The Cruise of the Breeze
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The Journal, Art and Life of a Victorian Soldier in Canada
by Marc Seguin
Paperback. 284 pages. 42 colour illustrations. 28 black & white images. 4 maps.
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by Marc Seguin
Paperback. 284 pages. 42 colour illustrations. 28 black & white images. 4 maps.
READ MORE...
- - - FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE - - -
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-Table of Contents
-Introduction.
-
-Part 1 - The Soldier.
---Henry Baines' early life and military career.
---Civil War in America and the Trent Affair.
---British troops dispatched to North America, 1861.
---The Winter journey overland from Halifax, through New Brunswick, to Toronto, 1862.
-Part 2 - The Artist.
---Life in Toronto. Artistic style and influences.
-Part 3 - The Journal, 1863.
---Background.
---Chapter 1 Introductory.
---Chapter 2 The Start and Cobourg.
---Chapter 3 The Regatta and Rice Lake.
---Chapter 4 Presqu'Isle and Consecon.
---Chapter 5 The Storm, Kingston and Prince Edward County.
---Chapter 6 Sackets Harbor and Encounters with the U.S. Army. ---
---Chapter 7 Oswego and Sodus Bay.
---Chapter 8 Rochester and Back to Toronto.
-Part 4 - The Hero, 1865-1866.
---Transferred to Quebec.
---The Great Fire of 1866.
---A tragic end to a young life.
---Epilogue.
-Appendix
---Catalogue of Known Works by Henry Edward Baines.
---100 works including watercolours and pen-and-ink drawings.
-Notes
-Bibliography
-List of 72 illustrations and 4 maps
-Index
-Introduction.
-
-Part 1 - The Soldier.
---Henry Baines' early life and military career.
---Civil War in America and the Trent Affair.
---British troops dispatched to North America, 1861.
---The Winter journey overland from Halifax, through New Brunswick, to Toronto, 1862.
-Part 2 - The Artist.
---Life in Toronto. Artistic style and influences.
-Part 3 - The Journal, 1863.
---Background.
---Chapter 1 Introductory.
---Chapter 2 The Start and Cobourg.
---Chapter 3 The Regatta and Rice Lake.
---Chapter 4 Presqu'Isle and Consecon.
---Chapter 5 The Storm, Kingston and Prince Edward County.
---Chapter 6 Sackets Harbor and Encounters with the U.S. Army. ---
---Chapter 7 Oswego and Sodus Bay.
---Chapter 8 Rochester and Back to Toronto.
-Part 4 - The Hero, 1865-1866.
---Transferred to Quebec.
---The Great Fire of 1866.
---A tragic end to a young life.
---Epilogue.
-Appendix
---Catalogue of Known Works by Henry Edward Baines.
---100 works including watercolours and pen-and-ink drawings.
-Notes
-Bibliography
-List of 72 illustrations and 4 maps
-Index
-----Introduction
-----Dawn was just breaking as the Royal Mail Steamship Asia sailed into the calm waters of Halifax harbour in the early morning hours of December 31, 1861. In spite of the early hour, most of the Asia’s five hundred passengers could be found excitedly lining the ship’s rails, straining to catch a glimpse of the faint outlines of the city’s houses and shops with their snow-covered roofs dotting the slope of Citadel Hill which rose from the water’s edge to the masonry fortress guarding the city. This would be their first sight of land after a stormy nine-and-a-half day crossing of the Atlantic Ocean and, for the majority of the passengers, this would be their first tantalizing view of British North America, the place that they would call home for the next several years.
-----Most of those disembarking at the Halifax wharf were soldiers; part of a contingent of thousands of troops that had been hastily dispatched to Canada by the British government, fully kitted out with rifles, artillery, ammunition and special winter clothing, all in preparation for a war with the United States which, just weeks earlier, appeared to be all but inevitable.
-----Among the soldiers was a twenty-one year old lieutenant, Henry Edward Baines; by profession an army officer in the Royal Regiment of Artillery; by vocation a writer, poet and artist.
-----From Halifax, Baines, along with hundreds of other soldiers, would embark on a perilous overland winter journey to Toronto where he would spend three years in a quite, peacetime garrison enjoying the social activities and artistic opportunities that his new home afforded. While in Toronto, Henry also became an enthusiastic yachtsman. In August, 1863, he embarked with a group of friends on a sailing cruise around Lake Ontario. During this summer pleasure cruise, Henry kept a notebook which he later compiled into a journal, “A Month’s Leave or The Cruise of the Breeze”, which included numerous watercolour and pen-and-ink sketches, all of which are reproduced here.
-----From Toronto, Lieutenant Baines was posted to Quebec City where he continued his artistic endeavours painting scenes of the picturesque countryside. In 1866, just months before his brigade was to leave Canada, the Great Fire of Quebec swept through the city’s suburbs. While fighting the fire to prevent the imminent destruction of the city’s General Hospital, Henry was badly hurt and soon afterwards died as a result of his injuries. The grateful citizens of Quebec embraced him as a fallen hero and recognized his valour with memorial plaques and monuments in Quebec and in Great Britain.
-----Largely forgotten until now, the legacy that Henry Baines has left us includes his vibrant and detailed watercolour paintings, his simple pen and ink sketches and his descriptive and amusing journal which, taken together, give us a glimpse into the life of this soldier, artist, yachtsman, and hero, and bring a unique perspective to a fascinating period of Canadian and American history.
-----Dawn was just breaking as the Royal Mail Steamship Asia sailed into the calm waters of Halifax harbour in the early morning hours of December 31, 1861. In spite of the early hour, most of the Asia’s five hundred passengers could be found excitedly lining the ship’s rails, straining to catch a glimpse of the faint outlines of the city’s houses and shops with their snow-covered roofs dotting the slope of Citadel Hill which rose from the water’s edge to the masonry fortress guarding the city. This would be their first sight of land after a stormy nine-and-a-half day crossing of the Atlantic Ocean and, for the majority of the passengers, this would be their first tantalizing view of British North America, the place that they would call home for the next several years.
-----Most of those disembarking at the Halifax wharf were soldiers; part of a contingent of thousands of troops that had been hastily dispatched to Canada by the British government, fully kitted out with rifles, artillery, ammunition and special winter clothing, all in preparation for a war with the United States which, just weeks earlier, appeared to be all but inevitable.
-----Among the soldiers was a twenty-one year old lieutenant, Henry Edward Baines; by profession an army officer in the Royal Regiment of Artillery; by vocation a writer, poet and artist.
-----From Halifax, Baines, along with hundreds of other soldiers, would embark on a perilous overland winter journey to Toronto where he would spend three years in a quite, peacetime garrison enjoying the social activities and artistic opportunities that his new home afforded. While in Toronto, Henry also became an enthusiastic yachtsman. In August, 1863, he embarked with a group of friends on a sailing cruise around Lake Ontario. During this summer pleasure cruise, Henry kept a notebook which he later compiled into a journal, “A Month’s Leave or The Cruise of the Breeze”, which included numerous watercolour and pen-and-ink sketches, all of which are reproduced here.
-----From Toronto, Lieutenant Baines was posted to Quebec City where he continued his artistic endeavours painting scenes of the picturesque countryside. In 1866, just months before his brigade was to leave Canada, the Great Fire of Quebec swept through the city’s suburbs. While fighting the fire to prevent the imminent destruction of the city’s General Hospital, Henry was badly hurt and soon afterwards died as a result of his injuries. The grateful citizens of Quebec embraced him as a fallen hero and recognized his valour with memorial plaques and monuments in Quebec and in Great Britain.
-----Largely forgotten until now, the legacy that Henry Baines has left us includes his vibrant and detailed watercolour paintings, his simple pen and ink sketches and his descriptive and amusing journal which, taken together, give us a glimpse into the life of this soldier, artist, yachtsman, and hero, and bring a unique perspective to a fascinating period of Canadian and American history.
Look Inside (Move cursor over slides to activate controls)
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The Author
Marc Seguin brings his lifelong fascination with history together with his interest in documentary art in presenting this annotated journal of Henry Edward Baines: a young soldier and talented artist whose beautiful paintings and remarkable deeds have, until now, been largely forgotten. Marc has a degree in History from the University of Western Ontario and is the author of For Want of a Lighthouse: Building the Lighthouses of Eastern Lake Ontario 1828-1914. He lives on the shores of Wellers Bay in Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and two sons. An accomplished speaker, Marc has prepared a number of lavishly illustrated talks on several of the themes from the book, The Cruise of the Breeze. Click here to contact Marc about a presentation to your group or organization. Contact Marc Books by Marc Seguin |
Photo by Philip R. Seguin
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Recent Reviews
I quite enjoyed reading “The Cruise of the Breeze”. I am impressed by the author’s extensive research and accessible writing style.
KC, Brighton, Ontario.
Thoroughly enjoyed the read. Marc Seguin has taken history and made a great story. Loved the details dealing with the British position on the Civil War. Sailing & painting is a bonus.
JM, Consecon, Ontario.
I was impressed with the overall look and design of the book. The cover is masterful, the inside pages easy on the eye with lots of drawings, paintings, maps and colour. The preface and acknowledgements show the passion and interest and care that have been put into the book. The amount of research done, based on the appendix, footnotes and bibliography, is truly impressive. A monumental endeavour!
DRR, Georgetown, Ontario.
I found it very eye-catching and the period watercolours make it very appealing. It is very well laid out with good quality images. The watercolours are the closest thing to stepping into a time machine.
RBB, Welland, Ontario.
Purchase this book...
I quite enjoyed reading “The Cruise of the Breeze”. I am impressed by the author’s extensive research and accessible writing style.
KC, Brighton, Ontario.
Thoroughly enjoyed the read. Marc Seguin has taken history and made a great story. Loved the details dealing with the British position on the Civil War. Sailing & painting is a bonus.
JM, Consecon, Ontario.
I was impressed with the overall look and design of the book. The cover is masterful, the inside pages easy on the eye with lots of drawings, paintings, maps and colour. The preface and acknowledgements show the passion and interest and care that have been put into the book. The amount of research done, based on the appendix, footnotes and bibliography, is truly impressive. A monumental endeavour!
DRR, Georgetown, Ontario.
I found it very eye-catching and the period watercolours make it very appealing. It is very well laid out with good quality images. The watercolours are the closest thing to stepping into a time machine.
RBB, Welland, Ontario.
Purchase this book...
