Redcoated Ploughboys by Richard Feltoe

Author:Richard Feltoe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dundurn
Published: 2012-02-26T16:00:00+00:00

14

THE KING COMMANDS AN WE OBEY: HILLS AND FAR AWAY

At York, news of the American landings arrived as the Incorporated Militia were already preparing to move out for the Niagara frontier. However, Riall’s initial orders for immediate reinforcements only included the regular troops at the garrison. The Incorporated Militia were to remain as the principal garrison for the defence of Fort York and its adjacent positions: “The Incorporated Militia will give the whole of the [guard] duty tomorrow…. A fatigue party of 1 Subaltern, 4 Sergeants and 56 Rank and File will parade at 2:30 pm at the Provision Stores.”[1]

Things changed once again on the morning of July 6, once news of the British defeat at Chippawa reached York via the morning courier boat, as recorded in the diary of Ensign Andrew Warffe (No. 6 Company): “A severe engagement took place near Chippaway, which lasted about two hours, the enemys force consisted of 7,500 and ours of about 1,500. Supposed we lost about 600 men killed and wounded and the enemy almost double that number.”[2]

Although the removal of the Incorporated Militia would leave the town of York relatively undefended until additional troops could be forwarded from Kingston, orders were issued for the immediate transfer of the regiment to the Niagara frontier by boat that very day. No families were to be allowed to accompany the troops. Thus, that afternoon, 379 men of the regiment were crammed into “a brig of war and four schooners”[3] for the cross-lake journey, leaving behind only a small detachment consisting of one ensign, one sergeant, seventeen rank and file, and twelve sick to supplement the garrison’s remaining guard. Also left behind were sixty-six women and 133 children, who lined the beach to wave goodbye to their men as the boats sailed away.

After a relatively quick crossing, the regiment landed at the dock alongside Fort George shortly before sunset. Under normal circumstances, the unit would then have encamped and awaited orders in the morning. However, such was the level of alarm about the state of defences at the Chippawa that it was decided to store all of the surplus equipment and baggage at the fort and make an immediate night march toward Niagara Falls, some sixteen miles south. For the companies recruited from this area it was no significant challenge to navigate their way, since the men were already intimately acquainted with all of the local roads. But as a precaution, men from Kerby’s and Rapelje’s companies were attached to the other companies to act as guides to prevent units from becoming separated in the darkness. The regiment arrived at Queenston around 10:00 p.m., and received instructions to halt and secure the position while awaiting further orders.

Occupying whatever shelter was available, the men sat out the following day: “A severe storm of hail and rain, thunder and lightning occurred where we were encamped and were out all day and night under a small tent. [The lightning] killed two horses at a short distance, which were hobbled together.

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