From Rivière-du-Loup, each detachment proceeded on the following morning by the Grand Trunk railway to Montreal, where the Battalion was assembled and occupied the College which had been given up by the Roman Catholic Bishop for the use of the troops.
The Head-quarters of the Battalion, consisting of 5 companies, left Montreal by special train at 8.45 A.M. on January 31, and arrived at Hamilton, Canada West, at 4.30 P.M. on the succeeding day, and were received with a perfect ovation by its inhabitants. The left wing followed, leaving Montreal on February 10 and arriving at Hamilton on the next day.
As there were no barracks at Hamilton the Battalion was quartered in four different stores which had been hired for their occupation. The overland journey from St. John’s to Hamilton was completed without the loss of a single man. This is most creditable to the Riflemen, as numerous agents of the United States offered them many temptations to desert.
The 2nd Battalion continued at Subathoo, sending detachments of two and three companies at a time to Umballa for musketry training during the months of December 1861, and January and February of this year. These having all returned the Battalion was again concentrated at Subathoo at the end of March, and continued there during the remainder of the year.
The 3rd Battalion continued at Bareilly, detaching one company to Loohoo Ghât on March 13.
The 4th Battalion remained at Malta during the whole of this year.
The Colonel-in-Chief, Field Marshal Lord Seaton, died on April 17, 1863, and was succeeded by General the Right Hon. Sir George Brown, who had, as Lieutenant-Colonel, commanded the 2nd Battalion for seventeen years.
By a General Order, dated ‘Horse Guards, September 3, 1863,’ Her Majesty the Queen, in commemoration of the services of the Rifle Brigade in Her Majesty’s Indian dominions, was graciously pleased to command that the word ‘Lucknow’ should be borne on the appointments of the Brigade.
The 1st Battalion remained at Hamilton during this year, its establishment being reduced on April 1 to—