Ryan's Court Martial

From the Archives online at Indiana University:
1812 Aug. 10 Hall, Amos, fl. 1813
Autographed letter signed. 3 p. 25 cm.
Head Quarters, Niagara Frontier. To William Wadsworth. Deals with the court martial trial of John Ryan a British spy.

Specification #1 At Ryan's Court Martial:

Lieutenant-Colonel Bouchette

Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Bouchette, son of the Commodore, began his career in the provincial navy under his father. He made the first survey of the harbor of Toronto in May, 1793, received his appointment as second lieutenant in the following year, serving in the navy until 1796. In 1797, he commanded an armed row-galley which cruised between Montreal and Quebec. His reports seem to have led to the arrest of Colonel McLean, afterwards executed as a spy. He took a military course in 1800. In 1804, he was appointed Surveyor-General of Lower Canada, raised a regiment, Quebec Volunteers, in 1812, and in 1813 was appointed lieutenant-colonel and transferred to staff and intelligence service.

News That's Fit To Print

"On the morning after the commodore sailed the following appeared in the New York Columbian: 'It is undoubtedly a fact that dispatch boats with information have been sent off to the British vessels which were cruising off the harbor since the declaration of war. By whom they were sent off it is not necessary at present to mention."'

Source

"But this much may and ought to be said: that if it was done by an American citizen, he has committed treason by the laws of the United states, and deserves, and may receive, hanging for it. There is no suspicion, however, entertained that such an infamous act has been done by an American. As it has, therefore, been the act of the subjects of the king of England, whether they are in or out of office, the act is a violation of the hospitality which tolerates their residence in our city, and calls loudly upon the constituted authorities to put the laws immediately in force against alien enemies, and to rid the city of spies, or at least such as disgrace their character by acting in so infamous a capacity."' [Source]

Almenia (Thomas) Champe

A War of 1812 Illustration (Not Mrs. Champe)

"When the wife of Nathaniel Champe was a young girl, during the War of 1812, she went through the British lines as a spy, where she gained a complete knowledge of the enemy's strength and position, scratching it on birch bark with a pin and hiding it in the hem of her skirts.  She was arrested, but on account of her extreme youth was allowed to return to her friends." [Source]


Also see Nathaniel Champe and Drum blog post

Senator Butler's Letter Regarding A Spy

Source

Pierce Butler Deposition (online at the Louisiana Digital Library):

Pierce Butler

Butler's Farm near Philad'a

Septbr 26 - 1812

A Price On His Head

Because of this occurrence Captain Rhea, who was authorized to receive and distribute the mail, is sometimes referred to as Fort Wayne's first postmaster and the big elm has been called the first post office. Rhea was fully cognizant of the impending trouble with the...[Native Americans], but he failed utterly to grasp the opportunity to make a name which should be written alongside those of the nation's heroes of the time in the west.

Source

The Indian agent, Colonel Johnston, however, was alert*. On the 6th of February, 1811, he wrote Governor Harrison as follows omitting the name of his informant has been at this place. The information derived from him is the same I have been in possession of for several years, to wit, the intrigues of the British agents and partisans in creating an influence hostile to our people and government within our territory.  [Source]


*Apparently Colonel John Johnston needed to be alert because the British had "put a price on his head." [Source]

Canadian Spies

The history of the county of Huntingdon [Quebec] and of the seigniories of Chateaugay and Beauharnois from their settlement to the year 1838 (Published 1888):


The vigilant watch that had been maintained along the frontier was redoubled, and, in addition to the Indian guard, a body of spies was formed from among the settlers in Hemingford and Hinchinbrook, who, from their situation and the intimate relations they kept up with the neighboring settlers on the south side of the line, had great facilities in finding out what was going on in the camp at Chateaugay, N. Y., and without exciting the slightest suspicion on the part of the enemy. Among the most active of these secret-service agents was David Manning, and from the few of his reports still preserved it can be seen that he was a man of education and great shrewdness. Another of the agents, Morris Simpson, from Lacolle, was detected by the enemy, who made arrangements to capture him. Receiving word from a spy that he was staying at Gentle's in Franklin, a detachment was sent from Smith's, and surrounding the house at night found him asleep in bed and took him prisoner without resistance.

Bouchette's Reports

Source [Quebec Pre-War]

From The diary of Mrs. John Graves Simcoe...:

Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Bouchette('s) reports seem to have led to the arrest of Colonel McLean, afterwards executed as a spy.  In 1804, he (Bouchette) was appointed Surveyor-General of Lower Canada, raised a regiment, Quebec Volunteers, in 1812, and in 1813 was appointed lieutenant-colonel and transferred to staff and intelligence service. In August, 1814, Bouchette left for England, and while there was nominated Surveyor-General under the several articles of the Treaty of Ghent, for establishing the boundary between the United States and His Majesty's possessions in America. 

Bounty On Knaggs' Head

James Knaggs' testimony from the Congressional serial set:

I hereby certify that the foregoing testimony of James Knaggs... . ...of good reputation in the community. ...intimately conversant with the manners circumstances etc. of the old French population.

Source - Canadian Side Of Detroit River

He was engaged in the various conflicts near the Detroit River already described, and in 1813, was in the battle of the Thames under Colonel Richard M. Johnson. While with Hull at Sandwich attached to Colonel McArthur's regiment, he performed important scout service.

On one occasion, accompanied by four men, he penetrated the country as far as the site of the present village of Chatham on the Thames and there captured a Colonel McGregor a burly British officer and a [man] named Jacobs and carried them to Hull's camp. He tied McGregor to a horse and thus took him to the headquarters of his chief. After the surrender, McGregor offered five hundred dollars for the capture of Knaggs dead or alive.

British Spy Near Niagara

Source  

Lilly Library, Indiana University

Letter dated 1812 Aug. 10 

Hall, Amos, fl. 1813  Army Officer
Autographed letter signed. 3 p. 25 cm.

Head Quarters, Niagara Frontier. To William Wadsworth (1761 - 1833). Deals with the court martial trial of John Ryan [citizen of the United States] a British spy.

Directed that a court martial be held at the house of a Warren Sadler, Innkeeper at Schlosser...county of Niagara...

Frederick Richmond (last named above), Adjutant,

A Suspicious Sail Off Sandusky

Source (Not The Boats Referenced Below)

From A history of the United States...:

"On the 13th of August off Sandusky a suspicious sail was descried and the Scorpion was sent in chase. The stranger proved to be a British spy boat...".

When McCullough Was Killed

Map From The Lucas Journal

See Firsts blog:

The first United States soldier to be killed in the War of 1812 was Captain McCullough, killed in this battle of Brownstown, and he was scalped by an Indian before he was dead.[Source]

A short period previous to the battle [of Brownstown] one McCullough had sought and obtained the assent of the commander-in-chief that Lucas, himself, Fowler, and Stockton should accompany Major Vanhorn in the expedition upon the enemy.

The march was commenced on the following morning. Lucas and McCullough proceeded together. Near the big apple tree McCullough alighted from his horse. Capt. Barrier accompanying Lucas, they moved immediately forward. The road here forked, one leading to the right of an Indian cornfield, a little in advance, and the other to the left of it.

They took the right hand path. McCullough, on coming up, fortunately took the left hand road, in company with a servant of Major Vanhorn. They were fired upon by a party of a dozen ambushed Indians, and McCullough and another of the detachment were killed, scalped and tomahawked before relief could reach them.

This was in the rear of the main engagement. Lucas paid the last sad duties to the unfortunate travelling companion, by conveying it a short distance, placing it upon a plank, and covering it with bark all the funeral rites which the darkness and dangers of the hour would permit... . [Source]

This account characterized the group as "spies."

William Lambert, Secret Agent

Below is an item found in the War of 1812 Papers of the Department of State:


REPORTS OF WILLIAM LAMBERT, SECRET AGENT. l8l3-
His reports to the Secretary of State concerned movements of the enemy in Maryland between Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River.

Source

Letter from William Lambert of Lancaster County, Virginia 

to 

James Monroe, Secretary of State

07/15/1814

"In this letter William Lambert shares information about large ships seen passing up the middle of the Chesapeake Bay as well as an additional force and his fear of an imminent attack in Virginia or Maryland."

A Pre-Dawn Sneak Attack

Source

"On April 7, 1814, a body of 200 sailors and marines ascended the Connecticut landed at Pettipaug (or Pautopaug Point) about six miles above Saybrook, and destroyed the shipping found there, as they did also at Brockway's Ferry, in spite of a body of militia. On this marauding expedition about $200,000 worth of shipping was destroyed." [Source]

A Connecticut newspaper published an article entitled, "Sneak attack was Essex's undoing."

"...the bare facts of the British raid on Essex [village, then known as Pettipaug] in 1814 are cinematic enough. A pre-dawn sneak attack. Ships ablaze. Scrambled militias. A daring escape."

Unknown To The British Authorities

Source (Page 300)

From Robert Randall and the Le Breton flats.... :

"Le Breton on this trip also learned of the location and strength of the American Forts at Detroit and of a very large depot of supplies of every description for the Western American Army, which were unknown to the British Authorities, and which he was of opinion could be easily captured."

General Wilkinson's Camp

Source

The camp was mentioned in David Kilbourn's petition:

"General Wilkinson,.....engaged to examine, secretly, the British posts in Canada, to procure accurate information of their numbers and position, and to communicate the result to the American commander; that he [David Kilbourn] executed this commission to the entire satisfaction of General Wilkinson...".

"...that the enemy, having been informed of the petitioner's employment and acts, apprehended him, confined him in prison, treated him harshly, and proposed putting him to death, when he made his escape [twice]."

"...after his escape, he repaired to General Wilkinson's camp at the French Mills, who renewed to him his former promises, furnished him with money to defray his expenses to Sackett's Harbour, and recommended him to the Quartermaster at that port...".

Jackson At The Battle Of Emuckfau

Source - Page 197

22 January 1814 

From The History of Tennessee...:

"In the afternoon of the 21st the army fell in with numerous fresh trails. These indications of the proximity of a large body of the enemy being presently confirmed by the reports of his spies. Jackson, encamping on the high grounds of Emuckfau, made every preparation to meet a sudden attack. It was well he did so. The morning of the 22d was just beginning to dawn when his left wing was startled by the furious assault... ."

Skirmishing And Spies Near Defiance

Fort Defiance (Ohio) In Granite

From Elias Darnell -- A journal containing an accurate and interesting ...;


[Sept.? 1812] 27th. The spies and Capt. Garrard's troop started this morning to bury the dead. They were attacked by a party of Indians who were watching the dead. One of the spies got shot in the ankle by an Indian. They fired on the Indians, and with the assistance of Capt. Garrard, they made them run... .  It was supposed some of them were badly wounded. Capts. Hickman and Ruddell returned, who had started this morning to reconnoitre Fort Defiance. They reported, that they saw many fresh signs of Indians. As they returned to camp they spied an encampment of Indians; the Indians were talking and laughing merrily. A detachment was sent after dark in order to surprise them. Ruddell, their pilot, got lost before he got far, so that they could not execute their design.

Daniel Cruger's Foray Into Canada

Soon after this [burning of Newark] he [Major Cruger] was placed in command of a detachment of soldiers, and two companies of Indians under the command of the celebrated chief, Red Jacket, with orders to proceed into the interior of Canada on a reconnaissance. The movement was attended with great danger from ambuscades of hostile Indians and attacks from heavy bodies of British troops which could be thrown forward against them. But Major Cruger was not a man to shrink from danger, and with his little command he carefully, successfully, and skillfully obeyed his instructions.

On the 2nd day of October they approached a small Indian village. Hearing an unusual shouting, yelling, and whooping, Cruger halted and sent forward scouts to ascertain the cause of the commotion. After a short absence they returned and reported that the Indians had three American soldiers whom they had captured and were about compelling to run the gauntlet.  [Source]

Lost Spies

From A journal containing an accurate and interesting ...;

[Sept. 26th. [1812] Two white men, and Capt. John (an Indian who was with us), lost their horses. They continued about the camping ground in search of them; they saw two or three Indians exploring our encampment. They took this method, no doubt, to calculate our number. The spies returned to camp this evening, who had discovered many Indian signs in front. Five of the spies who had yesterday started with the view to go to Fort Defiance, were found on the road shot, scalped, and tomahawked by the Indians or British.

Other entries from Elias Darnell's Journal here and here.