tier.

CHAPTER III.

THE FIRST ALARM--CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS PROMPTLY RESPOND TO THE CALL OF
DUTY--THE CAMPO BELLO FIZZLE--FENIANS GATHER ON THE BORDER--OPERATIONS
ON THE NIAGARA FRONTIER.

Early in the month of March, 1866, considerable activity was observable
among the Fenians in both the United States and Ireland, and it became
known to the authorities that a "rising" was contemplated, to occur on
St. Patrick's Day. That a simultaneous raid on Canada had been planned
was evident, and as the Government maintained a force of secret service
agents in the principal American cities to keep watch on the movements
of the Fenians, reliable information was furnished which was regarded
of sufficient importance by the Canadian authorities to warrant prompt
action in putting the country in a state of defence. Accordingly on
the 7th of March a General Order was issued by Col. P. L. Macdougall,
Adjutant-General of the Canadian Militia, calling out 10,000 volunteers
for active service. The summons was flashed across the wires to all
points in the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, and fourteen thousand
men promptly responded to the call. By 4 o'clock on the following
day these forces were all assembled at their respective headquarters,
awaiting further orders. So eager were the young men of Canada to
perform their duty in those trying times that a force of 50,000 could
have been raised as easily as the number called for. Most of the
companies and battalions were reported "over strength" when the returns
were received at headquarters, and the Government decided to retain the
whole 14,000 on service pending developments of the enemy's movements.
Lieut.-General Sir John Michel (then commanding Her Majesty's forces
in North America) was placed in supreme command, with Major-Gen. James
Lindsay in command of the troops in Canada East, and Major-Gen. G.
Napier, C.B., in charge of the forces in Canada West.

On the 8th of March, the following companies were ordered to report
for duty to Major Crawford at Brockville for the purpose of forming a
Provisional Battalion:--

Perth Rifle Company--Capt. Edmund Spillman.
Gananoque Rifle Company--Capt. Robert McCrum.
Carleton Place Rifle Company--Capt. James Poole.
Perth Infantry Company--Capt. Thomas Scott.
Almonte Infantry Company--Capt. James D. Gemmill.
Brockville Infantry Company--Capt. Jacob D. Buell.

The above units promptly reported, and the organization of th