Battle of Queenston Heights

Battle of Queenston Heights
	Part of War of 1812
	; Death of General Brock at the Battle of Queenston Heights by John David Kelly
Date	13 October 1812; (213 years, 1 month, 3 weeks and 1 day)
Location	Queenston, Upper Canada (now Ontario); 43°09′43″N 79°03′02″W / 43.16192°N 79.05049°WCoordinates: 43°09′43″N 79°03′02″W / 43.16192°N 79.05049°W
Result	British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom; Upper Canada	United States
Commanders and leaders
Isaac Brock †; Roger Hale Sheaffe; John Macdonell †	Stephen Van Rensselaer; Winfield Scott ; William Wadsworth
Strength
1,366	3,550
Casualties and losses
21 killed; 85 wounded; 22 captured	60–100 killed; 80 wounded; 955 captured (90 wounded)

The Battle of Queenston Heights took place on 13 October 1812, during the War of 1812. It was the first major battle in the war.

During the battle, U.S. Major General Stephen Van Rensselaer led an attack on Major General Isaac Brock and Canadians in Queenston in Upper Canada (current-day Ontario). Before winter arrived, the Americans made an attempt to gain territory on the Canadian side of the Niagara River. The Americans greatly outnumbered the British, Canadian and native forces but still failed. The British won the battle but Major General Brock and Lieutenant Colonel John Macdonnell were killed in action.^[1] After Brock was killed, Major General Roger Hale Sheaffe took over command of the army. The battle finally ended when the British forces and Mohawk warriors pushed the Americans back to Durham's Farm and Lieutenant Colonel Winfield Scott surrendered.

The British and natives had an army of 1,366.^[2] The Americans had an army of 3,550.^[3] On the British side, there were 21 killed, 85 wounded, and 22 captured.^[1]On the American side, there were from 60 to 100 killed, 80 wounded and 955 captured (90 wounded).^[1]

A 56-metre column called Brock's Monument was erected in Queenston Heights in Queenston, Ontario to honour Brock, Macdonell, and the fallen British soldiers.^[4] On June 19, 1968, the Queenston Heights site was designated as a National Historic Sites of Canada.^[5]

Battle Of Queenston Heights Media

Major General Isaac Brock led a force made up of British regulars and Canadian militia during the Battle of Queenston Heights.
Major General Stephen Van Rensselaer commanded American forces at the Battle of Queenston Heights
The British positioned a 12-pounder gun and a 18-pounder carronade at Vrooman's Point, a mile north of Queenston. Boats crossing from Lewiston to Queenston were beyond the range of the carronade and at the maximum range of the gun.
The Battle of Queenston Heights by eyewitness James B. Dennis, depicts the American landing on 13 October 1812. The village of Queenston is in the right foreground, with Queenston Heights behind. Lewiston is in the left foreground
Major General Brock leading the charge against the redan. Brock was killed leading Captain William's company of the 49th and two companies of militia.
Lieutenant Colonel Winfield Scott was instructed to take command of the American forces that had captured Queenston Heights earlier in the day. Scott was taken prisoner when the Americans surrendered.
After Brock's death, Major General Roger Hale Sheaffe took charge of the remaining British regulars, Canadian militiamen, and Mohawk warriors.
Brigadier General Alexander Smyth, the officer who refused to support Van Rensselaer's attack, succeeded him as commander of American forces on the Niagara River.
A 56-metre (185 foot) column, known as Brock's Monument was constructed atop Queenston Heights to commemorate the battle as well as Major General Isaac Brock.