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The Origin and Services of the 3rd (Montreal)

The Origin and Services of the 3rd (Montreal)

The Origin and Services of the 3rd (Montreal)

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&quot;&quot;&quot;&quot;&quot;&quot;service on account <strong>of</strong> threatened Fenian incursions. <strong>The</strong>se calls were obeyed withsuch alacrity that <strong>the</strong> enrolled men literally sprang to arms on <strong>the</strong>ir services beingrequired by <strong>the</strong>ir country.<strong>The</strong> latter emergency took place at a period when <strong>the</strong> greater part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Force were exposed to much inconvenience <strong>and</strong> personal loss.<strong>The</strong>y cheerfully left <strong>the</strong>ir agricultural <strong>and</strong> commercial pursuits <strong>and</strong> at onceresponded to <strong>the</strong> dem<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> duty to <strong>the</strong> state.Lieutenant-Colonel Osborne Smith, Assistant Adjutant Genera.1 <strong>of</strong> Militia, <strong>and</strong>Comm<strong>and</strong>ingfollowing to say <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> trouble :<strong>the</strong> Volunteer Militia Force on <strong>the</strong> South Western Frontier had <strong>the</strong><strong>the</strong> force that had been under his immediate comm<strong>and</strong> during&quot;It is my pleasing duty to report to you most satisfactorily<strong>of</strong>ficers generally are zealous <strong>and</strong> intelligent, whilst <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> generalon this force. <strong>The</strong>conduct <strong>and</strong>spirit displayed by <strong>the</strong> men I cannot speak too highly.Colonel P. Robertson Ross, <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>n Adjutant General, in his report for 1869,remarked in connection with a reference to a voluntary parade <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Montreal</strong>Force on <strong>the</strong> 6th <strong>of</strong> August:After <strong>the</strong> usual inspection, <strong>the</strong> brigade marched past in open column <strong>of</strong>companies headed by <strong>the</strong> Troop <strong>of</strong> Cavalry <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Field Battery, <strong>and</strong> again incontiguous columns at quarter distance, after which a change <strong>of</strong> front was effected ;<strong>the</strong> brigade deployed, skirmishers were thrown out, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> whole advanced undercover <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fire <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> artillery subsequently retiring, <strong>the</strong> guns taking up o<strong>the</strong>rpositions to cover <strong>the</strong> retreat, fresh skirmishers <strong>and</strong> supportswere extended, relieving those first employed.from <strong>the</strong> reservesSeveral charges were made in good style, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> manoeuvres, considering<strong>the</strong> very few opportunities that have <strong>of</strong> late been afforded <strong>the</strong> <strong>Montreal</strong> force forBrigade drill, were very creditably performed.<strong>The</strong> manner, in particular, in which <strong>the</strong> Field Battery took upits variouspositions, fired <strong>and</strong> manoeuvred, was most praiseworthy, <strong>and</strong> both its comm<strong>and</strong>er,Lieutenant-Colonel Stevenson, <strong>and</strong> those under him, proved <strong>the</strong>mselves tobe not<strong>the</strong>ir duties.&quot;only well acquainted with, but very pr<strong>of</strong>icient in <strong>the</strong> performance <strong>of</strong>Speaking <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Field Artillery in general in <strong>the</strong> same report, ColonelRobertson Ross said :With regard to <strong>the</strong> Field Batteries <strong>of</strong> Artillery, ten in number, <strong>the</strong>y are in aperfectly serviceable <strong>and</strong> effective condition, <strong>and</strong> this satisfactory result reflectsgreat credit not only on <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficers in comm<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se Batteries, but on <strong>the</strong>individual <strong>of</strong>ficers <strong>and</strong> men composing <strong>the</strong>m.&quot;At various reviews which were held last summer, <strong>the</strong>se batteries worked wellin brigade, taking up positions in good style, <strong>and</strong> firing with ease <strong>and</strong> rapidity <strong>and</strong>;<strong>the</strong>y only require, in addition to <strong>the</strong> periodical practice instruction in firing shot <strong>and</strong>shell, to be trained at <strong>the</strong> annual drills in Brigade, in co-operation with Cavalry <strong>and</strong>Infantry, to acquire <strong>and</strong> maintain an adequate <strong>and</strong> reasonable degree <strong>of</strong> efficiency.&quot;76

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