North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1841-03-31


sArsseh The eoncrssion, where be shonght
he could march hia trosps snpercrived BY
the people al the country. Lieutenant
Weir, moi beiag srptised Of thi&naoveme
followed the road along the river a. Is was
nearer fouts To the place Of destination
than the one taken by the forces, and very
soon arrived Ut 81. Denis where, 70 his
great surprise, he found himself in the
midst OF his enemies. Disappointed at not
Gnding the British troops arrived, he FELL
somewhat alarmed, yei kept the object Of
biz mission q secret, and pretended that he
was a civilian travelling on private busr
ness. He was arrested and taken 10 the
house Of DR.. Wolfred Nelson who, after
an examination, ordered him 10 be searched.
Papers were found In his possession, which
plainly showed the nature Of his business
and he was accordingly detained a. q pris-
oner OF war. He was kindly and generous
liz treated by DIR. w. Nelson, who kept
him under his own roof as long as Il was
deemed prudent. But the British troops,
under Colonel Gore. soon made their APP
pearance near the village OF III. Denis,
with the evident intention Of putting in ex.
ecusion the order which they had received
for making prisoners OF DR.. w. Nelson and
other Canadian Leaders, and drag them TO
Montreal in the same humiliating condition
az had been imposed upon Messrs. Davig-
non and Desmarais. X was the imPerious
duty OF DR.. Wv. Nelson, upon whom the
command had been unanimously conferred,
TO seq that Lieutenant Weir was so well
guarded that he could not make his escape
and carry TO the enemy, the intelligence o.
the unprepared state in which. the people
OF ,ha, village then were for resistance.
Previous 10 the arrival Of COL Gore, il had
not been expected that an opportunity
would 40 soon be presented for physical
resistance, consequently the people were
not prepared 10 meet large military force,
yet tile brave and faithful Canadians were
too strongly attached to their gallant and
heroic leader, 10 allow hireling British
soldiery 10 tear him from them, without re-
sistance Besides this, ii was well known
that Mr.. Papineau, who swayed such a
mighty influence ever the people, had ta-
ken refuge in the house OF DR.. Nelson,
resistance was therefore, Immediately de-
ternined upon, and preparations were ac-
cordingly made TO repel the invading foes.
Tin such state Of affairs, ii would have
been gross error in DR.. w. Nelson, had
he allowed Lieut.. Weir, who was then a
prisoner Of war, TO remain in the camp
al 81. Denis; Il would have been not only
on account Of the weakness Of
the patriot camp, but Il would have been .
violation Of the rules of honorable warfare
10 have kept him there, exposed, as he
would have been, 70 the balls OF both friends
and foes. II became the duty then, of DR..
Nelson to send his prisoner TO place OF
safety and security. He therefore ordered
Capt. Jabert 10 take proper guard and
soayey the prisoner TO the patriot camp
Ut. Charles. Previous to leaving the hons
of DR.. Nelson, Lieut. Weir expressed his
gratitude for the kind and generous treat
nent which he received from DIR. Nelson,
BY whom he was then told, that he need
entertain no fears for his personal safety so
ong as he behaved properly, at The same
lime he ordered the officer, who command.
"a the escort, TO shoot him il he attempted
10 escape. This conversation was in the
presence Of the prisoner, who was then
bound and put into Wagon, which i'm
started for ST. Charles. They
had not however proceeded out OF the WILL
.gs before Lieut.. Weir requested the guard
Who sat by his side In the Wagon, TO loosen
he cords with which his hands were bound,
that he was suffering severely
rom their .ightness. His request was will
ngiy granted. In the mean time the Bri-
ish troops had arrived at the lower end oil
he village OF ST. Denis, and the brave
,atriots were disputing with them, the