North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-05-08


to the ST. Andrews tories. Would not
the usages Of war allow the hanging OF such
men.
On The 9th Dee, the inhabitants Of ST.
Joachim received orders to march upon
Rivitfe du Chsae there to join the other
patriots as the British troops were expect
ed momentarily ID that quarter. The next
day st. Eustache was formally taken pos
session of by he pa:tiots. Every one who
knows any thing about the state OF things
then, will acknowledge that from the inilu-
ence and the courage that DR.. Chenier
possessed, he should have been named the
Commander in Chief in that section OF the
Province. This was minated 10 him but
his modesty and love of country induced
him to believe that this honor was not due
to him. Gin consequence Of this convic-
ton on his part, the 7th In the morning
he proposed himself TO the patriot Army
that another General should be appointed,
and gave the name OF Mr.. Amury Girod
as such. At his urgent solicitation this
gentleman was nominated as Commander
in-Chief Of the Patriot forces. Our de-
parted friend took the little Of Colonel.
His popularity and influence were SO great
that he could not confne himself within
the just limits of the duties of Colonel.
Nothing was ordered or could be done
without he was first consulted and his
anxiety of mind combined with the ex--
traordinary fatigue to which he was SUBJ
jected by constant application to him for
advice, nearly wore him out
Lord GosIord seeing the imminent dan
ger in which he had placed himself by his
own imbecility, added to his innumerabIc
acts Of tyranny, one which is now totally
out OF usage and which even the sanguina-
ny Colborne would not initiate. On the
9th Dec, he issued a Proclamation by
which he o'ertd sums Of money FOR the
heads Of the principal Canadian leaders.
DR.. Chenier sf course was one OF the most
prominent, and $4,000 were offered for his
4 apprehension. But among the noble pa
triots OF the county Of woMountains not
a single one could be bought by the temp
tation of the price of blood and our young
hero who was so much dreaded by tyrants,
slept quietly among the generous men
whose rights he had advocated with so
much warmth. '@"tH D'(
DR.. Chenier seemed to foresee what was
the fate that he was soon TO share. His
manners although naturally very grave,
had been more solemn and imposing since
the camp had been formed at St. Eustache.
He was very often cheering his compa.ri-
OTIS and telling them that death on the bat
9 tle-feld in fighting against oppression was
nobler fate than that of living under a
j.. foreign yoke. Some few days before the
action he called upon the Catholic Priest
Mr.. Paquin to have the keys OF the Pres
, bytery and of the convent. The priest
who was violent tory and spy upon the
= patriots, warned him of the fate that await
ed him. Death, said DR.. Chenier, is
= preferable TO life under despotic and ty-
rannical governmental | die, it shall be
4 for my oppressed country. am NOT to be
deferred from my object by fear Of death
shall persevere to the end"
3 Those words were verified in alew days.
n On the 14th at noon, the alarm was given.
r. The British were coming 1900 strong by
10 the road of Ste. Rose, and 1900 under the
g immediate command of Sir Jonn Coiborne
h with pieces OF Artillery and $50 Cavalry
p men, with about 60 of the Montreal Rife
d Company, under the command Of the in
: famous p. e. Leelerc, by the road oil
d Blainville. The village Of St. Enstache,
n was very soon surrounded by the red-coats
is Our brave friend was left alone to CON-
d mand the patriots who then could moi
= muster more than $50 men poorly arm
Il ed. When the British had entered the
village and were near Anderson's house,
c DR.. Chenier gave the order to fire upon