The New York herald., 1870-05-06

RED RIVER.
The British Expedition Against
Fort Garry.
Details of Its Organization and
Progress.
.~~~>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sketches Of Its Commanding
Offlcers.
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THE ROUTE AND ITS OBSTACLES.
THE ROUTE AND IT'S OBSTACLES
T n E ENIAN N S i.

Tne excitement over the trumpeted Fenian RAID
into Canada having subsidized, the Canadian people
are now all agog with the Red River expedition, and
nothing is heard In Parliament or In any circle
whatever but Red River. The animated discussion In
the Dominion Parliament on the subject, and the
proceedings In the case of the Fort Garry delegates
to Ottawa have already been published in full by the
HERALD, and 1t is unnecessary to condense report
of them here. There seems to be an impression pre-
vailing generally In Canada that the expedition 1T
ting out for Red river viii not meet with any serlous
resistance but will prove TO be only sort OF escort
to officers proceeding to establish law and order
that when the command reaches Fort Garry the set
Elements will receive 1t In friendly manner, and
that the only questions to be settled will be the re-
sp0nsbity Of Rel for the shooting of Scott OF course
this is all only conjecture the part OF the confident
Canadians who have an idea tnat the mere rumor
that an expedition would be sent against Fort Garry
would strike abjecr terror into the souls of every
Wnnipegger. Although there Is great deal Of dis
cusson In Parliament about the expedition and some
prophecies that 1t will yet be abandoned, there no
longer remains any grounds for doubling that 1t viii
go. That matter is fixed, and the only business now
under consideration by the Canadian officers Is the
speedy preparation and departure OF the command.
There Is great opposition to it, however; first, by all
the French Catholics in Canada, who naturally SYM
pathlze with their Red River brethren, and who
uumuor cISuty OuJ VI dDOuL loU members or
Parliament; secondly, by the conscientious
people OF the Dominion, who realize what
rascaly operation the whole business
OF the transfer Of the Northwest Territory
by the Hudson Bay Company TO the Dominion has
been, and who foresee complications that must
ventuay bring discontinue upon this government
and people; and thirdly the natural enemies of the
party in power, who nnd in the Red River question
exhaustless resources of accusation and denunca-
ton OF the present Ministry.
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
While political circles have been violently agfated
by the Red River question: the military has been oil
excitement The Fenian sensation seems to have
affected the entire military organization of the Do
Intnion very much as galvanic shocks enliven q
corpse and all over the country the Canadian troops
have for the last month been in a constant quiver
OF excitement. Volunteer infantry and cavalry
moved to and fro along the border, closely pcketed
by sentries relocated guards held possession OF the
various custom offices Of her Majesty on the line,
and officers in the interior towns and cities talked OF
'going to the front'' with the air Of new recruit
bound for Petersburg in the last days OF the rebel
lion. The Fenian scare, however, has pretty much
subslded, and many Of the troops at 'the 'front.'
have returned to their homes. But the Red River
expedtonary preparations still keep the military
the Qut viUe, and occasion q vast deal Of drilling
parading, brass-bandng, &C., while the hotel regis
ters are filled with colonels majors captains, &C.,
to degree that forcibly suggests to Yankee the
scenes in Washington in 1852. In view of the con-
tingencies incidental to the Red River campaign and
future Fenian possibilities brief description of the
iitary resources Of the Dominion is interesting.
THE REGULAR TROOPS
now in Canada consist Of portions of the Slxtieth
rifles, the Sixy.ninth infantry, Of the Prince Con-
sorts Own Rifle Brigade, and small number Of
artillery Tie batte0n Of the SXtieth rifles is sta
toned at Ottawa. 1t has glorious military record
and its reglmental colors are inscribed with the
names "RObeia," "vimiera," martinique" 'eTala-
vera,n "Fuentes d'Onos," "Albuhera" "Ciudad
Rodrigo,n "Badajoz,n Salamanca" "vittoria,"
"Pyrenees," "Niveile,n '.Nive," ''Orthies," "Tou.
lousen PENINSULA "Punjaub," 'Mooltan," "Goo.
yerat,n 'Taku," "Forto," "Pekin" "Delhin This
command numbers only about 200 men.
about 500 men and Is stationed at Quebec under the
command Of Colonel Bagot, whom the Quebec peO-
pie are anxious should command the Red hver ex.
G% HSava,% "Bourbon, Waterloo DIadia" S " ''''l'
The battalion Of the Prince Consorrs own rife
eral hundred men, being nearly equal to regiment
n strength, and s commanded nj BY Lord M Alexander
with "Copenhagen y Montey ideo, !" "Robeia,n "vimi-
onosH Ciaaaa Rodriso" aBadaoz saa.
manca," 'vittoria," "Nivelie,n "Nve,n ''Orthies,n
Toulouse . Peninsula waterloo. "Ama,"
'Inkermann,H ~ "SebaS, ,OpOl,n "LucknOW.n
All OF these commands will return to England
soon, leaving the Dominion to her own military le
sources.
THE CANADIAN MILITIA
consists OF all the male Inhabitants OF Canada OF the
age Of eighteen years and upwards, and under
sixty-nOt exempted or disqualified by law, and
being British subjects by birth or naturalization
but oil the male inhabitants Of the Dominion capa-
case of levSe naasse. The population thus liable
TO military duty Is divided into four casses:-Ftrst,
rWeen the anes Of eighteen and thirty years. second
the class between the ages OF thirty and for ty
ilve years; third, married men or or WidoWeIs with
the same class between the ages OF forty five and
sixty yearsthe above being the order in which the
respective classes shall be called upon to serve:
The following persons are the only ones exempted
from military service between the ages Of eighteen
or equity in the Dominion OF Canada; the clergy and
ministers Of all religious denominations; the pro-
in Tesous Orders the warden Keepers and guards
Of the penitentlarles and the officers, keepers and
guards of all lunatc asylums; persons disabled by
bodily iniirmlty the only son OF widow, being her
only support; and the following, though enrolled,
shall be exempt from actual service at any time ex
Half pay or retired oflcers OF her Majestys army or
navy; seafarlng men and sailors actually employed
h sailing Gs ana Apprentice pilots Su
common u'cl schools actually engaged in teaching.
as active and reserve mltia-.he former being vol.
unteers uniformed, supplied with breech loading
arms and equipped ready to take the field at short
notice. whre the latter remains as recruiting
source to be drawn upon as exgencies may require.
The four provinces OF which the Dominion Is CON-
posed have been divided into nine military districts,
viz.:-One comprising the Province OF Nova Scotia,
one comprising The Province OF New Bruins
wick, three IN the Province Of Quebec ana
four in the Province OF Ontario. These nine
military districts have been divided into twenty-five
brigade divs sons and are again subdvided into 1se
reglmental divisions. The law provides for annual
paid drills Of 100000 officers and men, in addition to
officers OF reserve militia for not less than eight nor
more than sixteen days. the number being regulated
men required for drill may be comprised entirely Of
volunteers or the required numberis not fur
nshed in that way In the several DIVISIONS the men
can be drawn from the reserve by ballot, subject to
the exemptions, which, 1t VIII be observed are re.
dlced to the minimum.
may be exercised and administered by her Majesty
personally, or by the Governor as her representa-.
tive The Minister Of Militia and Defence Is respon-
sbe for the administrator OF militia affairs, fnclud-
ing all matters involving expenditure and OF the for