Page 48 [48]
dropped anchor near their antagonist, all brailed
up their canvass, and commenced a cannonade,
which lasted three hours and a guarter, without
intermission. Owing to the nervousness of the
gunners and the inexperience of the commanders,
not a single life was lost, and but little injury
done to the vessels. The Karl of Moira was
hulled a few times, the /u/ia escaping with the
effects from a single shot. As darkness approached,
the gallant contestants came to the conclusion that
repairs were necessary. The /u/ia weighed anchor
and succeeded in reaching Ogdensburg the next
morning. The #ar/ of Moira removed to Brockville,
the guns being taken out and placed in a battery
on the shore.
In September, the Americans learned that a num¬
ber of batteaux were coming up the river, laden
with supplies, the party being under the command
of Adjutant Fitzgibbon. A gun-boat, and also a
Durham boat were fitted out at Ogdensburg, and
despatched to intercept and capture the British
Leaving Ogdensburg late
at night, the enemy landed on Toussaint Island,
expedition and stores,
near where the batteaux lay. The only family on
the island was secured, with the exception of the
man, who, being a staunch defender of the British
flag, made his escape, and, by swimming, reached
the Canadian shore. The alarm was promptly
made the attack, they met with sucha hot recep¬
tion, that they abandoned the Durham boat, which
drifted down the river, and fell into the hands of the
About sunrise, the gun-boat came to
At the
second discharge, five, of the eighteen on board,
Canadians.
anchor, and was immediately fired upon.
were wounded; but, before a third volley could be
delivered, the remainder brought a cannon to bear
upon the Canadian boats, which were compelled to
remove out of range, being provided only with small
arms. The Americans then beat a hasty retreat for
Ogdensburg.
Towards the close of the season, a considerable
force assembled at Prescott, and, on the 2nd of
October, about forty British boats came up the
river, to that place, escorted by two gun boats. A lively
cannonade was set up by the battery at Prescott upon
Ogdensburg, the object being to cover the boats. On
the following day the firing was renewed, but was
not answered by the Americans, little or no damage
being done, in consequence of the short range of
the guns. On Sunday morning, the 4th, twenty¬
five boats and two gun boats left Prescott at an early
hour, proceeded up the river nearly a mile, and then
turned their course towards Ogdensburg. The ex¬
pedition was under the command of Col. Lethbridge,
the number of men being about 700. The advance
|
was made without opposition to mid channel, when
the enemy opened the enagement with a tremendous
discharge of artillery, supplemented by small arms.
General Brown, who was in command at Ogdens¬
burg had rallied the force, numbering 1,200 men,
and was fully prepared for the emergency. The
boats were thrown into confusion, and were com¬
pelled to beat a precipitate retreat. It is said that
the enterprise was undertaken without the sanction
of the commander of the forces, and was generally
condemned as rash and premature.
Col. John Kilborn, of Newboro, has furnished us
with the following account of the affair :
‘I, with other young men, volunteered to serve in
the First Flank Company of the County of Leeds,
under Captain John Stuart, late Sheriff of the Johns¬
town District, for six months’ service, and I happened
to be the first man placed on duty by Lieutenant
William Morris (late the Hon. William Morris), to
guard the Kingston road, near the bridge at the
West end of Brockville. I continued on duty with
the company, being drilled daily by Lieutenant
Morris, until September, when an attempt was made
to capture Ogdensburg, it being at that time de¬
fended by a strong fort and a considerable force of
riflemen, by whom we were daily annoyed. The
expedition was under Colonel Lethbridge, of the
British army, at that time commanding our garrison
at Prescott. Assistance from Brockville men was
asked for,and with about forty others, I volunteered,
and marched to Prescott during the night, under
the command of Captain Reuben Sherwood and
Lieutenant William Morris. Boats were ready, and
early in the morning, led by Colonel Lethbridge,
with: part of a company of regulars, the attack was
made. The boat I was in was commanded by
After getting near the batteries
(which they plied constantly), and in front of the
town, we failed to effect a landing, and returned to
Prescott. The loss in our boat was one killed,
(Mott, a cousin of Henry Mott, Delta,) and eight
wounded.”
On the 6th February, 1813, Captain Forsyth, the
American commander at Ogdensburg, was induced
by parties from this side of the line to make a
descent upon Brockville, the report having been cir¬
culated that the American prisoners confined in the
gaol were being treated with severity.. The raiding
party consisted of Captain Forsyth’s company and
citizen volunteers, numbering, all told, about 200.
They left Ogdensburg about nine o'clock in the
evening, proceeding by sleighs to the rearof Morris¬
town. They crossed the ice in two divisions, flank
guards being despatched to each side of the town,
while the main body stationed themselves in Court
House Square. Forsyth, with a few men, entered
Lieutenant Morris.