79 
Rensselaer, the patroon, encamped with the American troops, 
consisting of regulars and militia, on the opposite shore, near 
Lewistown. General Van Rensselaer was apprised that Gene¬ 
ral Brock, with the greatest part of his corps, had marched 
towards the west, and that there were but few troops left on 
the heights. He determined therefore to cross the river, to 
make himself master of so important a position. During the 
night he conveyed his regulars, about one thousand four hundred 
men, over the river, and gave orders that the militia should fol¬ 
low on the return of the boats, and form a reserve in the rear. 
These troops gained the heights, and nearly surprised the British, 
who, notwithstanding, made a bold resistance. The Americans 
would, however, have remained masters of the field, had not Ge¬ 
neral Brock returned with his detachment. Brock was a brave 
soldier, and hearing that the troops whom he had left behind, were 
in a dangerous position, he immediately attacked the Americans 
with but a single company. In this attack he found a glorious and 
memorable death. The Americans kept the heights as long as 
possible; their ammunition, however, being nearly exhausted, 
General Van Rensselaer sent orders to the militia to advance. The 
general himself hastened to the opposite shore to accelerate their 
movements; he was answered that they were ready to defend 
the borders of the United States, but it was contrary to the laws 
of the country to take them out of it. The troops of the line in 
the meanwhile, having exhausted their ammunition, were obliged 
to retreat; they expected to embark, but not finding any boats, 
they were compelled, after a heroic defence to surrender as pri¬ 
soners of war. On the place where General Brock fell, the par¬ 
liament of Canada has erected a monument to the memory of that 
brave and intrepid soldier. It consists of a lofty column, which 
may be observed from every part of the adjacent country. It 
was not yet completed, and wanted the inscription. 
We expected to meet the steam-boat Queenstown at Newark, 
in order to proceed to Kingston, on the eastern extremity of 
Lake Ontario. We missed it, however, and were afterwards in¬ 
formed that it had been obliged to put in at another harbour on 
account of repairs. We were compelled, therefore, to remain 
three days at Newark. Newark is a regularly built town, with 
several handsome houses; it is situated at the outlet of the Nia¬ 
gara into Lake Ontario, between Fort George and Missagua. 
Fort Missagua is near the lake; Fort George lies south of New¬ 
ark, and is in ruins. During the last war, both these forts were 
occupied by the Americans, and from Fort George towards the 
town, they had raised a bulwark so as to form a kind of intrench- 
ment. After they had evacuated this position, and were obliged 
to retreat to the right shore of the Niagara, the commander, 
