A personal incident in Brock’s voyage to Fort Erie showed how mentally distraught he was at this time. His schooner, the _Chippewa_, ran into a fog. The commander lost his bearings and, when the mist lifted, found himself very near to the American shore. No doubt news of the armistice had not reached as far down the shore as this, and had the Americans known of the proximity of the victorious British general, they certainly would have made an effort to capture the schooner. Brock, who was vexed and heart-broken, instantly suspected treachery and cried to the captain of the _Chippewa_: “You scoundrel! you have betrayed me. Let but one shot be fired from that shore and,” pointing aloft, “I will run you up on the instant to that yard-arm.” There does not seem room for doubt that the captain was quite innocent, and loyal to Brock. Luckily the _Queen Charlotte_, which had preceded the _Chippewa_ by several days, heard a shot which was fired from the latter and bore down on the vessel which held the commanding general. Ultimately she towed the _Chippewa_ to safety. When Brock arrived at York the joy of the people knew no bounds. They presented him with an address in which they tried to tell him how grateful to and proud of him they were. Brock, always generous, took little credit to himself for the victory, but ascribed it to the confidence he had in the loyalty, zeal, and valor of the Canadian volunteers. His exact words are worth quoting: “I cannot but feel highly gratified by this expression of your esteem for myself; but in justice to the brave men at whose head I marched against the enemy, I must beg leave to direct your attention to them as the proper objects of your gratitude. It was a confidence founded on their loyalty, zeal, and valor, that determined me to adopt the plan of operations which led to so fortunate a termination. Allow me to congratulate you, gentlemen, at having sent out from yourselves a large portion of that gallant band, and that at such a period a spirit had manifested itself on which you may confidently repose your hopes of future security. It will be a most pleasing duty for me to report to our Sovereign conduct so truly meritorious.”