Part 9 (2/2)

Though Van Rensselaer's force now numbered 6,300 men, he was still afraid to attack Brock. Invited by the United States Government to take up arms, 400 Seneca Indians ”went upon the war-path,” and performed ghost-dances on the streets of Lewiston. Prevost, with no proper conception of the doctrine of ”what we have we hold,” ordered Brock to ”evacuate Detroit and the territory of Michigan.” To ”the man behind the gun,” who had but just donated this 60,000 square miles of realty to the Empire, such instructions were hardly to his taste. Armed with powers of discretion, our hero declined. Meanwhile Isaac's heart was sore. The situation was galling. If there was to be no more fighting, why should he not get his release, join Wellington in Portugal, and renounce Canada? Unrest and vigilance best describe the order of his days, while waiting attack. The death of the ever-attentive Dobson, who had pa.s.sed away before Brock's departure for Detroit, and the absence of the faithful sergeant-major--now Adjutant FitzGibbon--distressed him. In an attempt by General Brown to capture some British batteaux at Tousaint Island, on the St. Lawrence, the Americans had been repulsed by Brock's gallant protege.

Everything now pointed to an early attack by the enemy in force. General Van Rensselaer, with an ascertained army of at least 6,300, of which 2,600 were militia, wrote that he ”would cross the river in the rear of Fort George, take it by storm, carry the Heights of Queenston, destroy the British s.h.i.+ps--the _Prince Regent_ and _Earl Moira_--at the mouth of the river, leave Brock no rallying point, appal the minds of the Canadians, and wipe away the past disgrace.”

On one of his visits to Fort George he had remarked to Brock, who had laughingly pointed out two beautiful bra.s.s howitzers taken from General Wayne, ”Oh, yes, they are old friends of mine; I must take them back.”

They were not taken back in Brock's time. Even with his grand army of 6,300, his 400 Seneca braves, and his written admission that Niagara was weakly garrisoned, it is certain Van Rensselaer would have still delayed attack, unless he had been told by his spies that Brock had returned to Detroit. Then, with valour oozing from his finger tips, he plucked up courage to attack the lair in the lion's absence.

At this juncture an untoward event occurred, in the re-taking by the Americans of the brig _Detroit_, formerly the United States brig _Adams_--captured, as we know, by Roulette--and the trading brig _Caledonia_. They were at anchor at the head of the Niagara River, off Black Rock. The irregular regiments of Hull's command, under the terms of surrender, were on board on their way to their Ohio homes, via Lake Erie and Buffalo. The two vessels reached Fort Erie harbour safely, and being rightly regarded by the British as immune from attack, were left undefended, in charge of an officer and nine men only, most of whom were voyageurs. In addition to the prisoners, the two brigs carried great quant.i.ties of fur and 600 packs of deer skins. During darkness Lieutenant Ellis, with three armed boats and 150 United States troops and sailors, dropped alongside. Roulette and his nine men fought desperately, one being killed and four wounded, but both vessels, of course, fell into the enemy's hands. This attack was contrary to the rules of war, and a violation of the sanct.i.ty of the flag which ”continued to float as long as there were American prisoners on board, awaiting to be landed on United States soil.”

Brock regarded this loss as a calamity. It was, he wrote to Prevost, ”likely to reduce him to great distress.” His constant fears that the enemy would secure control of both Lakes Erie and Ontario were well founded. He begged Prevost to let him destroy the vessels Chauncey, the American, was building on Squaw Island. Prevost, of course, besought him to forbear. Isaac Brock, exasperated and with tied hands, was ”doomed to the bitterest of all griefs, to see clearly and yet be able to do nothing.” Yet while he worked in chains his preparedness was a source of wonder to those behind the scenes.

Even no less a critic than John Lovett, General Van Rensselaer's military secretary, was impressed with what he saw through his field-gla.s.ses from Lewiston heights. ”Every three or four miles, on every eminence,” he wrote a friend, ”Brock has erected a snug battery, the last saucy argument of kings, poking their white noses and round black nostrils right upon your face, ready to spit fire and brimstone in your very teeth, if you were to offer to turn squatter on John Bull's land.” Influenced by these signs of ”business,” the United States officers were ordered to ”dress as much like their men as possible, so that at 150 yards they might not be recognized.” This was probably due to one of the last orders issued by our hero, who warned his men that, when the enemy crossed the river, to withhold their musketry fire until he was well within range, and then, ”if he lands, attack him at the point of the bayonet with determined resolution.”

With clairvoyance that would have done credit to a mind-reader, Brock knew that attack was imminent. To him the wind that blew across the river October 12th was laden with omens of war. The air seemed charged with the acrid smell of burnt powder. The m.u.f.fled beat of drums, the smothered boom of artillery, the subdued clash of steel meeting steel, the stealthy tramp of armed men, seemed to encompa.s.s him.

Brock was at his headquarters. He gazed from the window. The storm outside was hurling great splashes of rain against the narrow cas.e.m.e.nt.

To and fro, over the carpeted floor, he paced that evening for an hour or more, uninterrupted and alone. It was thus he marshalled facts and weighed conclusions. Powerful brain and vigorous frame acted in concert.

He was enjoying the fulfilment of the promise of his youth. G.o.d had been good. The world had been tolerant; his fellow-men--at least those who knew the real Isaac--loyally appreciative. The knowledge of his honours and fame stirred him to his soul. Not that he was any better, or abler, he meditated, than other men, but that when ”opportunity” offered he was permitted to grasp it.

”For every day I stand outside your door, And bid you wake and rise to fight and win.”

The influence of the great truth as p.r.o.nounced in the now familiar couplet inspired him. He recognized the source whence he derived whatever of success had followed his efforts, and prayed for greater sagacity, more vigour of body and tenacity of purpose, a complete surrender of self to the task before him; that if his life was to be the price of duty, he might place it on the altar of his country without one shred of compunction.

He rang the bell for Porter--his body-servant since Dobson's death--directed him to see that the council room was lighted, that pens, ink, paper and cigars were in place, as a meeting of his staff was slated for nine, and sought his sanctum.

[Ill.u.s.tration: POWDER MAGAZINE, FORT GEORGE, NIAGARA]

CHAPTER XXIV.

BROCK'S LAST COUNCIL.

It was long past midnight on the morning of Tuesday, October 13th, 1812, when Brock dismissed his advisory council of staff officers. An animated discussion had taken place over the strength of the enemy and the spot he might select to cross the river, for ruses had been resorted to by Van Bensselaer to deceive the British.

”I dare not, gentlemen,” said our hero, in opening the debate, ”weaken my flanks at Niagara and Erie, though I realize I am leaving Queenston not properly protected. I have just learned that General Dearborn states that while 'Tippecanoe' Harrison invades Canada, at Detroit, with 7,000 men--I do not think it necessary I should point out Detroit on the map,”

he added with a smile--”and while a United States squadron--not a British one, mark you--sweeps Lake Ontario from Sackett's Harbour, Dearborn himself will threaten Montreal from Lake Champlain. While the east and the west are thus being annexed by the enemy, our friend Van Rensselaer is to entertain us here.

”An ordinary boat, as we all know, can be rowed across the river at Queenston in less than ten minutes. Our spies have reported that forty batteaux, to carry forty men each, are in readiness at Tonawanda. Evans and Macdonell, when they called on Van Rensselaer, saw at least a dozen boats moored at Lewiston, some of which could carry eighty men. During the deplorable armistice, as General Sheaffe is aware”--looking at that officer--”Van Rensselaer brought up 400 boats and batteaux from Ogdensburg and other points, all of his previously blockaded fleet, so the enemy has no lack of transport. The most effective disposition of our limited force is, I admit, somewhat of a problem. There is no use in evading the fact that in point of numbers and ordnance we are too weak, and as Sir George Prevost has written me not to expect any further aid, Colonel Talbot must send us a few of his militia.”

”Macdonell,” he said, turning to his aide, ”will you write at once, to-night, to Colonel Talbot, at Port Talbot, stating that I am strongly induced to believe I will soon be attacked, and tell him that I wish him to send 200 men, the militia under his command, without delay, by water to Fort Erie.”

This was Brock's last official letter dictated in council.

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