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The Battle of Saint-Charles took place on 25 November 1837 in Saint-Charles, Quebec. The confrontation opposed the army (sent by the government of Lower Canada) and the Patriotes. The battle resulted in a defeat for the Patriotes. (See Rebellions of 1837–38.)
Summary of the Battle
On the morning of 25 November 1837, two days after Francis Gore's defeat at the Battle of Saint-Denis and the retreat to Sorel, the troops of Colonel Wetherall (about 350 men) left Saint-Hilaire and marched on the camp at Saint-Charles, Manoir Debartzch and its surrounding entrenchments, south of the village. At the time, the camp was defended by some 100 men of the parish of Saint-Charles and others. As they approached, the soldiers exchanged gunfire with small groups of combatants.
Colonel Wetherall deployed his men some distance from the fortifications, then ordered them to charge. The fight was violent and unequal, as the defenders were no more than 60 or 80. It resulted in several casualties, especially among the Patriotes who could not prevent their barricades and the manor both being taken.
While retracing their steps to Montreal via Chambly, the troops had a skirmish on November 28 (Pointe-Olivier, St-Mathias), but the defeat of the Patriotes at Saint-Charles had potentially given the army complete control of the Richelieu region.
(See also Rebellions of 1837–38.)
