Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-01-03
Washington, December 5, 1887.
LOWER CANADA.

We have but little news of interest from this
province. Our latest dates arc the Burlington
Sentinel ofthe 9Th inst. That paper gives a
brief history Of the contest in the lower province
from its commencement. till after the battle of
ST. Charles, which, it fays, rs derived from gen-
tlcmen who are intimately acquainted with the
position of affairs in Canada, aud they may be
relied on as correct. We have not room for
more than the account of the baltic ofSt. Charles
After giving the force of the Royalists at this
place, which, besides the cavalry and artillery is
stated to have been 500 infantry the Sentinel
says.
'Tho patriots had to oppose this force lat
st Charles) the shade of the fort made in two DAYS
by people utterly unacquanted with such works
two cannons, such as are used in steamboats,.
and only tpo hundred armed men It is truo.
that there were greater number Of men i'm tho
camp when tho troops arrived, but it is also
well attcsted fact there were on the morning of
the battle only la guns in the camp, and that
when the advanced guards retreatcd to the camp
the whole number could not have exceeded two
hundred. 1t will be asked, how happened it that
with such n small force, the patriots accepted the
battle; This, we think, was an errorofthe CON-
mander; if he had retreated to ST. Denis, and
Joined his small party to that Of DIR. Nelson the
victory would have been easily achieved. How.
over; the battle was accepted at st. Charles IL
began about p. NJ, and lasted only three. qua r.
tiers of an hour. The patriots retreated when
they observed movements of the troops TO sur.
round them, and this they effected in perfect good
order, carrying with them the only things the y
had taken to the camp-their guns. We cannot
ascertain positively the number of the killed or
wounded on either side. In the fort, however,
not more than one or two patriots were killed il
is supposed that more were killed during tho re.
treat but the whole of thcm issing did not exceed
fifteen or twenty. We are informed that il ives
indeed shocking to see how inhumanly the troops
fred with their artillery and muskctry, during
the retreat, on those two hundred brave fellows.
who according 10 the avowal oven of the off.
GERS had fought like tigers in the defence oftlrcir
lives, and who by their valor right to the re.
spoct due soldier under all circumstances.
Il il false that the patriots were CHARGED with
the bayonet the fort was not stormcd. n \.
equally false that prisoners had been made IN thu
fort. The only three persons taken nt 81.
Charles, were Messrs. Durochcr. mcychsns' t.
miro, his clerk, DIVERT, notary and tbov wsrs
taken in their private houses, two or three hours
after tho battle. The othor prisoners were Ia.
ken by Inc troops on their way up and down,
and are principally young boys The guns Of
which show is made, were obtained in the same
WY, viz by searching houses The loss Of the
ioyaiists cannot be estimated, ont we are erodi-
oiy informed BY gentleman whowas at Sc. Johns
when they returned, that he saw cart loaded
WIN coats which evidently had tsen taken from
their dead"