Français  Contact Us  Help  Search  Canada Site Volume 1 (1000–1754) Volume 2 (1755-1871) Volume 3 (1872–2000) CHAPTER 1 The Conquest CHAPTER 2 The Revolt of Pontiac and the American Invasion CHAPTER 3 The Coveted Pacific Coast CHAPTER 4 The Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 CHAPTER 5 Demobilization A Time For Defence Cuts The American Threat The Great Fortifications Huge Expenses! The Great Lakes - Neutral Territory Annual Review of the Upper Canadian Militia The Militia of Lower Canada Demobilization of the French-Canadian Militia Political Confrontation and Secret Societies The 1837 Lower Canada Rebellion Saint-Denis and Saint-Charles Saint-Eustache The Horrors of War The Upper Canada Rebellion New Preparations Start of the 1838 Rebellions Napierville The Invasion of Upper Canada The Legacy of the Rebellions The Aroostook War Canadian Politics and British Withdrawal Reorganization of the Militia The 1855 Volunteers In the Maritimes CHAPTER 6 The Royal Navy, Ruler of the Seas CHAPTER 7 A Decade of Turbulence APPENDIX A The British Armed Forces APPENDIX B Daily Life of Soldiers and Officers APPENDIX C Uniforms and Arms APPENDIX D Reference      CHAPTER 5 Demobilization           Saint-Denis and Saint-Charles ( 2 pages )           1 2      British Crush Opposition at Saint-Charles                Battle of St. Charles, 25 November 1837. (Click image to enlarge) But the triumph of the Patriotes was to be short-lived.  On November 25 Lieutenant-Colonel Wetherall's column of 420 soldiers from the 1st and 66th regiments, with two field artillery pieces, along with a detachment from the Royal Montreal Cavalry, reached Saint-Charles.  Approximately 200 to 250 Patriotes, led by Thomas Storrow Brown, were in position.  Although warned of Gore's defeat, Wetherall decided to attack immediately, surprising the Patriotes with his boldness.  After two hours of firing, Wetherall ordered the three companies of the 1st Regiment to charge with fixed bayonets.  The Patriotes, who did not have bayonets on their guns, were soon at a disadvantage.  That is when an incident of disastrous consequences occurred: 50 of them, pretending to surrender in order to get a better shot at the soldiers, killed a sergeant and wounded several men.  This treacherous gesture enraged their adversaries, who bayoneted large numbers of Patriotes and then sacked and burned the village.  At the Battle of Saint-Charles the English had only three dead and 18 wounded, whereas the Patriotes had about 150 dead. This victory returned the initiative to the British troops, and two days later Wetherall's column scattered a corps of approximately 300 Patriotes with only a few shots.  On December 2 a new column commanded by Gore, consisting of detachments from the 24th, 32nd, 66th and 83rd regiments, with three cannon, had no difficulty entering Saint-Denis and burning part of the village.  To the southeast of Montreal the rebellion had been truly quelled.           Additional Images           Click image to enlarge      1 2   Last Updated: 2004-06-20 Important Notices