The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-02
General Wool ON General scots's Auto
biography.

An tno out<N'~8toPuy vi iloutcnant ueucEht tnAAo3
Scott in reference to the capture Of Queenstown heights
and s battery on the 18th Of October 1872 the follow
ing statement win be founds-
The Genoral says, pages dfty-eight and nfty nine-
"And now u was that Lieutenant Colonel soott-whoss
light batteries commanded BY Captains Towson and
Barker, had partially diverted the enemys IRE from our
boatswas permitted ~ his repeated solicitation, 70
cross over and take command OF forces In conflict
with tho enemy Fortunately he made the passage &C
companied only by Adutaut Roach Of his battalion with
but little hurt damage The heights and battery had
been previously carried BY detaohments Of the Sixth In
fantry under Captain Machesnsy OF the thirteenth.
under Captains WOOL Armstrong Ogilvs and Malcomb;
one Of the Twenty third, under Major Muany; com.
psny Of light artillery, under Captain James Gibson,
supported BY Lieutenant Thomas B. Randolph with one
six FOUNDER and some New York militia Captain Wool
had been disabled by wound in ascending the heights
Captain @. lotion, Of the engineers also with tho
troops qualified and ready for any duty that might fall TO
him. It was little before this time that Major General
Brock, Lieutenant Governor OF Upper Canada and the
Secretary Of the Province Colonel Mcdonald fell at the
foot Of the heights while calamity leading up from the
mouth Of the river body Of York volunteers, with
number Of additional Indians"
Last the statement Of the ustrious autobiographer
he being Of tho few survivors Of tho period TO
which REFERS may be received by many the truth
OF history justice requires that the authenticated reports
OF the affair Of Queenstown should not be overlooked
The following history Of the first detachment that
crossed the Niagara river at the time referred to by Lieu
tenant General Scott with the report Of Major General
Stephen Van Rensselaer, to Brgadier General Smith, his
letter to Captain Wool and the report Of Lieutenant
Colonel John Chrystie to the Secretary OF War, John
Armstrong will show under what circumstances and BY
whom the heights Of Queenstown and the battery were
carried" Also when and where "Major General BLOCK
and Colonel Mcdonald fell ~
On the mornin Of the 18th October, 1912, two
or Of
landed before daylight the Canada shore
short distance above Queenstown village One
under Lieutenant Colonel Van Rennseiaer, and the
other OF three companies OF the Thirteenth infantry,
one hundred and eighty rank and ale under CAPTAINS
landed at the same time under fire from the enemy who
Immediately fed towards the village. Soon after Colonel
Van Rensselaer, ordered the troops to move forward pre-
paratory 'sstormng the heighs but halted them at
the base While waiting further orders the Thirteenth
infantry was attacked as tbs historian q Major
adiers and Captain Halls company or militia under
Captain Dennis Of the Forty nnth, with three pound
err" Captain Wool the senior In rank ana the com.
mandng officer In the absence Of Lieutenant Colonel
Chrystie wheeled his detachment and confronted the
enemy who after short but severe contest ned In the
direction OF Queenstown In this contest the Thirteenth
lost two mcritOrious and gallant officers killed. Lieuten
ants valeau and Morris, and four severely wounded
Captains Wool, Armstrong and Malcomb and Lieutenant
Lent and forty-ave Of the rank and file killed and
wounded. or the militia Lieutenant Colonel Van
Rensselaer, received four wounds, supposed ., the
Tins to be mortal, in consequence OF which he
ordered the troops to the shore OF the Niaga
ra At daylight after, the troops being
exposed to the fire from the heighs'Captans Williams
and Chsholm's companies Captain Wool sought Van
to ascertain II something could not be done TO
relieve the troops from the fire. from winch several OF
his had been killed and wounded Van Rensselaer,
replied be knew of nothing but the capture or the
heights. Captain Wool, although severely wounded
having been shot through both thighsvolunteered TO
undertake the enternrsA Van Rensselaer, unWtl ng
to accept the Offer and because OF the nexperence and
youthful appearance Of the officers and the highest IN
rank only captain" Yet he consented and Wool re-
ceived his Instructions and accordingly with two hun
dred and forty men, including officers, and small de-
tachment of artillery under Lieutenant Randolph, and
Captain Oglvie, with his company who had just joined
he assembled tho heights, surprised Captains Williams
and Chishom's COMPREHENSIVE ran down the heights
and captured the battery. Major General Brock and his
two aidsdecamp las Topper his history were in
the battery whom the Thirteenth fired INTO it, and barely
escaped capture. ''Thcy had not even time to
mount their horses but prcclp.tately ran down the
heights' On arriving at the village General
Brock organized force under Captain Williams,
and again ascended the heights and drove back
Captain woos forces to the edge or the precpce which
they had short time before assembled where they were
and his forces part way down the heights where he raj
lied his favore corps, the Forty ninth, and again ad
vanced to regain his lost position a. that moment no
York volunteers from Browns Point and at the instant
when he ordered Mcdonald 10 push the York volun
teers'' he fell The Colonel obcyng the orders OF his
beloved chief swth the hereditary courage Of his race
charged up the hill but was repealed by the Thirteenth
infantry when he and the Attorney General Of Upper
Canada fell MORALLY wounded s'rhe flank companies
Of the Forty ninth having suffered severely and both
the captains heinz wounded the troops rereated in front
and the crossings OF the river leaving eleven prisoners
including Indian chief in the possession Of Captain
Wool Soon after Captain Wool was Joined by Captain
Lawrence of the Thirteenth and Captain Machesney, OF
the Sixth infantry, who introduced 10 Captain Wool
by Lawrence. Al no time previous 10 this had
Captain Machesney been with the troops that carried
the Hheiphtg and baftcryb Also Lieutenant Smith
joined with thirty Rochester Rifles. The latter while
passing through Queenstown released Lieutenant Colonel
Feuwck, Major Mnllany and one two other officers,
who had been captured crossing the river. Mullany
crossed to Lewiston, but Fenwick was too severely
wounded TO be moved. About the same time number
OF officers arrived the heights with detachment Of
others Lieutenant Colonel Chrystie, who
took command OF his detachment the first time after Il
left lewiston Captain Wool, being nearly exhausted
with the Joss Of blood and the fagues OF the morning
and after getting his wounds dressed by Surgeon
John Mccall BY order OF Colonel Chrystie crossed to
Lewiston.
Thus q condensed but, as is believed, and faith
fu history presented Of the gallant services rendered
by the attachments which crossed the Niagara
Strait the morning Of the 18th Of October 1872 and
of the officers and OF the Thirteenth infantry two
battery and Afterwards defeated Maor General Brock
when he and Colonel Mcdonald fell not at the foot OF
the heights previous TO the capture OF the battery
rs stated by Lieutenant General Scott. The officers
who participated In these gallant achievements
will be discovered what follows from reports Of Major
General Van ennselaer and Lieutenant Colonel Chrystie
General smyh dated the Path Of October, 1912, says
IL conceive II duty owe TO myself to merit and 70 the
service 10 recommend to your particular notice and
favor and through you sir TO Major General Dearborn
the following brave officers who distinguished themselves
In the first detachment Of troops who engaged In
stormng the rcdoubt the heights OF Queenstown, on
the 18th inst Captains Wool and Ogilvie, Leutenants
Kearney, Carr Huganin and Sammons OF the Thirteenth
Infantry Leutenants Randolph and Gansevoort, Of the
artillery"
The name OF Lieutenant Reab and Assistant Surgeon
John Mccall should have been added
General Van Rensselaer, addressed 70 Captain Wool the
following letter, dated 18th December, 1872
sm-In my Official despatch TO General Dearborn was
sufficiently informed 10 do justice TO bravery and
good conduct In the attack Of the enemy the heights Of
Queenstown The In which you met and repulsed
the troops General Brock with the party under
the notice OF government and hope your pro-
motion will stimulate others TO emulate your example.
Lieutenant Colonel John Chrystie in his report dated
tho 22d Of February, 1919 his return as prisoner OF
war 70 the Secretary OF War; John Armstrong made the
following statement In detailed report Of the affair Of
Queenstown Referring 70 the first sthe cap
tre OF the heights and the defeat Of General Brock he
this affair Captain Wool OF the Thirteenth,
gallant officer commanded, and displayed nrmness and
l.r hn,