MILITARY AND CIVIL. 219 
     
    
   
   
    
     Dominion, under the auspices of the said Association, 
     
     assembled once a year at Quebec for practice and competi- 
     
     tion, being attended with various success. 
     
    
   
   
    
     In 1884, a party selected from No. I and No. 2 Companies 
     
     under command of the senior officer of artillery, Major Irving, 
     
     competed against an English team and all Canada, winning the 
     
     first prize for shifting ordnance, and some shooting prizes as 
     
     well,—-while No. 2 Company took the first prize for general 
     
     efliciency, 
     
    
   
   
    
     Military History. 
     
    
   
   
    
     On the 23rd March, this year 1885, a dispatch was received 
     
     at Ottawa stating that an old offender by the name of Louis 
     
     Riel, at the head of 500 half-breeds, had seized Fort Carleton, 
     
     Northwest Territory, and that they are in armed rebellion, 
     
     committing depredations in towns and settlements and massa- 
     
     cring the people; Riel claiming that all the half-breeds and 
     
     Indians in that section of the Dominion are under his rebellious 
     
     control, and were resolved to free themselves from Dominion 
     
     rule. 
     
    
   
   
    
     On receipt of this intelligence strong military forces under 
     
     competent command were dispatched to the scene of action, 
     
     and telegraphic messages were sent to the various Provinces 
     
     that armed forces would be required in order to quell the 
     
     outbreak. 
     
    
   
   
    
     On this unpleasant news reaching Charlottetown, the services 
     
     of several companies and parts of companies were tendered to 
     
     the Government, and such was the enthusiasm created that on 
     
     the same evening a rally of No. I and No. 2 Companies of 
     
     Artillery was held in the drill shed, when, to the credit of the 
     
     corps be it said, every officer, non-commissioned officer and 
     
     man was present and in readiness to risk their lives in defence 
     
     of their country. 
     
    

    
     The officers at that date were: Major J. D. Irving, com- 
     
     manding Brigade; Capt. Geo. Passrnore, Lieut. C. B. McNeill, 
     
     of No. 1 Company; Capt. F. S. Moore, Lieut. J. A. Longworth, 
     
     Lieut. John A. Bell, of No. 2 Company. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Then the drilling of the corps and preparation for active 
     
     service was entered upon with great cheerfulness, continuing