Troublous Times in Canada | Page 9

planned was evident, and as the Government maintained a force
of secret service agents in the principal American cities to keep watch
on the movements of the Fenians, reliable information was furnished
which was regarded of sufficient importance by the Canadian
authorities to warrant prompt action in putting the country in a state of
defence. Accordingly on the 7th of March a General Order was issued
by Col. P. L. Macdougall, Adjutant-General of the Canadian Militia,
calling out 10,000 volunteers for active service. The summons was
flashed across the wires to all points in the Provinces of Upper and
Lower Canada, and fourteen thousand men promptly responded to the
call. By 4 o'clock on the following day these forces were all assembled

at their respective headquarters, awaiting further orders. So eager were
the young men of Canada to perform their duty in those trying times
that a force of 50,000 could have been raised as easily as the number
called for. Most of the companies and battalions were reported "over
strength" when the returns were received at headquarters, and the
Government decided to retain the whole 14,000 on service pending
developments of the enemy's movements. Lieut.-General Sir John
Michel (then commanding Her Majesty's forces in North America) was
placed in supreme command, with Major-Gen. James Lindsay in
command of the troops in Canada East, and Major-Gen. G. Napier,
C.B., in charge of the forces in Canada West.
On the 8th of March, the following companies were ordered to report
for duty to Major Crawford at Brockville for the purpose of forming a
Provisional Battalion:--
Perth Rifle Company--Capt. Edmund Spillman. Gananoque Rifle
Company--Capt. Robert McCrum. Carleton Place Rifle
Company--Capt. James Poole. Perth Infantry Company--Capt. Thomas
Scott. Almonte Infantry Company--Capt. James D. Gemmill.
Brockville Infantry Company--Capt. Jacob D. Buell.
The above units promptly reported, and the organization of the
Battalion was effected by a mergement of them with the Brockville
Rifles, which was placed on full service and divided, the right half
forming a company of 50 men under Capt. W. H. Cole, and the left half
(50 men) placed in command of Lieut. Windeat. Lieut. Robert Bowie
was appointed Adjutant of the new Battalion thus created.
Thirty Spencer rifles were issued to the Brockville Rifles, and given to
Capt. Cole's company. That officer compiled a drill manual which
instructed the men armed with the repeating rifles to act on the same
words of command issued to those who had the muzzle-loading
Enfields, which was so excellent in practice that he was afterwards
highly complimented by Major-General Lindsay when the Battalion
was inspected by him in the following May. This Battalion remained on
duty at Brockville until about the 16th of May, when they were
released from further service and permitted to return to their homes.

For several weeks the country was kept in a state of feverish,
excitement, as all sorts of rumors of intended raids at different points
were prevalent. Constant drilling and vigilance was maintained, and all
the avenues of approach to the frontier towns and exposed points were
closely guarded. The weather was very severe that winter, especially
during the period the troops were on duty, and many of the survivors of
those eventful days will doubtless remember the frost-bites they
received while pacing their dreary beats on guard duty, and the many
other discomforts which fell to their lot.
The 17th of March passed without the anticipated attacks being made,
however, and the fears of the people were gradually allayed. The
Fenians had evidently reconsidered their plans so far as Canada was
concerned, as the Frost King held sway with rigid severity, and decided
to delay their invasion until early summer. On the 28th of March the
force on active service was reduced from 14,000 to 10,000 (the original
prescribed number), and on the 31st of March all were relieved from
permanent duty with the exception of the advanced frontier posts, but
were required to parade and drill on two days of each week at local
headquarters.
Meanwhile the Fenians kept up their drill and warlike preparations.
Immense quantities of arms and ammunition were purchased and
shipped to various points in the United States contiguous to the
Canadian frontier, where they could quickly be obtained by the
invaders when wanted.
During the early part of April a number of Fenians gathered in the
towns of Eastport and Calais, in the State of Maine, with the avowed
purpose of capturing the Island of Campo Bello, a British possession at
the mouth of the St. Croix River, on the boundary line between the
Province of New Brunswick and the United States. This expedition was
under the direction of "General" Dorian, Killian, who was one of the
leading lights of the O'Mahony faction of the Fenian Brotherhood. This
move was made contrary