Troublous Times in Canada | Page 7

the campaign will be entirely predatory
or guerilla in its conduct. The British Coast Guard stations will fall
easy conquests, their number and isolation contributing to their ruin;
while from the Wicklow Mountains, through all the rocky fastnesses of
Ireland, the cottagers will descend upon the British garrisons,
maintaining perpetual and bloody rebellion till the better news comes

across the sea or the patience of England is quite worn out."
This was a mighty and stupendous programme truly, but oh how
visionary! It embraced the extreme aspirations of the boldest and most
sanguinary Fenian's, and its publication no doubt served to bring more
money into their treasury. But, alas for human hopes, its execution
never happened. Yet it fired the hearts of the soldiers of the Irish
Republican Army, and they eagerly awaited the summons to march
"On to Canada." All through that winter drilling and preparation
continued, and the enthusiasm of the men was kept warm by fervid
oratory appealing to their patriotism, while they boldly chanted their
song:--
"We are a Fenian Brotherhood, skilled in the arts of war. And we're
going to fight for Ireland, the land that we adore. Many battles we have
won, along with the boys in blue. And we'll go and capture Canada, for
we've nothing else to do."
Meanwhile the Canadian Government deemed it prudent to place
troops at some of the exposed points along the border, and on the 15th
of November, 1865, the following volunteer corps were called out for
Frontier Service, and were stationed at the following places, the whole
force being under the command of the Lieutenant-General commanding
Her Majesty's Forces in North America:--
At Prescott--The Ottawa Garrison Battery of Artillery; Capt. A. G.
Forrest. First Lieutenant W. Duck, and Second Lieutenant Albert
Parson.
The Morrisburg Garrison Battery of Artillery; Capt. T. S. Rubidge.
First Lieutenant Peter A. Eagleson, and Second Lieutenant G. S. L.
Stoddart.
At Niagara--Quebec Rifle Company; Capt. D. Gagnier, Lieut. Elzear
Garneau, and Ensign Thos. H. A. Roy.
Montreal Rifle Company; Capt. P. J. M. Cinqmars, Lieut. J. O.
Labranche, and Ensign G. d'O. d'Orsonnens.

At Sarnia--Toronto Rifle Company; Capt. Wm. D. Jarvis, Lieut.
Farquhar Morrison, and Ensign W. C. Campbell.
Woodstock Rifle Company; Capt. Henry B. Beard, Lieut. John
Matthewson, and Ensign James C'oad.
At Windsor--Hamilton Infantry Company; Capt. Henry E. Irving, Lieut.
Robert Grant, and Ensign J. J. Hebden.
London Infantry Company; Capt. Arch. Macpherson. Lieut. Edward W.
Griffith, and Ensign George Ellis.
At Sandwich--Port Hope Infantry Company; Capt. A. T. H. Williams,
Lieut. James F. McLeod, and Ensign Francis E. Johnson.
Major C. F. Hill, of the First Prince of Wales Regiment (Montreal), was
in command of the forces stationed at Sandwich, Windsor and Sarnia.
These troops were kept on service for several months, and their
presence at the points named and the constant vigilance maintained,
had an effect in warning the Fenians that Canada's sons were alive to
the duty of the hour, and were resolved to guard and protect their
homes and firesides from desecration by invading foes or sacrifice their
lives if necessary in performing that sacred duty.
THE BROCKVILLE RIFLES.
While the above detachments were on service at the points named, the
danger was equally great at other places, especially along the St.
Lawrence frontier. The town of Brockville was particularly exposed to
attack, as during the winter months the river is usually frozen over,
which would afford the Fenians an easy way of crossing on a solid
bridge of ice. At this time the town was exceptionally fortunate in
having a most excellent volunteer military corps as one of its most
popular local institutions, which was known as the Brockville Rifle
Company. This command figured so prominently in the service of the
Volunteer Militia Force of Canada in the early days that it deserves
special mention in the records of the country.

The Brockville Rifles was one of the first companies organized under
the Volunteer Militia Act, being promoted in the spring of 1855 by
Capt. Smythe (who was afterward captain of a company in H. M. 100th
Regiment, which was raised in Canada in 1857 and 1858 for service in
the British Army, and who subsequently became commanding officer
of that regiment).
As Brockville and vicinity was first settled in 1783 and 1784 by the U.
E. Loyalists (all of whom had borne arms in defence of the British
Crown), their descendants have always been noted for their unswerving
loyalty and fealty to the Mother Country. Therefore when the
opportunity was offered to its citizens to exemplify their patriotism by
serving their Queen and country, they promptly obeyed the call, and in
a short time the ranks of the Brockville Rifles were filled up, and
drilling commenced. The muster roll was sent in to Militia
Headquarters, and the