satisfaction and
confidence. His plan of campaign was to rush the Fenian troops across
the border without delay, and to entrench themselves at points where
reinforcements could rally around them as supports when they had
obtained a foot-hold. Malone and Franklin were chosen as the points from
which the raiders were to make their forays, his chief object being,
as before, to destroy the canal systems, and by cutting the railroad
communication between Montreal and the West, hamper the movement of
Canadian troops and cause consternation among the people.

CHAPTER II.

ANOTHER CALL TO ARMS--FENIANS AGAIN THREATEN AN INVASION--GALLANT
RESPONSE BY THE CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS.

Early in the month of April the Government was apprised by its secret
service agents that Fenian trouble was again brewing on the frontier,
and from details of the plot given, the Vermont border was specially
designated as the quarter from which an invasion was extremely probable.
Prompt measures were at once taken by Sir George E. Cartier, the
Minister of Militia and Defence, to prepare for such an emergency, and
complete arrangements were made to guard our entire frontier whenever
necessary.

Notwithstanding their great secrecy, and the surreptitious methods the
Fenians employed to smuggle their arms, ammunition and war supplies
to the border during the winter months, the Government was kept fully
informed of every movement by reliable officials, who had special means
of getting inside information.

As matters became more threatening, and acting on additional information
received, the Government considered it advisable to call out a force of
5,000 men for active service on the frontier of the Province of Quebec,
the whole to be under the chief command of the Lieutenant-General
commanding Her Majesty's regular troops in Canada, with Col. W. Osborne
Smith, D.A.G. of Military District, No. 5, in command of the troops
operating on the south-eastern frontier.

On April 11th the call to arms was made, and the different battalions
and companies responded with their usual promptitude and alacrity, so
that within 48 hours all were assembled at their posts on the frontier
to which they had been assigned, ready for action.

The Cookshire Troop of Cavalry, under command of Lieut. Taylor, was
stationed at Frelighsburg, with pickets at Pigeon Hill and Abbott's
Corners. The 52nd Battalion, under command of Lieut.-Col. P. Miller,
was posted at Frelighsburg