MEMORIES OF THE 



of its good harbor and commanding location near the entrance 

 of the St. Lawrence. 



They were frequently called to assist at given points at or 

 near the front, each taking his equipments and a loaf of bread 

 or any food that happened to be in the house and making the 

 best time he could to the rendezvous designated by the courier, 

 who was a sort of Paul Revere sent post-haste through the town 

 to notify them of apprehended danger, and they often went on 

 a double-quick for ten or twelve miles. 



After the war, father served in this same regiment through 

 various grades. I have his appointment as sergeant in 1817, 

 signed by Colonel Elisha Allen, and commissions as lieutenant 

 and captain in the years 1821 and 1822, signed by Governor 

 DeWitt Clinton, and as lieutenant-colonel in 1824, signed by 

 Governor Yates. He never talked boastingly of his military 

 career, always spoke rather depreciatingly thereof, and seemed 

 to feel that it was unfortunate that they had no better line of 

 service than frontier watchmen or minute-men. 



His description of the battle of Sacketts Harbor and the 

 maneuvers, tactics and work done by the raw and untrained 

 militia and old ''Silver Gray" volunteers seems now rather ludi- 

 crous, although at the time I thought it a famous battle. It ap- 

 pears the duty of the company to which he belonged, as well as 

 many others who had been ordered to assemble at Sacketts Har- 

 bor to resist the landing of the British, was to move into the 

 village on a road in sight of the foe and quietly get out on an- 

 other which was not visible to the enemy, thereby giving them 

 the impression that great reinforcements were coming in. This, 

 he said, was the best use they could be put to, as those who had 

 guns had no powder or ball, and many of them, particularly the 

 "Silver Grays," who were volunteers beyond the military age, 



20 



