<P> Billy took his brother Levi's horse "Tip" and rode to Burlington Heights to warn the British . The British, who had recently themselves spied on the Americans, assumed Billy was a spy . After questioning him, Lieutenant - Colonel John Harvey decided he was not a spy . He realized that the password and Billy's intimate knowledge of the countryside would help Harvey's planned surprise attack on the American camp at night . He gave Billy a sword and asked him to guide the troops . They left just before midnight, with Harvey in charge . </P> <P> They first encountered American sentries at Davis' tavern at Big Creek (now Red Hill Creek), who fired their muskets and dispersed . They encountered more sentries along the way, in the woods and near a church . Billy dispatched one of the sentries with his sword, while giving him the countersign . As they snuck up to the American camp they saw fires set by the American troops, on the other side of a lane . Billy was present at the battle but was not injured . </P> <P> The monument, erected on the battlefield in 1913, at the centenary of the Battle, is inscribed Scout Green . </P> <P> Various accounts have greatly embellished this version of events . For example, one account called Green the "Paul Revere of Canada," and claimed that he "sighted the American army massing below the mountain at Stoney Creek" and "felt it his duty to inform the English troops of their nearness". This is a fabrication, as the British knew exactly where the Americans were, and knew they were being pursued by them . Such easily demonstrable inventions have fueled commentary that the whole story is a legend, raising substantial questions as to the authenticity of the accepted historical record regarding Billy Green's purported actions and presence at the Battle of Stoney Creek, most notably by journalist James E. Elliott . A shorter version of Elliott's analysis of the historical record was published in The Hamilton Spectator in December 2009 . </P>

Who was involed in the war of 1812