Association des Frères-Chasseurs | The Canadian Encyclopedia

Article

Association des Frères-Chasseurs

The Association des Frères-Chasseurs was a secret society that aimed to free Canada from British rule. It was founded by Patriote exiles following their defeat in 1837. The association took several cues from the Masons, including a variety of rituals, oaths, hand signs and passwords. Commanded by Dr. Robert Nelson, the association quickly spread throughout the American borderland and Lower Canada. The association played a major role in the second phase of the Canadian rebellion, planning and leading the failed invasion of Lower Canada in November 1838. The Frères-Chasseurs and Hunters’ Lodges were part of the same general association with similar aims, practices and rituals. While one was organized by American sympathizers, the other was organized by Lower Canadian Patriotes.
Robert Nelson (1794-1873)
Louis-Joseph Papineau, politician
During the Rebellions of 1837 Papineau lost control of events that he was instrumental in creating (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/C-11075).
Ludger Duvernay
Reminiscences of Canadian History, Ludger Duvernay. Founder of the St. Jean Baptist Society. Credit : Library and Archives Canada.\r\n

Background

In November 1837, following a political stalemate that had lasted for years, the more radical members of the Parti patriote rebelled. For decades, the Patriotes had attempted to reform the colonial political system, in order to make government more accountable to the elected assembly (see Responsible Government). Frustrated at having their demands constantly rejected (see 92 Resolutions), many no longer believed that reform could be achieved by peaceful means. Rebellion seemed to be their only option. On 23 November 1837, a detachment of British regulars marched on Saint-Denis, a small village on the south shore of Montréal, to arrest Patriote leaders. Lacking arms and experience, but well-positioned and organized, Dr. Wolfred Nelson and a force of 800 civilians defeated the British. This victory was short-lived, however. Two days later, Patriote forces were defeated at Saint-Charles and on December 14 at Saint-Eustache.

Battle of Saint-Eustache
The Patriotes who had taken refuge in the village church were smoked out and killed by the British soldiers in the Battle of Saint-Eustache (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/C-6032).

Following these defeats, several Patriotes, such as Ludger Duvernay, Robert Nelson, Edmund Bailey O’Callaghan and Louis-Joseph Papineau, sought refuge in the United States. They were divided on what to do next. While some moderates, such as Papineau, opposed an armed invasion of Canada without proper support from the Americans, Robert Nelson argued that an armed invasion — with or without American support — was the only option (see The Early American Republic and the 1837‒38 Canadian Rebellion).

The latter option won out, and Nelson was selected as the general of the Patriote army and the president of the future Lower Canadian republic. To organize an invasion of Canada, he founded a secret society: the Association des Frères-Chasseurs.

Founding

Typically, historians have maintained that the association was founded shortly after Robert Nelson’s failed invasion of Canada in February 1838. On 28 February, Nelson and Dr. Cyrille-Hector-Octave Côté led a force of roughly 300 men across the border from Vermont and distributed copies of a declaration of independence for Lower Canada. Signed by the president of the new republic, Robert Nelson, the document declared that “from this day forward, the People of Lower Canada are absolved from all allegiance to Great Britain, and ... the political connexion between that power and Lower Canada is now dissolved.”

However, the invasion was short-lived, as Nelson’s forces were pushed back by the loyalist militia. According to most historians, it was in the wake of this defeat that Nelson founded the secret society to organize Patriotes forces (and sympathizers) in the United States and Canada and to better prepare for a future invasion of both Upper Canada and Lower Canada.

Recently, historian Julien Mauduit has uncovered evidence suggesting that the secret society was founded months earlier, in December 1837. According to Mauduit, Côté, one of the society’s founders, had been in contact with Charles G. Bryant, an American supporter. In December 1837, Côté and Bryant invited Patriote leaders to a “private” meeting in Plattsburgh, New York. In a letter to Thomas Storrow Brown — a former leader of the Fils de la liberté society— Bryant mentioned that it was imperative that the Patriotes living in exile remain in communication. Patriote leaders, according to Bryant, agreed and added that an important meeting had been scheduled for 26 December to discuss these issues. To Mauduit, this meeting was undoubtedly when the secret society was born.

Membership and Oaths

Whether it was founded in December 1837 or following the failed invasion of February 1838, the secret society had one specific goal: to unite the Patriotes of Lower Canada, the reformers of Upper Canada (see also Rebellion in Upper Canada) and their American supporters in the fight against the British in North America. The ultimate aim was to push Britain out of North America, thereby creating two Canadian republics allied to the United States. To achieve this, the society would share intelligence, coordinate an invasion of Canada and other military activities along the border, and attempt to force a war between the United States and Britain.

At the top of the secret society sat Robert Nelson, the grand commander, who directed his army from his main lodge at Saint Albans, Vermont. Under him were the two “Grands aigles” (Grand Eagles): Édouard-Élisée Malihiot — who commanded the northern “army” from Montréal — and Charles G. Bryant — who commanded the southern “army” in the United States. Under the Grands aigles stood the Aigles (Eagles) tasked with organizing companies in their districts. The Castors (Beavers) acted as the captains of each company and below them were the Raquettes (Snowshoes), or corporals. Soldiers were called Chasseurs (Hunters).

The society took several cues from the Freemasons. According to Allan Greer, “the rituals were basically Masonic, with passwords and secret hand signs.” New recruits were also blindfolded and led to a dark room where they took a “blood-chilling oath.” Historian Oscar Kinchen described the ceremony: each swore “to observe the secret signs and mysteries of the society of Chasseurs — never to write, describe or make known in any way the things which shall be revealed to me by this lodge of Chasseurs.… All this I promise without reservation, and consenting to see my property destroyed and to have my throat cut to the bone.”

Expansion

Frères-Chasseurs leaders travelled from parish to parish recruiting members. As a result, the secret society grew rapidly in Lower Canada. By the end of summer 1838, there were 35 companies, including at Châteauguay, Trois-Rivières, Beauharnois, Longueuil, Boucherville, Varennes, Contrecoeur, Chambly, Saint-Charles, Saint-Denis, Brôme, Sutton, Stanstead, Nicolet, Saint-Hyacinthe, Pointe-aux-Trembles, Vaudreuil and Hemmingford. The majority and most successful ones were in Montréal and surrounding areas (the Richelieu and the Lac des Deux Montagnes regions). Estimates suggest that there were 3,000 Chasseurs in Montréal and roughly 10,000 in the surrounding region. Allan Greer argues that there was significant public pressure to join. For instance, Antoine Grégoire revealed that he joined because “all those who were not part of this association, their lives and their properties were in peril.” According to historian Gérard Filteau, the association’s success also owed much to Lord Durham who, in October 1838, argued that the colony ought to be given a British character. To many, this meant assimilation.

Lord Durham

The society was also popular in the United States. These chapters were known as Hunters’ Lodges. While Frères-Chasseurs companies were generally organized by Lower Canadians, the Hunters’ Lodges were organized by Americans. There were lodges all over the borderland, including grand lodges in Cleveland (Ohio), Rochester (New York), Buffalo (New York), Saint Albans (Vermont) and Detroit (Michigan). Though many American hunters sought the same thing as Lower Canadian chasseurs to put an end to British presence on North American soil — others joined out of a deep frustration with the lack of political and economic opportunities in the United States.

The Frères-Chasseurs were undoubtedly popular in Lower Canada and the United States. However, putting a number on this support is very difficult, with estimates ranging from 15,000 to 200,000. Though most agree that 200,000 is too high a number (with 40,000 remaining the most acceptable estimate), the fact remains that the society’s recruitment program was so successful that it forced the American government to send a military force to the border to prevent it from causing problems along the border and endanger the peace that existed between the United States and Great Britain.

Military Activities

The association’s main military campaign was the failed invasion of Canada in November 1838. The attack plan was complex. While the Frères-Chasseurs and the Hunters’ Lodges invaded Lower and Upper Canada, Frères-Chasseurs organizations in Lower Canada would rise up, disarm loyalists, simultaneously attack centres including Sorel, Chambly, La Prairie, Beauharnois, Montréal and Québec, and block communications between Lower and Upper Canada. Robert Nelson would then march on Montréal.

A few elements led to its failure. First, Nelson was unable to maintain discipline amongst his men. Second, the Frères-Chasseurswere ill-equipped with weapons and ammunition. On 4 November, a company was even arrested following a failed attempt to steal weapons and ammunition from the Mohawk people of Kahnawake.

Keeping such a large association (and its goals) a secret was also nearly impossible. According to Allan Greer, the curé of Napierville, for instance, was aware that Lower Canadians were travelling to Champlain, New York, to take the oath. By November 1838, local authorities were aware that the association was planning something. Finally, the American government’s decision to uphold neutral relations between the United States and Great Britain limited American support for the cause.

On the night of 3–4 November 1838, the plan was put into effect with negative results. Many of the regional associations failed to rise up and disarm loyalist forces, and in Montréal many leaders were arrested. And though Nelson’s forces arrived at Napierville and established “a substantial armed camp” that he maintained for roughly a week, the rebels were short on weapons and manpower, and were ill-disciplined. They were defeated at Lacolle (7 November), Odelltown (9 November), and Beauharnois (10 November). Following these crushing defeats, the rebel forces dispersed, and on 10 November the British entered a deserted Napierville. The hunters’ invasion of Upper Canada also ended in failure: they were defeated on 16 November at the Battle of Windmill and a few weeks later, on 4 December, at the Battle of Windsor.

Site of the Battle of the Windmill, Prescott.
View of the Windmill at Prescott, Upper Canada, and the adjacent houses as it appeared after the action, Artist: Henry Francis Ainslie, April, 1839.
 Site of the Battle of the Windmill, Prescott
 Buildings Shelled during the Battle of the Windmill, Prescott

Though this battle was not the end of the Frères-Chasseurs, the association would never again threaten British authority in Canada. Many of its leaders in Lower Canada were arrested and executed — such as François-Marie-Thomas Chevalier De Lorimier, who played an important role recruiting Frères-Chasseurs and planning the invasion of Lower Canada in November 1838 — while others went into further exile. Immediately following the failed invasion, however, some still hoped that they could somehow force a war between the United States and Britain. In late 1838, Nelson even met with his followers to discuss their next steps. Very little would come of this. Though there was some hope that the Aroostook War would spark war between the two nations, this was not the case. The United States and Britain were committed to peace, which they settled in 1842 with the Webster-Ashburton Treaty, spelling the end of the Frères-Chasseurs.

Further Reading