Good afternoon everyone. ~J.B~ Brocks return to the peninsula did not go unnoticed. When he reached Queenston, he was surprised to be met by a delegation of the principal residents, who warmly congratulated him on his astonishing success at Detroit. Brock was awed by the enthusiastic reception he received from the residents of the area, who spontaneously formed a procession on both sides of his open carriage and escorted him in triumph to Fort George. His heart was cheered that so many of Canadas best and bravest appeared ready to renew their pledge to sacrifice their lives to prevent the invaders footstep from polluting the soil of their native or adopted country. The joyous tumult continued at York and at Kingston where Brock was received by jubilant crowds. He never anticipated the outpouring of affection and esteem his success that Sunday, August 16th, 1812, had earned him. Only as addresses of welcome and letters of congratulation poured in from around the province did the true significance of his conquest at Detroit dawn upon him. With this totally unexpected victory Brock had made good his foothold in history. His elevation to the legendary status of Hero of Upper Canada awaited him at Queenston. In a letter to his brothers dated September 3rd, Brock remarked in shocked surprise In His Own Words They say the value of the articles taken at Detroit will amount to 30 or 40 thousand pounds. My portion will be something considerable. Should the affair (Detroit victory) be viewed in England in the light it is here, I cannot fail of meeting reward. The militia have been inspired by the recent success with confidence - the disaffected are silenced. During the weeks of waiting Brock took advantage of the truce by employing his officers and men patrolling the river road to Queenston and Chippewa and Fort Erie. In whatever way he could he endeavoured to improve defences by organizing, dispatching, informing and reviewing, all with a view to strengthening in whatever way he could the thin red line protecting the fifty-eight kilometre frontier from Fort George to Fort Erie. The thousand muskets and accoutrements captured at Detroit were distributed to the militia. At Chippewa he posted a small detachment of the 41st and flank companies of the 2nd Lincoln militia and at Queenston flank companies of the 49th with a small body of militia. With the exception of a few militia scattered here and there along the line, the remainder of his forces were at Fort George under General Sheaffe. Brock had located a number of powerful batteries along the lake front from Fort George to One Mile Creek confronting the guns of Fort Niagara. His strongest work was the huge Cavalier bastion at Fort George facing Fort Niagara which he had designed himself. Brock was proud of this skillful fortification which ironically later became his first resting place for twelve years following his death on the Heights. An extensive system of telegraphs and beacons was established stretching from the Sugar Loaf and Point Albino on Lake Erie along the lake and river to Lundys Lane and Queenston then inland to Pelham Heights. This permitted the instantaneous signalling of the enemys movement over the entire peninsula by day or night.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 20:54:27 +0000
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