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American forces were defeated on October 13, 1812 at a battle near Niagara Falls, on Queenston Heights. The American officers were unable to convince militia troops to cross over to Canada and bring sufficient reinforcements to carry the day. Multimedia Battle Presentation To lead the attack on Canada the New York governor appointed a political appointee General Stephen Van Ressler of the New York militia, Van Ressler had no military experience. To supplement Van Ressler Brigadier General Alexander Smyth was instructed to put his force of regulars at Van Resslers troops. Smyth refused to do so.  Despite this Van Ressler by early October had a force of 3,500 along the Niagara River facing a British and Indian force of around 2,000. On October 13, 1812 General Ressler led a group of 200 men across the River at Queenstown. Ressler was severely wounded while coming ashore and the men with him were pinned down from fire from the British positions on the heights above. Captain John Wool took command and led a group of regulars up an unguarded trail running up to the heights. In the meantime British General Brock had rushed to the heights. Soon after he arrived Wool’s forces appeared from behind and Brock could merely order the gun spiked and give the order to retreat. When more of his troops arrived Brock ordered a counterattack. Brock was killed in the assault but his troops briefly captured the heights, before once again being pushed off by the Americans. By this time Lieutenant Colonel Winfield Scott a regular army officer had been sent to help Wool. With Scott and reinforcement on the heights it looked like the day belonged to the Americans.  Van Ressler now ordered the New York Militia to reinforce Scott, but the New York militia refused to leave New York and cross over into Canada. With British forces on the way Ressler feared that Scott would not be able to hold the heights and ordered him to withdraw, promising that there would be boats on the beach waiting to take his men back across. When Scotts men got to the river there were no boats. Before long the British were pouring gunfire down on the Americans from the newly recaptured heights. The stranded Americans had no choice but to surrender. Three hundred Americans were killed or wounded, and 938 were taken prisoners including Winfield Scott. |
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