Vestiges of the War of 1812 III Traditional Cache
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Vestiges of the War of 1812 III
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Size: 
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This is a precarious urban setting. Use stealth in retrieving and replacing it! BYOP
The Gamaliel St. John family moved to Buffalo in 1810 where the couple erected a hotel and cottage for their 10 children. The following years were tough on Mrs. St. John. Her son, Cyrus, died in December of 1812. Her husband and another son, Elijah, both drowned while attempting to ferry the Niagara River on June 6, 1813, to resupply American troops occupying Fort Erie.
For most of December 1813, fear of an Indian attack so terrified the St. Johns that the women slept with their clothes on, ready to flee at a moment's notice. Her son-in-law took the 8 younger children off to safety on Williamsville Road, leaving his wife, his mother-in-law and his sister-in-law for a later trip.
On December 30, 1813, as the British were burning Buffalo, Mrs. St. John pleaded with the British commander not to burn her property. She watched as her next door neighbor, Mrs. Lovejoy, was murdered and her house plundered. That night the St. Johns’ properties were not burned.On New Years Day, 1814, as the three women sat at breakfast, they were again thrown into a panic when an old man rushed in with the news that a small British detachment was returning to burn most of the buildings that had escaped the initial conflagration, including the St. John’s hotel. By that night, all that remained of Buffalo was Mrs. St. John's house, a blacksmith shop on Seneca Street and the small stone jail on Washington Street near Eagle.
Buffalonions who had fled the village during the British attack crept back to bury the dead whom they found lying frozen stiff where they had fallen. When the returning inhabitants entered the town, they at first saw no living thing; but soon found their friend, Mrs. St. John, and her two daughters who welcomed them and gave them food. The three St. Johns, darkening their windows that no lurking enemy might guess at their activities, took turns cooking for the refugees until they were almost exhausted, for the homeless thronged their tiny house day and night. One of the daughters disguised herself as a Native American by wrapping herself in a blanket and several times ventured out into the cold dark night to forage for food. She proved to be quite expert at catching fowls in the dark and, having traced pigs by their tracks in the snow, she was able to add plenty of fresh pork to their menu as well as tasty vegetables.
For some time the terrified settlers remained in their hiding places, stealing over to the St. John house under cover of darkness for an occasional meal. They had lost homes and personal property but many had carried their money with them so they were able to pay Mrs. St. John for her hospitality and the making of much needed clothing. This brave woman and her family were soon reunited and worked together to build up their fallen fortunes.
Paraphrased from the amazing buffaloah.com website
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Abg sne sebz n fvta qrabgvat gur Fg. Wbua erfvqrapr
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