In 1795 George Washington was president of the United States. The first State University in the United States opens to students, today known as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. You might know a few of their famous alumniā¦James K Polk (class of 1818) 11th president of the United States, Caleb Bradham (class of 1890) Inventor of Pepsi Cola, Andy Griffith (class of 1949), & Michael Jordan (class of 1986). Also in 1795 the soon to be famous english poet John Keats was born. (Recite some of his poetry)
Hi, Iām Jesse Perse Harmon. Most people just call me Jess. I was born in the late summer of 1795 in Rupert, Bennington County, Vermont Republic, on the 11th of August to be exactā¦
(Mr Patterson passing by in buggy) Hello Martin
(Martin) Good morning to you Mr Pattersonā¦nice fellaā¦now where was Iā¦.Oh yesā¦
My parents are Martin Harmon and Tryphena Poole. They named me Jesse Perse Harmon. Named after my Grandpa Jesse Pierce. My motherās father. Father and Mother had been married 10 years earlier, on Sheffield Island, Fairfield, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America. They were both born in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the spring and summer of 1758. Within a year of their marriage my parents had immigrated, along with Grandpa Nehemiah Harmon, to Rupert, Bennington County, Vermont Republic, where all of mamaās 9 children would be born.
My brother Oliver was born in 1801 and died in the same year. Around that same time, at the tender age of 6, I was taken by my father to live with a John Gibbs in the town of Lewis, New York. From family history records we donāt know exactly why. Possibly because mama was ill after losing little Oliver, and Mr. Gibbs might have been a family friend or relative who would raise me during those difficult years and teach me a trade. Lewis was a fairly new settlement, founded just a few years previous with the first land purchase in 1796 by Thomas Hinkley. The town was surrounded by the Adirondack range of mountains whose peaks rise to around 2000 feet. The land was covered with a dense primeval forest, which had only begun to show signs of giving way before the sturdy blows of the woodman's axe.
(Tree chopping and TIMBER)
Here and there a small clearing let the sunlight through to the earth, and a log hut silently proclaimed the approach of civilization. The first industries, of course, were those demanded by the necessities of the pioneersā¦Lumber & Iron.
(Wagon sounds fading into christmas music box sounds)
Just before Christmas in December of 1810, my mother died. She had given birth to 9 children in her 25 years of marriage, all of whom were born in Rupert, Vermont. At her death those living of her children ranged in age from 8 to 24 years old. From oldest to youngest there was Sarah, Diantha, Orville, Martin, Jesse Perse, Alpheus, & Lucina. The youngest two, Oliver died the same year he was born in 1801, and Nehemiah, born in 1802, died the following year. They were mothers last children.
In 1811, the year after my motherās passing, my father moved to Castleton, Rutland County, Vermont. I was 16 at the time, and was left living with John Gibbs in Lewis, NY.
In June 1812 I left the home of John Gibbs and traveled 70 miles south/south east to my father in Castleton, and there remained until the 7th day of October following.
(Drum, flute, marching sounds)
With our fathers consent, my brother Martin N. Harmon (age 19) and I (recently turned 17), enlisted into the service of the United States, and shortly after joined the army, stationed at Burlington, Vermont. We remained there a few months, and then crossed Lake Champlain with the army under the command of Col. Clark to Plattsburgh and joined Gen. Hamptonās army and remained there a few months.
Sometime in the month of March 1814 my father came and visited us at Plattsburgh, New York.
(Father Harmon)Martinā¦Jesseā¦I miss your mother. I just dont want toā¦well what Iām trying to say is itās been 4 lonely yearsā¦I need help raising Alpheus and Elizabeth. Now in order to do thatā¦.(interrupted)
(Jesse) yes father. We miss mama as well.
(Martin Norton Harmon) You should get remarried father. We dont want you to be alone.
(Jesse) Especially for Alpheus and Elizabeth.
(Father Harmon) well yeahā¦thats what I was a fixāin to tell you boys, a Ms Dunbar has agreed to marry me. I am on my way to the town of Jay this morning to meet with Ms Dunbar. Everything should be all arranged in the next few days.
(Martin Norton) Oh father, thats great.
(Father) yeahā¦say, I want you boys to look after each other. You aint hobbledehoys any longer. You are both more than shaversā¦youāre men. Keep an eye peeled for trouble. Keep your powder dry, aim small miss smallā¦keep the good Lord with yaā¦and Watch each others backs.
(Jess) Yes Father
(Father) Remember you boys are God fearin frontiersmen. No need to be chuffy or twistical just cause you are in a war. Remember first and foremost youāre Harmons. Dont let em make a cats paw out of ya. Do what you must to survive, even if it means bush fighting with the Shawneeā¦and do that shoot, run, reload and sniping like we do when huntingā¦..Well, boys, I love you both, till we meet againā¦God speed. (hugs)
(Martin & Jesse) Goodbye father.
On the day which our father left us we took up the line of March northward from Plattsburgh to Champlain, New York, and then we crossed into Canada on our way to Lacolle Mill. Our father left us at Plattsburgh and went southwest (34 miles) to the town of Jay to get married to a Miss Dunbar. Trouble started for us with the British and their Native allies once we crossed the border into Canada.
(Marching sounds)
(Leader) Thereās trouble ahead men. Stay ready.
(Indian ambush from the trees to the left)
(Martin) Jesseā¦Look outā¦thereās another coming right behind them trees
(Indian whoop, tomahawk swing, Jesse is hit)
(Martin) Iām coming Jess (Gun shotā¦body falls)
(Jesse) You cut that kinda close brotherā¦
(Martin) Not as close as that tomahawk came to ringing your bellā¦.He came more than closeā¦.Youāre bleeding Jesse.
(Jesse) Nothing we cant stitch up I hope. Itāll take more than a tomahawk to the head to put me in an eternity box.
(Martin) Knowing you little brother, you will be ādrawing the long bowā with this tall tale for a while.
(Jesse) Mhmā¦yepā¦you betcha
(Martin) well this aint no time or place for Jollification, the men are still movingā¦lets get going.
(Both Running to catch up)
We had several skirmishes with the British and Indians before we reached Lacolle Mill.
We advanced northward into Canada and on the 30th of March, after trudging through much snow and mud, we occupied the Canadian village of Odelltown. In the early afternoon of that same day we made the final push of around 5 windy kilometers through the deep snow and mud to the military outpost of Lacolle Mill. We couldnt travel the main road because it had been impeded by the British. Impeded meaning they knew we was comingā¦so they felled trees across it. So we meandered slowly through the wet and soft fields to the west of the road. We had 4,000 men organized into 3 brigades, with 11 pieces of artillery.
We prepared for the attack on a large fortified Stonehouse at which British officer, major Hancock was in command.
(Soldier) If that ground wasnt so blimey soft we could brunged that 18 pounder cannon on in from Odelltown. We will have to do with what we got.
Load them 12 pounders menā¦.and get that 5.5ā mortar ready.
Fire when ready!
(Cannon Impact noises)
(British officer, Major Hancock) Them yanks dont know whats about to hit em. Lets give em bloody hell lads. Load the Congreve rockets.
Fire when ready!
(Martin) What in the name of Nessie is that Jesse?
(Jesse) I have no ideaā¦.look out Martin!
(Narration) We had not before encountered these confounded weapons in battle and were unnerved to say the least. Youāve heard of āThe Rockets Red Glareā from the National Anthem?ā¦well those were also Congreve Rockets. Ifān Im being honest, they looks a lot like a jumbo size version of the modern day bottle rocket. Although the congreve rockets were inaccurate, they caused several American casualties.
The British flank (i.e. the Light and Grenadier) companies of the 13th had been stationed nearby. They launched a bayonet charge against the American artillery emplacements, but they were far outnumbered and were repulsed.
(British officer, Major Hancock)
Hearing the firing from some 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) away, a company of the Canadian (Voltijazz) Voltigeurs (certain elite light infantry units)and the Grenadier company of the Canadian Fencibles also marched to reinforce the defenders.
They waded through icy water to slip through the American lines and opened fire on our artillery, wounding the artillery commander, his replacement and many of the gun crews.
We were also under fire from British gunboats under Commander Daniel Pring of the Royal Navy, who had brought his vessels up the (reeshaloo) Richelieu River from (ee-loon-wah) Ile aux Noix to the mouth of the Lacolle River.
My brother and myself were fighting at Lacolle Mill on the right wing of the army under the command of Colonel Clark in General Smithās brigade.
(Martin) Jesseā¦.I been hit
(Jesse) Martinā¦.Martin, are you ok?
(Martin) Noā¦I cant breathe brother
(Jesse) Let me look Martin. You been hit on the right side. Lets get you back to a surgeon.
(Narration) My brother Martin had received a mortal wound in the breast while fighting by my side.
By that same evening, our forces had made little impression on the British defenses. Any warmth from the day was quickly gone as the chill of the evening quickly overtook them. Rather than launch an all-out assault, Wilkinson ordered us to retreat.
I aided my wounded brother the best I could as we returned to Plattsburgh, New York, considerably disheartened. General Wilkinson had recklessly exposed himself to British fire throughout the action, though to little purpose.
On the 17th day of April, my brother, Private Martin Norton Harmon, of the 22nd regiment, Maryland Militia, died at Little Sharzee, New York and was buried there in the honors of war.
After the burial I returned with part of the army by way of Plattsburgh to Burlington, Vermont and there re-enlisted on the 5th of June. From there I left for Rutland county, Vermont where I remained in the recruiting services a few months and was appointed a corporal.
We then marched for Buffalo, New York. From there we crossed Lake Erie to Fort Erie, Upper Canada. While there we received a continual Cannonading and combating from the enemy for several weeks. They referred to it in history as the Siege of Fort Erie.
On 4 September 1814, a detachment of Brigadier General Peter B. Porter's brigade of volunteers, including me, from the New York and Pennsylvania Militia was sent out to attack the British Battery No. 2.
The action lasted for close to six hours before being brought to a halt by a "tremendous rain and thunder storm". During the action, Colonel Joseph Willcocks of the Canadian Volunteers (a small unit of Canadians fighting against Britain) was shot in the chest and killed.
(General Brown) Gentlemenā¦a group of cannons has been completed in an area that would be most destructive to our causeā¦this threat must be neutralized.
(Brigadier General Porter) We have to outflank Drummondās siege lines.
(Brown) yes, agreed, especially the western end.
(Brigadier General Porter) Lieutenants Riddle & Frazier have opened an indirect road through the woods
(Misc. Soldier)(intentional whispering) Its within pistol shot of the flagpole sirā¦and not detected even once.
(Brown) Excellent. (Noises on a strategy board)
Now here is the planā¦They have 3 brigades of 1500 men each. Only one is stationed at the works in front of Fort Erie. The other 2 are camped a couple miles in the rear. Hopefully this rain will let upā¦tomorrow afternoon, 2 oāclock, the troops will be drawn up in readiness for the sortie. I want to outflank the western end of the siege lines, capture the batteries, and spike the cannons in them. Porterā¦you gather your men here (placing a piece on the strategy board) I am entrusting you with the main attack on Battery No. 3. We need to roughly handle the brigade on duty before those in reserve can be brought up.
(Soldier) General Brownā¦if I may say this sortie has the makings of a military (SHÄĖdoĶovrÉ) chef dāeouvre (a masterpiece).
(Brown) Lets hope so menā¦Dismissed
(Porter) Alright gentlemen, General Brown has given a directiveā¦.Colonel Gibson, your riflemen and Indian bands will proceed through the woods by the road thats been opened upā¦we will make the initial attack.
(Porter) Colonel Wood
(Wood) Yes sir!
(Porter) you and general Davis with his New York Militia, you men remained stationed between Fort Erie and the enemy works with Brigadier General James Millerā¦Do not advance until I have engaged there fireā¦understood?
(Wood & Davis) Yes sir!
(Porter) all right then, be ready on my signal, God speed men.
(Gunfire, shouting, charge attack sounds, seige & cannon fire)
(British Officer) Retreat lads, Retreat
(General Ripley) Get in here menā¦form a line to protect our detachmentsā¦Alright corporal we are standing between you and death lets get these cannons spiked.
(Corporal) Yes Sir!
(Gunshots, spiking sounds)
(Ripley) Howās the progress Corporal Harmon?
(Corporal Harmon) well sirā¦The 24 pounders have been spiked and rendered useless Sirā¦Lieutenant Riddle is at the magazines now to destroy the remaining powder.
(General Ripley) Riddle is what?
(Corporal Harmon) Heās just over there Generalā¦just closing the door on the (BOOOOM š„) Look out sirā¦Riddleā¦Lieutenant Riddle?
(Riddle) (Coughing and breathing heavy) Well just so you know, that wasnāt as easy as it looked. But either I aināt as nimble as I used to be or I slightly miscalculated on the burn rate on that short trail of powder.
(Harmon) Nimble? You are lucky to have legs after than Riddle. Much less your life.
(Riddle) yeahā¦miscalculated that one for sureā¦that was pretty much a pass fail scenario.
(Corporal Harmon) General Miller sirā¦we have batteries No 2 and 3, as well as the two blockhouses.
(General Miller) Excellent work men. The effect of the sortie has been completely effectedā¦Attachments!ā¦take the prisoners and weāll retire in good order.
(Corporal Harmon) General Porter? Whereās Porter?
(Soldier) they took him. The brits got him Corporal Harmonā¦.That makes you orderly sergeant Harmonā¦what are your orders sir?
(Corporal Harmon) no question about it, we find Porter and bring him back thats what we do. Whoās with me?!?!
(Small Force volunteers 1) I am with you Harmon.
(Small Force volunteers 2) Aye we are with you as well Harmon.
(Small Force volunteers 3) Count us in as well.
(Small Force volunteers 4) What day of the week is it? Its Saturday private, Saturday the 17th of September 1814ā¦what in the name of Nessie does that matter? Well I would rather die on a Monday but i guess if I dont even know what day it is, it dont really matterā¦Iām in Harmon.
(Corporal Harmon) Youāre good men, lets do this!
(Harmon) Hold up there men, weāve got you surrounded. No need to spill any more blood. You have something we want backā¦General Porter
(Porter) Nice to see you again Harmon. Thank you men.
(Harmon) its all yours again sir. What would you like of us.
(Porter) take the British officers and soldiers as prisoners and lets get back.
(Harmon Narration) On that 17th of September 1814 we fought a general battle and spiked several pieces of cannon. Took 800 prisoners and left upwards of 1000 of the enemy dead upon the field of battle. We lost 511 men. One of the horrific accounts of this battle, as later told by the British, happened as follows:
(British Narrator) āThere was severe fighting amid the British entrenchments but the Americans were unable to keep Battery Number 1, and were driven out of Number 2 and Number 3. General Brown ordered his men back to the fort and sent Ripley forward to cover Porter's and Miller's withdrawal.ā
(Surgeon Dunlop) Oh thank God you are here Major Pattison
(Pattison) what seems to be the trouble Surgeon Dunlop?
(Surgeon Dunlop) Its Battery Number 2 sir! The Americans are all cornered. Your 82nd Regiment has them pinned in.
(Gunshots and more yelling)
(Pattison) they are huddle so tight they cant ever return fire.
HOLD YOUR FIRE! Commander, surrender your men, you have no where to go. This will only cause a loss of life and can do no good to either of us.
(American soldier) Heās right sir, its so tight in here we cant even reload)
(American Officer) Ground your arms men, we have no other options.
(American soldier) I have an option sir
(American Officer) PRIVATE! NOoooo!
(Single gunshot)
(Pattison hit, moaning)
(Surgeon Dunlop) Pattison? Heās dead. Shot through the heart.
(British troops) CHARGE!
(Harmon) Around 46 Americans died in the massacre at Battery No. 2. There were no survivors to report the fate.
(Corporal Harmon) After that lengthy and costly skirmish, we took up our line of march about 14 miles further north into Canada to Chippewaā¦its located on the south side of Niagara Falls. While there we had a small skirmish with the enemy and lost a few of our men.
You know, other than the loss of my brother Martin, one of the most impactful moments for my life occurred during this war of 1812ā¦it also happened to be one of the most traumatic.
On one such occasion, after a long weary day My companions and I had occupied a log cabin, and were resting between skirmishes. We were sitting down to enjoy a meal together at an actual table. Not a frequent thing for troops on the move.
Now a soldiers normal daily rations during the War of 1812 was 1 & Ā¼ pounds of beef (or Ā¾ of a pound of pork,) 18 ounces of bread or flour, 1 gill of liquor (barely a quarter pint), plus salt, vinegar, soap, & candles. When we cooperated Soups were often made with whatever vegetables were in season, or with dried peas, etc.
(American soldier talking to Jesse) Corporal Harmon, more stew?
(Harmon) Oh yes thank you.
(Soldier) its good to have a stable shelter out of the weather. Not sure who built this log cabin, but it suits us quite nicely. I wonder if we could just stay here?
(Soldier) I dont think the General would like that?
(Soldier) I guess not.
(British soldier) pssstā¦Private, look over thereā¦
(Soldier 2) smoke coming from that cabin? Are you homesick again?
(British soldier 1) No you ninnymugginsā¦look at the outhouse.
(British soldier 2) Oh, you gotta go, and you want to use their privy. Iām tired of using leaves myself, and it looks like a 2 holer, lets goā¦
(British soldier 1) no no, look whoās coming out of the outhouse.
(British soldier 2) well that would be an American soldier. That means thereās a whole house of emā¦
(British soldier 1) mhm. Major is gonna be impressed with our scouting.
(Soldier 2) lets get back and report this to the Major.
(Soldiers running, breathing heavy, panting)
(Major) hold up, get your windā¦what is it?
(British soldier 1) Up aheadā¦
(Soldier 2) about 3 kilometers east of here
(British soldier 1) Americans
(Soldier 2) Soldiersā¦held up in a cabin
(Major) Alert the troops, keep it quiet, bring the 18 pounder cannon, and some explosive rounds.
(Moving quietly through the trees, horse sneezing)
(Major) set up across this tree line, 200 meters to target. You get one shotā¦make it count.
(British soldier) ready sir
(British Major) Hold up, Thereās a Yank coming out from the Loo, when he enters the house light the fuse
(Jesse Perse Harmon) How does anyone survive the explosion of cannonballs inside of a cabin? Only heaven knows why my life was preserved. Donāt you dare miss part 2 of my story. I still got a lot of life to live. I have yet to marry and have children, to find religion and my relationship with Jesus. To serve as chief of police in my bustling and booming community in Illinois, where the Mayor was assassinated on my watch. And subsequently my family and friends were forced to move out of the United States to find peace.
When we look over someone elseās life, we are amazed, we are awed, we are emotionally bedazzled at the ordeals they survived and even thrived through. My life was normalā¦for me. As your crazy adventures in life will be for you. Part of your ability to be emotionally bedazzled by the life of another is the capacity to FEEL them as they might have experienced their circumstances. I want my life to be learned from and appreciated for whatever value you can extract of it. Please donāt let the lives of your ancestors be only a name on a family tree or a blip on the screen that fades with each generational reset. I tell you whatā¦there is a profound superpower to be had in making the āDia de los Muertosā an everyday occasion. Read your ancestor stories, share them with your children. Remember me. Feel me. Learn from me.
