In the spring we received orders to hold ourselves in readiness to
embark for Dublin. This pleased us very much, for we were anxious to
see old Ireland. We were conveyed to Bristol by train and then embarked
for Dublin. Arriving without incident, we disembarked. Eight companies
marched to and took up quarters at Richmond barracks. The other two
companies, which included my own, occupied Linen Hall barracks.
We found quite a difference in the general routine of a soldier's life
in Dublin. There were 5,000 troops in garrison, including a battalion
of Grenadier Guards, and ceremonial parades were in evidence. The
trooping of the colors at guard mounting on the esplanade was one of
the most spectacular. The marching past in slow time to the music of
massed bands, together with the other beautiful movements attached to
this grand old practice, drew thousands of citizens to witness it.
Those grand displays were no doubt the means of establishing a
friendship between soldiers and citizens. This was a very proud
garrison, and the men vied with each other in dress and general
appearance on the streets and public thoroughfares of the city. It was
commanded by General Sir George Brown.
We said good-bye to Colonel Franklin, and Major McKinstry was gazetted
lieutenant-colonel and to command the battalion. The colonel was well
liked by all ranks. He was with the 1st Battalion during the Crimean
war, and was an officer who studied the individual soldier and attended
to his welfare. He had a keen memory. We had a transfer from the 1st
Battalion who had also been in the Crimea. He was brought up for being
drunk. I do not know whether the colonel intended to bring his previous
conduct against him, but in his admonition and advice reminded him that
one night in the trenches before Sebastopol he was drunk.
Next we marched to the Curragh camp to be quartered there during the
balance of the drill season. The distance is about 25 miles. We left
Richmond barracks about 9 a.m. It was a very hard hot day's work that
we had before us. We carried a lunch in our haversacks, and when we got
into the country we received humorous and good-natured replies to
questions we asked those we met. For instance, I was in charge of a
section of the advance guard, and I asked a native how far we were from
Naas. He answered: "Three miles and a wee bit, sur." We would about
cover that distance and ask another native, receiving the same answer.
So we trudged on looking anxiously for church spires and chimney tops.
At last we saw the long-looked-for halting place, and Naas with all the
Irish beauties it contained was near. The band, that had been silent a
considerable distance, struck up "Garry own to glory."
After supper the men cleaned up, went into the village, and were most
cordially greeted, especially by the fair sex, who indeed were Irish
beauties. We marched out of the village amidst cheering and the playing
of Irish airs by the band. In two hours the camp was in sight, and when
about a mile from it we were met by two bands, belonging to 11th and
86th regiments, with whom we were to brigade, and also an invitation
from the sergeants of the 11th regiment to lunch at their mess after
our immediate duties had been performed. We took up our quarters in "F"
square and were again in huts, but everything for the comfort of the
regiment was at hand. The commanding officer was pleased to appoint me
battalion drill instructor, and about this time Ensign Mogg Rolph, a
Canadian, was gazetted and posted to the regiment, and I had the honor
and pleasure of being his instructor for some time. The present
Lieutenant-Colonel Rolph will always have a place amongst my best and
happiest thoughts. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, was in
camp and attached to the 39th Regiment for the drill season. He was
doing captain's duty and attended battalion, brigade and divisional
drills; we saw H.R.H. quite frequently. Her Majesty the Queen visited
the camp that summer. It rained the day of review, but that did not
matter; thousands were present to greet the Queen and shouted
themselves hoarse.
General Sir George Brown was in command. The Curragh is a beautiful
spot, there being such a large area for sham fights, field days and
drills in general. The rifle ranges are adjacent to the camp, each
regiment having its own range. The routine of camp life is the same as
in the other camps we have been quartered in. There is a small theatre
in the camp where the troops give performances weekly. Each corps has
its own amateurs and takes turns to furnish programmes, theatrical,
literary, vocal and musical. There was good talent to be found in the
camp. The Prince would occasionally attend a performance, and no doubt
enjoyed it.
We were shown a monument erected to the memory of a captain who was
accidentally shot. It appears his company, which he was in charge of at
the time, had completed their firing and were returning to camp by a
circuitous route. Other corps were firing at the time, when a ricochet
bullet struck the captain and killed him.
About this time we received extremely sad news to the effect that
Lieutenant-Colonel Crofton, who so recently left us, had been
assassinated on the barrack-square in Colchester. It appears that a
private had neglected his duty when on picket sentry, and the adjutant
brought him before the colonel and reported his neglect, and he was
sentenced to an extra duty. It being Saturday, the men of his company
were all assembled in an upper room for medical inspection. He took
advantage of this and went to a room on the ground floor, and procuring
a rifle, loaded it. During this time the two officers had left the
orderly room and were walking arm in arm up the barrack square, the
adjutant being nearest. The assassin fired, the bullet going through
the body of the adjutant and entering the colonel's, and both were
killed. The man was tried and hanged. The sergeants of my regiment made
an application to wear mourning for four successive Sundays, as a mark
of respect toward our late commanding officer. The commander-in-chief
granted it.
The furlough season was near and I was to leave for six weeks,
commencing at Christmas, but there was something not very pleasant
going on between the United States and England over the _Trent_
affair. It looked so serious that some 25,000 troops were placed under
orders to proceed to North America, and the "Tigers," our battalion,
was among them. We had received orders to the effect that as soon as
the hired transport steamships _Cleopatra_ and _Mauritius_ were ready,
we would embark for Halifax, Nova Scotia. The commanding officer
informed me that I could not have my leave, and those already on leave
would be recalled immediately. In this case the company owning these
ships was responsible only for the conveyance; the military
authorities were to make all other arrangements.
The commanding officer selected me to superintend the shipping and
stowing away of provisions and clothing, which was to be done at Haul
Bowlin, where the regiment was to embark, and I left at once to perform
this duty. Arriving in Cork, I reported at the quartermaster-general's
department and was attached to the 12th Regiment. Christmas was near
and the steamer had not arrived. On Christmas the regiment arrived at
Cork station. I went down to meet them and returned to the barracks,
where the right wing remained till they embarked. Not a drum was heard,
in consequence of the death of H.R.H. the Prince Consort. The battalion
marched to barracks in death-like silence, with colors draped and other
signs of mourning visible. The sergeants of my regiment were invited to
dine with their old comrades of the 12th on Christmas Day. We were
enjoying our dinner when an orderly summoned me to the orderly room.
When I reported I found the Q.M.G., colonel, quartermaster, adjutant
and others assembled. I was ordered to at once prepare to accompany
them to Haul Bowlin. That stopped my Christmas festivities, but the
12th boys filled my haversack with good things.
On arrival my duties were at once explained to me. I was to make notes
of the disposition of all packages, barrels, bales, etc., of provision
and clothing, so they could be found without difficulty during the
voyage. A winter campaign was expected, and we had considerable furs
and clothing to meet it. Not far from Haul Bowlin is Spike Island, a
convict settlement, and the convicts were brought over to put the goods
on board. It was difficult to have them do as I desired, but the guards
with loaded carbines soon brought them to time, and in a few days my
work was completed, and on the 1st of January, 1862, the wing embarked
and sailed for Halifax.
When the battalion paraded in Cork barracks the morning they were
leaving, General Blood addressed them, giving some good advice to this
young regiment, warning them against drinking rum, but instead to drink
milk.
The first thing we had to face was seasickness, and very few escaped
it. The voyage was a tempestuous one. We met a heavy gale when out
several days, but no damage was done; the ship was intact at the end of
the passage and the men in the best of health and spirits. Arriving at
Newfoundland we took on a pilot. The colonel asked him how the trouble
between the two countries was progressing. He assured us that it had
been amicably settled. That meant no fighting. The men were
disappointed.