Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== A Memoir of the Late William Hodge, Sen. Bigelow Bros., Buffalo, N.Y. - 1885 (59-60) SOLDIERS' DEPREDATIONS, 1812-1814 -------- The reference to depredations by our soldiers in 1814 recalls others committed still earlier, during the fall and winter of 1812-13. The Pennsylvania troops, mentioned page 10, line 11, as encamped on the hill in front of our log tavern, burnt all the fence-rails in that vicinity — and for these the Government never repaid the owners. And the other soldiers then stationed in Buffalo and its neighborhood stole, carried off and killed cattle, sheep, hogs and poultry by the quantity. Once several fat sheep had been put into a horsestable, among the horses, just at night, to be dressed the next morning; but when morning came they were gone. They had been taken a short distance down into the orchard, and dressed, or butchered and carried off to the camp. At last some of the soldiers were caught at this work. They were taken to their camp, and delivered up to their officers for punish- ment; but to this the officers were not disposed. This rather exas- perated some of the inhabitants, who asked the commanding officer what they should do to the soldiers if they were caught at any more of these depredations. He said "Shoot them, shoot them down, the rascals." After this a number of the young men of the town kept watch at night. Finally GUY J. ATKINS, WILLIAM HOLT, DANIEL COTTON, ELIJAH COTTON and VELORUS HODGE, were thus on watch one night at the bridge over GRANGER'S (or Conjockety's) creek, all but one being in the CHAPMAN log house near by. After a while the one on guard outside discovered eight soldiers crossing the bridge, and hailed them. They answered, "What business have you to stop soldiers on the march?" and then a pistol was fired by one of them. The guard returned the fire. This started out those that were in the house; they sallied forth and all fired away at the soldiers, giving them an effectual "peppering" with shot. Five of the soldiers fell to the ground, three making their escape. Of the five four were wounded by the shot; the fifth fell, to save himself from being shot. These five were marched into camp the next morning and delivered over to the commanding officer, who approved of the course taken by the citizens. This put a check upon the stealing and plundering for quite a while. ===========================================================================