Program

Legends & Lore®

Subject

Legend

Location

5920 NY-812, Ogdensburg, NY 13669, USA

Lat/Long

44.682506, -75.482174

Grant Recipient

Ogdensburg Public Library

After the end of the American Revolution, rising tensions between Great Britain and the United States eventually led to War of 1812. Over the next four years the United States faced off against its old enemy, Great Britain.  In New York State, British troops descended from Canada and wreaked havoc, catching many communities by surprise. One such community was Ogdensburg, NY. American forces attempted to stave off the British advance but to no avail. Despite this, and according to legend, St. Lawrence County Sheriff Joseph York stood in defiance against the approaching enemy and continued to singlehandedly operate a cannon. His courageous action allegedly caused a British officer to utter the now famous phrase:

There stands a man too brave to shoot.

Mary Chapin Brown’s book Reminiscences of Ogdensburg, 1749-1907 described the event as follows:

The other detachment of the enemy entered the village from below and met with no resistance. Sheriff York and his company of volunteers were stationed at the corner of Ford and Euphemia now State Streets. The cannon was facing the bridge as they expected the enemy to approach from that direction. Great was their surprise when they turned and discovered five hundred soldiers advancing up State Street. The gun was brought to bear upon them and several shots were fired. Two of our men however were killed by the enemy and the others with the exception of Sheriff York turned and fled. But he disdaining to leave his post at the moment of danger resolved to face the enemy alone. While he was engaged in charging the guns the soldiers approached with guns levelled ready for the order to fire. Then the captain raised his hand and turning to his company said, “There stands too brave a man to shoot.” When the British returned to Prescott they took back with them fifty prisoners one of whom was Joseph York.