The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-02-21

\ by any troops in any previous war. This
feeling was evinced on the bloody fields OF
Bridgewater and Chippewa, at Fort Fire and
New Orleans, as well as on the occasion
| which we now commemorate; and this feel
ing, pervading the American forces would
have been sure harbinger OF victory in a
contest Of any thing like equal numbers. But
at Plattsburgh barely some 1900 regular SOL
| diers under the command of General Nc Comb
and some 700 militia under General Moore,
were prepared to oppose the enemy. The
nation, saddened and oppressed by the recent
sacking of Washington, and aware of the
tremendous force of her formidable foe, look
ed with deep anxiety and alarm to the issue
Of the contest at this important point.
While the day we commemorate imperi-
ously demands from me some description of
the battle which ensued, l am aware that such
description must be very imperfect. While
a desire to answer the just expectation of the
| public, of hearing here to-day on account of
the battle, may lead me to repeat what has
already been said, an equally strong desire to
avoid such repetition and rescue from OBJ
livion, some comparatively unimportant incl
dents may lead me TO omit many things that
should be mentioned. Claiming from this
intelligent audience the indulgence usually
accorded to good intentions, shall endeavor
TO state nothing but what has been derived
! from eye witnesses or authentic sources of in
! formation.
On Monday the 9Th September 1914, the
British army having advanced to Chazy and
finding the state road guarded by Col APP
! pings Rife Corps intrenched at Dead Creek,
aided by troop of Hose commanded by
! Capt. II. Stafford and Lieut.. NJ. NJ. Standish,
/ they crossed to the BeekmantOwn road and
encamped during the night three or four miles
north Of the Burdick house at Beekmantown.
The militia commanded by Gen. Moores, and
composed, ofCol. Thomas Miller's regiment,
part of Col. Joiner's regiment, Maj. San
ford's battalion and the 9th regiment, from
Essex, spent the night about where the stone
church in BeekmantOwn now stands. Be-
tween 9 and 10 O'Clock at night Gen. Mooers
sent Maj. r. II. Walworih, our present chan
cclor, one Of his aids, and who during the
invasion acted IS his Adiutant General, 10 the
quarters of Gen. McComb, who commanded
at the forts, with request that he would
send a small body Of Infantry and couple of
pieces Of light artillery, to support the militia
in the attack which he intended TO make on
the British forces on their advancing in the
morning. Mai. Walwor.h arrived at Gen.
McCOmb's quarters about midnight, and the
General Immediately ordered detachment
of $50 Infantry under Maj. John T.. Wool,
who had previously and urgently requested
such command, and two pieces of light ar
tilery under Capt. Luther Leonard, to be
ready by daylight to start for Beekmantown.
Maj. Wool organized his corps at once and
marched without further orders, and arrived
at Bcckmantown about sunrise. Capt. Leo
81 ,-I IL
light, but waited for orders from Gen. Nc
Comb 10 march, (Which ne supposed he was
to receive) in consequence OF which he did
not arrive in time TO be in the commencement
of the battle. On receiving information that
the enemy were advancing, Gen. Moores Or
dered Maj. Walworth to take detachment
of militia and march 10 the Creek north of
the residence of Ira Howe, and take the plank
from the bridge, near which Maj. Wool was
taking his position in order to retard the enc
mics advance, while the General with the
main body OF tie militia formed and advanc-
ed. Major NalwOrth thereupon took a party
of volunteers from Captains Atwood, Coch-
ran and Manley's companies, marched rapidly
to the bridge and had just commenced taking
off the plank, when the advanced guard of
the enemy emerged from the woods within
half musket shot, and fred upon the party ia
king up the bridge, two of whom Good
speed and Jay Of Capt. Atwood's company,
were severely wounded ard taken prison.
ers.
Maj. Walworth and his detachment imme-
diately fell back to the position occupied by
Maj. Wool, who forming in the high way and
flanked by the militia, opened deadly fire
upon the head of the British column, then
Just in front of Ira Howe's house, and mo-
mentarily arrested its progress.
Here several of the enemy were killed and
Lieut.. West fthe third Bluffs and 20 privates
severely wounded. This scene was witnessed
by Congdon Douglass, Halock Bromley, Jo-
Ell Smith, and some others of our acquaint-
ances, who joined in the fire upon the enemy,
emerging from the woods, and extending far
as the eye could reach, appeared in view and
the fight became general. Very soon the
militia broke and mostly retreated in conlu-
sion. Many however, remained with the reg
ulars to contest the ground, inch by inch and
. retreat in order.
1t was near this place that our esteemed
townsman, Doctor Mooers, detained in bind
ing up the head of a wounded soldier found
himself between the fires of the advancing
enemy and our own retreating troops. His
humane labor completed, the worthy Doctor
saw at once the improperly of his position,
and putting spurs to his horse arrived within
our lines with great expedition.
Meanwhile General Moores with the aid of
Maj. Walworth, Col. Miller, Plat, Newcomb,
Richard, B. H. & C. 5. Mooers. and others
of Miller's Regiment, and Reuben Sanford,
Henry, and William d. Ross, David B. Nc
Neil, and other officers of the 10Th Brigade,
had succeeded in rallying portion of the
militia which being ordered to join Maj. Wool
with his detachment awaited the approach
of the enemy at Culver's Hill about four miles
from Pittsburgh. This commanding posi-
ton was maintained with so much obstinacy
as to compel the enemy, after attaining the
summit of the hill to retire to its base with
the loss of Lieut.. Col. Wellington who fell
while CALAMITY leading the Sd Bluffs to the
charge. Here also Ensign Chapman fell,
and Capt. Westroff of the 36th British Reg
iment was severely wounded. Here also sew
eral of Maj. Woods men and Partridge Of the
Essex militia were killed, nor was this posi-
ton abandoned by Mai. Wool until after he