He embarked in the Chippewa, a small trading schooner, with seventy of the Ohio Rifles as prisoners, and took, as a guard, a rifle company commanded by his young friend, Captain Robinson, subsequently Chief Justice Robinson, “again winning golden opinions from the men by his urbanity.”

On Lake Erie he met the Lady Prevost, of fourteen guns, the commander of which, after saluting the hero of Detroit with seventeen guns, boarded the Chippewa, handing him despatches that notified him of an armistice, which Sir George Prevost had actually concluded with the American general, Dearborn, on August 9th!  Brock’s mortification was profound.  His cherished plan, to sweep the Niagara frontier and destroy the United States naval arsenal at Sackett’s Harbour, was again frustrated.

A diversion occurred that morning which for a time drove the unpardonable armistice from Brock’s thoughts.  A heavy mist hung over the water.  It hid the shore.  Deceived by this, the skipper of the Chippewa, who thought he was in Fort Erie harbour, discovered, as the fog lifted, that they were on the American side and close to Buffalo.  The situation was perilous and dramatic.  With the melting of the haze the wind dropped.  Brock saw on the Buffalo shore, within easy hail, a concourse of inquisitive people trying to make out the nationality of his ship.  Believing the skipper, was in league with the enemy, Brock turned upon him savagely.

“You scoundrel,” said he, “you have betrayed me.  Let but one shot be fired and I will run you up at the yard-arm.”  Fortunately, the Queen Charlotte, in Canadian water, was seen and signalled, and, the wind rising, she convoyed the Chippewa and her precious passenger into safety.

The news of the armistice dumbfounded the General.  Instead of battering Fort Niagara and attacking Sackett’s Harbour, he had to order Procter to cancel the expedition for the relief of Fort Wayne, in the Wabash country, and himself hurry on to Fort George.  At Chippewa he was received with wild welcome by the river residents and the populace from the countryside.  A deputation of prominent men met him at Queenston, placed him in an open carriage, and with martial music he was escorted in triumph to Fort George.  After receiving at Niagara the congratulations of the lady to whom he was engaged, Brock took schooner for York and Kingston.  At both of these places fervid demonstrations were showered upon him.  But “Master Isaac’s” head could not be turned either by success or adulation.  The old spirit of self-effacement asserted itself.  “The gallant band of brave men,” he said, “at whose head I marched against the enemy, are the proper objects of your gratitude.  The services of the militia have been duly appreciated and will never be forgotten.”

Isaac’s modesty again served to increase the homage and profound devotion of the people.

Justice Powell voiced the views of the citizens of Upper Canada when he declared Brock could “boast of the most brilliant success, with the most inadequate means, which history records....  It was something fabulous that a handful of troops, supported by a few raw militia, could invade the country of an enemy of doubtful numbers, in his own fortress, and make all prisoners without the loss of a man.”