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Cornell University Library 1993.THE EPISODE OF
THE ADAMS AND CALEDONIA
BY GEORGE D. EMERSON
The War of 1812 was declared by the United States
against Great Britain in June, 1812. Its opening was char-
acterized by a succession of events which were well calcu-
lated to dishearten its supporters in this country. Hull’s
surrender and other disasters followed each other rapidly.
The major portion of the after fighting took place, as is well
known, on the Niagara River frontier, and in October, 1812,
occurred an event which though perhaps not a very great
one in view of the stupendous achievements of these later
days, was nevertheless a bold and daring project, success-
fully carried out, and contributing in a measure to dispel
the gloom which the then recent disasters had occasioned.
Taking place within sight of Buffalo, at that time a scat-
tered country village, its history possesses an unusual inter-
est to the people of this vicinity.
Early in October, 1812, a detachment of sailors arrived
at Black Rock from New York, destined for the fleet then
organizing on Lake Erie. Under the protecting guns of
Fort Erie, directly opposite, two British vessels, the Adams
and Caledonia, were lying. The Adams was a brig mount-
ing six guns, with a commanding lieutenant of marines,
boatswain, gunner, and fifty-six men; on board were also
thirty American prisoners recently captured, muskets,
pistols, cutlasses and battle-axes. The Caledonia carried
two small guns, blunderbusses, pistols, muskets, cutlasses,
405406
THE ADAMS AND CALEDONIA.
boarding-pikes, and had twelve men including officers;
there were also ten prisoners aboard. These vessels although
armed, as indicated, were known to have on board valuable
cargoes of furs.
A plan was organized to capture the vessels by surprise
under cover of night. It was almost entirely an impromptu
affair, and was entered into very enthusiastically by the
newly-arrived sailors who had had a long, wearisome, over-
land journey of almost 500 miles, but were ready for any-
thing exciting. Some of the citizens of Buffalo, under the
lead of the brave Dr. Chapin, took part in the affair also.
The main organizer and commander was Lieutenant Jesse
D. Elliott, of the United States navy. On the morning of
the 9th of October, the attack upon the vessels took place,
and in a few minutes’ time the American forces were in
complete possession of both, losing in the attack and conflict
only one man killed, one officer, and four men wounded.
Owing to the extreme darkness, some two hours elapsed
before leaving the American shore before the vessels were
reached, and it was then about three o’clock in the morning.
The vessels as soon as captured were taken down the river.
The Caledonia was anchored near Black Rock, but the
Adams was carried by the current to the west side of Squaw
Island (about half a mile from Black Rock) where she
grounded a short distance from the shore.
So sudden, unexpected and successful was the assault,
that the vessels were well under way before any knowledge
of what had transpired reached the occupants at the fort.
When opposite the Rock a heavy cannonading commenced
from the batteries and flying artillery on the Canadian shore,
which was soon returned by the vessels. The Adams was
much exposed, owing to her situation, but those who had
been on board were safely landed on this shore. She was
soon after recaptured by a party of British, but they were
compelled to abandon her on account of the destructive fire
from the island and the American batteries on shore. She
was shortly after set on fire and burned to the water’s edge,
as it was deemed impracticable to retain possession of her.
To cross a stream with a current like that of Niagara, inTHE ADAMS AND CALEDONIA.
407
open boats, to assault well-armed and equipped war vessels,
lying under the protection of powerful batteries, would
under ordinary circumstances be deemed madness; but it
was not such to the gallant souls who conceived and carried
out this bold project, and it will long be remembered as a
most gallant and daring exploit.
The following is an extract from Lieut. Elliott’s official
report:
“Black Rock, October 9th, 18x2.
“ . . . On the morning of the 8th inst., two British vessels . . .
both said to be well-armed and manned came down the lake and
anchored under the protection of Fort Erie. . . . On the morning
of their arrival I heard that our seamen were but a short distance
from this place, and immediately despatched an express to the officers
directing them to use all possible dispatch in getting their men to this
place as I had an important service to perform. On their arrival,
which was about twelve o’clock, I discovered that they only had
twenty pistols and neither cutlasses nor battle-axes. But on applica-
tion to Generals Smyth and Hall, of the regulars and militia, I was
supplied with a few arms, and Gen. Smyth was so good, on my re-
quest, as immediately to detach fifty men from the regulars armed
with muskets. By four o’clock I had my men selected and stationed
in two boats which I had previously prepared for the service. With
these boats, fifty men in each, and under circumstances very disad-
vantageous, my men having scarcely had time to refresh themselves
after a fatiguing march of 500 miles, I put off from the mouth of
Buffalo Creek at one o’clock the following morning, and at three I
was alongside the vessels. In the space of about ten minutes I had
the prisoners all secured, the topsails sheeted home, and the vessels
under way. ... To my officers and men I feel under great obliga-
tion. To Capt. Towson and Lieutenant Roach of the Second Regi-
ment of Artillery, Ensign Prestman of the Infantry, Capt. Chapin,
Mr. John McComb, Messrs. John Faver, Thomas Davis, Peter Oven-
stock and James Sloan, resident gentlemen of Buffalo, for their
soldier and sailor-like conduct. In a word, sir, every man fought as
if with their hearts animated only by the interests and honor of their
country.”
Capt. James Sloan, mentioned above, acted as pilot of
the expedition. For many years subsequent to this he re-
sided in Black Rock, an honored and respected citizen, until408
THE ADAMS AND CALEDONIA.
March 5, 1868, when, at the ripe age of eighty, he was
gathered to his fathers.
Besides those named in the official report of Lieut.
Elliott and the gallant commander himself, the following is
believed to be an authentic list of all who participated in this
daring attack:
George Watts, Alexander Sisson, sailing masters.
William Peckham, J. E. McDonald, John S. Cummings, Edward
Wilcox, master’s mates.
Lawrence Hanson, John Rack, James Morrell, boatswains.
Benjamin Tallman, John Wheeler, quarter gunners.
Martin Cook, James Rigden, orderly sergeants.
Geo. P. Valentine, William McElroy, Edward Patterson, —:----
Bird,------Nolan,-------Vincent,-------Osborn,--------McCobbin,
corporals.
ACTING SEAMEN.
Lemuel Smith,
Abraham Patch,
Benjamin My rick,
Robert Peterson,
Gardner Gaskell,
Anthony DeKruse,
William Dickson,
Jacob Ure,
Daniel Holland,
Thomas Hill,
John Reynolds,
Abraham Fish,
Jerome Sardie,
John Tockum,
Wm. Anderson,
Joseph Jockins,
Thomas Bradley,
Hutton Armstrong,
soldiers.
Samuel Baldwin,
John Hendrick,
Peter Evans,
William Fortune,
John Garling,
Jacob Weber,
Jesse Green,
Henry Thomas,
George Gladdon,
James Murray,
Edward Police,
John Wheeler,
Edward Poline,
James Williams,
Robert Craig,
John McIntyre,
Peter Brown,
Elisha Atwood,
William Edwards,
Michael L. Brooks,
William Roe,
Henry Anderson,
Christopher Bailey,
John Exon,
John Lewis,
William Barker,
Peter Davis,
Peter Deist,THE ADAMS AND CALEDONIA.
409
John Karns, Thomas Wadugan, Thomas Houragan, Peter Perone, Edward Mahoney, Tenis Lisheway, William Fisher, Mathias Weineman, Moses Goodwin, James McGee, Jas. McGrossen, William Weimer, Benjamin Thomas, Thomas Rush, J. Wicklin, W. Richards, James Tomlin, James Boyd, James Neal, James Gubeman, William Knight, M. Parrish, James McCoy, Daniel Frasier, John House, Jacob Stuart,	William Kemp, John Fritch, James Ray, Anson Croswell, Charles Lewis, John Shields, Charles Le Forge, John Joseph, Henry Bertholds, James. Lee, Isaac Munson, George Eaton, Thomas 0. Lader, Wm. Crownhoven, John J. Lord, Charles L. Friend, Elisha Cook, Joseph Johnson, John Stewart, William Tryon. Daniel Martin, Daniel Holland, Joseph Davis, Hugh Robb, Cyrenius Chapin, Wm. C. Johnson,
Note. No mention is made in the foregoing of John Dickson, unless the
“John Exon” in the list of seamen is a misprint for his name. That Dickson’s
part in the affair was important has been indicated in the narrative by Capt.
Dobbins; and is still further shown in the sketch that follows. Benjamin
Fleming, whose name does not occur above, was also a participant. The fore-
going list differs in several respects from one given in Lossing’s “Field-book of
the War of 1812,” p. 386.