Hilltowns during the War of 1812

From Tenney and Howell: THE WAR OF 181 2. This war has been called the Second War with Great Britain, the Last War with Great Britain, and the Second War for Independence. It is usually denominated as written at the heading. It was formally declared June 19, 181 2, and closed with a treaty of peace, signed at Ghent December 24, 18 14. The brilliant battle of New Orleans, fought under Andrew Jackson, January 8, 181 5, occurred after the treaty was made. It was not a day of cable grams, and the news of peace did not reach this county until February 12th. The English government was not satisfied with the issues of the revolutionary war; and was dis posed to make encroachments upon what were

deemed national rights. Among other things it claimed the right to board and search American vessels for deserting British soldiers and sailors. This claim was exercised in a manner so obnoxious, as to call for most decided remonstrance from our Government. Continued abuses of this kind led to open war. The public feeling in regard to the expediency of this war was far from unanimous. Indeed, those who took opposite sides in the matter were very bitter towards each other. No such bitter ness probably has existed in regard to any other political question, unless it be that of slavery, since the days of the Revolution of 1776. The Democrats, as a party, favored the war; the Fed eralists opposed it, mostly for commercial reasons. They were called the war party and the peace party. Both, no doubt, were influenced by honest love of country. The Albany press was divided — Solomon South- wick conducting the Democratic paper, called the Albany Register, and Charles R. Webster, the Fed eralist paper, called the Albany Gazette. It is stated that, as an exhibition of party feeling, the office of the Gazette was threatened with destruction by the more violent and ignorant democracy of that day. The public were notified by the Gazette that every man connected with that office was armed against any mob, and ready for resisting attack at any moment. No attack was made. But many a war of bitter words was fought at street corners and in public places, sometimes resulting in blows. The skirmish on State street, April 21, 1807, when the war controversy was raging, between those two eminent citizens, Governor John Tayler, Democrat, and General Solomon Van Rensselaer, Federalist, shows something of the spirit of parties before and during this war. The trial that followed was pub lished in a pamphlet, and is mentioned in Munsell's edition of Worth's " Random Recollections." We are sorry to be able to give so little explicit information concerning the military transactions in Albany County during this war. Our examination of the newspapers of the time gives little help; and the Adjutant-General's office does not con tribute anything in regard to the formation and officering of companies and regiments for service. This explains the fragmentary condition of this article. It is quite certain that Albany County was deeply interested in this war, and furnished many officers and men. We insert here an alphabetical list, taken from the "Index of Awards on Claims of the Soldiers of the War of 181 2, as audited and allowed by the Adjutant and Inspector-Generals," pursuant to the State Laws of 1859, Chapter 176, in the hope that it may lead some of their descendants to give us reliable information in regard to their services. This is supposed to contain the names of most of the militia from Albany County who enlisted in this war. Orrin Abbott, Albany; John Adams, Jr., Bethle hem; Joseph Arkles, Bethlehem; Michael Artcher, Albany; Chester Atherton, Albany; Ammiel Bar