The Life and Correspondence of Sir Isaac Brock by Ferdinand Brock Tupper

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"I was in the two memorable battles, on the 19th of September
and the 7th of October, on Bemis' heights, against General
Burgoyne's army, previous to its surrender. In the action of
the 19th of September, I commanded a detachment of three
hundred men, who fought the principal part of the afternoon,
and more than one half of them were killed or wounded.

"On the 7th of October, I likewise commanded a detachment from
the brigade which assisted in attacking the enemy on the left
of our position, defeated him, followed him to the right of his
lines, stormed his entrenchments, and took and held possession
of the right of his position, which compelled him to retreat to
Saratoga, and there to capitulate.

"After the memorable event of the capitulation of General
Burgoyne's army, the regiment to which I belonged was ordered
to Pennsylvania, to join the army under the command of General
Washington. I remained with the army the winter of 1777, at
Valley Forge; and in the spring of 1778, when the British army
evacuated Philadelphia, I was in the battle of Monmouth.

"From December, 1778, to May, 1779, I commanded the American
posts in advance of the White Plains, near Kingsbridge, during
which time I had various skirmishes with the enemy. In May,
1779, the principal part of the British army advanced up the
North River to Verplank's and Stoney Point, and I was ordered
to retreat before them to West Point.

"I then joined the light infantry, under the command of General
Wayne, and was in the memorable attack on Stoney Point, with a
separate command of four hundred light infantry.

"For my conduct on this occasion I received the particular
thanks of General Wayne, General Washington, and congress.

"In the summer and autumn of 1780, I commanded the advanced
posts of the army; and in December of that year, I commanded an
expedition against the enemy, stationed at Morrissina, which
was successful, and for which I received the thanks of General
Washington, in his general orders to the army, and likewise the
thanks of congress. General Washington, in his orders, I well
remember, made use of these words: 'He thanked me for my
judicious arrangements in the plan of operations, and for my
intrepidity and valour in the execution.'

"From the conclusion of the revolutionary war I have lived
with the respect of my countrymen, and have enjoyed repeated
marks of their confidence in the offices which have been
bestowed upon me. When I found that the independence, for which
I had so often fought, was assailed,--that again my country
must appeal to arms to avenge her wrongs, and to protect her
rights,--I felt that I might yet do her some service. For
though many years had passed since I had fought under her
standard, and though my own arm might not have had its wonted
strength, yet my spirit was unbroken, and my devotion to her
unimpaired. I thought in the field, where there could be but
few who had any military experience, what I had learned in the
most active scenes of a seven years' war, might be useful. I
fondly hoped that in my age, as well as in my youth, I might
render services that should deserve the gratitude of my
country--that if I fell by the sword of her enemies, my grave
would be moistened with the tears of my countrymen; that my
descendants would be proud of my name and fame. But how vain is
anticipation! I am now accused of crimes which would blast my
former honors, and transmit my memory with infamy to posterity.
And in that hideous catalogue, there is none from the
imputation of which my nature and my feelings have more
recoiled than from that of cowardice, to which I am to answer."

"The appearance of General Hull was venerable and
prepossessing. Beneath snowy locks, of nearly sixty winters'
bleaching, he exhibited a countenance as fresh and blooming as
a youth of eighteen. His eloquence was perspicuous and
graceful."--_American History._

No. 3.--Page 322.

_Letter from Captain Wool to Colonel Van Rensselaer._

"BUFFALOE, October 23, 1812.

"I have the honor to communicate to you the circumstances
attending the storming of Queenstown battery, on the 13th
instant; with those which happened previously you are already
well acquainted.

"In pursuance of your order, we proceeded round the point and
ascended the rocks, which brought us partly in rear of the
battery. We took it without much resistance. I immediately
formed the troops in rear of the battery, and fronting the
village, when I observed General Brock with his troops formed,
consisting of four companies of the 49th regiment, and a few
militia, marching for our left flank. I immediately detached a
party of one hundred and fifty men, to take possession of the
heights above Queenstown battery, and to hold General Brock in
check; but in consequence of his superior force they retreated.
I sent a reinforcement; notwithstanding which, the enemy drove
us to the edge of the bank: when, with the greatest exertions,
we brought the troops to a stand, and ordered the officers to
bring their men to a charge as soon as the ammunition was
expended, which was executed with some confusion, and in a few
moments the enemy retreated. We pursued them to the edge of the
heights, when Colonel M'Donell had his horse shot from under
him, and himself was mortally wounded. In the interim, General
Brock, in attempting to rally his forces, was killed, when the
enemy dispersed in every direction. As soon as it was
practicable, I formed the troops in a line on the heights
fronting the village, and immediately detached flanking
parties, which consisted of Captain Machesney, of the 6th
regiment, Lieutenant Smith and Ensign Grosvenor, with a small
detachment of riflemen, who had that moment arrived; at the
same time, I ordered Lieutenant Ganesvoort and Lieutenant
Randolph, with a detachment of artillery, to drill out an
18-pounder which had been previously spiked, and, if possible,
to bring it to bear upon the village. The wounded and prisoners
I ordered to be collected, and sent to the guard-house. About
this time, which was about three or four o'clock in the
afternoon, Lieut.-Colonel Christie arrived, and took the
command. He ordered me across the river to get my wounds
dressed. I remained a short time. Our flanking parties had been
driven in by the Indians; but General Wadsworth and other
officers arriving, we had a short skirmish with them, and they
retreated, and I crossed the river."

[NOTE.--Captain Wool, in stating that he was opposed to four companies
of the 49th, _only_ doubled the number of companies; but this
exaggeration is a trifle compared with the following gross and
_hudibrastic_ mis-statements, relative to the battle of Queenstown in
"Ramsay's History of the United States," viz: "The 49th British
regiment, signalized in Egypt under Colonel, since Lieut.-General,
Brock, and usually called the 'Egyptian Invincibles,' was among the
prominent corps, and was led by its favorite commander. In the second
engagement, this regiment of British regulars, 600 strong, encountered a
body of 320 American regulars, supported by a few militia and
volunteers, the whole under Colonel Chrystie. They mutually resorted to
the bayonet, and after a bloody conflict, the famous invincibles yielded
to the superior energy of their antagonists, although the latter were so
far inferior in numbers. They were rallied by Lieut.-General Brock, who
was killed in conducting them a second time to the charge. The American
prisoners were kindly treated by this brave regiment, who, after the
battle was over, acknowledged they had never opposed more gallant
adversaries."--The 49th, not having been with the British army in Egypt,
could not be called the "Egyptian Invincibles;" and instead of this
regiment, 600 strong, being led by Major (not Lieutenant) General Brock,
only the flank companies were present, with a small body of militia,
together about 300 men. In fact, four companies of the 49th were at
Kingston, 160 miles distant, and the remaining four battalion companies
were, we believe, at Fort Erie, 27 or 28 miles from Queenstown; and
therefore, the assertion that the "famous invincibles" yielded to far
Inferior numbers, is something worse than ridiculous. Such, however, is
the correctness of this American historian on the subject, and with such
materials is history too often compiled.--ED.]

"REPORT OF THE BATTLE OF QUEENSTOWN."--(Extracts.)

"Captain Wool discovered the British troops forming at
Queenstown, and formed the troops under his command in line.
General Brock was at the head of the British troops, and led
them round about to the heights in the rear of the battery.
Captain Wool detached 160 men to meet the British; this
detachment was driven back, reinforced, and the whole driven
to the brink of the precipice, forming the bank of the Niagara
river, above Queenstown.

"At this moment some of the officers put a white handkerchief
on a bayonet to hoist as a flag, with intention to surrender.
Captain Wool inquired the object. It was answered that the
party were nearly without ammunition, and that it was useless
to sacrifice the lives of brave men. Captain Wool tore off the
flag, ordered the officers to rally the men, and bring them to
the charge. The order was executed, but in some confusion. The
boasted 49th could not stand the American bayonet. The British
troops were routed, and Major-General Brock, in gallantly
exerting himself to rally them, was killed. His aid, Colonel
M'Donell, fell mortally wounded at the same time.

"The British being completely driven from the heights about ten
o'clock, the line was reformed and flanking parties sent
out."--_Niles' Weekly Register, 1812._

_Extracts from Niles' Weekly Register, Baltimore, 1812._

"Extract of a letter from a gentleman at Detroit to his friend
in Pittsburg, dated July 7, 1812.--'General Hull is making
preparations to cross the river this evening or to-morrow, and
it is expected that an immediate attack is contemplated on
Maiden (Amherstburg). The army are all in health and good
spirits, and wait with anxiety to be put on the other shore:
they are certainly as fine looking men as I ever saw.'

"We have several reports of the capture of Fort Malden. General
Hull has sent expresses to the governors of Ohio and Kentucky
for further supplies of troops, supposed for the purpose of
maintaining the ground he may take, and to keep the allies in
check. We trust he may religiously adhere to his proclamation,
whatever General Brock may say, and give no quarters to the
white savages when found fighting by the side of the Indians,
for whose extensive murders the British should be made
responsible."

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 156: "The 'Letters of Veritas' were originally printed in a
weekly paper published at Montreal, in Lower Canada, and subsequently
collected into the little volume before us. Within a small compass,
these unpretending Letters contain a greater body of useful information
upon the campaigns in the Canadas than is any where else to be found.
They are, we believe, the production of a gentleman in Montreal, of
known respectability. Though not a military man, he enjoyed the best
opportunities for acquaintance with the circumstances of the war; and as
these letters, which excited great attention in the Canadas, appeared in
successive papers while Montreal was filled with almost all the officers
of rank who had served in the country, it may reasonably be presumed
that his errors, had he committed any, would not have escaped without
censure. Yet no reply was ever attempted to his statements, no doubt
ever expressed in the provinces, of the correctness of his
assertions."--_Quarterly Review, July_, 1822.]

[Footnote 157: Wampum is the current money among the Indians. It is of
two sorts, white and purple: the white is worked out of the insides of
the great Congues into the form of a bead, and perforated so as to be
strung on leather; the purple is worked out of the inside of the muscle
shell. They are wove as broad as one's hand, and about two feet long;
these they call belts, and give and receive them at their treaties, as
the seals of friendship. For lesser motives, a single string is given;
every bead is of a known value; and a belt of a less number is made to
equal one of a greater, by so many as is wanted being fastened to the
belt by a string.--_Buchanan's North American Indians._]

[Footnote 158: It is impossible here to forget (however different were
the circumstances and character of the two warriors) that fine passage
by the splendid historian of Rome, wherein he immortalizes the death and
funeral of the ferocious Attila, in language at once musical and
sublime, and which is probably without an equal in the whole range of
English literature: "His body was solemnly exposed in the midst of the
plain, under a silken pavilion; and the chosen squadrons of the Huns,
wheeling round in measured evolutions, chaunted a funeral song to the
memory of a hero, glorious in his life, invincible in his death, the
father of his people, the scourge of his enemies, and the terror of the
world."]

[Footnote 159: The monument itself is not yet finished; we shall
therefore defer our description of the edifice until it is completed.]

[Footnote 160: It is remarkable that, on inspecting the remains, the
body of Colonel M'Donell was found to be almost entirely
decomposed,--whilst that of the general was still firm and nearly
entire; some of the flesh and lineaments of his martial countenance
being yet visible.]

APPENDIX B.

DANIEL DE LISLE BROCK, ESQ.

BAILIFF OF GUERNSEY.

This able magistrate, the third son of John Brock, Esq., was born in
Guernsey on the 10th December, 1762, and closed a long and useful career
on Saturday evening, the 24th September, 1842, at the age of 79 years
and nearly 10 months. After receiving such rudiments of education as the
island could furnish in those days, he was placed at Alderney, to learn
the French language, under M. Vallatt, a Swiss protestant clergyman, and
a man of talent, who was afterwards rector of St. Peter-in-the-Wood, in
Guernsey. From Alderney he was sent to a school at Richmond, in Surrey,
where he remained only two years, as at the early age of fourteen he
went to Dinan with his father, who died there. The early death of his
parent was an irreparable loss to the son, as it was the cause of his
not returning to school, where he had already shown that he possessed a
vigour of intellect much beyond his years. His two elder brothers were
in the army, and the pardonable fondness of his mother induced her to
retain at home the only one of her sons, who could in some measure
replace the counsels of her husband.

In 1785, he went by sea to the Mediterranean, and spent upwards of a
year in visiting Spain, Malta, Sicily, Italy, Switzerland, and France.
In 1798, he was elected jurat of the Royal Court; and the greater part,
if not the whole, of the public documents of that body, were from that
period written by him. In 1821, he obtained the high and responsible
appointment of bailiff, or chief magistrate of Guernsey.

"It has been truly said that the history of Guernsey, for the last fifty
years, was, in fact, the history of Daniel De Lisle Brock. So
exclusively has the better part of Mr. Brock's life been devoted to the
service of his country--so completely have his affections been wrapped
up in her welfare--so ardently, so zealously, and so unceasingly has he
laboured to promote her prosperity and to protect her privileges--and so
intimately has he been connected with all the important occurrences of
the period alluded to--that in reading the history of the island, we
read the history of this the most able and devoted of its friends."

Between the years 1804 and 1810, Mr. Brock was deputed by the States and
Royal Court of Guernsey no less than four times, as their representative
to government, in matters connected with the trade and privileges of the
island; and he also went once to Jersey, to confer with the Royal Court
there on the same subject. In these missions, Mr. Brock distinguished
himself by his luminous and argumentative papers,[161] and the authority
of the Royal Court was happily preserved intact by his representations
and unremitting exertions.

"In 1821, an act of parliament having been passed prohibiting the
importation of foreign corn into the Channel Islands, whenever its entry
for consumption was prohibited in England, to wit, until it reached the
price of 80s. per quarter, Mr. Brock was again deputed to London to
contend against a measure fraught with such fatal consequences to the
islands, and at the same time to obtain some modifications in the
navigation laws. Mr. Brock, who was essentially assisted in this
business by Mr. James Carey, jurat, succeeded in both these objects. The
obnoxious corn law was repealed so far as the Channel Islands were
concerned, and some important privileges conceded to their trade and
navigation, especially in granting them free intercourse with the
British colonies, and the American continent and islands. So highly were
these last services appreciated, that when Mr. Brock returned to
Guernsey, on the 24th July, 1822, he was received with unexampled
enthusiasm. On landing in the morning, he was saluted with deafening
cries of "_Brock for ever!_" "_Long may he live!_" &c. The public joy
was manifested on this occasion in many different ways. The shipping in
the harbour hoisted their flags; crowns and garlands of flowers, flags,
loaves of bread, with ears of corn, were tastefully arranged, and
suspended in almost every street; mottos and devices, expressive of
unbounded gratitude, were exhibited in every direction, and in the
greatest variety; and the church bells throughout the island rang merry
peals during the day. Bands of music paraded the town, followed by
crowds, on whose happy countenances "Mirth, admit me of thy crew," was
expressed. The musicians wore various coloured bands round their hats,
with the motto of "_Long live Bailiff Brock!_" They surrounded a banner
crowned with flowers, bearing the following inscription:

"The grateful inhabitants of Guernsey, to the worthy Bailiff,
DANIEL DE LISLE BROCK.
Happy is he who labours to promote the happiness of his fellow
citizens.
He will secure their eternal gratitude. They will unceasingly
exclaim: 'May God preserve oar friend, our benefactor, and our
parent.'"

"This inscription having been borne in triumph in every part of the
town, was presented to the object of well-merited praise, and accepted.
Preparations had been made by the militia bands to receive this
distinguished patriot at the landing place; but their good intentions
were thwarted, in consequence of the early hour at which the arrival
took place. At a public meeting of the inhabitants, it was determined to
present a piece of plate to Mr. Brock, as a testimony of the value
attached to his public services, and in the hope that this faint
evidence of their attachment might serve to stimulate others to follow
his steps, and might descend as a memorial to his posterity. Upwards of
L300 were quickly raised for this purpose, and other less valuable, but
not less gratifying, testimonials were presented to him. Nor was Jersey
less grateful, as a public meeting was held in the town of St. Helier,
when the thanks of the island and a handsome piece of plate were
unanimously voted to him."

In 1826, General Sir John Doyle, Bart, and G.C.B., for many years
lieutenant-governor of Guernsey, visited the island, and at a public
dinner, given to him on the 29th August, at the Assembly Rooms, he rose
and spoke as follows:

Gentlemen,--Having received permission from the chair, I rise
to propose a toast which would be well received in any society
where the enlightened individual is known. But here I
anticipate it will be met by acclamation and enthusiasm. I do
not propose his health, merely because he is my friend,
although I feel truly honored by his friendship; and the more
so, as I know that it originated and was cemented by his
conviction of my honest zeal for the public good, and the deep
interest I took in the welfare of his native land. But I give
him as a public man, who, to a sound, vigorous, and cultivated
understanding, joins a liberal and enlightened mind--an innate
love of justice, and hatred of oppression--an inflexible
adherence to that which appears to him to be right--a man too
wise to be cunning. Armed with the '_mens conscia recti_,' he
marches straightforward to his object, nor turns into the
devious path of crooked policy, and left-handed wisdom. To
these qualities are added indefatigable industry, and a
patience not to be exhausted. This is the man, who, as a
public magistrate in high station, I offer for your
acceptance. Of his private worth, I dare not say all that I
feel. He is present. You know him, and can duly appreciate his
value. You will have anticipated that I mean the bailiff of
Guernsey. I now propose to you 'The health of the bailiff, and
unalloyed happiness to the island of Guernsey.'"

"In 1832, one of the most ancient and vital privileges of Guernsey--the
right of the inhabitants to be tried in their own local court--was
placed in peril, it being assailed by no less a character than Lord
Chief Justice Tenderden, who sought to extend the power of the writ of
_habeas corpus_ to this island. The history of this event would occupy
much more space than we can now devote to it. Suffice it here to say,
that after much correspondence on the subject, Mr. Brock and Mr. Charles
De Jersey, the king's procureur, were deputed to London, to act in
conjunction with the bailiff and procureur of Jersey in opposing the
measure. The mission was successful, and the independence of the insular
jurisdictions was maintained.

"The last occasion on which Mr. Brock went to England in the service of
his native island, was in the year 1835, when the channel islands were
menaced with being deprived of the privilege of sending their corn into
England, duty free. An idea had obtained ground that this privilege was
abused; and, in consequence, a bill was brought into parliament to
deprive the islands of this important branch of their trade. Deputies
were therefore appointed by the islands to proceed to London, for the
purpose of advocating their rights, and Mr. Brock was again fixed on as
the representative of Guernsey. Owing to the remonstrances of this
deputation, a select committee of the House of Commons was appointed to
inquire into the matter, and the result was that the bill was withdrawn.
So highly were Mr. Brock's services on this occasion valued by both
islands, that the States of Jersey voted him a piece of plate of the
value of L100, whilst the States of Guernsey voted that portrait which
now adorns the interior of the court-house, and which will afford to
succeeding generations the means of contemplating the intellectual
countenance and venerable form of one whom they will ever remember as
the firmest friend, and ablest administrator of his country.

"From the period here alluded to, until within a few days of his death,
Mr. Brock was unremittingly engaged in labouring for the public good.
The records of the island will show how indefatigably be devoted himself
to its service; and it may be truly said of him, that to his latest
moment the desire to secure its welfare was the reigning impulse of his
heart."

Mr. Brock left one son, Eugene, a captain in the 20th regiment, since
deceased, unmarried; and one daughter, now also unmarried. In
countenance and robustness of frame, although not so tall, as well as in
vigour of intellect and decision of character, the bailiff strongly
resembled his brother, Sir Isaac Brock; and when a friend of the latter,
Sir James Kempt, visited Guernsey, in his official capacity as
master-general of the ordnance, he was struck with the personal
resemblance, notwithstanding that Mr. Brock was then in his 71st year.

The Royal Court, having met on the 26th September, to appoint a judge
delegate to replace _pro tempore_ the late bailiff, unanimously
requested the family of the deceased to allow him to be buried at the
expense of the States of Guernsey, and the funeral was in consequence a
public one. "For though Mr. Brock had enriched his country with numerous
and inappreciable benefits--though he bequeathed to it an inestimable
heritage in his deeds and in his example--he died in honorable and
ennobling poverty, resulting from his disinterestedness, his integrity,
and his patriotism.[162] The public, we say, were pleased, were
gratified, were proud in seeing that their representatives and rulers so
promptly and so handsomely anticipated and fulfilled their wishes, and
they looked forward to the moment of paying to their departed
benefactor the last mournful honors with feelings in which complacency
was not unmingled with their grief.

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