A MATTER OF HONOUR: The Life, Campaigns and Generalship of Isaac Brock

1-196450

Isaac Brock was the British general responsible for defending the long frontier of Upper Canada with meager forces in the opening days of the War of 1812. Revered by generations of schoolchildren as the 'Saviour of Upper Canada' and commemorated by a towering monument on Queenston Heights, Brock is best known in Canada for his vigorous measures to defend against the invading American forces and for the daring exploit at Queenston Heights in which he died.

Brock was a resourceful field commander who believed in offensive measures to keep his opponent off-balance and he is probably best known in the United States for managing to cow U.S. General William Hull into surrendering Detroit, to that general's eternal shame.

Jonathon Riley describes Brock's upbringing in the Channel Islands, his family life and his military career in Europe and the West Indies, including his service at Den Helder and Copenhagen. He covers in detail how Brock prepared Britain's Canadian provinces for the impending war with the United States, the events of the capture of Detroit, as well as the Battle of Queenston Heights, which cost Brock his life but from which he emerged as a major historical figure. The book includes an assessment of Brock's abilities as a general by an author who is himself a general with experience in various theaters of war.

B/w photos and maps, notes, biblio, index.