REMINISCENCES OF SERGEANT-MAJOR RUNDLE

[Illustration: COLOR-SERGT. EDWIN G. RUNDLE. Age, 28 Years. ]

A Soldier's Life

Being the Personal Reminiscences of

EDWIN G. RUNDLE

Late Sergeant-Major in Her Majesty's LeicestershireRegiment of Foot, Instructor and Lecturer to theMilitary School, Toronto, 1866-1868. Member of the Red River Expedition. 

With Introduction byMAJOR HENRY J. WOODSIDE

Author's Edition

TORONTOWILLIAM BRIGGS1909

INTRODUCTION. 

Of recent years we have had many books on military history, most ofthem chiefly devoted to the wars which have marked the extension ofthe British Empire. 

In Sergeant-Major Rundle's narrative we have the interesting story ofhow an honest English boy became attracted to the colors; how theBritish army lives, moves and has its being in the British Isles andin the Dominions beyond the seas; how that boy rose by honest effortto the highest non-commissioned position in that army; and mostinteresting of all, his experience on foreign service when hisregiment took part in the _Trent_ affair and Fenian raids, followingthe close of the American civil war. 

Later, Sergeant Rundle became instructor at the Toronto MilitarySchool, where he trained some men now very prominent in Canadianaffairs. He also was a member of the Red River expedition, whichhelped very much to open up and develop that western empire whosegolden tide of grain is now flowing into the wheat bins of the BritishEmpire. 

Scattered through the story are many interesting reminiscences andincidents. The actors in these dramas of a young nation's birth arefalling by the wayside, and few have left a record of theiradventures. It is from such that history is written. 

In revising the manuscript, "by order" of my truest of Klondikefriends, Colonel S. B. Steele, C. B. , M. V. O. (the lion of the Yukon), I have endeavored to interfere as little as possible with SergeantRundle's pleasant and simple style of narrative, and it has been apleasure to assist one whose record and character are without stain, and whose loyalty to sovereign and country is without blemish. 

HENRY J. WOODSIDE. 

Ottawa, Ont. , August 9, 1909. 

A SOLDIER'S LIFE. 

CHAPTER I. 

I was born September 17th, 1838, in the town of Penryn, County ofCornwall, England, and was educated at the national and privateschools. When my education was sufficiently advanced, I was apprenticedto learn the trade of carpenter and joiner. My father was apaper-maker, and lived all his lifetime in the town. He was a strictteetotaler, and brought up his family, four boys and one girl, on theprinciples of temperance, which he assured us would form the basis ofour future prosperity and happiness. 

There are but two of our family living--my eldest brother, now in hiseightieth year, and the writer. My brother is able to attend to hisbusiness at the factory where he has worked all his lifetime, and webless our father's memory. 

It was at the age of fifteen that I began to learn my trade, mymaster's name being Samuel Rogers, builder and contractor. I enteredupon my duties full of life and ambition, determined to become a goodmechanic, and at the end of five years my progress toward that end wasquite satisfactory. 

However, a change was to take place. On a beautiful summer morning Ibought a ticket for Plymouth, and took passage on a small steamer thatplied between Falmouth and that port. My friends were not aware of myintention not to return again, but understood I was visiting. It didnot take long for me to get in touch with the military stationed in thegarrison. The parade marching past and the bands playing filled me withadmiration, and finally I made up my mind to enlist in one of theregiments. 

After the Crimean war the 17th Leicestershire Regiment was quartered inQuebec, and early in 1858 the Horse Guards ordered the raising of asecond battalion. The nucleus was supplied by the first battalion, sentto England and quartered on Maker Heights, in the Plymouth district. Having heard of the formation of this battalion, I went to itsheadquarters and offered myself for enlistment to Sergeant-Major Monk. This was the beginning of a lasting friendship. 

The sergeant-major acted in a kind and fatherly manner toward me, explaining the soldier's life, and gave me sound advice, and when wewere satisfied with this part, the following question was asked: "Areyou free, willing, able to serve in H. M. 2nd Battalion, 17th Regiment, for ten years, not exceeding twelve, if Her Majesty so long requiresyour services?"

I answered: "I am. " Then the sergeant-major placed a shilling in myhand. 

This took place on the 15th of July, 1858. The next day I was inspectedby the surgeon and was declared medically fit. The following day aJustice of the Peace swore me in, and signed my attestation, and I wasthen posted to No. 2 Company, my regimental number being 404. 

A new life was now before me, and I am glad to say my desires were notaltered; that I wished to be loyal to my Queen, dutiful to my country, obedient and courteous to my superiors, which in after years I found tobe an important factor in a soldier's life. 

With other recruits, I was marched to the quartermaster's stores toreceive my kit and clothing. These consisted of a knapsack, two shirts, two towels, two pairs of socks, one pair of boots, knife, fork andspoon, one razor, one shaving brush, two shoe brushes, box of blacking, one comb, one sponge, one button brush, one button holder, one tunic, one shell jacket, two pairs trousers. The above were issued withinstructions that they be kept in repair, and replaced if lost or wornout. 

I was placed in a squad with ten others for drill. The stock then usedaround the neck was made of thick heavy leather about two inches high, with large brass fasteners behind, and at times this was quite painfulfor want of ventilation, and it was difficult to lower the head withoutbending the body from the hips. We had to endure this four hours a day, but after a while we got accustomed to it and did not mind. 

The worst part to contend with was the food; there was not sufficientfor the hungry recruit, and had it not been for the $15. 00 bountyplaced to our credit, we should soon have become shadows of our formerselves. The pay after deduction was eight cents, issued daily, so wecould not have many extras but for the bounty. The following is a billof fare for a day: One and one-half pounds of bread, three-quarterpound of meat, one pound of potatoes, pint of coffee, pint of tea andpint of soup. After being dismissed from drill we had to visit thecanteen and buy bread and cheese, or whatever else we could get, at ourown expense, for I can assure the reader we were a hungry crowd. 

I became fond of the drill and exercises and soon passed into a highersquad, and I also made good progress towards an inspection that wasabout to be made as to fitness for the first squad. We had anexcellent, good-natured instructor, Color-Sergeant Summers, who hadserved in the Crimea. He used to say to the squad, while at bayonetdrill, when our thrusts did not please him, "You could not make a holein a lump of butter, much less in a man. "

He would also insist that our heads be held up as high as waspracticable without breaking our necks. On one occasion a recruitthought it was impossible for him to look down again, and therefore bidthe sergeant good-bye, which brought a hearty laugh from the veteran. 

In the fall of that year we moved over to Plymouth and occupied theCitadel and Millbay barracks. During the Crimean war the Russianprisoners were sent to several parts of England. Some four hundred, with several officers, were confined in the Millbay barracks, and itwas a considerable time after the war ended when they were sent back toRussia. While in England they were well cared for, the rations wereexcellent, and visitors were allowed to see them once a week. 

The prisoners would make fancy articles, such as rings, pins, slippers, etc. , and sell them to the visitors. Of course, the officers wereparoled; the men were allowed out twice a week. They would enjoy theconcert given by the military bands during the summer season, and whenthe time came for them to leave, if they had their choice they wouldrather remain than return to their native country. I was present andsaw them embark. 

In October, 1858, I was promoted to the rank of lance-corporal. Now myresponsibilities began. Instead of doing sentry-go when on guard, I wassecond in command and posted the sentries. I was also relieved fromfatigue duties and other work the private has to do. I drew the CompanyB rations and acted as orderly to the company officers. Here was a timefor a young N. C. O. To show to all concerned his tact, consistency andall the business capabilities he possessed. Although my promotioncarried no extra pay, I was proud of it, with my eyes keenly open forthe next stripe. 

Although I had received invitations to return home and continue mytrade, I did not do so, but instead commenced to study and becomeacquainted with the several departments, in view of promotion and alsoof becoming an instructor. 

The battalion on its formation was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel HughD. Crofton, formerly of the 20th Regiment, who was with this regimentin the Crimea and commanded a wing at the battle of the Alma. Theadjutant was Lieutenant A. A. Ross, who rose from the ranks and someyears later became our paymaster. The sergeant-major was W. W. Monk(who subsequently became the quartermaster), and Faulkner was thequartermaster. The officers I have mentioned were those I had to do themost business with. 

We had now settled down for the winter. I was very fond of outdoorsports, and when I contested anything it would be running, especiallylong distances, and I generally won prizes. I encouraged it among themen, as I thought good runners would be good marchers, which in afteryears proved true. 

The winter was long and tedious, and those who enjoyed the game ofcricket were deprived of any other sport to take its place. We had somevery fine players from the Midland Counties. Our small librarycontained about two or three hundred books, and it was well patronized. We asked for more books and a reading room, to which I shall referagain. Our battalion had recruited to its full strength, viz. , the fullcomplement of officers and 800 rank and file. The average age in theregiment was twenty, physique all that could be desired, and withcareful and progressive training, we hoped to be amongst the finestregiments in H. M. Service. Having no gymnasium, the only means oftraining was the usual drill. The sport season opened with spring, andwe commenced playing cricket on Good Friday on the Plymouth Hoe. 

By good conduct and attention to duty I was again promoted. Thefollowing appeared in daily orders: "The commanding officer has beenpleased to make the following promotion: No. 404, Lance-Corporal E. G. Rundle, No. 2. Company, to be corporal in No. 6 Company, _vice_ Jones, promoted. " I now became an effective N. C. O. With additional pay, theduties being the same as before explained. I was transferred to No. 6Company. Lieutenant Moss was appointed musketry instructor, and J. Smith, from the school of musketry, sergeant-instructor. This was achange, but we all knew we must be taught to shoot and understandeverything in connection with the rifle. A lecture-room was fitted upand furnished, and two companies were struck off duty in order to takethe course. 

We had a very funny, good-natured Irishman in my company. His name wasJohn Deegan. The company was attending a lecture. Mr. Moss had justfinished explaining the three kinds of sights that could be taken, whenhe asked the funny man, "What is a fine sight?" and Deegan answered, "It's a good roast of beef coming from the cookhouse, sir. " The companywas then dismissed amid roars of laughter. 

In July one year of my service was completed, and we received orders tobe held in readiness to proceed to Aldershot. The men were fond ofmoving from one station to another. I soon adapted myself to it, and inthis way I saw what an opportunity I should have in being educated inall the departments of military service, not thinking that some day Iwould be one of the organizers of the splendid forces in our fairDominion. 

We received our route and entrained at the Plymouth station. It must beremembered that 75 per cent. Of the regiment had only one year'sservice to their credit. On the morning we paraded in complete marchingorder. The three regiments in garrison sent their bands to help oursend-off. A very striking feature of our departure was the presence ofa large number of fair maidens. Handkerchiefs were very much inevidence, and by the appearance of things much weeping was going on. The bands were playing the familiar tunes of "Good-bye, sweetheart, "and "The girl I left behind me. " The train moved out amid much cheeringand bands playing, and we were on our way to the great camp atAldershot, where we were to take part with 40, 000 men during the drillseason, little dreaming after many roving years to return to Plymouthagain. The conduct of the regiment during its stay in Plymouth wasexcellent, and we received many expressions of regret from the citizenson our departure. 

CHAPTER II. 

Arriving at Aldershot the next morning, the regiment paraded atFarnboro station, Aldershot, some three miles from the camp, andmarched to Cove Common and immediately went under canvas. We wereattached to the reserve brigade commanded by Major-General Gordon, andconsisting of the 12th and 21st regiments of infantry, 1st battalion ofColdstream Guards, a regiment of dragoons, a battery of artillery, together with transport and medical departments. Two days after ourarrival we had a field day. We marched to the Long Valley, where wewere drilled for several hours, and when we returned to camp it wasdifficult to tell who was who. It was an extremely hot day, and thedust stuck to our faces and made us look like negroes. 

During the summer I was detailed to escort a deserter to Plymouth. Thesergeant-major gave me an opportunity to see my relatives there. Theprisoner was a deserter from H. M. S. _Implacable_, stationed inPlymouth Sound. He had been a few months in the regiment and it wasnot to his liking. He surrendered, and I handed him over to thecommanding officer of his ship. If I failed to do this I would betried by court-martial and sentenced to be reduced to the rank and payof a private. The court is also empowered to add imprisonment withhard labor not exceeding 42 days. The charge would be neglect of dutyin allowing a prisoner to escape from custody. So it was with muchsolicitude that I took over my prisoner. Private Peter Coady of my owncompany was my escort. When we paraded with the prisoner handcuffed, the sergeant-major handed me my instructions and money to defrayexpenses. The prisoner was allowed 12-1/2 cents per day. We thenloaded our rifles, fixed bayonets, and marched off to Farnboro stationen route to Southampton. 

After we were comfortably seated in the coach, I did not like to seethe prisoner handcuffed, so removed the shackles. He entered intoconversation with a passenger, which for a while made me suspicious. However, that passed away, and in a few hours we arrived atSouthampton. It was my duty to take the prisoner to the lock-up andprovide him with refreshments, and take him over again when the steamerwas ready to sail for Plymouth. Instead of that, I allowed him to gowith us and have dinner at our hotel. After the meal we sat conversing, when, without warning, the prisoner left the room and tried to make hisescape. Coady was too smart for him, and pulled him down off the walland secured him. We found out the passenger he met on the train hadsomething to do with it. After that the prisoner was kept handcuffed. 

We arrived at Millbay the next morning, took the prisoner to his ship, handed him over and got a receipt and expenses incurred during thetrip, for which the naval authorities were responsible, and thenreported at military headquarters, Mount Wise. We were attached to the10th Regiment, just returned from China. We remained in Plymouth threedays, which gave me an opportunity to visit my friends. 

On embarking at Millbay wharf, it being a very dark night, my escort, Private Coady, missed his footing on the gang plank and fell overboardbetween the steamer and the wharf. With much difficulty he was rescued, having had a narrow escape from drowning. We missed the train atSouthampton, but the chief of police billeted us at the Queen's Hotel. The following day we reported at Aldershot. 

We had very few sham fights during the summer, but field days werefrequent. A divisional order would issue that "H. R. H. Duke ofCambridge, commander-in-chief, would visit the camp, and all brigadeswould parade and form in the Long Valley to-morrow at 9 a. M. " We knewthat meant a hard field day. The Duke was a great soldier and wouldhave things done right, and always gave credit where it was due. On oneoccasion he was heard to say: "What regiment is that?" One of the fieldofficers replied: "It's the 17th, your Highness. " "It's steady, andtheir marching is excellent. " When the commander-in-chief or any of theRoyal family visited the camp the Royal Standard was hoisted atheadquarters. 

Orders were issued on one occasion that we leave camp for seven daysand become a flying column. Then the whole brigade struck tents atdaybreak, and marched the first day to Walmer forest and remained theretwo days. This is a distance of 16 miles, and to do this in heavymarching order was a good test of the marching powers of our youngbattalion; but the men were equal to the occasion and did the march inexcellent form. 

When the reveille sounded the next morning we were leaving camp. Asevere thunderstorm came up and we were obliged to strike and packtents during the storm. A young private did not fall in when hiscompany was parading, and one of the officers asked him the reason hewas not doing so. He replied that he did not have his breakfast andwould not fall in till he had. He was at once made a prisoner andmarched as such to Walmer forest, when the commanding officer appliedfor a drumhead court-martial. In consequence of the prisoner's previousgood character, the general directed the colonel to deal with the case, and he was sentenced to seven days' cells. 

When we arrived we found our arms, accoutrements and kit in a badstate, so the troops were kept busy for some time spreading theirclothing in the sun to dry and cleaning their belongings in general;but soon the camp began to look cheerful, the flags were hoisted onheadquarters and other tents, the bands were playing, and everythingforgotten except sore feet. Having enjoyed a day's rest, we marched toCęsar's Hill, about the same distance as the previous march. 

The mimic warfare commenced. We threw out an outlying picket withsupports and reserve, and the whole camp was placed in a state ofdefence against a supposed enemy in the distance. 

Parties were sent out, skirmishing extended and trenches dug. This wasquite exciting and gave us an idea of what we should have to confrontduring our later service. The commissariat department supplied allrations on the spot. They killed and baked on the camp grounds, andissued groceries and vegetables every morning. 

We remained two days in this camp. Our next march was to Sandhurst. Wewere to be near the great military college whose cadet corps would takepart in the brigade drill. A regiment of hussars attached to ourbrigade formed the advance guard, preceded us several miles, and ontheir arrival accidentally set the heather on fire, so when the troopsarrived they were put to work. After some hard fighting and excitingincidents we extinguished it. We remained here two days, continuingcamp life and field work, finally returning to our camp grounds, CoveCommon. 

As the fall set in camp was broken up, and my regiment was to occupythe west block of the permanent barracks, and my reward for the part Ihad taken during the drill season was promotion to the rank oflance-sergeant, and to my great delight I was occasionally called uponto instruct a squad of recruits. 

A very important factor in our training, one of the finest gymnasiumsin the world, was near completion and would be ready to receive squadsfor instruction in a short time. Eventually we were ordered to preparesquads for gymnastic work, and those who had the privilege of attendingit liked it very much. I was very fond of fencing, single stick andsword drill. This gymnasium was built and equipped, and the exercises, systematized and progressive, were the same as those at OxfordUniversity. They were under the supervision of Professor McLaren, andin after years were introduced and used in the French and Germanarmies. 

At Christmas I obtained a furlough to visit my people at Penryn. Thenext day after arrival, in my sergeant's uniform with silk sash andgold stripes, I visited my friends and my former companions. I was theonly soldier in the town. 

During Christmas day two regiments--2nd battalion 25th, and TowerHamlets Militia--quartered in the east block, were disputing as towhich had the best dinner. The dispute became so hot that the men ranto their barrack rooms and opened fire on each other. The space betweenthe barracks was covered with glass. Every man had possession of tenrounds of ball cartridge, which he kept in his pouch. Every reasonablemeans was used to stop the firing, but they still kept it up. At lastit was found necessary to bring up a battery of artillery, and therioters were warned that if they did not cease firing the battery wouldopen fire upon them. In a short time they ceased and the rioters weremade prisoners, later tried by court-martial and sentenced to longterms of imprisonment. Fortunately no one was killed, and the onlycasualty was a drummer slightly wounded. The next day both regimentsreturned their ammunition into the magazine. The Tower Hamlets wereordered to their headquarters, London, and disbanded. The 25th weresent to Spike Island, a convict settlement near Queenstown, Ireland. 

We had now a very nice reading-room, also a library. A regimentalschool was opened and the children attended. Any man who could not reador write must attend school until he obtained a fourth-classcertificate, but that did not prevent him from advancing. If he wishedpromotion he must obtain a third-class for corporal, second-class forsergeant, and a first-class certificate would be an important factor ifhe were looking toward a commission. 

Being musical, I took a great interest in our band, which by this timehad become a fairly good one. Our bandmaster, Mr. John Holt, wastransferred from the Stafford Militia and was a most genial andcourteous gentleman. Our band-sergeant was Charles Fitzpatrick, son ofthe sergeant-major of the South Devon Militia, and, like the master, hewas a fine fellow. In 1868 he was appointed bandmaster of the 18thRoyal Irish. There were some good voices in the band, and in renderingprogrammes there would generally be a chorus which we enjoyed. The onlydrill during the winter was route marching; we also had gymnastics andan occasional lecture from adjutant, sergeant-major or musketryinstructor. 

The spring drill of 1860 commenced, and every man must have a month'ssetting up. This means lots of work for the instructors; everyregimental parade ground for three hours daily is covered with squads, commencing with section one, doing squad drill till they reachbattalion drill, when the companies amalgamate and drill together. 

During the summer Her Majesty the Queen, the Prince Consort and membersof the Royal family visited the camp. The Queen and her escort cameinto our block, and entered one of our barrack rooms to see a soldier'scot. We used to make up the bed, drawing the paillasse to the front, but by keeping it against the back it gave a space in the front, thenthe man, folding his rug neatly and placing it in the space, made acomfortable seat for himself, his back resting against the paillasse. There are no chairs in a barrack room. Her Majesty sat on one of thecots and expressed her satisfaction at the new arrangement. Anotherincident occurred while the Queen and party were approaching the centreblock, occupied by the 21st Regiment. The sentry would not allow thecarriages to pass through the block; those were the orders. Although anA. D. C. Drew the soldier's attention to the fact that it was the Queen, it did not matter. He said he would not be doing his duty by allowingit. The adjutant was sent for and took the responsibility. The sentrywas commended for doing his duty and was promoted for it. 

About this time I had some trouble with a man in my company. Hisgeneral conduct was such as required watching; he was constantly beingpunished. He would desert and be brought back, tried by districtcourt-martial, sentenced to be flogged and imprisoned for perhaps 112days. One night I called the roll at tattoo and found him wanting. Ireported that night Private James Watson absent, took an inventory ofhis effects and hoped he would not return. Some few days after I wascalled to the guard room to identify a man of my company, whom I foundto be Watson; but such a sight I never looked upon. It appears hewandered into the country and saw in the middle of a field a scarecrow. The clothes were all in rags, but that did not matter to Watson. Heexchanged with the scarecrow, and placing his uniform in its stead, dressed himself in the tattered suit and continued his journey, only tobe arrested and brought back to the barracks. The end of poor Watsonwill be learned later. 

Colonel Crofton, not wishing, for private reasons, to go on foreignservice at present, made an exchange with Colonel Franklin, whocommanded a depot battalion quartered at Colchester, and previous tohis departure he was pleased to promote me to the rank of sergeant. Iwas now on the effective list. Personally I was extremely sorry tolose Colonel Crofton. He had always taken an interest in my welfareand never refused me any reasonable privilege. Colonel Franklin, whotook command, was an old soldier and an old man. He was not thedisciplinarian his predecessor was--very quiet, and more like a fatherto the boys than the fiery warrior before him. We knew that ColonelFranklin's command would be short, as he would not take the battalionon foreign service, and that Major McKinstry would succeed him. Oursergeant-major was promoted to the rank of quartermaster, _vice_Faulkner, retired, and Color-Sergeant George Jackson promoted tosergeant-major, _vice_ Monk, promoted. 

We received orders to proceed to Shorncliffe Camp in the county ofKent, a few miles from Folkstone. Major-General Carey having inspectedthe battalion, we entrained at Farnboro Station. The bands of severalregiments in camp came to play us off, and we bid good-bye toAldershot. That afternoon we arrived at our new station, where wemet the 16th Bedfordshires and 18th Royal Irish. We were royallyentertained by our new comrades and soon became great friends. Shorncliffe is situated on a high hill just over the town of Sandgateand about two miles from the school of musketry at Hythe. We werequartered in huts, which were very comfortable but not to be comparedwith our last quarters. 

We have our reading room and school, and they are well attended, but wemiss the gymnasium, for as yet none has been built outside Aldershot, nor will there be until qualified instructors are forthcoming to takecharge of them. 

We have four prisoners confined in the headquarters guard room awaitingsentence. One of the prisoners is Private Watson, mentioned before inconnection with the scarecrow. These four men had been tried by generalcourt-martial on serious charges--two for striking officers, the othertwo for desertion and making away with their kits. As a matter of factthey were incorrigible. The evening orders announced that the brigadewould parade at 9 a. M. The following day, when the proceedings of thecourt-martial would be read to the troops and the prisoners. There hadbeen a slight snow-fall during the night and the morning was quitecold. The brigade was formed in the square, the general and his staffin the centre. The prisoners were marched from the guard room under astrong escort, and when everything was in readiness the brigade-major, who had charge of the proceedings, commenced to read. Calling one ofthe prisoners by name, he stepped to the front, took off his cap andlistened to the reading of the proceedings of the court that tried himand which found him guilty. Then followed the sentence in this form:"The court, having found the prisoner guilty of all the chargespreferred against him, and in consequence of his previous very badcharacter, do now sentence the prisoner to be shot to death bymusketry. " Here the officer paused; the prisoner was very pale andtrembling. Continuing, the brigade-major read: "But in consideration ofthe prisoner's youth Her Majesty has been pleased to commute thesentence to penal servitude for life. " The other prisoner for the sameoffences received the same sentence and commutation. The other twoprisoners were sentenced to fifty lashes, which they received that coldmorning on the spot, and to be imprisoned with hard labor for tenyears. 

Our social intercourse with our comrades in the camp was all that couldbe desired. Entertainments of various kinds were given and a pleasantwinter spent. During our stay at Shorncliffe I was sent to musketryschool. 

CHAPTER III. 

In the spring we received orders to hold ourselves in readiness toembark for Dublin. This pleased us very much, for we were anxious tosee old Ireland. We were conveyed to Bristol by train and then embarkedfor Dublin. Arriving without incident, we disembarked. Eight companiesmarched to and took up quarters at Richmond barracks. The other twocompanies, which included my own, occupied Linen Hall barracks. 

We found quite a difference in the general routine of a soldier's lifein Dublin. There were 5, 000 troops in garrison, including a battalionof Grenadier Guards, and ceremonial parades were in evidence. Thetrooping of the colors at guard mounting on the esplanade was one ofthe most spectacular. The marching past in slow time to the music ofmassed bands, together with the other beautiful movements attached tothis grand old practice, drew thousands of citizens to witness it. Those grand displays were no doubt the means of establishing afriendship between soldiers and citizens. This was a very proudgarrison, and the men vied with each other in dress and generalappearance on the streets and public thoroughfares of the city. It wascommanded by General Sir George Brown. 

We said good-bye to Colonel Franklin, and Major McKinstry was gazettedlieutenant-colonel and to command the battalion. The colonel was wellliked by all ranks. He was with the 1st Battalion during the Crimeanwar, and was an officer who studied the individual soldier and attendedto his welfare. He had a keen memory. We had a transfer from the 1stBattalion who had also been in the Crimea. He was brought up for beingdrunk. I do not know whether the colonel intended to bring his previousconduct against him, but in his admonition and advice reminded him thatone night in the trenches before Sebastopol he was drunk. 

Next we marched to the Curragh camp to be quartered there during thebalance of the drill season. The distance is about 25 miles. We leftRichmond barracks about 9 a. M. It was a very hard hot day's work thatwe had before us. We carried a lunch in our haversacks, and when we gotinto the country we received humorous and good-natured replies toquestions we asked those we met. For instance, I was in charge of asection of the advance guard, and I asked a native how far we were fromNaas. He answered: "Three miles and a wee bit, sur. " We would aboutcover that distance and ask another native, receiving the same answer. So we trudged on looking anxiously for church spires and chimney tops. At last we saw the long-looked-for halting place, and Naas with all theIrish beauties it contained was near. The band, that had been silent aconsiderable distance, struck up "Garry own to glory. "

After supper the men cleaned up, went into the village, and were mostcordially greeted, especially by the fair sex, who indeed were Irishbeauties. We marched out of the village amidst cheering and the playingof Irish airs by the band. In two hours the camp was in sight, and whenabout a mile from it we were met by two bands, belonging to 11th and86th regiments, with whom we were to brigade, and also an invitationfrom the sergeants of the 11th regiment to lunch at their mess afterour immediate duties had been performed. We took up our quarters in "F"square and were again in huts, but everything for the comfort of theregiment was at hand. The commanding officer was pleased to appoint mebattalion drill instructor, and about this time Ensign Mogg Rolph, aCanadian, was gazetted and posted to the regiment, and I had the honorand pleasure of being his instructor for some time. The presentLieutenant-Colonel Rolph will always have a place amongst my best andhappiest thoughts. H. R. H. The Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, was incamp and attached to the 39th Regiment for the drill season. He wasdoing captain's duty and attended battalion, brigade and divisionaldrills; we saw H. R. H. Quite frequently. Her Majesty the Queen visitedthe camp that summer. It rained the day of review, but that did notmatter; thousands were present to greet the Queen and shoutedthemselves hoarse. 

General Sir George Brown was in command. The Curragh is a beautifulspot, there being such a large area for sham fights, field days anddrills in general. The rifle ranges are adjacent to the camp, eachregiment having its own range. The routine of camp life is the same asin the other camps we have been quartered in. There is a small theatrein the camp where the troops give performances weekly. Each corps hasits own amateurs and takes turns to furnish programmes, theatrical, literary, vocal and musical. There was good talent to be found in thecamp. The Prince would occasionally attend a performance, and no doubtenjoyed it. 

We were shown a monument erected to the memory of a captain who wasaccidentally shot. It appears his company, which he was in charge of atthe time, had completed their firing and were returning to camp by acircuitous route. Other corps were firing at the time, when a ricochetbullet struck the captain and killed him. 

About this time we received extremely sad news to the effect thatLieutenant-Colonel Crofton, who so recently left us, had beenassassinated on the barrack-square in Colchester. It appears that aprivate had neglected his duty when on picket sentry, and the adjutantbrought him before the colonel and reported his neglect, and he wassentenced to an extra duty. It being Saturday, the men of his companywere all assembled in an upper room for medical inspection. He tookadvantage of this and went to a room on the ground floor, and procuringa rifle, loaded it. During this time the two officers had left theorderly room and were walking arm in arm up the barrack square, theadjutant being nearest. The assassin fired, the bullet going throughthe body of the adjutant and entering the colonel's, and both werekilled. The man was tried and hanged. The sergeants of my regiment madean application to wear mourning for four successive Sundays, as a markof respect toward our late commanding officer. The commander-in-chiefgranted it. 

The furlough season was near and I was to leave for six weeks, commencing at Christmas, but there was something not very pleasantgoing on between the United States and England over the _Trent_affair. It looked so serious that some 25, 000 troops were placed underorders to proceed to North America, and the "Tigers, " our battalion, was among them. We had received orders to the effect that as soon asthe hired transport steamships _Cleopatra_ and _Mauritius_ were ready, we would embark for Halifax, Nova Scotia. The commanding officerinformed me that I could not have my leave, and those already on leavewould be recalled immediately. In this case the company owning theseships was responsible only for the conveyance; the militaryauthorities were to make all other arrangements. 

The commanding officer selected me to superintend the shipping andstowing away of provisions and clothing, which was to be done at HaulBowlin, where the regiment was to embark, and I left at once to performthis duty. Arriving in Cork, I reported at the quartermaster-general'sdepartment and was attached to the 12th Regiment. Christmas was nearand the steamer had not arrived. On Christmas the regiment arrived atCork station. I went down to meet them and returned to the barracks, where the right wing remained till they embarked. Not a drum was heard, in consequence of the death of H. R. H. The Prince Consort. The battalionmarched to barracks in death-like silence, with colors draped and othersigns of mourning visible. The sergeants of my regiment were invited todine with their old comrades of the 12th on Christmas Day. We wereenjoying our dinner when an orderly summoned me to the orderly room. When I reported I found the Q. M. G. , colonel, quartermaster, adjutantand others assembled. I was ordered to at once prepare to accompanythem to Haul Bowlin. That stopped my Christmas festivities, but the12th boys filled my haversack with good things. 

On arrival my duties were at once explained to me. I was to make notesof the disposition of all packages, barrels, bales, etc. , of provisionand clothing, so they could be found without difficulty during thevoyage. A winter campaign was expected, and we had considerable fursand clothing to meet it. Not far from Haul Bowlin is Spike Island, aconvict settlement, and the convicts were brought over to put the goodson board. It was difficult to have them do as I desired, but the guardswith loaded carbines soon brought them to time, and in a few days mywork was completed, and on the 1st of January, 1862, the wing embarkedand sailed for Halifax. 

When the battalion paraded in Cork barracks the morning they wereleaving, General Blood addressed them, giving some good advice to thisyoung regiment, warning them against drinking rum, but instead to drinkmilk. 

The first thing we had to face was seasickness, and very few escapedit. The voyage was a tempestuous one. We met a heavy gale when outseveral days, but no damage was done; the ship was intact at the end ofthe passage and the men in the best of health and spirits. Arriving atNewfoundland we took on a pilot. The colonel asked him how the troublebetween the two countries was progressing. He assured us that it hadbeen amicably settled. That meant no fighting. The men weredisappointed. 

CHAPTER IV. 

We arrived in Halifax, N. S. , on January 11th, and quartered inWellington barracks. We were now waiting the arrival of the left wing, which sailed a few days later but did not reach Halifax till the 10thof February. The gale we encountered spent itself on the _Mauritius_. She came into port with masts and bulwarks carried away. No one wasdrowned or injured in the storm. They immediately disembarked and tookup their quarters in Wellington barracks. 

The left wing of the 2nd Battalion (17th) sailed from Cork on the 9thof January, 1862, having Major Colthurst in command, and, togetherwith some batteries of the Royal Artillery, embarked on the troopship_Mauritius_. Every possible arrangement had been made by the WarOffice for the care of these soldiers, and, having regard to the time, they were well provided for. Almost the first thing furnished afterthe men got on board was a plentiful supply of tobacco; this wasfollowed by kit-bags and warm underclothing, calculated to meet thethen severity of the Canadian climate. The men were allotted each ahammock, and the color-sergeants were given a comfortable cabin withsix sleeping berths in it and three blankets each; but mattresses andpillows were the result of artistic kit supply arrangements. 

The officers had fairly good staterooms, but necessarily were a gooddeal crowded together. The men's food was hard tack, salt pork (withsalt beef on two days of each week), good tea and sugar (no milk, breador butter), and potatoes and cabbage. A lot of good rum was served outto all twice a day. As both the artillery and infantry had been oversix months together in three-piece shelters or bivouacs at Aldershot, with only one blanket each, this ship-board treatment was thought agreat luxury. It was at the period just after the Opposition to theEnglish Government had said that the British navy could not sail andthe British soldier could not march. 

General Pennefather undertook to qualify the army in marching bykeeping about fifty thousand of them on their legs to the extent of atleast twenty miles per day, often thirty, and as there was no end pieceto the shelter tents, most of us were seldom dry, and rarely took offour boots. This resulted in about one-fourth of the command beingweeded out, but those left were men such as the Duke of Wellingtonpraised when he said, "He could take his Peninsular Army anywhere anddo anything with it. " It is true that when Wellington's veterans didget back to barracks their bodies had to have insect lotion and theirclothing had to be burnt, but they were all men the Empire could beproud of. 

The voyage lasted thirty-one days and was a very rough one. Thebeautiful horses of the artillery suffered greatly, although they wereall strung up in slings. After the first few days five or six werefound to be dead each morning, and it was pitiful to see their carcasesbeing thrown overboard. Owing to the length of the voyage, the nicefood provided for the officers ran out, and they cheerfully put up withthe hard tack and salted meats served to the men. We seldom got ondeck, but were a most happy family, excepting those who were seasick, and with few exceptions these were all out of their hammocks after thesecond week. One poor chap, Sergeant Regan, never got over hissea-sickness, and swore he would never go to sea again. Strange to say, he was the very first man to be ordered home to England again as drillinstructor for the Depot, so that he was scarcely on land three monthsbefore he had to take his medicine again. 

Owing to the very bad weather, the waves got into the habit of breakingover the funnel of the steamer and thereby causing a steam explosiondown below. This so worked on the nerves of the stokers that they gotup a mutiny, in which the other sailors joined, the object being toforce the captain to return the steamer to England. They thought thatif this was not done they would share the fate of the horses, and thedaily sight of the dead animals was certainly not very encouraging. However, the mutiny was the most absurd undertaking ever attempted bysailors, as we soldiers were nearly all qualified and willing to taketheir places, which was quite unnecessary, as one or two quick militarycourt-martials took all thoughts of mutiny out of their minds. 

When we got to St. John's, Nfld. , where we put in for coal, we were allastounded at the amount of snow and ice, and what struck us as funnywere the shingled roofs on the houses. But a very short time in Canadataught us that the Canadians knew more about how to live and do intheir country than we did. 

What we wondered at most when we reached Halifax was, who were thoseswell-looking soldiers on the wharf with white facings on theirovercoats and long swagger leather boots with queer-looking spurs onthem. To our surprise and delight, on nearing the dock, we found theywere the right wing of our own regiment, newly clothed, and thesupposed spurs were only military ice-creepers. 

We settled down and anticipated a long stay in this garrison. The 62ndand 63rd were in quarters here when we arrived, but left for St. John, N. B. , thus making room for the 16th Bedfordshire. We were quite pleasedto meet with our old friends and comrades again, and our socialintercourse was extremely pleasant. The city was crowded with all armsof the service which happened to be on the water when the United Statesyielded to Britain's demands. They were waiting orders to proceed totheir destination, which they received, and moved to points in Quebecand Ontario, leaving a sufficient force necessary to garrison anddefend Halifax. 

We were glad to find a splendid gymnasium, with library, reading andrefreshment rooms, which were thoroughly appreciated and patronized. The weather was extremely cold, or we thought so. The "Bluenoses" wouldonly smile when we complained of it, so we thought it advisable tobecome acclimatized as soon as possible. We formed skating clubs, andon the little lakes and any frozen space outside the city could be seensoldiers trying their best to keep their equilibrium, but they becamefairly good acrobats before this was accomplished. Later we took to theNorth West Arm, where cricket and other games were played. We foundthis most invigorating and splendid pastime. During the winter weformed a society for the purpose of improving ourselves in literature. We had in the regiment John Smith, musketry instructor, and SergeantGeorge Smith. These were two educated and capable men, and offered todo all in their power for the advancement of this class. These brotherswere also good actors, and trained us in theatricals, which became partof our lives. 

The married women and children were now on passage to join thebattalion. In view of the reception for them the writer was appointedchairman of a committee to make arrangements and provide refreshmentsfor their reception. Those who are interested are watching the signalstation at the Citadel. The ship will be signaled at least two hoursbefore she comes up the harbor. At last we are notified that thesteamer with her precious cargo is in sight, the banqueting room isprepared and everything they could wish for is ready. All the cabs, hacks, etc. , have been hired to convey the loved ones to their newhome. They arrive in good health and spirits. The reception, which wasa great success, was soon over, and the families repaired to theirrespective quarters. I received the thanks and best wishes of theladies, who hoped I would have one of the best wives when I married. 

In the spring we prepared for our course of musketry, when thefollowing paragraph appeared in regimental orders: "The commandingofficer has been pleased to make the following promotions andappointments: Color-Sergeant Robert Gilbert to be quarter-master-sergeant, _vice_ Draycott, discharged. Sergeant E. G. Rundle to be color-sergeant, _vice_ Gilbert, promoted. " I did not expect this promotion, for therewere several sergeants my senior, and I would rather one of them werepromoted, but I had no say in the matter. The commanding officer hadmade his choice and that ended it. The ordeal of meeting my comradesin the mess-room that night put me to the blush, and I will with allmodesty repeat what was said on my meeting them: "Hurrah for Teddy!Here is our new color-sergeant. We are glad you got it, Teddy; youdeserve it. For he's a jolly good fellow, " etc. 

The rifle ranges are fourteen miles east of Dartmouth, a town oppositeHalifax. We marched to Chobham camp, where the ranges are located, andspent two weeks to complete our course. We found the eastern passage avery pleasant part of Nova Scotia. After our duties were ended eachday, we went boating, fishing, lobster catching and swimming. 

Our course was a decided success, and we returned to Halifax andresumed our usual duties. The American civil war was still in progress, and the city was generally in a state of excitement. There was muchanxiety as to the battles being fought and the news that would bereceived for the next bulletin. Of course, both sides had theirfriends, and there were a great many Americans sojourning in the city. 

For many years outposts were established at points easily reached andaccessible to the United States, to prevent deserters entering thatcountry. The troops in garrison furnished the men to occupy theseposts, and many a would-be deserter had been captured and returned totheir respective corps. Our band, now among the best in H. M. Service, gave concerts in the Horticultural Gardens, which were highlyappreciated. We had an occasional field day, our strength beingaugmented by the addition of the two militia battalions and the navalbrigade from the warships in the harbor. These parades were alwaysenjoyed by the citizens. 

With extreme regret I had to part with my captain; he had received anappointment as staff officer of pensioners in Australia. I must informthe reader that the captain and color-sergeant are closely allied. Thesergeant is the captain's secretary, and they confer when necessary onmatters pertaining to the company's standing, etc. Captain John Hunterwas succeeded by Captain William Robinson, who came to us from the 1stBattalion; he was a very young captain and also a handsome soldier. Heserved with his battalion in the Crimea. At the age of seventeen he wasgazetted ensign and went to the front almost immediately. I saidgood-bye to Captain Hunter, and Lieutenant Gamble (who, I believe, wasborn and educated in the city of Toronto) took command of the companyuntil the arrival of the new captain. 

As the winter approaches, drill ceases and we become active in thetheatrical line. There has been added to the gymnasium a small theatre, where we shall hold our entertainments. The garrison is commanded byMajor-General Sir Charles Hastings Doyle. He is a great friend of thesoldier, and is always ready to do anything in his power for theenjoyment and pleasure of the troops. Captain Robinson arrives, and Imeet one of the handsomest soldiers I have yet seen. He is young andfair, tall and commanding, and his unassumed dignity is in keeping withhis handsome physique. He extends his hand and gives me a cordialgreeting, saying he is pleased to meet me, and from what he has heardof me is glad that I am his color-sergeant. 

There were many entertainments given during the winter, which wereoften patronized by the general and his staff. Quadrille parties wereheld weekly by the regiments and corps in garrison. Invitations forthese parties were general. These were delightful gatherings. We alwayshad the best music, and the ladies of the city who attended werepleased at all times to be in the whirl with the gay young warriors. Our drills outside the gymnasium were bayonet, sword and routemarching. The bandmaster during the winter organized an orchestra whichwas a great help to our entertainments. 

The summer of 1863 arrived and the usual set up drill, musketry courseand other exercises were engaged in. George Island is situated inHalifax Harbor, and the fortifications were not in good shape if itwere attacked. In order to place them in an absolute state of defence, the Royal Engineers were repairing and rebuilding the forts. Toexpedite the work, two companies of "G" and "H" were detailed to moveto the island, the men to be employed on its work with extra pay. Beingthe senior sergeant, I acted as sergeant-major. 

The Fenians, it was said, were raising a fleet to bombard Halifax. Theother ports received the same attention and were ready to receive thesemen and their fleet, but they did not come. In the summer of 1864 thetwo regiments exchanged quarters, the 16th moving from the Citadel toWellington Barracks, and the 17th from Wellington to the Citadel. Theanniversary of the tercentenary of Shakespeare was to be celebrated inthis city on St. George's day. The St. George's Society prepared apublic meeting in the afternoon, when an oration was given in honor ofthe great writer. A committee prepared a programme to be rendered byour society on the evening of the 23rd. We obtained permission from thegeneral, and we did our best to head the list of the militarycontributions towards the monumental fund in London, England. Thetheatre being too small for this undertaking, we leased the TemperanceHall, largest in the city, and built our own stage. The programme wassoon ready and contained the following, which was purely Shakespearean. An orchestra of thirty pieces played the overture and accompanied theseveral numbers. The Rialto, Bargain, and Trial scenes from theMerchant of Venice, four glees, a reading, and Locke's music toMacbeth's witches in character. Sergeant-Instructor Smith and hisbrother conducted the programme. No ladies took part. The characterswere all male, John Smith taking the part of Portia, and his brotherthat of Shylock. Schoolmaster Ward made a good Antonio, Color-SergeantPix made a splendid Duke, while the writer took the part of Salarino. All the parts were well taken, being thoroughly rehearsed. A dancingmaster in the city loaned us all the costumes necessary. The oration ofthe St. George's Society was given at noon. Our entertainment was underthe patronage of the lieutenant-governor and the general, who, withtheir respective staffs, were all present the night of the performance. The hall, which was a very large one, was filled to the doors. Theperformance commenced and continued to the end without a hitch. So welldid it turn out we were obliged, by special request, to repeat it thefollowing night, which was again a decided success. It was mostgratifying to us that we headed the list of the military subscriptions. We found, after all expenses had been paid, five hundred dollars ($500)was available for the fund, which was immediately remitted to thesecretary, and acknowledged by him through the London _Times_. 

It goes without saying that after our grand success in playing beforethe public such a programme that required the talent of old actors, wefelt that we were a regiment of intelligence and culture, and we alsoconsidered that we had acquired a high state of proficiency in everydepartment, that we were an important unit in H. M. Vast army. 

I cannot proceed further without telling the reader that ColonelMcKinstry and officers appreciated all we did and helped us in everypossible way. The general was so much interested that he presented thesergeants with his likeness, with the inscription, "From your friendand general, " and it was hung in a conspicuous place in the mess-room. I hope it is still to be seen in the sergeants' mess of the dear oldregiment. It now fell to the lot of Sergeant-Instructor Smith to behonored. He was clever and took great pains, and was always delightedto have our social gatherings of the highest standard, and no doubt hetook notice of the beauties of nature in this, to us, new country, andwatched the coming forth and maturing of Nova Scotia's idol, themayflower. He wrote a poem on this pretty little flower, and it was setto music by Drum-Major Gurney, and a quartette sang it before a largeaudience, who expressed themselves delighted with it. I can onlyremember two verses, which are as follows:

 "Ere rude winter's crust of rime Milder spring can soften; Ere to greet the blither time Robins warble often; O'er the undulating wild, Rising like a hardy child, There the Mayflower sweet, unseen, Spreads its leaves of glossy green. 

 "'Neath the lee of rubbly rocks Snowy fragments linger, Shedding tears that Phoebus mocks With his fiery finger. Tears that act as cheering showers, Tears that cherish sweet mayflowers, Till each little lilac bell Breaks in beauty o'er the dell. "

This was another triumph for us. The Premier, Hon. Jos. Howe, complimented the writer, and added some graceful remarks. The general, too, and all friends of the regiment complimented Sergeant Smith on hisbeautiful poem. 

One of our best and most genial color-sergeants deserted. It was agreat surprise to us to learn of Sergeant Josh. Topham's departure. Itwas said that he was disappointed in not having to fight the Yankees, for which purpose he was sent out, and thought he would step over andhelp the Confederates. He left the barracks, went into the city, changed his clothing, wearing a clergyman's suit and carrying asuitcase. He had to exercise great care to hide his identity. Ifdetected, it would have been ten years' penal servitude. He tookpassage in a schooner which carried him to Boston, and when he wroteand told us all about it, he said his anxiety was relieved when theharbor was cleared. We often heard from our old comrade; he got alongsplendidly and was soon promoted to the rank of quartermaster. 

The battalion at this time was in a state of much anxiety; CaptainRobinson was dangerously ill, and suffering from internal troubles. Hisdeath, which soon followed, was a great blow to me, as our relationswere of the most pleasant character. His remains were interred in PointPleasant Cemetery with full military honors, and the regiment mournedthe loss of a good officer and soldier's friend. I was appointedassistant clerk in the brigade office. Sergeant-Major Forbes, late ofthe 62nd Regiment, was the senior clerk, but before I entered upon myduties I acted as secretary to a committee of officers who had chargeof the late Captain Robinson's effects. Some of these were sent to hisfriends in England, the balance were sold. 

I found my work brought me in touch with the Horse Guards and WarOffice, which proved to be of much service to me in after years. 

CHAPTER V. 

A negro rebellion had broken out in Jamaica; many had been killed andmuch property destroyed. The 6th Regiment was quartered at Newcastle, and one of the West India regiments at Port Royal, but these wereunable to restore order. General Doyle received a telegram asking fora regiment to be dispatched at once to assist in quelling therebellion. The 17th was immediately placed under orders to proceed toPort Royal. It was arranged that we go in two ships, the right toembark on H. M. S. _Duncan_, under the command of Colonel McKinstry; theleft wing in H. M. S. _Sphinx_, a gun-boat. 

The morning for the embarking of the right wing had arrived and thescene on the wharf at the dockyard was painful. The wives and childrenof the departing troops were present, as was the general and staff. The brigade-major (Captain Stokes, 16th Bedfordshires) read aloud thelatest dispatches from Jamaica, which caused much anxiety as towhether all would return again. The embarking of the troops completedand good-byes exchanged, the _Duncan_ left for her destination. Theleft wing of the regiment, under command of Major Colthurst, embarkedon the _Sphinx_. 

A fatal accident occurred as our ship was clearing the harbor. PeterJackson, "B" Company, venturing too far out on the bulkhead, was washedoverboard. There was a heavy sea running at the time, and poor Jacksonwas soon lost sight of; there was no chance of saving him. 

Lieutenant Rolph was appointed adjutant, and the writer orderly roomclerk. It was October and the weather was beautiful. We found we werehandicapped regarding quarters. The ship was so small we could not findsufficient room in which to swing our hammocks. When we arrived in awarmer climate we took our blankets on deck and slept there, but themen were not allowed on the quarter-deck. 

Captain Hamilton was commanding the ship, and I asked his permissionfor the men to occupy the quarter-deck. He referred me to MajorColthurst. I saw him and promised that for the privilege we would singglees, part songs, etc. , while the officers were at mess each evening. We had the use of the deck during the remainder of the voyage. We had avery pleasant run for three days, when we reached Bermuda. 

The steamer went to her dock at Boaz Island for the purpose of coaling, and remained three days. We enjoyed the opportunity of visiting theseveral islands and places of interest. On resuming our voyage wearrived at Port Royal about midnight--four days later. It was amagnificent night as we steamed in under the lofty Blue Mountains. Weanchored, and were soon visited by a lieutenant and boat's crew fromthe guard ship, who reported that quiet had been restored and in allprobability our fighting services would not be required. Our men werequite disappointed in not having an opportunity of chastising thenegroes for their insolence. 

There was no barrack accommodation at Port Royal and we weretransferred to the receiving ship _Aboukir_, and awaited a transportto take us back to Halifax. The weather was very hot, but we hadplenty of room under the great awning that covered the upper deck. Wewere taken to the bathing grounds twice a week at 5 a. M. They suppliedus with coffee and light lunch. We enjoyed the gentle breeze that cameup generally in the afternoon. When the ripple on the water wasobserved the men shouted, "The doctor is coming!" and the boatswain'swhistle was heard calling the hands to the capstan to swing the shipbroadside to get the zephyr as much as possible to enter theport-holes of the monster. Commodore Smyth read the prayers on Sunday. The services were held on the quarter-deck with good singing. 

The crew of H. M. S. _Bulldog_ had been added to the already largefamily of the _Aboukir_, but there was plenty of accommodation forthem. 

I must inform the reader of the experience of this crew. It appearsthat while a mail steamer carrying the British flag was passing aHaytian fort she was fired upon. On arriving at Port Royal the captainreported the circumstance to Commodore Smyth, who immediately orderedthe _Bulldog_ to go down and investigate. The captain informed theauthorities of his business, but they would not confer with him or anyof his officers, and instead fired on the ship. The _Bulldog_ at onceopened fire on the forts, but it was soon discovered that thenavigating lieutenant had run the ship on a sand bar, at once becominga target for the Haytians. Captain Wake took in the situation andconcluded that his charge was lost, and in order to save his crewsummoned them to the quarter-deck, where he proposed that they abandonthe ship and blow her up. This was agreed to. Boats were lowered andsupplied with provisions, etc. , and a train laid and connected withthe magazine. When all was ready the train was ignited; the boatsmoved away and were out of danger when the explosion took place. Themen saw their ship sink, and all they had to remind them of thecircumstances was a bulldog's head, the same being the figurehead ofthe ship. The boatswain and several seamen were killed by the Haytianfire. The lost vessel was a gunboat, and her crew would not be morethan 150. These were not long in their boats, but were rescued bypassing ships and brought to Port Royal and placed on board the_Aboukir_. The captain, navigating lieutenant and paymaster wereplaced under arrest. 

The frigate _Galatea_, Captain McGuire, arrived at the port. This wasthe ship that H. R. H. Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh went around theworld in. She was to take us back to Halifax. Previous to that shewent to Hayti to see what could be done with these people forinsulting the British flag. She soon destroyed the batteries, returning to Port Royal, and after coaling embarked us for Halifax. 

After the arrival of the crew of the _Bulldog_, Major Colthurstpermitted me to assist the paymaster in preparing the evidence, statements, and other documents in connection with the loss of the_Bulldog_ for transmission to England. 

CHAPTER VI. 

After this we were transferred to the _Galatea_ and sailed forHalifax. The right wing left a few days before us on H. M. S. _Aurora_. 

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

After handing over the books and papers in connection with the orderlyroom, I resumed my duties at the brigade office. We intended to presentDickens' Christmas Carol, Scrooge and Marley, but in consequence of ourtrip to the West Indies it was postponed until the coming Easter. Theplay was dramatized by Sergeant Smith; the characters had been cast andrehearsed before we left. The general inspected the regiment and foundit in the very best condition; the drill was excellent, and theinterior economy all that could be desired. Sir Charles complimentedthe battalion on their conduct and the manner in which the expeditionwas carried out. 

About this time Sergeant Roe, of "K" Company, a most intelligentN. C. O. , was calling the roll at tattoo. Pte. E. Welsh had answered hisname, and being under the influence of liquor, was creating adisturbance. The sergeant ordered him to bed, but he did not obey. Again he was ordered to do so. Instead he drew his bayonet and made adash for the sergeant, who escaped to the corridor, followed by Welsh. He overtook the sergeant at the end of the passage and thrust thebayonet into his side. Welsh was immediately overpowered and taken tothe cells. Sergeant Roe was taken to his room, and a surgeon was soonon the spot, dressed the wound and had the patient removed to hospital. The wound was not a serious one. The next day the prisoner Welsh wasarraigned before the commanding officer for wounding with intent tokill. The colonel could not deal with the case, only to makeapplication for a general court-martial, which was immediately done. 

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

 "A general court-martial will assemble for the trial of Pte. E. Welsh, 2nd Battalion, 17th Regiment, and such other prisoners as may be brought before it. 

 President, Colonel Gordon, R. A. 

 Members:

 Royal Artillery 1 Captain, 2 Subalterns. Royal Engineers 1 Captain, 2 Subalterns. 2-16 Regiment 2 Capt'ns, 2 Subalterns. 2-17 Regiment 2 Capt'ns, 2 Subalterns. 

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

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

At Easter we presented to the public Dickens' Christmas Carol, Scroogeand Marley, which had been postponed. Sergeant Smith had written amusical libretto, of which I remember the following:

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

It was a decided success, and several hundreds of dollars were handedover to the charitable institutions of the city. 

The memorable year, 1866, dawned over Canada, and much trouble andexcitement was predicted. The Fenians were preparing for an invasion ofSt. Andrews, N. B. , and the general, for the better protection of thecitizens, had issued orders that a battery of artillery, a company ofengineers, with the 2nd Battalion, 17th Regiment, be held in readinessto proceed to St. Andrews as soon as transport was available. We didnot expect anything but a fizzle. However, it was a change, and, I maysay, a picnic. 

CHAPTER VII. 

We embarked on H. M. S. _Duncan_. On reaching St. Andrews we disembarkedand marched to a large warehouse, where we made our home for a few weeks. The general and staff accompanied the expedition. I was a brigade clerk, and Sergeant Woffenden clerk in the quartermaster-general's department. 

The troops' duties were light. The Charlotte militia were embodied anddid outpost duty. I was kept busy making out orders and instructionsfor the establishing of new posts to watch the movements of theFenians, who assembled in large numbers on the opposite side of theRiver St. Croix. There was a strong military police force establishedto prevent strangers coming to town. Rooms in the Hackett Hotel wereleased for headquarters officers, and so things sailed along quietlyuntil Sergeant Cashin, in charge of the police force, caught a Fenianin the act of enticing one of our men to desert and join his army. Thegeneral could not deal with this case, it being a civil one. He wasbrought before the police magistrate, who fined him $100 and costs. Butwith all the watching we lost several men. 

The last excitement and the expectancy of fighting arrived. The 17thhad posted a line of sentries along the river's bank for a considerabledistance. In the middle of the night the sentries on the extreme flankof the outpost saw lights of varied colors which they thought wereships signaling to each other and approaching the shore. They came tothe conclusion it was a Fenian fleet, and sent the alarm along to thereserve of the picket. The officer in command ordered the bugler tosound the alarm, which was repeated by the bugler on guard at theregimental headquarters. 

This was the first time since the battalion was formed such excitementoccurred. The men certainly put into practice what they had been taughtfor the supposed battle that awaited them, for in fifteen minutes theregiment was on parade, equipped, and having forty rounds ofammunition, were ready for the fray. The other corps in garrison wereon parade and ready to move. The whole town was aroused. The Charlottemilitia was under arms and anxious to give battle to the Fenians. Thegeneral and his staff were on parade (mounted). Brigade-Major Stokesand Captain Clarke, A. D. C. , made good use of their horses. Theygalloped hither and thither, giving orders to the commanding officersas to positions they were to occupy. The general addressed the troopsand bid them be steady and courageous. Daylight was near and the fog onthe river was lifting, when the artillery was ordered to move and takeup their position. The 17th extended a line of skirmishers to covertheir advance as they moved to the points of defence. There was nowsufficient light for us to see the ships, which to our greatdisappointment proved to be fishing craft. We were dismissed, and feltsorry not to win a battle to add to the many on our regimental colors. 

After five weeks on the frontier and the Fenians giving no trouble, orders were issued to furnish a guard of honor to General Meade, ofGettysburg fame, who commanded in Maine and was making a visit to SirCharles Doyle at the headquarters of the garrison. It was a gala day inSt. Andrews. General Meade and staff arrived and were met at the wharfby General Doyle. The guard of honor presented arms, the band playingthe salute. General Meade inspected the guard and then repaired toheadquarters. They held a conference and came to a decision as to themovements of the Fenians. A general parade was ordered for the nextday. The troops paraded in the morning, all the citizens that couldpossibly be present being there. 

The general addressed the soldiers and also the citizens, and assuredthem that the conference was satisfactory; the United States Governmentwould prevent any unlawful conduct or annoyance to the town of St. Andrews by the Fenians, and General Doyle could withdraw his troops atany time he desired. The people were pleased that the United States hadtaken such a stand, and would look to General Meade for the fulfilmentof this promise. 

Orders had been dispatched to Major Heigham, commanding a detachmentof two companies at St. Stephens, and of which Lieutenant Dywer wasacting adjutant, to return to headquarters and embark for Halifax. Thetroopship had arrived and we were to embark on the morrow. Two men ofthe 17th had arranged to desert that night. They answered their namesat tattoo, afterwards breaking out of barracks and getting into arowboat at the wharf for the purpose of crossing the river. They musthave forgotten that H. M. S. _Wolverine_ was anchored in the river. Theboatman, however, rowed out and all looked safe. Presently thesentry--for they were near the ship--called, "Who goes there?" Theofficer in command of the guard ordered a boat lowered and capturedthe would-be deserters. Their names were Lavin and Cass. They wereimmediately returned to the regiment and placed in the guard room. Theconduct of the regiment had been excellent during its stay in St. Andrews, and we regretted this incident on our departure. The generalwas determined to have these two men tried and sentenced before weembarked at 10 a. M. The following day. This meant a busy time for me. I had to prepare all the documents, issue orders as to the conveningof the court, etc. The court assembled, the prisoners were tried, found guilty, and the proceedings made known to them and the garrisonwhen the troops paraded for embarkation. The sentence was five years'penal servitude. 

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

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

CHAPTER VIII. 

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

With the two corps forming the Toronto garrison, viz. , the RoyalArtillery, stationed in the new fort, and the 13th Hussars in theExhibition buildings, we soon became acquainted, and fraternized withour new comrades. 

Lieutenant Rolph was appointed adjutant, _vice_ Ross, appointedpaymaster; Color-Sergeant Coe was appointed sergeant-major, _vice_Green, reverted to sergeant. The commanding officer was pleased toappoint me instructor and lecturer in the Military School, whichposition I held during the two years the battalion was quartered inthe city. About two hundred cadets were under instruction when Ientered upon my duties. A good many were Toronto gentlemen who hadjust returned from the front, and it was quite interesting to hearthem relate their experiences while fighting the Fenians. 

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

Generally the cadets gave a good account of their training. I wasalways interested in reading the despatches from South Africa, orreports from the Militia Department, when the names of any would appearrelating to their duties, etc. ; for instance, Colonel S. B. Steele, whoobtained a first-class certificate. How proud we are of his valuableservices to his country and empire. Mr. J. L. Hughes, Chief Inspectorof Public Schools, Toronto, has made good use of his military educationin having the very best drilled school cadets on the continent. Hisbrothers, Colonel John and Colonel Sam Hughes, also qualified at theschool. 

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

Through the kindness of Colonel Steele, who applied to the departmentat Ottawa for a list of the names of the cadets who graduated duringmy two years' instruction, Major Winters, D. A. G. , ordered a list to beprepared, and subsequently I received a roll containing 850 names. Iwas extremely pleased to look over the names of these gentlemen, whom, with few exceptions, I had not seen or heard of for forty years. I sawan account of the death of Professor Cherriman, who died in London, England; he was a cadet and was captain of the University company atthe time. I also met Mr. F. Yokome, editor of the Peterboro' _Examiner_, and it was a pleasant meeting. I remember the present Judge Ermatingerand Chief Justice Strong, recently deceased, who were among the boys;also Colonel Ward, Port Hope; Colonel Farewell, Whitby, and ColonelWalker, who was Colonel Steele's school chum, and now commands the15th Light Horse, with headquarters at Calgary, and others now veryprominent in Canadian affairs. 

In May, 1868, we received orders to embark for the Old Country, and onthe 15th we sailed from the Queen's Wharf, touching at Kingston totake on two companies which were on detachment, and continued ourpassage to Quebec, where we were transferred to the Allan liner_Moravian_. This was the best trip we had yet made. We had plenty ofroom, good food, and the men were allowed to smoke any time theywished. 

We disembarked at Kingston, Ireland, and left at once for Dublin tooccupy the Royal barracks. I again resumed my duties as drillinstructor. We were considerably under the strength, having left alarge number of men in Ontario. The recruiting sergeants were at theirrespective stations, busy sending us all the men they could enlist, andwe got some fine big fellows. A general election was about to takeplace and the regiment was under orders to move to any town or districtwhere polling was to take place, to assist the constabulary in keepingorder and such duties. 

We received reports of rioting and bloodshed. As voters were going toand from the polling places the troops lined the streets all day long. In one case a civilian threw a brick at a 6th Lancer, who made a thrustwith his lance at the thrower and killed him. The soldier was arrestedbut subsequently released. The election over, the regiment returned toquarters none the worse for its experience, especially when they had totackle the wild Irishmen. It was deemed expedient that four companies, including the recruits, be sent to Mullingar. It was a day's journeyfrom Dublin, and we enjoyed the lovely country we passed through enroute. We found the barracks beautifully situated, lots of room, awell-kept drill ground which always interested the writer, and agarrison church within the precincts. 

We had quite a number of the members of our literary society with us, and we were able during the winter to give our usual entertainments, to which we invited the citizens whenever they felt disposed. Afriendship between the soldiers and citizens was soon established, which made our stay in Mullingar extremely pleasant and not easilyforgotten. In May we were placed under orders to move, but the sectionwas not mentioned. We embarked at Kingston and proceeded to JerseyIsland. It was a beautiful morning when we embarked on H. M. S. _Crocodile_. We arrived after a pleasant run across the channel at St. Heliers, which was to be our headquarters. Four companies were to stayhere, two at Guernsey, two at Alderney, and two at St. Peter's, whichwas ten miles from St. Heliers. 

In consequence of the hard and constant work on the drill ground, thecommanding officer, noticing that I had failed and was not looking aswell as he would like to see me, ordered me to proceed with twocompanies to St. Peter's to recuperate, and also appointed meschoolmaster of the detachment and my wife schoolmistress. I was not todo any other duties till further orders. I soon had my school organizedand in working order. The schoolroom was large and well ventilated. Itstood on five acres of playground. My pupils consisted of about seventychildren of various ages belonging to our own men. There were somethirty men who could not read or write. We had volunteer classes. I hadan assistant, while my wife attended to the industrial department. School hours were from nine to twelve, and from one-thirty to four. This was quite a change for the better. I remained in this office tillthe regiment moved. 

One death occurred at our detachment. Our bathing grounds were aboutone and a half miles from the barracks and we always bathed in theearly morning. Four strong and good swimmers were detailed as a picket, remaining on the beach ready to rescue anyone in danger. When the tideis receding the current is very strong. We therefore knew it wasdangerous to swim too far out. The officer in charge always directedthe bugler to sound the retire when he considered there was danger forthe swimmer to proceed farther. One morning Drum-Major Fielding, incompany with Private Charles Dunkley, started to swim out. They kepttogether for some time. The bugler sounded the retire and Fieldingobeyed the call, but Dunkley continued. When the drum-major arrived atthe beach he was almost exhausted, and said he did not think thatDunkley, who was now trying to get back, would ever reach the beachunless there was help sent to him. The picket was at once sent to hisassistance. While the men were reaching him he was drifting fartherout. When they got to him he was helpless and sinking, and at last poorDunkley sank to rise no more, and it was with difficulty the menreturned to the beach. 

Near by stands Elizabeth Castle, on a little island which can bereached on dry land when the tide is out. The body drifted on the rocksaround the castle and was discovered by the men within half an hourafter he sank. In the meantime I had gone to barracks and informed thedoctor of the sad affair, who immediately went to the beach and did allin his power to resuscitate the lifeless form, but to no avail. Thebody was taken to the morgue at the barracks and finally interred withmilitary honors in the little churchyard at St. Peter's. We erected abeautiful stone over the grave in memory of our departed comrade. 

There was a small barracks about three miles from St. Peter's and arifle range where we went to do our musketry course. The companies atSt. Heliers also used this place. 

In 1870 we received the news that France had declared war againstGermany and was fighting already. The people of the island were muchconcerned over the matter. They were mostly French, and were, ofcourse, anxious that their countrymen be victorious in the battles theywere about to fight. 

CHAPTER IX. 

We now received orders to prepare to embark on the troopship_Euphrates_ for Portsmouth en route for Aldershot. At Portsmouth weentrained for Aldershot, and on arrival marched to the same grounds weoccupied eleven years ago. We were again attached to the reservebrigade. After the season closed we removed to the barracks. Aboutthis time the purchase system was abolished, and officers could get acommission without paying for it, and those who had paid for it gottheir money back. 

We were sorry to lose Colonel McKinstry, who had commanded us for thelast ten years. He always took a deep interest in the regiment, and didall in his power to make us comfortable and happy, and kept the corpsin a high state of excellence. Lieutenant-Colonel Brice assumedcommand. He served with the 1st Battalion in the Crimea, and was astrict disciplinarian but a popular officer. The first act of thecolonel's disposition toward criminals was to recommend the pardon ofPrivate Welsh, who was mentioned in this book as having stabbedSergeant Roe in the barracks at Halifax, and as being sentenced topenal servitude for life. 

The autumn manoeuvres lasted sixteen days. Forty thousand men were toengage in a sham fight. Our brigade consisted of 2nd Battalion of 17thRegiment, Tower Hamlets militia and a London volunteer battalion knownas the "Devil's Own"--they were lawyers. This regiment came swinging upthe road, the band, which was a splendid one, playing a familiar tune. They marched in quarter column, halted, piled arms, and immediatelyproceeded to pitch tents and prepare the camp for a two days' stay. Thewhole brigade looked on and were astonished at the smartness of thevolunteers in this part of their drills and exercises, and indeed, afterwards we found nothing wanting in their field work. 

Several sham battles were fought and many long and tedious marchesendured. Her Majesty the Queen and members of the Royal family camedown to witness the march past of the two armies who had been engagedin the sham fights. The strength was 45, 000 all ranks. 

We returned to barracks to spend the winter, which passed away withoutincident. The regiment moved to Salisbury Plains, took part in theautumn manoeuvres, and at their close proceeded to Plymouth to occupythe Citadel. We met the 100th Regiment in Aldershot. It occupied thecentre block with the 94th, and, if I remember rightly, ColonelGrasett, chief of police, Toronto, was then adjutant of the corps. 

And now, after many roving years, we were back again at the old spotwhere our kindergarten days were spent. Twelve years had passed sincewe left and many changes had occurred. True, we earned no honors forthe colors, but we were always ready when the alarm sounded, andreturned with an excellent record. We found Colonel Brice a splendidcommanding officer, always ready to help the regiment in any way towardtheir comfort and happiness. The colonel was pleased to appoint melibrarian. We had a splendid regimental library, also a garrisonlibrary, where we could draw and exchange books quarterly. 

The next three years were spent in this garrison. We were doing dutywith an occasional field day or route march. 

In the fall of 1873, my wife, who was a trained nurse and a native ofHalifax, was taken ill with phthisis, and the following summer I wasinformed that she could not live. It was her ardent wish to be taken toher home to die, and although there was promotion before me, Iforfeited the balance of my service toward pension and took mydischarge. In June, 1874, she finished her last earthly journey when wearrived at her home in Halifax. She died nine days after our arrival. In the presence of her mother and sister she passed away, loved by all, and in the hope of a blessed resurrection. 

CHAPTER X. 

I was awarded one shilling twopence per day pension. Being a civilianagain and relying on my military experience and knowledge of physicalculture, I went to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and spent thewinter with ex-Sergeant Campbell, who was a dear old comrade and is nowa merchant. The following summer I returned to Halifax, and during theearly part of July General Laurie was enlisting recruits for theprovisional battalion at Winnipeg, and deputed me to conduct them tothat city. 

Accordingly, on the 3rd of August, 1875, with forty men in charge, weleft en route for Fredericton, N. B. , where we added several men to ourcontingent and continued our journey. We stayed overnight at theFranklin House, Bangor, Me. We stopped four hours at Montreal, and nextarrived at Sarnia. We camped a week at Point Edward waiting the lakesteamer. One morning while at drill a stranger approached me, whoturned out to be ex-Private Patrick Sharket, employed as a signal-manon the G. T. R. He heard my voice in the distance, and he knew it was"Teddy's, " so he told me after. Sharket was a smart and good soldier. He served in the Crimea, and while the regiment was quartered inToronto, 1867, obtained his discharge and took employment with theGrand Trunk Railway, but had not been working long when he met with anaccident which caused the loss of his left hand. The company kept himin their service. It was eight years since we met. 

We had a beautiful trip, reaching Thunder Bay on Friday afternoon. Wehad to stay there overnight, and occupied the emigrant sheds. Thatnight I had to look up a doctor, as some of our men were sick, but bySunday morning they were much better. We met a R. C. Missionary who wason his way to the Height of Land to take charge of an Indian reserve. He was excellent company and kept the contingent alive by his funnystories. After breakfast the following morning we proceeded to LakeShebandowan by wagons over the Dawson route, a road made by the troopsunder the command of Sir Garnet Wolseley on their way to theNorth-West, 1870. We halted about half way and had our dinner. Itconsisted of ham and beans, bread and tea; it was splendidly cooked andwell served by half-breeds. 

We arrived at the lake and found a woman and a man in charge of thepost. It had been headquarters for the surveyors in that section andused also for emigrants who chose to go that way. We were on the banksof a charming little lake. The opposite shores are picturesque withtheir tall poplars and oaks frequented by thousands of wild pigeons. The lake abounded with fish. The men took out the Government boats andcaught a quantity of pike sufficient for breakfast the following day. The R. C. Priest had sufficient paraphernalia with him to erect analtar, and invited the contingent to mass Sunday morning. Nearly allthe men attended, and there were also quite a number of outsiders atthe pleasant service. In the morning, after another breakfast of pike, a small steamer conveyed us to the Height of Land. The mosquitoes nowgot in their work and deprived us of some of the fluid which gives uslife. Although we got a lotion to rub on our hands and faces it did notprevent them from biting. The chief and many Indians were there to meetthe reverend father. 

After nearly a month's travel over lakes, rivers and portages wearrived at St. Boniface. On a Sunday morning we crossed the Red Riveron the ferry and at once paraded and marched to Fort Osborne. Ireported to the officer on duty, and the men were quarteredtemporarily. Next day the contingent paraded and was inspected byColonel Osborne Smith, D. A. G. , and posted to their respectivecompanies, and during the day received their kits and clothing. Shortlyafter our arrival I was appointed garrison sergeant-major, whichposition I held till the battalion was disbanded two years later. Lieutenant Hayter Reed was the adjutant. I now had to work with Mr. Reed in putting the battalion in the best possible order. Quite achange in the drill had taken place but had not been put into practice. This had to be done and other reforms were necessary, and with thepermission of the commanding officer, I commenced to put the corps in abetter state of discipline and drill. After a few months the regimentwas a credit to the Dominion forces. 

I found, however, they had never been instructed in musketry, and asoldier is useless if he can't shoot. I asked the colonel's permissionto put them through a course of musketry, which he was pleased togrant, and selected a site for the ranges a few miles outside of St. Boniface. I put the battalion through up to 600 yards; the course wascarried out according to the school of musketry regulations, and Irendered all the returns in manuscript, the report showing fair averageshooting. There was a band of twenty under Bandmaster Harry Walker, late of the Imperial 7th Fusiliers. It was in good shape and kept busy, for bands were scarce in the city at that time. We gave entertainmentsat the fort occasionally. There was excellent talent among the men andit was always put to good use. The bandmaster was always ready to helpus in every way possible. A most pleasing incident took place duringthe winter. Sergeant-Major Steele, N. W. M. P. , returning from leave ofabsence, and passing through Winnipeg, called on his friend AdjutantReed, and during their conversation asked Mr. Reed who hissergeant-major was. Mr. Reed replied that it was ex-Color-SergeantRundle. 

"Why, " said Sergeant-Major Steele, "that's my old drill instructor;please send for him. "

An orderly came to my room and said that Mr. Reed would like to see me. I went to the adjutant's quarters, where I met an old pupil of theMilitary School, Toronto, 1867. We were both pleased to meet and had agood old chat about the times past and future. The sergeant-majorobtained a first class certificate at this time, and we all know whatbrilliant services Colonel Steele has rendered to the Empire, especially in South Africa. 

Some months later I received an offer to become musketry instructor tothe Mounted Police. I declined because I could not ride a horse. 

I had many friends in Winnipeg. Amongst them was Rev. Mr. Fortin, AllSaints, now a bishop; Rev. Mr. Matheson, Manitoba College, now bishopand Primate of Canada, who married Miss Fortin, the bishop's sister (Isang at the wedding); Rev. Mr. German, Grace Methodist Church, of whosechoir I was a member; the late Colonel William N. Kennedy, ofdistinguished Nile memory, who was also a member of the choir. The lateMrs. Chambers, formerly of Peterboro', was the organist. I can say withmuch delight that my acquaintances and associations during the twoyears were fraught with much pleasantness and reciprocated kindness. 

The N. W. M. Police, having been thoroughly established, was sufficientprotection against attacks from Indians or half-breeds; therefore, onthe 3rd of August, 1877, the battalion was disbanded, each manreceiving a grant of 160 acres of land for his services. A good manyremained in the country. Others went to their homes in the East. 

I was now engaged in organizing single companies, making myheadquarters at Emerson. A company was raised in Winnipeg under thecommand of Captain C. W. Allen and Lieutenant Killer. I spent anothertwo years in perfect enjoyment with the good people of Emerson, andassisted in every way to build up this young town. I made my home withMr. And Mrs. Hooper and family, who resided on the west side of theriver, opposite Emerson. 

One lovely evening in August Mr. Thos. Hooper, Jr. , with his youngbride, came over to spend the evening. It was near midnight, the ferryhad stopped running, and I offered to row Mrs. Hooper over in my skiffand return for her husband and a gentleman friend. We were passingwhere the ferry was moored, and Mrs. Hooper, reaching to seize the endof the ferry, lost her balance and fell into the river and sank. Iimmediately sprang to the rescue and succeeded in bringing her toshore. 

The fall was approaching and I made up my mind to visit my friends inthe East. My Emerson friends having learned of my intentions, Mr. Carney, who was to be first mayor of the town, offered me the office ofclerk if I remained, but my arrangements had been made and I could notcancel them. I was invited by the citizens to meet them in Library Hallthe night previous to my departure. A programme had been prepared, theband was present and played my old favorites. During the evening Mr. Fairbank, J. P. , read an address regretting my departure from the town, and also presented me with a handsome purse. 

CHAPTER XI. 

The following morning, November 9th, 1879, I left Emerson for London, Ontario. Arriving in London I repaired to the home of Mr. And Mrs. Johnson, the parents of Mrs. Thomas Hooper, whom I rescued fromdrowning in the Red River, and was invited to make my home with themwhile in London. I was also invited to visit the Sunday School, PallMall Church, in which Mrs. Hooper had been a teacher, and tell them howMrs. Hooper fell into the river and how I saved her from drowning. Ireceived a hearty vote of thanks, and all were delighted that theirdear teacher was well and happy. 

The following spring I went East, visiting my friends and relatives inthe township of Reach and Durham County. While visiting Port Hope I metthe late Colonel Williams, who subsequently became a sincere friend ofmine, and in 1882 I was appointed drill instructor at Trinity Collegeschool. Having no gymnasium, my work was confined to military drill. There was a well-equipped cadet corps officered by the teachers. A verysad accident occurred during the summer holidays. Mr. Selby Allen, sonof Chancellor Allen, Toronto, a student at the school, was drowned nearBrockville. Mr. Allen was a splendid athlete and a fine cricketer. 

In 1887 I was appointed gymnastic and drill instructor to theCollegiate Institute, Peterboro'. I held this office for eleven years. 

Nothing gives me greater pleasure in writing this book than to relatethe pleasant and profitable eleven years I spent in the physicaleducation of the students of the Collegiate Institute and CentralPublic School, and also the convent. I say _profitably_ because themajority of those who obtained the several courses of instruction areto-day pursuing their professions and vocations able to meet thephysical endurance of their calling, and all I have met since myretirement nine years ago I found to be specimens of the highest typeof physical maturity and invariably athletes. There are at presentthree doctors practising in this city (Toronto), three teachers in thepublic schools, and one in Trinity University, and all are of the sametype. 

I am pleased to say that the physique of the ladies also whom I havemet is all that could be desired. Neither have they forgotten thegraceful bearing they were taught. I also had large private classes, both ladies and gentlemen, who were thoroughly trained by the system Iintroduced. 

When my appointment was made in the fall, 1887, there was no gymnasium, and the Board of Education the following summer built a very fine one. It was equipped the same as the Oxford University gymnasium, and thesystem was that used by Professor McLaren. The High School Inspectors, Messrs. Seath and Hodgson, agreed with me that it was the best. Theirreports were always satisfactory, and often special mention was made ofthe progress and development of the pupils. 

I was always an enthusiastic lover of physical training, and it wasgood to me to meet or see my pupils on the street, in the parks orpublic places of the city, not forgetting their dignity, gracefulbearing, elastic and uniform step and perfect carriage, which wasalways noticeable then. I don't think they will ever forget it. TheBoard was always willing to do anything in its power for thisdepartment. At the age of sixty, through ill health, I was obliged toresign. 

In the same year (1887), I was appointed sergeant-major of the 57thPeterboro' Rangers, and for several years performed the duties ofinstructor; but in consequence of increasing classes at the schooland private engagements, was obliged to resign. There are some ofmy old pupils holding commissions in the regiment at present. Lieutenant-Colonel Miller, the present commanding officer, is verypopular among all ranks. The reputation of this fine corps is of thevery best; in fact, it is a model regiment, and I was delighted inreading the last report to see the Rangers leading the so-called crackregiments of the Dominion. It cannot be otherwise, because theenergetic and painstaking Adjutant-Captain Duncan Walker, and thewhole of the officers and N. C. O. Are splendid workers, and they neverfail in keeping that military enthusiasm and _esprit de corps_ amongthe men, whose physique is second to none, and which, I may add, is avery important factor in the Dominion army. I hope some day to see thebattalion on parade again. 

In 1902, with my family, I moved to Toronto, and Mr. James L. Hughes, Inspector of Public Schools, who was my pupil in the Military Schoolforty years ago, introduced me to the general manager of the T. EatonCo. , and I was given employment in the stock room of the whiteweardepartment in the factory. Following this my three sons were taken intothe factory and learned their trades; the two eldest are machinists andthe third a cutter. The latter in his twentieth year was stricken withtuberculosis and died, April 19th, 1907, and I take this opportunity ofagain thanking and expressing my gratitude to the Company and thedepartment for the solicitous interest taken in my dear boy while hewas sick, and at his funeral. 

During my lifetime I have been in touch and associated with ladies andgentlemen, boys and girls, where refinement and culture was animportant factor in their present and future lives. In the ImperialArmy, where I spent so many years as an instructor, the first thing wewould look for from the incoming recruit was his deportment. If helacked courtesy, willingness, obedience and other graces that go tomake a good soldier and also a gentleman, he would be placed in aposition to be taught this character building. Again, in my physicalculture work I always impressed upon my pupils the necessity of beingcourteous and polite at all times and under all difficulties andcircumstances. 

When I entered upon my duties in the stock room I began to feel my waythrough this great department and to learn whom I had to meet in mydaily business, but it was not long before I found myself amongst theideal of my life, from the manager and his assistants, Messrs. Allwardand Kirby, and from the employees, numbering 350--300 of whom wereladies. The beautiful, capacious and well-ventilated work rooms, together with their cheerful environment, made it one of the mostdesirable places to work in I have ever seen or heard of. Among thebest friends I made in this great establishment were Messrs. W. Hall, Johnston, F. Howard, McWaters, Durno and William Day. Of the latter Ilearned the following characteristic incident which he would be toomodest to mention: One night during the winter of 1905-1906, which wasextremely cold, Mr. Day, on his way home, was overtaken by a stranger, a young man, who told him he had not had anything to eat fortwenty-four hours. He had walked from Belleville to Toronto looking forwork; he was poorly clad, not sufficiently to keep the cold from hisshivering body. My friend did not ask who he was or anything regardinghis antecedents. He saw before him a poor destitute young man, suffering with cold and hunger; he took him to a store and bought himcomfortable underwear, boots and other warm garments, and then to arestaurant and ordered the best meal they could give, handed thestranger a dollar and continued his journey home. 

I remained in the factory four years, but in consequence of my age andill health was obliged to resign in May, 1906. 

[Illustration: SERGT. -MAJOR EDWIN G. RUNDLE. Age, 71 Years. ]

CHAPTER XII. 

INCIDENTS IN THE AFGHAN WAR. 

[I would like to follow this brief and unpretentious narrative of mylife with a sketch of the operations of a British force, in which myold regiment was brigaded, in the Afghan war. ]

Just before sunset on the twentieth of November, 1878, the 2nd Brigadeof the Peshawur Valley Field Force, consisting of the Guides Infantry, the 1st Sikhs, and the 17th Foot under Brigadier-General J. A. Tytler--the strength being forty British officers, 1, 700 men, of whom600 were Europeans--left its camp at Jamrud to begin the flank marchwhich was to ensure the completeness of Sir Sam. Browne's victory overthe garrison of Masjid. The 17th Regiment had spent the summer in theMurree Hills, where it had been carefully trained for the work that laybefore it. Evatt, in his Recollections, says: "It was about the last ofthe long service battalions of that army which was just thendisappearing before the short system, and better specimens of that oldregime could not be seen than the men of the 17th, who for weight andspace occupied per man were probably thirty per cent. Heavier and muchbroader than the younger soldiers of to-day. " Speed being essential tosuccess and the difficulties presented by the country to be traversedvery great, tents, bedding and baggage were left behind, to be sent uplater through the Pass; and the troops took with them only a smallhospital establishment, a reserve of ammunition, two days' cookedrations, and a supply of water stored in big leather bags, known aspukkals. In addition to their great coats, seventy rounds of ammunitionand one day's cooked rations was carried by each man. 

Unfortunately the greater part of the transport allotted to the brigadeconsisted of bullocks instead of mules--a mistake which was to leavethe men without food for over twenty-four hours. Darkness soon closedin upon the column, and when the comparatively easy road across the Jamplain gave place to an ill-defined track running up a deep ravine, sometimes on one side of a mountain stream, sometimes on the other, sometimes in its very bed, even the native guides, men of the district, familiar with its every rock and stone, were often at fault. Thetransport animals blundered into the midst of the troops. One corpslost touch with another. A large part of the 17th Regiment wanderedaway from the path, and was with difficulty brought back to it by theshouting and whistling of its commander. There was so much confusionand so many delays that it was ten o'clock before the force, tired andcold, the men's boots and putties soaked through and through fromfrequent crossing and recrossing of the Lashora River, arrived at thelittle hamlet of the same name. Here it settled down to such rest ascould be obtained under these uncomfortable conditions, for fires wereout of the question where there was no certainty that hidden foes mightnot be lurking close at hand. 

The 1st Brigade, consisting of the 4th Battalion Rifle Brigade, the 4thGurkhas, the 20th Punjab Infantry, and the Hazars Mountain Battery, fared even worse than the 2nd, for it had to begin the day withmarching from Hari Singhka-Burg to Jamrud, where it arrived to find, tothe disgust of its commander, Brigadier-General Macpherson, that thesupplies and transports which ought to have been awaiting it were notready, and to be kept hanging about till 11 p. M. Before it could get afresh start. What with the darkness, the difficulty of getting theladen bullocks along, the practical absence of a road, the subsequentmarch proved very trying, and the position of the troops throughout thenight was potentially one of great peril. If the Mohmands had come downthe eastern slopes of the Rhotas Heights and fallen upon them as theystumbled and groped their way along the Lashora ravine, Macphersonwould have had to choose between a retreat or an advance up the steepmountain side, three thousand feet high, in pursuit of an invisibleenemy, and exposed to a shower of rocks and stones--missiles whichevery hill-man knows well how to handle. 

Fortunately no such alternative was presented to him, and the head ofthe column--the rear guard being still far behind--reached Lashorabetween six and seven o'clock on the morning of the 21st, just as the2nd Brigade was preparing to leave it, and halted to look up and giveTytler a fair start. The latter did his best to get and keep wellahead, but though his brigade, led by that active officer, Colonel F. H. Jenkins, pushed on as fast as it could, its progress was painfullyslow. The column advancing in single file extended over a distance ofnearly three miles, and as the sun rose high in the heavens thereflected heat from the bare slaty rocks became almost insupportable. There were no trees to give the men shade, or springs to slake theirthirst. For the first four miles the road continued to ascend theLashora ravine between hills on the right hand and rocky, overhangingspurs a thousand feet high on the left. On issuing thence it dwindledto a mere goat track which ran uphill and downhill, scaling cliffs anddropping into gorges, the shaly soil at every step slipping away fromunder the feet of men, mules and bullocks, retarding the advance of thetwo former and almost bringing the latter to a standstill. It was twoo'clock in the afternoon when the column, having crossed the Sapparia, or grassy flats, leading up to the watersheds, arrived at Pani Pal atthe foot of the pass connecting the Rhotas Heights with the TartaraMountain, the highest peak in this group of hills. Here a wide andvaried view became suddenly visible. Far away to the north thesnowcapped Himalayas gleamed in the sunshine; to the south the broadIndus washed the base of Fort Attock, and wound through the salt hillsand plains of the Derajat; whilst to the west, almost immediately belowthe wilderness of rocks in which the invaders had halted, lay, in deepshadow, the yawning chasm of the Khyber--a magnificent prospect; but aspring of cool fresh water which was soon discovered had moreattractions for the hot and thirsty troops, and Tytler's wholeattention was absorbed in scanning the country for a possible enemy andtrying to trace the course of the three paths which branched off fromthis commanding point. One of these runs northward by a circuitous andcomparatively easy route, through Mohmand territory to the Khyber. Thesecond descends abruptly to the same pass through the gorge whichseparates the Tartara Mountain from the Rhotas Heights. The thirdfollows the crest of those heights to their highest point, just overAli Masjid. It was by the second of these roads that the column was tofind its way down to Kata Kushtia, and Tytler, though hard pressed fortime, felt so strongly that he must not entangle his troops in suchdifficult ground without first ascertaining whether danger wouldthreaten their left flank and rear, that he decided to halt his force, whilst Jenkins and a company of the Guides reconnoitred towards theheights. Scarcely had this party left Pani Pal when a strangereverberation filled the air, which Jenkins, on laying his ear to theground, at once pronounced to be the booming of heavy guns, and as thereconnoiterers drew near to the edge of the ridge overlooking AliMasjid, the sound of artillery fire became more and more clear anddistinct. Though cave dwellings and patches of cultivation hadoccasionally been passed, with here and there the tower of some robberchieftain, the country, but for one small band of marauders whichexchanged shots with the head of the column, had appeared to beentirely deserted by its inhabitants. Now a large number of armedMohmands came suddenly into sight, rushing down the hillside, andJenkins fell back upon Pani Pal to report what he had seen and heard. 

The news that the main body of the division was engaged with the enemyquickly spread through the ranks, and the men, forgetting fatigue andhunger--the last of the food carried by them had been eaten beforeleaving Lashora, and the bullocks carrying the rest of the rations hadlong since parted company with the troops--were eager to push on. ButTytler saw clearly that the circumstances in which he now found himselfdemanded a change in the original plan, by which the whole of his forcewas to take up its position across the Khyber defile. 

As the Mohmands were evidently present in great strength and hostilelyinclined, and as his hospital establishment and commissariat were sixmiles in rear, and the brigade which ought to have covered his leftflank was also behind--by abandoning Pani Pal he would not only losehis communications with the latter and expose the former to danger andthe risk of being cut off and captured, but would leave open the roadby which the Mohmand contingent in Ali Masjid might retire from thatfortress after its fall, or by which it could be reinforced in casethat fall should be delayed. Very reluctantly, therefore, though withsoldier-like promptness, he made up his mind to send Jenkins with theGuides and the major portion of the 1st Sikhs to Kata Kushtia, whilsthe himself, with a detachment of the latter corps and Her Majesty's17th Regiment, remained at Pani Pal to guard Jenkins' rear and keep intouch with Macpherson. That general, having detached the 20th PunjaubInfantry under Major H. W. Gordon to cover his left, had resumed hismarch at 8 a. M. , and following in Tytler's wake had soon overtaken thatofficer's commissariat bullocks, which so blocked the narrow path thatthe troops had considerable difficulty in forcing their way throughthem. 

Between two and three o'clock the column arrived at the lower edge ofthe flats (Sapparia) previously mentioned, where it was fortunateenough to find a little water. By this time the men, who had been overthirty hours under arms, were so worn out that Colonels Newdigate andTurton reported their respective regiments, the Rifle Brigade and the4th Gurkhas, unfit to go farther, and Macpherson, like Tytler, had toaccept the responsibility of modifying the part assigned to him in thecommon programme, and to some extent for the same reason, viz. , thedanger to which his hospital and commissariat transport would beexposed if, by pushing on to the summit of the Rhotas Heights, he wereto put it out of his power to protect them during the dark hours whichwere close at hand. 

On the flats, then, the main body of the turning party bivouacked onthe evening of November 21st, whilst the flanking regiment, after manyhours of stiff climbing, during the course of which it had beenthreatened by a large number of Mohmands, established itself at dusk onthe top of Turhai, a ridge parallel to and immediately under the RhotasHeights. 

No sooner had the Guides and the 1st Sikhs, under Lieutenant-ColonelJenkins, taken up a position on the hill opposite the village of KataKushtia, which completely commanded the Khyber Pass, here some 600yards broad, than a party of the enemy's cavalry, about fifty innumber, was perceived at 4:30 p. M. , leisurely making their way up thepass. To make the garrison of Ali Masjid realise that their retreat wascut off, Lieutenant-Colonel Jenkins ordered his men to open fire uponthese Afghan horsemen at a range of about 500 yards. Several weredismounted and the rest galloped away, some back to Ali Masjid and someup the Khyber Pass. As it began to grow dusk a larger body of theenemy's cavalry, accompanied by a small party of infantry, came fromthe direction of Ali Masjid riding hard for their lives as they passedthe place where the troops were posted, from which it was evident thatthe retreat from Ali Masjid had commenced. This body of Afghans cameunder fire of 200 or 300 rifles within 300 to 500 yards' range andsuffered some loss. As darkness closed in the Guides and the 1st Sikhslay down on the rocks about one hundred feet above the level of thestream, and no large body of the enemy passed during the night, although, doubtless, men moving singly or in small parties escaped. Meanwhile, at 2:15 a. M. , on the 21st of November, the 1st InfantryBrigade, under command of Brigadier-General H. T. Macpherson, C. B. , V. C. , marched from the camp at Jamrud and followed in the track of the2nd Brigade, which preceded them by eight hours and forty minutes. Thefighting strength of the brigade amounted to 43 British officers, 569British rank and file, and 1, 345 natives of all ranks. 

Marching under the same conditions, as regards equipment and supplies, as the 2nd Brigade, this column reached Lashora in four and a quarterhours, although the 20th Punjaubis made a slight detour by mistake. 

On reaching the foot of the Tabai spur leading to the Rhotas ridge, about six miles from Jamrud, four companies of the 20th PunjaubInfantry, amounting to 243 men, commanded by Major Gordon, weredetached to occupy the Tabai ridge below the Rhotas summit, and thereto await the arrival of the remainder of the brigade on the main ridgeleading to the enemy's sangars on the summit, when a simultaneousattack would be made on it about noon. The Rhotas peak was to beoccupied, if possible, and heliographic communication established withJamrud, for which purpose four signalers were attached to thisdetachment. 

As has been seen, the 2nd Brigade was just moving off as the 1stBrigade arrived at Lashora, and it became necessary for the 1st Brigadeto halt for an hour to allow Tytler's column to get clear. But at 7:30a. M. Macpherson's force resumed its march, ascending a tolerably easypath from the bed of the river and crossing the ridge to the left intothe Lashora Nala. Above Lashora the path wound through a narrow, rockyravine, overhung by precipitous and rugged hills, where the progress ofthe column was much impeded by the baggage animals of the 2nd InfantryBrigade, many of which (bullocks and buffaloes) were quite unfit forsuch service. These animals can never move but at a very slow pace, andin difficult places often come to a complete standstill. 

The 17th Regiment and the 27th Punjaub Infantry were ordered toadvance, and they were met by a determined resistance, the flags of theAfghans keeping well to the front in spite of the heavy fire of ourinfantry. 

Here Lieutenant N. C. Wiseman, 17th Foot, followed by two or three ofhis men, charged one standard bearer and ran him through, but thegallant officer was instantly surrounded and cut to pieces. The enemynow showed signs of giving way, upon which an order was sent to thecavalry on the right to attack on the first favorable opportunity. Butbefore this order was received both regiments charged successfully. Thetroops were then ordered to retire to camp, as the enemy was completelydispersed. The action commenced about 2 p. M. And by 4:30 p. M. Theenemy's position was captured. The estimated loss of the Afghans wasbetween 300 and 400 men, while the casualties among the troops amountedto two British officers, one native officer, twenty horses and threemen killed and four native officers and thirty-six men wounded.