06/22/2026
June 22, We Cast anchor near Buffaloe at 10, oclok and at 12, we Landed at Buffaloe, Niagra County in the State of New York, and marched up and joined our Regiment. (Junr)
(21st June) when we sailed at day light with alight S.E. wind, sailed about 40 miles and were becalmed from 11 A.M. until the morning of the 22nd June, when a strong breeze from the S. sprung up and brought us insight of the Canada shore below Long Point; saw Fort Erie at sun rise, the wind then shifted to N.W. had a handsome view of Buffalo and the Niagara river. We were landed on the bank of the Buffalo creek at 11A.M. and marched through the town to the N. side where the regiment were encamped. We occupy part of a piece of woods which lies between Buffalo and Black Rock, being the same from which the Indians entered in the night on which Buffalo was burnt, in the beginning of the last winter, here there is an excellent spring of water, from which we are supplied, and is very convenient to our camp. Our provisions are excellent, salt beef very fat, and tolerably good bread, but heavy and dark.
Gen. Brown's army now about 5000 strong is now daily increasing by the arrival of detachments from the Eastward, the regular troops are the best in appearance ever in the service of the United States, greatly improving in discipline and very healthy. Several hundred of the New York Indians were encamped in the woods near Buffalo, they were often in our camp, some times trading niocasins, trinkets, &c. and some times running races, shooting with the bow and arrow, throwing the tomahawk, and shewing the war dance, at all of which diversions they are very expert. They are the most loyal body of people to this country, of any in the United States, and many of them are greatly civilized, they are generally wealthy, some of them cultivate their lands and can drive their teams to market like our farmers, they are very hard dealers, will never make a bad bargain, and they despise lying and deception while dealing. Drunkeness is punished among them, and they scarcely ever curse or swear, except at the British, which they do heartily.
We live wellhere, but eat no idle bread, for drilling and parading occupies our attention nearly from revelee to 10 A.M. and in the afternoon we drill in regiment instructed by the Adjutant General Gardner 30 whose presence among us commands immediate attention and respect, and while under him we consider ourselves as having a commander, a friend and instructor. We are likewise occasionally visited by Generals Brown and Scott, to whom every mark of attention is paid by our Colonel, and for whom advice is often taken in
intricate cases. (Anonymous Journal)
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Citing: The Pennsylvania Volunteers in the War of 1812: An Anonymous Journal of Service for the Year 1814.
A Soldier’s Diary for 1814
