Pettit's Run and the Easiest Victory of the War of 1812 - Excerpted from Pioneer Period of Western New York, Chipman P. Turner, pp. 35-36 (1888).htm
Dublin Core
Title
Pettit's Run and the Easiest Victory of the War of 1812 - Excerpted from Pioneer Period of Western New York, Chipman P. Turner, pp. 35-36 (1888).htm
Description
A slight haze rose from the marshes on the borders of the Niagara River, but not enough to shroud the banks or the road that lay along its shore in obscure darkness. It was the route from the year 1800 for military transfer from Fort Niagara to Black Rock, Buffalo and other western points. The march of regiments, companies and detachments, was a common, hourly expected occurrence, not usually creating surprise or apprehension of peril. The tragedy of Lewiston had been enacted, creating constant fear in the minds of all. Buffalo and Black Rock were threatened points. Volunteer regiments had been drafted from eastern sections to the rescue, timidly approaching the scene of war, to which they were unaccustomed; crackling brush, a rustling leaf, were startling omens, and prudence in advancing was deemed “the better part of valor,” and made the adopted strategy in the instance related.
The scene of action, according to the record of the time, may be placed at what is known as “Pettitt’s Run,” taking the name of Joshua Pettitt, locating at its junction with the Niagara river, a short two miles below Tonawanda, as early as 1810.
Nearly as early a settler as Pettitt, was George N. Burger, who made a beginning by erecting a log house, which in the exigency of war was appropriated by the government as an arsenal for the depositing of arms and ammunition, guarded by a small number of volunteer citizens. The hour of midnight had but just passed when the vigilant watchman were aroused by the footsteps of marching men, tramp of horses and mud-bound wheels of a wagon train, in slow progress up the river.
Whether friend or foe was yet to be determined; moments were not to be wasted or retreat justified, without at least the best defence that could be made. Necessity became “the mother of invention,” and proved to be the available relief.
The stream passed through a bed of mud, mixed with melting snow, bridged in rough corduroy, that proved fitting for the success of the exploit they had resolved upon. An old dilapidated, one-horse lumber wagon was employed to represent a cannon, “big gun,” by trundling it over the uneven logs. Burger in the full strength of his voice, giving the command: “Bring up the guns, form in line!” while the wagon was drawn again and again by the squad noiselessly through the mud, and thundering back over the bridge, to create the imaginary array of a host. Soon an order was heard directing a halt of the approaching volunteer militia, that was yet to see battle, if at all, while preparations commenced to meet the sudden surprise. Outlooks detached from both the trembling parties approaching each other in hailing distance and in sight of each other, it was discovered they were the same color of clothes; greeting each other as friends, the Colonel, surprised that “ten should overcome a thousand and one,” while Captain Burger exulted that he and his few comrades had gained the easiest victory of the war of 1812.
The scene of action, according to the record of the time, may be placed at what is known as “Pettitt’s Run,” taking the name of Joshua Pettitt, locating at its junction with the Niagara river, a short two miles below Tonawanda, as early as 1810.
Nearly as early a settler as Pettitt, was George N. Burger, who made a beginning by erecting a log house, which in the exigency of war was appropriated by the government as an arsenal for the depositing of arms and ammunition, guarded by a small number of volunteer citizens. The hour of midnight had but just passed when the vigilant watchman were aroused by the footsteps of marching men, tramp of horses and mud-bound wheels of a wagon train, in slow progress up the river.
Whether friend or foe was yet to be determined; moments were not to be wasted or retreat justified, without at least the best defence that could be made. Necessity became “the mother of invention,” and proved to be the available relief.
The stream passed through a bed of mud, mixed with melting snow, bridged in rough corduroy, that proved fitting for the success of the exploit they had resolved upon. An old dilapidated, one-horse lumber wagon was employed to represent a cannon, “big gun,” by trundling it over the uneven logs. Burger in the full strength of his voice, giving the command: “Bring up the guns, form in line!” while the wagon was drawn again and again by the squad noiselessly through the mud, and thundering back over the bridge, to create the imaginary array of a host. Soon an order was heard directing a halt of the approaching volunteer militia, that was yet to see battle, if at all, while preparations commenced to meet the sudden surprise. Outlooks detached from both the trembling parties approaching each other in hailing distance and in sight of each other, it was discovered they were the same color of clothes; greeting each other as friends, the Colonel, surprised that “ten should overcome a thousand and one,” while Captain Burger exulted that he and his few comrades had gained the easiest victory of the war of 1812.
Date
1813-12-24
Collection
Citation
“Pettit's Run and the Easiest Victory of the War of 1812 - Excerpted from Pioneer Period of Western New York, Chipman P. Turner, pp. 35-36 (1888).htm,” North Tonawanda History, accessed February 21, 2026, https://nthistory.com/items/show/4854.