WITH THE COMPLIMENTS

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL CLARENCE A. DENISON

AND THE OFFICERS OF
THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL S BODY GUARD
 LIEUTENANT. COLONEL GEORGE TAYLOR DENISON UstMBellevue)
Founder and First Commanding Officer of the Governor=General s Body Guard.

A
 THE
GOVERNOR GENERAL S -

BODY GUARD.

A HISTORY OF THE ORIGIN, DEVELOP

MENT AND SERVICES OF THE SENIOR
CAVALRY REGIMENT IN THE MILITIA
SERVICE OF THE DOMINION OF CANADA.

WITH SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE MARTIAL

ANCESTRY AND MILITARY SPIRIT OF THE LOYAL
FOUNDERS OF CANADA S DEFENSIVE FORCE. N? sg

BY

CAPT. ERNEST J. CHAMBERS, R.O.,

AUTHOR OF THE HISTORIES
OF THE
PRINCE OF WALES REGIMENT,
3rd FIELD BATTERY (Montreal),

2nd QUEEN S OWN RIFLES OF CANADA,

ETC., ETC.

c
?
E. L. RUDDY,
60 VICTORIA STREET, TORONTO,
1902.

25101
WITH TORJC PUBLIC LIBRARY
MAIN C
Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada,
1
in the year
at the Department of Agriculture, by E L. Ruddy.

Printing by R. McLean. <:.

liitnlmu by Wilson. Munroe & Co.

Kn-i;ivin^s iy tirip, Liiaitfil.
|

J by Kiti-liic A K:ims;iy.
:I[>.T

1 riiLl. ,! wltli Llimtvpf Slugs.

 CONTENTS.

PREFACE.
CHAPTER.

I. THE BASIS OF THE MILITIA S FOUNDATIONS.

II. THE FOUNDING OF A NATIONAL FORCE.

III. THE CAVALRY OF 1812-14.

IV. THE YORK DRAGOONS.

V. THE REBELLION OF 1837-38 THE "QUEEN S LIGHT DRAGOONS.

VI. THE "FIRST YORK CAVALRY."

VII. THE FENIAN RAID THE "GOVERNOR-GENERAL S BODY GUARD.

VIII. THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION.

IX. WORK AND CHANGES OF FOURTEEN YEARS.

X. THE CANADIANS ON THE NILE.

XI. THE NORTH-WEST REBELLION.

XII. THE BODY GUARD BECOMES A REGIMENT.

XIII. BODY GUARDSMEN IN KHAKI.

XIV. THE DUKE S VISIT AND ITS DUTIES.

 PREFACE
The Breath of the Lord may rule the sea,
And the lies of men the land :

And the craft of the tongue may hold in fee

The strength of the heavy hand ;

Hut though tongues may quicken and strength may sicken.

And hands grow soft and small,
Year upon year the day grows near
Of the unsheathed sword and the shaken spear,
That shall make amends for all.
FHAXK L. POLLOCK.

ESTEEM it honor and privilege to have been entrusted with the

a very great

writing of the regimental history of the Governor (leneral s Body Guard,

but entered upon the work with much misgiving, fearing that I should not be
able to do justice to my subject. From early boyhood, when I joined the old
Montreal High School Cadet Rities, I have been interested in the militia, and
the name of Denison s Cavalry has represented to my mind the very ideal of

Canadian military spirit and militia efficiency. My anxiety with regard to my

present task can consequently be understood, especially
when it is remembered
that some of the Denisons themselves are distinguished as authors as well as
soldiers. One of them, the late Lieut.-Col. F. C. Deiiison, whose acquaintance
I had the honor of forming at the time he was organizing the Nile Voyageurs,
Record" of the Body Guard, and 1
published in 1876 a concise
"Historical

have availed myself freely of his careful work in the present book. It will

also be have quoted extensively from

found that I s Lieut.-Col. G. T. Denison
in Canada. The present commanding 1

(lleydon Villa) extremely readable work, "Soldiering

A. Denison, has evinced a very kindly interest in the present book,
officer, Lieut.-Col. Clarence
extracts from order books and official
and has contributed some invaluable matter to it, including
documents in his possession, extracts from newspaper clippings, etc., etc. I
his personal diaries,

must also acknowledge the invaluable assistance of Majors Merritt and Fleming, who have con
tributed a considerable amount of the information on which the concluding chapters
are based.

With so much assistance I hope I have been able to a

produce history of this truly historical
not merely as a means of exciting the proper corps pride of the
corps which will prove useful,
regiment, but as a stimulant to the military spirit throughout the district in which it will be
chiefly circulated.
I know from dear experience that there is a very marked disposition to underrate the value
the late Boer War; but this pre
of the military spirit in Canada, except perhaps at such times as
sent history, as the accurate record of any militia corps in Canada
would do. shows that it is to
those who, in spite of individual sneering and most persistent official discouragement, carefully
tried to foster a wholesome military spirit, that the safety of Canada was due in 1837, 1838,

1866, 1870 and 1885.

 Those who argue that Canadians are too much occupied with the development of the vast
of a military spirit
natural resources of the country to devote time and money to the cultivation
As
and the training of a strong military force, do so either ignorantly or foully unpatriotically.
need not
the private and natural wealth of the country develops, so the
to protect it increases,

As Francis of Verulam it The sinews of war are not money, if the sinews
diminishes. put :

of men s arms be wanting, as they are in a soft and effeminate nation."

We find Virgil express
ing the same idea: "The wolf cares not how large the flock is."

that such a
Those who would discourage the fostering of a military spirit on the ground
with their eyes shut, for the records of the past
spirit is a menace to peace, certainly read history
of all arts as that
show that it is as certain that the art of war is the only safe protectress
"a

sub latet. Glaudianus.) To

severe war lurks under the show of peace." (Mars gruvior pace
must be able to rely upon the tan
have real assured so far as it ever can be, the country
peace
gible result of military spirit, a
trained national defensive force. Extemporized armies are only
In the science of war, as in
useful as auxiliaries; spasmodic military training counts for
little.

all others, there no period of inaction, no time of rest.

is
honorable one.
The record of the Governor General s Body Guard is a long and extremely
what the military spirit of a succession of
It is very interesting historically as demonstrating
and self-sacrificing men can accomplish under great disadvantages and repeated
dis
patriotic
out these salient points, it falls
couragements; and if the present book does not clearly bring
short of the designs of its compiler.
ERNEST J. CHAMBERS.
38 Park Avenue, Montreal, September 23rd, 1902.
 CHAPTER I.

THE BASIS OF THE MILITIA S FOUNDATIONS.

Not drooping like poor fugitives, they came, in exodus to our

Canadian wilds;
But full of heart and hope, with heads erect,
And fearless eyes, victorious in defeat,
With thousand toils they forced their devious way
Through the great wilderness of silent woods,
That gloomed o er lake and stream, till higher rose
The Northern Star above the broad domain
Of half a continent, still theirs to hold.
Defend and keep forever as their own,
Their own and England s, to the end of time.
"The Hungry Year." W. T. KIKHV.

the special circum

OT merely the geographical situation of Upper Canada, but
stances connected with the first serious settlement of the Province as well,
made the question of national defence one of vital importance from the
country s earliest infancy. Upper Canada had become the refuge of 10,000
of the United Empire Loyalists, people hated with a fierce and ever-increasing
hatred for their loyalty to their King by their former republican neighbors-
neighbors who, to give them whatever credit may be due on that account, came

by their disloyalty naturally, by inheritance. A

rampant democracy, next to
being childishly bombastic, is nothing if not unreasonably revengeful. Revenge
of a mean description led the American revolutionists to soil the opening chapters of their
national story with as foul a blot as disfigures the pages of history, and it was only natural to
that in of their chosen policy of revenge, the citizens of the
pursuit
new republic would
suppose
seize the first opportunity they could to inflict loss and trouble upon the country which furn
ished an asylum and a home to so many of the United Empire Loyalists. Subsequent history
shows that they actually put themselves out to seize such an opportunity, and brought on their
own country a terrible chastisement for their pains.
But in proportion as Upper Canada, in its infancy, was threatened with the revengeful
ambitions of the American democrats, so did the devoted and cruelly-tried loyalty of Canada s
of
new emergency, and so did the importance of providing an adequate system
settlers rise to the

national defence magnify itself in their loyal hearts. The facts connected with the coming of

the loyalists, and the tempers and lofty characters of these noble founders of Canada s premier

province, have to be considered before it is possible to understand the motives

which led to the
establishment of the Upper Canada militia.
 the exception of some small settlements in the neighborhood of Frontenac, now Kings
With
ton, where there had for years been an old French post
of considerable importance, the present

Province of Ontario was a wilderness when Canada was ceded to Britain in 1761, and but a
amount of settlement took place before the advent of the United Empire Loyalists in 1782,
trifling
1783 and 1784. So the Loyalists, when they came into their new homes, found that there was
110 militia in the country, because there were no men to compose it. It did not take long for the
new soldier-settlers to realize the need and supply the deficiency.
The first U. E. settlers to take up land in Upper Canada were men who had served in the
various loyal colonial corps, horse and foot, which formed so large and important a part of the
Imperial armies which for eight long years succeeded, in spite of poor government support, dis
persed force, long lines of communication and great distance from the base
of supplies Eng

land i n maintaining themselves in the revolted colonies.* The property of these

men had been confiscated by the various state legislatures early during the revo

lution ;
debts due them had been proscribed and they themselves had been out
lawed. Many of their women and children sought safety in flight. And it was
not only the King s loyal colonial soldiers in the contest, and their families, who were made to

suffer for their old-fashioned belief in the Biblical injunction, "Fear God: honor the Kiug"-

the vengeance of the revolutionists extended to the non-combatant loyal colonists "Tories,"

the revolutionists contemptuously called them. A large proportion of the population of all the

revolted colonies, but particularly New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and the Caro-

linas, were opposed to the revolution, and staunchly refused to support it, though they acknowl
edged that there had been gross mismanagement of colonial affairs in England. They, during the
war, in spite of threats and actual cruelty, refused to support the movement having for its object

the displacement of a tried, dignified and stable system of government, guaranteeing equal and
and a substitution therefor of an experimental democracy.
full liberty to all, The lot of the non-
combatant loyalists was made as unendurable as that of the King s colonial soldiers and their
families, so they, too, were despoiled of their property and driven out of the country. It is

estimated that 100,000 homeless American loyalists left the country by the port of New York
alone. Many went to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Eastern Townships of Lower Can
ada (now Quebec). Ten thousand from New York and Pennsylvania came to Upper Canada.
The on these early pages of United States history lies in the fact
real foulness of this blot

that the expulsion and spoliation of the loyalists was committed in flagrant violation of the treaty

by virtue of which the Mother Country, at a time of tremendous strain upon her resources, occa
sioned by wars against France, Spain, Holland and some of the most powerful native princes of
India, and an impending war against the Armed Neutrality, comprising Prussia, Sweden and
Denmark, acknowledged, grudgingly, doubtless, but nevertheless of her own volition, the inde

pendence of her obstreperous offspring. Britain strongly held at the time she conceded inde

pendence her thirteen oldest colonies, New York, the chief city; Charleston, Savannah, Niag
to

ara, Detroit, and many other important positions, and Rodney s smashing defeat of de Grasse in
the West Indies had once more given her the command of the seas, the temporary loss of which
had proved the undoing of Lord Cornwallis gallant little army at Yorktown, weakened as it was
by the losses sustained in its long and brilliant campaigns in the southern colonies, and shut off
from its supplies by the French fleets.
*
It is stated that at one time there were 25,000 native-born American Loyalists actually in service in the
Imperial armies in America.

10
 The termination of the war was due to the ascendancy of the originally small but very
active and capable party in the British Parliament which had, even from before the very out
break of the war, constantly opposed the military measures of the government with regard to the
trans-Atlantic colonies, and supported the cause of the revolutionists.

This party grew and stronger as the war progressed, and the financial
stronger
strain increased. England was but a very poor and small country in 1780 compared to what she
is The Government majority in the House of Commons grew smaller and smaller, and in
to-day.
February, 1782, a motion was passed to send an address to the King praying "that the war might
This being a vote of non-confidence. Lord North resigned in March. 1782,
"

no longer be pursued.
Lord Rockingham formed a new Ministry, and Lord Shelburne, his Colonial Secretary, at once
opened negotiations for peace, which the Americans entered into. A provisional treaty was
signed in November, 1782, between Britain and the United States, and final treaties between all
the belligerants were signed at Versailles in September, 1783.

The treaty, as far as England and her colonies were concerned, was in the nature of a sol

emn compact, Britain exacting certain clearly specified conditions which it was thought would
secure justice for those of her colonial subjects who had remained faithful to her during the
trying years of the war.

This treaty distinctly stipulated that the loyalists should be given back their lands, confis
cated during the war, that their civil rights should be restored, that debts due them before the
war should be collectable, and that their security should be guaranteed. But no sooner had
Britain withdrawn her armies from New York, Charleston, Savannah, and other points, and the
revolutionists felt their position quite secure, than, with the characteristic tyranny of rampant

democracy, their legislatures and courts ostentatiously set at defiance the provisions of the treaty
so solemnly entered into. Deprived of the protection they had been guaranteed, the loyalists
were hounded down by the fierce fanatical spirits of their various districts, who, inflamed with
republican zeal, were determined that they should be proscribed and exiled.

Naturally, the loyalist exiles arrived on Canadian soil not merely with minds embittered
towards their former republican neighbors, but themselves absolutely devoid of the least particle
of faith in their promises or neighborly intentions. To less brave and less tried spirits, the

prospect of trying to establish in Canada a new country secure from the attacks which democ
racy, envy, and undying hatred w ere morally certain to dictate, would have appeared hope
r

less. But it must always be remembered that they did not leave their own homes and come to
their new, considering themselves as the victims of a lost, defeated cause, but as the martyrs of
a sacrificed one. The numerous soldiers among them held knowing that they and
their heads high,
their comrades of the British army and the Hessian contingents had during the long war covered
themselves with glory on many a bloody field. Their enemies boasted much of the surrender of
two British armies, both isolated by the very success of their own victorious advances into the
heart of their enemies country, and both forced to surrender to greatly superior force solely
owing to the miscarriage of faultily devised strategical combinations. But the loyalist soldiers
felt that they had to their credit a long list of unquestionably glorious victories in the field which
the historians of the revolutionists could not parallel.

So Upper Canada s loyal and hardy pioneers set about devising plans for the defence of
the new land of their adoption without any misgivings.

11
 The newcomers do not appear have made any effort to organ i/.e a militia under the
to

law nominally in force throughout the whole of Canada, which was governed as one province
from the seat of government at Quebec. It was a system after the plan which had prevailed in

France, and based upon the law of fiefs. Certain amendments had been adopted
New in 1777,

but the system did not appeal to the U. E. Loyalists any more than did the French influences

and the law which prevailed in Canada as relics of the old French administration.
civil So
the setting apart of a portion of Canada which
petitions were sent across the ocean asking for
would be free of the French influences and the French laws. Pitt gave his powerful approval,
and in 1791 the British Parliament passed the Constitutional Act, dividing Canada into two
separate provinces, Upper and Lower Canada. Colonel John Graves Simcoe, member of the
House of Commons for St. Mews, Cornwall, was appointed Governor of Upper Canada. The
Governor was at once a soldier, a statesman and a scholar, a man of great talent and amiabil

ity of lie had won great credit as Colonel of the Queen s Rangers, a colonial cav
disposition,
alry corps, during the Revolutionary War, particularly during the campaigning in New Jer

sey.*
The new Governor arrived in Canada and lost no time in assuming
in the spring of 1792,

the trying duties of his responsible office. Upper Canada was soon to have her first militia

force. The circumstances called for its speedy organization, and the basis for its foundations
lay to hand in the loyal hearts, the ready wills, the sturdy arms,
and the embittered memories of
the men who were hewing out for themselves new homes in Canada s frontier settlements. The
of offence and defence was there. It but
right metal for the construction of a mighty weapon
needed the forging.
*
The Rovohitionary~War confirmed the opinion which had boon established during the campaign of
of peace,
George II s as to the great usefulness of light cavalry, and after the conclusion of the treaty
rei<m

several dra"oon regiments in the British army underwent a change in clothing

and equipment boots, saddles
carbines of a smaller size than
belts and other articles of equipment of a light construction were adopted;
and the corps subjected to
those used before were issued, the standard height for men and horses was reduced,
an
this became
change Dragoons."
"Light (Historical Record of the 7th Queen s Own Hus,sars.)

12
 CHAPTER II.

THE FOUNDING OF A NATIONAL FORCE.

Atthe forging of the Sword

The startled air swift whirled
The red flames round the world.
From the anvil where was smitten
The steel the forges wrought into the Sword.
ISABELLA VALAXC-KV
-ISABELXJ (RAW

FTER the arrival of the new Governor there was no unnecessary delay in
the defences of the Province so far as the
providing for military
resources available would allow. A
provincial corps for special colo
nial service was raised, recruited chiefly among
veteran soldiers, and

called after Simcoe s old corps of the Revolutionary War.

the Queen s

Rangers. The first session of the Parliament of I pper Canada met

to put in force the English law to
September 17th, 1792, and passed Acts
establish trial by .jury, to establish a standard for weights
and measures.

etc., etc. There were so many questions of vital domestic c. nccrn to

not attend to the
attend to that the Governor and the Parliament could
the House prorogued. Simcoe actively
question of defence; but soon after
for its second
busied himself with the matter, and when the House met
session, March 31st. 1793, he earnestly recommended in his opening speech 1

of the militia.
the immediate passage of an Act for "the better regulation
The first business of the session was the passage of such an Act, the ideas

and the Provincial Legislature being exactly alike on that

of the Governor
The bill as passed had doubtless been drafted by the Governor
qxiestion.
himself.

idea was to organize the Upper Canada militiaon the model of the British militia
Simcoe s
of which to that date it is most interesting and need
force of that day, a service the development
ful for us in Canada to trace.
of defence against the Scots, the \\ e
Under the Anglo-Saxon kings, when the question
was a very live one in England, all men
and particularly the Danes and other over-sea raiders,
for the land they held, but there was no special
were required to bear arms as a sort of body-rent
the
Alfred s reign. That wise sovereign, about the year 880, organized
organization until King
of numbers, but the family system that of discipline.
militia or fyrd. making land the basis
were a ten tythings a hundred, and hundreds were united into county
So many families tything.
hen dux or duke. Each section of the community had not
powers each under its toga, leader,
provide arms, keep them in repair,
and
quota in time of war. but also
to
only to furnish its
train its men for so many years every year.*

"Capt.
W. K. Ward s "Short History of the Militia"
 The Saxon kings were not by any means the first sovereigns to establish a militia
system.
The most ancient national military organization of which we have any authentic record is the
grea I

military caste of Egypt, really a national militia. The defensive force of Egypt at the com
mand of the Pharoahs of the Old Testament, eighteen centuries before the Christian era, con
sisted of the soldier-farmer caste, the men of which were agriculturists in peace time soldiers ;
in
the time of war. The occupancy and tillage of the soil imposed upon them the obligation to
military service, and each man provided himself with his own arms and had to be in readiness to
serve when called upon. Two thousand of this old Egyptian were kept embodied as
militia
royal guards, and each soldier while on this service drew rations of bread, beef and wine.
The strength of the Egyptian armies depended upon the number and skill of their chiefly
archers, who fought either on foot or in chariots.
Scarcely any representations of Egyptian cav
alry are found on the monuments, but frequent mention is made in Holy Writ of the horsemen
of Egypt as accompanying Joseph, pursuing the Israelites, and being thrown in the Red Sea.

But to return to the militia force in Britain. After the Norman Conquest, A.D., 1066,
the baronial troops introduced with the continental feudal system, rendered the militia unneces

sary, but it never ceased wholly to exist, and when the period of contention between the Crown
and the barons began, the kings found their most powerful instrument in the Saxon militia.

II established in 1181
"

Henry "an assize of arms, at which every holder of land was bound
to produce one or more men fully equipped and capable of fighting in the national defence. An
Act passed in the reign of Edward I. (13 Edward I., cap. 16) decreed that every freedman between
the age of fifteen and sixty was to be available to preserve peace within his county or shire, and
liable to serve elsewhere the coming of strange enemies into the
"upon realm."
During the
reigns of Mary and Elizabeth, the statutes bearing upon the military obligations of subjects were
consolidated and the lieutenants of counties were constituted as the agents of the Crown for the
purpose of effectinglevies for the internal defence of the country.

In 1604, four years before Champlain founded Quebec, James I. abolished the old Saxon
"fyrd,"
and substituted
bands," being "trained
numbering 160,000 men, a force established
partaking of the nature both of volunteers and militia, but deficient in discipline and drill.
During the reign of Charles
(1625 to 1648), frequent disputes arose between the King
I

and the Parliament as to the command of the "trained bands," and during a Parliamentary
debate on this subject the name militia appears to have been first given to the trained bands. A
Parliamentarian of the day, Whitelocke, piously expressed his regret that this great word, this "

new word, the militia, this harsh word," had ever been introduced in the House.
One was one to establish the militia on a constitu
of the first Acts after the restoration
tional basis, owners of property by the Act of 1662 being obliged to furnish horses, horsemen,
foot soldiers, and arms in proportion to their property. The similarity of this system and that
of feudal days, when the nobility were called upon to supply their quota of retainers, must strike
any one. In 1757, the English militia having been several times called out in the meantime on
active service, a reorganization took place, and the obligation to supply the men, horses, etc., was
transferred from the owners of property to the counties and parishes, which had to provide fixed
quotas. Obligatory service by ballot was also introduced. The period of service was for three
years, the age limits being 18 to 50, with certain exemptions. An Act passed in 1758 was the
first to officially recognize volunteers as counting toward the quota.*

and Dates Her Majesty

""

(
;![:(. Ottlcy I.. Perry s "Rjiiik. Ttndfrcs in s
Army."

14
 In line with his wish to follow as far as possible the English militia system, Simcoe intro
duced by his first Militia Act into Upper Canada the office of Lieutenant of Counties, an office

held in England by a gentleman or nobleman of loyalty and distinction, as military deputy for the
King, for the government of the militia in their respective counties.
On the division of the counties or ridings, Simcoe appointed a Lieutenant in each whose
duty was the delimitation of the militia districts, with a general oversight and power of recom
mendation of officers to the command of the militia force. Simcoe s views on this subject are
found in a letter he wrote to Col. Alex. McKee on his appointment to the office of Lieutenant of
Essex County, as follows:
may not be improper to observe that this high office under the constitution of Britain is
"It

generally conferred upon the persons who seem most respectable to His .Majesty s riovernment,
for their property, loyalty, abilities and discretion in their several counties, and from a com
bination of such possessions and acquire that weight, respect, and public confidence
qualities,
which render them the natural support of constitutional authority. If on the one hand this
office has been at all times bestowed by the Sovereign with the circumspection and caution due to
the important trusts which it involves, on the other it has been a principal object of honorable
ambition, which the British Constitution approves, in the first men of the State, making a due pro
vision of power for that local aristocracy which the experience of ages has proved necessary to the
balance and permanency of her inestimable form of government."
The office of Lieutenants of Counties does not seem to have suited the conditions of the new
country, and it did not last long. The granting of commissions in the militia was preferred to

be vested directly in the Crown, without the intermediation of the Lieutenants of Counties. In
this only did Simcoe s plan fail of success.

The governing principle of this first militia law, and the principle has been retained ever
since, was practically universal liability to service. With certain very natural limitations, the
whole male population between the ages of 16 and 50, composed the militia. Every lad on
attaining the age of sixteen was obliged to enroll himself with the militia officer in charge of the
district under penalty for neglect of a fine of four dollars. This first militia of Upper Canada
was something more than a sedentary militia; though not much more, perhaps. The force was
divided into regiments and companies, and every company had to be paraded and inspected by
its captain at least twice a year, a serious enough obligation in those days, with the difficult means

of communication taken into consideration. Though there was no provision for pay for these
parades, the officer who absented himself was liable to a fine of eight dollars, and the private to
one of two dollars for each offence. The first enrollment under this Act produced a force of 4.213.
The result appears to have fallen short of expectations, and in the following year (179-t) the
Militia Act of Upper Canada was amended so as to make men up to sixty years of age eligible
for the militia, and the scope of the force was at the same time extended, the militiamen becom
ing liable for service on the war vessels on the lakes.
This was a stirring time for Europe, and also for Canada. The French Revolution, with
itsexcesses and upheavals, affected the whole world. Continental Europe stood aghast: Kng-
land girded up her loins for the inevitable conflict. In 1798, (ienesl. the Ambassador of la- 1

French Directory in the United States, began to fit out privateers against British commerce.
The anti-federalists (or democrats) encouraged him, and when France declared war upon Brit
ain they urged that the United States should enter into alliance with the new French republic
in return for the assistance France had given during the Revolutionary War. George Wash-

15
ington, at this time in his second terra as President of the "United States, requested the French
Government and the request was complied with.
to recall Genest, The war fever he was fos
tering subsided considerably upon the recall of the French agitator, but while it lasted it caused
considerable excitement in Canada, particularly in the infant Province of Upper Canada, which
considereditself, as it were, between two fires the zealous hatred of the tyrannical democracy of
the United States on the one hand, and the, to them, questionable fidelity of the French-Cana
dians of Lower Canada, on the other.

And there remained after the recall of Genest other causes for threatening agitations and war
talk in the United States. The western Indians were firm in theirdemands that the Americans
withdraw from Die country north of the Ohio, and, of course, the United States would do nothing
of the kind. It was claimed thai the obstinacy of the Indians was due to British interference

based upon a desire to keep the Indian country tinder the British nag. The retention of Detroit
and the western posts was pointed to as proof of Britain s determination to keep the United
States hemmed in to the westward. Britain had no such designs, for she repeatedly called upon
the United States to do their part towards fulfillingthe articles of the treaty of peace of 178?
with respect to the confiscated property of the expelled loyalists and the debts due them, promis
ing that as soon as that was done the British troops would be withdrawn from the western posts.
The out-and-out democrats agitated and "talked war" and the conquest of Canada, and probably
only the great personal influence of Washington preserved peace at this juncture. Jefferson,
Madison, and the whole of their party were wholly in sympathy with the French Revolution, and
adopted even the extravagant dress and symbols of the Sans-Culottes of Paris.

The anxiety naturally created in the minds of the Upper Canadians by this agitation for
war in the United States was increased by a scheme for the invasion of Canada from Louisiana
by the French, Spanish and Indian forces via the Mississippi and Michigan. The project never
materialized, as President Washington, much to the indignation of Jefferson, Madison and the
Democrats, refused to allow a French-Spanish army to traverse United States territory to attack
the colony of a friendly power.

Itwas under these circumstances that the Militia Act of 1794 was passed with a view of
making Upper Canada militia more efficient.
the Heretofore the militiamen had been expected
to provide their own arms. During 1794 there was a considerable distribution of arms through
out the Province at the public expense. A general Indian war had been in progress in the west
ern part of the United States, and General Wayne, after defeating the Shawnees with great
slaughter at the battle of the Maumee. declared his intention to attack Detroit and the other
British posts in the west. It was as much as Washington and his Government could do to pur-

suade the general from carrying out his throat.

Governor Simcoe, while this invasion was threatening, acting on instructions from Lord
Dorchester, the Governor-General, quietly called out 600 of the Upper Canadian militia for
active service. Two hundred of these men were placed in garrison at Detroit, the remaining
four hundred being disposed along the Niagara frontier.
This force remained on duty until the signing of the treaty concluded by John Jay, Wash
ington s special ambassador, and Lord (Irenville in 1794.
This same year of anxiety and threatened invasions (1794) also saw the organization of
the Koyal Canadian Volunteer Regiment, the which was recruited exclusively in
fir-it battalion of
Lower Canada; the second battalion of nine companies drawing some of its officers and recruits

16
from Lower Canada, and the rest from the Upper Province, chietly from among the United

Empire Loyalists of Glengarry.*

officered in Can
This regiment, disbanded in 1802. was a regular regiment, recruited and
The regimental uniform included scarlet coats with blue facings, grey cloth breeches and
ada.
black gaiters, buttoned to above the knee. The line companies wore three-cornered hats with
black cockades, the grenadier companies the quaint, tall, conical grenadier cap.+
Under Governor Simcoe s militia laws, each county had its own militia regiment, looking
but the ranks
formidable enough on paper by reason of the lists of full complements of officers,
cannot have been as full, for there were not at this time more than 12,000 white people, men,
women and children, in the whole of Upper Canada.
The first militia corps formed at Toronto (then York) was organized in 1798, under order-
of the Council after the
in-council issuedby the Hon. Peter Russell, who was acting as president
retirement of Governor Simcoe. The organization was an ordinary militia regiment of the day,
of the sedentary general levy type. The Hon. D. W. Smith, Surveyor-General, was appointed
colonel, and he drafted a complete establishment of officers, whose appointments were approved
by the President-in-Council, and whose names were placed
in the records. A fair proportion of

these officershad had previous military experience as officers in the British regular army, or
British militia; several had been officers in the Lincoln militia, and one had been a captain
in the

Nova Scotia militia. Two had been members of the old Queen s Rangers, the regular corps
raised for service in Upper Canada by Governor Simcoe, and named after the fighting regiment
of which under his command covered itself with glory during the Revolutionary War.
loyalists
In the list of officers of this pioneer York militia regiment, appears a name than which none
has been more intimately or more creditably associated with the Canadian militia the name
Denison. At the head of the lists of lieutenants appears the following: "Mr. John Denison,

formerly officer in the British militia."

This gentleman belonged to a well-known English family, and came to Canada from TIedon.
Yorkshire, in 1792. His English militia regiment was the 2nd West York, and he held the rank
of captain in when he removed with his family to Canada.
it

In 1801 the Militia Act was amended to a trifling extent, but the change was not productive
of much good. By 1805. with Britain, fighting on in her old grim way in Europe, almost iso
lated,with Canada practically denuded of regular troops, and with the spirit of hostility devel
defence had again assumed serious
oping apace in the United States, the question of national
The militia were warned to hold themselves in readiness, and some 4,000
importance. especially
stands of arms were distributed among them. A return of the militia showed that there were
652 officers and 7.947 non-commissioned officers and men enrolled, but also revealed the disquiet

ing fact that of the whole number only 200 had received any training for several years.

After the American Revolution, what form-; no\v the Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Clengarry.
*
their homes in
was set aside as one of the places of settlement for the United Empire Loyalists, expelled from
the district were Scottish Highlanders,
the United States. large majority of the U.F.. Loyalists who went to
A
in the Carohnas and
descendants of men who. after Culloden had been transported to the southern plantations
ias |)urin" the brief peace of
<;,.,,r<
1S02. amoiii. other veteran regiments which had fought against the French.
raised l,y the Rev. Father Alexander
disbanded, was the Cleniravrv regiment of Roman Catholic Highlanders,
McDonnell of Clen Urquhart, who. as the reiriment s chaplain, accompanied it on its campa igns.
On its dis-
bandmenl lie obtained aid from the British Government to transport the men to Canada, and lie accompanied
Hie brave chaplain
them, joining the Highlander loyalists from the Southern States in the Glengarry District.
of the Glengarry IJc^iment. rose to the Fpi-copatc and died, universally beloved. Bishop of Kingston. (Deputy
Surgeon-General F. W. Campbell s pamphlet on the War of 181-2.)

t Surgeon-Major .T. L. H. Xeilson. in V.R.I. Magazine. N o\ ember, ism.

17
 There were three Upper Canada at this time: one of staunch loyalists,
classes of people in

who felt sure that as soon as the American democrats felt that their opportunity had come they
would attack Canada; a second of passive loyalists, who turned a deaf ear to the threats across
the frontier a third, composed of professional agitators, who found their support among the
col
;

onies of recently-arrived American republicans and the disaffected generally. The influence of
the
the two last-mentioned classes operated naturally against proper attention being devoted to
so great that steps were taken to provide a remedy
militia, but eventually the danger appeared
for the existing state of affairs.

During 1807 one-fifth of the whole militia of the sister Province of Lower Canada was called

out, embodied, and trained. On November 26th, same year. Governor Gore of Upper Canada
issued a circular to Lieutenants of Counties directing them to call out the militia,
and by volun
teers or by form detachments of one-quarter of the whole, which, after being inspected
ballot to

and dismissed, were to be held in readiness to assemble at an hour s notice.

In 1808, at the fourth session of the fourth Parliament of Upper Canada, all of the existing
Acts relative to the militia were repealed, their provisions, with some vitally important
amend
consolidated into one comprehensive Act (Chap. 48, George III), and it received
the
ments, being
assent of Lieutenant-Governor Gore, March 16th, 1808.
The new Act provided for much more organization within the militia, and enabled the Gov
ernor to march the militia out of the Province to the assistance of Lower Canada
when invaded
or in a state of insurrection, or in pursuit of an enemy "who may have
invaded this Province,

and also for the destruction of any vsesels built or building, or any depot or magazine formed or

forming, or for the attack of an who may be embodying

enemy or marching for the purpose of
this Province, or for the attack of any fortification now erected or which may be here
invading
after erected to cover the invasion thereof."

Officers in the regular

Among the provisions of this important Act were the following :

were given precedence over militia officers. Each district was to have its regiment and
army
own limits. The limits of age were fixed at 16 to 60, those between 50 and 60
each company its

being exempted except in case of emergency. There was an annual muster day, a mere formal,
was liable to a penalty of a fine of two dol
personal enrollment; and the man absenting
himself
fol
lars. The Act still adhered to the original Saxon militia rule as to armament, providing as
six months after such enrollment provide
lows: "Each militiaman, after enrollment, shall within
six rounds of powder
himself with a good and efficient musket, fusil, rihY or gun, with at least
with law he was liable to a fine of five shillings in peace
and ball." For failure to comply this

and eight dollars in war by his commanding officer.

time, unless excused Training was
time,
The law obliged captains to call out their
aimed at, lint in a very modest and imperfect manner.
than twice nor oftener than four times each year for arm inspection and
train
companies not less

ing.
in the various
clause of the Act, the 31st, authorized the formation of troops of cavalry
One
under this clause, that the original troop of
regimental districts, and it was fourteen years later,
the present Governor-General s Body Guard was first raised.

On upon the male population of Canada, and

the whole this Act imposed serious obligations
in view of the readiness with which they submitted to so many exacting terms of service, it is diffi
in inducing themselves to believe that
cult to understand how the American politicians succeeded
Canada to capture the country. They
they had but to "semi a Hag and
a proclamation" to

found their mistake in due course of time.

is
 CHAPTER III.

THE CAVALRY OF T812-18I4.

This was in the time of battles,

Matties for the native land ;

Whatever was in safe keeping,

Was held by the strong right hand
N.

UST as the period of the War was the heroic age of Canada, so it
of 1812-1815
was certainly the most vital epoch in the history of the Canadian
militia. The supreme test of war proved the practical value of the
militia as a defensive force; revealed certain defects but more points
of strength in the system; and clearly demonstrated that so long as
Canadians are determined to preserve their independence of the repub
lic to the south of them, they can do so. The war did something more.
It showed that the Canadian people inherited high soldierly qualities
from their warlike ancestry, and it firmly established a strong patriotic, military
spirit in Canada, which can never die out so long as the story of Detroit, (Queens-
ton Heights, Lundy s Lane, Chrysler s Farm and Chateauguay is told in history.

It was to the fervent military spirit begotten of Canada s victorious fight

for independence against such terrific odds, and to the country s necessities disclosed dur

ing the long campaign, that the Governor-General s Body Guard owed its existence. his A
tory of that corps consequently calls for some reference to the events of those stirring years.
At the opening of the war the population of Canada was but 425,000 souls, of whom but
77,000 lived in Upper Canada. The population of the United States was about 6,000,000.
There were only 4,450 regular troops in Canada. These included the 8th, 41st, and 100th
Regiments of the line, some detachments of the Royal Artillery, the 10th Royal Veterans Regi

ment, the Newfoundland Fencibles, and the Glengarry Feneibles. Of these there were only
1,500 men above Montreal.
The United States Congress passed the bill empowering the President to declare war against
Great Britain, June ISth. 1812.
The time appeared propitious for an attack on the stronghold of British principles in
America, the home of the United Empire Loyalists and their descendants. With the exception
of Russia, the whole continent of Europe lay prostrate at the feet of its conqueror. Napoleon
Bonaparte. His power was He had the resources of all the conquered powers at
at its zenith.
his command. lie appeared invincible, and his hatred of England, the one consistent and uncon

querable obstacle to his complete triumph, was fiercer than it had ever been. Britain stood com
mitted to the Peninsular War, where the sight and the deeds of the redcoats were to work a resur-

19
rection of national spirit, but that great movement was still in the womb of the future. Dema
for Napoleon to subdue Russia and then march
gogues predicted that it was a mere matter of time
back to France, cross the Pyrenees and drive the "hateful leopards into the sea."
The garri
limit to meet the
sons of regular troops in Canada had been reduced to the lowest possible
It was
demands for troops necessitated by the campaign for the world s freedom in Europe.
judged to be the hour of England s direst extremity,
and of her enemies crowning opportunity.

Before the breaking of the storm, General Brock, with the clear foresight of a
born soldier,

had taken steps to parry the first blow, wherever it might fall. With a total population of but
available to defend a frontier of 1,300 miles in
77,000 souls, and with but 1.500 regular troops
length, the prospect was enough to
have daunted a less brave heart than that of Brock.
of 400 rank and file (soon increased
During 1811, the formation of a special service battalion
to 600) among the Highland settlers, to be called the Glengarry Light Infantry, was authorized,
and the organization and equipment completed before the end of the year.
amendment was passed to the Militia Act in March,
On the advice of General Brock an
1812. providing for the embodiment of two companies from each militia regiment, to be consid
ered as flank companies of their respective regiments, and to be regularly
and frequently trained
as such. A vote of five thousand pounds sterling was passed to put this provision into effect.
of these flank companies were immediately raised, though the
men were required to attend
Many
uniforms, and without travelling allowances.
six trainingsper month, without pay. without
and clothing to
Even before war was declared, Brock asked for authority to issue at least rations
men undergoing training, and his persistence carried the day, to some extent.
the
histories in of the
The battalion of incorporated militia which is spoken of so frequently
s Lane, was a Canadian regular regiment recruited and
war, and which lost so heavily at Luiidy
men of these flank companies. The flank
officered in 1813 almost exclusively from among the
or first line of the militia the bulk of each regi
companies were really regarded as the active part
;

embodiment, into companies, called the service

ment, formed, when an emergency called for its
reserve only called out when absolutely necessary.
companies, being considered as a
a voluntarily
Brock thus practically divided the militia into two distinct classes, first,
enrolled, organized,trained, available body an active force; and, secondly, the rest of the
service, but not embodied or trained. The creation of this distinction,
militia liable by law for
of the parent ser
which continues, theoretically, to the present, was in line with the development
vice in the Mother Country.
In 1806 a "Training Act" was passed in England which provided for the raising by bal
lot of a force of -JOO.OOU men to be trained for a whole year every third year. Any man bal

loted had the option of serving as an efficient in a volunteer corps.

In 1808 a force of "local militia" was established in England and Scotland by Lord Cas-
militia." which became a sort of sedentary militia,
the "local
tlerea-h in addition to the "general

the men, from 18 to 30, serving for four years.

militia" being organized into regiments,
militia a select or active force by the
Brocksystem of extracting from the Canadian general
s

was early justified by the excellent work of the mihtia

organization of flank or service companies,
of Queenston Heights. The flank companies which
at the capture of Detroit and the battle
the first Canadian militia to be uniformed,
took part in the capture of Detroit were probably
clothed them in the cast,
Brock, at the of Major Evans of the 8th Regiment, having
suggestion
off clothing of the 41st Regiment.

20
 It was
employment of cavalry was made during the war
for obvious reasons.
Very little

hard to get, hard to maintain, and hard to employ in action to advantage. Most of the fighting
were often
was bush fighting, and under the primitive conditions of these days tlir loyal Indians
better suited to perform necessary scouting and advance outpost duties
than were cavalry. Still

some very goodand useful work was performed during the war by a few independent troops of
threatened districts.
dragoons or mounted rifles organized in the various
Only one regular cavalry regiment, the 19th Light Dragoons,* was in the country, but
some of its squadrons were able to render valuable service at the most critical part of the war.
been pretty well
These squadrons, with the troops of "Provincial Dragoons," appear to have
of the
taxed with scouting, courier, and escort duties in the Niagara district during the progress
war. But the whole number of mounted militiamen was small, for of a total of 7,286 militia
186 were cavalry.
actually enrolled in Upper and Lower Canada during the war, only
numbers were few. began to be heard
Early in the war "provincial dragoons," though their
"Detroit" from the enemy, above Squaw Island,
in a gallant attempt to recover the brig
of, and
October 9th, 1812, Major Dragoons
Pell of the
Niagara was mortally wounded.
The town of Newark, captured in May, 1813, by General Dearborn, remained all summer
and autumn in the hands of the Americans. During this period many traitors, including Mai-
lory and Wilcox, two former members of the Assembly,
who had been expelled by Brock, returned
to Newark. These men a troop of cavalry with themselves as principal officers, and
organized
traitors as they could find in Canada, and a crowd of adventurers
filled up the ranks with such
they recruited in Buffalo. They called themselves the "Canadian They were Volunteers."

vised in foraging expeditions, and as guides and scouts for the enemy, a duty they
were well

qualified to discharge, knowing the roads. They were charged with murdering loyal subjects in
cold blood, and generally with maurauding. So obnoxious did this corps of freebooters become
that a troop of loyal Canadian volunteers was formed to put a stop to their operations. Captain
William Hamilton Merritt, of St. Catharines, was appointed to the command of the troop.* lie
followed up the irregulars with persistent perseverence, literally dogging their steps, capturing

many of them, and bringing them to trial and the halter. Captain Merritt s men entered with
such zest into the discharge of their function of heading off Wilcox s men that at last the latter

dared not venture out of the American lines. July 29th, 1814, seven of Wilcox s troopers were
hanged at Ancaster by order of General Drummond, and eight more
condemned to death were
sent to to receive the penalty of their sentence. Five days later, at Lundy s Lane, the
Quebec
remnant of the corps was annihilated, and Wilcox was shot shortly afterwards near Port Erie.
\V. II. Merritt s
Major Lisle of the 19th Light Dragoons, under whose orders Captain
to December. 1814. stated that this corps
troop of Provincial Dragoons served from July, 1813,
"were at all times of the most essential service from their perfect knowledge of the country.

and the zeal and bravery they always displayed in its defence.J

Major Merritt, second in command of the Governor General s Body Guard, is a grandson
of the gallant commanding officer of the old dragoon troop of the Niagara district.

* Kcnv called the 19th Hussars. Were organized as l.iyht Dragoon- ISO::, became l.anccrs in ISKi, dis

banded in 1821. revived as Hussars in 1801.

t Captain Merritt. of the St. Catharines Dragoon-., was a -on of Major Thomas Merritt. who served in
the Revolutionary War as a cornet in the Queen s Hangers Simeoe - famous regiment).
I
He commanded the
cavalry in Upper Canada durinj; the War of ISI 2. and collected the
swords of the surrendered officers at Queens-
ton Height-. He was one of the pall-bearers at Ceiieral P.rock s funeral.

I Lieut. -Col. E. A. Cruikshank s History of the 13th Regiment of Infantry.

21
 First Royals on their
December, 1813, a troop of the 19th Light Dragoons accompanied the
punitive expedition from Niagara Falls on the United
States side, to Fort Niagara, when they
for the wanton destruction of Newark and other
destroyed every building eu route in retaliation
outrages during the time the Americans maintained themselves iu Canadian territory.
Mounted men came to notice on both sides in connection with Fitzgibbon s daring adven
to the
ture at Beaver Dams, June 24th, 1813. Boerstler s column, which fell such an easy prey
cool daring of the young British subaltern, was preceded by a party of mounted riflemen,
who
ran into some of Fitzgibbon s Indian outposts soon after the alarm had been given by Laura
Secord, the heroine of the war. During the cessation of the fighting, which was caused by the
with twenty men of his troop of Chippewa
parley between Boerstler and Fitzgibbon, Captain Hall,
This little reinforcement
Dragoons, joined Fitzgibbon s small and greatly outnumbered
force.

had considerable influence in the result of the negotiations. Fitzgibbon had been slyly negotiat
the subordinate of a mythical general of an
ing for the surrender of the American force as
equally mythical army, and Colonel Boerstler
demanded that he be granted an interview with the
lieutenant s superior. The subaltern, with ready upon the opportune arrival
Irish wit, seized

of Captain Hall as a way out of the difficulty. He induced Captain Hall to impersonate "the
Boerstler s pride was appeased, and the appearance of the Chippewa Dra
officer in command,"
on the negotiations.* The trophies of this
goons, judiciously introduced, had no little effect
smart affair were two field two ammunition waggons, the colors of the 14th U. S. Infantry
pieces,
and 542 men. Included among the latter were fifty "dragoons" and thirty "mounted militia
men." The United States army operating in the Niagara district was understood to include
250 or 300 dragoons.
The one occasion during the war when in the open field the United States troops succeeded
in out-mameuvring and routing a British army was the only occasion upon
which they used
mounted in considerable numbers. When Proctor, with his little army of 500 British and
troops
890 Indians began the poorly-managed retreat from Amherstburg, the United
States general,
of 3,500 men, of whom no less than 1,500
Harrison, started in pursuit with a well-found army
were mounted riflemen, principally from Kentucky. The retirement was most leisurely con
ducted, and badly executed in every way. His strength in mounted men (mobility) gave Har
rison a great advantage in the pursuit, and when streams, unfordable by infantry,
were come to,

each horseman took up an infantry soldier behind him. When Tecumseh s Indians and the
remnant of the 41st finally stood at bay, Harrison s mounted men made short
work of their
mounted men the of the British
resistance. Harrison in his report wrote :" The received fire

The horses in front of the column retired from the fire;

line and were ordered to charge.
broke through the
another was given by the enemy, and our column at length getting in motion,
enemy with irresistible force. In one minute the contest in front was over, and our mounted
1

men. wheeling upon them and pouring in a destructive fire, they immediately [flu-rendered.
in the advance
Proctor had a few mounted men in his force, but they appear to have been
A action Proctor reported that
of his retreat, probably on escort duty. couple of days after the
he had with him fifty-three mounted men.
llth, 1813, Colonel .Morrison
with 900 men and
At Chrysler s Farm, where, November
division of 2,500 men and
three field pieces so crushingly defeated General Boyd s United States
victorious British commander was six
six guns, the whole cavalry force at the disposal of the
a situation
dragoons,"
accounted for by the fact that Morrison s little force
probably
"provincial

Kinust ord s History.

2-2
had been transported from Kingston by lake. History is silent as to what part the
to Iroquois

lonely six dragoons played in the fight. The Americans had a considerable force of cavalry, who

formed up for a charge upon the position held by the British regulars, but were so warmly
received by the 89th that they retired.
In February, 1814, a picquet of light cavalry accompanied the column of Colonel Scott,
which crossed Lake St. Francis on the ice and captured the United States supply depot and
transport at Salmon River.
Luudy Lane was pre-eminently an infantry fight, but mounted troops had a share in it,
s

if not a very conspicuous one. Kiall and Drummond had available for duty that eventful day
135 officers and men of the 19th Light Dragoons, and 39 officers and men of the Provincial
Dragoons. The mounted force in the United States army engaged included two squadrons of
cavalry (about 100 men), and 180 "mounted volunteers," including Wilcox s desperadoes.
These troops were movements and skirmishes immediately
considerably in evidence in the
preceding the big battle. In the successful reconnaisance on July 4th, the 19th had one subal
tern and three rank and file wounded. The following day, in the action near Chippewa, the 19th
had one sergeant and five rank and file wounded. In his report on this action Major-General
Riall remarked: am particularly obliged to Major Lisle of the 19th Light Dragoons for the
"I

manner in which he covered and protected one of the 24-pounders which had been disabled."
The Provincial Dragoons were not idle during this stage of the campaign. General Riall s
official reports show that the Provincial Dragoons were iised to good effect on scouting and

reconnaisance work during the advance of the much superior American forces. In his report
he mentioned that an officer of Provincial Dragoons left at St. David s to watch the enemy had
been fired at by some of the enemy s dragoons.
During the battle of Lundy s Lane itself, the 19th and Provincial Dragoons appear to have
been employed along the roads in rear of and to the flanks of the British position. Some of the
mounted men preceded Drummond s infantry as they advanced to take up their position, check
ing the advance of the United States regular troops at a most critcal part of the battle, before
the British infantry had deployed. Sir Gordon Drummond in his official report of the battle

paid this tribute to the service rendered by the 19th at this time :

reviewing the action from its commencement the first object which presents itself is
"In

the steadiness and good countenance of the squadron of the 19th Light Dragoons, under Major
Lisle."

After the action became general, and the United States troops made their movement to
outflank the British position, the 19th were withdrawn and posted on the road in rear of the
British left, a trifle north of Lundy s Lane; but too far in the rear to prevent what occurred.
Some United and the line of battle, and cap
States dragoons got to the road between the 19th
tured Major-General Riall while being carried to the rear wounded, and also Captain Lorin^.
A. D. C. to General Drummond, who was despatched with orders to .Major Lisle to advance his
men nearer to the front. This movement the 19th, accompanied by some of the Provincial Dra
goons, due course
in executed, driving back the Americans. The official returns of the battle
give the little cavalry force in the famous victory as follows: 19th Light Dragoons, rank and
file, wounded. 2: prisoner, 1; horses, 14 casualties: Provincial Dragoons, 1 captain, prisoner; 2
rank and file missing. The captured captain of Provincial Drag-onus was Captain W. II. Merrill
of the Niagara troop. He was detained a prisoner of war at Albany until the terms of peace
were concluded.

23
 Immediately after the Americans began their retreat, Sir Gordon Drummond detached all

his light troops, cavalry and Indians in pursuit to harass the retreat.
But the cavalry force availablewas too small to be able to accomplish much against such
a strong force of artillery and infantry as still remained with the American general.
Several times during the Avar small parties of the regular and militia infantry corps were
occasionally mounted to supply the deficiency in mounted men. Sir Gordon Drummond, for
instance, in a report dated incamp before Fort Erie, -4th August, 1814, wrote: have this "I

morning detached an officer of the Quartermaster-General s Department with a party of dra

goons and a few mounted men of the Glengarry Light Infantry by the road leading upon Fort
Erie by Bird s and Tyce Horn s, along the lake shore, to make an accurate reconnaisance of the
enemy s position."

A squadron of the 19th Light Dragoons under Captain Eustace figured honorably in these
operations against Fort Erie. Sergeant Powell of the Dragoons, who acted as guide at the dis
astrous assault on behaved most gallantly and was mentioned in orders.
August 16th,
District General Orders of September 7th, referring to the successful attack on the Ameri
can No,
"Picket the previous day, an exploit in which the whole cavalry detachment partici
4"

pated, contained the following Sergeant Powell, 19th Light Dragoons, has been named to the
:

Lieutenant-Genera! as having again distinguished himself on this occasion."

In a report by Lieut-General Drummond on the repulse of the American sortie from Fort
Erie on September 17th, appeared the following: have reason to be pleased with the activity
"I

and zeal which Major Lisle and the officers and men of the 19th Dragoons have uniformly dis
played.
The Provincial Dragoons also had their place in these trying operations, participating with
and reconnaisance duties.
the 19th in patrol A particularly smart naval brigade under Captain
Dobbs, R.N., was present with Sir Gordon Drummond s besieging force, and the Provincial
Dragoons appeal to have divided with the blue jackets and marines the distinction of being
1

the handy men of the force, being used as scouts, boatmen, axemen, etc.

In a letter from Lieutenant-General Drummond to Sir George Prevost, dated in camp before
Fort Erie, August 24th, 1814, appeared the following: "Having long seen the necessity of the
appointment of a provost marshal with this division, I beg to recommend that a commission of that
kind be accordingly prepared, and if your Excellency has no candidate for the situation, that it
be conferred upon Cornet Amos McKenney of the Niagara Light Dragoons, that officer at present
acting in that capacity and apparently well qualified."

Altogether it is evident that if the services rendered by the few extemporized militia cav

alry corps of 1812-14 were not very conspicuous, they were very useful.
There does not appear to have been any attempt to organize any cavalry in York during the
war, but the flank companies of the York Regiment covered themselves with glory whenever

they faced the foe.

In a list of officers who served in the East York Battalion during 1S12 and 1ST:!, appear

several names which are familiar to those acquainted with the history of the Governor-General s
IJody Guard. such being hose of Lieutenant-Colonel Chewitt, Captain John
1

Anioii" 1 "William

Bullon. Lieutenant Charles Drnison and Lieutenant George T. Denison.

Captain John Button, whose father had served in the Revolutionary War, was great grand
father of Major J. R. Button of the Governor-General s Body Guard. Lieutenants Charles

24
and George T. Denison were brothers, the sons oi the Lieutenant John Denison whose name fig

ured among the original officers of York s very first militia organization raised in 1798.
George Taylor Denison (generally known as G. T. Denison of Bellevue) served as an ensign
during the war, in the York flank companies ("The York Volunteers"). The young militia
officer appears to have possessed in a marked degree the soldierly instinct and energy which has

always characterized this martial family. He was consequently often employed on special service
and had communication between York, Kingston, Burlington and
a great deal of riding to do, for

the posts on the Niagara frontier had to depend largely upon the bush roads. The favorite
means of communication was via Lake Ontario, but navigation was often precarious, owing to
the large United States naval force, and at frequent periods of the war, the road communication
had to be depended upon entirely. The courier service at this time was a most vital duty, and
must often have been a very lonely and dangerous one. In his most interesting book, "Soldier
of
ing in Canada." Lieut. -Col. George T. Denison (of Hey don Villa), speaking of this period
his grandfather s service, says "My grandfather
: often spoke of his once being sent with a large
sum of money, about $40,000, from York around to the army headquarters in the Niagara fron
tier. He was approaching St. David s when a dragoon came galloping towards him at full
speed. When he came near he said: Are you the officer from York with a large sum of
money? Not knowing his object, my grandfather at first denied it, when the man said: St.

David s is captured, the enemy are coming this way, and I have been sent to warn him to go
back to York. Two more
dragoons came in sight, chased by a party of the enemy s cavalry.
My grandfather turned and galloped away, and was chased several miles, escaping with great
difficulty."

At the capture of York in April, was sent by a party of men

1813, Lieutenant Denison
to burn the shipping to prevent it from falling into the enemy s hands. The naval officer in
charge of a frigate refused to have the torch applied, and while Lieutenant Denison was engaged
in a heated discussion over the point, the frigate was captured with all on board of her, and
Mr. Denison was a prisoner for six months until exchanged.
When peace was declared not an American soldier stood on Canadian soil except as a

prisoner.

25
 CHAPTER IV.
THE YORK DRAGOONS.

Oh, leal are the men of my heart s desire

Their father s were leal in the days gone by;

And their blood is blythe with the subtle flre

The purple breeds, and their hearts are high,
True and gallant and dear to me.
With a strong hand each and a pedigree.
TlIEOUORK IlODKRTS.

STATE of things familiar to all readers of history, particularly of that

of the English peoples, succeeded the close of the great war.

As
soon as peace was declared the question of national defence was

ignored, and governors and governed utterly disregarded the future

welfare of the the institution which had had so much to do
militia,

with the preservation of the country, and threw themselves with characteristic aban
don into the development of the national resources of the country, as though the
of wealth would not be an
very development of those resources and the accumulation
additional incentive to attack from the envious and evil disposed.
True enough

there was a special excuse at this time for the

concentration of energy upon com
The resources
marvellous extent of the natural of the
mercial and agricultural enterprise.
and the introduction of steam navi
country had been demonstrated, emigrants were pouring in,
which had actually taken place. The war
gation gave promise of the commercial revolution
bad kept the development of the country back, now it progressed by bounds. Provincial legis
for enactments regulating vari
lators found it had to keep pace with the demands made upon them
ous phases of commercial and social life. There was time for only a passing thought to the mil
of Pro
itia. The Incorporated Militia, the Glengarry Light Infantry, the extemporized troops
vincial Dragoons were disbanded, and as far as the ordinary militia were concerned, things
The names of the militia officers contin
reverted to the condition they were in before the war.
the regularly as per the Act of 1808. and the
ued to make a brave showing in long lists prepared
but with
annual continued to be kept on June 4th, with all of its fun and frolic,
"training day"

no training.
in we have at page
published by Rev. Dr. Scadding
.

In "Toronto of Old," 18<3,

annual military "trainings" in Toronto :--" On the green sward

picture presented to us of the
the annual military trainings on the
of the bank between Princes Street and George Street,
At later the day
fourth of June- the old King s birthday were wont to take place.
a period

of meeting was the 23rd of April, St. George s Day, the fete of George IV. Military displays

26
on a grand scale in and about Toronto have not been uncommon in modern times, exciting the
enthusiasm of the multitude that usually assembles on such occasions. But in no way inferior
in point of interest to the unsophisticated youthful eye, half a century ago. unaccustomed to

anything more elaborate, were those motley mustering* of the militia companies. The costume
of the men may have been various, the fire arms only partially distributed, and those that were
to be had not of the brightest hue, nor of the most scientific make, the lines may not always have
been perfectly straight, nor their constituents well matched in height. Nevertheless, as a
. .

military spectacle, these gatherings and manoeuvres on the grassy bank here, were effective; they
were always anticipated with pleasure and contemplated with satisfaction. The officers, on these
occasions,some of them mounted, were arrayed in uniforms of antique cut in red coats with ;

wide black breast lappets and broad tail flaps; high collars, tight sleeves and large cuffs; on the
head a black hat, the ordinary high-crowned civilian hat, with a cylindrical feather some eighteen
inches inserted at the top, not in front, but at the left side (whalebone surrounded with feathers
from the barnyard, scarlet at the base, white above). Animation was added to the scene by a
drum and a few fifes executing with liveliness The York Quickstep, The Reconciliation,
and The British Grenadiers. And then, in addition to the local cavalry corps, there were the
clattering scabbards, the blue jackets and bear-skin helmets of Captain Button s Dragoons, from
Markham and "Whitechurch.

"Numerously, in the rank and file at these musterings as well as among the officers, com
missioned and non-commissioned were to be seen men who had quite recently jeopardized their
defence of the country.
lives in the At the period we are speaking of, only some six or seven
years had elapsed since an invasion of Canada from the south. The late war, for a long while,
very naturally formed a fixed point in local chronology, from which times and seasons were cal
culated; a fixed point, however, which to the newcomer, and even to the indigenous, who, when
the late war was in progress, were not in bodily existence, seemed already to belong 1o a remote

past. An impression of the miseries of war, derived from the talk of those who had actually
felt them, was very strongly stamped in the minds of the rising generation; an impression ac
companied also at the same time with the uncomfortable persuasion derived from the same
source, that another conflict was inevitable in due time. The musterings on Training-day were
thus invested with interest and importance in the minds of those who were summoned to appear
on these occasions as also in the minds of the boyish looker-on, who was aware that ere long he
would himself be required by law to turn out and take his part in the annual militia evolutions.
and perhaps afterwards, possibly at no distant hour, to handle the musket or wield the sword in
earnest.

During the session of 1822, the second session of the eighth Parliament of Upper Canada.
an Act of a temporary character affecting the militia was passed. This Act (Chapter III., 2
George IV.), provided certain amendments to the Act of 1808, among other changes being the
substitution of April 23rd (St. George s Day, and the King s birthday), as the date for train

ing day, instead of June 4th, as heretofore. This Act of 1822 was in operation for only four
years, expiring naturally by lapse of time, and the original Act of 1808 (Chapter I., 48 George
III.), came into force again.
There appears have been something of the nature of a revival of interest in militia mat
to
ters this year (1822), and Colonel Chewett. who was still in command of the 1st West York
Regi
ment of militia, decided to avail himself of the provisions of clause .31 of the Act of 1808, as
renewed in the Act of 1822, to establish a troop of cavalry in his regimental district in connec-
 turn with his battalion. Having reached this determination, Colonel Chewed applied to Captain
George T. Denison of Bellevue, Toronto, then commanding a company in the 1st West
York, to
assist him. Captain Denison having served through the war of 1812 with distinction, and being
a particularly good horseman, well acquainted with the farming community, and of a
decidedly
energetic temperament, was considered the most available and best-equipped to undertake this
duty.

Captain Denison at once took upon himself the task offered and devoted himself to its exe
cution with characteristic energy, laying well and firmly the substantial foundations
upon which
several generations of Denisons have built to the country s advantage and their own honor.

Captain Denison married, 18th December, 1806, Esther Borden Lippincott, the only
daughter of Captain Richard Lippincott, a native of New Jersey, and an active officer in the
King during the Revolutionary War.
s colonial service
April 27th, 1782, Captain Lippincott,
under authority of the Board of "Associated Loyalists of New York, was instrumental in hav
ing hanged, as an act of retribution, Captain Joshua Huddy, of Washington s army, who had
summarily executed Philip White, a relative of Captain Lippincott, a Loyalist, who had been
surprised and captured within the lines of the Revolutionary army while on a stolen visit to his
mother on Christmas Day. Washington demanded of the British authorities the surrender of
Captain Lippincott, and they refusing to comply, he ordered that by way of reprisal one of the
British prisoners of equal rank, to be chosen by lot, should be executed. The lot fell on a boy-
captain of the Guards, named Charles Asgill, but he was granted a respite pending the finding of
a British court-martial, summoned to try Captain Lippincott. The court acquitted the captain,
and the young officer of the Guards, who lived to be General Sir Charles Asgill, owed his life to
a request for clemency made to General Washington by the King and Queen of Prance. Cap
tain Lippincott received from the Crown a grant of three thousand acres in Upper Canada. He
survived until 1826, when, at the age of 81, he expired at York in the residence of his son-in-law,
George Taylor Denison, whose eldest son was named Richard Lippincott Denison.
The organization of this troop of cavalry in connection with the 1st West York is histori

cally a very interesting event, for it was the first attempt to organize a cavalry force as a portion
of the Upper Canada militia.

In the English Militia Acts passed during the reign cf Charles II. (1660-85), we find that the
English militia included regiments of "horse." In 1778, the so-called Fencible Corps and Pro
visional Regiments of Yeomanry, including Dragoon regiments ( practically mounted infantry
corps), as well as foot. After 1794, when Mr. Pitt passed his bill "for the encourage
ment and discipline" of the volunteers, and made his historical appeal to the "gentlemen and
yeomanry" in each county, the Fencible Cavalry began to be called "Volunteer Yeomanry Cav
alry." and finally the term "Volunteer" was dropped in the ease of mounted corps and applied
only to infantry volunteers.

In 1804 there were 40,000 yeomanry in Great Britain, and in 1827, 24,000. Though the
numbers of the force dwindled greatly during the long peace, it did not go out of existence as
did its sister service, the militia.

If the experience of the parent service could be taken as a criterion, the experiment pro
mised well, and Captain Denison went to pains to assure its success. He selected for
officers in the troop Mr. Aaron Silverthorn as lieutenant, and Mr. Charles Richardson as cor-
net.* Mr. Silverthorn \vas a fanner living near Toronto, who had served under Brock during
the war, had done good service and had abundant energy and plenty of intelligence, Mr. Rich
ardson, after serving for some years in the troop, moved to the old town of Niagara, where he
practiced law for many years as a barrister.
No time appears to have been lost in procuring the men and setting to work. Drills were

started and an organization completed and maintained in spite of repeated discouragement. The
officers and men went to great expense to provide themselves with uniforms, and they were pro

mised from time to time that swords and pistols would be issued to them. But they got nothing but
the promises. In spite of these official discouragements, and in spite of the fact that they received
no remuneration whatever, the officers and men of the troop continued to devote much time to drill
ing in h eld movements without arms. If the troops did not receive much practical official

encouragement, they appeal- to have made a brave showing in their privately-purchased uniforms,
and to have earned many compliments for their spirited and patriotic conduct.
The character of the troop as one of light dragoons t was a foregone conclusion. In a

previous chapter the general change from heavy to light dragoons in the British service has been

referred to, and the preference for light dragoons still held in the service. It must have been

felt, too, in Canada, owing to the good work done during the War of 1812 by the 19th Light Dra

goons and the various light troops of "Provincial Dragoons."

The character of the uniform was settled in a decidedly peculiar way, and with very
interesting results. The story is well told by Captain F. C. Denison (later Lieut-Colonel) :

arranging the uniform of the new troop, it so chanced that a master tailor of
"In Her
Majesty 13th Light Dragoons,} named Wedge, had just about that time left the regiment
s and
emigrated to York (now Toronto), where he had opened a tailoring establishment. This was
too good an opportunity to be lost. Captain Denison at once decided upon adopting the 13th

Light Dragoons was employed to make the necessary uniforms for offi
as a model. The tailor

cers and men, and in a short time the troop was fully supplied. From that accidental cause,
the blue and buff uniform of the 13th Hussars became the uniform of the great body of cavalry
of the Dominion of Canada. When the 13th Light Dragoons were changed to the 13th Hus
sars, the cavalry corps in this country (except the G.G.B.G., which retained the blue dragoon uni
form) followed the change, and in the Fenian troubles, when that splendid regiment was sent to
Canada, they found the Canadian cavalry dressed in their own familiar uniform.
When the remains of General Brock and Lieut.-Col. Macdonnell were removed from their
temporary resting place in Fort George to the monument of Queenston Heights, October 13th,
1824, the York Dragoons were represented by Captain Denison.

*
The rank of cornet no longer exists in the British service. The word, derived from the French "cor-
nette," signified both a standard and a stiindnrd-lic;ircr. somewhat as did our word ensign. The rank of cornet
was abolished in the Imperial Army August 2Cth, 1871, but was not abolished in Canada until lS7(i.

Dragoons were originally intended to act purely and simply as the mounted infantry lay writers on
t
ilitary Mih jcet- are so fond of writing about and theorizing upon
military in this twentieth century. They were raised
id used by Marshal I5ris>ac in 1554. and were classed as heavy or light dragoons, according to the weight of the
and
men horse s and equipment. They were armed with "dragons." short firearms, with barrels only sixteen inches
which owed their name to the fantastic habit of (ailing arms after serpent*, beasts of prey. etc. From the
French name of the weapon, "dragon." came the name "dragoon." The first dragoon regiment in the British
service was raised in and the iir-t light dragoon regiment, now the 15th Hussars, in 1759. These regi
lt>83.

ments carried -hurt. hea\v matchlock muskets and bayonets, though afterwards the lighter fusil and finally the
carbine in the reiizn of George l.i
( WB.8 -ub-tituted. Dragoons were considered and treated as infantry, and
had drums but no colors. (Capt. on ley I..
Perry.)

J Raised as dragoons during the reign

of George 1.. 1715: Light Dragoons, 1782; Hussars, 1861.

29
 Tin- whole troop (lid not take long to get itself into presentable sliiipe. in spile of the neg
"
"

lect of the (loveriiment to supply the arms. In a paper called the U. E. Loyalist, of April

26th, 1828, appeared the following paragraph:-

"\Vednesday, April 23rd, King s birthday parade The appearance of Captain Denison s
Militia Cavalry in full dress, and well mounted, reflected the highest credit 011 the officers and

men of the troop."

From 1822 to 1837 the uniform of the corps was in the old style a blue coatee, with buff

facings over the breast, thickly laced with silver for the officers, and laced also on the sleeves
and back. The shako was of bear skin, of helmet shape, but with a plume of red and white
feathers standing erect up the side. The overalls had a double white stripe down the outside.
A girdle or sash was also worn. (Historical Record.)
Meantime interest in the general militia appeared to be rapidly diminishing, and May
16th, 1829, an important militia order was issued, having for its object ^apparently the easing of
the already easy service in the militia. This directed that each cavalry regiment should consist
of two battalions each ;
the first of men not exceeding forty years of age the second or reserve ;

battalion of men residing within the limits of the regiment and from forty to the limit age as pre
scribed by law. The establishment of the first battalion was fixed at eight companies of thirty
men each. One company in each wing was to be armed with rifles. Young men under eighteen
were not assembled with the battalion, but were to be enrolled as heretofore, and arrange
to be

ments were ordered to be made by C.O. s to have them "instructed" in small divisions in their
own homes.
As internal discontent developed, so did the official neglect of the militia increase, for the
authorities became more and more anxious to avoid giving the
appearance of anxiety. It was

impossible to get arms for the dragoons or tohave anything done for the militia at large. The
disturbers were forging pikes, drilling, and actually mobilizing bat the authorities relied upon
;

a masterful policy of drift.

THIS BU(n\ i3 I HE PROPERTY

OF . . .

He IP 5, Toronto

AND MUSI Nil I u. HE -MOVED

FROM 1HE l)PFI "E.

30
 CHAPTER V.
THE REBELLION OF 37- 38. THE QUEEN S LIGHT DRAGOONS.

The man who pauses on the paths of treason,

Halts on a quicksand, the first step engulfs him.
AARON HII.I..

REVOLUTIONISTS could wish for a fairer or more inviting

field of operations than was presented to the Upper Canada
rebels of 1837. The authorities were absolutely unprepared
for an outbreak, and the Governor and his advisers not only
refused to believe that there was an actual rebellion afoot,
but forbade the most ordinary precautions being taken to
provide against the impending trouble. What precautions had been taken were due
entirely to private initiative, and had been made in spite of official opposition. It must
be remembered that the rebellion in the two Provinces went hand in hand. As early as
1835 there had been a movement among the more loyal class of the population in both
Provinces to organize for the defence of the constituted authority of the country in
anticipation of a revolutionary movement, but they had been discouraged, if not actu
ally snubbed, for their trouble. In Montreal the movement looking to the organization of defence
found expression in the spontaneous raising in 1835 of a body of volunteer riflemen, to be called
the Rifle Legion," but when the organizers appealed to the Governor for
"British official recog
nition, he declined, and induced them to abandon their idea.
About the same time, Colonel Fitzgibbon, the hero of the affair at the Beaver Dams during
the War of 1812, then residing in Toronto, and occupying a position in the Adjutant-General s

office, under the auspices of Sir John Colborne, the then Governor, formed a drill corps for such
young men of Toronto as desired military instruction. A handful of well connected and patri
otic young men availed themselves of the opportunity, and when the final outbreak occurred, the

gallant colonel s volunteer rifle company numbered seventy men, and, as they had been drilled
twice a week for some time, must have had a fair idea of the more -rudimentary parts of the mil

itary work of that day. This purely voluntary body was the only other loyal organization of a
military character besides the York Dragoons in the city. There were several revolutionary
bodies which met periodically for drill.
Colonel Fitzgibbon s volunteer rifle company has a special claim to a place in the history of
the Governor General s Body Guard, for in it the late Colonel George T. Denison (of Busholme),
who commanded the corps for several years, obtained his first military training. The young sol

dier at the time of the rebellion was twenty-one years of age.

A couple of days before the gathering of the rebels at Montgomery s, Fitzgibbon received

31
information which convinced him that an attempt was to be made to capture the 4,000 stands of
arms and ammunition brought from Kingston and stored in the City Hall in charge of a couple
of constables. To guard against such a possibility, Colonel Pitzgibbon induced his rifle corps,

the members of which he continued to drill with vigilant regularity, to volunteer a nightly guard
of fifteen or twenty men to watch the City Hall, and to furnish two sentries to guard the

approach to Government House. Considering the class of young fellows forming the rifle corps,

they probably did not needmuch urging to volunteer for this service. The offer was declined by
the Governor, however, who ascribed Col. Fitzgibbon s energy to fussiness, and expressed the
of his own domestics.
opinion that the arms would be perfectly safe in the keeping
When the emergency arose, Colonel Fitzgibbon s "boys,"
as he delighted to call them, lost

no time in their readiness to serve known.at the first alarm, went

The young men,
making
down to offer their services, and they were accepted. Shortly afterwards we find young G. T.
Denison and other of his erstwhile comrades of the volunteer company, serving as ensigns in the
First Regiment West York Militia. The little corps appears to have provided the militia regi
ments with the necessary junior officers, and to have given up its individual existence by doing so.
An original order book of the First Regiment West York Militia, May 29th, 1837, to Nov
ember 26th, 1838, is preserved at the Toronto Public Library, and was some months ago exhibited
the present
to the writer by Mr. Bain, the genial librarian. Several names of special interest in
in the list of officers serving
book, among them those of the officers of the dragoon troop, appeared
at this time. Among others whose names so appeared were Major George Denison, Captain
Thomas Denison, Lieutenants R. L. Denison and George B. Ridout Ensigns George T. Denison, ;

William and Edwin C. Fisher.

J. Coates,

Just what part the York Dragoons bore in the operations culminating in the dispersion of
Mackenzie s force at Montgomery s Tavern does not appear, but there certainly was a considerable
force of mounted men with the column led out of the city by Colonel Fitzgibbon. Some of these
were employed in the fruitless chase after W. L. Mackenzie, and one detachment of forty mounted
men was despatched from Montgomery s to destroy Gibson s house and farm buildings four
miles further on, under the personal command of Colonel Fit/gibbon, he having no officer of high

rank near him to whom he could safely entrust the permormanceof that duty. (Colonel Fitz

gibbon s Narrative. )

Major George T. Denison, the commanding officer of the troop, was in command
that day

at the Old Fort at the west end of Toronto, an important charge, considering the fact that there

were parties of disaffected within the city, including some of the revolutionary leaders. Prob

ably and perhaps all, of his own corps formed part of his garrison. The following inci
part,
dent of the day is chronicled in "Soldiering in Canada":

"During armed men was seen coming from the west, and moving in the
the day a body of
direction of the Fort. As they were all in plain clothes, and there were no uniforms on either
side, there was considerable excitement as to whether there was to be an attack
or not. The
watched.
ramparts were maimed and all preparations made, and the approaching body anxiously
grandfather said: "That man in front looks like my brother
Tom." And so it was.
Suddenly my
Thomas Denison, who had been an officer in the militia, and had served through the war, fighting
of the
at Queenston, and other actions, was living some ten miles west of Toronto, and. hearing
of fanners, armed with
outbreak, had sent around to his neighbors and raised a good-sized force
their own rifles, shot-guns, etc.. and had marched in to aid the cause of his Sovereign."

This gives us an insight into the way a strong force of loyalists was concentrated in Toronto.

3-2
In one of the despatches quoted in his "Narrative," the Governor. Sir Francis 15. Head,
official

reports that bands of militiamen from all directions poured in upon him. According to the
best reports he could collect, from 10,000 to 12,000 men simultaneously marched towards the

capital.

Sir Francis certainly had reason to congratulate himself

upon this splendid, spontaneous dis
had allowed the Province to be denuded of regular troops. In his
play of loyalty, for he
force of
despatch No. 132, under date December 18th, 1837, he enumerated his available regular

troops as follows: Colonel Foster, commander of the forces in Upper Canada j Captain Bodde-
ley, Royal Engineers; and 8 Royal Artillerymen truly a meagre array.
Some of the Dragoons formed part of the column of 500 men despatched from Toronto on
in the Lon
December 9th, under Colonel Allan MacNab. to put down the revolutionary movement
don district, where at one time Dr. Buncombe had a force of 300 rebels in arms. The force
reached Scotland Village, the centre of the disaffected district, December 14th, just a hit er week
than the affair at Montgomery s, but the rebel force had dispersed and their leader had disap
peared.
MacNab s force was marched without any unnecessary delay from Ingersoll to Chippewa,
opposite Navy Island.

George T. Benison, Jr., of that day (later of Rusholme). has let us catch a glimpse of the
column s service in an article written for the "Canadian Monthly," of April, 1873. He
writes: "We had performed our share of garrison duty from the 4th to the 7th. and had taken

part in the so-called battle of Gallows Hill. We

had also gone through the winter march to the
Village of Scotland, and on to Ingersoll under Sir Allan MacNab. Thence we were marched
to Chippewa, where the company in which I was a lieutenant was stationed as part of the force
besieging Navy Island."

not seem
Although, looked at from an historical point of view, the years of the rebellion do
very far back, there are but few who at this date appreciate the gravity of the crisis which theii

existed, and who realize how long the excitement and the risk of
international complications

by no means put a period to the disaffection and feeling

lasted. The affair at of
Montgomery s

unrest. The Navy Island affair, with its "Caroline" incident, December 29th. 1837. the Barce
lona affair. 1838: the bombardment of Amherstburg by the "Anne." in the same
January,
month: the descent of the patriots and sympathizers on Fighting Island in the Detroit River.
when a
February 25th: the sharp skirmish on Point Pelee Island on Lake Erie, on March 3rd.
detachment of Her Majesty s Thirty-second Regiment was present Moreau s raid fatal for him) :

into Pelham Township of Niagara. June 7th and the more familiar raid from Detroit per steamer
:

"Champlain," near Windsor, in the first

week of December. 1838. were but incidents tending to.
show that there was much real danger from filibustering expeditions along the western frontier
from Michigan and western New York. In fact, each one of the attempts represent a distinct

organized raid launched upon Canadian from across the frontier of a supposedly friendly
soil

much excitement and more real fighting.

the eastern frontier there was as The
state. Along
sensational destruction of the "Sir Robert Peel" took place May -29th. 1838. and the lighting at

Prescott Windmill took place in November. 1838. The raid at Windsor and Sandwich, the par
ticipants in which found their Nemesis in Colonel Prince, who shot several of his prisoners in

short order, was the last organized invasion of Canada at this time, but there was after that a
few isolated outbreaks to be attended to.

33
 According to MacMullin s History, militia lists for Upper Canada at the end of the rebel
lion showed an establishment of 106 complete regiments. "There were four battalions of incor

porated militia organized and clothed like troops of the line; twelve battalions of Provincial

militia on duty for a stated period thirty-one corps of artillery, cavalry and riflemen, while most
;

of the militia corps (infantry regiments had a troop of cavalry attached to them."
?)

There were many

so and they changed so rapidly, that the two rebel
centres of trouble,
lion years imposed a great deal of duty upon the mounted corps patrol, despatch, and escort
duties appear to have been particularly frequent.

LT.-COL. RICHARD LIPPINCOTT DENISON,

Second Commandina Officer of the Governor-General s Body Guard.

The York Dragoons were on service at this time from the breaking out of the rebellion.

December, 1S:$7, until June, 1888, relieved from active duty, but not before they
when they were
had been gnmted the honorary designation of the "Queen s Light Dragoons,"
in recognition of

Iheir services. During this period of activity the corps was in the service of the British Govern

ment, and received the same pay and allowances as the regular cavalry, the captain being allowed
three horses and the subalterns two each. On being placed on service the troop was at once sup-
plied from stores with accoutrements and arms, including Hint-lock carbines. The officers on ser
were Major George T. Denisoii (of Bellevue), in command: his eldest son. Rich
vice at this time
ard Lippiucott Denison, lieutenant; and Mr. Ferine Lawrence, a member of an old United Empire
Loyalist family, cornet.
At the outbreak of the rebellion, Captain Button.* who had commanded a troop of Provin
cial Dragoons at Markham during the War of 1812-1814. rode into Toronto at the head of

twenty of his neighbors, some of them former troopers, uniformed in the clothing of Captain
Button s old troop. The services of Captain Button and his sturdy followers were gladly
accepted, officer and men were attached to the Queen s Light Dragoons, and placed under Major
Denison s command, to whom
they rendered valuable assistance.
The order book of the corps for 1838 throws some interesting light on the personnel and
duties of the Queen s Light Dragoons, and of its sister militia organizations, during these stir

ring times.
A garrison
order of April 5th, 1838, reads as follows: "Field officer for the day. to-morrow.
Major Magrath, adjutant from the Royal Provincial Artillery. Officers next for duty, Major
Denison and the adjutant of the Queen s Rangers."
Another of April 8th directs Colonel Jarvis, commanding the Queen s Rangers, to assemble
a court of enquiry investigate the conduct of the hospital guard on the night of April 7th,
"to

when one of the state prisoners under their charge effected his escape." Other orders for this
day were to the following effect: to-morrow. Major Hard, adjutant from the Royal
Field officer,

Foresters; next for duty, Major Magrath and the adjutant of the Queen s Toronto (Juards. Col.
S. P. Jarvis of the Queen s Rangers to command the militia force during the absence of Colonel

Macaulay on public business. The Queen s Light Dragoons to furnish an escort to attend at
Government House at a quarter to three to-morrow.
Another garrison order dated April 17th reads as follows: "Field officer for the day.

to-morrow, Major Denison, adjutant from the Royal Foresters. Officers next for duty. Major
Dewson and the adjutant of the Queen s Own.
It is interesting to remark that the two field officers mentioned together in the preceding
order were grandfathers of the present commanding officer of the Governor General s Body Guard.

April 23rd. a militia general order issued over the signature of "Richard Bullock,
A.G.M.," directed: "The Queen s Light Dragoons will furnish the general patrol until further
orders, and also the escort of the field officer of the day, and a mounted orderly at the Govern
ment House."

A 4th detailed Lieut. -Col. Carthew and the adjutant from the Royal
garrison order of May
Foresters for orderly duties next day, next for duty, Lieut. -Col. Brown and the adjutant of the
Queen s Own.
Inspection and review parades appear to have been quite frequent just about this time. The
second garrison order of May 4th reads as follows :" His Excellency, the Lieutenant-Governor,
intimates his intention of inspection of the following regiments of embodied militia this after
noon the several corps will parade in review order as follows Queen s Own in front of old :

Parliament buildings T at - o
clock, p.m.: the Royal Provincial Artillery in the open space to the
*
Captain Button was great grandfather of Major J. R. Button, who no\v commands or the fourth squadron "D,"

Body Guard, which can legitimately claim descent from this very Markham troop,
of the Governor-General s
which has always been, and is still, recruited in the same district in the County of York as during the War
of 1812.

t The old Parliament Building stood near where the old jail no\v stands at the foot of Parliament Street.

35
eastward of the Upper Canada College at half-past three o clock, p.m.; the Queen s Rangers at 4
o clock, 011 their private parade ground -, the Queen s Light Dragoons at 5 o clock on their pri
vate parade ground on Lot Street,* near the western toll bar. The Queen s Light Dragoons
will furnish an escort to attend at Government House at a quarter before two o clock, p.m., and
two orderlies to attend at the commandant s office in Peter Street at the same hour."

The first birthday of Queen Victoria after her accession was not allowed to pass without
notice from her soldiers then on duty at Toronto. A militia general order of May 15th promul
gated "for the due observance of the militia on active service in Upper Canada of the follow
ing extract from the general orders of the army, issued at Quebec, May 7th, over the signature
"

of "John Eden, D.A.G." :

Thursday, 24th May, being the
anniversary of Her Majesty s birth, the Commandant of the
Forces directs that at the different stations in the command,
the Royal Standard be hoisted during the day, and the
may
Royal salute and feu-de-joie be fired at 12 o clock. When there
is no Royal Standard the Union Jack may be hoisted.
"

A garrison order issued May 22nd, reads as follows :

"The parade ordered for this day at three o clock, is post

poned until to-morrow at the hour of nine a.m. The parade
will be formed as follows: Half
troop of a the Queen s

Light Drageons, one gun of the Royal Provincial Artillery,

theQueen s Rangers, the Royal Foresters, the Queen s Own,
theQueen s Toronto Guards,! one gun (R.P.A.), half a troop
"

of the Queen Light Dragoons.

s J. S. Macaulay.
An after order directed: "The parade to-morrow morn-

will be formed on the

site of the University. The troops will
parade thither by the avenue butting on Lot Street, to be on
"

the. ground by half-past eight. J

The orders issued May 23rd gave full instructions for

Toronto s first Queen s Birthday review as follows: "The

militia off duty will parade to-morrow at half-past eleven
o clock in the morning. Each
same order observed this
of blank
infantry soldier to be provided with three rounds
cartridge. The order of parade is to be as follows To be :

formed in with open ranks, at double distance muskets

line ;

loaded. At 12 o clock precisely the gun on the right flank

seven rounds; then a fcu-flc-joie by the infantry; the
will tire

gun on the left flank seven rounds, and a ffu-dc-joie from the
infantry, seven rounds from the gun on the right,
and a feu-
Uniform of an Officer of the Governor-
General s Body Guard in 1838. de-joie. The infantry come to the front, half-cock muskets,
shoulder arms and shut pans, order arms, give three cheers,
Street. The parade
*
Lot Street is now called Queen Street. The western toll bar stood just east of Dundas
ground was on the south side of Queen Street, now part of the Asylum property.

t These were four infantry corps, raised for service during the rebellion, and after it was over they
>|>ecialiy

were disbanded.
t What was called the Vniversitv site was that part of
the Queen s Park where the Parliament Buildings now
stand. "The avenue butting on Lot Street" (Queen Street) is now University
Avenue. It was formerly t
and some called Queen s Avenue, or Queen Street Avenue.
Avenue, by

36
shoulder arms, close ranks, break into open column and march past in slow and quick time, gen
"

eral salute.

But military service in Toronto at this time was not all show and parade. The garrison
orders for contain grim reminders of the seriousness of the duty the Queen
May 24th itself

City s citizen soldiers were performing:. The orders for the day were as follows:
"1.Field officer for the day, to-morrow, Lieut.-Col. Brown; adjutant from the Queen s
Own. Officers next for duty. Major Gurnett* and the adjutant from the Queen s Toronto

Guards.
"2. The night patrol are desired to be particularly on the alert, there being great reason to
apprehend that evil designing persons are plotting against the peace of the city. The patrol
of the

Queen s Rangers will, in the course of their rounds, proceed up Yonge Street as far as the
boarded pathway extends.
A
guard of one captain, two subalterns, two sergeants, three corporals and twenty-
"3.

seven privates will be furnished by the Rangers to-morrow, to be called the main guard. A guard
station will be provided at or near the market-place. This guard will place two sentries at the
head of each of the two principal wharves, or at the junction of each wharf with the land, and
one at the guard-room. The sentries at the wharf will pass the word for the guard to turn out
whenever a steamboat shall arrive during the night. The sentries and guard to have their
muskets loaded, and all to be on the alert to repel any attempt to land which may be made by

persons bearing arms, and not belonging to Her Majesty s service."

A militia general order of 9th June directed that: "Officers commanding corps and regi
ments at this station, and departments, will attend
also the chiefs or heads of the militia staff or

this day at a quarter before three o clock, p.m., at the Council Chamber, when the commission of
His Excellency, the Earl of Durham, as Governor-General, will be read in the accustomed form."
A militia general order of June 23rd, over the signature \V. O lTara, A.A.G.M.," states:
"

"With reference to the general order of yesterday, the Queen s Toronto Guards, and the troop
of Queen s Light Dragoons, will be permitted to extend their services until the 31st July."

Among the garrison orders of July 3rd appeared the following One directing the 3rd Gore :

to have a party consisting of a captain, subaltern, sergeant, two corporals and 27 privates ready
to take out-lying picquet duties, and another reading as follows: "The
portion of the 3rd York
Troop of Cavalry, now in garrison, will do duty in connection with the Queen s Light Dragoons,
and Major Denison will charge himself with the equable distribution of the cavalry duty." Still
another order of this date read as follows: cavalry picquet will take post to-night on the
"A

Kingston Road, consisting of one sergeant, one corporal and six privates. This force will patrol
on the Kingston Road, and on the road to the cast of the Don."
A
garrison order of July 6th read as follows: "The cavalry patrol to the eastward will
patrol up the concession line to the east of the Don, and along the Kingston Road. Twice dur
ing the night a patrol will be sent from the cavalry barracks along the side line.t past Mr. Crook-
shank s farm to the Concession Road, and another patrol along the Dundas Road to the IVacock
Tavern."

Major (iurnett was grandfather of Captain A. E. S. Thompson, the present ]>ay-niaMer

of the Governor-Gen
eral s Body Guard.
t The "

side-line
"

was later called Crookshank s Lane, and is now known as Bathurst Street. "The Con
cession Road" is now known as Bloor Street, the "Dundas Road" as Dnndas Street. Wliere the Peacock Tavern
stood a new hotel lias been erected, called the Peacock Hotel.

37
 A garrison order of July 17th directed the Queen s Light Dragoons and the North York
Troop of Cavalry to parade the following day shortly before three, to form an escort for "His
Excellency, the Governor in Chief," the Earl of Durham, in Toronto. A
curious light is thrown

upon the rough-and-ready character of the militia organization in those days, by the insertion in
this order of the caution: "None but those who can appear in uniform are to attend during the

stay of His Excellency, the Governor in Chief." The order continued: "Two sergeants of cav
alry will attend daily at Government House as orderlies to await the commands of His Excel

lency, the Earl of Durham."

The maintained on active service up to that time was signalized by
relief of the militia corps

the issue of the following complimentary "District General Order," dated July 20th, 1838 :

COLONEL GEORGE TAYLOR DENISON (2nd) (RUSHOLME),

Third Commanding Officer of the Governor-General s Body Guard.

it in
Excellency, the Governor and Major General Commanding, is happy in having
"His

his power to dispense with Hie services of the whole of the incorporate corps of militia and volun
teers serving at Toronto, with the exception of the Toronto City Guards, which are to continue to
serve until further orders. The extreme regularity and good conduct in all duties required of
them, as well as in quarters of the Queen s Light Dragoons under Major Denison, and the alacrity

38
with which Major Button s troop of North York Militia came forward on a recent occasion demand
His Excellency s warmest approbation. The high state of perfection to which the 1st Provincial
Volunteer Artillery has been brought under Captain Leckie. The soldier-like performance of all
their duties have drawn from Sir George Arthur for the Queen s Uangers under Colonel Jarvis,
as they have deserved, His Excellency s warmest admiration. It so happened that the Queen s

Light Dragoons were employed most inclement part of last winter,

in their special duty during the

and the Provincial Artillery and Queen s Hangers were employed during the same season on the
Niagara Frontier, which perishing service was performed by all with exemplary spirit and good
conduct. The before-mentioned corps are to be permitted to return to their homes forthwith,
the men to receive pay to the 31st July inst., but rations are to be discontinued from the day of
each man s discharge. All arms, etc., to be returned into the ordnance stores, etc., etc.
Excellency, the Lieutenant-Governor Major-General commanding, cannot permit Col.
"His

John S. Macaulay to retire from the command of the militia at the seat of Government without
testifying his highest sense of the benefit which the militia has derived, and consequently the Pro
from the
vince, talent and experience of Colonel Macaulay during the period of his tenure in the

command.
Shortly after the Queen Light Dragoons were relieved from active service, an important
s

change took place in the corps. Major Denison (of Bellevue) was promoted to be Lieutenant-
Colonel of the 1st West York Battalion, and his son Lieutenant Richard L. Denison was promoted
to the command of the troop, with the rank of Captain.
October Queen s Light Dragoons were once more placed on active service,
31st, 1838, the

Captain R. L. Denison being in command, and having as his subalterns his brother, George T.
Denison (Rusholme), lieutenant; and Mr. Edwin C. Fisher, cornet. The troop at once
took up its old work of despatch, patrol and garrison duties. The late Lieutenant-Colonel F. C.
Denison, in his history, gives as an example of the duties the troop was called upon to perform,
the following transcript of a garrison order dated November 16th, 1838, and copied into an old

troop order book :

Militia General Order No. 2.

"A
sergeant, corporal, and fifteen men of the troop of cavalrv commanded by
Captain Denison, will be sent to take picquet at the turnpike on Yonge Street; during
the night they are to patrol eastward to the Don, and westward to the Concession Road
west of Spadina Avenue.
By Order, etc.

Shortly after the troop was placed on active service again, a cavalry school was organized at
Niagara in conection with the squadron of the "King s Dragoon Guards,"* stationed at that post.
under command of Captain Martin. The object was to furnish selected men and officers, where pos
sible, instruction in cavalry drill and particularly in the interior economy of a regiment, as most
of the volunteer troops knew little or nothing of that most important point of the discipline of a
corps. It has become the fashion of arm-chair critics, who never had the slightest idea of what it
is to try and maintain a body of men in health and morals on service, and who have never tried to

direct even their own individual selves in action, to pretend to laugh such things as interior econ

omy and drill the military training our youth need." they say.
out of existence altogether. "All

"is to teach them on theoretically invisible clothing when they go into

to shoot and ride, to put

action, to take cover and to act intelligently on their own initiative. Drill and discipline are the
*
First raised in 1085. Once known an the "Trade s Union."

39
essence <>i
and undisciplined Boer guerillas \veiv alilc to keep
stupidity, because the undrilled
the field in South Africa for months and months against powerful (but sadly dispersed) armies
of thoroughly trained and disciplined men."

This sort of nonsense did not prevail in 1838. The value of a moderate amount of drill and
discipline was appreciated by those who had been
on service without much of those military aids,
earlier in the year. So, on December 16th, when a district orderappeared with regard to the

cavalry school, its provisions were taken full advantage of. The orders directed:
"That a sergeant, corporal of cavalry and volunteer dragoons
and private from each troop
at Toronto, Hamilton and Niagara Districts, with their horses, be immediately sent to Fort George,
where they are to remain under instruction for a fortnight after their arrival, or even three weeks,
should Captain Martin think it necessary. One officer of each troop is also recommended
. . .

to avail himself of so favorable an opportunity of obtaining instruction in his cavalry duties."

In compliance with this order the Queen s Light Dragoons sent the following squad to Fort
George : Sergeant Coates, formerly a non-commissioned officer
Lieutenant G. T. Denison, Jr. ;

in the 7th Dragoon Guards; Corporal Rutledge, Private Samuel Beatty, and Trumpeter
Aneas
Brock that met a soldier s death at Queens-
Bell, who had been s bugler the day gallant general
ton.
on October
During the tour of active service which began with the calling out of the troop
31st, the Queen s Light Dragoons and Captain
McGrath troop
s of cavalry performed alternately
the despatch duty between the villages of Cobourg and Oakville, on the route from Montreal
and

Kingston to Hamilton and Niagara. The tours of duty were by months, and as one troop was
relieved of the despatch duty, took up the orderly duties at headquarters, also very consider
it

able. The despatch duty was quite an exciting service, the Queen s Light Dragoons and the
of road of about 115 miles in length, Oakville being
relieving troop being responsible for a section
some ninety miles east of it.
twenty-five miles west of Toronto, and Cobourg
In January and February the Queen s Light Dragoons acted as escort to the Lieutenant-
Governor upon the occasion of the opening and closing of the Legislature.
AVhile the troop was on service during the rebellion, the uniform underwent quite
a notice

able modification in the direction of simplification. The buff, shield-like facing on the breast
of the coatee was removed, and the lace or bnud was put direct on the cloth of the garment.
in winter, the Government issued
During the period the troop was on active service, being
covered both men and
to the men good serviceable blue cloaks with buff collars, which completely
horses. on the cloaks, together with a fur cap. covered entirely the back of the
The tall collars

head and neck, and nearly the whole of the face. The hats were of a peculiar construction,
made
made of an oblong piece of doubled in the
of a sort of imitation dog skin. They looked as if fur,

on each side, with a bag of red cloth with tassel on one side, somewhat
centre, and stitched up
the men a very soldierly
like the present busby bag. \Vhen mounted, the cloak and cap gave
appearance. (Capt. F. C. Denison s Historical Record.)
Hie Commandant
During pay of the "Volunteer Cavalry," as authorized by
this service the
for the non-commissioned ranks being as follows Ser
of the Forces, was very liberal, the pay
:

Gs. 5d. 6s.

geants, 7s. Id. currency per day; corporals, privates, ;

The Queen s Light Dragoons and the other militia and volunteer corps were relieved from
the issue of a
service April 23rd (St. George s Day), 1839, the dismissal being accompanied by
occur
highly complimentary general order, in which the following paragraphs
:

40
 "It affords the Lieutenant-Governor and Major-General Commanding extreme gratification
at being able to permit the whole of the militia and volunteer corps, embodied for six months
service only, also those who were called out for an indefinite period, to return to their homes forth

with,pay being issued to them on the day of their discharge inclusive, and seven days additional
pay to take them home.
"Sir
George Arthur cannot dismiss these loyal and patriotic defenders of their country
without offering to them the assurance of his highest estimation and warmest approbation of their
gallantry and zeal, as. well as of the patience and perseverance with which they endured the
hardships and privations which unavoidably fell to their lot during the period of their engage
ment, and His Excellency most confidently relies upon their coming forward with equal spirit and
determination shoiild their valuable services be again required.

41
 CHAPTER VI.
THE FIRST YORK CAVALRY-THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL S BODY GUARD.

And grasps the skirts of happy chance,

And breasts the blows of circumstance.
TENNYSON.

URING the rebellion there was a considerable shaking up of the rapidly drying
bones of the militia system, the new appreciation of the importance of the

DJII national defensive force finding expression in an important Militia Act

passed in 1839 (Chapter IX., 2nd Victoria). It is interesting to note that

this Act provided for the establishment of mounted corps as separate

units, qiiite distinct from which they

their territorial militia regiments, to
had previously been connected, and to whose commanding officers they had
been subject. This very vital change in the status of the mounted corps
was provided for in the following terms :

"XIV. It shall and may be lawful for the Lieutenant-Governor to constitute

regiments or battalions of dragoons, artillery or light infantry separate and distinct

from other regiments, in the several districts of the Province, to be selected from the
different regiments or battalions therein, as the Lieutenant-Governor may direct pro ;

the forma
vided, nevertheless, that nothing in this clause contained shall be construed to prevent
tion ofcompanies of artillery or troops of dragoons within the limits assigned to the several regi
ments or battalions of independent of, or attached to, such regiments or battalions,
militia, to be

according to such orders or directions as the Lieutenant-Governor may from time to time
make
in that behalf."

XV. And further enacted that regiments or battalions of dragoons, artillery, or light
be it

with respect to
infantry, so constituted as aforesaid shall be subject to such orders, rules, etc.,
time may be issued the Lieutenant-Governor
drill, inspections, or other duty, as from time to by
for their efficient organization for actual service, apart from the other regiments or battalions
of militia in the Province."

The Act also included similar clauses providing for the establishment of rifle companies
and corps of Provincial marines, independent of the territorial militia or organizations.
The solicitude of the authorities for the militia appears marked enough in this Militia Act,

but * as not so apparent in practice.

T

After the troop was removed from active service the whole of the arms, accoutrements and
uniforms which had been issued to it were returned into store, as they belonged to the Imperial
Government, but those in command of the troop were not to be daunted by this, for, with com
mendable public spirit the officers immediately purchased sufficient swords to supply the rank
and and commenced another system of clothing and arming Ihe men. was arranged in this
It
file,

On a recruit joining he was supplied by the officer commanding with a sword and sword
way.

42
belt, pouch and belt, shako and jacket. The man then gave security to the amount of five pounds
to return them, when leaving, in good order (fair wear and tear excepted), and to show his good
faith, was required to get some friends of substance to subscribe with him to this agreement ;

thus, for years, the whole troop equipment belonged to the officers, and was merely loaned to the
men.
This appears to have been an unique experience in the Upper Canada militia.
Fron this date the troop mustered regularly each year to perfom its drill and maintain
its organization. For several years succeeding the rebellion there was more or less anxiety in
Canada over the threatening attitude of the more pronouncedly British-hating classes in the United
States. The excitement stirred up in the frontier districts during the rebellion took a long time
to die out, and several times most flagrantly unneighborly excesses were committed.

LT.-COL. ROBERT B. DENISON,

Fourth Commanding Officer of the Governor-
General s Body Guard.

In November, 1840, Alex. McLeod, who fought in Fitzgibbon s force at Montgomery s, and
who had reconnoitred Navy Island with Captain Drew, R.N., was arrested at Lewiston and
charged with murder and arson on account of his supposed, though abundantly disproved, com
plicity in the "Caroline" affair. The arrest and trial were made subjects of diplomatic represent
ation, and the United States authorities threw the responsibility upon the State of New York. It
was October, 1841, before McLeod was tried and acquitted. Conviction was much dreaded, for
international relations were very much strained, and it was believed that Britain would
accept

43
the execution of McLeod as a cause of war. In the spring of 1842 similar difficulties with sim
ilar results, arose over the arrest of J. S. Hogan, of Hamilton, at Rochester on similar charges.
In 1836 a controversy which looked ugly for a time was started in the United States over
the disputed boundaries between New Brunswick and Maine. King William IV., appreciating the

position, took a firm stand, remarking, "Canada must neither be lost nor given away." Agitators
appeared once more dragging the United States into war, but the question was referred for
to be

diplomatic action, and on August 9th, 1842, Daniel Webster and Lord Ashburton agreed upon the
terms of the Ashburton Treaty, which gave the Aroostook and Madawaska District to the United
States.
These various excitements helped to keep up some interest in the militia at large, so that
Canada s defensive force was saved from the practical collapse which overcame the similar ser
vice in the Mother Country at the same time.
During the long peace 1819-1854 all interest in military affairs died out in England.

The British people were glad to be rid of military questions ;

and the commercial instinct led the

nation to ignore its defences and to devote its whole attention to the exploitation of the channels

of commerce which the military successes of the Napoleonic wars had thrown so invitingly open
to British enterprise. No militia was enrolled, the volunteer corps which had sprung into exist
ence during the prolonged war with France completely dropped out of existence. The re-estab
lishment of the British militia in 1852 may be said to have marked the beginning of the revival
from the lethargy which affected military affairs after the long peace.
The Act of Union, consummated in 1840, and which took effect by Royal proclamation issued
the militia force, the
by Lord Sydenham, February 10th, 1841, had an important bearing upon
militia of both Provinces coming under the management of one central staff, and becoming one
national militia, instead of two separate Provincial forces. The Special Council of Lower Can

ada agreed to the proposed union, and (he assumption by the united Province of the large debt
of Upper Canada, in November, 18:59. and the Legislature of Upper Canada agreed after two
weeks in December, the same year.
debate, The Act of Union which was drafted by Lord Syden
ham was passed by the British Parliament in 1840.
a union of the
worthy of remark that in 1S2:5 the Imperial Government had proposed
It is

Provinces on somewhat similar lines, but after considerable discussion, the feeling of both Upper
and Lower Canada being found to be against the measure, it was not persisted in.
The Act of Union, as passed, was something more than a mere stop-gap. It possessed in
its set purpose fairly well, and
itself the grain of responsible government, for a few years fulfilled

pointed the way to further constitutional and national development.

During the vears immediately following Hie rebellion no relaxation of interest was shown by
brother of
Ihe (Queen s Light Dragoons. Drills were well attended. In 1843, Robert B. Denison,
the rebellion was
the captain and lieutenant, was appointed cornet, Mr. Fisher having retired after
over. So that at this time all of the commissioned officers of the troop were brothers. Captain F.
C. Denison. in his "Historical was great difficulty in getting officers
Record," explains "there

who would take upon themselves the trouble and bear the expense, and one might almost say the
odium attached to such a one without remnneralion of any kind whatever. Commis
position
sions were going begging for some one to take them, although the number required to officer the

and for many years after. Besides, all the arms, accou
force at Toronto was small at this time,
trements and uniforms were owned by and supplied at the expense of the officers, making, of

course, a heavy tax upon them."

44
 1843 the troop escorted Sir Charles Melcall e (afterwards Lord MctcaltV), the new Lieu
Iii

tenant-Governor, into Toronto, marching several miles

down the Kingston Hoad, below the High
land to meet him. On reaching the city the officers of the escort were invited to dine with
Creek,
of the present Kossin
the Governor at his hotel, the British Coffee House, which stood on the site
House.
In 1845 there was another outbreak of anti-British feeling and war talk in the United States
historic
over the Oregon boundary dispute, the feeling of the agitators finding expression in the
Again Canada s public men began to give some atten
formula, "Fifty-four-forty, or Fight."
tion to the question of national defence, and the was the passage of the comprehensive
result

Militia Act of 1846

(9 Victoria, Chapter 28). A reorganization of the troop took place under this
Act. Captain Richard L. Denison retired to accept a majority in the 4th Battalion of Toronto
became lieutenant-colonel
Sedentary Militia, commanded by his father, and shortly afterwards
commanding it. Lieut. George T. Denison (Rusholme) was promoted captain, and Cornet Robert
B. and the s Light Dragoons" re-gazetted as the "1st Toronto
Denison, lieutenant, "Queen

Independent Troop of In 1848 Mr. Peter McGill McCutcheon was gazetted cornet.
Cavalry."

From 1846 until 1855 the troop met for a certain number of days drill each year, and were
was work at this time,
supplied with clothing, arms and accoutrements by the captain.
It up-hill

as is explained in Captain F. C. Denison s "Historical Record":

received no encouragement whatever from the Government of the day even the peo
"They
;

ple of the town discouraged volunteering, thinking

it useless for, after the Battle of Water

loo,therebeing an almost unbroken peace of forty years in Europe, many persons believed in the
near approach of the millenium, and nearly thought there was no necessity for soldiers on this
all

continent, so that when men appeared in uniform they

were laughed at for being soldier-mad.
The result was that rather than show themselves on the streets they sought a quiet place to drill,
where they would be left undisturbed. Men who would do this were true patriots they did not
attract many to the ranks of volunteer
join for pay, or for the dash and show that no doubt
corps, but from a sincere desire to perfect themselves in their drill and duties in case of a foreign

invasion.
Lieut.-Col. George T. Denison (of Heydon Villa) publishes the following recollections of
this period in his book, "Soldiering in Canada":
"The presence of a British regiment in good condition, and splendidly maintained and
to compete either in numbers,
drilled, rendered impossible for a militia corps, self-supported,
it

equipment or drill, and, naturally, comparisons were drawn much to the disadvantage of the

latter. The men used to be laughed at and ridiculed to such an extent that it was found much

more pleasant to keep out of sight as much as possible, and carefully avoid attracting any atten
tion. At this time, Bloor Street, Toronto, was not opened westward through the woods, and the
or clearance about two or three acres
upper part of Spadina Avenue was cleared, so that a glade
in extent, situated there, was surrounded by the woods. It was at that time, about 1848 or 1849,

a very secluded spot, and it was there, on a summer s evening, I first saw a number of men
of the

corps with which I was to be connected nearly all of my life, being drilled by my father. The
men had gathered by by-paths to avoid notice.

"It must have been the first childhood created by these secluded drill
impressions of my
influence on me all my life. I have always
ings and the desire to avoid the public eye, that had an
retained the desire to avoid parading in public more than I could hell), although in after years

forced to yield somewhat for recruiting purposes. I avoided church parades as much as possible,

45
and it was with great hesitation that I
consented, at the request of the Mayor, to march through
the streets on our return from the North- West Rebellion
by the route prepared and decorated for
the reception of the Toronto force, and 1
only consented on learning that great trouble had been
taken and expense incurred in decorating the streets and in
preparing a reception which would
be viewed by almost all the population.

next recollection of the corps, which at this time

"My
practically represented the militia
(for there was no other corps of
either cavalry, artillery, infantry, or
rifles, at that time organ
ized, armed, uniformed, equipped or drilled), was in connection with the escort of Lord
Elgin to the
opening of the Parliament in May, 1850. The feeling the Governor-General ran
against very
high, and the Tory party were the malcontents. Threats were made of when my
rioting, etc.,
father offered to escort His Excellency to the Parliament House and back to Elmsley Villa, which
was then used as Government House. Lord Elgin asked Colonel Macdonell, the Deputy-Adju
tant-General, about the corps. Macdonell replied: Nothing could be better; this will be a consti
tutional escort furnished by the people, not
by the Government, and being a loyal corps of Tories,
will not excite hostility, and all trouble will be averted.
"The result proved the correctness of Colonel Macdonell s There was no
prediction. diffi

culty, and although the crowds were somewhat sullen, all passed off well. On arriving at Elms-
ley Villaon the return, the Governor-General, knowing it was purely a
voluntary service, and a
somewhat unpopular one at the time, asked my father to dismount his men and
bring them in
and present them to him. My father introduced each trooper by name, and the Governor-General
shook hands with each and thanked him personally for his service.
They were then taken into
the dining-room, some twenty-five men and three
officers, and given a first-class the two lunch,
A.D.C. s and Colonel Macdonell sitting down with them.
"When they were leaving Government
House, the Adjutant-General, Macdonell, insisted
on the corps being taken down to the old Wellington Hotel, corner of Front and Church
streets,
where he treated the men to champagne.
"The
corps escorted Lord Elgin after that when he went to open or prorogue Parliament,
and on each occasion they were given a lunch on their return to Government House."
July 19th, 1850, the townships of York and Etobicoke were added to the limits of the 1st
Toronto Independent Troop of Cavalry, and Captain George T.
Denison, Jr., in inviting "active,
intelligent young men of good character and sound loyalty, and who have been accustomed to
horses," to volunteer, pointed out as an inducement that they would thus become exempt from
serving in the infantry corps within these limits.

Changes followed one another rapidly in those days. In 1853 a regiment consisting of four
of which the 1st Toronto Independent Troop of
troops, Cavalry was to be the first troop,
was raised in the County of York under the designation the "1st Regiment York
Light Dra
Major George T. Denison (Rusholme) was promoted from the old troop to command
goons."

the new regiment, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and Lieutenant Robert B. Denison was
gazetted captain commanding the old troop. Of the new troops, Lieutenant-Colonel William
Button of the old Markham Troop was applied to to raise one, the late Lieutenant-Colonel Nor
man Torquill McLeod raised another, and the late Lieutenant-Colonel John Stoughton Dennis
agreed to raise the fourth, and was gazetted, but never took any effective steps to raise it. In
September, 1854, Mr. George T. Denison (Hey don Villa), the third of the name, and grandson of
the corps founder, was gazetted cornet in the old troop.

40
 The Crimean War had a marked effect upon the Canadian militia. The garrisons of regu
lar troops were withdrawn in 1854, and the Canadian and other colonial Governments were
given to understand by the Imperial authorities that they would have to depend upon themselves
for their own defence more than they had hitherto done. As usual, the first thing done was the
revision of the Militia Act, the result being the historical Act of 1855 (18 Victoria, Chapter 77).
Great care was bestowed in drafting it. Among those whose opinions were taken were Sir John
Beverley Robinson, Judge McLean, Lieut.-Col. E. W. Thompson, J. Prince, G. T. Denison (of
Rusholme), Henry Ruttan, John Macaulay, and many others. Colonel de Rottenburg was Adju
tant-General of Militia at the time, and he also lent valuable assistance in preparing the Act.
This Act clearly defined the two classes of militia which had been slowly shaping them
selves, the active and sedentary. The active militia was to consist of "volunteer troops of cavalry,
field batteriesand foot companies of artillery, and fifty companies of riflemen." Its strength was
not to exceed 5,000 men. This Act was to continue in operation for three years only, but could
be continued if war with the United States existed.

Each of the former Provinces of Upper Canada and Lower Canada was divided into nine

military districts. Col. de Rottenburg was on July

appointed Adjutant-General for
9th, 1855,

Canada, Lieut.-Col. Donald Macdonald, Deputy Adjutant-General for Upper Canada.

In the autumn of 1855 the old 1st Toronto Independent Cavalry Troop (Number 1 Troop
of the 1st RegimentYork Light Dragoons), was brought bodily into the new active force (Class
A), with a second troop formed by an amalgamation of the third and fourth troops of the 1st
York Light Dragoons. The second troop of that regiment was put into the new reserve force
(Class B).
The two troops transferred to the new active force were as follows
officers of the No. 1 :

Troop, Captain, Robert B. Denison Lieutenant, Peter McGill McCutcheon Cornet, George T.
;
;

Denison, Jr. No. 2 Troop, Captain, Norman McLeod; Lieutenant, J. Stoughton Dennis; Cornet,
Edward Foster.

left to take command of the Toronto Field Battery which Lieut.-

Soon after Mr. Dennis
Col. G. T. Denison (Rusholme), was raising, and in March, 1856, Cornet G. T. Denison was pro
moted to be lieutenant. On May 15th, Mr. Win. Ridout, son of an officer of the "York Volun
teers" of 1812, was gazetted cornet.

During amount of hard drilling was done, and the

the winter of 1855-56 a considerable
new active force of Toronto presented a very smart appearance when they paraded through the
streets in honor of the Queen s Birthday, May 24th, 1856.
June 9th the corps began its first annual drill under the new law, new swords and belts, new
pouches and Colt s revolvers being issued to the men. The Government provided store rooms for
the arms and equipment on Queen Street, near Bathurst.
On June 17th, Sir Edmund Head, the Governor-General, inspected the Field Battery, and the
First and Second Troop of Cavalry of the County of York, and in a subsequent order expressed to
"Lieut. -Col. Denison. commanding the mounted forces at Toronto, and to the officers, non-com

missioned officers and men thereof, his entire satisfaction at their appearance and efficiency."
November, 1856, Captain Robert B. Denison, who commanded the first troop of the squad
ron, was transferred to organize a foot artillery company, which was gazetted on November 13th
to be attached to the Toronto Field Battery. Upon the organization of the Second Battalion
(Queen s Own Rifles), April 26th, 1860, this company was posted to the battalion under the

47
command of Captain II. Goodwin as No. 5 Company. On the reorganization of the Queen s Own
in 1862, it was posted as No. 3 Company and retains that numher still.

The transfer of Captain II. B. Denison left Lieutenant G. T. Denison the senior subaltern
in the squadron, and consequently next for the captaincy. lie was, however, only seventeen years
and two months of age, and his youth was considered an insuperable obstacle to his promotion.
The command was offered to several gentlemen by Liout.-Col. Denison and the Adjutant-Gen
eral, but they all declined, and finally it was given, January 15th, 1857,
to Lieut. G. T. Denison,

but without his step in rank, on the consideration that he should recruit the corps to its full
strength, many of the men having left with Captain R. B. Denison to join the foot artillery. The
young officer succeeded in doing this, turning out a full troop for inspection. On April 22nd he
was promoted captain, Cornet Ridout obtaining his lieutenancy, and Mr. Patrick Campbell of
Etobicoke being gazetted cornet. October 8th, 1858, Charles L. Denison was gazetted supernum
erary cornet, and August 28th, 1860, Lieut. Edwin P. Denison, of Weston, was gazetted adjutant.
In "Soldiering in Canada," Lieut. G. T. Deuison gives us some information about his first

parade in command of his troop. It was duty a case of escort at the opening of the Parliament,
February 26th, 1857, and was historically memorable as the first occasion upon which all the

escort, salute and guard duties had been taken by the militia.

"When the Governor-General, Sir Edmund Head, back to Government House, his
we took
A.D.C. called over to the door after His Excellency had alighted from his carriage, and the
me
Governor-General thanked me for the escort, and told me to express his thanks and appreciation
to the officers and men. Sir reported to be the most stern and gruff Gov
Edmund was commonly
ernor-General we ever had, and he was somewhat dreaded by his Ministers but he was evidently ;

amused by my youth, for he could not help laughing at me as he was talking to me."

On May 24th, was a Queen s Birthday parade, and the young C.O. commanded
1857. there
To commemorate the event he gave a dinner to the officers and men
for the first time as captain.
of his troop at the American Hotel, then one of the leading hotels, situated just where the Board
of Trade building now stands, corner of Yonge and Front streets.

The youthful captain was soon to undergo a very severe test for one of his years. The
famous "Double Shuffle" took place in Parliament in August, 1858, and there was much indigna
tion and even revolutionary feeling aroused, as it was felt the politicians were playing with public

opinion. This feeling was expected to find vent when the Governor-General came down to pro
rogue the House. Threats were made, and scenes as bad or worse than those which had been wit
nessed in Montreal at the burning of the old Parliament Buildings on McGill Street, were
expected to occur on the streets of Toronto. The escort duty on this occasion promised to be
something more than a formality for the boy captain and his men. Captain Denison received
special instructions to provide as large an escort as he could get together, and was told that trouble
was expected. Consequently he went about all night himself, with his sergeant-major, now Lieut. -
Col. Dunn, and saw the men personally, and urged them that nothing was to prevent them being
present. Nearly all of the men turned out next day. They gut His Excellency to the Parliament
Buildings without difficulty, and with very few expressions of disapproval, but when they started
on their return the crowd began to hiss and hoot and groan, hut the escort paid no attention until
one trooper of the section behind the carriage, becoming annoyed at some offensive gestures to the
Governor-General, made by a man sitting on a fence, made a vicious blow at the fellow, causing

a commotion in the crowd, and effectively putting a stop to the noisy demonstrations.

48
 Lieut.-Col. Denison relates an interesting page of Canadian militia history in "Soldiering

in Canada, which must be inserted at this point :

"In the session of 1859, only three years after the force had been fairly established, the
Crimean being over, the Government prepared a new militia law. It was drafted and
War
approved of by the Ministry, but before it was introduced into the House, either the Adju
tant-General, or one of the Ministers, permitted my father to see a copy privately. This draft

LT -COL. GEORGE TAYLOR DENISON (3rd) (HEYDON VILLA,)

Fifth Commanding Officer of the Governor = General s Body Guard.
Now Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Regiment.

provided for doing away with the cavalry arm entirely. This was the first of many instances
where the ignorance of our ruling authorities has en used our branch of the service to receive but
scant justice or consideration. once prepared a letter for Tin ColDiiisI, Ilien the (lovernmenl
I at

paper. It was my first article, putting together arguments I had come across in my reading of
military books. It appeared the next day in The Colonial, with an editorial strongly endorsing it.
My father at once called to see Sir Edmund Head, to get him to use his influence to save the cav
alry, and enough pressure was brought to bear to secure a modification of the law and to save our
branch of the service.
"The law of 1859 was a very severe blow to the militia cavalry. The strength of the troops
was reduced from fifty men to thirty, and the pay from ten days to six days. The drill had to be
put in in six consecutive days in June, and the men were not paid till December. If the bill had
been drawn up for the purpose of destroying the force, it could not have been much more effective
for that purpose. I look back now on the years 1859, 60 and 61 with much dissatisfaction, as a
most annoying and irritating experience. At this time the men all had to buy their own uniforms
and provide their own saddles, and the officers received no pay or allowance whatever."
The Act of 1859 (22 Victoria. Chapter 18), made provision that where possible the
Militia

independent companies of militia infantry and rifles should be grouped into battalions. It also
provided that the volunteer militia force should drill for six consecutive days each year with pay
at the rate of one dollar per diem per man.

About this time the reflection of a powerful military movement in Great Britain made itself
felt in In 1858 and 1859 a wave of patriotic feeling swept over the British Empire as
Canada.
a result of the menaces of a French invasion at the time of the trouble over the Orsini conspiracy.
The people of the Mother Country have grown familiar to such threats now, but the methods of
the French yellow journal were not so well known
May 12th, 1859, the Government sanc
then.
tioned the formation of volunteer corps under the old Act, 44 George III., Chapter 54, under which
463,000 volunteers had been raised during the great French War. The result was an immediate
and formidable addition to the few isolated volunteer corps which had existed since 1852. The
success of the French expansionist movement
in Europe in the years 1859 and 1860 gave renewed

impetus to the British volunteer

movement, and the force speedily rose from 70.000 men to 180.000
men. (Army Book.) April 26th, 1860, five independent infantry companies and the foot artil
lery company were formed into a regiment, largely through the exertions of Col. George T. Deni-
son (Rusholme). This regiment is now the Queen s Own Kifles.
The King Edward VII. (then Prince of Wales) to Canada in I860, was an event of
visit of

much importance in the history of the corps. Before the arrival of the Royal visitor the troop
went into barracks at the Crystal Palace, where there was excellent stabling, and furnished all
rts for the Prince during his stay in Toronto, the Oak Ridges Cavalry, under Colonel
McLeod, being united with it upon the occasion of the arrival of the Royal party. Contemporary
accounts describe Captain Denison s troop of volunteer cavalry" as looking "very soldierlike in
their uniforms of blue and silver. Owing to the crush, people in their anxiety to see the Prince

actually crawled between the legs of the horses of the escort, and the escort was kept very busy.
On the arrival of His Royal Highness at Government House, he called for Colonel Denison, com
mandant of the active force in Toronto, who was
person presented, and thanked him for
the first

the services of the volunteer force, especially that of the cavalry escort, who. His Royal Highness
said, "discharged their duty in a very praiseworthy manner." Mr. Robert Coleman s Account.) <

During His Royal Highness visit the troop took part with the rest of the volunteer force in a
review held in the Queen s Park in honor of the Prince.
Lieut. -Col. G. T. Denison s book contains the following reminiscences of this historical occa
sion :

1860 the approaching visit of the Prince of AVales created quite a

"In stir in the active
force, and caused the expenditure of a great deal of money by the officers and men of the corps.

50
We had no saddles or bridles furnished us, and each man hail to furnish his own. So they all had
ordinary hunting saddles, and the ordinary light riding bridles. To give an appearance of uni

formity we had head stalls or front pieces made with a broad white band across the front and two

pieces of leather crossed with bosses,

and they had loops by which they could be put in front of
To cover the
any ordinary bridles. This at a little distance gave an appearance
of uniformity.

saddles we had sheepskin covers made, dyed a dark blue and edged with a scalloped border of
white cloth. These being fastened over the saddles with surcingles, gave them also a uniform
appearance.
troop escorted the Prince of Wales everywhere during
"My
his visit to Toronto. On his

first entry the crowd was so large, and the anx

iety to see him so intense, that we had the great

est difficulty in forcing our way through the

streets to Government House.

me and my officers very
"It cost heavily,
so much was thrown \ipon us in order to make
a creditable appearance."

October 10th. 1860, Lieut.-Col. G. T. Deni-

son (Rusholme) was signally honored, being
gazetted a full colonel in the militia, and

appointed to the command of the 5th and 10th

Military Districts. June 19th. 1860, Cornet
Patrick Campbell resigned, and, on the 6th
December following, Lieut. Wm. Ridout was
placed on the unattached and Cornet Chas.
list,

L. Denison gazetted lieutenant. December 7th.

Mr. G. Shirley Denison was gazetted cornet,
and April 22nd, 1862, Captain G. T. Denison
(Hey don Villa) was made major.
Some time during 1861 Major Denison
prepared a memorial signed by Lieut. -Colonels
Richard L. Denison, Geo. T. Denison (Rus
holme), and Robert B. Denison, all ex-com
manding officers of the troop, and himself, ask
HIS MAJESTY KING EDWARD VII.
ing the Governor-General of Canada, Lord As he appeared when visiting Canada in 1860.
Monck, to grant the 1st York Cavalry the title
of Governor General s Body Guard, in consideration of the corps being such an old one. and hav

ing performed duty escort so often, and

many Governors of Canada. to so This memorial was
presented by Lieut.-Col. Richard L. Denison personally to II is Excellency. Through being mis
laid, or through some other cause, this was never answered.

September 23rd, 1862, the troop turned out voluntarily for a review on the occasion of the
visit of Viscount Monck, the new Governor-General, to Toronto.
This year, 1862, was from a military point of view one of the most interesting in the history
of Canada. The two Confederate States Commissioners were taken off the British steamer
"

"Trent" by the U.S.S. "San Jacinto, in November, 1861, and the excitement aroused by Brit
ain s positive demand for their return, and the hesitation to comply, reached the climax during

51
the opening months of 1862. Although in the event of war ensuing, Canada, of all parts of the
British Empire, would have been the chief sufferer, there was not, even in the heart of the
"Tight Little Island" itself, anywhere where there was a more fixed determination that complete

amends should be made for the outrage upon the flag than in this country. A large force of regu
lar troops was despatched to Canada, and the population of the country sprang to arms. New
companies, new troops, and new regiments sprang up on all sides, many of the principal corps of
the militia of the present day dating their existence to that stirring time. This period of mili
tary spirit and national determination may be said to have seen the setting of the keystone in the
structure of the Canadian active militia. There has never been any doubt as to its permanence
since.
November Major R. B. Denison, who was transferred from the troop in 1856, was
28th, 1862,
appointed brigade major and February 2nd, 1866, he was promoted
of the 10th Military District,
lieutenant-colonel. June 2nd, 1866, he was sent to Clifton in command of a provisional battalion

organized to guard that part of the Niagara frontier.

In 1863 the strength of the active militia, limited by the Act of 1855 to 5,000, was raised to
25,000, at which strength it was maintained until after the reorganization following Confedera
tion in 1868.

August 25th, 1865, Cornet G. Shirley Denison retired, and Lieutenant Frederick C. Deni
Denison (of Heydon Villa), was gazetted cornet. During the
son, brother of Lieut.-Col. G. T.
Fenian Raid of 1866, G. S. Denison served in the Montreal volunteer force.
Lieut.-Col. George T. Denison explains in "Soldiering in Canada" some troubles to which
he was subjected at this time :

"On October 23rd, 1865, Colonel Patrick L. Macdougall, then Adjutant-General Com
manding came up to Toronto to inspect my troop. We were then allowed fifty-six
the Militia,
non-commissioned officers and men, three officers and a surgeon. Sixty in all. Every man was on
parade, and they were all well drilled. I was then wishing to obtain permission to raise a second
troop. The Adjutant-General had said to me First show that the troop is full.
: I saw to

this, and no man was absent. I was also very anxious to be furnished with saddles, for the sheep

skins we had got in 1860 were worn out and abandoned."

Major Denison adopted a novel expedient to drive home the truth as to the need for uniform
saddlery. One of his men paraded with a blue sheepskin he had purchased out of his own pocket
and the C.O. allowed him to retain it, rightly judging that its conspicuousness would jar upon the
official eye of the inspecting officer. About a month after he received from the department thirty-
five sets of Hussar saddles complete, and these had to go around a troop of fifty-five men. Novem

ber 23rd, 1865, Major Denison wrote the Deputy-Adjutant-General as follows:

"It seems that I am to have only thirty-five sets of saddlery for my men.This will be very
embarrassing to me indeed. I will explain how it will affect me, and I hope you do what you
will
can for me in order to get In 1855 we were allowed fifty men under the Act, and
fifty-five sets.

my troop was filled up by me to the full number, and was the only troop in the Province that par
aded the full number at inspection. I had no sooner filled my troop than the law of 1859 struck
off twenty of my men. This was very discouraging; however, I kept my troop at the prescribed
number, thirty, until the last militia law was passed, allowing me to have fifty-five men. I saw
the Adjutant-General in Quebec last August, and he told me if my troop was full and was

inspected by him, and if, from what he heard, he thought I would be able to keep up another
troop, he would allow me to organize a second troop. I therefore completed my troop to the

52
fullcomplement of fifty-five men, renewed their clothing to a great extent, put in right days drill
and turned out for inspection by the Adjutant-General with lifty-livc men uni
for this year,
formed. The Adjutant-General seemed satisfied with the inspection, and told the men he would
let them have saddlery and uniforms, he hoped before the close of navigation."
Major Denison received a reply from headquarters stating that: "The Adjutant-General
is unable to comply at present with this application, as there are only a limited number of sets at
the disposal of the department, and those troops which are reported efficient throughout the Pro
vince must each receive their just proportion, which Major Denison s troop has already had."

CAPT. EDWIN P. DENISON,

Sixth Commanding Officer of the Governor-General s Body Guard

It will be seen that Major Denison had turned out fifty-five men on parade, the other troops
in the Province from thirty to thirty-five. They got saddles for all their men, while he only got
enough for three-fifths of his men, and he was told that was a just proportion.
About this time there was a very keen interest taken in soldiering throughout Canada. The
impetus given to the military spirit by the ugly threats which came from across the line at the
time of the "Trent" affair in 1862, and after the St. Alban s raid in 1864, had not spent itself;
and it began to be more and more apparent that there really would be serious trouble from the
Fenians.

53
 THIS BOOK IS THE PROPERTY
OF ____

,
Toronto

AND MUST NOT BE REMOVED

FROM THE OFFICE.

CHAPTER VII.
THE FENIAN RAID.-THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL S BODY GUARD.

Canadian blood has dyed Canadian soil,

For Britain s honor, that we deemed our own,
Nor do we ask but for the right to keep
Unbroken, still, the cherished filial tie
That binds us to the distant sea-girt isle
Our fathers loved, and taught their sons to love.
As the dear home of free men, brave and true,
And loving honour more than ease or gold ?
AGNES MAUDE MACHAR.

ITU the excitement over the Maine and Oregon boundary disputes,
the "Caroline" affair, the filibustering raids of 1838, the "Trent"

affair, the St. raid, and one or two other similarly dis
Alban s

quieting incidents, the Canadian authorities had got fairly well

accustomed to threats of invasion from the United States.
It was the old story of growing accustomed to the cry
of Wolf," and it was hard to convince those in au
thority that therewas anything really to be dreaded in the pre
parations which the Fenians were making with more or less ostenta
tion during the years 1865 and 1866 for the invasion of Canada. The
special opportunity of the Fenians at this time lay in the large number
of trained men, embued with the military spirit, thrown out of employ
ment by the termination of the long American Civil War. As early as 1861
Lieut.-Col. George T. Denison (Heydon Villa) had prophetically indicated a pos
sible danger to Canada from this impending condition. The leaders of the
Fenian movement proposed to avail themselves of this great mass of excellent
military material already to hand. It never appears to have entered into the
minds of the Fenians that the United States Government would interfere. A
vigorous propaganda was inaugurated to procure the sinews of war, arms and men. An Irish
Republic was organized by resolution, a New York mansion secured as headquarters, and all the
officials of a well-equipped Government selected, and, of course, placed on salaries. Bonds were
issued, and the people of the United States showed their sympathy and confidence in the move
ment by providing though not a very extensive or profitable one, for the very insecure
a market,
securities. A large number of Springfield muskets were purchased, and an arsenal equipped at
Trenton, N.J., to convert them into breechloaders. Numerous depots of arms and stores were
established along the Canadian frontier, and it was announced in December, 1865, that over

100,000 men had enlisted in the army of the "Irish Republic."

But at this point a deliciously Hibernian flavor was imparted to the whole movement by
the discovery that its leaders bad not yet decided what they were going to try to do. Mr.
O Mahoney, the President of the "Irish
Republic," preferred to make the Emerald Isle the scene

54
of the coming struggle, thinking it the soundest strategy to send men. money and arms over to
Ireland. Mr. Sweeney, one of his "officers of state," and a considerable faction in sympathy with

him, wanted to capture Canada, establish a belligerent government here, secure the recognition of
the United States, and create a diversion in favor of the rebels while the prospective rising in Ire
land was in progress. So much was published about this schism in the Fenian ranks that many
thought it would wreck the whole movement. Others claimed that there was no substantiality in
the Fenian crusade at all that it was merely a ruse to extort money from the pockets of credu
;

lous servant girls and other ignorant people. Again, others, including apparently the Canadian
authorities, thought that the United States would repress any overt acts with a high hand. So for
months arid months the green flag flew over the executive mansion of the Irish Republic in New
York, and the making of arms and the drilling of men went on but the authorities in Canada
;

took no steps to prepare for invasion.

Towards the end of the winter of 1865-6 was generally understood throughout the United
it

States that the Fenians intended to try to celebrate St. Patrick s Day (March 17th) by taking
possession of Canada and New Brunswick. The authorities at last believed that there might be
something in all this fuss.

March 7th Mr. (later Sir) John A. Macdonald, then Minister of Militia, authorized Colonel
P. L. Macdougall to call out 10,000 men of the Canadian volunteer force for active service. The
Adjutant-General the following day ordered out sufficient corps to fill out this quota, but as they
all turned out over strength, the muster rolls showed a force on hand of 14,000. Colonel Mac
dougall reported that 30,000 men could have been mustered within 48 hours without any difficulty.
The Body Guard was among the corps selected for service, receiving instructions to go into
barracks at the Toronto Show Grounds near the asylum, the men being billetted about the city
in hotels for their meals. March 17th (St. Patrick s Day) the troop was ordered to remain in

barracks, horses saddled in case of emergency, but no breach of the peace occurred.
In fact, the only demonstration made by the Fenians anywhere at this time was at Eastport,
Maine, where a number of men belonging to the Order of Hibernians gathered and threatened to
make a descent upon Calais, N. B. Some New Brunswick volunteers were soon mobilized at Calais,
some British and United States men-of-war, with steam up, patrolled the adjacent waters, and
the Hibernians contented themselves with a demonstration.
The troop was removed from active service March 28th, when the strength of the whole force
on duty was reduced to 10,000 men. In order to keep the militia in hand, and readily available,
they received orders to parade two days a week until further orders for drill. On May 24th the
whole force was relieved from this further service, except a few companies at advanced posts.
Major-General Napier, C.B., in command of the Toronto Brigade, issued a very compliment
ary order in dismissing the local troops from active service, in which he tendered his thanks "To
the Commandant, Colonel G. T. Denison, the officers, non-commissioned officers and privates, not

only for the prompt manner in which they responded to the Governor-General s call for active
service, but also for their uniform good conduct during the time they have been under his com
mand, which he will not fail to bring to the favorable notice of His Excellency, the Connnander-
in-Chief."

It was at this anxious period that the troop obtained the honorable designation
by which it
is at present The memorial of 1861 on the subject will be recalled. April 13th, 1866,
known.
the officers of the troop were surprised to see by the official gazette th;it the special designation

they had applied for five years earlier had been bestowed upon the Royal Guides of Montreal,

55
a corps just organized. A personal appeal was at once made to the Government by Major Denison,
who set forth the troop s special claim to the title as being the oldest troop continuously main
tained iii The justice of the request was admitted, and, April 27th, 1866, orders were
Canada.*
issued amending the designation granted to the Montreal troop to "The Governor General s Body
Guard for Lower Canada," and providing as follows:
"His
Excellency has also been pleased to direct that the 1st Troop of York Cavalry shall
henceforth bear the style and title of "Governor General s Body Guard of Upper Canada."
In "Soldiering in Canada," Lieut.-Col. G. T. Denison gives this version of this incident:
was naturally indignant at the injustice, and went at once to Ottawa, saw Sir John A.
"I

Macdonald, Sir A. T. Gait, Thomas D Arcy McGee, and other friends in the Cabinet, showed the
unfairness of the treatment, and the matter was settled by my corps getting the rank and title for
Ontario. The Royal Guides was one of those meteoric of comet-like corps, which flash across
the firmament with great brilliancy,and then disappear. It vanished two or three years after,
and seme time corps was gazetted as the Body Guard for the Dominion."
after my
During the three months of March, April and May, the nominal strength of the active militia
force increased from 19,597 to 33,754. The Fenian agitators maintained their in the activity
United States, and reports received in Canada of impending trouble appeared to grow more and
more circumstantial. And well they might.
It be accepted as fairly accurate that the Fenian leaders at this time
may contemplated four
simultaneous descents upon Canada. From Chicago one force was to be despatched against Wind
sor, Sarnia, and that
from Buffalo and Rochester a force was to be drawn to operate
district;
against the Niagara frontier from Ogdensburg an attack was to be made upon Preseott and from
;
;

New York, Troy and Albany a descent was to be made upon the Huntingdon frontier in the Pro
vince of Quebec. Divided councils prevailed and preliminaries miscarried. It takes system,
organization and discipline to put strategical plans into operation.
"General" O Neill, the Fenian commander at Buffalo, precipitated matters. He had been
promised 10,000 men and six guns, but they were so slow in coming that his patience could last
no longer, and when his force reached 3,000
men, half of them equipped, he decided upon
the long-threatened campaign. So before day
light he marched some 800 of his men on board
some canal boats at Black Rock, below Buffalo,
they were towed across the Niagara River, and
that same day, June 1st, Canada was startled
from one end to the other to learn that a Fenian
army had actually landed on Canadian soil, a
mile below Fort Erie. The Niagara penin
sula was to again make good its claim to the
title, Cockpit of Canada."
"The

BLOCK HOUSE AT THE OLD FORT. Early in May, Major Denison, command
The Armouries of the Body Guard for forty years.
G.G.B.G., had communicated to Sir
ing the
John Macdonald and Colonel Macdougall, authentic private information he had obtained from a
The (Xew Brunswick) Regiment
"rd claims to
the oldest, artillery corps in Canada by descent from
lie

"Loyal Company of Artillery." raised at St. John.

4th. 1703. The 1st. P.W. Fusiliers claim the longest
. .
May .

continuous existence of any Canadian infantry corps, its Number One Company, as the "Montreal Rifle 1
Rangers,"
having been organized August, 1854. The 1st was given its first battalion organization May 8th, 1856.
friend on the staff of a New York paper to the effect that a raid was to take place at Fort Erie at
the end of May. He
asked that his troop be armed with Spenser carbines, and detailed to picket
the frontier near Fort Erie. The Adjutant-General replied that he hoped there would be no occa
sion to remind Colonel Denison of his offer. But as the end of the month approached, even offi

cialdom changed its mind. On the 29th telegraphic advices in the public press reported parties of
men on the move northward from points even as far south as Tennessee. The public telegrams of
the succeeding days showed that the movement had become general, and doubtless the Govern
ment s private reports confirmed them. Eventually, during the evening of the 31st, orders were
issued at Ottawa for the calling out of four hundred of the Toronto militia, and their despatch
to Port Colborne on Lake Erie, at the head of the Welland Canal. In compliance with these
orders the Queen s Own Rifles left Toronto for Port Colborne, via Port Dalhousie on Lake
Ontario, at the foot of the Welland Canal, at four o clock Friday, June 1st.

Major Denison, commanding the G.G.B.G., did not hear of the landing of the Fenian force
and of the departure of the Queen s Own until the next morning, though he had anticipated some
such information. He heard the news from his brother, Cornet F. C. Deniscn, then about nine
teen years of age, and at once proceeded to the brigade office to find that no orders had been
received to turn out the cavalry. The Fenians had shown themselves wider awake than were the
Canadian authorities in this respect, for as soon as he reached Canadian soil. O Neill had as many
horses as possible seized, and despatched mounted scouts throughout the adjacent country to obtain
information.

About mid-day a messenger went to s office on Jordan Street, where he was

Major Denison
carrying on and
the practice of his profession as a barrister, told him that Major-General Xapier,
who then commanded the Imperial forces of the Upper Canadian district, wished to see him at
the brigade office. He at once complied and found that the major-general wished to obtain infor
mation from him about the country on the Niagara frontier, with which he was familiar. Major
Denison strongly advised the general to hold the line of Chippewa and the Welland River.
Two or three hours after leaving Major-General Napier (about 3 p.m.), Major Denison
received orders to turn out his troop and leave for the frontier early the next morning. He at
once made arrangements with a brother lawyer to take charge of his practice, closed his office, and
took steps to assemble the troop. He first sent out the sergeants and corporals to bring in the men,
who lived within a radius of about a dozen miles of the city. They were riding all night, and
coming into the rendezvous at the Exhibition Grounds at all hours, so that by day-break the troop
was ready to start. During the night orders were received to embark at 7 a.m. on the steamer
"City of
Toronto." The troop was kept back for the steamer to be loaded with stores, so that it
did not leave for Port Dalhousie until about 8 a.m. of June 2nd. When the troop was disem
barking at Port Dalhousie, between 11 a.m. and noon, the first incomplete news was being received
of the fighting of that morning at Ridgeway, between the Fenians and Lieut. -Col. Booker s
column.
At this point it is necessary to take a hurried glance at the position at the front. When it
was ascertained that the Fenians had landed at Fort Erie, it was, of course, rightly surmised that

their objective point To cover that important public work and to

would be the Welland Canal.
expel the invaders, two bodies of troops were got together. The Queen s Own Rifles, the 13th Bat
talion, the York and Caledonia Companies, and the Welland Canal Field Battery (armed as rifle

men), formed a force of about 900 strong at Port Colborne, at the head of the canal, the point

57
of that work nearest to Fort Erie, the Fenian base. The senior officer with this force was Lieut. -
Col. Booker of the 13th. At Chippewa was assembled on the morning of June 2nd, a force com
posed as follows: Field Battery of the Royal Artillery, 200 of II. M. 16th Regiment, 350 of H. M.
47th Regiment, the 10th Battalion (now Royal Grenadiers), Toronto, and the 19th Battalion, St.
Catharines, all told about 1,600 men, of whom 600 were regular s. Having secured the head of
the canal and the bridges over Chippewa Creek or Welland River, Colonel Peacocke, command
ing the 16th Regiment, and the senior officer at the front, issued orders for the junction of the
two forces at Stevensville.

Roughly, the field of operations may be described as an equilateral triangle, with its base
a line running east and west from Fort Erie to Port Colborne, and with Chippewa (to the

north) the apex. Also roughly, Stevensville may be said to be about equidistant from each one
of the places mentioned, consequently about the centre of the triangle.

After landing, O Neill was delayed for some hours awaiting reinforcements, which did not
come, the U. S. revenue cruiser "Michigan" having taken up a position in the river to stop the
crossing. He first directed the movement of his force towards Chippewa, having the country

ahead of his advance reconnoitred as well as possible with his extemporized corps of mounted
scouts. The Fenians appreciated the value of information, and it does not appear to have taken
long for O Neill to find that the force opposed to him was divided at Port Colborne and Chip
pewa, and that an attempt was to be made to unite it. He was
and efficient soldier appar
a keen

ently; his eight years service in the United States army having given him considerable experi
ence. It did not take him long to decide upon the very obvious and sound plan of moving out

in the direction of Stevensville and of making an effort to defeat the two divisions of his enemy s
force in detail before they could effect their junction. Hence the attack upon and defeat of Lieut. -
Col. Booker s force at Ridgeway, or Lime Ridge, on the morning of June 2nd.
The news of the fighting made officers and men of the Governor General s Body Guard all
the more anxious to reach the front with as little delay as possible. The great need of cavalry
at the front was realized by Major Denison and his officers, though they had yet to learn how

dearly Colonel Booker s column had to pay for its entire lack of that arm.

So, arrived at Port Dalhousie and disembarked, Major Denison lost no time in getting a
train made up, entraining and starting for Port Robinson (the nearest point on the railway and
canal to Chippewa), in obedience to orders received from Colonel Peacocke, who had already
started on his march towards Stevensville.

At Port Robinson the troop detrained, the men and horses were fed, and the corps then
marched down to Chippewa. Lieut.-Col. John Hillyard Cameron of the Sedentary Militia, who
was a volunteer on Colonel Peacocke s staff, was looking after matters at Chippewa, and advised
Major Denison to wait till the cool of the evening and then join Colonel Peacocke at New Ger
many, where he understood he had halted for the night. The horses, after the hard riding of the
previous night, required their shoes to be looked after, so Major Denison waited to get that done,

and in two hours thirty horses had their shoes fastened on and attended to.

During was no stabling convenient, oats were purchased, and the men
this delay, as there

fed their horses on the roadside, or on the sidewalks. It was quite a picturesque sight to see the
men sitting and lying about the street, some watching the horses feeding, while others took advan
tage of the halt to throw themselves on the grass and snatch a few minutes sleep, as they had

58
had none the previous night while others again were busy in the blacksmith s shop attending to
;

the shoeing of the horses and sharpening the swords. In accordance with orders received, six

men of the troop were left at Chippewa.

Major Denison marched from Chippewa to New Germany hy the Sodom Road, which runs
through the interior, a good way back from the river, and is much more direct than the road along
the river bank taken by the main column under Colonel Peacocke. The troop arrived at New Ger

many with the horses much jaded, between five and six o clock, just as Colonel Peacocke s force
was moving off the road to Stevensville. The troop was at once sent forward by Colonel Pea-

LT.-COL. FREDERICK C. DENISON, C.M.G., M.P.

Seventh Commanding Officer of the Governor-General s Body Guard.

cocke form the advance guard. Notwithstanding the fatigue of horses and men, the
s orders, to

corps was moved rapidly to the front, the men of the artillery and infantry, both regulars and
volunteers, cheering them most heartily as they passed. The Body (Juard took every precaution to
cover the advance, as if expecting momentary contact with the enemy, feelers being thrown out
to the right and left. Lieut.-Col. G. T. Denison makes the following reference to this march in
"Soldiering in Canada.":

wo
"

\Ve marched some 1 or three hours, the pace ofmy force being regulated by the rate at
which the infantry of the main body could march. This was the regular rule for the guidance

59
of an advance guard, and I can remember how I began to chafe almost at
once at not being able
to push on. I felt that there was no reason why should not go on until I struck the enemy s
I

pickets, for I knew I could easily fall back if overmatched. This impressed me so much that

afterwards, in my "Modern Cavalry," I laid down fully my views of advanced guard work."

A of some nine miles brought the head of the column, just as it began to grow dusk,
march
to a point near to where the woods, which had flanked the road at a distance of 600 or 700 yards
for nearly a mile back, came right down on both sides to the highway. Beyond the point indi
cated the marshy woods closed the road in on both sides for a quarter of a mile of its length.
When within two hundred yards of the point where the road cut into the wood, the advanced
files of the Body Guard noticed some men in the road there, and at once halted and signalled back
that men were in sight. It was surmised that this was a Fenian outpost, and the suspicion proved
"

to be correct. Lieut.-Col. (then Major) George T. Denison, in his "History of the Fenian Raid,

says :

galloped on to the front, and, inquiring from my men, heard that a force was in front
"I

and continually dropping into the woods on the right, and, on looking myself, saw that it was so.
Colonel Peacocke soon after also galloped up, and, on learning the cause of the halt, requested me
to send two men on to reconnoitre more closely. By this time nearly all had gone into the woods
on the right. I rode on with Cornet F. C. Denison and three men, and, detaching him with two
to go downa side road to the right, rode on myself with the other to where we saw in the dusk
a vidette standing where the others had been. He also moved into the woods while we were yet
some distance from him. We rode about 150 yards through the woods, but by this time it had
got so late that I could see nothing under the trees, it being much darker there than in the open

road. They did not consequently I could form no opinion of their position or prob
fire upon us,
able numbers. I therefore returned to Colonel Peacocke and reported that I could see nothing,

suggesting to him that as their outposts should properly have fired upon us to alarm their camp,
their not having done so was a sign their force was on the alert, and, the place being so suitable,
it seemed to point to an ambuscade, and that I thought the wood should be searched. Colonel
Peacocke seemed to have had a somewhat similar opinion, as in my absence he had sent for two
companies of M. 16th Regiment * to come up to search the bush, the main force being some dis
II.

tance in the rear. While we were speaking, the two companies came up, and I went on with Col.
Peacocke, who moved with them to direct their movements. They opened out to the right of the
road to skirmishing distance, and moved on to the front. It was so dark by this time that the men
could not, in the woods, see from one to the other and, there being a great deal of tangled bush
;

and logs, and, being very marshy and wet, the men could make no headway whatever."
is was the situation when Colonel Peacocke was informed that it was useless to try and
I ll

proceed further, as the road was blocked by a broken bridge, and he consequently decided to halt
until daybreak.
was learned later that the Fenian picket which the advanced party of the Body Guard
It

had seen fall back had made their way through the woods, and did not halt until they reached
Fort Erie, about three miles distant, where they reported that they had been driven in by a
detachment of British cavalry. After the fight at Lime Eidge the Fenians had followed the retir
ing militia to Ridgeway Station, and then turned off abruptly to the left (east) and marched to
Fort Erie, where they hoped to meet or be joined by reinforcements, or to find means to get back
across the river to Buffalo.

Now the Bedfordshire Regiment.

60
 The reports of correspondents of United States papers with the Fenian force show that that
was a night of panic in Fort, Eric. A
determination by the Fenians to withdraw across the river
was so suddenly come to that all the sick and wounded were abandoned. The correspondent of
The Buffalo Express in a report published the next day, wrote ;

So rapid was the conception and execution of the plan of retreat, that no notice was given
to the picket linesextended along the bank of the river. At the time our reporter left Black
Bock, 3.30 a.m., the news had reached the outposts, and a portion of the sentinels were already
on the American side. Row boats were then crossing the river, evidently propelled with a vigor

stimulated by fear and upon the further shore considerable groups of excited Fenians could be
;

seen waiting their turn for transportation. So great was the eagerness to cross that many trusted
to a single plank as a means of support, and two small docks on the shore were completely

stripped for this purpose. Great indignation was manifested by the men who had been stationed
on outpost duty, at being deserted by their comrades as they were. Had it not been for the
approach of a detachment of British cavalry driving them in, it is probable that none of them
would have learned of the evacuation in time to escape."

The report that the Fenian pickets had been driven in by cavalry was telegraphed that same
night to General Napier in Toronto by the British Consul in Buffalo, but the general remarked
it could not be true, as Peacocke had no cavalry with him. When Colonel G. T. Denison (Rus-
holme) suggested that it might be his son s troop (the G.G.B.G.), the general remarked that that

was impossible, as he only left Toronto that morning. It was true, nevertheless. Major Deni
son, as he himself explains, had taken his corps about forty miles across the lake on a steamer to

Port Dalhousie, disembarked there, got a train made up, and entrained the men and horses and
went to Port Robinson, some twenty miles, detrained there, fed men and horses, marched nine
miles to Chippewa, then six to New Germany, then nine miles to Bown s farm, where they struck
the Fenian pickets, within twelve hours from the time they left the wharf in Toronto.

Small wonder General Napier smiled incredulously when it was suggested that so much had
been accomplished in so limited a time.
The night of June 2nd, Colonel Peacocke s column bivouacked where night had overtaken
them, in front of where the Fenian outposts had been. The men lay on the sides of the road and
in the fields adjoining, wearing their accoutrements, and having their arms beside them; the
horses of the artillery and the Body Guards still with their harness and saddles on, all ready, in
case of a night alarm, to move into action at once. Some of the officers made their beds that night

on a pile of rails, rather than on the grass, which was covered with dew. It being in June, very
few of the officers or men had their great-coats, they being left with the baggage during the forced
march.
Lieut.-Col. Denison, in "Soldiering in Canada," mentions that when crossing the lake in the

morning, he gave each man with instructions to keep it until permission

a big hard-tack biscuit,

was given to eat it. When the corps went into bivouac the biscuits were all the men had to eat.
The colonel remarks in his book: "The want of organization or preparation, in view of the long
threatenings, seems almost incredible. I had to take my corps on a campaign without the carbines
I had asked for, but with revolvers for which we had only some four or five ten-year-old paper

cartridges for each. We did not know whether they would go off or not. We had no haver
sacks,no water-bottles, no nose-bags. Some of us had small tin cupsfastened on our saddles. We
had no canteens, or knives or forks, or cooking utensils of any kind, or valises. We had no clothes

61
except those on diir hacks (I luid an cxlra flaiincl shirt and one pair of socks in the small wal
lets in front of my saddle). We had 110 tents and 110 blankets."

During the night wild news came into bivouac of the fight at Fort Krie, when the Fenian
force, on returning from Ridgeway, attacked the \\ellaiid Canal Field Battery and Dunville
Naval Company, which, under Lieut. -Col. Dennis, had arrived at Fort Erie, on the tug Robb,
from Port Colboriie, while the Fenians were inland. As a matter of fact, many of Colonel
Dennis party were wounded and most of them taken prisoners, but the first exaggerated reports
received were to the effect that all but four had been killed or wounded. During the night,
from the discharge of numerous rockets in the direction of the river, it was judged that the Fenians
were exchanging signals with their friends on the United States side, which proved to be the case.
It was an anxious night for Colonel Peacocke s little force bivouacked in the fields in front

of thewoods where the Fenian pickets had been driven in. A line of skirmishers had been thrown
around the bivouac, with small picquets beyond them.
The next morning (Sunday, the 3rd), just as day began to break, Lieut. -Col. Dennis, who
had escaped from Fort Erie in disguise, found his way into the bivouac, and shortly afterwards
the Body Guard, in compliance with an order issued by Colonel Peacocke, pushed on towards
Fort Erie on a reconnaisance, with instructions to send back information as obtained. Before start
ing a rough breakfast was served to the troop, which Lieut.-Col. Denison describes as follows:
"Just before daybreak the waggons came up from the rear with some beef and hard tack.
The beef was given to us in small chunks. We made fires of the rail fences, and, sticking the
small pieces of meat on slivers of wood, we cooked them over the fire by toasting them. When

they were cooked and browned on the outside we had to take them in our fingers and eat them,
tearing them to pieces with our teeth, with the juice running over our hands. \Ve went to the brook
near by to get a drink."

The troop, advancing with due precaution, struck at cnee for the river. On nearing the Lower
Ferry, a scow, densely crowded with men, was noticed out in the centre of the river in charge of
the U. S. cutter The country people reported that there was a strong force of Fenians
"Michigan."

in the woods, and that those 011 the scow composed a reinforcement from across the river. Cour
iers with this news were despatched to Colonel Peacocke, scouts were thrown out, and Major Deni

son rowed out in a boat to the "Michigan," and was told by her commander, Captain Bryson,
that the men he had captured on the scow were the main force that had been in Canada, and that
he did not believe there were many left. This information was at once communicated to Colonel
Peacocke.
In his "History of the Fenian Raid," Lieut.-Col. Denison relates what followed:
"Recalling some of the we then proceeded on the gallop up the river towards Fort
scouts,
Erie, being informed by the people we met that a number of Fenians were still there. On com
ing in sight of the village, we saw men dodging in every direction, but when we got up nearly all
were hidden or gone; muskets, bayonets and belts were scattered along the road, where men had
dropped them in their flight. A few prisoners were taken by us, and the wounded were placed
under a guard. Here we saw a number of the men who had been captured in the fight at Fort
Erie: they received us with great manifestations of delight. After placing guards over the pris
oners and over the arms, which were lying on the dock, the men and horses were billetted in the
taverns, as both were nearly used up by about forty hours almost continuous exertions. We
reached Fort Erie about 6 a.m."

6-2
 An hour after the arrival of the Body Guard. Colonel Garnet \Yolselev. now Field Marshal
Lord Wolseley, arrived at Fort Erie, preceding the column commanded by Colonel It. \V. Lowry,
commanding the 47th Regiment (now the 1st Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regi
ment), then in garrison at Toronto. Colonel IVacoeke arrived in due course with his column,
and
the following day the whole force (between 2.000 and 2.500 men) went into camp on the high

ground in the rear of the village, picquets were placed all along the river and hack of the camp;
also two cavalry pickets from the Body Guard at the Upper and Lower Ferry. Lieut.-Col. Deni-
son gives us this interesting introduction to Colonel Wolseley upon this occasion :

was busy looking after some of the wounded, when Colonel (now Lord) AVolseley came
"I

riding up the road into the village. It was my first introduction to him. lie had been
described

to me so often by men who had been under him in the training camp which he commanded at La-

prairie the prevkms year, that I recognized him at once. He asked my name and corps
and I told
him. I he was not Colonel Wolseley, and so we became acquainted with each other."
asked him if

Colonel Wolseley was at the time serving on the staff of the regular army in Canada as assist
ant quartermaster-general. In 1865 he had had command, with conspicuous success, of a camp of
instruction formed of three instructional battalions of a total strength of 2,500 officers and men
who had passed through the various military schools held in connection with the regular regiments
in Canada. This is supposed to have been Lord Wolseley s first command of a force larger than

a regiment.
There was not much comfort during the first few days the force was at Fort Erie. The Body
Guard had no tents and had to depend for shelter upon a couple of tents loaned by Col. Tloste s
Field Battery of the Royal Artillery, and some shelters erected with fence rails. A warm friend
ship sprang up during this service between the battery and the troop. The messing
was for some
time very crude, but on Monday morning (June 4th) a train load of supplies of food arrived,
sent by the inhabitants of Toronto for the Toronto volunteers. Alderman John Baxter, who was
one of Major Denison s colleagues from St. Patrick s Ward, in the City Council, was one of a
small committee sent with the food.
On the night of the 5th the camp was aroused by a false alarm, an infantry sentry firing, as
he supposed, at some moving objects. There were known to be many thousands of Fenians
about, in Buffalo and vicinity, and the force turned out with alacrity. The Body Guard turned
out in an incredibly short space of time. The horses were saddled and the men mounted, ready
to move, before the adjoining infantry battalions had fallen in.
In "Soldiering inappears the following reference to the service at Fort Erie:
Canada"

"For three weeks we were at Fort Erie doing outpost and patrol duties. \Ve had a campfire in the

middle of our camp every evening, and the men not on duty gathered around it, singing SOIILTS

and and enjoying themselves. The men got the name of Denison s Guerilla s,
telling anecdotes
partly, I think, I had got them all
from the fact that supplied with jack-boots in which their
trousers were tucked, and we all, officers and men. wore them. As no mounted officer or men wore
these in the army at that time, and those we had were the common lumbermen s boots, they looked

very rough and ready, and gave the men an irregular appearance, but they were very
serviceable

and useful."

About June Cavalry, having been moved down to Port Colborne,

15th. the St. Catharines
was ordered to send a detachment to Ridgeway. and the Body (luard were ordered to establish a
could be kept up. by cav
post half-way between Fort Erie and Ridgeway. so that communication
alry with Port Colborne. On the 20th June, orders came for the whole volunteer force
patrols,
to proceed to their homes. The troop returned by the "City of Toronto," and as it marched
through the city on the way to the barracks, it was greeted with cheers and waving of handker
chiefs.

June 28th the inhabitants of the Village of Weston and surrounding neighborhood gave a
banquet to the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Body Guard as a compliment to
that corps, and to show their good feeling towards it. Mr. W. Tyrell, J.P., presided, and the pro

ceedings were characterised by much enthusiasm. Major Deriison, in responding to the toast of
the evening, expressed the regret that no cavalry had been ordered out with the first troops sent to
the front. "When the forces were ordered out," he explained, "not one cavalry corps was
included. Consequently a whole day Avas lost. On Friday afternoon he first received orders to
turn out the corps under his command for the front. Xot a moment was lost by them in making
their way there; for, although starting eight hours after the last corps left Toronto, they got into
Fort Erie two hours before the first corps got there. Had they been on the march with Colonel
Peacocke, he would have known where to effect a junction with Colonel Booker, and would not
have let the Fenians get between his men and Colonel Booker s. Canada is perhaps the only coun
try on the face of the globe where a large force, such as that despatched to Fort Erie, would be
sent without cavalry." (Globe report.)
Among those present at this banquet, it is most interesting to note, was one of the original
members of the troop who enlisted in 1822, Mr. S. Musson, Sr.
Later, the City of Toronto tendered a public banquet to the whole volunteer force, when an
address was presented expressive of the thanks and admiration of the fellow-citizens of the vol
unteer soldiers. The mayor and corporation in their address remarked :

"We would also express our conviction that had it fallen to the lot either of the gallant 10th

Royals, the Governor General s Body Guard, of York Cavalry, the Naval Brigade, or the Toronto
Field Battery, to have been in the field with their brothers of the Queen s Own, they would
equally have maintained the honor of our city and our volunteer soldiers."

For some time after the withdrawal of the militia from the frontier, Fenian agitators con
tinued to display considerable activity in border cities of the United States, and at such places as
Buffalo, Cleveland, Rochester and Syracuse, strenuous efforts were made to keep up some sort of
organization. Much fuss was made about a monster picnic the Fenian Brotherhood announced
they intended to hold near Black Rock on the Niagara River, below Buffalo. The picnic story was
believed to be but a blind for a mobilization of Fenians for another descent upon the Niagara fron
tier. Consequently the military authorities decided to form, on August 14th, a camp of observa
tion,under the command of Colonel Wolseley, at Thorold, on the \Vrlland Canal. The force in
the camp consisted of one wing of H. M. 16th Regiment, Lieut.-Col. Hoste s Field Battery of the

Royal Artillery, three or four battalions of militia infantry, and a troop of cavalry. The infantry
regiments were relieved every ten days, the time in camp being used to put in the customary
annual drills. The men received a dollar a day pay and free rations.

The Body Guard received orders to leave with the first infantry corps on August 14th. They
remained during the whole time of the camp, which lasted until October f)th. The Cobourg cav
alry, under the command of Lieut.-Col. D ArcyS. Boulton, also put in their eight days drill at
Thorold.
In "Soldiering in Canada," Lieut.-Col. Denison goes at length into the details of this ser
vice at Thorold. He says in this connection, in part :

64
 "As soon as Thorold, before we had reached the camping ground.
we arrived at received I

orders to march straight on to Chippewa, and place picquets along the River Niagara as far as

Fort Erie, and around to Ridgeway. Leaving a small party at Thorold, we marched to Chippewa
that night, and, leaving a post there under Sergt.-Major Dunn, moved on the next morning to
Black Creek, where we placed a party under Sergeant Stock, and then on to Fort Erie, where we
I left my brother Fred in
placed another, as well as one at Ridgeway under Corp. \Yinstauley.
charge at Thorold, and Lieutenant Edwin P. Denison was in command at
Fort Erie. patrolled "NYe

the river every night, and kept a careful watch to cover the camp at Thorold. An attack was
expected, and on one or two occasions the Fenians gathered in large numbers, but they never

attempted to cross.

had only fifty-five men and three officers to patrol a frontier of about twenty-five
"We

miles and to keep up communications with Colonel Wolseley s camp at Thorold. ten miles in our
rear.

Colonel "NVolseley with the way the Body Guard performed its outpost duties
was so pleased

that when the 13th Hussars arrived in Toronto under Colonel Jenyns. and Colonel Wolseley was
told that a squadron of that fine regiment was to be sent over to relieve the Body Guard, he at
once wrote and asked that Major Denison and his men should be left with him. as they were doing
excellent service, and he would rather have them than the squadron of Hussars.
Colonel Wolseley, in his report of the camp to the Adjutant-General of Militia, wrote:
"One troop of volunteer cavalry, the Governor General s Body Guard, commanded by
Lieut.-Col. Denison, was distributed into small posts from Ridgeway to Chippewa. following the
lake shore and river. By them that arduous duty was efficiently performed, and reflects the

greatest credit upon that troop and the officer commanding it."

The troop was released from duty on October 6th, Major G. T. Denison (Heydon Villa)
commanding, returning to his headquarters a lieutenant-colonel, he having been given the brevet
rank on September 13th.

65
 CHAPTER VIII.

THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION.

"

A victory is twice itself when the achiever brings home

full numbers." SIIAKESI KAHK.

FTER 1866 the Canadian active militia was not called upon again for ser
vice in the field until 1870, although there was more or less talk of
Fenian trouble during the intervening years. Owing to these rumors,
and, later, the development of trouble in the Bed River Settlement, in
terest in military matters was well sustained, and the firm estab
lishment of the active in popular favor
was considerably
militia
advanced. The Confederation of the Provinces, consummated in 1867,
had, of course, a momentous effect upon the militia. As a matter of
fact, the desire to provide an adequate system of national defence
was one of the main motives which led to the adoption of the scheme
of Confederation. For instance, we find the lion. John A. (later Sir
John A.) Macdonald, in his speech in the Legislative Assembly, February 6th,
1865, saying:
"One of the great advantages of Confederation is that we shall have a
united, a concerted and uniform system of defence. We are at this moment with
a different militia system in each colony in some of the colonies with an utter
want of any system of defence. We have a number of staff establishments, with
out any arrangement between the colonies as to the means either of defence or
offence. But under the union we will have one system of defence, and one
sys
tem of militia organization. We will have one system of defence and be one people, acting
together alike in peace and war."
At the time of Confederation there were 22,390 active militia maintained in the four ori

ginally confederated Provinces, divided as follows: Upper Canada, 12,199; Lower Canada,
7,398; New Brunswick, 1,791; Nova Scotia, 1,002.*
The "British North America Act" (30 and 31 Victoria, Chapter 3) gave the liijuiagernent
and control of themilitia during peace to the Dominion. Under the Dominion Militia Law of
1868, the Governor-General ceased to exercise the duties of eonimander-in-ehief of the militia,
and the command was vested in the Sovereign. The strength of the militia was raised to 40,000.
Confederation was proclaimed July 1st, 1867, and in honor of the occasion there was a

Manitoba entered (lie Dominion in 1870; British Columbia in 1871; Prince Kchvard Island in 1873.

00
review on Denisoii Common at which, besides the Body Guard and the other Toronto corps,
there were on parade the 13th Hussars, a field battery of the Eoyal Artillery, and the 17th Foot
(now the Leicestershire Regiment).
The Body Guard did not relax its organization or interest after being released from active
service on the frontier in 1866.
June 7th, 1867, Lieutenant Edwin P. Denison was gazetted brevet-captain. The annual
drill for the year 1867 was put in on the Garrison Commons, near Toronto, and during the
autumn no less than twenty members of the troop went through the cavalry school opened by Col.
Jenyns, C.B., in connection with his regiment, the 13th Hussars, then stationed in Toronto. Cornet
F. C. Denison and Sergeant-Major Dunn joined the first class formed in connection with this
school.
In July, 1868, Lieut. -Col. G. T. Denison, commanding the troop, published in London, Eng
land, his book, "Modern Cavalry: Its Organization, Armament and Employment in War," which
was afterwards translated into German, Russian and Hungarian, favorably reviewed by the Eng
lish and Continental press, and adopted as a text-book in the military schools of several countries.

August 18th, 1868, Lieut. -Col. Deni.son resigned his commission and the command of the
troop, refusing to serve so long as the late Sir George E. Cartier remained Minister of Militia,
the Minister having treated him in a most discourteous and overbearing manner in an inter
view. The resignation was accepted in the autumn of that year.
Lieutenant and Brevet-Captain Edwin P. Denison, of Weston, in regular promotion, became
captain in command of the troop, and Cornet Fred. C. Denison, lieutenant. Sergeant-Major
Orlando Dunn was gazetted to be cornet. October 8th, 1868, the Body Guard, with the Oak
Ridges, Markham, Burford, Catharines and Grimsby troops of cavalry, went into a camp of
St.

instruction formed on the Garrison Common at Toronto for cavalry and artillery, under Colonel

Jenyns, C.B., and Colonel Anderson. This was the first brigade camp in connection with the
active militia of the Dominion. Cornet Morrisey, the adjutant of the 13th Hussars, acted as adju
tant for the volunteer cavalry. A noteworthy fact in connection with this camp was that the

Body Guard, according to the judgment of mounted the cleanest and best turned-
the adjutant,
out men at every guard inspection during this camp, and consequently had the honor of sup

plying the commanding officer with an orderly from beginning to end of the camp. His Royal
Highness, Prince Arthur (now Duke of Connaught), who was quartered with his regiment in
Montreal, visited Toronto in October, 1869, arriving on the 2nd and leaving on the 6th. The Body
Guard performed escort duty upon this occasion.
Shortly afterwards the following complimentary order \vi1h reference to this service was
published :

"Headquarters, Ottawa, October 15th, 1869.

General Orders :

Excellency the Governor-General lakes Ihe earliest opportunity of conveying his thanks,
"His

and, by special desire, those of II.R.II. Prince Arthur, to the officers, non-commissioned officers
and men of the volunteer militia of the Dominion of Canada who have recently turned out within
the Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario with promptitude and good
spirit, to receiveand welcome H.R.H. Prince Arthur, as well as His Excellency the Governor-
General. The soldier-like appearance of the force at all places was most creditable."
About this time the agitation in the Red River Settlement, or Rupert s Land (now Mani
toba), was beginning to come to a focus.
 From 1670 until 1869 the Hudson Bay Company practically owned the whole of the vast
region which is now known as Manitoba and the North- West
Territories, the officers of the com
pany administering such rough and ready justice as there was in existence.
The country was beginning to settle up, though slowly, at the time the Confederation of the
Canadian Provinces was accomplished, and several cases of friction between settlers and officials
of the Hudson Bay Company occurz-ed. The ultimate incorporation of the vast
region of Rupert s
Land and the North- West Territories in the Dominion was had in view at the time Confedera
tion was accomplished, and various local disturbances showed the
advisability of having the trans
action completed with as little delay as possible. Before the transfer of authority could take
place was necessary to secure a relinquishment by the Hudson Bay Company of the charter it
it

had obtained from Charles II. Sir George E. Cartier and the Hon. W. McDougall were appointed
by the Dominion Government commissioners to proceed to England to secure an arrangement
with the company. With the co-operation of the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, the Colonial
Secretary, an agreement was reached, and the Hudson Bay Company relinquished its charter
March 9th, 1869, in consideration of receiving a cash indemnity of 300,000 sterling, one-twen
tieth of the lands as surveyed, and reservations around each of its principal posts. A delay of
a few months, of course, took place before the various requisite formalities could be complied
with and the new Province taken possession of.
There were at the time some 10,000 or 12,000 of a population in the Red River Colony
(apart from the Indians), a large proportion of them being half-breeds. Roughly speaking, there
were in the country 5,000 Scotch and English half-breeds, 5,000 French half-breeds, and 2,000
Canadians, Englishmen, Scotchmen and Americans.
In transferring the government of the country from the Hudson Bay Company to the
Dominion of Canada, these people were never consulted, and not even notified that such a change
was in contemplation. This was taken as a slight, and, in addition, the half-breeds feared that
Iheir rights to their lands would be interfered with.
Early in 1869, before the issue of the Imperial proclamation transferring the country to
Canada, the Dominion Government sent out survey parties to locate a highway between Fort
Garry and the Lake of the Woods, and to run the meridian lines to lay the foundation of the future
surveys of the country upon the American system of square blocks. This caused much anxiety,
as the Government s policy had not been propounded. It was thought that the new
system was
likely to clash with the old Hudson Bay Company surveys, under which the settlers held as lease
hold from the company, long, narrow farms, two miles in length, but each with a river frontage,
a vitally important matter; and the French half-breeds, especially, began to fear that their
rights would be ignored, because they had not been consulted. There was. at this time, living in
the settlemnt a young French half-breed of considerable natural talent as an
orator, and with a
fairly liberal education for one in his station of life, named Louis Kiel. He was a born agitator,
and lie made
the most of the golden opportunity this unique situation presented. He represented
to his fellow-countrymen, who, as a matter of fact, exhibited more of the characteristics of Indians
than white men, and actually lived partly nomadic lives, that they comprised a separate, prac
tically independent, nation. Speaking of the Canadian Government, he remarked
"They have :

ignored our aspirations and our existence as a people. Forgetting the rights of nations and
our rights as British subjects, they seek to impose upon us a new government without consulting
or notifying us."

68
 LT.-COL. CLARENCE A. DENISON,
Eighth and present Commanding Officer of the Governor. General s Body Guard.
 With a simple, ignorant people, accustomed to hardship and Indian fighting, it was but a
short step from mere excitement to open, armed revolt.

Early in October, 1869, Kiel and a party of eighteen half-breeds stopped a party of Domin-
io2jsurveyors engaged in some Government surveys on the south side of the Assiniboine River.
Kiel gave as an explanation that the Canadian Government had no
right to make surveys in the
territory without the express permission of the people of the settlement.
The was complicated by the indecision and physical infirmity of the Hudson Bay
situation

Company Governor, Mr. McTavish. The local Government did not publish a warning to the mal
s

content portion of the population (if the consequences of revolt; no official statement was made
as to the arrangement between the Government and the big
company to remove the misappre
hension created in the minds of the half-breeds by designing men in the settlement. It was well
known Fort Garry that United States citizens had come into the country, ostensibly for pur
in

poses of trade, but in reality to create disaffection, and, if possible, a movement for annexation
to the United States. These men and their sympathizers had been actively engaged in circulat
ing stories, absurd as they were unfounded, to alarm the fears of the half-breeds, and excite their
hostility against the Canadian Government. (lion. Win. MeDougall to Secretary of State, Novem
ber 5th, 1869.)
September 28th, 1869, the Hon. Wm. McDougall was appointed Lieut-Governor of the
North-West Territories, his commission to take effect on the day on which such territories were
to be transferred by Her Majesty s Government to the Dominion of Canada. Although it was
known that the Imperial proclamation annexing the new territories to Canada could not be issued
for some months, and pending the completion of such formality Mr. McDougall could assert
that,
no authority in his new Province, he was despatched to the Red River, via Chicago, St. Paul and
St.Cloud, in October, in order to make preliminary arrangements for the organization of the
Government. So, the Governor designate started off for his distant Province, accompanied by
two civilian officials, and some members of his family. lie was destined never to discharge the
duties of the high office to which he had been commissioned.
October 20th, a meeting of French half-breeds was held, at which it was decided to
18(>9,

send an armed party to meet the new Canadian Governor, who was expected on the 22nd, and to
prevent, at all hazards, his entering the settlement. During the afternoon of October 21st, some
twenty men, fully armed, made their appearance at the crossing of the River Sale, on the road
between Pembina and Furl Garry, by which the Governor would have to pass to reach the settle
ment. Other parties of men, also armed, kept coming in during the afternoon and evening, until
;is many as forty were in the
party. The men were billeted around in the adjacent houses, and it
was announced that if the Governor persisted in crossing the River Sale he would be shot.
Another party of twenty men, accompanied by Kiel, was established in advance, nearer to the
United States boundary, at a place called Scratching River. Still another party of some forty

men was established on the road half-way between these two posts. It was understood that if the
Governor persisted in going forward, that the parties in advance would fall back to the River
Sale, where final action would be taken, as indicated.
October 30th, Mr. McDougall and his secretaries reached Pembina, and proceeded to the
Hudson Bay post, just across the Red River Settlement frontier from Minnesota. On his arrival
he received information of the serious turn matters had taken in the settlement. A half-breed
courier also delivered to the Governor designate a curt notice signed by "John
Prince, President,"
and "Louis Riel, Secretary"; that the national committee of the Red River half-breeds forbade

70
 FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL S BODY GUARD.
1. LlKUT.-Col.OXKI. C l.AKK.NCK A. ]>EXISOX. ( ollltliamlillg G.G.B.G.
2. MAJOR WM. HAMILTON MERRITT, Second in Command, ITTHBW CROOKS c \.MKUOX. Acljutam.
it. CAPT. JI
I. Kiev. EDWARD A. WELCH, Hon. Chaplain. 5. SURGEON-MAJOR FREDERICK l.r. MAITIJK UUASKTT, Surgeon.
G. C Ai-T. FRANK \V. STRATHY, Quartoi--JIa.-.icr.
7. CAPT. FRANK A. CAMI-UKLL. Veterinary Officer. 8. C APT. ALFRED K. S. THOMPSON.
him North-West Territory without the special permission of the committee.
to enter the .Mr.

McDougall received communications from the local authorities at Fort Garry advising- that any
attempt to force a passage under the present circumstances would embarrass their proceedings,
and he determined to await developments at Pembina. November 3rd, in compliance with orders
given by the half-breeds, Mr. McDougall and his little party moved across the lines into United

States territory, where they went into camp, lie was advised, both from Ottawa and Fort Garry,
to remain on the United States side, and he did so.

November 3rd, Riel took possession of Forl Garry, the headquarters and chief storehouse of
the Hudson Bay Company, garrisoned it with a force of his own men, whom he enrolled as sol

diers, and had them regularly paid by orders which he forced the Hudson Bay Company to honor.
A Provincial Government was organized, and there is little doubt that Kiel s idea was to turn
the whole country, government and all, over to the United States for a consideration.
It had been arranged that the proclamation of the change of government should be made on

December 2nd, and, although he had net received the copy expected from Ottawa, Mr. McDougall
prepared a proclamation himself, passed over to Canadian territory, and read it and proclaimed
himself Governor. At the same time he commissioned Lieut. -Col. J. Stoughton Dennis to enter
the territory, raise a force and quell the insurrection. Unfortunately, the Imperial proclamation
had been delayed. Canada refused to pay over the money to the Hudson Bay Company until the
latter could hand over the country peaceably, and so temporarily withdrew from the bargain. Col.

Dennis, or rather his lieutenant, Major Boulton, for some time made considerable progress with
the organization of volunteer companies, and with the loyal spirit evoked could have brought
Riel to reason there is little doubt; but he hesitated to act promptly. When his activity in organ
izing the volunteer companies had aroused the suspicions and enthusiasm of the half-breeds,
Major Dennis appeared have despaired of the success of any military effort, gave orders for
to

the volunteer companies to disperse, and left the country, joining Mr. McDougall at Pembina,
and, in company with that gentleman, leaving for Ottawa, December 18th. Riel promptly took a
number of the now demoralized loyalists prisonei s, and his power seemed absolute for a time. As
the half-breeds were treating the prisoners very harshly, a large party of loyalists under Major
Boulton made a demonstration at Winnipeg in the middle of February, 1870, and all of the pris
oner s were released. As one party of loyalists (unarmed), including Major Boulton. were pass
ing Fort Garry, on the way quietly back to their homes, they were in turn taken prisoners and
confined in Fort Garry. .March 4th, 1870, Thomas Scott, one of these prisoners, was brutally
executed in the fort, on the tlimsy charge of being troublesome and abusive to the guards. This
cold-blocdod murder raised an outburst of indignation throughout Canada, particularly in Scott s
native Province of Ontario, and demands were at once made that a military expedition be sent to
the Red River without delay. Meantime Archbishop Taehe. who, during the trouble, had been
absent in Rome, returned to Fort Garry with authority from the Governor-General to grant an
amnesty to all concerned in this trouble. This authority had been given before Scott s murder.
but the archbishop nevertheless extended the amnesty to Kiel and all the others, on considera
tion of all their other prisoners being released. As a concession to public opinion in the new ter
ritories, it was decided to make a separate Province with self-government, to be called Mani

toba, to comprise that part of the territories known as the Red River Settlement.
At the same
time 1,400.000 acres of land was set aside as a reserve for the half-breeds of the country.
The Dominion Government was determine;! that tin-re should be no mistake about the pro
to send another Gov-
per transfer of authority this time, and announced that it was not prepared

72
 MAJORS AND CAPTAINS OF SQUADRONS GOVERNOR. GENERAL S BODY GUARD.
1. M.VJOH JOHN K. HI-TTON-. MA.IOH KKAXK A. KI.K.M IM..
-2. :;. M UKUIJCK TAVI.OH IIKNISON. IK. ililn
\.KIK .

I. M.UUK H. Z. C. C(-KIH-HX. V.I . 5. C APT. KHEDKHIC K ( IIKNISON.

.

(i. (APT. PAUHK.I.I. INCH WARKKN. 7. C AIT. SANDF<IHD FI.KMI.M. SMITH- 8. CAI-T. WAI.TKH \VAI.I.HKIIIUK DENISON.
ernor to take over the country from the Hudson Bay Company unless an armed force was sent to

support his authority and to put an effectual stop to the usurped authority of Kiel and his Pro
visional Government, who still pretended to rule the country, and occupied Fort Garry. It was

soon arranged that a joint British and Canadian force should be sent to Fort Garry, the British
Government to defray one-fourth, the Canadian three-fourths, of the cost.
Sir George E. Cartier, the Minister of Militia, it was pretty generally understood, had deter
mined that Colonel Robertson Ross, the Adjutant-General of Militia, should be in command of the
expedition, but there was a general demand throughout Canada that the command should go to
Colonel Wolseley. lie was not merely popular in the militia force, but his great capacity was
thoroughly recognized, and those who had been under his command at Laprairie and Thorold urged
the advisability of the command being given to him.
Lord Wolseley was born at Golden Bridge House, near Dublin, June 4th, 1833, and entered
the army as ensign in the 19th Foot in 1852. He first came to Canada at the time of the "Trent"

affair in 1862, to take up the appointment of assistant quartermaster general, and had charge of
the transportation of the heavy reinforcements sent out at that time from the seaboard to the vari
ous strategical points.
Colonel Wolseley selected Lieutenant Frederick C. Denison of the Body Guard as his aide-

de-camp, and so the corps has a direct interest in the expedition.

The force was mobilized at Toronto, and left there May 20th, 1870, for Fort Garry, 1,280
miles distant, via the lakes, Prince Arthur s Landing (Port Arthur), the Kaministiqua River
and the chain of rivers and lakes so frequently used by the old fur ti aders.
The expedition was composed of about 400 British regulars, 700 active militia, and 330
voyageurs or boatmen. The detail was as follows Seven companies of the 1st Battalion, 60th
:

Rifles, 350 men Royal

; Artillery, 20 men, 4 seven-pounders ; Royal Engineers, 20 ; Departmental
Corps Details, 10; 1st Ontario Battalion (Rifles), Active Militia, 350; 2nd Quebec Battalion
(Rifles), 350; Voyageurs, 330. Lieut.-Col. S. P. Jarvis commanded the Ontario Battalion, and
Lieut. -Col. Louis A. Casault the Quebec Battalion.
The force reached Prince Arthur s head of Thunder Bay, Lake Superior,
Landing at the
June 21st, thence, in a big flotilla of birch bark canoes and batteaux, starting upon the long
advance of 600 miles to Fort Garry, via the historical water and land stretches.
The expedition arrived at Fort Garry without mishap, August 24th.
Lieut.-Col. G. T. Denison relates this incident in "Soldiering in Canada.":

"When approaching Fort Garry Colonel Wolseley sent my brother on to reconnoitre. He

rode on to the fort and around it to the rear gate, out of which Riel s followers were running.
He rode into the gate, glanced hurriedly around, and rode out and back to carry the information
that there would be no resistance. As he was the first man in Fort Garry, Colonel Wolseley ordered
him, with Sir John McNeil, to raise once more the Union Jack on the top of the flag pole, from
which an alien emblem had been flying for some eight or ten months."
Colonel Wolseley at once reinstated the rule of the Hudson Bay Company in the person of
Mr. Donald A. Smith, the Chief Commissioner (now Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal), lie, a
few days after, turned the country over to the Hon. Adams Archibald, appointed Lieutenant-
Governor in place of Mr. McDougall, who arrived at Fort Garry, September 2nd. By the 3rd of
September all of the regulars had returned home, leaving the two provisional battalions of the
active militia on duty.

74
 LIEUTENANTS OF THE GOVERNOR- GENERAL S BODY GUARD.
1. llKia.VAi.n A. BROCK. W. SHIRLEY WARREN.
-2. 3. HAKD B. Fi ixn:K.
Ki< 4. ALLAN- ELSWORTII TAYLOR.
5. ERNEST ALAXSOX Bi-rrox. 6. CHARLES LEOXARD WALLACE. 7. AI.KKKU MARCI S X. AXSLEY.
8. T. ROY JOXES. AKTHUK XIMMO MACDOXALD.
!).

10. HERBERT SPEXCER HOLCROFT. 11. EDGAR STREET DEXISOX. 12. JOHN CREELMAN.
 Tlu> work accomplished by the expedition was clearly set forth in a farewell order issued by
Colonel Wolseley to the expedition, September 9th, 1870, in which he wrote :

"From Prince Arthur s

Landing (Port Arthur), to Fort Garry, is over 600 miles through
a wilderness of forest and water where no supplies of any description are
obtainable, you had to
carry on your backs a vast amount of supplies over no less than forty-seven portages, making a
total distance of seven miles, a feat unparalleled in our military annals. You have descended a
great river, esteemed so dangerous from its rapids, falls and whirlpools, that none but the experi
enced voyageurs attempt its navigation. Your cheerful obedience to orders has enabled you,
under the blessing of Providence, to accomplish your task without any accident.
Although the
banditti who had been oppressing this people fled at our approach, without giving you an oppor

tunity of proving how men capable of such labor could fight, you have deserved as well of your
country as if you had won a battle.
In recognition of his services in connection with the expedition, Lieut-Col. Wolseley was

given the substantive rank of colonel in the army and created a K.C.M.G.
There was another Fenian scare in 1870, but though the Body Guard held themselves in
readiness to turn out, their services were not needed, what trouble there was being confined to the

Quebec frontier. May 24th, owing to activity among the Fenians, in New York and Vermont, a
force of regulars and active militia was called
May 27th there was a force of 13,489 men
out.
and 18 field guns at the front. May 25th a party of Fenians crossed the frontier at Eccles Hill
on the Missisquoi (Quebec) frontier, but the invaders were immediately driven back by a party
of active militia and "Home Guards," or independent volunteers. May 27th a force of Fenians
from New York State crossed the Huntingdon (Quebec) frontier at Holbrooks, near Trout River,
and was driven back by a force consisting of 450 of II. M. 69th Regiment, 300 of the 50th Hunt
ingdon Borderers, and 380 of the Montreal Garrison Artillery and Montreal Engineers.
After the departure of Sir Garnet Wolseley and the regular troops, there continued to be
more or less excitement in the new prairie Province and much restlessness. In the autumn of
1871, the Fenians, hoping to take advantage of this, and urged on by one of Riel s former lieu
tenants named O Donohue, planned another invasion across the frontier from Minnesota. In
September, 1871, Mr. Taylor, the United States Consul at Winnipeg, notified the Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor of Manitoba that the Fenians were contemplating trouble. He suggested that in the event
of the Fenians crossing the lines the United States troops at Fort Pembina be authorized to cross

into British territory and apprehend the invaders for breach of the neutrality laws. At this
time Canada was urging upon the British Government to demand from the United States com
pensation for the expense of some $1,250,000 incurred in connection with the previous Fenian
raids, but which claims the Gladstone Government declined to press. September llth a full

statement of the Fenian machinations in Minnesota was forwarded to Washington, and Septem
ber 19th, orders were despatched to Lieut. -Col. Lloyd XVheaton, commanding the 20th United
States Infantry in garrison at Fort Pembina, instructing them to take proper measures to secure
the Fenians if they crossed the frontier.
October 5th, General O Neill, with a small Fenian party crossed the frontier and seized the
Hudson Bay West Lynn, Man. Lieut.-Col. Wheaton promptly marched his regiment
post at
after the Fenians, captured them, and took them back to United Sattes territory, telegraphing to
the Consul of his Government at Winnipeg :

76
 "I have captured and now hold General O Neill, General Thomas Carley. and Colonel ,). J.

Donley. I think further anxiety regarding a Fenian invasion of Manitoba unnecessary."

So, ingloriously, ended the last Fenian raid on Canadian territory.

This raid caused considerable excitement throughout not merely Manitoba, but Eastern Can
ada. Mr. Archibald, Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba, issued a proclamation inviting the loyal
population to form themselves into volunteer companies to serve against the Fenians, and among
those who responded were Kiel and some of his associates in the late troubles, but the sincerety
of their expressions of loyalty was always doubted by their neighbors.

77
 CHAPTER IX.
THE WORK AND CHANGES OF FOURTEEN YEARS.

Buried was the bloody hatchet

"

Buried was the drejidful war-club ;

Buried were all war-like weapons.

And the war-cry was forgotten ;

Then was peace among the nations."

LONGFELLOW.

the military excitement of 1870 there succeeded fourteen years of

peace, with the ordinary neglect of the national defensive force by the
public and the usual quiet perseverance under discouragement of
those who, from patriotic motives, or from a sheer love of military
occupation, composed that force and kept a wholesome military spirit
alive in the country. For the Body Guard this period was not without
its hard work nor devoid of interest.

The year 1871, although one of peace, marks another epoch

in the history of the active militia force, tl"
1
of the Imperial
last

troops, with the exception of the garrisons at the two naval sta
tions of Halifax and Esquimault, being withdrawn that year, the last

corps to leave being the 1st Battalion of the 60th Rifles (Lieut.-Col. Pielden),
which had been in garrison at Quebec. In 1868 there had been 13,185 regular
troops in Canada. In April, 1869, the Imperial Government, in pursuance of
its policy to leave the local defences to the self-governing colonies themselves,
gave notice of its intention to reduce the Canadian garrisons, and before the end of

June 3,592 men were withdrawn. In 1870, during the Fenian raids over the Quebec
frontier and the Red River expedition, there were some 7.489 regular troops, with 16 guns, on
active service in Canada, and these events retarded the process of withdrawal to some extent.
The regular regiments were withdrawn from Ontario during 1870, but it was November, 1871,
before the last of the troops from Quebec went on board their transports, and the forts and works
in the Dominion were handed over to the Canadian Government. Upon the active militia devolved

the duty of keeping the riag flying, and the two permanent batteries of artillery were raised to gar
rison the important posts of Quebec and Kingston, and to act as schools of gunnery. The plans

adopted at this time provided for similarly constituted permanent corps of cavalry and infantry.
Up to 1871 Great Britain maintained all of the forts and military works in Canada.
In 1871 important changes were made in the uniform of the Body Guard, the present uni
form, which is almost identical with that worn by the 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers),* includ
ing blue tunics with white facings for the men, silver for the officers, and German silver helmets

Thee "Carabiniers" is the only dragoon regiment in the regular army which does not wear scarlet tunics,
It was organized
rganized as the 7th Horse in 1685, and converted to "Carabiners" (medium cavalry), so named from the
"carabins" or irregular cavalry
employed by the Moors in Spain in the fourteenth century. The "Carabiniers"
have worn blue uniforms since 1853.
with white horsehair plumes. The officers imported the helmets from England, and supplied
them to the men at cost price.

The present uniform is described in detail in the Regimental Standing Orders compiled my
Major Merritt in 1898. The officers tunic is described as of "blue cloth, edged all round, includ
ing the top and bottom of the collar, with round-back silver cord, with three-quarter inch lace all
round for field officers, but round the top only for captains and lieutenants the cuffs pointed with
;

one and one-half inch lace round the top, and figured braiding extending to eleven inches from the
bottom of the cuffs for field officers, with an Austrian knot of round-back silver cord, and a trac
ing of braid in the form of eyes, eight inches deep for captains, and with a similar knot, and a trac
ing of plain braid, seven and a half inches deep, for lieutenants. . Shoulder straps similar to
.

Household Cavalry, lined with blue. Badges of rank in gold." Among other details of the offi
cers uniform, the following are noteworthy: Helmet, has a gilt laurel wreath above the front
peak, and a maple leaf band up the back sword knot, silver cord with silver acorn belts, etc.,
; ;

silver overalls have two stripes of silver lace, pantaloons same of white cloth regimental badge,
:
;

maple leaf surmounted by an Imperial crown; lace, of regimental maple leaf pattern. The regi
ment wears aiguillettes (ornaments dating from about the 16th century), which are worn in the
regular army from the right shoulder by aides to the Sovereign, equerries to the Royal Family,
A.D.C. s to Royalty, the officers of the Household Cavalry, and the "Governor General s Body
Guard" of India. The non-commissioned ranks of the Household Cavalry also wear aiguillettes,
but from the left shoulder. The permission to use aiguillettes by all ranks in the Body Guard
was given by the War Office through the Earl of Aberdeen while Governor-General of Canada.
As worn in the regiment, the officers are of round silver cord, "similar to those worn in the House
hold Cavalry," and are worn from the right shoulder, with the tunic only. The regimental ser
geant-major, qiiartermaster-sergeant and bandmaster wear aiguillettes of small sized silver cord
similar to those of the non-commissioned officers of the Household Cavalry ;
other non-commis
sioned officers wear white cord aiguillettes with silver trophy tags, and the privates wear white
cord aiguillettes with enamelled wooden points. The non-commissioned officers and men wear the
aiguillette from the left shoulder.

The annual drill in 1871 was put in in brigade camp at Niagara, June 6th to 21st, where
4,795 men and 511 horses went under canvas, under command of Lieut. -Col. Durie. The Body
Guard, during this camp, labored under exceptional disadvantages. Lieutenant Denison was on
service at the Red River, Captain Denison met with an accident during the early days of the camp
which incapacitated him for further service during that time, while Cornet Dunn had regimental
duties to attend to as adjutant of the provisional regiment formed of the seven troops of cavalry
in camp.
During the autumn of 1871, the officers of the district staff made an effort to have all the
cavalry of Ontario formed into two regiments, and the Body Guard was form part of the
to
second regiment, with headquarters at Toronto. A strong remonstrance was made by the officers
of the corps against being forced to relinquish the precedence of the Body Guard, and allow it to

drop into a secondary place, after so much seven- and honorable service. A petition to Lord Lisgar,
the Governor-General, was drawn up and signed by the officers of the corps, and Lieut. F. C.
Denison laid it personally before His Excellency. Lord Lisgar, in a few days, gave the answer
through his private secretary, saying that there would be no difficulty in meeting the wishes of the
officers of the Body Guard, and that the position or precedence of the corps would not be changed.

79
 March 1st, Edwin P. Denisun retired, retaining his rank, and Lieut. Kred-
1872, Captain
erick C. Denison and Cornet Dunn were promoted to be captain and lieutenant respectively.
May 10th, Mr. Clarence A. Denison was gazetted cornet.
The annual drill for 1872 was put in again at Niagara, where a brigade, including no less
than 5,873 officers and men went under canvas June 12th for 16 days. The Body Guard, which was
the strongest troop in camp, was attached to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment for pay and drill pur

poses. The military correspondent of The Mail at this camp declared, speaking of the cavalry,
"The palm in smartness of appearance must be voted to the Governor General s Body Guard."

A feature of this camp was a big field day, June 24th, when the Body Guard formed the advance
guard of the victorious attacking force, capturing a complete company of rifles. Cornet Clarence
A. Denison performed the duties of orderly officer to Lieut. -Col. Skinner, who commanded the
Second Infantrv Brigade during the training.

OFFICERS OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL S BODY GUARD

At Niazara Camp 1902.

During October, 1872, His Excellency, Lord Duft erin, paid his first visit to Toronto as Gov
ernor-General, and the Governor-General s Body Guard furnished numerous escorts on the occa
sion of his arrival and departure, calls, drawing-rooms, etc. At the grand ball given by the Gov
ernor-General to the citizens of Toronto, the men of the troop formed a guard to line the entrance
hall during the evening. During the same winter the Body Guard escorted the Lieutenant-Gov
ernor at the opening and closing of the Provincial Legislature.
On June 3rd. 1873, the Body Guard turned out under the command of Lieutenant Dunn,
together with delarhnients from all the other Toronto corps. 1o attend the funeral of the late Col
onel George Taylor Denison (of Riisholme), who for so many years was an officer of the corps,
and commanded it for two years, and who. at the time of his death, May 30th, was commandant
of the and 10th Military Districts.
")th

The annual drills of 1873 and 1874 were put in at troop headquarters, the corps being
inspected on both occasions by Lieut. -Col. Durie, D.A.G.

80
 July, 1874, Lord Duft erin again visited Toronto, the Body Guard performing the escorl
duties then, as well as at the opening and closing of the Legislature, in the autumn.
In 1874 it was proposed to increase the Body Guard from a troop to a squadron, and Lieut.
Dunn organized a second troop of forty-two men under authority from Colonel Ross, the adju
tant-general. The new troop paraded complete, mounted, was inspected by Lieut.-Col. Durie, D.
A.G., at the new
fort, and reported as satisfactory. Just at this time the adjutant-general got
into difficulties with the Minister of Militia and resigned his appointment. Consequently, the
new troop was not gazetted.
June 22nd, 1875, the Body Guard inarched from Toronto to Richmond Hill, thence pro
ceeding to Holland Landing, where they and other corps had been ordered to go into camp at 6
a.m. on the 23rd. The whole march of 38 miles, including stoppages, took only 15 hours. Dur
Body Guard, the Markham Troop (Capt. Elliot), and the
ing the annual training in question, the
Oak Ridges Troop (Capt. McConnell), were formed into a provisional regiment, 135 strong, under
the commanding officer of the Body Guard, the senior cavalry officer in camp. At the conclusion
of the training the brigade was warmly complimented by Major-General Selby Smythe, then

commanding the Canadian militia. Cornet Clarence A. Denison acted as galloper to Lieut.-Col.
Wm. S.Durie, D.A.G., during the training.
Saturday, October 2nd, 1875, the Body Guard and all of the other Toronto corps were

called out in aid of the civil power The various Roman Catholic con
in anticipation of rioting.

gregations of the city had been holding pilgrimages from one church to the other, threats had
been made to break up the processions, and the civil authorities appealed to the military for assist
ance. The brigade was under arms all day of September 3rd, but there was no disturbance.
May 5th, 1876, the increase of the strength of the corps from a troop to a squadron (two
troops), as proposed in 1874, was accomplished. The general orders of the first-mentioned date
authorized the raising of a second troop, and gazetted Lieut.-Col. G. T. Denison (Hey don Villa)
to the command of the squadron, with the rank of major. The original troop, designated as "A,"

remained under the command of Captain F. C. Denison, while Lieutenant Orlando Dunn was
promoted captain and placed in command of troop, which he raised, and the command of
"B"

which he retained for exactly twenty years. Lieutenant Clarence A. Denison was gazetted as
adjutant of the squadron.
The return of Lieut-Col. G. T. Denison to the ranks of the militia, he has explained, was
due to his desire to secure qualification to compete for the prizes of 5,000, 3,000 and 2,000 roubles,
open to the world, offered Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia on behalf
by the of the Czar. July 1st,

1874, "for the best work on cavalry and military operations on horseback in all ages and coun

tries." He writes in "Soldiering in Canada" :

"I would compete, but, being out of the force, I was not eligible, so I asked Mr.
thought I

McKenzie, the Premier, if he would have the order accepting my resignation cancelled, and let
me raise a second troop, and give me the command of a squadron. This was done, and I was placed
in the same position as if I had never retired.

How the gallant colonel competed for the Czar s prixes, and how he captured the first prize
of 5,000 roubles, is not merely part of Canada s military history, but of her literary history as
well.

In 1876 the present familiar regimental crest was adopted, and it has remained without
alteration ever since. It consists of a maple leaf within a garler hearing the corps designation,

surmounted by the Imperial Crown, and with the regimental motto "Nulli Secundus" (Second

SI
to None) beneath. The privilege to use this motto was conveyed through general orders. This
same motto, in English, is also borne by the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) of the regular
army, and in the Latin by the 1st Prince of "Wales Fusiliers, Montreal, and the 15th Argyle
Light Infantry, Belleville.
From 1876 to 1883, the annual trainings of the squadron took place at Stanley Barracks, in
the following months -.1876, October; 1877, September; 1878, June; 1879, September; 1880,
1881 and 1883, June 1882
August.
; ;

During the latter part of 1878 and early in 1879, an incident occurred which is interesting,
as showing the vigilance observed by the officers of the Body Guard to preserve the hard-earned

precedence of the corps. A gazette, issuing December 27th, in which the newly organized Prin
cess Louise Dragoon Giiards of Ottawa, were placed before the Governor General s Body Guard,
the commanding officer wrote the militia headquarters through the ordinary channel, asking if

this was not done by mistake, and the D.A.G. received the following letter in reply:

GROUP OF OFFICERS OF THE GOVERNOR. GENERAL S BODY GUARD

Niagara Camp, 1902.

Ottawa, January 4th, 1879.

Sir, haveIthe honor, by direction of the general officer in command, to acknowledge
receipt, through you, of letters dated 2nd inst., from Lieut.-Col. Denison, commanding the Gov
ernor General s Body Guard, Toronto, complaining that in the general order of the 27th ultimo

precedence was given Dragoon Guards of Ottawa over the Governor General s Body Guard
to (lie

for Ontario, contrary to regulations, and to acquaint you that this was entirely an error quite
accidental, and should not have occurred. But Lieut.-Col. Denison need not be afraid that it
was from any cause at all afVccling the seniority or precedence of the respective corps.
I have the honor to be, sir, Your obedient servant,
"(Sgd.) W. POWELL, Colonel,
"The D.A.G., Mil. Dis. No. 2." "Adjutant General Militia.
 September 5th, 1879, Toronto extended an enthusiastic welcome on the occasion of their
the city of His Excellency the Governor-General, the Marquis of Lome (now Duke
first visit to

of Argyle), and his Royal consort, II.R.II. the Princess Louise. The Governor General s Body
Guard went into camp 011 the Garrison Common before Their Excellencies arrival, along with the
for
Oak Ridges and Markham troops of cavalry and the Toronto Field Battery, to be convenient
furnishing necessary escorts, and for firing salutes. On the arrival
of the Vice-Regal party the

Governor General s Body Guard furnished a field officer s escort to the Horticultural and Exhi

bitionGrounds and Government House. The Oak Ridges and Markham troops assisted the Toronto
infantry regiments in lining the streets. Several other escorts
were furnished during the visit of
His Excellency and Her Royal Highness. Sunday, September 7th, the mounted corps in camp on
the common, who were under command of Lieut.-Col. Denison, held a church parade. The next

couple of days a number of corps brought to Toronto for a review on the 9th joined the Toronto
mounted corps in camp on the commons. In addition to the Toronto mounted corps there parti
cipated in this review before Their Excellencies, Battery, R.C.A. Hamilton Field Battery,
"A" :

the Port Hope and Peterboro Cavalry, the 3rd Victoria Rifles of Montreal, the 7th, 13th, 20th,

21st, 38th and 46th Battalions.

After the review it was communicated through brigade orders that "the Governor General
desired that his highest commendation, and that of the Princess, should be conveyed to the troops
for their very soldierly behavior and superior bearing."
Camp orders of September 6th ordered the Body Guard to detail "six smart non-commis
sioned officers for diity at the levee that evening at Government House, to report themselves to
Major De Winton, the military secretary. Lieutenant Heward of the Body Guard was detailed to

act as galloper to the D.A.G. at the review.

The annual training in 1884 was performed in quarters in the Exhibition Building during
the month of June.
Dominion Day, 1884, there was a big military parade in Toronto in connection with the cele
bration of the civic semi-centennial. Besides the Toronto corps, the Hamilton and \Vellaud Field

Batteries, the Governor General s Foot Guards, Ottawa; 6th Fusiliers, Montreal; the 12th, 14th,
24th, 36th and 77th Battalions participated.
The Body Guard made a splendid showing in this parade, the steadiness of all ranks, and
the excellent character of the mounts, being generally commented upon. The fourteen years of
peace had not been years of idleness, and as the Body Guard had not depreciated in appearance,
neither had it lost its character for soldierly spirit and adaptability to the exacting conditions of
active service. In a few months this was proved to be the case.

83
 CHAPTER X.
THE CANADIANS ON THE NILE.

O, the East is but the West, with the sun a little hotter ;

And the pine becomes a palm by the dark Egyptian water;

And the Nile s like many a stream we know that fills its brimming cup ;

We ll think it is the Ottawa as we track the batteaux up.

And ityet may come to pass that the hearts and hands so ready
May be sought again to help when some poise is off the steady!
And the maple and the pine be matched with British oak the while.
As once beneath the Egyptian nuns, the Canadians on the Nile.
WILLIAM WYE SMITH.

AVING contributed the commanding officer of the contingent the

Governor General s Body Guard naturally takes a pride in the
record of the Canadian Voyageurs on the Nile in 1884 and 1885,
and a brief story of the expedition naturally belongs to a his
tory of the regiment. The incident of the Voyageurs was one of
even more importance than appeared at the time the contin
gent was raised, demonstrating the unity and resourcefulness of
the world-wide but widely dispersed empire on the very eve of the de

velopment of a very threatening series of international complications.

The eastern war cloud never lowered blacker and Britain s position appeared
fraught with direst danger. Her enemies regarded the temporary abandon
ment of Gordon and the Soudan as a sign of national weakness; the presence
of 400 Canadians on the Nile gave eloquent proof of the unity and tremend
ous reserve power of the Empire and of the patriotic devotion of
its most remote portions.

The heart of the British people has seldom been more deeply moved than it was by the iso-

Iatio2i Gordon (Chinese Gordon), at Khartoum. Britain, after the suppression

of General C. G.
of the Arabi Pasha rebellion, assumed practical protectorate over Egypt. There had then been
an insurrection in progress in Egypt s So\idanese provinces since about July, 1881. At the time
of the British occupation of Egypt (October, 1882), "The Mahdi," the fanatical leader of the
insurrection, held the whole of the Soudan south of Khartoum, the capital of the province. In
the course of a few months, two disasters drew the attention of the world to the seriousness of the
situation.An army of Egyptian troops, commanded by Hicks Pasha, was destroyed by the Mahdi
near El Obeid, in the Soudan, November, 1883; and February, 1884, another hastily extempor
ized Egyptian army, commanded by Baker Pasha, was defeated by Osman Digna, a Mahdist gen

eral, at Tokar, near Suakim, on the Bed Sea. January 18th, 1884, General Gordon, one of the
most remarkable men the British army ever produced, was despatched alone from England by the
British Government to withdraw the Egyptian garrisons in the Soudan, it having been decided to
abandon the country, temporarily at least, to the Mahdists. He reached Khartoum (where from
1873 to January, 1880, he had ruled as Egyptian Governor-General) about February 18th, 1884.

H4
February 29th and March 13th. a British army under General Sir Gerald Graham, V.G., inflicted
Osman Digua s Mahdists at El Teb and Tamasi. The Mahdists, however, suc
several defeats on
ceeded in completely isolating Gordon in Khartoum, where he was closely besieged. For some
time nothing was done, but finally the public spirit of the British people was aroused, and they
demanded that a relief expedition should be sent up the Nile for the relief of Gordon. August
5th, 1884, a sum for the relief expedition was voted, and as a concession to the public demand that
no stone should be left unturned Lord Wolseley was selected for the
to insure its success, General

command, and reached Cairo from England, September 9th. The official announcement that
Lord Wolseley was to proceed to Egypt to assume command was so worded as to convey the
impression that it was thought necessary to explain why the generals already in Egypt were to be
subordinated to the victor of Tel-el-Kebir. It had been decided that the advance upon Khartoum
was to be up the Nile, so that boat transport could be availed of as far as possible. Just how far
boat transport would be available there was much doubt, owing to the natural obstacles to naviga
tion presented by the various successions of dangerous rapids or cataracts. Stress was laid upon
the similarity of the preparations for an expedition up the Nile and those adopted in 1870 for the
Red River Expedition. Lord Wolseley s successful conduct of this latter was referred to as furn
ishing him with an experience which was not possessed by any other officer, making it desirable to
entrust him with the supervision on the spot of measures, which, it was added, had been to a great
extent adopted on his advice.
To carry out his scheme, Lord Wolseley counted upon the expert assistance of some of the
Canadian boatmen and lumbermen who had contributed to his success in 1870, and steps were at
once taken to secure a body of these men for service on the Nile. The Imperial Government,
through its personal representative in Canada, the Governor-General and his staff, undertook to
upon the Dominion Government for no assistance whatever.
raise the contingent itself, calling
The Imperialistic idea developed considerably between 1884 and 1899.
August 26th, 1884, the orders for the engagement of the Voyageurs were received by Lord
Lansdowne, the Governor-General. Much of the actual work in connection with the raising,
equipping and despatch of the contingent was entrusted to Viscount Melgund, Lord Lansdowne s
military secretary, now the Earl of Minto, Governor-General of Canada.
With the cabled instructions to the Governor-General from England, came a reqiiest from
Lord Wolseley himself to "Send a Red River officer in command; Denison preferred." His Lord
ship remembered the soldierly characteristics of his A.D.C. of 1870, and knew that he had then
acquired experience of exactly the kind of work the Voyageurs were needed for in the Soudan.
Lord Lansdowne at once telegraphed an offer to Lieut. -Col. F. C. Denison, who at first was
disposed to decline, and, in fact, actually wrote a telegram to His Excellency, stating that he
could not accept. He was, at the time, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Toronto City
Council, and was practically sure of receiving the following year the honor of being elected
Mayor. He, in addition, was at the head of a prosperous law firm, whose extensive practice
would be sure to suffer greatly by his absence. When it was explained to him, however, that
Lord Wolseley was going out in personal command of the expedition force, and that His Lordship
had personally requested that he be appointed to the command of the Canadian Voyageurs, Col
onel Denison at once tore up the telegram he had written declining the appointment, wrote and

despatched another accepting it, and at once prepared to enter on the discharge of the work con
nected with the position. He set about his task so promptly and with such energy that the force
of 378 Voyageurs, brought together from the lumbering districts of Manitoba, Muskoka, the

83
Ottawa, the St. Maurice, etc., and from the Indian reservations of Caughnawaga and St. Regis
was mobilized, equipped and sailed from Montreal on the chartered transport "Ocean King,"
Sunday, September 14th.
It was a grave responsibility Colonel Denison had assumed in accepting the command of a

body of men such as the Voyageurs, men used to free lives, ignorant of discipline, and full of ani
mal spirits. The Ottawa district contributed 152 men; Manitoba and New Ontario, 88; Peter-
boro Out., 25; Three Rivers, Que., and Sherbrooke, Que., 55; Caughnawaga. Que., and St. Regis
,

(Iroquois Indians), 58. By nationalities there were 156 English-speaking Canadians, 94 French-
Canadians, 77 Indians, 27 Englishmen, 10 Scotchmen, and 8 Irishmen. Socially, all classes of
men, from the university graduate to the unsophisticated red Indian, were represented. Side by
side with the men hardened and exposure stood the professional man, trained volunteer
to toil

officer, city athlete and clerk. Many of Canada s leading families, social circles and places of
business were represented. The men of these classes, however, only formed a small portion of the
whole.
The officers of the contingent were Lieut.-Col. F. C. Denison, commanding Surgeon-Major
;

J. L. II. Neilson, "B"

Battery, R.C.A., medical officer; Rev. Abbe A. Bouchard, a former mis-

SERGEANTS OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL S BODY GUARD, 1902.

sionary at Khartoum, chaplain Captain T. Aumond, G.G.F.G., Ottawa, and Captain Mackay,
;

7th Fusiliers, London, in charge of companies. Lieut.-Col. Kennedy of the 90th Winnipeg Rifles
accompanied the Voyageurs as a volunteer, and was appointed paymaster and quartermaster in
Egypt. Captain Egerton Denison, brother of Lieut.-Col. F. C. Deuison, who held a commission
as captain in the South Staffordshire Militia, joined the Voyageurs on the Nile and was appointed
to the staff of the contingent by Lord Wolseley. The whole contingent was divided into river
gangs under responsible foremen. Before leaving Montreal the men were served out with suits
of grey homespun cloth, arid soft, grey, broad-brimmed hats, but on arrival in Egypt the latter
were replaced by white pith helmets as worn by the troops.
September 15th, the contingent was inspected on board the "Ocean King" by Lord Lans-
downe as she passed Quebec, and September 18th started from Sydney on her long trip of 2,600
miles across the Atlantic. September 29th she reached Gibraltar; October 4th passed Malta,
and October 7th reached Alexandria. October 8th the Voyageurs entrained for Assiout on the
Nile, arriving on the 9th. In a few days the Voyageurs started on a long and tedious journey

80
up the Nile on river steamers and barges, arriving at Assouan, October 21st, and Wady-Halfa,
October 26th. The latter part of the
journey to Wady-IIalfa had been accomplished by the
Voyageurs in some of the whale boats which were to be their special charge on the Nile.

As soon as the British authorities had finally made up their minds to send out to Egypt a flo

tilla of boats for the river column, not a moment was lost in issuing orders to different ship

building contractors for the completion with utmost despatch of 400 "whaler gigs" for service
on the Nile. Each boat was supposed to carry four tons of provisions, ammunition and camp
appliances, and the crew of twelve men, ten soldiers to row and two Voyageurs, sailors or Kroo-
men to steer, of the latter,one in the bow and the other in the stern. The first of these boats
arrived at Assiout, September 26th, and most of them were afloat on the Nile when the Voya

geurs arrived.
Mr. Frederick Villiers, the well-known correspondent of The London Graphic, gives us the
following pen picture of the arrival of the voyageurs at the scene of their first operations :

"About five miles from Wady-Halfa the steamer which was towing the whalers in which the

Canadians arrived, left them to their own resources, and they had their first touch of the Nile. For
a moment utter confusion seemed to prevail, as with shouts the men seized their oars and pre
pared to row out of the fours formation in which they had been tugged upriver. The mass of
boats gradually opened out and spread over the surface of the waters, and, presently, a light breeze

springing up, the lug sails were hoisted, and the little fleet sailed gaily up to their camping ground
at the foot of the first series of rapids.
The Voyageurs had scarcely pitched their tents when the camp received a visit from Lord
Wolseley, who rode over from his headquarters with greetings for his former comrades in arms,
accompanied by Generals Sir Redvers Buller and Earle. The Voyageurs, with the sailors and
Kroomen (West Coast Africa natives), were placed under the command of Captain Lord Charles
Beresford, who at first had charge of the river transportation, but was later succeeded by Col.
Butler, C.B., the well-known traveller and author. The Canadians were divided into parties
\\hich camped near the most dangerous parts of the river above Wady-IIalfa, and assisted the

passage up-stream of the boats laden with troops and supplies. Their work in the boats was very
highly spoken of by the troops. A military correspondent of TheGraphic (November 29th,
1884), wrote: "The Canadian boatmen are the first I have met with who make light of the dif
ficulties ofmoving up-stream. If, instead of the present number, 1,200 had been employed, it
would have been an economy of life and money."
The work of the Voyageurs and the progress of the expedition was much impeded by the
lowness of water in the Nile, the river falling no less than five feet during the first week the Can
adians were at work. By the middle of November the boats were being passed up the third cata
ract, and men and stores were being got to the front as quickly as possible. Korti was the first
objective, and before the end of the year General Herbert Stewart had been despatched from that
point across the Bayuda Desert to Metammeh, Generals Earle and Brackenbury continuing the
advance lip the Nile to Kirbekan, where a fierce battle, resulting in a victory for the British, but
in which the gallant General Earle was killed, was fought, February 10th, 1885. Lieut.-Col. F. C.
Denison accompanied General Earle s column and was present at the Battle of Kirbekan.
Sir Herbert Stewart won a brilliant victory at Abu Klea (where the Bayard of the British

army, Col. F. C. Burnaby, was killed), but was mortally wounded in action a few miles south of
Metammeh. On the arrival of the column at Metammeh, some river strainers despatched by Gor
don from Khartoum were found, and February 24th, 1885, Sir Charles Wilson was despatched

87
on one (if them
Khartoum, but arrived too late, the Mahdists having captured Gordon and slain
to
him. As was not destined for the re-conquest of the Soudan,*
the relief force of British troops
General Sir Redvers Buller was sent to bring it back, and it was at once withdrawn to Lower
Egypt. Many years were to elapse before Gordon was to be avenged by Kitchener s army at
Omdurman.
Seventy of the Voyageurs remained on the Nile to pilot the boats used to withdraw the
troops and to carry supplies to the advanced post. The balance left Wady-Halfa January 29th
for home, reached Cairo February 5th, embarked on the "Poonah" for Queenstown at Alexan
dria February 6th, transferred at Queenstown to the "Hanoverian" February 8th, and reached
Halifax March 4th, 1885. It was June 9th before the men of the detachment left on service arrived
at Montreal on the way to their homes.
Lieut.-Col F. C. Denison did not accompany his men home, being attacked with enteric
fever and kept in hospital at Cairo for a considerable time.

The Voyageurs left twelve of their number in Egypt, six being drowned in the Nile, and
six succumbing to disease or to injuries received accidentally.

For his services in connection with the Nile Voyageurs, Lieut.-Col.

Denison was mentioned
was mentioned by name by the Marquis of Huntingdon on the floor of the
in the despatches,
House of Commons, made a C.M.G., and received the British Egyptian war medal and the Khe
dive s Star.f

Ample official recognition of the services of the Voyageurs was forthcoming.

Lord Wolseley, in a communication to Lord Lansdowne, Governor-General of Canada, April

15th, 1885, wrote :

"The Canadian Voyageurs who have recently been employed with the Nile expedition hav
ing now all returned home to Canada, I am anxious to express to your Lordship my high sense of
the services they have rendered, and of the value they have been to the expeditionary force.
They have undergone the hardships of this arduous campaign without the slightest grumbling or
discontent; and they have on many occasions shown not only great skill, but also great courage
in navigating their boats throughout difficult and dangerous waters. The officers, and especially
Colonel Denison, have shown much energy and good will, and have proved themselves of consid
erable value. It was, however, a source of much satisfaction to the troops to find the Canadians

represented on this expedition, and sharing with them their privations and risks. At a time
when English, Scottish and Irish soldiers were employed, the presence with them of Canadians,
shows in a marked manner the bonds which unite all parts of our great Empire."
Further proof of was afforded by the participation in the Suakim cam
this Imperial unity

paign then in progress, of contingents of the Indian army and of the Australian defensive forces,
a contingent of 800 men from New South Wales having landed at Suakim, March 5th, 1885.
Britain s relations with Russia at this time were so excessively strained that it was reported
in England that Lord Wolseley had been recalled from the Soudan to be available in the event
of a war in Europe and Asia. Under the circumstances it is easy to understand the gratification
Lord Wolseley instructions were to simply rescue Gordon, to escort
s him out of the Soudan, "and as
many persons in Khartoum as may be willing to accompany him."
t The late Lieut.-Col. F. C. Denison, C.M.G., was horn November 22nd, 1846, and, like his father, was edu
cated at Upper Canada College, and, like his father and his eldest brother, Lieut.-Col. G. T. Denison, adopted law
as a profession. He served as a lieutenant in the Administrative Battalion on the Niagara frontier in 1865,
represented St. Stephen s Ward in the Toronto City Council for many years, and West Toronto in Parliament
from 1887 until his death, which occurred April 15, 1896.

88
of the Mother Country at these practical proofs of the loyalty and devotion of her dominions

beyond the seas.

Lord Wolseley has seized various opportunities to express his complete satisfaction with the
work accomplished by the Canadian Voyageurs. In the later editions of his well-known compact
encyclopedia of military information, "The Soldier s Pocket-book," His Lordship writes (Part
II., Page 191):-
"I
may say with confidence that the Red River Rebellion of 1870 could not have been put
down except by a boat expedition, and that no army could have penetrated as far as we did in
1884-1885 into a hostile Soudan, except by the Nile route. The ladies and gentlemen who talked
of moving an army from Suakim to Khartoum, with Berber and the whole intervening deserts in
the enemies hands, were wild visionaries and theorists in the military art, with little practical

knowledge of war. Jomini never had an independent command in war. All English officers
should closely study the details connected with the Nile expedition of 1884-1885. Those details

THE GOVERNOR. GENERAL S BODY GUARD NIAGARA CAMP 1902.

were based upon the experience we had gained in our advance upon Fort Garry in 1870."
And others besides Lord Wolseley appreciated the work of the Canadians on the Nile.
August 25th the House of Lords unanimously resolved: "That the thanks of this House be
given to theofficers, non-commissioned officers and men of the forces of New South Wales for the

gallantry and zeal with which they co-operated in the eastern Soudan with Her
Majesty s British
and Indian forces employed there, and also to the Canadian boatmen and their officers for the
valuable assistance rendered by them to the expedition."
In a report dated Cairo, June 15th, 1885, addressed by Lord
Wolseley to the Secretary of
State for War, appeared the following complimentary notice of the
Voyageurs:
Dominion of Canada supplied us with a most useful body of boatmen under the com
"The

mand of Lieut.-Col. F. C. Denison of the Ontario militia. Their skill in the

management of boats
in difficult and dangerous waters was of the utmost use to us in our
long ascent of the Nile. Men
and officers showed a high military and
patriotic spirit, making light of difficulties, and working
with that energy and determination which have
always characterized Her Majesty s Canadian
forces.

Before this report had been permed Canadians had an

opportunity to demonstrate their
military and patriotic spirit nearer home.
 CHAPTER XI.
THE NORTH-WEST REBELLION OF 1885.

Then fell a double terror on the plains,

The swift inspreading of destruction dire.
CHARLES MAIB.

HE North-West Rebellion of 1885 will always remain an event of great

importance in the history of the Canadian militia, as the first military
campaign conducted by the Dominion wholly with its own troops and at
its own expense. During the Wars oi 1776 and 1812, the Canadian mili
tiamen were maintained and equipped by the British Government, which
also maintained all the military works in Canada up to 1871. The militia

were, in fact, treated simply as auxiliaries to the regular troops. Since

1855 Canada has provided for the equipment, training and pay on active
service of its own militia, but during the Fenian Raids and the Red River

Expedition the forces in the field included British regulars paid for by
the British taxpayer, and the militia officers were subordinate to the regu
lars. Canada put down the serious rebellion on the Saskatchewan with
her own troops under the officers of her own militia force, the only money
drawn from the British treasury in connection with the very extended operations being that to
provide Hie medals and clasps awarded after the conclusion of the campaign, to the officers and
men of the militia engaged.
During the two years immediately preceding the rebellion, much attention had been drawn
to the vast prairie regions of Canada by the phenomenally rapid construction of the Canadian
Pacific Railway and the rush of emigrants to the districts opened up by it. By the end of 1884
the long prairie stretch had been completed from Winnipeg to the Rocky Mountains. The more
difficult sections of the road through the rocky and boggy wilderness north of Lake Superior and

through the Rocky Mountains were being pushed to completion as rapidly as possible, and the Can
adian people were looking forward to the starting of the first transcontinental train from Mont
real to Vancouver during the summer or autumn of 1885.
Such a thing as a military campaign in the vast country being so energetically opened up
to settlement was never dreamt of. Once or twice vague reports had reach the public through the
press that this or that tribe of Indians had been disturbed by the advent of the iron horse, but the
disturbances never amounted to much. There were a few dozen of the North-West Mounted
Police kept somewhere along the line with the advanced construction parties, and so long as those

smart and hardy horsemen of the plains were on the watch, the Canadian public felt satisfied that
everything was safe. Now and then something would be heard in the east of the half-breeds, many
of whom since 1870 had moved out to the banks of the South Saskatchewan, having grievances,
or thinking they had, against the Government. The Saskatchewan was far away, the half-breeds
were supposed to be few in numbers, and the public paid little or no attention to the reports.
Neither did the officials of the Ottawa Government, though they were in possession of memorials
from the half-breeds, explaining their claims in detail. The chief grievance of the malcontents
was that the Government surveying parties were making surveys of their holdings on the block
system, and the Government would not give them any assurance that it would sanction the way
they had agreed among themselves to take up their homesteads when they migrated to their new
homes. Their system provided for long narrow farms with frontages of ten chains 011 the river,
but running two miles back. There were other claims begotten of the suspicions which savage and
half-savage people naturally have of the encroachments of civilization.
Eed River troubles of 1870, Louis Kiel had been
Since leaving Manitoba, shortly after the
living in the United States, and
was teaching a small half-breed school in Montana. The
in 1884
work of surveying the half-breed country was progressing, the railway was nearing completion,
and in the course of a few months the invasion of settlers would be in progress. The half-breeds
felt that they must urge for a settlement of their claims then or never. They were
generally ignor
ant, unlearned, in fact, half savage, and they wanted a leader. Riel had, according to their untu
tored minds, done great things in 1870. He had turned Governor McDougall back, had asserted
the independence of the half-breeds, had taken possession of the Hudson Bay posts, had ostenta

tiously distributed the company s goods amongst his followers, had organized a half-breed gov
ernment which had punished with imprisonment, and even death, those who dared to dispute its
authority and he had accomplished all this with impunity. He had been even paid by the Gov
;

ernment to leave the country, and the half-breeds received some of the concessions they had
demanded. Clearly, thought the Saskatchewanian half-breeds, Riel was the man to secure them
all of the concessions they wished to obtain from the Government.

So, during the summer of 1884, a deputation from the people of the Saskatchewan waited
upon Riel and induced him to return to Canada and live among them. The announcement of the
return of the chief rebel of 1870 excited no general interest in Canada in 1884.
The first official reports of anticipated trouble were made by Superintendent Crozier, com
manding the N.W.M.P. at Battleford, July 13th and 27th, 1884. These reports were to the effect
that the half-breeds had grievances, that Riel was holding meetings, and that the Indians were

growing excited. August 18th, the small N.W.M.P. detachment at Prince Albert, a town on the
North Saskatchewan, north of the disaffected district, was increased to twenty men. During Octo
ber a police force was established at the Hudson Bay Company s fort at Carlton, also on the North

Saskatchewan, but west of Prince Albert; and the northern division of the force was increased to
200 men. During the winter the half-breeds were reported by Major Crozier to be talking of hold
ing a big meeting, to which, besides representatives of the Saskatchewan Indians and half-breeds,
others from the Blackfeet and Qu Appelle Valley Indians were to be invited. During March the
half-breeds were reported to be growing more excited, and on the llth Major Crozier sent a rein
forcement of twenty-five men and one gun to Fort Carlton. Two days later Crozier telegraphed
to his chief at Regina, Lieut.-Col. Irvine: "Half-breed rebellion liable to break out any moment.

Troops must be largely reinforced." March 18th, Lieut.-Col. Irvine, with 90 men, left Regina, via
Qu Appelle, Touchwood Hills and Humboldt, for Prince Albert, covering the distance of 290
miles in seven days, and reaching his destination March 24th.*

Meantime, Riel, following his programme in 1870, had established a provisional Govern
ment. March 18th, the half-breeds raided several stores at St. Laurent (Batoche), and took sev-
*
X.W.M.I . ollirial reports, 1885.

91
eral white men, surveyors, officials and others, prisoners. When these facts wore published in the
east the public became slightly interested. March 23rd the 90th Winnipeg Rifles, organized the
year previous by Lieut.-Col. Kennedy, and the Winnipeg Field Battery, were called out. The same
afternoon, Major-General F. D. Middleton,* commanding the Canadian militia, left for the west
via Chicago. It was announced that he had gone on a tour of inspection, and the announcement
was xiniversally accepted. The 27th the general reached Winnipeg, and left the same night for
Qu Appelle with the main body of the 90th, which it was announced had been
simply called out
to replace the mounted police withdrawn from garrison duty to accompany Lieut.-Col. Irvine to
the north. But the seriousness of the position was about to be realized. During the night came

particulars of the fight at Duck Lake on the 26th. Nine of Crozier s force had been killed and
five wounded. Crozier had withdrawn to Carlton, which was threatened, as was also Prince
Albert. It was a startling awakening for the country, which turned unhesitatingly and with

ample justification, to the active militia force which military spirit and the personal self-sacrifice
of its officers and men had succeeded in maintaining in some degree of efficiency in spite of official

neglect and considerable discouragement.

March 27th and Batteries, R.C.A.
"A"
Company Infantry School Corps, the
"B" ; "C"

2nd Queen s Own Rifles, 10th Royal Grenadiers, and 65th Mount Royal Rifles, were called out for
active service. The artillery left for the front March 28th, the Toronto Infantry Corps, March

30th, the 65th, April 2nd. A number of other corps were called out during the succeeding few
days. March 30th the Minister of Militia gave instructions for the Governor General s Body Guard
to be placed on active service, and authority was given for the recruiting of a company of sharp

shooters in the Governor General s Foot Guards (Ottawa), and for the raising by Lieut.-Col.
O Brien, M.P., of a provisional regiment recruited from the York (12th) and Simcoe (35th) Bat
talions. It was 6 p.m., April 1st, before Lieut.-Col. G. T. Denison received the orders to call out his

corps for active service. As the band were having their usual weekly practice that evening they
were employed to notify the sergeants to attend a meeting at 9 p.m. in the commanding officer s
room, Court Street, and notices were sent to the papers calling out the men. The following day
the men paraded at the Old Fort and had their saddles issued. Lieut.-Col. F. C. Denison being in

Egypt, the adjutant, Captain Clarence A. Denison, took over the command of troop. Lieut. "A"

W. II. Merritt was apointed acting adjutant; Lieut. F. A. Fleming was transferred to troop "B"

Browning remaining with

in place of Lieut. Merritt, Lieut. troop. Mr. Charles Mair, the "A"

well-known poet, who had been one of Riel s prisoners in Fort Garry in 1870, and who, in antici
pation of the rebellion, had moved his family from Prince Albert to Windsor, Ont., in September,
1884, arrived in Toronto about an hour after his friend Lieut.-Col. G. T. Denison received orders
to turn out his corps. Mr. Mair t expressed himself determined to go to the North-West with

some corps, and as the quartermaster of the G.G.B.G., for personal reasons, could not accompany
the corps. Lieut.-Col. Denison arranged that Mr. Mair should take his place temporarily.

"The late Lieut.-General Sir Frederick Dobson Middleton. K.C.M.G., C.B.. was educated at the R.M.C.,
Sandhurst, entered the army as ensign 1842, served in the Maori War. 1845-40; Santhal Rebellion (India). 1855;
Burmah, 1856; Indian Mutiny, including capture of Lnoknow, 1857-58; five times mentioned in despatches
and twice recommended for the Victoria Cross, but being on the personal stall \vas debarred. Was Hrigade- .

Major of the Oude Field Force and held many statV appointments, particularly in the educational branch in
England. Was appointed to command the. Canadian Militia, with local rank of Major-General, July, 1884.
Held the command until 1890; returned to England and died there 1897.
t Charles Mair was born at Lanark, Ont., September 21, 1840, and educated at Perth, Ont., and Queen s
University, Kingston. While studying medicine was engaged by the Government to collect and collate evi
dence bearing vipon Rupert s Land, then a terra incognita, for use in the negotiations for the acquisition of the
North-West. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada: author of "Dreamland and Other Poems," 1868;
"Tecumsch." a drama. 1880-7.

92
 Although the corps was all ready to start on the 4th, the necessary orders to entrain were not
received until 7.30 p.m.Monday, the 6th. As several men were out on pass till 9, it was past 10
before the corps left the Exhibition grounds. The horses were loaded on a train near the Queen s
"Wharf and at 1.30 a.m. Tuesday, the 7th, the train pulled out, only two men, an
in a rainstorm,

and the father of one of the troopers, seeing it start. Soon after the train was
ex-officer of the corps,

under way Lieut.-Col. Denison went through the cars urging the men not to write grumbling let
ters home, as some of the infantry had done. He asked them to report any grumblers to him, so
that he might send them home to their mothers. None were reported.
Dog Lake, at the end of the most easterly section of the completed line, was reached
about noon Tuesday, the 9th. Here the corps had to detrain, the men having to erect a temporary
landing platform of railway ties to unload the horses. There was from three to four feet of snow

THE GOVERNOR- GENERAL S BODY GUARD CROSSING LAKE SUPERIOR ON THE ICE.
An incident of the North-West Rebellion of 1885.

on the ground, and the wooden ties were so icy that to give the horses a sure footing as they wen-
leddown the extemporized ramp from the cars, blankets were spread over the slippery wood.
After the horses were unloaded they had to be fed, watered and saddled, and the stores had to be
loaded on sleighs. hours getting ready for the march of thirty miles to Magpie
It took three

River, two-thirds of the way across the most easterly gap in the railway. The corps reached Mag
pie River camp, where there were a couple of tents and a log shelter or two, in which the horses
were put, the night being very cold. There was no place for the men to sleep, so, after eating sup
per shortly after midnight, they tried to snatch a little them
sleep as best they could, most of
lying down under blankets in the sleighs. At 6 a.m. on the 10th, the corps started on the march
of fifteen miles to the end of the next completed section of track, where men and horses were fed.
The tedious process of loading the horses on cars was again gone through, and about noon the

93
train started for the next break in the track at Port Munroe, which was readied at 4 a.m. At
day-break the horses were unloaded, saddled and fed, the men had breakfast, and the corps started
on the march of thirty-five miles across the first part of the second gap, to the construction camp
at Jackfish Bay. This march proved to be the hardest experience of the campaign. This march
for thirty miles was across the ice formed over a great land-locked inlet of Lake Superior. About
twelve or fifteen miles out on the ice a point was reached where the sleighs, with the baggage,
stores and dismounted men, left the column, and, turning to the right, went up an inlet for some
miles to a place called McKellar s Bay, from which a short piece of track had been constructed
to Jackfish Bay. But, owing to the lack of proper cars, and to avoid the tedious operation of an
extra loading and unloading, the horses and mounted men continued straight across the ice to
Jackfish Bay. At the point where the column divided, the corps halted for its mid-day meal. As
there was a biting north wind blowing, the horses were drawn up in a line facing the south. They
were fed from the nose-bags, while the men stood in the shelter of the horses, and, with a lump of
corned beef in one hand and a piece of bread in the other, ate their dinners. Water drawn
through a hole cut in the ice furnished drink for both men and horses. The worst part of the
march was to follow.

Lieut.-Col. Denison describes Soldiering in Canada

it in
"

From Port Munroe to the

:

point at which the sleighs left us to go to McKellar s Bay, the track along the ice was packed and
clearly marked by the sleighs, which for some days had been plying between these points but when ;

we track to go some twenty miles across a vast prairie or desert of ice, with snow in drifts
left the

everywhere, there was no track and we had to pick our way. In the early spring there had been
rain and thaw, and all over the solid ice there had accumulated some few inches of water. This
had frozen to a depth of about two or three inches, and on this crust ice several snowfalls had been
deposited. The snow, as usually happens, had been blown by the wind, so that in places there
would be smooth glare ice, and in others snow, from a quarter of an inch to perhaps a foot or even
more in depth. The glare ice was, of course, strong and solid, but where the snow was deep it
had protected the ice under it, so that it did not become nearly so strong. As we marched on the
glare ice, the horses, without their hind shoes, slipped about and travelled with difficulty. When
the snow was deep (and the deeper it was, the more certain the result), the horses hoofs would
go through the snow to the crust ice, and through it down two or three inches to the solid ice below
that.

"Where the snow was deep the horses were almost mired, so to speak, their hoofs catching
and tripping them in the crust ice. We
pushed on as fast as we could, trying all the while to pick
our way, avoiding as much as possible the glare ice and the deep snow. This made the distance
longer, and the wind from the north kept constantly getting stronger and colder. A man on horse
back had been provided as a guide to go with us. He was afraid a blizzard was coming up and
got considerably alarmed, for we were miles from shore, and along the whole stretch and on the
islands, it was an absolute wilderness. He kept urging us on, and we kept moving as fast as pos
sible. About four or five o clock we came to where the snow on the ice seemed to have gathered
much more extensively, and we could hardly move, the horses going through the crust ice at every
step. I halted the column, and sent several men out like a fan, to see if a place could be found

where the snow was not so deep. William Hamilton Merritt, my adjutant, was one, and when he
got about a quarter of a mile out he signalled us to follow him, and we struggled through the deep
snow and found a clearer stretch. We kept on marching and pushing on as fast as we could, but

94
did not reach Jackfish Bay, then a small contractors camp of tents and a few buildings, until
about 8 p.m., just at dusk. Our men who had gone by McKellar s Bay had arrived many hours
before us.
The weather being intensely cold, no efforts were spared to try and find shelter for the
horses, and they were stored away in all sorts of places, twelve being stored in a root house, and
many in tents. The corps remained at Jackfish Bay all the next day and night to rest, there being
no transport available. April 13th, at 8.30 a.m., the corps left Jackfish Bay and marched twenty-
five miles across the ice to Winston s, the rail-head of the next section of track, which was reached

at 2.30 p.m. A train of flat cars was provided, and once more loading platforms had to be built
before the horses could be entrained. Afifty miles on the rail brought the corps to
journey of
Nepigon, the end of the next and Here the corps again detrained by the same tiresome
last gap.

process, and about night-fall started on the last march across the ice to Red Rock, the next rail
head. Lieut.-Col. Denison had been told, on leaving Nepigon, that it was only about three miles
across to Red Rock, and was instructed to follow a track on the ice to a light shown on the other
side. The light looked at first as though it might be thrown from a lamp in a window, but after
marching an hour towards it, it appeared but little, if any, brighter. After another hour s hard
march over execrable roads, the light looked as if it might be thrown from a torch. The march was
clearly a very long three miles. It was eleven o clock before Red Rock was reached, and it was
found that the light, instead of being, as at first supposed, a lamp flame, was a blaze made by a
beacon fire of about half a cord of wood. The actual distance from Nepigon was about nine
miles. After feeding the horses the process of entraining was once more gone through, and at 1
a.m. on the 14th the train left for Winnipeg, reaching there 1 a.m. on the 15th, exactly eight

days after leaving Toronto, and having travelled a little over 1,500 miles. The corps, after
detraining, went into camp on Point Douglas Common.
In civilization again, the members of the corps were able to gratify their keen curiosity as
to the progress of events at the scene of disturbance. The situation on the Saskatchewan was bad
enough; the publication of sensational reports in the newspapers made it appear even worse.
April 1st newspaper despatches from Qu Appelle had reported that Riel had between fifteen
hundred and two thousand men with him, and large forces of Indians and half-breeds were
reported to have assembled near Battleford and Fort Pitt. The missionaries at Fort Qu Ap
pelle Mission were quoted as saying that between 7,000 and 10,000 well armed troops would be
required to suppress the rebellion. The Touchwood Hill Indians were reported to be greatly
excited, and it was feared that they would harass the troops on their progress north.
Major-General Middleton, with a part of the 90th Battalion, reached Fort Qu Appelle on
April 2nd.
A day or two afterwards the plans of the campaign were announced with a completeness
which did not say much for the caution of those at headquarters at Ottawa.* General Middleton,
with Boul ton s Horse, French s Scouts, Winnipeg Field Battery, Battery, R.C.A. half of
"A"
;

Company, Infantry School Corps (now Royal Regiment of Canadian Infantry), 10th Royal
"C"

Grenadiers, and 90th Winnipeg Rifles, were to march across country from Qu Appelle Sta
tion, 384 miles west of Winnipeg, via Fort Qu Appelle (19 miles), Touchwood Hills (46 miles),
Uumboldt (78 miles), to Clark s Crossing (55 miles), a total distance from Qu Appelle Station of
198 miles. Clark s Crossing, where the telegraph line from Battleford and Fort Pitt on the west,
and that from Prince Albert to the north, formed a junction with the single line connecting those
See public press, April 4th to llth.
distant points with the outside world, was selected as the advanced base. Besides its importance
as a telegraph centre, was practically equidistant from Battleford (85 miles) and Prince
it

Albert (81 miles). Besides the troops detailed to march across the prairie from Qu Appelle to
Clark s Crossing, it was intended that Lieut.-Col. W. D. Otter should proceed to the same place
with an independent column, consisting of a force of North- West Mounted Police, Battery, "B"

R.C.A. one-half of
; Company I.S.C. the
"C"2nd Queen;
s Own Rifles, the company of sharp
shooters raised in Ottawa, and the Midland Battalion, raised by Lieut.-Col. Williams. Col. Otter s
column was to proceed to Swift Current, 187 miles west of Qu Appelle, on the C. P. R., march
30 miles to Saskatchewan Crossing, where the direct trail to Battleford (180 miles distant from
Swift Current), crosses the south branch of the Saskatchewan at the elbow, whence its course
changes sharply from south-east to north-east. At this point Colonel Otter s column was to embark
on river steamers and be conveyed down stream (north-east) to Clark s Crossing (200 miles dis
tant). It was estimated that before the end of April there would be over 1,000 fighting men assem
bled under Middleton, prepared to succor either Battleford or Prince Albert. It was hoped that
with three or four steamers plying on the Saskatchewan between Clark s Crossing and the Sas
katchewan Crossing, and perhaps even Medicine Hat, 149 miles west of Swift Current, where the
railway crosses the river, that such a large and well-supplied force would soon be established at the
advanced base as to awe all of the rebels and malcontents into submission. Major-General
Strange, with a third column, moving from Calgary, 180 miles west of Medicine Hat, was to
operate against Big Bear and his Indians, causing trouble in the Fort Pitt district.
From the very beginning there were doubts as to the practicability of the river transport
scheme. Navigation on both branches of the Saskatchewan, owing to shallow water and constantly
moving sandbars, is, at the best, very precarious, and the water was very low in the spring of .1885.
Still the officers of the North- West Navigation Company, when they left Winnipeg, April 7th,
with their crews to take charge of the steamers at their winter quarters at Medicine Hat, expressed
the opinion that they would be able to make the run from Saskatchewan Crossing to Clark s Cross
ing in eight days. The time actually taken by the boat which first got down was fifteen days.
April 15th, the day the Governor General s Body Guard reached Winnipeg, General Middle-
ton was at Humboldt with the bulk of his column, the Royal Grenadiers on the trail to overtake
him a couple of days march behind. On the 17th, the column reached Clark s Crossing. None
of the steamers had arrived, there was no news of them, and all hope of regularly using the river
route to any practical advantage for reinforcements or supplies was abandoned. On the llth
General Middleton had ordered Lieut.-Col. Otter, with his column, to proceed by the direct trail

from Swift Current to Battleford.

The main column under General Middleton arrived at Clark s Crossing, 81 miles from Prince
Albert, with but a very limited supply of rations for men and horses. The prairie was bare of
grass, and even the wood used to boil the water (which was all strongly flavored with alkali) for
the men s tea had The supplies the general had had been drawn by
to be carried in the wagons.
team over the trail from Qu Appelle, 198 miles distant. And this trail was completely unguarded,
although there were doubts as to the loyalty of the Indians at Qu Appelle and Touchwood Hills,
;ui(l although one point of the line of communications, Humboldt, was nearer to the rebel head

quarters at Batoche than to that of General Middlcton. The risk of the severance of the long line
of communications and the capture of the precious supply trains was very apparent.
The writer of this had, unaccompanied, ridden from Qu Appelle to overtake the general,
and when, April 10th, he rode into camp the first one beyond the Touchwood Hills the general

90
rebuked him for foolhardiness and enquired somewhat anxiously as to whether he had seen any
of the half-breeds or Indians on the trail. Resenting the imputation of foolhardiness, the new
arrival repeatedly asked the general what difference there was in the risk of a man riding alone
up the trail and in that of leaving depots of supplies at the various action points, each in charge
of one man. The general said that the number of armed teamsters and the reinforcements of
troops coming up behind him afforded some protection to the line of communication, but admitted
that he was very anxious on the subject, although he had been assured by those experienced in
the manners of the half-breeds and Indians that they would not be likely to try to pass around
the force to strike at its communications. He added that the alarming state of affairs on the Sas
katchewan demanded that the force should push on to the river at least without an hour s unneces
sary delay.
About the 20th, the papers, with
the accustomed recklessness of a sec
tion of modern journalism, began to

discuss the grave risk of leaving the

lines of communication open to at

tack, and the general became anxious

that Riel might take the hints so un-

patriotically thrown out. On April

22nd a leading Toronto paper pub
lished a letter from its correspondent
at the front, an ex-cadet of the Royal

Military College, Kingston, in which

the weakness of the situation was laid THE TELEGRAPH STATION AT HUMBOLDT.
North-West Rebellion, 1885.
bare in the following words:
to us, the
"Our rear is unprotected, and we are not certain that, if anything should happen
Indians at Touchwood Hills would not attack our transport and cut off our supplies. If Riel had
the grit to do it, nothing is to prevent him from going down to Humboldt, cut the telegraph line,
capture the supplies, go to Touchwood, Qu Appelle and Troy, and do likewise. He would be rein
forced by every half-breed in the country, and before you are aware of it would be in Winnipeg.
Of no possibility of this, simply for two reasons, he has not got the pluck,
course, there is first,

secondly, he does not know how easily it could be done. However, no arrangements have been
made up to the present to even guard our transport service, and, as you know, we are surrounded
of our numbers."
by Riel s scouts on all sides, and no doubt he is perfectly aware
As soon as this reached the general he promptly sent the correspondent who
correspondence
it to the rear, but in the meantime he had taken measures to protect his lines of communica
penned
tion. Among the corps designated for this important duty at the most critical point Hum
boldt s Body Guard.
was the Governor General From the 15th to the 23rd the corps remained
at Winnipeg, the time put in in drill, repairs to saddles etc.
bein<j-
On the 17th the men were
served with Winchester carbines and Colt s revolvers, the old Snider carbines being returned

into stores.
The corps left Winnipeg early in the morning of the 2:5rd, reaching Qu Appelle Station
(or Troy) al 2 p.m. on the 24th, leaving (here at 4 p.m., and reaching Fort Qu Appelle al

dusk. That night word was received of the fight during the day between General Middleton s
 column and the half-breeds and Indians at Fish Creek, on the second march north of Clark
day s s
Crossing.
At Fort Qu Appelle was stationed the York and Simcoe and Lieut.-Col. Denison
Battalion,
as senior officer took over the command from O
Brien, M.P. At day-break next morn
Lieut.-Col.
ing, 20 men of the G.G.B.G., under Lieut. Fleming, and 90 men of the York and Simcoe Bat

talion, the whole under the command of Lieut.-Col. Tyrwhitt, left to capture 70 odd teams which
had crossed the Qu Appelle River at Racette s
Crossing, some thirty-two miles lower down, and
were making north, presumably with supplies for Riel. It
transpired that the carts belonged to a
party of plain hunters proceeding to their homes after their winter s operations in the west.
The same night the Cavalry School Corps from Quebec (now the
Royal Canadian Dragoons, To
ronto), and the Winnipeg Troop of Cavalry, reached Fort Qu Appelle.
Sunday, the 26th, Lieut.-Col. Denison received orders to proceed to Humboldt, and the
corps took up the route of march at 4 p.m. on the following day, great difficulty having been
experienced in obtaining the necessary transport. Humboldt was reached early in the afternoon
of May 2nd. There was a considerable accumulation of
military supplies here, and Lieut.-Col.
Denison set to work to protect his camp and the supplies with light field works. These took some
time to complete, as being cavalry, the corps had only six
spades in its equipment. These works
were by general consent dignified with the name of "Fort Denison." At this time the civilian
population of Humboldt, which was merely a mail and telegraph station in the open, rolling prai
rie, consisted of one man. By the direct trail, via Hoodoo, another station, it was miles fifty-five
to Batoche. No
precautions were neglected to guard against surprise. May 3rd a picquet of ten
men under Lieut. Browning was sent out in advance to look over the country. They returned
at dusk.

4th, fifteen men under Lieutenant Fleming left for a point on the trail forty miles to the
May
south, where there they met a party of the Quebec troop escorting some teams laden with ammu
nition, the Quebec men, after handing the convoy over, returning to Touchwood, where they
were stationed. The same day a scouting party went out under Captain C. A.
Denison, and on
the 5th another under Lieutenant Merritt. After the 6th, the long-expected steamer "North-
having reached Middleton s camp with 400 tons of supplies, all stores coming by trail were
cotte"

stored at Humboldt, and as twenty or thirty wagon loads a day were being
received, the supplies
accumulated rapidly. On the 8th Lieutenant Fleming returned with the ammunition convoy,
the men as black as negroes, due to the dust from the trail and the recently fire-swept prairie. The
ammunition was stored in a magazine which had been constructed in the centre of "Fort Den
ison.

During this time all of the men were put through a course of target practice, and a patrol
or picquet was daily sent out. This patrol used to proceed about eight or ten miles to the north,
to the Spatinaw, a conical
hill about 200 feet high, close to the Hoodoo from which, with
trail,
powerful glasses, the country could be overlooked for miles.
May 8th, General Middleton having made a detour from the Saskatchewan, struck the Hum
boldt trail some nine or ten miles from Batoche, advanced along the trail towards that
place, and
encamped. This made Humboldt Hie nearest and most direct telegraph station to headquarters,
and messages and from he Crnera] passed that way, instead of via Clark s Crossing, as pre
1<> I

viously. The regular telegraph operator being away for some days, trying to repair the line from
Tlumboldt to Clark s Crossing, the whole work at Ilumboldt devolved upon Sergeant Harry Wil
son of the Body Guard, who was an expert operator. It took about two days to get
despatches
to the General at Batoche and a reply back. May 9th, the day of the first of the fighting at
Batoche, Lieut.-Col. Denison despatched Trooper Scholfield with despatches to the general. He
got into the entrenchments safely, and some hours after he was scut hack with a parcel of tele

grams to Lieut.-Col. Denison. On his arrival he reported that he had been lired at four times in
getting away, and a bullet was afterwards found embedded in his horse s neck.

The first news received at Humboldt of the opening of the fighting at Batoche was decid
edly disquieting. The method of its reception is described in the entry for May 10th in the well-
kept diary of Captain (now Lieut.-Col.) Clarence A. Denison, as follows:
"May 10th. At 1 a.m. one of the sentries thought the camp was about to be attacked. He
observed, as he thought, some one crouching, so fired at him, followed by a couple more shots.
The guard were out in a moment, and moved out to where the sentry was. The men of the squad
ron were all in their proper

places along the walls of the

fort in a very short time. The
cause of the alarm was sup
posed to be a badger or a prai
rie wolf.
However, the experi
ence was beneficial in case of
future alarms. was awak I

ened this morning by some

one asking for Colonel Deni
son s tent. As the colonel
thought he was a courier from
the front, he called him in at
once. Instead of a courier, it

was Lord Melgund, which gave

us a great start, as we knew he A GROUP OF OFFICERS OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL S BODY GUARD.
During North-West Rebellion of 1885.
was the general s chief-of-
staff. When
asked by the colonel what was the news, he said it was not good they had been
fighting the rebels all day that one of Battery had been killed and eight men wounded,
"A"

Captain Mason of the 10th being among the latter. As Lord Melgund and his orderly got within
five miles of this fort he was surrounded
by our picquet of five men who left at daybreak for the
Spatinaw. The picquet, finding out that it was Lord Melgund and his orderly, passed on. Lord
Melgund had breakfast and dinner with us, and, after a few hours sleep, went south."

Themessage Lieut.-Col. Denison received after Lord Melgund s arrival was an order to
first

bring up the York and Simcoe Battalion to Humboldt as a reinforcement, and to send on to the
front by the Hoodoo trail as much in the way of supplies as he could get teams to convey. He
managed to get fifty-four teams, and sent forward 110,000 pounds with an escort of thirty-five
men under Captain Clarence A. Denison.
The latter, in his diary already quoted, writes: "May 12th I went in charge of an escort
of thirty-five men, having Lieut. Merritt and Quartermaster Mair with me. Each wagon was
loaded with a ton of supplies, such as hay, oats, hard-tack, pork, tea and sugar. When the leading
teams of the convoy had made 23 miles, at 5 o clock in the afternoon, we decided to form a cor-
rall. The trail was very bad and the rear teams did not get in till 10 o clock.

99
 "May 13th The trail being very heavy we reduced the loads on each team by 500 pounds,
leaving a corporal and three men in charge of the supplies. also left Trooper Stinson, who We
had a couple of ribs broken by a kick from a mule. The supplies left behind were piled in the
shape of a fort, which was named Fort Dunn, after Major Dunn. moved on towards Batoche We
and passed the Hoodoo Station, which was deserted, forded the Carrot River and formed our
corrall for the night. Previous to this we set fire to the prairie grass, the wind then blowing
towards a small lake. Shortly afterwards the wind shifted, which carried the fire around the
lake. It moved off towards the west and we could see it moving along
through the whole night.
As we were near the rebels we had half the men on guard at a time. I arranged with the foremen
of the eight sections of teams to have a sentry on from each section, the sentries from the escort
being placed well out from the corrall.
14th We moved off in the morning and got into the Minachenas Hills. As we were
May
nearing Batoche we kept the convoy as close together as possible. The escort had very hard work,
the flanking patrols having to be frequently relieved, the country being very much broken, with
very many bluffs. Our advanced picquets, seeing a couple of men on horseback a long way off,
gave chase. They turned out to be two of our men who had been sent some days previous to Gen
eral Middleton s camp with despatches, and were returning to Fort Denison. They brought vis
the news of the battle at Batoche, and also instructionsfrom the general for me to take the con
voy to Clark s Crossing, as he was intending to move down the river some fourteen miles to Gard-
apuy s Crossing. Having despatches for the general, I sent them on with a couple of men. Just
before reaching the place where the general camped for a short time before moving on
Batoche,
the trail was very bad, the teams having to go through water nearly three feet deep. As our destin
ation was changed and a longer distance cut out for us. and having lost a day or two on the way
through the bad we had run out of meat, and hearing that the steamer Northcotte was at
trail,

Batoche, I took a couple of men and rode on into Batoche, leaving Lieut. Merritt to bring on the
convoy. When getting near the village we could see the tents of the half-breeds who had come in
to fight. A nag of truce was flying, and as the general and all his force had left the
village a few
hours before, the women and children were coming out of the pits in the valley, and were going
into tents on higher ground, each of the women carrying a little white flag. On speaking to some
of the men, who spoke in we found that Kiel was only eight miles
French or very bad English,
away. They appeared, or pretended to appear, very glad that we were coming, as all the rest of
the soldiers had gone away and Kiel was so near. They were very polite, and talked with their
hats off, and were glad to hear that more soldiers were coming. I informed them that they would
come in next morning. Finding that the steamer was not at the village, and EieJ near by, we
went back to the convoy as soon as possible, and met the head of it about three miles out, pass
ing through "One Arrow Reserve, where we camped for the night. As there were plenty of
s"

half-breed cattle about, we ordered a bullock and a calf to be killed. During the day, while our
men were waiting for the teams to get through the sloughs, they caught forty or fifty ponies,

every man
being anxious to have one, but having seen what misery Riel had brought on these peo
ple, and not wishing to disgrace our corps, I sent orders to have the ponies turned adrift."
The convoy proceeded to Clark s Crossing, via the river trail, after a hasty visit had been
paid to Batoche, to enable the men to see the place. Riel gave himself up a short distance from
Batoche while Lieut. Merritt and the rear guard of the were still in the village. Lieut.
<;.<i.B.<;.

Merritt saw Riel afterwards in the jail at Regina, and he stated that he had seen Captain Deni
son s convoy moving towards Batoche. May 16th the convoy reached Clark s Crossing, via

ion
Dumont s Crossing and Fish Creek, and at 4.30 p.m. the escort started on the inarch back to Ilum-
boldt across country, reaching its destination the evening of the 17th, having covered 45 miles

during the last day.

May18th Troopers McNab and Simms, while out with the usual scouting party to the Spat-
inaw, noticed a couple of Indians coming towards the hill, evidently desiring to get a view of the
country from it. The men kept concealed until the Indians aproachcd, and succeeded in capturing
the elder of the two, who proved to be Wahisca, a Sioux, the brother of one of Sitting Bull s well-
known lieutenants, Chief Wapasca (White Cap). White Cap and his band of Teton Sioux (about
250 souls) participated in the Custer mas

sacre,and after that event found a refuge

in Canada, and, after roving about for some
time agreed to settle down on a reserve in
the Moose Woods near Saskatoon on the Sas
katchewan. During the latter part of March
Kiel and some half-breeds went to White

Cap s reserve and tried to induce him and

his men to go to Batoche. As AVhite Cap
hesitated, the half-breeds seized the Indians
live stockand drove horses and cattle to
wards Batoche. The Saskatoon white set
tlers, who were on friendly terms with the
him to refuse to go to
Sioux, tried to induce
Batoche; and White Cap said that if the
settlers would help him to regain his live

stock he would not go; otherwise he could

not resist the half-breeds. As the white
settlers felt themselves powerless to inter

fere, White Cap and

his band proceeded to
Batoche. April 18th, Lord Melgund, on a
reconnaisance with Boulton s Horse and
French s Scouts north of Clark s Crossing,

captured two of the sons of White Cap and

who were supposed to be
his brother-in-law, WHITE CAP.
Chief of a Band of Sioux, captured by the Governor-General s Body
scouting tor the half-breeds. They, them- Guard during North-West Rebellion of isss.

selves, reported that they had been up to the reserve to hunt up some missing live stock.
Two Indians killed in the action at Fish Creek belonged to White Cap s band of Sioux. The
writer of this saw one of them killed.
It was after the half-breeds had poured their first fusilade
into the troop of Boulton
Horse forming the mounted advance guard, and before the infantry
s

advance guard had been brought up into action. The half-breeds had taken cover in the brush-
covered slope of the ravine, when, all at once, in a spirit of bravado, a stalwart Indian, in hid
eous war-paint, sprang into full view of the general and those with him, flung his blanket to the
Lii-nund. waved his rifle above his head, and began to execute a war-dance, shrieking out defiantly,

the while, the war-whoop or coyote * of his race. His taunting was of short duration, for a well-
aimed bullet found a vital spot, he sprang into the air, extended both arms, and fell forward on

So called from its resemblance to the cry of the prairie wolf or coyote, which it imitates.

101
his face, a corpse. His body lay all day among the line of advanced skirmishers on the
edge of
the ravine. Tin-redoubt that White Cap s Sioux did the best part of the
is little
fighting at Fish
Creek. Among Kiel s official papers, captured at
Batoclie, was a report from Cabriel Dumont on
that action, written in French, in which he
reported that early in the afternoon he and the half-
breeds had withdrawn from the ravine and retreated towards
Batoche, but that "les sauvages
Sioux" would not withdraw. because would
And, they not, they were basely left to their fate.
But for the dogged courage of White
Cap s men, Kiel would have had no excuse to boast of Fish
Creek as a victory, for the troops would have advanced
beyond the ravine which was the key of
the rebel position, in pursuit of the retreating half-breeds.

May 4th, preliminary to his advance upon Batoche, General Middleton liberated one of the
Sioux prisoners captured near Clark s Crossing,
instructing him to go into Batoche with copies
of a proclamation promising protection to all
well-disposed half-breeds and Indians who would
return to their homes and reserves. The Indian on arrival at Batoche was taken prisoner by Kiel,
and the papers taken from him.
The Indian captured near the Spatinaw, on reaching Fort Denison, was
subjected to a
searching examination, and it was gathered from his statements that White Cap and a portion of
his band were in the vicinity, trying to
escape from Batoche to the United States. The next morn
ing Lieut-Col. Denison detailed Lieut. W. II. Merritt to take a party of twenty-five men and try
and capture White Cap and his followers. Merritt s instructions were that there should be no

fighting could possibly be avoided, and he was advised that

if it
perhaps the Indians might sur
render properly handled. Lieut. Fleming volunteered and was allowed to accompany the
if

party. The Sioux Indian was informed of the instructions imparted to Merritt, and, under the
circumstances, appeared willing 1o help the party to reach his tribesmen. Peter McDonald, of
Carrott River, who was able to speak the Sioux tongue, and was an
expert tracker, also accom
panied the parly, and his services proved invaluable. His revolver was a strong argument in
overcoming any scruples Hie Sioux may have had about aiding the faithful expert in the tracking.
It was found that White Cap had
hurriedly broken cam]), and (hat his Indians had dispersed in
all directions.So clever were the Indians in "covering their tracks" that the main trail could
never have been picked up had it not been for the expert aid of the Indian and the white
guide.
Near the Indian s late camp-fire the Sioux found some food and bullets left for
him, and
whether the latter were merely to supply a known want, or a sign of "war to the death," was a
matter of conjecture. Marvellous cleverness was displayed in following the trail and
"cutting
corners" by the old Sioux, generally at a gallop. At times his ability in this seemed more akin
to witchcraft or second sight than the result of a lifetime s training of a latent capability inher
ited from a long line of warring and hunting ancestors. It was read from the trail that the

retreating Indians were travelling night as well as day, and were making for the south. The
pace for the pursuing party was so severe that from time to time a horse would play out. As the
party was very short of food, Merritt decided that if on reaching the alkali plain the Sioux were
not sighted, it would be necessary to return to Humboldt, The sun was
getting very low on the
second day of the chase, when suddenly the Indian gave a significant grunt, and McDonald also
showed evidence of the enemy being in sight. It was soon discovered that the rapid approach of
the Body Guard had surprised the Sioux in
camp while their horses w ere grazing, and they were
T

seen to be running to cover with their rifles. As they had not yet opened fire, the
captive Indian
and the interpreter were sent with a flag of truce to parley and see if the Indians were willing to
surrender, which was found to be the case. The Body Guard troopers were naturally eager to

102
get into action, but were restrained from
being the aggressors. It had rained very heavily dur
ing the chase, and it started again soon after the capture, so that one of the Indian
tepees was
requisitioned, and the satisfaction of the men was added to by some bear
steaks, for the Indians
had surprised and killed a bear, which was probably their reason for camping, as they had no
other food.
Next morning, May 19th, White Cap and his chief braves solemnly smoked the
pipe of peace
with Merritt and Fleming, and presented the pipe to the former. The
pipe is made of Minne
sota soap stone, with a decorated wooden mouth-piece some
eighteen inches long. After this cere
mony the party, now reduced to two officers and fourteen non-commissioned officers and men and
twenty-two Sioux Indians, set out for Humboldt. Some sixty miles had been covered in one and a
half days, which was remarkably good
going, considering that tracking was being done. As an
example of the satisfactory condition of some of the horses, it might be mentioned that, including
the trip to Batoche, Fish Creek and Clark s Crossing, Merritt had made about 2-10 miles on
the
same horse in some eight days, and it seemed
in as good condition as when it started.
On the line of march some of the won
derful stalking capabilities of the Indian were
exhibited whenever game was sighted, the lar
der being thereby replenished. The custom
of the Indians of the plains is that, in their
march from point to point, there is never a
halt by the main body, and those who fall out
to hunt, or from weakness, have to catch up
as best they can, and are left entirely depend
ent on their own resources.
It should be mentioned that while these A TENT SQUAD AT HUMBOLDT.
Sioux Indians were under the supervision of North-West Rebellion of 1885.

the Body Guard (for over a month) their behavior was everything that could be desired. They were
,

released by order of the general, and, later on, the mounted police had a hard task in finding White
Cap when he was taken to Regina, loaded with chains, but a nolli prosequi was entered by orders
of the Minister of Justice, and he was sent back to his reserve.
This incident of the capture of White Cap, though a comparatively insignificant
event, be
comes of some interest as the only instance in the North- West Rebellion of where a band 188."),

of hostile Indians were actually tracked and run down. In each other case of surrender the chiefs
who came in voluntarily gave themselves
up to save their people from further
sufferings. As an
example to illustrate this fact, and as an instance to show the animated the Indians,
spirit that
the following reproduced from Ihe report of the trial
is of Ponndmaker in The Mail of August
18th, 1885: judge then asked Ponndmaker if he had anything to say why sentence should
"The

not be passed. Drawing himself up his full height the prisoner east a hurried glance round
1<>

the room, then, placing his lel hand on his breast and extending the right in a declamatory
t

attitude, he began. He spoke slowly at first, and wailed for the interpreter to put the words into
Knglish. By and bye he seemed to forget lie was not underst 1; the words came without the

least hesitation from his lips. The gist of his speech was: I am not guilty. Much that has
been said against me is not true, and I am glad of my works in the (^teen s country this spring.
What I did was for the Great Mother. When my brothers and the palefaces met in the fight I

IMS
saved the Queen s men. I took their arms from my brothers and gave them up at Battieford.
Everything I could do was done to prevent bloodshed. Had I wanted war, I would not be here
now. I would be on the prairie. You did not catch me. 1 gave myself up. You have got me be
cause I wanted peace. Then, throwing up arms and glancing round the court, he shouted
his :

I cannot help myself. You may do as you like with me. I said I would only take a little while,
now I m done.

Poundmaker then sat down and awaited the sentence. When he heard the sentence of three
years penitentiary, he said: "Hang me now,would rather die than be locked up."
I
For his capture of White Cap, s name was sent to the adjutant-general by
Lieut. Merritt

Lieut.-Col. G. T. Denison, the officer commanding, with the following remarks :

"Shortly after the Battle of Batoche I sent Lieut. Merritt, in command of a detach
ment of the
Body Guard, pursue and capture the Sioux chief, White Cap, and a portion of his
to
band. This duty was performed by Mr. Merritt in a most creditable manner, his energy and per
sistence in the pursuit being equalled by the tact with which he secured their surrender without
loss of life.

May20th the York and ISimcoe Battalion reached Humboldt and went into camp near Fort
Denison. The special duty of the Body Guard from this date consisted principally in furnishing
escorts for ammunition convoys. The recreation of the men was not neglected. May 24th, fall

ing on Sunday, the Queen s Birthday was celebrated by two afternoons of sport, on the 23rd and
25th. While the Body Guard was at Humboldt Mr. Browning went down to Touchwood Hills to
be attached to the cavalry school corps for instruction, preparatory to receiving his cavalry cer
tificate.

During June and July the days were very long at Humboldt, and it seemed strange to offi
cers and men to hear the trumpet sounding lights out at 10.15 p.m., when there were no lights to
put out, it being broad daylight. About the middle of June the corps was served with cork hel
mets.
The Body Guard and the York and Simcoe Battalion left Humboldt for home July 9th,
reached Qu Appelle July 13th, having marched 165 miles in five days and three hours, or at the
rate of 32 miles a day, and left on the train for the east July 14th. The corps reached Winnipeg
8.30 p.m., Wednesday, the 15th, and remained there all night and part of the next day, but did
not detrain, as the grand review it was proposed to hold on the 16th was cancelled on account of
a steady downpour of rain.
The train bearing the Body Guard started from Winnipeg for Toronto during the after
noon of the 16th, but the trip was destined to be a slow and hazardous one. Though the track
had been laid across the gaps which had been the scenes of so many hardships and so much expos
ure on the outward trip, it was by no means in a finished state. It was imperfectly ballasted,
curves had not been adjusted, and bridges, trestles, etc., were at several points of a most flimsy
character, being temporary structures put up to facilitate the work of permanent construction.
The was consequently compelled to proceed very slowly east of Port Arthur, so slowly,
train

indeed, that the average speed was less than ten miles an hoiir, the trip from Winnipeg to
Toronto, 1513 miles, occupying over six days and a half. Near Jackfish Bay two serious acci
dents occurred to the special train in which the Body Guard were. The first accident occurred
Ihrough three of the cars jumping the track when nearing Jackfish Bay, and one of them, in which
there were eight horses and four men, was upset. The men and horses were fortunately taken out

104
in safety through the side of the car. Two of the cars had to be left behind, and sixteen horses
were crowded into the car nearest to the engine, and the train went on again.
It had only gone about two miles when a trestle between 75 and 100 feet high, with water

below, at least 100 feet deep, had to be crossed. This trestle had an ugly curve at the end. Over
this the engineand front car had just passed and reached the embankment when the front car
(one of the three which left the track in the former accident) capsized completely.
The other
cars were by this time fortunately in a safe part of the trestle, but had they been one car s length
short of where they were, the capsized car would have dragged them all over the trestle into the

water, and a fearful loss of life would have occurred. The horses had to be taken out
of the cap

sized car through the roof, and the men had to get their horses through to Jack Fish as best they
could. At that point, which was near, two new cars were provided, and the journey was resumed
and continued to Bicotasing, where a stop was made long enough to exercise the horses, wearied

with their rough ride. From Bicotasing to Carleton Place Junction, near Ottawa, better time was
made, but at that place a long and tedious delay took place, owing to the caving in of the sinkhole
near Sharbot Lake. The men, however, were well provided for, and suffered nothing but loss of
time.

July 23rd, at 6 reached Toronto, having been nine days on the train. They
a.m., the corps
detrained at the Queen s Wharf, proceeded to the Exhibition Grounds, and went into quarters
there, being played out by the band of the corps. The camp cooks were preparing to get break
fast for the men, when Mr. Barlow Cumberland and the Mayor, Mr. Manning, arrived in camp
and gave orders to a caterer to supply the breakfast, which was partaken of at half-past eleven.
Afterwards the corps fell in and marched up to North Toronto station to meet the infantry bat
talions, which had come by the lake route, and marched through the city. Afterwards the Body
Guard returned to the Exhibition Grounds, and the following morning, after being inspected by
Lieut-Col. R. B. Denison, D.A.G., the corps was dismissed and the men went to their homes.
Lieut-Col. Denison received a surprise on his return to his civil duties as Police Magistrate
of Toronto. His coiirt room was decorated in his honor, and he was welcomed back from active
service on behalf of the city police force by the chief, and on behalf of the bar by one of its mem
bers.
The conclusion of the campaign and the return of the troops from active service was signal
ized by the publication of a vast amount of matter in the Canadian. British and foreign press.
Considerable significance was attached to the campaign, as the following fairly representative
editorial in an American paper will testify :

"The feat which the Canadian troops have performed is one of which the army of any
power on earth might be proud. These few boys, gathered from the shops and offices and farms
of Quebec and Ontario, have traversed an incredible distance, and have penetrated a country
much more difficult than that which the British would have been compelled to cover between
Tisheen and Herat. They have met and conquered an enemy, too, not so numerous, indeed, but
braver and better armed than the Afghans and Turcomans. It is a great feather in the eap of our
neighbors, and may, indeed, be called the baptism of blood of the young nation which is growing
up on our border, for it is the first warfare of which the Dominion Government had supreme con
trol. Canadians will hold their heads higher hereafter." Detroit En nimj ^l ws.
The British Government provided a medal to be given to every officer and man of the
militia engaged during the campaign, a clasp being awarded to those who had been under fire.
On May 24th, 1886, in Queen s Park. Mrs. John Beverley Robinson, wife of the Lieutenant-
Governor of Ontario, presented the medals to the Body Guard. Mrs. Robinson pinned the medal
on each man s breast herself, and did so with a kindly word for every one. Many of the men
she knew, or their families, and for all she had a special remark, which each one cherished.

K15
 CHAPTER XII.

THE BODY GUARD BECOMES A REGIMENT.

I should have known what fruit would spring from such a seed.
-BYRON.

AY 3rd. 1889, is an important date in the history of the Govern

or General s Body Guard, the corps then attaining regimental
dignity and existence by being increased from a squadron of
two troops to a regiment of two squadrons (four troops). The
change was effected under a general order reading as fol
lows:
"Ottawa, May 3rd, 1889.
"General Orders:
"Province of Ontario:
"The Governor General
s Body Guard for Ontario: No.
I
Troop. Oak Kidges, and No. 3 Troop, Markham, are hereby detached from the 2nd
Regiment of Cavalry and attached to the Governor General s Body Guard for On
tario. The troop at Oak Ridges to be C troop. The troop at Markham to be
D troop."

A fortnight later the following appeared in general orders:

& "Ottawa, May 17th, 1889.
"Governor General s Body Guard for Ontario :

"This
corps, which consists of four troops, is hereby formed into a regiment. The headquar
ters of C Troop, Oak Ridges, and
Troop, Markham,D are hereby changed to Toronto.
"The regiment will be a city corps, and promotion will be made according to seniority in
the corps."

A fortnight later the promotions and more immediate changes resulting from the expansion
of the squadron into a regiment were gazetted as follows :

"The Governor General Body Guard for Ontario:

s

"To be Lieutenant-Colonel Major and Brevet-Lieut. -Col. George Taylor Denison, C.C.
"To be Major Captain and Brevet Liout.-Col. Frederick Charles Denison, C.M.G., C.C.,
vic< <!. T. Denison, promoted.
"Captain Clarence Alfred Kinsey Denison.
.( vacates the adjutancy and takes command
( .,

of "A"
Troop, F. C. Denison, promoted.
ricr

"To be
Captain Lieutenant William Hamilton Merritt, C.C., vice .lames McConnell, who is
hereby permitted to retire, retaining rank."

100
 Subsequently the establishment was fixed at 23 officers, 203 non-commissioned officers and
men, 205 horses and 4 wagons.
The augmentation was effected without any trouble, and during the succeeding year the
regiment in its new form was put upon a thoroughly sound and efficient footing. The first duties
the regiment was called upon to undertake were escorts.

Friday, May 30th, 1890, Toronto had the honor of entertaining Major-General H.R.H. the
Duke of Connaught, who, on the expiration of his district command in India, returned home to

England, with Her Royal Highness and several members of their start ,
via Canada, a demonstration
of the practical importance of the Canadian Pacific Railway as an Imperial route. This royal visit
was necessarily a hurried one, but was made the occasion of spontaneous demonstration of the
loyalty of the Canadian people to the Royal family. In Toronto there was a municipal welcome
to theRoyal visitors and a military parade. The Body Guard, under orders of May 26th, pro
vided an escort of one troop as follows Captain and Brevet Major Dunn, Lieutenant Fleming,
:

Lieutenant Dickson, one ser

geant-major, 3 sergeants, 30
rank and file.

The Body Guard in 1893

furnished two escorts, a trav
elling escort for His Honor,
the Lieutenant-Governor,
March 29th, consisting of
Lieutenant Peters, one ser
geant and twelve rank and
file; and on October 28th, a
captain s escort for His Ex
cellency, the Governor-Gen
eral the Earl of Aberdeen,
upon the occasion of his first

visit to Toronto, consisting of

Captain and Brevet Major
C. A. Denison, Lieutenant G.
T. Denison, Jr., Lieutenant
Peters and 35 non-commis Representatives of the Governor-Generals Body Guard at the Diamond Jubilee of

Her Majesty Queen Victoria, 1897.

sioned officers and men. This
latter service was a purely voluntary one, all expenses being borne by the regiment.
A regimental order of November
1st conveyed His Excellency s thanks in the following
terms: Excellency, the Governor-General, has conveyed to the officer commanding the Gov
"His

ernor General s Body Guard, his appreciation of the manner in which the escort furnished
by the
corps performed their duties, and of the smart appearance of the men, and of the admirable way
in which they turned out.

In 1897 the Governor General s Body Guard had the honor of

contributing an officer and
four non-commissioned officers to the
military contingent sent to England under command of Lieu
tenant-Colonel the Hon. Matthew Aylmer (now Lord Aylmer) to
represent Canada at the cere
monies connected with the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of Her late lamented Majesty,

107
Queen The Body Guard s representatives were Captain Fleming, Regimental Ser
Victoria.

geant-Ma jor A. M. Stretton, Squadron Sergeant Major F. Flint, Squadron; Squadron Ser "A"

geant-Major A. Secord, Squadron, and Lance-Sergeant E. W. Hodgins,

"B"
Squadron. "C"

On the day of the historical pageant through the streets of London, Captain Fleming had the
honor of being second in command of the colonial escort, and Lance-Sergeant E. W. Hodgins was
selected as one of the eight Canadians to form part of the escort.

This same year the oldest member of the corps retired from active membership in the Body
Guard. November 16th, 1897, the officers of the Body Guard tendered a banquet at the Armories
mess room to Lient.-Col Orlando Dunn upon the occasion of his retirement after forty-four years
continuous service in the corps. Lieut.-Col. Dunn began his military career in the yeomanry of
his native county of Devonshire, England, in a corps now known as the North Devon Hussars, in
1851. In 1852 he came to Canada, and the following year joined the Toronto Troop of Cavalry,
commonly known as The Denison Troop. In
1857 he was promoted to be sergeant-major, and
in 1868 he received his first
commission as cornet.
In the absence of Lieut.-Col G. T. Denison, he
commanded the Body Guard in 1893. When he
retired he had the proud distinction of being
the oldest militia officer in the active militia, with

forty-four years continuous service to his credit.

And he could boast that had never lost day s
lie a,

duty whenever his corps had been on service. The

banquet was, as it well deserved to be, a memor
able one. Lieut.-Col. G. T. Denison presided,
and, besides all the officers of the Body Guard,
there were present many other officers, among
them Lieut.-Col. W. D. Otter, D.O.C. ;
Lieut.-Col.

Mason, R.G. ;
Lieut.-Col. J. M. Delamere, Q.O.R. ;

Major Septimus A. Denison, R. R.C.I. Major Les- ;

sard, R.C.D. Major Mead, T.F.B. Major Cosby,

; ;

48th Highlanders, and Major Manley, formerly

of the Grenadiers. At the conclusion of a compli

mentary and highly interesting speech, in pro

posing the health of the guest of the evening,

Lieut.-Col. Denison handed to Lieut.-Col. Dunn a
handsome silver loving-cup, engraved with the
LT.-COL. ORLANDO DUNN, R.L.,
crest of the regiment, and bearing the following
For Forty-four Years a Member of the Body Guard.
inscription: "Presented to Lieut.-Col. Orlando

Dunn, on his retiring from the regiment, by the officers of the Governor General s Body Guard,
as a mark of their respect and esteem, November 16th, 1897.
Before many months the corps was to sustain another notable loss in its active member
ship.

In accordance with the then recent order limiting the tenure of corps commands, Lieut.-Col.
George T. Denison, of Heydon Villa, retired from the active command of the Body Guard, June

108
 with the exception of the period from July 31st, 1868, to com
May 5th, 1876,
8th, 1898, having,
manded the corps since 1857. The retirement and the consequent promotions were gazetted June
23rd, as follows :

"Governor General sBody Guard, Toronto. Lieut-Col. George T. Denison is permitted to

resign his appointment as commander of this corps, and is transferred to the reserve of officers.
To be Lieutenant-Colonel, Captain and Brevet Major Clarence Alfred Kinsey Denison, vice Deni
son transferred; to be Major, Captain and Adjutant William Hamilton Merritt, vice Dunn,
retired ;
to be Adjutant, Lieutenant George Peters, vice Merritt, promoted to be Captain, Lieu ;

tenant Hampden Zane Churchill Cockburn, vice Denison, promoted to be Second Lieutenant pro ;

visionally,Sandford Fleming Smith, gentleman, to complete establishment."

The retirement of Lieut.-Col. G. T. Denison from the command of the Body Guard was
with the militia force. All
throughout Canada commented upon as an historical event in connection
of the leading of the country commented upon the occurrence. A few sentences from an
papers
editorial in one of the Toronto papers gives an idea of the line of comment elicited by the
event :

"An ardent, yet a studious officer, he has done good work for his country, alike by his work
corps, and by the credit which he has done
in the field, a fine and well-trained his
by keeping up
service through the place he has won as a military author. The distinction he haswon is prob
not a professional soldier, and has had an active and honorable career in
ably unique, for he is

civil life. A good soldier and a good citizen, he has well won the honors he bears."

At this point it is interesting to recall the fact that all of the eight commanding officers the
corps has had have been members of the Denison family. The list of commanding officers since
the corps organization is as follows:

(1) George Taylor Denison (Bellevue), August 16th, 1822, to

November 1st, 1838.
(2) Richard Lippincott Denison, son of G. T. Denison, November 1st, 1838, to February

23rd, 1848.
(3) George Taylor Denison (Rusholme), brother of the preceding, February 23rd, 1848,
to December 6th, 1850.
(4) Robert Brittain Denison, brother of the two preceding, December 6th, 1850, to Novem
ber 13th, 1856.
(5) George Taylor Denison (Heydon Villa), son of G. T. Denison of Rusholme, January
15th, 1857, to July 31st, 1868.
(6) Edwin P. Denison, cousin of the preceding, July 31st, 1868, to March 1st, 1872,

(7) Frederick C. Denison, brother of G. T. Denison (Heydon Villa), March 1st, 1872, to

May 5th, 1876.

George T. Denison (Heydon Villa), (second term), May 5th, 1876, to June 8th, 1898.
(8) Clarence A. Denison, brother of the preceding, assumed the command June llth,
1898.

Since this date changes among the senior officers of the regiment have not been numerous.
Neither have there been many other changes, officers and men showing the old characteristics of
corps and allowing no relaxation in the efforts to
spirit,
make the Body Guard not merely a
handy, but a smart corps.
February 1st, 1899, Lieut.-Col. G. T. Denison (Heydon Villa) was gazetted to the appoint
ment of Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Governor General s Body Guard, a gracious recog

nition of past services in his old corps, as well deserved as it is exceptional in the Canadian
militia.
 Although among some of those who have never given any attention to the serious study of
military subjects there is a disposition since the South African War to sneer at such essential ele
ments of military organization as discipline and interior economy even going the
length of
presuming to argue that such things are an impediment to practical
military efficiency those
important departments of military work have always received, and are still receiving, their due
share of attention in the Governor General s Body Guard. The foundation of a
regiment s inter
ior economy is its standing orders, and great care has been shown in the preparation of those of
the Body Guard. The late Lieut-Col. Frederick C. Denison, in 1876, published with his "His
torical Record," standing orders for the corps, which he had compiled from the orders of several
regular cavalry regiments,
and adapted to the special con
ditions of
the Body Guard.
These standing orders, with
numerous amendments and
additions, remained in force
until June 6th, 1899, when
the present complete stand
ing orders, ably compiled by
Major Merritt, then adjutant
of .the regiment, were pub
lished by the present com

manding officer, Lieut-Col.

Clarence A. Denison. These
orders are published in con
venient book form, with plates
illustrating the text, and are
a great convenience to both
officers and men. In these
A SQUADRON OF THE GOVERNOR. GENERAL S BODY GUARD most thorough orders no de
at Breakfast in Camp. tail is neglected, the regula
tions even as to dress, entries, etc., for the regimental
sports, being clearly defined.
For years past it has been the aim of the officers to encourage athletic
sports, particularly
those requiring the cultivation of agility, physical strength and skill in
equitation. They found
they could succeed much better in this when the corps drilled at its own headquarters, which made
it generally possible after the
inspection to devote an afternoon to sports. These regimental
sports have been very popular among all ranks, and have led to the development of some very
skilful military athletes in the corps. It was owing to the institution and encouragement given to
these events that the 7vgiment
was able to give such a creditable account of itself at the military
tournaments held Toronto within the pasl few years. The success of the representatives of
in
the Body Guard was especially marked in the tournament of
1896, when members of the corps
won the following prizes: Riding and jumping, officers (12 entries), 1st prize, Lieut. Peters;
riding and jumping, sections; of four (14 entries), 2nd prize; lemon cutting, officers (9 entries),
1st pri/e. Lieut. Peters; riding and jumping, individual, N.C.O. s and men (24 entries), 2nd
prize, Hospital Sergeant Rariihart,; lem.on cutting, N.C.O. s and men (25 entries), 2nd prize,

11(1
Trooper Winterfield. In each case where a second prize was taken, the first had been taken by
members of permanent corps, Royal Canadian Dragoons or Royal Canadian Artillery. Speaking
of this tournament, the Canadian Military Gazette remarked: "The G.G.B.G. won a large
share of the glory which fell upon the active militia, and enjoyed the proud distinction of furn

ishing in Lieut, G. A. Peters the competitor who took the greatest number of individual prizes in
June 6th remarked: "Few could have been pre
"

contests restricted to officers. Tlte Globe of

pared to see the Governor General Body Guard, a corps which there is perhaps some disposition
s

to neglect, turning out an exceedingly large number of excellent horsemen, coming well up to the
front in the winning of prizes, and furnishing in Lieut. Peters, the individual officer who took the
greatest number of prizes.
During the past few years, since the regiment has put in its annual trainings at Niagara,
its members have been the prime movers in the brigade sports for the mounted corps, now looked
forward to as an annual event.
Most of the annual trainings since 1885 have taken place in regimental camps, but of late
years brigade camps have been the order. In addition to the annual trainings in camp, a con
siderable amount of good work is done each year at regimental headquarters in the shape of dis
mounted drill. The following statement of annual trainings during the period referred to in the
preceding is 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, regimental camps on Toronto Exhibition
interesting:
Grounds, June
in each year; 1891, regimental camp on Exhibition Grounds. September 26th to
October 1st; 1892, route march to Hamilton and return, June 23rd to 30th; 1893, regimental
camp at Wells Hill, June 22nd to 29th; 1894, 8 days regimental camp at Mimico in June;
1895, none of the militia corps perfromed their annual training; 1896. eight days regimental camp
at Toronto Junction in June; 1897, eight days regimental camp at Wells Hill in June; 1898,
eight days regimental drill at Toronto Junction; 1899, twelve days brigade camp at Niagara in
June; 1900, twelve days regimental camp at Toronto Junction in June; 1901, twelve days bri
gade camp, Niagara, in June; 1902, twelve days brigade camp at Niagara in June.
Among the extra voluntary parades of the corps during the past few years, those in connec
tion with the various Thanksgiving Day field days of the Toronto Brigade were
perhaps most
enjoyed by the men, as they had a flavor of active service about them which appealed to the keen
cavalryman. The corps, too, has of late years had its share of escort duties.
May 23rd, 1900, upon the occasion of the arrival of His Excellency the Governor-General,
the Earl of Minto, a travelling escort
was furnished, composed of Captain G. T. Denison, Jr..
one sergeant and twelve men. The following day, the Queen s Birthday, there being a military
parade in honor of the day in Toronto, the Body Guard supplied a travelling escort for His
Excellency, composed of Captain Fleming, one sergeant and twelve men.
A special
chapter must be reserved for a passing record of the honors earned for the Body
Guard by members of the regiment who had the honor of representing it in the South African
War.

THIS BOOK IS THE PROPER:

OF ____

Heirs, Toronto

AND MUST Nq^ BE REMOVED

FROM THE OFFICE.
 CHAPTER XIII.

BODY GUARDSMEN IN KHAKI.

HE South African War, 1899 to 1902, marks a most important change

in the status of the active militia of
Canada, the force during that
prolonged struggle becoming something more than a body main
tained for merely domestic purposes, and taking its place as a recog
nized part of the armed force maintained for Imperial defence.
Space forbids anything like a detailed account of the raising
and services of the various Canadian contingents, nor does the occa
sion call for it.

Canada s contributions to the army in South Africa, with the

dates of their sailing, were as follows: 2nd (Special Service) Bat
talion of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Infantry, 1,039 officers and men, October 30th, 1899 1st ;

Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles (from August 1st designated the Royal Canadian Dragoons),
375 and men, February 21st, 1900; 2nd Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles (subsequently
officers

Canadian Mounted Rifles), 375 officers and men, January 27th, 1900; Brigade
"

designated the
Division of Royal Canadian Artillery, 539 officers and men, January and February, 1900; draft
to replace casualties in the 2nd Battalion R.R.C.I., 103 officers and men, March 16th, 1900; Strath-
cona s Horse, 548 officers and men,
March 16th, 1900; draft to reinforce Strathcona s Horse, 51
officers and men, May 1st, 1900; South African Constabulary, March 29th, 1901, 1,200 officers

and nien 2nd Regiment Canadian Mounted Rifles, 901 officers and men, January 28th, 1902
; ;

\(. 10 Field Hospital Company, 62 officers and men, January, 1902 3rd Regiment Canadian
;

Mounted Rifles, 4th, 5th, and 6th ditto, 539 each, May 8th to 23rd, 1902. This is a grand total
of 7,349 officers and men.
In several of these contingents, but particularly the Royal Canadian Dragoons, and the 2nd
Canadian Mounted Rifles, the Governor General s Body Guard was well represented, as a refer
ence to the list published as an appendix will show. And on several important occasions during
the trying campaign, the representatives of the Body Guard at the front conspicuously distin

guished themselves. Private F. C. Page, who enlisted in the 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regi
ment of Infantry, had the honor of being mentioned in despatches for distinguished conduct in
carrying the wounded off the field in the engagement at Paardeberg Drift, February 18th, 1900,
but met a soldier s death in the field of battle in the victorious onslaught of the Canadians on
Cron je s Laager, February 27th.
The crowning glory of the campaign for the Body Guard was the winning, by one of its offi
cers,Captain II. Z. C. Cockburn, of the most coveted distinction a soldier can attain, the bronze
reward for valor, the Victoria Cross. The action in which Captain Cockburn won his Cross
occurred on November 7th, 1900. between Belfast and Komati Kiver. General Smith-Dorrien s

mixed Royal Canadian Dragoons, Canadian Mounted Rifles, and two guns of
force, including the
Battery, Royal
"D" Canadian Artillery, \vas returning to Belfast after burning some Boer

houses, from which snipers had repeatedly fired on the British troops. The R.C.D., under Colonel
Lessard, and two guns of "D"
Battery, R.C.A., under Lieut. Morrison, formed the rear guard,
and had to protect a transport column six miles long. The Boers suddenly attacked the rear
guard with great spirit and in overwhelming force. The action became so fierce and close that the
guns were in great danger of being captured. Capt. Cockburn rose to the occasion, brought part
of the two troops which he was commanding between the Boers and the guns, and held the

enemy long enough up and withdraw. The Dragoons fought with des
to allow the guns to limber

perate bravery. and Captain Turner, now Lieut. -Col Turner,

Lieut. Elmsley, also of Toronto,

V.C., D.S.O., of Quebec, were both badly wounded, and Captain Cockburn and a number -of men

SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNOR. GENERAL S BODY GUARD

Who Served in the late Boer War.

were overpowered and captured, only to be released the next day. Captain Cockburn s prompt
ness and courage in a dangerous crisis undoubtedly saved the day for the British forces, and he
and Turner were subsequently recommended for the Victoria Cross by Major-General
Lieut. -Col
Smith-Dorrien, in an official report reading as follows: have much pleasure in forwarding "I

attached statement on the gallant behavior of officers and noncommissioned officers of the Royal
Canadian forces in the action of November 7th, 1900, between Witkloof and Lilliefontein. on the
Komati River. I must, in bringing them forward, emphasize the fact that the behavior of the
whole Royal Canadian rear guard, under Lieut-Col. Lessard, was so fine that it makes it most
difficult to single out for special distinction. There is no doubt that men sacrificed themselves in

the most gallant way which they succeeded in doing. These statements, added
to save the guns,
to what I know myself, enable forward five names for special distinction. The first
me to bring
four of them I emphatically recommend for the proud distinction of the Victoria Cross, and the

113
fifth for some special mark of Her
Majesty s favor. Lieut. II. Z. C. Cockburn, of the Royal Can
adian Dragoons, with a handful of men, at a most critical moment, held off the Boers to allow
the guns to get away, but to do so he had to sacrifice himself and his
party, all of whom were
killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. . . ."

The arrival of Captain Cockburn on his return from South Africa was made the occasion
of an enthusiastic demonstration in Toronto,
February 25th, 1901. The stalwart young winner of
the Victoria Cross was met at the railway station by the
Body Guard and the hoys of Upper Can
ada College. After Captain Cockburn had been briefly welcomed home in the name of his
regi
ment by Lieut.-Col. Clarence A. Denison, he
was carried shoulder high to the main waiting room,
where Dr. Parkin, principal of Upper Canada College, briefly welcomed Captain Cockburn home,
rejoicing that the latter s old school had a share in the honors he had brought back from South
Africa. Dr. Parkin drew attention to the fact that Sir John Colborne, the founder of the
college,
had commanded the 52nd Regiment at Waterloo, and that Colonel Dunn, who won the only Vic
toria Cross awarded in connection with the famous charge of the
Light Brigade at Balaklava,
was an Upper Canada College boy. Colonel George T. Denison added a few words of congratula
tion, after which Captain Cockburn was prevailed upon to make a few remarks, which were char
acterized by soldierly brevity and modesty. The carriage containing the home-coming soldier,
his father, and Lieut.-Col. G. T. Denison, was drawn by the enthusiastic boys of Upper Canada

College to the residence of Captain Cockburn s father on Sherbourne Street.

Major W. II. Merritt, of the Body Guard, April 20th, 1900, applied for and obtained one
year s leave from the active militia, and at his own expense went to South Africa, where he was
gladly accepted as a squadron commander in one of the best known and most useful irregular
corps of the war, Brabant s Horse. Pie saw considerable fighting, including the heroic defence of
Johannesburg Drift, near Wepener. He was appointed an extra A.D.C. to General Brabant, and
upon the completion of his term of service that distinguished officer reported most favorably upon
his services. December 29th, 1900, Major Merritt applied to the War Office for permission to
raise in Canada a corps of light horse, 600 strong. He submitted to the War Office a complete plan
and equipment of this force.
for the raising, organization The major calculated on having in his
regiment, which was proposed to call the "Canadian Rangers," a complete squadron from the
it

Governor General s Body Guard. The offer was never accepted, but when the 2nd Canadian
Mounted Rifles were raised and despatched to South Africa, Major Merritt was tendered and
accepted the appointment of second in command.
Tuesday, March 7th, 1901, a corps dinner in honor of the members of the regiment who
had served in South Africa was given at Webb s, and passed off most
successfully. Lieut.-Col.
Clarence A. Denison, the commanding officer, presided, and some hundred and twenty officers,
non-commissioned officers and men, sat down in a wholesome spirit of good comradeship. The
guests included Captain II. Z. C. Cockburn, Squadron Sergeant-Major K. \V.
Ilodgins, Sergeant-
Farrier A. J. Lovegrove, Lance-Sergeant Fergus Brown, Corporals W. J. Wheatley, Wm. Cord-
inglay. Albert Purvis. George Smith, W. T. Morrison. Lance-Corporal A. ,1. Pudifin, Trumpeter
A. Lorsch, Troopers S. Burnet, P. A. G. McCarthy, John Baxter, D. McKibben, A. Doust, II. II.
Lyons, E. C. Day, C. J. Miller. J. S. Farrell, A.E. Ryerson. T. J. Johnston. 1). 1). Young. Major
Merritt was unable to attend owing to the death of his mother at Torquay, England, and Lieut,
I. Warren was prevented from
Darrell attending by sickness. From the former a pathetic letter
was read, extolling the patriotism of Canadian mothers, and speaking of the devotion of the

114
writer s deceased widowed mother, who had twice seized the opportunity to commend her only
son to calls to active military duty. Quite a feature of the banquet was a patriotic speech by
Lieut. -Col. G. T. Denison, Honorary Colonel of the regiment, in response to the toast "Canada,"

which had coupled with it on the very attractive menu card this verse from Kudyard Kipling s

"Native Born":

"

Our heart s where they rocked our cradle,

Our love where we spent our toil,
And our faith and our hope and our honor,
"We
pledge to our native soil."

Just a week before the regimental dinner, Lieut. -Col. G. T. Denison had made a speech at a

meeting of the British Empire League, which had attracted great attention, not only in Canada.
but throughout the Empire, and his remarks at the dinner were to some extent supplementary to
his League speech. He pointed out that if the freedom and independence of Canada were to be
maintained, Canadians must do it. They wanted to be free people in a free country, but they must
realize that "you cannot be a free people unless you are willing to pay for Canada was a it."

part of the greatest empire the world had ever seen, and she had recently taken her position, not

merely as an integral part of the vast British Empire, but as a sharer in its responsibilities. Can
ada had not done what she ought to have done. Her contribution to the army in South Africa of
3,000 men to that date, was out of all proportion to the Mother Country s contribution of 200.-
000 men. "It is the duty of Canada to do her share in commnn with the other portions of the

Empire." These sentiments were cheered to the echo, and deserve to be permanently recorded as
expressing the opinion of the thoughtful in Canada s defensive force at this historically important
period.

May 6th, 1901, the officers of the Body Guard gave a dinner in honor of the members of
their mess who had been on active service in South Africa, the special guests of the evening
being Captain H. Z. C. Cockburn, Major \V. Hamilton Merritt, late of Brabant s Horse: Lieut.
Body Guard, and Lieut. D. I. Warren, who served in the
Emslie, R.C.D., an old officer of the
Royal Canadian Dragoons. The dinner took place in the mess room at the Armory, Lieut. -Col.
Clarence A. Denison, the commanding officer, presiding. Included among the invited guests were
Col. F. L. Lessard, C.B. Lieut-Col. G. T. Denison. Lieut. -Col. J. M. Delamere. Q.O.R.
: Lieut. - :

Royal Grenadiers, Lieut.-Col. 0. Dunn. Mr. G. R. R. Cockburn, ex-M.P., father of

Col. J. Bruce.

Captain Cockburn, Mr. J. S. AYillison, editor of The Globe;^lr. F. Maclean. M.P. Rev. Canon "\Y. :

Welch, Major G. A. Peters, Toronto Mounted RiHes. Captain Cockburn s health was proposed

immediately after the usual loyal toasts, the chairman, in presenting the toast, commenting on the
good work done by the Royal Canadian Dragoons in South Africa, and drawing attention to the
fact that no less than ten out of the fourteen combatant officers of the regiment had been struck
down by the enemy s fire. Captain Cockburn s reply was characteristically modest. He could
not understand what lie had done to be so kindly treated. Major Merritt wade a very interesting
speech in responding to the toast in honor of the other officers of the reuiinent who had been on
service in South Africa. Major Merritt expressed the opinion that a great lesson of the war was
the proving of the fighting value of the volunteer, a man who is not entirely bound by red tape

11 r,
and afraid to move without orders, but who, when he gets to the field of battle, thinks for himself.
On the other hand, he pointed out that the Boer s great weakness was a want of discipline. When
until eventually they would
they were being pressed they would break away by twos and threes,
be streaming away in rout when there was no need. It was the same in attacking; their com

mandants and field cornets could not bring them up for the last effort, Individual work had its

advantages, and, when pushed to the extreme, its disadvantages. Several other interesting

speeches were delivered, all combining to make the event an unqualified and enthusiastic success.

116
 CHAPTER XIV.
THE DUKE S VISIT AND ITS DUTIES.

HE memorable visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (now the
Prince and Princess of Wales) to Canada in 1901 has a special militarv
interest, not only on account of the really fine military displays with which
it was attended. The Royal tour of the British countries beyond the seas was
decided upon as a gracious acknowledgement by the Sovereign of "the loy
alty and devotion which have prompted the spontaneous aid so liberally
offered by all and the splendid gallantry of the colonial troops.
the colonies
"

Of all the military displays which signalized the Royal progress through Canada,
none equalled the splendid review of the Ontario militia which took place before Their
Royal Highnesses on Friday, October llth. There were some 11,000 men on parade, the largest
number of Canadian troops ever seen together. The force was divided into a brigade,
cavalry
three brigade divisions of field artillery, two infantry divisions, and several units of the
army
medical corps. The force was mobilized several days before the review to
prepare for the event,
the Body Guard upon this occasion going into camp on the Exhibition Grounds for six
days. His
Royal Highness rode out to the review ground with his staff, the Duchess driving out.
The Body Guard, as was its right by seniority and title, occupied the right of the line, and
led the force on themarch past. Remarkably well the regiment looked, mounts a good lot, sad
dlery faultless, men a smart, clean-cut set, with uniforms as bright-looking as brush, pipeclay.
blacking and muscle could make them. As the regiment, to the strains of its own regimental
march, "The March of the Men of Harlech," and headed by its commanding officer. Lieut.-Col.
C. A. Denisoii, advanced in column along the saluting line, distances and alignments were excel

lent, indicating at once that the non-commissioned officers knew their work and that the men had
their horses well under control. Marches past are not such meaningless affairs after all.
One of the most interesting events connection with the review was the presentation of
in

decorations and medals to the veterans of the South African War. The chief incident in
connec
tion with this part of the programme was the presentation of the Victoria Cross to
.Major Cock-
burn, who was the first of the long line of recipients to approach the The coveted
Royal dais.
distinction having been handed to the Duke. Major Cockburn stepped forward and sainted, while
the Duke of Roxburghe, of the personal staff of His Royal Highness, and conspicuous in the
superb uniform of the Royal Horse Guards (the Blues) * proceeded to read the official record of
the deed of valor for which the distinction was awarded. The reading concluded. His Royal
Highness deftly pinned the little bronze cross upon Major Cockburn s breast. lie then extended-

The oldest cxi-tiim

cavalry corps in British
tlie
Army, dating from 10(10 (Charles IF.).

117
his hand, warmly shook Ihal of the luardsman. and heartily congratulated him upon the
Body (

distinction he had won. His Royal Highness then accepted from .Mayor llowland a handsome
silver-mounted sword of honor, and presented it to .Major (Jockhurn, as a recognition by the City
gallantry of one -of her sons and defenders. There had
of Toronto of the been a
distinguished
tremendous outburst of applause as Major Cockburn first stepped to the front, and he was greeted
with deafening cheers as, quite naturally and unostentatiously, after saluting the Duke, he walked
straight to where his father and mother were standing,
and delivered the glittering sword into
the hands of the latter.

H. R. H. THE DUKE OF CORNWALL AND YORK

with Travelling Escort from the Governor-General s Body Guard

The Royal party remained in Toronto from October 10th to October 12th.
the honor to furnish
This was a specially busy time for the Body Guard, the regiment having
to Toronto. There were no less
all of the escorts to Their Royal Highnesses during their visit
than seven of these escorts, as follows:-

escort on arrival of Their Royal Highnesses Lieut-Col. C. A.

October KMh. field officers

Denison in command; .Major Fleniing second in command: Major (!. T. Denison, Jr.. command
Lieut. W. S.
ing 3rd Troop: Captain S. V. Smith, 2nd Troop; Captain \V. W. Denison, 1st Troop ;

118
Warren, 4th Troop ;
Lieut. A. M. Ansley. Squadron Serrefile; eight non-commissioned officers,

ninety-six men, one trumpeter.

Same day, captain s for Their Royal Highnesses.
escort without standard Captain S. F.
Smith, Lieut. D. D. Young, one squadron sergeant-major, twelve Don-commissioned officers, twen

ty-eight men.
Same day. Major Cockburn, V.C., and forty men employed in lining tin- streets during the
Royal progress.
October llth, travelling escort for II.R.II. the Duchess of Cornwall and York, and while
attending the review on Garrison Common, Captain Cameron, one sergeant, twelve men.
Same afternoon, travelling escort for Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of
Cornwall and York. Lieut.
\V. S. Warren, one sergeant,
twelve men.
Same evening, captain s

escort for II.R.II. the Duke

of Cornwall and York at the

reception in the Parliament

Buildings. Captain \V. W.
Deiiison, Lieut. Taylor, one
squadron sergeant-major,
twelve non-commissioned of
ficers, twenty-eight men.
Same time, captain s es
cort for H.R.H. the Duchess
of Cornwall and York, at Gov-
e r n men t House. Captain
Cameron, Lieut. E. S. Deni-
-

son, one squadron sergeant-ma

jor, twelve non-commissioned REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL S BODY GUARD
At the Coronation of King Edward VII., 1902.
officers, twenty-eight men.
A
few months previous to the Royal visit, a new mounted
corps was added to the Toronto
Active Militia Brigade. After his return from South
Africa, Col. Otter, C.B.. D.O.C., of the
Toronto District, was very anxious to secure the organization of a mounted
infantry corps in
Toronto. He had succeeded in making good with the work of organization,
progress preliminary
when the project threatened to fall through for want of a good, energetic, active cavalry officer to
take the command. Finally, Colonel Otter found just the man lie wauled in Captain Peters, adju
tant of the Governor General s Body Guard, and he was transferred to the command of the new
corps.
The organization of the new corps did not otherwise affect the Body Guard, the strength of
which was increased in 19(11 to four squadrons of 81 non-commissioned officers and men each, and
a total regimental establishment of 81 of all ranks.
No less than eiuht non-commissioned
of the Body Guard were detailed to form part
officers
of the contingent of Canadian
troops despatched to London under command of Lieut. -Col. Pellatt,
Q.O.R., to participate in the street pageants arranged to take place in connection with the coro
nation of Their .Majesties King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, which was set for June 26th,
11!)
1902. The regiment s representatives on the contingent were: Sergeants W. S. Coleman,
Little, E. Luttrell. F. D. Burkholder, George Smith, F. E. Cadden (vice Squadron Ser
George
geant-Major II. Logan, who could not accept the appoint

ment), W. B. Wright, and Lance-Sergeant B. S. Warren.

Shortly after the regrettable sudden postponement
of the coronation, due to the tragic sickness of His Ma
jesty, an event which plunged the whole of his vast em
pire into gloom and loyal anxiety, the coronation contin
gent, after being reviewed with the other colonial contin
gents by His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, re
turned to Canada. When, after the happy recovery of
His Majesty, August 9th was fixed for the postponed cere

mony, the Militia Department despatched a second very

and thirteen men,
small cavalry contingent of one officer
under command of Lieut-Col. Turner, V.C., D.S.O., to form
part of the colonial escort of Their Majesties. Sergeant
George Smith was detailed to represent the Body Guard
on this occasion, but MS he could not accept the appointment,
Sergeant F. 1). Burkholder went.
While the Body Guard was undergoing its annual

training for 1902 in camp at Niagara, it received an unex

pected call to active service in aid of the civil power.

Then 1
was a strike
o f t h e employees
o f the Toronto
=
Regimental Sergeant Major Street Railway. The
ALEX. M. STRETTON, W.O. c o m p a n y endea
vored to operate some of its cars with non-union men, and
the latter were assaulted and the windows of cars and
car sheds broken with stones. Sunday, June 22nd, the
company made a demand on
the civil authorities for pro
tection, and the civil authorities held a consultation with
Colonel Buchan, in command of the Toronto District. At
four in the afternoon a formal requisition was made
upon Colonel Buchan for military protection, and half an
hour later Colonel Buchan issued an order calling out for
active service in aid of the civil power, 700 of the cavalry
then in brigade camp at Niagara, and detachments of
the City of Toronto infantry regiments to the number of
700. The cavalry force detailed (-(insisted of the Gov
ernor General s Body Guard, 1">0;
First Hussars of Lon Bandmaster
CHAS. A. WELSMAN.
don, 250; 2nd Dragoons, Niagara. 2f>0 ; Toronto Mounted
Rifles. 50. The troops were forwarded Toronto by special trains without delay and were sta
to

tioned in and near the street cur company s properties, but, though the mob made some minor
demonstrations, there was no overt act of violence. During the 23rd the strike was settled, and

120
that same night the cavalry corps returned to Niagara, the Hussars at 8.30, Dragoons at 9.30, and
the Body Guard and Mounted Rifles at 10.30.
The Governor General s Body Guard has had a career honorable to its officers and men and
eminently useful to the country. While other corps, organized at various periods of national
excitement and danger, have, succumbing to the killing frosts of public indifference and public
ingratitude, passed out of existence, the Body Guard, actuated by a fine spirit of proper corps
pride,and that true soldierly feeling which anticipates public ingratitude rather than public
encouragement, and looks for the sole reward of duty discharged in the comfortable conscious
ness of having done it, has maintained its efficiency ever since its organization, undeterred by
the sneers of the ignorant rabble or the slights and clumsy bungling of officialdom. Its career

has been one of steady progress, and doubtless its future will be like its past. Officers and men
are imbued with the admirable spirit which has always existed in the corps, and although the
establishment has been so largely increased, the excellent standing orders regarding the enlist
ment and training of recruits, as well as the honorable traditions of the regiment, assure a con
tinuance of that The part the Governor General s Body Guard has played, under its vari
spirit.
ous designations, of keeping alive in Canada a healthy spirit, can hardly be over-estimated, for
although at present as after the "Trent" affair, the Fenian Raids, the North- West Rebellion,
etc. there is a species of hysterical interest in the defensive force of the Dominion, the average
Canadian has been too much engrossed with his own selfish affairs to appreciate the practical
importance to the country of fostering a military spirit, and successive governments, lulled by
the false sense of security begotten of prolonged periods of peace, and forgetting that he alone is
safe from danger who is on his guard even when safe, have shown a disposition to ignore the

country s defensive force rather than foster it. Since the South African War, there has been
manifested in Canada a growing disposition to recognize the importance of maintaining an effi
cient military spirit. The country realizes that its whole life has been stimulated, the standard
of its manhood built up, the national character strengthened by the achievements of its sons in the

Fenian Raids, the Red River Expedition, the Nile Campaign, the North- West Rebellion, and the
South African War. True, the laurels have been moistened with the tears of Canadian mothers,
but a price has to be paid for everything that is worth having. The mother of a coward does not
often weep.
Canada s sons are not cowards. That they are worthy of forming part of the vast armed
host that is held ready for the time when it will be necessary to fight in defence of the flag of the

empire which was founded and is maintained by men of patriotism, of energy, of courage, and
of unconquerable determination, is abundantly demonstrated by the history of the Governor Gen
eral s Body Guard.

FINIS.

/
r ^"T**,
j^H^^^^^^^>. . ,,

121
 RECORD OF OFFICERS SERVICES.

A LIST OF THE OFFICERS WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE GOVERNOR-

GENERAL S BODY GUARD SINCE ITS ORGANIZATION,
AND THE DATES OF THE OFFICIAL GAZETTES
CONCERNING THEM.

4th Battalion 7th March, 1851, and on the

George Taylor Denison (Bellcvue), son of Cap
tain John Denison, who came to Canada from Cth February, 1869, when the Reserve Militia
was reorganized, was re-gazetted Lieutenant-
England in 1792. He served through the war
of 1812 as an officer of the York Volunteers. Colonel to the same Battalion.
He was gazetted Lieutenant of the 3rd York Ferine Lawrence, appointed Cornet on the loth
.Militia on the 25th April, 1820. Gazetted December, 1837; retired a short time after
wards.
captain 16th August, 1822. Organized troop
Charles Rankin, Quartermaster 28th December,
cavalry and placed in command of
of it

the same year. Brevet-Major 15th December, 1837; retired March, 1838.
1837. Served through the rebellion of 1837. George Taylor Denison (Rusholme). In 1837 was
Was, on the 1st November, 1838, gazetted at the action at Gallows Hill and in the op
Lieutenant-Colonel of the 3rd York Battalion, erations during the winter of that year in
and on 10th November. 1840, given the com the neighborhood of Brantford and the vill
mand of the 4th Battalion of Toronto Militia, age of Scotland. Served through the siege
AA as appointed Lieutenant
remained in that position until 1851, when of Navy Island.
1st November. 1838. Gazetted Captain 23rd
he retired, the following order by the Adju
tant-General being isued at the time: February, 1848; Brevet-Major 6th December,
s Office, 1850. Gazetted Lieutenant-Colonel in com
"Adjutant-General
"Toronto, 28th Feb., 1851. mand of regiment of cavalry composed of
four troops, 12th March, 1853. In 1850 he
General Order Xo. 2. Lieutenant-Col.
"Militia
in connection with
George T. Denison, of the 4th Battalion,
To organized a field battery
ronto Militia, is hereby permitted to retire the mounted force (now 9th Field Battery),
from the Militia service, retaining his rank and subsequently he organized and was given
in that force, and His Excellency, the Gover the command temporarily of the 2nd Bat
until he
nor-General is pleased to express his high talion, now the "Queen s Own."
sense of the long and zealous services in the could recommend an officer to be placed in
militia of that officer. command of it. Gazetted Colonel 10th October
the 5th
"By
comma ml. 1860, and appointed commandant of
"D. MACDONELL, Lt.-Col., and 10th Military Districts. During the
Adjutant-General of Militia." Fenian raid of 1866 he commanded the To
"Deputy
Aaron Silverthorne, was gazetted Lieutenant ronto Militia Garrison, comprising several
the 10th August, 1822. and retired in 1832. thousand men, and was for many years be
Charles Richardson, son of Dr. Robert Richard fore his death the senior volunteer officer in
son, of the Queen s Rangers,
and brother of Ontario, being the only full Colonel in it.
Major ,lo!m Richardson, the well-known Edwin C. Fisher, appointed Cornet 1st Novem
the
Canadian author. \V;i- Cornet of appointed ber, 1838, and served in the troop during
(the Body second rebellion: retired in May, 1839.
the Queen s Light Dragoons
Guard) on its organization in 1822; left the Robert Brittain Denison. appointed Cornet 1
moved Cornet llth February, 1846.
corps in a few years and
lo Niagara l!e "azetted

and represented it in the Legislative Assembly Gazetted Lieutenant 5th May, 1848. Gazet-
1835 and led Captain Oth December, 1850. When the Act
of Upper Canada in the election* of was
1830. of 1855, relating to the active militia
the troop under the pro-
Kirhard Lippincott Denison
son of George passed, he took in
vi-ions of it. and was on the 27th December.
Denison, and grandson of Captain Richard
U. E. Loyalist offi- iS55. gazetted Captain. On the 13th Novem
Lippincott, a well-known command the Foot
cer, celebrated in the history
of the Revolu ber. l 85fi. appointed to
\rt illery Company: 2nd April, 1857. gazetted
tionary War. was appointed Lieutenant the This corps
16th February, 1832: sewed through the re Brevet-Major in Foot Artillery. s
bellion of 1837 in that rank. Gazetted Cap afterwards became No. 4 Company "Queen
tain 1st November. 1S38. when his father, Own." Appointed to the command of the To
1857.
T. Denison. went into the 3rd York. ronto Field Battery 4th December,
Cazetted Captain of the Trinity College Com
l.enrge
He was out during both rebellions, and was s Own,
present at the action of Gallons Mill
and in pany, now No. 8 Company "Queen
of
the operations during tlie winter of that 3rd June, 1861. Appointed Brigade Major
10th Military District 28th N ovcmber.
18(12:
of Brantford and
year, in the neighborhood
the village of Scotland. Was gazetted Major Lieutenant -Colonel 2nd February. 1SC.O. Dur-
June.
the Fenian raid he was. on the 22nd
in the 4th Battalion on the 2:!rd February,
iii"

sent to Clifton in command of a Battalion of

1848. Lieutenant-Colonel of the
Appointed

122
 13 companies to liokl tin- Suspension Bridge manded the
and to guard that portion of the Niagara
VoyagcuiV in Kgvpt. 1SS4-
"Nile

1885.
Decorated by II. M. (,ii M Victoria as
frontier. Appointed Deputy Adjutant-Uen-
eral of Military District No. 2 1st January.
Companion of the Order of St. Michael and
St. George in 1885. Member of Parliament
1881. Retired 1st July, 1880. for We-t Toronto from IS87 until his death
Peter McGill McCntcheon, appointed Cornet 5th 15th April, 1890.
May, 1848. Gazetted Lieutenant 27th De Orlando Dunn, enrolled as Trooper 1853. Ser
cember, 1855. On the llth December, 185(i, geant-Major 1855.
he was permitted to retire with the rank of Appointed Cornet 18th
August, 1808. Ga/ettcd Lieutenant 1st March.
Captain. 1872. Gazetted Captain May 5th. 1870.
George Taylor Denison (Heydon Villa), appointed Brevet-Major June 3rd. 1S81. Major second
Cornet 15th September, 1854. Gazetted in command June 3rd. 1881. Brevet Lieu
Lieutenant 20th March, 1850. Given com tenant-Colonel August 2otii, 1891. Served
mand of troop temporarily as Lieutenant during Fenian raid of 1800 on the Niagara
15th January, 1857. Gazetted
Captain 22nd frontier and in the North-West Rebellion,
April, 1857. Brevet-Major 22nd April, 1802. 1885. Retired with
honorary rank of Lieuten
Served through the Fenian raid of 1860 in ant-Colonel October 15th, 1897.
Fort Erie, and in command of the cavalry on John Tuthill, appointed Veterinary Surifeon 27th
the Niagara frontier. Brevet Lieutenant- December, 1855. Retired.
Colonel 13th September, 1800.
Having re Clarence A. llcni-uii.
appointed Fusion VVc,t To
signed, his name was placed on the retired ronto Militia, 7869: Cornet.
list, to date from 31st July, 1808. 10th, 1872; Mav
Resigna Lieutenant. May 5th. 178C.:
tion cancelled 5th May, 1870. Captain, March
Appointed 9th, 1883;
Major commanding the squadron from retired Brevet-Major, 9th March, 1893-
list May 5th, 1870. Commanded Lieutenant-Colonel, June llth. 189S. Served
during North- in U.C.C. Co. Q.O.R.
West Rebellion, 1885. Appointed Lieutenant- during Fenian raid, 1860
also during North-West Rebellion.
Colonel commanding the 1885.
Regiment 31st May, Geo H. C. Brooke. Cornet
1889. Placed on Reserve Officers 8th June, proy.. May 9th. 1S70
1898. Resignation accepted March 10th, 1877. Trans
Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of Regi ferred to 12th Battalion, and served in North-
ment 1st February, 1899.
Dr. J. Acland De La Hooke. Gazetted West Rebellion, 1885. Afterwards
Surgeon of joined the
the Huron Militia 25th May. 1842. Royal Grenadiers.
Trans
ferred to 2nd York Battalion 13th E. H. T. Reward, Cornet
1853.
May, prov., October 27th
1870; 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd
Surgeon to troop 22nd September. 1854. Ga May. 1879
zetted Surgeon to Squadron 20th March. 1850. Transferred to Cavalry School
Corps, Que
Served during the Fenian raid of 1800 on the bec, 21st December, 1883. Served duriii"
North-West Rebellion, 1885.
Niagara frontier. Transferred to 2nd Regi
ment of Cavalry 10th May, 1872. John P. Bond, Veterinary
Surgeon, September
G. D Arcy Boulton, appointed Cornet 20th 5th, 1879. Retired 23rd December, 18S7.
March, James B. Baldwin,
1850; resigned loth May, 1850. Acting Cornet in G.G.H.G.:
William Ridout, appointed Cornet 15th Assistant Surgeon, January -23rd. 188i) Sur
May, 1850.
"

geon, October loth.

:

Gazetted Lieutenant 22nd April, 1857. Placed 1885. Served diiriii"

on unattached list Oth December, 180!. Fenian Raid of 1800, and in North-West Re
Patrick Campbell, appointed Cornet 22nd bellion of 1885. Joined 2nd Dragoons as ad
April
1857; retired 10th June, 1801. jutant, 1887.
Charles L. Denison, appointed Andrew T. Deacon. Quarter-Master, February
supernumerary 27th, 1880. Retired.
Cornet 8th October, 1858. Gazetted Cornet
J. L. Rawbone, Quarter-Master.
19th June, 1861. Gazetted Lieutenant Oth Retired, 1883.
J. Hamilton Kane. 2nd Lieutenant prov., March
December, 1801; retired 25th August, 1865.
Edwin P. Denison, appointed Lieutenant and Adju 2nd, 1880. Retired.
tant 28th August, 1800. Gazetted Lieutenant
John Sloan, Quarter-Master. March 8th. 1883:
25th August, 1805. Gazetted Brevet Honorary Major. March 9th. 1893 Retired
Captain 18th September. 1900.
7th June, 1807. Captain 18th
August, ISiiS. Frederick Mowat, 2nd Lieutenant. 27th
Retired retaining his rank 1st
March, 1872. December,
1878. Retired, November 15th. 1879.
Served during Fenian raid of 1866 on the
frontier.
Wm. Hamilton Mcrritt, enrolled as Trooper 28th
Niagara
G. Shirley Denison, appointed Cornet 27th Decem October, 1882; 2nd Lieutenant, 1884; Lieu
Retired 25th August, 1805. tenant, May 16th, 1884; Captain. May 31st.
ber, 1801. He 1SS9; appointed Adjutant,
served in the Montreal Volunteer Force dur August 2nd 18s .i; ,

the Fenian raid of 1866. Major, June llth, 1898; 2nd in Comma rid
ing
Frederick Charles Denison. July, 1901. Served in North-Wot Re
In January. 1805.
bellion, 1885, and in South Africa. 1899-1900.
joined as Lieutenant the 2nd Administrative with Brabant s Horse. Afterwards as 2nd in
Battalion at
Niagara. Appointed Cornet 25th Command of the Canadian Mounted Rifles
August, 1865. Served during the Fenian raid in 1902.
of 1866 on the Niagara frontier. Gazetted Frank A. leming.l-
Lieutenant in Governor-
Brevet-Lieutenant 6th December. 1807. Lieu General
tenant 18th August, 1808.
Foot Guards, Ottawa.
s Transferred
Served on the to the Body Guard as 2nd Lieutenant
staff in the Red River prov.,
Expedition of 1870 as May 16th, 1884; Lieutenant, Anust 21st.
orderly officer to Major-General Sir Garnet 1885; Captain, August 21st, 1891; .Major,
\Volscley. Gazetted Captain 1st March, 1S70.
Gazetted Major November 9th, 1870. Brevet July 10th, 1901. Served in North-West Re
bellion, 1885. Represented the Regiment at
Lieutenant-Colonel September 9th, 1884. Com
the Diamond Jubilee. 1897.

1-23
 F. C. Denison. 2nd Lieutenant, August 31st, ]H9:>:

Thus. Browning. 2nd Lieutenant prov.. -Inly

H.
Served in North-West Rebellion, Lieutenant, March 22nd, 1897; Captain,
10th, 1884.
1885. Retired. April 8th, 1893. August 9th, 1891.
H. H. Williams, 2nd Lieutenant prov., 22nd March,
Chas. Mair, Acting Quarter-Master, April 1st,
1885. Served in North-West Rebellion, 1885. 1897; 2nd Lieutenant, September 22nd, 1897;
Retired, August 18th, 1885. Lieutenant, January 5th. 1898. Resigned.
F. LeMaitre Grasett, M.D., appointed Surgeon- Jas. H. Elmsley, 2nd Lieutenant prov., March
Major February 23rd, 1887. 22nd, 1897; 2nd Lieutenant, September 30th,
1897; Lieutenant, January 5th,
1898. Re
Frank A. Campbell, V.S., Veterinary Surgeon,
to Royal Canadian
December 23rd, 1887; Honorary Captain, signed on appointment
Africa 1900-1901
December 23rd, 1892. Dragoons. Served in South
with Royal Canadian Dragoons. A.D.C. to
R. Casimir Dixon, 2nd Lieutenant prov., October
in South Africa
22nd, 1886; 2nd Lieutenant, June 15th, 1887; general officer. Served again
Lieutenant, August 2nd, 1889. Placed on Re in 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles as Captain
serve of Officers, April 8th, 1893. commanding a squadron, 1902.
John R. Button, Cornet in 2nd Regiment of Cav M. C. Cameron, 2nd Lieutenant prov., 22nd March,
alry, June 8th, 1872; Captain,
June 22nd, 1897; Lieutenant, January 5th, 1898; Ap
1883. Transferred to Body Guard in com pointed Adjutant, 9th April, 1901; Captain,
mand of the Markham Troop in 1889; Brevet- August 9th, 1901.

Major, June 23rd, 1893; Major, July

10th, E. A. Button, 2nd Lieutenant prov., March 22nd,
1901.
1901. 1897; 2nd Lieutenant, April 30th,
Philip George Bender Button, 2nd Lieutenant D. I. Warren, 2nd Lieutenant prov., January 5th,
1889. 1898;
prov., January 13th, 1888. Retired, 1898; 2nd Lieutenant, January 5th,
Jas. McConnell, Lieutenant, June 6th, 1871; Lieutenant, November, 1898; Captain,
24th, 1874. Retired, June 1st, commission 2nd
Captain, April \ugust 9th, 1901. Resigned
1889 January,1900. to serve in South Africa
Robt Button Elliott, Lieutenant, July 20th, 1883; with Royal Canadian Dragoons. Reinstated
transferred with Oak Ridges Troop of 2nd as Lieutenant in Regiment, May, 1901.
Regiment to Body Guard in 1889. Resigned C D Macklem, 2nd Lieutenant prov., January
June 1st, 1899. 5th, 1898; 2nd Lieutenant,
November 21st,
J D Hammill, 2ndLieutenant, October 2nd, 1898; 10th May, 1900, passed
into the army,
to lieu
1885; transferred with Oak Ridges Troop and joined the Royal Irish Fusiliers as
June 1st,
Body Guard in 1889. Resigned, tenant. .

R. A. Brock, 2nd Lieutenant prov., January

i:
1889
Francis Button, 2nd Lieutenant, May 10th, 1872; 1808: Lieutenant, November 21st, 1898.
transferred with the Markham Troop of
the June
Sandford F. Smith, 2nd Lieutenant prov.,
2nd Regiment of Cavalry to Body Guard
in
llth 1898; 2nd Lieutenant, November 30th,
1889. Resigned. 1899; Lieutenant, March 21st, 1900; Captain,
Taylor Denison,2nd Lieutenant prov.,
Jr., 9th, 1901.
Geor"e
December, August
August 2nd, 1889; 2nd Lieutenant, W W. Denison, 2nd Lieutenant prov., September
1889; Lieutenant, January 30th, 1891; Cap June 18th, 1900; Cap
llth, 1899; Lieutenant,
tain, June 13th, 1896; Major, July
10th, 1901.
tain, August 9th, 1901.
H Z. C. Cockburn, 2nd Lieutenant prov., W. Warren, 2nd Lieutenant prov., September
S.
1891- Lieutenant, November 20th. June 18th, 1900.
llth, 1899; Lieutenant,
(for
Captain. .June llth, 1898; Brevet-Major A E Taylor, 2nd Lieutenant prov., 21st March,
services in South Africa), May 17th,
1
1900.
Served in South 1900; Lieutenant, 30th November,
Major, July 10th, 1901. L. Wallace, 2nd Lieutenant prov., May
*
C
Africa, 1901. Awarded the Victoria Cross 2nd Lieutenant; Lieutenant, Apri
No 1900;
for bravery in action at Koomati River,
30th, 1901.
vember 7th, 1900. June 1st,
R. B. Fudger, 2nd Lieutenant prov.
E JTMU 1
A S. Thompson, Paymaster-Sergeant,
Hon. 1900- 2nd Lieutenant, September 28th,
29th 1889; Paymaster, May 13th, 1892. Rev Canon E. A. Welch, Rector of
St. James,
1892. Served in
orary Captain; May 13th. Toronto, appointed Honorary Chaplain, July
North-West Rebellion, 1885, as Corporal. 4th, 1900.
24th June, 1 4th 1!
Geo. Peters. Hospital Sergeant, D D Young, 2nd Lieutenant, February
2nd Lieutenant prov., November 22nd, 1 Served in South Africa in 1900
and 1901.
2nd Lieutenant, August 16th, 1892; Lieu Win with 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles as a
tenant. June 13th, 1896; Appointed Adjutant Lieutenant in 1902; Transferred
to Royal
I

June llth, 1898; Captain, June 28th. Canadian Dragoons. 1st May, 1
Transferred April 1st, 1901, to Toronto E W. Strathy, appointed Quartermaster
with
Mounted Rifles as Major commanding. honorary rank of Captain. May 14th JOl. 1

\V Button Hagerman, 2nd Lieutenant prov.,

No May 13th,
\ II N \nsley, 2nd Lieutenant prov.,
Lieutenant. March 3rd,
"

1901.
vember 20th, 1891; 1901 Lieutenant, November 25th,
;

1892. Retired 29th January, 1897. H S. Holcroft, Lieutenant.

30th April, 1902.
D L McCarthy, 2nd Lieutenant prov., July 28th, 25th June,
Re E. S. Denison. 2nd Lieutenant prov..
1893: Lieutenant, March 22nd, 18517; 1901.
to T Octo
ined. 21st March. 1900; Appointed 1. John J. Creelman, 2nd Lieutenant prov.,
ronto Mounted Rifles on its organiation,
H C Bickford, 2nd Lieutenant, February j
>th,

A. N. Macdonald, 2nd Lieutenant prov.,

February
1895- Lieutenant; Resigned March
1897 After passing the necessary examina 2nd Lieutenant prov., February
(.unnls T Roy Jones ,

tion in the army, joined 8th Dragoon 17th, 1902.

served in B. A. war.
(The Carbineers), and
124
 Nominal Roll of the Queen s Light Dragoons
Under the Command of Major George T. Denison, (Bellevue) stationed at Toronto
1837 and 1838.
Major George T. Denison. Private Isaac Hodgins.
Lieutenant, Richard L. Denison. Christopher Graham.
Cornet, A. P. Lawrence. James Hughes.
Quartermaster Charles Rankin. William Hughes.
Troop Sergeant-Major, John Watkins. Joseph James.
Sergeant, Alex. McGlashen. Robert James.
"

Hugh Henderson. William Kennedy.

"

Hiram Piper. John Kidney.

Corporal, John Earls. Robert Lawson.
"

Thomas MeCleneghan. Thomas McClure.

"

John Bond. Thomas, MeCleneghan, Jr.

Bugler, Hugh Clarke. Alexander McAustin.

Private, James Armstrong. George Xewstead.
William Brown. Gerrard Paisley.
John Brown. Thomas Reid.
Henry Beacon. Henry Rutledge.
David Burns. Charles Roddy.
Alexander Baird. Thomas Steward.
James Beatty. Robert Shields.
Samuel Beatty. William Luke.
Francis Boles. William White.
James Crothers. William Wright.
Valentine Caldwell. Robert Norris.
Isaac Carver. Joseph Lawson.
Robert Curry. William Hayden.
Robert Coates. William Dundas.
Thomas Earls. Alexander Mason.
Samuel Earls. William Dines.
Christopher Harrison. E. Clinkenbroomer.
James Farrel. Elias Snider.
Thomas Hutchinson. William Snider.

List of Non-Commissioned Officers and Men

1st Troop, York Cavalry, on the Passage of the Militia Act of 1855.
Troop Sergeant-Major, Orlando Dunn. Trooper, Patrick Grogan.
Sergeant, John Marshall. James Curtin.
Robert Coleman.
"

Robert Donnelly.
Trooper, Hamilton Marshall. James Marshall.
William Braund. Cumberland Sturgeon.
"

Joseph Collard. Thomas Hudon.

William McDowell.
"

Bernard Grogan.
Joseph J. Davies.
"

Jacob Phillips.
Richard Campbell. "

Andrew Smith.
Henry T. Ide.
"

John Bayliss.
John Dunn 1 ( ) .
"

C. L. Denison.
Charles Smith. Robert Johnston.
John Lynch. John Mulvey.
William Giles. Jeremiah Curtin.
John Giles. George Judson.
George Lyons. Archibald Cameron.
Edward Pridham. Henry Lowry.
John McLennan. William Love.
Sandford Thompson. John Dunn (2).
Samuel Baird. William M. Adams.
John Rundle. James Bond.
Thomas Crapper. R. J. Allen.
John Robertson. William Langford.
David Robertson. Charles Abbs.
James Egan. E. P. Denison.
James Fox. Stephen Scott.
William Medcalf. James Stock.
Robert McLeary. James Slatter.
John King. William Shanahan.
William Xelson. Matt Power.
Alfred Thompson. George W. Bigelow.
Robert Dillon. Michael Bellamore.

125
 List of Officers and Men
of the Governor-General s Body Guard in 1866.

Captain and Brevet. Lieutenant-Colonel George Sergeant, Thomas Walmsley.

T. Denison, com. Robert Stibbord.
Lieutenant, Kdwin P. Denison. A. J. Davis.
"

Cornet, Fred C. Denison. W. H. Scott.

Surgeon, James A. De La Hooke. George Kennedy.
Acting Cornet, James B. Baldwin. James
"

Collins.
Sergeant-Major, Orlando Dunn.
"

Robert Abbs.
Sergeant, James Stock.
"

George Clayton.
Henry T. Ide. W. Murray Alderson.
Isaac Carruthers.
" "

Stephen Scott.
Trumpeter, James Bond.
"

Matthew Whitelock.
Corporal, John James. Robert Dunn (2nd).
"

George Williams. James L. Miller.

"

William J. Concon.
"

Martin Brock.
Archibald Brown.
"

Trooper, Jesse Thompson.

Robert Dunn.
"

Edward Winstanlev.
Frederick Thompson. J. Ackland De La Hooke.
"

"

Edward Reeves. Charles Gregor.

James Hendry. Hugh Peers.
Charles Abbott.
"

W. H. C linkenbroomer.
Thomas Kennedy. Joseph Barker.
Charles Howarth. William J.angford.
Michael Bellamore. W. Greenshields.
"

Bernard McBride. W. C. Jones.

"

Francis MeBride.
"

F. Alexander.
Thomas Lynn. "

Richard J. Allen.
"

Robert J. Mabee.
"

David Valentine.
"

William Harrison.
"

W. Cooper.
"

George White.
"

Thomas Hockerty.
Thomas Giles.
"

John Williams.

Governor- General s Body Guard.

List of Officers and Men who Served during North-West Campaign, 1885.

Major and Brevet, Lieutenant-Colonel George T. Squadron Sergeant-Major, George Watson.

Denison. Quartermaster-Sergeant. William Tilly.
Lieutenant und Acting Adjutant. William Hamil Hospital Sergeant, William L. Bain.
ton Merritt. Farrier-Sergeant, Charles Black.
i.Miarterniaster. Charles Mair. Trumpet Major, Francis Bacon.
A~M-tant Surgeon. James P>. Baldwin.

/\ "
TROOP:
Captain, Clarence A. Denison. Trooper, John Skaitli.
Lieutenant, Thomas Blair lirowning. Frank Flint.
Acting Sergeant -Major, Charles Gruinger.
"

James Walsh.
Sergeant James Mc( iivifor
. Fred. \\". Kane.
Jly. J. M. Wilson. John F. McMillan.
Corporal. Robert A. Donaldson. Kmil A. Risch.
Alfred F. S. Thompson, Donald Mclntvre.
llciland Hancock. William II. Craig.
A. M. Stretton. Henry C. Sims.
Trooper. Kdimind Kershaw. Arthur D. Dent.
icorge (. . Pear-all. Timothy Bills.
"

John \Voodburn. Samuel Edward finest.

Patrick Miley.
"

James Bennett (Campbell).

Albert Edward Denison.
"

George Pearson.
"

Percy \e\vton. "

Hugh H. Drury.
"

Edward Stin.-on. "

William Coldham.
"

Robert A. Grainger. Trnm]ieter. Edward J. Murphy.

 B" TROOFi
Captain and Brevet-Major. Orlando Dunn. Trooper, 1!. E. Bell.
Lieutenant, Frank A. Fleming. George Cornell.
Troop Sergeant-Major, John Watson. Peter" Dohertv.
Sergeant, John Schmidt. Walter Douglas.
Corporal, (band) Matthew Bryan. X. C. \Yeatlier~tone.
John B. Eager. William. Eelton.
"

Robert M. Corrie. I). 11. McKay.

W.
D. MeXab. Edward Klein.
Lance-Corporal, Alfred Richardson. Cecn-gc Hunter.
John Tilley. F. Chadwick.
Trooper, William Hurst. lames Bain.
"

C. G. Watts. Walter Mcaven.

"

William Latham.
George Sparrow.
Max Sterne. John J. Hamilton.
W. J. Ritchie. Stuart Harvey.
Thomas Anderson. H. Bredin.
W. W. Baby. J. A. (I. day.
Daniel O Connell. Doiigla^ \Veathcr-lonc.
James Xelson. II. E. Selioltield.

Doctor John E. White acted as

Surgeon, and went
with the Squadron as far as
Winnipeg, where
he was relieved by the
Surgeon of the
Squadron, Dr. James B. Baldwin.
Farrier Sergeant. F. B. De Chadenede. di-rhar"ed
at Humboldt.
Trooper H. Liley, left at Winnipeg.
Sergeant J. Bailey, left at Winnipeg, invalided.
Trooper Thomas Menagh, left at Winnipeg in
valided.

Members of the Body Guard who Served in South Africa

And the Corps in which they Served.
Major W. Hamilton Merritt, Brabant s Horse and
2nd C.M.R. Trooper George H. Stcven-on. 2nd C.M.It.
Frank A. Smith. 2nd C.M.It.
Major H. Z. C. Cockburn. V.C., R.C.D. Archie Mcl .ride. 2nd C.M.I!.
Captain D. I. Warren, R.C.D. W. Faulkner. 2nd C.M.R.
Lieutenant D. D. Young, R.C.D. and 5th C.M.R.
W. H. Young. 2nd C.M.R.
Sergeant-Major E. W. Hodgins, R.R.C.I. and
2nd C.M.R. Joseph Baker. 2nd C.M.R.
M. Arnold. :!rd C.M.R.
Sergeant Farrier A. J. Lovegrove. R.C.D. John o-tle. 2nd C.M.R. 1

*Lance-Sergt Fergus Brown, R.C.D. William .unce. We-tern Light Hor-e

Corporal W. J. Wheatley, R.C.D.
I

R. C. Adams. .Mh C.M.R.

Sergeant William Cordingly, R.C.D.
R. Thorogood. 2nd C.M.R.
Sergeant Albert Purvis. Kitchener s Horse. The following ex member- al-o -crved:
Sergeant George Smith. R.C .D.
Captain Jame< Kim-ley. R.C.I), and 2nd C.M.I!.
Sergeant W. J. Morrison, R.C.D.
Captain II. Uickford. titb Drag Cuards. i

Lance-Corporal A. J. Pudifin, R.R.C.I. Lieutenant (!. K. Magee. It. II. A.

Trumpeter A. J. Lorsch, Stratheona s Hor>c. Lieutenant Maeklem. It. I. Ku-ilier-.
Trooper S. Burnett. R.C.I), and 2ml C.M.R.
Sergeant Fred. Esmonde. .Mb C.M.I!.
J. R. Baxter, R.C.D. and 2nd ( MR Trumpeter llarinan. R.C.D.
A. Daonst, R.C.D.
Trooper C. ;. \Vat1-. Siralhcona - llor-e.
E. C. Day, R.R.C.I.
S. J. Farell. R.C.D. and A.M.C.
W. J. Townley. R.C.I).
Thomas S. Johnston. R.C.I).
"
H. L. Palmer. 2nd (.M.R.
Sergeant l.oui- Till. R.C.D.
P. A. G. McCarthy. R.CJD.
D. X. McKibbin. R.C.D. Trooper Karl Bates. R.C.D.
H. H. Lyon, R.C.D.
C. J. Miller, R.R.C.I. "Severely wounded at Brandt ort.
A. E. Ryerson, R.C.D.
i
Damjerou-ly wounded at Diamond Hill.

F. c. Page, R.R.C.I. {Killed at Paardcburg. (Mentioned in despatehe-

I
iy Com ma udcr-in-( hie!
Corporal T. A. Moon. 2nd C.M.II.
i
.

Shoeing-smith George A. Morton. 2nd C.M.I!. xDangerously wounded at Harts River.

127
 The names of those in the Group on page 113, beginning
at the readers left, are as follows :

16 Major W. Hamilton Merritt.

1 Troper H. H. Lyons.
2 Trooper J. R. Baxter. 17 Lieutenant D. D. Young.
3 Corporal W. J. 18 Sergeant Farrier A. J. Lovegrove.
Wheatley.
4 Sergeant W. J. Morrison. 19 Lance-Sergeant Fergus Brown.
5 Trooper Thomas S. Johnson. 20 Sergeant George Smith.
6 C. J. Miller.
"
21 Lance-Corporal A. J. Pudifin.
7 Trumpeter A. P. Lorsch (sic).
22 Trooper P. A. (1. McCarthy.
8 Sergeant Archie McBride.
23 Shoeing-Smith George A. Morton.
9 Trooper S. Burnett. 24 Trooper W. Faulkner.
10 D. M. McKibbon.
"
25 Sergeant Albert Purvis.
11 Sergeant William Cordingly. 26 Trooper A. Doust.
12 Sergeant-Major E. W. Hodgins. 27 Corporal T. A. Moon.
13 Captain D. I. Warren. 28 Trooper George H. Stevenson.
29 E. C. Day.
14 Surgeon-Lieutenant F. S. Farrell.
15 Major H. Z. C. Cockburn, V.C. 30 Frank A. Smith.
"

List of Staff-Sergeants and Sergeants of the Governor-

General s Body Guard in 1902.
Regl. Sergeant-Major, A. M. Stretton, W.O. Sergeant, H. Clarke.
Q.M. Sergeant, R. H. Cox.
"
W. E. Coleman.
Bandmaster, C. A. Welsman. D. T. Gibb.
D. Kinsey.
Sergeant- Trumpeter, J. A. Belcher.
Orderly Room Sergeant, C. W. James.
A. Lloyd .

W. F. Busteed. Archibald McBride.

Sergea nt Saddler,
James McMullen.
Sergeant Farrier, John Lovegrove.
Albert Purvis.
Paymaster Sergeant, W. Dunlop.
Band Sergeant, C. McReath. G. B. Warren.
Squadron Sergeant-Major H. Logan A Walter Wright.
"
"

Wm. E. Cordingly, B. A. D. Wheeler.

"
"

J. R.
Honeycombe, C. William Young.
" " "

Edward Bacon D Lan e- Sergeant, H. Baylis.

Squadron Q.M. -Sergeant, G. F. Little A Charles Hall.
"

E. Luttrell B William Latham.

Smith C T. Long.
George
H Little D Richard Murray.
M. J. D. Gates.
Sergeant, F. D. Burkholder.
"

Emerson Cadden. A. Trotter.

James Wilson.

128
 ERRATUM.

(See Page 114, 15th line from the bottom.)

As has been inferred from this sentence that His Majesty s Government did not look
it

with favor upon the offer of Major William Hamilton Merritt, second in command of the
G.G.B.G., to raise a regiment in Canada after his first term of service in South Africa under
Brabant and Dalgety, it might be stated that the official correspondence conclusively proves
that such was not the case. His Majesty s Government were willing and anxious to have "The
Canadian Rangers"
raised by Major Merritt at the earliest possible moment after Feb. 15, 1901.
On the date in question the Under Secretary of State for War wrote the Under Secretary of
State for the Colonies requesting him inform Mr. Secretary Chamberlain that, if he concurs
"to

and if the Canadian Government agree, Mr. Brodrick

prepared to accept this (Major
is

Merritt s) offer." The conditions of organization provided that the selection of officers and im-n
should be in the hands of Major Merritt.
Feb. 20, 1901, the Colonial Office wrote Major Merritt, transmitting a copy of the Wai-
Office letter and adding:" A copy of this letter has been forwarded to the Governor-General
of Canada witli an intimation that if His Ministers see no objection and are willing to assist in
the manner indicated, His Majesty s Government will be glad to avail themselves of your offer.
It is doubtful if there is another case where the British Government authorized a Canadian

officer to raise a corps in Canada entirely at the Imperial expense, and further giving that

officer the right to choose his own officers and men. The final outcome of the matter was the
despatch of the 2nd C.M.R. to South Africa in January, 1902, under the conditions originally
agreed upon by the War Office, except that the Government of Canada selected
the officers
and men.
Daring his first period of service in South Africa, Major Merritt occupied the following
positions in order named Officer commanding L. Squadron, 1st Regiment Brabant s Horse
:
:

2nd in command of 2nd Regiment of Brabant s Horse and A.D.C. to Sir E. Y. Brabant, C.B., K
C.M.G., Colonel Dalgety, C.B., and Colonel Cuming, C.B., successive commanders of the Colonial
Division. While connected with the Colonial Division, Major Merritt took part in the following

general engagements: Labuscagnes Nek, Aliwal North, Wepener, Wittebergen, Lieliefontein.

Veredefort, Schoolplatz, Magato s Nek, Doornhoek, Kwaggafontein and Cyferfontein. In an
official record of services, issued after the breaking-up of the Colonial Division, Brigadier

General, Sir E. Y. Brabant, reported that Major Merritt s conduct "gave entire satisfaction" to
his commanding officers, and, further, that he performed his duties "with zeal and ability."

E . J. C.

of
"

Historical Record." j

NORTH Yonge Street. TORONTO,

2014.
Toronto. Canada.
I 2015.
128
 FINE
FURS
Our Fur Show Rooms
are open all year round.

We make a specialty
of fine

PERSIAN LAMB and

ALASKA SEAL HELEN OF TROY
JACKETS. whose beauty worked the destruction of that fair citv
and paralyzed the hands of the executioner
Fur Lined Cloaks for appointed
Ladies and Fur Lined
"" her special attractiveness to her
lrur
Coats for Men from stock Hair may be either a means towards
or made to order. serious drawback, depending entirely beauty or a
and the way in which it is dressed. upon its condit ion
\\Y make a
"Quality First "is the Study o faces at our Hair Parlors, and dress the special
hair in
house motto, and our the fashion most becoming to each individual
guarantee to back it up. which insures individuality while preserving theca*e fea
tures of the current style.
J.W.T. FAIRWEATHER Our staff of hair dressers and experts are here for
CO..
84-86 YONCE STREET,
TORONTO.
PEMBER, 127-129 Yonge Street.

SIMPSON S Well Dressed Women Wea,r

We make a
specialty of everything
in high class table necessaries, in
cluding new vegetables, fruit of all
kinds, provisions all of our own
manufacture fish and fancy gro
ceries, and also a large and varied
assortment of flowers, all of which
we sell at extremely reasonable
prices. THEY NEED NO
GIVE US A CALL. BREAKING IN.
Jladc by

WALKER,
F. SIMPSON
Telephones :
SONS, PARKER
Vvl., Limited,
f
NORTH loll TORONTO.
I 2015^
Toronto. Canada..

12U
 Reserve Forces
are denied the privilege of sharing in the glory of the fight,
but their presence makes certain the victory. So, in the
business world, the reserve strength behind the active capital

employed enables the Captain of industry not only to main

tain his position in the business world but to secure results
for his employers otherwise impossible.

The
Canada Life Assurance Co.
has this reserve strength to a greater degree than any other
Life Company on the continent. Its policy reserve funds are

larger by over $2,500,000

than the present Government re

quirement, and, owing to this, the prospective insurer may

reasonably look for results which would be quite impossible
elsewhere than in

Canada** Leading Company.

I

i
Canada s Greatest Store
4
}

*:: ;

""
r;

<
^^^^SfS^f
ii II HU "
""
""
I

iii;: .::::::. >:

Bird s eye view of f/ie

store and factories of

-T. EATON C O.
LIMITED,

Yonge Street, TORONTO, Ont.

131
 ONE HUNDRED
first-class Typewriting Machines,
TWELVE REGULAR TEACHERS,
and an annual enrollment of over
SEVEN HUNDRED MEMBERS
indicate something of the equipment
and reputation of the

ST. MARGARET S COLLEGE, Central Business College

COR. HLOOR AXI> Sl ADIXA AVE.
A BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL TORONTO. And School of
FOR GIRLS. Shorthand, Typewriting and Telegraphy,
Full Academic Department
Musical Toronto, Canada.
Art
Domestic Science Prospectus mailed free. Write for it.
Elocution
Physical Culture
Only teachers of the highest academic and professional
standing employed. W. H. SHAW, Principal,
MRS. GEORGE DICKSON, Yonge and Richmond Streets, Toronto.
Lady Principal. GEORGE DICKSON. M.A.,
Director.

THE LEADING

RESIDENTIAL
UNIVERSITY
THE KXTKA.NCE 1>KIVE.

OF CANADA.
A
FOR CALENDAR AND
ALL INFORMATION College, St. UMl&a s College,
ADDRESS RESIDENCE FOR MKN. RESIDENCE FOR WOMEN.

Urinitp flfoeoical College.

Rev. T. C. Street Macklem,

M.A., LL.D., D.D., A
TRINITY UNIVERSITY, Faculties in Arts, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy,
TORONTO. Law, Music and Divinity.

i :)_>
 A Store Worth Knowing

And one which a visitor to Toronto will not want to count out of the places of
interest he must visit. Its location corner Yonge and Queen Streets the
busiest corner in Toronto makes
convenient for everyone, street cars passing
it

its doors from points. all It is the handsomest and

most modernly constructed
building for commercial purposes in Canada. It s a delightful place to rest
with all the conveniences of waiting rooms, check rooms, lavatories, and the
most cheerful and best appointed Lunch Parlors in Toronto.

A Store where visitors buy Silks to advantage.

A Store where visitors buy Dress Goods to advantage.
A Store where visitors buy Fine Cloves to advantage.
A Store where Gentlemen s wants are fully met.

And in all cases goods bought here are exchangeable or money refunded if for

anv reason you desire it so.

Directors :
ENTRANCES:
H. H. FUDGER. THE COMPANY Vonge Street, Queen Street,
J. W. FLAVELLE.
A. E. AMES.
ROBERT
SIMPSON LIMITED Cor. Yonge and Richmond,
Richmond Street.

133
 Imperial Bank of CAPITAL AUTHORIZED
Canada
CAPITAL PAID UP
REST
... . .
$4,000,000
2,914,504
2,477,330

HEAD OFFICE, - TORONTO.

T. R. MERRITT, President. E.HAY, Assistant General Manager.
D. R. WILKIE, Vice-Pros, and Gen. Manager. W. MOFFAT, Chief Inspector.
Branches :
Essex, Port Colborne, Montreal, Que. Portage la Prairie, Man.
Fergus, Rat Portage, Prince Albert,
Gait, Sault Ste. Marie, Brandon, Man. Revelstoke, B. C.
Hamilton, St. Catharines, Calgary, Alta. Rosthern, Sask.
Ingersoll, St. Thomas, Edmonton, Alta. Regina, Assa.
Listowel, Toronto, Ferguson, B. C. Strathcona, Alta.
Niagara Falls, Welland, Golden, B.C. Vancouver, B. C.
North Bay, Woodstock, Nelson, B. C. Winnipeg, Man.
Ottawa,

Municipal and other Debentures Purchased.

Drafts and Letters of Credit Issued.

Special attention given to COLLECTIONS. AMERICAN CURRENCY bought and Sold.

SAVINGS DEPARTMENT. Deposits received and Interest allowed.

134
 THE DOMINION BANK.
DIRECTORS:
E. B. OSLER, M.P., President. WILMOT D. MATTHEWS, Vice-President.

W. INCE. W. R. BROCK, M.P. A. W. AUSTIN.

TIMOTHY EATON. J. J. FOY, K.C., M.P.P.

HEAD OFFICE:
Corner King and Yonge Streets, TORONTO.

TORONTO BRANCHES:
Bloor Street, corner Bathurst Market, corner King and Jarvis Streets.
City Hall. Queen Street, corner Esther.
Dundas Street, corner Queen. Sherbourne Street, corner Queen.
Spadina Avenue, corner College.

Special attention given to Collections on all points in Canada, and remittances promptly made at lowest rates.
Deposits of SI. 00 and upwards received in the Savings Department and interest allowed at current rates.
Drafts on Great Britain and the United States bought and sold, and Letters of Credit issued available in all
parts of the world.

H. J. BETHUNE, Inspector. T. G. BROUGH, General Manager.

The Traders Bank of Canada.

Incorporated by Act of Parliament, 1885.

HEAD OFFICE, -
TORONTO.

CAPITAL PAID UP $1,500,000

REST - -
350,000

H. S. STRATHY, General Manager. J. A. M. ALLEY, Inspector.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS :

C. D. WARREN, Esq., President. Hon. J. R.STRATTON, Viee-President.

JOHN DRYNAN, Esq. W. J. SHEPPARD, Esq., Waubaushene.
C. KLOEPFER, Esq., Guelph. C. S. WILCOX, Esq., Hamilton.
BRANCHES:
Arthur, Elmira, Lakefield, Port Hope, St.Marys,
Aylmer, Glencoe, Leamington, Sturgeon Falls, Sudbury,
Beeton, Grand Valley, Newcastle, Ridgetown, Sault Ste. Marie,
Burlington, Guelph, North Bay, Rodney, Tilsonburg,
Dniyton, Hamilton, Orillia, Sarnia, Windsor,
Dutton, Ingersoll, Prescott, Strathroy, Woodstock.

BANKERS:
GREAT BRITAIN The National Bank of Scotland. NEW YORK The American Exchange National Hank.
MONTREAL The Quebec Bank.

135
 BRANCHES:
Alliston,
Aurora.
Howiiiiinville.
Montreal,
Mount Forest.
Newmarket,
The Ontario Bank
Buckingham, Q. Ottawa,
Cornwall, Peterboro ,

,500,000 00
( olling-wood,
Fort William,
Kingston,
Port Arthur,
Sndbnry,
Tweed.
Capital Paid up
Rest,
Profit
....
and Loss Account,
1

425,000 00
31,411 44
Lindsay,
TORONTO:
Scott anil Wellington Stn-ri-.
Queen and Portland Street-.
Yonge and Richmond Street^. HEAD OFFICE, TORONTO.
Yonge and Carl ton Streets.

AGENTS: Directors :
LOXDON, ENG.
Parr s Hank. Limited. G. R. R. COCKBURN*, ESQ., PRESIDENT.
DONALD MACKAY, ESQ., VICE-PRESIDENT.
KKANTF. \M> Krunn:
Credil Lyonnuis.
NKW YORK HON. J. C. AIKINS. R. I). PERRY, ESQ.

Fourth National Bank and A. S. IRVINC, \ .^;. Hox. R. HARCOURT.

The Agents Bank of R. CKASS, ESQ.
MnMtrr;il.

HCISTON
Kliol National Hank.
CHARLES McGILL,
General Manager.

Kill
 (ESTABLISHED 1817).

BANK OF MONTREAL INCORPORATED BY ACT OF PARLIAMENT.

CAPITAL (all paid up) $12,000,000.00

RESERVED FUND, .
8,000,000,00
UNDIVIDED PROFITS, 165,856,09

HEAD OFFICE, MONTREAL

Rr. Hos. LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL, G.C.M.t;., PRESIDENT.
HON. G. A. DRUMMOND VICE-PRESIDENT.

A. T. PATTERSON". ESQ. E. B. GREENSHIELDS, ESQ. SIRWILLIAM C. MACDON.U.D.

R. B. ANGUS, ESQ. A. F. GAULT, ESQ. JAMES ROSS, ESQ.
R. G. REID, ESQ.
K. S. CLOUSTON, GENERAL MANAGER.
A. MACNIDER, CHIEF INSPECTOR, AND SUPERINTENDENT OK BKAM m>

W. S. CLOUSTON, INSPECTOR OF BRANCH RETURNS. F. \V. TAYLOR, ASSISTANT INSPECTOR.

JAMES AIRD, SECRETARY.

BRANCHES-IN CANADA:
MONTREAL. H. V. MEREDITH, MANAGER.
PROVINCE OF ONTARIO. PROVINCE OF ONTARIO. PROVINCE OF QUEBEC. Province of Manitoba and
ALMONTE, LINDSAY, MONTREAL, North-West Territories.
BELLEVILLE, LONDON, West End Branch, WINNIPEG, Man.
"

Seigneurs St. Br. CALGAHY. Alberta.

BRANTFORD, OTTAWA, Point St. Charles. LETHBH EDGE. Alberta,
BROCKVILLE, PERTH, QUEBEC. RAYMOND,
CHATHAM, PETERBORO REG1XA, Assiniboia.
CORNWALL.
,
LOWER PROVINCES. Prov. of British Columbia.
PICTON,
DESERONTO, SARNIA. CHATHAM. N.B. GREENWOOD.
FORT WILLIAM, FHEDKRICTON, "

NELSON,
STRATFORD, MONCTON, NEW DENVER.
GODERICH, ST. MARY S, ST. JOHN. NEW WESTMINSTER
GUELPH, TORONTO, AMHKHST, N.S. ROSSLAND.
HAMILTON. "

Branch,
GLACE BAY, "

VANCOUVER,
Yonge St.
HALIFAX, VERNON,
KINGSTON, WALLACEBURG, SYDNEY, VICTORIA.

IN NEWFOUNDLAND:
ST. JOHN S. BIRCHY COVE. BAY OF ISLANDS.
IN GREAT BRITAIN :

LONDON, BANK OK MONTREAL. 22 ABCIU-RCH LANE. E.C., ALEXANDER LANG. MANAGER.

IN THE UNITED STATES:

NEW YORK R. Y. HEBDEN AND J. M. GREATA, AGENTS, 59 WALL STREET.
CHICAGO-BANK OF MONTREAL, J. W. DE C. O GRADY. MANAGER.

BANKERS IN GREAT BRITAIN :

LIVERPOOL-THE BANK OF LIVERPOOL, L,,,,,:,

THE LONDON AND WESTMINSTER BANK. SCOTLAND - THK BRITISH LINEN COMPANY
!

THE NAT. PROVINCIAL BANK OF ENG. HANK. AND BRANCHES.

BANKERS IN THE UNITED STATES:

NEW YORK THE NATIONAL CITY BANK. HUSTON T. B. MOORS & CO.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK. N.B.A. BUFFALO-TIIE MARINE BANK. BUFFALO.
NATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE SAN FRANCISCO THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
IN NEW YORK. THE ANGLO-CALIFORNIAN
BOSTON THE MERCHANTS NATIONAL BANK. BANK.

137
 Savings Accounts Solicited.

INTEREST ALLOWED COMPOUNDED HALF-YEARLY.

PAID-UP CAPITAL $1,250,000.00

TOTAL ASSETS 6,375,403.57

The CENTRAL CANADA

LOAN AND SAVINGS CO Y,
CANADA-

HON. GEO. A. COX, President.

E. R. WOOD, Managing Director. 6. A. MORROW, Assistant Manager.

Imperial Trusts Co.

OF CANADA.
32 CHURCH STREET,
TORONTO.
CAPITAL, $400,000.00
Board of Directors :
A. S. IRVING, Esq., President, . Toronto
Direrlor >ntario H;ink.
INTEREST ALLOWED ON
<

Director (:. \. \V. Telegraph Co.. etc., etc.

JOHN D. CHIPMAN,
Esq. .Vice-President, MONEY DEPOSITED.
St. Stephen, N.B.
Vice-President St. Stephens H;mk.
Director row s Nest Pass ( oal Co., etc.
(.

(See particulars below).

HUGH SCOTT, Esq., Toronto . .

Fire Insurance Underwriter.

Director Queen City Insurance Co., etc.
The Company is authorized to act as Trustee, Agent and
THOMAS WALMSLEY, Esq., Toronto
Assignee in the case of Private Estates, and also for Public
.

Viee-Presidciit Canada Painl ( <>.

Director Crow s Nest Pass Coal Co.. etc.

Companies.
H. M. PELL ATT,
Esq., Toronto . .
at 4 per cent, per
Interest allowed on money deposited
President Toronto Electric lAxhl Co.. etc.
annum compounded half -yearly ; if left for three years or over,
W. P. EBY, Esq., . . . Toronto
III tlir Kby. Blain Co.. of Toronto, Limited. 4i per cent, per annum.
Toronto
J. S. LOCKIE, Esq., . .

Government, Municipal and other Bonds and Debentures

Manager Imperial Trust> ( o. of Canada.
for sale, paying from 3 to 4J per cent, per annum.
T. B. CLARKE, Esq., . . Toronto
E. J. LOCKIE, Esq., . . Toronto J. S. LOCKIE. Manager.

138
A. E. AMES & ffife SOVEREIGN BANK
CO.,
of CANADA,
BANKERS, AUTHORIZED CAPITAL. $2,000,000
SUBSCRIBED CAPITAL, 1,300,000
18 King Street East, TORONTO.
PRESIDENT :

II. S. HOLT, ESQ, MONTREAL.

VICE-PRESIDENTS:
ItAXDOLl H MACDONALI). ESQ., TORONTO.
.IAMKS ( AmU THEKS, ESQ., MONTREAL.
Savings Accounts A. A. ALLAN, ESQ
DIRECTORS :

TORONTO.
ARCH. CAMPBELL, ESQ., To::,>.vro JUNCTION.
HON. Pi:ri:i; MCLAREN, PERTH.. .

Opened with deposits of five HON. DONALD MCMILLAN. ALEXANDRIA. .

JOHN Pi Cisi.EY, KSQ TORONTO.

dollars and upwards, and in
JlENKY H. WILSON. KSQ.. NEW YORK.
. .

terest allowed at ^ 5 5 ^ D. M. STEWART, General Manager.

BRANCHES :

FOVR PER CENT. - A nilierstburg, Ont.

Crediton,
Kxeler.
Milverton,
Newmarket,
Ottawa.
, Out. Stoutt ville.
Stirling,
Button,
Ont.

Que.
Montreal, Que. Perth, Toronto. (Int.
Mount Albert, Out. St. Catharine.-. Unionville.
Waterloo, Que.
Deposits of SI 00 and upwards received.
Interest allowed from day money is deposited.
A smaJl Prospectus of oxir Sa.vir\gs Department C nrreni Aeeimms. Savings Department. Interest paid
will be forwarded to a^ny address or\ ^application. in drpnsitor- \\ lee a year. Letters of Credit available in any
I

part of the world, (ieneral Banking Husiness.

Ghe TRVST LOAN <ft CO.

of CANADA.
Established 1851.

Aaanriatinn.
SUBSCRIBED CAPITAL $7,300,000
PAID-UP CAPITAL 1,581,666
RESERVE FUND
Head Office, Toronto.
866,202

A Prosperous and Progressive Company.

HEAD OFFICE : Policies Issued on all Approved Plans of Insurance.
7 Great Winchester Street, London, England.

W. H. BEATTY, Esq., President.

W. D. MATTHEWS, Esq., FREDK. WYLD, Esq.,
OFFICES IN CANADA :

Vice-Presidents.
ST.JAMES STREET, . MONTREAL.
TORONTO STREET, . TORONTO.
PORTAGE AVENUE, . WINNIPEG. W. C. MACDONALD, J. K. MACDONALD,
Actuary. Managing Director.

Money advanced at lowest current rates on the security

of Improved Farms and Productive City Property. Interesting Pamphlets
giving full information as to the Association s different
R. D. MACDONNELL, L. EDYE, Plans of Insurance will be sent on application to the Head
Commissioner. Commissioner. Office, Toronto, or to any of the Association s Agents.

139
 The
Canada Permanent
Western Canada
Mortgage Corporation
President
Head Office: GEORGE GOODERHAM
1st Vice-President and
Toronto Street, Toronto
INVESTED Managing Director
J. HERBERT MASON
2nd Vice-President
WINNIPEG, Man. $23,000,000 W. H. BEATTY
BRANCH VANCOUVER, B.C. Assistant General Manager
OFFICES : ST. JOHN, N.B. FUNDS R, S. HUDSON
EDMONTON, N.W.T. Secretary -
GEORGE H. SMITH

SA VINGS BONDS
ACCOUNTS The Corporation issues Bonds for sums of One
Hundred Dollars and upwards for terms of from
are opened for Deposits of One Dollar and upwards. one to five years, having coupons attached for

Interest thereon at
interest half-yearly at FOUR PER CENT. PER
ANNUM. They are a
3 1-2 per cent, per annum
paid or compounded half-yearly.
LEGAL INVESTMENT FOR
is

Depositors of small sums receive TRUST FUNDS.

SPECIAL ATTENTION.

LOAN DEPARTMENT.
MONEY and on most favorable terms of repayment on
MORTGAGES,
the security of Mortgages on Farm and Town
TO Properties. Loans made on all modern plans of BONDS, etc.,
payment. Every facility suggested by long
LEND experience for completing transactions without
No
PURCHASED
delay and with the minimum of expense.
commissions charged to borrowers.
AT ON
LOWEST Call and Time Loans made BEST
RATES on Stocks, Bonds, etc. TERMS.

140
 IFtnanrial Agntts,
18 KING STREET WEST,
v

THE The TORONTO GENERAL TRISTS

CORPORATION.
MERCANTILE OFFICES AND SAFE DEPOSIT VAULTS,
AGENCY. 59 YONGE STREET, TORONTO.

CAPITAL $1,000,000
RESERVE FTJND, 270,000

R. O. DUN & CO. JOHN HOSKIN, K

HEAD OFFICE: ESTABLISHED 1841. C., LL.D., President.

290 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. HON. S. C. WOOD, W. H. BEATTY, Esq.,

AND 165 BRANCH OFFICES IN THE PRINCIPAL Vice-President. Vice-President.
CITIES OF THE UNITED STATES, CANADA,
EUROPE AND AUSTRALIA.
Authorized to act as EXECUTOR. ADMINISTRATOR,
TRUSTF.E. RECEIVER. COMMITTEE OF LUNATIC,
GUARDIAN, LIQUIDATOR, ASSIGNEE, etc.
CANADIAN OFFICES AT Deposit Safes to Rent. All sizes, and at reasonable prices.
Iari-cls received for safe custody. Bonds and other valuables
guaranteed and insured against loss.
Solicitors bringing estates, administrations, etc., to the
Corporation arc continued in the professional care of the
same.
For further information see the Corporation s Manual.

A. D. LANGMUIK, J. W. LANGMTJIR,
W. C. MATTHEWS, GENERAL MANAGER. Assistant Manager. Managing Director.

141
Over
3OO Toi\s of
WERE USED BY THE
Royal Yeast

Established 1852.
British Army
IN

GILLETT S GOODS
NOTE THEM:
are the BEST !
SOUTH AFRICA
Imperial Baking Powder. Magic Baking Powder,
Mammoth
7
Why?
Gillett s Perfumed Lye, Gillett s Blue,
Msvgic Baking Soda,
Gillett s Washing Crystal,
Royal Yeasl CaJtes.
Gilletfs Cream Tartar,
ONE YEAR
etc. etc.

BECAUSE IT IS THE BEST.

E. W. GILLETT COMPANY LIMITED,

LONDON, CHICAGO,
ENG. TORONTO, ONT. ILL.

The Don Valley Brick Works possess

the and most complete plant of
largest
any individual yard on this continent.
The Cost of facing a house with Pressed
Bricks is but more than that of com
little

mon bricks, and the value added in

appearance is worth ten times the addi
tional expenditure.

Our Enameling Department is fully

equipped, and we can supply any color
on a reasonably short notice.

The Don Valley "Buff Bricks" are

the handsomest light colored bricks in
America they are the correct bricks for
;

lining Churches and Public Buildings.

We make
a specialty of supplying Brick
Mantels, to detail, in all colors.
A
ROBERT DAVIES, Proprietor,
34 TORONTO STREET, TORONTO.
Write for (. atalotflio and Price I.Nt.

U-2
THE HOME OF CANADIAN CLUB WHISKY/

VIEW OF OFFICES OF
HIRAM WALKER & SONS, LIMITED,
WALKERVILLE, CANADA.

143
 "Canadian Heaters for Canadian Winters.

OXFORD BOILERS
and RADIATORS
HAVE BECOME THE FAVORITE SYSTEM
FOR MODERATE SIZED BUILDINGS.

They can be counted on to meet all weather

changes with complete satisfaction to your ideas
of comfort providing the healthiest warmth ob
tainable, either hot water or steam.
We guarantee their capacity, so you can t be
disappointed in results and the Oxford Boiler s

reputation for moderate coal consumption assures

you a minimum coal bill every season.
If you ve any plans for heating in view, let

us give you further information.

TORONTO.
MONTREAL.
The GURNEY FOUNDRY CO., WINNIPEG.
VANCOUVER.
Limited.

CURES
Rheumatism, Lumbago, Lame Back, Neuralgia, Diphtheria,
Coughs and Colds, Sore Throat, Croup, Piles, Frost Bites, Burns,
Asthma, Catarrh, Chilblains, Corns, Tooth, Ear and Headache,
Bruises, Wounds and Sprains of every description on Man or
Beast. Actually the best External and Internal Remedy known.

ENTERING THE SYSTEM through the pores, when applied externally to relieve pain
and inflammation. DR. THOMAS ECLECTKIC OIL relaxes and soothes the stiffened, swollen
and irritated Ligaments, or Rheumatic Joints, and promptly checks the pain. Taken
internally, it remedies disorders of the Respiratory Organs, Bowels, Liver and Kidneys.
This matchless compound not only possesses remedial efficacy of the highest order,
but, inasmuch as it contains no alcohol, its influence is not weakened by evaporation,
which is the case with a great many oils of doubtful efficacy, which have an alcoholic basis,
EASE BY DAY and repose by night are enjoyed by those who are wise enough to apply
I)K. THOMAS ECLECTRIC OIL to their aching muscles and joints. A quantity easily held
in the palm of the hand is often enough to relieve the most excruciating pain.
CONSTITUTIONS OF IKON are undermined and destroyed by lung and bronchial disease
consequent upon neglect of a cough. A foolhardy disregard of that warning symptom is,
unfortunately, very common, and that is the main reason why consumption figures so
conspicuously among the causes of premature death. A timely use, inwardly and out
wardly, of DR. THOMAS ECLECTRIC OIL a benign, pure, and undeteriorating antispa-i
modic, soothing and healing agent, endorsed and recommended by the faculty is a sure,
prompt, and inexpensive way of arresting a cough or cold. Besides being a pulmonic of
acknowledged excellence, it is a matchless anodyne for rheumatic and neuralgic pain ;

cures Bleeding or Blind Piles, Sores and Hurts of all kinds, and remedies Kidney
Troubles and lameness and weakness of the Back.

NORTHROP & LYMAN CO., Limited,

Proprietors.
TORONTO.
144
A Camera is Known by the Pictures it Takes, not by its Size.

If It Isn t an Eastman
IT ISN T A KODAK.

THE Have the capabilities of cameras of triple their

b lk Thou S h small in compass they
FOLDING "

very elements of successful

possess the
picture taking a
POCKE simple mechanism and optical perfection.
Kodak Film quality
Kodak
l/c
i//~vr-v A quality and have made the
I\\J Lx/AlXO Kodak way the sure way in picture taking.

oo
Kodaks $5^ to $75

CANADIAN KODAK Co., Limited,

Catalogues free at the Dealers
or by mail. TORONTO, CANADA.

Percha & Rubber

OF TORONTO, Limited.
Mfg. Co.
Manufacturers of High-Grade Mechanical Rubber Goods.

Rubber Belting, RUBBER HOSE

Rubber Packings, FOR

Water, Steam, Air, Acids,

Spiral, Piston and Sheet
Oil, Pneumatic Tools and
Valves and Gaskets. Fire Protection.

UPERIOR IN QUALITY.
s ATI5FACTORY IN SERVICE.

Maltese Cross" and Brands Rubbers

"Lion"

and Overshoes.
THE MOST SATISFACTORY RUBBER FOOTWEAR O.V THK MARKET.
STYLISH, UP-TO-DATE, GLOVE-FITTING.

HEAD OFFICE AND

:
45, 47 and 49 West Front Street, TORONTO, CANADA.
145
JOHN MACDONALD <a
Co., LONDON CANADIAN
TORONTO. LOAN AND AGENCY CO.

GEO. B. E. COCKBUEN, -
President.
ESTABLISHED 53 YEARS. THOMAS LONG, -
Vice-President.

Subscribed Capital Fully Paid, .

$1,000,000
The oldest and best known Rest 210,000

Wholesale Dry Goods,

Men s Furnishings, Carpet Lend
Money io
andWoollen Firm in Canada. On Bonds, Stocks, Life Insurance
Policies and Mortgages.

Eates on application.

JOHN MACDONALD.
V. B. WADSWORTH,
J. FRASER MACDONALD. Ma. nagger.
DUNCAN M. MACDONALD. ARTHUR N. MACDONALD.
103 BAY STREET, TORONTO.

QUEEN CITY FIRE INSURANCE CO.

HAND-IN-HANDINSURANCE
COMPANY.
Freedom
Action and
Safety from
of

Accident when
your "charger"
MILLERS MANUFACTURERS is shod with
INSURANCE COMPANY. Dunlop
Horse Shoe
FIRE INS. EXCHANGE Pads.
CORPORATION.
AUTHORIZED CAPITALS, -
$1.250.000.
Two styles :

Special attention given to placing large lines on mercantile "Ideal

and manufacturing risks that come up to our standard. Cushion,"

Only the lowest rates exacted consistent "Adjustable."

with absolute security.

HEAD OFFICES QUEEN CITY CHAMBEES, TOEONTO

SCOTT WALMSLEY,
(I-:ST.UII.ISIII:I> 1858).

Managers and Underwriters.

146
 Ammnt Western INCORPORATED
1851.

Aaauranr? HEAD OFFICE :

TORONTO,
(Eampatuj, ONT.
Qkmpmtg,
HEAD OFFICE, TORONTO.
FIRE AND MARINE.

iftarhtr.

Capital,
Total Assets,
. . . . | 1,000,000.00.
1,755,849.21.
Capital, .... .
2,000,000.
. . .
Assets over . . .
3,200,000.
Losses Paid (since organization), 21,261,762.49. Annual Income over .
3,380,000.
Losses Paid (since organization), 33,000,000.

DIRECTORS :

HON. GEO. A. Cox, J. J. KENNY,

PRESIDENT. VICE-PRESIDENT.
Hon. S. C. Wood, E. IV. Cox, Thos. Long, HON. GEO. A. cox. J. J. KENNY.
John Hoskin, K.C., LL.D..
PRESIDENT. VICE-PRESIDENT
Robert Jaffray, Augustus Myers, Lieut. -Col. H. M. Pcllatt.

P. H. SIMS. SECRETARY. C. C. FOSTER, SECRETARY.

A PROFITABLE
INVESTMENT,

A LOAN COMPANY
ture offers an absolutely safe
S deben IHHHIH
and profitable investment. When
investing in our debentures you
have as security the total assets
of the Company, which is liable
for the payment of both principal
and interest.
For a limited time we will issue
debentures bearing- Five per
Cent. (5%) Interest, payable half-
yearly.

THE DOMINION PERMANENT CONFEDERATION LIFL BUILDING,

LOAN COMPANY,
12 King Street West. ALFRED WRIGHT,
Ho.v. J. R. STRATTON, M. HOLLAND.
F.
President. Gen. Manager and Sri \ . MANAGER,
147
 THE The

Boiler Inspection Conger Coal Co.,

Limited,

and Insurance Co., WHOLESALE AND RETAIL

OF
CANADA.

HEAD OFFICE, -
TORONTO.
COAL,
WOOD,
CONSULTING ENGINEERS.
COKE.
JOHN L. BLAIKIE, Esq.,
President. Telephone Main 4OI5.

E. W. RATHBUN, Esq., Head Office:

Vice-President.
GEO. C. ROBB,
Chief Engineer.
6 King St. East,

H. N. ROBERTS,
Secretary. Toronto.

The
Constructing and
Paving WM. & J. G. GREEY,
Co. of Ontario, Limited.
2 CHURCH STREET,
TORONTO, ONT.
IMPORTERS AND REFINERS OF

General Foundry
ASPHALT. and

GENERAL CONTRACTORS
AND CONSTRUCTORS OF
Machine Shop.
ASPHALT AND OTHER PAVEMENTS, &c.
FLOUR MILL MACHINERY,
CHILLED IRON ROLLS and
CASTINGS.
No. I Toronto Street,
Link Chain Belting, Sprocket Wheels,
Leather, Rubber, Cotton Belting,
Toronto. Mill Furnishings and Supplies.

148
 OUR GOODS ARE HIGH CLASS
AND ABSOLUTELY PURE.

CO WA N S
Perfection Cocoa,
Queen s Dessert Chocolate,
Chocolate Cream Bars,
FRONT VIEW CITY DAIRY BL Il.IUN tf.
Chocolate Ginger,
Chocolate Wafers,
City Dairy Co., .c.

Spctciina Crescent, TORONTO, COWAN S CAKE ICINGS,

NOW FAMOUS FOR HIGH Chocolate, Pink. Lemon Color and While.

CLASS DAIRY PRODUCTS

OPEN TO VISITORS, 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M.

Manufactured by
CITY DAIRY CO., Limited,
SI .MIIXA CRESCENT,
TORONTO.
The COWAN CO.,
Limited,
TORONTO.

Incandescent Gas Lighting,

HIGHEST EFFICIENCY. LOWEST COST.

GAS at the low price charged in Toronto, INCANDESCENT

With modern burners and
GAS LIGHTING is about ONE-FOURTH THE COST OF INCANDESCENT
ELECTRIC LIGHTING.
Architects will best serve the interests of their clients that
by recommending all

buildings be piped for GAS.

Parties about to build are warned against the folly of omitting Gas Piping from their
contracts. The inconvenience of being without a gas supply will soon be realized and
regretted.

CHEAP FUEL.
The use of GAScooking has made comfort possible during the heated period.
for
The weather hard enough to bear; but with the additional hot air
is
generated by the
old-fashioned cooking stove, the atmosphere of the kitchen becomes unendurable.

GAS IS AN ECONOMICAL FUEL.

Consumers Gas Company of Toronto,

HEAD OFFICE, 19 TORONTO STREET.
149
BROWN BROS., LIMITED, MOORE S
COMMERCIAL AND
MANUFACTURING NON-LEAKABLE
STATIONERS.
OUR SPECIALTIES ARE FOUNTAIN PENS
ACCOUNT BOOKS, USE ?*%&& CAN BE CARRIED EITHER END UP.
to order. and
Perfect material workmanship. FLAT OPEX-
ING AND LOOSE LKAF. NEVER LEAKS. NEVER DRIES IT.
CLEAN PENS TO HANDLE.
STATIONERY AND OFFICE SUPPLIES. ALL PENS SHIPPED FITTED READY FOR USE.
Every requisite.

PAPER.
Writing, Printing, Note, Typewriting Every kind.
Crepe and Plain Tissues. BEST IN THE WORLD.
LEATHER GOODS. FOR SALE AT ALL BOOKSTORES.
and
Portfolios. Wallets, Letter Card Cases, &c.

BOOKBINDING.
Every style of the Art. Cannot be surpassed.

DIARIES.
Office and Pocket 200 varieties.

ESTABLISHED IIAI.K A CENTURY.

W. J.GAGE & CO., LIMITED,
TORONTO,
51-53 WELLINGTON STREET WEST, SOLE CANADIAN AGENTS.
TORONTO.

The
HIGH SPEED
AND
HIGH GRADE Firstbrook Box Co,
LIMITED,
ELEVATORS
MAKE

Big Business
MANUFACTURERS OF
Blocks DOVETAILED BOXES,
PROFIT EARNING THROUGHOUT CANADA.
PACKING CASES,
BOTTLERS SHIPPING CASES,
FENSOM S ELEVATORS EXPORT BUTTER BOXES,
ARE IN GENERAL USE. BOX SHOCKS,
IN THE UNITED STATES FENSOM S (I KIXTKI) OR I l.AIX).

IDEAS HAVE BEEN UTILIZED.

THE
Fensom Elevator Works, FACTORIES AND MILLS:
56 DUKE STREET,
5O, 52, 54,
TORONTO. TORONTO ^ PENETANGUISHENE.
HEAD OFFICE, TORONTO.
THE: YORK COUNTY LOAN AND
(INCORPORATED!
CO.
OF TORONTO, CANADA.

JOSEPH PHII.LIPJ, PRESIDENT.

A. T. HUNTER, LL.B., VICE PRESIDENT. V. R.OBIN, TRE/IJURER. E. BURT, .SUPERVISOR.
R. H. JANDER.SON. BUILDING INSPECTOR.

HEAD OFFICE:

CONFEDERATION LIFE BUILDING, TORONTO.

BRANCH OFFICER:
TORONTO WEST, -Cor. Queen and Dovcrcourt. OTTAWA. -liti Hank street.
HAMILTON. Spectator Building. MONTREAL. I anada Life A.-soriatinn Building.
Lo.NDOX.-8 Duffleld Block.
^ Axcorvnu. -2S Inns of ( ourt Building.
WINNIPEG.-216 Portage Ave.
HAI.IKAX. N.S.-39 Sackville Street. ST. JOHN, X.B. Jardine Block,

MILITARY AND SPORTING

FENCING FOILS, BOXING GLOVES,

SPORTING GOODS.

RICE LEWIS & SON, LIMITED.

TORONTO.
151
 PROMPT AND ACCURATE SERVICE
BY

The Great North Western

Telegraph Company.
The largest and most complete system in Canada.

45,000 Miles of Wire. 2,000 Offices.

EXCLrSIVK CONNECTION WITH

THE WESTERN VNION

TELEGRAPH CO. (LATE J. YOUNG)

The largest telegraph system in existence. ALEX. MlLLARD,

1,000,000 Miles of Wire. 22,500 Offices.
UNDERTAKER AND EMBALMER,
AND WITH Telephone 359 Yon 4 e Street,
Main 679. TORONTO, CANADA.
The Western Union, Anglo-American and
Direct United States Cable Companies. PRIVATE MORTUARY.

Not only to meet the critical demands of the

educated musicians, but to maintain the confidence of
their patrons by the excellency of materials and work
manship in their Pianos, is the constant aim and study of
SAMUEL MAY & Co.,
Manufacturers of

BILLIARD TABLES
AND
rann
Their ambition that every Piano bearing the Mason
is
BOWLING ALLEYS.
& Risch name shall be a standing advertisement and
Turners of IVORY and COMPOSITION BILLIARD and
testimony to its durability.
POOL BALLS. Old Balls Turned and Colored. Makers
of Plainand Fancy Cues. Importers of Fine West of
England and "Simouis" Billiard Cloths. Superior
As a safe investment few pianos can compare with a French Cue Tips, Chalk, etc., etc.
Mason & Risch. Allow us to add your name to our
daily increasing list of patrons.
SAMUEL MAY &, CO.
Illustrated Catalogues and other information mailed
to any address. BILLIARD TABLE
MANUFACTURERS
ESTABLISHED
FORTY YEARS
THE MASON <& RISCH SEND FOR CATALOGUE

74 YORK STREET
PIANO CO., Limited.
TORONTO

Branches : 32 King Street West,

Montreal, London, Winnipeg, Sole Vendors of May s Patent Rubber-Lined, Dust-
Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. TORONTO. Proof Billiard Cloth. Send for Catalogue.

152
 OVR TRADE RAPIDLY GROWING,
Why?
BECAUSE WE AIM TO GIVE THE BEST
The History of the POSSIBLE RESULTS FOR THE MONEY.
Dominion marks no
greater attainment than
is exemplified in the
products that bear our YOU GET THE BEST RESULTS WHEN YOU PURCHASE
trade-mark.
Social Tea .... Delicious, Refreshing.

Social Coffee Tin Kin- of all Coffees.

Manufacturers of
Engineers and Plumbers Social Cocoa (irairt ul. (cm i
forting.
Brass Goods,
Steam Specialties, Social Baking Powder The I ookV bu-t Frit-iid.
Sanitary Goods.
Gas and Electric Fixtures
Social Flaked Wheat The Muscle HuiMcr.
For private and public
buildings.
Social Buckwheat Flour
SUPPLIES FOB
Social Biscuit and Pastry Flour !

(ENGIMEER^PLUMBERS
IANOHEATING
CONTRACTORS.

THEJAS.MORRISON LUMSDEN (WHOLESALE ONLY)

BROS.,
BRASS MFC. CO.LIMITED
Social Pure Food Co., SOCIAL TEA CO.,
JORONTO, 82, 84. 86 McNabb St. N.. 9 Front Street East,
HAMILTON. TORONTO.

Promptness and
Niagara River Line
Steamers
Satisfaction Niagara. Navigation Co. s

ARE TWO OF OUR BUSINESS MAXIMS. CHIPPEWA,

CORONA,
We are to
CHICORA.
prompt fill all orders,
and guarantee that our fuel will give 5 TR.IPS DAILY (except Sunday).
every satisfaction.
We want you to rely upon us as
to the merits of any coal we may Leave Yonge Street Wharf (East side)

sell you.
T
We give you the benefit of 7.00a.m.
2.00 p.m.
9.00a.m.
FOR
ll.fMia.m.
4.45 p.m.
our experience and are good for
every promise made.
Niagara. Lewiston or Queenston.
Connecting with the Xew York Central & Hudson
River R.R., Michigan Central R.R., Oreat Gorge
Route, and Niagara Falls Park River R.R. for
Standard Fuel Co. <fe

OF TORONTO, Limited. NIAGARA FALLS. BUFFALO, and

a.11 points in the United Stages.
NOEL MARSHALL. Gen l Manager.

Telephone Mairv 4103. JOHN FOY. General Manager.

TORONTO. CANADA.

153
 , Winter <&
teeming,
188 Yonge Street, TORONTO.

H. J. AYLWARD, GERHARD HEINTZMAN

92 Bay Street, NEW
SCALE PlANOL
The pianos of Mr. Uerhard Heintzman have so long
EXCLUSIVE enjoyed the reputation of approximate tonal perfection
that improvement might well seem impossible. Improve

WOOLLENS ment has been accomplished, however, and after many

costly experiments we are now able to announce the
completion of a new scale by this master of tone
production.
The musical beauties of this new scale piano cannot
be adequately described in a brief advertisement, but
we cordially invite correspondence, and will mail
descriptive matter postpaid to any applicant.
Made up in the
It will be still better if you can make a personal call
at 188 Yonge Street and hear this wonderful new
creation.
Best Style a^t
Popvila^r
Prices.
, Winter <&
Leenrvirvg.
TORONTO. HAMILTON,
188 Yonge Street. 66 King Street W.

"

V
V
V
V
TELEPHONE V
CALL UP MAIN 123. V
V
V

DOMINION *
V
V
V
By appointment Purveyors to His Excellency
Governor -General.
the

V
LIVERY, V
V
V
V THE
I W
61 YORK STREET, V
*
W
*
Harry Webb
Limited,
Co,
V
*
When you want TALLT-HO V
v
a nice
leave daily
i
*
V
V
CATERERS
f V
CARRIAGE, for a tour
M/ S For WEDDINGS, BANQUETS, RECEP-
of the city V
VICTORIA during the
*
V
^ TIONS and all classes of entertainments.

y OR W
V
% COUPE. V
V W Heivd Office, 447 Yonge Street,
V
V Restaurant, 66-68 Yonge Street,
OEO. W. VERRAL, PROPRIETOR.
V
i V
W (Late ( HAS. linowx.) V
W
TORONTO.
 THE FONTH1 LL Second to None.

NURSERIES
LARGEST IN CANADA.
OVER 800 ACRES UNDER CULTIVATION.

Acomplete list of the very choicest Shrubs,

Roses, Ornamentals, Vines, Hedge Plants, Fruit
Trees and Fruit Bushes may always be had of us.
Many rare and altogether new specimens can
PURE
be secured only from us varieties that should be
in
;

every up-to-date collection.

application.
Catalogue free on EXCELSIOR
8S5" Reliable men with ability will always
an opening with us as salesmen.
find

COFFEE
Stone & Wellington,
CANADA S
GREATEST
NURSERIES.
Long Distance Phone, Main 1109.
TODHUNTER, MITCHELL & CO.,
TORONTO, ONT. TORONTO, CANADA.

NEW ONTARIO Pumps and

Gasoline Engines.

THE NORTHEY COMPANY,

FOR INVESTMENT IN Limited,

Make all kinds of Power Pumps and

FARM, Gasoline Engines which have
FOREST proven successful under every kind
OR
MINE of condition to which pumps and
engines are subject.

Write for information.

Write for information to

HON. E. J. DAVIS,
COMMISSIONER OF CROWN LANDS,
TORONTO, ONTARIO.

CANADA.

155
 Favorite Summer Hotels.

HOTEL SANS

PARRY SOUND

BELVIDERE
ThePARRY SOVND. ONT. MOON RIVER
so(/c/
P.O.

The most beautifully situated in Noted Black Bass Fishing

Northern Canada. Grounds.

The GRAND UNION

OTTAWA, ONT.
Favorite Commercial and Tourist Hotel, two blocks from
Parliament Buildings.

156
 Restaurant and Lunch Counter.
The Iroquois Hotel
THIRTY ROOMS.
GRADUATED PRICES. TORONTO, CANADA.
GENTLEMEN ONLY.

JL
HOTEL, situated on the .south-west corner of King
ami York streets, within two minutes
THIS
Station (Cram! Trunk and Canadian
walk of the I liion
Pacilic Railways!
and the wharves at which the magnilicent licet of si earn
all
ers arrive and depart. It centrally situated and very con
is
venient for Pleasure Seekers. Commercial Men. and the
general 1 uhlic. Street cars pass (he hotel for every part of

Chop House
the city and suburbs.
English It has been rcnuvatcd throlijfliout. several lioliwillcl d. 1-
larshave been expended in plumbing, steam-fitting, electr
I

c
lighting, etc.. and its sanitary arrangements, arc np-to-dal
EUROPEAN PLAN. inspection Is courted. Attention to travellers and cuntome
i.

s
isthe tirst order of this establishment. Itepulation made n (

F. M. THOMAS, Proprietor. -erviee given. Attractive drawing rooms and parlors,

airy
bedrooms rooms with bath and en suite.
Mr. Graham is an hotel man in every sense of the word,
and. since taking possession of the Iroquois on the first of last
year it has become one of the most popular hotels in he city i :

and cither ladies or gentlemen favoring the hotel with their

patronage may be assured of a hearty welcome and court eou-
trcatment. The table is supplied with the best the market
SITUATED IN CENTRE OF CITY affords. 1he bar is stocked with choice liquors and cigars
\\ hen you visit, Toronto on either
CLOSE TO ALLTHEATRES pleasure or business you
will find the Iroquois a comfortable and convenient
place to
stop at. A HOME FROM HO.MK."

RATES $2.00 AND $2.50 PER DAY.

3O King Street West,

Toronto, Ont.
C. A. GRAHAM, Proprietor.

THE MOST DESIRABLY LOCATED,

LAND SECURITY EXCEPTIONALLY ATTRACTIVE,

AND JUSTLY POPULAR

COMPANY, tfo

44 VICTORIA ST., TORONTO. Arlington Hotel

TORONTO.

A AMERICAN PLAN.
RATES, $2.50 TO $4.00 PER DAY.
Special rate- by week or month.
House and Store Properties
For Sale.

Vacant Land in Desirable Localities Restaurant and Cafe

IX C ONNKI TKIN.
For Buildings.
dpi n until one o clock, a.m.
Cuisine and Ser\ ice unsurpassed.
& F. D. Manchee,
Proprietor.
Lists with Prices given on application. Arthur H. Lewis,
Manager.

157
Caterers and
Manufacturing Quality First
FOR THE BRAVE BOYS
Confectioners WHO HAVE DISPLAYED
SUCH HKROIC COURAGE
THAT THE NAME OF OUR
CANADIAN SOLDIERS
WILL SHINE DOWN 1

THROUGH THE AGES.

Tomlin s Bread
is just the food for such
men, and for the general
public. It contains all the
elements that go to make
up brain, brawn and mus
cle, and is
positively first

quality.

Send your orders to

719 Yonge Street, THE TORONTO BAKERY,

TORONTO. 420, 422, 424, 426, 428 BATHURST STREET.

Telephones North 2004 and 2005. Telephone Park 553.

LONG DISTANCE.

"

Canada s Greatest Seed House." AMERICAN-ABELL

I MINI & THRESHER COMPANY,
LI MITED.

SEEDS, TORONTO, ONTARIO.

PLANTS-*
BULBS.
COMPLETE LINE
ALWAYS IN STOCK.
CANADA AND THE
THE MAPLE LEAF
The EMPIRE FOR EVER"

Sfee/e, Briggs
Seed Co.,
Limited, Successors to the

JOHN A BELL
TORONTO, ONTARIO. ENGINE AND MACHINE WORKS
COMPANY, Limited.
ENGINES, BOILERS AND HIGH CLASS
Wholesale Warehouses and Offices, 105-107 Front Street E.
Retail Department, 130-132 King Street E. THRESHING MACHINERY.
Greenhouses and Trial Grounds, . 1514 Queen Street E
Western Branch, Winnipeg, Man. NORTH-WEST AGENCY, WINNIPEG, MANITOBA.

158
J.VJ
 s HARPSHOOTING
F( >i ;
BOECKH S
SPORT AND WAR. Horse Brashes,
Hy W.W GREENER.,
Authorof "The Gun and its Development." Dandy Brashes,
"The Hreeeh Loader and How to Use it."

"Modern Shot-Kims," etc.. cte. Carriage

With an Introduction by WIRT GENARE. Brashes and
Fully illustrated. 35 Cents.
Stable Brooms,

A MAXTAL. Cane s Stable

THE GUIDE Backets,

For the Canadian Militia., Tabs, etc.,
(Infantry.)
give unrivalled satis
Compiled by Colonel W. D. OTTER, C.B, A.D.C. factionmany differ
ent lines suited for
Cloth, $1.OO.
large stables, coach
houses, etc. Sold by
all reliable dealers.
HIGH SCHOOL
CADET DRILL MANUAL. SPECIAL BRUSHES OF EVERY DESCRIP
Arranged by W. BENNETT MVNRO. M.A., LL B.,
(Captain Forty-Second Battalion.)
TION MADE TO ORDER.
Cloth, 40 Cents.
United Factories, Limited, Head Office, Toronto.

The Copp, Clark Co., OPK RATING

Limited, BiH ckh s Toronto Factories. Kryan s London Factories,

Publishers. TORONTO. Cane s Newmarket Factories.

GOWANS, KENT CHEW THE BEJT.

& COMPANY,
14-16 Front Street East,

BRITISH
.

TORONTO ONTARIO CANADA.

Crockery and Glassware,

\VIIOLKS AI.I;
NAVY.
China and Lamp Goods.
Manufacturers of

LAMPS AND RICH CUT GLASS.

Decorators of
JTRICTLT UNION MADE,.
EARTHENWARE, CHINA AND OPAL.

McALPIN CONSUMERS TOBACCO

Mail No matter how small will have the Immedi-
IUd.ll atr personal attention of one (if Ihc linn. COMPANY, Limited,
W1IKN Vnr AI!K l\ TIIK CI I V CALL TORONTO.
AND SKI-: (JS,

160
 MADE IN VISIBILITY, DURABILITY, SPEED,
MANIFOLDING POWER AND EASE
CANADA. OF OPERATION ARE THE FIVE
ESSENTIALS WHICH MAKE THE

Oliver
Typewriter
THE BEST
FOR ALL
PURPOSES.

CANADIAN
INVENTION. MANUFACTURE. PRICE.

FOR PARTICULARS ADDRESS

IT ISCANADIAN Linotype Company

FROM START TO FINISH. 156 St. Antoine Street, MONTREAL.
55 Victoria Street, - TORONTO.

101
 GILLESPIE, ANSLEY & Co, H. S. HOWLAND, SON & Co.,
WIIOI.KSAl.K DXI.V.

HATS, CAPS, General Hardware,

Cutlery,
FURS, ROBES. Amm un it ion,
Guns, Rfffes.
WHOLESALE.

37, 39 FRONT STREET WEST,

TORONTO.
TORONTO, ONT. RIGHT
PROMPT
SHIPMENT. TRICES.

THE CARBON CHRISTIE S

vSTUDIO J. FRAJER BRYCE,
BISCUITS HAVE STOOD THE TEST OF
MANAGER.
OVER HALF A CENTURY, AND ARE AD
MITTED BY ALL TO BE THE STANDARD
PHOTOGRAPHERS BT APPOINTMENT TO OF EXCELLENCE.
THEIR. ROTAL HIGHNESSES THE
PRINCE AND PRINCES OF WALES.

NOTE A FEW OF THEIR

SPECIALTIES:

Zephyr Cream Sot/as

Water Ice Wafers
Imperial Wafers
EVERYTHING THAT Ratafia Wafers
FIRiT-CLA^J IN Oswcgo
PORTRAIT Social Tea
Apple Blossom
PHOTOGRAPHY. Lemon Sandwich

MANUFACTURED BY

CHRISTIE, BROWN & COMPANY,

L1MI
TORONTO, CANADA.
1O7 K.INO -STREET WEJT.
162
J0
^ *tWrt^ Try,
41L,4Mr,
t

PLOUGHS,
Land and Lawn

ROLLERS,
Scrapers,
ENSILAGE CUTTERS.

THE WILKINSON PLOUGH COMPANY, Limited, TORONTO.

Military Boots and

Spurs.

PRASER &
JAMIESON,
594 Queen Street West,

TORONTO, ONT.
Sole Importers of tin-

English Hard Leg

Cavalry Boot.

Riding Boots and

Military Gaiters
Always in Stock.

Heel Spurs,
Box Spurs and
Jack Spurs
Supplied,

Our prices arc lie ImveM in Canada.

I

niMcri s ran be onttitted by us at ball

the price that has heretofore been paid.

( oliHKSl ciXIlKXCK IXVITKI).

 Saddlery and
Accoutrements,
Officers
Outfits.
Military Supplies
OUR SPECIALTY.

WE CAN SUPPLY
YOU WITH
EVERYTHING
CALLED FOR
ADAMS BROS.,
IN THE
REGULATION
Cor. King and Frederick Streets.
EQUIPMENT.
Toronto.

E. &S. CURRIE,
TORONTO,
Manufacturers of

NECKWEAR
for the

CANADIAN AND
EXPORT TRADE.
CUPID S DART, S6.75.

ANSONIA CLOCK CO.

\VIIIM.KSAI.K A<;KXTS:

GOLDSMITHS STOCK COMPANY,

OF CANADA, Limited.
TORONTO, - ONTARIO.

101
Toronto Type Foundry
Company, Limited,
HKAI) OKKICK:

70-72 York Street, TORONTO.

The LEADING HOUSE in Canada for

PRINTERS MACHINERY
AND MATERIALS.
Agencj* for
The Miehle Printing Press,
The America.n Type Founders Co.,
Hutchinson. & Son,
The GaJly Universa.1 Press,
and other manufacturers of the highest
126 to 134 pARRIAGE
V/
Simcoe Street, BUILDERS.
class Printers Machinery and Supplies.

EVERYTHING for ike Printer. carry in stock Landaus, Broughams, Vic-

torias, Two-wheeled Dog Carts, Platform
Dog Carts, Open Top Tilbury Carts, and Sleigh:-
of all descriptions. We make a specialty of
Branches at JOHN J. PALMER., building
MONTREAL, President.
Special Designs to Order,
WINNIPEG and J. T. JOHNSTON,
HALIFAX. Gen. Manager. Also Repairing a.nd Re-painting Fine Work.

No MORE BALDNESS. WAREHOUSE :

15 and 17 Mincing Lane.

FACJUKV
St.
:

Lawrence Street.

THE ROSE Ha.ir Grower

used according to directions will
Price, $1.50,
grow hair on any head no matter
how bald. Thousands
of success Express
fully treated cases warrant this Prepaid.
statement.
ANDREW MUIRHEAD,
Write \js for Free Booklet on IMPORTER AND
Hairology and particulars
of Free Diagnosis.
MANUFACTURER.

No MORE GRAYNESS. Points,

THE ROSE Natural-Color Varnishes,
Price, $1.00, Compound is not a dye. It

Express
vivifies the flaccid
color sacs and replenishes the
and dying Etc.. Etc.
Prepaid. color pigment. Assists Nature s
own work.

The Rose Toilet Company, OFFICE:

Limited,
TORONTO, ONTARIO. 82 Bay Street, TORONTO.
 BAGS, SUIT CASES,
JOSEPH SIMPSON HAT BOXES,
BASKET TRUNKS,
LEATHER TRUNKS,
SONS, BRIEF BAGS,
CABINET TRUNKS,
TORONTO. And every kind of
Travelling Equipment.

Ucpaii-ing Promptly Done.

All kinds of Leather Goods

to order.

High Grade
Underwear.

GENT S DRESS BAG.

HIGH GRADE LEATHER NOVELTIES,
Including best line of Poeket Books. Cigar Cases.
Writing Tablets, .Jewel Boxes and Chatelaines.

TRUNK LEATHER. GOODS

MADE IN CANADA. 131 YONGE STREET, TORONTO.
CO.,

160
 P. M. CLARK & iON
AT THE WORD OF COMMAND

Your grocer will supply

"ROBERTSON S"

Scotch Marmalade
IN ONE POUND POTS. Settlors,
You cannot get better there are man}
worse some are adulterated. Run no
risks, but order

ROBERTSON S

Made at PAISLEY, SCOTLAND.

93
MNO ST.WE JT, TORONTO.

BELLE EWART THE QUEEN CITY

OIL COMPANY,
Limited.

Head Office,
-
TORONTO.
The Best for Household Use.
It is clear as crystal and entirely free from snow
and all impurities. HEADQUARTERS FOR
Every block is treated by our special purification
process.
We supply any quantity from 10 Ibs. up.

Our rates are extremely reasonable. Lamp Oils,

Belle Ewart Ice Co., Fuel Oils,

TELEPHONES HEAD OFFICE:
18 Melinda Street,
MAX* ml!
TORONTO. Lubricating Oils,

NOTE. We are the only dealers in Toronto who have

always confined themselves exclusively to the cutting, storing
and delivering Lake Siuicoe Ice. GREASES, WASTE, CANDLES, ETC.
167
OUR
UUR.
"A thing of beauty

V/UK.U11A 111711 FLOOR.

"CORONATION"
is a joy forever."

parallel in workmanship,
Shakespeare.

CASE is without THE EMMETT SHOE

style and finish. We
are manufacturers of the highest grade
of INTERIOR FITTINGS of all kinds. $3.50 (For Men.) $3.so

Write for
Canadian Leather, Made in Canada
ILLUSTRATED for Canadians.
CATALOGUE.
ONE ONE
Our Coronation Case. Patent applied for.
PRICE. $3.50 QUALITY.
DOMINION SHOW CASE CO.
N. R. LI.VDSAY, Manager. 119 Yonge Street,

Office and Factory :53 Richmond Si. East, TORONTO. ONT. H. N. EMMETT, TORONTO.
THK HIGHEST TECHNICAL AND ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE IN
The S. S. WHITE DENTAL
Spectacles and Eyeglasses.
MFG. CO.
ATCE now making up day by day singularly beautiful
WE glasses in spectacles and pinee nez hlgfi grade in
quality accurate in lenses exquisite in design com
fortable in fitand in models as far as possible appropriate to
Confederation 110-112 Victoria the faces of the prospective wearers.
Life Street, And for prescription glasses \ve do not, as in the past, send
to New York and other cities for special lenses, involving
Building. TORONTO, ONT. tedious delays. The surface grinding machinery now Installed
in our shop produces these day by day on short notice, with
much satisfaction to ourselves and customers.
We
respectfully solicit your prescription and other orders;
SPECIALTIES FOR our workers, technical knowledge and admirable facilities
generally being at your service.

CHARLES POTTER,
THE DENTAL TOILET. 85 Yonge Street,
Optician,
TORONTO, ONT.

WREYFORD & CO., HOMINION PAPER BOX CO.,

UNDERWEAR 38 and 40 Adelaide
Street West,
SPECIALISTS.
United Garments, in Fine Wool, Lisle
TORONTO, ONT.
and <

ottoii.
Camelhair Blankets Manufacturers of
for (. amp and Deck.
A HALL MARK OF Stowasser s Leggings,
PURE WOOL The"Birley Patent"
New
Regulation Puttees,
Dent s Gloves, Young & Rochester s Shirts. Knock Down Box. Specially suitable for Clothing and
Dry Goods Houses, also for packing Confectioner} ,

85 King Street West, TORONTO. Hardware, etc.

* TORONTO SALT WORKS,

I NORDHEIMER
V PIANO 128 Adelaide St. East,
V "The Representative Piano of Canada."

\Ve are living in a period which demands

power and beauty of tone in pianos. When you
seek pure musical beauty you will find it to your
TORONTO, ONT.
satisfaction in the NordKelmer Piano.
Write for new catalogue to

The Nordheimer Piano and Music Co., IOENT8 MPIL

Limited.
15 King Street Ea^st, TORONTO, ONT.
The Canadian Salt
"

Co.," Windsor, Ont,

108