as another opportunity that
slipped away without being improved: Fort Niagara was abandoned by the
enemy, and might have been with the greatest ease destroyed, and its
guns brought away by a trifling force. It is neither necessary, nor do
we feel inclined to enter into the causes why it was not done; we have,
however, the strongest reason to believe that, had General Brock
survived, it would have been attempted. In addition to this (as we
consider it) capital error, Major Mullaney, and other natural born
subjects of his majesty, actually taken in arms as commissioned officers
in the service of the United States, were released and allowed to return
on parole to that country; and a partial armistice was agreed to, liable
to be broken off at thirty hours notice, which could be productive of no
real advantage to us, nor give any repose to our harassed and suffering
militia, though it enabled the enemy to recruit his strength and
organize at will the means of attacking us anew. He was observed busily
and actively employed, throughout a great part of the month of November,
collecting boats on the Fort Erie end of the line; and when his
preparations were complete, he gave notice of the termination of the
armistice on the 20th."

"When General Wilkinson complains," observes the British historian
James, "that the executive has not rendered 'common justice to the
principal actors in this gallant scene,'--not exhibited it to the
country 'in its true light, and shewn what deeds Americans are still
capable of performing,'[119]--who among us can retain his gravity? 'It
is true,' says the general, 'complete success did not ultimately crown
this enterprise; but two great ends were obtained for the country: it
re-established the character of the American arms;'--it did
indeed!--'and deprived the enemy, by the death of General Brock, of the
best officer that has headed their troops in Canada throughout the
war;'--truth undeniable!--'and, with his loss, put an end to their then
brilliant career;'--yet the capture of General Wadsworth took place in
less than five hours afterwards.

"The instant we know what the Americans expected to gain, a tolerable
idea may be formed of what they actually lost by the attack upon
Queenstown. General Van Rensselaer, in a letter to Major-General
Dearborn, written five days previously, says thus: 'Should we succeed,
we shall effect a great discomfiture of the enemy, by breaking their
line of communication,