After the Battle of Queenston Heights, the two sides agreed on a 30-day truce needed to recover from the battle and strengthen their respective positions. When the truce expired on November 21, 1813, the guns of Fort Niagara and Fort George, just 600 yards apart across the river, opened fire.
To gain a height advantage, the Americans had removed the roofs of several buildings in Fort Niagara and installed artillery batteries on the buildings' top floors.
As an added advantage. American gunners employed hot shot which were cannonballs heated red hot to set fire to Fort George's wooden buildings. One particular gun was located on the top floor of Fort Niagara's stone Mess House (today called the French Castle), a structure built by the French in 1726.
As casualties began to mount, Betsy Doyle swung into action, carrying red hot cannonballs from downstairs fireplaces to the cannon on the exposed top floor.
This was her moment of fame.
--Brock-Perry
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