Battle of Lacolle (1838)

The Battle of Lacolle (1838) was a minor engagement that occurred during the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1838. It took place near Lacolle, Lower Canada (present-day Quebec, Canada), on November 6, 1838.

Following the defeat of the Patriote rebellion in 1837, many rebels fled to the United States. In 1838, they reorganized and launched a second attempt to overthrow British rule in Lower Canada. One of the key Patriot leaders was Robert Nelson. Nelson planned to invade Lower Canada from the United States and establish a republic.

On November 3, 1838, Nelson and a force of approximately 600 Patriotes crossed the border into Lower Canada at Lacolle. They occupied the village and proclaimed the Republic of Lower Canada. The Patriots then proceeded to fortify a stone church and a nearby mill.

The British authorities responded quickly. A force of British regulars, volunteers, and militia, commanded by Major General Robert Ellice, was dispatched to Lacolle. The British force numbered roughly 400 men.

On November 6, the British forces attacked the Patriote positions. The battle was short and relatively limited in scale. The Patriots, poorly armed and lacking sufficient ammunition, were quickly overwhelmed. The British forces bombarded the stone church and mill, forcing the Patriotes to surrender or flee back into the United States.

Robert Nelson escaped back across the border, and the Patriote occupation of Lacolle was effectively ended. The Battle of Lacolle (1838) marked a significant defeat for the Patriotes and contributed to the collapse of the second rebellion. Following the battle, British authorities cracked down on Patriote sympathizers, arresting many and further solidifying British control over Lower Canada. The rebellions of 1837 and 1838 ultimately led to the Act of Union in 1840, which united Upper and Lower Canada into the Province of Canada.