of the heights and village of Queenston for some hours, during which they were but partially reinforced, as their militia could not be induced, either by threat or entreaty, to cross the river. In the mean while Major-General Sheaffe* collected a force from Fort George and Chippewa, and in the afternoon com- menced an attack on the enemy. The British, now equal in number, and superior in discipline, easily drove the invaders from their position at the point of the bayonet. Pressed to the edge of the precipice which overhangs the river, they fought with despe- ration for a moment, but quickly discovering that resistance was hopeless, the greater part threw down their arms, and called for quarter. Of those who attempted to escape into the woods, some were soon driven back by the Indians ; while others, cut off in their return to the main body, and terrified at the sight of these exasperated warriors, flung themselves wildly over the cliffs, and endeavoured to cling to the bushes which grew upon them, but many, losing their hold, were dashed frightfully on the rocks beneath ; and several who reached the river perished in their attempts to swim across it. Such, alas, are the dreadful horrors too often arising from human warfare ! Few returned to tell the tale of their disaster, and upwards of nine hundred men, with their commander, Brigadier- General Wadsworth, re- mained as prisoners. The death of the British general is said to have cost the invaders many a life on that day which otherwise had been spared. The detachment of the 49th above all, in the excite-
- This officer was made a baronet after the battle of Queenston ; he is a
native of New England, and was succeeded in 1813, in the command of Upper Canada, by Major-General De Rottenburgh, a German, we believe, who was in his turn soon superseded by Lieut.-General (now Sir Gordon) Drummond.
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