confined in the hold with the rest of their
comrades.

After the boat had lain at the wharf for some time, Lieut.-Col. Dennis
conceived the idea of landing all of the prisoners and leaving them
under guard of the Welland Canal Battery at Fort Eric, while he and
Capt. Akers would go around to Port Colborne with the "Robb" on a
reconnoitering expedition and obtain further instructions and orders.
This cool proposition did not appeal favorably to Capt. King, and he
naturally remonstrated strongly against such action, especially in
regard to leaving so many prisoners in his charge, as they outnumbered
the strength of his command, and in his isolated position there was a
strong possibility that they might be rescued by their friends from the
other side of the river before assistance could reach him. Lieut.-Col.
Dennis, however, was obdurate, and was making arrangements to billet the
Welland Canal Battery in the village when the intelligence came that a
battle had been fought at Ridgeway, and that the Fenians were on their
way back to Fort Erie, moving rapidly.

Lieut.-Col. Dennis did not place much reliance on this rumor, and seemed
determined to carry out his plan of leaving the Battery on shore. But
Capt. King was solicitous for the safety of his men and the prisoners,
and after some parley Lieut.-Col. Dennis allowed the Battery to go
aboard the steamer. But they were scarcely at their quarters when he
changed his mind and ordered them all on shore again, together with a
portion of the Naval Brigade. Altogether the force landed consisted of
76 combatants, consisting of three officers and 54 men of the Welland
Canal Field Battery, and two officers and 18 men of the Dunnville Naval
Brigade.

Meanwhile (about 2 p.m.) Capt. Akers had secured a horse and buggy and
drove up to the Buffalo & Lake Huron Railway telegraph office, seeking
information. While there the Fenian forces suddenly appeared, and he
was cut off from returning to the steamer by the rapid advance into
the village of the Fenian skirmishers. By sheer good fortune he escaped
capture, and by taking a secluded route along the lake shore reached
Port Colborne safely about 7 o'clock in the evening.

Then Lieut.-Col. Dennis perceived his error, and with a realization that
the warnings he had received of the near approach of the Fenians were
correct, he appears to have become excited and confused. He had about 60
prisoners on board the "Robb," and after securing th