Monday, December 4, 1837

It was the first day of the battle of Toronto. The Church bells were alarmed all night. People were in panic. Only a few kilometers away William Lyon Mackenzie was gathering an army of rebels at Montgomery Tavern. The rebels were armed with many weapons. Just before midnight Younge Street was full with the sounds of hooves.

John Powell fired cannon balls and killed Anthony Anderson a one of the few of Mackenzie’s trained and experienced leader. He was chased by rebels and hid under a log. Luckily he made it back and told how Mackenzie and a few armed rebels were coming for Toronto. Meanwhile a retired army colonel, Colonel Moodie who lived North of Montgomery Tavern saw Mackenzie and the rebels, so he tried to go and inform the governor. But when he took of with three people and was stopped by the rebels he yelled at them and got shot however one of his companion managed to escape, get to Toronto City and tell the governor.

The reason Mackenzie and the rebels attacked Toronto is because they wanted to capture the governor, and seize the parliament building. They wanted to do this because they thought people should have more rights to control and be part of the government.

Tuesday, December 5, 1837

The alarm grew in the city. There were just 300 trained troops to defend the city, the rest were in to Lower Canada trying to solve the problems there. The news spread that the rebels had a population around 5000. Sir Francis Bond Head was placed on a boat in the city harbor for safety.

Sir Francis expected reinforcements to arrive but to gain time he sent some officials to convince Mackenzie to a white flag of truce. The truce party met Mackenzie on gallow hill on Younge Street. When they tried to bargain Mackenzie he refused.

At six 0′clock PM 700 rebels marched down Bloor Street for a night attack on the capital. The rebels followed their leader, Samuel Lont, south of Bloor Street.

Not very far away in Mrs. Sharpe’s garden where maple leaf garden is now built, Sheriff Jarvis and 29 other troops hid behind a bush. When the rebels approached Sheriff and his troops ambushed them. Both sides were in panic. Rebels returned to Montgomery Tavern. One of the rebels lay dead on the road.

Wednesday, December 6, 1837

Reinforcements started arriving to Toronto. Sixty of them came from Hamilton in a boat; they were under command of Colonel Mcnab. Another hundred arrived from Scarborough under the command of Captain MacLean

The city hall, The parliament building, the bank of Upper Canada and many other private houses of rich people were covered or shielded with thick metal planks for safety. Stores were closed making it hard to buy food such as meat and bread.

On Dundas Street six kilometer west of Toronto, Mackenzie and Lount kept the stage coach (a horse drawn carriage usually used to carry and transport mail) from going into Toronto. The kept the important letters and money which involved the protection and defense of the city.

Some of Mackenzie’s rebels and supporters had went home to find that there were no more weapons left for them. Two of the rebels had died from blood loss in the last nights sudden ambush. Mackenzie’s forces were getting weaker and the governor’s forces were getting stronger.

Thursday, December 7, 1837

Van Egmond an experienced soldier arrived at Montgomery Tavern to lead the army but was very disappointed to find only 500 poorly trained rebels. At noon 600 of the governor’s forces moved north to attack the rebels and their headquarters Montgomery Tavern.

At one o’clock the rebel scouts informed Mackenzie about the government’s forces marching towards them, but there was nothing much Mackenzie could do. The government’s forces planned their attack while the rebels just panicked and stayed inside.

While the government’s forces advanced the rebels dropped their weapons and ran. The forces aimed their cannons at the woods to get to Montgomery Tavern. Then when they reached Montgomery Tavern, they aimed their cannon at it.

Two cannonballs flew through the air and hit Montgomery Tavern. All the rebels ran and the battle of Toronto had ended. Later Sir Bond asked a soldier to search Montgomery Tavern and he found Mackenzie’s papers including the list of rebels in the burnt tavern. Sir Francis Bond Head offered a 1000 pond reward for the capture and return of William Lyon Mackenzie.