66

picked American regulars, which captain Wook had sent forward to attack him. The American captain says that, in consequence of the general's superior force," his men retreated; adding: "I sent a reinforcement, notwithstanding which, the enemy drove us to the edge of the bank." While animating his little band of regulars and militia to a charge up the heights, general Brock received a mortal wound in the breast, and immediately fell.

11

At this moment, the two flank-companies of the York militia, with lieutenant-colonel M'Donnell, the general's provincial aide-de-camp, at their head, arrived from Brown's-point, three miles distant. By this time, also, captain Wool had sent additional reinforcements to captain Ogilvie; making the latter's force 320 reguહતું. lars, supported by a few militia and volun

teers,' or, in the whole, full 500 men. Colonel M'Donnell and his 190 men, more than twothirds Canadian militia,-rushed boldly up the hill, in defiance of the continued stream of musketry pouring down upon them; compelled the Americans to spike the 18-pounder; and would have again driven them to the rocks, had not the colonel and captain Williams been wounded, almost at the same instant; the former mortally. The loss of their commanders created confusion among the men; and they again retreated. * Wilkinson's Memoirs, Vol. I. p. 573.

Hearing of the fall of general Brock, captain Dennis proceeded from the valley, towards the foot of the heights; and, mounting the general's horse, rode up, and tried to rally the troops. He succeeded in forming a few; but the number was so inconsiderable that, to persist in a contest, would have been madness. A retreat was accordingly ordered, by the ground in the rear of the town; and the men of the 49th, accompanied by many of the militia, formed in front of Vromont's battery; there to await the expected reinforcement from Fort-George.

While we had, at this period, not above 200 unwounded men at Queenstown, the Americans, by their own account, had upwards of 800, and general Van Rensselaer tells us, that "a number of boats now crossed over, unannoyed, except by the one unsilenced gun,"* or that at Vromont's battery; consequently, more troops were hourly arriving. Brigadier-general Wadsworth was left as commanding officer of the Americans on the Queenstown hill; and general Van Rensselaer, considering the victory as complete, had himself crossed over, in order to give directions about fortifying the camp which he intended to occupy in the British territory.

As whatever brilliant deeds were achieved by the Americans on this memorable day," confessedly form part of those events which have App. No. 11.

just been detailed, we will suspend our narrative awhile, till a few of the American statements on the subject have been exhibited for the reader's amusement.

One writer, and he a general too, says: "The names of the officers who accompanied colonel Van Rensselaer on this hardy enterprise, deserve to be engraven on the scroll of fame, for surmounting obstacles almost insuperable, in the face of a determined enemy, under a heavy fire; and dislodging and pursuing a superior force, composed of two (captain Wool says, "four"*) companies of the 49th British regiment, advantageously posted, with a body of auxiliary militia and Indians: it was indeed a display of intrepidity rarely exhibited, in which the conduct and the execution were equally conspicuous. Here true valor, so often mistaken for animal courage," (a note adds: "In the American service, temerity is too often taken for bravery, &c.")" was attested by an appeal to the bayonet, which decided the contest without a shot."" Under all the circumstances, and on the scale of the operation, the impartial soldier and competent judge will name this brilliant affair a chef d'œuvre of the war."†

Mr. Thomson describes the affair with the 190 British regulars and militia upon the hill, thus; "At this moment a reinforcement arrived, which

App. No. 12. + Wilkinson's Memoirs, Vol. I. p. 578.

augmented the detachment to 320 men, who were led to the charge; and, making a forcible appeal to the bayonet, entirely routed the British 49th regiment, of 600 men, and pursued them up the height, until the ground was regained, which the detachment had just before lost. Part of the 41st" (one officer, lieutenant Crowther) "were acting with the 49th, both of which regiments distinguished themselves, under the same commander, in Europe; and the latter had obtained the title of the Egyptian Invincibles, because they had never, on any occasion before, been known to give ground;"*-or, we may surely subjoin, had such an unprincipled enemy to deal with. Mr. O'Connor has inadvertently prefixed "a part of" to "the 49th regiment"; which, in some degree, exculpates him; but Dr. Smith, like his friend Mr. Thomson, introduces the whole 49th "regiment of British regulars, 600 strong," adding :-"They mutually resorted to the bayonet; and, after a bloody conflict, the famous invincibles yielded to the superior energy of their antagonists, although so far inferior in numbers."†

Leaving these contemptible historians to the reader's castigation, when he has leisure to inflict it, we have now to call his attention to the finale of "this memorable day." Between two * Sketches of the War, p. 75.

+ Hist. of the United States, Vol. III. p. 201.

and three o'clock in the afternoon, about 50 Indians, led by the chief Norton, advanced through the woods and an orchard, towards the mountain. As they approached, the American troops," not knowing their number, at first faltered."* After a sharp conflict, in which the Indians lost a few men killed and wounded, and one made prisoner, the latter very prudently rétired towards the reinforcement of regulars and militia, under major-general Sheaffe, which had just arrived from Fort-George. This reinforce ment, consisting of about 380 rank and file of the 41st regiment, under major Derenzy, and about 300 militia, accompanied by one 3-pounder, joined the remnant of the 49th flank companies; and the whole proceeded to the heights, by a route through the enclosures; † the Indians pointing out to the troops the best track for ascending the mountain. As soon as the British column had reached a field adjoining the road to the falls, about 60 of the 41st under captain Bullock, and a party of militia, arrived from Chippeway. The whole British and Indian force, thus assembled, did not amount to 1000 rank and file; of whom about 560 were regular troops. The artillery consisted of two 3-pounders, placed under the orders of lieutenant Crowther of the 41st.

The attack commenced by the light infantry * Sketches of the War, p. 73. + Sce Plate I. q. q. q. q.