death of the ever-attentive Dobson, who had passed
away before Brock's departure for Detroit, and the absence of the
faithful sergeant-major--now Adjutant FitzGibbon--distressed him. In an
attempt by General Brown to capture some British batteaux at Tousaint
Island, on the St. Lawrence, the Americans had been repulsed by Brock's
gallant protege.

Everything now pointed to an early attack by the enemy in force. General
Van Rensselaer, with an ascertained army of at least 6,300, of which
2,600 were militia, wrote that he "would cross the river in the rear of
Fort George, take it by storm, carry the Heights of Queenston, destroy
the British ships--the _Prince Regent_ and _Earl Moira_--at the mouth of
the river, leave Brock no rallying point, appal the minds of the
Canadians, and wipe away the past disgrace."

On one of his visits to Fort George he had remarked to Brock, who had
laughingly pointed out two beautiful brass howitzers taken from General
Wayne, "Oh, yes, they are old friends of mine; I must take them back."
They were not taken back in Brock's time. Even with his grand army of
6,300, his 400 Seneca braves, and his written admission that Niagara was
weakly garrisoned, it is certain Van Rensselaer would have still delayed
attack, unless he had been told by his spies that Brock had returned to
Detroit. Then, with valour oozing from his finger tips, he plucked up
courage to attack the lair in the lion's absence.

At this juncture an untoward event occurred, in the re-taking by the
Americans of the brig _Detroit_, formerly the United States brig
_Adams_--captured, as we know, by Roulette--and the trading brig
_Caledonia_. They were at anchor at the head of the Niagara River, off
Black Rock. The irregular regiments of Hull's command, under the terms
of surrender, were on board on their way to their Ohio homes, via Lake
Erie and Buffalo. The two vessels reached Fort Erie harbour safely, and
being rightly regarded by the British as immune from attack, were left
undefended, in charge of an officer and nine men only, most of whom were
voyageurs. In addition to the prisoners, the two brigs carried great
quantities of fur and 600 packs of deer skins. During darkness
Lieutenant Ellis, with three armed boats and 150 United States troops
and sailors, dropped alongside. Roulette and his nine men fought
desperately, one being killed and four wounded, but both vessels, of
course, fell into the enemy's hands. This attack was con