The Story of Isaac Brock: Hero, Defender and Saviour of Upper Canada, 1812Nursey, Walter R.
History
The Story of Isaac Brock: Hero, Defender and Saviour of Upper Canada, 1812
Nursey, Walter R.
Brock, Isaac, Sir, 1769-1812; Canada -- History -- 1763-1867; United States -- History -- War of 1812
The papers of surrender signed, Brock hastened to liberate Dean, a
soldier of the 41st, wounded and taken prisoner at the Canard river,
with another man, while gallantly defending the bridge against a large
body of the enemy. In a voice broken with emotion Brock told him that he
had "nobly upheld the traditions of the service and was an honour to his
profession." Then he singled out Lieutenant Roulette, of the sloop
_Hunter_, a French Canadian, who captured eighteen prizes during the war
and was the leading spirit in many gallant events. "I watched you during
the action," said the General. "You behaved like a lion. I will remember
you." In the orders of that afternoon Brock praised the conduct of his
troops. He laid stress upon the "discipline and determination that had
decided an enemy, infinitely more numerous in men and artillery, and
protected by a strong fortification, to propose capitulation."
The effect of the news in Upper Canada was electrical. Brock became the
idol of the people and was acclaimed "hero and saviour of Upper Canada."
His performance was a record one. In nineteen days he had met the
Legislature, settled important public business, transported a small army
300 miles, 200 of which was by open boat in stormy waters, compelled the
surrender of an enemy three times his strength, entrenched in a
protected fort, and seized 60,000 square miles of United States mainland
and islands.
To the American people the news came as a thunder-clap. President
Madison's chagrin was indescribable. After all the insulting remarks and
bombastic prophecies of himself and Clay, Calhoun, Eustis and others,
the humiliation was as gall and wormwood. Clay, the apostate, later on
swallowed his words and signed the treaty of peace. Eustis, the
Secretary of War, had boasted that he would "take the whole country and
ask no favours, for God has given us the power and the means." But God
saw fit to confound the despoiler. Hull was, of course, made a
scapegoat. Tried by court-martial, he was found guilty of cowardice and
neglect, and sentenced to death, but pardoned by the President. His son
died fighting at Lundy's Lane. The officers of Hull's command, who were
almost united in opposing surrender, as brave men felt their position
keenly. Never let us forget that no one race holds a monopoly in
courage, that no nation has exclusive control of the spirit of
patriotism. Fortunate it is indeed for most of us that the loftier
qualities of man can not be copyrighted by the individual. A share of
these has been bestowed in wise proportion upon all members of the human
family. To those who seek to emulate the character and deeds of the
world's famous men, certain essential qualities of mind may even be
acquired and developed by all, but to possess the "fullness of
perfection" cannot be the lot of every man.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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