by the Erie and Niagara
Railway for Black Creek. Shortly after his arrival there (at daybreak)
he was joined by 200 rank and file of the 60th Rifles under Capt.
Travers, and 140 of the 16th Regiment under command of Capt. Hogge,
which troops had bivouacked at New Germany overnight. On the report of
Lieut.-Col. John Hillyard Cameron that the Erie and Niagara Railway was
passable to a point near Fort Erie, Col. Lowry moved his column by rail
as far as Frenchman's Creek (Gen. O'Neil's old camp ground). Here he
detrained his troops, and throwing out an advanced guard and flanking
lines of skirmishers, moved promptly forward towards Fort Erie. Col,
Wolseley had preceded the column on horseback, and meeting Major
Denison's troopers, who already had possession of the village, found
that Gen. O'Neil and his army had left the country and were beyond the
pale of punishment by our forces.

Col. Lowry's column reached Fort Erie about 8 o'clock, and shortly after
Col. Peacockes force swept in from the west, bringing with them the
spoils of victory in the shape of about sixty prisoners, being part of
the picket line which Gen. O'Neil had abandoned during the night.

The whole force was then placed in position on the high ground in rear
of the village and went into camp. Guards, patrols and pickets were
posted in every direction, and all precautions taken that the occasion
demanded.

During the afternoon Capt. Akers arrived from Port Colborne with the
Queen's Own Rifles, 7th Battalion of London, four companies of the 22nd
Oxford Rifles (with the Drumbo Infantry Company attached), the Caledonia
Rifle Company, the Thorold Infantry Company, and the St. Catharines Home
Guards, about 1,000 men altogether.

When the three columns were all assembled on the heights at Fort Erie
they presented a formidable and imposing spectacle to the many thousands
of Americans and Fenians who crowded the river banks and points of
vantage for sight-seeing on the American side. It seemed as if the whole
population of Buffalo and surrounding country were gathered on the river
shore that pleasant Sunday afternoon to gaze upon the British camp
and watch the movements of the soldiers. The rows of white tents,
the scarlet uniforms of the infantry, and the blue of the cavalry and
artillery, intermingled with the dark green of the rifle companies,
certainly gave a variety of color, while the steadiness and regularity
with which the different units performed the