What Happened To The Patriots

What Happened To The Patriots. Ogdensburg Battlefield Trail. , Even though the Patriots only numbered about 180 in the windmill, Ogdensburg was home to a host of sympathizers, many of whom were prevented by the American infantry from joining or supplying their comrades. But many of the most vocal and active members who had urged the invasion, when the fighting began, were no where to be found., Not all the Patriot sympathizers were unwilling to come to the aid of those trapped at Windmill Point. The St. Lawrence County Board of Supervisors, meeting in Canton, could hear the sound of the cannon firing 20 miles away in Ogdensburg. Isaac Ellwood, a member of the board, urged the board to help marshall a force to rescue the Patriots. His resolution read:, Whereas, the members of the Board of Supervisors of St. Lawrence County, having received information and believing the same to be authentic, that the Patriots have made a noble stand at Windmill Point, near Prescott, in Upper Canada, and have had a severe engagement with the advocates and minions of British tyranny and oppression on the 13th inst. and having every reason to believe from said information, unless the said Patriots are reinforced in the perilous situation in which they are placed, that they will meet defeat, and sacrifice their lives in contending against a merciless and cruel foe:, And whereas, this board feels a deep interest and intense anxiety in the success of that patriotic struggle which would spread the light of liberty over our oppressed brethren in Canada, and for the preservation of the lives of those Patriots who are contending for the rights of men born free, and for the republican principles for which our venerable forefathers shed their blood,, Resolved, that this board adjourn, to meet again at the court house in the said county, on the last Monday of the present month at 1 o'clock p.m. in order to enable the members thereof to rescue that Spartan band of patriotic friends and preserve their lives from the hands of their enemies, the tyrants and advocates of the British crown., The majority of the board of supervisors, perhaps sensing the future of the Patriots, tabled the resolution, choosing to leave that Spartan band to face their fate., In Ogdensburg, the community's attention was riveted on the progress of the Patriots, surrounded in the Windmill, cut off from outside aid by both the British, and by American troops in Ogdensburg who were enforcing American neutrality., A group of prominent citizens, concerned that the Patriots could not be reinforced and would shortly face capture, on Wednesday sent a contingent to the British commander, suggesting that they be allowed to remove the Patriots from the Windmill to prevent further bloodshed. The British colonel refused, pointing out that no British officer could allow an enemy to escape when they were obviously within his power. He delicately pointed out, however, that all his ships had gone upstream for repairs, and would not return until the next morning., The Americans, seeing an opportunity to help the embattled Patriots, dispatched a ship to Windmill Point to bring home the Patriots. Preston King led a group of volunteers to the Windmill on a small steamer to help the Patriots make a get away. Unfortunately, the fighters were convinced that they would soon see large reinforcements that would aid them in their conquest of Canada. They refused to escape. King arrived back in Ogdensburg shortly before the British ships returned, cutting off any future hopes of removing the besieged Patriots. On Thursday, the Patriots found themselves waiting not for reinforcements, but for the end., By Friday, the British had been reinforced with 400 regular troops, gunships armed with heavy cannon capable of leveling the windmill. The Patriots, who had waited for more than five days for the Canadian uprising, had given up hope. They had hung a white flag on the mill, but the British commanders ignored it.