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


npou, which brough, him to the ground.
Though wounded, he yet attempted TO OIL
FER resistance 20 a. % escape from his cap
tors, and after long struggle which was
accompanied by the discharge Of several
Ere arms and also by several blows infict-
ed with sabre, he sunk under the repeat
ed blows he received, and expired very prob
ably 10 the most exeTuciasing pain. How
ever much we may regret the fate OF this
young, unfortunate British officer, yet to
his own rashness and breach of military
faith, Is justly attributable in our opinion
hia untimely, fatal and tragic death. Had
he behaved with propriety. as he had SOL
EMMY promised to DIR. Wolfred Nelson
before he left tina, gentleman's house had
he not attempted to make dishonorable
escape, after having pledged himself that
he would not commit any act which NIGH,
subject him TO the penalties inflicted in
such cases, had he, like true gentleman,
confided in DIR. w. Nelson, who had SOL
emily pledged his faith that he (Weir)
would be respected and kindly treated il
his behavior was that Of a gentleman,
there 10 no doubt but Lieutenant Weir
would have been treated as all other Brit
ish prisoners were, who fell into The hands
of the patriots, and he would have lived to
join his praises 10 those of the British
soldiers who were made prisoners at the
battle Of ST. Denis, OF the kind and hu-
name treatment they received at the hands
of the French Canadians, whilst in their
power. But unfortunately for himself,
and for the country at large, Gas il gave al
pretence to the British to ill-ireat inhuman-
~ the poor Canadians after the battles OF
St. Charles and ST. Eustache,) Lieuten-
ant Weir, by his unrefecting and unmiit-
airy behavior brought upon himself fate
which probably as private individual and
as British officer, he was far from deser-
wing. As soon as life had deserted the
mangled corpse, he was thrown into the
Richeliea river, where he was found on
the 9TH of December ensuing, when the
British troops after the defeat OF the Pat
riots at St. Charles, returned to ST. Denis
to visit upon the place where they had ex-
perienced disgrace and defeat, their barba-
rous and unparalleled vengeance. The
corpse was taken to Montreal and the re-
cital of the many wounds which it bore,
served only to infame the minds Of the
British party in Lower Canada, who were
snraged and infatuated at the loss Of The
battle of St. Denis. The funeral took
place in Montreal on the 9Th OF Decem-
Der, with all the military pomp which
could be displayed in city, where nearly
he whole British force was concentrated.
His Excellency, Sir John Colborne attend
ID the iaterment of the deceased officer,
md on his satanic countenance il was evil
lent that the patriot blood which had been
% profusely and inhumanly spill. al ST.
Charles, had not yet atoned in his diaboli-
'al mind, for the death OF the British Off
Ter whom he was now accompanying 10 {
lis last abode. He was revolving in his
mind some new tortures to infliet on the
devoted inhabitants Of the patriotic Coua-
y OF Two Mountains. Il
Let US now return 10 the expedition UNI
Ter Colonel Gore which we left on its way
rom Sorel to St. Charles. DR.. Wolfred
Nelson and his other companions at ST. y
DENIS were entirely ignorant Of The exist
nee of any military expedition against the I
eople on the banks OF the Ricaelien, and I
! was not until Lieutenant Weir on the :
aorning of the twentythird OF October, I
gas brought a prisoner 10 DR.. Nelson's d
ouse and after having been searched and b
marching order, been found on him, e
hat it was ascertained that the troops :
rerc marching upon the radicals Of that |
art OF the country. With promptness 4
nd activity whichis highly creditable to n
Dr.. Nelson, he Immediately dispatched or v
ers to the surrounding villages urging a
pom the people TO flock to ST. Denis in as d