44 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Gray was again ordered to go to Kingston and give Lieut. Colonel 

 Pearson every possible assistance in concentrating the naval force on 

 Lake Ontario at that port as soon as navigation opened. 1 Under the 

 supervision of these energetic officers rapid progress was made both in 

 naval construction and fortification. A schooner and two gunboats 

 were laid down, batteries and blockhouses completed, furnaces built 

 for heating shot, and semaphore telegraphs established at lookout 

 stations and in the forts. The Royal George and Moira were moored 

 within pistol shot of the town under cover of the main batteries and a 

 blockhouse, and a channel twelve feet in width cut all round them and 

 kept constantly open as a protection against surprise. Soldiers and 

 sailors were constantly exercised at the guns and before the end of 

 March Pearson felt justified in reporting that he was "in perfect 

 readiness to resist any attempt the enemy might be induced to make 

 against this post." 2 



On the other hand the officer in charge of the navy yard at York 

 angrily reported that from the lack of system and capacity on the part 

 of the builder, "who evades or disobeys all orders given him," there 

 was little prospect of the ship on the stocks at that place being launched 

 before the first of June. 3 



Orders were given for the organization of a provincial marine 

 corps for service on board the gunboats employed on the St. Lawrence 

 and Richelieu rivers within the district of Montreal to consist of 

 eight lieutenants, eight boatswains and 156 men besides eight gunners 

 attached from the Royal Artillery. The first division composed of 

 one small and two large row galleys was stationed at Isle aux Noix, 

 the second division consisted of two large galleys stationed at the 

 mouth of the River Raisin and one small galley at Cornwall; the third 

 division of two large boats was stationed at Lachine. The men of 

 this corps were enlisted for eighteen months or during the war if it 

 lasted longer. 4 



Thomas Coleman, a prosperous draper of Montreal, had succeeded 

 in organizing a troop of dragoons, which speedily attained such 

 efficiency that it was detailed for active service in Upper Canada. 



The strength of the detachment of Royal Artillery stationed in 

 both provinces was four companies with only thirty drivers, which was 

 far from being adequate to the duties required of them. The want of 

 trained gunners and drivers was particularly felt although a small 



1 Mil. Secty. to Pearson, Mch. 23. 



2 Pearson to Mil. Secty. Mch. 18 and 29; Capt. J. B. Irwin to Mil. Secty. Mch. 

 29; Chauncey to Secty. of the Navy, Feby. 21. 



3 Myers to Mil. Secty., Apr. 2; Major Clerk to Gray, Mch. 24; Gray to Mil. 

 Secty., Apr. 18. 



4 Memo by Captain G. A. Eliot, Apr. 21. 



