New Brunswick Historical Tidbits

The March Of The 104 th

By Mitch Biggar

In 1813 in answer to a call for men the New Brunswick Regiment, the 104 th marched from Fredericton to Kingston, Ontario. They covered the seven hundred mile trip in just fifty two days. It was recorded as one of the greatest marches of history.

On February 11 th, the Saint John detachment set out and marched to Fredericton. Colonel Halkett led off from Fredericton on the 16 th. After that a battalion started each day with the last leaving on the 21 St. each company marched in an Indian file half a mile long. At the rear of each company a squad of men would haul toboggan bearing arms, blankets and food.

They followed the course of the St. John River. The first several days they marched on hard roads and slept in houses and barns. By February 28 th all farms had been passed and the men were forced to make shelters by cutting evergreen branches. By March 1 st they had reached Grand Falls. At the beginning of the Madawaska County, the French met them and drove them all on sleds for twenty-one miles.

On the 5 th of March the 104th reached Lake Temiscouta. By this leg of the journey most men were frost bitten and one company was stranded on the lake with no supplies. Lt. Charles Rainsford and two privates pushed on to Riviere du Loop (Loup) for help, a distance there and back of fifty-four miles. They returned with a relief party. The following day a horse and sled met them bringing food from Quebec. On the 8 th of March the 104 th saw houses and the wide St. Lawrence River.

The 104 th then made the journey from Quebec to Kingston, Ontario without further incident. The 104 th fought at Sackett's Harbor, Beaver Dam, Lundy's Lane, and Fort Erie. After the war the regiment did garrison duty in Montreal until May 24 th, 1817 when it was disbanded.

The disbanded 104 th soldiers settled mainly on the St. John River between Presque Isle and Meductic. The regimental colors of the 104 th can be seen at the New Brunswick Museum.

This page was designed by Irene Doyle September 1999