I was awarded one shilling twopence per day pension. Being a civilian
again and relying on my military experience and knowledge of physical
culture, I went to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and spent the
winter with ex-Sergeant Campbell, who was a dear old comrade and is now
a merchant. The following summer I returned to Halifax, and during the
early part of July General Laurie was enlisting recruits for the
provisional battalion at Winnipeg, and deputed me to conduct them to
that city.
Accordingly, on the 3rd of August, 1875, with forty men in charge, we
left en route for Fredericton, N.B., where we added several men to our
contingent and continued our journey. We stayed overnight at the
Franklin House, Bangor, Me. We stopped four hours at Montreal, and next
arrived at Sarnia. We camped a week at Point Edward waiting the lake
steamer. One morning while at drill a stranger approached me, who
turned out to be ex-Private Patrick Sharket, employed as a signal-man
on the G.T.R. He heard my voice in the distance, and he knew it was
"Teddy's," so he told me after. Sharket was a smart and good soldier.
He served in the Crimea, and while the regiment was quartered in
Toronto, 1867, obtained his discharge and took employment with the
Grand Trunk Railway, but had not been working long when he met with an
accident which caused the loss of his left hand. The company kept him
in their service. It was eight years since we met.
We had a beautiful trip, reaching Thunder Bay on Friday afternoon. We
had to stay there overnight, and occupied the emigrant sheds. That
night I had to look up a doctor, as some of our men were sick, but by
Sunday morning they were much better. We met a R.C. missionary who was
on his way to the Height of Land to take charge of an Indian reserve.
He was excellent company and kept the contingent alive by his funny
stories. After breakfast the following morning we proceeded to Lake
Shebandowan by wagons over the Dawson route, a road made by the troops
under the command of Sir Garnet Wolseley on their way to the
North-West, 1870. We halted about half way and had our dinner. It
consisted of ham and beans, bread and tea; it was splendidly cooked and
well served by half-breeds.
We arrived at the lake and found a woman and a man in charge of the
post. It had been headquarters for the surveyors in that section and
used also for emigrants who chose to go that way. We were on the banks
of a charming little lake. The opposite shores are picturesque with
their tall poplars and oaks frequented by thousands of wild pigeons.
The lake abounded with fish. The men took out the Government boats and
caught a quantity of pike sufficient for breakfast the following day.
The R.C. priest had sufficient paraphernalia with him to erect an
altar, and invited the contingent to mass Sunday morning. Nearly all
the men attended, and there were also quite a number of outsiders at
the pleasant service. In the morning, after another breakfast of pike,
a small steamer conveyed us to the Height of Land. The mosquitoes now
got in their work and deprived us of some of the fluid which gives us
life. Although we got a lotion to rub on our hands and faces it did not
prevent them from biting. The chief and many Indians were there to meet
the reverend father.
After nearly a month's travel over lakes, rivers and portages we
arrived at St. Boniface. On a Sunday morning we crossed the Red River
on the ferry and at once paraded and marched to Fort Osborne. I
reported to the officer on duty, and the men were quartered
temporarily. Next day the contingent paraded and was inspected by
Colonel Osborne Smith, D.A.G., and posted to their respective
companies, and during the day received their kits and clothing. Shortly
after our arrival I was appointed garrison sergeant-major, which
position I held till the battalion was disbanded two years later.
Lieutenant Hayter Reed was the adjutant. I now had to work with Mr.
Reed in putting the battalion in the best possible order. Quite a
change in the drill had taken place but had not been put into practice.
This had to be done and other reforms were necessary, and with the
permission of the commanding officer, I commenced to put the corps in a
better state of discipline and drill. After a few months the regiment
was a credit to the Dominion forces.
I found, however, they had never been instructed in musketry, and a
soldier is useless if he can't shoot. I asked the colonel's permission
to put them through a course of musketry, which he was pleased to
grant, and selected a site for the ranges a few miles outside of St.
Boniface. I put the battalion through up to 600 yards; the course was
carried out according to the school of musketry regulations, and I
rendered all the returns in manuscript, the report showing fair average
shooting. There was a band of twenty under Bandmaster Harry Walker,
late of the Imperial 7th Fusiliers. It was in good shape and kept busy,
for bands were scarce in the city at that time. We gave entertainments
at the fort occasionally. There was excellent talent among the men and
it was always put to good use. The bandmaster was always ready to help
us in every way possible. A most pleasing incident took place during
the winter. Sergeant-Major Steele, N.W.M.P., returning from leave of
absence, and passing through Winnipeg, called on his friend Adjutant
Reed, and during their conversation asked Mr. Reed who his
sergeant-major was. Mr. Reed replied that it was ex-Color-Sergeant
Rundle.
"Why," said Sergeant-Major Steele, "that's my old drill instructor;
please send for him."
An orderly came to my room and said that Mr. Reed would like to see me.
I went to the adjutant's quarters, where I met an old pupil of the
Military School, Toronto, 1867. We were both pleased to meet and had a
good old chat about the times past and future. The sergeant-major
obtained a first class certificate at this time, and we all know what
brilliant services Colonel Steele has rendered to the Empire,
especially in South Africa.
Some months later I received an offer to become musketry instructor to
the Mounted Police. I declined because I could not ride a horse.
I had many friends in Winnipeg. Amongst them was Rev. Mr. Fortin, All
Saints, now a bishop; Rev. Mr. Matheson, Manitoba College, now bishop
and Primate of Canada, who married Miss Fortin, the bishop's sister (I
sang at the wedding); Rev. Mr. German, Grace Methodist Church, of whose
choir I was a member; the late Colonel William N. Kennedy, of
distinguished Nile memory, who was also a member of the choir. The late
Mrs. Chambers, formerly of Peterboro', was the organist. I can say with
much delight that my acquaintances and associations during the two
years were fraught with much pleasantness and reciprocated kindness.
The N.W.M. Police, having been thoroughly established, was sufficient
protection against attacks from Indians or half-breeds; therefore, on
the 3rd of August, 1877, the battalion was disbanded, each man
receiving a grant of 160 acres of land for his services. A good many
remained in the country. Others went to their homes in the East.
I was now engaged in organizing single companies, making my
headquarters at Emerson. A company was raised in Winnipeg under the
command of Captain C. W. Allen and Lieutenant Killer. I spent another
two years in perfect enjoyment with the good people of Emerson, and
assisted in every way to build up this young town. I made my home with
Mr. and Mrs. Hooper and family, who resided on the west side of the
river, opposite Emerson.
One lovely evening in August Mr. Thos. Hooper, Jr., with his young
bride, came over to spend the evening. It was near midnight, the ferry
had stopped running, and I offered to row Mrs. Hooper over in my skiff
and return for her husband and a gentleman friend. We were passing
where the ferry was moored, and Mrs. Hooper, reaching to seize the end
of the ferry, lost her balance and fell into the river and sank. I
immediately sprang to the rescue and succeeded in bringing her to
shore.
The fall was approaching and I made up my mind to visit my friends in
the East. My Emerson friends having learned of my intentions, Mr.
Carney, who was to be first mayor of the town, offered me the office of
clerk if I remained, but my arrangements had been made and I could not
cancel them. I was invited by the citizens to meet them in Library Hall
the night previous to my departure. A programme had been prepared, the
band was present and played my old favorites. During the evening Mr.
Fairbank, J.P., read an address regretting my departure from the town,
and also presented me with a handsome purse.