16 Feb 1813 Departure of First 100
The first division to depart Fredericton for Kingston, Ontario was the regimental headquarters under command of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Halkett and the Grenadier Company commanded by Captain Richard Leonard. A division consisted of 100 all ranks. The first departure was on Tuesday, 16 February 1813.
For the next 5 days another division of 100 soldiers snowshoed up the St John (Wolastoq) River. Each division received a farewell send-off by residents of Fredericton including a bugle band playing an Irish ditty “The Girl I Left Behind”!!
All the dames of France are fond and free
And Flemish lips are really willing
Very soft the maids of Italy
And Spanish eyes are so thrilling
Still, although I bask beneath their smile,
Their charms will fail to bind me
And my heart falls back to Erin's isle
To the girl I left behind me.