But, instead of making Richard Pierpont commander of the corps, that went to a local white officer, Captain Robert Runchey.
Characterized as a "worthless, troublesome malcontent" by his superiors, Runchey fulfilled his reputation for poor leadership by segregating black men from other militiamen. In some cases, Runchey hired out black soldiers as domestic servants to other officers.
Not surprisingly, recruitment in the Niagara Peninsula proved to be very difficult and "Runchey's Company of Coloured Men" remained small. In early October 14, 1812, 14 black soldiers were transferred to the unit from the 3rd York Militia.
The majority of the men of the unit lived in Upper Canada -- in towns and villages in the Niagara region, in York (Toronto) and Bay of Quinte, near Belleville. One of the men, George Martin, from Niagara, had been freed from slavery by his father, Peter, in 1797.
Four years before that, Peter Martin had witnessed and reported the Chloe Cooley Incident to Lt.-Gov. Simcoe-- an event that led to the Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada.
Once raised to about 40 men, the unit began training at Fort George.
--Brock-Perry
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