this invasion, and on the preceding evening he called his staff
together and gave to each the necessary instructions. Agreeable
to his usual custom he rose before daylight, and hearing the
cannonade, awoke Major Glegg, and called for his horse Alfred,
which Sir James Craig had presented to him. He then galloped
eagerly from Fort George to the scene of action, and with two
Aides-de-Camp passed up the hill at full gallop in front of the
light company, under a heavy fire of artillery and musketry
from the American shore. On reaching the 18-pounder battery at
the top of the hill, they dismounted and took a view of passing
events, which at that moment appeared highly favourable. But in
a few minutes a firing was heard, which proceeded from a strong
detachment of American regulars under Captain Wool, who, as just
stated, had succeeded in gaining the brow of the heights in rear
of the battery, by a fisherman’s path up the rocks, which being
reported as impossible, was not guarded. Sir Isaac Brock and his
Aides-de-Camp had not even time to remount, but were obliged to
retire precipitately with the twelve men stationed in the battery,
which was quickly occupied by the enemy. Captain Wool having sent
forward about 150 regulars, Captain Williams’ detachment of about
100 men advanced to meet them, personally directed by the General,
who, observing the enemy waver, ordered a charge, which was
promptly executed; but as the Americans gave way, the result was
not equal to his expectations. Captain Wool sent a reinforcement
to his regulars, notwithstanding which, the whole was driven to
the edge of the bank. Here some of the American officers were on
the point of hoisting a white flag with an intention to surrender,
when Captain Wool tore it off and reanimated his dispirited troops.
They now opened a heavy fire of musketry, and, conspicuous from his
cross, his height, and the enthusiasm with which he animated his
little band, the British Commander was soon singled out, and he
fell about an hour after his arrival.
The fatal bullet entered his right breast, and passed through
his left side. He had but that instant said, “_Push on the York
Volunteers!_” and he lived only long enough to request that his
fall might not be noticed, or prevent the advance of his brave
troops, adding a wish which could not be distinctly understood,
that some token of remembrance should be transmitted to his
sister. He died unmarried, and on the same day, a week previously,
he had completed his 43rd year. The lifeless corpse was immediately
conveyed into a house close by, where it remained until the
afternoon, unperceived by the enemy. His Provincial Aide-de-Camp,
Lieutenant Colonel McDonell, of the militia, and the Attorney
General of Upper Canada, a fine promising young man, was mortally
wounded soon after his chief, and died the next day, at the early
age of twenty-five years. Although one bullet had passed through
his body, and he was wounded in four places, yet he survived twenty
hours, and during a period of excruciating agony his thoughts and
words were constantly occupied with lamentations for his deceased
commander and friend. He fell, while gallantly charging up the
hill, with 190 men, chiefly York Volunteers, by which charge the
enemy was compelled to spike the 18-pounder in the battery there.
THE BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
At this time, about two in the afternoon, the whole British and
Indian force thus assembled was about 1000 men, of whom 600 were
regulars. In numbers the Americans were about equal--courage they
had, but they wanted the confidence and discipline of British
Soldiers. After carefully reconnoitering, General Sheaffe, who had
arrived from Fort George, and who had now assumed the command,
commenced the attack by an advance of his left flank, composed of
the light company of the 41st, under Lieutenant McIntyre, supported
by a body of militia and Indians. After a volley, the bayonet was
resorted to, and the American right driven in. The main body now
advanced under cover of the fire from the two 3-pounders, and after
a short conflict forced the Americans over the first ridge of
the heights to the road loading from Queenston to the Falls. The
fight was maintained on both sides with courage truly heroic. The
British regulars and militia charged in rapid succession, until
they succeeded in turning the left flank of the enemy’s column,
which rested on the summit of the hill. The Americans who attempted
to escape into the woods were quickly driven back by the Indians;
and many cut off in their return to the main body, and terrified by
the sight of these exasperated warriors, flung themselves wildly
over the cliffs, and endeavoured to cling to the bushes which grew
upon them; but some, losing their hold, were dashed frightfully on
the rocks beneath; while others, who reached the river, perished in
their attempts to swim across it. The event of the day no longer
appeared doubtful.
Major-General Van Rensselaer, commanding the American army,
perceiving his reinforcements embarking very slowly, recrossed
the river to accelerate their movements; but, to his utter
astonishment, he found that at the very moment when their services
were most required, the ardour of the unengaged troops had entirely
subsided. He rode in all directions through the camp, urging his
men by every consideration, to pass over. Lieutenant-Colonel
Bloome, who had been wounded in the action and recrossed the river,
together with Judge Peck, who happened to be in Lewiston at the
time, mounted their horses and rode through the camp, exhorting the
companies to proceed, but all in vain. Crowds of the United States
militia remained on the American bank of the river, to which they
had not been marched in any order, but ran as a mob; not one of
them would cross. They had seen the wounded recrossing, they had
seen the Indians; and they had seen the “Green Tigers,” as they
called the 49th, from their green facings, and were panic struck.
There were those to be found in the American ranks who, at this
critical juncture, could talk of the Constitution, and the right of
the militia to refuse crossing the imaginary line which separates
the two countries. General Van Rensselaer having found that it was
impossible to urge a single man to cross the river to reinforce
the army on the Heights, and that army having nearly expended its
ammunition, boats were immediately sent to cover their retreat;
but a desultory fire which was maintained upon the ferry from a
battery on the bank at the lower end of Queenston, completely
dispersed the boats, and many of the boatmen relanded and fled in
dismay. Brigadier-General Wadsworth was, therefore, compelled,
after a vigorous conflict had been maintained for some time upon
both sides, to surrender himself, all his officers, and 900 men,
between three and four o’clock in the afternoon. The loss of the
British army was 16 killed and 69 wounded; while that on the side
of the Americans was not less than 900 men, made prisoners, and one
gun and two colours taken, and 90 killed and about 100 wounded.
But amongst the killed of the British army, the government and
the country had to deplore the loss of one of their bravest and
most zealous Generals, in Sir Isaac Brock, and one whose memory
will long live in the warmest affections of every Canadian and
British subject. The country had also to deplore the loss of the
eminent services and talents of Lieutenant-Colonel McDonell, whose
gallantry and merit rendered him worthy of his chief.
The gratitude of the people of Canada to the memory of Brock
was manifested in an enduring form. They desired to perpetuate
the memory of the hero who had been the instrument of their
deliverance, and they were not slow in executing their design; and
whilst his noble deeds were still fresh in the memory of all, the
Provincial Legislature erected a lofty column on the Queenston
Heights, near the spot where he fell. The height of the monument,
from the base to the summit, was 135 feet; and from the level
of the Niagara River, which runs nearly under it, 485 feet. The
monument was a Tuscan column, on rustic pedestal with a pedestal
for a statue; the diameter of the base of the column was 17½ feet
and the abacus of the capital was surmounted by an iron railing.
The centre shaft, containing the spiral staircase, was 10 feet in
diameter.
On Good Friday, the 17th of April, 1840, a vagabond of the name of
Lett, introduced a quantity of gunpowder into the monument with the
fiendish purpose of destroying it, and the explosion, effected by
a train, caused so much damage us to render the column altogether
irreparable. Lett had been compelled to fly into the United States
for his share in the rebellion of 1837, and well knowing the
feeling of attachment to the name and memory of General Brock,
which pervaded all classes of Canadians, he sought to gratify his
malicious and vindictive spirit, and at the same time to wound and
insult the people of Canada by this atrocious deed.
He afterward met with some meed of his deserts in the State Prison
at Auburn, New York.
After the first monument had remained in the dilapidated condition,
to which it was reduced, for some years, a new and beautiful column
was a short time ago raised on its site. It is thus described:
“Upon the solid rock is built a foundation 40 feet square and 10
feet thick of massive stone; upon this, the structure stands in
a grooved plinth or sub-basement 38 feet square and 27 feet in
height, and has an eastern entrance by a massive oak door and
bronze pateras, forming two galleries to the interior 114 feet in
extent, round the inner pedestal on the North and South sides of
which, in vaults under the ground floor, are deposited the remains
of General Brock, and those of his Aide-de-Camp, Colonel McDonell,
in massive stone sarcophagi. On the exterior angles of the
sub-basement are placed lions rampant 7 feet in height, supporting
shields with the armorial bearings of the hero: The column is of
the Roman composite order, 95 feet in height, a fluted shaft,
10 feet diameter at the base; the loftiest column known of this
style; the lower part enriched with laurel leaves, and the flutes
terminating on the base with palms.”
The height from the ground to the top of the statue is 190 feet,
exceeding that of any monumental column, ancient or modern, known,
with the exception of that on Fish-street Hill, London, England, by
Sir Christopher Wren, architect, in commemoration of the great fire
of 1666, 202 feet high, which exceeds it in height by 12 feet.”
QUESNOY, BATTLE OF.--Fought, September 11th, 1773, between the
French and British, in which the British were defeated, with some
loss. Taken by the Austrians in 1793, but recovered by the French
the following year. It surrendered to Prince Frederick of the
Netherlands, after the battle of Waterloo.
QUIBERON BAY.--A British force landed here in 1736, and was
repulsed. In this Bay Admiral Hawke gained a complete victory over
the French, under Conflans. This most perilous and important action
defeated the French invasion, November 10th 1758. Taken by some
French regiments in pay of the British, July 3rd, 1795; but on July
21st, retaken by the French Republicans. About 900 of the troops
and near 1500 Royalist inhabitants effected their escape on board
the ships.
R.
RAMILIES, BATTLE OF.--Between the English and Allies, commanded
by Marlborough, on the one side, and the French, commanded by the
Elector of Bavaria and the Marshal de Villeroy. The French, having
no confidence in their Commander, were soon seized with a panic,
and a general rout ensued. About 4000 of the Allied army were
slain. Fought on Whitsunday, May 26th, 1706.
“The year following the victory of Blenheim was, for the most part,
wasted in the struggles of Marlborough with his enemies at home,
and with the dilatory and uncertain course of the allies of England
abroad. He succeeded in forcing the French lines in Flanders;
but the fruits of this great achievement were snatched from him
by the constant backwardness of the Dutch Generals, who opposed
every measure which was urged by him. So grieved was he by their
continual opposition, that on one occasion, when the opportunity of
a brilliant success was thus lost, he exclaimed, “I feel at this
moment ten years older than I was four years ago.” In fact, towards
the end of what he had hoped to make a glorious campaign, but
which through this opposition had been lost in disputes, he fell
seriously ill, and was obliged to retire for a time from active
employment.
Meanwhile, the Imperial government had begun to show signs
of jealousy and uneasiness that this great General should be
employed in Flanders, and in the defence of Holland, instead of
recovering the Austrian possessions on the Rhine, and liberating
Lorraine. Pressing applications were made that the Duke, instead of
prosecuting the war in Belgium, would return to the Moselle, and
co-operate with the Imperial forces in that quarter. Taking his
departure from the army at the end of October, 1705, Marlborough
set out for Vienna, which he reached on the 12th of November.
Here the Emperor Joseph created him a Prince of the Empire, and
conferred on him the lordship of Mindelheim. But which gave him far
more satisfaction, he succeeded in reconciling all differences, and
in cementing the alliance, which seemed in danger of dissolution,
between Austria, Prussia, and the Netherlands, against the
ambitious designs of France. He then returned to the Hague, which
he reached on the 11th of December, proceeding thence to London,
which he reached early in the new year.
On the 25th of April, 1706, he again arrived at the Hague for the
active duties of the approaching campaign. This year’s warfare
began at an earlier period than the previous ones, for the French
General, with commendable zeal and activity, took the field in the
spring, forced the German lines on the Motter, reduced Dreisenheim
and Hagenau, and threatened the Palatinate. The Duke, therefore,
left the Hague on the 9th May, the Dutch being now anxious to
retain him with them, and offering him uncontrolled power over
their forces. Accompanied by Overkirk, he passed through Rimemont,
and reached Maestricht on the 12th. Here he reviewed the Dutch
troops, and began to take measures for an attack on Namur. But
Villeroy received orders from Paris rather to risk a battle than to
give up this important place. Hence, in the third week in May, the
two armies began to approach each other.
Villeroy and the Elector of Bavaria passed the Dyle, and approached
Tirlemont. Their combined forces amounted to about 62,000 men. The
Duke, with his English, joined the Dutch at Bilsen on the 20th of
May, and on the 22nd he had intelligence of the arrival of the
Danish contingent, which raised the strength of his army to about
60,000 men. His first desire, now, was to learn the position of
the enemy, and how best to come in contact with them. The field of
battle ultimately proved to be in an elevated part of the plain of
Brabant, lying between Maestricht, Louvain, and Namur. The village
of Ramilies itself is but a few miles to the east of Wavre, the
position of Marshal Blucher on the morning of the day of Waterloo.
On the 23rd of May, then, in 1706, the English, Dutch, and Danish
army, commencing their march early in the morning, came in sight,
about eight o’clock, of the Franco-Bavarian outposts. A fog for
some time made everything obscure, but about ten o’clock the two
armies stood in presence of each other. The French commander
had formed his order of battle with the skill which experience
generally gives; but he was opposed by a greater commander, whose
eye speedily detected the weaknesses of his position.
The French and Bavarians were drawn up on ground which, by its
nature, gave their order of battle a concave form. Thus the
attacking enemy would have the advantage of being able to bring his
men more rapidly from one side to the other, as required. The left
wing of the French, also, though strongly posted, was in a position
from which it could not easily move. Marlborough, therefore, was
not long in forming his plan, which was, to turn the enemy’s right
wing; to seize an elevated position in the rear of that wing, and
from that position to outflank the whole army.
He therefore began a feigned attack, by his own right wing,
upon the left of the French. Villeroy immediately met this, as
Marlborough intended, by sending for fresh troops from his centre,
and by weakening his right. Pausing in his apparent attack,
Marlborough promptly moved to the left all the infantry that were
out of sight of the French, and fell upon the enemy’s right wing,
which was posted in Tavieres.
The attack succeeded, and Tavieres was carried. Villeroy, finding
out his mistake, hurried his squadron of dragoons to the succour of
his right wing; but these squadrons were met by the Danish cavalry
emerging from Tavieres, and they were all cut to pieces, or driven
into the Mehaigne.
And now Ramilies itself, in the centre, became the object of
attack. The Duke ordered up from his own right wing every available
squadron, and exposed himself much in leading the attack. He was,
at one moment, thrown from his horse, and in danger of being
made prisoner. While he was remounting, a cannon-ball killed his
equerry, Captain Bingfield, who was assisting him.
But now the allied cavalry had reached the height of Ottomond, in
the rear of the French position, and the success of the attack
was secured. The French were in utter confusion in all parts of
the field, and Ramilies itself was carried. There remained only
the left wing of Villeroy’s army; and this, attacked now by the
reserves on Marlborough’s right, and by the victorious troops
which had cleared Ramilies, gave way as evening drew on, rushed
in crowds down the descent behind their position, and fled for
Judoigne. The cannon and baggage fell into the hands of the
victors, who pursued the flying French and Bavarians until two
o’clock in the morning. The allied army did not halt in its pursuit
till past midnight, when it had advanced to Meldert, five leagues
from the field of battle, and two from Louvian.
This battle cost the Franco-Bavarian army 13,000 men, in killed,
wounded, and prisoners: among whom were the Princes of Soubise
and Rohan, and a son of Marshal Tallard. The spoils of the day
consisted of 80 colours and standards taken from the French; nearly
all their artillery, and all the baggage which was in the field.
The loss of the Allies was 1066 killed, and 2567 wounded. The vast
difference between this, and the loss sustained at Blenheim, shows
that the victory of Ramilies was gained by the Duke’s masterly
manœuvres; and was not owing merely to the courage of the soldiers.
The results of the battle of Ramilies were very great. Louvain
instantly surrendered; Brussels received the Duke with open arms
on the 28th. Mechlin, Alost, and Lierre, quickly followed. All
Brabant was gained by this one victory. Nor was this all. Flanders
caught the infection. Ghent opened its gates on the 1st of June;
and Antwerp surrendered a few days afterwards. Ostend fell on the
6th of July; and in its harbour were taken two men-of-war, and 45
smaller vessels.”
RATHMINES, BATTLE OF.--_In Ireland._--Colonel Jones, Governor of
Dublin Castle, made a sally, August 2nd, 1649, and routed the
Marquis of Ormond, killed 4000 men and took 2517 prisoners, with
their cannon, baggage and ammunition. This battle, and other
successes, completely discomfited the rebels in this part of
Ireland.
RAVENNA, BATTLE OF.--Fought, April 11th, 1512, between the French,
under the great Gaston de Foix, Duke of Nemours, and nephew of
Louis XII, and the Spanish and Papal armies. De Foix, gained this
memorable battle, but perished in the moment of victory, and the
French fortunes in Italy were thus closed. The confederate army
was cut to pieces. The Duke had performed prodigies of valor, but
being too eager in his pursuit of the Spaniards, who were retiring
in good order, he was slain.
REVOLUTION.--The Great Revolution which overturned the old Monarchy
of France occurred at the close of the last century. The 2nd, the
one here described sent Charles X into exile and was somewhat like
that of 1848 which also exiled Louis Philippe.
SECOND FRENCH REVOLUTION.
“The political history of 1830 commenced on March 2nd, by a speech
from the throne, announcing war against Algiers for the insults
offered to the French flag, and a wish for a reconciliation with
the Bragazana family.
This caused great dissatisfaction; the funds fell, the Chamber of
Deputies were against the measure, and on the 19th were convoked
till August 3rd, and several fires took place, evidently the work
of incendiaries.
On the 25th July, Polignac addressed a report to the king on
“legitimate power,” and which formed the ground-work of three
memorable ordinances, which were signed on that day by Charles, and
countersigned by the ministers.
The first ordinance abolished the freedom of the press; the second
dissolved the Chamber of Deputies; and the third abrogated the most
important rights of the elective franchise.
On the publication of the _Moniteur_ on the following morning, all
Paris was astounded by the mystifying report of the ministers of
Charles X and the king’s arbitrary decrees. The _Rentes_ fell, and
the bank stopped payment.
All work was now abandoned, every manufactory closed, and
detachments of artisans with large sticks traversed the streets.
Troops of gendarmes patrolled the streets at full gallop to
disperse the accumulating crowds. The people were silent; and at an
early hour the shops were closed. Early on the 27th, troops of the
royal guard and soldiers of the line came pouring in. The people
looked sullen and determined. The chief points of rendezvous were
the Palais Royal, the Palais de Justice, and the Bourse. Here were
simultaneous cries of “_Viva la Charte!_”--“Down with the absolute
king!” but no conversation--no exchange of words with each other.
The King was at the Tuilleries. In the Place Carousel there was a
station of several thousands of the military, including the lancers
of the royal guard, with a great number of cannon. At the Place
Vendome a strong guard of infantry was stationed around the column,
to guard the ensigns of royalty upon it from being defaced. Crowds
of people assembled, and several skirmishes took place.
On Wednesday morning, July 28th, the shops of Paris were closely
shut, and the windows fastened and barred, as if the inhabitants
of the city were in mourning for the dead, or in apprehension of
approaching calamity. The tocsin sounded, and the people flocked
in from the fauxbourgs and different quarters of the city. That
determined enemy to oppression, the press, had been at work during
the night. Handbills were profusely distributed, containing
vehement philippics against the king and his ministers, and
summoning every man to arm for his country, and to aid in ejecting
the Bourbons. Placards were constantly posted up and eagerly read.
During the preceding night an organisation of the people had been
arranged. All the arms that could be found at the theatres, and
remaining in the shops of armourers that had not been visited the
evening before, were seized and distributed. Every other kind of
property, however, was respected.
Strong detachments guarded the different hotels of the ministers.
Loud cries and shouts were constantly heard, of “Down with the
Jesuits!”--“Down with the Bourbons!” “Death to the Ministers!” Each
man strove to provide himself with a musket, a pistol, a sword,
a pole with a knife, or some cutting instrument to form a weapon
of offence. Troops continually arrived from St. Denis, St. Cloud,
and other military stations. Rude barricades were hastily thrown
up in different places, to prevent the attacks of cavalry. Several
telegraphs, including that on the Church des Petits Peres, were
dismounted. Groups of the people, armed with sticks, bayonets,
pikes, and muskets, removed or effaced all the insignia and emblems
of royalty. A red flag was hoisted on the gate of St. Denis, amidst
the shouts of the people. Tri-coloured flags were promenaded in
the streets, and tri-coloured cockades and breast-knots were worn,
not only by the French, but by the English and foreigners of all
nations. The royal arms, and other ensigns of the government of
Charles X that were moveable, were burned in the Place Publique.
All Paris was in insurrection. Every movement of the people
portended a terrible conflict. The government reposed in security
upon a blind and implacable dignity.
M. Lafitte had an interview with Polignac, who said “that the
ministers could enter into no compromise or concession.” “We have,
then, civil war,” said Lafitte. The prince bowed, and Lafitte
retired.
As soon, however, as Polignac’s answer was made known, that
“ministers would enter into no compromise or concession,” war, and
war to the knife, commenced; and never were witnessed more heroic
acts of personal bravery, and more generous disregard of selfish
feelings, than were displayed by the citizens of Paris on this
memorable day and night. The drums of the national guards soon
beat “to arms!” The populace answered the call amid the incessant
ringing of the tocsin, and the struggle began in earnest. About two
o’clock a cannon on the bridge near the Marche aux Fleurs raked
with grape-shot the quay, while the troops were resolutely attacked
by the people, and numbers of the guards led off, killed or wounded.