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Grey River Argus, Issue 129, 8 November 1866, Page 3

Tijs Fioe? jn Canada with the Fenian Invaders.— The Military Court of Inquiry ordered, on the application of Lieutenant Colonel Booker, in consequence of charges ma.de against him in thq Canadian newspapers, have reported that on the day of the engagement he found himself for the first time in his experience in command of a larger body than one weak battalion on parade ; that he had uot the assistance of any staff or orderlies; and that a large portion of his men were youths, not more than twenty ypars old, many of them firing ball cartridge for the first tinu in their lives, but no force could have advanced in finer spirits. The court find that the attack was well and skilfully managed up to a certain time, when some f 4 the skirmishers raised a cry $hat cavalry were advancing upon ojir foree — an alarm of the truth of {yhich a moment's refloction_on the part of the men with whom it originated would Imve shown the impossibility, AfjßVjnring tlj'o cry to have its origin in fact, Lieutenant-Colonel Booker, who was standing with the reserve, gave the order, " Look out for cavalry," and squares were formed, The mistake was discovered directly, and lie endeavored to remedy it by the order to "re-form column;" but he found the men rapidly falling back, and the attempt to re-form not having been successful they mingled together and were disorganised. An advance at this moment would have quickly routed the enemy, but the commanding officer, hesitating whether to advance or retreat, unfortunately gave the order to retire. The court are of opinion that to adopt the idle rumor that the enemy's force was partly composed of cavalry in a country where such an arm could scarcely, be of any value in attack, or to assume for a moment that a mounted corps which he could not see was advancing at such a rate as to rondei 1 it necessary to give the words of caution which he used, was ill judged, and was the first act which gave rise to the disorganisation of his force which then followed. But so far as concerns the courage of Lieutenant-Colonel Booker, the court find there is not the slightest foundation for the imputations which have been cast upon him, and that at no period of the day could want of personal 0 loluess be imputed to hjm.