96 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
In Camp AT Fort ERIE. 
Locations for the regiments of the brigade were at once laid out 
along the high shores. The day was spent in clearing our camp ground, 
making pits for the cooks, etc., and generally getting things in order. 
Our camp was alongside a road leading from Port Colborne. About 
5 o’clock in the afternoon the Queen’s Own arrived. They had come 
by train from Port Colborne, 54 miles, to Sherks Crossing, the place 
where they ought to have left the train the previous day, and from 
thence with a short halt at Ridgeway, the scene of their struggle, had 
marched in by road to Fort Erie. As they came in sight the mutual 
recognition of the Toronto regiments was enthusiastic, camp work 
was abandoned, the road lined and the cheers resounded. The 10th 
were just preparing a meal which was at once offered to their brothers 
and of which many of them returned to share. It was all we saw of 
them for they moved off during the next night to Stratford. 
We camped that night in the position allotted to us; but as Fenians 
were reported to be still in the neighbourhood guards and outlying 
picquets were set out. Tents had been served out late, but there were 
no poles nor pegs, so we lay on the ground and each squad spreading 
out its tent over them as a covering slept in well earned rest after their 
hard marching and 40 hours of exertion. 
Early next morning we improvised tent poles out of a neighbouring 
rail fence and got the tents up. 
The 10th when first raised had been formed as a mechanics’ or 
Engineers battalion and though changed to an infantry regiment its 
recruitings’ still continued to be made from those classes of employ- 
ments. There were thus many artizans in the ranks and specialists 
among the officers. Full advantage of this was taken and parties were 
detailed to lay out drainage and water supply, restore the tracks of the 
Erie and Niagara Railway which had been pulled up in places by the 
Fenians and repair buildings and rolling stock. There was, as well as 
the regular military duties, plenty of work to be done proving the utility 
of the regiment as a workingman’s battalion. The men were keen, 
perhaps somewhat given to hilarity, but under the training they received 
soon improved wonderfully in drill and discipline. In physique the 
regiment was found by actual measurement on parade to compare 
favourably with any other, whether regular or volunteer, in the brigade. 
On the second night in camp (June 4th), an event occurred which 
caused much excitement. The regiments of the brigade, extended 
in long lines on the brow of the hill, had been ordered to maintain guards 
and outpost picquets in the rear of each of their camps. I happened 
that night to be in charge of the main guard of the 10th. The rear 
picquets had been placed within touch of one another in the woods on 
