by the
Nineteenth Lincoln Battalion, in the same formation. These troops laid
in a ploughed field all night, sleeping on their arms, while the guards
and sentinels were exceedingly watchful and vigilant. The cavalry and
artillery remained in column on the road, with the baggage waggons in
their rear.

About dark the St. Catharines Battery of Garrison Artillery, under
command of Lieut. James Wilson, arrived at the bivouac, and was placed
as the rear guard. This command, which had been left at Chippawa when
Col. Peacocke's column had marched out in the morning, had been relieved
at 4 p.m., and ordered to proceed at once to the front. They made a
wonderfully quick march, covering the entire distance of about 17
miles in less than five hours, without a halt, and arrived at their
destination with every member of the Battery in line--a feat which
earned for them the title of "Stoker's Foot Cavalry." This battery
had left their field guns at St. Catharines and were armed with short
Enfield rifles, acting as infantry. So they were formed up across
the road, facing to the rear, and after posting the usual guards and
sentinels, the remainder were glad to lie down in the dusty road and go
to sleep supperless.

As it was generally supposed that the enemy were in force in the near
vicinity, no fires were allowed to be lighted, and as the night was
pretty cool and no blankets were available, the situation was not
altogether comfortable. Yet the boys made the most of it, with the hope
that by daylight they would have an opportunity of meeting the Fenians
and proving the quality of their mettle.

As the night wore on Col. Peacocke received information that 2,000 or
3,000 reinforcements had crossed over from the American side and joined
the Fenians. Lieut.-Col. Dennis had also come in to the Canadian lines
and told of his defeat at Fort Erie the day before, while the reports
received of the Ridgeway fight, with numerous other rumors of impending
dangers, all combined to lead Col. Peacocke to believe that he would
soon be up against a serious proposition.

About 4.30 o'clock in the morning (June 3rd) the soldiers arose from
their rude couches on mother earth and began the task of getting the
stiffness out of their joints as they moved about in quest of rations.
Fortunately during the night some waggons loaded with bread, beef and
groceries had arrived, but the necessities of hunger were so keen that
the men could hardly wait for a p