The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-01

cross over the border. AS we were about
to land on the Canadian shore an alarm
gun was sounded and the royalists within
the town at once arose to await the as
sault.
Gen. Van Shultz was not prepared to
give battle against the odds that opposed
us and our forces withdrew a few miles
down the river to Windmill Point and
took up our quarters in an old windmill
and a few stone houses which were close
by. The Canadians had promised to re-
inforce us and we waited here for the
promised uprising On Tuesday we were
assaulted on all sides by several thous-
and royalists, and for six hours the battle
Waged fercely. Finally we ran out of am
munition and Gen. Van Shultz called for
volunteers &c swim the river and apprise
oar friends on the other side of our dis
tress. A young lieutenant named Mere
dith stepped forward and was assigned
the hazardous task. He succeeded in maxi
ing the passage through a perfect storm
of British bullets. He FASTENED TO Og-
densourg, as I afterward learned, but his
mission was fruitless. The United States
authorities had got wind of the battle and
troops were stationed along the river to
prevent the patriot forces from coming to
the rescue. - The young officer started to
return again to our little body of soldiers
but was prevented by friends who real
lied the hopelessness of our position. They
forcibiy laid hold of the gallant lieutenant
and locked him up in an apartment im
one of the houses Of our patriot friends.
We were at last obliged to surrender.
Gen. Van Shultz and John Thomas es-
capped, but were captured a day or two
later. They had taken refuge in clump
of cedars further down the river, and
were waiting a favorable opportunity to
cross over into American territory.
About a week later the commandment
affaa n on
pardon to us. About sixty Of us were
pardoned; the remainder were transported
for twenty-five years to Van Diemen9
Land. twenty-five Of us were taken
across to Sackett's harbor by Col. Mac
Donald. We were under guard, but were
not shackled We were delivered to tha
sheriff Of Jefferson county by the CONF
mandant, who said:
" I have here twenty-five pirates 10
you want them, sign a receipt acknowl-
edsing their delivery. If not, l will take
them back.
The sheriff. forget his name-answer.
ed: I don't care whether they are pie
rates or what they are, I will sign for
them
After the sheriff had signed the receipt
we were liberated and allowed to proceed
to our homes. Before parting with us her
maJestys officer gave us strict warning
that as long as we lived the British gov-
q iAiAAOAit Woulu Keep SuINellldHCt oNei ~
ana that IT we ever again consplred
against the crown we would suffer the
extreme penalty"
The unfortunate privates who were ban>
ished were taken to Quebec, and there's
with large number OF prisoners captured
placed in irons on board of her majestys
man-of-war Buffalo and taken to tho
penal colony of Van Diemans Land.
Among the number were two AuNrnlansa
Asa Priest, who died during the voyage.
and Bemis Woodbury.. The latter served
the full twenty-five years Of his banshs
ment and afterward returned 10 Auburn.
The treatment OF the patriots In Van DIE
man Land was most cruel and inhuman.
They We're CARRIED IN uniform half black
ana half yellow and set to work In gangs
with ball and chain, working on the
roads They were housed at night In log
cabins, which were reeking with filth and
vermin. The food was abominabe, and
not ft for a dog to eat. Should one %
them attempt TO escape he was tracked
and run down by fierce bloodhounds, and
in nine cases out OF ten was torn "a
pieces by the famished dogs.
The Canadian rebellion OF 1878 might
nave proved successful had there been
unity OF action among the leaders. They
were secretly Jealous OF each other. ana
to this passion may be attributed thelr
defeat. OF the leaders, Joseph Louis Pap.
ineau lied to Paris where he afterwari
died. William Lyon Mackenzie, after an
exile OF ten years In New York, where "a
followed his profession OF a journalist, was
pardoned by the royal government ana
| returned 10 Canada, where he died IN lAl:
The memory OF both leaders Is reyerei
by the Canadians OF to-day as the -
bellion led TO salutary reforms IN Canadl
by the British government which never
would have been introduced had i not
been for the little skirmish IN the latl'r
part OF the 90's.