Collections of the Nova Scotia Historical Society . but the duties of our pro-vincial fighting men were limited throughout the war to de-fensive operations along the coast, chiefly in repelling attacksfrom the swarm of American privateers which infested ourharbours and maritime settlements, and who often treatedthe fishermen and others of their prisoners with great harsh-ness. An important and businesslike Act of the Legislature waspassed at this session, dealing with the militia and its embodi-ment for active service. It materially reduced the list of exemp-tions from liability to serve, prov
Collections of the Nova Scotia Historical Society . but the duties of our pro-vincial fighting men were limited throughout the war to de-fensive operations along the coast, chiefly in repelling attacksfrom the swarm of American privateers which infested ourharbours and maritime settlements, and who often treatedthe fishermen and others of their prisoners with great harsh-ness. An important and businesslike Act of the Legislature waspassed at this session, dealing with the militia and its embodi-ment for active service. It materially reduced the list of exemp-tions from liability to serve, provided for the treatment ofnegro or colored recruits, imposed heavy fines for evasion orinfraction of the law, and otherwise enacted much to aid effec-tive organization in time of emergency. In 1813, £50,000more was voted by the House for militia purposes, at the specialrequest of Sir John Sherbrooke. At this time the force con-sisted of two companies of Artillery and twenty-six battalionsof Foot. During the year a return was issued showing that J. GEN. SIR. JOHN COAPE SHERBROOKE. (From a Painting in the Halifax Club, formerly in the Rockingham Club,by Robert Field.) THE MILITIA OF NOVA SCOTIA, 1749-1867. 81 about 500 men of the various regiments were scattered alongthe coast in small parties, about 400 being detailed to act spe-cially as escorts to prisoners of war. We know that theywere kept busy at this work, as the number of capturesmade from time to time ran to a high figure. Two officers,six non-commissioned officers, and sixteen privates werereported as serving in the capacity of marines on board theProvincial armed sloop Gleaner. We thus had a navy in 1814as well as in 1911. Peace came early in 1815; and at the session of the Househeld that year an Act was passed reducing the days of trainingfrom six to four annually, and also enacting that Justices of thePeace be hereafter exempt from the provision of the militialaws. The total number of the force, reported as effective
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookidcollectionso, bookyear1880
