Meanwhile dead on the field of battle lay Thomas Nairne.  When the action was over and the enemy had retired, his fellow officers bethought them of the body of their companion lying stark where he fell.  Already some sinister visitor had been upon the spot for his watch was stolen—­“as was not unusual on such occasions,” wrote Nairne’s Commanding-officer, Colonel Plenderleath, grimly.  They dug a grave; Colonel Plenderleath stooped over the body to cut off for those who loved him a lock of hair falling over the dead face, and then, without a coffin, they laid him in the earth.  But before the grave was filled a member of the Canadian militia stepped forward.  He said that he had known Nairne’s father, and begged that, for the esteem and veneration which he bore that gallant soldier, he might be allowed time to provide a coffin for his son.  A rough box was hastily prepared.  In this the body was placed and once more lowered into the grave and there, a few yards from where he fell, the mortal remains of Thomas Nairne were committed to the earth with the solemn rites of the Anglican Church.

The next day Colonel Plenderleath, who was not two yards away when Captain Nairne fell, wrote to Judge Bowen what words of comfort he could for Nairne’s friends: 

He was a gallant officer of most amiable Manners and Disposition....  It may be of some comfort to his family that he has fallen in the honourable service of his country.  We obtained a complete victory, having beaten a force greatly superior to ours, driven him from the field of battle, and captured one Gun and several Prisoners.

If Nairne fell Canada was saved and the gallant young officer did not die in vain.

News travelled slowly in those days but bad news has swifter wings than good; a week after Thomas Nairne fell the particulars of his death had reached Quebec.  It was Judge Bowen’s painful duty to send to Murray Bay the intelligence he had received from Nairne’s Colonel.  He wrote to Mr. Le Courtois, the cure, giving the sad news and adding “I understand that the enemy have since crossed over to their own side....  Would to God their visit had fallen upon any other head than that of our poor friends.”  He begged Mr. Le Courtois, who, himself an exile from France because of the Revolution, had witnessed many sad days, to be the minister of consolation at this time.  “You will, I am sure be the friend of the distressed and instil into their bosoms that peace which, I am afraid, nothing but your assistance and time can restore to them.”  Mr. Le Courtois was to hand to Miss Nairne a touching and wise letter from Bowen.  “Do not, my dear Miss Nairne,” he wrote, “give way to feelings but too natural upon a trying moment like this but rather exert yourself to speak comfort and consolation to your dear Mother.  Recall to her that we are all but sojourners here on earth and that he is but gone before to those blessed mansions of eternal peace and happiness where she