North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1841-04-28

w % Pftt foA uiult altcf HN TcpcstSd oVS'
lsrstions Of undannted patriotism, this
liberty pole would have remained on the
banks OF the Richeleu, as q noble monu.
men, OF the gratitude OF his eountrymen,
for his unwesried services n But his flight
from 81. Denis had unfortunately spread
Encouragement among the people of the
patriotic county Of Richelieu. His pro-
racted conceslment and his subsequent
fight to the United States. where he con-
tinued to keep himself aloof from his ex-
lied countrymen, and where he RETAINED
from identifying himself further with those
troubles which had been caused by his
counsel and influence, all these reasons
probably diminished the modification
which all true patriots must have expert
enced, when they first saw in the possess
ion Of the Montreal Cavalry, that monu-
men,, which their countrymen Of the Six
confederated Counties, had raised in honor
OF man, who has since proved himself
unworthy of that unlimited confidence,
which they had placed liz him in those days
of tribulation.
To afford another opportunity for Col.
Gore, the unfortunate hero Of St. Denis,
to recover his military renown, he was or
dered on the 30th of November, TO embark
for Sorel and proceed second time to the
place where he experienced so signal a
defeat. For this purpose, he took with
him four companies of the Sand Regiment,
two companies OF the Goth, one company
Of the Gath, one company Of the SD, with
a detachment of artillery. This force
was taken on board the steamer John Bull.
with instructions to proceed up the Rich
ellen River, as far as it was navigable.
But this river was SO frozen, thar
the steamboat was obliged to return to So
rel, where the troops landed and marched
to St. Ours, and there halted during the
night of the first of December. As il was
not fully ascertained by the British Colonel,
whether Dr.. Wofred Nelson was as wei
prepared, as on the Esd of November, to |
give him warm reception, the troops |
were, in some measure, restrained from
violence. The next morning they pro-
ceeded to St. Denis, where they found |
that DR.. Wolfred Nelson had been forced |
TO retreat, or rather to abandon, for the
time being, all opposition to the English
troops. After the fatal battle OF ST. Cha's
which had proved an irreparable injury to
The patriot cause, the remnant of the Can
adam forces had been scattered in all drec.
lions, small part Of whom had retrea,ed
% st. Denis, and brought the sad intelIi-
yence Of their defeat and of the cowardv
assertion Of General Brown. Dr.. VOL
red Nelson, far from being discouraged a,
his melancholy news, renewed his exer-
ions to muster men enough to 60 and at
ack the British, or at least to repeI them
f they should hazard a descent on ST. Ii
Denis. His military zeal was seconded by
he peasantry OF the immediate neighbor-
ood, and there was every appearance .
hat the British would yet have to contend
nth the 8" sons of the SOIL" when priestIy
nfuence came into the aid of the British. ,
The parish priest Of St. Denis together
nth his vicar, began their ntrigues, and |;
frightened the people, partly by exaggera-
ed reports as to the issue OF the battle of ,
't. Charles, where it was represented that G
light hundred patriots persisted, and partly
trough their clerical authority and inhu- .
nee in telling their followers that rebellion I
gainst the constituted authorities, was
amnable sin, advising them at the same T.,
me to return quietly to their homes, war ,
anting them, that provided their leaders
'ere delivered up, the mass Of the peaple ,
vould remain unmolested. With such art.
al language and with the powerful and
orrupt influence which priests exercise
yer their followers, the number of DR. ,
Volfred Nelson's men,w diminished to .
1ch an extent, that il would have been ,
omplete folly on his part, to await the ar.
wal If the British farce II rvo,J h.v. ,