John Dickson in the War of 1812
The capture of the HMS Caledonia and the HMS Detroit
The following is a handwritten first-hand account of John Dickson’s experiences during the War of 1812. In October of 1812, Dickson assisted Captain Jesse Elliott in capturing two British ships, the HMS Adams which was also known as the Detroit, and the HMS Caledonia. The Caledonia joined Oliver Hazard Perry’s fleet and later played a key role in the Battle of Lake Erie. After the war, John Dickson acquired two ships that participated in the Battle of Lake Erie, the Caledonia, and the Hunter, to begin a Great Lakes shipping company headquartered at his Tavern in Erie at the corner of Second and French Streets. While very little from this period of Erie’s history remains, the tavern Dickson built is still intact. Restored in 2022, it is now office space available for rent.
The original handwritten document has no punction and many misspellings. Punctuation has been added to the modern transcripts but the words are as they were originally spelled.
John Dickson’s original handwritten account of events during the War of 1812
Transcript of Dickson’s account of events during the War of 1812
About the first of October 1812
John Dickson called on Captain Jesse D. Elliott the at Blackrock in the niagara river. Informed him that he had been taken prisnor twise by the British. First at the Island of Macanaw while taking in a load of firs for the N. W. Fir Company the 17th of July at the time of the surrender of the garrison.
On the 17th of July 1812 I John Dickson was mate, we ware laying with our schooner at mackinaw at the head of the Lake Huron taking in furs for the N. W. Fur Company to be delivered at Blackrock on the niagara river we ware captured by 2 armed British scooners, our sconer was made a Carttel. I off to carry the soldier on perole to Detroit. Gen. Hull detained us and deliver us up to the british at the Surrender of Detroit. I was sent to fort erie whare I was detained (a) second tim(e). The first of october I was sent to the US States. Capt Jesse Elliott had been sent on by the navy department to superintend the fitting out of some vessels at Blackrock. he wished I would take charge of the navy yard (to) collect and store all the rigging from the vessels as he had no officer with him to attend that duty accordingly. I got every thing put in a few day(s). On the 8 of October 1812 two British armed brigs arrived at fort erie. I informed Capt Elliott tha(t) I was well aquainted of the strength of these two brigs. The number of the crews and what the(y) ware loaded with for the(Y) ware both at Maldon taking in there loads when I left in the Cartteal. The(y) ware loading th(e) adams or detroit (with) cannon and arame distent for fort george. The other had been a merchant brig belonging to the N. W. fir company called the Calledonia. She had been armed in the kings service at that time. There armed a draft of 80 seamen formerly belonging to the frigate adams ware within a few miles on there way to buffelau to join Commedore Perry Squadren. Capt Elliott sent me on with an express to the commanding officer of thear to use all possible dispach to get there men to this plase. I directed him to take the land road to blackrock and not expose his men to the crew of the British along the river. I fitteded out two large jaht boats by Capt Elliots direction for the expedition. The oars (were) all muffled and every thing ready for action. We went on board at night and the boats started up the rapets to buffelau at two oclock am. The(y) steered across below Point Ebenau(?) to make a safe landing, above the Brigs for the purpose of droping down on board of them with the assistense of the current and to prevent the british from discovering us. acordingly our boats got with in (a) cabels length of us before the sentenels discovered us. The night was veary dark. The(y) loaded and fired, our boats grappled and boarded the Brigs. The(y) were soon in our possession in a few minuts. Their bows was directed for the american shore. The adams or detroit in taking a romy sheer drifted to far in the streen droped down toward squaw island and run a ground on the side next (to) the British shore. This was a savear loss to us and when day light appeared the British guns had such a good chance of raking us that we ware oblige to abandon hir. Capt E(lliott) ordered me to take charge of the boat, land the prisnors and our one men we had retaken at the navy yard. The prisnors (were) in charge of the garde as I was directing our crew how to sail after the(y) had rounded the island. At the commensement of the war I was one of the two that took the scooner. Then (in) broad day light the commanding officer of the Detroit, then in the boat a prisnor, recognized me as I was steering. He was grately (upset?) to see me thare. “did I not”, said he, “land you about two months ago, land you in the united states? I was first leut(enant) of the Queen Charlott, are you not on perole now fighting against us? If we ever take you we will try you for your life. Leve the lines as soon as possible. I will report you to our government. You are an Inglishman, you may thank Capt raugh (sp?) for your liberty. It was our intention to send you to Quebec.”
In a few minuts we made a safe landing at the navy yard whar we landed the American officers retaken in the brig and the prisnors in charge of the troops. When I saw Capt(ian) Elliott (I) told him I was discovered by the Capt(ian) of the Detroit and the conversation that took place. He refused to gave me the prise tickets tharefore I did not draw prise money of the Adams. the Calledonia has not yet been paid to the officers and men. I was (?) informed the British was determined to take me. Capt(ian) Elliott gave me my discharge.