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
After a march of about nine miles they arrived at Bowen's Farm, about
three miles northwest of Fort Erie. It was just getting dusk, and the
troopers were approaching a piece of dense bush which flanked both sides
of the road. When within about 200 yards of the bush the advance files
of the cavalry discovered some men in the road, and signalled back
the information. A halt was then ordered and Major Denison personally
galloped forward, and on inquiry learned from his videttes that a force
of the enemy were in front, and that several men had been observed going
into the woods on the right. A search was made of the bush, but as the
shades of night had fallen fast it was impossible to grope through
the woods, and fearing an ambuscade Col. Peacocke resolved to halt his
column for the night. In the meantime he had sent two companies of the
16th Regiment to scour the woods, but owing to the darkness they were
unable to do so. Having been told by some person that a bridge on the
road had been broken down, which rendered it impassable for his troops,
Col. Peacocke decided to bivouac where he was, so recalled the two
companies of the 16th, and made dispositions of his force to guard
against a night attack. The 47th Regiment was formed in line to the
right of the road, with one company of the same corps about 200 yards
in advance, extended as skirmishers. The 10th Royals, of Toronto,
were formed up as a support for the 47th, with two companies of that
battalion wheeling to the right and extending as skirmishers, so as to
fully cover the right flank of the column. The 16th Regiment was
placed in a similar position on the left of the road, supported by the
Nineteenth Lincoln Battalion, in the same formation. These troops laid
in a ploughed field all night, sleeping on their arms, while the guards
and sentinels were exceedingly watchful and vigilant. The cavalry and
artillery remained in column on the road, with the baggage waggons in
their rear.
About dark the St. Catharines Battery of Garrison Artillery, under
command of Lieut. James Wilson, arrived at the bivouac, and was placed
as the rear guard. This command, which had been left at Chippawa when
Col. Peacocke's column had marched out in the morning, had been relieved
at 4 p.m., and ordered to proceed at once to the front. They made a
wonderfully quick march, covering the entire distance of about 17
miles in less than five hours, without a halt, and arrived at their
destination with every member of the Battery in line--a feat which
earned for them the title of "Stoker's Foot Cavalry." This battery
had left their field guns at St. Catharines and were armed with short
Enfield rifles, acting as infantry. So they were formed up across
the road, facing to the rear, and after posting the usual guards and
sentinels, the remainder were glad to lie down in the dusty road and go
to sleep supperless.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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