no plan in
it, there being not even boats provided to take us over—is a
General of this State, and I believe wished to have the merit
of doing as much mischief as he could without the assistance
* The letter here alluded to is. not included in the collection.\
76	PAPERS OP THE WAR OF 1812.
or advice of an officer or private of the regular army. It
was with difficulty that we could procure permission to par-
take in it. General Smythe and his brigade were on their
way to this place—his brigade consisting of twelve hundred
fine men—when he (VanR.) sent an express with orders
for him to return, when two or three hundred Regulars at
furthest more than we had would have decided in our favor
and prevented our brave soldiers from being made prison-
ers. The Militia whilst in action fought bravely, but they
would leave it when they thought proper, and could not be
prevailed on to return. Out of the 600 Regulars there are
not more than 250 that are not killed or wounded and 130
are prisoners. Our Colonel is a prisoner, Lt. Roach is
slightly wounded through the arm by a rifle-ball, and none
of our men dangerously. Major Mullany is a prisoner:
when the troops surrendered he hid himself in the rocks
for a day, but the English sent two officers and two officers
that were prisoners and a strong Guard to prevent the In-
dians from scalping those that were scattered, which they
were busily engaged in doing, when the Major with six
privates gave himself up. He behaved very well during
the action. The English have lost most of their officers—
General Brock was killed and his aid, McDonald of Detroit,
mortally wounded; the 49th Regiment had half their
choicest men that they boasted so much of cut to pieces; of
two fine Companies of Grenadiers not a man left, and a great
many Indians killed. They can say that they defeated us
but they have no more to boast of—you may guess that they
were well pinched. The battle ended between four and five
P. M.,—fifteen minutes later a flag of truce arrived request-
ing a cessation of hostilities for three days. It was granted
and will terminate to-day.
General Smythe’s Brigade arrived here yesterday; the
Major General has given up the command to the Brigadier
and will I am in hopes return to civil life. I think that in
a few days we will make them look about them and hope
to direct my next from Canada. This is a very poor coun-
try,—miserable roads, and nothing to be had for love or
money. The land opposite is very inviting, it looks wellA HERO OF FORT ERIE.
77
and I understand they live well. The river between us is
not wider than the Schuylkill. We are about six miles
below Niagara Falls and within seven of Lake Ontario.
I hope you will answer this immediately and let me know
how you all are; I will be very uneasy until I hear. .	.	.
This letter will not I am afraid be a very pleasing one, being
entirely filled with war, but I assure you we know of noth-
ing else here. Excuse scribbling,—my trunk is my table.
I close, expecting to be in action shortly. They have rec’d
a reinforcement opposite; we hear a heavy firing from the
forts 7 miles distant. Direct to fort Niagara or near it. I
remain your affectionate brother,
P. McDONOGH.
I have spoken with a great deal of freedom of my oL
ficers, which if made public might injure me.
Black Rock, Novmb. 15th, 1812.
I yesterday rec’d yours of the 13th of October. .	\
I cannot account for the detention of your letter on the
road; it must have remained some time at Niagara- al-
though I had written to the postmaster requesting him to
send the letters up immediately on their arrival. I am sorry
to hear Denis is no better; I thought the country would
have benefited him. He as a soldier knows too well our
situation to suppose we have leisure or convenience [for
correspondence]. When I.have something worth telling I
will sit down and make his eyes sparkle. Here we are some-
times in grand spirits, at others in the dumps; when there
are any signs of crossing we are cheerful, but the thought
of passing a dull winter on the banks of the River brings
down the lip. Since my last the Infantry were ordered to
build huts to quarter in ; after they had pitched upon the
ground and some companies had struck their tents to march
to it, an express arrived from General Dearborn or the
Secretary of War which caused the order to be counter-
manded; and General Smythe in an address to the men
of the state of New York says that in a few days we shall
plant the American standard in Canada, that we will con-78
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
quer or die, and that no savages shall cross to tarnish our
ungathered laurels by ruthless deeds*; before this reaches
you it will be in the Philadelphia newspapers. There was
an order issued yesterday that the officers should dress as
much like the soldiers as possible, so that they could not be
distinguished from them at 150 paces, and that the soldiers
should be drilled in squatting, or lying down and loading
their muskets. There are from 1500 to 2000 drafted militia
coming on from Pennsylvania, 200 of which, they say, are
rifle-men, and that they will all cross. They are within two
or three days march of here. After they get a few days
drilling we may expect to move. It has been snowing
lightly for the three past days, but the bottom not being
good the snow has not remained any depth on the ground.
My next I hope will be from Canada after a
glorious victory. .	.	. Direct to Buffalo:—it is within
2j^> miles from here.
Dear Parents I am your affectionate and dutiful son,
P. McDONOGH.
P. S.—Roach is getting much stronger—he sits up part
of the day. Major Mullany is still here and says he will
remain until we get the town mayor opposite to exchange
for him.	P. McD.
14th.—I open my letter to mention the probable time
the armistice will cease. I have just rec’d orders to go to
Niagara with twenty men for the purpose of bringing up
all the ammunition & camp equipage there and to have
them here by the 20th at furthest, when you may expect
hostile operations will begin.
Williamsville, December the 14th, 1812.
Dear Parents:—I received yours of the 10th this mo-
ment and one dated the 17th of last month on the 10th inst.
It surprised me to find that Smith, who sutlered for us at
Mantua, should furnish you with my bill, as I expected he
* Referrihg to the bombastic address of Brig.-Gen. Smyth, whose name is
usually mis-spelled in Lt. McDonogh’s letters.A HERO OF FORT ERIE.
79
was coming after us as he promised, & which indeed pre-
vented me from paying him until I could better spare the
money. He has, however, found means of adding to the
amount as it was originally but 8 dollars, and in saying he
lost by the officers of our detachment he said what was in-
famously false as all but myself settled with him. He
might have come on after us to Albany; but we left him
in Philad. I give you my word that I have not reed, a cent
of pay since I left you nor do I want money more than to
settle what little I owe which I will be enabled to do by the
time this reaches you, as we expect the Paymaster the latter
end of this month or the beginning of next, when I will
forward Mr. Smith’s account with the money for the boots
and about $15 more that I owe. I assure you it was not
for want of principle that I did not pay them before. We
were led to believe we would get money in Albany but were
disappointed. My clothes have held out and we cant starve
in the army. I commenced drawing my rations the 16th of
this month, Keyler cooks for me, and as good living as
bread & beef can give I have. .	.	. We are now en-
camped in the woods, building Huts which we expect to get
into by the middle of next month—it is rather late in the
season to be in tents. We have a very handsome situation
on Elliott’s [Ellicott’s] Creek. The place is called after its
owner, a Col. Williams of New York.* I hear the contem-
plated building his house next spring on the very ground
on which we are building and desired that not a piece of
timber should be cut down as he wished it entirely shaded,
but I can promise him that by that time there will not be a
* Jonas Williams, for whom Williamsville is named, had been a clerk for
the Holland Land Company, at Batavia. In the spring of 1805 he bought and
rebuilt an abandoned mill on Eleven-Mile, otherwise Ellicott’s Creek, and
founded the village which has since borne his name. He died about 1820.
Williamsville. was a station for troops, both regulars and militia, during the
greater part of the war. The principal barracks and hospital were on the creek,
about a mile above the village. Here many soldiers, it is said British prison-
ers among them, died and were buried. The “Garrison Burying Ground” was
for many years a neglected spot, marked only by grassy mounds and great
maples. In 1898 the Buffalo Historical Society acquired title to the plot, in-
cluding 5.4 acres, fenced it, and placed a cannon therein, suitably mounted and
inscribed.80
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
sappling standing within a mile of it. We marched from
Black Rock to this place on the nth inst. You have heard
ere this of the duel that took place on the 12th between.
Generals Smith & Porter and the latter’s statement of f&cts.*
Genl. S. has left here on furlough; Col. Porter of the Light
Artillery commands in his absence, and as we are n miles
from the enemy everything is quiet. .	.	. Your af-
fectionate son	PATRICK McDONOGH.
I need not mention that it was not I that commanded the
gun-boat; no such good luck for us in this quarter—our
hands are tied. Direct to Buffalo, it is the only post town,
near here—11 miles distant.
Black Rock, March 19th, 1813.
Dear Parents :—I reed yours of the 4th inst. .
On the 16th we received our pay up to the last of December
1812. Through some mismanagement or neglect on the
part of the Paymaster we were not paid up to this month,
nor will any of the men transferred frojn Capt. Barker be
paid until the paymaster comes round again, which I expect
will be in two months, owing to the muster rolls being sent
by Col. Porter to the wrong paymaster. If you see the
Capt. mention it to him as he is security for them to some
amount & requested that I wpuld see it paid.
Being disappointed in my pay, I will not be able to send
* The story of this harmless duel has often been told. Porter charged
Smyth with cowardice. A quarrel and challenge ensued; and on the after-
noon of Dec. 12, the two officers left Black Rock in boats and were rowed to-
Grand Island. Gen. Smyth was accompanied by Lt.-Col. Winder, as second,
while Lt. Angus served Porter in like capacity. The surgeon was Dr. Roberts,
and the assistant-surgeon Dr. Usher Parsons, afterwards surgeon of Perry’s,
flag-ship Lawrence, and author of one of the many works regarding the battle
of Lake Erie. The surgeons’ services were superfluous on this occasion. Gen-
Smyth and his second in command faced each other at 12 paces, exchanged
shots that did not take effect, other than to make it possible for e.ach to admit
that his opponent was a gentleman and jio coward. Three months prior to this,
time, Gen. Porter, and Col. Solomon Van Rensselaer had quarreled and the
foriher had challenged to a duel, but Gen. Stephen Van Rensselaer threatened
them with arrest and watched them so closely that they never got to the dueling-
ground on Grand Island. There appears to have been much quarreling and
bitter feeling among the officers in command, in the opening months of the
Niagara campaign.A HERO OF FORT ERIE.	81
you the money I expected yet. After paying'what I owe
here I had but 28 dollars left to purchase some things I
was very much in want of. In expectation of receiving
what was due to me, I bought several things from Capt.
Barker—his bed & bedding &c., and took part in his debts.
On his arrival at Albany he enclosed 180 dollars to me to
pay the remainder. I mention this for your satisfaction &
to show you that I have not been worse off than the other
officers, but hope you will not mention it to any one, for
should it come to their ears they might feel hurt as the
situation of the officers is known to each other only. And
in respect to money matters they are to each other as broth-
ers, particularly in our regiment. I thank Col. Scott for
the character he gave you of me and hope you will never
find me unworthy of it. On the different stations and under
the several commanding officers I have been placed I always
endeavored to do my duty & I trust allowed no one to in-
fringe upon my rights, nor did I look to any for favour or
partiality. With Col. Scott I was rather reserved as I could
not forget his arresting me for so trifling a cause.* He has
not a better opportunity of knowing who will be promoted
than ourselves. It is presumed that those who have friends
in Washington to intercede for them will stand the best
chance. It is principally on that account that Capt. Barker
has gone on. I have written to-the Secretary merely to re-
mind him that there is such a person in existence as myself.
An officer—let his grade be what it may—is entitled to the
attention of his government to his claims of applications;
notwithstanding, most is done by favour. . k , I look
to next summer to be the happiest of any you have seen for
years. ...
We had a cannonading here on the 17th inst. It com-
menced from an alarm given on the Lake at one o’clock in
the morning, and lasted until dark the next evening. There
have been several expeditions on foot for crossing, but none
has been carried into effect. They are very weak on the op-
posite side & we are not strong altho double their number
on the Niagara [one word torn, probably].
«	* Nothing seems to be known about this arrest, except the slight informa-
tion contained in' a letter written many years later by McDonogh’s sister Anne
to her son at West Point and in his reply to the same.82
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
We have had correct information from Genl. Harrison:
hevhas had to entrench, his army being so weakened by the
defeat of Winchester and some whose term of service had
expired, returning, that an issue of an engagement would
have been very doubtful, and perhaps fatal. They were in
good spirits, and such was the secrecy observed in camp
that the men were ignorant of their own weakness, not a
line was permitted to go out of camp.
Father, I wish if you can spare the time you would call
on Col. Denis (son-in-law to the District Marshal) who
holds my receipts for upwards of 500 dollars, and tell him
that I request him to give you a receipt for the settlement
of my recruiting accounts or to return my account with the
vouchers and a receipt for the money I returned to him.
,	.	. Your dutiful son,
P. McDONOGH.
Black Rock, April 25th, 1813.
Dear Parents It is now nearly two months since the
date of the last letter rec’d from you, and all I fear is that
your last letter is lost, as one that came by the last mail
directed to me was taken out with the papers by the man
we board with and was dropped either in Buffalo or on the
road between there and here. I could not blame the old
man as it was an accident, and through pure good-nature he
took it out of the office, knowing my anxiety to hear from
you all and that I expected a letter by every mail—which
arrives but twice a week. I have been very unwell for a
week back, but am getting better.
We are fast preparing for the field. I expect that in
about four weeks we shall make a move. Our division will
consist of about 3500 or 3800 regulars, and I don’t think any
militia will be called on to cross. Our company is attached
to the 2d Brigade, commanded by Genl. Winder;' it will
be about 1500 strong. Genl. Boyd will have the remainder.
Major Genl. Lewis commands the whole. The Generals
have all arrived and the troops to make up the complement
are expected daily. Things appear to be in better train
than they ever were. Col. Scott I think has been ‘orderedA HERO OF FORT ERIE.	83
to Sacketts Harbour or he would have been here before now.
I have not heard from Capt. Barker or any of my acquaint-
ances since he left here. I hear that Capt. C. has been struck
off the rolls; his girl followed him to Carlyle and acted as
his waiter in men’s clothes. When it was found out an of-
ficer applied for his arrest; the Adjutant waited on him for
that purpose—he told the Adjutant that he had received a
letter from the Adjt. General informing him of his dismissal
from the service and, of course, he did not come under mar-
tial law.
You may remember that Mr. Ward wrote to me some
time since respecting his friend’s son (Sami. Wilkins). The
young man procured a furlough (or his father for him
through Genl. Izard) about the 15th of Feby.; owing to
the anxiety his father expressed for him in a letter of thanks
to me in December , last I, to assist him in getting home, went
his security to our landlord for thirty dollars for one month;
he has since written to some of the men and never mentioned
a word about it. I wish my father would call on Mr. Wil-
kins and mention the matter to him. Should the son deny
it I can procure the note which is in the landlord’s hands.
Mr. Wilkins lives in Chestnut St. opposite to Strawberry.
There have been a great many promotions in the Infantry
and some in the 3d regt. of Artillery, but the 2d remains
stationary, all that have been promoted were through in-
terest. r The 12th & 20th regiments are quite in an uproar;
all the subalterns of the 20th have .	.	.. [illegible;
presumably “obtained”] their parchment; the Captains of
the 12th have drawn up a memorial and had it signed by a
great many officers on this station, and one of the Captains
has gone on with it to remonstrate. A first lieutenant of
our regiment has been promoted to a captaincy in the 20th,
a Thomas M. Randolph,—-a fine fellow but he ha^ no mili-
tary turn. He had very powerful friends. I mention this
to you—it is a very delicate thing to talk of an officer out
of the army. I have no other chance of promotion than
what may fall to my lot in the field—a few balls might make
some vacancies. .	.	. Your affectionate & dutiful son
P. McDONOGH.84
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
'	Newark, May the 30th, 1813.
Dear Parents:—It is with pleasure I inform you that
we are at last in Canada. We embarked for this place in
boats and crossed on the 27th. The enemy met us on the
shore and made a very obstinate resistance for about 15
minutes when they retreated to Queenstown Heights, spik-
ing their guns and destroying their stores and ammunition
as they went. Fort George having been previously burned
almost to ashes by hot shot from our Fort and batteries, was
evacuated on our approach. We might have taken them all
prisoners were it not that our Generals advanced too cau-
tiously, being apprehensive of explosions. Their loss was
double that of ours in killed and wounded. Captain Roach
has been slightly touched again, in the right arm. As he
was without a command Col. Scott gave him the command
of a three-pounder with eight men from our company. On
the 28th we proceeded on our march towards Fort Erie
thinking they would make a stand there, but on our arrival
at Queenstown found that they had taken a different route,
blown up their Fort, and were drawing their forces towards
York. Our Brigade was immediately ordered to cross by
water to cut off their retreat to Kingston. We were all em-
barked this morning at daylight, but the wind being very
high and against us, the General countermanded the order,
considering it too great a risk in open boats, as it is almost
impossible for a boat to live on the Lake when there is any
kind of a swell. We are to march around by land to-mor-
row—or next day at' farthest. The roads, they say, are
very bad. The distance around the head of the Lake to
York is from ninety to one hundred miles.
This is a delightful place. The people had evacuated it
but are returning daily. They are generally loyal for a few
miles back. ...
When I spoke of the dull winter I spent in this country
I did not mean I was tired of the army,—011 the contrary,
nothing could please me better, particularly when we are
on the move. You need not write to me again until you
hear from me as I cannot tell you where to direct;—should
you have anything of moment, by addressing your letterA HERO OF FORT ERIE.
85
to Fort Niagara, to be forwarded to General Winder’s
Brigade, I may get it, but it is doubtful. .	.	. Your
affectionate & dutiful son
McDONOGH.
Fort George, August 4th, 1813.
Dear Parents —Mr. Steele who will hand you this has
been good enough to call on me for a letter. I have nothing
worth writing to you about except to tell you I am well and
that we still remain here doing nothing, nor do I know
when we shall move—Our fleet is now lying off this place
expecting the British fleet every hour. We hear they are
building another forty-four gun ship; if so, I do not think
they will venture out until she is finished. Col. Scott went
on an expedition to the head of the Lake and from there to
York in search of British stores; but it seems they were
apprised of our intentions before the fleet reached there, as
they had almost everything removed. We took 4 or 500
barrels of flour and some of the officers’ baggage at York,
burnt their barracks, and returned. It is reported here that
Genl. Wilkinson & the Secretary of War are coming on,—
if this be true, we may yet do something. Genl. Williams
arrived here some days back; he commands our Brigade. I
think if things go on no better than they have done, I shall
be ashamed to return to Philadelphia next winter even
should I get permission to do so. War characters must rank
mighty low there. .	.	. Your affectionate & dutiful
son	PATRICK McDONOGH.
I have just received Anne’s letter and shall answer it in
a day or two. She enquires for Wm. Peters: he was
wounded at the battle of Stony Creek—in the shoulder, and
has had his arm taken off at the socket. The others, with
the exception of Plumphries, of whom I know nothing, are
well. I wish I could recommend Lt. P. to your attention;
if I could have done it I would have written by him, but he
left here in disgrace; the officers of his regt. were about
arresting him, one of the charges against him being cow-
ardice. I tell you this to caution you as his character did86
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
not stand very high before he entered the service. I was
not intimate with him—we merely spoke when we met.
You know how delicate we should be about meddling with
an officer’s reputation as a soldier, and of course will not
make this public. I assure you it hurts me when I think
that any one but the family should read my letters.
P. McDONOGH.
Fort George, Augt. 9th, 1813.
My dear Sister :—The receipt of your letter of the 26th
of July afforded me inexpressible pleasure. .	.	. We
(the 2d Brigade) were to have embarked on board the fleet
on Saturday last, where for we knew not, but judged for
Kingston:	the sudden appearance of the British fleet
changed the scene!—at daylight they were discovered 8 or
10 miles from here, rather above us;—they came up during
the night along their own shore & cut across it is supposed
with the intention to surprise and board our ships which
were at anchor 4 miles below here;—they succeeded in get-
ting to windWard but daylight appeared too soon for them
to do more. Our gallant Commodore immediately weighed
anchor and made for them notwithstanding their favorable
position but could not bring them'to action. Sir James’*
object now appeared to be to get us in a position where he
could attack the P[	] with two vessels at once, but
Chauncy manoeuvred too well for him and had the wind
been in his favour, would have brought him to action long
before this,—but the wind has been constantly wavering or
shifting, and as if it were to be [? allied illegible] against
him. He is yet in pursuit of them. I think before I close
this I will be enabled to give you an account of the battle in
spite of Sir James’ endeavour to avoid it.
I am sorry to say that two of our schooners upset in a
gale the night before last (the Paul Hamilton & the Scourge,
commanded by Lieutenants Winters & Osgood) while hang-
ing on the left of the British fleet, and the officers and sixty
of the crew are lost.
* Sir James Yeo.A HERO OF FORT ERIE.	87
On Friday last I dined on board the Growler, com-
manded by Lt. Deacon, son-in-law to Mrs. Hutchins of
Burlington. He with three or four other officers of my ac-
quaintance were to partake of a camp dinner with me the
following day, but they found better fish to fry. If you see
any one that is acquainted with Lt. Deacon’s* family, let them
know he was well at that date, as his wife I am sure will be
uneasy about him. .	.	. I have answered your in-
quiries about the men in my letter sent by Mr. Steeleif
you let the men’s wives torment you, you will have more
than enough to do,—their husbands have plenty of time to
write and every convenience, and indeed the majority of
them do write, and they receive more or less mail every
week.
Tuesday, Augt. ioth.
This is the fourth day the fleets have been in sight of
each other and no engagement yet! We are all anxiety
here and will be so until we know the issue. I can detain
this ho longer the mail goes to-night. ... Your af-
fectionate brother,	P. McDONOGH.
P. S.—-I fear this letter is illy calculated to rouse your
spirits, but you must consider I am getting old & conceit
it is from an old man* and that we have to divide our time—
begin writing in the morning & before you are well seated
you have to attend a call of the pickets, or other party. I
was out all the afternoon & had a few shots at the Indians,
but I believe they are very weak in this neighborhood now
as they will not stand a fight. Ours are coming over to-
morrow or next day to the number of four or five hundred.
P. McD.
Fort George, Septr. ioth, 1813.
Dear Parents:—I have long looked for a letter from
you & were it not for Anne’s good-nature would be very
uneasy about you. This will be handed to you by Capt.
Biddle of our regt, I know you will be glad to see him;
he is a friend of mine, has served in the same engagements,
* As well as it can be computed, he was not yet thirty years of age.

/88
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
partaken of the same hardships as well as of the same glory,
and is a brave officer—I say this as I know you can judge
how much it tends to unite and attach fellow-soldiers to each
other. He can give you an account of our present situa-
tion & of what we may expect to do this campaign.—I fear,
it ybll not end before the winter sets in; however we are
soldiers & bound for all weathers.
I mentioned the death of Wm. Peters in my last letter to
Anne, since which I have rec’d a letter from Mrs. Peters.
I can feel for her situation, but I assure you Mother we
have so many applications of the same kind by almost every
mail that were we to attend to them or encourage them, our
pay would not cover the cost of postage on all we would re-
ceive ; and this is not for one person, nor for once, but for
five years and for one hundred persons to each company.
Nor are they ever satisfied; if it is not for their pay or to
know whether they are alive, its to procure them a fur-
lough ;—whenever they can find out an officer’s name & ad-
dress, they are not at a loss for excuses to torment him.
I wish very much to know to which regt. Mr. Wale is
appointed. I am sorry he didn’t g.et a higher grade, but we
must look forward and hope. I think since the Senate has
attended to the Army that promotions will not go altogether
by favour. Nothing can hurt the pride of a soldier who has
seen service and is acquainted with his duty more than to
put over him a favourite that he has to teach.
Your affectionate son,
F. McDONOGH.
Fort George, Sept. 10th, 1813.
Dear Sister :—Although I have so lately written to you
and have so little to say, I cannot lose so favourable an op-
portunity of forwarding by Capt. Biddle of out* regiment a
line, knowing the constant anxiety of your mind.
In my last I mentioned the arrival of Genl. Wilkinson:
he has as yet been confined to his room by sickness, but is
recovering fast. Commodore Chauncy sailed on the morn-
ing of the 7th. Sir James, then off this place, made everyA HERO OF FORT ERIE.	89
sail, leaving the Commodore to follow, who, you may be
sure, is mueh mortified to find he cannot bring him to ac-
tion. There are but few of our vessels that can sail as well
as those of the British and they have to tow the duller sail-
ers, which I fear will prevent him from ever coming up with
them. We lost sight, of them with the twilight this evening
about three miles apart, every inch of canvas spread,—-
Chauncy still in pursuit & before the wind.
I am well in health, & well content in mind; I get more
attached to the service every day, and more reconciled to
the privations & toils attending it. I look anxiously for
quartering in Montreal next winter & until the British
gentry are sent home you must be content with all the af-
fection ink and paper can convey from, Your brother
R McDONOGH;
Fort George, October 8th, 1813.
Dear Sister :—I had nearly concluded before I received
your last that you had totally forgotten your promise, since
which I must acknowledge you have only done so in part,
as you edge in a letter now and then as it were to prevent
my spirits from completely deserting me. .	.	.1 am
happy to hear that Perry’s Victory has spread so much joy
throughout the United States,—it looks something like
recompense for his gallantry. Poor Chauncy I fear will
never get half the credit he deserves; he has done as much
as man could do in his situation. .
The Militia and Indians under Major Chapin had a des-
perate engagement with a party of the British on the after-
noon of the 6th inst. It lasted about two hours and a half.
After expending some thousand rounds of cartridges, this
brilliant affair ended with the loss on our part of one Indian
killed, one mortally wounded and one slightly, one regular
soldier who stole out to have a finger in the pie was also
slightly wounded, & militia none—being rather prudent:
the loss on the part of the British were, I suppose, half the
number. From-the list of killed and wounded you may
guess the distance from which they fought. It appears those90
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF i8i2.
that fell were considered foolhardy by the Militia for ad-
vancing within point blank distance. They never return
from a skirmish wherein the Indians have had anything to*
do, without accusing the Major of cowardice, skulking be-
hind trees, not advancing, &c. But he has made noise
enough to fill a column of the newspaper, and his fame of
course will be reiterated,—if you dont see an extract from
the Buffalo Gazette shortly I shall be very much disap-
pointed. We have just fired a salute from the Fort in con-
sequence of the victory obtained by the Argus over the
Barba. I cannot tell you whether I shall remain here or
not—it will depend entirely upon circumstances. Col. Scott
& all the officers are anxious to go as it is pretty certain we
shall not be attacked here. We learn from deserters that the
British are sending their troops, with the exception of 500
(which they leave, I- suppose, for the purpose of preventing
us from sleighing or going at large this winter) to Kingston,
and they will not be foolish enough to attack us with so
small a force; nor would I wish them to attempt it with
less than wrould fill our ditches. We can attempt nothing:—
even if our regular force would justify us in so doing, as
Col. Scott’s positive orders are not to suffer himself to be
drawn out of the Fort on any terms whatever, or to permit
an officer to’leave it. .	.	. Your affectionate brother,
-	P. McDONOGH.
ORDERS.
Sacketts Harbor, Dec. 10, 1813.
' Sir:—You will repair as speedily as possible to District
No. 4, establish a Rendezvous at any point your judgment
may suggest, & prosecute the recruiting service with great
diligence for the 2nd. U. S. Artillery. Upon your arrival
report yourself to the Commanding Officer of the district,
draw funds & receive his instructions. You will be careful,
Sir, & not suffer your recruits to be attached to any other
corps or company than that to which you belong. Accept
rA HERO OF FORT ERIE.
91
my good wishes for your success, & prosperity & health of
family. Yours very respectfully,
J. HINDMAN,
Major Com’g. Detacht. 2d U. S: Artillery.
P. S.—These orders are by instructions from the War
Depart.
Lt. McDonogh, 2d U. S. Artly.
Utica, December 13th, 1813.
Dear Parents:—I am happy to inform you that I am
in hopes of eating my Christmas dinner with you;—-I have
just this moment arrived from the Harbour on my way to
Philadelphia. Will leave here to-morrow morning for Al-
bany, where I may probably be detained two days, but will
lose no time after that in getting to Philadelphia where I am
in hopes of meeting you all well and happy. Give my love
to all the family .	.	.	P. McDONOGH.
FROM CAPT. TOWSON TO LIEUT. McDONOGH.
Sacketts Harbor, Deer. 25th, 1813.
Dear Me.—I expect you are now shaving, cleaning your
teeth, & putting on a clean shirt, in honour of the day, & to
appear more desirable in the eyes of some fair Dulcina,
whom you expect to help to the side bone of a turkey with
oyster sauce,, &c., &c., &c., drink a glass of old Madeira with
the old gentleman, and then attend Miss to some of the many
[illegible] of pleasure your gay city affords. My dear boy
I wish you every pleasure that Christmas, & every happi-
ness that life possesses.
I too have scraped my face with a dull razor, put on a
clean, tho ragged, shirt, but alas! have neither pretty girls
to visit nor fat turkeys to carve.:—I have just received a
formal petition from: & have granted permission to a party
of my company to celebrate the day; they have bespoke a
dinner at a public house (the best our Town affords), have
elected a President & V. P.,—proposed toasts with all the92	. PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812,
hilarity & independence of true Americans. Poor Devils,
they see hard times enough and deserve, if any men do, the
privilege of sweetening the bitter cup of life that has fallen
to their lots.
I received your letter & money inclosed by post. The
.paymaster has not visited us since, much to our mortifica-
tion you may suppose. But why the Devil did you pay the
postage on your letter, & why did you not retain the price
of the Book I purchased of you! There appears to me an
unfriendly suspicion that our letters will not be agreeably
received when we pay the postage—a suspicion that would
be very unjust & I hope never will be entertained by you
of me.
I have very comfortable quarters where I now am—my
men are healthy & in fine spirits, tho the other Troops are
very sickly. Gent.-Wilkinson has ordered all the troops
from this post to French Mills except Genl. Harrison’s &
the artillery. The Genl. has issued some very severe Orders
on the conduct of most of the Genl. officers & of a Court
Martial. I have not seen them. Colo. Mitchell is with the
army & very unwell I am told. Majr. Johnson is. dead.
Colo. Scott mentions in a letter to Majr. Hindman that
Genl. W. promised to send me a furlough, the Majr. re-
ceived this letter on our return from Ogdensburg but never
told me of it until the day before yesterday. However I
could not leave this now since you have left me.
I wish you to enjoy every pleasure Phila. affords but you
must tax your leisure moments for an half hour now and
then to afford pleasure to your old brother soldier by drop-
ping a letter to him (without the postage paid).
Yours, ever, with the warmest friendship,
N. TOWSON.
OFFICIAL PAPERS.
Phila. 19 Jan. 1814.
Dr. Sir:—By the morning Report of the day, I find
there are 22 reported sick—such of these as are really sickA HERO OF FORT ERIE.
93
must remain—arid the company must be filled up by the De-
tachments of other artillery corps; and these not being suf-
ficient, by volunteers from such other corps as may be most
advantageous to the public service.—I wish you to arrange
this while below—the public service must supercede all other
considerations. I trust to your making this arrangement so
effective as that it may be at once issued in an order. I am
Dr. Sir Your obd. servt.	WM. DUANE
Adj.-Gen.
Lt. McDonogh, 2d. Artillery Fort Miflin.
4th Military Recruiting District
Philada. Jan’y 19, 1814.
Sir :	You will turn over to Lieut. Bunting your Ren-
dezvous, with all the funds & public property in your hands,
which has been furnished you for the recruiting service, and
take his receipts.
I have the honor to be, sir, Yr obt. servt.
J. GIBSON
Inspr. Genl. Comm’dg.
Lieut. Patk. McDonogh, 2nd Artillery, Phila.V. THE SORTIE FROM FORT ERIE.
RECOLLECTIONS COMMUNICATED BY WILLIAM A.
BIRD TO CHAS. D. NORTON, IN A LETTER
DATED BLACK ROCK, FEB. 25, 1865.
In the year 1815—the year after the sortie—-I resided
with Gen. Porter in the small fort on the bank of the river,
hack of where my home stands.* I came from Troy with
him early in July. On our arrival at Black Rock we found
only a few houses, which had been put up hastily subse-
quent to the burning in December, 1813.
There was one company in the smaller fort below. The
officer commanding the latter very politely offered that to
Gen. Porter, and removed with his company to the larger
one, where there was abundance of room for the two com-
panies.
When we moved into those quarters our family con-
sisted of Gen. Porter, myself and a man-servant who served
all purposes of cook, waiter, etc. Shortly after, however,
Mr. Covert (who had been his housekeeper before, and dur-
ing the first two years of the war and from whom I learned
many interesting incidents of the war), came on from
Geneva, and made our quarters more comfortable.
During that season hardly a day passed that the General
was not visited by some one of the officers of the army. The
* The residence of Mr. Bird, still owned and occupied by the family, at No.
ruS Niagara Street.96
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
occurrences of the previous campaigns were of course the
frequent subjects of remark. Capt. Robert Flemming was
more than once a visitor and remained with us a day or two..
He was an officer under Gen. Porter’s command at the sor-
tie, of whom Gen. Porter in his official report remarked that
“he was, as he always was, in the front of the fight.” The
details of the sortie were much canvassed over, and the
whole affair was treated by Capt. Flemming as an enter-
prise of Gen. Porter’s; and although I cannot state any par-
ticular remark; I well recollect he gave the glory of it to
him.
Major Donald Fraser was an aid to Gen. Porter; and
with him I was long intimately associated, and had fre-
quent conversations with him in relation to the war. He
told me that before the sortie Cols. Wood and McCrea were
several evenings with Gen. Porter in his quarters, and that
when they came, he and all others were required to retire;
that Gen. Porter had interviews with Gen. Brown; that he
had no hint or intimation of the object of these interviews;
that Gen. Porter directed Riddle and himself to cut out the
road from Towson’s battery through the woods, directings
them how and where to cut,, but did not inform them of the
object; and that he was kept entirely ignorant of the pro-
posed movement until the evening before the sortie; that
in subsequent conversations with Gen. Porter he was in-
formed that the visits of Wood and McCrea were for plan-
ning the sortie; that Gen. Brown hesitated and requested
him (Gen. Porter) to draw up a plan, which he did, in
writing, and explained it to Gen. Brown ; and that he left
the paper with him, and that the whole affair was arranged
by Gen. Porter, Wood, and McCrea:
Gen. Porter has related to me more than once the same
circumstances; particularly, that he gave to Gen. Brown a
written programme in detail, and that he left the paper
with him.
The question is asked, Why is there not a copy of this
paper ? My answer is, the circumstances of the case did not
allow one to be made. Gen. Porter drew up this programme
in his own handwriting, to show and explain to Gen. Brown.THE SORTIE FROM FORT ERIE.
97
Brown very naturally asked him to leave the paper with
him to consider upon (for I think he did not readily and at
once fall into it). Gen. Porter could not refuse, nor ask a
copy * and it would have been an exercise of extreme caution
and distrust for him to have taken a copy before showing
it to Gen. Brown. He was not seeding credit for himself,
but was intent on the enterprise in which he was the prin-
cipal actor, and which resulted so much to the glory of our
army and to the relief of the anxious inhabitants on this side
of the river.
The official reports and history have established the facts
that Gen. Porter’s aids cut out the road from Towson’s bat-
tery, and that Gen. Porter, who had under his immediate
command only the volunteers and Indians, was that day
invested with the command of all the troops, regulars as
well as volunteers; although there were in the fort several
officers of the regular army of superior rank—Ripley,
Gaines and perhaps others not now recollected. These cir-
cumstances would seem to point him out as the moving
spirit and the one responsible for the enterprise.
I went over to Fort Erie in 1815 with Gen. Porter, Gov.
Tompkins and others. We went over the whole ground
where the British batteries were, in the edge of the woods—
the batteries even then as they had been left, the broken
guns and other remnants of the war. Gen. Porter explained
to Gov. Tompkins the position of the troops and thd plan
of the attack at the sortie.
When upon the old fort, Gen. Porter explained the at-
tack made by Col. Drummond on the 15th August, when the
enemy got possession of the bastion at the northeast angle
of the fort. He explained where and how our troops had
hastily drawn up two pieces of artillery and would have, in
a few minutes, raked the bastion with grape and cannister,
which would have been almost as certain destruction to the
enemy on this bastion, as its explosion [which] occurred at
the moment, killing Col. Drummond and some 300 or 400
men. Major Fraser was an aid to Gen. Beacon, and with
him for some two years after the war. He doubtless fought
his battles .over, and particularly those in which Brown was98
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
in command, and he does not seem to have heard anything
to alter his opinion and belief in relation to this sortie, for
he invariably stated it to have been planned by Gen. Porter,
Wood, and McCrea.VI. A WAR-TIME LETTER-BOOK.
t
EXTRACTS FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE OF *
JONAS HARRISON.
COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS FOR THE DISTRICT OF NIAGARA
DURING THE WAR OF l8l2.
In the possession of the Buffalo Historical Society is an
old blank-book of ledger size, which was used as a letter-
book by Jonas Harrison. In it he copied the letters he
wrote, and some of those he received, relating to his public
duties as Collector of Customs for the District of Niagara,
and afterwards as Collector of Internal Revenue for the 25th
collection district, which comprised Genesee County and all
the western part of New York State. The first entry in the
book is dated “Batavia 24th December 1813,” and the last
“Buffalo, 20 July, 1819.” It was at about this last date that
he ceased to be Collector. The volume was given to the
Historical Society in 1885 by John Porter, then of Annapo-
lis, Md., formerly of Lewiston, N. Y. At the back of the
volume have been written, presumably by Mr. Porter, a brief
sketch of Mr. Harrison, and some comment on his letters.
“The author of the foregoing copies of letters,” says this
sketch, “was Jonas Harrison, who at the date of the letters
was a very prominent man in Western New York. At the
date of the first letter, December, 1813, he was Collector of100
PAPERS OF THE AVAR OF 1812.
Customs for the District of Niagara, afterwards appointed
Collector of Internal Revenue for the 25th collection district,
which comprised Genesee County and all the western part of
the State, and which he continued to be until about the date
of the last copy of a letter, July 20, 1819. He was the father
of our late fellow citizen James C. Harrison. He built the
house that was situated on the corner of Washington and
Batavia Street [now Broadway], on the present site of the
Buffalo Savings Batik,* and at the time of its building it
was considered a wonderful structure, and known all over
the County of Niagara (which then included Erie County)
as the ‘Harrison house/ James C. Harrison was born in
that house in the latter part of the year 1818 or early in the
year 1819.”
Before quoting further from this sketch it is well to
present a few of Mr. Harrison’s letters. The volume af-
fords interesting material for a history of the collection of
Federal revenues in Western New York in the early days;
but the present purpose is only to draw from it what Mr.
Harrison wrote regarding certain events of the War of 1812,
in some of which he was a participant. In a communication
to the Hon. Samuel H. Smith, Commissioner of the Reve-
nue, dated “Batavia, 24th December, 1813,” Mr. Harrison
wrote as follows:
Sir:	On Sunday morning the 19th inst. the British
landed unobserved about 900 Indians and 600 or 700 Regu-
lars at the Five Mile Meadow, about half way between
Lewiston and Fort Niagara. They took the Fort about four
o’clock in the morning without resistance, and under cir-
cumstances the most singular. They showed themselves at
Lewiston about sunrise and strange to tell we had not more
than three to five minutes notice of their being on our side
before their Indians were at my house. They, as far as we
can learn (for it is said they are still in possession of the
Country) commenced an indiscriminate slaughter of men,
women and children, together with'burning every house,
barn, outhouse and hovel that could take fire. The citizens
* The building opposite the Public Library; the bank moved from it to
new quarters in 1901.A WAR-TIME LETTER-BOOK.	101
about Lewiston and its vicinity below the slope or highland
that forms the Falls of Niagara escaped by the Ridge Road
towards Genesee Falls, all going the one road, on foot, old
and young, men, women and children, flying from their
beds, some not more than half dressed without shoes or
stockings, together with men on horseback, wagons* carts,
sleighs and sleds, overturning and crushing each other,
stimulated by the horrid yells of the 900 savages on the pur-
suit, which lasted eight miles, formed a scene awful and
terrific in the extreme. The small military force we had
were the first to fly. The few Citizens that could previously
be induced to stand guard had become worn out, and the
watch at the meadow must have been very unfaithfully kept.
We now reproach ourselves for having remained so long in
false security. We have lost our all and the scene is over.
I escaped with my most valuable papers. My little family
was ten miles in advance, on the road. They are now with
me at this place, the Capital of Genesee County, which I in-
tend to make my future residence unless driven from it.
There is a Post Office kept here. I beg that you will be so
good as to direct your future commands to me here.
I have the honor to be
Your most obt. servant,
J. HARRISON.
Six days later Mr. Harrison addressed the following
letter to the Hon. Richard Rush, at that time Comptroller of
the T reasury:
Batavia, 31st Deer., 1813.
Sir :	Enclosed I have the honor to transmit to you my
account current for the last quarter of the present year.
Ere this comes to hand you will doubtless have heard of
the destruction of Lewiston and the murder of such of its
citizens as fell into the enemy’s hands. Notwithstanding
what had previously taken place, we had no evidence that
the enemy had actually landed on our shore more than five
minutes before their Indians were at my house. It was
with considerable difficulty I escaped. I find on examina-
tion that I have most of the public papers with me, but the102
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
volumes of the U. S. Laws are gone together with the book
in which I kept an account of my fees, emoluments, etc.,
which I beg may excuse my not making out one now under
oath agreeably to former directions and practice; they how-
ever for this last year were very trifling, and did not in the
whole exceed eight dollars.
The enemy it seems had taken' Fort Niagara in the night
before they came to Lewiston, and that too with such silence
that we had not the most distant idea of their having done
so. Fort Niagara is §even miles down the river and was
when taken perhaps one of the most scientific well-found
fortresses in America, containing at least 200 effectives in-
dependent of the sick and impotent of every description—
this is a fact let the official report (if any is made.) say what
it may, but commanded by the same Captain Leonard that I
have sometimes mentioned in my letters. The public prop-
erty in the fort must have been immense. We felt in a great
measure secure at Lewiston from large parties as long [as]
our troops held Fort Niagara, and no one thought of its
being given up without a siege. There was little or no force
at Lewiston. except some militia officers. As a force was
expected on there every day a few of the citizens myself
among the number voluntarily stood guard at night for the
purpose of keeping bff marauders that might cross from
Queenston or other places near Lewiston.
There was positively but one large gun discharged at
Fort Niagara at the time it must have been taken. This
was enough to alarm us and we rallied at a house previously
agreed upon, but were told by Major Bennett who still
nominally commanded at Lewiston—I say nominally, for
his force being with himself militia had principally deserted,
or rather as they said, gone home, that it was no signal of
alarm—that the signal of alarm agreed upon by him and
Capt. Leonard was, if the fort was attacked, three discharges
from one of his 18-pounders, if there was but one or two
discharges it was to be considered nothing more than a false
alarm ; on receiving this information those, citizens that
were not on guard went, to their respective houses. I hav-
ing been up for two or three nights previous threw myselfA WAR-TIME LETTER-BOOK.	103
on the bed and had well-nigh been caught asleep by their
Indians. My house, barn, etc., together with my property,
after being made use of a day or two by their officers were
reduced to ashes. I have come here as being the nearest
place of safety, though in fact the citizens here feel them-
selves unsafe and keep their things packed up ready for a
move. For my own part I do not believe that the English
will venture their force so far from the river.
Your honor will recollect that it has heretofore been- the
custom to adjust my accounts half-yearly, and give me an
authorization to draw oh the Collector of New York for
what was found due. If that has taken place during the last
year I have never received the authorization. As I have a
family to support and now without property of any kind
except some land that is unproductive, you will confer an
everlasting kindness by having. my accounts immediately
adjusted and sending me as soon as may be an authoriza-
tion to draw as before for what may be due, as two hun-
dred and fifty dollars would be of the utmost importance
to me.
Your obliging and successful attention to my request
relative to the Internal Revenue was calculated at once to
gratify delicacy and enforce obligation. With sentiments of
the greatest respect I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your most obt. Servt.,
J. HARRISON.
Note. When we left Lewiston it was about sunrise on
the morning of the 19th. The enemy were then firing a
Royal Salute from our guns at Fort Niagara which we then
took for an attack on the fort.
Note 2d. The enemy are still on our side and hold
possession of Fort Niagara and scour the remaining country
by their parties. Some of our people have been to Lewiston
since the 19th, from whom and other sources I have col-
lected the foregoing information, that is such as I did not
before know, with the addition that as far as yet known
every person that they got in their power except one or two
that escaped after being taken, were immediately killed, or104
PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
killed a short time afterwards. They were principally citizens
with their families all making their escape as fast as pos-
sible. Their bodies have been found in holes and laying
[sic] about the street—in most instances with their heads
cut off their bodies torn open and their hearts taken out—
some scalped, some not, but all hacked and cut in the most
brutal manner, many with their tongues cut out; some par-
tially eaten by the hogs—the street is represented as being
strewed with the dead bodies of cattle, hogs, together with
human beings. All the buildings of any consequence, also
stacks of hay and grain for about seven miles each way, that
is up the river to the Falls and out in the country on the
Ridge road, are burnt and destroyed.	[J. H.]
Commenting on the foregoing, the sketch above spoken
of, presumably written by John Porter, contains the fol-
lowing :
“He [Harrison] was .evidently, from his letters, a person
who was inclined to exaggerate in his statements of passing
events. In his account of the burning of Lewiston and the
events immediately following .	.	. he states that he
had only five minutes’ notice of the crossing of the river of
the British and Indians, and in the same letter he states that
upon leaving^ his little family was ten miles in advance—-
rapid traveling for five minutes’ notice. He states the num-
ber of Indians^ at 900 and of the British 700 or 800. The
true fact was that there probably was not to exceed 300 or
400 of both Indians and British.
“In his second letter he states that men, women and chil-
dren were indiscriminately massacred. There were only
two persons killed at Lewiston, both men. One of them a
Dr. Alvord, and the other was a Gillet.
“In relation to the taking of Fort Niagara: It was well
known that the fort was to be attacked by the British at
least two weeks before it was taken, and all preparations
made to defend it, even to mounting guns on the block-
houses and magazine, so as to sweep the inside of the fort.
Parties were stationed at the Five Mile Meadows, and at the
battery then called Fort Gray, at the top of the hill aboveA WAR-TIME LETTER-BOOK.	105
Lewiston, to give notice of their [the British] crossing the
river by firing three guns. The British crossed the river at
the Five Mile Meadows before daylight', and probably pre-
vented the signal being fired at that point, but the signal of
the British crossing was given at Fort Gray by firing the
number of guns agreed upon. Fort Gray was immediately
above Lewiston where Harrison states he was, and he must
have been quite deaf if he did not hear them. He states
truly that Bennett’s militia had dispersed at the time of the
burning.
“Captain Leonard, who was in command of Fort Niag-
ara, was a Revolutionary officer who was unfitted for the
position he filled. He never was a man of any great ability,
in fact I think he was a weak man. I knew him well when
I was a boy. After the war he owned and resided at the
farm known as the Five Mile Meadows, where the British
crossed. At the time that Fort Niagara was taken his fam-
ily resided at Four Mile Greek, on the lake shore four miles
from the fort. At the time that the fort was taken he was
visiting his family and there were large numbers of per-
sons who insisted that he was a traitor and had sold the
fort to the British. There was never any evidence that such
was the case. In fact all those who knew him well scouted
the idea, and attributed his absence to his want of thought.
My father, who was on the spot, and who was stationed at
Fort Gray and gave the signal, always asserted that the loss
of the fort [Niagara] was the result of gambling and drink-
ing by the officers. In conversation with Benjamin Barton,
late of Lewiston, and who was a quartermaster in the army
in 1812, they both agreed that the officers in charge had
been gambling and drinking all night and were all asleep
when the attack was made, and from the fact that the fort
had been prepared and that they knew the attack was to be
made there is great probability that this was the case.”
In Mr. Harrison’s correspondence during the year 1814
there is much that illustrates the confused state of the dis-
trict. The destruction of the postoffices at Lewiston and
Manchester (Niagara), and later at Buffalo, occasioned106	PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
him much annoyance. “It is very difficult/’ he wrote, Jam
3, 1814, “doing business as the country is in great confusion
and I have to pack my papers very frequently in consequence
of alarms.” He was in doubt what to do with the money
he collected for licenses, not daring to send it by mail. On
Jan. 18th he wrote to the Hon. Richard Rush that one
Robert Lee had arrived at Batavia from Upper Canada,
“where he was taken on the enemy’s getting possession of
Fort Niagara.” Lee related to Mr. Harrison all the circum-
stances of the surrender of the fort, and made affidavit to
his narrative, which was written out and sent to Mr. Rush
at Washington “as the only paper like a correct account (as
far as it goes) that has as yet been penned of the surrender
of that important Post. Mr. Lee,” Mr. Harrison added, “is
a Gent, of intelligence and' had as good an opportunity of
knowing the true state of things as perhaps any other person
in the Fort. When you have read the affidavit perhaps it
may not be an unimportant document for the Congressional
Committee raised for investigating the conduct of the enemy
in regard to his prosecution of the war. The Enemy still
hold the Fort and are engaged in strengthening it.”*
DeWitt Clinton wrote to him from New York, Jan. 20,
1814, asking for “a correct and detailed account” of the
situation. Mr. Harrison replied at some length, but the let-
ter contains no important particulars not to be found else-
where. “That your heart is wounded by the destruction of
our frontier and the slaughter of its inhabitants,” he wrote,
“is another evidence of those feelings of philanthropy and
love of country that your numerous friends have long known
were predominant in your breast. If other important events
occun on this frontier and I am among the inhabitants of this
world I shall not fail of giving you a detailed account of
them.” The troubles of his office, and politics-—he declined
a nomination for State Senator about this time—evidently
absorbed his thought, for the promised detailed account does
* Mr. Harrison’s letter-book does not contain the deposition of Robert Lee;
but in the Buffalo Gazette of Jan. 25, 1814, may be found a detailed statement
on the subject, by Lee, substantially the same, it is probable, as that referred to-
by Mr. Harrison. It is republished in Ketchum’s History of Buffalo, Vo!. II.,
appendix, pp. 404-405.A WAR-TIME LETTER-BOOK.	107
not appear. On April 6th he wrote from Batavia to Mr.
Smith that “in consequence of the great difficulty of procur-
ing a house or accommodations at this place, and also of my
former residence &c..in the County of Niagara I have com-
menced building something that I can live in, in Buffalo
in the said County of Niagara, where I shall immediately
remove. Buffalo is the most central place in the district. A
postoffice was formerly kept there, and will be again in the
course of a week. Be pleased to address your future com-
mands to me at 'Buffalo, Niagara County, N. Y.’ ” And
thus Jonas Harrison joined the growing band of those who
wiped out the traces of war and worked together in the
building of a new Buffalo. But the year 1814 was one of
many alarms in the struggling village. Under date of
“Buffalo, July 16, 1814/’ Mr. Harrison wrote to the Hon.
Ezekiel Bacon :
Sir:	About 700 of our troops marched from here last
week down on this side of the Niagara River and encamped
on the ground where Lewiston formerly stood. Our army
under Genl. Brown being encamped at Oueeinston on the
opposite side of the river. Though our scouting parties
have frequently been into Lewiston since the 19th of Decem-
ber last (the time when the British drove us away and burnt
up the village) we have had no regular possession of the
place or a force capable of staying there even one night until
the encampment above mentioned. The nearest our troops
have been encamped during the winter was at Hardscrabble
on the Ridge Road six miles distant from Lewiston, Lewis-
ton being about half way between that and Fort Niagara
where the British now are and have since the 19th of Decem-
ber continued to be in possession, scouring the country with
their patrolling parties. Our people being now in posses-
sion [of] the place and I feeling no disposition or ability to
return there shortly, having lost my buildings, property, &c.,
I beg leave to resign the Office I have held as Collector of
the Customs for the District of Niagara. If it should be
thought necessary to fill the office by an appointment will
you permit me to recommend Rufus Spaulding Esquire as
a person every way qualified to faithfully discharge any108	PAPERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
duties that may appertain to the said office. Mr. Spaulding
was driven from the country with the rest of us, but has now
returned to his farm within about four [miles] from
Lewiston.
With every sentiment of respect I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obt. Servt
J. HARRISON.
Note. There has been nothing to do in the office since
the commencement of the war. All intercourse between the
District and Upper Canada having of course been interdicted
by the successive military commanders. As to coasting
trade, there has been no American vessels on the lake but
what was taken into the United States service.
The next entry in the old letter-book is dated Lima, On-
tario Co., N. Y., August 26, 1814. “I have removed all the
papers, books, &c. belonging to the Government to this
place,” Mr. Harrison wrote to the Hon. Samuel H. Smith.
“The present situation of the District imperiously demanded
such a measure. I hope my conduct in this particular may
meet your approbation. In the District business of every
kind except what relates to the Army is pretty much at an
end and the inhabitants moving in every direction. I have
removed the papers three times within two weeks and now
as you see have got them without the District where I hope
they may be safe. I shall leave them and my family here,
but return myself immediately to Buffalo, where I beg you
will continue to forward your directions to me, for in case
that Post Office is broken up the) mail for it will be opened at
the nearest office to that place that is not broken up.”
No notice appears to have been taken of his proffered
resignation at the time. By Nov. 1st Mr. Harrison had his
family and the papers of his office back in Buffalo. On
March 8, 1815, he wrote at length to the Hon. Alexander J.
Dallas, who had recently assumed the duties of Secretary of
War, in addition to those of Secretary of the Treasury,A WAR-TIME LETTER-BOOK.	109
rehearsing the facts inr regard to the destruction of
Lewiston. Stating that the English were still in possession
of Fort Niagara, and that “no person has as yet attempted
to erect a building at Lewiston the Port of Entry for the
District of Niagara nor in fact at any other place on that
district which extends from Oak Orchard Creek to Niagara
Falls, .	.	. and as it is probable on the breaking up
of winter our people will obtain some vessels and com-
mence a sort of commerce which together with other mat-
ters will require a Custom House again to be kept at Lewis-
ton/’ he again proffered his resignation. Finally, May 31,
1815, in a letter in which he states that “Fort Niagara hav-
ing the other day been given up to our troops and people
beginning to build at Lewiston/' he informs Mr. Dallas
that he has appointed a deputy collector at Lewiston,—“and
you will be pleased to accept my resignation of the said
office."
In relation to his work as Collector of Customs, and sub-
sequently as Collector of Internal Revenue, the correspond-
ence between Mr. Harrison and his superior officers, up to
July 20, 1819—the date of the final entries in the book—
contains much of value; but after the spring of 1815 it
belongs to other phases of Western New York history than
that which we seek especially to discover in this connection,
namely, of the War of 1812.