n Mackenzie Bowell.

The two companies at Amherstburg improved their time by engaging in
constant drill, and by the maintenance of strict discipline and close
attention to the duties required of them, they became very efficient.
After five months of frontier service the regiment was relieved on the
4th of May, 1865, and returned to their homes.

In the fall of 1865 the Fenians began to get very active, and the
feeling prevailed among the people of Brockville that some provision
should be made for the protection of that town. The Brockville Rifles at
that time was in a very efficient condition, having four officers and 85
rank and file, as follows:--Major James Crawford in command, Lieut. W.
H. Cole, Ensign E. W. Windeat and 65 non-commissioned officers and men,
with an additional gun detachment composed of one officer and 20 men,
equipped with a 6-pound brass field gun, under command of Lieut. Robert
Bowie, who had been at Amherstburg with the company the year previous.
(Lieut. Bowie was born a soldier, his father having held an important
command in the Tower of London, and had private quarters there with his
wife when Robert, his only son, was born.)

Major Crawford called his officers together, and after a discussion of
what might happen to Brockville in its unprotected condition, it was
decided to make the following offer to the Militia Department:--As the
Company was now 85 strong, they would enlist 15 more men, making a total
of 100. The men would be called out at 6.30 p.m. every day, given a
two hours' drill; an officer's guard to be mounted, to consist of one
sergeant, one corporal and 24 men; sentries to be posted at seven of
the most exposed places, including one at each of the two banks; the
non-commissioned officers and men to be paid 25 cents each per day, the
officers giving their services free, and if the Department would furnish
the necessary bedding the Company would have 60 of the remaining men
sleep in the Armory every night, to be ready for any emergency. This
would enable the men to attend to their usual daily avocations and
not interfere with the business requirements of their employers. This
patriotic offer was at once accepted by the Government, and orders were
issued to have the duties carried out as above stated, which was done
in every detail from the 15th of December, 1865, to the eventful day in
March, 1866, when the first general call was made on the Volunteer Force
for service on the fron