e parties were instructed to pick up all the stragglers and
pickets they could, and hold them until the boat returned. On our return
we picked up our men and their prisoners, together with the Battery and
their prisoners, and proceeded to Fort Erie and tied up to the wharf
of the Niagara River Railroad. We had not been there long before
intelligence reached us that the Fenians were coming down the Garrison
Road in force, and would be in the village in ten minutes. Col. Dennis
seemed confused, and like the rest of us, thought they were being driven
by the Queen's Own (at that time we were ignorant of the repulse of
those forces). The moment they were seen approaching the Field Battery
(which had been landed) were ordered aboard, and in another minute was
again ordered ashore. Capt. McCallum was then asked how many of the
Naval Brigade could be spared for a support. He replied that he thought
it very imprudent to attempt an attack upon so large a force with his
small body, and advised Lieut.-Col. Dennis to retire to the boat, and
push out into the stream and endeavor to ascertain their strength and
movements. The Colonel, however, decided to meet them. Capt. McCallum
then said he would give him 25 men, himself and 2nd Lieutenant (leaving
only seven men besides the crew on board to guard the prisoners, 59 in
number). The Colonel formed his line in the open street opposite the
hill in the rear of the village, but partially hid from him by some
buildings on his right flank. In a moment the enemy appeared, coming
over the hill in every direction; the buildings before mentioned hid
them from view until they were upon him. From our position on the boat
we could see all that was going on, and Lieut. W. T. Robb, of the Naval
Brigade, seeing the small band was in great danger of being cut off,
called to the Colonel that he was being outflanked and pointed to the
hill, but he was not heard, and in a moment more the whole body were
surrounded. It was, you may be sure, sickening to see one's friends and
neighbors in such a perilous position, but even in this trying moment
they did not at once surrender. Captains McCallum and King called on the
Colonel to order the men to fire. He said no, but ordered them to the
"right about," instead of "left half face," towards the boat; he, I
suppose, mistaking the lower wharf for the one the boat was moored to,
and started on a run, the men following. The enemy fired a volley in
their rear, making