ALONG THE LINE.

On the frontier of the Province of Ontario the danger of invasion was
just as imminent as in the East, as Fenians were assembling at all
points with definite objects in view. The invasion was well planned, but
its execution was very poorly managed. It was not the intention of the
Fenian leaders to bring on battles at either Eccles' Hill or Trout River
unless success was well assured. These were only intended to be feints
to draw the attention of the Canadians, while the main attacks were
to be made at Cornwall and Prescott, with another heavy attack on the
Niagara frontier if opportunity offered. Their object (as in 1866)
was to destroy the St. Lawrence and Welland Canals and cut railway
communication wherever practicable, thus preventing rapid concentration
of Canadian troops while they proceeded to occupy the country. In
conformity with their plans the Fenian troops gathered at convenient
places to make their raids on the objective points in Ontario they had
in view.

Owing to the extreme probability of an attack being made on Cornwall by
the Fenians who had gathered at Malone, N.Y., it was deemed advisable by
the Government to assemble a large force for the defence of that place
as speedily as possible. Therefore orders were wired at 2 p.m. on May
24th to Lieut.-Col. F. T. Atcherly, Deputy Adjutant-General of the
4th Military District, to call out the militia force at Brockville and
Prescott forthwith for active service. This was immediately accomplished
and guards posted for the protection of these towns. On the following
day he received instructions to proceed at once to Cornwall and assume
command of the force there. He arrived at Cornwall that night with
the Iroquois Battery of Garrison Artillery, and in conjunction with
Lieut.-Col. Bergin, commanding the 59th Battalion, made all the
necessary dispositions of guards for the protection of the town and the
locks and bridges on the Cornwall Canal. In the meantime the entire
59th Battalion had been mustered, and on the following day his force
was strengthened by the arrival of a demi-battery of the Ottawa Field
Artillery, with two guns and 23 horses, under command of Capt. Forsyth,
and also the Ottawa Brigade of Garrison Artillery, under Lieut.-Col.
Forrest. About the same time the 18th Battalion began to arrive from
L'Orignal, having been conveyed the whole distance in waggons. During
the afternoon the 41st Battalion, under command of Lieut.-Col.