Together with the Evidence Submitted and the Finding of the Court.

CHAPTER II.--Report of the Charges Made Against Lieut.-Col. Dennis,
Regarding his Conduct During the Fight at Fort Erie, with the Opinion
Delivered by the Court of Inquiry who Investigated His Case.

PREFACE.

One of the most dangerous and critical periods in the history of Canada
was that which closely followed the termination of the Civil War between
the Northern and Southern States of America in the year 1865. It is a
strange fact that Canadian authors and historians do not seem to have
fully realized the gravity of the situation that then existed, as the
event has been passed over by them with the barest possible mention.
Thus the people of the present generation know very little of the Fenian
troubles of 1866 and 1870, and the great mass of the young Canadian boys
and girls who are being educated in our Public Schools and Colleges are
in total ignorance of the grave danger which cast dark shadows over this
fair and prosperous Dominion in those stormy days. It was a period
of great peril to this rising young Nation of the North, which might
possibly have ended in the severance of Canada from British dominion.
But happily this was prevented by the prompt measures that were taken
to defend our soil, and the quick response that was made by the resolute
Canadian Volunteers when the bugles sounded the call to assemble for
active service on our frontiers.

The fierce conflict which had been waged in the United States of America
for four long years between the North and the South was terminated by
the subjugation of the latter in the spring of 1865, and the tattered
battle flags of the Confederate forces were furled forever. Over a
million of men, veteran soldiers of both armies, were still in the field
when the Civil War ended, and when these mighty forces were disbanded,
hundreds of thousands of trained warriors were thrown upon their own
resources, without occupation or employment. While the majority of these
soldiers quickly resumed their old business or farming pursuits, yet
there remained idle a vast number of turbulent and restless spirits who
were ready and willing to embark in any fillibustering expedition that
might present itself. These men were all trained and seasoned veterans
of both the Union and Confederate armies--soldiers who were inured
to the hardships and rigors of many campaigns and fierce battles, and
thousands of them rea