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&\
HISTOKV
Original Town of Concord,
BEING THE PRESENT TOWNS OF
CONCORD, COLLINS, N. COLLINS AND SARDINIA,
Erie Couni^v, new. York,
BY ERASMUS BRIGGS.
ROCHESTER, N. Y.:
UNION AXI) ADVERTISER COMPANY'S PRINT. 1883.
50422
Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1S83.
BY ERASMUS BRIGGS,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
</>;
INDEX,
Chapter I. pa(;e.
From 1534 to 1(355.
Cartier's and Champlain's Expe- dions 3
Chapter II.
From 1655 to 1679— Indians, Dutch, French, &c 9
Chapter III.
DeNonville-La Houton— Queen Anne — the Iroquois, &c 13
Chapter IV.
Pontiac' League — tlie Senecas — the Devil's Hole, &c 17
Chapter V.
The Revolution — the Indians' Ho?tiUty — Wyoming— Clierry Valley. &c 20
Chapter VI
The Treaty of Fort Stanwix and subsequent Treaties 24
Chapter VII.
Land Titles — Various Grants — Conflicting Claims — Robert Morris 29
Chapter VIII.
A curious fact — the First Crop raised on the Holland Pur- (;hase . 32
Chapter IX.
Agents of Holland C'ompany. Theophilus Cazenova & Paul
Bustle 48
Joseph Ellicott 49
Jacob S. Otto, David E Evans. 51 A sketcli of others.
Robert Morris 52
Mary Jemison, the White Wo- man 57
Chapter X. pa«e. War of 1812-15 60
Chapter XI. Campaign of 1813 66
Chapter XII. Burning of Buffalo, &c 74
Chapter XIII.
Campaign of 1814 81
Discipline at Butf alo— the Death
Penalty 82
Capture of Fort Erie by the
Americans 83
An Indian Battle 84
The Battle of Chippewa 87
Battle of Conjockety Creek. ... 91
Battle of Fort Erie 92
Sortie at Fort Erie 95
News of Peace 98
Chapter XIV.
Early Settlers 100
Early Organization of County
and Towns 102
Date of Settlement and Organi- zation of Towns in Erie Co. . . 104
Old Town of Concord 105
Coming to the country 106
Log Houses — Dutch Cliimneys
and Log-raising "106
Clearing Land 109
Sugar Making 113
Pioneer Wells 116
Pioneer Fencing 118
Frame Barns 120
Primitive Household Furnitm-e,
&c , &c 121
Carding, Spinning and Weaving 124 Raising, Dressing and Spinning
Flax 127
Bull Plow and Crotch Drag 128
Milling 129
Manufacturing of Clothing,
Boots and Shoes I3i
Making Black Salt . . . v 132
Husking Bees, &c . .'. .-',. . . ... . . 134
Schools •••,■>.. 136
'•■_
INDEX.
PAGE.
Spelling Schools 139
Reaping with a Sickle, &c 143
Militia Training .-. 144
Wrestling 146
Snow Shoes 146
Dancing 147
The Great AVolf Hunt 148
Droves and Drovers 150
The Lost Boy lol
Pigeons l^^
Thanksgiving 153
Chapter XV.
History of Concord 156
Names of persons previous to
Jan. 1. 1815 158
Names of persons Buying Land of the Holland Company,
Township 6, Range 6 159
Township 7. Range 6 . 160
Township 6, Range 7 163
Township 7. Range 7 : . . . . 165
Copy of an Original Article of
Land 168
Copy of the First Deed in Con- cord 172
Early Roads 173
Springville & Sardinia Railroad 175 Rochester & Pittsburgh Railro'd 175 Names of one or more of the First Settlers on each Lot in
Concord 176
Hotels — Mills — Manufactories . 17S Professional Men — Merchants —
Tradei-s and Mechanics 185
Banks 192
Manufacturers — Merchants and
Tradesmen 193
" Fiddler's Green' 196
Mail Routes— Post Offices 197
Commission of the First Post
Master in Springville 199
A list of the Owners of Farming Lands in the Town of Con- cord in 1845 200
Concord Soldiers' Record 205
Presbyterian Church 209
Metliodist Episcopal Church of
Springville 213
First Baptist Church of Spring- ville 214
Free Baptist Church of Spring- ville 216
Roman Catholic C h u r c h o f
Springville 217
Universalist Church 218
Free Baptist Church, East C!on-
cord 218
Free Baptist Church, West Con- cord 219
PAGE.
Methodist Episcopal Church,
West Concord 219
Springville Academy 220
Semi-Centennial Celebration of the Opening of Springville
Academy 223
Teachers' institutes 230
List of Accidental Deaths in the
Town of Concord 235
Names of Streams in Concord. . 237
The First Liberty-Pole 238
The Springville Mill 239
Local Names in Concord 240
The Springville Rifle Company 241
Town Officers of Concord 242
Town Accounts, 1830 245
Names of Early Settlers 246
Soldiers of Concord in 1812. . . . 247
Vosburg Murder 247
Otis Murder 248
The Old Springville Hotel 248
Panther Stories 250
Bear Story 251
Lands Deeded in Concord 252
Societies 265
Newspapers 267
Chapter XVI.
Family Histories of the Town of Concord in Alphabetical Or- der
A, 269 : B. 277 ; C, 303 ; D, 341 ; E. 348 ; F, 353 : G, 369 ; H. 376 : I, 386 : J, 387 ; K, 391 : L. 399 : M, 404 ; N. 417 : O. 422 ; P. 423 ; Q, 435 : R, 436 ; S, 450 : T. 487 ; Urich, 502 ; V, 502 ; W, 509 : Z, 532.
Eliza Reynolds
Springville
Chester Spencer
C. C McClure
Goddard Family
Christopher Stone's House
269
533 541 534 535 536 542
Chapter XVII.
History of C^ollins 543
First Settlers 544
Articles 545
Assessment Roll, 1823 553
Act Creating the Town 559
Defining Boundaries 560
Zoar 563
Deeds 569
List of Town Officers 577
Schools 583
Religious Meetings and Church
Organizations 584
••East District." Town of Col- lins Center 585
INDEX.
PAGE.
Collins Center 585
Physicians 586
C'oilins C'enter Merchants 586
Tanneries 587
Mills 587
'• Society of Friends" 588
Soldiers' Record 589
Settlers of 60 and 70 years ago. . 593
Town Account. 1830 593
Societies 594
John Millis and his grist 595
Wild Animals 596
Business Directory of Collins
Center for 1882 596
Cowanda Directoiy for 1882... 597
Mrs. CJiarlotte Seymour's letter 598
Statement of S. W. Soule 600
Mrs. Stoddard's Statement 604
Statement of Joseph Plumb, Esq 617
Statement of S. Carv Adams . . . 624
Statement of David Wilber 696
Letter of Wm H. Parkinson. . . 675
Augustus Smith's Statement. . . 683
Statement of Benj. Albee. 2d. . 637
Blackney Murder 641
Chapter XVIII.
Family Histories, Collins 635
A, 635^ B. 639 ; C. 647 : F. 655 ; G, 656 ; H, 657 ; J, 661 ; K, 663 ; L. 666 : M, 668 : N, 674 ; O. 674 : P, 675 ; R, 682 ; S, 683 :
T, 691; V, 695; W, 696
Chapter XIX.
North Collins 707
Names of those who Purchased Lands of the Holland Com- pany 708
Deeds 714
First Settlers on each Lot 725
Assessment Roll of 1823 734
List of Town Officers ; . 728
Societies 731
Soldiers' Record 733
First Congregational Chui-ch . . . 737 Job Southwoi-th's Statement. . . 738
Statement of Isaac Hale 740
Statement of Noel Conger 743
'Statement of Isaac Woodward . 745
ClIAPTKR XX. Family Histories, North Collins 749
B, 749 ; C, 750 ; D, 753 : F, 752 ; G. 753 : H, 754 ; J, 755 : K. 756 ; L, 757 , P, 759 ; R. 761 :
S, 762 ; V, 766 ; W, 766
Chapter XXI. General Historj^ of Sardinia. . . 769 Early Settlers 770
PAGE.
Articled Land 771
Deed of the Holland Comi)any. 776 Early Reminiscences — Nott. . . . 784
Fourth of July Party, 181 1 789
Soldiers" Record 794
First Baptist Church 797
Beneficiary Orders 798
Town Ofticers 798
Assessment Roll, 1843 813
Reminiscences by Dr. B. H. Col-
RToye 823
Statement of A. W. Shedd 839
Statement of L. D. Smith 832
Statement of Cyrus Rice 835
Business Places. &c 845
Notes from the Old Town Book
of 1821, &c 848
Chapter XXII.
Family Histories in Alphabet- ical Order — Illustrations 851
A, 851 ; B. 854 : C. 857 : F. 860 : G, 861 : H, 862 ; J, 868 : L, 868 : M, 870 : N, 871 ; O, 873 ; P. 873 ; R, 875 : S, 878 ; T. 885 ; V. 885 ; Sterling Titus, 886; W, 886
OUTSIDERS.
Adams, J. C 892
Brooks, John 893
Brooks. Andrew J 894
Briggs, A. H , M. D 894
Briggs, George W 895
Foster, Harrison T 895
Field, William 897
Field. ]\Iarvin 898
Drake, Allen 898
Hammond, Wm. W 899
Hastings. Chancey J 900
Hastings, Sej'mour P 901
Koch, Harry H 901
Miller. Frederick 903
Nott. S. E. L. H 903
Nichols, George W 904
Wilev. William 904
Wiley, John M 905
Jliller, Christian 905
Oatman, David 906
Williams, George 907
Stowell, ( "harles 908
Ewell, Joseph E 908
Tanner, Aukxs B 1)09
Per.sons, Daniel H 910
Emery, Joseph, (,'ol 910
Scott.' Justus. 91 1
Smither, R. R 913
Spencer, H. S 912
Tanner, Alonzo, Esq 913
Wil)ert Family 913
INDEX.
PAGE.
Cutler, Caleb 915
Ransom. Asa 915
Ransom, Asa. Jr. ... : 916
Ransom, Harry B 917
Titus, James B 917
Kent, Joseph 919
Kent, Jonathan 919
Cooper, Joseph 920
Young, Charles E 930
Lockwood, Ebenezer 921
Stickney, David, Jr 922
White, Aimer 928
Tucker, Harvey J 924
Lockwood, A. U 925
Preston, A. G 926
Lawson, W. W 927
Bartholomew, A 928
Sampson, Joseph P 929
PAGE.
Bensley, John R 930
Bensley, George E 931
Haight, Albert 982
Coit, George 935
Humphrey, Arthur 935
Humphrey, J. M 936
Lockwood, D. N 937
Green, O J. & Sons 938
Reading, Richard 939
Canbee, Joseph 940
Kerr. Patterson 941
Scoby. M C 941
Bartlett, Marcus 542
Calkins, AC 544
Coit, Chas. T 944
Coit, Frank S 945
Eustaphive. HA 945
Masonic 947
ERRATA.
Page 105, read " Lawton " for Lanton.
Page 106, read " Big Tree " for Fitr Tree.
Page 126, read " Scarn " for Scam.
Page 131, 9th line, read " difticuU '" for different.
Page 152, read " Morton's Corners" for Morton's Creek.
Page 174, line 38, read " at lot 32 " for at lot 52.
Page 180, read '" Theodore Frew " for Theodore Trevv.
Page 188, read " Perigo " for Brigo.
Page 189, read " Shoutz " for Shontz ; same page, read " Barnhart " for Ramhart ; same page, read " Post " for Past.
Page 190, read " Parmeter " for Bameter.
Page 192, read " F. K. Davis " for T. K. Davis.
Page 195, read " Frew " for Trew.
Page 208, read " 1862 " for 1892.
Page 218, read " Morris Hall " for Horris Hall.
Page 275, read " Auwater " for Anwater.
Page 253, 3d line from bottom, read " 1819 " instead of 1809.
Page 293, read " 1869" for 1899.
Page 294, read " 1880 " for 1810 ; same page, read " 1882 " for 1822.
Page 332, read " 1839 " for 1849. •
Page 338, read " 1877" for 1878.
Page 359, read the name " Benjamin Fay " for Benjamin Frye.
Page 360, read the name " Nemiah Fay '" for Nemiah Frj-e.
Page 369, line 16, read " Ruth Briggs" for Bertha Briggs.
Page 391, read " Benjamin Gardner" for Benjamin Gordon.
Page 305, read " Otis Morton " for Otis Horton.
Page 400, read " Mary Hufstader " for John Hufstader.
Page 433, read " 1832 " for 1882.
Page 452, read"' William T., " for William G., and "' W. T. Lincoln " for William F.
Page 468. read " Orrin Baker " for Owen Baker.
Page 484, line 20, read " Council Bluffs " for Dakota.
Page 476, read '" Marcy " for Mercy.
Page 478, line 6th, read " 1761 " for 1861.
Page 496, 2d line, leave out "Boston"; same page, read 4th line from bottom p;»ge ■' near" for new.
Page 498, 2d line from top, read "1792 " for 1702.
Page 519, in the account of Levi and Isaac Woodward, read "• married " for the capital M.
Page 566, i2th line, read "her family" for his family.
Page 618, read " Parthenia" for Perthenia.
Page 623, read " Parthenia " for Pathenia.
Page 632, last line, read " Methodist Preacher " for teacher
Page 659, 12th line, read " born 1831 " for 1871.
Page 672, line 14, read " 1850 " for 1859.
Page 743, read " Noel Conger " for Noah Conger; page following 770, read " 77I " for 781 ; page following 872, read " 873 " for 783.
Page 827. read " Reuben B. Heacock " for Reuben B. Hancock.
Page 861, ^4th line, " TuUer " for I'uller.
Page 889, " Brewer " for Brower.
Page 894, " John Jr., 2d " for John Jr.. Son.
INTRODUCTION,
" Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield
Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke, How jocund did they drive their team a-field,
How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke. Let not ambition mock their useful toil,
Their homely joys and destiny obscure."
The motives that prompted the author to attempt the com- pilation of a work of this nature were, that bein^ himself to the " manor born," and having enjoyed an intimate personal acquaintance with many of the early settlers of these towns, and knowing that very little had ever been said of them in any history that had been heretofore published, he felt that all former attempts of the historian to portray the.se early tijnes and scenes were lacking in detail and did not accord to the brave pioneers of these towns the mead of pra'ise that their self-sacrificing labors and privations entitle them to, and he departs from the rule generally pursued by writers, of record- ing only the acts of those whom fortune or favor has raised to positions of prominence, and he feels that the lives and deeds of the pioneer, though their destiny may have been obscure, are worthy of being remembered and perpetuated upon the pages of history; for the pioneer, like the great forests that once surrounded his humble cabin, is passing awa)- ; onl)' here and there you find them, and soon, very soon, there will not one remain, and it is but a simple acti of justice to the living and an honor that we owe to the dead, who now rest from their toils on fields their hands helped to clear, that a record of their lives should be put into some tangible form and the multitude of facts in the possession of those who are yet with us be res- cued from oblivion, for soon these witnesses will pass away, and there will be none left to tell the story of the olden time.
X INTRODUCTION.
For this reason the author has undertaken the task of com- piling a vohime, and he finds that there has been an ahiiost endless amount of labor to collect and arrange facts and dates to incidents that transpired so many years ago, and much of it may appear commonplace and non-interesting to some, but the author belives that the task he has undertaken is a laudable one, and that the few pioneers now remaining and their de- scendants for generations to come, will be interested in the work, and will properly appreciate the undertaking.
To the many who have aided him in this undertaking and were induced to, at his earnest request, he is under many obliga- tions, and though their names may appear elsewhere, in con- nection with articles contributed, still he takes pleasure in ren- dering a personal acknowledgment here : J. H. Plumb, Esq., of Westfield, Mrs. Stoddard of Iowa, S Gary Adams, Esq. of Buffalo, S. W. Soule, William H. Parkinson of Collins, Mrs. Sey- mour of Chautauqua, L. B. Cochran, Esq., Hon. C. C. Sever- ance, W. G. Ramson, Dr. G. G. Stanbro of Concord and L. D. Smith and Cyrus Rice of Sardinia, have placed him under a debt of gratitude. Of those who rendered valuable aid in soliciting subscriptions and encouraging him in his undertaking, he will ever remember the names of James Hopkins, Addison Whee- lock, Cyrus Rice, Welcome Andrews, Alden J. McArthur and many others. Christfield Johnson, Esq., author of the Centen- nial History of Erie county, courteously allowed him the free use of his book, and the first one hundred pages of this work are taken from his book, and Turner's History of the Holland Purchase. Nearly the whole of the remaining pages are original. The amount of matter in this volume in relation to the family histories of each of these respective towns will be accounted for by the number of subscriptions that the author has received in said towns to aid in the publication of this work. Of course a work of this nature, containing the amount of matter that this one does, must necessarily be expensive, and every page added must necessarily also increase the expense to be borne by the author who has to depend for the funds to defray the cost most entirely upon local patronage, and most certainly he cannot do as his inclinations would otherwise naturally lead him, if he were not confined to limited means, and in the present under-
INTRODUCTION. xi
taking he wcnild feci himself am[jl\- rewarded if lie were to re- ceive the bare expense of preparing and publishing this work. But he is well aware nozo that the expense will far exceed all such hopes, and the author regrets too that there is a single thing omitted that will detract from the general interest of this volume, and yet he knows that there are names of those who were early identified with the settlement of these towns, whose histories would have been of interest and were worth)- of being preserved, that are now lacking, which can only be accounted for by the indifference of those who should have taken some interest in a work of this nature.
Following appears the number of subscribers of each town, together with those who are not residents :
Concord 260
Collins 125
North Collins 35
Sardinia 65
Buffalo and others localities ■ 80
E. B.
"^%i^»"^^
^\^^ /,
?>f''*
^
E. BRIGGS.
Autobioijraphy of the Author.
The author of this work was born on the ^ist thi)- of August, i8i8, on Townsend Hill, in the town of (Joncord, where he remained with his parents until after he was seventeen years of age. As soon as old enough, he was put to work to assist in clearing up a heavily-timbered farm ; and the scenes and inci- dents appertaining to pioneer life jjortrayed in the several articles in chapter xiv. of this work are from his own knowl- edge and experience.
His education was principally obtained in the district school, on Townsend Hill, supplemented by a few terms at select school and Springville Academy. •
The Winter after he was eighteen years of age, he taught a term of school, and the Spring following, he took Greeley's advice and went west. This was before the advent of railroads, and was quite an undertaking. The journey across the State of Michigan, and from Chicago to Racine, from Racine to Janesville, from Janesville to Galena, and from Galena to Ful- ton, a total distance of over six hundred miles, was made on foot. At that time, the prairies of Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin were unoccupied; the onl\- settlers to be found were located in or near the timber. Chicago at that time was a small town, whose buildings and improvements were confined to a narrow belt of dry land along the lake-shore and river-bank ; the ground back being low and covered with prairie-grass and water. Racine was a straggling little hamlet, and the city of Janesville was yet in embryo, its site being occupied by two or three small log farm-houses. He remem- bers stopping there a few days, and planting corn on the land where the city now stands. Beloit was named, but Freeport was unknown, and Galena was a very small village. The jour- ney for the last two days was made on a single meal. Fulton was surveyed and named, but contained but one log-house. He remained in Fulton two and a half years, putting up build- ings in the Summer, and getting out timber and cutting steam- boat wood in the Winter. He built the first frame-house in Fulton, and continued to work at the business until prostrated by sickness.
When sufficiently recovered to travel, he returned to his native town, where for the next eleven years his time was divided between working at the carpenters' trade Summers, teaching school Winters, and attending to the duties of the office of Superintendent of Common Schools.
In 1850, he went to the town of West Seneca, and invested in timbered land, which had formerly been a part of the Indian reservation. For the next fifteen years, this town and the ad- joining town of Elma was his home. During these }'-ears, he was quite extensively engaged in the wood, bark and lumber business. In 1852, while a resident of West Seneca, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and also town Superintendent of Common Schools. He was also chosen to represent them on the Board of Supervisors, in 1853-54-55. He afterward held the office of Justice of the Peace in the town of Elma. Since his re- turn to Concord, in 1865, he has worked at building several Sum- mers, and taught school occasionally Winters. For the last five years, his time has been principally spent in procuring facts and preparing this work. Since his return to Concord, he has been several times elected Supervisor, although the party with which he affiliates is in the minority ; and it is a source of gratification to know^ that wherever he has resided, he has, enjoyed the confidence of his fellow-townsmen.
HISTORY
OF THE
ORIGINAL TOWN OF CONCORD.
CHAPTER I. FROM 1534 TO 1655.
George Cartier's Expedition — Champlain's Expedition — King James' Grant — Henry Hudson — French Traders — The Jesuits— Chaumonot and Bre- boeuf — Hunting Buffalo — Destruction of the Kahquahs and Eries — Seneca Tradition — French Account — Their Sysiem of Clans —Its Import- ance— Sachems and War-Chiefs — Method of Descent — Choice of Sachems — Family Relations.
In the year 1534, forty-two years after the discovery of America, George Cartier, a French explorer sailed up the St. Lawrence to Montreal and took possession of all the country round about on behalf of the King of France, Francis the P'irst, and called it New France.
He made some attempts to colonize, but in 1543 they were all abandoned, and for more than half a century no further progress was made.
In 1603, the celebrated French mariner, Samuel Champlain, led an expedition to Quebec and made a permanent settlement there, and, in fact, founded the Colony of Canada. Montreal was founded soon after, and communication was comparatively easy along the course of the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario, and, with a portage around the Falls, to Lake Erie. And
4 KING JAMES GRANT.
mainly for this reason, the French fur traders and missionaries reached this region of country long before any other Europeans.
In 1606, King James, of England, granted to an association of Englishmen called the Plymouth company, the territory of New England, but no permanent settlement was made until the 9th day of November, 1620, when, from the historic Ma}'flower, the Pilgrim Fathers landed on Plymouth Rock.
In 1628, Charles the F"irst, of England, granted a charter for the government of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. It included the territory between latitude 40° 2' and 44° 15' north, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific, making a colony a hundred and fifty-four miles wide and four thousand miles long. The County of Erie and Western New York were included within its limits.
In 1609, the English navigator, Henry Hudson, while in the employ of Holland, discovered the river that bears his name, and the Hollanders established fortified trading posts on Man- hattan island and at Alban)% and commenced trading with the Indians. They also made an indefinite claim of territory west- ward.
All European nations at that time claimed title to lands in America by the right of discovery, and they granted them away to individuals and companies in small and large tracts, as they saw fit, when, as a matter of right and justice, their title was no better than was the title of that character we read of, to all the kingdoms of the world, which he offered to give Christ if he would fall down and worship him.
In 1623, permanent Dutch emigration for agricultural pur- poses first began upon the Hudson river.
In 1625, a few Catholic missionaries arrived on the banks of the St. Lawrence.
About 1620, the first white men visited the country about the lower end of Lake Erie and the Niagara river ; the}' were French fur traders in search of furs.
In 1626, Father De La Roche Daillon, a French missionary, visited the Neuter Nation and passed the winter preaching the gospel among them. The Neuter Nation occupied the countiy about the east end of Lake Erie and on both sides of the Niagara River. They had their villages in Canada and in Erie
riiK jKsri r missk ixariks. 5
count)'; there was one at or near the mouth of I'LiL(hteen-Mile creek, and perhaps others further west. Hut the south shore of Lake Erie was occupied principally by a tribe called the Eries. The French called the. tribe occupying the countrx- hereabouts the Neuter Nation, because they dwelt in peace with surround- ing tribes, but they were kno\\n among the other tribes as the Kahquahs.
The Jesuit missionaries, fired with unbounded zeal and unsur- passed valor, traversed the wilderness, holding up the cross before the bewildered pagans. They soon had flourishing sta- tions as far west as Lake Huron. One of these stations was St. Marie, near the eastern extremity of the lake, and it was from St. Marie that Fathers Breboeuf and Chaumonot set forth in November, 1640, to visit the Neuter Nation. They returned in the Spring, having visited eighteen Kahquah villages, but hav- ing met with very little encouragement among them. They reported the Neuter Lidians to be stronger and finer looking than the Hurons, and that their food and clothing were but little different ; that the}' had corn, beans and some other vegetables, and plenty of fish ; that they were much employed in hunting deer, bears, buffalo, beavers, wolves, wild-cats and other animals; that there was also an abundance of wild turkeys. They esti- mated the whole number of villages of the Neuter Nation at forty, and that the most eastern was but one day's journe}' from the country of the Senecas. The Senecas, when first \isited by the whites, had their villages east of the Genesee river.
Up to this time, the Kahquahs had succeeded in maintaining their neutrality between the fierce belligerents on either side. What the cause of quarrel, if any, arose between the peaceful possessors of Erie county and the powerful confederates to the eastward, is entirely unknown ; but sometime during the next fifteen years, the Iroquois fell upon both the Kahquahs and the Eries and exterminated them, as nations, from the face of the earth.
The precise years in which these e\ents occurred are uncer- tain, and it is not known whether the Kahquahs or the Eries were first destroyed. French accounts go to show that the Neuter Nation were first destroyed ; while, according to Seneca tradition, the Kahquahs still dwelt here when the Iroquois
6 THE IROQUOIS CONFEDERACY.
annihilated the Eries; but it is certain that, somewhere between 1643 and 1655, the fierce confederates of Central New York "put out the fires" of both the Kahquahs and the Eries.
From the destruction of the Kahquahs down to the time the Iroquois sold to the Holland Land company (or, rather, to Robert Morris), they were, by right of conquest, the actual possessors of the territory composing the present County of Erie, and, a few years before the sale, the largest nation of the confederacy made their principal residence within the county. Within its borders, too, are still to be seen the largest united body of their descendants. For two hundred and thirty years, the Iroquois have been closely identified with the history of Erie county, and it is proper to give a short account of the interior structure of that remarkable confederacy.
The name Iroquois was never applied by the confederates to themselves ; it was first used by the French. The men of the five nations called themselves He-do-no-saunee, which means literally " They form a cabin," describing in this expressive manner the close union existing between them. The Indian name just quoted is more liberally and more commonly ren- dered "The People of the Long House," which is more fully descriptive of the confederacy.
The feature that distinguished the people of the Long House from all the world beside, and which, at the same time, bound together all these ferocious warriors as with a living chain was the system oi c/ans extending through all the different tribes.
Many readers doubtless have often heard of the warlike suc- cess and outward greatness of the Iroquois confederacy, but one unacquainted with the inner league, which was its distinguish- ing characteristic, and without which in all probability have met at an early day with the fate of numerous similar alliances.
The people of the Iroquois confederacy were divided into eight c/aHS, or families, the names of which were as follows: Wolf, Bear, Beaver, Turtle, Deer, Snipe, Heron and Hawk.
Each clan formed a large artificial family modeled on the natural family. All the members of the clan, no matter how widely separated among the tribes were considered as brothers and sisters to each other, and forbidden to intermarry. This prohibition was strictly enforced b}' public opinion.
SAC'IIKMS AND \VAR-{ 1 1 1 KKS. J
The clan.bciiii^ thus tauL;lU from earliest infanc)' that tliey belonged to the same famil\-, a bond of the strongest kind was created throughout the confederac)-. Hie Oneida of the Wolf clan had no sooner appeared among the Cayugas than those of the same clan claimed iiim as their special guest, and admitted him to the most confidential intimac}'. The Seneca of the Turtle clan might wander to the country of the Mohawks at the further extremity of the Long House, and he had a claim upon his brother Turtles which they would not dream of repudiating.
Thus the whole confederacy was linked together. If at any time there appeared a tendency toward conflict between the different tribes, it was instantly checked by the thought that if persisted in the hand of the Heron would be turned against Heron, and the hatchet of the Bear would be raised against his brother Bear, and the bow of the Beaver would be drawn against his brother Beaver. And so potent was the feeling that until the power of the confederacy was broken by over- whelming outside force, there was no serious dissension between the tribes of the Iroquois. Aside from the clan-system just described, which was an artificial invention expressly invented to prevent dissension among the confederates, the Iroquois league had some resemblance to the great American Union which succeeded it. The central authority was supreme on questions of peace and war, and on all others relating to the general welfare of the confederacy, while the tribes, like the states, reserved to themselves the management of their ordin- ary affairs. In peace, all power was confided to " Sachems," in war, to " Chiefs." The Sachems of each tribe acted as its rulers in matters which required the exercise of civil authority. The same rulers also met in congress to direct the affairs of the confederacy. There was, in each tribe, the same number of War-chiefs as Sachems, and these had absolute authority in time of war. But in a war-party the War-chiefs commanded and the Sachem took his place in the ranks.
The congress always met at the council-fire of the Onon- dagas. The Senecas were unquestionably the most powerful of all the tribes, and as the\' were located at the western extremity of the confederac}-, they had to bear the brunt of war when it was assailed by its most formidable foes, who dwelt
8 P'AMILV RELATIONS.
in that quarter. It would naturally follow that the principal War-chief of the league should be of the Seneca Nation, and such is said to have been the case.
As among many other savage tribes the right of heirship was in the female line. Titles, as far as they were hereditary at all, followed the same law of descent. The child also followed the clan and tribe of the mother. Notwithstanding the modi- fied system of hereditary power in vogue, the constitution of every tribe was essentially republican. Warriors, old men, and even women, attended the council and made their influence felt. Neither in the government of the confederacy nor in the tribes, was there any such thing as tyranny over the people.
ENGLAND CONQUERS NEW AMSTERDAM. 9
CHAPTER II. FROM 1655 TO 1679.
The Iroquois Triumphant— Obliteration of Dutch Power — French Progress — La Salle Visits the Senecas — Greenhalph's Estimates — La Salle on the Niagara — Building of the Griffin — It Enters Lake Erie — La Salle's Subse- quent Career — The Prospect in 1679.
From the time of the destruction of the Kahquahs and Eries, the Iroquois went forth conquering and to conquer. This was probably the day of their greatest glory. They stayed the progress of the French into their territories; they negotiated on equal terms \\ith the Dutch and English, and having supplied themselves with the terrible arms of the pale- faces, they smote with direst vengeance whomsoever of their own race were unfortunate enough to provoke their wrath.
At one period, the sound of their war cry was heard along the Straits of St. Marys and at the foot of Lake Superior. At another, under the walls of Quebec, where they defeated the Hurons under the eyes of the French. They spread the terror of their arms over New England — Smith encountered their warriors in the settlement of Virginia, and La Salle on the discovery of Illinois. They bore their conquering arms along the Susquehanna, the Allegheny and the Ohio, and farther south. In short, they triumphed on every side, save only where the white men came, and even the white man was for a time held at bay by their fierce confederates.
In 1664 the English conquered New Amsterdam, and in 1670 their conquest was made permanent.
Charles the Second, then King of England, granted the conquered province to his brother James, Duke of York, from whom it was called New York. This grant comprised all the lands along the Hudson, with an indefinite amount westward, thus overlapping the previous grant of James the First, to the Plymouth company, and the boundaries of Massachusetts by the charter of Charles the First, and laying the foundation for a conflict of jurisdiction, which was afterward to have import- ant effects on the destinies of Western New York.
lO LA SALLE S ARRIVAL.
By 1665, trading posts had been established by the French at Mackinaw, Green Bay, Chicago and St. Joseph. In 1669 La Salle, whose name was soon to be indissolubly united to the annals of Erie county, visited the Senecas with only two com- panions, finding their four principal villages from ten to twenty miles southerly from Rochester, scattered over portions of the present Counties of Monroe, Livingston and Ontario.
In 1673, the Missionaries Marquette and Joliet, pushed on beyond the farthest French post and erected the emblems of Christianity on the shore of the Father of Waters.
In 1677, Wentworth Greenhalph, an Englishman, visited all the F'ive Nations, finding the same four towns of the Senecas described by the companions of La Salle. Greenhalph made very minute observations counting the houses of the Indians and reported the Mohawk as having three hundred warriors, the Oneidas two hundred, the Onondagas three hundred and fifty, the Cayugas three hundred and the Senecas a thousand. It will be seen that the Senecas, the Guardians of the western door of the Long House, numbered, according to Greenhalph's computation, nearly as many as all of the other tribes of the confederacy combined, and other accounts show that he was not far from correct.
In the month of January, 1679, a Frenchman of good family, Robert Cavalier de La Salle, arrived at the mouth of Niagara. He was one of the most gallant, devoted and ad- venturous of all the bold explorers, who under many different banners, opened the new world to the knowledge of the old. In 1678 he had received from King Louis a commission to discover the western part of New France. He made some preparations the same year and in the Fall sent the Seuer de La Motte and Father Hennepin (the priest and historian of the expedition) in advance to the mouth of the Niagara. As soon as La Salle arrived he went two leagues above the Falls, built a rude dock at the mouth of Cayuga Creek, in Niagara county and laid the keel of a vessel with which to navigate the Lakes. Hennepin distinctly mentions a small village of Sene- cas at the mouth of the Niagara, and it is plain from his whole narrative that the Iroquois were in possession of the country along the ri\er.
THE FIRST VESSEL IS BUILT. II
The work was carried on throu<;h the Winter, and in the Sprin^^ the vessel was launched. It was a small vessel of sixty tons burthen, completely furnished with anchors, and other equipments, and armed with seven small cannon, all of which had been transported by hand around the cataract. The vessel was named the "Grififin," and there were thirt)--four men on board, all Frenchmen with a single exception.
For several months the Griffin remained in the Niagara, between the place where it was built and the rapids at the head of the river. When all was ready, the attempt was made and several times repeated, to ascend' the rapids above Black Rock. At length on the 7th day of August, 1679, a favorable wind sprung up from the Northeast; all the Griffin's sails were set, and again it approached the rapids. A dozen stout sailors were sent ashore , with a tow-line, and aided with all their strength the breeze that blew from the North. Those efforts were soon successful; by the aid of sails and tow-line, the Griffin surmounted the rapids, and the pioneer vessel of these waters swept out on to the bosom of Lake Erie. As it did so, the priests led in singing a joyous Te Deum, and all the cannon were fired in a grand salute. On board that vessel was the intrepid La Salle, a man fitted to grace the salons of Paris, yet now eagerly pressing forward to dare the hardships of unknown seas and savage lands.
A born leader of men, a heroic subduer of nature, the gallant Frenchman for a brief time passes along the border of our county and then disappears in the far West, where he was eventually to find a grave.
There w^as Tonti, the solitary alien, amid the Gallic band exiled by revolution from his native Italy, who had been chosen by La Salle as second in command, and who justified the choice by his unswerving courage and devoted loyalty. There, too, was Father Hennepin, the earliest historian of these regions, one of the most zealous of all the zealous band of Catholic priests who at that period undauntedly bore the cross amid the fiercest pagans of America.
This was the beginning of the commerce of the upper lakes and like many another first venture it resulted only in disaster to its projectors, though the harbinger of unbounded success by
12 LA SALLE RETURNS TO FRANCE.
others. The (iriffin went to Green Bay where La Salle and Hennepin left it, and started on its return with'a cargo of furs, and was never heard of more. It is supposed that it sank in a storm and all on board perished.
After the Grif^n had sailed. La Salle and Hennepin went in canoes to the head of Lake Michigan. Then, after building a trading post and waiting many weary months for the return of his vessel, he went, with thirty followers, to Lake Peoria, on the Illinois, where he built a fort and gave it the expressive name of " Creve Cceur," Broken Heart. But notwithstanding this expression of despair, his courage was far from exhausted, and after sending Hennepin to explore the Mississippi, he, with three comrades, performed the remarkable feat of returning to Fort Frontenac on foot, depending on their guns for support.
From Fort Frontenac he returned to Creve Coeur, the garri- son of which had in the meantime been driven away by the Indians. Again the indomitable La Salle gathered his follow- ^ ers, and in the fore part of 1682 descended the Mississippi to the sea, being the first European to explore any considerable portion of that mighty stream. He took possession of the country in the name of King Louis the Fourteenth, and called it Louisiana.
Returning to France, he astonished and gratified the Court with the story of his discoveries, and in 1684 was furnished with a fleet and several hundred men to colonize the new domain. Then everything went wrong ; the fleet, through the blunders of its naval commander, went to Mattagorda bay, in Texas ; the store ship was wrecked ; the fleet returned ; La Salle failed to find the mouth of the Mississippi ; his colony dwindled away, through desertion and death, to forty men, and at length he started with sixteen of these on foot to return to Canada for assistance. Ere he reached the Sabine he was murdered by two of his followers and left unburied on the prairie. France knows him as the man who added Louisiana to her empire ; the Mis- sissippi valley reveres him as the first explorer of its great river, but by the citizens of this county he will best be remembered as the pioneer navigator of Lake Erie.
TIIK Kki:( ri(>\ ol" lOKT MACAkA. 13
CHAPTKR 111. FRENCH DOMINION.
De Nonville's Assault — Origin of Fort Niagara — La Honlan's Expedition — The Peace of Ryswyck — Queen Anne's War — The Iroquois Neutral — The Tuscaroras — Joncaire — Fort Niagara Rebuilt — French Power Increas- ing— Successive Wars — The Line of Posts— The Final Struggle — The Expedition of D'Aubrey — The Result — The Surrender of Canada
For the next forty-five years after the adventures of La Salle, the French voya<^eurs traded and the missionaries labored, and their soldiers sometimes made incursions, but thev had no permanent fortress this side of Fort Frontenac (Kingston, Canada).
In 1687, the Marquis de Nonville, Governor of New France, came with an army and attacked the Senecas at their village near Avon and Victor, and after giving battle the Senecas fled. De Nonville destroyed their stores of corn and retired to Lake Ontario, and then sailed to the mouth of the Niagara, where he erected a small fort on the east side of the river. This was the origin of Fort Niagara, one of the most celebrated strongholds in America, and which, though a while abandoned, was after- wards for a long time considered the key of Western New York.
Detroit was founded by the French in 1701 ; other posts were established far and wide.
About 17 12, an important event occurred in the histor}- of the Iroquois.
The Five Nations become Six Nations. The Tuscaroras, a powerful tribe of North Carolina, had become involved in a w^ar with the whites, originating, as usual, in a dispute about land. The colonists being aided by several other tribes, the Tuscaroras were soon defeated, many of them killed, and many others captured and sold as slaves. The greater part of the remainder fled northward to the Iroquois, who immediately adopted them as one of the tribes of the confederacy.
Not long after this, one Chabert Joncaire, a Frenchman, who had been captured in \-outh by the Senecas, who had been
14 WAR BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE.
adopted into their tribe, and had married a Seneca wife, but who had been released, was employed by the French authorities to promote their interests among the Iroquois. Pleading his claims as an adopted child of the nation, he was allowed by the Seneca Chiefs to build a cabin on the site of Lewiston, which soon became a center of French influence.
About 1725, the French began re-building Fort Niagara on the site where De Nonville had erected his fortress ; this was their stronghold for many years. To this, and forts that were already built, they added Presque Isle (now Erie), Venango (Franklin, Pa.), and Fort Du Quesne, on the site of Pittsburgh, designing to establish a line of forts from the Lakes to the Ohio, and thence down that river to the Mississippi.
Frequent detachments of troops passed through along this line. Their course was up Niagara to Buffalo, thence either by bateaux up the lake or on foot along the shore to Erie, and thence to Venango and Du Quesne. Gaily-dressed French officers went to and fro ; dark-gowned Jesuits traveled back and forth receiving the respect of the red men even when their creed was rejected.
In 1756, war was again declared between England and France, being their last great struggle for supremacy in the New World. More frequently sped the gay officers and soldiers of King Louis from Quebec, and Frontenac, and Niagara — now in bateaux, now on foot, along the western border of our county.
At first the French were everywhere victorious. Braddock, almost at the gates of Fort Du Quesne, was slain, and his army cut in pieces.
Montcalm captured Oswego. The French line up the lakes and across to the Ohio was stronger than ever; but, in 1758, William Pitt became Prime Minister, and then England flung herself in dead earnest into the contest ; that year Fort Du Quesne was captured by an English and provincial army. Fort Frontenac was seized by Colonel Bradstreet. The cordon was broken, but Fort Niagara still held out for F'rance. In 1759, still heavier blows were struck. Wolfe assailed Quebec, the strongest of all the French strongholds.
Almost at the same time General Prideaux, with two thous- and British and Provincials, accompanied by Sir William Johnson
SIR WII.I.FAM JOHNSON" AND D'aI'HRKV. I5
with his faithful Iroquois, sailed up Lake Ontario and laid siege to Fort Niagara. Defended by only six hundred men, its capture was certain unless relief could be obtained. Its commander was not idle. Once again along the Niagara and up Lake Erie, and away through the forest, sped his lithe red- skinned messenger, to summon the sons and the allies of France. D'Aubrey at Venango heard the call and responded with his most zealous endeavours. Gathering all the troops he could from far and near, stripping bare with desperate energy the little French forts at the west, and mustering every red man he could persuade to follow his banner to set forth to relieve Niagara.
Thus it was about the 20th of July, 1759, that the largest European force which had yet been seen in this region at any one time, came coasting down the lake from Presque Isle, past the mouth of the Cattaraugus and along the shores of Brant and Evens, and Hamburgh, to the foot of the lake. Fifty or sixty batteaux bore near a thousand Frenchmen on their mission of relief, while a long line of canoes were freighted with four hundred of the dusky warriors of the west.
History has preserved but a slight record of this last struggle of the French for dominion in these regions, but it has rescued from oblivion the names of D'Aubrey, the commander, De Lignery, his second, of Monsieur Marini, the leader of the Indians, and of Captains De Villie, Pepentine, Martini and Basonc.
The Seneca warriors, snuffing the battle from their homes on the Genesee and beyond, were roaming restlessly through Erie and Niagara counties and along the shores of the river, uncertain how to act, more friendly to the French than the English, and yet unwilling to engage in conflict with their brethren of the Six Nations.
D'Aubrey led his flotilla past the site of Buffalo and past Grand island and only halted on reaching the shores of Navy island. After staying there a day or two, to communicate with the fort, he passed over to the main land and marched forward to battle. But Sir William Johnson, who had succeeded to the command on the death of Prideaux, was not the kind of man likely to meet with the fate of Braddock. Apprised of
1 6 THE FREN'CH DEFEATED.
the approach of the French, he retained men enough before the fort to prevent an outbreak of the garrison, and stationed the rest in an advantageous position on the east side of the Niagara, just below the whirlpool. After a battle an hour long the French were utterly routed, several hundred being slain on the field, and a large part of the remainder being cap- tured, including the wounded D'Aubrey.
On the receipt of this disastrous news, the garrison at once surrendered. The control of the Niagara river, which had been in the hands of the French for over a hundred years, passed into those of the English. For a little while the French held possession of the fort at Schlosser, and even repulsed an English force sent against it. Becoming satisfied, however, that they could not withstand their powerful foe, they determined to destroy their two armed vessels laden with military stores. They accordingly took them into an arm of the river separating Buckhorn from Grand island, at the very northwesternmost limit of Erie county, burned them to the waters' edge and sunk the hulls.
Soon the life-bought victory of Wolfe gave Quebec to the triumphant Britons. Still the French clung to their colonies with desperate but failing grasp, and it was not till September, 1760, that the Marquis de Vaudreuil, the Governor-General of Canada, surrendered Montreal, and with it Detroit, Venango, and all the other within his jurisdiction. This surrender was ratified by the treaty of peace between England and France in February, 1 763, which ceded Canada to the former power and thus ended the long- contest.
PONTIAC S CONSI'IRACV.
CHAPTER IV.
ENGLISH DOMINION.
Pontiac's League — The Seneca's Hostile — The Devil's Hole — Battle Near Buf- falo— Treaty at Niagara — Bradstreet's Expedition — Israel Putnam — Lake Commerce — Wreck of the Beaver — Tryon County.
The celebrated Indian Chief Pontiac, united several western tribes against the British soon after their advent. In May, 1763, the league surprised nine out of twelve English forts and massacred their garrisons. Detroit, Pittsburgh and Niagara alone escaped surprise and each successfully resisted a siege. There is no positive evidence, but there is little doubt that the Senecas were involved in Pontiac's league and were active in their attack on Niagara.
In the September following occurred the awful tragedy of the Devil's Hole, when a band of Senecas, of whom Honaye- wus, afterwards celebrated as Farmers Brothers, was one and Cornplanter probably another, ambushed a train of English army wagons, with an escort of soldiers, the whole numbering ninety-six men, three and a half miles below the Falls, and massacred every man except four.
A few weeks later, on the 19th of October, 1763, there occurred the first hostile conflict in Erie county, of which there is any record, in which white men took part. It occurred probably at or near Black Rock. Si.x hundred British soldiers, under one Major Wilkins, were on their way in boats to rein- force their comrades in Detroit. A hundred and sixty of them, who were a half mile astern of the others, were suddenly fired on by a band of Senecas in a thicket on the shore. So close was their aim that thirteen men were killed or wounded at the first fire. Yihy soldiers landed and attacked the Indians. Three more soldiers were killed and twelve badh- wounded. It does not appear that the Indians suffered near as heavily as the English.
In the Summer of 1764, General Bradstreet, with twelve hun- dred British and Americans came bv water to Fort Niagara.
l8 INDIAN' COUNCIL AT FORT NIAGARA.
accompanied by the indefatigable Sir William Johnson. A grand council of friendly Indians was held at the fort, among whom Sir William exercised his customary skill, and satisfactory treaties were made. But the Senecas held aloof, and were said to be meditating a renewal of the war. At length General Bradstreet ordered their immediate attendance, under penalty of the destruction of their settlements. They came, ratified the treaty and thenceforward adhered to it pretty faithfully, notwithstand- ing the peremptory manner in which it was obtained. In the meantime a fort had been erected on the site of Fort Erie, the first ever built there.
In August, Bradstreet's army increased to nearly three thou- sand men, came up the river and proceeded up the south side of the lake, for the purpose of bringing the western Indians to terms, a task which was successfully accomplished without blood- shed. (The journey was made in open boats rigged with sails.) Now there was peace for awhile. The British coming up the Niagara usually landed at Fort Erie, where a post was all the while maintained, and going thence in open boats to Detroit, Mackinaw and other western forts.
The commerce of the upper lakes consisted of supplies for the military posts, goods to trade with the Indians and furs received in return. The trade was carried on mostly in open boats, pro- pelled by oars, with the occasional aid of a temporary sail. There were, however, at least two or three English trading ves- sels on Lake Erie before the Revolution. One, called the Beaver, is known to have been lost in a storm, and is believed by the best authorities to have been wrecked near the mouth of Eigteen-Mile creek, and to have furnished the relics found in that vicinity b)' early settlers.
All the western part of the Colony of New York was nomin- ally a part of Albany county up to 1772. In that year a new county was formed embracing all that part of the colony west of the Delaware river, and of a line running northeastward from the head of that stream through the present Count}' of Scho- harie, thence northward along the east line of Montgomer)', Fulton and Hamilton counties, and continuing in a straight line to Canada. It was named Tryon in honor of William Tr\'on, then the Royal Governor of Ne\\' York. Guy Johnson, Sir
DEATH OF SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. I9
William's nephew and son-in-law, was the earliest " first Judge" of the Common Pleas, with the afterward celebrated John But- ler as one of his associates. Sir William Johnson, an able mili- tary commander and Indian agent long in the employ of the British government, died suddenly, at Johnstown, near the Mohawk in 1774. Much of his influence over the Six Nations descended to his son, Sir John Johnson, and his nephew. Col. Guy Johnson. The latter became his successor in the ofifice of Superintendent of Indian Affairs.
20 TREATY BETWEEN THE INDIANS AND HRITISH.
CHAPTER V. THE REVOLUTION.
Four Iroquois Tribes Hostile — The Oswego Treaty — Scalps — Brant — Guien- gwahtoh — Wyoming — Cherry Valley — Sullivan's Expedition — Senecas Settle in Erie County — Gilbert Family — Pence.
In 1775, the Revolution began. Tlie new Superintendent made good his influence over all of the Six Nations except the Oneidas and Tuscaroras. John Butler established himself at Fort Niagara and organized a- regiment of Tories, known as Butler's Rangers, and he and the Johnsons used all their influ- ence to induce the Indians to attack the Americans. The Sen- ecas held aloof for a while, but the prospect of both blood and pay was too much for them to withstand, and in 1777 they, in common with Cayugas, Onondagas and Mohawks, made a treaty with the British at Oswego, agreeing to serve the King through- out the war.
Fort Niagara became, as it had been during the French war the key of all this region, and to it the Iroquois constantly looked for support and guidance. Their raids kept the whole frontier for hundreds of m.iles in a state of terror, and were attended by the usual horrors of savage warfare.
Among the celebrated Iroquois Chiefs in the Revolution was Theyendenega (or Joseph Brant), a Mohawk, and Guiengwah- toh and Honayewus (or Farmer's Brother), Cornplanter, and Governor Blacksnake, of the Senecas.
The slaughter and devastation in the \\'\-oming valley, in Pennsylvania, and the massacre at Cherry Valley, in the State of New Yot"k, and other events of a similar kind on a smaller scale, induced Congress and Cieneral Washington to send an army against the Six Nations in the Summer of 1779. General Sullivan, the commander, marched up the Susquehana to Tioga Point, where he was joined by a brigade under Gen. James Clinton (father of DeWitt Clinton), and then with a force of about 4,000 men, moved up the Chemung to near the site of Klmira- There Colonel Butler, with a small body of Indians
THK SKNF.CAS IX l-.RIK (■()rNI\'. 21
and Tories, x'ariousK' estimated at from six lumdred to fifteen hundred men, had thrown up intrenchments, and a battle was foui^ht. Butler was defeated, retired with considerable loss, and made no further resistance. Sullivan advanced and destroyed all the Seneca villages on the Genesee and about Cieneva, burn- iuL;- wii^wams and cabins, cuttint;^ down orchards, cuttint:^ up <;"rowin;^ corn and utterl)' clewistatins^ the country.
The Senecas fled in great disma\' to fort Niagara. The Onondaga village had iti the meantime been destroyed by another force, but it is plain that the Senecas were the ones who were chiefly feared, and against whom the vengeance of the Americans was chiefly directed. After thoroughly lading waste their country, the Americans returned to the east.
The Senecas had not only cornfields, but gardens, orchards and sometimes comfortable houses. They were the most pow- erful and warlike of all the Six Nations, but their spirits were much broken by this disaster. It was with difficult}' that the British authorities procured sufficient rations to sustain the Indians through the severe Winter of 1779-80, at Niagara.
As Spring approached the English made earnest efforts to reduce the expense, by persuading the Indians to make new- settlements and plant crops.
In the Spring of 1780, a considerable body of Senecas came up from Fort Niagara and established themselves on Buffalo Creek, about four miles above its mouth. This as far as known A\as the first permanent settlement of the Senecas in Erie county. They had probably had huts here to use while hunt- ing and fishing, but no regular villages. In fact, this settle- ment of the Senecas in the Spring of 1780, was probably the first permanent occupation of the count}' since the destruction of the Neuter Nation, a hundred and thirty-five years before. The same Spring another band located themselves at the mouth of the Cattaraugus.
The Indians who settled on Buffalo creek brought with them several members of a Quaker family b}' the name of (iilbert who had been captured a few months prexious on the borders of Pennsylvania. After the war, this family published a narra- tive of their capti\'it}', which gives valuable information regard- ing this period of our history.
22 SURRENDER OF CORNWALLIS.
Immediately on the arrival of the Indians the squaws began to clear the land and prepare it for corn, while the men built some log huts and then went out hunting. In the beginning of the Winter of 1780-81, two British officers. Captain Powell and Lieutenant Johnston, came to the settlement on Buffalo creek and remained until toward Spring. They were probably sent by the British authorities at Fort Niagara to aid in putting the new settlement on a solid foundation. They made strenuous efforts to obtain the release of Rebecca and Benjamin, two of the younger members of the Gilbert family, but the Indians were unwilling to give them up. This Lieutenant Johnston afterward located at Buffalo, and was known to the early settlers as Capt. William Johnston. It must have been about this time that Johnston took unto himself a Seneca wife, for his son, John Johnston, was a young man when Buffalo was laid out, in 1803. Captain Powell had married Jane Moore, a girl who, with her mother and others of the family, had been captured at Cherry Valley.
Captain (afterwards Colonel) Powell is frequently and honor- ably mentioned in several accounts as doing everything in his power to ameliorate the condition of the captives among the Indians. Through his influence and exertions, several of the Gilbert family were released from captivity and sent to Mon- treal. In the Spring of 1781, Captain Powell was sent to dis- tribute provisions, hoes and other implements among the Indians. At the distribution, the Chiefs of every band came for shares, each having as many sticks as there were persons in his band, in order to insure a fair division. In October, 1 78 1, Cornwallis surrendered, and thenceforth there were no more active hostilities.
Rebecca Gilbert and Benjamin Gilbert, jr., were released the next year. This appears to have been managed by Colonel Butler, who, to give him his due, always seemed willing to befriend the captives, though constantly sending out his sav- ages to make new ones. Not until the arrangements were all made did the Indians inform Rebecca of her approaching freedom. With joyful heart she prepared for the journey, making bread and doing other needful work for her captors.
PEACK l••()RM.\I.I.^■ DKCl.ARKI). 23
Then by canoe and on foot she aiid her brother were taken to Fort Niai^ara, and, after a conference, the last two of tlie ill-fated Gilbert family were released from captivity in June, I7<S2.
In the fall of 1783, peace was formally declared between Great Britain and the revolted colonies henceforth to be acknowledt^ed by all men as the United States of America.
24 PHELPS AND GORHAM PURCHASE.
CHAPTER VI.
The Treaty of Fort Stanwix, 1784 — Phelps and Gorham's Purchase in 17S8 — Council at Buffalo Creek in 178S — Phelps' Large Mill Site on the Genesee River — Robert Morris — The Holland Land Company— Treaty of 1826 — Treaty of 1842 — Buffalos and Buffalo Creek.
In October, 1784, a treaty was made at Fort Stanwix (Rome) between three Commissioners of the United States and the Sachems of the Six Nations.
The eastern boundary of the Indian lands does not seem to have been in dispute, but the United States wanted to extin- guish whatever claim the Six Nation: might have to the west- ern territory, and also to keep open the right of way around the Falls of Niagara, which Sir William Johnston had obtained for the British.
In 1788, Massachusetts sold all her land in New York, about six million acres, to Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham act- ing on behalf of themselves and others, for one million dollars, in three equal annnal payments, the purchasers being at liberty to pay in certain stocks of that State, then worth about twenty cents on the dollar; the purchase was subject to the rights of the Indians.
Phelps procured the calling of a council at Buffalo Creek, which met July 5, 1788. Phelps had secured the influence of Butler, Brant, and other influential persons, and the proceed- ings were very harmonious. The east line of this purchase ran from Pennsylvania due north to Lake Ontario and crossing •Seneca lake ; the west line ran from Avon south, along the Genesee river to the mouth of Canaseraga creek, thence due south to the Pennsylvania line. This was " Phelps and Gorham purchase." It included about two million six hundred thousand acres, for which they paid five thousand dollars in hand, and five hundred dollars annually for e\^er; this was about equal to half a cent an acre. During the negotiations, Phelps suggested that he wanted to build some mills at the falls of the Genesee (now Rochester), which would be very convenient for Indians as well as whites; and he wished the Indians to give him a mill site
HOLLAND PU RCIL\SE. 25
and the necessary aiiKHint ()f land to l;<) with it. The red men thought mills woidd be a good thing, and their white brotlier should have a mill-site — how much land did he want for this purpose? Phelps replied that he thought a strip about twelve miles wide, extending from Avon to the mouth of the river, tw^enty-eight miles, would be about right. The Indians thought that a pretty large mill-site, but they gave him the land. The mill-site contained about two hundred thousand acres.
The adoption of the Federal constitution had caused a great rise in Massachusetts stocks, so that Phelps and Gorham were unable to make the payments they had agreed on and Massa- chusetts released them from their contract as to all the land except that to which they had extinguished the Indian title, to wit, " Phelps and Gorham Purchase;" of that the State gave them a deed in full.
Massachusetts then sold the released lands in five tracts to Robert Morris, the merchant prince of Philadelphia, and the celebrated financier of the revolution. ' The easternmost of these tracts Mr. Morris sold out in small parcels. The remain- ing four constituted the " Holland Purchase." Mr. Morris sold it by conveyances made in 1792 and 1793, to several Ameri- cans, who held it in trust for a number of Hollanders, who, being aliens, could not hold it in their own name at that time. These Hollanders were known as the Holland company after- wards. In September, 1797, a council was held at Geneseo, at which Robert Morris bought of the Indians the whole of the remaining Seneca lands in New York, except eleven reserva- tions of various sizes.
At a council held in August, 1826, the Senecas ceded to the Ogden compan)- thirt)--three thousand six hundred and thirty- seven acres of the Buffalo Creek reservation, thirty-three thousand four hundred and nine acres of the Tonawanda reser- \-ation, five thousand one hundred and twent}' of the Catta- augus reser\^ation, besides one thousand fi\e hundred acres in the Genesee valley.
From the Buffalo Creek reser\-ation, a strip a mile and a half wide was sold off on the north side commencing at a point one and one half miles east of where the Cayuga creek crossed the reservation line in the town of Chautauqua, thence to the
26 THE ( ;attakau(;us reservation.
east end of the reservation, also a strip three miles wide across the east end. And finally a strip a mile wide extending the whole length of the south side of the reservation called the " Mile Strip."
Of the Cattaragus reservation, there was ceded in Erie county a strip six miles long and a mile wide from the north side called the " Mile Strip," and a mile square called the " Mile Block," south of the east end of that strip. Both are in the present town of Brant.
In the year 1838, the Ogden company made strong efforts to obtain possession of all the Indian lands in Western New York. A treaty was made and sanctioned by the President and ratified by the Senate to accomplish that object. The Indians were to receive nearly two million acres of land in Kansas, and a considerable amount of money in exchange for their reservation. But the facts brought to light in regards to the means used to obtain the signatures of some of the chiefs caused so much popular feeling, and the determination of the Indians was so strong not to go west, that the company did not try to remove them.
In May, 1842, a new agreement was made by which the Ogden company allowed the Senecas to retain the Cattaraugus and Allegany reservations and the Indians gave up the Buffalo creek and Tonawanda tracts on condition of receiving their proportionate value. This was satisfactory to the Buffalo Creek Indians, but not to those on the Tonawanda reservation. Arbitrators duly chosen decided that the proportionate value of the Indian title to those two reservations was seventy-five thousand dollars, and that of the improvements on them fifty- nine thousand dollars. They also awarded the portion of the fifty-nine thousand dollars due to each Indian on the Buffalo creek reservation, but could not do it on the Tonawanda one, because the inhabitants of the latter refused to let them come on the reservation to make an appraisal. After some two years one of the claimants undertook to expel one of the Tonawanda Indians by force, whereupon he sued him and recovered judg- ments, the court deciding that the proper steps had not been taken to justify the claimant's action.
Finally to end the controversy the United States Govern-
BUFFALO CREEK. 2/
ment bought the claim of the O^den Company to the Tona- wanda Reservation and gave it to the Indians residing there. They now hold it by the same title by which white men own their lands, except that the fee is in the whole tribe and not in any individual members.
Meanwhile the Buffalo Indians quietly received the money alloted to them and after a year or two allowed them for prep- aration, they in 1843-4 abandoned their reservation. Most of them joined their brethren on the Cattaraugus reserva- tion, some went to that on the Allegany, and a few removed to lands allotted them in Kansas.
The treaty of Fort Stanwix was the first public document containing the name of Buffalo creek, as applied to the stream which empties into the foot of Lake Erie. The narrative of the Gilbert family, published just after the war, was the first appearance of the name in writing or printing.
The question has been often debated, whether the original Indian name was "Buffalo" creek. This almost of necessity involves the further question, whether the buffalo ever ranged on its banks; for it is to be presumed that Indians would not in the first place have adopted that name, unless such had been the case.
Numerous early travelers and later hunters, mention the existence of buffalo in the vicinity, or not far away. A strong instance is the account of the Missionaries Chaumonot and Breboeuf, which declares that the Neuter Nation, who occu- pied the County of Erie, and a portion of Canada across the Niagara river were in the habit of hunting the buffalo, together with other animals.
Mr. Ketchum in his history of " Buffalo and the Senccas," says that all the oldest Senecas in 1820, declared that buffalo bones had been found within their recollection, at the salt licks near Sulphur Springs. The same authorities produce evidence that white men had killed buffaloes within the last one hundred and twenty years, not only in Ohio, but Western Pennsylvania. Albert Gallatin who was a surve}'or in Western Virginia in 1784, declared in a paper published by the American Ethno- logical Society, that they were at that time abundant in the Kenhawa \'alle\-, and that he had for eight months lived
28 THE NEUTER XATKJN.
principally on their flesh. This is positive proof and the Kenhawa valley is onl)' three hundred miles from here and oni\- one hun- dred miles further west, and is as well wooded a country as this.
The narrative of the Gilbert family is very strong evidence that from the first the Senecas applied the name of Buffalo to the stream in question. Although the book was not published until after the war, yet the knowledge then given to the public was acquired in 1 780, '81 and '82. At least six of the family were among the Senecas on Buffalo, creek. Some of them were captives for over two years, and must have acquired con- siderable knowledge of the language. It is utterly out of the question that they could all have been mistaken as to the name of the stream on which they lived, which must have been con- stantly referred to by all the Senecas in talking about their peo- ple domiciled there, as well as by the scores of British ofificers and soldiers with whom the Gilberts came in contact.
If then the Neuter Nation hunted buffalos across in Canada in 1640, if they were killed by the whites in Ohio and Penn- sylvania within the last century, if Albert Gallatin found them abundant on the Kenhawa in 1784, if the old Senecas of 1820 declared they had found their bones at the salt licks, and if the Indians called the stream on which they settled in 1780, Buffalo creek, there can be no reasonable doubt that they knew what they were about, and did so because that name came down from former times when the monarch of the western prairie strayed over the plains of the county of Erie.
KARI.V LAND (i RANIS. 29
C H A P r E R VII.
LAND TITLES.
King James' Grant — Grant of Charles [. — Conflicting Claims — Phelps and (jorham's Purchase — Sale to Robert Morris.
James the b'irst, Kin<;" of Great Britain, in the year 1620, granted to the Ph'inouth company a tract of countr\' called New Ent;iand. This tract extended through several degrees of latitude north and south, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean, east and west.
Charles the First, in 1663, granted to the Duke of York and Albany the province of New York, including the present State of New Jersey. The tract thus granted extended from a line twenty miles east of the Hudson river westward indefiniteh'.
By these grants, each of the colonies (afterward states) laid claim to the jurisdiction as well as to the pre-emption right of the same land, including a portion of the State of New York, and a tract farther west sufficiently large to fornj several states.
The State of New York, how^ever, in 1781, and Massachu- setts in 1785, ceded to the United States all their rights, both of jurisdiction and of proprietorship, to all the territor)' l}'ing west of the meridian line running south from the westerly end of Lake Ontario. This left about twenty thousand square miles of territory in dispute, but this controversy was finall\- settled by a convention of commissioners appointed by Massachusetts and New York, held at Hartford, Conn., on the i6th day of December, 1786.
According to the stipulation entered into by the convention Massachusetts ceded to the State of New York all her claim to the government, sovereignt}' and jurisdiction of all the terri- tory lying west of the present east line of the State of New- York, and New York ceded to Massachusetts the pre-emption right or fee of the land, subject to the title of the Indians, of all that part of the State of New York lying west of a line beginning at a point in the north line of Pennsylvania, eighty- two miles west of the northeast corner of said state, and
30 LAND PURCHASES.
running from there due north through Seneca lake to Lake Ontario ; excepting and reserving to the State of New York a strip of land east of and adjoining the eastern bank of Niagara river, one mile wide, and extending its whole length (called the state mile strip). The land, the pre-emption right of which was thus ceded, amounted to about six millions of acres.
In April, 1788, Massachusetts contracted to sell to Nathaniel Gorham and Olivier Phelps, of said state (who were acting for themselves and their associates), their pre-emption right to all the lands in Western New York, amounting to about six million acres, for the sum of one million dollars, to be paid in three annual installments, for which a kind of scrip Massa- chusetts had issued, called consolidated securities, was to be received, which was then in the market much below par.
In July, 1788, Messrs. Gorham and Phelps, purchased of the Indians, by a treaty at a convention held at Buffalo creek, the Indian title to about two millions six hundred thousand acres of the eastern part of their purchase from Massachusetts. This purchase of the Indians being bounded west by a line running due south from the mouth of Canaseraga creek to the Pennsyl- vania line, and northerly from the mouth of said creek along the waters of the Genesee river to a point two miles north of Cannawagas village, thence running west twelve miles, thence running northwardly so as to be twelve miles distant from the west side of said river to the shore of Lake Ontario.
On the 2 1st day of November, 1788, the State of Massachu- setts conveyed and forever quitclaimed to Gorham and Phelps, their heirs and assigns forever, all the right and title of said state to all that tract of country of which Messrs. Phelps and Gorham had extinguished the Indian title. This tract, and this only, has since been designated as the " Phelps and Gor- ham purchase."
Messrs. Phelps and Gorham, who had paid about one-third of the purchase money of the whole tract purchased by Massa- chusetts, in consequence of the rise of the value of Massach- setts consolidated stock (in which the payments for the land were to be received) from twenty per cent, to par. were unable further to comply with their engagements on their part and Massachusetts commenced suits on their bonds. After a long
TlIK MORRIS RKSKRVK. 3 1
negotiati()n between the parties, the v\ hole transaction relative to the purchase of those land was settled and finally closed on the loth day of March, 1791, Phelps and Gorham relinquished to Massachusetts that portion of the land since known as the "Holland Purchase" and the "Morris Reserve," and Massa- chusetts relinquished to the said Phelps and Gorham their bonds for the payment of the purchase money therefor.
The whole of said lands, released by Phelps and Gorham to the State of Massachusetts, as above stated, were sold by said state, to Robert Morris on the i ith day of May, 1791, in five different deeds. The first deed included all the land on said tract l>'inij east of a meridian line beginning at a point in the north line of Pennsylvania, twelve miles west of the southwest corner of Phelps and Gorham's tract and running due north to Lake Ontario, supposed to contain about five hundred thousand acres. The above tract took the name of " The Morris Reserve." from the fact that he retained that tract in the sale which he afterwards made to the Holland company.
32 THE HOLLAND COMPANY.
CHAPTER VIII.
Historical Deduction of the Holland Company's Title — A Curious Fact — Indian Council at Geneseo — Indian Reservation^Joseph Ellicott the Principal Surveyor — Other Surveyors — The Transit Instrument — Run- ning the East Transit Line — Running the Mile-Sirip Line a ong the Niagara River — Buffalo Creek — Williamsburg — "Transit Store House" — The First Wagon Track on the Holland Purchase— Buffalo in 179S — First Crops Raised on the Holland Purchase —The Three Taverns Located — The First Woman on the Holland Purchase.
The last four tracts described in the conveyances of the land purchased of Massachusetts, by Robert Morris, were con- veyed by him, by four separate deeds, as follows: First deed from Robert Morris and wife, to Herman Le Roy and John Linklaen, for one and a half million acres, dated December 24, 1 792. Second deed from Robert Morris and wife, to Herman Le Roy, John Linklaen and Gerrit Boon for one million acres, dated February 27, 1793. Third deed from Robert Morris and wife, to Herman Le Roy, John Linklaen and Gerrit Boon, for eight hundred thousand acres, dated July 20, 1793. Fourth deed from Robert Morris and wife, to Herman Le Ro}% William Bayard and Matthew Clarkson, for three hundred thousand acres, dated July 20, 1793.
These tracts were purchased with the funds of certain gen- tlemen in Holland, and held in trust b\' the several grantees for their benefit, as they, being aliens, could not purchase and hold real estate in their own names, according to the then existing laws of the State. After several changes in the trus- tees, and transfers of portions of the land, sanctioned b}' the Legislature, the whole tract was conveyed by the trustees, by three separate deeds to the Holland compan\', or rather to the individuals in their own names, composing three separate branches of the company.
Although these deeds of con\'e\'ance were given to three distinct companies of proprietors, their interests were so closely blended, several ot the same persons, having large interests in each of the three different estates; they appointed one general
'11 1 1'-. DITCH I'kol'RIKl'okS. 33
agent for the whole, who manaj^ed the coneerns of the tract generally, as though it belonged to the same proprietors, making no distinction which operated in the least on the settlers and purchasers, but sinii)l\- keeping the accounts of each separate, when practicable, and apportioning /n^ /v^/c?, all expenses when blended in the same transaction, for the benefit of the whole. The general agent likewise appointed the same local or resident agent for the three companies owning this tract in Western New York. The onl)- difference between its consisting of one or more tracts discernable by the purchaser of lands, was, in executing contracts or conveyances, the agents used the names of the respective proprietors of each tract. Under this state of things, we shall denominate the whole of the proprietors holding under these three deeds, "The Holland Company," and the lands conveyed by those deeds the "Holland Purchase.'' It is a curious fact that when the Dutch proprietors were par- celing out the tract among the three different branches of the company, it was mutually agreed among the whole, that Messrs. Wilhem Willink, Jan Willink, Wilhem VVillink the younger, and Jan Willink the younger, should have three hundred thousand acres, located in such part of the whole tract as they should select. In making their selection they located their three hundred thousand acres in nearl)- a square form, in the south-east corner of the tract, for the reason that it was nearest Philadelphia, the residence of their general agent. This selection contained the territory now comprising the towns of Bolivar, Wirt, Friendship, the east part of Belfast, (ienesee, Clarksville and Cuba, in Allegany county; Portville and the east parts of Ischua and Hinsdale, in Cattaraugus county. This location will give the reader who is acquainted with the geography of the country, some idea of the knowledge, or rather want of knowledge, of the Dutch proprietors, of the situation and relative advantages of the different portions of their vast domains.
This sale by Robert Morris to the Holland company was made before the Indian title to the land was extinguished, accompanied by an agreement on his part to extinguish that title, with the assistance of the company, as soon as practicable ; therefore at a council of the Seneca Indi.uis, hekl at Geneseo,
2
34
I NDI AN RESERV ATION.'^.
on the Genesee river, in the month of September, 1797, at which Jeremiah Wadsworth attended as commissioner for the United States, and William Shepherd as agent for Massachusetts, Robert Morris in fulfilment of his several contracts with the Holland company, and to other persons to whom he had sold land on this tract, acting by his agents, Thomas Morris and Charles Williamson, extinguished the Indian title to all the land, the pre-emption right of which he had purchased of Mas- sachusetts, except the following Indian reservations, viz ; The Cannawagus reservation, containing two square miles, lying on the west bank of Genesee river, west of Avon. Little Beard's and Big Tree reservations, containing together four square miles, lying on the west bank of the Genesee river, opposite Geneseo. Squakie Hill reservation, containing two square miles, lying on the north bank of the Genesee river, north of Mount Morris. Gardeau reservation, containing about twenty- eight square miles, lying on both sides of Genesee river, two or three miles south of Mount Morris. The Canadea reserva- tion, containing sixteen square miles, lying each side of, and extend eight miles along the Genesee river, in the county of Allegany. The Oil Spring reservation, containing one square mile, lying on the line between Allegany and Cattaraugus counties. The Allegany reservation, containing forty-two square miles, lying on each side of the Allegany river and extending from the Pennsylvania line northeaswardly about twenty-five miles. The Cattaraugus reservation, containing forty-two square miles, lying on each aide and near the mouth of the Cattaraugus creek, on Lake Erie. The Buffalo reserva- tion, containing one hundred and thirty square miles, lying on both sides of Buffalo creek, and extending east from Lake Erie about seven miles wide. The Tonawanda reservation, containing seventy square miles, lying on both sides of Tonawanda creek, beginning about twenty-five miles from its mouth, and extending eastwardly about seven miles wide ; and the Tuscarora reservation, containing one square mile, being about three miles east of Lcwiston on the Mountain Ridge.
Theophilus Cazenove, the general agent of the Holland company, resident at Philadelphia, in July, 1797, had engaged
11 IK srK\ i:\' Co.MMKXCKI).
Mr. loscpli ICllicott, as principal surveyor of the conii^any's lands in Western New York, whenever their title should be [jcrfected and possession obtained, and likewise, to attend the before-mentioned council, and assist Messrs. W. Bayard and J. Linklaen, who were to attend and act as assents for the corn- pan}' [sill) rasa) for the purpose of promoting- the interests of their principals in an\- treaty which mi<;ht be made with the Indians. Mr. Ellicott attended the council accordingly, and rendered valuable services to the purchasers. This period was the commencement of upwards of twenty years" re<;ular active service rendered by Mr. Ellicott to the Holland company, in conducting their affairs and executing laborious enterprises for their benefit.
As soon as the favorable result of the proceedings of this council was known, Mr. Ellicott proceeded immediately to prepare for the traverse and survey of the north and northwest bounds of the tract. As soon as the necessary preparatory steps could be taken, Mr. Ellicott, as surveyor for the Holland company, and Augustus Porter, in the same capacity, for Robert Morris, for the purpose of estimating the quantity of land in the tract, started a survey at the northeast corner of Phelps and Gorham's tract, west of Genesee river, and trav- ersed the .south shore of Lake Ontario to the mouth of Niagara riv^er, thence up the eastern shore of Niagara river to Lake Erie, thence along the southeast shore of Lake Erie to the west bounds of the State of New York being a meridian line running due south from the west end of Lake Ontario, which had been previously established by Andrew Ellicott, Surveyor-General of the United States, assisted b\- Joseph Ellicott. All which was perfected by the middle of Novem- ber following.
Before Mr. Ellicott left Western New York for Philadelphia, he contracted with Thomas Morris to deliver on the Genesee river or shore of Lake Ontario near the mouth of that river, one hundred barrels of pork, fifteen barrels of beef, and two hundred and seventy barrels of flour, for the supply of the surveyors and their assistants the ensuing season. Mr. Ellicott, at the request of the Agent-General, made a list of articles to be provided for the next .season's campaign, consisting of a
36 SUBDIVISION OF WWNSHIPS.
diversity of articles, from pack-horses to horse-shoes, nails and gimlets — from tents to towels — from barle}' and rice to choco- late, coffee and tea, and from camp-kettles to teacups ; esti- mated to amount to $7,213.33. This statement, however, did not include medicine, " or wine, spirits, loaf-sugar, &c., for headquarters." Mr. EUicott likewise calculated the wages of surveyors and other hands, for six months of the next season, at $19,830.
Although the great divisions of the Holland Purchase was intended to consist of townships six miles square, the division of the tract among the three sets of proprietors, the Indian reservations which were not included in the townships, as well as the offsets and sinuosities existing in most of the boundaries, prevented a large portion of the townships conforming to this standard. The townships are situated in ranges running from south to north. The townships in each range of townships beginning to number one at the south, rising regularly in number to the north, and the ranges of townships beginning to number one at the east, and proceeding regularly west, to fifteen.
The first plan of the Agent-General of the compan}-, relative to the subdivision of the townships, was to divide each town- ship, which was six miles square, into sixteen portions one and a half miles square, to be called sections, and each section again subdivided into twelve lots, each lot to be three-fourths of a mile long (generally north and south), and one-fourth of a mile wide, containing about one hundred and twent}' acres each ; presuming that a wealthy farmer would buy a section, whereon to locate himself and his progeny. Twenty-four townships were surveyed or commenced to be surveyed in con- formity to that plan, although the uniformity of the size and shape of lots was often departed from, where large streams, such as the Tonawanda, running through the townships, were, for convenience, made boundaries of lots. From experience, however, it was ascertained that, in the purchase of land, each individual, whether father, son, or son-in-law, would locate him- self according to his own choice or fancy. That this formal and regular division of land into farms, seldom was found to be in conformity to the topography of the country, nor to the
■|"IIE SUR\ KNORS. 37
different iXHjuireinents as to ciuaiitit}', likewise that tlie addition of sections to townships and lots, rendered the description of farms more complex, and increased the liability to err in defin- ing any particular location ; for which reasons, the practice of dividing townships in sections was abandoned, and thereafter, the townships were simply divided into lots of about sixty chains or three-fourths of a mile square, which could be divided into farms to suit the topography of the land and quantity required by the purchasers. In those townships which the sur- veys had commenced to divide into sections, and not com- pleted, the remaining sections were divided into four lots only of three-fourths of a mile square each. These lots conse- quently contained about three hundred and sixty acres each, but could not be laid off exactly uniform in shape and area, for the same reason heretofore given in a note, why the townships could not be laid off exactly uniform.
Early in the Spring of 1788, Mr. Ellicott dispatched Adam Hoops, jr., a nephew of Major Adam Hoops, from Philadelphia, to Western New York, with general powers to prepare for opening the approaching campaign of surveying the Holland Purchase, and to co-operate with Augustus Porter, who had previously been engaged to procure horses, employ hands, and transport stores from the places of their delivery by the con- tractor, Mr. Morris, to the places where they would be required for consumption.
The principal surve)^ors engaged during the active season of 1798, in township, meridian line and reservation surveys, and in lake and river traverses, were as follows: Joseph and Benjamin Ellicott, JohnTompson, Richard M. Stoddard, George Burgess, James Dewey, David Ellicott, Aaron Oakford, jr., Augustus Porter, Seth Pease, James Smedly, William Shepherd, Geo. Eggleston. In addition to these, were two P'renchmen, MM. Haudecaur and Autrechy, who were employed in some surveys of Niagara river and the Falls. The last were rather engineers than surveyors. Mr. James Brisbane, then in his minority, came from Philadelphia, with Mr. Tompson, as clerk and store- keeper.
Mr. Ellicott and his assistants having arrived on the territory, his first business was to ascertain and correctly establish the
38 Till-: "TRANSIT IXSTRrMKXr."
c;ist line of the Purchase. He caused the PennsyKania Hne to be accurateh' measured from the southwest corner of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, on the eighty-second mile-stone, twelve miles west, and there erected a stone monument for the south- east corner of the Holland Purchase. The whole company was then divided into parties, to prosecute the undertaking to advantage. The principal surveyor, Joseph Ellicott, assisted by Benjamin Ellicott, one other surveyor and the requisite number of hands, undertook to run the eastern boundary line. The other surveyors, each with his c[uota of hands, were assigned to run different township lines.
A line running due north from the monument established as the south-east corner by Mr. Ellicott, to the boundary line between the United States and the dominions of the King of Great Britain, in Lake (3ntario, according to the deeds of con- veyance from Robert Morris to the company, constitutes the east line of their purchase. To run a true meridian by the sur- veyor's compass Mr. Ellicott knew to be impracticable, he there- fore determined to run this line by an instrument, having for its basis the properties of the " Transit instrument " (an instru- ment made use of to observe the transits of the heavenly bodies), improved for this purpose by a newly-invented manner of accurately arriving at the same ; to effect this object, an instrument possessing all these qualities, was manufactured in Philadelphia by his brother, Benjamin Ellicott, as no instru- ment possessing all the qualities desired, was then to be found in the United States.
This instrument had no magnetic needle attached to it, but its peculiar qualities and prominent advantages are, that by means of its telescopic tube and accurate manner of reversing, by it, a straight line can be correctly, and comparatively speak- ing, expeditiously run. But such an instrument, by reason of its magnifying powers, is as ill calculated to run a line through the woods and underbrush, as would be a microscope to observe the transits of the satellites of Herschel. Therefore it became necessary to cut a vista through the woods on the highlands and on level ground, sufficient!}' wide to admit a clear and uninterru})ted view.
Mr, Ellicott having provided himself with such an instrument.
SUKVKV(JRS ARRIN'K .\r \V1 LMAMSliURO. 39
caused the vista to be cut, some three or four rods wide, ahead of the transit instrument, in a north direction as indi- cated by the compass, which sometimes led the axmen more than the width of the vista from the meridian sought ; there- fore the true meridian hne, called the transit line, from the name of the instrument with which it was run, being of no width, runs sometimes on one side of the middle of the vista cut in advance, and sometimes on the other.
Thus prepared with' a suitable instrument, Mr. Ellicott assisted by his brother, Benjamin Elllicott, together with sur- veyors and their assistants, established a true meridian line north from the corner monument, by astronomical observations, and pursued it with the transit instrument, taking new astronomical observations at different stations, to guard against accidental variations.
The progress in running this line was slow, as it could not be otherwise expected, considering the great amount of labor nec- essary to be performed in clearing the vista, and taking other preparatory measures, and, above all, the vast importance of having it correctly established, which rendered anything like precipitance or haste, an experiment too hazardous to be per- mitted. June 1 2th, the party on this line had advanced so far north, that they established their store-house at Williamsburg (about three miles south of the village of Geneseo), and soon after Mr. Ellicott made it his headquarters at Hugh M'Nair's, in that vicinity. On the 22d day of November, following, eighty-one and a half miles of the line was established, which brought them within about thirteen miles of the shore of Lake Ontario. The precise date of its completion is unknowns.
This line defined the west bounds of Mr. Church's one hun- dred thousand acres, but passed through the Cotringer, Ogden and Cragie tracts, about two miles from their west boundaries, as described in the deeds of conveyance from Robert Morris to the several grantees ; but as their titles were of a later date than the conveyance to the Holland Company, no deviation from the first established meridian was made by Mr. Ellicott.
On arriving at the south line of the one hundred thousand acre tract, conveyed by Robert Morris to Leroy Bayard and M'Evers, now called the Connecticut tract (the conveyance of
40 DIFFICULT WORK Acro.MI'LISHK] ).
which, from Robert Morris, claimed seniority over that to the Holland Company). Mr. Ellicott found that his meridian inter- sected the south line of that tract, one hundred and sixty-six chains thirty links east of its southwest corner, on which he moved his position that distance to the west, from which point he ran the transit due north to Lake Ontario.
Although the eastern bank of the Niagara river had been traversed, the east bounds of the New York mile strip had not been ascertained, and the state would participate in it no further than to give the proprietors of the land adjoining, to wit : the Holland Company liberty to run the line at their own expense, and if so run as to be approved by the Surveyor Gen- eral of the state, it should be established as permanently located, and passed a law to that effect. This was undoubtedly the most difficult piece of surveying ever performed in the state.
At the north end where the river disembogued itself into the lake, at almost right angles with its shores, there could no doubts arise, but at the south end of the straits or river, a dif- ferent state of things existed, Lake Erie narrowed gradually and became a river ; where the lake ends and the river begins may be considered a difficult question, but it was finally agreed between the parties interested, the river should be deemed to extend to where the water was one mile wide and there cease ; the line of the strip east of this point extending to the shore of Lake Erie, on an arc of a circle of one mile radius, the center being on the eastern bank at the termination of the lake and head of the river, giving to the strip all the land lying within a mile of the river, whether east or south.
For this arc of the circle, which could not be practically run, a repetition of short sides, making a section of a regular poly- gon, was substituted. Seth Pease, a scientific surveyor and astronomer, was engaged in the fall of 1788, to run this line, who executed the survey in a masterly manner, and to the satis- faction of all the parties concerned.
During the year 1799 and 1800, few events transpired relative to the settlement of the Holland Purchase, which require a cir- cumstantial detail, or would admit of one which would be inter- esting to the reader. The surveyors and their assistants, under the direction of their principal, Joseph Ellicott, continued the
CAl'l'. WILLIAM J( )II\S'r( )\. 41
same stead}- routine of encamping in the woods, pitchinL( their tents, transportini,^ provisions, surveyin^r lines and striking their tents and removing to new positions ; and although at times many individuals, undoubtedly, suffered pain and endured hard- ships, such incidents must have been caused by accidental occurrences, unforeseen events or carelessness and imprudence in themselves or their companions, as the well-supplied coffers of the company, accompanied by their liberality, furnished sufficient means, and the provident care of Mr. Ellicott kept their storehouses well supplied with the best kind of provisions for that service, as well as other necessaries and many of the comforts of life.
This might be seen from Mr. Ellicott's catalogue of items for the outfit of the first campaign, and its cost, heretofore referred to, which was adopted and its contents provided.
(3f those events, however, the following deserve notice:
The Indian treaty of 1797, in which the Indian title to the Holland Purchase was extinguished, except to certain reserva- tions, as has been before stated, prescribed the quantities con- tained in, and general shape and location of each reservation, leaving the precise locations of the boundary lines to be deter- mined thereafter.
The Indians reserved 200,000 acres, one indefinite portion of which was to be located on Buffalo creek, at the east end of Lake Erie, and the remainder on Tonawanda creek.
As the New York reservation excluded the Holland com- pany's land from the waters of Niagara river, and from the shore of Lake Erie one mile southerly from the river, it became very important to the company to secure a landing place and harbor at the mouth of Buffalo creek, and sufficient ground whereon to establish a commercial and manufacturing village or city.
Capt. William Johnston, an Indian trader and interpreter, settled himself at the mouth of Buffalo creek at an early period under the auspices of the British government, and remained there until the Holland company had effected their purchase. His dwelling house stood south of Exchange and east of Wash- ington streets. Captain Johnston had procured of the Indians, by gift or purchase, two square miles of land at the mouth of
42 I'KEI'ARATIUNS FUR THE CAMPAIGN.
Buffalo creek, including a large portion of the territory on which now stands the City of Buffalo. He had also entered into an agreement with the Indians which amounted to a life lease of a certain mill site and the timbered land in its vicinity, on condition of supplying the Indians with all the boards and plank they wanted for building at and near the creek. This site was about six miles east of the mouth of the creek. Al- though Johnston's title to this land was not considered to have the least validity, yet the Indians had the power and the inclina- tion to include it within their reservation, unless a compromise was made with Johnston, and, taking into consideration his influ- ence with them, the agents of the company concluded to enter into the following agreement with him, which was afterwards fully complied with and performed by both of the parties :
Johnston agreed to surrender his right to the said two square miles and use his influence with the Indians to have that tract and his mill site left out of their reservation, in consideration of which the Holland company agreed to convey by deed to said Johnston, 640 acres, including the said mill site and adja- cent timbered land, together with forty-five and one-half acres, being part of said two square miles, including the buildings and improvements, then owned by Johnston, four acres of which were to be on the "point."
These lands, as afterward definitely located, were a tract of forty-one and a half acres, bounded : north, by Seneca street, west by Washington street, and south by the Little Buffalo creek ; the other tract was bounded, east by Main street, south- westerly by the Buffalo creek, and northwesterly by Little BulTalo creek, containing about four acres.
This matter will again be referred to, in connection with some further notice of early events in Buffalo.
Mr. Ellicott, before leaving Philadelphia — in the time that intervened between his appointment and his departure — was activel}^ engaged in making all the necessary preparations for the campaign. David Rittenhouse, the eminent American philosopher, was then of the firm of Rittenhouse & Potts, mathematical and astronomical instrument makers, in Philadel- phia; orders were given for compasses, chains and staffs — all things in their line necessary to surveyors' outfits. Letters
i)i;i'.\Kri'i<i-. iRoM i'iiii.Ai)i:i.nii.\. 43
were written to AuL;ustus Porter, at Canandait;ua, to have ready such provisions, pack horses, axe-nien and chain-men, as lie had been ordered to provide; to Thomas Morris, at the same place, recjuestin^ his promj^t performance of some agen- cies that had been entrusted to him; to different persons at New York, iVlbany, h'ort Schu)der and Oueenston, containing orders to facilitate the transportation of stores and aid the sur- veying [)arties in getting upon the ground, and in supplying themselves with all things necessary for going into the woods. All things requisite were remembered and provided for. Clark and Street, at Chippewa, were ordered to have read\- two yoke of oxen and a stout lumber wagon (that was undoubtedly the pioneer ox team upon the Holland Purchase, other than such as had been used upon the portage); even axe-handles and tent-poles were not forgotten.
To each principal surveyor or sub-agent starting from Phila- delphia or elsewhere, written orders were issued what route to pursue, where to first rendezvous, where to draw his supplies and where to commence operations. P'ormulas were made out for each surveyor prescribing definitely the manner of his duties, of marking lines, keeping field notes and generally embracing all the minuta,' of his operations. It was as if the general of an army was acting as his own commissary and put- ting a force into the field, distributing it and making all things ready for a campaign, and the records of our war department would hardly furnish better examples of systematic and well ordered enterprises.
Embraced in these preliminary proceedings, was a corre- spondence with Mr. Williamson, in reference to a road from the west branch of Susciuehaiinah to the " Genesee country ;" and with the Surveyor-General of this state in reference to the laying out of towns at Lewiston and Fort Schlosser.
Mr. Ellicott arrived at Canandaigua on the 12th of June, 1798.
The reader will best be enabled to catch glimpses of early events — those that attended the surveys and preceded land sales and the commencement of settlement — by occasional references to and extracts from his correspondence, the only existing records.
44 BUFFALO CREEK AND \VILLL\MSBUR(;H.
A letter from Mr. Thompson to Mr. Ellicott, dated Buffalo Creek, states the stores had all arrived safely at Schlosser. except what had been left with Mr. Brisbane, at the " Chene- see" river; that Mr. Hoops, who had arrived in advance of him, had gone on to "Chetawque," where he had been joined by Mr. Stoddard ; that he himself was engaged in getting " axes ground and handled, and in sundry other things, prepara- tory to going to the woods."
Letters followed this very soon, by which it would seem that the camp was erected at "Chautauqua Creek," and all things prepared for active operation as early as the 19th of June.
Messrs. Smedley and Egleston were located at Buffalo Creek with surveying parties. In a letter to Mr. Ellicott, writ- ten from there, under date June 27th, Mr. Egleston says the goods have arrived, and that the " family in the house on the hill" are about to move out to make room for the surveyors. Mr. Ellicott, it would seem, had arrived at Schlosser. Antici- pating his arrival at Buffalo, Mr. Egleston very providently suggests that he had better bring with him room boards to make a mapping table, as there were none to be had in their new location, " Mr. Winne having carried off those that were in the partition."
The first principal stations of the surveyors — their head- quarters or depots — were at Buffalo Creek and Williamsburgh ; before the close of 1798, however, the principal establishments were located at the Transit Line (Stafford, the locali^ty desig- nated as "Transit Storehouse").
Mr. James Brisbane, moving his quarters from Williams- burgh, continued as the principal Clerk or Agent.
While upon the purchase, in 1798. Mr. Flllicott's time was principally spent at Buffalo Creek, Williamsburgh, and upon the Transit Line.
In the Spring of 1798, when the surveys of the Holland Pur- chase first commenced, all the travel between the Phelps and Gorham tract and Buffalo was an old Indian trail. The Win- ter previous, however, the Legislature of this State passed an act appointing Charles Williamson a Commissioner to la}- out
Bn-'IAI.o IN ITS I'.Akl.N' D.WS. 45
and open a State road from C'anncwagus on Genesee river to Buffalo Creek on Lake Krie and to Lewiston, on the Niagara river.
To defra\' the ex]:)ense of cutting;- out these roads, the Hol- land Compan}' subscribed fi\'e thousand dollars. Mr. William- son laid out and established the roads in 1798, generally adhering" to the course of old Indian trails; but they were not opened throughout according to contract, under his superin- tendence. The first wagon track opened upon the Holland purcha.se, was by Mr. Ellicott, as a preliminary step in com- mencing operations, early in the season of 1798. He employed a gang" of hands to improve the Indian trail, so that wagons could pass upon it, from the east transit to Buffalo creek.
In 1 801 he opened the road from transit line as far west as Vandeventer's". The whole road was opened to LeRoy before the close of 1802. But little reference can be had to the order of time in noting the events of this period; up to the period of the commencement of land sales and settlements, our sketches must necessarily be desultory.
Mr. Brisbane first saw Buffalo in October, 1798. There was then the log house of Middaugh and Lane — a double log house — about two squares from Main street, a little north of the present line of Exchange street. Captain Johnston's half log and half framed house, stood a little east of the main building^ of the present Mansion House, near Washington street. There was a two-story hewed log house, owned by Captain Johnston, about where Exchange street now is, from six to eight rods west of Main street, where a tavern was kept by John Palmer. Palmer afterwards moved over to Canada and kept a tavern there.
Asa Ransom lived in a log house west of Western Hotel. Winne had a log house on . bank of Little Buffalo, south of Mansion House. A Mr. Maybee, who afterwards went to Cattaraugus, kept a little Indian store in a log building on west side of Main street, about twenty rods north of Exchange .street. There was also a log house occupied by a man named Robbins.
The flats were open ground ; a portion of them had been cultivated. Such was Buffalo, and all of Buffalo in 1798.
46 FIRST CROPS ON THE IK »1. 1. AND I'ljRCIIASE.
The first crojis raised upon the Holland purchase, were at the transit store house. In the spring of 1799, Mr. James Dewey was waiting there with a gang of hands, to start upon a surveying expedition as soon as the weather would permit. At the request of Mr. Brisbane, he cleared ten acres upon either side of the present road, twenty rods west of the Transit, which was mainly sowed with oats ; though some potatoes and garden vegetables were planted. The early tavern keeper there — Mr. Walthers — reported by letter to Mr. Ellicott, that the yield was a good one, and fully demonstrated the goodness of the soil of the region he was surveying for a settlement.
In the summer of 1799, there not being a house on the road from the eastern Transit line to Buffalo, Mr. Busti, the agent general of the company, authorized Mr. Ellicott by a letter dated June ist, 1799, to contract with six reputable individuals to locate themselves on the road from the eastern Transit to Buffalo creek ; about ten miles asunder, and open houses of en- tertainment for travelers, at their several locations, in considera- tion of which they were to have a quantity of land, from fifty to one hundred and fifty acres each ; " at a liberal time for pay- ment, without interest, at the lowest price the company will sell their lands, when settlements shall be begun."
Three persons accepted of this offer, to wit : Frederick Wal- thers who was then residing on the land, took one hundred and fifty acres in township number twelve, range one, west of and adjoining the eastern Transit, including the Company's store house, and being where the village of Stafford now stands. Asa Ransom located himself Sept. ist, 1799, on one hundred and fifty acres in township number twelve, range six. at what is now known as Ransom's Gro\e or Clarence Hollow. Garrett Davis located himself Sept. 16, 1799, in township number thir- teen, range two, on one hundred and fifty acres, on the south line of said township; (the Buffalo road then run through the reservation, some distance north of its present location.) These lots were severally laid out and surveyed for the purchasers, before the several townships in which they are located were surveyed. These three persons erected and furnished comfort- able houses for the purposes intended, as soon as practicable ; which although not as splendid, yet were more eagerly sought.
rill-. 1'1()m:i;i< womiix. 47
and cheerfully cnj(i}'ccl b)- the forest traxeler and land explorer than any of the " Astor Mouses," " Americans," or " Mansions" of the present day.
With the exceptions of those residint:^ at Buffalo, Mrs. Gar- rett Davis and Mrs. Walthers, were the pioneer women upon the Holland Purchase. In 1800, Asa Ransom and Garrett Davis raised summer crops, which were second to those raised at the Transit store house the vear before.
4<S a(;exts of the Holland (■o^^^\^'v
CHAPTER IX.
Biographical Sketches or Agents of the Holland Company, and others.
Theophilus Cazenove.
He was the first agent of the Holland Company ; but little is known of his personal histor}^- When the company made their first purchases of land in this state and Pennsylvania, soon after 1790, he had arrived in this country, and acted as their agent. In all the negotiations and preliminary proceedings connected with the large purchase of Mr. Morris, of this region, the interest of the company were principally confided to him His name is intimately blended with the whole history of the title. When the purchase was perfected, he was made the general agent, and under his auspices the surveys commenced.
In all the embarrassments that attended the perfection of the title, he would seem to have been actuated b}' honorable and praise-worthy motives, and to have assisted with a good deal of ability, the legal managers of the compan\-'s interests. He returned to Europe in 1799, ending then his connection with the company. He resided for a considerable period after this in London, after which he lived in Paris, where he died.
Paul Bustl
He was a native of Milan, in Italy; was born on the 17th of October, 1749. After receiving his education in his native country, he entered the counting-house of his uncle, in Amster- dam, where he afterwards established himself in business, mar- ried, and acquired a high reputation for business talents, indus- try and integrity.
About retiring from commercial life and connected with one who was interested in the Holland Company purchase, he was induced to accept the general agency at Philadelphia, in the place of Mr. Cazenove; and most faithfully and satisfactorily did he perform its duties for a period of 24 years, up to the day of his death, July 23, 1824. He left no children.
The original proprietors — the eleven who constituted the
I'AUi. ijus'ii. 49
priniitix'c Hollaiul Company, were merchants in the City of Amsterdam (then in the RepubHc of Batavia). They had little of the spirit of speculation ; had acquired wealth by careful investments and fair profits. They had spare capital and wished to invest it ; their highest anticipations were perhaps a realization of something near the per cent, interest which was generally fixed upon money in this country, instead of the then low per cent, money yielded in Europe. And here it may be remarked, that considering the period of investment — 1792 and 1793, — but ten years after the close of the Revolutionary war — these Dutch merchants were far in advance of the prevailing senti- ment in Europe, as to the success and permanency of the experi- ment of free government. We should respect their memories for such an earnest, at that early period, of confidence in the stability of our system.
Mr. Busti's agency, as will be observed, commenced before the completion of surveys and the opening of sales ; conse- quently it was under his auspices that settlements began. In his early instructions to Mr. Ellicott, he proposed liberal meas- ures— seems to have started on the basis that the interests of his principals and the interest of the settlers were mutual. While he guarded strictly and with rigid economy the one, his views and munificence were liberal in reference to the other.
Mr. Ellicott acted under general instructions from him as to the opening of roads, building of mills and public buildings; but when he advised, as he often did, additional measures of improvement or increased outlays, he was quite sure to be sec- onded by his principal.
Next to Mr. Ellicott Mr. Busti was more closely identified with the settlement of the Holland purchase than any other individual. His administration of the general agency, embraced almost the entire period of pioneer settlement. The records of the company furnish conclusive evidence of clear judgment, great integrity of purpose and a disposition to promote the interests of the wild region he was aiding to settle and improve.
Joseph Ellicott. No man has ever, perhaps, been so closely identified with the history of any region, as he is with the history of the Holland
50 j')si:i'ii Kr.Licoir.
rurcliasc. He was not onl}- the land-ag^cnt, superintending from the start, surve\-s and settlement — exercising locally, a one-man-power and influence — but for a long period, he was far more than this. In all the early years of settlement, especially — in all things hax'ing reference to the organizing of towns, counties, erection of public buildings, the la\'ing out of roads, the establishment of post-offices — in all that related to the prosperit}' and convenience of the region over which his agency extended, he occupied a prominent position, a close identity, that few, if any, patrons of new settlements have ever attained.
As early as 1770, Joseph Ellicott's father and his brothers purchased a tract of wild land on the Patapoca, in Maryland, and erecting mills and machinery, became the founders of what was long known as '• Ellicott's Mills," now, for the sake of brevity, termed " Ellicott's."
Andrew, the eldest brother, became an eminent surveyor ; surveyed the Spanish boundary line under the administration of Mr. Jefferson : \\as afterwards Surveyor-General of the U. S.: and died the Professor of Mathematics at West Point, in 1 820 or '21.
Bexjamix, entered the service of the Holland Company at an early period, as the assistant of his brother Joseph. He was at an early period, one of the Judges of Genesee county, and a representative in Congress, from the district. He was a bachelor; died a resident of W'illiamsville, Erie count}-, in 1827.
David, the )-ounger brother, a somewhat erratic genius, was in some of the earliest \-ears, a sur\e\-or upon the Purchase. He went south and no tidings ever came of him.
There were five sisters, three of whom married three brothers by the name of Evans. In this circumstance, the reader will find the explanation of the numerous heirs of Joseph Ellicott. bearing that name.
Joseph Ellicott's earh* lessons in surveying, were gi\-en him by his elder brother, Andrew. His first practical surveying, was as an assistant of his brother, in the survey of the City of Washington, soon after that site had been selected for the national capital. In 1791, he was appointed by Timothy Pickering, then Secretary of War, to run the boundary line
JOSEI'lI KL1.I(()|-|-. 51
between Geoi-oiu and the Creek Indians. After completini;- this survey, he was employed by Mr. Cazenove, to survey the Holland Company's lands in Pennsylvania.
This completed, he was engaged for a short time in Maryland, in business with his brothers, and then enlisted in the Holland Company's service in this region.
The active years of his life were those, principally, inter- vening between the years 1790 and 1 821 — a period of about thirty years. At least ten or twelve years were spent in the arduous duties of a surveyor ; and when he left the woods and settled down in the discharge of his duties as local agent, his place was no sinecure, as the records of the of^fice will abund- antly testif)^ He was a man of great industry; careful, system- atic in all his business, and recjuired of all under his control a prompt and faithful discharge of all their duties.
Jacob S. Otto.
This gentleman was the successor to Mr. Ellicott in the local agency. He was previously a resident of Philadelphia ; had been engaged in mercantile and commercial pursuits.
The period of his agency was from 1821 to his death, in 1826.
It was during Mr. Otto's administration, that the plan of receiving cattle and grain from the settlers, that had previously been entertained, was effectually commenced. Depots were designated in different parts of the Purchase, for the delivery of wheat; where the settler could carry it, and have its value endorsed upon his contract. Agents were appointed to receive cattle. They advertised yearly, the times and places, when and where the cattle would be received, fixed upon their price, and endorsed it upon contracts. It was one among the measures of relief, and its operation was highly beneficial.
David E. E\'ans. During the administration of Mr. Otto, Mr. Evans had been appointed as his associate, to give the incumbent the advantage of his long experience and familiarity with the details of the business. Yet he did not to any considerable degree partici- pate in the joint administration proposed, his time being chiefly occupied with his own private affairs, and the duties of a mem- ber of the Senate of this state.
52 D.WIl) K. KNAXS.
Upon the death of Mr. Otto, he entered upon tlie dischart^e of the duties of the local agency. Earl\- in life he had been a clerk in the office, under his uncle, Joseph Ellicott, and had for a long period occupied the desk of the cashier and accountant of the agency. Few, therefore, could have been more familiar with the wants, interest and welfare of the settlers. They were old, familiar acquaintances, and his interests were identified with theirs.
It was during the second year of Mr. Evans' administration (in September, 1827,) that a general plan for the modification of land contracts was adopted. It was regarded at the time as a very decided measure of relief to the settlers, and its opera- tions were highh' beneficial to a very large class of the debtors of the Holland compan\'.
Mr. Evans' agency continued until 1837. It embraced the large sales of the Holland company's interest ; in fact, before it closed the entire business and interests of the company had progressed nearly to a termination.
Having served one term as State Senator, Mr. Evans had been elected a Representative in Congress at the period of Mr. Otto's death. He resigned to take upon himself the duties of the agency.
R(^BERT Morris.
A short biography of one eminently useful in our revolution- ary struggle is suggested by his after-identity with our local region. He was, as will have been seen, at one period the pro- prietor of the whole of Western New York west of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, by purchase from Massachusetts and the Seneca Indians.
In the attempt of feeble colonies to throw off oppression there was work to be done in council as well as in the field — at the financier's desk as well as in the more conspicuous conflicts of arms. If raw troops called from the field and workshop were to be enrolled and disciplined, upon a sudden emergency provisions were to be made for their equipment and sustenance ; J^oth were tasks surrounded with difficulty and embarrassment; both required men and minds of no ordinary cast. Fortun- ately they were found. Washington was the chief, the leader
RoiiKki' MORRIS — i:aki.n I. hi:. 53
of our armies, the master-spirit that conducted the stru<j^le to glorious termination. Morris was the financier. The}' were heads of co-ordinate branches in a i^reat crisis, and e(|uall}- well performed their parts.
Robert Morris was born in Lixerpool, in 1733. His father emif^rated to the United States in 1745, and settled at Port Tobacco, in Marylanci, en<^af^intr extensively in the tobacco trade.
Previous to the death of his father, Robert Morris had been placed in the counting-house of Mr. Charles Willing, an eminent merchant of Philadelphia, where he soon acquired a proficiency in mercantile afTairs that recommended liim as a partner of the son of his employer.
When the first difficulties occurred between the colonies and the mother countr}-, though extensively engaged in a mercan- tile business that was to be seriously affected by it, he was one of other patriotic Philadelphia merchants who promoted and signed the non-importation agreement, which restricted com- mercial intercourse with Great Britain to the mere necessaries of life.
When the news of the Battle of Lexington reached Philadel- phia, Mr. Morris was presiding at a dinner usuall}^ given on the anniversary of St. George. He participated in putting a stop to the celebration in honor of an English saint, and helped to upset the tables that had been spread. His resolution was fixed ; it was one of devotion to the cause of the colonies, and well was it adhered to.
In 1775 and '76, he w^as a Member of Congress, and became a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
When Washington had re-crossed the Delaware for the second time, in December, 1777, the time of service of nearly all the Eastern troops had expired. To induce them to engage for another si.x weeks, he promised a bounty of ten dollars each, and for the necessary funds applied to Mr. Morris. In the answer of Mr. Morris accompanying the sum of fifty thousand dollars, he congratulated the Commander-in-Chief upon his success in retaining the men, and assured him that " if farther occasional supplies of money are wanted you may depend upon m)' exertions either in a public or private capacity."
54 ELECTED MEMISER OF (( ).\( IRESS.
In March, 1777, he was chosen, with l-5enjamin Franklin and others, to represent the Assembly of Pennsylvania in Congress, and in November following was associated with Mr. Gerry and Mr. Jones to repair to the army and confidentially consult with the Commander-in-Chief upon the best plan of conducting the Winter campaign.
In August, 1778, he was appointed a member of the stand- ing Committee of Finance.
The years 1778 and '79 were the most distressing periods of the war. The finances were in a wretched condition, and Mr. Morris not only advanced his money freely, but put in requisi- tion an almost unlimited individual credit.
In 1781 (a period of despair), in addition to other contribu- tions of money and credit, Mr. Morris supplied the almost fam- ishing troops with several thousand barrels of flour. This timely aid came w^ien it was seriously contemplated to authorize the seizure of provisions wherever they could be found ; a measure which would have been unpopular with the whole country, and probably turned back the tide of public feeling flowing in favor of the Revolution.
There is upon record a long catalogue of transactions simi- lar to those which have been related. Not only the Comman- der-in-Chief but Generals of divisions found Mr. Morris the dernier resort when money and provisions were wanted. To private means, which must have been large, and a large credit, he added astonishing faculties as a financier. When he had no other resources, he would compel others to use their money and credit. In financial negotiations, with him, to will a thing was to do it.
He was appointed to the office of Financier, or what was equivalent to the now office of Secretary of the Treasury. Never, perhaps, in any country, was a minister of finance placed over a treasury, the conditions of which were worse. To use a phrase of the play-house, it was
" Beggarly account of empty boxes."
It had not a dollar in it and was two millions and a half in debt. Those who have seen Gen. Washington's military journal of the first of May, 1781, can form some idea of the condition of the army and the finances'.
Ai'i'oiN ii:i) iiN.\\( ii;r. 55
It was the proxincc of Mr. Morris to financier for Con<^rcss and a coiintr\- and cause in such a crisis. He be<^an by restor- in<;' credit and estabHshin^' confidence; promuli^ated the assur- ance that all his official enL^a^ements would be punctuall)' met, and j)ut in rccjinsition his ])ri\'ate means, the means of his friends, to fulfill the promises he iiad held out. When apprised of his ap|)ointment to the manat^ement of financial affairs, he replied : " In acceptini;; the office bestowed upon me, I sacrifice much of m\- interest, my ease, nn- domestic enjo\-ment and internal traiK[uilit)'. If I know m}" own heart, I make these .sacrifices with a disinterestetl \iew to the ser\ice of m\- countr\-. I am willing to go further, and the United States ma)' com- mand everything I have e.Kcej)t my integrity, and the loss of that would efTectualh' dissable me from serving them more." Among his financial expedients to resuscitate public credit, was the establishment of the Bank of North America. Collateral security was given for the ])erformance of engagements of the institution, in f(M-m of bonds, signed by wealth}- individuals. Mr. Morris heading the list with a subscription of iJ"io,000.
In a private interview with Washington, the subject of an attack on New York was broached. Mr. Morris dissented, assuming that it would be too great a sacrifice of men and mone)- ; that the success of the measure was doubtful; that even if successful the triumph, as to results, would be a barren one ; the enemy having command of the sea could, at anytime, land fresh troops and re-take it, &c." A.ssenting to these objec- tions, the Commander-in-Chief said : " What am I to do? The country calls on me for action ; and moreox-er, m\- arm}- cannot be kept together unless .some bold enterprise is undertaken." To this Mr. Morris replied: "Why not lead \-our forces to Yorktown ? There Cornwallis ma}' be hemmed in b}- the French fleet b}' sea and the American and French armies by land, and will ultimately be compelled to surrender." " Lead ni}- troops to Yorktow n I" said Washington, appearing sur- prised at the suggestion, " How am I to get them there ? One of my difficulties about attacking New York arises from the want of funds to transport them thither. How, then, can I . muster the means that will be requisite to enable them to march to Yorktown ?" " You must look to me for funds," rejoined
56 MORRIS AND HANCOCK.
Mr. Morris. ''And how are you to provide them ?" said Wash- ington. " That," said Mr. Morris, " I am unable at this time to tell you, but I will answer with my head, that if you will put your army in motion, I will supply the means of their reaching Yorktown." After a few minutes reflection, Washington said: "On this assurance of yours, Mr. Morris, such is my confidence in your ability to perform any engagement you make, I will adopt your suggestion."
When the army arrived at Philadelphia Mr. Morris had the utmost difificulty in furnishing the supplies he had promised, but at last he hit upon the expedient of borrowing twenty thousand crowns from the Chevalier de Luzerne, the French Minister. The Chevalier objected that he had only funds enough to pay the French troops, and could not comply unless two vessels with specie on board for him arrived from France. Fortunately, about the time the troops were at Elk, preparing to march to Yorktown, the ships arrived, the money was pro- cured and especial pains taken to parade the specie in open kegs before the army. The troops were paid, and cheerfully embarked to achieve the crow^ning triumph of the Revolution.
John Hancock, President of Congress, writing to Mr. Mor- ris in a severe crisis of the Revolution, says: " I know, how- ever, you will put things in a proper way ; all things depend upon you, and you have my hearty thanks for your unremitting labor." Gen. Charles Lee said to. him in a letter, when he assumed the duties of Secretary of an empty treasury: " It is an office I cannot wish you joy of ; the labor is more than her- culean ; the filth of that Augean stable is, in my opinion, too great to be cleared away even by your skill and industry."
During the Revolution, the commercial house in which he continued a partner, was prosecuting a successful business. The close of the Revolution must have found him in possession of immense wealth, exceeding by far that of any individual cit- izen of the United States. But he was destined to a sudden reverse of fortune. There followed the revolution a mania for land speculation. Mr. Morris participated largely in it, in- vesting in large tracts of wild land as they came into market in different parts of the United States, realizing for a time vast profits up(^n sales. A reaction ensued, which found him in
ii.i.-iouruNK AM) i»i;.\iii. 57
possession of an immense landed estate, and lart^ely in debt for purchase money. Trom the opulence we ha\e been speak- ing of, he was reduced to poverty ; and ultimately some mer- ciless creditors made him for a long time the tenant of a prison.
Upon Mr. Morris had devolved the financiering for our coun- try in a period of peril and embarrassment. When the army of Washington, unpaid, were lacking food and raiment, mur- muring as they well might be, it was his purse and credit that more than once prevented its dispersion and the failure of the glorious achievement of independence. His ships were upon the ocean, his notes-of-hand forming a currency, his drafts hon- ored everywhere among capitalists in his own country and in many of the marts of commerce in Europe.
A reverse of fortune occurred, which is saddening to those who are now enjoying the blessings to which he so eminently contributed, and who wish that no cloud had gathered around the close of his useful life.
Mr. Morris died at Morrisiana, N. J., Nov. 6, 1806, aged sev- enty-three years.
Makv Jemison.
In the Summer of 1755, during the P^rench and Indian wars, Mary Jamison's father's house, situated on the western frontier of Pennsylvania, was surrounded by a band, consisting of six Indians and four Frenchmen. They plundered and carried away whate\-er the)' could that was \'aluable, and took the whole family captive, with two or three others, who were stay- ing there at the time. They were all immediately hastened away into the wilderness, murdered and scalped, with the exception of Mary and a small boy, who were carried to Fort Du Quesne. Little Mary was there given to two Indian sisters, who came to that place to get a captive to .supply the place of a brother that had been slain in battle. They took her down the Ohio to their home, and adopted her as their sister, under the name of Dehhewamis — a word signifying " a beautiful girl." The sorrow and regret which so sudden and fearful a change in her condition produced, gradually yielded under the influence of time ; and she began to be quite reconciled to her fate.
58 MARY JEMISOX AND INDIAN SISTERS.
when an incident occurred, wliich once more revix'cd her hopes of being redeemed from captivit}- and restored to her friends. When Fort Pitt fell into the possession of the British, Mary was taken with a part)^ who went there to conclude a treaty of peace with the English. She immediately attracted the notice of the white people, who showed great anxiety to know how one so young and delicate came among the savages. Her Indian sisters became alarmed, and fearing that they might lose her, suddenly fled away with her, and carried her back to their forest home. Her disappointment was painful and she brooded over it for many days, but at length gained her usual cheerful- ness and contentment. As soon as she was of sufficient age, she was married to a young Delaware Indian named Sheninjee. Notwithstanding her reluctance at first to become the wife of an Indian, her husband's uniform kind treatment and gentleness, soon won her esteem and affection, and she says: " Strange as it may seem, I loved him ! " and she often spoke of him as her "kind husband." About 1759, she concluded to change her residence. With a little child, on foot, she traveled to the Genesee river, through the pathless wilderness, a distance of near six hundred miles, and fixed her home at Little Beard's Town. When she came there, she found the Senecas in alliance with the French ; they were making preparation for an attack on Fort Schlosser ; and not a great while after, enacted the tragedy at the Devil's Hole. Some time after her arrival, she received intelligence of the death of her husband, Sheninjee, who was to have come to her in the succeeding Spring. They had lived happily together, and she sincerely lamented his death. When the war between England and France ended, she might have returned to the English, but she did not. She married another Indian, named Hiakatoo, two or three years after the death of Sheninjee. When General Sullivan invaded the Genesee country, her house and field shared a common fate with the rest. When she saw them in ruins, with great energy and perseverance, she immediately went to making prepara- tion for the coming W^inter. Taking her two youngest children on her back, and bidding the other three follow, she sought
Till': (;.\Ri)i;.\i' ki':sKk\Ari()\. 59
cniploynicnt. She found an ()j)|)()rlunit\- to husk corn, and secured in tliat way t\\ent\'-fi\'e busliels of slielled corn, which kept tliem through the Winter.
After the close of the Revolution, slie obtained the ^rant of a lar^^e tract of huul, called the " Gardeau Reservation," which was about six miles in length and five in breadth.
In 1 83 I, preferrin<^ to i)ass the remainder of her da}'s in the midst of those with w^hom her youth and middle age had been spent, she sold the rest of the land at Gardeau Flats, purchased a farm on the BufTalo Reservation, where the Senecas, among whom she had li\ed, had settled some five years j^revious. She passed the remainder of her days in peace and Cjuietness, embraced the Christian religion, and on the 19th of Sept., 1833, ended a life that had been marked by vicissitudes such as it is the lot of but few to experience.
6o ■ PREPARATIONS OF WAR.
CHAPTER X.
WAR OF 1812-15— CAMPAIGN OF 1812.
War Declared — Troops Called For — Colonel Swift — First Detachment of Mili- tia— Council with the Indians ■ — Excitement, Bustle, Confusion and Flight —Active Preparations on the Canada Side — General Brock — Fear of the Indians — The Caledonia and Detroit — The Defeat of General Van Rensselaer— General Smyth and His Failures — Disgust of the Sol- diers and the Public.
After a debate of several days" duration, an act declaring war against Great Britain was passed by Congress, and was approved by the President on the i8th of June, 1812. On the 19th the President issued a proclamation declaring that war existed between the United States and Great Britain and her dependencies.
Congress authorized the President to enlist 25,000 men for the regular army, to raise a force of 50,000 volunteers, and to call out 100,000 militia.
On the 17th of May, Colonel Swift, of Ontario county, came to Buffalo to assume command on the frontier. On the i8th, the first detachment of militia marched through that village on their way to Lewiston. They were from the south towns, and were commanded by Major Benjamin Whale}'.
On the 26th of May, Indian-Superintendent Granger held a council with the Chiefs of the Six Nations of Indians, living on this side of the Niagara. He did not seek to enlist their ser- vices in the war, but urged them to remain neutral. To this they agreed.
On the 23d of June, Colonel Swift, whose headquarters were at Black Rock, was in command of 600 militia ; besides there was a small garrison of regulars at Fort Niagara. There was no artillery except at the fort.
The preparations for war on the other side were somewhat better, there being six or seven hundred British regulars along the Niagara and a hundred pieces of artillery.
. On the morning of the 26th of June, a small vessel, which had just left Black Rock, was noticed entering Lake Eric b\' some
\.\\ ri;nssi;i,.\i;r iaki^s ((i.m.m.\m». 6i
of the citizens of Buffalo, aiul preseiitK' a British armed xx-ssel from Fort Kric was seen makint^ its \va\- toward the /Vmerican ship. The hitter was soon overtaken and boarded, and then both vessels turned their prows toward the British stron<^hold. The vessel was captured, and a few hours later an express-rider from the east arri\'ed bearing the President's proclamation of war. The Canadians had received the news the earliest. The express-riders spread the news as they passed upon the main roads; thence it spread rapidh' in every direction from settle- ment to settlement.
The usual avocations of life w ere temporarily suspended ; here and there in all the detached neighborhoods were small collections of citizens deliberating and consulting upon meas- ures of safety, defense or flight. Many made hasty prepara- tions and were soon on their wa\' seeking asylums beyond the Genesee river. Many families who left, returned after a few weeks' absence. All was bustle and confusion ; soldiers were mustering, volunteers and drafted militia were marching to the frontiers from the back settlements in small squads and larger companies. By the 4th of July, the aggregate militia force upon the frontier was about three thousand. Soon after the declaration of war, Gen. William Wadsworth, of Geneseo, assumed command. On the 28th of July, the command devolved upon Gen. Amos Hall, of Ontario count}', and on the I ith of August upon Major-General Van Rensselaer, of Albany (these were not officers of the regular army but of the New York State militia). General Van Rensselaer established his headquarters at Lewi.ston.
War preparations were as active in Canada as upon this side of the lines. The militia in the Upper Province were ordered out en masse. P"ort Erie was put in repair; a redoubt was thrown up opposite Black Rock, a battery erected at Chippewa and another below the falls ; defences were also erected on Oueenston heights directly opposite Lewiston village, and Fort George was strengthened. One of the incipient steps in Canada was to secure the services of the Indians in the Pro\-ince. This had been too long a favorite policy of England to be aban- doned. General Brock, the acting Governor of the Province, assumed the immediate command of the troops.
62 CAPTURE OF BRITISH VESSELS.
After the first turmoil and bustle were over, there succeeded comparative quiet — weeks and months of inactivity upon the lines. The usual avocations were partially resumed in the settlements, though frequently disturbed by militia drafts and harrassing, unfounded rumors of actual or contemplated incur- sions of the British and Indians.
There was little real cause for anticipating danger of this nature, for the preparations on the other side were wholly defensive, and the state of alarm among the inhabitants there was as great as here. Among the inhabitants on each side of the lines there was mutual fear of invasion.
One of the most fruitful sources of apprehension and alarm in the earlier stages of the war was the fear that the Seneca Indians would become allies of the British and Canadian Indians. Their neutrality, however, was early secured by a talk in council. This position of neutrality, taken in the first stages of the war, was not long maintained. The Senecas rightly determining their true position and interests, soon became fast friends of the United States, and useful armed allies. On the 8th of October, a detachment of sailors arrived on the frontier from New York, and were placed under the command of Lieut. Jesse D. Elliott, stationed at Black Rock. Two British armed vessels, the brig Detroit and the schooner Caledonia, had just come down the lake, and were at anchor near Fort Erie. About one o'clock, on the morning of the 9th of October, three boats put out from the American shore with their prows directed toward Fort Erie. The first contained fifty men under Lieutenant Elliott in person ; the second forty- seven, under Sailing-Master Watts, while the third was manned by six Buffalonians under Dr. Chapin. The boats moved stealthily across the river in the darkness. Arriving at the side of their prey, the three crews boarded both vessels almost at the same time. In ten minutes, the enemy was overpowered, the cables cut, and the vessels on their way down the river. The Caledonia was brought to anchor near Black Rock, but the Detroit was carried by the current on the west side of Squaw island, and ran aground. The prisoners taken in this gallant affair numbered seventy-one officers and men ; besides these, the captors released about forty American prisoners who were
DKKKAI' Oh' \A.\ KllNSSKl.Al'.k. 63
ca])turctl at the I\i\cr Raisin, and were on their \va)' to (.)ue- bec. This was the first hostile enterprise which took phice in or started from Flrie count}' during- the War of 1812.
If the settlers on the Holland purchase were somewhat cheered by the achiex-ement of Lieutenant Klliott and his com- mand, the}' were at once cast down attain b}- the news of the defeat of General \'an Rensselaer at Oueenston. He had col- lected a force, i)rincipally New \'ork militia, at Lewiston, on the Niagara ri\er. At Oueenston, on the opposite side of the river, a British force was stationed. On the 13th of October (ieneral Van Rensselaer crossed a force under Col. Solomon Van Rensselaer (his nephew), and attacked the British fort and captured it. General Brock now arriv^ed with a reinforement of 600 men and endeavored to regain the fort, but was defeated and killed. General Van Rensselaer hastened back to the American side to bring over more troops, but his men refused to obey his orders, alleging that they could not be ordered out of the state without their consent. The British were heavily reinforced, and the Americans were attacked and defeated, all who crossed to the Canada side being killed or captured.
General Van Rensselaer was succeeded in command on the Niagara frontier by Brigadier-Gen. Alexander Smyth, of the regular army, who had been on the lines a short time as Inspec- tor-General. Immediatel}' on taking command he began con- centrating troops at Buffalo and Black Rock, preparatory to an invasion of Canada. On the 1 2th of November, he issued a flaming address to the men of New York, calling for their ser- vices and declaring that in a few da}'s the troops under his command would plant the American standard in Canada. A considerable force came to Buffalo ; a brigade of militia arrived from Pennsylvania; three or four hundred New York militia reported themselves. Peter B. Porter was assigned to the com- mand of these New \'ork volunteers. On the 27th of Novem- ber the General commanding issued orders to cross the river the next da}'. There were then about four thousand men at and near Black Rock, but as a large portion of them were militia, it is not certain how man}- he could ha\'e depended on to enter the enemy's countr}-. There were boats sufficient to carry at least 3,000 men.
64 (APTAIX KIXC; AXl) MEN TAKEN PRISONERS.
About one o'clock the next morninij two detachments were sent across the river, one under Lieutenant-Colonel Boerstler and the other under Captain King, with whom was Lieutenant Angus of the Navy and fifty or sixty seamen. Bcerstler returned without accomplishing anything of consequence, but the forces of King and Angus behaved with great gallantry. They landed at three o'clock in the morning. Angus attacked and dispersed a force of the enemy stationed at what was called "The Red House," spiking two field-pieces and throwing then,i into the river. The sailors and some of the soldiers then returned, bringing a number of prisoners, but througli some blunder no boats were left to bring over Captain King, who with sixty men remained behind. King and his men then attacked and captured two batteries, spiked their guns and took thirty-four prisoners. Having found two boats, capable of hold- ing about sixty men, the gallant Captain sent over his prisoners, half his men and all his officers, remaining himself with thirty men. He doubtless expected Smyth's whole army in an hour or two, and thought he would take care of himself until that time. The general embarkation commenced but went on very slowly. About one o'clock I'. M., the regulars, the twelve- months volunteers and a body of militia, the whole making a force variously estimated at from fourteen hundred to two thousand men were in boats at the navy-yard, at the mouth of Scajaquada creek. General Smyth then ordered the troops to disembark and dine. He then called a council of war, to see whether he had better cross the river or not. It is not surpris- ing that, with such a commander, several of the officers con- sulted were opposed to making the attempt. It was at length de'cided to postpone the invasion until more boats could be made ready. Late in the afternoon the troops were ordered to their quarters. The gallant Captain King was left to his fate and was taken prisoner with all his remaining men.
The next day was spent in preparation. On Sunday, the 30th, the troops were ordered to be ready to embark at nine o'clock the following morning. General Porter advocated post- poning the expedition till Monday night, when the troops should embark in the darkness and land about five miles below the navy-yard, where the stream and the banks were favorable.
CF.NKKAI. SMVTIl'S RESICXATION. 65
These views were seconded by Colonel Winder and adopted by General Smyth, his intention being to assault Chipi)ewa and march through Oueenston to Fort George.
Then it was found that the Quarter-Master had ncjt rations enough for two thcnisand five hundred men for four days. Never- theless, the embarkation commenced at three o'clock on Tues- day' morning. Again some fifteen hundred men were placed in boats. It was arranged that General Porter was to lead the van and direct the landing, on account of his knowledge of the river and the farther shore.
Hut the embarkation of the regulars was greatl}' delayed and daylight appeared before the flotilla was under way. Then the redoubtable Smyth called another council of war, composed of four regular officers, to decide whether Canada should be in- vaded ihat season. They unanimously decided it should not. So the *'fH>»ps were again ordered ashore and the militia and most of th^' volunteers sent home, and the regulars put into winter quarters.
The breaking up of the command was attended by scenes of the wildest confusion ; four thousand men firing off their guns, cursing General Smyth, their officers, the service, and every- thing connected with their military experience. The disgust of the public was equally great. Smyth became the object of universal derision. The mere fact of his twice waiting till his men were in boats for the purpose of invading Canada before calling a council of war to decide whether Canada should be invaded, showed him to be entirely deficient in the qualifica- tions of a general.
On the 22nd of December, Smyth resigned his command to Col. Moses Porter, and retired to Virginia on leave of absence. Before his leave expired. Congress legislated him out of office. 4
66 ARRIVAL OF PERRY.
CHAPTER XI. CAMPAIGN OF 1813.
Arrival of Captain Perry, of the Navy — Fitting out a fleet — General Dearborn in command of the northern frontiers — Toronto captured— Fort George evacuated by the British — Americans occupy it — Americans occupy the whole Canadian side of the Niagara — Fortifying in Holland, Hamburg and Boston — Chapin's gallant exploit — The Senecas take part in the war — Battle at Black Rock, the British defeated — Perry's victory on Lake Erie — Harrison's victory on the Thames — General McCiure — Fort Niagara captured — General Hall.
Early in March, Capt. Oliver Hazard Perry, of the United States Navy, a young man twenty-six years of age, of hand- some features and gallant bearing, arrived in Buffalo from the East, and after a brief stay, went forward to Erie to superin- tend the fitting out of a naval armament there. During the Winter, the Government had purchased a number of merchant vessels, for the purpose of converting them into men-of-war, and the construction of several new ones had been begun. Erie, from its comparatively secure harbor, had been selected as the naval headquarters.
Five vessels, however, were fitted out in Scajaquada creek, and for several months Perry flitted back and forth between the two places, urging forward the work.
In the fore part of April, soldiers began to arrive on the frontier. On the 17th of that month, Major-General Lewis and Brigadier-General Boyd arrived in Buffalo to assume com- mand according to their respective ranks. General Dearborn took cominand on the n'hole northern frontier. The British force on the other side of the Niagara was very weak.
The campaign in the north was commenced by an expedi- tion from Sacket's Harbor, under General Dearborn and Commodore Chauncy, by which York (now Toronto) was cap- tured b\- a dashing attack, the gallant General Pike being killed by the explosion of the enemy's magazine. This triumph pre- vented the sending of re-enforcements to the British forts on
AMERICANS OCCUPY FORT GEORGE. 67
the Niai^ara. and when our fleet appeared off Fort George, about the 25th of Ma)', it was immediately evacuated. The Americans, under General Lewis, crossed and occupied it.
The same day, the commander at Fort Erie received orders under which he kept up a heavy cannonade on Black Rock until the following morning, when he blew up his magazines, destroyed his stores, and dismissed his men. All other public stores, barracks, and magazines, from Chippewa to Point Abino, were likewise destroyed. Lieutenant-Colonel Preston, the commandant at Black Rock, immediately crossed over and took possession. So at length the Americans had obtained possession of the Canadian side of the Niagara, and it would not seem that it need to have been difficult to retain it.
But the lack of success in this respect, and in fact the greater part of the disasters of the war of 1812, were attributable no doubt to the blundering of the Government, the weakness of the Commanders, to loose dicipline and to the excessive short term of service of the drafted men and volunteers. As a gen- eral rule, if a volunteer of 18 12 stayed on the line three months he thought he had done something wonderful.
In the fore part of 18 13, the inhabitants on the upper part of Cazenova creek combined and built a stockade of consider- able magnitude, on the farm of Arthur Humphrey, in Holland. About the same time Captain Bemis' barn, in Hamburg, was surrounded by a similar stockade. There was also a block- house built in that vicinity. Job Palmer's barn, in Boston, was likewise stockaded, and there may have been other fortifica- tions of the kind in the county.
On the 23d of June, 18 13, a force of Americans started up the river from Fort Geoi-ge. It consisted of four or five hun- dred regular infantr\-, twenty regular dragoons and Chapin's company of forty-four mounted riflemen, the whole under Lieutenant-Colonel Bctrstler. On the 24th, when nine miles west of Queenston at a place called Beaver Dams, it was attacked by a force of British and Indians. After some skir mishing and marching, accompanied with slight loss, the assail, ants sent a flag to Colonel Bcerstler, and on the mere statement of the bearer that the British regular force was double the American, besides 700 Indians, that officer surrendered his
68 SIX NATION INDIANS ENROLLED.
whole command. Chapin and his Erie county volunteers were sent to the head of Lake Ontario (now Hamilton), whence the Colonel, two officers and twenty-six privates were ordered to Kingston by water, under guard of a Lieutenant and fifteen men. They were all in two boats. When about twenty miles out on Lake Ontario Chapin and his comrades arose, captured the guard and rowed them to Fort George and delivered them as prisoners to the commandant. The British men-of-war still commanded the lake. About the 15th of June the five vessels which had been fitted up in Scajaquada creek, stole out of Black Rock and joined Perry at Erie.
The Queen Charlotte and other British vessels, this year as last, hovered along the lake shore and occasionally sent a boat's crew ashore to depredate on the inhabitants of Hamburg and Evans.
In the earl}' part of July, a skirmish took place near Fort George, in which an American Lieutenant and ten men were captured, who were never heard of more, and were supposed to have been slain by the savages. Then General Boyd accepted the services of the warriors of the Six Nations. Those then enrolled numbered 400, and there were 550 in the ser\'ice in all.
General Dearborn had withdrawn all the regular soldiers from Buffalo and Black Rock, leaving a large amount of public stores entirely undefended. Being advised, however, of the danger of a raid, he ordered ten artillerists to be stationed at the block- house at Black Rock, and called for 500 militia from the neighboring counties. Between a hundred and fifty and two hundred of these arrived at the threatened point earl}- in Jul)-, and were stationed at the warehouses at Black Rock, being under the command of Maj. Parmenio Adams, of Genesee County. They had three pieces of field artillery and near by was a battery of four heavy guns. Nearly a hundred recruits for the regular infantry and dragoons on their way to Dear- born's headquarters, under Captain Cummings, were ordered to stop at Buffalo. Judge (Granger was directed to engage as many Seneca warriors as he could, and General Porter who was then staying at his residence at Black Rock, was requested to take command of the whole. By the loth of July Judge Granger had received such positive information of an immediate
GENERAL PORTER's ESCAPE. 69
attack, accompanied by sjiccial threats a^^ainst himself, that he iinited some Indians to come to his house north of the Scajaquada creek. Thirt\'-seven of them arrived at II o'clock that (Saturday) ni<^dit under the lead of I^\'u-mer's Brother. As the\- were not all armed, and as the Judt^e was confident that the enemy would be over the next day, he sent to the village and yot a full supply of arms and ammunition for his braves that niL^ht. The British headcjuarters were at Lundy's Lane, close by the Falls, where their expedition was fitted out. The commander was Lieutenant-Colonel Bishop. He had under him a part of the forty-first regiment of the British army, and a detachment of Canadian militia, commanded by Colonel Clark. They took boat at Chippewa, on the night of the loth, and after rowing against the current in the darkness several hours, landed just after daylight a mile below the mouth of the Scajac]uada. Forming his men, Colonel Bishop led them rapidl)^ up the river bank. There was a single sentinel at the Scajaquada bridge ; he flung away his musket, dodged into the woods, and took a bee-line for Williamsville. Major Adams' men attempted no resistance, but fled. General Porter had barely time to escape from his house, and without his arms. The victors, supposing no resistance would be made, set to work burning the block-houses and barracks, while the ofificers ordered breakfast at General Porter's. But a storm was gather- ing. When the militia first began to retreat, a messenger was sent to Buffalo, on whose arrival. Captain Cummings mustered his recruits and marched towards the scene of action. On his wa)' he met (General Porter, who ordered him to proceed to a piece of open ground not far from the site of the reservoir, and await re-enforcements.
Taking a horse, sword and other eciui{)ments from one of Cumming's dragoons, the general galloped down to the village, where he found everything in confusion ; the women and children in a state of terror, and the men in the streets with arms in their hands, but doubtful whether to fight or flee. Being assured there was a chance of success, forty or fifty of them formed ranks under Caj)tain Bull, the commander of the Buffalo volunteer company, and marched to join Cummings. About a hundred of the retreating militia had been kept
70 farmer's brother and his warriors.
together by Lieutenant Phineas Staunton, the adjutant of the battalion. Meanwhile, Major King, of the regular army, who was accidentally at Black Rock, on seeing the sudden retreat of the militia, hurried through the \\-oods to Judge Granger's (who lived beyond Cold Springs, on Main street), \\hence the alarm was speedily carried to the scattered inhabitants of " Buffalo Plains." F"armer's Brother at once gathered his war- riors and made them a little speech, telling them that they must now go and fight the red-coats ; that their country was invaded ; that they had a common interest with the people of the United States, and they must show their friendship for their American brethren b}' deeds, not words. The old chief- tain then led his little band to join his friend, General Porter. Volunteers, too, came hurrying to the village from the Plains and Cold Springs, until about thirty were gathered, who were placed under the command of Capt. William Hull, of the militia.
General Porter now felt able to cope with the enemy. Bringing together his forces, numbering but about three hun- dred all told, at the open ground before-mentioned, he made his dispositions for an attack. As the foe held a strong position at Major Adams' encampment. Porter determined to attack him on three sides at once, to prevent the destructive use of artillery on a column in front.
The regulars and Captain Bull's Buff volunteers formed the center. The Genesee militia, under Staunton, were on the left. Captain Hull's men and the Indians were in the woods on the right front. Farmer's Brother and his braves prepared for action ; they cjuickly ranged themselves in line with their chiefs, a few yards in front. At eight o'clock the signal for attack was given. The militia, gallantly led on by Staunton, and ashamed of their recent flight, dashed forward against the enemy. A fight of some fifteen or twenty minutes ensued, in which the militia stood up against the British regulars without flinching. The right flank of the Americans came up ; the Indians raised the war-whoop and opened fire. Colonel Bishop was severely wounded, and fell from his horse ; his men became demoral- ized, and when the regulars appeared in front, the enemy fled towards the water's edge. The whole American force then pressed forward together, the Indians making the forest resound
GENERAL WILKINSON TAKES COMMAND. 7 1
with Scivage yells. The chief, Younc^ ^i'li^- 'intl another warrior were wounded. Part of the British wounded were carried off, but part were left on the field.
.\t the Black Rock landing, the British rallied, but on the approach of the Americans, hastily retreated into some boats which they found there, leaving fifteen prisoners in the hands of their pursuers. Many were killed and wounded after enter- ing the boats, but tlie chief loss fell on the last one. It contained sixty men and most of the officers, including Colonel Bishop, who, notwithstanding his wounds, had insisted on remaining to the last. The whole American force came up to the bank and opened fire on this boat inflicting terrible injury. Two or three Indians even sprang into the water, siezed the boat by the gun- wale and endeavored to direct it ashore, but were compelled to desist by the fire of their friends in the rear. Captain Saunders, of the British Forty-first, was severely wounded at the water's edge and left a prisoner. Colonel Bishop was pierced with several bullets, receiving wounds of which he died, and several other ofificers were killed or wounded. The enemy were said at the time to have acknowledged a total loss in killed, wounded and prisoners of nearly a hundred. The Americans lost three killed and seven wounded.
The militia were in the front of the fray throughout, and gallanth" retrieved their tarnished reputation. Their good conduct was doubtless due largely to the example of Adjutant Staunton, who also distinguished himself on several other oc- casions in tlie war of 1812. All accounts speak in high terms of the conduct of the Seneca warriors. iMthough the numbers engaged in this affair were not large, it was cjuite an exciting conflict, and is of importance as showing the value of one or two resolute ofificers, in rallying and inspiriting a body of raw troops, utterly demoralized by less ef^cient leadership.
Just before this event. General Dearborn had resigned the chief command on the northern frontier, and soon after General Wilkinson was appointed in his ])lace. General Porter and Colonel Chapin gathered up another bod\' of volunteers and went down to Fort (ieorge, taking a hundred or so Indians with them.
A plan was concerted to cut off one of the enemy's pickets
72 PERRY AND HARRISON S SUCCESS.
on the morning of the 17th of August, Chapin and Porter went out west from Fort George for the purpose. A heavy rain re- tarded their progress, so the picket was not captured, but a fight ensued in wliich the volunteers and Indians captured sixteen prisoners and killed a considerable number of the enemy who were left on the field. Chapin and his volunteers and most of the Indians continued to operate in the vicinity of Fort George until the 7th of September, when they returned to Buffalo.
A few days later came the news of " Perry's Victory" on Lake Erie, which caused great rejoicing among the people. Immediately succeeding Perry's victory, came that of Harrison over Proctor and Tecumseh. It being supposed that the upper peninsula was pretty well cleared of foes, General Wilkinson's forces were nearly all withdrawn to the lower end of Lake Ontario.
The force left behind by Wilkinson, was under the command of Gen. George McClure, of Steuben county, a brigadier- general of the New York militia, who made his headquarters at Fort George. On the 6th of October, Colonel Chapin had an all-day skirmish with some British outposts near Fort George.
On the 24th of October, Harrison and Perry with their vic- torious army and fleet, came down the lake to Buffalo. On the 25th a dinner was given to the two commanders at " Pome- roy's Eagle." The next day Harrison and his army crossed the river and went down to Fort George and thence in a short time to Sackett's Harbor. General McClure was thus left with about a thousand militia, two hundred and fifty Indians and sixty regulars. The terms of the militia were fast expiring, and they would not stay a day longer.
Another draft was ordered about the middle of November of six hundred men from Hopkins' brigade, under Lieutenant Colonel Warren. These marched to Fort George and remained nearly a month.
When the term of Warren's regiment was about to expire, McClure determined to abandon Fort George. In this he was unquestionably justifiable, as his remaining force would have been entirely inadequate to defend it. But he, at the same time, took a step cruel in itself and fraught with woe to the American frontier. He ordered the burning of the
CAl'TURK OK FDRl" \lA(,.\kA.
/J
lloun'sliin^" xilla^c of Newark, situated close to the fort aiul containin<^ about one hundred and fift\' liouses. 'Ilie inhabit- ants were turned out in the snow, and the torch ai)j)hed to every buildini;" in tlie phice. McClure nio\ed tlie remnant of his force across tlie river, closely ])ressed b}- the enrai;ed British, leavin<^ Fort Niagara defended by a hundred and fift)' ret^ulars, he called two hundred others from Canandaigua to Buffalo On the morning of December 19th, h\^rt Niagara was surprised and captured by a small British force through the criminal negligence of its commander, who was at his residence four miles away.
Before leaving Buffalo, McCIure called out the men of Gen- esee, Niagara and Chautauqua counties en masse, and on arriving at Batavia, on the 22d of December, he turned over the com- mand to Major General Hall, the commander of this division of militia. That ofificer who manifested no lack of zeal, sent forward all the troops he could raise and proceeded to Buf- falo himself, on the 25th, leaving McClure to organize and for- ward r e i n f o re e m e n t s .
74 I'RErARATIOXS FOR DEFENSE.
CHAPTER XII. BURNING OF BUFFALO.
Number of Troops — The Enemy's Approach — Movements in Defense — Attack and Repulse — Battle of Black Rock — The Retreat — The Flight — Univer- sal Confusion — The Indians — Chapin's Negotiation — Mrs. St. John — The Village in Flames - Murder of Mrs. Lovejoy — The Enemy Retire - The Slain — Calvin Cary^McClure to Blame — The Flight in the Country — The Buffalo Road— The Big Tree Road— Exaggerated Reports — Return of the British- — More Burning — The Scene at Reese's — Building Relief.
On the 27th of December, General Hall reviewed the forces at Buffalo and Black Rock, \\hich were thus described in his report. At Buffalo there were a hundred and twenty-nine mounted volunteers under Colonel Broughton, of Ontario county, four hundred and thirty-three Ontario county volun- teers under Colonel Blakeslie, one hundred and thirty-six Buf- falo militia under Colonel Chapin, ninety-seven Canadian vol- unteers under Colonel Mallory, and three hundred and eighty- two Genesee county militia under Major Adams. At Black Rock there were three hundred and eighty-two under Colonel Warren and Churchill, thirty-seven mounted men under Captain Ransom, eighty-three Indians under Colonel Granger, one piece of field artillery under Lieutenant Seeley. The aggregate force at both places according to the re[)ort was about seven- teen hundred. Colonel Warren lived in Aurora and his regi- ment was from the south towns of Erie county. On the 29th, there arrived a regiment of Chautaucjua count}' militia under Col- onel McMahan, numbering about three hundred men, bringing the aggregate force to about tw^o thousand.
Besides Seeley's field-piece, there were seven other cannon at the two villages, but none of them mounted on carriages. Several of them were in a battery at the top of the hill over- looking Black Rock, and with them was May Dudley with a part of Warren's regiment ; the rest, \\ ith Churchill's detach- ment, were in the Village of Black Rock. >\bout midnight of the 29th, a detachment of the enemy landed a little below
r.HNKRAi, iiAi.i, ()KI)i;rs ax at tack. 75
Scajaquada creek. The news was at <Jiice carried to Colonels Warren antl Cluircliill at IMack Rock, and tlien to (ieneral Hail at Buffalo. Tiie i^eneral ordered out his men, but,fearinir tliat the enemy's movement was a feint, and that he would land in force above Buffalo and march down, he did not send an\- con- siderable force down the river. Colonels Warren and Churchill endeavored to reach Scajaquada creek before the invaders and hold it ai^ainst them, but the J-^ritish arri\'ed there first and got possession of the bridge. Warren and Churchill deemed it impracticable to dislodge the enemy in the darkness but deter- mined to take a position at a small run between the village and the bridge, and there oppose his further advance. The enemy did not advance, but in the course of an hour or so Colonel Chapin arri\-ed with a body of mounted men, and delivered General Hall's order that they should immediately make an attack. Chapin led the way, Warren and Churchill followed. All was silent as death. Suddenly from the darkness flashed a volley of musketry almost in the faces of the head of the column. They instantly broke and fled, rushing back through the ranks of Warren's men, who became utterly demoralized withcHit receiving a shot. As the horsemen stampeded through them they broke up, scattering through the woods or retreat- ing toward Buffalo. Warren retired to the main battery to endea\'or to ralh' some of the fugitives ; Churchill, with at least part of his men, remained below the village. When General Hall received news of this failure, he ordered Major Adams, with his Genesee militia, to march against the enemy. This movement was equally futile. The general then ordered Colonel Blakeslie, with his Ontario County militia to ach'ance to the attack. Hall then gathered his remaining forces and started for Black Rock. .Vs he approached that village the day began to dawn, and he discovered the enemy's boats cross- ing the river in the direction of General Porter's house. Blakeslie's command was ordered to meet the approaching force at the water's edge. That force consisted of the Ro}'al Scots under Colonel Gordon, and was estimated at four hun- dred men. The invasion was under the general superintendence of Lieutenant-General Drummond, but the troops were under the immediate command of Major-General Riall. The artillery
76 THE AMERICAN RETREAT.
in battery fired on them as they advanced, and Blakeshe's men opened fire when they landed. They returned it, and a battery on the other side sent shells and balls over their heads among the Americans. For half an hour, the forest and river- side re-echoed with the thunder of artillery and ceaseless rattle of small arms.
All accounts agree that Blakeshe's men did the most of the fighting, and sustained the attack of the Ro\'al Scots with con- siderable firmness. Had all the regiments been kept together, and met the enemy at his landing the result might have been far different.
Meanwhile, the hostile force at Scajaquada creek, consisting of regulars and Indians, moved up the river, easily dispersing Churchill's meagre force, and marched against Blakeshe's right. It is not believed there were then over six hundred men in our ranks, and these thus assailed on two sides were entirely unable to maintain their ground. Large numbers were already scat- tered through the woods toward home, when General Hall ordered a retreat, hoping to make another stand at the edge of Buffalo. This, as might be supposed, was utterly hopeless ; once the men got to running, there were few that thought of anything else. In a few moments all were in utter route. A part hurried towards Buffalo ; others rushed along the Guide- board road (North street) to Hodge's tavern, and thence took the Williamsville road, while many fled through the woods without regard to roads of any kind. Fugitives were rushing through Buffalo and striking out for Williamsville, Willink or Hamburgh. The Buffalo volunteers came hurrying up to take care of their families. They declared that the Americans were whipped, that the British were marching on the town, and, most terrible of all, that the Indians were coming. Then all was confusion and dismay. Teams w^ere at a premium ; horses, o.xen, sleighs, sleds, wagons, carts — nearly everything that had feet, wheels or runners, were pressed into service. Many who neither had nor could obtain teams, set forth on foot. Men, women and children by the score were seen hastening through the light snow and half-frozen mud in the bitter morning air up Main street, or out Seneca, or up the lake shore.
A crowd of teams and foot-men, and foot-women too, were
THE FLAG OF TRUCE. T"]
hurr\-in<4" up Main street, when suddenlx' tlie head of a cohinm stopped and sury;ed back on the rear. " I'he Indians I" was the cr\- from the front, "they are coming" up the Guide-board road." \\\.\c\< down Main street rolled the tide. Teams were urged to their utmost speed and people on foot did their best to keep u[j with them. Turning down Seneca street, the crowd sped on, some going straight to the Indian village and thence across the reservation to Willink, others making for I'ratt's ferry and thence up the beach to Hamburg.
There was good reason for the sudden retreat of the Main street fugitives. While the main bod\' of the enem\' marched along Niagara street, the Indians on the left pressed up the "Guide-board road" (North street). Here it was that Job Hoysington, a resolute volunteer, said to his comrades, with whom he was retreating, that he would have one more shot at the red-skins, and in spite of remonstrance waited for that pur- pose. He doubtless got a shot at them, but they got a shot at him too, as he was found with a bullet through his brain. His wife waited for her husband's return at their residence at the corner of Main and Utica streets, and finally set out on foot with her children. She was soon overtaken by two cavalrymen, who took two of the little ones on their horses. For a long time she did not hear of them, but at length discovered them, one in Clarence and one in Genesee county. (Many interesting inci- dents of a similar nature might be mentioned, but for want of space they are omitted.)
As the British came u[) Niagara street, se\'eral men, appar- ently without any organization, manned an old twelve-pounder mounted on a pair of trucks at the junction of Main and Niag- ara streets, two ^^\■ three shots were fired and then it was dis- mounted.
Colonel Chai)in then \\ent forward with a white handkerchief tied to his cane, as a flag of truce, asked a halt, which was granted, and began a parley. In a statement published by himself shortly after, he speaks of "attempting a negotiation," claiming that while this was going on the people had a chance to escape.
The Indians came to Main street before the I^ritish troops which were draw n up near the corner of Morgan, Mohawk and
78 THE FIRE — KILLED AXD WOUNDED.
Niagara streets. The savages had apparent!}- full license to do what the\- pleased in the way of plundering, though some British officers went ahead and had the casks of liquor .stove in to prevent their red allies from getting entirely beyond control.
Presently flames burst forth from the houses in the main part of the village near the corner of Main and Seneca .streets. A Lieutenant with a squad of men went from house to house applying the torch. By 3 o'clock in the afternoon all of the lately flourishing village of Buffalo, save some six or eight structures, was smouldering in ashes. What few houses there were at Black Rock were likewise destroyed, and the enemy then retired across the river. The foe took with them about ninety prisoners, of whom eleven were wounded. Forty of the ninety were from Blakeslie's regiment. Besides these a con- siderable number of American wounded were able to escape — probably fift}' or sixt}-. Forty or fifty were killed ; most of them lay on the field of battle, but some were scattered through the upper part of the village. Among the slain the officer of the highest rank was Colonel Boughton, of Avon. In Erie county, reckoning according to present division of towns, the killed were Job Noysington, John Roop, Samuel Holmes, John Trsket, James Nesbet, Robert Franklin (colored), Mr. Myers and Mr. Lovejoy, of Buffalo ; Robert Nilland, Adam Lawfer, of Black Rock ; Jacob Vantine, Jr., of Clarence ; Moses Fenno, of Alden ; Israel Reed, of Aurora; Newman Baker, Parle}^ Moffat and William Cheeseman, of Hamburgh and Ea.st Ham- burgh; Maj. William C. Dudley, and probably Peter HofTman, of Evans, and Calvin Cary, of Boston.
Calvin Cary, oldest son of the pioneer Deacon Richard Cary, though only twenty-one years of age, was a man of gigantic stature and herculean strength, weighing nearly three hundred pounds. Pursued by three Indians, he shot one dead, killed another with his clubbed musket, but was shot, tomahawked and scalped b}- the third. His broken musket, which was found by his side and testified to his \'alor, is still preserved b)' his kindred.
During all that day (the 30th of December), the road through Williamsville and Clarence was crowded with a hurrying and heteroijcnous multitude — bands of militiamen, families in
THE ENEMY RETIRES. 79
sleighs, women dri\in^ ox-sleds, men in watj^ons, cavalrymen on horseback, women on foot bearing infants in their arms and attended by crying- children — all animated by a single thought, to escape from the enemy and especially from the dreaded Indians.
On the Big Tree road (running cast through Hamburg and Aurora to the Genesee river) the scene was still more diversi- fied, for in addition to the mixed multitude which poured along the northern route, was the whole bod}' of Indians from the Ruffalo reservation. Mr. Turner, the author of the " Histor\- of the Holland Purchase," then a youth residing in Sheldon, Wyoming county, gives the following picture of the scene from personal recollection :
" An ox-sled would come along bearing wounded soldiers, whose companions had perhaps pressed the slow team into their service ; another \\-ith the family of a settler, a few household goods that had been hustled upon it, and one, two or three wearied females from Buffalo, wdio had begged the privilege of a ride and the rest that it afforded ; then a remnant of some dispersed corps of militia with the arms they had neglected to use ; then squads and families of Indians, on foot and on pon- ies, the squaw with her papoose on her back, and a bevy of juvenile Senecas in her train. Bread, meats and drinks soon \'anished from the log taverns on the routes, and fleeing set- tlers divided their scanty stores with the almost famished that came from the frontiers."
When it was found that the enemy had retired, curiosit}- induced many men from the nearest towns to visit the ruins.
Others went to render what assistance the\- could, and still others, alas, to take advantage of the unixersal confusion and purloin whatever might have been left by the invaders. A few- went on the 31st of December, more on the ist of Januar\-. On the former day everything was quiet, (^n the latter, as the few remaining citizx-ns and some fron-i the country were staring at the ghastly ruins, a detachment of the enemy sud- denl}- appeared, making prisoners of most of them. They then fired all the remaining buildings except the jail, which would not burn, Reese's blacksmith shop and Mrs. St. John's cottage.
A day or two after the second raid the people assembled and
8o RELIEF FOR THE SUFFERERS.
picked up the dead bodies and brou<^ht them to Reese's bhick- smith shop. The number is variously stated, but the most careful account makes it forty-two killed, besides some who were not found (Hoysington was not found until Spring), and some prominent persons like Colonel Boughton, who were taken care of earlier. At the shop they were laid in rows, a ghastly display, all being frozen stiff and most of them stripped and scalped. After those belonging in the vicinit}' had been taken away by their friends, the rest were deposited in a single large grave in the old burying ground on Franklin Square (where the city and county buildings now are), covered only with boards, so they could be easily examined and taken away.
On the 6th of January, just a week after the main conflagra- tion, William Hodge brought his family back, it being the first that returned ; Pomeroy came immediately afterwards and raised the first building in the new Village of Buffalo. Soldiers were stationed in the village and as time wore on people began to feel more safe ; but the Winter was one of intense excite- ment and distress. Twice during the Winter, small squads of the enemy crossed the river but were driven back by the soldiers and citizens without much fighting. Most of the people who came back had nothing to live on save what was issued to them by the commissary department of the army. The suffering would have been even greater than it was had not prompt measures of relief been taken by the public author- ities and citizens of more fortunate localities. The legislature voted $40,000 in aid of the devastated district, besides $5,000 to the Tuscarora Indians, and $5,000 to residents of Canada, driven out on account of their friendship for the United States. The city of Albany voted $1,000, and the city of New York $3,000. The citizens of Canandaigua appointed a committee of relief who raised a considerable amount there and sent com- munications soliciting aid to all the country eastward. They were promptly responded to, and liberal contributions raised throughout the state. With this aid, and that of the Commis- sary department, and the assistance of personal friends, those who remained on the frontier managed to live through the woeful Winter.
AUKi\Ai. <)i' \viMn:i.i) scorr. 8i
CHAPTER XIII. THE CAMPAIGN OF 1814.
Soldiers' Graves — Scott and Brown — Discipline at Buffalo— The Death Penalty — Capture of Fort Erie — Approaching Chippewa — An Indian Battle — A Retreat — \'ictory — Scalps — Advance to Fort George — Return— Lundy's Lane — Retreat to Fort Eric — Bridgewater — Battle of Conjockety Creek — Assault on Fort Erie — The Explosion — Call for Volunteers— The Res- ponse— The Sortie — Gallantry of the Volunteers — General Porter — Peace.
As Spring approached, the frontier began to revive. More troop.s appeared, and their presence caused the paying out of considerable sums of money among the inhabitants. There was a ready market for produce at large prices.
Williamsville was the rendezvous for the troops. There was a long row of barracks, parallel with the main street of that village and a short distance north of it, and others used as a hospital, a mile or so up the F],leven-Mile creek.
Near these latter, and close beside the murmuring waters of the stream, rest several scores of soldiers who died in that hospital, all unknown, their almost imperceptible graves marked onl}' by a row of ma])les, long since planted b)' some reverent hand.
On the lOth of .April there arrived on the frontier a state!}' young warrior, whose presence was alread)' considered a har- binger of victory, and whose shoulders had latel)' been adorned by the epaulets of a brigadier-general. This was W'infield Scott, then thirt\' \-ears old, and the hcau ideal of a gallant soldier.
Immediatel}- afterwards came his superior officer, Major- General Brown, who had been rapidl}' advanced to the highest rank, on the strength of the vigor and skill he had shown as a commander at the foot of Lake Ontario.
Bodies of regular troops and some \olunteers continued to concentrate at Williamsville and Buffalo. Scott removed his headquarters to the latter place toward the last of May, where 5
82 THE PENALTY OF DESERTION.
the troops were encamped amid the ruins. Great efforts were made to introduce rigid discipHnc. The men were under con- .stant drill, and desertion was mercilessly punished.
Among the reminiscences of that era, no scene appears to have been more vividly impressed on the minds of the relators than the one which was displayed near the present corner of Mar}'land and Sixth streets, on the 4th of June, 18 14.
I'^ive men, con\-icted of desertion, knelt ^\'ith bandaged eyes and pinioned arms, each with an open coffin before him and a new-made grave behind him.
Twenty paces in front stood a platoon of men, detailed to inflict the supreme penalty of military law. The whole arm}^ was drawn up on three sides in a hollow square, to witness the execution, the artillerymen standing by their lighted matches, ready to suppress a possible mutiny, while Generals Brown, Scott and Ripley sat upon their horses, surrounded by their brilliant staffs, looking sternly on the scene. Then the firing party did their deadly work, four men fell in their coffins or their graves, but one youth under twenty-one was unhurt. He sprang up, wrenched loose his pinioned arms, and tore the bandage from his eyes. Two men advanced to extinguish the last remains of life in those who had fallen.
He supposed they were about to dispatch him, and fell fainting to the ground.
He was taken away without further injury. Doubtless it had been determined to spare him on account of his \'outh, and therefore his supposed executioners had been furnished with unloaded muskets.
The work of preparation went forward not very rapidl}-. On the 28th of June a statement appeared in the Gazette that the rumors of an immediate advance which had been in circula- tion were not true, and that the transportation of the army was not ready. This was not inserted by order, for on the 3rd of Jul\- the advance began. Brown's force consisted of two brigades of regulars, under Generals Scott and Ripley, and one of volunteers under General Porter. This was composed of five hundred I'enns)-lvanians, six hundred New York xolun- teers, all of whom had not arrived when the movement began, and near!)' six hundred Indians.
SliRRKNDKR Ol' llli: FORT. J^3
Six huiulrcd was almost the entire strength of the Six Nations, and these liad been L^atliered from all reser\'ations in Western New \'ork. It is i)robable that the i,n-eat a^c of Far- mer's Brother prevented him from crossini^. Actinij^ as a pri- \ate in the ranks was Red Jacket, the i)rincii)al and leader of the Six Nations, who, notwitlistandin^^ the timidity usually attributed' to him, was unwilling' to stay behind Avhile""his c<Hmtr}-men were winning;' i^"lor\' on the field of carnage. Col. Robert P'lemini;- was (|uartermaster of this peculiar bat- talion.
Fort Erie was garrisoned b}- a hundred and se\'enty l^ritish soldiers. The main bod}' of the enemy was at Chippewa, two miles above the falls and eighteen miles below the fort.
On the 2nd of July, Brown, Scott and Porter reconnoitred Fort P^rie and concerted the plan of attack. Riple}', with a part of his brigade, was to embark at Buffalo in the night and land a mile up the lake from the fort. Scott, witli his brigade, was to cross from l^lack Rock, and land a mile below Fort Erie, which, in the morning, both brigades were to invest and capture.
Scott and Ripley both started at the time appointed, but as in most military operations depending on concert of action be- tween separate corps, there was a difificulty not foreseen. Rip- ley's pilot was misled b\- a fog on the lake and his command did not land until several hours past time. Scott, however, cro.s.sed promiUl}- and was able to invest the fort with his brigade alone. At sunrise the artillery and Indians crossed at the fer- ry, and after some parle>-ing the fort surrendered, without awaiting an attack.
The afternoon of the ^rtl, Scott marchetl sexeral miles down the Niagara, and on the morning of the 4th, drove in the enemy's advanced posts. He was followed by Brown and Rip- ley, and both brigades established themselves on the south side of Street's creek, two miles south of Chippewa. On the left, three-fourths of a mile from Niagara, was a dense and some- what swampy forest on both sides of Street's creek, extending to within three-fourths of a mile of Chippewa creek, which was bordered for that purpose by a level cleared plain. On the north side of that creek, the British arm\'la\- inlrcnclud. The
84 ADVANCING TOWARD THE ENEMY.
two armies were concealed from each other's sight by a narrow strip of woodhind, reaching from the main forest to ^\•ithin a hundred yards of the riv^er bank.
During the night of the 4th, the Americans were much an- noyed by Indians and Canadians lurking in the forest, who drove in their pickets and threatened their flanks.
Late that night General Porter crossed the river with his Indians and Pennsylvanians, and in the morning marched to- ward Chippewa. He was met on the road by General Brown, who spoke of the manner in which he had been annoyed by lurkers in the forest, and proposed that Porter should dri\'e them out, declaring confidently that there would be no British regulars south of the Chippewa that da)\ Still, he said, he would order Scott to occupy the open ground beyond Street's creek in support of Porter. The latter accepted the proposition of his chief, and at three o'clock started to put it in execution.
The Indians assumed their usual full battle-dress, of mantur- nipline, breech-clout, moccasins, feathers and paint, and the war- chiefs then proceeded to elect a leader. Their choice fell on Captain Pollard, a veteran of Wyoming and man}^ other fights.
Porter left two hundred of his Pennsylvanians in camp, think- ing their presence needless, and formed the other three hun- dred into one rank on the open ground, half a mile south of Street's creek, their left resting on the forest. The whole five or six hundred Indians were also formed in one rank in the woods, their right reaching to the left of the whites. General Porter stationed himself between the two wings of his com- mand, with Captain Pollard on his left. He was also attended by two or three stafT ofTficers, by Hank Johnson, the interpreter, and by several regular officers, who had volunteered to see the fun. Ked Jacket was on the extreme left of the Indian line. A company of regular infantry followed as a reserve. The war- chiefs took their places twenty yards in front of their braves, and a few scouts were sent still further in advance.
Then, at a given signal, the whole line moved forward, the whites marching steadily \\ith shouldered arms on the plain, the naked Indians gliding through the forest with cat-like treatl, their bodies bent forward, their rifles held ready for instant
rXDlAX M.Wd'.UVRINC. 85
use, their feathers nocUlini; at every step, their fierce eyes llashiiiL;- in every direction. Suddenly one of the cliiefs made a sii,mal, and tlie whole line of painted warriors sank to the i^round as quickly and as noiselessly as the sons of Clan Alpine at the command of Roderick Dim. This manceuvre was a jKirt of their primitive tactics, and the chiefs rapidly assembled to consult over some rei)ort broui^ht back by a scout. At another sit;nal the warriors spranc;- up and the feather-crested line again moved through the forest. The manctuvre was repeated when the scouts brought back word that the enemy was await- ing them on the north bank of Street's creek, General Porter was informed of this fact and made some slight changes in his arrangements, and again the line advanced with increased speed.
As the Indians approached the creek, they received the fire of a force of British Indians and Canadians stationed there. They instantly raised a war-whoop that resounded far over the Niagara, and charged at the top of their speed. The foe at once fled. The Iroquois dashed through the little stream and bounded after them, whooping, yelling, shooting, cleaving sculls and tearing off scalps like so many demons. Many were overtaken, but few captured. Occasionally, however, a Seneca or Cayuga would seize an enemy, unwind his maturnipline, bind him with surprising quickness and then go trotting back to the rear, holding one end of the maturnip as a man might lead a horse by the halter.
Such speed and bottom were displayed by the Indians that neither the regulars nor volunteers were able to keep up with them. For more than a mile the pursuit was maintained in the words of General Porter, " through scenes of frightful havoc."
At length the Indians who had got considerable in advance, emerged upon the ojien ground three-quarters of a mile from Chippewa creek, where they were received with a tremendous fire from the greater part of the British regular army, draw-n in line of battle on the plain.
It looked as if General Riall had determined to attack the Americans, and had sent forward his light troops to bring on a battle, expecting, probably, that the whole American force would get exhausted in pursuit, and become an easy prey to his fresh battalion.
86 f]j-:ei\(; ix confusion.
The fact that the pursuit was carried on by the American h'l^ht troops and Indians alone broke up, and, in fact, reversed this programme. The warriors c|uickl\' fled from the de-^truct- ive fire in front.
General Porter, supposing that it came from the force they had been pursuing, rallied the greater part of them, formed them again on the left of his volunteers and moved forward to the edge of the woods. Again the long red-coated battalions opened fire.
The volunteers stood and exchanged two or three volleys with them, but when the enemy dashed forward with the bay- onet, Porter, seeing nothing of Scott with the supports, gave the order to retreat.
Both whites and Indians fled in the greatest confusion. On came the red-coats at their utmost speed, supposing they had gained another easy victory, and that all that was necessary was to catch the runaways.
The Indians being the best runners and unencumbered with clothing, got ahead in the retreat as they had in the advance, but the whites did their best to keep up with them. The flight continued for a mile, pursuers as well as pursued becoming greatly disorganized, and the speed of the fugitives being acceler- ated by the constant bursting of shells from the enemy's artillery.
Approaching Street's creek, Scott's brigade was found just crossing the bridge and forming line. They took up their posi- tions with the greatest coolness under the fire of the British artillery, but Porter claimed that through the fault of either Scott or Brown, they were very much behind time.
The former General was always celebrated for his prompt- ness, and the fault, if there was one, was probabh' with Brown. Perhaps he didn't expect Porter's men to run so fast, either going or coming.
The result, however, was as satisfactory- as if this precipitate retreat had been planned to draw forward the foe. Ripley's brigade was at once sent off to the left, through the woods, to flank the enemy. The fugitives as they ran also bore to the w estward, and Scott's fresh battalion came into line in perfect order, making somewhat merry over the haste of their red and white comrades.
TiiK Kn.i.ED AND \V( )r M )i:i ). 87
Some of ihc Iiulians had taken tlicir sons, from twelve to sixteen years old, into battle to initiate them in the business of war. One of these careful fathers was now seen running at his best speed, with liis son on his shoulders. Just as he passed the left flank of Scott's brigade, near where the General and his stafT sat on their horses, superintending the formation of the line, a shell burst directly over the head of the panting war- rior. " Ugh," he exclaimed in a x'oice of terror, bounding sev- eral feet from the ground. As he came down he fell to the earth, and the lad tumbled off. Springing up, the older Indian ran on at still greater speed than before, leaving the }'oungster to pick himself up and scamper away as best he might. The scene was greeted with a roar of laughter by the young ofificers around Scott, who rebuked them sharply for their levity.
In a few moments they had plenty of serious work to occupy their attention. The Americans reserved their fire till the encm\- was within fift\- }'ards, when they poured in so deadly a voile}' that the British instantly fell back. They were quickly rallied and led to the attack, but were again met with a terrific fire, under which they retreated in hopeless disorder. Scott pursued them beyond the strip of woods before mentioned, when the}' fled across the Chippewa into their intrenchments and tore up the bridge, Scott's brigade then lay down on the open plain north of the woods.
By order of General Brown, who was in the midst of the fight. Porter took his 200 reserve Pennsylvanians to the left of Scott's brigade, where they, too, lay down under the fire of the l^ritish artiller}'.
After a while Ripley's brigade came out of the woods cov- ered with mud, having had their march for nothing, as the enemy they had attempted to flank had run away before their flank could be reached. It not being deemed best to attack the foe in his intrenchments, directl}- in front, the Americans returned at nightfall to their encampment.
The battle of Chippewa w;is the first, during the war of 1812, in which a large body of British regulars were defeated in the open field, and the Americans w ere immensely encouraged by it. Enlistment thereafter was much more rapid than before. The total British loss, as officially reported, was 514, of whom
88 INDIANS RETURNING To TIIKIK HOMES.
between one and two hundred were found dead on the held by the victors. About two hundred and fifty were taken prison- ers, mostly wounded. The Americans had about fifty killed, a hundred and forty wounded and a few taken prisoners. The number of American re<^ulars engai^ed was 1,300. General Porter estimated the British regulars in the fight at 1,700.
The Canadian Indians were so roughh' handled that they fled at once to the head of Lake Ontario, and ne\'er after took any part in the war.
On the 7th of July, the 600 volunteers frtmi Western New York joined Porter's brigade, I have found no account of how they were organized nor of the localities from which they came.
On the 8th, Ripley's brigade and these New York volunteers forced a passage of the Chippewa, three miles up, quickly driv- ing back the force stationed there. General Riall, finding himself flanked, destroyed his works and retreated rapidly to Oueenston and then to Fort George. Brown pursued and took up his quarters at Oueenston, but did not deem his force suffi- cient either to assault or besiege the fortress.
On the 1 6th, Porter's brigade skirmished around the fort, to give the engineers a chance to reconnoitre, but nothing came of it.
Meanwhile, the British received reinforcements and Brown determined to return to Fort Erie. Riall followed. Before arriving at the Falls, most of the Indians, through the arrange- ment of Red Jacket, obtained permission to retire to their homes, agreeing to return if the British Indians should again take the field. But the latter were perfectly satisfied with that terrible cirubbing in the Chippewa woods, and never again appeared in arms against the Americans. Nevertheless, some forty or fifty of our Indians remained with the army through- out the campaign.
On the 25th of Jul}', Brown's ami)' encamped near Chippewa creek. Riall was pressing so closely on the American rear that Brown sent back Scott's brigade to check him. Scott met the enemy at l^ridgewater, just below the P"alls ; sending back word to his sujierior, the impetuous Virginian led his columns to the attack.
For an hour a desperate battle raged between Scotts single
CAI'TUKK OK MAJOR ( il'.MlKA I, KIAI.l.. 89
bi'ii;a(.lc aiul Riall's army, neither Ljainini; an\' decided advan- tai4'e. At the end of that time and but a h'ttle before niL;lit, l^rown arrived with the brii^ades of Ripley and Porter.
Determinini^" to interpose a new Hne and diseni^a^e Scott's exhausted men, he ordered forward the two fresh brigades. The enemy's line was then near " Lundy's Lane," a road run- ninij^ at right anii^les with the riv^er, wliich it reaches a short distance below the h^alls. Mis artillery was on a piece of risini^ y^round which was the key t)f the position.
Colonel Miller commanding a regiment of infantr)-, was asked by Brown if he could ca})ture it. "I can try, sir!" was the memorable response of the gallant officer.
Though the regiment which should have supported Miller's gave way, yet the latter moved steadily up the hill. Increas- ing its pace, it swept forward, while its ranks were depleted at every step, and, after a brief but desperate struggle, carried the heights and captured the hostile cannon at the point of the bayonet. At the same time, Major Jessup's regiment drove back a part of the enemy's infantry, capturing Major-General Riall, their commander, and when General Ripley led forward his reserve regiment the l^ritish fell back and disajjpeared from the field.
It was now eight o'clock and entirely dark. In a short time the enemy rallied and attempted to regain his lost artillery.
Seldom, in all the annals of war, has a conflict been fought under more strange and romantic circumstances. The dark- ness of night was over all the combatants. A little way to the northeastward rolled and roared the greatest cataract in the world^wonderful Niagara. Its thunders subdued, yet dis- tinct, could be heard whenever the cannon were silent. And there in the darkness upon that solitary hillside, within sound of that mighty avalanche of water the soldiers of the young republic, flushed with the triumph w hich had given them their enemy's battle-ground antl cannon and commander, calmly awaited the onslaught of Mnglaml's defeated but not disheart- ened veterans.
At half-past eight the .Americans saw the darkness turning red, far down the slope, and soon in the gloom were dimly outlined the advancing battalions of the foe. The red line
QO AMERICANS RK'l'URNINC WITH TIIKIK TRISOXHRS.
came swiftly, silently and i^allantl)' up the hill, beneath the banners of St. George, and all the while the subdued roar of Niagara was rolling gently over the field.
Suddenly the American cannon and small arms lighted up the scene with their angry glare, their voices drowning the noise of the cataract. The red battalions were torn asunder, and the hillside strewn with dead and dying men, but the line closed up and advanced still more rapidly, their fire rivaling that of the Americans, and both turning the night into deadly day. Presently the assailants ceased firing and then with thun- dering cheers and leveled bayonets rushed forward to the charge. But the American grape and canister made terrible havoc in their ranks, the musketry of Scott and Ripley mowed them down by the score, and the sharp-cracking rifles of Por- ter's volunteers did their work with deadly discrimination. More and more the assailants wavered, and when the Americans in turn charged bayonets, the whole British line fled at their utmost speed. The regulars followed but a short distance, being held in hand by their officers, who had no idea of plung- ing through the darkness against a possible reserve. But the volunteers chased the enemy down the slope and cai)tured a considerable number of prisoners. Then the Americans reformed their lines, and then again the murmur of the cataract held sway over the field. Twice during the next hour the British attempted to retake their cannon, and both times the result was the same as that of the first effort. For two hours after the Americans remained in line awaiting another onslaught of the foe, but the latter made no further attempt. Having no extra teams the victors were unable to take away the captured guns, with one exception. Accordingly, with this single tro- phy, with their o\\n wounded and with a hundred and sixty- nine prisoners, including General Riall, the iVmericans at mid- night returned to their encampment on the Chippewa. Their loss was 171 killed, 449 wounded and 1 17 missing. I^oth l^rown and Scott were wounded, the latter severely, and both were removed to Buffalo.
The condition of the two armies is plainly shown by the fact that the next day the enemy allowed Ripley to burn the mills, barracks and bridges at Bridgewater without molestation.
I 111, i;.\rii,K OK coNjocKKrv ( ki;i;K. 91
The Americans then pursuetl their untroubled march to Vovt Kric. On their arrixal the most of the xohmteers went lionie havini;' served the remarkably loni^" time of three or four months. Nevertheless they had done i^ood service and were entitled to a rest accordin;4' to the views of volunteering;" then in voL;"ue. The regulars had been reduced by various casualties to some fifteen hundred men. The British, on the other hand, had recei\-ed reinforcements, and felt themselves stroni; enough to besiege the fort, if fort it might be called, which was rather a partially intrenched encampment.
General Drummond's ami)- for two weeks steadily worked their way toward the American defences at Fort Erie. These consisted principally of two stone mess-houses and bastion known as " Old Fort Erie," a short distance east of the river bank, antl a natural mound half a mile south and near the lake which was surmounted with breast-\\orks and cannon, and called "Towson's batter}-."
Between the old fort and the batter\- ran a parapet, and another from the old fort eastward to the river. On both the north and west, a dense forest came within sixty rods of the American works. The British erected batteries in the woods on the north, each one farther south than its predecessor, and then in the night chopped out openings through which their cannon could play on our works. At this time the commander at Fort Erie was in the habit of sending across a battalion of regular riflemen every night to guard the bridge over Scaja- quada creek, who returned each morning to the fort.
About the loth of August a heavy British force cro.ssed the river at night at some point below the Scajaquada, and just before daylight they attempted to force their way across the latter stream. Their objective ])oint was doubtless the public stores at Black Rock and Buffalo. Being opposed by the riflemen before mentioned, under Major Lodowick Morgan, there ensued a fight of some imi)ortance, of which old men sometimes speak as the " l^attle of Conjockety Creek," but of which I have found no printed record. Even the Buffalo (hizctic of the da\' was silent regarding it, though it afterwards alluded to Major Morgan as " The hero of Conjocket)-." The planks of the bridge had been taken up and the riflemen lay in
92 DHUMMONl) REI'UI.SKl) THE THIRD TIMP:.
wait on the south side. When the enemy's column came up Morgan's men opened a destructive fire. The EngHsh pressed forward so boldly that some of them, when shot, fell into the creek and were swept down the Niagara.
They were