Narrative of the Fenian invasion of CanadaSomerville, Alexander
History
Narrative of the Fenian invasion of Canada
Somerville, Alexander
Canada -- History -- Fenian Invasions, 1866-1870
From the accounts so plentifully written by members of the Q. O. in
various newspapers the writers seem to have exhausted their soldierly
qualities on the field of fight. It is not soldierly, when the fight
is over to take pens in hand for the detraction of another portion
of the force equally engaged with themselves. The 13th continued to
advance and co-operate, all its companies as a battalion; its three
companies of skirmishers, and its three companies of supports. It
had not been ordered, it was not its duty to take the place of Q. O.
companies that they might fall to the rear. Its duty was to do what
it did, advance as closely as practicable upon the enemy, and make
the best use of its arms and the position. The ultimate position was
in the orchards north and east of the concession road.
The Q. O. companies interchanged and relieved each other, or without
being in each case, relieved, fell back, making a column of reserve.
The order in which this was done cannot be distinctly traced, as few
of the Q. O., officers or men, agree in giving the same statement.
Captain Gardener, (Court of Inquiry,) speaks of having been twice
with his Highlanders sent to the front. Major Gilmore says (Court
of Inquiry,) Gardener did not retire from the front until the last.
Capt. Adam is represented as saying that he and No. 6, Q. O. drove
the Fenians out of J. N. Angur’s brick house, which is situated in
the corner at the crossing of Ridge road with concession road; while
again Lieut. McLean (Court of Inquiry) relates that his company on
the concession road, should have been relieved by one of the 13th,
which did not advance so far, and that on its default to relieve him
he said to his men “peg away”, and they pegged away accordingly. Mr.
McLean’s story in other respects is equally marvelous. The 13th were
in the front. They had nobody to relieve. The duty of all was to
fight, not to fall back.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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