Hallie Sweeting
These letters from a 1933 newspaper clipping out of the New York Sun are republished as originally written.
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.
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.)
Hallie Sweeting is the historian for the town of Sterling
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.
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.)
Hallie Sweeting is the historian for the town of Sterling
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