Therefore this branch is indispensable, as they are rightly termed "the eyes and ears of an army," ever watchful and on the alert for impending danger, or for an opportunity to strike a crushing blow.
In the Niagara District campaign this omission was painfully in evidence.

At Chippawa, Col.

Peacocke had to rely on meagre and conflicting reports of the whereabouts of the enemy which were brought in to him from various sources, more or less unreliable, while Col.
Booker was in a similar position before advancing on the Fenian force at Ridgeway.

Had an efficient troop of cavalry scouts been employed to thoroughly scour the country in advance of these two columns, a different tale might be related of their operations.
It was after 3 o'clock on June 1st when Major Geo.

T.Denison received orders to assemble the Governor-General's Body Guard, and proceed to the front next morning.