The Battalion, having been ordered to be increased by 128 privates, received volunteers from the 34th, 51st, 97th and 98th Regiments.
The 4th Battalion, continuing at Montreal, detached three companies, with the band, to Ottawa on May 21, and they continued to be quartered there during the stay of His Excellency the Governor-General.
On the Fenians from the United States crossing the frontier into Canada, two companies proceeded from Montreal on June 2 to St. John’s (Canada East), and were joined there by a company from Chambly, and were encamped at St. John’s till the 9th; when, being reinforced by the Head-quarters, consisting of four companies, under Major Nixon,[320] they proceeded by rail to St. Armand, and were about to encamp, when Lieutenant Acland,[321] who in the disguise of a habitant had gone amongst the Fenians, brought word that a considerable party of them had crossed the Canadian boundary. A small force, with two guns, to which Captains Norris’[322] and Moorsom’s companies were attached, started to find them; but the Fenians seem to have had intelligence of their approach; for although the guns, escorted by a company of Riflemen, pushed on at a trot, they disappeared in the wood, or crossed the boundary. On Major Nixon, with the rest of the force, coming up, he led the skirmishers through some thick wood and cedar-swamp, and some shots were fired. A few Fenians, half-starved and partly armed, were taken prisoners. As it was then near evening, Colonel Elrington ordered the force back to St. Armand; but Moorsom’s company was sent to Freligsburgh, about 11 miles from St. Armand. On arrival there, they found that the town had been sacked by the Fenians, and it was with some difficulty that the Riflemen obtained any provisions. This company returned to St. Armand on the 10th, but was again detached on the 15th to guard a block-house, in which the Fenian prisoners were confined, at Phillipsburgh, on Lake Champlain.
The whole of these companies, except one which proceeded to Chambly for musketry instruction, returned to Montreal on June 19.
On January 30, 1867, the 1st Battalion received the Snider breech-loading rifle.
The Battalion proceeded on June 10 across the St. Lawrence to Point Levis, leaving one company at Quebec. They encamped at Point Levis, and were employed during the summer in the construction of fortifications at that place.
On October 7 Head-quarters and two companies moved by rail to Ottawa, the remaining companies returning to Quebec. On November 20, however, two of these companies joined the Head-quarters at Ottawa.
The 2nd Battalion, having embarked at Calcutta on board H.M. Troop-ship ‘Jumna,’ proceeded to Suez. And re-embarking at Alexandria on board H.M. Troop-ship ‘Crocodile,’ disembarked at Portsmouth on November 23, and proceeded at once by rail to Devonport, and occupied quarters.
The 3rd Battalion, being still at Rawul Pindee, on May 1 a working party of 238 privates, under a field officer, were employed, as in the preceding year, on the road from Murree to Abbottabad, and rejoined Head-quarters at Rawul Pindee on November 3.