John B. Montgomery, USN-- Part 4: On USS Niagara at Battle of Lake Erie

In August 1813, Montgomery volunteered for transfer to Lake Erie and joined the squadron commanded by Oliver Hazard Perry.  He was stationed on the brig USS Niagara under Captain Jesse Duncan Elliott and fought in the decisive Battle of Lake Erie on September 13, 1813.

He consequently received  a sword and thanks of Congress.  Though not directly involved  in the subsequent Perry-Elliott dispute, he  apparently sided with his commanding officer.

Montgomery remained on Lake Erie throughout the summerof 1814 and sailed with Commander  Arthur Sinclair during his ill-fated campaign against Mackinac on Lake Huron.

He spent the last weeks of the war performing courier duties on Lake Erie before arriving in New York City during the celebrations of peace.

--Brock-Perry

Wellsburg Has Another Patrick Gass Marker

This is located along the Ohio River in downtown Wellsburg, West Virginia.

And, I had never heard of this person before.

Inscription:

"Sergeant on the Lewis & Clark Expedition, he published the first  account of the exploration in 1807.

Veteran of the War of 1812, he fought at the battle of Lundy's Lane and at Fort Erie.

Citizen of Wellsburg  for more than a half century, he married and raised a family  on Grog Run and Pierce's Run.  He is now buried in  Brooke County Cemetery.

The bust of Patrick Gass as a young man on the Lewis & Clark Expedition was sculpted by Agnes Vincen Talbot of Boise, Idaho and presented to the people of Wellsburg by members of the Lewis & Clark Trail heritage Foundation, assisted by the National Park Service Challenge Cost Share Program .

August 2, 2002."

--Brock-Perry

Big 250th Birthday Bash for Patrick Gass in Wellsburg, WV

From the  June 12, 2021, WTRF "Wellsburg throws 250th birthday for historical figure Patrick Gass" by Aliah Keller.

It was the 250th birthday of Patrick Gass as well as the dedication of his military stone.

Gass, who once lived in Wellsburg, West Virginia, for over fifty years,  was a sergeant in the Lewis & Clark Expedition and published the first account of it in the early 1800s.  He is also a veteran of the War of 1812 and fought at the Battle of Lundy's Lane and Fort Erie.

The celebration on Saturday started off with a march and then a musket salute by the Tri-State Marine Corps.  re-enactors were there as were Gass' great-great grandchildren and their children.

--Brock-Gass

Some More On Joseph Willcocks-- Part 4: Commanded the Canadian Volunteers

By the end of August 1813, he had raised and was in command of a unit of expatriate Upper Canadians known as the Company of Canadian Volunteers.   Among his fellow officers were such prominent figures from the parliamentary  opposition in Upper Canada as Benajah Mallory and Abraham Markle.

Most of the unit's 120 members were from the constituencies the three men had represented.

For their part, the Americans valued Willcocks for his "zeal, activity and local knowledge."

In November and December 1813 1813, he led scouting and foraging parties to Stoney Creek and the Forty (Grimsby), aided in the burning of Niagara, and participated in the subsequent retreat to Buffalo, New York.

"Surpassed by none in enterprise and barvery," Willcocks commanded his volunteers at Fort George (Niagara-on-the-Lake) and Fort Erie until on 4 September 1814, he "received a mortal wound by a shot through the right breast" at Fort Erie.

--Brock-Perry

Alexander J. Williams-- Part 10: Inscription On His Gravestone

The inscription om Alexander Williams' tombstone reads:

"Sacred to the memory of  Captain Alexander John Williams, of the Twenty-first Regiment United States Artillery, son of General Jonathan and Marianne Williams, of the city of Philadelphia, who was killed in the night attack by the British on Fort Erie, August 14-15, 1814.

"In the midst of the conflict, a lighted port-fire in front of the enemy enabled them to direct their fire with great precision upon his company.

"He sprang forward, cut it off with his sword, and fell mortally wounded by a musket-ball.  He sacrificed himself to save his men.

"Born October 10, 1790.  Died August 15, 1814.   Fratri Dilecto."

--Brock-Perry

Alexander J. Williams-- Part 6: A Highly Regarded Officer

So perished this brave and gallant officer, not yet twenty-four years old, sincerely lamented by his friends for his private worth, and deeply regretted by the whole army, with which he was a favorite.

Though ambitious of distinction, he was perfectly unassuming; with laudable spirit, he was indefatigable in the discharge of every duty; and by his intelligence, zeal, and exemplary deportment, won the esteem and applause, not only his subordinates, but of every superior in command.


**  Note.  he was the son of Jonathan Williams, the first Superintendent of the Military Academy and Chief Engineer of the U.S. Army.

--Brock-Perry

Alexander J. Williams-- Part 5: Mortally Wounded Saving the Lives of His Men

Alexander Williams' had been on the lowlands of the Delaware River for a year (Fort Mifflin) and during that time he had contracted a dangerous fever yet he was so anxious to  share in the honors and perils of campaigning of 1814, and even though a convalescent, he applied and was accepted into the Niagara Army.

He joined just in time to take part in the defense of Fort Erie.  Here, his abilities were so conspicuous that he was selected for the important command of the old work before the assault was made on it.

Three times on the morning of August 15, 1814, he had repulsed the enemy.  As the fourth attack was being made, he perceived  a lighted port fire in front of the enemy, enabling them to direct  their fire with great precision.  Instantly, he sprang forward and cut it off with his sword, and in this act, fell mortally wounded.

He sacrificed his life to save those of his men.

--Brock-Perry

Alexander J. Williams-- Part 3: On Niagara Frontier and Killed At Fort Erie

Served at West Point, 1811-1812.

In the War of 11812, served 1812 to 1814.   1st Lt. Corps of Engineers, July 1, 1812., Captain , 2nd Artillery, March 17, 1813.

In command at Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania, 1812-1814.

Campaign of 1814 in the Niagara Frontier (Command of three 18-pounder guns at Lundy's Lane.)

Engaged in defense of Fort Erie, Upper Canada.  Where, in hand-to-hand encounter, while repulsing the enemy's fourth desperate assault upon the bastion of the work, he was killed , August 15,  1814, aged 24.

He is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York.

--Brock-Perry

Alexander J. Williams-- Part 2: First In Class of 1811

From For What They Gave On Saturday Afternoon.

Captain, 2nd Artillery, killed while being engaged in the Defense of Fort Erie, Upper Canada, where, in hand-to-hand encounter, while repulsing the enemy's fourth desperate attack upon the bastion of the work.

Born in Pennsylvania.  Appointed to USMA from Pennsylvania.

Alexander John Williams:  Born October 10, 1790, Philadelphia, PA.

Cadet of Military Academy May 5, 1805, to March 1, 1811, when he graduated First in his Class, and was promoted in the Army to Second Lieut., Corps of Engineers, March 1, 1811.

--Brock-Perry

Alexander J. Williams-- Part 1: USMA Class if 1811, Killed in War of 1812

From Civil War In the East,   West Point Officers in the Civil War.

Rank of captain.

Killed in 1814 at the defense of Fort Erie, Upper Canada.

--Brock-Perry

Two West Point Graduates Killed at Fort Erie Sortie in 1814

I have been writing about West Point graduate Col. James Gibson who died at the Sortie from Fort Erie in 1814.   Fort Gibson in New York Harbor was named after him.

Also killed at Fort Erie was West Point graduate Eleazor Wood.  Fort Wood (today the base of the Statue of Liberty) was named after him.

--Brock-Perry

Col. James Gibson-- Part 6: The Painting

A painting done by E.C. Watmough in 1840 titles "Repulsion of the British at Fort Erie, August 15, 1814," shows two officers prominently.  They are reputed to be  Eleazor Wood and James Gibson.  Both Col. Wood and Col. Gibson distinguished themselves here and both died here of wounds received on September 17, 1814.

However, a recent description of the painting says Lt. John Watmough was the one thought to be Gibson.  He was later brevetted  for his "gallant and meritorious" conduct at Fort Erie.

I can't help but notice that the painter and Lt. John Watmough have the same last name.  Brothers?

--Brock-Perry

Col. James Gibson-- Part 5: The Campaign of 1814 and Defense of Fort Erie

In the Campaign of 1814 on the Niagara Frontier, he was engaged in the defense of Fort Erie, Upper Canada, from August 3 to September 17, 1814.  Actions there he was involved in included the Bombardment August 13-15, Repulse of the enemy's assault August 15, while in command of the 4th Rifles which he had commanded since February 21, 1814.

His death came during the Sortie from Fort Erie upon the British batteries and siege works, September 17, 1814.  He was 33 years old at the time.

The fort in New York Harbor on Ellis Island was named in his honor after his death.

--Brock-Perry

Col. James Gibson-- Part 2: Mortally Wounded at Fort Erie, Canada

James Gibson graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1808.  After graduation, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Light Artillery Regiment.

Within just five years he reached the rank of colonel in the U.S. Army.  In early 1814, he was appointed commander of the newly formed 4th Rifle Regiment.

The following summer, he and his regiment participated in the defense of Fort Erie.  During an attack on the British artillery batteries bombarding the fort, he was mortally wounded and died of the wounds the next day.

In his honor, the fort on Ellis Island in New York Harbor was named Fort Gibson.

--Brock-Perry

Colonel James Gibson-- Part 1

From Find-A-Grave.

Born June 1781 in Milford, Delaware.

Died 18 September 1814 at age 33 in Ontario, Canada.

Body lost or destroyed.

--Brick-Perry

Fort Gibson-- Part 5: Named After James Gibson

Colonel Jonathan Williams, a grandnephew of Benjamin Franklin, oversaw the construction of the brick and stone fortification.  Some of the remains of the fort are still there.

During the war, British prisoners were housed on Ellis Island, but since the British never made an attempt to take New York City, it saw no action.

In 1814, the fort was named for Colonel James Gibson, a 33-year-old officer killed at the Battle of Fort Erie during the War of 1812.

--Brock-Perry

Why One Michigan City Flies Kentucky Flags-- Part 3:

"Remember the River Raisin" and "Remember the Raisin" became battle cries of American troops in subsequent battles.  The British held dominance along the Michigan Frontier until some months later the Battle of Lake Erie and the Battle of the Thames turned the tide in American favor.

The Kentucky state flag flies at several locations near the River Raisin National Battlefield which is operated by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

This is in honor of those Kentuckians who came to defend and those who died.

--Brock-Perry

Grave of Hiram Simpson Marked-- Part 2: Saw Action art Fort Erie

Derrick Monument Co. of LeRoy and Ideal Burial Vault Co. of Corfu installed both stones.

Records show Hiram Simpson continually moving west from the time he was born near Glen Falls and then spent his childhood in Scipio, and then moved to Troupburg where he joined the New York militia.

He returned there after seeing action at Fort Erie, Ontario.  Later, he and Nancy and their seven children lived in East Pembroke.

Despite land grants in Iowa and Arkansas available to him, Hiram stayed in East Pembroke and died in 1867.  Wife Nancy died in 1881, a year after receiving the last allotment from the war's pension fund for widows.

--Brock-Perry

Eleazor Wheelock Ripley-- Part 3: War of 1812

Eleazor Ripley was wounded at York and also participated in the battles of Sacketts Harbor and Crysler's Farm.

In April 1814, he was promoted to brigadier general and commanded the Second Brigade of Major general Jacob Brown's Left Division in the Niagara Campaign.  At the Battle of Lundy's Lane, his brigade captured and held British cannons until the Americans could withdraw.  However, Brown accused Ripley for losing those guns.  Ripley demanded and got a court martial to clear his name.

He briefly commanded Brown's division during the Siege of Fort Erie after Brown had been wounded at Lundty's Lane, but he was replaced by Brigadier general Edmund Pendleton Gaines.

Ripley was conspicuous in the repulse of the British assault on Fort Erie on August 16 and the American sortie from the fort on September 17, 1814, where he was wounded again.  he was awarded the Congressional Gold medal for his action at Fort Erie.  This was the precursor of the Medal of Honor.

Ripley later moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1815 and left the Army in 1820.

--Brock-Perry

William Goldsmith Belknap-- Part 1: Wounded Twice at Fort Erie

From the Chronicles of Oklahoma.

Born 1794.

Appointed 3rd lieutenant in 23rd U.S. Infantry April 5, 1813.  In October was promoted to 2nd lieutenant.  While a 1st Lt. at Fort Erie, he was wounded August 15, 1814.  He was wounded again on the September 17 sortie from Fort Erie.

Later, he commanded Fort Gibson, Fort Washita and Fort Smith.

--Brock-Perry