Description:

WAR OF 1812 CORRESPONDENCE OF CAPT. BENJAMIN WATSON
Extensive, fine content archive of War of 1812 letters penned by Rhode Island Capt. Benjamin Watson to his wife, Frances (primarily dating from his service in the war) almost all 4to., various lengths, 1812-1815, condition varies. Watson offers rarely seen experiences of scenes of battle in upstate New York, including a vivid description of the Battle of Stoney Creek and skirmishes about Fort George, etc. Watson had been one of only 18 men to survive the massacre at the Battle of Lundy Lane and describes events before that disaster. His most important letter was written from Fort George, June 16, 1813, 5pp. 8vo. describing the Battle of Stony Creek the previous June 6th. Watson and his regiment were directly involved in combat, close enough to become targets of cannon and musket fire. He writes, in small part: '...On the 3rd Inst. the Regiment with the 23rd and one Company of Artillery...marched from this place for the purpose of forming a junction with Gen. Winder at forty mile creek and driving the British from their position at the Lead of the Lake. Moved toward the Enemy the 25 in advance of the Infantry...reached Stony Creek where they were attacked by one of the Enemy's piquets...the 25 was ordered to attack them...[they] were immediately dispersed...the 25 were placed in a cross road...considered by Major Smith a bad one...we were in complete readiness...I was awake[ned] by the discharge of muskets by the continels and the yells of the British and Indians...they were within twenty feet of me...they took the trouble of firing on me but without effect...The British charged in on the lane which we had deserted...When the 25 opened upon them a heavy and constant discharge of Musketry...the most destructive they had ever witnessed...twice did they attempt to charge us and twice they were repulsed by our fire of about 200 of the Regiment...45 were killed and wounded 62 of the British were counted dead on the field in front of the fires of the Regiment...The Enemy...formed in the road [and] charged one Artillery and took it together with Generals Winder and Chandler Prisoner...Our Generals part of our Artillery and the road were in the possession of the Enemy...we were ordered to file off into the road at which time the British were retreating in great haste...having been severely beaten...Officers and men behaved with the greatest coolness...Gen. Dearborn[?] ordering us to Fort George as the British Fleet had appeared off that place with no troops to defend it...The British by means of their Fleet are fast reinforcing. Lt. Col. [?] with 500 men were entirely cut off the whole being killed or taken prisoner...we were in...expectation of an attack, the place will be defended to the last man...' The balance of Watson's letters also include some good content, in very small part: '...[Sep. 18, 1812]...we have been here a fortnight...organizing a Regiment, from raw recruits...[White Hall, Oct. 19]...we shall leave this place for Plattsburgh to morrow by way of Lake Champlain...[Plattsburgh, Oct. 30]...We arrived here after a tedious passage down the lake...I actually preferred sailing down the lake 100 miles in an open boat...we shall go into Winter Quarters somewhere soon...[Burlington, Jan. 8, 1813]...in consequence of the fatiguing march to and from Champlain...the Troops were a great many of them sick and dying...all the Officers...insufficient to take charge of the Regiment...[Mar. 22]...I was ordered here to take command...we are to march to Sackets Harbor...[Sackets Harbor, May 17]...The Troops have all embarked and are now under way for Niagara...[Fort George, July 9]...the Enemy are about 12 Miles from this place...Pickets are withing two or three miles of each other, skirmishes daily are taking place. I think this place safe...[July 28]...the Fleet arrived off this place yesterday but have had no communication with the shore...The British and Indians are having about one Picket as yet nothing has transpired...[Sep. 2]...the Enemy appear to threaten us with an attack...they are far superior to us in numbers...I think however they will not come, if they do they will most assuredly be beaten...the British here approached to within three miles...the Indians are between the out Posts of the two Armies. Skirmishes are continuously taking place...unless they can draw us into an ambush...they keep a very respectable distance...The Tremendous War Whoop has become as familiar...as the barking of dogs...[Camp Buffalo, Aug. 13, 1814]...We have had another battle in which I again had the good fortune to escape, nearly one half the Officers of this Army were killed or wounded...' Much more content. Watson's correspondence winds up with a quantity of letters from Hartford, New York, and Washington complaining of his poverty, sending Frances funds when he can, and dealing with court martial affairs, one of which apparently involves himself. Also present are 39pp. legal folio of notes or minutes of various courts martial, all from the same period of time and same localities, a variety of charges including some levied against Watson apparently for sharing poor intelligence. Condition varies widely, with some letters badly torn or light, however the vast majority having marginal condition issues and fully legible.

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April 1, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

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