oon unperceived
by the enemy. His provincial aide-de-camp, Lieut.-Colonel M'Donell, of
the militia, and the attorney-general of Upper Canada--a fine promising
young man--was mortally wounded soon after his chief, and died the next
day, at the early age of twenty-five years. Although one bullet had
passed through his body, and he was wounded in four places, yet he
survived twenty hours; and during a period of excruciating agony, his
thoughts and words were constantly occupied with lamentations for his
deceased commander and friend. He fell while gallantly charging up the
hill with 190 men, chiefly of the York volunteers, by which charge the
enemy was compelled to spike the 18-pounder in the battery there.

The flank companies of the 49th having suffered severely, and both their
captains being wounded, the disputed ground was lost soon after the
death of the general, and the troops retreated in front of Vromont's
battery, where they awaited the expected reinforcements. The Americans
remained in quiet possession of the heights of Queenstown for some
hours, during which they were but partially reinforced, as their
militia, who a day or two before were so anxious to invade
Canada--having heard from the wounded men sent back what they must
expect if they came in contact with the 49th, "the green tigers," as
they called them from their green facings--could not now be induced,
either by threat or entreaty, to cross the river. Indeed, the flank
companies of the 49th, in the excitement arising from the loss of their
late beloved colonel, are said to have fought with such animosity
throughout the day, as to have fully supported this new title. In the
meanwhile, Major-General Sheaffe arrived from Fort George[98] with
nearly 400 of the 41st regiment, under Captain Derenzy and about 300
militia; and--after being joined by the remnant of the 49th flank
companies and the Indians, and leaving two field pieces with 30 men in
front of Queenstown, to prevent its occupation by the Americans--he
proceeded by a circuitous route to gain the rear of the heights upon
which the enemy was posted. Here he was reinforced by the arrival of the
41st grenadiers and some militia from Chippewa, the whole of the British
and Indian force thus assembled rather exceeding 1,000 men, of whom
about 600 were regulars. In numbers the Americans were about
equal--courage they had, but they wanted the confidence and discipline
of British soldiers.

The attack comm