Capture the Heights!

The stage is set for our second Sharp Practice game set at Queenston Heights 13 October 1812. In their dawn attack the Americans failed to capture Queenston village but succeeded in capturing the British gun battery on the heights, but not before the guns could be spiked.

Area of Operations Queenston 13 October 1812

Now Major General Sir Issac Brock is leading reinforcements from Ft George to recapture the heights and drive the Americans back across the Niagara river.

Samuel Hatt, who has been given a field promotion to Major, leads his Canadian volunteers of the 5^th Lincoln to take up firing positions to prevent the Americans from taking the village.

On the heights, James Dennis (also given a field promotion to Major) leads a combined unit of British Grenadiers from the 41^st and 49^th Foot to seize the redan.

The Americans take up positions to defend the heights. Capt Wool forms two companies of the 13^th US Infantry in front of the Redan with Capt Ogilvie’s company of the 6^th on his left. Lt Col Fenwick’s Light Artillerymen take possession of the captured British guns and begin to drill out the spiked 12 pounder.

The initial American volleys are very effective, bringing the British Grenadiers’ advance to a grinding halt. MGen Brock takes personal command as casualties and shock pile up. American marksman to the Grenadiers’ left front aim to pick off Brock. They succeed in wounding him but he is still standing and continues to rally the British line in an attempt to get them moving again.

British Light Infantry, led by Capt Williams, advance on the right of the Grenadiers. Their well-placed shots begin to wear down the Americans, taking some pressure off the Grenadiers.

Capt Chisholm’s Canadian York Volunteers begin to move slowly forward on the Grenadiers’ left. Their advance is hampered by broken ground and a distinct lack of enthusiasm. As the battle progresses they do not manage to come into close fire range of the enemy.

Lt Ball brings a 3 pounder gun into action to support the Lincoln Militia holding Queenston village.

The Canadian artillery puts the frighteners on the New York Militia. They turn away from the village to seek shelter in the lee of the escarpment — or perhaps to find a boat to get back across the Niagara river to the safety of the US side.

At this point American reinforcements begin to arrive. Capt Appling’s company of the 1^st US Rifles, supported by New York militia skirmishers move off to the right. Col Van Rensselaer leads another company of the 6^th US Infantry to the left and much needed ammunition resupply is brought up.

The battle will be won or lost in the centre. As the US reinforcements fan out to the right and left,  the US centre to collapses under the weight of fire from the British Light Infantry and Grenadiers. Capt Wool is wounded, one company of the 13^th US Infantry breaks and the other is driven back. The US artillerymen have, however, managed to drill out the captured British 12 pounder and are getting it ready to fire.

Before the American artillerymen can bring the gun into action they take a devastating volley from Capt Williams’ Light Infantry. Four of the five artillerymen are killed and Lt Col Fenwick is knocked to the ground with a wound.

At the same time Ahyonwaeghs (aka John Brant) arrives with a party of Mohawks on the American left flank. It looks like a British victory is imminent.

The New York Militia and the survivors of the broken company 13^th Infantry look to find boats to take them safely back across the Niagara River. Other American units are no doubt contemplating similar action.

At this critical moment, just as the British Light Infantry are getting ready to charge forward to take the Redan, Col Van Rensselaer brings a second company of the 6^th US infantry into line with Capt Ogilvie’s men. They let loose a controlled volley at close range which inflicts severe casualties and breaks the 49^th Light Company. The British advance is halted in its tracks.

By the skin of their teeth the Americans succeed in holding the Redan. The Canadians are still in full possession of Queenston village but the attack on the heights has run out of steam and the wounded Sir Issac Brock has no option other than to order a withdrawal. So a narrow American victory has been achieved.

It was a nail-biting game, the outcome of which was in doubt until the very end. The result was very close to the historical battle where Brock was killed and his attack failed. What happened next was that Major General Sheaffe arrived from Ft Chippawa with a large detachment of the 41^st Foot supported by Canadians and more Mohawks. Further possible American reinforcements failed to cross the Niagara to support their comrades and those on the heights surrendered. Sheaffe did not follow up his success. Historians have postulated that if Brock had not been killed he would have taken the fight to the US side of the river.

For the next game in our campaign I will assume that Sheaffe’s reinforcements finally take the heights but that most of the Americans are able to escape back across the river. As Sir Issac Brock is still alive he will send fighting patrols over to the American side to discomfort them as winter approaches.