The Origin and Services of the 3rd (Montreal)

"""Acould, until recently, have been seen on the stone. That night the MontrealMilitia Brigade was on service and passed the night under arms. The whole citywas excited, and itappeared almost impossible to prevent serious trouble. Greatnumbers of Orangemen from Ontario and the Eastern Townships arrived inMontreal for Hackett s funeral, which took place on the iyth.It was announcedthat strong parties of Irish Roman Catholics were being organizedto attack thefuneral cortege as it passed through the streets, and the whole Brigade was againcalled out. The Field Battery had considerable moving about to do, and took upvarious commanding positions as the funeral passed through the streets. Thanks,doubtless to the complete military arrangements, there was no overt act, andHackett s body was quietly laid to rest in Mount Royal Cemetery.The following Twelfth of July the local Orangemen announced their determination to celebrate the anniversary by a grand Orange procession, and again thecity became excited. Some people left the city,and the Banks barricaded theirplaces of business. The whole of the City Militia force was placed on service,and in addition A and B Batteries, R. C. A., and the nth, 5Oth, 5ist, 53rd, 54thand 64th Battalions were sent here. The Mayor, the late Jean Louis Beaudry, hadthe Orange leaders arrested at their Hall as disturbers of the peace, no processiontook place,and the much dreaded day passed off quietly.The Batterys orders forthis day were to hold themselves in readiness to proceed rapidly to any point whereits services might be required.When ordered out on this occasion, the Battery, as stated elsewhere, wasunder-going its annual training in camp. On July nth the following Batteryorder was issued :Orders having been this afternoon issued by Lieut-General Smythe, andcommunicated verbally by Lieut-Colonel Fletcher, that the Montreal Field Batteryshould immediately leave the location where they are now encamped and remove tothe Lacrosse Grounds beside the A and B Batteries, tents will be struck at once,and the Battery will remove to the above place without delay."As soon as the Battery was settled down in its new lines the followingbusiness-like orders were issued :The Battery will parade at 9 o clock tomorrow morning in marching order,horses hooked in, and all ready to move at a moments notice, if required.camp guard consisting of two non-commissioned officers and six men willmount at 7 a.m. tomorrow, and all the spare men will be supplied with rifles andammunition, and will form an additional guard in case the Battery should berequired to leave camp."The Battery remained in its lines the whole day, horses harnessed, andofficers and men on the alert. The officers on service on this occasion wereLieutenant-Colonel Stevenson, Major McGibbon, Captain Oswald, LieutenantGreen, Surgeon Fenwick and Veterinary Surgeon D. McEachran.The conduct of the troops during this trying and unsatisfactory service was.60