General Isaac Brock was one of those few commanders in North America who genuinely respected Natives and the skills they brought to a fight. He worked well with Tecumseh, something some commanders found difficult to do, and he was receptive to various Mohawk leaders. His closest relationship after Tecumseh was with Mohawk Pine Tree Chief John Norton, Teyoninhokawaran, a mixed-race Cherokee who'd served in the British Army and was familiar with both European and Native methods of war.
This isn't the place for a full discussion of the Battle of Queenston Heights, which holds a mythic place in Canadian history. The communities of Lewiston, New York and Queenston, Ontario face each other across the rushing Niagara River not too far from the falls. In October, 1812, Stephen van Rensselear, a billionaire land owner turned militia general led a force of 3,500 men, about 900 regulars and the rest militia. Van Rensselear had never commanded an army before, yet was selected because of his connections in New York to lead part of the American offensive across the Niagara and into Canada. Opposing him would be Major General Isaac Brock, with 1,300 men, most of them British regulars who had already had years of experience against Bonaparte and his marshals in Europe, as well as some militia companies and the 300 Mohawk auxiliaries, commanded by Norton and John Brant, Joseph's son.
Today, a replica of the Rainbow Bridge connects the two communities of Lewiston and Queenston, but in 1812, the only way across the Niagara was by boat. The Battle is called Queenston Heights for a reason, Brock was able to position artillery overlooking the River, which quickly rained down on any attempts by Rensselear to cross and get his men into position. Rensselear was determine to do some damage and despite the odds, the British were beginning to fall back. Brock decided to go personally and rally his men. He told an aide to bring on the York Volunteers and headed for the frontline. In his scarlet coat, wearing a finger-woven sash that had been given him by Tecumseh, he was a bull's eye and an American sharpshooter found the mark. With their popular commander down, the British again began to falter and John Norton knew what to do. He and Brant charged their men at the Americans, giving shrill war cries. This onslaught heartened the British, who formed up and pushed forward. Although the Americans drove off the Mohawks without suffering any casualty, the damage was done. The war cries echoed over the battlefield, reaching militia still on the Lewiston side of the Niagara, waiting to cross. They refused to do so and had to be ordered. Their reluctance and disorder allowed a new British commander, Roger Hale Sheaffe, to take the field and reform his men.
Norton knew his men were having an effect, so he found another weak point in the American offensive and charged again. Again, his men were driven back, but the intimidation factor was working. The Americans, unsure of how many Natives were on the field, though they seemed to be everywhere, assumed their were more. They also feared that the British would allow the Natives to do what was customary after a battle, including killing captives to take scalps. Panic set in among the Americans, with only some of the regulars holding together. Rensselear had no idea of how to rally his men and bring order out of the chaos, so fell back to the American side of the river. The British, with only half the strength of the Americans, held the field and won the day, thanks to some effective psy ops by an acknowledged Native commander who excelled in the art. Sheaffe later praised Norton and Brant for their "judicious dispositions", his words, throughout the battle. Not needing to be told what to do, they had assessed the need and used their men accordingly. The British owed them a lot.
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