On 13th October, 1812, Captain John E. Wool led a small detachment of American soldiers across the Niagara river and attacked the British army of General Isaac Brock which was stationed at Queenston Heights, Canada. This ill-fated assault was the first autumn engagement of American land troops in the “War of 1812” which had been declared by Congress on 18th June. About the same time a different type of offensive was taking place in the small Connecticut town of South Britain.