92 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
breeze seems too hot and heavy to breathe, when clothes are heavy 
and perspiration comes without exertion. Our men in the unaccustomed 
weight of heavy shakoes, close buttoned thick tunics, and with military 
overcoats over their shoulders and heavy leather ammunition pouches 
which banged on their buttocks at every step, suffered much from the 
speed and the heat. Their thirst was insatiable and being without water 
bottles they would drop out of the ranks to lap up the water in the 
ditches alongside the roads only to be still more overheated by running 
up to take their places in the ranks again. We were marching immedi- 
ately behind the 16th and the sight of one of their men falling over, 
after taking a long drink, assuaged their desire and made them more 
willing to take the advice of their officers that a pebble carried in the 
mouth was the best palliative against thirst. The regulars suffered 
even more than our men, for in addition to their warm clothing they 
were in heavy marching order with full kit and knapsack and carrying 
extra rounds of ammunition, sixty rounds of the heavy Enfield ball 
cartridge. Poor fellows, they struggled bravely on but many were 
obliged to sit down and rest on the roadside, loosening off their knap- 
sacks while the column still swept on and leaving many behind.’ Our 
men suffered most from their feet. The volunteers were marching in 
their own usual civilian, every-day city shoes, many with high heels 
and narrow toes, quite unfitted for a forced march on a hot day over 
hardened ruts, made slippery by dust, on a sun-baked country road, 
It may not have been strictly in accordance with the then military 
regulations, but our Company impressed and hired a passing farmer and 
his team. Putting the waggon in the middle we loaded it with over- 
coats and haversacks and gave the sore ones a chance for a few minutes 
of alternating rest, men and officers carrying at times two rifles each so 
that weary shoulders might have a little relief. In such way we kept 
our company together and came into the stopping place at the end in 
full strength. The regulars lost many of their men on the way. 
Hazr at New GERMANY. 
Notwithstanding the heat and difficulties the fast pace had been 
kept up without a halt until at 11 a.m. A stop was made at a place 
called New Germany, now called Snyder, a mile and a half from Stevens- 
ville for which we had set out. We then learned that an action between 
the Fenians and the volunteers had taken place somewhere near by, but 
it was all over, and we were to remain where we were while it was being 
ascertained in what direction the Fenians had gone. It was a terrible 

! Col. Hoste afterwards reported that his foot Escort of regulars had been so 
much diminished that he felt it unsafe to proceed. 
