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i
mSTOEIOAL, EECOED
OF THE
l0VERKL0«-GEIiERA.L'S BODY 6UAI{D.
,
HISTORICAL RECORD
OP THE
\abtxmx-^mmh |o&g imttt,
AND
ITS STANDING ORDERS.
BT
CAPT. FREDEEICK C. DENISON,
COMMANDING QOVEBNOB-QENERAL's BODY GUARD.
Printed for the use of the Corps.
PRINTED BY HUNTER, ROSE & CO.
1876.
if
/
r
PEEFACE.
Some fifty-five years have elapsed since the Governor-
General's Body Guard was first organized under the name
of the West York Cavalry. During that time the corps
has been out on active service in several important periods
of Canadian history. All the original ofiScers are dead,
and many of the facts and incidents of the early history
of the corps are already lost or forgotten. Feeling this,
I have endeavoured, at the request of my comrades, to
gather together all the information 1 could obtain as to
the organization and services of the troop, both from the
official records, and from the personal recollections of the
surviving officers. In the following pages will be found
the result of my labours, which I have published in this
form for tb- use and information of the members and ex-
members 01 ^ corps.
The standiL y orders I have compiled from the orders
of several regular cavalry regiments, and have adapted
them to the use of the Body Guard, and published them
m connection with the Historical Record, to which, I
feel, they will serve as a useful appendix.
FEED. C. DENISON.
RUSHOLME,
Toronto, 29th March, 1876,
I
^^''
i»\
\
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF THE
|otinn0r |iJnnHr^ lodg-luqi
CHAPTER I.
THE WAR OF 1812 TO THE REBELLION OF 1837.
Some time before the War of 1812 a Militia Law had
been passed and a miHtary organization of the population
had been effected upon the basis of compulsory service
of all the inhabitants of Upper Canada capable of bearii.^
arms. The country was divided into regimental districts,
and officers were appointed to command the militia in
the different divisions. This organization of itseli would
have been of little avail, unless followed up b/ a certain
amount of drill and instruction to both officers and men.
To provide this to a certain extent, and to ensure a
nucleus of drilled men in the least burdensome way to
the people, a system was adopted of drilling two com-
panies in each battalion, called the flank companies, and
of filling these by volunteers where practicable, and com-
pleting the quota by the ballot where such a measure was
* I
2 HISTORICAL RECORD.
required. Theae flank companies were the first to march
to the frontier on the declaration of war, those from
Toronto, called " The York Volunteers," doing good ser-
vice at Detroit, Queenston Heights and other fields. The
flank companies, supported by the militia generally, and
by a few auxiliary troops of cavalry organized by the
British Government for the war, formed the main force
of the Canadian Militia.
On the conclusion of the war the flank companies were
disbanded, and the old organization in regimental divi-
sions was retained ; and in order to have a quota of
cavalry engrafted on the system, it was arranged in 1822
in some districts to organize troops of cavalry to be at-
tached to the infantry battalions, and to be under the
command of the Lieut.-Colonels of them. In that year,
therefore. Col. Chewett, who was in command of the 1st
West York Kegiment of Militia, being desirous of organ-
izing a troop of cavalry in connection with his battalion,
applied to Captain George T. Denison, of Bellevue, Toron-
to, then commanding a company in the 1st West York,
who took upon himself the duty of raising one.
Captain Denison had served throughout the war of
1812 with much credit, and was considered the most
available officer to undertake the duty, particularly as he
was a good horseman, well acquainted with the farming
community, and of an impetuous and energetic tempera-
ment. He selected Mr. Aaron Silverthorn, a farmer
who lived in the neighbourhood of Toronto, as his lieu-
tenant. Mr. Silverthorn had fought under General Brock
i
I
THE WAR OF 1812. 3
and had done good service during the whole continu-
ance of hostilities, and was well qualified by his intelli-
gence and energy for the position. Mr. Charles Rich-
ardson was appointed cornet.
Cornet Richardson, after serving some years in the
troop, moved to the old town of Niagara; where he nrac-
tised law for many years as a barrister.
In arranging the uniform of the new troop, it so
chanced that a master-tailor of Her Majesty's 1 3th Light
Dragoons, named Wedge, had just about that time left
the regiment, and emigrated to York (now Toronto), where
he had opened a tailoring establishment. This was
too good an opportunity to be lost. Captain Denison at
once decided upon adopting the 13th Light Dragoons as
a model. The tailor was employed to make the neces-
sary uniforms for officers and men, and in a short time
the troop was fully supplied. From that accidental
cause, the blue and buff uniform of the 13th Hussars
became in time the uniform of the great body of cavalry
of the Dominion of Canada. When the 13th Light
Dragoons were changed to the 13th Hussars, the corps
of cavalry in this country followed the change, and in
the Fenian troubles, when that splendid regiment was
sent to Canada, they found the Canadian cavalry dressed
in their own familiar uniform.
The troop was drilled from time to time for many
years, always being complimented for their spirited and
patriotic conduct in going to so great an outlay and
giving up so much time to drill without the slightest
Ri i
am
HISTORICAL RECORD.
remuneration ; and they were repeatedly promised by
the Government that swords and pistols would be issued
to ' J.em. So the troop went on for years, uniformed at
t\ ir own cost, and drilling in field movements, without
arms, until the rebellion of 1837 broke out.
When the remains of General Brock were removed to the
Queenston Heights, Captain Denison did not neglect being
present on the occasion to pay his last respects to the relics
of that gallant officer. The York- Observer of the 1 8th Oct. ,
1824, in describing the re-interment on the 13th of the
same month, says : " We had the melancholy pleasure of
attending, on Wednesday last, the removal of the mortal
remains of Major-General Sir Isaac Brock and those of
his d jceased aide-de-camp, Lieutenant-Colonel McDonell,
from Fort George to the monument at Queenston Heights.
The day was remarkably fine. The persons who attend-
ed to pay this last tribute of respect to their memories
were highly respectable and numerous. There could not
be less than 10,000 persons present," &c., &c. The
paper then goes on to give the order in which the pro-
cession was formed up ; following that of the " Officers
of tli(^ West York Militia, Under the command of Lieut.-
Col. Bakie," appears the name of " Captain Denison, of
tlie York Dragoons."
In later years, when the new monument to General
Brock was inaugurated, the troop was present on the
occasion.
During the years from 1822 to 1837, the uniform of
the corps was in the old style — a blue coatee, with buflf
THE WAR OF 1812.
facings over Ihe breast, thickly laced with silver for the
officers, and laced also oa the sleeves and back; the shako
was of bearskin, of helmet shape, but with a plume
of red and white feathers standing erect up the side ; the
overalls had a double white stripe down the outside ; a
girdle or sash was also worn.
II
CHAPTER II.
THE REBKLLION OF 1837 AND 1838.
On the breaking out of the rebellion a gre" change took
place in the way in which the troop was treated by the
Government. The corps was at once placed on full pay
and taken into the service of the British Government.
Arms (including flint-lock carbines) and accoutrements
were supplied. The troop was given the honorary desig-
nation of the " Queen's Light Dragoons," and for six
months it was on active service performing despatch duty
and co-operating with Her Majesty's regular forces.
During this period the officers were Major George T.
Denison (of Bellevue), in command ; his eldest son,
Richard lappincott Denison, was lieutenant ; and Mr.
Ferine Lawrence, a member of an old U. E. Loyalist
family, was cornet. Captain Button, at the commence-
ment of the rebellion, came down to Toronto with some
twenty men, and he and his party were attached to the
Queen's Light Dragoons, and placed under Major Deni-
son's command during the time they were on active ser-
vice, rendering him valuable assistance. The troop was
retained on full pay by the Imperial Government for six
months, drawing during that period the same pay
and allowance as the regular cavalry, the captain being
«
THE REBELLION OF 1837 AND 1838. 7
allowed three horses and the subalterns two each. It was
relieved from active service in the month of June, 1838.
Shortly afterwards Major Denison •'of Bellevu..) was pro-
moted to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the Isl ^Vest York
Battalion, and Lieutenant Richard L. Denison was pro-
moted to the captaincy.
On the 31st October, 1838, the Queen's Light Dra-
goons were again placed on active service, under
the command of Captain R. L. Denison, his brother,
George T. Denison (of Rusholme), and Edwin C.
Fisher, being his lieutenant and cornet respectively.
The corps took its turn of work, performing the usua]
patrols, despatch and garrison duty. Among the old
orders in the Troop Orderly-book we find the folic wing,
of the 16th November, 1838, copied from the Garrison
Order-book : —
" Militia General Order, No. 2.
" A sergeant, corporal and fifteen men of troop of cavalry
** commanded by Captain Denison will be sent to take jiicqiiet
" at the turnpike on Yonge Street ; during the night they are
" to patrol eastward to the Don and westward to the Conces-
" sion Road west of Spadina Avenue.
" By order, &c."
Immediately after their recall to active duty, a Cavalry
School was organized at Niagara in connection with the
" King's Dragoon Guards '' stationed at that post, under
the command of Captain Martin. The Queen's Light
Dragoons, as well as all other troops lying west of Co-
bourg, were ordered to furnish an officer and some men
8
HISTORICAL RECORD.
§
to proceed to the School for instruction in cavalry drill,
and particularly in the interior economy of a regiment, as
most ol the troops knew little or nothing of that most
important part of the discipline of a corps. The follow-
ing is a copy of the order issued : —
" Toronto, December 16th, 1838.
" District General Order.
" No. 1, Captain Martin, commanding the squadron of
" King's Dragoon Guards at Fort George, having handsomely
" proposed to give instruction in the movements to such non-
** commissioned officers and others of the Militia Dragoons
" as might be ordered to attend him for that purpose. His Ex-
" cellency the Lieutenant-Governor and Major-General Com-
"manding directs that a sergeant, corporal and private
" from each troop of cavalry and volunteer dragoons
"at Toronto, Hamilton, and Niagara Districts, with their
" horse8,be immediately sent to Fort George for the purpose
** stated, where they are to remain under instruction for a
" fortnight after their arrival, or even three weeks should
" Captain Martin think it necessary, and then return with-
** out further orders to their respective troops. Captain
*' Martin will be so kind as to make a report of the proficiency
** of the non-commissioned ofticers and privates, as well as of
" the capabilities of their horses, to Colonel Foster, as Adju-
" tant-General, for the information of His Excellency Sir
* ' George Arthur. One ofticer of each troop is also recom-
" mended to avail himself of so favourable an opportunity of
" obtaining instruction in his cavalry duties.
" By^Command,
(Signed) **C. Foster."
Lieutenant George T. Denison (of Rusholme) with Ser-
iHE REBELLION OF 1837 AND 1838.
9
geant Coates (a discharged non-commissioned officer from
the 7th Dragoon Guards), Corporal Rutledge, Private
Samuel Beatty, and Trumpeter Eneas Bell, who had been
the bugler to General Sir Isaac Brock on the r'ay of that
gallant officer's death at the battle of Queenston Heights,
were detailed by the officer commanding to attend the
school.
Lieutenant Denison and detachment returned to duty
after putting in their full course of instruction. The
Queen's Light Dragoons and Captain McGrath's troop of
cavalry performed alternately the despatch duty between
the Villages of Cobourg and Oakville, a distance of about
one hundred and twency miles, in pursuance of the follow-
ing orders : —
" Commandant's Office,
" November 24th, 1838.
" The despatch duty will be taken by the troop of Militia
" Cavalry commanded by Captain Denison on and after Mon-
" day, the 26th instant, until further orders.
(Signed) "J. S. Macauley,
" Colonel Gomma7idant"
"Commandant's Office,
*' Toronto, 31at December, 1838.
" No. 2. Captain Denison's troop of Militia Cavalry will
*' furnish the men for orderly duty for the month of January."
" No. 3. Major McGrath's troop of Militia Cavalry will
** furnish the men for despatch duty for the month of Jan-
uary.
" By Command,"
10
HISTORICAL RECORD.
In tlie months of January and February this troop es-
corted His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor to and
from the Executive Council Chamber.
On the 31st May, 1839, the Queen's Light Dragoons
were again reduced from active service by an order of
the 23rd April, 1839, which, among other paragraphs,
says : —
" It affords the Lieutenant-Governor and Major-General
" Commanding extreme gratification at being enabled to per-
* ' mit the whole of the Militia and Volunteer Corps, embo-
" died for six months' service only, or those who were called
" out for an indefinite period, to return to their homes forth-
*'with, pay being issued to them to the day of their dis
"charge inclusive, and seven days'additional pay to take them
"home.
" Sir George Arthur cannot dismiss these loyal and patri-
'* otic defenders of their country without offering to them
*' the assurance of his highest estimation and warmest ap-
" probation of their gallantry and zeal, an well as of the
"patience and perseverance with which they endured the
"hardships and privations which unavoidably fell to their
" lot during the period of their engagement, and His Excel-
" lency most confidently relies on their coming forward with
" equal spirit and determination should their valuable ser-
** vices be again required, &c., &c., &c.
" By Command,
(Signed) " C. Foster, Col.,
Asst. Adj.-OeneraV*
During the period the troop was on active service,
being in the winter, the Government issued to the men
good serviceable blue cloaks with buff collars, which com-
I
M
THE REBELLION OF 1837 AND 1838.
11
pletely covered both man and horse ; the tall collars on
the cloaks, together with a fur cap, covered entirely the
back of the head and neck, and nearly the whole of the face.
The hats were of a peculiar construction, made of a sort
of imitation dog skin ; they looked as if made of an oblong
piece of fur, doubled in the centre, and stitched up each
side, with a bag of red cloth with tassel on one side some-
what like the present busby bag.
When mounted, the cloak and cap gave the men a very
soldierly appearance. During the rebellion, the uniform
was slightly changed — the buff facing on the breast of the
coatee was removed, and the lace or braid was put on
the cloth. While on service at this time the pay for non-
commissioned officers and men was very liberal, as may
be seen by an Order of the 8th April, 1839, which is
of sufl&cient interest to allow of its being copied in full :
** Headquarters, Montreal.
"General Order, No. 2.
" Great inconvenience having arisen from the division of
" the pay of the non-commissioned ofl&cers and privates of the
" Volunteer Cavalry, owing to the additional 2s. Id. currency
" per day granted to them when employed on outpost or des-
" patch duty, &c., the Commandant of the Forces has been
"pleased to direct that after the 1st May, 1839, there shall
'* be but one fixed rate of pay under all circumstances : ser-
" jeants, Ts. Id. currency per day ; corporals, 6s. 5d, ; privates,
" 6s. , without any additional allowance for outposts or des-
* ' patch duty.
(Signed) " John Eden, D. A. G,
" 8th April, 1839."
12
HISTORICAL RECORD.
After being taken off active service, the arms, accoutre-
ments and clothing issued to the troop were returned
into store, as they belonged to the Imperial Government.
However, the oflficers immediately purchased sufficient
swords to supply the troop, and commenced another
system of clothing and arming the men. It was arranged
in this way. On a recruit joining, he was supplied by
the officer commanding with a sword and sword belt,
pouch and belt, shako and jacket. The man then gave
security to the amount of five pounds to return them
when leaving, in good order (fair wear and tear excepted),
and to show his good faith was required to get some friend
of substance to subscribe with him to this agreement ;
thus for years the whole troop equipment belonged to the
officers, and was merely loaned to the men.
Annually, after 1839, the men mustered to perform
their drill up to the passing of an Act, in the year 1846,
providing for the re-organization of the militia. In 1843,
Robert B. Deuison was appointed cornet, Mr. Edwin
Fisher having retired after the rebellion was over.
During the period between 1839 and 1846, the troop per-
formed various duties; among others,in the year 1843 it es-
corted Sir Charles Metcalfe, afterwards Lord Metcalfe, who
was then Lieutenant-Governor, on his first visit to Toronto,
the capital of Upper Canada, by meeting him several
miles down the Kingston Road, below the Highland
Creek. On the escort arriving at his hotel, Lord Met-
calfe invited the officers to dine with him — they were
the only ones asked that night. The dinner was at the
■11:
THE RERRLLION OF 1837 AND 1838.
13
British Coffee House, where His Excellency had put up ; it
stood where the Rossin House now stands, and was then
the principal hotel in the town. Strange to say, on this
occasion the officers were three brothers — Richard L.
Denison, captain ; George T. Deiiison, lieutenant ; and
Robert B. Denison, cornet. This is explained by the fact
that at that time there was a great difficulty in getting
officers who would take upon themselves the trouble, and
bear the expense, and one might almost say the odium,
attached to such a position — one without remuneration
of any kind whatever. Commissions were going begging
about for somebody to take them, although the number
required to officer the force at Toronto was small at this
time and for many years after. Besides, all the arms,
accoutrements and uniforms were owned by and supplied
at the expense of the officers, making, of course, a heavy
tax upon them.
Nothing was done under the Act of 1846 until the
following year, when the new organization commenced.
During the re-organization, Captain Richard L. Denison
being offered another position retired from the troop and
accepted a majority in the 4th Battalion of Toronto Seden-
tary Militia, commanded by his father, and shortly after-
wards became the lieut.-colonel commanding it. The Lieu-
tenant, George T. Denison (of Rusholme), was promot
ed to the Captaincy, and the " Queen's Light Dragoons "
was re-gazetted as the '' 1st Toronto Independent Troop
of Cavalry." In 1848, Mr. Peter McGill McCutcheon
was gazetted cornet.
1
I
14
HISTORICAL RECORD.
i«
From 1846 till the year 1865 the troop met for a
certain number of days' drill each year, and were sup-
plied with clothing, arms and accoutrements at this
time by the captain. It was then indeed hard up-hill
work. They received no encouragement whatever from
the Government of the day ; even the people of the town
discouraged volunteering, thinking it useless — for after
the Battle of Waterloo, there being an almost unbroken
peace of forty years in Europe, many persons believed
in the near approach of the millenium, and nearly all
thought there was no necessity for soldiers on this con-
tinent, so that when the men appeared in uniform they
were laughed at for being soldier-mad. The result was,
that rather than show themselves on the streets, they
sought a quiet place to drill, where they would be left
undisturbed. Men who would do this were true patriots
— they did not join for pay, or for the dash and show
that no doubt attract many to the ranks of volunteer
corps, but from a sincere desire to perfect themselves in
their drill and duties in case of a foreign invasion.
In the year 1849, the troop rendered essential service
in escorting and protecting the Governor-General, Lord
Elgin, to open Parliament in Toronto, in the troubled
times which followed the riots over the Rebellion Losses
Bill in Montreal, during which the Parliament Buildings
there were burnt while the House was actually in ses-
sion ; at a time, too, when the troops of cavalry that
had been on regular service in Montreal for over ten
years forgot their discipline, forgot their duty to their
■m 1
MiiraaiamHWMM
THE REBELLION OF 1837 ANT) 1 H38.
16
Queen's representative, for^'ot their esjmi de corps, and
sat on their horses and laughed while the mob were en-
gaged in pelting Lord Elgin with eggs.
This Toronto troop acted difterently, and established a
name then for obedience to orders that should be looked
backto with pride by every man who ever servesin its ranks.
Unquestionably there was a great deal politically to tempt
them from their duty, and to lead them to remain inac-
tive if nothing worse. But their sense of duty to their
Queen, tlirough her representative, was so strong that
they turned out, taking the Governor-General safely to
and from the Parliament Buildings, much against the will
of a noisy, turbulent crowd. This was an excellent proof
of what esprit de corps will do, and of the good state the
troop must have been in. His Excellency was so pleased
with the loyalty, discipline and general conduct of the
escort on this occasion, that he sent orders to the officer
commanding to dismount his men and bring them into
the drawing-room of the Government House. By His
Excellency's request. Captain Denison presented each
man individually to him, and he shook hands with them
all, thanking them personally for their services. They
were then invited to sit down to a handsome lunch with
His Excellency's staff.
In 1850, the following advertisement was issued; the
cool way in which the exemption from infantry service is
referred to as a great inducement, is in the true cavalry
spirit :
11:
^^ HISTORICAL RECORD.
" 1st Toronto Cavalry.
(Extract.)
"Militia General Order.
' * Adj utant-General's Office,
" Toronto, July 19th, 1850.
u "^«- ^- Tlie townships of York and Etobicoke have been
added to the limits of the Ist Toronto Independent Troop
•'of Cavalry. *^
(Signed) " D. MacDonell, Lt.-Col.,
''Deputy Adj.-Qm. Militia."
Notice.
The above named townships having been added to the
imits of the 1st Toronto Cavalry, the captain commanding
the said corps is desirous of enrolling in his troop the names
of such active and intelligent young men of good character
and sound loyalty, and who have been accustomed to the use
of horses, as may be willing to join him as volunteers, by
which tney ivill become exempt from serving in the infantrv
corps within those limits.
George T. Denison, Jun.,
Capt Commanding 1st Toronto Cavalry
Toronto, July 30th, 1850.
In the year 1853 a regiment of Volunteer cavalry was
raised in the County of York, of which this corps formed
the first troop. The order is as follows :
THE REBKLLION OF 1837 AND 1838. 17
" Adjutant-General'h Office,
" 12th March, 18£ J.
" Militia General Order.
" His Excellency the Governor-General has boon pleased
** to direct that a volunteer regiment of militia cavalry, con-
" sisting of four troops, be formed in the County of York, to
•' be composed of volunteers from the militia of that county,
** and to be styled the '1st Regiment York Light Dragoons,'
** and that Major George T. Denison's troop of Toronto In-
" dependent Cavalry shall compose the 1st troop of this regi-
*'ment ; and His Excellency is further pleased to appoint
" Major George T. Denison, of the Ist troop of Toronto In-
" dependent Cavalry, Lieutenant -Colonel Commandant of
" the 1st regiment York Light Dragoons.
* ' By command,
*'D. MaoDonell, Lt.-Col.,
"Deputy Adjutant-General Militia.."
At the same time Lieutenant Robert B. Denison was
gazetted Captain.
tf
C
CHAPTER III.
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ACTIVE MILITIA, 1855.
In the year 1855, the Imperial Government having
previously withdrawn nearly all the regular troops on
account of the Crimean War, were very anxious that an
auxiliary volunteer force should be organized in Canada,
and to encourage the Canadian Government to take up
the matter, the home authorities agreed to hand over all
the ordnance lands to our Government on the under-
standing that an efficient active force of 7,000 or 8,000
men should be raised, equipped and maintained. The
Militia Law of 1855 was accordingly passed, providing
for this organization, and in the fall of that year the
1st Toronto cavalry, or 1st York Light Dragoons, was
brought bodily into the new force. A second troop,
formed from the 3rd and 4th troops York Light Dra-
goons, was brought in, while the 2nd troop was put into
class B of the same organization.
The Government thereupon took into its own hands
the duty of equipping the men. New swords and belts,
new pouches and Colt's revolvers were issued to each
man. The pistols were carried on the sword belts in
patent leather cases. The Government, now anxious to en-
courage the volunteers, built store rooms on Queen Street,
ORGANIZATION OF ACTIVE MILITIA, 1855. 19
near Bathuibt Street, for the cavalry arms and accoutre-
ments, and for the artillery guns and harness. Some
years afterwards, when the regular army were entirely
withdrawn from Canada, the troop was given the block
house in the Old Fort. Thd artillery were also moved
up to the Old Fort and new garrison, and the spot where
the parade ground was, and where the store room 'stood,
is now covered with handsome; shops and dwelling-
houses.
On the 15th May, 1856, a vacancy occurring, Mr.
Wm. Ridout, of Toronto, son of George Ridout, Esq.
who had been an officer of the York Flank Companies
throughout the war of 1812, was gazetted cornet.
The troops under the reorganization were very efficient
and brought forth expressions of satisfaction from Sir
Edmund Head, at that time Governor-General, as con-
tained in the following general order issued after he had
reviewed them.
" Headquarters,
" 18th June, 1856.
" Militia General Order.
^ " His Excellency the Govern or-Oeneral and Commander-
*'m-Chief desires to express to Lieut. -Col. Denison com-
" manding the mounted forces at Toronto,and to the officers
"non-commissioned officers, and men thereof, his entire sat'
-^isfaction at their appearance and efficiency on the occasion
of His Excellency's inspection of the Volunteer Field Bat
'• tery of Artillery, and the 1st and 2nd Troops of Cavalrv of
the County of York, yesterday, the 17th inst. The pro-
f
20
HISTORICAL RECORD.
" gress made by these corps during the short period they have
" been embodied reflects great credit upon every person sorv-
" ing in them. And His Excellency avails himself of this
** opportunity to record his satisfaction at the efiiciency of
"the Volunteer force in the Province generally, as reported
" by the inspecting field officer for Lower and Upper Canada.
*' By command of His Excellency the Governor-General
" and Commander-in-Chief.
(Signed) " De Hottenburg, Col.,
" Adjt-Genl. Militia.''^
On the 13th November, 1856, Captain Robert B. Den-
ison was transferred to the Toronto Foot Artillery ; the
following year, 15th January, 1857, Lieutenant George
T. Denison (Heydon Villa), namesake and grandson of
the original organizer of the troop, was appointed to the
command, with rank of lieutenant.
The command had been offered to Mr. John A. Donald-
son and others before being given to Lieut. Denison, who
was then only in his eighteenth year, and considered al-
together too young to command a troop. The command
was declined by all, and was finally given to Lieut. Den-
ison on the understanding that he should recruit the corps
up to its full strength, many men having left with Cap-
tain R. B. Denison to join the Foot Artillery. He suc-
ceeded in doing this, and on inspection showed a full
troop, and on 22nd April in the same year he obtained
his captaincy, Cornet William Ridout being gazetted
lieutenant, and Mr. Patrick Campbell, of Etobicoke, cornet
in the same Gazette. On the 8th October, 1858, Charles
L. Denison was gazetted supernumerary cornet ; and on
1
ORGANIZATION OF ACTIVE MILITIA, 1856.
21
the 28th August, 1860, Lieutenant Edwin P. Denison, of
Weston, was gazetted adjutant.
On the occasion of the visit of His Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales, in 1860, the corps went into barracks in
the Crystal Palace, where they had excellent stabling,
and formed all the escorts for His Royal Highness dur-
ing his stay in Toronto. Among others, the troop es-
corted the Prince on his entrance into Toronto, the capi-
tal of Ontario ; for this escort the Oak Ridges cavalry, Col.
McLeod, were united with the troop.
Mr. Robert Cellem,in his account of the Prince's visit to
Canada, says : — ♦' Let us take our utand before the Prince
comes under the canopy, and look about us. Immediately
in front,on the level ground, stood Captain Denison's troop
of Volunteer Cavalry, and very soldierlike they looked in
their uniforms of blue and silver ; a few yards behind
them the amphitheatre of seats began," &c. Their escort-
ing on this occasion was no light task, for by the time
the Prince's carriage started through the streets it was
dusk, and the immense crowd of people who had been
waiting for hours to see their Prince, when they saw his
carriage, became frantic to get near it, some even crawl-
ing betw ^n the horses' legs of the escort so as to get near
the carriage and shake hands with the Prince, or at the
least to have a good look at him. This had to be stopped,
as there was no knowing with what object they might
want to get through. The escort consequently was kept
pretty busy. Mr. Cellem says that " On the arrival of His
Royal Highness at Government House, he called for
| Lj, i iJ A t I H T i^ l i W'Tlhf*^*)'!
22
HISTORICAL RECORD.
•
Colonel Deuison, commandant of the active force, who
was the first person presented, and thanked him for the
services of the Volunteer force, especially that of the cav-
alry escort, who, His Royal Highness said, " discharged
their duty in a very praiseworthy manner." During
His Royal Highness's visit the troop took part with the
rest of the Volunteer force in a review held in the Queen's
Park in honour of the Prince.
On the 19th June, 1860, Cornet Patrick Campbell re-
signed, and on the 6th December following, Lieutenant
Wm. Ridout was placed on the unattached list ; Cornet
Charles L. Denison was gazetted lieutenant, and on the
27th December of the same year Mr. Gr. Shirley Denison
was gazetted cornet. The troop turned out voluntarily
for a review on the 23rd September, 1862, on the occa-
sion of the visit of Viscount Monck, the new Governor-
General, to Toronto. On the 25th August, 1865, Cornet
G. Shirley Denison was gazetted out, and Lieutenant
Frederick C. Denison, of the Second Administrative Bat-
talion, was gazetted cornet.
Sometime in the year 1861, Major George T. Deni-
son (Heydon Villa) prepared a memorial, signed by Lt.-
Col. Richard L. Denison, Colonel George T. Denison,
(Rusholme), and Lt.-Col. Robert B. Denison, all ex-com-
manding officers of the troop, and himself, asking the
Governor-General of Canada, Lord Monck, to grant the
1st York Cavalry the title of Governor-General's Body
Guard, in consideration of the corps being such an old
one, and having performed escort duty so often and to so
ORGANIZATION OF ACTIVE MILITIA, 1855. 23
many different Governors of Canada. This memorial
was presented by Lt. -Colonel Richard L. Denison per-
sonally to His Excellency. Through being mislaid, or
through other cause, this was never answered.
Afterwards, in 1866, the "Royal Guides " of Montreal,
a newly organized corps, were given that privilege.
Major Denison (Heydon Villa) immediately renewed
his application in person, and His Excellency was pleased
to grant it in consideration of the grounds before men-
tioned, and of its being the oldest troop continuously
kept up in the Province. The 1st York Troop then be-
came the Governor-General's Body Guard for Upper
Canada, and was given precedence over all other corps
of cavalry in the Province. The following is the Gene-
ral Order in reference to it : —
" Headquauters,
" Ottawa, 27th April, 1866.
" No. 1. With reference to the Militia General Order No.
4, of 13th April, 186C, His Excellency the Governor-Ge-
neral has been pleased to direct that the designatioii of the
' Royal Guides ' is to be * The Governor-General's Body
Guard for Lower Canada.'
" His Excellency has also been pleased to direct that the
1st Troop of York Cavalry shall henceforth bear the style
and title of ' The Governor-General's Body Guard of
Upper Canada.'"
Some years ago the " Royal Guides " became defunct,
and all the ofl&cers were gazetted out of the force ; so that
now the Body Guard, is the senior troop, and is
gSSB!
24
HISTORICAL RECORD.
therefore the senior corps in the Dominion, which bears
out the motto of the troop, " Nulli Secundus."
In the year 1864 the Government imported some ca-
valry saddles from England, and furnished the troop
with thirty-five sets of bridles and saddles complete. In
1866 carbines were issued, which were then carried with
slings from the cross belt and straps, with short carbine
buckets. This method of carrying them was changed in
1868, and a new style of bucket was substituted, made
after the pattern of those used in the 13th Hussars, which
covered all the carbine except the stock. They were, be-
sides, placed more conveniently on the saddle, being at
the back of the right leg instead of in front of it.
! M
I
CHAPTER IV.
THE FENIAN RAID OF 1866.
On the 8th March, 1866, the Government, fearing a raid
by the Fenians from the neighbouring Republic, ordered
out 10,000 men of the Volunteers of Canada. The Body
Guard received instructions to go into barracks in the
Crystal Palace. They remained there till removed from
active service on the 27th of the same month. On the
17th March the troop was ordered to remain in barracks,
the horses saddled in case of any breach of the peace; but
everything passed off quietly. On being taken off active
service they received orders to drill two days a week till
further orders.
This was done up to the last of May. The next
month, when the Fenians crossed at Fort Erie, the
whole Volunteer force of Upper and Lower Canada
were again ordered out. The Body Guard received their
orders from Major-General Napier at about three on Fri-
day afternoon, the 1st June. It w-"s the last corps or-
dered out in Toronto, and was nevertheless the first in Fort
Erie. It was all ready waiting orders to move at 12 o'clock
the same night, although some of the men lived as much
as twelve or fifteen miles apart. During the night orders
26
HISTORICAL RECORD.
ii
; 111
were received to embark at 7 a.m. on the steamer " City
of Toronto," for the Niagara frontier.
On Saturday morning about 8 o'dock the steamer put off,
arriving at Port Dalhousie about 11 a.m. Here news was
received of the fighting going on at Ridgeway, and telegra-
phic orders awaited the corps from Col. Peacocke, of the
16th Regiment, who commanded the forces on the Niagara
frontier, to move on as soon as possible by train to Port
Robinson. A train was soon in readiness to convey the
men and horses there by the Welland Railway, tlius sav-
ing about two hours, besides relieving the horses of so
much fatigue. An order was telegraphed ahead to have
meals prepared and forage ready for men and horses in
half an hour's time. Not long after getting into Port
Robinson, the troop might have been seen marching down
the road to Chippewa. The troop reached that village in
an hour and a half Lieut., Col. John Hillyard Cameron,
of the Sedentary Militia, who was assisting Col. Pea-
cocke as a staff officer informed Lieut. -Col G. T. Denison
(Hey don Villa) that the force under the command of
Col. Peacocke was encamped at Nevr Germany, and
would be likely to remain there some hours, and advis-
ed a halt for a time, to rest the men and horses until it
got cooler.
Many of the horses having lost shoes through the
march, and the hard riding of the previous night, it
was deemed advisable to do so. During this delay, as
there was no stabling convenient, oats were purchased,
and the men fed their horses on the road-side, or on the
THE FENIAN RAID OF 1866.
27
side-walks. It was quite a picture^sque sight to see the
men sitting and lying about the street, some watching
the horses feeding, while others took advantage of the
halt to throw themselves on the grass and snatch a few
minutes' sleep, as they had had none the previous night ;
while others again were busy in a blacksmith's shop,
shoeing horses, and sharpening the swords for more
active work. All the horses' shoes were put in order,
some twenty-five requiring attention. In accordance
with orders received, six men were left at Chippewa.
At 4. 30 p. m.the"Mount" was sounded, the troop moving
on to join Col. Peacocke's column at New Germany.
Lieut. -Col. Denison marched by the Sodom road, which
runs through the interior a good way back from the river,
and is much more direct than the road along the bank,
which was taken by the other troops under Col. Poa-
cocke. The corps arrived at the village, with the horses
much jaded, between five and six o'clock, just as the
main column was moving ofi" on the road to Stephens-
ville. The troop was at once sent forward, by Col. Pea-
cocke's orders, to form the advance guard. Notwith-
standing the tired condition of the horses, the corps was
moved rapidly to the front, the men of the artillery and
infantry, both regulars and volunteers, cheering them
most heartily as they passed. The column moved on in
that formation, the *' Body Guard " throwing out feelers
to the right and left, until near Bo wen's farm they felt
the Fenian pickets at about dusk. At this time the ad-
vanced files of the troop noticed some men in the road
TT
28
HISTORICAL RECORD.
in liuiit of them, at a place where the bush met on both
sides, and that they were gradually disappearing. A.
question was also raised by some farmers at the same
time as to which road would be the best to take,
on account of a bridge on one being reported to be
broken.
Word was sent back to Col. Peacocke, and a halt
was ordered. The troops sent out two patrols, one to
the front, and another down a side-line to the right,
the farmers of the neighbourhood having said that the
Fenians were lying just off and had been reinforced. Col.
Peacocke, fearing an ambush, sent on these parties to pa-
trol through the bush to try and draw the fire of the
Fenians and to discover their strength. But the patrols
were allowed to pass through and back unmolested — then
two infantry companies of the line were extended to
skirmish through the bush to beat them up. However,
by this time it had become so dark that the men could
make little, if any, progress, as they stumbled over stumps,
logs, and into bog-holes continually ; it was neces-
sary to recall thoin which was done, and the different
corps received orders to camp under arms until day-
light.
Lieut. -Colonel Geo. T. Denison, of Heydon Villa, in his
" History of the Fenian Raid," thus describes the work
that day : " After marching about nine miles, it began to
get dusk just as the advance guard arrived at a point on the
road where the woods (after skirting it on both sides for
nearly a mile, at the distance of about 600 or 700 yards)
THli FENIAN RAID OF 1800.
29
came close up on both sides, leaving only the road allow-
ance clear through for about a quarter of a mile.
" The cavalry advanced files, on arriving within about
200 yards of where the woods came up to the road,
noticed a body of men standing in the opening. They
immediately halted, and signalled back that men were in
sight. I galloped on to the front, and inquiring from
my men, heard that a force was in front, and continually
dropping into the woods on the right, and on looking
myself saw that it was so. Col. Peacocke, soon after,
also galloped up, and on learning the cause of the halt
requested me to send two men on to reconnoitre more
closely. By this time nearly all had gone into the woods
on the right. I rode on with Cornet F. C. Denison and
three men, and detaching him with two to go down a
side road to the right, rode on myself with the other to
where we saw in the dusk a vidette standing where the
others had been. He also moved into the woods while
we were yet some distance from him. We rode on about
150 yards through the woods, but by this time it had got
so late that I could see nothing under the trees, it being
much darker there than in the open road. They did not
fire on us, consequently I could form no opinion of their
position or probable numbers. I therefore returned to
Col. Peacocke and reported that I could see nothing,
suggesting to him that as their outposts should properly
have fired upon us to alarm their camp, their not having
done so was a sign their force were on the alert, and
the place being so suitable it seemed to point to an
30
HISTORICAL RECORD.
'
anibuscado, and that I tliought the wood should be
searched.
" Colonel Peacocke seemed to have had a somewhat simi-
lar opinion, as in my absence he had sent for two com-
panies of the IGth (regulars) to come up to search the
bush, the main force being some distance in the rear.
While we were speaking the two companies came up, and
I went on with Col. Peacocke, who moved with them to
direct their movements. They opened out to the right
of the road to skirmishing distance, and moved on to the
front. It was so dark by this time that the men could not,
in the woods, see from one to the other ; and there being a
great deal of tangled brush and logs, and being very marshy
and wet, the men could make no headway whatever.
" At this time, while 1 was sitting close beside Col.
Peacocke, a voice in the dark said, * You can't go down that
way, sir,' On looking closely we saw that it was a farmer
living about a quarter of a mile back, who had given us
some information as we passed. Col. Peacocke asked him
why not. He answered, ' The bridge is broken.' The
colonel questioned him closely, and he adhered to it
positively, that he could not get through. This infor-
mation, together with the inability of the skirmishers to
make their way through the woods, decided Col. Pea-
cocke to halt until daybreak."
The correspondent of the Buffalo Express, travelling
with the Fenians, in his letter the next day to that paper,
shows that the men the advanced guard had seen were Fen-
ian sentries, and that they had been obliged by the troops'
:J
THE FENIAN RAID OF 18G6.
31
advance either to fight or else to beat a graceful retreat. In
this account, which was copied into many other papers, h*3
said : " All the sick and wounded, mentioned elsewhere as
" lying at Lewis* House and the Erie and Niagara Railway
" Station, were abandoned : notonly this, but so rapid was
" the conception and execution of the plan of retreat,
" that no notice was given to the picket lines extended
** along the bank of the river. At the time our reporter
" left Black Rock, 3.30 a. m., the news had reached the
* outposts, and a portion of the nntinels were already
*' on the American side. Row boats were then crossing
" the river, evidently propelled with a vigour stimulated
" by fear ; and upon the further shore considerable groups
" of excited Fenians could be seen waiting their turn for
" transportation. So great was the eagerness to cross,
** that many trusted to a single plank as a means of sup-
** port, and two small docks on the shore were completely
** stripped for this purpose. Great indignation was mani-
" fested by the men who had been stationed on outpost
** duty, at being deserted by their comrades as they were.
** Had it not been for the approach of a detachment of British
** cavalry driving them in, it is probable that none of them
" would have learned of the evacuation in time to escape."
That night the men bivouacked, lying on the
sides of the road and in the fields adjoining, wearing
their accoutrements, and having their arms beside them,
the horses of the artillery and of the " Body Guard "
still with their harness and saddles on, all ready, in case
of a night alarm, to move into action at -"-"ce. Some of
■<■■
32
HISTORICAL RECORD.
Ii>
the officers mads their beds that night on the soft side of
a pile of rails, rather than on the grass, which was co-
vered with dew. It being in June, very few of the offi-
cers or men had their greatcoats, they being left with
the baggage during the forced march.
During the night it was evident a number of signals were
going on between the Fenians on the Canadian side and
their allies on the United States side of the river as a quan-
tity of rockets were being discharged during a greater part
of the night, but the meaning of them we had no means of
guessing, but learned afterwards they were signals for trans-
ports to take the Fenians en the Canada side back again.
At about five o'clock c n Sunday morning, after getting a
hard-tack biscuit served out to each man (the first meal
received since the dinner at Chippewa), in compliance
with an order received from Col. Peacocke to push on to
Fort Erie to reconnoitre, and to send back information,
the Body Guard was immediately pressed on to the front,
and on nearing the Lower Ferry a scow was discovered out
in the centre of the Niagara River densely packed with
Fenians, under the charge of the United States revenue
cutter " Michigan." It was reported again by farmers
along the road that the Fenijins were in numbers
on the right, and that these men on the scow were
a reinforcement. Scouts or patrols were then sent
out to the right and right front. Lt.-Col. G. T. Denison,
in his History referred to, thus relates what happened : —
** I at once moved on with my connnand down the road
loading to the Lower Ferry, and inquired from all the farmers
■Si'J.i:,JH,.,<V.iM»iJJ.!.k'.- i MiM
THK FENIAN HMD OF 1866.
33
that 1 met the position and numbers of the Fenians. It was
only about 5 a.m., and not many people were stirring; but
they all agreed in stating that a large force of Fenians were
in the woods on our right, where we had heard they were the
night before. These stories were so confirmed by every one
I saw that by the time I reached the river I felt rather confi-
dent that my retreat to Colonel Peacocke's column waa cut
off. On coming in sight of the river we saw a scow black
with men crowded upon it, who had just been emptying their
rifles into the stream. Wishing to obtain accurate informa-
tion before sending back to Colonel Peacocke, I went to a gen-
tleman who lived almost opposite to where the scow was
lying, and was told by him that the men on it were a rein-
forcement which had been prevented from crossing, and that
the Fenians were still on our side. This mistake was occa-
sioned by the fact that the tug, after capturing the scow up
the river, took it down by the American side, and then turned
outwards and moved over to the middle of the stream, where
it was moored ; seeing it came from the far side, he concluded
it was a reinforcement. Fearing that Colonel Peacocke might
be under the imi)ression they had gone, and feeling that my
command was cut off from his force, I sent an orderly to him,
at full speed, with the siibstance of the information I had re-
ceived, sending back, at the same time, a small patrol to give
notice of any force that might attempt to close round our rear,
and also detached a number of scouts into the interior, to the
right, and up the river road towards Fort Erie, to search the
woods and give notice of the approach of the enemy, whilst
I proceeded up the bank in search of a boat, in order to go
on board the " Michigan. ' By the kindness of Mr. Molesworth,
civil engineer, I was enabled to reach the ' Michigan, 'and was
informed by Captain Bryson that the men he had captured
D
E —
34
HISTORICAL RECORD.
11
were the main force that had been in Canada, and that he
diu not believe there were many left. On reaching the
shore, I sent a despatch to Colonel Peacocke, stating these
facts, and stating that the first information I had sent him
was incorrect. This despatch was about fifteen minutes after
the ATBt.
" Recalling some of the scouts, we then proceeded on the
gallop up the river towards Fort Erie, being informed by the
people we met that a number of Fenians were still there.
On coming in sight of the village we saw men dodging in
every direction, but when we got up nearly all were hidden
or gone ; muskets, bayonets and belts were scattered along
the road, where men had dropped them in their flight. A
few prisoners were taken by us, and the wounded were placed
under a guard. Here we saw a number of the men who had
been captured in the fight in Fort Erie ; they received us
with great manifestations of delight. We ourselves were
greatly relieved on seeing them, as news had arrived in the
camp the night before to the effect that the whole command,
with the exception of four, had been killed and thrown into
the river. After placing guards over the prisoners and over
the arms, which were lying on the dock, the men and horses
were billeted in the taverns, as both were nearly used up by
about forty hours' almost continuous exertions. We reached
Fort Erie about 6 a.m.
A number of wounded Fenians fell into the hands of
the troop, and were kindly treated ; one man had a
very bad bayonet wound in his neck, received from a
man of Captain King's battery, showing they had got to
pretty close quarters. In the otiices of the Erie and
Niagara Railway were found in one room some four or
Sis..
tssmssssrsTT
THE FENIAN RAID OF 1866.
35
to
five wounded Fenians, and Welland Battery men, lying
on the floor. One poor fellow had had his leg amputated
at the thigh the day before ; his doctor must have been
either too lazy or too busy to remove the amputated limb,
for there it was lying, rather withered up, under the
table — a constant reminder to the man and those lying
about him of what had happened. After our arrival
some good woman carried it off", and, after much fretting
and grieving, gave it a private burial on her own account.
About an hour after getting into Fort Erie, Colonel
Wolseley, now Major-General Sir Garnet Wolseley, C.B.,
K. C. M. G., came in, preceding Colonel Lowry's column,
and afterwards followed Colonel Peacocke with the rest
of the force. Colciel Lowry took command of the com-
bined forces, being the senior officer on the ground. The
next morning the whole force was ordered into camp on
the high ground in rear of the village ; pickets were placed
all along the river and back of the camp ; also two cavalry
pickets from the Body Guard at the Upper and Lower
Ferry.
During the night of the 5th a false alarm was caused
through one of the infantry sentries firing a shot at some
object. This being followed by other shots alarmed the
camp. Although this alarm was totally unexpected, the
Body Guard turned out in an incredibly short space
of time. The horses were saddled and the men
mounted, ready to move, before the adjoining infantry
battalions had fallen in. Lieut. -Colonel Denison (Hey-
don Villa), not having confidence in the vigilance of the
36
HISTORICAL RECORD.
outposts, during the first three or four days, while 7,000
Fenians were on the other side of the river, had ordered
his men to sleep fully accoutred ; the consequence was,
that although a cavalry corps, the men were mounted and
formed in front of the camp some time before the other
corps were ready. The brigade remained under arms for
about an hour, until the cause of the mistake was dis-
covered.
On the 4th June, Sergeant-major Orlando Dunn rejoined
the troop, with a detachment of thirteen men under his
command. About the 15th June, the St. Catharines cavalry
having been moved down to Port Colborne, was ordered
to send a detachment to Ridgeway, and the Body Guard
were ordered to establish a post half-way between Fort
Erie and Ridgeway, so that communication could be kept
up by cavalry patrols with Port Colborne. On the 20th
June orders came for the whole volunteer force to pro-
ceed to their homes. The troop returned by the steamer
" City of Toronto," and marched through town on the
way up to the barracks. Many of the men carried
with them Fenian rifles and accoutrements — one had a
Ffiuian drum in front of his horse as a trophy. The
streets were crowded with the citizens, and on every side
the volunteers were greeted with cheers and waving of
handkerchiefs. On the 25th June the following resolu-
tion of welcome to the commanding officer was passed
unanimously in the Toronto City Council :
''That whereas this Corporation felt pleasure in recording
** by their resolution of the 4th June, that no less than four
THE FENIAN RAID OF 1866.
37
" members of this Board were at the frontier in response to
" the recent call to arms of the volunteers, they now desire
*' to convey to those gentlemen — namely, Councilman Major
*' Boxall, of the 10th Royals, Councilman Major Denison, of
"the Governor-General's Body Guard, Councilman Captain
" Boustead, of the Queen's Own, and Councilman Parker, of
*' the Toronto Naval Brigade — their congratulations on the
" active part they have severally had the privilege of taking
" in the recent military movements, and a warm welcome on
" their safe return to their civic and social duties."
Shortly after this, on the 28th June, the inhabitants
of the Village of Weston and surrounding neighbourhood
got up a banquet to the officers, non-commissioned offi-
cers and men of the Body Guard as a compliment to the
corps, and to show their good feeling towards it. As
this was an interesting event in the history of the troop,
and exhibits the respect paid to the corps on account of
its age and of its services, it would be well to give the
report verbatim, as contained in the Globe newspaper of
the following day : —
" The inhabitants of Weston gave a supper to the Gover-
nor-General's Body Guard on the 28th instant, which was a
very stylish affair, and, as a mark of honour to the men, was
exceedingly gratifying to them. The idea of giving the
demonstration was not entertained till some three or four
days before it actually came off ; but the people set to work
with a will, subscribed liberally, and succeeded in getting up
a very handsome affair indeed. ' Mine liost ' of the Kempt
Hotel was caterer on the occasion, and got through his part of
the duty in a creditable manner ; and the Committee of
Arrangements, with Mr. E. J. Musson's very valuable assis-
38
HISTORICAL RECORD.
tance, did capital work in the brief period at their disposal.
Shortly after eight o'clock p. m. the men of the York Cavalry,
or Governor-General's Body Guard, drew up in front of
Kempt's Hotel and marched down to the spacious marquee,
erected near the Humber, where the supper was laid out.
Here about 250 persons were soon seated, and devoting their
attention to the eatables. The Berwick band, which was
engaged for the occasion, discoursed excellent music, and
gave a liberal allowance of it, too, at intervals during the
evening. Mr. W. Tyrrell, J. P., occupied the chair, and the
vice-chairs were filled by Dr. Bull, Mr. H. J. Boulton, and
Mr. Miles. On the right of the chairman sat Colonel Deni-
son ; Capt. Scoble, Acting Brigade Major, 5th District ; Capt.
G. T. Musson, No. 5 Company, 10th Royals ; Cornet F. C.
Denison, Mr. E. J. Musson ; on the left of the chair there
were Major Geo. T. Denison ; Adjutant Otter, Queen's Own ;
Lieut. Denison, York Cavalry ; Capt. E. H. Brown, No. 3
Company, 10th Royals ; Dr. De LaHooke, Surgeon, York
Cavalry ; Comet Baldwin, Rev. U. F. English, Dr. Lizars,
Mr. J. R. Bull, Mr. Gracey, Mr. C. Mills ; Mr. B. Bull,
Reeve, Township of York ; F. R. Wadsworth, T. H. Musson
and T. H. Bull. We also noticed present F. A. Howland,
James Connor, E. Musson, senr., D. McFarland, J. B.
Gracey, J. A. Donaldson, Alan Gray, R. Johnston, post-
master ; Wm. R. Holley, R. Wood, Drs. SavEige and Hickey.
In rising to propose the first toast, the chairman said that it
gave him great pleasure to see so large an assemblage present.
It displayed in Weston the same spirit of true British loyalty
which prevailed indeed throughout the Province. The en-
thusiastic demonstration that evening had been got up on
merely a few days' notice. Had they taken more time to the
matter, or, better still, had they left it in the hands of the
THE FENIAN RAID OF 1866.
39
ladies of the village, the volunteers would perhaps have re-
ceived a more acceptable entertainment. The chairman then
read letters of apology from Rev. W. A. Johnston, Major
Goodwin, J. W. Gamble and others, and concluded by giving
as the tirst toast, "The Queen," which was received with all
honours.
Band, " God Save the Queen."
" The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Royal Family"
followed.
Mr. Edward Miles proposed as the next toast, '' The Gov-
ernor-General." Toast enthusiastically responded to.
Dr. Bull then gave "The Army and Navy." The
toast was one, he said, in which they would all no
doubt enthusiastically join. An enemy had invaded their
shores and evoked a military spirit from end to end of the
Province, which did Canada infinite credit. As regarded
the Army, all the volunteers were fitly included in that
part of the toast, while the Navy of Canada might be said
to be as yet represented by that little tug on the Niagara
river— the " Robb"— and of the achievements of the gallant
little band of men who sailed in her during the invasion
Canada would ever be proud. (Loud cheers.)
Colonel Denison being called on said that, although not
belonging to the Army or Navy, it gave him much pleasure
to return thanks for the manner in which the toast had been
responded to.
The Chairman then gave the toast of the evening, '' The
Governor-General's Body Guard ."
Band, " The British Grenadiers."
Major Geo. T. Denison responded. It was, he said, pecu-
liarly gratifying to him to do so. It was with pleasure he ac-
knowledged the handsome manner in which the people of
I
40
HISTORICAL RECORD.
Weston had received them on their return from the theatre
of war. His position as commanding officer of the senior
corps in all Canada was one of which he felt proud, and as
commanding officer of the senior cavalry corps he felt more
proud still. His sympathies as a cavalry officer were with
that arm of the service, and since the late invasion he was
more convinced than ever that their services were greatly
needed in Canada. When he first entered the volunteer ser-
vice it was thought little of. People looked upon their move-
ments as playing at soldiers ; and from that time for five long
years the volunteers worked under every disadvantage. Then
came the ''Trent" aft'air, since which time the position of the
volunteers had been materially changed for the better. For
a series of years the force was a very small one — now it num-
bered some 35,000. But he was sorry to note that the cav-
alry branch of the service did not receive that attention it
deserved. That force had diminished so that now they form-
ed only about one-seventieth part of the volunteer force.
The best military writers maintain that the proportion ought
to be one-fourth, certainly not less than one-tenth, and yet
in Canada it was only one-seventieth. This showed J|;hat the
cavalry force did not receive that consideration from the
Government to which it was entitled. That branch of the ser-
vice had been neglected in many ways, and then, because
they were not so efficient as the other corps, blame was at-
tached to them, whereas in reality the blame lay with the
Government. He trusted that in this respect the result of the
little campaign in which thoy had been lately engaged would
be a lesson to them. When the forces were ordered out, he
would explain, not one cavalry corps was ordered for service
to the front. (Hear. ) Consequently a whole day was lost.
On Friday afternoon he first received orders to turn out the
I
TIIR FENIAN RAID OF I8f>6. 41
corps under his command for the front. Not a moment was
lost by them in making their way there ; for although start-
ing 18 hours after the last corps left Toronto, they got into
Fort Erie two hours before the tirst corps got there. (Loud
cheers.) The corps in the neighbourhood of St. Catharines
and Grimsby did not come up for some days after. With
all the expedition used by his corps they were still too late-
something which they could all see was much to be regretted.
Had they been on the march with Col. Peacocke he would
have known where the enemy were— would have known
where to effect a junction with Col. Booker, and would not
have let the Fenians get between his men and Col. Booker's.
Canada is perhaps the only country on the face of the globe
where a large force, such as that dispatched to Fort Erie,
would be sent out without cavalry. But he did not think the
same mistake would be repeated. In future the services of
cavalry would be appreciated. (Cheers.) Major Denison,
after some further remarks, went on to say that if there was
one thought more than any other which made him uneasy
during the march to Fort Erie, it was whether or not he
should bring all his men back. He felt that in an hour or
two a great many lives might depend on the way in which he
handled them. They pressed forward eagerly, and when he
saw the way they rode past the column at New Germany af-
ter the Fenians, he felt that the men would follow him
anywhere. Eleven of tlie troopers— as fine men as were in it
—were from Weston. (Cheers.) The Fenian trouble was
not probably at an end yet, and if ever they came again he
hoped the Government would send forward cavalry at once.
Having again returned thanks, Major Denison resumed his
seat amid loud cheers.
Mr. Henry John Boulton, in proposing the next toast, said
42
HISTORICAL RECORD.
ii
■ I
it had been feared at one time that Canadians were lacking
in some of the elements necessary to constitute a nation, but
the late danger had dispelled that delusion. As one man,
the volunteers had sprung to arms on the first alarm of dan-
ger ; and in every way Oanadians showed themselves willing
.and prepared to maintain their liberty. Their whole action
during the late raids, and the noble conduct of their volun-
teer forco, had demonstrated that the country to which they
belonged was fitted to take her place among the nations of the
earth — (cheers) — and no doubt she would do so at a future
time. The toast which he had been called on to propose was
*' The Volunteer Force of Canada." That force had evinced
that Canadians had the right material among them — (cheers)
— and as ''Lundy's Lane" was the cry of the heroes of
1812, so hereafter would " Ridge way " be the rallying cry of
the men of 1866. "He eulogized the valiant conduct of the
University boys, the Queen's Own and the Highland Company
at Ridgeway, and concluded by proposing the toast, ' ' The
Volunteer Force of Canada," making special mention of the
Queen's Own and 10th Royals.
Colonel Denison, being called on, returned thanks as
senior volunteer oflicer of Upper Canada. He had been in
the force over thirty-three years, during the greater part of
which time, beyond getting authority to organize corps, very
little encouragement was given to the force. Very difl"erent
was it now, when the force was armed, clothed and equipped
by the Government, and when people vied with each other
to do the volunteers honour. (Cheers.) From the Report
of the Adjutant-General, he was glad to see that that au-
thority had changed his opinion as to the Volunteer Force
being of no value, and was now persuaded it was the best
that could be raised for the defence of Canada. In less than
THE FENIAN RAID OF 1866.
43
ten hours, some 14,000 men were ready to take the field,
although only 10,000 had been called out. (Cheers.) The
conduct of the volunteers, too, while on service was of the
most creditable character, and in every way exemplary. In
regard to the corps to which special honour was done that
evening, he might mention that it had been raised forty-five
years ago by his father, had been commanded by himself,
and was now in the hands of his son, and he (Col. Donison)
was pleased to see present one of the first volunteers in that
corps, who served in it some forty-five years ago— Mr. E.
Musson, sen. One circumstance on which he (Col. Denison)
prided himself was that the corps had alwayu been known
as " Donison's Troop," and he hoped it might continue to
be so for years to come. (Cheers.)
Captain Otter, of the Queen's Own, was also called on, and
replied in appropriate terms.
Captain Thurston, as representing the 10th Royals, re-
sponded on their behalf, stating in the course of his remarks
that the only thing which the 10th had to regret was that
they had not been ordered to the front as soon as the Queen's
Own.
This closed the regular list of toasts, when a number of
volunteer toasts were proposed and responded to.
Mr. J. A. Donaldson, in a verj"- neat speech, proposed "The
Staff," coupling therewith the name of Capt. Scoble, who
was Acting Brigade-Major in Col. Dennis's place, the latter
being at Fort Erie.
Captain Scoble replied. "The Medical Profession " was
given, and responded to by Dr. Lizars. Mr. E. Musson,
sen., in allusion to remarks from some of the previous speak-
ers, eulogized the York Cavalry in a spirited speech. The
■f I
44
HISTORICAL RECORD.
toast of "The Ladioa" was respondud to by Mi. T. P. Wjuls-
worth, and soon after tho assembly dispersed.
Afterwards, on the 18th day of July, 186G, the City
of Toronto gave a public dinner to the whole Volunteer
Force, of the; city, including the Governor-General's Body
Guard and the following Address was presented to the
Force : —
"TO
"COLONEL GEORGE T. DENISON,
" COMMANP ANT OF THE TORONTO MILITARY DiSTRICT,
"&C., &C., &C.,
((
AND THE COMMANDING OFFICERS, AND OFFICERS AND MEN OF
((
THE VOLUNTEER FORCE OF THE CITY OF TORONTO.
" The Mayor and Corporation, on behalf of themselves and
** your fellow- citizens generally, avail themselves of this, the
** first, opportunity afforded them since your return from
** actiA service in the field, to express their feeling of admi-
*' rat f your noble and self-sacrificing conduct in promptly
" leaviUg, your families, your homes and your business, at a
" few hours' notice, to repel a band of Fenian marauders from
"the neighbouring States.
" We desire to assure you of the heartfelt gratitude we feel
" towards you in your thus imperilling your lives in defence
*' of our common country, and especially towards your gallant
** comrades in arms whose lot it was to meet and hold in check
" the daring foe. We feel proud that this city should have
"given to the defence of our country men so capable of
" maintaining the reputation and courage and daring of the
*' Brit-.sh people.
" It is to us, however, a matter of the profoundest sorrow
THE FENIAN RAID OF 18GG.
45
" that we have to mingle with this, our address of thanks and
" congratulations, that deep grief of the loss of the ' Queen's
" Own " in those valuable lives that have been sacrificed in
" repelling so unworthy a foe, and that a deep obligation
" rests upon us to protect those, near and dear to you, wham
"the fate of battle has deprived of their natural protectors.
" While we cannot but thus proudly refer to this gallant
" corps and its associates, whom chance brought first in
** contact with the enemy, we would, also, express our cou-
" viction that had it fallen to the lot either of the gallant ' 10th
" Royals,' the * Governor-General's Body Guard of York Cav-
'* airy,' the * Naval Brigade,' or the * Toronto Field Bat-
" tery,' to have been in the field with their brothers of the
*' Queen's Own, they would equally have maintain 1 the
" honour of our city and our volunteer soldiers.
" In the past you have done well— done and suffered nobly
** —and in the future we feel assured you will not fail. The
'' eyes of your fellow-citizens and of the Province—nay, of
** the Empire— are upon you, l ^ with you, you have the
''prayers, as well as the admiration, of the people. May
" God bless you, and,lif again called to defend our country,
" prosper your arms.
(Signed) "F. H. Metcalf,
Mayor.
Council Chamber, City of Toronto,
** 18th July, 1866."
CHAPTER V.
OUTPOST DUTY AND SUBSEQUENT CAMPS.
? li
I ?!
In
In the month of August the Fenian brotherhood ad-
verti sed that they intended having a large picnic at Black-
rock, on the Niagara River, below Buffalo. The Govern-
ment, fearing this was a blind and meant to cover an
attack on Canad ;, issued orders for the formation of a
camp at Thorold, on the Welland Canal, to be under the
command of Colonel Wolseley, to consist of one wing of
the 16th Regiment, four guns of the Royal Artillery, two
battalions of infantry, and a troop of volunteer cavalry.
The volunteers it was intended should here put in their
annual drill of eight days. The Body Guard received
orders to leave on the 14th August, together with the
first infantry corps, for Thorold. They remained on the
Niagara frontier, forming a chain of outposts from Ridge-
way to Chippewa, during the whole time of the camp,
which lasted some two months. The Cobourg Cavalry,
under command of Lieut.-Col. D'Arcy E. Boulton, also
put in their eight days' drill at Thorold, but no other cav-
alry. The post at Ridge way was commanded by Corporal
Winstanley, of the Body Guard : Fort Erie, by Lieut.
E. P. Denison : Black Creek, by Sergt. Stock : Chippewa,
by Sergeant-Major Dunn : Thorold, by the writer. This
IP i!
OUTPOST DUTY AND SUBSEQUENT CAMPS. 47
order was varied slightly afterwards, and during the last
few weeks of the camp Corporal Bond and a small party
were posted at Port Robinson. Colonel Wolseley in his
report of the camp to the Adjutant- General of Militia
says : —
"One troop of volunteer cavalry, the Governor-General's
Body Guard, commanded by Lieut. -Colonel Denison,
was distributed into small posts from Ridgeway to
Chippewa, following the lake shore and river. By
them that arduous duty was most efficiently performer!,
and reflects the greatest credit upon that troop and the
officer commanding it."
The Body Guard was relieved from duty on the 6th
October- The annual drill for the following year, 1867,
was put in near Toronto. On the 1st October of that
year Colonel Jenyns, C.B., commanding the 13th Hussars,
was authorized to open a cavalry school for officers, non-
commissioned officers and men of the volunteer cavalry
of the Province ; two from each troop were allowed to
enter in the first squad ; Cornet Denison and Sergeant-
Major Dunn entered on that day from the Body Guard.
Sergeants James and Winstanley entered the following
week ; many more from the Body Guard joined subse-
quently, while the school was in operation, and obtained
certificates ; altogether about twenty of the troop went
through the school.
In July of the following year, Lieut.-Col. G. T. Denison
(Heydon Villa) published in London, England, his work on
^' Modern Cavalry : Its Organization, Armament and Em-
48
HLSTOllICAL RECORD.
1
f\ ^
ployment in War," which was afterwards translated into
German and very favourably reviewed by both the English
and German press. About the same time he forwarded his
resignation of his commission in the volunteer force to the
Adjutant-General of Militia, as he declined to serve in the
force while Sir George Cartier was Minister of Militia. This
was caused by his dissatisfaction at the manner in which
he was treated by Sir George in an interview that took
place between them. It was accepted, and in August,
1868, he was gazetted out. Lieut. Edwin P. Denison,
of Weston, became captain ; Cornet Fred. C. Denison,
Lieutenant ; and Sergeant-Major Orlando Dunn was
gazetted to the cornetcy — the commissions to date
from the 18th August, the date of Lieut. Colonel G. T.
Denison's retiring.
In the fall of the same year, on the 8th October,
the Body Guard, the Oakridge, Markham, Burford,
St. Catharines and Grimsby troops were ordered to
report themselves in Toronto, to go into a camp of
instruction about to be formed for cavalry and artillery,
under Colonel Jenyns, C.B., and Colonel Anderson.
This was the first instance of the camps in connec-
tion with the volunteer force, which have since become
a yearly occurrence all over Canada. The cavalry put in
their eight days' drill under that gallant officer. Colonel
Jenyns, learning a good deal of practical work from him.
Cornet Morrisey, the adjutant of the 13th Hussars, acted
as adjutant for the volunteer cavalry. A noticeable in-
cident of this camp in connection with the " Body Guard,"
OUTPOST DUTY AND SUBSEQUENT CAMPS.
49
»>
and one greatly to their credit, was this. According to
the usual custom in the army, the adjutant, at the in-
spection of the guard, selected the cleanest man of all
the troops on parade for Colonel Jenyns' orderly. Singu-
larly enough, every day without one exception a mem-
ber of the Body Guard was called out and placed on that
duty, as being the neatest and cleanest man, notwith-
standing the determined efforts made by other troops to
take it from them.
In the year 1871, the officers of the Body Guard im-
ported helmets from England made of German silver,
with a white horsehair plume, supplying them to the
men at cost price. After they arrived the uniform was
altered somewhat from the old style, and a tunic
adopted something between a heavy dragoon and a lancer
one, with a plain front except a binding of white braid (or
of silver for the officers) all round the edge, presenting
a very neat and hand.iome appearance. The Militia De-
partment, at the request of the officers commanding,
ordered out sufficient to supply the Body Guard that
year ; since then, however, we have been informed they
are generally adopting the same pattern tunic for all the
cavalry, as it can be made up for less t.ian the hussar tunic.
On the 6th June 1871, the Body Guard turned
out under canvas at Niagara for the annual drill. The
volunteers in camp of all arms mustered 4,795 men and
511 horses. The Body Guard hardly had justice at this
camp being short-handed for officers, as the writer had
gone on active service the year before as an aide-de-camp
E
50
HISTOKKJAL RECORD.
Ij
to Sir Garnet Wolseley, C. B., K. C. M. G., who com-
manded the Red River Expeditionary Force, and Cornet
Dunn was acting adjutant for the seven troops formed
into a provisional cavalry regiment during the camp,
while the captain met with a severe accident when
riding in a hurdle race, not long after the camp com-
menced, that laid him up for the rest of the drill.
During the fall following the camp an effort was made
to have all the cavalry of Western Canada formed into
two regiments, one numbered the 1st regiment, and an-
other, with headquarters at Toronto, numbered the 2nd
regiment. Had the officers of the Governor-Generals,
Body Guard consented to this arrangement the result
would have been that instead of its being the senior
corps in the whole Dominion of Canada, it would have
dropped into being a troop of the 2nd regiment, thus
taking up a secondary place, and losing perhaps for ever
its precedence. The officers of the corps remonstrated
strongly against it ; but the district commanding officer
had recommended that all the troops including the Body
Guard, should be thrown into a regiment. The officers,
seeing that something more must be done, and that
speedily, or else our precedence given up and allowed to
go for ever, a letter to His Excellency Lord Lisgar was
prepared, signed by all the officers, requesting him to
have the corps left undisturbed, and the writer was de-
puted to hand it personally to Lord Lisgar at Ottawa.
This was done, and His Excellency was pleased to state
that he would see if the matter could not be arranged as
1
OUTPOST DUTY AND SUBSEQUENT CAMPS.
61
we desired it. In due course a letter was received from
Mr. Turville, the Governor- General's private secretary,
saying there would be no difficulty in meeting the wishes
of the officers of the Body Guard, and that the position
or precedence of the corps would not be changed.
On the 1st March, 1872, Captain Edwin P. Denison
retired, retaininghis rank. Lieut. Fred. C. Denison got the
command, and Cornet Dunn, his lieutenancy; subsequent-
ly, on the 10th May, Clarence A. K. Denison was gazetted
cornet. On the 12th June, 1872, the largest camp of
volunteers ever assembled in Canada up to this date
commenced to gather in Niagara. The parade states of
all the corps showed 5,873 officers and men under canvas.
The Body Guard was attached for pay and drill purposes
to the 2nd regiment of cavalry, and turned out stronger
in numbers at muster parade than any other troop pre-
sent. They kept up here the traditional reputation of
the corps for cleanness and smartness of appearance, as
is shown by the following quotations taken from the
letters containing the unbiased opinion of the two special
correspondents to the Mail and Globe, both ex-officers of
the regular army, and men of experience in the field.
This quotation is from the letter to the Mail of the 17th
June, 1872: — ^' A visit to the cavalry camp will show
" that branch of the force is getting into shape. They
" drilled as a regiment to-day for the first time, their
" time hitherto being occupied in riding school drill in
"the morning and foot drill in the afternoon. This is in
" accordance with the system adopted throughout the
f I
r
52
HISTORICAL RECORD.
" camp, and is a vast improvement on last year's plan of
" putting the cavalry at the most difficult manoeuvring
" before they know the right way of holding a sword or
"ahorse. The palm in smartness of appearance must
'* be voted to the Governor -GeneraPs Body Guard, who,
" however, as I am informed, assume rather too much on
** their prestige, and exhibit a disinclination to acknow-
** ledge the authority of the officers placed in command
" of the whole regiment." This last refers to a difference
of opinion between the writer and the officer command-
ing the 2nd regiment of cavalry, as to the right of the
Body Guard to retain a custom that had always existed
in the corps. This was eventually settled in a way per-
fectly satisfactory to the troop, and the custom retained.
Again this same correspondent, on the 26th June, in
writing of the Body Guard says : — " This corps is a good
" way ahead of the remainder of the cavalry in regard to
" appearance and drill," &c., &c.
The correspondent of the Globe, in his letter of the
22nd June to that paper, goes on to say — " At about 11
" o'clock, the line having been formed as it was on
" Thursday, with the exception that all the cavalry
" and artillery were on the right, the march past com-
" menced. The ground was kept by the Body Guard,
" and a wonderful difference was manifest between the
** soldierlike way in which it was done to-day compared
" to the hurry-scurry galloping of yesterday. Captain
** Denison and Lieutenant Dunn were in command, and
" instead of being ridden at by a frantic mounted man
OUTPOST DUTY AND SUBSEQUENT CAMPS.
53
** who had no control of either Inmself or his horse, the
" spectators had the satisfaction of being told where to
" go in a civil manner by the men under their command,
"without having to risk being ridden down."
On the 24th June the camp was divided, for the pur-
pose of a sham fight, into two forces, an attacking and a
defending one — the attacking force was to march out of
Niagara about a mile and three-quarters, then each
division had orders to wait for a signal gun before
moving off their ground. The Body Guard was put with
the attacking force, it was told off with an advance guard ;
and everything ready, so that when the gun fired the
word of command was given with " Gallop," and off they
went. In no time they came upon part of the opposing
body rather unexpectedly, and took a company of rifles —
they being declared prisoners by the umpire. These
were the only prisoners taken by cavalry. The corres-
pondent of the Mail newspaper said : *' Indeed so com-
" plete was the surprise that a body of the enemy's cavalry
" surrounded and took prisoners a company of riflemen in
" the streets of the town." The attacking force was suc-
cessful at every point and won the day.
On the 28th the camp was entirely broken up ; the
Body Guard and Queen's Own left on the afternoon of
the 27th by the steamer " City of Toronto," getting into
town between nine and ten at night. They were dis-
missed for the night and re-assembled next morning at
the Old Fort, when their uniforms were taken in and the
men paid off. During the stay of His Excellency Lord
54
HISTORICAL RECORD.
li!
Dufferin in Toronto, in October, 1872, the Governor-
General's Body Guard furnished him with numerous
escorts on his arrival and departure, levees, drawing-
rooms, &c.; and on the night of the grand ball given by
His Excellency to the citizens of Toronto, the corps sup-
plied a guard to line the entrance hall, where they re-
mained during the evening. The troop also furnished
escorts for the Lieutenant Governor at the opening and
closiug of the Ontario Parliament during that winter.
On the 3rd June, 1873, the Body Guard turned out
under the command of Lieut. Dunn, together with detach-
ments from the other volunteer corps of Toronto, to
attend in a body the funeral of the late Colonel Geo. T.
Denison, commandant of the 5th and 10th Military Dis-
tricts, one who for many years commanded the troop.
On the 8th October, 1873, the annual drill for that
year was commenced and continued until finished, the
weather being fine during the whole period. The troop
was inspected by Lieut.-Ool. Durie, D.A.G., who expressed
himself much pleased with the clean and neat appearance
of the men. He then presented some prizes which had
been given by the officers for cleanest accoutrements and
smartest appearance. The first prize to Sergeant Mac-
dougall ; second prize, Trooper F. Campbell ; third prize
to Corporal Long. The troop furnished the usual escort
at the opening and closing of Parliament.
In 1874 the drill was put in, as in 1873, at troop head-
quarters. Tlie weather during the first four days was
bad, as it rained almost incessantly. Lieut. -Col. Durie
OUTPOST DUTY AND SUBSEQUENT CAMPS.
55
inspected the troop. In July of this year the Body Guard
performed escort duty for His Excellency Lord Du'.ferin
during his short stay at the Queen's Hotel, and in the
fall the usual escort at the opening and closing of the
House.
On the 22nd June, 1875, the Body Guard having re-
ceived orders to move into camp at Holland Landing,
assembled at their store-room, and after the saddles and
other accoutrements were distributed, started about 3
p.m., and marched as far as Richmond Hill, camped there
for four or five hours to have tea and a short sleep, then
continued the march on to Holland Landing, getting in
a few minutes after six a.m. on the 23rd — doing the
whole distance of 38 miles, including stoppages, in about
15 lyDurs. The Body Guard, the Markham Troop (Capt.
Elliott), and the Oakridge troop (Capt. McConnell), were
formed into a provisional regiment and placed under the
officer commanding the Body Guard, as the senior cavalry
officer in the camp. The regiment mustered 135 horses
and men. The Body Guard was the largest troop in
camp, having four men over the establishment. The
brigade was inspected by Major-General Selby Smythe.
He afterwards addressed them, and said he was very
much pleased with the appearance of the men and with
the manner in which they did their work.
i
I
LIST OF OFFICERS
WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE
(^o^txmx ^tmxnXs Icrbii-iSitarlr,
WITH THEIR SERVICES.
i i,
m[
1
11
4
1 '
il
1
'■ 1
|l
1 i
1
II
i
Denison, George Taylor ( Belle vue), son of the late
Captain John Denison, who came out to Canada from
England in 1792. He served through the war of 1812
as an officer of the York Volunteers. He was
gazetted Lieutenant of the 3rd York Militia on the
25th April, 1820. Gazetted Captain, 16th August,
1822. Organized troop of cavalry and placed in
command of it the same year. Brevet Major,
15th December, 1837. Served through the rebel-
lion of 1837. Was, on the 1st November, 1838,
gazetted Lieut. -Colonel of the 3rd York Battalion ;
and on the 10th November, 1846, given the com-
mand of the 4th Battalion of Toronto Militia, remain-
ing in that position until 1851, when he retired,
the following Order by the Adjutant-General being
issued at the time ; —
LIST OF OFFICERS.
67
J
" Adjutant-General's Office,
"Toronto, 28th Feb., 1851.
** Militia General Order, No. 2. — Lieut. -Col. George T.
Denison, of the 4th Battalion Toronto Militia, is
permitted to retire from the Militia service, retain-
ing his rank in that Force, and His Excellency, the
Governor-General, is pleased to express his high
sense of the long and zealous services in the
Militia of that officer.
" By command,
" D. MacDonell, Lt.-Col.,
" Deputy Adjt.-Gen. of Militia.**
SiLVERTKORN, Aaron, was gazetted Lieutenant the
16th August, 1822, and retired in 1832.
Richardson, Charles.— Appointed Cornet on the 16th
August, 1822, served a few years and then resigned.
Denison, Richard Ltppincott, son of George T. Deni-
son, and grandson of Captain Richard Lippincott, a
well-known U. E. Loyalist officer, celebrated in the
history of the Revolutionary War, was appointed
Lieutenant the 16th February, 1832; served through
the Rebellion of 1837 in that rank. Gazetted Cap-
tain 1st November, 1838, when his father, George
T. Denison, went into the 3rd York. He was out
during both rebellions, and was present at the action
at Gallows Hill, and in the operations during the
winter of that year, in the neighbourhood of Brant-
ford, and the Village of Scotland. Was gazetted
1
'"(M
II
58 HISTORICAL RECORD.
Major in the 4th Battalion on the 23rd February,
1848. Appointed Lieut. -Colonel of the 4th Bat-
talion, 7th March, 1851, and on the 6th February,
1869, when the Reserve Militia was reorganized,
was re-gazetted Lieut.-Oolonel to same Battalion.
Lawrence, Ferine, appointed Cornet on the 15th De-
cember, 1837 ; retired a short time afterwards.
Denison, George Taylor (Rusholme). — In 1837 was at
the action at Gallows Hill, and in the operations
during the winter of that year in the neighbourhood
of Brantford and Vne Village |of Scotland. Served
through the siege of Navy Island. Was appointed
Lieutenant 1st November, 1838. Gazetted Captain
23rd February, 1848 ; Brevet Major, 6th Decem-
ber, 1850. Gazetted Lieut. -Colonel in command of
regiment of cavalry composed of four troops, 12th
March, 1853. In 1856 he organized a field battery
in connection with the mounted force, and subse-
quently he organized and was given the command
temporarily of the 2nd Battalion, now the " Queen's
Own," until he could recommend an officer to be
placed in command of it. Gazetted Colonel 10th
October, 1860, and appointed commandant of the
5th and 10th Military Districts. During the Fenian
raid of 1866 he commanded the Toronto Militia
Garrison, comprising several thousand men ; and was
for many years before his death the senior volunteer
officer in Ontario, being the only full Colonel in it.
■HiJivgn
T
LIST OF OFFICERS.
59
Fisher, Edwin C, appointed Cornet Ist November, 1838,
and served in the troop during the second Rebel-
lion ; retired in May, 1839.
Denison, Robert Brittain, appointed Comet in 1843.
Re-gazetted Cornet 11th February, 1846. Gazetted
Lieutenant 5th May, 1848. Gazetted Captain 6th
December, 1850. When the Act of 1855, relating to
the Active Militia, was passed, he took in the troop
under the provisions of it, and was, on the 27th De-
cember, 1855, gazetted Captain. On the 13th No-
vember, 1856, appointed to command the Foot
Artillery Company. 2nd April, 1857, gazetted Bre-
vet-Major in Foot Artillery. This corps afterwards
became No. 4 Company " Queen's Own." Appointed
to the command of the Toronto Field Battery 4th
December, 1857. Gazetted Captain of the Trinity
College Company, now No. 8 Company,'** Queen's
Own," 3rd June, 1861. Appointed Brigade Major
of 10th Military District, 28th November, 1862 ;
Lieut.-Colonel, 2nd February, 1866. During the
Fenian raid he was, on the 2nd June, 1866, sent to
Clifton in command of a Battalion of 1 3 companies to
hold the Suspension Bridge, and to guard that por-
tion of the Niagara frontier.
McCutcheon, Peter McGill, appointed Cornet 5th
May, 1848. Gazetted Lieutenant 27th December,
1855. On the 11th December, 1856, he was per-
paitted to retire with the rank of Captain.
If J
\
■
60
HISTORICAL RECORD.
Denison, George Taylor (Heydon Villa), appointed
Cornet 15th September, 1854. Gazetted Lieutenant
20th March, 1856. Given command of troop tem-
porarily as Lieutenant, 15th January, 1857. Ga-
zetted Captain 22nd April, 1857. Brevet Major,
22nd April, 1862. Served through the Fenian raid
of 1866 on Fort Erie,and in command of the Cavalry
on the Niagara frontier. Brevet-Lieut. -Colonel, 1 3th
September, 1866. Having resigned, his name was
placed on the retired list to date from 31st July,
1868.
De La Hooke, Dr. J. Acland. — Gazetted Surgeon of
Huron Militia, 25th May, 1842. Transferred to 2nd
York Battalion, 13th May, 1853. Surgeon to troop,
22nd September, 1854. Gazetted Surgeon to
squadron, 20th March, 1856. Served during the
Fenian raid of 1866 on the Niagara frontier.
Transferred to 2nd Regiment of Cavalry, 10th May,
1872.
Boulton, G. D'Arcy. — Appointed Cornet 20th March,
1856 ; resigned 15th May, 1856.
RiDOUT, William. — Appointed Cornet 15th May, 1856.
Gazetted Lieutenant, 22nd April, 1857. Placed on
unattached list, 6th December, 1861.
Campbell, Patrick. — Appointed Cornet, 22nd April,
1857. Retired, 19th June, 1861.
Denison,CharlesL. — Appointed SupernumeraryCornet,
8th October, 1858. Gazetted Cornet, 19th June,
1861. Gazetted Lieutenant, 6th December, 1861.
Betired, 25th August, 1866.
LIST OF OFFICERS
61
DENlSON,EDWiNP.—AppointedLieutenaiit and Adjutant,
28th August, 1860. Gazetted Lieutenant, 25th
August, 1865. Gazetted Brevet-Captain, 7th June,
1867. Gazetted Captain, 18th August, 1868. Re-
tired, retaining his rank, 1st March, 1872. Served
during the Fenian raid of 1866 on the Niagara
frontier.
Dentson, G. SHIRLEY.—Appointed Cornet, 27th Decem-
ber, 1861. Retired, 25th August, 1865. He served
in the Montreal Volunteer Force during the Fenian
raid of 1866.
Denison Frederick Charles.— In January, 1865, join-
ed as Lieutenant the 2nd Administrative BattaUon
at Niagara. Appointed Cornet, 25th August, 1865.
Served during the Fenian raid of 1866 on the
Niagara frontier. Gazetted Brevet-Lieutenant, 6th
December, 1867; Lieutenant, 18th August, 1868.
Served on the Staflf in the Red River Expedition of
1870, as Orderly Officer to Major-General Sir Garnet
Wolseley. Gazetted Captain, 1st March, 1872.
Dunn, Orlando.— Appointed Cornet, 18th August, 1868.
Gazetted Lieutenant, 1st March, 1872. Served
through the Fenian raid of 1866 on the Niagara
frontier.
Denison, Clarence A. K.— Appointed Cornet, 10th
May, 1872.
TuTHiLL, . — Appointed Veterinary Surgeon, 27th
December, 1855. Left limits.
*
STANDING ORDERS
OP THE
Si
I!
t
Ijon^iinor |)«ncrar» |;»dg-|)uard.
I ^ >
The following standing orders will be obser/ed in the
Governor-General's Body Guard, so far as relates to a
squadron, except where they may be at variance with
any orders that m- y hereafter be issued from the Militia
Department. As the Body Guard has generally when in
camp been attached to other troops as part of a regiment,
it has been thought desirable to prepare the standing
orders as if for a regiment, in order that the members of
the corps may understand and be able to perform their
duties properly when acting with others : —
THE DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
The ofl&cers should make themselves conversant with
the Militia Act, with the Standing Orders, and such books
as may be required by the Militia Regulations.
They are to consider punctuality as one of the first
STANDING ORDERS.
63
principles of military duty, and are accountable for the
maintenance and observance of good order. The example
of ready and cheerful obedience to all orders on the part
of the officers has a beneficial effect on the men.
Whenever an officer has occasion to address another,
his senior on duty, he will always salute on approaching
him.
No officer is to dismiss a troop or detachment in the
presence of a senior without asking his permission to
do so.
A young officer will not be sent on duty until he has
first attended the orderly officer, and become acquainted
with his duties.
Any officei? unable to attend parade from sickness must
report himself to the senior medical officer and to the
adjutant, and is expected to keep to his quarters during
his illness.
Officers are to he particular that their non-commissioned
officers and men appear clean and tidy.
All applications for leave of absence must be made to
the commanding officer,no matter for how short a period,
according to Form No. I.
Every case of drunkenness or misconduct should be
inquired into in presence of offender, and satisfactorily
decided.
Form I.
Camp.
Sir, — I have the honour to request that you will be
good enough to lay before the commanding officer my ap-
64
STANDING ORDERS.
plication for leave of absence from (Thursday) to (Satur-
day), to visit on private affairs.
My address will be .
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant.
I :,
^
II !i:
! f
Officers are never to allow an answer to a reprimand
on duty or parade.
No officer will appear in half uniform and half plain
clothes.
Officers should always treat non-commissioned officers
with civility and attention, and avoid reprimanding them
before the men.
Major.
The major will assist the commanding officer in carry-
ing on the duties of the regiment. He will visit the
stables frequently, in camp or barracks, and will pay par-
ticular attention to the interior economy of the regiment.
Paymaster.
All moneys for the use of each troop must be paid to
the officer commanding it, from whom he will take a
receipt.
The paymaster will be guided by his instructions from
headquarters ; any claims for allowances or other work
will be made out by him.
He will muster the regiment once a month, or before
leaving camp where annual drill put in.
STANDING ORDERS.
65
Quartermaster.
His duties are onerous if properly carried out. He is
responsible for and is expected to look after the accommo
dation of the troops in camp or barracks, and to the issue
of forage; rations and fuel, ammunition, camp equip-
ments, &c.
He will attend at the issue of the bread and meat, and
see that both are of good quality and proper weight. He
will inspect the forage, and see that it is good, and issued
in proper weight.
He is responsible for the cleanliness of the camp and
barracks.
He will arrange (when it is required) with the com-
manding officer for the conveyance of the baggage on the
march. All clothing must be marked by him before being
issued.
Surgeon and Assistant-Surgeon.
The surgeon will send in a daily state of the sick to
the orderly room. He will frequently visit the camp or
barracks, and report any want of cleanliness, and will
bring to the commanding officer's attention anything
likely to affect the health of the regiment, and make any
suggestions that will tend to their health. One of the
surgeons must attend ball practice. He will keep a book
in the surgery for the orderly officers to insert their
names when visiting the hospital.
Veterinary Surgeon.
He will attend to the Instructions laid down in the
E
66
STANDING ORDERS.
Queen's Regulations ; to the general health of the horses ;
the shoeing, &c.
He will inspect the stables daily, and send in a daily
report to the orderly room of the sick horses. He will
report to the commanding officer anything that he may
deem detrimental to the health of the horses. He will
report at once to the commanding officer any cases of
infectious disease.
The Adjutant.
All orders issued by the adjutant are to be obeyed as
from the commanding officer ; he receives and gives out
all regimental orders.
The drills and instructions of new officers are given
under his charge ; he 's to parade all guards, orderlies or
escorts.
He keeps the roster of all officers' duties, leave of ab-
sence, &c., and has charge of the regimental books.
He will see that all guards and sentries understand
their duties.
He must require the strictest attention at his drills,
not allow talking in the ranks, and generally to correct
anything wanting in the appearance or bearing of the
men when off parade.
Captains and Officers commanding Troops.
They are responsible to the commanding officer that
their troops are always fit for active service. Every officer
commanding a troop should be able at any moment to
answer any questions about his men or horses. He will
STANDI NC ORDERS.
67
make himself acquainted with the characters of his men,
and pay attention to their cleanliness and comfort.
They must see that the veterinary's directions are
carried out as to ventilation of stables, &c., and also visit
the sick men in hospital.
They will pay attention to the shoeing of their horses
and to the stable economy.
The greatest attention must be paid to the ammunition
and when the corps parades on foot it must be inspected.
When an officer is appointed to the charge or command
of a troop, he must at once inquire minutely into its con-
dition, as he becomes responsible for everything.
When the troops are in barracks for any length of
time, the necessaries will be inspected once a month ;
commanding officers of troops will see that their men's
hair is cut and worn properly.
Officers commanding troops are held responsible that
the crimes of their defaulters are entered daily from the
guard reports, from which they can make a copy in the
orderly room.
Orders referring to the men must be read to them on
parade.
Officers should visit their men's rooms frequently, and
see that they are clean and well regulated.
Captain of the Day.
Be will attend the daily issue of forage ; if of bad
quality, he will stop the issue and report the same to the
senior officer in barracks.
4
II
!(|
68
STANDING ORDERS.
He can exchange his duty, but must notify the adjutant
of the same.
He will not leave the barracks during his tour of duty
except on watering order parade or on duty.
Orderly Officer.
His duty commences at reveille, and ends at reveille
the following morning.
It is through him that reports of extraordinary occur-
rences are made to the commanding officer. He parades
the guard and marches it off — inspects it and the sentries
at watch setting, and once during the night. He will
hear the sentries give over their orders, when he must be
accompanied by a non-commissioned officer. He will
turn out the guard in the morning and inspect it. He
will not leave the barracks except when the troops go
out on duty, or for watering parade. He will go through
the stables during the night, afoer eleven, and see that
the horses are properly fastened. He will go round the
men's breakfasts and dinners to see if there are any com-
plaints as to the cooking or quality of the rations, and
will inspect the cook-house?/ to see if they are clean. He
will attend the delivery of the forage and rations, and see
that the proper qupfxcity be issued and that it is of good
quality. He will attend the different stable hours, and
accompany the commanding officer when he goes round
the stables or quarters. In the absence of the adjutant
he will take his duty, as inspecting guards, &c. The
same in the quartermaster's absence. He will visit the
^
STANDING ORDERS.
69
prisoners (if any). He will report any irregularity at
once to senior officer in barracks.
He will attend the watering parades and accompany
troops to exercise. He will send in his report to the
orderly room before office hour. The following form is
given as guide, to be varied as required : —
Governor General's Body Guard.
Orderly Officer's Keport. Remarks.
1. I attended the morning stable duties,
was present at roll call and during the
whole of stable hour, and received the
reports from the troop sergeant-majors.
2. I inspected the men's breakfast, and
saw the beds were all m<ide up and rooms
aired.
3. I inspected the bread and meat, and
saw the proper weight delivered to each
mess.
4. I inspected the horses, and attended
their exercise in watering order.
5. I superintended the issue of forage,
and saw the proper weight delivered ;
that it was of good quality, and issued
according to the returns received from
the troop sergeant-majors.
6. I attended the mid-day stable duties,
and was present during the whole of the
stable hour.
7. I inspected the men's dinners.
70
STANDING ORDERS.
Non-commissioned Officers and Privates.
The character and discipline of a regiment depends to
a great extent on the quality of the non-commissioned
officers. They therefore must be strictly attentive to
duty and of good conduct, and should set an example of
smartness and cleanliness to the privates. On promotion
from the ranks all familiarity with the men should cease.
All passes should be in the orderly room by office hour
in the morning. Non-commissioned officers and men if
taken ill must immediately report themselves, and will
attend morning parade and be marched to hospital by
regimental orderly-sergeant, and will not attempt to
doctor themselves.
Orderlies on dispatch duty must not exceed six miles
an hour unless otherwise ordered. Any man found cut-
ting or in any way altering his belt or clothing without
the commanding officer's permission will be punished by
fine or otherwise. Swearing and improper language is
forbidden, and any man offending will be punished.
Every trooper should take his own horse to be shod.
Any man found under the influence of liquor should
be confined at once, and taken there by his own com-
rades.
Any non-commissioned officer or man having a com-
plaint to make should make it through the officer com-
manding his troop.
The men are always to appear out of quarters in uni-
form, and clean and properly dressed.
If any soldier is ill used by another, he is not to take
STANDING ORDERS.
71
the law into his own hands, but must complain of the
same to his commanding officer.
The non-commissioned officers and men must not wear
articles not their own, nor use another man's arms or
appointments. The men must acquaint themselves with
the orders. Ignorance of the orders will be no excuse.
Regimental Sergeant-Major.
He is the adjutant's assistant, and under him has a
general supervision over every department. He is expected
to set an example of smartness, zeal, and soldier-like
conduct to the non-commissioned officers and men. He is
to keep a roster of the non-commissioned officers' duties
and of the privates, so far as relates to the number sup-
plied by each troop.
He must be present at the parading of guards, escorts,
&c., and inspect them when they come oif duty. He
must inspect guard-room and prisoners' room daily.
He is on no account to overlook any irregularity or
slovenly conduct he may observe on or off duty. He
issues the regimental orders, received from the adjutant
daily, to troop orderly sergeants, and sees that they copy
them in their order books. Fie must be perfectly familiar
with the standing orders of the regiment, and enforce
them.
Quartermaster-Sergeant.
He is specially under the orders of the quartermaster,
and will adhere to orders received from him. He will
72
STANDI N(! OKDEUH.
ff
'^ I
attend to the cleanliness of the barracks or camp, fre-
quently visiting the rooms and stables.
He will be present at the issue of the rations, fuel,
&c., at inspections of quarters, and receiving or deliver-
ing ammunition or other stores. He will superintend
the fatigues.
He will attend church and muster parades.
Troop Sergeant-Major.
Will be selected from the most deserving sergeants of
the regiment ; must be of good character and abilities,
seniority alone being no claim. The good conduct and
well-being of his troop should be his special care.
All troop returns required are to be made out or ex-
amined by him, as states, crimes, &c.
He will see that the regimental orders are read and ex-
plained to the men at the evening stable parade, when
every man must be present; at this parade all duties for
the following day will be warned.
He will attend the issue of forage, and see that his
troop has its proper quantity, and that it is correctly
divided among the horses.
He will also be present at the issue of the bread and
meat.
The efficiency of a cavalry regiment or troop depends
upon the condition of the horses ; therefore, grooming
and stable duties become one of the most important
duties a dragoon has to attend to. Troop sergeant-
majors must therefore pay the greatest attention to all
t
STANDINd ORDKUS.
73
the stable duties, and see that they arc properly per-
formed by the men. The rooms and stables are under
his superintendence, and he is responsible that they are
kept clean and well ventilated.
|i
Orderly Troop Sergeant-MajuR.
Comes on duty at reveille. He will not absent himself
from barracks except on duty. He will accompany the
orderly officer when he visits the men's rooms, at meals
and watch-setting, and going his round. He will visit
the cook-houses and see that they are clean. He will go
round all the troop stables and the veterinary stables be-
tween 2 and 6 p.m. and at about 10 p.m., and see that
the horses are properly tied. He will see that the dung
is removed from around the stables.
He will attend the veterinary surgeon at midday
stables, and get any ortlers from him about ventilation,
&c., and give them to the other troop sergeant-majors.
He will attend at watch-setting and gather the reports,
and hand them to the orderly officer. He will see the
lights out and close the sergeants* mess.
Trumpet-Major.
Is responsible that the trumpeters understand their
duties, and that the various duties are properly and
punctually sounded ; all trumpeters fit for duty to sound
noon stables, dinners and watch-setting.
He will keep a roster of trumpeters' duty.
74
STANDING ORDERS.
Sergeants.
I
'■■ I
II
A sergeant should be smart and active and very exact
in the performance of his duties. He should always be
first on parade. He will pay the greatest attention to
the grooming of the horses. He is responsible for the
order and cleanliness of his room. He must allow no
slovenly grooming. At evening stables he will see that
stablemen are appointed for the following day.
It is his duty to see that all the horses receive their
proper rations, and that none is destroyed.
He must be about the stables as much as possible dur-
ing mounted parades, and be very particular at his in-
spections, both mounted and dismounted, to see any
whose turn-out may be wrong, set right at once. He
■will instruct the recruits ia grooming, or anything in
military matters in which they may be deficient. Non-
commissioned officers will not confine a man, except in
extreme cases, without first bringing him to troop ser-
geant-major.
Eegimental Orderly Sergeant.
Mounts with the guar.l daily. He will perform all
troop duties that do not interfere with his work of re-
gimental orderly sergeant. He will collect the sick
reports, and march the sick to hospital. He accom-
panies the orderly officer when he visits the meals. He
will frequently visit the troop stables to see that they
are clean. He will visit the canteen, and confine any
defaulters there. He will see the fires and lights out,
and the men in bed.
STANDING ORDERS.
76
Troop Orderly Sergeants.
They are appointed weekly, and will call roll at all
parades, when every man not on duty or leave must be
present. He will see that lights and fires are put out at
watch-setting, and that the men are in bed. He makes
out the morning and afternoon parade states. Copies the
orders into the troop book. He is responsible for the
warning for all duties in his troop, and must keep a cor-
rect muster roll. He will rea* • the orders to the men,
and show them to the officers. He gets the captain's
signature to all passes before 10 a. m. ; he will attend
issue of forage. He is responsible for- cleanliness of rooms,
and must see that the beds are properly made up.
Orderly Room Clerk.
He is under the orders of the adjutant, and will attend
to such instruct^ '^ns as he rer^ives from him or the com-
manding officer. He will not disclose any thing coming
to his knowledge through his position of clerk.
Paymaster's Clerk.
He is under the paymaster's orders in matters relating
to his office.
Farrier-Major.
He is under the immediate orders of the veterinary
surgeon in matters in connection with the shoeing of the
horses. He will see that any man taking a horse to be
shod does not leave him, nor fasten him by collar
chain.
76
STANDING ORDERS.
He has charge of farriers, and sees that they attend to
their work ; also that the sick horses are groomed. He
will not shoe horses belonging to other corps without per-
mission of commanding officer.
Hospital Sergeant.
In all matters with reference to the hospital, he is
under sole control of the surgeon ; in points of discipline
he will attend to orders of commanding officer.
He is responsible for order and cleanliness in hospital,
and is exempt from all ordinary regimental parados and
duties.
Provost Sergeant.
Will parade and drill defaulters, and will allow no loose
or disorderly persons in barracks, and will carry out rules
for barrack cells.
He will march prisoners to Divine service.
Corporals.
A corporal must not be too familiar with the privates.
He should be an example in grooming, cleaning kit, and
punctuality on parade.
Must obey all orders promptly, whether from commis-
sioned or non-commissioned officers over them, and will
assist the sergeants, taking their places during their ab-
sence.
When in charge of a room he is responsible that no
disord<^rly conduct takes place in it. He will not himself
STANDING ORDERS.
77
confine a man, except in an extreme case. He will not
allow men to quit the barrack-room without good cause.
Non-commissioned Officer of Canteen.
He will remain at canteen until it is cleared at watch-
setting or any other time, as ordered, and report any ir-
regularity to regimental sergeant-major. He is not to
permit gambling or disturbance. He Mdll apply to re-
gimental sergeant-major for assistance on any emer-
gency.
Troop Orderly Corporal.
He is appointed weekly, and will assist troop orderly
sergeant in carrying out the orders laid down for them.
He regulates the manner in which the messes are to be
cooked, and will be present at cook-house at distribution
of the meals to the room orderlies. He warns and
parades fatigues. He keeps a roll of men confined to
barracks.
Farriers.
Will attend morning and evening stables. They will
inspect every horse in their respective troops, and report
casualties to sergeant-major. They will attend the forge
when ordered by veterinary surgeon. Every horse must
be shod once a month ; an orderly farrier will be de-
tailed weekly to assist in sick stables. A troop farrier
is responsible that each horse has spare shoes and nails
complete. Every horse's foot will be examined twice a
week, and loose shoes, &c., will be placed right. They
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STANDING ORDERS.
will report thrushes or a) v change in the healthy condi-
tion of the feet to the veterinary surgeon. They will
make their own nails whenever practicable. They will
not shoe horses not belonging to the corps without per-
mission.
The Armourer.
Will inspect the arms monthly, and report their state,
and is responsible for their efficient repair. All tools are
under his charge. He will be paid for work according
to scale laid down.
Saddler-Sergeant.
Is resr onsible for efficient state of the saddlery. He
will wfik under the orders of the quartermaster. He
will p jint out any damage done through negligence.
Master Tailor.
Will be under the immediate orders of the quarter-
master in matters connected with his business. He is
responsible for the proper fitting of the uniform clothing
of the co^ps. He will make none except of regimental
pattern.
Barrack Room Arrangements.
The non-commissioned officers of troops are respon-
sible that every man turns out of bed at reveillo sounding,
and that the beds are properly made up. The beds to be
two feet from wall, to allow for ventilation. The neces-
saries to be hung neatly at their head.
STANDING ORDERS.
79
No soldier is to be dirty in dress, or appear in clothing
not of regulation pattern.
Stables.
Between the 1st November and 1st March stables will
sound at 6.30 a.m. ; during rest of the year at 5.30
a.m., unless otherwise ordered.
No man shall ever trim his horse's legs with scissors
— when required so to be trimmed a non-commissi©ned
officer must do it ; nor are the tails to be cut without
commanding officer's order.
The appointments and horses of sick men, men in prison
or on leave, shall be taken charge of by the men turn about*
who are to miss guard during this time. When per-
manently with two horses, they only do night guards.
All officers must attend their troop stables at midday,
and stay there till dismiss sounds.
The stable men are posted by orderly sergeant of
troop after dismiss from morning stables, and must not on
any account leave the stables without permission. They
must watch the horses to see that none are injured, so
far as they can prevent it — fasten up any loose, and
keep the stables clean and ventilated ; great care must
be paid to ventilation. They are to remain inside the
stables, and are responsible for stable utensils. Smoking
is strictly prohibited. The stable guard remains in
charge until relieved by night guard. As a rule, they
will only attend mounted parades.
In dry weather the litter will be made up in heaps
80
STANDING ORDERS.
J' I
outside the stables, and in wet weather in a spare stall or
in centre of stable. Horses will draw bran once a week
—Saturday preferable. Horses to have as much water
as they can drink, except when warm. After the horse
is put in stall, the man who attends to it will unbridle
and fasten, then loosen crupper surcingle and breastplate.
He will then wipe off his bits— then, after changing his
things, return and groom his horse. All the men will
attend stables in fatigue dress.
Duties in Barracks.
The duties in barracks, unless otherwise varied, will
be as follows : —
Reveille will sound at 6 a.m. in winter, 5 a.m. in
summer.
Warning for morning stables at 6.15 a.m. Stables,
6.30 a.m.
Horses fed, 7.20 a.m.
Dismiss, 7.30 a.m.
Breakfast, 7.45 a.m.
Watering order at 8.45, until 10.15 a.m., IJ hours.
Stables (noon stables), from 10.30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Officers' stables at 12.15.
Feed horses, 12.50.
Dinner, 1 p.m.
On field days, stables sound at 1.45, officers' call at 2
p.m., and stables off at 2 p.m.
Guard mounting, 2.30 p.m. ; on field days generally at
6 p.m.
STANDING ORDERS. 81
Tea for men, 5 p.m.
Evening stables (warning), 5.20 p.m.
Feed and bed down, 5.45 p.m.
Defaulters' parade at 6.30 p.m., for one hour.
First post at 9 p.m.
Watch-setting or last post, 9.30 p.m.
Lights out at 10 p.m.
Instructions for Grooming.
All officers and non-commissioned officers should
understand the system of grooming, so as to instruct the
men when necessary. The first thing to be done is to
wash and pick out horses' feet.
When the horse has not been out, use brush over
neck, chest, shoulders and fore leg in succession, then over
rest of body, beginning with near side. Then use a
damp hay wisp in same order. Then brush head, fore-
top and mane, and afterwards wisp ^ver and wipe down.
When a horse brought in very wet and muddy, his legs
should be rubbed down with a wisp of straw. The
horse is not clean until he is warm, and coat soft and
shining j every grooming makes it easier. Men employed
by sergeants as grooms must be paid by them.
Forage.
The captain of the day, the orderly officer and regi-
mental quartermaster, shall attend issue and see proper
quantity issued to each troop. Troop sergeant-majors to
put in a report showing number of horses and quantity
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STANDING ORDERS,
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of forage required. Captains of troops must have an
ofl&cer daily to see issue of forage to each horse. Men
should have their forage weighed, if they think they have
too little ; two horses' oats must not be put in one bag.
It is well to have hay sprinkled with water before being
measured out ; horses should be allowed lots of water to
drink.
Guards.
All guards must invariably be alert ; the men are not
to take off dress or accoutrements. It will be turned out
by officers or non-commissioned officers at daybreak and
watch-setting. No gaming, drinking or singing allowed
in guard-room, and no man must ever leave guard with-
out permission. The non-commissioned officer command-
ing guard will report anything extraordinary to adjutant
or orderly officer. Should any man of the guard or any
prisoner be taken ill, non-commissioned officer of guard
will at once notify the surgeon. Guards will confine men
promoting quarrels, and give alarm in case of fire. When
a man is confined, his crime must be delivered to officer or
non-commissioned officer of guard in writing. There can
be no excuse for escape of a prisoner. A non-commissioned
officer must always relieve sentries — not allow them to
relieve themselves. Nobody allowed into guard-room
except on duty. Officers or non-commissioned officers
commanding guards must inspect all relief of sentries,
both coming on and off, and frequently visit sentries at
uncertain hours during the night, as also in day, and keep
the men as vigilant as possible. Guards must pay all
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STANDING ORDERS.
83
proper compliments, and turn out when any armed force
approaches, and present arms if party commanded by an
officer, or for a general officer in uniform. Guards will turn
out at advanced arms for inspection, whenever ordered
by orderly officer or adjutant. A sentry should consider
his duties as a sacred trust. As the safety of a whole army
may depend upon the vigilance of a sentry, he must not
screen a comrade, but attend faithfully to his duties ; he
must never allow his arms to be touched by anybody ;
he must not sit down oi lounge upon his post. The sen-
tries will call " Guard turn out," in a loud clear voice,
when officer entitled to salute comes within fifty or sixty
yards of them, or when the officer of the day comes round.
After watch-setting, on any one approaching he will chal-
lenge, " Who comes there 1 " and port his arms. If the
answer is satisfactory, he will say, "Advance, friend, all's
well ;" should the answer be " Rounds," he will de-
mand " What Rounds 1 " If he is posted at the guard-
house, and the reply is " Grand Rounds " or ** Visiting
Rounds," he will call " Stand, Grand (or Visiting) Rounds,
Guard turn out." If posted anywhere else, he will say,
"Pass, Grand (or Visiting) Rounds, all's well." If there
is a countersign, he will command them to " Advance
one and give the countersign."
A sentry must not quit his arms, and will pay proper
compliments to all officers. At night he will front and
challenge as above. He must abstain from conversing with
bystanders. He will not divulge his orders to any one,
except the officer of the day, the commanding officer
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STANDING ORDERS,
and adjutant. No sentry is to leave his posl/ except re-
lieved by non-commissioned officer of guard, and must
do his duty faithfully while at his post. Sentries must
if possible be placed at different posts every time relieved.
No officer in plain clothes, except a member of the Royal
Family, is entitled to the compliment of a guard turning
out.
A sentry, when an officer passes, fronts the point he is
placed especially in charge of; as on a rampart, he faces
outwards and pays the compliment due.
Line of March.
All cavalry corps will commence their marches as early
as possible in the morning ; they are not to go more than
four and one half miles an hour, unless specially ordered
to increase the pace; an advanced guard should be thrown
out ; a halt should be ordered every four or five miles; du-
ring halt, officers must see that their men look to the fitting
of saddles and valises, the shoes, tightness of girths, &c.
No officer to leave his men without special permission of
commanding officer, which should not be granted except
in cases of real necessity, as they may be required at
any moment. As soon as men have been billeted, offi-
cers of troops must visit billets, and see that forage is
good and the men comfortable. On marching into a
town where other troops are stationed, commanding offi-
cer must report arrival of detachment to the officer com-
manding station ; on line of march an officer will ride in
front, and an officer will always ride at rear of detachment
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STANDING ORDERS.
85
or squadron and prevent straggling, and see that an even
pace is maintained. No man to leave ranks without
commanding officer's permission, and must then be ac-
companied by a non-commissioned officer. The rear-
guard will on no account allow stragglers behind it.
Kvery horse's back must be examined, and if badly rub-
bed it must be led on next day ; if hair rubbed off,
or skin appears raised, the part should be bathed with
salt and water. Troop farriers must accompany their
officers round stables. The saddles are not to be removed
until two hours after arrival at quarters, unless otherwise
ordered by commanding officer. Before marching off,
every man must be in his place and billets must be paid
off. The horses must be examined by their riders both
before and after their day's work, to see if shoes good,
&c.
Billets.
Early on day of march, an officer or an intelligent non-
commissioned officer with one man will be sent on to
make arrangements about billets. He must have a state-
ment of the officers, men and horses to be billeted on
arrival ; find out at once the mayor or a magistrate, and
procure billets ; get billets as close together as possible ;
see sample of oats ; visit billets and inform landlord as
nearly as possible the hour of dinner or arrival ; select
and mark rooms and stables of officers according to se-
niority ; when all arrangements are completed, ride out
half a mile or so and meet troops, and give any informa-
tion to commanding officer possible. Each soldier and
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STANDING ORDERS.
horse are to be billeted together where possible ; in no
case should a man be one hundred yards from his horse.
Where insufficient accommodation in village, billets
will be taken forward en route rather than back. Before
filing off, the names of the billets and locality to be read
out to the men by the commanding officer The men
are expected to be courteous to the parties they are bil-
leted upon, and must treat them with civility. An alarm
post must always be named, and every man must know
it.
Embarkation of Horses.
They should be put on board cool and their bowels open ;
bran should be given horses on the day or a day before.
Horses should be firmly wedged in ; no room allowed to
lie down ; they should be fastened pretty close. Every
mpn should lead his own horse on board, as horse will
follow him better. If a horse refuse to go on board, let
hi» rider lead him, while a man on each side with a rope
passed across his hams drag him slowly forward.
General Regulations.
Offif 3rs select their quarters and stables according to
seniority. No meeting of officers or non-commissioned
to be held without permission of commanding officer.
Cleanliness is very necessary in camp or barracks, and
bathing should be encouraged as much as possible. When
on the field, strict silence must be kept. Nothing will
cause more confusion than talking in the ranks, and none
should be allowed on any pretence whatever. When at-
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STANDING ORDERS.
87
tending Divine service, men should cf)nduct themselves
quietly ; all jingling of spurs or clattering of swords, &c.,
to be avoided as much as possible.
Soldiers are liable to be tried by court-martial or by
civil courts for offences committed against civilians.
The officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the
Governor-General's Body Guard should endeavour by
every means in their power to keep up the credit of their
corps. In the past it has always merited and received
praise for its appearance and discipline, and it rests with
the present members of the corps to continue this repu-
tation.