... “To show with what secresy the arrangements were made for the sortie, it is believed that the enemy was in utter ignorance of the movement. To confirm him in error, a succession of trusty spies were sent to him in the character of deserters up to the close of day of the 16th; and so little did the army know of what were General Brown’s plans for that day, that even if an officer had gone over to the enemy, the information he could have given must have been favourable to the meditated enterprise, as no one had been consulted but General Porter, and the engineers Colonels McRae and Wood. “At nine o’clock in the evening of the 16th, the general-in-chief called his assistant adjutant-general, Major Jones, and after explaining concisely his object, ordered him to see the officers whom the General named and direct them to his tent. The officers General Brown had selected to have the honour of leading commands on the 17th came; he explained to them his views and determinations, and enjoyed much satisfaction at seeing that his confidence had not been misplaced. They left him to prepare for the duty assigned to them on the succeeding day. At twelve o’clock the last agent was sent to the enemy in the character of a deserter, and aided, by disclosing all he knew, to confirm him in security. “The letter, of which the following is an extract, was written by General Brown to the Department of War early in the morning of the 25th July, 1814: “‘As General Gaines informed me that the Commodore was in port, and as he did not know when the fleet would sail, or when the guns and troops that I had been expecting would even leave Sackett’s Harbour, I have thought it proper to change my position with a view to other objects.’ “General Scott, with the first brigade, Towson’s artillery, all the dragoons and mounted men, was accordingly put in march towards Queenston. He was particularly instructed to report if the enemy appeared, and to call for assistance if that was necessary. Having command of the dragoons, he would have, it was supposed, the means of intelligence. On General Scott’s arrival near the Falls, he learned that the enemy was in force directly in his front, a narrow piece of woods alone intercepting his view of them. Waiting only to despatch this information, but not to receive any in return, the General advanced upon him.