w rounds of cartridge.
I supplied them from the spare ammunition of the 13th Battalion. I
endeavored to procure a horse or team for my medical officers' stores,
but without success, and failing means of transport, I returned tents
and blankets to Port Colborne, relieving the cars from further waiting
at Ridgeway.

After a little delay I requested Major Gillmor (as the Queen's Own was
the senior battalion) to take the lead of the column, and as one of his
companies was armed with the Spencer repeating rifle, that it should
form the advance guard.

When the battalions were proved, and before forming the advance guard.
I gave the order to the column, "With ball cartridge--load." I made
inquiries from the inhabitants as to their knowledge of the whereabouts
of the enemy. The reports were contradictory and evidently unreliable.
To take proper precaution and keep my appointment at Stevensville was my
obvious duty.

The column of route was formed as follows: Advance guard of Queen's
Own; remainder of the battalion, Major Gillmor commanding; York Rifles.
Captain Davis; the 13th Battalion, Major Skinner in command; the
Caledonia Rifles (Captain Jackson), forming the rear guard. On the
advance I was in the centre of the column, looking out for signs of
the enemy. After proceeding about two miles the advance guard signalled
indications of men moving in our front. The column (say 840 of all
ranks) was hereupon halted on the road. I gave the horse on which I rode
to the Orderly, in order that I might carefully examine with my field
glass the country over which we were advancing. Soon after I observed
loose horses moving about in the woods to our left front, but saw no
men.

Before ordering the advance, flanking parties were thrown out to scour
the woods, right and left. This duty was performed by companies of the
Queen's Own. Proceeding in this order for some distance, a volley was
fired upon our advancing men from behind the zig-zag fences in the open.
Our volunteers accepted the challenge. The affair had commenced.

The Queen's Own, as skirmishers and supports, slowly advanced, pushing
back the enemy. We were gradually changing our front to the right, when
Major Gillmor wished me to relieve the Queen's Own and send out the
reserves, as his men were falling short of ammunition, and that one
company (No. 5) had none for their Spencer rifles. I at once directed
the right wing of the reserve to deploy on the rear company to the