Stranica 60 [60]
OCR
on board. On reaching Cape Vincent, an additional 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. Lawrence, 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. Additional 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 Windmill Point, and was twice fired upon by the Zxfertment, After arriving at Windmill Point she remained 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 steamboat. She again went down to Windmill Point, at each time of passing receiving a fire from the £2periment. 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 invaders 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 ; , "
