A Very Brilliant Affair: The Battle of Queenston Heights, 1812

John Abbott is a professor of history at Laurentian University’s Algoma University College. He is the co-author of The Border at Sault Ste Marie and The History of Fort St. Joseph.

The battle of Queenston Heights, an important action in the War of 1812,
was fought during the course of a single day, on Tuesday, October 13,
1812. The invasion of Canada began at 4:00 a.m., as the first wave of
300 American soldiers crossed the Niagara River in 13 bateaux, and
scrambled ashore some 500 yards above the Queenston landing. The
engagement ended about 4:00 p.m.—with many of the invaders dead,
“the river,” in the words of Lieutenant Robinson, “filled with
poor wretches who plunged into the stream from an impulse of fear, with
scarcely the prospect of being saved”—and others captured.

It is extraordinary that Canadians, for whom the battle of Queenston
Heights is an iconic event, have had to wait so long for a definitive
examination of that engagement. On the other hand, Robert Malcomson’s
superb rendering of the story removes much of the shame associated with
the neglect. His is a judicious examination of American, British, and
British North American motives, preparations, logistics, personalities,
strategy, and tactics. The author assesses the strengths, weaknesses,
and peculiar circumstances associated with the conduct of the commanding
officers, and many of their subordinates, on both sides. Of particular
importance are his evaluations of Generals Brock and Sheaffe and of the
contribution to victory of John Norton and his Grand River warriors, as
well as his re-evaluation of the role of the New York State militia.

Readers who associate military history with volleys of arcane acronyms
and the innumerable and often impenetrable details of a campaign will
re-evaluate their assumption after completing this book. A glossary
defines a host of terms, from “aide-de-camp” to “wick.”
Battlefield manoeuvres and the reasons for them are explained in the
text. Extended appendixes offer guidance to those who would visit the
battle site and Brock’s monument, and list the numbers and names of
the combatants and the order of battle on both sides. Malcomson
understands the importance of contexts, personal and practical,
political and social, economic and international. Yet he possesses
sufficient discernment to select only those aspects of the larger
contexts that are necessary to explain the significance of the campaign
and battle in question. Consequently, the book will enlighten and
entertain a wide audience, which one would hope includes a substantial
number of Americans.