Captain Boxer, C.B., Royal Navy, transport agent for Canada, came down in the vessel, and to his judicious arrangement, and the active exertions of Captain Douglas, commanding the Unicorn, we were greatly indebted for the safe and speedy manner in which the embarkation was effected.     The sudden and totally unexpected arrived of the steamer, at early dawn, was the signal for a "general rising," and all was an instant scene of bustle and confusion. Drums beat, and bugles sounded the "Assembly," and orders were promptly issued to have all ready for embarkation the moment a sufficient number of boats could be provided. The steamer, in the mean time, proceeded on to St. Anne's, where her unlooked-for appearance created as exciting a sensation as it did at Cape Chatte Bay. About one or two P.M., she returned, with the detachment, from thence.     The day, providentially, proved remarkably fine, and was the first perfectly calm day we had had from the time of the accident. Had the weather been tempestuous, as it almost invariably is at this season, no vessel dared have approached the coast; and the orders were imperative that the Unicorn, in the event of bad weather, should return instantly to Quebec, having, on a certain day, to convey the English mails to Halifax.     A small detachment of thirty men under Lieutenant Gore, was left behind in charge of such government stores and baggage as still remained in the wreck and on the beach.     By five o'clock P.M., the troops and a large portion of the rescued baggage were all safely re-embarked in the Unicorn, and the last boat was still alongside, when the sky began again to put on a threatening aspect, and a heavy rolling sea set in, with a strong breeze from the north-east. Had this change taken place some hours earlier, our embarkation would have been impracticable, and we should have had the mortification to see the Unicorn disappear as suddenly as she came, without accomplishing the object of her hazardous voyage. She now, however, got quickly under weigh, and was soon breasting the strong stream of the St. Lawrence on her backward voyage to Quebec.     So crowded were the men on board that the poor fellows were obliged to keep the open deck, without a spot to lie down on, during the whole thirty hours that the voyage lasted, and so severe was the cold that it was only by incessantly stamping on the deck that they could preserve vitality to their limbs, and save their feet from being frost-bitten, but thanks to the liberality and forethought of the government officers, they had an abundant supply of good provisions, and an occasionally riving glass of grog, which kept them in excellent humour, and at nine o'clock the following night, we all landed once more on Her Majesty's wharf at Quebec, amidst the already deeply-fallen snows of a Canadian winter.     With light and joyous hearts, the men marched to their old quarters in the Jesuit barrack, where their kind-hearted fellow-soldiers of the 68th greeted them with a generous supper and hearty welcome, relinquishing their beds for the night to the weary Royals, thus cementing a warm, and I hope, a lasting friendship between the two corps.     The following complimentary Order was issued next day, and read, by the Major-General in person, to the troops of the garrison, assembled in hollow square.

	District	Order,
		Assistance-	Adjutant-General's Office,
		Quebec	14th November, 1843.

Major-General Sir James Hope has ordered the garrison of Quebec to be assembled, that he may have the satisfaction of personally expressing to the troops, by this Order, his entire and perfect approbation of the admirable conduct of the right wing of the Royal Regiment under the most trying circumstances.     There is no regiment in Her Majesty's service that has more distinguished itself than the Royals have done, but good conduct in the presence of the enemy is so common an occurrence with British soldiers, when the excitement to gallant conduct is at its height, that the Major-General would not thing it necessary to advert to what is now well known. On this occasion, however, the distressing condition of the men during the peril of shipwreck is calculated to call for that cool and resigned intrepidity which has been shown on this occasion, and nothing proves the credit that is due to the officer in command, and to the whole of the officers, and non-commissioned officers, more than that such a state of discipline has been established in a corps as to command the confidence of the men under their command, in a situation requiring every quality of a brave man.     The Duke of Wellington, in a late circular letter, has shown how greatly he values the discipline and intrepidity that is required on such occasion, and his Grace will, without doubt, duly estimate the conduct of the right wing of the Royal Regiment.     The Major-General is sure that every man who so providentially escaped from the late calamity is fully impressed with the zealous, prompt, and important services rendered to them by Captain Boxer, of the Navy. At this request, Captain Boxer has attended this parade, and the Major-General is happy in having an opportunity of returning him thanks in presence of the garrison, and of stating that to his exertions, added by the zeal of Captain Douglas, of the Unicorn, the Royal Regiment owe their escape from the hardships of a long and dreary winter, passed on an exposed and inclement part of the coast.     This Order is to be entered in the Order Book, and read at the head of every regiment in the Eastern District of Canada, and the Major-General requests that Major Bennett, who commanded the wing on this occasion with so much ability and credit to himself, will enter the name of every officer and non-commissioned officer present, and will record the journey of 300 miles performed with such perseverance to Lieutenant Lysons.

			J. A. Hope,
			Major-General.

G. R. Bossé©2001-03	Page 27	Chapter 1843