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Lundy's Lane Historical Society.
QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
A THRILLING NARRATIVE OF THE FAMOUS BATTLE WHERE GENERAL BROCK
DIED DEFENDING HIS COUNTRY.

BY ERNEST CRUIKSHANK.
A LECTURE DELIVERED AT DRUMMONDVILLE, ONT., DEC.
1 8, 1889.

1=12,1CM 10 CENTS.

WELLAND:
PRINTED BY W. T. SAWLE & CO., TELEGRAPH OFFICE.

1890.

BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS,
[BY ERNEST CRUIKSHANK.]

Most Canadians are sufficiently familiar
with the stately column which crowns the
summit of Queenston Heights, and looks
down upon an expanse of scenery which can
scarcely be paralleled for variety and
sublimity, save by the view from the edge
of the plateau, on which an obelisk marks
the spot where "Wolfe died. victorious."
Most of them 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 succeeding the declaration of war by the United States, on the
18th of June, 1812 ; how Brock cheered up
the despondent, decided the wavering, and
over-awed 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 officees ; 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 accompanied or preceded him from that quarter, fully alive to
the truth of the Napoleonic maxim that "in

war-time is everything." Brock hoped 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, although superior in
numbers, the American troops there were,
by the admission of their commanders, 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. Fugitives from Detroit, anxious to
excuse their cowardice, gravely related that
a hundred fresh scalps had been deposited
at 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 said to
have taken the hatchet, and to be already
on their way to devastate the border setaements of Ohio. The appearance of two
British war-vessels on the south coast 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

4

BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.

Canada, as soon as he was informed of the absentees of the flank companies of the
repeal of the obnoxious orders in council Lincoln militia were called in and increased
assigned by the American government as the number of militia in service to about
the chief cause of their declaration of war, four hundred. The remainder of the
indispatched his Adjutant-General, Colonel habitants were busily engaged in the harvest
Baynes, to General Dearborn, commander fields, but an additional draft of five hun' of the United States forces in the state of dred men were warned to hold themselves
New York, who had his headquarters at in readiness to march to his support. The
Green Bush, near Albany, to propose a ces two armed vessels, Prince Regent and Earl
sation of hostilities till the decision of the Moiza, were moored in the mouth of the
cabinet could be ascertained. He found river to protect his left flank, while the new
Dearborn in a favorable humor. He had schooner, Lady Prevost, was anchored off
indeed been vaguely instructed to make a Fort Erie to assist in the defence of that
diversion in favor of General Hull upon the post. Efforts to strengthen the fortifications
Niagara, but was in no position to assume along the entire line were continued as far
the offensive there or elsewhere at that mo- as his means would permit. A day or two
ment. Most of the American merchant before the armistice was announced, Colonel
vessels on Lake Ontario were blockaded at Roger Sheaffe of the 49th, arrived and asOgdensburg. Sackett's Harbor, his principal awned command. Letters recently received
naval station on that lake, was nearly de- from Prevost insisted on the policy of con•
fenceless, and had been threatened with an ciliating the enemy by every means in his
attack; the forces assembled on the Niagara power, and Sheafle finally consented that
were unprovided with artillery and necess- both parties should enjoy the unrestricted
ary munitions of war. He readily assented navigation of Lake Ontario as long as the
to Baynes, proposals as far as the forces armistice continued, although an express
under his immediate command were con- from Detroit had informed him a few mincerned, as he could still continue his pre- utes before of
the capitulation of the entire
parations for defence and invasion with American army there.
entire freedom. But Hull was believed to
All the advantages secured so far by the
be in full tide of success. It was confidently superiority of the British squadron on Lake
reported that he had taken Malden and was Ontario were thrown away by a stroke of
marching up the Thames. Dearborn there- the pen. The blockaded vessels at Ogdensfore warily declined to extend the armistice burg were removed to Sackett's Harbor to be
to his operations. armed, and troops and stores of all kinds
.
1.7 General Van Rensselaer, who commanded hurried forward to Fort Niagara. Tidings
the American forces on the Niagat a, received of Brock's almost incredible success had
the news with feelings of relief and satisfac- preceded him, and as he rode down to Niation. Although refugees from Canada had gars he was met midway by many of the
assured him nearly a week before, that all magistrates and principal inhabitants on
the regular troops had been withdrawn from horseback,
who presented him with a conthe posts opposite to meet General Hull, he gratulatory address, to which he replied
still remained incredulous and apprehensive with his characteristic readiness and tact,
of an attack. Yet his force already ex- quietly disna.iming any personal credit, and
ceeded two thousand men, of whom one-half ascribing his triumph to the fidelity and
were regulars. He perceived in an instant alacrity with which he had been supported
what an immense advantage might be de- by the people of the province and the steadrived from the cessation of hostilities, if the iness of the troops under his command.
terms could be construed in such a way as The volunteers that had accompanied him
to enable him to bring up troops and stores were filled with natural exultation, and
from Oswego and Sacketts Harbor, by water their easy victory had inspired them with
instead of by the tedious overland route. a certain amount of contempt for their
Unless this concession were secured the enemies, which was rapidly communicated
armistice would be of little immediate benefit to their friends and acquaintances. The
to him. The agreement was so loosely arrival of the American general and the
worded as to leave this matter in doubt. regulars of his army, a few days later, beHis Adjutant-General was at once sent to came the signal for a frantic outburst of
Fort George with directions to insist on this enthusiasm, and aged loyalists w ho still
interpretation, nourished bitter memories of the RevoluColonel Christopher Myers had been left tion, proclaimed that Saratoga had been at
in command there by General Brock To last avenged.
garrison all the posts, he had less than three Quite as profound was the dismay ochundred men of the 41st regiment The casioned in the minds of even the most san-

BAT f LE OF QUEENSTON' HEIGHT S.7

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5

guine of his antagonists. "Three days ago," the benefit that could be reasonably exwrote Peter B. Porter, their quarter-mas- petted from its continuance had been seter-general, to the Governor of New York, cured, notice was given that it would end
"the heroes of Tippecanoe and the garrisons on the 8th of September.
of Detroit and Mackinac, amounting to Four hundred batteaux loaded with
about 500, were marched like cattle from artillery and stores had come in from OsFort Erie to Fort George, guarded by wego ; great quantities of provisions had
General Brook's regular troops with all the been collected ; a large number of scows
parade and pomp of British insolence, and and boats suitable for the passage of the
we were incapacitated by the armistice and river had been built ; several thousand
our own weakness from giving them the re- additional troops had arrived and more were
lief they anxiously seemed to expect. With on the march, yet the American general
4000 men on this river, the whole of Upper hesitated to assume the offensive. The
Canada and the Indian country would have panic created by the surrender of Detroit
been in our possession Now, Detroit and had by that time reached Albany, and Deara brave army taken, the Indians let loose born wrote to warn him thatan attack upon
upon our frontiers, the inhabitants flying in his position was imminent. British troops
every direction. Brock with his army and had been seen ascending the St. Lawrence,
Indians and thousands of inspirited Cana- and he most be prepared to tall back if hard
dians, and a powerful train of field and pushed and not be caught in a trap like
garrison artillery taken at Detroit arrived Hull. The disembarkation of detachments
on this frontier and ready to act. Indeed of soldiers both at Fort Erie and Niagara,
it is now reduced to a certainty that the in- close upon the heels of this information,
habitants of this frontier are doomed to feel alarmed and perplexed them. Colonel Fenthe scourge and desolation of the war. The wick, commanding at Fort Niagara, reporthour that closes the armistice will bring ing that an attack was expected by him, the
ruin to most of them who live on this iron- stores were removed, the siege-guns buried,
tier. We have been daily amused for two and every preparation made for the hasty
months by news of heavy ordnance and evacuation of the post.
flying artillery. They come as far as Utica Stephen Van Rensselaer, who held chief
and then disappear. This letter is written command by virtue of his rank as Majorin a state of mind little short of distraction. General of the New York state troops, was
Yesterday a number of men were shot at an utter novice in 'all military affairs and
Fort George in view of our troops. They could scarcely even be termed an amateur
are supposed to be the unfortunate fellows soldier. The last patroon of Rensselaerwho joined General Hull in Canada and Wyck and the leading Federalist in the
were surrendered at Detroit, and for whose state, his appointment was a sharp stroke of
protection provision should have been made party tactics on the part of the governor
in the capitulation at the expense of the life who discovered in him a prospective and
of every man in the garrison. The public dangerous opponent. The recent Congresmind is wrought up almost to a pitch of sional elections had seemed to indicate that
madness. Jealousy and distrust begin to the Federalists had regained the confidence
to prevail towards the general officers." of the people of New York, and most of
John Lovell, private secretary of General their leaders were uncompromising in their
Van Rensselaer, wrote about the same time hostility to the war. If Van Ransselaer
to a friend: "Hull's surrender has cemented accepted, his immediate following would be
Canada beyond anything you can conceive. committed to its prosecution ; if he refused,
It has also a serious effect on the Indians his conduct could he denounced as unpatalong the whole frontier. 'l'he sensation riotic,
produced by the sight of prisoners marched Five generations of the Van Rensselaers
had reigned in the ancient manor-house near
past is inexpressible."
Under these circumstances it is not sur- Albany, and their estates stretched along
prising that when General Dearborn,having the Hudson from Barren Island to Cohoes,
le arned that his government had peremp- extending inland for twenty-five miles on
torily declared to enter into fresh negotia- either side of the river, and comprising a
tions, and believing the rumor of the capture thousand square miles of territory. Under
of Malden, instructed Van Rensselaer to the Dutch governors they had assumed alterminate the armistice at once, that most regal state, exacting oaths of allegiance
the latter exercised the discretionary power from their tenaots, and they still maintained
allowed him of prolonging it until the last many of their feudal customs giving perof his artillery had arrived. But when the petual leases, receiving the rents in dozens
last division of boats hove in sight, and all of fowls and bushels of wheat and personal

6

BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.

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
bad 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 hurried 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 relief, and while
they viwere 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
desired Brock not to provoke the enemy by
needless annoyance, but remain strictly on
the defensive, arld even hinted that he
had risked too much when he ventured to
cross the river at Detroit.
This plan having been rejected, Brock returned to Niagara where he found that Van
Rensselaer had already given notice of the
termination of the armistice. Lewiston
Heights were whitened with the tents of a
large encampment. Other camps Were visible at Schlosser, Black 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 transportation 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 exercising and marching to and fro,
attended by a numerous train of field artillery and detachments of cavalry. Everything pointed to an i mmediate attack, while

Brook found himself at once greatly in want
of officers, men, and artillery, and wrote to
Prevost that he must have a thousand more
regular soldiers to defend that frontier, and
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
his lack of men and ,neans 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 Heignts, 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 cf
Hull's regular troops were distributed among
the militia of the province. His tireless
activity and watchfulness excited the admiration even of his enemies. "I send you
Brook's seal," Lovett wrote to a friend,
"with his appropriate motto ; 'He who
guards, never sleeps.'" Earthworks of
some description were constructed on every
commanding point along the river from
Queenston to its mouth, and at any menacing movement of their troops, alarm guns
were fired and horsemen galloped out in
every direction.
Nor were the embarassments 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 company known as the
"Qfteenston and Niagara Association," had
at that critical 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 cash for it. They
were without tents or camp utensils of any
description. Their clothing hung about
them in tatters ; their shoes were in holes;
and they always suffered dreadfully from
cold and wet, yet their patience and cheerfulness excited his warmest praise. With the
exception of a few men from the militia
who generally went to their homes and

BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.

7

afterwards rejoined their companies, there that the Governor of the state should
were scarcely any desertions. assumed supreme command himself and
On the other side of the river bodies of march thither, with as large a force
fresh troops were constantly arriving, but of militia as he could assemble, while he entheir militia was represented as deavored to draw off part of the British
being very much dissatisfied and extremely troops by a movement towards Montreal by
inefficient. Sickness prevailed in their way of Lake Champlain. Tompkins was too
camps and funerals were daily observed. shrewd a politician to peril his reputation by
Several men of the 6th United States In- such a step, but he displayed great vigor in
fantry deserted in a body and-attempted to pushing forward troops, and stores, and inswim the river, six of whom perished in vested Van Rensselaer with authority to
sight of both armies. Undeterred by the call out an almost unlimited number of
fate of his unfortunate comrades, another militia from the neighboring counties.
man of the same regiment plunged in next Dearborn at the same time dispatched regiday and swam over amid a shower of bullets moot after regiment of regular troops to
Two companies that had arrived during the Van Rensselaer's assistance, while the secarmistice, each consisting of sixty men, he retary of war sent sailors to equip and man
said, had already been reduced one half by the boats and vessels at Buffalo, and was
desertion. urging forward another army to recover
By the middle of September, two corn- Detroit. Two thousand men from Pennsylpanies of the Royal Newfoundland and six vania were at the same time ordered to
of the 49th regiment arrived from Kingston, march to the Niagara.
and ninety men of the 41st came down from There long continued efforts to enlist the
Detroit. These slender reinforements were Indians residing in New York and Pennsylostentatiously paraded in view of the enemy vania actively on their side now promised
as they arrived and marched from place to to be successful. Already in July Erastus
place with marked effect as we have already Granger. the American Indian agent for the
observed. Three hundred Indians had come state of New York, held a council with the
in and two hundred more were promised, Senecas at Buffalo, during which he probut Brock placed little dependance upon posed that they should permit two hundred
auxiliaries of such uncertain temperament. of their young men to join the American
"They may serve to intimidate," he said, army. This they refused to do, but con"but no effective service can be expected sented to send some of their chiefs to Grand
from this degenerate race " To Prevost he river to dissuade the Indians from joining
wrote that there was no doubt great discon- the British. In this mission they were untent existed among the American forces, successful, but Granger appears to have
"and much might be done, but keeping in represented to his government that they
mind Your Excellency's instructions, and were anxious to be employed themselves,
aware of the policy of permitting such a for as early as the 27th of July, the secreforce to dwindle away by its own inefficient tars of war wrote to Dearborn, enclosing a
means, I do not contemplate any immediate letter to Granger, authorizing him to orattack." But to his brother a few days ganize the warriors of the Six Nations conlater he disclosed his real impatience at his ditionally. At this time it was quite imforced inactivity. "My instructions oblige possible for him to know that any
me to adopt defensive measures, and I have Indians had joined the British. About the
evinced greater forbearance than was ever middle of September Van Rensselaer held a
practiced on any former occasion. It is grand council with the Tuscaroras, and adthought that without aid of the sword, the vantage was craftily taken of the appearance
American people may be brought to a due of a British scouting party upon Grand
sense of their interests. I firmly believe Island, which was still the property of the
that at this moment I could sweep every- Senecas, to excite alarm amongst them lest
thing before me from Fort Niagara to Buf- they should be deprived of these lands.
falo, but my success would be transient." They were induced to declare war formally,
In fact the arrival of his reinforcements and Red Jacket pompously announced they
had almost produced a panic in the Ameri- would put 3000 warriors in the field. Sevcan camp. Party strife raged among the eral hundred Indians were also brought
officers with unabated fury. Porter and his down from the Allegheny river and a great
friends styled the commanding general a feast and war dance held in the streets of
traitor, while Soloman Van Rensselaer an- Buffalo. Almost at the instant that these
nounced his intention of publishing Porter events were taking place, the secretary
as "a poltroon, coward, and scoundrel." In again wrote to Dearborn :—"By letters rethis dilemma General Dearborn suggested ceived from Erastus Granger it appears that
,

8

BATTLE OF ,Q,UEENS FON HEIGHTS.

the young men of the Six Nations can no greater preparation is made for sowing fall
longer be restrained, and that in cane of grain than ever before. The militia law is
refusal on the part of the United States to modified as much as possible to suit the ciraccept their services they would join the cumstances of the people, and measures
Indians under the British standard. Mr. taken to prevent them feeling the burden of
Granger has therefore been authorized, the war. The women work in the fields,
after every attempt to secure their neu• encouragement being given for that purpose.
trality has failed, to employ them. In singu- When Hull's proclamation appeared it had
lar contradiction to the statements contained its effect, there being security promised for
in this letter stands a speech delivered at private property, and the people would
the ancient council ground of the Six willingly haVe submitted, but when it was
Nations by sixteen chiefs, representing five found that private property was seized
tribes of the confederacy distributed as far without compensation the public sentiment
west as Tonawanda, on the 29th of Septem- entirely eh raged. The success of General
ber. "Having been told repeatedly by your Brock established the general sentiment ; he
agents to remain neutral, we were very has since made the most of it, has become
much surprised at the council held at Buf- personally highly popular ; in short, has
falo Creek, at being invited to take up the taken every measure that a judicious officer
tomahawk. We are not unfriendly to the will take in his circumstances fur the securUnited States but are few in number, and ity of the province. A determination now
can do but little, but are willing to do what prevails among the people to defend the
we can, and if you say so we will go with country."
your people to battle. We are anxious to No dread of impending disaster ever
know your wishes as soon as possible, be- damped his spirits or abated his activity.
cause we are afraid some of our young men Impressibly sanguine himself he possessed
may disperse among distant tribes and be the rare faculty of imbuing all who came in
hostile to you." By the beginning of Octo- contact with him with unbounded confidence
her it is certain that about 300 warriors in his abilities and respect for his character.
joined Van Rensselaer's army, but they To maintain his position in the force of the
seemed to have 'sent some apologetic mes- overwhelming numbers gathering in his
sage to the allied tribes in the British ser- front might at times have seemed well nigh
vice, for these assured Brock that they hopeless, yet no sign of despondency ever
would not act against him with any spirit. appeared in his manner or conversation.
"So I imagine," he observed with his ac His wonted sagacity was displayed in the
customed shrewdness, "if we continue to selection of members of hie military family.
show a bold front, but in the event of a John McDonnell, the attorney-general of
disaster the love of plunder will prevail in a the province and M. P. P. for Glengarry,
manner to be the most dreaded by the in- and James Givius,of the Indian department,
habitants of this country."
a man thoroughly familiar with the language
The American militia were constantly in and customs of the Indians of the province,
the habit of stealing down to the river and were appointed provincial aides-de-camp.
firing at the British sentries, the batteries Robert Nichol, a millionaire of Port Dover,
and private houses on the opposite bank, who knew intimately every part of the
and excited an intense and almost ferocious country between the Niagara and Detroit
feeling of hatred among the troops under and almost every man in it, was made
Brook's command, but he had the satis- assistant quartermaster-general.
faction of being able to report at the end of
When the assembly was prorogued an
two months of incessant annoyance and address to the people of the province had
alarm, that his regulars had not been di- been prepared and signed by nearly the
minished by a single death at the handi of whole of the members, urging them to dethe enemy, nor by a solitary desertion, and feud their country and pledging their aid
that his entire force was in good health and and advice in the cause, and most of them
spirits in spite of their privations. A letter had now taken the field in some ca pacity.
from a spy, apparently residing near Fort Many of the surviving loyalists, too old and
Erie,to General Van Rensselaer.gives a very feeble to bear the fatigue of a campaign,
striking picture of the situation and feelings tendered their services to perform garrison
of the people at this time. "General Brock," duty.
he remarks, "has paid attention to every
The weather had been extremely disparticular that can relate to the future re- couraging. July had been excessively hot
sources of the province under his charge as and dry, but August brought floods of rain.
well as to its immediate defence. The har- Wheat sprouted in the fields after being
vest has been got in tolerably well and reaped and much of the harvest was ruined.

BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.

September as a rule proved cool and pleasant, for orders from him, yet a trifling incident
but October was ushered in by furious served to indicate how little dependence
storms, and sudden changes of temperature was to be placed on their assistence. A
which prevented most of the Indian corn sentinel near Schlossen was shot on his beat
from maturing, and blighted the lingering in the night by some unknown person, and
an entire company instantly threw away
hopes of the farmers.
Besides several large scows for the their arms and took to their heels, never
transport of cannon, the Americans had stopping till they had gained the main
begun to build three gun-boats at Black camp at Lewiston. Early in October he
Rock, the destruction of which _Brock summoned a council of war, to which he infrankly confessed he would have attempted vited General Smyth, who had just taken
had he not been restrained by his instruc- command of a brigade of regular troops at
tions. The Indians were strictly prohibited Buffalo ; General Hall, of the New York
from crossing the river under any pretence, militia, and the commandant of each regiand were closely watched and guarded. A ment of United States troops. Smyth
party which arrived from the west to v;sit showed his contempt for the militia general
Colonel Claus,bringing with them a bundleof under whom he was forced to serve by
scalps, were sharply rebuked and pledged neglecting to attend of even to apologize for
not to offend in that way again These his absence. Van Rensselaer had intended
rigid precautions had the effect of diminish- to concentrate the whole of his regular
big the number of those with the army troops near Fort Niagara and the militia at
until it did not much exceed one hundred. Lewiston, and attempt the passage of the
A variety of motives absolutely forced river simultaneously at both places, but
General Van Rensselaer to assume the in consequence of Smyth's misconduct this
offensive. Daring September six regiments scheme was abandoned and he determined
of regular infantry, five of New York to cross from the latter place, only as he
militia, a battalion of rifles and several felt satisfied that the forces he had already
batteries of artillery had joined his army. assembled then were amply sufficient for
The Pennsylvania contingent had assembled the purpose. a taff-officers, under one preat Meadville on the 20th, and was marching text and another, had visited the British
to Buffalo. Forage and provisions had lines and the result of their observations
already begun to grow scarce, and the coupled with information received from his
autumn rains would undoubtedly increase spies had made him pretty thoroughly acthe ravages of disease already frightfully quainted with the members and composition
prevalent among his militia. Dearborn of the forcers opposed to him.
strongly urged him to attempt the No doubt was entertained of at least
passage of the river, as he declared they partial success. He confidently anticipated
must reckon upon obtaining possession of being able to secure a foothold in Canada
Upper Canada before the winter set in, where he could establish his array in winterassuring him at the same time that Hanison quarters and prepare for an early campaign
would invade the province by way of next year. More than eight thousand
Detroit with six or seven thousand men, troops were assembled under his command
while another strong body of troops was of whom about half were regulars. Three
already assembled at Sackett's Harbor, hundred artillery and eight hundred reguwhere a squadron was fitting out to contest lar infantry occupied Fort Niagara, and
possession of Lake Ontario, and he, in nine hundred regular soldiers and 2,270
person, would threaten Montreal from Lake New York militia were encamped near
Champlain. The ultimate success of these Lewiston. At Buffalo General Smyth had
operations he regarded as almost certain, 1,650 regular troops, three hundred and
bur he warned him that much would depend eighty six detached militia, two hundred
on his movements on the N iagara. Monroe, and fifty sailors, and four hundred Indians
Secretary of State, openly ascribed the in- besides the local militia. Part of the
activity of the armies in New York to the Pennsylvania brigade of two thousand men
effects of disaffection, which he declared had also arrived. Many batteaux and flathad paralyzed the effrrts of the administra- bottomed boats were in readiness at Black
tion and rendered the measures of Congress Rock, Tonawanda, and Gill's Creek above
inoperative. The militia now clamored the Falls, and at Lewiston and Four Mile
loudly to be led against the enemy, and did Creek below, and a sufficient number could
not hesitate to accuse their commander of be collected at any given point in a few
lukewarmness and cowardice, while some of hours to carry over a thousand men. His
their officers announced their inten train of field artillery was large and wellLion of invading Canada without waiting equipped.
-

BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
10

BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.

To resist this formidable army, Brock had chain of outposts and patrols maintained
fifteen companies of regular infantry, which constant communication between all these
may have mustered sixty rank and file each; posts, and the Indians were held in reserve
two officers and thirty men of the Royal in small parties several miles in rear. As
artillery, with five field guns ; a troop of the number of regular artillerymen was quite
militia drivers, and a troop of Provincial insufficient to work even the field-guns in
Cavalry, besides the flank companies of the their possession, a corps of volunteer
five Lincoln and two York battalions of gunners had been formed partly from the
militia.
The fourteen flank companies regular infantry and partly from the militia
probably did not average more than thirty- under Captains Kerby and Swayze.
five officers and men each, or less than five
The quality of these troops was unqueshundred in all. The muster rolls of the tionably superior to that of any likely to be
five Lincoln battalions show a total of nearly brought against them. The 41st contained
two thousand men, but these were scattered a large proportion of young recruits, but
over the twenty townships then composing was a fine body of men, and although the
the country, comprising the entire peninsula men of the 49th had been ten years in the
from Burlington Bay to the mouth of country, drinking rum without bounds,
Grand river. Perhaps five hundred of these they were still respectable and ardent. The
could be readily assembled at a few hours flank companies of militia were generally
notice. Most of the Indians had dispersed composed of picked men and had attained a
to their hunting-grounds. The exigencies very creditable degree of discipline.
of the transport-service on the lakes had The successful result of an attack upon
obliged the British general to send away two small armed vessels at Fort Erie served
the armed vessels which had formerly to raise the spirts of Van Rensselaer's army
served the flank of his position, and to in a remarkable degree, and was actually
watch a frontier which practically extended a serious blow to their opponent's wing to
from the Sugar Loaf on Lake Erie to f our the extreme scarcity of provisons apart
Mile Creek on Lake Ontario, and to occupy from the loss of the vessels. This occurred
the numerous posts and batteries between early on the morning of the 9 h October,
and maintain communication over a line of and Brock arrived on the spot before sunset,
sixty miles, he had actually less than a but having apparently satisfied himself that
thousand regular troops and six hundred no immediate attempt to cross the river was
militia, with a reserve of possibly six hun- contemplated there, returned to Niagara
dred militia and Indians Half of this next day. This hurried journey had the
force was scarcely adequate to garrison Fort effect of fastening Van Rensselaer's moveGeorge and the adjacent batteries, and a ments, for a spy returned to his camp with
body of troops could hardly be marched from information that Brock had left Niagara in
one end of his line to the other in less than great haste and was supposed to have gone
two days. The concentration of large to Detroit. Encouraged by this report, and
bodies of men near Fort Niagara and Buf- feeling, as he expressed it, "That the
falo, where great numbers of boats were national character is degraded and the discollected, forced Brock to weak en his grace will remain corroding the public feelcentre and strengthen his wings, anticipat- ins and spirit until another campaign, uning that an attempt would be made to turn less it be wiped away by a brilliant exploit
either flank and land troops a few miles in in this," he determined to strike while the
rear of the works protecting it. Four enthusiasm of his troops was at its heat over
companies of the 49th, two of the the recent exploit, and fixed the hour and
Royal Newfoundland regiment, four
place for crossing the river for three o'clock
of militia and a small detachment of next morning at Queenston. The stream was
Royal artillery, occupied Fort Erie, and there at its narrowest ; a ferry had been
a series of batteries extending as low established for years, and although the
as Frenchman s Creek ; four companies of current was swift, the navigation was well
militia and one company of the 41st were ascertaincd and an indifferent oarsman
posted along the river between that point could pull across in less than ten minutes.
and Chippawa • the flank companies of the His artillery, superior in numbers and
49th and two of the York militia held the calibre, could cover the landing from the
batteries near Queenston ; the earthworks high ground above Lewiston,where batteries
at Brown's and Field's points were each had already been thrown up.
guarded by a militia company, while the
Accordingly the regulars from Fort Niremaining companies of the 49th and agara, and strong detachments from Buffalo,
Lincoln militia, and the field guns were were ordered to join the main-body at Lewquartered in and about Fort George. A iston before midnight, and boats sufficient

II

to contain 500 men were secretly brought and the fields were generally enclosed by
overland from Gill's Creek. A furious storm ordinary rail-fences diversified,near the foot
of wind and rain swept over his camp while of the heights by an occasional low stone
the troops were drawn up in readiness to wall. Half-way up the side of the mountain
enter the boats, and the pilot of the expedi- a small redan battery had been built with
tion deserted in the darkness. In conse- its angle fronting the river and armed with
quence the attack was postponed. The rain an eighteen-pounder, and at Brooman's
continued with unabated violence for twenty Point, nearly a mile below, a twenty-four
eight hours until the roads became almost pound gun had been mounted en bazbette on
impassible. Van Rensselaer then desired a crescent shaped earthwork commanding,
to wait a few days in the hope of reverting although at very long range, both landings,
to his original plan, but the impatience of and the breadth of the river between. Capt.
his troops seemed to be increased by their Williams with the light company of the 49th
recent failure, and the pressure brought to was stationed at the redan, and the grenabear upon him was too great to be with- diers of the same regiment under Capt.
stood. His force was now still further in- James Dennis and Chisholm's company of
creased by the arrival of three hundred and the 2nd Yorks were quartered in the village.
fifty regular soldiers under Lieut. Col. Chry- Outposts and sentries watched the river from
stie at Four Mile Creek, east of Fort Ni- the landing to Brooman's Point which was
agara. The appearance of these boats and occupied by Capt. Samuel Hatt's company
the detention of a large force near that place of the 5th Lincoln. The entire force of
led Brock to believe that an attempt would regulars and militia distributed about
be made to land to the westward of Niagara Queenston did nor exceed two hundred men.
and prevented him from reinforcing the de- Cameron's and Howard's companies of York
tachments at Queenston, and though he had militia lay at Brown's Point, three miles
become aware of the attempt to cross the distant, but there were no other regular
river there, he regarded it simply as a feint troops nearer than Fort George.
Fatigue duty and frequent alarms had
to divert his attention from the true point
of attack. The evident activity of the enemy begun to tell upon the health and spirits of
near Buffalo at the same time restrained the men, and at dark on the evening of the
him from weakening the right of his ex- llth Brock learned with concern that some
tended line. men of the 49th hal become insubordinate
The river as it issues from the gorge at and even threatened the lives of their
Queenston is barely six hundred feet in officers, but an inquiry showed that their
width, and flows at the rate of about four misconduct was caused by drink, and they
miles an hour. The cliffs which wall it in were liberated with a reprimand.
All that day and the next, parties of
above are almost perpendicular, yet on the
Canadian side, in many places, were so over- influence lined the opposite shore and fired
grown and almost concealed, by shrubs and incessantly at any living thing that met
trees, which struck their roots into the clefts their eye on the Queenston side. The houses
and crannies of the rocks, as to make it near the river were riddled by their fire,
possible for an ordinarily active man to and even a boat bearing a flag of truce beclimb up with little difficulty from the came a target for their bullets.
In a battery, named Fort Gray above the
water's edge to the summit. A few hundred yards west of the landing stood the village of Lewiston, two eighteen-pounders
village, consisting of a atone barracks and were mounted with the intention of silenabout twenty scattered dwellings surrounded cing the gun in the redan, and two mortars
by gardens and orchards. The waggon-road and the same number of six-pounders were
leading from Niagara formed the principal planted on the bank of the river to cover
street and wound up the heights beyond. the landing and drive the British out of
Another road, commencing at the landing Queenston. Chrystie's and Fenwick's regiand crossing this at right angles, led to St. ments of regulars from Fort Niagara, and
Davids, throwing off a branch which as- three militia battalions from Schlossen were
tended the heights about a mile to west- marched to Lewiston by inland roads after
ward, and finally united with the portage- dark on the evening of the 12th, and long
road above. In the angle formed by the in before the appointed hour of three o'clock
tersection of these two roads at the south- more than 4,000 men were assembled there
east corner of the village stood the large without exciting attention. Twelve boats,
atone house of the Hon. Robert Hamilton each of which could carry thirty men, and
with its walled courtyard and substantial two others having a capacity of eighty each,
out-buildings. The adjacent plain was manned by veteran fishermen familiar with
dotted with many farmhouses near the roads, the river, were moored at the landing. The
-

I2

BATITE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.

night was intensely dark, rain was still fall- Rensselaer assumed the command in the
ing gently, and the winds and the roaring absence of Chrystie, and attempted to form
of the river drowned the sound of their up his men before advancing further. Their
movements. Everything seemed to conspire presence was then for the first time disto favor their enterprise. covered by a militia sentry, who was so
Col. Van Rensselaer had originally been agitated by the fact, that instead of firing
selected to command the advance-guard, but his musket at once, he ran into the main
when Chrystie arrived,he stubbornly refused guard to give the alarm. In a few minutes
to waive his rank and it was then agreed Captain Dennis advanced towards the landthat he should lead a column of three hun- ing with forty-six men of his own company
dred regular troops, while Van Rensselaer and a few of the militia, and found the
headed an equal number of militia. The enemy still in much confusion. His first
militia composing this detachment were ac- volley fell upon them, as it proved, with
cordingly chosen with great care from fatal precision. Van Rensselaer himself was
among the best drilled men, and by their struck down with six wounds, several corncommander at least, were believed to be pany officers and a number of men were
superior to the United States troops in killed or disabled, and the entire body repoint of discipline. Forty picked men of tired to the water's edge where they were
the regular artillery conducted by Lieut. partially sheltered by the steep bank.
Gausevoort, all of whom had long been The batterie*at Lewiston, where the gunquartered at Fort Niagara and knew the ners had been waiting with matches burning
river well, were selected to head the other for the signal, instantly opened fire, the
column and were followed by four compan- first round from their heavy guns being
ies of the 13th United States infantry, which aimed at the redan, but when the glare of
was regarded as one of the crack regiments the musketry disclosed the position of a
of their army. Next in succession, Col. small body of British infantry near the landFenwick and Major Mullany were to cross ing, all six guns were turned upon it, and
with 550 regulars, then an equal number of Dennis drew his men back under the shelter
militia and so on in order until the entire of the houses of the village. In this brief
division consisting of the 6th, 13th, and encounter the loss of the Americans was
23rd United States infantry, detachments subsequently stated to have been eight
of three regular artillery regiments, a hat- officers and forty-five men killed or
talion of volunteer riflemen, and the 16th, wounded.
17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th regiments of New The gunners in the redan and at BrooYork militia had been passed over. The man's Point began firing at random in the
artillerymen, well provided with matches direction of the Lewiston landing, in the
aid rammers to work the captured guns,and hope of striking some of the boats, and
a detachment of engineers was detailed to Lieut. Crowther of the 41st, brought up a
fortify a position as soon as it was taken. tiny three-pounder field-piece or grasshopper
The number of officers and men exceeded to sweep the road to the river. Van Renssefour thousand of whom at least fifteen hun- laer, being quite disabled by his wounds,
dred were regulars, and barring accidents, was taken back to Lewiston, and the cornthe whole force might be ferried over in mand devolved upon Capt. d ohn E. Wool.
seven trips. The two largest boats were of the 13th, a brave but young and inexperialso fitted with platforms on which a field- enced officer, who for more than two hours
piece with its carriage could be loaded. seems to have been quite satisfied to retain
In less than a quarter of an hour from the his foothold beside the river, while the
time the boats pushed off, ten of them con- batteries behind him were fast wrecking the
veying three hundred men, reached the op- village of Queenston. His men, however,
posite shore at the exact spot selected for maintained a brisk but harmless fire from
effecting a landing,quite unperceived by the the shelter of the bank. Reinforcements
sentries. Three others, among them the were pushed over to his assistance, but mistwo largest, were carried down by the cur- fortune still attended them. Two boats
rent, and of these only the smaller one sue- loaded with men were swept far out of their
ceeded in landing below, while the two course by the current. One of these, comothers returned by command of Col. Chry- manded by Lieut. Col. Fenwick of the
stie to their own shore to make a fresh start. artillery, struggled ashore in the cove below
Most of those who had landed were regular Queenston and attempted to ascend the
troops, comprising the detachment of artil- bank there. They were at once attacked ;
lery and three entire companies of the 13th Fenwick received a pistol-shot in the face
infantry, and having sent back the boats to which partially blinded him, besides two
bring over the next detachment, Van other wounds, and was taken prisoner with

BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
most of his men. The other boat drifted
fairly within range of Brooman's battery
and was taken there. The river being so
narrow many objects could be distingushed
upon the opposite shore when lit up by the
flashing of the artillery, and the shouts and
shrieks of the combatants could be occasionally heard by thousands of interested spectators at Lewiston. Within half an hour
after landing Wool's force was doubled by
the arrival of two other 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.
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 Brooman'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
toy gun out of range, while the mortars
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 something 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.
tieing convinced by unmistakeable signs
that an attack was meditated within a day
or two, Brock had been engaged till midnight in despatching orders for the assembly
of the militia. It was no surprise then for
him to be aroused shortly after ten o'clock
by the distant boom 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
a war between the sentries. The steady
cannonade and blazing beacons along the
heights convinced 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 -vas
not uncertain whether another landing was
not intended in the vicinity of Niagara, the
British general contented himself with giving instructions for Captain Holcroft to
follow him with two guns and a party of
Indians, while the remainder of the garrison

[3

remained 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.
Day dawned grey and chill with a thin
fog rising from the river. Four boats filled
with men were then seen to push off
Lewiston, and at the same instant the head
of a column of troops appeared 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 almost 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. Gausevoort pointed out
a narrow 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 which
had also been favored by Van Rensselaer,
and leaving a hundred men to occupy the landing and engage the attention of the British
in that quarter, he instanly began the
ascent at the head of the remainder, giving
strict orders to an officer to shoot any man
who attempted to turn back.
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 risen from subalteran to colonel. Reining in his horse for
a moment to acknowledge their salute, he
rode up the slope to the redan and there
dismounted.
A striking scene presented itself to his
gaze. A single glanced showed him
battalion upon battalion of troops drawn up
in rear of the American batteries in readiness to embark ; other detachments were
entering their boats, some already upon
the river, and an uncertain number in possession of the Queenston landing. Their
guns were pouring round and grape shot
into the enclosures of the village where
Dennis still contrived to maintain a foot-

BATTLE OF QUEENSFON HEIGHTS.
hold, and an occasional shell from their Brock's party in the hope of checking its
mortar battery rose shrieking into the air. advance.
1
So far everything seemed to promise well. Convinced of the great importance of reThe party that had landed had not gained gaining the lost position before the enemy
an inch of ground in three hours, and near was heavily reinforced, he ordered Dennis
a hundred prisoners had been taken with to join him with the 49th grenadiers and
small loss. Chisholm's company of York militia, leavWatching intently the flight of a shell ing only a few men in the village to hold
from the gun beside him, he observed that them in check in that quarter. When their
it burst prematurely, and turning to the companies came up he detached Williams
gunner, Brock advised him to try a larger with a section of his own company and the
fuse. The words were scarcely out of his whole of the militia, making about seventy
mouth when a loud shout rose from the men in all, by a round about route to turn
hillside above, accompanied by a volley of the left of Wool's position. Observing this
bullets whistling overhead, and a body of movement, the latter detached a party of
the enemy came charging down upon the 150 men to check it, but after a brief inrear of the battery. Resistance was out of terchange of shots, the Americans fell into
the question, and there was no time even to confusion and began to retire. Seizing the
mount, so leading their horses by the bridle favorable moment, Brock sprang over the
the three officers ran hastily down the road stone wall behind which he had directed
to the village followed by the dozen men his men to take shelter, and led the way
working the gun, who fortunately had suf- directly up the steep ascent towards the '
ficient presence of mind to spike it before battery, waving his sword and shouting to
they came away. the grenadiers, who followed him with a
All this was plainly visibly to the troops ready cheer.
at Lewiston, whose shouts could be heard The rain had ceased and strong gleams of
amid the roar of the c.nnon as their flag sunshine brcke through the clouds. The
rose over the battery, and they pressed ground was thickly strewn with fallen leaves
down eagerly to the boats. It was now slippery with wet, and yielding treacherevident that the principal and probably the ously, and as men stumbled and fell here
only attack was to be made here, and Brock and there the line was soon broken. Wool
despatched a hurried message to Sheaffe at sent a reinforcement to support his advance
Fort George to turn every gun that would party and their fire soon began to tell.
bear upon the American batteries opposite, "This is the first time I have ever seen the
and send forward the battalion companies 49th turn their backs Brock exclaimed
of the 41st and flank companies of militia. angrily as he noticed men dropping to the
Then mounting his horse he rode at a gallop rear, and the ranks promptly closed up.
to the farther end of the village, where the McDon4ell brought up the companies of
light company of the 49th was drawn up in Cameron and Hervard which had just arline awaiting orders. Again he was received rived from Brown's Point much exhausted,
with a loud cheer, and wheeling his horse having run nearly all the way. The force
in the direction of the heights, he exclaimed, then engaged in the direct assault of the
"Follow me, boys," and led them at a run heights including these companies numbered
to the foot of the ascent. There he paused about one hundred and ninety men. The
and dismounted, saying "Take breath, flank companies were uniformed in scarlet
boys—you will need it in a few moments," and advanced with such steadiness, that
a significant announcement, which provoked W ool was led to believe that he was being
another hearty shout. attacked by four companies of the 49th.
The crest of the heights was densely His own command had been increased to
wooded in most places, and their sides about five hundred rank and file two-thirds
dotted with clumps of small trees and of whom were regular soldiers, yet notwithshrubs richly spangled with the crimson, standing their advantage in numbers and
russet and golden tints of autumn. These position, being at the same time pressed
thickets in combination with the natural warmly on the flank by William's detachinequality of the ground furnished excellent ment,they began to shrink from the contest.
cover for the American riflemen. The Seeing that the supports were lagging at
redan was occupied by the main body of the foot of the hill Brock shouted to Mctheir troops, but they were unable to make Don4ell to "push on the York volunteers."
any use of the captured gun. Freshly A bullet struck the wrist of his swordlanded men were already ascending to their arm inflicting a slight wound, to which he
assistance, and the mortar battery had paid no attention but continued to wave his
begun to throw shells in the direction of sword and encourage his men. . His tall and

BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.

15

portly figure and energetic gestures, as well carrying with them, however, the dead body
as his uniform and position several yards in of their general and most of the wounded.
front of the line, naturally made him a They were not vigorously pursued and .did
special target for the bullets of the enemy not lose more than a dozen priscners, most
although he does not seem to have been of whom were too badly injured to be re•
personally recognized by them. At last a moved. Dennis refused to quit the field
rifleman, said to be one \Vilklow of Mose- and succeeded in collecting most of his men
ley's battalion, stepped out of a thicket less at the farther end of the village which was
than fifty yards away and took deliberate still occupied by Lieut. Crowther with a
aim at him. More than one man of the squad of Provincial artillerymen in charge
49th observed this and fired hastily in the of two small guns.
hope of anticipating his shot, but without The result of this engagement had a very
effect. The fatal bullet struck their general inspiriting influence upon the troops at
in the breast very near the heart, and he Lewiston, numbers of whom instantly prosunk slowly to the ground and expired after fessed great eagerness to cross the river and
murmuring a few broken sentences to those share the glory of the day They still posnearest him to conceal his death from the missed a sufficient number of boats to carry
men and continue the fight. over the remainder of the division before
McDonikell spurred his horse sharply to ten o'clock; the passage of the river was
the front and called upon the grenadiers to now for some time entirely unopposed, and
avenge their leader's death. William's at why they did not make better use of their
the same moment led forward his detach- opportunities has never been satisfactorily
ment from the thiCkets on the right and the explained. As it was, considerable bodies,
combined force charged at once fiercely up- both of regular troops and militia were
on the front and flank of the enemy who brought over, with a six-pound field piece,
were already in disorder and huddled to- its carriage and tumbril. General V a n
gether about the battery, out of which they Rensselaer and Colonel Chrystie examined
were quickly expelled and driven obliquely the position on the heights and gave direcupwards towards the summit of the heights tions for its immediate fortification. Engiin the direction of the river. Being hotly neer officers were set at work and fieldpursued, an officer even raised a handker- works commenced. The gun in the redan
chief or white cloth on the point of his was unsp'ked and brought to bear on the
sword as a flag of truce, but this was quickly village. Colonel Winfield Scott, the future
snatched away from him by Wool, who by conqueror of Mexico, having arrived from
great exertions succeeded in persuading his Buffalo during the morning with a battery
men to make a stand on the very verge of of artillery, placed his guns in position at
the cliff. A body of fresh troops including Lewiston and crossed the river to take cornau entire company of the 6th U. S. infantry, 'nand of the regular troops at Queenston,
and another of rifles opportunely came to who were re-enforced by detachments of
his assistance at this critical moment and the 6th and 23rd U. S. infantry anti 2ad
enabled him to prolong his line until he out- and 3rd artillery. About the same time
fl inked his assailants in both directions. Brigadier-General James Wadsworth asThey had also fallen into much disorder sumed command of the militia brigade, conthrough the haste and impetuosity of their slating of portions of Allen's, Bloom's,
advance. Williams had been disabled by a Mead's and Stranahan's regiments, and
ghastly wound in the head, Dennis had Moseley's battalion of riflemen. The prebeen badly hurt, and a considerable num- vise number of men belonging to these corps
ber of men killed or wounded. McDookell that passed the river it is impossible to ashad as yet escaped unharmed,although being certain. Estimates by their own officers
the only mounted officer present, he natur- ranged from one thousand to sixteen hunally attracted the fire of the enemy by whom dyed. Some companies of militia were rephe was supposed at the time to be the resented by officers without men ; others by
British general, and his hat and clothes men without officers, while a few were alwere pierced in many places. But now most or quite complete
while attempting to restore order and form The sound of a heavy cannonade at the
the men for a fresh attack, his horse was mouth of the river excited the worst apstruck by a shot, and as the animal plunged prehensions in the minds of the little band
in agony, his rider also received a mortal that continued to occupy Queenston village,
wound and was thrown from the saddle. In until they were relieved by the arrival of
spite of the efforts of Dennis and other Captain Derenzy, with several companies of
officers, the British then gave way in turn the 41st and militia, a detachment of Royal
und,retreated to the foot of the heights Artillery with two field guns under Captain

16

BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.

BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.

Holcroft, and a •party of Indians led by
Captain John Norton and Lieut. John
Brant. Stragglers from the field, whom
they encountered on the road, reported that
Dennis' entire command had been cut to
pieces, and that five thousand men had
landed. Accordingly they had advanced
much of the distance at the double, and
when they reached Queenston, were out of
breath and quite exhausted. Under these
circumstances it would have been folly to
attempt the recovery of the heights, where
the numbers of the enemy could have been
seen momentarily increasing, but Holcroft
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
had plundered some of the houses, but they
had made no effort to occupy it in force.
After a few shots, finding that his pieces
were too far away to reach their boats,
Holcrof, again limbered urf, 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
there his fire soon became effective, although
he lost several of his best men. A few
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 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 precision
of his fire, that from that time forward very
few men attempted to pass 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 engage them
and annoy their working parties. This was
accomplished in fine style, as their approach
through the woods was undetected, and the
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, w hence they kept up an incessant fire,accompanied with shrill whoops.
The suddenness 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 move. Norton continued to skirmish with, and annoy their
outposts, 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. Besides the serious annoyance
and loss inflicted upon the enemy by this
movement, direct communication was again
opened with the garrison at Chippawa.
Upon reaching Queenston Derenzy had
at once sent a message to General Sheaffe,
describing the situation of affairs, and the
latter soon afterward 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 RAyal 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 S wayzel s provincial artillery with two three pounders,
under Lieut. Crowther, five companies of
the 41st regiment, Capt.James Crookes' and
John McE wen's companies of the ]st
Lincoln, William Crookes' and Nelles' companies of the 4th Lincoln, A pplegarth's,
Hatts' and Durands' 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
York militia, engaged in the morning,
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 force 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 heave
Holcroft's two guns supported by a detachment of infantry to occupy the village, and
prevent thg 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 advancing from Chippawa, which
would increase his numerical strength by
150 men. In this way he would at once
escape the enfilading fire of the batteries at
Lewiston, avoid the steep ascent in the face
of the enemy, render their field works use-

less, 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, keeping however,
well under cover, and thoroughly succeeded
in obviating 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, where he beheld Captain Richard Bullock advancing from Chippawa with his own company of the 41st,and
Captain Robert Hamilton's and Jno. Rowe's
companies of the 2nd Lincoln,strengthened for
the occasion like most 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 formed for the attack with the light company of the 41st,
under Lieut. McIntyre, and the two com
panies 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. 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,
this 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 lurking 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 Rensselaer 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 landing crowded into It in such numbers, that it wiis in actual danger of being

17

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
movements 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 Rensselaer, stating
that he had been unable to induce a single
regiment, or even a company to ad vance to
his relief, but forwarding a supply of
ammunition and asssuring 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 cantonments, exhorting the groups of
lounging soldiers they met there on every
hand, to make an effort to rescue their comrades from their perlious situation, but
without producing the slightest effect.
Scott's men were already profoundly discouraged at being called upon to fight
another action, and evinced an alarming
disposition to stray away from their ranks,
which he endeavored to check by instruct- •
ing the sergeants to shoot those who should
attempt to leave their post without orders.
The contest was began 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 unprovided
with weapons to resist this form of attack,
gave way in great contusion, leaving that
flank exposed. On witnessing the success
of this movement, Sheaffe gave the signal
for a general advance. The gun was taken
and the position carried almost without
resistance, and the entire body of American
troops forced steadily back upon the river,
the British line by the advance of the wings
having gradually assumed the form of a
crescent, overlapping them on both flanks.

BATTLE OF QUEENS CON HEIGHTS.

Some of the fugitives braving the fire of the to the immediate dispersal of a large portion.
guns in the village, ran down the hill of the militia. A week after the battle,
tow Ards the landing ; Scott, himself, and a Van Rensselaer stated officially that it would
number of others scrambled down the steep be impossible to furnish a complete statebank to the water's edge, in the hope of ment, but estimated the number of killed
finding the promised boats ; Wadsworth and at sixty, and of wounded at one hundred
Chrystie, with more than five hundred and seventy. It was but natural that he
officers and men, surrendered on the verge should be disposed to minimize his losses,
of the cliff. and accordingly we find others incl;ned to
Meanwhile the fire of Holcroft's artillery believe them very much greater. Lossing
had rendered the passage of the river so and J. L. Thomson, neither of whom would
dangerous, that the boatmen positively re- be prone to exaggeration in this respect,
fused to undertake it, and dispersed. As agree in placing the number of killed at
no boats were waiting to receive them, a ninety, but diminish the number of
few desperate men plunged into the river wounded. Contemporary accounts generand attempted to swim across, of whom ally put both still higher. Colonel Mead,
some perished ; the remainder tried to a prisoner,estimated the killed and drowned
secrete themselves among the rocks and at one hundred, and the wounded at twice
thickets along the shore. The Indians lined that number, while Colonel Bloom, who
the cliffs above,or perched themselves in the was wounded but escaped capture, thought
trees whooping incessantly, and firing at the that a hundred were drowned alone, and
ugitives whenever an opportunity offered. three hundred killed and wounded. An
fugitives'
Under these circumstances Scott was glad eye witness whose letter was published in
to raise a white flag in the hope of prese•- the Boston Messenger stated that 1600
viog the lip es of the rest of his command. Americans were engaged, of whom 900
For a few minutes, even after this was done, were regulars,and that the number of killed.
the Indians continued their firing either was variously estimated from 150 up to 400.
not observing or disregarding this token of A letter in the Ontario Repo.sitory,also from
submissiOn, until it is said that Sheaffe grew an eyewitness, computed the killed and
so indignant at their misconduct, that he missing at 250, while still another in the
dashed his hat and sword on the eround,and Geneva Gazette raised the number to 300.
threatened that he. would resign the co,n- But a British officer writing from Fort
mand if they were not at once restrained. George on the 17th of Oetober, fairly disW hen this was accomplished, 290 officers tanned all otheis by the conjecture, that 500
and men surrendered there. Some yet of their men must have perished in theactiob,
evaded discovery, and forty were brought in or in the river, relating in support of his
next day, swelling the entire number of opinion that one boat was seen to sink with
prisoners taken to an aggregate of 958, about fifty men, while two others, each hayamong whom there was one general, six ing as many on hoard, did not bring more
colonels, three majors, seventeen captains than half a dozen ashore alive in either of
and thirty-six subalterns. them.
T here can be no doubt that their loss was
The loss in killed and wounded cannot be
exactly stated on either side. The British severe. A single company of the 13th, lost
official return is missing, but is said to have thirty men in killed or wounded, and four
footed up a total of only sixteen killed and out of the five captains of that regiment ensixty nine wounded. It is doubtful whether gaged, were disabled by wounds. Three
the casualties among the militia were captains and three subalterns were killed,
eluded in this. Two Cayuga chiefs and and besides those who were taken prisoners,
three -varriors, whose names have been pre- two colonels, four captains, and five subalserved were killed, and Norton himself and terns were wounded. There were one
eight others wounded, although this loss hundred and twenty wounded officers and
was insignificant in point of number. The men among the prisoners, thirty of whom
death of Gen. Brock was felt to be an almost died. The hospital at Niagara was filled,
irreparable blow, and by many of his op- and the remainder laid in the courthouse
ponents was considered to have fully corn- and churches. One hundred and forty others
pensated for their defeat. Besides him, had been removed before the surrender to
Lient-Col. McDonnell seems to have been Lewiston,and of these,not less than one hun
the only British officer killed, and none but dred are related to have been buried within
Captains Dennis and Williams appear to a month, many of them dying from flesh
have been wounded. wounds through insufficient care.
Van Rensselaer's failure was complete
No complete return of casualties was attempted by the Americans, probably owing and disastrous. He had lost all his best

BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.

19

officers,and the flowers of his troops, and the Stephen Barber,
Colin McCallum,
entire division engaged was practically ren• Jonathan Conklin,
Aaron Sutton,
dered incapable of resuming operations in Wareham Johnson, Hugh Hagerty,
the field. Ten days afterward he abandoned William Biggar,
Conrad Sider,
the struggle in despair, by throwing up the Ebenezer Skinner,
James Baird,
command. His successor, General Smyth, John Pearson,
Edward Durham,
reported that he found his force diminished Jonah Hovey,
James Thompson,
by more than two thousand men in conse- Isaac Hovey.
quence of the defeat, half this loss having
Sworn before me at Chippewa, 4th Sept.,
been caused by desertion
Several of the 1812, Thomas Dickson, J. P.
militia regiments had to be actually disCAPT. ROBERT HAMILTON'S COMPANY.
banded in consequence, and the men still William Rawles,
William Snart,
remaining in camp allowed to return to their Harman Pruyn,
James Ostrander,
homes. A letter written from Manlins, N. Martin Anderson,
Adam Bowman,
Y., on the 3rd of November, contains the Paul Weaver,
John I torshimer,
dismal account "that the militia corps on Frederick Near,
Thomas Bloomfield,
the lines have dwindled, and are dwindling Gabriel Smith,
Philip Better,
to mere skeletons, some of the companies Robert Fr elick,
A Upper, Lieut.,
containing a less number of privates than Thomas Bald,
Joshua Robins,
officers. The rifle corps from this county Charles Anderson,
Adam Dennis,
is reduced by sickness, prisoners, etc., to Jacob Schram.
less than the complement of a company, and
Sworn before Thomas Cummings, J. P.,
Major Moseley in consequence has returned 6th of October, 1812.
home."
Daniel Davis,
Elijah Johnson,
Besides the field-piece already mentioned, Thomas Cain,
John Camplin,
and about a thousand stand of small arms, Reuben Green,
Henry Stammack,
the colors of one of the New York regi- Francis Pettas,
Arthur McIntosh, —'
ments were taken. In November this troBested°,
Antoine Edmetter,
phy was displayed in the courtyard of the Benjamin Babcock, Louis Blanchette,
castle of St. Louis at Quebec, and is thus John Gallopain,
William Gilmore,
described by the Mercury ; "It is made of Willian Agler,
Caleb Hopkins,
blue or purple-colored changeable silk about Robert Hopkins,
Este Mack,
a yard and a half square, with the arms of Richard Griffith,
John Thomas,
the United States on one side and those of Henry Millar,
Dongald McLachlan,
New York on the other, both surrounded Christian Mester,
Job M. Layton,
by a circle of stars."
James Slaght.
Phineas Moulton.
NOTE. —The companies of Rowe and
Sworn on the 29th of August, 1812.
Hamilton engaged in this battle, being the Robert Watterhouse, Darius Williams,
flank companies of the 2nd Lincoln battalion, Thomas Fortin,
H. Vanalstine,
were formed from among the residents of William Thomas,
C. Vanderburg,
the townships of Stamford, Thorold and Andrew Neville,
Phineas Smith,
Willoughby. The following copy of the Jonathan Doan,
Frederick Glans,
original muster-rolls of these companies will Adam Killman,
Thomas Lodge,
not be devoid of interests to many of the John Williams,
Perry Loucks,
present inhabitants of this county :—
John Lutz,
George Bill.
"We the non-commissioned officers and Robert Willson,
Gilbert VanWyck,
privates belonging to Captain John Rowe's Abraham Teeters,
B. Humphreys,
company of the second regiment of Lincoln Moses Gilmore,
John Bowman,
militia do sincerely promise and swear fiat Cornelius Johnson, Calvin Cook,
we will be faithful and bear true Allegiance J ames Ryan,
..s< John Howell,
to His Majesty, King George, and him will Jacob Vanderburgh, James E. Wood,
defend to the utmost of our power, against John Christler,
Alvin Silverthorn,
all traitorous conspiracies and attempts,John Scott,
James Scott,
whatsoever, which shall be made against Andrew Willson,
Peter Bowman,
His Person, Crown, or Dignity, and we will Mathias Gruvick,
Nathan Arnold,
do our utmost endeavours to disclose, and George Marlatt,
John Morrison,
'
make known to His Majesty, His Heirs, and Loyal Davis,
David Pierson,
Successors, all treasons and traitorous con- John Kelly,
)( John Skinner,
spiracies, or attempts which we shall know Obadiah Swayze.
Peter B. Dewitt,
to be against him or them. So help us God. Hiram Swayze,
William Silverthorn, John Kalar,
Sworn on the 4th of Sept., 1812.
Stephen Peer,
John Sutton,
John Carl,
John Smith.
William Coan,
Benjamin Sutton,
Sworn on the 12th Oct., 1812.
—