About Private Samuel Helms-- Part 2

According to Bobbie Reno, the court-martial was illegal.  Helms should have been punished for going AWOL, not executed for desertion.

Modern scientific research tools have been deployed to locate Helms' possible burial spot.  Ground penetrating radar swept the elementary school's athletic field last year and identified several possible locations for graves.  Bobbie Reno is attempting to track down Helms' descendants for possible DNA matches.

In order to verify the possible locations, a subsurface investigation is needed and it is the Army policy not to disturb burials of the fallen when possible.

However, reno has noted that soldiers remains have been disturbed in other parts of New York.

On June 14 there will be a ceremony at the state's Lake George Battlefield Park for the reinterment of remains of Continental soldiers who died during the American Revolution.  These remains were uncovered during a construction project in 2019. 

They were believed to have been buried in a cemetery for soldiers who did at a nearby hospital.  The ceremony is sponsored by the State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Courtland Street Reinterment Project.

--Brock-Perry

Betsy Doyle

From Alexanders Map.com  "Betsy Doyle" by N.H. Carmichael.

Fort Niagara came under fire from the British on November 21, 1812.  Thirteen months later, the British and their Indian allies captured the fort after the Americans had refused to surrender. The British commander ordered no quarter, in other words, no surrender.  All captured were to be killed.  

Somehow, Betsy Doyle and her family escaped.  However, fleeing on foot and now in enemy territory along with the cold of December and winter, their chances weren't good at all.  But somehow they did and after four months reached American forces near Albany.

She was never paid for her heroism at Fort Niagara and died six years later.  The author of this wanted to know where she was buried.

There is a plaque at Fort Niagara that isn't prominently displayed on the top floor of the French Castle where she brought the red hot shot to a cannon.  However, it misidentified her as Fanny Doyle.

Her husband Andrew Doyle came back to the United States after his release, but never found her. He married someone else the same year Betsy died.

I Also Would Like To Know Where She Is Buried.   --Brock-Perry

A Video and More Information on Betsy Doyle

From the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, "Heroine of Fort Niagara Betsy Doyle:  History happened here."

There is a minute and a half video as well as a historical marker featured at this site.

Some more information about Betsy Doyle:

**  She has been called "The Hero of Fort Niagara."

**  After the fort fell to the British in 1813, she took her family 310 miles to the Greenbush Cantonment.

**  There, she continued to support the American cause, often without pay.

**  She died in 1819.

**  In 2012, she was named a New York State Woman of Distinction for her bravery.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Heroine Betsy Doyle

While doing research about the Greenbush Cantonment I came across the name of this woman in connection to her role in the War of 1812 and to Greenbush, New York.  I decided to follow up on her.

Historical Marker located in Youngstown, Niagara County, New York.

BETSY DOYLE

Heroine of Fort Niagara.  Carried hot shot to cannon, stood  sentry duty.

Fled  310 miles to Greenbush, NY when enemy attacked fort in 1812.

--Brock-Perry

Greenbush in the War of 1812: The Cantonment-- Part 3

Major John Defreest, who lived in what is now North Greenbush,  was an officer in Colonel Carr's New York Militia.    Carrr was one of several Rensselaer County soldiers who served during the war.

Depending upon which story you believe, Col. Carr's soldiers arrived just in time to turn the tide at the Battle of Plattsburgh, or was too late to tip the  balance for an American victory.

After the war ended in 1815, the government continued to station a few soldiers at the Cantonment and finally sold the property to  Hathhorn  McCulloch for $8,007, in 1831.

Today, the only building left at the site is one of the officers' quarters and it is a private residence.

--Brock-Perry

Greenbush in the War of 1812-- Part 2

When General Dearborn took command of the Greenbush Cantonment, the cost overruns began.  He bought the land on behalf of the government for $9,000 and construction of the Cantonment began.  It wasn't until a year later that Dearborn discovered the government didn't have a clear title to the land.

So he had to pay an additional $1,250 to perfect the title.  Additionally, the government purchased a large field of standing rye nearby that was ready for harvest.  However, a cavalry unit arrived there and the hirses promptly devoured the whole crop.

The Cantonment consisted of  eight barracks for enlisted men, three units for officers, the general's house,  surgeon and physician's quarters, a hospital, horse stables, armory, arsenal  storehouse, guard house, kitchens and many latrines.

Jim Greenfield is not sure whether local units were stationed there.

--Brock-Perry

Greenbush in the War of 1812: The Cantonment-- Part 1

From Town of North Greenbush Notes:  Greenbush in the War of 1812" by Jim Greenfield.

No battles occurred in the old town of Greenbush, New York (Rensselaer,  East and North Greenbush) during the war, the area does have claim to fame because the U.S. Army constructed a large military post called the Greenbush Cantonment there.

The several hundred  acre cantonment was located near the present-day Red Mill School in East Greenbush.  During the war, over 5,000 troops trained there.

The Greenbush location was well located because it was near the action occurring at both the Niagara Frontier and Lake Champlain.

The commanding general of the cantonment was  Henry Dearborn, a veteran of the American Revolution.  One suspects he might have been well past his prime abilities.  Rather than a "fighting general" he was more of an administrative general" far from the battlefield.  Think General Halftrack from the "Beetle Bailey" comic strip.

--Brock-Perry

Greenbush Cantonment-- Part 3

From North American Forts site.

GREENBUSH CANTONMENT

(1812-1819) East Greenbush, New York

A 400-acre post that was the headquarters of the Northern Division of the U.S. Army.  Built here were eight two-story barracks, three officers' quarters, hospital, two commissaries, arsenal, armory, guardhouses, magazine and stables around a parade ground.

Inactivated and then sold in 1831.

All buildings were removed except one of the officers' quarters which then became a private residence.  This structure still exists today at 250 McCullough Place (provate property).

The Red Mill Elementary School occupies the parade ground.

--Brock-Perry

Greenbush Cantonment-- Part 2

The central core of the cantonment was surrounded by  the support buildings and stables.

Each set of four enlisted barracks faced a  separate large parade field while the three  officers' quarters were positioned at the head and foot of the parade areas.

The post was declared surplus in 1819 and sold to private parties in 1831.

CURRENT STATUS

It is private property in East Greenbush, Renssalear County, New York.

One building, an officers' quarters, remains and is converted into apartments.  The Red Mill School now occupies the grand parade grounds.

--Brock-Perry

Greenbush Cantonment-- Part 1

Private Samuel Helms was executed here.  (See last three posts.)

From Fort Wiki.

Greenbush Cantonment (1812-1819)--  A U.S. Army  post established in 1812 during the War of 1812 in Renssalear County, New York.  Abandoned in 1819.

HISTORY

First established in May 1812 on 400 acres purchased by the government for training of troops.    Built on this site were accomodaqtions for  some 4,000 troops and included a 100-bed hospital.

A central core of  buildings, eight large enlisted barracks (252 feet by 22 feet) and three large officers barracks (90 feet long), housed the garrison.

--Brock-Perry

 

Private Samuel Helms Executed-- Part 3: Death in Late August or Early September 1813

"All of my research doesn't support desertion.  It proves he went AWOLn and was tried on charges before an illegal court-martial," said Bobbie Reno.  He was sent to the provost marshal jail at Greenbush Cantonment, a major Army base during the War of 1812, where some 4,000 soldiers were housed and trained.

Samuel Helms always intended to return and was not running from military services as the desertion charges indicated.  War of 1812 records  show that he was listed as AWOL on October 2, 1812, and he was back in camp and placed on muster rolls on October 22, 1812.

It appears that Private Helms became an example for what would happen to deserters.

Helmswas ordered to be tried in July 1813 at Greenbush Cantonment for desertion.  he was convicted and executed by firing squad in either late August 1813 or early September 1813.  Reno says she believes he was buried in an unmarked grave somewhere on the grounds of the cantonment, perhps at the school fields.

With the 210th anniversary of his execution coming up this year, Reno said, "I thought it might be a good thing to go to the governor."

(Hopefully, the governor will clear Private Helms' name.)

--Brock-Perry

Fort Montgomery-- Part 10: Good Ol' Fort Blunder May Be Gone Soon

Fear of Fort Montgomery having a structural collapse stems from the removal of iron reinforcing rods which were likely cut out for their scrap value during wartime scrap drives of World War II.

These rods were initially devised to brace up and reinforce the massive fort's detached outer wall face, a defensive element of the fort's construction whichlater proved to be a structuarl flaw.

Previously, a third remaining  bastion on the northern side of the fort suffered a similar collapse and was completely destroyed in 1980, mostly falling into the moat.

In September2008, the Preservation League of New York State placed Fort Montgomery on their "Seven to Save" properties.  This listing effectively recognized the historical significance of the Fort Montgomery ruins.  It also identified the ruins as being in dire need of stabilization and preservation.

Save Fort Montgomery.  --Brock-Perry

Fort Montgomery-- Part 9

During the mid-1980s, Victor Podds worked with local historical societies to have the state of New York purchase the property with a view toward the possible restoration of the site.  Despite being offered the fort at no cost,  negotiations broke down and the state declined to accept the property.  

Since May 2006, Podds' heirs have attempted to sell the property on eBay.  The first auction ended on June 5, 2006, with a winning bid of $5,000,310.  However, the sale was not completed, and as of 2019 the fort and lands surrounding it remain for sale.

(Of course, we now know that it has been bought recently.  See last month's posts.)

There are current concerns among preservationists that what remains of the fort today in in danger of  catastrophic structure collapse.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Montgomery on Lake Champlain-- Part 8: In the Last Century

In 1926, the U.S. government sold Fort Montgomery along with the adjacent military reservation at public auction.  

During the period of disuse which followed, as had also happened with the abandoned 1816 fortification on the site,  many locals visited the fort and carted off untold ammounts of wood, bricks, windows and doors for use in their homes and other buildings.

Ultimately, most of the fort, aside from the gutted western facing officers' quarters, a small portion of the southern wall and three bastions (two of which remain today), was demolished in 1936-1937.

It's massive  stones were crushed into the lake for fill to construct the nearby bridge between Rouses Point, New York, and  Alburg, Vermont.

The property had a number of private owners before it was sold in 1983 to Victor Podd, Sr. who constructed the headquarters of te Powertex Corporation on the adjacent "Commons" to the west of the fort.  Island Point, the actual fort site, was left untouched.

--Brock-Perry

New York's Fort Blunder/Montgomery-- Part 3: New Owners

With advances in military technology, particularly in rifled artillery and high explosives, Fort Montgomery gradually became  obsolete and was abandoned and sold at auction by the U.S. government in 1926.  The fort was plundered by locals for building materials, especially stone, wood and iron work and had several owners.

Over the years,  parts of the walls collapsed or were demolished for landfill.  The previous owners tried to sell the fort on eBay in 2016, but a deal never happened.

In September this year, the fort was sold to two Canadian brothers.  The brothers, Martin Benoit, 55, and Benoit Benoit, 46, purchased the fort and adjoining grounds for $750,000.  They envision using the fort and grounds as a winery and wedding venue. 

They also think that they will restore the fort and have it be a tourist attraction.

A Happy Ending for Fort Blunder? --Brock-Perry

New York's Fort Blunder/Montgomery Has War of 1812 Connection-- Part 2: How It Became Known as Fort Blunder

In order to defend Lake Champlain and the border, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed and started construction of permanent fortifications near that border in 1816.  However, due to some poor surveying, this fort was built nearly  a mile on the northern side of the U.S.-Canadian border.

This was a huge "Oops."  Not surprisingly, this fortification became known as Fort Blunder.

The second fort, properly surveyed this time, was built between 1844 and 1871 at Rouse's Point in Clinton County, New York.  Unlike many contemporary forts of the time, it wasn't built of bricks, but stone instead.

The fort was named after General Richard Montgomery who was killed leading the American attack on Quebec in 1775 (during the first American invasion of Canada).  At its  height,the fort mounted over eighty guns on three levels (it was designed for 125) and was surrounded by a moat which could only be crossed by a drawbridge.

That Was A Big OOPS.  --Brock-Perry

New York's Fort Blunder/Montgomery Has a War of 1812 Connection-- Part 1

Even though it wasn't built during the war.

From the December 5, 2022, Daily Kos  "Mid-19th century New York fortress built to keep the British out sold to Canadians" by  BeeD.

A fortress in upstate New York once designed to defend the  U.S. border from British incursions from Canada was recently sold to Canadian brothers.

The United States has been invaded  by the British using Lake Champlain as their highway three times:  twice during the American Revolution and once during the War of 1812.

The first attack was stalled by Benedict Arnold at the Battle of Valcour Island in 1776 and the withdrawal of the British at the onset of winter, the second ended with the surrender of General John Burgoyne's British and Hessian Army at Saratoga  in October 1777, and the third was stopped by the U.S. Navy  at the Battle of Lake Champlain in 1814.

You're Probably Wondering About the Fort Blunder Name.   --Brock-Perry

Ceremony Is Tribute to War of 1812 Veteran William Burch

From the September 7, 2022, Observer (Fredonia, N.Y.).

The local Celea Sampson Cole chapter of the United States Daughters of 1812 will hold their first grave marking ceremony since receiving  their charter September 11, 2020.  The ceremony will be at Plot  E/30 Forest Hill Cemetery in Fredonia on Sunday.  The ceremony will honor William "Billy" Burch.

Burch is the 3X great grandfather of 1812 Daughter Sandra Johnson of Lakewood.  He was born November 19, 1787 in New York state.  He entered U.S. service in Cooperstown into the 23rd Infantry of the Regular Army on August 12, 1812, and served until February 1815.

He was stationed at Fort Niagara, Fort George and Sackets Harbor.

After the war, he settled in Pomfret and married Jemima Adams in November 1817.  He died  February 16, 1818 at the age of 33 in Randolph.

His Find-A-Grave site says he died  16 February 1881 at age 93.

(Fredonia was also the home of Civil War heroes Alonzo and William Barker Cushing.)

--Brock-Perry

Three 'Dirty' Tricks the British Used on Hull at Detroit-- Part 2: Hull Court-Martialed

They also got the arms and weapons the Americans had in Fort Detroit.  And because of the stunning victory, Indian ally Tecumseh was able to rally even more Indians to his anti-American side and Brock was then able to thtreaten upstate New York.

William Hull was court-martialed and sentenced to death for the surrender, but the sentence was commuted by President James Madison.

Here are the three "dirty" tactics British General Isaac Brock used to cower Revolutionary War veteran William Hull:

*********************************

1.  THEY USED OLD BRITISH UNIFORMS

The total number of  British forces attacking Fort Detroit was around 1,330 and the bulk of Brock's forces were militia members, not the vaunted British regulars that might make the Americans think twice about attacking (or even defending).

He did have some 300 British regulars, but not enough to get the psychological  effect he wanted, so he used old, cast-off coats of regulars.  He dressed his Essex militiamen in as many red British uniforms as he could find.  This made it appear to the Americans that he had more regulars than he actually did.

--Brock-Perry

So Where Is Sodus, New York?--Part 2: And, a Civil War Connection

From Wikipedia.

I must admit some confusion while writing the recent posts between the area sometimes being called Sodus Point and sometmes Sodus.  Evidently, Sodus Point is a section of the town of Sodus, which had a population in 2010 of 8,384.

It is halfway between  Rochester and Syracuse, New York.

Members of the Shakers settled in the early town, but moved away when the began to feel that  Sodus was becoming too worldly.

Sodus claims to be  the birthplace of Arbor Day, established by Sodus native Edward C. Delano.

Among people listed as notable from there is Union Civil War General Gordon Granger.  He achieved fame during the war and when it ended, he was given command of the Department of Texas.  On June 19, 1865, in the city of Galveston, he read to the people his General Order No. 3 which proclaimed that all slaves were free.

This is where all this Juneteenth stuff comes from.

Perhaps we need a new federal holiday to honor Gen. Granger for bringing the freedom message to Texas.

--Brock-Perry