Billy Green Saves the Day (14 page)

The military attaché quickly nodded to the town official and then retrieved the money. The official gave it to Billy. “It was a pleasure to meet you, sir,” he said with sincerity.

Billy shook his hand, tucked the money in his pocket with trembling hands, and moved slowly toward the exit as the men in the room stood and applauded. The little boy ran to Billy and hugged his leg, his head turned upward with a grin. Billy smiled and saluted him. The boy laughed and returned the salute.

One young man, obviously perplexed by the admiration for Billy, looked at the military attaché. “What did that man do that was so great?”

The military liaison shook his head and pointed at a map of Canada on the wall behind the desk. His finger circled Ontario. “If it wasn't for Billy Green and the others, the Province of Ontario would most likely be a part of the United States today. As a matter of fact, if Ontario had fallen to the Americans, the rest of the country probably would've been captured.”

Slightly ashamed of his ignorance, the young man stood. “And all this happened in Stoney Creek?”

“Yes, it did,” the military attaché said.

The young man hastily exited the building and ran into the street where he saw Billy climbing into a carriage. “Mr. Green?” he shouted.

Billy turned toward him as the youth offered his hand.

“I just wanted to say thank you for what you did.” He shook Billy's hand. “You know, if I had the chance, I'd like to be in a battle like you were.”

Billy thought for a moment, his cloudy eyes staring off. “I hope you never get that chance, son. I truly do.” He snapped the reins smartly, and the carriage pulled away.

SELECTED READING AND WEBSITES

Books

Begamudré, Ven.
Isaac Brock: Larger Than Life
. Montreal: XYZ Publishing, 2000.

Berton, Pierre.
The Battles of the War of 1812: Adventures in Canadian History
. Calgary: Fifth House Publishers Ltd., 2006.

____.
The Death of Tecumseh: The Battles of the War of 1812
. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1999.

Borneman, Walter R.
1812: The War That Forged a Nation
. Toronto: HarperCollins Canada, 2004.

Childress, Diana.
The War of 1812: Chronicle of America's Wars
. Minneapolis: Lerner Publishing Group, 2004.

Collins, Gilbert.
Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812
. Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2006. Crump, Jennifer.
The War of 1812 Against the States (Junior Edition):

Heroes of a Great Canadian Victory
. Halifax: James Lorimer & Company Ltd., 2006.

Elliott, James.
Billy Green and the Battle of Stoney Creek
. Toronto: Hawthorn Ink, 1994.

Flint, Eric.
1812: The Rivers of War
. Riverdale, NY: Baen Books, 2006.

Fryer, Mary Beacock.
Bold, Brave, and Born to Lead: Major General Isaac Brock and the Canadas
. Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2004.

Gay, Kathlyn.
War of 1812
. Minneapolis: Lerner Publishing Group, 1995.

Gordon, Irene.
Tecumseh: Diplomat and Warrior in the War of 1812
. Halifax: James Lorimer & Company Ltd., 2009.

Gray, William.
Soldiers of the King: The Upper Canada Militia 1812– 1815
. Erin, ON: Boston Mills Press, 1995.

Hickey, Donald.
Don't Give Up the Ship! Myths of the War of 1812
. Toronto: Robin Brass Studio, 2006.

Malcomson, Robert.
A Very Brilliant Affair: The Battle of Queenston Heights, 1812
. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 2003.

Mulhal, Jill K.
The War of 1812: Expanding and Preserving the Union
.

Huntington Beach, CA: Teacher Created Materials Publishing, 2008. Nardo, Don.
The War of 1812
. Chicago: Lucent Books, 1999.

Pitt, Steve.
To Stand and Fight Together: Richard Pierpoint and the Coloured Corps of Upper Canada
. Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2008.

Poling, Sr., Jim.
Tecumseh: Shooting Star, Crouching Panther
. Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2009.

Websites

Andrew Jackson:
www.galafilm.com/1812/e/people/jackson.html
. Read about Andrew Jackson's military career and his role in the War of 1812 before he became the seventh president of the United States.

Billy Green:
www.battlefieldhouse.ca/billy_scout.asp
. A brief history of Billy Green, including a first-hand account from “The Scout” himself.

Fort Erie:
www.niagaraparks.com/heritage/forterie.php
. Take a virtual tour and step back in time to 1812.

Fort George:
www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/on/fortgeorge/natcul/index_e.asp
. Learn about Fort George, Navy Hall, and the battles that took place at this famous site.

Fort Niagara:
http://oldfortniagara.org
. Learn about the fort and its history and find out about upcoming events and educational programs that are available.

Fort York:
www.toronto.ca/culture/museums/fort-york.htm
. Explore the history of the fort and the old military burial ground nearby.

Isaac Brock:
www.historica.ca/isaac_brock.php
. Discover the past of the “Saviour of Canada.”

James Madison:
www.jmu.edu/madison/gpos225-madison2/war1812.htm
. Experience a detailed history of the fourth president of the United States, including why he declared war on the British Allies in 1812.

John Norton:
www.yourniagara.ca/pages/other/583.aspx
. Read about Six Nations chief John Norton's mysterious life and his reputation during the War of 1812.

Lundy's Lane Battlefield:
www.battleoflundyslane.com
. Relive one of the most important battles in Canada's history.

Queenston Heights Battlefield:
www.niagaraparks.com/garden/qh_ park.php
. Home to one of the greatest battles of the War of 1812 and the General Brock Monument.

Stoney Creek Battlefield:
www.battlefieldhouse.ca/billy_battle.asp
. Explore the museum and park and view re-enactments of the Battle of Stoney Creek.

Tecumseh:
thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0007898
. Learn all about Shawnee war chief Tecumseh and his crucial role in the War of 1812.

The War of 1812 Website:
www.warof1812.ca
. Everything you need to know about the War of 1812, including interactive tools such as sounds clips and animated battles.

William Winder:
www.galafilm.com/1812/e/people/winder.html
. Read about U.S. General William Winder and the grave mistake he made.