The 49th of Foot and the 3rd York Militia , without the warmth of a fire, are huddled in the bushes on the ridge above the Niagara River, standing guard and keeping a keen eye out for any activity on the American side. It has been dark and blustery but now the wind and rain had subsided and an uneasy quiet took place. “It was on the firth night successively, that I had been on guard, and tolerably wearied, when the universal stillness that reigned around me, was disturbed by the report of two 18 pounders, fired from the Mountain on the American side, upon Queenstown, which was immediately returned by a discharge of artillery and small-arms from our side; the distance from Queenstown to our station here, is for marching orders: during the interval, I went down to our battery from whence the view was truly tremendous, the darkness of the night, interrupted by the flash of guns and small-arms, was a scene I am unable to give you the idea of”

Lieutenant George Ridout, 3^rd York Militia

Sergeant Thomas Young, 13th Regiment of Infantry US Army, directs his men to scale the banks. They huddle against the ridge pinned down on the banks of the river by a hail of deadly fire. Captain John E. Wool remembered “The guard stationed on the bank discovered us and fired into our boats before we reached the shore, but fled on our landing”. By now the landings were going desperately wrong. The heavy current of the river has sent boats in all directions and most did not land where intended. Wool again comments, “As soon as we left the boats we ascended the bank”.

Lieutenant John Gansevoort approached the wounded Captain Wool telling him that he had at times, come across the river to fish and that he know of a fisherman’s trail up the side of the cliff. Wool, suffering from his wounds, gives permission to his fisherman soldier to lead 60 men up to the top of the ridge.

British ranks were thinned during a firefight, though not as drastically as the Americans. Due to the effective resistance of the Americans and the artillery from the other side of the river, the British retreat to the outskirts of the village and re-groups in an orchard waiting to counter attack. Captain James Dennis will send riders for reinforcements from Brown’s Point and up river from Chippewa.

The present-day image of a great cannon and silhouettes of black vultures in the trees, to me evokes an uneasy feeling about the hostilities that took place at this site, 200 years ago.

Major-General Isaac Brock is wakened by the sound of distant cannon. He suspected that this was to divert attention rather than a major assault, but the steady cannonade convinced him that something more serious was afoot. Brock hurriedly dresses in a simple costume and gives orders to Captain William Holcroft of the Royal Artillery to follow him. He also gives orders for Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonell and Captain John Glegg to get dressed and follow him as well. Just before 5:30am, Brock heads out into the stormy night along the muddy, rutted river road.

“On arriving at the foot of the mountain, where the road diverges to St. David’s, General Brock dismounted and waving his sword, climbed over a high stone wall, followed by his troops. Placing himself at the head of the Light Company of the 49th, he led the way up the mountain, at double quick time, in the very teeth of a sharp fire from the enemy’s rifle men. 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 hurt much sir?’ He placed his hand on his breast, but made no reply and sank down”.

15 year old, Gentleman Volunteer George Jarvis, 49th of Foot

Macdonell, the only mounted officer, led a Romantic-Napoleionic style attack. Seventy volunteers followed him up the heights to join the rest of the 49th. WIth shouts of “revenge the general”, the British swept forward. But right off the bat, Macdonell’s horse was a hit. As the horse reared and plunged, another shot struck Macdonell in the back. Both horse and rider fell, mortally wounded. Macdonell, still alive, spots his closest friend, Lieutenant Archibald McLean of the York volunteers, calling out, “Archie help me”.

Holcroft had trundled his cannons down muddy River Road and set up with Captain Hamilton on the ridge overlooking the river at Hamilton Cove. From here they see the boats moving back and forward over the water. A single company of the 41st of Foot arrive and together with Holcroft and Hamilton, open fire on the boars, causing enough destruction to halt the movement of men and materials on the river. Later he moves his Royal Artillery 6 pounders to assist Captain Derenze of the 41st of Foot.

Although John Brant, son of the famous Joseph Brant, was recognized as the chief, it was the six foot Scotsman War Chief, John Norton, said to be “more Indian than the Indians”, who had taken command and was ready to lead the native forces. In Phelp’s field Major-General Roger Scheaffe waited for the arrival of reinforcements from Chippewa. Less than a half hour later the troops arrived and now that Sheaffe’s army numbered more than 900 men, the word was sent for Norton’s braves to attack. Silently, the Mohawks moved through the woods and with wild war-whoops fired a volley, surprising the American outposts.

Richard Pierpoint, a 65 year old black farmer, along with other freed black loyalists formed a unit of 38 Black volunteers from across the colony. Because the command of Blacks was not allowed to be headed by Pierpoint, the company was turned over to Robert Runchey, a tavern owner and Captain in the Lincoln Militia. Runchey’s reputation among his brother officers was so bad that Lieutenant Colonel Ralfe Clench referred to him as a “Black sheep in our Regiment and with which the Officers and I believe would gladly part”.

It is at this time that Major General Roger Sheaffe exposes his weakness as a military commander. Sheaffe had made a mistake in preparing the men for attack. In an attempt to correct the mistake caused chaotic confusion with the rank and file. Ensign Smith recall, “Sergeant Lyons was very fortunately present and by some means or other got them form’d so”.

At 3:00pm with the weather clearing up, and a force of over 900 men, it is now the time to attack. Major-General Sheaffe’s fife and drum musicians of the 49th sound “the troop”, the signal to advance. Lieutenant Colonel Winfield Scott counts his troops and is shocked to discover that he has less than 300 men. It is now that Sheaffe orders a general advance.

At 4:00pm, a repeated bugle call sounds to end the hostilities. Captain James Crooks viewed the surrender and writes “Wadsworth drew his sword and presented the handle to General Sheaffe who said ‘I understand General that your people have surrendered’, to which Wadsworth made no other answer bowing his head in token that it was so.” 925 men laid down their arms.

Macdonell’s friend Archie, after receiving treatment in Queenston for his wounds, limps out to the road as the sun is going down and hitches a ride to Brown’s point. In a wagon driven by an old militiaman named Captain Isaac Swayze, Archie realizes that there is a third passenger. The third passenger is the body of Major-General Issac Brock. Archie McLean recalled. “...whom I had seen in the morning in full health and strength hastening to the scene of Action to meet the Enemies of his country.” The British victory, for which within these twelve hours has just saved a country, was bittersweet. Down the muddy road Swayze’s rickety wagon carried the one man considered capable of halting the coming tide of American Invasions over the next three years.