# La rébellion de 1837 à Saint-Eustache/22

DÉCLARATION DE W. INGLIS, ÉCR
C. A. M. Globensky, Esq.
My dear Sir,
I now proceed to fulfill my promise by giving you an account of what I witnessed and experienced during the rébellion of the winter of 1837 and 38. Also to answer certain questions propounded by you concerning your late father’s connection with said troubles.
For some months previous to the actual breaking out of said rebellion, we were constantly harassed by rumours and reports of what was likely to take place of such a nature as to give us very serious alarm for the safety of our property and even of our lives.
Upon the actual rising taking place, the Loyalists th in this part of the country which comprehended all the British in this vicinity and a great number of the French population, left their homes and proceeded to Montreal ; and amongst the number were all the members of my family, except my mother and one of my sisters then about 12 years of age. On reaching the city most of the able bodied men amongst us decided to offer our services to the government, with the idea of protecting ourselves from the persecutions and humiliations that the rebels exercised against the loyal subjects, and we requested your father, late Maximilien Globensky, to take command of the company when formed ; which he unhesitatingly consented to do.
Our services were accepted. The company as then organised consisted of about 90 men, from 50 or 60 being French-Canadians.
I understand your late father’s memory has been aspersed for having taken the command of said company, fighting against those of his origine who were in arms against the government. No accusation could be more unjust. The body of French-Canadians with capt. Globensky at their head, were the true patriots of that time, as subsequent events have fully proved. Had the insurgents succeeded, it could have had no other result than annexation to the United-States, and before arriving at that consummation, a very large number of lives must have been sacrificed on, both sides. It is true a few fell at St. Eustache, others paid the penalty the law awards to the crime of treason, but had they succeeded in their enterprise, how many thousands of our young men would have deluged with their blood the soil of Virginia and Maryland in that great civil war which lately devastated the United-States? How many millions of our money would have gone to defray the debit incurred in that struggle ? Where would then have been french nationality, french laws, and french language ? All would have dissappeared as they have done in what was formerly the french state of the neighbouring republic, where nothing now remains to show who were - French but the names they bear. Yes, I repeat most emphatically, that the late capt. Globensky and his hand full of French-Canadians loyalists were the true patriots of 1837, the true friends of the French inhabitants of Lower-Canada.
You desire to be informed if I was cognizant of his having acted harshly or cruelly towards those whom the fortune of war placed in his power. I unhesatingly answer No; but to my knowledge the reverse was frequently the case, of which I may cite a few examples.
Our company was stationed at St. Martin about two weeks previous to the battle of St. Eustache. Four days before said battle I was ordered with another volunteer to proceed during the night to within a mile of said village, to arrest and bring into camp a person named Mr. M. Seers. As I considered it a somewhat dangerous duty and the arms with which we were served not very suitable for the purpose, I asked for pistols with which my captain furnished me, accompanied with most energetic and earnest caution not use them if it could possibly be avoided.
On the day of the battle our company was ordered to take the direct and most dangerous road to attain St. Eustache, while the main body took a différent and longer route, and to hait at Seers on the highland near the river bank opposite the said village of St. Eustache, and there to await further orders. In approaching said position we paused through a wood in which a party of the Insurgents were concealed. The enemy’s scouts falling back as we advanced, carried full information of the smalness of our numbers to their leaders, who supposed we were ail they had to contend with. Their plan was to attack us in front from the village, while the concealed party would take us in rear, when they would hâve a good prospect of exterminating the whole party. Their plans were soon frustrated by the advent of the main body, who immediately commenced firing on the party crossing the ice or the river to attack us. It sent them to the right-about and they gave us no further trouble. Our friends in the woods hearing that something more than they bargained for was going on, emerged from the wood carrying their arms and making a « détour » to pass out of range of our muskets, running rapidly in the direction of the village. We receiving no orders to attack them a part of the company felt hurt at their escaping, and asked to be allowed to fire. Capt. Globensky peremptorily forbade it, at which a retired officer of the regular force, who was acting with us as a supernumerary, had a short but warm altercation with Capt. Globensky on the subject, and turning to the men, asked any who wished to have a shot at the rebels to follow him ; a portion of the men did so, and fired, giving evident pain and dissatisfaction to our Captain. It gave us doubts as to the loyalty of Capt. Globensky, but I afterwards ascertained that his motive was simply a desire to spare the lives of his fellow-countrymen, he being perfectly aware that before they could reach the village, it would be too late for them to take part in the engagement ; letting them go on conseqnently their escape could do no harm.
The next morning one of the most important leaders of the insurgents was brought in to St. Eustache, having been arrested, not by the Loyalists, but (as I was informed) by men of his own party, to whom he had fled for refuge and concealment. He being a gentleman with whom I was acquainted, I immediately went to the guardroom to see him. I found him in a very distressing state, his arms having been so tightly tied behind his back by his captors as seriously to interfere with respiration and circulation, and being of corpulent habit of body, I saw that relief could not come too soon. Being only a private, I did not like to interfere without permission. I applied to Capt. Globensky, who at once gave me permission to do whatever I found necessary for his comfort consistant with his safe keeping.
I hope these examples (I could easily increase the number) will prove sufficient to set at rest any doubts regarding Captain Globensky’s humanity.
Regarding the death of Dr Chénier, I did not witness it, but I understood that he was shot while attempting to escape. The cause which he attempted to support having become hopeless, it was his duty to use any means still in his power to save his life. It is a poor tribute to his memory to represent him as having committed an act which would have been simply suicide as he is represented to have rushed out of the church sword in hands, in face of the troops. I heard no such story at the time. The report to which you allude, of his heart having been paraded through the village on the point of a bayonet, is an act which would not have been for a moment tolerated by the men composing the force at that time in St-Eustache ; it is most certainly untrue. I saw and recognized the body of Dr Chénier at Addison’s hotel about 20 hours after his death, it was decently laid out and covered. I do not beleive any such inhuman acts as you mention, were committed or would have been tolerated.
Regarding Girod’s flight from St-Eustache to St-Benoit, all I can say regarding it, is what I often heard narrated by my mother, and which I am certain is stricrly true. Our house is situated or. the direct road from St-Eustache to St-Benoit, about three miles distant from the latter village, it had been taken possession of by the insurgents, almost immediately after our flight, and fortified with an armed party constantly stationed at it. On the evening of the battle, Girod arrived at our house apparently in great trepidation, he said he was going to St-Benoit for reinforcements. My mother answered that it seemed late for that and suggested flight as the more probable cause of his apparition. His visit was short and he left in great haste, and never returned, so far as my mother knew.
Permit me to take this opportunity of publicly acknowledging the moderation and generosity of those against whom I then bore arms.
After the expiration of the unfortunate events herein alluded to, our personal animosities were buried, and for the forty years I have since passed amongst them, I have been uniformly treated in the most kind, generous and liberal manner. All our old fears and jealousies having disappeared, perfect confidence assumed their place. We have since lived in peace and amity to a degree I could have expected from no other people but French-Canadians. They are truly a noble people.
The above narration is partly taken from memory, being at the time in my twenty first year of age, and the events being of a nature to make a lasting impression. I have no doubt of their correctness. Part is also taken from a memoir which I committed to paper a few weeks after they happened.
St-Benoit, 27th October 1877.
CONDOLÉANCES,
Les directeurs de la société d’Agriculture du comré des Deux-Montagnes, réunis en assemblée spéciale, mercredi le 30 août dernier sous la présidence de M. Emery Ferré, ont passé les résolutions suivantes à l’occasion de la mort de M. William Inglis, un des fondateurs de la dite société.
1°. Proposé par M. Jean-Baptiste Waddie, secondé par M. François Laframboise :
« Que les directeurs de cette société ont appris avec beaucoup de regret la mort de M. William Inglis, leur très-digne président.”
2°. Proposé par M. Etienne Ladouceur, secondé par M. Frs.-X. Charbonneau :
« Que des condoléances soient présentées a la famille. »
3°. Proposé par M. Félix Dumoulin, secondé par M. Ephrem Roby :
« Que les directeurs, pour témoigner leur chagrin, portent le deuil pendant un mois. »
4°. Proposé par M. John Mackuth, secondé par M. Isidore Fortier :
« Que les présentes résolutions soient transmises aux journeaux français et anglais avec prière de les reproduire. »
11 sept. 1882.
NÉCROLOGIE.
Nous avons le regret d’annoncer la mort de M. William Inglis, arrivée subitement a la Grande Frênière de Saint-Benoit, et qui répandu le deuil dans toute la circonscription des Mille-Iles.
Atteint depuis quelques années d'une maladie de cœur, il ne pouvait plus se livrer aux travaux des champs. Le 28 août dernier, en allant porter une collation a ses enfants qui travaillaient sur une de ses fermes, il s’affaissa tout-a-coup et mourut dans les bras de l’un de ses fils.
Cet homme de bien, ce citoyen distingué qui est mort a l'age de soixante-six années, était fort considéré parmi la population française et anglaise du comté des Deux-Montagnes, tant par la position élevée qu’il occupait que pour son intégrité proverbiale et les remarquables talents qui le distinguaient.
C'est lui et feu le regretté Messire Paquin qui furent les fondateurs de la société d’agriculture du comté des Deux-Montagnes. Il n’a cessé d’être directeur et vice-président de cette société depuis sa fondation, qui date de Pannée 1847. Agriculteur instruit et avancé, il a toujours fait preuve d’un zèle vraiment patriotique pour protéger, pour défendre, pour promouvoir l’agriculture en ce pays.
Il était d’origine écossaise et natif d’Edimbourg. Comme il était l’ami sincère des Canadien-Français, il fut élu, en février dernier, le président de la société d'agriculture par ces mêmes Canadiens-Français, qui voulurent par 1a lui donner un haut témoignage d’estime, de respect et de reconnaissance.
Il eût fait um excellent député, et il eût fait honneur au comté des Deux-Montagnes.
Il était juge de la cour des Commissaires depuis un très grand nombre d’années.
Sa commission de juge de paix remontait a trente ans, et dans chacune de ces positions délicates et difficiles il a toujours été félicité pour son jugement droit et éclairé.
Ami de l’ordre, de l’autorité, sa devise fut toujours : « Dieu et mon Roi. »
Nous offrons nos condoléances les plus sincères à sa famille éplorée. Avec elle, nous souhaitons au regretté défunt le bonheur éternel, et sa vie si bien remplie a dû le lui faire mériter.
Saint-Eustache, 30 août 1882