about
two o'clock in the afternoon
While the events just described had been taking place , an important movement was made for the recovery of Queenston Heights . Major-General Sheaffe , with a force of about nine hundred redcoats and militia , made a circuitous march through the village of St. David 's , and thus gained the crest of the heights on which the enemy were posted . Here he was re-enforced by the arrival of a company of the 41st grenadiers and a body of militiamen from Chippewa . With a volley and a gallant British cheer , they attacked , about two o'clock in the afternoon , the American force , which had also been re-enforced to about the same number as the British . Courage the enemy had , but they lacked the confidence and steadiness imparted by the presence of the veteran British troops . Nevertheless , for a time they stoutly stood their ground ; but , soon perceiving the hopelessness of resistance , they everywhere gave way , and retreated precipitately down the hill to their place of landing . The Indians , like sleuth hounds that had broken leash , unhappily could not be restrained , and , shrieking their blood - curdling war-whoops , pursued with tomahawk and reeking blade the demoralized fugitives .