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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 4 5 6 ^^t^b'^ ' li THE NOV 14 ' -I MONTHLY HISTORICAL REGISTER. March — June, 1838. HISTORY OF THE RECENT INSURRECTION IN THE CANADAS. PART FIRST, Slate of parties in Canada — Riots in Montreal behceen the Sons of Liberty and the loyalists — Arrest of the popular leaders — Rescue of prisoners at Lvngetiil — March of the troops upon Chambly — Defensive measures of the Patriots — Expeditions against St. Charles — March of Col. Gore from Sorel, and capture of Lieut. Weir. Repulse of Col. Gore at St. Denis — Death of Lieut. Wcii — Battle of St. Charles — Public feeling in Montreal and the United States — Return of Col. IVetherall, and triumplval entry into Montreal — March of Col. Gore through the disturbed district — Vieics of the patriot leaders, and diaractcr of the insurrection — Proclamation of Lord Gosford — Martial law declared, and rc^cards offered for the patriotic leaders — A§air at Moore's Corner — 'Ilie insHrgcnte gather at Grand Brule. I 1- In a preceding article in this periodical* we have enumerated the prominent con- stitutional causes of complaint, which, existing for so many years between the Canadas and Great Briiian, had at length produced a dco;ree of soreness and irrita- tion in the former country, that prepared it to seek redress by the violent national remedies of insurrection and revolution. Yet, although for some months previous to the late explosion the exasperated state of the public mind in the two great par- ties into which the country was divided, as indicated by the tone of the press in Note. — In accordance with the plan which we have hitherto adopted in preparing the Historical Department of the Democratic Review, we have delayed all notice of the recent disturbances in the Canadas, until we could present our readers with such a comprehensive narrative of the whole of these deeply exciting and important events as would l>e found in present interest, and future value, much more desirable than casual, and frequently inaccurate, notices of occurrences as they happened. In executing this task, slight as h is, we have ex- perienced much difficulty from the insufficiency and contradict^)ry nature of our materials ; «nd an.xions as has been our desire to render the thread of the narrative perfect and unbroken, we are afraid that we have at times failed to give an account of pai-licular occurrences as complete as might be wished. It is certainly as ac-curate as the materials within our reach would enable us to make it; and though the facts, as we find them, scattered through the principal American and Canadian papers, which formed our only sources of information, are often distorted by party views, or colored to suit the feelings of prejudiced writers, we have endeavoured, by balancing one account with another, to arrive at the truth, and present a nar- rative of the transactions which may be relied upon in its fac s, and referred to in future as a detailed and authentic account of one of those episodes of popular disturbance which are ao eoon forgotten, and so often misrepresented in history, but which have an abiding influence »n the destiny of the people among whom they occur. ♦ Democratic Review, January, 1838. Vol. I. pp. 205—220. VOL. IV. B* 74 insurrection in the Canadas. the opposite political interests, sliowed a tendency to the extremity of violence, its actual approach was not deemed so near at least by the leaders of the liberal or reform party, and the great bulk of the inhabitants, who were either covertly or openly attached to that interest. For months the tory party had been cnUin-^ for coercive measures on the part of the Government, with an unanimity and earnestness that in some cases ap,,roach- ed the ferocious. Lord Gosford, a mode- rate and liberal-minded politician, who at first api>ears to have sought to direct the af- lairs of the province by infusing a spirit of conciliation, and enlightened, though cautious, reform, into his administration became odious in the eyes of this faction! and was daily denounced as encoura-in<- If not aiding, the reformers in attcmprs subversive of the British interest in A- menca. The strong hand of power was earnestly invoked against the obnoxious doctrines of tlie patriotic party, and any thing short of a decisive rejection of their unreasonable demands, and a proportion- ate strengthening of the ascendant party, was deemed futile, temporizing, and ab- surd. The liberal cause, on the other hand, was advocated with signal energy and boldness, by a large portion of the press; and repeated indications had shown it to be supported by a heavy majority of the farming population. In the local legisla- ture, under the guidance of Papineau, proved to be a popular leader of not less ability than discretion and soundness of view, this party had for years maintained a vigorous struggle, in favor of the native population, against the accumulated grie- vances of the provincial constitution ; and had latterly, from the increasing violence of its opponents, sought to strengthen it- self still farther by promoting among its members, associations, organized in strict accordance with law, and having avow- edly for their object a speedy and more complete attainment of a thorough re- form, than it were possible to ht^e for from individual effort. One of the most active and numerous of these associations . ^called the " Sons of Liberty," of Mont- rsp}., Mfas especially disliked by the tory faction, for its influence, extent, and l were sufr,-red to -o away Without farther molestation, thouirh they were so completely in the power of the insur-ents that not one could have escap- ed, had their lives l)een souus search was rms nor inmates iy hud been the ■itances, that the len the desolate the troops ; but d, which is n m the cause of a woman or a ntly confiding ir military vi- 1 a British pni- r, acting under raent, witness- pectacle of his he people as if foe had invad- leeting the en- ! which the re- il government, ir vocation to i preserve the ight to expect. 5 About six miles from Chambly tlie mili- tary saw a small parly of mountrj coun- try people, to whom the cavalry immedi- ately gave chase j and, after a flying skir- mish, in which firing was repeatedly in- terchangiid, succeeded in capturing two of the number. On nearing Chambly, about sundown, another body of the popu- lace was found posted beyond the bridge leading to the town, and made a precipi- tate retreat on the approach of the troops, who made five additional prisoners. The magistrates now returned to Montreal, and the military took up their quarters at Chnmbly. The great activity which was display- ed on this manifestation of armed opposi- tion, in all branches of the executive go- vernment, and among the opponents of the native party in Montreal, now fully sho\7ed that the keen scent of authority snuffed rebellion in every popular move- ment; and consequently in all its su!)se- quent measures the administration rush- ed with such alacrity and precipitation into the most violent retaliatory proceed- ings, that no alternative was left, even to the most peaceably disposed advocate of reform, between tame submission to the insulting mercy of a bigoted and intol- erant faction — who never could discrinii- iicte between treason and a patriotic ad- vocacy of popular right — and a firm ap- peal to the last resort of arms. Rebellion, " foul, dishonoring word," was malignly fastened upon acts which had long been regarded with unequivocal applause by the community ; and it seemed to afford the Government and its partisans the highest species of political pleasure, to meet with the sword, as rebels, the whole party whom they disdained to conciliate as pa- triots, and failed to convince as reformers. Arrest succeeded arrest. In Montreal, the gaols were crowded with prisoners of State. The streets resounded with the clang of arms, from citizens stimulated to this battle trial of their loyalty and in- nocence of treason ; and the whole city presented an afflicting exemplification of the most odious spectacle which any vi- cissitude of political change can afford — a government reign of terror. The patriots prepared to meet the cruel extremity to which they were forced with a. firmness ad 'quate to the ocrasion. The principol stren.^th of their cause l:iy in the d'voted L'^rench popnliuioii in the district lying sdutli of Montreal ; al >ng the Riche- lieu, and thither the proserib( d leailers who luul the good fortune to escape iIk! alti'inpt of the Government to clutch them, inmie- diately repaired, and eomnieiie (I r\ hasty organiziition of the people. Dr. VVtillVed Nelson, Cluvirnmn of the Address of the Six Counties, and who carried im liusi- ncss as a distiller, at St. Denis, loriift''d his house, and an immense number of the habitans thronged to it as a commoii point for proleelioi) and defence. Mr. T. S. Brown, one of the most active and influ. cntial leaders of reform, look the princi- pal management of affiirs. Ilri directed a concentration of all the po[)ular adhe- rents at St. Charles, where un old French fort, strongly situated, was rapidly pre- pared for defence, and afforded a secure temporary head-quarters. The house of Mr. Debartzch, a member of ihr; Executive Council, situated between Ciianljiy and St. Charles, and which, being built in the massive style of an old Frencii chateau, was well adapted for the purpose, was likewise taken ])ossession of by the insur- gents, and strongly entrenched ; the cat- tle on the farm were killed and salted, and otlier measures taken to render it ca- pable of defence. At St. Charles, Mr. Brown, associated with Dr. Cote, soon found himself at the head of a body of above fifteen hundred enthusiastic follow- ers, which was hourly receiving acces- sions from all quarters in the vicinity; and every thing indicated an unanimous rising on the part of the people. The owner of some wheat on the way to Montreal, which had been seized by the commissariat of this undisciplined force, who had been allowed to proceed, brought the first news of these movements to the city. The Government at once threw off the mask, and as if resolved to take revenge for years of irritating popular opposition, determined to visit, with the most signal retribution of blood, this the first deviation of the patriots from the ac- customed mode of those harmless clamors for redress which had so long annoyed Canadian administrations. The civic remedies of iustice and mercy seemed at 7B omc lo Imvfi [oHt thoir povvrr. TIia rxi. ^•""'•y ^"^ ''"y-'rt nil llm innxi.nsofH '•Qlm and wi«,. -ov.n.mrnt.and (iHMiwful •'••efH.n.s.l.ility of mpctin- a rriNi«, rnlli,,- P<""l,arly f„r thrir r-xf r.-i5«., wn« resi^nrd t«th,.,.on.man.ln-of»h,.f,.,v<.s, SirJolm Ooll)orne, a ,„„,„pt ^nMi,.,-, ,,,1,1 rxaet Inr- tician, m ,11 iv>,,,r,ts mfmirably qimlifial to ^xtin-,.i,h forcv.r tl.o^o tn.uhlrsoino Sri.-vn»c.8 l,y (he, N„,prei-n rnnrJios of the l.nyonrt nnd tliHurlN, and who, with- wt loHs of lin.r., t,H,k hi« nira3i.re.nccord- inffly. Tl„. lar-o irnrrison of Monfrral was imtnediatcly or-nnizrd for M\ n.ilitarv •ervice. I'he ro|„„toer corp. wo,„ plar- «l on war duty; and a rai„pai-M, with tiie whol,. rc-nlnr force in tl,,, dty, was rcsolvfd upon a-ainst the disturl)cd dis- trict^ Li.ut. Col. \7etherall, stationrd at Chnnihly, and slron-'ly rrinforcod was d.n-ctod to march upon S(. Charles' on the twenty-second of Decrmljer, and d'sprrsn the patriots, I,y th. summary procoHsofmilitary assault; while another rfotm-hn.ent, under tf,ee„„,niand of Lieut. Col. Gore, was i^ot ready, with the inten- tion of proceedin:,^ down the river to S). rel so as to cooperate against the same point from the opposite direction, and thus enclose the insm-,.„ts simultaneously be- tween two hostile fires. This d"tachmeat, about to enter on the firs hostile .s^rvice in which any portion of the British army had been engaged for ypars was the first brought into collision with the people. It left Montreal, on the evening of Wedne,,day, November 2-2nd «nd consisted of two companies of the 21th regiment of British I„fl,mry, under Lieut. Cc. Hughes; the Light Company of the 23d, under Capt. Markham one company of the Gfith, under Capt. Cromp- small body of cavalry, and a howitzer; they were also accompanied by two magistrates, that their proceeding's mi-^ht not want at least the color of law This expedition proceeded down the Saint Lawrence about forty-five miles, to Sorel on the river Richelieu, in the steamboat St. George. Here they landed about ten o clock at night, and immediately in the face of the most inclement wea- ther took up the line of march for the Insurrection in the Canadag. (June, the w lole n.ght. m torrents, «nd it w«, with ddHculty that the men were aZ '" ^''"'' .""•"• ^"y. 'l""u^h mud knee- deep, and over roads entirely broken ur> with ram and frost. On the way ,hev fi.m.d all the bridge, destroyed, but men with no ,>,her oppositi,,,, ,mlil aboul "oono. the following day; who, an un. expected accident, which had made the patriots aware of their advance, brou. • them into direct conflict with a powerVuI ;ody of the armed inhabitants, by whom they were eo.nplelely cl^-cked, and the immediate objects of the expedition fras- Li""- Weir, oftl« 32nd regiment, had been .sent from Montreal, by land, with aospatehes or C..1. Gore; but reaching So el after the expedition had departed he hired a caleche and .set off with a view to overtiUce them at St. Charles. There are two parallel roads from Sorel, which converge four miles from St. Ours, on the upper of which, lying by the river Riche- lieu, the troops had marched. Lieutenant VVe.r by mistake, tcK)k the other, and travelling much quicker, passed them, and arrived at St. Denis, a small village on tl.e south bank of the river, about seven oclock next morning. His expressions of surprise at not seeing any soldiers, was the first intimation to the inhabitants of the hostile array which was approach- in?. He was immediately detained and searched, and the important intelligence which he bore communicated to Dr. Wol- fred Nelson; who, with a promptness and energy adequate to the occcasion, called out the villagers en masse, and prepared to dispute the passage of the troops. After a most fatiguing night march of more than twelve hours, the cavalry form- ing the advanced guard of the detach- rnent, reached St. Denis, and found to their surprise a large number of the in- surgents posted to receive them. As the horsemen came up they were fired upon from the houses and sides of the road and instantly fell back upon the main body. The entire force was then brought forward, and, after some severe skirmish- mg in which several on either side were killed and wounded, they succeeded in clearing the houses and h.qrn«nf .h°: Uuntf ' mill M), during arrents, an(t it wu» »c men wer« ublff '"■oiir'i imitl krif-o- nilirfly biokoii up On the wuy they tf'stroyrd, l,ut mot i'''<>ii nnlil about fay ; wh( n un un- m Sorel, which St. Ours, on tJie tlie river Riclie- Pd. Licuteunnt the other, and assed tliem, and iiall village on er, about seven lis expressions ', any soldiers, the inhabitants Was approach- r detained and mt intelligence edtoDr. Wol- romptness and ccasion, called and prepared ic troops, ight inarch of cavalry form- 'f the detach- »nd found to t»er of the in- ■em. As the re fired upon of the road, )n the main then brought Pre skirmish- er side were iucceeded in 183«.J Battle of St. Charlea. n I i ttiWnnlK. Th^ main body of the patriots wa« slutioned in a large and stron-j; stone housi>, near the entrance of tlm villajjo, from which a .gulling ami spirited fire was kept up on the troops. Col. Gore di- rected tlie fire of his Imwitzer against this building, but such was the spirit and oIh Btimvry with which the patriots roiuiuued their fire that he was compelled to retreat, with the loss of his howitici, and hav- ing had »even or eight men killed, and about an many vounded, — among whom was Capt. Markham. The steamboat Varennes, which had been ordered to fol- low up the river Richelieu, to support the troops with supplies of provision and am- munition, was attacked by the populace at St. Ours, about nine miles below St. Denis, and driven back; and the troops were consequently compelled to make their retreat in wretched plight back to Sorel as they best might, many of them having lost their shoes in the mud, their artillery, and even wounded comrades having been left behind, and all be- ing utterly fatigued and disheartened. They however reached Sorel in safety, having met upon their way a considera- ble reinforcement from Montreal, sent down in consequence of the despatches which had been forwarded with the re- sult of their operations, and which it was deemed more pnident should retrace its steps with the detachment it had come to succour. Their courage and firmness in this ac- tion cost the patriots a much heavier loss than their enemies. The murderous dis- charge of the howitzer into the large build- ing, which was crowded with men, occa- sioned a profuse and melancholy destruc- tion of lif', and many others were killed and wounded by musketry in the course of the affair. The entire number has been variously estimated, and probably was not far short of one hundred persons, — a frightful carnage, which few will be har- dy enough to say was rendered indispen- sable by any political necessity. Al- though this action 'was attended with this heavy loss to the undisciplined pa- triots, still it was successful, and exert- ed a proportionate influence on their cause. A formidable body of royal troops, forming part of a combined niilitoiy ope- ration, of the higViest importanee, had been success(\illy inlereeirted, and com- pelled to make a retreat so precipitate that even the succours sent to their assia* tance were found insufficient to retrieve the disaster, and retrogr;«led with them. The friends of the popular cause were highly stimulated ; and serious fears of a protracted warfare were entertained even by the most sanguine of the government adherents. It is to l)e regretted that the success of the day was tarnished by one of those a- trocities, so often conneclevl with po|)ular outbreaks, that they have come to be con- sidered as inseparable from them, by their foes, and Iirtc certainly injured incipient revoUuion even more than tliey have stained it. As soon as the approach of the troops was ascertained, the patriot leader, Dr. Nelson, deemed it proper to remove the prisoner, Lieut. Veir, to a place of greater security, and he was placed under the charge of one Jalbert, a captain of militia, and sent forward, in a wagon to the head-quarters, at Saint Charles, with an escort of four other Canadians. He was treated with all possible attention ; and his guardians received positive orders, only not to permit his escape. Having been abusive to his captors for prcsumingto detain him, and being a large and powerful man, his arms had been pinioned ; and they were proceeding towards St. Charles, when the noise of the firing at St. Denis stimulat- ed the prisoner to attempt his escape. After a short scuffle he loosened one of his arms, jumped from the wagon, and com- menced ru' ng. He was fired at by the guards, tvho followed in hot pur- suit, soon overtook him, and on his ma- '.;ing all the resistance in his power, he was finally killed in the struggle, and al- most hacked to pieces with the various weapons of his assailnnts. His body was thrown into the river, and when soon afterwards discovered was taken to Mon- treal, and there being interred with all the pomp of a funeral ovation, served the ene- mies of the popular cause with abundant materials for awakening the old British horror against Frenchmen, jacobins, and blood-thirsty revolutionists. The alarm was sedulously propagated thai a " war 80 Insurrection in the Canadas. of races" had commenced against the Bri- tish population ; and that, should the pa- triots succeed, their affinity to the country of Robespierre and Danton, would suffice for the establishment, in Canada, of the guillotine, and its feeders, the revolutiona- ry tribunals. The revolting details which this event furnished an occasion of dif- fusing, wre certainly not without an in- fluence on tlu «ublic mind, both in this country and Canada, injurious to the cause of the patriots, though its occur- rence was purely an accident in the main features of the revolt, and, apart, from its manner, so c1"f > justifiable by the code of war, that it would have been inflicted by any belligerent under similar circum- stances. The British most fully acted upon the principle throughout the whole insurrection; and for this one instance of military death inflicted by the Canadians, under the supreme provocation of the at^ tempted resistance and escape of a pri- soner of war, they, times without num- ber, dm down the defenceless habitans who, without surrendering, had thrown away their arms, and fled in the wretched hope of preserving life and safety alone Justice, as an historic rule, is surely mu- tual; and if the British fasten the crime of assassination on the Canadians for the death of Weir, their own hands and cause are trebly polluted with murder, unatoned and inexcusable, in its very foulest form, and of awfully aggravated extent. The other expedition against Saint diaries, under Col. Wetherall, left their previous station at Chambly.^in pu,su- ance ol their ii: .tructions, at the same Hour and day at which Col. Gore had proceeded from Sorel. This force was much stronger, however, consisting of four companies of the Royals, two com- panies of the GGth, two pieces of artillery and a small body of cavalry. The diffi ' culties in their night march, from the weather and roads, so retarded their pro- gress, that they only reached Rouville which IS about seven miles from Saint t^harles, on the forenoon of Thursday. There finding tlie bridge removed, they were forced to encamp for the night, and the fo lowing day was likewise spent in refreshing the troops and obtaining infor- mation. On the morning of Saturday f June^ the whole force, reinforced by an addi- tional comjiany of the Royals, which had followed them from St. Johns, and now amounting to between three hundred and four hundred men, reached St. Charles and found the insurgents, whose numbers' have been variously estimated at from two to three thousand men, strongly post- ed and intrenched. Thislarge multitude was entirely undisciplined, most of them quite unacquainted with arms, and the whole appear to have had no distinct or de- finite plan of action. Yet no effort at paci- fication was made by the powerful force ot trained soldiers, armed for tlieir de- stmct.on, who ->ow advanced upon them. 1 he result of the conflict that ensued may be readily imagined. Although a spirited fire from the patriots at first checked the troops for a considerable time, and even threw them into confusion, yet the force of discipline and superior armament at length prevailed, and the rout was com- plete at every point. The merciful idea o. subjugating the deluded crowd stf completely in his power, with the Aast possible effusion of blood, seems to have never occurred to the commander of the British troops. Panting for the applauses of the intolerant faction whose hopes and spirits drew an exhilarating nourishment trom the aggravated wretchedness of these profound national calamities, the Conqueror of St. Charles flanked his ope- rations by murderous discharges of grape from his cannon upon the crowded pea- santry, and added to ihe havoc of the bullet and the cannon-ball, the direct carnage of the bayonet and the torch. They fought very well," says the cool narrative of an eye-witness of the trans- action writing to a New York paper, until they were charged by the bayonet and then the butchery was dreadful Up- wards of one hundred were in a barn, full of hay and straw, which was set fire to, and they were burned alive or smoth- ered The malcontents lost, at least, five hundred men by shot, fire, and water" Another account states that neariy one hundred men were driven into the river and perished. The village of St. Charies was entirely destroyed in the attack; the houses having been almost all fired by the soldiery. It was stated in the Montreal f June^ :ed fay an addi- ^als, wJiich had •^ohns, and now ice luindrcd and lied St. Charles, wJiose numbers imuted nt from n, strongly post- ■ large multitude i, most of them urms, and the 10 distinct or de- 10 effort at paci- powerful force I for their de- led upon them, at ensued may ough a spirited St checked the ime, and even , yet the force armament at rout was com- merciful idea ed crowd, sly conjunction f Bunkers Hill, ays as Trafal- aterloo. 3ore, left, since ) was now re- sable force at s, a r ,pply of nay be fairly ffectual in fir- ruction of be- body of the 'nipanyofthe three compa- t. Brown, one apt. Elmsley, reai Cavalry, hose already 3able, that it neasiness in liought that • been shed, ir hopes by are not san- any regular " is the sin- anting such ntreal Jour- ire. It is, I that these ilfiiled, and h the whole opposition, e village of nber of the VIr. Louis ' were sent, lie gaol of h trenson. i villagers e heroes to mortifica- tion of their former repulse. The private house of Dr. Wolfred Nelson, and that of his partner, in business, Mr. Descham- bault, after being thoroughly plundered by the soldiery, were set on fire. The exten- sive distillery and outbuildings of these gentlemen, with much valuable machin- ery, shared the same fate. The taverns of the village, and some other houses whose owners had rendered themselves obnox- ious, were ahso destroyed. They likewise recovered the gun they deserted in llieir former visit, and the wounded companions they had left behind at the same time. The trophies and munitions of war seized upon the occasion, consisted of about four thousand bushels of good oats and barley, a new steam engine, belonging to Dr. Nelson, valued at two thousand pounds, and various private chattels, estimated, in all, at nearly sixty thousand dollars, which was divided among the captors as prize money. They then continued their march to St. Charles, and along the courseof the Richelieu, leaving strong garrisons in the several villages where the patriotic spirit was known to be most rife. The seizure of Dr. Wolfred Nelson's papers at St. Denis, it was expected would implicate many distinguished re- formers much more deeply than the reality evinced. The most important among these was a letter from Mr. Papineau, in which, however political bigotry might make it rank with treason, it is impossible not to perceive a candour and unsuspecting frankness, combined with a moderation, that force on the unprejudiced mind an ir- resistible conviction of the honor and poli- tical integrity of this upright man, utterly remote from the bloody intentions of which he was accused. After speaking of the strong discontents in Upper Cana- da, occasioned by the unequal representa- tion of the province, he goes on to say, as we find the letter translated in the New York Courier and Enquirer, t* journal in no respect friendly to his cause. " I see that with them, as with us, with- out concert, and without a comparison of views, their young men are procuring arms, and accustoming themselves to their use. The excitement is intense. They wish to send a deputation of seven mem- bers to a convention, or, as they call it, a Congress of the two provinces, in which they should prepare a project of a purely democratic constitution, and tell England that this is what we must have under her administration, if we have justice — and independently of her if she will not con- cede it. A.s for myself, I am of opinion that our plan of non-consumption and agitation, which will render the expenses of the colony more burdensome to Eng- land by the necessity of an increased mili- tary force, and tiie diminution of her com- merce, is by far the best policy to pursue for the present. Continue to push it as vigorously as you can." To wish for a permanent standing army and a large in- crease of the regular soldiery — and to re- commend measures which would render this necessary, and awaken the vigilance of authority, is certainly a new develope- ment of treason, and a very probable method of overturning an established gov- ernment. Another proof of the exterminating trea- son hatching by the patriots, not merely against tlie Governmeiit, but the lives of the whole British race, was found and ex- uUingly announced in the following child- ish remarks from a son of Dr. Nelson only fourteen years of age, writing from school to his father. " I wish," he says, " that it will do well and without any noise, which I hate very much, except with the other side. I be- lieve that the prediction by that man named Bourgeoi, will be accomplished, which is, that the province would be all covered with blood and dead bodies." On this school-boy letter, and capable of an interpretation, so obviously inno- cent, the Montreal Herald was not ashamed to make the infamous remark, even at a time when the gentleman thus spoken of was in gaol at Montreal ; and as another Montreal journal has it, through the culpable leniency of the Government, uselessly " fattening for the gallows," that " death on the scaffold is the best ex- ample that such a father can give to such a child." The whole causes and extent of the in- surrection were now in fact, plainly dis- cernible, and the tyrannical severity of the colonial government, stood darkly forth to the eyes of all reflecting men, as utterly 84 Insurrection in the Cattadas. [June, unjustifiable,-except on the principles of risini^nf.),» t , a code of policy, which it would e dis- T f„l ' ,'" -' '" ""'" '^ hono, in the present age, to associate with fssZ of , IV '%'' ^'°"^'"^"'' '^^ ''^^ the nan.e of gov.rnment,-„s they were ous a;^ mI " T'""""''' '^ """>"■ awfully unnecessary. The nlea of ,- If v "^ "'"^""'^ ""'^ unoflending preservation cannotl use.^ af rnfj. h "ro'f" ^'^rr'^f"' ''r''''' for the remorseless cruelty, with which it of Dr N 1 '" ^^^rce the arrest n>ade its tiger springupon the defenceless zenf wf " "n "''"'" ^^^"''^'''^ '^''^ population, guilty only of the crime of '''•"' ";'^'''^°"'-« ^'"^d ^^sembled in seeking the political re Jenerat on of thei tie T'""^ f '' """"^ '^"'^ '^'- '^''^''^•-' native land. '« All th^t had bTen d j' e , TThe r^'.'"" ^' f^' ^'^ '^"'^ says one of the ablest journals in the A [71 , ^"^'^'^''t'™ of the warrant n.ericanUnio„-and,wLl ddise Ili^: j';"'^ ^'^^^ -<-" 1^"^. if ""owed to be honor, by the candor and abH t^ w^ f^^^^ l-^"'^' "f " T" ''''''"'' '« '^« *^^"- treated the Canada diffieldtieshrolhou "^'n O"^ «nd violent death of one of the uiuica, prior to the issuing of secret or A J n ders by the government aglinst or^e of tiolf f ^'''"" "'"" ^"'"'"'"-^ P"P"'«- the best and purest men in the nroT^nc/ P'"'""^"' ^''^' ""'^^'- ^^ese cir- was through peaceable a blic as e n T:'"""'^' "^'^' ''' '^PP--*^- °f "- Wages of the citizens; Th y o„c d !iTT' ''"T "'' " '^••"^^•^' -'^. that theyhad great andcryingg e^rc 3 nlth n. b.T'r '^"" '' ''''''''' "'"^'^ to complain of-op„ression and i.IT ^ ** '"^'^ '''"■'^*' «*" 'he wrong and had driven them to'^.b d ear "iot^f "^P"'^^^'- -"''^ ''-« in^-ed. Burhere What theyconceived'to be t i ason [o'^h ?' ""''• '^'" ^'^^'^ -'--<* ofgreatandunalienableri.lusandtothe i^^'V'°™^f'.^"'^ ''-*' '^«di"g friends, abuses of power-but theyhad resorted t„ t " ^T ''^"'' '^"""''"y ""d families bj^ «o violence, or menace of 01 "lid f";^ °^ "•--"' ""^ large sums offered hostility, beyond .at of iLb^irin a f " "^^7''^"^-"- have sought a re- public and const.. utionalmaTnTr'l^l^i tSr" ""^""''" ^^^^^•"^^-" J-espect, they had not proceeded so far bv •' tT r • half, as ,s every day permitted in U fm -' Mr pltet "rT"' '," """^'^ ^"^^ "^ ther country, and is justified and indp.rl 7 ^^P "'^"- ^"^« '^ either concealed in guarantied by the British cons, tut on tI -'""T' " '" '"'^ '" '"^''^ «'"'^- "Thefirstexhibitionoftheprrfeel v ''"'.'"''"' ''''''''^ ^'' '"« -""y ing.beyondthesepeaceableaX ,:: w^nh^^f I '7' '"''''' '''' '^"^^-^ semblages of the people, was caused bv T ''^''^ '"""'' ^"'""^'^ '"^''^^^"'y the arrest of Dr. Dav gnon and M De A !7 7""' '''"'"^ ^P^^'^"' "^ '^e "•aray, on a chargeof high treason at s' ^eT^ ^ ^^ """"'^ ''"= """"'"^°"« v«'^« Johns. These cifizens ^ere not^y f . ownTo'T"'."'!" "'-'^'^ P^^^'^' ""'^ rested and their dwellings invaded bv a d f "" ''' ^"'' ^'^'"^'^ '^^^ ^ana- hired soldiery, but they^er arHed to a7 "' T' f^'" '""^""^^ ^"'^ ''"''""'''^"«d wards Montreal by a cLuitou route in" th d" ! ''! "^^'"^ ^' ^'^^ P^P'-^' ^'-n an open wagon, tLty-six Ss fw,' " ^ ,"" ""^'^"'^''^''^ ^•^"'^"^'^"»-"- they might have been taken by Iher, Z'"'' ^^^'".^--^ with high treason, road in a few hours,) their hand's a^ « ,.: S we"^ T" ''' ''f' ' ^"^ y«'. in irons, and mtA halters round t^ir o. on.H . I' ^'''''' ''"^'^^"S has been l>vnies ! Such an outrage natunHy exas of T \T^''' "^"'''"' '^'"' ^^^^P' '^«t perated the people, their neiSl and 1 ' "'^ ^ ""''"'^''"^ ^^'^'^ '^''^ ''«"«w- tl>ey gathered on tiie rou e and • 'cued in "whT" ' ''"' '' "^^'"" ""' ^-"-l- the prisoners. ^ ''"? "^''^^ ^^'^''e conceived to be essential i [June, by the muster of WontrenI, by the rrants, by nume- nnd unofiending I, and by sending iforce the nrrest proscribed citi- ^d assembled in tnd St. Charles, of Dr. N.) and f the warrant ' allowed to be ide to the igno- li of one of the Unable citizens rming popula- nder these cir- roaches of the bravery, and, luecess, which the wrong and f d. But here ople returned »ding friends, id families by i sums offered 3 sought a re- Ihe American ingle case of concealed in these States. r his many id personal i last twenty aker of the imous votes people, and I the Cana- ^nlightencd •eople, than of human- ;h treason, And yet, f hos been •xcept that lis fellow- d counsel- 3 essential ent!"* 5 facts in res3 in the 1838.] Proclamation of Lord Gosford. 85 mind, to obtain a correct view of the rela- tive position of the parties. In fact, we believe that the strongest and most plausi- ble argument which the friends and advo- cates of the measures we have been de- scribing have been able to advance, is, that Revolution and Independence were certainly contemi)lated as the future de- signs of the reform party ; and that the Government by forcing them into prema- ture insurrection, and being thus enabled to employ force in effectually crushing their projects, whatever they might be, in their minutest embryo, acted with a mas- terly policy— the full benefit of which, to their cause, we are not disposed to dis- pute. The inhabitants who had abandoned their homes, on the military occupation of the district of Six Counties, by Col. Gore, retired more from terror and de- spair, than with a view to any concerted action, or ultimate object, to the north of the river St. Lawrence, on the opposite side of Montreal, where common feelings of sympathy and oppression had banded the entire population in their cause. — Thither all thought of resistance, or oppo- sition, in any other quarter being at an end, the Executive prepared to follow them. " Thus, within the short space of eight days, have forty-five miles in extent of the most populous and wealthy portion of this district been traversed in arms by Her Majesty's troops," is the triumphant lanffuaare with which the Government journal, of Montreal, sums up the result of this brief campaign. Language which, for point and effect, might '^e (. ed by Southey or Napier, in recoidinu the most brilliant events of successful war against a foe, and on a field where mili- tary glory might indeed be won. Lord Gosford followed up these military operations by issuing, on the twenty-ninth of December, a proclamation to the habi- tans, urging them to return to their allegi- ance, and calling upon all loyal subjects to continue steadfast in their preparations to maintain the authority of the Sovereign, and counteract the treasonable designs of the disaffected. In this document, the Governor reminded the people of a bless- ing of which the experience of the last fortnight had both sufficiently proved the benefit and the end, that the " expense " of their "military defence" was defrayed by Great Britain ; and summed up the Executive opinion of the patriot cause in a few words, by saying to the people, as a finale, "but the demands of your leaders are insatiable, the language of re- form has speciously concealed the designs of revolution,"— of course sufficiently jus- tifying himself for all the overt and un- concealed aggressions against life and lib- erty, to which he had so unscrupulously re- sorted. This proclamation, however, con- tained only exhortations and threats, and was, therefore, far from satisfactory to the party whose wnrmcst visions, if we might judge from the tone of a portion of the Montreal press, were of gibbets and hal- ters, and who exclaimed against delaying the trials of the State prisoners, as a want of State economy in only "keeping trai- tors to fatten them for the gallows!" It was derided as inane, temporizing, and weak, and the Governor himself, v/ho could issue it at such a time, was scorned as " our miserable ruler." Such repre- sentations were not without their effect upon Lord Gosford ; and on the fifth of December, he proclamied martial law in the district of Montreal, and committed the execution of his decree, for good or evil, to the unscrupulous conscience of Sir John Colborne, by " death or other- wise for the suppression and punishment of all rebels in said district." At the same time, he resorted to the horrid mea- sure of placing a price on the head of such leaders of the patriot cause as had not been arrested ; and lii.^ proclamation to this eflfect only differed from the similar re- volting measures of exploded despotism, by leaving the usual phrase "dead or alive," as a condition of their delivery, to be supplied by the captors, according to circumstances, and their understanding of the warrant authorising the unnatural prize.* This proclamation was so far suc- ♦ The following are the gRntlemen to whom this high compliment, so much more honoura- ble than many a patent of British peerage, was paid. One thousand pounds sterling (near five thousand dollai-si) Ibr Louis Joseph Papiueau. 86 Insurrection in the Canadas. cessful as to cause the arrest, soon after, of Dr. Wolfred N. Ison, who, in endca- vourinor to make his escape after tiie de- feat of St. Charles, had endured such in- credible Jiard.ships for nine days in tlie woods, that he died soon afterwards in prison from their effects, and of Mr. Pierre Amiot and Dr. Alphonso Gauvin, who were all, of course, consigned to the [June, common gaol. The last struggle of disturbance in the country south of Montreal, was met and put down with equal spirit and success by the loyal inhabitants of the province themselves, acting as volunteers. A body of above two hundred of the insurgents had retired across the line of the United States to the town of Highgate, Vermont, where they had been leisurely organized and armed, and on the sixth of December, with two cannon, and escorting a con- siderable supply of arms and ammuni- tion for the rebel service, they entered the province with a view of securing the vil- lage of Philipsburgh, and thus opening the communication with L'Acadie, where tliere were many partisans of the cause. C^apt. O. J. Kempt, of the Slieffbrd Volun- teers, being apprized of their intention, has- tily raised a number of the neighboring inhabitants, who were attached to the Brit- ish connection, and met the invading force at Moore's Corner, about two miles'and a half from Philipsburgh. A sharp skirmish ensued, which ended in the defeat of the in- surgents, leaving their cannon, a large sup- ply of bullets and powder, and about se- venty muskets, with two standards, in possession of their victors. This party was headed by Julien Gagnon, of L'Aca- die, whose nephew was wounded and left behind, and Robert Shore Milnes Uouchette, of auebec, editor of the Libe- ral, published there, and a very inHuential personage in his party. The latter was severely wounded, and fell also in the hands of the victors. This eff-ective little skirmish, slight as it was, showed such n spirit among the Canadian loyalists as served to check, eft-ectually, farther de- monstrations of hostile invasion from this part of the United States frontier. In the county of Two Mountains, on the river Ottawa, above Montreal, the stricken insurgents driven from their resi- dences by the victorious troops, made their last stand. The progress of events since the commencement of hostilities had contributed to swell this multitude gradu- ally to a considerable host. The most of them were kept together by a warm feel- iiig of attachment to the cause of their party, and many others were drawn to the mass from various motives of fear or curiosity, ond some doubtless to improve the opportunities such occasions always present to adventurers, to promote unjus- tifiable designs by suitable means. The lenders of the multitude were not exactly known; but a Swiss officer named Girod exercised a principal military authority, and was very active in drilling the men to some kind of military exercise; Girouard, a member of the provincial parliament, al- so held a prominent command; and there were besides among them many of the proscribed leaders of the reform party who, if they ever even entertained any other ul- timate objects, now really seem to have re- sisted the exterminating measures of the Government in self-defence alone. The principal forces of the insurgents being stationed at the village of St Eu- stache and Grand Brule, two companies of the 32nd regiment, and a detachment of volunteer cavalry, were sent, on the fourth of December, to kk Jesus, for the purpose of taking such a position as would enable them to maintain a commu- nication between head-quarters and the Five hundred pounds each, for Dr WnKr^A mi r c ^ Brown, of Montreal; Edmund BOU^dWh r m "' "^ ^^ ^'""' ^''""'^^ «'"--- of St. Marc, M. P P • JeT J C ^f "f "n, of Montreal, M. P. P.; Joseph T. Drole^ Eustache, M. P P ! '^.J ^T"'^' '^ f^ «-»''. M- P. P. ; Wi.lia™ I Scott, of S Jean O'Chenier, of 'rw^Zllns ' "' ''"'"^'' ""• ^^ ^^ ' ^"^^ ^-^'> - alien ; Louis Perrault, of Montreal Drl.nl n '' '"' '^'"''"' "'^ Vercheres. M. P. P. ; 4 1 [June, fell also ill the tiis effective little ^s, showed such lian loyalists as illy, farther de- vnsion from this frontier. Mountains, on ! Montreal, the from their resi- I troops, made )gress of events f hostilities had lultitude gradu- . The most of ly a warm feel- cause of their vere drawn to ■ives of fear or ess to improve asions always jromote unjus- means. The !re not exactly named Girod iry authority, ng the men to 56 ; Girouard, . larliament, al- id; and there many of the m party who, any other ul- tn to have re- isures of the lone. 3 insurgents fe of St. Eu- ) companies detachment sent, on the ?SMs, for the position as n a commu- ers and the las Storrow 1 T. Drolet, Scott, of St. d, an alien ; ph Francois !8, M. P. P. ; er, of Mon- 1838. ] Upper Canada. 87 lake of the Two Mountains, and Sir their last strong hold, set about organiz- John Colborne, re.serving to himself the ing an expedition on such a scale as glory of finally suppressing the rebellion would prevent the possibility of failure, by driving the revolted peasantry from PART SECOND. Uppei' Canada — Sir Francis Head and his policy — W. L. Mackenzie — Plan of the in- tended revolt — Marvh of the Insuriicnts to Toronto — Proceedings of the Executive, anddefcat of therchelsat Montwomenj house — SubsequeiU vieasures(fthe Governor — Dcqmrture of the army under Sir Juhn Colborne for St. Eustache — Description qftlie village — Totaldefcat of the insurL<:tnts, and dedruction of their houses — Proceedings at St. Bendit, and return of the troops to .Montreal— Remarks on the Insurrection — Proceedings in the United Slates — Buffalo — Nary Island — and the army of Volun- teers — Tiic Caroline — Debates in Congret,s and the British Parliament — American Expeditions — Lord Durham — Conclusion. While Sir John Colbornn was yet or- ganizing liis cxpedii on against the few insurgents of Lower Canada wlio sur- vived the bloody doings at St. Charles, intelligence was received of evtnts at To- ronto, wiiich proved that the whole pro- vince of Upper Canada had all but slip- ped through t!ie fingers of its British ru- lers, and that it was mainly indebted for its connection to the empire solely to the indiscretion and timidity of a few indivi- duals quite unworthy of the crisis which they had brought about. With the same general causes which produced the prevalent dissatisfaction throughout the lower provinces, there were several circumstances that gave a peculiar and even deeper character to the discontent of the inhabitants of Upper Ca- nada. These were embodied in a " De- claration of Grievances," dated July 31, 1837, in which the British Government were given distinctly to understand that revolt would be the cons'?quence of the measures the colonial Executive were pur- suing, if much longer persisted in. Sir Francis Head, though an accomplished litterateur, when placed in the administra- tion of the province soon proved himself, in many respects, unfit for his position as a ruler. Weak, vain, and self-confident, he knew not how to deal with principles in stemming the stormy elements of political opposition. He became in consequence, the leader of a party, and his policy soon exhibited a character so variable and in- smcere, that he forever forfeited the confi- dence of a large majority of the popula- tion : while being at the same time of a bold and resolute disposition, he frequently supported his measures by a specious ap- peal to a public opinion already organiz- ed in his favor; conduct which marred the best results of political candor by only braving and exasperating the reality of the judgment which it seemed to court. His administration soon produced, therefore, in the province, all the pernicious effects with which a union of purblind parly preju- dices, and the narrowest party predilec- tions, with the whole executive and ad- ministrative power, could not fail to cre- ate. This was strongly apparent on his dissolution of the parliament, when the unequal distribution of the elective fran- chise enabled him to secure a majority, that seemed to give the most effectual po- pular sanction to his course, when it was in reality condemned in the strongest manner by the great majority of the peo- ple. The character of the population in Up- per Canada is far different from that of the lower province. Generally educated, 88 Insurrection in the Canadas. f June, ■hrfiwd, and intelliffrnt, forming opinions for thpmsclvos, and under the constant example of the vahie of self-government in the neighboring republic of the United States, their first election, when constitu- tional opposition to the colonial govern- ment seomed Cniitlrss^ wns forentire Inde- pendence fiiid a separate political organiza- tion. This party had many able, highly respected, and zealous men in its ranks, whose character and talents could not fail to exercise a powerful influence on any state of sDcioty in which they might be placed. The most prominent was Wm. L. Mac- ken^.ie, who, at the head of the most influ- ential press in the province, and of a bold earnestness and sincerity of character coupled with an untiring devotion to the popular cause, had attained a degree of popularity which gave him a political weight in the province that enabled him to cope successfully with the Governor in the arduous game of party opposition ; and Anally, to brave him in the more peri- lous chances of physical conflict. Nearly two thousand societies were organized throughout the province, all of which were prepared to second, with implicit reliance, the first movement of their leaders for re- volt ; and this extreme measure, from the moment that Mackenzie and his advisers saw the minority of Sir Francis hopeless- ly in the ascendant, he unhesitatin-ly re- solved on adopting. His partisans throughout the country were put, as far as possible, in a state of military organiza- tion, somewhat resembling Tone's cele- brated United Irishmen. The chairmen ofthedifferent associations were toassume the rank of colonels in the contemplated in- surrection, and their secretaries that of captains; they assembled frequently in shooting matches to perfect themselves in the use of fire arms ; and by repeated per- sonal vints and the untiring activity of his press,-always keeping within the bounds of the law, -this resolute popular leader had thoroughly prepared the re- formers for the daring political extremity of armed insurrection. The plan of the revolt was, that on the night of Thursday, December seventh the reformers, from all parts of the coun- try, should assemble at Montgomery's tavern, tliree miles back of Toronto, march upon the city, and, in ( onjunction with their partisain there, make the Governor prisoner, and seizing the City IIali,distri. bute four thousand stand of arms which had been deposited there among the peo- ple. They were then to take possession of the garrison, organize a provisional government, and proclaim the Province an independent republic. A plan so da- ring, as to contcniplaie the overthrow, in a moment, of a powerful and organized go- vernment, improbable as it may s;H>m, does not appear to have been so chimerical, as at first sight, with the slender resources a . the command of the reformers, might be supposed. Contrary to the usual history of popular conspiracies, the ultimate ob- ject of the reformers seems to have been concealed efl-eetually from the Executive till the very moment of ex|)losion ; and so confident were the seditious leaders of success, that they n-ere sanguine in tlieir expectation that a revolution could beeffect- cd, and a British governnuiit subverted without the effusion of blood ; a confession which certainly invalidates our confidence either in their capacity or their candour. The movement, however, went on with the expected success until it was precipi- tated, either by the treachery or criminal indiscretion ofonc of their leaders, who al- tered, by private orders, the time of action from Thursday to Monday, and who brought, in consequence, a large body of unsupported, unexpected, and half-armed insurgents, to the ciij', on the latter day. Mr. Mackenzie heard only of this fatal movement when it was too late for reme- dy, but, with the natural intrepidity of his character, he resolved to make the most of it. The men who arrived at the place of rendezvous, tired, hungry, and ill-hu- mored at the trick which had been played upon them, were reanimated by the enthu- siasm of this fearless leader, and were in- duced by his persuasions to await the chances of their situation, rather than dis- perse. Yonge street is the main northern en- trance to Toronto. This Mackenzie im- mediately guarded, to prevent all com- munication with the city, and in the ab- sence of any intelligence from his friends, proceeded himselij accompanied by a few f I r June, of Toronto, march < onjiinction with itke the Govornor eCity IIiili,(listri. iicl of nrins which c among- tlic peo- o tnke possossion ize n provisional lim the Province ;. A plan so da- thp ovcrtlirow, in and organ izcd go- it may s;H>m, does so chimerical, as nder resources a briners, might be the usual history the ultimate ob- ns to liave been m the Executive cplosion ; and so lions leaders of sanguine in tlicir un could beeffect- nncnt subverted od; a confession ?s our confidence • their candour. •r, went on with it was precipi- pry or criminal leaders, wlio al- io time of action day, and who L large body of and half-armed lie larter day. ly of this fatal late for reme- intrepidity of 1 make the most ■ed at the place ry, and ill-hu- \d been played d by theenlhu- •, and were in- to await the ather than dis- 1 northern en- Vlackenzie im- vent all com- uid in the ab- m his friends, nied by a few 1838.] March of the Insurgents to Toronto. 89 trusty comrades, to ascertain from the Exe- cutive slate of preparation, whether he would be warranted in striking a coup dc VMin for the city with his handful of men. Vagus rumors of this extraordinary movement had, however, reached Toron- to, and many of the loyal citizens had pro- ceeded in various directions towards the country, as scouts, to as.'ertain their truth. Two of these, Mr. Powell, now Mayor of the city, and a merchant named McDon- nell, were ri()int oflmid oppoiitr lilt! cliurcli, wluie a bridge over lh« river coniwrtcd hoili .sidcM of tlip vil- lage. A liir/^n stoiift coiiveiii, or fiiiiulo sctiiiiiary, rcccniiy fini.slicd, wns situated at some little distiiiKe from tiie eluirrh. Thft population of the county of Two Mountains, in wliieli the vjlla<,'0 of Saint Eustaclm is situated, were, fur the most port, enthusiastically ch.voied to tiie cause of reform, and the first idea of resistance 10 the Government at this point arose from their determination not to permit tlie ar- rest of their proscribed leaders, Dr. Che- nier, and tlie county ref)reseiitatives, Messrs. Girouard and Scott, for each of wliom, it will be recollected, a reward of five liundrcd pounds was offered by the Government. Resistance once oi-anizcd formed a nucleus, round which were soon gathered all the combustible materials of the neighbourhood, and created a tempo- rary point where the hopes of many a fu- gitive from the banks of the Richelieu were glud to take refuge. Offensive warfare, or systematized rebellion, as far as this assemblage was concerned, seem entirely out of the question ; their numbers never exceeded twelve Imndred, of whom the great majority were almost entirely with- out arms. On the morning of the fourteenth De- cember, the immense force we have de- scribed was put on march for the village. In consequent.) of the weakness of the ice, the main b., ty of the troops were com- pelled to make a df.^.m i„ St Rose, where the ice was lou-,.: . Jf. ' Ay strong to bear the .irtil^i;,, ar.J where, accordingly, the whole regular force crossed from Isle Jesus to the main land, lengthening their march about six miles, and making it about twelve o'clock at noon before they arrived at St. Eustache. As the large force advancing against them crossed over to the village, its extent and charac- ter seem, for the first time, to have im- pressed upon the habitans the incredible inequality of the approaching conflict, and by far the largest portion of them, about seven hundred in number, belong- ing to the neighbouring villages of St. Bc- noit and St. Scholastique, apprehensive for the safety of their homes, or. more probably, fearful of tlm result, went off in a body under the comimuid of Messrs. Girouard and Chartier. Not quite three hundred remained, and this devoted hand- ful, animated by the couns-e and r.xam|)le of the brave Chenier, hastily throwing Ihemsi Ivrs into the strongest houses, pre- pared to deftnd them to the last extremity. Dr. Chenier, with about eighty determin- e r.' -in- putiy 01 vo- the ice in the ;y had cross- in the insur- fer of mercy appears to dy fire, from convent, and ! manner in olved to ter- being very /as a great U-appointed h was soon with which ! assailants ises in the 'ir advance, ent was in m mediately soon shared rable garri- ring flames fled by the ■moke, or rush'^d iipon their remorse- less foes, and found ii more ni'-rcifvii, luid ab .ertain a death, from the bayonet or the ball. It is slated thiuone individual only, named Felix Paquin, ncpiiew of tlie pa- rish priest, escrapc-d from tlTiH eomplieation of horrors, of all the d. fenders of these buildin!!;s. The chunh, under the iu- domiialile Cheni-T, was soon all that re- mainr-d to the patriots; and the great strength of the walls, assisting the cou- rage of its iimuues, enabled tlrm for some time to withstand all the elforts of the soldiery. The artillery at length ef- fected a breach, and the assailants rush- ing in applied fire to the building, which was now half filled with wounded men. The leader, and the few men that surviv- ed with him, in the face of the fate now so certain, still maiiitained the fight of lions in despair; jumping through a win- dow into the grave-yard, himself and nearly all his followers soon fell beneath the repeated volleys which were poured in upon them in this last foothold of the brave. A little before dusk the work of destruc- tion was complete, and a more awful sight was never the result of the relentless code of war. The houses of that beautiful village were wrapt in flame. The (church- yard and the convent were heajied with the dead; and the numerous bodies con- sumed in the houses, if we may credit some accounts, loaded the air with an insuffer- able stench, that sickened many a brave heart compelled to bear a part in the pro- ceedings. In the clear night of the Cana- dian winter, the flames, distinctly seen at Montreal, sufficiently telegraphed to the city the result of the expedition. The correspondent of the Courier, writing from the spot, confirmed the intelligence next morning with exjiressive brevity. " Such a scene you never witnessed — it must prove an awful example. The artillery opened at half-past one. Every thing was over, except the shooting of a few fugi- tives, at half-past three." A despatch which tells something more than the veni, vidi, I'ici, of the Roman general. The destruction of life in this horrid af- fair can never be ascertained. Above one hundred were taken prisoners, and nearly all the remainder must have perished in the flames or the fight It is believed that very few eHcnpcd. The lo.ssof tin troops wns one, only. The game was a secure one for them, and they played it out. The remaimlcrof the battle evening was spent in improving the victory. Frightful sto- ries t'ound their way into the American newspapers of the subsequent atrocities of this fatal day, and indiscriminate plun- der and violdlion, were said to have com- pleted the agirravaled scene. Plundering there certainly was, but let us hope that exagg(!ralion has lent a deeper Coloring to military horrors already too black tor the honor of humanity. Dr. Chenier, whofell in this conflict, was, by the account of all knew him, a man of the noblest qualities, and admirably fitted to give strength and lustre to the hopeless cause in which he was engaged. Neither his tiame nor his death could save his re- mains from insult. The heart was torn from his breast, and the body, div (led into quarters exposed on a counter in the vil- lage, to the gaze of the troops, and the un- happy survivors of the heroic traitor's cause. His young and accomplished wife was yet in the neighbourhood. The following day Sir John Colborne followed tip his success. At the vil- lage of St. Benoit, or Grand Bruk>, the last remains of the patriot force were assembled. But here he had an easier task. Terror had taken possession of every heart, and the sacrifice of St. Eu- stache had deeply struck the memorable lesson of its example. The troops had scarcely proceeded on their way before their general was met by a deputation from St. Ben(jit, who came to ofl'er uncon- ditional submission for themselves, and the surrounding country ; and as he ad- vanced every house had a white flag dis- played from the window, though no in- habitant waited to know his doom. All were assembled at the village; and now reduced to three hundred, liie shrinking multitude presented themselves to the com- mander, each with the same symbol of peace and sorrow in his hand. Life was spared to the defenceless penitents; but the General's tactics could award no more, and their unconditional submiasinn pur- chased for them only the bitterness of feel- ing that they had better have died with 94 Insurrection in the Canadas. [ June, arms in their hands, like their exterminated compatriots. Every one whom it pleased the troops to consider a leader was arrest- ed, and such had the consolation to find that surrender had saved them from the chances of the bullet.oiily to substitute the chancesof the gallows. The General next commanded the houses of Mr. Girouard and otlicr prominent citizens, to be burnt; and his followers, emulating his exami)lc, added the rest of the village to the bonfire, the whole having been first thoroughly plundered of every tiling available. De- tachments of the troops were sent, after the destruction of these villages, to soour the rest of the district. All resistance had ceased. At St. Scholastique, seven miles from Grand Brule, the inhabitants met the commanding officer with white flags in their hands, and threw down their arms; and at Carillon, six miles west of St. Eu- stache, a similar spectacle was exhibited; yet, in r-ach case, many houses were com- mitted to tlie flames, and their inmates driven for shelter wherever they could find it. The insurrection was completely quelled. A {^ only of the leaders had es- caped, and the good fortune of the com- mander was crowned with a satisfactory disposition of some of these before he had finished. Girod, finding himself on the point of being captured, blew out his brains with a pistol, and left his captors only the minor gratification of mutilating his lifeless trunk, by cutting oflT his head, and driving a stake through his body. Scott was seized by a small party of dra- goons, who, stimulated by the prospect of five hundred pounds, never gave up the chase until they secured their victim, and were recommended for the act to the Executive, in the official despatches of their commander. On the sixteenth of December, Sir John Colborne returned to Montreal, and es- corted by the Montreal Cavalry and Queen's Light Dragoons, rode through the city to receive the applauses that greeted the return of the Conqueror. The followmg day, being Sunday, the greater part of his force also reached the city at dif- ferent intervals. When Col. Wetherall and his Royals returned, with the addition- al laurels of another campaign upon their brow, escorting one hundred and five pri- soners, the fruits of this second victory, crowds of citizens hallowed the day of rest, by going out to meet them, and cheered the conquerors the whole way to their barracks. Thus ended Sir John Colborne's expe- dition to St. Sustache. SoiUudiiiem fecit, pacmque v.cavit. He created a desert and called it peace ! The insurrection was indeed suppressed, but Canada has not been strengthened to the British crown. Such events as these will hardly find a place ;n the proud pages of English story j but deep, deep will they burn into the heart of her distant province, and the blood of these patriot martyrs, so profusely shed at the altar of royalty, on an American soil, will hallow their cause with millions of the free, and forever dishonor the es- cutcheon of England's Virgin Queen, with an ineffaceable stain of blood, which, in this hemisphere, at least, will link a name auspicious to all the rest of her empire, with the doings of the Tyrant King who left his parricidal print of blood upon the American soil, to form the seal of its freedom to all future time. As far as the Canadian territory and population were concerned, all trace of an insurrection which at first seemed so alarming was now effectually suppressed. Indeed, subsequent events proved that the Government had abundant reason to be satisfied with the result of the vast moral and political responsibility it had so bold- ly assumed, in precipitating a resistance which enabled it, with the arm of power to overwhelm as treason and rebellion an opposition of principles, interests, and feelings, irreconcilably hostile to their po- licy, which was rapidly wearing away from them, if it had not already destroyed the respect, the attachment, and even the allegiance of the great body of the peo- pie. As in every case of unsuccessful re- sistance to organized authority, the power of the Government was much strengthen- ed by the event; and the supporters of the popular cause, in the dejection of their defeat, will most probably feel cowed for years to come from all attempt at serious opposition. Yet, with all the advantages of power and influence and preconcerted attack, such was the character of this in- surrection, that had there been a leader of i [ June, 1838.] Proceedings in the United States. 95 second victory, 'ed the day of eet them, and ; whole way to jlborne's expe- Uudinem fecit •eated u desert surrection was inada has not British crown, hardly find a English story ; rj into the heart I tiie blood of irofusely shed an American with millions ihonor the es- n ducen, with od, which, in 1 link a name r her empire, 'JT King who blood upon he seal of its territory and , all trace of St seemed so Y suppressed, nved that the reason to be le vast moral had so bold- a resistance m of power, rebellion an terests, and i to their po- aring away y destroyed, nd even the of the peo- accessful re- ', the power strengthcn- pporters of tion of their I cowed for •t at serioua advantages reconcerted r of this in- a leader of conduct and firmness among the insur- gents, there caimot be the least doubt but that important political concessions, if not entire independence, might have been obtained by their arms. Nothing but the most wretched incompetency of gener;il- ship saved the exhausted and defeated troops of Col. Gore, during tlieir helpless retreat to Sorel, through a country almost impassable, and intensely hostile. Col. Wethcrall, in like manner, when retiring from St. Charles, had a leader of courage, decision, and influence headed the insur- gents, might have been hemmed up in a district of enemies, his communications intercepted, and his whole division ex- posed to destruction. The individuals, however, who had the active guidance of the ill-starred populace really seem to have been altogether unequal to a crisis 80 important, and to have abandoned their compatriots, in the utmost exigency of their fate, to the inevitable destruction that awaited them, at the first sight of danger, and without fully testing the manifold re- sources of their cause. But true it is, that the men who are the best fitted to organize public opinion, and prepare nations for re- volution, are often the least qualified for the sterner task of conducting them through the stormy trials of physical resistance to success. Had there been minds of capa- city adequate to this occasion, the scab- bard, once thrown away, the warfare that ended so soon in overwhelming disaster, might have been easily prolonged by avoiding decisive battles, and harassing the soldiery, in a district where they had no friends, until the setting in of winter would almost have secured the possession of the country to its native inhabitants, and enabled their cause to derive the bene- fit of the immense accession of force, mo- ral as well as physical, which an appear- ance of strengtli, and consistency of re- sistance, would have brought to the pa- triots. The people of England would never have suffered the continuance of the parricidal contest, and if they had, the people of America would have been restrained by no national considerations from rushing in thousands, as the event proved, at a moment's warning, to assist in the establishment of Canadian freedom. The events we are now to detail, following immediately in the wake of the insurrec- tion, and constituting a part of its histo- ry, will sufficiently prove this. On the fifth of Dec( mber, before the movements or intentions of Mackenzie and his party were made known, a very large and influential meeting of the citi- zens was held at Buffalo, the capital of the immense canal and lake trade of the State of New York, at which resolutions, warmly expressive of sympathy in the Canadian Revolution, were passed; and those great fuudamental truths, which the success of the " American Experiment" have long made the practical lav/ of po- litical ethics, though still excluded from the colonial administration of Great Bri- tain, were laid down in language of manly dignity and force, and a most exciting degree of interest in the fate of the Cana- dians, was developed lo exist in the whole community. This feeling was greatly in- creased by the first news of Mackenzie's attempt on Toronto, which, it was repre- sented, had been completely successful. Similar meetings were held at Ogdens- burgh, Oswego, and other places — ))ledg- ing themselves to aid and assist the Cana- dians in every legal and constitutional manner; and committees were appointed to " receive subscriptions for purposes," in the words of the resolution, " not inconsistent with our situation as a gov- ernment, or our duties as its citizens.'' The excitement, all along the frontier, daily increased as news arrived, and it is the higiiest possible praise to the character of the feeling, and the character of tho people, that it was not regulated by the success or prospects of the cause it advo- cated, and was, in no respect, influenced or created by any fleeting popularity of great names or great actions, usually so apt to dazzle the multitude. On the con- trary, when the power of the triumphant government had crushed all opposition, and the cause of the Patriots, as far as de- pendent on themselves, was hopelessly prostrated, this generous enthusiasm, — springing only from an earnest and in- nate love of freedom, among a peop. sensible from experience and principle oi its value, — prompted the most active and vigorous assistance in their behalf, and in- duced exertions to assist thctu, as unani- is 96 Insurrection in the Canadas. [June, mous and sincere as tlicy were disinterest- ed. Thus it was, when reported success, fanned the Patriot banner, tiie good feeling was confined to Itivoring resolutions and addresses of encouragement only. But when revolution became rebellion, and jia- triotism,^-L'a.>;ott; when defeat haddishi »- oredthe cause, and the price of blood was on tlie outcast's head ;— then sympathy be- came enthusiastic assistance, and was completely fanned into a flame when Mac- kenzie and the other refugees from Toron- to, arrived in the American Territory. This gentleman, immediately after his de- feat at Montgomery's tavern, made for the United States; and though Sir Francis Head offered a reward of one thousand pounds sterling for his apprehension, — with five hundred pounds for four of his associates, David Gibson, Samuel Lount, Jesse Lloyd, and Silas Fletcher,— he met with little difKculty in reaching the Ameri- can frontier, and immediately found him- self in a nation of friends. He reached Buf- falo on the eleventh of December ; and on the same evening an adjourned meeti.ig of the " friends of Canada" was held at the theatre, which was much the largest as- sembly ever witnessed in the city. Tliis meeting was again adjourned to the fol- lowing evening, when it was addressed, among others, by Mackenzie and Dr. Sutiierland, and a degree of enthusiasm M-as excited, which seemed to carry the whole city in its wake. A corps of volunteers for the invasion of Canada was immediately resolved on, and the Eagle tavern was appointed the head- quarters for recruiting and organizing an expedition. Contributions of arms, clo- thing, provisions, and munitions of war, were brought to this depot in immense quantities, and crowds of eager recruits Jiastened to enrol themselves under the new standard— a tri-colorcd flag, with two stars— which floated from the building. The Federal Government viewed these measures with alarm. Sincerely anx- ious to preserve its neutrality inviolate, it had issued the strictest orders to re- press all such movements by every means at the command of the civil power; and the efforts of its officers were seconded by the city authorities of Buffalo with all their influence. But nothing could re- press the spirit that prevailed. The arms and men were wanted to hunt " red foxes" in Canada ; the money, to support tiie re- fugees. " Deer kunts" and " E.iploring E.rpcditiflus " became suddenly the rage, and for the first time were found to require every warlike implement, from the can- non to the drum, to complete their equip- ment. Where an overwhelming majority of the community were enthusiastic ac- cessories in these proceedings, it was in vain to think of enforcing laws of neu- trality; and a corps consisting of more than three hundred men, fully armed and equipi)ed, and bountifully supplied with every necessary, by their fellow-citizens, marched from the city the following morn- ing, under the command of Mr. Rensse- laer Van Rensselaer, of Albany, a gen- tleman of high respectability and wealth. Their first rendezvous was at the village of Black Rock, from which, on the six- teenth instant, Mr. Van Rensselaer marched the whole force to Tonewanda, and from thence took possession of Navy Island, near the Canada shore, which Mackenzie, with a few companions, had previously explored. Here they eslab lished the head-quarters of the Patriot Army, and began serious preparations for the invasion of Canada. Navy Island, which was decided to be- long to Canada by the Commissioners of the Treaty of Ghent, is situated a short distance from Grand Island, in the rapids of the river Niagara, just above the Falls, and is not more than half a mile distant from Chippewa point, on the Canada shore. It is about a mile and a half lone, and a mile broad; and contains nearly four hundred acres. It is well wooded and sheltered. The dangerous strength of the current renders it almost inaccess- ible from the Canada shore, and a more advantageous point for a hostile demon- stration against Canada could not have been possibly fixed upon. The selection of this bold position by the invading force, produced a strong sen- sation both in Canada and the contiguous portions of the State of New York, and much heightened the feeling of enthusiasm prevalent for the patriotic cause. Every day brought large accessions to their num- bers. Volunteers, supplies of clothing, and ...J.J.J.liJ-IU 1838.1 The Caroline. 07 provisions, in most bountiful profusion, from all points in the ueiglibourhood pour- ed in upon them, ai.d tiieir armament soon amounted to six field pieces, and sev- eral hundred muskets, besides those in use by the men. These arms were prineipally obtained by foreible ent.y into the public arsenals, which had no adequate means of resisting the torrent of military ardor which seemed to sweep over the State. Van Rensselaer, wiih the title of General, was invested with the supreme command, and soon found himself at the head of near seven hundred men. Sutherland, and, it is said, Rolph, also, held subordi- nate commands ; and Mackenzie was pre- sent as head of an imaginary provisional government, which was got up for the oc- casion. From this, a proclamation was issued, setting forth the objects of the in- vading army, and promising a boumy of three hundred acres of land to all volun- teers whose personal aid should be render- ed to the patriotic cause during the slrug- cr\e. The Canadian Patriots were en- joined not to commit any depredations on the property of the royalists; and as a sarcasm probably on his own doings, a reward of five hundred pounds was offer- ed for the apprehension of Sir Francis Head. This proclamation was signed " William Lyon Mackenzie, chairman pro tem. of the provisional government of Upper Canada"— who also issued vari- ous denominations of money in the form of Treasury notes, payable from the re- Bourccs of the new government, whenever it should be established, which were readi- ly taken in payment by all having any connection with the volunteers. Demonstrations of hostility so alarming, after all internal danger within the pro- vince had ceased, naturally excited the in- di-'nation of the British authorities of Upper Canada. Col. McNabb, who had inarched against Dr. Duncombe, into the London District, where this leader had a considerable force, but had met with no resistance, soon assembled a body of near two thousand men, with which, by the or- ders of the Governor, he marched to Chip- pewa, to have an eye to the movements in Navy Island. The respective, forces re- mained opposite, to each other without any occurrence of moment, until the twenty- ninth of December. During this time, however, indications took place daily, tending to some serious event. Batteries were erected on the Canada shore, and large preparations were made for attack- ing" the position of the Islanders, while a frKiuent interehange of ineffective cannon- ading between the parties, with minor oc- currences incident to their position, con- tributed to give the aspect of affairs in this quarter a continued interest in the public mind, when an occurrence took place, that gave the whole matter, for a time, a very aggravated appear;:nce, and, in the deep excitement whi'h it produced, had well nigh comproniitted the national relations of the two countries. On Friday, December twenty-ninth, a small steamLc:'t called the Caroline, had sailed from Buffalo to Navy Island with passengers and various stores for the forces there, and continued throughout the day to ply as a ferry-boat between the Island and the shore, on the private account of tlie owner. In the evening this vebsel was moored at Fort Schlosser, a landing place on the American shore. A small tavern, at this spot, the only accommodation it afforded, not being large enough to con- tain all the visiters whom circumstances had brought to the spot, a great number of strangers had availed themselves of the accominodations of the boat, and taken up their quarters in it for the night, when they were unexpectedly aroused by an outrage of an unparalleled description. Colonel McNabb, the Canadian commander, an unscrupulous creature of the government, and burning for an opportun'ty to display the obsequious readin^ ss of liis devotion to the cause of power, fancied he saw in the presence of this steamboat the occasion ho wanted ; and, undeterred by any consider- ations of national propriety or of conse- quences, arranged an expedition to cut the vessel from her moorings, and destroy her. One Drew, a retired officer in the British navy, was placed in command, and at ten o'clock at night, on the thirtieth of De- comber, he put off with forty-five men in five boats, and coming unexpectedly alon-side, he soon obtained admission— the boat, though crowded with men, being entirely unarmed-and with his crew commenced a furious and deadly attack I 08 Insurrection in the Canadas. [June, n i upon the inmates. As may be readily conceived, the latter were soon overpow- ered. Six of their number were killed- and several wounded, who, with the others were driven on the shore. The vessel was then towed into the stream and set on fire. In a few minutes, the strong blaze which shot from the burn- ing timbers, made the force on Navy Is- land, and the shore, aware of the deed ; and exhibited to the crowds who rushed to the beach, a scene which had for them an awful interest, and strangely oppressed theirminds with a feeling of sublimity, not less than unexampled terror. The thrill- ing cry ran around that there were living souls on board; and as the vessel, wrapl m vivid flame, which disclosed lier doom as it shone brightly on the water, was hurrying down the resistless rapids lo the tremendous Cataract of Niagara,— the everlasting thunder of which, more aw- fully distinct in the midnight stillness, horrified every mind with tiie presence of their inevitable fate,— numbers caught, in fancy, the wails of dying wretches hope- lessly perishing by the double horrors of a fate which nothing' could avert; and watched with agonized attention the flam- ing mass, till it was hurried over the falls to be crushed in everlasting darkness m the unfathomed tomb of waters below. Happily more accurate information after- wards disclosed the fact that no person was on board the boat when it was set on fire; but tlie whole circumstances lent a character of aggravation to the trans- action that had a deeply exasperating ef- fect on the public mind in every portion of the country. The local authorities immediately or- ganized a large force of the State militia, and marched them to the frontier; and on the second of January the Governor called the attention of the Legislature to the event in a sjucial message, in which he stated that thne were thirty-three per- sons in the boat who " were suddenly at- tacked at midnight, after they had retired to repose, and probably more than one- third of them wantonly massacred;" and that the twelve persons who were ascer- tained to be missing, were, " in all proba- bility, either killed by the invaders or pe- rished in the descent of the boat over the cataract." The message further asserted that this " outrage" was not provoked by any act done, or duty neglected, by the government of this State or of the Union ;" and while it left the charge of redressing the wrong, and sustaining the honor of the country to the General Government, it recommended the Legislature to make provision for a military force for the pro- tection of the exposed citizens, and the maintenance of peace upon the frontier. The President of the United States fol- lowed up the matter with corresponding vigour. On the fifth of January the Se- cretary of War directed General Scott to repair to the frontier ; and confided to him extensive discretionary powers for the preservation of peace. He also made a requisition on the Governors of New York and Vermont for a sufficient militia force to assist his operations; but gave him no instructions with regard to Navy Island, and similar Canadian expedi- tions, stating the fact that the Executive had no legal authority to restrain Ameri- can citizens from making incursions .into a neighbouring territory, even with hos- tile intent. He was wisely cautioned to employ a force from a distant section of the Statr, (liat it might not partake of the excitement prevalent in the vicinity of these transactions; and the President's • confi, jnt hope was expressed that the General would be able to maintain the peace of the frontier without employing his military force. To allay still farther the dangerous excitement, which infected the whole frontier, and bid fair to embroil both countries in a mutual war, the Presi- dent issued his proclamation, warning these individuals of the unlawfulness of their conduct, and accompanying an earnest exhortation for them to disperse, with the solemn assurance that they would not only be punished with the ut- most severity of existing law, but that they should receive no countenance or aid from their own Government should their conduct place them in the power of the neighbouring and friendly nation against which their aggressions were directed — To these salutary measures the country was, in all probability, indebted for the continuance of peace. On the same day that General Scott re- [June, 1838.1 Navy Island abandoned by the Volunteers. 99 ceived his commission, the Secretary of State called the attention of the British Minister, resident at Washington, to this "extraordinary outrage;" spoke of the loss of life occasioned by it as " the as- sassination of citizens of the United States on the soil of New York," which he did not doubt the disposition of the Canadian authorities to punish; and stated that it would necessarily form tlie subject of a demand for redress upon Her Majesty's government. On the eighth the President transmitted a message to both Houses of Congress, in which he brought the mt-.tter before them, together with the steps he had taken in relation to it. In this message Mr. Van Buren desig- nated the affair " as an outrage of a most aggravated character," "accompanied by°a hostile, though temporary, invasion of our territory producing the strongest feelings of resentment on the part of our citizens in the neighbourhood, and on the whole border line;" and concluded by asking for " such appropriations as the circumstances in which our country is thus unexpectedly placed require." Tiiese messages gave rise in Congress to spirit- ed debates, in the course of which, though the excitement prevalent out of doors strongly tinctured the language of several members, a general disposition was evi- dent to sustain the President in his neces- sary efforts to preserve the frontier i ace. An act was speedily passed authorizing the seizure of any vessel or vehicle evi- dently destined for hostile operations a"-ainst a neighboring nation, and also of any military urmament prepared within the territory of the Union for like purpose. Foreigners taking refuge in the United States" were also to be disarmed, so long as he deemed it necessary. This act soon produced the most salutary effects. Al- though Sir Francis Head by sanctioning the destruction of the Caroline, and offi- cially thanking its perpetrators for their gallantry in effecting it, as well as by the supercilious and derogatory tone in which he spoke of the conduct of the United States in reference to these dis- turbances, contributed to keep alive a feel- ing of resentment towards the British auUiorities, yet it soon became evident that the public opinion of the Union was assuming a more healtny tone, and setting strongly against any infraction of the neu- tral and peaceable relations existing with Great Britain. The presence of General Scott, and Governor Marcy, with a con- siderable force in the disturbed district, and the efficient measures which the Ge- neral adopted in discharge of his func- tions, contributed to this, and tended great- ly to allay the morbid feeUng of excite- ment which constituted the main support of the Navy Island project ; and convinced the leaders of the expedition that they must be solely dependent on themselves in their operations against Canada. — Meanwhile the British force was strongly increased on the opposite shore by part of the 21th regular regiment from Mon- treal, and such a powerful force of artille- ry, as left the Patriots, thoiigh their num- bers had swelled to above fifteen hundred men, not the slightest chance of success in a regular engagement, could they have effected a landing. On the thirteenth of January, the Bri- tish opened a heavy cannonade with shot and shells upon the Island, which con- tinued for four hours, and was answered with equal spirit by the patriots, without producing any considerable effect on either side. Armed vessels were next brought into the river; and General Scott was given to understand that the British were resolved on the destruction of the Navy Islanders, in transitu, should they at- tempt to land on the Canadian shore. Every thing thus tending to show the hopelessness of their present attempt, the patriots broke up their camp, and left the Island, on Sunday, the 14lh of January, when it was immediately after taken pos- session of by the British, whose red-cross Hag, securely flying from it, on the follow- ing'day announced to all that its soil was ag'ain in possession of its rightful own- ers. iMr. Mackenzie had been previously, and General Van Rensselaer was soon afterwards, arrested by United States officers ; and were bound over for trial at the ensuing District Court for organizing a hostile e^xpedition within the territory of the United States against a friendly nation. That the popular irritation, oc- casioned by the destruction of the Caro- line, nevertheless continued unaffected by 100 Insurrection in the Canadas. the prospects of the patriots, mny I)e suffi- cienily judgod from the fart tl.nt tliej^rand jury of Niagara county, in the State of iNew York, indicted MeNabb, Drew, and every other person wlio was ascertained to have been instrumental to tliat act for wilful murder. ' On their dispersion, some of the pa- triots returned to their homes, but the rnnst considerable portion proceeded up Lake Erie to Detroit, fi,,- the purpose of joining a large body of their consoeiate.s wlio were assembled undt