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J. Stephen, fisq., to K. Dyhnm, Esd ^>»u>aa,ctc. — a SirJrusseyViWuntoLordJohSussell " ' n r"« ^.l^'' 4. J. Stephen, Es,,., to R. Byham, Esq ' * ?/••"'».'«=« pffi«=«' ■'■'. R. Byham, Esq!, to J. Stephen, W " ' " nT'"« ^^''"^^ 7. J. Stephen, Esq., to R. Dyham, JEso. R. %ham, Esq., to J. Stephen, Esq. _ Page December 30, ia39, 1 January 13, 1840, March 4, . Morch April March son ■" '" *''" "■■e'""°"- C. Poulett Thorn- Downing Street, Ordnance Office, April May Niagara, Montreal, Montreal, Montreal, London, Ordnance Office, :^. Chatham, Pall Mall, 1 1. Lord Sydenham to Lord John Russell Inclosures : 2. Memorandum upon the Can^ian Frontier " 3. Lieutenant-Colonel Oldfield to Lieutenant-Genml air K. D. Jackson Rough General Estimate of the pr'obable Exp;nse of Fortihcations for Canada 4. L.eutenant-Oeneral Sir R. D. Ja'ckson' to Lord Sydenham . . 1 9 R Itl ^"Ht °^ ^^^"'"gton *o Earl Bathurst .' 12. R. Ryham, Esq., to J. Stephens, Esq. Inclosures: '■ ''TSSiot''"'^'''*"!''''^-^-'-^--' 2. F. W. Mulcaster, «»^to R. Byhara, Esq.' L.eutenant-C^,lonel J Oldfield to the Inspecto'r-Ge /y ncnil of Fortifications . " 1 •I '^-^ir^'" '^'"'^■'"^f"' *r'o R- Byham ■ Esq. * ' 1 J. Sir llussey Vivian to Lord J. Russell . Inclosures: ' * 1 . Minute by the M.^ster-General of the Ordnance to /"^ „ P *''^;J"'P^'^*o^-G«"eral of Fortifications . J^ 2. J M . Mulcaster, V^ to Sir Hussey Vivian /•% p "!'J"7;' ,""*''« J"°rtifications of Kingston . n T ; r ; '^'"''^■''^'«>-'««P; fo Sir Hussey Vivian 14. LorT'l«n-t-flirj«Mct.:^5^MB Ml rX Inclomire In No. 1. Memoranda respecting the defence nf tt n •W ■ S nT'"'" 'r™l"l> "" the. St. Cla r for the protcctta of thi/fronS '^'^ '" ""*'™<-' » Kmanent ™rk li, Ki.l«in^atThe"i„^er;'r';Sd'"'^ *» '*"" "' «* B,a„c .„„ coiiimunication betueen I ,ui i? ? i*^ ^^^'"^ ^^'^"^ the command of H^.«. V J; the tow,.ships of Coldit GoSd? "if .V^ ••• ^'^^«' -" - the «^^^^^^^^ hurg:, can be depended on, it is of ^'f" T '" "'"' ''""'^^ «f Amherst OLoned, must h::::^t^Z%^^i^-^'^^' ^^■'-•'' '-- '=^tely been tort Misslssagua, at the mouth nf fl? i! "^ ^™"P' stationed at London now tenable against any at^^cH dfmly b'^'S'h'" '"'" -^1^-'-^ and is n VcM l^«''nianent work be constriiPhP^^i? : '^ ''' J'^' ''*" "''•eguhir force Su? ': ^'^"'^' r "" Q«on"£^^ and the intermit onrcommunicSStt'r^ "^"7" '" ""'' «'ver P ,7^^^-^- are^;ri:^ti^^^- SLSr ^^^"^'- ■ ww.„ - ■ ^^'^S^ara, m consecruence tim )een renmf/^ri .t,^ i m, i"^'"-"-) pro babb-, of Fort^iEs^,:tSC;^^°^ J^'^^^™' '» — 'monce pro \vork Dronosed tn !,,> ^ ,» "een repaired and arni(>rl Ti, ' * ,. LowEK Canada. i <. ♦^.- "^H*!? ?"'&«''n<^ has been converted into a defensible post for the Dro- tection of the barracits. '^ '«^i'w nP .t )*<*'*'"""«"V''"'''* «'"?^'-"^terlatthi8 sUtion would impede the onoratioim Richeli;?r ^"^ ' " *"^ insurrectionary movements^n llu' No. 2. J. Stephen, Esq., to R. Byham, Esq. Downing Street, January 13, 1840. Sir, I AM directed by Lord John Ru-ssell to transmit to you herewith a "iimv of a communication from Lieutenant.General Lord Scaton, containing f, ^port on he subject of the military works, which he k of opinion should he estabhslied on the American frontier of Upper and Lower Canada. Ihis Report contains the following recommendations — 1. That barracks should be erected at Chamblv, St. John's La Prairie, and Amherstburg, the probable expence of oi which Lord Seaton estimates at 2. That permanent works of defence should be constructed at Amherstburg, Niagara, and St. John's, those at Am- herstburg being estimated at . At Niagara at . ; . ^ And at St. John's at . £60,000 70,000 70,000 40,000 Making a total cost of ^240,000 Lord John Russell being desirous that the question of the military defences of the Canadas should be forthwith taken into consideration, and hnally determined, I am to desire that you will submit the inclosed commu- nication to the Master-General and Board of Ordnance, requesting them to report to his Lordship hoxy far any of the above works have been estimated tor, or proceeded with by the officers acting under their Board, accompanyinir tW7suW ''"^' '"^'''■•"^^^"" "'"^'^ "^'^y b« i" their possession relating to I have, &c., J. STEPHEN. No. 3. Sir H. Vivian to Lord John RusselL ^^y ^'"'^' Office of Ordnance. March 4, 1840. I ^^f dolayod answering the letter of Mr. Stephen, of the IStli cTS' nnln'fT'^. '' ^'- ^^^^> '"^ '^'' ^"bject of tile Defences of the Uinadcis, until I had an opportunity of learning whether Lord Seaton's pro- position, contained m his letter of the 30th December last, had reference to M Tnir'i^'J '""^^ ^'^ coi^idered it necessary should be constructed, or solely to an additional expenditure on the existing works, on which alreads within a short period, considerable sums have been expended. From an inte'r- view I have this morning had witJi his Lordship, I find it is his opinion that new and complete works should be built at the different stations of Amherst- burg, Niagara, and bt. John's, and that these works should be of a permanent got rid of completed, the existing works at the same places may be From the information received from Lord Seaton, and by wliat I have been enabled to learn, after a careful perusal of the proceedings of the Com- mission appointed by the Duke of Wellington, in 1825, and his Grace's letter to Lord Bathnrst, of the 1st March, 1819, 1 can have no doubt of the necessity ot constructing the works of defence now recommended by Lord Seaton. In conjunction with the works now in progress at Quebec, Kingston, and Halifax, — --t; I!f ^^I'^l^rc:::^:^^^ E-i^a., ana .,,c„ natures i,nhe8ystem,,fdtWfo^o»r£ '^'"^ ^^'^. "'"«^ important in M.e d(,cument« ab<,vt S rcj to V£^^^^ "'?''" ''^'^ ''"^^•» H(ancoH ; b,.t with resi„.ct to InyfnhJVoZT^^^ '''"^'' ""^ ^^ir^^'""' 11... Coniniission of 1S25, it n.ay he 1, sirah. Tn^f T'- "'^"•"•"ended by ■sidoratiou of thorn; the mxJi^ty of tS^e Vc jot^ 'f^ '''^' ^«"- varynis circumstances of the comitry may event m,lv r,?/ •f*''^'''"' ""^^ ^^e iuuKces.sary to undertai Canad i/ I I ^'^''T.''' "" *''« ^th directions to acquaint vou fbr tllo infx^ .•' ^ ^^^*l received his Lordship's Board, that his ChipTn\i 1 concu^ t' !'" '^ "'' ^r*'*' ^^^''''^l ^^d tained, that permanent works SlSbeTorfhit^.r?'™^^^^^^ ^^''''^ ««°- Niagara, and St. John's, in coSction Sh fl "t^'"^*^^ ^' Amherstburg, at Quebec, Kingston, and SfoxZlw .if ''"'''! '* ?''''""*'" i^'^Src^ works of defence which "ere conoid bVfl^p'^^^^ "^ ""^^ *"r*er be deferred for future considcnSon^ I ,n1 ^7*^^. <^ommission of 1825 should move the Master-GenerJto fu S'lm l^r^}^ ^^'''.^' ^"^ '''^''''^ ^^""^ >"" ^^i" required for these services for tl^yea; fr?m aLh /ft5o''/'"f "^'^^/'''^ ^""^^ tuiguisliing the sums ph^ccd on theS'nanee FSil! ?' ^"^ ^P"'' ^^4^' '^'«- form part of the Extraordinary Vote for Ca^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^""^ '^'^'^ ^^^"^J^ "ill I have, &c., ■ (Signed) J. STEPHEN. No. 5. R. By ham, Esq., to J. Stephen, Esq. Sir, I HA VP thr. u V. •^'^^ °f Ordnance, April 3, 1840 •;■. the recommendation, c^„rataS £' t ^"^'"l!'^- **','"' f" "«> C<>'™'«. tlic 4tli ultimo, relative to the w™l,i „f i f "^^ Vntm's communication of view hi. Lordship w hes to be f nruWted wS^" ,"! "'° '"^T"' ' '■""'" "'M, for ,tae aervices''for the 3 earto™ AprilT^V o"S° M,"'" '"" '""*«" |0, h sToJS .ttaS'-SS -SS"'- ^" -">. .or the year. Thf Ms^^r-b...;:^'^::^-^:;^^^ ♦!■ ' I > tlieir answer may be limited to the 8iim required for the contemphitod works at St. John's, Nrngara, and Amhorstburp, for which it has been stated to Lord John RuBaell (in the Master-tienenU'H letter befon; alliKhfl to), that il would be desirable to allot at the rate of 20,()(X)Z. annually, af\er the conuiic nccimnt of the works shall have been finally approved ; but as tlw; plans and detailed estimates have not yet been received, and as some time must elapse before they can be furnished, the Master-CJeneral and Hoard consider the whole of the working season in Canada for the present year will be hwt, so far as concerns these services, and that, therefore, no inconvenience is likely to arise by post, poning the abovementioned vote of 20,000/. to 1841 -'12, provided it be forth- coming at an early period of tliat year. I have, &c., /Signed) R. BYHAM. No. 6. The Right. Hon. C. Poulelt Thomson to Lord J. Russell. —{Received April IG.) (Confidential.) My Lord, Government House, Montreal, March 2G, 1810. I HAVE Uio honour to inclose a memorandum upon the state of Montreal and \ts mimediate frontier, which 1 have received from the Commander of the Forces, and a map which will illustrato the observations contained in it, to which 1 must sohcit the earnest and early consideration of Her Majesty's Oovemment. •' ■^ It would be out of place for mo to offer any remark upon the statements contained in this paper, which are of a military character ; but 1 feel it right to say tliat 1 am convinced by observation, that it is impossible to over-rate the unremitUng care and attention which Sir Richard Jackson has devoted to the consideration of this, and all other subjects connected with the defence of the province, or the great anxiety which he feels to avoid, not merely unnecessary expense, but any outlay which can, with a due regard to the public safety, be dispensed with. •' . '""i^^?^??. ^^^ ^^^ ^^'^'^ this conviction, as well as with the justness of the views ot Sir Richard Jackson, contained in the paper I transmit, I trust that Her Majesty s Government will see fit to sanction, without any delay, the outlay proposed, in order that the works may be proceeded with, if after due examination by the military authorities they are approved. I have, &c., (Signed) C. POULETT THOMSON. Inclosure in No. 6. Memorandum upon Montreal and its immediate Frontier. . . THE object of this memorandum is to recall attention to the unprotected state of this portion of the frontier of Lower Canada with a view to its bothX'cTnkdL^^"" ^^^ preservation will very much depend our retention of The portion adverted to is the Island of Montreal, and a triangle on the southern side of the St. Lavvrence, of which that river may be considered the base, the Isle aux Noix near Lake Champlain, the Apex, the River Richelieu, one of the sides, and the frontier line of the 45° from Sorel to Regis the other 1. In providing for the defence of so extensive a frontier as that of the Canadas, two considerations will always be borne in mind: 1st, the selection of points, to be tagorously defended; and, 2ndly, the security of the communica- tions between them. The points selected as of most importance, arc Quebec and Montreal in the Lower Province, and Kingston in the Upper Province. The communi- cation between the two provinces is protected by Montreal. Montreal is therefore a place of primary importance to us. ./ i -^^. nH far hark cvn n« H n rr, j • 1 1 n I7M r Xo" /'":/'"' '"\'"'':" "'"^ •«>'»'l«. tMitcrfainod." ^ ^ *'"''" ^'^''^^'wln hafl Wti uniformly the construction of one fortress at Mont«t • ' li <^ •,^"iy''«' proi^sed Chateausuay River, and TstronwK « n '^^ J'"" 'c' f /''•-' "'""^'' "*' <'»« on the RivcT Riche licrand a & h.r ^ "orks a St. John's, and Chanibly at the Isle aux Si ' "'"'^ "■"' '" "'^^"''^^ ^^ the small ba.l fort larjre as to render it hopele^o expect the tic i^^^^^^^ '' "I'^*^'"'^ «" uudertakins of them. * sanction of the Government to the .ith re^f t^S J: ^tllrk^^T nll^eC SiS,!^; T' TT '" '^'^' troops, lately erected on account yjT^^mn.K^ barracks for regular and\838, Ju no addiUonaHrks of defence ' '"'"^' "^ ^^' >""" ''^^ cipal oS ofT^a;?LTr:v;nt^^^^ ^j/'-'-al will again bo the prin- tected; 'and thirdly tU the meau^^^^^ ^'^"^ •*'« «t"' 4^0- Smythe, however ^good, wirnSbe irrled tnl'^ ?'°Posed by Sir/ C. expense attending them ^ '"^° ''"^'^^' "" ««count of the .limini£^"s' may'rS'^Sm ^^^^^ f ''^'l^^"'"^ ^.^ ^"-X -c so far Canadians inhabiting h frSer (wl^ct waTlh^^^^^^^^^^ 'f'^'' ^'^^'"^^ whilst on the other hand tZ \.^^rL T^ ^ States have great!;"n?SedtclXf::trar '^""^* ^""*^' of the Unitei' sidered, ut;;- £ wKl£ thorSvMh "' ^'^ 'T^ ^^^ ^"^^^^ -"" United States adverted to as SrVSo /' 1?^'!'"' ''^^^''' resources of the this ™se recouis^; willr hfflS^^^^ «" "^ Panadas, and for h roni returns submitted to Conirrps.* it •mnoni-c fj,„f ^i army of the United States should aCm toT2S)o'o^^^^ 'T^''' stated barely to be adecniato to tho Zi.! ' • "^''".' "''"^^^ number s and on the Vstll'^^Ntthern^^^^^^^^^ """ "^""^^ ^••'''" '^ "^ ^''»-'a. This army could donbtless be rapidly augmented as in isn- K„f ,1 ftur year,;™,! /„ h„ a>^m,llo forgoZ^sor^H °" '^■™'""'''"' '""^- '"'■ n.e iS'JSi^ t TS^rJsi^t ?™""' ?"'''^ °' "■•• «°". 1-rracnt rcg,ila(e,i by law "'"" ™P; laws, in the respect i\(! States of the Union. Tlie Swretary at War has further calh-d for "appropriations" to con- struct new defensive works, and repair those that have fallen into decav. This roconimendation has l)een partially acted upon dtiring the last two years. Amoiip; the new works projKJsed is one at the nortliern extremity of Lake Cliamplain, for the purjxjse of sealing up the entranct> to that lake from the Riciielieu lliver, another at C'ovingtcm, near St. Regis, on the St. I>awrence. and he; has also recommended the erection of barracks and works at Flattsburg, on L«ike Cliamplain. He also njcommends the cstiiblishment of four princip-d stations for tlie concentration of the troops not re(|uired at the frontier forto, or at the forts and works on the sea-bord and \\ estern frontier. The 1st Station is at Plattsburg, on Lake Champlain. 2nd at Carlisle, or Harrisburg, in Pennsylvania. 3rd at the head of the Savannah River. 4th at or near Memphis, on tlie Arkansas River. On looking at the Map of the United States, these stations or posts of con- centration appear well selected both for the support of the troops on the sea-bord and western frontier, and also for support of attacks directed against the Canadas. The troops at the Ist and 2nd stations would move towards the Lakes Champlain or Ontario. The troops at 3 and 4 towards th( Upper Lakes, to both which points all these men and their supplies can be directed with facility, by means of the internal communication lately established. Such arc the projects submitted, and some uctually sanctioned (and in progress) by authority of tin; Congress. The present financial embarrassments of the United Stsvtes may check the progress of tlie measures thus recon;mended, but it is sufficient for bur present purpose to know from authority that they are entertained, and some of tlieni in course of execution, for the purpose of this memorandum is to call attention to the necessity of precautionary meiosures of defence against attack, whenever it may occur. (). We liavc the " choice of difficulties only" left to us. 1st. To leave things to chance, as they have been left since 1813. 2nd. To retain a large nulitary force m the Canadas, to supply the want of permanent w orks. at exposed points of the frontier, or 3r(l. To incur a certain degree of expense hi the construction of such works, as witli a smaller body of troops may keep down insurrectionary mo\ e- nients in the Interior, and present formidable obstacles to an enemy at tlie commencement of war, which must be fed by us, at 3,000 miles' distance from our resources. This memorandum relates only, however, to the security of Montreal and its immediate frontier. It follows, from what has been already shown, that a fortress on tho Island of Montreal, upon the scale proposed by Sir J. C Smj the, howev er desirable, cannot be recommended liere. The island, with some small but strong works, considering the nature of the country and other obvious advan- tages, can be then defended for a considerable time by the troops previously employed on the frontier, if that portion of it, coustitutuig the triangle before described, bo strengthened as hereafter proposed. 8 Lawr^iJL'^^SlftXfS^ by the Saint not onl;^X' to^'reSr^^^^^^ -^ f ongly hold, a. Kff --^ to t.o, 0^^^^^^^^^-^ the pVoteVStYf^L^^^^^ been called to be^^^st^n^^and activei;^^^^;^^^^ S;^£ ^f^'^-^ battalLn't'sTjotTlrlii^^^^^^ ^^^ T^^'^ ^o^ one Chambly,LaPrairie aremnallv.?Jf«n^ 1 defence; that the barracks at the year when the myL^oTfh.^tf^^ ^^^.^^'""^ '^"""^ "^o«« P^'"ods of tionc^donthesoutirSnkmttt '"^^ ^^^P^ ^^-^ cannot defend long again" ammeriorfnr.? ^^"'^f''^'' "} ^ position that they retreat to Montreal -whiL thfen/Jv f ' •"'^ from whicli they cannot easily triangle, can afterwaVds jtceed^S^ ^^'^'"^'^^^'^^ '^ ^hii With the object J strcmtSn^ ii?I^^^ \^^^^^^^ sum)ort or withdraw th?trtps'fron vvMstThe'st ?f «^ ^^^.^1'"^ "« to of defending themselves vlien unsupioV S tho Pol ^- '"'t^'' ?i''"' ''^"^ plain can, a Wmastering or tn^ng the sZalS S ST*^ and Lake Cham- by either bank of the Richolicii ° '*'" """ ''°'''' »<>><"» whicitVkee'aU°gi'i'pUrnS''fl'''S '•f"! f™" ^^ P""'™' »' Lawrence, generamMntonderw ,?! ii^^ S"*""' l*'"'""-""!. ami the St. prairt^frth:i";;r4'™rher'l5rsr'^«T"- '«™^»' -<• •-» *e^ra«roaa,whirA".:!ThSitU^^^^^^^^^ »trongl)..''°There" is a'SStee^fc "' '''\T'^i '"'P°*"<''^ '° '« '» Wd that pointed out bv Sir T r Si ",?' P^f"'"''' ^''^ ^"^'^ ^ ^^^k than expense. ^ '^- ^- ^"^^^^ ^^° »''^" selected and erected at less bo ..^^.TtfrSntferl'/ ""f- -^ '--- P™.in'c™';SVthn» eanno* te douTS'^'' '™'°""° '" "^ "^''^""^ *»"•'! t" ■">"« fi"- iW^objecl, ♦' ^9 The cxponditiiro likely to be incurred in the eonslniction of the works proposed upon llu; present plan is stated in the C'onunanding' KnLdneer's i)ai)ers appended to this nienioraiidinn. i ' l (Signed) R. D. JACKSON. Memoranda of the probable expense of defences for Montreal and the Frontier between the Richelieu and the St. Lawrence, having the lane of 45° for the Base and Sorel for the Apex of the Triangle. Posts. ]tIontrcal . St. John's . Chateauguay . liiipriirie . . Loiig/neuil . ^k^rel . . . (Justadps . . Uout de risle. St. Helen's Expense. No. ].* £. 315,122 No. 2.t *'18 £. 7,000 3,9«4 12,613 2,000 13,000 1,200 1,2(K) 1,.')(H) 1,200 1,200 150 According to the projot of tlie committee. By n ehain of posts. For restoring the old work, and forming a new river front, exclusive of 1,1(50/. for proposed tete de Pont at St. Athannse. Giving coscmated cover in a cavalier, or for 300 men, and improving the trace of the old work hy placing three ravelins on the land fronts. According to the projet of the conjmittee. tiirthen redouht and batteries on Nuns Island, but no cover for troops or stores. Redoubt with a cavalier, affording bomb-proof cover for 200, and tower and batteries on Nuns Island. No provision is made for the cover of troops or stores ill these last posts, as it is imagined they would be temporarily put up in existing buildings, either public or private. The works proposed are field- works of a respectable profile, well palised and fraised ; to be executed by military working parties. The value of the land is not included, * Works not proposed in this Memorandum. t Woriis submitted for consideration. March 24, 1840. (Signed) J. OLDFIELD, Lieut. -Col. Commanding Royal Engineers. No. 7. J. Stephen, Esq., to R. By ham, Esq. Downing Street, April 24, 1840. Sir, I AM directed by Lord John Russell to transmit to you herewith in original, a confidential despatch from the Right Honourable C. Pou'lett Thomson, inclosing a memorandum upon the state of Montreal, and its imme- diate frontier, together witli a map, illustrative of the suggestions therein con- tained ; and I am to retjuest that you would move the Master-General and Board of Ordnance to take into their earUest consideration the plae» of defence for Montreal and its vicinity, as proposed by the Commander of the Forces and state that, if the views of that officer meet with the concurrence of the Master-General, it appears to Lord John Russell that it would be advisable to lay an estimate before Parliament, and ask for a sum of 25,000/., in the present year, for this service, independently of any sums required next year for other fortilications. "^ I have, &c. (Signed) J. STEPHEN. P.S. It is re(|ucsted that the inclosurcs may be returned. i>i D II 10 p No. 8. A'. Byhum, Esq., to J. tilvphen, Esq. ' Sir, Ordin^j:,^i^;;:rtlXS^of^.^!:!^ -., Board of mittrnj, a Confi,l,.„,laI i)es,,atcirf ;^th^S , 1 'I';'"';'' ^Ith u|,i„,o, trans- eon (dated 2Gth March), nclosin- ,.,,./ ""J'™^'''^^ ^- Poulctt Tlioni- ^Mr R. J). Jackson, con,;na;;db" ^. C" trul^d'™", "f^^^-^-^'^'^-^ of Montroa and its i"Hn.,liatcNrontin- in on,r?]?\''.t'^'''^ »<> Uk- defonco tal«,«n nuo tl,.,- earliest consideration of t /c Mas Si tt, '"' ^"ir^'"? "'^^^ ^o ^ And I am to acrniaint vou in n-nk '"'^^'■.'-''.'"^'ral and iioard. the Secretary of S.at'e for C^o, ^t■ tt t'?"^ "*' ^^ '^'>'-^'«'"I>, havinj^been in connnnnication with e'l ner .r f'^'^'^'f^r^ «"«! Board unfavourable direction of ';^rS rtS' l^s of "on " r'""^ 'l"."''''''' «-' t'- enemy's corps, moving upon "anX frortl?, T?'^'""' " "'■^^ f'"'^'^' "fan advantageous, are military\lefec(s S Ll ^vfL.^ t'' ^'if^ ^'' ^'^'"^'^-'^"y every report upon the defence of our No- l,Z •'''""'''>■ l.'""'^*-'^! ""^ '^ notlnngiias been done towards tlic for ,-fi. ,r ^"'^"^"^n provinces, and as Of J825, except at Quebec and 1 i^^^^cl'S^^'^^^ '^^^ ^''" ^^^^^-^ It were to be expected that tlie Con^. nd( f , ^ ' ''"' '*' >''-'^' incon,plete, existing circumstances, call the atteS of le Al "'T- r?"'*^ "^^'""' ""'1"^ subject. .icicnnon ot iler Majesty's Government to tlie . ThcmemorandumofLieutenant-Genorimirn n T i to IS one of great interest and value .md S M [sh>;. r '''f"' ^^^^^'^ '^""^1«1 fully upon the great importance wl ic , • o £;'"';'''' and Jioard agree portion of the , ontier; but tlK-v ca n t ii V m^^^^^^^ ^" ^^'^ Montreal or construction of tlie works con XLea in H > ^ "" ''^T ^^'' ^'^^^'"'^^ter usual details of a digested project ndnw memorandum without the attempted, wliich it^'s f.^J^;.;'^^^^'''''^''^'"' ^'^^ been ultimate exp,>nse or that the norks'enun ; nm- 1 ,1 ,' f?„ 'r"'''«"« '^ea of the tliey cannot recommend the stateinen tw rl .u- -. • ''":^^'' ^''"'^''"^tion, burg: and measures are takin<- to o ,t-ii \ Iw .J f' ^''^S:'"-'^' and Amherst- referredto by Sir R. Jackson, wo dduebS Nk '""'"' T ?^' '^'' l'"'»»^ their opmioi: wJuU the C^.mmandino R \ Fn' ,,'","" 'f '"'' ^«'' ^^"^' i" mjuinng as it ,loes nuieh judgn it m I vo " '', ^"l^^'^^y '» '^and, construction for Mu- several wo£ to tSeol^l^T'; I "\ adapting tiie very great attention in foreseeing and e iSin" itZ w m' ^"'! ' '^« ^^'"'l ^« mud, as can advautageoush be lui.u'rt'dv n L ^^^'^^)''"^' " 'H bo quite as nont works.. Certain ^^^^:^^^:^'lSX::Z^l^^^f^ 23rd Mar offe Hi March last, from .l.^Con;;;;.!, , i^i rS.-™;:'^' '^^" ^ -If-^ '^^"•^d L"re occupation of I uk,> nn";'' • ''"•'"*' ^''^' ''^"'^'' if called pormanent fortilications are\,nd -take X^^ ^^^^^-?;'^^y , but b,-fore r(H]uire a vers- dilferent .l,>sri-e(> of info nv, fin .•''"'''■''' ""^ JJoard will detail, of the s.neral Mork h aZ ui ' of '' ^"•"•"'- ''''"'""''"^^ "' '^" ^''" considered system of defence ''"^'^J^^'^^'"" of engineering science to a well- i\. ]1 to dpvole our nutans to covering Us frontier by i-ood works than to attempt 81' -^uncling tin; city itself by a cliain of posts sudi as tlie statement contem- l '^ "•■^• The inclosures of your letter are herewitli returnnl, as reipiested. i have, tie., (Sij-iied) R. HYUAM. J, No. 9. Lord John Russell to the RUjhl Hon. C. Poulett Thomson. (Confidential.) Sir, Downing Street, May 9, 1840. I HAVF" to ackno\vledp;e tlu; receipt of your confidential despatcli of the 26tli of Marcli, inelosin received. TIk; plans and estimates to which Sir R. D. Jackson refers will, of cour.se, be for- warded at a future period. I have, &.('., (Signed) C. POULETT THOMSON. luelosurc in No. 10. Sir. R. D. Jackson to the Right Hon. C. Poulett Thomson. Sir, Niagara, June 16, 1840. I HA^'i^E the honour to acknowledge; the receipt of your Excellency's despatch if »he 8th instant, conveying copies of communications from the S(>oretary of State, and Board of Ordnance, upon the subject of that part of my memorandum upon Montreal and its immediate frontier, which relatw^ to works proposed for il.s defence. ff u r^^ 12 command. ""1'>^""J aimnadMrtid i,,,„„ bj ,„;. pa^decessors i„ ilu, mostexUodiartofllKL.,Vi r n ;\l!f ^ ' "" "J"' ""l»"»iit and ll,o Will rji,,. n,„n. n,on..v an.1 .imXlTSlT ,c°h t'^fj:'^ ^i'"' "'»"- considered syslom of m " "al ,,7, . ht , ' "' »™"-'>»™'! "itl. a woU can bo noRlrel,,! iritl,^ ™ ii it " ' ''J, '''""jT """• I'™"'* "Incl, mnor w;«.^a^o„,„^ 4in;aSd SSi;^ ^^l^i^T S' Slf'S perf4!.;:'j:^";f ;r: s in;i;t;Si,.t ^'""^^ ■"■*"*^' ™^ «»'->' '^. 8™ "Jn'totirol^lnl.""' '■'•'""'«'• '■™' M™'™' '» Lako Huron has con- I have, kc, rSignod) R. I). JACKSON, ^___ Lieutenant-General. No. 11. ^ord Sydenham to Lord John Russell.~{Received January S,m\.) ^^^ Wh'h , f . . Gowr«mc«< i/o«s., A/o« subiec d d,v 1 ,1 l ;n^l««>"S: a copy of to Earl Batlunvst in tli.. n,onth of ISember iSs ^' ' '^" of Wellington In subnnttnig these documents to No'ur Lordsliin T boo- tr. ii especial attention to the remarks of tlie l)uk;w,+^wir^'. ^ '" ^^^^ ><'»'»" maintenance of connnunicati, n^, h m of v r^:] ^"^'"'jr'" ''^''''} '" '^'^ Canada, and between Lower Ca, al and IX^'I-aT ^PP'^r and Lower to tlie former, ample provision lias be n le ^ • ^'''''''T'; ^" ^''"'P^^' construction of the Rideau C^ Z'^^'\h '"'^'^''"'y^'^'^' ^y the Brunswick and Nova Sc( ta/ o hini txs be ^In"'"'""^,''*''""^ ''''^ New same unprotc-cte.! sta.e as „,c v Ji^^lS l\^ ^\:^ .^^^^^i^ T " ^'^ of .u-nt. has rendered our relations with the neighbouril;^^^.;:' ^ t S 13 much nioro critical, and has coiiscf|ucntly increased in an immense degree the necessit)' for proteeliii};; our coiunuiuications. I would, tliereforc, bcj; to solicit your Lordship's (>arly and altontive con- sideration to this important ] .)iut, whieli, althoufj;li not cndiraced in the present rei)ort from Sir Uiehard Jackson, must occujiy a prominent place in any sciienu> for the protection of Her Majesty's domiiiions in North America, and for preserving the conununication l)et\veen the dili'erent provinces contained in them. I have, &ic., (Signed) SYDENHAM. Inclosure 1 hi No. 1 1 . Lieul. -General Sir R. D. Jackson to Lord Sydenham. My Lord, Montreal, November 14, 1840. THE Commanding Royal Engineer communicated to me some time back, an extract from a letter from the Secretary to the Board of Ordnance, dated 21st of August, 1H40, staling that Her Majesty's Secretary of State "had declined giving his opinion upon a proposition for building an hospital within the citadel of Quebec, until. the general estimate for tlie fortilications in Canada shall have reached his Lordsliip." The Secretary of State, ui his despatch to your Lordship of the 9th of May last, requested your Lordship to call upon me, " to furnish a more specific and detailed report upon the subject, than was presented in my memorandum of March last ;" and also " to obtain a scientific report for the Board of Ordnance as to the Engineering that would be required, and an estimate of the expense of the undertai' '-^'l^rt" (as In connection uitl tl/c^ £S^ ^m i 'n,"''^ "*^"'^' ^^''' ^^"y)- coriKsso movinf,^ can act upon o r fro nfe wiThii I' f ^'^^^^ "^''^ '"» ^""^^"y''^ ration of war at Waaliin-ton "" '' ^^''^ ^^'^^'^ '^ft^'r tl>i-' ^lecla- ^^ to c. i„ way .„™u,h what »':'ih™ r>;uS;o:,'';rgt'S an oxpcliltoran act upon tf,™ „,t^,.!Lt f •;";:''' "'"' ""'^'ini'Mly disturbance from l,clow. "''' ''*''" " •>" possible to givo ft a. <^^:^z::::^z wSr" "■"■"■""'"' <»• -^ <^i"'-" °f acmg „p„„ ,., 600 to 1000 men. ' '" """°"' ™l>'*'c of containing each from not capable of defc.ice, at poZT^^hcryT^orTlu?^ ''^ V'^' ?''''^'°" of barracks 5th. Durinff half fho v^ -Vr r ^ permanent works should be placed Britain, whilst S Z leas^;" £te ^T':T^ 'T""'' "^^^^^ enemy's corps, prepared beforelu nd near Vhe fr™^^^ ^^'t'' '^'^ '-^n our roops from points necessary to forw rd r f .""^''^ ''""'"i'* ^o drive openinf,^ of the navigation. ^ '''^'^ ^^''^^'^ ^"^"••^' operations on tho defei^^f^S'^oun^S iliJt.^; ^^^J-"; ^f '% ^'^y -.^-"^'^^ ^" the -uS'^.rS^J'KllSri; ::;^^^^r^^"^ -r-^-- -z. arran^e. of its frontier, which 1 shall en eaol^rcomn^ '^" """'»« has been often and mi„ut,,qy deiribed '^"'"i""'' "'^ ""'^'^ "« possible, as it from the ^Sl^S^^lt^r SZ^^^/^"*^^: T — '^ ^^ '--d troopf 1;; " ;;;■ Tei!2; ni^ "f FiJicaf,!:^^-^' -:^ -ppb- of our niHiHcation with the provinces of ISJm.u',""^ ''" ^"t^'rior lino of com- Si. ;ai.- H,.. Ke„,„t' K„,;;r:,;;:.::;n: t:x^srL'lsr-ra l.ab,o .0 ,„terr,„-,io„, and becan. acceit;:' i" 'S ;;' i;"^^M;r^.A; I.J fa*< the Bay of (Jliiil(;iir.s, up wliidi tran«i)()rt.s of 200 Ions' burtlicn can ascend as hi}
  • ,dit turn our post at the Tami.seouata Lake, .i_nd advance to the St. [jaurenee, at\er di.spo.ssessinj^ us of the di.sputed Ter- ritory, and establi.sh himself on that rivor near the Traverse, and innx-de its navi;>ation. This latter attempt doe.s not appear tomeprobabh-, but thev mav attempt to drive us from the valley of the St. .lohn's River, and that part (If tiu; dis- puted T<>rritorv iield by us. If this be worth contest inj;- p(),sts must be established on the St. Jolurs, opposite to Fort Jarvis, at the little falls of the MadawasUa, and at the f;reat falls on the St. John's. These form no part of the worUs reconimonded for the defence of Canada. The distance between Queb(>c and the Riviere du Loup (114 miles) can be traversed by artillery in forty-eight hours, with relays of horses in winter. In order to assist my attempt to describe the Canadian Frontier, I i)ropose to dnide it into four districts, which measure would in reality, 1 think, tacihtate arraii>;ements for its defence in time of war. 1. I propose calling the first the Quebec District, extondins from the Kivi^ro du Loup, to tlic mouth of the Yamaska River, at its confluence with the St. Lawrence. 2. The 2nd district (or Montreal) extending' from the Yamaska to the cr mouth of the ^int River in Lake Ontario. FZ:...:tr 3. The 3rd (or Niagara District) from the tW*. River to the mouth of the Uuse, or Cirand River in Lake Erie. 4. The 4th (or Western District) comprehends the remainder of the water- bound 1" ronticr, between the Grand River and Lake Huron, At the present time this extensive lino of frontier (nearly 1400 miles) reniains without the protection of the works recommended for that purpose. Nothing has been done (as remarked in the same paragraph of the Ordnance Minute before quoted) towards the works recommended by the Commission of 1823, except at Quebec and Kingston, which are incomplete." An en(!my can conseciucntly attack us when, where, and how it may suit his convenience and views. Our system of defence must be passive and local We are precluded from acting upon the principles of a sound defensive system, and from deriving advantage from the energy and discipline of our troops : from the risks attendant on leaving one vulnerable point wliilst con- centrating, in order to repel an attack, at another, or acting ourselves upon the oftensive. * Under present circumstances we must regulate our movements by those of an enemy, wliich may not be ascertained until it be too late to counteract them. Having oflered these general observations, I will proceed with the outline of the frontier. The Commanding Royal Engineer is in correspondence with this d(;partment upon the completion of the fortress at Quebec. With regard to the frontier line of this district, it is deemed almost impervious to an eiiemy n forc" haxing a siege in view; the country is well calculated for defence, and he must bring his heavy artillery and materials for a siege, and oven for crossing the St. Lawrence from Lake Champlain, and if we retain possession ot ihe Richelieu River, he would bo exposed to attack on his flank, and to have his communications with his own country interrupted. I consider, then, the Frontier of Montreal must be taken from us before an enemy could pass the St. Lawrence below Montreal to besiege Quebec, It will be prudent, however, to have advanced strong posts in the direction of the K(!nnebec and Penobscot Rivers, and at Sherbrooke, on the St. Francis, as a rallying point and depot for the militia. Arnold's march by the Kennebec and Chaudierc rivers to Quebec, can only be looked upon as a bold incursion, dependent upon MontKomcrv's success at Montreal. I(> M I 2 1 (onsi.lcr (l.c2i.(l, or Mo.Krcal Dislricl, as oik- of the most important of lu> trontu-r; and hav(; compris.'.! Kiii^rston (and tlu- intornu-diato counlrv) wit unon<<.listnclh,Taus(>tlu>y should aUvay.s he licl.l in strid ((.njunition witli earli oilier, altliou},Hi exposed to various and dillerent operations. ' In Ihis point of vi(.w f sliall (irst notice the ininiediatefrontier of Montreal cxtcndni<; al()n^M)iir boundary IiniM)f-ir/. ' „. '•;!>'• '''fl/'fll''-^;!!"'- of frontier is nearly boiuided by the eourse of the Richelieu Kiyer, the outlet of Lake Champlain; and to show that I do not attach undue importance to its conservation, i tal<(! leave to submit the follow- ing extracts from official documents of the United States' Government. The first is an extract from a document presented to Con},-ress in their last Session entitled u " Rejiort upon National Defences and National Bounda- ries, dated lotli May, 1840. In pase 103 it is stated, " A work here (near the boundary line) on Lake Champlain, may be made to command the; pass of the lake, and is considered by tar the most important of any proposed in tlio whole line of frontier. . Th' position of Lake Champlain is somewhat peculiar, while Ontario, Erie, liuron, and Superior, stretch tlieir whole Ienf(lh along the frontier, (formi in- in fact, th<' boundary;) Champlain extends deeply into mir territory, and while Its southern extremity reaches almost to the Hudson, it linds fts outlet to the nortli iii tlie St. Lawrence, nearly midway between Montreal and Quebec, flie two great objects of attack. • " Thisjs, undoubtedly, the avenue by wliich the British possessions can be most efTectually assailed; while, at the same time, it would afford to the enemy possessing a naval ascendancy equal facilities for bringing the war within our own borders, if :t be left unfortified. It therefore becomes necessary to fortify a point as near the line as practicable, so as to shut out the enemy's vessels, and thus elTect the double object of protecting the interior shores of the lake from the predatory attacks to which tliey would be otherwise exposed and of securing it to ourselves as a channel by wiiich our troops and supplies may be rapidly thrown forward to the points of attack and defence " IJie Officer at the head of the Engineer Department of the United States observes, in his Report to the Secretary ai War,— o. . " J'/on? the nortliern end of this lake (Champlain) tlie forces of the United States should march into Canada, and interrupt the communication by the St. Lawrence, either at or near the mouth of the Richelieu River, at Montreal Is and, at some point where the ship-channel of the river could be commanded intermediate between these places, or at any two, or at all of these places, according to circumstances. '■ ' _ " In the case of this ofTensive movement, tlie fortified position of Isle aux Noix, and any other upon the Richelieu, should bo lefl in tlie rear, bcin- masked by suitable bodies of troops, and should be subjected to immediate and vigorous attack so as to open the navigable water communication within twenty miles of Montreal. " The iinexampled increase of population along our borders, the hundred new wcws, already hnished or in hand, of connecting these borders with the heart of the country, may so elevate the resources of this region, that in the event of war, a resistless torrent will sweep the opposite territory from' end to end. Ihe military consequences of tlie occupation of the outlet of Lake Champlain are so obvious, that it must not be supposed tliey are not perfectly understood by our neighbours across tlie border." Such are the opinions, and such, I may add, are the designs of our neidi- bours across the border. *' The work proposed to close Lake Champlain against us, is among those submitted for the consideration of Congress. This list will be given hereafler in the course of this memorandum. I will observe here, only, that in the opinion of all naval officers with whom 1 have communicated, we have no cjiance of getting an .isccndancy upon Lake Champlain. •' _ Every military consideration denotes Montreal as tlie iirimary object of an invading enemy It is a position that severs the lin,- of defensive opera- tions, shuts up the Ottawa as well as the St. Lawrence, and restrains all beow, while ,t w,t]^>r. a 1 above; to gain possession of it, would imply the military possession of the Province. ^ vt In tlic present stato of parties, it would be decisive from its moriil inllii- enco, as tlu; centre and capital of the most popiilons district, almost exclusively inhabited by French Canadians. There are two lines of operation against the immediate frontier of Montreal, for an enemy ad\ ancinfjf from this " Avenue" of Lake Clianiplain and the Hudson. 1st. Tliat of the Richelieu River. 2nd. That of the Chateaujjay River. in the line of the Ridielieu nuist bo included the two roads on each bank. The river itself is navigable throuf^hout in summer, and pa.ssable four montiis fj^enerally on the ice in winter. The road by Napierville and L'Acadie, anil tiial by Hemmiiif^ford and J)on}>lasscorner, must be included also in tliis line, all bcinj.:; nearly parallel, and leadinj;^ more or less on La Prairie, wiiieh is the termination of the railroad from St. John's, and wliere Is situated the wharf for tlie steamboats plyinf>; with INlontreal. 2iid. Tlie line of Chatcaufjav is more circuitous, and does not offer the .same advantaf;es as that by the Richelieu. The water-frontier of Canada cimimences where the line of 43° strikes the St. Lawrence near St. Rep:is, and the course of this river from Lake Ontario is nearly throuo;hout controlled by the Americans. It cannot be depended upon as a communication in time of war, Anotlier line of operations against Montreal presents itself by a flank movement, upon the supposition that its immediate frontier were protected by atronf? works, wliich unfortimately is not the case, is thus pointed out by au officer of hi^h rank in a former administration of the United States. He supposes the army assembled at O^densburgh, between which and Plattsburgh there are good conuuiuiications, used during the last war, and where a railroad is now projected. Ogdcnsburgh is an improving place, situated just above the rapids of the St. Lawrence. An army cannot well, venture to pass below, on account of these rapids ; although batteaux descend them, and stores and materials of every kind might be sent down, protected by an army moving by the left bank. The reasons given for this mode of acting against Montreal by the above officer are : — Lst. " That the force could be assembled at Ogdcnsburgh with ease. 2nd. " That a water conveyance is furnished all the way to Montreal. 3rd. " That the British are not fortified on thi; St. Lawrence side, and have no strong outposts, that must be forced, in order to secure the flanks and rear of those engaged in the main attack. 4th. " By approaching his Hank, the British General must change his position, in which case he must do one of f mr things ; either he must occupy the north side, and give up the south, — or he must occupy the south, and give up the north, — or he must confine himself to the island of Montreal, and give up both sides, — or finally, he must < >ccupy both sides and thus expose himself to be beat(>n in detail." The Americans propose building a fort at Ogdcnsburgh, at the narrows of the St. Lawrence, with the object of closing the communications this way, between Montreal and Kingston. There is a third line of operatiim against Montreal, diverging also from the Avenue of Champlain and Hudson, by the Erie Canal, from Albany and Troy, wliich commxuiicates both with Lakes Ontario and Erie. This move- mim't agiiinst Montreal would be similar to the last mentioned, but attended with more difficulty. It would better answer as a line of operation against Kingston, or to distract attention from the main attack by the Richelieu. It is not likely that he would repeat his error of attacking by two distinct lines of opi-rations, as in th(! last war. As tlie frontier line of the St. Lawrence cannot be used as a commu- mcation in tin' ^f war, we must depend upon that by the Ottawa and Rideau. Our chance of acquiring and retaining the naval ascendancy upon Lake Ontario in war, depends upon the security of Kingston and its harbour. There is no protection to either at present. Fort Henry, however good in itself as a detached work, is inadequate to tliis purpose. "Ul t„.»„!f 1"*^**°" I' * P'^'^ ^^ ^^'^ groatert imiiortanco to ub, and should Ik- nro. tectcd by a «yHtom of good i>crmancnt woJks, 1„ order to resist arm, t^ K may be made against it by tl.e following oiHjrations— a"t,mi)t8 that rrJ?{2Zl^^t:i^^S^:^^^ ~) ^^ O^'^-'b-gl, or HarW '''''°"' "'" "'"^'''" ^^ ''*" *^"« ^"""'' l^y 0«^«P« «nd Sackett'n fall info t^VoSShf S^^^ "^""^ ^^ ^^^"^ ^''« N''^^-^ P-"-'"' 'f 'h«t the S^i^i^Sj^-i-'^^^^^^ Of no safe SoS^'in T^'f^^' '"^"^ '" ^^^er small harbours, and there i, ioins Prfnrrt3w''''i?'T \^''l^' long-projectcd canal across the isthmus that JO ns Prmce Edward's Island to the main land, should be completed Thf konf lnl^^'° ^"^"^ '^'^S"'''^ *^*''* ^'^'^ """"'^^ between Kingston and Hamilton he kept m order From Toronto to Hamilton there are two roads ^ev unite before reaching Burlington Heights, near Hamilton, where C^is^woodon % kTH,f.^f 5^"^""^^" S'-^y' -hich ought to be p^^tected '°'*'" Ontario ^ importance to ub to have a naval superiority on Lake Burlin JoXv"and'Ho,Vh?f ^ ? -T ^'T^^'^^ ^''"^ ^^^^^^^ ^"^ Toronto to the NiSa p^^^^^^^ '^"^ '^ ^°.^d ^^^^'•^ the left or eastern flank of co4[s:^t£:^ii7^^ - ^^^^- ^^^ -them FlamW Heights is preferable to the present. 'ginai entrance near small badlo'^t'o^M/"'"* ^'^^^^i ^^ Jhe entrance of the river, commands oxir t hemav^fte^tlX'^^^^^^^^ *^^' enemy sliall have' driven us from fo fhrZLnl P ^^ J^ temporary command of the lake, as well as river, S i^e I .To /r 'V^'^ 1'^'"^'^'*' ^°^ '"•'^y ^«'"'«'-t the abandoned work to use, as a tfite de pont; but invasion is more to be apprehended between Lake oEo. "' ^'■'"' ^"""' ""^^" ^^^ ^^P"^'^ - of'ourtctdanS^ It has been observed that Lake Ontario is free from obstruction bv ice at least one month ear ier than the St. Lawrence ; he could (if thTSiSt on be open to him) send his expedition to the northern shore of the lake So the eastern side of the Niagara Peninsula, some weeks befok SorcementH could arrive to our troops from Montreal. rcmiorcements It seems, therefore, necessary to defend Burlington Heiglits and Bav bv i ^S^Sl:SteSS^r^^^ should b^e one of LrdV6»he from his posts m Lake Erie, or from both", 'in combination, Saps t?th a subordinate force, threatening the Western district from the'DSrSiver to be_S° Cm Sn^rr ^-^ ^t ^'^P^dition against the Peninsula would FnV rL:^ ^^f^°^ drawing the resources of the Eastern States by the El le Canal, or_2nd. From Port Erie and neighbouring Ports, receivinrhis supi,lies from Pittsburg, and even from New York, by the AlleSy cina ^;^s or Kv?"'^f ^'/T"^J ^y the Ohio' dual fronfthe Cemral States.' ^' ' L^^duskey, being in communication with the Western The best landing-places for a large expedition wU be foimd between the 19 or , shore opposite to Buffalo, and the Grand River ; hnvlnff cstnhHshcd himself here, lie would be in sliort and direct communication with his own country. If he find no obstacles in liiH way, he would occupy Burlinpton HuHita and Bay, and separate our troops in the Western district from those below 1(. The Commission of 1823 recommended the construction of a fortress on the Short Hills, for the protection of the Niagara I'cninsula, to whicli I do not know that any other objection could be offered, but its expense. I have said nothing of the intermediate tract of country betwen the Trent River and Burlington, because I do not consider it much exposed to an attempt of magnitude ; or of the line of the Trent; or of the communicalioiid between Toronto and Penctanguiahene ; not because they are not of import- ance, but from a wish to confine my observations to those points of the frontier that are universally deemed most assailable by an enemy in force. The 4th, or Western district, comprehends the remaining part of the «»w-Canadian Frontier, encircled by water, between the Grand River anil Lake Huron. On the northern shore of Lake Erie there are some small ports, o harbours, affording landing-places for desultory attacks, but no one well calm lated for the debarkation of a large force, considered in connection with (lie state of the interior coimtry and its communications. It is, however, understood that the Ronde-Eau Lake is capable of boin"- improved into a good harbour, so as to become a post of consecpicnce from its proximity to Chatham, with which it is said that it might be connected by a canal. •' Chatham must become a place of dep6t and support to the Western frontier, in time of war. London is the central post of the Western district, and of support to the whole of its frontier : roads diverge from it in every direction. It may be scarcely necessary to do more than advert to the bad state of the roads generally in Canada and mrticularly in the Western district ; they would render military operations difficult in this district, except in summer. They either follow the course of rivers and streams, or are cut through the bush, where there are few clearances or settlements. It is therefore a country favourable for defence by a comparatively small force, from these ircum- stances, and from the paucity of lateral roads by which the retreating party may be turned. An enemy's supplies, if he be in force, must accompany him, It he leave the Lake Road, and commimication with his shipping ; and on that road even, he would find little cover or assistance from the country. Amherstburg, with the Island of Bois-Blanc, at the entrance of the Detroit River, form together a good roadstead ; it was supposed to command the passage of this river, but it is ascertained that as large vessels as are used in the Lake navigation can pass, out of fire, between Grosse Isle and the American shore. Amherstburg retains, however, a considerable interest and importance from being a naval station, and from being at present our best rallying point for the militia of the country. ^ o i Port Sarnia is situated at the junction of the St. Clair River with Lake Huron ; it is a good little port, with a sufficient depth of water ; the river hero IS narrow, and there are rapids near its entrance ; the bank on our side com- mands the entrance of the American Port Huron, and the entrance of the Lake of that name. It is not supposed that an enemy would attempt invasion, on a large scale, by the Detroit frontier ; there are no works, however, at present to retard him an instant. I do not enter into the question here, which has been often agitated, whether it be likely or not that an enemy may attempt to seize on Penctangui- shene, and move in force upon Toronto, thus turning all the western district, and tak ig in reverse all our defences on that and our Niagara frontier. This appears to me a remote danger, notwithstanding the rapid rise of new states adjoining Michigan, which last had only 5000 inhabitants in 1812. Having given an outline of the Canadian frontiorj I shall proceed to submit my views as to the arrangements adapted to its defence. ' It appears necessary to inquire, 1st, what are the jmints most assailable 20 MILL- Li ^ ' ant ferny having the great pjirposcH of war in view, and tlmt arc ot'niort ^n\\ ' >ji'1 tho jirnbnblo Hmnunt raise a corps of Sapp^Ts and Miners. The foundries of cannon and manufactories nf small arms fir the army and militia of the Union, and of gunpowder, have been favourably reported upon, Great attention lias been i)aid, in the construction of barracks, to tho comfort and accommodation of the men; their hospitals are, in particular, in excellent order. The establishment at West Pnint is an object of great solicitude, and is, I am informed, as well regulated as any similar institutinn in Europe. There is evidently thus a nucleus formed fir an efficient army. The reorganization of the militia of the Union has of in- yn;n^! engaged much of tho attention of successive ! 'residents, and of the T,co'-;hre,i.. The certain result of the constant agitatiim of this question ^M'' i),' an .., I'ccment of all parties to some plan fir this purpose, as all admit ot its necessity. Several plans have been submitted, but the jealousies of the dilTerent states, and popular prejudices, have hitherto prevented action being taken upon any on(> of them. A pl^m for the immediati subii. -/H!-) provided .' ": the United States be divided into eight military dis.iiv.ifc. '. '^e militia to u: organized in each district, so as to have 12,500 men in active service, and 12,500 in reserve. Tliis would give a permanent disposable force of 200,000 militia ; the term of service to bo eight years: four years 'n the first, and four years in tlic second class. The remainder of the militia to be enrolled and mustered at stated inter- vals, so that in due process of time the whole mass of the militia would pass through thcRO d.^sses. Tlie 25,000 mcu on active service were placed under tlie orders of the President. mmediate training of _2n(),()00 militia of the Union, was ved of, in tlie last session of Congress, but will certainly 91 AiioiIkt \ ' m wiw Riihmlttcd, In to rciuovr tl\<> ('oiiHlitutiiinal obioc- '■ tioii made tft li , jircfiHUiit; one, by < • ,...nilf .stiiirs comiMmiiig \\\v Uiiiuii, wilt) claini the riKlit of rcer the failurex of the first campaiy;!!, w]u>n luililirt were principally emploved, leave was i;iven to raise lifty baltalioiw ; nf uliicli many were raised, ami conducted ihemselves in a very creditable winner, under oflicerH taken from the army, and otherwise selected witli care. Tliero would be less difliciilty now in pirovidinf? clliciei I oflicers. In liU(i manner when distiirbancea wen aiiprchended between New Uriiiiswick and Maine a few yi'ars sinct!, the '.^'csidcnt was authorizc; a sunicienn force upon tlus'frontier, within a very short period, to j istify the undertaking;; ol" oirensive operations. There mit;;lit be; a delicitMtcy of some of the rc(|i'isitea for lonp; ami ardu- ous campaip;ns; but tlu; season for activt? operations >; short in this cnmitry, and the prtiximity of the Uniletl States to the theatre f war, would facilitate the transmission of sui)plies necessary for tlie occa.sioii It is not likely that a large proiKirtitm of their disposable forct; would be diverted from active operations ni this frontier li • tlie protection of tlu! Kca-board frontier of the States. It is too extensive for i force of this descrip- tion, and nuist be left to measures of local defeiict>. The sea coast may be harassed and insulted, but no appndiensions can be (nitertained of invasion by an army upon a larp;c s de. The occupation of Washington, and the destruction of public building there, is considertid more as an insult than an injury, and not likidy to be rc) attjd. I have already adverted to tiw superiority of tlie I lited Stales upon all the lakes except Ontario, and ihey have, it is too probaba', ampler means to retain, than we possess to contest it. There is no doubt that such a contest is contemplated bv all parties in the United States, as likely to take place at some time, and perhaps at no distant period. I prefer seeking for proof of this general feeling, or rather conviction, in the olhcial documents of tlie GovernnKMit at difTerent pi iods, than in any hypothetical proposition of individuals, however well supp^ ried by reasoning or appearances. A stronger proof could not, 1 think, bi? produc-'d than trom the; approv(!d plan, for the construction of f(> ^ses for the d(>fence_of the Northern frontier, from whtMice it is evident the Ui. .ed States have nothing to fear. These works, from their position and character, are intended to form a basis of future offensive operations against Canada, as will, 1 think, appear from the following extract from a late Report to Congress from the War Department: — "The Morlhern frontier of the United States from Lake Superior o G m M 22 ^'s^iX s;i,S's^r?s:tr'' '""- =™ "■"-' »■■ "«' S<;;;i-;is:;;,?r'™ ■■■"-'^ - "-• -■« "^ °- "'•'■.« !-■ 'Si,!'"' .:,„s „,ca„': of !;1S;; ,; j;:.™'.*" »"'■■■■•'' '"o "■«-> c- ,i,„ i„u,, „ii, „„>„ „„ protecting 11,0 ctiro circnmforoncf of tl- lo f,l nlitu ,o f ■ 'i: '"' exposed, ovon from a small forco, ami soc "rin to ZX; ^;,fi ',' 'J c„,„„™„ic,„„„ „it„ ti,„ rich „„„' prod,,c,ivrar rt'i;rr;:,;i, *™"it:f o,„1„r^rl' f'u"' '*'■■''"' "'' '■'•'" »<"<>r,.-A work hero ivill control the SS,itmS,t"S Sr„r™"" "■» "-*^'- -'"- "-.-11° tr,,;! '!!/'','"'"'"' °f"'"'.,Ktroit would nndonbtcdiy be a point of conccn- bnt for fnlr'T,^""' "'"'''•■ ?"• 'iK **»cc of that'portio, of the froS quarter' "''° "'"■'■""°"' °' "'«'" •"• <1«'™1 expedient i,° !S "This is one of the points from which the enemy midit 1,.. .....ti j v a-iimf^hrviFf"^'- ^"l^.'^'^t'^t^^ .f''=^t onr diicf cfTorts sliould be directed ^ " 4 V-l,/T'^ of h,s possessions as low down tl.e line as possiWo 4tli KeZfZ FFbr/f anrf Barrack Establishment at Buffalo.— It niav bocomo ^ttStio?' ^°"^^"^-*-" «f ^™"1-' -^cl is, in every fiew, emitied\o'3: sn4^;^Sr e^l^^'^'™^"^' ^^^"^^^^ b^ ^ «^1^— k, will be "5th. FortNiagara.~A fort at this position is Important- it comn.md« he entrance to Niagara River from Lake Ontario, and ^v SVl L w 1 hut tlie enemy's vessels out of tliis harbour. ^"^^ ..,''^^}'- /"''*'>/ Oswego.~Thc throwing importance ofOswe-o the relation boars to the ^mit hne of internal communication, call for wks o pro ec itsjiju^our, which would probably be made a 'subordinate deLoMrthne "7th. Fort at Sachett's /Tariowr.— Sackett's Harbnnr frnm itc \.r.^A water and excellence as a harbour, would become .t^iprof^'t m,S,rN expedient.'' ""' "' ^'^^ ^"'^' ''' '''''''' "" -"-"^ration ^f troopf may Sme forti^Hl^fa^jrh^s;:'^:;;^:^.""" ' ''"''''' ^^'^^'^'"^^ ^^ -"-- ^« These works, in conjunction with that proposed to close the outlet from Lake Champhun. will enable the United Stat\.s to commence ofFend e o, er^ tions a-ainst Canada with tlie greatest advantage ^ Their troops can concentrate at the points of attack, and their deuAts will bc' in security, upon tlu" verge of onr frontier. ' ' ^^ "^^ Ihe third subject for imiuiry proposeu is:— " Our means of repelling the enemy's attack " And here I would (irst observe, that little analogy presents itself between h^ rehHol ';'"""'! «f;l- United States and Canada,- all that e d by them m .elation to each others means during the last war. I shall therefore scarcely draw .iny mfr-ren(Ts from the .nents of iliat pc-riod t'l^'^torc I possess, hoN\(>\er, ihv advantage of being able to refer to a letter of i I. / 1 23 be f 1' the DuUo of Wellins-lon, .lat,.,! Isl of Marcl,, 181!); f,,,- the princii.lo. upon wlm-li tlio (lofeiico of Canada sliould l)e based ; (ho letter is addressed to Karl Bathnrst, tlien Colonial Secretary. 1. The Duke concurs in opinion, that Quebec, Montreal, and Kingston, fortitieV"" greatest importance in Canada, and tliat they should be' 2. His Grace recommends tliat the works on the Richelieu River be slren-thened, so as to prevent tlie enemy from getting the command of the navigation. :i That an interior communication between Quebec and Lake Huron bo shortened as niucli as possible. 4. Tliat we collect our craft upon one of the lakes, so as to obtain a superiority upon one, as he considers it impracticable to ac.piire it upon all o Kstimating the probable amount of our regular force, of all arms in L-anada, to he the same as at the commencement of the last war viz 13 000 men, he suggests that a field force of 10,000 men be divided into two co'rps, and tli(> remaining 3000 be distriliiited in garrisons. ^ All of these to be supi)orted h\ drafts from the militia. «. . c insiders it undesirable to attempt any attack upon the United Ntates fi-om Canada. ^ Tlie nearer we can make our measures approximate to those recommended by tii(^ iJuke the better. With respect to our present means of repelling attack, I must first observe \,nan "! pi-t'sent, m Canada, a regular force of all arms, of about 11,000 men, and about 2500 embodied militia; and it is thouglit in-acticable to augment^ the latter force by the incorporation of volunteers enlistc-d for a liniit(Hl period, so as to raise our disposable force to 20,000 men • and that volunteer corps for local defence, might be raised at Quebec, 'Montreal, Kingston, and J oronto. ' The militia establishment of Canada requires revision. It is not now generally available for s(>rvice throughout the province, although it is Drobable that a portion of it might be induced to follow the noble exami)le set bv the loya mihtia of New Jirunswick, 1200 of which, I understand, have been enrolled and framed, m readiness to move wherever their services mieht be recpured. ^ We should be careftil not to let loose an unorganized mass, however well- disposed, as that would prove (as termed by the American Governments " a ruinous expedient," and the expense would be the least evil attcndin- it A mass o_t this kind would be exposed to privations they are ill c^dculated to bear ; the inhabitants would suffer, also, and be soon disgusted and impo- venslied, and ready to submit to any change promising rpiiet. It might be deemed hazardous to place arms in the hands of the French Canadians, as a militia, for some time to come ; but it may be practicable to raise small independent corps from this class, under officers possessing their confidence and that of the Government : corps of this description did "ood service during the last war, and the French Canadians possess some valmible military (pialities. Small corps of cavrlry might be raised for general service within the province : those now existing are of a very useftil description, and there is no country, however close and wooded, in which small bodies of cavalry are not 01 use. -^ It was with a view to call out gradually and etfectually the strength of the population, and avoid the embarrassments attendant on a general forward movement as well as to facilitate other arrangements, that I proposed dividintr tlie C anadian territory and frontier into four districts, and to place each so tar as military measures are concerned, under a judicious officer, who, actin.-- in concert \vith tli(> civil authorities within the district, might carry into effect many ot the arrangements made hi (Jreat Britain when invasicm was exiiected and are applicable to every country, such as the removal of cattle, destruction of bridges and communications, &c. Having provided for the garrisons of the existing works, I would recom- mend the^adoption of tlie Duke of Wellingtoivs suggestions, and disposal of the field force in two corps. But no dependence upon the decided superioritv of our lro(,ps or arrange- I I 24 ' /€ * mcnts made for dcjfcnce conn(>clO(l vvitli thoni, should load us (o nog;loct the construction and completion of perniancnt works, calculated for the protection of the points of most imiioi-tance to us. Havinfif well considered the works jiroposed in the annexed Report of the Commanding Royal Enj^ineer, I sul)init them for favouralile consideration. I have no sort of objection to otl'er to the system of fortification proposed for Canada, by the Commission of 1825, and in its favour 1 am inclined to urge that it appears to nu? judiciously caleidated to place this country in a state to resist at a future period tlio w onderfidly increasing power of our restless and ambitious neighbours. I can ascribe its not having been more extensively acted upon, solely to the cost of the works, arising partly from their position (1st. The Short Hills — 2nd. The Moimtain of Montreal) and magnitude. The Report of the Commission appears to me fimnded on sound principles in every respect, and I deeply regret that circumstances may thwart the exe- cution of its recommendations. It is only luider siu-h apprehension that I recommend works of less expens(>, though, probably, less likely to meet, adequatel}-, future con- tingencies. And I should not do justice to the present Commanding Royal Engineer if I did not add my conviction that he fully concurs with nie in opinion of the value of that Report, and regret that its reconnnendations have not been carried into elFect. The objectrof the works proposed in the annexed Reports arc sufhciently detailed therein, and their positions marked on the district plans that accom- pany them, and I shall but have occasion, therefore, to remark (briefly oidy) upon them. 1 . No doid)t can exist .as to the necessity of completing the fortress of Quebec. 2. With regard to those proposed for the defence of the Montreal frontier and district, I would observe, that the command of the Richelieu River, by the works at Sorel, St. John's, and Isle aux Noix, will enable us to defend not only that immediate tract of country, but that which is in front of Quebec, especially if the passage of the troops can be secured across the St. Lawrence at all times. Upon Kingston, and the worintration on the line of communication between Brandsford and Burling- ton Heights. 4. With respect to the Western district, I would remark principally upon the works proposed at Windsor and Port Sarnia; as the objects of all the other works are sufficiently obvious. It has been shown, in this memorandum, that the American Govern- ment propose building two forts on the Detroit frontier, to command tlie passage between Lakes Huron and Erie; one at the "foot of Lake Huron," opposite to Port Sarnia, the oth(!r near the city of Detroit. It has been ascertained that a work at Windsor would counteract this measure, or at loiust neutralize it, which Amherstburg will not. Windsor is the only healthy situation on (his frontier, a consideration of great importance; it will also command the city of Detroit and fort, being on the commanding b;)nk. A work near Port Sarnia will command or neutralize the [)assage of tiie Sinclair River. i> 25 ■W If by the establishment of these two works we can reduce tlie naval superiority of the United States on Lake Erie, we shall contribute; to tl\L' safety of the Niagara peninsula; and if, in addition, we obtain, through the effect of these works, an influence and control over the; "ricli and product ivc states in rear of Ljake Michifj;an," whose produce passes cliiefly tlirou^li Ihis channel, the expense attending their construction may not be considenMJ (oo great for these advantages; but I recommend these works conditionally only, upon this being clearly proved. Until the most important of the proposed fortifications be comi)let(Ml, the defence of Canada must chiefly rest upon the efliciency of our niilitar\ and naval force (and their zealous co-operation), the amount of which must be regulated by the deficiency of other protection. At the present moment our frontier is uncovered, except at Quebec, Kort Henry, at Kingston, and the Isle aux Noix. There arc, however, several smaller posts of defence, for a few hours only, against an organized force, such as Mississaqua and Fort Wellington, &c. ; these are calculated only to resist desultory attacks from rebels and their supporters. Af\er providing for tlie necessary garrisons, I would propose dividing tlie field force into two corps, placing the right of one at London, and its h'ft at Toronto; the right of the other at Kingston, and its left at Montreal, with an advance occupying its immediate frontier, and a small reserve and good (l(>p()t at Hytown. It will always be necessary to retain a force at Montreal itself, and we should, consequently, be obliged to regulate the amount of tliat station in advance, by what we may be obliged to withdraw from thence for concen- tration higher up. In this position of the two corps, we must await the movements of tlie enemy. It has been observed that the three assailable points are Montreal, Niagara, and Ddtroit; and the last of these may be considered of least importance with relation to the concpiest of Canada. The two lines of operations against the other two points are; 1st, by the "avenue" of Lake Champlain against Montreal; 2nd, by the posts on Lake Krie and Buffalo against Niagara. Our line of communication and defence will be from Quebec ^y the St. La\\rence to Montreal, thence by the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal to Kingston, and by the Lake, or the road by the Lake side, to Toronto, and thence; by the Lake to Burlington Bay, or by land to Hamilton, and tlience by Brandsford to London. It is very desirable that the canal across the Isthmus be completed and connected with the Trent navigation, and the land communication between London and Kingston be improved. Hamilton will become a place of depot, and Burlington Heights and Bay sliould be secured; and it is recommended that a worl< of consequence and arnu'd with heavy guns be placed in rear of, but not distant from, the Welland Canal, to protect the western side of the Niagara peninsula. It will be recollected that the United States propose to strengthen their harbours and posts on Ontario; namely, Sackett's Harbour, Oswego, and Niagara, at the head of the Lake ; and it is understood that they intend to form a ship canal between that Lake and Lake Erie, when there will be a severe contest for Ontario, upon the possession of which so much depends. In conclusion, I beg to repeat that if Canada have not the protection of the works recommended by the Commission of 1825, or others of less magni- tude and cost, as submitted in the annexed reports of the Commanding Engineer, its security must depend upon the number and efficiency of the force in the field. This is so obvious that I woiUd not hazard the indiscretion of stating it at all, still less repeating it, were it not to support the opinion I ventured to express in my memorandum of March last, upon the immediate frontier of Montreal, that nothing but theii- expense could have caused the construction of those works to have been deferred. They are certainly better adapted to resist, at a future period, the increiising power of the United States, than those proposed upon a reduced scale, recommended by myself; but without H I 'A 26 works of one kind or the other, the Canadas cannot be considered safe Well disciplined troops may defend a land frontier against a very superior number fnS'f '"^'"r .-'"""'^J "^"^ '^'' communications ari sufficientWoS to admit of concentration with celerity and accuracy of time; but the Cana- brdepcSS^upr ' ' '"'"'™' ^"'^*'^^' ^"'^ °"^ commixiucations cannot The proposed works would be bulwarks, behind which our small but superior force might move and act with promptitude and full energy This frontier resembles at present a long weak line of battle, liable to be picTced or turned, and overNNhelmed at pdnts decisive of the struggle I he Morks proiK)S(;d by the United States are evidently calculated to Si this Sier ? """' "'""''^"'^- '^^-"' ^'''' *^">' '' ^PP^^h^^d fr«m iis If permanent works on this border were proscribed on either side bv eaty or regulated as to number and quality, like the vessels of war on tli^ lakes the advantage would be wholly on their side ; defensive works are abso^ liitely necessary for the weaker party against such disparity of force, I have scarcely mentioned the important subject of interior communica- tions, or he positions, (according to the ordinary acceptation of the term) because the former are changing every year, in an improving country, and positions vary with them. Neither have I adverted to the aLtance^to be derived from the Indians It is a description of assistance that, from all I have fndhnl/v'n'S^J' not, If possible, to be employed; but I understand thatthe (Signed) R. D. JACKSON. Inclosure 3 in No. 11. Lieutenant-Colonel Oldfield to Lieutenant-General Sir B. D. Jackson. ■-U ^. Commander Royal Engineer Office, Head Quarters, ' Montreal, November 14, 1840. IN obedience to your Excellency's commmands as corammunicated in your minute of the 31st ultimo, I have the honour to submit a roueh ireneral estimate for the fortifications in Canada, as a sort of guide for the Secretary of !5tate, made out as your Excellency recommended in reference to the proposed military districts, the outlines of which, agreeably with your desire, have been preps red. 2. With respect to the Quebec and Montreal districts, I have no obser- vations to offer, beyond what I have submitted in Appendices 3 and 4 and upon the general insufficiency of barrack accomracdation for the present force HI Canada, a remark which applies to the four districts ; if the present strength IS continued in the Canadas, a considerable expense must be incurred in per- manent or temporary expedients, to preserve the health and discipline of the troops. *^ 3. I have not provided in my abstract for No. 3 district, any sum for 1 enetangmshene ; the estimate would be nearly 60,000/. for permanent defences • a smaller sum mighty sufhce for Goderich. In No. 4 district. I have endea- voured lo meet your Excellency's views for the command of the passage between Lakes Huron and Erie. I have made inquiries as to a site for a barrack station in the vicinity of Chatham, and am assured that Chatham itself, ^rom beiuK more cleared of vood and bush, is less unhealthy than any site in its imme- diate neighbourhood. 4. I need not observe to your Excellency, that to prepare detailed projects, with the necessary plans, sections, and estimates, would be a labour of many months ; that the summer is the only season in which sections can be taken or accurate information of the country obtained, and t!,at t!ie present strength ofmv department is insufficient for such a duty ; I trust, however, that the informa- tion which I have now the honour to submit, will be found sufficient -'as a iable to a ted to t Prom us ,T side by • ^ on the c abso- [ nunica- tcrm,) y, and to be I liave lat the to this ON. •< '^ 1840. 1 your eneral ary of posed been ( jbser- f , and force 1 per- f the n for noes; ween ation leing nme- ect8» n(iny n, or I my rma* as a i RPFERENCES. t^A^if*^/ft'^4r ^^fdlffV^/ '€t^UM/rj/fr^fr Ar )f/tp/f " .%f4.Tt i /jf(//fn/ . /.■if <(• f/f^f/'-, '■'■ r ///fM^ti'lffat'/' /■ 'if A . *-ttrr . , 'n^-'^'^f fiance . f'^/r^/i/Hiuft , iVf //^,„ UA«>>/ 7)',//ti /i>rt/f<^ %» ,i/Uftf /-if ^'ff, ff/f// /(ff,/„f^/ ./Jr^ f'f/'/ f'/i/' ^f'hM^i . /hc/f" /'tfnrM rr'Jf//^' /.■if,ir,K''/-'> /rr , '/ff ///^n •// 7///^,,,) / (r //kti , /( //t>h)M /J/ftc/ajfr>,,* ^ •/l^>>i;) . ■'/K/(j/itio . (V/'f //^fH /(-M :^/fHf/> JIh'A : //rfy-'" A' /;,><./ //itt/fy>,i/'i.f . '//I tut, J • tiiif / l/i'y/ /ftituf'.r ■ /ft //tfftfn . '-'fff'irtfffAif'y/t/'A ^^Att/flHtt'tHj . /?// f/lVntfilf J // ^rt// An/t If// )' /li^/'r/r/ifrfM (itHHfUlfffll />'t'l-A'dn ftti' ■ 7>'fiifft>An / "Pit/ /yf.nryM'f ' : ( .ifff'tt /^^^/fr.hffi /f ft'/' "^ iJrit r f tntr<\ ■/tttt/>r ■/'l/,f,if/. -yeytft . ' //f/f/f(rfj/^<;i/,i r/f //if Af//f/f(f /'ffifrr/ /Je^ .%u'ti./dy //i'rn./Mr//''%t/>f».> J /j/zz-V ^Hfrt'/Zi) •^/ifffj. /.i/fr/r/ffr/.tf ,. //ftiff/i',) ,■ r/^ i-i/frttf'rfj ,. (/>■ '/ti/^nttie) ■■ f/'' f/prtft)' i/r///t> /^ftr/yf/ 7/rifrJi . ^///if/f/.J^ 'J^anf f/" tJft^tnd/ffi f //f//,i. /,^/erA//f,f,)p . 0(ji^ in,, , / /, (( ffti/h'ff V/h,,/ /.ifr„,„^„^ /f ff ■'/„/'/ /Jf. it/'/ .'/.v r/r>,>.>, SKETCH OF THE CANAOi MILITARY P)8T8. ■ / A A 7u uj/A. if.i r/t /// f fiKr/r/f/f <'t,ifff/ .. //ftrff/i',1 .. f/r •MAitltlfJ „ f/l • /ertlf.)' iyf//^ ^»ftrf/ /'^rrfrii'. 1/'f/i,/f/:,/i (Jn^M ^/. y^t^tif/j/fff ■/////,, /,l/rr /,/„., ,,,e. r-..^J..>^.^^U^ -v ,yf/r^i\' ^Ar r/rti Y"rrf( Jt t/^'iCUOC /rr -J _L r/c c>C yc 60 ,i^ ui. .3f. ^(j — 1 J_ /(" fJ CH oftheCANADAS, ,/.f/^tt /'f ,lh/,„, Y V/^ >ft4,„/ MILITARV P >8TS, '.Af^^.rr 'y'fA.jf'f,f'/, •■ 'ft 'Jnf "'-. ■fi/i<.^/ /^ Jf^'.y /'/,//,,/,/ J, -J/ (Pe-ece^ny. '!!• ' 27 piiide for the Secretary of State as to the probable sum that may be rccjuii lor fortiticatioriH in Canada," and that I have had the good fortune to accomplish the object of your Excellency's wishcH. I have, &c., (Signed) J. OLDFIPILD, Lieut.-Colonel, Commander Royal Engineers in the Canadas. Routjh General Estimate of the probable Expense of Fortifications for Canada, prepared in obedience to the minute of his Excellency the Commander of the Forces, dated '31st October, 1840, '»•■ District. ••'.Htiinnto tu per Appendix No. 1. Estiniato ns por Appendix No. 2. Remarks. Quebec - Montreal Niagara Westen - £ 199,079 ' ,330,000 502,000 275,000 £ 109,937 477,000 51,000 156,000 Tlicso amounts are principally taken from actual coti* mates io the Eu- f^neor office. 2,306,679 793,937 l4thNov., 1840. (Signed) J. OLDFIELD, Lieut.-Colonel, Commander Royal Engineers in the Canadas. APPENDIX No. 1. Abitract of rough Estimate of the probable Expense of Fortifications in Canada in reference to orders of the Inspector-General of Fortifications, or based upon the Report of the Committee of 1825, and the projects prepared in reference thereto. Quebec, or No. 1 District. (For Report, see Appendix No. 3.) Completing the defences of the Citadel. Rendering bomb proof existing store-houses - Additional store-room - - . . Traverses ---... Scarping and removing rock to prevent escalade - Two tanks ...... Hospital, bomb proof - . _ . Prison do. - - . . Guard.houses and expense, magazines for ravelins, and counter-guards .... Advanced guard-room .... Deepening ditch of king's bastion ... Forming glacis in front of Dalhousie counter-guard Forming glacis towards the town to isolate the citadel Ditch in front of loopholed scarp Levelling, or partial reform of the old French works, to be considered and detailed in project now preparing ..... To retrench barrack bastion ... £4,500 5,000 2,000 3,000 1,500 8,083 3,196 2,000 600 800 800 1,200 900 8,000 Carried forward £42,179 7,500 £49,679 i!i Brought forward. Levelling town works between barrack bastion and citadel ..... Occupying advanced line by caHcntatud redoubts m proposed by the IiiH|)ector-Gencral of Fortitications, say - - . - . - £00,000 Purchase of lands for ditto - « . . 7,000 Tower on led bank of the St. Charles, including purchase of land .... Occupation of the Point Levy side of the St. Lawrence, say - - - • • - Total Quebec or No. I District - 2. Montreal, or No. i District. (For Report, see Appendix No. 4.) Sorel tower and batteries ... Montreal fortress .... St. Helen's Island, permanent defences Chambly fortress . - . - St. John's ditto .... Isle aux 1 Repairing Fort Lennox, and providing addi- Noix j tional burnt proof cover for officers and sick Chateaugay, mouih of River Fort Cascades, tower and battery .... No. No. a o a To complete Fort Henry, including Commissariat stores in advanced battery .... 12,000 1 Redoubt ..... 25,000 2 ditto ..... 35,000 A, Tower .... 10,000 B, ditto - - - . • 8,000 C, ditto ..... 5,000 No. 3, Redoubt .... 25,000 No. 4, ditto .... 45,000 No. 5, ditto ..... 25,000 Jower and battery at Murney's Point - 8,000 l^bwer on Cedar Island .... 5,000 Battery, Point Frederick - . . 3,000 Tower on Snake Island .... 6,000 Purchase of land . . ~ . 100,000 By Town Fortress . - . - . Total Montreal or 2nd District Niagara, or No, 3 District. (For Report, see Appendix No. 5.) Toronto Fortress . - - . . Short Hills ditto .... Total Niagara or No. 3 District Westtm, or No. 4 District. (For Report, see Appendix No. 6.) Sarnia Tower and Battery Amherstburg Fortress Buia Bkuc Island, 2 towert £49.«J7!; 28,000 97,000 .1,000 20,000 H)9,()79 9,000 485,000 42,000 198,000 80,000 16,000 43,000 5,000 878,000 312,000 140,000 1,330,000 152,000 350,000 502,000 8,000 105,000 G,000 arried forward £119,000 \' Chathnm l''ortrc»> Kivn- Thiiniis, iiiotitli oC, Tower nml Battery Loiuluii (letci)giblc Unrrack Total Western or No. 4 District Brought forward £110.000 1 1.") ,000 8.0 ordnance stores. 4. In Appendix i\o. I. provision is made lor casemated redoubts in the line ot the present towers ; those now proposed are on the plan of those approved bv tlie Kngineer Committee ibr Kingston in 1829. I had contemplated the maintaining the existing towers in perfect order and covering them by redoubts, to be thrown up when letpiired, or scarping the rock round those where the ground would not admit of a redoubt ; levelling or par- tially restoring the old French works in front of the citadel ; holding and strengthening the Marine and general Hospitals, as points d'appui on my advanced line, to which field-works might be added if necessary. 5. From the left bank of the St. Charles, the risrht of the Quebec works can be seen into at a distance of (i.OO yards ; I have in both projects provided for a tower to occupy this site, and strengthen our advanced line. I have also included works tor the Point Levi side of the harbour, in reference to the minute of the Inspector-General of Fortifications before quoted. , ,.. „ ,_,^ (Signed) J. OLDFTELD, Lieut, Colonel, l-ith, iVor. 1840. Commander Royal Engineers in the Canadus. APPENDIX No. 4. .r '•'^^^S'^^o"^l' "'■ Montreal District, extends from the Yamaska to the Kiver Irent. ihe prmcii)al military jjoints to be considered are the covering of the Montreal Frontier, the protection of Kingston, and of our communications by the Kiver fet Lawrence, and by the Rideau and Ottawa Canals 2. The Engineer Committee of 1825 have reported most fully and ably on tlie Montreal frontier. The services enumerated in Ap])endix No. I. are based upon this report, and upon subsequent estimates and rei)orts in reference thereto. 3. To fortify the Montreal or No. 2 District, upon this principle, would incur an expense of at least one million. Upon the expediency of inciirrins such an expenditure it is not my province to observe. 4. In Appendix No. 2 I 'have for the Montreal Frontier included such services as are more immediately necessary, and which are in general accordance with the views ot the Committee. 5. Montreal, a large, straggling town, about four miles in circuit, is difficult of defence : it can best be accomplished by a chain of posts, and then perhaps but imperlectly. A defensible barrack is, under any circumstances, necessary, as a rallying ])oint, and a place of security for the Government and official archives, in ease of tumult or popular commo'tious, and also for barrack accom- modation. Buildings for the aceonunodation of troops and stores will from time to time be reciuired at St. Helen's : they should be constructed with reference to the defence of the island. (i. It is only at Montreal, St. John's, and Isle auxNoix, that I have in this part ot the district provided for any considerable expenditure. To cover the I'rontier, however, it would be necessary to establish posts at the mouth of the Chateaugay River, at Chambly, and other points laid down upon the sketch of the Montreal District. 7. Sorel, at the confluence of the Richelieu and the St. Lawrence, although not melnded in the posts enumerated by the Committee. 1, with great deference, consider a most important one. 8. In the eastern townships, also, I consider a post should be established at Sherbrooke as a depot and rallying point for the militia and inhabitunts of that i. .'32 i I m populous and wealtliy section oi' the district. All these points may he suhse- quentiy taken up ; but even if permanent works arc not constructed, it will he essentially necessary that an efficient en^ineer establishment of officers and sappers should be maintained. A pontoon train, to secure our connnunication across the Richelieu, is indispensable. A trestle bridge, or some other expe- dient, would be also required between St. Helen's and the opposite bank of the St. Lawrence, at all times when the navigation was open to secure our commu- nication. 9. To secure the navigation of the St. Lawrence, we should rc([uire a post on the small island at the Cascades. We have posts atCoteau du Lac, Prescott, and Gannanoque, and occupy Kingston. 10. For the protection of the Rideau and Ottawa Canals, we should strengthen our posts at Carillon, Kingston Mills, and at the White-fish Dam. Whatever might be recjuired at Bytown for the accommodation of troops or stores should be in reference to the defence of that important post, the site of which is so admirably calculated (or a fortress or a de])6t, and which must, at some period perhaps not very remote, become a place of the first conse(juence in Canada. 11. Appendix No 1 includes the several services required for Kingston to carry out the project of defence approved by the Engineer Committee of 1829; a project, I humbly conceive, well calculated to accomplish the defence of the town, harbour, dockyard, and arsenal. It is only to be regretted that, the system of defence decided uj)on, the necessary sites were not inunediately pur- chased ; if from the impracticability of obtaining land, except at a great pecuniary sacrifice, or from c()ntemi)lated political changes, it should be considered expe- dient to deviate from the Committee's project, the redoubts Nos. 3, 4, and .'), must be given up, and field-defences, contingent ujjon circumstances, be substi- tuted for them. The works ])roposed for Cedar Island, and the defence of the harbour, should, under any circumstances, be constructed forthwith. If a field-battery is retained at Kingston, they umst have barracks ; a hos- pital is also required for infantry and artillery : the contemplated removal of the arsenal to the vicinity of the dockyard is not provided for. I4tk Nov. 1840, (Signed) J. OLDFIELD, Lieut. Colonel, %• Commander Royul Engineers in the Canadns. APPENDIX No. 5. Tlie Third, or Niagara District. n I- THE military points to be considered in this district, which extends from the embouchure of the Trent river in the Bay of Quinte, to the entrance of the Ouse or Grand River on Lake Erie, including the peninsula of Niagara ; are Toronto, Penetanguishene, . Niagara, Queenston, the Short Hills, BurUngton Heights, the Ouse or Grand River, and the protection of the Welland Canal. 2. The defence of this district, in common with the Canadas in general, has been so ably reported u])on by the commission in 182o, that it is unneces- sary for me to do more tlian otter a few observations, arising from a change in the circumstances of the country. 3. At Toronto, the barrack establishment now constructing for 300 infantry, with the Bathurst-street barrack for 100 artillery or infantry, may possibly afford sufficient barrack accommodation ; at the last a trifling acquisi- tion of land will be necessary, with stabling, gunsheds, &c. In the way of defence, a battery with a defensible guard-room, or a tower on the principle of a Na[)oleon tower of the second class on the lake shore, near the old barracks, is all I would submit. 4. At this port are portions of a considerable naval and military establish- ment, but as the conunander of the forces is of o[)inion that the consideration of this station may be deferred, I have not at present gone into it. 5. Of the five forts constructed for the defence of this frontier, one only that of Mississacjua now exists, it was'restored during the insurrection, and may be permitted to remain in its present state ; no outlay for its reform is recommended to 33 6. There are barrack stations at Niagara, Queenston, and Chippawa, which '"'TT^ Tf \'uT •!! '''^'' "'^^ accommodation proWded for SC / . 1 he bhort Hills, about fifteen miles west of Niagara, is the site selected bv the commmee of 1825, for the stronghold of the diftric't ; deS Ss a^^ estimates for a fortress on the scale recommended by the committee are "n preparation ,• on a rough estimate, the expense of this work may be calculated a not less than 350,000/, should this sum be considered too large for the object to be obtained, we must look to the temporary occupation, in times of danger, of the principal points on the Welland Canal, by troops from the existing Kht !, y'""| y. and construct at Hamilton, or rather on Burlington Heights, a defensible barrack and depot for the district, which would have the advantage of water communication, or good winter roads with Kingston, and thus maintain the communication of the Western with the Montreal and Quebec districts ; a dep6t and rallying point for the militia and loyal inhabitants in the to KltSculated ''"'' ^"'" ^^''* P^'P""^ Burlington Heights seem 8. Any port on the Ouse or Grand River would be contingent on naval operations; a force retiring upon Buriington Heights would throw up such defences on the banks of the river, as circumstances might require ; consequently no provision has been made for a permament work ; moreover, the sites at the embouchure are reported to be too unhealthy for permanent occupation ,4,, T^ ,«,„ (Signed) J. OLDFIELD, Lieut. -Colonel, itfft i\ov., i»4U. Commander Royal Engineers in the Canudas. APPENDIX No. 6. The fourth or Western District extends from the Ouse or Grand River to the line of the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers, having its head quarters in London • new comniunications are opening, and the circumstances of this district are rapidly changing ; the present points for consideration are, the command of the communication from Lake Huron and the upper lakes, and with Lake Erie, the roadstead between Amherstburg and Bois Blanc Island, and the line of the Thames. 2. The provision for services in this district, in Appendix No. 1, is based upon the report of the committee of 1825, and subsequent reports and estimates m reference thereto, and in Appendix No. 2 for services, which with every deference are submitted, in reference to existing circumstances. 3. To command the channels of communication between Lakes Huron and Lne IS of primary importance to secure this object ; a post near Sarnia at the head of the St. Clair River is indispensable; without this precaution the Americans might pass between Grosse Isle and their own shore, out of fire fiom Amherst- burg, or Bois Blanc Island ; as this channel appears to have been unknown to the committee of 1825, I annex a chart of the channel made by Captain Owars, R.N., which almost entirely coincides with a recent report from Captain Biscoe', R.E. 1 am also disposed to submit the occupation of Windsor by a tower and battery ; the site is reported healthy, a great desideratum on this frontier ; it would, moreover, command the American town of De'troit, the width of the river here being only 900 yards. On the map. Fighting Island appears to be a most eligible site for disputing the passage of the Detroit ; but ii is represented to be very unhealthy, and that dilKculties would exist in obtaining a foundation for anv work of masonry, the whole island being a swamp with the exception of a small spot ineligible as the site for a post. Occupying Sarnia and Windsor for the command of the communications, I would protect my roadstead between Amherstburg and Bois Blanc Island, by completing the enceinte of the present work at Amherstburg, removing all the wooden ' uildings from its interior, and building within it a reduit in masonry. On Boi Blanc Island I would replace the two block-houses at the extremities of the island by towers. A detailed project for Amherstburg is in preparation, by order of the Inspector-General of Fortifications. 4. The Thames is navigable for steamboats as far as Chatham, and from K thence to London by bateaux. Chatham is well calculated for a dep6t and port of defence, were it not unfortunately an unhealthy site ; it is a point, however, which must not be neglected. Had it been occupied in 1813 the disastrous con- sequences of that campaign would not have occurred. Should it not at present be considered expedient to carry out the project of the committee of 1825, in the event of hostilities, a respectable field-work, with splinter- proof cover, must be constructed ; the drainage and improvement of the country may, in tiie mean time, render it more healthy ; and in conjunction with the works at Chatham, I would recommend a post near the light-house at the entrance of the Thames. 5. At London, barracks for a battalion of infantry and a half battery of artillery, formed of wood, were built by order of Lord Seaton ; some log-huts were subsequently added, and the head quarters and four companies of a second battalion sent to the post ; the barracks are in consequence over crowded, and the troops in want of many of the conveniences usually afforded. The cantonment unfortunately is not compact or susceptible of defence. As London is to be the head quarters of the "Western District, and must always be an important miUtary post, its consequence increasing with the rapid improvement of the country, it is proposed to replace the log-huts fay a defensible barrack, which will serve as a dep6t at all times , a place of defence in time of insurrection, to be strengthened by field-works in case of invasion. If the present force is retained at London, a considerable expense must bu incurrred to cover the troops ; the expenditure of a large sum on temporary expedients would be almost a waste of public money. I am consequently disposed to recommmend that a permanent barrack should be forthwith commenced, and the artillery barracks made complete for a battery. 0. GodericH is a point subsequently to be considered, but it must be so in reference to local improvements, the plans for which are not yet matured. (Signed) J. OLDFIELD, Lieut. -Colonel, Commander Royal Engineers in the Canadaa. f Inclosure 4 in No. 1 1 . Lienlenant-General Sir R. D. Jackson to Lord Sydenham. ili My Lord, Montreal, December 21, 1840. SINCE I had the honour of transmitting to your Lordship the memoran- dum upon the defence of Canada, called for by Lord John Russell, I have been put in possession of a copy of the Duke of Wellington's letter to Earl Bathurst, dated the 6th of December, 182.5, that accompanied the Report of the Commission of Engineers, to which such frequent reference is made in the above memorandum. • • ^ . It appears to me desirable that a copy (herewith inclosed) of his Grace s letter should be communicated to Her Majesty's Secretary of State on the present occasion. His Grace attaches much importance to our retention of the communication hitherto enjoyed by us between Canada and New Brunswick. But this is a subject requiring further investigation than it has yet received ; for, even if it be secured to us by treaty, it will be necessary to place posts of communication upon the road adopted, in order to make it available for the passage of troops ; and these posts should be rendered defensible, at least against marauders, in proportion to their exposure. I ll&VC &c. (Signed) ' li! D. JACKSON, Comnmnder of the Forces. 35 Inclosure 5 in No. 11. The Duke of Wellington to Earl Bathurst. 1840. <'. } My Lord, London, December 6, 1825. I SEND herewith the Report of the Committee of Engineers appointed in the month of April last to proceed to His Majesty's dominions in North America, under instructions of which a copy was forwarded to your Lordship, on the 25th of that month. in considering this subject, I entreat your Lordship to observe, that it is impossible for His Majesty's Government to withdraw from these dominions. Whether valuable or otherwise, which can scarcely be a question, the honour of the country would require that they should be defended in war, and an attentive perusal of this Report will show what it is necessary should be done beforehand in time of peace, to enable His Majesty to defend these dominions at the least possible burden to the militaiy resources of this empire in time of war. The first object for the observation of your Lordship is the communication with Upper Canada. Your Lordship will see, in the Report, what progress has been made in the completion of the system suggested to your Lordship, in my letter of the 1 st of March, 1819, and how far the detailed plan therein suggested has been found upon examination to be practicable. It is quite clear that, unless some system of communicating with Upper Canada, besides the use of the River St. Lawrence, should be carried into execution, such communication will be impracticable beyon^ Montreal in time of war. Indeed, if His Majesty should ratify the arrangement made by His Com- missioner under the Article of the Treaty of the United States, and the Island of Burnliart should pass to the United States, (see page 34 of the Report,) the com- munication with Upper Canada by the River St. Lawrence will be impracticable, even in time of peace, excepting by the permission of the Government of the United States. The next object to which I would wish to draw your Lordship's attention in the Report of the Committee is the communications between Lower Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. The estabhshment of these communications is but a little less important in a civil and commercial, than in a military point of view. But it is in the last, principally, that it is my duty to urge the importance of these communications upon the attention of His Majesty's Government. There can be no doubt that these communications are necessary, in any view that may be taken of the defence of these provinces, and that by facilitating the concentration of all the military means of His Majesty's Government upon any point that may be threatened or attacked, they will tend to the general security of all His Majesty's dominions in that part of the world. The third object to which I would wish to draw your Lordship's attention is the importance attached by the Committee to the possession of Rouse's Point, on the River Richelieu, and to the fixation of the frontier of New Brunswick on the line in which it has hitherto been considered to have been originally fixed. The fourth object to which I would wish to draw your Lordsiiip's attention is the military works proposed by the Committee to be executed in His Majesty's dominions in North America. Your Lordship will observe that the system of defence of these dominions is founded principally on the means of communication to be established, to which I have already adverted. There are besides some capital points on which it is necessary to complete or to establish works, such as Quebec, Hahfax, Montreal, Kingston on Lake Ontario, and a work on the Niagara Frontier, and others, to render still more difficult the approach to those above mentioned, such as the works proposed on the River Richelieu or Chambly, to piotract an enemy's advance upon Quebec ; and as the works upon the island at the mouth of the River Chateaugay, with 30 the same view in relation to Montreal, and others, for the protection of naval stations, such as those at Penetanguichine, Amherstburg, and a work on the Ouse, and one at Chatham. As, on the one hand, I do not entertain the smallest doubt that if the com- munications and works proposed by the Committee are carried into execution, His Majesty's dominions in North America ought to be, and would be, effectually deiended and secured against any attempt to be made upon them hereafter by the United States, however formidable their power, and this without any material demand upon the military resources of the country ; so on the other, I am convinced that if these, or some measures of this description, are not adopted, and if measures are not taken at an early period, to manifest the determination of the King's Government to hold this dominion at all events, we cannot expect the inhabitants, upon whose loyal and gallant exertions we must in the end depend tor their defence, will do otherwise than look for the security of their hves and properties to a seasonable submission to the United States. Even by the greatest exertion of the military resources of His Majesty's Government in time of war, these dominions could not be successfully and effectually defended, without the adoption of the greatest part of the measures proposed ; but if they are all adopted, and attention is paid to the militia laws in tliese countries, and care taken to keep alive a military spirit among the population, the defence of these dominions ought not to be a more severe burden upon the military resources of the empire in war, than such defence as was made proofed to be during the late war. I earnestly entreat, then, your Lordship's attention, and that of His Majesty's Government, to the inclosed document, and that I may be authorized to have the measures proposed to Parliament in the ne\. session. I am, &€., (Signed) WELLINGTON. V' No. 12. B. Bi/ham, Esq., io J. Stephen, Esq. ^"■> Office of Ordnance, January 19, 1841. I HAVE the honour, by command of the Master-General and Board of Ordnance, to acquaint you, for tlie information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that they have received sundry representations from the Com- iiiiinding Royal Engineer in Canada of the necessity of acquiring possession of certain portions of ground on the western side of Kingston considered requisite for the efficiency of tlie defences ; but the sum required for the purchase of tligl land is so considerable, and tlie subject is of so much importance, that the Master-General and Board think it desirable that the wliole case sliould be laid before Lord John Russell for the consideration of Her Majesty's Government, before any further steps are taken. It appears that the Commanding Engineer estimates the value of the .several lots of land required at about 97,848/. sterling, including the property of tlie Reverend W. Herchmer, which has formed the subject of special rorrcspondenco. This property is, howt < ,;r, here valued at 10,000/., wliilst tliat gentleman, according to the report of Lieutenant-Colonel Wright, dated the 9th instant (a copy of whicli is inclosed), demands for it the sum of 25,000/., thus increasing the estimate to 112,848/. (exclusive of about 4000/. for tlie eastern side of tlic harbour, on wliicli an application lias already been made to the Treasury); and it is apprehended that it cannot be stated vvitji any degree of certainty that the demands of other proprietors may not in like manner be in excess of the estimate, althougli the Officers of Engineers on the spot express a confident opinion that the total sum estimated will not be exceeded. Tlio Master-General and Board request you will submit to Lord John Russell tlie inclosed copies of Ictu.Ts from the Inspector-General of Fortlii- cations, dated 16th ultimo, and tlieir inclosures, and request his Lordship's '1' f I 37 Jttention to the strong opinion expressed by the Inspector-General as to the o tL rSr-^ '" question bouig in possession of this department, as well a. to the rapidly-mcreasnigvalno of land in the vicinity. I hav(>, &c., (Signed) R. BYHAM. Inclosnrc 1 in No. 1 2. Lieutenant-Colonel J. R. Wright to the Impector.General of Fortifications. Sir •^".y«^ Enyineers' Office, Chatham, ' Tx, . ,. , Jffn««ri/9, 1841. I A obedience to the directions of the Master-General and Board in Mr Byham's letter of the 30th ultimo, forwarded to me lor mv lidance incite; your mstrnctions of the 1st and 5th instant, I have the honour to report that I proceeded to Sh.pton on Cherwell, when I had an interview with the Rev Mr Herchmer, and endeavoured to ascertain from him the amount he-would be wi^l" proposed to be erected in advance of Kingston. wn,.b! 'Tf?^^'^ ^^ him that his ground was not required for the sites of the nrl ' K ^"^^i ™™^d'«tely adjoining them in front, it was desirable that e Ordiiance should have it entirely under their control, to prevent tlie erec L of buildings that might be an obstruction to the defence; ; that, a lu^i he who? of ins lot might not be absolutely necessary for this purpo e, it was considered hat It would most probably be more desirable to him to plrt with the Ze than OrSai^e"'ancTlf T'""^ V' 'l^'' ™^'''^ "'^^ '^^ «'^'«''^^^'y --ntial to ^ Urdnance , and that I was, therefore, instructed to ascertain for what sum he would be willing to dispose of the whole of the lot of 200 acres. Hpn J/'^ T"r.^?* ^^** \^^ prosecution of the works would most probably depend ui,on the Ordnance being able to obtain the ground required fbr ti2 at a fair and reasonable rate ■ and, should the expense^f the ground be foS \: aLXtr'a/^S^er.'^ '''"''''''' ''^' ^^^"-^^ ^^^''^ '^^^^ Mr. Herchmer did not evince any desire for the immediate disposal of his land, and seemed to be fully impressed with the oj)inion that it would eentnauj be much more to his advantage not to part with it at present. " returidnJ^oKinL'!! "^t"Vi"'' *''« ^"t"'"" "^ J 839; and, as he intends until he could ascertain on tlie spot the present prospects of the place and the rise of property since he left it, which, from the accounts he had received e A^^^Th '°f ' ^^^.S"-^^^-, H^ «f^ted that he had received, within hese few days, a letter from his uncle. Mr. Kirby. at Kingston, acquainting him that att^iT^ce oJfoSr^^^^ ''--y ^^^-- -s of land a^^i^sSgTr-^ was well aware it could not be by the Ordnance The land alluded to, belonging to the Messrs. Munnev. is situated very l^tle nearer the town than the land purchased by the Ordnance for the sitlTf No. 4 ledoubt; and, if Government have purchased eighteen acres at that -ate which IS nearly COOZ. per acre, it must have the effect of raising the va ue oi land at Kingston very considerably. ^ T!.i3 information I have no doubt had an unfortunate bearing on the objec of my visit in raising Mr. Herchmer's views of the value of his propertv as, after a rather long conversation with him with regard to the sales that had been recently made adjoining his and. and the building lots into which i could be divded, and their probable value, he informed me that, although wishing o meet the views of Government, and without anv desire to seek an extrava<^ant S:S: l^So^^lf^'l:^™:^^' '' ""''-'' '^ '-' '-'' '^^ ^«^ ^^'^ The lot is No. 23, extending from the shore of the Bay to the Concession 38 Line. Tlie grant is for 200 acres, more or less ; and it extends not only beyond the high road from Kingston to Toronto, but also beyond an old road which I believe was formerly the high road before the present one was opened. I am induced to mention this, because I have not observed, in any of the sketches of the ground required to be purchased that have been lately sent from Kingston, that the exact extent of Mr. Herchner's lot has been shown. From the explanation he gave me, I understood that the lot extends about as far as the dotted line I have marked on the tracing inclosed. It is most probable, I think, that, instead of being less, it may be rather more tiian 200 acres ; as, in all grants of lots adjoining the shore, there is gene- rally a sniiiU broken front belonging to the lot. I have, &c., (Signed) J R. WRIGHT, Lieut. -Colonel Commanding Royal Engineers. Inclosure 2 in No. 12. i/c*- F. W. Mulcaster, Mufrto R. Byham, Esq. Sir, 84, Pall Mall, December IG, 1840. I LOSE no time in putting the Master-General and Board in possession of a report No. 187, dated the 5th November, and received this day from the Commanding Royal Engineer in Canada, with an assumed valuation of the property on the western side of Kingston, which the Committee of 1829 considered it desirable to obtain, by exchange for portions of the military reserves in Canada, for the proper control of the defences recommended by them, and now in progress at that place. That mode of obtaining the land is no longer available, and whatever is doncj must, I apprehend, be by purchase. The amount, however, is so con- siderable, that it appears to require immediate attention and orders, for although I might suggest the omission of many of the town lots within the contour of the lines of defence, it is evident that such has been of late years (and still continues) the advancing value of property at Kingston, that if the works are to proceed, Her Majesty's Government must be prepared to meet a very considerable outlay in the purchase of land, and that any further delay would only tend to enhance the outlay. I am, &c., (Signed) F. W. MULCASTER. Lieutenant-Colonel J. Oldfield to the Inspector-General of Fortifications. Commanding Royal Engineers' Offi.c3, Head Quarters, Sir, Montreal, Nov. 5, 1840. IN reference to my communications No. 41, 15'ih August, 1839 ; No. 120, 18th December, 1839 ; Nos. 36, 133, and 185, of the 5th March, 14th August, and 27th October, 1840; I have the honour to transmit a plan of the several lots of land required to be purchased at Kingston, to carry out on the west or Kingston side of the harbour, the system of defence approved by the Engineer Committee of 24th October, 1829, together \^i remarks and references giving the names of the proprietors, the cont*aetfl, and the probable value of the several lots ; I hojje by the next mail to be enabled to forward similar information as to the land required for the defence on the east side of the harbour. In addition to the information afforded by the documents transmitted, I have, only with every deference, to submit my opinion, that not a day should be lost in acquiring such property as it may be decided to purchase. I am much indebted to Captain Whitmore for the zeal and intelligence with which he has carried out my instruction, in obtaining the important information conveyed by the plan and report herewith inclosed. I have, &c.., (Signed) ' J. OLDFIELD, Lieut. -Colonel, Commanding Royal Engineers in the Canadas. I 89 Inclosurc 3 in No. 12. and eX*- ?'. W. J Mulcaster, •Smft, to R. Ryham, Esq. ^''■' 84, Pall Mall, Dec. 16, 1840. I RETURN the papers which were referred by the Board's minute of the 14th, relative to the purcliase of the land belonging to the Reverend W Herchmer for the defences of Kingston in Canada. 1 thought the best chance of getting an early opinion as to the probable value of this land, was to refer to Colonel Wright, who was for many years stationed in command at Kingston, and who returned about two years since from Canada. I therefore did so, and linclose his report of the 15th. The valuation of the property, even at the lowest price, probably about 50/. currency per acre, is a very serious consideration, and it may, perhaps, now be regretted, that the land required for the defences of Kingston was not obtained in the manner recommended by the committe«,^r as soon as those defences were determined upon. The Reverend Mr. Herchmer's property is only a portion of what will be requisite in order to the necessary command the defences should have, but it being immediately in front of the works on the western side of the town, the purchase of it appears inevitable, for although parts of it might possibly not be obnoxious, the gross amount would not be much affected, and it is presumed the Ordnance will receive a rent corresponding in some degree to the increasing prosperity of the place, at all events I cannot recommend works of defence to be proceeded with, unless the land necessary for affording those works or proper control be obtained. I shall immediately put the Master-General and Board in possession of a general valuation of the property on the west of Kingston, which has been this (lay received. I am, &c., (Signed) F. W. MULCASTER. P. S.— I think it proper to transmit, in addition to Colonel Wright's letter above adverted to, a private one dated the 16th, just received, suggesting a personal negotiation with Mr. Herchmer, and I beg to say, that if the Master- General and Board deem it expedient to adopt that course, I consider Colonel Wright himself the person to whom the Ordnance interests may be very safelv entrusted. No. 13. Sir Hussey Vivian to Lord John Russell. My Lord, Office of Ordnance, February 18, 1841. HEREWITH I have the honour to return the report of the Lieutenant- General Sir Richard Jackson, respecting the defence of the Canadas, and the other documents which were transmitted to me after the conversation I had with your Lordship on the subject. In returning these documents, I send copies of the minute with which I submitted them to the Inspector-General of Fortifications, and the letters of that officer in reply. The Duke of Wellington, in his letter of the 6th December, 1825, states that "it is impossible for His Majesty's Government to withdraw from those dominions (the Canadas) ; whether valuable or otherwise (which can scai'cely be a question), the honour of the country would require that they should be de- fended in war." In the principle thus expressed, I entirely concur ; but the 40 extent to which the Parent State is to be called upon to incur an e-pcnse, with a view to such defence by means of fortitications, is necesnarily a matt jr of ^reat importance, and otie re<|uirin^ much consideration. Were tlie rcconunendation of the committee of ISaf), or tiic measures proposed by Sir Richard Jackson, to be carried out to the fullest extent, there can be no doubt that the means of resisting invasion would be njuch increased ; but It is still impossi(»Ie to conceal from ourselves that, fortify as we may, there will remain many pointa from which the Canadas must be open to attack , and this Sir Richard Jackson himself admits when, in his letter to vour Lordship of the nth August, 1840, sjjeaking of •' the erection of works estaljlished in ac- cordance with a well grounded systen of general defence," he adds, " indeed it would be difficult to prepare one free from objections, or to provide contin^'encies of war with a country varying and increasing so rapidly as the United States of America." The successful defence then of the Canadas must, after all, depend un the spirit, the loyalty, and the exertions of the people of that country, (in eon- junction with the army in the field). If they are heart and hand with us, it may fairly be hoped and expected, that any attempt at invasion would be defeated, a» such attempts already have been. If, on the other hand, the inhabitants are not disposed to join us in endeavouring to rejiel an invading force, no extent of fortifications would afford a certain security. I am, therefore, I confess, very much inclined to think tliat, for the present at least, it would be advisable to confine ourselves to carrying out the fortifica- tions at Kingston and Quebec, as proposed by the Inspector-General, and to erecting works at St. John's, Niagara, and Ainherstburg, on a scale such as appears to have been contemplated by Lord Seaton, when on the #«*• December, -'/" 1839, he addressed a letter to your Lordship on the sui)jcct. At the same time, a general system of defence should be sketched out, and plans prepared, so as to be ready to occupy with field works other important points, in case it should be requisite to do so. Sir Richard Jackson quotes at length from a report to the Congress of the United States from the Secretary of State for the War department. In this document, the construction of several works (nine altoiiether at difierent points) IS recommended, such as, Sir Richard Jackson says, " will enable the Americans to commence offensive operations against Canada" with the greatest advantage." 1 do not understand that this report has been acted upon (at Niagara, one of the points named, the Americans already have a small fort); when it is, and when the American Government begin constructing the suredly will be necessary for us to take further mei " (Siu:ncil) )ropose(l works, it then as- Mres to counteract them. 1 have, &c., HUSSEV VIVIAN. -rtT . I p i Inclosure 1 in No. 13 th Copy of Minutp. with which the Reports tenant-General Sir R. Jackson, and receiiu '-rp -./ ~ - "— ^~.,,^,ts on the Defence of the Canadas, Inj Lieutenant-General Sir R. Jackson, and received from the Secretari/ of Slate for '■" Colonies, were transmitted by the Master-General of the Ordnance to the Hit, K^wLuiiivii, wcic iiitiismniKu uy me lyjusier-uenerai Inspeciar-General of Fortifications, 3rd Februari/, 1841. THE documents named in the margin and which aceomj)any tiiis minute* were transmitted by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Mastei-.General in consequence of an interview which the Master-General had with Lord John Russell. They are now submitted to the Inspector-General of Fortifications, in order Mxtter from Loni Sydenliam to Lord Johii Russell, 24lll Deceoibef, 1810, willi Letter from Ssir K. Jackson, I4lli November, 1840. memorandum on Canadian Frontier, and Letter from Colonel Oldfield, I4tli November 1840 Copy of Letter from the niiki- of Wpltington -to Eai! Bailmrst, Giii December ts25 Mr. Byhara to Mr. Steplien, I9lh January, 1841 Cwith i»closur?s). c, witfi of ^reat easures , there leased ; , there k , and Iship of ill ac- id eed it zencies tiites of oii the n con- it may ited, a» its are tent of present irtitica- and to uch as ember, 'So 2 time, , so as should of the [n thid |)oints) iricans itage." one of 1 when en as- m. /IAN, tr 41 that tlie Manter-General may have the advantai^e of liis« opinion on the several most im|)()rtant projujials, contained in the letter of Sir U. .Ituksoti, and the ri'port ol till' (.'onnnandiii;,' Koyal iMitiincer, Ciinada, lidnri' li<' makes a comnm- nication to the Secretary of State in reference to them. 'riie Master-Cieiieral would particularly direct tin- attentioii of the Inspcctor- (leneral of Fortifications, to the (piestion of fortiHcatioiis aromid the town of Kinuistoii, and on the side of the dock yard. The veiy \\\x<^(\ sum that will he re(juired to |)urchase the iiround in order to enable us to complete the fortifica- tions accorchui,' to the plan partially executed, renders it absolutely necessary, if jwssible, to make some alteration in order to avoid incurrini; .so heavy an expense; and this the Master-General htjjes may be practicable, from the minute of the InspectorCJeneral of the 1 Itl: ultimo,, wherein be says, " Taken as a whole, if the works on the western side of Kingston are ever to be constructed, the control of the land should, at least, be under the Ordnance, so as to |)i event any buildinji bcinu; erected >ipon it;" ami also from the letter from (.'olonel \Vrii;ht, of the !)th Jaimary, 1841, wherein he speaks of the possiI)ility of Covcrnmcnl abandoning altogether the works on the west side, if the ground could not be obtained at a reasonable rate; from which the Mast( r-(ieneral is led to infer, that those officers may have contemi)lated the possibility of some change, whereby works on a smaller scale than those now contemplated, but such as would .secure the town against any attack excepting by siege, might be erected on ground already in cur possession, or that may lie procured without the expenditure stated in the letters from the Master-(ieneral and Hoard to the Treasury and Secretarv of State for the Colonies, of Htli and 19th January 1841. ' •" In reference to the very detailed and very able letter of Sir Richard Jackson, and the Report of Lieutenant-Colonel Oldtield, the Ma.ster-Gtneral is desirous that the Ins[)cctor-General of Fortifications should take into consideration the means of defence for the Canadas therein proposed, comparing them with those of the Connnittee of 182"); and having, at the same time, regard to the opinions expressed in the letters of his Grace the Duke of Wellington, dated fitb Decem- ber, 182->, and Lord Seaton, dated JlOtli Decemi)er, '■.•;}!), (and inclosed in that of the Secretary of State of l.'ith January, I84U,) and furnish the Master- General with his observations. The Inspector-CJeneral of Fortifications will ob.scrvc, that in some important points the fortifications proposed by the Committee of 1825, and also the views entertained by the present Commander in Chief in Canada, most niateriallv differ from those of Lord Seaton ; who, in his letter above referred to, suggested forti- fications at Andierstburg, Niagara, and St. John's, the expense of which was altogether calculated to amount only to the following sums, viz.: — las, by tie for to the nute*, eneral John order er from 1840. Niagara St. John's - Amberstburg - With the addition of £ 70,000 40.000 70,000 (30,000 £240,000 for bairaciss. Having well weighed and considered tlie (luestion, the Inspector-General of Fortifications will be pleased to give his opinion as to the advantages of forti- fying all or any of the jioints ])roposed in the various communications referred to, and tiie nature of the fortifications he would approve, that is, whether a permanent and regular fortification, or merely a work defensible against a coup dc main, and sufficient to serve as a Place d'Annes, and as the point of assem- bling for the militia of the country; when considering this (jucstion, the Inspector General of Fortifications will not fail to recollect that the whole fnjutier to be covered extends over 1400 miles; that it is admitted that the conmiand in Lake Erie, (oii which there are 40 steamers capable of carrying from 500 to 600 men each) cannot be disputed with the Americans; that the mass of adventurers and darifg po[)ulation of the United States, immediately on our frontiers, is already very great and daily increasing; whilst on our side many of those diffi- culties which would oppose invasion, such as bad roads and impracticable M 49 foifKtK. are last .liricasinK, mul toi.Ht.,,mM.lly that it in „.,lv huoIi ikwIh as muHt ol nucYHityl)foicu|.Kd l,y an ciu-iny hdorr tl.ov would attcn.i.t to advance into eitluT U|.|..T or l.oNvrr Canada liCsnd. posts tluiv luO. that |u..n.ann.t lortitini- ions con .1 1... found ..ally cHirfivi-; foititicationH in positions where tl.eveouM .e turned and left n, the rear would he rather more disa.lvat.taKeoMs than hei.elie.al. from its hen.g necessary to enipioy a mnnl.er ot troops in their oceu- patioii, who nn-ht otherwise he eni^afied in active operations in the lield In mlverlmj; to the pn,p,,sals lor rortilyin-. as set lorth in the letter of l.ieutenant-( olonel Oldhehl, and further explained in that of Sir Richard Jack- son, the lnspector-(Jeneral ofKortilications is rcpiested shortly to descrihe the nature, and extent and state of such fortifications as already exist on any of the |.on. s named, and the nu.nher of men thev are competent to contain ; the iHunher o men that would pn.hahly he re.p.ired for the defence of each ..f those I.roposed l.y C oh.nel Oldhehl. as well aecordin;,' to the greater as the lesser scale ol lortihcations. In respect to the harrack aoconuiuxlatioii and the comfort of the troops heu.i; consulted, a pomt very properly adverted to in the letter of Sir Richard Jackson, the J-ispeetor-General of rortitieations will he pleased to notice the rx.stuig state of the harracks, distinguishini,' the permanent from the ten.porary and consider how far it may he desirahle. in the event <.f determining to fortif'v' o coinhine the two ohjects of defence and accommodation for troops. I,v crectim' Imrraeks capahic .)! resisting a coup de main on points where works Japahle o? standing a siege may not he requited. (Signed) HUSSEY VIVIAN. Inelosure 2 in No. IS. > i^ F. IV. Mulcnster, Smp, to Sir Hussey Vivian. ^'"'' 8J, Pall Mall, February 4, 1841. I HAVE attentively perused the documents transmitted with and named in the margin of your minute of the 1st instant, on the subject of the fortiHcations of Kinu'ston, and on the frontier of the two Canadas towards the United States Ihe former no douht forms a part of the general subject which is involved in the latter part of your minute ; but, as it is a (piestion comparatively of detail (the imi)ortance of occupying Kingston, and of protecting it with adeciuate works of defence, having been universally ackn-nvledged in all military reports, and sanc- tioned by the measures taken in Parliament,) I have thouudU it advisable to make Kingston the subject of a separate letter, and to report my opinion that the forti- fications proposed by the Committee in 1828. and auctioned by His Majesty's Government in 1831, for tiie tlelence of that plat , its harbour, an .K.(iii. i( He. Majesty s (.ovenunent cannot mulertake the precautioniirv K-nse o. ...ns.ruetn.K in a nro,Hr nranner the (ort.ticut.onH w L.h' w e •" S inentie . 61 . (52 - 63 ■ 64 . 79 - 81 - 82 - 83 - 103} - 102 . 103 - 104 - 105 - 106 - 107 - I07| - 108 - 109 - 110 - 111 - 112 113 ■ 114 . / fo orrompam, thr fnsp,dor-(in, ml of Forlifinitions I vttrr nf A,h l? i. STKHLINfi. JC ». 541 13 (itid 13 2()M (t 2()S (I 208 «2 10 20K (I 83 (t 08 (I «2 10 125 145 16 41 13 41 13 166 13 166 13 500 125 62 10 62 10 250 125 166 13 250 250 291 13 750 250 416 13 250 250 291 13 291 13 625 416 13 4 4 4 4 2,lH7 10 7,291 13 4 395 16 8 8 8 8 8 4 4 4 4 2,250 500 1,041 13 4 1,083 6 8 3,541 13 i.ot 115 116 117 118 119 120 230 121 122 123 124 125 IM 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 198 199 200 201 202 303 304 305 306 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 Stkhlino. Urt. forwitnl 541 13 333 6 166 13 208 6 391 13 166 13 312 10 41 13 41 13 308 6 500 250 208 625 125 1,041 350 166 13 166 13 166 13 125 308 6 208 6 391 13 41 13 416 13 166 13 229 3 125 187 10 166 13 166 13 83 6 83 6 208 6 166 13 333 6 '/• £ I. il H,291 13 X 4 8 I H 4 4 25(» 250 166 13 208 6 125 166 l.i 208 (; 208 6 83 6 lot 3 83 6 1,708 6 8 1,612 10 1,854 3 4 4 4 8 — 1,104 3 4 8 4 4 4 4 O 8 8 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 8 8 8 4 8 Carried forward 18,291 13 4 I Carried forward 44 Lot Stkiii.ing. £ .s. d. & d. Brt. forward 224 - - 62 10 4 225 - - 41 13 226 - - 250 227 - Clerf^y Reserve 228 - - 785 16 8 229 - - 2,675 2,083 6 8 154 - 41 13 156 - - 166 13 158 - 41 13 159 - - 166 13 160 - - 416 13 161 - 166 13 162 - - 208 6 163 • 41 13 164 - - 166 13 165 . - 166 13 166 . 166 13 167 - - 166 13 4 168 - - 250 10,123 6 8 1,416 13 4 750 Carried forward SrKRLING. Lot £ X. d. £ «. d. Brt. forward 194 . 41 13 4 195 - 108 6 8 196 . 166 13 4 197 - 41 13 4 358 6 Q 181 , ^ 62 10 fj 182 . 416 13 4 18.1 . 83 6 8 184 _ 291 13 4 185 . 20% 6 8 190 - 333 6 8 191 - 83 6 8 1,479 3 4 235 Total assumed value for h >5,000 purchase of 1 ind on the .65,781 13 4 wesiern side - . . Add, assumed value of laiu 1 to be obtained on the ( 3ast- :■ 4,000 em side Total - - - ,1 !9,781 13 4 Inclosure 3 in No. 13. hi U i^F. W. Mulcaster, -Bw /r, ' to Sir Hussey Vivian. Sir, 84, Pall Mall, Feb. 8, 1841. I RETURN the documents which you did me the honour to transmit with your minute of the 1 st instant, upon the suhject of the fortifications at Kingston, and on the frontiers of the two Canadas towards the United States. ' In my letter of the 4th instant, I submitted my opinion upon the first point, and have now to report upon the other parts of the subject, upon which your minute requires my observations and opinion. I have taken into consideration Lieutenant-General Sir R. Jackson's memo- randum, with reference to the recommendation of the Engineer Conmiission of J825 ; the Duke of Wellington's letter of the 6th Decemher, 1825, and Lord Seaton's letter of tlie 3()th December, 1839 ; the first and last of these documents relate to the Canadas only ; the report of the commission, and the Duke of Wellington's letter, embrace the frontier, the communications and defences of the whole of the North American ])rovinces ; I shall, however, confine myself, so far as the intimate connection of the other provinces permit, to the subject of the two Camulas, to which your minute is limited. Sir R. Jackson's memorandum upon the Canadian frontier, adopting the principle in tlie Duke of Wellington's letter, and the observations of last year from this office, of the 29th April, appears to be l)ascd upon the Com- missioners' Report of 182r), adding pointed extracts from American reports, confirmatory of the correctness of tlie general views taken in those documents. The Lieutenant-General's memorandum may therefore be considered as a valuable revision of what had formerly been recommended, suited to the increased importance which the subsequent extension of settlement, and other causes, have given to some parts of the frontier ; and combining therewith the results of his own observations, after a careful inspection of liis conunand. Tills command, however, not extending to New Brunswiclv, and the adjoining frontier line being yet undefined, I think it would l)e piemature to consider any of the posts lately ostablisiied below Quebec, as of a permanent character. That part of the country must, until the Boundary Question be settled, depend for protection upon temporary posts, and tiie army in the field, altliough, whatever may be the result of that ([uestion, it will lie essentially necessary for the main- tenance of our Nortii American provinces, that the United States be at all times wholly excluded from the banks of the St. Lawrence below Quebec ; \ '• s. d. 7 -45 and that we establisli a secure communication with Halifax, which must be the only port ot mtercourse with England, fo, several months in the yea. dwelt uorr'SrrAr* ^T^T; '" T' ^°'"""™« "» <^"=>"^"1«. I'"" '"^-en forcibly TnlnL^n Sn- ^'exandcr JJryce's report of the 22nd December, 1831 • on Colonel Dumford's etter No. (J2 of 9tli iVnvpinhpr ix-^' ^•^^' '-•'■'•^'-- Under the exi tTng ta untiPr n' u "'' ''', '!"y ^-"^'y l'"^^!'""^ ^'"y "t"'^'- Pernnment works 1 V hP n, i Brunswick frontier be defined, and that of Montreal secured by the necessary works I am aware that the settlen.ent of, and the opening c^mmun.cat.ons through " the Eastern townships," is yearl^ rendering^n or! feasible a military movement from the United States, by the line of the nosTfo :., i " ' f' ^""r ''.'""y ^^ ^''P^''^'^'"^ t° occupy permanently some kS to sn .h t '" ''^^"'''^ ^'^ "^'* '■°"'^' ^"^ ''' P'-^«'^"t> I t'link this should be left to such temporary occupation as circumstances may call for. J he importance of the iMontreal frontier, whicli Sir II. Jackson dwells upon .as already been urged in every military report, and there can 'rno Tnhnl . \ 'i ^'P^"*r"'">' "'^^essary to fortify very strongly the position of St. John s, situated as it is on the direct water communication by the Hudson and Richeheu rivers, from New York to the St. Lawrence, and liaving the o'3y bridge across the Richelieu. The Commission of 1825 recommended for tWs W .f;/ r ."^"Pl'-'tion of Fort Lennox on Isle aux Noix, the restoration of the fort at St. Johns, and the erection of fortresses at Chambly and Montreal, with a strong work at the mouth of the Chateauguay River. Sir R. Jackson omits the two fortresses and I am of opinion they may be dispensed with, provided the position of St John's be fortified, so as ertectu;ily to secure that pLs, TS must ever be the most important line of operation from the United States although there are many practicable roads, as described in the report of the committee of 1828. which lead upon the city of Montreal. The^s and TZT^ for this position are now preparing, but I expect the amount will exceed that stated by Lieutenant-Colonel Oldfield. The work at Isle aux Noix will probably be secured for the sum stated bv him; these works, one at Sorel and one at the mouth of the Chateauguav I am of opinion will be required. These should all be fortifications of a perma- nent character, iciiim I also concur with the present documents that secure posts should be esta- ™ f °^ M^' Y^'^Th ?i- "'^'''''' '^"^ Cascades, to cover the immediate approaches to the Island of Montreal. But if these and the works on the fron- tier be constructed, I do not at present consider that it will be necessary to sur- round Montreal itself by a chain of permanent posts ; to effect which, with any degree of mihtary security, would involve a purchase of land to a considerable amount, and prevent the extension of a large commercial city, which it is desir- able in all cases to avoid if possible. In respect to the Frontier Line on the St. Lawrence, between Montreal and R.ingston, the Commission of 1825 recommended no permap jnt posts. But the events of the late revolt have sufficiently shown that the territory is liable to irruption ; and I concur with the Committee of 1828, that the protection of our irontier population, and the security of our communication, (especially tl.p canal works oi the Rideau,) recpiire that secure posts for that purpose be permanently established ; this, however, forms no part of any estimate already contemplated, '*^V>mtf iWiL 46 the present documents only assuming a sum for tlic eventual occupation of By- town by a fortress. , , r,. « T , II • n Kingston is justly described bv Sir R. Jackson, as well as m all previous reports as a place of the greatest importance ; and I concur witli him that it should be protected by a system of jrood permanent works. The Commission of 1825 recommended a fortress on Point Henry. The Committee of 1828 sug- Ecsted substituting a chain of works which should cover and protect the whole position ; and a project for that object has been approved and commenced upon. Its further progress awaits the purchase of land, which, as already reported, it had been expected would have been obtained at an earlier period, by exchange of the reserves, which have now been ceded to the Colonial Government. At Toronto, where the Commission of 1825 recommended a small fortress, a defensible barrack, now in progress, and sea defences to protect the harbour, will suffice ; this is in accordance with the present documents. On the Niagara Frontier the Commission of 1825 proposed a fortress four miles in rear of the Welland Canal, which connects Lakes Erie and Ontario, and hfteen or sixteen miles from Niagara; and no permanent works of defence were contemplated by those officers, nor are any provided in the present documents for the immediate Frontier Line of this District. In my opinion we must con- struct such works to prevent any aggression on our territory, and to prevent the mouth of the Niagara River becoming, as, if not occupied at all bv us, it will be, an American harbour. The Niagara River is, no doubt, a lbrmidai)le natural barrier, but the events arising from the late revolt in Canada have shown how insecure was our frontier, until a considerable body of troops were collected for its protection ; I, therefore, am of opinion that, instead of constructing, at so large an expense, a single fortress, remote from oui shores, and in rear of our canal communication, we should, as suggested in ray minute of the 2GUi December last upon the subject, " maintain certain Ibrts on our River Frontier secure from assault, and having a place d'armes for a moveable corps in some position from whence it shall rearlily support the frontier, cover the communications between Lakes Ontario and Erie, and be readily relieved, should it be unable to keep the field." The Commanchng Engineer has, however, been ordered to prepare and send home plans and estimates for this frontier, in accordance with the xVLister-General and Board's order of I3th ultimo.— ^^jj- Altliough, as described in the jiresent documents, we cannot look forward to contest the iiaval sui)remacy on Lake Erie with the Americans, I think it very desirable that we should construct some work at the southern entrance of the Welhuid Canal, the navigation of which is open some little time earlier than the American canal at Buffalo. The Commission of 1825 contemplated a work on the Ouse River, to protect a naval depot formerly established there. Jiut I do not think it likely we shall ever again re-estublish such a depot at this river, which has little more than ibur feet water on its bar. I, therefore, do not recom- mend works of such magnitude as were proposed in 1825; and the present papers do not propose any permanent post at all for this Lake, but recommend protecting our roadstead and Frontier Line at Amherstburgonthe Detroit River, near its debouche into Lake Erie. 1 think this is also necessary, and it is in accordance with the Commission of lr^25. 1 likewise concur witii Sir 11. Jackson, that we should construct other works for the protection of this part of the liontier, and to command the navigation from Lake Huron, adopting Point Sarnia, at the northern end of the St. Clair River, as our right flank for the present. Tlie Commission of 1825 contemplated fortifying Penetanguishene Harbour, adcptin-- this more retired post as the right of our military occupation ; but Sir R. Jackson does not proposethisat present, and 1 think it maybe postj)oned. As the rendezvous lor the militia of this district, and as a su])port to our frontier posts, it will be necessary to establish permanently a defensible canton- ment, of similar character to that suggested for the Niagara District ; and, from the tenor of the present reports, 1 am disposed to think that London on the Tiiames will be the best jmsition for the corps charged with the duty. The Commission of 1825 pi()])oscd Chatham on the same river, as the site for a fortress, having this object in view ; hut, as il is stated not to be a healthy situa- tion, and although more advanced towahls the Western Frontier than London, I am disi)osed to consider the latter as more centricaliy situated, and more readily brouicht into cu-operalion with the Niagara corps. 'h i f- 47 These are the general reservations which occur to me upon what has been proposed in the several documents referred to upon the general selection of sites for permanent posts for the defence of Canada ; and I trust they will meet the objects jou have in view. I have. Ike, (Signed) F. W. MULCASTER. Inclosure 4 in No. 13. Ji^F. W. Mulcaster, B «q ; to Sir Husseij Vivian. Sir, S4, Pall Mall, Februanj 8, 1841. IN addition to my report of this day's date respecting the defences of Canada, I have, in reply to paragraphs six and seven of your memorandum, dated the 1st instant, on the subject of the fortiiications of the frontier, to state that in regard to the nature and extent of such of the fortifications set forth in Lieutenant-Colonel Oldfield's letter to Sir 11. Jackson as already exist, those works are at present limited to the following. No. I DiSTIUCT. Quebec. — A citadel of a permanent character, with casemated accommoda- tion for 700 men in a commanding position, connected with a line wall sur- rounding the upper town, and in advance of this line, at the distance of 900 yards on the Heights of Abraham, are four strong towers, which may form the keeps of an intrenched field position. No. 2 DistRicT. Isle aux Noix. — A small bastioned fort, with timber revetement, containing accommodation partly casemated for 400. The revetement is in a progressive state of decay, and the interior buildings are not arranged with a view to defence. The other I'emains of old fortifications on the Montreal Frontier, are at St. John's, Cliambly, and St. Helen's ; but these cannot be considered defensible. Cuteaa de Lac. — The remains of an old work partially repaired on the occasion of the late revolt, but not adverted to by Lieutenant-Colonel Oldfield. Kinr/ston. — A good casemated redoubt for 300 men. Point Heniy forming part ol the authorized project for this position ; and an old inclosed batteiy at Point Frederick near the dock-yard. No. .'5 District. Toronto. — An old earthen fort, not defensible, and a small peimanent work at Mississaqua point, at the mouth of the Niagara river in good repair. No. 4 Dl.STRiCT. Amherstburg. — An old earthen fort, which was stockaded on the occasion of the late revolt. There are also some other posts which have been temporarily entrenched, together with main' temporary barracks, which have been constructed in con- sequence of the late revolt, by order of the Commander of the Forces, of which I have no specific returns ; but the permanent acconmiodation, which is under- stood to be in good state in Canada, is as follows : — Quebec - - 1 700 men 'I'hree Rivers . . 200 Sorel - . . 450 Montreal and St. Helen's . 2200 Isle aux Noix - . . 420 St. John's . . 136 C6teau de Lac - . . 280 Bytown - . 190 Kingston . . 814 Toronto - . - 380 Penetanguishene . - 30 Amherstburg " 120 6920 I have, &c.. (Signed) F. W. MULCASTER. ^--:^ 48 No. 14. Lord John Russell to Lord Hill. My Lord, Downing Street, Feb. 22, 1841. I REQUEST your Lordship's attention to the important subject of the accompanying papers. Having desired the Governor-General of Canada to call upon Sir Richard Jackson f- an outlme of the plan necessary to be executed lor the defence of the provm > in case of war, I lately received fiom him a despatch transmitting very full and ab e reports from the Lieu tenant-General, and from Colonel Uldiield, commandmg the Engineers. The objects to be kept in view are those stated by the Duke of Wellin-'ton in his letter to Lord Bathurst, in 1825, and of which Lord Fitzroy Somerset' with my consent, transmitted a copy to Sir R. Jackson. ^i^hese are, l' 1 he defence ot the provmce, with no greater demand upon the military resources of this country than were made during the last war with the United States of America.— 2. Such a disposition of our military means as may eucourage and call forth the spirit of the loyal inhabitants of the Queen's North-American Provinces.— 3. Such support to the peaceable population as may induce them to rely on the continual jirotection of the Queen, and the exertion of the resources of the Briti h Empire in case ot invasion. It cannot be disguised that the accomplishment of these objects is attended with great, though by no means insuperable, difficulties. In Canada alone have we to defend a land frontier against a civilized nation. That frontier is 1400 miles long, and the population of the neighbouring country is 18,000 000 with every quality fitting them for war, courage, intelligence, riches, science. Durin-r several months of the year, reinforcements can reach Canada only by very great exertions, and the maintenance of a communication, which is itself threatened and may in war be cut oft". ' Nor is the danger of disaffection, though of a minority, of the Queen's subjects m Canada, to be omitted. Still, with the Duke of Wellington's sanction to the opinion that these provinces may be defended without any material demand upon the military resources of the country, I have no hesitation in saying that we are bound in honour, and entitled m reason, to maintain the Queen's authority by all the means most hkely to be successful. In estimating, however, the policy of large and costly works, it is of the greatest importance not to construct forts which will require large garrisons, and weaken the army in the field. This is a question which is at the same time of so much importance and so peculiarly military, that I must reciuest your Lordship not only to consider these papers yourself, but to invite the Duke of Wellington, whose services are always promptly given on any occasion where the interests of his Sovereign and of his country are at stake, to review the whole matter, and communicate to your Lordship, or to me, his deliberate opinion on the proposed plans. I have, &c., (Signed) J. RUSSELL. '/ No. 15. Lord Hill to Lord John Russell. My i^rd. Horse Guards, April 8, 184L I HA"\'E the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's letter of the 22nd February, with the inclosures named in the margin*; the three last of which being in original, are herewith duly returned according to desire. The importance of the matter under discussion, and the number and variety J-.. *n ',■"','', ■'^'''"'."- 'T'l' ']''■; "^^'T''"/'' Sj<3eii!imn, 26lh March, I840.--Loid John Russeii to ditto, 9th May.— Lord hydenliain, flth August.— Ditto, 24th December, 1840.— Ordnance I'Jth January and I8lh Ffbruaiy, 1841. ' 49 of documents to which it was necessary to have reference, will amply account for the time that has elapsed from the date of your Lordship's letter to the present period. ^^^'"^' '" compliance with your Lordship's request, invited the Duke of Welhngton to give his deliberate opinion on the pvoposed nlans, his Grace (as your LK)rdship had justly anticipated,) promptly acceded; and I am now enal)led to send for your information a copy of the letter which the Duke yesterday addressed to me, with the paper containing his sentiments upon the whole of this important subject; and I cannot better put your Lordship in possession of my own opinion upon the matter, than by transmitting copv of my letter to his Grace, inclosing such observations on the defence of Canada, as occurred to me from an attentive consideration of all the documents before me. T have, &c., (Signed) HILL. f Inclosure 1 in No. 15. The Duke of Wellington to Lord Hill. My dear Hill, London, April 7, 1 84 1 . I SEND you a memorandum upon the defence ot Her Majesty's dominions in North America. I was in hopes that I might have been able to write upon this subject without mixing up with it any politicaJ opinion, and I have avoided to give such opinions as much as I could ; but my own former reports, the observations upon them and upon my opinions by othei-s, and the reliance expressed by the Secre- tary of State that the force which I deemed sufficient in 1819 would be found sufficient hereafter, and the new matter which I had to consider, viz., the sea defences of the Atlantic Provinces, have rendered it ncessarv that I should con- eider some of the political relations of the question. I should not have done justice to the public, or have acted fairly by the Government, if I had not stated what I really feel upon the subject. Believe me, &c., (Signed) WELLINGTON. Memorandum by the Duke of Wellington. March 31, 1841. I HAVE perused the papers sent to me by Lord Hill in respect to the defence of Her Majesty's dominions in North America, upon which my opinion is required by Her Majesty's servants. It is not easy to separate the mere military question from the political con- siderations connected therewith. My opinion is not required upon the latter. I had given it generally in the former discussions upon this subject. It is not altered, notwithstanding that many circumstances are altered which must and would affect military operations carried on in that part of the world ; but political opinions not being required, it would be impertinent and useless to give them, excepting in elucidation of some militaiy point which I may have to discuss in this paper I observe, however, that my political opinions given heretofore, have been discussed in these papers. It will be observed from a perusal of the papers which I wrote heretofore upon the defence of these same provinces, that I considered the most important point of all, to be their communication with Quebec and the sea. Much has been effected that was at that time projected and recommended, and, for the expense, Estimates were prepared and submitted to parliament. The water communic ..ion between the Ottawa and Kingston in Upper Canada is complete, by what is called the Rideau Canai ; but i do uol believe the water communication is coj .nlete from Montreal and the St. Lawrence J ..J h fiO to the entrance of the Rideau Canal at Bytown on the Ottawa as projected and recommended, or executed at all events as conveniently as it ougK be m order to carry into execution the system of operations suggested heretofore in my letters and other documents, and to rely upon their success. '^''"''°'^ '" Yet It will be observed that the vhole question of the defence of Canada turns upon the facility of the water communication, and uporthe niore o?S of time which will be required to move the troops, knd their stores, an^ ^uio ments from one part of the country to the other ^ P" The province of Canada, as at present circumstanced, is all frontier and notlnng else; w. h the exception only of the communicatioi^s from Montreal to the Ot awa, and from the Ottawa to Kingstown upon Lake Ontario. treilUd iZtv ^'•"'^^•^W^^'r.^'^''' ^^.- ^^'^^'^- ^om Quebec to Mon- SrwLtto'L^S^^^^^^^^ ^^""^ ''^ ^^" "^ '^^ -t- i»to the unt.I''^r?'l^'"i,^ ^'''■^'' '"?'" its junction with Lake Ontario, to the fall of the ^a ers of LakeLrie into the same Lake Erie from its junction with tl e Nbirara to the junction of the waters of the Kiver Detroit with that lake ^ TT •. JO r^ above-named separate the frontier of the territories of thp Umted States froni those of Her Majesty's province of Canada excentin'^ hv ?£ n"f "° ,^°'"'""»i««tion with her province, at least to Montreal, excepting by the navigation of the St. Lawrence. Above Montreal she can tlience by the Kideau Canal: but it is obvious that the River St. Lawrence is co-temunous with both frontiers to Lake Ontario. Lawrence is That that river cannot be used as a military communication bv either State excepting by permission of the other State, above the island of St Regis at the extremity of Lake St Francis above Montreal, and that the use of he comlnU cations of that part, below Lake St. Francis to the Sea, must depend upon Z ^nued possession by Her Majesty of Her dominions upon the r^^bank ofTh^ River St Lawrence and upon Her Majesty having the naval superioritv at sea and in the mouth of the River St. Lawrence. superioniy at sea The Government of the United States have great advantages in all naval operations upon the lakes co-terminous of the two States. On accoun of the cTn bX tuThl'^l," ^"^"t- ?^ ^^^^ ^'^•^ -^'^h crmmiifatS: can be kept with them ; the improvement and multiplication in recent times of upoSLTrir""^^ ''-'' ""™^^°"^ 1'°^'^ "!'"" ^^^ '^^^^' i-«-i-if The improvement made in Canada in the communication with Kingston has diminished the d sadvantages, under which British operaUous lEred during the late war ; they are great, indeed it is wonderful that they could be carried on at all and I should doubt the possibilitv of their being cairied on in nstrucl o "^of?" V^' ™"^'^P establishments "of the UnitedStates, of the mstiuctio. of their officers and the military spirit of the country. hkP« Hi ' nT*'.^'! ^'■' '^'", ^'''^*' ^"^ '" '•^^P^^t to naval operations on the ■orr . 'Jif f . I ■^^ 'i ""possible for Her Majesty to be on an equalitv of naval force with the Lni ed States on all the lakes, afte/ all that can be done has been th eof'trX',^ ""■ ^°«^^«l-"'t '^ '''y "''"" ^'^^ "«^ °f the navigat^oj UnTd Province. "™""''"' "^ '''' '""^ '^'"'^"^'^ '" '^' "PP^'' P^''^ °f "le 1 !f '^ ^°f ^'"■^.'■'^'''son' t'lat I recommended at a very earty period, after I had been desired by Government to consider of the defences of the province that endeavour should be made to open a communication by canal, rive and fSn T/f' ^"^^r' ,"•' ''r ^'"'" ^'^^ O"''^^^'^^' t« Penetanguishene on LaJe Huron; and from tins line laterally by the Black River; the River Trent Ho lands River Mohawk River, and the Onse or Grand River, wi h Lake Ontario by the River Trent and the Black Rivers, with Lake Erie by Hollands River, the Mohawk R ver and the River Rice or Grand River, 7nd by ?he Severn and Gloucester Bay with Penetanguishene and Lake Huron ^ not li SZT"? *''''^' if it should be found that these communications could dfetpntf.nl' T/r.*'''"^"''^' ^'^ ''^^''' "^"^ ^"^'^ ^'^°"ld ^« established, or at all events completed, from one water communication to another by railway. li.hmlnf" IT/fr'^' proposed hy mc at tht; peric.l at which I proimsed tlie'estab- Iistiment of the communication with Kinr ff'' I'v thp nn, • . >VT rn ! ^1..-, ]->;,]n 51 SS'i" e'"" """ "''■ °" ""'^ "■= """P'"" "f «■« '"= principle in other ie^tv'i H^ " f u'"'!'!'^' *'''°"^ ^'^^^^ measures to the defencp of Her M. .iJVeri;;tfirt?£-r„.r:n":'R^Lti\-.'c^^^^^^^ l>y mta,l nav,galio„ from the mouth of the Rideau, to 2^,^^ 5 J^ ' .I.I,V23^u*ikalU . ' t ( 53 renoi. o,,|,„»,i, M„„„,,,i, Bi„, ,ir„,,„„i , ,. „ I u ,1, m,i ;,,;;"!; pomtof all our >,„„,,, .„,i„„» „i,l, ,,,„„. ,„,,, „f , ,,, ii,; The next point for (•onsi.l(>rationisKinf,-stoii, and I understand frnn, thn l]us post would hu the centre for the as,send)ly of the nulilia in that nart of tl,e couu ry, and would ,ivo security to the navilatiou of til; canal. ^ ' I vvoil recomrn 1 Vl^' ' If "^'^^'K""- ll'i-^ i"'l'"Hant line of con.nu.nication, for^ FnvrP .1 VTJ''":Vr^^' .-'"J'''"^^^ "*"IJ>^' ^^'»-l^« '^t each of the lorts— -hort rrescott and Kort Wellin,i;ton. 1 ^^^T?!" ^''""''^ continue to be'tlie cajiital of tlu^ Province of Canada or .should bo the seat of tlie Government of the l.i.n.tenant- J, e -no it id be necessary to secure the possession of tlnit toNvn, by a work on e hiU on with ^K w!?^h ' n ^.'^1 ^''^ ■' ^"'^ m-^orUuK'v, an,l its conununications ™ eT, t c particularly will, Lake Sin;coe, and its bihlv > ; ?^ "'''' ^"^'"■'"' ^''" "'i^is-i«""i "f "Inch lake will pro- scheme tnni«-%''''"''^^'' completed, it would still he desiral)le to secure the possession ot Toi'onto ])y a work. _ The strate-etical inipoi-tance of tliat town will be increased bv the increased use made of Lak.- Simcoe, and, wlietlier tlie internal nv^aLi is completed or not, ,t would be very desirable for the c.-neral nte es(; o^tl e mm no' f. t 'TT^^ H'"' '^'' ''T^ ^''""''^ ""' ''^MM.der the necessity of movms to the reh,>t of Toronto, wlienever a vessel witli a few stra-g: ers ondjarked m her should appear on tlu> lake ^^H'lohi^rs nu^e of En~:s" "'" "^ "^' '""'""• ''''''''' '^^ '■' "'^ ^ort of the Com- Since tlie Report of th.^ Committ(M« of Kn.oineers was made, tlie Welland Cana has been constructed, and has carried on the connuunication 1)etwcen L United States. } apprehend that the canal caimot now be used on account of want of repairs, which have been nesl(>ct(>d in the recent contests in Canada. IJut ths damages can bo repaired, and it will again become a work of great importance. There can be no doubt of the n(K,-es.sity of Her Majesty's troops main- taming tlieir position on tlu; Niagara frontier. In my former n-poris ! stated n-.y opii.;,,,, of th(> nece.ssitv of constructing a tortresson the Chippawa, in ord(>r to snpi.ort those operations, and as a central pomt for the collection of the militia of that part of the country, the J' SI lof.-mr indMCMl ,„,. ,n llm.k al o,u- tin,.- tlial ,1... c-.,nstrM n ot' Iho has l.oon hy tho construction an.l coiupU.iion of thr inlau-l u.n.n i ic- fio tho groNvtli o tho m.hlarv pouor of fho Unitnl St.-.t.s, and of the- r , o ns c^" annoyance ot all .hscripllons, partic.dariy at th,> puin of Mon ea J ,. now say that th. security of that place Was the most impS ' .',i, t- he nu-ivns of attack upon it were gn-ater than thos. upon the ^4 m Jn.n t ft,., '^'ir^v"-^'' of Montr.>al must therefore be the first providerl for- but that ot the Niagara fnmtier out,Hit not to |,o lest sight of ' TT v^ i^f ''^'"-'^ °^ attacking each of llicse j)osts now in the Juinds of the Umtod States, are so great, and the attack npo.i each so certain, Si s ho S not perform my duty .f I did not inform llie government (.f my ml bn d it the proposed work npon the Short Hills should be c,u,str,K-ted'a? "xrlv a period as possible, as well as the Citadel at Montreal ^ n„=„ »•"' ^''"f !^1 9'\"'^l '« ">«l«'r«tood to be carrhni from tlic mouth of the Ouse River, winch falls into Lake Erie, to the Riyer ChippawaV which falls wi h the Niagara River. Thence up the Channel of' the C^ldi n awa foi e yen miles and thence to what is called the Twelve Mile Creek, oi Lake On ario The security of this great x\()rk would be givatly increased by th to^ struction of the proposed fortreas on th,. Slu>rtinilsj ST ^ events Ae" enemy supposed to have the oxelusive naval possession of the avigSi of botMakes, would not acc,ture a navigable communication from tlie m;J^to th^ I would recommend to the serious attention of those destined to carry into execution the measures for th(> defence of the province' of Caindi thS Island Bois Blanc, upon the month of the Thames, on Lake St cHah and upon the expediency of providing for the security of this d stant ,.i of the province by the construction of a r(>spectable work at Chatham It may be relied upon that all these measures of defence will facilitate the operations of the troops when the time for action arrives, and wi n ab e hose cliarged with the conduct of the defenc,> of the count y to provide fo? the same witji a smaller body of m,>n than they could if tluvsedefeiK works and means of communication should not be ca/ried into execution I now proceed to the consideration of the communications between the Province of (Canada an,l Her Majesty's other dominions in North Aneric In the existing state of the cpiestion still undecided of the Boundary between Her Majesty's dominions in North America, on the Atlantic 3 the United States, it is impossibl(> to ,lo more than provide for tlie conuiun " ioils between them and the Provinc(> of Canada, and for the defence^ t e S XZtdiu-y '"^ "'' "' """"'' "'''''"" "^•'^^ '^ '''" '^^^^ I request those who have to consider of tlie defence of Her Miiestv'^ dominions in North Amj-rica hereafter to pc>ruse ^^ith attention t c> St^o? page iT*: ' "' ^"''"''" ''""' ^'''"^'"^'^' 4'' i''^' '"2, to paraS. 5?f *• It is absolutely necessary to make provision for an inland communicition from the St. Lawrence tlirougli these provinces. «^oinmunic.ition • For more easy reference lliese paragraphs have been extracted from if,» R Comrntteeot Engineers, an.lno« accompany this Memorandum "" '*'''°" "^ ''"' \ ex 56 4 > ' , llu«> will scT III this rcnorl .Irtailcfl statements <,f i r r 'i.- ■ vemenee, aiu] e\iK-iisr in,.,, in,r .l„. , ir i . s, mcon- Tliiijiicli I yiicliirloKri'ili-rickl.mhulii- IIk,,->;i i i ■ .1 sz:^,^ •■ ' • '^".i.«- H;;;;'t„ i!,;:';"S,r:r.;:;r!:^ ^"u„, ,.r ., ;':.,.',;'"i;::vi'^;'.',,;:''tVT -.> ^«',''"- 1--."! '>.■'«.... ..„ n,. ami m.;,.»,,„ry. ' ^ 'I'"""",,,,... ,l„.»i. co,„„„,„„„i„„,, „ ;„ |„, ,|,,i,,,|,|„ rc.l,,liii'T:,l:„'ft,:,Si;:'rf^ltv:n'',?"•'' ■'i"","",''."'- >"^'<- ">■ Maim, i„ Govornniont. ' '"*1^^"'8^ V a concessi.,,, ,.f Her Majesty's In my opinion tlie officers of the Conimitt,-,. „f Fn„;., . .1,. :2^;sTr^^s;:^;c t :fe:^i— ^ - ;;.,t's but likewise a naval power almost second in the world only to H^r M liestv ' It IS not very probable ,hat snch an onterpril> woiKe u,Kl"ert.k,.n 1 here must >,. persons in the United States who wl,uld relU-et timt T nS on of ships of the line must have it in their power to return, in whid ?lu v S \f..i""J '* '"If ""^ be supposed that if any event, such as the murder of Mr Macleod or the niyasion of New Brunswick by the State of ftSe sLn 1^1 ot Such, for 111.- (l..t;-nc.< of Halifax, uouM l.r of no us., fl,,- (|,ai ..urnosr if Lc«: '''*'■''''""''' ^"'"•"'''' '''>'""""'' ''"'•'-"""'. •!- iw;',,J I.I the mean tini.< ,^'curit) can l)c frivn. by works and troops. \\nt ."v.>n H oHcc-t was on U... sf-.t, it niif-ht I., cxi-r-licnl to us. it'-lsrwlu-n , '"U'lIxT part of (h<, coast, a>;aiust th.- Haiuo cmumuv ; an.l h.Tc a- i j'u 8u<>:j^v.ste(l works would he of use. ' " '"**" Th(. oj..Talions of tl„- late war not havinj,^ been very active in these Atlautu- provinces, I l.a.l but, littl.. to observe u,Mm them in tin- „• \ ,1, inado to tin,. S,.cretary of Stale in IHIi, and li:,, but th,. haveS ., t | reported upon, under n.y n.stru.'lions, by th.- (•o>nn.ill..e ofKu-inee-x • , i cZr tf,e'"''!"r'r''''' i'-""'" ?'r'- '" ""• '^'•'""""" "»" ""-■ "'"' "•'" '-<•<) North AmeriHu ' '' " «>-^^^''" *"■• ^^'' ^^'^V'^f^ «l'"->i'«i->s i„ I have upon more than one occasion jjiven my opinion that if the syst.-ni A^r'ii L- ' '""^ '" '">■ "If "'^'''"'r "• "»' ^'onunittee of KnoiM...rs, <, f ApnK IS2o was carried really and f liHy into exe.-ution. it nvouM be in the po er ot this country to defend Her Majesty's don>iuions in North An.'ia w outthene,.ess,t^ of materiality incn.asino- tlu- burlhe.i upon ihe mili y mains and n^sources of the en.pire by un papers, confiided that it was essential to the' honour ot tins country, an,} of I Ur .Maj..sly's crown, that tlu'se count is I o Id altcrt'd ''' ^""^ '^'''^ ^^'"^ '"'"^"^''''' ^"''"*'' ""'^ ^'°'''''''' °^ ^''"^ *''■" ^'''^*'"^ lia/^eatly The means and power and resources of the United States, as well in material as personal means, also in n'sources phvsical ami inoral I a e increased enonnously. The mind of the whole countrv has been diir.'le.l ,> he discovery of the means of unnoyinp:, attaekin^-, and possessing-, Her Ma- .lesty s dominions in North Am.-nca ; and it n.av be reli,-d upon that the att-ick upon then, will be made", and will be a most seHous one I still contend that they must be defended. Even if nothino- had occurred m recent times to render such defence necessarv, Mer Maiestv can n , r withdraw from the defence of her dominions in North Ani'eria. w h 1 . ' at the moment at which they are tlnTaten.-d with attack by the United S t' ' than the Emp.Torot Austria couhl withdraw from his dominions in Ital o,' Uie King: of Prussia from Jus on the llhin.., when threatened with attack by r ranee. Her Majesty stands in North America in the position of a contin.-nlal power. She has an option wheth..r she will enq.lov her armies in host! lit e Spain Italy, (iermany, or tlu' Netherlands, but 'she has none in rel t , hostilities m North America. Her dominions must b,. d.-f,..!...! or aban 1 ne and they nviH be abandoned with ,lis<,n-ace and dishonour, if, at e e t a uhicli an attack IS threatened: and more particularly, if the n,-ce s fi ,• aban.lonin- them should be occasioned by the want of foivsio-l.t in a,!,,,' tin ■ the measures necessary to put the country in a state of defence, and b }?■ want of the military resources and means of comnmnicati..n and otlieVs to enable Her Majesty to defend this important ]M.rtion of her dominions *i, I l^'^'^' '^^•■'''"V adverted to the vast increase of the ],ow.,.r and means of the United States m the last cjuarter of a century, since the peace of ?,hen sidec!f^i;"S£;:"^^ '^ '^ alteration wlucH-has taken place on the other The population of Her Majesty's dominions Jias increased enormously not by natural means only, but by encout-ased emiorati(.ii. - ' Families have gone out from this country, and have settled themselves 87 in thoao countrirs. in the licp,., amounting to an ;iHHiiraiuv, thai (li,.\ wcuild COM limu" I., luo muUr the proU.rli..n ofllor Maj.stv. and Ik, Kmrrn.. Z Hritish lawH. and uiid.r ll.c inllin'mr ofdir British C\.nsthuli.m Very nTcnll) a r.-voiulicn has l,r..n,in fad. .•(r..t|..l in the (m.\, ininnitof each nt the provniccH. I .jo not mean hv the union into •)..,■ provinn. ot tlu' luo provn.crM ot ( anada, Imt l.y olhrr nioasurcs nMuhTin^ n.oiv nrarly comi.lfto Uxv. anah)f,7 iH.tw.Tii tlu« (iovmininit of'lhu mother country an.l the (Iov.tm. nicnt ot each ot thcHo pr(»vinc('s. I Ijciicyc that I am not mi,s(airnin spreadmj,^ ot the contest as b,.tsveen men professing? extn-m.- principles of ivil and constitutional (.overnnient for tlu- purpose of forciuL' the udoi.tion bv the adverse party of those principles. -such a contist should have i.revailed ot late years even previous to the Canadian Rebellion, aloiifr tlu' whc le line of he frontier of Her Majesty's Provinces and of the United Slates, haviL't Its objm, OP the part of H.t Majesty's sub,ects, the maintenance of the T^n}!"!- ■ /"""l'''l.f t»'^' »"fi«'' Constitution, against the democnUie- rcpuDIicr.f pnuci!,;. of the goveriunent of several States of th.- Union, border- mg upoi I -m, by hose hostile efforts they apprehen.led that their insti- tutiona n »'vl> bo rov( utionizod. Yet th ■ .ire V.., people who are to be abandoned to their fato bv Her Majesty vvh . t.iicatened with attack. ' It woul(i be by far a better, a more wise, beneficent, and foirer course, at once to abandon this dominion. Leave them to their own resources' to seelv protection elsewhere, if unable to defend tliemselves, (.r even to submit to the yoke, and make for themselves the best bargain with those desirous of overrunning them, rather than leave them to their fate at the moment at which they are to be attacked. I am aware tliat th.'sc are political views, and I have stated them in this place only because they are a conspicuous part of my first letters and instnic- tions upon the subject of these provinces, and because I observe that the Secretary ot htate and all who have considered this subject have relied upon tlie demand upon the military resources of the country in time of war bcine small. ° At all events, the preparations .suggested are rerpiired, and I must add, that tliere is a vast resource in respect to them througlumt these provinces in theimlitary(|ualities,dispo8iti(m, habits, and, in some degree, experience of itsinliahitants. <-> ^ i > At least let us have th(> material defences prepared; this resource of personal means organized, and in a state of efficiency, as a military body ■ the means ot secure Communication established, before it is decided that the (joyernment of these provinces must be abdicated, and Her Majesty's Forces withdrawn, because Her Majesty cannot defend them against the enormous power of the United States. T u ill now advert to the expense of the svstcm originally proposed, and show liow that matter stands at th(> present mom'ent. The original estimate of the Committee of Engineers acting under m" instructions was as follows: ^ •' n-j '^^jA"l!li.,'^"'^ complete the canals from Montreal to the Mouth of the Hideau 70,000/. I am not certain that that work has been completed, but I believe it has and, at all events, the expense thereof provided for. For the canal from the Ottawa to Kingston, by the Ridcau, 169,000/ This work has been completed. It ha.s I believe, cost more than the sum estimated; but the expense has been provided for, and the tolls of the canal produce 10,500/. a-year. Q J 58 The estimate of the expense for (he canal of communi- cation hctwcon Kingston, the Bayof Quint p, and Lake Sim cop, is , . , Add ihe caiiiil into I he Bay of Quinfe iiom Piesqu' Isle harbour . Itequired to be provided for: Canal to Lake Sinicoe The pttimnte of tlic proposed road of coniiiiunicution from Quebec to Frederickton That by Aliramichi not esti- mated. The work-; at Fort St. Jolm's oil the Richelieu were csti- m.ilpd lo cost , Tlie ivorks at Chmiibly , The works a( the Mouth of the Chateuuguay The works in the Island of S(. Helen's opposite Mon- treal were estimated . The citadel at Montreal was eslirndt'-d The proposed works at King- ston wore psfimatpd to cost Tlie House of Commons in 1826 granted £220,000. The estimate for the fortress on the Niagani lontier was The estimate for the fort at the mouth of the Ouse was The estimate for the fort at Chatham, was . The estimate for the fort at Amherstbuig and Bois Blanc, was Estimate for the fort at Pene- tangushene Estimate of the repairs of Fort Wellington Estimate for fort at By Town Road from Quebec to Frede- rickton . £183,112 10 17,000 200,112 10 40,475 £240,587 10 To be provided for works at St. John's 50,000 50,000 To be provided for works at Chambly To be provided for works at the mouth of the Chateau- g^ay • • . . To provide for works on (he Island of St. Helen's 55,000 43,000 250,000 251,000 250,000 50,000 50,000 02,000 30,000 50,000 To be provided for the citadel of Montreal To he provided for Kingston . To he provided for the fort- ress on the Niagara frontier To be provided for fortress at the Mouth of the Ouse To be provided for fort at Chatham To be provided for fort at Am- herstburg and Bois Blanc Estimate of the fort at Toronto Estimate of works proposed at Halifax, Nova Scotia Granted bv Parliament in 1828, £175,800/. Estimate of works at Anna- polis .... Estimate foi works at Windsor To be provided for fort at Penetangushene To be provided for repairs at fort Wellington 50,000 To be provided for fort at By Town 50,000 To be provided for fort at Toronto. 206,000 ^taS? '"" «"'''"^' 30.000 \':jX'' '-' ""'■'^ «• 30,000 To be provided for works a^ Windsor . £200,112 10 40,475 240,587 10 50,000 50,000 55,000 43,000 250,000 31,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 62,000 30,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 30;200 30,000 30,000 Remains to be provided . £1,201,787 10 , • '^'^' '■'^'"l'^'^^' °^' ^'^" '-'^P™^^ Of all tlu>se works was brouH,; „nd.-r th. The Committee gave no opinion npon them statecl"' '" *^'' '""""' "^^"'^' '^'' "°"'' of Commons gnmted the sums above I would bee; to observe, thoL of the sum tn h,> ,^v^. ; i i ^i ^ tc^ of ^tj^Rideau Canal w^ld'de^KlJ ^ho t^e^ ^^ ^J fi^ «J 2o0,000/., and leave a surplus for a .sinking fund to discharge the priacipal Signed) WELLINGTON. / V 59 Extract of a Report to His Grace t/.e Duke of Wellington, Master General of H>s Mojc^iy\ Ordnance, S^c, fi,c., ^c, relative to His mIsYv's North American Provinces, «,c., g,c., &;c., 1825. ^ majesty s j\orth Durin^'thfS no oHr. ^."h ''' '"l ^•'^derickton, the distance is 365 miles, i^unns, uie nrst 1 10 ot these, the road runs alone the hanks of th« «f t mmmBmm ^ti^^ Se= ^ss::; j^ s^t:s"irs.e ?t^ 1 10 miles of good road, 36 of v.y ba.. EI^VoTlrr^ l^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ''^'"^'^• thp fi?i ? °^"""' "''''?°'' °*' facilitating the means of transport would in the fi.st instance appear to be, to improve the navigation of the St John^s and r^n.^^ '^''''"', '"? '* ^r^^'' '^ ^•«'^"^'=t Lake Temiscouata with the S? Law rence by a cana ; thus reducing the whole of the communication to 10 mifesTf good road or of aav.gation on the St. Lawrence, and to 255 of canal or rfvef sl John' .f ; r''"' '^'u '' '' ""P"^^''^'^ ^" i'"P™-« the navigation 7the t>t. John s so as to answer the purpose in view This River is full of rocks and beds of gravel, affording but verv narrow passages or channels with not more water than is reouired inLZI canoes, and those but very small ones, seem tHelh IT- of bl't orS hkely ever co be made use of on this river. Neither does the countr^ betvveen the St. Lawrence and the Temiscouata Lake appear calculated fora Sal bein^ a succession ot abrupt wooded hills having swamps and morasses between them^ but wine do not afford sufficient water fo? any uLful purpose or obct '^''"• Under these circumstances, and in obedience to your Grace's commands wp turned our mmds to the possibility and convenience of estawSiing a rSoadTf no the whole length, yet at least for the 36 miles from the SU Law ence to Lake lemiscouata. across that space which is now called the Portage After giving the subject, however, our best attention, we cannot venture tofecommend n?-^- nnn^ \ ^«t.mate ot a .-ail-road we have beei, able to make is at the rate of 3,000/. per mile A rail-road cannot be made with a greater angle of icent than one degree, ;vh.ch g.ves 92 feet only of nse in one mile. The ve^tVe^uen rises and ial s ot he hdls between the 8t. Lawrence ar.d the Temiscouata woud require a .ai -road to be conducted over a space of cei taialy three times the Xect distance. Il our observations and calculations are correct, we take the libertv respecttuly to observe to your (.'race, that in this instance, there nUd be •^ToSo/ a .™ '* '7'"°^ ' "'^ "'"^'' ^^ '•"«'^^- P- ""^^ ^'«"W amount to 324 ,000/. a sum, as we humbly conceive, totally out of the question In our report upon the proposed water communications in the Canadas, we had not occasion to advert to the subject of rail-roads, or to draw any com! parison as to the re ative advantages or expense between rail-roads and canak- there having been tound, fortunately, sutficient water for the latter in aH the essentml situation,, where they seem to be required; and the question of the preterence to be g.ven to the canal not appearing to admit of i doubt, where one can be established, keeping in view the circulation of gun-boats We hcreforc^ avail ourselves of the present opportunity of respectfully observing; to your Grace, hat even putting the conveyance of gun-boats entirely on ont side a ranal where it can be made, will be fomid. in point of economy S utility the b.^st calculated ior His Majesty's service in these provinces. A cana of 4 feet deep and 20 feet wide, independent of the slopes can be evrf vated at 1,860/. per mile. The rail-road c'annot be made Sei San 3,OOoT If the expense ot the locks of the canal and the additional quantity of r^n road reiiuued to wind up the same ascent, are put against each other and which appears to us may very fairly be done, the canal will have the advantage in point of economy in construction, of 1,140/. per mile. In point of economy in the means of transport, it will also be found to be preferable as on (Ml =1 the canal one horse will draw 25 tons ; but on the rail-road, the same animal cannot witii ease move more than five. There is also another consideration we beg rcspcctCully to submit to your Grace, as a rcasou against the general adoption of rail-roads in His Majesty's North American provinces, arising from the severity of the winter, and the quantity of snow on the ground for so many months in the year. To have the lull benefit of the rail-road, the snow must be removed, whereas the canal is not only useful in the summer, but in the winter it becomes in fact a rail-road, along which, on sledges, articles of any weight or l>ull< can be transported. Vrom every information we have been able to nc;(|iiirc, we have come to the conclusion that a rail-road ought only to he made iii these })rovinces, in those situations where great weights are retjuired to be removed very short distances, where but small means of transport are to be obtained, and where water for a canal cannot be procured. If we are correct in our views with respect to th;- difficulties of the naviga- tion of the Madawaska and the St. .John's, the impossibility oi' connecting Lake Temiscouata and the St. Lawrence by a canal, and the very serious expense of a rail-road, we respectfully submit io your Grace, that i> good military road seams to be the only eligible mode of communication left to be adopted. We beg leave to offer the following observations respecting the probable expense, and the best mode of executing it. Although the amount of the total length of road required from the right bank of the St. Lawrence to Frederickton, is 2.55 miles, yet it by no means follows that it would be necessary for Government to incur the entire expense of making such an extent of road from local circumstances, which we will have the honour to explain. Frotr the bank of the St. Lawrence to the River Loup, the country has been granted in Seigneuries, the Censileurs or tenants of which are bound to construct and keep up a good road. This part is, in fact, very tolerable, and would, doubtless, be soon made as good a road as that on the banks of the St. Lawrence, if there was more traffic upon it, or it became an object, from the improvement of the remainder, to enforce the law with respect to this proportion. This gives a diminution of 4;^ miles. The remainder of the Portage road as far as Lake Temiscouata, amounting to 31^ miles, must, we are afraid, be made entirely at the expense of the Government, as the country on both sides is but bleak and inhospitable, offering no advantages to the settler. At intervals, four wooden huts have been constructed, in which four old soldiers are living, with their families; but to whom rations are obliged to be issued, from the impossibility of their raising any crops on which they can depend. We think that these 31^ miles cannot be improved in a permanent manner, under an expen.se of 2C)0l. per mile. We would recommend that the road should not be made less than 16" feet broad; that the wood should be cut down and burnt, to the distance of 30 yards on each side of the road, so as to admit the air and sun. With respect to the morasses, we do not apprehend any better method can be adopted than that already in practice in this country ; namely, that of laying rows of cedar trees parallel to, and piled upon, each other, to the height required, acrow the morass, as a foundation to the road. These cedar trees will last ' years. In the course of that time, many of these morasses, from the action of the sun and wind, will be very considerably dimi- nished. Drains, of course, will not only require to be made on each side of the road, but occasionally at right angles to it, availing ourselves of the fall of the ground on each, or either side, so as to carry off the water as uiuch possible. There is no road whatever along the shore of the Lake Temiscouata mere path upon the bank of the Madawaska, cut for the use of the conveying the mail from Frederickton, when, from the state of the river, cannot use his canoe, nor yet travel on the ice. The total of these two distances amounts to 45 miles. As far as this space the road would be to be naade entirely, and the country cleared of wood for the breadth of the road itself, as well as for the 30 yards on each side ; we do not think that it can be done under an additional lOOZ. per mile more than what we have estimated as necessary for the reform of the Portage road. We are of opinion that 350/. per mile will be required for these 4.5 miles. We are now arrived at the junction of the St. John's and the Madawaska Rivers, close below which is situated the Madawaska Settlement, in a very beautiful and plentiful country. as , and a courier he 01 We take the liberty of observing to your Grace, that from this point we think it would he highly advisable that the military line of communication should be established on the left side of the St. John's, keeiting that river betwern our pro- posed road and the American frontier, which atone spot (Mar's Hill, as already explained in the preceding paragraph) api)roaches to within 5 miles of the St. John's River. We would have adverted to this Une sooner, but from the impos- sibility of passing the Temiscouata Lake, and also as it is of less conseciuence between the St. John's and the Madawaska Rivers, the country in that direction being very intricate, a good deal divided by rivers and lakes, and considerably removed from the frontier, as we hope it will be established. The banks of the Madawaska, before it joins the St. John's, offer every facility for the construction of a bridge, which we respectfully suggest should be built with stone piers and abutments, and that the wooden part should be covered by a shed, as is prac- tised by the Americans to prevent the snow from lying upon it. A bridge constructed witi\ these precautions, would last a very considerable time. From the spot where we propose to construct a bridge over the Madawaska, for twentv-nine miles on the left Is.mk of the St. John's, the country is settled and cultiviitcd, more oi 'ss, and a road exists. This we only recommend to be improved. For seven miles above the great falls of the St. John's to a dis- tance of eight miles below these, the country is uninhabitea, and a road must be cut through the forests. Seventeen miles of very thinly inhabited country is then met with, through which the present road might be improved. The remaining 113 miles to Frederickton, is through a tolerably populous and well-settled country, the road only reciuiring to be enlarged. We take the liberty of laying, with the utmost deference, before your Grace, the followmg recapi- tulation of our observations on the communication between the St. Lawrence and rrederickton, and accompanied by an estimate of the probable expense of improving the same. ,. , , , j i i. 1. From the St. Lawrence to the River Loup, 4^ miles of tolerable road kept in order by the tenants. , , ., , , . 2. From the Loup River to the Lake Temiscouata, 31^ miles to be enlarged and reformed at 250/. per mile, 7,675Z. . 3. Forty-five miles of new road to be cut through the woods, and made in a permanent" and efficient manner, along the banks o the Lake Temiscouata and the Kiver Madawaska, at 350/, per mile, 15,750/. 4. A bridge over the Madawaska, 3,000Z. 5. Twenty-nine miles of road already existing on the left of the bt. John's River, through the Madawaska settlement, to be improved at 50/. per mile, 1,450/. , ^„ , r, -i r j** 6 Seven miles of new road above the great falls, and 8 miles of ditto, below them to the Salmon River, making a total of 15, through a forest, at 350/. per mile, 5,250/. .. . , , rn ^^■ i- i ti 7 From the Salmon River to 2 miles below the Tubigue, 1 / miles, the country is very thinly settled, and the road to be improved will consequently require more expense, say 100/. per mile, 1,700/. , , , , „ 8 From 2 miles below the Tubigue River to Frederickton, a tolerably well- settled country, 50/. per mile to improve the road, 113 miles at .50/. per mile, 5 050/ ' Total required to establish a good military communication between the St. Lawrence and Frederickton or. the St. John's in New Brunswick, being a distance of 255 miles, 40,475/. ^ ....,• i It may be proper here to observe to your Grace, that there is a very good wooden bridge over the River Loup ; constructed, as we understood, at an expense of 1 500/. during the war, from funds furnished by the military cheat. This bridge requires some repairs, and a roof ought to be thrown over it to prevent the snow from lodging and injuring it. The great weight of the considerable Quantities of snow which fall in this country, very seriously injures the bridges, if permitted to remain and accumulate. If tiiis bridge is suffered to be destroyed, it will add to the expense of the proposed communication between the St. Law- rience and Frederickton. c • .i • As we had left Quebec, before we had had an opportunity of seeing this bridce we were not able to asueilain under which department or m whose charge it is understood to be placed ; we, however, thought it our duty to communicate U 62 it may »' NEW URUNSWICK. cludin^vi;.Shlir;l^Zi!^:r^^^^^ ^"- ^l.a.^ ro,000. in. J"Iin s. Tl.c settiemci:ts a.v .rincin v r. » r' 7 ," *''^ companies. .1 St. ^>;. .Johns, and tl,uso stmuns ruC^. . to ! 1 • " ''" ''■" '^^ "*' ^''e K-Ve '■bm.i N ,niies below the FaHs, .ad ^l , " J ki^I^'''"''^^^ ^^ "'^-^ ^^^^'"'on River, Passamaquoddy R y, is situaferV tL n'' "'""^'' "ver by „„n,ense forest^: A road o } abou 7 . ""'-^'^ °^ *''^ ^t. John's ro,n Frederielcton to St. Andrew's but tn o wL ' "!• ''"^'''' '^"« '^^'^n ^'"t be niet w.tb. and whici, is represente as ' v ' f ""I'^ '"' 'nbabitants are to tbe St. Lawrence- nnd Lake Ap cou ta ,Ie .^ '"" l'' ' "''^"'^'^ '•""'''' ''^^ween ,. , St. Andrew's ean also be ap Sec hi • ,u 'I' ^''^I'^^.^i^' Paragraph, road runmng nearly parallel to thj coas IJn, n "'" •-^- *'"''"'** t°^^"' bV a some settlers, although not nun.eroir On^^ F st'ernT'""/- ''■"^*°"' '''''' '^'^ of St. Lawrence, several very risinc. settlempnf. . ^'^o'lt'er, in the Gulph at Mn;an.ichi Bay, which last'is st't^'ed o onS of'"oorr; f '""'' P^^^'^"'-'^ 1 Here • - a barraek fnr unn . '-""S'li'i ot .j,0U0 souls. barracJ,for 300 S' L'r„Sj"™ sl" J^ ?'? "r' *'T*«'™. »»a 1 garrrison fro.u .o very remX 3 ml '". T' '' ""^ '° ^'tl'draw saiuc principle that we have vLtS , "on ^ "">? ' "'''"''''"' "''"" ^'^'^ the withdrawing from Fort George and tCoi ^"^'f''' '^ntier, to suggest expose His Majesty's troops trbeov^owered-^Mf "''''' ^"'•'^^' ^bichonly war, and to be debauched and deserr n t^ ,' '*• '^'.?.'" '''^"''' '" ^•'"e of that the .uilitia of the conntrv are he , ' er /'f '; ^' ^^"'"'^'y ™"^«ve. of such detached towns or scttlemen tl^ S. '.^'^ 'h'" ''"^ "^ ^"^ ^''« d^<««^e "Ot have any effect upon the genend result oi^fw^r"'"''^^^ of which would ro^abS';!^^::; rl^i:^'!^:l;r;s^^^ -^-ed^is. o.. the frontier, between His Majesty '.^Aovm^irsi^^^^^ 'nore easily generated lu the present instance, in a inilit-irvTm?^?-'^^' ''"^ ^'^^ ^'"^"^''"S- utn.ost deference to your Grace, tL ^.e of tt ','f "' ■ ^'''^ '"'^'"'^ ^'^h the wick, IS as a connecting link betw.en^Gn. h tlV 'T''^^ ^ew JJruns- defence is evidently the" St. John's Rive An" I ? ^'"i'"' '^''^^ ''"^ "f us, nuspK.eed. We presume io su- "sUha^ ev L "^' ^'^'""^ ''^^^' ^ W^^--^ to given to lo:,-,a a,„l well-behaved peopfe Io sltheiZl '""'TT'' ' ''"«''' to be the Gulp!, of St. Lawrenc, but^hr^ 1 '^1.1?'^^^^^ *tf f\' ' ''■'^'^••«"d that ...ul t!. St. Croix, the less tl .""oitl t elr ^ ^\ *^'';"- ' ^''''"^'^ e>.v, the,> ,,n..,ie;,t:ons H.a^ire rv mm. /. T T' cultivated, and the have . a.ns,. p. .pnlation between the S . o m's I'nd thJ^f f "'''' "*' ""^ r^"'' ^« iuore advantageous to His Majesty's service IJ 1 , ^ '^i'W':^^ e, will be the m view the military obj.et in letainin- fi.P ^^ ' pnnciple, and keeping we attach much moJe value io thlZ'slJl^^^^^^^^ ^''"^ 13runswick!^ that xrughlKmrhood than to that of ti:^^^^^^^^^ We think the batteries at present exi-tin f • mele .■„„™v..,nc,.,. .„ „e,.u,ed!„ ^..^::^t£l:i,-^^^^^ \ . ,t I 'N s'ew 1 (• as (lix, fully equal to the dcfcuce of the harbour of St. Joiin's. At Fredcrickton, however, there is nothing;, ami we venture to su«j;gest to youi- Grace, that when once the frontier is cleai'ly defined, it may be perhaps advisable that a work should he established on the St. Jolm's River, in the ueighbourho-jd of Fredc- rickton, as a rallying ])oiut for the country, and to serve as a secure dep6t for the arms and amnuinition of the militia. IVlajor (ieneral Sir Howard Douglas spoke tons respecting some batteries supported bv ii small keep wliich he wished to have ctm.-tructed u])on the Island of Gr; nd .M'lU.n, .situated about ten miles from Passamaquoddy Hay, at the en- trance of I he Ba\ of Fundy, ami about eighteen from the Nova Scotia shore. lli.d rhe wind permitted, it wa- our intention, u>5 it doubtless was our duty in our i)assagc across the Bay of Fundy, to have visited tl, island, in conse- quence (if 'he Major-General's wih lies or ideas upon the s'..)ject. With, how- ever, evory lespect for the aciknowledged talents and ac(|' u-enients of Sir How- ard, we submit, with the utmost deference to your Grace, that coast defences ought only to be established lor some avowed, import;int and speeilic object. Kingston, St. Helen's, York, Amherstburg., St. J( Im's, and Halifax Har- bours, must have sea batteries. With these exceptions, we humbly conceive, the Sovereignty of His Majesty's Provinces in North America will best be preserved by the occupying of important points within the country, and not by scattering the disposable force or incurring the (xj)ense of constructing batteries for the de- fence ot' a coast or sliore oi' such a length. In time of war, if protection is wanted either at (hand Manan Island, or any other point, for the coasting trade of the country, there would be no difficulty in supplying a few guns, which may be placed in battery and manneo by the militia of the neighbourhood, as occasion might recjuire. NOVA SCOTIA. . . * 48. From New Brunswick we proceeded across the Bay of Fundy to the Province of Nova Scotia. This Province is composed of Peninsula, about 250 miles in length, by 75 upon an average in breadth. It is comiected with New Brunswick by an Isthmus of low, marshy land, not more than 15 miles in breadth, extending between Cumberland Basin, at the head of C'hignecto Bay ; one of the inlets at the head of the Bay of Fundy, on the one side ; and Bay Verte in the Gulph of St. Lawrence, on the other. The Peninsula is indented, on almost every side, with deep and capacious harbours and bays. Thriving towns and villages are to be met with not only at most of these posts, but in many places remote from the coast. There are ex- cellent roads crossing the Province in almost every direction, affording great facilities for such military movements as may be necessary for its defence. The population of Nova Scotia is computed at 8(j,000. Every male in- habitant Irom 16 to GO is a mihtia man, but the efficient militia, composed of men from 18 to 4.j, is reckoned at 12.000. They have 8,042 stand of arms in their possession. They are divided into battalions, and are called out by law for four days in each year. They are understood to be very loyal and well disposed, and in superior order and discipline to the militia in any of the Sister Provinces. The military points at present occupied in Nova Scotia, are Halifax, Anna- polis, Windsor, and Cumberland Fv n Halifax is upon the east coast ol the Peninsula. Her. u ituated the Seat of Government. 'J'here is a most excellent and ca{)acious hat !• mr ; a dock ;. iird, ordnance establishnicnt, and public offices, have been constructed at fl lifax. This, of course, is the principal point to defend, and would be wi: altimate object of any attack upon Nova Scotia. The entrance into HaUiax harbour is protected by six very good sea batteries : namely. Fort Clarence on the eastern side of the harbour ; Fort Charlotte on George's Island ; the Grand, Ogilvie, Point Pleasant, and the North-West Arm, batteries situated on different points to the southward of the town. There is also a battery supported by a tower, considerably in advance of the harbour, called the York Redoabt. The batteries of Point Pleasant and of Noith-West Arm defend the entrance into an inlet called the North- West Arm, as well as the mouth of the harbour. if:-^ un 64 VVest'^A^^tfo^lir.^^SS^^^^ enemy, by entering the North- superior force, might tZ^ZL.^non}Ttn ^ff"?' "* ^^•'^''^^^' «"d ^^ '" Pleasant and the LrthXt Aim Battl v "*'!'' ''°f ry'-""'* ^"■•thwith. Point but as th.s .. su very essS t oKr ' ^™'''''^ '" the rear by atower: Grace th: Ue N^tlwe f Ar^ I a e v^^^ ^' "'^"^"''^ *° «"Sg^^t to your defence contributing equal vtrtletcn^ augmented, and as a fu/ther attempt at a coup /. .S t ttv" e'SoSf-W^^^^^^^^^^^ T^ ^^rmrenr' "1-^'"/^'"^- Rocks, sholtom™;.'' '^'"'^^"'^'^^ easi./^,SS^S.nS;jJi;::.^::f :S^r -PP^f ^^ ^^ote, .^ couldnot be to be strengthened. ^ ^""''''' """Sh^. we presume t(. remark. situaSi^K^L::: ^'ii^haS' 'r """ ''^^" '^'''^'^^''- ' ■« «^»"-^'y be completed. ''" ''°"' ' '^ "PP^''^'"'^ ^o us that this . ork should of hS Jtrb:^''"'^"' "^ """"^ "^^^'""S '--^ -1--^ for the sea def^..es at4uSS:;^^^^;^^l,-£S ^; advisable . -m some unprotected part o*" the coast 1^.« , "'*''-'\^' >^ou''^ i^f 'ourse, laud the eown, is .l,e CUadelHir '' '^'"'^""^ """'"^ ""<1 ^so above give eonfirlcnce to I rtroZ anrt '°ir,' °' ".'"Wjort to the s.a batteries, to o?Satrsv^~S^^ fo J ,''';er;:'Sle„raL" SolMr"' "■= ?°""-*-' Arm shoold be Citadel and 4edS Hi? wEh would munf,!!'"'^''' f"".'"' """''= ''"•" ""^ plete investment of eaeh S,er Thlv miSS *' ""'f '^'' ^1™"' ""= <^™>- second position to be taken ,m i„ fZ, I ... . ''°'""'""' "" "■= Hanta of a could be straigthened bv sTohMr I? )t '""" °°'' ''"^■y"'', and whiel, mcnent, as occasta migh'i require "' """"' "<" °" ""= 'I""- "' «•' aeer;:^tx1reipts ii:rrrSiS'o' t pt-"'""'' '=-«'- detaiW plans L,d e^.imate^s :^Vi^£\;''&':trT!L:t The Barracks at Halifax are of wood. 'J^hev are verv troorl 1 ,.-ii . . a considerab e t nie. We h ■■ , vnr »,«.ro„n ^ • • ■ °"' -^ ^'" 'ast General Sir Jame Kemnt' tl ' ' . T/' P'^^^'^^'y ^S''^'^ •» oinmo. '.v.f-, ;.ieutcnant. •i 111 "'i"'" A.enipt, tl. • nenever any extens vp rpnn:- r,., ;,,..„ • j .t will be more advisable to coa.Uuct a new barrack of stone • p/>in S""""^' for one Battalion at nnv nfo ti n """"V,.' . *"' •-' ' ■ int Fleasant, Citadel and Neell-rr ill in fl^^^^^ ^^^'^' *'^ ^'""^ ^t the manner we ha.l vcntu^eXsugg^^t ^'"' "' ''"' ^""^^ '^^'"^ "^^^ ^ ' - "' t'- with Jetct ?o S^Iifox ""'■"' *° "^ " """^^^^' *° b^ '«'d befo ,,vi. Grace Scoti^Zr;iL'^'S^i!L;i^ 't •J^'r ""^ "'^"" ^^^^^'' «^ '"-^-S Nova oay 01 1 undy. It is, moreover, important, as being the port 'sss^wmamtA 65 •A I V of Nova Scotia on the Bay of Fundy, and the place from which all naval com- niunications with New Brunswick must be carried on. The entrance of the harbour, or what is called the Gut of Annapolis, might easily be secured, if circumstances recjuired it, in time of war, by a heavy battery on each of the points forming the entrance. At Annapolis itself, is an earthen, square-bastioned fort, of about 400 feet each front. This work is in a neglected state, but is, upon the whole, in better repair than most of the works in the North American provinces. It is suscep- tible of being put in good order. There are decayed wooden barracks, and a brick barrack very much gone to ruin, of two stories high, raised upon the foun- dations of a building formerly constructed by the French, when in possession of this country, within the fort, and various wooden buildings without the fort, all more or less in a state of ruin. We submit, with the utmost respect, to your Grace, that it would be advisable that the whole should be removed, the fort itself put in order, and a substantial fortified barrack placed within it, as a keep. A work seems required in this part of Nov& Scotia, as a secure depot for the arms and ammunition of the militia ; and to serve as an alarm post and a rallying point, where they could be assembled, in case of any attack, Irom the Bay of Fundy. , As Annapolis is so far removed from Halifax (133 miles), a work here appears the more requisite, to give confidence and support to the inhabitants. Windsor is situated in the centre of the Province of Nova Scotia, 42 miles from Halifax, at the head of one of the branches of the basin of Minas, having communication by it, with the Bay of Fundy. There is an earthen, square fort here, which has never been completed, having a wooden block-house, and wooden barracks for 150 men, in an unin- habitable state, with the exception of one or two rooms, occupied bya subalterri, and a detachment of the 81st Regiment. A plan and estimate for a new barrack at Windsor, has been approved of, and which was to have been built this year. As, however, the work has not been commenced upon, we venture to submit to your Grace, that it would be more advantageous to His Majesty's service, that a fortified barrack should be constructed, which might serve as a keep to the present earthen redoubt, which we think ought to be repaired and com- nleted thus furnishing a defensible post for the security ot the arras and ammu- nition of the militia in that neighbourhood, and contributing to give confidence to the country generally. In the inclosure letter A, (which is a detailed state of the fortifications and barracks), we have detailed to your Grace the reasons which have induced Lieutenant-General Sir James Kempt to direct the Commissariat not to adver- tise for tenders for the proposed new barracks at Frederickton, until your (irace's orders with respect to the alterations we have thought it our duty to submit can be received. As no delay can arise to the service (as the building could not now be commenced until the Spring), we venture to express our hope that your Grace will not disapprove of this step. The same reasons have induced Sir James Kempt to take similar measures with respect to the barrack at Windsor. The barrack as already ordered, or the fortified barrack, in lieu ot it, can equally be commenced in the ensuing Spring. Cumberland fort is a very small and insignificant earthen hexagon, without any revetment, having wooden barracks for 150 men (with their officers) within it It is situated at the head of Cumberland Basin, an inlet from Chignet s Bay, at the head of the Bay of Fundy, From Cumberland Fort there miles distant. A road also leads .iw.i. ^^..— , ^ r? ^ vicinitv, to Bay Verte, across the Isthmus (15 miles), and another to Irede- rickton 149 miles distant, having a branch from this last by which it is prac- ticable to go to St. John's, by travelling round the Bay ot Fundy. The circumstance of so many communications branching ofl^ irom the neighbourhood of Cumberland Fort, seems at first to point it out ^5 an im- nortont station, and as one where a work ought to be continued to be kept up. After having, however, given the subject every due consideration, we respect- fully submit to your Grace, that we have come to a diflerent conclusion; ai d that the disadvantages of the expense and incorivenience of ^f "^S^ "J^^jf ^'^ ^^ maintain another work, which must be occupied by another detachment, are is a very good road to Halifax by Truro, 120 miles distant. A road also leads from Cumberland Fort, or at least from its 66 S.p"aiX^rA:.lf„^r Sen's™ "■ '"' *"-'^'^ -'« upon usua occasions and ;o fp^f .. c • "V p""'l^erland Basin rises 4') feet uponNoisirbyrh':r:"Th:tav7r r^^'s^^ t'^^ --^ ""-•< master, if not of the whole of the vroyZof^^N^^^^^ P'-»^^-"«lv John's. If in uncontrolled possessEn of^hp if /^[^"^'ck, at least o. St. choose his points of debarkaSTon wS a v ew t\1eri"'"'-'^ ""'• "^ ''''''y ''' Scotia; surely he would select ihelL Z a » venous invasion of .\ova of Minas, which would dther of thl '^'^'^P°''«' "'' ^he inlets of the Bay way into the province, and 2ch neater^L?''^ ^u- ™'"^'"t« a considerable at the remote basin of Cumterird li ' ''^ •'*''"'' ^"^'""^'^ ">^" ''"'din^r equally convenient. It appe^rs^ZS^^ '''^'''^ even it wa^ Scotia was to be conveyed by water CumtS l P ! «"»f»>ent against x\ova tion. But the enemy mav orono^; in a i "* f"' ''°"''' "'^"'■'1 "» P'otec the head of the Bay oVfSU Eh nn f"''''^' '=*"''"•""' '« '"arch' round prise bespeaks a very supeS' fo ce o^T " !' ^Tf''^^'- S"^'' "" ^"ter- Fort, which guards no pa s and wS in.^7 A' '^"''">'- Cuniberbmd would, in such a case, o course be bbckJ^H T^^ ^1 *"™''^ "'«' ^^^'""Je^l. nature we have suppo ed we resnePtS '''k ''"/^ ''^'"^'^ ^^ ^"vasion of thj made with such raE. \hTvii'S Bmn"^"l '" y°"^«'•a''e. could not be of.) but that thereUuld be sufficient tim. ff Piously to take possession orce of Nova Scotia, and to occTpv tt nSsriiTu t ill '"'"'" 'f' .''^P"^"^'*^ irom Cumberland Fort towirrk H.:i;f ' "^^ '""'^ "^^'' which the road Cumberland TJiit off r eve ' faciSfo^rf^^ These hills, called ti able to force them and is more SvM nft f f ' ^"^ ?"^'">' ^""'^ "«t be theBayof Minas.VhichhSTs W^^^^^^ to turn them by the inlet of of Windsor, and the maintaining thprf.^ -J f -k. "' '^"'^'''^ "^'^ occupation and ammunition for thr^SS'' ^^^ZlV^f'^^^^^^^^ .mit to your Grace, of the mo e consecmener A ^^ ^' ^'1 "'' ''°"°"'- *« «"l^- strong ground, and at the head of thTb"Scl. of "ke'T "/ x/'""' "'"'" ^•->' TJaldax, we attach considerable importance to Wul.n7 ° i^ ^'""^ "^'""'^^ ^" your Grace has laid down in our inJfnn^r V^'"T xr ^i'^" ^''^ P'inciple which we have endeavoured to Zlv on evir m' ''r ^'"^'^''-^ ^'•""''"•' ^"^ could be acted upon, we think vourV.n 7, i"^''!'' ^'"' °' ''^'"^"^'e ^^here it defence of HaliL, the pos essiJn of fe ^'" •"'"'. °f''"'°"' '^^' "^^^^ to the the preservation of Novlsco S kZ^^^.V "'" ^''"'^^'^^^ i">l " '^nnce for to your Gi.ce. may with^ro^Sty b^aSnl^?^''^' '"' '^'^'^ -^" '^^^--e return oVreVrotoia" Se'^rSof Lt"£ ^^ '"^^ ''"'' ^' ^°^^'«-^'-. ^ the province, Ind manned by tl e L^t^a fS I?. H T"'' T^^' '"'' ^'i'' "P ^y and harbours. ^ "'^' '°' *''^ defence of the different bays the ptoWnciri LlSturfyNova%"'r' '' ^ ''T'"'"- "f" '^^^h Houses of (which we accidentally mwih We re^^^^^^^^^^ ''" ^"^^■'•"°'- *" '^''^ to be opened with Canada by means of VJZ^'^^'r: of a communication point where the road from Ha^i "xJo 1 he™ ShTSt ° r°"""^^"'^^ ""' '^''' Frederickton, to proceed bv the heads of the Nni.! . L'"^'i^' *"'"'^ ^°^^«'-f'« Histigouchi Rivers, until it slmuW meet fL 7''''^'' ^' Miramichi and the St. Lawrence oppos te the Isle of Bie Tlk r? ''^' ^'^'''^^ ^'^^"'^ «'' ^^^ alluded to) would onen i fini .^ . .• ^'"^''oad (it is stated in the report Frederickton Sffelc would"^I-rr"f™'"''.^"'^ ^™"^^^ Halifax Tnd -distant from the frontTei- orthe s7jolm'«'"*"''^?''^^^^^ «-' •^^i"'^' ^"^^m^r^'^i^risrf ^^^^— "'^ "'" ^'"^ already m:d"someL;Lt Tth'e'A^T'. ?""; 1 ^'-- -'"-ks, and had it was-proposed to coi rcfthTs road ani -^ >." "^^ '-""""^'■y ^'"•«"Sh which the subject to writintr whin , ' ? • ^^'^n^i^ed some memorandums upon U...uur o, co„v.«i„g „uh your Grace „'p„n ffls ^Ced commSo^f .,',t? 1 » rx ^A- 67 1 » jour Grace approved of the idea, and wished us to acquire whatever information we might he able respecting it. We take the liberty of observing to your Grace, with the utmost deference, that with whomosever the idea of this communication originated, it is uncjues- tionably the conception of a great mind We humbly conceive that it ought not to be lost sight of by His Majesty's Government ; and although it may not be either practicable or advisable to carry it into immediate execution, yet, by encouraging settlers on this line, and by aftbrding assistance, in establishing a post for letters in the first instance, to the different settlements and between them, the country will, in a few years, be sufficiently cleared so as to allow it to l>e carefully explored, and the communication in question judiciously established. We do not, however, conceive tlmt this proposed new line of road ought by any means to do away that which we have detailed to your Grace in Paragraph 46, from Frederickton to the St. Lawrence, by the left bank of the St. John's River and the Lake Temiscouata. On the contrary, we submit, with the utmost deference, that when once the boundary with the American Government is clearly established, the more the country contained between the St. John's River and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the River St. Lawrence and the Bay of Fundy, is settled, and the more communications that are made between New Bninswick and Nova Scotia with Canada, the greater will be the facilities for defending these provinces. The total distance from Quebec to Halifax by Ramousky on the St. Law- rence, the Bay des Chaleurs, Miramichi, and Cumberland Fort, is estimated at 660 miles. From this amount, the road from Quebec to Ramousky, 180 miles, and that from Halifax to Dorchester Court House, in the province of New Brunswick (where the roaJ lo Miramichi separates from that to Frederickton) 155 miles, maybe subtracted, as both these roads are excellent. There remain 325 miles either to be made or improved. Of these 325 miles, 125 (being the distance between Dorchester Court House and Miramichi) are travelled by the post (a man on horseback) lately established from Hahfax to Miramichi, and about 30 (l' them (as far as Locagne) are represented as being practicable for a carriage. From Miramichi, which is a very thriving settlement, r-nsisting of about 5,000 souls, and where 300 square-rigged vessels are stat< ■.» come annually from Europe and the West Indies for timber, it is in conteiuplalion to make a post road to the head of the Bay des Chaleurs, for the convenience of the settlers in that neighbourhood, a distance of 45 miles. From the head of the Bay des Chaleurs, across the country to the last settlement oii the Ristigouchi (80 computed miles), and from thence alongside the Metipediac River and Lake to Ramousky (75 miles), a perfectly new road will require to be opened. Of the whole of the communication in contem- plation, it would appear from the above premises that there are already 335 miles of verj' good road made ; that a bridle road exists, or shortly will, to the extent of 170 miles, and that the remainder, being a distance of 155 miles, must he made entirely. lu a country so new, and as yet so very imperfcv' K' 7 exolored, being covered with wood in every direction, we beg leave, with the utmost respect, to observe to your Grace, that it appears to us it will be advisable not to make this road in too great a hurry, but rather, as we remarked in the first part of our report upon this subject, to recommend the Provincial Legislature to open this com- munication for the convenience of their post, not only from Miramichi to the Bay des Chaleurs, which we understand will shortly be done ; but from the Bay des Chaleurs to the head of the settlements on the Ristigouchi River. The last 80 miles from the Ristigouchi River to the St. Lawrence through the district of Gc^pd, will, we are afraid, be that part of the line on which it will be most difficult to induce settlers to remain, from what we ourselves saw of a similar country, but more to the westward, between the St. Lawrence and the Temis- couata Lake. This country is not, however, sufficiently known, nor has it as yet been examined, as far as we have been able to ascertain, by any competent person : so that a decided opinion can hardly be formed as to its nature and capability of cultivation. 68 ^ I I I CAl'E BRETON. 8cotif|,v'^reGuTofclS"no?l':;L ^'°"> '^^ Province of Nova I.opulat.u„ is estimated ^^20.000 Tl e miliT.,""' '". '^ '"''^^ »"•«»<'• The but arc stafcd to amount to a.000 men fV '" ^"l ""' ^'''' ^'"'^"died lately' There are 140 stand of an,-, ^a Svdn^v/- u'"''^^''". ^'^ «'**>' y'^ars of ai formerly eommanded tl., ! , A'''''^^ '" /charge of a Major Lonard who ofoneonhebattali,,,,, " ^' '"""•^^^^ «'^^ bayonets are i„ po^HesIion at the tL^tey^Ll Tp^^Z7oir.77 ^reut consequence to the French safe a^nchorage for the fleeL '^"'^'^""'^S' ♦'^^ ^'«^^''em faarbonr of which aSed Britain! 5f UrSip^uliTlhTt'tt '?^'.^/'"'^^ "^^''^ Permanently to Great very complete, shoui^j'^deoyed T^TT '' "^^^'^'^^^-^S, which „:?« 1 he town has been removed from r^.l "' "^^^^ ^^''T effectually performed secure inJcf. called the sZth Z ^"'^^'l"''.'? t" H'e head of a very deen and place, principally fre uetSt tSS/vlri""n' ^''P'- ^ ^^^ sive coa|.,„ts in the vicinity A vZu-a- "* ''""'ers, there beins exten one fo, ,;..r guns, and Ad Swo teTe en " "t"'^' T' '^'^ 'utS; of Sydnc)-; also a block-house nffhJ . • ^'""structed for the defence all the fortifications, and they aTe nea fy in" tf *'' '^T ^'^"'^'"tled. Thes are for eighty men and «heir offiJe s at Z Lv h"toTeri^"' "" ^""'^^^ "^^"^^^^ The superiority of our mw r?.,.- i ^' tolerable repair. 'ng of any Vorks'^af WnSrt^'Z'! ! " '■«' '^^.^enJered the re-construct- unfortunately lose that advanS and hav?T «'^7'^^«. howcve., Ter a superior na.al force from Eu?opeTn an Ittar k ''^'""'''^."^ -^''' eo-operation of vith an invasion from the VnSsfZ. T T"" ^^^^ ^lanadas, combined import.'uf point, and require to be f.^f filn '• "'f^^'^'S n.ay again be a very employed to defend the trance in flr*^ \" u"*^"" *^ '^^^^^' the men-of-wS be necessary (should we lose our n« '" ^"'1'^°'^ ^^- Lawrence. It may alo at Canada out of theTl t onT fn ^"Penority, even i-utting auylZumt taking possession of k. m d establLhit'b?' Louisbourg. to' prevent Jn en"n fy rence. Should circumstances rt^Sri? h TT' '^ ?' "'""^"^ «f ^^e St. W on f nf ^" "" -^Pe-table siteT ef nee bv^ onT "^..^-'^^^-'^S ^ould e^^y on Light House Point, and ..•.other ' TGoat I ' ,T7T' ' ^'''''' ^"^^ ^atter^ uer .( uoat l.Maiid, at the entrance of the Bay. Indcsure 2 in No, 1 5. Lord Hill to the Duke of Well!,' ' i«. My Dear Duke of Wellington, „ ^ THE Secretary of State havin. renue^^ /^--Wc/.. M.nrh r., 1841. .your deliberate opinion upon the acconSnn' "" '"'''^^ J'""*- ^' '^^ to give and having founded thai reque^ on tr-c ^^^-vice and die country are at stake I sbon?H ^'''^ ""^''•^^f* "^ the Sovc-eijrn for thus addressing yo.rSiptu^'L2;Tut\'"°^^^^^ as an exS recen'ed, upon so many occasions fro yoT Gv/.p , ''''"^' '" '">' "^™ P^'^son upon every question connected wit e^ntei^s s of '' '""'' T"'""''^" ^"PP^'-t been satisfied without having again taken the if f '.^ ''"">'' ^ ^°"''' "«t bVe instance had not the Secretary o state mad^ it - '^^^^'"^ ^"'' *^ '" '^is duty to do so. ^ "^^ '"'^^e 't so imperatively a part of my ror.J«s'biecri t**!" ';;rr'!""" '" "■« "-*■■"'-■> »<■ «- ■- ) I 69 obtain ; and in a. on to the several documenU contained in the letter from the Secretary of bi.ue, I have inclosed herewith a map of Canada. Copy of the Report of the Coinniisaioners, 1825. Coj)y of a Letter from your Grace to the Secretary of State in 1819. I have, ( (Signed) &c. HILL. Considerations on the Defence of Can da. March 5, 1841. The Frontier Line of Canada may be thus traced, viz. : From Maiden on the Kiver Detroit to Kin/rston, about 400 miles includine the Lakes of Erie and Ontario ; From Kingston to Cornwall on lake St. Francis, about 100 miles; l^rom Cornwall to Montreal, about 80 miles; From Montreal to Quebec, about 160 miles ; ' From Quebec to the Kiviere de Loup, about 120 miles : Thus making the whole extent of the Canadian Frontier about 860 miles. The wl.ao of this extent of Frontier has been computed in British statute miles, at 60 to the degree, and in a straight line; but if the sinuosities of the shore be lollowed, the extreme length of boundary would be considerably -darged. The Canadian territory, situated on the right bank of the River St. Law- rence, between the Rivi^re de Loup and the Isle of Orleans, is a strip of land averaging about 20 miles of depth, and cultivated and inhabited chiefly along the banks of the river, and comprised between the river and what is now called the disputed terntor}'. From Quebec to Lake St. 1' rancis, the territory on the right bank widens to the extent of from 60 to 100 miles; and narrowing again towards Montreal, renders that town not more than 40 miles distant from Lake Champlain, and the iMJundanes of the States of Vermont and New York. From the L;ike St. Francis upwards to Maiden on the River Detroit, the British possessions are wholly restricted to the left bank of the St. Lawrence, and the northern shores of the great lakes of Erie and Ontario. The American states and territory- immediately opposite to our possessions on the Ukes Erie and Ontario, and the River St. Lawrence, are Ohio, Pensyl- vama, New York, Vermont, Massachusets, New Hampshire, Maine, and Detroit, all of them possessing a numerous pr 'ation, and abounding in resources of every description. Having thus briefly sketched the outli le of the territory we have to defend, and that from which our opponents may be expected, the next consideration is the best means to be adopted for that purpose, confining the discussion to the line as above stated, extending between Quebec and Maiden, a distance of about 740 miles, because it must be presumed that &> we shall always maintain a su- penor flotilla below Quebec, the defeii' ; of that part of the Frontier in , be safely confided to it. In this place it may be worthy of remark, that in the system of national defence which has been retently brought under the consideration of the Araericai; Governmirit in a letter from the Secretary at War, dated ^'■ 12, 1840, a report from the Board of Officers contains the following remarkable statement : — " All are aware that the facilities of communication enter largely into the sum of military power, of national defence ; good roads, canals, and above all, railroads, augn ent the capability of troops to defend a country many fold. 1,000 men at the present day, in neariy any populous part of the United States, may safely be pronounced equal to many thousands in' 1812. T I 70 "Our army can now he moved with all its appoint nu'nh, from om ,nd of ih. U,uon to, he other, and also fro.. East to West In ti,nr /b ^l „/ "^ 1 ^ t oj u sudden cnmpaiijn. ■' purpoaen inSr to fan S uV',.'" ''^ '"" "'j^""'"° ^" ^''^' ••'-■^- ""'' -thout any foIIoJHll"''"'"' ^•°'""'""''^«»'"» «f ^'""«'la r«ay be briefly sketcbed as about lOOitTtP'"' '''•'"'''"''' ^''■""' "j' '''^'"" "" *''^ Ottawa to Kingston k' nil \/''"' ^I'^y"? ^ «a'e internal conunun.cation by watcT between K ngston and Montreal, by avoiding tbe Rapids of the St. Lawrence and So btTd'ar;' ""^'■"^'^"" '■^"'" "'^ "^"^^ " "^•^'^^ rivx. rTrAricln The Rideau Canal, cxtcndinu' from the River Ottawn in k'in^^f^ i- niilH.r(a,it «ork iri design nndraeculion Hat has been undertaken fur the nr?, By iouii, the teraimus ol the canal .>n the Ottawa. •"oi,>»ira ai „„ „l ' ,' "'"" ^° "' "" t''!'""'" ilescri|)tioii there can be no doubt- but no plan can be iironouucod coi.ijilete for the delcnec of L'anad-,. I,,. ?!„,.: . co„,pr,,se i„ its execution the eoLtruction of L S o woX h^t ItX in afetyour valuable stores and field equipment, but be suflicienr larTe n t'o°iv.arsrs:t.""s i"??j.rrS '■■ "* ■■• ■'-«-"""--":? * Sir Richard Jackson, dated NovemVipr 14 1840 - can Forts an^d Detroit, J.l HX'll SiSVrKloO .nt'" ^''" '''"-"^ ''^ ^-'^- •M «>» 71 Tlic Duke of Wellington in 1819 and 182.') ; punmse inTil;?^ ^'""""''•'*'''"' "l'«ia"y appointed by the Duke for :>,;.. Lord Seaton, commanding the forces in Canada • forces' In E'l'^Snf:^;'""' "'" "'''''''''' '' L-'nl' Seaton. comn.anding the MonfT,'.,?'; Tk-"' ""*''"•■'''''? «™. unanimous in their opinion that Quel,ec. •lons of the Duke, as contamed m his letter dated March 1. 1819 are— "that Quebec, Montreal and Kingston* are the points of the ^n•e;test i nportance n B8 expre!,.«,ed m 819, may l)e proved by the words of Sir Uichard Jackson in h.s re,,ort dated November 14. 184(),l"that the nearer we can make o measures approximate to those reconunonded by the Duke, the better " be atVemUl'T ' ^O '''^'"■^' "'"* ^'?''' ."'"'^ ^^' '"'"" l'°'"*«' "'"^ ^o be ihe first to Ouprn- r V ' ^'^'^ °"'y il"<=«f"" for the consideration and decision of the S" V;^7 Trf V^"^J'"' 'n^""'-''- and to what extent are these three points to be fortihed and secured? to h^i"!'! t '''''''^^ "" !'"'■"''''■ ^"^ "' '^'^ ^''"'^ "f t'^^ ^'°'-'^*' "re understood be at this moment undergoing repair, addition, and completion, the <,uestion con equently narrowed to the other two, Montreal and Kingston and esoK^ tse to this point whether each of these places shall be ma'de into a fortress posUionS'^jlasses P"^"''" ""' '"^'"''^'"^'^ ""^ '^^''-'-■'' »-»^^ "^ the proper fl,i, !" ''"■ 7rV^^J?''^h has been taken of this subject in the foregoing part of Z« K I IT'' /"^ ^''''' ^^"^ P'"''' • ""'• ^^ ^^^^y "'"it^'-y ^ork. large or small dZ «n ' 'V° '" ever-recurring expense for repairs of damage caused by time, and weather, and casualty, the larger work, although at the outset more expensive would ultimately prove the most economical, as being, fromtheZy mnr^Jl ^ ''""^ ""^ ^^'j^^S^h, Constructed of more durable materials, and of a r, Xl ;« 1 •"• ^'f "" ^''"^. '" " ""''^"'•y ''''''> '-^ ^«^S« «"d st'-ong fortress wou d afford cover and protection for the stores and munitions of war, which would be liable to be captured in detail, in smaller works ; and would in itself with a competent garrison, be a more formidable obstacle against an advancine rZVTntlTefield'""^'^""^^" '""''"'''' ""'"' ^^^ ordinary means attached to For these brief reasons, therefore, the positions of Montreal and Kingston should be covered and secured by works of a large and imposing character, in addition to the smaller forts necessary for the protection of detached points. VVith respect to the frontier between Kingston and Maiden, compri- Slfblarnde'dtr-^'""^' ""'''' '^"^'^' *''^ '°"°"'"S considerati^ons The frontier township on the St. Clair; The Niagara frontier from Fort Erie to Fort MwaaogtHi • .^^^'J^^^f^ h^— The township on the St. Lawrence from Brookviile to Prescot And it has been proposed by Lord Seaton to protect these frontiers with lorts, 11 ^vliu;.i arms and ammunition intended for the militia could be safely depositeo, and which could be defended by 200 men. The sumniary of the works which appear to be essential for the security of our possessions in Canada, may, therefore, be stated as follows:— QUEBEC. A fortress understood to be in course of completion. Tower on the left bank of the River St. Charles. Occupation of Point Levi on the St. La^v^ence. * The Commissioners recommend the construction of a citadel upon a hill 230 yards hieh about 2,800 yards in the rear of the town of Montreal. — The completion of Quebec with additional Works.— Complete repair of the Works at Kingston, with some addition, and observe, that had the Works been of a permanent nature, little more would have been required to have been done. 72 ussioners in 1825. MONTREAL. Citadel as recommended by the Conunissic Sorel Island of St. Helen's Chambly St. John's > A„ » ^ , , lie aux Noix f ^' '*^^^^ ^V the Engineer now in Canada. Chateaugay Cascades The towers and redoubti KINGSTON. s as stated by the Engineer. Toronto Short Hills.— As NIAGARA. recommended by the Engineer. AMHERSTBURG. Fortress, andthe detached works as recommended by the Engin.. determineXt'Ihe^J^roJl^nS:::^^^^^^^^ "P^-^ <^-^ consideration such case there should seem to be ao al^ern^^ ' "'' ^'''^ '""^^^ aggreSe ,n and to construct those of sma^Lr dimen Lira' d' f- ? -""^^ '^' ^^U^^o^ks must here express my entire concurrence in fhll "^''^f^™'' description; and I made"?orT?'"" "?"" *^« decSeTsu'elrify^^^^^^^^^^ «?«rd Jackson made lor defence connected with them slZi/i ^ "^P^' ^"^ arrangements tion and completion of permaneiU ZL ca/cu a^H ? '°^'S^''' thecfnSmc! pomtsofmostmiportanceto us: andtSifi , .^ ^""l ^^^ Protection of the are to be constructed, they should be nfl ^'^' '°'" ^^^ protection of Canada most effectual for the objLt in view ^d L'r^'T ', ^^^"^P«°"' «« being ?he purposes, but to meet adequately SrTrnnr ""''^"^^ted not only for present the most economical to the^areJt stat ''^"*'"S^""^«' ^^'^ ultimately tlS?e In conclusion, if Her Maipatv'= n reasons to direct the conSruSnoVwo^kl'S^^^^^^ he induced for these er. or of any other works, the quesSn of nro T'^'^^^'^ important charac! dBtnot exc.pt in the event of in™ jof ™'"'"' I"" """o te called Vom thSr trom this population so resiaiers,) . , . ■ mned upon, should be elothed armed -„,^?'i' I'T'"''''"'' » niay be deter- mUrUa, and this part of the mnTponSE" "*' ""l '"'"^ ^ ImJ^l S»™™«j^aiave to lay before your Lordslnp the copy of other communications from his Grace, containing some further mformation v itli regard to the ialand navigation, and offering several important suggestions with a view to improve it, and to acceh'rate the traffic on the St. Lawrence by the employment of steam tugs, and so render the comnumication more rapid, and conseciueutly the defence of the countrv more easy and certain. ■' I have, &c., (Signed) HILL. Ji ^ .i^ fi Inclosure 1 in No. 16. The Duke of Wellington to Lord Hill. My dear Hill, Strathfieldsaye, April 12, 1841. SINCE I sent you my memorandum upon Canada, I have seen a iierson who has hitely travelled by the Inland Navigation from Montreal to Kingston and back again. It appears that tlie canals between Montreal and Bytown, that is the La Ctinie and Grcnxille, and those to assist the navigation of the Ottawa, are not 80 wide as the Rideau Canal from tlic Ottawa to Kingston. The locks on the former will not admit the vessels required and employed to navigate the latter. The conseciuence is great delay in the communication by the inland navigation from the Rideau, that is Bytown to Montreal. Tlie difference of level between the River Rideau and the River Ottawa IS considerable, and the locks by means of which the communication is kept up are numerous ; this of course takes time, and is inconvenient. But there IS ni remedy. The inconvenience is vastly increased by the necessity of removing the passengers or cargoes from one description of vt'ssel to another, at the very moment of making this ascent or desc(>nt. it would be very desirable, ther(;fore, that all the canals from Montreal to Bytown should be widened as soon as possible to the size of the Rideau Canal, their locks, &f. This work was always reckoned uiion, and was estimated. Much of the communication from Bytown to Kingston is carried on in the same vessels that navigp.te tlie canal, across lakes in some instances, and across submerged and overilowed land in others, but it is complete. _ It would be very desirable, and would greatly accelerate this communi cation, if steam tugs were placed upon each of these lakes or pieces of water by wlueh the land is submerged or overflowed, and over which the vessels pass, in order to tow the same from formed canal to formed canal. I should propose the_u.se of steam tugs even upon the canal itself, only that I should ai)pielu'nd injury to the banks. None can be done to the lakes, or to the water by which land is overflowed or submerged. I would likewise call your attention to the communication between yuefwcand Montn-al. You will recollect that when I gave you a paper on the nuhtary operations which would be necessary in consequence of the rebellion in Canada, I recommended that steam tugs should be sent out to the St. Lawrence, in order to tow the vessels by which it might he necessary to keep \i[) the communications on tJiat river. I draw your attention to this same point at present. The diflereuce in tlie facility and celerity of communication, particulsvl) up the sireani, would be enormous, and niighi be of the greatest conse(iuence, in the event of extended military operation.« in North America. There are many of these steam tugs in the Thames, and as I understand U 74 on all the rivers in the north of England, by the navigation of which the coal trade is carried on ; and I entertain no doubt that the services of these vessels could be hired by Government at a reasonable expense. This may be relied "P°"; Everything that tends to focilitate and to accelerate the communication wi facilitate and render more certain the defence of the Queen's dominions with a smaller body of men. Ever yours, &c., (Signed) WELLINGTON. Inclosure 2 in No. 16. The Duke of Wellington to Lord Hill. My dear Hill, Strathfieldsaye, April 14, 1841 . r.J^ li^.^P^^'^.'^^''^ *''°"\ ™y ^°" Charles, who has been on tlio Rideau tanal, that the boats are towed even in the canal by steam-vessels nn ,^ L I '^^^ ^''''l ^^^''\^^'' "''^ '^ sufficient number for the service eitlier on the St. Lawrence, below Montreal, or on the Rideau. Ever yours, &c., (Signed) WELLINGTON.