When General Van Rensselaer Returned

Stephen Van Rensselaer

From old newspapers, and other sources, we gather the fragmentary items that follow, relating to the soldiers of 1812.  When General Stephen Van Rensselaer returned, October 31, 1812, to Albany, after the battle of Queenstown, a large concourse of private citizens and dignitaries turned out to escort him to the city. Major John Lovett was his Secretary, and Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer, one of the bravest men that Albany ever produced, was his Aid. He was long disabled by four bullet wounds received in this battle. One of the balls he carried in his flesh until his death.  [Source]

Queenston Heights

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Before daylight on the morning of the 13th of October. a large of General Van Rensselaer's army, numbering between thirteen and fourteen hundred, under Brigadier General Wadsworth, effected a landing the lower end of the Village of Queenston, (opposite Lewiston) and an attack upon the position which was defended with the utmost determined bravery by the two flank companies of the 49th Regiment, commanded by Captains Dennis and Williams, aided by such of the forces and Indians as could be collected in the vicinity.

A considerable force, however, had effected a landing some distance above, and succeeded in gaining the summit of the mountain. No resistance could now be offered to the crossing from Lewiston, except by the battery at Vromont's Point,, half a mile below and from this a steady and harassing fire was kept up which did considerable execution. [Source]


See The Battle Of Queensto(w)n Heights here.

The Cause Of Many Errors

Source - Chauncey Was Not The Cause Of Many Errors

See another post from his journal here.

From the Journal of Major Isaac Roach, 1812-1824, published in The Pennsylvania magazine of history and biography, Volume 17:

We had now assembled about 6000 men, aided by Commodore [Isaac] Chauncey's fleet, and they were about 3000, and their fleet not on the Lake. We now had the experiment to repeat, of sending superannuated men of the Revolution to command. As the failure of the aged Patroon, General Van Rensselaer, lost us everything in 1812, so was the age and infirmity of General Dearborn the cause of many errors.

Portrait of Stephen Van Rensselaer

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From The War of 1812 website:

"Despite being an anti-war Federalist, a political rival publicly suggested that Van Rensselaer be named a major general in the New York militia. Van Rensselaer knew his reputation would be at stake if he refused, and so he reluctantly became the leader of over six thousand men that were expected to conduct a successful invasion of Canada. Luckily, he had a family ally who was also a capable commander; his cousin, Solomon Van Rensselaer."

From the Historic Lewiston website:

"Why the Americans Lost the Battle of Queenston, in the words of the losing American Major General, Stephen Van Rensselaer written the day after the historic War of 1812 battle [to General Dearborn]."  Apparently it was a career-ending loss for General Stephen Van Rensselaer.

General Alexander Smyth

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Was appointed President Jefferson colonel of a United States regiment, which he commanded at the until 1811, when he was ordered to Washington prepare a discipline for the army. Was inspector general in 1812 and ordered to the Canadian frontier, where he failed in an invasion Canada and left the army. 

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He [General Smyth]...petitioned Congress to reinstate him, declaring in his memorial that he asked the privilege of "dying for his country." The phrase was ridiculed by his enemies. At a public celebration at Georgetown D.C. on Washington's birthday in 1814, the following toast was offered: "General Smyth's petition to Congress to 'die for his country'--May it be ordered that the prayer of said petitioner be granted." [Source]

There was a duel between General Smyth and General Porter.

Smyth County, Virginia, was named after the General.

Queenston Plan Of Battle

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