Battle of Queenston Heights

Battle of Queenston Heights
Part of the War of 1812
Death of General Brock at the Battle of Queenston Heights by John David Kelly
Date 13 October 1812 Location Queenston, Upper Canada (now Ontario) 43°09′43″N 79°03′02″W / 43.16192°N 79.05049°W / 43.16192; -79.05049 Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom  Upper Canada	United States
Commanders and leaders
Isaac Brock † Roger Hale Sheaffe John Macdonell †	Stephen Van Rensselaer Winfield Scott  William Wadsworth
Strength
1,366	3,550
Casualties and losses
21 killed 85 wounded 22 captured	60–100 killed 80 wounded 955 captured, of whom 90 were wounded

The Battle of Queenston Heights was the first major engagement of the War of 1812. The battle took place on 13 October 1812 at Queenston in Upper Canada (now Ontario) and was a decisive British victory.

United States regulars and New York militia led by Major General Stephen Van Rensselaer crossed the Niagara River from Lewiston and engaged British regulars and Canadian militia led by Major General Isaac Brock. Major General Roger Hale Sheaffe took command of British forces after Brock was killed. Mohawk warriors led by John Norton supported the British during the battle.

The battle was an American attempt to establish a foothold on the Canadian side of the Niagara River before campaigning ended with the onset of winter. The British victory was mainly due to the poorly managed American offensive. Despite their numerical advantage and the widely dispersed British forces defending the Niagara frontier, the Americans were unable to get the bulk of their invasion force across the Niagara River because of British artillery and the reluctance of the inexperienced American militia. As a result, British reinforcements arrived, defeated the unsupported American forces, and forced a surrender. The battle is considered historically significant mainly due to the loss of the British commander.