LIBRARY 
 
 UNfVERSITY OF 
 CMlFO«NIA 
 
^ 
 
MY 
 
 LIFE AS A SOLDIER 
 
 BY 
 
 CAPTAIN THOMAS McKENZlE, 
 
 FORMERLY SERGEANT HER MAJESTY'S 64TH REGIMENT. 
 
 FIELD BUGLER TO THE GENERALS COMMANDING IN THE PERSIAK 
 CAMPAIGN AND INDIAN MUTINY. 
 
 ST. JOHN, N. B. 
 J. & A. McMillan, 98 Prince William Street, 
 
 1898. 
 
Entered according to Act of Parliament of Canada, in the year 1898, 
 
 By Thomas McKenzie, 
 
 In the office of the Minister of Agriculture at Ottawa. 
 
,32 
 
 TO HIS EXCELLENCY 
 
 THE EARL OF ABERDEEN, 
 
 GOVERNOR GENERAL OF CANADA, 
 
 THIS VOLUME IS, 
 
 BY HIS excellency's PERMISSION, 
 
 WITH GREAT RESPECT, 
 
 INSCRIBED. 
 
 495 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 Before commencing the story of my own life, I deem it 
 necessary to say a few words respecting my father's career 
 as a soldier. 
 
 In January, 1813, my father enlisted in Her Majesty's 
 93rd Highland Regiment, and was present with the Duke of 
 Wellington at Waterloo on June 18, 1815, for which he re- 
 ceived the medal granted for that war. On the completion 
 of the campaign my father purchased his discharge, and 
 returned to his native home in Perth, Scotland, where he 
 married my mother, they having known each other from 
 childhood. 
 
 A year afterwards my father obtained the rank of sergeant 
 and master tailor in H^r Majesty^s 94th Regiment, by pur- 
 chase, such being at that time the rule of the service. This 
 position he retained until his discharge at Chatham, England, 
 in August, 1841, receiving a pension for over twenty-three 
 years' service. He had received the usual medal for long 
 service and good conduct on the completion of eighteen years, 
 the prescribed period. On his discharge he went to London, 
 and immediately received employment from Mr. Gilbert, army 
 clothing contractor, who was well acquainted with my father 
 from having supplied him with all kinds of military cloth 
 while so long master tailor in the 94th. In November fol- 
 lowing, as my father and mother, with my brother and my- 
 self, were on our way to church, we were met by General 
 Feith, then on the staff at Horse Guards, but previously 
 
 (v) 
 
vi Introduction, 
 
 colonel of the 94th. He told my father that the 64th Regi- 
 ment had applied to Horse Guards for a master tailor, and 
 asked him if he would accept the position. Well do I re- 
 member my father's reply. " I have had enough of soldiering 
 already, and am doing well." The general then asked him 
 to call at his office the next day, that they might talk over 
 matters connected with the regiment. After our return from 
 church my father and mother considered what General Ffeith 
 had said, and on the following morning, my father, accom- 
 panied by my brother and myself, went to see the general, 
 who again asked him to accept the master tailorship of the 
 64th. This time the answer was, " Yes, if you will enlist 
 these two sons of mine ; if I may draw my pension while 
 serving, and be allowed to take my discharge by giving fifteen 
 days' notice." This caused a laugh from all in the office, to 
 think that my father should ask them to enlist me, then not 
 eleven years old, and only four feet two inches in height, 
 though nearly as broad as long, or high. The authorities 
 were willing to enlist my brother, but not me. My father 
 would not consent to go without me, and eventually the de- 
 cision was that I was to be enlisted as a special case. We two 
 boys were then enlisted, and passed the usual doctor's inspec- 
 tion, being made to jump and run, to show that we had the 
 use of our limbs and were fit to serve Her Majesty. When 
 we went before a magistrate to be sworn in as soldiers, I shall 
 never forget the laugh of the magistrate when he called my 
 name. I sprang to " attention," and gave him the military 
 salute, which I then knew as well as I do to-day. This I had 
 learnt, as well as the duty of obedience, in the regimental 
 school of the 94th. 
 
 I may here mention that in 1840, when Her Majesty Queen 
 
Introduction. vii 
 
 Victoria (God bless her) passed through Chatham after her 
 marriage, the whole of our regiment, the 94th, assembled to 
 congratulate her and form an escort for her on her return 
 home. I often had the pleasure of seeing her in London 
 during my three months of civil life there. Those who have 
 never been in London, or at Horse Guards, miss a splendid 
 sight in the two sentries mounted on their black horses, one 
 in each archway of the main gate. During their two hours 
 on duty neither man nor horse moves. They look more like 
 statues than living beings. I used to visit them daily, as well 
 as many other sights of interest in London. 
 
 My father, mother, and family left London one week after 
 my enlistment to join the four-company depot of the 64th, 
 then stationed at Templemore, Ireland, and arrived on the 
 29th November, 1841, my brother and I to begin our career 
 as soldiers. 
 
 In 1842 the depot was moved to Nenagh, Ireland, and to 
 Tralee in 1843. Early in that year a draft was inspected by 
 the doctor to join the head-quarters of the regiment at Hali- 
 fax. My father, brother and myself were included in the 
 draft. It was a great disappointment to my father when, in 
 August, word came that the regiment was ordered home to 
 England, for he was very desirous to get to America. The 
 regiment arrived at Portsmouth in October, 1843, where the 
 depot met them. Shortly afterwards the whole regiment went 
 to Weeden. They had not been there more than a month 
 when an epidemic of sore eyes broke out among the men, on 
 which two companies were sent to Northampton, and the other 
 eight companies to different places on detachment. It was 
 here my father gave notice to leave the regiment, in 1844, for 
 the following reason: The quartermaster of the regiment 
 
viii Introduction. 
 
 objected to my father getting all his military cloth from Mr. 
 Gilbert, as he used to do when in the 94th, receiving the 
 profit himself, if there was any. Accordingly my father, 
 mother, and the remainder of the family left again for Lon- 
 don, leaving us two brothers to fight through life for ourselves. 
 In the year 1845 my father and family came out to Kings- 
 ton, Ontario, in a sailing vessel commanded by his brother, 
 where he died a few years afterwards. My mother survived 
 him. At present my two eldest sisters and three younger 
 brothers live in Ontario; the eldest brother is now colonel 
 commanding the Gananoque Field Battery, his son being 
 captain in the same battery. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 At the suggestion and solicitation of friends on whose 
 judgment I rely, I have ventured to compile the following 
 short account of my life as a soldier in Her Majesty's service. 
 This has not been done because I think that there is any 
 particular credit to be attached to anything which has been 
 accomplished in the various capacities in which I have been 
 engaged, either in the east or west. They have simply been a 
 part of my duty, and any man should be satisfied if he feels 
 that he has honestly tried to do his best. But having occu- 
 pied a peculiar position as staff bugler, requiring my presence 
 close beside the general officer commanding, in two cam- 
 paigns, under such distinguished men as Sir James Outram 
 and Sir Henry Havelock, it has been thought that I might 
 relate the course of events in an unpretentious manner, and 
 as an observer of some things which ordinarily escape notice. 
 The nature of my work in Canada has been essentially con- 
 structive. The militia force of the Dominion has been a 
 thing of comparatively slow growth. Experience has had to 
 be bought. Facilities have been small. Perfection has by 
 no means yet been reached. But it has been my privilege 
 in the positions held by me to do something towards the 
 building up, in one section of this great country, of a system 
 of domestic military service, which I believe has now a good 
 foundation, and will be found more and more effective as 
 time goes on. 
 
 There are in my humble judgment two things which force 
 themselves on the unbiassed observer of men and things. 
 
 (ix) 
 
X Preface, 
 
 First, that public opinion is not yet sufficiently educated to 
 the absolute necessity, not merely the desirability, of having 
 a properly equipped and well disciplined military force, both 
 as the ultimate resort in case of civil disturbance, and as a 
 national defence in case of attack from without. The militia 
 is worse than useless if not effective. And that it shall be 
 effective should be the resolve of every patriotic citizen. 
 
 The other thing is, that the militia, being national in the 
 purest sense, should be entirely removed from the sphere and 
 influence of party politics. No appointment or promotion 
 should be affected by the exigencies of political provision; 
 but as is the case in the mother country, reasonable seniority, 
 with merit, should be the only avenue to advancement. 
 
 It will be seen that I have attempted no fine writing, but 
 that the narrative is a simple statement of what has been my 
 personal experience. As such I commit it to the kind con- 
 sideration of a generous public. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 
 
 Page 
 
 
 Introduction, 
 
 V 
 
 
 Preface, 
 
 ix 
 
 I. 
 
 First Years of Service, 
 
 1 
 
 II. 
 
 Life in India, 
 
 6 
 
 III. 
 
 The War with Persia, 
 
 13 
 
 IV. 
 
 The Indian Mutiny. 1857-1858, 
 
 31 
 
 V. 
 
 To LUCKNOW, 
 
 42 
 
 VI. 
 
 The Relief of Lucknow, 
 
 53 
 
 VII. 
 
 At Alam-Bagh, 
 
 60 
 
 VIII. 
 
 The Relief OF Lucknow, 
 
 66 
 
 IX. 
 
 Return to Cawnpore, 
 
 78 
 
 X. 
 
 At Kurrachee, 
 
 93 
 
 XI. 
 
 In Dover, 
 
 100 
 
 XII. 
 
 Some Testimonials, 
 
 103 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Arrival in Canada, 
 
 106 
 
 XIV. 
 
 The Fenian Scare of 1866, 
 
 134 
 
 XV. 
 
 Along the Border, 
 
 141 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Discharge from Her Majesty's Army, 
 
 150 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Return to Fredericton, 
 
 158 
 
 s:viii. 
 
 In the Permanent Corps, ; 
 
 174 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Officers with whom I have been Associated 
 
 
 
 IN Canada, 
 
 190 
 
 XX. 
 
 Conclusion 
 
 198 
 
CHAPTER J. 
 
 First Years of Service. 
 
 ^1^ FIND from the baptismal certificate now in my pos- 
 <sAa session, given me by my mother in 1868, that I was 
 born at Gibraltar on the 3rd of December, 1830. This 
 certificate contains the signature of both the chaplain and 
 the adjutant of the 94th Regiment. Three years after my 
 birth, the regiment left Malta for England, and, as usual, 
 was moved about from place to place in Scotland and Ire- 
 land. I have a vivid recollection of the time at which 
 the regiment was stationed at Cork, in 1838. The great 
 storm of that year, throughout Ireland, blew the slates off 
 the houses in the city, as well as the barrack buildings, and 
 small houses were completely blown down. 
 
 I may here mention that the only road from the barracks 
 to the city was by the Old Woman's Hill, so called, which 
 is very steep, so much so that there were steps at the side, 
 with a landing about every eight or ten steps, to enable 
 people to walk up or down the hill. 
 
 The new road, or the way through the race course to 
 the city from the barracks, was not opened until some years 
 afterwards. The regiment left Cork and went to Chat- 
 ham, in England, in 1839, and, as I said in a previous 
 page, Her Majesty visited there in 1840, just after her 
 marriage. The school children of the regiment, of whom 
 I was one, had to parade under charge of the school master 
 
2 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 to pay due and proper respect to her, which we did in a 
 regular military manner, by giving her the military salute, 
 and by singing "God Save tlie Queen/' I well remember 
 still how the carriage was stopped so that she could look 
 at us, which she did with a pleasant smile on her face, 
 which was much appreciated by all present, and was often 
 talked of at our school. 
 
 I now commence the narrative of my many years of 
 service to Her Majesty, confining myself almost entirely 
 to facts. The dress of the troops during my first three 
 years of service was as follows: Our head-dress was the 
 old black cap, small at the head, enlarging to sixteen inches 
 at the crown, with a curb chain and ball, as may now be 
 seen in old plates in books. The coatee (not tunic) had 
 long tails, with lead at tlie bottom to keep them down. 
 They were braided with worsted across the breast, wide at 
 the shoulders to narrow at the waist, and with wings for 
 epaulettes. The trousers were white duck ; the accoutre- 
 ments being cross-belts and sixty-round pouches. The 
 musket was the old " Brown Bess," with flint lock. In 
 those days a soldier had all he could do to get himself 
 ready for duty. It was in 1844 that the first Prince Albert 
 shako, with two peaks, was issued. Those of the year 
 following had only one peak. The old Brown Bess was 
 ordered into store, and new muskets issued with percussion 
 locks. In 1845 the white trousers were discontinued, and 
 shortly afterwards the cross-belts were dispensed with, 
 when we soldiers had not nearly so much trouble in clean- 
 ing our accoutrements or pipe-claying our trousers for 
 parade or other duty. ^ 
 
First Years of Service. 3 
 
 In November, 1841, I joined the 64th, four company, 
 the depot being at Templemore, Ireland, and immediately 
 began to acquire a soldier's duty, as well as to learn how 
 to play the flute, beat the drum, and blow the bugle ; and 
 by the time the regiment arrived home from Halifax, in 
 October, 1843, I was considered to be perfect and able to 
 take my place in the fife and drum band of the regiment. 
 Nothing unusual occurred until we arrive<l in Weeden, 
 when nearly the whole regiment took sore eyes. This was 
 •caused by a disease brought there by the men from Ports- 
 mouth, which polluted the canal running through tlie 
 barrack grounds, in which the men washed. This practice 
 was stopped, but not before the mischief was done. The 
 regiment was for this reason removed to different places, 
 with two companies as head-quarters at Northampton. I 
 have seen as many as four hundred of the regiment in 
 hospital with sore eyes at one time; but early in 1845 the 
 disease had been conquered, and the regiment was ordered 
 back to the upper barracks in Weeden, and in September 
 of the same year was removed to Dublin. 
 
 It was in 1844 that I received my first promotion, that 
 of the rank of full drummer, with extra pay of l|d. per 
 day, and also of field bugler to the regiment. The duty 
 of a full drummer is to give corporal punishment when a 
 soldier is sentenced to such punishment by court martial. 
 In those days I have seen many men receiving from one 
 hundred to five hundred lashes before breakfast of a morn- 
 ing, when all the troops in town or garrison would have to 
 parade to witness it. It is a blessing that at present (1898) 
 
4 Life as a Soldier, 
 
 this unmerciful puuishment is abolished in Her Majesty's 
 service, except it be for some very indecent act, and then 
 not to exceed fifty lashes. It is proved that discipline can 
 be carried out without such severity, although it took many 
 years before it was seen to be so by the framers of military 
 law. 
 
 The only thing of any importance occurring during my 
 period of duty in Dublin and other parts of Ireland, from 
 1846 to 1848, was the failure of the potatoes, and other 
 crops, in 1846, which caused great distress throughout 
 Ireland. Our regiment was moved about to stop any 
 uprising or disturbance. But everything appeared quiet 
 until we reached Clonmel, in 1848. Here Smith O'Brien, 
 Mitchell, Meagher, McManus, and others, with a large 
 body of followers, went about the country at night ta 
 plunder and burn up the houses of the gentry, which 
 caused a number of both cavalry and infantry to be sent 
 out nightly to prevent damage being done, and to bring in 
 such prisoners as were disobeying the law in this respect, 
 A magistrate accompanied each party of troops. This wa& 
 continued every night for more than two months, until the 
 ringleaders above mentioned were apprehended. Many 
 casualties occurred on both sides, fire-arms being freely 
 used. Some died of the wounds received, among them 
 two of our regiment. The men whose names are given 
 above were brought under escort, composed of twenty 
 cavalrymen and a company of the 64th, to the gaol in 
 Cashel. I was one of the escort. They were tried by 
 civil court, and sentenced to be transported, and were, I 
 
First Years of Service, 5 
 
 believe, sent to some part of America. After this the 
 disturbances ceased. 
 
 It was in 1847 that the ten-year limit act was passed. 
 Previously to this, the term of service in H. M. forces was 
 unlimited, but one could be discharged with pension after 
 twenty-one years' service. At the end of 1848 the regi- 
 ment was ordered to Cork to embark for India. It was 
 here that Colonel Stopford joined our regiment by exchange 
 with Colonel Stratton. Colonel Wilson was also posted to 
 the 64th a few days after the exchange was made, as two 
 colonels were allowed to a regiment under orders for India 
 to join the forces at war with the Sikhs. 
 
 The Colonel Stopford mentioned, before his exchange, 
 commanded the 43rd Regiment Light Infantry, and had 
 already received medals for engagements in India. He 
 was the first man shot in Persia, to which I will again 
 refer in describing that campaign. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 Life in India. 
 
 |HE regim(Mit embarked in the troopship "Java," a 
 ^ very large vessel, which formerly was a man-of-war^ 
 but now had no guns on board. It had three decks, and 
 furnished plenty of room for the regiment. Our voyage 
 lasted three months and was an eventful one. We lay for 
 three days and nights while rounding the Cape, about in 
 line with Table Bay, in a calm. The men were bathing 
 in the sea, when sharks were seen, which caused us to 
 make for the boats ; but not before two of our men were 
 caught by two sharks. That was on a Saturday afternoon. 
 The next day, Sunday, we still lay in the calm. The men 
 after church service and dinner were fishing, and every 
 sail the ship had was set. About 5 p. m. a very heavy 
 squall came on with rain and wind, which gave very little 
 time to get the sails in or furled. The storm continued 
 for four continuous days and nights, and drove the old 
 ship back so much that it took somewhat over eight days 
 to get back to the same place, opposite Table Bay. Many 
 storms we had, but this was the worst, and some thought 
 the old ship would never reach Bombay. But, as Sir 
 Henry Havelock often said, " God was with us." 
 
 On arriving in Bombay we found that the war with the 
 Sikhs had been ended while we were en route. Accord- 
 ingly the regiment was ordered to quarters in Poonalu 
 (6) 
 
Life in India, 7 
 
 Shortly after our arrival I joined the band, and continued 
 as the field bugler when required. In 1851 I was ap- 
 pointed drill-corporal, with seven and one-half rupees per 
 month extra pay, which caused me to leave the band. In 
 1854 I became drill-sergeant with fifteen rupees extra pay 
 per month. All this time I performed the duties of field 
 bugler, of which I may here give a partial account. First, 
 to attend with the commanding officer, and sound calls as 
 required. In those days a regiment on parade could per- 
 form nearly all the movements by bugle call ; and as our 
 Colonel (Stopford) had been formerly in a light infantry 
 corps (43rd) he kept the men moving by bugle sound as 
 much as possible. Another part of the duty was to attend 
 once a week at the officers' lectures on drill, discipline, 
 etc. At such meetings the colonel and all officers must be 
 present, and each officer had to understand all bugle calls. 
 The sergeants of the regiment had also a day to meet for 
 the same purpose, the adjutant being present. By attend- 
 ing these meetings I learned all that could be acquired 
 about drill, etc., and was often told so. Not infrequently 
 I had to part with my knowledge during brigade parades, 
 and afterwards in front of the enemy, when aides-de-camp 
 were at other work, or delivering orders from the com- 
 mander. I being on the staif as bugler was often made 
 use of as an aide-de-camp. 
 
 For the information of those who have never been in 
 India, I will briefly describe the climate, and how the 
 soldiers passed their time in it. If a person is young 
 when he enters the country, and becomes acclimatized, he 
 
8 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 has nothing to fear, for if in good health he remains so, 
 so long as he keeps up the exercise available for the troops. 
 During about three months of the year he can go shooting, 
 or any other such sport, at a very cheap rate. By procur- 
 ing a pass (authority) from his commanding ofiScer, he can 
 get a horse fully equipped, with a bag of oats from the 
 native keeping the stable in the regimental bazaar, for the 
 low sum of four annas (sixpence sterling) per day. The 
 pass must be left with the owner of the horse, and any 
 damage done to the horse or fit out paid for. The men use 
 this privilege very often ; in fact, daily during this period 
 races are held by the soldiers near their barracks. Con- 
 sequently soon after a regiment arrives in India, every man 
 in the corps, if he feels so inclined, can ride. A camel 
 can be used in this way, but costs twice as much, and is 
 not so easy to ride. Men are sore afterward, still they get 
 used to it, and nothing else is used when the men, women 
 and children have picnics. There are many other outside 
 games, such as hand-ball, throwing bullets (a lead or iron 
 ball, from three to six pounds weight each). A number 
 of throws, say six, eight or ten, are made into the country, 
 and, coming back to the starting point, the parties chang- 
 ing bullets, the last throw out. The winner is he who 
 gains the most ground, always starting from the place 
 where the bullets stop. Both of these games are practised 
 very much in India, and keep the men in the best of health. 
 I have seen miles of men at the latter game at once. 
 
 The diseases among the troops in India are fever, liver 
 complaint, palpitation of the heart, and, in swampy or wet 
 
Life in India. 9 
 
 ground, sometimes cholera, also fever and ague. This 
 latter complaint requires all the heat a man can bear. Hot 
 baths are the first remedy used. I have seen men very 
 weak for over a month from the effect of the latter disease. 
 But once the patient begins to recover, he is in far better 
 health and stronger than before iiis illness. 
 
 All parades are either early in the morning or by moon- 
 light, such as brigading for sham fights, in garrisons con- 
 taining the three arms of the service — cavalry, artillery, 
 and infantry, I have fallen in for such parades at 2 a. m., 
 and. not been dismissed until one or two hours after sun- 
 rise, 6 or 8 a. m. The men like this sort of work, as it 
 prepares them for war. Talking of war, I may here say 
 that I learned how to apply a bandage, etc., in case of an 
 artery or flesh wound, and during the Persian campaign 
 and the Indian mutiny often had to do so. 
 
 The barrack rooms are comfortable, for they use a 
 punkah in each room, worked by natives, which keeps up 
 a cool breeze. Each room has a mat made of cocoanut 
 /fibre, about an inch in thickness, in the place of a window, 
 upon which the natives are constantly throwing water. 
 For this they receive extra pay. The water for drinking 
 is generally cool : it is kept in chattas three deep. The 
 top one contains a little gravel or fine sand, with several 
 small holes in the bottom of it. The middle chaita has 
 smaller holes and finer gravel. The water drops from one 
 to the other, and it is very clear and cool in the lower one, 
 from which we drink. The chattas are always kept full. 
 The surplus water running over the lowest one escapes 
 through a drain. 
 
10 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 There are one or two covered verandahs round each 
 barracks, the rooms having no ceilings, but are long and 
 broad, each containing room for a company of one hundred 
 men. They are kept clean at all times by the natives. It 
 can be seen, then, that, although the country is hot, a 
 soldier can retain his good health with care. I can say 
 for myself that, during more than twelve years of service 
 in that country, I had the best of health. I kept myself 
 as much as possible to the front in all games — cricket, 
 foot-ball, running, horse-racing, etc.-^and many others 
 did the same. 
 
 The weather is varied by the monsoons, which are heavy 
 rains by showers. I have run from my barrack room to 
 one side of the barrack square to meet the rain as a shower 
 bath, and while the rain was passing over met it again on 
 the other side. This used to be sport for us, and was much 
 enjoyed by all. But should the hot winds come, we get 
 under cover at once, for they are very severe, and more 
 like fire running through you than a wind. 
 
 The accommodation for a soldier in India is satisfactory, 
 and he is well looked after by the authorities. For 
 instance, the canteens now have connected with them 
 reading and coffee rooms, which were established by 
 Sir Frederic Roberts, which does away, in great measure, 
 with the drinking of liquor. In my time, coffee rooms 
 were not thought of; but the men could only get into the 
 canteen after 12 noon for one pint of ale or porter, and no 
 more until 7 p. m., when a dram of either arrack or rum 
 would be allowed them. After 8 p. m. they could again 
 
Life in India. 11 
 
 get one pint of ale or porter. A number of the men, my- 
 self included, preferred attending the temperance club 
 formed in our regiment. No native was allowed to sell 
 liquor of any kind to a soldier, which is, and was, the best 
 order ever issued by the authorities in India. 
 
 As well as the diseases the men are subject to in India, 
 I have seen a large number die in a very short time with 
 sunstroke. The first one was Captain Fownes, of our 
 light infantry company, who was a very smart and natty 
 soldier, as the regiment thought. His death occurred in 
 Poonah, on the first Sunday after our arrival, while on our 
 way to church. The doctor said the cause was want of 
 sufficient covering for his head. He had only a small cap 
 cover, and a still smaller turban over his forage cap, whi(;h 
 was very light. In less than two minutes after he fell he 
 was dead ; but when the native doctor, attached to each 
 regiment in India, saw him, he stated that if one of the 
 men had bled him in the neck with a penknife his life 
 would probably have been saved. I have seen many lives 
 saved during my residence in India in this way. To pre- 
 vent sunstroke, when soldiers first go to India, they have 
 issued to them a very light forage cap made of bamboo 
 cane, with a large peak in front reaching from temple to 
 temple. This is covered with a cotton cover well quilted, 
 and around the temples and neck with a cotton turban, 
 the men usually buying silk ones afterwards. 
 
 When the cholera attacks a regiment or a garrison in 
 India a number of men die by it before a change of 
 weather comes on, or the regiment can be moved to another 
 
12 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 station. I have been present at the burial of over a hun- 
 dred men, women and children at once, who had died of 
 this disease. On the other hand, the native doctors, as 
 well as the regimental doctors, succeed in stopping the dis- 
 ease after only a few deaths occur. A few men also die 
 with fever and ague, should the black vomit accompany it. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 The War with Persia. 
 
 Sj^N 1856 the British government had proclaimed war 
 i^ with Persia, which had refused to evacuate Herat. 
 At that time I was present with our regiment, the 64th, 
 which was then stationed at Kurrachee, Bombay presidency. 
 While there we received orders to proceed to Persia. 
 
 After we arrived at Bombay we embarked in a man-of- 
 war steamer for Bushire, a fortified city on the Persian 
 gulf, where we were joined by other troops, who had come 
 in steamers and sailing vessels. On the assembling of the 
 whole force, a council of war was held on board of the 
 steamer on which the commanding officer, Major-General 
 Stalker, was, for the purpose of deciding on the mode of 
 attack, and appointing the staiF for the force. At this 
 meeting Colonel James Stopford, of the 64th, was appointed 
 brigadier, and I as staif bugler to the general. In accord- 
 ance with the general orders then published, the troops 
 were to land early the next morning, while the navy were 
 firing on the city or fort of Bushire and the mud fort of 
 Reshire. The men-of-war were between both places, about 
 two miles from each. The troops disembarked in small 
 boats and landed seven miles from the mud or Dutch 
 fort, which is about four miles from Bushire. We imme- 
 diately formed and advanced on it and captured it. This 
 fort had a ditch which fills with water when the tide is in, 
 
 (13) 
 
14 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 but when we attacked it the tide was out and the ditch dry. 
 After we got into the ditch we had to ascend a steep bank 
 to reach the top of the fort. It was here that Brigadier 
 Stopford (uncle of Colonel Maunsell *) fell into ray arras, 
 shot through the heart by one of the enemy, who was not 
 twenty yards frora us. I can never forget his words, "O 
 my God, McKenzie, Vm shot." He handed me his sword, 
 which is- now in possession of his son, George Stopford, 
 Esq., lately of Fredericton. I immediately took from my 
 haversack a bandage, etc., took his jacket off, and was ap- 
 plying the bandage when a doctor arrived and pronounced 
 liim about dead, as the ball had gone through his heart. 
 During this time, and after the colonel's fall, the enemy's 
 musket balls came very thick around me, but, thanks to 
 God, I was not hit by any of them. This was the first 
 narrow escape I had, but had many others before the 
 campaign and the Indian mutiny was over, which I will 
 describe as they occurred, asking my readers to bear in 
 mind that it is only a brief account of my life which I am 
 writing, and of facts of which I was an eye-witness during 
 both campaigns, not a history of Persia or India. 
 
 """The Colonel Maunsell above mentioned is the present commander 
 of militia in New Brunswick, a position he has held since his appoint- 
 ment as A. G. in 1865. The Mr. Stopford alluded to was born in 
 Kurrachee, previous to his father leaving there in command of the 64th 
 for Persia. He married the daughter of Mr. Milner, of Fredericton, 
 and is now residing at Tidnish, N. S. He has in his possession a de- 
 tailed account of his father's death, which was published at the time 
 ■or soon afterwards in the London Times. 
 
The War with Persia. 15 
 
 Colonel Stopford was the only man of the attacking 
 force dressed in red, he wearing his shell-jacket. The rest 
 of us wore kaka-colored coats, nearly the color of the 
 ground. Colonel Stopford had asked General Stalker if 
 he would allow me to accompany him to sound the bugle 
 calls for the attacking party, which \vas our regiment, 
 saying at the time the men act better, and I could deliver 
 orders if required. The general allowed the request, for I 
 was his bugler, and it was late in the evening before I 
 returned to him. 
 
 I mentioned in a previous chapter that I learned how to 
 apply a bandage in case of men being wounded in action. 
 I will here explain how, which may be of use to others. 
 In the event of an artery wound, place a piece of cork or 
 the like, a cent will do, immediately on the main artery, 
 with a portion of the bandage under the cork, which must 
 be pressed on the artery, and bandage as tight as possible. 
 Then the blood will stop flowing. Any place on the 
 inside of the arm or leg is an artery wound, which may be 
 seen by the color of the blood, and how it runs or flows. 
 With a flesh wound, or vein, the bandage is placed on the 
 wounded ])art with no cork, but bandaged tight. Care 
 must be taken in artery wounds that you bandage the main 
 artery between the wound and the heart. Supposing the 
 wound to be on the inside of the leg, any part of it, place 
 the bandage on the artery in the groin, which can easily 
 be found by the pulsation there, the same as in your wrist. 
 The like rule applies to the arm ; but the main artery can 
 be found on the inside of the arm near the shoulder. If 
 
16 Life as a Soldiet'. 
 
 the wound is at the foot, the main artery can be found 
 above it, near the ankle, on the inside of the leg. If the 
 wound is on the head bandage the temples. If on the 
 breast or back, bandage around the body. A bandage 
 may be from two and one-half to four inches wide, and 
 from ten to twenty yards long. A common cork can be 
 cut about one-quarter inch thick, and one inch or less in 
 width, and is about the best thing to use. 
 
 During our advance upon the fort I made so bold as to 
 remark to the brigadier, Colonel Stopford, that he had 
 made himself conspicuous in front of the enemy by wear- 
 ing red ; and that as brigadier it was not necessary for 
 him to be with the fighting line, or skirmishers. His 
 reply to me was, " It is the first engagement the regiment 
 is in, and I will lead them.'' During our advance the 
 enemy's bullets from their very long muskets were flying 
 around us, but little damage was done until the colonel 
 was shot, with several others. The enemy paid very dearly 
 for it, for many of them were either shot or killed with 
 the bayonet. The rifle pits in this fort were so constructed 
 that the enemy could fire from them, and run from one to 
 the other without our seeing them. The British charge, 
 however, soon found them. The portion of them, some 
 thousands, that were not either killed or drowned in the 
 Persian gulf, got off* to Bush ire by the bank of the gulf, 
 unknown to us, to attack us afterwards. Had the tide 
 been in at the time they could not have done so. 
 
 The force camped just below the fort, on a plain, for the 
 night, and early the next morning advanced on Bushire, 
 
The War loith Persia. 17 
 
 The ships had inflicted considerable damage during the 
 night, and when we got within attacking distance, our 
 artillery with skirmishers attacked the city at a point 
 which the shipping did not command. We soon had a 
 large breach made in the walls, and a storming party was 
 advancing, when six horsemen came out with a flag of 
 truce and gave themselves up, the Shah among the num- 
 ber. In spite of tiiis a body of about twenty other cavalry 
 came rushing round the staff, cutting and slashing at all 
 they met. Major Taylor of the staff here went at one of 
 them, and cut him nearly in two with a blow of his sword, 
 which was very heavy and sharp. I shot another of them 
 with a revolver, of which weapon I carried two. 
 
 After matters were settled General Stalker handed to 
 me the sword of the Shah, which was a very handsome 
 one. Both the handle of the sword and the scabbard were 
 very richly ornamented with costly stones. I must say I 
 looked well and felt proud with a king's sword by mv 
 side. After some ten days I had to hand it in for return 
 to the Shah, but was allowed to keep the black horse, one 
 of thousands, taken from the enemy. 
 
 The city of Bushire is a regular fort, with a strong wall 
 around it, which is mounted with heavy guns. Had it 
 not been for the navy the remainder of the force would 
 have had a hard time taking it, so the commander stated. 
 But it was sure to be taken when the British attacked it. 
 There was one thing we all thought at the time, and I am 
 still of the same opinion, that it was wrong to allow the 
 enemy to leave and go where they pleased. For at that 
 B 
 
18 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 time a large force was collecting at Barazjan, near the 
 mountains or passes to Teheran, where reinforcements from 
 Teheran joined them daily. Our force took a large num- 
 ber of fancy weapons, such as swords, daggers and pistols, 
 from the enemy on their way out by the gate. Thousands 
 of them, however, escaped by the bank of the gulf, whom 
 we could not see. That was before a party of our force 
 was ordered into the city, or fort, to take charge of it, with 
 orders to hold or take possession of all arms, etc., as well 
 as to hold the Shah and his staff as prisoners. The next 
 day the whole force was marched all through the city ; and 
 I saw many beautiful articles which were seized, especially 
 about the king's palace, which was the head-quarters of the 
 general and his staflpfor the time being. Our regiment was 
 ordered to remain to guard the city, while the balance of 
 the force was encamped on the common in front of the 
 city. Our force was not large, therefore we had to wait 
 for the reinforcements ordered to join under Generals 
 Outram and Havelock, neither of them being in Persia 
 at the time. 
 
 While waiting, a mud fort was erected by the force 
 outside the city, with a commanding view of the enemy's 
 position towards the mountain passes or road to Teheran. 
 After the first few days we were much annoyed by the 
 enemy's firing round shot as well as by their very long 
 muskets, which carried a ball for over a mile. Often we 
 had to attack them. On two occasions we went after 
 them with tvvo days' cooked rations in our haversacks, 
 and each time a number of them were killed and many 
 
The War uith Persia. 19 
 
 prisoners taken. Major-General Stalker was senior officer 
 to Major-General Out ram at the commencement of this 
 champaign. But Outram was promoted to the rank of 
 lieutenant-general and to command the force in Persia. 
 Rumor said this gave dissatisfaction among the staff. The 
 force, however, considered it a good change, for the 
 lieutenant-general was found to be the soldiers' friend, and 
 he always had a good thought for them, and we were very 
 glad when he arrived and took command, which was near 
 the end of January, 1857. 
 
 In a few days afterwards the first reinforcements arrived, 
 the 78th among them. The enemy were causing a great 
 <leal of trouble. Lieutenant-General Outram now con- 
 sidered it necessary to break up the enemy's plans and 
 attack them. The following strength of the force was 
 ordered out for this purpose, with himself as commander. 
 Strength all ranks of attacking force: Cavalry, 419; 
 Artillery, 18 guns and about 220 men; Sappers, 118; 
 Infantry, Europeans, 2,212 ; natives of India, 1,466 ; total, 
 4,435, with 12 stafiP. The remainder were left under 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Shepherd in the entrenchments and 
 city. Strength all ranks about 1,600 men, including 
 Europeans and native infantry, with 14 guns, besides the 
 guns mounted on the mud fort or entrenchment, which 
 was now placed under the charge of a number of sailors 
 from the men-of-war steamers. 
 
 When the force was returning to Bushire from Kooshab, 
 the sailors opened fire on us with their guns from the fort. 
 We were taking a different route in returning from the 
 
20 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 one we had gone by, and they supposed we were the 
 enemy, who had made attacks on them each night dur- 
 ing our absence from Bushire. Sir James said to me^ 
 " McKenzie, this must be stopped/' Sir James and myself 
 then rode at a very fast rate to the gate of the fort, and 
 had some trouble in getting them to stop firing. Of course 
 I had sounded the ''cease fire" several times, but the 
 sailors did not understand that call. I imagine they felt 
 badly when they found out their mistake, by which, how- 
 ever, as good fortune would have it, no harm was done. 
 The best of troops are liable to make such a mistake, and 
 it is more to the sailors' credit than otherwise, for it show& 
 that they were on the alert and watchful, as any other 
 British subject should be in front of his enemy. Sir 
 James Outram did not in any way blame them, but said 
 to me he was glad to find the sailors at their post. 
 
 The 64th Regiment was with Outram's force, and my 
 name was again in orders as the lieutenant-generaPs bugler. 
 We had no camp equipage, only our great-coats rolled with 
 one blanket inside, with two days' cooked rations in our 
 haversacks, the commissariat department having three days' 
 rations extra. 
 
 We met the enemy a few miles from Bushire, but they 
 would not show fight after the advance guard, who were 
 in skirmishing order with the usual number of cavalry, 
 fired a few shots at them. Of course Sir James, with his 
 force, was determined to give them a lesson ; and there- 
 fore followed them up, in all forty-six miles, when we 
 came to their large entrenchment at Barazjan, which was 
 
The War rviih Pmsia. 21 
 
 below the mountain passes on the road to Teheran. AVe 
 had a light skirmish here, but the enemy made off to the 
 pass, expecting us to follow. But as the force was not 
 sufficiently equipped or strong enough in number to attack 
 or follow an enemy over three times their strength through 
 mountain passes, Sir James thought it best not to be caught 
 in such a way by any enemy. So he told me. During the 
 most of this time, two days and nights, it rained and was 
 -cold. The enemy, being in a hurry to get off, left their 
 tents, etc., behind them, also a large quantity of powder 
 and parts of large guns. Perhaps they expected to get 
 them again after they had made away with us in the passes. 
 Sir James ordered a pit to be dug, and all the eneray^s 
 things put into it, which was done by our sappers. While 
 this work was going on he was talking to me. Sudden ly 
 he called the chief of his staff. Sir Edward Lugard, and in 
 a loud tone of voice said that he would attack the enemy 
 in the passes during the night, saying also, " McKenzie 
 here will sound the assemble at 8 o'clock sharp, and I 
 expect every man to be fit and ready to march." 
 
 This saying travelled to the enemy long before the time 
 named, and of course they were waiting for us. But they 
 did not catch us. At 8 o'clock I did sound the assemble. 
 Sir James said : " Follow me, advance guard." (He 
 always went with some of the advance guard.) But in- 
 stead of making for the mountains we headed for Bushire. 
 Our rations were about done, excepting the grog, although 
 up to that time we- had been allowed three extra drams. 
 After we had marched four or five miles. Sir James said 
 
22 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 to me: "Sound the halt!" when all the force was turned 
 about to see the explosion of the articles put into the pit, 
 which were set fire to by a train carried along by the 
 sappers in the rear guard. I must say this was the best 
 fireworks, shell bursting in the air, etc., that I ever saw. 
 We could also see the enemy waiting for us in the moun- 
 tains. Sir James again ordered me to sound the advance. 
 When we got about half a mile or so from our resting- 
 place, or about midnight, the enemy attacked us in the 
 rear. 
 
 On Sir James hearing the shots, he went about very 
 quickly, I following. It was so dark we could not see our 
 way. Sir James's horse fell in a hole, the horse rolling 
 over him. I immediately dismounted, and got him clear 
 of the horse, and placed him in a doolah. He just had 
 time to say : '^ McKenzie, tell Sir Edward to take com- 
 mand," and then became unconscious. I remained with 
 him until he recovered. The whole time I was bathing 
 his head with cold water. On regaining consciousness, hi& 
 first words were: "McKenzie, how are the force?" I 
 told him. He remarked that it was the noise of the 
 artillery that started him. I had his as well as my owft 
 horse near at hand. We mounted, when he again took 
 command. He, as usual, went to the front, and, of course,, 
 I had to be with him. Three companies of the 64th Kegi- 
 ment were skirmishing, and he made for them. Here I 
 dismounted, for my company was part of the line, and took 
 a musket from one of our regiment, who lay dead on the 
 field, to have a shot or two at the enemy. After the second 
 
The War with Persia. 23 
 
 f 
 
 shot I was in the act of loading, as a rear rank man, when 
 I tumbled nearly over. The captain (V. Ryan) of my 
 own company in the regiment, as well as Sir James, asked 
 me what was the matter. I could not tell them. But 
 when I rose to advance, I found the heel of my right boot 
 was knocked completely off by a musket ball of the enemy. 
 Then both the general and captain saw the cause of the 
 fall. 
 
 We lost several at this battle, but the enemy's loss was 
 very heavy, the report of their killed stating over seven 
 hundred. They had a large number of cavalry, who 
 charged our squares during the night, and, by the large 
 number of horses running about next morning, many of 
 their killed or wounded must have been cavalry men. 
 During the night our loss was not heavy, but Lieutenant 
 Green tree, of our regiment, was so severely wounded by a 
 cannon-ball that he died shortly afterwards, as well as 
 others of the regiment. Still, some of them recovered from 
 their flesh wounds. 
 
 The 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry charged and broke a 
 four-deep square. I must say they went at the enemy as 
 well as any European cavalry could do, but lost their com- 
 mander. Nearly one-half of the enemy was cut up before 
 they got to the mountains. The enemy again thought we 
 would now follow them. But, as I said above, neither 
 Sir James nor the force was prepared to do so. 
 
 The name of this place was called Kooshab, about five 
 miles from Barazjan. After this battle we remained at 
 Kooshab until about 5 p. m. Here again Sir James set 
 
24 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 the report rolling that he would attack the enemy in the 
 evening. But, as before, after I sounded the assemble we 
 made for Bushire. About fifteen miles from the city we 
 came to a large mud fort, but no enemy could be seen. 
 On account of the heavy rains, and our taking a different 
 route, we came to very swampy and wet ground, and in 
 some places the water was over two feet deep. Sir James 
 allowed each man a pair of boots for this march. 
 
 At the fort now referred to, the cavalry and artillery, 
 with a portion of infantry, remained until the next morn- 
 ing, when the whole force marched again on to Bushire, 
 after having given the enemy the lesson that Sir James 
 said he would give them. 
 
 I remember reading in a journal after the campaign was 
 over, that during the night attack at Kooshab, under com- 
 mand of Lieutenant-General Outram, the Persian bugler 
 sounded " cease fire." I did so, as I well remember, by 
 order of Sir Edward Lugard, for the force might do more 
 harm than good. No fighting position could be formed, 
 except to resist cavalry by forming square. Although 
 born in Gibraltar, I did not know that I was a Persian 
 bugler. But I suppose the writer of that article never 
 saw Persia. 
 
 In the life of Sir James Outram, by Major-General Sir 
 F. J. Goldsmith, the fall of Sir James's horse is men- 
 tioned. The following extract is also from the same vol- 
 ume: " * His thought of and care for his soldiers,' says one 
 of his staff, * was such as is not often felt by generals for 
 their men.' He had during the Persian campaign an 
 
The War icith Persia. 25 
 
 orderly bugler, McKenzie, of the 64th. On the line of 
 march I have seen him look down and say, * McKenzie, 
 you are not smoking.' ^ No, sir,' would be the reply, ' I 
 have no tobacco.' The general's cheroot case was at once 
 nt the bugler's disposal, and he would sttjp his horse, and 
 from his own cheroot give a light to McKenzie." Often 
 the like of this occurred, as well as something to keep the 
 cold out, during our return to Bush ire. 
 
 Talking about smoking, during the night attack at 
 Kooshab, above referred to, an order was issued that the 
 men were not to smoke or light pipes or cheroots, for if 
 they did so the lights would be a target for the enemy to 
 fire at. It was a very dark night, and the port fires used 
 by the artillery had to be hid when not in use. This was 
 a hardship to the soldiers, to have to do without smoking 
 for about six hours. 
 
 I may also here mention the scheme used by Sir James 
 Outrara, viz., to spread the report so that it would come 
 to the ears of the enemy that he \^"€)uld attack them, when 
 he had no thought of doing so. I have been present 
 when he and his chief. Sir Edward Lugard, talked such 
 things over, but of course was dumb at all times on such 
 matters. His policy was to induce the enemy to prepare 
 and get into position for defence, so as to give him time to 
 take an opposite course. Again, he was determined to go 
 by the other route to Teheran, via Mahomerah, and not 
 through the mountain passes, for I have heard him say 
 ^' Such roads should not be used if any other way is avail- 
 able, especially if they contain an enemy." 
 
26 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 During our six days' absence from Bushire, General 
 Stalker had not been idle. He continued the building of 
 the huts which were commenced some time before for the 
 Europeans, into which Sir James was very anxious to get 
 his men. The fort, or entrenchment, on the plain in front 
 of the city was made more comfortable for the troops* 
 But Sir James was anxiously waiting for the reinforce- 
 ments, which he expected would have arrived before we 
 went to Barazjan. Having given orders for a party to be 
 sent up the river Karoon to find out the position of the 
 enemy, etc., the report of that party was, that there were 
 forts along the river as well as infantry, and that their 
 position appeared to be a strong one. They also reported 
 that the island in front of their batteries was nothing but 
 mud^ and that no battery could be erected there. Conse- 
 quently Sir James ordered rafts to be prepared for heavy 
 mortar guns which could be brought to the island for 
 action, while the man-of-war steamers were attacking the 
 enemy's position, with the attacking force on board ready 
 to land. 
 
 The second reinforcement having arrived with Major- 
 General Havelock on board, Sir James formed the attack- 
 ing party and divided the reinforcements, some of them to 
 be left in Bushire, the balance to join the attacking force. 
 General Jacob was left in charge of Bushire, on account 
 of the death of Major-General Stalker, the cause of whose 
 death I omit. Everything now being ready, the force 
 moved for the two attacks. The first one was by the 
 heavy guns on board of the large steamers and the mortar 
 
The War with Persia, 2T 
 
 battery ; the second by six smaller steamers, with guns, 
 on which were the troops, numbering a little over four 
 thousand. 
 
 During our sail up the river to Mahoraerah, some very 
 heavy explosions were heard, which was found afterwards 
 to be the enemy's magazines. We also learned that there 
 had been several killed. The ships had all their engage- 
 ment to themselves. But although the mortar raft with 
 artillerymen on it had no shelter from the fire of the 
 enemy's guns and muskets, only a couple of men on 
 it were slightly wounded during the sail. When we 
 landed a few miles above Mahomerah, we marched to 
 attack the enemy, but found that they had vacated their 
 camp ground, which was well fortified, leaving all their 
 tents, etc. A party of cavalry was sent after them, but 
 not having a sufficient number of men they could not fol- 
 low them far. They reported on their return that they 
 saw a large number of arms, etc., which had been thrown 
 away by the enemy. A party was also sent to the enemy's 
 forts, but found no force there. However, they buried 
 about two hundred of the enemy's dead, and brought in 
 eighteen guns. 
 
 Sir James, as usual, wanted to be on the leading ship, 
 or front of the attacking force. But as his staff considered 
 it better for him to be less exposed, a scheme was con- 
 cocted by them, to ask him whether he wished to keep all 
 the honor to himself, or to share it with the commodore 
 and Indian navy. This appealed to his generosity and 
 altered his plans, and his reply to his friend was: " Well, 
 
28 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 Sir Edward, I will go in the middle steamer;" which was 
 the "Scindian." I was present when the above conversa- 
 tion was going on. While this steamer moved up the 
 river she had the union jack flying, which made her a 
 marked object for the enemy to fire at with the guns they 
 had, as well as with muskets. I was standing talking to 
 the servant of Captain Havelock (now Sir H. M. Have- 
 lock Allan, Bt.), on this steamer, when a round shot 
 struck him, and I might say completely smashed him. A 
 few seconds after, the enemy's fire of musketry became 
 very heavy. Our regiment (or seven companies of them, 
 the other three companies having been left at Bushire), 
 was on board this steamer, for Sir James was sure to have 
 our corps near him, while General Havelock would have 
 the 78th. As I said above, the enemy's musket balls 
 came pretty thick by times. Once, on an explosion of one 
 of the enemy's magazines, the men put their heads up and 
 looked over the bulwarks. Sir James put away his glass 
 with which he was surveying the enemy, and had hardly 
 .said " Down, men of the 64th," when a shower of balls 
 from the shore rattled over the deck, happily missing him. 
 A brother officer was smoking a hookah * beside him. A 
 ball had struck the hookah, demolishing it. Sir James 
 remarked to his friend, ''A musket ball has put your pipe 
 out," .never thinking of his own foot, which was close 
 beside the hookah. 
 
 * A hookah is an Indian pipe, having a large bowl, which sets on 
 the ground, with tubes from it, so that more than one person can smoke 
 out of it at the same time. 
 
The War with Persia, 29 
 
 The force remained at Mahomerah, as Sir James ex- 
 pected more reinforcements before lie could proceed further 
 on to Teheran. Matters appeared to be quiet at Bushire, 
 therefore we had a rest, which was much appreciated by 
 all, and the natives here, mostly Arabs, were very friendly 
 with us. On Sunday afterwards, the force were at church 
 service on the camp ground, General Havelock reading 
 the service, when Sir James came up and told him that 
 the war with Persia was over. We remained, however, 
 at Mahomerah for some days longer before returning to 
 Bushire. 
 
 It was then announced in general orders that the troops 
 were to hold themselves in readiness to return to their 
 former stations in Bombay presidency. A few days after 
 this the entire strength of the force paraded, when the 
 Lieutenant-General, Sir James Outrara, thanked us for 
 the manner in whici) we had performed a soldier's duty in 
 the field, to use his words, " without any crime." After 
 he had addressed the force, he called me to the front, and 
 with a few remarks presented me with a handsome silver 
 watch of J. B. Dent's make, and a beautiful gold chain of 
 Persian make. Of course I thanked him, with as few 
 words as possible. He stopped me, replying "Not at all, 
 McKenzie, you are deserving of it, and I am only sorry it 
 is not something better, for I have not forgotten the night 
 attack at Kooshab." I said I did not think I had done 
 anything more than a soldier's duty, and at once returned 
 to my usual place in rear of him. This matter was pub- 
 lished in the Indian Times by one of his staff. 
 
30 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 I may here also say, regarding crime, that the orders 
 issued to the provost-marshal were strict, severe punish- 
 ment being threatened to any one of the force who should 
 be caught committing crime. Looting was not once heard 
 of, although many chances of doing so offered. 
 
 We remained months after we heard that the war was 
 settled, the force not being able to leave until the agree- 
 ment was signed by the Shah of Persia. As soon as this 
 was done, the troops were at once embarked, as they 
 thought, for home. But far from it ; for when our regi- 
 ment arrived at Bombay, on our way to Kurrachee, we 
 were ordered into another steamer for Calcutta, Bengal 
 presidency, as the Indian mutiny had just broken out. 
 And I am sorry to say that nearly all the women and 
 children waiting for their husbands and fathers respect- 
 ively, waited in vain, for they were killed during the 
 mutiny. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The Indian Mutiny. 1857-1858. 
 
 ;HE causes of the Indian mutiny are given in history. 
 I do not think it necessary for me to enter into 
 minute details of the same in this brief account of my life. 
 The feeling in the force was that the following were the 
 ringleaders of it, viz.: Nana Sahib, the Rani of Jhansi, 
 Tantia Topi, and Bahadur Shah, who was proclaimed 
 sovereign of India at Delhi. History also relates that the 
 massacres of the English, men, women and children, were 
 ordered by those named above. 
 
 I will now continue to narrate the engagements at which 
 I was present during the mutiny, giving facts which 
 occurred under my own notice. 
 
 On the 4th June, 1857, our regiment, the 64th, arrived 
 in Bombay from Persia, and was at once ordered into 
 another steamer, and immediately sailed for Calcutta, 
 Bengal presidency. On reaching Calcutta we found mat- 
 ters very unsettled, as some of the Sepoys, native Indian 
 regiments, had revolted, and were doing much damage at 
 the various military stations they occupied. Our regiment 
 was divided into several detachments, with other corps, 
 and sent up the river Ganges to disarm such native regi- 
 ments as had not yet mutinied, and to stop at Allahabad 
 when that station should be reached. We performed 
 that duty without any trouble. Eight companies of the 
 
 (31) 
 
32 Life as a Soldier, 
 
 regiment reached Allahabad, to wait for Major-General 
 Havelock, who was to command the force for Cawnpore. 
 The other two companies of the 64th were still engaged in 
 disarming corps when General Havelock took command 
 the last of June. He found that Colonel Neill had suc- 
 ceeded in placing the station in safety. 
 
 Finding matters quiet, he at once sent, under command 
 of Major Renaud, about eight hundred men in advance 
 towards Cawnpore, for word had reached Allahabad that 
 Nana Sahib had massacred all the English at that place. 
 This report was found afterwards to be partly untrue, as 
 regards the women and children. Nevertheless, the mas- 
 sacre did occur by order of Nana Sahib before we had 
 time to prevent it. 
 
 On the 3rd July, Sir Henry issued orders that the 
 force, consisting of the following corps, would advance 
 on Cawnpore the following day, viz.: 64th, 78th, 84th, 
 a few volunteer cavalry, about two hundred Sikhs and 
 irregular cavalry, with seventy-six artillerymen and eight 
 guns, the latter under command of Captain Maude, R. A. 
 
 The general's son was in the same order as aide-de-camp 
 to his father, and my name once more as field bugler to 
 the general commanding, The other officers of his staff 
 were S. Beatson, adjutant-general, and F. Tytler, quarter- 
 master-general. Although the force did not leave Allaha- 
 bad, as Sir Henry expected, on July 4th, for the recapture 
 of Cawnpore, we left on the 7th ; Colonel Neill, with his- 
 regiment (1st Madras Fusiliers), being left in charge to 
 guard Allahabad. 
 
The Indian Mutiny. 33 
 
 During our march to Cawnpore, we suffered severely on 
 account of the heavy rains, and the heat of the sun when 
 it was not raining. Colonel Renaud being in advance of 
 us, Sir Henry sent word to him to look out for the rebels, 
 and not to attack them until he should join him, adding 
 that he was to rest about fourteen miles from Footapore, 
 where he expected to meet him. These orders I heard. 
 Colonel Renaud having learned that a large force had been 
 sent by Nana Sahib, mostly trained Sepoys, cavalry, artil- 
 lery and infantry, numbering in all about three thousand, 
 to Footapore, Sir Henry, on this information, ordered that 
 we move on to the front, which we did, and joined Colonel 
 Renaud. The whole force, under Sir Henry, then ad- 
 vanced to about four miles from Footapore. Adjutant- 
 General Tytler was sent forward to reconnoitre. On his 
 report, Sir Henry formed his force for action, and ad- 
 vanced. We did not go far before we were attacked by 
 the rebels, but our artillery, supported by three companies 
 of the 64th, armed with Enfield rifles (which were some- 
 thing new to the rebels), soon compelled them to retire. 
 The artillery, Captain Maude's battery, and skirmishing 
 line followed them till they got completely out of order 
 and ran off. The want of cavalry here was felt very much, 
 for our own irregular cavalry fled when a charge was 
 made by the rebels, A change was, however, soon ma<le, 
 for on a general charge l)eing made, all the rebels made off 
 for Footapore, followed by us, until we took from them 
 every gun they had, as • well as their baggage, stores, 
 ammunition, and a large quantity of specie. This day 
 c 
 
34 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 the heat was very severe, and the only casualties we had 
 were caused by sunstroke. As we had marched nineteen 
 miles, and fought a battle, on an empty stomach, it is 
 natural to suppose that the force required something to eat 
 and a rest. Eleven of the rebels' guns were captured, and 
 the rebels, who, a day or so before, had massacred General 
 Wheeler and his men at Cawnpore, received their first 
 lesson for their barbarous act. 
 
 On this occasion Sir Henry ordered me to sound the 
 " grog " bugle call. This was the first time I ever sounded 
 that call for him, or by his orders. I had often done so 
 for Sir James Outram. Havelock always had me sound 
 the " coffee " call (a call I invented), whereas Outram 
 would have the men drink grog. In this case, however, 
 he considered a dram of grog would not hurt them, for it 
 would take some time before the breakfast, dinner, and 
 supper all in one, could be got ready. 
 
 We rested the next day on the camp ground, at Foota- 
 pore. 
 
 On our way to meet Colonel Renaud we saw several 
 bungalows destroyed by fire, and men hanging from trees, 
 which our force in advance had done. The orders were to 
 hang any of the rebels found killing either Europeans or 
 friends. Many such people had been butchered on this 
 road, hence the cause of the stringent orders given to the 
 provost-marshal. I have seen many prisoners taken and 
 dealt with in this way. It was thus performed. The 
 provost-marshal had a few elephants, or camels, with his 
 party; and when a prisoner was caught in the above act 
 
The Indian Mutiny. 35 
 
 he was placed on the back of an elephant, a piece of rope 
 put round hi« neck, fastened at the other end to a tree. 
 The elephant was driven on, and the prisoner left hanging. 
 
 We rested, as I said, here for a day. While here Sir 
 Henry learned that the women and children still lived, 
 but were prisoners under Nana Sahib at Cawnpore. 
 Therefore he was very anxious to move on, and if possible 
 save them. But it was not to be so. 
 
 The next day, 14th, the force again marched on for 
 Oawnpore. While on the way information was brought 
 that the rebels had taken up a position at Aong, a village 
 a few miles in our front. The force bivouacked for the 
 night, and early the next morning, 15th, marched upon 
 Aong, led by our small body of volunteer cavalry, and 
 artillery supported by infantry. The advance continued 
 until we came in view of the rebels' entrenchments, which 
 were close to a thickly wooded part of the country, which 
 kept them from our view, until they sent their cavalry out 
 to capture our baggage. In this they failed with heavy 
 loss, for although we had but few cavalry, the infantry 
 did the work with their Enfield rifles, causing the rebel 
 cavalry to retire, when they opened fire with their artillery. 
 It was now the real work began. The fire of our artillery 
 and of the Enfields was very effective. Although we could 
 not very well see where they were, the shot and bullets 
 found them, and they eventually left their position. We 
 followed them up closely, capturing their guns. They left 
 many of their tents, baggage, etc., on the route, which they 
 could not take with them for want of time. Their loss was 
 
36 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 again heavy, while we had but few casualties. While at 
 dinner here, Sir Henry heard that the rebels had taken up 
 a position at Pandoonudda bridge. This was on the way 
 to Cawnpore, consequently the whole force was imme- 
 diately ordered to advance, for should this bridge be 
 destroyed, it would take more time than could be spared 
 to erect another before reaching Cawnpore. 
 
 On our advancing in fighting order, the first salute we 
 received was a round shot from a twenty-four pouuder in 
 position on the bridge, immediately followed by a few more 
 round shot from their earth-works on the other side of the 
 bridge. 
 
 Now Sir Henry thought it time to commence. We 
 were still advancing towards them, when he sent me as an 
 aide-de-camp (his son being elsewhere delivering orders at 
 the time), to ride and tell the Madras Fusiliers to get into 
 skirmishing order, ready with the 64th on the other side, 
 and to charge and take the bridge. At tiiis time the 
 artillery was ordered to place three of their guns on the 
 road, and the others on each side, or flank, so as to concen- 
 trate all their fire on the twenty-four pounder on the 
 bridge, while the skirmishers lined along the bank kept 
 up a heavy rifle fire. This did not last long before the 
 order was given to take the bridge with a charge, which 
 was done in the best of order. There was a great rush here 
 between the 64th and the 78th Regiments to see which 
 would reach the bridge first. I can say it was a tie, as 
 agreed by the regiments themselves. But the words of 
 Sir Henry to his son and me at the time were, " They are 
 
The Indian Mutiny. 37 
 
 two noble regiments that any general might be proud to 
 command." This was in reply to a remark made by 
 Captain Havelock during the charge, which was, " Who 
 will be first at them?" The bridge was taken with the 
 twenty-four pounder, but the rebels did not wait for the 
 bayonet. Bullets from the rifles reached them, as well as 
 round shot from the artillery, although they went in all 
 directions, never stopping, rumor said, until they reached 
 Oawnpore. 
 
 We were still over twenty miles from Cawnpore; there- 
 fore, after advancing a few miles further in pursuit of the 
 rebels, we halted for the night. On the following morn- 
 ing, 16th, we advanced on Cawnpore. Sir Henry again 
 heard that the women and children were still living, and 
 that Nana Sahib had a large force of trained rebels 
 strongly entrenched at Cawnpore. Previous to our march- 
 ing, Sir Henry announced the fact to us, saying, " The 
 women and children still live, and with God's help we 
 shall save them or die in the attempt." This caused a 
 cheer from the force. But we found afterwards that it 
 was not to be ; for when Nana Sahib saw that his strong 
 force was beaten at Pandoonudda bridge, he gave orders 
 for, and was an eye-witness to, the massacre of the women 
 and children in the most brutal manner, in the house in 
 which they had been confined, their bodies being after- 
 wards thrown into a well close by, some of them not being 
 dead. This we did not hear until after we again took 
 Cawnpore. 
 
 I will now briefly describe the battle at Cawnpore. 
 
38 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 When our force had arrived at about six miles from 
 Cawnpore we halted for refreshments. This was at a 
 village named Maharajpur. A party was sent into it, but 
 no enemy was found. The whole force was talking about 
 liow we would save the women. Sir Henry sent forward 
 a party to reconnoitre, and on their way they met two 
 friendly Sepoys, who gave them the information required, 
 viz., that Nana Sahib had a force of more than 7,000, with 
 light and heavy guns waiting for our advance, and had 
 destroyed two roads so that we could not advance by them. 
 On this Sir Henry formed the force so as to flank the 
 rebels, and break up their strong position, which was done, 
 but not without loss from our small force of 1,500 against 
 over 7,000. But the Nana's loss was much heavier, of men 
 trained by ourselves, which was so far a gain to us. But 
 they had many positions to fall back on, and although our 
 whole force was engaged we could not gain much without 
 the usual charge and capture of their guns, which were 
 doing great destruction, and our men were falling fast. 
 The 78th was ordered to charge and take a gun, which 
 they did. In front of the 64th a twenty- four pounder 
 was knocking the men over, as well as smaller guns. 
 Sir Henry sent his son, the aide-de-camp, to order the 
 64th to take the gun. The aide-de-camp delivered the 
 order, and the men, a company, at once rushed forward 
 for that purpose, led by the aide-de-camp. Major Sterling 
 of the regiment went with the party, but his horse was 
 killed under him by a round shot, and himself thrown. 
 For his gallant act the aide-de-camp received the Victoria 
 
The Indian Mutiny. S9 
 
 Cross. At the same time a bugler of ours, named Flynn, 
 was mentioned in despatches for his bravery in killing the 
 artilleryman in the act of firing the gun. This same 
 bugler saved Major Sterling's life afterwards at Cawnpore 
 by interposing his bugle to receive the cut of a rebel 
 cavalryman. For these two acts he received the Victoria 
 Cross. 
 
 Although the 78th Highlanders captured the three guns 
 at a village, and the 64th took the twenty-four pounder 
 and two other guns, we were only about at the middle of 
 our work, for the Nana had other positions and guns to be 
 yet captured, and our force was between the river Ganges 
 and the trained rebels. A change of position was at once 
 ordered. The whole force advanced under a very heavy 
 fire of shot and musketry, only halting to fire a round or 
 so at the enemy. And as our artillery guns were about 
 a mile in the I'ear, the infantry and our small lot of cavalry 
 had to gain the day or die in the ict. It was not die. By 
 their steady advance the British charge broke Nana Sahib's 
 force, and caused them to run in every direction, and gave 
 us the control once more of Cawnpore. We could see 
 Nana Sahib on his elephant, but he took care we should 
 not catch him, although report afterwards said his elephant 
 was shot under him. The most of the enemy made for 
 Oude. 
 
 The reader will remember that this is only a brief account 
 of the advance of Havelock to relieve Cawnpore. During 
 the action I delivered orders from Sir Henry three times 
 as aide-de-camp. I may here also say that nearly all our 
 
40 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 force could hear Sir Henry when he gave a command. 
 He was as much exposed during the day as any one in the 
 force. And historians are agreed that the recapture of 
 Cawnpore by Havelock is as noble a deed as any on 
 record, considering that the enemy were soldiers trained 
 by ourselves for years before, and their strength over six 
 to one of us — the attacking force. 
 
 The next morning the whole force was marched through 
 the city of Cawnpore, left in front, or 84th Regiment lead- 
 ing, when a man named Shepherd, who was a prisoner, 
 but forgotten by Nana Sahib, came rushing up and led the 
 force to the house of death, which we viewed with horror. 
 The floor was several inches deep with the blood of the 
 women and children ; locks of hair were sticking to the 
 walls, with marks of sword-cuts, and some in the well 
 were even then not quite dead. Each man here took a 
 solemn oath not to show any mercy to Nana Sahib or any 
 of his followers. 
 
 During this day. Sir Henry had placed in orders that he 
 was well satisfied with the force, and gave praise to each 
 regiment, which he said he would fully state in his official 
 report. I quote his words to the 64th Regiment: 
 
 "You have put to silence the jibes of your enemies 
 throughout India. Your fire was reserved until you saw 
 the color of your enemies' mustachios; this gave us the 
 victory." 
 
 Now, as Cawnpore was again in our possession, the force 
 visited the barracks and other European buildings, includ- 
 ing the magazine, which Nana Sahib destroyed, as well as 
 
The Indian Mutiny, 41 
 
 the temporary eartli-works put up by General Wheeler for 
 the defence of his men, and the women and children above 
 referred to. Sir Henry, having again heard that the 
 Europeans in Lucknow were still safe, gave the force 
 under his command a rest after their very hard-fought 
 battles against heavy odds. While they were taking this 
 well earned relaxation, he again was informed that a strong 
 force under Nana Sahib, consisting of over five thousand 
 men and between forty and fifty guns, were assembled at 
 Bithoor, his own palace, about six miles from Cawnpore. 
 Sir Henry at once prepared with the small force he had to 
 attack them. But when we reached Bithoor, the only 
 rebels we met were twelve of Nana Sahib's guns; for, as 
 the natives at Bithoor told us, Nana's own troops had 
 deserted him, on which his palace was burned down, and 
 we returned to Cawnpore. The next morning, 20th, 
 General Neill arrived from Allahabad with a reinforce- 
 ment of about two hundred and fifty men, all that could 
 be spared from that place. On this day word came from 
 Lucknow that Sir Henry Lawrence was dead. He had 
 been wounded by the bursting of a shell in the room in 
 w-hich he was sitting, and died of the wound. Sir Henry 
 Havelock expressed himself as very sorry at this, for he 
 was in hopes of meeting Sir Henry Lawrence at the relief 
 of Lucknow. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 To LUCKNOW. 
 
 <^XD now, having received his reinforcement, though 
 small, and not mofe than filling the places of those 
 we had lost since leaving Allahabad, Sir Henry formed the 
 force for the relief of Lucknow, leaving General Neill in 
 charge of Cawnpore. On the 21st the force commenced to 
 cross the Ganges ; on the 24th all was ready, and on the 25th 
 we advanced to relieve Lucknow. In consequence of the 
 heavy rains the fields on each side of the raised road were 
 little better than a swamp, and in many places the water 
 was deep. Our force did not exceed fifteen hundred of all 
 ranks, with very few cavalry; whereas we knew that the 
 rebels, trained by ourselves, had a large number of cav- 
 alry. This was a great drawback to our small force. Still 
 the work had to be done, and the garrison at Lucknow, of 
 which Colonel Inglis was in command, had to be relieved. 
 I never saw^ our men in better spirits than they were on 
 the word being given to advance. But it was not then to 
 be accomplished, our numbers being found to be too small, 
 though the enemy suffered heavy loss before we returned. 
 AYe advanced till we came to the town of Unao, where we 
 found the rebels in large numbers and a strong position, 
 every house and wall being loop-holed, while a deep swamp 
 protected their right, and the troops were prevented from 
 attacking them on the left on account of the deep water. 
 (42) 
 
To Lucknow. 43 
 
 The aftack therefore had to be made from the road in front. 
 The artillery, two guns, with the 78th and the Madras 
 Fusiliers, by rapid firing drove the enemy from their first 
 position, gardens just in front of a village, and compelled 
 them to retire to the town, where almost every house was a 
 small battery in itself. Here the rebels fought with more 
 determination and courage than at any place before. Our 
 troops followed, but found that the rebels had formed into 
 order again, as well as any of our European regiments 
 could do, and in great strength. We advanced, however, 
 so quickly on them with heavy firing that they were forced 
 to break and run. It did not take our men long to capture 
 their guns. Twice their cavalry, some of Nana Sahib's 
 own followers, charged on our left, but the 64th, with their 
 Enfield rifles, both by volley and independent firing as 
 skirmishers, soon made them retire with such loss of both 
 horses and men that they did not try again. 
 
 We remained at Unao for about three hours to get rest 
 and refreshments, as the sun was very hot. We agaiq 
 advanced, but only for a few miles, when the rebels 
 attacked us from the earth-works they had erected at 
 Busserut Gunge, a town walled, and surrounded by deep 
 ditches, and greatly strengthened by earth-works. The 
 gate in front had a round tower, with four heavy guns on 
 it, and on examining the rear of the town a deep nullah was 
 found, now full of water, and by the small bridge across 
 it was the only way of access to the rebels. The 64th was 
 sent round to this bridge, but before they could get to it 
 the 78th and Fusiliers had driven the rebels from the 
 
44 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 town. The 64th gave them a parting shot or so, which 
 they felt, and they lost all their guns. Cavalry was again 
 required here, though the ground was not very fit for 
 pursuit by cavalry. Two engagements and a victory over 
 an enemy about six times our strength was not a bad day's 
 work. As it was now late in the evening. Sir Henry 
 considered it best, as the enemy could not be pursued, to 
 remain for the night at Busserut Gunge. Our loss during 
 the two battles was over eighty killed and wounded, which 
 from our small force was greatly missed. The rebels' loss, 
 report said, was more than sixteen hundred, nearly all 
 killed, as w^ell as nineteen of their guns. 
 
 On account of cholera attacking our men, and the sick 
 as well as the wounded having to be looked after, in all 
 about three hundred men. Sir Henr}^ gave orders to retire 
 to Unao. There was some talk among the men as to why 
 w^e should retire after gaining so much ground. Of course 
 they did not know that we were still about thirty-six 
 miles from Lucknow ; nor did they give a thought as to 
 what was to be done with the sick and wounded. The 
 latter could not be sent to Cawnpore, for it would take as 
 many, if not more, to escort them. I was present and 
 heard Sir Henry discuss this matter with his staif. His 
 son, now filling the post of adjutant-general, was one of 
 them. All were of the opinion that under the circum- 
 stances it was better to retire for more reinforcements, and 
 find a place for the sick and wounded. 
 
 The force again moved back to Mungulwar, only a 
 few miles from Unao. The next morning the sick and 
 
To LuckncAo. 45 
 
 wounded were sent to Cawnpore; the men now saw the 
 object of retiring. 
 
 The whole force was sorry for the loss of Colonel Tytler 
 at Busserut Gunge, for although on the staff he was 
 thought an excellent and daring raan. But such is war. 
 One of the aides-de-camp was also wounded, and again 1 
 was called on more than once to convey orders from the 
 general as an aide-de-camp during the day. 
 
 The two companies of our regiment, who had been 
 employed in disarming rebels, joined General Neill during 
 our absence at Busserut Gunge. But many other rein- 
 forcements were required before any further advance could 
 be made to relieve Lucknow. And as General Neill had 
 received a small reinforcement, he was again asked to send 
 what men he could to our camp at Mungulwar. This 
 request he complied with, keeping, I may say, only the 
 sick and wounded to defend Cawnpore, trusting to their 
 speedy recovery. Sir Henry considered this a noble act, 
 as I heard him say when the reinforcement arrived. 
 
 Among the reinforcement was half of Major Olphert's 
 battery, under command of a lieutenant. As some natives, 
 gun-lascars, were belonging to the battery, Sir Henry 
 asked how they conducted themselves. The reply of the 
 lieutenant was, that once they stated that they would spike 
 the guns if engaged against the rebels, and they had made 
 threats at the beginning of the mutiny to the same effect. 
 Sir Henry at once ordered a parade of all the half battery, 
 both British and natives. He told the natives that for 
 their misconduct and treasonable words he would not allow 
 
46 Life as a Soldier, 
 
 them to act as soldiers, and forthwith disarmed them and 
 sent them to Cawnpore to do labouring work on the 
 defences that General Neill was preparing at Cawnpore. 
 Orders were also sent that if they once disobeyed they 
 were to be immediately hanged or shot. The same orders 
 had been issued before we left Cawnpore regarding some 
 Sepoys of the 60th Regiment. 
 
 Although the reinforcement arrived as above detailed, 
 our force then only numbered about fourteen hundred 
 men. Sir Henry ordered another advance to Lucknow on 
 August 4th. As we reached Unao, the former battle field, 
 we found no enemy, but not so at their strongly fortified 
 ground at Busserut Gunge, where the rebels were said to 
 have about twenty thousand men, of the three arms, cav- 
 alry, artillery and infantry. After our reconnoitring party 
 returned, Sir Henry gave orders for Captain Maude's 
 battery and the infantry to attack their front, which soon 
 caused the rebels to fall back on their second position, or 
 the town where they had the most of their force. During 
 their retreat they suffered considerable loss, for we could 
 see men falling from their ranks as they w^ent. Their 
 force was, however, still very large, and their position, 
 as a defence, well planned. Our little force followed 
 them, not heeding the rebels' round shot, shell and grape, 
 until we entered the town and once more beat them clear 
 of their position. We only captured two guns, as they 
 succeeded in getting out of our reach with the others. But 
 when they were crossing the bridge they again suffered 
 great loss, our cavalry coming up to their rear in time to 
 
To Lucknoiv. 47 
 
 cut a few of them off from crossing. We again felt the 
 need of more cavalry. The enemy's total loss this day 
 and night was re})orted at five hundred, ours being only 
 about twenty killed and wounded. Cholera now appeared 
 again among the troops; more severely this time than on 
 the former occasion ; the cause of which was supposed to 
 be the dead not being buried, but lying in the water, which 
 in some places was very deep. Men of our force were 
 dying here; in fact, I may say that the whole place was 
 little better than a swamp. Consequently we returned 
 next morning to Mungulwar, it being an elevated and 
 more healthy position. Here we remained for rest, and to 
 recruit the health of the men. 
 
 It was now that Sir Henry found the force at his com- 
 mand not strong enough to relieve Lucknow, and again 
 asked for more reinforcements. I heard him remark that 
 his advance would have one good effect, namely, that it 
 brought the rebel force from the city to meet him, which 
 would give Colonel Inglis and his troops a chance to move 
 out of his position and to seize such things as he could, 
 and which were badly needed. 
 
 So much for our second advance for the relief of Luck- 
 now. Another trial was in store for us, and as right was 
 on our side, we ultimately succeeded, as the pages of history 
 tell. For all that, it was a great grief to Sir Henry, and 
 to the whole force under his command, to know that 
 on account of insufficient numbers we could not reach 
 Lucknow, and reinforcements were earnestly entreated. 
 Meantime we remained at Mungulwar, strengthening the 
 
48 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 position for defence, as well as putting the bridge com- 
 munication between Oude and Cawnpore in a better state. 
 Our spies brought word daily to Sir Henry, reporting the 
 rebels as having over seventy thousand armed men in 
 strong positions from Alam-Bagh to Lucknow. So that 
 any attempt to reach the city on our part would inevitably 
 involve our total annihilation, and would be the means of 
 causing another massacre of the women and children such 
 as occurred at Cawnpore. 
 
 We had not many days to rest, or to work. Sir Henry 
 learned that the enemy had again assembled at Unao, with 
 the intention of attacking us at Mungulwar, and prevent- 
 ing us from crossing the bridge to Cawnpore should we be 
 compelled to retire. This we did not understand, for to 
 retire is not a British rule, except to enable us to advance 
 again. Orders were issued once more for an advance on 
 Unao; and although we had only about one thousand 
 men of all ranks, the men moved with a good spirit, our 
 volunteer cavalry leading, the artillery supported by 
 infantry follovving. 
 
 On reaching the town- of Unao, we met the advanced 
 pickets of the rebels, which were soon driven through the 
 town. We bivouacked here until morning without having 
 eaten anything during the day, except it might be that 
 some had a biscuit in their haversacks. To make things 
 worse it rained very heavily during the night, but by this 
 time the men had become used to rain, and thought noth- 
 ing of it. The only covering that could be found was the 
 trees, which aiforded little shelter ; still, I can say, that I 
 
To Lucknow. 49 
 
 never heard a man complain. They told stories to one 
 another all night long, or walked about, until the sun rose 
 the next morning, August 12th. We again advanced, but 
 before we reached the old fighting ground, Busserut Gunge, 
 we found them in a village nearer Unao, in a stronger 
 position, better entrenched, and containing more guns; 
 and as we could see, their line reached on each side of the 
 village for miles. The general saw at a glance that the 
 only way to attack such a force was by the advance in 
 echelon of battalions, covered by artillery and skirmishers; 
 but as we arrived within range, the enemy poured in a 
 heavy fire which told on us. We could not see their 
 masked batteries till we were close to them ; and they, 
 having so many guns, were able to fire round shot, shell, 
 canister, and grape all at once, which came among us, but 
 fortunately for us, their distance being as usual badly 
 judged, their shot went- over our heads. Not so the grape, 
 which did us the most harm. It was fearful for a while. 
 Still it did not check our raeu in the least, for the advance 
 went steadily on until we took our position to get a flanking 
 fire (there is nothing like it) on their line, which surprised 
 them very much. At the same time the 78th was ordered 
 to charge, which they did, and captured their right battery 
 of two guns, driving the rebels from the battery. The 
 Madras Fusiliers turned their cavalry twice, while the 
 64th attacked their centre and captured a battery, but 
 the guns were gone. Now the guns captured, as well as 
 our own, were turned on the retreating enemy, inflicting 
 heavy damage on them. Once more we beat them from 
 
 D 
 
50 Life as a Soldiei\ 
 
 their position, but not without heavy loss to ourselves. 
 When the return of casualties was received, over one 
 hundred and forty of our force was missing, though we 
 were not over ten miles on the road to Lucknow. There- 
 fore the general gave up all thought of reaching the place 
 for the present, or until a strong reinforcement should 
 arrive. Just then word reached Havelock that Nana 
 Sahib had crossed the Ganges with a strong force to 
 attack Cawnpore. After a short rest, therefore, our force 
 marched back to Mungulwar, crossed the Ganges, and 
 joined General Neill at Cawnpore. 
 
 We found that during our absence from Cawnpore 
 General Neill had organized a police from the lowest 
 caste of the population, and by their means a large portion 
 of the property stolen from the Europeans at Cawnpore 
 had been recovered, and many of the mutinous Sepoys 
 concerned in the massacre had been captured and executed. 
 He had also formed an entrenched camp on the high 
 ground by the river side, and had taken every precaution 
 against a recurrence of the fearful tragedy of Cawnpore. 
 
 General Neill now reported to Havelock that a strong 
 force of the rebels, mostly Sepoys, were collected at 
 Bithoor, and that their cavalry was now threatening 
 Cawnpore, Nana Sahib being in charge of them. He also 
 reported that the communications with Allahabad were 
 endangered, if not altogether stopped. Havelock had 
 foreseen this before our crossing to advance on Lucknow, 
 but for the want of men could not guard the communica- 
 tion. After a day's rest and care for the wounded. General 
 Havelock sent General Neill with as large a number of men, 
 
To Luchioic, 51 
 
 cavalry, artillery, and infantry, as could be spared from 
 Cavvnpore to reopen the communication with Allahabad ; 
 and on reaching the Pandoonudda bridge, met the rebels 
 in one of their old positions for intercepting reinforce- 
 ments and gaining an easy victory over them. Immedi- 
 ately General Neill attacked them, and after a few shots 
 from the guns and line of skirmishers by volleys the 
 rebels fled with great loss, their dead and wounded 
 lying on the position they had taken up. In accordance 
 with orders received, General Neill, having opened the 
 communication, returned to Cawnpore without one casualty. 
 Havelock now formed the force to attack Bithoor. The 
 men were determined, if possible, to capture Nana Sahib, 
 and word was passed among them to this effect. But it 
 was not to be, for he kept clear, and well in the rear of 
 his troops. At noon we came in sight of the rebels, num- 
 bering over four thousand men, and very strongly posted. 
 The plain before their position was covered with thick 
 jungle and sugar-canes, which reached high above the 
 heads of the men. Their batteries were effectually masked, 
 defended by thick ramparts and flanked by entrenched 
 quadrangles. The position was also flanked by villages. 
 
 As soon as the enemy's position was observed our artil- 
 lery at once opened fire on them. In a very short time 
 the enemy retreated into their stronger position, and while 
 retiring, their artillery, from the batteries in their rear, 
 poured in a very heavy shower of shot and shell on our 
 advancing line. This was somewhat of a surprise to our 
 men, and did us some damage. The force continued to 
 advance by rushes, and lay down to fire, while our artillery 
 
52 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 kept up a steady fire on their batteries, but could not 
 silence them, though only about six hundred yards dis- 
 tant. The general thought this would not do, and therefore 
 ordered a charge on the batteries by the whole force, which 
 soon put the rebels to flight, for they would not stand for 
 the bayonet. Our men suffered much during this charge : 
 but pursued the enemy to the villages. Every house here 
 was loop-holed, but our troops thought nothing of this, 
 for they soon caused the enemy to make off to the small 
 bridge in rear of the villages, our men after them. Here 
 we could see Nana Sahib, but too far from us to be caught 
 either dead or alive. This was a great disappointment to 
 all, for every man among us had decided to do his best to 
 apprehend him. We passed through Bithoor to a plain, 
 where we bivouacked for the night, and the next day 
 returned to Cawnpore, and took up a commanding position 
 on the ground occupied by General Wheeler before the 
 massacre. 
 
 Next day at Cawnpore General Havelock issued orders 
 congratulating the force on their conduct during the nine 
 battles gained since leaving Allahabad. The enemy, being 
 mostly Sepoys, had been trained for years by European 
 officers. But though so far satisfactory, there was yet 
 miich work to be done before we were again masters of 
 India, and we now had to wait until the troops on their 
 way from England, China, and the Cape should arrive. 
 Sir James Outram was coming to take command, bringing 
 reinforcements, and he hoped before long that Lucknow 
 would be relieved. But for the present, we must wait, and 
 strengthen our position. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 The Relief of Lucknow. 
 
 [TR JAMES OUTRAM, having been appointed to 
 command the force for the relief of Lucknow, was 
 collecting all the resources possible, and sending them 
 forward to Cawnpore. They consisted of cavalry (very 
 few only), artillery, and infantry. Sufficient men could 
 not yet be obtained to meet the enemy at Lucknow. The 
 troops in Bombay presidency had to look after the Sepoys 
 there, who threatened and had mutinied. Delhi had to be 
 attended to as well as other places. Few men, therefore, 
 of the army then in India could be sent to Cawnpore. 
 
 General Havelock had received instructions from 
 Sir James Outram to send part of his force across the 
 Ganges to attract the attention of the enemy near Lucknow, 
 and keep them from attacking the forces there, until he 
 should arrive at Cawnpore. Sir James also informed him 
 as follows : " I shall join you with the reinforcements, but 
 to you shall be left the glory of relieving Lucknow, for 
 which you have already so nobly struggled. I shall 
 accompany you only in my civil capacity as commissioner, 
 placing my military services at your disposal, should you 
 please to make use of me, serving under you as a volunteer. 
 Encourage the Lucknow garrison to hold on. Spare no 
 cost in effecting communication with Colonel Inglis. Pro- 
 claim at Cawnpore, and cause it to be made known to the 
 leaders of the enemy's forces at Lucknow, that for every 
 
 (53) 
 
54 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 Christian woman or child maltreated at Lucknow, an 
 Oude noble shall be hanged." These orders were carried 
 out by General Havelock, and the population about Cawn- 
 pore, as well as in Oude, were soon talking about Sir 
 James's words. 
 
 On the 15th September we received reinforcements, and 
 next day Sir James Outram arrived with others. So the 
 force for the relief of Lucknow was about completed, for 
 on that day a divisional order by Sir James Outram stated 
 that the force, selected by General Havelock, which was to 
 march to relieve the garrison at Lucknow, would be consti- 
 tuted and composed as follows : 
 
 First Infantry Brigade. — The 5th Fusiliers, 84th Regi- 
 ment, detachment 64th Foot (two companies), who had 
 just arrived in Cawnpore, and 1st Madras Fusiliers; 
 Brigadier -General Neill commanding, and nominating his 
 own brigade staff. 
 
 Second Infantry Brigade. — 78th Highlanders, 90th 
 Light Infantry, and the Sikh Regiment of Ferozepore; 
 Brigadier Hamilton (78th) commanding, and nominating 
 his own brigade staff. 
 
 Third (Artillery) Brigade. — Captain Maude's battery, 
 Captain Olphert's battery, Brevet-Major Eyre's battery ; 
 Major Cooper commanding, and to appoint his own staff. 
 
 Cavalry. — Volunteer Cavalry to the left. Irregular Cav- 
 alry to the right ; Captain Barrow to command ; myself as 
 field bugler. 
 
 Engineer Department. — Chief Engineer, Captain Crom- 
 melin ; Assistant Engineers, Lieutenants Simonds and 
 
The Relief of Lucknow. 55 
 
 Judge. Major-General H. Havelock, C. B., to command 
 the force. 
 
 I may also here give an extract from Sir James's orders: 
 "The major-general, in gratitude for, and admiration of, 
 the brilliant deeds of arms achieved by General Havelock 
 and his gallant troops, will cheerfully waive his rank on 
 the occasion, and will accompany the force to Lucknow in 
 his civil capacity as chief commissioner of Oude, tendering 
 his military services to General Havelock as a volunteer." 
 
 Sir James had chosen for his staff the following: 
 Colonel Napier, Bengal Engineers, chief of the adjutant- 
 generaFs department; Lieutenants Sitwell and Charaier, 
 aides-de-camp, and Mr. W. J. Money, C. S., private secre- 
 tary. Sir James, when asked at a meeting he attended, 
 who was the best soldier he had come in contact with, 
 replied without hesitation, " Robert Napier," the colonel 
 above referred to. 
 
 On the 16th, as stated, the force commenced to cross the 
 Ganges from Cawnpore to Oude; and the new bridge over 
 the muddy creek beyond being constructed, the whole 
 force had crossed by the 19th, ready to advance on Luck- 
 now. As we started on that march, we met a number of 
 the rebels, but a few shots from a gun, and an advance 
 guard in skirmishing order, soon made them retire. It 
 being late Saturday evening, the force halted for the night 
 among the sand hills on the edge of the river. 
 
 The next day, being Sunday, Havelock remained here, 
 and had church service on the field. It was at thi& parade 
 that Sir James Outram ag-ain saw me for the first time 
 
66 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 since I left Persia, and I shall never forget the shake 
 hands he gave me, remarking to General Havelock, " We 
 have McKenzie with us again/' 
 
 After this the heavy guns and baggage were put in 
 position for advance. 
 
 On the following morning at daybreak our march again 
 commenced. We had not advanced more than a mile 
 before the enemy's artillery opened fire on us. Our artil- 
 lery at once got into position and opened fire on them, 
 supported by the 5th Fusiliers in skirmishing order. 
 During this time Havelock had formed a strong force of 
 artillery and infantry from the 1st Brigade, which moved 
 to the right to attack the rebels from that flank. This was 
 his old method of attacking; for he did not believe in 
 advancing on an enemy's batteries which had taken weeks 
 to construct for a defensive purpose. This movement, as 
 well as the shell from our guns, soon put the rebels to 
 flight, leaving two guns which our infantry had captured. 
 Sir James, with the volunteer cavalry, captured two more 
 in a noble charge made by that small body of horsemen, a 
 few men of the 64th, 78th, Madras Fusiliers and civilians, 
 about one hundred in all. The rebels evidently thought 
 they had enough, for they kept out of our sight until we . 
 reached Alam-Bagh, although we passed through Unao 
 and Busserut Gunge. We saw many marks of our former 
 visits, but no rebels. 
 
 Havelock gave the force a rest for the night in a small 
 village, which had been abandoned, about two miles further 
 on ; for the force had marched in a very heavy rain all 
 
The Relief of Luchnow. 57 
 
 day and required some rest and shelter. Early next 
 morning, 22nd, we continued our advance, although the 
 rain did not stop. But I am sorry to say that the coolies 
 (native servants) who had been engaged to assist in the 
 conveyance of the baggage and the wounded had left us 
 during the night, for they dreaded the approach to Luck- 
 now. Time could not now be spared to supply their loss, 
 and the force did their best under the circumstances. 
 Reports stated that the rebels would, before we could 
 reach the residency, have killed all the force advancing to 
 relieve Colonel Inglis ; and that the troops and the posi- 
 tion they had taken up at Alam-Bagh would leave very 
 little of our array to enter Lucknow. 
 
 Gen. Havelock, during our march, expected to hear from 
 the spies he had sent forward, as to the position held by 
 the rebels, and before we reached Alam-Bagh the informa- 
 tion was obtained. Our advance guard halted when they 
 came in view of the position of the rebels at Alam-Bagh. 
 We still advanced, Havelock in front, until we came in 
 view of the force we had to attack before we could enter 
 Lucknow, which was drawn up behind a range of hills in 
 large numbers of cavalry, artillery, and infantry, with 
 their left resting on the enclosure of the Alam-Bagh. Gen. 
 Havelock here saw that it would take some time to drive 
 them from the position held and to beat the whole of the 
 Sepoys. The main road towards them was so blocked 
 that it was impossible to advance further by it. He once 
 more tried the flank movement, this time by the left of 
 our force. A feint was made, which led the rebels astray, 
 
58 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 when a charge was ordered, resting every now and then to 
 fire a volley. This caused their cavalry on the right to 
 break, immediately followed by their infantry, the artillery 
 firing another shot before they retired. Once the right 
 broke, the whole force of rebels followed, our men in pur- 
 suit, and our artillery still firing on them. We followed 
 them through three villages before a halt was ordered. 
 This was one of the worst engagements we had. The 
 fields wore a complete morass, and the shot and shell as 
 well as grape flew around us. We captured five of their 
 guns. Sir James Outram, with his handful of volunteer 
 cavalry, showed what Britishers can do, for many of the 
 rebels were laid low by them. Our loss was heavy, but 
 nothing like that of the enemy. 
 
 The next day, 24th, we remained in front of the Alam- 
 Bagh, and nearly all the heavy baggage, tents, etc., was 
 placed in the enclosure of the Alam-Bagh, with an escort 
 under command of Major Mclntyre. Early the next 
 morning the force advanced by a road, through fields, 
 chosen by Colonel Inglis, Sir James Outram, and General 
 Havelock, as it was impossible to move by the direct road 
 to the residency. 
 
 As the force advanced, a number of the rebels who came 
 by our rear were about to attack the small baggage which 
 Havelock thought he could have brought into the resi- 
 dency, but this proved impossible. The aides-de-camp 
 being away delivering orders to other parts of the force, I 
 was sent to the rear to tell the baggage guard to move into 
 the Alam-Bagh, and if I could get back to join him I was 
 
The Relief of Lucknorc. ' 59 
 
 to do so ; if not, to remain with the guard and go with 
 them. I delivered the order, but my horse was shot under 
 me, and we had scarcely time to get into the enclosure. 
 But the escort or party already there, acting with the small 
 party just entered, caused the rebels to move off quicker 
 than they came. On account of this I cannot give any 
 further account of the first relief of Lucknow at present, 
 but will describe the second relief in due time, 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 At Alam-Bagh. 
 
 iig WILL now give briefly a detail of my time at Alam- 
 fi^ Bagh. Our first duty was to fortify ourselves by 
 erecting batteries, for the rebels were close to us, and firing 
 on us very often. Every available man was kept at this 
 work both day and night, with very little rest, until we 
 had a battery mounted at each corner of the enclosure. 
 We also erected a small battery outside of the enclosure 
 for our picket. During the progress of this work we lost 
 a few men by shell fired from a yellow building where the 
 rebels had a battery, as well as from other positions they 
 had taken up near a village. They gave us a great deal 
 of trouble in this way for weeks. And as we fired a round 
 shot or so at them, the same shot would be returned back to 
 us the next day. As our small force would say when the 
 shot was heard in the air, *' Here comes our shot back 
 again." We could always tell the difference, for the shot 
 made by the rebels was very rough, and made a great 
 noise in passing through the air, whereas our shot made 
 very little if any noise. Of course we had suflS.cient time 
 to get under cover when we heard the country-made shot 
 coming, but very little time if the shot was one which had 
 been fired at them. 
 
 We had at this time sufficient eatables for the Europeans, 
 but very little for our native followers (only a few, fortu- 
 nately), and no forage. Therefore we were compelled to 
 (60) 
 
At Alam-Bagh. 61 
 
 leave our little garrison, and go in search of forage, and 
 on each occasion were attacked by the eneray, and lost a 
 few more men, but the enemy paid for it. At one of these 
 attacks we took from them a gun and killed about forty 
 men, seizing also all the forage they had in the small vil- 
 lage they held. This village was close to the Alam-Bagh, 
 and we found it afterwards to be an advantage to us, for not 
 nearly as many shot came into the enclosure, and we had 
 forage for our cattle as well as food for the few natives 
 with us. 
 
 During all this time Major Mclntyre and Sir James 
 were communicating with each other. On the residency 
 in Lucknow they erected a pole with a cross board on it, 
 so as to telegraph to us. Of course we erected a similar 
 one, so that every day a good many messages were ex- 
 changed between the residency and Alam-Bagh as to how 
 the enemy were moving, etc., etc. Thus our force was 
 made aware how matters were in Lucknow, and they were 
 made acquainted with our doings, as well as how things 
 were going on in Cawnpore. We could get no other 
 information as to how the enemy were acting around the 
 residency, for our spies could not then be trusted. As it 
 was, one of them gave wrong information, which was 
 nearly causing destruction to our little band at Alam- 
 Bagh. This was to the eifect that only a small force 
 without any guns occupied a little village which we could 
 not see from the Alam-Bagh building; that they had 
 plenty of forage and eatables, which we could obtain if we 
 went after it. Our little force did go in search of it, but 
 
62 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 had not proceeded far before we received a few round shot 
 and a shell. Fortunately for us the rebels fired too soon, 
 and as usual the distance was judged too far. We did not 
 rush at them this time, but retired to our position within 
 the enclosure. The first thing then was to get the spy, 
 but he was off. Still, although this spy deceived us, Sir 
 James at the residency had a faithful one who brought his 
 despatches in a quill or bamboo cane ; and in fact this spy 
 never came twice dressed in the same way, and had a 
 different dress for returning. He was well paid, and car- 
 ried out his duties very faithfully. 
 
 All this time reinforcements were joining the force in 
 Cawnpore, and Major Bingham, of the 64th Regiment, 
 brought us two hundred and seventy men and two guns 
 from Cawnpore, also stores of provisions from the com- 
 missariat department, but on arrival it was found that 
 there were no supplies among it for the natives. Although 
 these additions were very welcome, they did not altogether 
 meet the want, because the force arriving would consume 
 the most of it, and leave us still in want. This being 
 explained, in a few days another convoy was sent, this 
 time with a full supply of all kinds of stores. Brigadier 
 Wilson, commanding, sent word, if possible, to convey 
 some of the supplies to the residency. This could not be 
 done, for the bridges on the route we would have had to 
 take to get to the residency had been destroyed by the 
 rebels, and the only road to Sir James was a complete 
 battery the whole way, and multitudes of people from Oude 
 were by this time collected at Luck now. 
 
At Alam-Bagh. 63 
 
 After the second convoy had arrived, although reaching 
 us safe, the enemy had made ready to attack us at Alam- 
 Bagh with a very strong force. All this time we were 
 preparing for them, outside as well as inside the enclosure. 
 It was a wonder to us that they had not attacked us before 
 we got either reinforcement, but they are not the men to 
 attack, and the poorest race on earth to defend them- 
 selves. On this occasion they made an oifer only, for they 
 did not approach near enough for our riflemen to do them 
 any harm. All was done by the guns on both sides; and 
 although they did not injure us much, they kept us for a 
 time from working at trenches, etc., outside the enclosure. 
 And when we made a feint of advancing on them in 
 skirmishing order, we could see their artillery retiring. I 
 suppose they feared that our skirmishers would advance 
 on them with the usual charge and capture more of their 
 guns, but they took care we should not do so. On the 
 other hand, perhaps they retired to entice us on to a large 
 fortified position they had in rear, but our force was not 
 large enough to follow, nor did we know at the time of 
 their ground in rear having batteries waiting for us. So 
 they with their very large force, and we with our small 
 one, looked at each other while the artillery did all the 
 firing, until nearly dark, when they retired. It was a 
 mercy we did not follow them, for there was another force 
 of rebels all ready to follow us, and thus get us between 
 two fires; this, however, we did not learn till the next 
 day. The work went on rapidly with our entrenchments 
 outside the enclosure without much trouble, with the 
 
64 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 exception of a shot now and then from the yellow build- 
 ing. It was some time before we knew where their gun 
 was placed about this house, for we could not see anything 
 like a battery there. As we afterwards found, in the front 
 part of the building, about ten feet from the ground, a 
 large heavy iron shutter was placed, painted the color of 
 the house, and a large gun in rear of it. The gun was 
 loaded and sighted, and when it was to be fired the shutter 
 was raised by a pulley erected at the top of the inside of 
 the room. When raised the gun moved forward a few 
 inches only, or until the muzzle came in front of the 
 shutter. The gun was then fired, and by its recoil to its 
 original position, the shutter at once dropped, and the 
 smoke after firing prevented us from seeing where the 
 shot came from. But when we did find out, the shutter, 
 and in fact almost all the front of the house, soon moved 
 under well directed round shot from one of our new 
 batteries. 
 
 We now heard that Colonel Greathead's column from 
 Delhi had been ordered to Cawnpore for service in Gude, 
 under command of Sir Hope Grant. And Sir Colin 
 Campbell was also marching with a large force in Oude 
 for the final relief of Lucknow. This information was 
 sadly needed, for the troops in the residency were suffer- 
 ing very much for want of supplies. At the same time 
 that we received word that Sir Hope Grant's column was 
 then between the Banni bridge and Alara-Bagh, waiting 
 for Sir Colin Campbell and his force, we at Alam-Bagh 
 also received orders to be ready to join the commander-in- 
 chief, Sir Colin Campbell. 
 
At Alam-Bagh, 65 
 
 We were ready, for the spare elephants and camels 
 which brought the supplies from Cawnpore were returned 
 to that place under charge of a small force all mounted 
 on elephants or camels, in accordance with Sir James's 
 orders to Major Mclntyre. Sir James also sent orders to 
 the major as to signalling, lighting a fire, etc., on the 
 night before the relieving force would march on Lucknow; 
 also to fire guns at intervals. All these orders were care- 
 fully carried out, and before the arrival of Sir Colin 
 Campbell or Sir Hope Grant we had Alam-Bagh well 
 fitted up with batteries, with guns in each, but only a few 
 of these were heavy guns. 
 
 Just as we expected both these forces to arrive, word 
 came from Cawnpore that the Gwalior mutineers were 
 about to march on Cawnpore. Therefore we thought that 
 they would be driven from there by Sir Colin Campbell's 
 force before he would arrive here for the relief of Luck- 
 now. But such was not the case ; for he was anxious to 
 get to Lucknow, if only to relieve the force there and 
 get the women and children in a place of safety, and 
 therefore came on as quickly as possible for that purpose, 
 and arrived here at Alam-Bagh on the 12th November. 
 Previous to this, Sir Colin Campbell had received a full 
 statement of the positions held by the rebels from Sir 
 James Outram, and suggestions as to the best route for 
 him to take on leaving Alam-Bagh to relieve the force at 
 Lucknow. Sir Colin complied with all Sir James's plans 
 except one, which I will describe later, for I will follow 
 our march in detail. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 The Relief of Lucknow. 
 
 ^HKN the 14th Sir Colin formed the force on the plain 
 '"S^ in front of the Alam-Bagh, about five thousand 
 of all ranks, including cavalry, artillery, infantry, and 
 navy, taking the heavy guns and almost all the baggage 
 belonging to the force in the residency, but leaving a 
 small force and guns in the Alam-Bagh enclosure to hold 
 that position. Here I was again chosen as the general's 
 bugler, and at once received a horse fully equipped for the 
 one shot under me on the 25th September at this place 
 en route for first relief of Lucknow. In accordance with 
 Sir James Outram's request, the salute was fired as we 
 started to advance towards the Dilkoosha, moving across 
 the country. Dilkoosha is a palace surrounded by gar- 
 dens, about three miles from the residency. The route 
 taken was a very rough one, full of sugar-canes, and hard 
 for our cavalry to get through. Still every man knew 
 what was in front, and was determined to push along as 
 fast as possible. I may here remark that I heard Sir Colin 
 say during this march : " The men behave well, and appear 
 to be in the best of spirits, and are anxious to get at the 
 enemy in front." 
 
 I have stated above that the force numbered about five 
 thousand all ranks. I will now give corps and com- 
 manders of the six brigades. 
 (66) 
 
The Relief of Lucknow, ' 67 
 
 1. First Naval Brigade, Captain William Peel. 
 
 2. Artillery Brigade, comprising Batteries of Blunt, 
 Remmington, Travers, Bridge and Bourchier, commanded 
 by Brigadier Crawford. 
 
 3. The Cavalry Brigade, comprising two squadrons of 
 9th Lancers, one each of 1st, 2nd and 5th Punjab Cavalry, 
 and Hodson's Horse, commanded by Brigadier Little. 
 
 4. First Infantry Brigade, comprising a battalion formed 
 of detachments of three regiments, 64th, 78th and 84th, 
 shut up in the residency, and the 2nd Punjab Native In- 
 fantry, commanded by Colonel Greathead, Brigadier. 
 
 5. Second Infantry Brigade, comprising the 93rd High- 
 landers, a wing of the 53rd Regiment, and 4th Punjab 
 Native Infantry ; also, a battalion formed of men proceed- 
 ing to join their regiments to be relieved, commanded by 
 Colonel Adrian Hope, Brigadier. 
 
 6. Third Infantry Brigade, comprising the 23rd Fusi- 
 liers, and a portion of the 82nd Regiment, commanded by 
 Colonel Russell, Brigadier. 
 
 Colonel Hope Grant, with the rank of brigadier-general, 
 <lirected the operations, under the supervision of the com- 
 mander-in-chief. Sir Colin Campbell. This was our small 
 force, not numbering in all five thousand, which had to com- 
 pete in a war against over sixty thousand, mostly Sepoys 
 trained by ourselves, and in their own country. Thus it 
 can be seen that it required great generalship, as well as 
 determined men, to gain the victory in this great contest, 
 the second relief of Lucknow. The rule was victory or die, 
 and as right was on our side it was victory, which history 
 tells. 
 
68 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 I stated above that Sir James Outram sent a plan and 
 suggested the route he thought best for Sir Colin Campbell 
 to take on his advance to the residency. Sir James knew 
 all about the route, buildings, etc., while Sir Colin did not. 
 
 As we left Alam-Bagh, Sir Hope Grant, with a small 
 force, moved on Jelalabad, and beat the rebels, captured 
 two guns, and drove the men who were not killed from 
 the position held by them. He again met us before we 
 reached Dilkoosha, and reported to Sir Colin Campbell 
 what he had done. When he. Sir Colin, heard from his 
 spy that a force of the enemy was at Jelalabad, he wisely 
 thought it best to have them removed, and not allow them 
 the chance of attacking us in rear, or annoying the baggage 
 guard. 
 
 As our advance guard came in sight of Dilkoosha the 
 enemy opened fire on them from a battery they had in 
 position ; also their infantry fired from their matchlock 
 muskets, but did no harm. Sir Colin formed our force in 
 position ; and a few rounds from our guns, as well as from 
 our infantry, who supported the artillery in skirmishing 
 order, caused the rebels to leave their position ; when our 
 cavalry were ordered after them, and killed a number. 
 Two guns were captured here, and about one-half of the 
 enemy killed. It took us about three hours to capture 
 this place. 
 
 After a rest of about half an hour we moved on to the 
 Martiniere building, where we found the rebels in a far 
 stronger position, and in larger numbers both of men and 
 guns. Sir Colin and Sir Hope soon got our force in posi- 
 
The Relief of Lucknow. 69 
 
 tion for attacking them, and after a heavy cannonading on 
 both sides, as well as infantry fire, we soon put them on 
 the run, leaving all their guns behind, and a number 
 killed. They made off towards the barracks, which was 
 the strongest position they held during all the fighting this 
 day, each building near it being nothing less than a bat- 
 tery in itself, they were so loop-holed and manned by the 
 enemy. At a short distance from this, the mess house, a 
 large building, stood, having larger and heavier guns 
 mounted on it as a fort. This we could see, and prepared 
 for work with the usual charge to capture it, which had to 
 be done before we could advance further. It being late, 
 however, we returned to the Dilkoosha, leaving a force to 
 hold the ground we had gained until the following morn- 
 ing, loth. But our force remained here until the 16th. 
 By information Sir Colin had received, the attack on the 
 mess house could not be made on the loth; for in place of 
 moving on the Secundra-Bagh, as suggested in Sir James 
 Outram's plan, the force had to move along the river bank 
 for about a mile, which brought us between two fires, and 
 we suffered much on account of it. Still it had to be done, 
 for nearly all the enemy had collected on the route Sir 
 James wished Sir Colin to take. After the plan for attack 
 was made, the rebels had strengthened their position. 
 Although our force suffered here it was a gain at the end. 
 Another drawback was, that it took some time to get our 
 heavy guns in position to attack the Secundra-Bagh, which 
 is a square building surrounded by a wall of solid masonry, 
 and loop-holed all round. A village on the opposite side 
 
70 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 was also loop-holed in every house. The square around 
 Secundra-Bagh is from one hundred and fifty to two hun- 
 dred yards in length. It took all our guns, heavy and 
 light, as well as our infantry, to attack both these places, 
 for upwards of two hours. All this time our heavy guns 
 were trying to make a breach in the solid wall around the 
 building. At last a small hole only was made in it, then 
 the charge by the infantry was ordered. The two nearest 
 regiments were the 93rd Highlanders and the Sikhs. 
 Both these regiments made a great rush to see who would 
 1)6 first, but only one man at a time could enter the hole, 
 and a few men of each corps were killed before the large 
 gate, which was a very strong one and strongly barred, 
 was opened. Then both regiments rushed in, and in a 
 short time the two thousand rebels who occupied the 
 buildino^ were either shot or burned. In the meantime 
 our artillery and infantry had cleared every house in the 
 village. The loss of the rebels in both of these places 
 was heavy, over four thousand of them lay dead. Our 
 cavalry could not do much here on account of the houses. 
 When our force saw the burned at the Secundra-Bagh 
 building, they remarked : " This is retribution for Cawn- 
 pore." 
 
 The force then advanced and attacked the Shah Najuf, 
 a massively built mosque in the direct road to the resi- 
 dency, situated in a garden surrounded by very strong 
 loop-holed walls, and guns in position. Captain Peel, with 
 his heavy guns, as well as our other heavy guns, fired on 
 this mosque and wall for three hours, but could not make 
 
The Belief of Lucknow. 71 
 
 a breach in the wall or move the rebels from their posi- 
 tion. Sir Colin thought three hours long enough to keep 
 his force in front of an enemy to be fired at, and not gain- 
 ing any advantage by it. He therefore gave the usual 
 order to his force to prepare and take the mosque by the 
 charge, which was done, for it never yet failed. Although 
 a large number of our force was killed, they, I may say, 
 slaughtered the rebels, for very few of them got clear. 
 This action was considered by Sir Colin Campbell as hard 
 as any ever gained or fought by a British force. This 
 ended one day's work, for it was now late. 
 
 The next morning, 17th, the first thing done was to 
 bury the dead. Outside the Secundra-Bagh a large trench 
 was dug, about twenty feet square and six feet deep, in 
 which all killed and burned were buried. The force was 
 then ordered to advance on the mess house, of which I 
 have above given a brief description. On our approach to 
 this building we found it a far stronger position and better 
 fortified than the Secundra-Bagh. Again here our heavy 
 and light guns had to be brought up to attack the rebels' 
 heavy guns, which were mounted on and near the build- 
 ing; and for over two hours continually firing from our 
 heavy guns, it appeared to us as if there had not been a 
 round of shot fired at the building ; for the rebels did not 
 stop their fire, or even make a move to leave their posi- 
 tion. So our infantry had to be called on to capture it. 
 And as the infantry advanced for that purpose, the rebels 
 opened up a fire of shot and shell from their position at the 
 Kaisar-Bagh. This was somewhat of a surprise to all our 
 
72 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 force. Still the advance continued, and never stopped 
 until they drove the rebels clear of the mess house, 
 hospital, and barrack, with thousands of dead left behind 
 them. Here again Sir Colin remarked: "The men 
 worked bravely." No doubt his remarks in this case 
 were correct; for all our force had made up their minds 
 to beat the rebels or die in the act; for all had seen or 
 lieard of the building in Cawnpore, where the fiend. Nana 
 Sahib, had committed the massacre. After the ditches 
 and mud wall were cleared, our force followed up what 
 few remained, and did not leave a man for our cavalry to 
 catch. 
 
 I will here name the corps who were in advance during 
 this attack, as well as of officers. Captain Wolsely of 
 90th, and Captain Hopkins of 53rd ; also Lieutenant 
 Powlett commanded a detachment composed of men of 
 90th and Punjab Native Infantry. The whole force, of 
 course, supported the movement, but the above named 
 were in skirmishing order, and the front or fighting line. 
 Still all available men under Sir Colin's command had 
 something to do, for volley after volley had to be fired 
 before our attacking force reached the enemy's position or 
 mess house. Our force still advanced towards the resi- 
 dency, but again had to attack the Moti Mahal, another 
 position held by the rebels, as well as other buildings near 
 it. Again we had to fight buildings, not men ; for a man 
 could not be seen. Still there were many of them at this 
 place, who fired from the loop-holes, as well as firing from 
 their heavy and light guns. Our heavy guns here knocked 
 
The Relief of Lucknoiv. 73 
 
 a house or two down ; but this was tedious work, so 
 thought our commander, for he ordered the charge on the 
 Moti Mahal, which was taken in a short time. Tiie 
 whole force were then ordered to attack the other build- 
 ings. Not a man of the rebels who were in one of the 
 buildings when our force reached them escaped, although 
 a numl)er of tliem made off to join another position held 
 in our front. 
 
 We had now reached communication with the residency, 
 but the rebels in our front were yet numerous. In spite of 
 this, Sir James Outram, Sir Henry Havelock, who had now 
 been knighted, and their staff. Captain Havelock (late Sir 
 Henry M. Havelock-Allan, Bt.), Colonel Napier, Vincent 
 Eyre, Dodgson, Sitwell, Kavanagh and Russell, all started 
 out to meet Sir Colin Campbell. During their coming to 
 us four of them were wounded — Captain Havelock, Napier, 
 Sitwell, and Russell — although they had not come over 
 half a mile. So the reader can imagine that the rebels 
 kept a strict eye on the residency ; and the firing of the 
 guns at the Kaisar-Bagh was so heavy that the force in 
 the residency could not yet leave there. I need scarcely say 
 that the meeting of the three generals was not expected, at 
 least by Sir Colin Campbell. Still the usual congratula- 
 tions were made, and the way to get the women and chil- 
 dren, etc., from the residency was talked over. When Sir 
 James Outram and his party above named returned to the 
 residency, just as Sir James was moving away he saw me 
 and came towards me, offering his hand — and as I took 
 his hand he said, " McKenzie, I am glad to see you safe.'' 
 
74 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 Of course I returned the compliment. When Sir Colin 
 saw this he remarked, " Sir James, McKenzie makes a 
 good aide-de-camp." Sir James's answer was " I know it 
 well." I may here say that I had performed the duty of 
 aide-de-camp a few times by Sir Colin's order. 
 
 While our attack was going on at the Moti Mahal, 
 Sir James, in the residency, was not idle, for, as agreed 
 between Sir Colin and liim, the mines in the residency 
 under the engine house, as well as the outer wall of the 
 garden, were blown up to enable him also to open fire on 
 the position we were attacking. This brought the enemy 
 again between two fires. Still they having so large a 
 force, over seventy thousand by this time, at Lucknow, it 
 it was a miracle that our troops ever left the residency. 
 Sir Colin saw the only way it could be managed was by 
 making a feint to attack with his whole force the Kaisar- 
 Bagh, and our force moved in that direction, which caused 
 the rebels to move off to the Kaisar-Bagh. Our heavy 
 mortars threw thirteen and one-half inch shell for about 
 two hours on this place. In the meantime the force in 
 the residency were preparing to move out; and they 
 having previously beaten the enemy from two of their 
 positions immediately outside of the residency. Sir Colin 
 ordered a strong picket to line a narrow lane leading up 
 close to the residency. Thus the women and children, with 
 the sick and wounded, passed from the residency to the 
 Dilkoosha without a single casualty. This was on the 
 20th, and by orders issued by Sir Colin, Sir James 
 Outram vacated the residency with his force, state prison- 
 
The Relief of Lucknow. 75 
 
 ers, and baggage, which included the hirge quantity of 
 money and vahiables he had in the treasury; and by 
 12 midnight on 22nd the whole force had moved to the 
 Dilkoosha, leaving the enemy still attacking the residency, 
 which was vacant for two days or so. 
 
 The women, children, and wounded were afterwards 
 sent under a strong escort to Cawnpore on their way to 
 Allahabad, and Sir Henry Havelock was removed from 
 the Alam-Bagh to the Dilkoosha. The men of SirColin's 
 force then learned for the first time that Sir Henry was 
 very ill. At first the doctors thought that by moving him 
 from the Alam-Bagh he would recover ; but it was not to 
 be, for on the 24th he died. I can truthfully say there 
 was not a man in the force but felt sorry for his death, 
 and from the highest to the lowest expressed themselves 
 so. The next morning, 25th, his corpse was moved to 
 Alam-Bagh, and the next day, 26th, was buried there. 
 Sir Colin and a large number of the force attended the 
 funeral. Sir James Outram could not attend, as he had 
 to remain in charge of the force at the Dilkoosha, but he 
 made arrangements to have the grave levelled and marked, 
 so that it could be found. I may here mention that 
 })revious to my leaving the Dilkoosha with Sir Colin, 
 Sir James told me that I would be recommended for the 
 Victoria Cross, for that my action on the 25th September 
 alone, when ordered to proceed to the baggage guard by 
 General Havelock with orders as an aide-de-camp, to 
 which he was an eye-witness, would entitle me to receive 
 it, and that he had told Major Bingham, then there at 
 Dilkoosha, about it. 
 
76 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 The force being now relieved from the residency at 
 Lucknow, and as I had to leave Sir James Outram, with 
 Sir Colin Campbell, for Cawnpore, before continuing my 
 narrative, I wish to make the following statement. 
 
 As I had been closely connected during the Persian 
 campaign and Indian mutiny with both Sir Henry Have- 
 lock and Sir James Outram in my capacity as, field bugler 
 to them, may I ask the reader to excuse me for giving 
 briefly my opinion of these two generals, as to how they 
 looked after the force, etc., under their command. Sir 
 Henry Havelock, although carrying out discipline among 
 the force, always saw that the men received proper care 
 and rest, if possible; and during a march, if time per- 
 mitted, he would see that each of the men had a cup of 
 coffee issued to them before the march was resumed. On 
 Sundays he would rest the force, if at all possible, and 
 have church service on our camp grounds, himself officiat- 
 ing as our clergyman. I may also here say that I have 
 seen him take the Bible and read from it in the morning 
 long before the force would be moving in camp or bivouac, 
 and he was considered by the whole force under him to be 
 a very good man, as well as a good soldier. 
 
 Sir James Outram was equally thoughtful for the force, 
 but the orders given by him to the provost-marshal were 
 strict, which prevented looting (stealing). Still I have 
 often heard him say the discipline in the force could not 
 be better; and where Sir Henry Havelock would order 
 coffee for his brigade. Sir James would order a dram of 
 grog for his. I have also seen Sir James reading from 
 
The Relief of Lucknow. 77 
 
 the Bible previous to leaving camp or bivMiac. His fore- 
 thought was marvellous, for he could at all tinies see 
 where an advantage could be gained, and make prepara- 
 tions for it beforehand. He was also very quick to see a 
 fault in a movement or otherwise, and I do not think he 
 committed a single mistake in the whole time I was with 
 him that the force under him could complain of; but the 
 whole force saw many times the advantages he gained, and 
 in front of the enemy nothing would stop him from being 
 in front to lead his force. 
 
 As an explanation it may be necessary for me to here 
 state that I had to be close to the general commanding 
 both day and night, therefore had a good opportunity to 
 hear what was said as well as to see what was done. 
 
 The .commander-in-chief, Sir Colin Campbell, now 
 divided the force, leaving about four thousand at Alam- 
 Bagh under command of Sir James Outram, the balance 
 to proceed with Sir Colin to Cawnpore. The orders for 
 Sir James Outram were to guard and hold the Alam-Bagh 
 until a force arrived for the recapture of Luckuow\ Now 
 Sir James saw that the orders he had issued to Major 
 Mclntyre to fortify as much as possible the position at 
 Alam-Bagh had been carried out very satisfactorily, and 
 found it to be a great advantage to him in front of an 
 enemy of over seventy thousand strong, when he had only 
 about four thousand of all ranks. It will be remembered 
 that Sir James Outram was high commissioner in Oude as 
 well as general officer commanding. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Return to Cawnpore. 
 ^^pFTEE the relief of Lucknow Sir Colin Campbell 
 
 _j^__ 
 
 issued a general order thanking the force for the 
 manner in which the relief had been performed. Allud- 
 ing to the withdrawal, he said it was a model of discipline 
 and exactitude, the result of which was that the rebels 
 were completely thrown off their guard, and the retire- 
 ment had been successfully carried out in the face of fifty 
 thousand of the enemy, through a narrow lane, the only 
 line of retreat open. 
 
 Leaving four thousand of all ranks with Sir James 
 Outram at Alam-Bagh, Sir Colin took the remainder of 
 the force to Cawnpore, in number about six hundred 
 cavalry and ^ye thousand infantry, with forty-two guns. 
 This force he divided into six brigades, as follows : 
 
 1. Cavalry Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Little. 
 This consisted of the 9th Lancers, parts of the 1st, 2nd 
 and 5th Punjab Cavalry, and Hodson's Horse. 
 
 2. Artillery Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Dupuis, 
 consisting of Captains PeeFs Naval Brigade, Blunt's, Rem- 
 mington's, Bourchier's, Middleton's, Smith's, Longden's, 
 and Bridge's Batteries. 
 
 3. First Infantry Brigade, commanded by Brigadier 
 Greathead. This consisted of the 8th, 64th, and 2ud 
 Punjab Regiments. 
 
 (78) 
 
J 
 
 Return to Cawnpor^e. 79 
 
 4. Second Infantry Brigade, commanded by Brigadier 
 A. Hope, consisting of tlie 53rd, 42nd, 93rd, and 4th 
 Punjab Regiments. 
 
 5. Third Infantry Brigade, commanded by Brigadier 
 Inglis. This consisted of the 23rd, 32nd, and 82nd Regi- 
 ments. 
 
 6. Fourth Infantry Brigade, commanded by Brigadier 
 Walpole, consisting of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions Rifle 
 Brigade, and a part of the 38th Regiment. 
 
 This force, under command of Sir Colin Campbell, left 
 the Alam-Bagh for Cawnpore on the 27th November, and 
 arrived at Mungulvvar, a distance of fifty miles, on the 
 evening of the 28th ; when Sir Colin immediately crossed 
 the river Ganges and met General Windham. 
 
 Previous to Sir Colin Campbell's leaving Cawnpore for 
 the relief of Luckuow, he left General Windham in charge 
 there, with the head-quarters of the 64th Regiment, about 
 five hundred strong, with a few Sikhs, and gave him 
 orders to hold the city, ^nd not to move from the en- 
 trenchment on the river bank to attack the rebels. Dur- 
 ing Sir Colin's absence at Lucknow, General Windham 
 had received reinforcements, and as the Gwalior contingent 
 had collected around Cawnpore for some miles, under com- 
 mand of Tantia Topi and Nana Sahib, with a strong force 
 of over twenty-five thousand men, mostly Sepoys, divided 
 into two distinct bodies, with forty guns. General Windham 
 had moved out to about six miles from the entrenchment 
 to attack them. In doing so he was completely beaten, 
 and driven back to the entrenchment, with heavy loss. 
 
80 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 The 64th Regiment lost more at this engagement than 
 they had during all others at which they were present 
 during the mutiny. They were ordered to attack Tantia 
 Topi's position, which they did, but the general did not 
 order any support to the regiment; therefore, they were 
 surrounded by the enemy, and not one-half of them got 
 back to tlie entrenchment, which the other part of the 
 force had reached long before them. After the rebels had 
 driven Windham and his force into the entrenchment, 
 they burned up every European house at Cawnpore; also 
 the clothing and necessaries, stored in a house, for the use 
 of the whole force, and stole everything they could lay 
 hands on, among them some very valuable articles. This 
 w-as the state of affairs as found by Sir Colin on his return 
 to Cawnpore. 
 
 I will not state the few words I heard Sir Colin say to 
 General Windham when they met, but may say that he 
 was angry. 
 
 On the 29th Sir Colin and the force commenced to cross 
 the river, and took up a position on the plain formerly 
 held by General Wheeler. At the same time the women 
 and children, with sick and wounded, were sent to Alla- 
 habad under an escort. It took four days to complete 
 arrangements. Sir Colin then examined the rebels' posi- 
 tion, which he found to be a very strong one, and at once 
 formed the force for attack, which was made on the 6th 
 December. After an artillery fire for about two hours 
 without much advantage being obtained, the First Infantry 
 Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Greathead, was ordered 
 
Return to Cawnpore. 81 
 
 to make a feint attack on the enemy's centre, while the 
 other three infantry brigades, commanded by Brigadiers 
 Hope, Walpole and Inglis, were ordered to attack their 
 right. Walpole's brigade at once crossed the canal and 
 attracted the fire of the rebels, while Hope's brigade, sup- 
 ported by Inglis's brigade, moved to the left, then wheeled 
 round and charged the unprotected flank of the rebels' 
 right, which completely drove them into confusion. Then 
 Inglis's brigade came forward, and the whole force beat 
 the enemy from their first position ; but their second posi- 
 tion, which was a stronger one, towards the canal, had yet 
 to be gained. Our force now changed position while the 
 artillery were firing on the rebels retreating, and our cav- 
 alry here did good work. So far a large number of Tantia 
 Topi's force had been killed. And here again Nana Sahib 
 was seen on his elephant, but could not be reached, either 
 by shot or bullet, and he took good care that no man 
 should catch him. We had thus far captured nine of 
 the rel)els' guns, but they had several others yet to be 
 taken. Now the rebels' position could be fired on from 
 our entrenchment, and Sir Colin ordered General Wind- 
 ham to attack them with the guns he had, while our force 
 was preparing and forming to attack their second position. 
 When our force was formed the Second Brigade were 
 ordered to attack a bridge which the rebels had constructed 
 over the canal in case they should be compelled to retire. 
 Our line of skirmishers advanced on this bridge. The 
 artillery fire made no impression on the rebels' heavy gun 
 mounted on the bridge; and the infantry was preparing 
 F 
 
82 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 for the usual charge when Captain Peel rushed up with 
 one of his siege guns, which soon cleared the bridge, and 
 remained with other guns in the entrenchment firing on 
 the enemy's earth-works on the other side of the bridge ; 
 and our artillery and infantry by their flanking fire soon put 
 them on the run from their earth- works, leaving nearly all 
 their guns. Now our cavalry came into play and killed a 
 large number of the enemy. In this case the rebels did not 
 run in all directions, as others had done, but soon formed 
 and moved off in regular order towards the river Ganges 
 to cross into Oude, our force after them. Sir Hope Grant, 
 who was in Oude, had been sent for, and arrived just in 
 time to meet the rebels on the banks of the river and 
 prevent their crossing. His force and the First Brigade of 
 Infantry followed them up, and completely slaughtered 
 them, taking every gun they had. The 9th Lancers and 
 the cavalry with Sir Hope Grant did great work here, 
 and after following them for over ten miles, fighting all 
 the time, returned to Cawnpore. 
 
 It can be seen that when the rebels retired in proper 
 order, fighting while doing so, they understood discipline 
 and had a good commander. Now once more Cawnpore 
 came into our possession, although it took three days' hard 
 fighting to again win it. 
 
 The next day Sir Colin learned that the rebels had 
 again assembled in larger numbers, and were moving 
 towards Fatehgarh. For the want of sufficient carriage 
 Sir Colin could not follow, but he sent brigades to occupy 
 Itawah and Manipuri; and on the 23rd Sir Colin, with 
 
Beturn to Cawnpore, 83 
 
 the balance of the force, marched on Fatehgarh. During 
 our march Brigadier Seaton met us with his force from 
 Delhi, and the two brigades previously sent forward 
 joined us on approaching Kali Nudie. We had several 
 skirmishes on our way, but nothing of note occurred until 
 we arrived at this place, Kali Nudie, on 2nd January, 
 1858. Here we met the rebels in large numbers, occupy- 
 ing a strong position at a bridge and a fort or entrench- 
 ment on the other side of the river. The enemy had 
 partly destroyed the bridge. As our advance guard came 
 in sight the rebels attacked us from their position on the 
 bridge and entrenchments. Sir Colin then formed his 
 force and immediately attacked them with artillery and 
 infantry, and in consequence of the heavy fire, first on the 
 bridge, the enemy ran off, leaving the gun. Our force 
 now made towards the bridge to cross it, when it was 
 found to be dangerous to cross, as the enemy had, as stated 
 above, nearly destroyed it. Consequently we had to wait 
 until the bridge was repaired, and could not do more than 
 use our heavy and light guns on their position or entrench- 
 ments. The party repairing the bridge suffered ; and the 
 rebels even came close to the bank of the river to fire on 
 them, although we had a line of skirmishers on our side of 
 the river who kept them somewhat in check. The bridge 
 now being repaired the whole force advanced and crossed 
 the bridge, but in doing so lost very heavily, for we were 
 nothing but targets for the enemy to fire at, although our 
 artillery covered our advance. Still before one-half of our 
 force had crossed, the rebels were severely punished for 
 
84 Life as a Soldier, 
 
 our loss. The whole force having crossed over formed to 
 attack the entrenchments, three in number, and well con- 
 structed. Our artillery, with siege guns under Captain 
 Peel, fired continuously for over two hours, while the 
 infantry looked on resting themselves. But two hours 
 doing nothing was considered long enough ; for Sir Colin 
 gave orders for the infantry to prepare to take the 
 entrenchments with the charge. On this order being 
 given every regiment was anxious to be first to get at 
 them. "The artillery cease firing. Infantry charge'' 
 was the word of command, and the charge was well carried 
 out, for the three entrenchments and every gun the rebels 
 had were captured, and many hundreds of them were 
 killed in the entrenchments; in fact not one of them that 
 could be got at lived to tell* the story. Although our cav- 
 alry had followed them, the ringleaders got clear with a 
 large number. Over four thousand of the enemy here lay 
 dead. These had to be buried, with our own (not a hun- 
 dred), the next day. After performing this unpleasant 
 duty we marched into the fort at Fatehgarh erected by 
 Nuwab, a man equal to Nana Sahib in his cruelties towards 
 the Europeans. 
 
 Here we remained for about a month, until more troops 
 arrived, as a large number were arriving daily from Eng- 
 land, and continued to do so until Sir Colin's return from 
 Allahabad, where he went to meet the governor-general. 
 Lord Canning. This rest was badly needed by the force, 
 and as we now had of all ranks over ten thousand men, 
 the enemy could see that we had an army sufficient to 
 
Return to Cawnpore, 85 
 
 meet them, not the same as Sir Henry Havelock's fifteen 
 hundred or one thousand of all ranks, when we first 
 attacked them on our way to Cawnpore, for the recapture 
 of that place. 
 
 I may here mention that our present field marshal, 
 Lord Roberts, was with this force, attached as one of the 
 quartermaster-general's staff, and during the siege of Delhi 
 and second relief of Lucknow had done good work in that 
 department. I may also state that the present general, 
 the Kight Honorable Sir Edward Lugard, commanded a 
 brigade during the mutiny, and was considered the right 
 man in the right place by all ranks. 
 
 During Sir Colin Campbell's absence a force, consisting 
 of seventeen battalions of infantry, a large number of 
 cavalry, and one hundred and thirty-four guns of light 
 and heavy calibre, including mortars, most of them lately 
 from England, assembled at Cawnpore to be ready for the 
 siege of Lucknow. While this force was assembling, the 
 first brigade of Sir Colin's column, commanded by Briga- 
 dier Greathead, was sent towards Rohilcond to assist Sir 
 Hugh Rose in Central India. The 64th was in this 
 brigade, and I accompanied them, as Sir Colin went to 
 Allahabad. The troops failed to meet Sir Hugh, on 
 account of so many skirmishes with the rebels on the way. 
 It was nothing but fighting, day and night, for four days, 
 which was very annoying, as the rebels would not form, 
 nor take up any fighting position. Still they lost many 
 men and four guns. They made a stand at Kukrala, 
 where they were largely increased in number by a force 
 
86 Life as a Soldier, 
 
 of rebels already in a position there. We immediately 
 formed for attack ; and after about three hours hard work, 
 by both artillery and infantry, we beat them from their 
 position, and took three more guns from them. Once 
 we got them on the run our cavalry did splendid work, 
 killing every one they met. In all, their loss here was 
 about three thousand. 
 
 The brigade now rested for a day, and on the following 
 day we again marched after the rebels. But meeting 
 Sir Colin's column, we again joined him, and marched on 
 Shagihonpore, where it was reported that a large force 
 of the rebels, with Nana Sahib commanding, who had 
 been driven from Lucknow, had assembled ; but when we 
 arrived there. Sir Colin heard that they had moved off to 
 Bareilly. Sir Colin left a small force here, under com- 
 mand of Colonel Hale, to hold Shagihonpore. The 
 remainder of the force now moved on to Bareilly, which 
 was a very strongly fortified place, with a large number 
 of the rebels, consisting of cavalry, artillery and infantry, 
 under command of the Maulavi of Lucknow, and Nana 
 Sahib of Cawnpore. Sir Colin formed the force at once 
 for attack. In the first line was the Highland Brigade, 
 composed of the 42nd, 79th and 93rd, supported by the 
 Sikh Regiment, the 4th Punjab Rifles, and the Baluch 
 Battalion. In the second line the 64th, 78th and 82nd 
 Regiments, and the 2nd and 22nd Punjab Infantry pro- 
 tected the baggage and siege train, with cavalry and 
 artillery on bofh flanks of each line. Having arrived in 
 front of the rebels' position, our artillery opened fire with 
 
Return to Cavmpore, 87 
 
 heavy shot on them, and our line of skirmishers, with a 
 rapid fire from their rifles, caused the rebels to fall back 
 some, yet they held their position until our skirmishers 
 arrived within a few hundred yards of them. Just as they 
 were about to charge, to capture two guns which were doing 
 much damage to our advanced line, the rebels made off, 
 taking these guns with them. Here their cavalry came 
 out to attack our line of skirmishers, who had to form into 
 squares to resist them. However, a few volleys from the 
 squares, as well as grape from our artillery, made their 
 cavalry break, when our cavalry went after them. At this 
 attack we lost considerably, but the rebels' loss was over six 
 to our one; for the ground, as we advanced, was covered 
 with a very large number of them, either dead or dying. 
 Yet up to now we had not the pleasure of capturing any of 
 their guns; but before the day's work was over all their 
 guns were taken. We now had a rest for a few minutes, 
 previous to advancing again, to allow our cavalry to again 
 get into position. We again advanced, but had not gone 
 far before the rebels attacked us with their heavy guns 
 and infantry from a stronger position which they held just 
 in front of the town, as well as from loop-holed houses and 
 earth-works containing both artillery and infantry. Sir 
 Colin ordered our artillery to fire with their heavy guns, 
 the light guns being moved to about two hundred yards 
 further from the flanks, when the whole, both heavy and 
 light guns, fired on the rebels' position. This soon caused 
 them to leave and run, but in this case leaving their guns 
 in the earth-works, as well as many killed. In following 
 
88 . Life as a Soldier. 
 
 them up, we found they had as strong a position on each 
 side of the town. In fact, three sides of Bareilly, as well 
 as the whole town, was fortified, and we had to attack each 
 in turn. As we beat them from one, they went to the 
 other. But they were, I may say, slaughtered in doing 
 so, for all our force were engaged. Our cavalry could not 
 get at them as yet, but they did so before the fighting was 
 finished. 
 
 We were sure that we had Nana Sahib here, but it was 
 not to be, as he got off to Nipal before the engagement was 
 half over. The rebels' cavalry again moved out to attack 
 us. This time they made for our baggage, but our bag- 
 gage guard soon made them retire. This gave our cavalry 
 a chance to get at them, which they did, and many of the 
 rebels' horses went galloping round the country and into 
 the town without a rider before our cavalry returned to 
 us. Our force was now large, and did not take hours or 
 days to gain a position, as was the case when our men 
 were only about one thousand strong, all ranks, against 
 from five thousand to ten thousand strong. 
 
 Sometimes, too, our force would have a needful rest in 
 a change of a position being made. Not so with Sir 
 Henry Havelock's small force, when it had to be all rush 
 to do the work, which history tells was done. 
 
 Now Sir Colin considered it best to attack the rebels' 
 position on the right, and drive them from their earth- 
 work and buildings. This attack was successfully carried 
 out, after which the attack was made on their earth-works 
 on the left of the town. This done both earth-works and 
 
Rdum to Cawnpore, 89 
 
 town were in our possession, as well as all their guns. 
 The cavalry now had plenty of work in following them 
 up. Still a large number of the rebels got clear, the 
 Maulavi of Lucknow, one of their commanders, among 
 them, and they again moved off in the direction of 
 Shagihonpore, where we followed them. This took ^\^ 
 days. On our arrival we found Colonel Hale, who had 
 been left there in charge, all ready in position to receive 
 the rebels, but he was not strong enough to attack them. 
 Sir Colin at once formed the force for attack, and although 
 it took all day to beat them it was done ; mostly by our 
 cavalry and artillery with a line of skirmishers, which 
 compelled them to run, our force in pursuit. Between 
 our artillery fire, the cavalry charges, and the infantry 
 volleys in skirmishing order, many of the rebels were left 
 either killed or dying. 
 
 Sir Colin now distributed the brigades to different parts 
 and closed the campaign, as Rohilcond was reconquered 
 and every position held by the rebels was now in our 
 possession. It was here that Sir Colin and I parted, and 
 I will never forget the shake of his hand as I left. 
 
 Although we did not either capture or kill the Maulavi 
 of Lucknow, one of the principal ringleaders of the mutiny, 
 on his return to Oude he wanted to force the Rajah of 
 Powain, a friend of the British government, to take up 
 arms and join him. This request was not complied with, 
 and a brother of the Rajah shot him. Sir Hugh Rose^s 
 force had previously killed the Rani of Jhansi, another of 
 the ringleaders. Still it is surprising that Nana Sahib, for 
 
90 Life as a Soldier, 
 
 whom the government had offered £10,000, dead or alive, 
 escaped, as well as Tantia Topi, to some place unknown. 
 
 The different regiments here parted, and although no 
 regular engagements of any consequence occurred, each 
 regiment had sufficient work to do in following the 
 rebels from place to place in a kind of guerilla warfare^ 
 Speaking of guerilla warfare, I may here mention that 
 Captain Sir Henry M. Havelock,* Bt., son of Have- 
 lock of Cawnpore and Lucknow, organized a mounted 
 force in Oude and did excellent work there, killing a 
 large number in three days and clearing his part of 
 Oude from rebels. Our regiment, the 64th, had several 
 skirmishes, and took a rest for a day or so at Agra and 
 Meerut ; and although we only lost five men, many of 
 the rebels were killed. Our orders were to move until 
 we reached Mauh, the central military station between 
 the Bengal and Bombay presidencies, which place we did 
 not reach until late in August. After resting here for 
 several days we moved to our former station, Kurrachee^ 
 in Bombay presidency, with about one-third of the num- 
 ber we had before leaving there for Persia in 1856. Here 
 w^e met the women and children of the regiment, but they 
 had only a very small number of husbands or fathers to 
 welcome back. So much for war. 
 
 I may explain for my readers the reasons why we beat 
 
 *Sir Henry M. Havelock, afterwards, on his marriage, took the 
 additional name of Allan. He rose to the rank of lieutenant-general. 
 He was killed December 30, 1897, while accompanying the expedition 
 on the north-west frontier of India. 
 
Return to Cavmpore, 91 
 
 the rebels, although they numbered over six to our one, 
 and sometimes as many as twenty to one of us. They had 
 at one time a force against us of seventy-five thousand, 
 while we had not five thousand, of all ranks. But the 
 ringleaders of the mutiny compelled all males capable 
 of bearing arms to join them ; and they of course, being 
 undrilled and not understanding discipline as the Sepoys 
 did, w^ould not stand before us. They were not even able 
 to move into any military position for attack when ordered 
 by their commander to do so. Consequently the moment 
 our force attacked them, and made an advance on them, 
 es|)ecially if by the charge, they would break away from 
 any formation they were assembled in, and run, leaving 
 their guns in our possession. Although thousands of them 
 lay dead on the ground, the most of them had been shot as 
 they were running ; and as we often said, " If they don't 
 stand for the bayonet, a ball will catch them." During 
 my many battles I have never once seen them stand to 
 their post to resist a charge, which was always made in 
 true British style, with such a cheer as Her Majesty's 
 forces only can give. 
 
 We were better pleased to learn that their force was 
 larger in numbers at each engagemient we had ; for it was 
 always found that the quicker we could advance on them 
 the sooner we would have possession of their position and 
 guns. Sometimes, how^ever, it took a day to get them to 
 run; and, if possible, the flank movement was always 
 made on them. I know that in some cases they would 
 not have one hundred Sepoys among one thousand of 
 
92 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 them. In this way the reader may have an idea how we, 
 with Havelock's fifteen hundred, should recapture Cawn- 
 pore when Nana Sahib had nearly that many thousands 
 against us. I think that British pluck helped the good 
 generalship. This occurred all through the mutiny, and 
 each day the rebels increased in numbers. At Lucknow 
 there were over one hundred thousand, for they collected 
 there from all parts. Still our force under Sir Colin 
 Campbell's command relieved Sir James Outram and his 
 little band from the residency, as history tells, and re- 
 captured Lucknow, although many thousands of the rebels 
 were against him. As Sir Henry Havelock often said in 
 my hearing, " Right was on our side and God was with 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 At Kurrachee. 
 
 ^^SLTHOUGH the regiment returned to Kurrachee 
 tf^fe only about one-third as strong as before leaving 
 that station for Persia, we found that during our absence 
 two drafts of recruits for our regiment had arrived from 
 England, four hundred and thirty, all ranks, including 
 three officers; and in less than six months after our arrival 
 the regiment was made up to its full strength from other 
 regiments which had arrived in India before we did, and 
 were now ordered iiome to England. Men are allowed to 
 volunteer or to be transferred in this way who may wish 
 to remain in India. 
 
 By general order the women and children were allowed 
 to remain on the strength of the regiment until the women 
 again married, which they soon did ; for from our seventy- 
 three widows on our return to Kurrachee, in less than a 
 year there was not one. By this it can be seen that Eng- 
 lish women at this time, 1859, were very scarce; and 
 when a husband dies the widow is soon married again, 
 either to a European or native Christian. I have seen 
 girls, soldiers' daughters, not sixteen years of age, marry 
 Europeans, or natives, or half native and half English 
 men. On the other hand I have seen young men, soldiers' 
 sons, marry native girls who became Christians. All 
 females marry very young in India. This is not con- 
 
 (93) 
 
94 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 sidered satisfactory, for their children are not strong 
 enough to bear the climate. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel G. W. P. Bingham having been 
 promoted previous to our return to Kurrachee, now com- 
 manded the regiment; and Captain N. H. Shu1;p, who 
 commanded one of the companies that were besieged in 
 Lucknow with Sir James Outram and Sir Henry Have- 
 lock, was also promoted to major with Colonel Bingham. 
 Captain Valentine Ryan, the captain of my company, 
 asked me to take the color and pay-sergeantship of the 
 company, which I did, and gave up the drill-sergeantship 
 of the regiment. There was over a year's back pay, the 
 difference between sergeant's and color-sergeant's pay, due, 
 and as our regiment would soon be ordered home to Eng- 
 land, where no drill-sergeants are allowed to a regiment 
 with extra pay, I thought it financially better for me; 
 although the duties of a color-sergeant of a company are 
 considerably harder, for he has to act as the sergeant-major 
 of his company. 
 
 In the month of September, 1859, an army order from 
 Horse Guards, London, was read to the regiment, offering 
 four commissions as officers (ensigns) to our regiment, also 
 granting a year's service to all who took part at the relief 
 of Lucknow. I was one of the four chosen, but for pecun- 
 iary reasons declined the offer. I had seen that other 
 officers, who rose from the ranks, two of them in our regi- 
 ment (who were killed during the mutiny), had a hard 
 time to support themselves in England for the want of 
 funds. This is not so in India ; but as the regiment 
 
At Kurrachee. 96 
 
 woul4 sooD return to England I remained as color-sergeant. 
 As our sergeant-major was sick from a wound he had re- 
 ceived during the mutiny, I was appointed to assist him, 
 or as acting sergeant-major of the regiment, with extra pay 
 of six pence per day. In fact I had to perform the whole 
 of his duty, and continued to do so until I left the regi- 
 ment in 1861 for Canada; for the sergeant-major died on 
 our way home from India. 
 
 Between both duties, that of sergeant-major of the regi- 
 ment and color-sergeant of my company, I was kept very 
 busy and had very little time to myself; and even less 
 after arriving in England, for I had to look after the 
 recruits who then joined the regiment to replace men 
 who were transferred to other regiments before we left 
 India. Almost all the recruits that we had received in 
 the two drafts above referred to had volunteered to remain 
 in India, but Lieutenant-Colonel Nevile Hill Shute, then 
 our commanding officer, would not allow them all to do 
 so, for others, married men, wanted that privilege. In all, 
 four hundred and twenty of the regiment were transferred 
 to other corps remaining in India, before we left; which 
 left the regiment considerably below strength on arriving 
 in England. Hence the cause of the recruits joining as 
 above stated. 
 
 Nothing further of note took place before the regiment 
 left India for England. 
 
 In a previous chapter I mentioned how water for the 
 men to drink was kept cool. I will now explain the 
 wells, etc., for the information of those who never were in 
 
96 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 India. The wells are very deep and often are from ijfteen 
 to twenty feet in diameter. The water is brought up on 
 a wheel, constructed nearly like a paddle-wheel of a 
 steamer, with large chatties attached to it, which dip and 
 lift the water as they go round, and on reaching the top 
 of the well, or as the chatties turn to again go down, the 
 water runs into a large tank with holes in the bottom of 
 it, to allow the water to run into drains in different direc- 
 tions to the soldiers' gardens which belong to the barracks ; 
 and very often it is the only water obtained, for the want 
 of rain. Buffaloes are used for raising the water from 
 the well by being attached to a shaft connected with the 
 wheel, and are continually going round on the outside of 
 the well, and are looked after by natives. The native 
 farmers water their gardens as above described. 
 
 After matters were settled, the regiment was allowed a 
 month's rest, during which time the u^ual clubs for foot- 
 ball, cricket and hand-ball matches, and theatrical pur- 
 poses, were formed, and a large number of our recruits 
 here took part with the older soldiers, and were found to 
 be of great assistance to us in this respect. Before long 
 the regiment was again able to play in the garrison theatre 
 as well as they did before the Persian campaign. I may 
 here mention that our regiment was noted for the plays 
 they used to handle on the stage at every military station 
 we occupied, as well as for other games the military prac- 
 tised in India ; also for horse-racing, in which both officers 
 and men took part. 
 
 In March, 1861, the regiment embarked for home in 
 
At Kurrachee. 97 
 
 two sailing vessels, a wing in each, and after three months 
 and seventeen days arrived in Dover, England, where the 
 recruits for our regiment joined. 
 
 I mentioned in a previous chapter about the men bath- 
 ing on our way out to India, when two of them were 
 caught by sharks, and about the ship we were in being 
 blown back while rounding the Cape. I now may men- 
 tion that on our voyage home we called and anchored at 
 St. Helena, an island that stood, as Bonaparte pronounced 
 it, in the " unfathomable ocean." We remained there 
 three days, taking fresh water and meat on board. The 
 natives of this island surround all ships that anchor there, 
 with all kinds of fruit, which is a great treat to all on 
 board. They, I may say, live in the water, and are able 
 to dive to a considerable depth. For instance, if any 
 money is shown to them at one side of the ship, and you 
 inform them that you will throw it into the water on the 
 other side, they will dive under the ship, as in a race, for 
 it, and bring the money up. The sea here is very deep 
 and clear, and, as Napoleon Bonaparte put it, unfathom- 
 able. It is nearly so, for only on a small portion of one 
 side of the island can anchorage be found. A number of 
 our men, I among them, were allowed to go ashore. We 
 went up the ladder hill, so called, and visited Bonaparte's 
 tomb, where we had a rare view for miles over the ocean. 
 In going up the ladder we soldiers considered it as hard 
 as a day's march, for the hill is very steep. We brought 
 several pieces of stones of various kinds from this island. 
 I brought two of thera to Canada, one I gave to the late 
 
98 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 Dr. Hamilton, of St. John, New Brunswick; the other I 
 lost at a fire in Fredericton in 1895. The island of St. 
 Helena is seven miles wide and ten miles long, and the 
 natives are very kind to Europeans. 
 
 Talking of Bonaparte brings to my mind a brief story I 
 often heard my father repeat, which it may not be out of 
 place to mention here. Previous to the battle of Waterloo 
 (where my father was present), a young officer approached 
 the Duke of Wellington and asked for leave for the day, 
 stating that his father and mother had just arrived, and 
 wished him to remain with them for a few hours. The 
 Iron Duke, so called, looked at him, and after obtaining 
 his name, replied, " Well, my fine young gentleman, I am 
 glad that you honor your father and your mother, that 
 your days may be long in the land ; but as our force 
 attacks the foe to-day you cannot have the leave, but 
 must, like a good British soldier, face your enemy." 
 
 The regiment having arrived at Dover in July, 1861, 
 after a voyage of over three months, commenced soldiering 
 once more with harder work than we had in India ; and as 
 our recruits were not yet fit for all kinds of a soldier's duty, 
 the work became harder on the older soldiers of the regi- 
 ment. I now had plenty to do in the two capacities, 
 that of color-sergeant, and sergeant-major. At the end of 
 August my brother and I obtained a furlough for three 
 weeks, and went to Glasgow, Scotland, to see one of our 
 sisters who was married there. On our return to the regi- 
 ment I went to the School of Musketry at Hythe, and 
 fourteen days afterwards returned to my regiment with a 
 
At Kurrachee. 99 
 
 qualified first-class certificate from that school. But for 
 the time absent in both cases I had to pay the color- 
 sergeant the allowance, six pence per day, which was made 
 to me as acting sergeant-major. 
 
 Regarding the course of musketry instruction at Hythe, 
 three days after I entered tiie school the commandant 
 wanted me to return to my regiment, stating that he 
 would give me the necessary certificate, for he considered 
 that I was well qualified for it without attending the 
 school ; but as 1 asked him as a favor (I wanted a rest), 
 he granted me the privilege to remain for fourteen days. 
 I was well up in musketry, having had to lecture on it, and 
 instruct the regiment by companies in it for years in 
 India. Still I considered having a Hythe certificate 
 might be an advantage to me in the capacity I then filled. 
 
 Here I may remark that when I first commenced to 
 instruct the St. John Engineer Company, in 1862, then 
 commanded by Captain John E. Boyd, and afterwards by 
 Majors Parks and Perley, the company paid great atten- 
 tion to the musketry lectures, etc., I used to give them. 
 The present major, T. Hartt (as good a shot as any in 
 New Brunswick), was a member of the company at that 
 time. I also instructed the other companies in St. John 
 in the same way, and could mention hundreds who derived 
 a benefit from the musketry instructions I imparted to 
 them. This fact is well known all over the Maritime 
 Provinces by the past and present militia, as militia 
 reports show. 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 In Dover. 
 
 wtQ^ October following, 1861, during the Trent affair, an 
 (sAd array general order called for sergeants to volunteer 
 as drill instructors for the volunteer militia in Canada. 
 The order also stated that such sergeants would be ex- 
 amined in drill, discipline, military law, etc., and a step 
 in rank would be allowed to those who should pass the 
 examination satisfactorily. I was one who passed this 
 examination. Major-General Garwick, then commanding 
 at Dover, was the examining officer. The examination 
 consisted of squad, company, and battalion drill, also 
 manual and firing exercises practically. At the oral part 
 of it only one candidate at a time w^as allowed to be present 
 with the general and officer commanding the candidate's 
 regiment. There were fifteen of our regiment, and seven- 
 teen of the 3rd Regiment examined, but only three of us 
 passed, two of the 3rd Eegiment, and myself. As regards 
 my own examination, the general put all kinds of military 
 questions to me, from a private's to a commander's duty, 
 and many of them on skirmishing and outpost duty in 
 front of an enemy, etc., as well as on military law. I am 
 glad to say he failed to find one incorrect answer, and 
 repeatedly remarked to Colonel Shute, our commanding 
 officer, during the hour he kept me at this examination 
 (twice as long as he kept any other), " He is well up in 
 (100) 
 
In Dove)'. 101 
 
 the duties of a soldier and is fit to be recommended." On 
 the following day Colonel Shnte sent for me, and gave me 
 a certificate from the general to that effect. This certifi- 
 cate I gave, on my arrival in Canada, to Lieutenant-Colonel 
 T. M. Crowder, adjutant-general of New Brunswick Militia, 
 who asked me for it to show the Honorable A. Gordon, 
 then governor of New Brunswick ; but since then have 
 not seen it. Colonel Crowder, when I asked him about 
 it, told me that the governor had mislaid it, and that he 
 would obtain one from him in lieu of it. But I never got 
 it, for Colonel Crowder resigned the adjutant-generalship 
 and left for England soon afterwards. 
 
 Two days before I left for Canada, I was informed by 
 our colonel that no color-sergeants were allowed to go ; or, 
 in other words, I could not go holding the rank of sergeant- 
 major, as the order was for sergeants only. If approved, 
 they would rank as color-sergeants; or if lance-sergeants 
 as sergeants. I was told I could please myself in the 
 matter. As all belonging to me — father, mother, brothers 
 and sisters, except the sister in Glasgow and my brother 
 in the regiment — were then in Kingston, Ontario, and as 
 the order stated it might be only for a short time, I gave in, 
 and came to Canada. I cannot say that I gained anything 
 by doing so, but think I lost by it. For when discharged 
 from Her Majesty's 64th Regiment in January, 1868, I 
 only received ^)ension as a color-sergeant, although at that 
 time a sergeant-major of militia in the St. John Battalion. 
 At that time I sent forward my claim, strongly recom- 
 mended by three colonels of militia, then my commanding 
 
102 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 officers in St. John, for the rate of pension of a sergeant- 
 major ; but the authorities at Chelsea, England, would not 
 grant it. 
 
 During my absence on furlough. Sir James Outram, 
 while visiting Dover, called at our orderly room, and 
 requested Colonel Shute to send for me, stating that he 
 wanted to see me regarding the Victoria Cross, which he 
 considered I was entitled to receive. Colonel Shute told 
 him that I was then on furlough. Sir James promised to 
 call again, but did not do so before I left for Canada. 
 On my return from furlough. Colonel Shute told me that 
 if I had been present when Sir James called, no doubt I 
 would have been recommended for the Victoria Cross. 
 The day before I left the regiment for Canada, I asked 
 Colonel Shute to recommend me for it. He replied that 
 if Sir James again called he would speak to him on the 
 matter. About eight months afterwards I wrote Colonel 
 Shute regarding the Victoria Cross, and received a reply 
 to my letter four months after from him, stating that 
 Sir James had not since called at Dover, and that he had 
 not forgotten the matter. I waited for a few months 
 longer, then wrote direct to Sir James. Lady Outram 
 returned the letter to me, with the sad news of Sir James's 
 death, he having died a few days before the date of my 
 writing to him. 
 
 Thus I missed the soldier's most coveted decoration. 
 My only satisfaction is, that, in the opinion of my general, 
 I had won it. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Some Testimonials. 
 
 ^^KEFORE passing to the story of my life in Canada I 
 ^^M wish to quote some evidence as to my character as 
 a soldier for the twenty years I served in the regiment, 
 by publishing the attached certificates received from the 
 colonel, major, captain of my company, and adjutant of 
 the regiment. During those many years, I am proud to 
 say that I never received one day's punishment for any 
 crime. Very few soldiers can say as much ; but I was 
 called always the steady boy, because I kept clear of 
 all misconduct. This I ascribe to the discipline and 
 obedience learned when at school in the 94th, which I 
 referred' to in a previous chapter narrating Her Majesty's 
 visit to Chatham, England, in 1840. The day before I 
 left Dover for London en route to Canada the following 
 were handed to me by the adjutant of our regiment : 
 
 Dover, 18th December, 1861. 
 I certify that Color-Sergeant Thomas McKenzie, 64th 
 Regiment, is about to proceed to Canada on duty. I have 
 much pleasure in giving him an excellent character for 
 smartness, honesty, and sobriety. 
 
 (Signed) Neville Hill Shute, 
 
 Lieutenant- Colon el Commanding 64th Regiment. 
 
 (103) 
 
104 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 Dover, 21st December, 1861. 
 Color-Sergeant McKenzie having applied to me for a char- 
 acter on proceeding to Canada, I beg to state that I consider 
 him a very good pay and color-sergeant, combining good con- 
 duct with ability and efficiency, and I have no doubt he will 
 be found useful and trustworthy. 
 
 (Signed) T. Anderson, 
 
 Major 64th Regiment. 
 
 Dover, 26th December, 1861. 
 Color-Sergeant Thomas McKenzie has been the color- 
 sergeant and pay-sergeant of my company for upwards of 
 four years, and has always behaved himself with honesty 
 and probity. He is a smart, active soldier and a good drill. 
 He has received a silver watch as a testimonial from Sir 
 James Outram for his conduct in the field. 
 
 Color-Sergeant McKenzie having volunteered for active 
 service in Canada, I give him this certificate in the hope that 
 it may be of use to him. 
 
 (Signed) Val. Ryan, 
 
 Captain 64th Regiment 
 
 Dover, 21st December, 1861. 
 Color-Sergeant and Acting Sergeant-Major Thomas Mc- 
 Kenzie, 64th Regiment, being about to proceed on special 
 service to Canada, I have great pleasure in testifying to his 
 excellent character as a non-commissioned officer. He is a 
 most steady, careful, and at the same time smart soldier, also 
 an excellent drill, and will, I am sure, succeed well in any 
 duties he may be called on to perform. 
 
 (Signed) John T. Pack, Lieutenant, 
 
 Adjutant 64th Regiment, 
 
Some Testimonials. 105 
 
 I may here also give a copy of a few lines handed me 
 by Lieutenant-Colonel Crovvder, on his retirement from 
 the command of the militia in New Brunswick : 
 
 St. John, N. B., 30th March, 1864. 
 
 Thomas McKenzie, Color-Sergeant 64th Regiment, has 
 held the appointment of senior drill instructor to the volun- 
 teer militia of this province during the two last years, and on 
 retiring from the post of adjutant-general of militia, I have 
 the greatest pleasure in certifying to the efficiency with which 
 he has performed his various duties. 
 
 By his good conduct, and by the firm yet pleasant manner 
 in which he has performed the by no means easy task of in- 
 structing the volunteers, he has gained the respect of all with 
 whom he has been brought in contact. 
 
 He has also had charge of the arms and accoutrements, 
 and has superintended all issues of ammunition, etc., which 
 duties he has performed in the most correct and systematic 
 manner. (Signed) 
 
 Thomas M. Crowder, Lieutenant-Colonel, 
 
 Adjutant' General of Militia. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Arrival in Canada. 
 
 |i| LEFT DOVER, and reported ray arrival at Horse 
 ^ Guards, London, on 27th December, 1861, when- 
 eleven other sergeants, drill instructors, for New Bruns- 
 wick wore handed over to me, with orders to embark on 
 board of the steamer " Calcutta," which was under orders 
 to sail for Halifax, Nova Scotia, with a field battery of 
 artillery, a few men of the army hospital corps, and the 
 96th Eegiment. 
 
 I had never seen any of these sergeants until now, but 
 before we disembarked at St. John, New Brunswick, in 
 February, 1862, after being about forty days on board, 
 T was well acquainted with them. We were called ''the 
 twelve apostles," by the 96th Regiment, and retained that 
 name long after our arrival in New Brunswick. 
 
 We were wrecked, and had to call into St. John's, New- 
 foundland, for repairs, which took four days. During 
 this time I went on shore, and purchased a Newfoundland 
 dog, a brother to the one given as a present to the Prince 
 of Wales a few months before. I paid £10 for this dog, 
 and must say that he was well worth that amount, for he 
 was a beautiful animal, and one of the best of that breed. 
 When I brought the dog on board, by the sanction of the 
 captain of the steamer, some men of the 96th Regiment 
 set a large dog, belonging to their colonel, on him. Con- 
 sequently, Colonel Cathcart ordered me to immediately 
 (106) 
 
Anival in Canada. 107 
 
 take mine on shore again. This order I, of course, obeyed. 
 I did not see the dog again until three months after arriv- 
 ing in St. John, N. B., when I had to send a further sum 
 of £3 for his keep and express charges. I kept this dog 
 for several years, and was sorry when he died, for he was 
 very faithful. 
 
 The steamer " Calcutta," having been repaired, sailed 
 for Halifax, N. S., and on arriving there was ordered to 
 St. John, N. B. We arrived safely at St. John. The 
 troops on board at once disembarked, and took up their 
 quarters in the railway car-shqd, which was fitted up as a 
 temporary barracks for troops that were arriving in New 
 Brunswick during the Trent affair. When we arrived at 
 the temporary barracks, we found a substantial dinner 
 awaiting us, which was prepared by the citizens of St. 
 John, as was customary at this time, and which was much 
 appreciated by us. The extra troops now coming into 
 Canada were not required ; for the Trent matter was satis- 
 factorily settled between the United States and England. 
 
 W^e (the twelve apostles so called) were sent to Freder- 
 icton, the head-quarters of the militia department of the 
 province, and I shall never forget the two days' drive 
 we had in sleds. It was very cold. Our resting-place for 
 the night, about half-way between St. John and Frederic- 
 ton, I must say, was not at all as it should have been ; 
 although only a barn, it was dirty and cold, and if it had 
 not been' for the fires we had to keep on during the night, 
 no doubt we w^ould have been found frozen in the morn- 
 ing. It must be remembered that this was in the month 
 
108 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 of February, which is far from a warm month in Canada. 
 We left this place before daylight the next morning, in 
 our not by any means pleasant conveyance, the English 
 sled, and arrived at Fredericton about three o'clock in the 
 afternoon. As it was my duty to look after the other 
 sergeants in my charge, I went to the barrack-master, 
 Woolford, who was at the time with the barrack -sergeant, 
 the late John Edwards, of Fredericton, issuing bedding^ 
 etc., for the troops who arrived with us, a few of the army 
 hospital corps and engineers. On my asking him for a 
 barrack room, bedding, etc., he refused both, stating that 
 he did not know us, and had not received any orders 
 about us. Of course he was correct. We required, how- 
 ever, a soldier's right, nothing more; therefore we helped 
 ourselves, and took possession of a room in the barracks, 
 which was complete with beds, etc., left by some of the 
 troops who had set out the day before for Quebec. The 
 next morning I found that Colonel John Robinson was 
 the adjutant-general of militia, to whom I reported our 
 arrival ; when he and myself went to the governor, the 
 Honorable Arthur Gordon, who was also commander-in- 
 chief of the militia in New Brunswick. He at once gave 
 me a note to the brigade-major of the regulars, asking that 
 we be taken on the strength of the troops, until Parlia- 
 ment, which was then in session, should make provision 
 for us. That afternoon we were in garrison orders to be 
 attached to the engineer company ; and in March we were 
 attached to the first battalion 15th Regiment, which had 
 arrived in Fredericton a few days before. We remained 
 
Arrival in Canada, 109 
 
 attached to that regiment for pay, etc., until July, 1862, 
 when nine only of the twelve were taken on as drill in- 
 structors, by the Provincial Government, and came under 
 the regulations for pay and allowances on the 15th July, 
 1862, in accordance with the militia law passed in that 
 year. Our pay then was seventy-five cents per day, and 
 twelve dollars per month lodging allowance. Although 
 not taken on by the Provincial Government as drill in- 
 structors until July, we instructed companies of volunteer 
 militia, at Fredericton, then commanded by Captains E. 
 Simonds, C. Brannan, J. McDonald, or J. L. Marsh ; also 
 a batfery of artillery commanded by Captain Berton. 
 
 As regards myself, I was sent to St. John, N. B., on the 
 26th April, 1862, by order of the governor, Honorable 
 A. Gordon, to take charge of the militia stores, which 
 were the first established in St. John, the militia stores 
 previous to this having been in charge of the Imperial 
 store department. After I had received over the building 
 for militia stores, which was at one end of the Custom 
 House, over the Kinnear Brothers' establishment, I re- 
 moved the arms, accoutrements, etc., etc., belonging to the 
 militia, from the Imperial store to the then established 
 militia store, giving the necessary receipt for the same to 
 Major Gregg, who was in charge of the Imperial stores at 
 St. John. 
 
 My duties now, as militia storekeeper, were to receive 
 into store all arms, accoutrements, etc., etc., previously 
 issued by the Imperial store department to the volunteer 
 militia of New Brunswick. Orders had been issued to all 
 
110 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 officers then commanding volunteer companies to return 
 all government property in their charge to me at St. John. 
 This order was in accordance with the new militia law 
 passed in 1862. After I had the arms, etc., cleaned and 
 repaired by an armourer, they were to be reissued to such 
 companies as should re-enrol under the new law. All 
 deficiencies had to be paid for by the captains, but the 
 repairs were paid for by the government. These arms, 
 accoutrements, etc., arrived in St. John, addressed to me, 
 from all parts of the province, coming by all kinds of 
 conveyances — American boat, railway, teams, and schoon- 
 ers, and all marked "charges to be collected." It took 
 over four months before the two thousand five hundred 
 and twenty stand of arms reached me, and I had to 
 pay from my own funds for their transport more than 
 one hundred dollars before they all arrived. This 
 amount was afterwards paid back to me.* I may 
 here say that prior to my leaving London I drew £100 
 from the Bank of England, which I had transferred to 
 that bank before I left India. Had it not been for this 
 money I could not have received the arms, etc., for they 
 would not have been delivered to me without the transport 
 first being paid on them; and the then adjutant-general of 
 militia, the late Lieutenant-Colonel John Robinson, had 
 no money at his disposal for this purpose, so he told me, 
 until the government should sanction a militia grant. I 
 may further say that I had no help at this work. The 
 reader can imagine that for one man alone to get large and 
 
 *See Militia Reports of 1862-63. 
 
Arrival in Canada. Ill 
 
 heavy boxes, containing twenty rifles, bayonets, etc., also 
 barrels large and small, up through a hatch about twelve 
 feet high from the ground floor, is not at all easy. Some- 
 times I got the cartmen whom I engaged to bring the 
 articles from the railway station, or steam-boat, or other 
 wharf, to assist me in hoisting the boxes, etc. At other 
 times they would not help me, even though I proffered 
 pay, therefore I had to do it alone. There was a check 
 rope attached, which reached to the lower flat. After I 
 had raised a box to the height required, I kept it there by 
 tying the check rope to the post of the stairs until I went 
 up stairs to haul the box on to the floor. Once only an 
 accident occurred. I had hauled up a box of rifles and 
 tied the check rope as usual, and went up stairs to bring 
 it on to the floor. Just as I got hold of the box the check 
 rope broke, when both box, and I on top of it, came down 
 to the lower flat at a very quick run. It was a miracle I 
 was not killed. I again wish to say here, as I did during 
 the Indian mutiny, that I think it must have been because 
 I was in the performance of ray duty that I was saved. 
 
 I mentioned in a previous page that only nine of the 
 sergeants who came out with me were kept on as drill 
 instructors by the Provincial Government. At present 
 three of us reside in New Brunswick, viz., John Hewitson, 
 who rose to command the 71st Battalion as lieutenant- 
 colonel, but resigned that command in 1871, John L. 
 Marsh succeeding him, and is at present living on a farm 
 outside of Fredericton ; Alexander Templeton, who rose 
 to the rank of major in the 73rd Battalion, and now 
 
112 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 resides in Chatham, N. B. ; and myself, now care-taker, 
 the third. Patrick McCreary was also one of ns, but he 
 died about two years ago in Kings County, N. B. He 
 served for some years, after discharge from Her Majesty's 
 service, in the 8th Regiment of Cavalry of that county, 
 and lived on a farm. The remaining five returned to 
 England, and obtained good positions, for, after being dis- 
 charged from Her Majesty's service, they were employed 
 by the Imperial Government, and often wrote me that 
 they were doing well. The cause of their leaving Canada 
 was, that after the formation of the Dominion in 1867, the 
 pay of the drill instructors was stopped, and an allowance 
 paid to the officer commanding a company or battalion. 
 The drill instructors' services, therefore, were no longer 
 required as such. At this time I was adjutant and drill 
 instructor, with rank of captain, in the 62nd Battalion at 
 St. John, N. B. 
 
 I will now continue my story. I mentioned that two 
 thousand five hundred and twenty stand of arms, etc., were 
 returned to me by commanders of volunteer corps in 1862. 
 I will now give a brief abstract from the book which I 
 then kept as to the number returned by each commander. 
 Some returned eighty, some sixty, and the lowest forty ; 
 and as the reader may wish to keep this for reference, I 
 will here give the names of the captains who returned 
 rifles, etc., to me, and had then commanded companies of 
 volunteer militia in New Brunswick. Captains Adams, 
 Gunn, Cronk, T. Johnston, T. W. Baird, McGibbon, 
 G. H. Pick, T. Davis, C. R. Ray, Hurd Peters, R. W. 
 
Arrival in Canada. 113 
 
 Crookshank, J. McLachlan, Travis, J. Howard, »T. Havvkes, 
 J. Johnston, Kirkpatrick, D. B. Stevens, F. P. Robinson, 
 Hatheway, Kilburn, J. L. Marsh, B. L. Peters, McFarline, 
 Gilbert, A. Rankine, Hoben, J. R. Macshane, Tong, Black, 
 Pickett, Wallace, J. Stockton, Yeamans, C. R. Brannen, 
 Burpee, Botsford, J. A. Inches, W. E. Perley, W. A. Hiltz, 
 D. Wetraore, Silver, Whitlock, R. Palmer, Russell, John- 
 ston, and C. W. Sto(;kton. 
 
 In accordance with the orders issuetl to the captains that 
 they had to pay for all articles deficient, I was particular 
 in taking a proper account of rifles, accoutrements, etc., 
 before commencing to clean them, and adopted the follow- 
 ing method in doing so. I entered in my book the num- 
 ber of the rifle and the same number of bayonet, scabbard, 
 ramrod, muzzle-stopper, jaggs, pouches and belts, waist- 
 belts and frogs, cap-pockets, and slings. By this means 
 I was able to take a correct account of any one article 
 belonging to a rifle which might be deficient. This 
 enabled the captain to charge the same to the man it was 
 issued to, for I reported to the captain all such numbers 
 of deficiencies. This was extra duty for me, but it was 
 for the benefit of the captain. * 
 
 The whole of the captains had to pay for some of the 
 small articles, such as bayonets, scabbards, muzzle-stop- 
 pers and jaggs, also a few belts ; and a few captains had 
 to pay for some rifles deficient. Although the order was 
 for each captain to put his name and address on a label 
 into one of their arm chests when sending them to me, 
 more than one-half of them did not do so, and it was 
 
 H 
 
114 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 months before I knew who sent them into store, or to me. 
 There was no record kept by the Imperial store depart- 
 ment of sending or issuing rifles, etc., to the captains 
 by name. All issues were made to Colonel Hayne, the 
 adjutant-general of militia, previous to 1862. The reader 
 therefore can see that it was no easy matter for me, who 
 had just came to the country, to find out where the rifles, 
 etc., came from. In addition to the deficiencies, more than 
 one-half of the rifles that came in were in a very bad state, 
 as well as being rusty; and of the two thousand five 
 hundred and twenty stand, three hundred and seventy-six 
 were condemned as being not fit for reissue, when the 
 companies were re-enrolled. 
 
 I obtained permission for the armourer-sergeant of the 
 15th Regiment to repair the rifles, but it took nearly two 
 years before all were again fit for issue. 
 
 Although the companies in St. John, of which R. W. 
 Crookshank, C. R. Ray, J. S. Hall, J. R. Macshane, and 
 J. V. Thurgar were captains, had returned their rifles, 
 etc., as above stated, I drilled them at night from 8 to 10 
 p. m., one company each night, although we drill instruc- 
 tors Iiad not yet been employed as such, but were taken 
 on as such in July following. Between the day and night 
 work I had very little time to do my office duty ; but I 
 made time by not going to bed until after twelve mid- 
 night. After drilling for the two hours, I did all my 
 writing, which was considerable; for my day's work had 
 to be kept and a report of the same sent to the adjutant- 
 general at Fredericton. This went on for years ; and that 
 
Arrival in Canada. 115 
 
 the reader may see for himself, I pubh'sh an extract from 
 the Militia Report of 1863 : 
 
 "The bulk of the volunteer force being in St. John, 
 and the head-quarters of the militia being in Fredericton, 
 much inconvenience has arisen from the want of some 
 recognized medium through whom to communicate upon 
 matters of general importance to the St. John Volunteers. 
 Hitherto the correspondence between the adjutant-generaFs 
 office and the volunteers in St. John has had to proceed 
 to a great extent through tiie individual captains and the 
 senior drill instructor, Color-Sergeant McKenzie, 64th 
 Regiment, who, it is only just to mention, has been most 
 active and useful in the issue of arms, accoutrements, and 
 ammunition, during the whole year of 1862-63." 
 
 This Militia Report was the first made out and signed 
 by Lieutenant-Colonel T. M. Crowder, who had been 
 appointed adjutant-general of militia on 1st July, 1862, 
 when Lieutenant-Colonel John Robinson left to join his 
 regiment. Her Majesty's 44th, then stationed in England. 
 
 When I called, on the 18th February, 1862, at Colonel 
 Robinson's office, which was then in Dr. Dow's building, 
 on the ground now occupied by the Hon. A. F. Randolph 
 as a wholesale establishment, to report the arrival of the 
 drill instructor sent from England for the New Brunswick 
 militia, he asked me if my name was McKenzie. I re- 
 plied that it was. He then told me that he knew me in 
 Dublin as field bugler to our commanding officer, then 
 Colonel Stratton, who afterwards exchanged with Colonel 
 James Stopford, of the 43rd Regiment, before we left for 
 
116 Life as a Soldiei'. 
 
 India in 1848 — the same Colonel Stopford who fell into 
 my arms when shot at the Dutch mud fort of Reshire in 
 Persia, in 1856, which I have described in a previous 
 chapter. He also told me that it was then, in Richmond 
 barracks, Dublin, that he joined the 44th Regiment, which 
 was stationed there with our regiment, the 64th, in 1845. 
 
 The nine drill instructors were now, on the 15th July, 
 1862, taken on the strength of the militia staff and sent 
 to different parts of New Brunswick; for some of the 
 captains of the former companies had sent in their rolls, 
 and requested the arms, etc., to be reissued to them as 
 soon as possible. The orders I then received from the 
 adjutant-general, Lieutenant-Colonel Crowder, were to 
 have the aruis, etc., cleaned and repaired, and to issue 
 them to the captains in accordance with the lists he would 
 send me, which would be, as the companies were, approved 
 by the lieutenant-governor. 
 
 I commenced to reissue the arms, etc., etc., to the cap- 
 tains on the 16th July, 1862; and the first who received 
 them was Captain G. H. Pick, No. 1 Battery of Artillery, 
 at St. John. Sixty stand of each was received by all, ex- 
 cept Captain B. L. Peters, who received eighty stand, and 
 Captain E. W. Chestnut, w^ho only received forty stand ; 
 but he did not receive his until 9th February, 1863. Up 
 to this date the whole of the rifles, although cleaned, had 
 not been repaired, and a number of the companies did not 
 re-enrol, which can be seen by the list of captains to 
 whom they were issued. From the two thousand five 
 hundred and twenty returned into store to me only one 
 
Arrival in Canada. 117 
 
 thousand eight hundred and twenty were reissued up to 
 this date, and which included some new companies formed, 
 I took care that there was a proper record of them kept, 
 for I made out a receipt in duplicate to be signed by the 
 captain, one to be retained by him, the other to be sent 
 to me for transmission to the adjutant-general. These 
 receipts showed each article in detail. 
 
 The reader may wish to know the captains of our volun- 
 teer militia at this time. I therefore give the list from my 
 book of thirty -three captains of companies now enrolled. 
 Previous to the Militia Act of 1862, forty-seven captains 
 had companies. Compare both lists for the new com- 
 panies now formed. I might here say that up to Janu- 
 ary, 1863, from the thirty-three companies and batteries 
 formed under the Militia Act of 1862, fifteen belonged to 
 St. John City and County, viz.y six batteries of artillery 
 and nine companies of infantry, including one company of 
 engineers commanded by Captain J. E. Boyd. 
 
 I will now give the names of the thirty-three captains 
 who had formed companies, and had received their arms, 
 and were instructed in drill, etc., by the drill instructors 
 who had come from England for that purpose. 
 
 Artillery— Captains G. H. Pick, Hurd Peters, B. L. 
 Peters, J. McLachlan, M. H. Peters, and S. R. Thomson. 
 
 Infantry — Captains R. W. Crookshank, C. R. Ray, J. 
 V. Thurgar, J. R. Macshane, J. S. Hall, H. Millett, J. 
 Howard, E. Simonds, J. L. Marsh, T. Davis, J. Harrison, 
 Burpee, D. B. Stevens, Kirkpatrick, W. S. Smith, T. W. 
 Baird, C. J. Sayre, H. A. Hiltz, J. A. Inches, Sandford, 
 
118 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 D. Wetmore, Whitlock, Knox, Babbit, Bailey, E. W. 
 Chestnut, and J. E. Boyd, engineers. 
 
 In addition to receiving the arras, etc., etc., into store, 
 cleaning the same, and reissuing them in 1862,- 1 issued to 
 the several companies seventy-seven thousand seven hun- 
 dred rounds of ball ammunition, one hundred and eleven 
 kegs, during six months, and this mostly in one, two, or 
 three kegs only at one time, which took at least three 
 hours each time, for the ammunition for the militia was 
 kept in the Imperial magazine in the tower at Carleton. 
 I also issued nearly the same quantity of blank ammuni- 
 tion. I paid for all cartage of such ammunition from 
 my private funds, but it was refunded to me in a month 
 or tw^o afterwards, as may be seen by the Militia Reports. 
 This was the same way each year I had charge of the 
 militia stores, or until September, 1865, when the first 
 superintendent of stores was appointed for New Bruns- 
 wick. I could not be appointed at that time, for I still 
 belonged to Her Majesty's service ; therefore another got 
 the position on the recommendation of the Hon. John H. 
 Gray after the camp of instruction for twenty-eight days, 
 to w^hich I will again refer. 
 
 During my very limited spare time I assisted the late 
 Colonel John V. Thurgar, Sr., Lieutenant-Colonel W. M. 
 Jarvis, and Captain T. B. Robinson, to frame laws, rules, 
 etc., for the Provincial Rifle Association (the present one), 
 and my suggestions then made regarding the rules, etc., 
 were considered by all concerned to be very good, and 
 w^ere adopted. I may here say that for many years I 
 
Amval in Canada, 11^ 
 
 attended all matches, as a quartermaster, looking after 
 the sale and issue of the ammunition, as well as acting 
 instructor to the competitors. At this time all competitors 
 remained on the firing ground in tents, and cooked their 
 meals in rear of the row of tents, as is now the practice in 
 Her Majesty's service at target practice ; but in these days 
 the competitors leave the range and go where they please 
 until the time comes for them to fire. 
 
 May I ask the reader to go back with me to the time I 
 arrived in Fredericton, for I do think I should record in 
 this story of my life the following occurrence. 
 
 There was in February, 1862, a lodge of Sons of Tem- 
 perance called the York Division. We twelve apostles 
 (drill instructors) agreed to go in a body and join the 
 division. I was the one chosen to hand in our names, 
 which I did to Mr. James S. Beek, who is still, I am glad 
 to say, hearty. We paraded ourselves and were initiated 
 in the usual way. It was at that time a grand thing to 
 see twelve soldiers join a temperance division in Frederic- 
 ton, and the next day both old and young had it around 
 the city, '' The twelve apostles are now temperance men." 
 There is no doubt in ray mind but the temperance soldiers 
 are the best. While speaking of this, I may mention a 
 few names of men who belonged to York Division at the 
 time we joined it. Our present minister of railways, Hon. 
 A. G. Blair, Mr. Henry Chestnut, Mr. J. S. Beek, Mr. 
 H. C. Creed, Mr. M. S. Hall, Colonel J. L. Marsh, the 
 present police magistrate, and Judge J. Stead man, all of 
 Fredericton ; also the late Messrs. S. W. Babbitt, George 
 
120 lAfe as a Soldier. 
 
 Bliss, Alex. P. Millar, Wm. Jarvis, Andrew Blair, A. 
 Inches, S. D, McPherson, J. Freeze, W. H. Needham, 
 who was a noted member of this division, and many 
 others who have left Fredericton. 
 
 During the summer months I instructed the militia 
 officers of Lieutenant-Colonels J. V. Thurgar and T. W. 
 Peters' battalions in drill and sword exercise for three 
 mornings in each week, meeting at 7 o'clock and drilling 
 until 8. The colonels, as well as the other officers, paid 
 great attention, and liked the work, the drill ground being 
 outside on Jeffrey's Hill, so called, or in front of both 
 colonels' residences. 
 
 As regards the volunteer companies in those days, they 
 had a picnic each summer for the amusement of the men, 
 when all military sports, etc., would be carried out, which 
 were much enjoyed by all. I introduced sports at those 
 picnics that are, I may say, now used at every picnic. 
 
 In March, 1863, I sent a formal application to the com- 
 manding officer of my regiment, 64th, Lieutenant-Colonel 
 N. H. Shute, for leave to marry. This application was 
 recommended by my then militia commanding officer. 
 Colonel Thurgar. The application was returned to me 
 approved. My reason for sending the application to 
 Colonel Shute was, that I did not at that time know but 
 we drill instructors would be ordered to again join our 
 regiments; for we were only loaned to the New Brunswick 
 Government, and were liable at any time to be recalled to 
 England to join our regiments. If that should occur, I 
 should be on the strength of the regiment as a married 
 
Arrival in Canada. 121 
 
 man, and entitled to the privileges granted as such, which 
 makes a difference to all soldiers, no matter what their 
 rank. 
 
 As the infantry companies re-enrolled in 1862, I in- 
 structed them in turn for five or six nights in each week. 
 There were at that time more than seven companies. But 
 when the other instructors were taken on, 15th July, 1862, 
 one of them, Samuel Hughes, of the 21st Regiment, was 
 sent to assist me in St. John in drilling the companies and 
 batteries of artillery in infantry drill. I drilled Captains 
 Crookshank, Ray, Thurgar, Hall, and Boyd's com})anies; 
 and Drill Instructor Hughes the other companies. I also 
 went occasionally to drill Captains B. L. Peters and M. 
 H. Peters' batteries. 
 
 The infantry companies, except Captains Hall and 
 Thurgar's, drilled in a large room on the u})per flat of the 
 Custom House. Captain Hall's company drilled in the 
 Portland Temperance Hall, and Captain Thurgar's com- 
 pany in a hall called the Old Water Works, on the City 
 Road near the Marsh Bridge. Captain B. L. Peters' bat- 
 tery drilled in Mr. Roop's sail loft on Water street, and 
 Captain M. H. Peters' battery in a room in Carleton, 
 which was too small for the purpose. 
 
 I am glad to place on record for the information of our 
 present militia force, and those to follow, that the vol- 
 unteer companies who formed or re-enrolled in 1862-63, 
 in the city of St. John, far exceeded in numbers the 
 rifles, etc., issued to them. I never had for drill less than 
 sixty men in one company, and often as many as eighty, 
 
122 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 although they furnished their own uniform. They were 
 of a good class of men, and very quick in learning a 
 soldier's duty in the ranks. I may also say that the pub- 
 lic, not volunteers, in those days gave them assistance in 
 many ways. 
 
 The volunteers now enrolled being equipped with arms, 
 etc., I asked to be allowed to exchange from St. John, 
 with one of the other instructors, on account of having to 
 purchase plain clothes to work with in the militia store, 
 without help or extra pay for the extra work. The other 
 instructors had only to attend and drill a company or two 
 for three nights per week. The lieutenant-governor 
 would not allow the exchange, for the officers in St. John 
 had requested Colonel Crowder not to recommend it. I 
 then asked for leave, which was granted in this way : I 
 was ordered by the lieutenant-governor to go to Gage- 
 town, and get the company there, commanded by Captain 
 Davis, ready for the governor's inspection. After this 
 inspection I was sent to New^ Jerusalem, to prepare the 
 company there; and after that company was inspected I 
 was sent to Salmon River to prepare the company in that 
 place. After that inspection I was ordered to Fredericton 
 for the same purpose, as Drill Instructor Hewitson was 
 then at Woodstock preparing the companies there for their 
 inspection. When Colonel Crowder told me the route 
 and duty I had to do, on the 14th July, 1863, I got mar- 
 ried to Miss Wilson of St. John, in the Stone Church, the 
 ceremony being performed by the Rev. Mr. Armstrong. 
 We left St. John the following week for Gagetown. 
 
Arrival in Canada. 123 
 
 I remained away on this duty for over three months, 
 and while at Fredericton the late Judge L. A. Wilmot, 
 afterwards lieutenant-governor, who was then colonel of 
 the militia battalion to which Captains Simonds and 
 Marsh's companies were attached, had me frequently at 
 his house to ask questions regarding the Indian mutiny. 
 On obtaining the information he prepared a lecture on the 
 advance of Havelock to Cawnpore, taking in the massacre 
 of the women and children as well as many other inci- 
 dents. The citizens of Fredericton may remember this 
 lecture, which was delivered in the old Temperance Hall 
 in 1863. It was also given at the camp of instruction, 
 held for twenty-eight days on the Exhibition grounds at 
 Fredericton, in the month of July, 1865. 
 
 Previous to this the Hon. John H. Gray had obtained 
 from me many incidents on different engagements during 
 the mutiny, and delivered a lecture in St. John on the 
 subject, which no doubt many people of that city will 
 remember. 
 
 I tried my best not to be again sent back to St. John, 
 for financially I was a loser by being stationed there. 
 Still, of course, I complied with the order when issued and 
 returned there on 28th of October, 1863, and took up my 
 former duty. 
 
 During my stay at Fredericton, preparing the two com- 
 panies for inspection. Colonel Thomas Anderson, who had 
 only just arrived in Fredericton, came to the drill room in 
 the Masonic Hall with Colonel Crowder one evening. I 
 was instructing Captain E. Simonds' company, who were 
 
124 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 then armed with the old flint-lock musket, commonlv 
 called Brown Bess. I had not seen them enter the hall ; 
 but when I allowed the men to stand at ease, Colonel 
 Crowder called me, and as I approached him, Colonel 
 Anderson came forward and shook hands with me, saying 
 he was glad to see me. He also stated that I had not for- 
 gotten how to instruct the men in the platoon drill (firing 
 exercise these days), with the old musket. I replied, 
 *' No, sir;" although I had not for many years back in- 
 structed or drilled with this arm, and Captain Simonds' 
 company was the only one in New Brunswick which had 
 them, but previous to this had not been taught in the 
 platoon drill. Shortly after this the muskets were ex- 
 changed for rifles. 
 
 At present, 1898, there are at Fredericton a number of 
 men who were in the ranks of this company at the time I 
 instructed them in 1863. Among them are Majors A. F. 
 Street, H. A. Cropley, A. Lipsett, Mr. G. Barrett, and 
 Mr. W. Lockhard. 
 
 On my leaving Fredericton by boat for St. John, Mr. 
 A. F. Street, who was then a sergeant in Captain Simonds' 
 company, handed me a handsome gold pencil case, saying 
 that it was a present from the company. I accepted it 
 with thanks. I imagine the reason it was not presented 
 to me the evening before, while drilling the company, was 
 that an order liad been issued some time before by the 
 lieutenant-governor, commander-in-chief of our militia, 
 that no presents were allowed to be given to the instructors. 
 
 The Colonel Anderson above referred to formerly be- 
 
Arrival in Canada. 125 
 
 longed to the 78th Highlanders, and while our own was 
 absent on leave in England, acted as interpreter of the 
 Indian language to our regiment. Hence the cause of his 
 knowing me in Canada. He afterwards was appointed 
 adjutant-general of New Brunswick militia, on Colonel 
 Crowder's resigning that position and returning to England. 
 
 On my return to St. John to resume charge of the 
 militia stores, I found that, during my absence for the 
 three months, Sergeant Hughes, of the 21st Regiment, one 
 of the drill instructors whom I had left in charge of the 
 stores, had issued arms, etc., to two new companies. Orders 
 from the adjutant-general awaited me to issue sixty stand 
 of arms and accoutrements each to three other companies. 
 I also received orders to take into store the arms, etc., 
 which I had previously issued for the Salmon River com- 
 pany. The reason of this was, that when I went there 
 to prepare the company for the annual inspection, I 
 found only about ten men, who had joined as a volunteer 
 company. This fact, as my duty called for, I reported to 
 the adjutant-general; and when the lieutenant-governor 
 and the adjutant-general a few days afterwards came to 
 inspe(;t the company, they found my report to be correct, 
 and at once ordered the captain to return the government 
 property to the militia stores at St. John, and that com- 
 pany was struck oif the list of volunteer companies. The 
 New Jerusalem company, a short time afterwards, was 
 also struck off the strength for the same reason. 
 
 I might here explain, for the reader^s information, that 
 the government allowed each volunteer company efficient 
 
126 Life as a Soldier, 
 
 in number only, the sum of eighty dollars per year for 
 drill room and care of arms, where the same was not 
 furnished by government ; or in other words, forty dollars 
 for a room and forty dollars for arms. Therefore if the 
 government furnished a drill room, as in St. John, only 
 forty dollars was paid the captain. 
 
 As regards the efficiency of each company, and the num- 
 ber of men attending each drill during the year, the drill 
 instructor kept a detailed account on a form furnished 
 from head-quarters. At the end of each month this form 
 was signed by the instructor as correct and forwarded to 
 the adjutant-general. There was also a form as to the 
 state of the arms, signed by both captain and instructor, 
 which accompanied it. By these returns the captains were 
 paid their contingent allowance. 
 
 I referred in another page to my attending meetings 
 with Colonels Thurgar and Jarvis, and Captain Robinson, 
 for the purpose of framing rules and regulations for the 
 Provincial Rifle Association. I now wish to say that at 
 any time the companies in St. John went to target practice 
 I accompanied them, and instructed in the same. And 
 as I previously informed the reader that I attended for a 
 number of years the Provincial matches in the capacity of 
 a quartermaster, may I here say that in those days I used 
 to compete, and held my own, although not the best shot ; 
 but I was satisfied with the prizes I obtained. At one of 
 these matches, held on Lieutenant-Colonel E. B. Beer's 
 grounds at Sussex, a match was got up between Her 
 Majesty's 15th Regiment, which was then stationed in St. 
 
Arrival in Canada, 127 
 
 John, and the volunteers. I was one of the twenty vol- 
 unteers chosen, but had Musketry Instructor Sergeant 
 Higgins of the 15th against me, as well as other good 
 shots of that regiment. Still the volunteer militia team 
 came out ahead, but nothing to brag about, for in the 
 three ranges there were only ^ve points of a difference, 
 and they were only gained at the last range of six hun- 
 dred yards' distance. So it can be seen that the match 
 was a close one. Many of such matches were held from 
 time to time, which caused a good feeling between the 
 regulars and the volunteer militia corps. 
 
 Previous to my return to St. John in October, 1863, 
 the following companies, which were formerly attached to 
 the city and county militia battalions, were formed into 
 a battalion under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Hon. 
 John Robertson, to be called the Saint John Volunteer 
 Battalion : 
 
 No. 1 company. Captain R. W. Crookshank commanding. 
 " 2 " " C. R. Ray " 
 
 " 3 " " J. V. Thurgar, Jr., " 
 
 " 4 " " J. S. Hall " 
 
 *' 5 " " H. Millett " 
 
 " 6 " " J. R. Macshane " 
 
 On my return I was appointed to act as sergeant-major 
 of the battalion, as well as instructor to it. This duty I 
 performed as well as that of militia storekeeper, and had a 
 battalion drill generally one evening per week, during the 
 summer time, on the Barrack Square. Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Thomas Anderson, late of 78th Highlanders, acted as 
 
128 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 major, and Captain Crookshank as adjutant. The fol- 
 lowing year Colonel Anderson was appointed adjutant- 
 general, Captain Crookshank as naajor of the battalion, 
 and Captain Ray as adjutant. 
 
 Both Colonels Robertson and Anderson offered prizes 
 to the non-commissioned officers and privates of the bat- 
 talion for the best answers in drill, etc., as to their different 
 duties. To prepare them for this, I gave lectures to 
 the companies. After the examination took place, both 
 colonels told me that they were well satisfied with the 
 answers given by all ranks; and I must say some of them 
 were very good. Of course, some of the non-commissioned 
 officers had received private lessons from me. Still, on 
 the whole, they were very good. It was particularly 
 creditable to hear a young volunteer, not six months in 
 the force, answer without a mistake, and describe how to 
 present arms or load a rifle, as well as how orders were 
 to be obeyed. Such subjects I lectured on, and for years 
 afterwards kept up tiie same lectures in club rooms formed 
 for the purpose, as well as at drill and privately. I always 
 found the men willing to learn a soldier\s duty, as well as 
 the officers. 
 
 This year, 1864, the annual Provincial rifle matches 
 were held at Torryburn. On the close of the competition, 
 the regulars, both artillery and infantry, as well as the 
 volunteer artillery and infantry, came from St. John, and 
 Captain Simonds' company from Fredericton. In all, 
 about fifteen hundred troops were under arms; when a 
 grand review was held under command of Colonel Cole, 
 
Arrival in Canada. 129 
 
 of the loth Regiment. Lieutenant-Governor Gordon was 
 present, with Governor Dundas and their respective staffs, 
 at this review and sham-fight, and over three thousand 
 spectators were on the ground. Both governors considered 
 the day's work very good, and expressed themselves in 
 that way when presenting the prizes to the successful com- 
 petitors. This meeting was about the best I ever attended 
 in New Brunswick ; and it was talked over many times 
 after at the other rifle matches. 
 
 Major Crookshank was at this time appointed lieuten- 
 ant-colonel to command the 62nd Battalion, with Captain 
 Ray as major and Captain Thurgar as adjutant. Captain 
 F. P. Robinson and Lieutenant F. T. C. Burpee had been 
 previously appointed to command Major Crookshank 
 and Ray's companies respectively, and now Lieutenant 
 W. H. Scovil was promoted captain to command Captain 
 Thurgar's company. 
 
 Nothing further than attending to my duties as drill 
 instructor, and the issue of arms, ammunition, etc., occurred 
 during the year 1864. But as the Provincial Government 
 had amended the militia law in 1865, allowing camp of 
 instruction to be held for the militia for a |3eriod of 
 twenty-eight days, the first camp was ordered to assemble 
 in July, 1865. Consequently I was in June ordered to 
 go to Fredericton, where the camp was to be held, to pre- 
 pare berths in the Exhibition building for the men, and 
 make contracts for supplying the camp with rations, as 
 well as getting cooks, sinking wells, etc., which would be 
 required for the camp. I brought with me the blankets 
 
130 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 and other bedding, as well as marquees, tents, etc., from 
 the Imperial store department, and sufficient rifles and 
 waist-belts from the militia store. 
 
 The contractors were: For groceries and bread, Mr. 
 George Hatt; for meat, Mr. H. Torrance; and as master 
 cook, Mr. Baxter, who was to furnish what help he 
 required for cooking. I acted in the capacity of quarter- 
 master at the camp. 
 
 On the 5th July the men arrived from all parts of the 
 province, when a hot dinner was given them, and to each 
 captain a place for his company. It took nearly all day 
 and night before all the companies had arrived. The 
 next day was occupied in preparing the ground and such 
 like fatigue duty. The following day soldiering com- 
 menced, and every day after improvements could be seen. 
 All the instructors attended this camp with a few of the 
 15th Regiment as such. Some officers were able to instruct 
 more or less, but when I issued out the rifles the whole of 
 the instructors had plenty to do. I, of course, when my 
 duty as quartermaster did not require me, instructed the 
 same as the other drill instructors did. 
 
 Captain Hallows, of Her Majesty's 15th Regiment, acted 
 as commandant of the camp, with Captain Willis, late of 
 the same corps, as brigade-major, and Captain Moody, 
 aide-de-camp to the lieutenant-governor, as quarter- 
 master-general. Lieutenant-Colonel L. A. Wilmot com- 
 manded the first battalion, and Lieutenant-Colonel T. W. 
 Baird the second battalion. There were over nine hun- 
 dred men in both battalions, and each battalion w^as 
 
Arrival in Canada, 131 
 
 divided into seven companies. It is not necessary for me 
 here to give a full detail of the different officers who 
 attended this camp, or even to give an account of the 
 different days' work done; but when General Doyle, the 
 commander of the troops, as well as our lieutenant- 
 governor, the Hon. A. H. Gordon, inspected the brigade, 
 they gave great praise to all for the efficient manner in 
 which the duties of a soldier had been learned. The late 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Otty, who acted as major in the first 
 battalion, received praise for his word of command ; and 
 I must say that the staff officers of both battalions, viz., 
 the late Colonels Wilmot, Baird, Otty, and Raymond, 
 and Majors Simonds, Wetmore, and Hurd Peters, per- 
 formed their respective duties before the end of the camp 
 as well as any such officers of the regulars could do; hav- 
 ing given their best attention to learn them during the 
 camp. 
 
 The camp now being broken up, I remained in Fred- 
 ericton until 1 got the Exhibition building into the same 
 condition in which it was before the camp, and handed 
 over to the proper authorities. 1 sent off the blankets, 
 etc., to St. John, and returned by boat six days after the 
 camp broke up to resume my duties in St. John. After 
 my return there I was asked hundreds of questions about 
 the Indian mutiny, for the militia in St. John who had 
 attended the camp told on their return to that city how 
 Colonel (the late judge) Wilmot frequently mentioned my 
 name in the lecture he delivered in the Exhibition build- 
 ing during the camp, which, as I mentioned before, was 
 
132 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 on Havelock's advance on Cawnpore and Lncknovv, as 
 well as touching: on the massacre of the women and chil- 
 dren by Nana Sahib at Cawnpore, about which I had 
 told him. 
 
 I am sorry to say that our then adjutant-general of 
 militia, Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Anderson, although 
 he had strongly recommended to the Provincial Govern- 
 ment and the commander-in-chief, Governor Gordon, that 
 such camps of instruction be held, was unable to attend 
 this camp, and resigned the position of adjutant-general, 
 when our present district officer commanding, Lieutenant- 
 Colonel George J. Maunsell, succeeded him as adjutant- 
 general, and up to this date, 1898, holds that position, 
 though it is now called district officer commanding Mili- 
 tary District, No. 8. Colonel Maunsell has commanded 
 the militia in New Brunswick, or District No. 8, ever 
 since November, 1865; except for three years, when he 
 was called to Ottawa, the head-quarters of the militia, to 
 take command of No. 4 District. After that period he 
 returned to New Brunswick to take charge, as command- 
 ant, of the School of Military Instruction, or permanent 
 force, which was established for infantry in January, 1884. 
 
 I mentioned in a previous page that superintendents of 
 militia stores had been appointed. There were two; one 
 for St. John, the other for Fredericton. Both appoint- 
 ments were the first ever made in New Brunswick, and 
 bear date September, 1865. The amendments to the Pro- 
 vincial militia law of that year authorized the govern- 
 ment to create such positions. Lieutenant-Colonel John 
 
Arrival in Canada. 133 
 
 Hewitson, late commanding 71st Battalion, who was one 
 of the twelve instructors, but had taken his discharge from 
 Her Majesty's 2nd Regiment, received the appointment at 
 Fredericton ; and Major John Evans, who was formerly 
 adjutant of Her Majesty's 38th Regiment, received the 
 appointment at St. John. I myself was appointed assist- 
 ant storekeeper, with extra pay of forty cents per day. I 
 was, at this time, not eligible for the position, as I still 
 belonged to Her Majesty's service. The colonel, Hon. 
 John H. Gray, therefore recommended Captain Evans, 
 who was at that time commanding one of the companies 
 in Colonel Gray's battalion of militia. 
 
 Both Colonel Gray and the adjutant-general told me 
 afterwards that the commander-in-chief, Lieutenant-Gov- 
 ernor Hon. A. H. Gordon, and other members of the 
 council were sorry I had not left Her Majesty's service, so 
 as to receive the appointment ; for they considered that as 
 I had filled the office for so many years to their satisfac- 
 tion, and was the first to establish a militia store in New 
 Brunswick, I was justly entitled to the position, and under 
 the circumstances increased my pay as above stated. 
 
 The reader will please remember that my period for full 
 pension did not expire until November, 1867, consequently 
 I waited until then before asking for my discharge from 
 Her Majesty's service. 
 
 In compliance with orders from the adjutant-general, 
 I handed over the stores to Major Evans in November, 
 1865, as he reported, in the best of order, and remained 
 with him as his assistant, as well as performing my other 
 duties as drill instructor in St. John. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 The Fenian Scare of 1866. 
 
 Iji WAS present with the 62nd Battalion, in the capacity 
 fi^ of sergeant-major of the battalion, when called out 
 by the government, in March, 1866, on account of the 
 Fenian scare. The battalion paraded in full strength. 
 The following is a list of the officers who attended the call 
 with their companies : 
 
 StaflP — Lieutenant-Colonel A. C. Otty, commanding. 
 Captain D. Wilson, Acting Major. 
 " J. V. Thurgar, Adjutant. 
 " F. P. Robinson, Quartermaster. 
 " H. Millett, Paymaster. 
 
 S. Z. Earle, m. d., Surgeon. 
 J. L. Taylor, m. d., Assistant Surgeon. 
 Captains — T. Sullivan, H. Cummins, W. H. Scovil, 
 J. S. Hall, C. Campbell, and J. R. Macshane. 
 
 Lieutenants— W. S. Berton, W. S. Harding, A. W. 
 Peters, T. J. O. Earle, and J. B. Wilmot. 
 
 The battalion attended each day for drill, and in a very 
 short time were ready to take their place with any corps 
 of regulars, in case of need, against Fenians or any other 
 force which might invade their country, as the general 
 officers who inspected the battalion stated. By orders 
 issued, the battalion, as well as the artillery batteries of 
 St. John, had to guard magazines, banks, and such public 
 buildings, for many reports stated that the Fenians were 
 (134) 
 
The Fenian Scare. 135 
 
 aj)proaching St. John by different routes. It was, there- 
 fore, considered better to be prepared for any such attack, 
 than that they should be found, to use a military term, 
 asleep on their post. 
 
 Although the city of St. John had to be watched by the 
 volunteers, there was also in the city Her Majesty's 15th 
 Regiment. As the frontier, Charlotte County, had to be 
 seen to, and watched, the battalion was ordered to St. 
 Andrews, to relieve a detachment of the 17th Regiment 
 from Halifax. Captain E. Simonds, with his company 
 from Fredericton, was also in St. Andrews. On arrival 
 of the 62nd Battalion, both the 17th Regiment and the 
 Fredericton company returned to their respective quarters. 
 
 During our stay at St. Andrews we had Captain Osburn's 
 battery of artillery and Captain Stevenson's company of 
 infantry attached. Colonel Otty commanded the whole 
 force at St. Andrews. The corps now went into barracks, 
 and had to perform the regular duty of soldiers, both in 
 drill and otherwise. Captain Hall was sent with his com- 
 pany to Campobello, and remained there with Captain 
 Bryan's company of Charlotte County Militia ; and Lieu- 
 tenant Wilmot was stationed at Indian Island. 
 
 There were several other companies close at hand, in 
 case of need ; for the companies in St. Stephen, St. George 
 and Milltown were called out previous to the 62nd going 
 to St. Andrews. 
 
 I sliould like to say a kind word regarding the citizens 
 of St. Andrews as to the manner in which they treated the 
 whole battalion during our short stay there. They could 
 
136 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 not do enough for us; and often entertained individual 
 men of the companies, as well as the whole body; and 
 often afterwards did I hear men of the battalion refer to 
 their kindness. 
 
 I do not forget the night the " Cordelia" beat to quarters, 
 in May, a few days before we left St. Andrews for St. 
 John. I had kept ray bed in the guard room, so as to be 
 on hand in case of a turn-out during the night. On the 
 night in question, about 12 midnight, on the first gun 
 being fired, I took the bugle, which I always kept close to 
 me, and immediately sounded the "assemble." Before 
 five minutes every man of the force in the barracks was 
 ready and fit for action. We marched off to our head- 
 quarters' post, w^here Colonel Anderson with the staff of 
 the battalion was already assembled. Many reports were 
 now raised, while the man-of-w^ar was firing off her guns, 
 and it was difficult to keep the men from loading their 
 rifles after Colonel Anderson gave the order to loose the 
 packages of ammunition. While the battalion was form- 
 ing ready for attack, the artillery under Captain Osburn 
 was not idle, for they had already attacked and fired at 
 an imaginary enemy; but luckily no harm was done. 
 After about one hour's waiting. Colonel Anderson ordered 
 the force to return to their quarters, when everything was 
 again quiet ; except such women and children as kept up 
 their fears until well into the day following. 
 
 All the officers, no matter how old, about St. Andrews, 
 were prepared to take part in the defence of their homes, 
 and of the Province of New Brunswick ; for it must be 
 
The Fenian Scare. 137 
 
 remembered that Charlotte County is on the frontier of 
 the province. 
 
 Woodstock was in about the same condition ; and the 
 volunteer force was called out under command of the late 
 Colonel Baird. The following are the captains who then 
 commanded companies: 
 
 Captains G. Strickland, J. Kilburn, J. Y. Hoyt^ R. 
 Ketchum, C. Burpee, A. Lindsay, H. Emery, G. E. Boyer, 
 G. E. Shea, and G. S. Baird. These companies were 
 drilled and prepared to meet any attacking force approach- 
 ing New Brunswick via Carleton County; and received 
 credit and praise for the way they paid attention to their 
 duty as soldiers. The daily papers at the time gave full 
 account of the praise bestowed on them by their inspecting 
 officers, including Hon. A. H. Gordon, governor of New 
 Brunswick. 
 
 During the period when the 62nd Battalion was called 
 out for protection against the Fenians, I was presented with 
 a sword and belt by the officers of the battalion. Major- 
 General Doyle made the presentation with a few appro- 
 priate remarks. He also at this parade presented me with 
 the medal from Her Majesty for long service and good 
 conduct. Seeing the medals on my breast for Persia 
 and the Indian mutiny, he remarked that I had fought 
 for my country, and had on my breast medals that would 
 be considered valuable by any military man. The whole 
 force called out, both artillery and infantry, on this occa- 
 sion attended the parade. 
 
 After the night attack, as the citizens of St. Andrews 
 
138 Life as a Soldier, 
 
 called it, when Her Majesty's ship **' Cordelia" beat to 
 quarters, matters became qniet, and not a word about 
 Fenians could be heard. Consequently, the battalion was 
 ordered to return to St. John. On this information being^ 
 made public, Mr. Clinch of St. Andrews invited the whole 
 force, artillery and infantry, to a dinner he had prepared; 
 and,. I must say, that the tables were well filled with all 
 kinds of eatables, and ample justice was done to the same 
 by the force. By the speeches made after dinner, I am 
 sure that all were well pleased, and appreciated Mr. Clinch's 
 kindness very much. 
 
 The citizens of St. Andrews presented an address to the 
 62nd Battalion before we left for St. John. This address 
 referred to the good conduct of the corps during their stay 
 in St. Andrews, as well as to their quick turn-out at mid- 
 night to face the enemy, which it was supposed they would 
 have to do when Her Majesty's ship "Cordelia" beat to 
 quarters. Colonel Anderson, who commanded the troops 
 on the frontier, also thanked the force for the good conduct, 
 as well as for the soldier-like promptitude with which they 
 turned out after midnight under the impression that they 
 were going into action. 
 
 In accordance with the orders issued, the 62nd Battalion 
 returned to St. John, arriving there on June 1st, 1866. 
 They remained on service until the 20th. During this 
 time the battalion was inspected by the following on differ- 
 ent dates: On June 3rd, by the lieutenant-governor and 
 Colonel Cole ; on the 5th, by General Sir W. F. Williams 
 of Kars; and on the 11th, by Colonel Harding, command- 
 
The Fenian Scare, 139 
 
 iiig 22iid Regiment. At each of these inspections the 
 battalion was highly praised by the inspecting officers for 
 their appearance and qualifications as soldiers; and such 
 remarks were made as are usual by an inspecting officer 
 when addressing a corps which he finds efficient in all 
 its duties. 
 
 Before our battalion, 62nd, was relieved from service, 
 the citizens of St. John invited us to the Rink to partake 
 of a dinner. I can assure you, dear reader, that we soldiers 
 did justice to the same; and appreciated the kindness of 
 the citizens, of whom many thousands were present, as 
 well as the band of the 15th Regiment, who furnished the 
 music. Mr. R. Reed also invited us to a lunch at his 
 residence. Mount Pleasant ; and after satisfying the inner 
 man we had great pleasure in viewing his splendid grounds, 
 etc., accompanied by a number of ladies who were present. 
 
 During this Fenian scare Her Majesty^s 22nd Regi- 
 ment arrived in New Brunswick. Previous to their land- 
 ing, I accompanied Colonel Otty and Adjutant Thurgar 
 on board the troop ship; and obtained leave from the 
 officer commanding that regiment, Colonel Harding, for 
 the sergeants of his regiment to be allowed to come on 
 shore to a dinner we sergeants of the 62nd had prepared 
 for them, in Stubbs' Hotel, Prince William street. The 
 colonel sanctioned the privilege. In this case both regu- 
 lars and volunteers, I am sure, enjoyed themselves; and 
 the sergeants of the 22nd returned on board in good order, 
 and well pleased with their visit ashore. I may here say 
 that Color-Sergeant W. A. Daniel, of our present Military 
 
140 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 School at Fredericton, was one of the 22nd sergeants above 
 referred to. 
 
 I have previously staled that the 62nd remained on 
 service until 20th June. In the orders issued by his 
 excellency the lieutenant-governor, relieving us from 
 further duty, on this date, he expressed himself as well 
 pleased with the efficient manner in which the duties had 
 been discharged by the corps during their three months on 
 active service. Although no longer on active service, the 
 battalion continued the usual drills in the evenings ; and 
 many applications were made by men to be taken on the 
 strength of the companies. 
 
 After this I resumed my usual duties as drill instructor, 
 and each night at drill many good words were spoken 
 about the people of St. Andrews, Campobello, and Indian 
 Island, as well as the kindness of Mr. Reed and of the 
 citizens of St. John generally. It is pleasant to note that 
 after this Fenian scare the volunteers were more thought 
 of than they had been before during my time. Amongst 
 other evidences of this, a set of colors was furnished our 
 battalion, 62nd, by the ladies of St. John, and many per- 
 sons were in attendance when the colors were presented. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Along the Border. 
 
 ^^ AM pleased to present my readers with the following 
 igiL accounts of the border militia, which have been 
 written for me by my friends, Captain John McMullen 
 of St. Stephen, Captain Polleys of St. Andrews, and Mr. 
 Liidgate of St. George, and which, I am sure, will prove 
 of interest, as giving not only some interesting details of 
 military life, but also showing how the Fenian emergency 
 was met by the ^'Border" men. 
 
 [By Captain John McMullen, St. Stephen.] 
 During the Fenian threats in 1866, there was a very 
 respectable force assembled along the border in Charlotte 
 County, quite sufficient to have hurled back any force the 
 Fenian element was able to assemble. From Upper Mills to 
 St. Andrews was practically a skirmish line, as our own 
 militia were in many cases in actual touch and^ght of men 
 at drill, with the intention, openly avowed, of crossing wher- 
 ever they thought the best chances of success were. No. 1 
 Company at St. Stephen was the first called out for active 
 service, and was under the command of Captain T. J. Smith, 
 with Lieutenant M. McGowau and Ensign J. P. Bixby. 
 They numbered about one hundred of all ranks, and were 
 considered the " crack " company of the upper part of the 
 county. They had had the services of an instructor from 
 the Imperial forces since 1862, and were in excellent condition 
 when called upon. This company was first organized under 
 
 (141) 
 
142 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 Captain James A. Inches in 1862, and were presented by the 
 ladies of St. Stephen with a very handsome silk flag, which is 
 now in possession of his son, Walter Inches. On the breaking 
 out of the Fenian troubles, Captain Inches was promoted to 
 the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and given command of the 
 frontier force in St. Stephen, Milltown and Upper Mills, with 
 Major Andrew McAdam second in command. At the same 
 time a second company was raised in St. Stephen, with Captain 
 Henry Hutton in command, and Lieutenant S. Robinson and 
 Ensign Ed. Hill. Both companies had the services of an 
 instructor from the "regulars" (Sergeant Thomas Quinn), 
 and with the advantage of two companies drilling together 
 they were soon able to feel that St. Stephen was safe from a 
 successful attack, unless from a much larger force than was 
 expected could be concentrated at Calais. 
 
 After the Fenian troubles had subsided. Captain Smith 
 resigned, and as one company was considered sufficient at the 
 time for St. Stephen, Captain Hutton retained command of 
 his company until his death in July, 1875. 
 
 The company was reorganized in March, 1879, with John 
 Stewart, captein, John McMullen, first lieutenant, and Robert 
 Stevenson, second lieutenant. This being the only effective 
 company in the county, under the new militia regulalations 
 they were given the alternative of disbanding or joining the 
 67th Carleton County Battalion, or 71st York County. The 
 company unanimously decided to join the 71st, then under 
 command of Lieutenant-Colonel Marsh. Captain Stewart's 
 duties as railroad superintendent requiring all his time, his 
 military duties were performed by Lieutenant McMullen 
 until Captain Stewart retired in October, 1882, when Lieu- 
 tenant McMullen was appointed captain, with First Lieutenant 
 
Along the Bordei\ 143 
 
 Robert Stevenson and Second Lieutenant John McMurray. 
 Subsequently Lieutenant McMurray left the limits, and Ser- 
 geant Harry W. Broad was appointed second lieutenant. In 
 1886, through the kindness of the citizens of St. Stephen, the 
 company was furnished with a complete set of helmets, and 
 gold lace chevrons for the non-commissioned officers. As a 
 return for many favors accorded the company by the Citizens' 
 Band of St. Stephen, the company gave an " exhibition drill," 
 under the command of Captain McMullen, and a concert by 
 the band, under the leadership of Sergeant George Ryder, 
 which was largely patronized by the citizens of Calais and 
 St. Stephen. The proceeds were handed to the band, and 
 furnished a set of plumes for their head-dress, and a sum for 
 the band fund. This company had a large percentage of 
 good shots, and sent a contingent annually to the Provincial 
 and Dominion matches. Sergeant Miner, in 1885 and 1887, 
 secured a place on the Wimbledon team, and won several 
 prizes in England ; the company being the only one in Char- 
 lotte County that furnished a representative to Wimbledon. 
 Sergeant Miner originally joined Captain Murchie's company 
 in 1866, and has remained an active member of the militia 
 to the present time. He has been winner of the Prince of 
 Wales' cup, and governor-general's medals ; indeed, his shoot- 
 ing trophies occupy quite a space in his home. 
 
 In November, 1888, Captain McMullen retired, and was 
 succeeded by Lieutenant Robert Stevenson, with First Lieu- 
 tenant George Ryder and Second Lieutenant Harry Steven- 
 son (Lieutenant Broad having retired). The efficiency of 
 the company was maintained under Captain Stevenson, until 
 his retirement in 1890, when Captain John D. Chipman * was 
 
 * Now M. P. P. for Charlotte County. 
 
144 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 given command, with Lieutenants Ryder and Stevenson. 
 Captain Chipman still retains command of the company, and 
 their efficiency in drill and shooting is attested by the very 
 high place they take at the semi-annual camps of instruction. 
 They maintain a "shooting club," composed of members of 
 the company, and have a " monthly shoot" for a cup, and 
 other prizes, with a similar club belonging to Company K 
 Maine Volunteers, and one from Milltown, Maine. As an 
 instance of the friendly relations that exist between the two 
 companies on either side of the line, it may be mentioned 
 that Company K, under command of Captain (now lieuten- 
 ant-colonel) Ernest T. Lee, with Lieutenant (now captain) 
 Thomas McCullough and Lieutenant L. R. Adams, by per- 
 mission from Ottawa and Washington, on the celebration of 
 Her Majesty's Jubilee, June 24th, 1897, crossed the bridge 
 fully armed into St. Stephen, were received by Captain Chip- 
 man's company with a salute, and accompanied by the men 
 of the Dominion cruiser " Curlew," under command of Cap- 
 tain Pratt, marched through St. Stephen, Milltown, and 
 Calais, Me.; and returning at noon each company, under 
 command of its own captain, fired a feu de joie, and at the 
 same time a salute of twenty-one guns was fired by John 
 Ryder, Ed. Vroom, A. Cameron, and Robt. Hewett, and 
 timed by Captain McMullen. This is the first time since 
 1812 that either country has invaded the other as an armed 
 body. What a contrast ! In 1812 each met the other with 
 a " present," but it meant death and hatred. In 1897 they 
 met each other with a " present," but it meant respect and 
 welcome ; yet no two countries are more loyal to their flag 
 and traditions. Miss Constance, daughter of Captain Chip- 
 man, presented each member of Company K with a Jubilee 
 
Along the Border. 145 
 
 medal as a souvenir of their visit, and Captain Chipman 
 presented each officer, non-commissioned officer, and man of 
 his company with a similar medal. 
 
 No. 3 Company was organized early in 1866 at Milltown, 
 under the command of Captain W. A. Murchie, with Lieu- 
 tenant John McAdam, Jr., and Ensign Henry A. Berry. 
 This company was the closest to the border of any in the 
 county at the time of the Fenian scare, as in many instances 
 the lines between the United States and Canada touch for a 
 considerable distance. The company had the services of an 
 instructor from the regular army, Sergeant McMullen ; and 
 as a fighting force, were " second to none." For practice in 
 a night attack, without notice, they have been half in skirm- 
 ishing order and firing, with half in reserve, in less than ten 
 minutes from the " alarm " being sounded. The sentries had 
 to furnish one or two '' nasty " posts, owing to the proximity 
 to the line ; notably one at a covered bridge, perfectly dark,, 
 the longest end being in United States territory. The 
 officers, fully alive to the danger of any looseness at this 
 post, when visiting the sentries at night, accompanied by the 
 corporal of the guard, would sometimes slip around to the 
 American side and approach the sentry from that point to 
 test his alertness; and generally before the challenge " Who 
 goes there?" would be heard the ominous "click," as the 
 rifle was placed at " full cock." If the reply to the challenge 
 did not come quick, the answer would be "Stand, or I'll fire." 
 Occasionally a Fenian in semi-uniform, green stripe, military 
 cap and " sunburst," would stroll over the bridge, and down 
 the main street, and have a look at the " lobster backs," as 
 they called the volunteers. They were not molested except 
 by some one's remark, " Glad to see you ; " " When are you 
 K 
 
146 Life as a Soldiet\ 
 
 coming ? " " Come over and bring your friends," etc. The 
 barrack of our company was set on fire one night, and 
 to prevent an armed crowd coming over with the United 
 States fire company, who hastened to aid in extinguishing the 
 fire, the company stood half at the bridge head and half in 
 reserve, bayonets fixed, and at the word " Keady," loaded ; 
 while the Fenians, at the further side, declined to attempt 
 the crossing, and contented themselves with throwing hard 
 names at the " lobster backs." 
 
 Major-General Hastings Doyle inspected the company in 
 the summer of 1866, while out on service, and complimented 
 them highly on their drill, discipline, and appearance. A 
 detachment of four companies of Her Majesty's 17th Regi- 
 ment was for a short time stationed in barracks between St. 
 Stephen and Milltowu ; and with the companies from St. 
 Stephen and Milltown, were drilled as a battalion by the 
 officer commanding, and his remarks, when dismissing the 
 battalion were, " Men, you drill as steady as my regulars." 
 
 Milltown also furnished a "home guard" of about sixty 
 under command of Captain Robert Pool, a splendid specimen 
 of a Scotchman. They drilled nightly in a large hall, and 
 had in the ranks many of the wealthy men of Milltown, who 
 at much personal inconvenience, submitted to military dis- 
 cipline, and learned the rudiments of military knowledge, in 
 order to repel the would-be invaders of their homes. 
 
 Early in May, 1866, as the Fenians over the line seemed 
 to be increasing in numbers, it was thought necessary that a 
 force should be organized at Upper Mills, about four miles 
 above St. Stephen. A company was raised under command 
 of Captain Rex. M. King, with Lieutenant D. U. Porter and 
 Ensign E. B. Simpson, and would have given a good account 
 
Along the Bordei\ 147 
 
 of themselves if attacked. They could handle pick-pole, or 
 peavy, . and felt at home with a fixed bayonet and rifle. 
 <* Careless in their talk" but mighty" awkward in a row," 
 they had the occasional services of Sergeant McMullen at 
 drill. They were very close to the border, and for a few 
 months of the summer expected an attack nightly, but were 
 always " ready, aye ready." 
 
 When the need for their services ceased, this and the Mill- 
 town company were relieved from duty, and permitted to 
 return to their usual avocations. The force were thanked in 
 general orders by Colonel Inches for their exemplary conduct 
 under very trying circumstances. 
 
 [By Captain E. S. Polleys, St. Andrews.] 
 
 The St. Andrews Volunteer Rifle Company was organized 
 July, 1861, with the following oflScers: Captain J. H. Whit- 
 lock, Lieutenants O. Jones and I. Smith. Subsequently, the 
 late Hon. B. R. Stevenson was elected lieutenant vice Smith. 
 
 In January, 1862, the company received arms and accou- 
 trements from St. John, New Brunswick. 
 
 Another company was organized in St. Andrews, with the 
 following officers: Captain T. J. Sanford, Lieutenants J. 
 Lockny and T. McVey. These two companies combined in 
 celebrating Her Majesty's birthday. May 24, 1864. 
 
 The " Gordon " Rifles was organized July, 1865, with the 
 following officers : Captain E. Pheasant, Lieutenants B. R. 
 Stevenson and E. S. Polleys. In January, 1866, the company 
 w^as addressed by Lieutenant-Colonel Otty, D. A. G., and 
 immediately commenced drill under Sergeant Thomas Quinn, 
 of Her Majesty's 21st Regiment, as drill instructor. 
 
 A battery of artillery was organized January 15, 1866, 
 
148 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 with the following officers: Captain H. Osburn, Lieutenants 
 T. T. Odell, N. T. Greathead and W. B. Morris. This battery 
 was on duty during the Fenian scare, from March to June, 
 1866, at St. Andrews. On the retirement of Captain Osburn 
 in 1868, Captain Polleys succeeded him, with Lieutenants 
 William Whitlock and Stoop. 
 
 [By Mr. Ludgate, St. George.] 
 
 The first volunteer company in the province was organized 
 at St. George, N. B., in January, 1860, with the following 
 officers : Captain D. Wetmore, Lieutenants J. Campbell, 
 E. P. Knight and D. J. Wetmore. They received arms and 
 accoutrements the following month from the government, but 
 the uniform was furnished by the men. 
 
 In August, 1860, the government paid their expenses to St. 
 John on the occasion of the visit of the Prince of Wales to 
 this province, the journey being made by stage, and after a 
 very jolly ride of forty-five miles they landed at a hotel on 
 King Square. While going through Portland the battery 
 honored them by firing a salute. The next morning, headed 
 by the St. Stephen band, they marched to the Barrack 
 Green to the tune of "The British Grenadiers." On the 
 arrival of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, the 
 right half company, under command of Captain Wetmore, 
 were selected as a guard of honor, and placed on the extreme 
 end of Reed's Point wharf. The left half company, under 
 command of Lieutenant Campbell, was stationed at the head 
 of the wharf. As His Royal Highness landed he saluted 
 them. 
 
 During the summer of 1861 this company invited the St. 
 Andrews and St. Stephen volunteer companies to a dinner. 
 
Along the Border, 149 
 
 They were all in uniform. It was a gala day for the town, 
 the citizens participating jn the good time. During the 
 Fenian scare, 1866, this company was under arms. The 
 officers at this time were as follows : Lieutenant-Colonel D. 
 Wetmore, Captain J. Bolton, and Lieutenants M. Hall and 
 A. Campbell. The other companies here on duty at that 
 time were commanded by Captains J. Bogue and J. O'Brien, 
 Lieutenants P. Brawley, W. S. Clinch, J. Murray, and J. 
 Milliken. 
 
 On Sunday morning, 15th April, 1866, while the men 
 were at church a telegram was received stating that Indian 
 Island was taken. All were served with an additional 
 amount of ammunition and marched to the new block-house 
 on top of Carleton Hill, where the day was spent preparing 
 for an attack, the townspeople assisting in the work. The 
 greatest excitement prevailed for a day or two. A short time 
 after Her Majesty's ship " Cordelia," while in St. Andrews 
 harbor, turned her crew out at midnight for drill. The guns 
 were fired, and there being a fair wind, the reports could be 
 distinctly heard at St. George. There was a terrible commo- 
 tion for a time, women and children being on the streets in 
 their night clothes. The militia were called out, for there 
 was too much work for the volunteers, who were armed with 
 the old fiint musket, and carried sixty rounds of Enfield 
 cartridges. After doing duty for two days, they discovered 
 that they had no flints, pieces of hardwood having been in- 
 serted instead. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Discharge from Her Majesty's Army. 
 
 ^m WAS again called on to attend the camp of instruc- 
 <^ tion held at Torryburn, seven miles from St. John, 
 New Brunswick, in July, 186(). At this camp I per- 
 formed the duties of quartermaster, as I had done the 
 previous year at the camp held at Fredericton. Two 
 battalions were formed ; one of them all officers, the other 
 as a regular battalion, having only the proper proportion 
 of officers. Colonel Otty commanded the officers' battal- 
 ion, and Colonel Inches, of St. Stephen, commanded the 
 other. Colonel Maunsell, adjutant-general of militia, com- 
 manded the whole. 
 
 The usual work was carried out by all ranks at this 
 camp; and when inspected, they were considered by 
 Colonel Harding, as well as by the inspecting officer, to 
 be able to face Fenians or any one else. After the sham 
 fight which was held, both these officers stated that the 
 men in camp were fit to take part with any corps of Her 
 Majesty's service in front of an enemy ; and praise was 
 bestowed both on officers commanding battalions, and on 
 all ranks. All the force, both regulars and volunteers, 
 artillery and infantry, of St. John, took part in this sham 
 fight. Many citizens were present, who spoke highly of 
 it. Any commander in front of an enemy is of little use 
 without a force of drilled and disciplined men at his call, 
 (150) 
 
Discharge from Her Majesty^ Army. 151 
 
 After I returned from the camp of instruction at Torry- 
 burn* I resumed my duties in the militia store, as well as 
 that of drill instructor to the 62nd Battalion, for the re- 
 mainder of that year, without any unusual events happen- 
 ing. In the following year, as my period of service in Her 
 Majesty's 64th Regiment had expired, I made application 
 to my regiment for my discharge from that corps ; at the 
 same time submitting an application for the meritorious 
 medal, with the annuity attached to it. For this I 
 obtained recommendations from the officers of the New 
 Brunswick militia who were then my commanding officers, 
 viz., Colonels Otty, Crookshank, and Thurgar, Sr. These 
 officers strongly recommended that the medal be granted 
 to me, and I herewith record their recommendations, 
 which are as follows: 
 
 Saint John, New Brunswick, 
 
 16th December, 1867. 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to recommend for your consideration 
 the claims (request) of Color-Sergeant Thomas McKenzie, who 
 is about being discharged from Her Majesty's service, to (for) 
 a silver medal and annuity. 
 
 Color-Sergeant McKenzie has for the last six years been 
 employed as a drill instructor to the volunteer and militia 
 forces of this province, during which time he has invariably 
 performed his duty faithfully and with credit to himself. 
 
 I have also to bring under your consideration, that when 
 the Saint John Volunteer Battalion, which I have the honor 
 to command, was called into active service to repel a threat- 
 ened attack of the Fenians upon our frontier, he served as 
 
152 Life as a Soldiei\ • 
 
 sergeant-major of the battalion, and always performed his 
 duty in a most exemplary manner to my entire satisfaction. 
 I have the honor to be, sir, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 (Signed) Andrew C. Otty, Lt.-Colonel, 
 
 Commanding St. John Volunteer Battalion, 
 and D. A. G., N. B. Militia. 
 The Officer commanding H. M. 64th Regiment. 
 
 P. S. — Color-Sergeant McKenzie is already in possession of 
 a medal for long service and good conduct. 
 
 A. C. O., Lt.-Col., 
 
 D. A. G. Militia. 
 
 St. John, N. B., December 14, 1867. 
 Sir— Color-Sergeant Thomas McKenzie being desirous of 
 obtaining his discharge from Her Majesty's service, I beg to 
 recommend him to your favorable consideration for the silver 
 medal and annuity. He is already in possession of the medal 
 for long service and good conduct. 
 
 I have been connected with the volunteer movement in this 
 province for a number of years, and during that time he has 
 been the drill instructor of the volunteer battalion, and in 
 that capacity faithfully performed his duty, with credit to 
 himself and to the regiment to which he is attached. 
 
 By his assiduous attention to his duties he has won the 
 respect of all the officers of the volunteer force, and is deserv- 
 ing of the fullest consideration that can be granted. 
 I have the honor to be, sir. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 (Signed) R. W. Crookshank, Colonel, 
 
 Late commanding St. John Volunteer Battalion. 
 The Officer commanding H. M. 64th Regiment. 
 
Discharge from Her Majesty^ s Army. 153 
 
 St. John, N. B., 16th December, 1867. 
 Sir — I have the honor to recommend to your favorable con- 
 sideration the request of Color-Sergeant Thomas McKenzie, 
 and sergeant-major St. John Volunteer Battalion, who, I am 
 informed, is about receiving his discharge from Her Majesty's 
 service, for the silver medal and annuity. 
 
 Color-Sergeant McKenzie has, for the last six years, been 
 employed as drill instructor to the volunteer and militia 
 forces of the Province of New Brunswick, during which 
 period he has discharged the duties of his position faithfully, 
 and in a way alike creditable to himself and beneficial to the 
 local forces of the province. 
 
 I have great satisfaction in stating most respectfully, that 
 I consider Color-Sergeant McKenzie's written request well 
 entitled to favorable consideration. 
 I have the honor to be, sir. 
 
 With great respect. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 (Signed) John V. Thurgar, Colonel, 
 
 Commanding St. John City Rifle Battalion. 
 
 The Officer commanding H. M. 64th Regiment. 
 
 Although I applied for my discharge in 1867, I did not 
 receive it from the regiment until January, 1868. I also 
 received a letter at the same time informing me that my 
 application for the medal w^ith annuity was recommended 
 by the officer commanding my regiment, and that it was 
 forwarded to the authorities at Horse Guards. 
 
 On account of the formation of the Dominion of Canada 
 in July, 1867, a new militia act w^as passed in the 1868 
 
154 Life as a Soldier, 
 
 session of Parliament, to take effect in regard to militia 
 corps organizing under that act in October, 1868. Under 
 this act I remained in the militia ; for previously I had 
 been promoted to the adjutancy of the 62nd Battalion, a 
 j)osition I could not before fill on account of being in Her 
 Majesty \s service. 
 
 The militia act did not provide the paying of drill in- 
 structors, as the New Brunswick militia law did, conse- 
 quently I was gazetted drill instructor of the battalion^ 
 and received the allowance for such service paid by gov- 
 ernment to the officer commanding the battalion, which he 
 handed over to me. By this arrangement my pay was 
 less, by fifteen dollars per month, than that I was before 
 receiving from the New Brunswick Government as drill 
 instructor. This amount, including what I was paid as 
 assistant militia storekeeper, was not sufficient to support a 
 family in St. John, and as all my time was taken up with 
 my duties, I could not look for other employment. I put 
 up with this until September, 1869, when Colonel J. V. 
 Thurgar, Sr., told me that his son-in-law, Mr. Christian, 
 was then in St. John to establish a branch of the Bank of 
 Montreal in the city, and asked me if I would "assist Mr. 
 Christian. I accepted this offer, and made arrangements 
 with Major Evans, superintendent of the stores, to get 
 another man to do my work in the militia store, to be 
 paid by me. 
 
 Mr. Christian and myself carried on the business in the 
 bank, which was in the brick building on Princess street, 
 formerly occupied as a law office by the late Mr. Robinson 
 
Discharge from Her Majesty'^ s Army. 1 55 
 
 and his son, F. P. Robinson, until I was ordered to take 
 charge of the government stores, grounds, etc., at Frederic- 
 ton, in January, 1870. Often I have been told that it 
 would have been better for me if I had stayed in the 
 Bank of Montreal, which was only just established ; for 
 no doubt my salary would be more than I would ever get 
 in the militia. I replied to such people that I came from 
 England by the sanction of Her Majesty, and, as I had 
 all my life served her, I resigned my position in the bank 
 and went to Fredericton. I have ever since seen my mis- 
 take ; for I have not gained anything by it. 
 
 Under the Dominion militia act annual rifle matches 
 are allowed. The first one held by the Dominion was at 
 La Prairie, near Montreal, in 1868. I was selected by the 
 adjutant-general of militia at Ottawa as adjutant for the 
 Maritime team attending that match, of which Lieutenant- 
 Colonel E. B. Beer was commanding officer. There were 
 over one hundred competitors from Nova Scotia and New 
 Brunswick at this meeting; and before leaving for home 
 we were thanked and praised by the minister of militia. 
 Sir George E. Cartier, and the adjutant-general. Colonel 
 McDougall, for our steadiness and good behaviour while 
 in camp. 
 
 I may relate a circumstance which occurred at this 
 meeting. When we arrived on the ground the camp 
 quartermaster was issuing out bedding, etc., to the other 
 corps. When I saw this, I at once prepared a formal 
 requisition for the articles required for our contingent, 
 showing each article in detail, signed by myself as adjutant 
 
156 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 and quartermaster, and countersigned by Colonel Beer as 
 officer commanding. Before I received any, the camp 
 quartermaster looked up at me, when he read over my 
 r^uisition, and asked if I was ever in Her Majesty's 
 service. I replied "Yes.'' He then gave orders to issue 
 the articles to my fatigue men, whom I had waiting, less 
 the tents, which were already pitched ; but as I had in- 
 cluded the tents he ordered his serp-eant to hand them over 
 to me. He immediately sent for the quartermasters of 
 other corps, and ordered them to make out new requisi- 
 tions in accordance with the one I had given. These 
 quartermasters blamed me for this, as they thought, extra 
 work ; and as their commanding officers were in Montreal, 
 they could not complete their requisitions until the follow- 
 ing day. 
 
 I may further say, that the night before the different 
 ' corps returned to their homes, a splendid supper was 
 served on the ground to all; and the usual speeches were 
 made by Sir Geo. E. Cartier, the adjutant-general, and 
 many others. Our team arrived home, and all were well 
 pleased with the first rifle match held under the confedera- 
 tion of the provinces into a dominion. 
 
 I was again called on by the militia department in 
 1872 to act as camp quartermaster to the Dominion rifle 
 matches held in Fredericton that year, and received thanks 
 for the manner in which that duty was performed. 
 
 I mentioned in a previous page that I was recommended 
 for the medal with annuity on receiving my discharge 
 from Her Majesty's service. This medal wuth £10 per 
 
Discharge from Her Majesty^ s Army. 157 
 
 annum was granted by Her Majesty, but not handed to 
 me like the one for long service and good conduct was by 
 General Doyle at a parade of all the militia force in St. 
 John during the Fenian scare of 1866. Still a presenta- 
 tion parade was held, but the force present in this case, to 
 witness a far more honorable gift from Her Majesty, to a 
 comrade, were only a few old veterans or pensioners like 
 myself, and the officer who presented it was Captain B. 
 Stratford, staff officer for paying pensioners from Her 
 Majesty's service. 
 
 Very few men serving in Her Majesty's forces receive 
 this medal, for the persons entitled to it must be soldiers 
 who never during their term of service of twenty-one 
 years were convicted of any military crime which would 
 cause an entry against them in a company's defaulters' 
 book. Not so to entitle a soldier to receive the medal for 
 long service and good conduct, which is awarded to a 
 soldier if not tried by court martial for the last eighteen 
 years of his service. 
 
 On receiving the annuity medal I had to return the 
 medal for long service and good conduct to the secretary 
 of state for war, for no person can hold both these medals. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Return to Fredericton. 
 
 ^^^S I was still assistant storekeeper, as well as adjutant 
 (!^T^ in the 62nd Battalion, since the regulars had left 
 New Brunswick, I was ordered to Fredericton to take charge 
 of the government buildings and grounds, and the militia 
 stores there. I arrived at Fredericton on 12th January, 
 1870, and complied with the order. About three months 
 after Colonel Maunsell, D. A. G., asked me to go into his 
 office as clerk ; and as I had time I accepted his offer, for 
 there was fifty cents a day extra pay attached to it. This 
 position 1 regained for more than eleven years. 
 
 I will now give an account of the other military duties 
 I was called on to perform during that period. 
 
 In the year 1872, in compliance with orders previously 
 issued by the Dominion Government, a Military School of 
 Instruction was opened at Fredericton for six months, 
 from 1st January to 30th June, one drill instructor only 
 being allowed. The pay of the staff was one dollar per 
 day each to the deputy adjutant-general and brigade- 
 major, as commandant of the school and adjutant respect- 
 ively; and four hundred dollars for the instructor for the 
 term. I was chosen as the drill instructor. As I was at 
 that time drawing over forty-five dollars per month pay 
 from the government, I asked permission lo have an 
 assistant, stating that I was willing to pay him, or allow 
 to each one dollar per day. This request was granted. 
 (158) 
 
Return to Fredericton. 159 
 
 The cadets who passed, and received certificates that 
 they were qualified to command a company, etc., in ninety 
 days, received fifty dollars. 
 
 ^ I took for my assistant the first year Major William 
 Morris, of the 71st Battalion, \vho filled the position most 
 satisfactorily. The second year, as he had other work to 
 attend to, he could not act ; consequently I got Captain 
 W. T. Howe, of the 71st Battalion, who had received a 
 certificate the previous year from the school. This officer 
 understood his work in every branch before the six 
 months expired, and became a very good drill instructor. 
 I also had W. A. Daniel, formerly sergeant in Her 
 Majesty's 22nd Regiment, the fourth year, in place of 
 Captain Howe, who could not attend. These are the 
 three who instructed in the school with me in Fredericton. 
 
 While these schools were being held, there were many 
 hundreds of officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates 
 of the active militia in New Brunswick, who received 
 certificates during the term of either six or three months 
 in each year, from 1872 to 1880. 
 
 There were as many as eighty in the school at one time, 
 and they learned everything necessary for a soldier to 
 know as regards drill, etc., and by lectures given either by 
 the commandant, adjutant, or myself daily, their other 
 duties. 
 
 In the years 1881 and 1882, as the deputy adjutant- 
 general's head-quarters had been moved to St. John, the 
 School of Instruction was held there ; but for only three 
 months in each year. By the new regulations then made 
 
160 Life as a Soldie7\ 
 
 the cadets received only seventy- five cents per day as sub- 
 sistence for the number of days they attended ; but unless 
 they qualified for a certificate they received no allowance. 
 Here I had Sergeant Hunter, of St. John, as instructor. % 
 
 During this period, from 1870 to January, 1884, I was 
 doing the duty of clerk in the deputy adjutant-general's 
 office; and part of that time, after the brigade-major w^as 
 removed from New Brunswick, did the duty of that 
 office, without extra pay for the brigade-major's duties. 
 
 In 1871 the first brigade camp was held in New Bruns- 
 wick under the Militia Act of 18G8. I was chosen as 
 supply officer to that camp without any assistant; for it 
 was not until the following year that the five sergeants 
 were allowed to assist the staff officers at camps of instruc- 
 tion. 
 
 I will now briefly describe* my duty in this capacity. 
 Previous to forming the camp, I prepared a list for each 
 quartermaster of the corps in attendance, showing the daily 
 rations, etc., that each man was allowed, numbering from 
 one to fifty-five, the number that each company could 
 bring into camp. A pair of scales were provided for each 
 corps. This was my own idea, for I knew that quarter- 
 masters could not determine in a second or so the quantity 
 that each company would have to receive, when a ration 
 of tea is only one-quarter (J) of an ounce, and of pepper 
 one thirty-six (36) of an ounce in weight. The orders were 
 that the supply officer was to issue the rations in bulk to 
 the quartermaster for the number of men in his battalion, 
 which he would then issue to each company. This list 
 
Return to Fredericton. 161 
 
 came handy to them, so they told me, and in fact they 
 still use it. The staff officers had to make a report as to 
 the working of their duty at camp. I reported it was im- 
 possible for a supply officer to be issuing groceries, bread, 
 meat, forage, wood, etc., from different stores or places of 
 issue, to nine or more corps in canip, at the same time; 
 therefore the following year the five sergeants were 
 allowed. The camp this year, 1871, had one thousand 
 four hundred and seventy-two for rations, the largest 
 number that attended any camp in New Brunswick, ex- 
 cept the camp held in Sussex in 1881, to which the militia 
 came from Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. This 
 camp was visited by the Marquis of Lome and Princess 
 Louise, as well as by the minister of militia and general 
 officer commanding, with others of the head-quarters staff. 
 I filled the same position, that of supply officer, in the 
 camps held at St. Andrews, Woodstock, Chatham, Monc- 
 ton, and Sussex, after the camp ground was purchased by 
 the Dominion Government, excej)ting the camp held in 
 188L On this occasion the late Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. 
 Taylor, who was then deputy adjutant -general of New 
 Brunswick, requested me, as there was camp equipage, etc., 
 coming from Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, to 
 take the camp quartermastership. This was to prevent the 
 camp equipage from getting mixed, or in other words, that 
 the New Brunswick articles should not be sent to Prince 
 Edward Island, Nova Scotia, or vice versa. There was a 
 difference of a few dollars in the pay. Colonel Taylor gen- 
 erously offered to make it good to me, but I declined it. 
 
 w 
 
 L. 
 
162 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 I may here relate a circumstance that occurred at this 
 camp. The moruing that the Marquis and Princess were 
 to arrive I had a fatigue party removing the flag-pole 
 belonging to the 8th Eegiment of Cavalry, which was a 
 high one, to where I had previously pitched two marquees 
 for the staff, and the party coming, to lunch in. The 
 guard of honor, consisting of one hundred men of the 78th 
 Highlanders? of Nova Scotia Militia, with usual number of 
 officers, and the color, which was loaned by Colonel 
 Marsh, 71st Battalion, was formed up in front of the 
 camp staff tents, with staff officers. Colonel Blair com- 
 manding the corps furnishing the guard, and many others. 
 Colonel Taylor called me to prepare the guard for what 
 they would have to do when receiving the Marquis and 
 Princess. In performing this duty I directed the officers 
 to uncase the color. This being done, I detected the color 
 to be the wrong one, for it was the Queen's color. I 
 placed the guard in order, opened ranks, etc. My instruc- 
 tions were, on the word " Present arms," the officer carry- 
 ing the color to droop it. The first time it was done 
 was not to my satisfaction. I again gave the same in- 
 structions. This time both men and officer did well, but 
 I wanted to see the color come down or drooped on the 
 third motion of the rifle, and told the officer so. While 
 this practice was going on I overheard a few words, as if 
 arguing, in my rear, among the staff officers. I tried 
 once more, giving the same instructions regarding the 
 <lrooping of the color, when Major McDonald, who was 
 the brigade-major at the camp, said to me that the color 
 
Return to Frederidon. 163 
 
 should not be drooped. I begged his pardon, and said 
 that that color should always be drooped, laying the 
 emphasis on the word " that." He still held to his first 
 opinion, while Colonel Taylor stood by not saying a word. 
 Colonel Blair took the same view with Major McDonald. 
 I repeated my words, as I thought, so that they could see 
 their mistake, not mine; for this time I made a long stop 
 between the words " when " and " that," saying " when 
 that color is at a guard of honor it is always drooped." 
 Still this would not satisfy them. I then asked if any 
 one had a copy of the Queen^s Regulations, as I never 
 took one to camp. Captain Joseph Ewing, who was 
 musketry instructor to the camp, answered "yes," and 
 brought one from his tent. I told him to look up section 
 three, and read paragraphs one to nineteen. On doing so, 
 they found that the Queen's color was not to be used 
 except for one of the Royal family. Colonel Macshane, 
 although brigade-major for New Brunswick at that time, 
 acted only as assistant brigade-major ; and, as I say above, 
 Major McDonald, whom Colonel Taylor had had as 
 brigade-major at his camps in Ontario, was at this camp 
 in the same capacity. When Captain Ewing read aloud 
 about the color. Colonel Macshane spoke out, " Did not I 
 tell you he was right? What he does not know is very 
 little." 
 
 The other camps in New Brunswick for the years men- 
 tioned were about the same as described above. This was 
 the first camp in New Brunswick of which Colonel Taylor 
 was commandant. He therefore did not ask me anything 
 
164 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 about the guard of honor, and it was by Colonel Mac- 
 shane's suggestion that I was called to prepare the guard. 
 Just here 1 may say, that although acting as supply officer 
 at all other camps, I was called on by all ranks in camp 
 to give them some information regarding their duty ; in 
 fact it was customary for all to say, " Go to McKenzie, 
 and he will tell you." Of course I did all I could in 
 imparting knowledge to them, and was thousands of times 
 thanked for it. I at all times made it my business at 
 these camps, where the militia attended to learn their duty 
 as soldiers, to impart my knowledge to them, and from 
 the commander down to the bugler was often called on for 
 that purpose. There is not at present an officer in New 
 Brunswick but can say that I am correct in this statement. 
 I may also say a word about the supply officer's forms, 
 used by that officer at the first camps, as to how they had 
 to be made out. To my mind they were very complicated, 
 unnecessarily so ; for on the brigade abstract form in the 
 recapitulation each article had to be shovvn separately i. e., 
 the weight and price of each ration had to be named. 
 The day's ration for each man was IJ ibs. bread, 1 ft), 
 meat, 2 ozs. sugar, 2 ozs. cheese, 1 oz. barley, 1 ft), pota- 
 toes, \ oz. tea, ^ oz. coffee, se oz. pepper, and J oz. salt, 
 with J of a ration of fuel wood. The price of each of 
 these had to be shown, then the number of rations in each 
 battalion, and afterwards the total number in camp. This 
 form was afterwards modified to the present one ; and now 
 any school boy can make it out, the number of rations 
 being calculated in bulk as follows : Supposing one thous- 
 
Betum to Fredericton. 165 
 
 and rations of bread at.. .c = $..., one thousand rations 
 of groceries at...c = $..., and so on; grand total, $... 
 No doubt but the reader will think a supply officer had 
 enough to look after his accounts at the first caraps, with- 
 out answering all kinds of questions not appertaining to 
 his duty. But, as I said before, I at all times was willing 
 to oblige any militiaman trying to learn the duty of a 
 soldier. The manner in which I performed my duty at 
 these camps was placed by the commandants in their 
 annual reports sent in, and published in the minister of 
 militia's report submitted to Parliament annually. This 
 may be seen by referring to them. 
 
 On Colonel MaunselFs leaving for Ottawa, to take 
 charge of the military in that district, he presented me 
 with a silver salver for my assistance to him for over 
 eleven years in his office, with the following inscription on 
 it: "To Captain Thomas McKenzie from G. J. M. for 
 zealous and efficient service, March, 1881.'' On this 
 matter of presentations, I may further mention that I 
 received many for my service to the cadets who attended 
 military schools; among them silver cake basket, silver 
 water pitcher, and a gold headed cane. These three at the 
 school held in St. John during the years 1881, 1882 and 
 1883. Four meerschaum pipes were given me at different 
 times ; one of these was from the sergeants of our present 
 military school corps at Fredericton. Colonel Maunsell 
 made the presentation, and the other officers of the corps 
 were present. In all these cases I of course thanked the 
 donors with a few remarks. 
 
166 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 I have previously described the camps which I attended 
 in New Brunswick, as supply officer, from 1872 to 1883, 
 I will now briefly outline my duty as acting brigade- 
 major at the camps in Nova Scotia in 1882 and 1883, of 
 which the late Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Taylor, D. A. G., 
 was in command. The first day's orders directed that 
 Brigade-Major Macshane was to attend the 7 a. m. drill 
 daily, and to attend to office work ; and Acting Brigade- 
 Major McKenzie to attend guard mounting, and instruct 
 them in their duty, also the picket (a whole battalion) ; 
 attend the 10 o'clock parades under officers commanding 
 corps, and see that drill was properly carried out, instruct- 
 ing corps if necessary. The afternoon parade the com- 
 mandant took to himself, but often called on me to instruct 
 a corps. By this I became acquainted with all officers 
 attending these two camps, held at Aldershot and Pictou 
 respectively. 
 
 As the reader may vvish to have a record of them, I 
 give their names ; but may have forgotten some of them. 
 I may first say that I found them to be very willing to 
 learn a soldier's duty, and I think the whole of them 
 before I left had considered me their friend at the camps. 
 The following are their corps and names : 
 
 68th Battalion. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Chipraan commanding. 
 Majors Belcher and Lydiard. 
 
 Captains Dodge, Beckwith, Redden, Steadman, Roscoe, 
 Borden, Harris, Ross, and Foster. 
 
Return to Frederidon. 167 
 
 Lieutenants Webster, Harris, Northriip, Ross, Kelly, 
 West, Cassidy, Ross, and Coleman (adjutant). 
 
 Staff Surgeon Shaw, Assistant Surgeon Borden, and 
 Quartermaster Brechan. 
 
 69th Battalion. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Starratt commanding. 
 
 Majors Harris and Cole. 
 
 Captains Elliott, Morse, Wade, Charlton, Bailey, Buck- 
 ler, Turn bull, and Harris. 
 
 Lieutenants Graves, Miller, Purdee, Chesley, Marshall, 
 Willett, Whitman, and Cornwell (adjutant). 
 
 Staff Paymaster Miller, Surgeon Primrose, and Quarter- 
 master Bishop. 
 
 72nd Battalion. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Spurr commanding. 
 
 Major Shaffiner. 
 
 Captains Jacques, Roach, Bowlby, Taylor, Phinney, 
 
 and Morse. 
 
 Lieutenants Baker, Chipman, Gates, Phinney, and 
 
 Dodge. 
 
 75th Battalion. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Kaulbach commanding. 
 Major Griffiths. 
 
 Captains King, Hamm, Langille, and Windrew. 
 Lieutenants Young, Kedy, and Hatchers. 
 
 78th Battalion. 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Blair commanding. 
 Major Sutherland. 
 
168 ' Life as a Soldier. 
 
 Captains Lawrance, Rayne, Barnhill, Sraitb, McKenzie, 
 and Maxwell. 
 
 Lieutenants Hall, Domiek, and Sutherland. 
 
 Staff Paymaster Chambers, Surgeon McLean, and 
 Quartermaster Johnson. 
 
 93rd Battalion. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Harrison commanding. 
 
 Major Black. 
 
 Captains Black, Harrison, Mills, and Oxley. 
 
 Lieutenants Christy, Harrison, Colburn, and Pace. 
 
 Staff Paymaster Church and Adjutant Donkin. 
 
 94th Battalion. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Bingham commanding. 
 
 Major Hill. 
 
 Captains Cain, McRae, J. S. McNeil, D. McRae, and 
 J. D. McNeil. 
 
 Lieutenants A. McRae, Foyle, J. D. McRae, H. Mc- 
 Neil, and J. McNeil. 
 
 Staff Pay master Beth une. Surgeon McGillvray, Adjutant 
 Foyle, and Quartermaster McDonald. 
 
 KentviLtLe Cavalry. 
 
 Captain Ryan commanding troop. 
 
 Lieutenants Masters and Bedden. 
 
 During these two camps the brigade staff invited the 
 field and staff officers of each corps to a lunch, and they 
 returned the invitation ; consequently all the officers in 
 camp knew the brigade staff, and many a friendly chat 
 took place, for all were like brothers. At the same time 
 
Return to Frederidon. 169 
 
 discipline could not be better carried out, and T never 
 heard an ill word spoken at these two camps, all doing 
 their best to help one another. 
 
 I suggested to the commandant. Colonel Taylor, that a 
 sham fight be held. He agreed, and asked me to draw 
 up a programme and plan for the movements. I did so, 
 and he thought it a good one for the lay of the country. 
 I then asked him to allow me to assemble the officei's to 
 explain it to them. This he also agreed to, and when they 
 met in the staif* marquee I explained it fully to them ; 
 making the commanding officers of each battalion, and 
 captains of companies, understand each movement. On 
 the day it took place it was pronounced by thousands 
 from Halifax, both militia and civilians, to be very good ; 
 and the papers stated the like was never before done at 
 any camp held at Aldershot. 
 
 As Colonel Taylor left this parade to me, I will briefly 
 describe the movements of both defence and attacking 
 parties. The idea was that the supposed enemy (attacking 
 party) was to take the camp and cause the defenders to 
 break and run. But as the defenders knew the country 
 and the enemy did not, the camp was to be recaptured by 
 the defenders. The brigade was divided into two equal 
 parts, under command of Colonel Starratt and Colonel 
 Chipman. The former was to defend the camp, the latter 
 to attack it as an enemy. My instructions to both were, 
 that the defending party was to send out pickets, a line of 
 sentries, and on the approach of the enemy they were to 
 be reinforced from the picket and his main body and 
 
170 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 compel the enemy to retire with loss, taking care that his 
 flank was not attacked by the enemy ; keeping up a con- 
 tinuous fire as the enemy advanced, and to form the most 
 of his force into a skirmishing or fighting line, and not 
 to retire unless compelled. I accompanied the attacking 
 party, who marched out about two miles from camp, and 
 formed for attacking the camp. I then ordered an advance 
 guard out in strong numbers, three companies, and went 
 with them. On coming in sight of the camp I formed 
 them into a line of skirmishers, and on approaching 
 towards the defenders' chain of sentries opened fire on 
 them, being at the same time reinforced from the main 
 body, \vhen the advance was made by rushes of the skirm- 
 ishing line while the balance of the force moved off to the 
 left and formed for attacking the defenders on their right 
 flank and to capture their camp. The line now formed, as 
 well as the attacking line of skirmishers, kept up a heavy 
 fire, and by that cross fire the defenders were compelled to 
 break ; and once the break was made the attacking force 
 did not give time for them to again form, but followed 
 them up and took or captured the camp. The defenders 
 knowing the country, while the enemy (attacking force) 
 did not, they moved by another road, and, reforming, 
 advanced by that road and attacked the enemy on their 
 flank. This was a surprise to them. This advance was 
 followed up until they recaptured their camp with the 
 charge with very little loss. 
 
 When the brigade was again formed it was found there 
 was heavy loss on both sides ; but it happened to be blank 
 
Return to Fredericion. 171 
 
 ammunition, for there was not one round, from the twenty 
 rounds per man issued, could be found among the men to 
 fire a volley, which the brigadier was sorry for. 
 
 The spectators had a splendid view from the hill 
 towards Mr. Campbell's house, and could see every move- 
 ment of both forces. 
 
 Many such sham fights were held at the camps of in- 
 struction in New Brunswick at which I was present, and 
 which were highly spoken of by the paj^ers at the time. 
 
 Colonel Maunsell, who has commanded the militia in 
 New Brunswick since 1865, in his recent lecture to the 
 militia corps of St. John, said that the force in New 
 Brunswick, cavalry, artillery, engineers, and infantry, were 
 second to none in the Dominion, as the returns showed. 
 He pronounced them an excellent class of men. He 
 attributed their efficiency to the work ptVformed by the 
 nine drill instructors sent from England to instruct the 
 volunteers at the time of the Trent affair in 1861. He 
 also said that by the increase of the force two other drill 
 instructors. Sergeant Hughes of the Royal Artillery, and 
 Sergeant Wilson of the- 15th Regiment, were taken on the 
 strength. He referred to Sergeant Hewitson, one of the 
 nine, who rose to command the 71st Battalion. I need 
 scarcely say that Colonel Maunsell is a fit person to judge, 
 for it is well known all over the Dominion that his opin- 
 ion on such matters cannot be questioned. He also in 
 that lecture said, " Mackenzie, one of the nine instructors, 
 is still serving Her Majesty in the force.^' 
 
 Colonel Taylor, who commanded in Nova Scotia, often 
 
172 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 in my hearing in his office at St. John, said that the force 
 of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia was as efficient as any 
 he had met in any part of Canada. And I wish here to 
 say, that my opinion is, that both colonels were correct 
 when they said the militia force of both provinces, New 
 Brunswick and" Nova Scotia, are second to none. The 
 reader may say I am not competent to offer an opinion on 
 the qualifications of th^ force. Let that be as it may, I 
 wish to record it in this brief story of my life. The 
 Sergeant Wilson above referred to is the same whom I 
 mentioned in a previous page as canteen steward in the 
 military school at Fredericton. 
 
 The day after the great fire of June 20th, 1877, at 
 St. John, Major Evans, who was the superintendent of 
 militia stores in St. John, gave up that position. As I 
 was the assistant storekeeper, and in charge of the militia 
 stores, etc., at Fredericton, Colonel Maunsell, who com- 
 manded the district, recommended that I be appointed to 
 succeed Major Evans ; but his recommendation was not 
 heeded in this case, and another, by wire-pulling, as the 
 saying is, or using politics, got the appointment. I, as 
 assistant storekeeper, did not consider this just to me, 
 especially so as, after establishing the militia store in New 
 Brunswick, I had performed that duty for over three 
 years, from April, 1862, to September, 1865, without help 
 or any expense on the public during that time. A few 
 years after this the offices of district paymaster and store- 
 keeper were made one, and on the retirement of Colonel 
 Baird, although I was once more recommended, wire- 
 
Return to Frederidon, 173 
 
 pulling as before was again adopted, and another got the 
 position. 
 
 Just here I wish to say, that as I had always attended 
 as a soldier to the Queen's Regulations, and obeyed her 
 orders, which are, that a soldier shall not take any part in 
 elections ; and often lectured to that effect to the cadets 
 attending military schools, and to others under my com- 
 mand, I therefore did not try to pull any wires to obtain 
 a position of a military nature, but left it to my superiors, 
 as is done in Her Majesty's service, to appoint in accord- 
 ance with seniority if the person is competent to fill the 
 office. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 In the Permanent Corps. 
 
 SIgN 1883 the government established infantry military 
 <s^ schools, three in number, to be fornTed by January, 
 1884. At the camp of instruction, held at Sussex in that 
 year, 1883, all the officers in the camp signed a memorial 
 to the Dominion Government recommending me for the 
 adjutancy of the school to be opened at Fredericton. Sir 
 S. L. Tilley, to whom the memorial was sent, replied that 
 I was to receive the appointment. Subsequently he wrote 
 me that he and Colonel Maunsell had talked the matter 
 over, and that my name was registered in the books at 
 Ottawa for the position above named. During the lime, 
 however, that both Sir Leonard and Colonel Maunsell 
 were in England, in November, 1883, the commandants 
 and other officers were 1 suppose chosen ; for in December 
 the order was issued to form the three schools in January, 
 and the officers for the same were gazetted on the 21st of 
 that month, but no adjutant among them. I then wrote 
 to the adjutant-general. Colonel Powell, on the matter. 
 He replied that there was no appropriation made for pay- 
 ing an adjutant to the school, but he knew that Colonel 
 Maunsell wished to have me with him in the school at 
 Fredericton; and as all the officers had been appointed I 
 would oblige him if I took the sergeant-majorship until a 
 vacancy should occur. When Colonel Maunsell returned 
 (174) 
 
In the Permanent Corps. 175 
 
 from England he wrote me, as from the general, and asked 
 me to sink in rank for the time, and accept the sergeant- 
 majorship of the school ; stating that it would only be for 
 a short time, or until there was a vacancy for promotion. 
 I complied with this request, but never received the 
 promised promotion. 
 
 I was the first man enlisted on 7th January, 1884, in 
 the military school permanent corps at Fredericton, and 
 remained in that capacity until the 22nd July, 1895, 
 ■eleven years and six months, when I was discharged from 
 the corps, or rather transferred to Sussex to take charge of 
 the government camp ground there. I imagine that the 
 reason I was sent to Sussex was in consideration of my 
 long and continuous service in the militia since 1862. 
 The general officer commanding, as well as the govern- 
 ment, put me in an easy position for my previous services 
 tendered to them in many capacities, which the reader by 
 this time knows. This, however, did not long continue. 
 The present representative of that county. Kings, thought 
 some of his political friends better entitled to the position ; 
 for in May last, 1897, I was again transferred, with less 
 pay by fifty-five cents per day, back to Fredericton as 
 care-taker of the drill hall and armories of the 71st 
 Battalion. I now receive only one dollar per day, which 
 is less pay than I received since I came to Canada, and 
 less than I was receiving before I left my regiment in 
 England. Still I do not (although the reader may) blame 
 any person, but am thankful for any position of a military 
 nature ; for born as I was, in the military, I would like to 
 
176 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 end my days serving Her Majesty, no matter in what 
 capacity, for all my life has been spent in her service. 
 
 I may here remark that my many friends among the 
 officers of the Maritime Provinces often said to me, that 
 the reason I was not promoted was that " I was of more 
 use to the militia in the capacity I filled in the school.'' 
 Perhaps they were right. The officers appointed to this 
 company were Major Gordon, and Lieutenants Young and 
 Hemming; the two latter had not previously belonged to 
 the militia force. ' . 
 
 I will now give a brief statement regarding this school 
 corps. Previous to the opening, and while I was at Camp 
 Pictou, N. S., I, expecting the adjutancy of the s'chool, 
 had lectured to the men in camp, and explained fully to 
 them all about the school ; or, in other words, the duties 
 of men who would join, as well as the pay, etc., they 
 would receive. Consequently, shortly after the 7th Janu- 
 ary, several men joined ; and in a few months nearly the 
 one hundred men required had enlisted, and the work of 
 drilling, etc., had commenced. We had among them a 
 few others who formerly belonged to Her Majesty's service, 
 who gave very good assistance in teaching the men their 
 barrack-room work. From among these men there are 
 at present only two, Color-Sergeant W. A. Daniel and 
 Sergeant J. Wilson, canteen steward, who joined during 
 first month, a few days after the school was formed. 
 There are also among those who joined with me on 7th 
 January, Hospital-Sergeant R. Cochran and Private W. 
 Leek. Others joined at the end of January, one of whom 
 
In the Permanent Corps, 177 
 
 is A. J. Fowlie, wlio succeeded me in July, 1895, as 
 sergeant-major of the school. This position he is well 
 qualified to fill, and I believe gives full satisfaction to all 
 concerned. I may mention regarding him, that he at- 
 tended the old military school in 1881, when I was 
 instructor to that school under the old regulations, and 
 did well there for the certificate he received. Color- 
 Sergeant Daniel formerly was instructor, assisting me in 
 these schools for a few years. These schools were held 
 for three or six months in each year. Quartermaster- 
 Sergeant Walker, who lately was exchanged, was also a 
 non-commissioned officer in the regulars; but Quarter- 
 master-Sergeant Lemontagne, who came in his place, was 
 never in Her Majesty^s service. Still he, I find, is very 
 smart, and understands his duty fully ; and Color-Sergeant 
 Daniel can look after the company as well as any color- 
 sergeant I ever met in the regulars. There are also two 
 drill instructors. Sergeants W. Duncan and H. T. Brewer, 
 wdio understand their duty well as such, and often receive 
 credit for it. The former was at one time in Her Majesty's 
 service, but the latter never was. Bandmaster C. J. Hayes, 
 who was transferred to Toronto school corps, was also in 
 Her Majesty's service. 
 
 I may also here mention the sergeants and corporals 
 who were in the school when I left in July, 1895, viz.: 
 Sergeant-Bugler G. Offen, who teaches the band in the 
 corps, whose father was formerly band-sergeant in Her 
 Majesty's 22nd Regiment, and Corporal J. M. Torrance, 
 who teaches the buglers attending the school from other 
 
 M 
 
178 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 corps. The other non-commissioned officers are Sergeants 
 Nauffts, Bingham, Sheldon, and Paschke, and Corporals 
 Shaw, Hagans, Ross, and Bayers. These perform their 
 various duties satisfactorily, and hold qualifying certifi- 
 cates from the commandant. 
 
 Orderly room clerk, Sergeant G. Moore, was lately 
 appointed district clerk, which position he is well quali- 
 fied to fill, and performs his duty very satisfactorily. 
 The present orderly room clerk, Sergeant T. Burl^, who 
 came from the military school, London, Ontario, is the 
 right man in the right place, for he has his duties at his 
 finger ends. The master tailor, Sergeant George Harris, 
 is an excellent workman. He imports from England all 
 materials, cloth, gold lace, and other trimmings required, 
 from which he supplies and makes the uniforms for offi- 
 cers and non-commissioned officers requiring the same, not 
 only in the Fredericton military school, but to others of 
 the militia corps in different parts of the Dominion. 
 
 Although not at present belonging to the school corps, I 
 am in a position to see the working of both the non-com- 
 missioned officers and privates therein, and I consider that 
 they have kept up their good character as soldiers of 
 Canada, and that they are doing good work in teaching 
 both the officers and men who attend the school from the 
 active militia. 
 
 As I had seen many crimes committed in the service 
 through drink, I shortly after the school was formed 
 organized a temperance club in the corps, and had over 
 eighty to join it in less than three months; which the com- 
 
• In the Permanent Corps. 179 
 
 mandant, Colonel Maunsell, considered a good scheme for 
 the prevention of crime. This club was kept up in the 
 corps for a few years. Then we formed ourselves into a 
 division of the Sons of Temperance, under the Grand 
 Division of New Brunswick, with Major Gordon as our 
 first worthy patriarch, and myself as deputy grand worthy 
 patriarch and treasurer of the division. The citizens of 
 Fredericton considered a temperance division among our 
 Canadian soldiers a great benefit. Of course, as the 
 Queen's Regulations allow a canteen for the corps, there 
 were some who violated their pledge; but on the whole 
 the men saved in more ways than one by it, and the good 
 character of the corps maintained. While at camps of 
 instruction with other corps of the district, or in barracks, 
 and when at camps, our men were an example for the 
 other corps to follow, in carrying out discipline and obey- 
 ing orders as soldiers. 
 
 As regards the benefit derived by the country from the 
 Military Schools of Instruction, I can say that I con- 
 sider the institution to be a good one. During my eleven 
 years and six months as sergeant-major of the school at 
 Fredericton it alone turned out many ofiicei*s, as well as 
 non-commissioned officers and privates, qualified to take 
 command of a force, either ^s a defending or attacking 
 body, for the protection of Canada ; and who knew, I may 
 say, nothing about such duties before they attended the 
 military school. This I know to be correct, no matter 
 what the opponents of the schools who write in the news- 
 papers to the contrary may assert. At the Fredericton 
 
180 Life as a Soldier. * 
 
 school alone over sixty such men, averaging about one- 
 half officers, receive qualifying certificates yearly, and I 
 believe that the other military schools turn out about the 
 same number. Hence my reason for saying that I con- 
 sider the military schools a good institution. The same 
 may be said regarding the Military College, for at present 
 there are many officers serving with Her Majesty's army 
 who attended and learned a soldier's duty in that institu- 
 tion ; and some who had qualified there, as Canadians 
 know, died in front of an enemy serving Her Majesty. 
 
 During ray spare time I instructed the students attend- 
 ing the Normal School, and received many letters from both 
 young men and women who had gone through the course 
 of instruction I gave them, informing me that they carried 
 on the same system in the schools they went to teach. 
 For this service I was presented with a gold headed walk- 
 ing cane accompanied by an address. Mr. E. Mullin is 
 principal of this school, and Messrs. Creed and Brittain 
 are teachers. These gentlemen drilled the same as the 
 students. I also went to the other schools for the same 
 purpose, and sometimes had as many as one hundred and 
 fifty children at drill, which was principally physical drill 
 and extension motions, with a little marching. Many 
 paragraphs appeared in the papers on this matter, such as 
 the following. 
 
 To the Editor of the Globe : 
 
 Sir — During my visit for a few days in Fredericton, I 
 attended the schools for the purpose of seeing the children 
 perform military drill under Captain McKenzie, and was 
 
In the Permanent Co7'ps. 181 
 
 highly delighted to see the children to do so well ; and when 
 I enquired the object of the drill I was informed that it was 
 for exercise and physical training — and as a medical man I 
 am strongly in favor of it, and would recommend the schools 
 in St. John to adopt it. I believe the captain gives his time 
 gratis, which should be considered valuable. To see him 
 perform the various movements you would take him to be a 
 young man of about twenty, in place of a man who has 
 instructed both oflScers and men of our militia for over that 
 time. I remember the Grammar School children in St. John 
 were instructed previous to Captain McKenzie's removal to 
 Fredericton, and many parents found their boys the better 
 for it; therefore I hope the School Board will make some 
 arrangement to have the same exercises in the schools here. 
 I am, respectfully, M. D. 
 
 St. John, October 31, 1885. 
 
 The captain gives also instruction to the students of the 
 Normal School, and they feel that his exercises are the best 
 they have ever received. 
 
 I believe it should be taught in all schools, for it 
 strengthens every muscle of a young person, and causes 
 them to retain an upright position, etc., during life. On 
 this matter I may say that I taught the young men and 
 boys of the Grammar School, at St. John, their first lessons 
 in drill ; and from them sprang the Boys' Brigade of New- 
 Brunswick. I also gave instructions in the same way to 
 the children of both sexes, in the different schools at St. 
 John, during the years 1881, 1882, and 1883. 
 
 I mentioned that I was presented with a gold headed 
 
182 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 cane bv the students of the Normal School at Fredericton, 
 and herewith annex a paragraph which was published in 
 the daily papers regarding the same. 
 
 At the close of the opening exercises at the Normal School 
 yesterday morning Sergeant-Major McKenzie came in, by 
 request of the students, and took his seat on the platform. 
 Two of the young lady students, Miss Blanche Thompson and 
 Miss Blanche Hayes stepped to the front ; the former present- 
 ing him with a handsome gold headed cane, and the latter 
 read the following address : 
 
 To Sergeant-Major McKenzie, Infantry School Corps, Fredericton : 
 Sir — We, the student teachers in the Provincial Normal School, 
 who have for several months past been under your instruction and 
 training in military drill, desire to express to you now, at the close of 
 the term, our very high appreciation of the valuable services you have 
 voluntarily and gratuitously rendered. Your uniform kindness and 
 patience in dealing with such a body of " raw recruits " as we must 
 have seemed to you, your thorough qualifications for the duties of drill 
 instructor, and the actual benefits which we know we have received 
 from the course of training you have given us, will cause us to remem- 
 ber you always with kindly feelings. As a token of our hearty good 
 will, we beg you to accept the accompanying small gift, which we hope 
 will prove a support and comfort to you when advancing years shall 
 have brought the rest and rewards which the long service you have 
 rendered your country so well deserve. 
 Signed, on behalf of our fellow students, 
 Blanche Hayes, Carrie Kelly, 
 
 Bessie Taylor, A. W. Strong, 
 
 Blanche Thompson, M. E. Harrington. 
 
 Sergeant-Major McKenzie, in reply, said that it afforded 
 him much pleasure to know that the instructions in physical 
 drill which he had given them were appreciated by them. 
 
In ike Peitnanent Corps. 183 
 
 and he heartily thanked the students for the beautiful and 
 costly present, and the flattering remarks which they had 
 just bestowed upon hira. They all knew how liable students 
 were to become round-shouldered and otherwise physically 
 injured by close sitting at the school desks. He had himself 
 suggested to the chief superintendent of schools the advan- 
 tages to be derived from such exercises, and the reasons that 
 prompted him to make the suggestion were that he had 
 instructed the students in attendance at some of the public 
 schools in England in the same kind of drill, and that it 
 proved, as he afterwards learned, to be of great advantage to 
 them. He had been for forty-four years in the service of 
 military drill, and had found it one of the best physical 
 exercises that young people could receive; and his remarks 
 to the chief superintendent, when asking permission to in- 
 struct the students, were now, he was glad to learn, verified 
 by the students themselves. It was his wish that they would 
 carry on the same kind of physical exercises in the schools 
 under their charge in the different parts of the province, and 
 give to the children the advantages they had received from 
 his important part of their education. At the present time 
 the students in most of the public schools in England are put 
 through physical exercises. It was the very best exercise for 
 straightening the body, expanding the chest, and strengthen- 
 ing the system throughout. With regard to the marching 
 exercises they had received they could, in consequence, hold 
 themselves up better and walk to and fro from their daily 
 labor with ease. He again expressed the hope the students 
 would not forget to train the children in their exercises, and 
 thanked them for their magnificent present and kind address 
 with which they had presented him. 
 
184 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 Principal Mullin referred in fitting terms to the valuable 
 services that Sergeant-Major McKenzie had rendered. He 
 said that he had joined the young men while undergoing their 
 drill and found that it had proved of great advantage to him. 
 He was pleased that the students were not forgetful of the 
 gratuitous and valuable services Sergeant-Major McKenzie 
 had rendered, and he wished to join the students in their 
 expressions of appreciation of his efforts. 
 
 The chief superintendent made a few complimentary re- 
 marks in relation to the work performed by Sergeant-Major 
 McKenzie. He was opposed, he said, to the giving or receiv- 
 ing of presents in connection with the free school system ; but 
 he congratulated the students upon the happy thought that 
 prompted them to show in this tangible way their apprecia- 
 tion of the services so freely and cheerfully rendered by 
 Sergeant-Major McKenzie. He hoped that the valuable 
 instructions which they had received from the sergeant- 
 major would not only be profitable to themselves, but through 
 them to those who might hereafter be placed under their 
 charge. 
 
 On one side of the cane were engraved the words " Sergeant- 
 Major McKenzie," on the other side, " From Students of the 
 Provincial Normal School, Summer Term, 1885." The cane 
 was purchased at S. F. Shute's, and the engraving was done 
 at his establishment. 
 
 On the death of Brigade-Major C. Eeade, I made appli- 
 cation and was recommended for that position ; but the 
 office was discontinued. To show my readers my claims 
 on the department, I publish a paragraph which appeared 
 at the time, with the editor's remarks on the same. 
 
In the Pet^manent Coiys. 185 
 
 To the Editor of the Globe : 
 
 SiE — While in St. John a few days ago I heard a rumor 
 that a brigade-major was to be appointed for District No. 8. 
 May I be permitted to bring Captain McKenzie's services 
 and claims before the public, for it has been acknowledged 
 that he is well qualified and entitled (more so than any other 
 officer in New Brunswick) to fill the position of brigade- 
 major, as he acted and did all duties appertaining to that 
 office from 1881 until the reappointment of the late Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel Reade in 1882, and is the only acknowledged 
 officer in New Brunswick who was acting as brigade-major 
 since the formation of the Dominion. It is not necessary for 
 me to state Captain McKenzie's services ; still I may say that 
 all the officers in New Brunswick know he performed more 
 than one duty at the brigade camps of instruction held in our 
 province, although only paid for one at each camp, and was 
 always on the staff Again, any of us officers who required 
 any military information obtained the same from him ; and 
 the public already knows his services to the military schools. 
 Therefore, I hope the authorities will see their way clear to 
 give such an officer promotion, which I am sure would be 
 satisfactory to all volunteers in Charlotte County, if not in 
 New Brunswick. Mflitia Officer of Many Years. 
 
 St. Andrews, 27th October, 1884. 
 
 We publish the communication of " Militia Officer of Many 
 Years Standing," because we believe the writer to be in 
 earnest ; but it would be better had he sent his communica- 
 tion to a government organ. The fact of its appearance in 
 the Globe will lead the Tories to imagine that Captain Mc- 
 Kenzie is not recommended on his merits. However, as the 
 minister of militia is a courteous gentleman, and a fair minded 
 
186 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 man, despite his politics, we will send him this, with the 
 assurance that we have no knowledge whatever of the politics 
 of the writer or of Captain McKenzie. But we know the 
 latter to be an earnest, devoted, and capable officer. It was 
 stated some time ago that no successor was needed to Colonel 
 Reade ; that the office of brigade-major was a sinecure, but 
 all that will not stand in the way of its being filled up. 
 
 During the rebellion fn the Northwest, 1885, I was 
 present with the provisional battalion, which ^vas formed 
 of twelve companies with the necessary staff, and I here- 
 with give a list of the officers and companies who were 
 selected in New Brunswick for that duty. 
 
 Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Maunsell. 
 
 Majors, Lieutenant-Colonels Blaine and Beer, of 62nd 
 and 74th Battalions. 
 
 Paymaster, Major McCulley, 73rd Battalion. 
 
 Quartermaster, Major Devlin, 62nd Battalion. 
 
 Adjutant, Captain McLean, 62nd Battalion. 
 
 Surgeon, Dr. MacFarland, 62nd Battalion. 
 
 Chaplain, Rev. G. G. Roberts, m. a., Rector of Fred- 
 ericton. 
 
 Two companies of the Infantry School Corps, com- 
 manded by Major Gordon, and Lieutenant Young. 
 
 Four companies of 62nd Battalion, commanded by 
 Captains Sturdee, Godard, Hegan, and Edwards. 
 
 One company of 67th Battalion, commanded by Captain 
 Bourne. 
 
 One company of 71st Battalion, commanded by Captain 
 Howe. 
 
 One company of 74th Battalion, commanded by Captain 
 Harper. 
 
In the Permanent Corps, 187 
 
 This battalion only proceeded as far as Sussex, N. B., 
 and was then ordered back. This, to my mind, was not 
 fair to the militia force of New Brunswick ; for a battalion 
 in Halifax, which had to be organized, went to the North- 
 west, and received the medal and other honors for it. I 
 am, and always was since that rebellion, of the opinion 
 that the Infantry School Corps at Fredericton, which is 
 paid and equipped for such purposes by the public, should 
 have been one of the first corps ordered to suppress that 
 rising; and should other corps have been required, they 
 could have followed. Here I may say that both Major 
 Gordon and myself telegraphed, offering our services to 
 the department. I worded my telegram that I was will- 
 ing to go in any capacity, and received a reply that my 
 offer was noted. 
 
 In 1887, the Jubilee year of Her Most Gracious Majesty, 
 I was requested by the officers of the 62nd St. John 
 Battalion to get leave from the military school to teach 
 them how to j)erform the ceremonial military movement 
 of " trooping the color." I obtained the necessary leave, 
 and went to St. John for that purpose. After the battalion 
 had practiced this movement for a few evenings under my 
 instructions, they were able to troop the color as well as 
 any regiment in Her Majesty's service. "Trooping the 
 color" is considered a very fancy military movement, and 
 this was the first time that it was ever tried by any militia 
 corps in New Brunswick. This, as well as the other 
 movements in drill, both by the artillery and infantry that 
 day, was highly spoken of by the many thousands who 
 
188 Life as a Soldier, 
 
 witnessed it. The daily papers also praised the whole 
 force for the manner in which this part of a soldier's duty 
 was performed. Colonel Blaine was in command of the 
 whole as brigadier, and Colonel Tucker as brigade-major. 
 Colonel Armstrong commanded the artillery; the Rifle 
 Company of St. John being attached to the 62nd Battalion. 
 Major A. Markham, of the 8th Cavalry, acted as orderly 
 officer to the brigadier ; and I acted as drum-major, which 
 is an important position in trooping the color. 
 
 I w^ould like here to say that I have known Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Blaine since he first joined the force in 1863, now 
 over thirty-four years ; and have watched his career as a 
 soldier since then. And as I consider him a friend, I am 
 glad to be able to here record that he rose from a private 
 in the ranks, serving in every grade, to the commander of 
 his battalion, which command he held for over sixteen 
 years; and I am sure his whole heart was in the move- 
 ment. He was my right hand supporter as sergeant-major 
 during the time I was adjutant of the 62nd Battalion. 
 
 In 1891 I thought I would make aj)plication to the 
 commissioners of Chelsea Hospital for an increase of an- 
 nuity. The difference in pension between a sergeant- 
 major and sergeant is about three shillings sterling a day. 
 When I came to Canada I was entitled to the pension of a 
 sergeant-major, as I had been filling that office for some 
 time. But I accepted the position of color-sergeant in 
 coming to this country, and when my time for pension 
 came, received only that of a sergeant. Under the circum- 
 stances, and considering my long service, I deemed it but 
 
In the Permanent Corps, 189 
 
 right to apply. Accorflingly I wrote to General Sir H. 
 Havelock-Allan, Bt., asking him to support my applica- 
 tion. I subjoin his reply, which while it evinced his 
 regard for me, and confirmed my own impressions as to 
 the reasons for my not obtaining the Victoria Cross, at the 
 same time showed me the uselessness of endeavouring to 
 gain any increase in my allowance as a pensioner of Her 
 Majesty's service. 
 
 Blackwell HaLl, Darlington, 
 Dear Sergeant McKenzie. November 5th, 1891. 
 
 I am very pleased to hear from you. I should be very 
 glad if there were any possibility of my being able to get 
 what you want for you ; but I am aware from several similar 
 applicatious that there is not the smallest chance of the 
 Chelsea commissioners, with whom the matter rests, increas- 
 ing your annuity. If Colonel Shute had taken pains about 
 the matter at the time you would probably, on Sir James 
 Outram's recommendation, have got the Victoria Cross ; but 
 never having been formally recommended for it, there would 
 not be the slightest chance of your claim being recognized now. 
 
 On the other hand, as you have served the military author- 
 ities of the Dominion of Canada for over thirty years, and 
 have performed practically the duty of a commissioned officer, 
 I do not see how they could refuse to recognize your claim to 
 higher pension. 
 
 As I am sure that the accompanying application would not 
 have the smallest chance, I herewith return it to you. 
 Yours faithfully, 
 
 Henry M. Havelock-Allan. 
 Sergeant-Major Thos. Mackenzie, 
 
 Frederictdb, New Brunswick, Canada. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Officers with whom I have been Associated in 
 
 Canada. 
 
 ^i^S I have been so long connected with the militia — 
 ^S"^ since 1862 — I wish, for future reference, to place on 
 record in this brief story of my life the names of militia 
 officers whom I have met during the performance of my 
 various duties. The record may be of use both to the 
 reader and in future years; if it should be thought 
 otherwise, I may be pardoned for inserting it. 
 
 Staff. 
 
 Adjutants General, Lieutenant-Colonels J. Robinson, 
 T. M. Crowder, T. Anderson, and George J. Maunsell, 
 present D. O. C. 
 
 Brigade Majors, Lieutenant-Colonels A. C. Otty, J. A. 
 Inches, C. McCulley, and J. R. Macshane. 
 
 District Paymasters, Lieutenant-Colonel T. W. Baird, 
 and Major A. J. Armstrong. 
 
 Superintendents of Stores, Major J. Evans, Lieutenant- 
 Colonels W. Cunard, T. W. Baird, and Major A. J. 
 Armstrong, present one. 
 
 R. R. C. Infantry. 
 Lieutenant-Colonels, W. D. Gordon and L. Buchan. 
 Majors, D. D. Young and T. D. R. Hemming. 
 Captains, R. S. Wadmore, J. C. G. Drolet, E. Chinic, 
 J. D. Roche, J. A. Bremner, C. F. O. Fiset, A. E. Car- 
 (190) 
 
Officer's Associated in Canada, 191 
 
 penter, A. H. Macdonnell, and P. E. Thacker; also Captain 
 A. B. Nagle, 66tli Fusiliers of Halifax, who is now pre- 
 paring for appointment to the corps. 
 
 Surgeons, T. C. Brown, m. d., and R. McLearn, m. d. 
 
 8th Regiment Cavalry. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonels, J. Saunders, J. Domville, M. p., 
 and A. Mark ham. 
 
 Majors, J. Darling and H. M. Campbell. 
 
 Adjutants, R. W. Otty and F. V. Wedderburn. 
 
 Paymasters, W. C. Drury and J. J. Woodward. 
 
 Quartermasters, H. Hallett, J. U. Fowler, and C. F. 
 Harrison. 
 
 Surgeons, L. Sharp and J. E. March ; Assistant Surgeon, 
 W. J. Norfolk ; Veterinary Surgeon, J. H. Frink. 
 
 Captains, W. Langstroth, N. H. Upham, T. H. Pearson, 
 J. W. Henderson, W. J. Brittain, F. E. Whelpley, Hon. 
 O. W. Fowler, m. p. p., D. J. Fowler, T. E. A. Pearson, 
 G. S. Maunsell, J. H. McRobbie, J. A. McDougall, A. J. 
 Markham, J. W. Domville, F. B. Black, and D. H. Fair- 
 weather. 
 
 Lieutenants, H. J. Crawford, C. H. Foshay, E. P. 
 DeBow, ,J. McKnight, C. W. Smith, T: L. Hay, W. 
 Langstroth, E. L. Wedderburn, D. Sears, J. E. Murray, 
 J. T. Warner, J. E. Eraser, and R. G. E. Leckie. 
 
 Second Lieutenants, J. W. Sproul, H. F. Keath, T. 
 Mallory, J. Wood, H. A. Scovil, A. Gillies, J. W. S. 
 Black, R. C. McMonagle, G. W. Gamblin, G. S. Kinnear, 
 C. Skinner, R. A. March, E. K. Parks, R. H. Arnold, 
 W. H. Fairweather, W. J. Brown, and J. Gilchrist. 
 
192 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 Field Artillery. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonels, R. R. Call and H. J. Dibblee. 
 
 Captains, C. H. Emery and R. L. Maltby. 
 
 Lieutenants, J. Mitchell, E. C. Tozer, J. White, R. A. 
 Lawler, and J. F. Doherty. 
 
 Second Lieutenants, A. A. Davidson, W. C. Good, C. 
 Sergeant, and M. P. Smith. 
 
 Surgeons, S. Smith and F. L. Pedolin. 
 
 Veterinary Surgeons, J. Morrissy and IT. Domville. 
 Garrison Artillery. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonels, S. K. Foster, C. J. Melick, J. R. 
 Armstrong, and G. W. Jones. 
 
 Major, J. Mount. 
 
 Captains, G. H. Pick, M. H. Peters, B. Lester Peters, 
 Hurd Peters, R. Farmer, J. Edgar, J. Bolton, T. F. 
 Gillespie, E. H. Clark, C. McGee, J. Kerr, E. S. Polleys, 
 H. Osburn, H. Whitlock, T. J. Sandford, E. Pheasant, 
 G. B. Seely, E. J. Scammell, S. D. Crawford, J. B. M. 
 Baxter, R. H. Gordon, and T. E. G. Armstrong. 
 
 Lieutenants, J. A. Mann, J. A. King, N. T. Greathead, 
 W. P. Dormell, M. Hall, F. J. Letson, W. Vaughan, R. 
 
 A. Stewart, J. A. Kane, R. R. Ritchie, A. A. Clarke, 
 G. K. McLeod, A. D. Wetmore, J. A. E. Steeves, F. L. 
 Temple, H. C. Tilley, VV. E. Foster, and F. C. Jones. 
 
 Second Lieutenants, T. Crockell, S. T. Baker, J. F. 
 Gammell, D. Crimmen, J. N. Rose, J. Meating, J. E. 
 Daly, J. E. E. Dickson, C. F. Harrison, F. A. Foster, 
 
 B. R. Armstrong, G. S. McLeod, E. W. B. Scovil, S. A. 
 M. Skinner, and A. C. H. Grey. 
 
Officers Associated in Canada. 193 
 
 Adjutants, J. D. Unclerhill, C. F. Langaii, and W. W. 
 White. 
 
 Surgeons, J. Berryman and J. W. Daniel. 
 
 Assistant Surgeon, J. Andrews. 
 
 Quartermasters, W. A. Lockhart and J. J. Gordon. 
 
 Paymasters, S. K. Foster, Jr., and G. F. Smith. 
 Engineers. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel, D. McLeod Vince. 
 
 Majors, J. E. Boyd, J. H. Parks, and H. Perley. 
 
 Captain, J. R. Tompkins. 
 
 Lieutenants, S. L. T. Carvell, A. Nevers, J. B. Steven- 
 son, J. McKean, J. F. Richardson, and M. P. Orser. 
 
 Rifle Company. 
 
 Major, J. T. T. Hartt. 
 
 Captain, E. A. Smith. 
 
 Lieutenants, J. F. McMillan, L. P. Tilley, and H. 
 
 Perley. 
 
 62nd Battalion. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonels, Hon. J. Robertson, R. W. Crook- 
 shank, C. R. Ray, J. R. Macshane, T. Sullivan, A. Blaine, 
 J. J. Tucker, M. P., and H. H. McLean, present com- 
 mander. 
 
 Majors, J. V. Thurgar, E. T. Sturdee, and F. H. Hartt. 
 
 Captains, VV. H. Scovil, C. E. Godard, M. W. Maher, 
 R. Scott, C. Powers, W. C. Magee, F. B. Hazen, W. 
 Farren, J. P. Hegan, G. F. Thompson, J. F. Eraser, D. 
 Churchill, S. B. Lordly, J. Manning, G. K. Berton, R. 
 Scott, and G. A. Eraser. 
 
 Lieutenants, J. Nugent, W. S. Harding, A. W. Lovett, 
 1^ 
 
194 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 M. W. Thompson, H. Mclntyre, J. P. Vroom, G. M. 
 Cleveland, J. H. Kaye, George A. Hetherington, H. P. 
 Wetmore, J. L. McAvity, Thos. S. Dunning, and C. E. 
 Macmichael. 
 
 Second Lieutenants, F. McLaughlan, J. B. Stubbs, W. 
 Frank Hatheway, F. H. Benn, W. C. Sterling, W. Parks, 
 W. R. Mills, J. O. Sharp, W. C. Eaukine, A. W. McRae, 
 H. A. McKeown, and F. H. J. Ruel. 
 
 Adjutant, Major M. B. Edwards. 
 
 Quartermasters, M. McDonough, J. S. Hall (major), 
 and H. H. Godard. 
 
 Paymasters, C. Campbell and J. Devlin. 
 
 Surgeons, S. Z. Earle and T. Walker. 
 
 Assistant Surgeons, T. J. O. Earle, M. F. Bruce, and 
 M. MacLaren. 
 
 67th Battalion. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonels, C. R. Upton, C. W. Raymond, 
 and J. D. Baird, present commander. 
 
 Majors, G. E. Boyer and A. D. Hartley. 
 
 Captains, J. F. Adams, J. G. Hoyt, C. Burpee, H. W. 
 Bourne, J. W. Adams, R. Kirkpatrick, L. R. Harding, 
 J. T. Fletcher, A. H. McLaughlan, J. W. Baker, G. D. 
 Perkins, J. W. Williams, J. J. Kupkey, and F. B. Carvell. 
 
 Lieutenants, C. White, A. McNinch, J. W. Boyer, W. 
 W^. Ross, C. R. Carman, L. Kennedy, C. H. Ferguson, 
 
 E. W. Bell, H. H. Woodworth, J. F. Williams, D. W. 
 Pickett, C. W. Dickinson, J. E. Sutton, and G. Anderson. 
 
 Second Lieutenants, H. McGrath, W. W. Hemphill, 
 
 F. Brettin, F. W. Bourne, W. J. Carr, H. G. Fletcher, 
 
Officers Associated in Canada. 195 
 
 J. Cyr, H. L. Ross, G. R. Smith, C. H. Taylor, J. John- 
 son, M. Howlett, W. A. Kaye, J. L. Bull, and A. M. 
 Adams. 
 
 Adjutants, R. B. Ketchnm and A. J. Raymond. 
 
 Quartermaster, H. Emery (major). 
 
 Paymaster, J. D. Ketch um. 
 
 Surgeons, C. P. Connell and I. B. Curtis. 
 
 Assistant Surgeon, E. W. Stevens. 
 
 7 1st Battalion. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonels, J. Hewitson, J. L. Marsh, and T. 
 L. Alexander, its present commander. 
 
 Major, W. S. Morris, J. Staples, T. G. Loggie, and 
 H. A. Cropley. 
 
 Captains, H. Beckwith, R. Davies, W. Christy, W. T. 
 Howe, W. D. Hartt, J. Boone, J. Christy, J. McMullen, 
 R. Stevenson, J. H. Hawthorne, R. Pinder, J. Burtt, J. 
 S. D. Chipman, J. D. Perkins, J. E. Sanson. 
 
 Lieutenants, I. Simmons, W. A. Barker, S. Turnbull, 
 G. A. Hoyt, E. J. Christy, A. Pringle, T. G. Kelly, G. P. 
 Ryder, S. H. McFarlane, and G. P. Christy. 
 
 Second Lieutenants, A. G. Blair, Jr., A. Massey, G. A 
 Murray, G. W. H. Thomas, W. H. Grey, S. E. Oliver* 
 and S. H. Stevenson. 
 
 Adjutants, J. V. Johnson and W. S. Fisher. 
 
 Quartermasters, T. Hogg and A. Lipsett. 
 
 Paymasters, J. W. Smith and A. Beckwith. 
 
 Surgeons, T. Gregory, D. R. Moore, and J. W. Bridges. 
 
 Assistant Surgeons, T. C. Brown and H. W. Gregory. 
 
196 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 73rd Battalion. 
 
 LieuteDant-Colonels, D. Ferguson, and S. U. McCully, 
 present commander. 
 
 .Major, A. D. Shirreif. 
 
 Captains, A. R. Ramsay, J. Black, J. Ullock, J. Wil- 
 lison, J. Sheridan, W. Fenton, A. McKnight, W. Mc- 
 Naughton, H. Cameron, J. D. B. F. Mackenzie, G. W. 
 Mersereau, and H. Phinney. 
 
 Lieutenants, J. Gray, A. M. Fraser, D. S. Ullock, G. F. 
 Doherty, P. Loggie, W. McKnight, J. Cameron, and 
 H. Irving. 
 
 Second Lieutenants, C. Crammond, J. Patterson, A. M. 
 Rennie, R. McNaughton, M. D. Snowball, F. D. Phinney, 
 F. P. Torsten, A. Cameron, M. A. Kelly, F. H. Mer- 
 sereau, and D. McNaughton. 
 
 Adjutant, A. §. Templeton (major). 
 
 Quartermasters, J. Gray and R. Murray, Jr. 
 
 Paymaster, Hon. L. J. Tweedie, M. p. p. 
 
 Surgeons, W. P. Bishop and J. McG. Baxter. 
 
 74th Battalion. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonels, E. B. Beer, and J. M. Baird, the 
 present commander. 
 
 Majors, O. R. Arnold, B. Harper, and C. H. Fair- 
 weather. 
 
 Captains, H. D. Wetmore, A. McDonald, W. C. Murray, 
 J. A. Bowes, H. C. Hannington, O. W. Wetmore, A. J. 
 Tingley, and F. Morrison. 
 
 Lieutenants, S. A. Watson, C. Spooner, J. R. Foster, 
 
Officers Associated in Canada. 197 
 
 M. Sears, E. H. Hayward, C. W. Weyman, W. D. Forster, 
 F. W. Givan, and J. Mclntyre. 
 
 Second Lieutenants, J. H. Dunlop, H. G. Wadman, 
 D. K. McElman, J. J. Crosman, E. P. Goodwin, C. 
 Picaird, C. M. L. Flewelling, and C. T. Nevins. 
 
 Adjutant, H. S. Langstroth. 
 
 Quartermaster, W. C. Murray. 
 
 Paymaster, T. E. Arnold. 
 
 Surgeon, S. F. Wilson. 
 
 Assistant Surgeon, H. S. Trueraan. 
 
 Some of the cavalry and artillery, and nearly all of the 
 infantry officers named in this list, as well as many others 
 belonging to corps in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward 
 Island, passed through and received certificates of qualifi- 
 cation from the schools of military instruction which I was 
 either instructing under the old regulations or of which 
 I was sergeant-major in connection with the present Mili- 
 tary School Corps at Fredericton. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Conclusion. 
 
 jEAR reader, before concluding ray story, I consider 
 it necessary that I should devote a chapter for your 
 information, whether you follow a civil or military occu- 
 •pation, by comparing the diiference between a soldier in 
 Her Majesty's service and one in our Dominion militia 
 permanent force as regards pay, rations, punishments, and 
 comforts. 
 
 In Her Majesty's service the pay of a private soldier is 
 one shilling per day, and two pence per day is allowed 
 him as a deferred pay, which he receives as a gratuity on 
 his discharge. After twenty-one years' service he receives 
 a pension, in accordance with the rank then held, from one 
 to five shillings per day. While serving, if a married 
 man, one-half rations is allowed his wife, and one-quarter 
 to each of his children. During the period of his soldier- 
 ing the parades and other duty during peace time is, I may 
 say, only exercise which keeps him in health. Talking of 
 a soldier's health, this is always looked after. If a man 
 at any time should feel unwell, he can go to the hospital, 
 and the doctor at once attends to him. Should the soldier, 
 by accident or otherwise, happen to injure himself, he is at 
 once brought to the hospital by his comrades in the barrack 
 room. Each morning an orderly non-commissioned officer 
 inquires from the men if any of them are sick; and in 
 (198) 
 
Conclusion. 1 99 
 
 case men should not report themselves sick, there is a 
 weekly medical inspection held by the doctor. For the 
 number of days a soldier is in hospital a portion of»his 
 daily pay is deducte<l for extra hospital diet and medicine. 
 
 The punishment a soldier may be awarded is in these 
 days given by the captain of his company, who can now 
 award as high as seven days' confinement to barracks, 
 which carries with it extra drill. In my time of soldier- 
 ing all men were brought before the colonel commanding 
 the regiment for punishment, but now only for such 
 crimes as drunkenness. 
 
 Our permanent militia forces are under the same regu- 
 lations as govern Her Majesty's forc^es, as detailed in the 
 Queen's Regulations, Articles of War, etc., to carry out 
 the discipline necessary for soldiers. At any time the 
 militia are called out for drill or training in camps of 
 instruction, or to quell a riot, or any such disturbance of a 
 civil nature, they are subject to the same regulations. 
 Magistrates can call out on requisition such militiamen to 
 prevent disturbance, if they consider it necessary. 
 
 There is one very important difference between our per- 
 manent force and the regulars. The women and children 
 in Her Majesty's service receive rations, while none are 
 allowed them in the militia permanent force. My opinion 
 on this matter is, that when the Batteries of Artillery 
 were formed they did not include rations for women; and 
 when women were allowed, by some error, rations were not 
 asked for. Since the formation of the infantry permanent 
 force for military school purposes, the general officers have 
 
200 Life as a Soldier. 
 
 recommended that the rations be issued, but the govern- 
 ment so far have not approved of the same. 
 
 Although the women or children do not get rations in 
 the permanent militia force, as they do in Her Majesty's 
 service, the rate of pay allowed to the militia exceeds that 
 paid to Her Majesty's force in all ranks, except in the case 
 of the sergeant-major, whose pay is about the same rate, 
 one dollar and twenty-five cents per day. The other non- 
 commissioned officers and privates receive more. From 
 the forty cents a day paid to a private, should he not 
 drink or smoke, he can save from sixty to eighty dollars 
 per year, and still have sufficient for any extra eatables or 
 inside clothing he may require. All non-commissioned 
 officers and privates are also allowed three dollars per year 
 to keep their underclothing serviceable. Each man below 
 the rank of sergeant receives good conduct pay of two 
 cents per day for his first term of three years service, and 
 each term afterwards it is increased. This amount is not 
 paid until the time of his discharge, when it is given as a 
 gratuity. It can therefore be seen that the men of the 
 permanent force, if not married, can, as I say above, save 
 money. On the other hand, if married, they cannot do 
 so ; and if it were not for their wives having the washing 
 to do for the single men, who pay two cents per day from 
 their pay for washing their underclothing, the married 
 men, although receiving quarters, etc., would have all 
 they could do to support a family on the forty cents per 
 day. The married men, however, are generally employed 
 to do the extra work for pay, and servants to the officers, 
 which brings in something per month, . 
 
Conclusion, 201 
 
 As regards the discipline, the general officer command- 
 ing the militia is responsible for the whole force to the 
 government. Consequently he holds all ranks under him, 
 from the adjutant-general to the lance-corporal of a corps, 
 responsible for the orders issued and other regulations 
 published for their guidance, as is done in Her Majesty's 
 service. There is also a quartermaster-general, who looks 
 after all buildings, clothing, etc., and the financial business 
 of the whole militia is done from the department at Ottawa 
 through the various paymasters or officers commanding 
 permanent corps. 
 
 I consider that the permanent military schools are ex- 
 cellent institutions, and do a good service to the country, 
 in teaching officers and others a soldier's duty, as well as 
 being the only available force ready to turn out, if re- 
 quired, without a moment's delay. And as they are the 
 only force kept up by the public as an army, I should be 
 sorry to hear of a reduction in their numbers; but would 
 be pleased on the contrary to see our Dominion financially 
 strong enough to admit of a large increase. 
 
 I may further mention here that there is a great differ- 
 ence between civil and military law. The readers of this 
 account of my life may not know, that if either a civil 
 or military man holds any article of government property, 
 he is liable to a fine or imprisonment if he refuses to give 
 the same when called upon to do so, in accordance with 
 the Dominion Militia Law ; and militiamen are subject to 
 a like fine or imprisonment should they refuse to turn out 
 when ordered, for drill or otherwise, by proper authority. 
 
202 Life as a Soldier, 
 
 The term of a militiaman's service is three years; and 
 he must receive his discharge from the captain of his com- 
 pany to clear him ; otherwise he is considered a member 
 of the company or corps he joins, and is still liable for 
 service. 
 
 Before parting with you, my dear reader, permit me to 
 say that I hope that this story of my life has somewhat 
 interested you, and that the facts which I have thus 
 succinctly stated may be of use to you as a future record, 
 and that we part in friendship. No doubt you will say 
 that the story is shortly told. If this be in your mind, 
 please remember that I have not shown anything but 
 what I actually took part in ; and as I have included a list 
 of officers with whom I was more or less connected, it may 
 be valued as a remembrance by them, or their friends, 
 when we are of the past. 
 
 I am glad to find, that since I came to this country in 
 1862, very important measures have been adopted for the 
 better protection of the Dominion, as well as for a closer 
 connection with our mother land, which protects and 
 watches over Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria. 
 God bless her! I saw her at her marriage, and have 
 served her, as the reader knows, during my whole life, 
 and am ready, if called upon, to serve her still. 
 
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