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
1st Charge.--With having at Fort Erie on the afternoon of the 2nd June
last, after having received information that an overwhelming force of
the enemy was advancing on and was within a very short distance of
that place, evinced an utter disregard for the lives and safety of the
officers and men of the Welland Canal Field Battery, and the safekeeping
of a large number of Fenian prisoners in charge of that corps and the
Dunnville Naval Brigade, in this: that he ordered billets to be prepared
for the Battery and told the officer commanding it that he should leave
it and the prisoners in Fort Erie and go on himself to Port Colborne
with the Dunnville Naval Brigade with the steamer "Robb," then lying at
a wharf in Fort Erie.
2nd Charge.--With having at Fort Erie on the afternoon of the 2nd June
last, after he had received information that a large and overwhelming
force of the enemy was within a very short distance from his command,
and that his command was in danger of being destroyed or captured,
and after having himself seen that force approaching, recklessly and
uselessly landed 5 officers and 68 men of the Welland Canal Field
Battery and Dunnville Naval Brigade from the steamer "Robb," marched
them along an exposed road, and posted them in a most dangerous
position, where they were exposed to a front and flanking fire from the
enemy, which course on his part resulted in disaster to his command, the
serious wounding and maiming (some of them for life) of an officer and
five men, and the capture by the enemy of four officers and thirty-two
men of that command.
3rd Charge.--With having at Fort Erie on the afternoon of the 2nd
June last, after having placed his command in the dangerous position
described in Charge No. 2, and when a force of the enemy greatly
superior in numbers to his command was within a very short distance from
and advancing upon his left flank, and another force of the enemy far
stronger than the one first herein mentioned was within a very short
distance of and advancing against his front and preparing to flank his
right, the whole force of the enemy being overwhelming and numbering
500 or 600 men, while his command only numbered 5 officers and 68 men,
neither ordering a retreat to the steamer "Robb," which there was ample
time to effect, and whereby his whole command might have been saved,
nor allowing a fire to be opened on the enemy, but on the contrary,
neglecting to give orders for a retreat, and directing that no order to
fire should be given.
4th Charge.--With having, at Fort Erie, on the afternoon of the 2nd
June last, after he had placed his command in the dangerous and exposed
position described in the preceding charges, and given the order not to
fire as therein mentioned, disgracefully, in the face of the enemy, and
in order to secure his personal safety, deserted his command and left it
without orders of any kind.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account