Search The Archive

Search form

Collection Search
Date: July 28th 1885
Diary

July 28 - Leaving town at 10 a.m. Josh Collins walked with me out to Goodwood, arrived about 11:30 a.m.and spent the rest of the day. I gave Aunt Bea the last of poor Ted's belongings I had brought with me, even the contents of his pockets, consisting of a pocket knife, a silver pencil, pipe and part of a plug of T&B tobacco, a tin case of matches.

Auntie was overcome with grief and anguish over Ted's remains not being shipped to his home here. That was no fault of mine, I told her. Major Boulton, his commanding officer, should have seen to that. I had to stay with my own regiment two miles away, until 3 o'clock in the afternoon of May 12th. When I arrived it was too late; the boat taking the dead and wounded had just gone, and we had to make a coffin and dig a grave and bury him at a beautiful spot among the trees overlooking the South Saskatchewan River, alongside Gunner Phillips. Major Boulton didn't arrive until after the funeral that was attended by his own men. He had spent his time talking with other commanding officers, all about the great fight. Stewart Brown drove us back to town.