The Virtual Historian

Browns Point Niagara – 15th October 1812.

Dear Sir,

I little expected when I last wrote to you that I should now be able to give you an account of an Engagement, which though it terminated in our favor, we shall ever have cause to lament — our loss though small in point of numbers is of the most important kind — We have to deplore the loss of our beloved general and his gallant aide de Camp Colonel Macdonell — General Brock to whom no language is capable of giving the merited praise felt in the beginning of the action = having received a musket ball in his breast — the York Volunteers to whom he was particularly partial have the honor of claiming his last words immediately before he received his death wound — he cried out to some person near him "Push on the York Volunteers" which were the last words he uttered. Having said so much on a subject which cannot fail to call forth the regret of every individual in the Canadas I think it now time to give you some account of the engagements.

At four o'clock in the morning on the 13th instant [this month] the Americans were seen attempting to cross the River at Queenstown & immediately a fire commenced upon them from our batteries which did great execution — the Americans however pushed forward very gallantly & succeeded in making a landing — though their loss was immense — In several boats all were killed but two or three men —

In the mean-time while this party was so warmly opposed by the Grenadiers of the 49th and some companies of Militia, a large body of Americans landed immediately under the brow of the mountain without being discovered and from boats having pushed off from Lewis-Town with troops, the 49th Light Company who were advantageously posted on the mountain to oppose the Americans in case they attempted to take possession of it, were called down by the Bugle, to oppose the landing of those in the boats.

When the Americans discovered the 49th going down the hill — they immediately ascended the cliffs and took one of our batteries, which, fortunately for us, they found not be turned against the Town — they then took possession of the top of the mountain and a part of the 49th flankers and a part of the Yorkers were ordered to go up the mountain and attack the enemy in flank if possible — Capts. Cameron, Robinson, Stanton & myself immediately proceeded under the most galling fire with part of our men to the top of the mountain, where we found Capt. Williams of the 49th with some of his men — We immediately formed, about seventy in number, to charge the enemy, exposed at the same time to a sharp fire from them.

After forming & advancing a little distance, we found that the enemy had posted themselves behind trees, so that a charge would have had very little effect upon them — we then separated & each man posted himself behind a tree; we kept up a smart fire upon them for some time. Colonel McDonell who had joined us on horseback when forming for the charge — while in the act of encouraging the men was shot from his horse, and not long after Capt. Williams received a wound in the head. I was at that time about ten yards from them & I supposed they were both killed. I was glad however to see them both get up in a short time. Colonel McDonell's horse was first wounded, and in his pain he wheeled round, and his gallant rider was shot in the back. When he was wounded & could not be of further service — he of course thought it prudent to retire to a place of safety. Captain Cameron assisted him along for some distance, and while helping him a ball glanced his arm and gave him so much pain, that he supposed himself also wounded. Mr. McDonell then let go Mr. Cameron and ran alone to where I was — he then called out to me, "Archy help me". I immediately gave him my arm & after proceeding a few paces while thousands of balls whistled round us, I received a Ball in the thigh — Mr. Cameron who had by this time found it was only a bruise he had received just then came up & assisted Colonel McDonell down the mountain — He lived 'till yesterday morning in the most excruciating pain. His remains are to be interred tomorrow in the same grave with General Brock's —

The Americans had now got possession of the mountain & remained there for sometime, but General Sheaffe arriving from Niagara with a detachment of the 41st Reg't of about three hundred men, some militia & about two hundred and fifty indians, and being joined by all that he could collect of the Troops who were originally engaged, they ascended the mountain some distance to the right of the Americans who were in great numbers at the top —

The Indians being most active in climbing up, first came in contact with the enemy, and drove them before them for some distance — the Americans however soon rallied — and drove them before them in their turn. Our troops coming up at the same time opened so good a fire upon the enemy that they were again obliged to retire. They were immediately pursued by the Indians and our Force — shouting and hallowing [hollering] as loud as they could —

The Americans now gave way on all sides — many of them jumped off the precipice and many attempted to swim across the River who were drowned or killed by our shot — A White Flag was immediately hoisted by the Americans in the battery and they surrendered prisoners of war — we have taken one thousand prisoners — besides killed & wounded = the loss on the part of the enemy in killed & wounded was immense, but the loss of our mainstay General Brock & his brave aid de Camp, make the victory dearly bought.