The Origin and Services of the 3rd (Montreal)

"""A""The gallant Colonel closes his remarks on the subject with the following triteobservation :"Thepower and value of Field Artillery is so well known, and the moraleffect produced by it, during operations in the field, so great,that the maintenanceof these Batteries in a state of efficiency at all times, is a matter of the greatestimportance."The same officer in his report the following year dwelt upon the difficultyexperienced at this time in procuring horses. He remarked :This battery was practised in gun drill and field manoeuvres. The Inspector of Artillery reported their gun drill as very good, the driving as indifferent.With regard to this battery, which is commanded by a zealoiis and energeticofficer, and composed of an intelligent and fine body of men, the ever recurringdifficulty it experiences in procuring horses whenever required, practically seemsto render it non-effective."Lieutenant-Colonel Fletcher, C. M. G. had the following to say about theBattery in his annual report for 1880:The Montreal Field Battery, under the command of Lieutenant-ColonelStevenson went into camp for ten days on the Exhibition grounds near Montreal.The Battery mustered in full strength. The camp was well laid out. The drilland camp duties were efficiently carried out, as they have always been underLieutenant-Colonel Stevenson. The Battery was inspected on the aist of Augustby Lieutenant-Colonel Irwin, Inspector of Artillery, and the Brigade Major, inpresence of the Major-General Commanding.detachment of the Battery went subsequently to the Island of Orleans forgun practice and I have heard that good practice was made this year."In 1886 the Battery was inspected by Lieutenant-Colonel Montizambert,Assistant Inspector of Artillery, and his official report was as follows :Lieutenant-Colonel Stevenson commanding. Inspected on St. Helen sIsland, on 3Oth August. The turn-out of the Battery could hardly be much better.Fine men, clean and smart, with well fitted clothing and all booted. They hadtheir guns, equipment, carriages, harness, etc., in the most perfect order. Fieldmanoeuvres good. Gun drill very good. Gzowski competition very fast and welldone. The camp arrangements of this Batter}/ were excellent. Gun practice wasperformed at the Island of Orleans, Quebec."In 1887 the Battery was inspected by Major Short, B Battery, R. C.Assistant Inspector, who reported as follows:A., ActingLieutenant-Colonel Stevenson commanding. I inspected this fine Batteryon St. Helen s Island on the 28th of June and found it, as usual, in an excellentThe horses, guns, harness, clothing and equipment in the moststate of efficiency.perfect order. The field manoeuvres, marching past, gun drill, answers toquestions and Gzowski shift, excellent. In fact the whole turn-out reflects thegreatest credit on all concerned. The gun practice was performed at Quebec."78