that Major-General Brock had proceeded to
Detroit with all the force that could be spared from the Niagara
frontier. Encouraged by these false news, which perhaps the American
general circulated to induce his troops to cross over, every preparation
was made for a descent upon Queenstown. On the morning of the 11th, the
enemy assembled a force at Lewistown, opposite to Queenstown, with the
view of making an immediate attack on the latter, but, through some
mismanagement in conducting the boats to the place of embarkation, the
attack was delayed. Early on the morning of the 13th, the enemy's troops
were again concentrated and embarked in thirteen boats at Lewistown,
under cover of a commanding battery of two 18 and two 6-pounders, which,
with two field pieces, completely commanded every part of the opposite
shore, from which musketry could be effectual in opposing a landing. The
only British batteries from which the enemy could be annoyed in the
passage were one, mounting an 18-pounder, upon Queenstown Heights, and
another, mounting a 24-pound carronade, situate a little below the
village. Three of the boats put back, while the remaining ten, with 225
regulars, besides officers, struck the shore a little above the village
of Queenstown, and immediately returned for more troops. The British
force in Queenstown consisted of the two flank companies of the 49th
regiment and the York volunteer militia, amounting in all to about 300
rank and file. Of these about 60, taken from the 49th grenadiers, and
Captain Hatt's company of militia, under Captain Dennis,[96] of the
49th, advanced at four o'clock, a.m., with a 3-pounder against the first
division of the enemy, under Colonel Van Rensselaer, who had formed his
men near the river, and was awaiting the arrival of the next boats. The
Americans were driven with some loss behind a steep bank, close to the
water's edge, where they were reinforced by a fresh supply of troops,
and whence they returned the fire of the British. In the mean time the
remainder of the 49th grenadiers and of the militia company joined
Captain Dennis; while the 49th light company, under Captain Williams,
with Captain Chisholm's company of militia, stationed on the brow of the
hill, fired down upon the invaders.

Sir Isaac Brock for some days had suspected this invasion, and the
evening preceding it he called his staff together, and gave to each the
necessary instructions. Agreeably to his usual custom, he rose