Booker to join him at Fort Erie.
But as the plan had seemed to have mysteriously miscarried, Lieut.-Col.
Dennis resolved to do something on his own account.

He therefore decided to employ his force in patrolling the river, and endeavor to intercept the retreat of any Fenians who might attempt to escape back to the American shore.Capt.Akers having assented to this programme, a force was landed at Fort Erie, who picked up a number of Fenian stragglers.
These men were placed on board of the "Robb" under guard, and while the steamer slowly drifted down the stream the Welland Canal Field Battery and a portion of the Naval Brigade patrolled the shore and scoured the woods and by-roads for some miles, in the course of which "round up" they gathered in another batch of prisoners.

On arrival of the patrol parties at a point on the river about two miles above Black Creek, all were taken aboard the steamer by means of rowboats, and after securing the prisoners in the hold, the "Robb" was again headed for Fort Erie.
On arrival there she was moored to the dock, when a detachment of the Welland Canal Battery again landed and brought in still another squad of Fenian prisoners, who were confined in the hold with the rest of their comrades.
After the boat had lain at the wharf for some time, Lieut.-Col.

Dennis conceived the idea of landing all of the prisoners and leaving them under guard of the Welland Canal Battery at Fort Eric, while he and Capt.

Akers would go around to Port Colborne with the "Robb" on a reconnoitering expedition and obtain further instructions and orders.
This cool proposition did not appeal favorably to Capt.