nt, who
had to retreat with the crippled remnant of his 1,400 men--was at last
in the possession of the enemy. This win was made more complete by
General Prevost's belated and, of course, futile attack upon Sackett's
Harbour. When assured success stared him in the face, his flaccid nature
suggested retreat, and what might have been a signal victory became a
disgraceful failure. The position of affairs at this time was admirably
summed up in a letter written by Quartermaster Nichol. "Alas! we are no
longer commanded by Isaac Brock.... Confidence seems to have vanished
from the land, and gloomy despondency in those who are at our head has
taken its place." Brock's courage, judgment, military skill and personal
magnetism were never so much needed.

To offset these reverses, the brilliant victory of the British ship
_Shannon_ over the American war vessel _Chesapeake_, in a naval duel
fought outside Boston harbour, somewhat restored British complacence.
This was the prelude to another victory on land. Vincent, after being
bombarded out of Fort George, slowly retreated with his broken command
towards Burlington, cleverly flirting with the enemy, and drawing him
farther and farther inland, finally reforming his wearied men near Stony
Creek, sixteen miles from the lake's head. Here the enemy, 3,000 strong,
went into camp. It was here that FitzGibbon--General Brock's old-time
sergeant-major and faithful _protege_--now in command of a company of
the 49th, disguised as a settler, penetrated the enemy's camp, and was
convinced a night attack would be successful. While the advance guard of
the enemy was driving in the British decoy pickets, 800 of Vincent's
force, under Harvey, surprised and charged them in the darkness,
capturing two American generals, 120 prisoners, and four cannon, without
the loss of a man.

Sheaffe was now transferred to Montreal, and De Rottenberg assumed
military command in Upper Canada. Three weeks later an American, Colonel
Boerstler, was ordered to surprise a small party of British at Beaver
Dams (now Thorold). Lieutenant FitzGibbon, in command, was informed of
the proposed attack. An heroic woman--Laura Secord--the wife of a
wounded militiaman at Queenston, and to whose house Brock's body was
borne after he fell, learned of the pending surprise by overhearing a
conversation between some American officers. Her resolution was soon
formed. Despite the fact that twenty miles through gloomy forest, filled
wi