BRIDGE STREET MARKER

   Marker installed into the bridge wall recalls the successful efforts of the Plattsburgh teenage soldiers in stopping the British

invasion of Plattsburgh by land.

                              Aiken's Volunteers - Site of teenage volunteer sharpshooters who kept the British from fording the river here.  The planks were taken

                            up from the bridge to keep the British troops from crossing it.  Many of the men were volunteers who had grabbed their guns and

                            united under a commander to defend Plattsburgh.

                            However, not all of them were men.  Hearing of the British army march towards Plattsburgh, a few citizens, composed almost wholly

                            of boys were ready and willing to do whatever was needed.  An excerpt from the Rev. Elaezer William's diary dated September 6, 

                            1814 is a good example of how this company was regarded.   

                               "There is no corps more useful and watchful than the one under the command of Captain Aiken and Lieut. Flagg."

                            Excerpts from the diary of Henry Ketchum Averill, a member of Aiken's Company, tells how he came to join it;  "Saturday, September

                            3, 1814 and the day the news arrived.  I was at school sitting upon the back seat near the window when John Gale and David A. Curtiss,

                            well known old citizens, met in front of the academy and I heard one of them remark to the other that the British troops were on the

                            march and had crossed the Canada line.  I immediately sprang out of the window without the permission of Mr. Wall (who was to join the

                            first volunteer corps that might be organized) and accordingly the next morning I joined Capt. Aiken's company of volunteer riflemen."

                            During the night of the 11th of Sept. the enemy decamped in great haste after losing the Battle of Plattsburgh to the Americans, and

                            headed for Canada.  The services of Aiken's company no longer required, it was disbanded on Sept. 12.  Many stories have been told

                            about the heroics performed by the boys.  One of these tells how three boys successfully stole cherry rum from under British
                            surveillance to give to their own troops. 

                            In 1826, after twelve years, Congress passed a joint resolution giving each member a rifle (Hall's patent breech-loader) with a

                            handsome inscription on the breech:

                               "Be resolved of Congress presented to (each boy's name was inscribed on his rifle) for his gallantry at the siege of Plattsburgh."