Navigating the Lower Saint Lawrence in the 19th Century.


CIHM #36476, Dartnell George R., ISBN 0-665-36476
 
  A BRIEF NARRATIVE
on
THE SHIPWRECK
of
THE TRANSPORT PREMIER,
NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER ST. LAWRENCE,
On the 4th November, 1843,
HAVING ON BOARD THE HEADQUARTER WING OF THE SECOND BATTALION
OF THE FIRST OR ROYAL REGIMENT.
PROCEEDING FROM NORTH AMERICA TO THE WEST INDIES.
by
GEORGE R. DARTNELL.

 
      The calamities of shipwreck have often been experienced by soldiers of the British army, in traversing the seas from one colony to another; but it has seldom, perhaps never, been recorded, that of so large a number of persons as there were in the Premier, of both sexes and of all ages, every soul was spared to return thanks for a merciful, and almost miraculous, preservation from most imminent peril. This truly gratifying circumstance must be mainly ascribed, under Divine Providence, to the cool and admirable conduct of the troops, their perfect and steady discipline, and ready obedience to the orders of their superiors, creditable alike to the corps, and to the service in general, and strikingly illustrative of the value and the protecting influence of order and discipline in the hour of danger.
    No army in the world is so much exposed as ours to "perils by sea and perils by land," to hardships, privations, and difficulties, little dreamt of by "those who live at home at ease." Such as are engaged in the horrors of war, or in active campaigns in foreign lands, receive at all times the deepest and sincerest sympathies of their countrymen at home; but it is far less generally known or thought of, how much the British soldier has to contend against in "piping times of peace" - long, painful, and distant separation from country, family, and friends; now fainting under the exhausting heats of a tropical sun, nor trembling amid the rigours of a northern winter; at one time facing grim-visaged death in the varied forms of appalling disease in the Tropics, or exposed to the terrors of shipwreck in crowded transports, to the hurricanes and tornadoes of meridian, or the snow-storms of northern latitudes. With reference, however, to the transport of our troops by sea, it is but justice to the Government to admit, that, in this respect, a vast improvement has taken place of late years. The transports and troop-ships now provided are of a much superior description to the wretched craft in use a few years ago, while much has been effected towards securing their comfort and safety of both officers and soldiers, in their long and wearisome voyage to and from their native country.
    The second battalion of the Royals left England for North America in the summer of 1836; and, after serving in various parts of Canada for seven years, received orders, in the month of September, 1843, to proceed to Quebec for embarkation to the West Indies, there to complete its period of foreign service. Three other corps, the 23rd, 71st and 85th, had a similar route at the same time; and it yet remains to be proved, how far this change may be judicious, and what effect the sudden transition from the climate of Canada to that of the West Indies, is likely to have on the health of the troops. The cold bracing air of Canada, by the reverse change, has been found to act most beneficially on constitutions debilitated by the Tropics; and their retrograde movement is an experiment, and it will be interesting and important to watch the result.
    The Royals, at the period above alluded to, were stationed at Toronto, in Western Canada. The left wing of the regiment, under command of Captain Muller, quitted immediately for Quebec, and sailed, about the end of September, for Barbados, where it arrived in safety after an ordinary passage. The right or head-quarter wing, under Major Bennett, started, to pursue the same route in the month following, leaving Toronto on the 9th of October, in one of the Ontario Steamers for Kingston, 180 miles, where it arrived next morning. A delay of some hours occurred here, the streamer destined for our conveyance down the rapids not being in port; but before evening we were again under way, in the only available boat at hand, a small schooner-rigged steamer, with an Ericsson propeller, vulgarly denominated a "puffer." On board this little craft (the accommodation in which was sufficiently scanty and miserable) were embarked all the officers and a portion of the men, the remainder being crowed into two large bateaux, to be towed alongside.
 
 
G. R. Bossé©2001-03 Page 17 Chapter 1843
 
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