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Letters from the
War of 1812
Including a letter from an American describing the
Battle at Queenston Heights
These letters, from a 1933 edition of the New York Sun newspaper, were
reproduced in 2006 by Hallie Sweeting, the historian for the town of
Sterling, N.Y., on Auburnpub.com.
The second letter (below) is of particular interest, as it provides a
description of the Battle of Queenston Heights where Brock was killed.
LETTER 1: To Sally Johnson, in Cayuga County, Town of Brutus, near
Daniel Curtise's Inn:
Manchester Niagara Falls Oct. 7, 1812
“Dear Consart I now imbrace an opportunity to in form you that I am
well at present hoping these few lines will find you & the Rest of my
family well I am in hops that I can have a furlow in bout 20 days but it in
on certain I expect to have some money in a bout fifteen days and if I do
I shall try to cum home and if not I cant come home till I draw sume you
must do as well as you can I wish you to send me a pare of mittens and
a p are or two of socks if you have have the troops are gathering from
all parts the artillery & infantry and the troop we Expect by the
movement of things that the Regler independent troops will cross the
River in a short time or not this fall we Received news las Evening that
General Hareson has retaken Fort Detroyt and that General Brock was
surrounded which we hope is trew our Ridgment is in good cheer & the
most part is anxious to no the worst Some of the Sogers is rather put
out thinking they will not have the offer to go across the River but what
will be the Result God onely knows for my part I hant concluded whether
I shall cross or not if I am wanted I don't much Expect that the militia will
be wanted to cross atall So I must conclude with Sending my Love to
you all and subscribe my selfe your affectionate husband un till Deth”
Stephen Johnson.
LETTER 2: The following letter is somewhat vivid accout of the Battle
of Queenstown, Canada that took place on Oct. 13, 1812.
“Manchester Oct. 15, 1812 Dear Companion and Frend of my hart threw
the marcy of God I am well hoping these few lines may find you all well I
have no time to write To you a bout family consarns but will give you a
little sketch of a few days past on last Mundy night our Ridgment
marched for Lewistown whare we arrived a bout wone a Clock the next
morning a little before daybrake the Regler troops attacked the fort at
Queenston and took it by sunrise the boddes of the ded that Lay on the
ground I darst not Gess at our Ridgment marched down to cross whare
the grape shot and bum shells Cannon balls and musket balls felw like
hale in a storm Mr. Tommas barris who yous To Live on the Ring place
stood next to me was shot down I willing to help my frend Seezed him
and led to a house whare the Sergen was and mene wounded Mr harris
the ball cut Rite a crost his throte but not so as to tuch his winepipe his
like to Recover we had seven Captans in our Ridgment and five is killed
or taken prisoners Captan Eldridg Lieutenant price Jabin Williams Daniel
Dogg Benjamin Blanchon mr Brown and more which I was acquainted
with are taken priseners or killed the Remaainder of our Ridgment one
Returned back to our barracks Lemuel Peterson is with me and is well.”
Stephen Johnson
(It is believed that Stephen Johnson did return home as I find a Stephen
Johnson who died 12 March 1855 at age 75 buried in Gods Acre
Cemetery, Weedsport. If Sally lies next to him, it is in an unmarked
grave, said Hallie Sweeting in the posting.)
Hallie Sweeting is the historian for the town of Sterling
War of 1812
Including a letter from an American describing the
Battle at Queenston Heights
These letters, from a 1933 edition of the New York Sun newspaper, were
reproduced in 2006 by Hallie Sweeting, the historian for the town of
Sterling, N.Y., on Auburnpub.com.
The second letter (below) is of particular interest, as it provides a
description of the Battle of Queenston Heights where Brock was killed.
LETTER 1: To Sally Johnson, in Cayuga County, Town of Brutus, near
Daniel Curtise's Inn:
Manchester Niagara Falls Oct. 7, 1812
“Dear Consart I now imbrace an opportunity to in form you that I am
well at present hoping these few lines will find you & the Rest of my
family well I am in hops that I can have a furlow in bout 20 days but it in
on certain I expect to have some money in a bout fifteen days and if I do
I shall try to cum home and if not I cant come home till I draw sume you
must do as well as you can I wish you to send me a pare of mittens and
a p are or two of socks if you have have the troops are gathering from
all parts the artillery & infantry and the troop we Expect by the
movement of things that the Regler independent troops will cross the
River in a short time or not this fall we Received news las Evening that
General Hareson has retaken Fort Detroyt and that General Brock was
surrounded which we hope is trew our Ridgment is in good cheer & the
most part is anxious to no the worst Some of the Sogers is rather put
out thinking they will not have the offer to go across the River but what
will be the Result God onely knows for my part I hant concluded whether
I shall cross or not if I am wanted I don't much Expect that the militia will
be wanted to cross atall So I must conclude with Sending my Love to
you all and subscribe my selfe your affectionate husband un till Deth”
Stephen Johnson.
LETTER 2: The following letter is somewhat vivid accout of the Battle
of Queenstown, Canada that took place on Oct. 13, 1812.
“Manchester Oct. 15, 1812 Dear Companion and Frend of my hart threw
the marcy of God I am well hoping these few lines may find you all well I
have no time to write To you a bout family consarns but will give you a
little sketch of a few days past on last Mundy night our Ridgment
marched for Lewistown whare we arrived a bout wone a Clock the next
morning a little before daybrake the Regler troops attacked the fort at
Queenston and took it by sunrise the boddes of the ded that Lay on the
ground I darst not Gess at our Ridgment marched down to cross whare
the grape shot and bum shells Cannon balls and musket balls felw like
hale in a storm Mr. Tommas barris who yous To Live on the Ring place
stood next to me was shot down I willing to help my frend Seezed him
and led to a house whare the Sergen was and mene wounded Mr harris
the ball cut Rite a crost his throte but not so as to tuch his winepipe his
like to Recover we had seven Captans in our Ridgment and five is killed
or taken prisoners Captan Eldridg Lieutenant price Jabin Williams Daniel
Dogg Benjamin Blanchon mr Brown and more which I was acquainted
with are taken priseners or killed the Remaainder of our Ridgment one
Returned back to our barracks Lemuel Peterson is with me and is well.”
Stephen Johnson
(It is believed that Stephen Johnson did return home as I find a Stephen
Johnson who died 12 March 1855 at age 75 buried in Gods Acre
Cemetery, Weedsport. If Sally lies next to him, it is in an unmarked
grave, said Hallie Sweeting in the posting.)
Hallie Sweeting is the historian for the town of Sterling