By any measure, things were looking very grim for General Alexander Macomb and his army on September 3, 1814. Scouting reports indicated that as many as 11,000 battle-hardened British troops were moving south along the western shore of Lake Champlain with Plattsburgh in their sights, and most Plattsburgh inhabitants had left for safer quarters.
Sixteen young men at the Plattsburgh Academy reacted quite differently. Upon hearing of the British advance, they resolved to join the fight to defend Plattsburgh, arming themselves
with muskets and fowling pieces. Being told they were too young to fight as an independent company, they joined Captain Martin Aitkin’s volunteer rifle corps, with Azariah C. Flagg serving as Lieutenant.
On September 3rd, they traveled north to Chazy, NY, where they engaged the British in several skirmishes. On September 7th, they took positions near an old sawmill on the southern bank of the Saranac River and prevented the British from crossing. Then, after the decisive naval defeat of British forces at the Battle of Plattsburgh on September 11th, Lieutenant General George Prevost, Governor General of Canada, ordered his forces to retreat.
Alexander Macomb was very much aware of the actions of the Aitkin Volunteers. He was impressed with their inventiveness and valor, so much so that he gave each of them a new standard issue rifle. Then he was told that he couldn’t simply give away government property and instructed Captain Aitkin to return the rifles, promising the young men they would receive the rifles at a later date.
General Macomb’s promise could only be fulfilled by resolution of Congress. For years, Macomb lobbied for the rifles he had promised. Resolutions passed the house but were never taken up by the Senate.
When the resolution was reintroduced in April of 1826, objections were raised during the debate, included that the young men were doing their duty to protect their homes, that General Macomb’s promise hadn’t been approved, and that others had fought valiantly without being singled out for such recognition.
Then Democratic New York Representative Aaron Ward, rose to give an impassioned defense of the resolution. He argued that if the government did not recognize and commemorate acts of uncommon valor, how could it expect others to rise up and defend the nation in times of dire need? The resolution finally became law on May 20th, 1826.
A presentation ceremony was held at the residence of General Benjamin Mooers. Of the seventeen surviving volunteers, only six could be located, the rest having either died or moved away.
Martin Aitkin’s remarks during this ceremony were recorded for history: “These arms, sir; these images of war shall be preserved by us with a care expressive of the high sense we entertain of the intentions of the government in bestowing them; and the sight of our arms, as we hope, will be to each of us a sacred memento of the lasting debt of gratitude we owe to our country.”
Martin Aitkin’s rifle, a John Hall Model 1819 breechloader, can still be seen on exhibit at the Clinton County Historical Association Museum at 98 Ohio Avenue in Plattsburgh.
Illustrations: The John Hall Model 1819 breechloading rifle awarded Captain Martin Aitkin in 1826, showing the commemorative plate on the stock which reads “For His Gallantry at the Siege of Plattsburgh”; and General Macomb’s official portrait, by Thomas Sully, 1829, in the West Point Museum Art Collection, U.S. Military Academy.
This essay is an excerpt from Aikin descendant John Barton’s September 11th presentation at the 2021 annual Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration, provided by the Clinton County Historical Association.
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