The Swan Hollow Bridge

Southeast of Alexandria Bay, NY, lies a silent witness to the early history of America. Located on Swan Hollow Road, which winds through the Cranberry Creek Wildlife Management Area, is a stone bridge. Called the Swan Hollow Bridge, it was once a vital crossing point for Cranberry Creek.

The road crossing the creek was an early wilderness highway— often referred to in early land documents as State Road or sometimes refereed to as the Old Military Road —which was hacked through the forest to connect the inland settlements of Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties with the St. Lawrence River.

On an 1812 map by Amos Lay, titled "Map of the Northern Part of the State of New York," – David Rumsey Historical Map Collection, compiled from actual surveys and entered for copyright on July 16, 1812, you can trace a corridor running from the Black River settlements (near Watertown and Champion) northward through what would become Alexandria and toward the River. It was an essential artery for early pioneers, loggers, and land speculators, such as the land agents for Le Ray de Chaumont, who were just beginning to establish homesteads in the dense wilderness of northern New York. The State Road crosses Cranberry Creek where today a stone bridge features distinctive stone-cutting techniques consistent with being crafted by early 19th-century hands.

At the time Amos Lay published his map, this specific road and its crossing at Cranberry Creek were about to become strategically vital. When the War of 1812 began, the St. Lawrence River became a heavily contested international border. Traveling by water along the River was incredibly dangerous due to British gunboats operating out of Kingston. Consequently, this overland road and its creek crossings became a crucial logistics lifeline. It allowed American forces to move troops, ordnance, and supplies inland, safely away from British naval cannon fire, positioning them to support defensive points along the River.

During the War of 1812, the St. Lawrence River was a highly contested, vital supply artery. British supply bateaux—flat-bottomed cargo boats—regularly ferried materials upriver to their strategic bases on the Great Lakes. On July 17, 1813, a daring American force, including components of the 1st United States Rifle Regiment (popularly known as Forsyth’s Rifles) and local volunteers under Captain Dimock, crossed the River and pulled off a spectacular surprise raid. Without firing a single shot, they captured a British gunboat, 15 loaded supply bateaux, and 69 British prisoners.

Seeking a place to secure their massive haul, the Americans retreated downriver and hid deep within the winding, marshy upper reaches of Cranberry Creek. The Americans' choice to take their spoils of war up Cranberry Creek was not an accident. The existence of the nearby road and established regional trails meant that American reinforcements could move freely.

The British quickly sent a retaliatory force of roughly 250 soldiers aboard four gunboats to recapture the supplies. Anticipating the pursuit, the Americans set up a defensive ambush in the woods near the creek. When the British boats attempted to push up the creek, they were met with a blistering crossfire of musket volleys and strategically placed American cannons. The British were forced into a chaotic retreat, suffering heavy casualties. However, a small number of American soldiers were also killed during the sharp engagement.

The fallen American soldiers were buried right where they fell, near the banks of the creek.

Today, this site is preserved within the Cranberry Creek Wildlife Management Area. On Swan Hollow Road, there is a gravel pull-off and parking area. From there, a walking trail leads about a quarter mile back into the woods to the edge of the water. You will find detailed interpretive markers that explain the tactics of the July 1813 action. In memorial, there are three polished granite stones. They were erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution to permanently mark the final resting place of those American patriots, ensuring their role in securing the northern frontier is not forgotten.

The Swan Hollow Road stone bridge, located just hundreds of feet from the memorial site, is a bridge that no one remembers when or why it was built. It provides a reason to remember the fallen of long ago. May the words "Lest we forget" remind us of the early history of America and the Battle of Cranberry Creek, July 1813.

By Dennis McCarthy

Dennis R. McCarthy lives in Cape Vincent, NY, along with his wife Kathi. He is a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in electrical engineering. A diver, he co-founded the St Lawrence Historical Foundation Inc. and serves as one of its directors. He is a member of the Advisory Council for the NOAA Lake Ontario National Maritime Sanctuary and serves on the board of the Cape Vincent Historical Museum and Fort La Présentation Association. He is an author and co-author of numerous articles, websites, and history books focusing on local US and Canadian shipwrecks. Dennis has written (2019+) several (pre 2019) important and popular articles for TI Life over the years.