"The Commandant at Fort Erie, finding the people in its vicinity anxious to obtain special protections, deems it necessary to make a public declaration, that all those who may come forward and voluntarily enroll their names with him and claim the protection of the United States, shall have their property and personal rights secured to them inviolate. He invites all who mean to pursue this course to take it immediately, that they may be distinguished from the enemy: and while he assures them that their interests and happiness will be regarded by the government of the United States; he solemnly warns those who may obstinately continue inimical, that they are bringing on themselves, the most rigorous and disastrous consequences; as they will be pursued and treated with that spirit of retaliation which the treatment of the American prisoners in the hands of the British so justly inspires.

James P. Preston, Lt. Col. 12th Regt. Inf'y, Com'g at Fort Erie, Black Rock and Buffalo. 30th May, 1813 Salsbury's Print, Buffalo."