Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-12-20
From the Burlington Free Press of Nov. 20.

LATE FROM CANApA.-An intelli4
gent gentleman who left Swanton last
night, arrived in the northern stage
this morning, bringing us Information
of "a decisive engagement between the
patriots and loyalists on Saturday
night. Our informant, MIR. Sanborn,
OF P~lattsburg, says that an express ar
rived at Svanton last night, at six
O'Clock, bringing dispatches from MIR.
Brown at st. Charles, dated III o'clock
A. NJ, on Monday, giving a particular
account of the engagement. Mr.. San
born, says he saw the letter, heard it
read and was present at the examina.
ton of the messenger who brought it.
There can be no mistake. The fol-
lowing letter from our obliging corres-
pendent, Mr.. Whltemore, at ST. Al
| bans, embodies the facts substantially
as we gather them from our inform
ant. We therefore adopt it for the
present occasion.
DEAR SIR :-Tho glorious news has
just arrived here which may be lmpli-
city credited, that at IL o'clock on
the evening Of the 18th inst. the regu-
lar and volunteer British forces 100
strong made an unexpected assault
upon the fort al st. Charles about 30
miles from Montreal. The assault
was urged and resisted with the grea-
test obstlnacy and most determined re-
solution on both sides until near NOR
ming, when the British we're suddenly
attacked in the rear by about 1000
patriots from ST. Matthias, IA miles dis.
tant, who hearing the ~cannonadiug,
rushed to the rescue, me came up
Just in time to save the fort which was
about being captured. The loyalists
Immediately fled in all directions into
the woods with the patriots at their
heels, and will probably nearly all be-
killed or taken prisoners, ps tho patri-
OTIS under the orders of Gen. Brown,
had previously cut off all means Of re-
treat by destroying the boats in the
river Richolieu, aud s~tationing forces
in the only places where they might
retreat. When the express left st.
Charles at z, A.. NJ. on the Goth the
patriots were in hot pursuit. The pa
trlots LOST IL the assault on the fort is
about 200 men killed and wounded.-
They left behind them two pieces of
cannon ; but did not burn the village
of st. Charles. There is no doubt Of
the result the British forces, this side
of Quebec, are nearly all annihilated.
A spirit of patriotism and courage IL
aroused in The French population so
much despised. and SO %tauntingly stig-
matised as cowards,swhich will shortly
take vengeance upon their oppressors
for the slavery of nearly a century.
1t is said that there is scarcely a roy
alist in the whole French population.
The women are engaged in making
ball cartridge, and are as enthusiastic
as their husbands and brothers. Ma
nv of them in advance of the British
forces, threw into the river all their
furniture and provisions that they could
not carry, and set fire TO and abandon
ed their houses, rather than that they
should fall into the hands Of the ene-
my.
An express has arrived, requesting
that the steam boats be sent to st.
Johns Immediately. The Inhabitants
were leaving Montreal, and the banks
at that place and Quebec are forward
ing their specie TO the States.