Draft:British North America Revolution of 1844

• Comment: There are only two sources listed, and one is a book from 1915. I'm inclined to believe this might be a real event, but I don't see much evidence and the name of this draft doesn't return any answers on Google. Pbritti (talk) 06:15, 16 April 2024 (UTC)

---

The British North America Revolution of 1844 was a revolt in modern-day Canada that lasted from May 7 to May 13 1844. The revolution, led by 32 year old James Scott and 51 year old Jacques LaPlante, claimed the lives of 57 men. This small revolution was part of a major British coverup and details were only released recently after Canada and the United Kingdom declassified documents from 1844 and 1845. This revolt was covered up to prevent any more uprisings or dissent in British North America.

James Scott

James Scott was born in York in 1808 to Henry and Hannah Scott. Scott's father was killed in the War of 1812 and 4 years later, his mother died from smallpox. Now an orphan, James Scott grew up spiteful and angry with the British who he believed had failed him and his family. He was inspired by the American Revolution and believed that British North America (Canada) should also be free from Britain. He worked as a shipbuilder from 1827 until 1841 when he quit to start an anti-British movement. His speaking abilities enabled him to recruit dozens and eventually hundreds of men to take up arms against Britain.

Jacques LaPlante

Jacques LaPlante was born in April 1793 in the city of Montreal. Jacques became a carpenter in 1810 but with the beginning of the War of 1812, LaPlante was sent to Niagara. Here he was underfed and was subjected to terrible physical labour 12-14 hours a day (according to his journal). He believed that the British were evil and was eventually kicked out of the army in early 1813. He believed that an armed revolution was the only way to gain freedom for British North America. He was able to recruit people to his revolt easily in Montreal. Many Quebecois people, did not consider themselves British and wanted to be free from English rule.

The Peterborough Union

In early 1844, James Scott and Jacques LaPlante met in Peterborough to join forces. In total their armies numbered 350 (Scott had 200, LaPlante had 150). There they planned to launch a sudden, surprise attack on British forces in York, starting a huge rebellion and freeing British North America from Britain. However, very quickly it became obvious that James Scott and Jacques LaPlante did not agree on many major issues. The two men began to distrust each other and both secretly made plans with their armies to take over once they gained the independence of British North America.

Battle of North York

a British loyalist living in Peterborough warned British Lieutenant Carter Douglas in York of the planned revolution. Douglas left York with 500 men. On May 4 1844, revolutionary forces camped out on two hills about 25 miles Northeast of York, Carter Douglas camped with his soldiers near the base of the hills. Many of Douglas' men thought this was a mistake but Douglas did not believe that Scott and LaPlante would actually attack. However, they would prove him wrong. On the morning of May 7 1844, Scott and LaPlante launched 31 cannonballs from 7 cannons they had stolen from a crashed British ship, then their men opened fire on the redcoats. Douglas reacted quickly and sent his far better trained soldiers up the hills. By 10:30am the British manage to overrun LaPlante's hill and he and his soldiers fled. Now believing they are surrounded, Scott's men also escaped. 38 men (25 revolutionaries and 13 British) were killed in the 2 hour battle. Scott and LaPlante escaped to another high ground just under 2 miles North. Carter Douglas followed and camped on a hill under half a mile from LaPlante and Scott.

Internal Division

With many revolutionary soldiers now believing victory to be impossible, about 130 men abandon Scott and LaPlante, who discuss what their next move. However, they should disagreed entirely. Scott believed that they could outmaneuver the British and capture York without resistance, then defeat the returning British. LaPlante however, sees that the revolutionary armies are defeated and proposed a retreat to Montreal where they could regroup and regrow their armies. With both side unwilling to give an inch, LaPlante stepped outside. In a moment of anger, Scott took out his pistol and shot at LaPlante who narrowly escaped back to his men's tents. Then, he marched back, now with 45 of his armed men and faced off against Scott and his men. They quickly shot at each other and 9 people were killed including James Scott.

Battle of Lake Scugog

Now, Jacques LaPlante gathers his 42 remaining men and 23 of Scott's men who choose to join him and begin marching back to Quebec. However, the British managed to catch up to them at the Southern end of Lake Scugog. LaPlante's army suddenly found themselves outnumbered 7:1 and began retreating but quickly found themselves trapped between the Lake and the British. Luckily, some of LaPlante's men found 2 wooden row boats which they stole and paddled around 1 mile across the Lake, where they continued retreating. 31 of LaPlante's men were captured and 7 were killed. The British only suffered 10 casualties (3 dead, 7 wounded).

Battle of North Scugog

After landing on the West side of Lake Scugog, Jacques LaPlante and his men find themselves without any equipment or supplies. They are forced to sleep outside in the pouring rain and forage for food. They become exhausted, cold and hungry and moral plummets. On May 13, they find that the British are camped on the North end of the lake, only 2 miles ahead of them, they attempt to go around to avoid the British but are spotted. In the following battle, 4 of LaPlantes men are killed and with no hope remaining, the remnants of a once strong revolution surrender to the British. Jacques LaPlante is sent to Montreal to await a trial, but his crimes are downplayed by the British as to not make it seem like there was any revolutionary ideas or sentiment in British North America.

Aftermath

Jacques LaPlante was eventually found guilty of conspiracy to commit treason and was sentenced to 10 years in jail. He died in jail on August 18 1850. In the years following, Britain attempted to cover up that any revolt had ever occurred as they believed it could inspire more people to revolt. Debriefs from captured revolutionary soldiers, British soldiers and Jacques LaPlante lets British officials piece together what happened at each battle. However, British officials classified the document. Finally in 2012, Canada received the classified files about the revolution and declassified them on April 13 2014.