Narrative of the Fenian invasion of CanadaSomerville, Alexander
History
Narrative of the Fenian invasion of Canada
Somerville, Alexander
Canada -- History -- Fenian Invasions, 1866-1870
Crossing that concession road at about 300 yards east of J. N.
Angur’s brick house, you are well up on the crown of the ridge. To
your left is Stoneman’s orchard; and at the bottom of that orchard
on the Ridge road is Stoneman’s house, and Reinhard’s house. Beyond
Stoneman’s orchard, on the Ridge road, at the letter A. is Henry F.
Angur’s house, where O’Neil made his head-quarters. Keeping near
the crown of the ridge, where the concession road was crossed, you
follow the track on which the Fenians fell back. You cross fence 7,
and fence 8, and observe that they join at an angle. Also it is to be
noticed that a portion of each is thrown down. From much treading,
the grass shows here that a crowd had left a beaten track. This track
was made by the Fenians hastening to another position in their rear.
They having got through fences 7 and 8, had a thick pine wood on
their left front; the fence 9, beyond a narrow wheat field crossing
before them, and a maple grove of grand old trees, standing on their
right, within which they buried some of their dead. You can see the
grave of four. It was when they were driven back over fences 7 and
8, and out of Stoneman’s orchard by a concentrated fire from fences
5 and 6, concession road, that Booker’s bugles three times sounded
_retire_. The Fenians then encouraged to a fresh attack counter
marched round by the higher woods, and did execution on the retiring
volunteers; the deadliest of it on those nearest the upper woods, the
University Rifle company as we shall presently see.
Observe that all the open ground lying to the left of the Ridge road
and down to a marshy rivulet on the edge of the forest, is farm land.
It is intersected by many rail fences, all of zigzag form. The York
Rifle, and Trinity College companies got along the lower edges of
those fields, and on the concession road, formed the left of the
advanced skirmishers.
The Toronto Rifles had the lead assigned them, Major Denison says
because they were the senior corps. Coming up from Ridgway No. 5
company, under Captain Edwards, were sent forward as an advanced
guard. They were armed with Spencer rifles. On arriving near, perhaps
a little beyond, that part of the road marked B. B. intimation of the
enemy having then been given by Mr. Peter Learn J. P. No. 5 extended
from its centre. The troops were marching in a column at quarter
distance. No. 1 moved forward and extended on the left, and No. 2 on
the right of No. 5. As supports No. 3 formed the centre; No’s 4 and 6
the left and right.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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