USA > Vermont > Franklin County > St Albans > A centennial history of St. Albans, Vermont > Part 8
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With the exception of a few survivors of the American Revolution, none of our militia had seen active service since the war of 1812-14, and the greater part of them had never fired a gun, but from 1837 to 1839, they had an opportunity to display their valor and patriotism on the frontier. At this time, the volcano, which had slumbered for many years among the French in lower Canada. broke out in an eruption, since known as
THE CANADIAN REBELLION.
The habitants, having been taught from their cradles, that the province in which they had their homes, once belonged to their ancestors in fair France, and that the English, in their proverbial love of grab, had gobbled it up. This fact had been stereotyped upon their minds, and each gen- eration was constantly reminded of it in history. and in song. So in 1837, they were ripe for re- bellion. They were incited by the more intelli-
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gent members of Parliament to rebel against the rule of Great Britain, and to establish a French Republic.
The leader of the rebels, called radicals in par- liament, was the famous Louis I. Papineau. With this project in view, a mass convention was held at St. Charles, October, 1837, and it appeared that several counties were united against the govern- ment. During the same season, similar meetings were held in other places, including a large one in Montreal. Among the agitators were the eminent surgeon, Dr. Robert Nelson, and the distinguished physician, Dr. Wolfred Nelson, also Dr. Cyrel Cote, and the able advocate, Paul Demarra, for whom a reward of $4,000 was offered in Decem- ber, 1837, for the two former, and $400 for the latter. Dr. Robert Nelson had issued a procla- mation, signing himself president of Lower Canada. These radicals accordingly organized, for the pur- pose of creating a republic, and after a number of skirmishes in various places, a great battle trans- pired at St. Charles, in which the radicals were de- feated, and fled in all directions, and St. Albans had her share. During a battle at Caldwell's Manor, now Clarenceville, Drs. Nelson and Cote were arrested, and sent to Windsor, but were hon- orably discharged by the court, the following spring.
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All through this rebellion, the sympathies of the people dwelling in the frontier towns, were with these Canadian patriots or radicals, which created much jealousy, and irritated the loyalists or tories. to such a degree, they threatened to retaliate, by seizing our citizens and burning our villages, in fact, they did burn several houses and barns near the lines, in return for sheltering the rebels, then residing in the states, who crossed over for the same purpose, and then returned to this side for protection.
Consequently a large meeting was held here. December 11, 1837, to take into consideration the propriety of arming the citizens of this place, and to defend us from threatened invasion from the British Regulars, whom we feared would follow the rebels this side the lines.
The Hon. Asa Aldis addressed it with much spirit. With these views, a committee was ap- pointed to wait on the governor of Vermont, and request a part of the arms in the state arsenal, which being denied, augmented their sympathy for the French Patriots, and created a bitter feeling against the governor of our state, and our citizens did not hesitate to express their sentiments on the subject as follows: " That while the officers of our government have been vigilant to protect them, the Canadian government has allowed arms to be placed in the hands of the tories to threaten us."
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After protesting to our government against such action. Gov. Jenneson, of Vermont, issued a proc- lamation, Dec. 13, 1837, for the preservation of order on the frontier, and the whole militia of the state was ordered out. Gens. Scott, Brady, and Wool were directed by the general government to prevent all violation of law and order. And the rebels were informed that if they fought in Can- ada, and run over this side, our troops would be ordered to fire upon them. Seeing at once their situation between two fires, the British in front, and the United States in their rear, they laid down their arms. The eruption was smothered, and for a time the volcano slumbered.
During this excitement, most of our citizens un- connected with any military organization, were or- dered to the frontier. Our business men respond- ed, and the professions were as fully represented as the mechanics and day laborers, all of whom slept night after night on the bare ground, or in log hovels, taking their turns guarding the frontier, thus protecting the loyalists of Canada, as well as our own homes on this side.
THE SECOND CANADIAN REBELLION.
On January Ist, 1838, the Canadian tories re- ciprocated our favors of 1837, by sending the
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steamer, Carroline, over Niagara Falls, with from twenty to thirty Americans aboard.
The government construing this as evidence of future trouble, directed Gen. Nason to call out the militia, and during the summer, the government sent a company of United States Regulars to the frontier, who landed at St. Albans Bay, and marched through the Kellogg road, to Swanton Falls, under the command of Lieutenant Pitkin. Stephen, the worthy son of our old townsman, T. H. Campbell, was also a lieutenant in this com- pany. The commanding officer was Maj. Church- ell, with head-quarters in St. Albans, who rode daily to Swanton, to review the troops. He after- wards became inspector-general of the Union army during our rebellion. Up to the spring of 1839, several buildings were burned in our frontier towns by the tories. Our governor proposed to enforce the neutrality laws in this controversy. While the feeling may have been very bitter on both sides, yet there was more humor connected with it in both countries, than with any previous rebellion, or since.
Without doubt, our Gen. Nason was the most con- spicuous character connected with it, of whom are related many amusing anecdotes. The following are a few of many. Those who remember Gen.
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Nason, will agree with the writer, that he adhered strictly to military etiquette on all occasions. Having given a dinner to Gen. Scott, and the governor of Vermont, at the hotel, corner of Lake and Main Streets, during the Canadian rebellion, the company being seated, he cried out in a com- manding tone, "Advance, Capt. John G. Saxe, and make an attack on that turkey." At a later stage of the entertainment, he called upon the
company thus, "Attention ! Put to flight that pie and pudding. Charge on those decanters. Pass
them double quick down the lines." When he went on to the frontier to confer with some British officers, our dashing Col. Tarlton, of his staff, feel- ing somewhat nettled that an officer of inferior rank should have been appointed to counsel with his general, remarked to him thus, "General, we are about to meet some British officers at Missisco Bay. As they are great sticklers for military eti- quette, their custom is never to speak first to a superior officer, and as they have chosen a mere colonel to meet you, we must give them to under- stand that we are equally posted in such matters, but if there should be anything about military usage you do not understand, refer them to me." So when the interview took place, Col. Jones, of the British army, was presented to General John Nason, commander-in-chief of the frontier militia,
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of Vermont, who after bowing and shaking hands. asked Gen. Nason what he would have to drink ? "Thank you, Colonel, I refer you to my Major Bradley."
After many indignation meetings and humorous episodes, after several buildings were burned both sides the line, and preparations made for a great battle by the remains of the rebel army, under the command of Doctors Nelson and Cote. near Cald- well's Manor, but who, discovering a large force of British in their rear, drew back to the line, and surrendered to Gen. John E. Wool, of the U. S. Army. From this time the excitement began to subside. Gen. Nason, however, with a military force, continued along the line at Highgate to guard against hostile acts on both sides, which in a short time proved so successful, the troops were discharged.
Many of the Canadian patriots, however. were not permitted to return to their homes, but were ordered by Lord Durham, Governor-General of Canada, to be transported to Bermuda, without any trial, which fact reaching England, he was censured by both the House of Commons, and the House of Lords, for an act contrary to what the Magna Charta concedes to every subject. Con- sequently he resigned, returned to England, and died of mortification. The banished patriots, after
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several years, were pardoned, and permitted to re- turn to their homes, while Papineau, the leader, re-entered parliament in 1848. The query saries, will an attempt be made again to establish a re- public in Canada, or is annexation " their manifest destiny ?"
OUR LATER MILITIA.
A few years after the Canadian rebellion, our legislature abolished the state militia (1844.) As we march down the lane of history, we meet our present well-appearing company, commanded by its efficient officers. But the rising generation date our modern military from 1856, the birth of the first Ransom Guards, the members of which little realized how soon they would be called into the service of their country, for they were the first that responded to the call to relieve Fortress Mon- roe, at the dawn of our great civil contest, and it is well to keep this fact before the rising genera- tion. They were followed by others here, until every home was represented in our state, in this great struggle to preserve their country. As with our town, our county, and our state, so was it throughout all the North. Those who remained at home, and those who are just entering upon the stage of life, little realize the patriotic sentiments, and the heroic devotion that actuated these men
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to offer themselves as holocausts upon the altar of their country. But we do know the tragic fate so many met. Some died amid the blood and car- nage of the battle field, some of starvation within prison walls, some returned with dimmed sight. and severed limbs, scarred and battered all o'er. And when the strife was ended, and the stars and bars again waved in majesty over every state, from the green plumes of Aroostook to the Golden Gate, the stars brighter, and the bars stronger, nearly every home was in mourning for the loss of a father, husband, lover, son, or brother. The desolate hearth, "the vacant seat." "the shadow on the wall," all told the story. Their voices are hushed, but their memory lives.
Some sleep in the dark shadow of the lone mountain, and wild flowers are the sylvan syllables that spell their epitaphs in words of balm. Some sleep amid the sea-shells, and the coral, and old oceans angry surges, sing their mournful requiem. Some sleep on the battle-plain, by the moonlit aisles of Gettysburgh, enriched by the blood of martyrs, kept ever green by the tears from mem- ories urn. Some sleep in their own village grave yard, beneath the roses, which affection has placed over them, and the birds carol forth, faithful sold- iers ! at rest ! at rest !
As we approach the end of this corridor of
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thought, it is meet and proper to pause a few mo- ments in " yon city of silence," around which cluster the memories of our past, growing brighter and brighter with age. And as we wander among those grassy mounds, reflecting on the hopes cen- tered there, we recall the little buds, that withered at the dawn of life, the youth of the springtime, primal manhood, and they who left us at the sun- set ; and are deeply impressed with the verity of the passage, "passing away," is written on the world, and all it contains.
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