Picturesque Quebec : a sequel to Quebec past and present Part 14

They were exchanged in April, 1814, against British officers, prisoners of war in the States.

In connection with General Scott's captivity at Quebec, Lossing relates a little incident, which redounds to his credit:--

"When the prisoners were about to sail from Quebec, a party came on board the vessel, mustered the captives and commenced separating from the rest those who, by their accent, were found to be Irishmen. These they intended to send to England for trial as traitors in a frigate lying near, in accordance with the doctrine that a British subject cannot expatriate himself. Scott, who was below, hearing a tumult on deck, went up. He was soon informed of the cause, and at once entered a vehement protest against the proceedings. He commanded his soldiers to be absolutely silent, that their accent might not betray them. He was repeatedly ordered to go below, and as repeatedly refused. The soldiers obeyed him. Twenty-three had been already detected as Irishmen, but not another one became a victim. The twenty-three were taken on board the frigate in irons. Scott boldly a.s.sured them that if the British Government dared to injure a hair of their head, his own Government would fully avenge the outrage. He at the same time as boldly defied the menacing officers, and comforted the manacled prisoners in every way. Scott was exchanged in January, 1813, and at once sent a full report of this affair to the Secretary of War. He hastened to Was.h.i.+ngton in person, and pressed the subject upon the attention of Congress. Fortunately, the President never had occasion to exercise this retaliation, the British Government having abstained from carrying out in practice, in the case of the American prisoners, its cherished doctrine of perpetual allegiance.

"The final result of Scott's humane and courageous conduct in this matter was very gratifying to himself. Almost three years after the event at Quebec, he was greeted by loud huzzahs as he was pa.s.sing a wharf on the East River side of New York city. It came from a group of Irishmen, who had just landed from an emigrant s.h.i.+p. There were twenty-one out of the twenty-three prisoners for whom he had cared so tenderly. They had just returned from a long confinement in English prisons. They recognized their benefactor, and, says Scott's biographer, "nearly crushed him by their warm-hearted embraces."

(Lossing's Field Book, p. 409.)

Some years back a discussion took place in the columns of the _Morning Chronicle_, of Quebec, as to the names of the volunteers of Bell's Cavalry who had escorted the U. S. prisoners of war in 1812 from Beauport to Quebec. The following extract from our diary throws some light on this subject:

_THE LAST SURVIVORS OF BELL'S CAVALRY IN 1812._

"Among more than one strange meeting, which that welcome haven of the wearied wayfarer, the way-side inn, has brought me, in course of many peregrinations through the length and breadth of the Province of Quebec, none can I recall less antic.i.p.ated, than the one which happened to me this 22nd March, 1881. I reached that night at 10.30, direct from the Kennebec Railway, the parlor of Monsieur Lessard's Temperance Hotel at St. Joseph, Beauce. (Such the euphonious name the Licence Act awards to these fallacious emblems of comfort or good cheer). After a lengthy interview, I next day parted, possibly for ever, from an old and withered _sabreur_ of 1812, the last survivor, I think, of that das.h.i.+ng volunteer cavalry corps, raised by Capt. the Hon. Matthew Bell at Quebec in 1812.

I had the rare luck of having from the very lips of this octogenarian, an account of the share he had in conducting as one of the cavalry detachment detailed to escort Colonel Winfield Scott and brother officers from Beauport, where they were confined as prisoners on _parole_, to the district prison in St. Stanislas street (the Morrin College) from whence the "big" Colonel and his comrades were taken and lodged in Colonel Coffin's house in St.

Louis street.

How different the careers! Scott in time became the hero of the war with Mexico, and the das.h.i.+ng cavalry corporal who escorted him, aged now 89, after 30 years tenure of office, still holds the position of village Postmaster, in the towns.h.i.+p of Broughton, Beauce. Among the incidents of which my ancient acquaintance seems proud, is that of his having played at cards with General Scott and his captive comrades.

"Charles Hy. J. Hall," (such his clear and well written autograph authenticating the memorandum I drew up for him) a roystering _militaire_ and _bon vivant_, in our good city, seventy years ago, presents in his person a rare instance of mental and physical faculties well preserved until the end--memory, sight, mind, appet.i.te, all unimpaired.

I was so interested when he informed me that he had been one of Col. Bell's cavalry, (I felt convinced that, of all the members of this das.h.i.+ng corps, he was the last survivor,) that I questioned him very closely, and cross-examined him on such matters of detail, which an eye-witness alone could know. Mr. Hall, the son of the late Wm. Hall, of Fabrique street, Quebec, is connected with several of our most noted families. His father came to Canada about 1783, from the adjoining provinces,--a United Empire Loyalist, and became wealthy. Subjoined will be found a short statement taken down as it fell from the lips of my new acquaintance, and authenticated by his signature. Mr. Chas. Hall is Postmaster of Broughton, County of Beauce."--(_Diary of J. M.

LeMoine_.)

"I am now 89 years of age. My father, the late Wm. Hall, a well- to-do Quebecer, whose partner in business I subsequently was, lived at what I should call No. 1 Fabrique street (the house lately vacated by Behan Bros). I was born in a house in St. John street. I loved to roam--have travelled the world over and received some hard knocks in my day. As to that part of my career, which seems particularly to interest you--the war of 1812--I regret I cannot tell you as much as you wish to know. In 1812 I joined Capt. the Hon. Matthew Bell's Volunteer Cavalry; we numbered between 90 to 100 men. Our uniform was blue coat, red collar,--silver braid; arms, a sabre and holster pistols. As volunteers every man furnished his own horse, suits, etc. My horse, which cost me thirty guineas, I refused sixty for from Col.

McNeil; our mounts were of Canadian, American, and English pedigree.

We were commanded by Col. Bell; Hon Wm. Sheppard (late of Woodfield), was our Major, Mr. Hale, our Captain, Wm. Henderson, our Lieutenant. I cannot say, in reply to your question, whether the late Hammond Gowan was our Cornet. Our house stood next to that where General Brock had lived, in Fabrique street. I was, in 1812, one of the escort who took General Winfield Scott, Col.

Winder,----from Beauport; I remember well the big Col. Scott, as I played cards with the American officers who were, on their parole, quartered in Judge DeBonne's house, on the site of which the east wing of the Lunatic Asylum has since been erected. I formed part of the escort who conducted the American officers to the Quebec jail, in St. Stanislas street, previous to their being located in a St. Louis street house. During the war, under Sir George Prevost, I formed, in March, part of the detachment of cavalry, sent with a company of the 103rd, to the parish of St. Joseph, Beauce, to arrest some militia men who had refused to enlist. The ice-bridge before Quebec, started a few minutes after our last horse had crossed.

CHAS. HY. J. HALL

St. Joseph, Beauce, 23rd March, 1881.

N B.--I can read yet without gla.s.ses; I reckon I am the last survivor of Bell's Cavalry.--_Morning Chronicle_, 28th _April_, 1881.

QUEBEC TROOP OF LIGHT CAVALRY.

_Extract from a Troop Order Book of Captain Bell's Troop, dated Quebec, 1st March, 1813._

NOTES RESPECTING THE FORMATION OF THE TROOP.

[Furnished by Lt.-Col. Turnbull, Q.O.C.H.]

This Troop was first formed by Capt. Bell, under an order of H. E.

Sir G. Prevost, dated 22nd April, 1812, as a part of 3rd Battalion, Quebec Militia.

22nd May, 1812.--William Sheppard and Hammond Gowan are appointed Sergeants. Mr. Hale attached to the Troop as Cornet.

27th June.--Intelligence of the declaration of war reached Quebec.

The gentlemen composing the Troop, to the number of 34, volunteered their services, to act when and where the Government thought proper.

27th July.--The Troop declared independent of the 3rd Battalion, Quebec Militia. In case of alarm, to a.s.semble on their private parade, in front of the Castle, by order of General Glasgow.

October.--Mr. Hale appointed Lieutenant, and Mr. Sheppard, Cornet, dated 24th April last.

19th December.--The Troop to be held in readiness to march on active service early in the spring.

15th February, 1813.--Orders received to add 25 dismounted men to the Troop.

MUSTER ROLL.

QUEBEC LIGHT CAVALRY, BELL'S TROOP.

1st March, 1813.

_Officers._ Captain (Commandant) Matthew Bell.

Lieutenant Edward Hale, Cornet W. G Sheppard, Quarter-Master Benjamin Racy, (from the Ste. Marie, Nouvelle Beauce Battalion), attached to the Troop.

_N.C. Officers_ Sergeant Hammond Gowan, Corporal Charles Hall, " Wm. Henderson, " Wm. Sheppard, " Alex. Gowan, Acting " G. Wilson, " James Heath, Acting Trumpeter Thos. Pearson.

_Privates_ On the full establishment, furnis.h.i.+ng horse, clothing, &c.:-- *William Turner, John Stansfield, *James Capper, *Wm. Thomas, James McCallum, Robert Page, *John Patterson, John Connolly, John White, William Price, Peter Burnet, William Hoogs, John Dempster, *James d.i.c.k, J. G. Clapham, *John Campbell, James Henderson, George Chapman, Andrew Moire, George Cossar, *James Black, James Oliver, *John McQuay, William Henderson, John Racy, Archibald Campbell, *Amos Priest, William Moore, James George, James McCallum, *David Robertson, Webb Robinson, John McCallum, James Whyte, Daniel Buckley, Frank Bell.

_Dismounted Party._ Age. Ft. In.

James Winton . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 5 10 *Frederick Petry . . . . . . . . . . 19 5 10 *George Burns . . . . . . . . . . . 19 5 10 Henry Connolly . . . . . . . . . . . 16 5 10 *Francis Martineau . . . . . . . . . . . ..

Daniel Baker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

James Stewart . . . . . . . . . . . 19 5 9 Frederick Wyse . . . . . . . . . . . 27 5 9 John Menzies . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 5 9 David Flynn . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 5 8-1/2 *William Graves . . . . . . . . . . . 21 5 8 *Richard Burns. . . . . . . . . . . . 22 5 8 *James Loan . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 5 7-1/2 Alexander Russell . . . . . . . . . . .. . ..

*William Parker . . . . . . . . . . . .. . ..

*Charles Gethings . . . . . . . . . . 19 5 7 *Thomas Burney. . . . . . . . . . . . 21 5 7 John Chillas . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 5 7 George C. Ross. . . . . . . . . . . . 17 5 8 *G.o.dfroi Langlois . . . . . . . . . . 20 5 10 George Patterson. . . . . . . . . . . .. . ..

Peter Legget. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . ..

J. Dion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . ..

David Denny . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . ..

Wm. Hobb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . ..

[Note: * Reside in Upper Town.]

Troop Order, 1st March.--Foot drills on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the Riding House at 12 o'clock till further orders.

8th March.--The Captain commanding desires that the following articles be provided as soon as possible by each person in the Troop, to enable him to comply with the General Orders of the Commander-in-Chief, dated 19th December last, viz: Helmet; blue cloth forage cap; black silk handkerchief or stock; dress jacket, undress jacket (plain), plain linen jacket (stable); a pair of brown linen trowsers; a pair of grey cloth overalls; a pair of grey cloth or stockinett pantaloons; a pair of half boots and spurs; two flannel s.h.i.+rts; two pair flannel drawers; three pairs of stockings; one pair of shoes; one razor; one knife; one brush; one curriecomb, brush and mane comb; one linen haversack; one linen nose-bag; one linen bag for necessaries.

The dismounted men may make their undress jacket of strong brown linen if they prefer it.

Quarter-Master Racy will shew patterns and give any information that may be required. The Captain wishes the different articles to be good and strong, but not of an expensive kind.