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
I think this retreat was about one hour after the Thirteenth
took the field. I think those of the Queen's Own who formed the reserve
as we were deploying, came in about ten minutes after the firing
commenced.
ROBERT MAUN'S TESTIMONY.
Robert Maun, a private in the 13th Battalion, was the eleventh witness
called by Lieut.-Col. Booker.
Question--Will you state what you saw at Lime Ridge on the 2nd of June?
Answer--I was on duty on the field hospital staff. There was a cry for
the doctor from one of the companies of the Thirteenth, acting as a
support in the orchard. I was sent to find the man, and did so. He had
been wounded in the wrist. He was a rifleman, not one of the Thirteenth.
I saw no other "green" soldier there. Just as we had finished dressing
the man's hand I heard a cry of "Cavalry, cavalry! Look out for
cavalry!" coming from the direction of the right of the skirmish line. I
saw a company of Rifles in line with the skirmishers of the Thirteenth.
I suppose they were the York Rifles. When I heard the cry of "Cavalry!"
I was near the support of one of the companies, and then I also heard an
order given to the reserve to "Form square!" I suggested to the doctor
that we should go to the square formed on the road by the reserve. He
came with me toward the square, but I cannot tell whether he got into
the square or not. I was too late to get in. I threw myself under the
bayonets of the front face of the square. This square was composed of
the Queen's Own, and the color party of the Thirteenth was with them. A
company of the Thirteenth came up at a steady "double." most of them at
"the trail." but some of them at "the slope," and passing the right
face of the square formed in rear of the Queen's Own. I then, finding a
company of my own corps at hand, jumped up, fixed my bayonet, and joined
them. It was then that I saw a few straggling men of the Thirteenth,
mixed up with some Rifles, retiring from the direction of the skirmish
line towards us. An order was then given by a voice, which I took to
be Col. Booker's, to "Reform column," which was done. At this moment a
rather too sharp fire came upon us, but it was rather high to do us much
damage. I then heard an order to "Deploy on the rear company" in the
same voice, which I took to be that of Col. Booker. At this time there
was a company of the Thirteenth which formed the rear company of the
reserve, the rest of the reserve being composed of the Queen's Own. When
the order to deploy was given a heavy volley struck the column, and I
heard a sound which I took to be that of men falling. The column swayed
backwards, as I supposed, from the effects of the fire. The column broke
immediately and commenced a retreat down the road. The main body of the
Thirteenth were at this time in the field, and firing was going on more
to the right. I went down the road with the retreat and felt a heavy
fire from a wood on the left as we retired. I saw several of the enemy
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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