^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) // ^^ >^* 5;^ .^ :\ \ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^ • ^/^ J. TALES OP THE NIAGARA FRONTIER. 1 m i m 1 «\]^H Vb ^^^^^H il M^^H ^OCO ^^^ <» M .i^^^^H b EiH PABT 1 QUEENSTON, emta. ^tmuummixmi * ' 7i i- Toi.\e'?>»^ . *"» \ . # QUEENSTON, A TALE v' OF THE NIAGARA FRONTIER. " "^^ «^^ .1 <■ ^ V^f'W vw>^ BUFFALO. Steele's press, 1845. My»'-^a>fcm«B,-j"::'gi» »¥fwi»iitHWi^i>!in^'J^ <■ rni— p L ^/ «r5 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1845, by OLIVER G. STEELE, In the Clerk's Office of the Northern District of New York. y T* ,ij ! i"; ' ^ /i NOTE. Q. The series of little books proposed to be pub- lished under the general title of "Tales op the JV.AGARA Fkontier," are intended to illustrato some portions of the History of the War of 18 2. Accurate dates and descriptions of places Will be g,ven. though not with very minute detail: and the names of officers who took part in the scenes described, and the events with which they were connected, will be stated, so far as the wruer may be able to do so, with historical acucraey. In other respects, the stories may be regarded as fictions. 163705 r- « 4, ,^( ;. ,;,., .^' INTRODUCTION. The Niagara River, or the Strait that connects Lake Erie with Lake Ontario, being the only out- let for the greatest chain of inland waters in the world, which are there poured over the great Cat- aract, and forming the boundary between the United States and Canada, has been the scene of many interesting historical events. Courage as true and devoted has there been exhibited, as that of the Spartans at the pass of Thermopylae. Its waters have been made red by the blood of brave men who died in their struggles for the lib- erty and the rights which had been denied them. On its banks many a spot has been made holy by the burial of a soldier. It is classic ground; and in future ages there will be the shrines where pil- grims will come to worship the memory of heroes. Time as well as blood is necessarv to consecrate the battle field. Little is now thought of the JT '*:■ vm places where these scenes occurred because their history is fresh in the minds of all except the young. To them it is hoped this little book will be an acceptable offering. But the time will come when this river through its whole length, which is about thirty five miles, will reflect from its wa- • ters the images of many beautiful mansions that will be erected on its banks. Thousands of years hence it will be the task of the school boy, in the study of the antiquities of his Country, to learn the deeds of arms that have been wrought there. History and Poetry will vie with each other in the relations of fact and the creations of fancy. But romance will be excelled by reality. The Niaga- ra will, to future ages, call to mind the heroic in history, as the Hellespont now does to us; and, as at the chosen spots of the old world, patriotism' Will burn with a brighter glow at the mention of Its name. The loves of Hero and Leander, im. mortalized by the Grecian bard, and tales of war by sea and land will be matched by stories of the Niagara. : QUEENSTON. CHAPTER I. CAPTAIN GRAY AND HIS FAMILY. A few years ago, there resided in one of the small towns in Western New York, a man apparently about fifty years of age, familiarly know in the neighborhood as the Captain. He was a man of moderate stature, with a countenance that seemed worn by fa- tigue and the hardships of wind and weather; but possessing, for all that, an openness and sincerity of expression, that at once endear- ed him to all who knew him. Though care- less of his person, he was engaging in his man- ners, and like all old soldiers, he was addict- ed to fighting his battles over again whenever he could find a faithful and patient listener. He had at that period been a resident of the place for many years, with the exception ::m»rm • < t ■f »■ 24 A PAIK MORNING, This ^'^^O'net'ung Harry had not thoudit o^ and he asked the Captam how in such a case he would spend the night. "O," said the Captain, "the hunter's bed is soon made. With steel and flint which every hunter carries and by the aid of such dry mat "7.^" ^1^°""^' ^ fire would soon be made, and if he has nothing to eat he sings the jnemer. Then from the boughs of the hem- lock or cedar a bed is made, and by the light of the stars he goes to his rest." They were now within a few miles of the nver, and as they pursued their way, thev came to a pass that led in an oblique direct tion down the mountain. " Jl^T" '??u '^^ ^^"P*"'"' ^g^'" halting, was the path by which the Indians and the totish spies used to pass in going from Fort Niagara to Schlosser. This was%he course taken by some of the British in their march from Fort Niagara, after the surprise of that lortress on the morning of the 19th of De- cemb,«. 1813. You see that little church with a steeple yonder. That is the meeting house m the Tuscarora Village. These Indi- ans came from North Carolina about the BUT A WET DAY. 25 year 1712, and joined the confederacy of the Five Nations, (or the Iroquois as they were called by the French,) which was afterwards known as the Six Nations. There is a Mis- sionary there who preaches to them." '^Does he preach in the Indian languacre?" asked Harry. ® **No,'^ said the Captain, ^^he preaches to them m English, and one of the Chiefs inter- prets or translates the prayers and the sermon into the Indian language, so that they are understood by the rest of the tribe. Some of the Indians have embraced the christian religion, but most of them are still pagans. They hear the voice of the Great Spirit in the winds and the thunder, and they see the glance of his eye in the flash of the lightning. Sometimes they think that he sits upon the brink of the cataract, and that the spray that rises from the dashing of its waters, is the smoke that ascends from the fires kindled by his anger in the deep caverns formed by the overhanging rocks." The fears that Harry had of visiting this wonderful people, had been entirely removed bv tnf> uaanr-nnnnc, ^C ^U iitviiWUD KJX lliU C 8 apiain, and the fllf 7 I : I ! i 26 A FAIR MORNING, stones he had heard of them from Charles and Lucy Gray. He now thought that a visit to them would please him quite as well as a trip to Queenston. "The British," continued the Captain, "and the Indians m their service, after the surprise of Niagara^ of which I have told you, n,arch- ed to the Tuscarora Village, and burnt all of their houses, and killed some of their men. 1 Tm ^^^ '^''"''"■^' «''"' their women and children, fled to the woods. After the work of destruction was done, and the main body of the British had ascended the moun- tain through this pass, a few of the Tuscarora warriors crept from their hiding places, and took their stations behind the trees and rocks on either side, for the purpose of picking oil' any stragglers that should be behind the mam body. "After waiting there several hours, a small party of about a dozen British soldiers, who had mgered behind the rest, for the purpose 0. plunder, entered th, pass. The Indian always lies with his eye upon his gun, and at a signal which was given, they all fired. Wear half their number fell, and the rest BUT A WET DAY. 27 ' i turned and ran down the hill, affrighted at the terrible war whoop of the Tuscaroras. The Indians pursued, and but few of the British soldiers escaped from the shower of bullets and arrows." *'What," said Harry, "became of the white mhabitants at this time?" ^'They too fled," said the Captain. "The inhabitants of Lewiston were driven from their homes at the . same time, and the village was burnt. Most of them made their escape from the town before the British entered. One man, after he had left his house, thought of a gun he had left behind and going back after it, he was shot dead just as he was leaving his house." While these stories were occupying the attention of our travellers, almost unperceiv- ed by them, the sky was overcast by dark clouds that threatened a sudden shower The practiced eye of the Captain was not deceived. He had been too long accustomed to watch the signs of the weather to be un- mindful of them. ^'1 am afraid we //mi I iiat ihall gei wet," said Harry. Jiiay be," said the Captain, "and 38 A PAIK MORNmo, though I would rather avoid it if I can 1 have seen too much of rough weather to be much alarmed at the prospect." They paused a moment to consider wheth- er they would retrace their steps and gain the nearest house, or push on to the Indian village. But the storm was nearer at hand than they had at first imagined. There was near by, a projecting cliff of rock which might protect them from the storm. Tliat might be gained, but all other shelters were, too distant The decision was made, and with hasty step they flew to it, and took refuge there. Prom out this nook they could see the smoke from the Indian huts. The rain seemed resolved to put a stop to the further march of the travellers for that day. The Captain consoled his young companions bv telling them that he saw signs that the storm would soon cease. The rain, however, con- tinued till nearly dusk. It was too far to thmk of gaining their home that ni.rht. To stay under the cliff, and without eve°n a blan- ket to cover them, was not a very comforta- ble thought to Charles and Harry; and the Captain had been so Inr,n. .,p.,„„j ^. .. i 'nMMMMM BUT A WET, DAY. 29 I can, 1 er to be • wheth- nd gain Indian at hand 3re was ^ might might jre. too d with refuge lid see le rain ^urther The •ns bv storm r, con- far to . To . bJan- iforta- id the such I exposures, that he would avoid it if possible- "We have the flint and steel," said Harry, "let us strike afire." "No wood can be found," said the Captain, "that is not either green or drenched with rain." What then was to be done, if they could neither make a fire nor pass the night without? "It IS scarcely more than a mile," said the Captain, "to the Indian village. The Chiefs are well known to me, and they have always treated me like a friend and a brother. In their huts we might find shelter for the night." "Then Harry," said Charles, "you will have a good chance to see something of the Indian character." Harry was rather afraid to be quite 'so familiar with them on his first visit, as to stay all night; but his desire not to be thought wanting in courage, kept him from making any objection. Accordingly they were soon on their way to the village. As it was now fast growing dark, and they were making their way through the thicket that covered the steep side of they hill the were descending vas an unpleasant 3* f! K f 30 A PAIR MORNING, ending of a day so happily begun. But the descent was soon made, and they came out into a clearing, through which lay their path. As he was trudging on in silence, a new thought entered the mind of Harry. For the first time he began to think of those who would be watching for their return. The form of Lucy Gray was present to his imagi- nation. He felt disappointed in not being able that night, to recount to her the adventures of the day. He thought he could see that the morning smile with which he left her, had gone from her face. He feared that her young heart would grow sad, as the evening wore away, and she watched for their coming. He fancied that she would be going to the door, or looking out of the window, and lis- tening for the sound of their footsteps. Why he did not think of her mother and her sister Alice, is not known. He would sometimes imagine she was in danger; but his judgment told him she was in a place of security. But then, if safe herself, she would be anxious for him. But he behoved, and in this he trusted to the Captain, that he too would be safe. His feelings were strange, and to him inde- 45 I '*, L BUT A WET DAY. 31 But the lame out eir path. , a new y. For lose who n. The is imagi- ;ing able ventures see that eft her, that her evening coming. I to the and Jis- Why r sister letimes dgment . But ous for trusted e safe. 1 inde- finable; ye.t they were what every one will, at some time of life, experience, and will know the cause of their existence, but Harry West as yet knew not how to explain them. The silence of the travellers, as they were picking their way along in the dark, was broken by the voice of the Captain. '*We shall soon be there," said he. "Will not our absence cause anxiety on our account at home?" asked Harry. The Captain was accustomed to the calcu- lation of chances, and he knew that his family understood the force and effect of circum- stances; and he told Harry that the severe storm that had lasted through the afternoon, would show to them that it was impossible they could accomplish their purpose that day, and yet that they must have advanced so far before the rain came on, that they could not return. Thus he concluded that the cause of their absence would be under- stood. By this time they had reached the village, and the Captain led the way to the house of one of the Chiefs. Their approach was her- -i^>.u ^j ,n^ Dai jiuig 01 a iiuie indian dog, in k 1 . ti 32 A PAIR MORNING, and they were met at the door hy the Chief himself. Tile Captain gave the evening sal- utation in the Indian tongue, and the Chief received them with great kindness into his hut. He was a tall, well made man, with an eye that would match the eagle's in looking at the sun. He had such power and skill with the bow, that he could send the arrow quite through the body of the deer. He had just returned from the chase, and his wife and two young Indian girls were preparing parts of the venison he had taken for drying, while a young boy was hardening the points of some arrows in the hot embers that were smouldering upon the hearth. The hut of the Indian is always the house of hospitality A sign made by the Chief to his wife, accom^ panied by a guttural sound, was understood by her, and soon the appetites of our travel- ers were sharpened by the savory smell of broilling venison. When the repast was over, pipes were offered, and the Chief and the Captain again renewed their promises of friendship, and Charles and Harry understood from the look /of the Captain, that the ChiVf Pvn^nf^^ *u BUT A M ET DAY. he Chief ling saJ- le Chief into his with an looking' nd skill '■ arrow He had lis wife sparing drying, > points t were hut of itality. iccom- ;rstood travel- nell of were again 5, and e look ! 4'r*^^*f*^ 88 . also to smoke with him the pipe of peace This they did, and the bond of friendship ' was made perfect. On a bear skin, and in an Indian hut, Harry went to rest, but not to sleep, that night. He knew he was in a place of the greatest security, but the scene was new to him, and visions of tomahawks and murdered men floated before his imagination. He saw long lines of Indian warriors come out of the woods with tomahawks and scalping knives, and bend their course to some peaceful set- tlement. He fancied that he saw them re- turn with the scalps of men, women and children. To his excited vision, their path I seemed to be traced with blood. The rest ' of Charles was less disturbed by these fancies, and the Captain was not at all afl^ected by them. Harry remembers, and repeats to L this day, with an almost fearful accuracy f the story of the first night passed in the hut of the Tuscarora Chief. CHAPTER III. A DAY WITH THE TUSCARORAS. _ At the first appearance of morning, the Indians as weJl as our travellers, were stir- ring. Harry was anxious to take a survey of the village; and the little party, after maknig a breakfast of hominy and venison accompanied by the Chief, visited the prin- cipal huts, after which some of the young Indians showed them some feats of skill with the bow and arrow, and various other sports. They were now ready to proceed on their journey, but it so happened that on that day the Tuscaroras and the Mohawks, one of the six nations, which at this time occupied a small district on Grand River, in Upper Can- ada, were to have a trial of their skill in a game of ball, and the Chief invited them to stay through day, and see the sport. Charles and the Captain, who had set out on this ex- pedition for the amusement of Harry, sub- mitted to him whether they should stay and A DAY WITH THE TUSCARORAS. 39 see the game, or go on to the river. Harry at once decided in favor of seeing the contest among the Indians. This game was a kind of annual festival, and the contest was always between an equal number of young Indians, selected from dif- erent nations. Sometimes it took place at the village of the Mohawks, but it was now to bo on a level plain near the village of the Tuscaroras. The Mohawks had not yet made their appearance. The young braves who were selected on the part of the Tus- caroras, had retired to a thicket near by, for the purpose of painting their bodies and ar- raymg themselves for the contest. While these preparations were going on another set of young Inditms were trying their skill in throwing a kind of rod or arrow by the hand. Each had a number of rods of the size of a man's finger, and five or six feet m length. A mark was make upon the ground, and one of them, advancing to the line, extended his right foot forward so as to rest his heel upon the ground, the toe pointing upwards; and then with his right hand, taking -e rod near one end, and with a quick bend Ml ^\ 36 A DAY WITH of the body that cannot be described, he brings the rod in a nearly horizontal position down to a level with his foot, and striking it, at the same tinne that he gives it a forward motion, across his instep, so as to give it an upward inclination, it speeds away with the swiftness of an arrow to an almost incredible distance. He who gained the greatest dis- tance in an equal number of throws, was pronounced the victor. The party of the Mohawks had arrived the day before, and had encamped on the side of a hill, on the opposite side of the plain, where the game was to take place. Nothing had been seen of them that day, till from an opening in the trees that concealed their en- campment from the view of the Tuscaroras, the party of the Mohawks made their ap- pearance. First came the chiefs and old men, then the players selected for the occa- sion, followed by others of their nation, and lastly, a throng of women and children. At the sight of this troop, which came streaming down the hill in Indian file, the Tuscarora players issued from their covert in the woods, and the women and children that were not d THE TUSCARORAS. 87 ribed, he I position ;riking it, forward jive it an with the ^credible test dis- ws, w^as arrived I on the he plain, Nothing from an their en- icaroras, heir ap- and old le occa- on, and en. At reaming isearora woods, ere not already on the ground, poured out of their huts and joined the motley throng. The Mohawks were led by a stately young Chief, who announced their approach by a whoop, which had rather the sound of frolic and mirth, than the terrible notes he had been accustomed to utter as the prelude of war. This wa§ answered by a similar shout from the Tuscaroras. The opposing bands marched to the sound of a kind of rattle, made of deers' hoofs, accompanied sometimes as by a chant from their voices; and took their respective stations upon the ground. Their appearance was, to those unaccus- tomed to the forms of savage life, grotesque in the extreme. They had disencumbered themselves of every article of clothing, ex- cept a single garment like an apron or' kilt, fastened around the waist, and descending nearly to the knee; and their bodies were painted with various gaudy colors. A bright red or vermilhon, seemed to be a favorite with them. On their heads most of them wore a bunch of feathers. Some were those of the bald Eagle, their natural color, and w-me were i^^t^a a ungni red. This was tho 38 A DAY WITH ■ 5' Strange toilet made by the children of the forest for their hohday sports. The field marked out for the game was designated by two sets of "byes," placed about two hundred yards distant from each other, the goals forming each set of "byes " being about thirty feet apart, and arranged in lines parallel with each other. The par- ties were placed on each side of a line drawn in the middle between the two sets of ''byes " Each player had a club or bat, about four feet long, having at the end a bow, which was interwoven with leather thongs, like basket work, somewhat after the fashion of an Indian Snow-Shoe. With this the bail which was about the size of the ball com- monly thrown and caught by the hand, was carried or knocked, as the case required. Near the centre line, on one side of the field, was a small party of Indians, selected partly from bo^h nations, with knives and tally-sticks to score the game. It was one of the rules of the game, that the ball wa- not to be touched by the hand, except when It has been driven beyond the "byes," when it may be again thrown into the centre. THE TUSCARORAS. 39 I of the me^ was placed om each "byes,'' irranged rhe par- e drawn "byes." >ut four , which ?s, like shion of he bail, II com- nd, was red. of the selected ^es and ^as one all wa? t when ' when .1 i i -f The parties being readv, and standing on their respective sides of the line, a beautiful Indian maiden, decorated with a head dress of Eagles' feathers, and glittering with beads and ornaments of silver, came bounding into the area with the ball in her hand, like Venus with the golden apple. Harry recognized in her the daughter of the Indian Chief, under whose hospitable roof he had passed the night. She was selected to perform this office, as a compliment paid by the Mohawks to the head Chief of the Tuscaroras. The maiden threw the ball high in the air, and skipped gaily away to join her compan- ions. A shout burst forth from the multitude, and the play began. Now came the struggle for mastery. It was the aim of each party to drive the bnl) beyond the bounds on the resoective sides of the line. Before it had reached the ground, it was struck by one of the parly, and sent far to the northward of the line. Then came a general scamper in the direction of the ball, one party striving to send it still farther towards the northern bound, and the other to force it back across the line, and if possible to the opposite bound. ■ssma 40 A DAY WITH lif It had been struck with such force, that none could reach it, before it fell to the ground. Now one has it on his club, but before he can toss it in the air so as to give it a blow, one of his opponents has struck his club, and sent it in a contrary direction. Now another has it on his club, and is running as if for life, to gain ground enough to give it a blow! He has tossed it up, but another at a lucky moment, has got the first blow, and it is speeding away with the swiftness of a bird. Every one is put to the trial of speed as well as of skill, and if any one can trip up, or push aside his competitor in the race, it is thought fair pla}^ and is in fact, a part of the game. The party which first drives the ball beyond the bounds a certain number of times, wins the game. Many were the laughable tum- bles made that day, by some of the less active players. Harry enjoyed the sport much, and enter- ed into the spirit and excitement of the game to such a degree, that he almost forgot the object with which he set out the day before. *' What a noble looking fellow," said Harry, ''is that young Mohawk Chief." THE TUSCARORAS. that none 9 ground, before he t a blow, club, and V another if for life, a blow, t a lucky and it is )f a bird, d as well , or push i thought le game. 1 beyond es, wins ble tum- ss active d enter- le game •got the before. Harry, 41 *'I have a story to tell you of him," said the Captain, "but I can't tell it now. It will not do to let the Indians see that we are talking about them, or that we are thinkin^'* of any thing else than the game." When the play was ended, which was not till near nightfjill, the parties gave themselves up to feasting and jesting and merriment. The Captain was so well known to them, that his presence did not seem to produce any restraint upon their actions; and Harry and Charles were so far initiated into the mysteries of Indian sports, that the prospect of spending another night there, gave them less anxiety than on the day before. The Captain had taken the precaution to send word to his family by a passing traveller, that their journey had been delayed, and that they should be absent at least two days longer than they expected, when they set out. In the progress of the game, those who seemed to have the advantage, were applaud- ed by the by-standers, especially by the women; and the party that seemed likely to be defeated, were encouraged to new exer- tions. The Mohawks had won the game, 4^' ^^^H ' f ^^^^B ' ^^^^^^^^^H ^^^^^^^H J ^^H 1 ^^^^^1 ^^H ' 1 ■ i i ^^^H ^^^^^^H f ■ \ ^^^H , f Hi t r 1 ^^H *i : ^^^^H. ^^H ^^^H ^^^^■1 P 1 ' H^K w ^^^^Dl HH \ 1 1 1 1 I ^H I^^^H • ^m !'l ^^^^m 1 ' ^H^ J' ^^^^^H^Hj t ^^^1 i r i ! ^^^^1 , ^m i ; I^^^^H M i ^^^^^B ; j 1. ^^H ] ■■ ^I^^^^^^B ) ■■r \^ i ■■III fji 1 1 42 A DAY WITH and there was great rejoicing among the victors. The vanquished party, howieT had no other, feeling than that of a momenl tary disappointment, and a determination to win the next game; and before they separ- ated the pipe of peace was smoked by the Ch,efs of the tribes, and an offering of tobacco t upon the fire, and the smoke that ascended! would "v ''u' '^ """'y '— ' tha would propitiate his favor. Although this was a pagan ceremony, those who had em- braced the Christian reiigion, had not so fTr disconnected their spiritual feelings from «^J.rms, as to make their rite^srepul- These games remind us of the sacred games of the Greeks, which were national festivals, and served to unite in a strong bond Their"'?. ? 1!''''^"* ^*^*^« °f Greece. Their festivals began in the evening, with solemn sacrifice*! nnri ^^,^ m. J * '^i^'nces. and the games were com- menced the next morning at day-break. Ra- .es on foot leaping, throwing the discus, :s^4^^^"'^':"^---.--g*hecx: " "• ■""= ""nor oi Having gained the ^"-^rll|..^jl«g^^ -J 'imniiiiin THE TUSCARORAS. 43 imong the however, a momen- ination to ey separ- 3d by the >f tobacco sprinkling ascended, ise, that >ugh this had em- lOt so far gs from Js repul- victory in the Olympic games, was very great. Jupiter Olympus was said to have established them; Mars to have gained the first prize in boxing, and Appollo to have overcome Mercury in the race; while Her- cules was accustomed to crown the victors with a wreath of the olive or the laurel; the ivy or the oak. sacred national ng bond Greece. g, with re com- i' Ra- discus, the ex- ed the •^ft I 1M III CHAPTER IV. ATRIP TO THE BATTLE GROUND, The next morning our travellers took leave of their red brethren, and pursued their vi-ay Their path led along near the base of the mountaui they had descended on entering the village. A half hour's travel brought them to the top of a hill of moderate elevation Which overlooked the whole space between them and the Niagara. On their left, was the mountain stretching from the shores of the Niagara far to the east. The trees upon Its steep side, wore the reddened tinge of Autumn, and the sweet but saddening voices of the birds, were mourning the dying beau- ties of summer; while on the right, was that variety of hill and valley, woodland and meadow, that gives a beauty and a glory to the landscape. The position of the river could only be distinguished by the small clus- ters of houses, to be seen on its opposite bank. '.■.^, .^o, \>un; picuniy visible the heights of i A TRIP TO THE BATTLE GROUND. 45 OUND. >ok leave eir way. e of the 'ring the ^ht them evation, Detween 3ft, was liores of es upon inge of ? voices g beau- ^as that id and lory to 3 river II clus- 3 bank. 2[hts of Queenston, and the monument erected to the memory of General Brock, on the summit. ''There," said the Captain, "on the top of that height, on the 13th day of October, 1812, was the first bloody fight that occurred upon this frontier. Near the base of that monu- ment, fell the brave and magnanimous Brit- ish General." Harry had a feeling of wonder and strange awe, as he looked upon the spot where hos- tile armies had met in the strife of battle. He could scarcely believe that his eyes were looking upon the teritory of a foreign power. When he saw this monument of a fallen hero, he felt as if the distance he had walked for the last half hour, had removed him farther from his home, than all his former travels. He felt, for the first time in his life, as if he was a stranger in a strange land. He had heard of the British lion, and he knew that it was only emblematical of the* power of Eng- land; and his heart was comforted when he saw the white headed Eagle, the symbol of American independence, soaring far above the top of that monument, that looked down with majesty, but not with defiance, upon 46 A TRIP TO THE 11! i!^ the waters that divided the teritory of two great nations. ''1 had almost expected," said Harry, ,f the 13th ht l)cforc, 5 f'atimnianded Icolnn, and 3n board, he shore, ached the brisk fire was open(»d upon them. A fire was also opened by their batteries upon tlie Arno^'i(;aii sbore, wliicli was returned by our batteries. Colonel Van Rensselaer had rec^iived four wounds, but was yet abk; to stand. Many of his men, and several of bis ollicers, were woiuided. Now came the trial of courage. Colonel Van l{enss(?la(n' ordered every man that could move, to "mount the hill and storm the batteries.-' Captain C\rilvic was now in command, assisted by Captain Wool, who was wounded, and followed by Lieutemnt Kearny, Carr, Ilugunin, and Somers. Ma- jor Lusb, a volunteer, was plnr-ed in the rear, with orders to put to de^.a the first man who should fjdl back. Lieutenants Randolph and Gansevoort, who bad volunteered, at the head of a handful of men, rushed boldly up the rocks to the right of the fort, and giving three cheers, the> charged upon the enemy, and after several desperate onsets, the bat- tery was carried, and they were driven down the hill in every direction. Then went up to heaven from their free and brave hearts, the shout of victory; and such a shout as brave men alone can mve. I i 52 Mil .'II A TRIP TO THE But their joy was tempered with the deep sorrow weJJ — br Lieut enant ValJeau,— I kn est ew him 1— brave man, and not brave in vain, had fallen! The last look of his elosing eyes saw the enemy flying. And there were others too, among the dead, that I had known! Ensign Morris! brave young spirit, he too was gone. And Armstrong, Malcolm, Wool, they were wounded. 'J'he enemy had been driven into a strong stone fortress, near the water's edge, and there they kept up their fire; but their bat- teries, all but one gun, were silenced. This scene was enacted soon after daylight, and in view of the American shore. The Amer- icans seemed to have full possession of the heights, but the fortune of the day was not yet decided. But a small part of their troops had crossed the river. Difficulties not fore- seen had arisen. General Brock, who it now appeared was at Fort George, had come up with a re-inforcement. The boat in which Colonel Chrystie had embarked was on the right, which was down the river. He had arrived but the night before, and was unac- ouaintpd With til" ^,.,..i.-ri 'T-ti ., ^ ....I. .,,v. ^iOUiid. liie pdot was BATTLE GROUND. 53 he deepest, knew him 1 vain, had : eyes, saw re others, d kaown. 'it, he too >lm, Wool, a strong edge, and their bat- ed. This light, and he An:ier- on of the ' was not 9ir troops not fore- ho it now come up in which IS on the He had as unac- iiot was unskilful, and had become alarmed. Tha row-lock of his boat gave way, and he was carried by the force of the current, far down the stream. He was discovered too, by a detachment of the enemy, posted at the foot of the hill on the left of the town, who open- ed upon him a galling fire. To make the shore was impossible, without going so far down the stream, as to make his landing both dangerous and useless. He had received a dangerous wound in the hand, and no choice was left him, but to return to the American to shore; Major Mullany was also obliged return. Such was the force of the current, that Colonel Chrystie landed several hundred yards below the point of embarcation. Here the pilot took fright and ran away. Four regular officers, commanding corns, had at- tempted to cross during the morning, all of them in ditT'erent boats, and not one suc- ceeded. At the place of embarcation, all was confusion. The enemy had concentrated their fire upon this point; the boatmen had forsaken their duty; and the militia hesitated to embark. Would that the faithful historian had no such scene as this to record." 6* CHAPTER V. HARD FIGHTING. While the Captain was reciting these events Harry stood ahiiost breathless with the excitement and interest of the story. It was a relief to him to have a short pause. And Charles too stood by their side on the elevated spot they had chosen that they might overlook the whole scene of these stirring events. With a long sigh at the weakness of those who hesitated to come to the relief of their fellow soldiers, in the hour of danger, and almost an imprecation on the memory of the cowardly guide, he begged the Captain to proceed. '^Were there none,'' said Harry, ''of all those assembled here, who dared to defend the freedom of their Country?" "There were some," said the Captain, Lieutenant Frederick was impatient to cross the river with his detachment. Brave men, but brave to no purpose. Boatmen could HARD FIGHTING. 55 ing these iless with :he story. )rt pause, de on the :hat they of these h at the ) come to the hour on on the e begged , ''of all o defend Captain, to cross ive men, )n could not be found to take them over. He was countermarching along that narrow pass you see there on the bank of the river, to escape, as much as possible, the shower of grape shot and shells that came from the opposite side of the river." ''Could the guns of the British" asked Harry, "reach our men from the other side of the river]" "Yes," saiH the Captain, "The river is not more thj .> three hundred yards broad. Many of our men fell here. But as I cross- ed over in the first boat with Colonel Van Rensselaer, I did not see them. To those who were standing about the place of em- barkation, almost every ball from the farther shore brought death on its wings. Here Nelson, best of Captains, fell. Peace to his ashes! Would that he had fallen in the hour of victory! Mournfully his companions bore him away." "Had we no guns," said Harry, that could reach the British on the opposite shore?" "Yes," L^id the Captain. A fire was open- ed from our batteries here. Colonel Scott had also brought two six pounders from the 1 I. 56 HARD FIGHTING. i''ii Falls of Niagara. But we could not do much with them on this side, and our boats were, too small to take them over." ''I have read in the newspapers," said Harry, of a General Scott. Is he the same man?" ^'The very same," said the Captain, ^^and a brave man, and a. good officer he is too." ''Now" said Harry, '*I should hke to cross the river.'' ''Here," said the Captain, ''is a boat. By crossing we shall better understand the rest of the battle. Jump in boys, and man the oars, and I will steer. wJ can cross safely now. No canister or grape shot are flying about our ears. It is a quieter time than on the 13th of October 1812. Another pull and we are to the shore. Chain the boat and let us go up the hill. It is hard climbing with none to oppose, and no arms to bear! But we are up at last. How glorious is the prospect!" "Now," said Harry, ^q shall understand the ground." The Captain continued. 'The Ameri- cans" said he, '-were still in possession of the HARD FIGHTING. 57 d not do our boats 7? rs, said ! the same ^ain, '^and is too." e to cross )oat. By 1 the rest man the )ss safely ire fjvinfr e than on • pull and boat and climbino" o to bear, us is the derstand Ameri- j'n of the m heights, but the British had command of the stone fortress. You see its ruins near the river. General Brock had now come up with a re-enforcement of the 49th Regiment, six hundred stronsr." The Captain here paused as if studying the ground, and trying to call to mind the position of the combatants. But proceeding a little further from the river he halted. "Here," said he, ''General Brock attacked a battery under Captain Wool, who ordered his men to charge. But sixty to charge against six hundred! They were driven back; but the gallant Captain again gave the word to choTfre! The steep bank was on one side and the enemy on the other. They charged like brave men but could not move the enemy. They were ten to one at this point. Again the Americans fall back. They are not beaten, but moved back by the swell of superior numbers, as by the waves of the ocean.. Who shows a sign of fear? A white handkerchief is on an American bayonet. It is torn away by the gallant Wool. The motion of his hand was quick as the dip of the swallows wing; and the voice of their 58 lii r'i HARD FIGHTING. Commander, like the I them stand their irround, ions in power, bids ''Could not our brave sold lers/' sai ry, "who already gained two vict this hill, be re-enforced by a s. d H ar ones on rl( company ot men from tlie other side?" "Colonel Chrystic," said the Captain, "has crossed over. We are re-enforced by un- tired men. We are half the number of the British. The Colonel leads the charge. It is a desperate one, but he routes the enemy; they are put to flight—the Invincibles— and General Brock is their leader. Stung and maddened by this repulse he rallies to recov- er his lost ground. But he meets another conqueror now. Death puts his finger on him and he falls. Three ^^uilets have chased his life away. And with him, McDonald, aid of thy great General, hast thou fallen! Thou hast been faithful even unto death. Happy termination of life to fall with thy great leader. On your heads be not the responsibilities of the war, in which England has driven us. Happy that your spirits shall not behold the babarity of your savage allies Jiat IS to lOllow. *'Push on the bruve York HARD FIGHTING. 59 3wer, bids said Har- ctories on ) company )tain, *'has )d by un- ber of tbe large. It le enemy; bles — and 'tung and to recov- s another finger on ve chased "cDonald, )u fallen! to death, with thy not the England irits shall ige allies .ve York Volunteers," were the last words of Brock, as he fell from his horse. The Ii iblcs, the ft amous 49th Regiment, were for once routed. They had seen much service in Egypt and elsewhere, and had never before been known to yield an inch of ground. Now their leader had fallen, and they were beaten. Harry's young blood was excited by the relation of these things, and he felt happy that he was born an American. He had forgotten, in listening to the recital of these glorious deeds, th(j conduct of the cowardly guide. His country is now dear to him be- cause of that little band of heroes, who fought so bravely on these heights. But his heart is soon to be pained with the story of other deeds that day. ^'Courage," said the Captain, '-had come up here to fight the battles of freedom and vindicate the rights of man. But cowardice staid behind and refused to come. The ene- was beaten, but not conquered. Re-enforced by several hundred Chippeways, he is again preparing for the attack. On they come." ^-Did none corne to the relief of the Amer- icans," said Harry. I H i ■ 60 M : HI ! I Pill IMti iU HARD FIGHTING. it small ro-onforccment of Itiflemen '• sa.d the Captain, -had como frotn the Amer- ican shore. Colonel Scott had now arrived and as Colonel Chrystic had been wounded' announomg his name and rank, he assumed the Command, and soon broui^ht the troops winch he found in considerab'o disorder, into hne. Lieutenant Gansevoort anecome of *'They were never seen afterwards," said the Captain. *They must have shared the same fate with my companion." Harry here asked the Captain, what be- came of the men he had left with Colonel 8cott under the bank. ''They all surrendered," said the Captain. "The dreadful truth as to the messengers he had sent to the enemy flashed upon the mind of the Colonel. He determined to bear a iiag himself. Major Totten tore off his cra- vat for a flag, and he and Lieutenant Gibsc. resolved to accompany their commander. They soon made their appearance and the terms of surrender were agreed upon; and thus ended the events of that terrible day. The Americans were overcome rather by the coolness of their Countrymen who were idly looking on, than by the power of their enemies." ^ The number oi prisoners surrendered by Colonel Scott, was two hundred and ninety three, as they were counted by himself. The American loss in killed and wounded was about seven hundred; that of the British is not exactly known. •(OMi 70 THE SIJRRENDEU. *?l ''After the prisoners surrendered/' said the Captain, ''Colonel Scott related an incident that nearly cost him his Jife. As he was proceeding with the flag, following along the edge of the river protected fi-om the shots of the enemy by the stee]) bank, he came to a ponit where it afforded no further protection, and as he turned to the left to take the road' the two Indians who had been aiminir at him, suddenly rose from their ambush and sprung upon him with the ferocity of tigers. They were young Brant and Captain Jacobs. The ColonJ tried to appease them, by telling them that he was bearing a llair to the British Commander. The Indians both grappled with him, and Captain Jacobs wrenched his sword from his hand. The swords of Totten and Gibson were instantly drawn, and the Indians were raising their hatchets when a British Sergeant rushed forward, and separ- ating the combatants, conducted Colonel Scott to the presence of General Sheatle." "How were the prisoners treated by the British Generalf" asked Harry. ^ *'We were pretty well treated," said the Captain; ''but we had to mnrch tn Fr.rt THR SURRENDER. n /'said the 1 incident s he was along the e shots of ;ame to a rotcction, the road, g at him, id sprung 3. They l)s. The y telling le British grappled iched his )f Totten and the s when a id separ- Colonel eafle." d by the said the to Fort George, a distance of six miles that night; and most of the prisoners were afterwards taken to Montreal. Though the day had been in the highest degree disastrous, the of- ficers and soldiers engaged in the contest displayed the greatest courage. It would be invidious to praise any where all had de- served so well. Every officer who crossed the river distinguished himself Colonel Scott continued most of the day in the thick est of the light, and though of commanding stature he received not the slightest wound It was said that several Indians afterwards declared that they had taken deliberate aim at him, and from not having hit him, they thought him under the special protection of the Great Spirit." ''Many a poor fellow," said Harry ''lost his life that day." ^'Yes," said the Captain. ^^Let us now go to the field of the dead. There lay hundreds who on the morning of that day trod this hill, with all the gay chivalry of the soldier Some were there in their dyin^ agonies,' whose eyes were to close on a vanquished hold, t or such as these it was hard to die. 72 THE SUHRENDER. And others were there disabled by the lass of limbs and other wounds. They had f-. pected victory or death but had found nei- ther. Theirs were not dishonored wounds. They had bared their bosoms to the enemy,' and he had left his marks there. These were such wounds as n.ade the Grecian mother happy when her sons had fahnn in battle. Ai.a the dead ! they needed not, hke the Greek wlo fell wounded in his back when flying before the enemy, to be hurried in the night. Face to face had they met the enemy; and face to face they met death " ;'I have heard,- said Harry, -that 'some British soldiers who had deserted were in the fight with us." **There were some/' said the Captain. ^'When it was determined to surrender, two men were seen stripping themselves on the bank of the river, and on being questioned as to the cause, they rephed that they might as well drewn as be hanged. They knew it was a rule to, hang or shoot the deserttirs." *'Did they swim the river,'' asked Ha. rv. **They did," snid the Captain. '^Tliey struggled manfuli- with the currei.i, mid by the [os.v cy had ex - found isoi- d wounds, he enemy, e. These e Grecian i fallen in d not, like his back be biirried ;y met the eath." 'hat some i were in Captain, nder, two es on the stioned as might as ew it was i Hairy. "They eiii, and THE SURRENDER. 73 both reached the American shore. Some Americans gave them some clothes when nay got across, and Colonel Scott told me that he afterwards saw them. But they never dared to come on this side of the river. Alter the prisoners had arrived at New- ark near Fort George, it was stated in the General orders of General Sheatfe, that two ' hundred Americans had been dro;ned and nine hundred taken prisoners. Colonel Scott complained to General SheafTe, that he was making a larger victory than he was en- titled to. Col. Scott had counted his own men when the surrender was made. But the General believed his statement to be cor- rect, and conducted Colonel Scott to the barracks that he might see for himself. The Colonel was much mortified to find the state- ment to be true." ^'How did it happen,'^ said Harry, -that here were more prisoners than appeared by the count of Colonel Scott?" ^^It was found," said the Captain, -that several hundreds of rascally militia, upon anding upon the Canadian shore, had taken •'J-n.ago oi me Uartaess, for it was scarce- m-\ 74 THE SURRENDER. \y day-light, and had hid themselves away among the rocks, where they were concealed during the day, and were found and dragged out by the British troops on the surrender." Harry now asked the Captain, if the pri- soners were kepj in prison or under a guard. *The soldiers," said the Captain, ''were • kept at the barracks within the Fort. But Colonel Scott and his principal officers were quartered in a small tavern at Newark, and had an invitation to dine with the British General that evening." ^'Was it customary for British officers to treat their prisoners with so much attention?" asked Harry. ^'Officers," said the Captain, ''are usually treated with great civility." "I thought," said Harry, "that they would be treated with great severity for their re- sistance." *'War," said the Captain, "is not between men, but between Goverments. British and American officers will be personally good friends the day after a hard fight, and will bo ready to fight agam the next day, if their Country requires it of them." selves away •e concealed md dragged surrender.'^ if the pri- ler a guard, tain, ''were Fort. But iicers were ewark, and the British officers to attention?" are usually hey would r their re- THE SURRENDER. 76 *'And besides," continued the Captain, '^General Sheaffe was an American by birth, and it may be he was more polite on that account." "And how," said Harry, "being an Amer- ican, does he fight against his Country. I could not eat and drink with a man who would seek to enslave the land of his birth." ''At the commencement of the revolution- ary war," said the Captain, "he was living with his mother who was a widow in Bos- ton. While that City was in the possession of the British, the Earl of Percy a British officer kept his quarters at his mothers house. He was but a boy then, and the Earl taking a liking to him took him to England, and gave him a military education, and after- wards procured him a Commission in the British Service. He had asked to be trans- ferred to some other Country but his request had not been granted. For this affair of capturing Colonel Scott and his little band at Queenston, he was made a Baronet." *'And what,", said Harry, "is a Baronett?" *'I^is a title of nobility," said the Captain. *'In England they have a great many titles n '■ 76 THE SURRENDER. of d,frorent degrees in rank. Men who have aV u'r' - vc the comn.on peol and the h,gh.u tho t.tie, the greater the £ ference between them. Some of these tit) s are heruluary; that is, if when Ge e a Sheafred,eshehasason;..ng,thesonwiI become a baronet. It is usually bestowed tor some great action." "I thmk," said Harry, "I like our Country the .est, where every man is for himself and ,s as good as his .^ighbor, if he behaves' as well. 1 am afra.d the British General thought too much about gaining a titlo i. feel very bad about fighting agaLt £wa Countrymen.' "But " said the Captain, "I must f !] you of another incident at Foit George. While Colonel Scott was waiting f., th"e arrival of. an officer to con„uct him to the General's q..arters a little gir), came into tlK r^om V'here the Colonel was, and said that some body m the hall wanted to see the 'fall ofB- cer; and Colonel Scott i.n. ed' ,ely stepped the well known Indian, Captain Jacobs. 1 ■^ who have lion people, Iter the dif- ' these titles >n General the son will / bestowed iJr Country 3r himself, be behaves ih General a title, to St his own t t'll you e. While arrival of- General's tlF room lat some- 5 ^tall offi- y stepped ^ encoun- ►rant ana Jacobs. THE SURRENDER. 77 I Young Brant inquired of him how many bu lets had cut through his clothes, as they had been firing at him all day. But while he was speaking, and before Colonel Scott could answer, old Jacobs seized him by the arm and fried to whirl him round, saying that he had tired at him so often he thought he must have hit him somev ' ere." "At this Colonel Scott reproached him for his want of his skill with the Rifle, and threw him from him, and the Indians instantly drew both dirk and tomahawk, when Colonel Scott seized a sword that happened to be standing lear and prepared to defend himself Thus they sto J, two Indians with dirk and toma- hawk, and C. ,el Scott with his sword, the eyes of each flasl,. g defiance towards the other. On one side was the courage of the soldier, and on the other t ■ ferocity of the savage." "At this moment Colonel uoffin, who had come to conduct Colonel Scot to Genr al hhealic s head quarters, interlered with word and weapon in his defence; -vhen the J„ lians both t.rned upon Colonel C ,ffin, .nd o.. of '"em e.xciaimed, 'I kill yo, !' The seen wa. 7# lUl il 11^ M|t 78 THE SURRENDER. now changed, and the British Colonel was pitted against the two Indians, while Colonel Scott with his s^vord still raised cried out, *if you strike I'll kill you both!" *Tor a moment they stood in this threat- ening attitude when the Indians dropped their arms and retired, satisfied that the 'tall offi- cer' was a brave man.*' "I think," said Harry, ''I have heard this story of Colonel Scott, being shot at by the Indians told incorrectly of Washington." "It might have been told of him, and cor- rectly too," said the Captain. "It was true of him at Braddock's defeat, at the battle of the Mongahela in 1755. He had two horses killed under him during the battle, but was not even wounded himself About fifteen years afterwards, while travelling, in the neighborhood of the scene of that battle, he was visited by an old Indian Chief, who told him he had deliberately aimed at him during the fight, and that he directed his young warriors to do the same. The Indians be^- lieved him to be under the special protection of the Great Spirit; and the old Chief told him that he had come to see the nan, who was never to die in battle." ^i «ll*^*i»ifc:' THE SURRENDER. 79 olonel was ule Colonel [ cried out, this threat- 3})ped their le 'tall offi- heard this t at by the igton." n, and cor- t was true le battle of two horses e, but was 3ut fifteen ig, in the battle, he ] who told lim durinof his young ndians be- protection Chief told nan, who *'I should like," said Harry, '^to know more of the history ol that young Mohawk Chief." "He was the son," said the Captain, ''of that great but bloody warrior, Joseph Brant or Thayendanegea, as he was called by the Indians. He it was that we saw with the Mohawks at the Tuscarora viliage, and of whom I promised to give you souie account." "John Brant, or Ahyouwaeghs which was his Indian name, did not become Chief, by inheritance from his father at his death; but on the appointment of his mother. Accord- ing to the Constitution of the Mohawks, the inheritance descends through the female line exclusively. His mother was the oldest daughter of the head Chief of the Turtle tribe, the first in rank of the Mohawk Na- tion. On the death of her husband, she had the power of appointing his successor; and she bestowed upon John, her fourth and youngest son, the office of principal Chief of the Six Nations, or the Iroquois confed- eracy." ''He was born at the Mohawk village in Upper Canada, whither the Mohawk Nation M iiii •■"Wiamitiffliiii 80 THE SURRENDER. had removed, in 1794, and consequently he was but eighteen years old at the time of the battle of Queenston. At the beginning of the War the Mohawks espoused the cause of the English. He was in many battles on the Niagara Frontier, and was brave in all. The first battle in which he took part was at Queenston. He achieved a victory over Colonel Boerstler at the Beaver Dams, and was at Fort George under General Vincent, when that fortress was carried by the Amer- oan troops under General Lewis, He was afterwards at the battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane, and in most of the skirmishes that took place on the Niagara Frontier. Great credit has generally been accorded to him for his intelligence and bravery." Harry was deeply interested in this reci- tal, and it is believed, that if he had known, when he was admiring the young Indian Chief at the Tuscarora village, what a fierce and determined warrior he had been, he would have felt rather uneasy." ''He must have been a brave fellow,'' said Harry, '^and would have become a great man even among a civilized people.'' I ,<4 uently he e time of beginning the cause rattles on ve in all. part was ory over ims, and . Vincent, le Amer- He was ewa and [irmishes i^rontier. Drded to >> his reci- known, • Indian a fierce een, he iv,'' said a great THE SVRRENDER, QJ ;'At the close of the war," said the Cap- tain -he with his youngest sister fixed his residence at the head of lake Ontario, where they lived in the English style, but with the same hospitality which had governed their tatlier. Iheir residence was called the lirant House,' and they resided there, at tiie date of our story." 'He had received a good English educa- tion, continued the Captain, "and had ac- quired much information by reading and travel. In 1821 he was sent to England to settle the dilhculty between the Provincial Government of Upper Canada and the Mo- hawks respecting the title to their lands." '-Alter his return from England, he turned his attention to the education of his people. Schools were established amoni, them, and he endeavored to have them instnicted in the principles of the Christian religion." ''In 1827 he was appointed by the Earl of J)alhousie then Commander in Chief of the British American Provinces, to the rank of ^aptain, and also Superintendent of the Six JVations; and he was once elected a member ul par anient, but never took his seat in that 82 THE SURRENDER. « ^^He was said to be a man of fine figure and countenance, amiable in his disposition, and of much personal dignity. His associ- ation with the whites and his habits of obser- vation, had given him the manners of a well bred gentlemen." Harry little thought when watching the game of the Indians at the Tuscarora vil- lage, that the Chief who had attracted his attention, was a character of so much con- sequence even among his own people. ''This," continued the Captain, ''was the end of that day. Courage had done its ut- most, and the contest was over. The offi- ces of humanity and mercy were claimed for the dead and the dying. Brock had fal- len and General SheafFe had succeeded to the command. With him was the power and the duty to restrain the fury of his savage allies. But the barbarians were soon at their work of plunder, stripping and scalping the slain and some even of the wounded. To the British army, the moral effect of the vic- tory, if any it could have, was thrown away. They stood by and saw the Chippeways re- 1 CUIU Hi iuLiLfs ui uioou. in a I ^ THE SURRENDER. 83 ine figure isposition, lis asspci- ; of obser- of a well ching the arora vil- racted his fiuch con- pie. *'was the ne its ut- The offi- Q claimed k had rai- ded to the ower and lis savage on at theif ilping the ided. To )t' the vie- wn av^ay. ?ways re- eir object was plunder and murder. God be thanked that the New York Militia held back, if their coming to the rescue would have achieved the final triumph, but to be followed, on their part by such atrocities as these!" i Mi Hi % .!*:■■■■'■ till! h J !i CIL\PTER VII, CAUSES OF THE WAR. Tlie Captain here stopped as if he had finished his story. But Harry wanted to )t mentioned, cause of so Know some things that he had 'What," said he, -'was t] much fighting heref The Captain, wishing to instruct him every thing that related to this event, rephed: "With the estabh'shment of the independ- ence of the United States, Great Britain was not exactly satisfied. Her acknowledg- ment of it was extorted rather from her fears than from her sense of Justice. She had not entirely laid aside the thought of conquering us." "I should like to know," said Harry, ''how she could think of conquering us then, if she was not able to do it thirty years before. The United States must have increased in strength during that time." v CAUSES OP THE WAR. // he had lited to ntioned. 3e of so Ti every yd: depend- Britain owledg- om her 3. She Light of /, "how I, if she. before, ased in 9 f 85 *Tes," said the Captain, but you see how we were beaten in tl Hs engagement, thoiKrh we should have conquered, if we had bee n able to bring over our whole foi-ce," "But," said Harry, -the war wa's declared by the Americans. How should they be the first to make war because England desired to conquer us?" "There were oihcr causes," said the Cap- tain. ''The government of England was always ready to excite jealousies atnong our people. Befoie we had formed the Consti- tution under which we now iivx\ we were not as strongly united as we are now. For. s(;vera! years alter the revolutionary war,' we were united together by what was cdled the articles of confederation. We then had no President. Every 8tate had a govenor as the states now have, and chey sent men to a Congress, which passed laws that were bnidmg upon the people of all the States " ''I thought," said Harry, -that General Washnigton was made President as soon as the war was ended." "No," .riid the Captain, "he then went to im farm at Mount Vern Oil in Virginia, where he lived till the Constitution was formed i; i 86 CAUSES OP THE WAR. Peace was declared in 1785, but Washington C 1 was not made President till 1789. Harry now reminded the Captain that he had begun to tell the cause of the war, rather than about the form of government. "I was going on to tell," said the Captain. ''Our people were divided in opinion about the new Constitution, and the British gov- ernment kept watch of all our disagreements, and tried to exert an influence with some of the States in favor of separating from the others. But after we were united in one government by the Constitution, she could not do us any harm in that way. She had refused to surrender the Millitary posts ^n our frontier, according to the treaty of peace. She had forcibly kept possession of Macki- naw. Detroit, Niagara and other places." ''But why," said Harry, "did not we drive them out of these fortifications, and take possession of them ourselves?" "Because," said the Captain, "we were more anxious for peace than they were. We had hardly been relieved from the bur- thens of our war; and besides, we had reason to hope that they would be peaccablv ah- on I fifflii CAUSES OP THE WAR. 87 isliington 1 that he ar, rather • Captain, on about itish gov- 'eements, 1 some of from the d in one he could Siie had posts ^n of peace, f Macki- ices.'' we drive md take JVC Were jy were, the bur- id reason )]v crivAn -J 0-- — up. The EngHsh also were exciting the Indians on our frontier to the murder of our settlers, by making them presents of guns and powder, and other things. They wan- ted to make us tired of our freedom." "1 think," said Harry, 'Hhat I should love liberty the more for such attempts being made to deprive me of it." "You ought to do so," said the Captain. ''But there was another reason for the Amer- icans declaring war. The English claimed the right to search our Merchant Vessels, for deserters from :h'. public service of Great Britain; then they ckumed the right to im- press English seamen, who had en staged themselves in American Shi} -; and finally they claimed the right to fore i into their service all who could not prove themselves to be Americans. But Sailors could not carry with them the evidence of Citizenship, and thousands of sailors, not onlv Ameri- cans, but men of other 'Nations, were forced into the British service. At one time it was .supposed there were seven thousand Amer- ican seamen, m the*^>service of Endand against their will. Some of llicsu outrages n mm ^'^'isimiik liMl 88 CAUSES OF THE WAR. were committed on our vessels, when lying within our own waters." *'What is meant," said Harry, ''by the ex- pression, 'our own waters?"' ''By the laws of Nations," answered the Captain, '*we have jurisdiction over all creeks and rivers, bays and harbors, that are exclu- sively in our own territory, and also over the sea any where within cannon shot of the shore, which is generally estimated at a marine league; so that a vessel coming with- in reach of the guns of any of our forts is said to be within our own waters." ^'What is meant by the laws of Nations?" asked Harry. ''These laws," said the Captain, "are those rules and regulations which have been adop- ted by the consent of all civilized Nations, for the government of their actions towards one another. They are not made by Con- gresses, or by parlaments, but have grown mto use by gradual adoption and by the common consent of the world, in the 'same manner as the laws that govern society, and regulate the actions 5f individuals towards one another. By these laws everv Nation CAUSES OF THE WAR. 89 is bound to act towarci; other N justice, good faith and benevolence. Gov- ernments are bound by the obi lii tions ations with of truth and a proper regard to humanity, in the same manner as individuals." Harry was |)leased with this explanation. He always liked to learn something useful, as well as interestinir. "Our commerce," continued the Captain, was also subject to great annoyance, by the unlimited power and control which the Bri- tish government sought to exercise on the ocean. Our trade with other nations was interrupted by her claiminfr the riirht to visit and search our vessels; our flag was insulted in every sea, and our seamen car- ried away by force." *'In 1807 the American frigate Chesapeake, was ordered fi'om Norfolk to the Mediter- ranean. While she was at Washington tak- ing in stores and receivmg oflicers and men, the En.G:lish minister informed the govern- ment that three deserters from an English ship, had enlisted among the crew of the Chesapeake, and requested that they might be given up. The govenimeat determined 8* ^■ i ^ "^^^^' ■;:i 90 i«,''-!«""i'''ii m Kjf'it li> i'' It :.::, CAUSES OF THi: WAR. to inquire into it, and it was found on inv s- tigatioM that the three m(;n had actually deserted from the British Ship, but th-y claimed that they were impressed Ajuerican Seamen, who had sought the first opportunity that otiered to mal e their escape. These men being in the United States, and claiming the protection of our laws, could not be giv"^ en up to a nation known to be in the habit of violating the rights of individuals. The English minister was thought to be satisfied on the subject and no more was said about it." '•The Chesa|.pake having put to sea, she was met a few -ules out by the British Ship Leopard, the (commander of which claimed the right to search the vessel for the three men, which was refused by the commander of the Chesapeake. The Leopard then fired into the Chesapeake, whicii was in a defence- less condition, the vessel being new, and her guns not having been prepared for action, she was oblidged to surrender. The three men were taken awvay by tlie Leopard, and the Chesapeaive returned to Hampton roads the same eveninl^" o / 'rI^ British his act was however d government, and reparation was made I CAUSE ^ OP ^^E WAR. * 1 311 inVijs- actiinlly )ut tli'y LHicricaii ►ortunitv 7'hese clairniiif^ t be giv- he habit s. The satisfied bout it." ^oa, she ish Ship claimed e three mander en fired lefence- and her action, e three rd, and 1 roads by deHvoring up the men on the deck of the Chesapeake, but the commander n{ tlie Leo- pard was soon after rewarded, by being ap- ponited to a more important commuixl." ''Qy dehvering up the men, Engbin I .d- mitted that the taking them away wa )iig, but by giving lO he officer who did t bet- ter appoiiitinent, she showed that she did not ^ iprove f'f It." Harry no\ udorstood the reason why hostile armies iiud been arra ed aframst each other. And wiien he saw from the heights, as he then did, the waters of the Niagara flowing between his own Country and that of a foreign power, he knew why it was that those armies had come up to fight their battles on that hill. by the ,s made IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 128 IIIII2.5 6' 2.2 ^ i^ lllllio 1.8 11-25 11.4 IIIIII.6 % v) 7 '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 672-4503 .^i" c^. CHAPTER VIII. INCIDENTS. *'I have already told you/' said the Cap- tain, -^aboiit two deserters from the British Camp who had joined our army at the battle of Queenston, and who afterwards swam the river and escaped falling into the hands of their former masters. While we were at Fort George, and the day before the dis- charge of the prisoners, a similar incident occurred. A few days before the battle of Queenston a man had been sent across from our Camp as a spy. He had crossed the river to Queenston, and making himself known to some of the British soldiers he pretended to be a deserter from the Amer- ican to the British Camp, but having accom- plished his purpose and gained, as he sup- posed, the desired information, he found means to pass the sentinels, and returned to the American shore. He was by birth an Irishman, and he cherished no small portion i\ INCIDENTS. 93 e Cap- British battle im the nds of ere at le dis- cident ttle of 3 from d the imself ;rs he irner- cconi- ? sup- found ed to th an ^rtion h of the ancient enmity of hjs Countrymen towards the BngHsh. He hid been one of the foremost in tlie fight at th^ battle on these heights, and had been taken p'isoner with us. He had thought of nothing ?s he was a reg- ular, but of going to Montrdil with the rest, and had no disposition to brsake his com- panions in arms. While peparations were making for the march^ he ffund that he was recognized by a young Eitish officer, and discovering, as he thoughi something pecu- liar in his movements, he pegan to fear that instead of going to Monti^al his fate would be terminated upon the gjriows. I saw from the glance of his eye tha|he wished to speak to me, and going a li^/e one side, with a face pale as death, he told me he was dis- covered, and that unlesJ he could escape, and swim the river, he wa^ a dead man." Harry here asked lie Captain, if they, had any right to hang a prisoner who had been surrendered by thei' commanding officer. , "They have no right," said the Captain, *'to hang him ag prisoner, but as the man had acted as a ^y, and it was known to the British officer, that after he had pretended w 94 INCIDENTS. to be a desertdr from the American forces, he had obtainci important information as to the movementsob this side and returned to to the Americans, they might have retained him at Fort George till after the other pris- oners had beei marched away, and then when no resistalcc could be made, have put him to death." ''What becami of himf asked Harry. ''He took off Ks shoes and his coat," said the Captain, "andas if idly sauntering about, he came near th^sentinel, and watching his opportunity, he nshed by him ♦owards the river. The sentinel fired his musket at him without effect, and before another gun could be fired he had leapd into the water. There was a rush made t\ the bank of the river near which the ForC stood; but on leaping in, knowing that he Wbuld be fired upon, he had i^lunged under witer, and keeping his breath, he had swum scme distance out into the stream, and had beei^ carried down some considerably by the curr,)nt before he rose to the surface. Several guis were dischar^- ed at him the moment his\^head appeared, also witiiout eflect. He only took a single breath, and again disappeared under water." II INCIDENT'S. 95 forces, n as to ned to stained 3r pris- d then ive put ," said about, Ing his 'ds the at him 1 could There ; river eaping on, he ng his it into 1 some e rose charg- learcd, single mter." In the mean time the attention of the sen- tries at Fort Niagara on the American side had been attracted by the firing- and observ- ing a man in the water, they^guessed the cause, and sent out a small bqat from the northern angle of the fort for thfe purpose of picking him up. He had, by swimming and by the aid of the curfent, passed quite out of the mouth of the Hver, and, being now beyond the reach of Usket shots from the other side, was taker! in and carried to the American fort." i * "But why," askef Harry, "did they not fire upon the boat fifcin their batteriesr' "The boat was sijiall," answered the Cap- tain; "and could i^t easily have been hit. And besides, if fiing had been begun by them on one of ourboats, our batteries would have returned thq fire. They did not want to have another ^ght with us till they had disposed of the prisoners they then had." "Would he hate been executed had he not escaped," asked Harry. "I don't knofw," said the Captain; "I thought his chance of hanging was better than that of bding drowned or shot. I told 96 INCIDENTS. him to dive ^d swim like a fish, only com- ing up for bWath." "He followed your directions well," said Harry. / j. "Yes," said the Captain, -I could not have done it better myself. He was quite exhaus- ted when he was t^ken in, and could not have held out muchH)nger." "He would have svum easier," said Har- ry, "if he had stripped off all his clothes." "That is true," sai4 the Captain; ^'but he had no time for cerertonies; for soon after we were all called up ^nd counted, and sent to our barracks for the^iight so as to be rea- ciy for our march |t.day.break the next morning." > Harry jiere asked if the prisoners were taken across the lake and down the river. "I don't know exactly liow that was," said the Captain; -q think thpy went partly by land and partly by watet-. But I want to tell you of another incident at Fort George. On the same day there a^tL to our barracks and entered almost unpeAjeived, a young woman who first attracted attention by the apparently unconcerned mannpr in ivhir^K oU- INCIDENTS. 97 ly com- II," said ot have 3xhaus- uld not d Har- les." but he n after id sent be rea- e next I were I'er. ," said •tly by ant to eorge. rracks young 3y the 3h she entered. She was of middle size, of fair complexion and in the fullness of health and strength, and by some was even thought handsome. But her beauty seemed to be saddened by some feeling too deep for tears; and yet she walked erect and apparentlv without the least fear. The courage of woman is strong where man's k weak. In- deed where her feehngs and. affections are enlisted, cowardice is unknown to the sex We had but just time to notice her, before she inquired of an officer she met, if he knew Thomas Doyle. **Doyle was well known to most of the prisoners, and was in fact rather a favorite among them. By his companions he was familiarly called Tom. Whoever knew Tom was always ready to declare that he was a good fellow. He was the son of a widow and he had been married but a short time before enlisting in the service. He had told rne of the mental struggles of his mother and his young wife, when he determined to join the army. Their opposition was strong at first, but gradually yielded, and when once tneir mmrla xxt^^-^^ .^^^^ .. .1 "" ^" ^'^'^ *"«"^' lip, mey were not to 9 98 INCIDENTS. m i ^ be changed. They had done with feehng then, and nothing was thought of but how to get him ready as soon as possible." ^'Thomas Doyle!" said the officer, "what do vou want of himi" -1 am his wife," said she, ^'and I have come to see him." % -'The officer did not know him, but her inquiries were overheard by some of the p^'isoners, Who anxious to relieve her from all doubt, cried out at the top of their voices for Tom Doyle, and the next moment she was in his arms. ^'Doyle was a young man and a true sol- dier. He had been in the thickest of the fight, and though he was but a common soldier, he had particularly attracted the notice of the commanding officer for his bravery. He had received several wounds, but had not been disabled. His wife had not before known since the battle, whether he •was living or dead." ^'Fannyl" said he, when he had a little recovered from his surprise,^'where did you come fromf' - <^0 Thomas," said she, "I have been iook-p ing for you ever since the battle. I knew' INCIDENTS. 99 you would be regardless of danger, and I did not expect to see you alive. I looked " id she. all th( (led thi among an me woundea mat were brought over the river. 1 had almost hoped to find you there. I thought if you had but lost a leg or an arm, I could have been hap- py to find you alive." ''How did you get across here, Fanny," said he. *'0 I crossed the day after the battle. I thought if you were not among the wounded, you would surely be among the dead. I went where they were brought together, and laid along in rows to look for you; and men were carrying away other bodies to bury them, and I hurried away to look at them too, fearing you might be buried before I should know it. But my heart grew sick with the sight; and the next I knew, I found myself in a boat going back to the American shore. I had fainted and been brought away, and the motion of the boat and the refresh- ing breeze upon the river had brought me to again." ''Thank God I am alive to meet you Fan- ny. But where did you come from now?" m *■ 100 INCIDENTS. "0," said she, **I came on foot to Fort Niagara, and have been trying every day to contrive some plan to get across; and to- day I looked out for a Httle boat, and as it grew dark, I paddled up stream in the still water, so that in crossing, I should not be carried belov^r the fort; and then I paddled across, and the sentinels let me pass." "It was with deep grief," said the Captain, "that Fanny learned that her husband was to start the next morning at day-break for Montreal. She wanted to go with him; but the British officers would not permit it. With a heavy heart she saw her husband marched out with the rest of tlie prisoners; and she took her leave of him with a true woman's courage. But the glow of patriot- ism was kindled anew in her bosom, and the secret vow she then made, was kept a few days afterwards at the bombardment of Fort Niagara, as I shall tell you when I come to speak of that fortress." "She was a brave one," said Harry. "When women were found to have so much courage, how could men have been such uowarus, as luusu vvcic \yii\j i^iua\^^ w ^av,^>^ the riverl" INCIDENTS. 101 Fort V day nd te- as it le still lot be addled '1 ^•If their wives and mothers, had all been like Fanny Doyle," said the Captain, "we had succeeded, and she might have seen her husband with a victorious band on the heights of Queenston instead of a prisoner at Fort George.'* aptain, id was lak for m; but mit it. usband soners; a true patriot- md the t a few of Fort jome to Harry. much jn such .^ji i CHAPTER IX. 11 t It THE BURIAL OF BROCK. ^'Before proceeding to describe to you how I escaped from imprisonment," said the Cap- tain, "I must tell you about the monument. It stands on the battle ground and near the spot where General Brock fell/' *'Was it built," said Harry, **in hdnor of him, or to commemorate the battlel" *4t serves both purposes," said the Captain; "but I think it was built chiefly in honor of the memory of General Brock." Harry here inquired if his remains were buried under the monument. ♦ "At the time of his death," said the Cap- tain, "he was buried near by; yonder I think is the spot, not far from that small tree. At his burial, I have heard it related with pride by British officers — the solemnities of the occasion were very imposing. All the sol- diers at this fortress were drawn up in reg- THE BURIAL OP BROCK. 103 with badges of mourning, all showing signs of deep and unaffected grief. The hearse was not there, but there was the dead body and the coffin^ the pall and the rustic bier, borne by his trusty soldiers. With him they had tried their courage in battle, and he had fallen by their side. Following this was upon another bier the body of McDonald. His aid had not only followed him to the field of danger, but he had passed with him the gates of death, and was now following him to the grave. The music that poured • forth its saddened strains awakened in the mind the deepest sorrow. A spirit, noble in their eyes, had fled from their camp, and theirs was the duty to bear his body to its final resting place. The procession' moves on, and, as at the burial of the Moorish hero, *AII mournfully and slowly The afflicted M4arriors come, To the deep wail of the trumpet And the bsat of muffled drum." , **And then," continued the Captain, "th? ' procession was preceeded by the Chaplain; and as he began the beautiful burial service of the English Church;—"! am the resurec- tioa and the life,'- and they moved slowly 104 THE BURIAL OF BROCK. cn, it seemed, even to the victorious party, the most exciting scene they had witnessed on that hill. And when they heard from his lips, the words;— *he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and' whosoever livoth and believeth in me shall never die,' the hearts of all were comforted. The soul of their deceased brother had been taken out of this world, and as they committed *his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust,' they felt the words of the Psalmist, that 'every man living is altogether vanity,' *'And I hope" continued the Captain, "that every man there was 'looking for the general resurrection at the last day, and the ITe of the world to come.' *'It must have been a fine sight, solemn as it was," said Harry; "and 1 should like to hijve seen such a ceremony, even at the burial of an enemv, and I could not but have regretted his death, though it might have been favorable to our cause." "There was anolher thing," said the Cap- tain, "that took place there which was no less honorable to our country and her brave sol- diers, than it was to the memory of General # THE BURIAL OP BROCK. 105 an( 1 Brock. While the funeral ceremony was going on, the guns of the American fort were fired as a tribute of respect to a brave and generous enemy. Though they gave forth the same sound as on the battle-day, far different was the message conveyed by their voices. Then they breathed defiance and threatened destruction; jow they spoke the language of sympathy and sorrow. Then they sent death on the gale; now they told of comfort and consolation to the living and of honor to the dead." "I do not see," said Harry, *'how the Americans could show so much honor to an enemy, who had permitted the barbarities committed by the Indians, on the bodies of the Americans." ^'General Brock," said the Captain, ^'had fallen before mat time, and we have no right to suppose that he would have permitted, much more have justified any such acts; and it is the more honorable to us, that we were not kept from the performance of a generous act towards an enemy on account of the wrongs done by them to our people. We should know how to be enemies in war, and in peace friends." ^ HH 1 IfflH, P' t ll 1 L 'ii ' J.I'' 1 1 [i|t| iW'i 1 106 THE BURIAL OF BROCK. "Let us go up to the Monument," said Harry. *'We can go to the top of it," said the Captain. As they were approaching it, they ob- served an old man come out of a small house at the foot of the hill, and follow up a winding pathway that led to the spot where it stood. -Here." said the Captain, *'under this mon- ument is a vault to which the remams of the British General have been transferred. There is a winding stair-case by which we can ascend. Over the door that leads to it, Harry, is an inscription. Let us see w'hat it is; you can read it better than I can." Harry read it. It was in these words: "The Le^^iskiture of Upper Canada, has dedicated du's monument to the many civil and military services of the late Sir Isaac Brock, Knight, commander of the most Hon- orablj'ordrr of tha Bath, Provincial Lieu- tenant Governor and Major General com- manding Ills majesty's forces therein. He fell in action on the IHth of October 1812, honored and beloved by those whom fee THE BUKIAL OF BROCK. 107 ' said d the y ob- sniall V up a where s mon- ains of fcrred. ich we s to it, e what 1." ids: la, has ly civil r Isaac 3t Hon- 1 Li cu- ll coriv- n. He r 1812, lom \iQ governed, and deplored by his sovereign to whose service his lite had been devoted. ited in th nis vault, as lit, His. remains are deposited in also his Aid-de-Camp, Lieutenant Colonel John McDonald, who died of his wounds the 14th day of October 1812, received the day before in action. '^ The monument is built of stone, and is said to be one hundred and twenty six feet high. It stands upon a large square base, the foun- dation of which is elevated a few steps from the ground; but the main part is round. It has an imposing aspect when seen at a dis- tant e, but on a near approach its appearance is rather sublime than beautiful. "Now let us go up and take a view from the top," said ihj Captain. They ascended the steps and tried the door, but it was secured by a strong lock. This was a bar to their further progress. Thoy were turning to go away, when the old man they had seen coming up the hill, approached them. He had in his hand a large key, and he kindly olfered to unlock the door and let them go up. He opened it, and they entered. ,The stair-case, is broad^ but rather dark from the 1^ li 108 THE BURIAL OF BROCK. ^^^^H ^ m^^l m ^^H jfflH IL III II 1 ^H IH^^B 1' ^H I I I 1 ^1 i mm ^lil Utt ■1 lit, 11 smallness of the windows, and their great distance from each other. **you can go up Harry, as fast as you like," said the Captain, *'but I shall be more slow. Count the steps as you go, and we can judge whether it is as high as it is called." Harry proceeded, counting the steps au- dibly as he went, and in due time he reached the top, nearly out of breath. He approach- the open door, but scarcely dared to venture out on the balcony; and when the Captain came up he found him holding on with both hands to the sides of the door, and gazing eagerly out on the prospect which as yet he could but imperfectly see. "There are one hundred and seventy steps," said Harry. "You can go out safely," said the Captain, "you see there is an iron raihng which you can hold on to and feel secure." Harry ventured out on this assurance, but at first he felt rather timid. His hands were clenched tightly to the railing, and he looked behind him as if to see tb"* the monument was still standing, and that he was safe. The prospect was large and beautiful. When THK BURIAL OF BROCK. 109 one looks of!" to distant objects, he is in a . measure insensible of the great heiaht at which he stands. But let him look down- wards and he feels as light as a feather, and he fears a breath of air may carry him away. Harry looked down, and saw the old man standing near the base of the monument. '*There," said Harry, ^'see that ragged boy; he has taken this opportunity to come to the monument. Perhaps the old man would not let him in if the door was not al- ready open." The Captain smiled, and told Harry that the ragged boy he saw was the old man who had opened the door for them. Harry could hardly believe the words of the Captain, but he looked again; and then he looked at the houses he had passed before coming up the hill. The roofs which alone he could see were no bigger in appearance than his hand. Harry was now satisfied, that he was deceiv- ed in the appearance of objects below, by the great height at which he stood; and he held on to the railing tighter than ever. But as the Captain led the way, he gathered firmness, and walked out on the halcnnv 10 f 'a i! sjfl 110 takini THE BURIAL OF BROCK. of the prospect on ali sides. l< !ii^i ; 1 View To the south was to be seen tne aarK cur- • rent of the Niagara flowing between the steep banks of the river, which were fringed with trees on either side, while far in the distance was the thick cloud formed by the spray from the great Cataract, rising upward in a heavy column like the smoke of a vol- cano. To the north was to be seen the channel of the Niagara for the whole dis- tance till it falls into lake Ontario, with Fort Niagara on one side and Fort George on the other. Beyond this was the lake itself, spread out like an immense sheet of glass, stretching away beyond the reach of the human eye. On the east was to be seen the well cultiva- ted fields of the Western part of New York, and to the west the eye fell upon the domain of the British king. A striking difference was observed between these portions of the two countries. On the west there was less improvement than on the east, though the soil was equally fertile. *'This difference may be owing," said the Captain, *'to the different form of Govern- w.^.,f o»,ri tbo rlifTprnpt institutions existing in the two countries." THE BURIAL OF BROCK. Ill *'How," said Harry, **does the govern- ment have any effect on the cultivation of the fields?*' "Because," said the Captain, "men are not satisfied vv^ith the cultivation of the fields alone. They do that as a means of subsis- tence, but the most enterprising have some other purpose in view as the chief object to be accomplished. In the United States the highest offices are open to all, w^hile in Cana- da their governors and many other officers are appointed by the government of a dis- tant country, separated from them by thou- sands of miles of ocean. And though a man may never expect or hope to obtain any high station, yet he prefers to live in a country w^here he is not excluded from it by custom, or by the organization of the government." As they were turning to descend the mon- ument, Harry observed that the wooden door leading out on to the balcony was covered with the names of those who had been there before him. Some were written with a pencil, some seemed to have been made by a sharply pointed instrument, and many had )ir»r>n put \\\T n l/nifo Hp«n in+rk fKo •«imrtr| HTrt 112 THE BURIAL OF BROOK. many names were added dates and places of residence. By these Harry saw that for many years the monument had been visited by men, and women too, from almost every country in the world. And when the door and all other parts of wood had been so cov- ered, that room could not be found for anoth- er name, it had been engraved upon the stone itself. Harry found a small spot that was not filled, and scratched his name upon it. He then asked the Captain to mark his name there too, but he declined it, telling Harry that his name had been written in blood upon the heights of Queenston, before even the foundation of the monument was laid; and that he had afterwards traced it from his bleeding veins at many other places on the banks of the river, and though that column might crumble to the ground, and the records upon it might perish, the waters of the Niagara would never wash away the history of his name'. CHAPTER X. THE YOUNG SOLDIER. Harry and the Captain had now descend- ed the stairs and stood once more on the ground. After taking another survey of the field they were preparing to take their leave. "Well Harry," said the Captain, *1 think I have now told you ail that is of any inter- est relating to this battle." "I have been much pleased with it all," said Harry, ^'and now I think we may pre- pare to recross the river." Charles had become impatient of his fa- ther's long stories, for he had heard them all many times before, and long before they were finished he had come down the stairs, and was listening to the conversation of the old man, who seemed to have charge of the monument; and he was now half way to the bank of the river and hastening on to get the boat in readiness for crossing. But the Captain now stumbled on to a new incident; 114 THE VOI'XG SOLDIER. and as he was about beginning to relate ii, he encountered a look from the old man which was not to be mistaken; and placmg in his hand a small coin, at which the old man bowed politely, he proceeded: ^'Here," said he, "just on this dechvity, occurred an incident I shall never forget. Near this spot a young soldier was wounded severely in the leg. I had known him from a boy, and he was now scarce seventeen years of age. When he was but a lad of ten years old, he was heard to say that if he ever had a chance he would be a soldier. He had heard of the military prowess of Washington and some other great men, and by this means his mind had become imbued with the military spirit. His father lived a . near neighbor to me, and I saw the growth of this feeling in the son. When very young he had acquired much skill in the use of the rifle, and I had often observed that he never winked at the discharge, and if he failed of his mark, which was rare, his rifle was re- loaded and ready for another fire with aston- ishing quickness. V^ hen war was proclaim- ed, his first im.pulse was to take his rifle, and ' ,tc it, man acing 3 old ivity, )rget. mded from nteen ad of :ifhc )ldier. 3SS of 1, and nbued Lved a rowth young of the never iled of ^as re- aston- )claim- ie, and i H THE YOUNG SOLIUKR. 115 march to some military post for the purpose of offering his services. But he was pre- vented from doing this by many consider- ations. The scene of o})erations was distant, and his fathjr needed his assistance in culti- vating his little farm and securing his crops, so as to be provided for the coming winter. These objections passed away with the pas- sing season, and when the notes ol' war were heard upon our frontier, he was anxious to join the volunteer militia. In this desire he was strongly opposed by his father, who, though of a brave and generous nature him- self, thought that his son might find a fit excuse in his youth; and besides, his father was becoming infirm, and he feared that if his son should fall in battle, he and his family might be left in a helpless condition. Robert Jones had calculated the force of all these objections in advance, and he had his an- swers ready." ^'The harvest is now in, father," said he, *'and 1 can be spared on that score." ''But," said his father, '*I fear that if you should be killed in battle I should be left alone." r 116 #111 YOUNG SOLDIER. *'lf I should fall,; said Robert, "in the (smm of the country, and the country be victorioi's, you will find friends ready to asssist, in the hour of need, one who has devoted his son to her service. But if we should be conquered, neither my life nor yours would be worth possessing. If I sur- vive a vanquished field, you will not be the worse for my having been engaged in the war. But. should I survive a victorious one, how great will be your satisfaction to know that I contributed to secure the liberty you will enjoyf These were arguments that could not well be answered; but the end of it was that Bobert's Father, urged by the suggestions and fears of his own mind and by that affec- tion which a mother always feels for her son, forbade his going; and this he thought would be the end of the matter. Kct so with Robert. Though he seemed to suioiiit, his mind was filled with his favorite idea. His f ther and mother thought they discov-" ered e '-a. si?r«?s of disquietude in his mind, but dKl V t ^oubt that he would be govern- ed by their wishes. But to make it all the THE YOL\0 SOLDIER. 117 sure, they hinted their feelings to their neigh- bors, some of whom felt a warm interest in Robert. To the pursuasions of father and mother were now added those of another, to say the least, not Jess dear to him. ' * ^^You won't go, will you Robert,'' said Mary Brown, as they were walking together just at the evening twilight. Robert would have avoided the inquiring and beseeching look of her hazel eyes, but that he had always delighted to look upon them, and he could not now turn away. lie had studied her heart as well as her eyes. He knew the power which he had over her young mind. He repeated to her the argu- ments he had used v/ith his father. "Your reasons are good," said Mary, ^^but what comfort will your arguments give me, if you go and are cut down in battle?" ^'But if I go and return again," said Rob- ert, '^how much more worthy shall I be of you than if I check my better inclinations and refuse? And then, Mary, if I fall it will be more honorable for you, to have had the love of one, who has nobly died in the service of ..!« country, tiian of a mait who, because he umM&^Mi^. f!.l m m 118 THE YOUNG SOLDIER. possessed the love of woman, did not seek the glory of the soldier." '^Though Mary was not convinced she was silent. Her calculations of the chances •of fame were not so coolly made as Robert s, yet she feard to control him, even if it were in her power. She knew that he could never bear to have it said that he had been dictated to by a woman. And in truth these reasons had some weight with Robert him- self In order to determine his duty he would imagine himself entered upon any course of action, and then put himself m the attitude of a critic upon his own conduct, and he would resolve on nothing that would not bear the test of his own approval. His mind was soon made up, and Mary submit- ted to it with a sigh, but without a murmer. "The blast of war was already surround- ing on the frontier. Robert made all his preparations secretly, for he did not wish any further argument with his father, and he feared the displeasure of his mother. On the evening before his intended march he had prepared for himself a rude knapsack made of an old bag he had found about his THE YOUNG SOLDIEK. 119 it seek 3d she ihanccs Dbert's, it were could id been ;h these rt him- luty he on any f in the conduct, it would al. His submit- murmer. urround- j all his not wish r, and he ler. On narch he knapsack Libout his lather's house. This, with his gun and pow- der horn and bullet pouch, constituted his whole equipage. He slept that night, if he slept at all, like the soldier upon his arms. At the first crowing of the cock he was up, and taking for his provision by the way, a loaf of bread, which had been left by his mother in the oven to bake over night, he bent his way to the frontier. '*There was no little disappointment in his father's house when his absence was discov- ered. But they knew his resolution, and that it would be useless to pursue him for the purpose of trying to change his mind. *'He pursued his way without adventure of any kind, except that he was very near shooting an Indian he met, by way of expe- riment, his excited imagination conjuring up the notion in his mind that the Indian had been sent over the river by the Mo- hawks, as an emissary of the British General. It was late in the afternoon, a few days be- fore the battle of Queenston, when he reach- ed the Niagara, near the great Cataract, where he learned that the main force of the ,,^. TTviu CxxV^wiUL-'vU ai i-j^i vviaiOii. ix e ^^MM^ THE YOUNC. SOLDIEK. turned his course down the river till he reached the camp. He was readily admit- ted into a tent by some soldiers where he passed the night in quiet. The next day he took a survey of the preparations that were going on and soon became quite familiar with the appearance of an army preparing for battle. He offered his services to the com- manding officer, who did not neem to be very anxious that he should join them, on account of his imperfect equipments, his apparent youth and small stature. But Robert thought that, if he could get across the river on the dayVixed for attack, he could fight on his own hook.' Accordingly when the boats began to cross, he stepped into ( ne of the first, scarcely noticed by any one in the excitement of the moment. He was one of the first to set foot on the Canadian shore, and was with the party that rushed up the liill, to charge upon the battery which was taken early in the morning. He was also with the party that achieved the second victory that day, and held out till a surren- der had been determined on; but long before that time, he w<*s wouridcd and unable to till he admit- 2YG he day he t were ir with ng for e com- )e very iccount 3parcnt ;hought on the on his 3 boats of the in the } one of L shore, up the ich was v^as also second L surren- g: before nable tf> THi: vou.VG sorjni:!?. 1-21 stand, but rising upfm his knees, he con- tinued to load and fire till the Americans were forced from the s])ot where he stood; and when the British soldiers and Indians, were moving on like a mass of dark waters, he fell upon his face till they had passed over. After the surrender, as we were marcliing up to the point where the British General was, I saw him raising himself upon his knees, as if to see who had possession of the field. The Indian warriors were at their work, and an upraised tomahawk would have fallen upon his head, had not the arm of the savage been stayed by a young British of- ficer who happened to be near. He was then picked up with the rest of the wounded and taken to the American shore. His wound did not seem to be dangerous, but the poor fellow was faint with the loss of the blood he had so freely shed for the country he loved. His body was wounded by the shots of the enemy, and his heart was wounded also by the defeat of the American army. Neither .his broken limbs nor his lacerated feelings could be healed. The flame that. iuvi iiiD y Ouiiw oi7ii il vvao ia::ii ulu illlili ilS)Cii 11 122 THE YOUNG SOLDIER. out. Mary was with him, and his mother was there to comfort him, and he comforted them." ^'You will have the honor, mother, said he, ^'of having contributed your part to the defence of our borders. No better gift can be bestowed upon your country, than that ot a son willing to die in its defence." This was indeed a consolation to the moth- er. She was equal to the trial she was called to* meet. In times of real distress or real danger the courage of woman rises to the full heiglt of its sublimity and power. When the heart of man fails under domestic trials and afflictions, woman's stands with a firm- ness that cannot be shaken, and with a calm- ness that is holy. ''Your part, Mary," said he '^is greater than mine in this unfortunate contest. 1 have but given up my body to the call of duty and the promptings of ambition; while you have not only regarded what was your duty, disregarding the calls of ambition as less worthy; but you have also acted in ac- cordance with the feelings of affection and submission to the wishes of one you loved. TlIK YOUNG ffOfJilER. 123 J mother )mfortccl or :? said rt to the gift can n that of the moth- ^as called 3 or real to the full ■. When :stic trials th a firm- :h a calm- s greater ontest. I the call of on; while was your mbition as jted in ac- 3ction and jnw loved. Your reward will be greater than mine, be- cause your motives have been, if not more honorable, at least less selfish." *'So, Mary and his mother watched him, administering and receiving consolation, till he died. And when he was buried he re- ceived the funeral honors of the soldier. The gay notes of martial music were sad- dened by the tones of the muffled drum. Hearts that could not be moved by fear were softened with sorrow. Each soldier feels at the burial of a comrade as if he was laying a brother in the grave. *'Mary and the mother of Robert now felt that he was not theirs alone. They saw that his country claimed him, and that she had given him to fame." ''It must have been a great trial to them," said Harry, "to see one so young and brave, and so dear to them both, cut down in so early life." *'It was," said the Captam; ''but many a mother and many a young girl who loved their country as dearly as they did, had the more severe trial of seeing their sons and brothers return to them, without having p 124 Tin: vol XG SOLDIER. done tlieir part in the hour of their country's need.'' Harry argreed that the Captain was right. ^'I knew one young man," said the Cap- tain, ^'who returned to his home a day or two after the battle. He had been wounded severely by a musket ball in the heel. The position was such as to show, that when he received it, he was not facmg the enemy. He is still alive, and limping along through life; and when the question is asked, what caused his lameness, the answer is that he was wounded in running away from the battle of Queenston." *'I had rather have the fame of Robert .Jones," said Harry, 'Hhan the Hfe of snch a man." "Yes," said the Captain, ''before going to battle, a man must examine himself and see if he is equal to the trial of courage, and must make up his mind to meet death when- ever it shall come. Then there will be for liim life with victory and liberty, or death with an immortality of fame." CHAPTER XI, 7 i£ •■'a THE BURIAL GROUND. They had now reached the boat which' Charles had in readiness, and they were soon across the rive;-. They turned one look back upon the dark green waters of the Niagara and then they went up the hill by the same path they had descended. The day was now fast dechning, and the sun was sending their lengthened shadows, along the ground ihey were in a position that commanded a view of the whole village of Lewiston. ihere was one spot now in sight which they had not seen in the morning. It was the •..village burying ground. It was surrounded I Jy a rough but substantial fence, and the i few plam marble slabs that were seen, bore witness that many were resting there with- ^out a stone to tell their history. There fhy many who had fallen on the heights of ,,j ^lueenston. I^JThe turf that covered their T _Taves. and ivlki/iK u^a \ i- i .1 . . , } \ --7 --— --"--" «aw uuuii siigntjy raised, ^'V '%: 126 THF, BURIAL (JROUND. was now nearly sunk to a level with the surface of the ground; but yet the position of many a one, without a stone to tell the name of its inhabitant, could be determined. Here was a row lying side by side, extend- ing nearly half across the yard, indicating that they had been made at the same time. ^^Death," said the Captam. ''had reaped a great harvest on the battle-day, and here lay his trophies in rows, like a field of corn, as if that mighty conqueror had planted there the whole fruits of his harvest. God grant that the soil in wdiich rests the bones of so many brave men, may never again be polluted by the tread of an army, having any scru- ples, either constitutional or conscientious, on which side of the river it is their duty to attack the enemy!'' 'Here," continued the Captain, "is a stone nearly overgrown. Pull aside the grass and | let us read the inscription," Harry obeyed and the inscription was read. It told in simple language that he, whose remains were buried there, was killed by a shot from the enemy in crossing the river on the 13th day of October 1812; tha THE BURIAL GROUND. 127 he was a faithful soldier and an honest man and that his death was lamented by all who • knew him. "All there is of glory in this world," said the Captain, "is written upon that stone. Ho had lived his appointed time, fulfilline the duties that belonged to his condition in life. 1 aken from the world by an honorable death he was delivered from the cares and anxie- ties, the snares and temptations that contin- ually crowd around the path of every human benig; but the place of his rest, as well as the' friends he left behind him, have given him an honorable name." They paused again, to look upon a stone that had fallen down and was resting upon a grave. It was of moderate size, of grav sandstone, and bore the marks of the 'cor- roding tooth of time.' Harry and Charles lifted It up while the Captain read the in- scription upon it. This told that the posses- jsor of the narrow house below was killed by a shot in the breast, on the heights of jQueenston on the day of that battle. , "Here too," said the Canfnm ";„ % ord Here too," said the Captain, "is" the re- ought -"fr— '"•■"""*■ -^ar 128 THE BURIAL GROUND. iS.h I when grecian mothers gave birth to men. The great and crowning act in the life of the soldier, the noble consummation of his exis- tence, is a heroic death." '•I have told you," said the Captain, 'Hhc story of Robert J ones. He was buried here. His grave is without a stone. There it is in that little enclosure. His fame is more true than that of most men. Tt lives without a monument to bear the record. That-which is written on marble sometimes is worn away by time, and is not always true; but that which lives in the hearts of mei', like truth, will endure forever." ''I should think," said Harry, ^Hhat one of his courage deserved a , stone to mark the spot of his burial, if for nothing more." »'That," said the Captain, "must be known to all his friends, and his fame is known to all who read the history of that bloody fight." ' ^'And Mary!" said Harry, ''how did she bear her grief 1" <'Like a true and* noble hearted girl as she was," said the Captain. "Many a tear ha pped upon his crrnve. She used t / ;w' Tin: nT'KiAL cjuorxi). 120 men. of the 3 exis- i, 'Hhc [ here. it is in :e true :hout a •which laway Lit that ; truth, , one of ark the 5) go there and plant the first young flowers of spring, and, almost with a joyous grief, relate to the passers-by the story of his death. She was not an ordinary woman, and hers was not a. common loss. He was his coun- try's, and she, young as she was in' her wid- owed woe, mourned for herself and her country too." ''She was a noble spirit," said Harry, '^and if the militia who stood here gazing at the battle, had been composed of such women as she, they would have gone over and se- cured the victory for us." The Captain had walked on to a distant part of the ground where he saw a little girl just going away from a new made grave. They all walked up to it, and saw that the turf was. freshly cut, and that the first rain had not fallen since the burial. ^ ''I always like," said the Captain, <'to see Httle girls in a burying ground. Their sweet faces are made more beautiful by. the tear of afTection that falls on the grave of a cherished friend. Perhaps she has lost a father or a mother, and has been to weep at th j grave. I would hnvo inquired, l)nt I would not wll- ,{ ■■{ r k^'Jm&i^-i 130 TIIK HI lUAL fJROnXD. I i lingly open anew the fountains of grief in lier young heart, broken, as perhaps it may be now. God will be a father to her, and preserve her in his holy keeping." They were walking thoughtfully on, and had nearly finished their survey of the ground, when the Captain, who could not drive from his mind the image of the little girl, and the recollections it called up, found himself transported back to the period of the war. That with him scarcely belonged to the past. It seemed to be a part of the hving. present. ''When I was returning home," said the Captain, *'after the taking of Fort George m May 1813, I passed through here, and I am now reminded by this little girl of what I then saw. It was a young girl planting a rose bush and some flowers upon a grave. I did not disturb her in this work of affec- tionate remembrance, for 1 saw she was engaged in a labor of love. She would not handle rudely even the earth that was to nourish and support these emblems of love. As she was placing their roots in the ground, she knelt upon the green turf beside the THi: BURIAL GROUND. 131 •ief in t mav and •7 I, and •f the id not '. little found of the ^ed to Df the id the Jeorge and I what iting a grave. f affec- e was lid not ^as to f love. ;round, do the ( grave, and I fancied that 1 saw her lips move as if in prayer. Much as I wished to know whose grave she was thus beautifying and adorning, I would not, for any gratification that that would give, violate the sanctity of her feelings by making the inquiry. "While I was w^atching her work, another visiter approached less cautious than myself, who asked whose grave it was." *'It is my fathers. He was killed in the battle over there," said she, ''pointing to the heights of Queenston. "Have you a mother," said the stranger. "I have," baid she, "a mother and one sis- ter. I had one brother but he was killed in the battle too. His grave is right there by the side of my father's." As she said this, the tears were seen trickling down her cheeks. The stranger saw that he had touched a tender chord, and was silent. "I always loved little children," said the Captain, "but I love them the more for what I have seen here. These little girls will yet be women, and will have such a hold on the hearts of men, as will enable them to exert ^> Ili2 THK HI RIAL (;i{(KM). Il 1 an influence and a power over the society it may be their fortune to mingle with. They already have, I am sure, a cliaracter that is decided; and if circumstances should place them in difficult and trying scenes, their acts will be as honorable to themselves as those of Fanny Doyle and Mary Brown." The Captain was right in his appreciation of the character and influence of woman. Her power ever has been, and ever will be felt and acknowledged. A few Roman ma- trons once saved their city from the scourge of war, when her armies w^ere not equal to the task of resisting the threatened danaer. The discoverer of the new world found in the Queen of Castile his best friend and pa- tron. But there has been a greater than these. No woman, but she that gave birth to the savior of the world, ever received so high and so deserved honor, as she on whose tomb is inscribed, *'Mary the Mother Wash- ington." • , Harry fully appreciated all that the Cap- tain said on this subject; and then he thought of his mother, and how she watched over and protected his infancy and boyhood, and THJ: liURIAL (GROUND. VSS •iety it They that is place ir acts those ciation 'Oman, vill bo in ma- 20UrQ-c o ual to an O'er, and in nd pa- f than 3 birth red so whoso Wash- 3 Cap- lought [ over d, and of the many good counsels she had given him; .and he promised, within himself, never to depart from them. The Captain saw that Harry was reflecting on what had been told him, and he continued: 'Tes," said he, ^^look where you will, and you will find evidence of the goodness and purity of the heart of woman. She is with the suffering and the distressed everywhere. Affliction has seemed to me, sometimes, to be sent into this world, that the relief which It receives at her hands may develop the noblest and best feelings of her nature. Want comes also, that it may produce an overflow of her generous heart. Charity, the best of christian virtues, is always with her. She follows the object of her affections through every scene cf trial and danger. She goes to the prison-house to administer comfort to the chfldren of disobedience; and though they may be cut oflf from society by the laws of the land, they are not separated from the kindliest oflices of humanity. Though pre- vented by her physical weakness and the duties which belong to her sex from partici- pating in public affairs, she yet may perform 12 ii '^ I 134 THE BURIAL GROUND. the more important office of training and forming the minds of those by whom they are governed. And in all the wide world of human feelings and affections, at the home of poverty or the house of wealth, and in all society, savage or civilized, at the bed of sickness or the cross of a crucified savior, you will meet with the presence and devo- tion of woman." i I- I! CHAPTER XII. HOMEWARD. The little party had now left tlie burying ground, and were bending their course home- ward. Their minds were filled with thoughts of the dead; how nobly they had struggled through life; how bravely they had met death; how deep the sorrow and distress their loss had produced in the bosoms of the living. On these occasions Harry was usual- ly the first to break silence." ''What became," said he, "of those who were taken prisoners?" "The militia" said the Captain, '"were dis- charged on their parol, not to serve any more during the war; but most of the regulars were taken to Montreal." "What is meant by parol?" asked Harry. "It means," said fhc Captain, "that those who are discharged gave their word of hon- or not to serve again during that war. They were still regarded as prisoners of why, but ,'-.,*«^- isn HOMEWARD. were at liberty to go where they pleased if they did not take up arms. Sometimes this promise is put in writing and signed by those who make it or by the officers in behalf of themselves and their soldiers. Sometimes too, soldiers who have been discharged in this way are exchanged; that is if the Amer- icans, at the same time, or at any time after any of their soldiers have been liberated from imprisonment on parol, should have any pris- oners belonging to the enemy, an agreement is made between the officers of the opposing armies, that on liberating the prisoners we have taken, an equal number of our men who have been discharged on parol, shall be at liberty to enter the service." *'You belonged to the mihtia," said Harry. ^'Yes," said the Captain, "but I was not discharged with the others." *'You were taken to Montreal then with the regulars," said Harry. *'No," said the Captain, •'! had no fancy for such a march; and I did not like to lose the privilege of a little more iightmg, when a good chance could be found. It was known at the fort the day before we were to be iib- ! HOMEWARD. 137 1 crated what the arrangement was between the British and American Generals, as to the discharge of the prisoners. On that account we were guarded less carefully. We were not suspected of any desire to escape when it was known that we should be discharged the next day. So, watching an opportunity, I found means to pass the sentry and slipping down to the river, I followed up a mile or two under the bank, unperceived by any one, till I was out of sight of the fort, when by signs I hailed a little boat that was near the American shore, which came out into the middle of the river, and finally nearly across; but it dared not come to the shore, for fear that something wrong was intended by me. So, to make the matter free from all doubt to the boatman, I plunged into the water and swam to the boat, and, as he would not try to take me in for fear of upsetting, as well as of being seen, I held on to the stern of the boat and he towed me to the Amer- ican shore. And when our men were mus- tered, and their names called and enrolled previous to being discharged, I was not there; •i»-»/^ l-\nxr\-nr» /4in/-»|-»r»i»/-r/-»ri rTi t r ci rv I ♦ of nmr oixrii