Lead Up to Battle of Sodus Point-- Part 4: His Home destroyed Because Militia Stationed There

Asabel Bannister stated that during the British attack of the village of Sodus, that he acted as Quartermaster for  in Col. Swift's regiment of  militia, then in gthe service of the United States.  He was the bearer of a flag of truce to the enemy and met them also under a flag of truce.

The British officer told Bannister that they would spare the village and not burn or destroy any private property upon the condition that the public stores and provisions which had been removed, be given to them.

Quartermaster Bannister replied that he was not authorized  to make any such stipulation, but would report the request to his superior officers and in three to four hours return with an answer.  Those officers refused the offer and Bannister returned to the British with the news.

This led to the nighttime engagement that took place a little west of William Eadus' home which reslted in the  killing and wounding of several of the British.  In his claim to the U.S. government, he stated that the reason for his home's destruction was that military stores were in Sodus and that his home had been used as barracks for some of the American soldiers.

--Brock-Perry

Asahel Bannister

From Find-a-Grave.

ASAHEL BANNISTER

BIRTH:  17 July 1784, Goshen, Massachusetts

DEATH:  16 January1858  (aged 78), Geneva, New York

BURIAL:  Joslyn Cemetery  Phelps, New York

An officer in the American Army in the War of 1812.

--Brock-Perry

Asahel Bannister and the Battle of Sodus Point

Asahel Bannister was born at Goshen, Massachusetts, on July  17, 1784, and he died at Geneva, New York, on January 16, 1858, at age  74.    He married  Polly Mighells on February 22, 1807.    She was born on May 10, 1787, and died  on January  23, 1837, at age 50.

As did many male members of the Bannister lineage, Asahel, at the age of 28,  volunteered to defend  American interests and was named as an officer in the War of 1812.  Asahel is mentioned in at least one accound as being the quartermaster of the 24th Brigade of the New York Militia under the command of Brigadier General William Burnett.

Colonel Asahel Bannister was involved in the battle with the British at Sodus, New York, on June 19, 1813.  He was  responsible for the successful storage of provisions and military equipment which were the target of the British raiding party at that battle.

--Brock-Perry

Lead Up to the Battle of Sodus Point-- Part 1

From Historic Sodus Point site "Lead up to the Battle  of Sodus Point."

Scott Bannister has been doing a lot of research on  his abcestor  Colonel Asahel Bannister who was the Quartermaster in charge of the supplies and barracks at Sodus Point during the War of 1812.  The information comes from the efforts of  William Eadus who in addition to Captain William   Wickham, applied  to Congress for compensation for their destroyed homes that were used to store supplies for the militia and provided barracks as well.

Ultimately, neither man succeeded in this endeavor.  Congress denied their petition.

There was some question as to why the British did not attept to procure the Sodus Point supplies as they did at Pultneyville where they negotiated the release.  The answer was that they had spent some four hours under a flag of truce.

Why did the British attack at night, something that rarely happened during the American Revolution and War of 1812.  Such action was considered very dangerous.  The answer could be this, and that was that the British knew that the American militia knew they were there and they hoped to attack before the Americans got reinforcements.

--Brock-Perry