Page 60 [60]
on board. On reaching Cape Vincent, an addi¬
tional reinforcement was received. On arriving at
the foot of Long Island, the two schooners that left
Oswego on the roth, were discovered and taken in
tow by the steamer, a schooner being lashed to each
side. After leaving French Creek, swords and
pistols were taken from the boxes on board the
steamer, with which the men proceeded to arm
themselves. Just before the steamer reached
Morristown (about eleven o’clock on Sunday night,
Nov. 11) the schooners were unfastened and dropped
astern.
hours, the United States proceeded to Ogdensburg,
where she arrived at three o'clock on Monday
After remaining in Morristown about three
morning. The schooners, after parting company
with the steamer, proceeded to Prescott. They
contained a military armament, under the command
of General John W. Birge, but which were under
the more immediate command of a Polish officer
named Von Schoultz, who had engaged in military
operations in his native land. Upon approaching
Prescott, one of the schooners was made fast to the
upper wharf, and Von Schoultz urged the men to
land, with bayonets fixed, march into the village,
and take possession of the fort. A difference of
opinion as to the mode of attack arose, which led
to a delay, and the schooner was cast off. Soon
after, the Charlotte of Oswego grounded in the mud
in the delta of Oswegatchie River. At daylight
Monday morning, a crowd assembled on the dock
at which the steamer United States was moored,
seized an iron six-pounder, belonging to the Village
of Ogdensburg, and a brass four-pounder, the
property of the State of New York. The leaders
then mustered a volunteer company, openly deriding
the local civil authorities. Having obtained a crew,
the fires of the steamer were lighted, and, as soon
as steam was up, she left the wharf, and proceeded
to the assistance of the schooner that had run
aground. The schooner Charlotte of Toronto, after
casting off from the upper wharf, fell down the
stream, and took up a position, early in the
morning, nearly opposite the windmill, about a mile
below the village. The walls of the mill were thick
and massive, and the interior divided into several
stories. In the vicinity of the mill were several
massive stone houses, all of which were at the
time inhabited by families. The point on which the
mill stands juts out a short distance into the St. Law¬
rence, and at that time the margin of the river was,
for a considerable space above and below, overgrown
by a thicket of cedar. At this point a lodgement
was made, and a portion of the armament of the
not succeed in pulling off the grounded schooner,
and presently returned to the American shore. The
Experiment, a British steamboat, was lying at this
time at the wharf at Prescott; being armed with
cannon, she fired upon her without effect. Addi¬
tional hands were procured to navigate the steamer,
which had herself grounded for a short time on her
first trip, and she was again worked into the river,
near where the schooner Charlotte of Oswego, lay
aground, and soon after again returned. A demand
was here made, from one on board to those on
shore, for a longer hawser, which was promised from
a neighboring store, and a quantity of bread and
other provisions was conveyed aboard. On again
leaving the dock she went out into the channel,
going between the grounded schooner and the
British shore, and passed down the river to Wind¬
mill Point, and was twice fired upon by the Zxfert¬
ment, After arriving at Windmill Point she re¬
mained there some time, and about this time the
Charlotte of Toronto, having remained opposite the
Windmill till about the middle of the day, sailed up
the river and came toanchor near the American shore,
not far from where the other schooner subsequently
anchored, and remained till dark. The movements
of the United States had consumed neariy half of the
day, and she came up at almost the same time with
the Charlotte of Toronto, and apparently with the
view to cover her from the fire of the British steam¬
boat. She again went down to Windmill Point, at
each time of passing receiving a fire from the £2¬
periment. As she was coming up on the last trip, a
cannon shot from the British steamer entered the
wheel house, and instantly beheaded a young man
by the name of Solomon Foster, who stood as pilot
at the wheel. During the last trip of the steamer it
was observed that but a small part of those who
went to Windmill Point returned. Inthe afternoon
of Monday a small steamer, the Paul Pry, went
from Ogdensburg to the stranded schooner, and
succeeded in hauling her off. Not long after being
relieved, she passed down and took a position near
the other schooner, and in performing this service,
encountered a brisk fire from the Zxferiment. During
Monday there was frequent crossing of the river in
small boats. Monday night was spent by the in¬
vaders at the Windmill and adjacent premises. On
Tuesday morning the two schooners were seized by
the United States Marshal. The Charlotte of Oswego,
at the time of seizure, had on her deck two or three
cannon, one being properly mounted on wheels, the
others on small plank trucks. There were also on
board, boxes and small casks, which contained guns
After the United States
steamer had been seized, her machinery was taken
apert, so that she could not be used. On Tuesday
and ammunitions of war.
a ; , "