[cruikshank] FROM ISLE AUX NOIX TO CHATEAUGUAY 41 



a strong division of seamen with a due proportion of officers of the 

 Royal Navy, detailed for service on the lakes, would sail in time to 

 arrive in the St. Lawrence as soon as that river was clear of ice. 



The remainder of the 8th Regiment, then assembled at Montreal, 

 under the command of Major Cotton, was at once ordered to march 

 to Upper Canada. Two companies were to remain at Prescott and six 

 to join the garrison of Kingston which would then consist, in addition 

 to these, of five companies of the Glengarry Light Infantry, three com- 

 panies of the Newfoundland regiment and eight or ten flank companies 

 of local militia. This force, it was thought, would be ample to defend 

 that place from any attack until the seamen arrived. Two companies 

 of the Glengarry regiment were to march from Kingston to York 

 and enable Sheaffe to augment the force at Amherstburg to six com- 

 panies of the 41st. An officer of the Royal Artillery with a sleigh load 

 of gunners was also sent to Prescott with instructions to put the bat- 

 teries in order and return to Montreal, leaving the men behind. 

 Four companies of the Canadian Voltigeurs under Major Heriot 

 were placed under marching orders for Upper Canada, where they 

 would be quartered at Kingston or moved forward to Niagara as 

 circumstances might dictate, as a practical evidence that the young 

 men of Lower Canada were willing to participate in the defence of 

 the sister province, whose militia had already been sorely tried by 

 the losses, hardships, and privations of long continued service in 

 the field. 1 



Prévost remained but two days at Montreal and then hurried 

 back to Quebec, where he arrived on the 16th, having been absent 

 only twenty-seven days. He was then able to report the safe arrival of 

 six companies of the 104th, overland from New Brunswick, numbering 

 nearly six hundred effectives, a few of whom were suffering from frost- 

 bite sustained in their arduous march. Two companies had been left 

 behind in New Brunswick and two others in the islands of Cape Breton 

 and Prince Edward. 2 



The leading company had started from Fredericton on the 16th 

 of February, followed by another every successive day until the 21st. 

 Twenty-four days later they arrived at Quebec in the same order, 

 having traversed a distance estimated at 361 miles. Between Frederic- 

 ton and the Grand Falls, they were transported in the sleighs of the 

 inhabitants along their route who turned out with great alacrity to 

 convey them from stage to stage over the level road furnished by the 

 frozen surface of the river. At the latter place the settlements in New 

 Brunswick ended and the actual march on foot began. A trail follow - 



1 Military Secretary to Sheaffe, Mch. 11; Prévost to Bathurst, Mch. 19. 



2 Prévost to Bathurst, Mch. 17. 



