Ogdensburg's English Period: 1760-1796

Ogdensburg's English Period: 1760-1796. Ogdensburg Battlefield Trail. , If you had been living in Ogdensburg during the American Revolution, you would have been fighting on the British side, against the American colonies who were fighting for independence. The British captured Fort La Présentation in 1760 on their way to Montreal, where they defeated the French and established their control of North America., The British, year by year, gained a stronghold along the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. Oswego fell to the British in 1756, Fort Frontenac (Kingston) in 1758 and Fort Niagara in 1759. Abbe Picquet, in anticipation of an English advance down the St. Lawrence River, removed, in 1759, everything of value from La Présentation to Ile-aux-Galops. At the same time, the French constructed on Ile Royal (now known as Chimney Island) Fort Levis, located about one-half mile east of the Ogdensburg International Bridge. On June 13th, 1760, Captain Pierre Pouchot ordered removed from Fort La Présentation planks and iron for use at Fort Levis and to "dismantle and ruin the mission so that no shelter be provided for the enemy.", Sir Jeffrey Amherst's troops took possession of the ruined Fort La Présentation on August 17th 1760. Captain Pouchot surrendered to Amherst August 26th, 1760 after a five day battle. Fort Levis was renamed Fort William Augustus. The English repaired Fort La Présentation and renamed it Fort Oswegatchie. Both forts were used as supply depots for the western posts. By 1776, Fort William Augustus on Chimney Island, badly in need of repair, was all but abandoned. In a few years, the island was overgrown. Only the chimneys could be seen, thus the name "Chimney Island"., During the Revolutionary War, (1775-1783) the St. Lawrence River played a very important role as a British line of supply. Though the garrison at Fort Oswegatchie rarely exceeded 50 men, its position was important as headquarters for raiding, scouting parties, and the securing of prisoners taken from locations along the Mohawk River., Despite its location and small size, there were some noteworthy events concerning Fort Oswegatchie., In March, 1776, Capt. Forster with a detachment of the 8th Regiment stationed at Oswegatchie along with other British, Canadians and Indians, marched to the Cedars, a post held by American Major Butterfield. The severe battle against the Americans was termed a "Massacre” by the U.S. Congress. Major Butterfield surrendered. Capt. Forster marched towards Montreal, where after much fierce fighting the overwhelming size of Benedict Arnold's forces, he retreated to Fort Oswegatchie., On April 27th, 1779, Lt. McClennan and Lt. Hardenbergh of the First New York Regiment, with a party of 32 on a scouting expedition from Fort Schuyler to Fort Oswegatchie, killed two British soldiers and took four prisoners. Fort Oswegatchie was commanded by Capt. Davis of the 31st Regiment. The report of this excursion was communicated to Gen. George Washington, as the location of Fort Oswegatchie was important to his military plans., On May 6th, 1779, a detachment of the 84th Royal Highland Emigrants, under the command of Capt. Daniel Robertson, was sent to Fort Oswegatchie. On June 10th, 1779, Fort Oswegatchie was attacked by a detachment from Fort Stanwix and one man was taken prisoner. A retaliatory attack was made on Fort Stanwix and 29 prisoners and three scalps were taken., In September 1780, a detachment from Fort Oswegatchie burned dwellings, harvest-filled barns and killed a number of cattle in the area of Fort Dayton., In June 1781, an expedition to Canada Creek area took seven prisoners, killed two "rebels", burned houses and barns, and destroyed 100 cows along with a number of horses., In June 1782, Capt. Robertson, Commandant of the Fort since 1779, led a daring and most successful destructive attack on Ellice's mill at Little Falls. Wheat, flour and a large quantity of Indian Corn belonging to Congress and approximately the same amount owned by local inhabitants plus a quantity of salt pork and beef were destroyed This raid is mentioned in the novel, Drums Along the Mohawk., After the cessation of hostilities, Fort Oswegatchie was one of the five forts along the frontier retained by the British. Jay's Treaty, signed November 19th, 1794, contained the provision that the British evacuate the frontier posts by June 1st, 1796., The first settlers under the American flag arrived August 11, 1796 under the leadership of Nathan Ford, land agent for the proprietor, Samuel Ogden, for whom Ogdensburg was named.