Chapter 7 No.7

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 assembled 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 shore. 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 assured 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 anchored 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 Cass. 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 documents, issue orders as to the convening of the court, etc. The court assembled, 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.