THE

HISTORY OF THE CORPS

OF

ROYAL SAPPERS AND MINERS.

homas

BY

T W. J. CONNOLLY,

QUARTERMASTER-SERGEANT OF THE CORPS.

With Seventeen Coloured Illustrations.

"Of most disastrous chances,

Of moving accidents, by flood and field;

Of hair-breadth scapes i' the imminent deadly breach."-Shakspeare.
"There is a corps which is often about him, unseen and unsuspected, and
which is labouring as hard for him in peace as others do in war."-The Times.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS.
1855.

551248

LONDON: PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.

HISTORY

OF THE

ROYAL SAPPERS AND MINERS.

1842.

Draft to Canada-Company recalled from thence-Its services and movements -Its character-Labours of colour-sergeant Lanyon-Increase to Gibraltar -Reduction in the corps-Irish survey completed; force employed in its prosecution-Reasons for conducting it under military rule-Economy of superintendence by sappers-Their employments-Sergeants West, Doull Spalding, Keville-Corporals George Newman, Andrew Duncan-Staff appointments to the survey companies—Dangers-Hardships-Average strength of sapper force employed-Casualties-Kindness of the Irish-Gradual transfer of sappers for the English survey-Distribution; Southampton.

THE Company in Canada which accompanied the troops to that province on the occasion of the unsettled state of affairs on the American frontier, was increased to a full company by the arrival of thirteen men on the 8th July, 1842.

Scarcely had the party landed before the company itself was recalled, and rejoined the corps at Woolwich on the 31st October, 1842. During its four years' service on the frontier the total of the company, with its reinforcement, counted ninetynine of all ranks, and its casualties only amounted to eight men invalided, three discharged, and five deserted. Not a death was reported. From time to time it was stationed at Quebec, Fort Mississaqua near the Falls of Niagara, St.

VOL. II.

B