dismounted and took a view of passing events, which at that moment appeared highly favorable.  But in a few minutes a firing was heard, which proceeded from a strong detachment of American regulars under Captain Wool, who had succeeded in gaining the brow of the heights in rear of the battery, by a fisherman’s path up the rocks, which, being reported as impassable, was not guarded.  Sir Isaac Brock and his aide-de-camps had not even time to remount, but were obliged to retire precipitately with the twelve men stationed in the battery, which was quickly occupied by the enemy.  Captain Wool having sent forward about 150 regulars, Captain Williams’ detachment, of about 100 men, advanced to meet them, personally directed by the general, who, observing the enemy to waver, ordered a charge, which was promptly executed; but as the Americans gave way, the result was not equal to his expectations.  Captain Wool admits that he reinforced his regulars, “notwithstanding which the whole were driven to the edge of the bank."[97] Here some of the American officers were on the point of hoisting a white flag, with an intention to surrender, when Captain Wool tore it off, and reanimated his dispirited troops.  They now opened a heavy fire of musketry; and conspicuous from his dress, his height, and the enthusiasm with which he animated his little band, the British commander was soon singled out, and he fell about an hour after his arrival, the fatal bullet entering his right breast and passing through his left side.  He had that instant said:  “Push on the York volunteers;” and he lived only long enough to request that his fall might not be noticed or prevent the advance of his brave troops, adding a wish, which could not be distinctly understood, that some token of remembrance should be transmitted to his sister.  He died unmarried, and on the same day a week previously, he had completed his forty-third year.  The lifeless corpse was immediately conveyed into a house at Queenstown, where it remained until the afternoon unperceived by the enemy.  His provincial aide-de-camp, Lieut.-Colonel M’Donell, of the militia, and the attorney-general of Upper Canada—­a fine promising young man—­was mortally wounded soon after his chief, and died the next day, at the early age of twenty-five years.  Although one bullet had passed through his body, and he was wounded in four places, yet he survived twenty hours; and during a period of excruciating agony, his thoughts and words were constantly occupied with lamentations for his deceased commander and friend.  He fell while gallantly charging up the hill with 190 men, chiefly of the York volunteers, by which charge the enemy was compelled to spike the 18-pounder in the battery there.