We embarked on H.M.S. _Duncan_. On reaching St. Andrews we disembarked
and marched to a large warehouse, where we made our home for a few weeks.
The general and staff accompanied the expedition. I was a brigade clerk,
and Sergeant Woffenden clerk in the quartermaster-general's department.
The troops' duties were light. The Charlotte militia were embodied and
did outpost duty. I was kept busy making out orders and instructions
for the establishing of new posts to watch the movements of the
Fenians, who assembled in large numbers on the opposite side of the
River St. Croix. There was a strong military police force established
to prevent strangers coming to town. Rooms in the Hackett Hotel were
leased for headquarters officers, and so things sailed along quietly
until Sergeant Cashin, in charge of the police force, caught a Fenian
in the act of enticing one of our men to desert and join his army. The
general could not deal with this case, it being a civil one. He was
brought before the police magistrate, who fined him $100 and costs. But
with all the watching we lost several men.
The last excitement and the expectancy of fighting arrived. The 17th
had posted a line of sentries along the river's bank for a considerable
distance. In the middle of the night the sentries on the extreme flank
of the outpost saw lights of varied colors which they thought were
ships signaling to each other and approaching the shore. They came to
the conclusion it was a Fenian fleet, and sent the alarm along to the
reserve of the picket. The officer in command ordered the bugler to
sound the alarm, which was repeated by the bugler on guard at the
regimental headquarters.
This was the first time since the battalion was formed such excitement
occurred. The men certainly put into practice what they had been taught
for the supposed battle that awaited them, for in fifteen minutes the
regiment was on parade, equipped, and having forty rounds of
ammunition, were ready for the fray. The other corps in garrison were
on parade and ready to move. The whole town was aroused. The Charlotte
militia was under arms and anxious to give battle to the Fenians. The
general and his staff were on parade (mounted). Brigade-Major Stokes
and Captain Clarke, A.D.C., made good use of their horses. They
galloped hither and thither, giving orders to the commanding officers
as to positions they were to occupy. The general addressed the troops
and bid them be steady and courageous. Daylight was near and the fog on
the river was lifting, when the artillery was ordered to move and take
up their position. The 17th extended a line of skirmishers to cover
their advance as they moved to the points of defence. There was now
sufficient light for us to see the ships, which to our great
disappointment proved to be fishing craft. We were dismissed, and felt
sorry not to win a battle to add to the many on our regimental colors.
After five weeks on the frontier and the Fenians giving no trouble,
orders were issued to furnish a guard of honor to General Meade, of
Gettysburg fame, who commanded in Maine and was making a visit to Sir
Charles Doyle at the headquarters of the garrison. It was a gala day in
St. Andrews. General Meade and staff arrived and were met at the wharf
by General Doyle. The guard of honor presented arms, the band playing
the salute. General Meade inspected the guard and then repaired to
headquarters. They held a conference and came to a decision as to the
movements of the Fenians. A general parade was ordered for the next
day. The troops paraded in the morning, all the citizens that could
possibly be present being there.
The general addressed the soldiers and also the citizens, and assured
them that the conference was satisfactory; the United States Government
would prevent any unlawful conduct or annoyance to the town of St.
Andrews by the Fenians, and General Doyle could withdraw his troops at
any time he desired. The people were pleased that the United States had
taken such a stand, and would look to General Meade for the fulfilment
of this promise.
Orders had been dispatched to Major Heigham, commanding a detachment
of two companies at St. Stephens, and of which Lieutenant Dywer was
acting adjutant, to return to headquarters and embark for Halifax. The
troopship had arrived and we were to embark on the morrow. Two men of
the 17th had arranged to desert that night. They answered their names
at tattoo, afterwards breaking out of barracks and getting into a
rowboat at the wharf for the purpose of crossing the river. They must
have forgotten that H.M.S. _Wolverine_ was anchored in the river. The
boatman, however, rowed out and all looked safe. Presently the
sentry--for they were near the ship--called, "Who goes there?" The
officer in command of the guard ordered a boat lowered and captured
the would-be deserters. Their names were Lavin and Cass. They were
immediately returned to the regiment and placed in the guard room. The
conduct of the regiment had been excellent during its stay in St.
Andrews, and we regretted this incident on our departure. The general
was determined to have these two men tried and sentenced before we
embarked at 10 a.m. the following day. This meant a busy time for me.
I had to prepare all the documents, issue orders as to the convening
of the court, etc. The court assembled, the prisoners were tried,
found guilty, and the proceedings made known to them and the garrison
when the troops paraded for embarkation. The sentence was five years'
penal servitude.
We now sailed for Halifax, arriving the next day. We disembarked from
the _Tamer_, and took up our quarters in Wellington barracks, the time
being near June. Sergeant-Major Jackson retired on a well-earned
pension, and my youth was the only objection to my being his
successor. Color-Sergeant Green, who was transferred to the battalion
on its formation from the 36th Regiment, a very smart soldier, was
promoted sergeant-major.
We received orders to be in readiness to proceed to Toronto, relieving
the 47th Regiment, and were to have another trip on the _Duncan_. We
embarked for Quebec, and on arriving there were transferred to the
lake steamers which conveyed us to Toronto, where we took up quarters
in the old fort vacated by the 47th. The latter proceeded to Halifax,
taking the place of the 17th in that garrison. We had been quartered
in Halifax for nearly five years. Quite a number of our men married
there, and it was with profound regret that we had to move. Our social
intercourse and friendly feelings toward the citizens and garrison at
large were all that could be desired.