[riddell] navy island EPISODE, 1837 63 



Cold, until they could convey lumber over for building, which was 

 soon effected, necessity being with them the rallying point to raise 

 quarters as speedily as possible, not only for themselves, but from the 

 Anticipated Kentucky boys, we could see them cutting down and 

 carrying away fern and brushwood for Beds to repose on: they kept 

 up large fires, most of them being apparently accustomed to Night 

 Campaigning in the open air. 



Dreary as our Midnight patrolling was before the arrival of the 

 Gineral and his advanced Guard, you may readily suppose, we were 

 no better off after the arrival of our piratical Neighbours whose plans 

 we were totally ignorant of: they might come over in Boats, burn 

 the Houses and pillage the Country, then return with the greatest 

 alacrity without being Caught, for we had as I before stated, no other 

 Guard along the frontier. Fortunately, however, they were too closely 

 engaged in their Military Tactics and Shanty building to trouble us, 

 although the circumstance of their being armed and not knowing 

 precisely their Numbers, was a source of great alarm all around the 

 Country. — 



The very possession of our Soil, small as the Island is, aroused the 

 Indignation of the Loyalists, and prompted them to greater exertion 

 than they had hitherto manifested. The News, which had gone for- 

 ward to Toronto as doubtful, was no sooner confirmed than Volun- 

 teers marched from all quarters, and dispatches forwarded to the 

 Lower Province, to recall all the regulars they could spare. Order 

 being partially restored in that quarter, since the destruction of Saint 

 Charles and the flight of the prominent leaders, the Troops promptly 

 obeyed the call and prepared for departure. 



In Common Seasons, their transportation by Water would have 

 been Impracticable, such an Occurrence being rarely remembered 

 of Steam Boats plying towards the End of December. This Season 

 however, as if aided by a superintending power in favour of our cause, 

 was mild, enabling the Boats to run without interruption from the Ice, 

 Detachments of the 24th and 32nd regiments quickly arrived at 

 Toronto, from whence they rapidly pushed on, without the harass 

 and fatigue of travelling by Land. — Whilst these brave fellows were 

 on their route. Volunteers from various districts had arrived from as 

 far North as Port Hope, Cobourg, Prescott and other Settlements 

 along the Lake Shore. — Colonel MacNabb^ also had returned from the 

 West and pushed on with 300 Men, joined by Captain Kerr and his 

 200 Indians, who had painted their faces Red, a custom among them 

 on warlike Expeditions. — ^We were not a little pleased at their arrival, 

 having some chance of being relieved on our Midnight Guard. 



