SIR JOHN COLBORNE'S, DESPATCHES.
[vitoat THE SUPPLEMENT TO TIIE LONDON GAZETTE—PUBLISHED ON MONDAY, DEC. 3.] Ertraet if a Despatch ream Lieutenant General Sir J,ihn D.C.B., to Lord Glenelg, (Wed Head. Quarters, Montreal, November 5, 1838. The information which Lord Durham has communicated to your Lordship, well have prepared you for the movement of the rebels, which has now taken place in all the counties of the Richelieu, and in the section of this district from the left bank of that river to Beauharnois and the south of St. Lawrence. The habitant are collecting in large bodies at St. Ours, St. Doi,, St. Charles, Acadie, and Chateauguay and Beauharnois.
The general movements of the rebels commenced on the 3d. They made an attack on the Indians of the village of Cothanawaga on Sunday the 4th instant, who sallied out of the church where they were assembled for divine service, repulsed the rebels from the village, and captured seventy prisoner*.
I am preparing to march against the rm be's in .Acailie. Oar tr io en; y
La Prairie, Chatilbly, and St. John's.
Despatch free Sir John Colborne, deed Head Quarters, Odell 71w%, Sligniory of
La Cale, Nev. 11,1833.
My Lord—With reference to my despatch of the 5th instant, I have the
honour to acquaint you that the habitant between the Yamaska and Richelieu rivers quitted their villages on the night of the 3d, to take up arms against her Majesty's Government, assembled at St. Ours, Sc. Charles, and St. Michel. Those from the westward of the Richelieu, from Contrecceur, and Vercheres, at Belceil. The greater part of the rebels, however, of the Richelieu, on finding that the depots of arms and ammunition which had been promised them, were not at the points of rendezvous ready to be delivered to them, returned to their homes on the 4th and 5th instant.
The habitat's generally of Beaultarnoia, La Prairie, and L'Acadie, also were in arms on the night of the 3d, and attacked all the loyal subjects residing in their neighbourhood, and either drove them from their homes or made them prisoners. At Beauharnoia, Chateauguay, and Napierviile, the rebels assembled in great numbers; about four thousand of them were concentrated at Nopierville, under the command of Dr. Robert Nelson, Dr. Cote, and Gagnon, between the 3d and 6th instant. Under these circumstances, I ordered the corps under the immediate command of Major.General Sir James Macdonnel and Major-General Clitherow to march to L'Acadie and St. John's, with the intention of attacking Napierville on the 9th; but the unfavoltrable weather and the very bad state of the roads prevented the troops from reaching the vicinity of Napierville till late in the evening, and they did not enter the town till the morning of the 10th. The rebels, bearing of the approach of the Queen's troops, dispersed during the night of the 9th ; and the following morning, when the rebels first established therm:dyes at Napierville, they endeavoured to open a communication with the Uoited States by Rouse's Point, with a view of bringing in supplies of arms and ammunition from their friends in the States of New York and Vermont; but the brave, persevering, and loyal N'olunteers of La Colic, Odell Town, Ileminingford, and Sherrington, who, from the first moment of the revolt, had posted themselves on the frontier, attacked four hen. dreff of them on the march from La Coile to Rouse's Point, two miles from the frontier line, defeated them, and took one field-piece. three hundred stand of arms, and drove them across the frontier. On the 9th, being reinforced from Sherrington. the Volunteers took possession of the church of Odell Town, and defended their post with the gre:dest bravery against an attack of nine hundred of the rebels on the march from Napierville, under Dr. Nelson, and compelled them to retire with great loss. I had directed Colonel Taylor (employed on particular service) to proceed to the frontier to inform the Volunteers cfrf the march of the Queen's troops. This officer arrived at Odell Town about half an hour before the Volunteers were attacked, and was of the greaten use to them in directing the defence of their position. As soon as I received information of the revolt in Beituharnois, I despatched Major Phillpotta, R. E., with orders to Major Carmichael particular service) to pass Lake St. Francis from Point au Hamlet, near Lancaster, to the South bank of the St. Lawrence, with a detachment of the Seventy. first Regirnent, on the route from Upper Canada, and too battalions of the Glengarry Militia, under Colonels Mactionnel and Fraser, and to march on Beauharnois. This movement was promptly carried into effect by the exertions of Major Phillpotte, Major Carmichael, and the colonels iif the Glengarry Militia, on the 10th instant. Four or five men of the detachment of the Seventy, first Regiment were killed and wounded in driving the rebels t.i3m Beauharnois. I shall take an early opportunity of conveying to your Loidahip a more correct account of these occurrences, and of forwarding the reports of the officers commanding the Volunteers posted on the frontier. Their loss has not been severe, but several valuable officers and loyal stiliiects have fallen ; and I entreat that their families may be provided for by her Majesty's Government. On every Occasion since the commencement of this revolt, the British population have come forward with the greatest zeal and activity. No doubt now exiats that the leaders of this revolt have been actively employed in organizing this second attempt to establish a republic in Canada since June; and that a secret o ith, which has been so extensively administered to the habitant, was taken by a laege portion of the disaffected in July and August; but it is certain that a large portion of the habitans who appealed in the ranks of the rebels were forced to join them, or have their propel ties destroyed. Several hundred prisoners have been taken, and among them a French officer, who had a command at Napierville. I enclose two proclamations issued by Dr. Robert Nelson.
I have, &c. J. COLBORNE.
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