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."