‘I stated in my last communication that the captain of the “Propeller” had engaged to be ready to start from the Sault river on the evening of Thursday, the 4th inst.; but about four o’clock that afternoon a gale commenced that rendered it impossible for the boats to continue to take the freight on board, and eventually swamped a scow that we had engaged for the purpose. The wind did not abate sufficiently to allow us to assume our operations till the Friday following; and we completed the embarkation of men and stores on that day. Just however as we were about to start, a fresh delay occurred, arising from a dispute between the captain of the vessel and the engineer, who being the only one left at the Sault, felt himself at liberty to make his own terms, and who refused to go at all unless he got 237 dollars for his trip, paid in advance. The captain refused to give it him, and at one time it seemed very doubtful whether we should not be obliged to return again to the Hudson’s bay Company’s Fort. This settled, we started about seven P.M. to a place about seven miles up the river, called Wood Dock, where we were to take in more wood, it having been found impossible to provide a sufficient quantity at the Sault. On arriving there we found that the ice had collected in such quantities in the bay that it was impossible to approach the “Propeller” to the wharf. After making a variety of attempts to cut through the ice, carry the boats on &c. to no purpose we were obliged to give it up for that night.

‘The following morning we managed to land nearly the whole of the troops, by pulling them round the ice to a place where the wind and current had broken it up sufficiently to allow us to get through. Carrying the wood from the wharf to the boats and thence to the ship occupied about eight hours; and we did not get under weigh again until about four P.M.

‘During the whole of the time we had been thus delayed, the weather had been perfectly fair; but we had scarcely started when a wind sprang up, which gradually increased to such a height, that the funnel was bent, one of the stays gave way, the stove and everything else in the cabin was overturned, and the binnacle and compass upset and rolled about the deck.

‘Not being able, from the rolling of the vessel, to put back the compass properly in its place, the helmsman was steering partly by guesswork, and we drifted about five points out of our course. At half-past eleven P.M. the ship struck hard on a point of land on the American shore, called White Fish point, the bottom happening fortunately to be sandy, and the sea right on, the captain got the foresail on her and allowed her to drive up into the shallow so far as she would, to obviate the heavy bumpings, to prevent her broaching to, receiving the seas on her broadside. The conduct of the men, when the ship struck, was most admirable, inasmuch as the general rocky nature of the coast along the shore of the Lake Superior was well known to everyone on board. No one knew where we were; and White Fish point was perhaps the only place on Lake Superior where such an accident could have occurred without the vessel being instantaneously broken up. Had the men not obeyed the command to stand still, but had they rushed on deck, as the captain of the ship afterwards told me he fully expected they would have done, at least one half of them would have been washed overboard and drowned; as the deck was as slippery as ice could make it, and there was no bulwark round it other than a slight open railing, scarcely a foot high. Both the captain and subordinate officers of the vessel afterwards expressed their astonishment at the coolness and discipline the soldiers displayed. We remained at White Fish point till about half-past three P.M. Monday without any apparent possibility of getting the ship off, occupying ourselves in the meantime with landing the freight for the purpose of lightening the vessel, and making what arrangement we could for passing the winter where we were. About that hour, however, by working the vessel back with all the steam the engine would bear, and rigging a derrick, they got us off again; and about ten A.M. Tuesday, we again proceeded towards Mina Bay and had arrived to within eight miles of the place, when the wind shifted to the SW. and commenced blowing again with such violence, that they were obliged to put about and return to White Fish point for shelter. After remaining there till noon, Wednesday, and the weather not at all improving, the captain represented to me the impossibility of reaching the bay this fall.

‘I then wrote to him requesting his opinion in writing; his answer to which I enclose. We anchored in the Sault river on Wednesday evening, and I am now getting the men settled in quarters in the store-houses of the Hudson’s bay Company’s Fort; and I trust that in a few days they will be made tolerably comfortable for the winter. From the time the men left Toronto till we returned to the Sault, they had never slept in a bed, or taken off their clothes; yet in despite of that, and of the cold and wet they have daily endured, we have no sickness whatever. I am also happy to be able to inform you that the conduct of the detachment continues to be exemplary.

‘I have the honour to be,
&c. &c. &c.,
‘A. P. Cooper.
‘Capt. Commanding detachment.’

On December 3, the left wing of the Battalion removed from Kingston and joined Head-quarters at Toronto.

In March 1850, the 1st Battalion being ordered home, were relieved on the frontier by the 6th Foot; and on April 2, three companies marched from King William’s-town to Fort Glamorgan, there to await the arrival of H.M. steam-vessel ‘Hermes’ for conveyance to Table-bay.

And on May 20 the remaining three companies, with Head-quarters, marched from King William’s-town to Fort Glamorgan, and arrived there on the next day.

On the departure of the Battalion from the frontier, a very complimentary District Order was issued by Colonel Mackinnon, commanding at King William’s-town, thanking the officers, non-commissioned officers and men for their excellent conduct while under his command.