APPENDIX V
three timet <ii<i this gunner swing his torch with the purpose of firing his gun, but ench time he drew back from the fuse ami finally threw his torch upon the ground. Birney said it was well lie did, m he end many of his men would not have iiv<d to tell the tale, as they were walking
din>ctl\ in the face of the cannon. He also took pride In telling how one Canadian cannon was taken and retaken many times that night, while lying in heaps around it were Canadians and American! who had fought and died bravely. When the Rebellion of lS.'iT broke out Captain
Birney waa ti blest officer surviving the tronblea
of 1812-14. Being at that time over age he did m>t wish to take any pari in the fighting, feeling he bad served his country well and sufficiently up to that time, and he felt in addition that through favoritism many who had served under him had been promoted over his head. However, through
the persona] efforta of Sir Allan IfcNab and Col- onel Land he was persuaded to take command of a company <>f the 3rd Core .Militia, which DOSl he held until about 1841, being actively engaged
in military alTairs during all that period.
Some of his work at this time was the building
Of the bridge for the troops to cross the water-gap
at Burlington Heights, ami he also was engaged in constructing the defence works on Burlington
Beighti during the battle of Stoney Creek for use in case of retreat. He was afterwards with his Company in charge of the 11- prisoners who were held and tried at Hamilton.
When Captain Birney died, In 1 s ".'*, being In his 96th year, he was the oldest living Mason In < Sanada, baring joined the Craft in 1803.
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