Clash at St. Charles

The insurgents had at this point fifteen hundred men, two twenty-four pounders, and a well-provisioned fort.

Continuing The 1837 Canadian Rebellion,
our selection from A Short History of the Canadian People by George Bryce published in 1914. The selection is presented in four easy 5 minute installments. For works benefiting from the latest research see the “More information” section at the bottom of these pages.

Previously in The 1837 Canadian Rebellion.

Time: 1837

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At a great indignation meeting of twelve hundred persons, held on May 7, 1837, on the Richelieu River, near St. Denis, at which Doctor Nelson presided, strong resolutions were adopted against the course taken by Lord John Russell. The example of the Irish patriot, Daniel O’Connell, was held up for admiration, and it was agreed that all should rally around one man as their chief — and that man, Papineau.

Encomiums were passed on Papineau’s force of mind, eloquence, hatred of oppression, and love of country; and it was determined, with much enthusiasm, to give up the use of imported articles, in order that the revenue might be crippled. With much zeal the assemblage decided to raise a fund, to be known as the “Papineau Tribute,” for the support of their idol. Similar meetings to that at St. Denis were being held through out the country, when Lord Gosford, the Governor-General, be coming alarmed, issued a proclamation forbidding such gatherings, and summoning those loyal to the country to support his action. This but increased the agitation. “Anti-coercion meetings,” as they were now called, were widely held. The young French-Canadians organized themselves into societies, known as the “Sons of Liberty,” while the loyal inhabitants, by meeting and petition, threw back the rebellious challenges.

A most important meeting of the agitators took place at St. Charles, on the Richelieu, on October 23d, including delegates from the “six confederated counties.” There were present at the meeting, it is estimated, five thousand persons. Doctor Nel son presided, and his outspoken declaration, the extravagant resolutions adopted, and the excited speeches delivered left no longer any doubt as to the intentions of the agitators. A handsome column, surmounted with a “cap of liberty,” was erected at this time in honor of Papineau at St. Charles.

The threatening clouds of sedition now grew so heavy that the Roman Catholic Bishop, Monsignor Lartigue, a relative of Papineau, issued an earnest pastoral, imploring the people to avoid the horrors of a civil war. The agitators continually grew bolder, and began to drill at different points throughout the country. In the meantime several additional French-Canadians were placed upon the Legislative and Executive Councils, but the concession had come too late to abate the excitement.

The Sons of Liberty and the Constitutionalists met in conflict in the streets of Montreal in November of this year, and the odds were slightly in favor of the former. Proclamations forbidding the drilling of the patriots were issued. Sir John Colborne had now made his headquarters in Montreal, and in October all the British troops in Upper Canada had been brought to his aid, while the Loyalists of Glengarry had tendered their services to the General. Soon the blow fell. News came that bands of insurgents were collecting at St. Charles and St. Denis, and an expedition under Colonels Wetherall and Gore was sent against the rebels.

At St. Denis, on November 23Rd, Doctor Nelson had fortified a stone distillery, three stories high, belonging to himself; had cut down the bridges, and awaited the attack of the approaching troops, of whose movements he had learned from dispatches taken on Lieutenant Weir, a captured officer. The attack on the improvised fort was made, but without success, Doctor Nelson showing himself a skillful tactician. After several hours’ fruitless effort, the troops retired. By their success the insurgents were encouraged.

At St. Charles was the more important center of revolt. A General Brown was the rebel leader. The insurgents had at this point fifteen hundred men, two twenty-four pounders, and a well-provisioned fort. The attack was made upon the rebel position by Colonel Wetherall, and after a severe struggle resulted in the taking of the fort, the defenders losing one hundred fifty killed and three hundred wounded. Brown escaped to Vermont.

The arrival at St. Denis of the news from St. Charles caused Nelson’s followers to vanish like the mist, and the brave St. Denis leader, seeing all lost, fled toward the American boundary, but was captured in the county of Shefford. Papineau, who was at St. Denis, is said to have escaped to the United States while the fight at the fortified distillery was still going on. It is of interest to know that among Nelson’s followers at St. Denis was young George Etienne Cartier, afterward a prominent statesman of Canada.

A most tragic occurrence took place at St. Denis. A dashing young officer, Lieutenant Weir, carrying dispatches for Colonel Wetherall, had lost his way and fallen into the hands of the rebels at St. Denis. For safe keeping he had been placed under the charge of three French-Canadian guards. His keepers were removing their prisoner to a distance from the scene of conflict when the mettlesome young officer attempted to escape. Thinking themselves justified by Weir’s insubordination, the guards fell upon their prisoner, shot him with their pistols, and cut him to pieces with sabers. This cruel deed was enacted without the knowledge of the leader, Doctor Nelson, who deeply regretted the outrage. In revenge for the barbarities practiced on Lieutenant Weir, the infuriated loyal soldiery burned Doctor Nelson’s extensive buildings at St. Denis.

The insurgents made unsuccessful demonstrations at St. Eustache and St. Benoit, in the district northwest of Montreal, as well as along the international boundary line. Though an attack, led by Robert, the brother of Doctor Wolfred Nelson, was made at Odelltown from across the boundary line in the follow ing year — which was easily suppressed by Sir John Colborne yet the danger to Canada was over when St. Charles had been taken. Though troops were during the winter of 1837–1838 sent through the wilderness from New Brunswick to Quebec, their services were but little required. Thus ended the appeal to arms — -a mad attempt at the best!

Great expectations were indulged by the opposition in Upper Canada, when in place of the discredited Governor Colborne it was learned that a more liberal-minded Lieutenant-Governor was on his way to York (Toronto). Their supposed “crowning mercy” was Sir Francis Bond Head, a retired army officer, and late poor-law guardian. The new appointee had a taste for book-making, and had written certain very readable books of travel. His previous experience, however, did not in any way justify his appointment as ruler of a province on the verge of rebellion. The reasons for his selection have always been a mystery, and the shortest explanation of it is that it was a Downing Street blunder.

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