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The Battle of
Queenston
Heights
By Robert Malcomson
First published in 1994
Printed by Peninsula Press
ISBN: 0-9699298-0-3
Robert Malcomson's look at the Battle of
Queenston Heights is a terrific overview
of the battle. Peppered with maps and
photographs of historical re-enactors, this
60-page work is one of the most
thorough (and quickest) reads about the
battle.
Grab a copy from either the Fort George
gift shop or at the base of Brock's
Monument during a trip to the Niagara
area. Giving it a quick read will give you
all the background information you need
to know about the infamous conflict.
Malcomson is an excellent storyteller and
puts a lot of research into his works.
Another book of his, Burying General
Brock: A history of Brock's monuments,
showcases the depth of his research
perfectly. As often as possible, Malcomson
goes back to original sources and
questions anything that can't be verified.
Both The Battle of Queenston Heights and
Burying General Brock are must-haves in
any War of 1812 literary collection.
Queenston
Heights
By Robert Malcomson
First published in 1994
Printed by Peninsula Press
ISBN: 0-9699298-0-3
Robert Malcomson's look at the Battle of
Queenston Heights is a terrific overview
of the battle. Peppered with maps and
photographs of historical re-enactors, this
60-page work is one of the most
thorough (and quickest) reads about the
battle.
Grab a copy from either the Fort George
gift shop or at the base of Brock's
Monument during a trip to the Niagara
area. Giving it a quick read will give you
all the background information you need
to know about the infamous conflict.
Malcomson is an excellent storyteller and
puts a lot of research into his works.
Another book of his, Burying General
Brock: A history of Brock's monuments,
showcases the depth of his research
perfectly. As often as possible, Malcomson
goes back to original sources and
questions anything that can't be verified.
Both The Battle of Queenston Heights and
Burying General Brock are must-haves in
any War of 1812 literary collection.
Excerpt
While Malcomson's look at the battle goes out of its way to highlight the
role the relative unknowns played on Oct. 13, 1812, his description of
the most famous portion of the day — the death of General Brock — is
fantastic. Here's a look at how he handled it. The excerpt from this
chapter has been edited and pieced together. The chapter itself goes
into much more detail.
The death of Isaac Brock
The thunderous concussions of warfare at Queenston travelled quickly
to the village of Newark and to the sleeping quarters of Isaac Brock in
Government House. Awakened from his slumber, Brock realized
immediately that Thomas Evans's warning had been at least partially
true. Something was afoot at Queenston and the general was eager to
know its extent.
Brock dressed hurriedly. Knowing he was in for a muddy ride to
Queenston, he put on one of the old uniform coats he had worn as a
brigadier general. By the time he stepped outside, his horse was
harnessed and saddled and he mounted it quickly. To his aides, Glegg
and Macdonell, he explained that he wanted Captain William Holcroft to
limber up a field gun and proceed to Queenston with his artillery
attachment and that he wanted Norton's warriors to be deployed in that
direction also. The rest of the troops were to be kept at Fort George in
case the movement against Queenston was only intended as a
distraction from a larger attack at Newark. Then, with a quick farewell,
Brock disappeared up the river road into the darkness of the early
morning, heading for the sound of battle …
… Sometime before five o'clock in the morning Major General Isaac Brock
arrived at the village. Eyewitness reports fail to describe his movements
when he first reached Queenston. Undoubtedly, he located Captain
James Dennis in order to obtain information about the current state of
the battle. He probably sought ou a place from which he could view the
extent of the American invasion, but whether he went to the redan
battery or the Grenadier's stone guardhouse or somplace else is
uncertain.
What does appear to be true is that, about the time Brock arrived at
Queenston, four boatloads of American reinforcements were detected in
the dim pre-dawn light making their approach to the British shore.
Another one hundred or so Americans landing on the beach would
increase the pressure on Dennis's Grenadiers and the militia, which had
already taken some casualties. An order was passed by means of a
bugle for Captain John Williams to bring his Light Company down from
the Heights to bolster the troops below. The gun crew remained at the
redan battery. Again, it is not clear from first-hand accounts whether
Brock or James Dennis issued the order for movement of the Light
Company, but the decision was fateful. The tide of the battle was about
to shift abrupty in favour of the Americans …
The general is slain
After seizing the cannon, John Wool deployed his infantrymen in a
defensive ring around the battery. More men were ascending the
fisherman's path and reinforcing the position. The pre-dawn light was
strong enough for Captain Wool to see Brock arrive at the foot of the hill
and begin his charge. Scattered among the trees, the Americans fired
their muskets at the attackers.
George Jarvis was a short distance behind the general as the British ran
up the hill.
"[H]e led the way up the mountain at double quick time in the very teeth
of sharp fire from the enemy's riflemen," remembered Jarvis, "and ere
long he was singled out by one of them, who, coming forward, took
deliberate aim and fired; several of the men noticed the action and fired
— but too late — and our gallant General fell on his left side, within a
few feet of where I stood. Running up to him I enquired, 'Are you much
hurt, Sir?' He placed his hand on his breast and make no reply, and
slowly sunk down."
It is not known for certain who fired the ball that killed Isaac Brock. Of
the several men who claimed responsibility for the deed, the story of
Robert Walcot merits the most attention. Walcot was an "artillerist" in
the Thirteenth Regiment and found himself at the redan battery shortly
after it had been captured. He recalled how the wounded Captain Wool
still held command despite the fact that blood sloshed over the sides of
his shoes. Walcot was assigned to stay at the 18-pounder, but when
the British attacked he went forward to see the action. He was
considered an excellent marksman by his mates and asked one of them
if he could try a shot. The fellow handed him his weapon and, at
Walcot's request, rammed a second ball down the barrel.
Walcot walked to the edge of the firing line and aimed the musket at the
unmistakable figure wearing the gold-trimmed, red coat of a general. He
fired just as Brock raised his sword and half turned to urge his men
forward. The shot was true. The general fell. Walcot tried to explain to
his commander what he had done, but was scolded for leaving his
proper post at cannon. Walcot's version of the episode fits well with
other evidence. The main drawback to his tale is that he first made it
public in 1880 when he was one hundred years old.
Some accounts of Isaac Brock's death state he was able to speak to his
troops before he died. Perhaps he did, but there is no doubt that his
death came quickly. Apparently his double-breasted coat was fully
buttoned that chilly morning, for the musket ball tore through both of the
overlapping layers just above his heart. It did not penetrate the back of
Brock's jacket, although Captain Glegg later reported that it did pass
through his left side.
Brock's soldiers were shocked by the slaying of their commander, but
then they raised a cheer to avenge him and continued the attack. A
party was formed, likely by Captain Glegg, to carry their dead
commander to the village where they went into a house and hid his
corpse so that the enemy would not find it.
While Malcomson's look at the battle goes out of its way to highlight the
role the relative unknowns played on Oct. 13, 1812, his description of
the most famous portion of the day — the death of General Brock — is
fantastic. Here's a look at how he handled it. The excerpt from this
chapter has been edited and pieced together. The chapter itself goes
into much more detail.
The death of Isaac Brock
The thunderous concussions of warfare at Queenston travelled quickly
to the village of Newark and to the sleeping quarters of Isaac Brock in
Government House. Awakened from his slumber, Brock realized
immediately that Thomas Evans's warning had been at least partially
true. Something was afoot at Queenston and the general was eager to
know its extent.
Brock dressed hurriedly. Knowing he was in for a muddy ride to
Queenston, he put on one of the old uniform coats he had worn as a
brigadier general. By the time he stepped outside, his horse was
harnessed and saddled and he mounted it quickly. To his aides, Glegg
and Macdonell, he explained that he wanted Captain William Holcroft to
limber up a field gun and proceed to Queenston with his artillery
attachment and that he wanted Norton's warriors to be deployed in that
direction also. The rest of the troops were to be kept at Fort George in
case the movement against Queenston was only intended as a
distraction from a larger attack at Newark. Then, with a quick farewell,
Brock disappeared up the river road into the darkness of the early
morning, heading for the sound of battle …
… Sometime before five o'clock in the morning Major General Isaac Brock
arrived at the village. Eyewitness reports fail to describe his movements
when he first reached Queenston. Undoubtedly, he located Captain
James Dennis in order to obtain information about the current state of
the battle. He probably sought ou a place from which he could view the
extent of the American invasion, but whether he went to the redan
battery or the Grenadier's stone guardhouse or somplace else is
uncertain.
What does appear to be true is that, about the time Brock arrived at
Queenston, four boatloads of American reinforcements were detected in
the dim pre-dawn light making their approach to the British shore.
Another one hundred or so Americans landing on the beach would
increase the pressure on Dennis's Grenadiers and the militia, which had
already taken some casualties. An order was passed by means of a
bugle for Captain John Williams to bring his Light Company down from
the Heights to bolster the troops below. The gun crew remained at the
redan battery. Again, it is not clear from first-hand accounts whether
Brock or James Dennis issued the order for movement of the Light
Company, but the decision was fateful. The tide of the battle was about
to shift abrupty in favour of the Americans …
The general is slain
After seizing the cannon, John Wool deployed his infantrymen in a
defensive ring around the battery. More men were ascending the
fisherman's path and reinforcing the position. The pre-dawn light was
strong enough for Captain Wool to see Brock arrive at the foot of the hill
and begin his charge. Scattered among the trees, the Americans fired
their muskets at the attackers.
George Jarvis was a short distance behind the general as the British ran
up the hill.
"[H]e led the way up the mountain at double quick time in the very teeth
of sharp fire from the enemy's riflemen," remembered Jarvis, "and ere
long he was singled out by one of them, who, coming forward, took
deliberate aim and fired; several of the men noticed the action and fired
— but too late — and our gallant General fell on his left side, within a
few feet of where I stood. Running up to him I enquired, 'Are you much
hurt, Sir?' He placed his hand on his breast and make no reply, and
slowly sunk down."
It is not known for certain who fired the ball that killed Isaac Brock. Of
the several men who claimed responsibility for the deed, the story of
Robert Walcot merits the most attention. Walcot was an "artillerist" in
the Thirteenth Regiment and found himself at the redan battery shortly
after it had been captured. He recalled how the wounded Captain Wool
still held command despite the fact that blood sloshed over the sides of
his shoes. Walcot was assigned to stay at the 18-pounder, but when
the British attacked he went forward to see the action. He was
considered an excellent marksman by his mates and asked one of them
if he could try a shot. The fellow handed him his weapon and, at
Walcot's request, rammed a second ball down the barrel.
Walcot walked to the edge of the firing line and aimed the musket at the
unmistakable figure wearing the gold-trimmed, red coat of a general. He
fired just as Brock raised his sword and half turned to urge his men
forward. The shot was true. The general fell. Walcot tried to explain to
his commander what he had done, but was scolded for leaving his
proper post at cannon. Walcot's version of the episode fits well with
other evidence. The main drawback to his tale is that he first made it
public in 1880 when he was one hundred years old.
Some accounts of Isaac Brock's death state he was able to speak to his
troops before he died. Perhaps he did, but there is no doubt that his
death came quickly. Apparently his double-breasted coat was fully
buttoned that chilly morning, for the musket ball tore through both of the
overlapping layers just above his heart. It did not penetrate the back of
Brock's jacket, although Captain Glegg later reported that it did pass
through his left side.
Brock's soldiers were shocked by the slaying of their commander, but
then they raised a cheer to avenge him and continued the attack. A
party was formed, likely by Captain Glegg, to carry their dead
commander to the village where they went into a house and hid his
corpse so that the enemy would not find it.