rest they fell in order and marched around the mountain by St. David's
and there surprised the Americans eating their (the Canadians')
breakfast, as the Americans had surprised them earlier in the morning.
And then commenced the real fighting of the day. The Americans after a
hand-to-hand fight were charged and driven out, many of them being
forced over heights into Niagara River. Captain Birney used to remark
that with his sword in one hand and a broken gunbarrel in the other he
led his men in this charge, and it was a sorry day for any American who
came within his reach. Among the many prisoners Captain Birney assisted
in capturing that day was his cousin, Captain Winfield Scott, afterwards
General Scott, who, after being taken to York, was exchanged for
prisoners.
Captain Birney led his company, the 5th Lincoln, in the battle of
Lundy's Lane in 1814, coming out of it, as he did in all his
engagements, without a scratch.
He used to take pleasure in relating how, after the Americans had been
badly beaten and had made a hasty retreat, leaving their men to be
buried, there was left behind a lone gunner who stuck to his cannon.
Birney and a number of his men marched down upon this man for the
purpose of capturing the gun, and as they approached him, three times
did this gunner swing his torch with the purpose of firing his gun, but
each time he drew back from the fuse and finally threw his torch upon
the ground. Birney said it was well he did, as he and many of his men
would not have lived to tell the tale, as they were walking directly in
the face of the cannon. He also took pride in telling how one Canadian
cannon was taken and retaken many times that night, while lying in heaps
around it were Canadians and Americans who had fought and died bravely.
When the Rebellion of 1837 broke out Captain Birney was the oldest
officer surviving the troubles of 1812-14. Being at that time over age
he did not wish to take any part in the fighting, feeling he had served
his country well and sufficiently up to that time, and he felt in
addition that through favoritism many who had served under him had been
promoted over his head. However, through the personal efforts of Sir
Allan McNab and Colonel Land he was persuaded to take command of a
company of the 3rd Gore Militia, which post he held until about 1841,
being actively engaged in military affairs during all that period.
Some of his work at this time was the building of the bridge for the
troops to cross the water-gap at Burlington Heights, and he also was
engaged in constructing the defence works on Burlington Heights during
the battle of Stoney Creek for use in case of retreat. He was afterwards
with his company in charge of the 112 prisoners who were held and tried
at Hamilton.
When Captain Birney died, in 1873, being in his 96th year, he was the
oldest living Mason in Canada, having joined the Craft in 1803.
Transcriber's Note:-
Illustration "Brock Centenary Celebration at Queenston Heights" added to
list of Illustrations for Page 38.
Original spelling retained and some minor punctuation corrections made.