Troublous Times in Canada: A History of the Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1870MacDonald, John A. (John Alexander)
History
Troublous Times in Canada: A History of the Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1870
MacDonald, John A. (John Alexander)
Canada -- History -- Fenian Invasions, 1866-1870; Fenians
For the protection of the Niagara frontier, all available troops in the
immediate vicinity were called out for active service on the 24th of
May. The Nineteenth Lincoln Battalion, under command of Lieut.-Col. J.
G. Currie, the St. Catharines Troop of Cavalry under Capt. Gregory, and
the St. Catharines Battery of Garrison Artillery, were quickly assembled
and placed on active service. One company of the 19th was detached
to guard the Suspension Bridge at Clifton, in conjunction with three
companies of the 44th Welland Battalion. The remainder of the 19th
Battalion were posted as follows:--Two companies (with regimental
staff) consisting of 12 officers and 87 men, at St. Catharines and Port
Dalhousie; one company (Capt. Upper) with three officers and 42 men at
Niagara; three officers and 42 men at Port Robinson, three officers and
42 men at Welland, and three officers and 42 men at Allanburg.
The St. Catharines Troop of Cavalry (Capt. Gregory) was despatched to
Chippawa to patrol the River Road between that point and Fort Erie--one
officer and 13 troopers being stationed at Chippawa; one officer and
13 men at Black Creek, and one officer and 14 men at Fort Erie. This
command maintained a complete system of patrols along the upper Niagara
River. Two companies of the 44th Battalion were also stationed at
Chippawa to guard the bridges and approaches to that place.
The St. Catharines Battery of Garrison Artillery (Capt. Thomas Oswald)
was attached to the 19th Battalion, a portion of the Battery, under
Lieut. J. G. Holmes, doing duty in guarding the locks on the Welland
Canal at Allanburg, and the remainder being placed on board the tug
"Clara Carter" with two field guns, which boat was employed to cruise
Lake Erie and the Niagara River.
The Queenston Mounted Infantry, under command of Capt. Robert Currie,
maintained an efficient patrol of the lower Niagara frontier, with two
officers and 18 men at Niagara, and one officer and 18 men at Queenston.
The 37th Haldimand Battalion was ordered to Port Colborne, and also the
Welland Canal, Field Battery, where they maintained a vigilant, guard
on the entrance to the Welland Canal, which was threatened by an Fenian
attack.
The United States gunboat "Michigan" was at Port Colborne on the 24th,
and left on a cruise along the shores of Lake Erie with positive orders
from the American Government to sink any piratical craft that might
attempt to make a crossing. The Fenians assembled at Buffalo were
anxious to get over into Canada, but could not get any ship owners
willing to take the risk in face of such orders.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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