In the spring we received orders to hold ourselves in readiness to embark for Dublin. This pleased us very much, for we were anxious to see old Ireland. We were conveyed to Bristol by train and then embarked for Dublin. Arriving without incident, we disembarked. Eight companies marched to and took up quarters at Richmond barracks. The other two companies, which included my own, occupied Linen Hall barracks.

We found quite a difference in the general routine of a soldier’s life in Dublin. There were 5,000 troops in garrison, including a battalion of Grenadier Guards, and ceremonial parades were in evidence. The trooping of the colors at guard mounting on the esplanade was one of the most spectacular. The marching past in slow time to the music of massed bands, together with the other beautiful movements attached to this grand old practice, drew thousands of citizens to witness it. Those grand displays were no doubt the means of establishing a friendship between soldiers and citizens. This was a very proud garrison, and the men vied with each other in dress and general appearance on the streets and public thoroughfares of the city. It was commanded by General Sir George Brown.

We said good-bye to Colonel Franklin, and Major McKinstry was gazetted lieutenant-colonel and to command the battalion. The colonel was well liked by all ranks. He was with the 1st Battalion during the Crimean war, and was an officer who studied the individual soldier and attended to his welfare. He had a keen memory. We had a transfer from the 1st Battalion who had also been in the Crimea. He was brought up for being drunk. I do not know whether the colonel intended to bring his previous conduct against him, but in his admonition and advice reminded him that one night in the trenches before Sebastopol he was drunk.

Next we marched to the Curragh camp to be quartered there during the balance of the drill season. The distance is about 25 miles. We left Richmond barracks about 9 a.m. It was a very hard hot day’s work that we had before us. We carried a lunch in our haversacks, and when we got into the country we received humorous and good-natured replies to questions we asked those we met. For instance, I was in charge of a section of the advance guard, and I asked a native how far we were from Naas. He answered: “Three miles and a wee bit, sur.” We would about cover that distance and ask another native, receiving the same answer. So we trudged on looking anxiously for church spires and chimney tops. At last we saw the long-looked-for halting place, and Naas with all the Irish beauties it contained was near. The band, that had been silent a considerable distance, struck up “Garry own to glory.”

After supper the men cleaned up, went into the village, and were most cordially greeted, especially by the fair sex, who indeed were Irish beauties. We marched out of the village amidst cheering and the playing of Irish airs by the band. In two hours the camp was in sight, and when about a mile from it we were met by two bands, belonging to 11th and 86th regiments, with whom we were to brigade, and also an invitation from the sergeants of the 11th regiment to lunch at their mess after our immediate duties had been performed. We took up our quarters in “F” square and were again in huts, but everything for the comfort of the regiment was at hand. The commanding officer was pleased to appoint me battalion drill instructor, and about this time Ensign Mogg Rolph, a Canadian, was gazetted and posted to the regiment, and I had the honor and pleasure of being his instructor for some time. The present Lieutenant-Colonel Rolph will always have a place amongst my best and happiest thoughts. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, was in camp and attached to the 39th Regiment for the drill season. He was doing captain’s duty and attended battalion, brigade and divisional drills; we saw H.R.H. quite frequently. Her Majesty the Queen visited the camp that summer. It rained the day of review, but that did not matter; thousands were present to greet the Queen and shouted themselves hoarse.

General Sir George Brown was in command. The Curragh is a beautiful spot, there being such a large area for sham fights, field days and drills in general. The rifle ranges are adjacent to the camp, each regiment having its own range. The routine of camp life is the same as in the other camps we have been quartered in. There is a small theatre in the camp where the troops give performances weekly. Each corps has its own amateurs and takes turns to furnish programmes, theatrical, literary, vocal and musical. There was good talent to be found in the camp. The Prince would occasionally attend a performance, and no doubt enjoyed it.

We were shown a monument erected to the memory of a captain who was accidentally shot. It appears his company, which he was in charge of at the time, had completed their firing and were returning to camp by a circuitous route. Other corps were firing at the time, when a ricochet bullet struck the captain and killed him.

About this time we received extremely sad news to the effect that Lieutenant-Colonel Crofton, who so recently left us, had been assassinated on the barrack-square in Colchester. It appears that a private had neglected his duty when on picket sentry, and the adjutant brought him before the colonel and reported his neglect, and he was sentenced to an extra duty. It being Saturday, the men of his company were all assembled in an upper room for medical inspection. He took advantage of this and went to a room on the ground floor, and procuring a rifle, loaded it. During this time the two officers had left the orderly room and were walking arm in arm up the barrack square, the adjutant being nearest. The assassin fired, the bullet going through the body of the adjutant and entering the colonel’s, and both were killed. The man was tried and hanged. The sergeants of my regiment made an application to wear mourning for four successive Sundays, as a mark of respect toward our late commanding officer. The commander-in-chief granted it.

The furlough season was near and I was to leave for six weeks, commencing at Christmas, but there was something not very pleasant going on between the United States and England over the Trent affair. It looked so serious that some 25,000 troops were placed under orders to proceed to North America, and the “Tigers,” our battalion, was among them. We had received orders to the effect that as soon as the hired transport steamships Cleopatra and Mauritius were ready, we would embark for Halifax, Nova Scotia. The commanding officer informed me that I could not have my leave, and those already on leave would be recalled immediately. In this case the company owning these ships was responsible only for the conveyance; the military authorities were to make all other arrangements.

The commanding officer selected me to superintend the shipping and stowing away of provisions and clothing, which was to be done at Haul Bowlin, where the regiment was to embark, and I left at once to perform this duty. Arriving in Cork, I reported at the quartermaster-general’s department and was attached to the 12th Regiment. Christmas was near and the steamer had not arrived. On Christmas the regiment arrived at Cork station. I went down to meet them and returned to the barracks, where the right wing remained till they embarked. Not a drum was heard, in consequence of the death of H.R.H. the Prince Consort. The battalion marched to barracks in death-like silence, with colors draped and other signs of mourning visible. The sergeants of my regiment were invited to dine with their old comrades of the 12th on Christmas Day. We were enjoying our dinner when an orderly summoned me to the orderly room. When I reported I found the Q.M.G., colonel, quartermaster, adjutant and others assembled. I was ordered to at once prepare to accompany them to Haul Bowlin. That stopped my Christmas festivities, but the 12th boys filled my haversack with good things.

On arrival my duties were at once explained to me. I was to make notes of the disposition of all packages, barrels, bales, etc., of provision and clothing, so they could be found without difficulty during the voyage. A winter campaign was expected, and we had considerable furs and clothing to meet it. Not far from Haul Bowlin is Spike Island, a convict settlement, and the convicts were brought over to put the goods on board. It was difficult to have them do as I desired, but the guards with loaded carbines soon brought them to time, and in a few days my work was completed, and on the 1st of January, 1862, the wing embarked and sailed for Halifax.

When the battalion paraded in Cork barracks the morning they were leaving, General Blood addressed them, giving some good advice to this young regiment, warning them against drinking rum, but instead to drink milk.

The first thing we had to face was seasickness, and very few escaped it. The voyage was a tempestuous one. We met a heavy gale when out several days, but no damage was done; the ship was intact at the end of the passage and the men in the best of health and spirits. Arriving at Newfoundland we took on a pilot. The colonel asked him how the trouble between the two countries was progressing. He assured us that it had been amicably settled. That meant no fighting. The men were disappointed.