Memorials to the Battle of the Short Hills in Niagara, 1838. As a result of the rebellion 14 participants were transported to Van Diemen's Land. The incription on the red signpost, below, reads as follows: THE BATTLE OF THE SHORT HILLS, THE REBELLION IN UPPER CANADA, 1838 FAILING TO SEIZE POWER BY FORCE IN TORONTO ON DECEMBER 5, 1837, WILLIAM LYON MCKENZIE WAS LED TO THE UNITED STATES BY SAMUEL CHANDLER, A WAGON MAKER FROM ST. JOHN'S. ON JUNE 12, 1838, A "PATRIOT ARMY" OF SOME 29 ARMED AMERICANS AND UPPER CANADIANS, INCLUDING SAMUEL CHANDLER, LEFT GRAND ISLAND IN THE UNITED STATES TO INVADE CANADA. EARLY ON JUNE 21, 1838, THE "PATRIOT ARMY", NOW ABOUT 50 MEN, RUSHED OSTERHOUT'S INN ON THIS SITE WHERE TEN QUEEN'S LANCERS WERE POSTED TO KEEP THE PEACE IN ST. JOHN'S AND THE SHORT HILLS. THE LANCERS WERE CAPTURED, BUT LATER RELEASED UNHARMED. CHANDLER AND OTHER RING LEADERS WERE HUNTED DOWN AND TRIED FOR TREASON IN NIAGARA (NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE). JAMES MOREAU WAS HANGED; THE OTHERS WERE SENTENCED TO VAN DIEMEN'S LAND (TASMANIA), THE BRITISH EMPIRE'S PENAL COLONY THEN. THIS INCIDENT WAS ONE AMONGST MANY THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY LEAD TOWARDS THE PEACEFUL ESTABLISHMENT OF RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT IN THE LATE 1840'S. THIS PLAQUE ERECTED BY THE ST. JOHN'S CENTRE INC., 1988. The writing in capital letters refers to the red signpost memorial.           Read Samuel Snow's narrative, edited by Cassandra Pybus. Images courtesy of Cassandra Pybus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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