Reminiscences of a Canadian Pioneer for the last Fifty Years: An AutobiographyThompson, Samuel
History
Reminiscences of a Canadian Pioneer for the last Fifty Years: An Autobiography
Thompson, Samuel
Frontier and pioneer life -- Ontario; Thompson, Samuel, 1810-1886; Toronto (Ont.) -- Biography; Toronto (Ont.) -- History
there. Being told where it was said to be, he turned and went
away. Immediately afterwards, the first detachment of the rebel
army came in sight, consisting of some fifteen or twenty men,
who drew up on the lawn in front of the house. Presently, at the
word of command they wheeled round and went away in search of
the dead rebel. Next came three or four men (loyalists) hurrying
down the road, who said that there were five hundred rebels
behind them. Then was heard the report of fire arms, and anon
more armed men showed themselves along the brow of Gallows Hill,
and took up ground near the present residence of Mr. Hooper.
About eleven o'clock, another detachment appeared, headed by a
man on a small white horse, almost a pony, who turned out to be
the commander-in-chief, Mackenzie himself. He wore a great coat
buttoned up to the chin, and presented the appearance of being
stuffed. In talking among themselves, the men intimated that he
had on a great many coats, as if to make himself bullet proof.
To enable the man on the white pony to enter the lawn, his men
wrenched off the fence boards; he entered the house without
knocking, took possession of the sitting room where Mrs. and
Miss Howard and her brother were sitting, and ordered dinner to
be got ready for fifty men. Utterly astonished at such a demand,
Mrs. Howard said she could do nothing of the kind. After abusing
Mr. Howard for some time--who had incurred his dislike by
refusing him special privileges at the Post Office--Mackenzie
said Howard had held his office long enough, and that it was
time somebody else had it. Mrs. Howard at length referred him to
the servant in the kitchen; which hint he took, and went to see
about dinner himself. There happened to be a large iron
sugar-kettle, in which was boiling a sheep killed by dogs
shortly before. This they emptied, and refilled with beef from a
barrel in the cellar. A baking of bread just made was also
confiscated, and cut up by a tall thin man, named Eckhardt, from
Markham. While these preparations were going on, other men were
busy in the tool house mending their arms, which consisted of
all sorts of weapons, from chisels and gouges fixed on poles, to
hatchets, knives and guns of all descriptions. About two o'clock
there was a regular stampede, and the family were left quite
alone, much to their relief; with the exception of a young
Highland Scotchman mounting guard. He must have been a recent
arrival from the old country, as he wore the blue jacket and
trowsers of the sea-faring men of the western isles. Mrs. Howard
seeing all the rest had left, went out to speak to him, saying
she regretted to see so fine a young Scotchman turning rebel
against his Queen. His answer was, "Country first, Queen next."
He told her that it was the flag of truce which had called his
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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