The Origin and Services of the 3rd (Montreal)

Up to this date such few volunteer corps as existed in Canada were not guidedby any clearly denned laws and rules, and many injustices occurred. Mr. Hosranhad commanded a volunteer cavalry troop in Montreal some time previous to thepassage ofthe militia act of 1855, and had devoted considerable time and means toit. When the old active force, under the new act, assumed a permanent form agentleman named Ramsay was sent to England to learn the drill, and when hereturned, he was promoted over Mr. Hogan s head. The latter, naturally feltaggrieved at this and resigned, and did not feel disposed to rejoin the reorganizedforce as an officer of the new Field Battery. But Hon. Mr. Moffat joined MajorCoffin m his request that Mr. Hogan shouldjoin the battery, and after considerable persua-sion, he agreed. Lieut-Col. Hogan says henever regretted his decision, for Major Coffinwas a splendid officer and a perfect gentleman,and it was a pleasure to serve under him. Heshowed great confidence in his subaltern, andfor a time the battery was left pretty much inhis hands.The first officers of the Battery wereMajor W. F. Coffin, Captain Henry Hogan,Lieutenant A. Lamontagne and SecondLieutenants Hobbs and Owen. The latter wasformerly British Mail Officer. Dr. Fenwickwas the Surgeon. The first instructor was anold Royal Artillery Sergeant named Logan.The senior surviving officer of the originalbattery isLieut-Colonel Henry Hogan. who,still hale and hearty, is a familiar figure to allcitizens of Montreal, and whose name isfamiliar to travellers from one end of theworld to the other.The senior non-commissioned officer ofthe Battery at its organization was A. A.From a DaguerreotypeLIEUT. -COL. HENRY HOGAN,COMM. \\DINC, MONTREAL ARTILLERY, 1X56-1X66.Stevenson, since then known throughout the length and breadth of Canada asLieutenant-Colonel Stevenson, a man who has done more for the Montreal FieldBattery in particular and the Militia force in general than any man who ever woreuniform. The gallant colonel had no idea of taking any interest in militarymatters at the time he was induced to join the Battery, and he gave in his name toCoffin against his own best judgment almost. Colonel Stevenson relatedicircumstances connected with his joining the Battery in such an interestingway that I cannot do better than give his own words. He said :When the militia act was passed in 1855, and they spoke about organizing a23