Page:History of the Fenian raid on Fort Erie with an account of the Battle of Ridgeway.djvu/89

84 I replied that that was a matter for settlement by our respective Governments. (Signed) R. W. LOWRY,

Colonel,

Commanding Field Force on

Niagara Frontier.

The Brigade Major.

Montreal, 7th June, 1866.

Sir,

In accordance with the orders of Major-General Napier, C.B., I reported myself to Colonel Peacocke, at Hamilton, on Friday, 1st June, and proceeded with him to Chippawa.

The same night about midnight, I was directed by Lt.-Colonel Peacocke to proceed to Port Colborne to arrange with Lt.-Colonel Dennis for making a combined attack on the enemy supposed to be intrenched on Black Creek, about three miles down the river Erie, seven miles from Chippawa and two from Stevensville.

Colonel Peacocke was to move on Stevensville so as to arrive there about 9:30 a. m. Lt.-Colonel Dennis to move along the railway to Ridgeway, as far as the state of the railroad would permit, and march from thence to meet Colonel Peacocke, at Stevensville, at the above hour, and from thence the combined forces were to march on the supposed position at A. Arriving at Port Colborne at about 2 a. m., I found the whole force under arms and in the cars.

Lt.-Colonel Booker being senior to Lt.-Colonel Dennis, had taken over the command.

They had obtained from a Custom House officer arrived from Erie, exact information, as to the position of the Fenian Camp. This was on Frenchman's creek about half way between Black Creek and Fort Erie. The officer who had been in the camp at 6 o'clock considered there were not more than 700 men, that they had been drinking hard during the day, and might fall an easy prey to a sudden attack. Lieut.-Col. Dennis was anxious to move off at once to the attack, and Lieut.-Col. Booker was prepared to carry out the proposal if properly authorized. Knowing Colonel Peacock's anxiety to combine his force with the volunteers, before attacking the enemy, I could not in his name authorize the movement; nor did I think it prudent, as from the accounts we had received it appeared probable that the enemy's force would be doubled during the night.

Having ascertained, however, that the railway bridge at Ridgeway, partially burnt in the morning, had been repaired, and that the line to Erie was open, I arranged a somewhat different plan of attack, subject, of course, to Colonel Peacocke's approval.

The plan was follows: Lieut.-Col. Booker to proceed by rail to Erie with the greater part of his force, to arrive at Fort Erie at 8 a.m.