The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-07-23
VOL. X.
Gen. Scott and John Brant.
A HISTORICAL TALE.

cured al Niagara, in Canada, after the IN
fortunate battle Of Queenstown. The battle
was fought on the 18Th of October, 1872 anC
was enc ofthe most sharply contested IN Tic
whole war. though The force on either side
WAS Observation-Disclosures object OF the Gen
eraI in command, Van Rensselaer, was speci-
fcaIly TO gain possession of the heights Of
Queenstown, then 10 move upon Fort Mag
ara, and there take up quarters for The win
Ter in the enemy's country; but more i'm
portant general purpose was 10 etiace by
some brilliant exploit the recollection Of the
disaster had belallen The American arm
in the ing lorious surrender Of Gen. Hull at
Detroit.
The British force al Queenstown, was I'M
der The command or Gen. Brock: The COM
mand ofthe expedition was given TO Solo
mon Van Rensselaer,; and his force consis-
ted chiefly ofmilitia, supported by Two corps,
each $50 slrong, under Lieut.. Colonies
Chrysiie and Fcnwick. Gen. Scott, then Il
Lieut. Colonel in command OF Il regiment OF
artillery stationed al Scholler near Buffalo,
was volunteer in The expedition; but as lie
could not consent 10 waive his rank, which
| would give him the command over Col.
Van Rensselaer,, who held Il commission only
in the militia il was arranged that he should
not cross The river, but remain al Lewiston,
and there use his artillery 10 such advantage
as might be practicable.
Tho expedition WIS unfortunate in The
outset. Erroneous information had been re-
ceived OF Gen. Brooks departure for De-
troit-ihc intention 10 surprise The enemy
was irusiraied-ar:d in the very beginning
| of the conflict, after the landing, ColoDels
Van Rensselaer,, Fcnwck and Chrystie, and
Captains Armstrong, Malcolm and Wool,
were wounded. The British troops were
driven from the ground. al The point of the
bayonet, but at The close Of This firsi brush it
was found that Capt. Wool, whose wound
was slight, was found 10 be the Only senior
officer capable OF doing duty. Col. Van
Rensselaer, had received no less than six
wounds. three of which were very severe.
Intelligence of this ravage among The off
GERS being received on the American side
Col. Scott was gratified in his desire 10
take an active part in The conflict; he hur-
lied across the river and assumed the COM
mand. On his arrival he found that the
heights had been cleared of the enemy, and
battery which crowned them taken, by q
gallant charge under Capt. Wool; but the
| Americans had been assailcd in turn by Gen.
! Brock in person and driven TO the edge offhe
heights whence, however, they returned by
il successful rally, in which Brock WAS killed,
| and his troops ihereupon dispersed in con-
fusion. Ii was just after this repulse ol'ihc
British that Col. Scott arrived upon the
ground.
His first effort was 10 collect The force and
bring il into order; i'll doing which he found
that it consisted of $50 regulars and 267 VOL
untecrs. Turning attention next, 10 Il
piece o. cannon which had been spiked by The
British before their flight, and which he
! hoped 10 make available, his momenlary alb
sence was taken advantage Of by II large
body of Indians, who rushed suddenly upon
/ the American troops, aud were upon the
| point Of scattering Them in wild disorder
! when Col. Scvtt arrived just in time 10 keep
them steady and repulse The savageF. The
| leader of This band was Il young lndIan,rlcll-
! " atiircd in the costume Of the red men,
and remarkable for his daring and ac-
iiviiy. His name was John Brant, oIlicr-
wise called Ahyouwaighs-ihey youngest son
and successor ofthe famous Joseph Branl,
/ The formidable pdrlizan OF the WAR Of the
/ revolution That celebrated parsonage had
died in 1907, when John Brant was thirteen
years Of age; he was therefore, but just
eighteen when he led his warriors 10 battle
al The heights of Queenstown.
The field was held by The Americans sew
eraI hours. while the British waited for rein
forcements; but they were continually har-
raised by the Indians, who made repeated
| flying aitacts upon them, in which numbers
1 both OF militia and regulars were killed or
wounded. At length Gen Sheaiic, on whom
| The command devoived after The death Of
! Gen. Brock WAS seen advancing al the head
ofSOO. Col. Rensselaer, who bal crossed 10
J the Canada side after the battle, fastened
back on asceriaining The approach Of Gen.
| Sheatle, and eXeried all his eloqucnce and
authority in endeavoring 10 prevail on the
militia under his command 10 push across
and rescue the gallant little band of their
/ countrymen, ROW in such pressing danger;
hut in vain. They were moi bound 10 leave
! their own country and for two hours Col.
! Scott looked down upon The steady approach
of an opposing force sufficient 10 crush them
al Il single blow. while also within sight were
; fifteen hundred Americans who miel.i easily
have joined them in season 10 repel if not 10
annihiate the enemy.
But there was no wavcring in the little
company thus abandoned 10 their fate. A
retreat in the face of the Indians wac more
! perilous even than the attempt 10 maintain
! the heights, and they resolved 10 stand their
ground as long as POSSIBLE. This They did
for some time, until actually dislodged by the
hayonet, when they scrambled down as best
'-N '"isht ~ inc hdIcT euSc; CIosSlI pui-
sued by The Indians
There were no boats TO carry them off !;
farther Resistance was hopeless, and il was
agreed 10 surrender. Three flags Of truce
were sent out in succession. but never re-
turned, having been shot by the Indians.
Col. Scott then resolved 10 90 by himself.
bearing white cravat fastened 10 his sword
he was accompanied by Townson & Chrys-
tie. They were repeatedly fired at by The
Indians, but escaped unhurt.-They were
encountered and attacked hand 10 hand by
two of the red men, in one Of whom they rec
ognize,l the youthful and agile leader in the
conflicts ofihe morning, but just al the hot
test of the struggle British sergeant inter
posed, The combatants were separated, and
Col. Scott led 10 The presence OF Gen
Sheaffe. Theterms Of surrender quick
ly agreed upon and as som as the Indians
could be controlled by their British allies and
employers. the firing ceased.-The men who
were made prisoners with Scott were an
hundred and thirty regulars. and 154 voiun-