Major General Amos Hall-- Part 1: His Orderly Book

Last week, I mentioned this officer's name in connection with Camp Hardscrabble near Dickersonville, New York, and had never heard of him before, so further research was in order.

From the William Clements Library, University of Michigan.

They have his 181301814 Orderly Book which consists of 108 pages.  It belonged to Major General Amos Hall who commanded a New York militia unit near Buffalo during the War of 1812 and contains correspondence with other commanding officers stationed in western New York between December 24, 1813, and April 10, 1814.

This is probably where the letter commanding officers at Camp Hardscrabble came from in the previous posts.

--Bock-Perry

War of 1812 Army Camp at Dickersonville, N.Y.-- Part 4: Hardscrabble Burned By the British

After the British captured Fort Niagara in December 1813, Hardscrabble became one of the few places on the Niagara Frontier still under American control.

Sometime in early July, the British burned the camp.  One source says troops stationed there had been dismissed three months earlier in April 1814.

Seven hundred American troops were then sent to Lewiston so it could be rebuilt.  Whether Hardscrabble was rebuilt is not known, but another encampment was established at Lewiston despite the British still holding Fort Niagara until May 1815.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Army Camp at Dickersonville, N.Y.-- Part 3: Col. Harris to Command It

Major General Amos Hall continued:  "From the talents and experience of Col. Harris the major general has the strongest confidence that the important post to the command of which he is assigned will be well secured and that the regulation and discipline of the troops will be such as to reflect on the officers and soldiers."

A camp was established that could hold 1,500 to 2,000 men, but the most ever mentioned in Army records as being there were from 500-600.  Besides barracks, they had arms storage, an ammunition storage building and a hospital.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Army Camp in Dickersonville, N.Y.-- Part 2: "Proceed to Hardscrabble"

An order written by Major General Amos Hall from his headquarters at Batavia on January 23, 1814, mentioned:  "Lt. Col. Jno (John) Hopkins will proceed to Hardscrabble to the cantonment (camp) now occupied by the troops under Col. Swift and take charge of the detachment of the command... the troops under the command of Lt. Col. Harris will be quartered in as compact a manner as the nature of the ground and present barracks will admit, and Lt. Col. Harris will make proper provision for quarters by building huts as soon as may be...."

-Brock-Perry

A War of 1812 Army Camp in Dickersonville, New York-- Part 1

From the September 3, 2016, Lockport (NY) Union-Sun & Journal "Niagara Discoveries:  Dickersonville was home to War of 1812 army camp.

In 1812 or 1813, the U.S. Army established a camp in the vicinity of Ridge Road (Route 104) and Dickersonville.  Its exact location is unknown, but it was called "Hardscrabble."

The first known record of the camp was on January 23, 1814, more than a month after he British captured Fort Niagara and destroyed settlements along the Niagara River and Lake Ontario.