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[Illustration: MAJOR-GENERAL BROCK.
(_From miniature painting by J. Hudson._)
Copyrighted in the U. S. A. and Canada.
--From Nursey's "Story of Isaac Brock" (Briggs).]
BROCK CENTENARY
1812-1912
ACCOUNT OF THE CELEBRATION AT
QUEENSTON HEIGHTS, ONTARIO,
ON THE 12th OCTOBER, 1912
ALEXANDER FRASER, LL.D.
Editor
TORONTO
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED FOR THE COMMITTEE BY
WILLIAM BRIGGS
1913
DEDICATED
TO
THE DESCENDANTS OF THE DEFENDERS
Copyright, Canada, 1913, by
ALEXANDER FRASER
PREFATORY NOTE
The object of this publication is to preserve an account of the
Celebration, at Queenston Heights, of the Brock Centenary, in a more
convenient and permanent form than that afforded by the reports
(admirable as they are) in the local newspapers.
Celebrations were held in several places in Ontario, notably at St.
Thomas, where Dr. J. H. Coyne delivered a fervently patriotic address.
Had reports of these been available, extended reference would have been
gladly and properly accorded to them in this book. Considerable effort,
involving delay in publication, was made to secure the name of every
person who attended at Queenston Heights in a representative capacity,
and the list is probably complete.
For valuable assistance acknowledgment is due to Colonel Ryerson,
Chairman of the General and Executive Committees; to Miss Helen M.
Merrill, Honorary Secretary, and to Mr. Angus Claude Macdonell, K.C.,
M.P., Toronto. Also to Mr. Walter R. Nursey, for the use of the pictures
of General Brock, Col. Macdonell, and Brock's Monument, from his
interesting work: "The Story of Brock," in the Canadian Heroes Series;
and to the Ontario Archives, Toronto, for the use of the picture of the
first monument erected to Brock on Queenston Heights.
ALEXANDER FRASER.
[Illustration: From a Silhouette in possession of John Alexander
Macdonnell, K.C., Alexandria.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JOHN MACDONELL.
Provincial Aide-de-Camp to Major-General Sir Isaac Brock; M.P. for
Glengarry; Attorney-General of Upper Canada.
--From Nursey's "Story of Isaac Brock" (Briggs).]
CONTENTS
PAGE
Prefatory Note 3
Introduction--J. Stewart Carstairs, B.A. 9
Preliminary Steps 21
General Committee Formed 25
Programme Adopted 26
Reports of Committees 29
Celebrating the Day 32
At Queenston Heights--
Representatives Present 34
Floral Decorations 40
A Unique Scene 42
Historic Flags and Relics 43
Letters of Regret for Absence 44
The Speeches--
Colonel G. Sterling Ryerson 45
Mr. Angus Claude Macdonell, M.P. 50
Hon. Dr. R. A. Pyne, M.P.P. 55
Colonel George T. Denison 58
Mr. J. A. Macdonell, K.C. 61
Dr. James L. Hughes 67
Chief A. G. Smith 71
Warrior F. Onondeyoh Loft 74
Mr. Charles R. McCullough 75
Appendix I.--Highland Heroes in the War of 1812-14
--Dr. Alexander Fraser 77
Appendix II.--Programme of Toronto Garrison Service
in Massey Hall 82
Appendix III.--Indian Contributions to the Reconstruction
of Brock's Monument 88
Appendix IV.--Meetings of the Executive Committee
subsequent to the Celebration 91
Appendix V.--Captain Joseph Birney 93
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Major-General Brock _Frontispiece_
Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonell, Provincial Aide-de-Camp
to Major-General Sir Isaac Brock 5
Executive Committee 28
First Monument to General Brock at Queenston Heights 33
Brock's Monument 34
Central section of a panoramic picture of the gathering at
Queenston Heights 36
Floral Tribute placed on Cenotaph, where Brock fell, by the
Guernsey Society, Toronto 38
Brock Centenary Celebration at Queenston Heights 38
Memorial Wreaths placed on the Tombs, at Queenston Heights,
of Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, Kt., and Colonel John
Macdonell, P.A.D.C., Attorney-General of Upper Canada 41
Wreath placed on Brock's Monument in St. Paul's Cathedral,
London, Eng., by the Government of Canada 42
Wreath placed on Brock's Monument, Queenston Heights, by
the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire 42
Conferring Tribal Membership on Miss Helen M. Merrill 43
Six Nation Indians celebrating Brock's Centenary at Queenston
Heights 44
Colonel George Sterling Ryerson, Chairman of Committee 45
Angus Claude Macdonell, K.C., M.P., addressing the gathering 51
Hon. R. A. Pyne, M.D., M.P.P., Minister of Education of Ontario 58
James L. Hughes, LL.D., Chief Inspector of Schools, Toronto 58
Colonel George T. Denison, Toronto 58
J. A. Macdonell, K.C., Glengarry, addressing the gathering 61
Chief A. G. Smith, Six Nation Indians, Grand River Reserve 71
Captain Charles R. McCullough, Hamilton, Ont. 71
Warrior F. Onondeyoh Loft, Six Nation Indians, Toronto 71
Members of Committee at Queenston Heights 77
Group of Indians (Grand River Reserve) celebrating Brock's
Centenary at Queenston Heights 88
Captain Joseph Birnie 93
INTRODUCTION
BROCK AND QUEENSTON
By John Stewart Carstairs, B.A., Toronto
Brock's fame and Brock's name will never die in our history. The past
one hundred years have settled that. And in this glory the craggy
heights of Queenston, where in their splendid mausoleum Brock and
Macdonell sleep side by side their last sleep, will always have its
share. Strangely enough, who ever associates Brock's name with Detroit?
Yet, here was a marvellous achievement: the left wing of the enemy's
army annihilated, its eloquent and grandiose leader captured and two
thousand five hundred men and abundant military stores, with the State
of Michigan thrown in!
But Britain in those days was so busy doing things that we a hundred
years later can scarcely realize them. However, so much of our historic
perspective has been settled during the past hundred years. Perhaps in
another hundred years, when other generations come together to
commemorate the efforts of these men that with Brock and Macdonell
strove to seek and find and do and not to yield, the skirmish at
Queenston may be viewed in a different light.
Perhaps then the British Constitution will have bridged the oceans and
the "Seven Seas"; perhaps then Canada will be more British than Britain
itself--the very core, the centre, the heart of the Empire in territory
and population, in wealth and in influence, in spirit and in vital
activities. Then Queenston Heights may be regarded not merely as a
victory that encouraged Canadians to fight for their homes but as a
far-reaching world-event.
The year of Queenston, let us remember, was the year of Salamanca and of
Moscow--the most glorious year in British military annals. But what has
Salamanca to do with Canada? Britain was fighting alone, not merely for
the freedom of Britons but for the freedom of Europe. Since 1688 she had
been for more than one-half of the one hundred and twenty-four years
actively in arms against France. Since 1793 there had been peace--and
only nominal peace--_against_ France for only the two years following
the Treaty of Amiens (1801). The generation approaching maturity in 1812
had been born and had grown up "in wars and rumours of wars." In this
struggle against France and later against Napoleon, the Motherland had
increased the National Debt by L500,000,000, or nearly twenty-five
hundred millions of dollars; she had spent every cent she could gather
and taxed her posterity to this extent. That is what Britain had done
for her children--and for the world at large!
But ever since Jefferson had purchased (1803) Louisiana from Napoleon
the United States had found she was less dependent on Britain.
Accordingly, Jefferson grew more and more unfriendly. And now in 1812,
the world campaign of Napoleon had spread to America. He had hoped for
this, but on different lines. He had planned for it, but those plans had
failed.
"The War of 1812-14," as we call it, was merely a phase, a section, of
the greatest struggle in the history of mankind--the struggle of Britain
against the aggrandisement and cheap ambition of Napoleon to become the
Dictator of Europe and the civilized world. Brock, though invited to
take a share in the long drawn out contest in Spain, decided--fortunately
for us--to remain in Canada.
The year 1812 was the climax of the war with Napoleon--the most
splendid, as we have said, of all years in British military annals.
Since 1808, the British forces had been striving to drive the French
from Spain. First under Sir John Moore, later under Wellington, inch by
inch, year by year, they had beaten them back toward the Pyrenees. Then
on July 22, 1812, just as Brock was struggling with all his difficulties
here in Canada, there came Wellington's first decisive victory at
Salamanca. The news reached Brock in October and a day or two before he
died he sent the tidings forward to Proctor--Proctor then struggling
with his Forty-first Regiment to do as much damage as he could to the
enemy hundreds of miles out from Windsor and Detroit, Proctor who was to
be eternally much abused for faults he never was guilty of, and to be
blamed for Tecumseh's death next year. With the news of Salamanca went
Brock's prophetic comment: "I think the game nearly up in Spain"; and
within a year the game, Napoleon's game, was up, not only in Spain but
in all Europe. Within a year Leipsic had been fought and won and
Napoleon was a wanderer on the face of the earth, to be gathered in and
lodged on Elba.
Meanwhile other great events were shaping. Just a month before
Salamanca--in fact, four days before the United States declared
war--Napoleon had set out on his fatal expedition against Russia. Two
days later he crossed the Niemen. More than a million Frenchmen were now
in arms in Europe; and Britain was the only active enemy in the field.
What wonder then that Brock, as the civil and military head of the
Government of Upper Canada, should view with extreme anxiety the
situation in the Province? He had been in Canada for ten years. He knew
that the Motherland could not furnish any more men. There were fifteen
hundred regular troops in Upper, and two thousand in Lower Canada. Forty
years before there had not been a single settlement in what is now
Ontario from the Detroit to the Ottawa, from Lake Ontario to Sault Ste.
Marie. Now there were seventy-five thousand inhabitants; and under a
wise Militia Act they had imposed yearly military service on themselves;
every male inhabitant had to furnish his own gun and appear on parade or
be heavily fined. Thus there was a volunteer force more or less trained
amounting to about ten thousand men--a militia that under Brock rendered
splendid service.
But arms were scarce and supplies had to be brought long distances. The
men at Queenston won their victory with guns that were captured two
months before at Detroit. Throughout the war, when our mills had been
burnt by a ruthless enemy that made war on women and children and old
men, supplies were brought up the toilsome course of the St. Lawrence in
Durham boats and _bateaux_. The devoted militia of the river counties
guarded the frontier, and only once did they lose a convoy, part of
which they afterwards recovered by a raid into the enemy's territory at
Waddington, N.Y.
In front of Brock was a nation of eight or nine millions, a nation that
believed they could "take the Canadas without soldiers;" as the United
States Secretary of War said--"we have only to send officers into the
Province and the people, disaffected towards their own Government, will
rally round our standard." Yet they placed, during the three years of
the war, 527,000 men in the field and were defeated in thirty-two
engagements. The odds were twenty-six to one against us. That was
Brock's grand bequest to this land--the spirit to fight against odds
that were at first sight positively overwhelming.
For years sedition and disloyalty had been gaining ground in Upper
Canada. In 1802, Colonel Talbot classified the inhabitants of the
western part of the Province as (1) those enticed hither by the free
land grants; (2) those that had fled from the United States for crime;
(3) Republicans anticipating that the colony would shake off its
allegiance to Britain. Lieutenant-Colonel Ernest Cruikshank, who is
justly regarded as the most eminent authority on the War of 1812-14,
believes that in a large portion of the Province "the recent immigrants
from the United States outnumbered all the other inhabitants at least
two to one. Two-thirds of the members of the Assembly and one-third of
the magistrates were natives of the United States."
On the 28th of July, 1812, Brock called together the Legislature of
Upper Canada. In his speech from the throne he stated that "a few
traitors have already joined the enemy, have been suffered to come into
the country with impunity, and have been harboured and concealed in the
interior." The peroration should be memorized by every young Canadian:
"We are engaged in an awful and eventful contest. By unanimity and
despatch in our councils and by vigour in our operations we may teach
the enemy this lesson, that a country defended by _free men_,
enthusiastically devoted to their king and constitution, can never be
conquered." He especially desired the suspension of the Habeas Corpus
Act and the passing of an Act to compel suspected persons to take an
oath abjuring their allegiance to other countries. But Brock, to use his
own words, could "get no good of them. They, like the magistrates and
others in office, evidently mean to remain passive. The repeal of the
Habeas Corpus will not pass, and if I have recourse to the law martial,
I am told the whole armed force will disperse. Never was an officer
placed in a more awkward predicament."
The very next day he wrote in much the same spirit to Colonel Baynes:
"The population, believe me, is essentially bad--a full belief possesses
them all that this Province must inevitably succumb. This prepossession
is fatal to every exertion. Legislators, magistrates, militia officers,
all have imbibed the idea, and are so sluggish and indifferent in their
respective offices that the artful and active scoundrel is allowed to
parade the country without interruption and commit all imaginable
mischief. . . . Most of the people have lost all confidence. I, however,
speak loud and look big."
On the same day, moreover, he reported: "The militia stationed here (at
York) volunteered their services to any part of the Province without the
least hesitation."
Day after day his Legislature wasted their time. For eight days they
discussed a mere party question of changing a clause in the School Bill.
Brock prorogued Parliament and took the reins in his own hands. He
declared martial law, and soon after three members of the Legislature,
Willcocks, Markle, and Mallory, deserted and joined the United States
forces.
At once he set out on his expedition to Detroit. Through the wilds of
Upper Canada, by lake and field, he led his small band of men two
hundred miles. In nineteen days he was back again in his capital. He had
annihilated the left wing of the enemy's army; he had captured two
thousand five hundred men, thirty-seven cannon and immense military
stores. The State of Michigan practically remained in our possession
till the close of the war.
A hundred years ago Brock spent the last week in August and the first
part of October in strengthening the defences on the Niagara frontier.
He needed one thousand more regulars, but Sir George Prevost could not
spare another man. He mounted new batteries with the Detroit cannon. He
established a system of communication and the use of beacon lights from
Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, with a spur line inland to Pelham Heights. He
refitted his men from the stores captured at Detroit. Ceaseless activity
and eternal vigilance were the very laws of his life. The motto on his
seal is said to have been "He who guards never sleeps." The legend may
not be correct, but it is so appropriate that one likes to perpetuate
the tradition.
The United States army as a whole was attacking Canada at three points:
its right wing was trying to force its way up the valley of the
Richelieu; its left wing had been disposed of by Brock at Detroit; its
centre was being strengthened every day along the Niagara frontier. From
the old French fort at the mouth of the Niagara River to the village of
Buffalo there was on both sides of the Niagara an uninterrupted scene of
fearful and warlike activity. The heights of Lewiston and the red beach
below were white with the tents of nearly four thousand soldiers.
From Queenston a small body of British and Canadian soldiers were
watching and waiting. Then--a hundred years ago--it was much the same
straggling village as to-day. Here the eddying, foaming, turbulent
waters of the Niagara issue from the narrow, rocky gorge to spread out
into a gentle stream and wind their way to Lake Ontario, seven miles
distant. At the foot of the Canadian cliff nestles Queenston; at the
foot of the sister cliff opposite is Lewiston in New York State. A
hundred years ago, from the "Heights" a spectator would have seen the
same glorious panorama of fertile fields and autumn tints; but since
June the whole line of the Niagara River had resounded with din of
preparations to resist a ruthless and aggressive invader.
But while Brock was absent at Detroit, about the middle of August, Sir
George Prevost, the British commander-in-chief, had very unwisely
concluded an armistice with General Dearborn, the terms of which
extended only to the right wing of the United States army. Accordingly,
this gave Major-General Van Rensselaer, who was in command of the enemy
on the Niagara, a splendid opportunity to array still larger forces
against Brock. Artillery and stores were brought up from Oswego;
thousands of additional troops had been hurried forward to the enemy;
scows and boats were built for the purpose of crossing the Niagara.
"Major-General Stephen Van Rensselaer," says Colonel Ernest Cruikshank,
the careful historian of the war, "who held chief command by virtue of
his rank as major-general of the New York State troops, was an entire
novice in all military affairs, and could scarcely even be termed an
amateur soldier. The last patroon of the manor of Rensselaer-Wyck and
the leading Federalist in the State, his appointment was a sharp stroke
of party tactics on the part of the Governor, who discovered in him a
prospective and dangerous opponent. The recent congressional elections
had seemed to indicate that the Federalists had regained the confidence
of the people of New York, and most of their leaders were uncompromising
in their hostility to the war. If Van Rensselaer accepted the command
his immediate following would be committed to its prosecution; if he
refused his conduct could be denounced as unpatriotic.
"Stephen was an amiable and benevolent, but rather dull man of about
fifty years of age. On all strictly military subjects he was compelled
to rely upon the advice of his adjutant-general and cousin, Colonel
Solomon Van Rensselaer, who had been bred a soldier, had served in the
United States army for ten years, and had held his present appointment
for as many more. He had been wounded in Wayne's campaign against the
Indians, and possessed the reputation of being a brave and skilful
officer."
The close observer who comes up the Niagara River will see just after he
leaves the wharf of Niagara-on-the-Lake the far-extending green bastions
of Fort George. A hundred years ago there was no barn there which a
thrifty Government later allowed to be built within its lines. But a
hundred years ago this morning, on Tuesday, October 13, it was a fort
and Brock's headquarters. For weeks there had been persistent
rainstorms. In the dull grey foggy chill of the morning, about four
o'clock, there came an alarm that the enemy were crossing the river at
Queenston. In a few minutes, Brock dashed out of the fort unattended and
galloped headlong up the river road. Macdonell, his young and faithful
aide-de-camp, soon followed. At Brown's Point, two miles from Queenston,
was a battery manned by the militia of York, among them such men as John
Beverley Robinson and Archibald Maclean, both afterwards chief justices.
As Brock passed he waved his hand to them; and very likely it was then
he said, "Push on, brave York Volunteers." And as they advanced to
support their leaders there was plenty of evidence that the invaders had
made a landing. Troops of the enemy were met under guard--miserable,
wounded wretches.
The mouth of the Niagara Gorge is barely two hundred yards wide; and
this had been selected as the place at which to cross. Fifteen hundred
United States regulars and nearly three thousand militia, it was hoped,
could be ferried across in seven trips. At Queenston to oppose them
there were merely two companies of the Forty-ninth (Brock's regiment)
under Captain Dennis, and three companies of militia. In all, in and
about Queenston there were less than two hundred men.
In less than fifteen minutes ten boats had landed three hundred men,
exactly as they had planned. When discovered by a sentinel, they were
forming up under the command of Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer.
At once from Brown's Point, from Vrooman's Point, from the gun halfway
up Queenston Heights there belched forth an incessant fire. The
Lewiston batteries opened on the village and soon reduced several of
the houses to ruins.
Meanwhile, Captain Dennis, with forty-six men, sought out the invaders
at the foot of the cliff. Though they soon took to the cover of the
trees and brush in disorder, many were killed, and Colonel Van
Rensselaer himself received no less than six wounds.
After dawn, however, they observed how few men were working the one-gun
battery halfway up Queenston Heights. They ascended by a narrow
fisherman's path, under the command of Lieutenant Wool, and gained the
Heights unopposed.
It was "at this instant Brock rode into the village, splashed with mud
from head to foot. . . . A striking scene presented itself to his gaze.
Battalion after battalion of troops in rear of the American batteries in
readiness to embark; other detachments entering their boats, some
already on the river; their guns throwing round and grape shot into the
village, where Dennis still contrived to maintain a foothold"
(Cruikshank).
Brock rode up the slope toward the redan halfway up the Heights. From
the hillside above him burst a shout and down rushed an overwhelming
body of the invaders. With barely time to spike the gun with a ramrod,
the three officers and the dozen artillerymen withdrew and left the
enemy in possession.
Fresh troops were now landing to assist the invaders; and Brock was
fully convinced that the lost position must be recovered at once. He
sent Captain Williams with about seventy men by a round-about way to
attack Wool's left. Seeing Wool's force driven in, Brock mustered a
hundred and ninety men, including the militia flank companies. Waving
his sword, he led his men up the steep ascent toward the battery they
had lost. As he moved toward the right of the mountain, a bullet struck
his sword wrist. Within fifty yards of him, an Ohio rifleman stepped
out from a thicket, took deliberate aim and fired. Shot through the left
breast, he fell. "My fall," he murmured, "must not be noticed, nor
impede my brave companions from advancing to victory." Mindful of duty,
mindful of others, thus died Sir Isaac Brock, the hero of Upper Canada.
Three days before, a grateful sovereign had created him a Knight of the
Order of the Bath. Subsequent generations of Canadians placed over his
remains the noble shaft, that from its commanding position is the most
notable landmark of the historic battleground he made famous. But he
lives in the hearts of the people whose country he saved, whose fathers
he inspired to resist the invader. He had found them a panic-stricken
people, he left them vigorous, united, aggressive.
The remaining incidents of that day at Queenston Heights are well known.
Two hours later, Macdonell, Brock's military secretary and aide, tried
to regain the one-gun battery. A fierce fight ensued: Macdonell, Dennis
and Williams were all wounded; and the next day the bright young
Scotsman, attorney-general at the age of twenty-seven, passed away. In
life he was united with Brock, and in death he was not separated. The
bodies of the two heroes rest together under the Queenston Monument,
where the river has been singing their requiem for a hundred years.
The third stage of the battle was reached at two o'clock in the
afternoon. Then Major-General Roger Hale Sheaffe advanced from Fort
George along the river road. Turning to the right down the little
Queenston Creek, he led his forces across the Dr. Hamilton property. On
the left he flung out his Indians under Norton and Brant, and they moved
forward and made trouble.
Ascending the escarpment west of the invading troops, Sheaffe came upon
the terrified invaders, drawn up near the site of the present monument.
Their left rested on the river verge of the cliff. A volley or two--and
the Canadians found themselves embarrassed with prisoners. Within a few
days, 958, including stragglers, had surrendered as prisoners of war.
Among these were General Wadsworth, who had been in command, and
Lieutenant-Colonel Winfield Scott, later to become commander-in-chief of
the United States army and conqueror of Mexico.
PRELIMINARY STEPS
The desire to commemorate the centenary of Brock's death-day--October
13th, 1912--took form at a meeting of the United Empire Loyalists'
Association of Canada, held at Toronto on April 11th, 1912, when, on the
motion of Mr. John Stewart Carstairs, B.A., a committee, consisting of
Colonel Ryerson, Lieut.-Colonel W. Hamilton Merritt, Mr. J. S.
Carstairs, and Mr. C. E. MacDonald, barrister, was appointed to draft a
suitable programme for the celebration of "Brock's Day."
This committee submitted the following report at a meeting of the
Association held on September 17th, 1912, Colonel Ryerson presiding:
"Your Committee begs leave to report that as, within their
knowledge, no action has been taken by either the Federal or
Provincial Government to celebrate the Centenary of the death of
Sir Isaac Brock on Sunday, October 13th, 1912, they recommend as
follows:
"(1) That recommendations be made to both the Federal Government
and to the Provincial Government of Ontario, that in view of the
fact that General Brock in June, 1812, found himself at the head of
a panic-stricken people in the presence of a powerful invader, and
that a few months later, when he fell at Queenston Heights, he left
that people united, fearless and invincible, it is believed that
there should be a national demonstration that will be in effect
only less impressive on the public mind than was the passing away
of the man himself at Queenston Heights a hundred years ago.
"(2) That the demonstration might take the form of a royal salute
from every cannon in the land on Sunday, October 13th. This would
be a matter to be arranged by the Minister of Militia.
"(3) Every church in Canada might be requested to hold some sort of
a memorial service on Sunday, October 13th.
"(4) On Friday, October 11th, every school in Canada might appeal
to the intellect and imagination of the coming generation of men
and women by appropriate commemorative exercises.
"(5) Monday, October 14th, could be proclaimed a national holiday.
"There is, in the corridor of the Parliament Buildings at Toronto,
the copy of a splendid portrait of Brock, full of life and action.
By some arrangement with the Minister of Education in every
Province, or even without it, perhaps a copy of this picture could
be placed in every school in the land.
"(6) As the city of Toronto is very likely to expropriate the Knox
College property, it might be well to suggest to the city
authorities that this new park should be opened in October with
proper ceremonies and named Brock Park. In this connection, it
might be well to recall that the lower portion of Spadina Avenue
was, until recently, known as Brock Street.
"(7) It is recommended that these suggestions shall be brought to
the attention of the Federal and Provincial Governments, and every
means should be taken to convince the authorities that on October
13th, 1912, our people should hang some votive offering on the
shrine of the hero of Upper Canada.
"(8) That copies of this report be sent to the National Council of
Women and to the Secretary of the Imperial Order of the Daughters
of the Empire inviting their concurrence.
"J. S. CARSTAIRS, _Chairman_."
This Report was adopted tentatively, and in order to secure as wide as
possible a co-operation from other patriotic Associations, it was
agreed, on the motion of Colonel Denison, seconded by Mr. C. E.
Macdonald, that the Centenary of Sir Isaac Brock's death, Sunday,
October 13th, 1912, be commemorated by an excursion to Queenston Heights
on the 12th, and that patriotic and historical societies, clubs and
regiments, etc., be asked to send not more than three delegates to a
meeting to be held on Wednesday, September 25th, at 4.30 o'clock, in the
Canadian Foresters' Building, to discuss a plan of commemoration.
In accordance with this resolution the following societies were
circularized, and asked to co-operate in the celebration:
SOCIETIES: British Empire League; Caledonian Society; Canadian Club;
Canadian Defence League; Daughters of the Empire, Niagara Falls, Ont.;
Daughters of the Empire, St. Catharines; Empire Club; Historical
Society, Niagara Falls, Ont.; Historical Society, Niagara-on-the-Lake;
Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire; Irish Protestant and Benevolent
Society, Toronto; Lundy's Lane Historical Society, Niagara Falls, Ont.;
Ontario Historical Society; St. Andrew's Society, Toronto; St.
Catharines' Historical Society; St. George's Society, Toronto; Sons of
England, Toronto; Sons of Scotland Benevolent Association, Toronto;
Women's Canadian Historical Society, Toronto; Women's Canadian Club,
Toronto; Women's Historical Society, Hamilton; Women's Institute,
Queenston; Women's Institute, Stamford; York Pioneers' Association.
MILITARY: Brig.-General W. H. Cotton, Officer Commanding 2nd Division;
Canadian Army Medical Corps, Permanent Army Medical Corps, Permanent
Army Service Corps, Royal Canadian Dragoons, Royal Canadian Engineers,
Royal Canadian Regiment.
_Artillery_: 2nd Brigade Canadian Field Artillery, 9th Battery Canadian
Field Artillery.
_Cavalry_: Governor-General's Body Guard, 9th Mississauga Horse.
_Infantry_: "Queen's Own" Rifles, 10th Regiment Royal Grenadiers, 12th
Regiment York Rangers, 48th Battalion Highlanders.
_Military Associations, Etc._: Canadian Military Institute, Her
Majesty's Army and Navy Veterans, Imperial South African Service
Association, Veterans of '66 Association, Veterans of '85 Association,
Wolseley Red River Expedition Association, 1870.
GENERAL COMMITTEE FORMED
In response to the invitation above referred to, societies and regiments
appointed the following delegates to represent them on the General
Committee:--
_United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada_: Colonel G.
Sterling Ryerson, President; Colonel G. T. Denison, Lieut.-Colonel
George A. Shaw, Mr. R. E. A. Land, Vice-Presidents; Mr. J. Stewart
Carstairs, Honorary Secretary; Miss Helen M. Merrill, Honorary
Assistant Secretary; Mr. A. R. Davis, Honorary Treasurer; Mr. C. E.
Macdonald, Miss Catharine Merritt, Mr. R. S. Neville, K.C., Captain
Victor Hall, Miss O. V. Widner, Mrs. F. O. Loft, Mrs. Edmund
Phillips, Mrs. Dignam, Toronto.
_Six Nations Indians_ (United Empire Loyalists): Warrior F. O.
Loft, Mr. Allen W. Johnson.
_British Empire League_: Colonel G. T. Denison, Toronto.
_Canadian Club_: Dr. A. H. U. Colquhoun, President; Mr. F. D. L.
Smith, Toronto.
_Canadian Defence League_: Colonel Fotheringham, Dr. J. L. Hughes,
Mr. R. E. Kingsford, Toronto.
_Empire Club_: Mr. J. Castell Hopkins, Dr. E. K. Richardson,
Toronto.
_Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire_: Mrs. A. E. Gooderham,
Mrs. E. F. B. Johnstone, Mrs. John Bruce, Miss Constance Boulton,
Toronto.
_Sons of Scotland_: Dr. Alexander Fraser, Dr. John Ferguson,
Toronto.
_St. George's Society, Toronto_: John W. Gamble Boyd.
_Lundy's Lane Historical Association_: Mr. J. Jackson,
Superintendent Queen Victoria Park, Secretary, Niagara Falls, Ont.
_Niagara Historical Society_: Miss Janet Carnochan,
Niagara-on-the-Lake; Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson, Mrs. Charles Lewis
Shaw, Toronto.
_Ontario Historical Society_: Dr. Alexander Fraser, Secretary,
Toronto.
_Women's Canadian Historical Society, Toronto_: Miss M. Agnes
FitzGibbon, Toronto.
_Women's Wentworth Historical Society_: Mrs. John Calder, Hamilton,
President.
_Governor-General's Body Guard_: Lieut.-Colonel Frank A. Fleming,
W. E. L. Coleman, Toronto.
_12th Regiment_: Major Curran, Toronto.
_48th Highlanders_: Captain Darling, Adjutant.
_'66 Veterans' Association_: Captain Geo. Musson, P. E. Noverre,
David Creighton, Lieut.-Colonel A. E. Belcher, Lieut.-Colonel Geo.
A. Shaw, Toronto.
_'85 Veterans' Association_: Sergeant A. G. Scovell, Toronto.
PROGRAMME ADOPTED
The first meeting of the General Committee thus formed was held on
September 25th, 1912, in the Canadian Foresters' Building, College
Street, Toronto. There was a large attendance of members.
Colonel Ryerson was appointed Chairman, and Miss Helen M. Merrill
Secretary, of the Committee. The report from the United Empire Loyalist
Association of Canada, as given above, having been read to the meeting,
resolutions to the following effect were passed:
(1) That Brock's Day be celebrated by a public gathering at
Queenston Heights.
(2) That the various patriotic and historical societies, local as
well as those within easy reach of Queenston, be invited to send as
large delegations as possible to Brock's Monument on Saturday,
October 12th, 1912, in commemoration of his death.
(3) That the various patriotic and historical societies be asked to
send wreaths for the purpose of decorating Brock's Monument on
October 12th.
(4) That a special invitation be sent to Mr. J. A. Macdonell, K.C.,
Alexandria, Ont., to attend the celebration as the direct
representative of Colonel John Macdonell, the Attorney-General of
Upper Canada, and Brock's Provincial A.D.C., who fell with his
leader, and whose remains rest beneath the monument on Queenston
Heights.
(5) That the Honourable the Minister of Militia be asked to order
that salutes be fired on October 12th from all saluting points in
Canada.
(6) That the churches be asked to arrange that memorial sermons be
preached throughout Canada on Sunday, October 13th.
(7) That suitable exercises relating to Brock and 1812 should be
held in every school in Canada; and that this suggestion be not
only given publicity through the newspapers, but that the attention
of the various Ministers of Education in the Dominion be specially
drawn to it.
(8) That the Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs at Ottawa be
asked to take measures to have the history of Brock and the events
of the 1812 war brought specially before the children in all Indian
Schools under the charge of the Dominion Government.
(9) That a wreath be placed on the picture of Brock in the
Parliament Buildings, Toronto.
(10) That it be suggested to the Dominion Government to place a
wreath on Brock's Monument in St. Paul's Cathedral, London,
England.
An Executive Committee was appointed to further these resolutions,
consisting of the members of the following special committees:--
_Travelling Arrangements, etc._: Colonel Ryerson, Dr. James L.
Hughes, Mr. J. S. Carstairs and Mr. C. E. Macdonald.
_Press_: Mr. J. Castell Hopkins, Dr. Alexander Fraser, Mr. F. D. L.
Smith, Miss Helen M. Merrill.
Chairman and Secretary of the Executive Committee: Colonel Ryerson
and Miss Helen M. Merrill.
[Illustration:
Miss Helen M. Merrill, Honorary Secretary. Colonel George S. Ryerson,
Chairman. James L Hughes. LL.D. J. Castell Hopkins. J. Stewart
Carstairs, B.A. Charles E. Macdonald, Esq. Alexander Fraser, LL.D. F. D.
L. Smith, Esq.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.]
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
The General Committee met on October 2nd, 1912, Colonel Ryerson
presiding. The reports of the special committees regarding the
arrangements were very satisfactory, and it was made abundantly clear
that the proposed celebration had touched a tender chord of public
feeling. Travelling arrangements by train to Niagara Falls and by
electric car thence to Queenston Heights were approved of. The
co-operation of the Women's Institute, Queenston, was promised in
connection with the decoration of the grounds there; the Ontario
Government consented to police the grounds, and the Victoria Park
Commission to reopen the restaurant at the Heights for the day. It was
agreed to advise the hotels at Niagara Falls, Ont., that luncheon would
be taken at that town on arrival of the train, and to arrange with the
electric railway for the conveyance of the visitors to the Monument. The
publicity so generously afforded by the press was gratefully
acknowledged. A letter from Mr. J. A. Macdonell, K.C., Alexandria,
accepting the Committee's invitation, was read; and a motion by Mr. F.
D. L. Smith that a bronze tablet to mark the centenary celebration be
placed on Brock's Monument was deferred for consideration at the next
meeting to be held on the week following.
At the meeting of the General Committee held on October 9th in the
Canadian Foresters' Hall, Toronto, Colonel Ryerson presiding, the
following report of the Executive Committee was received and adopted:--
"The Executive Committee met on October 7th and received
satisfactory reports of the progress made in carrying out the
proposals of the General Committee. A programme for the celebration
at Queenston Heights was drafted, and the President was requested
to arrange with the Department of Militia that the permanent forces
be sent from Toronto to Queenston Heights to take part in the
proceedings. It was also resolved to publish an account of the
proceedings in connection with the celebration as an interesting
record of a notable event."
The Executive also reported that all arrangements had been completed for
the journey to Queenston Heights; that the Militia Department had
ordered that salutes be fired from all saluting points in Canada on the
12th inst.; that commemorative church services would be extensively held
on the 13th inst.; that special exercises would be observed in the
public schools in accordance with letters received from the Honourable
R. A. Pyne, M.P.P., Minister of Education for Ontario, Mr. Augustus W.
Ball, Deputy Minister of Education, Saskatchewan, Mr. Alexander
Robinson, Superintendent of Education, British Columbia, and from Mr. R.
Fletcher, Deputy Minister of Education, Manitoba; that a detachment from
the permanent infantry force at Toronto would proceed to Queenston
Heights on the 12th inst.; that the Toronto, Hamilton and other corps of
militia would be represented, and that large delegations from patriotic,
national and historical societies would take part; that many wreaths
would be sent to the monument; that the Dominion Government had ordered
its representative in London, England, to place a wreath on Brock's
Memorial in St. Paul's Cathedral; and that letters from prominent public
men had been received, either regretting their inability to take part or
accepting the invitations to be present.
This being the last meeting of the General Committee, it was agreed to
refer the suggestion that a bronze centennial tablet be placed on
Brock's Monument, the striking of a Centennial medal, and all business
connected with the celebration ceremonies, or arising therefrom, to the
Executive Committee, with full power to dispose of the same.
The meeting then adjourned _sine die_.
CELEBRATING THE DAY
It had been decided to travel by the Grand Trunk Railway train leaving
Toronto at nine o'clock a.m. (a few only going by steamer from Yonge
Street wharf). The unsettled, rainy weather of the two previous days had
caused some misgiving as to the number of people who might venture on an
open air demonstration on a cold October day, and the grey looming skies
at dawn on Saturday, the 12th, held no hidden hope of a silver lining.
The enthusiasm awakened by the name of Brock, however, was resistless,
and betimes the seats in the waiting train were crowded. The Union
Station witnessed a lively scene--the soldiers in bright colours, the
ladies and gentlemen in gay humour, and the stirring music of the
bagpipes, combining to enliven and mark the unusual character of the
occasion.
At Hamilton a number of friends joined the party, and others who could
not do so came to the railway station to express their good wishes. St.
Catharines also gave its contingent. Niagara Falls was safely reached at
11.45 o'clock.
Shortly afterwards Major Gordon J. Smith, Brantford, Superintendent of
the Six Nation Indians, and a fine delegation arrived, and luncheon was
served at several of the hotels.
The journey was resumed by electric cars, the large company arriving at
Queenston Heights in the course of an hour.
During the forenoon the sky had cleared, and now the sun shone out
brightly for a space on a landscape unsurpassed anywhere for spacious
magnificence and scenic beauty. And crowning the domed escarpment the
stately column spoke forth a people's patriotism and love, a memorial to
the brave, the scene harmonizing with the feelings of the great
gathering.
[Illustration: FIRST MONUMENT TO GENERAL BROCK AT QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
--Ontario Archives.]
AT QUEENSTON HEIGHTS
[Illustration: BROCK'S MONUMENT, QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
--From Nursey's "Story of Isaac Brock" (Briggs).]
About two thousand people gathered at the foot of the Monument. Colonel
G. Sterling Ryerson, President of the General Committee and of the U. E.
L. Association, presided. Among those present were the Hon. R. A. Pyne,
M.P.P., Minister of Education for Ontario, and Mrs. Pyne; A. Claude
Macdonell, M.P., Toronto; W. M. German, M.P., Welland; Colonel George T.
Denison (U. E. L. and British Empire League); J. A. Macdonell, K.C.,
Glengarry; A. MacLean Macdonell, K.C. (representatives of Colonel the
Hon. John Macdonell, Provincial A.D.C. to General Brock); Dr. Alexander
Dame (a relative of Hon. Colonel John Macdonell); James L. Hughes, LL.D.
(Canadian Defence League); Doctor Jessop, M.P.P., St. Catharines; Mr.
Evan Fraser, M.P.P., Niagara Falls, Ont.; Alexander Fraser, LL.D.
(Ontario Historical Society, St. Andrew's Society, and S.O.S.
Association); Mr. F. D. W. Smith (Canadian Club, Toronto); J. Castell
Hopkins (Empire Club, Toronto); Miss Helen M. Merrill (Honorary
Secretary, Brock Centenary, and U. E. L.); Miss C. Macdonell; Miss Kate
Fraser, Toronto; Mr. John Stewart Carstairs, B.A. (Honorary Secretary,
U. E. L. Association of Canada); Mr. Charles E. Macdonald, barrister,
Toronto (Honorary Counsellor, U. E. L. Association of Canada); Chas. R.
McCullough, Hamilton (Union of Canadian Clubs).
Royal Canadian College, Kingston: Colonel J. H. V. Crowe, Commandant.
Royal Canadian Regiment: Captain J. F. Brown (in command), Lieutenant J.
W. Cox, and sixty-eight non-coms. and men.
Governor-General's Body Guard: Lieut.-Colonel Prank A. Fleming, officer
commanding; Lieutenant A. D. Kirkpatrick; A. M. Stretton, Sergt.-Major,
W. O.; S.Q.M.S. W. E. Borlace, Sergeant E. Pelletier, Mr. W. E. L.
Coleman, Robt. D. Cox, Q.M. Sgt., 1st Cavalry Brigade; Corporal Worsick,
Corporal Douglas; Troopers G. L. Collins, E. Lightbody, Sewell, Thos.
Preston, G. W. C. Clarke, John S. Kilpatrick, W. Lennox, W. Hill, S.
Norse.
9th Mississauga Horse.
St. Catharines Field Battery: Colonel F. King, Lieut.-Colonel Campbell.
Canadian Engineers.
2nd Regt. Q.O.R., Toronto: Sergeant-Major Geo. Creighton, Sergeants J.
I. Matthews, A. G. Scovell, R. F. Reed, W. F. Meaforth, Forsyth, Scott;
George Sanderson, E. R. Fitzgerald, retired, New Westminster, B.C., and
others.
10th Regt., "Royal Grenadiers," Toronto: Edward Johnston, Geo. H.
Briggs, Robert Hazelton, and seventeen men under Captain Campbell.
12th Regt., "York Rangers": Major Curran.
13th Regt., Hamilton: Lieut.-Colonel Moore, Bt. Lieut.-Colonel Ross,
C.O., Major Lester.
19th Regt., St. Catharines: Lieut.-Colonel W. W. Burleigh and others.
22nd Regt., "Oxford Rifles."
36th "Peel" Regt.: Royal Grafton, Ensign.
48th Regt., "Highlanders," Toronto: Lieut.-Colonel W. Hendrie, Major J.
A. Currie, and thirty-two non-com. officers and men in charge of
Sergeant Cameron.
91st Regt., Canadian Highlanders, Hamilton: Lieut.-Colonel John J.
Maclaren and others.
York and Simcoe Battalion, Toronto: Corporal Thos. Laird, N.W.F.F.,
1885.
North-West Mounted Police: J. W. Scott.
Ridley College Cadets and Bugle Band.
'66 Veterans' Association: P. E. Noverre, President; Captain John A.
Macdonald, '70; Colonel Belcher; Major J. Beck, 33rd Huron Regt.;
Captain Geo. Musson, John Robinson, Walter R. Nursey; Captain John Ford
(Chicago Volunteers), Past-President; Andrew K. Lauder, Captain F. H.
McCallum, A. E. Wheeler.
Niagara District Veteran Volunteers' Association, St. Catharines:
Jamieson Black, President; C. Chapman, Past-President; Robt. J. Black,
Vice-President; W. H. Drysdale, Treasurer; J. Albert Mills, Secretary;
George Wilson.
His Majesty's Army and Navy Veterans' Association: Mr. C. H. Robertson.
Canadian Militia Veterans: Captain W. Fahey, President.
Canadian Baden-Powell Boy Scouts: Ed. Nix, J. Gordon Rosser, Toronto.
United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada: Major W. Napier Keefer,
Past-President; Mr. R. E. A. Land, Vice-President; Rev. Canon Alex. W.
Macnab, Honorary Chaplain, and Mrs. Macnab; Mr. E. M. Chadwick, K.C.,
Honorary Genealogist; Mr. A. R. Davis, Honorary Treasurer; Mrs. Edwards
Merrill, Miss Emily Merritt, Miss Catharine Merritt, Miss Laura Clarke,
Captain G. S. Ryerson, Miss Laura Ryerson, Miss Flora Powel, Miss J. J.
MacCallum (descendant of Laura Secord), Miss Henrietta Loft, Miss Affa
Loft, Major J. G. Beam (retired, 44th Batt.), Captain M. S. Boehm (30th
Regt.), Mrs. Birdsall (descendant of Laura Secord), Niagara Falls.
[Illustration: CENTRAL SECTION OF A PANORAMIC PICTURE OF THE GATHERING
AT QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.]
Council of the Six Nations Indians, Oshwegan, Brant County (United
Empire Loyalists): Mr. Gordon J. Smith (Honorary Chief, De-ha-ka-res,
Bear Clan, Mohawk Tribe), Superintendent, Brantford; Chief Josiah Hill
(Sa-ko-ka-ryes, Wolf Clan), Secretary; Chief William Smith,
Interpreter; Chief J. C. Martin, Speaker; Chief J. S. Johnson
(Ka-nen-kwe-yah), Deputy Speaker; Chief J. W. M. Elliott (Mohawk); Chief
A. G. Smith (De-ka-nen-ra-neh, Bear Clan, Mohawk); Chief Elias Lewis
(De-ka-ri-ho-gen, Turtle Clan, Mohawk); Chief Abraham Lewis
(Ah-yon-wah-ehs, Turtle Clan, Mohawk); Chief John A. Gibson (Seneca);
Chief Peter Isaac (Mudturtle Clan, Seneca); Chief Alexander Hill
(Ot-go-taw-yen-toun, Deer Clan, Onondaga), Fire Keeper; Chief Lawrence
Jonathan (Sha-ko-ken-he, Eel Clan, Onondaga), Fire Keeper; Chief David
Jamieson (Cayuga); Chief Jacob Isaac (Hon-wa-sha-de-hon, Oneida); Chief
Joseph Powless (Ha-dva-dho-nen-ta, Wolf Clan, Oneida); Chief Richard
Hill (Ra-rih-whi-tyen-tah, Wolf Clan, Tuscarora); Chief Elias Carrier
(Tuscarora); Warrior Frederick O. Loft and Mr. Allen W. Johnson,
Toronto, Delegates to Brock Centenary Committee; Chief Isaiah Sickles
(Da-Da-hon-den-wen, Bear Clan, Oneida); Warrior George Aaron; Daniel
McNughton (Ha-don-da-he-ha); Dennis Palmerston (Tuscarora, American
Indian).