James Wilkinson: Military Hero or Traitor?

From the September 21, 2021, We  Are the Mighty "4 American traitors more destructive than Benedict Arnold" by Team Mighty.

James Wilkinson was one of the most trusted soldiers in American history, serving in both the American Revolution and the War of 1812.  He took on the role of governor of the newly acquired Louisiana Territory and became  one of the Army's most senior officers.

There were many problems with Wilkinson's service, but the foremost among them was that he had been spying for the Spanish most of the time.

When his role in Aaron Burr's own treason was discovered, he placed New Orleans under martial law and imprisoned anyone who might be able to prove Wilkinson was complicit in the plot.

Wilkinson was never caught in his own lifetime, but his papers were discovered in 1854, leading  Theodore Roosevelt to say, "In all our history,  there is no more despicable character."

--Brock-Perry

Joseph G. Swift-- Part 3: Very Active in War of 1812

Joseph Swift was promoted to Lt.-Col. Corps of Engineers July 6, 1812, and then colonel and chief engineer of the U.S. Army July 13, 1812.

From May 25 to September 28, 1812, he was Chief Engineer of the Department of New York and then in command of a brigade garrison on Staten Island from August 6-13, 1813.

He then became chief engineer of the army of Major General Wilkinson.

--Brock-Perry

Other U.S. Navy Ships Named Chesapeake-- Part 1: The USS Patapsco

From Wikipedia.

USS CHESAPEAKE--  This sloop was renamed the USS Patapsco in 1799, while still under construction.  Most likely to free up the name for the frigate USS Chesapeake.  Launched in 1799 and sold in 1801.  Twenty guns and 87 feet long.

It was either changed to Patapsco while under construction or after launching on June 20, 1799.  Commanded by Captain Henry Geddes.  It escorted the brig Acteon to New Orleans, carrying General James Wilkinson and his staff there.  (he became the first Louisiana Territorial Governor in 1805).  He later commanded two very unsuccessful campaigns during the War or 1812 along the St. Lawrence River.

The Patapsco cruised in the West Indies during the Quasi-War with France to protect American shipping.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry

West Point Class of 1806: Robert Lucas-- Part 2: Winter Quarters at French Mills, NY

Continued from March 3, 2016, post.

After the British victory at Crysler's Farm 11 November 1813, the defeated American army under Major general James Wilkinson went into winter quarters at French Mills, New York, by the Canadian border.

The Americans arrived at French Mills with few supplies and, because of the poor state of roads, lack of transport and draught animals and the inefficiency of the Quartermaster General's Department, it was impossible to supply his army.

Sickness increased until there were no less than 450 sick men in the hospital at Malone, New York and many more in French Mills.

--Brock-Perry

French Mills, New York

From Wikipedia.

Back on March3, 2016, I wrote about West Point Class of 1806 graduate Robert Lucas and said that he died at French Mills Feb. 4, 1814.  I was unfamiliar with French Mills, so looked it up.

After the British victory at Crysler's Farm 11 November 1813, the defeated American Army under Major General James Wilkinson went into winter quarters at French Mills, New York, close by the Canadian border.

The Army arrived at French Mills with few supplies, and because of poor roads and a lack of transport and draught animals, coup[led with the inefficiency of the Quartermaster General's Department, it was impossible to resupply the Americans.

Sickness increased until there were no less than 450 in the hospital at Malone, New York and many more at French Mills.

Late January 1814, Secretary of War John Armstrong ordered Wilkinson to detach a division of 2,000 to Sackets Harbor, NY, and the rest, 4,000, to Plattsburgh, New York, on Lake Champlain.  The sick and wounded were moved to Burlington, Vermont.

French Mills was the site of a saw mill which started making clothes in 1795.  It was sold to Abel French in 1800 and became a tavern.   U,S.forces retreated here after the Battle of Crysler's Farm.  Over 200 soldiers died during the winter of 1813-1814.

It is now Fort Covington, New York.

--Brock-Perry

French Mills in the War of 1812-- Part 2: Cold and Unhealthy Winter

Now called Fort Covington, New York, French Mills was the site just inside New York state from Canada where Gen. Wilkinson retreated after the disastrous Battle of Crysler's Farm in November 1813.

He and 2000+ men arrived here by boats up the Salmon River from across the St. Lawrence River.

The winter camp at French Mills was extremely cold and unhealthy.  Food was scarce as the nearest supply base was 200 miles away at Plattsburgh and involved travel over some very poor roads.

Over 200 soldiers, including Robert Lucas, dies there.

By February, the troops burned their boats and began to withdraw to Sackets Harbor and Plattsburgh.

General Covington was an officer who was fatally wounded at the Battle of Crysler's Farm and died enroute to French Mills.

--Brock-Perry

French Mills, NY, in the War of 1812-- Part 1: Not That French Mills

From Wikipedia

In the last post I mentioned that Robert Lucas, a member of the USMA Class of 1806 died at French Mills, NY, in Feb. 1814.  I did some further research.

FRENCH MILLS, NY

Site of a sawmill which started making clothes in 1795 under owner Peter K. Broek.  This is not the French Mills to which the U.S. Army under General Wilkinson retired to after the Battle of Crysler's Farm.

FORT COVINGTON, NY

In 2010, the population was 1,671.  It was originally named French Mills.  In July 1813 a blockhouse was built here to shelter wounded soldiers and to provide winter headquarters.  It was named after Gen. Leonard Covington, a casualty of the War of 1812.

--Brock-Perry

USMA Class of 1806: Robert Lucas Died at French Mills, NY

This was another Robert Lucas, not the one I wrote about from Scioto County, Ohio, who went on to become a governor of Ohio and territorial governor of Iowa.  Whether he was related to that Robert Lucas is not known to me.

West Point graduate No. 23:  Robert Lucas.

Cadet from Dec. 29, 1804 to Nov. 14, 1806.  Appointed 2nd lieutenant, Regt. of Artillerists Nov. 14, 1806.  Served in garrisons along the Atlantic coast 1806-1810.  Resigned Oct. 31, 1810.

Reappointed to Army with rank of major in 22nd Infantry, March 3, 1813.  Served during the War of 1812 on the Northern Frontier, 1813-1814 and was engaged in the capture of Fort George, Upper Canada, on May 27, 1813 and was in General Wilkinson's Descent of the St. Lawrence River in 1813.

Died Feb. 4, 1814, at French Mills, New York, at age 26.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Timeline-- April 1814: Launch of HMS Linnet

OTHER APRIL 1814 EVENTS. //// Major General James Wilkinson's army retreats to Plattsburg, New York. ///// The HMS Linnet is launched at the navy yard at Ile aux Noix, Lower Canada. //// --Brock-Perry

Timeline for March 1814-- Part 3

MARCH 30TH:

The Second Battle of Lacolle, Lower Canada. After his failed Montreal Campaign of 1813, U.S. Major General James Wilkinson made one last attempt to invade Lower Canada and restore his reputation.

He left Champlain, New York, with 4,000 troops and occupied Odelltown and then attacked Lacolle, a fortified British outpost, defended by a garrison of 180 in a fortified mill guarding the crossing of the Lacolle River.

American artillery had little effect on the mill and after the British received reinforcements, Wilkinson withdrew.

MARCH 31ST:

And meanwhile, over in Europe, something that did not bode well for the Americans. Allied armies of Prussia, Austria and Russia enter Paris, France, defeating Napoleon and restoring the Bourbon monarch Louis XVIII.

Now, Britain Can Concentrate on the United States. --Brock-Perry

November 1813 Timeline-- Part 6: Decisive Battle of Crysler's Farm

NOVEMBER 11TH

In October, Wilkinson's Army began a coordinated campaign to capture Montreal with between 7,000 and 8,000 soldiers based at Sackets Harbor. He was to link up with Major General Wade Hampton's army which was to advance to Montreal along the Richelieu River.

British Lt. Col. Joseph Morrison's force of about 1,100 men pursued Wilkinson's flotilla down the St. Lawrence River. When the Americans turned to engage with about 3,000 of their force, the British landed and took a strong defensive position on John Crysler's field.

After a bloody battle Wilkinson's troops hastily retreated to their boats and descended the river to French Mills, New York, where they took up winter quarters abandoning their effort to capture Montreal after hearing news of Hampton's defeat at Chateauquay.

Losses for the Americans. Big Win for the Canadians  --Brock-Perry

Canada's Fort Wellington-- Part 3

Even though the fort was never involved in a battle, it served as a staging and rallying point for local militia and regular British troops.

On February 22, 1813, about 500 men crossed the frozen St. Lawrence River and attacked Ogdensburg where they destroyed American military barracks and burned four ships frozen in the river. They returned with food, ammunition cannon and prisoners. This attack was in reprisal for the American raid earlier in the month on Ganonoque and Elizabethtown.

In November 1813, American General Wilkinson's army, on its way to attack Montreal, feared Fort Wellington's cannons so much that they disembarked from their ships above Ogdensburg and marched through town at night while the boats slipped by unloaded.

Once Wilkinson's army had slipped by, the fort's garrison followed them along the King's Highway (modern Highway 21) and on November 11th met at the Battle of Crysler's Farm near present-day Morrisburg, Ontario, and the much-larger American army was defeated. The attack on Montreal was abandoned and Canada was saved.

The fort fell into disrepair after the war and finally was abandoned in 1832.

Story of a Fort. --Brock-Perry

This Date in the War of 1812: British Fort Wellington

From the Parks Canada site.

Two hundred years ago today, an American army led by General Wilkinson successfully passed by Fort Wellington on their way to attack Montreal.

"One consequence of the American Revolution was the emergence of a hostile country to the south of Great Britain's Canadian colonies." Upper Canada (present-day Ontario) was particularly at risk because of the St. Lawrence River between Kingston and Montreal which could be easily cutoff by the Americans on the south shore.

The declaration of war in 1812 caused the British to move fast to the area's defense and Fort Wellington was built at the town of Prescott.

Prescott was founded in 1784 by United Empire Loyalists who fled to Canada from the United States. The capture of Prescott would effectively close the St. Lawrence River.

Initially, local militia occupied two buuildings on the eastern edge of town and built a stockade around them. An advanced battery was built and mounted two 9-pounder cannons.

In December 1812, the commander of British North American forces ordered that a more permanent fort be built. A substantial one-story blockhouse enclosed in earthen ramparts was built over a two-year period.

The fort was never attacked but served as a staging area for regular troops and militia. Early in 1813 an attack was launched across the frozen St. Lawrence River on Odensburg, New York.

After the war, the garrison was gradually removed and the fort deterirated until it was abandoned in 1833. It was rebuilt in 1837.

The Story of a Fort. --Brock-Perry

November 1813 Timeline-- Part 3: Wilkinson's Army On Way to Montreal and Jackson Wins At Battle of Talladega

NOVEMBER 6, 1813:

Major General James Wilkinson's army, carried in a flotilla of boats, is fired upon and forces a passage past the British Fort Wellington at Prescott, Upper Canada. Wilkinson continues his descent of the St. Lawrence River on his way to attack Montreal, Lower Canada.

NOVEMBER 9, 1813:

American troops under Major General Andrew Jackson defeat Red Stick Muscogee (Creek) fighters beseiging the friendly Muscogee (Creek) village of Talladega, Mississippi Territory. Known as the Battle of Talladega.

-- Brock-Perry

October 1813 Timeline-- Part 3: Indian Peace Treaty

OCTOBER 14TH:

Major General William Henry Harrison signs provisional armistice in Detroit, Michigan Territory, with First Nations that have abandoned their British alliance.

OCTOBER 16TH:

Fort Astoria, Columbia District (Oregon Country) is sold to the North West Company.

OCTOBER 16TH:

First troops of Major General James Wilkinson's expedition to attack Montreal leave Sackets Harbor and land at Grenadier Island at the head of the St. Lawrence River. The island will become a staging point for the attack.

--Brock-Perry