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
their rifles raised in the air and moving them, indicating thereby that
the enemy was in sight. The column was again halted. At that moment
a bullet came whistling from the direction of an orchard on our right
front. This was the first shot, and came close to Capt. Gardner and
myself. Here the Queen's Own were ordered to skirmish, and our company
furnished the right company of the line of skirmishers, and in this
order we advanced in a northerly direction. The firing commenced
opposite the centre of the line of skirmishers immediately upon their
advancing. We continued advancing and firing for some distance, perhaps
three hundred yards at that time, when the order came for the Queen's
Own to fall back on its supports. We had then been under fire for
three-quarters of an hour. I distinctly heard Col. Booker's words of
command, given with coolness and deliberation, as we were going into
action. The Queen's Own were then relieved by the Thirteenth. The
Thirteenth advanced in skirmishing order, appearing to take the ground
which had previously been occupied by the Queen's Own, the enemy
continuing their fire during the advance of the Thirteenth. The enemy
had evidently been previously driven back by the Queen's Own. An order
from Col. Booker now came to our company, which was then under cover
of the school-house, acting in reserve, directing our company to take
possession of the road to the right which led in the direction of Fort
Erie, because the enemy was manoeuvring to outflank our right. Capt.
Gardner was told it was an important position, and he then advanced our
company till we came opposite a bush north of the road. He then ordered
us to advance in skirmishing order through that bush, which we did.
After passing through the bush we came to a wheat-field, on the opposite
side of which we found the Fenians thickly posted opposite our front and
to our right. When we entered the bush they had evidently been in the
same bush at the farther side of it, and had retreated on our advance to
the other side of the wheat field. We had reason to know this, because
we found quantities of their ammunition, a company sheet roll, and
a blank book, a roll book, also a Fenian drill book with the name
of "Capt. George Sweeny, Company B, 19th Regiment, Irish Republic
Volunteers, Cincinnati, Ohio." The roll book contained about 120 names,
with the trades, residences and callings of the men. I have seen the
list of Fenian prisoners captured and now in Toronto Jail, and I believe
that some of the names are the same as those in the roll book. We
commenced firing upon the enemy as soon as we saw them, and they began
to retreat. They were about 200 yards from us. We fired here for some
time, until an order came to advance from Capt. Gardner, and we leaped
over the fence and entered the wheat field. We fired from this wheat
field for some time. After entering the wheat field I saw the line of
the Thirteenth Battalion to my left, below me, in skirmishing order,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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