Chapter I: Preface

Among the men of action who are entitled to be called makers of Canada, Sir Isaac Brock may well take a prominent place. He came to Canada in 1802, and gave ten years of his life to the country in which he was called to serve. Both in a civil and a military capacity he filled a post requiring unique qualities of head and heart. That the distinction he won was not ephemeral is proved by the honour in which his name is still held, although nearly a century has passed since he laid down his life on Queenston Heights.

England has been served well by her soldiers in many lands, and is not ungrateful to those who have built up her empire. At critical times in her history the right man has appeared on the scene possessing the force of character needed for special work. Such a man was Isaac Brock. He entered the English army at the close of the eighteenth century, when the service was at its lowest ebb. Fortune placed him under the command of such enlightened men as Sir Ralph Abercromby and General Stewart, and the lessons he learned from them he afterwards put to good use. When, in 1812, the long-smouldering enmity between the United States and England burst into the flame of war, and Canada was the battleground, he entered upon the defence of the country entrusted to his charge with an indomitable spirit. With very inefficient means at his disposal, he used effectively what came to his hand. He took the untrained militia of Upper Canada and made of them a disciplined soldiery. He taught the youth of the country a lesson in courage and patriotism, and with infinite patience, tact, and judgment, he led them through their first days of trial. By his contemporaries Sir Isaac Brock was looked upon as the saviour of Canada, and time has not tarnished the lustre of his fame.

CONTENTS

_CHAPTER I_

HIS BIRTHPLACE

_CHAPTER II_

SERVICE ABROAD--HOLLAND

_CHAPTER III_

SERVICE ABROAD--THE BALTIC

_CHAPTER IV_

IN CANADA

_CHAPTER V_

UPPER AND LOWER CANADA--1802

_CHAPTER VI_

MILITARY POSTS

_CHAPTER VII_

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR

_CHAPTER VIII_

OLD QUEBEC

_CHAPTER IX_

AFFAIRS IN EUROPE, 1808

_CHAPTER X_

POLITICS IN QUEBEC

_CHAPTER XI_

QUEBEC AND NIAGARA

_CHAPTER XII_

1811 IN CANADA AND EUROPE

_CHAPTER XIII_

THE NEW GOVERNOR

_CHAPTER XIV_

GATHERING CLOUDS

_CHAPTER XV_

CANADA'S DEFENCE

_CHAPTER XVI_

ON THE FRONTIER

CHAPTER XVII

A VIGOROUS COMMANDER

CHAPTER XVIII

BROWNSTOWN AND MAGUAGA

CHAPTER XIX

DETROIT

CHAPTER XX

THE ARMISTICE

CHAPTER XXI

CONSEQUENCES OF ARMISTICE

CHAPTER XXII

QUEENSTON HEIGHTS

INDEX

_MAP OF THE NIAGARA FRONTIER_

_MAP OF THE DETROIT FRONTIER_

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