il. To express our
gratification and pleasure to be once more at home in our native land,
cannot be fully expressed in words, so I will leave the feeling to be
imagined by the reader.

That night at 9 o'clock my brother and myself reported to Capt. Thomas
Oswald in the Drill Shed at St. Catharines. The old St. Catharines
Battery of Garrison Artillery was on parade, and when we made our
appearance we received such a hearty reception and ovation that the
ringing cheers of my old comrades and their spontaneous greetings still
haunt my memory. We were immediately ushered into the Armory by the
Quartermaster-Sergeant, who issued to us our uniforms and equipments,
and in half an hour we were again in the ranks, ready for service in
defence of Canada.

Both my brother George and Comrade Tom Kennedy have long since passed
away to eternal rest, and as an affectionate tribute to their memory and
worth, and in remembrance of their loyal devotion to Queen and country.
I deem it fitting to here put on record this evidence of the high spirit
of patriotism which inspired these noble boys to respond to the call of
duty when dancer threatened their native land.

CHAPTER VI.

FENIANS GATHER ON THE HUNTINGDON BORDER--SKIRMISH AT TROUT RIVER--THE
ENEMY ROUTED BY THE CANADIAN TROOPS.

Simultaneous with Gen. O'Neil's raid into Canada at Eccles' Hill on May
25th, an invasion took place on the Huntingdon border, when a strong
force of Fenians under command of Generals Starr and Gleason advanced
about a mile and a half into the Province of Quebec, on the line of
the Trout River. On arrival at a chosen position which possessed
great advantages for a successful defence, they began throwing up
entrenchments, and prepared to make a determined stand. A whole day was
spent in the work of constructing rifle pits and breastworks, but being
no doubt discouraged by the news of O'Neil's defeat at Eccles' Hill,
they abandoned their position on the 26th and returned to their camp on
the American side of the line. While there they evidently received
some encouragement and reinforcements, as they returned to their
entrenchments in Canada early on the morning of Friday, the 27th of
May, and re-occupied their works, which they busily began to strengthen.
Their rifle pits were dug in front of some hop-fields, defended
by stockades, with a stout barricade across the road. The line of
entrenchments rested on the river on one side and a dense wood on
t