STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER.

tents.

for pay. There was not a single piece of heavy ordnance along the entire frontier, nor artillerists to man the light field-pieces in their possession. There were not ten rounds of ammunition for each man. They had no The medical department was in a wretched condition, and insubordination was the rule. This was at the moment when Hull was compelled to surrender at Detroit, chiefly because of the tardiness of the commander-inchief of the Northern Department in carrying on an invasion of Canada on the Niagara frontier, and keeping the British forces employed there. An armistice, agreed to by that commander, kept these few troops inactive; and when it was ended, on the 29th of August, the victorious Brock had an overwhelming force on the Canada side of the river. Soon after this regular troops and militia began to arrive on the frontier; but October, with its inclement weather, came before General Van Rensselaer felt strong enough to venture into the territory of the enemy.

The regular troops were assembled heights, sometimes called The Mountain. It at Buffalo under the command of Brigadier-Genwas a point of active trade, it being the land-eral Smyth, a haughty and inefficient Virginian, ing-place for goods brought over Lake Ontario for the inhabitants of the peninsula above. At the mouth of the Niagara River, on the American side, was (and still is) Fort Niagara, a strong post, erected by the combined skill of French and English engineers at different times. Just above the fort was the little village of Youngstown; and opposite this, on the Canada shore, was Fort George, between which and the lake was the village of Newark, now Niagara. Along both banks of the river, its whole length, a farming population was scattered. Such was the Niagara frontier at the opening of the war of 1812.

He

Stephen Van Rensselaer, the wealthy landholder of Albany, commonly known as The Patroon, had been appointed commander-in-chief of the militia of the State of New York. had no military experience, so he chose Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer, then Adjutant-General of the State, and a veteran soldier, to be his aid and confidential military adviser, and the accomplished John Lovett as his secretary. With these and a competent staff, General Van Rensselaer arrived at Fort Niagara on the 13th of August, 1812, and formally assumed command of the forces on that frontier. On the following day he made his head-quarters at Lewiston. General Amos Hall, commander of the militia of Western New York, was at Niagara Falls with a few troops; and there were small detachments scattered along the whole line of the river from lake to lake, in aggregate number not more than one thousand, who were scantily clothed, indifferently fed, and justly clamorous

whose foolish pride was touched by being placed under the orders of a Northern militia MajorGeneral. He would not attend a council of officers called by Van Rensselaer; and as far as military discipline would allow, with safety to his epaulets, he avoided co-operation with the chief commander, and Van Rensselaer was left to his own resources in maturing a plan for the long-talked-of invasion. This was on the point of consummation when an event occurred which created a buoyant feeling among the troops on that frontier. It was a successful attempt to capture two British armed vessels (Detroit and Caledonia) that had come down the lake, and were lying under the guns of Fort Erie, opposite Buffalo. The expedition was under the command of Lieutenant (afterward Commodore) Elliott. The vessels were captured after a severe struggle; and their loss was so severely felt by the British that Brock wrote to his superiors, saying: "The event is particularly unfortunate, and may reduce us to incalculable distress. The enemy is making every exertion to gain a naval superiority on both lakes, which, if they accomplish, I do not see how we can retain the country."

Early in October General Van Rensselaer felt competent to undertake the invasion of Canada. The troops under his command numbered more than six thousand, of whom three thousand six hundred and fifty were regulars, under General Alexander Smyth at Buffalo, and LieutenantColonels Fenwick and Mullany at Fort Niagara. The British force on the western side of the river was estimated at less than two thousand, in

cluding Indians under John Brant. They had | completed, and Colonel Van Rensselaer is to the great advantage of facing a foe who must struggle with a deep, swift running, and powerful river before he could set foot on the soil he was about to invade.

take the command," said the general. "You may join the expedition as a volunteer, if you like, if you will waive your rank." Scott was unwilling to do so. He pressed his suit so earnestly that (fortunately for the service) it was agreed that he should bring on his regiment, take position on the heights above Lewiston with his cannon, and co-operate in the attack as circumstances might warrant. He hastened back to Schlosser, put his troops in motion, and at four o'clock in the morning they were resting on Lewiston Heights.

The night of the 12th was intensely dark.

Van Rensselaer's aid, had been placed in com-
mand of an eighteen-pound gun in battery on
Lewiston Heights, to cover the landing of the
Americans on the Canada shore; and six hun-

Van Rensselaer decided to cross the river at three o'clock on the morning of the 11th of October, assail the enemy at Queenston, and endeavor to seize the Heights. Boats for transportation were placed in position at Lewiston under cover of darkness the previous evening, by Lieutenant Sims, who was considered the man of the greatest skill for the service," and before midnight every thing was in readiness. Flying artillery and other regulars, under Lieu-The storm had been renewed. Lovett, General tenant-Colonel Fenwick, were ordered up from Fort Niagara, and General Smyth was directed to send down detachments from his brigade at Buffalo to support the movement. Clouds had been gathering in immense mass-dred men, under Colonels Van Rensselaer and es all the evening, and at one in the morning a fierce northeast storm of wind and rain set in. But the zeal of the troops was not cooled by the drenching rain, and at the appointed hour they were all at the place of embarkation with Van Rensselaer at their head. Lieutenant Sims entered the foremost boat, and soon disappeared in the gloom. The others could not follow, for Sims had taken nearly all the oars with him! They waited for him to discover his mis-half of the troops intended for the storming. take and return, but in vain. He went far above the intended crossing-place, moored his boat on the shore, and fled as fast as the legs of a traitor or coward could carry him. This defection foiled the enterprise, and at almost the dawn the wearied and disappointed troops returned to their cantonments.

The attempt at invasion was made with better success forty-eight hours later. Valuable reinforcements had arrived at Four-Mile Creek, on the lake, eastward of Fort Niagara, consisting of a part of the Thirteenth Regular Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Chrystie, the companies commanded respectively by Captains Wool, Ogilvie, Malcolm, Lawrence, and Armstrong; and when the storm abated preparations were made for crossing the river immediately. Chrystie, outranking Colonel Van Rensselaer, wished to take command of the expedition. The arrangements could not then be changed, and, while he would not waive his rank, Chrystie consented to take orders from Van Rensselaer. Meanwhile Lieutenant-Colonel Winfield Scott had arrived at Schlosser, at the head of his regiment. He was about to pitch his tents for the night, at sunset on the 12th, when the now venerable Colonel Collier, of Steubenville, Ohio, charged with orders from head-quarters, rode up and informed him of the preparations for invasion. Young, ardent, and eager for adventure and glory, Scott mounted his horse and dashed toward head-quarters as fast as the horrid condition of the road would allow, and, presenting himself to the commanding general, earnestly solicited the privilege of taking part in the expedition. "The arrangements are all

Chrystie, were standing in the cold storm of wind and rain, at the place of embarkation, at three o'clock on the morning of the 13th. It had been arranged for them to cross over, and storm and take Queenston Heights, when the remainder of the troops were to follow in a body, and drive the British from the town. But there were only thirteen boats, and these were not sufficient to carry more than about one

The regulars having reached the boats first, the companies of Wool, Malcolm, and Armstrong were immediately embarked, with forty picked men from Captain Leonard's company of artillery, at Fort Niagara, under Lieutenants Gansevoort and Rathbone, and about sixty militia. At a little past three Van Rensselaer leaped into the boat with the artillerists, and the little flotilla pushed from the shore in the gloom. Orders were left with Major Morrison to follow with the remainder of the troops on the return of the boats.

The struggle with the eddies was brief, and ten minutes after leaving Lewiston landing the boats struck the Canada shore "at the identical spot aimed at," immediately under the western terminus of the Suspension Bridge. The enemy were on the alert, and the military force at Queenston took position, with a three pound field-piece, on the sloping shore a little north of the Suspension Bridge, to resist the debarkation. Their presence was first made known by a broad flash, then a volley of musketry, that mortally wounded Lieutenant Rathbone by the side of Colonel Van Rensselaer in the boat, and random shots from the field-piece along the line of the ferry. These were answered by Lovett's battery on Lewiston Heights, when the enemy turned and fled up the hill toward the village, pursued by the regulars of the Thirteenth, under Captain Wool, the senior officer in the absence of Lieutenant-Colonel Chrystie, who was in one of the boats that did not succeed in landing.

On the margin of the plateau near the village Wool ceased pursuit, and was about to send to

check the flanking party, and take possession of | could be plainly seen from the Heights. Meanthe mountain, or crown of the Heights, where while reinforcements and supplies were slowly Brock's monument now stands. They were too crossing the river, and these fresh troops were few for the task, and were pressed back by the detached as flanking parties, while those who enemy in some confusion. Inspirited by this, had been in the fight, now become veterans, the foe dashed forward and pushed the Amer- were drawn up in battle order fronting the vilicans to the verge of the precipice which over- lage. By noon a considerable body of Amerlooks the deep chasm of the swift-flowing river, icans had reached the Canada shore, and Majormore than two hundred feet below. Wool's party General Van Rensselaer, Brigadier - General was in a most perilous position. Death by ball, Wadsworth, Lieutenant-Colonels Chrystie, Fenbayonet, or the flood, seemed inevitable, and Cap- wick, and Stranahan, and Major Mullany, were tain Ogilvie raised a white handkerchief on the on the Heights. There, also, was Lieutenant-Colpoint of a bayonet in token of submission. The onel Scott, the now venerable Lieutenant-Genincensed Wool sprang forward, snatched the in- eral. He had planted his cannon on Lewiston signia of defeat from the weapon, addressed a Heights, under the direction of Captains Towfew inspiriting words to the officers and soldiers, son and Barker, and having received permisand begged them to fight on so long as the am- sion from Van Rensselaer to cross over and take munition should last, and then resort to the bay- chief command, he had hastened to the scene of onet. Waving his sword, he led his comrades strife. He met General Wadsworth on the to a renewal of the conflict with so much im- Heights, and at once offered to restrict his aupetuosity that the enemy broke and fled down thority to the regulars. The generous and pathe Heights in dismay and took shelter in the triotic Wadsworth said, "You, Sir, know provillage. Brock was amazed and mortified; and fessionally what ought to be done. I am here to his favorite grenadiers in the flight he shouted, for the honor of my country and that of the "This is the first time I have seen the Forty- New York militia. You shall command." Scott ninth turn their backs!" His voice, and the immediately assumed the functions of chief, and stinging rebuke of his words, checked them. At prepared the troops for action. He was at the the same time M'Donnell brought up two flank redan directing how to unspike the cannon companies of the volunteers, and these and the when a cloud of Indian warriors, under John rallied fugitives Brock led toward the Heights. Brant, swept along the brow of the mountain His tall figure was a conspicuous object for the in portentous fury, with gleaming tomahawks American sharp-shooters. First a bullet struck and other savage weapons, and fell upon the his wrist, making a slight wound. A moment American pickets, driving them in upon the afterward, as he shouted, "Push on the York main line. Their terrific war-whoop appalled volunteers!" another bullet entered his breast, the militia, and these were about to flee, when passed out through his side, and left a death- Scott appeared, inspired them with courage, and wound. He fell from his horse at the foot of led them with such force upon the Indians that the slope, and on that spot a small monument the savages fled in dismay to the woods after a was erected in the autumn of 1860, in full view short and sharp engagement. Brant rallied of his more stately memorial on the Heights. them, but Scott drove them from the Heights at He lived but a few minutes. "Revenge the the moment when Sheaffe's reinforcements were General!" burst from the lips of his followers, seen at Vrooman's, a mile distant, making the who idolized him. M'Donnell assumed the road all aglow with scarlet. command, and at the head of almost two hundred of the York militia he charged up the hill to dispute with Wool the mastery of the Heights and the redan. For a few minutes the struggle was desperate. The Americans spiked the cannon in the redan while doubtful of the issue. M'Donnell fell mortally wounded, and Williams and Dennis, two gallant British leaders, were badly hurt. Their troops were dispirited and fell back, and the young American commander and his little band of only two hundred and forty men remained masters of Queenston Heights, after three distinct and bloody battles fought within the space of five hours. Taking all things into consideration-the passage of the river, the nature of the ground, the rawness of the troops, the absence of cannon, and the youth and wounds of the American commander-the events of that morning were "indeed a display of intrepidity," as Wilkinson afterward wrote, "rarely exhibited, in which the conduct and the execution were equally conspicuous."

Sheaffe moved cautiously to the little village of St. David's, westward of Queenston, and by a circuitous route gained the rear of that portion of the mountain on which the Americans were posted. There he was joined by the Forty-first grenadiers; and the whole body, including Indians, full one thousand strong, moved forward to attack the Americans, who did not exceed six hundred in number. General Van Rensselaer, in the mean time, had returned to Lewiston, and was endeavoring to push forward the militia from the New York shore. The smell of gunpowder had taken away all their patriotism. Appeals to their honor, and remonstrances, and threats availed nothing; and under the plea that they were not compelled to leave their State, the most of them stood still at Lewiston, while their companions were exposed to death or capture almost within sound of their voices. that Van Rensselaer could do was to send over some supplies, and order Wadsworth to retreat if necessary. A council of officers on the Heights The dust raised by Sheaffe's advancing troops decided to fight instead, and Scott addressed to

All

the army a few stirring words, just as the en- and convinced that he was not fitted for the emy were advancing upon them. He concluded his harangue by shouting, "Who dare to stand?" "All! all!" was the patriotic response, and in that spirit they received the first heavy blow of the enemy on their right wing.

military profession, General Van Rensselaer resigned his commission soon after the battle of Queenston. The chief command devolved on General Smyth, who presently made himself and the American soldiery appear ridiculous by his pompous proclamations, his boastfulness, and his failures.

It was now four o'clock in the afternoon. The battle on the right was sharp. The British, after firing a single volley, charged with a tre- For a month after the battle of Queenston mendous tumult, the white men shouting, and no important military movements were seen on the Indians ringing out the fearful war-whoop the Niagara frontier. The British erected batand hideous yells. The Americans were over-teries at different points; and on the morning powered by the onslaught and gave way, when of the 21st of November they opened a heavy Sheaffe's whole line charged upon them, while cannonade and bombardment upon Fort Niagtwo field-pieces were brought to bear upon the ara, from Fort George and earth-works in the broken column. Some of the Americans fled vicinity. These were answered promptly. The down the slope by the redan toward the river, artillery conflict raged all day, but without seand others along the road leading from Queens-rious damage. Night ended it, and it was not ton to the Falls. The latter were cut off by the renewed. A few days afterward General Smyth, savages and forced through the woods toward who had assembled a considerable force at Bufthe precipices along the mountain banks of the falo and Black Rock, prepared to invade Canariver. Others who reached the water's edge da from the latter place. He had so fully ancould not cross for want of boats. Meanwhile nounced his intentions in his proclamations, Scott had sent several flags to offer a surren- that the enemy, under the command of Lieuder. The Indians shot the bearers. At length tenant-Colonel Cecil Bisshopp, were prepared the commander, accompanied by Captains Totten for his reception. As early as the 25th he had (now the chief engineer of the United States issued orders for "the whole army to be ready army) and Gibson, with a white cravat on the to march at a moment's warning." Boats had point of his sword, made his way to the British been provided by the active Colonel Winder; commander, in the midst of great peril. The and the form of battle array on the Canada Indians were called off from their bloody work. shore was prescribed. It was not until the evenThey had killed some of the Americans in the ing of the 27th that final orders were given. woods, some they had driven over the precipices Lieutenant-Colonel Boerstler was to cross at three into the river, where they were drowned, and o'clock the next morning and destroy a bridge some had saved their lives by letting themselves five miles below Fort Erie, and the remainder down from bush to bush, and swimming the of the expedition was to move at réveille. flood. A. capitulation was soon agreed to, by which all the Americans on the Canada side of the river became prisoners of war. These, to the utter astonishment of their commanders, amounted to about nine hundred, when not more than six hundred regulars and militia were known to be upon British soil. The mystery was soon explained by the fact, that a large number of the militia who had crossed in the morning had been captured on landing a mile below, to which point the river current had driven them, while many others were found skulking under the rocky banks, secure from danger. The entire loss of the Americans on that eventful day was about eleven hundred, of whom ninety were killed. The British loss, exclusive of Indians, in killed, wounded, and missing, was about one hundred and thirty. The captives were all marched in triumph to Newark. It was a funeral as well as triumphal procession; for they followed the body of Brock, which was buried with that of M'Donnell, with imposing military ceremonies, in a bastion of Fort George, very near the old magazine yet standing.

Scott and the regulars were sent to Quebec, prisoners of war, and the militia, with General Wadsworth at their head, were released on parole. All were finally exchanged.

Disgusted with the jealousies of some of the regular officers, and especially of General Smyth,

Before the appointed time the boats were in readiness under the charge of Lieutenant Angus of the navy. The advance crossed at three o'clock, and met with a warm reception from the vigilant enemy. Their object was partly effected, but at the expense of the captivity of quite a large body of the men and some officers. Meanwhile the main body of the expedition remained immovable. Hour after hour passed away, and all things were not in readiness. The commanding general did not make his appearance. At length, late in the afternoon, when the wearied and anxious troops were about to push off from shore, an order came to them from head-quarters directing them to "disembark and dine!" The troops were so exasperated that nothing but a positive assurance that the undertaking would be immediately renewed kept them from open mutiny. General Porter, with his dispirited New York militia, marched back to Buffalo in disgust.

At a council of war Smyth disapproved of immediate invasion, and doubt and despondency brooded over the camp. Suddenly every body was astonished by a characteristic order for the army to be put in readiness for crossing the river at the Navy-yard near Black Rock on the morning of the 30th. "The general will be on board," he proclaimed. "The landing will be effected," he said, "in despite of cannon. The