This was Brock’s last official letter dictated in council.

“General Sheaffe,” he said, addressing that officer, “you, perhaps, know better than any of us the particulars of Van Rensselaer’s appointment.  It seems that he is an amateur soldier, pitchforked into command against his own will, a victim of New York State politics.  While this is probably so, we must not run away with the idea that his other officers are no better, for, besides Generals Dearborn and Wadsworth—­both soldiers of national repute—­his cousin, Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer, his chief of staff, is a first-class soldier, a proved fighting man.  The latter is reported to be at the head of 750 well-trained militia, 300 of whom are selected soldiers, and fifty are said to know every inch of the river.  Our spies report the enemy could ferry 1,500 regulars across in seven trips.

“The safety of our redan on the Heights has given me some concern, but Dennis, Williams and others report that the height is inaccessible from the river side.  If an attack in force is made at Queenston, we will have to concentrate every available man there—­at the risk of weakening our flanks.  Lewiston, as you have seen, is white with tents.  At Fort Gray the enemy has two twenty-four-pounders, waiting to silence our eighteen-pounder in the redan.  The Americans have several mortars and six-pounders on the river bank below Lewiston, ready to ship to any point by boats specially equipped, or to cover the landing of their troops on our side of the river, and to drive us back if we attempt to dispute their passage.”

In district general orders prepared that night, the last official document signed by General Sir Isaac Brock, he directed, “in view of the imminence of hostilities, that no further communication be held with the enemy by flag of truce, or otherwise, unless by his special permission.”

“I cannot allow looting,” he said.  “Arms and other property taken from the enemy are to be at all times reserved for the public service.”  Brock’s example might have been followed to advantage in later Canadian campaigns.  “I am calling,” he continued, “a district court-martial for nine o’clock to-morrow morning, October 13th, for the trial of three prisoners, a captain and two subalterns of the 49th and 41st regiments.”

That court-martial was not held.

On the day before, Major Evans and Colonel Macdonell had waited upon Van Rensselaer, with a letter from Brock proposing “an exchange of prisoners of war, to be returned immediately, on parole.”  The fact of no reply having been received to this, Brock regarded as ominous.