|
|
Fighting at St. Eustache, the Canadian Rebellion of 1837
Contents:
Fighting at St. Eustache, the Canadian Rebellion of 1837
Beauclerk, Captain
[Captain Beauclerk described the fighting at St. Eustache.]
. . . On the appearance of so large a force many of the rebels were seen retreating from the village, and, as appeared from their movements, were taking their cannon with them. Our Artillery immediately opened fire upon them, and when no longer within range turned upon the village and bombarded the church, the fortress of the rebels. Congreve rockets were at first fired, but laid aside, for one in its progress struck a rail, reverted upon the troops and exploded within a few feet of the General, fortunately without doing any injury. Col. Maitland’s Brigade by this time had seized the brigades and store-houses in rear of the village, while Col Weatherall after a most tedious detour through fields three feet deep in snow, held a position in front of the church, protected by a turn in the street.
To cover the Artillery, now attempting a breach in the church, two companies of the Royals, who occupied the surrounding houses, kept up an incessant fire at the windows of that edifice; nevertheless many artillery-men were wounded, and little or no impression was made upon the building.
Sir John Colborne now despatched a party of troops to reconnoitre. A house was fired by them, from which a dense smoke arose, and from its position immediately to the right and a little in front of the church, being to windward, hid it entirely from view. So favourable an opportunity for storming the church did not escape the practiced eye of our veteran General.
The assembly was sounded and an order given, fix bayonets and advance at double, a manoeuvre so promptly executed and on the part of the enemy so unexpectedly undertaken that the troops were under the walls and effected an entrance almost as soon as the besieged became acquainted with the movement. The rebels were found stationed in the gallery still defending themselves, and having cut away the staircase, every attempt to dislodge them for awhile proved utterly fruitless, but on a sudden the church was in flames and on the part of the rebels all was lost. The unfortunate and misguided people were then to be seen dispersing in every direction, few escaped. One hundred and twenty were made prisoners, but the estimated loss in killed and wounded was great.
Contents:
Chicago: Beauclerk, "Fighting at St. Eustache, the Canadian Rebellion of 1837," Fighting at St. Eustache, the Canadian Rebellion of 1837, ed. D. B. (David Breakenridge), Read in Fighting at St. Eustache, the Canadian Rebellion of 1837 (Toronto: C.B. Robinson, 1896), Original Sources, accessed March 16, 2025, http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=5BV1TS59EKBVUKQ.
MLA: Beauclerk. "Fighting at St. Eustache, the Canadian Rebellion of 1837." Fighting at St. Eustache, the Canadian Rebellion of 1837, edited by D. B. (David Breakenridge), Read, in Fighting at St. Eustache, the Canadian Rebellion of 1837, Toronto, C.B. Robinson, 1896, Original Sources. 16 Mar. 2025. http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=5BV1TS59EKBVUKQ.
Harvard: Beauclerk, 'Fighting at St. Eustache, the Canadian Rebellion of 1837' in Fighting at St. Eustache, the Canadian Rebellion of 1837, ed. . cited in 1896, Fighting at St. Eustache, the Canadian Rebellion of 1837, C.B. Robinson, Toronto. Original Sources, retrieved 16 March 2025, from http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=5BV1TS59EKBVUKQ.
|