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#24 The March Of The 104th.In 1813 in answer to a call for men the New Brunswick Regiment, the 104th marched from Fredericton to Kingston, Ontario. They covered the seven hundred mile trip in just fifty two days. It was recorded as one of the greatest marches of history.
On February 11th, the Saint John detachment set out and marched to Fredericton. Colonel Halkett led off from Fredericton on the 16th. After that a battalion started each day with the last leaving on the 21 St. each company marched in an Indian file half a mile long. At the rear of each company a squad of men would haul toboggan bearing arms, blankets and food.
They followed the course of the St. John River. The first several days they marched on hard roads and slept in houses and barns. By February 28th all farms had been passed and the men were forced to make shelters by cutting evergreen branches. By March 1st they had reached Grand Falls. At the beginning of the Madawaska County, the French met them and drove them all on sleds for twenty-one miles.
On the 5th of March the 104th reached Lake Temiscouta. By this leg of the journey most men were frost bitten and one company was stranded on the lake with no supplies. Lt. Charles Rainsford and two privates pushed on to Riviere du Loop (Loup) for help, a distance there and back of fifty-four miles. They returned with a relief party. The following day a horse and sled met them bringing food from Quebec. On the 8th of March the 104th saw houses and the wide St. Lawrence River.
The 104th then made the journey from Quebec to Kingston, Ontario without further incident. The 104th fought at Sackett's Harbor, Beaver Dam, Lundy's Lane, and Fort Erie. After the war the regiment did garrison duty in Montreal until May 24th, 1817 when it was disbanded.
The disbanded 104th soldiers settled mainly on the St. John River between Presque Isle and Meductic. The regimental colors of the 104 th can be seen at the New Brunswick Museum.
background by Cleadie / man with quill graphic by J. O'Donovan
Page mounted: 11 Sep 1999
Updated:Sunday, 01-Apr-2007 10:41:53 MDT