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Burlington, Vermont War of 1812

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Burlington, Vermont War of 1812 4. The Waterfront 6. The Pomeroy House Burlington’s shoreline Dr. John Pomeroy built this has undergone many brick building on the east side of Burlington, Vermont changes since the War of Battery Street ca. 1797. Pomeory, War of 1812 Sites: 1812. For example, the a Massachusetts native born in area at the intersection of 1764, moved to Burlington in Battery Street Area Battery Street and Maple 1792 by way of Cambridge, VT. In Burlington, Dr. UVM Special Collections Street once lay at the Pomeroy helped to establish the University of water’s edge and the town’s rst wharf stood just to Vermont’s medical school in 1801 and became an the west. On August 2, 1813, when a small British ocer of the Vermont Medical Society. During the naval force red on Burlington, the Americans War of 1812, Dr. Pomeroy occasionally assisted the positioned two scows, each armed with a 12-pound army surgeons at the cantonment, especially during cannon, near this wharf. In 1886, while workmen the inuenza epidemic of the winter of 1812-1813, in were digging a trench for a sewer line in this vicinity which several soldiers died each day. In this work, they turned up “an ancient and corroded cannon Pomeroy was joined by his 24-year old son, Cassius, a ball” that was “buried about ten feet beneath the recently licensed physician. Cassius Pomeroy died in surface.” Later in the war, in September of 1814, a the epidemic in March of 1813. For his father, it was few hundred sick and wounded soldiers evacuated “a shock, the traces of which years did not erase.” Dr. from Plattsburgh N.Y. arrived in Burlington at this John Pomeroy, however, continued his work and wharf. In the 19th century, lived at this house until his own death in 1844. railroad and lumber companies used ll and cribwork to create 7. John P. Wiswall’s House Site all of the land that now lies west Sometimes the relationship between soldiers and of this intersection. civilians in Burlington became contentious. The most serious incident occurred at the southwest corner of 5. Army & Navy Bakery Sites Battery Street and College Street, the former site of Brothers Nathaniel (1774- John Parker Wiswall’s residence. Wiswall (ca.1771- 1858) and Henry (1781-1860) 1828), a merchant from Albany, NY, moved here with Mayo, natives of Massachu- his family early in 1813. Wiswall was “outspoken in his opinions,” by which he “made himself obnoxious to setts, moved to Burlington This publication was sponsored by: from Orwell, VT, in the early A the soldiers.” Some even suspected him of being a The American Battleeld Protection Program spy and of meeting British agents on Juniper Island U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service 1800s. At the beginning of the War of 1812, they GA 2255-10-003 out in the bay. On the night of May 16, 1814, several received a government contract to supply fresh With additional support from: bread to the army stationed at Burlington and for soldiers attacked Wiswall’s house. Wiswall resisted The City of Burlington, Vermont with deadly force and at least one soldier, Pvt. John The Vermont Agency of Transportation the Lake Champlain naval eet. They operated one and the State of Vermont Division for Historic Preservation bakery on the south side of Maple Street between Hill of Pennsylvania, a member of the 22nd Infantry, Battery Street and South Champlain Street and died of a gunshot wound that he sustained in the Historical and archeological research by: ght. The next evening, The University of Vermont another in the basement of a Consulting Archaeology Program two story brick store on the the soldiers returned and west side of lower Battery burned Wiswall’s house This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the down. The family ed to Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any Street between King Street opinions, ndings, and conclusions or recommendations and Maple Street. Cambridge, VT, and eventu- expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not B ally returned to NY. necessarily reect the views of the Department of the Interior. Introduction The Battery Street Sites 3. Battery Park Today’s Battery Park Burlington, Vermont, played an important role in George Street Bank St. Bank Pine Street represents only a small the War of 1812, a three year long conict between Pine St. 1 Johnson St. Maple Street Maple College Street College portion of the extensive Main Street Main Great Britain and the United States. The town Street Peru S. Champlain Street Street King 5a military cantonment served as a supply depot, a naval repair station, N. Champlain Cherry Street Cherry Pearl Street Pearl established in Burlington winter encampment, and hospital site. The 2 6 Monroe Street Monroe UVM Special Collections 5b during the War of 1812. number of American troops stationed at Burling- Park Street Battery Street 7 4 ton uctuated from a few hundred to over 4,000. On ground rst cleared in June of 1812 by the men Sherman Street Sherman 3 of 11th U.S. Infantry, the cantonment eventually A number of sites near Burlington’s Waterfront Lake Street were directly involved with the events of the time. featured several barracks, a powder magazine, a guard house, a gun shed, an armory, stables, store- 1. Thomas Macdonough’s H.Q. houses, and a hospital. In 1813, Lt. Sylvester Many of the highest N Churchill of the 3rd U.S. Artillery, formerly of Wood- Lake Champlain stock, VT, supervised the construction of a thirteen ranking American N ocers and some cannon emplacement on the edge of the blu paroled British ocers overlooking Burlingtion Bay. This fortication was sent to Burlington 2. Chandonette’s Tavern Site built of sand and sod blocks, the latter taken from during the War of 1812 yards about the town. On August 2, 1813, a small During the War of 1812, lived in hotels or private British naval force engaged the battery and the some enterprising citizens homes around the town rather than at the military lower part of the town in a cannonade that lasted quickly built or converted a cantonment (see #3). One building occupied by an about a half hour, with no signicant casualties number of structures along American ocer still stands at the southwest corner reported on either side. Battery Street, then known of Pine Street and Main Street. Although this At or near the Battery the U.S. Army executed at as Water Street, into “cheap building has been extensively modied, it is one of least three soldiers for desertion; including Peter boarding houses, taverns the few in Burlington remaining from the War of Bailey, Zalmon Lord, and John Cummings. and rum-shops” to accommodate the rapid inux of 1812 era. Samuel Hitchcock (1755-1813), a promi- After the army left Burlington in 1815, a portion newcomers. In the latter part of the war, Margaret nent attorney and judge, built this residence ca. of the cantonment was leased to the town for a Chandonette, formerly of Paris, France, owned the 1806. It reportedly served as the temporary poor house, while other buildings were looted for tavern located on the northeast corner of Battery residence of Commodore Thomas Macdonough their construction materials. In the 1820s, the Street and Main Street. It was “a square, framed U.S.N. in the spring and summer of 1813 while he Champlain Glass Company occupied some of the house, two-stories high, painted white and was repairing some damaged ships and retting a buildings, while others were oered for sale. A few surmounted by a gambrel roof” and “continually number of merchant vessels into warships for the houses still standing in Burlington are believed to crowded with the soldiers and camp followers, who American lake eet in Burlington Bay. Local tradition have been built from the cantonment’s remnants. spent their time in drinking and carousing.” holds that a 24-pound cannon However, at least the powder magazine and possi- The presence of the military in Burlington also ball red from a British ship bly part of the hospital remained on site as late as provided economic struck this building during the 1838. The U.S. government nalized the sale of the opportunities for many brief attack on the town on land in 1831. In 1840, public-spirited individuals other local businessmen August 2, 1813. donated Battery Park to Burlington. Churchill’s and craftsmen including Thomas Macdonough would Battery was partially leveled in 1853 when the area tailors, boot makers, eventually gain fame for his was transformed into recreational space. It was blacksmiths, book sellers completely leveled in 1938, when the WPA built the Lossing 1868 Lossing victory at the Battle of Platts- Com. Thomas Macdonnough and coopers. (1783-1825) burgh on September 11, 1814. low wall at the western edge of the park. .
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