The Story of Isaac Brock Part 16

This powder magazine was first built in 1796. Reproduced from a photograph in possession of Miss Carnochan, Niagara.

NO. 14. FACING PAGE 135.

_Brock's Midnight Gallop._

Original water-color painting by Charles W. Jefferys, O.S.A., Toronto.

As a matter of fact, the hour of Brock's gallop from Fort George to Queenston, as described in Chapter XXV., was not "midnight," but shortly before daybreak. It is this time, "between the lights," with sky and atmosphere aglow from the fire of the batteries, that the artist cleverly depicts.

NO. 15. FACING PAGE 140.

_Battle of Queenston Heights._

Photographed in Guernsey, 1902, from a curious old print, from a sketch by a brother officer of Brock's--presumably Dennis. (See Explanatory Note to No. 18.) Loaned by Miss FitzGibbon. Original in possession of Miss Helen Tupper, Guernsey.

NO. 16. FACING PAGE 156.

_Death of Isaac Brock._

Original water-color sketch by Charles W. Jefferys, O.S.A., Toronto.

Shows our hero falling after being hit by the fatal bullet fired by an Ohio rifleman, while courageously heading the charge in the attempt to recapture the redan.

NO. 17. FACING PAGE 159.

_Brock's Coat, worn at Queenston Heights._

From photograph, loaned by Miss FitzGibbon, of the coat worn by Brock at Queenston Heights, showing the hole made by the entry of the fatal bullet. Photographed, 1902, from the original in the possession of Miss Tupper, of Guernsey.

NO. 18. FACING PAGE 161.

_Battle of Queenston._

Facsimile drawing by Harry Carter, Toronto, of an old sketch credited to Major Dennis (page 161), which appears on an early map of Upper Canada, published by O.G. Steele--presumably of Buffalo--in 1840. Underneath the original print are the following words, reproduced _verbatim_:

"BATTLE OF QUEENSTON.

AFTER A SKETCH BY MAJOR DENNIS, 13TH OCT., 1813,

Which ended in a complete victory on the part of the British, having captured 927 men, killed or wounded about 500, taken 1,400 stand of arms, a six-pounder, and a stand of colors."

(See, also, Explanatory Note to No. 15.)

NO. 19. FACING PAGE 163.

_Plan of Battle of Queenston._

Reproduced from an historical pamphlet loaned by Mrs. Currie, of Niagara, showing the plan of battleground, disposition of troops, and topography of adjacent country.

NO. 20. FACING PAGE 170.

_Taking of Niagara, May 27th, 1813._

From a sketch which appeared in the Philadelphia _Portfolio_, 1817.

Interesting from the fact that it is the only picture known which shows the churches of St. Mark's and St. Andrew's, Niagara (Newark), Canadian side, and the lighthouse which, built in 1803, stood on the spot where Fort Mississauga now stands.

NO. 21. FACING PAGE 172.

_Cenotaph, Queenston Heights._

Erected near the spot where Brock fell. It bears the following inscription:

"NEAR THIS SPOT MAJOR-GENERAL SIR ISAAC BROCK, K.C.B., PROVISIONAL LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR OF UPPER CANADA, FELL ON 13TH OCTOBER, 1812, WHILE ADVANCING TO REPEL THE INVADING ENEMY."

NO. 22. FACING PAGE 174.

_Brock's Monument._

On October 13th, 1824, the remains of Brock and his gallant aide, Macdonell, were removed from the bastion at Fort George and placed in a vault beneath the monument which had been erected on Queenston Heights by the Legislature to commemorate our hero's death. On Good Friday, April 17th, 1840, this monument was shattered by an explosion of gunpowder placed within the bas.e.m.e.nt by a rebel of 1837 named Lett. In 1853 the cornerstone of a new monument, as shown at page 174, the cost of which was borne by the people of Canada, was erected on the same spot, and on October 13th, forty-one years after the British victory at Queenston, and the anniversary of Brock's splendid death, the remains of the two heroes were re-interred and deposited in two ma.s.sive stone sarcophagi in the vault of the new monument. On the two oval silver plates on Brock's coffin was inscribed the following epitaph:

"HERE LIE THE EARTHLY REMAINS OF A BRAVE AND VIRTUOUS HERO, MAJOR-GENERAL SIR ISAAC BROCK, COMMANDER OF THE BRITISH FORCES, AND PRESIDENT ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT OF UPPER CANADA, WHO FELL WHEN GLORIOUSLY ENGAGING THE ENEMIES OF HIS COUNTRY, AT THE HEAD OF THE FLANK COMPANIES OF THE 49TH REGIMENT, IN THE TOWN OF QUEENSTON, ON THE MORNING OF THE 13TH OCTOBER, 1812, AGED 42 YEARS.

J.B. GLEGG, A.D.C."