LEWISTON – One of the most unusual and heroic actions of the War of 1812 – the Tuscarora rescue of American settlers during the burning of Lewiston – should be commemorated with a monument in a central location in the village, the Town Board decided Monday.
“The monument will be presented as a gift of thanksgiving and appreciation to the Tuscarora Nation for its protection, guardianship and friendship of the people of Lewiston,” according to a resolution adopted unanimously by the four board members at Monday’s meeting. The fifth member, Councilman Alfonso M. Bax, was excused for personal reasons.
The resolution puts the town on record in support of placing the monument at the southwest corner of Portage Road and Center Street, a location that has been approved by the Tuscarora Nation.
Councilman Michael J. Marra, sponsor of the resolution, said, “At the moment when local citizens thought they would all become victims of a bloody massacre, men from the Tuscarora Nation ran down the escarpment and stopped the [British] attack, despite being outnumbered 30-to-1 by the enemy.
“In one of the bravest acts in American history, and the only one where Native Americans rescued the lives of local settlers during a foreign attack, the courageous men of the Tuscarora Nation saved dozens of lives that fateful morning.”
The attack occurred Dec. 19, 1813, killing many Lewiston residents and causing others to run for their lives. Most of the Village of Lewiston was destroyed in the attack, and the British went on to burn most of Buffalo, as well.
Local historians generally agree that the casualties in Lewiston would have been even greater if men from the nearby Tuscarora Indian Nation had not intervened on the side of the settlers.
The Town of Lewiston officially endorsed the Tuscarora Heroes Monument project last year and obtained Greenway funds from the New York Power Authority to support it. The project is sponsored by the Historical Association of Lewiston.
Town Board members said the monument “will permanently memorialize the heroic actions of the Tuscaroras and will be unveiled on the 200th anniversary of the attack on Dec. 19, 2013.”
Monday’s resolution said the town “desires to position this monument in an honored location that will proudly show visitors and local citizens the importance and esteem Lewiston places on this historic event, along with demonstrating its deep gratitude for the bravery of the Tuscarora Nation.”
Town Supervisor Steven L. Reiter said he believes that Lewiston is the only municipality that has officially recognized the role of the Tuscaroras in aiding U.S. victims of the War of 1812.
The war ended with no clear victory for either side, but it established the boundary between the United States and Canada.

email: rbaldwin@buffnews.com