PREPARATIONS FOR WAR
In 1805 Brock was again quartered in Quebec. In August of that year,
General Hunter, the acting lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada and
commander-in-chief was taken ill and died at Quebec, just after the
departure on leave of Sir Robert Millies. His death placed both
provinces in a peculiar position. There was neither a governor,
commander-in-chief, nor lieutenant-governor in the Canadas. Nor was
there a chief justice, for Chief Justice Elmsley, who had succeeded
Osgoode at Quebec, had died rather suddenly, while Chief Justice
Cochrane, who had taken the former's place in Upper Canada, had been
drowned with the solicitor-general and other members of the court by
the foundering of the _Speedy_ in Lake Ontario. The country was
therefore deprived of almost all its leading officials. To meet the
emergency Colonel Bowes of the 6th Regiment, as senior officer, had
assumed the military authority and Mr. Thomas Dunn, president of the
council, had been appointed civil administrator on the departure of
Sir Robert Milnes. In Upper Canada, Mr. Peter Russell, senior
councillor, called a meeting of the legislative council, and Mr.
Alexander Grant, better known as {70} Commodore Grant, was chosen
acting lieutenant-governor. Alexander Grant was a native of
Inverness, Scotland, and had served in Amherst's army, under whom he
had been appointed to command a small fleet on Lake Erie. His home
was at Grosse Point, above Detroit.
In October, 1805, Lieutenant-Colonel Brock was made a full colonel
and shortly afterwards returned to England on leave. While there he
seized the opportunity to lay before the Duke of York, then
commander-in-chief, the scheme he had drawn up for the improvement of
the army in Canada. The report was favourably received and some of
its recommendations were afterwards carried out.
During the absence of Brock in Canada, some changes had come to his
family. His eldest brother John, the brevet lieutenant-colonel of
the 81st, and a soldier of great promise, had been killed in 1801 in
a duel at the Cape of Good Hope. The second brother had long before
been killed in service at Bâton Rouge, on the Mississippi. The third
brother, Daniel de Lisle, was now a very important man in Guernsey.
In 1795 he had been elected a jurat of the royal court and had been
sent as its representative to London in connection with the trade and
certain ancient privileges of the island. He was afterwards for many
years lieutenant-bailiff or chief magistrate of Guernsey. The next
brother, William, was a merchant residing in London and engaged in
trade with the Baltic. He was married but had no {71} children, and
had taken the keenest interest in his brother Isaac's career,
advancing the money when it was required for his various steps.
Savery Brock, younger than Isaac, was the one whose exploits have
been already related. Irving, the next brother, had literary tastes,
was a clever translator, and a writer of pamphlets, some of which
were of great merit. The two sisters were both married. Elizabeth
to John E. Tupper, of Guernsey; Mary to Thomas Potenger, of Compton,
Berkshire. Isaac Brock was tenderly devoted to his family as his
many letters show, and his sojourn once more among them filled his
heart with joy.
[Sidenote: Events in Europe, 1804-5]
The years 1804-5 had been eventful ones in Europe. In May, 1804, the
first consul had been made by "the grace of God and the constitution
of the republic," emperor of the French, and henceforth dropped the
name of Bonaparte for that of Napoleon. He was crowned on December
2nd at Paris by the Pope, and afterwards at Milan as king of Italy.
In England Pitt was once more at the helm as prime minister.
During the summer of 1805 Napoleon had assembled a large force on the
shores of the English Channel with a flotilla at Boulogne, and had
given to this force the significant name of the "Army of England."
The invasion of that country and the plunder of London were
confidently talked of among his soldiers.
Austria was in vain remonstrating against his {72} occupation of
Italy, while the czar of Russia and Gustavus of Sweden were also
protesting against his encroachments on the territory of the weaker
powers. A new coalition was now formed against him of England,
Russia, Austria and Sweden. Prussia remained neutral. General Mack,
who had shown his incapacity in 1798, was unfortunately placed at the
head of the Austrian army, while the more capable Archduke Charles
commanded in Italy where General Massena led the French army. With
one of those sudden coups for which he was famous, Napoleon withdrew
his "Army of England" to march to the Rhine and ordered other troops
from Holland, France and Hanover to meet them there. This formed
what was called the "Grand Army," commanded in person by the emperor.
No coalition was able to withstand his victorious progress.
But England held the sea. On October 17th, 1805, General Mack was
surrounded at Ulm, and surrendered with two hundred thousand men.
The French entered Vienna on November 15th. The Russian army under
the Emperor Alexander in person had assembled in Moravia. Being
joined by some Austrian divisions it amounted to about eighty
thousand men. Then came the great battle of Austerlitz on December
2nd. Both armies were about equal in numbers but the Russians
extended their line too much. The slaughter among the allies was
terrific and thousands were drowned trying to cross the half frozen
lakes in the rear.
{73}
"Roll up the map of Europe," said the dying Pitt, when he heard of
these disasters, "it will not be wanted these ten years." After his
crushing defeat the czar had an interview with Napoleon when an
armistice was agreed upon and the Russians were allowed to return to
their own country. On December 27th peace was signed between Austria
and France, the former giving up Dalmatia and the Venetian provinces
to Italy.
While these events were occurring in Europe the feeling in the United
States against England was becoming more and more bitter. The news
from America was so threatening that Colonel Brock, who was in
Guernsey, determined to go back to Canada before the expiration of
his leave. He left London, never to return, on June 26th, 1806, and
sailed from Cork in the _Lady Saumarez_, a Guernsey vessel well
manned and armed as a letter of marque bound to Quebec. His sister
wrote on the 27th, "Isaac left town last evening for Milford Haven.
Dear fellow; Heaven knows when we shall see him again!"
At the time of Brock's second arrival in Canada the civil government
of the Lower Province was still administered by President Dunn,[1]
but as Colonel Bowes of the 6th Regiment had given up his command in
order to go on active service in Europe, Colonel Brock succeeded to
the command of the {74} troops in both provinces. Eight companies of
the 49th were at this time quartered in Quebec under the command of
Lieutenant-Colonel Sheaffe.[2] The latter had learned a lesson from
the melancholy affair of the mutiny at Fort George, and Colonel Brock
reported on the good order and discipline that prevailed in the
garrison.
Besides the 49th there was quartered in Quebec part of the 100th
Regiment, consisting then nearly altogether of raw recruits. The men
were mostly Protestants from the North of Ireland, robust, active and
good looking, and Brock reported that the order and discipline of so
young a corps was remarkable. They were under the command of
Lieutenant-Colonel Murray. A terrible disaster had overtaken the
regiment the year before. On its way to Quebec on October 21st, 1805
(the day that the battle of Trafalgar was fought) it was wrecked off
the coast of Newfoundland. Major Bertram, three captains, six
lieutenants, the assistant surgeon and about two hundred men
perished. Part of the 100th was now quartered in Montreal under
Major Hamilton. The 41st Regiment was scattered throughout Upper
Canada at Kingston, Fort George, Amherstburg and St. Joseph.
Lieutenant-Colonel Procter commanded at Fort George.
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The first thing that occupied Colonel Brock's attention in his new
position as commander-in-chief was the repair of the fortifications
of Quebec. Something had been done to restore them in Sir Guy
Carleton's time, and again during the administration of Sir Robert
Prescott, but the walls on the western side were old and decayed, and
not in a condition to stand a heavy fire. Hospital accommodation was
also needed, and Brock wrote at once to the secretary of the
colonies, the Rt. Hon. Sir W. Wyndham, representing that the sick had
to be placed in hired houses of the most miserable description,
unfitted to keep out the cold of winter or the heat of summer. Brock
advised the construction of a hospital to cost about three thousand
pounds. The quarters then occupied by the various offices of
government, both civil and military, were an extensive building on
the opposite side of the square to that on which stood the old and
dilapidated Chateau St. Louis. The part used by the governors as a
residence contained a suite of apartments wherein balls and
entertainments were given. The building was of very plain exterior,
and formed part of the curtain that ran between the two exterior
bastions of the old fortress which covered about four acres of
ground. South-west of the Chateau was an excellent and well-stocked
garden; for, cold as the winters were, the hot summers ripened
quickly all sorts of fruits and vegetables. The monastery of the
Jesuits near by had been {76} turned into barracks and was a spacious
stone building three stories high. It had been in former years
surrounded by large and beautiful gardens. The bishop's palace, too,
had been taken over by the government, and was used as offices for
the legislative council, the executive council, and the House of
Assembly. The latter met in what was once the chapel, a room
sixty-five feet long by thirty-six feet wide. Forty acres around
Cape Diamond were reserved for military use. A house, once the
residence of Chief Justice Elmsley, had been converted into barracks
for officers. During the winter of 1806, Brock occupied himself with
plans for the fortification of Quebec, and a great deal of
correspondence took place on the subject between him and the acting
governor, Mr. Dunn. He represented to the latter that the reserves
of the Crown were being encroached upon by the inhabitants, and that
a great portion of the ground in question would be required for the
erection of new and extensive works. He referred particularly to the
enclosures and buildings on the glacis in front of St. John's Gate,
and said that if these encroachments were permitted, it might at some
future day endanger the safety of the place.
[Sidenote: Civil or military authority]
A long correspondence also took place about a piece of vacant land
that was needed as a parade ground for the troops, of which there
were then about a thousand in garrison. The ground in question was
the garden of the Jesuits adjoining the {77} barracks, and had been
seized by the Crown on the death of Father Cazot, the last of the
order in Canada. It was a standing grievance with the French
Canadians that this property had been appropriated by the government.
The correspondence between President Dunn and Colonel Brock was
rather a heated one, and the latter laid the case before the
authorities in England. He tells the story of how he had asked
permission of the president to use this vacant ground for drilling
the troops, and how he had cleared it of weeds on the understanding
that the president, although he could not officially allow it to be
converted into a parade ground, would shut his eyes and not
interfere. The troops had paraded there and at first no notice was
taken, but a few days afterwards a letter was received from the
acting governor, expressing his disapprobation of the proceedings,
and denying that he had given his tacit consent to the measure. It
was one of the not unusual differences of opinion between the civil
and military authorities. Mr. Dunn had lived for a long time among
the inhabitants of the country, and had to consider their prejudices.
Brock had his own way, however, for a few years later a writer
mentions these once beautiful gardens as a place for the exercise of
the troops, and laments the fall of the stately trees that from the
foundation of the city had been the original tenants of the ground.
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At this time, 1807, Mr. Francis Gore was lieutenant-governor of Upper
Canada. He had entered the 44th Regiment as an ensign in 1787 when
eighteen years of age, and had been quartered as a subaltern with
Isaac Brock, both in Jersey and Guernsey. Fate had once more thrown
them together. After the peace of Amiens in 1802, Gore had retired
from the army, but when hostilities had broken out again he was
appointed inspecting field officer of volunteers with the rank of
lieutenant-colonel. He succeeded so well in his new position that
Pitt made him governor of Bermuda, and from that post he succeeded
General Hunter as lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada. He did not,
however, supersede Colonel Brock as commander-in-chief, and military
returns were sent from the Upper Province to Quebec during the winter
by Indians hired for this purpose. Sometimes it took months for
communications between the two provinces. There was also some
correspondence about Indian affairs, and Colonel Brock announced that
although his predecessor, Colonel Bowes, had given directions about
the management of Indians in Upper Canada, he intended himself to
follow His Majesty's instructions of 1796, and leave the sole control
of Indian affairs in that province to the lieutenant-governor.
[Sidenote: Strict accounts]
As soon as Colonel Brock assumed command of the troops he found it
necessary to look into the accounts of the deputy commissary-general.
They {79} were in great confusion, a sum of thirty-six thousand three
hundred and fifty pounds sterling not being accounted for. The
commissary when called upon to explain the large deficit objected to
the rank of Colonel Brock, and wrote that he did not think any
authority then in Canada was competent to give orders by which his
duties and responsibilities under the instructions of the lords
commissioners of His Majesty's treasury could be in any manner
altered. Colonel Brock looked upon his position as
commander-in-chief in a different light, and replied:--"In respect to
the last paragraph of your letter, relating to the two characters
(the president of Lower, and the lieutenant-governor of Upper
Canada), whom you consider as more competent than myself to exercise
authority, it will be time to investigate the question when either of
them shall express a wish to assume the command, but in the meantime
I shall exercise it with promptitude and decision."
There certainly was need for an enquiry, for it was found that no
examination had been made in the stores account since 1788, nor in
the fuel account since 1796. The enquiry resulted in the retirement
of the officer in charge, who was found to be insolvent. Colonel
Brock was most careful and precise himself in money affairs, and
required all those under him to be rigidly correct in the expenditure
of the public money.
He writes in January, 1807, to Colonel Glasgow, {80} president of the
board of accounts:--"I have to request the board to continue
diligently to ascertain the sufficiency of every authority for
expenditure before it sanctions the smallest charge..... When
expense is incurred without the most urgent cause, and more
particularly when large sums are stated to have been expended in
anticipation of services not yet authorized, my duty strictly compels
me to withhold my approval to all such irregular proceedings."
There was another and very important branch of the service in Canada
which required supervision, namely, the marine department, and it was
to Brock's foresight that Great Britain owed her supremacy of the
lakes when the war of 1812 broke out. He ordered the building and
outfitting of vessels and _bateaux_ for the lakes and rivers of both
the Upper and Lower Province. He also directed that an assistant
quartermaster-general should be stationed at Amherstburg and another
at Kingston, the former to superintend the repairs and stores of the
boats on Lake Erie, the latter those on Lake Ontario. Colonel Brock
ordered the following number of boats to be kept in constant repair
at the several military posts: At Quebec, six; Three Rivers, two;
Fort William Henry, four; Montreal, seven; St. Johns, two; Kingston,
four; Fort George, twelve; York, three; Amherstburg, four.
In September, 1806, Charles Fox, who had always been friendly and
conciliatory in his dealings {81} with the United States, died, and
what was known as "The ministry of all the talents" was dissolved.
Early in 1807, the Duke of Portland's ministry was formed, of which
Spencer Perceval and George Canning were the leading spirits. In
France, Talleyrand was still foreign minister, although his influence
was waning, and he no longer approved of Napoleon's methods. He had
been foreign minister under the Directory when he attached himself to
the growing power of the First Consul; and while the great diplomat
remained at his side, Napoleon's career was one of continued success.
Soon after this date, as Prince of Benevento, Talleyrand disappears
from the field of politics.
In America, Jefferson was assisted in his second administration by
Madison and Gallatin, while Monroe and Pinkney and Armstrong were his
ministers abroad.
[Sidenote: The Berlin decrees]
News came early in 1807 of Napoleon's further triumphs. The
victories of Jena and Auerstadt followed Austerlitz, and on October
27th Napoleon entered Berlin, and from that city on November 2nd
issued the famous Berlin decrees against British commerce. They
began by charging that England disregarded the law of nations, that
she made non-combatants prisoners of war, confiscated private
property, blockaded unfortified harbours and considered places as
blockaded although she had not a single ship before them.
By the Berlin decrees it was proclaimed that the {82} British Isles
were in a state of blockade. Intercourse with them was prohibited.
All British subjects within French authority were to be held as
prisoners of war. All British property, private and public, was
declared prize of war. No British ships were to be admitted to any
port of France or her allies. Every vessel eluding this rule was to
be confiscated. These decrees not only affected England but struck
at the roots of neutral rights and of American commerce with Europe.
The motive was obvious. Stung by his repeated defeats at sea, and
unable to cope with his great enemy on the ocean, Napoleon had turned
his attention to the utter destruction of the trade of Great Britain.
At this moment the latter had not one ally on the continent of Europe.
[Sidenote: "Leopard" and "Chesapeake"]
The treaty with America that had been under consideration for some
time, had been signed in London by Monroe and Pinkney on behalf of
the United States. It had, however, been repudiated by the
president, and the unfriendly feeling towards England had been still
further increased by the affair of the _Leopard_ and _Chesapeake_ on
June 21st, 1807. This arose from the desertion in March of certain
seamen from the sloop _Halifax_ commanded by Lord Townshend, while
lying in Hampton Roads, Virginia. One of its boats and five men with
a petty officer had been sent on some duty. The men rose against
their officer, and threatened to throw him overboard. They then
rowed to shore, landed at {83} Norfolk, Virginia, and immediately
enlisted on board the _Chesapeake_. On a formal demand being made
for the men to be given up, the municipal authorities refused to
interfere, although in similar cases of desertion at Gibraltar and
elsewhere, British municipal assistance had been rendered to the
United States. Three deserters from H.M.S. _Melampus_ were also
alleged to have enlisted on the _Chesapeake_.
On June 21st, the _Leopard_, under command of Captain Humphrey met
the _Chesapeake_, under the command of Commodore Barren, and demanded
the British deserters who were on board. On the latter's refusal to
have his crew mustered, the _Leopard_ fired a broadside doing
considerable damage. The _Chesapeake_, not being in a condition to
resist, then struck, and the captain offered to give her up as a
prize, which Captain Humphrey refused, saying that he had executed
the order of his commander and had nothing more to do. Four
deserters were brought as prisoners on board the _Leopard_, two more
were killed by her fire and one jumped overboard. The responsibility
for the order rested on Admiral Berkeley, then stationed at Halifax.
Intense excitement was caused by this event and the president issued
a proclamation ordering all armed British vessels to depart from the
harbours of the United States. In England, Canning, who was then
secretary of war, had some correspondence {84} on the subject with
Monroe, the American representative. The British minister expressed
regret and offered to make reparation if it should be proved such was
due. Monroe, in pursuance of his instructions, demanded that the men
taken from the _Chesapeake_ should be restored, the offenders
punished, that a special mission should be sent to the United States
to announce the reparation, and that all impressment from merchant
vessels should cease. Canning absolutely refused to consider the
latter clause. He also asked whether the proclamation of the
president as to British ships of war was authentic, or would be
withdrawn on the disavowal of the act which led to it. The
nationality of the men seized, he added, must also be considered, not
in justification of their seizure, but in the estimate of the redress
asked. As to impressment, Canning said, the mode of regulating the
practice might be considered, but if Monroe's instructions left him
no discretion it was useless to discuss the matter.
Then followed a proclamation by the government regarding the
desertion of British seamen. Naval officers were ordered to seize
them from merchant vessels without unnecessary violence. All who
returned to their allegiance would be pardoned. Those who served on
ships of war at enmity with Great Britain, would be punished with
extreme severity.
[Sidenote: The embargo]
Just before this proclamation was issued the Non-importation {85}
Act, which had been passed in April by congress, came into force.
Then followed the president's embargo on United States vessels,[3]
which continued all through 1808. In the meantime Admiral Berkeley
had been recalled, though public opinion in England took his side,
and recognized the right of search in ships of war for seamen who had
deserted in order to enlist in the United States service. As to the
Chesapeake affair, Mr. Rose, vice-president of the board of trade,
was sent by Canning to negotiate at Washington. He was empowered to
state that the three men taken were to be discharged, but the right
was reserved of reclaiming from American vessels such as were proved
to be deserters or natural born subjects of England. As the attack
had been disavowed an allowance would be made to the widows and
orphans of those killed who could be proved not to be British
subjects; no severe proceedings were asked to be taken against
Commodore Barron, but a demand was to be made for the formal
disavowal on the part of his government of his conduct in encouraging
deserters. Negotiations failed, however, as neither party would
yield on several important points, such as power of impressment, the
president's proclamation and the {86} disavowal of Commodore Barren's
action. The _Chesapeake_ affair therefore remained as an unadjusted
national dispute.
All through that year on the borders of Canada the expectation was
that muttered threats would turn to blows, and that those who would
defend the land must make ready. In Quebec, Brock, who was still in
command, aided the administration by zeal and energy, and used all
the resources in his power to make the fortress of Quebec
impregnable. In August the militia were called out, one fifth to be
prepared to march wherever required. In spite of the opinions
expressed by some of the English officials, the French Canadians
turned out with alacrity. Secretary Ryland, their bitter enemy, was
one who expressed himself as doubtful of their loyalty. Colonel
Brock wrote in reply that he was not prepared to hear that the
population of the province, instead of affording him ready and
effectual support, might probably add to the number of his enemies.
He was confident that should an emergency arise, voluntary offers of
service would be made by a considerable number of brave and loyal
subjects. "Even now," he said, "several gentlemen are ready to come
forward and enrol into companies, men whose fidelity can be relied
on."
[Sidenote: French Canadian loyalty]
The administrator, Mr. Dunn, also expressed himself as confident of
the loyalty of the French Canadians. He wrote this testimony as to
their {87} conduct, "The president also feels himself justified in
asserting that a more ardent devotion to His Majesty's person and
government had never been witnessed in any part of the British
dominions." Monseigneur Plessis, the Catholic Bishop of Quebec, was
always a staunch supporter of English rule. In common with the
majority of the priests and leading Roman Catholics, he probably
feared that their church would be more in danger if the "Bastonais"
as they were called, became masters of the country than if it
remained under England. The Bishop's mandement to his flock
emphasized his loyalty:--"You have not waited until this province
should be menaced by an invasion nor even until war should be
declared, to give proofs of your zeal and of your good-will in the
public service. At a suspicion even, at the first appearance of a
rupture with the neighbouring states, you have acted as it was your
duty to do--ready to undertake anything, to sacrifice everything,
rather than to expose yourselves to a change of government, or to
lose the inestimable advantage that your present condition assures to
you." In every parish, as fathers and sons mustered for service, Te
Deums were sung and Psalms were chanted, and all along the banks of
the St. Lawrence the people of an alien tongue and race and religion
rallied round the standard of the English king.
[1] Dunn used the title of president in virtue of his position in the
council. He was at this time acting governor.
[2] A contemporary said of Lieutenant-Colonel Sheaffe:--"He was kind,
benevolent and religious, but these sentiments were, in his early
days, nearly, if not entirely overruled by his extreme ideas of
military authority."
[3] Erskine, the British minister at Washington, wrote officially
that President Jefferson's embargo was not intended as a measure of
hostility against Great Britain, but as a precaution against the
capture of United States vessels by France.
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