General Smyth Was Fired At

(Partial) Map of Erie County, New York at the LOC (Including Black Rock)

Secret murmurs then broke out into loud complaints threats and denunciations [of General Smyth at Black Rock]. General Peter B. Porter said publicly that Smyth was a scoundrel and a traitor [see report on duel].

On his way...[to a meeting]...while riding along the beach, he (General Smyth) was fired at. The ball passed through the clothes of his aid, who was by his side.  [Source]

See Smyth's Proclamation here.

General Alexander Smyth

Alexander Smyth, for whom Smyth County, Virginia, was named per Wikipedia.

Source

By Frank A. Severance

"A singular figure in the war operations of 1812 on the Niagara Frontier was Alexander Smyth, a Virginian. who at the outbreak of the war with England was an inspector general in the regular army of the United States. In September 1812, he was assigned to the command of a brigade of regulars to operate under Major General Van Rensselaer on the Niagara. Smyth is said to have aspired to the chief command in this quarter; and it was probably pique at being made second in command, and subordinate to a militia officer, that led him to assume from the first an insolent and at times insubordinate attitude towards his chief."

Lt. Col. George McFeeley

Lieutenant Colonel George McFeeley was the commanding officer at Fort Niagara, War of 1812, and issued the following report [excerpted below] to General Alexander Smyth as found in the Official letters of the military and naval officers of the United States, during the war with Great Britain in the years 1812, 13, 14, & 15 : with some additional letters and documents elucidating the history of that period .

Fort Niagara, November 25th, 1812.

Sir,

I beg leave to inform you that on the morning of the 21st instant, at 5 o'clock, a heavy connonading opened upon this garrison from all the batteries at, and in the neighbourhood of Fort George, which lasted, without intermission, until after sun-down. The garrison was not as well provided with artillery and ammunition as I could have wished; however, the batteries opened a tremendous fire upon them in return, with hot shot, admirably well directed.

An instance of extraordinary bravery in a female (the wife of one Doyle, a private of the United States' artillery, made a prisoner at Queenstown) I cannot pass over.  See related Doyle post.

Only two of the above men were killed by the enemy's shot, the rest by the bursting of a 12 pounder in the south-east block house, and by the spunges of the guns on the north block house, and at the salt battery.

GEORGE M'FEELEY

Below, date line Carlisle 24th March 1812, is McFeeley's acknowledgment of his appointment as lieutenant-colonel (from Fold3).

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Correspondence: Major Armistead To General Smyth....

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...regarding being engaged at Fort Niagara during its bombardment Nov. 21, 1812:

Major Armistead to Brigadier General Smyth
Lewistown November 22, 1812

Sir:

I left Niagara with the intention of seeing you, but finding my horse not able to proceed, I have declined going.  My business was to get, if possible, some ammunition for the garrison, as we nearly expended all we had yesterday, and which did the enemy great damage--destroyed one of their best buildings, and did the town considerable damage; sunk a schooner that was sent out of Genesee river, and dismounted several of their guns.

...but my greatest concern is, the want of provisions, which, if not supplied, we will inevitably have to evacuate the post.

I am sir, your obedient servant, W.K. ARMISTEAD

 Source

The engagement was also noted for the bravery of Mrs. Doyle (see more about her here and here).

General Alexander Smyth

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Was appointed President Jefferson colonel of a United States regiment, which he commanded at the until 1811, when he was ordered to Washington prepare a discipline for the army. Was inspector general in 1812 and ordered to the Canadian frontier, where he failed in an invasion Canada and left the army. 

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He [General Smyth]...petitioned Congress to reinstate him, declaring in his memorial that he asked the privilege of "dying for his country." The phrase was ridiculed by his enemies. At a public celebration at Georgetown D.C. on Washington's birthday in 1814, the following toast was offered: "General Smyth's petition to Congress to 'die for his country'--May it be ordered that the prayer of said petitioner be granted." [Source]

There was a duel between General Smyth and General Porter.

Smyth County, Virginia, was named after the General.

General Peter Buell Porter (1773-1844)

Portrait from The military heroes of the war of 1812: with a narrative of the war , by Charles Jacobs Peterson:

 General Peter Buell Porter

 "If any small group of people is to be blamed for bringing about the 1812 conflict, Peter Buell Porter is certainly among them" [Source] 

 
When Black Rock fell into the hands of the British in November 1812, General Porter's house became the headquarters of the enemy and he rallied a force and expelled them. He was engaged in General Alexander Smyth's attempt to invade Canada a few days later and his remarks on the affair led to a duel with Smyth. [Source]

A link to the Buell Family history.  It was also noted that Peter B. Porter and Jesse Root Grant [General Ulysses S. Grant's father] were both great-grandsons of Martha Buell [from The ancestry of General Grant, and their contemporaries...]