122 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

On the 8th of January, 1862, intelligence reached here of the death of His Royal Highness, Prince Albert, Consort to Queen Victoria, which occurred at Windsor Castle on the 14th of December, in the 42nd year of his age. Forty-two minute guns were therupon ordered by the Commander-in-chief to be fired at George’s Battery by the City Artillery at 12 o’clock, noon, on the following day.

During the past summer, several gentlemen, principally officers of militia and volunteers, opened a subscription list towards raising funds for the purpose of forming a Military Band in Charlottetown, to be attached to the Volunteers. Musical instruments to the number of eighteen, having been sent for to London, which upon their arrival, were placed in the hands of Mr. Robert Galbraith, a gentleman of musical talent, who thereupon organized a neat little band known as the Volunteer Band of Charlottetown.

The Volunteers were now styled the Brigade, of which the Hon John [—1. Gray was appointed Colonel-in-chief. Queen’s County Regiment comprised a troop of Cavalry, Battery of Artillery and 17 Companies of Rifles, and in February the following promotions were made, viz. : Major Haviland, Lieut. Colonel; Captain Pollard, Major; Lieut. Morris, Captain of Artillery; R. R. Hodgson, gent, Captain of the Prince of Wales Rifles; Captain Purdie, Adjutant. King’s County Regiment comprised two Rifle Companies, Major L. C. Owen commanding. Prince County Regiment comprised a Battery of Artillery, and four Rifle Companies, Hon. J. C. Pope, Lieut. Colonel, commanding. ‘

At the meeting of Parliament during February, the guard of honor commanded by Colonel Haviland consisted of a division of Artillery and six companies of Rifles. They marched from the Drill Shed for the first time to the enlivening music of the newly formed Volunteer Band, under the leadership of Mr. Galbraith. As the guard presented arms to His Excellency on his arrival, that movement was accompanied by the harmonious notes of “ God save the Queen,”—~a new feature in our military pageant. The music attracted a large number of spectators to the Drill Shed, where the Volunteers were dismissed. The salutes on this occasion were fired on the Barrack Square by the Artillery, under Major Pollard.