Letter by Joseph Blackmer describing the Siege of Fort Erie, September 30, 1814

Abstract

A letter by Joseph Blackmer describing some of the events of the Siege of Fort Erie. Much of the letter consists of a transcribed letter written on September 23, 1814 by Joseph’s son Jirah, who was fighting for the Americans at Fort Erie. The letter begins with Joseph stating that “The last day of August our Militia was called upon to march to the lines to Defend our frontier from a purported danger of the British reinforcing and overpowering the American forces at Fort Erie. Jirah and Ephriam went from home on the 1st instant and marched for Buffalo by the 9th. 3000 militia collected there and volunteered for Canada. Crossed the same night to Fort Erie. Others who had weak stomachs about invading Canada stayed on this side of Danger. I with others went to the Army arrived there on the 12. Found my 2 sons at Fort Erie. I carried some necessities for them. The weather being rainy a Battle was expected the first fair day. I left them with great anxiety about their fate on the 17th. Although rainy the Americans went out of their encampment to attack the British works. A low camp filled with old logs and rotten timbering lay between the 2 armies and for some of the particulars I transcribe from a letter sent me by Jirah after the battle dated Fort Erie September 23…” Jirah writes that “on account of excessive rain most of our men are out of Health. Ephraim has been very sick for four or five past but is now gaining on the 17th. Our troops are composed of Regulars and Militia attacked the British Army in their intrenchments. 3 of their battery were soon carried and in the attack on the 4th they were reinforced and our Regulars retreated and the Militia maintained their ground for more than Half an hour without any Regular force. Myself and Ephraim were engaged in the warmest part of the action and were under the immediate command of General Davis and near him when he fell. There are 5 men missing from our company. Our loss is estimated at 200 and that of the British more than 1000. The enemy are now retreating down the river…” “The prisoners taken in the late battle was 460 and are on their way to Greenburgh with the sick and wounded and likely they will pass through Westmoreland before you receive this…” “The Militia have gained the greatest applause for their late victory. Had the Regulars behaved with the like gallantry the whole of the enemy might have fallen into their hands and are ready to acknowledge it since the action…the British…marched down the River they burnt all in their way to keep it from pursuing Americans. 4000 regulars are now at Batavia which landed at the mouth of the Genessee River from Sackets Harbor and 3000 more are expected coming each day from the same place. When this force arrives on the Niagara frontier I think the British must fall into their hands if they don’t run away…”