C. A. M. Globensky, Esq

My dear Sir,

I now proceed to fulfiîl my promise by giving you an account of what I witnessed and experienced during the rébellion of the winter of 1837 and 38. Also to answer

(i) Aujourd'hui, 1SS2, il en est le président.

certain questions propounded by irou conceming yonr late father's connection wîih said troubles.

For some months previous to the actual breaking eut of said rébellion, we were constantly harassed by rumouis and repK)rts of what was likely to take place of such a nature as to give us very serious alarm for the safety of our property and even of our lives.

Upon the actual rising taking place, the Loyalists in this part of the country which comprehended ail the British in this vicinlty and a great number of the French population^ left their homes and proceeded to Montréal ; and amongst the number were ail the members of my family, except my mother and one of my sisters then about 1 2 years of âge. On rcaching the city most ot the able bodied men amongst us decided to offer our services to the government, with the idea of protecting ourselves from the persécutions and humiliations that the rebels exercised against the loyal subjects, and we requested your father, late Maximilien Globensky, to take command of the company when formed ; which he unhesitatingly consented to do.

Our services were accepted. The company as then organised consisted of about 90 men, Irom 50 or 60 being French-Canadians.

I understand your late father's memory has been aspersed for having takcn the command of said company, fighting against those of his origine who were in arms against the government. No accusation co ild be more unjust The body of French-Canadians with

capt Globensky at their head, were the true patriots of that tinie, as subséquent events hâve fully proved. Had ^he însurgents succeeded, it could hâve had no other x~esult than annexation to the United-States, and before sirriving at that consummation, a very large number of lives must hâve been sacrifîced on both sides. Tt is true a few fell at St Eustache, others paid the penalty the law awards to the crime of treason, but had they succeeded in their enterprise, how many thousands of our young men would hâve deluged with their blood the soil of Virginia and Maryland in that great civil war which lately devastated the United-States ? How many millions of our money would hâve gone to defray the débit incurrcd in that struggle ? W'here wo ild then *^ive been french nationality, french laws, and french language? Ail would hâve dissappeared as they hâve donc in what was formerly the french state of the neighbouring republic, where nothing now remains to show who were French but the names they bear. Yes, I repeat most emphatically, that the late capt. Globensky and his hand* full of French-Canadians loyalists were the Irue patriots of 1837, the true friends of the French inhabitants of Lower-Canada.

You désire to be informed if I was cogniznnt of his

liaving actcd harshiy or cruelly tow.irds those whom the

fortune of war placed in his power. I unhesatingly

answer No ; but to my knowledge the reverse was fre-

quently the case, of which I may cito a few examples.

Our Company was stationed at St. Martin about two

weeks previous to the battle of St Eustache. Four days before said battle I was ordered with another volunteer to proceed during the night to within a mile of said village, to arrest and bring into camp a person named Mr. M. Seers. As I considered it a somewhat dangerous duty and the arms with which we were served not veiy suitable for the purpose, I asked for pistols with which my captain furnished me, accompanied with most encrgetic and earnest caution not use them if it could possibly be avoided.

On the day of the battle our company was ordered to take the direct and most dangerous road to attain St. Eustache, while the main body took a différent and longer route, and to hait at Seers on the highland near the river bank opi osite the said village of St. Eustache, and there to await further orders. In approaching said position we pa^sed through a wood in which a party of the Insurgents were concealed. The enemy's scouts falling back as we advanced, carried full information of the smalness of our numbers to their leaders, who supposed we were ail they had to contend with. Their plan was to attack us in front from the village, while the concealed party would take us in rear, when they woùld hâve a good prospect of exterminât ing the whole party. Their plans were soon frustrated by the advent of the main body, who immediately commenced firing on the party crossing the ice or the river to attack us. It sent them to the right-about and they gave us no further trouble. Our friends in the woods hearing that something more than

they bargained for was going on, emerged from the wood

^amying their arms and making a ** détour " lo pass out of

Tange of our muskets, running rapidly in the direction of

the village. We receiving no orders to attack them a part

of the Company felt hurt at their escaping, and asked to

be allowed to fire. Capt. Globensky peremptorily for-

bade it, at which a retired office r of the regular force, who

was acting with us as a supemumerary, had a short but

wann altercation with Capt. Globensky on the subject,

and tuming to the men, asked any who wished to hâve a

shot at the rebels to foUow him ; a portion of the men did

so, and fired, giving évident pain and dissatisfaction to

our Captain. It gave us doubts as to the loyalty of

Capt G obcnsky, but I aftenvards abcertaincd that his

motive was simply a désire to spare the lives of his fellow-

countrymen, he being perfcctly aware that before they

could reach the village, it would be too late for them to

take part in the engagement ; letting them go on conse-

qnently their escape could do no harm.

The next morning one of the most important leaders of the insurgents was brought in to St Eustache, ha ing been arrested, not by the Loyal ists, but (as T was informed) by men of his own party, to whom he had fled for refuge and concealment He being a gentleman with whom I was acquainted, I immediately went to the guardroom to see him. I found him in a very distressing statc, his arms having been so tightly tied bchind his back by his captors as seriously to interfère with respiration and circulation, and being of corpulent habit of body, I saw that relief

could not corne too soon. Being only a private, I did not like to interfère without permission. I applied to Capt. Globensky, who at once gave me permission to do whatever I found necessary for his comfort consistant with his safe keeping.

I hope thèse examples (I could easily increase the number) will prove sufficient to set at rest any doubts regarding Captain Globensk/s humanity.

Regarding the death of Dr Chénier, I did not wilness it, but I understood that he was shot while attempting to escape. The cause which he attempted to support having become hopeless, it was his duty to use any means still in his power to save his life. It is a poor tribute to his memory to represent him as having committed an act which would hâve been simply suicide as he is reprosented to hâve rushed out of the church sword in hands, in face of the troops. I heard no such story at the time. The report to which you allude, of his heart having been paraded through the village on the point of a bayonet, is an act which would not hâve been for a moment tolerated by the men composing the force at that time in St-Eustache ; it is most certainly untrue. I saw and recognized the body of Dr Chénier at Addison's hôtel about 20 hours after his death, it was decently laid out and covered. I do not bcleive any such inhuman acts as you mention, were committed or would havc been tolerated.

Regarding Girod's flight from St-Eustache to St-Benoit, ail I can say regarding it, is what I often heard narrated

by my mother, and which I am certain is stricrly true. Ourhouse is situated on the direct road from St-£ustache to St-Benoit, about three miles distant from the latter village, it had been taken possession of by the insurgcnts, almost iromediately after our flight, and fortified with an armed party constantly stationed at it. On the evening of the battle, Girod arrived at our house apparently in great trépidation, he said he was going to St-Benoit for reinfoTcements. My mother answered that it seemed late for that and suggested flight as the more probable cause of his apparition. His visit was short and he left in great haste, and never returned, so far as my mother knew.

Permit me to take this opportunity of publicly acknowledging the modération and generosity of those against whom I then bore arms.

After the expiration of the unfortunate events herein alluded to, our personal animosities were buried, and for the forty years I hâve since passed amongst them, I hâve been uniformly treated in the most kind, generous and libéral manner. AU our old fears and jealousies having disappeared, perfect confidence assumed their place. We hâve since lived in peace and amity to a degree I could hâve expected from no other i)eople but French-Canadians. They are truly a noble people.

The above narration is partly taken from memory, being at the time in my twenty first year of âge, and the events being of a nature to make a lasling impression.

I hâve no doubt of their correctness. Part is also taken frora a memoir which I committed to paper a few weeks

after they happened.

William Inglis.

St-Benoit, 27th October 1877.