Hunterdon County, New Jersey Volunteers in the War of 1812

by Brian Murphy

During our War of 1812 - 1815 with Great Britain, dozens of Hunterdon County men served in the Fifteenth Regiment of U.S. Infantry. This unit earned an excellent reputation for its contributions to battles along the New York-Canadian border. John Lambert Hoppock, who was born and raised in the vicinity of Lambertville, commanded a company of this unit. Hoppock was the grandson of then U.S. Senator John Lambert who lived on his farm at Mt. Gilboa, just outside of Lambertville.

Shortly after receiving his military commission from Washington around March of 1812, Captain Hoppock began recruiting volunteers for the army. Many of those who enlisted were his friends and neighbors. The recruiting headquarters was located at the “rendezvous” near Coryell’s Ferry and one of the first men to enlist was the captain’s forty one year old uncle, Thomas Dennis.

The U.S. War Department’s primary objective once war was declared in June of 1812 was to invade Canada and drive the British permanently out of North America. Once formed, the Fifteenth Regiment was ordered north. The Hunterdon County soldiers spent their first winter with the regiment at “Camp Saranac” near Lake Champlain and Plattsburgh, New York. On Christmas Day 1812 Corporal Charles Wilson (one of the many Wilson brothers who enlisted) died after suffering from a “tedious sickness.” Three months later Private Andrew Aston’s feet froze on the march to Sackets Harbor and he lost one of his “little toes.”

The Fifteenth Regiment was part of the brigade chosen by New Jersey’s own Zebulon Pike to lead the invasion of York, the tiny capital of Upper Canada. In April 1813, the naval fleet, with 1700 of the army’s best troops onboard, including the volunteers of Hunterdon, sailed west across the Lake Ontario looking for a fight. As the soldiers attempted to land near York, Captain Hoppock was hit in the thigh by a musket ball and was sent back to the fleet. After a couple of hours of hard fighting, General Pike prepared his troops for a final assault on the enemy’s fortifications, but the British troops were in retreat and their commander, General Sheaffe, had ordered the destruction of the gunpowder magazine. The result was an enormous explosion that hurled heavy timbers and large stones far up into the air. These continued to rain down on the men for a couple of terrifying minutes. Two hundred sixty soldiers were either wounded or killed by the blast including General Pike, who was mortally wounded by the falling debris.

Captain Hoppock did not survive his gunshot wound. His body was brought onshore after the battle and was buried under the American flag in Canadian soil. Unfortunately, his final resting is forever lost to history. The capture of York had come at a terrible price. Still, more sacrifice was to come from the Hunterdon volunteers.

On Christmas Eve in 1813 “Uncle” Thomas Dennis died at the army hospital near Albany. The following year Andrew Aston was discharged from the army “due the loss of one foot to frostbite.” Another Hunterdon volunteer who never returned home was Captain Hoppock’s neighbor, Lieutenant George W. Runk of the Sixth Regiment, who died from a wound he received defending the bridge at Plattsburgh in September of 1814. In his book, A History of the English Speaking People’s, Winston Churchill called this battle at Plattsburgh “the most decisive engagement of the war.”

The brave volunteers of Hunterdon had surely suffered more than their share defending the country’s honor. As the bicentennial of the War of 1812 approaches, let us revive the memory of our Hunterdon ancestors and honor their sacrifice.

Note: A version of this story appeared in the newspaper the Hunterdon County Democrat.

Remembering Two Forgotten Soldiers of the War of 1812: George W. Runk and John L. Hoppock of Hunterdon County, New Jersey

by Brian Murphy

“…terrible in battle, in death triumphant, the gratitude of their country is the monument of their fame.” (The toast made in September of 1814 to honor the memory of Lieut. Runk and others.)

September 11, 1814 was a momentous day in the history of the United States. For on that day, at the cost of many lives, the American navy on Lake Champlain, off Plattsburgh, New York, won a complete and total victory over the invading British fleet. Several days after this spectacular victory, the citizens of Plattsburgh organized a dinner celebration to personally honor Commodore Thomas Macdonough, commander of the American fleet. Among the toasts made that evening was one to the memory of Lieutenant George W. Runk. Unfortunately, very few people alive today have ever heard of Lt. Runk.

George W. Runk of Hunterdon County, New Jersey was the only commissioned regular army officer killed during the land battle that was so crucial to the naval victory on Plattsburgh Bay. The Riverside Cemetery in Plattsburgh contains the graves of several British and American officers who, while enemies in life, now rest side by side in that hallowed plot. Lieutenant Runk is now among those buried there, but this was not always the case.

Four days before this famous clash of navies took place; Lt. Runk was severely wounded at Plattsburgh trying to prevent an overwhelming British land force from crossing the Saranac River. Lieutenant Runk was sent to the temporary "hospital" set up on Crab Island, but Dr. Mann could not save him. He was buried in a shallow grave on that tiny island where his body remained until 1816.

The Plattsburgh Republican of September 21, 1816 reported that the Lt. Runk's remains were removed from Crab Island and brought to the Riverside Cemetery. A solemn funeral procession was held on that occasion, complete with music, and his remains were reinterred "with the customary military honors, by the side of the American and British officers" who had fallen during the same campaign. A generation later, on the 29th anniversary of the battle, the citizens of Plattsburgh and the Clinton County Military Association placed marble gravestones over the unmarked graves of the officers. Over the years the elements have taken their toll on these soft stone markers and they are now mostly illegible. At some point during the 20th century, more durable granite markers were added.

One of Lt. Runk's friends, a neighbor from back home, was John Lambert Hoppock of Amwell. "Lambert," as some of his family members called him, was a captain in Colonel Zebulon Pike's Fifteenth Regiment. (This regiment spent several months under Pike's command at the camp near Plattsburgh in 1812-13.) In one letter written from Sackets Harbor in the spring of 1813, the captain confided to his mother that Lt. Runk "appears to be too lazy to write as I have frequently wished him to do- He told me today he had written but one letter since he left home." Sadly, Capt. Hoppock's wish for his friend to write home did come to pass, but not for the reasons he would have hoped for. When Capt. Hoppock was killed less than a week later at the American invasion of York, Upper Canada, the unpleasant task of notifying family and friends fell to Lt. Runk.

In his letter dated May 14, 1813, Lt. Runk informed the captain's grandfather that "he was a brave officer and beloved by all the officers of his regiment…He and Captain Lyons of the 16th Infantry same brigade were buried in one grave under the American standard at York." (Capt. Hoppock was the grandson of U.S. Senator John Lambert. Letters survive showing that the two men kept up a friendly correspondence, despite the fact that Grandfather Lambert was strongly opposed to the war and had voted in Congress against it.)

York was the same battle that claimed the life of Zebulon Pike, who by then had been promoted to Brigadier General and who personally led the attack there. In the same letter, Lt. Runk informed Senator Lambert that General Pike's body had been returned to Sackets Harbor "preserved in a hogshead of spirits."

George W. Runk was from the area near Lambertville, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. He was undoubtedly named for the most famous living American at the time of his birth, circa 1785. His father, Jacob, was a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd New Jersey, or "Jersey Blues," Continental Army, Revolutionary War. Officer Runk received his commission as Ensign, in January of 1812 and was assigned to the Sixth Regiment, U.S. Infantry. He was eventually promoted to1st Lieutenant, which was his rank at the time of his death.

Every September, the Plattsburgh community hosts a solemn and inspiring memorial ceremony at the Riverside Cemetery honoring the fallen heroes of Plattsburgh. It is part of a week-long commemoration of the Battle of Plattsburgh. It is well worth attending. The people of Plattsburgh have many reasons to be proud of the town's tradition with regard to the honor paid to the soldiers who fell here in 1814. As a native of New Jersey, with Lieutenant Runk, John L. Hoppock and others in mind, I thank the people of Plattsburgh.

Note: A version of this piece appeared in the newspaper the Plattsburgh Press - Republican.