eacocke about 5.30.
This gallant corps had moved with such celerity that within ten hours
after leaving Toronto they were at the extreme front, a good deal of the
distance having been covered by hard and rapid riding.

Col. Peacocke was just on the point of moving off to resume his march
from New Germany when the Body Guard arrived, and that officer ordered
Major Denison to lead the advance of the column. Without dismounting,
although the men and horses were both jaded and tired, they promptly
spurred on to the front, and threw out scouts to the right and left.
Major Denison was restrained from pushing ahead too rapidly, as he was
obliged to regulate his march by the pace of the infantry, and his men
chafed with the tardiness, as they were all eager to get into a brush
with the enemy.

After a march of about nine miles they arrived at Bowen's Farm, about
three miles northwest of Fort Erie. It was just getting dusk, and the
troopers were approaching a piece of dense bush which flanked both sides
of the road. When within about 200 yards of the bush the advance files
of the cavalry discovered some men in the road, and signalled back
the information. A halt was then ordered and Major Denison personally
galloped forward, and on inquiry learned from his videttes that a force
of the enemy were in front, and that several men had been observed going
into the woods on the right. A search was made of the bush, but as the
shades of night had fallen fast it was impossible to grope through
the woods, and fearing an ambuscade Col. Peacocke resolved to halt his
column for the night. In the meantime he had sent two companies of the
16th Regiment to scour the woods, but owing to the darkness they were
unable to do so. Having been told by some person that a bridge on the
road had been broken down, which rendered it impassable for his troops,
Col. Peacocke decided to bivouac where he was, so recalled the two
companies of the 16th, and made dispositions of his force to guard
against a night attack. The 47th Regiment was formed in line to the
right of the road, with one company of the same corps about 200 yards
in advance, extended as skirmishers. The 10th Royals, of Toronto,
were formed up as a support for the 47th, with two companies of that
battalion wheeling to the right and extending as skirmishers, so as to
fully cover the right flank of the column. The 16th Regiment was
placed in a similar position on the left of the road, supported