Post #19: People to Meet and the Battle of Queenston Heights

October 31, 1812

Dear Journal,

I just met a couple of interesting people this week. Richard Pierpiont, Laura Secord, and John Strachan. I’ll tell you about them.

First off, Richard Pierpoint. He was born in 1746 in Bondu, Africa he was enslaved when he was only a teenager. During the American Revolution, he joined the Butlers Rangers. He became an expert in first nation’s style warfare. After the revolution, the Americans sometimes raided Canada to bring former slaves back to the United States. Richard petitioned the government to allow all the black people to settle together. When this war began he organized a black military company called the Coloured Corps. They fought the battles of Queenston Heights and Fort George.

Laura Secord was born in 1775 in Massachusetts. She moved to Queenston in 1795. Just last month her family as forced to house American soldiers. She overheard their plan to attack one of our forts. So to protect her country she set off to warn the fort that the Americans were planning to attack. That’s how I met her. I was sheltering her for the night. I think that if the American attack fails she will get a reward. 

John Strachan was born in 1778 in Scotland and he came to Upper Canada in 1799.  He was a teacher and now is an Anglican priest.  When the war started, he became the chaplain for our troops. 

November 10, 1812

Dear Journal,

On October 13, 1812, early in the morning, Major General Isaac Brock left Fort George because he woke up to the sounds of guns about 11 km away from Fort George.  He organized his small force and left for Queenston Heights.  As they were walking up a hill, Major General Isaac Brock was shot in the chest and died.  His troops retreated to wait for reinforcements.  By the afternoon, Major General Roger Sheaffe led our troops into the second part of the battle.  A number of Haudenosaunee lead by Ahyouwaigs (John Brant) joined them in battle too.  Together their forces made the invading Americans retreat. 

Many American citizens in the militia from the Buffalo area did not support the war and did not want to fight on the Canadian side of the border.  This battle is an important victory for our British allies.