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

""'sh tnty hhd been 30 fortunate ns TO es-
cape. The number OF those DISPOSED 10
sacrifice all for their couniryss sake, was
indeed very small. Col. Gsgnon was con-
sequently dispatched, with TWO other indi-
sIduals, from Swanton, VI. to the County
oil L'Acadie, to procure a certain number
oil men To come TO the assistance OF those
10 the States, who were willing to make an
entry into Lower Canada. On the goth
Of November, Mr.. Papineau, together
with another refugee, arrived in swan,on,
and on the succeeding day, Col. Gagnon
started on bis mission.
The honorable gentleman was made ac-
quanted with Mr.. Gagnon's undertaking
and highly approved of it. A single word
OF disapprobation on his part would have
prevented this expedition, but on The con
trary, he was far from discountenancing il,
and consequently il was undertaken. This
is but another proof, tina, Mr.. Papineau
approved OF military expeditions against
the British authorities. Let any one deny
this assertion, and ample proofs will be adj
duced to sustain il. Ii was not until the
9th of December, that Col. Gagnon, faith
fui to his promise, returned to Swanton
from the county OIL 'Acadie, with 81 men
whom he had hastily collected The ref
ugees at Swanton had held preliminary
meeting, at which, they had appointed E..
T.. MaIhiot, Esq, to take the command.
This gentleman, alter ;he Canadian force
was armed and pepared to move, chose
three oScers TO act under him, viz: r..
S. nj. Boucbette, Esquire, gentleman OF
high accomplishments, and of well known
bravery, Julien Gagnon, Esquire, and Mr..
Jacob Bouchard Of Ste. Marguerite de
Blairfindie. The force brought by Col.
Gagnon from L'Acadie received but small
reinforcement at Swanton. The arma-
ment Of this expedition consisted OF about
liz guns, many of which were unfit for
use, 5000 cartridges, Two small kegs OF
grape shot, three kegs Of cannon powder
made into cartridges, IA iron pixies with
wooden handles, one three FOUNDER in bad
order and four FOUNDER no. quite so bad,
the whole accompanied by two beautifuI
flags, which had been worked by the pa
triotic and generous-hearted young ladies'
of Swanton, and on which were deIineated
the Canadian embems in the handsomest
and most tasteful manner. Such was the
real state OF the force, which left Swanton,
VT, on the 9th OF December, at about Q
O'Clock P. NJ, with the avowed intention
of remaining or the American side Of the
the, line till daylight the next day. As
COON as the patriots had left Swanton falls,
emissaries in the pay of the British, went
to the village of Mississquoui Bay to carry
information OF the strength and number OF
the patriots. Rumors were prevalent in
the counties of Stanstead, Sheford and
Mississquoui, that the Canadian refugees
were intending to make al entry into
Canada. The loyalists of those counties
had therefore mustered their forces, and
were in daily expectation Of the arrival of
firearms from Montreal. Ii so happened,
that the expected arms had been shipped
from Montreal al the same time that Col.
Gagnon left Canada on his return 10 Swan
ton falls. Captain Kemp oil FreIeighsburgh
had been despatched TO Isle sur Noir, at
the head Of some volunteers in Wagons
10 escort the arms which had at last arrived
on the island. The patriots, by little ad-
dress, succeeded in passing by Captain
Kemp's force, without being discovered
But il was not long before the British Cap
tain was informed Of the movements Of the
the Patriots, and rallying all the yolun-
teers, who were focking from all quarters
in large numbers, at Phillippsburgh, ne
determined to lay an ambuscsde for the
patriot forces, who, as we have already
said, he had been informed, were TO return
in the night Of the same day, on which they
had left Canada. The AIMS from Isle
-. A.. Ia haon fovxv ardad with All