Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-06-26
DOM ESTHC.
(From de .HbaHy Argus, June lGJ
BILL JOHNSON, The LAKE EUCCANEER-
SCENES ON THE FRONTIER

The condition Of the frontier, and The events that
trnnspre daily continue to excite the public attention
and interest What may be the farther designs of the
marauders who seek either emhrn the two Govern.
nents or TO gtay their desire Of revenge their thirst
for plumber unless arrested BY the strong OF both
Governments, we'll and speedily put FORTH may be go
thered from the following facts, which derive from
authentic sources:
Early in the spring n party Of refugees made lodg
ment on The Thousand Islands,. in the ST. Lawrence.
The leader Of this gang is William Johnson well known
in all that region as Bill Johnson-and known also as
the leader in the recent destruction Of the Sir Robert
Feel He is Canadian by birth, is about IS years of
age, OF powerful fame and Of great fearessness and
energy Of Character lie has four sons who partake 10
considerable degree Of the character of the father
lie was employed spy in the American service dur
ing The last war; and in the course OF ii performed many
bold and hazardous exploits. He had at his command
SIX cared barge in which he ruamed the lake and the
river interceptng dispatches, attacking the small craft,
seizns property and harassng the British settlements
On one occasion lie nerce pied dispatches twice IN one
day al Presque Isle On another. his boat having been
driven on the British shore in gale, and his crew cap
ued, lie euded his pursuers for fortnight and finally
made his escape in bark canoe, crossing the lake 3G
miles in widlh) alone in that iral vessel and reached
Sackeits Habor in safety Since tie war he has resi-
dsd at French Creek, in the double capacity Of trader
and smuggler 1t is said that he boasts Of having force
under his immediate command Of $50 men; but this is
probably exaggeraton, although he has undoubtedly
than those who with him in the capture The
Sir Robert Peel, and could probably command if neces
The principal rendezvous and head quarters of John
and his marauders is at iastness called Fort Wal.
lace, Island at the head Of Wells Island, and
,oukin Ike British Ttrrory l, is said to contain for.
LITIGATION of much strength of position little is known,
however, in relation to H. Johnson refuses To let any
not belonging to the gang, vsi IT. He boasts much
Of its strength and expresses the belief that with zen
he could defend it against the attack OF two hun
bred He has a second rendezvous Abels Island
immediately below Wells Island, and opposite Aexan'
dria Bay. The Thousand Islands said 10 number
about seventeen hundred and to vary in size from ten
miles in length TO single rock foot square wen s
Island (rom whence the attack was made on the Sir
Robar, Pee is the largest of The group and forms what
is designated by the sailors the Upper Narrows-ihe pas
sage bringing vessels within pistol shot of the island
They occupy more than twenty-five miles IN the river,
which in some places more than ~ miles wide They
are lutte else than rock with occasional patches OF fertile
land Their sides in many parts perpendicular rocks,
thirty feet in height with abrupt Shores aud great deplh
Of water. They generally covered with dense forests
and thick underbush and the passages between them
are narrow, winding ard often rocky 1t Is scarcely
possible conceive Of place better formed by Nature
10 afford retreat for lreebooers than this cluster
Of islands
Johnson has several boats every way adapted to his
designs one of which is forty feet in length, bat OF SO
light construction 10 be easily carried across the Is
lands and lis speed said 10 exceed lhal oil Inc swts
boats on the lake. Shortly after the destruction oil the
Sir Rob Peel he proceeded in this boat with lew OF
his men up the lake, made predatory incrrsion upon
an island near the mouth OF the Bay oQnna and plum
dered the inhabitants returning the night OF The oh
inst. to the Businesses Of 1.-The Thousand Islands II
is known that he has been The main land since The
burning of the S. r. P. He has had occasional inter
views with some OF our citizen since that event but they
have taken place The water. lie and those that at
tend him these occasions are well armed Ills own
appearance, with SIX pistols dirk and bowie KNIFE IN
his belt is sufficiently bellgerent aud he has with him,
il is said invariably, the cnlors Of the K T. he con
sders the destruction Of that vessel act OF piracy
and that his life has become thereby forfeited, and says
be shall sell il al the dearest rate.
Such is the character OF the Buccaneer OF The Lake;
sufficient surely with the natural and ordinary progress
Of exaggeration be subject OF alarm TO The border
inhabitants An alarm not altogether groundess, from
the fact that The larger islands OF this numerous g'"up
are inhabited by lawess race OF hall bandt; VINO
would scacely scrupe TO join in nearly any enterpr1e
for pIunder who have perhaps one hundred boats ard
whose number has been enlarged considerably by feiu
gee accessons 1t is supposed that there are at least one
thousand refugees and other persons on these islands,
under the control and Of the command OF Johnson and
several thousands Of refugees, between Niagara and og
densburgh.
1t is not to be imagined that the local militia, or the
local authorities, however well disposed to CO operate
" ,,b tt. officers of Government measures TO repe
and prevent these ncurslons and to detect ana punish
the tnarauders, adequate To the emergency. Inc
commerce Of the river and the lake, the national chaT
ecter the lives and property ct our citizens, require
Government force sufficient 10 expaEc the islands ana
expe the murauders considerable military force at
several points the frontier and The employs Of
These matters. understand, have been fnly pre-
scented by Gov Marcy 10 the consideration OF the Cen
eral Government and Judging from recent movements,
we do not doubt that the requirements OF the case WIZ
receive all the attention which The limited strength OF
the army will in any manner allow.
From the n. Y. T. Past Of June Is
From THE FRONTIER Governor Marcy arrived at
Oswego, on Saturday week, and remained lew DAYS
His presence was said have had good effect in aiay-
ing the excitement both sides of the line
Captain Dobbns, Of the schooner Nicholas BIodIe,
has published in the Erie Observer, the particulars oi
the attack On his vessel al Dunnvl Grand River, Up
per Canada While lying at the duck at night on Inc
Sd instant he received information that attack on his
vessel was probably medated by some Canadians -
He therefore hauled into the stream for safety, bnl
nothing happened-so he came up 10 The dock next
CAV and loaded without moestation, and got under
way in the evening. In going down past the houses
on the side Of the mouth ut the nver woman was
seen exhortiuG on the dock not To hre INTO the
Nicholas Bddle. Al the moment an officer in a
boat ordered the 10 fire. which he did, and the ball
went through the sails without hitting any person on
board The wind being favorable the vesse escaped -
The offence, stated ast week consisted IN moist
ing the American flag, and the british officer plainly
told Captain Dobbns that he should not come there
again with the schooner
Thc steamboat Telegraph arrived at Rochester on the
18th instant with the intelligence that "3I!l Johnson
was seen daily, but cannot be captured The Kingston
give chase to him on one OCCASION but his barge
was too swift for his pursuers. The Rochester Daiiy
Advertiser says: ,
1.-THE militia are still out, but have caught no'hng
YET they doubtless useful in preventing new aggres
sions. -
.Every day adds 10 our unpopuarity in Upper Cana.
da and the John Bulls Of that province declare That the
Imperial Government will not rest satisfied I'LL the States
are reduced to their original colonial dependence
IMPORTANT FROM THE FRONTIER
The Albany Evening Journal states on the authority
ofMr j. W. Turner, Deputy Marshal at Oswego VINO
arrived Albany Monday, express from Lewls'own'
that the PATRIOTS OF UPPER CANADA HAVE AGAIN MADE
ARALLY on raE,R OWN soIL-having formed camp IN
"Lonr Swamp" IAN extensive marsh lying between
Giratd Island and Chippewa Creek} ~hefe .ney are
nnw GnrtiCvnu themselves The nucleus of this force
- f:yl L -or,roaa nrho croased over from The U.