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Havîng read a certain article published in the Opinion Publique of Montréal on the I4th February last entitled : " Evénements de 1837 et 1838 " and purporting to be the récital of a person named Payriard, I assert : That
- he river was fuUy frozen over, as the ice was strong
enough to carry over ail Her Majesty’s troops, horses and guns, and to allow the Rebels to cross from behind the Church to the opposite side, and return when fîred upon. No troops of any kind crossed on Porteous Bridge and as to the story that the stringers (lambourdes) had been eut, I cannot form an opinion as we did not examine thera.
As regards the statement that sixty patriots had killed ten of the cavalry, I beg to inform you that it is an unqualified lie, as no rebels were seen except those on the river and those coming out of the church. With the exception of one soldier killed before the church and two or three artillerymen slightly wounded, no casualties occurred among either the regulars or volunteers.
Again with référence to the statement that the rebels had repulsed the troops seven times, it is the first and only time I hâve read or heard of such an occurrence.
The troops in fact surrounded the church and square in front from the time of their arrivai until the close ot the affray, keeping the rebels in the church as in a rat trap.
In conclusion, I may add that his explanation of the way in which the church was set on fire is by our havîng fired red hot shot upon it, is a most glaring falsehood,
