North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1841-03-31
MARCH 81

ools " Tue patriots did not return n.
fire, when the British immedis,els ~
saneed upon them, keeping a so0,,.s.
lire; but the patriots remained firm n III,
posts till the "Ied coats" were with, -
reach OF their guns, when they Opened
such CALLING fire upon the hireGo., =
British despoiism as to force itrm IL n.l
o prccipitaie and disonlcrly retreat IT,.
route then became general and the d;..;n
lined soldiers Of naughty and oye,bes,;a,
England, had the modification Of asei,.
for their lives, before body Of undisein
lined and unassuming peasants WIN hi
been driven 10 arms by The repeated IN.
suits ol iyrannical government. II va.
between three and four O'Clock when r..
British commenced :hcir rrtrea, and a,
patriots thought that j. would be imnol,s
in them, moi 10 escort their weH r,r,;..y
guests some distance, III their precin;,,,,.
flight. Such was the hurry with which
Colonel Gore gave the order 10 ret,ep,
that great part Of the dead and also Of
their wounded men, were cowardly ahsp.
doned 10, the generosity Of the Canadians.
Yetit must be said that they had already
thrown great number Of their killed into
the Rishclieu river, after having strnped
of their clothes. The exact number of
the killed, on the British side, never hiss
been correctly ascerlained although many
must have fallen, willis, the patriots los.
only eleven. The patriots pursued the Br.
fish about four miles from ST. Denis, bu,
as the roads were very had and night ap-
preaching, i was deemed proper to stop
The pursuit and return 10 their camp. In
their retreat the British were forced 10
abandon their ammunition Wagon, To-
geihcr with their cassoin and howilzcr.
These prizes were brought to ST. Denis
the next day.. NH
The Steam Boat Varcnncs, which had
been loaded at Sare, with provisions and
other nccessaries for the troops, had been
sept with small force on board, 10 ST.
But when il arrived al st. Ours
nine miles below ST.. Denis, party Of the
patriots soon collected, which forced the
Sleam-B Boat Immediately 10 return, there
by cutting Off the only means Of subsisi-
ance Tor the British troops, except by PUN.
Ter. Such was the issue Of the battle Of
81. Denis, which will immoralize the
people VI that section Of the country, ior
undaun,rd bravery and love of freedom;
while ii has taught them, that their foes
are not inuinctbie, and we venture 10 pre-
lct thu, The people Of ST. Denis and It's
vicinity, will never lear 70 meet British
roops, provided. their leaders will FOLLOW
he wnrlhy example Of The gallant Hero Of
Denis, who did moi content himself with
merely commanding the forces under him,
,nt even shared The common danger, 70
which bis brave men were exposed, and
hereby showed 10 his followers, that he
vas willing 70 support by physical JoFce,
be political creed which he had the moral
ourage 10 avow, in times Of constitutional
rsisfance. Alas for the fate OF poor IN
Canada! Why was not his ex-
mple inflated by oil the patriot Leaders,
lad II been so, Canada would now be iree'
nd its people, disenthralled, would pour
essing after blessing upon the heads Of
hose, who had led them 10 triumph ana
ictory!! But painful to relate, very lew
indeed, were possessed ofsufIicient courage
D fighter even to take up arms!! After
he battle Of ST.. Denis was fairly won ana
he invading foe could find no security but
! precipitate fight, it might naturally DC
expected that the people would be overloy'
d, and therefore anxious to behold the
reat Champion Of Liberty whom they 50
ighly veherated. They felt that their JOY
'ould not be complete, If deprived oil Inc
resence OF the man, who had so nooy
I'D so ably exposed all the horrors Of bfi.
sh misrule. But alas! Mr.. Papineau had
,andoned the post OF honor and hed line
Of the action. Whithef nc
nsnQA