Four Months Under Arms

              Sergeant
-,~ "

Drills 'Em

Page 19
ALBERT

CHARGE

OF

COMPANY OF PRINCE VOLUNTEERS An Incident During the Rebellion

NO.2

When the police retired to Prince Albert, they brought all the Snider-Enfield rifles and ammunition with them, and two companies of volunteecs were organized. Their duty was to provide guards for H picket line around the town which was about one and a half miles long. No.2 Company under command of Capt. Hoey. retired from the Canadian Militia. He was lame, so we were drilled by t,he sergeant. East of our barracks and on a higher level was a vacant area of about one and a half acres, on the east side was a brick house with a garden and rail fence around it. Our barracks was on the north side of the street. The property on the south side was fenced right up to the west side of this vacant area which was used for our drill ground. A narrow path close to the fence led up to it. The sergeant would lead us up in single file twice a day for drill. One afternoon the D.lVI. of LA. who had come in with Col. Irvinc with the reinforcements from Regina, and a police officer were going past, stopped to watch our manouvers. We did not know whether it was pity. or a large ego which prompted him to go to Capt. Hoey 8nd ask permission to drill us for a week, when he said we would then beat NO.1 Oompany hands down. He got permission. He took the afternoon drill. 'rhe first two days we drilled with side arms only. A short sword bayonet. The third day we were to bring both rifles and side arms. He had drilled us in column of fours and 1ine formation. He lined us up and gave instruction when in line formation. He did not march with us, bu t stood near the end of the path at the top 'Of the hill. When on quick march carry our rifles at the shoulder. Double up. Carry them at the trail. Charge. Grasp our rifles at the breech in our right hand and well along the barrel in our left and carry them breast high. The drill ground was about 90 yards across. He gave these orders. Shonl Fix bayonets! Shoulder arms! Right about! Quick march! Near the fence he called halt! Right about! Quick march 20 paces! Double up 20 paces' Charge 20 paces then halt! We did this several times, then he formed us up in column of fours, and marched us around the drill groLlnd. We were marching east, when something took his aitention, ,and when he looked again, the front fnur were climbing over the fence. This was done to ridicule him. He put us in formation again and marched us around that drill ground till we were on the point of mutiny. Before dismissal he praised us for our improvement in drill and made the remark that when making a charge a yell sometimes disconcerted the enemy, and also suggested that it would improve our appearance if we shaved each morning. One man named William Baer, who followed trapping for a living, and did not shave or cut his hair from September till following May, took these remarks pointed at him.