COL. LOWRY WITH REINFORCEMENTS.

It was not until late in the afternoon of June 1st that the Militia
Department considered the necessity of calling on the services of
cavalry troops for duty on the frontier. Had this been done twenty-four
hours earlier the calamity which occurred at Ridgeway and the disaster
at Fort Erie might have been averted, and the whole campaign had a
different termination. The omission was a serious mistake, which was
subsequently realized. It is perilous and suicidal to move columns
of infantry in war times without having the advance and flanks well
protected by mounted troops, and scouts employed to glean information
of the location and strength of the enemy. Therefore this branch is
indispensable, as they are rightly termed "the eyes and ears of an
army," ever watchful and on the alert for impending danger, or for an
opportunity to strike a crushing blow.

In the Niagara District campaign this omission was painfully in
evidence. At Chippawa, Col. Peacocke had to rely on meagre and
conflicting reports of the whereabouts of the enemy which were brought
in to him from various sources, more or less unreliable, while Col.
Booker was in a similar position before advancing on the Fenian force
at Ridgeway. Had an efficient troop of cavalry scouts been employed
to thoroughly scour the country in advance of these two columns, a
different tale might be related of their operations.

It was after 3 o'clock on June 1st when Major Geo. T. Denison received
orders to assemble the Governor-General's Body Guard, and proceed to the
front next morning. The Major moved quickly, and during the evening and
night had his non-commissioned officers riding hard through the country
warning out his troopers. The place of rendezvous was the Toronto
Exhibition Grounds, and by day-break the troop was all mustered in
saddle, and ready for service. At 8 o'clock a.m. on June 2nd they left
by the steamer "City of Toronto" for Port Dalhousie, where they arrived
about 11.30. Major Denison immediately entrained his men and horses on
the Welland Railway and proceeded to Port Robinson, being under orders
to report to Col. Peacocke. At Port Robinson the troop detrained, and
after hastily feeding the horses and men, started for Chippawa on a
gallop. On arrival there the troop halted for an hour or two, to have
the horses' shoes reset; which being attended to, the command again took
the road for New Germany, where he reported to Col. P