The Cilley Family
Colonel Joseph Cilley
Colonel Joseph Cilley was born in Nottingham and educated at Atkinson Academy. He was commissioned as Ensign in the 1st. Co. of the 18th Regt. by Gov. Jno. Langdon, on the 17th Oct., 1811. On March 12th, 1812, he was appointed an Ensign in the U.S. Army, and ordered for duty in Capt. Jno. McClary's Co., 11th Regt. U.S. Infantry, then commanded by Col. Isaac Clarke of Vermont. He was in the battle of Sachett's Harbor, 28 May 1813, Chrysler's Field, 10 November 1813. He was promoted to Lieut. March 17th 1814, transferred to the 21st U.S. Infantry commanded by Col. Miller, and was in the battle of Chippewa. In the battle of Bridgewater, 25 July 1814, or "Lundy's Lane," he was badly wounded by a musket ball, producing a compound fracture of the thigh bone. Soon afterwards be was brevetted captain for his gallantry in that battle.
The action of the 21st Regiment in this engagement, deserves mention. The enemy, after the repulse at Chippewa, July 4, 1815, on the 25th of July appeared in force at Queenstown, and his fleet arrived and lay near Fort Niagara. Gen, Scott, with the First Brigade, Towson artillery, and all the dragoons and cavalry, was ordered to march towards Queenstown, to report if the enemy appeared, and to call for assistance if necessary. Scott pushed on his command with vigor, and upon his arrival at the Falls found the enemy, under Gen. Riall, directly in front, behind a narrow strip of woods, and in line of battle upon Lundy's Lane - a ridge of land nearly at right angles with the Niagara, and about a mile below the falls. Gen. Scott sent information to Gen. Brown, and his advance commenced skirmishing about half-past 5 P.M.; but the action did not commence in earnest till near 7 P.M. The British were in much larger force, and were able to extend their lines much further and to make flank movements. To counteract this advantage our troops fought in detachments and charged in column, each upon their own responsibility, until Gen. Brown came up with the remainder of the forces. Major Jessup taking advantage of a wood between a road parallel to the river and the river, through which he led his regiment, turned the enemy's left, took Gen. Riall and some of his principal officers prisoners, and charging back regained his position in gallant style. Meanwhile, the enemy moved a battalion to the rear of our right flank, but were promptly met by Major McNeil with the Eleventh, and driven back with great slaughter. Thus the contest raged for an hour; the British infantry driven back at each point by turns, but holding their position through a powerful battery of 2 twenty-fours, 4 sixes, and three howitzers, planted upon a rising ground and commanding the field, and keeping up a destructive and incessant fire.
Now came Ripley's brigade, containing Lieut. Cilley's regiment, to the front, greeted by cheer after cheer by the combatants, enveloped in smoke and mad with excitement. While forming for evening parade, the booming of cannon and rattle of small arms announced that Scott had found the enemy. They moved immediately, and at the double quick, actually running three miles betwixt the camp and the battle-field. Porter's brigade followed them. Both were soon deployed and hurled against the enemy, but the battery upon the hill made sad havoc among our troops. It became evident to Gen. Brown that the British battery must be carried, to insure success. He turned to gallant Miller of the 21st, and ordered him to storm the battery. "I'll try, sir," was the laconic reply. The contest that followed is well described in a letter written by Col. Miller:
"I had short of 300 men with me, as my regiment had been weakened by numerous details made from it during the day. I however immediately obeyed the order. We could see all their slow-matches and port-fires burning and ready. I did not know what side of the work had the most favorable approach, but happened to hit upon a very forvorable place, notwithstanding we advanced upon the mouths of their pieces. There was an old rail fence on the side where we approached, undiscovered by the enemy, with a small growth of shrubbery by the fence, and within less than two rods of the cannon's mouth. I then very cautiously ordered my men to rest across the fence, take good aim, fire, and rush; which was done in style. Not a man at the cannons was left to put fire to them. We got into the center of their park before they had time to oppose us. A British line was formed and lying in strong position to protect their artillery; the moment we got to the center they opened a most destructive flank fire on us; killed a great many, and attempted to charge with their bayonets. We returned the fire so warmly they were compelled to stand. We fought hand to hand for some time, so close that the blaze of our guns crossed each other; but we compelled them to abandon their whole artillery, ammunition, wagons and all, amounting to seven pieces of elegant brass cannon, one of which was a twenty-four pounder, with eight horses and harnesses, though some of the horses were killed. The British made two more attempts to charge us at close quarters, both of which were repulsed before I was reinforced by the First and Twenty-third regiments; and even after that, the British charged with their whole line three several times, and after getting within half pistol shot of us were compelled to give way. I took with my regiment, between thirty and forty prisoners."
This charge took place about 10 o'clock at night, in moonlight. Col. Miller's regiment lost in killed, wounded and missing, one hundred and twenty-six, nearly one half its strength. Lieut. Cilley's company led in the charge on the guns, and every commissioned and every noncommissioned officer present with the company was either killed or wounded. This was one of the most sanguinary battles of the war, and the gallant act of Col. Miller and the noble Twenty-first was the admiration of every one.
He was in the battle of Chrystlers fields, on the St. Lawrence, and served through the war with distinction, and was retained in the army on the peace establishment, until he resigned his commission in July 1816. An explosion of cartridges at Detroit, Mich., caused the loss of his right eye. On the 21st June 1817, he was commissioned as Quartermaster on the staff of the 1st Div. N.H. Militia, and in 1821 as Div. Inspector, and in 1827 appointed an aide upon the staff of Gov. Benjamin Pierce. In 1846 he was elected by the legislature to the U.S. Senate, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Hon. Levi Woodbury. Upon the close of his senatorial term, Col. Cilley returned to his farm in Nottingham. There he remains in the quiet enjoyment of a competence, with the reputation of a brave and gallant soldier, and upright and honorable man, and has the respect and esteem of his fellow men. Although in his 88th year, his faculties, excepting his eyesight, are remarkably good, and his judgement is as sound and as much sought after as ever.
Cilley