Chapter II

The 49th, on its return from Copenhagen to England, was collected at Colchester, and in the spring following, (1802,) the regiment sailed for Canada, which country was destined to bestow on it many additional laurels, as well as to be the scene of the fame and death of its commanding officer. In less than eighteen months after the arrival of the 49th in Canada, and while it was quartered in the upper province, a serious conspiracy was on the point of breaking out in that part of the regiment which was in garrison at Fort George, on the Niagara, under the command of the junior lieutenant-colonel, the head quarters being, we believe, at York, the capital. This officer, it seems, more by useless annoyance than by actual severity, had exasperated the men under his command to that degree that they formed a plot to murder all the officers present, with the exception of a young man who had recently joined; and then to cross over to the United States. Far be it from us to justify the intention, which indeed was highly criminal; but in all such extreme cases we hold that a sad abuse of power, or a gross want of tact, must be the exciting cause, and that even in the passive obedience of a military life, there may be a limit to human endurance. The proximity of the United States rendered this plot a very feasible one, as the men in a body could have crossed the river Niagara without molestation or difficulty. The suspicions of the officer in command having been aroused, he hastily wrote to Lieut.-Colonel Brock on the subject, and sent his letter by one of the men, who delivered it as the latter officer was shooting, or on his return from a shooting excursion. On reading the letter, and knowing from the character of the man that he must be engaged in the conspiracy, if there were any, he threatened to shoot him on the spot, if he did not instantly divulge the names of the ringleaders. The man, thus taken by surprise, did as he was ordered, and Lieut.-Colonel Brock hurried off to Fort George. On his arrival he found the men at dinner, and placing the officers with their drawn swords at the doors, he went into the rooms with handcuffs, and secured the most culpable, among whom was a sergeant, none offering the slightest resistance. The ringleaders were immediately embarked, so as to prevent any attempt at their rescue.[18] On being tried by a court martial, four were condemned to suffer death, and, with three deserters, were shot at Quebec, in presence of the garrison, early in the month of March, 1804. A most awful and affecting sight it was: the wind was easterly, strong, and cold,--a thick drift of snow added to the gloom,--and, as if to increase the horror of the scene, a few of the firing party, fifty-six in number, instead of advancing to within eight yards of the prisoners, as was intended, owing to some mistake commenced firing at the distance of at least fifty yards. The consequence was, that the unhappy wretches were only partially wounded, and dropped one after another. Nearly forty shots were fired before one poor fellow in the centre fell, although he was wounded through the abdomen at the first discharge. The men who had reserved their fire, were at length ordered up, and, lodging the contents of their muskets in the breasts of the culprits, by that means put them out of torture. The unfortunate sufferers declared publicly that, had they continued under the command of Colonel Brock, they would have escaped their melancholy end; and, as may be easily conceived, he felt no little anguish that they, who had so recently and so bravely fought under him in Holland and at Copenhagen, were thus doomed to end their lives, the victims of unruly passions inflamed by vexatious authority. He was now directed to assume the command at Fort George, and all complaint and desertion instantly ceased.

In the fall of 1805, in October of which year he was made a full colonel, Colonel Brock returned to Europe on leave; and early in the following year, he laid before his royal highness the commander-in-chief the outlines of a plan for the formation of a veteran battalion, to serve in the Canadas. In support of the plan he wrote:

"The advantages which may attend the establishment of a corps
such as is here recommended, will be perhaps more clearly
understood by first adverting to some of the causes that
produce the inconvenience to which the troops occupying the
frontier posts of that country are continually exposed.

"A regiment quartered in Upper Canada is generally divided into
eight different parts, several hundred miles asunder, and in
this situation it remains at least three years. Great as is the
evil incidental to a state of separation, even where the mind
is in no danger of being debauched, what may not be apprehended
in a country where both the divided state of the regiment, and
the artifices employed to wean the soldier from his duty,
conspire to render almost ineffectual every effort of the
officers to maintain the usual degree of order and discipline.
The lures to desertion continually thrown out by the Americans,
and the facility with which it can be accomplished, exacting a
more than ordinary precaution on the part of the officers,
insensibly produce mistrust between them and the men, highly
prejudicial to the service.

"Experience has taught me that no regular regiment, however
high its claim to discipline, can occupy the frontier posts of
Lower and Upper Canada without suffering materially in its
numbers. It might have been otherwise some years ago; but now
that the country, particularly the opposite shore, is chiefly
inhabited by the vilest characters, who have an interest in
debauching the soldier from his duty; since roads are opened
into the interior of the States, which facilitate desertion, it
is impossible to avoid the contagion. A total change must be
effected in the minds and views of those who may hereafter be
sent on this duty, before the evil can be surmounted."

In a letter from Lieut.-Colonel Gordon, dated Horse Guards, January 17, 1806, Colonel Brock received the Duke of York's "thanks for the communication of his very sensible observations respecting the distribution of the troops in Canada, which his royal highness will not fail to take into consideration at a seasonable opportunity."[19]

While on a visit to his family and friends in Guernsey, Colonel Brock deemed the intelligence from the United States to be of so warlike a character, that he resolved on returning to Canada before his leave was expired; and such was his anxiety to be at his post, that he overtook at Cork the Lady Saumarez, a Guernsey vessel, well manned and armed as a letter of marque, bound to Quebec. He left London on the 26th June, 1806, and hurried away from Europe never to return--never to revisit those who fondly loved him, not only from ties of kindred, but for his many endearing qualities; but he had the satisfaction of knowing that the commander-in-chief was much pleased with the zeal and devotion evinced by him on this occasion.

Soon after his arrival in Canada, Colonel Brock succeeded, on the 27th September, 1806, to the command of the troops in the two provinces, Colonel Bowes[20] having resigned that command on his departure for England. At this time, the civil government of the lower province was administered by Mr. President Dunn, and Colonel Brock resided at Quebec, in command of the forces, until the arrival of the governor-general, Sir James Craig, in October, 1807, who appointed him to act as a brigadier, which appointment was confirmed by the king, to date from the 2d of July, 1808.

_Colonel Brock to Lieut.-Colonel J.W. Gordon._

QUEBEC, September 28, 1806.

I have the honor to acquaint you, for the information of the
commander-in-chief, that Colonel Bowes, preparatory to his
departure for England, has resigned the command of his
majesty's forces in this country, which, as the next senior
officer, devolves on me.

I find great pleasure in reporting to his royal highness the
good order and discipline which, much to the credit of
Lieut.-Colonel Sheaffe, I found on my arrival to prevail
among the eight companies of the 49th regiment, quartered in
this garrison.

It has been the fate of the 49th to be divided, for the last
four years and a half, several hundred miles apart, and
however anxious I must be to assemble the whole together, I
have not, considering the youth of the 100th regiment, which
alone affords me the means of effecting that measure, thought
it prudent to withdraw the company stationed at St. John's and
the other frontier posts of this province, but the one at
Montreal will be relieved this autumn.

Colonel Bowes having complied with Lieut.-Colonel Otway's
earnest application for leave to return to England, I have
appointed Captain Ormsby, of the 49th regiment, an officer of
approved merit, to act as deputy adjutant-general during his
absence; an arrangement which, I presume to hope, his royal
highness will be graciously pleased to sanction.

_Colonel Brock to the Right Hon. W. Windham._

QUEBEC, February 12, 1807.

I have the honor to transmit for your consideration a proposal
of Lieut.-Colonel John M'Donald, late of the Royal Canadian
Volunteers, for raising a corps among the Scotch settlers in
the county of Glengary, Upper Canada.

When it is considered that both the Canadas furnish only two
hundred militia who are trained to arms, the advantages to be
derived from such an establishment must appear very, evident.

The military force in this country is very small, and were it
possible to collect it in time to oppose any serious attempt
upon Quebec, the only tenable post, the number would of itself
be insufficient to ensure a vigorous defence.

This corps, being stationed on the confines of the Lower
Province, would be always immediately and essentially useful
in checking any seditious disposition, which the wavering
sentiments of a large population in the Montreal district
might at any time manifest. In the event of invasion, or other
emergency, this force could be easily and expeditiously
transported by water to Quebec.

The extent of country which these settlers occupy, would make
the permanent establishment of the staff and one sergeant in
each company very advisable. I shall not presume to say how
far the claims of the field officers to the same indulgence
are reasonable and expedient.

In regard to the Rev. Alexander M'Donald, I beg leave to
observe, that the men being all Catholics, it may be deemed a
prudent measure to appoint him chaplain. His zeal and
attachment to Government were strongly evinced whilst filling
the office of chaplain to the Glengary Fencibles during the
rebellion in Ireland, and were graciously acknowledged by his
royal highness the commander-in-chief.

His influence over the men is deservedly great, and I have
every reason to think that the corps, by his exertions, would
be soon completed, and hereafter become a nursery from which
the army might draw a number of hardy recruits.

* * * * *

The following letter affords a good idea of the confidential report of a general officer on the state of a regiment after its periodical inspection.

_Colonel Brock to the Adjutant-General of His Majesty's Forces._

QUEBEC, March 17, 1807.

In obedience to the commander-in-chief's commands,
communicated to me in your letter dated 20th November last, I
shall proceed to state, for His Royal Highness's information,
such observations as a strict attention to the conduct and
interior economy of the 100th[21] regiment during the
preceding six months has enabled me to make.

The greatest praise is justly due to Lieut.-Colonel Murray,
who has commanded, with only a short interval, from the first
formation of the regiment to the present time, for his
unremitting care and attention to the several important duties
of his office.

The good effects of his exertions and intelligence are
strikingly visible in every department of the corps. He has
been ably supported by Major Hamilton and the rest of his
officers, who on all occasions evince the utmost zeal for the
service, and the highest respect and attachment towards his
person. He has succeeded in establishing an interior
discipline and economy, which I have never before witnessed in
so young a corps, and scarcely seen surpassed by any, and in a
way too the most satisfactory to the feelings of an officer.

Although I trust the garrison duty at Quebec is carried on
with every regard to the safety of the place, together with
the strictest attention to all prescribed forms and
regulations, yet the winter has nearly passed without a single
instance of neglect or misconduct having occurred among the
100th regiment; and it is a pleasing task to report, that so
exemplarily have the men behaved, that, even regimentally,
only one corporal punishment has been inflicted for the last
three months.

I am now speaking of men who, being nearly all Irish, are of
all others the most volatile and easily led astray. Should
they, therefore, hereafter be seduced by the various
temptations by which they are surrounded, I hope to escape the
imputation of judging too hastily and partially. The men were
principally raised in the north of Ireland, and are nearly all
Protestants; they are robust, active, and good looking.

The troops in this country are precluded, by the severity of
the climate during seven months in the year, from exercising
out of doors: it cannot, therefore, be expected that the 100th
regiment can, considering the little practice it has had in
the field, and after such a long interval, be very expert in
its manoeuvres; but as Lieut.-Colonel Murray possesses both
capacity and inclination, and as a good foundation is already
laid, the most rapid progress may be expected so soon as the
season enables him to commence his labours.

A large room has been allotted in the barracks to the purposes
of drilling with arms, from which the garrison has derived
essential benefit.

The clothing for the present year is all fitted, and appears
very good. Every man is provided with a great coat, agreeably
to His Majesty's regulations; but as the great coat is
necessarily worn on all occasions for six months in the year,
it cannot by the strictest economy be made to last the
specified time. Those of the 100th have been two years in
wear, and are so far expended, that they will become wholly
unserviceable before next winter. I know of no other
alternative but supplying others at the charge of the men,
which opinion I have given to Lieut.-Colonel Murray, who
applied to me on the subject.

The messes have been all along abundantly provided. Indeed,
the soldiers in this country live in a perfect state of luxury
unknown any where else.

The non-commissioned officers and privates acknowledge to have
received every thing which is their due in respect to pay and
clothing. One man claims a part of his bounty, which, he says,
has been withheld. A regimental court martial has already
decided against him, but the business shall again be
investigated by a garrison court martial.

Lieut.-Colonel Murray has reported to me, that there are
several men in his regiment who claim bounty, but as only one
complained at the inspection, the remainder must be satisfied
that he is doing his utmost to recover what is actually their
due.

The hospital is in as complete order as the house which has
been hired for that purpose can admit. Indeed, the troops in
garrison are much inconvenienced for want of permanent
hospitals. There were three cases of fever; the remainder of
the patients were chiefly attacked with a disease too
prevalent among young soldiers. Three men are unfit for
service, being frost-bitten.

The men are supplied with necessaries in conformity to his
majesty's regulations.

_Colonel Brock to the Adjutant-General of His Majesty's Forces._

QUEBEC, July 1, 1807.

I have the honor to transmit herewith the inspection return of
the 41st regiment for two distinct periods, viz. September 1,
1806, and March 1, 1807.

Some inaccuracies being found in the September return
previously received, it was sent back to Lieut.-Colonel
Proctor, at Fort George, for correction. This circumstance and
the distance of the place, account for the delay which has
occurred in complying, in the present instance, with the
commands of his royal highness the commander-in-chief.

The very great distance of the quarters the 41st now occupy,
has prevented my making personally the periodical inspection
of that regiment required by my instructions. But its
dispersed state and the many evils by which it is surrounded
will, however great the zeal and intelligence of
Lieut.-Colonel Proctor and the other officers, so far affect
the discipline and morals of the men, as to justify my saying
that both the one and the other must, without the possibility
of a remedy, progressively suffer in proportion as the
regiment remains stationed in the Upper Province. The 41st
regiment, having a considerable number of old soldiers, is
better calculated for that service than either the 49th or
100th regiments, and no change is therefore meditated.

Not being possessed with the means of making a more
circumstantial report of the state of the 41st regiment, I
have only to add, in justice to the officers commanding posts,
that they evince in their communications with head quarters
much attention and sound judgment.

Contemplating the probable arrival of a general officer by the
fleet daily expected from England, I have so far presumed to
deviate from my instructions as to postpone making the
periodical inspection of the regiments quartered in this
garrison, conceiving that his royal highness the
commander-in-chief would esteem a report coming from such a
high source more satisfactory, than if I were to undertake the
task in my present situation, which may naturally be supposed,
in some degree, to bias my judgment.

* * * * *

On the 17th July, 1807, in consequence of an expected rupture between England and the United States, Colonel Brock addressed a letter to Mr. President Dunn, in which he said that the number of militia armed and instructed in the province did not exceed 300, while he thought that as many thousands could easily, and with perfect safety, be formed into corps; and that Quebec, the only military post in the country, was not in a condition to make much defence against an active enemy, as the walls on the western side were old and decayed, and could not possibly sustain a continued heavy fire. He added, that he wished to throw up such works as would remedy this glaring defect; but as the garrison was totally inadequate to such an undertaking, he required from 600 to 1,000 men every day for six weeks or two months, besides a vast number of carts, &c., to complete the necessary defences of the citadel. This letter being submitted to the council, that body replied, that the only means by which assistance could be given by the civil government to the military, in the manner proposed by Colonel Brock, would be by embodying a proportion of the militia according to law, the men for which service must be taken from different parts of the province. And that as this measure had only once before been resorted to in the province, on which occasion a decided disobedience was generally manifested, and was again to be anticipated, the council inquired of Colonel Brock whether he had the means, and would furnish them, to enforce the attendance of the militia, who, when embodied, were entitled to the same pay and allowances as the king's troops. The council further informed Colonel Brock that it would meet again the next day, for the purpose of taking into consideration any representation, in writing, which he might think proper to make in answer to their communication, and that, if convenient to him, they requested his personal attendance. His reply was as follows:

QUEBEC, 23d July, 1807.

Colonel Brock has perused with attention the proceedings of
his honor the president in council, communicated to him by Mr.
Ryland, and begs leave to observe, that in addressing his
honor on the 17th instant, it was far from his intention to
assume a political character.

His sole object was to state the assistance required by the
military to remedy a glaring defect in the fortifications of
Quebec, should his honor conceive that preparatory measures
were necessary to be adopted in consequence of the event which
recently occurred between his majesty's ship Leopard and the
American frigate Chesapeake, but more particularly the
subsequent aggressive provisions contained in the proclamation
of the American government.

In thus complying with the dictates of his duty, Colonel Brock
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; and he feels much
disappointment in being informed by the first authority, that
the only law in any degree calculated to answer the end
proposed was likely, if attempted to be enforced, to meet with
such general opposition as to require the aid of the military
to give it even a momentary impulse.

Colonel Brock is therefore obliged to observe, that the
officer commanding certainly would not choose the time when
the troops may every instant be called upon for the defence of
Quebec, to disperse them over the country in aid of the civil
government, coercively collecting a body of men, which, under
such circumstances, would be of more detriment than service to
the regular army. Colonel Brock cannot, therefore, look for
any assistance from that quarter, but, should an emergency
arise, he is confident that voluntary offers of service will
be made by a considerable number of brave and loyal subjects,
and feels himself justified in saying, that even now several
gentlemen are ready to come forward and enroll into companies
men on whose fidelity they can safely rely.

It remains with his honor to determine the degree of
countenance which ought to be given to such sentiments.

Colonel Brock will be at all times proud to attend
deliberations of his honor in council.

_Colonel Brock to Lord Viscount Castlereagh._

QUEBEC, July 25, 1807.

I think it my duty to transmit for your lordship's information
a copy of the communication that has passed between his honor
the president and me, relative to the military situation of
this country.

Your Lordship will perceive from the minutes of the council,
how very inadequate the militia law is to afford assistance to
the regular force, and the degree of dependance that may be
placed on the population of this province.

My own observations, however, enable me to assure your
Lordship, that a respectable force might be trained and
rendered exceedingly useful on any exigency, were the least
encouragement given to the spirit which at present pervades a
certain class to volunteer their services.

To such characters arms might be safely entrusted, but I
certainly would consider an indiscriminate distribution to the
militia, were it possible to collect it, as highly imprudent
and dangerous.

What I stated to his honor the president respecting the
weakness of the works along the whole of the west front of
this garrison, is consonant to the opinion transmitted by the
officers of engineers and artillery, in their half-yearly
periodical report, to the master-general of the ordnance.

To a question from the president, viz. "Should the council
conceive it necessary to call out the militia, whether I
thought myself warranted to issue pay and provisions to them?"
I answered, Certainly not: that in all British Colonies, of
which I had any knowledge, they on all such occasions defrayed
their own expenses.

The consideration that there is about £30,000 in the civil
chest, which cannot be applied to its object until next
spring, and the ease with which the error I may have fallen
into might be remedied, induced me to be so positive upon a
subject, regarding which I am without instructions.

_Colonel Brock to Lieut.-Colonel J.W. Gordon._

QUEBEC, Sept. 6, 1807.

It is impossible to view the late hostile measures of the
American government towards England, without considering a
rupture between the two countries as probable to happen.

I have in consequence been anxious that such precautionary
measures might be taken as the case seemed to justify; but his
honor the president has not judged it proper to adopt any
other step, than merely to order one-fifth of the militia,
which amounts to about 10,000 men, to hold itself in readiness
to march on the shortest notice.

The men thus selected for service being scattered along an
extensive line of four or five hundred miles, unarmed and
totally unacquainted with every thing military, without
officers capable of giving them instruction, considerable time
would naturally be required before the necessary degree of
order and discipline could be introduced among them. I
therefore very much doubt whether, in the event of actual war,
this force could assemble in time, and become useful.

Without considerable assistance from the militia, the few
regulars which might be spared from this garrison could avail
nothing against the force the Americans would suddenly
introduce by various roads into this province.

The Canadians have unquestionably shewn a great willingness
upon this occasion to be trained, and, I make not the least
doubt, would oppose with vigour any invasion of the
Americans--but how far the same sentiments would actuate them
were a French force to join, I will not undertake to say; at
any rate, I feel that every consideration of prudence and
policy ought to determine me to keep in Quebec a sufficient
force to secure its safety; the number of troops that could
therefore be safely detached would be small, notwithstanding a
great deal might be done, in conjunction with the militia, in
a country intersected in every direction by rivers, deep
ravines, and lined, at intervals on both sides the road, by
thick woods.

From every information I can receive, the Americans are busily
employed in drilling and forming their militia, and openly
declare their intention of entering this province the instant
war is determined upon; they will be encouraged to adopt this
step from the very defenceless state of our frontiers; the
means at my disposal are too limited to oppose them with
effect in the open field, and I shall be constrained, unless
his honor the president make exertions, which I do not think
him at this moment disposed to do, to confine myself to the
defence of Quebec.

I have hastened the completion of the works which enclose the
upper town of Quebec, and I have thought myself justified in
causing a battery of eight 36-pounders to be raised sixteen
feet upon the cavalier in the centre of the citadel, which
will effectually command the opposite heights.

Although these remarks may be premature, I yet conceive it my
duty to give his royal highness the commander-in-chief a view
of my real situation.

I must freely confess that I am unable to account for the
motives which seem at present to guide the councils of this
province. Voluntary offers of service have been made by
numbers, on whose loyalty the utmost reliance can be placed,
to form themselves into corps of cavalry, artillery, and
infantry, at little or no expense to government, provided they
were furnished with arms; but this liberal spirit has not been
encouraged by the president.

I have the honor to report, that at a recent interview I had
at Montreal with Lieut.-Governor Gore, it was judged expedient
that his excellency should assume the command in the upper
province. I regretted exceedingly that I could not, with
propriety, detach troops in support of the spirited exertions
whioh will be immediately made to place that country in a
respectable state of defence. He has been supplied with four
thousand muskets from the king's arsenal at Quebec, and with
various military stores of which he stood in need: this leaves
in my possession only seven thousand muskets for the use of
the militia of this province, and to supply, as far as they
will go, every other emergency.

_Sir James Craig to Colonel Brock_.

H.M.S. Horatio, Oct. 16, 1807.

His majesty having been pleased to appoint me to the chief
government of the British provinces in America, as well as to
the command of his forces in these parts, I do myself the
pleasure to announce to you my arrival in the river, to take
these charges upon me.

Lieut.-Colonel Baynes, the adjutant-general, and Major
Thornton, my secretary and first aide-decamp, will deliver you
this, and will inform you of the very miserable state of my
health, which obliges me to write to Mr. Dunn, to entreat that
he will permit my landing to be as private as possible. Of you
I must make the same request. A salute may be proper, but I
beg nothing more may be done: my object must be to get to the
château as speedily and with as little fatigue as possible.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 18: Owing to the difficulty, after the lapse of above forty years, of obtaining the particulars of this event from any officer present, the preceding account may be slightly inaccurate notwithstanding our diligent inquiries, but we doubt not that it is substantially correct.]

[Footnote 19: The 10th Royal Veteran Battalion arrived in Canada the year following.]

[Footnote 20: Afterwards Major-General Barnard Foord Bowes, slain on the 27th June, 1812, while leading the troops to the assault of the forts of Salamanca. Monuments in St. Paul's, to the memory of Major-General Bowes and of Sir Isaac Brock, were voted in the House of Commons on the same day, 20th July, 1813.]

[Footnote 21: On the passage of the 100th to Quebec, in 1805, one of the transports was wrecked on the 21st October, on the coast of Newfoundland; and Major Bertram, three captains, six lieutenants, the assistant-surgeon, and about 260 men of the regiment, miserably perished.]