[CRUIKSHANK] A STUDY OF DISAFFECTION IN UPPER CANADA 51 
the wives of officers high in rank, we are confirmed in the belief that 
they calculate on the superiority on this lake before the month of 
August.’ Marcle appears to be a man who can be relied on and places 
implicit confidence in those friends who gave the information.” * 
The battalion of Canadian Volunteers formed part of the invading 
force under General Brown which entered Upper Canada at Fort Erie 
on July 3, 1814. It was not engaged in the action at Chippawa, but 
both Willcocks and Mallory were particularly active in reconnoitering 
and foraging during the two weeks following, and are mentioned several 
times in the official correspondence on both sides. In his report of 
the operations of his brigade in the battle of Lundy’s Lane, General 
Porter stated that “ Lieut. Colonel Willcox of the Canadian Volunteers, 
(a corps which though small is surpassed by none in enterprise and 
bravery,) was most actively and usefully engaged during the whole 
action and had his horse killed.” ? 
Two men of that corps were killed, two others wounded and eight 
reported missing on that occasion. 
After the American army had retired into an entrenched camp 
at Fort Erie, the command of the brigade of volunteers devolved tem- 
porarily on Willcocks during Porter’s absence for three weeks on re- 
cruiting service. He soon incurred the pronounced ill will of the 
regiment from the State of New York, which became so marked, that 
being directed to reinforce the piquet line with that corps on the after- 
noon of September 4, he declined to take command although he accom- 
panied it into action. While thus engaged he received a mortal wound 
in the breast from a rifle bullet. The official report stated that “he 
behaved worthy of a hero and a patriot. Calm and unruffled he rushed 
on in defence of our country’s rights until he fell entwined with the 
laurels of glory.’ $ 
Yet when a toast to his memory was proposed at a dinner of the 
Tammany Society in New York some three years later it was greeted 
with hisses.* 
Markle, who had been promoted to the rank of major, succeeded 
Willcocks in command of the corps and was mentioned in despatches 
for gallant conduct in the sortie on September 17. -Captain William 
Bigger, another refugee, who acted as orderly officer to General Porter, 
was dangerously wounded on that occasion. ° 

1 Capt. A. Sinclair to the Secretary of the Navy, Erie, May 27, 1814. 
? Porter to General Brown, July 28, 1814. 
3 Major Matteson to General Ripley, September 5, 1814. 
4 Niagara Gleaner, April 29, 1818. Letter reprinted from the New York Exile 
of April 3, 1818. 
5 Porter to Brown, September 23, 1814. 
Sec. IL., 1912.34. 
