Isaac Brock

:This article refers to the British general. For the musician, see Isaac Brock (musician).

Military service

Although he is best known for his role in the Battle of Detroit, and for his other actions in the War of 1812, Brock had a successful pre-war career, and a quick rise through the ranks which many commented on at the time. Some credited luck, and others skill, in his rapid promotions, and it's fair to say that Brock had substantial portions of both on his way to prominence.

Related Topics:
Battle of Detroit - War of 1812

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Early career

Brock started as an ensign in the 8th Regiment of Foot in 1785 at the age of 15, where he was likely given responsibility for the regimental colours{{ref|colours}}. Brock reached the rank of captain, and transferred to the 49th Foot (also known as the Hertfordshire Regiment of Foot) on June 15, 1791. His nephew and biographer (Ferdinand Brock Tupper) asserts that shortly after joining the regiment, a professional dueler forced a match on him. As the one being challenged, Brock had his choice of terms, and so he insisted that they fight with pistols. His friends were shocked, as Brock was considered only a moderately good shot, while this man was an expert. Brock, however, refused to change his mind. When the duelist arrived at the field, he asked Brock to decide how many paces they would take. Brock subsequently insisted that the duel would take place, not at the usual range, but at handkerchief distance. The duelist declined and subsequently was forced to leave the regiment. This contributed to Brock's popularity and reputation among his fellow officers, as this duelist had a formidable reputation, and thus bullied other officers without fear of reprisal. During his time with this regiment, he served in the Caribbean. At some point during his service there, Brock fell ill with fever and nearly died; only recovering once he had returned to England.

Related Topics:
8th Regiment of Foot - Regimental colours - Captain - June 15 - 1791 - Ferdinand Brock Tupper - Handkerchief - Caribbean

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First command

In 1797, Brock purchased the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and became commander of the regiment. In 1799, the 49th was assigned to an expedition against the Batavian Republic (now known as the Netherlands), to be led by Sir Ralph Abercromby. During the troop landings, Brock saw his first combat, on September 10, 1799, under the command of then-Major General John Moore. Given that the 49th was in poor shape when Brock took command, they saw little of the actual combat. Likely Moore was sparing them, and using more experienced troops to establish the beachhead. Finally, on October 2, the 49th was actively involved in heavy combat, at Egmont-op-Zee, where they acquitted themselves well, only sustaining 33 fatalities. This was remarkable given the circumstances of the fight. The 49th had been ordered to proceed up the beaches of Egmont-op-Zee, a steep climb through sand dunes and poor terrain. The situation was exacerbated by harassment from French sharpshooters, who had excellent cover. After about six hours of heavy fighting, the attack was stopped about a mile (1.6 km) short of their objective. After an hour of close combat, including fist and sabre fighting, the French began to withdraw. Brock himself was injured in the fighting, when he was hit by a spent musket ball in the throat. A neck cloth prevented a possibly fatal injury. In his own words, ?I got knocked down shortly after the enemy began to retreat, but never quitted (sic) the field, and returned to my duty in less than half an hour.?

Related Topics:
Lieutenant Colonel - Batavian Republic - Netherlands - Ralph Abercromby - September 10 - 1799 - John Moore - Beachhead - October 2 - French - Sharpshooters - Sabre - Musket

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In 1801, while aboard the 74 gun HMS Ganges (commanded by Captain Thomas Fremantle, a personal friend of Brock's), Brock was present at the Battle of Copenhagen, where it was intended that his troops would lead an assault on the forts at Copenhagen. Although the outcome of the battle made such an assault unnecessary, Brock observed first hand the tactical brilliance of Lord Nelson. After the battle, along with Fremantle, he was among those to personally congratulate Nelson.

Related Topics:
HMS ''Ganges'' - Thomas Fremantle - Battle of Copenhagen - Copenhagen - Lord Nelson

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In 1802, Brock and the 49th Foot were ordered to Canada.

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Transfer to Canada

Brock arrived in Canada, along with the rest of the 49th foot, and was initially assigned to Quebec City. Almost immediately, in 1803 he was faced with one of the primary problems in Canada, desertion{{ref|desertion}}. Seven soldiers stole a boat and fled across the border into the United States. Brock sent a party across the border in pursuit, and the men were captured.

Related Topics:
Quebec City - Desertion

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Mutiny

A short time later, Brock was sent a report by an officer at Fort George that some of the garrison were planning to imprison the officers and flee to the United States. Immediately, he boarded the schooner that had brought the message and went on it to Fort George, which was under the command of then-Lieutenant Colonel Roger Hale Sheaffe. A hastily assembled honour guard formed to greet Brock's unexpected arrival. Accompanied by an orderly and another soldier who would form his reputation in Canada, James Fitzgibbon, Brock had the sergeant of the guard disarmed and confined. Then he entered the fort.

Related Topics:
Fort George - Schooner - Roger Hale Sheaffe - James Fitzgibbon - Sergeant

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As it was the dinner hour, all the soldiers were in barracks. Brock sent his orderly to bring him a soldier suspected of being one of the mutiny's ringleaders. As soon as he entered the room Fitzgibbon pinned the man and threatened to kill him if he cried out. One at a time, other suspected mutineers were captured in the same way. Finally, Brock ordered the drummers to assemble the men. They filtered out of the barracks and formed a line in front of Brock. Brock ordered that all men involved in the mutiny step forward, and a number did so, and were arrested. Brock then addressed the regiment, and asked for the obedience of those who had not known about the mutiny. The men pledged this obedience, and returned to the barracks.

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Brock sent the twelve mutineers and the seven deserters to Quebec for court martial. There it was discovered that the mutineers had planned to jail all the officers, save Sheaffe, who was to be killed, and then cross the Niagara into the United States at Queenston. Seven soldiers were subsequently executed by firing squad. Ferdinand Tupper was present at the trial and executions, and wrote about them to Brock. He described how the mutineers had testified that they were forced to such measures by the severity of Sheaffe, and how, had they continued under Brock's command, they would never have taken such action. Brock was evidently much moved by the letter. As a result of his continued competence, Brock was promoted to colonel on October 30, 1805.

Related Topics:
Court martial - October 30 - 1805

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Pre-war preparations

By 1806 the United States was becoming increasingly hostile to the British Empire, and would continue to do so until war broke out in 1812. The chief reasons for this hostility have been assigned to: the impressment of American sailors by the Royal Navy, the blockade of French ports and a belief that the British were inciting American Indians to attack United States settlements on the western frontier. War Hawks in the United States called for an invasion of Canada to punish the British Empire and to lessen the threat to American interests represented by the Native Americans. However many feel that manifest destiny, the main policy concerning the rest of North America, also greatly contributed to the decision to go to war.

Related Topics:
British Empire - Impressment - Royal Navy - Blockade of French ports - American Indians - War Hawk - Manifest destiny

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In response to this emerging threat, Brock moved quickly to bolster Canadian defences. He strengthened the fortifications of Quebec by building walls and an elevated battery. Although having little formal education, Brock succeeded in creating a formidable defensive position largely due to his reading, which included several volumes on the science of running and setting up artillery. He also re-arranged the marine department (responsible for lakes and rivers), which lead to the development of a naval force capable of holding the Great Lakes. This was to be pivotal during the war.

Related Topics:
Quebec - Artillery - Great Lakes

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In 1807, Brock was made a brigadier-general by Governor General Sir James Henry Craig. He was to take command of all forces in Upper Canada in 1810. During this time, Brock continued to ask for a posting in Europe. In 1811 he was promoted to Major General, and in October of that year, Lieutenant Governor Francis Gore, left for England. This made Brock the provisional Lieutenant Governor, and as such, administrator of Upper Canada, putting him fully in charge of both the military and the civil authority. Thus, when permission to leave for Europe finally came in early 1812, Brock declined the offer, seeing it as his duty to defend Canada in war against the United States.

Related Topics:
Governor General - James Henry Craig - Upper Canada - Lieutenant Governor - Francis Gore

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As Upper Canada's administrator, Brock made a series of changes designed to help Canada in the event of a war. He amended the militia act, allowing the use of all available volunteers, and he ordered enhanced training of these raw recruits, despite opposition from the provincial legislature. Furthermore, he continued strengthening and reinforcing defences. Also, Brock began seeking out American Indian leaders, such as the Shawnee chief Tecumseh, to see if they would ally with him against the Americans in the event of war. Although the conventional wisdom of the day was that Canada would fall quickly in the event of an invasion (various American politicians, particularly Thomas Jefferson, boasted that it would be a "mere matter of marching"), Brock pursued these strategies to give the colony a fighting chance.

Related Topics:
Legislature - Shawnee - Tecumseh - Thomas Jefferson

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