A Soldier's Life Part 3

We had on board as prisoners the captain and two officers of the _Bulldog_ en route for England, where they were to be tried by court-martial for the loss of their ship. After a seven days' voyage we arrived in Halifax a few days before Christmas and found the temperature below zero, after leaving one 95 degrees above. However, we had smiling faces to meet us, and the band was down to welcome us back to our old quarters again. No casualties occurred while we were absent except poor Jackson's drowning.

After handing over the books and papers in connection with the orderly room, I resumed my duties at the brigade office. We intended to present d.i.c.kens' Christmas Carol, Scrooge and Marley, but in consequence of our trip to the West Indies it was postponed until the coming Easter. The play was dramatized by Sergeant Smith; the characters had been cast and rehea.r.s.ed before we left. The general inspected the regiment and found it in the very best condition; the drill was excellent, and the interior economy all that could be desired. Sir Charles complimented the battalion on their conduct and the manner in which the expedition was carried out.

About this time Sergeant Roe, of "K" Company, a most intelligent N.C.O., was calling the roll at tattoo. Pte. E. Welsh had answered his name, and being under the influence of liquor, was creating a disturbance. The sergeant ordered him to bed, but he did not obey.

Again he was ordered to do so. Instead he drew his bayonet and made a dash for the sergeant, who escaped to the corridor, followed by Welsh.

He overtook the sergeant at the end of the pa.s.sage and thrust the bayonet into his side. Welsh was immediately overpowered and taken to the cells. Sergeant Roe was taken to his room, and a surgeon was soon on the spot, dressed the wound and had the patient removed to hospital.

The wound was not a serious one. The next day the prisoner Welsh was arraigned before the commanding officer for wounding with intent to kill. The colonel could not deal with the case, only to make application for a general court-martial, which was immediately done.

I will describe in detail the court that tried this case. The application, which was sent direct to the general, contained the charge, evidence, and the prisoner's previous character, with any remarks the commanding officer thought fit to make. A general court-martial is the highest tribunal. The president and members of the court are drawn from the several corps in garrison. The adjutant of the prisoner's corps was the prosecuting officer, but for this, the highest court, a judge advocate was appointed, who conducted the case for the Crown. This was Colonel Ansell, of the general's staff. When the general approved of the application the following orders issued from the brigade office:

"A general court-martial will a.s.semble for the trial of Pte. E.

Welsh, 2nd Battalion, 17th Regiment, and such other prisoners as may be brought before it.

President, Colonel Gordon, R.A.

Members:

Royal Artillery 1 Captain, 2 Subalterns.

Royal Engineers 1 Captain, 2 Subalterns.

2-16 Regiment 2 Capt'ns, 2 Subalterns.

2-17 Regiment 2 Capt'ns, 2 Subalterns.

The prisoner to be warned and all evidence ordered to attend."

Pte. Welsh was tried before this court for stabbing Sergeant Roe, was found guilty and sentenced to penal servitude for life. It was a long time before Sergeant Roe recovered from the effects of the wound.

At Easter we presented to the public d.i.c.kens' Christmas Carol, Scrooge and Marley, which had been postponed. Sergeant Smith had written a musical libretto, of which I remember the following:

"When we were for this preparing Late last fall, Neither time nor trouble sparing To please you all, Zounds! these n.i.g.g.e.rs raised the shindies, Cracking crowns and court-house windies, Sent us sharp to the West Indies, Late last fall."

It was a decided success, and several hundreds of dollars were handed over to the charitable inst.i.tutions of the city.

The memorable year, 1866, dawned over Canada, and much trouble and excitement was predicted. The Fenians were preparing for an invasion of St. Andrews, N.B., and the general, for the better protection of the citizens, had issued orders that a battery of artillery, a company of engineers, with the 2nd Battalion, 17th Regiment, be held in readiness to proceed to St. Andrews as soon as transport was available. We did not expect anything but a fizzle. However, it was a change, and, I may say, a picnic.

CHAPTER VII.

We embarked on H.M.S. _Duncan_. On reaching St. Andrews we disembarked and marched to a large warehouse, where we made our home for a few weeks.

The general and staff accompanied the expedition. I was a brigade clerk, and Sergeant Woffenden clerk in the quartermaster-general's department.

The troops' duties were light. The Charlotte militia were embodied and did outpost duty. I was kept busy making out orders and instructions for the establishing of new posts to watch the movements of the Fenians, who a.s.sembled in large numbers on the opposite side of the River St. Croix. There was a strong military police force established to prevent strangers coming to town. Rooms in the Hackett Hotel were leased for headquarters officers, and so things sailed along quietly until Sergeant Cashin, in charge of the police force, caught a Fenian in the act of enticing one of our men to desert and join his army. The general could not deal with this case, it being a civil one. He was brought before the police magistrate, who fined him $100 and costs. But with all the watching we lost several men.

The last excitement and the expectancy of fighting arrived. The 17th had posted a line of sentries along the river's bank for a considerable distance. In the middle of the night the sentries on the extreme flank of the outpost saw lights of varied colors which they thought were ships signaling to each other and approaching the sh.o.r.e. They came to the conclusion it was a Fenian fleet, and sent the alarm along to the reserve of the picket. The officer in command ordered the bugler to sound the alarm, which was repeated by the bugler on guard at the regimental headquarters.

This was the first time since the battalion was formed such excitement occurred. The men certainly put into practice what they had been taught for the supposed battle that awaited them, for in fifteen minutes the regiment was on parade, equipped, and having forty rounds of ammunition, were ready for the fray. The other corps in garrison were on parade and ready to move. The whole town was aroused. The Charlotte militia was under arms and anxious to give battle to the Fenians. The general and his staff were on parade (mounted). Brigade-Major Stokes and Captain Clarke, A.D.C., made good use of their horses. They galloped hither and thither, giving orders to the commanding officers as to positions they were to occupy. The general addressed the troops and bid them be steady and courageous. Daylight was near and the fog on the river was lifting, when the artillery was ordered to move and take up their position. The 17th extended a line of skirmishers to cover their advance as they moved to the points of defence. There was now sufficient light for us to see the ships, which to our great disappointment proved to be fishing craft. We were dismissed, and felt sorry not to win a battle to add to the many on our regimental colors.

After five weeks on the frontier and the Fenians giving no trouble, orders were issued to furnish a guard of honor to General Meade, of Gettysburg fame, who commanded in Maine and was making a visit to Sir Charles Doyle at the headquarters of the garrison. It was a gala day in St. Andrews. General Meade and staff arrived and were met at the wharf by General Doyle. The guard of honor presented arms, the band playing the salute. General Meade inspected the guard and then repaired to headquarters. They held a conference and came to a decision as to the movements of the Fenians. A general parade was ordered for the next day. The troops paraded in the morning, all the citizens that could possibly be present being there.

The general addressed the soldiers and also the citizens, and a.s.sured them that the conference was satisfactory; the United States Government would prevent any unlawful conduct or annoyance to the town of St.

Andrews by the Fenians, and General Doyle could withdraw his troops at any time he desired. The people were pleased that the United States had taken such a stand, and would look to General Meade for the fulfilment of this promise.

Orders had been dispatched to Major Heigham, commanding a detachment of two companies at St. Stephens, and of which Lieutenant Dywer was acting adjutant, to return to headquarters and embark for Halifax. The troopship had arrived and we were to embark on the morrow. Two men of the 17th had arranged to desert that night. They answered their names at tattoo, afterwards breaking out of barracks and getting into a rowboat at the wharf for the purpose of crossing the river. They must have forgotten that H.M.S. _Wolverine_ was anch.o.r.ed in the river. The boatman, however, rowed out and all looked safe. Presently the sentry--for they were near the ship--called, "Who goes there?" The officer in command of the guard ordered a boat lowered and captured the would-be deserters. Their names were Lavin and Ca.s.s. They were immediately returned to the regiment and placed in the guard room. The conduct of the regiment had been excellent during its stay in St.

Andrews, and we regretted this incident on our departure. The general was determined to have these two men tried and sentenced before we embarked at 10 a.m. the following day. This meant a busy time for me.

I had to prepare all the doc.u.ments, issue orders as to the convening of the court, etc. The court a.s.sembled, the prisoners were tried, found guilty, and the proceedings made known to them and the garrison when the troops paraded for embarkation. The sentence was five years'

penal servitude.

We now sailed for Halifax, arriving the next day. We disembarked from the _Tamer_, and took up our quarters in Wellington barracks, the time being near June. Sergeant-Major Jackson retired on a well-earned pension, and my youth was the only objection to my being his successor. Color-Sergeant Green, who was transferred to the battalion on its formation from the 36th Regiment, a very smart soldier, was promoted sergeant-major.

We received orders to be in readiness to proceed to Toronto, relieving the 47th Regiment, and were to have another trip on the _Duncan_. We embarked for Quebec, and on arriving there were transferred to the lake steamers which conveyed us to Toronto, where we took up quarters in the old fort vacated by the 47th. The latter proceeded to Halifax, taking the place of the 17th in that garrison. We had been quartered in Halifax for nearly five years. Quite a number of our men married there, and it was with profound regret that we had to move. Our social intercourse and friendly feelings toward the citizens and garrison at large were all that could be desired.

CHAPTER VIII.

On arriving in Toronto the battalion was divided. Headquarters and four companies were quartered in the old Parliament buildings, four companies in King Street barracks. The Fenian prisoners were confined in the old jail, and the regiment mounted a guard there every day, and when the trial commenced furnished an escort to conduct the prisoners to and from the jail to the court-house until the trial was over. We received the medal and land grant.

With the two corps forming the Toronto garrison, viz., the Royal Artillery, stationed in the new fort, and the 13th Hussars in the Exhibition buildings, we soon became acquainted, and fraternized with our new comrades.

Lieutenant Rolph was appointed adjutant, _vice_ Ross, appointed paymaster; Color-Sergeant Coe was appointed sergeant-major, _vice_ Green, reverted to sergeant. The commanding officer was pleased to appoint me instructor and lecturer in the Military School, which position I held during the two years the battalion was quartered in the city. About two hundred cadets were under instruction when I entered upon my duties. A good many were Toronto gentlemen who had just returned from the front, and it was quite interesting to hear them relate their experiences while fighting the Fenians.

I soon found I had some good material to work with; they were full of military enthusiasm and were anxious to graduate and get away in order to educate the recruit and fit him to defend his home and country.

Generally the cadets gave a good account of their training. I was always interested in reading the despatches from South Africa, or reports from the Militia Department, when the names of any would appear relating to their duties, etc.; for instance, Colonel S. B. Steele, who obtained a first-cla.s.s certificate. How proud we are of his valuable services to his country and empire. Mr. J. L. Hughes, Chief Inspector of Public Schools, Toronto, has made good use of his military education in having the very best drilled school cadets on the continent. His brothers, Colonel John and Colonel Sam Hughes, also qualified at the school.

Senator Kirchhoffer while qualifying took great interest in the school field sports, being a splendid cricketer; the Senator's football team would often meet the law students and any of the city teams that would put up a game. The writer was also fond of cricket.

Through the kindness of Colonel Steele, who applied to the department at Ottawa for a list of the names of the cadets who graduated during my two years' instruction, Major Winters, D.A.G., ordered a list to be prepared, and subsequently I received a roll containing 850 names. I was extremely pleased to look over the names of these gentlemen, whom, with few exceptions, I had not seen or heard of for forty years. I saw an account of the death of Professor Cherriman, who died in London, England; he was a cadet and was captain of the University company at the time. I also met Mr. F. Yokome, editor of the Peterboro' _Examiner_, and it was a pleasant meeting. I remember the present Judge Ermatinger and Chief Justice Strong, recently deceased, who were among the boys; also Colonel Ward, Port Hope; Colonel Farewell, Whitby, and Colonel Walker, who was Colonel Steele's school chum, and now commands the 15th Light Horse, with headquarters at Calgary, and others now very prominent in Canadian affairs.

In May, 1868, we received orders to embark for the Old Country, and on the 15th we sailed from the Queen's Wharf, touching at Kingston to take on two companies which were on detachment, and continued our pa.s.sage to Quebec, where we were transferred to the Allan liner _Moravian_. This was the best trip we had yet made. We had plenty of room, good food, and the men were allowed to smoke any time they wished.

We disembarked at Kingston, Ireland, and left at once for Dublin to occupy the Royal barracks. I again resumed my duties as drill instructor. We were considerably under the strength, having left a large number of men in Ontario. The recruiting sergeants were at their respective stations, busy sending us all the men they could enlist, and we got some fine big fellows. A general election was about to take place and the regiment was under orders to move to any town or district where polling was to take place, to a.s.sist the constabulary in keeping order and such duties.

We received reports of rioting and bloodshed. As voters were going to and from the polling places the troops lined the streets all day long.

In one case a civilian threw a brick at a 6th Lancer, who made a thrust with his lance at the thrower and killed him. The soldier was arrested but subsequently released. The election over, the regiment returned to quarters none the worse for its experience, especially when they had to tackle the wild Irishmen. It was deemed expedient that four companies, including the recruits, be sent to Mullingar. It was a day's journey from Dublin, and we enjoyed the lovely country we pa.s.sed through en route. We found the barracks beautifully situated, lots of room, a well-kept drill ground which always interested the writer, and a garrison church within the precincts.

We had quite a number of the members of our literary society with us, and we were able during the winter to give our usual entertainments, to which we invited the citizens whenever they felt disposed. A friendship between the soldiers and citizens was soon established, which made our stay in Mullingar extremely pleasant and not easily forgotten. In May we were placed under orders to move, but the section was not mentioned. We embarked at Kingston and proceeded to Jersey Island. It was a beautiful morning when we embarked on H.M.S.

_Crocodile_. We arrived after a pleasant run across the channel at St.

Heliers, which was to be our headquarters. Four companies were to stay here, two at Guernsey, two at Alderney, and two at St. Peter's, which was ten miles from St. Heliers.

In consequence of the hard and constant work on the drill ground, the commanding officer, noticing that I had failed and was not looking as well as he would like to see me, ordered me to proceed with two companies to St. Peter's to recuperate, and also appointed me schoolmaster of the detachment and my wife schoolmistress. I was not to do any other duties till further orders. I soon had my school organized and in working order. The schoolroom was large and well ventilated. It stood on five acres of playground. My pupils consisted of about seventy children of various ages belonging to our own men. There were some thirty men who could not read or write. We had volunteer cla.s.ses. I had an a.s.sistant, while my wife attended to the industrial department.

School hours were from nine to twelve, and from one-thirty to four.

This was quite a change for the better. I remained in this office till the regiment moved.