Upper Canada Preserved — War of 1812 6-Book Bundle. Richard Feltoe

      Outnumbered and isolated, the American line initially stood and opened fire on the advancing enemy. However, after trading several volleys, once Brigadier General Wadsworth decided to make a fighting withdrawal and ordered a retreat, all command structure collapsed, the American line folded, and it became was every man for himself. Some of the more dynamic commanders, like Winfield Scott and Chrystie, attempted to stem the rout. But eventually they too were forced to join their fellows in scrambling down the steep slopes of the escarpment, to the sound of blood-curdling cries from the British Native allies and reverberations of musket fire from the militia and regulars harrying the Americans to their destruction. Numerous Americans were injured or killed in their precipitous descent to the village of Queenston and the riverbank, where some desperate individuals threw away their weapons and equipment and attempted to swim across the river. Few, if any, made it safely ashore on the American side, and accounts record the spectacle of flailing bodies being swept downstream in the grip of the cold river current toward Lake Ontario. For the majority, however, surrender was the only realistic option and at least two attempts were made to raise a white flag. Unfortunately, battle fever blinded some of the Allied troops and the unfortunate bearers of the flag were shot down. Eventually Winfield Scott brought matters to a close by seizing a white neckcloth and holding it aloft on his sword as a sign of the American capitulation. In the aftermath of this final action, four participants recorded their impressions of these events:

We was then ordered to advance; our little field pieces commenced firing. It was returned by the Americans with a six-pounder masked in the brush. A rapid advance was ordered, without firing a musket shot on our part, until within a small distance of the enemy under cover of the woods and underbrush. We was then ordered to halt and fire…. We stood but a short time until, I suppose, we was ordered to advance with double quick time. The musketry made such a noise I heard no order, but as the others moved we all followed…. The General and his aid, no doubt, as they ought to do, had a position that was clear to them, but as the wind blew from the enemy we had both their smoke and ours in our faces.[7]

      — Private William Woodruff,

       1st Lincoln Militia

The Ground on which we had fought was well adapted to favour a small number against a stronger force. On our left, the steep descent of Queenstown mountain, along which & the meadows beneath, we had an uninterrupted view — on our right an extensive field, that reached to the Niagara River, which exposed to our Sight any Body of the Enemy that might advance in that Direction to pass our flank … General Sheaffe and the Troops — having now ascended the Hill … a Reinforcement of Light Infantry of one Hundred Men … of the 41st were sent to us … at the same time we were also strengthened by a number of Cuyugwa Warriors, who had been detained at Niagara…. We were thus more than doubly strengthened. We arranged ourselves on the Extremity of the left — the Light Infantry taking post on our right — next to the Main Body. When we saw the right Wing enter the field — we rushed forward — the enemy fired — we closed & they ran; … we came upon them Swiftly — they left their cannon, & we raised the Shout of Victory. — they ran in disorder — many falling on the way … right along the Bank of the River — the Enemy disappeared under the Bank; many plunging into the River.[8]

      — John Norton, Native warrior leader

On the advance I perceived an iron 6 pounder abandoned…. I ran to it with two or three men and turned it round upon a large group of Yankees in Lewiston, our own people being between it and the enemy on the heights [at Fort Gray] … and managed to discharge it several times towards the enemy at Lewiston…. The battle …was a very warm and close one. I have been in many hail storms, but never in one where the stones flew so thick as the bullets on this occasion…. The lines were very near each other, and every foot of the ground the enemy gave way gave us an advantage, as on their side it descended. After almost half an hour’s close engagement they disappeared in the smoke, throwing down their arms, and ran down the heights to the water’s edge in the vain hope of reaching their own side.[9]

      — Captain James Crooks,

       1st Lincoln Militia

I saw many of the American soldiers run and plunge down the bank, some went down upon the rocks and trees & were killed while many who plunged into the river were drowned, the river running at a very rapid rate. None but the most powerful swimmers succeeded in reaching the American shore.[10]

      — Private John Chapman, 41st Regiment

      The losses suffered by the American army in this battle are somewhat ambiguous. This situation is not surprising considering: