The Villages: The villages of Queenston and Lewiston were important ports for Ships with supplies cruising Lake Ontario, ships unloaded their cargo at the two villages where it was put into wagons and taken on a long portage up the escarpment and around Niagara Falls and then on to Lake Erie.
The two villages were quite similar in the way they looked, both consisted of about forty houses and other buildings.
The two villages were joined by a ferry that crossed the 300 metre stretch of water. The banks of the river steeply rose over ten metres high and there was barely room for a narrow path at the waters edge.
British Forces at Queenston:
Major General Isaac Brock Commander in Chief in Upper Canada,
Captain James Dennis commanding the Grenadier Company of the 49th Regiment.
Captain John Williams, Commanding the Light Company of the 49th Regiments.
Militia Troops:
Captain Samuel Hatt and James Durand each Commanding a Company from the 5th Lincoln Regiment.
Lieutenant Jacob Ball, Commanding a Company of artillery.
Captains Stephan Heward and John Chisolm each Commanding a Company from the 2nd York Regiment.
American Forces at Lewiston:
Major General Stephan Van Rensselaer Commander in Chief of the Army of the center on the Niagara River in New York State.
Regular Troops Major Charles Mosely, Commanding two Companies of the U.S. Rifle Regiment.
Militia Troops:
Brigadier General William Wadsworth, Commanding:
Lieutenant Colonel H.W. Dobbins, Commanding the 18th New York Regiment.
Lieutenant Colonel Henry Bloom, Commanding the 19th New York Regiment.
Lieutenant Colonel Peter Allen, Commanding the 20th New York Regiment.
Captain Abraham Dox, Commanding a regiment of New York Volunteers, A company of Light Dragoons.