Answer—The whole force could not have been, but I could have rallied two or three hundred men around me at any time during the retreat, had I been disposed to do so. Officers of both the Queen's Own and the Thirteenth were frantically exerting themselves to rally their men, but, knowing that I could not be relieved by Col. Peacocke, and fearing that the enemy might pass to our rear, I thought it wiser to conduct the retreat in as orderly a manner as I could.
Question from Lieut.-Col. Booker—Were you satisfied with my conduct on the field?
Answer—Col. Booker asked me the same question in Port Colborne, and I now give him the same answer that I did then, which was, that I could see nothing in his conduct to disapprove of, except with regard to the formation of the squares, which I thought at that time was a mistake, and I think so still.
Question from Lieut.-Col. Booker—As you were not mounted, would you explain the reason why you did not take your horse with, you when you left Port Colborne?
Answer—I had my horse at the station at Port Colborne, when Mr.
Magrath, the manager, told me that I could not get him off the cars at
Ridgeway without breaking his legs, there being no platforms.
EVIDENCE OF CHARLES CLARKE.
The second witness called by Lieut.-Col. Booker was Charles Clarke, a Government detective officer, by commission from Mr. G. McMicken, the stipendiary Magistrate at Windsor.
Question from Lieut.-Col. Booker—Were you with the volunteers in the affair at Lime Ridge on the 2nd June?
Answer—Yes.
Question from Lieut.-Col. Booker—Did you see the square disperse?