THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S BODY GUARD--DENISON'S RAPID RIDE --COL.
PEACOCKE'S MOVEMENTS--ARRIVAL OF COL. LOWRY WITH REINFORCEMENTS.
It was not until late in the afternoon of June 1st that the Militia
Department considered the necessity of calling on the services of
cavalry troops for duty on the frontier. Had this been done twenty-four
hours earlier the calamity which occurred at Ridgeway and the disaster
at Fort Erie might have been averted, and the whole campaign had a
different termination. The omission was a serious mistake, which was
subsequently realized. It is perilous and suicidal to move columns
of infantry in war times without having the advance and flanks well
protected by mounted troops, and scouts employed to glean information
of the location and strength of the enemy. Therefore this branch is
indispensable, as they are rightly termed "the eyes and ears of an
army," ever watchful and on the alert for impending danger, or for an
opportunity to strike a crushing blow.
In the Niagara District campaign this omission was painfully in
evidence. At Chippawa, Col. Peacocke had to rely on meagre and
conflicting reports of the whereabouts of the enemy which were brought
in to him from various sources, more or less unreliable, while Col.
Booker was in a similar position before advancing on the Fenian force
at Ridgeway. Had an efficient troop of cavalry scouts been employed
to thoroughly scour the country in advance of these two columns, a
different tale might be related of their operations.
It was after 3 o'clock on June 1st when Major Geo. T. Denison received
orders to assemble the Governor-General's Body Guard, and proceed to the
front next morning. The Major moved quickly, and during the evening and
night had his non-commissioned officers riding hard through the country
warning out his troopers. The place of rendezvous was the Toronto
Exhibition Grounds, and by day-break the troop was all mustered in
saddle, and ready for service. At 8 o'clock a.m. on June 2nd they left
by the steamer "City of Toronto" for Port Dalhousie, where they arrived
about 11.30. Major Denison immediately entrained his men and horses on
the Welland Railway and proceeded to Port Robinson, being under orders
to report to Col. Peacocke. At Port Robinson the troop detrained, and
after hastily feeding the horses and men, started for Chippawa on a
gallop. On arrival there the troop halted for an hour or two, to have
the horses' shoes reset; which being attended to, the command again took
the road for New Germany, where he reported to Col. Peacocke about 5.30.
This gallant corps had moved with such celerity that within ten hours
after leaving Toronto they were at the extreme front, a good deal of the
distance having been covered by hard and rapid riding.
Col. Peacocke was just on the point of moving off to resume his march
from New Germany when the Body Guard arrived, and that officer ordered
Major Denison to lead the advance of the column. Without dismounting,
although the men and horses were both jaded and tired, they promptly
spurred on to the front, and threw out scouts to the right and left.
Major Denison was restrained from pushing ahead too rapidly, as he was
obliged to regulate his march by the pace of the infantry, and his men
chafed with the tardiness, as they were all eager to get into a brush
with the enemy.
After a march of about nine miles they arrived at Bowen's Farm, about
three miles northwest of Fort Erie. It was just getting dusk, and the
troopers were approaching a piece of dense bush which flanked both sides
of the road. When within about 200 yards of the bush the advance files
of the cavalry discovered some men in the road, and signalled back
the information. A halt was then ordered and Major Denison personally
galloped forward, and on inquiry learned from his videttes that a force
of the enemy were in front, and that several men had been observed going
into the woods on the right. A search was made of the bush, but as the
shades of night had fallen fast it was impossible to grope through
the woods, and fearing an ambuscade Col. Peacocke resolved to halt his
column for the night. In the meantime he had sent two companies of the
16th Regiment to scour the woods, but owing to the darkness they were
unable to do so. Having been told by some person that a bridge on the
road had been broken down, which rendered it impassable for his troops,
Col. Peacocke decided to bivouac where he was, so recalled the two
companies of the 16th, and made dispositions of his force to guard
against a night attack. The 47th Regiment was formed in line to the
right of the road, with one company of the same corps about 200 yards
in advance, extended as skirmishers. The 10th Royals, of Toronto,
were formed up as a support for the 47th, with two companies of that
battalion wheeling to the right and extending as skirmishers, so as to
fully cover the right flank of the column. The 16th Regiment was
placed in a similar position on the left of the road, supported by the
Nineteenth Lincoln Battalion, in the same formation. These troops laid
in a ploughed field all night, sleeping on their arms, while the guards
and sentinels were exceedingly watchful and vigilant. The cavalry and
artillery remained in column on the road, with the baggage waggons in
their rear.
About dark the St. Catharines Battery of Garrison Artillery, under
command of Lieut. James Wilson, arrived at the bivouac, and was placed
as the rear guard. This command, which had been left at Chippawa when
Col. Peacocke's column had marched out in the morning, had been relieved
at 4 p.m., and ordered to proceed at once to the front. They made a
wonderfully quick march, covering the entire distance of about 17
miles in less than five hours, without a halt, and arrived at their
destination with every member of the Battery in line--a feat which
earned for them the title of "Stoker's Foot Cavalry." This battery
had left their field guns at St. Catharines and were armed with short
Enfield rifles, acting as infantry. So they were formed up across
the road, facing to the rear, and after posting the usual guards and
sentinels, the remainder were glad to lie down in the dusty road and go
to sleep supperless.
As it was generally supposed that the enemy were in force in the near
vicinity, no fires were allowed to be lighted, and as the night was
pretty cool and no blankets were available, the situation was not
altogether comfortable. Yet the boys made the most of it, with the hope
that by daylight they would have an opportunity of meeting the Fenians
and proving the quality of their mettle.
As the night wore on Col. Peacocke received information that 2,000 or
3,000 reinforcements had crossed over from the American side and joined
the Fenians. Lieut.-Col. Dennis had also come in to the Canadian lines
and told of his defeat at Fort Erie the day before, while the reports
received of the Ridgeway fight, with numerous other rumors of impending
dangers, all combined to lead Col. Peacocke to believe that he would
soon be up against a serious proposition.
About 4.30 o'clock in the morning (June 3rd) the soldiers arose from
their rude couches on mother earth and began the task of getting the
stiffness out of their joints as they moved about in quest of rations.
Fortunately during the night some waggons loaded with bread, beef and
groceries had arrived, but the necessities of hunger were so keen that
the men could hardly wait for a proper distribution of the supplies.
There was no means of cooking meat except by toasting it on the end of
a ramrod poked over a fire of fence rails, but that was only a trifling
matter to a hungry soldier. Loaves of bread were torn asunder in chunks,
as bread-knives were not in evidence, while butter was spread by means
of a chip. But the absence of table etiquette was not considered, so
long as the purpose was served. There were no utensils for making tea
or coffee, so the men had to dispense with these comforts and content
themselves with a drink out of a roadside ditch.
Shortly after 5 o'clock Lieut.-Col. the Hon. John Hillyard Cameron
(an old-time politician of prominence) arrived at Col. Peacocke's
headquarters on horseback, and reported that the main body of the Fenian
army had evacuated Canada, but that there were yet some of their forces
straggling in the neighborhood.
Immediately the "assembly" was sounded, and Col. Peacocke formed up
his column for an advance toward Fort Erie. Major Geo. T. Denison was
ordered to scour the country with the Governor-General's Body Guard,
and to enter the village and send back reports. Shortly afterward Major
Denison reported that he was informed there was still a body of Fenians
about the Old Fort, while farmers residing in the neighborhood said
there were a number of stragglers lingering in the woods.
Accordingly Col. Peacocke made his arrangements to sweep the whole
southeast angle of the Peninsula clear up to the Old Fort. On leaving
the bivouac the column moved out by the Gilmore road, leading towards
the Niagara River. The Grey Battery of Royal Artillery was ordered
to the head of the column, in anticipation of having some shelling to
perform. As the infantry halted by the roadside to allow this gallant
battery to pass to the front on a gallop, the sight was inspiriting and
elicited hearty cheers. The magnificent horses, throwing into play their
splendid muscles, whisked the heavy guns along like so many feathers,
while the drivers and gunners maintained their seats like centaurs,
notwithstanding the bumps and jolts they encountered while bounding over
the ruts and roadside ditches of a rough country highway. On arrival at
a cross road leading south from the Gilmore road towards Lake Erie,
a portion of the column, consisting of the 47th Regiment and the 19th
Battalion moved off to the right, while the 16th Regiment, the 10th
Royals and the St. Catharines Garrison Artillery continued on eastward.
By this means all egress from the village of Fort Erie was effectually
cut off. After traversing these roads for a short distance, lines of
skirmishers were thrown out, and an advance through the fields in a
sweeping semi-circle was begun. The troops had not proceeded far when
two men were seen getting over a fence on the edge of a piece of bush.
Both were carrying guns, and being in civilians' dress, were mistaken
for Fenians. A volley was fired by the 47th, when both were observed to
fall over the fence. On arrival of the skirmishers at the spot it was
found that the two men were loyal Canadian citizens (Messrs. Bart.
McDonald and A. Dobbie, of Thorold) who had armed themselves as Home
Guards and gone to the front to assist in driving the enemy from our
shores. Unfortunately they were too zealous and imprudent in getting
beyond our lines, and drew upon themselves the fire of their friends.
Mr. McDonald was so badly wounded that he died shortly afterwards, but
Mr. Dobbie miraculously escaped injury.
As the skirmish lines moved onward the woods were thoroughly searched,
and quite a number of Fenian stragglers were discovered in hiding and
taken prisoners. During the time the drag-net of skirmishers was spread
about fifty Fenians were gathered in.
At the home of "Major" Canty (a B. & L. H. railway section foreman who
held a commission in the Fenian army) several prisoners were taken,
among them being Rev. John McMahon (a Catholic priest) and two wounded
Fenians named Whalen and Kiely. In the barn adjoining Canty's house
was stretched the body of Lieut. Edward K. Lonergan, of the 7th Irish
Republican Regiment, of Buffalo. He had been killed at Ridgeway and
the body brought back to Canty's barn and abandoned there. Several more
Fenians were discovered under the barn, and more in a haystack near by,
all of whom were taken in charge.
In the loft of Major Canty's house were found a number of overcoats
belonging to the Queen's Own, and also some rifles which the retreating
Fenians had carried back from the battle-field of Ridgeway. The "Major"
was not at home when the Canadians called, so his guests were quietly
placed under guard, and in due time conducted to a place of safety to
stand their trial with the rest of the prisoners.
On arrival in the village of Fort Erie, the Canadian troops were much
mortified and chagrined to find that O'Neil and his followers had
escaped, and the only satisfaction they had was to gaze across the
waters of the Niagara and see a scow-load of Fenians lying astern of
the United States man-of-war "Michigan" as prisoners of the American
Government.
On leaving Bowen's Farm, Major G. T. Denison started direct for the
River Road with the Governor-General's Body Guard on a reconnaissance.
Details were made by him to scour the country roads, which was
thoroughly done, and being informed that there were a number of Fenians
still at Fort Erie he proceeded on a gallop to the village, where he
arrived at about 6 a.m. Major Denison's troop was the first Canadian
force to reach Fort Erie after the battle, and they were received with
great joy and delight by the citizens and also the Canadians who were
prisoners in the hands of Gen. O'Neil the day previous.
A number of Fenians were gathered in by the troopers, and placed under
guard. This command did excellent service subsequently in patrolling the
river bank and providing cavalry pickets for the force which occupied
Fort Erie during the next few weeks.
On the afternoon of June 2nd, Lieut.-Col. R. W. Lowry, of Her
Majesty's 47th Regiment, received orders to proceed to the front with
reinforcements, and left Toronto at 2 p.m. via the Great Western Railway
with Capt. Crowe's Battery of Royal Artillery, equipped with four field
guns. He was accompanied by Col. Wolseley (afterward Field Marshal
Lord Wolseley), who was then serving in Canada as Assistant
Quartermaster-General on the staff of the Lieut.-General commanding Her
Majesty's Forces in British America; and by Lieut. Turner, R.E.; Lieut.
Dent, 47th Regiment, and Lieut.-Col. Cumberland, A.D.C., of Toronto. At
Oakville he was joined by Capt. Chisholm's Rifle Company, 52 rank and
file. On arrival at Hamilton Col. Lowry learned that the detachments of
the 16th Regiment and 60th Royal Rifles which were under orders to join
him there, had already left for the Niagara frontier to reinforce Col.
Peacocke, who had twice telegraphed for reinforcements. Col. Lowry
therefore decided to proceed to Clifton, and from thence move to the
support of Col. Peacocke. During the evening he was joined at Clifton by
a provisional battalion composed of the Barrie, Cookstown. Scarborough,
Columbus, Whitby and Oakville rifle companies, about 350 strong, under
command of Lieut.-Col. Stephens.
At 3.40 a.m. on June 3rd, Col. Lowry, with Capt. Crowe's Battery and
Lieut.-Col. Stephens' battalion, left Clifton by the Erie and Niagara
Railway for Black Creek. Shortly after his arrival there (at daybreak)
he was joined by 200 rank and file of the 60th Rifles under Capt.
Travers, and 140 of the 16th Regiment under command of Capt. Hogge,
which troops had bivouacked at New Germany overnight. On the report of
Lieut.-Col. John Hillyard Cameron that the Erie and Niagara Railway was
passable to a point near Fort Erie, Col. Lowry moved his column by rail
as far as Frenchman's Creek (Gen. O'Neil's old camp ground). Here he
detrained his troops, and throwing out an advanced guard and flanking
lines of skirmishers, moved promptly forward towards Fort Erie. Col,
Wolseley had preceded the column on horseback, and meeting Major
Denison's troopers, who already had possession of the village, found
that Gen. O'Neil and his army had left the country and were beyond the
pale of punishment by our forces.
Col. Lowry's column reached Fort Erie about 8 o'clock, and shortly after
Col. Peacockes force swept in from the west, bringing with them the
spoils of victory in the shape of about sixty prisoners, being part of
the picket line which Gen. O'Neil had abandoned during the night.
The whole force was then placed in position on the high ground in rear
of the village and went into camp. Guards, patrols and pickets were
posted in every direction, and all precautions taken that the occasion
demanded.
During the afternoon Capt. Akers arrived from Port Colborne with the
Queen's Own Rifles, 7th Battalion of London, four companies of the 22nd
Oxford Rifles (with the Drumbo Infantry Company attached), the Caledonia
Rifle Company, the Thorold Infantry Company, and the St. Catharines Home
Guards, about 1,000 men altogether.
When the three columns were all assembled on the heights at Fort Erie
they presented a formidable and imposing spectacle to the many thousands
of Americans and Fenians who crowded the river banks and points of
vantage for sight-seeing on the American side. It seemed as if the whole
population of Buffalo and surrounding country were gathered on the river
shore that pleasant Sunday afternoon to gaze upon the British camp
and watch the movements of the soldiers. The rows of white tents,
the scarlet uniforms of the infantry, and the blue of the cavalry and
artillery, intermingled with the dark green of the rifle companies,
certainly gave a variety of color, while the steadiness and regularity
with which the different units performed their evolutions must have
convinced the on-lookers (especially the Fenians) that it was just as
well for them that they were safely out of harm's way.
In the course of the day a steam launch arrived at the Fort Erie dock
with a message from Captain Bryson, commander of the U. S. steamer
"Michigan," to Colonel Lowry, inviting him to go aboard that vessel and
have an interview with himself and Mr. H. W. Hemans (the British Consul
at Buffalo) regarding matters in connection with the Fenians. To this
proposal Col. Lowry immediately assented, and accompanied by Col.
Wolseley, Capt. Crowe, R.A., and Lieut. Turner, R.E., proceeded on board
the American steamer. They were courteously received by Capt. Bryson,
who introduced Mr. M. Dane, the United States District Attorney; General
Barry, the commander of the United States troops on the frontier, and
Mr. H. W. Hemans, the British Consul. An interesting conference was
held, in the course of which the American officials expressed their
reprehension of the infraction of international law by the Fenians,
and assured Col. Lowry that nothing in their power had been or would be
neglected to arrest such infraction, and that they had prevented many
Fenian reinforcements from getting across to Canada during the two
previous nights. In the meantime Col. Lowry was assured that the 600 or
700 prisoners who had been captured by the "Michigan" would be rigidly
guarded until instructions were received from Washington as to their
disposal.
After the conference Col. Lowry and his staff returned to camp, where
orders were waiting to despatch Capt. Crowe's Battery, with four field
guns, and 200 men of the 47th Regiment under command of Major Lauder,
to Kingston without delay, as that point was threatened. This force left
Fort Erie by rail at 7 o'clock that evening, taking with them 22 Fenian
prisoners who had been committed to the Toronto jail.
Shortly afterward another telegram arrived ordering that the detachment
of the 60th Rifles, one company of the 16th Regiment and the 7th
Battalion of London volunteers be forwarded to London as soon as
possible. Owing to lack of railway transport these troops were unable
to leave Fort Brie until 10.30 the following morning, when 800 men were
despatched to London by the Erie & Niagara and Great Western Railways,
via Clifton and Hamilton.
At 1.30 a.m. of June 5th, the Queen's Own and the York and Caledonia
Rifles were quietly aroused and ordered to strike tents, parade, and
entrain on cars which were in waiting to convey them to Stratford. The
work of packing up was quickly accomplished, and at 6 o 'clock the train
left Fort Erie for its destination, the troops being accompanied by Col.
Garnet S. Wolseley, A.Q.M.G., of Her Majesty's Forces. They arrived at
Stratford at 5 p.m., and were immediately billetted among the citizens.
At this time it was feared that the Fenians contemplated an attack on
the frontier of the western portion of the Province, and it was deemed
advisable to have a sufficient force mustered at a convenient point,
to be available in case of emergency. The force collected at Stratford
consisted of Capt. Gore's Battery of Royal Artillery, two companies of
H. M. 16th Regiment, the Queen's Own and the York and Caledonia Rifles,
the whole being under command of Col. Wolseley.
The withdrawal of these troops from Fort Erie reduced Col. Lowry's
force to about 2,000 men, but they were sufficient to over-awe the 8,000
Fenians who were still hanging around Buffalo and vicinity with the
intention of making another raid as soon as they could escape the
vigilance of the United States authorities, who were now determined to
prevent any further incursions if possible.
The Thirteenth Battalion, of Hamilton, under Major Skinner, garrisoned
Port Colborne, and guarded the approach to the Welland Canal.
At Clifton and Suspension Bridge a provisional battalion consisting of
the Collingwood. Aurora. Bradford, Derry West and Grahamsville companies
were assembled under command of Lieut.-Col. Robert B. Denison, while
two more companies were stationed at Chippawa, so that the whole Niagara
frontier was carefully guarded.
[Picture (page 95) 0095.gif Caption: CANTEEN OF THE NINETEENTH BATTALION
AT FORT ERIE. JUNE, '66.]
At St. Catharines several other companies were billetted, who were ready
to move in any direction that their services might be required.
Toronto was also well garrisoned with troops which arrived on Sunday,
among which were the following:--The Cobourg Cavalry, Col. Boulton, 40
men and 40 horses; Cobourg Battery, Capt. Dumble. 46 men; Ashburnham
Infantry. Capt. Rogers, 32 men; Peterboro Infantry, Capt. Kennedy, 50
men; Campbellford Infantry, Capt. Lin, 40 men; Lakefield Infantry,
Capt. Leigh, 31 men; Cobourg Infantry, Capt. Elliott, 45 men; Peterboro
Rifles, Capt. Poole, 44 men; Cobourg Rifles, Capt. Smith, 47 men;
Bowmanville Rifles, Lieut.-Col. Cubitt, 40 men; Port Hope Rifles, Capt.
Williams, 42 men, and several other companies which arrived later.