166 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



as efficient as it ought to he or essential for aiding in the defence of 

 Upper Canada." * 



When first organized the Embodied Militia had been brought 

 together by battalions in camps of instruction at Pointe Levi, Pointe 

 aux Trembles, Berthier and Laprairie. In July the 8th Battalion 

 from Pointe aux Trembles and the 3rd from Berthier were advanced 

 to Laprairie and St. Jean to strengthen the advanced line of defence 

 for the protection of Montreal. The term of ninety days for which 

 they had been originally embodied would expire on August 15. When 

 the armistice was announced many men belonging to all of these bat- 

 talions openly declared their intention of returning to their homes 

 on that day as they presumed there would be no further need for 

 their services. As soon as this disposition became known to Prévost 

 he took measures to inform them that in the event of invasion or in- 

 surrection, the law authorized him to retain them for one year, and 

 as peace was not yet assured, they would be required to lemain em- 

 bodied. Many copies of the act were accordingly distributed among 

 them and as a precaution a considerable body of regulars were 

 moved into the vicinity of their quarters. No inclination to disband 

 was apparent among those stationed at either St. Jean or Laprairie, 

 but on the evening of August 14, Lt. Colonel Taschereau, commanding 

 the 4th Battalion at Pointe Levi, made a demand for the support of 

 a body of regular troops next morning, in case of disorder. The flank 

 companies of the Royal Scots and a detachment of Royal Artillery 

 with, a field gun crossed the river during the night. At daybreak the 

 battalion was paraded without arms, and information was obtained 

 that one of their number and a habitan had been advising them to 

 disperse, saying that there was no American war, and that it was all 

 a device of the government to get them to become soldiers. These 

 men were at once arrested.! 



The abrupt termination of the armistice was followed by repeated 

 manifestations of a good spirit among all classes of the militia. Late 

 in September Prévost made a careful inspection of the advanced posi- 

 tions. An order to be on the alert being sent to Major Voyer, com- 

 manding the 1st Battalion of Embodied Militia, and delivered to him 

 at midnight, was misinterpreted to mean that the enemy were ap- 

 proaching. His battalion was instantly placed under arms with the 

 greatest alacrity and the light companies pushed forward several 

 miles before the mistake was discovered. Coing a few days later to 

 inspect the Sedentary Militia of the district at Chateauguay,, where he 

 expected to find not more than 1,500 men assembled, the Governor 



*Prevo.st to Batliurst, Nov. 21. 



iX. W. Cochran to Rev'd Dr. Cochran^ August 17. 



