1891-92. ] CORRESPONDENCE OF LIEUT.-COL. COFFIN. 291 
of the rebels had purchased two brass three-pounders in the States and attempted by 
the assistance of some of their American recruits to bring them into the Province. 
The Militia however of Missisquoi Bay who had made application for arms to the 
Commander of the Forces, fortunately received them about an hour before intelligence 
reached them of the advance of the rebel detachment. With a zeal and promptitude 
altogether unexpected and which reflects the greatest honour upon them, they abso- 
lutely broke open the arm chests and ammunition kegs, rushed quite “ promiscuously” 
to the spot where the rebels were—attacked them—killed five—wounded more—took 
some prisoners and captured the guns—bravo for the Yankees on our side of the lines ! 
‘*Poor Weir was buried yesterday with military honours, the whole population 
(British) having turned out to attend him to the place of interment. I never witnessed 
such a sight before. I suppose there were 3000 men under arms. Considering that 
they have been only three weeks under drill you would be astonished at the soldier-like 
appearance of some of the volunteer corps. It must have been an imposing and 
alarming spectacle to Jean Baptiste. I cannot write to you about poor Weir—the 
details of his fate are too horrible for your eye. I will, if I can find time to-morrow, 
give Dr. Sampson some account of it and other things. You have undoubtedly heard 
that the second expedition to St. Denis reached St. Hyacinthe and returned without 
having encountered any opposition. Poor Weir’s remains were found at St. Denis. 
A proclamation will appear this morning offering £500 reward for the apprehension of 
his murderers. 
“‘ Martial law is declared. When we have time we shall give the rebels upon the 
Ottawa some proof of its efficacy. They are safe in a bag and can keep till wanted.” 
“The rebels upon the Ottawa” had not to wait very long. On the 
13th Dec., Sir John Colborne marched against them with about 2000 
regulars and militia, crossed the Ottawa on the ice, and directed his 
course towards the village of St. Eustache, where about 1000 patriots 
had assembled. Mr. Coffin accompanied the troops in the capacity of 
interpreter to Col. Maitland, and he was therefore an eye-witness of the 
battle of St. Eustache. His vivid description of the fight, was written 
to his young cousin Miss Grant, It is one of the most interesting letters 
in the packet, but unhappily is too long to be quoted in its entirety. 
“You must know that as I was acting interpreter to Col. Maitland, I was with the lead- 
ing files and had consequently the best opportunity of seeing everything, and perhaps 
the most brilliant sight I ever beheld was the first opening of our artillery upon the rebels 
as we advanced upon St. Eustache. We ascended the bank of the river ; about two 
miles below the village we suddenly heard and saw the smoke of musketry in the 
woods on the opposite shore. This we knew arose from Globenski’s corps of volunteers 
which had been detached through the bush in that direction to intercept any fugitives 
from St. Eustache across the ice. The rebels had anticipated them, and at a sharp 
bend in the river we suddenly came in sight of two columns of patriots, say about 
three hundred men each, crossing the river under the impression (as it ultimately 
proved) that the main body of the troops was advancing in that direction. Sir John 
was at that moment with the advance, he instantly ordered up the guns, at a moment 
the ranks opened out right and left and two or three pieces rattled up, unlimbered, and 
opened like light upon the gentlemen in wz/tz who were slowly wending their serpen- 
