Part 2

It was "at this instant Brock rode into the village, splashed with mud from head to foot. . . . A striking scene presented itself to his gaze. Battalion after battalion of troops in rear of the American batteries in readiness to embark; other detachments entering their boats, some already on the river; their guns throwing round and grape shot into the village, where Dennis still contrived to maintain a foothold" (Cruikshank).

Brock rode up the slope toward the redan halfway up the Heights. From the hillside above him burst a shout and down rushed an overwhelming body of the invaders. With barely time to spike the gun with a ramrod, the three officers and the dozen artillerymen withdrew and left the enemy in possession.

Fresh troops were now landing to assist the invaders; and Brock was fully convinced that the lost position must be recovered at once. He sent Captain Williams with about seventy men by a round-about way to attack Wool's left. Seeing Wool's force driven in, Brock mustered a hundred and ninety men, including the militia flank companies. Waving his sword, he led his men up the steep ascent toward the battery they had lost. As he moved toward the right of the mountain, a bullet struck his sword wrist. Within fifty yards of him, an Ohio rifleman stepped out from a thicket, took deliberate aim and fired. Shot through the left breast, he fell. "My fall," he murmured, "must not be noticed, nor impede my brave companions from advancing to victory." Mindful of duty, mindful of others, thus died Sir Isaac Brock, the hero of Upper Canada.

Three days before, a grateful sovereign had created him a Knight of the Order of the Bath. Subsequent generations of Canadians placed over his remains the noble shaft, that from its commanding position is the most notable landmark of the historic battleground he made famous. But he lives in the hearts of the people whose country he saved, whose fathers he inspired to resist the invader. He had found them a panic-stricken people, he left them vigorous, united, aggressive.

The remaining incidents of that day at Queenston Heights are well known. Two hours later, Macdonell, Brock's military secretary and aide, tried to regain the one-gun battery. A fierce fight ensued: Macdonell, Dennis and Williams were all wounded; and the next day the bright young Scotsman, attorney-general at the age of twenty-seven, passed away. In life he was united with Brock, and in death he was not separated. The bodies of the two heroes rest together under the Queenston Monument, where the river has been singing their requiem for a hundred years.

The third stage of the battle was reached at two o'clock in the afternoon. Then Major-General Roger Hale Sheaffe advanced from Fort George along the river road. Turning to the right down the little Queenston Creek, he led his forces across the Dr. Hamilton property. On the left he flung out his Indians under Norton and Brant, and they moved forward and made trouble.

Ascending the escarpment west of the invading troops, Sheaffe came upon the terrified invaders, drawn up near the site of the present monument. Their left rested on the river verge of the cliff. A volley or two--and the Canadians found themselves embarrassed with prisoners. Within a few days, 958, including stragglers, had surrendered as prisoners of war. Among these were General Wadsworth, who had been in command, and Lieutenant-Colonel Winfield Scott, later to become commander-in-chief of the United States army and conqueror of Mexico.

PRELIMINARY STEPS

The desire to commemorate the centenary of Brock's death-day--October 13th, 1912--took form at a meeting of the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada, held at Toronto on April 11th, 1912, when, on the motion of Mr. John Stewart Carstairs, B.A., a committee, consisting of Colonel Ryerson, Lieut.-Colonel W. Hamilton Merritt, Mr. J. S. Carstairs, and Mr. C. E. MacDonald, barrister, was appointed to draft a suitable programme for the celebration of "Brock's Day."

This committee submitted the following report at a meeting of the Association held on September 17th, 1912, Colonel Ryerson presiding:

"Your Committee begs leave to report that as, within their knowledge, no action has been taken by either the Federal or Provincial Government to celebrate the Centenary of the death of Sir Isaac Brock on Sunday, October 13th, 1912, they recommend as follows:

"(1) That recommendations be made to both the Federal Government and to the Provincial Government of Ontario, that in view of the fact that General Brock in June, 1812, found himself at the head of a panic-stricken people in the presence of a powerful invader, and that a few months later, when he fell at Queenston Heights, he left that people united, fearless and invincible, it is believed that there should be a national demonstration that will be in effect only less impressive on the public mind than was the passing away of the man himself at Queenston Heights a hundred years ago.

"(2) That the demonstration might take the form of a royal salute from every cannon in the land on Sunday, October 13th. This would be a matter to be arranged by the Minister of Militia.

"(3) Every church in Canada might be requested to hold some sort of a memorial service on Sunday, October 13th.

"(4) On Friday, October 11th, every school in Canada might appeal to the intellect and imagination of the coming generation of men and women by appropriate commemorative exercises.

"(5) Monday, October 14th, could be proclaimed a national holiday.

"There is, in the corridor of the Parliament Buildings at Toronto, the copy of a splendid portrait of Brock, full of life and action. By some arrangement with the Minister of Education in every Province, or even without it, perhaps a copy of this picture could be placed in every school in the land.

"(6) As the city of Toronto is very likely to expropriate the Knox College property, it might be well to suggest to the city authorities that this new park should be opened in October with proper ceremonies and named Brock Park. In this connection, it might be well to recall that the lower portion of Spadina Avenue was, until recently, known as Brock Street.

"(7) It is recommended that these suggestions shall be brought to the attention of the Federal and Provincial Governments, and every means should be taken to convince the authorities that on October 13th, 1912, our people should hang some votive offering on the shrine of the hero of Upper Canada.

"(8) That copies of this report be sent to the National Council of Women and to the Secretary of the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire inviting their concurrence.

"J. S. CARSTAIRS, _Chairman_."

This Report was adopted tentatively, and in order to secure as wide as possible a co-operation from other patriotic Associations, it was agreed, on the motion of Colonel Denison, seconded by Mr. C. E. Macdonald, that the Centenary of Sir Isaac Brock's death, Sunday, October 13th, 1912, be commemorated by an excursion to Queenston Heights on the 12th, and that patriotic and historical societies, clubs and regiments, etc., be asked to send not more than three delegates to a meeting to be held on Wednesday, September 25th, at 4.30 o'clock, in the Canadian Foresters' Building, to discuss a plan of commemoration.

In accordance with this resolution the following societies were circularized, and asked to co-operate in the celebration:

SOCIETIES: British Empire League; Caledonian Society; Canadian Club; Canadian Defence League; Daughters of the Empire, Niagara Falls, Ont.; Daughters of the Empire, St. Catharines; Empire Club; Historical Society, Niagara Falls, Ont.; Historical Society, Niagara-on-the-Lake; Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire; Irish Protestant and Benevolent Society, Toronto; Lundy's Lane Historical Society, Niagara Falls, Ont.; Ontario Historical Society; St. Andrew's Society, Toronto; St. Catharines' Historical Society; St. George's Society, Toronto; Sons of England, Toronto; Sons of Scotland Benevolent Association, Toronto; Women's Canadian Historical Society, Toronto; Women's Canadian Club, Toronto; Women's Historical Society, Hamilton; Women's Institute, Queenston; Women's Institute, Stamford; York Pioneers' Association.

MILITARY: Brig.-General W. H. Cotton, Officer Commanding 2nd Division; Canadian Army Medical Corps, Permanent Army Medical Corps, Permanent Army Service Corps, Royal Canadian Dragoons, Royal Canadian Engineers, Royal Canadian Regiment.

_Artillery_: 2nd Brigade Canadian Field Artillery, 9th Battery Canadian Field Artillery.

_Cavalry_: Governor-General's Body Guard, 9th Mississauga Horse.

_Infantry_: "Queen's Own" Rifles, 10th Regiment Royal Grenadiers, 12th Regiment York Rangers, 48th Battalion Highlanders.

_Military Associations, Etc._: Canadian Military Institute, Her Majesty's Army and Navy Veterans, Imperial South African Service Association, Veterans of '66 Association, Veterans of '85 Association, Wolseley Red River Expedition Association, 1870.

GENERAL COMMITTEE FORMED

In response to the invitation above referred to, societies and regiments appointed the following delegates to represent them on the General Committee:--

_United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada_: Colonel G. Sterling Ryerson, President; Colonel G. T. Denison, Lieut.-Colonel George A. Shaw, Mr. R. E. A. Land, Vice-Presidents; Mr. J. Stewart Carstairs, Honorary Secretary; Miss Helen M. Merrill, Honorary Assistant Secretary; Mr. A. R. Davis, Honorary Treasurer; Mr. C. E. Macdonald, Miss Catharine Merritt, Mr. R. S. Neville, K.C., Captain Victor Hall, Miss O. V. Widner, Mrs. F. O. Loft, Mrs. Edmund Phillips, Mrs. Dignam, Toronto.

_Six Nations Indians_ (United Empire Loyalists): Warrior F. O. Loft, Mr. Allen W. Johnson.

_British Empire League_: Colonel G. T. Denison, Toronto.

_Canadian Club_: Dr. A. H. U. Colquhoun, President; Mr. F. D. L. Smith, Toronto.

_Canadian Defence League_: Colonel Fotheringham, Dr. J. L. Hughes, Mr. R. E. Kingsford, Toronto.

_Empire Club_: Mr. J. Castell Hopkins, Dr. E. K. Richardson, Toronto.

_Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire_: Mrs. A. E. Gooderham, Mrs. E. F. B. Johnstone, Mrs. John Bruce, Miss Constance Boulton, Toronto.

_Sons of Scotland_: Dr. Alexander Fraser, Dr. John Ferguson, Toronto.

_St. George's Society, Toronto_: John W. Gamble Boyd.

_Lundy's Lane Historical Association_: Mr. J. Jackson, Superintendent Queen Victoria Park, Secretary, Niagara Falls, Ont.

_Niagara Historical Society_: Miss Janet Carnochan, Niagara-on-the-Lake; Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson, Mrs. Charles Lewis Shaw, Toronto.

_Ontario Historical Society_: Dr. Alexander Fraser, Secretary, Toronto.

_Women's Canadian Historical Society, Toronto_: Miss M. Agnes FitzGibbon, Toronto.

_Women's Wentworth Historical Society_: Mrs. John Calder, Hamilton, President.

_Governor-General's Body Guard_: Lieut.-Colonel Frank A. Fleming, W. E. L. Coleman, Toronto.

_12th Regiment_: Major Curran, Toronto.

_48th Highlanders_: Captain Darling, Adjutant.

_'66 Veterans' Association_: Captain Geo. Musson, P. E. Noverre, David Creighton, Lieut.-Colonel A. E. Belcher, Lieut.-Colonel Geo. A. Shaw, Toronto.

_'85 Veterans' Association_: Sergeant A. G. Scovell, Toronto.

PROGRAMME ADOPTED

The first meeting of the General Committee thus formed was held on September 25th, 1912, in the Canadian Foresters' Building, College Street, Toronto. There was a large attendance of members.

Colonel Ryerson was appointed Chairman, and Miss Helen M. Merrill Secretary, of the Committee. The report from the United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada, as given above, having been read to the meeting, resolutions to the following effect were passed:

(1) That Brock's Day be celebrated by a public gathering at Queenston Heights.

(2) That the various patriotic and historical societies, local as well as those within easy reach of Queenston, be invited to send as large delegations as possible to Brock's Monument on Saturday, October 12th, 1912, in commemoration of his death.

(3) That the various patriotic and historical societies be asked to send wreaths for the purpose of decorating Brock's Monument on October 12th.

(4) That a special invitation be sent to Mr. J. A. Macdonell, K.C., Alexandria, Ont., to attend the celebration as the direct representative of Colonel John Macdonell, the Attorney-General of Upper Canada, and Brock's Provincial A.D.C., who fell with his leader, and whose remains rest beneath the monument on Queenston Heights.

(5) That the Honourable the Minister of Militia be asked to order that salutes be fired on October 12th from all saluting points in Canada.

(6) That the churches be asked to arrange that memorial sermons be preached throughout Canada on Sunday, October 13th.

(7) That suitable exercises relating to Brock and 1812 should be held in every school in Canada; and that this suggestion be not only given publicity through the newspapers, but that the attention of the various Ministers of Education in the Dominion be specially drawn to it.

(8) That the Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs at Ottawa be asked to take measures to have the history of Brock and the events of the 1812 war brought specially before the children in all Indian Schools under the charge of the Dominion Government.

(9) That a wreath be placed on the picture of Brock in the Parliament Buildings, Toronto.

(10) That it be suggested to the Dominion Government to place a wreath on Brock's Monument in St. Paul's Cathedral, London, England.

An Executive Committee was appointed to further these resolutions, consisting of the members of the following special committees:--

_Travelling Arrangements, etc._: Colonel Ryerson, Dr. James L. Hughes, Mr. J. S. Carstairs and Mr. C. E. Macdonald.

_Press_: Mr. J. Castell Hopkins, Dr. Alexander Fraser, Mr. F. D. L. Smith, Miss Helen M. Merrill.

Chairman and Secretary of the Executive Committee: Colonel Ryerson and Miss Helen M. Merrill.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

The General Committee met on October 2nd, 1912, Colonel Ryerson presiding. The reports of the special committees regarding the arrangements were very satisfactory, and it was made abundantly clear that the proposed celebration had touched a tender chord of public feeling. Travelling arrangements by train to Niagara Falls and by electric car thence to Queenston Heights were approved of. The co-operation of the Women's Institute, Queenston, was promised in connection with the decoration of the grounds there; the Ontario Government consented to police the grounds, and the Victoria Park Commission to reopen the restaurant at the Heights for the day. It was agreed to advise the hotels at Niagara Falls, Ont., that luncheon would be taken at that town on arrival of the train, and to arrange with the electric railway for the conveyance of the visitors to the Monument. The publicity so generously afforded by the press was gratefully acknowledged. A letter from Mr. J. A. Macdonell, K.C., Alexandria, accepting the Committee's invitation, was read; and a motion by Mr. F. D. L. Smith that a bronze tablet to mark the centenary celebration be placed on Brock's Monument was deferred for consideration at the next meeting to be held on the week following.

At the meeting of the General Committee held on October 9th in the Canadian Foresters' Hall, Toronto, Colonel Ryerson presiding, the following report of the Executive Committee was received and adopted:--

"The Executive Committee met on October 7th and received satisfactory reports of the progress made in carrying out the proposals of the General Committee. A programme for the celebration at Queenston Heights was drafted, and the President was requested to arrange with the Department of Militia that the permanent forces be sent from Toronto to Queenston Heights to take part in the proceedings. It was also resolved to publish an account of the proceedings in connection with the celebration as an interesting record of a notable event."

The Executive also reported that all arrangements had been completed for the journey to Queenston Heights; that the Militia Department had ordered that salutes be fired from all saluting points in Canada on the 12th inst.; that commemorative church services would be extensively held on the 13th inst.; that special exercises would be observed in the public schools in accordance with letters received from the Honourable R. A. Pyne, M.P.P., Minister of Education for Ontario, Mr. Augustus W. Ball, Deputy Minister of Education, Saskatchewan, Mr. Alexander Robinson, Superintendent of Education, British Columbia, and from Mr. R. Fletcher, Deputy Minister of Education, Manitoba; that a detachment from the permanent infantry force at Toronto would proceed to Queenston Heights on the 12th inst.; that the Toronto, Hamilton and other corps of militia would be represented, and that large delegations from patriotic, national and historical societies would take part; that many wreaths would be sent to the monument; that the Dominion Government had ordered its representative in London, England, to place a wreath on Brock's Memorial in St. Paul's Cathedral; and that letters from prominent public men had been received, either regretting their inability to take part or accepting the invitations to be present.

This being the last meeting of the General Committee, it was agreed to refer the suggestion that a bronze centennial tablet be placed on Brock's Monument, the striking of a Centennial medal, and all business connected with the celebration ceremonies, or arising therefrom, to the Executive Committee, with full power to dispose of the same.

The meeting then adjourned _sine die_.

CELEBRATING THE DAY

It had been decided to travel by the Grand Trunk Railway train leaving Toronto at nine o'clock a.m. (a few only going by steamer from Yonge Street wharf). The unsettled, rainy weather of the two previous days had caused some misgiving as to the number of people who might venture on an open air demonstration on a cold October day, and the grey looming skies at dawn on Saturday, the 12th, held no hidden hope of a silver lining. The enthusiasm awakened by the name of Brock, however, was resistless, and betimes the seats in the waiting train were crowded. The Union Station witnessed a lively scene--the soldiers in bright colours, the ladies and gentlemen in gay humour, and the stirring music of the bagpipes, combining to enliven and mark the unusual character of the occasion.

At Hamilton a number of friends joined the party, and others who could not do so came to the railway station to express their good wishes. St. Catharines also gave its contingent. Niagara Falls was safely reached at 11.45 o'clock.

Shortly afterwards Major Gordon J. Smith, Brantford, Superintendent of the Six Nation Indians, and a fine delegation arrived, and luncheon was served at several of the hotels.

The journey was resumed by electric cars, the large company arriving at Queenston Heights in the course of an hour.

During the forenoon the sky had cleared, and now the sun shone out brightly for a space on a landscape unsurpassed anywhere for spacious magnificence and scenic beauty. And crowning the domed escarpment the stately column spoke forth a people's patriotism and love, a memorial to the brave, the scene harmonizing with the feelings of the great gathering.

AT QUEENSTON HEIGHTS

About two thousand people gathered at the foot of the Monument. Colonel G. Sterling Ryerson, President of the General Committee and of the U. E. L. Association, presided. Among those present were the Hon. R. A. Pyne, M.P.P., Minister of Education for Ontario, and Mrs. Pyne; A. Claude Macdonell, M.P., Toronto; W. M. German, M.P., Welland; Colonel George T. Denison (U. E. L. and British Empire League); J. A. Macdonell, K.C., Glengarry; A. MacLean Macdonell, K.C. (representatives of Colonel the Hon. John Macdonell, Provincial A.D.C. to General Brock); Dr. Alexander Dame (a relative of Hon. Colonel John Macdonell); James L. Hughes, LL.D. (Canadian Defence League); Doctor Jessop, M.P.P., St. Catharines; Mr. Evan Fraser, M.P.P., Niagara Falls, Ont.; Alexander Fraser, LL.D. (Ontario Historical Society, St. Andrew's Society, and S.O.S. Association); Mr. F. D. W. Smith (Canadian Club, Toronto); J. Castell Hopkins (Empire Club, Toronto); Miss Helen M. Merrill (Honorary Secretary, Brock Centenary, and U. E. L.); Miss C. Macdonell; Miss Kate Fraser, Toronto; Mr. John Stewart Carstairs, B.A. (Honorary Secretary, U. E. L. Association of Canada); Mr. Charles E. Macdonald, barrister, Toronto (Honorary Counsellor, U. E. L. Association of Canada); Chas. R. McCullough, Hamilton (Union of Canadian Clubs).

Royal Canadian College, Kingston: Colonel J. H. V. Crowe, Commandant.

Royal Canadian Regiment: Captain J. F. Brown (in command), Lieutenant J. W. Cox, and sixty-eight non-coms. and men.

Governor-General's Body Guard: Lieut.-Colonel Prank A. Fleming, officer commanding; Lieutenant A. D. Kirkpatrick; A. M. Stretton, Sergt.-Major, W. O.; S.Q.M.S. W. E. Borlace, Sergeant E. Pelletier, Mr. W. E. L. Coleman, Robt. D. Cox, Q.M. Sgt., 1st Cavalry Brigade; Corporal Worsick, Corporal Douglas; Troopers G. L. Collins, E. Lightbody, Sewell, Thos. Preston, G. W. C. Clarke, John S. Kilpatrick, W. Lennox, W. Hill, S. Norse.

9th Mississauga Horse.

St. Catharines Field Battery: Colonel F. King, Lieut.-Colonel Campbell.

Canadian Engineers.

2nd Regt. Q.O.R., Toronto: Sergeant-Major Geo. Creighton, Sergeants J. I. Matthews, A. G. Scovell, R. F. Reed, W. F. Meaforth, Forsyth, Scott; George Sanderson, E. R. Fitzgerald, retired, New Westminster, B.C., and others.

10th Regt., "Royal Grenadiers," Toronto: Edward Johnston, Geo. H. Briggs, Robert Hazelton, and seventeen men under Captain Campbell.

12th Regt., "York Rangers": Major Curran.

13th Regt., Hamilton: Lieut.-Colonel Moore, Bt. Lieut.-Colonel Ross, C.O., Major Lester.

19th Regt., St. Catharines: Lieut.-Colonel W. W. Burleigh and others.

22nd Regt., "Oxford Rifles."

36th "Peel" Regt.: Royal Grafton, Ensign.

48th Regt., "Highlanders," Toronto: Lieut.-Colonel W. Hendrie, Major J. A. Currie, and thirty-two non-com. officers and men in charge of Sergeant Cameron.

91st Regt., Canadian Highlanders, Hamilton: Lieut.-Colonel John J. Maclaren and others.

York and Simcoe Battalion, Toronto: Corporal Thos. Laird, N.W.F.F., 1885.

North-West Mounted Police: J. W. Scott.

Ridley College Cadets and Bugle Band.

'66 Veterans' Association: P. E. Noverre, President; Captain John A. Macdonald, '70; Colonel Belcher; Major J. Beck, 33rd Huron Regt.; Captain Geo. Musson, John Robinson, Walter R. Nursey; Captain John Ford (Chicago Volunteers), Past-President; Andrew K. Lauder, Captain F. H. McCallum, A. E. Wheeler.

Niagara District Veteran Volunteers' Association, St. Catharines: Jamieson Black, President; C. Chapman, Past-President; Robt. J. Black, Vice-President; W. H. Drysdale, Treasurer; J. Albert Mills, Secretary; George Wilson.