How Ogdensburgh Captured Brockville

How Ogdensburgh Captured Brockville. Ogdensburg Battlefield Trail. , On February 6, 1813, Captain Benjamin Forsyth learned from his spies and Canadian sympathizers that the British were holding a large number of Americans in the jail at Brockville. Repeated reports indicated that the Americans were being cruelly treated by their British captors. Forsyth also learned that some of those being held were being claimed by the British as deserters from the British army even though they had become citizens of the United States., Spies informed Forsyth that the British intended to execute the "deserters" as an example to their own soldiers of what would happen if they fled the army to join the Yankees., Forsyth and his officers agreed that they would launch a daring raid to rescue the prisoners. Forsyth's rifle regiment and John W. Lyttle's company of volunteers, numbering in total about 200, left at nine in the evening on foot and sleigh for the 12 mile hike to Morristown., In Morristown, they convinced Arnold Smith, a tavern keeper, to act as their guide. Adjutant Daniel W. Church, a volunteer and veteran of many skirmishes on the ice with the British, suggested to Forsyth that the Americans march in two open columns across the river. At the shore, flank guards were sent to encircle the village, then known as Elizabethtown, now named Brockville., The main body marched into the village, stationing themselves in the village square in front of the jail. One of the groups of soldiers, hearing the approach of a company of men, hailed them with the challenge, "Who comes there?", He was answered by the reply, "not friends of King George.", Unfortunately, not hearing the the [sic] first word of the reply, he mistakenly assumed they were "Friends of King George." He fired, wounding one man., The company turned out to be the left flank of the American force. Meanwhile, Captain Benjamin Forsyth, with a few men, entered the jail, and demanded the keys. They were surrendered without resistance. Every prisoner, with the exception of one prisoner being held for murder, was removed., The freed prisoners, together with a group of prominent Brockville citizens who were taken as hostages, returned to Ogdensburgh with the daring raiders., Forsyth's troops also seized 120 muskets, 20 rifles, two casks of ammunition, but no private property was either taken or destroyed. The prominent citizens were released after the force reached Ogdensburg., The daring raid is described by modern historians as one of the most daring, though least known, raids of the entire War of 18 12., The raid angered the British, who feared Forsyth's daring and bravado. With his success, the British commanders were convinced that soon the American commander would set his sights on Prescott's Fort Wellington. If Forsyth could force the British from their fortifications in Prescott, the British knew, his cannon could control the river, cutting off the British supply lines to Upper Canada, starving the British troops in western Canada., New York Governor Daniel Thompkins wrote to Brigadier General Jacob Brown to congratulate the "daring" and courageous Forsyth. Forsyth was promoted by his commanders to the rank of Lt. Colonel by brevet, his commission being dated Feb. 6 to commemorate the raid.