Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-ninth Congress

Mr. Burnley to Mr. Seward

Washington, December 31, 1864.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit to you herewith a copy of a general order issued by his excellency the governor general of Canada on the occasion of his sending troops to be stationed along the frontier line between Canada and the United States.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

J. HUME BURNLEY.

Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.

[From the Canada Gazette of December 24, 1865.]

Militia general orders.

Headquarters, Quebec, December 23, 1864.

VOLUNTEER MILITIA.

General Order.]

1. Referring to the General Order of December 19, his excellency the commander-in-chief is pleased to call out for actual service the following companies of the volunteer force.

2. These companies will be formed into three administrative battalions, which shall be composed, respectively, of the following companies and such others as may be added to each battalion by any further General Order.

western battalion.

No. 1. Company, from 3d battalion volunteer militia rifles, Montreal, Captain J. Bacon.

No. 2. Company, York rifles, Captain Davis.

No. 3. Brockville rifles, Major Crawford.

No. 4. Company, from 8th battalion volunteer militia rifles, Quebec, Captain Alleyn.

No. 5. Brantford rifles, Captain Grant.

No. 6. Belleville rifles, Major Levesconte.

CENTRE BATTALION.

No. 1. Company, from 2d battalion volunteer militia rifles, Toronto, Lieutenant John Brown.

No. 2. Company, from 2d battalion volunteer militia rifles, Captain Charles F. Gilmor.

No. 3. Company, from 14th battalion volunteer militia rifles, Kingston, Major Kelly.

No. 4. Collingwood rifles, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen.

EASTERN BATTALION.

No. 1. Company, Woodstock rifles, Major Richardson.

No. 2. Company, Beachville rifles, Captain Greig.

No. 3. Company, from 8th battalion volunteer militia rifles. Quebec, Lieutenant A. Jackson.

No. 4. Company, from 9th battalion volunteer militia rifles, Quebec, Captain Gingras.

No. 5. Company, 1st Cornwall rifles, Captain Bergen.

FIRST (OR WESTERN) ADMINISTRATIVE BATTALION.

To be lieutenant colonel: Lieutenant Colonel Osborne Smith, commanding Victoria rifles, Montreal.

To be major: Major Augustus Heward, major Victoria rifles, Montreal.

To be adjutant: Lieutenant William H. Hutton, of Victoria rifles, Montreal.

SECOND (OR CENTRE) ADMINISTRATIVE BATTALION.

To be lieutenant colonel: Lieutenant Colonel William Smith Durie, commanding 2d battalion, or “Queen’s Own” rifles, Toronto.

THIRD (OR EASTERN) ADMINISTRATIVEBATTALION.

To be lieutenant colonel: Lieutenant Colonel John B. Taylor, commanding battalion Oxford rifles.

To be captain: Lieutenant A. Jackson adjutant 8th battalion volunteer militia rifles, Quebec.

6. In calling out for actual service this portion of the volunteer force, the commander-in-chief desires to express the gratification he has experienced at the numerous offers of service he has received from volunteer companies all through the province, as soon as it became known that men were required for permanent duty.

7. The commander-in-chief desires to impress upon the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the force called out for duty, that they are imbodied not for the purpose of warfare, but with the object of aiding the civil power in its efforts to prevent aggression on the territories of a friendly state on the part of persons enjoying the right of asylum in her Majesty’s dominions, and to maintain, as regards Canada, that complete neutrality with respect to the war now existing in the United States which her Majesty has enjoined on all her subjects.

8. With these objects in view, it will be the duty of all officers commanding detachments on the frontier to take special care that the territorial rights of the government of the United States shall be carefully respected, and that no infringement by the men under their command shall under any circumstances take place of such regulations for the security of their borders as may be made from time to time by that government.

9. It will be the duty of officers, should suspicious circumstances be brought under their observation, immediately to report any such to the civil authorities, and to place themselves under their guidance.

By command of his excellency the right honorable the governor general and commander-in-chief:

A. DE SALABERRY, Lieutenant Colonel, Deputy Adjutant General of Militia, Lower Canada.

WALKER POWELL, Lieutenant Colonel, Deputy Adjutant General of Militia, Upper Canada,