before
daylight, and hearing the cannonade, awoke Major Glegg and called for
his horse, Alfred, which Sir James Craig had presented to him. He then
gallopped eagerly from Fort George to the scene of action, and, with his
two aides-de-camp, passed up the hill at full gallop in front of the
light company, under a heavy fire of artillery and musketry from the
American shore. On reaching the 18-pounder battery at the top of the
hill, they dismounted and took a view of passing events, which at that
moment appeared highly favorable. But in a few minutes a firing was
heard, which proceeded from a strong detachment of American regulars
under Captain Wool, who had succeeded in gaining the brow of the heights
in rear of the battery, by a fisherman's path up the rocks, which, being
reported as impassable, was not guarded. Sir Isaac Brock and his
aide-de-camps had not even time to remount, but were obliged to retire
precipitately with the twelve men stationed in the battery, which was
quickly occupied by the enemy. Captain Wool having sent forward about
150 regulars, Captain Williams' detachment, of about 100 men, advanced
to meet them, personally directed by the general, who, observing the
enemy to waver, ordered a charge, which was promptly executed; but as
the Americans gave way, the result was not equal to his expectations.
Captain Wool admits that he reinforced his regulars, "notwithstanding
which the whole were driven to the edge of the bank."[97] Here some of
the American officers were on the point of hoisting a white flag, with
an intention to surrender, when Captain Wool tore it off, and reanimated
his dispirited troops. They now opened a heavy fire of musketry; and
conspicuous from his dress, his height, and the enthusiasm with which he
animated his little band, the British commander was soon singled out,
and he fell about an hour after his arrival, the fatal bullet entering
his right breast and passing through his left side. He had that instant
said: "Push on the York volunteers;" and he lived only long enough to
request that his fall might not be noticed or prevent the advance of his
brave troops, adding a wish, which could not be distinctly understood,
that some token of remembrance should be transmitted to his sister. He
died unmarried, and on the same day a week previously, he had completed
his forty-third year. The lifeless corpse was immediately conveyed into
a house at Queenstown, where it remained until the aftern