Page:Brock centenary 2nd ed. 1913.djvu/26

 BROCK CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

reduced several <»f 1 1 1 « * houses to rains.

Meanwhile, ( laptain Dennis, with forty six men, sought out the Invaders ;it the fool ol the cliff. Though they boob took to the cover of the treee and brush in disorder, manj were killed, and Colonel Van Rensselaer himself received no Less than six wounds.

After dawn, however, they observed how few men were working the one-gun battery halfway up Queenston Heights. They ascended by a narrow fisherman's path, under the command of Lieuten- ant Wool, ami gained the Heights unopposed.

It was "at this instant Brock rode into tin- vil- lage, Bplashed with mud from head to foot a striking scene presented itself to his gaze. Bat- talion after battalion of troops In rear of tin* American batteries in readiness to embark; other detachments entering their boats, some already on the river; their guns throwing round and grape slmt Into the village, where Dennis still contrived t<> maintain a foothold" (Cruikshank).

Brock rode up the Blope toward the redan half- wax nj» the Heights. Prom the hillside above him bursl a sin. nt ami down rushed an overwhelming body of the Invaders. With barely time to spike the gun with a ramrod, the three officers and the dosen artillerymen withdrew and left the enemy in possession.

Fresh troops were now landing to as^ivt the

[nvaders; ami Brock was fully convinced that the position musl be recovered at once. 1 Ee sent Captain Williams with aboul seventy men by a i-Minni about wa> t<> attack wool's left Seeing Wool's force driven in. Brock mustered a hundred

and ninety turn. Including the militia flank COm-

panies. Waving his sword, he led his men ap the s-t <•••] i ascent toward the battery they had h><t \- he moved toward the right <»f the mountain, a bullet

struck Ids sword wrist within fifty yards of him,

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