Upper Canada Rebellion Story: Mackenzie's Great Plan

By Shawna Audet

December 1837

"You're a coward, Robert!" shouted Todd. His blue eyes flashed with mild irritation as he spoke.Todd took a handful of straw from the barn floor and threw it at his friend.

"Well, you're crazy," replied Robert calmly as he fed his horses.

"Everyone knows that Mackenzie is right!" argued Todd.

Robert turned towards Todd and dumped a pitchfork full of hay over his head. Todd and Robert had been best friends for all of their seventeen years. They were as close as brothers. Robert's dark features and tall lean body were a stark contrast to Todd's fair hair and small frame. Robert was used to Todd's feisty temper. The fight was on.

"Mackenzie says it's time to rebel!" shouted Todd as he sprang forward and knocked Robert off balance. Robert hit the floor but rolled away before Todd could get a good grip on him. He spun around, knocking Todd's legs out from under him. Robert had the weight and size advantage. In moments, he had Todd pinned.

"Now, Todd," said Robert slowly, as he kept up the pressure on Todd's pinned arms, "I know that you think that Mackenzie can do no wrong, but I just want to have more facts before I go risking my neck. How do we know that there are enough men who are willing to support Mackenzie? You are talking about fighting the British army!"

"Mackenzie says that there won't be many troops in York right now because they are all off fighting the Lower Canadians!" said Todd excitedly. "That's why we have to move now! We can ride right into York and get control of the ammunition. We can capture Sir Francis Bond Head too."

"What kind of rebel soldiers are we?" mocked Robert. "I don't even have a gun and your father won't let you borrow the hunting rifle."

"A lot of men don't have guns," protested Todd. "I'm bringing a club. Why don't you bring your pitchfork?"

"You know I'm no coward," said Robert, giving Todd a playful punch, "but I can't go off getting killed in a rebellion. What would happen to mother and the girls? Since father died, I run the farm."

Todd knew that what Robert said was true. Sensing that the fight had left his friend, Robert released his hold and stood up. Todd sat up and shook some of the straw from his coat. He set his jaw firmly as an idea came into focus in his mind. "There are some things that a man has to be willing to fight for. It's wrong that we can't be closer neighbours because of the crown land reserve that lies between our farms. It is wrong that the family compact controls the government!" Robert threw one last pitchfork full of hay out for the horses. "Make a decision, Robert" said Todd.

Robert took a long look at his best friend. "I can't have you going off and getting yourself killed," he told him. "I'll go with you."

******

The next morning, Robert woke early. It was a crisp December day and the sky threatened snow. Robert tackled a few of the morning chores while Todd got the horses ready. When it was time to leave, Robert's mother and sisters came out to see them off. Mrs. Livingston hugged both boys and gave them some food for their lunch and supper.

"I'll pray for your safe return," Mrs. Livingston told them. She was trying to be strong,, but a single tear betrayed her emotion. She turned away quickly and strode back to the house. Robert felt a twinge of guilt about running off to play the rebel when there was so much work to do around the farm. He took one last look at his mother's retreating figure and then turned his horse to follow Todd.

The boys discussed the battle plans as they rode. "So how is this rebellion going to work?" Robert asked Todd.

"All of the rebels are going to meet at Montgomery's tavern tonight and then we are going to take York. Another group is going to take Hamilton," Todd told him.

"How many rebels are going to be at Montgomery's?" asked Robert.

"There should be over 4000 of us. We were supposed to march on December ninth but now we have to meet on the fourth. I just heard about the change yesterday. That's why I rushed over in the dark to tell you."

Robert thought about this for a while, "But how will Mackenzie tell 5000 men that the date is changed?"

Todd did not like this line of reasoning. "He just will, Robert," Todd said firmly. "I heard about it and so did you. The others will hear too."

The boys talked more and the hours passed by quickly. They were on Yonge Street and nearing the tavern before the sun went down completely.

The tavern was not as big as Robert had expected. The boys took care of their horses and then went inside the crowded bar. "I was expecting more people," said Robert.

"They'll get here," said Todd. "You have to believe in Mackenzie."

"Well said, lad," said a large man. "I'm William Nelson."

"We're pleased to meet you," said Todd. "We don't need 5000 men."

"That's right," William agreed. "When Mackenzie gets back from his scouting mission, we'll finalize our battle plan."

A mean-spirited man, named Gilbert, joined the conversation. "I'm going to kill every one of those family compact snobs," he said grimly.

At that moment, a man pushed his way inside and shouted, "Colonel Moodie is coming! He must be on his way to report to the governor."

"Let's get him!" cried Gilbert.

"Who is Colonel Moodie?" asked Robert. "He is a veteran officer and respected gentleman," William told him.

"He's the enemy!" shouted Gilbert. Robert and Todd followed Gilbert and William as they pushed their way to the front of the crowd.

Robert tried to understand the scene before him. Several men were on horseback. Robert assumed that the distinguished looking gentleman in the lead was Colonel Moodie. Rebels surrounded the riders. William grabbed hold of the bridle of Moodie's horse.

Colonel Moodie did not show any sign of fear. "Who are you to stop me on the Queen's Highway?" he shouted at the group.

"You'll find out," said Gilbert in a menacing tone. Foolishly, Moodie raised his gun. To his horror, Robert saw that the gun was pointed at Todd.

"Move!" Robert shouted. At the same time, he leapt towards Todd and pushed him to the ground. Moodie's gun cracked and the shell fired harmlessly into the space where Todd had been standing.

"Fire!" shouted Gilbert.

In the confusion, it was hard to tell what was happening. Some of the rebels must have thought that Gilbert had the authority to give the order to fire. Or maybe some of them were just cold-blooded like Gilbert. For whatever reason, some men chose to obey. Three shots pierced the night. Colonel Moodie's body jerked twice and he fell onto his horse's neck.

"You are our prisoners!" shouted Gilbert. He stepped forward and yanked one of Moodie's men out of his saddle. Gilbert made a grab for another one of Moodie's men, but missed. The man galloped off into night, no doubt on his way to town to raise the alarm.

Robert moved to help Moodie who was slumped in his saddle. Todd appeared at Robert's side and the two of them pulled Moodie to the ground as gently as they could.

"Let's get him to a bed in Montgomery's," said Robert.

"Rebels!" Colonel gasped in pain and anger.

Robert and Todd helped Moodie into small a room in the tavern. Unfortunately there was no bed. The boys had to lay the Colonel on the floor. His pain gradually increased. Robert used an old cloth to try to cover the bullet holes, but he couldn't stem the flow of blood.

"This isn't what I thought the rebellion would be like," said Robert softly.

"I'm not complaining, but this rebellion is a monster with no head."

"Everything will be fine once Mackenzie gets here," Todd told him." The boys kept on talking in an effort to drown out Moodie's moans. Robert kept pressure on the blood soaked rag. After three-quarters of an hour, they were relieved from their duty and they went back to the bar.

Soon, the tavern door opened and a new group of rebels entered. The man in the lead moved into the room with purpose, his eyes blazing with conviction. He removed his hat and revealed shocking red hair.

"It's Mackenzie!" said Todd in awe and reverence.

Robert was a little surprised. In his mind, he had pictured a tall imposing man. Mackenzie was just five feet.

"Samuel Lount!" called Mackenzie in a loud voice. Lount, Mackenzie's top advisor, came to his side. They met just feet from where Robert and Todd were standing.

"Colonel Moodie was shot," Samuel told Mackenzie, "he just died."

Mackenzie was visibly upset but he soon regained his composure. "Now that blood has been spilled, we're in for it," he said grimly. "We have nothing left but to advance."

"Advance, sir?" said Samuel doubtfully. "We need more men."

Mackenzie looked around the room critically. "If you hadn't ordered the men to come early, we would have had our 5000 men gathered here on Thursday, December 7. Instead, it is Monday and we have only a few men, all weary after traveling thirty or forty miles through the mud."

Mackenzie and Lount went into another room in the tavern to continue their discussion. In the end, Lount prevailed and the battle was scheduled for Tuesday. Many of the men talked and drank late into the night.

*****

Robert got up early. He rubbed his eyes and became aware of the sticky tavern floor and the stale smell of spilled liquor. All morning, he watched new troops of rebels arriving at the tavern.

At about 11:00 a.m., Mackenzie came striding into the room. His red hair was wild and he looked like he hadn't slept. "Get ready to march." Soon, Mackenzie was outside ordering the men into groups. "Men with guns will form the first line," he shouted.

Robert and Todd were placed in one of the groups for men without guns. Their commander was a level headed man named James Harrison. Harrison understood his job and he soon had his men lined up. When they were finally on the march, Robert felt a sickening dread. He thought that their army looked more like a rag tag group of rebels.

"This is it," said Todd. Robert noticed that Todd's club was shaking. The man beside Todd said, "I heard that the Tories are going to fire their guns from their windows. We'll all be shot before we get to city hall."

"Don't talk like that," snapped Todd. "Why are you even here?"

"I'm just telling you what I heard," said the man sullenly.

"Well don't say things like that!" demanded Todd.

Robert rolled his eyes and Todd snapped, "I know, I know, you don't have to say it! This isn't what you thought the rebellion would be like."

Robert smiled. Todd had voiced his thoughts exactly.

Harrison put a stop to the negative talk. "Quiet in the ranks!"

The rebels reached Gallows Hill in the early afternoon. The men now reformed into two lines for their final march on the town. The sun was going down when the rebels reached the edge of the city.Robert was dismayed to see that the Tories had set up a line of defense.

Sheriff Jarvis gave the order and twenty-seven rifles fired. The air filled with smoke as the rebels returned fire. To Robert's surprise and dismay, he saw most of the first line of rebels fall to the ground. The second line of men stepped up and fired and then they fell down as well.

"We're dropping like flies!" screamed the glum man. "Look they're all dead!"

Robert looked at Todd in horror. A pitchfork and a club were no match for guns.

"Save yourselves!" shrieked the glum man. "This is suicide!"

With that, the glum man dropped his club and ran off into the woods.

"I'm going too!" said a man beside Robert.

In moments, the rebels were scattering in every direction. A bullet whizzed by, just missing Robert's head.

"It's hopeless, Todd," shouted Robert. "Everyone is running away."

Todd knew that Robert was right. He did not want to risk his friend's life for a battle that was lost already. "Okay, let's go," he said.

Robert and Todd took to the woods and began to run in the direction of the tavern. Mackenzie rode around them yelling, "Come back! It isn't over!The first line of men are not dead!"

"We saw them fall!" screamed the glum man at Mackenzie.

"They just dropped to the ground reload and so that the men behind them could fire," pleaded Mackenzie. "Come back and fight!"

"Craziness!" shouted the glum man.

Todd's face was white. "Mackenzie wouldn't lie to us," he said.

"Do you want to go back?" Robert asked him, dreading his answer. Todd looked from Mackenzie to the woods full of fleeing men.

"It's over, Robert," he said.

"Let's get the horses and go home."

"Are you okay?" Robert asked him. "You admired Mackenzie."

Todd thought for a moment. "Our efforts today will call attention to our cause. I won't believe that we came here and fought for nothing."

"That's a good way to look at it," Robert told him.

Todd smiled slowly and added, "This isn't what I thought the rebellion would be like."