with greater opposition. The company at Lacolle had been reinforced in
the meantime by several companies of loyalist militia from Hemmingford.
As the rebels appeared the loyalist militia attacked them; and after a
brisk skirmish, which lasted from twenty to twenty-five minutes, drove
them from the field. Without further ado the rebels fled across the
border, leaving behind them eleven dead and a number of prisoners, as
well as a six-pounder gun, a large number of muskets of the type used
in the United States army, a keg of powder, a quantity of
ball-cartridge, and a great many pikes. Of the provincial troops two
were killed and one was severely wounded.

The defeat of Cote and his men at Lacolle meant that Nelson's line of
communications with his base on the American frontier was cut. At the
same time he received word that Sir John Colborne was advancing on
Napierville from Laprairie with a strong force of regulars and
volunteers. Under these circumstances he determined to fall back on
Odelltown, just north of the border. He had with him about a thousand
men, eight hundred of whom were armed with muskets. {123} He arrived
at Odelltown on the morning of November 9, to find it occupied by about
two hundred loyal militia, under the command of the inspecting
field-officer of the district, Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor. He had no
difficulty in driving in the loyalist outposts; but the village itself
proved a harder nut to crack. Taylor had concentrated his little force
at the Methodist church, and he controlled the road leading to it by
means of the six-pounder which had been taken from the rebels three
days before at Lacolle. The insurgents extended through the fields to
the right and left, and opened a vigorous fire on the church from
behind some barns; but many of the men seem to have kept out of range.
'The greater part of the Canadians kept out of shot,' wrote Hindenlang;
'threw themselves on their knees, with their faces buried in the snow,
praying to God, and remaining as motionless as if they were so many
saints, hewn in stone. Many remained in that posture as long as the
fighting lasted.' The truth appears to be that many of Nelson's men
had been intimidated into joining the rebel force. The engagement
lasted in all about two hours and a half. The defenders of the church
made several successful sallies; and just when the {124} rebels were
beginning to lose heart, a company of loyalists from across the
Rich