In 1837 the Russell Resolutions were made law by the British Parliament, imposing taxation without representation and rejecting all Patriotes reforms for Lower Canada.

A series of battles took place in the countryside around Montreal and the British crushed the initial rebellion, capturing many and forcing others, including Louis-Joseph Papineau to flee to the United States.

[1][2] From the United States a second campaign was planned, groups of Frères Chasseurs were established all over the province to set up an underground military organization.

On November 4, 1838, Robert Nelson, one of the leaders of the Frères Chasseurs, declared the independence of Lower Canada at Napierville with him as head of the provisional government before a crowd of 1,000.

There, along with those Patriotes under Doctor James Perrigo, they fortified the land where it met the Châteauguay River and the roads around the farm.

[7] Awaiting orders from Nelson, the number of Patriotes at Camp Baker grew to 800 of which three quarters were armed with guns.