Read Ebook: Brock Centenary 1812-1912 by Carstairs John Stewart Author Of Introduction Etc Fraser Alexander Editor

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At once he set out on his expedition to Detroit. Through the wilds of Upper Canada, by lake and field, he led his small band of men two hundred miles. In nineteen days he was back again in his capital. He had annihilated the left wing of the enemy's army; he had captured two thousand five hundred men, thirty-seven cannon and immense military stores. The State of Michigan practically remained in our possession till the close of the war.

A hundred years ago Brock spent the last week in August and the first part of October in strengthening the defences on the Niagara frontier. He needed one thousand more regulars, but Sir George Prevost could not spare another man. He mounted new batteries with the Detroit cannon. He established a system of communication and the use of beacon lights from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, with a spur line inland to Pelham Heights. He refitted his men from the stores captured at Detroit. Ceaseless activity and eternal vigilance were the very laws of his life. The motto on his seal is said to have been "He who guards never sleeps." The legend may not be correct, but it is so appropriate that one likes to perpetuate the tradition.

The United States army as a whole was attacking Canada at three points: its right wing was trying to force its way up the valley of the Richelieu; its left wing had been disposed of by Brock at Detroit; its centre was being strengthened every day along the Niagara frontier. From the old French fort at the mouth of the Niagara River to the village of Buffalo there was on both sides of the Niagara an uninterrupted scene of fearful and warlike activity. The heights of Lewiston and the red beach below were white with the tents of nearly four thousand soldiers.

From Queenston a small body of British and Canadian soldiers were watching and waiting. Then--a hundred years ago--it was much the same straggling village as to-day. Here the eddying, foaming, turbulent waters of the Niagara issue from the narrow, rocky gorge to spread out into a gentle stream and wind their way to Lake Ontario, seven miles distant. At the foot of the Canadian cliff nestles Queenston; at the foot of the sister cliff opposite is Lewiston in New York State. A hundred years ago, from the "Heights" a spectator would have seen the same glorious panorama of fertile fields and autumn tints; but since June the whole line of the Niagara River had resounded with din of preparations to resist a ruthless and aggressive invader.

But while Brock was absent at Detroit, about the middle of August, Sir George Prevost, the British commander-in-chief, had very unwisely concluded an armistice with General Dearborn, the terms of which extended only to the right wing of the United States army. Accordingly, this gave Major-General Van Rensselaer, who was in command of the enemy on the Niagara, a splendid opportunity to array still larger forces against Brock. Artillery and stores were brought up from Oswego; thousands of additional troops had been hurried forward to the enemy; scows and boats were built for the purpose of crossing the Niagara.

"Major-General Stephen Van Rensselaer," says Colonel Ernest Cruikshank, the careful historian of the war, "who held chief command by virtue of his rank as major-general of the New York State troops, was an entire 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 him 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 Rensselaer accepted the command his immediate following would be committed to its prosecution; if he refused his conduct could be denounced as unpatriotic.

"Stephen 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, Colonel 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 being a brave and skilful officer."

The close observer who comes up the Niagara River will see just after he leaves the wharf of Niagara-on-the-Lake the far-extending green bastions of Fort George. A hundred years ago there was no barn there which a thrifty Government later allowed to be built within its lines. But a hundred years ago this morning, on Tuesday, October 13, it was a fort and Brock's headquarters. For weeks there had been persistent rainstorms. In the dull grey foggy chill of the morning, about four o'clock, there came an alarm that the enemy were crossing the river at Queenston. In a few minutes, Brock dashed out of the fort unattended and galloped headlong up the river road. Macdonell, his young and faithful aide-de-camp, soon followed. At Brown's Point, two miles from Queenston, was a battery manned by the militia of York, among them such men as John Beverley Robinson and Archibald Maclean, both afterwards chief justices. As Brock passed he waved his hand to them; and very likely it was then he said, "Push on, brave York Volunteers." And as they advanced to support their leaders there was plenty of evidence that the invaders had made a landing. Troops of the enemy were met under guard--miserable, wounded wretches.

The mouth of the Niagara Gorge is barely two hundred yards wide; and this had been selected as the place at which to cross. Fifteen hundred United States regulars and nearly three thousand militia, it was hoped, could be ferried across in seven trips. At Queenston to oppose them there were merely two companies of the Forty-ninth under Captain Dennis, and three companies of militia. In all, in and about Queenston there were less than two hundred men.

In less than fifteen minutes ten boats had landed three hundred men, exactly as they had planned. When discovered by a sentinel, they were forming up under the command of Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer.

At once from Brown's Point, from Vrooman's Point, from the gun halfway up Queenston Heights there belched forth an incessant fire. The Lewiston batteries opened on the village and soon reduced several of the houses to ruins.

Meanwhile, Captain Dennis, with forty-six men, sought out the invaders at the foot of the cliff. Though they soon took to the cover of the trees and brush in disorder, many were killed, and Colonel Van Rensselaer himself received no less than six wounds.

After dawn, however, they observed how few men were working the one-gun battery halfway up Queenston Heights. They ascended by a narrow fisherman's path, under the command of Lieutenant Wool, and gained the Heights unopposed.

It was "at this instant Brock rode into the village, splashed with mud from head to foot. . . . A striking scene presented itself to his gaze. Battalion after battalion of troops in rear of the American batteries in readiness to embark; other detachments entering their boats, some already on the river; their guns throwing round and grape shot into the village, where Dennis still contrived to maintain a foothold" .

Brock rode up the slope toward the redan halfway up the Heights. From the hillside above him burst a shout and down rushed an overwhelming body of the invaders. With barely time to spike the gun with a ramrod, the three officers and the dozen artillerymen withdrew and left the enemy in possession.

Fresh troops were now landing to assist the invaders; and Brock was fully convinced that the lost position must be recovered at once. He sent Captain Williams with about seventy men by a round-about way to attack Wool's left. Seeing Wool's force driven in, Brock mustered a hundred and ninety men, including the militia flank companies. Waving his sword, he led his men up the steep ascent toward the battery they had lost. As he moved toward the right of the mountain, a bullet struck his sword wrist. Within fifty yards of him, an Ohio rifleman stepped out from a thicket, took deliberate aim and fired. Shot through the left breast, he fell. "My fall," he murmured, "must not be noticed, nor impede my brave companions from advancing to victory." Mindful of duty, mindful of others, thus died Sir Isaac Brock, the hero of Upper Canada.

Three days before, a grateful sovereign had created him a Knight of the Order of the Bath. Subsequent generations of Canadians placed over his remains the noble shaft, that from its commanding position is the most notable landmark of the historic battleground he made famous. But he lives in the hearts of the people whose country he saved, whose fathers he inspired to resist the invader. He had found them a panic-stricken people, he left them vigorous, united, aggressive.

The remaining incidents of that day at Queenston Heights are well known. Two hours later, Macdonell, Brock's military secretary and aide, tried to regain the one-gun battery. A fierce fight ensued: Macdonell, Dennis and Williams were all wounded; and the next day the bright young Scotsman, attorney-general at the age of twenty-seven, passed away. In life he was united with Brock, and in death he was not separated. The bodies of the two heroes rest together under the Queenston Monument, where the river has been singing their requiem for a hundred years.

The third stage of the battle was reached at two o'clock in the afternoon. Then Major-General Roger Hale Sheaffe advanced from Fort George along the river road. Turning to the right down the little Queenston Creek, he led his forces across the Dr. Hamilton property. On the left he flung out his Indians under Norton and Brant, and they moved forward and made trouble.

Ascending the escarpment west of the invading troops, Sheaffe came upon the terrified invaders, drawn up near the site of the present monument. Their left rested on the river verge of the cliff. A volley or two--and the Canadians found themselves embarrassed with prisoners. Within a few days, 958, including stragglers, had surrendered as prisoners of war. Among these were General Wadsworth, who had been in command, and Lieutenant-Colonel Winfield Scott, later to become commander-in-chief of the United States army and conqueror of Mexico.

PRELIMINARY STEPS

The desire to commemorate the centenary of Brock's death-day--October 13th, 1912--took form at a meeting of the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada, held at Toronto on April 11th, 1912, when, on the motion of Mr. John Stewart Carstairs, B.A., a committee, consisting of Colonel Ryerson, Lieut.-Colonel W. Hamilton Merritt, Mr. J. S. Carstairs, and Mr. C. E. MacDonald, barrister, was appointed to draft a suitable programme for the celebration of "Brock's Day."

This committee submitted the following report at a meeting of the Association held on September 17th, 1912, Colonel Ryerson presiding:

"Your Committee begs leave to report that as, within their knowledge, no action has been taken by either the Federal or Provincial Government to celebrate the Centenary of the death of Sir Isaac Brock on Sunday, October 13th, 1912, they recommend as follows:

" That recommendations be made to both the Federal Government and to the Provincial Government of Ontario, that in view of the fact that General Brock in June, 1812, found himself at the head of a panic-stricken people in the presence of a powerful invader, and that a few months later, when he fell at Queenston Heights, he left that people united, fearless and invincible, it is believed that there should be a national demonstration that will be in effect only less impressive on the public mind than was the passing away of the man himself at Queenston Heights a hundred years ago.

" That the demonstration might take the form of a royal salute from every cannon in the land on Sunday, October 13th. This would be a matter to be arranged by the Minister of Militia.

" Every church in Canada might be requested to hold some sort of a memorial service on Sunday, October 13th.

" On Friday, October 11th, every school in Canada might appeal to the intellect and imagination of the coming generation of men and women by appropriate commemorative exercises.

" Monday, October 14th, could be proclaimed a national holiday.

" As the city of Toronto is very likely to expropriate the Knox College property, it might be well to suggest to the city authorities that this new park should be opened in October with proper ceremonies and named Brock Park. In this connection, it might be well to recall that the lower portion of Spadina Avenue was, until recently, known as Brock Street.

" It is recommended that these suggestions shall be brought to the attention of the Federal and Provincial Governments, and every means should be taken to convince the authorities that on October 13th, 1912, our people should hang some votive offering on the shrine of the hero of Upper Canada.

" That copies of this report be sent to the National Council of Women and to the Secretary of the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire inviting their concurrence.

This Report was adopted tentatively, and in order to secure as wide as possible a co-operation from other patriotic Associations, it was agreed, on the motion of Colonel Denison, seconded by Mr. C. E. Macdonald, that the Centenary of Sir Isaac Brock's death, Sunday, October 13th, 1912, be commemorated by an excursion to Queenston Heights on the 12th, and that patriotic and historical societies, clubs and regiments, etc., be asked to send not more than three delegates to a meeting to be held on Wednesday, September 25th, at 4.30 o'clock, in the Canadian Foresters' Building, to discuss a plan of commemoration.

In accordance with this resolution the following societies were circularized, and asked to co-operate in the celebration:

SOCIETIES: British Empire League; Caledonian Society; Canadian Club; Canadian Defence League; Daughters of the Empire, Niagara Falls, Ont.; Daughters of the Empire, St. Catharines; Empire Club; Historical Society, Niagara Falls, Ont.; Historical Society, Niagara-on-the-Lake; Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire; Irish Protestant and Benevolent Society, Toronto; Lundy's Lane Historical Society, Niagara Falls, Ont.; Ontario Historical Society; St. Andrew's Society, Toronto; St. Catharines' Historical Society; St. George's Society, Toronto; Sons of England, Toronto; Sons of Scotland Benevolent Association, Toronto; Women's Canadian Historical Society, Toronto; Women's Canadian Club, Toronto; Women's Historical Society, Hamilton; Women's Institute, Queenston; Women's Institute, Stamford; York Pioneers' Association.

MILITARY: Brig.-General W. H. Cotton, Officer Commanding 2nd Division; Canadian Army Medical Corps, Permanent Army Medical Corps, Permanent Army Service Corps, Royal Canadian Dragoons, Royal Canadian Engineers, Royal Canadian Regiment.

GENERAL COMMITTEE FORMED

In response to the invitation above referred to, societies and regiments appointed the following delegates to represent them on the General Committee:--

PROGRAMME ADOPTED

The first meeting of the General Committee thus formed was held on September 25th, 1912, in the Canadian Foresters' Building, College Street, Toronto. There was a large attendance of members.

Colonel Ryerson was appointed Chairman, and Miss Helen M. Merrill Secretary, of the Committee. The report from the United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada, as given above, having been read to the meeting, resolutions to the following effect were passed:

That Brock's Day be celebrated by a public gathering at Queenston Heights.

That the various patriotic and historical societies, local as well as those within easy reach of Queenston, be invited to send as large delegations as possible to Brock's Monument on Saturday, October 12th, 1912, in commemoration of his death.

That the various patriotic and historical societies be asked to send wreaths for the purpose of decorating Brock's Monument on October 12th.

That a special invitation be sent to Mr. J. A. Macdonell, K.C., Alexandria, Ont., to attend the celebration as the direct representative of Colonel John Macdonell, the Attorney-General of Upper Canada, and Brock's Provincial A.D.C., who fell with his leader, and whose remains rest beneath the monument on Queenston Heights.

That the Honourable the Minister of Militia be asked to order that salutes be fired on October 12th from all saluting points in Canada.

That the churches be asked to arrange that memorial sermons be preached throughout Canada on Sunday, October 13th.

That suitable exercises relating to Brock and 1812 should be held in every school in Canada; and that this suggestion be not only given publicity through the newspapers, but that the attention of the various Ministers of Education in the Dominion be specially drawn to it.

That the Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs at Ottawa be asked to take measures to have the history of Brock and the events of the 1812 war brought specially before the children in all Indian Schools under the charge of the Dominion Government.

That a wreath be placed on the picture of Brock in the Parliament Buildings, Toronto.

That it be suggested to the Dominion Government to place a wreath on Brock's Monument in St. Paul's Cathedral, London, England.

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