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Youngstown was the site of one of the bloodiest and most decisive battles of the French and Indian War....The Battle of La Bells Famille. You are welcome to take a complete tour by visiting www.youngstownny.com/battle.html, before searching for this cache.
While walking along Main Street you will see many fine examples of nineteenth– and early twentieth–century architecture where, on July 24, 1759,only oak and beech trees stood, parted by the all–important road to the "Great Falls".
There are several historical markers at this site, which pertain to the Battle of La Belle Famille. The NYS Education Depatment sign of 1935, defines this as the site of a Salt Battery. Built out of salt bags, it was part of the defences of the Niagara Frontier during the War of 1912.
La Belle Famille (“The Beautiful Family”) was a place just inside the woods about one mile south of Fort Niagara on the road to the "Great Falls of the Niagara". No one knows how the spot got its name; historians have speculated that a religious shrine might once have existed there. Early on the morning of July 24, 1759, this peaceful spot would play host to one of the bloodiest and most decisive battles of the French & Indian War.
On July 6, 1759, 2,300 British regulars and New York Provincial soldiers, and about 900 of their Iroquois allies laid siege to French–held Fort Niagara. Their mission was to capture the fort and sever France’s supply route to the upper Great Lakes and the Ohio Valley.
On July 7 the fort’s commander, CaptainPierre Pouchot, had dispatched a messenger to summon reinforcements from the French post at Venango (Franklin, Pennsylvania). About 1,100 French soldiers and their Indian allies were gathered there. These forces quickly traveled northward, crossed Lake Erie, and landed above Niagara Falls, intent on breaking through to Fort Niagara.
Meanwhile, Iroquois scouts had informed the British commander, Sir William Johnson, that a French relief column was on the way. On July 23, Johnson ordered a detachment of 150 light infantrymen under the command of Captain James De Lancey to take up a position at La Belle Famille to block the French relief column’s advance. Just inside the line of the woods, De Lancey’s men built a log breastwork to provide them cover from the French attackers. They then spent a quiet night camped behind their temporary log fort.
As dawn came on July 24, De Lancey realized that artillery would greatly strengthen his position. The nearest available cannon were at Montreal Point (Niagara–on–the–Lake) across the river. He dispatched eleven men south along the portage road to a small run where boats were stored. Their mission would be to cross the river and bring back a cannon. As they entered the slight depression in the ground and prepared to launch their boat, they were suddenly attacked by Native warriors operating in advance of the French column. All were killed or taken prisoner. The dead were scalped, and their heads were impaled on poles. Henceforth, the place would be known as Bloody Run.
De Lancey heard the firing to the south and ordered his men to prepare for attack. He also sent a runner to the main British camp to summon reinforcements. Suddenly, an odd pause in the action occurred. Two Iroquois interrupted the French advance by asking the French–allied Natives to stand aside from the battle. All but about 30 warriors agreed. Even though this left the French with only about 800 men, they remained confident that they could fight their way through to the fort. Prisoners seized at Bloody Run told them that only 150 British soldiers awaited them ahead.
While the Native warriors counseled, Sir William Johnson hurried reinforcements to La Belle Famille. The British now had 464 men at La Belle Famille blocking the road to Fort Niagara. At about 8:00am, the French poured from the woods in a column twelve men wide, giving a “horrible yell” and firing toward the British troops. They approached Massey’s regulars and then veered east towards the breastwork. Massey’s men lay on the ground until the decisive moment. With the French at close range and struggling to form an effective line of battle, British troops stood and delivered several volleys of well–aimed fire, inflicting some 250 casualties in only a few minutes.
With their force in a shambles, the French began to retreat toward the safety of their boats above Niagara Falls. Suddenly, the Iroquois entered the action and hotly pursued the fleeing French, killing and capturing many more of the retreating soldiers.
With the French relief force defeated and Fort Niagara’s walls breached by British artillery fire, Captain Pouchot had little choice but to surrender. Fort Niagara passed into British hands on July 25, 1759.
The cache itself is a magnetic key holder. Small pencil inside.
Congratulations to Dayo & Laura for FTF!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre gur fgnvef.