John Chrystie American The Battle of Queenston Heights

John Chrystie was a native New Yorker who joined the Army in 1808. By 1812, he had risen to the rank of lieutenant colonel of the 13th Infantry Regiment. As an officer in the regular army, he refused to serve under Stephen Van Rensselaer in Lewiston. Van Renssellaer had been chosen to lead the actual attack despite his being an inexperienced officer in the militia. Chrystie did agree to share the command of the attack on Queenston Heights with Solomon Van Rensellaer, the more experienced nephew of the American commander. Chrystie missed the initial landing at Queenston due to a broken oarlock and a frightened boatsman. He drifted downriver and had to return to the American point of embarkation. He later crossed in the afternoon with Winfield Scott and some reinforcements, but the tide in the battle had already begun to turn against the Americans. Chrystie was wounded and taken prisoner. While he blamed the unwilling militia for the defeat, Stephen Van Rensellaer hinted that Chrystie’s cowardice played a big part. Despite this accusation, Chrystie became a full colonel in March of 1813, but died of natural causes four months later.