War of 1812 Bicentennial

1807

December 22, 1807 - US Embargo Act passed

1809

Early 1809 - Captains Samuel Cherry and Thomas Anderson stationed at Ogdensburg to enforce non-intercourse act. Temporary barracks erected for their use.
1809 - Cherry and Anderson's companies leave Ogdensburg to the accompaniment of 100 tinhorns and the firing of an old French cannon.

1812

February 1, 1812 - All Canadian Yankees not wanting to take the oath and serve in their militia must leave Upper Canada by this date. Several cross to Ogdensburg during the preceding month.
February 12, 1812 - Militia sent home.
February 20 and 21, 1812 - British soldiers drill each day on the ice, marching half way across but return to their shore after the drill.
April 10, 1812 - Congress authorized the raising of 100,000 men from the various state militias in anticipation of war.
May 2, 1812 - General Jacob Brown, Commander of the 4th Brigade of the NYS Militia wrote to Lieutenant Colonel Thomas B Benedict. Ordered him to raise 43 men from the St Lawrence County Militia (123rd regiment) to be ready at a minutes notice. The men to be stationed at the village of Williamstown (Old De Kalb). Colonel Stone of Herkimer County (153rd regiment) was to raise 37 men and send them under the command of Captain Darius Hawkins, to join Colonel Benedict at De Kalb.
May 5, 1812 - St Lawrence County Militia Drafted.
May 22, 1812 - Joseph Rosseel to DP: "Messr. Hill and Co. have sold out their Ropewalk for $500 to the Deputy Quartermaster General for the state who has ordered it to be converted into barracks for about 200 men. The work was half finished when I returned from Montreal" "some of the troops to be stationed here, are expected to arrive today."
May 28, 1812 - After being fully assembled at De Kalb for 10 days about 80 militiamen march to Ogdensburg under the command of Lieutenants Griffin and Polley. They first occupy the county courthouse then move to temporary barracks.
J Rosseel to DP: "The barracks here are not filled yet- there are but 80 men, the half of which only are armed. I hope they will soon be ordered to their respective home."
May 31, 1812 - J Rosseel to DP: " I never saw any road so bad as the 3 last miles on this side of Vrooman's. It is not only very muddy but extremely dangerous. No wagons can pass there now with safety." " I will get the road bridge on Indian River planked before you reach this country to enable you to ride to Rossie if you wished to avoid the very ugly and dangerous road which extends from Kellogg's to Ogdensburg."
June 1, 1812 - Lieutenant Colonel Benedict arrives in Ogdensburgh with his family. Ogdensburgh citizens refuse to bake bread for the soldiers.
June 1 to 7, 1812 - "I left home on Monday and returned last Sunday from one of the most muddy and tedious excursions I ever made" "It rained the greater part of the time I was in Cookham… as it now is a man cannot travel in it [Market Rd to Cookham] but at the risk of his neck."
June 18, 1812 - President Madison signs declaration of War.
June 26, 1812 - Lieutenant Colonel T B Benedict placed in command of 123rd regiment 4th brigade of the port of Ogdensburg. Officers and staff commissioned.
Captain Moses Bunnel's company in service at Ogdensburg
June 28, 1812 - Major Darby Noon arrives in Ogdensburg.
June 29, 1812 - Eight schooners in Ogdensburg harbor attempt to escape to Lake Ontario. Sophia and the Island Packet, commanded by Captain Montgomery, captured and burned near Brockville. Remaining ships returned to Ogdensburg.
Captain Joshua Sweet's company in service at Ogdensburg.
June 30, 1812 - All militia called up.
June 30, 1812 - Captain Moses Bunnel's company transport arms from Russell Armory to troops at Ogdensburg.
July 2, 1812 - Imiri Case's company in service at Ogdensburg
July 4, 1812 - Captain Jacob Hovey's [Lewis County] company in service at Ogdensburg.
ABT July 1812 - Captain Samuel Armstrong's company, Captain Nathan Adams's company, Captain Jacob P Weaver's company [Herkimer County], Captain Jost Bell's Company [Herkimer county] all in service at Ogdensburg. Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Stone's [Lewis County], 153rd Regiment of the 4th Brigade of NYS Militia also arrives with Captain Nathan Cook's company and Captain Jacob Hovey's company [arrived July 4th].
July 12, 1812 - Captain Josiah Farrar's company in service at Ogdensburg. Transferred to Sackets Harbor before August 22, 1812.
July 15, 1812 - Company under Captain Castle organized and stationed at Waddington.
July 20, 1812 - Brigadier General Stephen Van Rensselaer arrives in Ogdensburg. Rumors of British gun ships spread. Ships in Ogdensburg moved up the Oswegatchie above the bridge.
July 23, 1812 - Plot to burn the three British war ships at Prescott, the Prince Regent, the Earl of Moira, and the Duke of Gloucester foiled by ships movement.
July 29, 1812 - The schooner Julia sets sail from Sackets Harbor, full of supplies for Ogdensburg, commanded by Lieutenant H W Wells and followed by a Durham boat carrying the rifle co of Captain Noadiah Hubbard for protection
July 31, 1812 - At 3 pm the British ship Earl of Moira (18 guns) engages the Julia in battle off Morristown. The battle continues until 6:15 when the British ship withdraws to Brockville.
August 1, 1812 - Julia floats downstream over night, towed by the Durham boat. Reaches Ogdensburg by dawn. Lieutenant Wells returns to Sackets Harbor.
August 7, 1812 - Captains Hubbard and Dixson along with their militia and riflemen return to Sackets Harbor in two boats.
September 12, 1812 - Alarm raised by Lieutenant Colonel Benedict on intelligence that a fleet of British ships was forming to capture Ogdensburg. Reinforcements from the regular army including Forsythe's Rifles arrive.
September 12-19, 1812 - Several skirmishes occur. At least 4 twelve pound balls reach Ogdensburg. One lodges in the wall of Mister Turner's house.
September 1812 - Gun battle at Toussaints Island (downstream of Cardinal, Upper Canada).
October 2, 1812 - About 40 British ships guarded by 2 British warships approach Prescott. Cannonade of Ogdensburg commences.
October 3, 1812 - Cannonade of Ogdensburg continues.
October 4, 1812 - 25 boats attack Ogdensburg. The 1200 Militia and US Regulars massed on the west bank of the Oswegatchie because of Benedict's alarm, Commanded by General Brown, repulse the attack.
October 23, 1812 - American Troops break into Hasbrouk's house seeking shelter from the rain.
November 16, 1812 - At 1:30 am, 3 British ships fire on Ogdensburg for hour and a half. One American brass piece is set up at Pigeon Point and fires 4 rounds. Mr. Parish narrowly escapes being hit.
December 8, 1812 - "Mrs. Hill gave a very large party… Had the General [Brown] and suit of officers there. And quite a large collection of gentlemen. Had 4 or 5 card tables and great style, as I was informed, for I was not one of the party." LH
December 26, 1812 - All NYS militia officers at Port of Ogdensburg's 6 month commissions expire, including Lieutenant Colonel Benedict. Officers and most soldiers sent home. Forsythe's Rifles - US Army regulars - remain with a few volunteer militiamen of Captain Kellogg's artillery 3 month volunteers (Lyttle's?). General Brown leaves Ogdensburg.
December 31, 1812 - Mr. Parish holds New Years Eve dinner attended by Captain Forsythe, Judge Ford and Louis Hasbrouk.

1813

January 8, 1813 - The St Lawrence River freezes over completely.
January 1813 - The Parishes, Mrs Hill and family, Mrs Rees, Mrs Guest, Louis Hasbrouk, Judge Ford, and many other leave Ogdensburg for safer areas following the departure of the Militia.
February 6, 1813 - Captain Forsythe's Rifles and local volunteers Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Benedict numbering 200, attack the jail in Brockville to free a group of Upper Canada militia draft resisters. Militia called up.
February 7, 1813 - Lieutenant Colonel Benedict, whose commission has expired, travels to Albany for a second time to settle accounts from summer of 1812.
February 13, 1813 - Lieutenant Beard arrests a Mister Webster. Orders his men to shoot Webster's cattle. They refuse, Beard arrested on return.
February 20, 1813 - Soldiers raid across the river stealing some horses.
February 22, 1813 - Battle of Ogdensburg. Troops and citizens retreat along the State Rd and the West Bank of the Oswegatchie to Kellogg's tavern (intersection of County Route 11 and County Route 10 in De Peyster) lead by George Knight. Ogdensburg looted.
February 23, 1813 - General Brown visits St Lawrence County but does not enter Ogdensburg. Forsythe's Rifles and other NYS militia retreat to Sackets Harbor.
March 1813 - Mail delivery to Ogdensburg halted by order of the General Wilkinson. All mail held at De Kalb. Postmaster General calls Ogdensburgh "a dnd Tory hole".
May 26, 1813 - British threaten to burn Ogdensburg unless two deserters are returned.
October 1813 - Group of British bateaus attacked near head of Ogden's Island by group of volunteers commanded by Benjamin Richards of Waddington. Goods taken stored in Waddington and Madrid.
October 13, 1813 - Colonel Luckett's regiment of Dragoons enters Ogdensburg on reconnaissance for General Wilkinson. The British respond with shelling of Ogdensburg. Colonel Luckett moved his forces out of Ogdensburg into the backcountry. One shell passes through the county courtroom.
October 29, 1813 - General Brown leads his force from Sackets Harbor down the St Lawrence to French Creek.
November 3, 1813 - US Fleet enters the St Lawrence River.
November 5, 1813 - Fleet of 300 vessels arrives at Morristown by 6 pm.
November 6, 1813 - Fleet sails to 3 miles above Ogdensburg near Giffin's. At night under the cover of darkness and fog the powder and fixed ammunition were unloaded into carts and along with the entire army marched inland around Ogdensburg, returning to the river at ______ a harbor in the town of Lisbon. The US boats floated downstream past the enemy.
November 7, 1813 - Wilkinson's army flotilla regroups and proceeds down to the rapids. British enter Ogdensburg and demand the surrender of all public property or face the torching of the village.
November 11, 1813 - Battle of Chrysler's Farm.
November 12, 1813 - Army retreats down rapids to Barnhart Island. Soon retreat to French Mills.
November 13, 1813 - Dragoons retreat to Utica. The remainder of the army remains encamped at French Mills without proper shelter or food.
November 1813 - Soon after Wilkinson's troops pass Waddington, Colonel Morrison enters Waddington and demands goods taken in October raid. Threatens to burn barracks and village. Villagers agree instead to return all captured goods to Canada the next day.

1814

January 1814 - Stores for army had been kept at Hopkinton.
January 1814 - Loyalist Captain Reuben Sherwood crosses St Lawrence River near Point Iroquois at night and marches to Columbia Village (Madrid). Presses local teams and recovers remainder of goods taken in October ship raid. Returns to Canada without losing a man.
February 9, 1814 - Army leaves French Mills leaving hundreds of dead behind.
April 6, 1814 - St Lawrence County Sheriff ordered to remove all prisoners to Lewis County for safekeeping.
Summer 1814 - British force of 60 men under Captain Thomas Frazier cross into Hammond and proceed to Rossie in pursuit of horse thieves.
December 24, 1814 - Treaty of Ghent signed.

1815

February 17, 1815 - Congress ratifies the Treaty of Ghent officially ending the War of 1812.
March 13, 1815 - News of peace reaches Ogdensburg. They refuse the use of a cannon to celebrate offered by the British. Instead they celebrate by lighting 9 candles to a window.