Azariah W ODELL / DESCRIBING MILITARY ENGAGEMENTS IN WESTERN NEW YORK

Description: DESCRIBING MILITARY ENGAGEMENTS IN WESTERN NEW YORK, IN AN AUTOGRAPH LETTER, SIGNED 25 OCTOBER 1814, TO THOMAS PALMER, BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. Author: ODELL, Azariah W. (ca. 1789-1822) Title: DESCRIBING MILITARY ENGAGEMENTS IN WESTERN NEW YORK, IN AN AUTOGRAPH LETTER, SIGNED 25 OCTOBER 1814, TO THOMAS PALMER, BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. Publication: Williamsville [NY]: 1814 Description: Single sheet, folded to 25 cm. [3] pp., approx 500 words. A tender copy, folded for mailing, splitting across one fold, chipping and loss of a few words at right margin, addressed on verso of the third page to Thomas Palmer in Ballston Spa, NY. Odell writes home to his friend and law partner Thomas Palmer, from Williamsville where he was stationed in October 1814. He reports that Gen. [Jacob] Brown's division of the army had just crossed the river from Canada to join the troops there. He presumes Brown's destination is Sackets Harbor. "[T]he two armies near Fort Erie had formed a junction, on the 13th Inst. They moved down the river on the 14th they encamped on the plains of Chippawa...there was a little skirmishing, some shot & shells thrown from the enemy's batteries, but the enemy had learned wisdom by [experience?] they would not come out & fight us on the plains...." He goes on to describe the subsequent days of cannonading, marching, and finally a real battle on Oct. 19 at Cook's Mills, where Gen. [Daniel] Bissell's brigade was attacked, resulting in the loss of some 50 American soldiers killed or wounded. "On the 20th we were all ordered to return & the campaign discontinued for the present, the cause why or wherefore is best known to those who ordered it. ". The Battle of Cook's Mills was one of the last engagements between American and British forces on the Niagara frontier. According to Alan Taylor in his book "The Civil War of 1812," [NY: 2010], p. 403, the arrival of Gen. George Izard on the Niagara front in October 1814 upended Gen. Brown's plans for the prosecution of the war. Izard outranked him and also "disdained the Niagara front as a foolish place to wage war because [it was] 'so distant from our Sources of Supply' and 'thinly settled and incapable of affording susbsitence for an army even of the smallest sized.' ...In effect, Izard faulted Brown for adopting a strategic folly in pursuit of merely tactical honor. But Brown seethed at the retreat, for he longed to conclude the campaign with a clear victory over the British at Chippawa. After forty days of marching, Izard had maeuvered for another ten before calling the whole campaign off." Clearly this power struggle was what Odell is referring to in his letter.Azariah Odell was a member of the Union College class of 1809. His obituary in the Albany Gazette & Daily Advertiser issue of July 9, 1822 states that he was a Major during the War of 1812, in the 23rd Regiment of the U.S. Infantry. He became a counsellor-at-law in Ballston Spa, NY, in partnership with Thomas Palmer. Another obituary in his hometown paper, the Ballston Spa Gazette, notes that he was "dangerously wounded on the Niagara frontier" and that the privations and fatigue of battles resulted in a pulmonary complaint which led to his early death. Seller ID: 68746 Subject: Americana We are a Washington, D.C. based bookstore in business for over 40 years. We specialize in Americana and general Antiquarian books. Terms All orders ship within three business days. Standard mail is USPS Priority Mail. Expedited and international shipping are also available. We offer combined shipping on multiple orders. All items are guaranteed to be as described or they may be returned within 30 days of receipt for a full refund.This listing was created by Bibliopolis.

Price: 1500 USD

Location: Chevy Chase, Maryland

End Time: 2025-01-17T10:07:12.000Z

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