From Nova Scotia far they came,
Quebec, and Ontario;
Manitoba’s fearless sons were there,
Ready to face the foe.
All there to stamp rebellion out
And the grand “Old Flag” to save;
“A united empire” for us all,
And to traitor hordes a grave!
The thunder of the frowning gun
Roused up that soft May dawn;
The bugles blared the reveille
Beside the Saskatchewan;
And there was forming in “hot haste,”
Beside the flowing stream.
The sun shone on our gleaming steel
All peaceful and serene.
And Williams, with the Midlanders,
Formed on the left with cheers,
And Grassett on their right deployed
His Royal Grenadiers.
The valiant Ninetieth in support
To the right the line prolonged,
And Boulton, with his mounted men,
Near to their right wing thronged.
The Surveyors’ scouts moved to the right
To prolong the line again,
And Boulton’s mounted infantry
Formed near the open plain;
And French’s scouts held the extreme right,
Poised like eagles for their prey;
Montizambert with his guns moved up,
For a moment held at bay.
Howard and Rivers their gatling
Placed by the Ninetieth’s side,
And prepared to sweep the plain
With their missiles far and wide.
And down the stream the Northcote lay
With the Infantry School corps,
To upward move and draw the fire
Of the foe from either shore.
And bravely Major Smith performed
This trying duty that day,
Though fiercely assailed he sternly held
The wild western shore at bay.
A gallant corps, deserving well
Of our country and our Queen;
History records your daring deeds
On that far storied stream.
The infantry brigade was led
By the gallant Straubenzie,
Full of resource, with eagle eye
Safe vantage ground to see.
At the zareba Haughton stood,
Cool, intrepid under fire;
His men his spirit emulate
In chivalric desire.
And thus formed up that fearless line,
As steady as on parade;
The light of battle on each face—
Of such are true heroes made.
The signal at last is given,
The bugles ring out “advance”;
The general ’s in position;
We’re under his flashing glance.
With a ringing cheer we greet him,
That war-worn veteran gray,
The hero of a hundred fights
In strange lands far away.
His hand directed wise and well;
For him the heartfelt shout;
His strategy and deep resource
Put the rebel hordes to rout.
“Forward!” now along the line
Rings our leader’s fearless tone;
And with quick bursts of rousing cheers
We enter the fire zone.
And the Metis open upon us
From pit and dark ravine;
Pelting like fierce hail about us
Comes a deadly leaden stream.