By 1862 the Volunteers were styled “The Brigade” of which the Hon. J. H. Gray was appointed Colonel in Chief. The Queens County Regiment comprised a troop of Cavalry, Battery of Artillery and seventeen Companies of Rifles.

On 14th June 1864 the site of St. Georges Battery and Barracks sur- rounding it was sold and divided into building lots — just one hundred years after Captain Holland selected the site for defence. This Battery was first erected in 1776, after the American Privateers had raided Charlotte Town.

During the Fenian Raid of 1866 all men eligible to serve were en- rolled, and ordered to train for a period not exceeding ten days.

On 15th January 1867 a new Drill Hall was 0 ened at the west end of Kent Street by the Commander in Chief. At this time amendments were made to the Militia Act by virtue of which sixteen Regiments were organized, having an average of nine Companies, the personnel of which were compelled to muster for drill under penalty. In the City and Royalty there were eight Companies of the lst Queens County Battalion.

By General Order of 20th May, 1868, the two Companies of Mount- ed Riflemen and the two Batteries of Artillery ceased to form an integral portion of the Queens County Regiment of Volunteer Militia, and were designated the Corps of Mounted Riflemen and the Corps of Artillery.

On the 6th April 1869 a detachment of sixty men drawn from the three City Rifle Companies were present on the Jail Square to prevent disorder during the last public hanging on the Island.

By General Order of 28th April, 1869, three Regiments of the Queens County Brigade were abolished, and the Queens County Regiment authorized, into which the personnel of five Rifle Companies in the City and Royalty were absorbed, and the Mounted Rifles and Artillery Batteries were attached to it.

In September 1869 men of the City units were warned for duty in fear of trouble from the crews of several American fishermen having arrived in Port.

The first Militia Act on the Island was passed on the 3rd July, 1780. Under it all males between the ages of. 16 and 60 should bear arms and attend musters and military exercises. The law was little observed, and such musters which were held were looked upon as a joke. Often it only amounted to a roll call and .the appearance of a keg of beer.

In regard to the Muster the Weekly Examiner of 10th July, 1871, says in part, “The annual farce of being called out on Militia drill is pretty well over for the season. The Town squads were called out on

Old Military Camp at Milton, l883.