Quebec 1837-1839
The Patriotes Rebellion
Source: Au Pied-du-Courant, edited by Georges Aubin. Comeau & Nadeau, Montreal, 2000.
Translated: for marxists.org by Mitch Abidor.
Charles Hindenlang was a rarity among the Patriots: a Frenchman, born in Paris of Swiss Protestant parents. He had moved to the United States to earn his fortunes and, while there, had learned of the fight of the Canadians against the British. He joined the forces of Robert Nelson in Odelltown on November 3, 1838, and after their defeat led a small band on their escape route. Exhausted, he turned himself in, little expecting that his trial would result in his being sentenced to death. He was among the Patriots hung on February 15, 1839. He was described by the Quebécois historian L-O David as “less serious and less Christian than de Lorimier.” The following letter was written to a friend, Baron Fratelin.
My dear Baron:
In a few hours, everything will have been said for me in this world. We just separated, I received your last kiss as a brother and a friend, and I still have the desire to talk. So let’s talk.
The way those who think they are the masters of this country act is an amusing thing to see. I was just told that the officers on service in this prison, finding us seated at table, made much of my language. This doesn’t surprise me, for it’s a battlefield on which the English prefer to fall rather than to retreat from. Nevertheless, one has to be fair to them; the loyal volunteers have a great advantage over them: to the same value they join a first class talent in narration. As proof I cite the magnificent story of the battle of Odelltown by Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor. You have to have the nerve of a volunteer to dare to lie so agreeably. They have the reputation of being braggarts in that regiment: Mr. Taylor deserves a rank higher than that of Colonel. It’s amusing to hear him tell how his brother soldiers fulfilled their duty; this dear colonel had a beautiful dream, and the brilliant charges of his men didn’t wear out their shoes. We left Napierville with 5-600 men, and as it’s probable that he is gifted with double vision, he counted 900-1100. Only a few men bravely left their stone houses, and I certify that only McAllister exposed himself among all that army of officers.; he and five of his men learned to their expense that there were also men among the Canadians. It’s truly shameful for a man to dare to brag at so cheap a cost.
In the final analysis, the mass of volunteers is nothing but a bunch of starvelings who cry; “Long live the Queen!” because they have to eat.
Show yourselves, Canadians, and these beings will return to their holes.
I'd be curious to see on the tail of all these rascals a few hundred men with courage, as we know them and as there are so many of in this country. Oh, let them once have at them and everything will be fine!
I can’t write; my thoughts multiply and don’t line up. All I can say is that tomorrow we must serve as a spectacle for those rogues and that I feel like laughing in their faces.
I die content and I take with me the sweet satisfaction of having done what I could. They take me to serve as an example, they say, and I wish it; let every foreigner bring as much good will with them and those who hang will be hung, each in his turn. It’s only right!
Baron, if you ever lay your hands on a red coat make him follow the same road, so that he can bring me news of you. But remember that I am a general, and I need something good, at least a colonel. Less than that, I send him back to you.
For having said so many silly things I ‘m tired of talking. It’s midnight and at nine o'clock I have to go, adieu! I know that you needed a serious letter, but no one can be made to do the impossible. I can’t. The evening was too stormy.
Tear up all this and let’s hear no more about it. I awake and start over with the hope of doing better.
Ch Hindenlang