ied the ground from which the Fenians first fired upon them. At
this time eight companies of the Queen's Own were out. Nos. 9 and 10
were with the reserve on the road. At this time No. 9 Company was sent
out to the right of the skirmish line, and my company as their support.
I do not think I was two minutes supporting them, when I was ordered to
reinforce the line by joining them. As soon as I did so. No. 9 Company
moved into the wood on my right. I remained fifteen or twenty minutes in
this open field, firing at the enemy who were under cover in the
woods, the bullets coming like hail. I was then relieved by one of the
companies of the Thirteenth Battalion, and I retired to the reserve on
the road. None of my men were injured. I had just halted my company in
rear of the column when Col. Booker came up to Major Gillmor and told
him he wanted a company sent to our right, to prevent the Fenian left
from flanking us. The column at this time forming the reserve was
composed of companies in red and partly of companies in green. Major
Gillmor looked at the column, and said to me. "Captain Gardner, take
your company." At this time the column was standing at the crossing of
the Ridge Road with the Garrison Road. I then faced my company to the
right and marched along the Garrison Road in file, all the time exposed
to the fire of the enemy, until we reached the wood on the right. I
extended while marching towards the woods. I then ordered them to enter
the woods in skirmishing order. We had no support, and so continued
during the engagement. The enemy was in the woods in front of us, and
on our approach retreated. On reaching the other side of the bush they
retired, and we found on the ground they had been occupying several
articles which I believe are still forthcoming. We remained on the edge
of this field firing upon the enemy, who were in the bush opposite, and
kept up their fire upon us. The field between us and the enemy was about
400 yards, varying in width. We continued here engaged with the enemy
for some time, until we heard some cheering on our left front, along the
enemy's line. I thought it was our men cheering and making a dash on the
enemy. I then ordered my men to get over the fence and cross the field
to the left, in the direction from which the cheering came. As soon as
we came to the opening commanding a view of the field, we perceived that
it was the Fenians who had cheered, and were advancing in large numbers
t