Confrontation at Montgomery's Tavern: Encyclopedia II - Confrontation at Montgomery's Tavern - Prelude

Confrontation at Montgomery's Tavern - Prelude

When the Lower Canada Rebellion broke out in the Fall of 1837, Sir Francis Bond Head sent the British troops stationed in York to help suppress it. With the regular troops gone, William Lyon Mackenzie and his followers seized a Toronto armoury and organized an armed march down Yonge Street, beginning at Montgomery's Tavern on December 4, 1837.

Colonel Robert Moodie attempted lead a force of loyalists through the rebel roadblock to warn Governor Bond Head in Toronto. Moodie fired his pistol, apparently in an attempt to clear the way. A number of the rebels returned fire, killing him.

On the same day, December 5, Mackenzie's approximately 500 rebels marched upon York's city hall in an effort to seize the arms and ammunition that were stored there. They were met by a truce party, to whom Mackenzie explained the rebels' demands.

Later that afternoon, Mackenzie led his troops farther down Yonge Street towards the city, where their advance was stopped by a party of 27 loyalist volunteers. The front rank of Mackenzie's men fired a volley then dropped to the ground to let the next rank fire over their heads. Those behind, thinking the entire front rank had been shot dead, fled in panic, losing a number of dead and wounded.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Prelude", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki