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355.2.
C45
184 |
º:
INDYSINEHRMIS EI
QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
BY
DEF NIEST CFRUDOKSESDHCA NIK.
Captain, 44th Battalion.
$5CCOno Eoition,
Žliagara jallº, (Tartar at
PRINTED BY THE RECORD PRINTING HOUSE.
1891.

AUTHOR'S NOTE.
* —t-º-º-º-º-
(X ºw
! KX -
º º &
º/º 0ſ. DEMAND having arisen for a second edition
tº £)
of this pamphlet, it has been carefully re-
(X º
$SO/
§l vised and considerably enlarged. Among the
º &n authorities consulted, the following may be
º º mentioned: Armstrong's, Auchinleck's, Brack-
º º 3. enridge's, Ingersoll's, Lossing's, Low's, Smith's,
K2 º º: David Thomson's and J. L. Thomson's Histories
of the War of 1812; an Impartial History, and
Sketches of the War by anonymous writers, Brannan's Official
Letters, Bonney's Gleanings of Past Years, James' Military
Occurrences, Symond's Battle of Queenston, Christie's Military
Operations, the Letters of Veritas, the Narratives of Solomon
Van Rensselaer, Col. Chrystie and Hon. W. H. Merritt, Tupper's
Life of Broek and Records of the Brock Family, Mansfield's
Life of Scott, Stone's Life of Brant, Wilkinson's Memoirs,
Turner's History of Phelp's Purchase, McKenney's Tour to the
Lakes and Howison's Travels in Upper Canada. Much informa-
tion has been gleaned from files of contemporary newspapers,
among which may be cited: The “Albany Argus and Gazette,”
“Buffalo Gazette,” “Boston Messenger,” “Nile's Register,” “New
York Evening Post,” “Philadelphia Aurora,” “Poulson's Ameri-
can,” “Washington National Intelligencer,” “Montreal Gazette”
and “Quebec Mercury.” Invaluable unpublished materials have
been found in the official correspondence in the Canadian
Archives and War Department at Washington, and use has been
made of MS. Letterbooks of Governor D. D. Tompkins and
Col. W. Claus, and of an article on Gen. Wool in the Historical
Magazine for 1867. *
IFoRT ERIE, June, 1891.


BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
$3. ğ,
2.É. ſt OST CANADIANS are sufficiently familiar with the
stately column which crowns the summit of Queen-
| ston Heights, and looks down upon an expanse of
scenery that can scarcely be paralleled for variety
and sublimity, save by the view from the edge of
L- the plateau, on which an obelisk marks the spot
º: W* @). where “Wolfe died victºrious.” Most of them
G know, also, in a general way, why it was placed
there, and that Brock died to preserve what Wolfe had died to conquer.
It is not necessary to trace the march of events immediately succeed-
ing the declaration of war by the United States, on the 18th of June,
1812; how Brock cheered up the despondent, decided the wavering and
overawed the disloyal among the inhabitants of the province by a
settled, policy, to use his own words, of “speaking loud and looking
big ; ” how, prevented by the express instructions of his superior from
attacking the enemy beyond the Niagara, he assembled an enthusiastic
body of volunteers, and taking with him almost every regular soldier at
his disposal, flew to repel the invader at the Detroit; how he promptly
determined to cross that river contrary to the opinion of his most trusted
officers; and how his audacity was rewarded by a complete and bloodless
victory, is tolerably well known to every Canadian.
But, while conquering at Detroit, he could not fail to be apprehensive
that disaster might have befallen the weakened garrisons on the Niagara,
and scarcely twenty-four hours were permitted to elapse before he was
on his way thither, carrying with him all the troops that had accom-
panied or preceded him to that quarter, fully alive to the truth of the
Napoleonic maxim that “in war, time is everything.” Brock then hoped

6 * BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
to duplicate his exploit by the capture of Fort Niagara and the dispersal
of the forces assembled on that frontier. That it would have been an
easy task, there can now be no reasonable doubt, for although superior
in numbers, the American troops there, were, by the admission of their
commander, in a very indifferent state of discipline, without any heavier
ordnance than six pounders, and but few of them, and without artillerists.
A few days later, when the true extent of Brock's success was made
known, their demoralization became complete. The most absurd rumors
were believed and spread. Panic-stricken fugitives from Detroit, anxious
to excuse their cowardicc, gravely related that a hundred fresh scalps
had been deposited at Colonel Elliott's feet, and that he had paid for
them at the rate of six dollars each. Not only the Western Indians,
but those residing in Michigan and Canada were reported to have taken
the hatchet, and to be already on their way to devastate the border set-
tlements of Ohio. The appearance of two British war-vessels on the
south shore of Lake Erie threw the inhabitants of Chautauqua county
into a paroxysm of terror. Fearful memories of Cherry Valley and
Wyoming were recalled, and a general flight began. The militia became
clamorous for pay, and sought furloughs under every possible pretext.
When refused, they feigned sickness or deserted.
The intensity of Brock's disappointment may be imagined when he
learned, on his arrival at Fort Erie on the 22nd of August, that an
armistice had been proclaimed five days before. Persistently hoping
against hope that peace might be established without bloodshed, the
Governor-General of Canada, as soon as he was informed of the repeal
of the obnoxious Orders in Council, assigned by the American govern-
ment as the chief cause of their declaration of war, dispatched his
Adjutant-General, Colonel Baynes, to General Dearborn, commander of
the United States forces in the State of New York, who had his head-
quarters at Greenbush, near Albany, to propose a cessation of hostilities
till the decision of the cabinet could be ascertained. He found Dearborn
in a favorable humor. The latter had indeed been vaguely instructed
to make a diversion in favor of General Hull upon the Niagara, but was
in no position to assume the offensive there or elsewhere at that mo-
BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. 7
ment. Most of the American merchant vessels on Lake Ontario were
‘blockaded at Ogdensburg, Sackett's Harbor, his principal naval station
on that lake, was nearly defenceless, and had been threatened with an
attack; the forces assembled on the Niagara were unprovided with
artillery and necessary munitions of war. He readily assented to
Baynes' proposals as far as the forces under his immediate command
were concerned, as he could still continue his preparations for defence
and invasion with entire freedom. But Hull was believed to be in full
tide of success. It was confidently reported that he had taken Malden
and was marching up the Thames. Dearborn therefore warily declined
to extend the armistice to his operations.
General Van Rensselaer, who commanded the American forces on the
Niagara, received the news with feelings of profound relief and satisfac-
tion. Although refugees from Canada had assured him nearly a week
before, that all the regular troops had been withdrawn from the posts
opposite to meet General Hull, he still remained incredulous and ap-
prehensive of an attack. Yet his force already exceeded two thousand
men, of whom one-half were regulars. He perceived in an instant what
an immense advantage might be derived from the cessation of hostilities,
if the terms could be construed in such a way as to enable him to bring
up troops and stores from Oswego and Sackett's Harbor by water, in-
stead of the tedious overland route. Unless this concession were secured,
the armistice would be of little immediate benefit to him. The agree-
ment was so loosely worded as to leave this matter in doubt. His
Adjutant-General was at once sent to Fort George with directions to
insist on this interpretation.
Colonel Christopher Myers had been left in command there by General
Brock. To garrison all the posts, he had less than three hundred men
of the 41st regiment. The absentees of the flank companies of the Lin-
coln militia were called in and increased the number of militia in service
to about four hundred. The remainder of the inhabitants were busily
engaged in the harvest fields, but an additional draft of five hundred
men was warned to hold itself in readiness to march to his sup-
port. The two armed vessels, Prince Iregent and Earl Moira, were
8 : BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
moored in the mouth of the river to protect his left flank, while the new
schooner, Lady Prévost, was anchored off Fort Erie to assist in the defence
of that post. Efforts to strengthen the fortifications along the entire
line were continued as far as his means would permit. A day or two
before the armistice was announced, Colonel Roger Sheaffe of the 49th
arrived and assumed command. Letters recently received from Prevost
insisted on the policy of conciliating the enemy by every means in his
power, and Sheaffe finally consented that both parties should enjoy the
unrestricted navigation of Lake Ontario as long as the armistice continued,
although an express from Detroit had informed him a few minutes before
of the capitulation of the entire American army there.
All the advantages secured so far by the superiority of the British
squadron on Lake Ontario were thrown away by a stroke of the pen.
The blockaded vessels at Ogdensburg were removed to Sackett's Harbor
to be armed, and troops and stores of all kinds hurried forward to Fort
Niagara. Tidings of Brock's almost incredible success had preceded him,
and as he rode down to Niagara he was met midway by many of the
magistrates and principal inhabitants on horseback, who presented him
with a congratulatory address, to which he replied with his characteristic
readiness and tact, modestly disclaiming any personal credit, and ascrib-
ing his triumph to the fidelity and alacrity with which he had been
supported by the people of the province, and the steadiness of the troops
under his command. The volunteers who had accompanied him were
filled with natural exultation, and their easy victory inspired them with
a certain amount of contempt for their enemies, which was rapidly
communicated to their friends and acquaintances. The arrival of the
American general and the regulars of his army, a few days later, became
the signak for a frantic outburst of enthusiasm, and aged loyalists who
still nourished bitter memories of the Revolution, joyfully declared that
Saratoga had been at last avenged. .
Quite as profound was the dismay occasioned in the minds of even
the most sanguine of his antagonists. “Three days ago,” wrote Peter
B. Porter, their Quartermaster-general, to the Governor of New York,
“the heroes of Tippecanoe and the garrisons of Detroit and Mackinac,"
BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. 9.
amounting to about 500, were marched like cattle from Fort Erie to
Fort George, guarded by General Brock's regular troops with all the
parade and pomp of British insolence, and we were incapacitated by
the armistice and our own weakness from giving them the relief they
anxiously seemed to expect. With 4000 men on this river, the whole of
Upper Canada and the Indian country would have been in our posses-
sion. Now, Detroit and a brave army taken, the Indians let loose
upon our frontiers, the inhabitants flying in every direction. Brock
with his army and Indians and thousands of inspirited Canadians, and
a powerful train of field and garrison artillery taken at Detroit, arrived
on this frontier and ready to act. Indeed it is now reduced to a cer-
tainty that the inhabitants of this frontier are doomed to feel the
scourge and desolation of the war. The hour that closes the armistice
will bring ruin to most of them who live on this frontier. We have
been daily amused for two months by news of heavy ordnance and fly-
ing artillery. They come as far as Utica and then disappear. This
letter is written in a state of mind little short of distraction. Yester"
day a number of men were shot at Fort George, in view of our troops.
They are supposed to be unfortunate fellows who joined General Hull,
in Canada, and were surrendered at Detroit, and for whose protection
provision should have been made in the capitulation, at the expense of
the life of every man in the garrison. The public mind is wrought up
almost to a pitch of madness. Jealousy and distrust begin to prevail
towards the general officers.” John Lovett, private Secretary to
General Van Rensselaer, wrote about the same time to a friend : “Hull's
surrender has cemented Canada beyond anything you can conceive. It
has also a serious effect on the Indians along the whole frontier. The
sensation produced by the sight of prisoners marched past is
inexpressible.”
Under these circumstances it is not surprising that when General
Dearborn, having learned that his government had peremptorily de-
clined to enter into fresh negotiations, and believing the rumor of the
capture of Malden, instructed Van Rensselaer to terminate the armistice
at once, that the latter exercised the discretionary power allowed him
§:0 BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
of prolonging it until the last of his artillery had arrived. But when
the last division of boats hove in sight, and all the benefit that could
be reasonably expected from its continuance had been secured, notice
was given that it would end on the 8th of September,
Four hundred batteaux, loaded with artillery and stores, had come
in from Oswego; great quantities of provisions had been collected; a
large number of Scows and boats, suitable for the passage of the river,
had been built; several thousand additional troops had arrived, and
more were on the march, yet the American general hesitated to assume
the offensive. The panic created by the surrender of Detroit had by
that time reached Albany, and Dearborn wrote to warn him that an
attack upon his position was imminent. British troops had been seen
ascending the St. Lawrence, and he must be prepared to fall back if
hard pushed, and not be caught in a trap like Hull. The disembarka-
tion of detachments of soldiers, both at Fort Erie and Niagara, close
upon the heels of this information, alarmed and perplexed him. Colonel
Fenwick, commanding at Fort Niagara, reporting that an attack was
expected by him, the stores were removed, the siege-guns buried, and
every preparation made for the hasty evacuation of the post.
Stephen Van Rensselaer, who held chief command by virtue of his
rank as Major-General of the New York state troops, was an utter
novice in all military affairs, and could scarcely even be termed an
amateur soldier. The last patroon of the manor of Rensselaer-Wyck
and the leading Federalist in the state, his appointment was a sharp
stroke of party tactics on the part of the governor, who discovered in
bim a prospective and dangerous opponent. The recent Congressional
elections had seemed to indicate that the Federalists had regained the
confidence of the people of New York, and most of their leaders were
uncompromising in their hostility to the war. If Van Ransselaer
accepted the command, his immediate following would be committed to
its prosecution; if he refused, his conduct could be denounced as
unpatriotic.
Five generations of the Van Rensselaers had reigned in the ancient
manor-house near Albany, and their estates stretched along the Hudson
BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. II.
from Barren Island to Cohoes, extending inland for twenty-five miles,
on either side of the river, and comprising a thousand square miles of
territory. Under the Dutch governors they had assumed almost regal
state, exacting oaths of allegiance from their tenants, and they still
maintained many of their feudal customs, giving perpetual leases,
receiving the rents in dozens of fowls, and bushels of wheat, and per-
sonal service, and holding regular quarter sales. In the Congressional
district, in which Albany was situated, their influence was paramount,
and members of the family represented it for twenty years. Stephen,
the present head of the house, was an amiable and benevolent, but
rather dull man of about fifty years of age. On all strictly military
subjects, he was compelled to rely upon the advice of his Adjutant-
General and cousin, Solomon Van Rensselaer, who had been bred a
soldier, had served in the United States army for ten years, and had
held his present appointment for as many more. He had been wounded
in Wayne's campaign against the Indians, and possessed the reputation
of a brave and skilful officer. *
Remaining but a few hours at Niagara, the indefatigable Brock hur-
ried on to Kingston, where he inspected the militia, examined the
growing fortifications, and wrote to Sir George Prevost for permission
to attack Sackett's Harbor, where the American shipping on Lake
Ontario had taken refuge. With his present superiority upon the lake,
he assured him that its capture would be an easy matter. A portion of
the American troops at Niagara would be probably recalled for its re-
lief, and while they were marching overland he would sail up the lake
and throw his whole force against the posts they had left. But to the
governor this daring scheme of operation seemed far too hazardous, and
in reply he enjoined Brock not to provoke the enemy by needless annoy- *
ance, but remain strictly on the defensive, and even hinted that he had
risked too much when he ventured to cross the river at Detroit.
This project having been rejected, Brock returned to Niagara, where
he learned that Van Rensselaer had already given notice of the termina-
tion of the armistice. Lewiston Heights were whitened with the tents
of a large encampment. Other camps were visible at Schlosser, Black
12 BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
Rock, and in rear of Fort Niagara. Batteries had been erected on the
commanding ground opposite Fort George and at Lewiston, and armed
with heavy guns. A large flotilla of boats, suitable for the transporta-
tion of troops, lay moored under the guns of the fort, at the mouth of
the river, and others had been taken up to Lewiston. Forty batteaux,
each capable of carrying thirty men, were known to have been built in
Tonawanda creek. Every day large bodies of men could be seen exer-
cising, and marching to and fro, attended by a numerous train of field
artillery and detachments of cavalry. Everything pointed to an im-
mediate attack, while Brock found himself at once hampered by want
of officers, men, and artillery, and wrote to Prevost that he must have
a thousand more regular soldiers to defend that frontier. The latter
replied, that not another man could be spared for Upper Canada under
any circumstances. Without delay the British commander set to work
to supply the deficiency of men and means with his wonted energy.
Detachments of troops were ordered up from Kingston and down from
Amherstburg. Batteries were built and mounted with cannon taken
from the fortifications of Detroit. An extensive system of beacons was
established, stretching from the Sugar Loaf and Point Abino, along
the lake and river to Lundy's Lane and Queenston, and thence inland
to Pelham Heights, by which the movements of the enemy could be
instantaneously signalled over the entire peninsula by night or day.
Two thousand captured muskets, and the accoutrements of Hull's regu-
lar troops, were distributed among the militia of the province. His
tireless activity and watchfulness excited the admiration even of his
enemies. “I send you Brock's seal,” Lovett wrote to a friend, “with
his appropriate motto; ‘He who guards, never sleeps.’”
Earthworks of some description were constructed on every command-
ing point along the river, from Queenston to its mouth, and at any
menacing movement of the American troops, alarm-guns were fired,
and horsemen rode off in every direction.
Nor were the embarrassments of the British general, from lack of
clothing and ready money, less annoying and serious. A number of
the wealthier inhabitants, who formed themselves into a cômpany
BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. 13
known as the “Queenston and Niagara Association,” had at that criti-
cal moment in July, when the fate of the province hung in the balance,
loaned him several thousand pounds of ready money, which enabled
him to equip his expedition for the relief of Malden. The contents of
General Hull's military chest, and ten thousand dollars sent him by the
Governor General, had enabled him to satisfy the most pressing demands
since. But the pay of his troops, both regulars and militia, was several
months in arrears, and they were unable to obtain the most trifling
article without paying the highest price in cash for it. They were with-
out tents or camp utensils of any description. Their clothing hung
about them in tatters; their shoes were worn out, and they suffered
dreadfully from cold and wet, yet their patience and cheerfulness ex-
cited his warmest admiration and praise. With the exception of a few
men from the militia, who generally went to their homes, and after-
wards rejoined their companies, there were scarcely any desertions.
On the other side of the river bodies of fresh troops were constantly
arriving, but their militia was represented as being very much dissatis-
fied and extremely inefficient. Sickness prevailed in their camp and
funerals were daily observed. Seven men of the 6th United States
Infantry deserted in a body and attempted to swim the river, six of
whom perished in sight of both armies. Undeterred by the fate of his
unfortunate comrades, another man of the same regiment plunged in
next day and swam successfully over amid a shower of bullets. Two
companies that had arrived during the armistice, each consisting of sixty
meh, this fugitive said, had already been reduced one-half by desertion.
“The United States regiments of the line desert over to us frequently,”
Brock wrote on the 18th of September. “The men are tired of the ser-
vice. Opportunities seldom offer, otherwise I have reason to think the
greater part would follow their example. The militia being principally
composed of enraged democrats are more ardent and anxious to engage,
but they have neither subordination nor discipline.”
By the middle of September, two companies of the Royal Newfound-
land and six of the 49th regiment arrived from Kingston, and ninety .
men of the 41st came down from Detroit. These slender reinforcements
14 BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
were ostentatiously paraded in view of the enemy as they arrived, and
marched from place to place with marked effect, as we have already ob-
served. Three hundred Indians had come in and two hundred more
were promised, but Brock placed little dependence upon auxiliaries of
such uncertain temperament. “They may serve to intimidate,” he said,
“but no effective service can be expected from this degenerate race.”
To Prevost he wrote that there was no doubt great discontent existed
among the American forces, “and much might be done, but keeping in
mind Your Excellency’s instructions, and aware of the policy of per-
mitting such a force to dwindle away by its own inefficient means, I do
not contemplate any immediate attack.” But in a letter to his brother
a few days later, he avowed his real impatience at his forced inactivity.
“My instructions oblige me to adopt defensive measures, and I have
evinced greater forbearance than was ever practised on any former oc-
casion. It is thought that without aid of the sword, the American peo-
ple may be brought to a due sense of their interests. I firmly believe
that at this moment I could sweep everything before me from Forb
Niagara to Buffalo, but my success would be transient.”
In fact the arrival of his reinforcements had almost produced a panic
in the American camp. Party strife raged among the officers with un-
abated fury. Porter and his friends styled the commanding general a
traitor, while Solomon Van Rensselaer openly announced his intention
of publishing Porter as “a poltroon, coward, and scoundrel.” In this
dilemma, General Dearborn suggested that the Governor of the State
should assume supreme command himself and march thither with as
large a force of militia as he could assemble, while he would endeavor
to draw off part of the British troops by a movement towards Montreat
by way of Lake Champlain. Tompkins was too shrewd a politician to
imperil his reputation by so rash a step, but he displayed great vigor in
pushing forward troops and stores, and invested Van Rensselaer with
authority to call out an almost unlimited number of militia from the
neighboring counties. Dearborn at the same time dispatched regiment
- after regiment of regular troops to Van Rensselaer's assistance, while
the Secretary of War sent sailors to equip and man the boats and vessels
BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. 15,
at Buffalo, and was urging forward another army to recover Detroit.
Two. thousand volunteers from Pennsylvania were at the same time
ordered to march to the Niagara.
Their secret and persistent efforts to enlist the Indians residing in
New York and Pennsylvania actively on their side finally promised to
be successful. In July Erastus Granger, the American Indian Agent for
the State of New York, held a council with the Senecas at Buffalo, dur-
ing which he proposed that they should permit two hundred of their
young men to join the American army. This they refused to do, but
consented to send some of their chiefs to the Grand River to dissuade
their confederate tribes from joining the British. In this mission they
were unsuccessful, but Granger appears to have represented to his govern-
ment that they were anxious to be employed themselves, for as early as
the 27th of July the Secretary of War wrote to Dearborn, enclosing a
letter to Granger, authorizing him to organize the warriors of the Six
Nations conditionally. At this time it was quite impossible for him to
have known that any Indians had joined the British. About the mid-
dle of September, Van Rensselaer held a grand council with the Tusca-
roras, and advantage was craftily taken of the appearance of a British
scouting party upon Grand Island, which was still the property of the
Senecas, to excite alarm among them lest they should be deprived of
these lands. They were then induced to declare war formally, and
Red Jacket pompously announced that they would put 3,000 warriors
in the field. Several hundred Indians were brought down from the
Alleghany River and a great feast and war dance held in the streets of
Buffalo. Almost at the moment when these events were taking place,
the Secretary again wrote to Dearborn :—“By letters received from
Erastus Granger it appears that the young men of the Six Nations can
no longer be restrained, and that in case of refusal on , the part of the
United States to accept their services they would join the Indians under
the British standard. Mr. Granger has therefore been authorized, after
every attempt to secure their neutrality has failed, to employ them.” In
direct contradiction to the statement contained in this letter stands a
speech delivered at Onondaga, the ancient council ground of the Six
I6 BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS,
Nations, by sixteen chiefs, representing five tribes of the confederacy
distributed as far west as Tonawanda, on the 29th of September ;
“Having been told repeatedly by your agents to remain neutral, we
Were very much surprised at the council held at Buffalo Creek, at being
invited to take up the tomahawk. We are not unfriendly to the United
States but are few in number, and can do but little, but are willing to
do what we can, and if you say so we will go with your people to battle.
we are anxious to know your wishes as soon as possible, because we are
afraid some of our young men may disperse among distant tribes and
be hostile to you.” By the beginning of October it is certain that
about 300 warriors had joined Van Rensselaer's army, but they seem
to have sent some apologetic message to the allied tribes in the British
service, for these assured Brock that they would not act against him
with any spirit. “So I imagine,” he observed with his accustomed
penetration, “if we continue to show a bold front, but in the event of
a disaster the love of plunder will prevail in a manner to be the most
dreaded by the inhabitants of this country.”
The American militia were constantly in the habit of stealing down
to the river and firing at the British sentries, the batteries, and private
houses on the opposite bank, and soon excited an intense and almost
ferocious feeling of hatred among the troops under Brock's command,
but he had the satisfaction of being able to report at the end of two
months of incessant annoyance and alarm, that his regulars had not been g
diminished by a single death at the hands of the enemy, nor by a soli-
tary desertion, and that his entire force was in good health and spirits in
spite of their privations. In fact the only loss occasioned by this des.
ultory but harassing warfare, was the death of an unfortunate sentry,
Private John Hendershot, of the 5th Lincoln, who was shot on his post
at Queenston, on the 4th of September. The British forces were strictly
forbidden to make any reply, and their endurance was often tested to its
utmost limit in consequence. A letter from a spy, apparently residing
near Fort Erie, to General Van Rensselaer, gives a very striking view of
the situation and feelings of the people at this time. “General Brock,”
he remarks, “has paid attention to every particular that can relate to
BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. 17
the future resources of the province under his charge as well as to its
immediate defence. The harvest has been got in tolerably well and
greater preparation is made for sowing fall grain than ever before. The
militia law is modified as much as possible to suit the circumstances of
the people, and measures taken to prevent them feeling the burden of
the war. The women work in the fields, encouragement being given for
that purpose. When Hull's proclamation appeared it had its effect, there
being security promised for private property, and the people would will-
ingly have submitted, but when it was found that private property was
seized without compensation the public sentiment entirely changed. The
success of General Brock established the general sentiment; he has since
made the most of it, has become personally highly popular; in short, has
taken every measure that a judicious officer will take in his circumstan-
ces for the security of the province. A determination now prevails
among the people to defend the country.”
No dread of impending disaster ever damped his spirits or abated his
activity. Irrepressibly sanguine himself, he possessed the rare faculty of
imbuing all who came in contact with him with unbounded confidence in
his abilities and respect for his character. To maintain his position in
the face of the overwhelming numbers gathering in his front must at
times have seemed well nigh hopeless, yet no sign of despondency was
ever betrayed in his manner or conversation. His wonted sagacity was
displayed in the selection of members of his military family, John Mc-
Donnell, the Attorney-General of the province and M. P. P. for Glen-
garry, and James Givins, of the Indian department, a man thoroughly
familiar with the language and customs of the Indians of the province,
were appointed provincial aides-de-camp. Robert Nichol, a wealthy
merchant and miller of Port Dover, who knew intimately every part
of the country between the Niagara and Detroit and almost every man
in it, was nominated assistant quartermaster-general.
When the assembly was prorogued, an address to the people of the
province had been prepared and signed by nearly the whole of the mem-
bers, urging them to defend their country and pledging their aid and
advice in the cause, and most of them had now taken the field in some
B
18 BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
capacity. Many of the surviving loyalists, too old and feeble to bear the
fatigue of a campaign, likewise tendered their services to perform gar-
rison duty. *
The weather had been singularly discouraging, July was excessively
hot and dry, but August brought floods of rain. Wheat sprouted in the
fields after being reaped and much of the harvest was ruined. Septem-
ber as a rule proved cool and pleasant, but October was ushered in by
furious storms, and sudden changes of temperature which prevented most
of the Indian corn from maturing, and blighted the lingering hopes of
the farmers.
Besides several large scows for the transport of cannon, the Americans
had begun to build three gun-boats at Black Rock, the destruction of
which, Brock frankly confessed he would have attempted had he mot
been restrained by his instructions. The Indians were strictly pro-
hibited from crossing the river under any pretence, and were closely
watched and guarded. A party which arrived from the west to visit
Colonel Claus, bringing with them a bundle of scalps, were sharply re-
buked and pledged not to offend in that way again. These rigid pre-
cautions had the effect of diminishing the number of those with the
army until it did not much exceed one hundred.
A variety of motives absolutely forced General Van Rensselaer to
assume the offensive. During September six regiments of regular
infantry, five of New York militia, a battalion of rifles and several
companies of artillery joined his army. The Pennsylvania contingent had
assembled at Meadville on the 20th, and was marching to Buffalo.
Forage and provisions had already begun to grow scarce, and the autumn
rains would undoubtedly increase the ravages of disease already fright-
fully prevalent among his militia. Dearborn strongly urged him to.
attempt the passage of the river, as he declared they must reckon upon
obtaining possession of UpperCanada before the winter set in, assuring
him at the same time that Harrison would invade the province by way
of Detroit with six or seven thousand men, while another strong body
of troops were already assembled at Sackett's Harbor, where a squadron
was fitting out to contest possession of Lake Ontario, and he, in person,
BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. 19
promised to menace Montreal from Lake Champlain. The ultimate
success of these operations he regarded as almost certain, but he warned
Van Rensselaer that much would depend on his movements on the
Niagara.” Monroe, Secretary of State, openly ascribed the inactivity of
the armies in New York to the effects of disaffection, which he de-
clared had paralyzed the efforts of the administration and rendered the
measures of Congress inoperative. The militia now clamored loudly
to be led against the enemy, and did not hesitate to accuse their com-
‘mander of lukewarmness and cowardice, while some of their officers
announced their intention of invading Canada without waiting for orders
from him, yet a trifling incident served to indicate how very little de-
pendence was to be placed on their assistance. A sentinel near
Schlosser was shot at his post in the night by some unknown person,
and an entire company instantly threw down its arms and ran away, the
fugitives never stopping till they had gained the main camp at Lewiston.
Early in October Van Rensselaer summoned a council of war, to which
he invited General Smyth, who had just taken command of a brigade of
regular troops at Buffalo, General Hall, of the New York militia, and the
commandant of each regiment of United States troops. Smyth showed his
contempt for the militia general under whom he was forced to serve by
neglecting to attend or even to explain his absence. Van Rensselaer had
intended to concentrate the whole of his regular troops near Fort Niagara
and the militia at Lewiston, and attempt the passage of the river simul-
taneously at both places, but in consequence of Smyth's misconduct this
scheme was abandoned and he determined to cross from the latter place
only, as he felt satisfied that the forces he had already assembled there
were amply sufficient for the purpose. Staff-officers, under one pretext
and another, had visited the British lines, and the result of their observa.
tions, coupled with information received from his spies had made him
pretty thoroughly acquainted with the numbers and composition of the
forces opposed to him.
* General Dearborn to Mr. Eustis, Secretary of War, Sept. 1st, 1812: “When the regular troops
you have ordered for Niagara arrive at that post, with the militia and other troops on the march,
they will be able, I presume, to cross overiuto Canada, carry all the works at Niagara and proceed
to the other posts in that province in triumph.”
20 BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
No doubt was entertained of at least partial success. He confidently
anticipated being able to secure a foothold in Canada where he could
establish his army in winter quarters and prepare for an early campaign
next year. The primary object of the invasion was simply described as
being to expel the British from Queenston and obtain a shelter from the
inclemency of the weather. More than eight thousand troops were
assembled under his command, of whom about half were regulars.
Three hundred artillery and eight hundred regular infantry occupied
Fort Niagara, and nine hundred regular soldiers and 2,270 New York
militia were encamped near Lewiston. At Buffalo, General Smyth had
1,650 regular troops, three hundred and eighty-six detached militia,
two hundred and fifty sailors, and four hundred Indians, besides the
local militia. The advance-guard of the Pennsylvania brigade of two
thousand men had also arrived at Buffalo, and the remainder was
within easy march of that place. Many batteaux and flat-bottomed
boats were in readiness at Black Rock, Tonawanda, and Gill's Creek
above the Falls, and at Lewiston and Four Mile Creek below, and a
sufficient number could be collected at any given point in a few hours
to carry over a thousand men. His train of field artillery was large
and well equipped.
To resist this formidable army, Brock had fifteen companies of regular
infantry, which may have mustered sixty rank and file each ; two
officers and thirty men of the Royal artillery, with five field guns; a
troop of militia drivers, and a troop of Provincial Cavalry, besides the
flank companies of the five Lincoln and two York battalions of militia.
The fourteen flank companies probably did not average more than thirty-
five officers and men each, or less than five hundred in all. The
muster rolls of the five Lincoln battalions show a total of nearly two
thousand men, but these were scattered over the twenty townships
then composing the county, comprising the entire peninsula from Bur-
lington Bay to the mouth of Grand river, Perhaps five hundred of
these could be readily assembled at a few hours' notice. Most of the
Indians had dispersed to their hunting-grounds. The exigencies of the
transport service on the lakes had obliged the British general to send
BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. 21
away the armed vessels which had formerly secured the flanks of his
position, and to guard a frontier which practically extended from the
Sugar Loaf on Lake Erie to Four Mile Creek on Lake Ontario, and to
occupy the numerous posts and batteries between, and maintain com-
munication over a line of sixty miles, he had actually less than a thou-
sand regular troops and six hundred militia, with a reserve of possibly
six hundred militia and Indians. Half of this force was scarcely ade-
quate to garrison Fort George and the adjacent batteries, and a body of
troops could hardly be marched from one end of his line to the other in
less than two days. The concentration of large bodies of men near
Fort Niagara and Buffalo, where great numbers of boats were collected,
forced Brock to weaken his centre and strengthen his wings, anticipat-
ing that an attempt would be made to turn his flank, and land
troops a few miles in rear of the works protecting it. Four companies
of the 49th, two of the Royal Newfoundland regiment, four of militia
and a small detachment of Royal artillery, occupied Fort Erie and a
series of batteries extending as low as Frenchman's Creek; four com-
panies of militia and one company of the 41st were posted along the
river between that point and Chippawa ; the flank companies of the 49th
and two of the York militia held the batteries near Queenston ; the
earthworks at Brown's and Field's points were each guarded by a
militia company, while the remaining companies of the 49th and Lincoln
militia and the field guns were quartered in and about Fort George. A
chain of outposts and patrols maintained constant communication
between all these posts, and the Indians were held in reserve in small
parties several miles in rear. As the number of regular artillerymen
was quite insufficient to work even the field guns in their possession, a
corps of volunteer gunners had been formed partly from the regular
infantry and partly from the militia under Captains Kerby and Swayze.
The quality of these troops was unquestionably superior to that of
any likely to be brought against them. The 41st contained a large pro-
portion of young recruits, but was a fine body of men, and although the
men of the 49th had been ten years in the country, drinking rum with-
out bounds, they were still respectable and ardent. The flank com-
22 BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
panies of militia were generally composed of picked men and had attain-
ed a very creditable degree of discipline.
General Smyth favoured an attempt to pass the river between Fort
Erie and Chippawa, and some intimation of this project may have
reached Brock, for he increased the garrison of both places in the
beginning of October, and established detachments to watch the river
opposite the head of Navy Island and near Black Creek. One-third of
the troopers off duty were ordered to sleep in their clothing fully ac-
coutred and ready to spring into the saddle. On the 6th of October
all the troops were directed to be under arms at four every morning.
The successful result of an attack upon two small armed vessels at
Fort Erie served to raise the spirits of Van Rensselaer's army in a
remarkable degree, and was actually a serious blow to their opponents,
owing to the extreme scarcity of provisions apart from the loss of the
vessels. This occurred early on the morning of the 9th October, and
Brock arrived on the spot before sunset, but having apparently satisfied
himself that no immediate attempt to cross the river was contemplated
there, returned to Niagara next day. He turned this disaster to the
best advantage by complimenting both regulars and militia on their
splendid conduct in his last general order issued on the 12th October,
Cornet Pell Major of the Niagara Dragoons, being distinguished by
special mention for conspicuous bravery. This hurried journey had
the effect of hastening Wan Rensselaer's movements, for a spy returned
to his camp with information that Brock had left Niagara in great haste
and was supposed to have gone to Detroit. Encouraged by this re-
port, and feeling, as he expressed it, “that the national character, is
degraded and the disgrace will remain, corroding the public feeling and
spirit until another campaign, unless it be wiped away by a brilliant
exploit in this,” he determined to strike while the enthusiasm of his
troops was yet at its heat over the recent exploit, and fixed the hour
and place for crossing the river for three o'clock next morning at
Queenston. The stream was there at its narrowest ; a ferry had been
established for years, and although the currënt was swift, the naviga-
tion was well ascertained and an indifferent oarsman could pull across in
BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. 23
less than ten minutes. His artillery, superior in numbers and calibre,
could cover the landing from the high ground above Lewiston, where
batteries had already been thrown up for it.
Accordingly the regulars from Fort Niagara, and strong detachments
from Buffalo, were ordered to join the main-body at Lewiston before
midnight, and boats sufficient to contain 500 men were secretly brought
overland from Gill's Creek. A furious storm of wind and rain swept
over his camp while the troops were drawn up in readiness to enter the
boats, and the pilot of the expedition deserted in the darkness. In conse-
quence the attack was indefinitely postponed. The rain continued with un-
abated violence for twenty-eight hours until the roads became almost im-
passable. Wan Rensselaer then desired to wait a few days in the hope
of reverting to his original plan, but the impatience of his troops seemed
to be rather increased than diminished by their recent failure, and the
pressure brought to bear upon him was too great to be withstood. His
force was now still further increased by the arrival of three hundred and
fifty regular soldiers, under Lieut.-Col. Chrystie, at Four Mile Creek,
east of Fort Niagara. The appearance of these boats, and the detention
of a large force near that place, led Brock to believe that an attempt
would be made to land to the westward of Niagara, and prevented him
from reinforcing the detachments at Queenston, and though he had be-,
come aware of the attempt to cross the river there, he regarded it sim-
ply as a feint to divert his attention from the true point of attack. The
evident activity of the enemy near Buffalo at the same time restrained
him from weakening the right of his extended line.
The river as it issues from the gorge at Queenston is barely two hun-
dred yards in width, and flows at the rate of about four miles an hour.
The cliffs which wall it in above are almost perpendicular, rising to the
height of about 350 feet above the stream, yet on the Canadian side, in
many places were so overgrown, and almost concealed, by shrubs and
trees which struck their roots into the clefts and crannies of the rocks,
as to make it possible for an ordinarily active man to climb up with lit-
tle difficulty from the water's edge to the summit. A few hundred yards
west of the landing stood the village, consisting of a stone barracks and
24 BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
about twenty scattered dwellings surrounded by gardens and orchards.
The waggon-road leading from Niagara formed the principal street, and
wound up the heights beyond. Another road, commencing at the land-
ing and crossing this at right angles, led to St. David's, throwing off a
branch which ascended the heights about a mile to westward, and finally
united with the portage road above. In the angle formed by the inter-
section of these two roads at the south-east corner of the village stood
the large stone house of the Hon. Robert Hamilton, with its walled
courtyard and substantial out-buildings. The adjacent plain was dotted
with many farmhouses near the roads, and the fields were generally en-
closed by ordinary rail-fences, diversified near the foot of the heights by
an occasional low stone wall. Half-way up the side of the mountain a
small redan battery had been built with its angle fronting the river and
armed with an eighteen-pounder, and at Vrooman's, or Scott's Point,
nearly a mile below, a twenty-four pound gun had been mounted en
barbette on a crescent-shaped earthwork commanding, although at very
long range, both landings, and the breadth of the river between. Capt.
Williams, with the light company of the 49th, was stationed at the re-
dan, and the grenadiers of the same regiment, under Capt. James Den-
nis, and Chisholm's company of the 2nd York, were quartered in the
village. Outposts and sentries watched the river from the landing to
Vrooman’s Point, which was occupied by Capt. Samuel Hatt's company
of the 5th Lincoln. The entire force of regulars and militia distributed
about Queenston did not exceed two hundred men. Cameron's and
Heward's companies of York militia lay at Brown's Point, three miles
distant, but there were no other regular troops nearer than Fort George.
Fatigue duty and frequent alarms had begun to tell upon the health
and spirits of the men, and at dark on the evening of the 11th Brock
learned with much apprehension that some men of the 49th had become
insubordinate, wrecked the guard house at Queenston, and even threat-
ened the lives of their officers, but an inquiry showed that their miscon-
duct was caused by drink, and they were liberated with a reprimand.
All that day and the next, parties of riflemen lined the opposite shore
and fired incessantly at any living thing that met their eye on the
BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. 25
Queenston side. The houses near the river were riddied by their fire,
and even a boat bearing a flag of truce became a target for their bullets.
All communication by flag of truce with the enemy was accordingly
strictly forbidden, except when special permission was obtained from
headquarters.
In a battery, named Fort Gray, above the village of Lewiston, two
eighteen-pounders were mounted with the intention of silencing the gun
in the redan, and two mortars and a like number of six-pounders were
planted on the bank of the river below to cover the landing and drive
the British out of Queenston. Chrystie's and Fenwick's regiments of
regulars from Fort Niagara, and three militia battalions from Schlosser,
were marched to Lewiston by inland roads after dark on the evening of
the 12th, and long before the appointed hour of three o'clock more than
4,000 men were assembled there without exciting special attention.
Twelve boats, each of which could carry thirty men, and two others
having a capacity of eighty each, manned by veteran fishermen familiar
with the river, were already moored at the landing. The night was in-
tensely dark, rain was still falling gently, and the winds and the roar-
ing of the river drowned the sound of their movements. Everything
seemed to conspire to favor their enterprise.
Col. Van Rensselaer had originally been selected to command the ad-
vance guard, but when Chrystie arrived, he stubbornly refused to waive
his rank and it was then agreed that the latter should lead a column
of three hundred regulars troops, while Van Rensselaer headed an equal
number of militia. The militia composing this detachment were accord-
ingly chosen with great care from among the best drilled men, and, by
their commander at least, were believed to be superior to the United
States troops in point of discipline. Forty picked men of the regular
artillery conducted by Lieut. Gansevoort, all of whom had long been
quartered at Fort Niagara and knew the river well, were selected to head
the other column and were followed by four companies of the 13th
United States infantry, which was regarded as one of the crack regi-
ments of their army. Next in succession, Col. Fenwick and Major
Mullany were to cross with 550 regulars, then an equal number of mili-
!
26 BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
tia was to follow, and so on, until the entire division, consisting of the
6th, 13th, and 23rd United States infantry, detachments of three regu-
lar artillery regiments, a battalion of volunteer riflemen, and the 16th,
17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th regiments of New York militia, were passed
over. The artillerymen were provided with matches and 'rammers to
work the captured guns, and a detachment of engineers was detailed to
fortify a position as soon as it was taken. The number of officers and
men exceeded four thousand, of whom at least fifteen hundred were
regulars, and, barring accidents, the whole force might be ferried over in
seven trips. The two largest boats were also fitted with platforms on
which a fieldpiece with its carriage could be loaded.
In less than a quarter of an hour from the time the boats pushed off,
ten of them, conveying three hundred men, reached the opposite shore
at the exact spot selected for effecting a landing, quite unperceived by the
British sentries. Three others, among them the two largest, were car-
ried down by the current, and of these only the smaller one succeeded
in landing below, while the two others returned by command of Col.
Chrystie to their own shore to make a fresh start. Most of those who
landed were regular troops, comprising the detachment of artillery and
three entire companies of the 13th infantry,” and having sent back the
boats to bring over the next detachment, Van Rensselaer assumed the
command in the absence of Chrystie, and attempted to form up his men
before advancing further. Their presence was then for the first time
discovered by a militia sentry, who was so badly frightened that instead
of firing his musket at once, he ran into the main guard to give the
alarm. In a few minutes Captain Dennis advanced towards the landing
with forty-six men of his own company and a few militia, and found the
enemy still in much confusion. His first volley fell upon them, as it
proved, with fatal precision. Van Rensselaer himself was struck down
with six wounds, several company officers and a number of men were
killed or disabled, and the entire body retired in disorder to the water's
edge where they were partially sheltered by the steep bank.
The batteries at Lewiston, where the gunners were waiting with
* Wool’s, Malcolm's, and Armstrong's.
(ſ BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. 27
matches burning for the signal, instantly opened fire, the first round
from their heavy guns being aimed at the redan, but when the glare of
the musketry disclosed the position of a small body of British infantry
near the landing, all six guns were turned upon it, and Dennis drew his
men back under the shelter of the houses of the village. In this brief
encounter the loss of the Americans was subsequently stated to have
been eight officers and forty-five men killed or wounded.
The gunners in the redan and at Vrooman's Point, began firing at ran-
dom in the direction of the Lewiston landing, in the hope of striking
some of the boats, and Lieut. Crowther of the 41st brought up a light
three-pounder field-piece or grasshopper to sweep the road leading to the
river. Van Rensselaer, being quite disabled by his wounds, was taken.
back to Lewiston, and the command devolved upon Capt. John E. Wool,
of the 13th, a brave but very young and inexperienced officer, who for
more than two hours seems to have been quite satisfied with retaining
his foothold beside the river, while the batteries behind him were fast
wrecking the village of Queenston. His men, however, maintained a
brisk but harmless fire from the shelter of the bank. Reinforcements
were steadily pushed over to his assistance, but misfortune still attended
them. Two boats loaded with men were swept far out of their course
by the current. One of these, commanded by Lieut. Col. Fenwick of
the artillery, struggled ashore in the cove below Queenston and attempted
to ascend the bank there. They were at once briskly attacked ; Fenwick
himself received a pistol shot in the face which partially blinded him,
besides two other wounds, and was taken prisoner with most of his men.
The other boat drifted fairly within range of Vrooman's battery and was
captured there. The river being so narrow many objects could be dis-
tinguished upon the opposite shore when lit up by the flashing of the
artillery, and the shouts and shrieks of the combatants even were occa-
sionally heard by thousands of interested spectators at Lewiston. Within
half an hour of landing, Wool's force was doubled by the arrival of
Ogilvie’s and Lawrence's companies of the 13th, forty artillerymen under
Lieut Randolph, and a detachment of militia, and all the wounded men
were removed, but no officer of superior rank came to assume command.
28 BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. º,
The gun in the redan continued to throw shells at hazard into the
river with little result beyond making the enemy's troops reluctant to
enter the boats, although an officer is said to have been killed at
Lewiston by one of them, and the darkness and distance rendered the
twenty-four pounder at Vrooman's quite ineffective. On the other hand,
round shot from the Lewiston batteries soon reduced Hamilton's house
to a mere heap of ruins, and drove Crowther's light gun out of range,
while the mortars constantly pitched their shells into the village, and
their field-pieces searched the gardens and orchards with grape. The
movements of the remainder of their troops continued, however, to be
remarkably dilatory. The arrival of the wounded perhaps had some-
thing to do with this, and the march of a considerable body of militia
was arrested by the sudden illness of their commanding officer. At all
events, boats remained lying idle on both shores. *
Convinced by unmistakable signs that an attack was meditated
within a day or two, Brock had been engaged till midnight in dispatch-
ing orders for the assembly of the militia. It was no surprise then for
him to be aroused shortly after three o'clock by the distant booming of
artillery up the river. He rose at once, but still adhering to his
opinion that the true attack would not be there, he remarked that it was
only the war between the sentries. The steady cannonade and blazing
beacons along the heights satisfied him at length that this was something
more serious, and he mounted his horse and rode out of the gate just as
a dragoon galloped up to announce that the enemy had landed at
Queenston. As it was yet uncertain whether another landing was not
intended in the vicinity of Niagara, the British general contented him-
self with giving instructions for Captain Holcroft to follow him with
two guns and a party of Indians, while the remainder of the garrison re-
mained under arms in readiness to act in any direction, until daylight
more fully disclosed the designs of the enemy, and then set off at full
speed, accompanied only by Captain Glegg and Lieut.-Col. McDonnell.
At Field's and Brown's Point he paused for an instant to direct the
militia companies quartered there to follow him, leaving behind only a
sufficient number of men to man the batteries at each place.
BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. 29
Day dawned grey and chill with a thin fog rising from the river.
Four boats filled with men were then seen to push off together from
Lewiston, and at the same instant the head of a column of troops ap-
peared again above the bank at the Queenston landing. Dennis hastily
called down the light company by sound of the bugle from the heights
to his support, and concentrated his fire on this force, which very soon
retired again under cover of the bank, where their movements were al-
most entirely screened from view, although they had lost a few men by
the random fire of the light company during the morning.
Observing that the battery on the heights was now occupied only by a
few men working the gun, Lieut. Gansevoort pointed out to Wool a nar-
row fisherman's path leading around a rocky point, and winding upwards
to the summit, and suggested that a detachment might gain the rear of
the British position unobserved by this route. Although already bleeding
from more than one wound, Wool eagerly adopted the proposal, and
leaving a hundred men to occupy the landing and engage the attention
of the British in that quarter, he instantly began the ascent at the head
of the remainder, giving strict orders to an officer to shoot any man who
attempted to turn back. They met no sentinel nor force of any kind,
and gained the summit of the heights quite unopposed.
At this instant Brock rode into the village, splashed with mud from
head to foot. He was at once recognized and welcomed with a hearty
cheer, by the men of the 49th, in which regiment he had served in every
rank from subaltern to colonel. Reining his horse for a moment to ac-
knowledge their salute he rode up the slope to the redan and there dis-
mounted.
A striking scene presented itself to his gaze. A single glance showed
him battalion upon battalion of troops drawn up in rear of the Ameri-
can batteries in readiness to embark ; other detachments were entering
their boats, some already upon the river, and an unknown number al-
ready in possession of the Queenston landing. Their guns were throwing
round and grape shot into the enclosures of the village where Dennis
still contrived to maintain a foothold, and an occasional shell from their
mortar battery rose shrieking into the air. So far everything seemed to
30 BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
promise well. The party that had landed had mob gained an inch of.
ground in three hours, and near a hundred prisoners had been taken
with small loss.” º
Watching the flight of a shell from the gun beside, him, he observed
that it burst prematurely, and turning to the gunner, Brock advised him
to try a longer fuse. The words were scarcely out of his mouth when a
shout rose from the hillside above, followed by a volley of bullets whist-
ling overhead, and a body of the enemy came charging down upon the rear
of the battery. Resistance was out of the question, and there was no
time even to mount, so leading their horses by the bridle the three offi-
cers ran hastily down the road to the village, followed by the dozen ar-
tillerymen working the gun, who fortunately had sufficient presence of
mind to spike it before they came away.
All this was plainly visible to the troops at Lewiston, whose shouts
could be heard amid the roar of the cannon as their flag rose over the
battery, and they then pressed down eagerly to the boats. It was
evident that the principal and probably the only attack was to be made
here, and Brock despatched a message to Sheaffe at Fort George to turn
every gun that would bear, upon the American batteries opposite, and
send forward the battalion-companies of the 41st and flank companies of
the militia. Then mounting his horse he rode at a gallop to the further
end of the village, where the light company of the 49th was drawn up
in line awaiting orders. Again he was received with a loud cheer, and
wheeling his horse in the direction of the heights, he exclaimed, “Fol-
low me, boys,” and led them at a run to the foot of the ascent. There
he paused and dismounted, saying: “Take breath, boys—you will need
it in a few moments,” a significant announcement which provoked an-
other hearty shout.
* Five regular officers (Col. Fenwick, Light Art , Lieuts. Phelps and Turner, of the 13th U.S.I.,
Clark, 23rd U.S.I., and Bailey, 3rd Art.,) were taken prisoners, and their parties almost entirely
cut to pieces on the left of the village. At least 100 regulars were killed, wounded or taken pris-
oners on the left of the village before or about sunrise.—Col. Chrystie's Narrative.
Early in the morning some Americans landed at Queenston tunobserved, but were soon discovered
and the alarm given, at which time they retreated unobserved, as it was yet dark, through the
village to the Black Swamp four miles back.-Michael Smith's Complete History of the War.
BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. 31
The crest of the heights was densely wooded in most places, and their
sides dotted with clumps of small trees and shrubs richly spangled with 45
the crimson, russet and golden tints of autumn. These thickets, in
combination with the natural inequalities of the ground, furnished excel-
lent cover for the American riflemen. The redan was occupied by the
main body of their troops, but they were unable to make any use of the
captured gun. Freshly landed men were already ascending to their
assistance, and the mortar battery had begun to throw shells in the
direction of Brock's party in the hope of checking its advance.*
Convinced of the great importance of regaining the lost position be-
fore the enemy was heavily reinforced, he ordered Dennis to join him with
the 49th grenadiers and Chisholm's company of York militia, leaving only
a few men in the village to hold the Americans in check in that quarter.
When these companies came up he detached Williams with a section of
his own company and the whole of the militia, making about seventy
men in all, by a roundabout route to turn the left of Wool’s position.
Observing this movement, the latter detached a party of 150 men to
meet it, but, after a brief interchange of shots the Americans fell into
confusion and began to retire. Seizing the favorable moment Brock
sprang over the stone wall behind which he had directed his men to take
shelter, and led the way directly up the steep ascent towards the battery,
waving his sword and shouting words of encouragement to the grena-
diers, who followed him with a ready cheer.
The rain had ceased and strong, slanting gleams of sunshine broke
through the parting clouds. The ground was thickly strewn with fallen
leaves slippery with wet, and yielding treacherously, and as the men
stumbled and fell here and there the line was quickly broken. Wool
sent a reinforcement to support his advance party, and their fire soon
began to tell. “This is the first time I have ever seen the 49th turn
their backs | " Brock exclaimed angrily as he noticed unwounded men
dropping to the rear, and at the rebuke the ranks promptly closed up.
McDonnell brought up in support the companies of Cameron and
* When General Brock arrived, 350 regulars, and 257 volunteers had already crossed,—Low's
History of the late War.
32 , BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
*
Heward, which had just arrived from Brown's Point much exhausted,
* having run nearly all the way. The force then engaged in the direct
assault of the heights, including the last named companies, numbered
about one hundred and ninety men. The flank companies were uni-
formed in scarlet, and advanced with such steadiness that Wool was
led to believe that he was being attacked by four companies of the
49th. His own command had been increased to about five hundred
rank and file, two-thirds of whom were regular soldiers, yet notwith-
standing their advantage in numbers and position, being at the same
time pressed warmly on the flank by William's detachment they began
to shrink from the contest.
Seeing that the supports were lagging at the foot of the hill, Brock
shouted to McDonnell to “push on the York volunteers.” A bullet
struck the wrist of his sword-arm inflicting a slight wound, to which he
paid no attention but continued to wave his sword and encourage his
men. His tall and portly figure and energetic gestures, as well as his
uniform and position several yards in front of the line, naturally made
him a special target for the bullets of the enemy, although he does not
seem to have been personally recognized by them. . At last a rifleman,
said to be one Wilklow, of Moseley's battalion, stepped out of a thicket
less than fifty yards away and took deliberate aim at him. More than
one man of the 49th observed this and fired hastily in the hope of
anticipating his shot, but without effect. The fatal bullet struck their
leader in the breast very near the heart, and, he sank slowly to the
ground and expired after murmuring a few broken sentences to those
nearest him to conceal his death from the men and continue the fight.”
McDonnell spurred his horse sharply to the front and called upon
the grenadiers to avenge their leader's death. Williams at the same
moment led forward his detachment from the thickets on the right and
the combined force charged at once fiercely upon the front and flank of
the enemy, who were already in disorder and huddled together about
the battery, out of which they were quickly expelled and driven ob-
liquely upwards towards the summit of the heights in the direction of
- Wide Appendix 1.
BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. 33
the river. Being hotly pursued, an officer raised a handkerchief or
a white cloth on the point of his sword as a flag of truce, but this was
quickly snatched away from him by Wool, who by great exertions suc-
ceeded in persuading his men to make another stand on the very verge
of the éliff. A body of fresh troops, including an entire company of
the 6th U. S. infantry, and another of rifles, opportunely came to his
assistance at this critical moment and enabled him to prolong his line
until he outflanked his assailants in both directions. They had also
fallen into much disorder through the haste and impetuosity of their
advance. Williams was disabled by a ghastly wound in the head,
Dennis was badly hurt, and a considerable number of men killed or
wounded. McDonnell had as yet escaped unharmed, although being
the only mounted officer present, he naturally attracted the fire of the
enemy by whom he was supposed at the time to be a general at least,
and his hat and clothes were pierced in many places. But now while
attempting to restore order and form the men for a fresh attack, his
horse was struck by a shot, and as the animal plunged in agony, the
rider also received a mortal wound and was thrown from the saddle.
In spite of the efforts of Dennis and other officers, the British then
gave way in turn and retreated to the foot of the heights, carrying with
them, however, the dead body of their general and most of the wound-
ed. They were not vigorously pursued and did not lose more than a
dozen prisoners, most of whom were too badly injured to be removed.
Dennis refused to quit the field and succeeded in collecting most of his
men at the farther end of the village which was still occupied by Lieut.
Crowther with a squad of militia artillerymen in charge of two small
guns.
The result of this engagement had a very inspiriting influence upon
the troops at Lewiston, numbers of whom instantly professed great
eagerness to cross the river and share the glories of the day. They still
possessed a sufficient number of boats to carry over the remainder of
the division before ten o'clock ; the passage of the river was now for
some time entirely unopposed, and why they did not make better use of
their opportunities has never been satisfactorily explained. One officer
C
34 BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
of rank (Col. Chrystie) stated that he crossed the river three times, and
that Major Mullany went from one side to the other no less than five
times during the day. För five hôurs after Brock's death they were
practically in unmolested possession of the landing, and the heights as
well, and Col. Van Rensselaer asserted that as long as the men showed
any inclination, to cross, the boats were well managed. As it was, con-
siderable bodies both of regular troops and militia were brought over
with a six-pound field piece, its carriage and tumbrel. Shortly after
seven o’clock Col. Chrystie came over and assumed the command, but
finding himself unable even to dislodge the garrison from the village,
he recrossed the river to bring over reinforcements with artillery and
intrenching tools. Upon hearing his report of the situation, General
Van Rensselaer despatched an order to General Smyth, at Buffalo, to
move his brigade to his support, and sent over an engineer officer to lay
out a fortified camp. About noon he crossed in person. General Van
Rensselaer and Colonel Chrystie examined the position on the heights
and gave directions for its immediate fortification. Engineer officers
were set at work and field works traced out. The gun in the redan was
unspiked and brought to bear upon the village. Colonel Winfield Scott,
the future conqueror of Mexico, having arrived from Buffalo during the
morning with a battery of artillery, placed his guns in position at
Lewiston and crossed the river to take command of the regular troops
at Queenston, who were reinforced by detachments of the 6th and 23rd
U. S. infantry and 2nd and 3rd artillery. About the same time Briga-
dier-General William Wadsworth assumed command of the militia bri-
gade, consisting of portions of Allen's, Bloom's, Mead's, and Stranahan's
regiments, and Moseley's battalion of riflemen. The precise number
of men belonging to these corps that passed the river, it is now impos.
sible to ascertain. Estimates by their own officers ranged from one
thousand to sixteen hundred. Some companies of militia were repre-
sented by officers without men; others by men without officers, while a
few were almost or quite complete.*
* Colonel Chrystie crossed before 10 o'clock with 500 men, and at 3 p.m. the Americans on the
heights numbered 920 —J L. Thomsom,
º
BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. 35
The sound of a heavy cannonade from the mouth of the river excited
the worst apprehensions in the minds of the little band that continued
to occupy Queenston village, until they were reassured by the arrival
of Captain Derenzy with several companies of the 41st and militia, a
detachment of Royal Artillery with two field guns under Captain Hol-
croft, and a party of Indians led by Captain John Norton and Lieut.
John Brant. Stragglers from the field whom these reinforcements
encountered on the road, reported that Depnis' entire command had
been cut to pieces, and that five thousand men had landed. Accord-
ingly they had advanced much of the distance at the double, and when
they reached Queenston they were out of breath and quite exhausted.*
Under these circumstances it would have been folly to attempt the re-
covery of the heights, where the numbers of the enemy could have
been seen momentarily increasing, but Holcroft promptly planted his
guns on the high ground below the village, and endeavored to interrupt
the passage of the river.
Small parties of the enemy had entered the upper part of the village,
where they plundered some of the houses, but they made no effort to
occupy it in force. After a few shots, finding that his pieces were too
far away to reach their boats, Holcroft again limbered up, and, guided
by Captain Archibald Hamilton, to whom every inch of ground was
familiar from boyhood, dashed boldly across the ravine and through the
village until he reached Hamilton's house, where he took up a position
within the courtyard partly sheltered by the ruins of the wall. Derenzy
at once supported him with a company of the 41st, and his fire soon
became effective, although he lost several of his best men. A few spherical
case-shot drove away the enemy's riflemen, and he then engaged the
batteries opposite, firing also, when an opportunity offered, at boats on
the river. The battery on Lewiston Heights was still out of range, but
the guns at the landing were three times silenced, and a scow, and at
least two other boats, sunk in the act of crossing. Such was the pre-
* Expresses now went down to Fort George, eight miles, and the sound, was on the float—
“Hurry boys, or else our dear General will be killed,” and others cried—“He is wounded,
he is wounded ! Hurry Hurry ! Saye our Governºr l’” Such sounds filled every bysom with mar-
tial fire. —Smith's Complete History, 6th Ed.
36 BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
cision of his fire, that from that time forward very few men succeeded in
passing the river.
In the meantime Scott had thrown out pickets to the edge of the
woods on the left of his position, and the Indians were detached in that
direction to drive them in and annoy their working parties. This was
accomplished in fine style, as their approach through the woods was
undetected, and the American outposts were surprised and completely
routed with considerable loss. A large body of infantry then advanced to
repel them, and the Indians instantly ran to the woods again, whence they
kept up an incessant fire, accompanied with shrill whoops. The Sud-
denness of the attack and the character of the assailants produced a
genuine panic, which extended itself even to Lewiston, where a militia
company on the point of entering the boats abruptly halted and refused
to proceed. Norton continued to skirmish with and annoy their out-
posts, and although several times attacked, always eluded his antagonists
by plunging into the woods, where they dared not follow. Numbers of
the American militia deserted their companies, and attempted to regain
their own shore, and thenceforth their force continued to diminish. In
addition to the serious annoyance and loss inflicted upon the enemy by
this movement, direct communication was again opened with the garri-
son at Chippawa.
Upon reaching Queenston, Derenzy had at once sent a message to
General Sheaffe, describing the situation of affairs, and the latter soon
afterwards arrived and assumed command. He lost no time in ordering
every man that could be spared from the garrisons of Fort George and
Chippawa, to join him without delay. By two o'clock the detachments
from the former post had all arrived, leaving it occupied only by a few
men of the Royal Artillery and the Lincoln militia, and those from
Chippawa were known to be rapidly approaching. The force already
assembled consisted of Holcroft's detachment of Royal Artillery with
two six-pounders, a squad of Swayze's provincial artillery with two
three-pounders, under Lieut. Crowther, five companies of the 41st regi-
ment, Capt. James Crook's and John McEwen's companies of the 1st
Lincoln; William Crook's and Nelles' companies of the 4th Lincoln, Ap-
BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. 37
plegarth's, Hatts' and Durand's companies of the 5th Lincoln, a few
troopers of Merritt's provincial dragoons, and the remnants of the two.
companies of the 49th and three of the York militia engaged in the morn-
ing, probably numbering in all rather more than 800 of all ranks,
exclusive of the Indians, who certainly did not exceed one hundred.
As the enemy's forces appeared to be still considerably more numerous
than his own, and they were busily engaged in fortifying their position
in evident anticipation of another direct attack from below, the British
commander determined to leave Holcroft's two guns, supported by a
detachment of infantry, to occupy the village, and prevent the passage
of reinforcements while, with the remainder of his troops, he moved
around their flank, ascending the heights in rear of the woods already
occupied by the Indians, and formed a junction with the column advanc-
ing from Chippawa, which would increase his numerical strength by 150
men. Although this manoeuvre would compel him to make a détour of
nearly three miles before engaging, he would at once escape the enfilad-
ing fire of the batteries at Lewiston, avoid the steep ascent in the face
of the enemy, render their fieldworks useless, and place his men on an
equal footing with them on the open and level ground above.
The Indians redoubled their activity as the column approached, keep-
ing, however, well under cover, and thoroughly succeeded in baffling any
attempt to harass its advance. Within an hour Sheaffe gained the
cleared ground on the right of the woods occupied by them, extending
as far as the portage road, when he beheld Captain Richard Bullock
advancing from Chippawa with his own company of the 41st, and Cap-
tain Robert Hamilton's and John Rowe's companies of the 2nd Lincoln,
strengthened for the occasion, like most of the others, by a number of
volunteers from the ranks of the sedentary militia. Foremost among
other aged men properly exempt from service, whom the emergency had
impelled to seize their arms again, was Lieut.-Col. Ralfe Clench, once an
officer in Butler's rangers, and then the district judge, who had retired
from command of the 1st Lincoln battalion a few years before, owing to
infirmity. *
The combined force, numbering about 930 officers and men, was
38 BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
formed for the attack with the light company of the 41st, under Lieut. º
McIntyre, and the two companies of the 49th, still commanded by the
dauntless Dennis, on the left of the line next the Indians, supported by
a small battalion of militia, under Lieut.-Col. T. Butler. The centre and
right wing were composed of the five remaining companies of the 41st,
having in support the rest of the militia under Lieut.-Col. Thomas Clarke,
The two small field-pieces, drawn by men with drag ropes, preceded the
advance of the line, which was necessarily deliberate.
The number of combatants actually arrayed against them at that
moment cannot be exactly stated, but could hardly have been less than
nine hundred, of whom more than half were regulars. Like the British,
the force was made up of detachments from many different battalions.
Its ranks had been much diminished by desertions since the Indians had
renewed the fight, numbers of men stealing down to the river and lurk-
ing there in the hope of finding means of escape. Perceiving that Sheaffe
was preparing for a decisive attack upon his position, and probably
having no desire to grace his triumph as a prisoner, General Van Rens-
selaer determined to return to Lewiston, with the lingering hope of
enlisting a reinforcement from the large body of militia still congregated
there. He had scarcely entered his boat, when the skulkers at the land-
ing crowded into it in such numbers, that it was in actual danger
of being swamped by their weight, and pushed off heedless alike of his
threats and entreaties.
His departure left Colonel Scott in command, having under him
Colonel Chrystie and Brigadier-General Wadsworth. Sheaffe's move-
ment obliged him to abandon his uncompleted fieldworks, and take up
a new position on the crown of the heights, where a slight barricade
was hastily extemporized with fence-rails, logs, and brushwood, with the
left flank resting on the edge of the cliff, and the riflemen on the other,
facing the Indians from among the brush-huts, formerly occupied by the
49th light company. The gun in the redan could not be made to bear
in this direction, and his solitary field-piece was therefore planted in
front of the centre of the line, near the site of the present monument.
While waiting the attack, Scott received a message from Van Rensse-
BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. 39
laer, stating that he had been unable to induce a single regiment, or even
a company, to advance to his relief, but forwarding a supply of ammuni-
tion and assuring him, that if he felt unable to maintain his position,
boats would be sent to remove the troops, and the artillery would cover
his retreat. Upon Van Rensselaer's arrival on his own shore he found
a few men at the landing, whom he sent over, and then, accompanied
by members of his staff and “old Judge Peck,” grotesquely equipped.
for war in a huge cocked hat and long sword, rode through the canton-
ments, exhorting the groups of lounging soldiers they met there on every
hand to make an effort to rescue their comrades from their perilous
situation, but without producing the slightest effect.
Scott's men were already profoundly discouraged at being called upon
to fight another action, and evinced a discouraging propensity to stray
away from their ranks, which he endeavored to check by instructing the
Sergeants to shoot those who should attempt to leave their posts without
orders.
The contest was begun by the advance of the light company of the
41st, which fired a single volley, and then charged with fixed bayonets
upon the riflemen on the right of the American line, who, being unpro-
vided with weapons to resist this form of attack, gave way in great con-
fusion, leaving its flank exposed. On witnessing the success of this
movement, Sheaffe gave the signal for a general advance. The entire
line raised the Indian warwhoop and charged with great fury. The
gun was taken and the position carried almost without resistance, and
the entire body of American troops forced swiftly back upon the river,
the British line by the advance of the wings gradually assuming the
form of a crescent, and overlapping them on both flanks. Some of the
fugitives, braving the fire of the guns in the village, ran down the hill
towards the landing; a few took shelter in a house where they were
taken; Scott, himself, and a number of others, scrambled down the steep
bank to the water's edge, in the hope of finding the promised boats;
Wadsworth and Chrystie, with more than three hundred officers and men,
surrendered on the verge of the cliff.
Meanwhile the fire of Holcroft's artillery had rendered the passage of
tº,
40 BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
the river so dangerous, that the boatmen positively refused to under-
take it and dispersed. . As no boats were waiting to receive them, a few
desperate men plunged into the river and attempted to swim across, of
whom some perished ; the remainder tried to secrete themselves among
the rocks and thickets along the shore. The Indians lined the cliffs
above, or perched themselves in the trees whooping incessantly, and
firing at the fugitives whenever an opportunity offered. Under these
circumstances Scott was glad to raise a white flag in the hope of preserv-
ing the lives of the rest of his command. For a few minutes, even after
this was done, the Indians continued to shoot down or tomahawk the
unresisting crowd, either not observing or disregarding this token of sub-
mission, until it is said that Sheaffe grew so indignant at their miscon-
duct, that he dashed his hat and sword on the ground, and threatened
that he would resign the command if they were not at once restrained.
When this was accomplished, 390 officers and men surrendered there.
Some yet evaded discovery, and forty were brought in next day, swell-
ing the entire number of prisoners taken to an aggregate of 958, among
whom there were one general, six colonels, three majors, seventeen cap-
tains and thirty-six subalterns.
The loss in killed and wounded cannot be exactly stated on either side.
The British official return is missing, but it is said to have footed up a
total of only sixteen killed and sixty-nine wounded. The two companies
of the 49th are stated to have lost three sergeants and 39 men alone, nine
of whom were killed. Two men of the 41st and a gunner of the Royal
Artillery were also killed. It is doubtful whether the casualties among
the militia and Indians were included in this return. Two Cayuga
chiefs and three warriors, whose names have been preserved, were killed,
and Norton and eight others wounded. Although this loss was insigni-
ficant in point of numbers, the death of Gen. Brock was felt to be an
almost irreparable blow, and by many of his opponents was considered
to have fully compensated for their defeat. Lieut.-Col. McDonnell seems
to have been the only other British officer killed, and none but Captains
Dennis and Williams appear to have been wounded.
No complete return of casualties was attempted by the Americans,
BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. 41
$, º
probably owing to the immediate dispersal of a large portion of their
militia. A week after the battle, Van Rensselaer stated officially that
it would be impossible to furnish an exact return, but estimated the
number of killed at sixty, and of wounded at one hundred and seventy.
It was but natural that he should attempt to minimize his losses, and
accordingly we find others inclined to believe them very much greater.
Lossing and J. L. Thomson, neither of whom would be prone to ex-
aggeration in this respect, agree in placing the number of killed at ninety,
but diminish the number of wounded. Contemporary accounts gener-
ally put both still higher. Colonel Mead, a prisoner, estimated the killed
and drowned at one hundred, and the wounded at twice that number,
while Colonel Bloom, who was wounded but escaped capture, thought
. that a hundred were drowned alone, and three hundred killed and
wounded. An eye-witness, whose letter was published in the Boston
Messenger, stated that 1,600 Americans were engaged, of whom 900 were
regulars, and that the number of killed was variously estimated from
150 up to 400. A letter in the Ontario Repository, also from an eye-
witness, computed the killed and missing at 250, while still another in
the Geneva Gazette raised the number to 300. But a British officer
writing from Fort George on the 17th of October, fairly distanced all
others by the conjecture that 500 of their men must have perished in
the action, or in the river, relating in support of his opinion that one
boat was seen to sink with about fifty men, while two others, each hav-
ing as many on board, did not bring more than half a dozen asl.ore alive
in either of them.
There can be no doubt that the loss of the vanquished was severe. A
single company of the 13th lost thirty men in killed or wounded, and
four out of the five captains of that regiment engaged were disabled by
wounds. Three captains and three subalterns were killed, and besides
those who were taken prisoners, two colonels, four captains, and five
subalterns were wounded. There were one hundred and twenty wounded
officers and men among the prisoners, thirty of whom died. The hospital
at Niagara was filled, and the remainder sheltered in the court house and
churches. One hundred and forty others had been removed before the
*
42 BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
ſº
- -
surrender, to Lewiston, and of these, not less than one hundred are re-,
ported to have been buried within a month, many of them dying from
flesh wounds through insufficient care.
Van Rensselaer's failure was complete and disastrous. He had lost
all his best officers, and the flower of his troops, and the entire division •
cengaged was practically rendered incapable of resuming operations in
the field. Ten days afterwards he abandoned the struggle in despair,
by throwing up the command. His successor, General Smyth, reported
that he found his force diminished by more than two thousand men in
consequence of the defeat, half this loss having been caused by desertion.
Several of the militia regiments had to be actually disbanded in con-
sequence, and the men still remaining in camp allowed to return to their
homes. A letter written from Manlius, N. Y., on the 3rd of November,
states that “the militia corps on the lines have dwindled; and are
dwindling to mere skeletons, some of the companies containing a less
number of privates than officers. The rifle corps from this county is re-
duced by sickness, prisoners, etc., to less than the complement of a com
pany, and Major Moseley in consequence has returned home.” They
literally deserted by hundreds, and the two brigades of Generals Miller
and Wadsworth were consolidated into a single regiment.*
Besides the field-piece already mentioned, and about a thousand stand
of small arms, the colors of one of the New York regiments were taken
In November this trophy was displayed in the courtyard of the Castle
of St. Louis at Quebec, and was thus described by the Mercury:—“It is
made of blue or purple-colored changeable silk about a yard and a half
square, with the arms of the United States on one side and those of New
York on the other, both surrounded by a circle of stars.”
*-
sy
* “Van Rensselaer's Campaign did not, like that of Hull's, cost a Province, bnt it sacrificed
nearly as many effective troops as were surrendered by Hull.”—Henry Adams, History of the
United States, vol. vi., page 353.
A P P E N D I X I.
General Brock's Death.
}
Extract from a letter from Major J. B. Glegg, to Mr. Wm. Brock,
cox
dated at Fort George, 14th October, 1812 —
“The ball entered his right breast and passed through on his left
side. His sufferings were of very short duration, and were terminated
in a few minutes, when he uttered in a feeble voice : “My fall must
got be noticed or impede my brave companions from advancing to
victory.’
“His lifeless corpse was immediately conveyed into a house at
Queenston, unperceived by the enemy, and though we were obliged by
overwhelming numbers to leave it there for some hours, it was not observed
by the enemy, and upon victory declaring for us, I hastened to the spot,
and the body was conveyed to Fort George, where it now lies in the
Government House. He was beloved by all who knew him, and was
admired by his army and the inhabitants of this province.”
THE SAME TO THE SAME,
“York, 25th October, 1812.
* For his interment I made choice of cavalier bastion planned by
him, and lately finished under his personal superintendence.
“Col. McDonnel was wounded in four places, and though one ball
passed through his body, yet he survived twenty hours.”
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A P P E N D I X | I.
List of American Officers Killed, Wounded, or taken
Prisoners.
KILLED.—Capt. Nelson, 6th U. S. I.; Lieut. Valleau and Ensign
Morris, 13th, ditto; Lieut. Rathbone, Light Artillery; Capt. S. Clarke,
N. Y. Wolnnteers; Capt. E. Saunders, 16th N. Y. Volunteers.
WoundED BUT ESCAPED.—Capts. Armstrong, Malcolm, Lawrence,
and Wool, 13th U. S. I.; Lieut. Wendell and Ensign Lent ; Lieut.
Roach, 2nd Artillery; Lieut-Cols. Bloom and Van Rensselaer, Lieut.
Sweeney and Adjutant Stafford, N. Y. Volunteers.
WoundED AND PRISONERS —Lieut.-Cols, Chrystie, 13th U. S. I.;
and Fenwick, Light Artillery; Lieut. Clark, 23rd U. S. I., and Phelps,
13th, ditto.
UNwoundED PRISONERs, REGULARs.-Lieut.-Col. Scott, Major Mul-
lany, Capts. Gibson, McChesney and Ogilvie, Lieuts. Bailey, Carr,
Fink, Hugunin, Kearney, Randolph, Totten, Turner, and Ensign.Kent.
MILITIA.—Brig.-Gen, Wadsworth, Lieut.-Cols. Allen, Mead and Stran-
ahan; Majors Holland and Smith; Capts. Barker, Boem, Brinkerhoof,
Brown, Clark, Cronk, Eldridge, Ellis, Howland, Patengal, Root, Spencer
and Stanley; Lieuts. Culley, Daniels, Field, Gray, Hocomb, Houghton,
Rishler, Phillips, Price, Randall, Richmond, Robinson, Shepard, Smith,
Smith, and Wilson; Ensigns Broughton, Cobb, Denton, Hoyton, Ireland,
Peck, Sperry, Waldron and White,
44